PUBLIC NOTICE

ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE COUNTY BOARD
May 6th, 2025

The Board of Commissioners of Freeborn County met in the Freeborn County Boardroom at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6th, 2025. Members present: Commissioners Severson, Edwin, Kaasa, Shoff and Eckstrom. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioner Kaasa offered the following motion; MOVED, approving the agenda with the following amendments; under Line 8; Other Items, 3 informationals from the Highway Department on grant updates; and removing the Drainage Ditch Spraying from the consent agenda and adding it before the Reports of the Board Committees. Motion seconded by Commissioner Shoff. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the motion approved. Commissioner Shoff offered the following resolution with the removal of the ditch spraying; RESOLUTION No. 25–141 Approval of the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners Consent Agenda as provided in the Freeborn County Board Rule of
Procedure 9(A) 1) Approval of the April 15th, 2025 minutes; 2) Approval of Regular Full-Time Status Employees; 3) Approval of Drainage Repairs Resolution seconded by Commissioner Severson. After discussion a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution adopted. There was a discussion on the Ditch Spraying. Kelly Hendrickson, Auditor-Treasurer will reach out and provide more information on the ditch spraying at the upcoming Workshop on May 13th, 2025. Commissioner Eckstrom offered the following motion; MOVED, to table the Ditch Spraying item to the next Board meeting on May 20th, 2025. Commissioner Shoff seconded the motion. After discussion, a vote was taken with Commissioners Severson and Kaasa voting nay and Commissioner Eckstrom, Shoff and Edwin voting yay, the Chair declared the motion approved. The Commissioners provided Board Committee updates. Jim Karels presented the MCIT Board Report to the Commissioners. Chairman Edwin asked
if there was any public comment and there was none. Commissioner Eckstrom offered the following resolution; REVISED FREEBORN COUNTY CHANGE FUND/IMPRESS CASH FUND RESOLUTION 25-142 Resolution seconded by Commissioner Severson. After discussion a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution adopted. Commissioner Severson offered the following resolution; RESOLUTION 25-143 RESOLUTION APPROVING ABATEMENT OVER $10,000 – ITC MIDWEST, LLC Resolution seconded by Commissioner Shoff. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Kaasa offered the following resolution: RESOLUTION 25-144 RESOLUTION APPROVING ADDITIONAL SERVICE HOUSES WITH VANGUARD APPRAISALS, INC. Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Shoff. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Shoff offered the following resolution: Freeborn County Board of Commissioners RESOLUTION 25-145 Resolution to accept a donation to the Freeborn County CVCC From Nunda Township Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Severson. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Eckstrom offered the following resolution: Freeborn County Board of Commissioners RESOLUTION 25-146 Proclamation Declaring May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Kaasa. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Kaasa offered the following resolution: FREEBORN COUNTY MINNESOTA RESOLUTION #25-147 A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL FOR ADAM HAMBERG FOR TRAINING. Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Severson. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Severson offered the following resolution: RESOLUTION No. 25-148 APPROVING THE DE-COMMITMENT OF 2025 COMMITTED FUND BALANCES Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Shoff. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Shoff offered the following resolution: RESOLUTION No. 25-149 Authorizing The Transfer Of $553,329 from the Road and Bridge fund to the General and Social Service Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Severson. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Shoff offered the following resolution: RESOLUTION No. 25-150 Approving the Committed Fund Balances Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Edwin. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Kaasa offered the following motion: MOVED, approving the 2025 Budget Calendar with the November 11th, 2025 date changed to November 12th, 2025. Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Eckstrom. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. There was a discussion on the 2026 Library Budget. Commissioner Kaasa offered the following resolution: RESOLVED AS, approving the 2026 Library Budget for the Statutorily required amount until decided upon on July 15th, 2025 Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Severson. After discussion, a vote was taken with Commissioner Shoff voting nay and Commissioners Severson, Kaasa, Eckstrom and Edwin voting yay, the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Kaasa offered the following resolution: RESOLUTION 25-151 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF THREE PUP TRAILERS Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Eckstrom. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Kaasa offered the following resolution: RESOLUTION 25-152 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF A MINI EXCAVATOR AND TRAILER Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Shoff. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Severson offered the following resolution: FREEBORN COUNTY RESOLUTION 25-153 STATE ALLOCATION REDUCTION – VETERANS COURT Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Eckstrom. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Eckstrom offered the following resolution: RESOLUTION 25-154 PERMISSION TO FILL THE FREEBORN COUNTY DETENTION DEPUTY POSITION Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Severson. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Shoff offered the following: RESOLUTION 25-155 ACCEPTING THE RESIGNATION OF LUKE LOVERINK Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Severson. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Severson offered the following resolution: RESOLUTION 25 156 PERMISSION TO FILL THE FREEBORN COUNTY HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE WORKER POSITION Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Shoff. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Eckstrom offered the following resolution: RESOLUTION 25-157 APPOINTING PHILIP WACHOLZ, PE AS FREEBORN COUNTY ENGINEER Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Kaasa. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Eckstrom offered the following resolution: RESOLUTION 25-158 APPOINTING STEVEN J. THOMPSON, LS AS FREEBORN COUNTY SURVEYOR Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Severson. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Kaasa offered the following resolution: FREEBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISIONERS Resolution No. 25-159 A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE A SIGN-ON BONUS FOR THE COUNTY ASSESSOR POSITION Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Eckstrom. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. The following resolution was brought to the floor; FREEBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISIONERS Resolution No. 25-160 A RESOLUTION TO DIRECT A RE-EVALUATION OF THE COUNTY ASSESSOR POSITION PAY GRADE After discussion, the Chair declared the resolution had failed after a lack of a first and second motion. Commissioner Kaasa offered the following resolution: RESOLVED AS, approving the labor negotiation contracts for the Detectives. Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Shoff. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Shoff offered the following resolution: RESOLVED AS, approving the labor negotiation contracts for AFSCME. Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Eckstrom. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. There was discussion on Investment meeting minutes, the contract request for the Interim County Assessor, and Highway updates. Commissioner Shoff offered the following resolution: Resolution 25-163 Shotgun Use for Deer Hunting in Freeborn County Resolution was seconded by Commissioner Eckstrom. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution approved. Commissioner Severson offered the following resolution; RESOLUTION No. 25-164 Approval of Claims RESOLVED, that the following claims be allowed and paid on or before May 9th, 2025. General Fund $1,123,018.79; County Road & Bridge $563,096.18; Human Services $398,904.80; Public Health $154,070.60; Capital Improvements $127,044.33; County Ditch $13,203.12; Trust & Agency $174,742.01; Payroll Clearing Fund $34,734.22; Turtle Creek Watershed $2,668.50; Recorder’s Clearing $4,452.00; Social Services Collab $41.39; FUND TOTALS $2,595,975.94. Number of Claims not exceeding $300 – 224. Dollar amount of claims not exceeding $300 – $22,520.64 Resolution seconded by Commissioner Shoff. After discussion, a vote was taken and the Chair declared the resolution adopted. Chair, Commissioner Edwin adjourned the meeting at 11:26 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20th, 2025. By: Brad Edwin, Chair.
Attest: Chelsea Barrett, County Clerk.

Albert Lea Tribune:
May 28, 2025
SUMMARY 5.6.25