(Fairmont) The Martin County Board of Commissioners heard an update Tuesday on MnDOT’s 10-year Capital Highway Investment Plan, including several projects affecting the area. MnDOT officials said the Truman sidewalk project is receiving engineering and construction funding through the agency’s Local Partnership Program, which provides about 700-thousand dollars a year for locally led projects in state highway rights-of-way. Commissioners also questioned MnDOT about improvements to Highway 15 south of Fairmont. Officials said there currently is no project scheduled for next year, although the highway remains on MnDOT’s radar. The board also unanimously approved moving forward with a 20-thousand-dollar grant application through the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation for a Martin County childcare pilot program. If approved, the program would provide grants of up to 5-thousand dollars to licensed childcare providers for eligible expenses. Officials say the goal is to help preserve existing childcare capacity in the county. In other business, commissioners approved the purchase of the property at 120 Ash Street East in Trimont for 540-thousand dollars. The building will become the Martin County Highway Department’s Trimont maintenance shop and garage. The board also approved more than 31-thousand dollars in electrical, fiber and networking equipment for county facilities.
