Observer Report: Rice County Commissioners, 1.6.26

Notes by Orick Peterson

The Rice County Board of Commissioners’ meeting was called to order at 8:30 am by Commissioner Hoisington. All commissioners were present for the pledge of allegiance. The agenda and the minutes of the Dec 23 meeting were approved.

• Organizational business was conducted.
• Officers were elected for 2026.
  • Malecha nominated Peters as chair. Unanimously approved.
  • Malecha nominated Purfeerst as vice chair. Unanimously approved.
  • Peters took over the gavel.
• Commissioner committee appointments were made.
  • Northfield’s representative, Galen Malecha, was appointed to a number of committees:
    • Age Friendly Northfield
    • Cannon River Watershed Joint Powers Organization: (CRWJPO)
    • Parks Advisory Committee
    • Community Corrections Advisory Committee
    • Community Health Services Advisory Committee
    • Community and Employee Engagement
    • Consolidated Dispatch Joint Powers Board
    • Family Services Collaborative Governing Board Intergovernmental Committee
    • MICA Board of Directors
    • Mill Towns Trail Joint Powers Board
    • Northfield Wellhead Protection Committee
    • Prairie Wild Flower State Trail
    • Regional Passenger Rail Committee
    • Social Services/Public Health Committee
    • Southeastern Minnesota Regional Trails
    • Sustainability Committee
    • Technology Committee
    • Three Rivers Community Action
    • Health & Human Services
    • Jail Committee (the new name for what was the joint task force on the jail committee)
  • All committee appointments were unanimously approved.
• Commissioner Meeting Dates & Times for 2026 were set to remain the same as 2025.
  • Unanimously approved.
• PROPERTY TAX & ELECTIONS: Denise Anderson
  • Anderson asked for Adoption of Resolution #26-004/Resolution Establishing Absentee Ballot Board, Mail Ballot Board, and UOCAVA Ballot Board for 2026 Election Cycle. Anderson explained the election judge selection process. It will remain the same as in 2024.
  • Unanimously approved.
• SHERIFF’S OFFICE: Jesse Thomas
  • 2024 Emergency Management Performance Grant
    • Sheriff Thomas requested approval to continue the grant contract agreement which took effect in 2024 and runs till 06/30/2026. The grant amount was for $ 28,139 with a matching requirement of $ 28,139. Joseph Thompson’s wages are our matching fund. Peters commented that Joe does a great job.
  • Unanimously approved.
• ATTORNEY’S OFFICE: Brian Mortenson
  • Mortenson asked the board to approve renewing the Contract for Medical Examiner Services with Anoka County for $185,600 to be billed and paid quarterly in the amount of $46,400. This amount is based upon a per-capita rate of $2.71 and a two-year average population. Mortenson said that the work of Anoka county is good. They have had attorneys question their procedure but not their results. Anoka is trying to find find a toxicology lab with procedures more acceptable to the courts, that is, one that would use just one scientist to test each batch. Hennepin county is more expensive.
  • Underdahl asked how many autopsies are performed. Mortenson said all autopsies, but only a few involve criminal investigations with testimony, just 4-5 per year. Their work is very good.
  • Underdahl commented that he recognizes we need this work regardless of how little it may be actually used.
  • Mortenson also requested approval of the 2026 Rice County Guidelines and Procedures for the MGDPA ( Minnesota Government Data Practices Act) with no significant changes from 2025.
  • Peters asked who reviews our contracts. Mortenson explained it is two attorneys, one with social services, which is the main user of contracts, and all are initiated through Mortenson’s office.
    • Unanimously approved.
• HIGHWAY: Dennis Luebbe
  • Luebbe presented a list of the public comments received regarding the proposed shared use path along County Highway 20 during its proposed reconstruction. A substantial majority of commenters approved. A commissioner asked what the cost will be. Luebbe said for any paved path the cost is about 10% of the road cost. The cost of this is estimated to be $7-8 million for 3.7 miles of Highway 20. He emphasized that this survey precedes most planning and so his estimated is very rough.
  • Purfeerst asked about the extent of surveying. Luebbert responded that there have been several efforts, including online, and the open house, which together yielded about 60 comments.
  • Peters asked about shoulders. Luebbert answered that all intersections are 54 ft of pavement. Oother sections about 40 feet of pavement.
  • Peters noted commenters are mostly from Northfield and Dundas.
  • Underdahl asked how often surveys occur. Routine update are done on 10 year plans, which do not yield very specific results.
  • One Route 20 resident made an in-person comment expressing concern about the current layout of the road. The culvert flooded one time, so he wants the culvert taken out and moved to the other side not to flood his alfalfa and house. He said he will also lose farmland due to the path, and it is expensive.
  • Luebbe was asked to reply. He pointed out this is part of the 10 Year Plan. Overflow runs down the resident’s driveway but Luebbe has to recognize downstream effects too.
  • Hoisington said there is lots of interest in this path. He asked how much real estate the path will take. Luebbe said they try to minimize the right of way they use. They mostly can keep within existing right of way.
  • Peters asked when the board will vote. Luebbe hopes next week. The second phase of the reconstruction will be in 2030 or so.
  • Malecha asked when the final design will be ready for approval. Probably in May or June.
  • Malecha asked Luebbe to continue to communicate with the resident.
  • Luebbe noted that there is a township road downstream which could be affected by any plan.
  • Purfeerst asked if this path is parallel to the state DNR Mill Towns Trail. Malecha said it’s 3-4 miles away and also years away. Luebbert said state doesn’t have right of way yet for a .5 mi. stretch although recent DNR turnover may accelerate results. The Mill Towns Trail is east of county road 20, and not parallel. County road 20 is a link between two towns and provides access to state parks.
• FINANCE: Peggy Schaak
  • Schaak asked for adoption of Resolution #26-003 granting the Chief Financial Officer authority to Designate & Authorize others to Conduct Banking Transactions. This has been an annual resolution. The resolution allows Fran WIndshitl to continue employment with Rice County as Chief Investment Officer, and he plan to continue working.
    • Unanimously approved.
• ADMINISTRATION: Sara Folsted
  • Folsted asked for approval of the Consent Agenda.
    • Unanimously approved.
  • She also asked for approval of Resolution No. 26-001 naming an Official Newspaper for the publication of official proceedings and summary form & public notices. There was one bid, which she opened at the meeting: Faribault Daily News bid $11.49 per standard ad unit and $10.95 per unit for financial statements.
    • Unanimously approved.
  • Her third request was for approval of Resolution No. 26-002 Designating the Rice County Website as the 2026 Official Publication for Transportation projects.
    • Unanimously approved.
• ADJOURNMENT was voted at 9:07 am.
  • Unanimously approved.