Houston County Commissioners Elect New Chairman

The first order of business at the January 2, 2024, Houston County Commission meeting was the election of the 2024 board chairman and vice chair. Commissioner Eric Johnson will take the lead as chairman and Commissioner Bob Schuldt will step into the role as vice-chairman.
Board Clerk Allison Wagner promptly called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. and led the board and the galley in the Pledge of Allegiance.
All board members were in attendance: Dewey Severson, Eric Johnson, Robert (Bob) Burns, Bob Schuldt and Greg Myhre.
The board approved the agenda and the minutes from the December 26, 2023, board meeting as written.
At 9:05 a.m., Interim Auditor/Treasurer Polly Heberlein opened the sealed bids for the county’s 2024 official newspaper. The county received two bids, one from the Caledonia Argus and one from the Fillmore County Journal. The bid from the Caledonia Argus was accepted as presented.
In one unanimous motion, the board withdrew the offer of employment to Lori Ollendieck as a part-time Environmental Services clerk and authorized Human Resource Director Tess Kruger to immediately begin the search to fill the position. Kruger explained that Ollendieck is not available to start until March, which is not durable.
Finance Director Carol Lapham explained that Resolution No. 24-04 designating the 2024 Annual Appropriations, “Is just reaffirming what was included in the 2024 budget that was approved on December 26.” Included are the following organizations and the 2024 appropriations: SE Minnesota Initiative Fund, $3,750; SEMAAA, $2,000; SELCO, $193,492; Emergency Medical Service, $15,000; Semcac – Senior & Caregiver Advocacy, $1,500; Semcac – Senior Nutrition, $2,000; Semcac, Transportation Program (Donation Rides), $1,500; Historical Society, $37,500; Historical Society – Matching Funds (Maximum), $5,000; Southern MN Tourism/Historic Bluff Country, $942; Agricultural Society, $20,000; Agricultural Society – Prior Year Financials Additional, $4,000; RRSWCD, $129,000; and SE MN EMS, $5,000, for a grand total of $420,684. The board unanimously approved Resolution No. 24-04.
Director Kruger presented the Houston County Earned Sick and Safe Time policy, which was unanimously approved by the board. “The Legislature of the State of Minnesota passed a minimum sick and safe time statute that applies to any employee who earns who earns more than 80 hours in a calendar year. After the first 30 hours, they are entitled to one hour of paid sick and safe time. This impacts potentially summer water patrol, deputies potentially, as well as recycling drop sites and drivers as well, ASO and jail,” explained Kruger. She emphasized that the county’s sick time benefits far exceed what the sick and safe time statute includes but it does “catch some of those folks” that don’t receive county benefits, like drivers.
The commissioners approved the Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) with LELS #415, LELS #237, and LELS #60.
The board spent a considerable amount of time during the meeting updating the list of committees commissioners sit on. The final list of assignments will be presented at the January 9 commission meeting for approval.
In other business the board:
• Granted Finance Director Carol Lapham and Board Chair Eric Johnson signature power on the county’s accounts at Merchants Bank N.A. and ESB Banking.
• Reappointed Wayne Runningen to the Board of Adjustment for a three-year term ending on December 31, 2026. It was confirmed that this is Runningen’s second term and that he can run for one more term.
• Reappointed Ken Anderson to the Board of Adjustment for a three-year term ending on December 31, 2026. This is Anderson’s third term; thus, making it his last term on the Board of Adjustment.
• Adjourned the meeting at 10:51 a.m.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Houston County Commission is Tuesday, January 9 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 ID: 994-7297-7175 and password 368422. Public attendees are requested to mute their line until addressed.