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County and Prairie Woods agree MOU to clarify operations on county land
Summary
Kandiyoi County approved a five‑year memorandum of understanding with Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center to clarify responsibilities for maintenance, capital planning and use of county property where Prairie Woods operates.
The county board on Tuesday approved a memorandum of understanding with Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center that clarifies the nonprofit's responsibilities for operating and maintaining its facility on county property and sets a capital‑improvement notification process.
Kelsey Baker, Kandiyoi County administrator, said the agreement formalizes a longstanding "handshake" relationship and sets a $100,000 threshold for capital expenditures that would require county board approval. Smaller operational matters—routine mowing, plowing and building maintenance—will remain under Prairie Woods's day‑to‑day authority, Baker said.
Jennifer Swenson, Prairie Woods executive director, thanked commissioners and described the MOU as a way to continue programming, maintain the property and plan joint capital projects. The nonprofit recently renewed its operations planning and will present larger renovation or capital requests to the county for approval when they exceed the MOU threshold.
Why it matters: Prairie Woods is located on county land, and the MOU clarifies when the organization should seek board approval for major expenditures and how both parties will coordinate on planning. The MOU was approved by the Prairie Woods board July 21 and by the county on Tuesday.
Next steps: Prairie Woods will continue to operate programs and to present capital project plans to the county for approval when thresholds are met.
