For the fifth year in a row, Freeborn County will contract with someone outside of the county for medical examiner services.

But county officials are hoping they can find someone locally to take over the responsibilities.

County commissioners on Tuesday reappointed Dr. Lindsey Thomas of the Regina Medical Center in Hastings as the medical examiner during 2012.

Thomas has been appointed as local medical examiner since 2008 after former county coroner Dr. Edward Shaman stepped down following many years of service.

The reappointment will be for one year.

City Administrator John Kluever said though the contract with Thomas and the Regina Medical Center is more than the contract used to be with a local coroner, the cost is prorated at the end of each year to reflect actual usage.

The county is required by state law to have a medical examiner who certifies deaths.

In the last few years, the county has paid between $60,000 and $80,000 for the services. When the service was provided locally, it cost less than $30,000, according to finance records dating back to 2006 from county Finance Manager Bill Helfritz.

The Regina Medical Center offers similar services in other counties.

In other action, the commissioners:

• Authorized final payment on five Highway Department projects.

The projects included the following:

— Enhanced pavement markings on County roads 22 and 46.

AAA Striping Service Co. of St. Michael completed the project for about $55,000. The final payment was for about $2,700.

— Reconstruction of County Road 12.

Freeborn Construction Inc. of Albert Lea completed the project for about $1.08 million. The final payment was for about $54,000.

— Reconstruction of Bridge 24J37 on County Road 10.

Minnowa Construction Inc. of Harmony completed the project for about $118,000. The final payment was for about $6,000.

— Replacement of bridges 89320 and 92246 with 24J40.

Midwest Contracting LLC. of Marshall completed the project for about $153,000. The final payment was for about $7,600.

— Enhanced intersection signage and pavement markings.

A&H Contracting LLC. of Ironton completed the project for about $602,000. The final payment was for about $36,000.

• Approved a contract for child and teen check-up outreach.

The program allows Freeborn County Public Health staff to perform administrative services to children birth through age 20 enrolled in MA and Minnesota Care, encouraging them to go in for their well child care visits.

The county would be reimbursed $26.50 per child.

• Authorized filling a global information systems coordinator in the Information Technology Department.

• Reclassified an account clerk position in the Human Services Department.

• Set the 2012 solid waste fee to be the same as in 2011.

• Authorized repair of County Ditch Nos. 23, 77 and 79 and Judicial Ditch No. 5.