Chairman Eric Johnson called the July 1 regular meeting of the Houston County Commission to order at 9 a.m.
All commissioners present at the July 1 meeting: District 1 – Cindy Wright, District 2 – Eric Johnson, District 3 – Kurt Zehnder, District 4 – Bob Schuldt, and District 5 – Greg Myhre.
During the meeting, Houston County Emergency Management Director Mark Olson requested the board approve Resolution No. 2517, declaring a state of emergency following the severe storms, heavy rainfall, and tornadoes that occurred on June 25, 2025.
Olson noted that the county must meet a damage threshold of $45,469.48 to qualify for state disaster assistance. As of that morning, $121,100 in damages had been submitted, with that number expected to rise.
The National Weather Service confirmed that three tornados touched down in Houston County: an EF1 with peak winds of 100 mph entered Yucatan Township in Houston County from Choice in Fillmore County and was on the ground for 6.47 miles; an EF0 tornado with 75 mph winds that stayed on the ground for 1.1 miles south of Hokah; an EF0 with peak winds at 75 mph and was on the ground for 3.64 miles was east of Eitzen. Olson also noted that each impacted entity must meet a minimum project threshold of $4,000 per category. The three categories are debris removal, road and bridge work, and public utilities.
The board unanimously approved Resolution No. 2517.
Prior to the regularly scheduled meeting, the board held a closed meeting at 8 a.m. to meet with Attorney Susan Hansen regarding Sheriff Brian Swedberg’s salary appeal for 2025.
Chairman Johnson led his colleagues and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by approval of the meeting agenda with two changes to the list of action items, as well as the minutes from the June 24 board meeting.
There were two appointments on the agenda. The first was a public hearing to consider On-Sale and Off-Sale Liquor Licenses for Money Creek Haven Inc., due to a change in ownership. New owner Michael Burbach was on hand to answer any questions the commissioners had. There were no public comments. Following the hearing, the board approved both the On-Sale and Sunday Liquor Licenses, as well as the Off-Sale Liquor License for Money Creek Haven Inc.
A motion by commissioner Zehnder to approve the consent agenda, seconded by commissioner Myhre, was unanimously approved. The consent agenda included two personnel items: 1. Reassignment of Kirby Fitzpatrick as a full-time lead eligibility worker assistant. 2. Appointment of Justin Lewis as a diesel/heavy equipment mechanic.
Item number three was pulled from the list of action items by Chairman Johnson; item number six was added.
The board approved a 2025 tax abatement for Traditions of La Crescent LLC in the amount of $16,970 due to a fire that destroyed the building in October 2024. The board had previously approved a two-month abatement but had not yet approved the 2025 abatement.
The board also approved payment of bills submitted by Interim Administrator Carol Lapham.
At 9:19 a.m., the board entered a closed session to discuss labor negotiations, including strategies, recent developments, and review of labor negotiation proposals.