Watonwan County public meetings in 2022
8 substantive meetings from 2022, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Human Services Board Agendas & Minutes
The Board approved $16,826.86 in accounts receivable write-offs and authorized several 2023 grant and service agreements. Personnel actions included approving pay for performance for four employees and accepting two resignations. The Board also elected Dillon Melheim as 2023 Chair and Jim Pettersen as 2023 Vice Chair.
- Approved 2022 Accounts Receivables Write-Offs of $16,826.86 (Unanimous)
- Approved Pay for Performance for Paige Bearson, Terresa Davis, Janel Fawcett, and Gretchen Plombon (Unanimous)
- Approved permanent status for Anna Menssen (Unanimous)
- Approved resignations of Christina Rotert and Laura Curtis (Unanimous)
- Approved amendment to Policy 42 – Telecommute Policy (Unanimous)
- Approved 2023 Notice of Funds Available for MFIP/DWP with MN Valley Action Council for $105,586 (Unanimous)
- Approved 2023 Behavioral Health Division Grant Agreements for Child Welfare ($7,430) and Juvenile Justice ($1,858) (Unanimous)
- Reappointed Dr. Nicolas Castillo as Citizen’s Representative for a 36-month term (Unanimous)
County Board Agendas & Minutes
The Board approved the 2023 budget and a 3.5% increase in the property net tax levy. Other key actions included updating the county zoning ordinance and authorizing the purchase of a new transit bus and two crew cab trucks.
- Adopted 2023 budget and set Property Net Tax Levy at $11,245,132 (unanimous)
- Approved proposed amendments to the Watonwan County Zoning Ordinance (unanimous)
- Authorized purchase of one Class 400 transit bus from North Central Bus Sales for approx. $124,341.00 (unanimous)
- Approved purchase of two F350 crew cab trucks from Chuck Spaeth Ford at $49,950.00 per truck (3-2)
- Set 2023 Commissioner base salary at $23,700.30 (4-1)
- Approved Memorandum of Understanding for dispatcher retentive incentive payments (unanimous)
- Set 2023 HRA Levy at $107,500 (unanimous)
- Approved First Amendment to Purchase Agreement with NuWay-K&H Cooperative (unanimous)
Soil & Water Conservation District Agenda/Handouts & Minutes
The Board approved the purchase of a Truax broadcast seeder and a tree planter. They also authorized payments for several cost-share contracts related to grassed waterways and well decommissioning, and extended deadlines for three other contracts.
- Approved payment of bills totaling $51,067.02 (4-0)
- Approved supervisors per diem (4-0)
- Approved payment for seed/plant license (4-0)
- Approved purchase of Truax 8-foot seeder with attachments (4-0)
- Approved purchase of a tree planter (4-0)
- Approved payment of three cost-share contracts totaling $3,338.63 (4-0)
- Approved payment of four GBERBA cost-share contracts totaling $1,972.50 (4-0)
- Approved installation date extensions for contracts WBIF-WW-21-83-13, 20-01, and 20-02 (4-0)
County Board Agendas & Minutes
The Board approved several infrastructure payments, including a final payment to Knife River for road overlays. They accepted an emergency management grant and authorized multiple personnel appointments and pay increases. The meeting concluded with a Truth in Taxation Public Hearing regarding the 2023 proposed budget.
- Approved final payment of $1,164,597.75 to Knife River for CSAH 12 and 13 overlays
- Accepted 2022 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG)
- Approved $100,255.00 for MFIP/DWP administration and support services
- Approved $45,201.45 quote from Kris Engineering, Inc. for cutting edges
- Approved $10,657.64 plus maintenance for a CentralSquare dispatch station
- Approved $10,500 quote from ISG for survey and analysis on CD #1
- Approved purchase of tax-forfeited parcel at 923 5th Street North by City of St. James
- Approved 2023 landfill farmland lease with Rose Wendinger at $125/acre for 23 acres
Human Services Board Agendas & Minutes
The board appointed Amy Pluym as the new Human Services Director following the resignation of Naomi Ochsendorf. The board also approved several service contracts and monthly financial claims.
- Appointed Amy Pluym as Human Services Director (unanimous)
- Approved resignation of Director Naomi Ochsendorf (unanimous)
- Approved Pay for Performance for Katherine Petty and Nancy Trujillo Vite (unanimous)
- Approved probationary status of Douglas Kraus (unanimous)
- Approved $2,387.63 contract with MN Dept of Human Services for Adult Protective Services (unanimous)
- Approved SNAP Support and EFTS services funds with Minnesota Valley Action Council (unanimous)
- Approved Prairie Support Services contract for Guardianship Services (unanimous)
- Approved monthly financial claims and credit card payments totaling $320,000.00+ (unanimous)
County Board Agendas & Minutes
The Board approved acting as a fiscal agent for a $216,155 St. James sidewalk grant and accepted a donation of 10 AEDs for the Sheriff's Department. Other actions included approving a public safety dispatch MOU with Cottonwood County and adopting a Title VI Program Plan for transit services.
- Approved acting as fiscal agent/sponsor for City of St. James Active Transportation Grant (unanimous)
- Approved MOU with Cottonwood County for Public Safety Dispatch Duties (unanimous)
- Accepted donation of 10 Stryker LifePak AEDs from Helmsley Charitable Foundation (unanimous)
- Adopted Take Me There Transit Title VI Program Plan (unanimous)
- Approved $15,000 grant match for LiDAR mapping if funded (unanimous)
- Approved final payments to Knife River for road overlays totaling $137,814.19 (unanimous)
- Accepted 2021 Emergency Management Performance Grant (unanimous)
- Approved reclassifying Dispatch Supervisor and Detention Administrator positions (unanimous)
Soil & Water Conservation District Agenda/Handouts & Minutes
The Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of a 5’ seeder & cultipacker and Trimble Business Center software. The board also approved a grant agreement amendment for the 2020/2021 SWCD Programs & Operations grant and authorized $3,731.24 in bill payments.
- Approved payment of bills totaling $3,731.24 (4-0)
- Approved purchase of Trimble Business Center (4-0)
- Approved purchase of a 5’ seeder & cultipacker (4-0)
- Approved grant agreement amendment for 2020/2021 SWCD Programs & Operations grant (4-0)
- Approved payment for one night of lodging and meals for MASWCD Outstanding Conservationist (4-0)
- Approved moving the December meeting date to December 19, 2022 (4-0)
- Approved November 8, 2022 amended agenda (4-0)
- Approved October 11, 2022 meeting minutes (4-0)
County Board Agendas & Minutes
The Board approved the purchase of 11 Motorola radios using ARPA funds and authorized the public sale of tax-forfeited land parcels. Other actions included approving road patching, the purchase of three pickup trucks, and several personnel appointments.
- Approved $99,429.00 for 11 Motorola radios and programming using ARPA funds (unanimous)
- Approved $1,260.00 Uline quote for an adjustable height Dispatch desk (unanimous)
- Approved $13,816.00 Nielson Blacktopping quote for patching on CSAH 26 and CSAH 13 (unanimous)
- Approved purchasing three pickups up to $130,000.00 from State bid (unanimous)
- Approved public sale of tax-forfeited land parcels in Darfur, Madelia, and St. James (unanimous)
- Approved payment of bills for General, Solid Waste, Agency, and Road and Bridge funds (unanimous)
- Approved promotion of Melissa Haseman to Assistant Library Director (unanimous)
- Appointed Sarah Jones as Dispatcher, pending background check (unanimous)