Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee
Semcac Executive Director Jennifer Hengel and Transportation Director Bill Spitzer provided a comprehensive overview of Semcac services during the May 28 Houston County Commission meeting.
Commissioner Eric Johnson called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. and led his colleagues and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioners in attendance included Dewey Severson, Chairman Johnson, Bob Burns, Bob Schuldt, and Greg Myhre.
The board unanimously approved the agenda and the minutes from the May 21 regularly scheduled commission meeting.
Semcac, a non-profit 501(c)(3), established in 1966 now serves seven counties in Southeast Minnesota (Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Steele and Winona). The organization’s mission state is to “Empower and advocate for people to enhance their self-sufficiency by maximizing community resources.”
Commissioner Robert (Bob) Burns serves on the non-profit’s 21 member board of directors as well as Jim Wally from La Crescent and Carolyn Cripps from Houston.
Programs include Senior Dining, Meals on Wheels, Senior and Caregiver Advocacy, Energy Assistance, Weatherization, Housing Rhab Loans, Head Start and Early Head Start, Outreach and Emergency Services, and Semcac Clinic in Winona plus three transportation programs – Rolling Hills Transit, Volunteer Driver Program, and Careavan.
Some of the numbers shared in Semcac’s Houston County impact report: Senior Dining served 12,240 meals to 208 seniors aged 60 plus and their spouses; Meals on Wheels volunteers delivered 25,627 meals to 286 seniors; 396 Houston County households received assistance with their utility payments during the winter and 96 households received additional crisis assistance; 250 households (624 people) utilized the Houston County Food Shelf located in Caledonia; 71 individuals received crisis financial assistance for transportation, a medical issue, utility payment assistance or another immediate basic need; 48 individuals were assisted with payments such as rent or mortgage.
In the first quarter of 2024, 1,333 passengers took advantage of Rolling Hills Transit which provides service to five counties in Southeast Minnesota including Houston County. Spitzer confirmed that they operate two buses in Houston County. In 2023, there were 4,900 passengers, 12,785 miles driven, an average of 22.75 rides a day, and 3,840 service hours that run the buses. The State of Minnesota funds Rolling Hills Transit through the MnDOT at 80% and the rest is funded with local tax dollars.
Commissioner Eric Johnson called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. and led his colleagues and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioners in attendance included Dewey Severson, Chairman Johnson, Bob Burns, Bob Schuldt, and Greg Myhre.
The board unanimously approved the agenda and the minutes from the May 21 regularly scheduled commission meeting.
There being no public comments or appointments, the board unanimously approved the consent agenda, including: wine and strong beer liquor licenses for Ferndale Golf, Ma Cal Grove Country Club, Valley High Golf Club, Shellhorn Bar and Grill, Little Miami, Pine Creek Golf Course, and Money Creek Haven Campground; on sale beer licenses for Lawrence Lake Marina, La Crescent Snowmobile Club, Pine Creek Golf Course, and Gopher State Sportsmans Club; and off sale beer licenses for Lawrence Lake Marina, La Crescent Snowmobile Club, Pine Creek Golf Course, and Houston Food Mart; plus the hiring of Kelsy Einertson as a 67-temporary casual employee and Amy Gehrke as a full-time sheriff’s deputy.
Commissioner Burns asked that the banding adjustment and pay rate modification for Assessor Lucas Onstad approved during the May 21 commission meeting be discussed, because he is concerned what will happen if Onstad is hired by Fillmore County. The original request was D61 Step 9 and after a lengthy discussion the board approved D61 Step 7. No action was taken at the May 28 meeting.
During board reports, Commission Burns shared his opinion regarding the 2025 budget process stating that the commission should start working on it. All commissioners agreed. Commission Myhre said that he would like the commission to allocate one hour at the next workgroup meeting to start looking at ordinances. Chairman Johnson agreed.
There being no closing public comments or questions regarding the claims report as presented by Finance Director Carol Lapham, the board unanimously approved paying the bills before the meeting was adjourned at 9:59 a.m.
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