The Boring PartsFederalLocal · USLocal · Canada
Cottonwood County, Minnesota

Cottonwood County public meetings in 2025

25 substantive meetings from 2025, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.

Tue Dec 16, 2025

County Commissioners

Cottonwood County to finalize 2026 budget and certify tax levy

The Board of Commissioners will certify the 2026 levy and finalize the 2026 budget. The meeting includes decisions on landfill lease addendums, road project bids, and 2026 commissioner compensation.

budgettaxesroadslandfillgovernment-administration
✓ Decided: Cottonwood County certifies 2026 levy at $14,520,653

The Board of Commissioners certified the 2026 levy and set the annual revenues and expenditures at $31,365,134. The board also approved several infrastructure contracts and a collateral agreement for ElevaCare.

Tue Dec 2, 2025

County Commissioners

Commissioners to review 2026 salaries for elected positions

The Cottonwood County Board of Commissioners will meet to discuss fuel bids and opioid settlement applications. The board will also consider an AI policy and the 2026 salaries for the Sheriff, Attorney, Auditor/Treasurer, and Recorder.

budgetsalariespublic-workshealthpolicy
✓ Decided: Commissioners approve opioid settlement grants and 2026 official salaries

The board approved eight grants from opioid settlement funding totaling $113,960 for treatment and recovery services. The board also set 2026 salaries for the Sheriff, County Attorney, Auditor/Treasurer, and Recorder. Additionally, a three-year fuel contract was awarded to Staples Oil Company, Inc.

Tue Nov 18, 2025

County Commissioners

Commissioners to review land acquisitions and landfill monitoring

The Cottonwood County Board of Commissioners will discuss land and easement acquisitions with US Fish & Wildlife. The board will also review RFQ results for landfill environmental monitoring and a project for the City of Jeffers.

land-acquisitionenvironmentwaste-managementinfrastructurepersonnel-policy
✓ Decided: County approves $66,910 landfill monitoring contract and road funding sponsorship

The Board approved a contract for landfill analytical laboratory services and sponsored a road reconstruction application for the City of Jeffers. The board also certified two land acquisitions for wildlife conservation and approved November warrants totaling $208,725.16.

Tue Nov 4, 2025

County Commissioners

Cottonwood County Board to review land use permits and tax forfeiture property

The Board of Commissioners will consider a conditional use permit for Pautzke and discuss AIS weed harvester grants. The meeting includes reviews of tax forfeiture property and the Area II JPA approval.

zoninggrantstaxesadministrationland-use
✓ Decided: Cottonwood County Board approves grants, zoning permit, and nuclear moratorium repeal

The Board approved AIS grants for weed harvesters in Mountain Lake and Bingham Lake and a conditional use permit for a machine shed. Other actions included setting a minimum bid for a tax forfeiture property and adopting a resolution urging the repeal of Minnesota's nuclear energy moratorium.

Tue Oct 21, 2025

County Commissioners

Commissioners to review 2026 pay matrix and bridge grant agreement

The Cottonwood County Board of Commissioners will meet to discuss personnel pay and infrastructure grants. The agenda includes reviews of ditch continuation hearings and equipment purchasing for 2027.

infrastructurebudgetpersonnelgovernment-policypublic-works
✓ Decided: County approves $677K bridge grant and purchase of two plow trucks

The Board of Commissioners approved a $617,841.70 grant for bridge replacements and the 2027 purchase of two plow trucks. Other actions included approving a jail kitchen remodel and a draft AI policy for public comment.

Tue Oct 7, 2025

County Commissioners

Commissioners to review 10-year highway improvement plan

The Cottonwood County Board of Commissioners will meet to discuss regional infrastructure and personnel changes. The agenda includes a presentation from MnDOT on a long-term highway plan and several ditch continuation hearings.

roadsinfrastructurezoningpersonnelhealth-insurance
✓ Decided: County awards $1.8M bridge project contract to Towne & Country Excavating

The Board approved a low bid for three bridge projects and authorized a conditional use permit for a shoreland garage. The Board also updated 2026 health insurance caps and contributions and processed several personnel changes. The Ditch Authority directed staff to prepare findings for redetermination of benefits for eight ditches.

