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County sets 2026 meeting calendar, meal rates, wages, per diem, crop damage rates and adopts MN paid-leave policy
Summary
The board set its 2026 meeting calendar, approved meal-rate and seasonal-wage schedules, designated the official county newspaper, fixed committee per diems, set crop damage rates for corn and soybeans, adopted a policy for MN Paid Leave retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026, and set minimum elected-official salaries for 2027.
County staff presented a package of administrative items on Jan. 6. The board set 2026 meeting dates for the first and third Tuesday of each month, with exceptions for the Board of Equalization (June 16) and the Dec. 1 budget discussion, which will occur in the afternoon. The board also set 2026 meal rates at $12 for breakfast, $18 for lunch and $24 for evening meals (including 20% gratuity) and established seasonal wage steps for 2026 ranging from $16.00 to $17.50 by year of service.
Other actions approved included selecting the Cottonwood County Citizen as the official county newspaper for 2026; setting per diem at $100 per meeting for committee members other than commissioners; adopting crop damage rates for 2026 of $900/acre for corn and $600/acre for soybeans; setting minimum 2027 salaries for full-time elected officials (County Attorney, Auditor/Treasurer, Sheriff at $50,000; County Recorder at $38,000); allowing internal posting and advertising for a full-time Building & Grounds worker; and adopting Policy 157 "Leave Benefits – MN Paid Leave" retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026.
