The Houston County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, from 9-10:33 a.m. in the historic county courthouse in downtown Caledonia. Commissioners in attendance include Dewey Severson, Eric Johnson, Chairman Bob Burns, Teresa Walter, and Greg Myhre.
Others in attendance included Auditor/Treasurer Donna Trehus, Finance Director Carol Lapham, Human Resources Director Theresa Arrick-Kruger, Board Clerk/EDA Director Allison Wagner, Engineer Brian Pogodzinski, Interim Recorder Mary Betz, and Interim Houston County Environmental Services Director Amelia Meiners.
Chairman Burns led the commissioners and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The meeting agenda was unanimously approved as amended. In addition, the minutes from the November 2 board meeting were approved.
Before calling for the vote, the board clarified that the 2021-2023 snow removal with WS Trucking and Construction is for snow removal at the courthouse and the community service building. The contract runs from November 10, 2021, until June 30, 2023, and is not to exceed $15,000.00 per year without the county’s prior approval. The motion was unanimously approved.
Commissioners authorized Auditor/Treasurer Trehus to sign the professional services agreement on behalf of Houston County and accepted the agreement with DS Solutions Inc. The agreement is for online election judge training services and approved resolution 21-55 authorizing the acceptance of the “Professional Services Agreement” with DS Solutions, Inc. to provide Houston County with an Online Election Judge Training Course. Trehus mentioned that the county has been using DS Solutions online election judge training course since before she started working for the county. Last year 209 people did online training due to COVID. Commission Walter interjected her opinion, “I liked the online training.” Trehus explained that the county will still have in-house training, and the county will use DS Solutions as the basis for the training.
The board approved the out-of-state travel request from Pogodzinski to attend the National Association of County Engineers (NACE) conference, April 24-28, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. Pogodzinski explained that the estimated cost of attending ranges from $1,000-$1,500 and is included in next year’s budget.
The county approved resolution 21-56 Final Acceptance of Contract 312 ICON Constructors, LLC. The bridge replacement on Freeburg Ridge Road in Crooked Creek Township in Houston County is complete. The total project cost of $922,169.82, which is $4,000 under the original budgeted amount. The final payment is $9,221.70.
The commission approved change order number 31 from Wieser Brothers for the Highway Facility. The total cost was $61,517.67. Pogodzinski noted that this cost had been accounted for in the contingency fund, and there is roughly $70,000 left in the contingency fund.
Dan Goetzinger and Tim McCormick were appointed watershed managers for the Crooked Creek Watershed District.
Commissioners unanimously approved two conditional use permits (CUP). Daniel and Marissa Solum requested a CUP to build a dwelling on less than 40 acres in La Crescent Township, and Carl and Elizabeth Olson requested a CUP to construct a dwelling on less than 40 acres in Sheldon Township. Interim Director Meiners mentioned that the county is requiring that Olsons survey the property.
After a lengthy discussion about the next steps in the environmental director search, the commissioners approved 3:2 to move forward with the hiring process. Director Kruger explained, “The process has been followed; it was a clean process and has been consistent with past practices.” Commissioners were reminded that this was not a vote to hire someone to fill the position but to move forward with the hiring process.
The next meeting of the Houston County Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, November 23, 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 meeting ID: 994-7297-7175 and password 368422. The public is invited to attend.