Rock County Commissioners
meet June 8
Herreid Board Room 5:00 P.M.
Rock County Courthouse June 8, 2021
The meeting was called to order by the Chair with all Commissioners present; also in attendance were Administrator Kyle Oldre, Deputy Administrator Susan Skattum, Star-Herald Reporter Mavis Fodness and County Attorney Jeff Haubrich.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those in attendance.
Motion by Thompson, seconded by Reisch, to approve the County
Board June 08, 2021 agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Burger, seconded by Overgaard, to approve the County Board
May 18, 2021 minutes, declared carried on a voice vote.
Calla Jarvie, Community Library Director introduced April Prohl, a Master’s student at Emporia State University College. Jarvie stated that Ms. Prohl will be
interning at the library as part of the master’s program.
Jarvie informed the County Board that Trivia Night at the brewery has resumed with much enthusiasm. Also, Rock County Community Library was selected out of 65 applications for a Rural Library Fellowship. The Fellowship will
be a 3-year project with a focus on third grade reading initiatives.
Jason Overby, Lincoln-Pipestone Rural Water (LPRW) Systems Manager and LPRW Board Member Rod Spronk presented an overview of the LPRW 2020 Audit. The audit resulted in an unmodified/clean opinion with assets totaling $96.5 million, a 1.6 percent increase with a debt reduction of .28% resulting in a net assets of $57.6 million, a 2.8 percent increase. The LPRW system hooked up 53 new rural customers with 1 new customer in Rock County; currently they are in receipt of 42 new requests for hook up to the system. Overby
briefly discussed infrastructure needs and projects and that they continue to
investigate Amercian Rescue Plan funding and the eligibility requirements.
Eric Hartman, Land Management Office Director, requested to approve a conditional use permit for Knife River for the placement of a temporary hot mix plant located in the SE 1/4 of Section 15 of Luverne Township; Hartman stated that a Public Hearing was held on 05/24/2021 with no opposition. Motion by Burger, seconded by Reisch, to approve the conditional use permit for Knife River with conditions identified on the permit, declared carried on a voice vote.
Hartman stated that his office is in receipt of a request to re-zone property located in Vienna Township from A-1/agriculture to R-1/residential; the property is described as follows: a 9.00 acre tract in the SW 1/4 of Section 30 in Vienna Township, parcel number 12-0174-200. Motion by Burger, seconded by Thompson, authorizing the Planning & Zoning Commission to schedule a
Public Hearing for the re-zoning request, declared carried on a voice vote.
Mark Sehr, Engineer, requested approval of Resolution No. 15-21, a 2021 Bridge priority listing; the bridge priority listing identifies bridge projects that are eligible for MnDOT State Aide/Bridge Bonding funds and MN Vehicle Sales Tax funds. Motion by Burger, seconded by Overgaard,
to approve Resolution No. 15-21, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Administrator informed the County Board that he and the Engineer have been in discussions with Nobles County regarding contracting engineering services with Rock County on a short term basis due to recent retirements in the Nobles County Highway Department. It was the consensus of the County Board to pursue the contract services as long as the Rock County Engineer is willing to do so.
