[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6163009,"mediaKeyId","5436764-ad519fc7a5622d237b67bbe7a559ec92","parentId",5436764,"title","Board approves memorandum of agreement to add lead eligibility and lead child‑support positions to union salary grid","audioSeconds",142,"startMs",219000,"endMs",361000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5436764-ad519fc7a5622d237b67bbe7a559ec92&start=219&end=361","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5436764-ad519fc7a5622d237b67bbe7a559ec92/thumbnail_219000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6163009/Houston-County/Minnesota/Board-approves-memorandum-of-agreement-to-add-lead-eligibility-and-lead-childsupport-positions-to-union-salary-grid","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163009-21b02e3912730e9f2ee125bba007f7ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1773571466&Signature=Sn7jaI7WguN-xSJ9SLgRdGvWdszEfD9cAdd5JXGxNBHJlYUVP9ImYRzzGN9a-iAeg~RsmahjaWie43YeogC0dGiSA~l6lGmVP~WcucZEf~uLgdxaRsaJWENTF92aLEqKJy3GBbzwn2WnPbAfwneOMLSto5tAiz~T8zgiPxGgfP96tBk0xg0F64JUy23mWzLqhNmtecUGrbuXkxRxqPG1EmrBKndcIqwF65UfCBb4aKrqqLAIwD-4FCg8xWmlBqGK08UXioCiIM7fHgwgovnfgv5bdqwexnSYwPPBDWcPDppW2AVr3j2OmqtAY29btTdwtZ9~zRMcSq~d7CJoEU~hrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Houston County, MN","date","2025-07-21T16:23:32Z","article","The Houston County Board approved a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to add two existing lead positions to the Local Union 2166 (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees/AFL‑CIO) wage and salary grid. County staff said the lead eligibility worker and the lead child‑support officer have been performing in those roles and were already covered by the union; the MOA simply places their titles and salaries into the union salary grid.

County human resources and the union agreed the change reconciles an omission made when the contract language was negotiated: the two lead job titles were not listed in the wage and salary grid though incumbents were represented. Staff said one of the positions is in the process of being filled and the MOA clarifies compensation placement for that recruitment.

Commissioners moved and seconded the MOA, conducted a roll call and approved the agreement unanimously.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Official Houston County Board Meeting 6-24-25","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved a memorandum of agreement to add the lead eligibility worker and lead child‑support officer job titles to the Local Union 2166 wage and salary grid.","taxTitle","Houston County, Minnesota","taxId",73152,"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},6163014,"Houston County board adopts new fees, including local cannabis registration tiers; special‑use ATV permit held out",756,4621000,5377000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5436764-ad519fc7a5622d237b67bbe7a559ec92&start=4621&end=5377","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5436764-ad519fc7a5622d237b67bbe7a559ec92/thumbnail_4621000.jpg","/articles/6163014/Houston-County/Minnesota/Houston-County-board-adopts-new-fees-including-local-cannabis-registration-tiers-specialuse-ATV-permit-held-out","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163014-5f1e5285597f1adb9fc1a4f91776c74a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773571466&Signature=mSsoCQjD8IQBPWIaArX06DKbLPGRDQudwCtPXlDtcmtu2UwUWkH~2XVifbinCTZxNDf5FTdBG2nTgeUMjs22lnHWxJsfvtOS7412oqGF7R1QL~QN7~6qntYT5czkKT67PgvE9VMs28B1xDsq4bfgNoypNLKqfdkk1swwNlwzusWW1vtC4FR2YE93bf8GpmFeJWU~ElajMom-juMmtF78qIujJiYQ9dePACj-gdY2KbyoxvAZRvJhfusFFEk0iCLakGtI~7FAGKENJcgjpu3byAqJp73slMBhxuE5h4GifFm9xQrIdYmqR17mGCuY2apk-2Wx3~7BWX8Hda1L-s1KYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Houston County Board of Commissioners approved a package of new fees and fee changes at Tuesday’s meeting after a public hearing. The package includes a county registration framework for state‑licensed cannabis businesses, increases to several existing fees and the creation of a small number of new fees. The board excluded the proposed Special Use Vehicle permit fee tied to the ATV/UTV ordinance; that fee will be considered only if the board adopts the ordinance.

The change is significant because local registration and renewal fees are the principal local revenue the county can collect from cannabis businesses under state law. The new schedule matches the state’s licensing categories and sets maximum local registration levels the county may charge.

County staff advised the board that the cannabis registration schedule follows the classification the state is using and that the proposed amounts reflect the maximum the county can assess under statute. The auditor‑treasurer’s office will administer retail registrations. County staff said initial registration fees include the first-year renewal; separate renewal fees begin in year two.

Carol (county staff) presented the revised fee list and explained the auditor‑treasurer will collect registration fees for retailers and related retail endorsements. She said the initial registration includes the first year’s renewal and that microbusinesses that do not seek retail endorsement would not pay a retail registration fee.

Several members of the public and prospective license applicants spoke during the hearing. Alex Traister, a Brownsville resident and owner of CarbonMN LLC, asked the board to consider administrative costs of processing registrations and suggested lower fees for production businesses and reduced fees for social‑equity applicants. County staff said the registration process will be administered through the auditor‑treasurer and that the board can revisit fee levels later if necessary.

