Rice County Commission mtg 12.12.23
Public Forum
- Three comments:
- A resident urged Rice County to make the services and funding streams of Rice County Human Services more clear and obvious on the county website. This was offered in response to the Truth & Taxation meeting where she perceived residents as being critical of expenses in this domain without complete knowledge of its programs.
- A resident urged commissioners to take advantage of state and federal grants to support low-income residents in subsidizing home heating and funding weatherization.
- A resident voiced support for county election officials and gratitude for their work to maintain safe and secure elections.
Regular meeting
- Acknowledgement of Behavior services Unit Award at AMC Conference
- Honored for their work with chemical health programming
- Employee Recognition
- Jennifer Jenkins honored as a Minnesota financial worker of the year, Rice county’s first recipient of this award in 50 years. She works on housing support and the CADI waiver program.
- Josh Westphal, winner of the 2023 Minnesota Roadeo for snow plow operators
- Nate Hanson, Deputy Sheriff of the Year and Minnesota State Patrol Commendation Award for efforts to rescue driver trapped in burning semi
- Tank Canine retirement
- Environmental Services, Julie Runkel
- Commissioners approved Rice County Zoning Ordinance Amendments
- After numerous work sessions and public informational meetings, the County Board of Commissioners and Planning Commission have come to consensus on numerous proposed amendments to the Rice County Zoning Ordinance to better align with the updated 2040 Rice County Comprehensive Plan. The proposed amendments contain the following revisions:
- Modification of standards for Transfer of Development Rights, Cluster Developments, the RR, Rural Residential District and the VMU, Village Mixed-Use Districts;
- Changes to utilizing Crop Productivity Index, instead of the outdated Crop Equivalency Rating, to determine density in the A, Agricultural District;
- Revisions to the boundaries of the UR, Urban Reserve and URI, Urban Reserve Industrial Districts as shown in the 2040 Rice County Comprehensive Plan and to better align with city expansion areas as defined in the various city comprehensive plans;
- Establishment of a Village Planned Unit Development Overlay District and deletion of the Village Mixed Use Extension provisions
- Other technical and administrative clarifications and corrections.
- The proposed amendments are attached for your reference. The next step is for the County Board of Commissioners to authorize publishing the Notice of Intent to Enact and set a public hearing by the Planning Commission for 7:00 pm January 4, 2024, regarding the proposed amendments to the Rice County Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Districts Map, After the public hearing, the Planning Commission would make a recommendation on the proposed amendments to the County Board for a final vote.
- After numerous work sessions and public informational meetings, the County Board of Commissioners and Planning Commission have come to consensus on numerous proposed amendments to the Rice County Zoning Ordinance to better align with the updated 2040 Rice County Comprehensive Plan. The proposed amendments contain the following revisions:
- Planning commision/Board of adjustment appointment
- One appointment is needed to fill an expiring term on the Board of Adjustment/Planning Commission. The geographic area that is open is the Eastern side of the county. One vacancy was advertised with 3 applications received. Please see the attached applications. The term for this appointment will begin January 1, 2024 for a three-year term.
- Commissioners selected from among Kenneth Engen, Daniel Maas, Heidi Streiff and selected Kenneth Engen for appointment.
- Deliberations included consideration of distribution of geographic location and relevant experience.
- Commissioners selected from among Kenneth Engen, Daniel Maas, Heidi Streiff and selected Kenneth Engen for appointment.
- One appointment is needed to fill an expiring term on the Board of Adjustment/Planning Commission. The geographic area that is open is the Eastern side of the county. One vacancy was advertised with 3 applications received. Please see the attached applications. The term for this appointment will begin January 1, 2024 for a three-year term.
- Commissioners approved Rice County Zoning Ordinance Amendments
- Property Tax & Elections: Denise Anderson
- Approved MN Lawful Gambling application for Exempt Permit for Holy Cross Catholic School
- Parks & Facilities: Matthew Verdick
- Approved Resolution #23-047, Approving Designation of County-Owned Parcels as a Park for use by Friendship House for garden project
- Rice County owns two contiguous parcels located in the downtown area of Faribault, Minnesota, with Property Identification Numbers (PIDs) of 18.31.1.26.271 and 18.31.1.26.270. We wish to designate these parcels as a park. Minnesota Statute §375.18, Subd.12 authorizes county Boards of Commissioners to designate county-owned land for use as a park.
- Approved Resolution #23-047, Approving Designation of County-Owned Parcels as a Park for use by Friendship House for garden project
- Public Health/Nursing: Deb Purfeerst
- Board ratified renewal of the PH-Doc Maintenance and Support Agreement, a software system
- Board approved renewal of agreement with Kristin Cook for home-based physical therapy services
- Board approved renewal of agreement with Teya Dahle for Reflective Practice Supervision for those doing home visits. Reimbursement for this service is funded in whole by a grant.
- Assessor’s Office: Joshua Schoen
- Board approved local option disaster abatement for 2023 taxes and credit for 2024 taxes due to house fire.
- Board approved annual list of changes since county board of appeal & equalization 2023
- No changes this year
- Social Services: Mike Johnson
- Board approved agreement between Rice County and state DHS for Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) program
- Sheriff’s Office: Jesse Thomas
- Approved Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Safety Grant from State of Minnesota
- Approved Snowmobile Safety Enforcement (SSE) Safety Grant from State of Minnesota
- Approved Out of State Travel Request for Transition Team Training in Wisconsin
- Human Resources: Carol Kritzer
- Approved Employee Wellness Works Program for 2024
- Highway: Dennis Luebbe
- Approved payment and contracts for the following: culvert replacement and rehabilitation, road surfacing, pavement markings, bridge design, Deck Ave Corridor Study, Right of Way easement on Highway 76/Baseline Road, establishing Stop Signs on County Road 92, and WSN-CSAH 76 Design
- Some discussion of the value of the Deck Ave corridor study
- Approved payment and contracts for the following: culvert replacement and rehabilitation, road surfacing, pavement markings, bridge design, Deck Ave Corridor Study, Right of Way easement on Highway 76/Baseline Road, establishing Stop Signs on County Road 92, and WSN-CSAH 76 Design
- Finance: Paula O’Connell
- Adopted of Levying Tax on Taxable Property & Adopting 2024 Budget
- The 2024 Budget is set at $107,171,022 and the County Levy is $36,165,276. The Rice County Housing & Redevelopment Authority levy is $232,467.
- Adopted of Levying Tax on Taxable Property & Adopting 2024 Budget
