Plans are moving ahead for publication of a new county map and plat book as the result of County Board approval last week.

Commissioners tentatively agreed to have Cloud Graphics, the firm that did previous maps and plat books for the county, do the job. The company would produce 10,000 maps and 900 plat books. Maps would be distributed free while plat books would sell at $20 each, County Administrator Paul Virnig said.

The rising cost of fuel and its effect on road maintenance costs came into sharp focus Tuesday as the Meeker County Board approved summer fuel contracts.

Jack’s Oil Distributing in Eden Valley won the contract for supplying fuel for eight county highway sheds at the low bid of $144,807.

Six years ago, according to figures compiled by county Highway Engineer Ron Mortensen, the same contract was awarded for $34,517. Three years later, in 2005, the total more than doubled to $74,118.

Meeker County is one of a number of counties in Minnesota facing a lawsuit as a result of strip searching inmates as they arrive at jail.

The Minneapolis legal firm of Kaplan, Robbins and Ciresi has been representing plaintiffs in a number of legal actions against counties across the state.

At least one county, Mille Lacs, has reached a settlement involving a cash payment.

A wing of the South Elementary School building in Cosmos, which has been unoccupied since last year, may soon again serve a useful purpose.

Pat Thomas, supervisor in the Meeker County Social Services Department, outlined to the County Board Tuesday a tentative plan under which a day treatment program under the auspices of the area special education co-op would use five classrooms in the school building.

It wasn’t on the official agenda, but lake pollution became a topic of discussion during a Meeker County Board of Commissioners meeting last week.

Commissioner Dave Gabrielson, who lives near Lake Ripley, cited the availability of an aerial survey that can accurately pinpoint areas in a lake where pollution is evident. Cost of the survey is about $4,000.

Holding candidate signs high above their heads, DFL delegates debated, cajoled, enticed and negotiated for the highest possible number of delegates to support their U.S. Senate candidate all the way to the state convention.

Each DFL Senate candidate — Al Franken, Mike Ciresi and Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer — had supporters on hand at Saturday’s Meeker County DFL Convention who attempted to mold the rare walking subcaucus process to their liking.

Meeker County Board approved a joint powers agreement Tuesday that provides for inspection of individual septic tank systems within the North Fork Crow River Watershed District.

The agreement between Meeker and Stearns counties and the watershed district also provides the authority to require substandard systems to upgrade. Stearns County, which currently has an inspection program, will provide personnel for the project.

After adding an extra $50,000 to its share of the Bernie Aaker Auditorium remodeling project, the Meeker County Board awarded the overall contract Tuesday to Kue Contractors of Watkins for $1.4 million.

The county, Litchfield School District and city of Litchfield each had pledged $500,000 toward the remodeling. However, bids came in higher than the initial $1.25 million estimate.

The price tag for major improvements at Bernie Aaker Auditorium could be a little larger than originally anticipated.

Meeker County Commissioners, who opened bids for the project last week, found the lowest of three bids was nearly $200,000 more than the architect’s estimate of $1.25 million.

Kue Contractors of Watkins submitted the lowest bid totaling $1,441,811. It included a base bid of $1,399,611, a $16,500 bid on providing an orchestra pit cover, a $20,000 addition for balcony seat cushions and a $5,000 add-on for floor finishing and painting.

When it comes to transportation, county politicians from around the state find themselves on the same, pothole-filled highway.

It was that bond that brought two county commissioners from Hennepin and Carver counties to a meeting with Meeker County Board members Monday in Litchfield.