Houston County Commissioner Eric Johnson recognized several outstanding individuals at the June 4, 2024, commissioners meeting. Among them were Sgt. Travis Lapham, Sgt. Zack Swedberg, Deputy Isaiah Bunke, Deputy Calvin Nagle, Dispatcher Brady Auger, Dispatcher Chad Ready from the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, along with Officer Kaleb Peterson from the La Crescent Police Department and Trooper Jake Inglett from the Minnesota State Patrol.
These individuals were awarded a Letter of Commendation from Houston County Sheriff Brian Swedberg for their exemplary dedication and professionalism in responding to a burglary at the River Station in Brownsville, Minn., on May 26, 2024, at 2:06 a.m.
Chairman Johnson called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. and led his colleagues and the gallery in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioners in attendance included Dewey Severson, Chairman Johnson, Bob Burns, Bob Schuldt and Greg Myhre.
The agenda was approved as revised. The minutes from the May 28 commission meeting were unanimously approved.
A public hearing was held at 9:05 a.m. to hear any public comments regarding an off-sale liquor license for Money Creek Haven Inc. Interim Houston County Auditor-Treasurer Polly Heberlein confirmed that Money Creek Haven had already received the resolution and approval from Money Creek Township and now needs approval from the county. The license will apply to the campground office, poolside, and first floor. Hearing no comments from the public, the commissioners approved the off-sale liquor license for Money Creek Haven Inc. The license expires on June 30, 2024.
Members of the Houston County Childcare Core Team, included Workforce Development Inc. Adult Service Director Kyle Mullen, EDA Director Allison Wagner, and Public Health Director John Pugleasa, presented an update on the county’s childcare initiatives to the commission. Mullen detailed the team’s establishment of a “three-tier plan” last year, designed to foster the development, maintenance, and retention of childcare providers in Houston County. Additionally, Mullen presented compelling statistics from two initiatives in Minnesota aimed at addressing the childcare shortage. He highlighted the program in Perham, Minn., in which businesses invested $450,000 to expand a facility to secure 20 slots at a cost of $22,500 per slot. Similarly, Hormel in Austin, Minn., allocated $5 million to build a new childcare center, resulting in 130 slots at $38,500 each. In comparison, Houston County’s program preserved 121 slots with a budget of $16,000 and established 10 new slots at a cost of $4,000, amounting to $153 per slot. Mullen expressed pride in Houston’s efficient approach, noting that other counties are inquiring about their methods.
The revised consent agenda received unanimous approval, endorsing various actions: Accredited Minnesota Appraiser Joseph Olson’s banding and pay rate adjustment; the resignation of Adam Jahnke; the launch of a competitive search for a full-time maintenance specialist; hiring Bryce Helke as a 67-day temporary/casual jailer/dispatcher; and the amendment of Deputy Sheriff Amy Gehrke’s start date from June 1 to July 1, 2024.
The board accepted the resignation of Chairman Eric Johnson from the personnel committee and appointed Greg Myhre to fill Johnson’s position.
In other business the board:
• Approved a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for Peter Shufflebotham and Kate Woodward. A 40’ by 90’ home and a 40’ by 50’ garage will be placed on less than 40 acres in Hokah Township. The planning commission had recommended denying the request from Shufflebotham and Kate Woodward.
• Approved a CUP for Spiker Family Revocable Trust for land alteration of 5,000 or more cubic yards to install a driveway in La Crescent Township. The Houston County Planning Commission recommended approval.
• Approved a CUP for Wayne Feldmeier to build a cabin in an ag district in Houston Township. The county’s planning commission recommended approval.
• Approved a CUP for Affordable Investments, LLC/Kenneth Johnston for multi-use event space in Money Creek Township. The county’s planning commission recommended approval.
• Approved paying the bills.
The board called to close the meeting at 10:58 a.m. to discuss labor negotiations, including negotiation strategies or developments or discussion and review of labor negotiation proposals.
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