Krueger named county board chair

In their first meeting of the new year, the Steele County Board of Commissioners reorganized by choosing new leadership.
Greg Krueger of District 5 was named chairman of the board while Jim Abbe of District 4 was chosen vice chair. Krueger replaces John Glynn, who had served as chair for the past year. The board also adopted new appointments for various committees. 
The board continued with some basic housekeeping items throughout the rest of the meeting. 
The annual items included legal publications such as awarding the publication bid for the printing of the 2018 financial statement and the delinquent tax list for 2018. Bids were awarded to both the Steele County Times and the Owatonna People’s Press.
Another routine item of note during Tuesday’s meeting was the approval of the 2019 board meeting schedule, which stands to follow the rhythm of past years’ rotation of every second and fourth Tuesday of the month.
During the meeting, the board also accepted a proposal from Keith Johnson Construction in Blooming Prairie to remove metal buildings from the old highway shop property. “As you know, for several years we’ve been trying to clean up that property,” County Administrator Scott Golberg said to the board.
“Those would be the two buildings on the south side of the property,” he clarified before the board’s approval. The action also included dismissing a previous proposal to remove the buildings by Denny’s Small Engines, which was not yet approved by Owatonna’s Land and Zoning Board. The county is still responsible for any concrete or asphalt and any remaining buildings located on the property.
The board also approved a Department of Corrections ICWC Crew Contract, which would see minimum status inmates contracted to be housed in Steele County where they are assigned in an ICWC work crew. The crew is to be supervised by a state employee, who is responsible for transporting them to and from the facility.
Although it was a routine meeting, there was some disagreement among the board when it came time to approve refilling a building inspector position. Commissioners Jim Abbe and James Brady opted to vote to table the refill for the time being and look at additional options, such as outsourcing. But with a vote of 3-2, the board passed the refill. The position is currently vacant due to the retirement of Tom Biesterfeld.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22.