The Martin County Board on Tuesday recognized Jim Foreshee for his 16 plus years of service to the citizens of Martin County and serving as Auditor Treasurer from Jan. 1, 2003 through July 5,2019. The board then witnessed the Oath of Office administered to newly appointed Martin County Auditor/Treasurer Jessica Korte by the Honorable Judge Michael Trushenski.

Commissioners approved a motion authorizing the board chairperson to sign a grievance settlement agreement with Law Enforcement Labors Services Inc., accepting the resignation of former jail administrator Mark Geerdes. The union had already signed the agreement, which states that Geerdes will resign effective April 2, 2019; the union will withdraw the grievance; and that Geerdes will receive payment of his earned PTO and portion of the sick leave per the union contract.

The board approved resolutions of support for the 2020 state bond funding request in the amount of $20 million to provide financial assistance to the county for the construction of a county justice center and one in the amount of $300,000 to provide financial assistance to the Martin County Veterans Memorial Committee for enhancements to the Veterans Memorial Park in Fairmont.

County Highway Engineer Kevin Peyman presented a resolution asking that the state complete a speed study on County Road 26, east from Fairmont to the Faribault County line. The purpose of the study is to determine if a 60 mph speed limit is reasonable and safe. The current speed limit on the stretch of road is 55 mph.

The board approved the resolution, and Peyman explained the reason behind the request.

“Recently, counties have been able to ask for a 60 mph speed study like MnDOT has done on their roads for a few years now,” Peyman said. “We may have more that we’ll look at down the road, but it’s a year-and-a-half to a two-year process to get one done. Since Faribault [County] was doing theirs, I wanted to do 26 to go along with the one they did.”