County to host open house at Dalton senior housing project

By Robert Williams

Editor

Otter Tail County Sheriff Barry Fitzgibbons petitioned the Otter Tail Board of Commissioners to use $213,000 of Public Safety Funds, as well as forfeiture funds, to purchase a Sherp N 1200 rescue vehicle. The breakdown of cost is $163,042 from safety funds and $50,000 from the sheriff’s office’s forfeiture funds. There will be no impact on the budget and no levy dollars will be used, according to Chief Deputy Reed Reinbold.

Fitzgibbons’ proposal was first approved by the Finance Committee. In that proposal, Fitzgibbons shared experiences where the use of the high grade all-terrain vehicle was used from another county and its usefulness. 

“If we had that vehicle we would have used it many more times,” said Reinbold. “There is just so much terrain that we can’t get to without it.”

The sheriff’s department is also using a one-month trial on a search and rescue drone program.

Reinbold shared a positive experience in using Cass County’s Sherp vehicle with the drone program.

Multiple commissioners spoke positively about the many uses in urgent and emergency situations, safety increases and the vehicle as a regional asset to EMS, fire and police departments.

The vehicle has a 20-year life span and the purchase was approved unanimously by the board.

Human Resources

The county will be adding a full-time Probation Supervisor position as a necessity due to the transition to the Community Corrections Act model of probation service delivery, according to Assistant HR Director Stephanie Retzlaff. Currently, the Probation Director oversees 15 employees and the transition will mean additional staff will be added in 2025. Funding for the position will come out of the new probation funding subsidy. 

“The supervisor will oversee probation agents and potentially support staff, as well,” said Retzlaff.

Community Development

Approval was given of a Statewide Affordable Housing Aid (SAHA) Agreement entered into by the county and the OTC Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA).

The State of Minnesota enacted the Statewide Local Housing Aid established distributions to each county for qualifying projects.

Otter Tail County received $143,671 in SAHA funding in fiscal year 2023 which helped establish the Otter Tail County Affordable Senior Housing Program and authorized the North Fields of Dalton affordable senior housing development, which consists of two triplex buildings, totaling six units of affordable senior housing in the City of Dalton.

A similar project is planned for the county-owned lots in the Sunny Oaks development in Vergas pending funding.

The agreement manages distribution of funds, reporting and records, data practices and general provisions.

The Dalton housing development will have units of occupancy ready as of Dec. 1, according to Community Development Director Amy Baldwin.

An open house of the finished units will be held Friday, Nov. 22 from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Auditor-Treasurer

Nancy Johnson was appointed to an additional four-year term, effective January 1, on the Otter Tail Water Management District’s Board of Commissioners. Johnson’s term was up for renewal this year. The commissioners appoint people to the Water Management Board.

Commissioner Wayne Johnson brought up making these positions more available to the public by advertising the positions like similar board positions. Future discussions may be scheduled on potential term limits for these positions.

The board approved a transfer in the amount of $136,993.45 from the Capital Improvement to the Road and Bridge Fund for the purchase of a 2024 Ford F350 SRW XL with flatbed and a 2024 Ford F350 SRW XL with a Tommy Gate.

The board also approved Erhard 4th of July’s submission of an application to the Gambling Control Board to conduct off-site gambling at the Ice Hole Portable Bar, which is located at the Lake Lida Public Access off County Highway 4. 

Gaming at Hillbillies Vittles & Brew in Erhard will be extended out to Ice Hole when the bar is open to help generate revenue for the Erhard 4th of July fund.

Highway

Right of Way resolution continues with two property owners involved in the Fir and Friberg Avenues roundabout project.

Work is progressing at the new garage project in Perham and ready for a salt shed to be ordered this fall, according to County Engineer Krysten Foster. The 65’x60’ Britespan Atlas Series salt shed from Greystone Construction through the Sourcewell cooperative contract will be constructed at the Perham Garage in the amount of $218,150, including installation in 2025.

A suburban neighborhood on the north side of the town will be the site of a reduced speed limit study on the segment of County State Aid Highway No. 56 east of CSAH 67, as requested through New York Mills Councilmember Latham Hetland.

“Considering the residential development surrounding this segment of this highway it seems to make sense to request the Minnesota Department of Transportation reduce the speed limit below the 55-miles-per-hour standard that applies to rural highways,” said Foster. 

Foster spoke with MnDOT representatives before Tuesday’s meeting and reported they agreed the stretch of highway meets the criteria for formally requesting a speed study.