At the January 7 Houston County Commission meeting, the board approved a three-year contract with Justin Rohrer, Wildcat Creek Management LLC, to operate Wildcat Park.
Interim Administrator Carol Lapham reviewed the contract and explained the major changes as compared to last year’s contract. Compensation increased from $52,000 to $54,000 and online reservations will be handled by park managers.
Lapham was asked what happens in case of flooding like the last two years. Lapham explained that the county will make any decisions on a case-by-case basis because each situation will be different. For example, two years ago the flood happened at the beginning of the season, and last year the flooding happened during the Fourth of July.
Before voting on the Wildcat Park management contract, Commissioner Bob Schuldt asked County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski how the working relationship was with Rohrer and if he was happy with the service. Pogodzinski answered, “They did a really good job.” Commissioner Greg Myhre added that he had not heard any complaints last year regarding the management of the park.
Chairperson Pro Tem Carol Lapham called the first meeting of 2025 to order at 9 a.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Eric Johnson was re-elected board chair for the second year in a row, and Schuldt was elected vice chair.
The Caledonia Argus and the Fillmore County Journal both submitted sealed bids for the county’s official newspaper for 2025. The Caledonia Argus bid was $3 per column inch while the Fillmore County Journal’s bid was $7 per column inch. The commissioners unanimously accepted the bid from the Caledonia Argus.
The approved consent agenda included: 1) The employment status of Appraiser Trainee, Mark Bennett was changed from probationary to regular. 2) Dawn Schuttemeier was hired as a part-time registered nurse. 3) The Winona Community Foundation was thanked for its $100 cash donation on behalf of the Fastenal Blue Team Giving Fund for foster care children in Houston County.
The board unanimously approved the 2025 list of appropriations totaling $422,554:
• SE Minnesota Initiative Fund – $3,750
• SEMAAA – $2,000
• SELCO – $197,362
• Emergency Medical Service – $10,000
• 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
• Bluff Country Minnesota Multi-County Housting and Redevelopment Authority – $3,000
• SE MN EMS – $5,000
In other business, the board:
• Unanimously approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from the December 31, 2024, commission meeting as written.
• Authorized Interim Auditor/Treasurer Polly Heberlein to open any deposit or share accounts in the name of Houston County at Merchants Bank N.A. and ESB Banking. Heberlein, Lapham, and the Board Chair are authorized to endorse checks or withdraw or transfer funds on deposit at either bank.
• Approved a request from County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski to allow the highway department to use the county website or industry trade journals to advertise requests for proposals and bids related to construction and maintenance projects. Pogodzinski noted that “It is cost effective and provides a better way to reach our bidders.”
• Issued county credit cards for both new board members, Cindy Wright and Kurt Zehnder.
• Approved funding two positions for the county attorney’s office.
• Approved the payments as presented by Lapham.
• Appointed the commissioners to the 2025 list of committees. The list and chart will be made available on the county’s website.
After Chairman Johnson welcomed the two new board members followed by commissioners’ reports of which there were none, the meeting was adjourned at 10:20 a.m.
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