| Ordinance change to pave way for park development |
By: Paul M. Malchow
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Posted: Thursday, March 11, 2010 9:30 am
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Newly-appointed Le Sueur County Sheriff Tom Doherty (right) is sworn in by District Judge M. Michael Baxter at the March 5 county board meeting.
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In order to accommodate a Department of Natural Resources grant for improving Lake Washington Park, the Le Sueur County board of commissioners agreed to change an ordinance pertaining to park funds.
Last month the commissioners voted to accept a $400,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources which would be used to create additional camping sites at the park which is located on the northwest corner of Lake Washington. The park will feature 29 gravel pads for campers, a dump station, and a shower house which will also serve as a storm shelter. A picnic shelter is also included in the plan and there is the possibility of some sort of trail system to be developed as well.
In order to receive the grant, the county must also contribute $140,000 to the effort. County Parks Director Don Reak said at the March 2 board meeting the county has about $51,000 in a park fund, along with a park dedication fund which currently contains about $242,000.
The park dedication fund is made up of fees paid by land developers and was designed to replace green areas lost through development. The park dedication fund is dictated by county ordinance for land acquisition only. The board would need to pass an ordinance allowing the money to be used for park development.
Reak said Minnesota statutes pertaining to park dedication funds states the money must be used only for the acquisition and development; or improvement of parks, recreational facilities, playgrounds, trails, wetlands or open space. He said it was his opinion the county could change its ordinance language and still be within the parameters of the state statute.
Commissioner Robert Culhane expressed concern over using dedication funds for the Washington project and not having assets available if the opportunity to purchase land came along.
Commissioner Bill Stangler, who represents Kasota Township where the park is located, made a motion to amend the county ordinance to allow dedication funds to be used for park improvements. During a rather pregnant pause, it appeared the motion may die for a lack of a second. Finally Commissioner Joe Doherty seconded the motion which passed with a 3-1 vote. Commissioner Culhane voted against the motion.
• County Highway Engineer Darrell Pettis informed the board a bridge spanning Sand Creek on County Roads 29 and 164 is in need of attention. The two large culverts under the road, which were installed in 1988, are corroded and have holes in them. “They’re shot,” Pettis said plainly.
Pettis said the culverts would be replaced with concrete box culverts and the project would be eligible for bridge bonding.
• Because the primary election date has been moved to August 10, the board was informed filing dates for all elections are May 18 through June 1.
• Budget reductions proposed by Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty include the discontinuation of the Sentence to Serve program. Currently, Le Sueur County shares the program with Waseca County. Pettis said while some counties run their own Sentence to Serve programs, the cost would be prohibitive for Le Sueur County.
Sentence to Serve supplies manpower for many county projects – primarily in the parks and highway departments. The commissioners speculated briefly on the impact of the governor’s decision – not only on sentencing guidelines for the courts, but also the cost to the county to replace the services provided by the program.
• Ney Environmental Center Director Becky Pollack appeared before the board to present the Ney Foundation’s annual report. The Ney Center is located on a Le Sueur County Park east of Henderson on State Highway 19.
Pollack thanked the board for the county’s support and said over 2,300 visitors participated in Center programs last year. She added the Center and park have been popular destinations this winter for snowshoeing, sliding, skating and cross country skiing.
• Le Sueur County Extension Educator Diane Stouffer received board approval for the hiring of a summer intern. Stouffer said the University of Minnesota Extension Service is currently screening applicants. The intern position is a budgeted item at a cost of $5,500.
• The county is considering changes to surface use zoning of Fish Lake and Roemhildts Lake in Elysian Township. In a proposal to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the county is asking the lakes be placed under a slow/no wake speed limit. Fish Lake currently carries a 20 horsepower motor restriction.
Commissioner Culhane said water-skiing activity is “tearing things up,” particularly on Roemhildts Lake. Pettis said a slow/no wake limit is harder to enforce than a motor limit or speed limit. Culhane said he felt the no wake restriction makes more sense and asked to have a discussion with the sheriff’s department on the matter.
• The board approved the recommendation of County Recorder Dave Sexe to appoint Chief Deputy Sharon Budin as interim recorder when Sexe retires on March 31. The board also appointed Angie Pribyl to take over the Chief Deputy role at that time.
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