With school budgets under strain, the Dacotah Prairie Museum is exploring improved technology as a means to reach more students. Sue Gates, director of the Dacotah Prairie Museum, informed Brown County commissioners during their Tuesday meeting that the museum plans to seek ways to provide more online programming and distance learning classes in the coming years. While summarizing the museum's annual report, she mentioned that fewer young people participated in in-house programs in 2011 compared to the previous year because fewer schools can afford field trips. In-house events are held at the museum. Last year, they attracted 4,962 people, many of whom were students, compared to 5,686 in 2010. According to the annual report, overall attendance at museum events, which also includes walk-in visitors and off-site events, slightly decreased from 72,782 in 2010 to 71,649 last year. Gates stated that the museum is also updating its three-year plan and is enrolled in the Standards and Excellence Program. She explained that the review process is a precursor to museum accreditation. Additionally, she noted that, in an effort to save money, the museum has begun installing energy-efficient light bulbs in the building. There are approximately 300 light bulbs in the museum. Motion-sensitive lights will also be installed, and museum staff is prioritizing sending information via email instead of frequently printing document copies. Gates reported that visitors from 49 states, all but Maine and the District of Columbia, and 24 foreign countries visited the museum last year.
In other actions on Tuesday during a relatively routine meeting, commissioners:
- Approved an agreement where the county takes an additional 10 feet of right-of-way along County Road 16 between 101st and 103rd streets. Mike Elsen, who resides nearby, plans to reshape the ditch to assist with drainage, according to Gary Vetter, Brown County planning and zoning director. This move extends the county's right-of-way along the work area from 50 to 60 feet. Jan Weismantel, county highway superintendent, said it will allow for the ditch to be properly sloped. Elsen will continue to own the property. The county highway department will either perform the work or bid out the job, but Elsen will cover the costs. Vetter mentioned that less than three-quarters of a mile of ditch will be reshaped.
- Learned from Weismantel that the highway department will eventually need to add an extension to its shredder building. The extension would be used to store trucks, she said. "We haven't done anything out there really for 40 years," Weismantel said. "We're just to the max." The extension will likely measure 120 feet by 120 feet and be added to the west side of the shredder building. Preliminary estimates suggest it could cost $800,000 to $1 million. Weismantel noted that discussions about the building are still preliminary. She said she will look for funding options and asked commissioners if there's a way the county can start saving for the extension.
- Set May 18 as the date for a surplus property sale for the county. The sale will take place at the highway department shop in Aberdeen.
- Approved the purchase of a used 1979 stainless steel water tanker for the highway department from a website selling federal surplus property. It will cost $7,950. It will replace another rust-ridden 1979 tanker, Weismantel said.
- Approved an agreement with South Dakota State University Extension finalizing how costs related to Brown County's new 4-H advisor position will be split among the groups. Each will pay half of Becca Wolff's salary. Wolff will be reimbursed for travel-related expenses at the same rate as county employees. The Family Nutrition Program spot will eventually relocate to the regional Extension center downtown if the position is restaffed after Elsie Wells, who currently holds the job, retires in May.
- Learned from Weismantel that the so-called concrete wall separating Putney Slough from the James River is actually 14 feet high. For years, it was believed to be 12 feet high.
- Met in closed session to discuss contracts.
- Deferred action on awarding bids for chemicals to be used this year by the weed and pest department for review. A new set of bids was opened Tuesday. They were accidentally overlooked last week when two other sets of bids were opened.