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.
Motion was made by Commissioner Burns, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, motion unanimously carried to approve the agenda.
Motion was made by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Myhre, motion unanimously carried to approve the meeting minutes from August 8, 2023.
Motion was made by Commissioner Schuldt, seconded by Commissioner Burns, motion unanimously carried to approve the workgroup session minutes from August 15, 2023.
Public Comment:
Bill Ohm from La Crescent said he had a request for the County board. He asked the Board to publish a sample ballot for elections in the Houston County News in addition to the County’s official newspaper. He also suggested publishing sample ballots in the Caledonia Argus. The Commissioners said this was something they could consider for the 2024 election and budget.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Commissioner Myhre, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, motion unanimously carried to approve the consent agenda.
1)Change Nancy Welsh’s status from the temporary 0.8 FTE assignment to the position’s regular assignment of 0.7 FTE, effective 09/11/2023.
2)Change the employment status of Network/Help Desk Technician, Keyloe Xiong from probationary to regular, effective 9/07/2023.
3)Reassign Christopher Frick, from Patrol Sgt. C43 to Investigator C43, (lateral transfer) retroactive to 08/14/2023.
4)Initiate an internal search for a 1.0 FTE Patrol Sgt.
5)Approve an Exempt Permit for Minnesota Lawful Gambling Application LG220 for Caledonia Girls Court Club INC for gambling (raffle) activities to be conducted at Ma Cal Grove Country Club in Caledonia Township with a drawing to be held on October 27, 2023, with no waiting period. Approve Resolution No. 22-29 Minnesota Lawful Gambling Permit Approval Caledonia Girls Court Club Inc.
6)Review: Spring Grove City 2022 Annual Reporting Disclosure Statements
TIF 1-2 Bender 4th Addition
TIF 1-3 Daycare Redev Project
TIF 1-4 Spring Grove EDA
ACTION ITEMS
File No. 1 – Prior to any motions being made Engineer Pogodzinski told the Commissioners the County would receive a total of $396,187.00 from the FAA for the airport land acquisition, design, construction, etc., related to the taxi lane project. The FAA typically paid for 90% of airport projects with the other 10% of costs coming from local or State funds. Pogodzinski said there was a reduction in the airport grant this time as the FAA was holding back some funds due to the County possibly having been paid twice for a previous grant project years ago relating to the original construction of the airport. Pogodzinski said the FAA had been unable to prove that the County had been paid twice, but it was a possibility. Commissioner Johnson expressed frustration that the FAA was holding back some funds from a potential overpayment that could not be verified, and had happened years prior. Commissioner Burns moved, Commissioner Myhre seconded, motion unanimously carried to approve Resolution No. 23-27 Authorization to Execute Federal Aviation Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Acquire Land for Development, Construct Taxi-Lane Grant Number 3-27-0016-012-2023, and authorize the signature of the County Engineer on the grant agreement
File No. 2 – Commissioner Johnson moved, Commissioner Severson seconded, motion unanimously carried to approve Resolution No. 23-28 Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Aid.
File No. 3 – Commissioner Myhre moved, Commissioner Johnson seconded, motion unanimously carried to approve a Temporary Liquor License, Money Creek Haven Campground, for the dates of 09/01-09/04/2023.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Commissioners discussed recent meetings and events they had attended including a Department Head meeting, Finance meeting, and the Houston County Fair.
Commissioners Burns and Johnson said there had been some confusion due to a misprint in a newspaper article regarding the old and new jails. The old jail remained unused. The Board had been discussing options for the new jail and if it should be closed and the services contracted out as the Winona contract would be ending. The Commissioners clarified that recent discussions on what to do with the jail were in reference to the new jail and not the old jail.
Commissioner Schuldt said the Houston County Fair Board had done an outstanding job. Events such as the rodeo had been well attended. The Commissioners agreed.
Commissioner Burns said the Finance Committee would be meeting with department heads the following week and going through budgets line by line to see if items could be cut or reduced. The Finance Committee would then report back to the full Board of Commissioners at the first meeting in September regarding the 2024 budget.
There being no further business at 8:44 a.m. motion was made by Commissioner Myhre, seconded by Commissioner Burns 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 11