- Public Forum at 8 am: No comments given
- CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- Roll Call
- Approval of Agenda
- Approval of Minutes – Regular Meeting – September 23, 2025
- PROPERTY TAX & ELECTIONS: Denise Anderson
- Approved: Temporary Malt Liquor License for Holy Cross Catholic School for November 22, 2025 at 6100 37th St W, Webster
- ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES: Julie Runkel
- Approved: Waiver of Plat/Fossum – Section 3, Northfield Township
- Approved: Interim Use Permit/Riewe – Section 5, Warsaw Township with 15 conditions.
- OUTSIDE AGENCY: Nathan Jesson, Executive Director of MICA
- MICA Yearly Update
- MICA is a voluntary organization of 17 of Minnesota’s most populated counties outside of Hennepin and Ramsey, including Rice County. They work on statewide issues to solve common problems for our membership. They produce and share high quality information on issues of concern to our members and their residents.
- Tax
- Hoisington: What is the graph for? 2025?
- Underdahl: Was 2005 when there was tax compression?
- A: In 2001 there were changes and the state general levy was established — at the time it was for education but now it goes to the general fund.
- There was no change to county program aid this year.
- Rice’s total certified aid decreasing from $4.99 million to $4.84 million in 2026
- Rice receives $71 from CPA per capita, compared to $59 statewide average
- Rice is a little lower on the need side compared to other MICA counties or statewide. But Rice has a lower tax base.
- Transportation
- State funds cut for transportation and the trunk highway funds. There was pushback at the capitol against the amount of money spent on roads and bridges. There was a push instead for buses, walking, and biking. In the future, the MICA message will be to focus on how safe roads and bridges enable multimodal transportation.
- Purfeerst: $3 million for wetlands funds, is that enough?
- A: No. The ask was $9 million. But it was a bright spot for the transportation to put their dollars behind it, when there were other cuts.
- Purfeerst: If you’re reconstructing a road vs. creating, do they both need wetland credit?
- A: The state will only cover reconstruction, but both instances require wetland credits.
- Health & Human Services
- Reported on changes to MnCHOICES assessment requirements.
- Additional 50 beds at AMRTC campus. The state did not extend reprieve from cost sharing between state and counties re: mental health beds for those deemed dangerous.
- Cost Shifts: Need to find $90 million dollars for counties that the state did not fund.
- Hoisington: Is there any time frame on Social Service Information System (SSIS) timeframe?
- A: RFP is to come out in March. Perhaps progress by this time next year. Act goes into effect in Jan 2027. We will need technology by then, and that may be a struggle to get that in place in time.
- Environment
- Solid waste policy and funding will remain a focus as we approach Minnesota’s 2030 recycling goal deadline
- Depending on Public Utilities Commission ruling on the state’s carbonfree standard, legislation protecting Waste to Energy (WTE) may be needed
- Possible supplemental Clean Water funding
- Purfeerst: Can you explain Wild Rice Water Standards? Are they extending that down to southern MN.
- A: That is pretty far outside our water agenda for MICA. We have not gotten involved in that. Can collect information and reply.
- Hoisington: Recycling standards for 2030 — what is that?
- A: Supposed to be recycling 75% of solid waste by 2030 for metro. For non metro, it’s 45% by 2030, she believes. This can include organics recycling. This requires more work and services from counties. All counties have submitted recycling plans to MPCA, but even the most metro counties are far off from meeting those goals.
- Hoisinginton: Seems hard to monitor or measure that.
- A: I would imagine your county staff are plugged into that. There has been a standard reporting that has been done and that counties have done. So that is fairly established. The tricky part is how to get to those numbers, because they are lofty goals.
- Pensions
- Probation officers and 911 telecommunicators working group
- Working group composed of public employee and employer representatives
- MICA prioritizing holding employer contributions stable
- Issues report on differential pension benefit by next February
- Overview at end of ‘25 legislative session
- FY 2025 general fund revenue closed $847 million or 2.7% above forecast, but revenue still below spending
- July and August general fund revenue was $22 million above forecast
- US economy showing lower growth and higher inflation compared to February Forecast
- Hoisington: Thanks MICA for advocating for county concerns at state level.
- OUTSIDE AGENCY: Brian Becker
- Rice & Steele 911 Center
- In 2026 the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) serving Rice and Steele Counties is expected to relocate to remodeled space in the old Rice County Law Enforcement Center. At time of relocation the current plan is to equip eight (8) positions with workstations, radio, telephone, and CAD1 capability. The remodeling project contemplates that the space could accommodate up to fourteen (14) workstations in the future.
- Dispatch Technology Review
- Approved Workstations for Dispatch Relocation Project: Request to award an eight (8) position workstation contract to Xybix Systems in the amount of $170,459.01 for the Dispatch relocation project.
- — Observer had to depart at this point in the meeting (9:30 am) —
- Approve Phone System for Dispatch Relocation Project
- Approve Radio Console System for Dispatch Relocation Project: Request to approve re-purposing the existing Radio Console System equipment for the Dispatch relocation project and establishing needed radio console functionality in the amount of $400,000.00.
- OUTSIDE AGENCY: WOLD
- Award Construction Contract for the Dispatch Relocation Project
- Award Floor Covering Bid for Lower Level LEC Dispatch Remodel Project
- FACILITIES DEPARTMENT: Chris Kluge
- Approve Quote for Lower Level LEC Dispatch Remodel Project
- EXTENSION SERVICE: Lisa Dierks
- ATTORNEY’S OFFICE: Brian Mortenson
- National Domestic Violence Awareness Month October 2025
- SHERIFF’S OFFICE: Jesse Thomas
- Resolution #25-036/Acceptance of Monetary Donation from Destination Views, LLC
- ADMINISTRATION: Sara Folsted
- Consent Agenda
- Extra Time/ Over Time Report 09.19.2025
- Payment of Bills
- Personnel Appointments
