Fillmore County board moves to closed session for AFSCME eligibility workers negotiations

Chair Randy Dahl convened a special meeting of the Fillmore County Board of Commissioners on July 27, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in Preston to address labor negotiations with AFSCME Eligibility Workers. The session was described in the draft minutes as a special session; commissioners Randy Dahl, Mitch Lentz, Duane Bakke and Marc Prestby were present, and Commissioner Larry Hindt was absent. County Administrator Bobbie Hillery and several Human Services and HR staff attended; Kayla Peterson joined via Webex.

The board opened the public portion of negotiations at 9:10 a.m. and heard discussion between county officials and AFSCME representatives, including Ryan Hanson identified in the minutes as an AFSCME social worker union representative and several eligibility workers listed as present. At 9:35 a.m., "The Board Chair called for the meeting to go into a Closed Session option per Minn. Stat. 13D.03 Labor Negotiation for AFSCME Eligibility Workers," and the board recessed to closed session. The minutes record that the board reopened the public meeting at 10:07 a.m. and continued discussion with union representatives. On a motion by Commissioner Mitch Lentz, seconded by Commissioner Duane Bakke, Chair Dahl adjourned the meeting at 10:11 a.m.

The minutes provided are labeled a preliminary draft prepared by the Clerk of the Board; they note that corrections or additions may be made before final approval. The transcript does not record specific bargaining proposals, salary figures, contract language, or any formal vote on union contract terms during the public minutes, and no substantive outcomes of the closed-session negotiations are contained in the draft.