Don Lesher of Great River Energy addressed the County Board about a proposed new transmission line.

The Faribault County Board of Commissioners, at their meeting on June 2, received an update on the proposed 765 kV transmission line which could run through Faribault County.

“Electricity use is growing throughout the Upper Midwest and demand is expected to increase significantly over the next two decades,” Don Lesher, of Great River Energy, told the board. “The increase in electric use, combined with the changing ways electricity is generated, requires new long-term solutions to meet the needs of our communities, states, and region to ensure we can continue delivering the reliable service needed to power your daily lives.”

Great River Energy, along with ITC Midwest and Xcel Energy are the three companies who have joined together to form PowerOn Midwest, who is spearheading the project.

According to Lesher, the project, in addition to continued electric reliability, will also provide customer and economic benefits.

“Between $7 billion and $25 billion has been projected in economic benefits,” Lesher commented. “The completed project will also enable cost-efficient generation and improved reliability compared to other, more expensive, solutions.”

The line would run from the South Dakota border to the Lakefield Junction Substation and then continue east to the Pleasant Valley Substation before continuing north to the North Rochester Substation and the Hampton Substation.

Currently, there are three preliminary route options being considered through Faribault County. One would follow the Interstate-90 corridor while another alternative would travel through the north end of the county and the third option would travel through the south end of the county.

“Routing open house meeting began today in the western part of the state,” Lesher said. “There will be an open house meeting at the Knights of Columbus in Fairmont on June 9, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., the Golden Bubble near Wells on June 9, from 4-6 p.m. and at the Wedgewood Cove Golf Club in Albert Lea on June 10, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. These open houses will provide an opportunity for communities, stakeholders and landowners to view route maps, provide feedback and ask questions of utility staff. People can also go online at PowerOnMidwest.com for more information.”

The board also heard a presentation from Mark Plotz of the Region Nine Development Commission on Safe Streets for All.

“The goal of the Safe Streets for All plan is to develop an action plan that will help move communities towards zero fatal and serious injury traffic crashes,” Plotz explained. “We identify high crash corridors and intersections and focus on all route systems.”

Plotz said the plan also looks at vulnerable road users like motorcyclists, pedestrians and bicyclists.

“We also look at sensitive locations which include schools, parks, community centers, downtown and Main Streets,” he added. “The end product will include actionable recommendations regarding enforcement locations, maintenance and operational changes.”

Of 221 crashes in Faribault County from 2020 through the first quarter of this year that resulted in a fatality or serious or minor injuries, 34 were impairment related involving drugs, alcohol or medication, according to figures provided by Plotz.

“Nineteen of those 34 crashes were fatal or involved a serious injury,” Plotz said. “Seventeen of the total crashes were distraction related and speeding was involved in 50 of the crashes.”

Because of time limitations, Plotz had to cut his report short but he shared that a draft report and application for funding should be completed by the end of this year with the hopes of adopting a Road Safety Action Plan during 2027.

The board invited Plotz to come back and share more of his findings at a later meeting.

Denny Wick of the Public Works Department was also at the meeting and provided the commissioners with the latest update on construction progress in the county.

“The paving on CSAH (County State Aid Highway) 19 was completed yesterday,” Wick said. “They started the shouldering work this morning and I expect that to take three to four days. The striping will follow once the shoulder work is complete.”

Wick also shared that the concrete for the shelter at Pihls Park has not yet been poured.

“We are waiting on the contractor,” Wick said.

Wick also mentioned the Public Works Department is facing a shortage of help.

“We are looking for some seasonal help,” Wick commented. “We are hoping that with school now being out that we could get some people interested in earning some money over the summer.”

Jim Langborg of the Faribault County Economic Development Authority had a couple of items for the commissioners to consider for approval.

“At the Faribault County EDA meeting on May 19, the board reviewed seven applications that met the minimum requirements for the Local Housing Trust Fund (LHTF) Home Improvement Loan,” Langborg said. “The EDA Board approved the requests, which totaled $92,274.13, and now are asking for final authorization from the County Board prior to disbursement.”

Langborg explained there was a $15,000 limit per recipient and that each application went through a vetting process.

“These grants are to be utilized for low-income families to help take care of their needs,” Langborg added. “We want to make sure the money is going to the right place and will continue to work with the communities we serve.”

Commissioner Tom Loveall then asked, “Are these grants going to different communities?”

“Yes, they are,” Langborg responded. “We have had applicants from Winnebago, Blue Earth and Wells.”

Langborg said that rural homeowners are also eligible for the program.

“The LHTF currently has an available balance of approximately $219,000,” Langborg said. “The approval of these seven applications will leave a balance of $126,725.87.”

The board approved a resolution to fund the seven grant/loan requests.

The County Board, on the recommendation of the County EDA, also voted to make a change in the Tax Abatement Policy which had limited eligibility of multi-family complexes to three units or less.

“It is important to note that this change does not remove, limit, or imped the authority of the Faribault County Board of Commissioners to review all tax abatement applications on a case-by-case basis,” Langborg stressed. “The changes are minor in nature and are intended to better align the county’s policy with those of our partner cities.”

The board approved a resolution to fund the seven grant/loan requests.

The board also:

• Set the starting time for the June 16 board meeting for 3:30 p.m. The Board of Appeals meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. the same day.

• Approved the requests of Erin Beske and Sue Jahnke of the Faribault County Sheriff’s Department to attend Minnesota Law Enforcement Administrative Professionals Fraud and Data Practices training.

• Voted to approve the request of Sheriff’s Department employees Nick Bleess and Kaylynn Smith to attend a Communications Training Officer Workshop.

• Approved the request of Daniel Killion of the Sheriff’s Department to attend the 2026 BCA Criminal Justice Information Users Conference.