Staff writer
After rescinding two proposals Monday, county commissioners voted again to auction a former Florence motel at $5,000.
Commissioners agreed with Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman’s sentiment preferring to keep the former Holiday Motel as a motel, but wanting to postpone the building’s sale no longer.
“We haven’t had too many people stepping up,” Commissioner Roger Fleming said.
A previous attempt in July to auction the building failed, leading to the re-sale. The commission eventually decided again to auction the building at a minimum of $5,000, with no requirement that buyers operate the building as a motel.
“It’s not doing us any good sitting there.” Commissioner Dan Holub said. “It’s absolute nothing.”
Weekend recycling
Transfer Station Director Rollin Schmidt informed commissioners of public requests to use the transfer station on weekends. Commission Chairman Randy Dallke suggested placing containers in a visible space on the north side of the station.
Commissioners then met in a closed session with for five minutes with Schmidt, deciding to make a trial-and-error attempt at using an electronic waste program.
The transfer station will also begin loading recyclables monthly from 8 to 10:30 a.m. every third Thursday of the month. The station will be closed to receiving trash at that time.
In other business:
- Commissioners amended an earlier agreement, to allow Windborne Energy Inc. and developer Sun Wind Energy to begin construction of three wind turbines as soon as possible. Windborne will post a $50,000 bond in lieu of a $1 million bond required by the original agreement. Any further construction will command the original bond amount.
- Commissioners approved a resolution to allow a retaining wall built at the county lake to remain.
- The commission voted for the communications department to pay time-and-a-half to part-time employees from Nov. 18 to Feb. 1. Sheriff Rob Craft informed commissioners of a dispatcher’s resignation due to family moving.
- As the open appraiser position remains unfilled with no new applicants, commissioners looked at different ways to advertise position.
The next commission meeting will be Nov. 27.