Waseca County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Waseca County Board agenda takes up 2025 audit, opioid funds and Bethlehem Inn aid; Oct. 1 Planning Commission cancelled

Waseca County commissioners are scheduled to take up the 2025 audit, opioid settlement fund requests, and an appropriation of local homeless prevention aid to Bethlehem Inn at their Oct. 6 meeting, according to the posted agenda. None of those items has been decided in the record provided to this outlet: the summaries below come from agendas, and minutes have not yet been published. What follows is what the agendas list, not what happened.

Board of Commissioners, Oct. 6

The board meets at 8:30 a.m. in the East Annex Public Meeting Room, 300 North State Street, Waseca, MN 56093. The agenda lists presentations on road safety, the 2025 audit, and a Bethlehem Inn update, followed by action items:

• Resolution 2026-31, an amendment to the Transportation Sales & Use Tax project list
• An appropriation of Local Homeless Prevention Aid to Bethlehem Inn, along with an organizational update and an appropriation request from Sue McIntosh
• An Opioid Settlement Fund Request for Proposals
• Final acceptance of Contract No. 812604 and Contract No. 812603
• Approval of the 2025 audit, following a presentation by Amanda Mboga of Baker Tilly

Routine business includes approving minutes, bills, and riparian approvals, plus a tobacco retailer ordinance education item and a National 4-H Week proclamation.

A separate agenda entry for the same date and body lists a cannabis ordinance update, described as a review of changes to the UDC (unified development code) related to cannabis regulations. That entry otherwise contains only procedural items such as the call to order, the pledge, and adjournment.

No dollar amounts or vote tallies appear in the summaries provided.

Board of Adjustment, Oct. 1

The Board of Adjustment was scheduled to consider a variance request from Christopher Lenz and Tonya Wittman (PID 12.326.0540) to reduce the required front yard setback for an attached garage addition. As proposed, the garage would sit 11 feet closer than the required 50-foot setback at the northeast corner and 18 feet closer at the southeast corner.

The agenda also lists approval of the Sept. 3, 2026 meeting minutes and setting the next meeting date. The next regular meeting is listed as Nov. 5, 2026.

Planning Commission, Oct. 1 — cancelled

The Planning Commission meeting scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Oct. 1 at the East Annex Public Meeting Room, 300 North State Street, Waseca, Minnesota, was cancelled. The agenda cites lack of business and lists a cancellation memo. No items were scheduled for decision or discussion.

What the record does not show

These summaries are drawn from agendas. Minutes for the Oct. 1 and Oct. 6 meetings have not been published in the material provided, so no outcome, vote count, or final dollar figure can be reported here. Missing information does not establish that an item was dropped or that a meeting did not occur.

Coming up

The data provided lists no upcoming meetings in the next 14 days. The Board of Adjustment's next regular meeting is listed as Nov. 5, 2026, which falls outside that window.

Waseca County Board reviews mining permit, security grant, and 2027 budgets

The Waseca County Board of Commissioners met Aug. 18 to consider a conditional use permit renewal for aggregate mining, a courthouse security grant application, and a MnDOT agreement. The board also reviewed proposed 2027 budgets for public health and facilities. No final decisions were recorded; minutes have not yet been published.

County board actions considered

The board’s agenda included Resolution 2026-27, a MnDOT agreement (No. 1063776), and Resolution 2026-28, a courthouse security grant application. A public hearing was held on the renewal of a conditional use permit for aggregate mining on PID 08.010.1200. The consent agenda included approval of bills, solid waste licenses, and a fund transfer for Road & Bridge. These items were listed for action, but the outcome is not yet available.

2027 budget reviews

In a separate meeting the same day, the board reviewed proposed 2027 budgets for public health and facilities. The agenda lists these as review and discussion items only, with no decisions scheduled.

EDA meeting

On Aug. 19, the Waseca County Economic Development Authority met to approve its agenda and minutes, receive updates on economic development activities, and discuss a cannabis ordinance update. The meeting also included recognition of the winner of the City of Janesville EDA Business Challenge and a City of Waseca economic development update. The cannabis ordinance discussion was the only substantive item; the rest was procedural.

Coming up

The county board will meet again Aug. 25 to review proposed 2027 budgets for Community Corrections, Property and Election Services, and Land and Water Resources. These are review items, not final approvals, and no specific dollar amounts are listed on the agenda.

