- PUBLIC FORUM
- Comment urging commissioners to continue to support Passport to Ag event organized by the Extension Service in Rice County
- Comment expressing concern about warrants based on false information in Rice County
- ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES: Julie Runkel
- Lower Minnesota River East Watershed Joint Powers Board & Work Plan/Budget
- Approved to approve the Lower Minnesota River East Watershed Joint Powers Board Sub-agreement for Professional Services.
- INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Allan Klug
- Approved MNCCC Annual agreement
- Purfeerst Question: Are all counties involved in MNCCC?
- A: Generally, but we don’t use all the same MNCCC services that other counties use
- Peters QUestion: How much was the increase from last year?
- A: A few components went up. MNCCC is a nonprofit. The increases are generally kept pretty minimal.
- COMMUNITY HEALTH BOARD: Deb Purfeerst
- Agent of the Board Appointment
- Deb Purfeerst has been designated as agent of the board with the state, submitting plans, grants, etc. Board approved reappointment.
- Purfeerst: Will abstain from voting, because it’s related.
- Malecha: I don’t think there is a conflict of interest, as no money is involved.
- COMMUNITY SERVICES: Rick Gieseke
- Amendment to (Adult Mental Health Initiative) AMHI Contract
- The contract for 2023-2024 is being amended to shift underspent funds to other BRASS codes where spending has gone over. Request to approve the amendment to the contract.
- Are able to pay mobile crisis through the AMHI contract, and this change is important for keeping the mobile crisis staffing in Rice County, in addition to Blue Earth.
- Malecha Question: How is the mobile crisis doing?
- Answer: There will be a May adult divisional services annual report to the board. Have opened two other satellite sites for mobile crisis services.
- Unanimous approval for amendment.
- COMMUNICATIONS: Suzy Rook and Joseph Johnson
- Seeking approval of Resolution #25-005 Endorsing Federal Legislation to Reimburse Body Armor Costs for all Emergency Responders: Following a Northfield EMS/Northfield Area Fire & Rescue Services fundraiser last year to supply all rescue personnel with protective vests (sponsored by the Defeat of Jesse James Days Committee), Commissioner Malecha, in his capacity as DJJD general chair, Northfield EMS’ Brian Edwards and NAFRS Fire Chief Tom Nelson wondered if it is possible to get federal legislation to reimburse agencies for protective vests for all emergency responders. Currently, the U.S. government offers reimbursement for law enforcement, a designation that includes correctional officers. Minnesota provides similar funding and recently adopted legislation to include all emergency responders, though procedural details are still being ironed out. We have put together a small committee, which includes Joe Johnson, Sheriff Jesse Thomas, Suzy Rook, and the chiefs of other first responder agencies in Rice County to move this initiative forward. We ask that the Rice County Board of Commissioners be the first to officially back this work and authorize the chair to sign a letter of support.
- The attached resolution has been modified based on board feedback during a November meeting. The resolution now includes “anyone acting in a public safety capacity.”
- Underdahl: Appreciates the broadened language to apply to all who are in the position of responding.
- Malecha: Angie Craig is ready and waiting for this language.
- Unanimous approval.
- FINANCE: Paula O’Connell
- Employee Expense Reimbursement Policy
- Staff has reviewed the policies and recommended updates. The prior meal amounts need to be increased due to inflation. Another change in the policy includes the inclusion of out of state travel meals to be reimbursed based on the cost of the traveled destination. The proposed meal rates have a $3 increase to breakfast and a $4 increase to lunch and supper. Approve the changes to the Rice County Personnel Policy Section #2400 and approve and adopt Resolution #25-006 Meal reimbursement amounts.
- Malecha: I had items that were on my forms that got held up in the office, and then that made it take more than 60 days, so I got taxed.
- Answer: We work to be expeditious and take staff time into consideration if the time is exceeding 60 days.
- Malecha: Is the employee going to be liable if they get in an accident?
- Answer: The language is that they may be held liable. And county doesn’t make those judgment calls.
- Hoisington: It’s been at least 10 years since the policy had been looked at.
- Approved #25-006 unanimously.
- Approved #2400 unanimously.
- ADMINISTRATION: Sara Folsted
- Consent Agenda
- Extra Time/ Over Time Report 12-27-2024
- Payment of Bills
- Personnel Appointments
- 2025 Out of State Travel
- 2025 out of state conference dates are as follows: NACo Legislative Conference: March 1-4, 2025, Washington, D.C. SelectUSA: May 11-14, 2025, National Harbor, MD NACo Annual Conference: July 11-14. 2025, Philadelphia, PA.
