Janice Green is the Mower County Employee of the Month for June.

Green was honored Tuesday at the regular meeting of the Mower County Board of Commissioners.

The monthly recognition program acknowledges the outstanding achievements of a Mower County employee.

Green's selection was obviously a popular choice Tuesday. A large delegation from the Mower County Department of Human Services attended the meeting.

Kerry Randall, Green's family facilitator program coordinator, said, "Janice goes above and beyond" the norm in doing her work.

Paul Bartemes, another family facilitator, continued the laudatory comments. Bartemes said Green brought "enthusiasm for keeping children safe and parents educated."

Among her responsibilities was helping organize the annual Week of the Young Child education and awareness project designed to connect families and resources.

Parenting classes for teenagers and sibling workshops were two other examples of how Green puts families first in her work.

Mower County Board Chairman Garry Ellingson, 5th District, expressed the county board's congratulations to the honoree, who expressed her appreciation to co-workers and supervisors and the county board for their support.

Fairgrounds report

Garry Ellingson and Richard P. Cummings, both building committee members, said the Wagner Construction Company, Inc. expects to complete the four new buildings on the fairgrounds in time for the Mower County Fair.

The agricultural display building is nearing completion and three new multi-purpose livestock buildings near Crane Pavilion are also being constructed on schedule, Ellingson said.

"Are they staying within the budget?" Ray Tucker, 2nd District, wanted to know.

"Yes, they are," Ellingson said.

The building committee plants to visit with the Fair Board and Mower County Historical Society representatives soon to discuss the extension of a walkway from the existing Historical Center buildings to the new agricultural display building.

The 150-foot long, 10-foot wide pathway could be installed for an estimated $2,400.

In other action Tuesday, the county commissioners:

n Approved a grant application for Margene Gunderson, community health services director for the county. Gunderson is seeking $5,790 in Public Health Preparedness and Response to Bioterrorism grant monies.

n Approved a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Corrections for caseload reduction funding. Mower County expects to receive $107,919 a year for two years; a reduction of 5 percent from the previous grant.

n Approved progress payments to KKE Architects, Inc. in the amount of $1,050 for the jail study. No other announcement was made on the selection process for the task force being formed to study Mower County's jail issues.

n Approved a progress payment in the amount of $487,927 to the Development Corporation of Austin for the McNeilus Companies of Dodge Center, Inc. project at Dexter. The ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday and the public is invited.

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