Rock County Commissioners
meet Sept. 7
Herreid Board Room 9:00 A.M.
Rock County Courthouse September 7, 2021
The meeting was called to order by the Chair with all Commissioners present.
Also in attendance were Administrator Kyle Oldre, County Attorney Jeff Haubrich
and Star-Herald Reporter and Mavis Fodness.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those in attendance.
Motion by Thompson, seconded by Overgaard, to approve the September 07,
2021, County Board agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Burger, seconded by Overgaard, to approve the August 17, 2021,
County Board minutes, declared carried on a voice vote.
National Grid Renewables Representatives Melissa Schmit, Jordan Burmeister and Jeremy Duehr presented an Elk Creek Solar project update and requested approval of the Development Agreement; motion by Burger, seconded by Thompson, to approve, declared on a 3-0 with Overgaard abstaining and Reisch not present. Timeline includes the install of data connections with transmission with construction to begin in the spring of 2022 and is estimated to be completed in
2023; project cost estimate if $118 million on the 80 megawatt solar farm.
The County Board was in receipt of a membership request from GreenSmith Luverne Holdings to join the St. Paul Port Authority for the reason of being eligible to access to up $1 million in Public Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loans; the cap amount with the St. Paul Port Authority for PACE loans is greater than the cap amount with the Southwest MN Rural Energy Board. St. Paul Port Authority Representative Michael Lindner and University of MN (CERT) Representative Peter Lindstrom outlined the Joint Power Agreement (JPA) and how the program works. Aaron Smith, Project Manager of GreenSmith Builders and Wendy Anderson, Financial Consultant for the City of Luverne presented a project update of a 54-apartment energy efficient complex, located on south Highway 75 in the City of Luverne. The PACE loan will be re-paid through a special assessment from the property owner, GreenSmith Luverne Holdings will own and operate the apartment complex. County Administrator Oldre and County Attorney stated that there is minimal risk to the county as there will be an asset if the loan becomes delinquent. Estimated construction costs are $6.8 million.
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Thompson, to approve Resolution No. 22-21, approving the Port Authority of City of St. Paul Property Assessed Clean Energy Program (Minn PACE) Joint Powers Agreement, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Burger, to approve the GreenSmith Luverne Holdings LLC 54-apartment energy efficient apartment complex project, located on south Highway 75 (formerly the old Sharkee’s property), declared carried on a voice vote.
Ashley Kurtz, Auditor/Treasurer, presented the claims; motion by Overgaard, seconded by Reisch, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote. A complete listing of the claims is available at the Auditor/Treasurer’s office.
SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 CLAIMS OVER $2,000
A & B BUSINESS INC $2,647.47
AXON ENTERPRISE INC 3,432.00
CLIFTON LARSON ALLEN LLP 3,528.00
COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORTATION 2,129.48
DILIGENT CORPORATION 3,000.00
EMERGENCY AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES 3,174.66
LAWSON PRODUCTS, INC 3,254.83
LIBERTY TIRE RECYCLING LLC 2,827.95
MORRIS ELECTRONICS 4,035.29
NOBLES COUNTY AUDITOR-TREASURER 8,840.00
OPG-3 INC 2,061.82
PEARSON BROTHERS INC. 63,737.06
SNOW WHEEL SYSTEM INC 2,737.30
STAPLES ENTERPRISES INC 3,763.80
TOLLEFSON PUBLISHING 2,848.94
ZIEGLER INC 4,201.54
74 PAYMENTS LESS THAN $2,000 29,107.75
TOTAL $145,327.89
The County Board was in receipt of the Fund Balance report as of August 31, 2021; motion by Thompson, seconded by Burger, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
The County Board was in receipt of a letter from the MN Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services Director regarding the status of re-opening all 93 driver exam stations throughout the state; currently there are only 14 exam stations open due to a consolidation conducted in May 2020 due to pandemic. The timeline to re-open the additional exam stations is scheduled for January 31, 2022. The County Board expressed their dissatisfaction of the announcement and timeline and directed the Administrator to draft and send a letter inform the Driver and Vehicle Services Director of Rock County’s frustration and dissatisfaction.
Kurtz presented an invoice from MnDOT for overpayment of the 2016 Transit grant agreement, the invoice amount is for $31,579.00. After discussion it was determined to table action of the expense and requested
a MnDOT Transit representative to provide and explanation.
