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Home My WebLink AboutBoard of Commissioners - Minutes - 09/08/20267 ~ OTTERTAIL COUNTY -MINNESOTA Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes September 8, 2026 OTTER TAIL COUNTY -MINNESOTA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES Government Services Center, Commissioners' Room & Via Livestream 515 West Fir Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN September 8, 2026 I 8:30 a.m. CALL TO ORDER The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners convened at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at the Government Services Center in Fergus Falls, MN . Commissioners Robert Lahman, Chair; Dan Bucholz, Vice Chair; Wayne Johnson, Kurt Mortenson and Sean Sullivan were present. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Lahman called for approval of the Board Agenda. Motion by Mortenson, second by Sullivan and unanimously carried to approve the Board of Commissioners' Agenda of September 8, 2026, with the following additions: NACo's Data Center Peer Exchange Letter of Support for Heritage Properties Group APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Bucholz, second by Sullivan and unanimously carried to approve the consent agenda items as presented : 1. August 25, 2026, Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes 2. Warrants/Bills for September 8, 2026 (Exhibit A) 3. Amazon Warrants/Bills for September 8, 2026 (Exhibit A) 4. Human Services Warrants/Bills for September 8, 2026 (Exhibit A) 5. Warrants/Bills, as Approved for Payment by the County Auditor-Treasurer, for August 21 & 28, 2026 6. Organics Collection Contract Renewal-Steve's Sanitation 7. Approval of an LG220 Exempt Permit for The Perham Home Run Club for an event on November 20, 2026, located at The Cactus, 43521 Fort Thunder Road, Perham, MN 56573. SPRINT PARAMEDIC PILOT PROGRAM Motion by Johnson, second by Mortenson and unanimously carried to authorize appropriate County Officials' signatures on an amendment to the Sprint Paramedic Pilot Grant Agreement between Otter Tail County and the State of Minnesota, Office of Emergency Medical Services, for the reallocation of unspent funding from State Fiscal Year 2026 to ensure that all available resources are used to continue the pilot project of evaluating alternative EMS response models in the ambulance service areas of Otter Tail and Grant County. ABSENTEE BALLOT BOARD RESOLUTION OTTER TAIL COUNTY RESOLUTION NO. 2026-62 IT IS RESOLVED THAT, the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners hereby establishes an absentee ballot board and a mail ballot board pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 203B.121 for elections held within Otter Tail County. Page 1 of 9 Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes September 8, 2026 IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Otter Tail County Auditor/Election Office is hereby delegated the authority to appoint members to the ballot boards by appointing a sufficient number of election judges pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Sections 204B .13-204B.22. IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Otter Tail County Auditor/Election Office shall appoint an absentee ballot board and a mail ballot board pursuant to this resolution each even-year election and any special election that requires the use of an absentee ballot board at the Otter Tail County Government Services Center, 510 W Fir Ave, Fergus Falls, MN 56537 beginning with the 2026 election year. The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was introduced by Commissioner Johnson, duly seconded by Commissioner Sullivan and, after discussion thereof and upon vote being taken thereon, passed unanimously. Adopted at Fergus Falls, MN this 8th day of September 2026. OTTER TAIL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Dated : September 29, 2026 Attest: --'J~_l _'c,_v_~_,J/i_~_, /}(/_-·_"---_· __ _ Robert Lahman, Board of Commissioners Chair Nicole Hansen, Clerk RECESS & RECONVENE At 8:42 a.m., Chair Lahman declared the meeting of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners recessed for a