At the June 23 meeting of the Fillmore County Board, a public hearing on a proposed amendment to an ordinance regulating cannabis businesses was held. Commissioner Larry Hindt was absent.
There was only one public comment made during the public hearing. Steve Duxbury, a member of the Planning Commission, urged the commissioners to leave the setbacks outlined in the ordinance unchanged. He said a lot of people think there should be even greater setbacks.
County Administrator Bobbie Hillery announced she had received no requests by email or phone regarding the proposed amendment. The amendment of the ordinance included a change in the name of the ordinance to “Regulating Cannabis Business.”
Other changes were in Section 6, Eligibility and Basis for Denial of Registration. The most notable change was a reduction in the required setback from a religious establishment from 1,000 feet to 500 feet for a license and registration to be issued.
Registration Density was changed to read, “Fillmore County shall limit the number of cannabis retail businesses, cannabis microbusinesses, macrobusinesses, and cannabis mezzobusinesses with retail endorsements to two locations.”
A motion to approve the recommended amendment to the ordinance was approved unanimously.
Other Business in Brief
• A cooperative agreement with the city of Spring Valley for the construction of CSAH 1, Broadway Ave. was approved as presented. County Engineer Josh Lensing said a bump-out is planned for the south end of Broadway Ave. The agreement provides for a cost share for the installation of about 800 feet of sidewalk.
• Approval was granted to advertise for a Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) project. This is a federal program aimed at the reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries. The county will be responsible for 10% of the cost, which will come out of state aid funding. The project plan is for paved shoulders within guardrail sections on CSAH 1 north of Spring Valley.
• A Corrective Action Plan for the Stortz Campground in section 15 of Canton Township was discussed. Craig and Julene Stortz have been asked to sign the corrective action plan after the Planning Commission recommended termination of their conditional use permit.
Attorney Brett Corson said the couple has cooperated and done everything they asked them to do and have paid a $500 fine. Zoning Administrator Cristal Adkins said they signed the agreement and have substantially cleaned up the campground.
Chairman Randy Dahl suggested they delay approving the plan until some questions about licenses on the trailers and connections to septic have been answered. They would have to agree to adhere to any modifications in the county’s ordinance. Modifications could include the additional prohibition of campground occupation in March of each year; occupation of a campground is now prohibited in December, January, and February each year.
By consensus the board decided to reconsider the Corrective Action Plan at their next meeting after some of their questions have been answered.
• The board received a proposed purchase option agreement from the city of Preston regarding three parcels owned by the county (8-10 acres). Preston wants to evaluate the parcels for development of a new wastewater treatment facility for the city. The property is next to the county’s resource recovery center.
The board is planning needed modifications for the resource recovery center. They discussed whether they should consider moving forward with negotiations with the city or not. Commissioner Mitch Lentz said he was not interested in selling the property. Commissioner Marc Prestby maintained, “We don’t know our needs yet; we are doing a study now.”
Commissioner Duane Bakke added, “We don’t know what needs we will have years from now.”
A motion was approved to not go any further with negotiations with the city regarding the sale of the property.
• Hillery reviewed 2025 Performance Measures Results. Most of the 13 measures were met or exceeded except for the goal for annual library visits and recycling rates. There were no highway fatalities in 2025, but there were 33 crashes. Pavement Quality Index goal was reached. Tobacco use matched the state and national benchmark. Child Support Program cost effectiveness goal was exceeded; in 2025, Fillmore County was second in cost effectiveness in the state. Low birth-weights goal was reached, lower than both state and national benchmark. All three types of property classifications maintained a median ratio between 90% and 105%. Goal of 10-day turnaround time for document recording was met. Goal for post-election results was met. At least 85% of veterans are receiving services/benefits. The goal to keep the county’s debt service levy under 10% was reached; for 2025 it was 3.6%.
• A resolution was adopted to participate in Performance Measures for 2027. In 2026, the county adopted 15 goals for 2027. They will include the addition of crime rates and the percent of adult offenders with a new felony conviction within three years of discharge. There will also be a goal to maintain a Bridge Sufficiency rating of 89. The percentage of children with a recurrence of maltreatment within 12 months of intervention will be tabulated. A resolution was adopted approving the 15 goals for 2027.
• There will not be a board meeting on July 7 as two commissioners would have to participate remotely.
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