Goodhue County weighing taking over Sentence-to-Serve crews after state funding cut

At a county board workshop, county staff laid out three options after the state told Goodhue County it would end the Sentence-to-Serve (STS) contract: create a county-run STS program, increase public-works staffing, or outsource the work. Commissioners signaled support for pursuing a county-run program and asked staff to return with an implementation timeline and cost details.

Staff presenter (Speaker 2) told the board the county has contracted with Minnesota for STS crew leaders for more than 35 years and that on 05/20/2025 "the state of Minnesota notified Goodhue County that the STS program would be terminated due to the loss of state funding." The presenter said small equipment used by STS would be transferred at no charge, but leased vans and larger items may need a fair-market purchase or go to surplus.

Why it matters: STS crews have performed lawn and landscape maintenance, supported county facilities and public events, assisted the sheriff's office, and worked with local groups including the Cannon Valley Trail and county fairs. Staff and commissioners said losing STS would reduce restorative work opportunities for people ordered to serve community work — a change with both public-service and criminal-justice consequences.

Staff outlined three options. Option 1 (county-run, court-services model) would hire two crew leaders to provide seven-day coverage and add a 0.5 FTE STS coordinator and a 0.5 FTE case aide to manage scheduling and referrals; staff said that model "maximizes the number of individuals doing the work" and supports juvenile participation. Option 2 would add roughly three public-works FTEs to cover tasks. Option 3 would contract the work to third parties.

Staff presented preliminary cost estimates. The county currently budgets about $155,428 annually for the STS contract. Staff characterized the new county-run option as building on that budget and listed estimated upfront and recurring costs (figures were described as preliminary and subject to final HR and finance review). Examples discussed included IT startup costs around $6,000 and an estimated vehicle price near $47,000 each if purchased new. Staff said the 2025 budget still includes about $77,714 budgeted for the contract that could offset some upfront costs.

County crew leader Rodney Brookins, who has served as a crew leader for several years, told the board the program provides participants with skills, routine and motivation. Brookins said the typical crew size varied but averaged about "2 to 2 and a half" last year and that an ideal crew size is about four. Speaking about the program’s effect on participants, Brookins said, "once they get in the van and they work a day or two ... they feel like they're going to get accomplished something." (Brookins introduced himself during his remarks.)

Board members pressed staff on feasibility and timing. Several commissioners asked whether the county could be ready July 1; staff said HR and program design would take time and that a seamless takeover by that date would be unlikely without interim measures. One commissioner (Speaker 11) said an interim contract hire could be arranged quickly: "I've hired an interim person, just on a contract basis. And I could probably do that in the next couple of days." Staff recommended returning with an implementation timeline and said they had already discussed coordination with judges to improve scheduling for participants.

No formal motion or vote was recorded at the workshop. Commissioners asked staff to return to a regular meeting with a specific agenda item and clearer cost and staffing proposals so the board could take formal action. Staff said they will also check what other counties are doing and what equipment would be available from the state.

What’s next: Staff will prepare implementation timing, refined cost estimates and a proposed agenda item for a future regular meeting. Commissioners signaled support for starting with interim steps — such as an interim hire or limited staffing — and for bringing a draft formal motion back to the board for action.

Reported speakers and attributions above follow the workshop transcript; numbers in the transcript identify speakers (for example, Rodney Brookins spoke and introduced himself during the meeting).