[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6566980,"mediaKeyId","3199208-77a781c5c60c38f22e815801304ff1b8","parentId",3199208,"title","Votes at a glance: Meeker County board approves contracts, proclamations, lease and pavement marking award","audioSeconds",3710,"startMs",82000,"endMs",3792000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3199208-77a781c5c60c38f22e815801304ff1b8&start=82&end=3792","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3199208-77a781c5c60c38f22e815801304ff1b8/thumbnail_82000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6566980/Meeker-County/Minnesota/Votes-at-a-glance-Meeker-County-board-approves-contracts-proclamations-lease-and-pavement-marking-award","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566980-ce2b3c9ed10b53449a7989f92459f231/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143796&Signature=PvPWBhH7cEHdoIBqHPvHbz6O63XFDAB7KisY2wN9q6UsFERZh0YfB42lJWHkqaJiVpY~Ksh-A8dbbYd2~tNuUs-FJNNRhhvWrBoF2re0MSYYkMGs8k49QmIe8B~V7nabeclnWcCzoNfU~n~H2z9QzvfciC5ukhyDALcRq7lN9ZvxnTg9IQPRT5gBsrOP-av2JX0jXImdBYeo0~2lihbNF3DCehYpRTgsqA9bkPwlfpHC49BeSxKyvRer91zmk6zlWMxEJ9oBF6~UgA7Q5E0UspVLZnSnqjMp-OM~qrnKAOyi~zv79aEt9LCIJWhO62npSwJPI-pezlLtGLBbKnu0gA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Meeker County","date","2025-05-06T15:26:36.23Z","article","Meeker County commissioners on May 6 recorded the following formal actions during their regular meeting. Where recorded in the meeting, mover and second are shown and action outcomes are listed.

- Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda, which included the April 15 meeting minutes; approval of Health and Human Services, county and hospital accounts payable; acceptance of the 2025 State Boat and Water Safety Grant contract; approval of the 2024–2029 Maximus contract; and appointments to the Personnel Board of Appeals. The consent agenda was moved by Commissioner Oberg and seconded by Commissioner Van Ort; the motion carried by voice vote.

- 2025 pavement‑marking contract: Motion to award the 2025 pavement marking contract to Sir Lines A Lot of Minneapolis for an estimated total of $156,413.56. Motion by Commissioner Van Ort; second by Commissioner Schmidt. The board approved the award by voice vote.

- Proclamations for mental health observances: Motion to approve a proclamation declaring May as Mental Health Month and a proclamation declaring May 7, 2025, as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day in Meeker County. Motion by Commissioner Psamke; second by Commissioner Oberg. Motion carried by voice vote.

- Meeker County Parks Ordinance amendment and tobacco‑free policy: The board held a public hearing (no speakers) and adopted parks ordinance amendments to prohibit tobacco products in parks, and separately approved a countywide tobacco‑free policy (effective June 1). The parks ordinance motion was adopted by roll call (Oberg, Van Ort, Psamke, Schmidt, Johnson — all yes).

- Amendment to lease with Minnesota Department of Corrections: Motion to approve Amendment No. 1 to lease No. 12317 with the Minnesota Department of Corrections for office space in the courthouse (term and rent adjustments described by county staff). Motion by Commissioner Oberg; second by Commissioner Schmidt. Motion carried by voice vote.

All motions that produced formal outcomes were approved; board minutes record votes where roll calls were conducted. Several other informational reports and presentations were heard but did not require board action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 6, 2025, Meeker County Board of Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Meeker County Board approved the consent agenda, awarded a pavement‑marking contract, approved proclamations for mental health observances, amended a lease with the Minnesota Department of Corrections and approved several other routine items during the May 6 meeting.","taxTitle","Meeker County, Minnesota","taxId",73314,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6566984,"Meeker County probation supervisors present caseload, domestic violence program and budget snapshot",731,1824000,2555000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3199208-77a781c5c60c38f22e815801304ff1b8&start=1824&end=2555","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3199208-77a781c5c60c38f22e815801304ff1b8/thumbnail_1824000.jpg","/articles/6566984/Meeker-County/Minnesota/Meeker-County-probation-supervisors-present-caseload-domestic-violence-program-and-budget-snapshot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566984-fd85b31a0c498150a0ced22d517c9b8a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143796&Signature=S-VV36HCEYa2J0MR-aUR4GfDsK7k-Rzm-fdmHREsZZhagOp3raW3tqAyp-ed91yvXrUakIZAGV7gFLVQ4yLRRvgU1G1AoK3efkyepgPR-2mu60aQezWLcQTeRLInSt1rm60mCN9CqUxJ3CjGbmg7gv5~Y4OniQ16dvlv3SB7s8sD0XEzfxcAnNOpp-WYJXZ30k89BabN2A~1bkAEdMkAmTJI8yYFWinKXPukbjbZkpM5mLlftQkX0fVSrPHrEkriOIEA-LOUeCDq4b9X1TqEF8jlmgnT51NC96w4uxIkOSZqkTX4Z9jAAELje3-uqFlT899wyeZoUPs921~8fbm4Fw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leaders from the Minnesota Department of Corrections district probation office briefed the Meeker County Board of Commissioners on May 6 about staffing, program offerings and budgetary numbers for community supervision.

