A new contract has been awarded to construct the signs for the new addressing system in place in Mower County.

Wednesday, October 27, 1999

A new contract has been awarded to construct the signs for the new addressing system in place in Mower County.

Another contract has been given the nod for the assembly and installation of the signs.

The two pacts represent an outlay of $195,094, according to Mower County Engineer Michael Hanson, who said the bids are $51,000 less than those received and later disqualified a month ago.

County highway department crews have staked where the new signs will go in the county. Each township and county road outside municipalities will have a street or avenue designation and each residence or business along the throughways will have an address number.

Dave Hillier, 3rd District Mower County Commissioner, got the board’s approval to announce that anyone who has not received his official address designation in the U.S. Mail to contact the county’s central services office (437-9494).

According to Hillier, some residents have not received the new address designations or they have misplaced them. The county board wants to ensure that everyone is aware of the new address designation and uses them.

The mapping and address system was undertaken to enhance public safety and emergency services for residents of Mower County.

Not only will each county and township road have a street and/or avenue designation, but each residence will have a sign listing the address number to ensure emergency services agencies can immediately respond to the scene if necessary.

Also Tuesday, Hanson received the commissioners’ approval to replace a waste oil tank at the county highway department garage.

The board members opted for a below-ground tank expected to cost $10,645.

In other action Tuesday, the county commissioners:

– Referred a complaint from Joe and Rosie Vicura about the handling of their second half real estate property tax payment to the personnel committee. The couple was invited to appear before the county board by Gary Nemitz, 5th District county commissioner.

They complained about Mower County Treasurer Ruth Harris, who was present at the meeting and defended the actions of the treasurer’s office. So upset over the incident was Rosie Vicura that she told the commissioners she has written Gov. Jesse Ventura about it. The commissioners referred the matter to the personnel committee.

– Authorized Craig Oscarson, county coordinator, to seek a second appraisal on the driver’s license examination building at the corner of 1st Ave. and 3rd St. N.E. The city of Austin covets the property to allow expansions of multiple-family housing next to the Courtyard Apartments. If a land swap is approved, it is likely the driver’s license examination offices will move into the former Milwaukee Road depot building now being developed into an office complex along the extended 4th Ave. N.E. by Gary Groh.

– Approved an agreement with Steele County to allow Dan Vermilyea, formerly a part-time feedlot enforcement officer, to do feedlot enforcement work in Steele County as well as Mower County. The contract, which is effective Nov. 1, calls for Vermilyea to work a total of 1,500 hours for Steele County for the rest of 1999 and all of 2000. Steele County will reimburse Mower County for Vermilyea’s salary and expenses. Mower County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Glen Jacobsen will review the agreement. The action also means Vermilyea moves up to full-time employee status in Mower County.

– Authorized county drainage system inspector Rick Morrison to amend his current budget in the amount of $5,000 to allow immediate improvements to Drainage System No. 9 north of Lyle. Morrison and the commissioners also discussed plans for the multi-year project, involving Drainage System No. 1 and its anticipated costs with Woody Vereide, the county auditor, who will determine the assessments to property owners who benefit from the drainage system in Bennington Township.