short break. The Board of Commissioners meeting was reconvened at 8:45 a.m. LEAD WORKER -ADULT PROTECTION SERVICES/MNCHOICES Motion by Johnson, second by Mortenson and unanimously carried to approve converting a vacant 1.0 full- time equivalent (FTE) MnCHOICES Assessor position to a 1.0 FTE Lead Worker -Adult Protection Services & MnCHOICES position within the Health and Human Services Department. OTTER TAIL 1W1P & REDEYE 1W1P AGREEMENTS Motion by Sullivan, second by Bucholz and motion carried with Johnson abstaining to authorize appropriate County Officials' signatures on two (2) Agreements for Services between Otter Tail County and the East Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District, as Fiscal Agent for the Otter Tail River Watershed and the Leaf Wing Redeye River Watershed in conjunction with partnering local government units, and the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resource (BWSR) for Watershed Based Implementation Funding . RECESS & RECONVENE At 8:52 a.m ., Chair Lahman declared the meeting of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners recessed for a short break. The Board of Commissioners meeting was reconvened at 8:55 a.m. SET PUBLIC HEARING Motion by Johnson, second by Sullivan and unanimously carried to schedule a Public Hearing regarding the Intent to Establish a Subordinate Service District for the Pelican Rapids EMS Primary Service Area on Monday, October 12, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. at the Pelican Rapids High School Auditorium. Page 2 of 9 Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes September 8, 2026 RECESS & RECONVENE At 8:57 a.m., Chair Lahman declared the meeting of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners recessed for a short break. The Board of Commissioners meeting was reconvened at 9:01 a.m. SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH Public Health Director Jody Lien and Health Educator Reese Ellison provided an update on Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention within Otter Tail County as September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. LAKE REGION HEALTHCARE CERTIFICATE OF SUPPORT Motion by Sullivan, second by Mortenson and unanimously carried to a approve appropriate County Officials' signatures on a certificate of support for Lake Region Healthcare's application for financial assistance with the USDA -Rural Development Program. NACO DATA CENTER PEER EXCHANGE Motion by Mortenson, second by Sullivan and unanimously carried to authorize the application and a letter of support for Deputy County Administrator Nick Leonard to apply for the 2026 NACo Data Center Peer Exchange, an opportunity to hear from experts, exchange best practices and explore solutions to shared challenges related to data center development. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SERVICES AGREEMENT Motion by Lahman, second by Johnson and motion carried with Bucholz opposed to authorize appropriate County Officials' signatures to execute an Architectural/Design Services Agreement with Widseth, at a cost not to exceed $182,900 plus miscellaneous reimbursable expenses, for the Parkers Prairie Highway Shop. OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL Motion by Sullivan, second by Bucholz and unanimously carried to approve out-of-state travel for County Engineer Jodi Teich to travel to Omaha, NE from October 11-14, 2026, to attend the National Association of County Engineers (NACE) Fall Board Meeting. All travel costs are covered by NACE. COURTHOUSE SECURITY GRANT APPLICATION Motion by Johnson, second by Lahman and unanimously carried to authorize the Otter Tail County Sheriffs Office to apply for a Courthouse Security Grant, as well as the Board provide a letter of support, as part of ongoing efforts to support the safety and security of the courthouse. HRA BOARD APPOINTMENT Motion by Bucholz, second by Johnson and unanimously carried to appoint Tracy Hendrickx to a 5-year term on the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Board. LETTER OF SUPPORT Motion by Sullivan, second by Bucholz and motion carried with Johnson abstaining to approve the