Election judges

Houston County auditor Charlene Meiners asked the county’s Board of Commissioners Nov. 12 for permission to hire 5 election judges to assist in the upcoming U.S. Seante seat recount between Sen. Norm Coleman and Al Franken. Meiners said two people are needed on each recount team. She is organizing five teams and estimates each team would put in about two hours. The county would pay for the work at a temporary employee rate, said Tim Comstock, county personnel director. But the county would be reimbursed by the state at a rate of 3 cents per ballot.

The county board received the Houston County Canvassing Board report, which met Nov. 6, and checked the abstract of votes provided by Meiners. All were found to be properly accounted for.

Commissioner Dave Corcoran, who also serves on the Canvassing Board, said, “We (had) picked two precincts out to re-do at random (as required by law), and made sure they were right.”

Wilmington Township and Caledonia City Precinct #1 were reviewed, and no errors were found.

Finance policies

County finance director Casey Bradley needed approval for several new policies, most which had been identified in the 2007 audit, as needed to stay in line with state and federal requirements.

New policies include, credit card use, and who is responsible for what details, and how to keep track of them in regards to the county’s capital assets.

The board approved the policy changes.

Victim’s Services Grant

Victim Services director Michelle Hermann requested approval of the yearly grant that allows her office to operate. Corcoran, noting the presence of commissioner-elect Bob Augedahl and others, asked Hermann to explain what her office does.

“I do crime victim services for the county and the cities,” she explained. “I inform the victims of their rights in the criminal justice system, help them with their restitution information, and their right to do a victim impact statement, (and) act as a referral source to other agencies if my services aren’t appropriate for what they need. If I don’t do it, the prosecutor’s office would be responsible for doing this.”

Commissioner Ann Thompson explained that these services are mandated by law. The county provides office space for victim’s services and the expenses are paid for by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. This year’s grant was $43,172. The board voted to approve the grant and the “resolution” required by Hermann to execute it.

Also…

Houston County Highway superintendent Tom Molling requested approval to award a contract to Zenke, Inc. The bid is for repairs to an area of Highway 18 near Fremont St. on the south edge of Hokah.

Cost for the work would be $84,328.

Since this part of the 2007 flood damage, Molling explained the county would be reimbursed 100 percent by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The board granted approved.