Public Open Forum
- Member of the public asked about how Medicaid and SNAP cuts and changes will impact our Rice County taxes and local hospital. With renewal required every six months, how will that impact staffing? And who will pay for that? Wants to know because their church congregation is having a town hall on this topic in June.
- A: Final cost not known until end of legislative session this weekend. But staff can meet with the speaker to provide information.
CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- Roll Call
- Approval of Agenda
- Approval of Minutes – Regular Meeting – April 28, 2026.
- PROPERTY TAX & ELECTIONS: Denise Anderson
- Approved: Exempt Gambling Permit for Most Holy Trinity Church on August 16th, 2026, at 4939 Washington St N, Veseli, MN 55046.
- Approved: Application for Off-Site Gambling for Waseca Sleigh & Cutter Festival Association at The Channel Inn, 23219 Farwell Ave, Warsaw, for June 3rd, 2026
- Approved: Change of date for the Tax-Exempt Gambling Permit for Lakeville Chapter of Ducks Unlimited Chapter 115 from April 28, 2026, to May 14, 2026.
- Approved: Renewal of On & Off-Sale Malt Liquor License for Grandma’s Lakeside Resort, 1700 Elmore Way, Faribault, for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
- Approved: Renewal of Wine Liquor License for Grandma’s Lakeside Resort, 17000 Elmore Way, Faribault, for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027
- Approved: Renewal of On & Off-Sale & Sunday Liquor License for Channel Inn, 23219 Farwell Ave, Warsaw, for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
- Discussion:
- Purfeerst: These are all on the west side of the county! (Joking that they’re not on his side)
- FACILITIES: Chris Kluge
- Approved: Retract Awarding Bid for Part 2 Conservation Building Roof Repairs & Replacement – on fairgrounds – Web Construction in the amount of $35,804.00, which was approved at the October 28, 2025, Board Meeting.
- On September 9th, the Board of Commissioners approved to advertise for bids for the Conservation Building in two parts, with part 1 requesting bids on structure repairs and removal of two lean-to structures, and part 2 requesting bids for roof repair and replacement. Part 1 has since been completed. Part 2 was awarded to Web Construction on October 28, 2025. Since then, prices have increased and their bid price could not be honored, therefore the contractor withdrew their bid.
- Discussion:
- Purfeerst: Was it a signed contract?
- A: No
- Purfeersts: What will be done by fair time?
- Purfeerst: Do we have teeth?
- No?
- Peters: Why didn’t we do this part at the same time as the first?
- A: We weren’t sure what would be found uring architectural study?
- Hoisington: No signed contract?
- A: Correct
- Purfeers: What are we voting on?
- A: To retract.
- Purfeerst: Was it a signed contract?
- Approved: Award Contract for Part 2 Conservation Building Roof Repairs & Replacement to award a contract to T-10 Construction for the Conservation Building part 2 roofing repairs and replacement in the amount of $39,850.00.
- Purfeerst: When does fair start?
- A: Following week. So it’ll be tight.
- Underdahl: Right now there is no enforcement in the contract. And there has to be a consequence if it’s done reroofed by fair time. And does it mean the building can’t be utilized at the fair if it’s not reroofed.
- A: Could add liquidated damages to to contract. And building has been used with roof as it is for years, so there would not be damages.
- Underdahl: We will have limited recourse if contractor doesn’t make the date. Brian?
- Mortenson: We can look at language of RFP and see if that could protect us.
- Malecha: Do we withdraw our motion and come back in two weeks for a different contract?
- Mortenson: We’re accepting the bid today, which you can do, and then we can work to get the strongest contract we can.
- Purfeerst: We don’t want them to start it the week before the fair and then not have it done during the fair.
- Underdahl: It’s also important that we get the contract out asap, so we’re not losing time on their schedule.
- Purfeerst: When does fair start?
- Approved: Retract Awarding Bid for Part 2 Conservation Building Roof Repairs & Replacement – on fairgrounds – Web Construction in the amount of $35,804.00, which was approved at the October 28, 2025, Board Meeting.
- COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS: Angela Brewer
- Proclamation of May as Treatment Court Month: The month of May is recognized nationally as Treatment Court Month, celebrating the dedication and achievements of Treatment Court programs, Treatment Court staff and volunteers, and Treatment Court participants across the United States. Rice County has offered a Drug Treatment Court program since 2014 and was recently approved by the Minnesota Judicial Council to implement a Mental Health Court program as well. Rice County’s programs are rooted in best practice and are comprised of dedicated professionals from all aspects of the court process, community supervision, treatment, and support services. The collaborative efforts of the Treatment Teams are the foundation of the program’s success. Many of the service professionals and community organizations participate in the Rice County programs on an in-kind basis to support the programs and their participants. Participants in Treatment Court programs must commit to the requirements of the program, to intensive supervision and treatment participation, to the increased efforts required to meet program expectations, and to support one another through their recovery journey. Proclaiming the month of May as Treatment Court month calls public attention to these programs and efforts. This proclamation recognizes and celebrates the hard work, dedication, and commitment of Treatment Court professionals and participants alike.
- SHERIFF’S OFFICE: Jesse Thomas
- Proclamation of National Police Week 2026
- HIGHWAY: Dennis Luebbe
- Approved: Adopting Resolution #26-020 Application for Safe Streets and Roads for all (SS4A) grant program. The Department has applied twice before for this grant. Past applications did not include a formal partnership with the City of Faribault. If successful, the City would pay 25% of the local match ($15,625) and the County would pay 75% ($46,875). Without developing Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, the City and County are at a significant disadvantage in obtaining federal grant funding for improvements directed at improving pedestrian access, mobility, and safety. Examples of projects funded by this program include sidewalk extensions, intersection crossing improvements, connecting isolated population segments and speed management projects.
- Projects that would hopefully be helped by this:
- Armstrong road trail extensions from Dundas to Northfield
- Faribault by Divine Mercy when you’ll want to extend city trail there
- Trail from Burger King to King Mill Dam in Faribault
- Underdahl: Is this county wide, or specific projects funded?
- A: The plan is county wide and Northfield did their own plan, but we would engage with them to make a “safe streets for all” plan for the whole county. It’s for all users, motorized and not. Could help get federal grants for intersections where pedestrian and vehicle traffic are high. It would also help pay for trail and sidewalk extensions.
- Underdahl: We’d seek an outside consultant to prepare the plan?
- A: Yes.
- Underdahl: What’s the useful life of this plan?
- A: Probably a decade. Would have to have a little faith that there will be funding in years to come.
- Hoisington: Have you reached out to the other cities besides Faribault about whether they’d want to be involved? Morristown, Lonsdale, Dundas, Northfield?
- A: The smaller communities don’t have the financial resources to cost share. Northfield already did their own plan, so it doesn’t make sense to ask them to cost share. But I don’t think we should ask for financial contributions from the smaller cities.
- ADMINISTRATION: Sara Folsted
- Consent Agenda
- Extra Time/ Over Time Report 04-17-2026
- Payment of Bills
- Personnel Appointments
- Approved: Adoption of Resolution #26-015 County Engineer Re-Appointment
- Malecha: We should have made you come up and interview! (joke) Happy to reappoint you. It’s always good working with you. Thank you for what you do.
- Consent Agenda
- CLOSED SESSION under MN Statute 13D.05 Subd.3 (b) Attorney-Client Privilege
ADJOURNMENT
