At its February 7 commission meeting, Houston County scheduled a public hearing to consider a countywide moratorium on the sale of edible cannabis and hemp derived tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) food and beverages.
The public hearing is scheduled on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at 6 p.m. in the commission board room at the county courthouse in Caledonia.
County Attorney Samuel (Sam) Jandt explained that the ordinance is a result of the joint Fillmore and Houston counties board of health meeting held earlier in the month. The proposed ordinance gives the county time to conduct a study “to better understand the public health and safety issues associated with hemp derived edible cannabinoid products and/or hemp derived tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) food and beverage products.” Jandt emphasized that commissioners must establish a committee to study “time, place, manner of regulations such as hours of operations, restrictions on location.”
Chairman Severson called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. He led the commissioners and guests in the Pledge of Allegiance. The commission unanimously approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from the January 24 regular board meeting and the January 24 workgroup session.
All five board members were in attendance: Chairman Dewey Severson, Eric Johnson, Robert (Bob) Burns, Bob Schuldt, and Greg Myhre.
Commissioners approved the county facilities manager’s request to advertise the historic courthouse roof replacement project’s request for proposal (RFP), post it on Quest, and the county’s website. Emails will also be sent out to companies to let them know that the county has an RFP out there. Commissioner Johnson expressed his opinion that the RFP looks complicated. “It is a complicated roof to begin with,” replied Facilities Manager Tess Kruger. She went on to explain that she plans to hold a non-mandatory virtual meeting so interested contractors can ask the engineer questions. Kruger added, “This building is on the National Historic Register. We would like it to be done in a way that doesn’t damage any of the historic design that is left. We are not holding them to a standard of historic replacement.”
Houston County EDA Director Allison Wagner shared the 2022 Houston County Economic Development Authority (EDA) Annual Report with commissioners. “The Houston County EDA welcomed 2022 by finishing pandemic relief related projects and returning to pre-pandemic projects,” summarized Wagner. “The EDA disbursed a total of $1,554,761.00 in grant funds to eligible businesses during the pandemic.”
Wagner emphasized that EDA has “a large pot of money” ($529,773.77) available to lend to Houston County businesses. Currently, EDA has 13 active loans. She asked commissioners to let businesses that are “starting, expanding, creating, or retaining jobs,” know about the loans.
EDA worked with Bluff Country Collaborative (BCC), opened Keep Company Co-Working Space in the La Crescent Chamber of Commerce, received a First Children’s Finance Childcare grant to study Houston County’s childcare needs, worked with Houston County Farmers, actively involved in the Root River Trail Expansion, and assisting the Houston Area Preservation Initiative (HAPI).
All these economic development projects will continue in 2023.
In other business, the board:
•Approved changing Kyli Gobrecht’s employment status from probation to regular;
•Accepted the resignation of Barbara Schmitz, Department of Corrections, Technical Clerk I;
•Approved a guardianship service agreement with Virgie Rud;
•Renewed Generation X Construction’s 2023 Houston County hauler license;
•Approved the Merchants Bank credit cards. This is necessary because the county changed banks at the beginning of the year;
•Approved Brian Pogodzinski’s request to attend the AASHTO Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Ind., from November 12-16, 2023, it was noted that this conference is in place of the previously approved AASHTO Resource Technical Exchange in Fort Worth, Tex. Conference and travel costs will be covered by MnDOT.
The next regularly scheduled Houston County Commission meeting is Tuesday, February 14, at 9 a.m. in the County Commission Board Room 222 in the county courthouse, Caledonia, or via the county conference call line (312) 626-6700 enter ID: 994-7297-7175 and password 368422. Public attendees are requested to mute their line until addressed.
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