BLUE EARTH — Fari-bault County will have more public hunting land in the future.

County commissioners on Tuesday certified the purchase of 80 acres in Section 8 of Delavan Township by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The land was acquired from Joni Spenger.

“The property will be managed as a waterfowl production area and will be open to the public for hunting and other approved activities,” said Blake Knisley, a realty specialist with the Fish and Wildlife Service.

The land will be converted to grass and wetlands, he explained.

One negative of the transaction is the loss of tax revenue generated by the land, which is paid to the county. However, Knisley told commissioners the county will receive a one-time payment of $28,000 in addition to a yearly pavement, which, as of today, will be about $1,180, but will vary from year to year.

In other business:

o The board approved a bid by Midwest Contracting to replace two bridges. One bridge is in Rome Township on 60th Street. The other is in Seely Township on 500th Avenue. The cost to replace the two bridges is $400,629.

o A bid to do micro-surfacing on County Road 52 (also known as 14th Street) was awarded to Astech at a cost of $67,940. The project will start at Highway 169 and continue to Main Street in Blue Earth.

o Mark Daly, Public Works director, informed the board that trunk highways 253 and 254 will receive a one-inch overlay in late June or early July.