The Mower County Board of Commissioners approved a three-year contract with the county’s highway workers at a meeting Tuesday afternoon.

Commissioners voted to give the local United Auto Workers chapter a 1 percent pay raise next year, with a 1.5 percent raise and 2 percent raise for the following years after that. In addition, an early retirement incentive for the UAW will be added next year, and county will maintain current health insurance coverage for the next three years.

The county will remove the retirement insurance benefit for new employees hired after Jan. 31, 2013.

Commissioners also signed a declaration that July was Speed Awareness Month. The declaration, part of an initiative by the Safe Communities Coalition to reduce driving-related deaths, will go into effect immediately.

Recycle, wash, reuse

The county’s recycling center will get a little help soon.

County Commissioners approved a water-based parts washer to clean used recycling bins. About 1,100 bins will need to be cleaned this year, according to Public Works Director Mike Hanson, and previous efforts to clean the bins weren’t successful, as many of the bins have become filthy after repeated use.

The washer will cost the county $8,500.