Goodhue County weighs taking over sentence-to-serve crew after state funding cut

Goodhue County commissioners on Monday reviewed options for continuing a long-running sentence-to-serve (STS) work‑crew program after the State of Minnesota notified the county it will end funding for the program effective June 18, 2025.

County staff told the board the STS program has supplied supervised crews for public works, facilities maintenance and community projects in Goodhue County for more than 35 years. Jenny McMahon, appearing on the meeting’s remote connection, said the state cut the program for budgetary reasons: “due to budgetary reasons within the state, and the way it was explained to us that federal funding was cut and therefore, the state had to cut different programs.”

The change reduces the crew leadership previously supplied under the state contract and leaves the county with a choice: create and operate its own STS program under court services, add public‑works full‑time employees to absorb the workloads, or outsource the recurring work to private contractors.

Why it matters: County staff said the STS crews perform routine mowing and landscape maintenance, fair setup and teardown, trail work on the Cannon Valley Trail, assistance during severe‑weather responses and other community projects. Staff and multiple commissioners cited justice and rehabilitation benefits for participants and noted that losing the program could increase jail time, reduce community accountability opportunities and disproportionately affect low‑income people.

What staff presented

Stacy (county staff) summarized program history and recent contract changes: Goodhue County had contracted with the state for three STS crew leaders for about 35 years; the contract changed to two crew leaders effective July 1, 2024, and the county now has a 20‑hours‑per‑week Institutional Community Work Crew (ICWIC) contract with the Minnesota Correctional Facility–Red Wing through June 30, 2027. Crew leader Rodney Brookins and others still operate under that arrangement for limited hours each week.

Staff provided 2024 activity data showing large numbers of STS days ordered by courts (for example, 3,290 Department of Corrections days ordered with 879 completed in 2024, and 329 adult days ordered from county court services with 81.5 completed in the year). Staff noted courts commonly allow up to two years for people to complete ordered STS days, which explains lower completion counts within a single calendar year.

Three options and estimated costs

- Option 1 — County‑run STS under Court Services: Hire two crew leaders to provide seven‑day coverage, plus a 1.0 FTE split role (50% STS coordinator / 50% case aid) to manage referrals, scheduling and compliance. Staff said this model maximizes the number of participants working and is the most efficient cost‑per‑worker. The county currently budgets $155,428 for the STS contract; staff provided preliminary salary and benefits estimates (including a $94,004.82 estimate for the 1.0 FTE coordinator/case aid and other line‑items flagged as estimates). Upfront costs cited included about $6,000 for IT and vehicle estimates on state contract pricing at roughly $47,000 per van if purchased new.

- Option 2 — Increase Public Works FTEs: Add three public‑works positions (estimated additional recurring cost roughly $270,000) and purchase equipment (state contract pricing cited around $80,000 for a 1‑ton truck in a given configuration). Staff noted taking this route means county staff would prioritize county work and that fewer services might be available for outside entities such as fairs, trail groups or townships.

- Option 3 — Outsource contracted services: Use private contractors for mowing, landscape and other services. Staff estimated outsourcing would add roughly $247,000 to recurring operating costs compared with current budgets; the estimate did not include work the remaining contracted ICWIC crew will perform.

Staff also explained equipment and inventory options: smaller tools and shop inventory would transfer to the county at no charge if the county adopts an in‑house program; larger leased vans and equipment could be purchased at fair market value or might go to state surplus if the county declines.

Board reaction and next steps

Commissioners and staff debated practical questions: whether there are enough participants available to fill crews seven days a week, how quickly a county program could be up and running, and whether the county should charge cities, townships or nonprofit fairs for services (the county historically charged $200 per day to some levy authorities and often waived fees for fair setup/tear‑down). ADC (adult detention center) and jail staff said participation fluctuates but that weekend availability typically increases street‑referred participants; crew leader Rodney Brookins told commissioners the county’s crew average in recent times was “about 2 to 2 and a half people,” and he stated his ideal crew size is four.

Multiple commissioners voiced support for pursuing a county program and for hiring at least an interim crew leader to avoid an immediate service gap. County staff said an interim hire and a staged implementation are possible but that a seamless July 1 takeover would be unrealistic without board direction and time for HR processes. Staff said the state requested an answer within about a month on whether the county will claim smaller equipment or buy larger vans before surplus.

No formal motion or recorded roll‑call vote occurred in the meeting minutes provided. Staff requested direction; commissioners expressed a consensus to move forward with planning, to explore an interim hire, and to return with an implementation timeline and formal agenda item for the next regular meeting where board action could be taken.

Quotations from the record

Jenny McMahon (state representative, on Teams): “due to budgetary reasons within the state, and the way it was explained to us that federal funding was cut and therefore, the state had to cut different programs.”

Rodney Brookins (Goodhue County crew leader): “The average number we have, I’d say about last year, is probably 2 to 2 and a half people.”

Rodney Brookins: “My ideal number is 4. You get more than 4, you kinda lose track of them.”

Ending

Staff will prepare a recommended implementation plan, timelines and cost detail for a future board action; commissioners asked staff to bring a formal motion to a regular meeting for any hires or equipment purchases. The state asked the county to indicate its intent on equipment and inventory within the next month so the state can either transfer items or place them in surplus.