- All commissioners in attendance
- CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- Roll Call
- Approval of Agenda
- Approval of Minutes
- PROPERTY TAX & ELECTIONS: Denise Anderson
- Approved resolution #25-042: Resolution adopting and confirming special assessments for delinquent utilities
- PUBLIC HEALTH/NURSING: Deb Purfeerst
- Approved agreement Renewal-Kristen Cook – Physical Therapy
- OUTSIDE AGENCY: No representatives from Steele/Waseca Cooperative in attendance
- Sherburne County and Steele/Waseca Cooperative are working to repeal the state moratorium on nuclear energy production in the next state legislative session. Seeking support from Rice County.
- Hoisington: Can you read the resolution?
- Purfeerst: Can we come back to this if Steele/Waseca shows up?
- Tabled for now, in hopes that a representative will soon be here to give more context.
- ADULT SERVICES: Megan Thomas
- Adult Services Contracts
- Hoisington: What changed so that we’re not paying attorney fees any longer? (~$400k/yr)
- Thomas: We are not required to by law, so I decided we would stop, as we looked to reduce expenses.
- Hoisington: So, because you made a stand, you, you saved the county nearly half a million dollars? Congratulations!
- Approved all proposed contracts.
- Peters: How many clients are in Cedar Valley?
- We’re paying for two in Northfield. Because of changes to DEED, the waiver can fund employment, we’re moving as many people as we can to that, over time.
- Donation to Friendship House: $500
- PARKS: Dennis Luebbe
- Resolution # 25-049 and DNR Cooperative Agreement for Shore Fishing Structures
- The DNR proposes to fund up to 6 shore fishing platforms along County 12 (Cannon Lake Trail). Up to $175,000 in funding from the DNR’s 2024 ‘Get Out More’ program has been targeted to provide ADA access to fishing locations along County 12, between the Cannon and Wells lake boundaries. This grant funding would pay for engineering design and construction costs of the platforms. It is proposed to hire a consultant to create a plan set and assist in the bidding process. The county’s financial participation consists of furnishing surplus/salvaged concrete box culvert sections that will be repurposed as the platforms. ADA accessible parking, and pathways, will be constructed to provide access to the platforms. Up to six different locations may be constructed. The final number will be determined after survey and preliminary engineering is completed. Work is proposed to be completed in 2026. The agreement has been reviewed by the Attorney’s office. I recommend approval of the resolution and Cooperative Agreement. See attached location map and images of shore fishing platforms. Funding for engineering design services is covered under the overall grant. The estimated value of the salvaged drainage structure is $20,000. No direct funding from the County is anticipated.
- Underdahl: Is the $175k going to cover all 6, or do we have to cover the difference?
- Luebbe: We have the opportunity to decide that as we go. Once we develop the plans and go out to bid, we’ll see what the actual construction costs are. And we could delete one or more, as needed.
- Purfeerst: Who carries the liability?
- Luebbe: Rice county. We are responsible for maintaining them for ADA compliance.
- Purfeerst: I think it’s a good program.
- Unanimous approval.
- HIGHWAY: Dennis Luebbe
- Presentation of the draft 2026 through 2035 Transportation Improvement Plan
- The Department presents an annual update to the 10-year Transportation Improvement Plan. Attached is a draft map depicting each project location and the programmed year. The attached spreadsheet provides a project description, estimated costs, funding sources and any known grants and/or agency partnerships. The 2026 construction program costs have been budgeted and design work continues on projects programmed in subsequent years. Of special note is the addition of trail segments alongside a number of road reconstruction projects. If no significant changes are proposed, I recommend approval and discussion of setting a date and time for the required Public Hearing.
- Purfeerst: Can we plant a new umbrella tree on the corner to keep the tradition going?
- Luebbe: I’m not opposed to it. There are also safety considerations that may play a part.
- Purfeerst: It’s unfortunate when we lose those landmarks.
- Malecha: Getting lots of compliments on pavement job on County Highway 50.
- Set Date and Time for Public Hearing on the proposed 2026 – 2035 Transportation Improvement Plan.
- Set January 13 at 9 am at the Rice county board meeting at Rice County Services Center as public hearing date for transportation plan.
- Set date and time for a public open house on the proposed construction of a shared-use path
- The proposed project to reconstruct County 20 (Cannon City Boulevard) from the intersection of Trunk Highway 3, southerly approximately 3.75 miles to near the intersection of 147th Street East, was approved as part of the 2025-2034 Transportation Improvement Plan on December 4, 2025. At that time, a trail adjacent to the roadway was not proposed. Since then, the County Board directed that a trail (or shared use path) be added to the project, and to the entire County 20 corridor, to facilitate connections between the communities of Northfield, Dundas and Faribault, provide non-motorized access to the Cannon River Wilderness Park east trail-head, and to provide continuity and connectivity to the Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, Rice County’s Caron park, and enhanced access to the Mill Towns State Trail corridor. The County’s Comprehensive Plan (2021), County Parks Plans (2022) provide the basis for the County’s long-term goal of providing opportunities for non-motorized access to State and county parks, and enhanced access to existing State Trails within the county. A public open house on the proposed shared use path is warranted to capture public opinions and to provide the County Board with direct input and feedback regarding the proposed improvements. A date of December 16, 2025 is suggested. Media releases will be created to inform the public, and it is recommended to mail notices of the public open house to the property owners alongside the project.
