County joins joint powers watershed agreement

Two weeks after postponing a decision on whether or not Rock County should enter into a joint agreement for the Missouri River Watershed Partnership, commissioners unanimously signed the agreement Dec. 3.
Commissioners reviewed the agreement earlier this year before receiving the agreement back for formal adoption on Nov. 19.
Commissioners tabled voting Nov. 19, questioning who is financially responsible if the One Watershed One Plan advisory board would overspend its annual budget.
Rock County officials were concerned because counties are the only watershed plan members who have levy authority.
Rock County is the largest member in the watershed and would largely be fiscally responsible for any budget shortfalls.
Per Rock County’s direction at the Nov. 19 meeting, several additional clauses were added to the agreement before commissioners signed Dec. 3.
“We built as many out clauses and protections as I think we can into it,” said Rock County attorney Jeff Haubrich.
Haubrich and County Administrator Kyle Oldre worked with the other members to strengthen two key areas: Powers and Duties of the Board, and the Right to Withdraw.
“We are not happy with previous joint powers agreements and we let others know that,” Oldre said.
Tightened was the vote of the 14-member advisory board and a two-thirds majority is necessary to adopt by-laws. Majority is based on membership and not based on the number of people at the meeting.
Also tightened was notice of withdrawal, which is six months but can be expedited with a majority vote, and funds are distributed accordingly.
“Whatever you put in comes back out,” Haubrich said.
 
$1.32 million coming
to the 1W1P agreement
The state Board of Water and Soil Resources encourages local SWCDs to develop a single water management plan by watersheds, replacing water plans developed by individual counties.
For more than two years, local officials have worked with representatives from Pipestone, Lincoln, Murray, Nobles and Jackson counties along with representatives from the six soil and water conservation districts and two watershed districts in developing a single water quality strategic plan.
The Missouri River Watershed Partnership strategic plan was finished earlier this year and, with a joint powers agreement in place, the partnership is expected to receive $1.32 million for water quality improvement projects.
Nobles County is fiscal host for the partnership. Funds are expected to be available for projects next year.
 
Tighter agreement
comes on heels of SPCC
Rock County is one of 12 counties involved in a Southern Prairie Community Care (SPCC) joint powers agreement. The SPCC will dissolve in 2020.
Because Rock County chose not to buy into another managed health care partnership with the other members, the by-laws stipulated Rock County would not receive a share of $3 million in SPCC reserves.
SPCC was an integrated health partnership to improve the delivery of health care services for member counties’ income eligible residents. SPCC became insolvent earlier this year.
Instead of joining another health care partnership with the other SPCC counties, Rock County chose to work directly with the state Department of Human Services for the 1,700 residents of medical assistance, general assistance medical care and MinnesotaCare. The state then assumes the liability for any insurance plan shortfalls instead of the health care partnership.