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Pipestone County Commissioner Meeting
April 8, 2025
The Pipestone County Commissioners met with Vice Chairman, Luke Johnson, Commissioners, Doug Nagel, Dan Wildermuth, and Dallas Roskamp. Chairman Chris Hollingsworth was absent. County Administrator Steve Ewing was also present. Vice Chairman Johnson called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M. with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
AGENDA
Motion by Wildermuth, seconded by Roskamp to approve the agenda. Ayes, Johnson, Nagel, Wildermuth, Roskamp. Nays, none. Absent Hollingsworth. Motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Nagel, seconded by Wildermuth to approve the consent agenda as follows:
1. Approve Commissioners Minutes 3/25/25
2. Approve Auditors Warrants: 3/28/25, 4/4/25
3. Approve Commissioners Warrants: $267,726.88
4. Approve Hospital Warrants $1,327,499.36
5. Approve Hospital Off-Line Warrants, None
Ayes, Johnson, Nagel, Wildermuth, Roskamp. Nays, none. Absent Hollingsworth. Motion carried.
As per Minnesota Statute 375.12 the following Commissioner Warrants information is presented:
RDO Equipment Company (vendor name at payment), 98,442.26 (total amount)
Visa-First Bank & Trust, 26,894.93
Regents Of The University Of Minnesota, 26,725.44
ACE of Southwest MN, 17,750.00
Pipestone County IT, 15,789.73
Van Dyke Sanitation Inc, 15,665.97
ADVANCED CORRECTIONAL HEALTHCARE, INC, 7,012.42
Hennager Plumbing & Heating Inc, 6,959.17
Nobles County Auditor Treasurer, 3,975.00
Jer’s Electric, Inc., 3,687.03
Surplus Warehouse of Willmar Inc, 3,350.00
EasiFile, 3,285.91
Tessiers Mechanical Contractors, 3,103.00
Pipestone Publishing Co Inc, 3,031.14
Highway 23 Coalition, 3,000.00
Penguin Management Inc, 2,520.00
EMS MANAGEMENT & CONSULTANTS, INC, 2,426.79
Alpha Training & Tactics LLC, 2,039.82
WARRANTS OVER $2,000, 245,658.61
NUMBER OF CLAIMS UNDER $2,000, 65
WARRANTS UNDER $2,000, 22,068.27
TOTAL, 267,726.88
PIPESTONE COUNTY 2024 ANNUAL FEEDLOT OFFICER REPORT
Environmental Officer, Kyle Krier presented the 2024 Feedlot Officer Annual Report.
29.5 sites were required to be inspected in the year 2024. A total of 34 sites were inspected. 30 sites were routine compliance inspection, 2 sites were construction inspections, 1 site was a compliance inspection and 1 site was an in-field land application. All 34 of the sites were considered high risk/high priority sites. Motion by Nagel, seconded by Roskamp to approve the 2024 Annual Feedlot Report as presented. Ayes, Johnson, Nagel, Wildermuth, Roskamp. Nays, none. Absent Hollingsworth. Motion carried.
PROJECT UPDATES, PROJECTS UNDER CONTRACT, PROJECTS IN THE PLANNING STAGE
County Engineer Nick Bergman provided information on project updates, projects under contract and projects in the planning stage. Consultants are working on plans for SAP 059-002 (CSAH 25 Reconstruct and pave), SAP 059-599-154 (Bridge 59549 Osborne Township: 61st Street East of CSAH 17). Site was surveyed and sized as it should be.
Engineer Bergman requested approval of quotes for the 2025 annual maintenance striping contract. Bids were requested from six different contractors. Only two returned bids.
Sir Lines-A-Lot, $79,433.42
Vogel Traffic Services, $80,649.81
Motion by Nagel, seconded by Wildermuth to approve the bid from Sir Lines-A-Lot for $79,433.42. Ayes, Johnson, Nagel, Wildermuth, Roskamp. Nays, none. Absent Hollingsworth. Motion carried.
Engineer Bergman presented a request from the City of Pipestone that the county release our highway easement along CSAH 30 East of Hiawatha Avenue on a vacated road so they can develop the area. The lots are located North of Good Samaritan Society and West of the city water treatment plans. Consensus of the board was to move forward with the request and to bring back further information at a later date for board action. Engineer Bergman will contact the City of Pipestone.
Engineer Bergman reported on maintenance updates. Road equipment was out during the winter weather event, sanding and moving snow/ice where it needed. Wings have been removed for the year from the graders and trucks. Commissioner Roskamp brought up that Main Street in Edgerton for a block and a half of paving needed. Consensus of the board was to let the City of Edgerton deal with the small project with their contractor. Commissioners thanked Engineer Bergman for the report.
