Nicollet public meetings in 2025

Board of Adjustment & Appeals

The Board will meet to approve minutes and findings of fact from the November 17, 2025, meeting. The board is also scheduled to discuss the 2026 Board of Adjustments & Appeals meeting schedule.

• Approval of Findings of Fact for PLN 25-18: Wilcox
• Discussion of 2026 Board of Adjustments & Appeals Meeting Schedule

The Board of Adjustment & Appeals approved the November 17, 2025 minutes (vote tally not recorded). A unanimous 4‑0 vote approved the 2026 Board meeting schedule. The meeting was then adjourned after a carried vote.

• Approved November 17, 2025 minutes (vote tally not recorded)
• Approved 2026 Board of Adjustment & Appeals meeting schedule (4-0)
• Meeting adjourned (vote carried)

Planning & Zoning Commission

The Nicollet County Planning & Zoning Commission will meet in December to set the schedule for 2026. The agenda includes reviewing permits and approving minutes from the previous month.

• Approval of October 20, 2025 minutes
• Review of zoning permits
• Discussion of 2026 Planning & Zoning Commission meeting schedule
• Review of cancellations and additions
• Public appearances

The Planning & Zoning Advisory Commission approved the minutes from the previous meeting. The commission unanimously approved the 2026 Planning Commission meeting schedule. A motion to adjourn the meeting was carried.

• Approved previous meeting minutes (passed)
• Approved 2026 Planning Commission meeting schedule (unanimous)
• Motion to adjourn carried (passed)

Tri-County Solid Waste

The Tri‑County Solid Waste Joint Powers Board will review a budget update and a solid‑waste plan update. It will consider new business items such as a Blue Earth County hazardous‑waste agreement involving Nicollet and Le Sueur, a Refuse‑Derived Fuel (RDF) discussion, LJP processing proposals, a Waste Management recycling extension, and a finance & rental agreement. The board will also vote on the 2026 collection schedule and approve a $5 coupon for residents.

• Blue Earth County Hazardous Waste agreement (Nicollet & Le Sueur)
• Blue Earth County Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) discussion
• LJP processing proposal(s)
• Waste Management recycling extension
• 2026 Collections & 2026 $5 coupon approval

The Tri‑County Solid Waste Board approved a 4% wage increase for the Directors position. The board adopted the current budget reports and a one‑year hazardous waste agreement with Blue Earth County. It also activated the 2026 finance and rental agreement extension and approved a $5 coupon for residents for the 2026 collections.

• Approved 4% wage increase for Directors (unanimous)
• Adopted current budget reports (unanimous)
• Approved one‑year Blue Earth County hazardous waste agreement (unanimous)
• Activated 2026 finance & rental agreement extension (unanimous)
• Approved $5 coupon for 2026 waste collections (unanimous)

Board of Adjustment & Appeals

The Nicollet County Board of Adjustment & Appeals will approve the October 20, 2025 meeting minutes and findings of fact for several prior variance cases. It will also hold a public hearing on variance PLN25-18, which requests reducing the County right‑of‑way setback from 50 ft to 28 ft for a replacement septic system at the Riverview Heights Addition in Lafayette Township (Parcel 06.741.0015). No other business is listed.

• Approve minutes from the October 20, 2025 meeting
• Approve findings of fact for PLN 25‑13, PLN 25‑14, and PLN 25‑16
• Public hearing: variance PLN 25‑18 to reduce ROW setback from 50 ft to 28 ft for a septic system at Riverview Heights Addition, Lafayette Township (Parcel 06.741.0015)

The Board approved the November 17 meeting minutes. It also approved the Findings of Fact for items PLN25-13, PLN25-14, and PLN25-16, each with a 5‑0 vote. A variance request (PLN25-18) was considered and a motion to approve it with conditions was made, but the minutes do not record the final vote outcome.

• Approved meeting minutes (PASS)
• Approved Findings of Fact PLN25-13 (5‑0)
• Approved Findings of Fact PLN25-14 (5‑0)
• Approved Findings of Fact PLN25-16 (5‑0)
• Considered variance PLN25-18; vote outcome not recorded

Planning & Zoning Commission

The Planning & Zoning Advisory Commission has not convened on November 17, 2025. Consequently, no decisions, discussions, or public hearings are planned for this date. The agenda contains only mission and vision statements and indicates that the meeting is cancelled.

