Faribault County Board chairman Bruce Anderson, left, welcomed State Representative Peggy Bennett to a recent board meeting.

In addition to their normal agenda items at their meeting on Feb. 6, the Faribault County Commissioners were also visited by Republican Representative Peggy Bennett.

Bennett represents Legislative District 23A which includes 13 townships located mostly in the eastern half of Faribault County.

The County Board had a number of questions for Bennett including one on legislation that would affect drainage.

“The legislation you are referring to was a portion of a larger bill backed by an environmental group,” Bennett explained. “Thankfully, that part was taken out of the proposed bill and put into a study group which includes more reasonable people. But, this is what happens. Many things get stuffed into big omnibus bills.”

Chairman Bill Groskreutz also expressed his concern whether the area will lose the ability to convert waste into energy, like what is done at the Prairieland Solid Waste Facility which is located in Truman.

“This area invested a great deal of money into that facility,” Groskreutz added.

Bennett expressed her concerns with the state’s energy policy.

“One size fits all rarely works – especially at the state level,” Bennett noted. “We, the GOP, tried to offer amendments to mothball coal plants instead of destroying them. It is important to have options and not to be too narrow in how we produce clean energy.”

Board member Bruce Anderson pointed out that Germany had been smart to only mothball their coal plant in Leipzig.

“When the war started in Ukraine, they had to bring it back on line or face the possibility of being without power,” Anderson said.

Other concerns raised by the commissioners included the shortage of mental health care facilities located in the state.

“It is a real public safety issue,” county attorney Cameron Davis commented. “We don’t have a choice of where to send people if we don’t have the mental health care facilities we need. Sometimes we have to send some of these people to jail which can be dangerous for the jailers.”

The question of the new Minnesota State Flag and Seal design also came up for discussion. It was pointed out that Hennepin County may have to spend $300,000-$500,000 because of the changes which will be required by adopting a new flag and seal.

“If we decide the flag and seal should be changed, will we be reimbursed by the state for the changes we will have to make?” Groskreutz asked.

Bennett questioned the way the whole process was handled.

“Maybe the question should be brought before the people,” she said. “The timeline is not realistic to have to make the changes before the end of the year. Perhaps it would be a good idea to grandfather counties in and let them make the changes over time. The counties in the metro area have more disposable funds than other counties and so many of these changes are affecting the outstate counties in a negative way.”

Bennett thanked the commissioners for their time and urged them to keep in touch concerning the matter discussed at the meeting and about any other issues that arise in the future.