[{"_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",6543275,"mediaKeyId","3642318-dbc90a5ea7176df50724afe8f5dc5b3b","parentId",3642318,"title","Public commenter urges county to examine links between housing shortages, health harms and drug markets","audioSeconds",494,"startMs",17000,"endMs",511000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3642318-dbc90a5ea7176df50724afe8f5dc5b3b&start=17&end=511","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3642318-dbc90a5ea7176df50724afe8f5dc5b3b/thumbnail_17000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6543275/Olmsted-County/Minnesota/Public-commenter-urges-county-to-examine-links-between-housing-shortages-health-harms-and-drug-markets","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6543275-3f24c00314dd52cc60e8bedff8ea4460/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173533&Signature=f3bUmV8g3Dg2e509nENyh8ozD5YuC9kf6moA2GhYeGimuLXz8vrCXiPliT7WwLwEi9Uz4vFhoD91QD4BYzF5codX38cssoipxMbZEkJ5S8GNP-9XeTVuudys3xxcYTN42iMwh83K0L1CYu8LK3AGFWlgPPjANiMzL0tScgV4a4mjaJSrQT0IMku8VFlPFvAl4UZY~ChZH9ucqW~vydj3dZUYrnzhrPDRzfyXZESL9KRmelndqLLbSWXxDmM1vVL57uKohMOYFKCD5J~KqkL~p~lPup0-kvjGmf7GhNcIIOlLgSH~jOCffgg23KMYAFzE70jc33U01PjmCiT2Kv0WeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Olmsted County","date","2025-06-03T21:29:28.853Z","article","A member of the public, Tom Heelan, used the public-comment period to urge the Olmsted County Board to increase public participation in policy discussions and to hold a future meeting examining links between housing shortages, homelessness and health outcomes.

Heelan related personal health circumstances and said he has relied on Mayo Clinic care for many years. He said he is currently receiving a protein immune modulator treatment that “costs over $10,000 a month” and that medical care has allowed him to remain active. Heelan argued that concentrated poverty and housing shortages produce harmful public-health outcomes and urged the county to convene a focused discussion on the subject.

Heelan also raised concerns about what he described as “salted cannabis,” which he characterized as cannabis mixed with methamphetamine and fentanyl, and he connected substance-market issues to homelessness and increased hospital admissions. Those assertions were presented as his observations and experiences; the county did not respond with independent data during the comment period.

Heelan suggested procedural changes to increase public engagement: provide physical copies of agendas in the hallway for residents to pick up and add hyperlinks in the online agenda to related grant documents (he specifically mentioned the emergency services program grant) so the public can review details ahead of meetings.

The chair closed public comment and opened the meeting’s formal business.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 3, 2025 Olmsted County Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Tom Heelan urged the county to increase public participation and hold a detailed meeting on links between housing shortages, homelessness and adverse health outcomes, and he raised concerns about drug markets and cannabis.","taxTitle","Olmsted County, Minnesota","taxId",3597,"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},6543280,"Olmsted County gives update on $92 million County 44–Trunk Highway 14 interchange project",712,1826000,2538000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3642318-dbc90a5ea7176df50724afe8f5dc5b3b&start=1826&end=2538","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3642318-dbc90a5ea7176df50724afe8f5dc5b3b/thumbnail_1826000.jpg","/articles/6543280/Olmsted-County/Minnesota/Olmsted-County-gives-update-on-92-million-County-44Trunk-Highway-14-interchange-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6543280-c81cac72bcac905ec7317b461d36cc0b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173533&Signature=nW94nIGABYp7cHFZeS7x0WaLXNDWuY7LrXdSFrzNiM5yBEI1Wh3i8GB9bXYP5pWF0BCgFEmQL4jibdZsE1~reGUM-CgNaOuEwug9EmqVLV6HStI8jkVd7C4yIt4FVJ36pED5bM9IL66~dZo~jVOw0i3Jzfl2aC-KeXSAoHiTVQ9UZG3rbA1J03MzOVIk4SFxoaj-078r~Teeu8FJzQ~Z8Cqte2hkcxqdq4ew8HCw0PI-R0I3nXXx2WlKj7eQru9WY55R0nCHbtRlq-f6sg-RLc2HurkSMKwrd9AL90FL7L-Dmii9-xbNsXEcslKPDmH-EhYWTKHzoJOmeNF-RgkOLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Olmsted County public works staff gave the board a detailed update on the long-planned County 44 and Trunk Highway 14 interchange, describing project layout, funding, right-of-way acquisitions and an anticipated multi-year construction schedule.

Ben Johnson, Director of Public Works and County Engineer, introduced the briefing and Nathan Arnold, associate director of public works and assistant county engineer, presented the project details. Arnold said Trunk Highway 14 carries about 25,000 vehicles per day in the project area; County 44 traffic is roughly 1,500 vehicles per day to the north and 700 to the south. He noted MnDOT closed a median in 2022 for safety and that the interchange will restore mobility and improve safety and drainage.

