District 3 Commissioner Jim Nelson will lead the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners in 2016.

The commissioners on Tuesday elected Nelson as chairman, and District 2 Commissioner Dan Belshan as vice chairman.

“I’ve been here 11 years, and i guess it’s my turn,” Nelson said. “It’s a little scary. I’m kind of looking forward to it. If I make mistakes, I will admit it.”

Nelson, who lives a mile north of Glenville, said the county this year may re-evaluate the wheelage tax.

Nelson voted no on the wheelage tax when it passed in 2014.

The tax is $10 per car or truck that is ordinarily stored or parked in Freeborn County during non-business hours or when not in use.

It is paid at the time of tab renewals and doesn’t apply to all-terrain vehicles, boat trailers, collector cars, motorcycles, mopeds or trailers.

The county also passed a half-cent sales tax to go toward transportation projects in August.

As chairman, Nelson will work closely with Freeborn County Administrator John Kluever.

“I think Commissioner Nelson will make a wonderful chairman,” Kluever said.

Kluever said the position has traditionally rotated.

This is Nelson’s first time as chairman.

Nelson began his term as commissioner in November of 2004 and served as vice chairman in 2015.

District 5 Commissioner Mike Lee was the 2015 chairman.

In other action, the board:

• Approved a $25,000 grant from United Way of Freeborn County supporting the Healthy Families Home Visiting Program

• Appointed the Albert Lea Tribune as the county’s newspaper for legal purposes in 2016.

• Set the 2016 board meeting times and dates. Meetings will be at 8:30 a.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month, except in December when the meetings will be the second and third Tuesday.

• Approved a grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for a study of the Winnebago Watershed.