[{"_1":2,"_96":-5,"_97":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,84],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6394178,"mediaKeyId","2104043-d7650da23a8a359198220437731d834c","parentId",2104043,"title","Board approves cannabis ordinance, appoints interim county attorney and sets several salaries; other routine items cleared","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4316000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2104043-d7650da23a8a359198220437731d834c&start=4316&end=4316","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2104043-d7650da23a8a359198220437731d834c/thumbnail_4316000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6394178/Houston-County/Minnesota/Board-approves-cannabis-ordinance-appoints-interim-county-attorney-and-sets-several-salaries-other-routine-items-cleared","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394178-2473190002c25a67ce63739e5baca193/orig.mp4?Expires=1775175757&Signature=gmLLYYfc~iFUOOmsMmp2fVO4KQd92~c0smKyzvFxoOI2DxRdy27gyRSG2VpNPFrcMmCf4OOUTMLXcx6zYaEiixiVSkLmi5OmsLt74N~dbwTZXnGgmhXD7trP30vr4KH2FxU8LC0699E8nb6TJ1NyauQH6J7pP8z-H7GwYOoKJk6ObSngCEKLk93qTJEIj1LH4ZZywaj0CkAazG53gT6oWtd-Nq2PytaPEIUKj3BPtbOBHbBQSgEv36VsPOkZ~rcFz7OSeD2gZceygY1ioppFXhuFqzv5x3s4eqe39Su-GasGwIHO9X1ZpmCgoMfxZ8nx~k8V0YeRTDg59lIw9ntnzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Houston County, MN","date","2025-01-09T16:09:08Z","article","Houston County commissioners took a string of final actions on routine and personnel matters, including adoption of a local cannabis business ordinance, appointment of an interim county attorney and several budget and contract approvals.

Key outcomes at a glance:

- Cannabis ordinance adopted: The board adopted the cannabis ordinance as revised after the Dec. 11 special meeting. Commissioners voted by roll call in the affirmative on the ordinance.

- Interim county attorney appointment and salary: Commissioners appointed Sue Bubitz as interim Houston County Attorney to fill the remainder of Sam Yount’s term and set her pay at the salary newly set for the county attorney position. The board also approved a 6.5% increase for the county attorney salary earlier in the meeting.

- Consent and contracts: The board approved routine consent items including hauler license renewals for 2025 and the county’s contract with Building Community (aluminum redemption adjustments). The board approved Richard’s Sanitation rate adjustments that included a 3% increase for certain pull and maintenance rates for specified locations.

- ARPA and LACTF funding: Commissioners approved final allocations of remaining federal-American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and LACTF funds to cover identified equipment and one-time items in the 2025 budget and accepted related vendor quotes. Staff said these allocations were necessary to obligate funds before federal deadlines.

- Airport hangar project: The board authorized seeking bids for an 8-unit T-hangar at the county airport with an alternate to reduce to six units if bids come in high; estimated project costs and county share were discussed; commissioners deferred final funding decisions to the newly seated board in January.

- Budget and fee actions: The board approved 2024 budget adjustments, adopted the 2025 operating budget resolution and approved changes to several county fees, including a recalculated research fee and updated solid-waste and public-works charges. The board directed that the new-address sign fee be collected via the building permit for new homes to simplify billing and relieve some township up-front costs.

- Salaries and appointments: The board approved a 6.5% across-the-board pay adjustment that applies to much county staff. The board set the county recorder’s 2025 salary per the approved salary grid and set the sheriff’s 2025 salary at a 6.5% increase after an initial 3.5%-plus-COLA proposal failed and a second motion adopting the standard 6.5% increase passed. Commissioners also set the 2025 board-member compensation in line with the adopted budget.

Procedural notes: Several items were presented with supporting materials in the meeting packet. The board used roll-call votes for many final actions. The items above reflect the formal adopted motions and approvals recorded in the meeting minutes.

