Commissioners O.K. funding request by historical society

A funding request by the Le Sueur County Historical Society (LCHS) was approved as part of the agenda for the Tuesday, Aug. 13 meeting of the Le Sueur County Board.

 

At their August 6 meeting, the LCHS Board of Directors took action to present a request for the remaining budgeted 2013 county funds in the amount of $14,644.63, to be utilized as follows:

 

Prepay September-December utility bills in advance—$4,200; lawn care and fall clean-up—$1,000; building maintenance and repairs—$9,444.63.

 

Society Coordinator Kathy Burns, who made the request for funds, said the maintenance and repairs expenses

would include repair of lighting systems, carpentry and masonry work, furnace maintenance, etc.

 

“We do maintenance work at the sites on a regular basis,” commented Dean Haas, a director of the society who was present at the meeting.

 

Commissioner Joe Connolly asked, “Is there an itemized breakdown of those miscellaneous items?” Burns said there will be a record of expenses as they are paid by society checks.

 

When asked if the historical sites have been open to the public, Burns replied, “The sites have been open by appointment only, since funding was not sufficient for full-time staffing.”

 

Commissioner John King said, “This money is necessary to safeguard and maintain the historical sites, and therefore I make a motion to approve the funding.” Commissioner Dave Gliszinski seconded the motion and it was carried.

 

The funding request was submitted by Clancy Mager, president; Bill Stangler, vice president; Jenifer Morsching, secretary; Bob Schaffer, treasurer; and Dean Haas, director.

 

County Administrator Darrell Pettis said the society will be a part of the budget process for 2014, and is expected to make a request for funding at a future budget  meeting of the county board.

 

The board also:

—Accepted the resignation of Jennifer Peirce, eligibility worker in human services, and approved a recommendation to hire a part time deputy in the sheriff’s office. Sheriff Tom Doherty said the additional deputy would help to eliminate overtime hours in the department.

—Awarded bid for generator replacement at the law enforcement center to Brennan Companies in the amount of $129,800.

—Heard a presentation on aerial imagery from Justin Lutterman of the assessor’s office, who introduced Tim Briggs of AeroLogix Consulting. Briggs, from New Prague, is developing advanced technologies in geospatial imagery systems, and would use Le Sueur Co. for research and development of his services at the county level. “This system of advanced imagery would be most useful in the mining areas of the county,” said Administrator Pettis. The board was receptive to having County Attorney Brent Christian review a proposed contract.