Date: August 8, 2023, 9:00 a.m.
Place: Commissioners Room, Courthouse, Caledonia, MN
Members Present: Dewey Severson, Eric Johnson, Robert Burns, Bob Schuldt, and Greg Myhre
Presiding: Chairperson Severson
Call to order.
Pledge of Allegiance.
Prior to a motion being made Commissioner Johnson said Action Item No. 2 needed to be pulled from the agenda due to an agreement not being received by the County in time for the meeting. Motion was made by Commissioner Myhre, seconded by Commissioner Schuldt, motion unanimously carried to approve the agenda with the change.
Motion was made by Commissioner Myhre, seconded by Commissioner Schuldt, motion unanimously carried to approve the meeting minutes from August 1, 2023.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Commissioner Myhre, seconded by Commissioner Schuldt, motion unanimously carried to approve the consent agenda.
1)Hire Matthew Kuehl, as a 1.0 FTE probationary Lead Jailer/Dispatcher, B32 Step 6, effective 08/27/2023 conditioned upon successful completion of Sheriff’s Office background check. (Kruger)
2)Hire Derek St Mary as a 1.0 FTE probationary Jailer/Dispatcher, B23 Step 1, effective 08/27/2023 conditioned upon successful completion of Sheriff’s Office background check. (Kruger)
ACTION ITEMS
File No. 1 – Commissioner Myhre moved, Commissioner Johnson seconded, motion unanimously carried to approve a CUP for Sean Mazzei to have a cabin in the ag district in Winnebago Township.
File No. 2 – This item was removed from the agenda.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Commissioners discussed recent meetings and events they had attended including a Land Use meeting, Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Planning meeting, Community Services meeting, Childcare Appreciation Provider Picnic, and National Night Out.
Commissioner Johnson said voting on the referendum for the Houston School District was taking place August 8th 2023.
The Commissioners said the Houston County Fair was coming up the following week.
Commissioner Johnson said he had attended a Land Use meeting. During the meeting a potential development near Pine Creek was discussed with Environmental Services Director Martin Herrick. Commissioner Johnson said it was important to follow the new Comprehensive Land Use Plan that had recently been adopted by the County. Commissioner Johnson said he had spoke to Attorney Jandt on the matter and was told the County would recommend denial if the project officially came forward as it did not meet the requirements of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and would be on prime ag land. Commissioner Schuldt said the County had not received any official applications or plans relating to the project.
The Commissioners discussed the Houston County Jail and the ending of the Winona County contract in September of 2023. Commissioners Severson and Schuldt had been meeting with jail staff to discuss options for the jail once the contract ended. Commissioner Schuldt said they were currently operating with the minimum amount of staff possible. He said jail staff was looking into lots of possible options for the future. Commissioner Johnson said all possibilities should be looked at including the possibility of needing to close the jail. Commissioner Johnson said he did not see the jail population growing and currently there were only around four or less Houston County inmates in the jail at any given time. Commissioner Schuldt said the County did have a responsibility to have a holding space for people who were arrested in Houston County. If that was not at the Houston County Jail the County would need to contract with another County for a holding space. Schuldt said it would be the responsibility of the County to do the transport if another jail was used.
There being no further business at 9:47 a.m. motion was made by Commissioner Myhre, seconded by Commissioner Johnson motion unanimously carried to adjourn the meeting.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HOUSTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA
By: Dewey Severson, Chairperson Attest: Polly Heberlein, Interim Auditor/Treasurer
THE ABOVE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMISSIONERS IS ONLY A SUMMARY. THE FULL TEXT IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTON AT THE HISTORIC HOUSTON COUNTY BUILDING AS WELL AS AT THE FOLLOWING WEB ADDRESS: https://www.co.houston.mn.us/.
Publish 28