Waseca County Board to weigh fee changes, cannabis permit, bridge work

The Waseca County Board of Commissioners will consider several items this week, including an updated county fee schedule, a conditional use permit for cannabis cultivation, and replacement of two bridges. No decisions have been made yet; the meetings are scheduled and minutes have not been published.

County Board meeting — Aug. 4

The board will hold three public hearings at its regular meeting:

• An amendment to the Waseca County Fee Schedule, tied to Resolution 2026-24.
• A request for a Cannabis Cultivation Conditional Use Permit on PID 03.036.0120.
• A zoning map change for PID 12.007.0500 from Urban Expansion District to A-1 Agricultural Protection District.

The board will also consider Contract No. 812609 for replacement of Bridge 88497 and Bridge 2585, and authorization to pursue sale of surplus land surrounding the Solid Waste Facility.

Budget work session — Aug. 4

Also on Aug. 4, the board holds a budget work session to review proposed 2027 budgets for the Sheriff's Office and Information Technology. This is a discussion-only session; no decisions are scheduled.

Board of Adjustment — Aug. 6

The Board of Adjustment will hold a public hearing on a variance request to allow a 44-foot front yard setback instead of the required 75 feet for a detached garage. The board will also approve minutes from its July 9 meeting and set its next meeting date (scheduled for Sept. 3).

Planning Commission — Aug. 6

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on renewal of a Conditional Use Permit for aggregate materials mining. The commission will also hold a discussion regarding cannabis.

Coming up

No meetings are scheduled in the next 14 days beyond those listed above. Check the county's official meeting calendar for updates.

Waseca County boards weighed budgets, variances, and cannabis permit; minutes still pending

County Board considered 2026 First Half Appropriations and culvert contract

On July 7, the Waseca County Board of Commissioners had several action items on its agenda, including the 2026 First Half Appropriations and Resolution 2026-23, a Public Works Transfer of Funds Request. The board was also scheduled to consider Contract No. 812608 for the CR 73 culvert replacement, a FY2027 Treatment Court Cooperative Agreement, and amendments to the Waseca County Community Corrections Advisory Board Bylaws.

Minutes for this meeting have not yet been published, so outcomes and any vote tallies are not yet available in the record.

Separate work session reviewed bond market

Also on July 7, the board held a work session on current bond market conditions and financing options, with a review provided by Bruce Kimmel of Ehlers. No minutes have been published for this session.

Board of Adjustment heard three variance requests

On July 9, the Waseca County Board of Adjustment held public hearings on three variance requests:

• Mark Gallea and Marcella Felix-Gallea requested a 50 ft accessory structure setback in the Shoreland Overlay and Limited Residential District.
• Jay and Susan Larvick requested side yard setbacks and a 2% increase over the 25% impervious surface coverage for an attached garage.
• Nicholas and Lily Zell requested a 10 ft reduction of the required 20 ft side yard setback for a new residential dwelling.

The board was also scheduled to review Findings of Fact regarding a denial for Calonett Venue LLC. Minutes have not been published, so decisions are not yet confirmed in the record.

Planning Commission considered cannabis cultivation permit and zoning change

On July 9, the Waseca County Planning Commission considered two items:

• A zoning map amendment to change PID 12.007.0500 from UE Urban Expansion to A-1 Agricultural Protection District.
• A conditional use permit request by Elijah Gist to engage in cannabis cultivation on a portion of parcel 02.036.0120.

Minutes have not been published, so outcomes are not yet available.

July 15 Planning Commission meeting canceled

The Waseca County Planning Commission meeting scheduled for July 15 was canceled. No business was conducted.

Coming up

On July 21, the Waseca County Board of Commissioners will review the solid waste fee and discuss the proposed 2027 Public Works budget under the Public Works Budget agenda item.

Also on July 21, the board is scheduled to consider:

• Approval of the Workforce Development Center Construction Bid
• Contract No. SW812601 Award for the Re-Use Building
• Opioid Settlement Grant Approval
• A contract for Architectural & Engineering Services for Roof Replacement
• Setting a public hearing date for a Cannabis Business License fee schedule update

Residents interested in county construction projects, opioid settlement spending, or cannabis licensing fees may want to attend or follow the July 21 meeting.