Ending: Commissioners closed the meeting after approving warrants and routine administrative items, with outgoing commissioners acknowledged for their service and the board noting a January swearing-in for newly elected commissioners.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Official Houston County Board Meeting 12-31-24","oneSentenceSummary","At the same meeting the Houston County Board adopted a local cannabis ordinance with the changes discussed at a Dec. 11 special meeting, appointed an interim county attorney and approved several personnel and budget items, including selected salary adjustments and ARPA/LACTF uses.","taxTitle","Houston County, Minnesota","taxId",73152,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":42,"_43":77,"_45":77,"_46":78,"_48":79,"_50":80,"_52":81,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":82,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":83,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6394182,"County denies MnDOT limited-use permit for snowmobile trails after liability concerns",4822000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2104043-d7650da23a8a359198220437731d834c&start=4822&end=4822","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2104043-d7650da23a8a359198220437731d834c/thumbnail_4822000.jpg","/articles/6394182/Houston-County/Minnesota/County-denies-MnDOT-limited-use-permit-for-snowmobile-trails-after-liability-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394182-f7a1c29c5c52d6081655043c727e0f91/orig.mp4?Expires=1775175757&Signature=ih~-1YSCvZNK7itW3MLK41zoHCUNqf7CWrPcwgsQkx70Q2wBpB0aZvKzMsyiGAtmR4hTN8a2JzeuIwwEkgIe7cp5X~zyeaIo4Y0hIOyPwyUew0H8y6J3bHvGxxsoOF9NbBZFU~QUcVrOiVEOo1ZPlKQGSLGXYo9178r4FXfuOyXsPaX-TcW9UWRc7O06NrVGIQrdgripYB6LaGA9vArrpmELRZeJxvU36UzN10Sp~hc9LCnFMY~RBJ4-cJJbRyrUxvFC4qIVYyGVMWX77aoh5Kwby0Wtz2tamKjwEmAJ0pTisS-4aYA6FiNZnK9fIdIKIaJjWZecg5ZKn5xSnAPTVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Houston County commissioners voted to deny a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) limited-use permit (LUP) request that would have authorized nighttime two-way snowmobile trail use in MnDOT right-of-way at four locations in the county.

At a staff presentation, Brian Veronen (county staff) summarized coordination with MnDOT and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Veronen said club mapping indicated approximately 18.9 miles of snowmobile trail within MnDOT right-of-way; at the DNR grant-and-aid rate of $264 per mile, the county’s share of that support would be about $4,989.60 for the affected miles.

MnDOT District 6 representatives described the agency’s role and the standard LUP language. District engineer Mark Schulenfelder and Dave Evans, assistant MnDOT right-of-way supervisor, explained that the LUP covers only locations where snowmobile traffic would operate two-way at night alongside highway traffic — the specific safety concern being head-on headlights for motorists.

Snowmobile-club representatives told the board they requested the LUP to provide the landowner permissions required by state DNR grant rules. Al Christian, speaking for the club, said the DNR requires documented permission from landowners where trails cross public and private land; clubs said they sought the county’s signature to show permission for the sections inside MnDOT right-of-way and to maintain the state funding eligibility for the trail miles.

County Attorney Sam cautioned against signing the LUP because of open-ended indemnity and liability language in the standard agreement. \"There's a vast unknown,\" Sam told commissioners, saying the county could be named in lawsuits if a serious injurious incident occurred on trails that run in highway right-of-way. Sam recommended denial because the potential county liabilities outweighed the modest DNR aid tied to the affected miles.

After discussion, the board voted to deny the MnDOT LUP for the identified locations. The roll call was District 1 — yes; District 2 — yes; District 3 — yes; District 4 — no; District 5 — no.

What this means: Denial removes county-level permission under the MnDOT LUP form for those specific two-way nighttime segments identified in the application. County staff and MnDOT said riders retain statutory authority to operate in highway ditch areas in some circumstances, but DNR grant eligibility for the affected trail miles depends on documented landowner permission. Club representatives warned that denial could jeopardize state grant aid for those miles if no other permission mechanism is provided.

Clarifying details: County staff and MnDOT cited that DNR grant-and-aid supports snowmobile trails at $264 per mile; the staff calculation for the identified segments was about 18.9 miles (presenter-provided), equal to roughly $4,989.60 in DNR aid for those segments. MnDOT staff said the LUP text is standardized and is requested only for two-way nighttime uses; questions remained over which entity should assume indemnity or maintenance obligations.

Ending: Commissioners denied the MnDOT limited-use permit request on advice of the county attorney and asked staff to continue coordination with MnDOT, the DNR and local clubs about whether alternate permission mechanisms or revised LUP language could address county liability concerns.","The Houston County Board voted to deny a MnDOT limited-use permit request that would have authorized nighttime two-way snowmobile use in MnDOT right-of-way at four locations, citing potential liability and minimal DNR grant amounts tied to the right-of-way miles.",{"_33":85,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":86,"_41":87,"_43":88,"_45":89,"_46":90,"_48":91,"_50":92,"_52":93,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":94,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":95,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6394187,"Houston County adopts six-month interim moratorium on commercial solar permitting after public hearing",3823,364000,4187000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2104043-d7650da23a8a359198220437731d834c&start=364&end=4187","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2104043-d7650da23a8a359198220437731d834c/thumbnail_364000.jpg","/articles/6394187/Houston-County/Minnesota/Houston-County-adopts-six-month-interim-moratorium-on-commercial-solar-permitting-after-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394187-5dda0fbe62a4ec065b41c048b1e7e531/orig.mp4?Expires=1775175757&Signature=OxHTWSUcJZ2zxIiAc6CE0HTyjmmrCCJTPe5keJbY~urRkWS2bSCAUWy4~kogbghB55dhKqY7dOFXWiw5om924kmWUvg2G7D1F7EP8XPiCW4wbaQN4yLhpFb7yAYbh5EwGo1d6lr1jbxzeWp7RXTRS-WD5J4uaAPvPRM7MLRHZgF9re7zmCSt0bFh0GUjXtqUHJoC6z5LQLyidyyXf3-lPiMqH0iCiZn5QSzMSvMaAgNsvsyyutLs-oX2foHOCXeiVj~j~~cD5Fo4EAbmiKf6XdQhATI6TCcbFofXA5Q6gnQpE9LWNB3hy35vuly~Rr~MkmmOmISpac2czV1vEiMvGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Houston County commissioners voted 3-2 on Tuesday to adopt an interim ordinance pausing permitting and construction of commercial-scale solar projects for six months.