Arnold said environmental documentation was completed at the end of 2024 and preliminary design is finished; the project is in final design with plans approaching 90% complete. Right-of-way work is underway: the county identified impacts to about 30 parcels owned by 22 property owners, has made offers and reported settlements on about 10 parcels so far. The county’s title-and-possession target date for property acquisition is Sept. 20 of the current year to permit clearing work to begin.

The county plans initial clearing this fall related to migratory birds and other environmental mitigation, with main construction work beginning next spring and continuing through 2026 and into 2027 as necessary. Arnold described project features including several new roundabouts, an overpass tying into Rochester’s Seventh Street, grade separations to clear a railroad corridor and relocation of high-power transmission lines in coordination with the local utility.

Arnold provided an all-in engineer’s estimate of about $92,000,000 for design, right-of-way, construction and administration. He said the package includes approximately $60,000,000 secured from Minnesota’s Corridors of Commerce program and additional funding sources; engineering cost shares were described as roughly two-thirds MnDOT and one-third Olmsted County for the engineering portion. Arnold said the county has held three open houses and contractor constructability meetings and will continue public outreach as staging and traffic impacts are finalized.

Board members asked questions about relocation of power lines, the possibility of eminent domain if negotiations fail, and whether existing neighborhood streets would revert to township maintenance. Arnold said the county is working with the utility (SEMPA) on relocation plans, expects to settle many property transactions before title date but will follow standard federal right-of-way procedures if needed, and confirmed some existing roadway sections will revert to township maintenance or be cul-de-saced to serve neighborhoods.

The board expressed appreciation for the progress on a project that county staff said has been under planning for two decades.","County engineers presented plans, schedule, right-of-way acquisitions and funding for the County 44 and Trunk Highway 14 interchange, estimating a roughly $92 million total cost and a multi-year construction schedule.",{"_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},6543285,"Pine Island reports rapid growth, sewer-district progress and experiments to address housing and childcare",610,858000,1468000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3642318-dbc90a5ea7176df50724afe8f5dc5b3b&start=858&end=1468","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3642318-dbc90a5ea7176df50724afe8f5dc5b3b/thumbnail_858000.jpg","/articles/6543285/Olmsted-County/Minnesota/Pine-Island-reports-rapid-growth-sewer-district-progress-and-experiments-to-address-housing-and-childcare","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6543285-d372f4051caefb15079647759b0006ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173533&Signature=JwbRCxhX9pAK4UBwKleBqGOPs3o1FZL1XHH1VE2QswNfwFfLhEB5jNh-dP90FnrLyvDBmQEt~ljLz-bze6d4-0e-blIoeFktbGgWNp-9lHQOZTxikfroqgDOAH7bC5SuvcoEzHH3F4vOeaYFLBlgo6CGMsF6KJRVyNxZrP-gTDqD9fSGsaIF4p1jRkoFJ3S4RRqooNZN303LaYTTVBI~xIIOtZWrAhR8kXyoiRKJQx~m3el-6cyJtmdCGKebncTyHn8LHgwu63iWFprz23ufAc~7jhjkO8AS7NX1KqBzPdRKOKFvwQPF6DOEXTti~trxnIuUiJTIloYIwnfyDQ4pOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Elizabeth Howard, administrator for the City of Pine Island, told the Olmsted County Board that Pine Island is among the fastest-growing communities in the region and outlined the city’s efforts to expand housing options, resolve aging wastewater infrastructure and explore childcare solutions.

Howard said Pine Island’s median age is 33.9 compared with 37.9 for Olmsted County and 42.1 for Goodhue County, and that school open enrollment is about 33 percent — both factors that drive demand for housing and services. She said the city currently has two single-family housing developments (one in Goodhue County and one in Olmsted County) and a new townhome subdivision on the Goodhue side. Howard said the city lacks apartments and is seeking ways to encourage affordable, workforce and market-rate multifamily housing.

On wastewater, Howard described a multi-community sanitary sewer district that Pine Island and neighboring jurisdictions have pursued for about four years. She said a joint powers entity has purchased land for a consolidated treatment facility outside Zumbroda, and that the group previously received $10 million in state bonding funds to cover engineering, design and land acquisition. If additional funding is secured, Howard said construction could begin in roughly two years. She cited estimated annual operating savings of about $500,000 for a consolidated facility versus multiple smaller plants — roughly $20 million over a projected 40-year life of a larger plant.

Howard described ongoing discussions with the Prairie Island Indian Community, planning for commercial and industrial growth (including a potential 400-acre light industrial/technology campus that would require annexation), and local investments such as the City’s purchase of 22 acres on the north side of town and potential sites for future school expansion (Howard said the district bought an additional parcel of about 80 acres along County Road 5).

On childcare, Howard said Pine Island is testing “childcare pods” — small, two-bedroom, one-bath structures in new subdivisions that could be leased to childcare providers; if the business fails the unit could revert to housing. The city is also exploring fee waivers and land purchases to lower development costs and encourage affordable housing production.

