FAIRMONT– On Tuesday County IT Director, Jeramie Jones, presented the Martin County Board of Commissioners with the option to start live streaming regular county board meetings. Currently members of the public can watch the meetings if they request a link to the webex but the board has previously discussed a desire to easier allow the public to watch the meetings.

Jones shared that in researching options, he found that some other counties save all recordings and post them to Youtube. He said some counties do livestream only and it’s only available during the time the board meeting is scheduled.

“That is the recommendation that I have,” Jones said. “It does expand access for people to be able to see, especially if they can’t get out and come here for the board meeting.”

He pointed out that the county also already has the ability to offer this so there will be no cost, just a policy that needs to be put into place.

Jone explained a little bit more about the livestream and said that there won’t be a live chat or comment section available, but that it will just be live cable access for government TV.

“So we can’t tell who’s on there?” asked Commissioner Billeye Rabbe.

Jones said that was true but that there would be analytics provided so the county could see how many people were watching, just not who was watching.

He said that the general consensus among AMC (Association of Minnesota Counties), is that extra access in this format should not be provided.

“Once it’s out on YouTube, it’s there forever and you won’t be able to get rid of it if it’s something that does need to be removed,” Jones said.

The board asked a few more questions about what viewers would all be able to see. Ultimately it approved allowing livestreaming of regular county board meetings but will run some test streamings first.

The board also heard from CEDA representative Celia Simpson regarding a loan agreement between the Martin County EDA and Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center.

She gave a brief recap about Lakeview’s childcare project, which has been going on for several years. The expansion will bring the capacity from 50 to 99 child care slots.

As Lakeview’s been fundraising for the project, which is expected to cost about $1.2 million, the county EDA expressed interest in supporting it and the board at its June 2 meeting approved of a $100,000 loan.

“This will be done as a forgivable loan,” Simpson said.

Twenty percent of the outstanding principal balance will be forgiven annually over five years.

Simpson said the loan had been reviewed by the auditor/treasurer and the county attorney. The board officially approved of the loan.

Speaking more to why the loan, and the purpose it’s going toward is important, Simpson said, “childcare is a critical need for our businesses. Childcare centers can provide the most bang for your buck, and in-home childcare providers are facing regulations and changes at the stave level and many are getting out of the business and no one is coming in to take over so we saw this as a viable option to increase childcare spaces.”

The board on Tuesday also heard from County Engineer Kevin Peyman regarding the half-cent Local Option Sales Tax that the board passed at its July 1 meeting.

“They’ll start collecting that on Jan. 1 so the first sales tax and use payment is deposited about 40 days after the sales tax is due. With the tax beginning Jan. 1 the first returns would start…at the end of February of 2026 and the first payment should be deposited by mid April 2026,” Peyman said.

Payments will then be made monthly to the county after that. Peyman said that there should be enough money collected in the first year that some projects could start the following year.

Peyman said he also looked into wheelage tax, which Commissioner Richard Koons previously said he’d like to do away with. Peyman said he found plenty of resolutions about establishing a wheelage tax but couldn’t find any that had to do with removing it.

“We have some projects ready and could easily spend both… I’m open to what your desire is on that. We’ve got projects to move forward with both that I think the public would appreciate,” Peyman said.

Rabbe asked again for an explanation on how both can be spent. Peyman said that the new sales tax can only be spent on the resolution that was passed, which includes about 12 road projects and 14 bridge projects, along with some sealcoating. He said the wheelage tax can be spent on unspecified transportation purposes.

In other business, the board:

— Heard an update and 2026 budget allocation request from Rob Stauter with CREST.

— Heard an update and 2026 budget allocation request from Melvia Nelsen with the South Central Volunteer Dive Team.

— Signed a joint powers agreement with Red Rock Rural Water Systems for a project in Murray County.

— Approved a request from Kaley Hernandez, Faribault-Martin-Watonwan SHIP Coordinator, to store a fleet of bicycles at the county facility at 1200 N. State Street in Fairmont. The intention is for local schools to use the bikes.

— Approved an application for the annual County Veterans Service Office operational enhancement grant.

— Approved the resignations of a part-time and full-time correctional officer and authorized recruitment of both positions.

— Approved a 3 percent increase to the county owned office space lease agreements, which includes the Human Resources building for Fairbualt and Martin County Human Services and Fairmont Police Department.