FAIRMONT– On Tuesday, the Martin County Board of Commissioners heard from Ashley Brenke, district manager of Martin County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), who presented a proposal for the county to support a Martin County geologic atlas, which will be done by the University of Minnesota in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“They look at what the bedrock is and we use that to see if there’s volatile areas for groundwater and stuff like that,” Brenke said.

She said they weren’t asking for any funds from the county, but rather support. The SWCD has agreed to provide in-kind assistance and Brenke explained that in the beginning they’ll look at well logs to create the geologic atlas.

“Our role at soil and water is to verify the location of those wells,” Brenke said.

The board approved authorizing a letter of support in creating a geologic atlas.

Brenke also presented information on the Des Moines River Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan, which she said has been a multi-year process.

“It’s been a long, drawn-out process. It started during Covid and was all online meetings… Ashley’s been a huge part of it,” said Commissioner Richard Koons, who has been the county representative on the committee.

Next, Planning and Zoning director, Pam Flitter, and Planning and Zoning technician, Wendy Chirpich, provided a Martin County septic system update.

Chirpich shared that 2,330 residences in Martin County are not connected to a city sewer. Of those, 1,845, or approximately 79 percent have a permit on file though Chirpich said just because they have a permit on file doesn’t mean they’re in compliance.

Information on the county loan program was also shared. Chirpich said they issue about 10 to 15 loans a year. The current interest rates on loans are 2 percent and 4 percent, which is based on income and how many people in a household.

She said the average price for a system right now is $11,000 for a trench, $17,000 for an at-grade and $28,000 for a mound.

“Last year we did 16 loans. I do think the number of loans that we do a year are going to increase with the prices going higher and higher… I do feel that the loan program is going

to be used more heavily in the future,” said Chirpich.

Commissioner Elliot Belgard said the logic for setting the interest rate is because they don’t want to compete with banks, but they also want to encourage people to install and update systems the right way.

Commissioner Jaime Bleess said that with property taxes going up and other costs going up, he felt it was worth considering lowering the interest rate in order to encourage compliance.

“If it was 1 and 3 percent before and now it’s 2 and 4 percent and prices have gone up, and these are for current taxpayers who have been paying taxes, maybe it would be wise to lower it,” Bleess said.

Belgard pointed out that those who need help can qualify for 2 percent interest.

“I think the 2 and 4 percent have been working well. We do have options for lower income,” Flitter said.

Moving to other matters, Flitter presented a recap of permits and types issued in 2022, which included 125 for buildings, one for feedlot, 64 for septic, 12 for variances, six conditional use permits, one re-zoning and 45 commercial pesticide tests administered.

In other news, the board:

— Recognized Jon Eversman for 20 years of service on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

— Approved out-of-state travel for Chief Deputy Corey Klanderud to attend a FBI-LEEDA conference in Orlando, FL.

— Accepted the resignation of full-time Sheriff’s Deputy, Brandon Lamack and authorized recruitment to fill the position

— Approved the hire Denise Wille as an elections technician in the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office.

— Approved the hire of Amanda Fehr as a part-time account technician in the Recorder’s Office.

— Approved the recruitment of a highway summer maintenance worker and two seasonal water patrol deputies.

— Set the public time and date of 10 a.m. on May 2 to consider a tax abatement request for Franklin and Tracy Malafarina.

–Heard an audit report and learned that the county had been given a clean, unmodified audit for CY 2021.