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Votes at a glance: Wabasha County commissioners approve agenda, consent items and move to closed session for labor negotiations
Summary
The board approved the meeting agenda, the consent agenda (including a $2,000 donation for the sheriff's drone, appointment of William Kerr as veteran service officer and several highway contracts), and voted to go into closed session under Minnesota statute to discuss labor negotiations; motions carried unanimously where recorded.
At the opening of the meeting the Wabasha County Board of Commissioners approved the meeting agenda and later approved the consent agenda. The board also voted to go into a closed session to prepare for labor negotiations and later recessed to a budget workshop and an AMC District 9 meeting.
Key outcomes and votes:
- Agenda approval: Motion to approve the agenda was moved by Commissioner Springer and seconded by Commissioner Powers. The chair called the question and the motion carried (all those present voted "aye").
- Closed session for labor negotiations: The board moved into a closed session under Minnesota Statute 13D.01, subdivision 1(a) to prepare for labor negotiations covering county labor contracts that expire at year end. The motion to go into closed session was moved by Commissioner Wabi and seconded by Commissioner Waka (the board voted "aye" and the motion carried). Present in closed session were all five commissioners, labor counsel Susan Hansen, representatives from David Drown and Associates (Mark Goldberg), and human-resources staff Sean Huth and Katie Strebler; county staff reported the board provided guidance to counsel on next steps.
- Consent agenda approval: The board approved the consent agenda by motion (mover: Commissioner Wabi; second: Commissioner Springer). Items listed on the consent agenda included: minutes from May 6; claims, per diems and meal vouchers; a $2,000 donation from the Melville Sportsman's Club for the sheriff’s drone; appointment of William Kerr as Wabasha County veteran service officer; an agreement with MnDOT and Wabasha County; a highway work contract with Rochester Sand and Gravel; approval to purchase a copier for the veteran service office; and approval of the Advanced Correctional Health Care contract renewal for the sheriff’s office. The chair called the question and the motion carried (all those present voted "aye").
- Recess and scheduling: The board voted to recess to a budget workshop following the meeting and to note the AMC District 9 meeting on June 2 in Lake City; that motion carried on a voice vote.
Why this matters: The closed session relates to county labor contracts that affect county employees and compensation; consent-agenda approvals put personnel, procurement and contracts into effect without separate roll-call votes. The drone donation listed in the consent agenda links to the sheriff’s office public hearing earlier in the meeting about a planned drone purchase.
What was not decided: The sheriff’s drone purchase itself was not approved during the public hearing and will return to the board for a formal vote at a later date (staff indicated June 3 as the likely meeting).
