Rock County Commissioners meet July 11
Herreid Board Room 9:00 A.M.
Rock County Courthouse July 11, 2023
The meeting was called to order by Chair Thompson with the follow Commissioners present: Reisch, Overgaard and Williamson; Commissioner Burger was absent. Also in attendance were County Administrator Kyle Oldre, County Attorney Jeff Haubrich, Deputy Administrator Susan Skattum, and Star-Herald Reporter Mavis Fodness.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those in attendance.
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Williamson, to approve the July 11, 2023,
County Board agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Williamson, to approve the June 20,
2023, County Board minutes, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Williamson, seconded by Reisch, to approve the 2023 Board
of Equalization minutes, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard, to call to order a Public Hearing at
9:05 a.m. for the purpose of hearing public comments for the following:
•Rock Home Initiative Abatement for Alex & Natasha Kellenberger for new home
construction located in the NE 1/4 of Section 24 in Martin Township; estimated
(5) year abatement value is $7,207
•Rock Home Initiative Abatement for Glenn & Dianne Lorenzen for new
construction located in the NW 1/4 of Section 34 of Rose Dell Township; estimated
(5) year abatement value is $2,008
•Enacting a Code of Ordinances for Rock County
No public comment was noted. Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Reisch,
to close the Public Hearing at 9:12 a.m., declared carried on a voice vote.
Items listed on the consent agenda were pulled to allow separate action.
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard, to approve Resolution No. 10-23,
a Rock Home Initiative Abatement for Andrew and Natashia Kellenberger,
declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Reisch, to approve Resolution No. 11-23, a Rock Home Initiative Abatement for Glenn and Dianne Lorenzen, declared carried on a 3-0 vote with Commissioner Williamson abstaining.
Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Thompson, to approve Resolution No. 12-23,
an Ordinance Enacting a Code of Ordinances for Rock County, declared
carried on a voice vote.
David Wing, Outreach Director for Congressman Finstad attended the County Board meeting to introduce himself and informed the County Board of a Farm Bill Listening Session event scheduled for July 21 at 11:00 a.m.12:00 p.m. at Bakken Farms. Wing also requested other topics of concern to put on the Congressman’s
agenda and items identified were federal funding to the construction of a water tower
for the Rock County Rural Water system and adequate funding for federal crop
insurance. The County Board thanked Mr. Wing for his attendance.
Jane Lanphere, Director of Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce presented
activity updates on behalf of Southern MN Tourism Association and Explore Southwest
Minnesota, formerly SW Minnesota Tourism. Explore Southwest Minnesota, a 9-county membership has developed a great partnership with the Southwest Regional Development Commission that assists with management and development services; each member county pays a membership fee and the request for 2024 is $1,500, which will reflect a $500 dollar increase. The funding request for Southern MN Tourism will remain the same at $500.00. The Chair referred both funding requests to the Budget Committee.
The County Board was in receipt of the claims and Per Diems of $700.00; motion by Reisch, seconded by Williamson, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote. A complete listing of the claims is available upon request at the Auditor/Treasurer's office.
JULY 11, 2023 CLAIMS OVER $2,000
A & B BUSINESS INC 2,746.41
A.C.E. OF SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA 5,530.00
BREMIK MATERIALS, INC 20,072.42
CHS INC 15,083.57
COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORTATION 6,291.90
COMMUNITY EDUCATION 4,000.00
COUNTIES PROVIDING TECHNOLOGY 6,925.00
GEOCOMM 5,000.00
INTERSTATE POWER SYSTEMS INC 8,361.52
JOHNSON CONTROLS 41,243.74
LIBERTY TIRE RECYCLING LLC 2,007.50
LYON COUTNY LANDFILL 18,394.26
MIDWEST ALARM COMPANY INC 3,585.07
NOBLES COUNTY AUDITOR-TREASURER 9,220.00
NORTHLAND TRUST SERVICES INC 454,259.38
RDO EQUIPMENT 194,468.09
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA 19,670.25
RETROFIT COMPANIES, INC 6,335.00
SIR LINES-A-LOT 118,691.02
SNOW WHEEL SYSTEM INC 34,070.00
STAPLES ENTERPRISES ING 4,554.63
TOLLEFSON PUBLISHING 2,081.70
VIKING ELECTRIC LLC 14,024.01
WIDSETH SMITH NOLTING & ASSOC, INC 3,267.50
90 PAYMENTS LESS THAN $2,000 43,878.77
TOTAL 1,043,761.74
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Thompson, to approve the Fund Balance
report, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Reisch, to approve the following lost
warrants, declared carried on a voice vote. Warrant #45190, $585.74 payable
to Lynette Jauert Warrant #45177, $513.17 payable to Lynette Jauert.
