FAIRMONT– On Tuesday morning the Martin County Board of Commissioners heard some updates from County Engineer Kevin Peyman regarding the Trunk Highway 4 Trail Improvements in Trimont.

Peyman said they opened bids for the project on Friday and that Bolton & Menk, who is handling the project, was there as well. Of the four received, the low bid was for $434,105 from Nielsen Blacktopping & Concrete, Inc. of Kasota.

“My recommendation is the same as Bolton & Menk,” Peyman said of approving the low bid.

However, he said that the Trimont City Council would be meeting Tuesday evening and that all of the costs outside of the state grants are their cost and that the bid was higher than their estimates by about $40,000 so that their share of the cost will be higher than expected. He recommended that if the board approves awarding it, it’s contingent upon approval by the city of Trimont.

Commissioner Steve Flohrs said, “It’s so important to get this in there…. this would be great.” He made a motion to award the bid contingent upon the city’s approval.

Peyman said the city would need to pay about $260,000, but that they’ve already paid almost $90,000 of that.

Commissioner Kathy Smith noted that it’s a lot of money for a trail and Peyman said that trails are generally expensive.

The board approved of awarding the bid, contingent on the city’s approval.

Moving to other matters, County Attorney Terry Viesselman filled the board in on a situation concerning an inmate who was deemed mentally ill and dangerous. Viesselman said they’re staying at the Anoka hospital because there were no beds available in St. Peter.

“The charge was $30 a day but the person has been getting ongoing treatment and no longer qualifies for that level of treatment at that facility so now the charge is $1,500 a day,” Viesselman said.

He said there is a waiting list to get the person to St. Peter and Human Services estimates the cost to the county could be as much as $800,000.

Viesselman said Senator Julie Rosen has been contacted and is looking into it. He said they’re also putting a game plan together here to try to do something about it.

“As we all know, there’ been more of these mental illness situations… it’s kind of a crisis,” Viesselman said.

Smith said she’s also spoken to Senator Rosen and that this is a problem that other counties are experiencing as well. She said legislation is looking at it to see what can be done.

“They need to address this,” Smith said.

Belgard asked Viesselman if there’s anything the board can do and Viesselman said there’s not but he just wanted to make the board aware of the situation.

The board also approved two tax abatement requests for single-family construction. The first, located in Manyaska Township, requested by Joel Krause, has an estimated amount of new construction of $400,000 and an estimated total amount of taxes/10-year period of $19,819. The second was requested by Jon and Stephanie Coan and is located in Pleasant Prairie Township with an estimated amount of new construction of $355,000 and an estimated amount of taxes/10-year period of $14,232.

“This is what we wanted to do, right ,” said Commissioner Elliot Belgard.

County Assessor Mike Sheplee said these, plus two other tax abatement hearings the board later set, totaled 16 requests at about $5.9 million in new construction. He said the tax amount that would be abated for 10 years totals about $243,000.

“It’s a good benefit to those who are building and eventually a great benefit to all taxpayers in the county,” Sheplee said.

In other news, the board:

— Approved setting a public hearing date of 10 a.m. on June 7 for two single-family home tax abatement requests from Wayne and Charlene Kahler and Brian and Jill Grensteiner.

— Approved three conditional use permits. The first to mine gravel and sand in an “A” Agricultural District in Fraser Township. The second to construct and operate an in-line inspection device launcher in an “A” Agricultural District in Rolling Green Township. The third to construct and operate an in-line inspection device receiver in an “HB” Highway Business District in Rolling Green Township.