- Approved.
- Commissioners were also invited to attend with the county administrator, if desired.
- Unanimously ratified the LELS Correctional Officer Sergeants Union Contract for 2025, 2026 & 2027
- PUBLIC HEARING for draft 10-year transportation improvement plan
- Denis Lubbe
- Click on the links below to view the draft plan and accompanying map.
- Draft 2025-34 TIP plan
- Draft 2025-34 TIP map
- The draft 10-year transportation Improvement Plan was presented to the County Board on December 3, 2024. Minor edits have been made, notably the addition of the CR 11 repair (in 2025) needed to address June flood damages. The Department will present the 10-year plan and stand for questions. Upon completion of the Public Hearing, the Board may act to officially approve the Plan.
- Resolution # 25-003, Adoption of the Rice County 2025-2034 Transportation Improvement Plan
- This resolution is required to comply with State Statutes regarding usage of the Local Option Sales Tax for transportation funding. I recommend approval.
- Resolution # 25-007- Supporting Rice County Active Transportation Grant Application, County State Aid Highway No. 1
- This resolution will support an Active Transportation grant application for sidewalk improvements along portions of County Highway No. 11 (Seventh Street NW) in Faribault.
- Resolution #25-008- Supporting Rice County Active Transportation Grant Application, County State Aid Highways No. 15 and 44.
- This resolution will support an application for Active Transportation grants for sidewalk improvements along portions of CSAH 44 and CSAH 15 in Morristown.
- Purfeerst Question: Will you get out into the county to address overhead lighting? Will they be selected based on accidents?
- Lubbe: There are 900 intersections in the county. We select the highest volume intersections. Will provide a list of intersections at the next meeting.
- Approximately $117,000,000 total over 10 years.
- Purfeerst question about Trunk Highway 246, Woodley to County Road 3
- County is not interested in working with the state of Minnesota on that stretch of road.
- The county can intercede, to take over the road — the state would prefer to work with the county.
- Hoisington question: The costs for 2025 look higher than subsequent years. Why did that happen?
- Lubbe: We pulled out a big project from 2026 and put it in 2025 because the board asked for that. The FIMA project added another $.5 million.
- Hoisington question: County road 20 project – you have that slate for every other year. What is that about?
- Lubbe: We’d be stretching our capacities if we wanted to program a five mile stretch. This road is nine miles long — it’s not practical for even two years in Minnesota’s short construction season. Thinking about detours also contributes to the way the project is broken up. Other considerations include staff workload, gaining right of way throughout the project, etc.
- Hoisington question: The county road 20 project — you would have a design, and once that is done, does it get submitted to the state for review?
- Lubbe: If projects use state money, they have to be reviewed by the State of Minnesota. Until they are approved, we do not have the authority to advertise the job. If we use sales tax money exclusively, then we don’t have to go through that process. That rarely happens. If we were to receive federal funding for a local road, that would require their review and approval.
- Hoisington question: In terms of inspections, who does it?
- Lubbe: Generally, our county staff do all inspections. We will send reports to the state as needed. They make a site visit to look at certain elements. If the road is long enough, we may hire a consultant to inspect.
- Underdahl: Where on those interchanges occur, in terms of what is state and what is local. Eg; off ramp to county road — is that state or county expense?
- Lubbe: The State of Minnesota owns the bridges over the freeway, the ramps are generally State of Minnesota, embankments are county. Recent discussions and change in cost share policies that would say that if local community is driving need for bridge over freeway, it could be the county’s/city’s job to build and maintain them. That could show up more often for us, eg with our County Road 9.
- No public comment given.
- Hoisington: County road 9 — any movement on that exchange?
- Lubbe: Using grant money to evaluate possible funding sources to build the interchange, and ownership. County Road 9 could potentially become a trunk highway, and hence be a State of Minnesota responsibility. That’s one of many possibilities. State of Minnesota wouldn’t want to take on 5 miles of our county roads without some trade. Starting with city of Faribault, and working together to explore other major funding sources. Maybe there will be new funding sources in the new Trump administration? Had open house in early December.
- Hoisington: Any joint powers agreement with Faribault?
- Lubbe: Not yet, and we need to get together to assess how aggressively we want to pursue this. Goal in 2025 is getting appropriate folks in a room and decide what we can agree to.
- Commissioners approved resolution to approve 10 year plan.
- Commissioners approved resolutions
- Resolution # 25-007- Supporting Rice County Active Transportation Grant Application, County State Aid Highway No. 11
- Resolution #25-008- Supporting Rice County Active Transportation Grant Application, County State Aid Highways No. 15 and 44.
