At the meeting the Houston County board approved several administrative and procedural actions: adoption of a consolidated County Policies and Procedures Manual, approval of a three‑year HR/payroll and workforce management contract with UKG through the Minnesota Counties Computer Cooperative (MNCCC), and sponsorship resolutions for local road improvement grant applications for the cities of Houston and Caledonia.

Policy manual: Brent, county staff, presented the manual as a ‘‘living document’’ that will supersede prior county policies and noted that staff will add Minnesota mandatory paid leave and other policies as needed. The board discussed logistics for distribution and required staff sign-offs (digital delivery and acknowledgment via the county’s KnowBe4 system) and approved the resolution to adopt the manual.

HR/payroll software: Staff recommended UKG (through MNCCC) to replace legacy payroll/HR systems; Brent said the implementation/launch fee is approximately $17,006.55 and the recurring annual subscription is about $43,065, with a three‑year rate guarantee. The board approved proceeding with the UKG contract and authorized staff to begin implementation work so the county can go live by June 1, 2026. Presenters noted potential offsetting savings where existing standalone scheduling and timesheet systems can be retired.

Road grant sponsorships: Staff explained the county’s role as sponsor when non‑state‑aid cities apply for Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) funding; the board approved county sponsorship for the City of Houston (Westgate Drive project) and for Caledonia (a roadway extension tied to roundabout detour needs), with staff noting minimal county oversight if funding is awarded.

What’s next: staff will implement the policy-distribution plan, proceed with UKG implementation and return to the board with substantive updates on schedule and cost. Approved sponsor resolutions will permit the cities to pursue LRIP funding under county sponsorship.