Board of Adjustment & Appeals

The Board will consider three variance requests regarding property setbacks and home occupations. The body will also vote on the approval of findings of fact for two previous cases.

• PLN25-13: Request to reduce County right-of-way setback from 50 ft. to 14 ft. for replacement SSTS in Lake Prairie Township
• PLN25-14: Request to reduce property line setbacks for a training kennel from 100 ft. to 1.3 ft. and 36 ft. in Belgrade Township
• PLN25-16: Request for a Level 2 Home Occupation variance in the Conservancy Zoning District
• Approval of Findings of Fact for PLN 25-09 (Cordes) and PLN 25-10 (Annexstad)

The Board of Adjustment & Appeals approved three variance requests—PLN25-13 for Waldbaum Company, PLN25-14 for the Engel family, and PLN25-16 for Andrew Emich—with specified conditions. Each motion passed unanimously (4‑0 for the first two, 3‑0 for the third). The board also approved prior meeting minutes and a motion to adjourn failed.

• Approved PLN25-13 variance for Waldbaum Company (4-0)
• Approved PLN25-14 variance for Engel family (4-0)
• Approved PLN25-16 variance for Andrew Emich (3-0)
• Approved August 18, 2025 meeting minutes
• Approved September 15, 2025 meeting minutes
• Approved September 23, 2025 meeting minutes
• Motion to adjourn the meeting failed

Planning & Zoning Commission

The commission will review three requests for conditional use permits. These include proposals for a solar energy system, a dog training kennel, and a home occupation business.

• PLN25-12: Request for a 90-kWh ground-mounted solar energy system in Lake Prairie Township
• PLN25-15: Request for a dog training kennel in Belgrade Township
• PLN25-17: Request for a Level 2 Home Occupation in Nicollet Township

The Planning & Zoning Advisory Commission voted to recommend approval, with conditions, of three conditional‑use applications. The solar energy system (PLN25‑12) was approved 5‑0, the dog‑training kennel (PLN25‑15) was approved 5‑0, and the home‑occupation electrical contracting business (PLN25‑17) was approved 3‑0. All approvals were adopted with the listed conditions.

• Approved PLN25-12 solar energy conditional use permit (5‑0)
• Adopted findings of fact for PLN25-12 (5‑0)
• Approved PLN25-15 dog training kennel conditional use permit (5‑0)
• Adopted findings of fact for PLN25-15 (5‑0)
• Approved PLN25-17 electrical contracting home‑occupation conditional use permit (3‑0)

Board of Adjustment & Appeals

The Board of Adjustment & Appeals will hear a request to reduce the minimum lot size from 10 acres to 8.41 acres for a property in the Conservancy Zoning District. The applicant, Wade Cordes, is seeking the variance because the land became unbuildable after a portion was sold for a highway expansion.

• Public hearing for variance PLN25-09 to reduce lot size to 8.41 acres
• Public hearing for variance PLN25-10 to reduce lot size to 3.5 acres
• Hearing continued from September 15, 2025
• Applicant: Wade Cordes
• Applicant: Eric Annexstad

The Nicollet Board of Adjustment & Appeals denied variance request PLN25-10 to reduce the minimum lot size to 3.5 acres in the Conservancy Zoning District, voting 5‑0. No public testimony was presented. A motion to adjourn the meeting was not carried.

• Denied variance PLN25-10 (5-0 vote)
• Adjournment motion failed

Planning & Zoning Commission

The commission will hold a public hearing to consider a three‑year renewal of a Conditional Use Permit (PLN25-11) for a mineral extraction operation owned by the Kohn family and operated by M.R. Paving & Excavating. The request covers parcels 04.201.0205, 04.201.0100 and 04.201.0605 in Courtland Township and must meet Nicollet County Zoning Ordinance requirements. The commission will review bond amounts, compliance with the existing NPDES permit, and operating hour limits.

