Rock County Commissioners meet April 8
Rock County Board of Commissioners April 08, 2025
Training Room - Rock County Law Enforcement Center 9:00 A.M.
Chair Overgaard called the meeting to order with Commissioners Thompson, Williamson and Reisch present and Commissioner Burger absent. Also in attendance were Administrator Kyle Oldre, Deputy Administrator Susan Skattum, County Attorney Jeff Haubrich and Star-Herald Reporter Mavis Fodness.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those in attendance.
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Thompson, to approve the April 08, 2025, County Board agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Reisch, seconded by Williamson, to approve the March 18, 2025, County Board minutes, declared carried on a voice vote.
Motion by Williamson, seconded by Thompson, to approve the consent agenda, declared carried on a voice vote.
1. Resolution No. 05-25, Rock County SnoMasters Trail Agreement 2025
2. Resolution No. 06-25, Requesting Cost Share for Updating Rock County
Hazard Mitigation Grant
3. Liquor License – Luverne County Club $500.00
Evan Verbrugge, Sheriff, Jon Ramlo Community Corrections Director, and Devin Dreesen, Community Corrections Probation Officer, discussed sex offender monitoring and the requirements of public notification. Minnesota’s Community Notification Act went into effect on January 1, 1997 which requires individuals who have engaged in criminal sexual behaviors be assigned a risk level prior to their release from confinement of a correctional or treatment facility. Upon their release, they are required to register with local law enforcement agencies, who then forward the information to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension which maintains a database to be utilized by law enforcement agencies for information and investigation purposes. Individuals with Level 1 and Level 2 assessments are not subject to public notification as their information is not public information; Level 3 assessments requires broad public notification usually conducted through a public meeting. In 2024, there were 32 sex offender convictions in Rock and Nobles counties. After additional questions, the County Board thanked Verbrugge, Ramlo and Dreesen for their presentation.
Eric Hartman, Land Management Office Director presented information regarding Rock County’s demolition landfill; currently Rock County is awaiting a permit from MPCA to expand operations as the current site is close to end of life. The proposed expansion is projected to allow an additional 30 years of operation but the expansion will include challenges to include a bed liner and collection and disposal of leachate.
Hartman stated that seven out of the thirteen regional landfills are closing with Nobles County destined to become a regional hub for construction and demolition and municipal solid waste; Lyon County will continue with the collection of municipal solid waste only. Regional options will save Rock County the capitol outlay estimated at $4 million for the expansion, but will also initiate new transportation costs, capitol investments and additional staff. After considerable discussion, Hartman was directed to draft costs estimates on what a regional option would look like in comparison to the expansion of the existing demolition landfill.
Hartman presented (6) conditional use permits that are recommended for approval by the Planning & Zoning Board:
1. Central Specialties - placement and operation of a temporary hot mix asphalt plant within the Henning Construction pit in the NW 1/4 Section 13 of Vienna Township; motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard to approve with the conditions identified on the permit, declared carried on a voice vote.
2. Central Specialties - placement and operation of a temporary hot mix asphalt plant within the Henning Construction pit located in the E 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Section 23 of Denver Township; motion by Williamson, seconded by Thompson to approve with the conditions identified on the permit, declared carried on a voice vote.
3. Henning Construction - gravel extraction, stockpiling and recycling concrete and other aggregate resources located in the W ½ of SE ¼ of Section 35 in Mound Township; motion by Thompson, seconded by Williamson to approve with the conditions identified on the permit, declared carried on a voice vote.
4. Henning Construction - gravel extraction, stockpiling, aggregate screening and crushing located in the SW ¼ of the SW ¼ of Section 36 of Clinton Township; motion by Overgaard, seconded by Reisch to approve with the conditions identified on the permit, declared carried on a voice vote.
5. Henning Construction - gravel extraction, stockpiling, aggregate screening and crushing located in the E ½ of Section 12 of Vienna Township; motion by Williamson, seconded by Thompson to approve with the conditions identified on the permit, declared carried on a voice vote.
6. Silas Top Feedlot Expansion - expansion and operation of existing feedlot in the SE ¼ of Section 15 of Denver Township. The expansion will be 1700 animal units after the expansion, thus subject to state permitting compliance. Motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard, to approve the feedlot expansion, declared carried on a voice vote.
Mark Sehr, Engineer, requested to bid let (2) projects for May 5th at 11:00 A.M.:
CP 067-401-029, the 2025 bituminous crack route and seal;
SAP 067-030-018, the 2025 seal coat project
Motion by Williamson, seconded by Reisch, to approve the bid letting for both projects, declared carried on a voice vote.
