Goodhue County Board briefs

Board approves bridge replacement priority list

The newest bridge replacement priority list developed by Goodhue County Public Works shows a Zumbrota Township bridge in line first for fixing.

The Goodhue County Board approved the list Tuesday. Also planned for completion in 2012 are two bridges on 20th Avenue in Holden Township, and one each in Belle Creek and Roscoe townships.

“We’re hoping that we can get through design and get them fixed before the snow flies again,” Goodhue County Public Works Director Greg Isakson said.

The county will submit its list to the state in order to be eligible for bridge bonding funds. If the state decides some of those bridges don’t need replacement, townships are entitled to go about fixing the structures themselves as long as they follow state regulations.

“We really do need to start replacing more bridges,” Isakson said. “We’ve got too many of them that are getting too old.”

Board anxious to resolve safety issues on Highway 52

County commissioners unanimously agreed to send a letter to the Minnesota Department of Transportation requesting funding for improvements to resolve safety issues at the intersection of Highway 52 and County Road 9.

“Goodhue County stands ready to help correct this deadly intersection,” the letter reads.

Meeting watch

Tuesday's County Board meeting lasted an hour and a half. All members were present.

Goodhue County Health and Human Services Board

Board approves advertising for eligibility worker vacancy

Following the resignation of Goodhue County Health and Human Services eligibility worker Judy Charpentier, the department will begin advertising and interviewing for a replacement eligibility worker for the income maintenance division.

Currently, each staff member is handling 244 cases apiece, which is nearly 30 more than the average in other area counties, the Health and Human Services Board learned Tuesday.

Members unanimously gave approval for the department to move forward with filling the position.

HHS develops new mission statement

As part of its ongoing integration, the Health and Human Services department has drafted a mission statement that combines pieces of the former social services mission statement and public health mission statement.

The new draft reads, “Promote, Preserve, Strengthen and Protect the Health of Individuals, Families, and Communities.”

Meeting watch

Tuesday's Health and Human Services Board meeting lasted an hour and 15 minutes. Board member Mary Lindahl was absent.

— Compiled by Regan Carstensen, staff writer

Tags: goodhue county, county board, government