So far, the redistricting process has gone well for the Mower County Board of Commissioners.

There’s a chance the board won’t need to reshape commissioners’ lines for redistricting, as population changes were small.

“It appears that we’re representing pretty much the same number of people,” Commissioner Ray Tucker said.

Auditor-Treasurer Doug Groh said a lot will depend on whether the city of Austin will change the boundaries for its precincts. If that remains the same, the commissioner districts won’t change, either.

Still, it’s early in the process, and the board is setting up a team to manage any changes that arise.

New commissioner districts would be adopted May 1, and Groh will publish notice of new legislative, congressional and county commissioner lines by May 8.

Board OKs letter about

new commercial assessments

The county board has prepared a letter and set meeting dates for commercial property owners who will see new 2013 assessments.

Mower County is completing new property tax values for all commercial properties. The new assessments will be mailed in March, and Assessor Rich Peterson has prepared a letter to accompany the assessment to explain changes.

The county hired Vanguard Appraisals to complete the valuations, and the board set up meetings for property owners to meet with Vanguard officials April 2-5. Commercial property owners must call the Assessor’s office to set up appointments.

Peterson urged owners to have strong information to back up their claims.

Property owners must attend the local board of review before they can attend the county board of review.

The County Board of Review will be 6 p.m. June 11. Board of Review meetings for townships and cities will be April 24-27.

Kellogg takes over as nursing director

Pam Kellogg is taking over as Public Health’s nursing director.

Kellogg has worked with Public Health for more than 15 years, and Public Health Director Lisa Kocer said she brings a “wealth of knowledge” and a lot of experience to the position.

The county board also approved a Public Health contract with LabCorp to manage parental genetic testing.

Public health gets the sample through a cheek swab, and LabCorp runs the test.

Semcac updates board

Semcac’s Wayne Stenberg updated the board on the community action agency’s accomplishments.

Semcac has been serving area communities for about than 45 years and offers 20 programs at 79 locations.

Here are a few of the things Semcac accomplished in 2011:

•16,811 hot, nutritious meals were served in a congregate setting to Mower County seniors.

•5,461 home delivered meals were sent to 49 seniors.

•67 volunteers age 55 and older helped provide 7,201 service hours in Mower County. They were matched by more that 25 non-profit groups.

•1,638 households received assistance with their utility payments

•466 households needed crisis assistance.

•161 households received weatherization updates and energy conservation education. Seven additional homes received services funded through local utility companies.

•69 homes received repairs like a furnace replacement.

•101 children and their families participated at the Head Start Centers during the 2010-11 program years.

•55 households were assisted with monthly budgeting or financial education.

•37 families (95 people) received assistance with their rent or mortgage payments.

•18 homeless families or households at risk of losing their housing received assistance through Homeless Prevention & Rapid Re-housing Program

•4,144 volunteers across southern Minnesota provided 146,350 volunteer hours to Semcac programs.

Board moving ahead on bond savings

The county board is moving ahead on a bond change that could save the county up to $75,000 a year on the roughly $9.4 million owed on a bond for the Mower County Jail and Justice Center.

“That’s going to amount to a lot of money,” Commissioner Jerry Reinartz said.

The board will hold a public hearing on the bond reclassification at 11 a.m. March 20; however, county officials previously said they expect little opposition.

“This is not a new bond issue,” Finance Director Donna Welsh said.

The move only affects existing bonds, and the cost savings will be substantial.

The board previously voted to spend about $5,000 to research the change, and could spend a total of $10,000. However, County Coordinator Craig Oscarson said no money has been spent yet. Much of the costs will come from legal fees.

Interest rates are favorable right now and hovering around 2 percent, but Welsh noted the board must move fast because the rates are projected to climb by the end of the year.

“It’s a very good interest market for us when we’re borrowing rather than trying to get investments,” Welsh said. “It’s important that we move forward with this and get this completed as soon as we can.”

In order to change the rates, the board would approve a shortened version of their five-year capital improvement plan. The board will later come back and flush out the plan more.

Board accepts Ulland Brothers Inc.

The county board accepted a $1.3 million bid from Ulland Brothers Inc. for paving work on County Roads 2 and 36.