The Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners completed its annual organizational business on Jan. 7, approving committee representatives and alternates for 2025 and removing two task forces the board determined are no longer active.

The board reviewed a comprehensive committee quick guide and a longer schedule that lists meeting dates and times. Commissioners discussed swapping alternates on several standing committees to improve coverage; for example, the board agreed to replace the chair's role as alternate on Planning and Zoning with Commissioner Dale Anderson to reflect where most planning meetings occur in the county. Woodland Centers' bylaws were noted to have changed; the county will reduce to a single county representative under the new structure and Commissioner Burke will serve in that seat.

Board members debated the continued need for the Highway 7 and Highway 12 task forces. County staff reported the groups have not met in years and recommended eliminating them from the standing list of committee assignments. After discussion, the board voted to remove the Highway 7 and Highway 12 task forces from the assignments list.

Commissioners also reviewed many other committee assignments (Elected and appointed boards, watershed districts, library boards, joint powers boards and regional bodies). Several appointments were adjusted to reflect commissioner availability and meeting conflicts; staff will circulate a verified list to commissioners after the meeting. The board agreed that when an external body changes bylaws (for example Woodland Centers or Prairie Lakes Youth Program-related boards), the county will confirm whether alternates are allowed and then update assignments accordingly.

Several items were identified for follow up: verifying whether the Southwest West Central Service Cooperative expects an active county representative; confirming meeting schedules for Hot Creek and 1‑Watershed/1‑Plan boards; and clarifying whether the Shakopee Creek headwaters effort will be administered as part of the Chippewa watershed plan. Commissioners also noted that Prairie Lakes Youth Program still requires board engagement following the facility fire and that HUD review of new bylaws for a related housing board will require all five commissioners to attend the first two meetings of the year.

Staff will circulate the final assignments and dates and will bring any recommended deletions or bylaw-related changes back to the board for formal action if necessary.