Ashley Kurtz, Auditor/Treasurer, presented the claims and per diems of $900; motion by Overgaard, seconded by Reisch, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
JUNE 8, 2021 CLAIMS OVER $2,000
A & B BUSINESS INC $2,647.47
BREMIK MATERIALS, INC 21,103.93
CONTECH ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS LLC 34,622.38
DLT SOLUTIONS 3,731.10
LUVERNE FARM STORE INC 10,987.35
LUVERNE LANDSCAPING LLC 2,500.00
LYON COUNTY LANDFILL 4,244.92
NOBLES COUNTY AUDITOR-TREASURER 6,490.00
QUADIENT FINANCE USA INC 3,000.00
RDO EQUIPMENT 152,609.43
SHORT-ELLIOTT-HENDRICKSON, INC 4,905.46
STAPLES ENTERPRISES INC 3,196.38
TRANSOURCE TRUCK & EQUIPMENT INC 3,445.69
WEX BANK 3,191.88
ZIEGLER INC 4,098.89
57 PAYMENTS LESS THAN $2,000 29,102.98
TOTAL $289,877.86
The County Board was in receipt of the Fund Balance report which reflected partial distribution of the first half property tax collection and receipt of the first half of the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds of $904,665.00 (Informational Item #7.1); motion by Burger, seconded by Williamson, to approve the Fund Balance report, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Administrator provided a Budget Committee update stating that they had met with representatives of the Jasper, Edgerton and Rock County Ambulance services to discuss the 2021 appropriation. Rock County has a total 504 sections of which Edgerton Ambulance serves 34 sections, Jasper Ambulance serves 79 and Rock County Ambulance serves 391. Current funding levels are as follows:
•Edgerton Ambulance - $500/$14.71 per section
•Jasper Ambulance - $1,300/$16.46 per section
•Rock County Ambulance - $15,000/$38.36 per section
The Budget Committee recommends that the County Board adjust the 2021 Appropriation for the Jasper, Edgerton and Rock County Ambulance services to $63.29 per section with a minimum appropriation
of $2,500.00 and adjust the other appropriations for the following:
Edgerton Ambulance - $2,500 (an increase of $2,000)
Jasper Ambulance - $5000 (an increase of $3,700)
Rock County Ambulance - $24,746 (an increase of $9,746)
Increase Rock County Historical Society from $10,000 to $25,000
Eliminate the History Center pledge of $25,000
Add Generations building project pledge of $30,000
Eliminate Rock County VFW appropriation of $300
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard, to authorize the changes to the 2021 Appropriations listing, an increase of $36,146 and utilize Reserves to pay the difference between the budgeted amount of $77,220.00, declared carried on a voice vote.
The County Board was in receipt of (2) abatement applications: RHI abatement for new home construction for Tom and Heidi Freese and a Tax Abatement for Business expansion for Trudy Vandeburg dba Manley Tire.
The Public Hearing is scheduled for June 22 at 6:05 P.M. and 6:10 P.M.
The Administrator presented a funding request from the Rock County Ag Society for COVID cautionary supplies totaling $41,074.00 in preparation of the county fair; the expenditures are ARP eligible expenditures. Motion by Burger, seconded by Thompson, to approve the funding request of $41,074.00 to be paid from the ARP/Corona Virus Relief funds, declared carried on a 4-0 vote with Commissioner Overgaard abstaining.
The Administrator presented an updated regarding the status of Drivers Exam Stations re-opening locally, currently, only regional stations are open. Oldre stated that the local exam stations are scheduled to re-open after the legislative session has been completed; also stated the Public Safety will be conducting a 2-year study regarding whether or not to eliminate the local stations and move to a regional model.
The Administrator informed the County Board that there is doubt that legislators
will wrap up the legislative session in the identified timeline.
The County Board was in receipt of the AMC District VIII meeting
notice scheduled for June 10th in Slayton.
Commissioner Reisch stated that he had attended the following meetings: City/County Liaison, Budget and City of Luverne Law Enforcement contract.
Commissioner Thompson stated that she had attended the following
meetings: Southwest Health & Human Services and A.C.E.
Commissioner Overgaard stated that he had attended the following meetings: Solid Waste, Rural Energy, Planning & Zoning, City/County Liaison, and Purdue Study/Library.
Commissioner Burger stated that he had attended the following meetings: Southwest Health & Human Services, Budget and City of Luverne Law Enforcement contract.
Commissioner Williamson stated that he had attended the
following meetings: One Watershed One Plan.
Commissioner Overgaard called the question regarding hosting an employee picnic; it was the consensus of the County Board to proceed
with the event and schedule it for some time in September.
The Administrator and Deputy Administrator also presented an
update of other activities from the Administrator’s Office:
•Oldre was a presenter (for the 2nd time) at a new commissioner’s training event
•Provided a brief statement regarding potential economic
development opportunities that are in the infancy stages
•He and sub-committee have reached a tentative agreement for
law enforcement services with the City of Luverne
•Continues to research ARP guidelines for eligible projects
•Obtaining a quote from R & G for HVAC services; the current service
provider is Johnson Controls
•Skattum stated the SWWC Service Cooperative, a member of the Minnesota
Health Care Consortium went out to bid the health insurance and Medica was
awarded the bid, replacing Blue Cross Blue Shield. The Administrator’s office is
be seeking other bids for our own rating to use as a comparison to the rating from
the service cooperative. In summary, there will be change in health
insurance providers.
With no further business to come before the County Board, the meeting
was declared adjourned by order of the Chair.
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