At last week’s Pipestone County Board meeting, County Administrator Steve Ewing requested that the board approve spending $270,000 of Pipestone County American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds to the nine Pipestone County cities for capital infrastructure projects. The board approved that measure, so each city will receive $30,000. The funds need to be used for roadway improvements, water and sewer upgrades, and capital equipment purchases. 

The county has received a total of $1,772,619 in ARPA funds. They have used about $1 million of those funds already to pay for cyber security, air purification, security cameras, audio/visual equipment for the commissioners room, and the remodeling of the former Southwest Mental Health Building. The largest amount of the fund went to Johnson Controls. They were paid $749,435 for updating the heating and cooling systems in the courthouse, as well as adding building automation systems occupancy sensors for the rooms to activate the HVAC system and lighting.

After paying the cities, there will be about $213,000 left to spend and the county expects to receive about $100,000 more.

Kyle Krier, the environmental administrator reported that the solid waster committee met with Van Dyke Sanitation (VDS). Our readers will recall that VDS came to the board a few weeks ago to see what could be done about problems with cardboard recycling in Pipestone. 

Ewing commented that the meeting between VDS and the solid waste committee went very well. “Everyone came together and talked about their wants and needs,” he said. Representatives from the City of Pipestone were also there and that was helpful. 

The conclusion was to purchase another rolloff for cardboard, which can be left offsite and brought in on weekends if the others are full.  The recycling center in Slayton only accepts recycling on certain days, and not on Mondays. This will make it possible for Van Dyke’s to keep the roll-offs from being over full on the weekends. 

Krier had two quotes for roll offs. VDS recommend that the county purchase the one from Wastequip. The cost is about $11,000. The board approved that purchase. 

The county’s current contract with VDS will expire at the end of 2023. 

Nick Bergman the county highway engineer gave the board an update on various activities in the highway department.

The county approved the final payments for the culvert projects that took place on CSAH 18. The final payment was $43,481. 

The board also approved the final payment to Evan’s Farm Drainage for $55,813 for the center line tile project. Bergman commented that the tiling went well and that he is hopeful that it will be beneficial to those roads where it was done. “I’m looking forward to this spring to see how well it went,” Bergman said. If it works as well as he thinks, then he will be looking to do this on more gravel roads.

Bergman also reported that the state is planning to do a thick mill and overlay on Hwy 75. “Hopefully it will last longer than a thin mill and overlay,” Bergman said, which is what was done last time.

The board approved a bid from Rustad Flooring for new carpet in the county courthouse. The quote for a commercial carpet tile was for $77,000 to do all the common areas and stairs as well as a couple of office spaces. The last time this flooring was replaced was 1996. Some places, like the county commissioner room, do not receive much foot traffic; those areas will not be replaced. The board also had a quote from Vanderstoep’s Furniture and Flooring, which was a few thousand more than the Rusted bid. The board voted to except the low bid.

The work will need to be done in the evenings to accommodate the regular working hours of the courthouse.

The county will be doing another compensation study with Gallagher. This company performed a compensation study for the county in 2014. The current union contracts will be expiring at the end of 2023, so Cathy Feste, who is the county’s Human Resources administrator, asked for the study. The cost will be $22,500 to $27,500 depending on the scope of the study. 

“I don’t foresee this being as in-depth of a study as our first one,” Feste said. “The heavier focus of this study will be looking at the market data for our region and our benchmark counties.” Gallagher will also review some job descriptions. Feste explained that the study will give the board good data to review in advance of next year’s union and non-union negotiations. 

Commissioner Dan Wildermuth said he was in support of doing the study and that he felt that it was important that the county treat their employees right and make sure that they are doing things equitably.  Chris Hollingsworth commented that 3three-quarters of the counties in the state are doing these types of studies. Steve pointed out that this cost was planned for in the 2023 budget. The board approved the measure.

The board also approved a conditional use permit extension for the Green Arrow Solar Farm west of Coborns on Highway 30. This CUP was granted in 2021 and it was extended in January for a year. The company requested another extension due to delays in getting their interconnect with Xcel Energy and supply chain issues on equipment they need. They anticipate constitution in mid to late 2023.  

Feste reported that Lucas Eischens, a highway maintenance worker, resigned his position. The county is now looking to fill two highway maintenance positions.