Chairman Greg Myhre called the September 27, Houston County Commission meeting to order at 9 a.m., leading commissioners and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioners in attendance include Chairman Myhre, Teresa Walter, Robert (Bob) Burns, Eric Johnson, and Dewey Severson.
Commissioners unanimously approved the meeting’s agenda, the minutes from the September 13 regular board meeting, and the minutes from the September 20 workgroup session.
It rarely happens that there are no items on the consent agenda, but it does happen, and this week at the Houston County Commission meeting was one of those times.
The Commission went into a closed session at 9:05 a.m. pursuant to Minn. Stat. 13D.05, subdivision 1 (d), attorney-client privilege to consider the AFSCME grievance. The Commission returned to the open session at 9:45 a.m. Personnel Director Tess Kruger summarized the closed session, “The general consensus is to continue discussions with AFSCME.”
Engineer Craig Milkert and interior designer Johon Harris, Collaborative Design, Minneapolis, appeared before the September 27 Houston County Commission meeting to discuss the Space Utilization Study and the proposed Historic Court House Roof Request for Proposal (RFP).
Milkert and Harris first reviewed the process their company would follow when analyzing the space in the County buildings. Harris stated, “The purpose of the project is to look at the needs of the public along with the way that you service the public.” During the data collection phase, the company would talk with Commissions, department heads and staff. It is anticipated that the study will take 20 weeks to complete. The company can start as soon as they receive the okay from the county. The final report will include options and cost. In answer to Commission Burns’ question, it was confirmed that the study will take into account the future needs of the county.
Following the conclusion of part one of the presentation Milkert and Harris switched to the proposed proposal to reroof the shingled area of the historic county courthouse. The presentation included photographs that illustrated the steep pitch of the roof, the number of missing shingles, damaged wood, and missing or damaged metal ornaments. The courthouse will remain open during the process which is estimated to take 4-6 weeks. Milkert noted, “This is a good time to bid it.” He estimates that the project will cost between $85,000 to $95,000. If the County goes out to bid this fall, the project can start next spring.
La Crescent Community Development Director Larry Kirch attended the commission meeting to discuss the Houston-Hokah-La Crescent Root River Trail Extension Memorandum of Agreement to Jointly Cooperate and the County of Houston Joint Cooperation for Recreational Trail Development resolution. Kirch emphasized that it took 30 years to come to this point in the project.
Joe Thesing and Benjiman Horn were appointed by the Commission to represent Houston County on the Root River Trail Extension. The committee is comprised of two members each, from La Crescent, Hokah, Houston, and Houston County. The purpose of the committee is to develop a plan to connect the trails.
In other business, the Commission:
• Authorized Auditor-Treasurer Trehus account powers to open accounts at Rushford State Bank;
• Approved the preliminary 3% levy increase, a net of $396,070 for 2023;
• Adopted the 2023 proposed operating budget with a deficit of $164,687.
The meeting adjourned at 11:24 a.m.
The next regularly scheduled Houston County Commission meeting is Tuesday, October 4, at 9 a.m. in the County Commission Board Room 222, located on the second floor in the historic 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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