Other fee changes approved at the meeting included: increasing the tobacco license fee and adding a late renewal fee; a modest increase in the Sunday liquor license fee; updated peddler/transient merchant fees; and a small buoy‑permit fee for privately installed advisory buoys. The board voted to approve the package by roll call; all commissioners voted yes.

The board asked staff to evaluate administrative costs and keep the option open to adjust fees in the future. Commissioners also noted that municipal governments within the county may adopt their own local fees and ordinances, which could be recognized under the county’s approach to permits and registrations.","After a public hearing, the Houston County Board approved several new and updated county fees — notably a multi‑tier registration schedule for state‑licensed cannabis businesses — while postponing any fee tied to a proposed ATV/UTV special‑use permit until the ordinance is finalized.",{"_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},6163019,"Houston County holds public hearing on proposed ATV, UTV and golf-cart ordinance; no action taken",2735,1864000,4599000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5436764-ad519fc7a5622d237b67bbe7a559ec92&start=1864&end=4599","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5436764-ad519fc7a5622d237b67bbe7a559ec92/thumbnail_1864000.jpg","/articles/6163019/Houston-County/Minnesota/Houston-County-holds-public-hearing-on-proposed-ATV-UTV-and-golf-cart-ordinance-no-action-taken","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6163019-26812e7791d124d6b9683540be1dd757/orig.mp4?Expires=1773571466&Signature=F53MqSMWPNmzC5~sy8CwCsNosVQu9cm4oeqMnVVLlxjmXjVyqHjE6EA1yL7Nd1Z90-i2bJeS7OPg6YJSIv1DBSPKgBY04xVpdFwuJrVFHptj~WW5emeI2J5UwBr-SnGTFSBgrpJrCJITKxMt50X9VrdFA7JIAyYbzVVxqRVQTqQXLsg7IvKf3LwlDBSL4eHVG3KLR4Dft6Q5bB90MWPqXgHIeNRUpfD6EACm-Q4xMoHnezUd1FLUE31j5nXOxqAFfZJhvnQqyG6NyJO3pLBipCP3HFxEOKsCLKTP98c0nF44eBYuI0SAZ9P2SmH5mcapfnRIIYCNTfiDSSoWKUwyZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Houston County commissioners held a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to allow and regulate all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility task vehicles (UTVs) and street‑ready golf carts on county roads, but took no action after hearing roughly a half-dozen residents and business owners. The sheriff described a planned county permit and education process and answered questions about enforcement, agricultural exemptions and reciprocity with adjacent jurisdictions.

The hearing matters because county statutes and local ordinances affect who can legally operate low‑speed off‑road vehicles on county roads, how law enforcement enforces those rules and whether local tourism and businesses gain customers or face new neighborhood conflicts. Commissioners said the hearing will inform a possible future ordinance; they did not adopt language at the meeting.

Sheriff Andrew spoke for the sheriff’s office and described the draft ordinance’s goals and a proposed permit process. “The ordinance that we proposed is to give actually the citizens more freedom than the current law,” he said, adding the office plans a streamlined permit people could apply for online with a temporary printout and a mailed sticker after review. The sheriff told commissioners the county could accept permits issued by other jurisdictions and that a county sticker could be honored in neighboring counties that have similar ordinances.

The sheriff explained a difference between agricultural registrations and recreational registrations under state rules: agricultural registrations limit use to agricultural purposes, while the recreational registration would be the category targeted by this ordinance. He also said age and training requirements cited in state statutes would apply: “Anybody under the age of 18 has to have a valid driver’s license and the ATV certificate,” he said during discussion about minors.

Public commenters expressed mixed views. Bev Bauer of the Caledonia area said residents already pay state registration: “We already paid $66 each for the Minnesota permit,” and asked whether counties would add more stickers and fees and how out‑of‑state riders would be handled. Gregory Hossman of La Crescent said concerns about traffic, pedestrians and enforcement should be considered where county roads run through denser neighborhoods. Colin Luz, a La Crescent business owner, urged the board to permit street‑ready golf carts, noting models sold in the county often include lights and turn signals and “actually top out at 25 miles per hour.”

Some La Crescent officials and residents said the city is still evaluating whether an ordinance would fit the city’s downtown redevelopment and pedestrian environment. Teresa O’Donnell Ebner, a La Crescent city councilor, said she was mainly concerned about minors as operators and wanted more education and age‑related limits implemented where appropriate.

Commissioners and the sheriff discussed enforcement expectations: the sheriff said deputies would not proactively stop every recreation vehicle but that the ordinance would provide clearer authority when enforcement was necessary, especially after crashes. Multiple speakers asked how county permits would interact with city permits and with out‑of‑state riders; the sheriff said city permits would be recognized as permits from another jurisdiction under the draft language and that the county planned a simple, possibly free or nominal, three‑year registration if the board chose to set one.

The hearing produced no ordinance vote. After public comment the board closed the hearing and returned to regular business. Commissioners said they will consider the public input and whether to return with a draft ordinance or fee schedule in a future meeting.","The Houston County Board held a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to authorize and regulate ATVs, UTVs and street-ready golf carts on county roads. The sheriff and residents described how a county permit would work, raised enforcement and safety concerns, and asked for clearer education; the board took no final action.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves memorandum of agreement to add lead eligibility and lead child‑support positions to union salary grid

Houston County board adopts new fees, including local cannabis registration tiers; special‑use ATV permit held out

Houston County holds public hearing on proposed ATV, UTV and golf-cart ordinance; no action taken