EQUALIZATION BOARDS MEET, COMMISSION TALKS BRIDGES

    The Marshall County Commission met Tuesday, addressing a range of topics. Local Boards of Equalization convened during the meeting, including the Langford Consolidated Board of Equalization, Britton Consolidated Board of Equalization, and the Marshall County Board of Equalization. The Marshall County Board approved one appeal, reducing the assessed property value for Tim and Kathleen Tracy from $261,780 to $208,725. Corrections were also made to assessments regarding a flooded acreage. Full details from the equalization boards will be published in next week’s official meeting minutes.
    Highway Superintendent Dustin Hofland discussed the Wade Bridge, which is currently not in use. He noted that it would cost approximately $50,000 to get the bridge construction-ready, which could strengthen the county’s chances of receiving a grant for further improvements. The company Hollaway will also examine the bridge to provide a cost estimate for repairs without grant funding. Hofland also reported that a hydraulic study will be conducted on the Amherst Road bridge. A chip seal bid letting is scheduled for the commission’s next meeting. The board approved the hiring of Carl Cleveland as the new weed supervisor, replacing Monte Hoglund.
    Sheriff Sam Swanson informed the board of the hiring of Tom Myers as a new deputy. He also announced the county’s participation in the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force through a signed memorandum of understanding, which will allow the department to access additional resources for investigations.
    Tobin Morris of Colliers joined the meeting via teleconference to discuss the bond process related to the courthouse project. The commission also approved using $100,000 from the Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund—COVID relief funding—for government purposes.
    In zoning matters, drainage was approved for Dave Hansen in Veblen Township, covering parts of Sections 5 and 6. Building permits were approved for Michael G. Niesen in Pleasant Valley Township, Eddy Kornelsen in Lake Township (which also included a variance), Brandon Alberts in Weston Township, Randy Heitmann in Red Iron Lake Township (with a variance), and Laurel Stiegelmeier in Newport Township.
    Erin Collins-Miles, the E911 Addressing Administrator, updated the board on address changes within the county. She reported that all notifications regarding address changes on Main Avenue in Britton have been mailed out. For safety and accuracy, the address numbers remain the same, but all addresses are now officially designated as MAIN AVE. Address changes have also been implemented in the Coteau Acres development near Buffalo Lake, where new names—Coteau Acres Ave., Ln., and Dr.—have been assigned based on the road layout. Collins-Miles said she is working to contact a spokesperson for the homeowners’ association in that area to discuss updating road signage to reflect the changes.