County raises new-well permit fee by $30 to cover Minnesota Department of Health increases

Blue Earth County commissioners on June 24 approved a midyear adjustment to the county’s fee schedule to absorb fee increases recently imposed by the Minnesota Department of Health for delegated well program services.

Property and environmental resources staff told the board the state raised core function fees for new well construction effective July 1. To cover the state’s increase and associated well-sealing fees, county staff proposed increasing the county new-well permit fee from $300 to $330. The board approved the fee adjustment by voice vote.

Staff explained the county will not introduce a separate county charge for well sealing: well-sealing fees tied to new well installations will be covered by the increased new-well permit fee. Separately, well sealing not associated with a new well often uses the county’s well-sealing cost-share program; staff said increasing fees for those separate well-sealing projects would reduce available cost-share dollars and therefore proposed no change to that fee.

Commissioners stressed that the fee change was a reaction to state action. A commissioner noted the increase is required by the state and the county’s change is intended only to pass along the state fees, not to raise revenue beyond those costs.

The board recorded the fee increase as approved; county billing and permitting systems will reflect the new $330 fee effective July 1 as required by Minnesota Department of Health changes.