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County Board gets update on flood issues

Faribault County in line to receive federal disaster assistance

By Kevin Mertens - Staff Writer | Jul 7, 2024

The excess rainfall the area has received this year continues to be a topic of discussion anywhere you go in the county, including the Faribault County Board of Commissioners meeting.

At the board’s most recent meeting on July 2, county engineer April Wellman provided an update on the current conditions of the roads and bridges in Faribault County.

“With the roads the primary concern has been washouts on the gravel roads and on shoulders,” Wellman reported. “County Road 14, a blacktop road northwest of Winnebago, had shoulders that had been washed out.”

While Wellman said most of the roads had been repaired, she explained that the bridges in the county were still being inspected.

“The water has to go down enough so we can get under the bridge to inspect it,” Wellman commented. “We are still waiting for the water level to recede under most of the bridges.”

During her report, she also stated the heavy rains are causing further delays on the 2024 bridge projects.

“The bridge replacement projects on CR 1 and CR 2 are still on hold,” Wellman noted. “We probably need at least two consecutive dry weeks before we can move ahead on those projects.”

As for the 2024 overlay projects, Wellman told the commissioners that some minor cleanup remains to be done on CR 11 and CR 51 while the county was still doing some shoulder work on CR 17 and CR 23.

“We are trying to get the shoulders seeded, but with all of the rain we are having we just don’t know if it will hold,” Wellman said.

She also told the commissioners her department is tracking the man hours and materials used to repair the damage from the rains for possible reimbursement from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

She concluded her report by telling the board that the hydraulics report for the CR 60 project in Wells is complete.

“I should have a joint powers agreement with the city of Wells ready for you to approve at the next board meeting,” Wellman concluded.

Planning and Zoning administrator Sara Hauskins was also at the meeting seeking direction from the commissioners to begin working on a cannabis ordinance for the county.

“Minnesota cannabis legislation law allows counties to adopt reasonable restrictions on the time, place, and manner or operation of a cannabis or hemp business through a county ordinance,” Hauskins said. “The State has not come out with their administrative rules yet and probably won’t until August.”

Commissioner Tom Loveall asked how this would affect the cities.

“The municipalities will have their own ordinances separate from the county,” Hauskins answered.

The board passed a motion directing the Planning and Zoning Commission to begin working on a cannabis ordinance.

A motion was also passed by the board to continue a joint powers agreement with the South Central Workforce Development Area.

Commissioner John Roper provided the board with background information saying, “This is something we do every three years. This allows for the operation of the unemployment and job training office. The program is funded by the State and does not cost the county any money.”

In other business, the board:

• Approved the changes discussed at the previous meeting to the Faribault County Personnel Policy. Human Resources director Amanda Shoff said the changes dealt with hours of work and time recording policy, remote work guidelines and other issues. The additions ensure that the county is in compliance with FLSA (Fair Labor and Standards Act).

• Approved the request of county assessor Brady Rauenhorst to remotely partake in the 2024 MAAO (Minnesota Association of Assessing Officers) fall conference.