Rice County Commissioners Committee of the Whole Work Session
Present: Malecha, Purfeerst, Hoisington, Peters, Underdahl
Property Tax and Elections: Denise Anderson
Abatement report for 2024: All charts with detail available on website
Social Services: Chris Sammon/Anika Rychner
Northfield/Faribault Community Action Centers: Family Recovery Support and Youth Advocacy Programs (C/F Division Partnership)
Review of CAC Programs and advocacy work. CAC now serves 29% Northfield residents (6,000), 36% Faribault residents (10,000), or 25% all residents in Rice County (16,000).
Groundbreaking for Ridgeview Heights is scheduled for August 6, 2025.
Rice County Supported Contracts and Outcomes: Families First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), Family Recovery Support Program (FRSP) and Local Homeless Prevention Aid (LHPA)
New: Home and Community-Based Services Grant (DHS): CAC will work closely with community members and Rice County staff to provide warm handoffs and support for people accessing waivers.
Importance of Family Support Contracts: Helping parents meet family needs, enabling continuing employment. Youth remain in safe environments rather than risky situations. Early intervention prevents small barriers from escalating into crises.
Highway Updates: Dennis Lubbe
County Rd 55 to begin later this summer
County 46 project under construction, on schedule
Project in Northfield by Sechler Park due to be done in September
Round about Lonsdale, contract awarded for construction, likely next year
130 bridges in town and townships, no significant issues. Northfield Township has one eligible bridge
Pedestrian bridge Cannon River, Wilderness Park, some of the timber needs to be replaced- budget concern for next year.
Spraying for noxious weeds is mostly completed (wild parsnip, etc)
Looking at possible partnership with River Bend Nature system
FEMA sites from 2024 have been closed out, administrative work approved and completed.
Looking ahead for 2026, may need to replace a storage building in Lonsdale.
County 20 – potential amendment to contract, to include a trail, will bring to the board next meeting, based on conversation when Commissioners toured county parks a few weeks ago.
