Thursday, May 27, 2010
Volume 97; Number 50
County will
reimburse
land
owners
By Tim King
At their Tuesday, May 18
meeting, the Todd County Board
of Commissioners voted 4 to 1 to
reimburse land owners benefited
by County Ditches #2 and #33
and to pay $42,868.02 in costs in
improperly approved ditch
repair expenses with tax payer
funds from the county's General
Revenue Fund. Most of the
money will be used to pay for the
improper hiring of Barr
Engineering to survey the ditch-
es. Commisssioners say that for-
mer County Commissioner Mark
Nelson improperly contracted
with Barr Engineering.
Approximately $7,000 will be
used to cover the costs of public
ditch meetings held between
early 2006 and July 2009. The
two ditches provide drainage for
some landowners in Leslie and
Reynolds Townships in southern
Todd County.
Normally landowners who
benefit from a county drainage
ditch pay into a fund for its
maintenance and repair. The
landowners make payments to
the fund through annual assess-
ments to their property taxes.
County taxpayers that do not
benefit from a drainage ditch do
not pay for the ditch's upkeep.
Landowners on County Ditches
#2 and #33 had already been
assessed for part of the costs
Head Start visits local business
The Browerville Head Start students took a tour of Steve’s
County Foods last week. Before returning to school, the stu-
dents were given a bag of goodies to take with them. Above:
Steve Pearson hands out the goodies to a few of the students.
Wed. May 26
Partly Cloudy
82°/53°
www.bladepublishing.net
A community newspaper serving Browerville, MN and surrounding areas. USPS 067-560
75¢
associated with the Barr
Engineering survey and public “House Burn” is a valuable training tool
meetings when James and Stella
Baller, who live on the ditch,
notified Todd County that they
were considering taking Todd
County to court for the improper
assessments. The county will
now refund those assessments.
Rather than go to court, the
county chose to settle with the
Ballers and refund the assess-
ments. County Administrator
Nathan Burkett said that the
county's private attorney had
advised the commissioners that
it is legal to use general taxpay-
er funds to pay for county ditch
expenses to settle potential liti-
gation.
The county's insurer,
Minnesota Counties
Intergovernmental Trust, will
not pay a claim submitted by the
county to cover the costs of set-
tling with the Ballers.
Commissioner Kircher said he
was disappointed that the insur-
ance company would not cover
errors made by County
Commissioners. Commissioner
Nelson apparently contracted
with Barr Engineering without
obtaining the approval of the
rest of the county board.
Commissioner Kneisl voted
against the settlement.
SHERIFF
Commissioners took the first
Members of the Browerville, Clarissa, Eagle Bend, and Long Prairie Fire Departments par-
small step toward meeting a ticipated in a house burn exercise in Browerville on May 22nd. The burn is necessary for new
2013 federal mandate to
members to complete their training, and a valuable refresher for veteran fire department
upgrade emergency response members. The house, the old Kahlert/Motzko home, was owned by the City of Browerville. With
radio communications. By agree-
the house and out-buildings now gone, the lot on which the house stood will be cleaned up and
ing to support a grant request offered for sale. Additional photos on page 16. Photos by Aaron Quirt.
from the Long Prairie Fire
Department, to the Federal
Emergency Management
Agency, for an 800-megahertz
Memorial Day May 31, 2010
communications system the
Master of Ceremonies Tom Oven
Continued on page 16
National Anthem BHS Band
Invocation Father Zimmerman
Pledge of Allegiance Public
Selection BHS Band
Tribute Over Graves Commander & Presidents
American Legion 293
Veterans of Foreign Wars 8391
No Freedom Isn’t Free Annie Boser
Guest Speaker Warrant Officer Candidate
Greg Weidenbach
Benediction Father Zimmerman
Salute to the Dead Firing Squad
Veterans of Foreign Wars 8391
American Legion 293
Taps Gloria King
Kristina O’Brien
Parade begins at 10 am at BHS and marches to the Catholic Cemetery. In case of inclement weath-
er, program will be held at the high school gymnasium.
WEEKLY WEATHER REPORT
Thu . May 27 Fri. May 28 Sat. May 29 Sun. May 30 Mon. May 31 Tue. June 1 Wed. June 2
Sunny Mostly Sunny Sunny T-Storms Partly Cloudy Sunny Showers
78°/50° 82°/53° 78°/53° 71°/51° 76°/52° 76°/54° 76°/54°