[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6090099,"mediaKeyId","2869524-151f28904bd10ec06c2a73d7db619af0","parentId",2869524,"title","Votes at a glance: key McLeod County board actions April 1, 2025","audioSeconds",157,"startMs",3631000,"endMs",3788000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2869524-151f28904bd10ec06c2a73d7db619af0&start=3631&end=3788","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2869524-151f28904bd10ec06c2a73d7db619af0/thumbnail_3631000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6090099/Minnesota/Votes-at-a-glance-key-McLeod-County-board-actions-April-1-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090099-e9fe2115935834516d863ac8aaa8896f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771007009&Signature=QRudsE4dIwn1nmLjTTkXXWfMfIpwa9XLQUEgh4HjXkHf40aQ3tu1hXazs6BHmAFIkfp8IBs7Un-ekqNJJBCMpg~A4JRqoYnZ3RqVEmJOyh2idGbJow~jYGzx9X8D21uil511ZlOdX5HKZMn5f-Vve1eWKNx4vNCPmdBqGo5z9lbCuwqPFWAM~kMhO-yCaoOFSR15Zg0i23dX4GR7HhKSI9qNJd55XTfqQB3igTOeovZn~caZD3uiFOHDHFfyTrOUqcQa3BZ5Gnh606VoCyM5oLLaGvzKRZ0X8l17ffPHtdkWmkvbPBOnWICnj82rpVE-~ObUb9Hj~da-pQUYnhSAdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","McLeod County, MN","date","2025-04-04T01:51:56.343Z","article","McLeod County commissioners on April 1 moved a series of routine procurement, personnel and administrative actions. Highlights below are drawn from the meeting record; individual items are listed with outcome and key details.

Votes at a glance

- Jail and sheriff's office HVAC replacement: Approved sealed bid from Foster Mechanical for $184,400. Funding: County Building Major Repairs budget. Motion by Commissioner Wright; second by Commissioner Krueger. Motion carried.

- Final acceptance and payment for Glencoe area transportation services building: Approved final payment of $9,369.69 to Rice Companies (Kasson Rapids, MN). Project came in under budget by $23,316.12. Motion carried.

- Parks: Approved advertising for bids to sell houses at Pippenberg Park and Lake Marion Park; approved purchase of two campground host office buildings from Dakota Storage Buildings LLC (Milbank, SD) at $19,846.63 each using ARPA (Coronavirus Relief) funds; and approved up to $10,000 for interior materials/furnishings for the two offices (public works to install). Motions carried.

- Employee relations and HR items: Approved hiring one full-time temporary license center specialist through July 30, 2025 (temporary full-time = 40 hours/week); approved service agreement with Vault Workforce Screening (Independence, OH) for DOT drug and alcohol testing services for county CDL holders. Motions carried.

- Information Technology: Approved purchase of server infrastructure from Exigent Solutions (Minneapolis) under state contract for $63,035.17 to meet CJIS segmentation requirements (funded from IT budget); approved statement of work from Insight Public Sector (Chandler, AZ) for VMware upgrade and implementation (time-and-materials quote ~$13,978.80). Motions carried.

- Health & Human Services: Approved out-of-state travel for Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Barb Carlson to attend the 2025 Preparedness Summit in San Antonio, Texas, April 29–May 2, at an approximate cost of $3,000 to be fully covered by the Response Sustainability grant through Meeker McLeod Sibley Community Health Services. Motion carried.

Other notes from staff

- Public Health reported the Minnesota Department of Health directed the program to cease spending certain federal COVID-19 funds; McLeod County will bill for services through March 21 and will leave approximately $78,000 unspent and potentially returned per federal guidance. This was an informational update, not a vote.

- The board approved routine calendar and committee reports and set a special meeting and additional public notices as recorded in the meeting packet.

