NEW ULM - Brown County Commissioners learned Tuesday that a Minneapolis-based firm wants to build a 21-turbine, 31.5 megawatt Large Wind Energy Conversion System (LWECS) southeast of Morgan in Brown and Redwood counties.

With construction and project commissioning planned for this year, Morgan Wind seeks expeditious review and issuance of a site permit, according to a letter addressed to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, dated May 22, 2009, signed by Jeff Wright.

Brown County Administrator Chuck Enter said 1,200-foot residential setbacks are part of the project that includes 10,880 acres (17 square miles).

Enter said he would keep commissioners advised on when the Minnesota PUC would hold a hearing on the wind project.

Project site elevation ranges from 1,001-1,056 feet above sea level, between State Highway 68 and County Highway 30 in Eden Township, Brown County and Morgan Township, Redwood County.

Most of the turbines would be located north and northwest of Evan in Brown County.

County commissioners approved a resolution to support a small-scale wind project by a 5-0 vote on April 4, 2006.

In other action, commissioners approved:

A revised Home Health Aide and Homemaker Service Policy, according to state requirements, supervising once every 6 months instead of every 3 months.

In her report, Brown County Public Health Director Karen Moritz said $6,000-$8,000 in federal stimulus money will be available in 2010 for local public vaccine distribution. Services may include H1N1 Novel Influenza Virus vaccine.

Moritz said most people with the H1N1 flu are aged 5-30. Very few people older than 50 have the virus, she added.

$925,000 for Brown County Family Services and Probation out-of-home placements.

$7,048.98 under state contract with General Office Products Company to buy furniture for the Energy Assistance Program office in the Family Services building.

Set aside deciding how many years to allow a tax abatement for Charles Henle, Milford Township. due to an incomplete application. It was determined that his deeded acres were about 13 acres less than what was recorded in the Brown County Recorders Office.

The purchase of software upgrades and a three-year maintenance contract for the Sentinel 911 Call-Taker System. The 911 fund will cover the three-year cost of $22,763.33.

Participation in the PERA Phased Retirement Option (PRO) from June 16, 2009 to June 30, 2011 and consider PRO requests on a case-by-case basis.

2009 legislation allowed Coordinated and Basic members age 62 and older the option to begin receiving a PERA pension without formally resigning. Employees seeking PRO must agree to substantially reduce working hours.