The Sherburne County Board Tuesday approved an employment contract with its new administrator, Bruce Messelt.

 

After a series of interviews with various candidates, the board gave approval to extend the job offer to Messelt at the June 20 board meeting.

Messelt has served as the Chisago County administrator for almost eight years. He served as the city administrator for Lake Elmo for two years He was the president of Oak Grove Lutheran School for two years and the city manager for Moorhead for five years.

 

Human Resources Director Tammy Bigelow highlighted some of the key terms of the contract Tuesday.

 

Messelt will be paid $165,000 per year and will start with a 40-hour bank of paid time off (PTO). He will accrue PTO at the same rate as an employee with nine years of service.

 

He will receive a six-month severance package with or without cause after 12 months of employment. There is a required 60-day resignation notice if he chooses to resign. The county  can terminate his employment at any time.

 

“This is pretty standard contract language for administrator contracts across the state,” said Commissioner Felix Schmiesing, “so we’re not doing anything here that is an exception to what is normal.”

 

Messelt, who replaces former administrator Steve Taylor, begins Aug. 19.

 

 

The board approved a joint powers agreement with Big Lake Twp. to replace the bridge on Ranch Road. The structure, consisting of two culverts, is in poor condition. The new structure will be a single box culvert measuring 12' wide x 5' high. Funding for the project will be through the “Regular Town Bridge account ($171,189.50) and Big Lake Twp. 

 

Construction is scheduled for late September.

 

 

The board passed a hazardous property resolution requiring the landowner of 16768 205th Ave. NW in Big Lake to remove the hazardous conditions on the property by demolishing the burnt structure and properly disposing of all materials resulting from the fire. The owner must also; remove the remnants of a concrete block structure, leaving the property free of debris and in compliance with codes and regulations. All solid waste must be removed from wetlands and floodplain areas.

 

Lynn Waytashek Assistant Planning & Zoning Administrator, said the county cleaned up the property earlier this year pursuant to a civil enforcement action. The property owner, Justin Rodriguez, is no longer living on the property but several squatters or guests of the property owner are. 

 

There is no functioning septic system on the property, and during the recent clean-up action, county staff observed raw sewage being discharged directly on to the ground or into a wetland adjacent to the Elk River. 

 

Tuesday’s action is just another step in the process of cleaning up the property, said Assistant County Attorney Tim Sime.

 

“If they don’t comply with it, we can file it with the court. The court will then, essentially,  give us a judgement allowing us to do it for them,” he said. “Given the number of squatters, this a step. But I don’t know that this is the last you’ll see of this property.”