BEA School Board member Gary Armon and superintendent Mandy Fletcher provided an update on the district’s facilities to the County Board at their meeting on Feb. 17.

Quite often when Planning and Zoning administrator Sara Hauskins attends a County Board meeting, it is to seek approval for a Conditional Use Permit. However, her appearance at the commissioner’s regular meeting on Feb. 17 was to review the withdrawal of a CUP.

“Carl Mueller had submitted an application for a CUP to operate a cannabis microbusiness without a retail endorsement in Faribault County,” Hauskins explained. “On Feb. 10, approximately two and a half hours prior to the scheduled Planning Commission public hearing, Mueller contacted Faribault County Planning and Zoning via email requesting that the hearing be postponed until the following month.”

Hauskins then spoke to Mueller and advised him that a 60-day extension of the decision timeline would be an available option pursuant to Minnesota Statute No. 15.99.

“During that conversation, Mueller indicated that, due to changes occurring over the past week, he believed it would be in his best interest to withdraw the application,” Hauskins said. “The public notice of the Feb. 10 hearing had been mailed to surrounding property owners and published in the Faribault County Register on Jan. 26, in compliance with Minnesota Statute public notice requirements.”

Hauskins stated the Planning Commission meeting was held on Feb. 10 with the commission members, staff and members of the public in attendance.

“At the meeting, I informed the Planning Commission of Mueller’s verbal request to withdraw the CUP application,” Hauskins commented. “The public hearing was not opened and no testimony was taken. Neighboring landowners were present in anticipation of the public meeting but only one stayed after being informed that the hearing would not proceed.”

Hauskins informed the commissioners that the Planning Commission did not take any formal action on the application.

“The $400 application fee was discussed,” Hauskins added. “It remains non-refundable in accordance with Faribault County policy.”

“How many landowners had showed up for the meeting?” commissioner Bill Groskreutz inquired.

“Eight landowners were present,” Hauskins responded. “Although there was no public comment, they did not seem to be in favor of the CUP.”

Taylor Doering and Denny Wick of the Public Works Department came to the meeting to provide the board with a budget update.

“We have come in under budget on a number of items so far this year,” Doering said. “We were $5,665 under budget on our broom trade in and $5,000 under budget on our Bobcat trade in. We would like approval to spend $7,500 to purchase a new roll gate for spreading chips during seal coating.”

“It just bolts on the back of the truck,” Wick remarked. “It would allow us to utilize three trucks during seal coating operations and would really speed up the process.”

The request to purchase the new roll gate was unanimously approved.

Auditor/treasurer Chuck Schrader attended the meeting to receive direction from the board on how to reinvest $168,578.

“A government bond valued at $149,819 is maturing and we also have $18,769 in available cash which we would like to invest,” Schrader said. “We have options from both Wells Fargo and First Bank, Blue Earth.”

The board looked at a one-year or four-year investment option and eventually decided on four year. Both institutions offered the same interest rate, 3.95 percent, on their four-year CDs. However, the Wells Fargo product was tied to a bond fund while the CD from First Bank was a conventional CD.

Since the rates were comparable, the County Board voted to invest the money at First Bank to keep the funds local and support the local economy.

The meeting ended with two presentations.

The first was by Blue Earth Area superintendent and BEA School Board member Gary Armon.

“Thank you for allowing us to come and share our district news with you,” Fletcher shared with the board. “We have been presenting to a number of groups around the district to share the facts of our Comprehensive Facilities Assessment conducted last spring which shows the state of our facilities and the costs associated with deferred maintenance. Our purpose is to educate our communities on the conditions of our buildings.”

Fletcher’s presentation showed over $69 million would be needed over the next 10 years to take care of maintenance needs in the district’s two current buildings.

“The high school building is much newer and will not require as much maintenance,” Fletcher noted. “The bulk of the maintenance dollars would be needed at the elementary school building.”

Fletcher shared photos displaying problems with water/plumbing lines, waste/vent piping and interior renovations which are needed and involve dealing with asbestos issues.

“The main concern at the high school building are the four rooftop HVAC units that are 30 years old,” Fletcher commented. “Their normal life span is 25 years.”

Another concern identified by Fletcher involved safety.

“There is a need for secure entrances and visitor management,” Fletcher said.

The final presentation was the 2025 EDA (Economic Development Authority) Annual Report.

“We had some changes on our board this year with chairman John Herman resigning and commissioner Bruce Anderson replacing commissioner Bill Groskreutz.” EDA specialist Kendra Reineking said. “Our mission remains to support businesses to promote an entrepreneurial spirit for the benefit of Faribault County.”

Reineking shared the two revolving loans totaling $35,000 were awarded to businesses in the county in 2025.

“We were also able to provide technical and marketing support to a new business by assisting with the development and launch of its website,” Reineking commented “By doing that, we were able to help establish an effective online presence and improve the accessibility to the business for its customers.”

Reineking also highlighted the 12 forgivable loans the EDA has provided to childcare providers throughout Faribault County.

“The 12 loans totaled $34,711,” Reineking stated. “Providers utilized the loans to meet mandatory training requirements, upgrade flooring, purchase toys and supplies and enhance accessibility and safety.”

The County EDA also assisted the city of Elmore in securing a grant which is being used to put in a locker system that will allow citizens to use the donated sports equipment any time they choose.

“Looking ahead, our plan is to advertise the revolving loan funds we have available to county businesses,” Reineking said. “We also want to conduct a deeper dive in the agricultural needs within the county, promote our childcare forgivable loans and market and administer the Local Housing Trust Fund – Affordable Housing Aid Program.”

Board members also reminded people of the public hearing scheduled for Monday, Feb. 23 on the shotgun versus rifle zone question for Faribault County. The meeting begins at 9 a.m.

In other business, the board:

• Approved the training requests of Kelly Hendrickson and Eva Steele of the County Recorder’s Office to attend the Fidlar User Group meeting.

• Approved the requests of Taylor Doering, John Oswald and Bryan Schaper of the Public Works Department to attend the District 7 Engineers and Technicians Conference.

• Approved the requests of Sara Hauskins and Linda Adams of the Planning and Zoning Department to attend the 2026 MACFO (Minnesota Association of County Feedlot Officers) Annual Conference.