Thursday, September 26, 2013

Volume 98; Number 14

www.bladepublishing.net staff@bladepublishing.net

A community newspaper serving Browerville, MN and surrounding areas. USPS 067-560

75

Todd Board approves 2014 budget, preliminary 2013 pay 2014 property tax levy
By Rin Porter At the Sept. 17 county board meeting, Todd County Commissioners discussed and approved the 2014 budget they have been working on for several months, and the preliminary 2013 pay 2014 property tax levy. State law requires counties and other municipalities to approve preliminary levy amounts by mid-September each year. Final amounts will be approved by Dec. 31. The 2014 county budget approved by the board includes $26,541,549 in revenues, and $27,533,693 in expenses. The shortfall in revenues is projected to be $992,144. The preliminary certified levy approved by the board is the amount set by the Minnesota Department of Revenue for Todd County: $13,272,090. This amount is just $138,570 more than the 2012 pay 2013 levy approved last year. Auditor/Treasurer Karen Busch advised the board that a special levy one to be imposed outside the normal limits was available to the county this year, because the Minnesota Legislature in 2013 placed a levy limit on municipalities. She said that all special levy claims must be pre-approved by the Minnesota Department of Revenue, but that Todd Countys chances of getting approval were good. The reason Todd County would like to impose a special levy is because the levy limit created by the Legislature does not allow Todd County to raise its regular property tax levy enough to cover all its expected expenses in 2014. If the special levy is approved, it would be for the amount of $647,900 the amount of bonded indebtedness due to be paid by the county in 2014. If this amount were paid by the special levy, then it could be removed from the regular county budget, and would reduce the budget by that amount, thus reducing the amount by which county expenses exceed county revenues. Also at the board meeting, commissioners heard from Earl Fuechtmann of Contegrity Group Inc., construction managers on the countys Annex I and Annex II remodeling project. Fuechtmann reported that he expected few if any additional surprises as the project nears its completion. He said electrical work to replace several panels will be done at night, so as not to disturb county business. He said Johnson Controls is behind schedule on getting the boilers going in the jail, but he will be taking more aggressive action toward them to get them to comply. Fuechtmann said he expects furniture can be moved into the completed areas of the buildings in late September or early October, with occupancy soon after. During the Soil and Water Conservation Development Division (SWCDD) portion of the meeting, five of the six items of business were approved by the board with little comment. However the sixth item was not Continued on page 12.

Council gives go ahead on new ambulance purchase

Memlighting, bers of warning t h e sirens, B r o w and inteerville rior storC i t y age, comCouncil fort conmet with trols and A m b a back up ulance camera Director system Jenny for aiding Asksamit Browervilles new ambulance will be in backduring a simular to this Type III, #164 unit from ing safely s p e c i a l Premier Specialty Vehicles. in and meeting out of on September 20th to review garages and accident scenes. quotes for a new ambulance for Although this purchase is the city. ahead of schedule, the money This purchase, a couple of has already been allocated, and years ahead of schedule, was no additional monies will have brought about by the fact that to be raised. The new unit, the existing ambulance pur- which could be delivered as soon chased in 2010, is not compati- as October 1st, will cost ble with the new Stryker Power $126,772.00. This is after Pro Cot that was to be installed deductions of $4,700 from Ford in the existing unit. Motor Company, $60,000 trade The new cot is necessary to allowance for the old ambuprovide the best service to their lance, $8,700 trade for the older patients while maintaining the power pro cot system, and $500 utmost safety for those on the for an even older cot system. ambulance squad. The new unit, a 2013 model, The new ambulance that was is a demo unit, but will come approved by the council will with a full Ford Motor Company have many new safety and warranty. patient care features not found on the old unit. Including better

Tanker rollover results in one fatality

Fund set up for young crash victims

Please help Britania Watson (8) and SeanJay Campbell (5), who lost their parents in a car crash September 11th. Wadena-Deer Creek Schools is asking for help raising money to help these two children. They were both seriously injured in the crash that killed their parents, and are expected to be released from the hospital soon. Both siblings will be placed with family in the Midwest, however, money is needed to help cover expenses for airline tickets, memorial costs, and other needs. Please help by donating whatever amount you can. Make your check payable to: The Britania and SeanJay Sunshine Fund c/o Wadena-Deer Creek Public Schools 600 Colfax Ave SW, Wadena, MN 56482

At 5:25 am, September 20, the Todd County Sheriffs Office was alerted to a gas transport truck rollover and fire on County 21, just north of the County 20 intersection. A 2007 International Eagle, owned by Jacks Oil Distributing, Inc, Eden Valley, was traveling north on County 21 when the driver, Kyle P. Becker, 25, of Eden Valley, lost control of the vehicle and drove off the left side of the road and overturned. The semi trailer was full of fuel and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Browerville Fire Dept., Browerville Ambulance, Long Prairie Fire Dept. and the MN State

WEEKLY WEATHER REPORT

Tue. Sept. 24 Partly Cloudy 70/49 Wed. Sept. 25 Mostly Sunny 73/53 Thur. Sept. 26 Partly Cloudy 74/59 Fri. Sept. 27 Thunder Storms 64/46 Sat. Sept. 28 Partly Cloudy 62/43 Sun. Sept. 29 Partly Cloudy 69/45