Cottonwood County public meetings in 2023
9 substantive meetings from 2023, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
County Commissioners
The Board certified the 2024 tax levy and approved construction bids for a new Public Works building. Other actions included rescinding elected official salary increases and authorizing the purchase of a plow truck.
- Approved 2024 tax levy of $12,802,550 (unanimous)
- Approved $12,662,190.29 starting budget and construction bids for new Public Works building (unanimous)
- Rescinded 2024 salary increases for County Attorney, Sheriff, Auditor/Treasurer, and Recorder (unanimous)
- Approved bid up to $53,000 for 2008 Sterling L8500 Plow Truck (4-1)
- Approved sale of 1990 International truck on Minnbid (unanimous)
- Hired Wayne Turbes as full-time Heavy Equipment Operator (unanimous)
- Endorsed letter regarding agricultural land time trends (unanimous)
- Approved December warrants totaling $267,842.73 (unanimous)
County Commissioners
The Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution for General Obligation Capital Improvement Plan Bonds not to exceed $13,000,000. The board also set 2024 salaries for commissioners and several elected officials and hired four new jail/dispatch staff members.
- Preliminary approval for General Obligation Capital Improvement Plan Bonds up to $13,000,000 (unanimous)
- Approved 2024/2025 IV-D Child Support Cooperative Agreement (unanimous)
- Adopted Detour Agreement with Kraemer North America, LLC (unanimous)
- Approved $52,729.56 final payment to Knife River for six projects (unanimous)
- Hired Kyle Hansen, Chelsey Sargent, Destiny Olson, and Anthony Fauglid as Jail/Dispatchers (unanimous)
- Set 2024 Commissioner salary at $23,000 plus $1,200 for Chair (unanimous)
- Set 2024 salary for Donna Torkelson at $98,410 (4-1)
- Approved December warrants totaling $147,157.23 (unanimous)
County Commissioners
The board approved final payments for pavement marking and bridge replacement projects totaling over $1.5 million. They also authorized the purchase of tasers, poll pads, and permitting software. The board adopted an updated Emergency Operation Plan and approved an EAW for the Minnesota Paving and Materials Project.
- Approved $823,396.44 final payment to Sir Lines-A-Lot, LLC for pavement marking and rumble strips (unanimous)
- Approved $755,415.60 final payment to John Riley Construction for County Road 3 bridge replacement (unanimous)
- Approved $51,580 purchase of 23 poll pads from KNOWiNK, LLC (unanimous)
- Approved $33,788.20 purchase of seven Taser 10s from Axon Enterprise (unanimous)
- Approved $10,100 purchase of Cloudpermit software (unanimous)
- Adopted resolution 23-11-21 to update the Emergency Operation Plan (unanimous)
- Approved resolution 23-11-21A to proceed with EAW on Minnesota Paving and Materials Project (3-2)
- Approved Wetland Conservation Act applications for City of Windom and HYTTA Lands, LLC (unanimous)
Work Session
The Board approved a design contract for Bridge #17514 and authorized the Auditor/Treasurer to sign a service agreement for GASB75 reports. Commissioners also extended a project deadline and changed the approval process for online auction purchases.
- Approved Nyhart Service Agreement for FY23 and FY24 GASB75 actuarial updates (unanimous)
- Approved $56,970 Stonebrooke Master Client Agreement Work Order for Bridge #17514 design services (unanimous)
- Authorized County Engineer to hire a Geotechnical consultant for Bridge #17514 (unanimous)
- Extended Minnesota Paving and Materials Project EAW decision deadline to December 8, 2023 (unanimous)
- Decided Board Chair and Vice-Chair will approve online auction equipment purchases not previously approved by the board (unanimous)
County Commissioners
The Board of Commissioners approved a Cannabis Oriented Business and Use Ordinance and authorized the purchase of an electric pickup truck via a multi-county grant. The board also approved a $20,000 contribution to SMAMHC and authorized bidding for a new Public Works Building.
- Approved Cannabis Oriented Business and Use Ordinance (unanimous)
- Approved $20,000 contribution to SMAMHC pending participation of 18 counties (unanimous)
- Approved purchase of electric pickup for $16,000 county cost via grant (unanimous)
- Approved advertising for bids for new Public Works Building (unanimous)
- Approved Conditional Use Permit for Davin Amara for RV Port, container, and shed (unanimous)
- Approved Agreement for CSAH 26 designation between Cottonwood and Jackson Counties (unanimous)
- Adopted resolution for public hearing on 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan bonds (unanimous)
- Approved 3% COLA for 2024 for warranted non-union non-elected employees (unanimous)
County Commissioners
The Board approved several infrastructure resolutions, snow removal agreements, and a $16,938 health board contract. They also authorized a one-time $750 appropriation for three local food shelves and appointed a new County Assessor.
- Approved FY2024 and FY2025 BWSR Natural Resources Block Grant agreements (unanimous)
- Approved 2024 contract with Brown-Nicollet Community Health Board for $16,938 (unanimous)
- Adopted sponsorship resolutions for road projects in Jeffers and Westbrook (unanimous)
- Approved 2023-2024 snow removal agreements for Jeffers, Westbrook, Mountain Lake, and Lakeside Township (unanimous)
- Approved $27,814.13 final payment to Towne & Country Excavating, LLC (unanimous)
- Approved one-time $750 appropriation to each of three county food shelves (unanimous)
- Appointed David Grev as County Assessor effective Nov 11, 2023, at $39.67 per hour (unanimous)
- Approved office space lease with Windom Area Health from Nov 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024 (unanimous)
County Commissioners
The Board approved several resolutions for road improvement grants and authorized new seasonal camping rates. They granted two conditional use permits for shoreland construction and approved the purchase of a $26,001.40 tractor for courthouse grounds.
- Increased seasonal camping rates to $1,350 for regular and $1,550 for premium sites (Unanimous)
- Approved resolutions 23-10-03, 23-10-03A, and 23-10-03B for Local Road Improvement Program grants (Unanimous)
- Approved resolution 23-10-03C for Minnesota Highway Freight Program funds (Unanimous)
- Authorized sale of three surplus pickups and miscellaneous items via minnbid (Unanimous)
- Approved $9,204.41 payment for 2024 SafeAssure Service Agreement (Unanimous)
- Approved shoreland conditional use permits for Katie Steen and Scott Kuecker (Unanimous)
- Approved $26,001.40 purchase of a tractor/mower/blower from C&B Operations, LLC (Unanimous)
- Authorized $4,000 in buffer funds for Long Lake Outlet Dike Repair project (Unanimous)
County Commissioners
The Board of Commissioners established a preliminary levy for 2024 and approved several public works expenditures, including snow plow equipment and water retention repairs. The board also updated personnel statuses and increased the health insurance single coverage cap.
- Set 2024 preliminary levy at $12,802,550 (unanimous)
- Approved $51,147 per unit price increase for TBEI snow plow trucks (unanimous)
- Approved $41,643 contract with R&G Construction for Area 2 water retention repair (unanimous)
- Increased health insurance single coverage cap to $900 effective 1/1/2024 (unanimous)
- Approved 2024 Blue Cross Blue Shield renewal (unanimous)
- Amended Gale Bondhus' retirement date to January 25, 2024 (4-1)
- Approved September warrants totaling $238,496.03 (unanimous)
- Moved Marsha Forsyth and Nick Anderson to permanent full-time status (unanimous)
County Commissioners
The Board approved a commercial property tax abatement for a hotel development project in the City of Mountain Lake. The board also reviewed proposed budgets for 2024.
- Approved resolution 23-09-12 for property tax abatements on parcel 22.525.0070 (unanimous)