Goodhue County board approves reallocations to fund Byllesby Park host sites in 3-2 vote

The Goodhue County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 on July 1, 2026, at the Cannon Valley Fairgrounds in Cannon Falls to approve reallocations of previously levied capital funds so the county can proceed with several park projects, including host sites at Byllesby Park, overflow parking and access work at Nielsen Memorial Preserve. The motion was moved by Commissioner Anderson and seconded by Commissioner Flanders; Chair Susan Betcher and Commissioner Majerus voted against it.

County Engineer Jess Greenwood told the board the Parks, Trails and Recreation Advisory Board had requested the county move forward with high-priority park projects that had been removed from the capital plan. Greenwood said staff recommended further discussion in a Committee of the Whole because several questions remained; Chair Susan Betcher agreed that committee review would be warranted to consider the requests as part of the overall budget process. Commissioner Anderson said the items had been voted on previously and should move forward, and Commissioners Flanders and Greseth indicated their agreement. Administrator Scott O. Arneson suggested looking at a design‑build option for host sites to gain efficiency, and Greenwood agreed.

The board authorized specific reallocation and spending actions: use of $50,000 that was levied for the Byllesby Park Host Sites project; reallocation of $30,000 that had been levied for a fish cleaning station; and reallocation of the $50,000 that had been levied for overflow parking toward the host sites and related work. The Nielsen Memorial Preserve Access & Small Parking Lot project was authorized to spend the $30,000 levied for that project (carried forward from 2024), and the board authorized using any remaining funds from the overflow parking levy to support the Nielsen project after host site construction.

Separately, the board authorized staff to pursue a playground replacement at Byllesby Park using a mix of grant and local funds. Staff were directed to work with vendors to develop a replacement plan and to apply for $100,000 in GMRPTC/Legacy grant funding in 2027; staff were also directed to pursue other grant opportunities and private funding and to use the Public Works fund balance assigned for Parks to cover remaining costs up to $220,000.

The motion to proceed with the park projects passed on a 3-2 vote; the record shows Chair Susan Betcher and Commissioner Majerus opposed the action. The board did not adopt an alternative budget plan at the meeting; staff will move forward on the grant applications, vendor planning and the design‑build discussion noted by the administrator and the engineer.