The Houston County Commission conducted a public hearing at the board’s February 26 regularly scheduled meeting. The public hearing allowed Houston County residents an opportunity to voice their opinion regarding the proposed no wake zone ordinance.
Mayor Mike Poellinger, representing the City of La Crescent, noted that the city does not have any authority. He added that the main channel was changed to no wake to protect the big boats that dock at Riverside Park. At that time, most of the bass boat traffic started using the West Channel that has created this problem. Poellinger also noted that there is a bass tournament nearly every weekend and some tournaments are held during the week. Poellinger confirmed that the city will cover the cost to purchase the buoys and install and maintain them.
The no wake zone ordinance died for a lack of a second. The county will work with the city of La Crescent to install buoys paid for by the city of La Crescent and the sheriff’s department will install a camera to collect data. The buoys will be placed 100 feet from the shore and will say no wake zone on them. If this does work to slow down boat traffic, the county will revisit the ordinance. Everyone agreed that the buoys work to slow down traffic without having to enforce the ordinance.
Chairman Eric Johnson called the regular meeting of the Houston County Commission to order at 9 a.m. Johnson led his colleagues and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Board members in attendance included Dewey Severson, Chairman Johnson, Robert (Bob) Burns, Bob Schuldt and Greg Myhre.
The agenda and the minutes from the February 13 commission meeting and the February 20 workgroup session were approved as written.
At 9:05 a.m., Danielle DeVito from the MN Department of Agriculture shared detailed information with the commissioners on the spongy moth and the treatment of spongy moth. DeVito first confirmed that the spongy moth is the same as the gypsy moth. Then she answered Chairman Johnson’s question that the application does not kill the moth. Instead, the application disrupts them from mating; thus, decreasing the number of moths the following year. Three areas in Houston County will be treated in June, south of Brownsville city limits, north of the Caledonia city limits, and west of Caledonia.
Celeste Abbott was hired as a temporary/casual employee, Deanne Valadez-Vick as a part-time tech clerk I, and Adam Jahnke as a full-time maintenance specialist. Technical clerk Deanna McCabe’s employment status was changed from probationary to regular. Commissioners accepted the resignation of jail administrator Dean Ott and thanked him for his service.
A contract with Workforce Development Inc. (WDI) and one with the Catholic Charities Diocese of Winona-Rochester were approved.
Approved an Exempt Permit for Minnesota Lawful Gambling, High Golf Club in Mound Prairie Township with a drawing to be held on April 26, 2024, with no waiting period.
After hearing County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski’s request to purchase equipment and vehicles for the highway department, Commissioner Severson said, “We spent some money today.” The cost is over $1.1 million to purchase the snowplow boxes ordered in 2022 and 2023, a tandem axel truck and a box for the truck, a John Deere 644P mid-size wheel loader, a new Case 321F compact wheel loader, trade-in the JD 325G compact loader, and a new forestry head attachment. The commission also approved Pogodzinski’s request to advertise the CSAH 3 and CSAH 16 sealcoating project.
In other business the board:
• Approved the Professional Services Agreement with Minnesota Attorney Pamela Larson.
• Renewed the Ziegler/CAT three-year customer services support agreement.
• Authorized payment of $15,704.78 to Nexis Family Healing (SERCC service provider) to resolve program shortfall related to the first three years of operation.
• Accepted Local Bridge Replacement Program (LBRP) funds in the amount of $85,505.88 for project SAP 028-620-016.
• Approved the changes to the county’s fee schedule as proposed by Finance Director Carol Lapham, noting there were no new fees.
• Approved the vehicle lease buyouts on eight vehicles in the sheriff’s department. Sheriff Brian Swedberg noting that he will not be buying any vehicles this year but instead will pay off the eight vehicles.
• Adjourned the meeting at 11:51 a.m.
The next regularly scheduled Houston County Commission meeting is Tuesday, March 5 at 9 a.m. in the Houston County courthouse.
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