recommendation of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority for District 3 Commissioner Kurt Mortenson to send a letter of support for the grant application, by Heritage Properties Group, LLC dba Battle Lake Mobile Home Park, to Minnesota Housing's Manufactured Home Community Redevelopment Program. Page 3 of 9 Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes September 8, 2026 RECESS & RECONVENE At 9:48 a.m., Chair Lahman declared the meeting of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners recessed for a short break. The Board of Commissioners meeting was reconvened at 10:00 a.m. PUBLIC HEARING At 10:01 a.m., Chair Lahman opened the Public Hearing regarding Property Tax Abatements related to the Single-Family Tax Rebate Program. Chair Lahman asked for comments from the public and no comments were received. The Public Hearing was closed at 10:02 a.m. ADJOURNMENT At 10:03 a.m., Chair Lahman declared the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners meeting adjourned with a closed session to follow. The next regular Board meeting is scheduled at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29 , 2026, at the Government Services Center in Fergus Falls and via livestream. CLOSED SESSION At 10:03 a.m., Chair Lahman declared the Board of Commissioners meeting closed to the public. The closed session is authorized under Minnesota Statute §130.05, Subd. 3(b) for Attorney-Client Privilege for an MCIT Insurance Claim. Those present were Commissioners Bob Lahman, Kurt Mortenson, Dan Bucholz, Wayne Johnson and Sean Sullivan, County Administrator Nicole Hansen, County Attorney Michelle Eldien, Deputy Administrator Nick Leonard, Deputy Administrator Lynne Penke Valdes, Deputy Administrator Liz Mickelson, IT Director Rick Kelsven , Chief Deputy Sheriff Reed Reinbold, County Board Secretary Hannah Anderson, Joshua Lawrence, Crowe, and Matthew Meade, Eckert Seamans. The closed session ended at 10:44 a.m. OTTER TAIL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Dated: September 29, 2026 By: _fZ~l ~ . .;z;::;jl,~f~'-'l.d---~·. -Attest)/, f1,1/.(_Jj[v,0.<._; Robert Lahman , Board of Commissioners Chair Nicole Hansen, Clerk Page 4 of 9 Page 5 of 9 Vendor Name 210 TIRES & TOWING LLC A&A RECYCLING LLC ACCENT WIRE-TIE ACORNS-OAK CO SUL TING INC ADVANCED BUSINESS METHODS INC ALB.A.NY RECYCLING CEN ER AN EM CARLSON LA / OFFICE PLLC APEX NATER & PROCESS INC AQUATIC ECOSOLUTIO S INC ARMSTRONG/TYLER AUTO VALUE FERGUS F.A.LLS AVERY. ATTORNEY AT LAW/JILL BARR ENGINEERING CO BOT MECHANICAL LLC BECKER CO SHERIFF BEL TRAM! CO SHERIFF BEYER BODY SHOP INC SOX GANG MANUFACTURING LLC BRANDO COMMU ICA TIONS I C BRASEURYA BREITKREUTZ/DOUG BRODA/LINDSEY BROV\/NLOW1BENJAMIN BURLINGTON NORTHERN RR CO ACCOU BUY-MOR PARTS & SERVICE LLC CHARM-TEX INC CLEAN PLUS INC CLEAN S\1\/EEP COMMERCIAL SERVICES CMI INC CODE 4 SERVICES INC COLE PAPERS INC COLUMN SOFTVI/ARE PBC COMBINED SYSTEMS, INC COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORTATIO COOPER'S OFFICE SUPPLY INC D & T VENTURES LLC DAKOTA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS INC DAKOTA CO SHERIFPS OFFICE DAL TO /CITY OF DITTBER ER/TREVOR DOUBLE A CATERING DOUGLAS CO JAIL Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes September 8, 2026 (Exhibit A) Amount 940.00 1.360.00 5,286.80 1.500.00 1.021 .00 5.076.23 6)350.00 88.96 9.383 33 193.75 1,805.06 112.58 4,668.00 753.86 127.50 85.00 150.00 85.763.00 173.60 250.00 147.44 374.73 1.000.00 2,258.65 2.522.74 59.60 850.00 525.00 170.00 7,956.22 148.93 43.S.78 350.00 7,657.45 54.84 385.88 88.00 80.00 1.250.00 143.05 70.00 3.844.72 Page 6 of 9 Vendor Name DPF AL TERNA Tl ES OF Ml ESOT A EHLERS & ASSOCIATES INC ESSER PLUMB! G & HEATI G I C F-M FOR LIFT SALES & SERVICE INC FASTENAL COMPANY FERGUS FALLS/CITY OF FERGUS POWER PUMP INC FERGUS TIRE CENTER INC FIOLAR TECH OLOGIES I C FIELD/CRISTI FLINT HILLS RESOURCES LP FORUM COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY FOTH INFRASTRUCTURE & ENVIRONMEt- G & R CONTROLS INC GALLS LLC GEODE/AMBER GEORGESON/ANTHONY GRAINGER I C GUARDIAN RFID HILL YARD INC OMETOWN REPAIR I C HOUSTO E GINEERING INC HUSEBY/TODD A !MAGI G SPECTRUM I C I STITUTE