BLUE EARTH– New signs will soon be placed at the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) in Blue Earth to help people navigate their way to where they want to go in the building.

“We have been in the facility since 2009,” Buildings and Grounds director, Saxton Warmka, told the Faribault County Commissioners at their meeting on Tuesday. “It’s time to get signs up so people can figure out where they need to go.”

The signage, which will be made by Flatline Design LLC, will cost $16,393 and will be paid for with remaining ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds.

Signs will be used to direct people to the Sheriff’s Office, the courtroom, inmate visitation area, deliveries and the jail.

Warmka also presented a quote from Stateline tuckpointing of Kiester to do repair work on the north side of the county attorney’s office building.

“We have had some water damage in the building,” Warmka explained. “There is some tuck pointing which needs to be done and some broken bricks and hairline cracks on some of the corners that will need to be fixed.”

Because of the current colder temperatures, the work will not be completed until next spring. The commissioners approved the quote of $6,360 so that the job can be put on the list with the contractor for early next spring. The money needed to make this repair will also come out of the ARPA funds.

The courthouse retaining wall was the final item on Warmka’s list at the meeting.

“The retaining wall was installed in the 1930s and is showing its age,” Warmka commented. “It was repaired on the south side of the courthouse in the 1980s, but it still has a lot of damage.”

Warmka offered two options for the board to consider.

“We can either remove the old wall and install a new one or the old wall could be removed and then the side hill could be sloped to a reasonable grade,” he said. “The least expensive bid for putting up a new wall is $88,300. The lowest bid for removing the wall and sloping the hill is $26,300.”

Warmka also had a bid for installing new steps and the sidewalk leading to the courthouse. That bid was for $27,795.

The commissioners voiced concerns that the sidewalk along the boulevard could be damaged when the wall was removed. The board decided to table the matter to give Warmka time to meet with the contractors to determine if the old retaining wall could be removed without damaging the existing sidewalk.

The commissioners also:

— Voted to approve the training request of Lori Mehrhof of the county assessors office to attend the Minnesota Association of Assessment Personnel Winter Business Meeting. They also approved the request of county auditor/treasurer Amy Sathoff to attend election security training.

— Moved the first meeting next month to Thursday, Dec. 7, at 9 a.m. due to the AMC (Association of Minnesota Counties) Annual Conference being held during their normal meeting date of Dec. 5.