By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

County Board Chairman Wayne Johnson of Pelican Rapids, at the Dec. 12 county board of commissioners meeting, led discussion regarding fees for the food, pool, and lodging program. 

The five county commissioners agreed that an assessment should be done to find out what Otter Tail County program costs are, compared to the Community Health Board costs and state programming fees.

Johnson and fellow commissioners agreed to address options of whether to keep the food, pool, and lodging program or turn it back over to the state of Minnesota.

A motion by County Commissioner Lee Rogness of Fergus Falls and seconded by Commissioner Dan Bucholz of Perham was unanimously carried. County staff members will conduct an assessment of the program.

County employees will work in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to determine costs associated with the program. An assessment will be completed prior to the next Partnership4Health Board meeting scheduled for February 2024.

County assessor appointment

County commissioners, on Dec. 12, approved a motion to appoint Heather Jacobson as the County Assessor for Otter Tail County. This is effective Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2027, as set forth under Minnesota Statute.

A motion was unanimously carried to approve the independent contractor agreement between Otter Tail County and independent contractor Douglas Walvatne. This will allow for services and consultation to the Assessor’s Department, effective Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2024.

RT-Vision Time Plus

County board members, on Dec. 12, unanimously approved a motion to authorize the Otter Tail County Highway Department to invest in RT-Vision Time Plus.

This web-based time reporting software will allow for detailed tracking of employees’ time and equipment use, project-by-project, to align with state requirements as presented by County Engineer Krysten Foster.