GRANITE FALLS -- The Yellow Medicine County Board of Commissioners will be deciding in January or earlier whether or not to make the county attorney position full time.
The commissioners discussed the possibility at their meeting on Tuesday but took no action, reported John Chattin, county administrator.
There would be little additional costs in going to a full-time position, and it may offer financial benefits for the county to do so. The county currently contracts for 1,000 hours of service from the county attorney. It also contracts separately for county attorney services to the Human Services Department.
The decision on whether to go to a full-time arrangement would need to be made in January as the position is up for election in November. There are a number of other issues involved with the decision, such as setting a salary and office space costs, according to Chattin.
In other business, the commissioners reviewed preliminary plans for developing Timm Park on Wood Lake. A rural water line will be connected to the park this autumn, and that opens up possibilities for campground development. The park currently offers primitive style camping.
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Plans call for developing 27 camper sites, each measuring 60 feet by 12 feet, according to Myron Hagelstrom, park supervisor. Each could accommodate one camper or two tents.
Eventually water and electrical service would be provided to many if not all of the camper sites.
The county would also like to develop a shower building with flush toilets.
The commissioners also postponed action on a proposed park ordinance. Chattin will meet with commissioners Ron Antony and Jane Remiger as well as Sheriff Rich Rollins, County Attorney Tom Kramer and Hagelstrom to resolve enforcement issues for Timm Park.
In other matters:
n The commissioners agreed to advertise for bids to build an 80-foot by 80-foot cold storage facility at the county shop building in Granite Falls. The project was first proposed 1½ years ago at an estimated cost of $110,000. The county now estimates the project will cost $176,000 due to rising steel and construction costs.
The project had been delayed in anticipation of doing a joint project with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, but it does not appear the department is ready to move forward at this time.
n Commissioners approved action to move forward with the purchase of a residential lot near the courthouse for $88,000. If acquired, the county would likely have the house removed and use the lot for parking needs. The property is desired for possible future expansion.
