Cheri Schewe is the Mower County employee of the month for May.

Mower County director of human services Bruce Henricks called Schewe "one of the best."

Schewe, a lead financial worker for the DHS department, was honored Tuesday at the regular meeting of the Mower County Board of Commissioners.

Nominated by her co-workers in the DHS, Schewe's employment with Mower County has been characterized by the worker's "cooperation and dependability," Henricks said.

After starting in the DHS accounting department, Schewe is now the lead financial worker.

Each month, a Mower County worker is honored as an employee of the month. The positive reinforcement program recognizes the accomplishments of county employees and their interaction with other workers and the public.

In other action Tuesday:

n Austin city finance director Tom Dankert introduced the city's new administrator Jim Hurm to the county commissioners.

Hurm replaced former long-time city administrator Patrick M. McGarvey.

"I'm looking forward to working with Mower County," Hurm said. Garry Ellingson, 5th District and chairman of the county board, welcomed Hurm to his new position.

n Michal Hanson, Mower County Engineer, was appointed to another four-year term as the county highway department's engineer. The recommendation came from the county board's personnel committee.

n In a related personnel matter involving the county highway department, the personnel committee recommended allowing the department's survey crew workers to wear shorts this summer. A year ago, shorts were allowed for county employees for the first time in Mower County highway department history when daytime temperatures exceeded 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The county engineer was given the authority to determine what kind of shorts are appropriate for the workers to wear while performing their duties.

New public computer

The personnel committee also recommended installing a new public-use computer terminal in the government center.

Already, there is a public-use terminal for court matters. The new computer terminal will serve realtors, appraisers and others with information about real estate transactions and property taxes.

The information is part of the public record, according to Minnesota law.

The terminal had been requested by the local real estate community and the county auditor, recorder, treasurer and assessor.

The four county officials said their office staff was inundated by real estate requests from citizens.

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