Sehr informed the County Board of an addition to the Prioritized Bridge listing stating that Bridge R1031 was recently added to the inventory due to Minnesota/Iowa Border Bridge evaluations. Motion by Overgaard, seconded by Thompson, to adopt Resolution No. 04-25, an Amended Prioritized Bridge Replacement List to include Bridge R1031, declared carried on a voice vote.
Sehr presented the bid results for (2) bituminous mill and overlay projects: SAP 067-604-034, CSAH 4 from CSAH 11 to Walnut Ave in Luverne and SAP 067-611-012, CSAH 11 from TH 270 to CSAH 4.
Duininck Inc. $2,309,953.51
Central Specialties Inc. $2,331,671.92
Knife River Corporation $2,461,712.21
Henning Construction $2,510,039.07
On a recommendation from the Engineer, motion by Williamson, seconded by Reisch, to accept the low compliant bid from Duininck Inc. for $2,309,953.41, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Engineer presented the bid results from SP 067-090-006, pavement rehabilitation on Blue Mound Trail from Luverne to lower picnic area in the Blue Mound State Park:
Duininck Inc. $744,565.80
Central Specialties Inc. $972,988.11
Motion by Thompson, seconded by Reisch, to accept the bid Duininck Inc. for $744,565.80, declared carried on a voice vote.
Doug Bos, Assistant Land Management Office Director introduced Caleb Rempel, the Conservation Agronomist for the Missouri River Watershed. Rempel will assist producers with technical assistance in conservation practices; the position is funded by USDA.
Mr. Bos also informed the County Board of his retirement and submitted a letter of resignation effective 09/02/2025. The County Board regretfully accepted his letter of resignation and thanked him for his 29 years of service to the citizens of Rock County.
Ashley Kurtz, Auditor/Treasurer, presented the claims; motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard, to approve the claims, 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 203,901.21
Public Works Fund 26,149.63
Library Fund 9,532.24
Land Management Fund 5,876.64
The County Board was in receipt of the Fund Balance report. The Auditor/Treasurer stated that the first half of real estate taxes are being paid. Motion by Williamson, seconded by Reisch, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
The County Board was in receipt of Auditor Warrants paid on 03/21/2025 and 04/04/2025; motion by Overgaard, seconded by Reisch, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Auditor/Treasurer along with Land Records Office Director Rachel Jacobs requested approval of (3) tax abatement applications due to the following changes:
Parcel 20-0128-000 – correcting a homestead exclusion due a disability status, resulting in an abatement of $820.00. Motion by Thompson, seconded by Reisch, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
Parcel 20-1923-000 – correcting a homestead exclusion due a veteran’s permanent disability status, resulting in an abatement of $1,624.00. Motion by Reisch, seconded by Overgaard, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
Parcel 11-0026-000 – correcting the value of building that were removed, resulting in an abatement of $500.00. Motion by Williamson, seconded by Reisch, to approve, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Administrator presented a quote from Engbarth Directional Drilling, Inc. for the install of fiber from the Armory building site to county’s network site at 204 E. Brown Street (Courthouse), the cost is $29,366.22. Motion by Williamson, seconded by Reisch, to approve the quote and move forward with the project, declared carried on a voice vote.
The Administrator gave the following building updates:
•Courthouse Phase 2/LRO – office move is delayed due flooring issues in
the corridor
•Courthouse Phase 3/Courts 3rd & 4th Floors – painting is complete in
courtroom and moving forward with carpet removal and the install of new
carpet and wallpaper in the Court Administrator office
•Armory – Community Corrections is doing the demo on the main floor; still
awaiting formal renovation cost estimate.
•Library – panic buttons install still in progress
The Administrator informed the County Board of potential cuts by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, most services are mandated services so without state funding, the cost shift will be on local units of government. Comments regarding the impacts of these cost shifts can be directed to Co-Chair of the Human Services Finance and Policy Committee, Representative Joe Schomacker.
The Administrator also informed the County Board they are scheduled to deliver Meals on Wheels on April 22nd.
Commissioner Reisch stated that he attended the following meetings/events: none
Commissioner Williamson stated that he attended the following meetings/events: Buffalo Ridge Regional Railroad Authority, Prairie Rose Community Fund, City of Jasper meeting with potential buyer for grain elevator site.
Commissioner Thompson stated that she attended the following meetings/events: none
Commissioner Overgaard stated that he attended the following meetings/events: Southwest Health & Human Services, Solid Waste, Rural Energy, Planning & Zoning, Economic Development Authority.
With no further business to come before the County Board, the meeting was declared adjourned by Order of the Chair.
(06-12)
