At the February 18 Houston County Commission meeting, the board approved hiring Decorah, Iowa resident Brent Parker as the county’s new Human Resources officer. His official start date is March 3.
Interim Administrator Carol Lapham introduced Parker to the board. He has a 20-year career as a police officer and returned to college to earn his Master’s in Public Administration. He is currently employed as a police officer in Waukon and is serving the city of Decorah as a city councilor.
Chairman Eric Johnson recognized that all commissioners were in attendance: Cindy Wright, Eric Johnson, Kurt Zehnder, Bob Schuldt and Greg Myhre.
Matt Gallo, spongy moth treatment coordinator with the MN Department of Agriculture, gave an in-depth presentation of the state’s spongy moth management program. He confirmed that the spongy moths are the same as the gypsy moths, and while the treatment doesn’t kill them, it disrupts them from mating, reducing their numbers the following year. Gallo noted that Minnesota particularly vulnerable due to abundant tree species like aspen, basswood, birch and oak. They use an EPA non-toxic certified organic, biodegradable product made from food grade material. A virtual community meeting for southeast Minnesota will be held on March 18 at 6 p.m. More information will be forthcoming.
Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center (HVMHC) Executive Director Erik Sievers presented a one-page summary of the organization’s annual report. The organization’s mission is “to be the community leader in delivering exceptional, responsive, and consumer focused behavioral health services.” HVMHC was founded in 1965 and provides services to Fillmore, Houston, Wabasha, Goodhue and Winona counties. Sievers reviewed the organization’s programs (Adult, Child & Family Mental Health Therapy, Substance Use Counseling, Adult Housing, Mobile Crisis, Psychiatry, Mental Health Skills, School-Linked, and Naloxone Access Point). He also stressed the importance of partnerships throughout his presentation. During new business, the commissioners unanimously approved the 2025 Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center (HVMHC) contract and rates. Commissioner Wright emphasized the importance of HVMHC to the residents of Houston County. To learn more about HVMHC and their programs, visit hvmhc.org. The mobile crisis number is 1-844-CRISIS2.
Interim Auditor/Treasurer Polly Heberlein shared with the commissioners the county’s cash and investment reports for July 1-December 31. Heberlein compared the interest earned over the last three years. In 2024, the county earned $507,606 in interest. In 2023, the county’s investments earned $337,975 in interest, and in 2022, the county earned $134,000 in interest.
Former Houston County employee Daniel Coogan was hired as a full-time assistant county attorney effective April 1, 2025.
Economic Development Authority (EDA) Board of Directors member Dayna Burtness submitted her resignation. The board thanked Burtness for her service and appointed Saundra Solum to replace her. Solum’s three-year term is effective February 18, 2025.
In other business the board:
- Approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from the February 4 regularly scheduled commission meeting and the February 11 workgroup session.
- Unanimously approved the consent agenda which in addition to hiring Parker included hiring Hannah Jaster as a full-time registered nurse, McKinley Sisson as a full-time jailer dispatcher, and Randy Dobbs as a 67-day, temporary/casual transport officer.
- Approved dissolving the Water Planning Committee as recommended by Meiners. Meiners confirmed that the planning committee voted to dissolve the committee.
- Approved the SE AMHI agreement. Previously known as CREST, AMHI is a regional collaborative in southeast Minnesota that coordinates adult mental health services in the region. This is a two-year agreement funded by a state grant. Commissioners also approved the association’s updated by-laws.
- Approved the 2025 Semcac contract for transportation services.
- No action was taken on the 2025 committee list with possible changes to the per diem schedule.
- No action was taken on the county recorder position.
- Approved the payments as presented by Lapham.
The board went into closed session at 10:55 a.m. to discuss labor negotiations and upon their return announced that they had accepted the agreement with LELS 415 (Law Enforcement Labor Services), after which the meeting was adjourned.
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