Chairman Greg Myhre called the March 17 meeting of the Houston County Board of Commissioners to order at 9 a.m. in the historic courthouse, downtown Caledonia.
Chairman Myhre led his fellow colleagues and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Board members present were Cindy Wright (District 1), Eric Johnson (District 2), Kurt Zehnder (District 3), Bob Schuldt (District 4), and Chairman Myhre (District 5).
The agenda was approved with one change as recommended by Commissioner Johnson. UMN Extension Agriculture and Horticulture programming update scheduled at 9:05 a.m. could not make it to the commission meeting.
The minutes from the March 3 regular board meeting were unanimously approved, as were the minutes from the special board meeting held on March 3, and the March 10 workgroup session minutes with one correction.
The board unanimously approved the consent agenda. Items included hiring Karen Fryseth as a full-time child support officer, effective March 30; transferring Andrea Lien from adult protection social worker to a full-time HCBS social worker position; and authorizing a competitive search for a full-time adult protection social worker.
Environmental Services Director Amelia Meiners said that the Houston County Planning Committee recommended that both Conditional Use Permits (CUP) be approved. Approved a CUP for Michel and Susan Bashaw for a single-family dwelling on less than 40 acres in the Agriculture Protection District in La Crescent. There were two regular conditions, and an additional condition was added. The commission also approved the CUP for the Barta Family Trust for a cabin in the Agriculture Protection District in Houston Township with the two standard conditions. Chairman Myhre asked what size the cabin would be and Meiners said the applicant did not think it would reach the 400 square feet that cabins are limited to.
County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski presented the following seven requests for approval. 1. Awarded Dunn Blacktop the CSAH 7 and CSAH 18 paving project at a total cost of $4,849,295.18. 2. Accepted the low bid from Bruening Rock Products in the amount of $381,242.12 for shouldering. 3. Accept all quotes for aggregate stockpiles. 4. Accepted all quotes for equipment rental. 5. Accepted the low quote from Fahrner Asphalt Sealer for crack filling in the amount of $131,600. 6. Accepted the low bid from Scott Construction in the amount of $503,789.01 for bituminous seal coat. 7. Approved the purchase of a sign cutter from Traff Tech in the amount of $8,475.
In other business, the board:
- Appointed Lane Zaffke to the Houston County Extension Committee. His first term will run through December 31, 2028. Commissioner Johnson said that he knew Zaffke and that he will be a good addition to the board.
- Approved resolution 26-10 setting the minimum salary for any officials elected in 2026. The minimum salary is $5000. It was noted that the commissioners approve a minimum salary for elected officials every election year.
- Approved resolution 26-11, “opposing the proposed expansion beyond the existing trout streams already designated, unless Houston County can be an active part of the process, be shown proper documentation for the necessity of expansion, and how this could lead to additional stream miles capable of sustaining a trout population.”
- Reviewed and approved paying the bills as presented by Finance Director Carol Lapham.
Before adjourning the meeting at 9:41 a.m., Coordinator Support Allison Wagner reminded the commissioners and the audience that a public hearing is scheduled on March 24 at 9:05 a.m. during the Commissioners’ regular board meeting regarding the proposal to change the offices of Recorder and Auditor/Treasurer from elected positions to appointed positions.
Wagner also reminded everyone that the residential Clean Sweep event is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is a free event and will be held at the Houston County Recycling Center, 105 North Grant Street, Houston. The event is only for residential homes in Houston County and is limited to the following: latex paint (gallon size or smaller); oil paint (gallon size or smaller); stains, varnish, spray paint (with original labels on); residential and ag pesticides, limit 200 pounds; fluorescent and HID bulbs (residential only).
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