- Approved: Dec 16 from 4:30 – 6:30 in the Rice County Services Building training room.
- Underdahl: Is it possible that the board should have a presentation online, as well? This timeframe will be difficult for some people to attend, and our intention is to get input from as many as possible.
- Luebbe: Yes, and Suzy has prepared a link to our website where they can submit a comment. We will send letters to landowners and it will include a link, so they can submit a comment instead of coming to the event.
- Peters: How big of shoulders on this project?
- Luebbe: It will be like County Road 1 and 50. Two 12 ft driving lanes and two 8 foot shoulders. This is standard for our reconstruction format.
- Peters: A lot of the properties will become non-conforming for building projects.
- Luebbe: That is part of the appraisal process that assesses the cost to the landowners parcels.
- Consent agenda
- Resolution reading: Sherburne County and Steele/Waseca Cooperative are working to repeal the state moratorium on nuclear energy production in the next state legislative
- Urging Repeal of Minnesota’s Moratorium on Nuclear Energy Production
- WHEREAS, while national, state, and regional electrical demand has been historically stable or declining, recent trends in electrification, economic development, and technology demand have resulted in a projected increase in electrical power needs; and
- WHEREAS, reliance on carbon free-based energy production continues to increase and dependence on traditional fossil fuel-based energy production continues to decrease, despite significant concern over reliable baseline and peak demand energy; and
- WHEREAS, in 2023, Minnesota’s Renewable Energy Standard statute was amended to include a carbon-free standard that requires electric utilities to provide 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, leading the nation with such an ambitious goal; and
- WHEREAS, nuclear energy is uniquely positioned to address America’s energy challenges through the generation of carbon-free electricity, with a record of over 70 years of safe operation and storage – all with significant federal and state oversight; and
- WHEREAS, nuclear energy already generates roughly half of Minnesota’s current carbon-free electricity, with nuclear plants safely operating in Minnesota for over 50 years, providing decades of carbon-free, affordable electricity for families and businesses; and
- WHEREAS, a new generation of advanced nuclear technology offers enhanced safety features, flexibility in siting, and a smaller footprint, making them ideal for future energy needs; and
- WHEREAS, thirty-three nations have now pledged to triple nuclear power by 2050, with America leading the charge, all while Minnesota -with a world-class engineering talent and manufacturing base – is the only state with an outright moratorium on all new nuclear reactor construction; and
- WHEREAS, lifting this 30-year-old moratorium is the first step in securing the affordable, clean, and reliable energy Minnesotans need, especially as the state undertakes its energy transition to meet the 100% carbon-free electricity goals while ensuring reliable baseload power;
- NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Rice County Board of Commissioners supports the repeal of Minnesota’s moratorium on nuclear energy production to ensure safe, clean, and reliable baseload energy for all Minnesotans, especially as the State advances its 2040 goal for 100% carbon-free electricity generation.
- BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Rice County Board of Commissioners urges the Minnesota Governor, State Legislature, and regulatory agencies to accelerate soonest reconsideration of the Minnesota moratorium, cognizant of advancements in available technology, increasing demand for reliable electrical power, and actions being taken by other states to locate and support new nuclear power generation facilities.
- Folsted: The crux of the debate is that with the moratorium there is not space to have discussions and exploration of safe storage of nuclear waste.
- Underdahl: I have a little concern about the resolution without background. It seems easy to get behind this, but I feel like we’re doing it without a broader base of understanding.
- Malecha: Don’t want to stand in the way of discussion, but in agreement with Underdhal. They should have educated everyone previous to this resolution.
- Underdahl: Would rather see it get taken up at a later date, after we have more information.
- Folsted: We can try to reschedule with guests.
- Hoisington: If we approve this, we are opening a conversation?
- Folsted: We are encouraging the state to repeal the moratorium.
- Peters: It’s not approving nuclear, it’s just opening the conversation.
- Purfeerst: I agree with Peters. East of town, they’re talking about big wind turbines with semi loads of batteries, and that’s not perfect either. Everything is going to have its issues going forward, so we need to explore everything out there that we can to get to the 2040 goal.
- Vote:
- Malecha: No
- Peters: Yes
- Hoisington: Yes
- Purfeerst: Yes
- Underdahl: No
- The resolution is approved.
