The Waseca County Board of Commissioners on June 30 elected its leadership for 2026, approved annual administrative resolutions and adopted several staff recommendations affecting county fees, drainage damage payments and appointments.

The board first accepted nominations and elected the 2026 chair by motion and voice vote, then appointed a vice chair by unanimous consent. During public comment a representative of Palmer Bus Service told commissioners that buses had gone into ditches on rural township roads and urged the county to help connect the contractor with township officials and to prioritize sanding and road maintenance for student safety. Commissioners asked follow‑up questions and offered assistance making those connections.

In a substantive action, drainage authority staff presented proposed 2026 crop damage payment rates based on a three‑year average and current crop prices. Staff said the countywide average yield for corn is 194.3 bushels per acre at $4.09 per bushel, producing a proposed corn damage rate of $795 per acre; soybeans at 57 bushels per acre at $9.78 per bushel produced a rate of $557 per acre; an unplanted‑crop damage rate of $525 per acre was also proposed. Commissioners discussed timing and negotiation with producers when projects affect planting decisions; the board moved to adopt the suggested 2026 payment rates and approved the motion by voice vote.

The board approved routine governance items including the 2026 board calendar and amended committee assignments. It adopted the IRS mileage reimbursement rate of 72.5¢ per mile for county reimbursements after staff told commissioners the county budgeted about $23,000 for mileage and actuals have averaged roughly $15,146 in recent years.

The board reviewed and confirmed three appointments to county boards and commissions (two Board of Adjustment appointments and an Economic Development Authority appointment) and approved a library board representative for a three‑year term. Commissioners also designated the county website as the official publication for transportation project notices and selected a newspaper vendor for official county notices after reviewing bids and discussing circulation and statutory timing requirements.

On finance and public‑safety matters, the board adopted an amended 2026 fee schedule after a staff presentation and a public hearing with no speakers. Amendments included raising civil process fees from $75 to $85, setting special‑event staffing at $100 per hour, vehicle storage at $20 per day with no maximum, and adding a $100 expedited‑service fee for civil process requests required within 48 hours. The board approved the fee schedule by resolution.

Commissioners also adopted the annual bridge priority list required for state and federal bridge funding, and approved a state Emergency Management Performance Grant for $15,574 that requires a 50% local match to cover emergency management salary and fringe benefits.

Administration updated the board on facilities planning (including Justice Center planning) and progress on the workforce development center application with the federal EDA; staff noted the county has committed an anticipated local match of $900,000 toward a roughly $3,000,000 project if required. Commissioners provided routine committee reports; the opioid advisory committee reported receiving six applications and recommended three candidates for the advisory body.

The meeting concluded after the board adjourned by voice vote. Several actions were taken by motion and voice vote; no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the transcript.