Jun. 19—WORTHINGTON — Nobles County commissioners met in special session Tuesday evening to act on three items prior to conducting the annual Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting at the Government Center in downtown Worthington.
Among items they addressed was the acceptance of a request from Patrol Sergeant Ryan Kruger for a leave of absence from his position while he serves out the 18-month appointment as Nobles County Sheriff. In addition to the leave, commissioners approved converting all of Kruger's annual leave over 480 hours as a one-time payment into his health savings account at his current pay rate of $47.35 per hour. The initial 480 hours will transfer into Kruger's post healthcare savings account.
The board also accepted a $2,300 quote from AJ's Tree Service, Lismore, to remove and trim trees and grind stumps at a residential property at 108 Kentucky Ave., Adrian. This is the property the county recently acquired after it was deemed a public nuisance. The trees need to be removed and trimmed before a contractor can come in to demolish the house.
Nobles County Administrator Bruce Heitkamp said pest removal services were ordered, and the county is communicating with the property's neighbors about what will take place.
"We're going to move forward as fast as possible," Heitkamp said.
AJ's Tree Service presented the lowest of two bids obtained for the work.
Finally, the board authorized Heitkamp to submit a request for 2022 state bonding money to help finance a sanitary sewer system for the unincorporated village of Reading. The deadline for submitting the request is June 18.