When Becky Felling retired as McLeod County public health director in April, she didn’t know her name would turn up on election ballots this September.

Felling considered running for County Board at least a couple years ago, but retirement finally allowed her the time to do it. Board Chair Grant Knutson’s announcement that he would step down after his term expired this year also opened the door.

“I figured Knutson would run again,” she said. “He’s a sharp man.”

The McLeod County Board wants a working group to look at the pros and cons of a countywide economic development association.

Tuesday, the board charged a group of four countywide EDA supporters to help draft a list of potential working group members. The EDA supporters include:
• Dan Ehrke, Glencoe Chamber of Commerce executive director,
• Brent Mareck, Winsted city administrator,
• Miles Seppelt, Hutchinson economic development director, and
• Kerry Venier, Silver Lake city clerk.

Nan Crary uses a sports metaphor to describe her decision to run for a seat on the McLeod County Board.

For seven years, she was an observer of county government, as a reporter for the Fairmont Sentinel. For 21 years, she was an advisor, serving as Faribault County’s coordinator and McLeod County’s administrator.

“I moved from the press box down to the bench, right at the edge of the playing field,” Crary said. “Now, maybe, is my opportunity to be a player on the field. A participant. A decision maker.”

Anyone hoping for a sedate McLeod County Board election this autumn might be disappointed.

The field of candidates for retiring Commissioner Grant Knutson’s seat now includes Nan Crary, the former county administrator who was ousted March 25 on a 3-2 vote.

Knutson’s motion to terminate Crary’s employment stated, “McLeod County needs a county administrator that does not get involved in policy issues.”

Other newcomers to the race for Knutson’s seat include LeRoy Schmandt and Paul Wright of Lynn Township. Also in the running for the District 3 slot are:

The McLeod County Board Tuesday (June 8) unanimously approved a budget directive Tuesday to keep a close eye on its spending. The directive is a continuation of a practice that’s been in place for several years.

Under the directive, county departments must seek approval from the County Board for capital purchases in excess of $2,000. They must also seek approval to fill staff vacancies. Supervisors are also required to closely monitor authorizations for overtime, limiting them to emergency situations only.

A farmer, a real estate broker and a former county public health director are all running for the same spot on the McLeod County Board.

Grant Knutson, who currently represents District 3 (Lynn, Collins, Round Grove and Penn townships, Stewart and the southwest quarter of Hutchinson), last month announced he won’t seek re-election, resulting in a wide open race.

Three McLeod County commissioners’ terms will expire at the end of the year, but one of them is calling it quits after then.

Grant Knutson, who represents District 3 (Lynn, Collins, Round Grove and Penn townships, Stewart and the southwest quarter of Hutchinson), announced his decision not to run again at Tuesday night’s (June 24) County Board meeting in Lester Prairie.

This Friday (June 27), McLeod County’s department heads are due to complete their 2009 proposed budgets. This year, they’ve been asked to keep growth in their operating expenses down to zero.

“I did make an exception for fuel prices,” said County Auditor and acting County Administrator Cindy Schultz. “How that’s going to play out, I don’t know, because that’s definitely a concern for us at this point.”

The McLeod County Board of Commissioners will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, at the Lester Prairie City Hall, 37 Juniper St. N., Lester Prairie.

Agenda items include a review of the revised county administrator job description and authorization for filling the position.

As with every County Board meeting, this meeting will end with an open forum for discussion and questions.

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)

Plans to replace a steel truss bridge south of Lester Prairie that was closed last December are moving ahead.

The County Road 84 bridge can be replaced using mostly township bridge aid from the state, provided both the McLeod County Board and Bergen Town Board sign off on the agreement.

The agreement in question will turn a 4.1-mile stretch of county road back to the township. The county will continue routine maintenance through April 30, 2023. It will also provide the township with $150,000. The money and any interest it accrues will pay for work on the 4.1-mile stretch.