At their regularly scheduled meeting on September 3, 2024, the Houston County Board of Commissioners approved two disaster abatements.
The first abatement was for La Crescent resident Gary Eddy, due to a vehicle accident that resulted in a car damaging their garage. The abatement amounting to $381 is for the last four months of 2024. Eddy will not be applying for a credit in 2024. The second abatement is for Caledonia business R&H Properties/Joe Rud, due to a fire, amounting to $6,750.91 for the last four months of the year. R&H Properties/Joe Rud will be applying for a credit in 2025. Both requests were unanimously approved.
Chairman Eric Johnson called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. and led the board and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Dewey Severson (District 1), Eric Johnson (District 2), Robert (Bob) Burns (District 3), Bob Schuldt (District 4), and Greg Myhre (District 5) were all in attendance.
The board unanimously approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from the August 27, regularly scheduled board meeting.
There were no public comments or appointments.
The commission approved one item on the consent agenda: the hiring of Elizabeth Knutson as a 67-day public health nurse. She will assist with WIC duties until a full-time nurse is brought on board.
Action Items
The board has unanimously approved Resolution No. 24-31, which accepts Houston County Right of Way Plat No. 88. County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski said, “This is to replace bridge 7540 on Highway 10.
The Houston County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved spending $95,613.00 in ARPA funds for software updates and data transfer for the Social Services department.
Deputy Auditor/Treasurer Polly Heberlein recommended that the board approve both Resolution No. 24-32 to establish an absentee ballot board for the 2024 State General Election and appoint James Grodin and Michelle Ashmore to the board and Resolution No. 24-33 to establish a UOCAVA ballot board for the 2024 State General Election. The resolutions were unanimously approved.
The board approved updating the board schedule to reflect the following change. Allison Wagner announced that the October workgroup session meeting will be held in the basement of the CJC instead of the regular room due to technology being installed in the boardroom technology.
The board unanimously approved payment of the bills as presented by Interim Administrator and Finance Director Carol Lapham.
It has been a quiet week for the commissioners, with few meetings attended since the last commission meeting. Two of the commissioners are receiving calls. The Administrator updated the board on her efforts to realign duties following the resignation of Facilities/Human Resources Director Tess Kruger.
There were no closing public comments.
Chairman Johnson called to adjourn the meeting at 9:53 a.m.