FARIBAULT– In their effort to aid the county in the hiring of a new highway engineer, the Faribault County Commissioners took action at their Tuesday meeting to enact a relocation reimbursement plan to help offset the cost of a potential county engineer moving to Faribault County from out of the area.

“Faribault County posted an open position for the county engineer several months ago knowing that Mark Daly would be retiring from the engineer’s position at the end of 2023,” county coordinator Brian Hov told the board. “We have had no applications submitted by qualified professional engineers in the area who would be willing to make a career change. Knowing that we will likely need to find a person who is willing to relocate to this area, it was felt that formulating a reimbursement plan for moving expenses might be a good idea.”

Hov explained a conditional job offer would outline a provision to allow an amount up to $5,000 to be submitted via expense report.

“It would have to be supported by itemized receipts after the employee’s start date,” Hof offered. “Goods and services directly related to the relocation would have to be approved by the department head and the County Board.”

Chief deputy Scott Adams of the Faribault County Sheriff’s Department was at the meeting to seek approval for the purchase for three squad vehicles.

“The purchases were in the budget for this year,” Adams commented. “The three vehicles we are requesting to purchase are 2023 Ford F150s from Woodhouse Ford in Omaha, Nebraska. The total bid price is $152,339 or $50,779.67 per truck.”

The board vote unanimously to approve the purchase.

Adams also mentioned the Sheriff’s Department will be selling five used vehicles this year for an estimated minimum of $73,000.

“The vehicles being sold include three F150s and two Ford Explorers,” Adams said. “The sales of the used vehicles will help offset the cost of the new purchases.”

In other business, the board also:

— Approved the request of Nick Bleess of the Sheriff’s Department to attend a conference on improving 911 dispatcher skills.

— Voted to grant the request of Sheriff’s Department employee Chris Albers to attend a conference on internal affairs investigations.