The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday passed a resolution declaring a local state of emergency tied to flooding last month.

The action allows the county to seek reimbursement for 75 percent of costs tied to flooding on March 12.

Freeborn County Administrator Thomas Jensen said the threshold is $55,000 in damages that a county must have before it can seek an emergency declaration.

The county has seen approximately $40,000 in costs to date with another $20,000 to $25,000 for road repair. Townships have estimated damages to be near $20,000.

According to Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 21 other Minnesota counties have declared local emergencies as of Monday, including the surrounding counties of Blue Earth and Waseca.

In other action, the board:

• Passed a resolution improving repairs to the county’s drainage system.

• Passed a resolution stating the county’s support to encourage the Minnesota Legislature and governor to sign a bill that brings adequate funding to the state’s transportation system.

Board Chairman Chris Shoff stated this is a priority for the Association of Minnesota Counties and the request has been sent out to all 87 counties in the state for support of the resolution.

• Approved a resolution to accept a $200 donation to be used for the Sheriff’s Office drone.

• Approved extending a contract for two years with the Department of Corrections for the crew leader who oversees the Sentence to Service program in the county. The county will pay 75 percent of the cost and the Department of Corrections will pay 25 percent of the cost.

In 2018, offenders using the program provided about 7,000 hours of time in the community. Offenders can utilize the program if they are sentenced to work service or seek to reduce their sentences.

• Approved sending a letter of support to provide services for a Third Judicial District veterans court coordinator position.

The position is 100 percent grant funded, and the county will bill for its services provided.

• Approved a three-year labor agreement between Freeborn County and Law Enforcement Labor Services, the union representing the 911 dispatchers with the county.

Human Resources Director Candace Pesch said the contract follows the same agreement as the other eight union contracts the board has ratified in recent months.

• Approved placing Jody Newman, a long-term care case aide in Public Health, on regular, full-time status.

• Approved placing Joni Cline, a detention deputy, on regular, full-time status.

• Accepted the resignation of assistant court security deputy James Everhart, whose last day will be May 17. The commissioners also voted to refill that position.

• Voted to extend the archive project for the Freeborn County Attorney’s Office. The project includes evaluating and scanning old files onto a digital form as required by the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

County Attorney David Walker said the staff member who is scanning and archiving these files completed 178 1/2 hours of overtime in the last year for the project. The employee can be compensated for no more than five hours weekly for the project

This will be the third and final year for the project.

• Extended the 2018 Aquatic Invasive Species grant awarded to the Shell Rock River Watershed District to Dec. 31.

Jensen said the watershed did not use all the funds allowed in 2018 and are asking to use the remaining funds from 2018 to finish the carp study this spring. The board also approved the extension of $12,600 from the grant to use for education and outreach for the Governor’s Fishing Opener in May.

The board approved a resolution allotting $10,000 to be used by Freeborn County for various education, signage, advertising and outreach this year from the same grant.

• Approved a series of 2018 budget amendments.

• Watched a short video made by the 2018 Choose Civility Video Contest grand prize winner encouraging civility and kindness.

• Accepted the resignation of Freeborn County Human Services Director Brian Buhmann.

Buhmann accepted a position as Wabasha County administrator and plans to start there May 13.