Rock County Commissioners meet June 16
Rock County Board of Commissioners June 16, 2026
Herreid Board Room 4:30 P.M.
Rock County Courthouse
Chair Williamson called the meeting to order with all present. Also in attendance were Administrator Kyle Oldre, County Attorney Jeff Haubrich, Star-Herald Reporter Nicole Ronchetti and county resident Keith Elbers.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those in attendance.
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard, to approve the June 16, 2026, County Board agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Thompson to approve the June 2, 2026, County minutes, declared carried on a voice vote.
Sheriff Matthew Sorenson was present to conduct the swearing in of Deputy Eduardo Carillo and Deputy Michael Diep, following the swearing in the commissioners welcomed the new deputies to the county.
PowerOn Midwest representative Anna Thill and Michele Basset presented a project update on the proposed power line from east of Brookings, S.D. at the MN state line to Lakefield, Minn. They explained that PowerOn is currently exploring several routes with two potential routes traveling through the east side of Rock County. They also informed the County Board that they held an information meeting in Luverne the previous week and would be conducting additional public meetings to gather input about the project.
Representatives Michelle Baumhoefner, Executive Director, and Linda Wenzel, Rock County Program Manager for A.C.E. Southwest Minnesota, presented a 2025 annual report of activity in Rock County. They informed the County Board that they currently have 791 volunteers and 63 sites active in Rock County. The volunteers worked over 56,680 hours in 2025 providing great value to the organizations served. The County Board thanked them for their efforts and the great work that they do.
Egypt Forrest, Rock County Historical Society Interim Director, introduced herself to the board and invited the county board to tour the facility at any time.
Ashley Kurtz, Auditor/Treasurer, presented the claims; an itemized listing of all warrants over $2,000 and an aggregate total for warrants under $2,000 are published on the County website at the following address: www.co.rock.mn.us/department_directory/auditor_treasurer
Total Commissioner Warrants paid by Fund:
General Revenue Fund 50,237.08
Public Works Fund 148,733.15
Library Fund 5,801.23
Veterans Memorial Fund 210
Capital Projects Fund 43,174.18
Land Management Fund 3,799.76
The County Board was in receipt of the Fund Balance; motion by Overgaard, seconded by Thompson, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
The County Board was in receipt of the Auditor’s warrants paid on June 5, 2026, and June 12, 2026; motion Overgaard, seconded by Thompson, to acknowledge receipt, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Auditor/Treasurer informed the County Board that she was in receipt of (2) Rock Home Initiative applications from Dennis and Vonda Klarenbeek and Nick Heronimus; motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard to set a public hearing for July 21, 2026, at 9:00 A.M. in the Herreid Board meeting room of the Rock County Courthouse, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Thompson to approve the 2026 Appropriation listing, declared carried on a voice vote.
JASPER AMBULANCE $5,963.00
EDGERTON AMBULANCE $2,981.00
ROCK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY $25,000.00
ROCK COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY $20,000.00
SW ARTS & HUMANITIES COUNCIL $1,000.00
LUVERNE AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION –
-Ambulance Fund $29,507.00
SOUTHERN MN TOURISM ASSOCIATION $500.00
EXPLORE SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA $1,500.00
GREEN EARTH PLAYERS $1,000.00
SOUTHWEST INITIATIVE FOUNDATION $3,000.00
LUVERNE AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION –
-GAP Mental Health $15,000.00
LUVERNE AMERICAN LEGION $300.00
HARDWICK AMERICAN LEGION $300.00
SW MN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD $2,530.00
HILLS AMERICAN LEGION $300.00
PACHOLL-MOSER POST #2603 $300.00
$109,181.00
State Demographer population estimates were presented to the County Board for information purposes only, they reflected a population estimate from April 2025 but were just released this week.
AMC District meeting follow-up, the main item discussed at the AMC District meeting was the cost shifts to counties in the areas of SNAP and Medicaid, the County Board will receive additional information from Stacy Timm, Director of SWHHS at a future meeting.
The County Board was informed of (2) upcoming meetings: the first meeting is with city municipalities to discuss Law Enforcement and Assessment contracts; the meeting is scheduled for June 29, 2026, at 7:00 P.M. in the Conference Room at the Land Management Office. The second meeting is the Southwest Regional Development Commission Annual Meeting on July 9, 2026, in Taunton, Minn.
Commissioner Reisch stated that he attended the following meetings/events: Southwest MN Opportunity Council.
Commissioner Overgaard stated that he attended the following meetings/events: PowerOn, AMC District Meeting, Energy Board, Battle Plain Township meeting, and Extension.
Commissioner Thompson stated that she attended the following meetings/events: none
Commissioner Williamson stated that he attended the following meetings/events: Extension
With no further business coming before the County Board, the meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair.
(09-03)