The clerk’s minutes and project files contain full bid documents, vendor quotes, and staff reports for each approved item.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","McLeod County Board Meeting April 1st, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved several procurement and personnel items including HVAC replacement bids, purchases for park campgrounds, IT upgrades, and staffing and vendor agreements. A motion to table the Glencoe Light & Power conditional use permit was approved 4-1.","taxTitle","McLeod County, Minnesota","taxId",73157,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6090104,"McLeod County board votes to discontinue local enforcement of state buffer compliance",1246,5200000,6446000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2869524-151f28904bd10ec06c2a73d7db619af0&start=5200&end=6446","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2869524-151f28904bd10ec06c2a73d7db619af0/thumbnail_5200000.jpg","/articles/6090104/Minnesota/McLeod-County-board-votes-to-discontinue-local-enforcement-of-state-buffer-compliance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090104-0aac0d7865e0fb8c6717c9d22eaf9ce3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771007009&Signature=inEZ~WMgNSzUYcg7X~QnuFSUW87389m5dGpObq26daZdR9INdCEc6IYvKNRHFiu0wfwasHRNB6ycskDPV1mpgbkY3o9ULtvHHSOgNTAldvFkg9N8-pzFI~snmmTmjmAFlfCsYsk-nKbXpDaT7Rt7qnKRN5RImRkvc-FHS4f42QuNFOkWr2UcQG4CL~0ETAEF3CuULZyIa2Fkj-g7fWZt7d8IgMuBR5kxqbgtznevRXhAwVMLbKZuhohBpOwaveb9EwroffCYMktBHUfSOZG6EVrluLa2aYqgSAYt69tiwTCY08BGlfGeaBe~mg7~afwD31LroII0~T4wxE71zm7Bgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The McLeod County Board on April 1 adopted Resolution 25-CB-19 discontinuing the county’s earlier election to enforce state buffer compliance provisions, effectively returning enforcement responsibility to the state and relevant watershed authorities after the statutory notice period.

County Attorney Ryan (on record as counsel for the board) explained that the proposed resolution would rescind the county’s 2017 decision to assume enforcement of Minnesota’s buffer statutes and related provisions. If the board’s resolution takes effect, the state agency (and where applicable watershed authorities) would assume enforcement after the 60-day notice period required by statute.

Commissioner Wright moved adoption (with a clerical correction noted by staff to change a statutory citation from \"103 F.028\" to \"103 F.048\"); Commissioner Schmalls seconded. The motion passed with all commissioners voting in favor.

County staff and commissioners discussed the practical effects: discontinuation would stop the county’s enforcement actions and associated riparian aid tied to county enforcement. Staff said the change would not be immediate but would become effective 60 days after the state receives formal notice. The board directed staff to cooperate with state officials to transfer records and facilitate the transition.

Commissioners who supported the change cited potential liability, uncertain return on county enforcement costs, and the ability to re-assume jurisdiction later if needed. Commissioner Krueger and others emphasized that county staff would continue to help landowners seek compliance alternatives and that the decision focused on who holds enforcement authority rather than whether buffers remain a state requirement.

The resolution will be delivered to the state and becomes effective per statute after the 60-day notice period; the county’s local ordinance tied to prior enforcement will be superseded by this action.

The board also directed staff to notify interested parties and to work with the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources or relevant watershed organizations on the transfer of enforcement responsibilities and records.","The county adopted Resolution 25-CB-19 to discontinue McLeod County's prior election to enforce state buffer statutes; the change transfers enforcement responsibility back to state/ watershed authorities after the statute's 60‑day notice period.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6090109,"McLeod County tables decision on Glencoe Light & Power expansion after neighbors press for screening and noise study",3558,64000,3622000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2869524-151f28904bd10ec06c2a73d7db619af0&start=64&end=3622","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2869524-151f28904bd10ec06c2a73d7db619af0/thumbnail_64000.jpg","/articles/6090109/Minnesota/McLeod-County-tables-decision-on-Glencoe-Light-Power-expansion-after-neighbors-press-for-screening-and-noise-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090109-433cd939bbe9ac4e90df1ef240f28f77/orig.mp4?Expires=1771007009&Signature=mpq63i7~qWItVUOxts1obp~1Oeqf0XG404mA3oppjD1ntoOsQ-DSBVv~S~3n8zssikGQMI4odS8pkQGsnTSYG8pqj3xMsl6WarvRgPiZ27IPxKvt3RQXeNBK0pjoKZYWDMH5cLEr2SnImXd5j7MhXExKIbQD--97sIC1UU~s8nd84NzmyE~krorVJbf~Ze30tSHG0Tx~EILJkJy4a~sbi21hdfxpvgih8HrDDqhK~iwMSmTkKE-VgJFDBgHZOSEIjQ2xfiXr0NbJoZWiper8HFpjgzhvKBfEpowI7AYvXBzgUjcrRYUjVyZ6zZVeYukd97dG4WgwGzXhkHZhGuZj~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","McLeod County commissioners on April 1 voted 4-1 to table consideration of Conditional Use Permit 25-03, requested by Glencoe Light & Power, after lengthy public comment about screening, noise and potential health concerns.

