Olmsted County Board — Transcript
Monday, June 1, 2026
Lake Zumbro Forever Financial Assistance
Transfer of County Real Property for Veterans Home
Olmsted County Annual Voluntary State Measures Program Report
City of Chatfield Update
City of Oronoco Update
Transforming Trash Artist in Residence Program
NACO Renewable Energy Academy Participation
Votes (5)
Approval of Bridge Priority List, Temporary Liquor Sales, and Professional Services Agreement
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown Commissioner [00:01:05] · Seconded by Unknown Commissioner [00:01:31]
Routine approval of several agenda items in a block as A, B, D, and E, following a request to pull item C for separate discussion.
Amendment to Lake Zumbro Forever Financial Assistance Agreement
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown Commissioner [00:02:40] · Seconded by Unknown Commissioner [00:03:00]
Discussion revolved around a section in the agreement limiting annual funding to $50,000, while also allowing the Lake Zumbro Forever group to roll over county contributions. This created a scenario where the group could accumulate more than $50,000 but be restricted from spending it. The County Attorney provided amendment language to clarify that the annual payment can include any rolled-over amounts from a prior calendar year, enabling the group to utilize the full funds available.
Approval of Lake Zumbro Forever Financial Assistance Agreement as Amended
Dissent: None
Moved by Unknown Commissioner [00:03:50] · Seconded by Unknown Commissioner [00:04:06]
Following the adoption of the amendment to the Lake Zumbro Forever financial assistance agreement, a procedural motion was made and approved to formally endorse the agreement with the newly adopted language.
Approval of Transfer of County Real Property for Veterans Home
Dissent: None
Moved by Mr. Mueller [00:07:34] · Seconded by Mr. Wright [00:07:37]
Jenna Gilbertson presented the request for final approval to transfer county property to the HRA. This transfer supports the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MAC-V) in their project to provide housing for veteran families experiencing homelessness. Commissioners expressed strong support for the project, highlighting its benefits for veterans, collaboration with the veterans association, and partnerships with housing builders like Lennar.
Approval of Annual Voluntary State Measures Program Report
Dissent: None
Moved by Mr. Chair [00:26:29] · Seconded by Unknown Commissioner [00:26:35]
Debra Eric Miller presented an overview of Olmsted County's participation in the Minnesota Performance Measures Program, highlighting the program's goal of transparency and efficacy in service provision. The county has participated since 2012, using the annual $21,000 reimbursement for its triennial resident survey and community engagement training. The report detailed performance on 10 measures across four strategic priorities, noting that 8 out of 10 targets were met, with specific discussions on recidivism, bond ratings, recycling rates (where targets were not met), and election audit accuracy.
Notable Quotes (7)
Paragraph B, there's a section that deals with the whole question about the the the the county would uh would allocate money to Lake Zumbro Forever, at $50,000 a year maximum. But it does also in that same paragraph provide that uh the Lake Zumbro Forever group can roll out or can roll over county contributions from year to year. So, it conceivably they could have $70,000, for instance, but only be able to spend 50 $50,000 under the language of the of the agreement.
Olmsted County will provide payment up to $50,000 in annual funding. That's in the agreement. Then we're going to add plus any amount rolled over from a prior calendar year, period. And uh that would have in essence be the amendment. That makes it the allowable that they can use or to be paid for more than $50,000 a year if in fact they roll some over.
This is a matter that was before you as the HRA board on May 14th... MAC-V... about their hope for a project and an effort to serve um veteran families who have experienced homelessness in our community. So, at that time, there was an ask of um the county to consider contributing property to this project.
I really appreciate working with MAC-V on this. I mean, it was it's a great project. It not only helps uh our goals of meeting the housing needs for those people, including the veterans, and also working with our own veterans association... but it also brings in our working relationship with another housing builder, and that's Lennar.
These measures were created to help residents, taxpayers, state and local officials with determining the efficacy of counties and cities in providing services and to offer transparency into those services.
county city participants are eligible for some uh reimbursement, some funding for participation in the program and for meeting all of the requirements. It's a population-based formula, and so we currently um uh receive about $21,000 annually... And we currently use these funds for our triennial resident survey um to fund that project, and then we've actually been able to reduce the cost of that survey in recent years, and so we've had a little bit of extra money, which we've used um to provide access to community engagement training.
The first top chart is our recycling rate. The target goal is greater than 45% of material is recyclable, which we have not met in 2025 or in previous years. Uh but, as you know, numerous efforts are underway to improve this metric, including a comprehensive uh and cohesive public education campaign to promote recycling, as well as the upcoming groundbreaking and construction of a new materials recovery facility.
Ordinances & Resolutions (10)
Minutes from a previous meeting that were approved in block, except for a pulled item.
A list identifying bridges in need of attention or repair, submitted for approval.
A formal request for financial aid to support mechanical dredging activities.
An agreement for professional services between the two counties, subject to renewal.
Olmsted County's yearly report detailing performance metrics and participation in a state program.
Capital Improvement Plan, reviewed and updated annually, contributing to bond ratings.
A biennial publication created by Chatfield to promote the community.
Recently approved regulatory documents governing land use and development in Oronoco.
An outdated long-range planning document for Oronoco, scheduled for update.
Phase 1B of Oronoco's plan to extend wastewater services to unserved areas.