McLeod County board adopts 2026 fee schedule, sets final levy and approves multiple contracts
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Summary
At its Dec. 16 meeting the McLeod County Board adopted the 2026 fee schedule, set the final property tax levy at a 2.5% increase, approved pay and benefit agreements, and authorized contracts for services including aerial imagery and several human-services renewals.
The McLeod County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 16 adopted the county's 2026 fee schedule and set the final property tax levy at a 2.5% increase, approving a slate of routine and department-specific contracts and personnel actions.
The board opened a public hearing on the proposed 2026 fee schedule, which county staff said was advertised in the McLeod County Chronicle and reviewed at earlier workshops; no public speakers asked for changes and the board adopted the schedule effective Jan. 1, 2026. County Finance Director Colleen Roebach and staff noted the changes were limited to items that required additional revenue to support services.
The board then voted to set the county's final levy at a 2.5% increase for 2026. Commissioners said the levy increase will be allocated to the road and bridge fund to respond to rising maintenance needs, including bridge repairs and salt usage. Commissioner Wright moved the final levy motion and the board approved it by voice vote.
On compensation and governance matters the board approved a set of salary and per-diem resolutions recommended by the budget committee: the county commissioner annual salary was set at $42,642 effective Jan. 1, 2026; the auditor-treasurer salary was set at $122,983; the sheriff's salary was set at $155,250; and the county attorney's salary was set at $201,825. Committee per diems and the mileage reimbursement rate remained unchanged.
Multiple county contracts and renewals were approved. Highlights included: - A contract with Government Management Group to prepare central service cost allocation plans (total $28,007.50). - Final acceptance and payment of $283,942.65 to Crowell Inc. for a completed state-aid concrete overlay project. - Approval of a joint bituminous pavement maintenance agreement with the City of Hutchinson for coordinated 2026 sealant work. - Renewals and service agreements through Health & Human Services, including Painted Horse Ranch LLC (supervised visitation, $55/hr), Terry Niemeyer Nest LLC (support services, $52.18/hr, not to exceed $26,090), a cooperative fraud-investigation agreement with the county attorney's office (attorney time $150/hr; investigative $40/hr; not to exceed $22,000 plus $480 annual cell reimbursement), and a contract with Central Minnesota Jobs & Training Services for MFIP/DWP services ($159,754, a small reduction from 2025 due to state allocation changes).
The board also approved a range of employer-sponsored health-insurance MOAs across bargaining units, hired a temporary full-time elections staffer for 2026, and extended two temporary part-time child-protection positions through Dec. 31, 2026. The board granted tentative approval to a collective bargaining agreement with the McLeod County Minnesota Nurses Association (added to the agenda); staff said the county's side of the agreement was approved and the agreement will be executed after union ratification and final attorney review.
The meeting closed after scheduling and housekeeping items; the board agreed to cancel the Dec. 30 meeting since the remaining business for the year had been conducted.
What comes next: the fee schedule takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, and staff will post filing and election information online for the special election called to fill the District 5 commissioner vacancy.
