FAIRMONT– On Tuesday Representative Bjorn Olson provided a legislative update to the Martin County Board of Commissioners. Olson touched on the bonding bill that was discussed during the recent legislative session.

The session wrapped up on May 23 and Olson said everything kind of fell apart in the final days. While there was a tentative agreement between the House and Senate to spend $4 billion on tax deals and proposals for education and public safety, ultimately Olson said they couldn’t reach an agreement on any of them.

“The real disappointment was the bonding bill,” Olson said.

Previously, Martin County had requested $18.4 million in the 2022 legislative session for the proposed Martin County Regional Public Safety and Justice Center.

“The bonding bill died on Sunday night. Right now there’s clamoring for a special session. The only reason a special session would be of any value is for a bonding bill and right now there’s no real agreement on how we can make that bonding bill happen,” Olson said.

While he wasn’t optimistic about the possibility of another special session, he said if it does take place it would be in January.

Commissioner Elliot Belgard thanked Olson for the efforts made on the county’s behalf but stressed the urgency for the bonding bill in regards to the proposed justice center.

“To say we wait another year, we’ve waited another year for many years. This is kind of now or never for us,” Belgard said.

He said if they wait until January they’ll have expenses all the way through and the $2 million the county got in state bonding for planning purposes for the project will be run out by then.

“We’re at our wits’ ends here,” Belgard said.

County Attorney Viesselman commented that with Senator Julie Rosen retiring and not representing the area next year, they’ll lose the considerable influence she has.

After Olson’s update, Bob Long of Larkin Hoffman also shared an update on the county’s federal funding request for the proposed justice center. Larkin Hoffman has been lobbying on behalf of the county for additional funds.

Long recommended to continue on with federal efforts through the end of August as the county’s funding request has been moved to the subcommittee level.

Commissioner Steve Flohrs, a member of the justice center committee, admitted that initially he didn’t want to continue efforts but said they’ve come so far that he decided they should extend the services another three months.

“It will be a good investment. We won’t make anything without his (Long’s) help,” Flohrs said.

Commissioner Kathy Smith, also on the committee, agreed, saying they don’t have the contacts in Washington to move it forward. She said the possibility of getting $3.5 million in federal funds would help the project.

“If it looks like we’re not going to get the state bonding, what happens to the $3.5 million if we don’t get the rest?” Belgard asked.

Smith said they could possibly use it for renovations on existing facilities. She also said she’d hopeful something will happen with the bonding bill.

Long said that they would have a full year or more to spend the federal money if it is awarded.

The commissioners approved extending the agreement with Larkin Hoffman for another three months at $3,000 a month.

In other news, the board:

— Approved a tax abatement request for Brian and Jill Grensteiner at 450 E. Amber Lake Dr., Fairmont.

— Approved a tax abatement request for Wayne and Char Kahler at 467 200th Ave., Fairmont.

— Approved the low bid of $428,125 from H.G. Meigs for bituminous material for seal coating.

— Approved the low bid of $443,276 to NuWay-K&H Cooperative for gas and diesel supply