Nelson new vets service officer
Bob Nelson is Crow Wing County's next veterans service officer.
Nelson, Baxter, accepted the county's offer and the board gave its approval Tuesday. Nelson's starting salary is $4,522 per month. Nelson is currently Aitkin County's veterans service officer. He will start here June 4.
In other business, the board approved Chairman Dewey Tautges' appointment to the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport Commission, taking up the post from the late John Ferrari. And it appointed Commissioner Rosemary Franzen to the social services representative for the Family Services Collaborative Governance Board. Other District 5 committee appointments will wait for the special election.
Designated May 15 as Peace Officers' Memorial Day and directed flags be displayed at half-staff on all county buildings.
Reappointed Bruce Yund and Tom Ebnet to the Thirty Lakes Watershed District for terms expiring in 2011 and Dale Armstrong for a term expiring in 2010.
Learned County Administrator David Hamilton is now recording board meetings. Tautges said he didn't know when that decision was made, but that would be discussed at a future date.
Heard Camp Ripley's annual report from post commander Col. Richard Weaver and Mary Skoglund, head of Camp Ripley's environmental staff. There may be some noise in May with an engineer battalion in training. In June, the camp expects to host more than 10,000 Boy Scouts for the Ripley Rendezvous. Soldiers from Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan also are expected for training in June.
Most of the heavy guns aren't anticipated until July and August. In July, a Marine Corps Reserve unit and units from Minnesota, North Dakota, Illinois and Iowa will be in training. In August, the 1-194th Combined Arms Battalion and other tank battalions, engineers and helicopters will be in training.
On Sept. 23, Camp Ripley will host its community appreciation day open house.
Approved a pipeline easement with BNSF Railway for the gas line from the county landfill to iLevel by Weyerhaeuser of Deerwood. Gas - produced as moisture combines with waste at the landfill - would be captured and sold to be used for energy to help run the plant.
Doug Morris, solid waste coordinator, said the process started in 2003, with negotiations really starting in 2005. Morris said that through negotiation efforts with the county attorney's office, the county is no longer required to have a pipeline license, with an annual fee of $52,789. A perpetual easement will be used instead for a one-time cost of $7,565.
The board will get a more in-depth update on the gas line at its June 19 meeting.