The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The question of whether or not to allow the public to use the county gravel pit was up for discussion again for the Foster County Commission at their last meeting.
During the meeting held Tuesday, April 5, resident Wes Miller attended to ask the Board if he could install an approach on his property coming off of a county road, and using fill dirt from the county-owned gravel pit.
Miller told the Board he would pay for any fill he used, but the commission had concerns about opening the pit up for public use.
The Board’s concern is that other people would want to use the gravel pit if they allow Miller to purchase fill dirt.
Foster County State’s Attorney Kara Brinster said she is concerned about having someone monitor the trucks going in and out, as well as liability for accidents at the pit.
A conversation between Commissioner Becky Hagel and Miller ensued when Miller questioned the Board about selling the pit.
“When you got the pit back from the state, you said you were going to sell it,” said Miller.
Hagel explained that there were issues within the pit that changed the Board’s mind for the time being.
Miller explained that many years ago, anyone living in the county could take gravel from the pit free of charge.
There was some talk of a clay hill near McHenry that the public has used in the past for clay for fill, but no action was taken from that discussion.
A motion was passed to allow Miller to build the approach with a culvert, but not to use fill from the county’s gravel pit.
In other business:
• Foster County Commissioner Alan Scanson reported that there have been ten people interested in a garden plot in the community garden idea so far.
He said the first step they need to take is to take soil samples to see if the ground is garden worthy on the property the county owns north of the courthouse.
Scanson said they would take six samples from the soil at $40 each and have them tested.
Once the tests come back, they can move on to other ideas about the garden.
He said they could follow the templates of the community gardens in Jamestown and Aneta.
A motion was passed to go ahead with the soil samples.
• Foster County Auditor Brad Solberg and Commissioner David Utke spoke about FirstNet Network for first responders.
Solberg explained that they currently have 10 data devices in the county offices on FirstNet.
He reported that there is an application called “Push to talk” which acts much like a walkie-talkie which would be very useful for the county’s road crew.
Finally, Solberg told the Board that they should be using FirstNet devices on the network instead of their personal cell phones.
A motion was passed to allow the road department to use the FirstNet network.
• The new furnace and water heater for the ambulance building has been installed.
• The Board approved the burn ban which would be enacted when needed.
• Finally, Brinster reported that the Supreme Court has decided to retain the Southeast Judicial District Judgeship.