Board of Commissioners

1. Public Comment Period

File 2026-0426 · Information · Administration

Members of the public may address the Board on any matter within its jurisdiction.

Speakers are asked to sign in before the meeting begins and to limit remarks to three minutes.

1. Approval of Minutes

File 2026-0427 · Consent · Administration

Approval of the minutes of the previous regular meeting.

Recommendation: Approve the minutes as presented.

1. 2027 Preliminary Property Tax Levy and Budget

File 2026-0412 · Resolution · Finance

Setting the maximum preliminary levy for taxes payable in 2027.

The County Board must certify a preliminary levy to the County Auditor-Treasurer by September 30. The preliminary levy sets a ceiling: the final levy adopted in December may be lower but may not be higher.

The recommended preliminary levy is an increase of 4.9% over the levy for taxes payable in 2026. Of that increase, 2.1 points fund contractual wage settlements already ratified, 1.4 points fund the debt service on the 2026A bonds, and 1.4 points fund the operating cost of the expanded crisis response program approved in March.

A truth-in-taxation hearing will be held on December 1.

Recommendation: Adopt the resolution setting a preliminary levy of $118,740,000 for taxes payable in 2027.

Fiscal impact: Levy increase of 4.9%; median homestead impact estimated at $61 per year.

Attachments:

• 2027 Preliminary Levy Detail.pdf (1.7 KB)

2. Waste-to-Energy Facility — Turbine Generator Service Contract Award

File 2026-0415 · Action · Public Works

Award of RFB2026-117 for turbine generator service and repair.

Bids were opened on August 18 for the turbine generator service and repair contract at the Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility. The contract covers scheduled outage support, balance-of-plant repairs and emergency call-out for a three-year term with two one-year renewal options.

Recommendation: Award the contract to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder and authorise execution.

Fiscal impact: Estimated $2.4 million over the base three-year term, funded from the Waste-to-Energy enterprise fund.

3. Zoning Ordinance Amendment — Accessory Dwelling Units (First Reading)

File 2026-0418 · Ordinance · Planning & Zoning

First reading of an amendment permitting accessory dwelling units in the AG and R-1 districts.

The proposed amendment would permit one accessory dwelling unit per parcel in the AG and R-1 districts, subject to a maximum floor area of 1,000 square feet, owner occupancy of one of the two units, and compliance with septic capacity rules.

This is the first of two readings. The Planning Advisory Commission recommended approval 5-2, with the dissent concerned about septic capacity on parcels under 2.5 acres. Condition 3 was added in response.

Recommendation: Approve the first reading and set the second reading for the first meeting in September.

Fiscal impact: Minimal. Permit revenue is expected to offset review cost.

Attachments:

• Draft Ordinance - Accessory Dwelling Units.pdf (1.8 KB)

4. Library Board Appointment — District 4 Vacancy

File 2026-0420 · Action · Administration

Filling the District 4 vacancy on the Library Board.

Three applications were received for the District 4 vacancy. The Board interviewed all three candidates on August 4.

Recommendation: Appoint the recommended candidate to a term ending December 31, 2029.

Fiscal impact: None.

1. Attorney-Client Privileged Matter — Pending Litigation

File 2026-0430 · Closed Session · County Attorney

Not public under Minn. Stat. § 13D.05, subd. 3(b) (attorney-client privilege).