OF FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY J ' KE'S JOHNS LLC JK SPORTS I C JONES LA OFFICE LAKES COU TRY SERVICE COOPERATIV LARKIN HOFFMAN PUBLIC AFFAIRS INC LARRY OTT INC LIND F MIL Y FUNERAL HOME INC M-R SIGN CO INC MARCO TECHNOLOGIES LLC MARCO TECH OLOGIES LLC MIDWEST MACHINERY CO MINNEAPOLIS FORENSIC PYSCH SERVIC MINNESOTA MOTOR COMPANY MN POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY MN STATE COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL CC MONROE TO MASTER LLC MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS CONNECTIVITY Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes September 8, 2026 (Exhibit A) Amount 1,500.00 3.066.25 1.222.18 779.37 2,019.69 49.535.06 34.285.00 1,276.62 4.101.43 163.40 176,741.04 290.20 2.103.67 7.926.35 1,91.S.22 13.42 400.32 1,018.53 6,050.00 396.75 796.41 18,6 0.75 900.00 294.83 1.980.00 1.240.00 84.99 385.00 46.60 5,000.00 5.200.00 742.50 6.385.90 2.149.33 975.22 150.92 3.375.00 131 .77 1,815.00 350.00 202.48 4.083.33 Page 7 of 9 Vendor Name NAPA CENTRA.L NORT CENTRAL BUS & EQUIPMENT I C NORTH CENTRAL INC NORTHWEST TIRE I C NUSS TRUCK & EQUIP 1ENT OLSEN CHAIN & CABLE CO INC OLSON TIRE & OIL OTTER ELECTRIC LLC OTTER TAIL CO PUBLIC HEAL TH OTTER TAIL CO TREASURER OTTER TAIL PO\!\iER COMPANY PEBBLE LAKE AUTO PEMBERTO LAW PLLP PERHAM STE EL & '. ELDI G PHILLIPPl!DR JAY PHOE IX SUPPLY PLM LAKE & LAND M.A.NAG EMENT CORP PLUNK ETTS VARMENT GU;\RD POWERPLA.N OI B PRECISE MRM LLC PRO AG FARMERS CO OP QUADIENT FIN,A.NCE USA I C OUADIENT LEASING USA INC R & R READY MIX INC RAY'S BODY S OP. INC RAY'S SPORT & r, RI E -PERHAM RAZOR BLADE COMP.A.NY/TH E RDO TRUCK CENTERS LLC REHRIG PACIFIC COMPANY RUFF/CLAYTON SAMUEL JOH SON LAW SERVICE FOOD SUPER V ALU SH ERP USA SHERWI -i\llLLIAMS COMPANY INC/THE SIGNWORKS SIG S & BANNERS INC SILKTIDE INC SIMENGAARD/PAUL SJOLIE!TYLER SQUEEGEE SQUAD ST ANTEC CONSUL Tl G SERVICES INC STEINS INC STIGMA IRY AN Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes September 8, 2026 (Exhibit A) Amount 1.652.94 16.988.78 440.62 3.834.17 25.856.46 1.784.00 453.00 30.529.86 184.00 248.06 93.45 2,367.15 3.795.50 49.41 475.00 5.148.75 334.25 396.95 6.331.45 660.00 3.087 .60 690.92 2.591 .19 3,564 .60 1.505.85 493.25 320.94 12,029.81 334 ,296.91 1,000.00 3.550.00 83.93 2.028.78 12.79 160.50 7.285.74 58.26 59.28 4.952.75 3,875.00 288.22 784.32 Page 8 of 9 Vendor Nc:lrrte STREICHERS STRYKER SALES LLC SUMMIT FOOD SERVICE LLC ACTICAL SOLUTIONS NT REPAIR I C TOOL VVAAE OUSE I C TSCHID CRAIG U ITE D TACTICAL SYSTEMS LLC U LIMITED AUTOGLASS INC \/ESTIS ESTIS WADE .A.ASPHALT INC VALVAT EJDOUGLAS VASTEVISION Al EETS DRAINAGE & EXCAVATING LLC 'v IDSETH SMITH OL ING & ASSOCIATE! M CORPORA E SERVICES INC XU/ALLEN ZIEGLER INC ZORO TOOLS INC Finni Total: Vendor Name AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES INC Finni Tot.ii: Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes September 8, 2026 (Exhibit A) Amount 981.52 150.00 28. 103.29 1,856.00 2,954 .61 45.02 37.26 446.00 80.00 281.89 235.52 4,860.00 1,650.00 1 ,336.►0 5,600.00 8,610.02 46,875.98 145.92 3.234 .45 1.497.17 1.099.047 .82 Amount 15.580.33 15.580.33 Page 9 of 9 Vendor Name ANDERSEN/O,A. IEL AUTO FIX -OTTERTAIL BROWN/BRENDA DOUGLAS CO SHERI FF'S OFFICE FOREMAN/MICHELLE HEGLUND/EMILY I DEPENDENT CONTRACT SERVICES OF KANABEC CO SHERIFF LA.KE REGION EAL THCARE METCALF/HALLIE MINNESOTA MOTOR COMP.A. Y MN DEPT OF CHILDREN YOUTH & FAfv ILII M DcPT OF HEAL TH NELSON AUTO CE TER I 'C NIELSO CARI NIEMANN/KEVIN OTTER TAIL CO RECORDER OTTER TAIL CO SHERIFF PREMIER BIOTECH INC QUALITY TOYOTA RE1NIND INC SCHMIDT/HEATHER SH ERBURNE COS ERIFF ULSCHMID/LLZA IDSETH SMITH NOL TING & ASSOCIATE! WIPFLI ADVISORY LLC Final Total: Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes September 8, 2026 (Exhibit A) Amount 28.04 493.20 18.20 184.44 34 .59 22.89 618.83 40.00 125.00 203.81 1.682.41 6.948.25 40.00 514.72 20.00 '143.65 42.00 316.70 1.487.50 454 .35 4.380.00 70 .14 '180.00 17.61 27.161 .39 3,866.88 49,094.60 7 ~ OTTERTAIL COUNTY -MINNESOTA Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes September 8, 2026 OTTER TAIL COUNTY -MINNESOTA DRAINAGE AUTHORITY MINUTES Government Services Center, Commissioners' Room & Via Livestream 515 West Fir Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN September 8, 2026 I 11 :00 a.m. CALL TO ORDER The Otter Tail County Drainage Authority convened at 11 :00 a.m. Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at the Government Services Center in Fergus Falls, MN. Commissioners Robert Lahman, Chair; Dan Bucholz, Vice Chair; Kurt Mortenson, Wayne Johnson, and Sean Sullivan were present. APPROVAL OF AGENDA & CONSENT AGENDA Chair Lahman called for joint approval of the Drainage Authority Agenda and Consent Agenda. Motion by Bucholz, second by Sullivan and unanimously carried to approve the Drainage Authority Agenda and the Consent Agenda of September 8, 2026 as follows: 1. August 25, 2026, Drainage Authority Meeting Minutes 2. Warrants/Bills for September 8, 2026 (Exhibit A) DITCH 16 -BEAVER DAM OBSTRUCTION Motion by Mortenson, second by Johnson and unanimously carried to approve beaver trapping and dam removal on County Ditch 16, along S. Clitherall Lake Road, as recommended by Drainage Inspector Tyler Armstrong. DITCH 25 -BEAVER DAM OBSTRUCTION Motion by Bucholz, second by Sullivan and unanimously carried to approve beaver trapping and dam removal on County Ditch 25, at the outlet of Archie Lake, as recommended by Drainage Inspector Tyler Armstrong. DITCH 52 -BEAVER DAM OBSTRUCTION Motion by Johnson, second by Mortenson and unanimously carried to approve beaver trapping and dam removal on County Ditch 52, at the Spitsberg Field Crossing, as recommended by Drainage Inspector Tyler Armstrong. 2027 DRAINAGE ASSESSMENTS OTTER TAIL COUNTY RESOLUTION NO. 2026-63 WHEREAS, The County Drainage Authority has given careful consideration to the drainage system expenses per. Minnesota State Statute 103E; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, Otter Tail County Auditor-Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to spread the following assessments upon the tax rolls of the County for taxes payable beginning in 2027. The collections on said levies shall be credited to their respective funds. Such assessments shall be as follows: Page 1 of 4 Proposed Ditch Assessment Number Amount -Pay 2027 1 7,000 2 1,000 3 1,000 10 40 ,000 11 10,000 14 15,000 20 11,000 24 5,000 27 2,500 31 70 ,000 40 1,500 42 22,000 46 1,500 47 6,000 51 4,000 52 270,000 54 1,500 59 1,000 62 1,000 63 12,000 Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes September 8, 2026 Spread (Years) Interest 1 1 1 2 4% 1 1 1 1 1 3 4% 1 1 1 1 1 5 4% 1 1 1 1 BE IT RESOLVED THAT, The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners hereby adopts the proposed drainage ditch assessments. The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was introduced by Commissioner Johnson, duly seconded by Commissioner Bucholz and, after discussion thereof and upon vote being taken thereon , passed on a roll ca ll vote as follows: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS YEA NAY ABSENT ABSTAIN Dan Bucholz X Wayne Johnson X Kurt Mortenson Robert Lahman X Sean Sullivan X Adopted at Fergus Falls, MN th is 8th day of September 2026 . OTTER TAIL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS By :-~~~~~- Robert Lahman , Board of Commissioners Chair Page 2 of 4 X Dated: September 29 , 2026 Attest j, (io/Uf ?i')4L, Nicole Hansen, Clerk ~ 9o!J,E~NJ;~~~ Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes September 8, 2026 ADJOURNMENT At 11 :14 a.m., Chair Lahman declared the Otter Tail County Drainage Authority meeting adjourned. The next Drainage Authority meeting will immediately follow the next regular Board meeting on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at the Government Services Center in Fergus Falls and via livestream. OTTER TAIL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Dated: September 29, 2026 By ~ Robertlahman~ of Commissioners Chair Attest: ~ t-ot1.)ltc~ Nicole Hansen, Clerk Page 3 of 4 Page 4 of 4 Vendor Name BAKER EXCAVATING CHRISTENSEN CONSTRUCTION L&M ROAD SERVICES OTTER TAIL CO TREASURER Final Total: Board of Commissioners' Meeting Minutes September 8, 2026 (Exhibit A) Amount 1.137.50 10.000.00 2.650.00 4.925.76 18 ,713.26