BENSON -- Concerned that the potential closure of Benson's only General Motors dealership could cause hardship to the community and residents, the Swift County Board of Commissioners took a public stand this week to defend the business.
On a unanimous vote the commissioners approved a resolution urging General Motors to keep Swenson Motor Company open and operating.
The Benson City Council and Economic Development Authority are expected to take the same action, said Byron Giese, Swift County Auditor.
It's hoped that official statements of support from local governments will persuade the troubled automobile company to keep the Benson business open.
Swenson Motor Company of Willmar and Benson has been notified by General Motors that Swenson will no longer be a dealer for GMC trucks in Willmar and for GM cars in Benson.
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The termination would not occur until October 2010 when Swenson's contract with General Motors is up for renewal
Swenson Motor Company owner Rollie Swenson told the Tribune last week that a letter from GM says the company is prepared to give Swenson until the end of the month "to submit information you would you like us to have."
Giese said closing the business would be tough on Benson and could mean the loss of six jobs.
It would also be a hardship for residents who own GM cars and would have to make a 60-mile round trip to Willmar for service.
A Swift County landowner will have to pay the county about $1,000 for the destruction of 20 right-of-way markers the county had put in a road ditch in Fairfield Township.
The commissioners had installed markers along the edge of the county right of way in ditches where area farmers had a tradition of overplowing and extending their fields onto county land.
The landowner in question had repeatedly complained about having the markers installed, said Giese. It was recently discovered that 20 posts that border his field and the county ditch had been destroyed or removed.
Giese said it's understandable when a plow takes out one or two posts, but in this case a whole row was plowed under.
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Commissioners agreed last week to charge the individual $50 to replace each post.
The commissioners approved a bid of $742,406 from Central Specialties for bituminous overlay of County Road 1. The bid was under the estimate of $890,000. They also approved a bid of $271,263 from Morris Sealcoat and Trucking Inc. for seal coat projects on four county roads. The project was estimated to cost $296,406.
It was also noted that this is the 25th anniversary of the Swift County Relay for Life event, which is scheduled for June 19 in Benson.
