TR FILE PHOTO A scene from last year’s Oktoberfest parade on Church Street. During Wednesday morning’s regular meeting, the Marshall County Board of Supervisors approved the use of county grounds surrounding the courthouse for the annual celebration, and Auditor/Recorder Nan Benson reported that the activities and parade will be moved back to Main Street, where they have traditionally been held.
The Marshall County Board of Supervisors completed another short agenda item in less than half an hour Wednesday morning and unanimously approved the use of county property surrounding the courthouse for the upcoming Oktoberfest celebration.
County Auditor/Recorder Nan Benson gave the board an update after no action was taken during the last meeting. She reported that the Oktoberfest Committee is requesting use of the front courthouse grounds and east parking lot for the festival, which is scheduled to take place Sept. 26-29. The parade is also set to be moved back to Main Street, which Benson said was a positive development after it was moved to Church Street last year.
“It keeps the access to the circle drive open, which makes things a lot easier for the courts (and) our customers,” Benson said. “I was very happy when we were able to bring the parade to Main Street, because that’s been really difficult for us down here and a problem for the courts and our customers. We’re just going to have a little inconvenience (for a few days). We’ll have to walk a block. We’ll look at it as a wellness thing.”
She added that the barriers will be put up on 1st Avenue at 8 p.m. on the Tuesday before the festival, so county employees will lose that parking space as well as their east parking space as part of the agreement. Benson acknowledged the temporary inconvenience, but praised the volunteers who work hard each year to make Oktoberfest possible. Street parking west of the courthouse is usually closed off starting the Thursday of the festival.
Supervisor Carol Hibbs asked via remote communication if any court hearings were scheduled during that time period, and Benson responded that they had been when she spoke with Clerk of Court Carol Haney a month ago, but that could change at any time.
Board Chairman Jarret Heil agreed with Benson, commenting that the closure of Church Street last year had a negative impact on court activities. He expressed optimism that the transition to Main Street would work. Benson added that Main Street business owners also prefer to hold their activities there because it brings more customer traffic to their stores.
County Buildings and Grounds Director Lucas Baedke noted that the liability certificate for Scott Amusement did not include medical expenses and wondered if the language was objectionable. Benson said Bobby Shomo, who works with the county on their insurance policy, did not see a problem with that. Supervisor Steve Salasek then made a motion to approve the application as is, subject to Shomo’s review and approval, and it passed unanimously.
After that agenda item was completed, District Engineer Paul Geilenfeldt stepped forward and requested approval to set August 28 as the date for the repaving of three streets within the Wolf Lake neighborhood – Jefferson Drive, Pickering Drive and Rockton Drive.
“It is long overdue, but we will do it,” said Geilenfeldt.
This proposal was also accepted unanimously. The plan is to complete the project during the current construction season.
Other matters of the Board of Directors:
• Approved the consent agenda listed, including the hiring of Emma Lizarde as a full-time prison guard at an hourly rate of $23.42 beginning August 19.
• Approval of a liquor license for GLOKO LLC, which does business under the name Lucky Wife Wine Slushies.
• Approved a variance in the amount of $3,227.09 for modifications to the attic fan circulation and the assessor’s office door in the courthouse.
• Received an update on the siren project from Marshall County Emergency Management Coordinator Kim Elder. She said she recently turned in the last paid receipts for the grant funding. Salasek, who lives two miles from the Ferguson siren, and Heil, who lives about 2.75 miles south of the Haverhill siren, both reported being pleased to hear the new sirens from their homes.
“It seems like everything is working,” Elder said. “We’ve had a few little things to sort out as we go along. The only issue we’ve encountered is a little radio dropout from Minnesota that’s interrupted our signal, but so far it hasn’t affected our sirens going off… It’s good to know when we might have a problem, but so far everything’s been good.”
The deadline to apply for the scholarship is October 1, and she said she expects to meet that deadline.
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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or