Tue Sep 23, 2025

County Commissioners

Cottonwood County Commissioners to discuss 2026 budget and preliminary levy

The Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting to discuss the 2026 budget and set the 2026 preliminary levy. The board will also discuss bridge utilities.

budgettaxesinfrastructurecounty-government
✓ Decided: Cottonwood County sets preliminary 2026 levy at $14,520,653

The Board of Commissioners established the preliminary 2026 levy and updated health insurance contributions and caps. The board also approved a contract for courthouse blinds and hired a new Assistant County Attorney.

Tue Sep 16, 2025

County Commissioners

Cottonwood County Commissioners to discuss 2026 budget and preliminary levy

The Board of Commissioners will discuss the 2026 budget and set the preliminary levy. The meeting includes reviews of law enforcement contracts and bridge project authorizations.

budgettaxeslaw-enforcementinfrastructurecontracts
✓ Decided: Cottonwood County approves landfill equipment and law enforcement contract

The Board approved a law enforcement services contract for the City of Westbrook and the purchase of a Bobcat utility machine for the landfill. The board also authorized bidding for bridge replacements and approved several project payments and contracts.

Tue Sep 9, 2025

Work Session

Cottonwood County Board to discuss 2026 proposed budget

The Cottonwood County Board of Commissioners will hold a work session to review the proposed budget for 2026. The board will also discuss updates regarding county buildings.

budgetcounty-buildingsfinance
✓ Decided: Board authorizes security event investigation contract with Crowe, LLP

The Board authorized a Letter of Engagement with Crowe, LLP for security event forensic investigation. Commissioners reached a consensus on the signing authority for Public Works invoices. The proposed 2026 budget was distributed for review.

Tue Sep 2, 2025

County Commissioners

Commissioners to discuss 2026 budget and opioid settlement funding

The Cottonwood County Board of Commissioners will meet to discuss the 2026 budget and an Opioid Settlement RFP. The agenda also includes reviews of grant applications and a DNR agreement.

budgetgrantspublic-workspublic-healthzoning
✓ Decided: Commissioners approve opioid settlement RFP and transfer horse barn to Ag Society

The Board approved an Opioid Settlement Request for Proposal to fund substance misuse projects and transferred a county-owned horse barn to the Cottonwood County Ag Society. Other actions included approving grant applications and the installation of a DNR observation well. The board also reached a consensus to stop using AIS grant funds for billboards.

Tue Aug 19, 2025

County Commissioners

Cottonwood County to hold public hearing on tax abatement for Preferred Choice Homes

The Cottonwood County Board of Commissioners will meet to discuss budget requests and registration fees. The meeting includes a public hearing regarding a tax abatement for Preferred Choice Homes.

tax-abatementbudgetcannabispersonnelpublic-hearing
✓ Decided: Cottonwood County approves cannabis fees and $31,501 technology upgrade

The Board of Commissioners approved registration fees for cannabis and hemp retail, accepted a technology upgrade quote for DVHHS, and authorized the sale of a county building. The board also approved a residential property tax abatement and a new social media policy.

Tue Aug 5, 2025

County Commissioners

✓ Decided: Cottonwood County Board approves land acquisition and joins correctional healthcare lawsuit

The Board approved the acquisition of 10.56 acres of tax forfeited land and voted to join a lawsuit against the State of Minnesota regarding correctional facility medications. Other actions included appointing an interim county engineer and approving August warrants totaling $212,937.60.

Mon Aug 4, 2025

Work Session

✓ Decided: Cottonwood County Board of Commissioners reviews departmental budgets

The Board of Commissioners held a work session to review budgets for various county departments and buildings. The County Assessor, Sheriff, Jail Administrator, and Emergency Management Director attended to answer questions. No formal votes or decisions were recorded.

Tue Jul 22, 2025

County Commissioners

✓ Decided: County approves business subsidy policy and hotel project in Mountain Lake

The Board adopted a new Business Subsidy Policy and approved a subsidy for a 42-unit hotel facility. The Board also awarded a road reconstruction contract to the lowest bidder. Other items discussed included the 2026 budget process and the search for an Interim County Engineer.

