At the Marshall County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Highway Superintendent Dustin Hofland discussed establishing a snow removal policy with the board. Currently there is no set policy. Hofland said that he feels that they need a better way of communicating when roads will be open versus closed. “We want to be able to better inform the public when we’ll be out plowing and when we won’t,” said the superintendent.
Hofland added that managing snow removal in the county is no small feat as the conditions can be so variable across our large area. “Ultimately we don’t want to put people in danger or waste county resources,” he said. The board asked him to start drafting a potential policy.
Jennifer Ringkob, 4-H Youth Program Advisor, Cari Price, Community Health Nurse and Larissa Heitmann who acts as secretary for both of those departments were at the meeting to discuss that secretary position. There have been some changes in the Department of Health in the past year that might affect the workload. The board and the employees ultimately decided to keep Heitmann’s duties as they are for now and see how the next year pans out.
A $125,000 down payment on a budgeted for motor grader was approved. The piece of equipment was not expected to be available until after the new year, but with it becoming available the down payment was approved earlier than expected.
In other business, Auditor Megan Biel noted that Dakota State University would soon be coming to the courthouse to perform a free cyber security check.
In zoning and highway matters, Floodplain Administrator, Erin Collins-Miles, discussed the potential of a second reading of Ordinance No. 62 and its proposed adoption which would take place in regular session. A member of the public was present to ask questions on the matter, to which there was some discussion. The Floodplain Administrator informed the Board that an updated ordinance adoption was drafted and sent to the paper but would be able to be prevented from being published if the ordinance were to again be postponed. A copy of the proposed Ordinance is available in its entirety for public review during normal business hours in the offices of the County Zoning Administrator, Erin Collins-Miles and the County Auditor, Megan Biel.
Miles, read the first notice for the proposed Zoning Regulations at the meeting. The Planning and Zoning Commission made a recommendation to the Marshall County Commission concerning the adoption of Ordinance No. 63. A roll call vote was taken. A copy of the proposed zoning revision is available in its entirety for public review during normal business hours in the offices of the County Zoning Director, Erin Collins-Miles and the County Auditor, Megan Biel. The first reading was held during regular session. The second reading will be held on Dec. 5, at 9:00 AM in the Commissioner’s Chambers.
Building Permits were granted to Jeff Grobe of Lake Township, plus a variance. Scott Phillips also of Lake Township was also granted a building permit.
