The Houston County Board of Commissioners held its regularly scheduled meeting on October 21, 2025. Chairman Eric Johnson called the meeting to order at 9 a.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioners present included Cindy Wright, Eric Johnson, Kurt Zehnder, Robert (Bob) Schuldt, and Greg Myhre.
The meeting agenda, minutes from the October 7 board meeting and the October 14 workgroup session were both approved with unanimous motions.
The consent agenda included two items for approval:
- Initiating a competitive search for a full-time social worker (C41) in the Public Health and Human Services Department;
- Guardianship contracts with Sandara and Mark Deneen and Chanda Brainerd.
A motion to approve the consent agenda was made by Commissioner Wright and seconded by Commissioner Zehnder. The motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Zehnder commented on the guardianship providers, stating, “You can never have enough of those people. They are wonderful.”
Commissioner Zehnder made a motion to approve a quote from Subsurface Inc. in the amount of $55,550 to repair and line a culvert pipe on County Highway 18 in Hokah, near the library and Highway 44. The cost will be shared is 55% by the county and 45% by the city of Hokah. County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski noted that the payment will come from the county’s state aid account, so there will not be an impact on the county levy. The motion was seconded by Schuldt and unanimously carried. Pogodzinski stated that the work will be completed this fall.
The commissioners accepted the low quote of $25,200 from Rogich Bros Concrete LLC for concrete repairs on County Highway 8, as presented by County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski. He explained, “That’s the concrete section from Trunk Highway 44 going down to Decorah. There’s over three miles or almost four miles of concrete pavement.”
Pogodzinski also requested, and received, approval of Resolution No. 25-37, allowing for the transfer of $226,373 to the regular construction allotment.
The board unanimously approved the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) 2026-2027 service agreement. It was noted that it is a routine two-year agreement. Last year’s funding totaled $137,000, and this year there is a slight increase, raising it to $143,000.
The two-year Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Plan agreement was also unanimously approved.
The board unanimously approved the payments as presented by Interim Administrator Carol Lapham.
Personnel Director Brent Parker updated the board on the bids received for employee insurance, as well as the Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave program, which goes into effect January 1, 2026. At an earlier board meeting, the commissioners had decided on a 50/50 split between the county and employees. The county budgeted 0.4% and explained that it includes everyone, and it does not matter about the size of the business or public organization.
Director Parker informed the commissioners that spending $6,000 to hire a consulting firm to manage the bidding process for employee health insurance was worthwhile, and the county should probably go out for bid every year. Parker explained that the county initially received a renewal rate of 8.5%, but after going through the request-for-proposal (RFP) process, the insurance company came back at 5%. Meanwhile, Lapham had budgeted for an 8% increase.
The commissioners updated their fellow commissioners on the meetings they attended since the last board meeting and noted upcoming meetings, including the Region 9 District meeting in Winona.
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