Rice County Commissioners 5.27.25
- A. Roll Call
- B. Approval of Agenda
- C. Approval of Minutes – Regular Meeting – May 13, 2025
- II. ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES: Julie Runkel
- A. Award bid for MSW Landfill Cell 4B Construction
- Need to create more space for MSW landfill.
- Details: Rice County Environmental Services has obtained bids from three qualified, independent contractors for MSW Cell 4B Construction project at the Rice County Landfill. Staff have reviewed the bids with our engineering consultant, Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC (Foth), and recommend that the project be awarded to the low bidder, Borneke Construction, Inc, for the amount of $936,427.16. Rice County and Foth have both worked with Borneke Construction, Inc on similar construction projects and consider Borneke Construction to be well-qualified for this project. The Environmental Services Department is asking for Board approval to sign and deliver the attached Notice of Award to Borneke Construction, Inc.
- Cost: $936,427.16 from the Waste Management Enterprise Fund
- Purfeerst: How long will this cell last?
- A: Approximately two years, and then you come back later.
- Unanimously approved.
- A. Award bid for MSW Landfill Cell 4B Construction
- III. PROPERTY TAX & ELECTIONS: Denise Anderson
- All of the below were approved with no discussion:
- A. Approved: Liquor License Renewal for Vintage Escapes Winery at 8950 Dodd Rd, Kilkenny for the licensing period from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026
- B. Approved: Liquor License Renewal for Boonies Bar & Grill at 3301 Millersburg Blvd Faribault for the licensing period from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026
- C. Approved: Application & Permit for a Temporary On-Sale Liquor License for Rotary Club of Northfield at Red Barn Farm, 10063 110th St., E, Northfield, MN, 55057 for July 10, 2025.
- D. Approved: MN Lawful Gambling Application for Exempt Permit for Ducks Unlimited Northfield Chapter #113 at Willingers Golf Club, 6797 Canby Trl, Northfield, MN, 55057 for July 24, 2025.
- E. Approved: Application & Permit for a Temporary On-Sale Liquor License for North Morristown Commercial Club at 10500 215th St W, Morristown, MN, 55052 for July 4, 2025.
- All of the below were approved with no discussion:
- IV. HIGHWAY and PARKS: Dennis Luebbe
- A. Approved: Detour Agreement with City of Northfield
- Shutting down Hwy 19 for Mill Towns Trail construction.
- B. Approved: Resolution #25-021, Speed Limit Study, CSAH 4
- Speed Limit Study for City of Lonsdale, County Road 4. This would set the process in motion. MNDOT would administer the study on their own timeline.
- Purfeerst: After the study is completed, or does it come back to the board to raise or lower the speed limit?
- A: It comes back to the board. Sometimes MNDOT gives the board a range, and the board has the last say.
- Hoisington: What is the current speed limit?
- A: Coming into town it’s 55 and then it’s posted at 40 in town.
- Hoisington: And Lonsdale initiated it?
- A: Yes.
- Malecha: They want to raise it?
- A: I believe the city wants to lower it.
- Unanimously approved.
- C. Resolution #25-022, and MnDOT Agreement # 1059588
- County Road 46. The federal money is for next year, but we moved the project up to this year, so we need to work with MNDOT to have cash flow for this year.
- Unanimously approved.
- D. Parks Donation- Ackman Park Sign
- Approved accepting donation from Ackman family to replace the Ackman Park Sign, which is on County Road 12, a little fishing area with a small pier.
- E. Parks Donation- Shields Lake Association
- Approved accepting donation from Jim Becker, president of the Shields Lake Association, for a park bench in memory of Rick Elsen to be placed at McCullough Park.
- Underdahl: Are we looking at any kind of standard for what the bench materials should be?
- A: I haven’t researched that yet. We haven’t adopted a standard. We’ve accepted what they’ve decided is appropriate.
- Underdahl: The wood benches don’t last as long. If people are doing it, we don’t want it to become a maintenance issue for us, and we want it to have longevity.
- A: I will research that.
- F. Award contract for application for Regional Park Status-Cannon River Wilderness Park.
- Two quotes for engineers to complete the application to make the park a regional park. Awarded to Widseth Engineers for $25k
- Two proposals were submitted for this application process. HKGi’s proposal was $28,050. I recommend the Board award the contract to Widseth Engineers and Architects for $25,000. Funding of $28,580 from the Local and Tribal Consistency Funds (LATCF) remains available to fund the 2022 Park Plan implementation. Widseth Engineers and Architects, to complete and submit an application for Regional Park Status to the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission for the Cannon River Wilderness Park.
- A. Approved: Detour Agreement with City of Northfield
- V. ADMINISTRATION: Sara Folsted
- A. Approved: Consent Agenda
- 1. Extra Time/ Over Time Report 5.2.2025
- 2. Payment of Bills
- 3. Personnel Appointments
- B. Approved: Performance Measure Program
- C. Resolution 25-020 Amended and Restated Contract for Private Development with Tru Vue Inc. For Certain Property in Rice County in the City of Faribault
- Underdahl recused himself from this decision.
- Approved by all other commissioners.
- D. Resolution 25-023 Terminate Property Tax Abatement and Void the Contract for Private Development for Certain Property in Rice County, in the City of Faribault.
- E. Appointing of Chief Deputy County Administrator
- Sandy Malecha being appointed as Chief Deputy County Administrator.
- Purfeerst is not in favor of this. We need to figure out what the state and federal government is going to do with our funding before approving this.
- Underdahl: When we saw the position filled in the past, it had benefits. One of the things it can do is more effective management.
- Hoisington: Has been wrestling with this. This is the number two position in our county. As commissioners, we’re here to represent constituents, and we had no input in the hire. We should be involved in the process. Hoisington is going to get an update on the legislature today and it’s not going to be good. What he’d like to see is some support within to support Sara Folsted. We have a Chief Deputy, maybe we could reassign some responsibilities to give Sara the support she needs.
- Malecha supports
- Peters supports.
- Underdahl supports.
- This motion was approved by a 3 to 2 majority.
- A. Approved: Consent Agenda
