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DeSmet hired as new Lyon County recorder

MARSHALL – The Lyon County Recorder’s Office will be going through a transition of leadership at the end of the month, but more of the details are settled now. The Lyon County Board voted to hire Michelle DeSmet as the new county recorder starting in June.

After County Recorder Mona Hammer gave notice earlier this spring that she would be retiring, the recorder position was advertised internally, said Lyon County Human Resources Director Carolyn McDonald. DeSmet was the one internal applicant, she said. DeSmet is currently a technical assistant in the County Recorder’s Office.

County board members voted to hire DeSmet as county recorder, effective June 6, at a starting salary of $59,500.

Beyond interviewing and hiring a new recorder, McDonald said the transition planning and training in the Recorder’s Office is going well.

The county commissioners’ regular reports to the board turned into a discussion of transportation funding needs across Minnesota – and frustration with area legislators.

Commissioners Charlie Sanow and Paul Graupmann reported on a meeting with Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton that they and other county representatives from southwest Minnesota were invited to last week. Sanow said Dayton was interested in hearing feedback about transportation funding needs, as well as discussing available options for funding the state’s roads and bridges. However, Sanow said, despite being invited, area legislators – including those representing Lyon County – weren’t at the meeting.

“It’s a sad deal, that our legislators won’t even stand up and listen to us,” Sanow said.

Commissioners said state lawmakers should be able to come together to find sustainable sources of income to maintain roads and bridges. They ended the discussion by passing a resolution of support for the state increasing various types of constitutionally dedicated revenues to support transportation.

A few items of business at Tuesday’s meeting focused on county ditches. Commissioners approved a quote from A&C Excavation to clean a portion of Judicial Ditch 15 for $1.80 per foot. County ditch inspector Todd Hammer said the portion of the ditch to be cleaned runs for a little more than three miles, and includes about a mile of ditch in Redwood County.

“It’s a real deep ditch system,” and has been hard to clean, Hammer said.

Commissioners also authorized the county to receive quotes on two other ditch cleaning projects, one for a lateral on County Ditch 37, and one for part of County Ditch 48, south of Balaton. Hammer said CD 48 is also a deep ditch system, and in need of excavation.

Commissioner Rick Anderson asked whether the county board should consider raising per diem payments for members of open county commissions, including the parks board, county extension committee, and planning commission. While per diem rates for county commissioners have been updated over time, per diems for citizen commission members have not, Anderson said.

“It’s been probably eight or 10 years since it’s been changed,” agreed Commissioner Steve Ritter. Commission members also put in a lot of time and work, he said. “I think that would be fair.”

Ritter moved that per diems for members of open county commissions be raised from the current amount of $50 to $60, starting June 1. The motion passed.

An open house is planned for the new Twin Lakes Park in Shelburne Township, county staff said Tuesday. Roger Schroeder, Lyon County environmental administrator, said the open house will be held from 4-6 p.m. on May 27.

“People have already been camping there, but we want to highlight that event,” Schroeder said.

Commissioners got a short preview of plans for this year’s Lyon County Fair, which will be held Aug. 10-14 in Marshall. Pat Verly, of the Lyon County Fair Board, said last year’s fair was very successful, and “Financially, we’re positive.”

Verly said popular events like the carnival, rodeo and demolition derby are planned to return at this year’s fair. The rolle bolle courts at the fairgrounds will also be active at fair time, and the Ralco Enrichment Center will also be back, with some possible new features and events. Verly said a new special event being planned is an appearance by the Dakota Thunder Shires, a hitch of Shire draft horses that took part in this year’s Rose Bowl parade.

“We think it’s going to be a great thing to view,” Verly said. The Shires are trained and shown by a southwest Minnesota family.

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