FAIRMONT On Tuesday, the Martin County Board of Commissioners heard from Ashley Brenke, district manager of Martin County Soil and Water Conservation Distric
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS-NEWSPAPER DESIGNATION
Martin County Commissioners Tuesday had their most contentious moment of the new year so far with a vote on designation of the official legal newspaper. The board approved a motion designating the Truman Tribune as the official legal newspaper for 2021, which had the low bid, after some intense discussion. Other bids came from the Fairmont Photo Press that had this past year’s low bid and the Fairmont Sentinel. The discussion centered around acceptjng the low bid or the paper with the highest circulation and most outreach in the county.According to County Attorney Terry Viesselman, Minnesota statute states that the bid is to go to the lowest bidder but the board may reject any offer if, in its judgment, the public interest so requires. The first vote on a motion to accept the low bid of the Tribune ended in a 2-2 tie with new Board Chair Elliott Belgard and past chair Steve Flohrs voting yes and Commmissioners Kathy Smith and R