Board approves petition to remove acres from County Ditch 12A, signs off on jail security upgrades and several construction contracts

The McLeod County Board of Commissioners on June 16 granted a petition by Greg and Lorna Brinkman to remove benefited acres from County Ditch 12A and approved a slate of construction, maintenance and contract actions across county departments.

The board opened a public hearing on the Brinkmans’ petition under Minnesota Statute §103E.805, which requires petitioners to prove waters from the property have been diverted (or the land cannot satisfactorily use the drainage), that the property is not benefited by the drainage system, and that removal would not prejudice remaining owners. County staff and viewers’ reports showed the tile installation and permit to the Buffalo Creek watershed and updated parcel benefit calculations. The viewers’ report listed two parcels removed entirely and a third parcel partially removed (approximately 36.28 acres removed, leaving about 39.46 benefited acres on that parcel, with the reported net benefit valuation reduced from $99,816.41 to $50,769.27 as shown in the viewers’ calculations). Petitioner Greg Brinkman asked about the viewers’ map; staff responded that viewers used the petitioner’s map and followed natural contours to determine flow and parcel-level benefit. After deliberation a commissioner moved to adopt the draft findings and order granting the petition; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Dah and passed by the board.

In public works and facilities business, the board approved an estimate from Rice Companies, Inc., to replace the horticulture building roof at the McLeod County Fairgrounds for a cost not to exceed $88,274.31 from the fairgrounds capital budget. The county also approved final payment of $5,363.47 to Hansen Gravel Inc. for the park aggregate surfacing project and authorized two change orders for County State Aid Highway 18 (one to replace a median nose and curb to correct drainage, another to add milling and deeper paving to smooth transitions), all funded from the highway construction budget. The county awarded the countywide culvert replacement project (CP0260000005) to TR Earthworks LLC for $123,348.71, well under the engineer’s estimate.

The board approved a cooperative agreement with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to advance a proposed Loose Line Trail segment in Winstead; under the agreement the DNR will design, bid and administer construction while the county will act as a fiscal flow-through for certain grant funds (the DNR and city will fund construction and maintenance).

At the jail, the board approved a one-year $148,666.25 contract with Advanced Correctional Healthcare to provide inmate medical and mental-health services (nursing on site and provider access as described by jail staff). Commissioners also approved Martin Systems of Madison, Wisconsin as the recommended bidder for upgrades to jail intercom controls and workstations ($394,275.93) and a separate camera-integration proposal (not to exceed $17,200). Given unknowns during removal and replacement of controls, the board approved a 10% contingency of $41,147.59 for the jail controls project and asked that contingency expenditures be routed through administration for oversight.

Other approved items included a one-year ESRI ArcGIS maintenance renewal for $10,296.87 for county GIS operations; a $55,000 invoice payment to Carpel Solutions (case-management conversion and related hosting/maintenance) from public safety aid funds; and an environmental services parking-lot paving award to Hansen Paving for $39,000 from the solid waste fund, with staff noting the front parking area may require separate engineering before future work.

Labor agreements moved forward: the board approved the 2026–2027 Minnesota Public Employees Association Public Works Unit collective bargaining agreement and later approved the law enforcement Labor Services Local 329 non-licensed sergeants contract, bringing the board to eight of nine contracts approved for the period.

The meeting included routine items and recognitions: county staff recognized IT Director Matt Trasa for an award from the Minnesota Counties Computer Cooperative. The board recessed to its next regular meeting on July 7, 2026.

Actions at a glance (select): - Ditch 12A petition: motion carried; draft findings and order granting removal approved. - Rice Companies: horticulture roof replacement — approved, ≤ $88,274.31. - TR Earthworks LLC: countywide culvert replacement — awarded $123,348.71. - Hansen Gravel Inc.: final payment $5,363.47 approved. - Martin Systems: jail intercom/controls and workstations — approved $394,275.93; camera integration approved ≤ $17,200; 10% contingency $41,147.59 approved. - Advanced Correctional Healthcare: inmate medical services contract $148,666.25 — approved. - ESRI ArcGIS: one-year maintenance renewal $10,296.87 — approved. - Hansen Paving: environmental services parking-lot paving $39,000 — awarded. - Collective bargaining: MPEA Public Works Unit and Law Enforcement Labor Services Local 329 (sergeants) agreements — approved.

The board’s votes were recorded at the time of each motion; many votes were carried by unanimous voice vote (board recorded affirmative responses for motions where shown). The board directed staff where follow-up was needed (for example, updating ditch 12A maps to reflect viewer determinations and returning any required documents to the board packet).