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Goodhue County board approves staffing, contract and personnel actions; directs follow-up on juvenile detention options
Summary
The board approved a land-use staffing plan, reappointed the county assessor, approved a contract for interim land use leadership, and approved retention-committee funding and service-award changes; commissioners asked staff to return with juvenile-detention contracting options.
At its Oct. 11 meeting the Goodhue County Board approved several administrative and personnel actions, including a staffing reorganization in Land Use Management, reappointment of the county assessor, a contract for interim land-use leadership, and funding changes requested by the retention committee.
Land Use staff summarized options after a recent retirement and recommended structuring the department with a land use management director and a zoning assistant (option 1B) instead of backfilling the planning-and-zoning administrator role. A commissioner moved for option 1B and the board approved the change by voice vote. The board also approved a contract to hire Megan Smith of Every River LLC as interim planning and zoning administrator and land use management director on a minimum three-month contract while the county completes hiring.
In finance business the board reappointed the county assessor to a new four-year term beginning Jan. 1, consistent with the statutory appointment process discussed by finance staff (Minnesota Statute 273.61). Finance staff described the assessor's qualifications and the statewide timing for four-year appointments; the motion to reappoint carried by voice vote.
Human Resources presented retention-committee recommendations to increase employee service awards (monetize some awards and add eight hours of vacation time) and to fund the employee committee at $10,000 annually. Staff said the budgeted cost for the awards and committee would be about $16,000 for 2024 and that the vacation-time value is accounted for as non-cash time valued at roughly $15,500; commissioners discussed funding sources and agreed ongoing costs should be accommodated in regular budgeting.
During new business a commissioner asked the board to revisit juvenile-detention planning. He suggested seeking contracting options for juvenile detention beds as a near-term alternative to building a local facility and asked administration to return with contracting options for a future meeting.
The board moved to pay bills and adjourned.
