FAIRMONT– The Martin County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday further discussed securing funding for the proposed Martin County Public Safety Center and Justice Center. As it stands the county is still going after a mix of federal and state dollars to help fund the $32 million project.

On Tuesday the board heard from lobbyist Bob Long with Larkin Hoffman who presented a recommendation to engage federal funding representation for the county’s bonding request for the proposed facility. The county has been working with the firm for about four years.

Long relayed information that last year the county had put in a $1.1 million request to be put forward to the house appropriation sub committee of agriculture.

“We just saw the other day, that Congressman (Brad) Finstad is going to begin requesting applications for the next round of congressionally directed spending starting March 8, March 8 is the deadline, actually. We felt it was really important to pursue the opportunity to get an additional round of federal funding…. We know from our past interactions with him that this was high priority for him and he was excited about the project,” Long said.

Megan Knight, a federal lobbyist, then said that the county had successfully made it through the first round and that she believes the county should receive the $1.1 million.

“We think we have an opportunity moving into the next round of requests… because last year we put in for $2 million…and Congressman Finstad’s team was very supportive of the project and said it was one of the strongest projects it received,” Knight said.

For the next fiscal year Knight said Finstad will have 15 projects and Senators Klobuchar and Smith will have projects to support as well.

“You’ll have three shots to be included in the house and the senate bill. We like to enhance our options and our odds for success,” Knight said.

Long added that the firm is suggesting the county go after $3.5 million in the next round because some other projects that have come before the congressman are around $4 million, so considering the $1.1 million the county has received, it’s in the same range as other projects.

“That’s our suggested ask,” Long said.

The board approved the county’s pursuit of an additional $3.5 million in congressionally directed funds.

The board then considered whether it wanted to engage with Larkin Hoffman for another six months, beginning Feb. 1, at a rate of $4,000 per month.

“We’re not going to get the funding without the effort and the project isn’t going to happen without the funding, probably, so it sure seems to me that we’ve gotten our money’s worth so far,” said Commissioner Elliot Belgard.

He made a motion to enter into the agreement with Larkin Hoffman for federal funding representation. Commissioner Steve Flohrs seconded it.

“It seems like a lot of money every time we do this… this might be our last shot…it seems like this is a project that will never get done, but I’m hopeful… I think I can support it for one more year,” Belgard said.

The motion passed 4-1with Commissioner Richard Koons opposed.

Moving to other matters, State Representative Bjorn Olson provided an update to the board and touched on the county’s status with its funding requests for the Martin County Public Safety Center and Justice Center.

“We’re going to keep fighting for your bonding project,” Olson said, “but I want everyone to measure their expectations for that.”

He said that a very large bonding bill was passed last year and that the appetite for another– especially one as large as last year’s– is not there.

“If there is a bonding bill, it’s going to be smaller. The governor put out his recommendation and it had something like $40 million worth of local projects and that’s not really a thing that is legitimate,” Olson said.

He pointed out that there is very little chance that Martin County would get $20 of the $40 million available.

Later in the meeting, the board approved a resolution of support for the 2024 state bond funding request, in the amount of $19.2 million, for construction of a Martin County Regional Public Safety and Justice Center.

In other business, County Recorder Michelle Duncan provided a 2023 year end report, which showed how the vital records compared to those from 2022. Overall, number were dow over the past two years.

Births were down slightly from 126 in 2022 to 122 in 2023. Deaths were also down from 265 in 2022 to 225 in 2023 and marriage license were also down from 97 to 95. Finally, real estate recording were at 3.735, which is down from 3,915 in 2022.

In other action, the board:

— Recognized Bob Lintelman and Chuck Poppe for their years of service to the Planning Commission/Board of Adjustment.

— Was briefed on Fox Lake Conservation League, Inc.’s intent to purchase 50 acres of land in Waverly Township

— Approved the purchase and installation of two TV monitors in the courthouses’s district courtroom. The cost will be covered by the fifth judicial district.

— Approved the purchase of a 2024 budgeted motor grader from Ziegler Cat in the amount of $403,934 and a 2025 budgeted motor grader from Ziegler Cat in the amount of $393,674.

— Accepted the retirement resignation of Don Ingledew, highway building maintenance technician.

— Accepted the resignation of Steve Moeller, part-time transport officer in the sheriff’s office.

— Approved two out-of-state travel requests for the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, one for several deputies to attend active shooter training in April in North Dakota, and for Chief Deputy Corey Klanderud to attend an FBI-LEEDA–a law enforcement executive organization–national conference in April in Texas.

— Set the meeting date for the 2024 county board of appeal and equalization beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18.

— Appointed Commissioners Smith and Flohrs to the Martin County canvassing board for the March 5, 2024 presidential nomination primary.