Olmsted County Board — Transcript
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Floodplain and Shoreland Ordinance Text Amendment
City of Eyota Community Update and Growth Initiatives
Commissioner Reports and Community Initiatives
Votes (2)
Text Amendment to Olmsted County Chapter 3750 Flood Plain and Shoreland Ordinance
Dissent: None
Moved by Unidentified Commissioner [N/A] · Seconded by Unidentified Commissioner [N/A]
The discussion centered on updating the county's flood plain ordinance to incorporate new FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and to meet new FEMA requirements for listing all FIRM panels and Letters of Map Revision (LOMRs) within the ordinance text. Staff emphasized that the update did not change land designations or floodway areas but enhanced map precision and clarity for residents and county staff. A timeline of the amendment process, including notification from FEMA in December 2025 and recommendation for approval by the Planning Advisory Commission in May 2026, was provided. The City of Rochester had already adopted similar changes in April 2026. A public hearing was held but no public comments were received.
Approval of Consent Agenda
Dissent: None
Moved by Unidentified Commissioner [N/A] · Seconded by Unidentified Commissioner [N/A]
The Board approved a consent agenda containing several diverse items. These included the approval of previous meeting minutes, authorization for archery hunting at Mayowood Corridor, awarding a contract for switchgear at the Waste-to-Energy facility, accepting grant funds from the Minnesota Department of Health for a data model, awarding a contract for Lake Zumbro boat launch improvements, public and DAV deer hunts at Chester Woods and Oxbow Park, and a gambling permit for the Rochester Area Builders. No items were pulled for individual discussion.
Notable Quotes (6)
Um as noted, the application number is 02026-001 TA, and the decision body makers are you fine folks here today, and staff is recommending approval.
I would like to note that, um, although we're here today to do this adoption, none of the land has been changed. None of the floodplain or floodway um, area has been changed, but within this new firm map, um, we lie a few parcels in Rochester Township, as well as Marion Township, lie in the jurisdiction of this new firm map.
FEMA now requires that each panel and LOMR, which is a letter of map revision, actually be listed within our ordinance. So, I'll when I show you the language change, we'll see that difference. Um, previous guidance allowed Olmsted County to just reference the insurance map index by date, which was previously 2017 and 2023. Now, they want us to list all of the panels within our community.
Right now we have three housing developments going on. Um It's one's called Yota East, which is exactly that. It's on the east side near the high school... Another one is a denser development, an infill development. It's called the Priest Addition... And then we have another one that which is twin homes... All in all right now between those three developments, we have 82 units coming in...
The options were those jobs are going to go to Eau Claire or Yoder. And the previous administrations worked out a deal with some tax abatement to keep them there and cover some of the infrastructure costs, but it also extended the infrastructure to other parcels. So hopefully we see more development in that area.
You're doing really well on housing I I think for a small town so what is the city doing to attract housing? Are you providing incentives, infrastructure? What what are what's your secret?
Ordinances & Resolutions (10)
Subject of the text amendment requested by FEMA.
Flood Insurance Rate Map, updated by FEMA and incorporated into the ordinance.
Specific application number for the text amendment being discussed.
Specific Flood Insurance Rate Map panel needing update by June 10th, 2026.
Letter of Map Revision, now required to be listed in the ordinance.
Grant funds accepted from Minnesota Department of Health.
Permit approved as part of the consent agenda.
Letter sent by Commissioner Hopkins to gather input on the Seneca site.
Bill from which the Olmsted County History Center received a $2.3 million grant.
Quote in the Minnesota Senate Chamber, read by the Chair at adjournment.