Chairperson Dewey Severson called the regularly scheduled meeting of the Houston County Commission to order at 9 a.m. Severson led his fellow commissioners and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. The board unanimously approved the meeting agenda with one addition to the consent agenda, as well as the September 5 commission meeting minutes.
All five commissioners were in attendance: District 1 Dewey Severson, District 2 Eric Johnson, District 3 Robert (Bob) Burns, District 4 Bob Schuldt, and District 5 Greg Myhre.
In one unanimous motion, commissioners authorized a Merchant’s bank credit card for Interim Auditor/Treasurer Polly Heberlein. They changed Joseph Olson’s classification from certified Minnesota appraiser income qualified B24 Step 3 to accredited Minnesota assessor B25 Step 3 retroactive to September 5, 2023.
County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski appeared before the commission to close contract number 063 with Milestone Materials for maintenance rock. The final payment is $1,423.53. Pogodzinski explained, “This is closing out [the contract]. We bid out the maintenance rock every other year for our road surfacing. We bid it out by the roadway.” The original contract was $28,024, and the final cost was $28,470.69 because a few more loads were put down. Burns noted that it is a tiny bit over before moving to approve. Johnson seconded it. Motion carried.
The board approved the Public Health and Human Services (PHHS) director’s request to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Children’s Dental Services (CDS). According to the meeting request form, “PHHA have negotiated an MOU with Children’s Dental Services (CDS) to provide dental access clinics one time a month on-site in Houston County.” The first clinic is scheduled for September 27 for children under five and is already filled. Future clinics will be scheduled for children and adults. Commissioner Burns stated before moving to approve, “Enough said. Because it doesn’t cost the county any money, because it is a great service as far as those that don’t have dental care on their own, and giving John permission to sign the MOU after Sam reviews it makes sense, we do it.” Seconded by Commissioner Schuldt.
The board unanimously approved a request from Sheriff Brian Swedberg to apply for the purchase of Axon equipment at an estimated cost of $357,146.70. Swedberg explained, “Like I have told you in the past, the state came out with a new bill, a one-time payment for agencies for public safety.” Swedberg received confirmation that Houston County will receive $399,848.00 from the state. The package includes new tasers, body cameras, 5-year cloud storage, and annual subscription fees. “With this bundle program, they give us new equipment right away, halfway through, they update us, and at the end of the five years, they do the same thing,” said Swedberg. “Basically, at the end of five years, they give us new equipment.”
Chairman Severson called to adjourn the meeting at 9:48 a.m.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Houston County Commission is Tuesday, September 26, 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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