The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted 4-1 on a preliminary 5.9% increase in the county’s tax levy.

The preliminary levy, which has to be approved each year in September, can be lowered in December when the budget is finalized, but it cannot be raised.

County Administrator Tom Jensen said the increase covers cost of living increases for county employees, increases in energy and fuel costs, and reductions in reimbursements from state and federal governments for mandated services within the public health and human services departments.

One percent of the increase could cover an expected $200,000 to $250,000 request by the Albert Lea Healthcare Coalition for the new MercyOne clinic announced last week.

The board indicated they had many questions of the coalition before they wanted to vote on the clinic request, but included the funds in the preliminary levy in the event they decide to approve it.

Second District Commissioner Dan Belshan was the sole vote against the preliminary levy, stating taxpayers could not afford its impacts, particularly with the other levies being considered in Albert Lea. He noted last year he was in support of a 1% cut across all departments, and he also has concerns about the jail.

He said soybeans are at 10-year lows, and industry has been leaving Albert Lea.

“I mean, we have people hurting — big time,” Belshan said.

Jensen said he had been a part of discussions with the Albert Lea Healthcare Coalition for several months but because of confidentiality agreements was not allowed to speak publicly earlier about the request for funds. He said the coalition also intends to ask for money from the city.

“I would be neglectant in my duties if I did not tell you that there’s going to be a knock at your door, and that knock is going to be for a substantial amount of money,” Jensen. “If it all goes, there’s a lot of things at play that have to happen, all at the same time.”

Board members expressed several concerns about the request for funds from the coalition, particularly about the plans for MercyOne’s future and if those plans included replacing inpatient services or labor and delivery services that Mayo Clinic Health System is moving from Albert Lea to Austin.

Fifth District Commissioner Mike Lee said the commissioners needed to have the flexibility to approve the request for funds for the MercyOne clinic in the preliminary levy if they choose after getting their questions answered. If they set the levy only at 4.9%, which was the original figure being discussed, that money would not be in the budget.

Belshan asked whether the funds could come out of reserve if need be down the road.

Jensen said the funds could not be pulled out of the county’s reserves, as those are presently sitting at about 3 1/2 months equivalent of expenses for the county, while policy calls for six months.

The commissioners will have another workshop Oct. 22 regarding the budget, and will hear from elected officials about their salary requests Nov. 12. Both workshops will start at 8:30 a.m. It is likely that representatives from the coalition will also present during the October workshop.

In other action, the board:

• Approved repairs to the drainage system.

• Approved a contract between the Glenville-Emmons School District and Freeborn County for services for an upcoming election for the district.

Auditor-treasurer Pat Martinson said the county would help with absentee voting.

The board also approved appointing an absentee ballot board for the year.

• Accepted the resignation of Molly Burkholder, a public health nurse. The board voted to fill the vacancy of the position.

• Accepted the resignation of Alan Olson, an accounting supervisor with the Department of Human Services. Olson is retiring after 14 years with the county, Jensen said.

The board voted to fill the position.

• Accepted the resignation of Mitch Hagen, a patrol sergeant with the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, who will leave to work for the FBI, Jensen said.

The board voted to table filling the vacancy for 60 days.

• Voted to reimburse the Sheriff’s Office for $3,770 in wages incurred through aquatic invasive species training and enforcement. The reimbursement comes through a separate fund in the county specifically for aquatic invasive species efforts.

• Accepted a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation for about $22,000 for the 2019 and 2020 Toward Zero Deaths enforcement grant program and authorized Albert Lea Police Department Lt. Jeff Strom to act on behalf of the county as grant administrator. The county and city will share the grant.

• Approved a 50/50 cost share agreement between the county and city of Alden for a dynamic driver feedback speed sign to be placed on the south side of Alden on County State Aid Highway 6 after coming off of Freeborn County Road 46, said Freeborn County Public Works Director Sue Miller.

Miller said Alden has another sign on Minnesota Highway 109 in partnership with MnDOT.

• Approved a resolution for the final payment of about $32,000 for bridge replacements on County Road 107 and County State Aid Highway 1 completed by ICON Constructors LLC out of Mabel. The whole project cost about $582,000.

• Approved a resolution for the final payment of about $107,000 for mill and overlay projects completed by Ulland Brothers in Emmons, Twin Lakes, Conger and Hayward. The whole project cost about $807,000.

• Accepted the Highway Department’s annual financial report.

• Approved the annual household waste and recycling fees for 2020.

The fees will be about $15 more annually for city residents and $13 more for rural residents.

Jensen said the increase will fund a proposed household hazardous wage building due to changes in coverage for the trailer currently used.

He said on top of that, recycling fees through Waste Management are expected to more than double next year.

• Approved out of state travel for financial manager Pat Paquin to attend a national conference.