County honors Kvam

Published 12:00 am Thursday, October 3, 2002

Robert Kvam knows everybody in Mower County.

At least, it seems that way.

The veteran Mower County Sheriff's Department deputy's recommendation for finding his man or woman in the line of duty is well-known.

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Now, Kvam is becoming better-known. He is Mower County's Employee of the Month award-winner for October.

"This is my favorite part of the proceedings each month," said Len Miller, 4th District Mower County Commissioner and chairman of the county board.

In the case of honoring Kvam, Miller was honoring a childhood friend from Austin's east side, but that distinction was shared with Mower County Sheriff Barry J. Simonson, who recalled knowing Kvam since middle school, when he took over Simonson's paper route.

Simonson praised Kvam's work over a career spanning more than 23 years. He called Kvam "one of the most pleasant and enthusiastic" deputies in

the Sheriff's Department.

"I think he can find anybody," Simonson said.

Sgt. Martha Anderson also praised Kvam's enthusiasm for process serving, which includes 35 percent of the papers served in the first eight months of 2002. "Everybody knows him," Anderson said of the deputy.

Kvam accepted his award from Miller with humility, saying "thank you" to the county commissioners and Sheriff's Department administration for the honor.

In other action Tuesday, Bev Nordby, district manager for the Mower County Soil and Water Conservation District, updated the commissioners on the SWCD's partnerships with the county.

Nordby reviewed environmental concerns of the SWCD board members, including karst topography, soil erosion, surface water quality, flooding and loss of wetlands.

Nordby also told how the SWCD is partnering with the county to protect natural resources and listed possible opportunities for more partnering with the county in the future.

It was the first of several recurring updates the SWCD plans to provide the county commissioners, according to Nordby.

In other action, the county commissioners:

n Approved final payment to J. D. Driver in the amount of $11,366 for various office improvements at the government center.

n Approved final payment to Meyer Construction for roof replacement and repair work at Mower County Historical Center in the amount of $24,455.

n Accepted an invitation to attend the Oct. 18 Mower County League of Municipalities meeting at Dexter United Methodist Church, where Dexter Mayor Randy Stephenson will be honored.

n Agreed to attend an Oct. 16 meeting to hear from a consultant on recommendations for radio communications systems improvements in county highway and sheriff's departments.

Lee Bonorden can be reached at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com