The permit would allow installation of three new 3,100-kilowatt Caterpillar diesel generators (9.3 megawatts total) inside a new roughly 60-by-101-foot building on a 2.67-acre parcel in the northwest quarter of Section 17 in Helen Township, at 10975 Diamond Avenue, Glencoe.

County environmental services staff (Mister Teleki) told the board that Helen Township and the McLeod County Planning Commission recommended approval with conditions: restore drainage tile and patterns to preconstruction condition and provide a portable restroom during construction. The planning commission had tabled the request earlier to give the applicant additional time to work with surrounding landowners.

Neighbors who live along Diamond Avenue said the existing substation and the proposed expansion affect their view and prompted concerns about visual screening, noise and electromagnetic fields (EMFs). \"I am here, not in opposition to the expansion, but... I respectfully ask that the county require, as a condition of approval, that the applicant install screening between its facility and the neighboring properties,\" resident Sandy Harmon told the board. Harmon asked for solid, immediate screening such as a cinder block wall rather than plantings that may take decades to provide effective cover.

Neighbor David Paulzine measured the right-of-way and the distances from the road to the facility and argued there is room for a screen on three sides of the fenced substation footprint. He asked the board to require a 15-foot-high barrier to reduce visibility and sound.

Dave Meyer, representing Glencoe Light & Power, said the generators will be housed inside the insulated building and that Light & Power's engineers estimated a worst-case sound level of about 55 decibels at the nearby intersection when all three units were running. Meyer said the generators are expected to run only infrequently — \"in the 15 years I've been with Light and Power, we don't have an engine at our plant that's run more than 35 hours in a year\" — and that diesel tanks will be double-walled with spill plans and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency permitting in place. He also said installing a permanent 15-foot fence would be expensive and could complicate transmission-line easements and maintenance.

Commissioners discussed alternatives including slats in the existing chain-link fence, live screening on private property, and noise attenuation features. County staff noted the board has authority to require screening but that previous practice and legal advice limited requiring living screening on private land without easements because the utility could not guarantee maintenance.

Commissioner Krueger moved to table the application for two weeks to give the applicant and neighbors time to develop a screening proposal; Commissioner Wright seconded. The roll call vote was Krueger — yes; Wright — yes; Schmalz — yes; Chaska — no; Nagel — yes. The board also discussed that, under state statute, the county must act within 60 days on the permit unless the applicant signs a waiver; staff said the applicant had signed the original 60-day waiver and would need to sign a definite waiver to extend the review period.

The planning commission’s recommended conditions (repair tile, provide onsite portable restroom) and the two conditions recorded in staff materials remain part of the file. The board asked the applicant to return with a written screening proposal and said it would expect the applicant to sign a definite time-extension waiver before the next meeting.

The tabling vote leaves the conditional use permit unresolved; the applicant has been asked to provide a definite waiver and a screening/noise mitigation plan for the board’s next meeting.

Notes: The applicant told the county it has obtained required permitting from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for air-related aspects of the diesel engines; the county’s authority for noise is informed by Minnesota rules cited in staff materials (utility noise area classifications), and local staff cited planning commission findings when recommending conditions.","County commissioners heard about a conditional use permit to add three 3,100 kW diesel generators at a Glencoe substation. Neighbors asked for immediate screening and an EMF/noise study; the board voted 4-1 to table the permit for two weeks to allow a screening plan and applicant waiver.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: key McLeod County board actions April 1, 2025

McLeod County board votes to discontinue local enforcement of state buffer compliance

McLeod County tables decision on Glencoe Light & Power expansion after neighbors press for screening and noise study