Commissioners Dewey Severson, Eric Johnson, Robert Burns, Teresa Walter, and Greg Myhre were all present via Zoom on May 4, 2021, for the regular meeting of the Houston County Commission. Chairman Burns called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. and adjourned the meeting at 10:02 a.m. This meeting set a record for being adjourned within an hour.
Commissioners approved the agenda with the addition of action item number four and approved the minutes from the April 27, 2021, board meeting.
COVID-19 update
John Pugleasa, Houston County Public Health, shared that as of yesterday, 63% of residents 16 years and older, 95% of residents 65 and older, and 51% of the county’s total population are vaccinated. The county is falling a little behind because Public Health is not doing any first-dose clinics. Pugleasa is not sure when the county will receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine shipments, but they will accept them. Pfizer is close to being approved for 12- to 15-year-olds. The county has not been administering Pfizer because Public Health does not have the necessary storage. Moderna is approved for age 18 and older. Pugleasa mentioned, “We hope to have school-age children vaccinated before the beginning of the next school year.” The department recommends residents seek advice from their primary health care provider. Public Health wants to facilitate access to the vaccine and work with its public and private school partners. In answer to the commissioner’s question, herd immunity is considered achieved when 75% of the population is vaccinated, and the county has a way to go. Pugleasa explained, “How the vaccine comes to us limits what we can do.”
Consent agenda
The commissioners unanimously approved the consent agenda. Lee Langager has been hired as a probationary technical clerk, effective May 5, 2021. Tami Triplett has been reassigned from an accounting technician to probationary collections officer effective May 5, 2021. The Human Resource Department will begin the search for an accounting technician.
Donna Trehus, auditor/treasurer, was authorized to conduct a public sale for the tax-forfeited property located in the City of Houston at 315 S. Chase Street. The sale will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 7, 2021, in the Commissioners Room at the Houston County Historic Courthouse. The minimum price is $33,300.
Action items
Commissioners approved the request of Brian Pogodzinski, engineer, to approve change order No. 5, 6, 7, and 8 for the Highway Department building. “A cost that will save us on a back end,” according to Pogodzinski.
Pogodzinski asked the commissioners for their approval to line CSAH 20, 24” x 90’ culvert. Pogodzinski believes this fix will extend the life of the culvert 50 years and is cheaper than digging it up and repairing it. The commissioners approved.
The commission approved Pogodzinski’s request to approve the quotes for the annual bridge maintenance. This year’s bridge maintenance is scheduled on CSAH 4, 18, and 19. Pogodzinski mentioned, “One thing we have been trying to do is keep our bridges maintained.” Commissioner Severson believes that maintenance is better than replacing a bridge.
Pugleasa asked the commissioners to approve the Host County Contract for Mobile Crisis Response. Hiawatha Valley requires a host county contract to submit a bill for payment. There is no additional cost. What is crisis response? Responders can go to the scene but a lot of work is done over the phone. The police are encouraged to use mobile crisis response. For Houston County, the response is from Winona whereas previously it was from Rochester. Pugleasa believes that this is a step in the right direction. The commissioners approved.
Discussion items
Chairman Burns volunteered at the second shot clinic the previous week. Four hundred-plus people received at the second shot clinic, which went very smoothly because everyone knew what to expect as this was their second time.
Chairman Burns asked for a Moment of Silence for Susan Schwebach, Houston County Recorder, and her family. Schwebach passed away yesterday.
Commissioner Severson mentioned that the dry-cleaning building was torn down in La Crescent, meaning the end of the dry-cleaning business in the county.
The Houston County Commission’s next meeting is Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at 9 a.m. The public is invited to dial in. Contact Donna Trehus, (507) 725-5803 to be included in remote meetings.