Rice County Commissioner Meeting June 13, 2023
● Property Tax & Elections: Denise Anderson
Commissioners approved the renewal of many existing liquor and tobacco licenses for businesses in Rice County. There were also two properties approved as tax forfeited, which will next go up for sale. The commissioners also approved several conditional use permits and platt waivers.
● Environmental Services: Julie Runkel
- Runkle provided an overview of the May 22, 2023 Rice County landfill fire, including an outline of the content to be covered in the public meeting to take place this evening, June 13, 2023 at 6 pm. Tonight’s discussion will include information about the air quality monitoring conducted throughout the fire. Runkel noted that there has already been an internal debrief of the fire.
- The cause of this fire was not able to be determined, though she noted lithium batteries are a huge problem and she expects possible legislation to prevent lithium batteries in garbage in the future.
- Prevention efforts and next steps will include educational campaigns focused on trash haulers knowing what is in their loads and residents knowing what can and cannot be thrown away.
- Discussion: Purfest asked whether there are any concerns for nearby farmers and their crops, and Runkel said no. She noted it is not an industrial landfill, rather it’s household products, which reduces the toxins present in the fire. Underdahl noted that he’s learned that fires at the landfill are fairly common, and we can’t control what people put in their trash. He asked what we could do differently next time to control fires more quickly. Runkle noted that this is under study. Docken noted appreciation for public education efforts going forward.
● Social Services: Megan Thomas
- The commissioners approved a SHIP grant for Friendship House to continue growing vegetables via creation of a greenhouse.
● Parks & Facilities: Matthew Verdick
- Commissioners approved a bid for remodel of the Government Services Building (GSB).
- Discussion: Hoisngton noted that he was concerned about paying an outside firm to do remodels, saying that in the future he would like to see internal staff doing work to keep costs down. County Administrator Folsted noted the staff took this feedback into consideration and are looking at options to have a licensed contractor including on the County’s staff in the future so this type of work can be done in-house. Purfest noted shared concern about how tax dollars are spent, but also stated he was glad to see bids from local businesses.
● Administration: Sara Folsted
Administrator Folsted presented and sought approval of the newly drafted Rules of Public Participation, including how the public may speak in meetings both in person and via zoom, the public hearing process, comment card usage.
Discussion:
- Hoisington noted that this is a step in the right direction, however he thinks a pause is in order and would recommend the county attorney review the rules before they’re approved. He’s concerned that the 2-minute limit is too little. He also asked after whether there is a policy regarding how commissioners and department heads conduct themselves. He recommended tabling this for the time being.
- Docken noted the commissioners have been talking about this for more than a year, it can be changed whenever needed, and this policy is a good place to start. He noted that the county commissioners are required to conduct themselves in accordance with Roberts Rules.
- Malecha suggested that the commissioners could do a review of the new rules of public participation in 6 months to see if anything needs to be changed.
- Folsted noted that there is a general code of ethics for commissioners and all agenda items have gone through the county attorney before they come to the commissioners.
- Purfest noted that email comments are not included in this policy, so that would be good to review in six months.
- Folsted suggested emailed comments to public hearings could be submitted and read at the hearing, as they are done now.
- Malecha affirmed that this email comment procedure is in existence.
- Underdahl noted that he supports the policy and that it’s been under development for some time and is a major step forward.
- Hoisington asserted again that 2 minutes is not enough time. He also voiced concern about the phrasing, “Public comments at county board meetings are only allowed when authorized” He wants to know what that means and who authorizes it.
- Malecha noted that this statement could be clarified to state “when authorized by the chair of the board.”
- Attorney Mortenson noted the problem of a policy that relies on an understanding of “this is how we’ve always done it.” Mortenson noted that the county attorney was not clear when the public will have a comment period. Mortenson said his opinion is that there should be a clearly stated policy about when public hearings will be.
- Folsted said that would be a second part of a two part action to schedule the “when” of public comments, with today’s proposed rule being the “how” component of a two-part action.
- Hoisington noted that this conversation is an indication that the policy is not ready.
- Malecha offered a friendly amendment using Mortenson’s recommended the language of “recognize” rather than “authorize” speakers by the chair.
- Malecha made a friendly amendment to increase speaking time from 2 minutes to 3 minutes.
Vote: Malecha, Underdahl, Purferst, Docken voted for and Hoisington against. The policy was approved.
At the next meeting, the commissioners will discuss the “when” component of public comment, such as how public comment will be scheduled for various topics.
Submitted: Sinda Nichols, League of Women Voters of Northfield and Cannon Falls, 6.13.23