Tue Jul 15, 2025

County Commissioners

✓ Decided: Board denies stay on mining expansion project for OMG Midwest

The Board adopted Resolution 25-07-15 to deny a request for a stay on the approved IUP for OMG Midwest d/b/a Minnesota Paving and Materials. The board also approved several personnel changes, vehicle purchases for Public Works, and July warrants.

Tue Jul 1, 2025

County Commissioners

✓ Decided: County approves $1.7M bridge project and $98K elevator upgrade

The Board of Commissioners approved a low bid for a bridge replacement on CSAH 15 and funded elevator repairs at the Law Enforcement Center. Other actions included adopting Opioid Advisory Committee by-laws and increasing rental rates for several county leases. A special meeting was scheduled for July 22 for a public hearing on the Business Subsidy Policy.

Mon Jun 23, 2025

County Commissioners

✓ Decided: Commissioners approve mining expansion permit for OMG Midwest in Delton Township

The Board of Commissioners approved an Interim Use Permit for OMG Midwest dba Minnesota Paving & Materials to expand mining, extraction, or excavation in Section 6 of Delton Township. The board also unanimously approved seven specific conditions for the permit, including a $10,000 bond.

Tue Jun 17, 2025

County Commissioners

✓ Decided: Cottonwood County approves 911 system upgrade and severe weather emergency declaration

The Board of Commissioners approved a cloud-based 911 system upgrade and declared a state of emergency for a June 2nd severe weather event. The board also approved June warrants totaling $184,440.82 and accepted the resignation of the County Engineer.

Tue Jun 17, 2025

County Board of Equalization

✓ Decided: Board reduces land values for two parcels and denies two other value appeals

The Board of Appeal and Equalization approved land value reductions for two parcels based on condition and usage re-evaluations. The board voted to make no changes to the values of two other parcels following owner questions regarding building and site values.

Tue Jun 3, 2025

County Commissioners

✓ Decided: Commissioners deny stay request for Sioux Rock Quarry Expansion Project

The Board denied a request to pause action on the Sioux Rock Quarry Expansion Project. They approved three interim use permits for hot mix plants and authorized federal aid for road resurfacing. A public hearing for a Mountain Lake hotel business subsidy was scheduled for July 1.

Tue May 20, 2025

County Commissioners

✓ Decided: Cottonwood County hires legal counsel for Sioux Rock Quarry appeal

The Board approved hiring a law firm for the Sioux Rock Quarry Expansion appeal and authorized over $511,000 in May warrants. Personnel actions included hiring two part-time jailers/dispatchers and updating the county procurement policy.

Tue May 6, 2025

County Commissioners

✓ Decided: County awards $5.39M pavement contract and approves cannabis ordinance

The Board awarded a low-bid pavement replacement contract to Duininck, Inc. and approved an amended ordinance regarding cannabis-oriented businesses. The Ditch Authority authorized grant applications and engineering for the String Lake Project. Other actions included property sales and the appointment of a County Attorney.

Tue Apr 15, 2025

County Commissioners

✓ Decided: County awards $744,484 courthouse window contract and hires new County Attorney

The Board approved a contract for courthouse window replacement and appointed a new County Attorney. They also distributed affordable housing funds and adopted findings for multiple ditch redeterminations.

Tue Apr 1, 2025

County Commissioners

✓ Decided: County approves bridge design and $677,784 water quality grant application

The Board approved a design proposal for Bridge 5990 and a reimbursement agreement with Union Pacific Railroad. Acting as the Ditch Authority, the board approved a grant application for a storage basin in the Cottonwood-Brown JD #24 system. Other actions included approving seasonal hires and a residential property tax abatement.

Tue Mar 18, 2025

County Commissioners

✓ Decided: Commissioners approve Public Works union contract and $165,398.50 in warrants

The Board approved a labor agreement for the Public Works Department and authorized several fund payments. Other actions included accepting an emergency management grant and scheduling a public hearing for a residential tax abatement.