Howard invited questions from county commissioners. Commissioners asked for more detail about housing cost reduction tools and solid-waste routing; Howard said garbage haulers currently route north-side collection to Red Wing and south-side collection to Rochester, producing multiple collection days and added street wear. Howard said the city is continuing environmental review for the proposed large campus (an AUAR) and is investigating federal and bonding funding options for the sewer project.

Howard concluded by offering to return with further details as initiatives progress.","City of Pine Island administrator briefed the Olmsted County Board on rapid population growth, housing needs, a multi-community sanitary sewer district, and pilot ideas for childcare and affordable housing.",{"_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},6543290,"Olmsted County board approves consent agenda, state bonding requests and reaffirms support for History Center",305,541000,846000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3642318-dbc90a5ea7176df50724afe8f5dc5b3b&start=541&end=846","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3642318-dbc90a5ea7176df50724afe8f5dc5b3b/thumbnail_541000.jpg","/articles/6543290/Olmsted-County/Minnesota/Olmsted-County-board-approves-consent-agenda-state-bonding-requests-and-reaffirms-support-for-History-Center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6543290-cfa06646690b322b2808afef74db2670/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173533&Signature=k6aFgKKlCw3L8S1~9L1lSwk~xOKvb3lp3lVBk-TfGQmtWMWpUvGMaEQhxmn~RUKz3WBnTtpvn4ch1fDgW9RJFha98EyY6cU~N85XqYUEQ9FzAaIjAGjZ-irckALKXl2mNtEkoBq72dOD~1ouGdqjJgMIVUlW3urH0MyK1wjo6ryd3g9lgepu1MUnNApvZJz~YdxJ0MfBw6DEWkIH2QOUocGN-5KR5vFbKCf6-Rzf9FgmZTMomU8uQb7QUIOmRQUmuqIz2~WY4flaSj6el0ArXmMz~dVvTnhWHlu3Uq5o3CdaNRjVh4GDQnMWQfQp2sC903FxK2aXIQyzn8obVNcxzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Olmsted County Board approved a multi-item consent agenda and separately voted to reaffirm support for the Olmsted County History Center bonding proposal during its meeting.

The board first approved a consent agenda that included acceptance of the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, approval of state bonding requests, a bridge priority list for county and township bridges, acceptance of a state capital assistance grant to construct a materials recovery facility (MRF) and a declaration that the MRF would be financed as general obligation bond-financed property, a temporary on-sale liquor license for the Viola Gopher Count event, participation in the annual state measures program, acceptance of an emergency services program grant for homelessness housing and support services administration, and approval of several routine items including minutes from May 20.

Board members took the consent items by motion and voice vote; the chair called for ayes and declared the motion carried after no opposition was voiced. Specific roll-call tallies were not recorded in the public discussion.

Following the consent vote, the board considered state bonding requests as amended earlier in the meeting; that motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The board then took a separate motion to reaffirm its prior February support for the Olmsted County History Center bonding proposal. Commissioner Dave moved the reaffirmation; the motion was seconded and approved.

During discussion of item C, members clarified the approach to include the reaffirmation as a separate resolution, rather than embedding additional language inside the state bonding item. Jennifer Birkbaum, legislative analyst with Olmsted County, asked whether the board intended to add the History Center language into the same document or to adopt a separate reaffirmation; the board chose the separate resolution approach.

Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda (minutes; PATH grant; state bonding requests; bridge priority list; state capital assistance grant for MRF; declaration of MRF as general obligation bond-financed property; temporary on-sale liquor license; participation in state measures program; emergency services program grant; business registration lottery fee): Approved (voice vote). Motion text: “Approve consent agenda as presented (except item C pulled for separate consideration).”
- Approve state bonding requests (as amended earlier in the meeting): Approved (voice vote). Motion text: “Approve the state bonding requests as amended earlier today.”
- Reaffirmation of February 5, 2025 support for the Olmsted County History Center bonding proposal: Approved (motion moved by Commissioner Dave; seconded). Motion text: “Move approval of the reaffirmation of the 2/5/2025 support for the bonding proposal of the Olmsted County History center.”

No formal roll-call vote tallies were given in the public portion of the meeting; the chair called for ayes and declared motions carried when no opposition was voiced. The board directed staff to proceed with documentation consistent with the approved motions.

The meeting then moved on to informational items and updates from partner jurisdictions.","The Olmsted County Board approved a multi-item consent agenda including grants and bonding requests, and separately reaffirmed support for the Olmsted County History Center bonding proposal.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenter urges county to examine links between housing shortages, health harms and drug markets

Olmsted County gives update on $92 million County 44–Trunk Highway 14 interchange project

Pine Island reports rapid growth, sewer-district progress and experiments to address housing and childcare

Olmsted County board approves consent agenda, state bonding requests and reaffirms support for History Center