The Houston County Commissioners approved a 7.905% preliminary levy and adopted the 2026 budget at their regularly scheduled meeting on September 23. It was emphasized that the levy cannot increase once the preliminary levy is set, but it can decrease when it is finalized in December. The total levy, less County Program Aid (CPA), is $16,074,171.
Administrator Carol Lapham explained that a 7.905% levy is necessary to balance the budget. The total revenue, derived from county revenue, road and bridge, public health and human services, and debt service, is $37,629,179, while total expenditures are $37,672.179.
A motion to approve the proposed 2026 budget was made by Commissioner Cindy Wright and seconded by Commissioner Greg Myhre. With no further discussion, the budget was unanimously approved. Commissioners noted the ongoing need to look for ways to trim the budget and potentially reduce the levy.
Chairman Eric Johnson called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 9 a.m. in the historic courthouse in downtown Caledonia. Members present included Cindy Wright, Kurt Zehnder, Bob Schuldt, Greg Myhre and Chairman Johnson.
Commissioner Kurt Zehnder made a motion to approve the agenda, which was seconded by Commissioner Myhre. The motion carried unanimously.
A motion to approve the September 16 minutes was made by Commissioner Wright and seconded by Commissioner Schuldt. The motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Johnson invited Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Ross Reichard with the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office to deliver his annual presentation. Dr. Reichard stated that the report covers activities in the region during 2024. He proudly noted that Houston County is fortunate to have Mike Poellinger and Bob Cooper serving as frontline death investigators, available 24/7/365.
There were 144 total deaths in Houston County last year, and 139 reported to the medical examiner last year. Notably, here were no homicides, no suicides, and no drug overdoses in 2024. Dr. Reichard said he should move to Houston County, with Chairman Johnson noting that he says that every year.
Also presenting was Semcac’s leadership team: Board President Bob Burns, Executive Director Jennifer Hengel, and Senior Services Director Jeff Wyant. Hengel announced, “Next year we’ll be celebrating 60 years of providing services for households with low incomes and vulnerable populations throughout southeast Minnesota.” She thanked the commissioners for their continued support and confirmed that Semcac’s 2026 funding request remains the same as last year’s, which Burns noted was the same amount that they were given.
Commissioner Zehnder made a motion to approve the consent agenda, seconded by Commissioner Myhre. The board unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included changing the employment status of Leigh Goetzinger, Child Support enforcement aide, from probationary to regular, and updating the resignation/retirement date for Carolyn Olson from November 1 to October 31.
Environmental Services Director Amelia Meiners reported that the cannabis retail registration submitted by Ouidhaus LLC is the first such application the county has received. “They have provided us with all the appropriate documentation,” Meiners noted. “Holly said that they are current on their taxes, and we do not find anything that should hold up this application.”
Meiners responded to Commissioner Myhre’s question, clarifying that the applicant would only be selling products not cultivating cannabis.
Commissioner Wright made a motion to approve the Cannabis Retail Registration for Ouidhaus LLC, for a retail site located in La Crescent Township. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Myhre and passed, with Chairman Johnson voting no. Johnson explained his reasoning for voting against the motion because there are already three in La Crescent and it is a public health and safety issue.”
Commissioner Schuldt made a motion to pay the bills, seconded by Commissioner Wright. The motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:22 a.m.
Leave a Reply