Freeborn County 2nd District Commissioner Dan Belshan on Tuesday was re-elected as the county board chairman for 2012.

Belshan, who lives north of Myrtle, was elected to the county board in 1998. This will be his second year as chairman.

“It’s an honor to serve on the county board,” Belshan said. “In the past few years our board members and administrator have had an excellent working relationship, and respect each other’s opinions, asking questions, examining expenditures and looking out for what’s best for the county.”

Third District Commissioner Jim Nelson was picked as vice chairman. The action was unanimous and came with little discussion.

In other action, the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners:

• Accepted a $10,000 grant from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation for the Healthy Families Home Visiting Program.

• Renewed a maintenance agreement with Albert Lea, which authorizes the city to maintain about 1.8 miles of county-state aid highways 20, 22 and 48 within the city limits. The city will be reimbursed $5,130 for the work.

• Appointed the Albert Lea Tribune as the official Freeborn County newspaper in 2012 for publications of legal notices.

• Tabled amending fees for construction and installation permits. The commissioners will discuss possible changes at an upcoming workshop.

• Authorized a series of banks that the county will do business with in 2012.

• Approved a resolution authorizing the Freeborn County engineer to give advisory assistance to cities and townships within the county as needed for roads and bridges.

The resolution also approves equipment rental and other services. The expense is reimbursable to the county’s road and bridge fund.

• Renewed the maintenance agreement with Albert Lea’s Utilities Department for daily maintenance at the Poet Glenville lift station. The lift station services Agra Resources Inc.

The agreement also authorizes the city to make emergency callouts and to provide other services through the Gopher State One Call system. The city will be reimbursed about $8,400 for the daily maintenance.

• Established 2012 commissioner appointments to various committees and organizations.

• Set the 2012 board meeting dates and times. Meetings will continue to be at 8:30 a.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.