Houston County Commissioners Declare a State of Emergency

A severe thunderstorm and high winds on July 29 led the Houston County Board of Commissioners to unanimously declare a state of emergency during its regularly scheduled meeting on August 5. This marks the second time this summer that the board had declared a state of emergency.

Vice-chairman Bob Schuldt called the hour-long meeting to order at 9 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioners in attendance included Cindy Wright, Kurt Zehnder, Bob Schuldt and Greg Myhre. Chairman Eric Johnson was not in attendance.

The board approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from the July 22 board of commission meeting.

As there were no public comments, the commissioners quickly moved on to appointments. Interim Houston County Auditor-Treasurer Polly Heberlein updated the commissioners on the county’s cash and investments through June 30. “We are moving in the right direction,” said Heberlein. She went on to state, “All in all, things are looking very good.”

The commissioners approved the consent agenda, which included the following items:

• Reclassification of Highway Maintenance specialist Harley Thompson from probationary to regular status.
• Reclassification of Mark Bennett from Appraiser Trainee, B22, Step 5, to Certified MN Assessor, B23, step 4.
• Reviewed the 2024 Annual Disclosure Statement for the City of La Crescent and the city of Caledonia Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts.
• Approved a gambling permit for the Caledonia Girls Court Club. The club will conduct a raffle, with the drawing to be held at the Ma Cal Grove Country Club on October 24.
• Approved a ground lease at the airport for Lot 12, which was sold by Arne Beneke to Phil Reed. The lease for Lot 10, currently rented to Phil Reed, is scheduled to expire on July 1, 2026.

Houston County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski recommended that the board accept two grants for the Airport T-Hanger project: one in the amount of $1,107,730 and the second for $11,684.21. Both grants were unanimously approved. 

Since Chairman Johnson was not in attendance, Pogodzinski suggested tabling the approval of the proposed T-hangar rental rates for the current and upcoming year, along with a priority system for offering the rentals and a timeline for deciding on the rental before moving on to the next possible renter. The board agreed to postpone discussion until the full board is present.

After months of research, phone calls, discussions, and meetings by Auditor-Treasurer Polly Heberlein and County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski, the board approved the Houston County Snowmobile Club Trail Agreements and the MnDOT “Snowmobile Trail – Nighttime Two Way Use” Limited Use Permit (LUP). They also approved the Houston County Snowmobile Club resolutions authorizing county sponsorship for the financial and technical assistance from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the 2025- 2026 snowmobile season. 

Environmental Services Director Amelia Meiners submitted two Conditional Use Permits (CUP) applications and one IUP application for approval. All three permits were unanimously approved. The first permit is for Skyline Materials LTD to expand a quarry for mineral extraction in the Agriculture Protection District in Spring Grove Township. The second permit is for G&K Development L.C. to expand a quarry for mineral extraction in the same district and township. Both quarries are located a quarter mile east of the intersection of Hwy. 8 and 44 on the north and south sides of Hwy. 44. The IUP permit was submitted by Mathy Construction Company for a temporary bituminous plant in the Agriculture Protection District in Mayville Township.

The board approved the 2025-2027 Labor Agreement between the county and Law Enforcement Labor Services, Inc., Local #237 (Deputies / Investigators / Sergeants), pending review and approval by the County Attorney.

The board also authorized the payment of county bills, as presented by Interim County Administrator/Finance Director Carol Lapham.