County board OKs grant agreement to boost Rushmore child care

The Nobles County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a grant agreement for funding through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for expanded child care in the community of Rushmore. The item was a late addition to the board's original agenda.

The vote represents an update from an original agreement and now allows for 24 children to be served by the new child care project. The new terms allow for access of just over $460,000 in DEED funds.

Commissioners on Tuesday also moved to end the Alternative Urban Areawide Review (or, AUAR) study for the Nobles County Powered Data Park project that had been planned for Elk and Summit Lake townships. Geronimo Power had notified the county of its intent to end the AUAR, and commissioners authorized a Mutual Termination Agreement. Both the county's Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners had voted to not allow data centers in ag preservation districts.

Among other business Tuesday, commissioners heard a Plum Creek Library System update and later approved a change in the county's phone system to Sinch, a large provider of telecom services. Information Technology Director Angelo Torres told the board that it will cost less money to use the Sinch system, and the county will get new phones. There will also be greater efficiencies with Sinch, he added.

A date for the county's estimated market value sale for tax-forfeited properties was also set for 11 a.m. June 23 in the Nobles County Government Center Farmer's Room. The minimum bid sale will be at 9 a.m. July 30 at that same location. Open houses for the estimated market value sale will take place on June 17.