ARMER RADIO PORTABLE RADIO PURCHASE FOR EMS
EMS/EM Director Casey Sievert presented a request to purchase 9 APEX 4000 portable radios for $32,684.94 from Motorola/Alpha Wireless utilizing our Emergency Ambulance State Aid funding and 3 APX 6500 mobile radios for two ambulances and the new EMS/EM pickup truck for $17,625.36 which will be reimbursed by the Ambulance Association to the county from chili feed proceeds. The equipment being replaced is deemed obsolete and parts are unavailable. Motion by Wildermuth, seconded by Roskamp to approve the purchases as presented. Ayes, Johnson, Nagel, Wildermuth, Roskamp. Nays, none. Absent Hollingsworth. Motion carried.
PERSONNEL
County Administrator Steve Ewing presented the Personnel Report. Interviews are being conducted for the Human Resources Director position. The Senior Engineering Technician position has been filled, and the new employee will start on April 28. The Deputy Treasurer 1 position has been filled, and the new employee will start on April 21.
APPOINTMENT OF COUNTY ASSESSOR
County Administrator Steve Ewing presented a request to appoint Deputy Assessor, Lisa Braun as the County Assessor effective April 10, 2025. Current County Assessor Chris McChesney has notified the county that she will be resigning her position as County Assessor for personal reasons effective April 10, 2025. According to state statutes the county has 90 days to appoint a replacement. Motion by Wildermuth, seconded by Roskamp to approve the appointment of Lisa Braun as County Assessor and approve the resignation of Chris McChesney as County Assessor and change her status to Deputy Assessor. Ayes, Johnson, Nagel, Wildermuth, Roskamp. Nays, none. Absent Hollingsworth. Motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS MARCH 2025
Commissioner Nagel: Road and Bridge, Building & Grounds, SWCD, PIC, SWHHS, Rock Pipestone Collaborative, Extension, Regular Board, Road and Bridge, Radio Board.
Commissioner Roskamp: Road & Bridge, Planning Commission, Plum Creek Library, RMEB, PCMC Board, Hospice Benefit.
Commissioner Wildermuth: Hiawatha Lodge, Child Care RCCIP, Prime West, Veterans Memorial, PCMC Plant Ops, Casey Jones Trail Bike Trail.
Commissioner Johnson: MHA, SWCD, PCMC Plant Ops, MRC, PCMC Executive Board, Highway 23 Coalition, Regional Solid Waste, Road and Bridge, PCMC Board, AMC Leadership, Union Negotiations PCMC, Area II, RCRCA, Personnel, MRC.
SCHEDULE NEW HOME TAX ABATEMENT PUBLIC HEARING
County Auditor/Treasurer Amanda presented a request to hold a New Home Tax Abatement Public Hearing on May 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM for Jose Fernandez Garcia & Maria Flores Garibay consisting of new home construction in the City of Pipestone. Estimated value of the abatement is approximately $908 annually. Motion by Roskamp, seconded by Wildermuth to schedule the public hearing as recommended. Ayes, Johnson, Nagel, Wildermuth, Roskamp. Nays, none. Absent Hollingsworth. Motion carried.
DONATION OF OUTDOOR BIKE PUMP WORK STAND
Rick Whipple presented a request to donate a bicycle maintenance air pump stand by the public bench on the Indian Lakes Trail near the 116th Street intersection. The donation is on behalf of Robert H. Meinders. There would be no cost to the county with the exception that in 5 to 6 years’ time the air pump hose may need to be replaced due to being in the outdoor elements. The board requested that County Engineer Nick Bergman and Rick Whipple work together on the final location. Mr. Whipple stated that he would take care coordinating the installation. Motion by Wildermuth, seconded by Nagel to accept the donation and to let Engineer Bergman and the installer determine the location by the bench. Ayes, Johnson, Nagel, Wildermuth, Roskamp. Nays, none. Absent Hollingsworth. Motion carried. Commissioners thanked Mr. Whipple and the Meinders Family for the donation.
INTRODUCTION OF NEW COUNTY FACIILITIES MANAGER
Kyle Evans, new Facilities Manager attended the meeting to introduce himself to the Commissioners. Kyle started on April 1st and has been meeting the staff at our various facilities and working with maintenance staff, Candy Whipple and Jessica Harris. Commissioners welcomed Kyle to the County.
JAIL DEFENDER LEVEL MONITORING SYSTEM PURCHASE
Sheriff Keith Vreeman and Jail Administrator Tyler Rippentrop presented a request to the commissioners for the purchase of a Guardian RFID Command Cloud custody operations command system. The system allows the jail staff to utilize RFID tags and a remoted Wi-Fi connected hand held Android device to check in custody individuals in their cells, monitor medication administration and hard tags on the cell area for monitoring. Many counties are using the system. Cost of the system is $500 in IT Department installs, $4,453 for first year and $3,995 annual renewal fee. Use of Reliance telephone fees will be used to cover the initial and ongoing annual fees. Motion by Wildermuth, seconded by Nagel to approve the purchase. Ayes, Johnson, Nagel, Wildermuth, Roskamp. Nays, none. Absent Hollingsworth. Motion carried.
Motion by Roskamp, seconded by Nagel to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 10:14 A.M.
Luke Johnson
Pipestone County Vice Board Chairman
ATTEST:
Steven Ewing
County Administrator