Wright County approves Montrose land purchase agreement, switches probation to community corrections and awards multiple contracts

Wright County commissioners on April 15 approved a set of infrastructure, procurement and administrative actions, including authorization to sign a purchase agreement for a 5.98‑acre parcel in the City of Montrose for a replacement highway maintenance shop; a formal move of county probation services to a Community Corrections Act (401) delivery model; and multiple contract awards and resolutions related to roads and county facilities.

The board authorized signatures on a purchase agreement for a 5.98‑acre parcel in the City of Montrose (parcel 112‑050‑000050) for a new highway shop, and instructed staff to negotiate a due‑diligence period not to exceed 150 days to allow the city planning and zoning review. Highway right‑of‑way agent Jeremy Carlson told commissioners the county is proceeding on a parcel the city suggested, and clarified, “there is no land swap of any kind like that.” The county informed the board the purchase price exceeded the amount budgeted in some CIP lost‑fund lines by $70,000; approving the purchase agreement would also authorize use of additional lost funds to cover that gap.

Commissioners also adopted a resolution prioritizing deficient bridges in Wright County (annual list update) and approved a resolution designating April 21–25 as National Work Zone Awareness Week in Wright County. Both resolutions passed by unanimous voice votes.

On procurement and construction: the board accepted final acceptance for Contract 2306 and authorized final payment to Dunix in the amount of $57,582.06 for work on County Road 148. Commissioners also approved awarding the household hazardous waste facility electrical contract to AJ Moore Electric, Inc., at the low qualified bid of $573,400 to avoid a multi‑week delay.

The board accepted a $1,600 donation from the friends and family of Mary Jo Schmeid for a bench at Schroeder Park, adopted scheduling for several committees of the whole (Parks and Recreation Committee: May 12 at 10:00 a.m.; Transportation Committee: May 13 at 10:30 a.m.), and approved Ways and Means Committee recommendations, which included a $72,000 allocation for Joint Ditch 15 outstanding expenses and a process step for the opioid advisory council’s requests-for-proposal scoring. The Ways and Means motion passed with one abstention recorded.

In a significant administrative change, commissioners voted to convert county probation services to a Community Corrections (Act 401) county delivery model. Mike McMillan (court services) and Administrator Kreiser described an implementation plan and said courts, county attorney’s office and county finance staff had been consulted; the board approved the resolution unanimously.

Motions and votes were recorded across multiple agenda items. For the Montrose property authorization, the motion as read on the record authorized signatures on the purchase agreement for parcel 112‑050‑000050 and delegated administration the authority to negotiate a due‑diligence period not to exceed 150 days. For the Community Corrections action, staff noted the county will establish an advisory board and move to the 401 delivery model under the implementation plan in the meeting packet.

County staff said the Montrose purchase will proceed to city planning and zoning review during due diligence; if the city planning commission or city council denies the use, the county’s extended due diligence period provides an out under the purchase agreement. Commissioners emphasized that the site was chosen after consideration of other parcels south of County Road 12 and that the selected parcel met soils and runoff concerns expressed for other sites.

Administrators also reported a $16,000 grant from the Central Minnesota Council on Aging awarded to the historical society for front‑door and restroom accessibility work — noted during general remarks near adjournment.

The meeting adjourned at 9:47 a.m.