FAIRMONT– On Tuesday the Martin County Commissioners heard an update from Tammie Hested, coordinator of The Minnesota Valley Action Council/Martin County Summer Youth Internship program.

Hested said the only change in the contract from last year is that they’ve decided to increase the wage from $11.50 to $13 per hour in order to keep up with the changes in minimum wage and labor market. She said this would allow them to have 14 interns this summer.

Commissioner Elliot Belgard said, “It’s no doubt a good program and minimum wages are going up everywhere. This isn’t a position they’re going to stay at, it’s an internship. Hopefully they’re getting into the right industry or business that they want to go into for a career.”

Hested admitted while she wasn’t initially getting many applications, she ended up getting 16, which means she’ll have two who won’t get served this year, though they’ll be chosen next year if they’re still interested.

She said almost all of them have been placed. One will be at the Martin County Historical Society, another at Minuteman Press and others at Mayo Clinic Health System-Fairmont, Kahler Automation, Sweet Financial, Martin County Soil and Water and more.

“We have a wide range of interests,” Hested said.

Hested said she’s been asked to speak in other communities about the program and that it looks like the city of Waseca will be launching the program this summer as well.

“Thank you for seeing the value in this and for investing in our young adults. I think it’s really important for our county,” Hested told the commissioners.

Belgard said the commissioners also see value in the program but ultimately the money comes from the people in the county. However he said they get a good return on it as the hope is the interns will come back and work in the county after they finish college.

The commissioners approved of the contract with the wage increase.

Moving to other matters, the board also heard from Chuck Mixson, who provided an update on the Martin County Veterans Memorial project.

Mixson said the statues are in three phases, two statues for each phase and six months for each phase. He said hopefully this time next year the last statues will be delivered.

Four statues are currently in place and the plan is to have 10 in total, which will represent different wars and people of different ages.

Mixson said the cost for four is about $8,400 and installation is included in the cost.

“The rear retaining wall is 80 percent complete. We couldn’t finish the very east end because it’s going up against the ship’s wall. We brought in a lot more dirt and everything,” Mixson said.

He said the county highway department made a gravel road that goes behind the wall and that project couldn’t be finished last fall but they’ll come back this spring when cement is ready to be poured.

Mixson said new flags have also been purchased through the American Legion. He said they figure three sets a year are needed since they tend to tatter and they want them to look nice. The plan is to change them around Memorial Day, Labor Day and in the winter.

“The money was donated by the VFW and the Buffalo Ridge Leatherneck Association and Cress Refrigeration,” Mixson said.

He also said it will take about a year to get the five benches, with will represent the main branches of the military. They should arrive in March or April of next year which will match the timeline of everything being complete.

Finally, Mixson thanked Sentence to Serve for helping around the memorial site. He said he thinks it provided them something to be proud of.

Commissioner Kathy Smith asked how the engraving on the back wall is going. Mixson said it’s been too cold to work on and that the individual who is doing it is also working on memorials in other communities as well.

The board also heard from County Engineer Kevin Peyman regarding changes to the camping fees. Peyman said every year the Martin County Park Board talks about fees and it’s been about six or seven years since they’ve changed.

“This year since we’re seeing such an increase in everything with our electrical and all of the fees are going up, they’re recommending a slight increase for nightly,” Peyman said.

Last year fees were $22 per night for an electric/water camping site and $12 for a primitive camping site. The park board suggests rasing that to $25 and $15 respectively. Peyman said they’ve looked at surrounding county and private parks and feel like it’s still a good value.

He also shared that the seasonal fee would stay the same at $450. Commissioner

Steve Flohrs asked how many seasonal ones they have. Peyman said the limit is six at Cedar Hansen and two at Perch but they usually have three to four at a time.

The board approved the increases in fees.

In other action, the board:

— Approved the appointment of Jen Kahler a position on the 4-H extension board.

— Set a public hearing for 10 a.m. on April 5 to discuss the redistricting of county lines.