District Supervisor Willie Swanson and program director Jared Taber said the local office has five agents, two support staff and a program director, supervising roughly 420 total clients with per‑agent caseloads ranging from 80 to 100. The office supervises felony and misdemeanor cases, pretrial work and treatment-court clients; staff also run cognitive-skills groups and an agent-led decision-points group.

Swanson highlighted the Meeker County domestic violence program, a 24‑week, 36‑hour curriculum run by local facilitators since December 2013. “To date, we have served 222 clients,” Swanson said; he described group sizes typically between seven and nine and noted program fees are used to support victim services and the program itself. The program is statutorily linked to domestic‑abuse convictions and the county works with judges and the county attorney’s office on court-ordered participation.

The presenters said recidivism is tracked through a statewide database. Jared Taber said, by the office’s figures, “at 3 years, 89 percent of the people that we work with do not commit a new offense and are not placed back on supervision.” Commissioners asked how the county tracks people who move out of the county; staff said the statewide database lets them see convictions elsewhere in Minnesota.

On budget, Taber provided a snapshot saying the county’s gross budget for probation field services is about $386,000 with a state subsidy around $220,000; he and Swanson noted figures can vary and cited prior subsidy amounts ($183,000 in 2023 and $282,000 in 2025 under a changed funding formula). The office confirmed much of the budget is staff cost under contract with the state and that changes to state funding would shift local costs.

Commissioners asked routine questions about orders for protection, program attendance schedules (most domestic violence sessions run 4 to 5:30 p.m. to accommodate work schedules) and how supervision interacts with court decisions. Staff invited commissioners to observe programming and noted several community collaborations — mentorship programs, Safe Schools meetings, domestic violence boards and suicide-prevention coalitions — that probation staff participate in as part of supervision and reentry work.","District probation supervisors briefed the board on staffing, recidivism rates, a 24‑week domestic violence program and a budget showing roughly $386,000 in county costs offset by state subsidy; board members asked about supervision practices and statutory requirements.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6566990,"Meeker County adopts parks ordinance amendments and countywide tobacco‑free policy with June 1 start date",283,3173000,3456000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3199208-77a781c5c60c38f22e815801304ff1b8&start=3173&end=3456","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3199208-77a781c5c60c38f22e815801304ff1b8/thumbnail_3173000.jpg","/articles/6566990/Meeker-County/Minnesota/Meeker-County-adopts-parks-ordinance-amendments-and-countywide-tobaccofree-policy-with-June-1-start-date","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566990-aff51c53a4410f5ddf399906b3c8c9f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143796&Signature=L-0Dtqo6D8fVvNSPJimqyPQm-i7wYdhfTOOln9fyvpL8thop3QJ1GOcgbGyvYpVYpCDoxysmgP5BX6vuYGYOCUQdngDs6i3ciK9lvB5G1CYp2jB~vycgJHYtNd8Nu9r9P8teKocLJyBBNQGINjD9qFCLLOQgPwCWZZ-a9cOMNe3~53wu38w~0Ou07WaQvPA1-pZAvH-GrBDgPMgktK9gMrKut9iJz-xs6TFHJ-vsRzSWrwgYEse-rLh67FEktnYy8~hepNKd4zxzVuJVgeHGmNModgIjVKpOz9oML4svUf-0Jmo5zvAgQu9ns8BnpXY53F5qAmsv6XIxWm3NqWeK-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Meeker County commissioners on May 6 opened and closed a public hearing and adopted amendments to the county parks ordinance that add tobacco products to the list of prohibited items in county parks. The board also approved a separate countywide tobacco‑free policy that bans tobacco use inside county-owned, leased and rented buildings, on county grounds and in county vehicles, effective June 1.

County Administrator Andrew Latson explained the proposed parks ordinance change and the companion policy for all other county properties. The parks change updates existing prohibitions (alcohol is already restricted at Lake Manuela Park) to also forbid cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, pipes, e-cigarettes, vaporizers and similar devices. Latson said the policy also bars gift or sponsorship acceptance from tobacco companies and asks employees, tenants and visitors not to loiter on neighboring properties or discard litter that reflects poorly on the county.

