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Winona County starts 12–14 month update to rural comprehensive plan; steering committee to be appointed
Summary
County staff announced a consultant contract with SRF Consulting Group to lead a 12–14 month comprehensive-plan update for unincorporated Winona County, with the county board scheduled to appoint a steering committee and public engagement planned.
Winona County staff told the Planning Commission that the county has contracted SRF Consulting Group to lead an update to the county’s rural comprehensive plan, with a projected 12–14 month schedule and a steering committee to be appointed by the county board.
Staff said the county solicited proposals in the fall, evaluated eight respondents and selected SRF for the project. The consultant has offices in Minneapolis and Madison; staff said SRF scored highest on the county’s evaluation. The planning update will focus on unincorporated (rural) areas and will synthesize existing municipal plans and data sets, including recent housing studies and other county-level information. The aim is to produce a county profile and a public-engagement process that informs steering-committee deliberations.
Staff outlined a proposed steering-committee structure that the county board will consider at its next meeting: staff suggested approximately 15 seats to balance representation (some county commissioners, planning commission and board-of-adjustment members, township representatives, agriculture-sector voices, municipal liaisons and at-large residents). An application process for steering-committee membership is expected to open for about one month and the county board will make appointments from the applicant slate. Staff said the first steering-committee meeting could take place as soon as June if appointments and schedules align.
Commissioners discussed timeframes, committee size and the value of consultants versus an entirely in-house approach. Commissioners who previously served on the 2014 plan update described a multi-meeting process and emphasized structuring meetings so deliberations remain productive; staff said the consultant will compile baseline data, review municipal plans and provide public-engagement tools. Housing and rural housing arrangements were flagged by commissioners as likely priority topics in the update.
Next steps: The county board will consider the steering-committee framework and consultant contract details at its next meeting; staff will share a work plan and begin data collection and outreach in advance of the first steering-committee meeting.
