Nobles County trail project to move forward

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WORTHINGTON — With plans to begin constructing a trail project yet this year along Crailsheim Drive on Worthington’s east side, Nobles County commissioners opted to pay a little more for a land easement to avoid the likely delays of going through eminent domain.

Public Works Director Stephen Schnieder said an initial offer of $32,200 had been made to the landowners for using approximately 1.5 acres of land for the trail, but that was declined because the landowners wanted the easement to be narrower. After altering the design, Schnieder said the second offer made to the landowners included purchasing a 1.08-acre easement for $24,500. That price also factored in lost acreage since the land now has a crop on it.

“Bottom line is they’ve come back to the county with a proposal,” Schnieder told the board Tuesday, adding that the landowners said they would sell a 1.08-acre easement for $32,200.

Completing the purchase of this particular easement is the last step in the county’s plans to complete a trail system that will hook up to the existing trail in Olson Park, follow County State Aid Highway 10/Crailsheim Drive north to County State Aid Highway 35/Oxford Street, and then travel east along the south side of Oxford Street to Whiskey Ditch before connecting with the trail at Centennial Park.

Schnieder told commissioners acceptance of the landowners’ offer finishes the process and allows the county to move forward with the project. He also said the landowners didn’t dispute the land value, but expressed their desire to be compensated for inconvenience.

Once the landowners sign the agreement, Schnieder said the county will move forward with the project, most of which includes road work this year.

The plans include placing fill in the road ditch on the east side of CSAH 10 and fixing the slopes on CSAH 35. Curb and gutter will be installed along the north and south sides of Oxford Street, east of CSAH 10, and storm sewer work will be done on CSAH 10. Most of the dirt for the trail project will come from Minnesota West Community and Technical College, which is moving forward with a regional stormwater retention pond on its property this summer.

Schnieder anticipates the trail paving will be completed in August 2013.

In addition to approving the easement purchase, commissioners authorized the advertisement for bids for the construction project. Bid opening is slated for 1:30 p.m. July 31.

In other action, the board:

* Approved an agreement with the State of Minnesota for communications equipment to be installed on four cell towers — at Brewster, Kanaranzi, Rushmore and Worthington. Sheriff Kent Wilkening said the equipment will give law enforcement “seamless paging” across the county. The agreement will extend from Oct. 1, 2012, through Sept. 30, 2022. Tower access will cost the county $1,200 annually ($300 per tower).

* Appointed Joyce Jacobs as the county’s emergency management director and Sheriff Kent Wilkening as deputy EM director, effective July 9, when Jacobs begins her new role with the county.

l Received a 90-day notice from Sanford Worthington Clinic to terminate its medical services contract with the Nobles County Jail. Sanford has provided a full-time nurse for jail work since 2002.

“With the needs of the inmates, I think it’s gone a bit beyond what they are capable of doing,” said Wilkening, adding that Sanford was also sending a doctor to the facility a couple of times each week.

Wilkening will develop a proposal for new medical services to be brought into the jail. In addition to contacting the local Avera clinic, he will also send information to the two Minnesota companies that work specifically in jail health.

* Approved changes to Articles 3 and 4 of county policy pertaining to county purchasing and the budgeting process. The purchasing policy is now more reflective of state statute, and the budget policy combines two previous, yet different, policies that were in place.

* Approved extending an agreement with Computer Professionals Unlimited for maintenance and professional support for the county’s computer tax system, including delinquent property taxes, sales ratios, ditches, solid waste and special assessments. The new agreement will be in place for six years and includes a 4 percent annual increase.

* Was introduced to the new assistant Nobles County Attorney, David McCalip. McCalip began his duties in Worthington in mid-June and will work on child protection, traffic and juvenile cases.

* Received an annual update from the Heron Lake Watershed District and was introduced to the new watershed coordinator for the West Fork of the Des Moines River Watershed, Kiel Tschumperlin.

* Authorized the closing of CSAHs 1 and 14 within the city of Brewster from 1 to 2:30 p.m. July 21 for the Brewster Fun Days parade.

* Appointed Commissioners Marv Zylstra and Bob Demuth Jr. to the county’s budget committee. They will serve with Interim Nobles County Administrator Vijay Sethi and Auditor-Treasurer Sharon Balster.

Daily Globe Reporter Julie Buntjer may be reached at 376-7330.

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