Motion by Burger, seconded by Williamson, to approve the county’s 2020
Petty Cash and Change funds, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Burger, to authorize the License Center to have a separate checking account, as per compliance with the State of Minnesota to allow
them to conduct licensing transactions, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Auditor/Treasurer presented a request to abate real estate taxes for the amount of $628.00 on property located in Lots 18 & 19 in Blk 3 to the Original Plat of the City Hardwick, parcel 14-0068-000. The abatement request is due to a system error that excluded a Dis-abled Veteran Spouse Exclusion which would have made the taxable market value zero. Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Thompson, to approve the abatement request of $628.00 on parcel 14-0068-000, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard, to approve an engagement letter with CliftonLarsonAllen LLP for 2020 audit services, declared carried on a voice vote.
Mark Sehr, Engineer, presented Resolution 21-21, a Local Bridge Replacement Program Grant Agreement with MnDOT; motion by Overgaard, seconded by Reisch, to approve Resolution No. 21-21, declared carried on a voice vote. Project identified in Resolution 21-21 is the removal of
old bridge structure located by the City Park within the City of Luverne.
Eric Hartman, Land Management Office Director, reviewed proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and schedule a Public Hearing for following amendments:
Section 4. Subd. 2 Definitions – new definition, Self-storage Facility. A
building or group of buildings containing separate, individual,
and private storage spaces of varying sizes for lease or rent for varying
periods of time.
Section 15. A-1 Limited Agriculture District, Subd. 3 Conditional Uses —
14. Self-storage facility
Section 16. A-2 Limited Agriculture District Subd. 3. Conditional Uses —
14. Self-storage facility
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard, to schedule a Public Hearing for October 5, 2021 at 9:00AM in the Herreid Board Meeting Room located in the Rock County Courthouse, declared carried on a voice vote.
Hartman presented a Conditional Use Permit for W & N Construction for mining, processing and stockpiling of clay, gravel and aggregate materials located in Section 23 of Beaver Creek Township. Hartman stated that a Public Hearing was held on August 30, 2021 with no opposition. Motion by Burger, seconded by Overgaard, to approve the Conditional Use Permit
with the conditions identified on the permit, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Williamson, to approve the
FY22-26 SCORE Grant Agreement with MN Pollution Control, SWIFT Contract
Number 192222, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Administrator stated that has been working on a number building issues, Ag Disaster-Drought designation, Rock River bank
stabilization project and seeking guidance on ARP funding.
The County Board was in receipt of amendments to the Rural Minnesota Energy Board Joint Powers Agreement; motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard, to approve the amended JPA document, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Administrator stated that the Safety Plan for the Walleye Wind project has been approved by local emergency services representatives; presented as information only.
The Administrator provided an update regarding the process to repair the Terrace area at the Veterans Memorial Building and the Tunnel area located below the Terrace. Oldre had met with a contractor and Superior Calk & Tuckpoint to address the deteriorating surface on the Terrace which is the suspected cause to the water leak in the tunnel area below; the repair estimate is $250,000 and involves removing the top surface on the Terrace and exposing the tunnel structure to re-wrap/water proof the structure and replace the terrace surface. The contractor recommended contracting with the previous architect to work up the specifications for the repairs and then bid the project. Motion by Reisch, seconded by Thompson, to move forward in contacting the architect to development a repair estimate, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Burger, to authorize the purchase of additional computer data storage for the cost of $10,687.65, declared carried on a voice vote.
Commissioner Reisch stated that he had attended the following meetings: Hospice
fundraising event, Streambank Stabilization meeting.
Commissioner Thompson stated that she had attended the following meetings: Southwest Health and Human Services, A.C.E. and Hospice Fundraising event.
Commissioner Overgaard stated that he had attended the following meetings: AMC Extension, Transit, Historical Society, One Water Shed One
Plan, Planning & Zoning and Hospice Fundraising event.
Commissioner Burger stated that he had attended the following meetings:
Southwest Mental Health announcement to area schools regarding the
dis-continuation of services due to staff shortages.
Commissioner Williamson stated that he had attended the following meetings: Hospice Fundraising event and commented on the weed problem along the BRRRA.
The County Board discussed details of the Employee Appreciation Picnic, scheduled for September 21, 2021, at 11:30 A.M .to 1:30 P.M. at the Rock County Highway Department.
With no further business to come before the County Board, the meeting
was declared adjourned by order of the Chair.
(11-04)
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