Mark Sehr, Engineer, requested approval of Resolution No. 09-23, Grant Agreement with MnDOT to the State Transportation Fund for SP067-601-014 a bridge replacement of Bridge 67501 on CSAH 1 over the Kanaranzi Creek. The grant agreement allocates $528,490.24 of MVLST LBRP Funds to this project. Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Williamson, to approve Resolution No. 09-23, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Engineer informed the County Board of a price increase for appliance pickup
from Retrofit Environment and requested to increase the appliance fee from $15 for
appliances and microwaves to $35.00; motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard,
to approve the new rate of $35.00 for appliances and microwaves, declared
carried on a voice vote.
Eric Hartman, Land Management Office Director, presented an update regarding the Rock County Demolition Landfill. An RFP process conducted by SEH for preliminary site evaluation and potential drilling services resulted the following bids:
AET $32,576
Braun Intertec $43,859
Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Reisch, to accept the bid from AET for $32,576
and to pay the expenditure from Landfill Contingency Fund, declared carried on a
voice vote.
The County Board was in receipt of a presentation from Neal Barrett of Canvus, a manufacturer of products made from wind turbine blades. Canvus utilizes materials to create functional art. Mr. Barrett informed the County Board of the Canvu Donation Program that connects communities with organizations and businesses to make spaces and places more sustainable and exciting by bring functional art to the community; he encouraged Rock County to apply to be a recipient. After a brief discussion, it was the consensus of the County Board to move forward with the recipient application.
Emily Crabtree, Director of the Luverne Area Community Foundation informed
the County Board that the Ashby Memorial Bike Trail has been completed and
requested the transfer of ownership from the Luverne Area Community Foundation
to Rock County, as per County Action of February 16, 2021. Motion by Reisch,
seconded by Thompson, to approve Resolution 13-23, approving the transfer
of ownership of the Ashby Memorial Bike Trail to Rock County, declared
carried on a 3-0 vote with Commissioner Overgaard abstaining.
The County Board was in receipt of a meeting notice on July 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the basement of the Rock County Community Library to conduct a joint meeting with city municipalities to discuss the new legislation regarding cannabis.
The Administrator informed the County Board that the HVAC improvements at the Human Services Building are complete and that Southwest Health & Human Services will be moving back into the building the week of July 25-28.
The County Board was informed of a 30-unit rental townhome project in the City of Luverne with assistance from the Southwest Minnesota Housing
Partnership (SWMNHP). The SWMNHP is drafting a grant application to the
Minnesota Housing Finance for significant financing of the project and request
the county to submit a letter of support for the project; motion by Reisch, seconded
by Thompson, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Administrator informed the County Board that he and Nobles County Administrator and Community Corrections Director met to discuss the increase in funding
changes and where those dollars will be spent; those changes in include additional
staffing for programming and space issues. The new monies are scheduled
to begin in July of 2023.
The Administrator also stated that he attended the following meetings: Buffalo Ridge Regional Rail Authority, tour of the new Armory, Safety Committee, Hardwick EDA, was part of the training panel for AMC event. Also stated that he and Deputy
Administrator met with Tessia Melvin, a Management Consultant with David Drown
Associates, Inc. referencing the ongoing maintenance of selected job
descriptions and market analysis and that as to date, there have only been
minor changes on the job descriptions.
Commissioner Reisch stated that he attended the following meetings/events:
Southwest MN Opportunities Council, Luverne City/County Liaison.
Commissioner Williamson stated that he attended the following meetings/events:
Buffalo Ridge Regional Authority, Beaver Creek Township.
Commissioner Overgaard stated that he attended the following meetings/
events: City/County Liaison
Commissioner Burger stated that he attended the following meetings/events: n/a
Commissioner Thompson stated that she attended the following meetings/events:
Plum Creek Library, Buffalo Ridge Regional Rail Authority.
With no further business to come before the County Board, the meeting
was declared adjourn, declared carried on a voice vote.
(08-10)
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