MC COMMISSION CONSIDERS FINE FOR BURNS UNREPORTED

The Marshall County Commission held its regular meeting Tuesday morning and discussed a potential fine for individuals who fail to report controlled burns to fire departments.
    Nate Dinger of the North Marshall Fire Department and Sean Kramer of the Langford Fire Department addressed the commission about the issue. They said that fire departments sometimes respond to controlled burns that are not emergencies because the they haven’t been called in prior, which costs taxpayers money. Currently, not reporting a controlled burn is a Class 2 misdemeanor, but there is no fine associated with the offense. State’s Attorney Victor Rapkoch will draft an ordinance to implement a $150 fine.
    In other business, the commission approved $52,000 for furnishings for the new law enforcement center. The funds will come from the jail budget and cash on hand. E911’s Deb Skonberg, Sheriff Sam Swanson, and Emergency Management Director Logan Roehr were present for the discussion.
    The commission also discussed adding marijuana to the county’s Drug Free Policy for employees in safety departments, including the sheriff’s office, highway department, and E911. No action was taken on this matter yet.
    The commission approved the following raises in the Treasurer’s office: County Treasurer Amanda Streier, to $58,406; Deann Taylor, deputy treasurer, to $18.38 per hour (six-month raise); Ginger Olson, deputy treasurer, to $20.74 per hour (one-year raise).
    Also during the meeting, Highway Superintendent Dustin Hofland and Ron Johnson with Upper Crow Creek watershed, discussed work on Wade Bridge and the matter of bridge removal. They discussed if Upper Crow Creek removing the bridge would provide cost savings.
    In zoning matters, the following building permits were approved: Jeanette Gravdahl in Lake Township; Randy Lien in Dumarce Township; James and Deanna Stickland in Dumarce Township; and Dalton Docter Feedlot/Michael Docter, which included a variance, in Weston Township. 
    Two building permits were postponed: a variance request from Randy Lien in Dumarce Township and a variance request from Joe and Anna Meissner in Lake Township.