The vote followed a public hearing in which Amelia (staff member) asked the board to enact a moratorium to allow county staff time to clarify definitions, bonding requirements and other permit standards for commercial projects. \"Late last summer it was brought to my intention that we were in a tax incentive district for alternative energy projects,\" Amelia told the board, and said the county's current code appeared to be written primarily for small private solar installations rather than larger commercial arrays.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the moratorium is intended to give the planning department and the planning commission time to study model ordinances used by neighboring counties and to set consistent standards for setbacks, decommissioning security and differences between distribution-scale and transmission-scale projects.

During public comment, landowners Sherry and Andy Allen urged the board not to block their proposed 5-megawatt project near the Caledonia Substation. Sherry Allen said the project would be located \"on just a small portion of our land near the Caledonia Substation\" and described plans for native-seed plantings inside the array that would support pollinators and educational uses. Her husband, Andy Allen, spoke in favor of the project as a way to diversify farm income and establish a prairie area on roughly 27.5 acres of a 109-acre parcel.

Developer 1 Energy Renewables and My Energy Cooperative described the proposed Wild Turkey project in Caledonia as a 5-megawatt, distribution-connected array sited to serve the Caledonia Substation. Kent Whitcomb, vice president of member services at My Energy Cooperative, said the project recently received a distribution-system approval from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator and that the project required a $60,000 deposit to complete that study. Whitcomb called the project a \"distribution-scale\" facility and said it is sized to fit existing local substation capacity rather than requiring a new transmission substation.

Beth Esser of 1 Energy Renewables described project components and mitigation: bifacial panels mounted on driven steel piles, a seeded prairie under the array and fencing meeting electrical-code requirements. Esser said the developer typically signs 30-year leases with a 10-year extension option and commits to removing facilities within 12 months after the project ends.

Board discussion focused on the scope and timeline of a moratorium. Amelia recommended the county advertise a one-year interim ordinance but noted the board could set any shorter period. Commissioners debated 3, 6 and 12-month intervals; several members said staff workload and the planning commission calendar made a six-month pause more realistic. The board settled on a six-month moratorium and directed staff to consult other county ordinances and to return with draft regulatory language.

The board's motion setting an interim ordinance for six months passed on a roll call vote: District 1 — yes; District 2 — yes; District 3 — yes; District 4 — no; District 5 — no.

What was not decided: The moratorium is a temporary pause to allow ordinance drafting. Commissioners did not adopt final regulations, and the board did not exempt the Wild Turkey project from the moratorium. Commissioners and staff repeatedly noted that a shorter moratorium could be considered if the county can complete the ordinance work sooner.

Clarifying details recorded at the hearing: the Wild Turkey project was described by 1 Energy as 5 megawatts sited on approximately 27.5 fenced acres of a 109-acre parcel; developer materials say a 5-MW distribution project could power about 1,000 households; My Energy reported a $60,000 MISO deposit for the interconnection study; Kent Whitcomb estimated local property taxes from the array at about $13,000 per year (presenter estimate) and a production-tax note that the group cited was $1.20 per megawatt-hour (presenter cited figure); developers said they group projects to pursue bulk procurement and financing and asked that distribution-scale projects be treated differently from large transmission-connected projects.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to draft ordinance language that distinguishes distribution- and transmission-connected commercial solar, addresses bonding and decommissioning, and sets setbacks and performance standards; staff will return with draft ordinance language and a recommended timeline to the planning commission and then to the board for final action.","The Houston County Board voted 3-2 to adopt a six-month interim ordinance that pauses permitting and construction of commercial solar projects while staff reviews regulations. County staff, a landowner proposing a 5-megawatt project and developers testified at a public hearing about potential local benefits and regulatory gaps.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves cannabis ordinance, appoints interim county attorney and sets several salaries; other routine items cleared

County denies MnDOT limited-use permit for snowmobile trails after liability concerns

Houston County adopts six-month interim moratorium on commercial solar permitting after public hearing