Rock County Commissioners meet Dec. 17
Rock County Board of Commisioners December 17, 2024
Rock County Law Enforcement Center/Training Room 3:30 P.M.
Chair Burger called the meeting to order with Commissioners Reisch, Williamson and Thompson present; Commissioner Overgaard was absent. Also in attendance were Administrator Kyle Oldre, Deputy Administrator Susan Skattum, County Attorney Jeff Haubrich, Sioux Valley Energy Representative Brandon Lane and Star-Herald Reporter Mavis Fodness.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.
Motion by Thompson, seconded by Reisch, to approve the December 17, 2024, County Board agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Williamson, to approve the December 03, 2024, County Board minutes, declared carried on a voice vote.
Evan Verbrugge, Sheriff, presented a contract for jail services with Nobles County. The current contract reflects a price of $65/day/inmate; the new contract reflects a price of $75/day/inmate, $150/day for inmates with special needs. On a recommendation from the Sheriff, motion by Reisch, seconded by Thompson, to approve contract for jail services with an effective date of January 1, 2025, declared carried on a voice vote.
Mark Sehr, Engineer, informed the County Board that the roof on the E.A. Brown building needs roof repairs; the repair estimate is $25,717.60 from Sasker Construction LLC. Motion by Burger, seconded by Reisch, to authorize the roof repairs, declared carried on a voice vote. The Engineer stated that the expenditure will be paid from Shop Maintenance funds.
The Engineer informed the County Board of rate increases for tipping fees at the Lyon County Regional Landfill; the Engineer requested to modify the Rock County municipal solid waste (MSW) tipping fee to $103/ton, a $7/ton increase. Motion by Reisch, seconded by Williamson, to approve the tipping fee increase for MSW materials to $103/ton, effective February 1, 2025, declared carried on a voice vote.
Ryan Smith, Schneider Geospatial Senior Account Executive, presented an update on an software application entitled Beacon, a web-based property information portal featuring land assessment, taxation, CAMA and digital map data utilizing existing real estate and GIS datasets. The proposed 3-year contract would be $25,130 (setup & hosting), and hosting expenses of $14,204 (2026) and $14,914 (2027); Land Records Director Rachel Jacobs stated that the Compliance Fund would fund the set up costs; the hosting expenditure would come from departments of Land Records, Land Management, Sheriff and Highway. Jacobs also stated that subscription fees to end users would assist in recouping the hosting fees. After discussion, motion by Thompson, seconded by Reisch, to approve the 3-year contract with Schneider Geospatial, declared carried on a voice vote.
Ashley Kurtz, Auditor/Treasurer and Rachel Jacobs, Land Records Director, presented a tax abatement on parcels 20-2144-000 and 20-2138-000, Prairie Lofts/Greensmith Apartments located in the City of Luverne. The abatement will correct the value of each property in accordance with an assessment agreement stating the assessed value shall be not be less than $8,000,000 in aggregate, and not less than $4,000,000 for each of the apartment facility and the workforce housing facility for taxes payable in 2024. The abatement corrects the assessed value and increases the taxable market value and additional taxes payable of $34,798.00 (20-2138-000) and $34,530.00 (20-2144-000). Upon review from the County Attorney, motion by Reisch, seconded by Thompson, to approve abatements on parcels 20-2144-000 and 20-2138, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Auditor/Treasurer presented the claims; motion by Burger, seconded by Reisch, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote. An itemized listing of all warrants over $2,000 and an aggregate total for warrants under $2,000 are published on the County website at the following address: www.co.rock.mn.us/department_directory/auditor_treasurer
Total Commissioner Warrants paid by Fund:
General Revenue Fund $298,127.18
Public Works Fund $213,112.38
Library Fund $6,413.04
Land Management Fund $8,587.88
The County Board was in receipt of Auditor warrant listings for 12/06/2024 and 12/13/2024; motion by Williamson, seconded by Thompson, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
The County Board was in receipt of the Fund Balance report as of 12/17/2024 that reflects the second half of settlement; motion by Burger, seconded by Reisch, to approve the Fund Balance report, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Thompson, seconded by Williamson, to authorize the Auditor/Treasurer to pay year end claims on December 31, 2024, declared carried on a voice vote.
The County Board was in receipt of a Statement of Work from CliftonLarsonAllan LLP for the 2024 audit; the single audit cost will be $58,000. Motion by Thompson, seconded by Reisch, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Burger, seconded by Reisch, to authorize the Auditor/Treasurer to executive the 2024-25 Rock County Sno-Masters grant agreement, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Williamson, seconded by Thompson, to set the 2025 Commissioner’s salary at $25,961, a five-percent increase, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Burger, to set the 2025 County Attorney’s salary at $103,500, a five percent increase, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Burger, to set the 2025 County Sheriff’s salary at $128,400, a seven percent increase, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Administrator led a discussion regarding the adoption of the 2025 Budget with a proposed levy increase of 5.50-percent increase. After discussion, motion by Reisch, seconded by Burger, to approve the 2025 Budget at $7,462,412.00, reflecting a 5.50 levy increase, declared carried on a voice vote.
REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE TABLE
The County Board went into recess at 4:55 P.M.
Motion by Thompson, seconded by Williamson to open a Public Hearing at 5:03 P.M. for the purpose to allow public comment on a proposed Cannabis Ordinance. Those in attendance were: Tony Stevens, *Denis Hartman, *Tim Hartman, *Becky Kruger, Pam Kopp, Kurt Elbers, Keith Elbers, *Deon Carriere, Tyler Reisch, *Ann Orren, Josh Tuene, *Jennifer Wipf, and *Ben Hesselhoff. Individuals that gave public comment are identified with * symbol.
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Williamson to close the Pubic Hearing at 5:55 P.M., declared on a voice vote.
The County Board meeting resumed at 6:00 P.M.
Motion by Thompson, seconded by Burger to re-schedule a public hearing for a Rock Home Initiative Abatement request to January 07, 2025, at 9:00 A.M in the Rock County Law Enforcement Center at 1000 N. Blue Mound Ave, Luverne, MN 56156, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Thompson, to adopt the 2025 County Board meeting schedule, declared carried on a voice vote.
January 07 January 21
February 04 February 18
March 04 March 18
April 08 April 22
May 06 May 20
June 03 June 17
July 08 July 22
August 05 August 19
September 02 September 16
October 07 October 21
November 04 November 18
December 02 December 16
The County Board was in receipt of Resolution No. 17-24, Title and Summary of a Rock County Ordinance Regulating Cannabis Businesses and Repeal and Amend the Use of Cannabis and Cannabis Derived Projects in Public Places. Siting minor grammar changes and adding language to address how registrations will be accepted, motion by Williamson, seconded by Reisch, to adopt Resolution No. 17-24 with an effective date of January 01, 2025, declared carried on a voice vote.
Commissioner Reisch attended the following meetings: Rock County Economic Development Authority, Southwest Minnesota Opportunity Council, Annual AMC Conference.
Commissioner Williamson attended the following meetings: Rural Water, Beaver Creek Council, Annual Township Association, Soil & Water Conservation District.
Commissioner Overgaard attended the following meetings: not present.
Commissioner Thompson attended the following meetings: no report.
Commissioner Burger attended the following meetings: Annual AMC Conference, Annual Township Association.
With no further business to come before the County Board, the meeting was adjourned by Order of the Chair.
(01-30)
