Mower County employees will be encouraged to stay fit, but they will have to do it without a popular incentive.

The Shape Up Challenge fitness program is a victim of the state budget crisis.

On Tuesday, the Mower County Board of Commissioners voted to discontinue offering T-shirts to participants.

With carry-over monies from last year's program, the county's outlay this year will be $50.

The program had been budgeted for $1,500 in expenses.

Last year, 160 people participated in the program designed to encourage county workers to take care of or improve their health.

The theme has been "healthier workers are more productive employees."

Dick Lang, 4th District, made the motion to endorse the program for another year without the T-shirt incentive.

Ray Tucker, 2nd District, seconded Lang's motion and all five commissioners voted "Aye."

County employees may still buy T-shirts at their own expense.

CUP hearings

Three conditional use permit requests were approved by the county commissioners Tuesday.

One other CUP request failed to pass the inspection of the county commissioners.

Ronda Hinck was granted a CUP for a dog kennel and animal feed home-based business near Waltham. Richard Koch will be allowed to erect a wind turbine on his farm southwest of LeRoy. Leon Upkie will be allowed to build a new home on his step-father's land in Racine Township.

However, the commissioners decided more time was needed to study another request to operate a gravel pit east of Austin.

Lee Hansen and Steve Anderson testified on behalf of the CUP request. Like the other three CUP requests, Hansen's had also received the Mower County Planning Commission's endorsement.

However, Dell and Monica Hennessy weren't at the county planning commission meeting. On Tuesday, their testimony compelled the commissioners to delay action on the Hansen request.

The Hennessy couple had a long list of objections. Dust and noise were among them.

Hansen and Anderson testified the pit area is now being used under special government-only provisions. Gravel taken from the pit on marginal farmland is being used by the city of Austin in the area between 10th and 11th Streets NE where the city is redeveloping old railroad property.

David Hillier, 3rd District county commissioner, made the motion to table the request for further study.

Hillier also wants the county commissioners to conduct a site visit June 24.

Dick Lang, 4th District, seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

Hansen told the county officials he was addressing traffic safety concerns by posting temporary signs advising U.S. Highway 218 motorists of truck traffic off the roadway and into the field.

Also Hansen said he is watering the roadway to the pit area to minimize dust.

Hansen already waived the 60-day rule, requiring action by the county, so the new delay is not a problem.

Ordinance amended

Also Tuesday, the commissioners readily approved two amendments to the county zoning ordinance.

One calls for platting and a CUP in a rural residential district and the other changes the map ratio from 1:50 feet to 1:100 feet on maps describing the excavation of earthen materials.

The county planning commission had endorsed both change.

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