• Public hearing on PLN25-11: 3‑year renewal of conditional use permit for mineral extraction
• Bond required at $2,500 per acre for active and unreclaimed mining acres
• Performance bond or irrevocable letter of credit must extend at least one year beyond permit expiration
• NPDES permit for the site issued May 19, 2023, valid through Dec 2, 2026
• Operating hours limited to 7 a.m.–7 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturdays

The Planning & Zoning Advisory Commission voted 7‑0 to recommend approval of a three‑year renewal conditional use permit for Adam Hoffmann’s mineral extraction operation, adding specific conditions. The commission also voted 7‑0 to adopt the findings of fact supporting the permit. The meeting was then adjourned.

• Recommended approval of 3‑year mineral extraction permit with conditions (vote 7‑0)
• Adopted findings of fact for the permit (vote 7‑0)
• Adjourned meeting (carried)

Board of Adjustment & Appeals

The Board of Adjustment & Appeals will continue its agenda in full to September 23, 2025. Two public hearings—PLN25-09 for Wade Cordes and PLN25-10 for Eric Annexstad—are being postponed to that date. The board will also approve the minutes from the August 18, 2025 meeting. No cancellations or additions were reported.

• Action to continue the agenda in its entirety to September 23, 2025
• Public hearing PLN25-09 continued: variance to reduce minimum lot size to 8.41 acres in the Conservancy Zoning District, SE ¼ of NW ¼ of Section 35-110-30, Courtland Township, Parcel 04.035.0500
• Public hearing PLN25-10 continued: variance to reduce minimum lot size to 3.5 acres in the Conservancy Zoning District, SE ¼ of NE ¼ of SE ¼ of Section 19-111-27, Lake Prairie Township, Parcel 07.019.1805
• Approval of minutes from the August 18, 2025 meeting
• No cancellations or additions listed

The Board did not take any formal action because the meeting notice was not published with sufficient time. All pending variance hearings were continued to September 23, 2025. The motion to adjourn the meeting was carried. No other business was addressed.

• Continued variance hearings (PLN25-09, PLN25-10) to September 23, 2025
• Motion to adjourn the meeting carried

Planning & Zoning Commission

The commission is taking action to continue the entire agenda to September 23, 2025. This includes a postponed public hearing regarding a mineral extraction operation.

• Continuation of public hearing PLN25-11 for a 3-year Conditional Use Permit renewal for a mineral extraction operation in Courtland Township (Applicant: Adam Hoffmann, M.R. Paving & Excavating, Inc.)

The commission did not take any formal action because the meeting notice was not published with sufficient time. All items, including a conditional use permit renewal request, were continued to the September 23, 2025 meeting. The meeting was adjourned after a motion to adjourn was carried.

• Adjourned meeting (motion carried)

MN River - Mankato Watershed: Policy Committee

The committee approved its agenda, financial report and invoices, and the June 9 minutes unanimously. It then voted unanimously to advance the plan to a 60‑day Formal Review (Sept 8‑Nov 7). A 9‑1 vote approved adding a dues‑percentage calculation to the draft Joint Powers Agreement, and the next meeting was scheduled for Dec 15 after the public hearing.

• Approved meeting agenda (unanimous)
• Approved financial report and four invoices for payment (unanimous)
• Approved June 9, 2025 meeting minutes (unanimous)
• Moved plan to 60‑day Formal Review (Sept 8‑Nov 7) (unanimous)
• Approved calculation of percentage dues in draft JPA (9‑1)
• Scheduled next Policy Committee meeting for Dec 15 after public hearing (unanimous)
• Adjourned meeting (unanimous)

Tri-County Solid Waste

The Joint Powers Board will discuss waste management plans, budget updates, and recycling coordination. The meeting includes reviews of spring collections and hazardous waste updates for multiple counties.

• Budget update as of 07/31/25
• Le Sueur, Sibley & Scott County HHW RUA for 2026
• Nicollet County 2025 wage adjustment review
• City of St. Peter Sustainability Task Force discussion
• Fall mobile collections review

The Tri‑County Solid Waste Board unanimously approved the May 21, 2025 meeting minutes and the current agenda. They also approved the current budget reports. The next regular quarterly meeting was scheduled for November 19, 2025, and the board adjourned.

