Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee
The Houston County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, January 25, from 9-11:16 a.m.
Commissioners in attendance included Chairman Greg Myhre, Bob Burns, Dewey Severson, Eric Johnson, and Teresa Walter.
Chairman Myhre called the meeting to order and led the commissioners and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioners approved meeting agenda and the minutes from the January 11 board meeting and the January 18 workgroup session, as well as the consent agenda.
2022 Minnesota Legislative Update
Greg Davids, Minnesota State Representative, and Carli Stark, Public Safety, Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) were invited to the January 25 commission meeting to update commissioners on the upcoming legislative session.
Stark shared the 12 AMC legislative priorities for 2022, explaining, “The priorities are a result of membership voting during the AMC Fall Policy Conference.”
The 2022 AMC priorities are:
• Public waters inventory • Solid waste management
• Housing investment
• Child protection cost study report
• Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT)
• Opioid settlement
• Mental health infrastructure and services
• Childcare shortage
• Family First Prevention Service Act
• Community supervision
• Robust bonding bill
• Broadband funding.
Commissioner Johnson thanked Stark for bringing up children’s mental health, saying, “Mental health in general, is a big concern these days across the country.”
Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee
Stark finished by emphasizing, “If there is a place to invest during an off-year, community corrections is the best bang for your buck on public safety.”
Representative Davids first gave an overview of the upcoming session, then addressed questions and comments from commissioners and department heads. He started off by stating, “I have gone over the entire legislative agenda of the counties, and it is sitting right on my desk in my office. I pay very close attention to that and am taking notes on anything that is said today and will surely consider it.”
As a numbers man, Davids was asked to determine what the state’s deficit was going to be. He stated, “My staff and I showed a 7-10 billion dollar shortfall.” Then Federal money started pouring in and now Minnesota is showing an 8 billion dollar surplus.
Davids said, “The budget was set in 2020-21 for 2021-2022 to avoid any government shutdown. It was increased on average 12%.”
Legislators return to St. Paul, on Monday, January 31, to address the redistricting issue. Davids predicts that, “the courts will be making the decision regarding redistricting this time. The courts are keeping their maps secret giving the Legislators a chance to agree on redistricting before the February 15 deadline.”
Commissioner Burns shared his list of priorities with Representative Davids:
• Long term funding for State of Minnesota mandates;
• Motor vehicle tax on electric vehicles equivalent to those on gas vehicles;
• Pay the full 50% cost in support of the DOC (currently in the 30% area);
• Additional funding for Human Service in support of children’s mental health, children’s evaluation and placement costs, diabetic insulin costs and needle disposal;
• Additional funding for local road improvement plans;
• Simplification of the Minnesota’s property tax classification system
• Continued support of LGA (county and city).
Chairman Myhre mentioned that public health is his main concern, “We need help down here.”
Chairman Myhre emphatically stated, “We need money for bridges, bad. In one of my previous townships there are four bridges that have been condemned for 10 years.” Myhre continued to explain that townships cannot afford $20,000 per bridge.
Action items
New questions regarding federally insured funds arose during the Houston County Finance Committee meeting that need to be answered before the commission decides on the proposals submitted by Bank of the West and Merchants Bank. Motion to table the decision was approved.
Public Health Director John Pugleasa presented the contract for the Thoroughfare Representative Services Inc. (TRSI) for guardianship and conservatorship and related legal services for approval. Pugleasa stated that this is a new contract and confirmed that the county will be paying more than when the county contracts with individuals for the same services as compared to TRSI. Some of the individuals that the county has contracted with are retiring and there are fewer individuals to contract with due to legalities, and complex regulations. The commission unanimously approved the contract.
Commissioners approved the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Request for Proposal (RFP). The RFP will be shared on the county’s website, published in the local newspaper, and shared with industry associations.
The board unanimously approved Resolution No. 22-09 authorizing Donna Trehus, auditor/treasurer to apply for the $20,000 election security improvements grant. The funds will be used for computers and to update the computer system.
Commissioners adopted Resolution No. 22-10 authorizing the establishment of the absentee ballot board and UOCAVA ballot board for the March township election.
The next meeting of the Houston County Commission is Tuesday, February 1, at 9 a.m. in the county commission board room 222 located on the second floor in the Historic County Courthouse, Caledonia, or via the county conference call line (312) 626-6700. Enter meeting ID: 994-7297-7175 and password 368422. The public is invited to attend.