Commissioners elected Commissioner Key as Wabasha County Board chair for 2025 and Commissioner Wabbe as vice chair, approved a multi-item consent agenda, set a Feb. 4 public hearing on transferring municipal state-aid construction funds, and approved two conditional-use permits (CUPs) for manufacturing and an event center during the board’s first regular meeting of the year.

The board opened by asking for nominations to serve as chair and vice chair for 2025. Following nominations and seconds, Chair and vice-chair appointments were confirmed by voice vote. The board then approved the agenda as presented and moved on to the consent agenda, which included approval of December 17 minutes; payment of claims, per diems and meal vouchers; acceptance of several donations; appointment and reappointments to the extension committee; a transfer of local affordable housing aid to the housing trust fund; authorization for solicitation of transportation project bids; and authorization to purchase two Dodge Durangos, among other items.

County Engineer Dietrich Fleche asked the board to set a public hearing, as required by state statute, to transfer the county’s municipal state aid construction account funds into the county’s regular state aid construction account so the county can maximize use of those funds in 2025. The board set the hearing for Feb. 4, 2025, at 9:15 a.m.

Staff opened and reviewed three bids for the county’s legal public notice newspaper. The Wabasha County Herald submitted the lowest bid at $10.20 per SAU (statutory advertising unit); the board approved awarding the legal-notice contract to the Herald.

In planning and zoning business, the board approved a conditional-use permit application from John Burns to amend an existing CUP to allow manufacturing of veterinary supplies and a change in ownership. The board approved the Burns CUP with five conditions: (1) use per submitted plans/specs; (2) no retail sales on the property; (3) exterior illumination limited to downcast fixtures; (4) manufacturing hours limited to 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday; and (5) maximum of 20 full‑time employees.

The board also approved a conditional-use permit from Savannah Walsh to operate an event center in an A‑1 district, subject to nine conditions: (1) use per submitted plans/specs; (2) seasonal operation May–October with hours Friday 8 a.m.–10 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m.–midnight, Sunday 8 a.m.–10 p.m.; (3) outdoor noise not perceptible beyond property boundaries per chapter 9.02.1 of the Wabasha County Zoning Ordinance; (4) no parking along County Road 31; (5) sewage treated per Minnesota Rule chapter 9408.1 (as stated in the application); (6) events limited to no more than 250 attendees; (7) the CUP terminates if ownership changes from the applicant; (8) compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws; and (9) applicant must meet with the county engineer to determine safe site access.

The board approved annual committee appointments as presented, keeping the historical practice of assigning the board chair and vice chair as the primary representatives on the negotiation and budget committees, and approved the proposed 2025 meeting dates (generally the first and third Tuesday of each month, with noted exceptions for Truth in Taxation and Board of Equalization meetings).

Near the end of the public meeting, the board voted to recess to a closed session under Minnesota Statute 13D.05, subdivision 3(b), to meet with retained counsel regarding county litigation over the setting of an elected official’s salary.

Votes at a glance:
- Chair appointment: Commissioner Key — approved by voice vote (all present voted aye).
- Vice chair appointment: Commissioner Wabbe — approved by voice vote (all present voted aye).
- Agenda approval — approved by voice vote.
- Consent agenda (minutes, claims, donations, committee appointments, vehicle purchase, etc.) — approved by voice vote.
- Public hearing set: Transfer of municipal state aid construction funds to regular state aid construction account — set for Feb. 4, 2025, at 9:15 a.m. — motion approved by voice vote.
- Legal newspaper contract: Wabasha County Herald at $10.20 per SAU — approved by voice vote.
- Burns CUP (manufacturing veterinary supplies) — approved with five conditions as listed above — approved by voice vote.
- Walsh CUP (event center) — approved with nine conditions as listed above — approved by voice vote.
- Committee appointments — approved as presented, keeping chair and vice chair on negotiation and budget committees — approved by voice vote.
- 2025 meeting dates — approved by voice vote.
- Recess to closed session under Minn. Stat. 13D.05, subd. 3(b) to consult counsel regarding litigation about an elected official’s salary — motion approved by voice vote.

Ending: The board recessed to closed session to consult with counsel; no substantive action from that closed session was recorded in the open transcript.