• Approved May 21, 2025 meeting minutes (unanimous)
• Approved meeting agenda (unanimous)
• Approved current budget reports (unanimous)
• Scheduled next quarterly meeting for November 19, 2025 (unanimous)
• Adjourned meeting (unanimous)

Board of Adjustment & Appeals

The Board of Adjustment & Appeals will meet to approve the minutes and findings of fact from its July 21, 2025, meeting. The agenda consists primarily of procedural approvals and standard business items.

• Approval of findings of fact for PLN 25-05 (Manderfeld / City of New Ulm)
• Approval of findings of fact for PLN 25-07 (Nachreiner)
• Approval of July 21, 2025, meeting minutes

The Board of Adjustment & Appeals approved the meeting minutes with revisions. It also approved the Findings of Fact for PLN25-05 concerning the City of New Ulm. Other motions were noted but no outcomes were recorded in the minutes.

• Approved minutes with revisions (vote not recorded)
• Approved Findings of Fact PLN25-05, City of New Ulm (vote not recorded)
• Approved Findings of Fact PLN25-07, Nachreiner (vote not recorded)
• Adjourned meeting (vote not recorded)

Planning & Zoning Commission

The Nicollet County Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider a Conditional Use Permit for United Farmers Cooperative to construct a 107-foot grinding leg at their facility on Minnesota Highway 15.

• Public hearing for PLN25-08: grinding leg over 100 feet
• Conditional Use Permit request for United Farmers Cooperative
• Location: 577th Lane, Lafayette Township
• Review of July 21, 2025 Planning & Zoning minutes
• County Board action scheduled for August 26, 2025

The Planning & Zoning Advisory Commission held a public hearing on United Farmers Cooperative’s request to construct a 100‑foot grinding leg in the Limited Industry district. After staff presentation and discussion, the commission voted 4‑0 to recommend approval with conditions and also 4‑0 to adopt the related findings of fact, thereby approving the conditional use permit. The commission also approved the prior meeting minutes and adjourned the session.

• Approved July 21, 2025 minutes (vote passed)
• Recommended approval of UFC conditional use permit with conditions (vote 4-0)
• Adopted findings of fact for the permit (vote 4-0)
• Adjourned meeting (motion carried)

Board of Adjustment & Appeals

The Board of Adjustment & Appeals approved the June 16, 2025 meeting minutes. It then approved variance PLN25-05 for Kris Manderfeld’s accessory structure in the Floodplain Zoning District, adding five conditions, with a 5‑0 vote. Finally, it approved variance PLN25-07 for Mike and Niki Nachreiner’s side‑yard and road right‑of‑way setback reductions, also with five conditions and a 5‑0 vote.

• Approved June 16, 2025 meeting minutes (unanimous)
• Approved variance PLN25-05 for accessory structure in Floodplain Zoning District with five conditions (5-0)
• Approved variance PLN25-07 for side‑yard and road right‑of‑way setback reductions with five conditions (5-0)
• Adjourned meeting (vote to adjourn)

Planning & Zoning Commission

The Planning & Zoning Advisory Commission approved the minutes from the June 16, 2025 meeting. It then approved, with conditions, a Conditional Use Permit (PLN25-06) for Kris Manderfeld to construct two public‑utility water wells, adopting the accompanying findings of fact. The commission also voted to adjourn the meeting.

• Approved June 16, 2025 meeting minutes
• Approved Conditional Use Permit for two water wells with conditions (6‑0)
• Adopted findings of fact for the conditional use permit
• Adjourned meeting

Board of Adjustment & Appeals

The Board of Adjustment & Appeals did not approve the meeting minutes, recording a failed vote. The motion to approve Findings of Fact (PLN25-03, Bruhler) was marked as FAIL with a 3‑0 vote tally. The motion to adjourn the meeting also failed.

