LWV observer report for the Rice County board of commissioners work session of August 5, 2025
- The Rice County work session of August 5, 2025 wascalled to order by Commissioner Underdahl at 8:30 am. All commissioners were present for the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Funding requests from several outside agencies were heard first.
A. Delane James, Buckham Memorial Library services director, presented their funding request for $237,518, an increase of somewhat over $9,000, to help meet an increase in personnel costs of over $40,000. Her report emphasized how the library fulfills its mission of “shared learning, connections, and creation” to cultivate community.
B. Natalie Draper, director of the Northfield Public Library, presented their funding request for an increase of 4% to help meet inflationary increases and increased demand to total a $214,380 grant.
C. Dave Nichols, Executive Director of the Rice County Historical Society, presented their funding request for $50,000 for the 2026 calendar year, a $5,000 increase over last year’s allocation of $45,000, to help meet inflation and rising costs.
D. Hope Center’s representative was not present in the planned order. Her report will be recorded in the order in which it was presented.
E. Rice County Agricultural Society was represented by Peter Van Sluis, Executive Fair Manager. Their funding request was the same as last year: $20,000.00 along with paying for their insurance.
F. Lonsdale Public Library’s funding request was presented by Marguerite Moran, Director. She asked for $33,500 for 2026, an increase of about 12.6%, to help the library recover from last year’s flood.
- HOUSING: Joy Watson director of housing, presented an update from the county housing department. She reviewed various types of housing and availability to various demographic groups. Importantly there are waiting lists for all programs.
Commissioner Hoisington asked about the waiting list for section 8. The Federal government allocates these funds. Watson said demand is at least 40% higher than supply. Households with veterans or kids can apply anytime but otherwise lists are open only part of the year. Hoisington emphasized the need to find untapped resources. Rice County allocates $50,000 but just increased that ceiling.
Commissioner Peters asked about other sources of funding. Watson explained that social services funding is separate from housing funding.
She said that Rice County is 500 rental units short of need. For ownership, there are fewer than 40 homes for sale in Faribault and Northfield has around 20. First-time or lower- income buyers often get priced out of the market.
II. Funding requests continued
D. Hope Center’s Erica Staab-Absher, Executive Director, then presented their funding request. Hope Center expects both state and federal funds to be cut, though amounts are not announced. They expect a minimum of 15% less in State funding, and approximately 42% less in federal funding, Hope Center therefore is requesting $20,000 for 2026. County support in 2025 was $12,000.
Commissioner Hoisington encourages the Center to keep on with “Hope.” Commissioner Underdahl says it fills a vital need in the community.
- HIGHWAY: Dennis Luebbe presented an update on the draft of the transportation plan.
In 2021, the County secured State funding to begin transportation planning efforts for a new interchange at County 9 and I-35. Planning level analyses were completed and an Official Map of the Right of Way area was adopted in April of 2024. Following that, funding was available to complete a County-Wide Trunk Highway Jurisdictional Transfer Study, as well as an update to the County’s 2006 Transportation Plan. Luebbe provided an overview of these documents as they relate to the I-35 interchange planning efforts, and overall countywide transportation planning.
He remarked that “most studies seem to end with more studies.” Hoisington liked that. Luebbe says he only says this about transportation studies, not wishing to offend others.
Luebbe highlighted several points in the overview:
A crash analysis was performed using Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) crash records from 2019-2023.
Multimodal Transportation Facilities
Multimodal transportation options including sidewalks, trails, and rail.
The recommendations in the plan are based on an assessment of existing facilities, analysis of trends in recreation, future growth patterns, gaps in facilities, and an evaluation of public input.
Additionally, the Cities of Faribault and Northfield have developed sidewalk and trail systems that could connect to County and State trails.
Purfeerst asks that planning include include charging stations. Malecha also commented.
Policy Recommendations
Several forward-looking policies could be considered for adoption to improve Access Management, Geometric Design and Right-of-Way Standards, Multimodal Transportation Policies, and Continuity Corridors within Rice County.
Specifically, it might be desirable for the county to establish an Access Policy. Up to now, access spacing guidelines have been only recommended not legally mandated as a strategy to effectively manage existing ingress/egress onto County roadways and to provide access controls for new development. The County could also consider various high tech improvements.
Underdahl mentions typos in the report. Luebbe will bring back changes to the transportation committee and then to the Board.
Purfeers asks what can we do about empty buses?
Luebbe says MNDOT is working on a transit study, but he does not know if promoting use of buses in in their power.
Purfeerst says how about adapting bus routes to serve parks?
Luebbe and commissioners can consider possible changes of jurisdiction over various routes.
RIce County could trade miles to the state or a town here or there.
Luebbe says he is trying to put such possiblities into a reference document on improvements to trunks east and west of I-35.
Hoisington asks are we initiating such projects.
Luebbe: No, they are state approved and financed. Yet all parties coould gain efficiencies. Making changes might happen more quickly at the county level. But look at costs. If there were a jurisdictional transfer on the I-35 interchange, the cost would be $25-35 million. MNDOT might help eventually.
A study is looking at costs, considering that trunk highway standards are different for MNDOT.
Hoisington summarizes: It’s complicated.
Luebbe says the City of Faribault is also planning and the County needs to cooperate at all levels.
Purfeerst quotes his father saying, “It’s good to have options.”
- FINANCE:
A. A report on Cash & Pooled Investments for the Period Ending June 30, 2025 was presented by Fran Windschitl. The recent rate on our investments has been around 5%, but ongoing rates are 4.2-4.5%.
Commissioner Malecha thanks him.
Hoisington asks what about Trump’s wish for 1% interest rates?
Windschitl says it’s crucial to stay flexible. He will be trying to reposition investments over the next two months to buffer changes.
Hoisington asks how about reserves. Windschitl says they are well within guidelines
B. Quarterly Financial Report for the Period Ending June 30, 2025 was presented by CFO Paula O’Connell. There were no questions.
- ADJOURNMENT
