The county board will decide whether to move ahead on the 12-county Human Services merger on June 26.

The board will hold another informational meeting at 6 p.m. June 25 about the project, the board will then vote for one of three scenarios: full support for the project, backing out or support with reservations/concerns.

Each of the 12 counties in the Southern Minnesota Redesign Project will vote by the end of June on whether to be part of the project. However, commissioners will have a better idea of where other counties stand before the end of the month. At least three counties voted on the project yesterday.

“That’ll give us an indication,” board Chairman Mike Ankeny said.

County Coordinator Craig Oscarson said it’ll be key that one county doesn’t gain too much control in the potential merger.

Board hires firm to study asbestos

The county board is hoping an investigation turns up nothing in the Government Center.

The board hired Kane and Johnson Architects, Inc. out of St. Paul for $6,768 to assess if and where there is asbestos in portions of the Government Center primed for the remodel to make space for Health and Human Services.

County Coordinator Craig Oscarson said it’s within the estimated project budget, and he said it’s important to take care of it now because finding asbestos mid-project could stop work.

“We can cross our fingers and hope that there’s nothing here,” he said.

The firm will only perform the study, not remove any materials.