Rice County Commissioners Meeting August 12, 2025
Present: Underdahl, Purfeerst, Hoisington, Peters, Malecha
Open Forum 8:00-8:30. No speakers
Approval of Agenda and Minutes
Retirement Presentation for Suzanne Kalow, Property Tax and Elections Department
Outside Agency: Mark Schoenfelder, MnDOT Partnership Award.
Recognition of Rice County as strong partner with MnDOT: Transportation planning (Dennis Lubbe as advocate for the county)
Facilities Department: Chris Kluge
Two vehicles declared county surplus, to be auctioned. Motion passed for both. Approval to purchase two 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Select AWD Vans, 92,386.00 for the two. Motion approved.
Sheriff’s Office: Jesse Thomas:
Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Grant Contact Agreement. To Prepare and train for radiologic emergency. Motion approved.
Out of State Travel Request/TurnKey Users’ Conference- training is free but hotel and breakfast not, conference in River Falls. Motion
Approved.
Highway: Dennis Lubbe
Award of Contract- County Fuel Island. Design and replacement of fuel island. Bid from Pump N Meter for 703, 619.00, addition of canopy to protect users of system is 76, 103.05. Recommend accepting this bid, work to begin this fall or next spring. Motion approved.
Community Corrections: Angela Brewer.
Legislative Funding and Budget Updates: review of 2023, 2024 changes that impacted probation, early release, additional requirements for data reporting. Additional requirements for training for various skills, peer review. Have engaged in strategic planning in anticipation 2026 (budget and staffing).
Public Safety Funding- State FY 26-27: Has not been fully funded but Rice County has not lost funding.
Minnesota Reinvestment and Rehabilitation Act (MRRA): unsure as to how it will impact supervision going forward. Presentation of this by Corrections to be on September 2, 2025, County Commissioners Meeting.
Financial: Juvenile Out of Home Placement Costs, vary year to year, but generally increasing overall. Client Supervision Fees: waived for various reasons, such as death, deportation, prison. Some Funding (2026) will be shifted from the State to the County. Will work to seek grant funding, reallocate some funds already disbursed, etc.
Federal Funding: all three grants intact, with the exception of one to support IT. Treatment Court Enhancement Grant (through 2027), Second Chance Smart Supervision Grant (through 9/2026), Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulation and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP) (to expire 9/2026, with extension requested).
Programming and Services: most of the work is mandated (all but treatment court and pretrial supervision), most involves supervision (87%).
