County board names chair, vice chair; awards official newspaper contract and approves routine business

The Goodhue County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 7 unanimously elected Commissioner Brad Anderson as board chair and Commissioner Susan Boettcher as vice chair for 2025, approved the county’s regular meeting schedule, awarded the official county newspaper contract, and carried routine consent items.

The board nominated Anderson for chair and cast a unanimous ballot; commissioners then nominated and unanimously approved Boettcher as vice chair. County Administrator Scott Arneson opened nominations and facilitated the organizational votes.

The board also set its regular meetings for the year to generally occur on the first and third Tuesdays at 9 a.m. in the Goodhue County Boardroom, with noted exceptions for the Cannon Valley (Cannon) events and the Goodhue County Fair. Arneson said the truth-in-taxation meeting is typically held at 6 p.m. and scheduled around AMC meetings.

On a required statutory action, the board opened and reviewed sealed bids for the county’s official publication. Staff reported two bids: the Kenyon Leader at $3 per standard advertising unit (SAU) for first and second publications and the Redwood/Republican Eagle at $5 per column inch per insertion. Staff recommended the low bid. After discussion about circulation and statutory requirements for print publication, the board approved awarding the contract to the Kenyon Leader.

The board also approved routine items: the minutes from Dec. 17, 2024; the meeting agenda; the consent agenda (10 items); and the 2025 per diem rate as presented (the board’s discussion referenced a $100 daily per diem in line with the proposed budget). All motions recorded were approved by unanimous vote.

Minutes and votes recorded during the meeting show the board acted on these procedural matters to meet statutory publication and organizational requirements and to finalize routine administrative business.

Votes at a glance - 2025 Chair: Commissioner Brad Anderson — Motion to nominate and cast unanimous ballot approved (unanimous). - 2025 Vice Chair: Commissioner Susan Boettcher — Motion to nominate and cast unanimous ballot approved (unanimous). - Meeting schedule (first and third Tuesdays, generally 9 a.m., with exceptions noted) — Approved (unanimous). - Official newspaper contract: Kenyon Leader (low bid $3 per SAU for first and second publications) — Approved (unanimous). - Minutes (Dec. 17, 2024), agenda, consent agenda (10 items) — Approved (unanimous). - 2025 per diem rates (as presented; board discussion referenced $100 per diem in the proposed budget) — Approved (unanimous).

The board heard short staff reports and administrative introductions, including an introduction of newly hired outreach and communications specialist Nick Lemmer. No contested roll-call votes were recorded for these items; all routine motions passed by voice vote.

Looking ahead, the board noted the calendar exceptions for county meetings at local events and that the truth-in-taxation meeting remains an evening meeting typically scheduled around AMC activities.