Credible Mind Platform

Kelly Jo Krenzke, children’s mental health, and Kiah Halverson, adult mental health, presented an introduction to the Credible Mind Platform at the Fillmore County Board’s January 13 meeting.  

Fillmore County Human Services partnered with Credible Mind about a month and a half ago. Krenzke said it will be accessible to anyone in Fillmore County. It will be available on the county’s website. Users can create an account but are not required to; it can be used anonymously. Creating an account can help with tracking assessment results. This platform is accessible, credible, and confidential. Halverson said it can help the user gain coping skills. 

This is a resource to help those experiencing a mental health issue. One in five adults experience a mental illness each year. Fillmore County is one of 55% of counties in the United States that does not have a single practicing psychiatrist.

Since the platform has been available in Fillmore County there have been 261 users.

The digital platform is available 24/7 and can help one understand one’s own mental health, helping with one’s mental health and well-being. It is fully funded through a grant. Commissioner Mitch Lentz asked whether this platform has been introduced in schools. The availability of the platform will continue to be promoted in schools and elsewhere for the benefit of the public.

Citizens Input

Bonita Underbakke commented on this newspaper’s report of the January 6 meeting, saying Citizens Input “feels hollow to me.” Commissioner Duane Bakke had suggested citizens should not be giving their opinion on an item on the day’s agenda during Citizens Input because it is not a public hearing. This reporter wrote what was said but did not provide adequate background to Bakke’s statement. Bakke was referring to a September 18 Planning Commission agenda item about a telecommunications tower. A public hearing was held during that meeting, and several people were given time to air their concerns. At the October 7 county board meeting the same concerns were aired again during the Citizens Input portion of the meeting, which is not supposed to be a second public hearing. There had already been a public hearing on this proposed tower. It was now on the October 7 agenda for the board’s consideration with a recommendation for approval from the Planning Commission after the public hearing held during the commission meeting. 

Other Business in Brief

• Lentz requested additional conversation on the Sheriff’s 2026 salary which was set at the January 6 meeting at $148,000. He apologized to the other commissioners and said he made a mistake supporting that number. After some discussion, the motion setting the salary at $148,000 was rescinded. A new motion to set the salary at $150,000 was approved with Commissioner Marc Prestby voting against. The chief deputy salary set on January 6 at $132,200 was not changed.
• Auditor/Treasurer Heather Broadwater reviewed the 2025 tax forfeiture process. There were 33 parcels in the beginning in 2025. Three were repurchased and most all the others were paid in full before forfeited. Seventy-five percent of the funds recovered go to the state and the remaining funds go to the county. The county pays for associated costs. All parcels will fall under the new state law this year; there are 10 parcels so far. Broadwater said they will be sending out a courtesy letter to remind property owners of the process.
• A list of membership to 2026 boards, commissions, committees, and task forces was approved. A list of 2026 committee assignments for commissioners was discussed. Bakke noted the number of committees assigned to each commissioner are not even; the number of assignments varies from 35 to 15. He suggested this is something to think about to even out more for next year. The list of assignments was approved as presented.
• Trinity Johnson was reappointed to a four-year term on the Planning Commission. Dan Schmidt was reappointed to a three-year term on the Extension Committee.
• County Administrator Bobbie Hillery updated the commissioners about a low dose cannabis license data breach. Those affected by the breach were notified; processes have been followed. MCIT attorneys are now involved.
• An access permit was approved for Dave and Leanne Kingsley/Chris and Deb Skaalen for a driveway access on CR 30, section 27 of Harmony Township.
• Permits were approved for field accesses to accommodate today’s large machinery (one for Sue Roppe on CR 24 in section 10 of Newburg Township for a new field access, one for Daniel Miller to widen existing access on CR 1 in section 19 of Bloomfield Township, and one for Evan O’Connor on CR 44 in section 18 of Harmony Township for a new field access). All access requests are reviewed by and recommended by the county engineer.
• The board discussed a possible ordinance to limit firearms used to take deer. The county per statute has the authority to limit firearms for deer hunting. An ordinance may be adopted after notice of a public hearing. A draft ordinance from another county was reviewed. The DNR wants any ordinances to be approved prior to May 5. Hillery said if the board wants to set limits it needs to go ahead with the ordinance process. The board approved going ahead with the process. The public hearing will be set at the next board meeting (public hearing likely to be held in early March).