By MaryHelen Swanson

Folks living along County State Aid Highway #3 at the northern end of Chisago County are tired of waiting for that road to be finished.

They've been waiting since 1964 when the road was rebuilt, but the blacktopped surface has yet to be put down.

On any dry day, right after the road is graded, it's fairly passable, as it was on Monday evening this week.

But let the rain fall, and the ever increasing traffic travel over the road, and it turns back to ruts and potholes.

During the public forum at the county board meeting last week, April 4, a number of residents living along that road came forward asking that something be done.

Don Kirchberg said if it can't be blacktopped, could it at least have some gravel?

Bob Karnick was there for the same issue.

It was said there is hardly any base left.

Nick Cieminski apprised the commissioners that there are 18 homesteads along the stretch of road and he and his neighbors feel they have been neglected by the county.

He noted that traffic has increased greatly in the last three to four years, including workers coming from Wisconsin to the Rush City prison.

It's a state aid highway, he said, and should have been repaired long ago.

Commissioner Mike Robinson told the men that the county has been doing a base program on gravel roads, one specifically in Fish Lake Township which is working well.

Robinson noted also that there are four state aid highways in District 5, his district, and none are paved.

Commissioner Ben Montzka asked if anyone knew the traffic county, saying that count is a criteria for repair.

He added, then, that if the base is poor, and it's a matter of safety, then something probably should be done.

Robinson promised the Rush City residents he would bring up the road condition at this week's highway meeting.

In other business, the county board:

• Learned from HHS director Mary Sheehan that the county received commendation from Commissioner Cal Ludeman from the Minnesota Department of Human Services for perfect performances in meeting DHS Human Service financial reporting requirements for the year 2006. "All key quarterly fiscal reports for programs your county participates in were submitted to our Financial Operations Division on or before the report deadlines and in perfect order," Ludeman wrote in a letter to board chairman Mike Robinson. Thirty-two reports had been submitted. Sheehan gave credit to Les Strombeck for his hard work in this effort.

• Amended the county's resolution on commissioner per diems to include wording that says "a county commissioner may not receive two per diems for a meeting, to address the issue of per diems for those commissions which provide per diems to participants.

• Approved spring load restriction exceptions which include: drillers and sewage pumpers for emergency situations.

• Approved hiring 8 seasonal workers for the parks and 6 seasonal positions for public works.

• Learned that the Marty Johnson family of Almelund has been named Farm Family of the Year.

• Authorized County Administrator John Moosey to proceed with the preparation of a county newsletter at a cost of $9,000, half of which is to be paid by the HRA-EDA.

• Noted that five of 6 positions on the Community Health Board are vacant.

• Appointed Frank Storm to fill the remainder of the term on the Board of Adjustment for Dist. 4.

• Approved hiring a part-time driver for the Heartland Express.