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Houston County board approves routine business, holds closed session on labor negotiations; commissioners give local updates
Summary
The Houston County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the agenda, minutes, consent items, payments and an assignment of airport lease, and held a closed session on labor negotiations under Minnesota law; staff and commissioners provided updates on training, planning, a career fair and local contracts.
The Houston County Board of Commissioners approved a series of routine items, took one administrative action on an airport lease and met in closed session to discuss labor negotiations.
Votes at a glance - Agenda: approved by voice vote. - Minutes (Feb. 25): approved by voice vote. - Consent agenda (described in the meeting as "4 items, 5 items on the consent agenda"): approved by voice vote. - Payments: board approved payment list by voice vote. - Assignment and assumption of Airport Lease 1010 (Lot 10): approved (see separate article). - Motion to go into closed session pursuant to Minnesota Statute 13D.3, subdivision 1(b), to discuss labor negotiations: approved by voice vote. The board later reconvened in open session and stated there would be no action resulting from the closed session.
During the discussion portion of the meeting, commissioners and staff reported brief updates. A county staff member said the county's human-resources officer has returned and that staff will present information next week about options for the recorder's office, including an elected versus appointed option. A county official encouraged board members to attend a training seminar for Board of Adjustment and planning commission members in Mankato in April and said attorneys will be present to answer zoning and ordinance questions.
Commissioner Wright said he attended a legislative update that noted concern about possible reductions in federal grant funding and highlighted potential mandates and training requirements, including child-protection training. A commissioner reported an active-shooter training exercise planned by the sheriff on April 3. A planning-commission update noted a recent action to rezone some farmland to residential and to add a minerals provision for quarries to cover materials such as frac sand.
Allison, a staff member, said the annual Bluff Country Collaborative Career Fair is scheduled for tomorrow but that organizers are monitoring weather and may cancel if local schools close; she said businesses and the public will be notified if the event is canceled. Staff also reported that CETA's contract work with Spring Grove may be scaled back because some properties previously managed under that relationship have been sold.
The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn that passed by voice vote.
