FAIRMONT– The Martin County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday heard a request from Sonja Fortune, Executive Director of the Red Rock Center for the Arts in Fairmont, for funding the re-shingling of the roof.

Fortune spoke about some of the work the Red Rock Center has done to its historic building and its surroundings, most of which has been funded for with grants or donations. She said they estimate that $800,000 has been put into the building since the Martin County Preservation Association has taken it over.

“We are very proud of what we’ve done and we treat it as our own. Even though it belongs to the county, we’re very proud of what we’ve done and what we continue to do here for the community,” Fortune said.

She said that in the 15 years she’s been with the Red Rock they’ve never asked for more than their annual budget allocation. However, for the roof repairs they are requesting a minimum of $10,000 for Class 4 asphalt shingles.

Fortune added that a few times the roof has been patched and about six years ago they were told the roof needed to be replaced.

“There’s not much grit on the shingles and we’re starting to see crumbling of the shingles,” Fortune said.

Two quotes were shared with the board, one from Fairmont Roofing and one from Heyn Brothers. Both included the cost for asphalt and steel shingles.

Fortune also pointed out that with the steep peak, about $8,200 to $8,600 is needed for that membrane alone. She said that favor has been expressed in putting steel shingles on, which will be more expensive.

“It’s your building essentially, even though we’re kind of taking care of it and doing great things for the community,” Fortune told the board.

She asked for its thoughts on asphalt or steel shingles. Commissioner Jaime Bleess said he agreed with the building committee’s recommendation to go with steel shingles, which Commissioner Richard Koons also agreed with.

“It is our building. They have raised $800,00 over the course of these years to keep the building and improving and maintaining it. If you don’t have a roof, you don’t have a building,” Koons said.

The board suggested steel shingles be pursued and agreed putting $30,000 toward the cost of it.

The board also heard from Scott Reimer with Federated Rural Electric Association regarding an agreement between the county and REA for construction of a $3 million fiber ring project.

“The county set a goal back in 2016 to get fiber to the premises of everybody in Martin County. It has been a slow process but we’re trying to move the needle here,” Reimer said. “We’re actively working in Martin County right now. We’ve done some work in the city. We’ve done Ceylon, Northrop and Dunnell.”

He said this fiber ring project, with board approval, will start yet this year. For townships un-or under-served, Reimer said this project will be the gateway to getting fiber there.

“Between the Border to Border (Round) 10 and this project right here, this will put us lightyears ahead of where we’ve been and lightyears ahead of multiple counties around us,” said Koons.

Reimer said they know there are people who want to work from home and can’t and children that want to do at-home learning and can’t, plus things like telehealth visits that can’t be done without internet.

“This would be, a few other ways to advance Martin County,” Reimer said.

The board approved signing a contract with Federated REA for the project.

After a clarifying question on how it’s being paid for, the board said the $3 million project is being paid for with $1.8 million from the 2025 tax levy that was originally earmarked for the justice center debt service and $1.2 million of the $1.4 million that remains undesignated in the 2026 levy and beyond.

In other business, the board:

— Heard a report from CashVest concerning the county’s fixed-income investments and financial liquidity and banking.

— Heard a presentation on the PowerOn Midwest Transmission Line project in Martin County.

— Approved the 2026 health insurance plan renewals and 2026 ancillary benefit renewals.

— Approved the hire of Matt Streit and Darin Weiderhoeft as full-time highway maintenance specialists

— Approved the hiring of: Anne Grunert as a full-time appraiser; Makayla Wigern as a full-time communications officer; Alec Ascheman as a full-time correctional officer.

— Approved and accepted the retirement resignation of Deb Eversman in the Assessor’s Office effective Dec. 31, 2025 and authorized recruitment and replacement.