County won’t pay premiums
Sarah Day — Staff WriterBLUE EARTH - Stop the bills!
Several Faribault County commissioners voted to do just that Tuesday after Commissioner Bill Groskreutz voiced concerns about two bills presented for payment. One was for the County Ag Society's insurance premiums, while the other was for insurance for the county Economic Development Authority.
Brenda Ripley, central services coordinator, said those entities always have been under the county's insurance umbrella.
"It's always been that way," said Commissioner Tom Warmka. "The liability is their own."
Groskreutz said just because something has always been done a particular way doesn't mean it's right. Warmka agreed.
The Ag Society bill totaled $7,610, while the EDA insurance payment was for $1,725.
Warmka said he wanted to wait on a decision until the next meeting, when the county auditor would be present.
Gros-kreutz said he understood that viewpoint, but added that the EDA budget is $86,000 and the Ag Society's budget is large as well.
"I think it's more than legitimate to pay that out of their budget," he said.
Commissioners voted 3-2 not to pay the insurance premiums for those two entities, with commissioners John Roper and Warmka dissenting. Groskreutz, Butch Erichsrud and Tom Loveall were in favor.
Turning to other business, commissioners discussed cost-cutting options for the county. Groskreutz brought up the idea that cities in the county could do away with their police departments and have law enforcement unified under the Sheriff's Office.
"The city of Blue Earth has already done that with the EDA," he said. "The cities are going to be looking for efficiencies too, just like we are."
Loveall said the problem is in the details. If it saves somebody money, it needs to be worked out who's going to see that savings and also what the service level would be.
"Now would be a good time for the sheriff to look at it," Groskreutz said. "The police chief in Wells is going to be retiring soon. That was one of his talking points when he ran for sheriff."
Cities that have a police department are Blue Earth, Wells, Winnebago, Elmore and Minnesota Lake. Last year, two cities pulled out of the Tri-City Police Department, which consisted of Minnesota Lake, Delavan and Easton. Easton and Delavan now contract with the Sheriff's Office. Frost, Kiester, Bricelyn, Guckeen and Walters already contract with the sheriff.
"To me, cities need to want to do it," Loveall said. "Things can get pretty testy. I don't want to be like we're going to shove this down a city's throat."
"Somebody's got to strike the match," Groskreutz replied.
Loveall said several cities already have lit the match, doing so on their own conclusions.
The board took no action.
In other action, commissioners toured the new law enforcement center.
Roger Peterson, project coordinator, said construction is about 80 percent complete.
"A lot of painting is done," he said. "Floor coverings will come the third week in February; the interior glass is all coming in today. That will take about two weeks to install. The cabinets are going in now - that started yesterday. It's probably a three-week process for that."
Ceiling grids, door trim, window trim, some detention work, caulking and the overhead doors also are left.
Construction is right on schedule, and expected to be complete in April. The Sheriff's Office will begin moving in then, anticipating being operational in June.
