Faribault County Board chair Bruce Anderson congratulates Faribault County Auditor Chuck Schrader for completing his first year of employment, and being recognized with a certificate of appreciation. Looking on is commissioner Bill Groskreutz, at right.

“There is going to be a delay in the paving of County Road 19,” Denny Wick, of the Public Works Department, told the commissioners at the Faribault County Board meeting on April 21. “It has been pushed back to May 4 because there were a couple of soft spots in the road.”

Wick said he didn’t know when County State Aid Highway 23 from CR 16 to the Interstate 90 bridge would be completed.

“Road restrictions went off on April 20,” Wick commented. “Overall, I think the condition of the roads are pretty good.”

Wick also informed the board members that work on the five bridge replacement projects should begin sometime in August.

The commissioners also passed a resolution Wick presented to allow Faribault County to act as the legal sponsor for an application for funding to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for maintenance and grooming of snowmobile trails managed by Faribault County Trails/Blue Earth Snow Rovers Snowmobile Club/Stateliners Snowmobile Club.

The board also passed a motion approving the hiring of Mike McQuade as the Central Services/Human Resources Manager for Faribault County upon successful completion of a background check..

There had been 12 applicants for the position.

“Just because we had 12 applicants doesn’t mean we had 12 qualified applicants,” commissioner Bill Groskreutz said.

The top five candidates were invited to be interviewed by the personnel committee, Sheriff Scott Adams and county coordinator Brian Hov. Only three candidates showed up for their interview.

McQuade has 20-25 years of experience.

The board also passed a motion to approve up to $5,000 in eligible relocation funds to cover related expenses.

Allen Aukes of Midwest IT was at the meeting to talk about the contract the county has with Midwest IT and additional services which are now being offered by the company.

“We no longer require an ongoing long-term contract,” Aukes told the commissioners. “Your decision risk is reduced by having a month-to-month agreement. Most of our new clients are selecting the month-to-month option.”

Aukes explained the cost to the customer is the same whether it is a monthly or yearly contract.

Aukes also informed the commissioners that Midwest IT is a member of the Technology Assurance Group which is an association of Managed Technology Services Providers (MTSPs).

“It gives us access to co-op purchasing,” Aukes commented. “It is the best of both worlds – we have a national footprint while maintaining a local presence.”

The commissioners expressed their concern about cyber security and referenced Winona County, which has been hit with two ransomware attacks already in 2026 that has affected key services, including the Department of Motor Vehicles and property records.

“It is a real concern,” Aukes concurred. “The number of incidents is actually decreasing. However, the dollar amount of each incident is increasing.”

Aukes shared that Midwest IT is ISO 27001 compliant for cyber security.

“Only five percent of Microsoft partners obtain that Tier 1 compliance,” Aukes stated. “It means we have passed a three-part audit on our policy, procedures and processes.”

Aukes concluded his talk by sharing that the installation of the panic button system is in progress.

“The Sharepoint Storage Project is also in progress,” he said. “We have completed work at the Veterans Services Office and are working on the auditor/treasurer office next and then the assessor’s office.”

The board also:

• Approved a precious metal dealer license for Winnebago Coins LLC.

• Approved the training request of Kara Bendickson of the assessor’s office to attend the Minnesota Association of Assessing Officers summer seminar in order to meet requirements for state of Minnesota licensure.

• Recognized employee length of service milestones for auditor/treasurer Chuck Schrader for one year and Terri Van Reese of the auditor/treasurer’s department for five years and auditor clerk Terri Van Reese for five years.