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Goodhue County board approves in-house Sentences-to-Serve program, hires three positions
Summary
The county board approved establishing an in-house Sentences-to-Serve (STS) program with three staff positions, a plan to launch this year and an estimated leftover 2025 cost of about $86,876 if operational by Nov. 1; full 2026 annual operating impact is estimated at about $137,000.
The Goodhue County Board of Commissioners voted to implement a county-run Sentences-to-Serve (STS) program and to hire three staff positions to operate it.
A county staff member presenting the item said the board previously authorized the county administrator to establish an STS program and to develop an interim plan, but staff concluded an interim program without a coordinator would operate only minimally (one or two people) and would not be cost-effective. The staff recommendation was to implement the long-term plan now so the program could be fully operational before 2025's end.
Under the plan presented, staffing would include two full-time crew leaders to provide seven-day coverage and one full-time STS coordinator/case aide (the coordinator role would be split 50% STS coordinator and 50% court services case aide). The presenters said the two crew leaders permit a rota that provides weekend opportunities for people serving sentences while maintaining weekday coverage for people who work full-time.
Budget estimates attached to the presentation show the estimated cost for the remainder of 2025 would be approximately $86,876 if the program is operational by Nov. 1; that figure includes salary, benefits for three positions and upfront costs (two vans, equipment, phones and computers). Staff said those upfront costs could be offset by remaining contracted-service funds in the 2025 budget ($77,714) and by state-owned vans if the county can obtain them. If the county must purchase new vans, staff cited a state contract price of about $48,000 per new van as a planning reference. Full implementation is projected to increase the 2026 operating budget and levy impact by approximately $137,000 annually.
During discussion commissioners questioned whether an interim coordinator could start sooner, how crews would be filled and whether contracted mowing and fairgrounds work already being covered by other county departments would continue until the STS crews begin. County staff said they had not received firm commitments from available interim crew leaders and that, without a coordinator to recruit and schedule people sentenced by the courts, interim crews would be small and inconsistent.
A motion to approve implementation of the STS program as presented was made and seconded; commissioners voted by voice and the motion carried.
Ending: The board authorized hiring the three positions and directed staff to include the additional operating dollars in the 2026 budget planning process.