• Minutes approval vote failed (vote outcome not listed)
• Findings of Fact (PLN25-03, Bruhler) marked FAIL, vote 3-0
• Adjournment motion failed (vote outcome not listed)

Planning & Zoning Commission

The commission voted 4‑0 to amend condition 7 of the Conditional Use Permit to allow storage of recreational camping vehicles. It then recommended approval of the permit with a list of conditions, also by a 4‑0 vote. The findings of fact supporting the permit were adopted with a 4‑0 vote, and the meeting minutes were approved 4‑0.

• Amended condition 7 to include “or for the storage of recreational camping vehicles” (4-0)
• Recommended approval of the conditional use permit with conditions (4-0)
• Adopted findings of fact for the permit (4-0)
• Approved meeting minutes (4-0)
• Adjourned the meeting (4-0)

MN River - Mankato Watershed: Policy Committee

The Policy Committee approved the May 12 meeting minutes and the financial report with invoice unanimously. Members voted 7‑2 to form a joint powers collaborative agreement and then unanimously designated the Nicollet Soil & Water Conservation District as the collaboration’s administrator and fiscal agent. The meeting was adjourned unanimously.

• Approved May 12 meeting minutes (unanimous)
• Approved financial report and invoice for payment (unanimous)
• Formed joint powers collaborative agreement (vote 7-2)
• Designated Nicollet SWCD as administrator and fiscal agent (unanimous)
• Adjourned meeting (unanimous)

Tri-County Solid Waste

The Tri‑County Solid Waste Board unanimously approved the February 19, 2025 meeting minutes and the meeting agenda. The board also approved the current budget activity and expense reports. Commissioners voted to approve a two‑year extension of the rural recycling agreement with Waste Management. All other items were informational and no further actions were taken.

• Approved February 19, 2025 meeting minutes (unanimous)
• Approved meeting agenda (unanimous)
• Approved current budget activity and expense reports (unanimous)
• Approved two‑year extension of rural recycling agreement (unanimous)
• Adopted motion to adjourn the meeting (unanimous)

Board of Adjustment & Appeals

The board approved the meeting minutes with a 5‑0 vote. It also approved a variance to reduce the side‑yard setback to 0 feet between two parcels at 37697 Valley View Road, applying only to the shared property line of Lots 1 and 2, Block 4, with several conditions. The meeting was adjourned with a 5‑0 vote.

• Approved meeting minutes (5-0)
• Approved side‑yard setback variance for Bruihler property with conditions (5-0)
• Adjourned meeting (5-0)

Planning & Zoning Commission

The Planning & Zoning Advisory Commission voted 7‑0 to recommend approval of a Conditional Use Permit for a stable at 39246 561st Avenue, New Ulm, subject to specific conditions. The commission also adopted the findings of fact for the application by a 7‑0 vote. Minutes from the January 28, 2025 meeting were approved and the session was adjourned.

• Recommended approval of Conditional Use Permit for stable at 39246 561st Ave, New Ulm, with conditions (7-0)
• Adopted findings of fact for the application (7-0)
• Approved January 28, 2025 meeting minutes
• Adjourned meeting (7-0)

MN River - Mankato Watershed: Policy Committee

The Policy Committee approved the meeting agenda and the corrected April 14, 2025 minutes, each by a 6‑0 vote. It also approved the financials and two invoices with a 6‑0 vote. A motion to proceed to internal review of Plan Section 5, pending Steering Team sign‑off, passed unanimously (7‑0). The meeting was adjourned by a 7‑0 vote.

• Approve agenda (6-0)
• Approve corrected April 14, 2025 minutes (6-0)
• Approve financials and invoices (6-0)
• Proceed to internal review of Plan Section 5 pending Steering Team sign‑off (7-0)
• Adjourn meeting (7-0)

MN River - Mankato Watershed: Policy Committee

The committee approved the agenda and the February 10, 2025 meeting minutes by a 7‑0 vote. It also approved the financial statements by a 7‑0 vote. The December public hearing date was changed from the 8th to the 15th. A motion to move Section 4 forward as a working draft passed unanimously (7‑0).

• Approved agenda and February 10, 2025 minutes (7-0)
• Approved financial statements (7-0)
• Revised December public hearing date to the 15th
• Moved Section 4 forward as a working draft (7-0)
• Adjourned the meeting (7-0)