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Murray County commissioners approve staffing trial, policy updates, project payments and abatements
Summary
The board approved a 90-day staffing trial at the licensing center, updated the leave-of-absence policy requiring board approval for leaves over three months, authorized final project payments, declared surplus equipment for auction, approved a home-abatement request and funded a regional library request.
At its regular meeting, the Murray County Board approved a package of personnel, budgeting and project items.
Key board actions included:
- Licensing center staffing trial: The board approved a 90-day trial to move one licensing-center position (Tessa) to part time to test whether two part-time staff plus one full-time employee can meet service demand; staff estimated roughly $20,000 in salary savings. Commissioners discussed scheduling and coverage for testing and set a proposed effective date of September 1 if the trial proceeds.
- Leave-of-absence policy update: The board adopted an update clarifying that any continuous leave exceeding three months requires board approval; staff said the change aims to remove discretionary decisions from supervisors when employees exhaust accrued leave.
- Lake Sarah Dam final payment: The board approved releasing final payment to Group Construction pending a DNR walkthrough and easement clearance; retainedage reported at $10,283.75 pending final inspection.
- Home Initiative tax abatement: The board approved a home-initiative abatement request for Don and Theresa DeJager for a proposed primary residence at 1425 North Oak Drive, Slayton (approximate construction value noted as $750,000 in the presentation); no public opposition was recorded at the hearing.
- Surplus equipment: The board declared several vehicles surplus (2012 International truck, 2003 Chevy Tahoe, 2013 Ford Expedition) and authorized online auction via GovDeals.
- Plum Creek library funding: The Plum Creek library system requested $3,250 per county to support regional digital services. The motion recorded in the minutes referenced $3,450; the board approved the funding request as recorded in the motion.
Most motions were approved by voice vote with "motion carries" recorded in the minutes. Where staff cited dollar amounts or dates (retainedage amount, effective date suggestions), the board discussed implementation steps and directed staff to proceed with follow-up actions.
