Contracts for county employees approved

The Crow Wing County Board approved several contracts Monday.

Most contracts, including Law Enforcement Labor Services and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees contracts, were settled with a 3 percent wage increase.

In other county business, the commissioners:

Approved the Family Services Collaborative interagency agreement.

Approved the 2002 coroner's contract with Midwest Forensic Pathology for Dr. Janis Amatuzio.

Approved the county fee schedule with no changes.

Awarded a bid to Newman Traffic Signs for $1,657 to supply 72 traffic signs for County Road 103.

Agreed to contract with Holiday Station stores to supply gasoline at the pumps. It also contracted with the Oasis Express in Pequot Lakes.

Awarded a bid to Triangle Oil Co. for the county's annual gasohol, diesel and heating oil.

Amended an agreement with the Computer Information Systems Inc. to include a jail management system in the sheriff's department.

Approved a Weather Alert System that will give the dispatch center more capability in detecting storm intensity. It also will give dispatchers time to plot storm movement that will help alert city police and other authorities of the anticipated approach time of a storm. The new system will cost an additional $800 a year.

Agreed to close the rifle range and self-insurance funds.

Approved an agreement with Honeywell for the Crow Wing County Detention Center for it to service the center's mechanical system and for the center to be part of the fire/security test and inspect program for $16,154 a year.

Approved the final plat and zoning change of Kaneohe Estates. Raymond and Joanne Beber of Lake Edward Township requested to rezone 13 acres from agricultural to residential for 10 lots for year round use.

Tabled a zoning change in Ross Lake Township to gather more information on the property. James and Dawn DeMars requested to have 40 acres off County Road 105 rezoned from green space to agricultural.

Rezoned a 1.29-acre parcel in Little Pine Township from agricultural to residential. John and Patricia Kestner requested the rezone.

Discussed establishing a county building inspector. The building code is not enforced in the county, but contractors must be licensed with the state to make sure the state codes are followed.

Chairman Ed Larsen suggested that the board look at this issue at its reorganization meeting in January.

Appointed, to the feedlot ordinance committee, livestock producers Alvin Jacobsen, Leonard Koering and LeRoy Thompson; Charles Blakeman, Crow Wing County Planning Commission member; Carol Cloud, Board of Adjustment member; and Commissioner Dewey Tautges.