Lexi Scholten began her job as Faribault County Central Services director in 2019.

Faribault County will have to begin searching for a new Central Services director following the announcement by Lexi Scholten at the May 17 County Board meeting that she was resigning effective June 10.

“It is with great regret that we accept your resignation,” board chairman Greg Young said after the commissioners voted. “We have appreciated all of the work you have done for the county.”

Scholten, a Blue Earth Area graduate, has been the Central Services director for Faribault County since Aug. 19, 2019.

In other employment matters, the board also approved all four union contracts during their meeting.

All four of the bargaining unit contracts expired on Dec. 31, 2021. Negotiations between the unions and the Central Services director and the Personnel Committee began in September of last year and tentative agreements were reached with each bargaining unit in February and March.

Contracts with the LELS (Law Enforcement Labor Services), IUOE (International Union of Operating Engineers), MNPEA (Minnesota Public Employees Association) and AFSCME (American Federation of State and County and Municipal Employees) all passed on a 3-2 vote.

All of the contracts were for three years and include a five percent pay increase for 2022 along with three percent increases in pay for both 2023 and 2024.

The contracts will also recognize Juneteenth as a holiday as soon as the state of Minnesota recognizes it as a legal holiday.

Commissioners John Roper and Bruce Anderson voted in favor of the contracts while commissioners Tom Loveall and Bill Groskreutz cast nay votes. Chairman Greg Young broke the tie on all four contracts and voted to approve them.

The point of contention in the contracts for commissioners Loveall and Groskreutz was over language governing the payment of health insurance premiums. Under the new contracts, the county will absorb any and all health insurance premium increases through 2024.

“I am opposed to open-ended increases,” Loveall explained. “The county is being left open to absorb the increase no matter the amount.”

While understanding Loveall’s position, commissioner Bruce Anderson said he felt there were other factors to consider.

“We have 14 open positions in the county,” Anderson commented. “Health insurance is one of the biggest problems in hiring people.”

The County Board also passed a one-year contract for non-union employees with a wage and benefit increase of five percent.

This time Groskreutz joined Roper, Anderson and Young in voting to approve the contract.

“Our non-union employees need to be treated the same as the union employees,” Groskreutz explained.

Planning and Zoning administrator Loria Rebuffoni was at the meeting to discuss a problem with enforcement of certain ordinances.

“We have had some instances where trees were to be planted as part of a variance or conditional use permit and the people have not done what they were supposed to do,” Rebuffoni explained. “Currently, our ordinance says it is a misdemeanor if the conditions are not met.”

Commissioner Tom Loveall asked if the violators could just be dealt with by levying a fine.

“No, the law at this time does not allow for that,” Rebuffoni answered.

Young asked county attorney Cameron Davis for his thoughts on the matter.

“It is my opinion we need to pursue these violations,” Davis said. “The conditional use permits and variances were granted on the conditions being met.”

Loveall voiced his concern over being able to carry out enforcement of the penalty.

“It is a misdemeanor. It does have teeth. You can sit in jail for 90 days if you do not fix the problem,” Davis pointed out. “People are normally given chances to correct the problem.”

Davis explained further.

“To be clear, I don’t think anybody wants to see our jails filled up with people who aren’t planting trees,” he stated. “But, we do want to see compliance.”

Rebuffoni pointed out the violations are complaint-driven.

“We receive a call and then we investigate,” she noted. “Some are violations and some have to do more with neighbor issues.”

The board directed Davis and Rebuffoni to come up with a plan to deal with the situation and report back to the board.

Public Works director Mark Daly was also at the meeting to give a quick update on the progress of road construction in the county.

“Four box culverts have been installed on CR (County Road) 29 and road construction should get underway soon,” he said. “The first lift of overlay is complete on CR 31 with the final lift scheduled for this week. The first lift of overlay on CR 28 is also done. The full-depth reclamation and overlay are complete on CR 30 with work still to be done on the shoulders. Crack sealing is set to begin on June 27 and seal coating will take place from July 18-29.”

The board also:

• Set 9:30 a.m. on June 21 for a public hearing on an updated liquor license fee schedule. The hearing will take place in the courthouse board room.

• Voted to increase the rent of the Faribault County Annex by Human Services of Faribault County by three percent.

• Approved four contracts for the Courthouse Renovation Project. A concrete and masonry contract, in the amount of $185,000, was awarded to Donald R. Frantz Concrete Construction, LLC. A mechanical contract, in the amount of $2.7 million, went to Associated Mechanical Contractors, Inc. A wall covering and painting contract, in the amount of $87,000, was awarded to Steinbrecher Painting Company and a demolition contract was awarded to Ramsey Companies, in the amount of $255,470.

• Approved the hiring of Taylor Doering as an engineering intern and Tory McCormick as a seasonal mower.

• Voted to grant the request of Daniel Killion of the Sheriff’s Department to attend a Communications Training Officer Workshop.