Also, wildlife area adds 59 acres

Freeborn County 4th District Commissioner Christopher Shoff on Tuesday was elected as board chairman for 2014.

Shoff, who lives in Albert Lea, was elected to serve on the county board in 2006. This will be his third year serving as chairman. He previously served in the role in 2009 and 2010.

“I look forward to continuing the path we’re on,” Shoff said.

He said when he was chairman previously the county pursued the agreement to jail Immigration and Customs Enforcement inmates and began trying to acquire the abandoned Union Pacific line from Albert Lea to Hartland. This year is the end of the ICE contract, which he hopes continues, and the county is still in negotiations for the trail.

Shoff is on track to become president of the Association of Minnesota Counties next year. This will be the first time someone from Freeborn County has ever been elected to that position. This year, he is the first vice president for that organization.

The board elected Fifth District Commissioner Mike Lee as vice chairman.

In other action, the board:

• Set the minimum salaries for newly elected officials.

According to state statute, these salaries must be set at the first meeting of an election year. The salaries give new people running for office an idea of what minimum pay they would get next year if elected to any of the four elected positions.

The commissioners approved a salary of about $74,000 for the county attorney, $66,000 for the sheriff, $38,000 for the recorder and 43,000 for the county auditor/treasurer.

• Heard a presentation from Jeanine Vorland, Owatonna area wildlife manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regarding the October purchase of 59.4 acres of land in Pickerel Lake Township by Wetlands America Trust, a land trust affiliate for Ducks Unlimited.

The land, which is along the west side of the Magaksica State Wildlife Management Area, will be transferred to the DNR for inclusion in the wildlife area. Fifty-three acres of the land is wetlands.

Magaksica WMA includes most of Mud Lake and can be accessed via County Road 71 or County Road 46.

• Approved the Albert Lea Tribune as the official Freeborn County newspaper for legal notices, including the delinquent tax list.

• Approved a maintenance agreement with the city of Albert Lea for portions of Freeborn County roads 20, 22 and 48 within the city limits.

• Approved a maintenance agreement with Albert Lea’s utility department for the Exol lift station.

• Authorized the Freeborn County Engineer Sue Miller to give supervisory assistance to cities and townships in the county as requested.

• Approved a request for Miller to travel to Louisiana for the National Association of County Engineers conference. Expenses are estimated at less than $1,500 and were budgeted, she said.

• Accepted the resignation of Stephanie Pirsig, program coordinator in the Freeborn County jail, effective Jan. 10. The board approved allowing the sheriff to look for a replacement.

• Approved an agreement with Dr. Michael B. McGee of the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office for medical examiner and morgue services for 2014.

The county spent about $68,000 on these services in 2013. This cost varies each year depending on the number and types of deaths.

• Approved the commissioners 2014 appointments to various committees and organizations.

• Appointed Susan Carlson and Mary DeRaad to the Freeborn County Extension Services Advisory Board.

• Set the board meeting dates and times for 2014. Meetings will continue on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. They will start at 8:30 a.m.

• Heard a presentation from Jon Ford, executive director of the Albert Lea Housing and Redevelopment Authority, about the Minnesota Cities Participation Program.