Latson said enforcement will rely primarily on staff and law enforcement asking individuals to leave property; the parks ordinance retains existing enforcement language (section 9) that makes violations a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $700 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both. The policy allows an exception for private vehicles on county property: occupants may use tobacco inside their private car in parking areas, but not while loitering outside the vehicle.

Commissioner Van Ort moved to adopt the parks ordinance amendment; Commissioner Oberg seconded. The board voted by roll call: Oberg (yes), Van Ort (yes), Psamke (aye), Schmidt (aye), Johnson (aye). The motion carried.

The board then voted to adopt the countywide tobacco‑free policy, also by voice vote; commissioners set an adoption date of June 1 to allow sign installation and staff notification. Latson said the county would publicize smoking cessation resources provided through the county health insurer to help employees and residents who wish to quit.

No members of the public spoke during the hearing, and the county reported it met statutory notice requirements prior to today’s public hearing.","After a public hearing with no speakers, the Meeker County Board amended the parks ordinance to prohibit tobacco in county parks and adopted a countywide tobacco‑free policy covering buildings, grounds and vehicles, with misdemeanor penalties and an exception for private vehicles on county property.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6566995,"Meeker County approves consultant study to explore Family Resource Center, funded by $60,000 grant",926,489000,1415000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3199208-77a781c5c60c38f22e815801304ff1b8&start=489&end=1415","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3199208-77a781c5c60c38f22e815801304ff1b8/thumbnail_489000.jpg","/articles/6566995/Meeker-County/Minnesota/Meeker-County-approves-consultant-study-to-explore-Family-Resource-Center-funded-by-60000-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566995-eaa4a2d20756d4099c78c13076614d95/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143796&Signature=BIN6MFrJjO3-2nAYtBVP3q-xNlxtL7PxEbEHQ37qli6y-elqD4sJtc92mHhsQJhfa-cxluR~UACUDPDtbBxgTQsv8NP1Pd3tuJs-S8NkhhTDqfRJsLk6MjEj0aQOcI3rZX4si05jamepNUwu2IwcE-QOlibJDHKlc8xocF8oZSO0Foxlx-lHtt7zQvbSGZp9621oH4-KIgs8o3EsfifnQlSW5Y36rHIxdFyFpGVRLVwvVHWQJu7Wjd6tP2HuzqXZwGeG3kLK2DsWaby59iN66KuWakTLvJf70EX9EQEano9XCs-haeqdEPFjdlH8Bl3jLOriSMv8gEGPcelooJ1MTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Meeker County on May 6 approved a contract with Creating Community Consulting to conduct an “explore and assess” needs assessment for a proposed Family Resource Center, after Health and Human Services Director Tina Schenk outlined the project and funding.

The board voted unanimously to accept the consulting contract for the next phase of planning. The consulting fee is $40,000; Schenk said the county received a $60,000 grant that will cover the consultant and other related costs such as staff time, community meetings and small hosting expenses.

Schenk told commissioners the center would aim to reach families earlier, reduce duplication among agencies and coordinate services across Meeker County communities. “This gives us a really good early in with families,” Schenk said, noting the county’s current services are “very Litchfield-centric” and that the consultant will help design a model that can be mobile and nimble rather than a single, fixed site.

Commissioners asked how the grant funds would be used. Schenk said approximately $20,000 of the grant is expected to cover county staff time, meeting hosting and outreach; the contract itself will not create new county positions. She also said other nearby school districts and counties are pursuing similar assessments and the county has exchanged contact information with a school district representative who reached out by email.

A point of discussion for the board was the consultant’s insurance limits. Schenk said the firm does not provide client-facing services, does not maintain physical site operations and does not store protected health information, so staff recommended accepting the vendor’s lower insurance limits. County counsel and the county risk reviewer both examined the contract; the reviewer advised the risk appeared low and that accepting the consultant’s insurance could be appropriate.

Commissioner Scott Schmidt moved to approve the contract; Commissioner Samkee seconded. The motion passed, recorded by voice vote.

Next steps include consultant-led community engagement (surveys and focus groups), stakeholder training and a phase 2 grant opportunity for startup support if the assessment recommends moving forward.","The county approved a $40,000 consulting contract to assess the need for a Family Resource Center, funded in part by a $60,000 grant; board members discussed mobile service delivery and insurance limits on the vendor contract.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Meeker County board approves contracts, proclamations, lease and pavement marking award

Meeker County probation supervisors present caseload, domestic violence program and budget snapshot

Meeker County adopts parks ordinance amendments and countywide tobacco‑free policy with June 1 start date

Meeker County approves consultant study to explore Family Resource Center, funded by $60,000 grant