BLUE EARTH– There were very few items on the agenda for the Faribault County Commissioners when they met for the first of their two monthly meetings on Tuesday.

Tim Penny, the president and CEO of SMIF (Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation), came to the meeting to provide the board with an update on the activities of the organization within Faribault County during the last year.

One of the items Penny highlighted was the $15,000 Mitchel Perrizo Jr. Leaders are Readers Grant which has been used in the United South Central, Maple River and Blue Earth Area school districts.

“It’s important to get these young kids ready for school,” Penny said. “For instance at USC, the funds were used for phonics books for K-3 classrooms. Books in English and Spanish were also purchased for the Muir Library in Winnebago.”

Penny also spoke about different ways SMIF has been able to help out the county in the area of childcare.

“We have provided free training for childcare workers,” Penny commented. “We have also worked to help address the childcare shortage the county has been experiencing, particularly in the Wells area.”

Penny also mentioned the Small Town Grants which have been utilized by some of the cities in the county.

“The city of Elmore used a Paint the Town Grant to have a mural painted on their library,” Penny shared. “SMIF has also provided $13,512 in matching funds and services to the Blue Earth Community Foundation and the Our Town Community Foundation which covers Wells and other towns in the eastern part of the county.”

Penny provided data which showed that for every $1 of donations from Faribault County, $11 is invested back into Faribault County Communities.

SMIF representatives will be in Blue Earth on Oct. 9.

“We will be at Rolling Cones at about 2 p.m. before we move on to Giant Park,” Penny said. “We will end our visit with a stop at Lost Saint Brewery at about 3:20 p.m.”

In other business:

— The board accepted a formal notice of retirement from Sheriff Mike Gormley, effective Jan. 29, 2025.

— A resolution was passed appointing chief deputy Scott Adams to the position of interim Sheriff of Faribault County beginning Jan. 29, 2025, to serve in that capacity until a new Sheriff is elected or appointed in accordance with the law.

— The board received an update on MRCI from Tami Reuter, the chief business and marketing officer for the organization.

— Public works director April Wellman provided the board with the latest update on construction projects in the county.