- Call to order and Pledge of Allegiance
- Present: Peters, Hoisington, Malecha, Purfeerst, Underdahl
- Outside Agency:
- Rice and Steele 911 Center Budget Discussion. Move this year to new location, with associated improvements in software. Primary funding from county. All budget details available on county website.
- Environmental Services: Julie Runkel
- Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Expansion Feasibility Study- Looking at full landfill by 2035. Looking at options to expand. 40-50,000 tons garbage per year, along with demolition waste, adjacent area. Three remaining cells to be built within the footprint will be included in upcoming permit request.
- West expansion, about 23 acres, additional 20 years. Integrated into existing landfill footprint. Would require some geological work, to look at groundwater in bedrock (location and levels)
- North expansion, 33 acres, stand -alone facility, not contiguous, for additional 36 years. Will require soil excavation, separate footprint.
- Question (Malecha): possible to build up? Answer: yes, not fully investigated at this point.
- No build option- looked at waste facilities within 65 miles, if partnership desired/possible.
- Solid waste permit renewal: (needs to be submitted 180 days ahead of expiration, which is in 2027). Application will be submitted in June 2027.
- Administration: Sara Folsted. Preliminary budget /levy discussion. Process ongoing from early spring. (see public records for specific budget details). Public safety and IT, roads and transportation, Human services fund, capital projects, county program aide all under Levy by fund. Federal and State legislative actions are affecting costs at local level, resulting in about 1.5% increase in costs, Health and Human Resources. (All associated reports available on DHS website). Additional 750,000 dollars needed to offset cost shifts. There are one-time monies from State to help with cost shifts in 2027, one for $120,000 and one for $129,000, HHS.
- Rules (mandates from State) changing regarding staffing in correctional systems, with estimate > $600,000 needed in staffing, required training hours.
- Outside agency funding: decision made last week to cut funding by 10% across the board.
- Please see website for figures, charts, in detail regarding 2027 budget.
- Public hearing, Thursday, December 10, 2026. Following week, December 15, adoption of 2027 budget.
- Comments from public:
- William North, Friends of Northfield Public Library: Speaks in favor of public libraries, the collaboration, activities, support of Rice County residents. Supports freeze rather than cuts, ongoing conversation with entities.
- Erica Zweifel, Northfield Mayor: supports libraries, comments from constituents in Northfield, based on recent survey. Asks for holding steady on budget rather than cuts.
- Natalie Draper, Northfield Library Director: Supportive of libraries. One in 5 using the Northfield Library come from rural Rice County, reflecting larger service area than just the city. About 200-400 folks visit local library on Sunday; with proposed cut, will face closing the library on Sunday. This was very late stage cut – asks for freeze, further conversation.
- Ben Martig, Northfield City Manager: Reiterates amended request to reconsider action previously taken and rather, freeze funding so as to have conversation with the commissioners/all Rice County libraries.
- Gorden Lue, Morristown: speaks in favor of libraries, shared services and resources. Urges reconsideration cuts to library funding.
- Speaker, Faribault: speaks in favor of libraries, access to books and resources, included comments from local citizens.
- Email Comments:
- Mary Steen, Northfield: advocates for libraries, books, resources, programming.
- Margit Johnson, Northfield: urges maintenance same funding libraries 2027 as in 2026. Advocates for libraries and services.
- Amy, Bob—-, Northfield: advocate for library, urge reconsideration of cuts. Second email from same thanks Commissioners Malacha and Underdahl for support of libraries in Rice County.
- Commissioners’ Responses:
- Hoisington: Thanks to all who support the libraries and came to speak. Voices support for libraries: “We are not villains, we are trying to do the right thing.” Voices appreciation for everything that libraries do, difficult spot.
Peters: Agrees with Commissioner Hoisington. States libraries are not the only agencies cut. Feels the county is “way above” requirements for state funding. Maintains that the cuts are a good move.
Purfeerst: Agrees with commissioners who have spoken so far. “Government is getting too big, cannot continue with current increases.” “This will not shut down any of the libraries,” still in favor of the 10% reduction.
Malecha: Disagrees with the three who spoke (above). Disagrees with the way the decision was reached, without any notice to the agencies affected. No one likes surprises, including the county, yet the agencies affected were not notified. Feels people should come to the table when looking to make cuts.
Folsted: Next week, resolution to come regarding the 2027 budget, looking to mitigate the funding cuts. Will be ongoing conversation between now and December regarding the final budget.
