Board approves distribution of funding

More help is on the way for local businesses and non-profits, as the Lyon County Board on Tuesday approved the distribution of state funding for economic relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The State of Minnesota sent Lyon County $500,000 to allocate to businesses and non-profits that were affected by executive orders issued in response to COVID-19 restrictions. The funding was part of a $216.8 million economic relief package that was passed by the Minnesota Legislature and Gov. Tim Walz.
After the legislation passed through the House of Representatives and the Senate, Rep. Dave Baker (R-Willmar) said in a news conference that the funding is all about people who are really hurting.
“Everyone knows the faster they move, the better our businesses will be and we will save more of them the faster we get it out. Legislatively, they have to have all the money out by the middle of March, but we certainly hope it’s going to be within a matter of weeks, not months .... Today’s a good day for business relief,” Baker said.
Lyon County Administrator Loren Stomberg spoke Tuesday about how the county is looking for applicants that may have fallen through the cracks in prior funding.
“The hope is that we’ll find those (applicants) that they missed, so if there’s someone or a business that maybe wasn’t directly impacted by an executive order but indirectly impacted, that’s what we’re trying to catch,” Stomberg said.
Lyon County Auditor/Treasurer E.J. Moberg gave an example that the last round of funding was focused on bars and restaurants, but maybe there was a cleaning company that cleans those restaurants and was negatively impacted by the executive order on the restaurant.
According to a news release, “Applicants must also have experienced a financial hardship as a result of the public health emergency.”
The application opens up on Jan. 20 and will close on Feb. 17. The application was designed to make it as effortless as possible and requires a W-9 with a signature and a story of how the grant funds would help the applicant.
Four of the commissioners approved the distribution of funds, with Commissioner Charlie Sanow abstaining.
For an overview or to view an application, visit www.lyonco.org/relief.
For questions about the application or program, businesses can contact relief@co.lyon.mn.us or (507) 537-6249.
In other news, the board:
• Approved the use of the former hockey arena in Marshall for United Way of Southwest Minnesota to use as a free food distribution site.
• Approved a conditional use permit to Tyler Laleman for a new feedlot.
• Approved the purchase of a 2020 RAM pickup from Lockwood Motors for $30,623 to replace a patrol vehicle that was totaled in a crash.
• Gave the approval to hire an electrical engineer to study software to replace the old jail control system.
• Authorized the final payment to Midwest Contracting, LLC for $13,892.43 for the Local Road Improvement Program project.
• Approved the liquor license renewal for Saratoga Archery Club.
• Approved the subordination agreement for a mortgage from Heritage Bank for parcel 04-013006-2. The vote was abstained by Commissioner Rick Anderson.