Open Forum
- The room was packed, standing room only. Members of the public gave comment, largely focused on ICE’s presence in Rice County.
- Against ICE – 8 residents gave comment
- Worried about housing, businesses (restaurants), how this impacts community support for law enforcement, education, want county jail to stop honoring administrative warrants because of risk to Rice County.
- For ICE – 6 residents gave comment
- Many emphasized the importance of enforcing the law. Comment that illegal immigrants are criminals. Some noted sex crimes of arrested illegal immigrants. Others noted that compassion is not a reason to abandon the law, and that ICE is law enforcement and all law enforcement must be respected.
- Other comments
- Clergy asking for treating people with dignity and respect and less fear. Sense of being watched is pervasive.
- County Road 20 project with bike trail
- Resident commented that they live on this road and don’t want this bike trail.
- Commissioner comments
- Malecha: I hope we take this up for discussion among the commissioners
- No other comments.
Regular Commissioners Meeting
- CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- Roll Call
- Approval of Agenda
- Approval of Minutes – Regular Meeting – January 27, 2026
- Ryan Thilges, President of MN Counties Engineering Association
- Project of the Year Award
- Comments
- Malecha: Thank you.
- Peters: Thank you
- Purfeerst: Thank youFACILITIES: Chris Kluge
- Approves Bid for Rice County Fair Grandstand Improvements
- BACKGROUND: MN Statute 326B.112; Subd. 6, requires periodic inspections of bleachers. Bleacher footboards and guardrails must be reinspected every 5 years and a structural inspection must be made at least every 10 years. Therefore, to remain in compliance with the Minnesota Bleacher Safety Act, an inspection was due for both. On October 15, 2025, IEA (Institiute for Environmental Assessment, Inc.) provided a 2025 Bleacher Certification review of the Rice County Fair Grandstands. There were improvements noted in IEA’s report, so we reached out to two reputable companies to provide a bid to make corrections that were noted in the report by IEA. Met-Con declined to quote this project. SAAFE, LLC, The Home of Stadium Steve, provided a bid in the amount of $29,220.00. It’s recommended that we accept their bid and proceed with having them make corrections. Funds to complete this project will come from the capital projects fund. Awarded bid to SAAFE, LLC, The Home of Stadium Steve, for Rice County Fair Grandstand Improvements in the amount of $29,220.00.
- Questions:
- Purfeerst: Will this bring it up to code for years to come?
- A: Yes, but codes do change and we have to keep it up to code.
- Hoisington: WIll this be done by the fair?
- A: Yes.
- Purfeerst: Will this bring it up to code for years to come?
- Allan Klug
- Approved Microsoft True-up: Rice County has an enterprise agreement with Microsoft for server software and other enterprise licensing. This agreement is refreshed on a three year cycle with an annual true-up of licenses at the end of years one and two. Additional software needs require a purchase of licenses and payment of software assurance for each remaining year in the agreement. Licensing is part of the State of MN agreement allowing all local government agencies, state agencies, and state universities to purchase with volume discounts. At this year’s true up it was determined that Rice County needs additional Server Core licensing and SQL licensing due to server upgrades and additional SQL database usage. The contract reseller, SHI, provided a quote for all needed licenses. The cost of the additional licenses and SA to cover the remaining year is $78,009.72 from the IT budget. Cost: $78,009.72 from the IT budget. Approved purchase of additional Microsoft Server and SQL licenses for 2026 true-up as quoted by SHI.
- ADULT SERVICES: Megan Thomas
- Approval of two year Guardianship Contract
- This contract is used to serve individuals (4) who petitioned the courts for a successor guardian asking for Southern MN to be their guardian instead of another provider. 2026 cost will be $9,600.00, and 2027 cost will be $9,840.00.
- Questions
- Peters: It’s a long contract.
- A: Yes, these can be long congrats due to liability and data privacy.
- Peters: Is this something we’re required to do?
- A: Yes, and there are no grants for this, and we’re required to pay for this.
- Hoisington: How many people are we taking care of under guardianship?
- A: 104 + 4 + 4 + 110 through various contracts.
- Hoisington: How often do you interact with them?
- A: County guardians are required to make at least monthly contact.
- Peters: It’s a long contract.
- Approved donation to Friendship House
- The Friendship House received a $200 donation from The 1st English Lutheran Church. The letter enclosed with the check stated, “We appreciate the work you do in making Faribault a community of caring, and we hope this will aid you in your effort.” The funds will be used to rent the Cathedral of Our Merciful Savior for our annual May is Mental Health Walk.
- Malecha: Thank you. This is a great program.
- Approval of two year Guardianship Contract
- SHERIFF’S OFFICE: Jesse Thomas
- Approved adopting 2025 Rice County Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP). Hazard mitigation planning refers to any sustained action to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to human life and property from natural disasters. Rice County is vulnerable to a variety of natural hazards that threaten the loss of life and property. Hazards such as tornadoes, flooding, wildfires, blizzards, straight-line winds, and droughts can potentially inflict vast economic loss and personal hardship. The Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) is a requirement of the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. The development of a local government plan is required to maintain eligibility for federal hazard mitigation grant funding programs. To be eligible for future mitigation funds, communities must adopt an HMP.
- Public Comment: Why is it not consistent in every municipality?
- A: It’s who was in that position at that time. People come and go.
- Public person: Why are they different roles at the two colleges, for example?
- A: Those were the contacts given.
- Public person: does this include terrorism?
- A: This plan is about natural disasters.
- Purfeerst: One of your question is why there is only one hospital listed.
- Northfield hospital is in Dakota county.
- Public person: But it’s Northfield hospital listed.
- Purfeerst: Should we take our commissioner names off, because we rotate all the time?
- A: It’s a FEMA requirement
- HIGHWAY: Dennis Luebbe
- Approved award of contract #2673 – County 19 reclamation and paving. Public bids were opened on February 5, 2026 for the reclamation and paving of approximately 2.1 miles of County 19 from near the Faribault city limits to near the junction of County 21. A bid summary will be provided. I recommend awarding contract #2673 to the low responsible bidder.
- Approved award of contract #2674- reconstruction of retaining wall on County 93. Public bids were opened on February 5th, 2026 for the replacement of the existing timber retailing walls on County 93 (Western Avenue). The existing structures were built as part of the reconstruction of County 93 in 1998. A bid summary will be provided. Pending acceptable bids, I recommend awarding contract #2674 to the low responsible bidder.
- Approved award of contract #2675 – bituminous asphalt pavement preservation. Public bids were opened on February 5th, 2026 for the replacement of the existing timber retailing walls on County 93 (Western Avenue). The existing structures were built as part of the reconstruction of County 93 in 1998. A bid summary will be provided. Pending acceptable bids, I recommend awarding contract #2674 to the low responsible bidder.
- Approved Out of State travel request for Dennis Luebbe to attend the 2026 National County Engineers Conference in Arlington Texas.
- Approved amended 2026-2035 Transportation Improvement Plan. Phase I and Phase 2 of the County 20 reconstruction project have been combined and moved into the 2028 construction year.
- ADMINISTRATION: Sara Folsted
- Consent Agenda
- Extra Time/ Over Time Report 01-23-2026
- Payment of Bills
- Personnel Appointments
- Ratification for the 2025, 2026, and 2027 AFSCME Assistant County Attorney’s Union Contract
- Consent Agenda
- ADJOURNMENT
