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Wabasha County approves culvert contracts, several conditional use permits, vendor renewals and small donations
Summary
At its May 5 meeting the Wabasha County Board approved culvert installation contracts, a Reliance Telephone contract renewal for jail services, a $19,999.60 laptop payment for Social Services, accepted two small donations to the sheriff's office, and decided multiple conditional use permit applications including denials and approvals across several townships.
The Wabasha County Board of Commissioners on May 5 approved a package of infrastructure contracts, vendor renewals, technology purchases, donations and multiple land‑use decisions.
Contracts and purchases: the board accepted quotes and authorized the County Engineer to arrange and pay for culvert replacement work (CP 079‑002‑002), awarding installation of 138" arch pipe at two County State Aid Highway 2 locations to Fitzgerald Excavating & Trucking Inc and asphalt reclamation to Midstate Reclamation and Trucking. The board also approved a Reliance Telephone contract renewal to continue inmate telephone, text messaging and visitation services at no cost to the county (the county will receive commission rates), and approved payment of $19,999.60 from the Social Services reserve budget to complete the county's laptop replacement rollout for Social Services staff.
Donations: the board accepted a $3,000 donation from the Southern MN Initiative Foundation on behalf of Rochester Sand & Gravel to support purchase of a sheriff's office drone and a $50 donation from Agatha Hubbard (Edward Jones Trust Co.) for National Night Out.
Land‑use and conditional use permits (CUPs): the board approved a range of CUP actions following Planning Commission recommendations or differing decisions. It approved a CUP to allow a driveway in a bluff impact zone on parcel R13.00021.03 with five conditions (engineered design, independent inspection paid by the applicant, no expansion beyond the site plan, and other limitations). The board approved an amendment to a CUP for John Behrns to expand a business footprint and change hours of operation with five conditions including limiting manufacturing hours to 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and capping employees at 20 FTE. The board approved a transfer of one dwelling density from parcel R04.00298.00 to R16.00154.00 (Bryce DeCook) with a deed restriction on the originating parcel. The board denied Gurek Inc.'s CUP to sell low‑potency hemp edibles in Elgin, citing expected impacts on neighboring property values, lack of utilities/access/drainage and parking, and nuisance and health/safety concerns. The board approved a CUP for Mazeppa BP (Travis Liffrig) to sell low‑potency hemp edibles with five conditions requiring licensing, compliance checks and termination of the CUP on transfer of title. The board also approved a CUP for cultivation of cannabis plants for Brian Robson with conditions requiring county and state permits and prohibiting transfer of the CUP with property title.
The minutes note a Planning Commission public hearing is authorized for June 22, 2026 at 7 p.m. on proposed subdivision‑ordinance amendments. The record includes motions and "Adopted Unanimously" notations on many items; the minutes do not record detailed debate, public-comment content, or vote tallies beyond unanimous adoption where shown.
Next steps recorded in the minutes include administrative arrangements to complete awarded contracts, vendor contract execution, and required permitting and compliance checks for approved CUPs.
