Freeborn County Auditor-Treasurer Dennis Distad wanted to remind county commissioners, and the public, that filing for the vacant 5th District commissioner’s seat begins Nov. 3 through Nov. 17.

A special general election will be held March 15, 2011 to fill the seat which was vacated by Linda Tuttle, who resigned from the position on Aug. 1.

Tuttle is accused of using her company, Albert Lea Abstract Co., to divert money into her own accounts to pursue her alleged gambling addiction. She is scheduled to appear in Freeborn County District Court on Nov. 12, facing 12 counts of felony theft by swindle, along with one count of racketeering in the case.

Distad said at Tuesday’s regular Freeborn County Board of Commissioners meeting that he would submit a public service announcement to the media to outline filing procedures.

Please see Sunday’s Tribune for that information.

Also on Tuesday, commissioners approved a $1 increase in recycling and household hazardous waste collection for 2011.

The current annual rate of $28 will increase to $29, effective Jan. 1, 2011.

Randy Tuchtenhagen, solid waste officer and director of environmental services for Freeborn County, said the new fee is needed to keep pace with the increase in cost of the contract with Waste Management.

Freeborn County is in its third year of a five-year contract with Waste Management.

Childhood immunization grants

Commissioners additionally approved a grant agreement between Freeborn County Public Health and the Minnesota Department of Health related to childhood immunizations.

Freeborn County Public Health Nurse Lois Ahern said public health will provide immunizations, education, contact investigation and other case management activities for every infant born to a mother who has a diagnosis of Hepatitis B. The amount received for each birth will be up to $500.

A separate initiative will allow public health to visit local clinics enrolled in the Minnesota Vaccines for Children Program.

In these visits, public health will help clinics evaluate their immunization practices, monitor the storage and handling of vaccine, offer technical assistance and provide the clinics with data related to immunization rates of children. The grant will pay public health up to $300 for each site visit.

Ahern also reported that public health began seasonal immunization clinics a couple of weeks ago.

When asked about public health sharing their stock of vaccination with clinics if clinics run out, Ahern said that it depends upon the vendor who provided the vaccination. She said if the vaccine is from a private vendor, there are generally clauses in those contacts that do not allow public health to resell that product to another clinic.

However, she said in the past, they have been able to share vaccine from the Minnesota Department of Health with local clinics who’ve run out.

In additional business, the Freeborn County commissioners:

Heard from Sheriff Mark Harig, who reported that the Freeborn County Jail has received approval to raise capacity from 136 to 148 beds. No additional staff will be needed.

Set workshop dates for further discussion of county budgets and levies for fiscal year 2011. Workshops will be in the county board room of the Freeborn County Government Center at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 23 and Nov. 30.

Approved local-option abatements from storm damages on June 17 for 65 applicants in Freeborn County to receive full or partial property tax abatements.

Approved an agreement to renew shared information systems staff between the Albert Lea and Freeborn County.

Heard from Freeborn County Administrator John Kluever, who reported that Oct. 15 was the deadline for applicants to sign up to receive debris removal funding through Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. He said his office received about $520,000 in documented requests and estimated another $150,000 from work that hasn’t yet been completed by residents. He expects individuals to receive reimbursements in November.