Nathan Bertram

The meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance. Key discussion focused on the Health and Human Services report regarding revisions to the cannabis ordinance, specifically Section 4, to align with guidance from the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). Revisions were made to clarify licensing and permitting for cannabis events, particularly concerning OCM licensing requirements preceding county registration and reporting changes in vendor lists. The board engaged in detailed discussion about applying the ordinance to events on public lands and waters. The board agreed to set a public hearing for these cannabis ordinance changes for the February 10th meeting, contingent upon timely notice publication. The meeting also briefly touched upon scheduling a future public hearing regarding firearm use in the county.

The meeting commenced with the election of the County Board Chair and Vice Chair for 2026, resulting in Commissioner Greg Blaine being elected Chair and Commissioner Casper as Vice Chair. The agenda was approved, followed by the approval of the consent agenda. Key discussions covered annual resolutions and appointments, including an update to the county mileage reimbursement rate (increasing from 70 cents to 72 cents per mile for 2026), updates to the code of conduct resolution language, and appointments for AMC delegates. The board also approved the minimum salaries for elected officials for 2027, as required by statute, and awarded the bid for 2026 legal printing services to the Morrison County Record, noting an increase in line and display ad rates compared to the previous year. The Health and Human Services Director and Supervisor provided a report noting that 19.4% of Morrison County residents are active on MA programs, discussing the differences between the METS and Maxis systems, and detailing recent changes regarding mixed MA and Minnesota Care cases, which now require county processing, adding complexity to renewal workloads.

The meeting agenda for January 27, 2026, included numerous items requiring County Board approval, primarily under the Consent Agenda. Key approvals sought included previous County Board Minutes from January 6, 2026, warrants, the December 31, 2025 Cash Report, the December Sheriff's Monthly Report, and the Pay Equity Report submission for 2025 data. Other consent items involved the allocation of $50,000 in Opioid Settlement Funds to the Corrections Department for Drug Court support, approval of new and renewed tobacco and hemp edibles retailer licenses, changes to authorized bank account signers, and the approval of repurchase applications for tax forfeited land for three individuals. The Regular Agenda included a report on updates to the county's Cannabis Registration/Regulation Ordinance, requiring the setting of a date for public comments, and a review of bids for legal printing, resulting in the designation of the Morrison County Record for 2026. Additionally, the Board approved a resolution to award a contract for Box Culvert replacements.

The meeting commenced with a discussion regarding variances, specifically detailing that the burden is on the applicant to prove practical difficulty and that granting a variance requires a majority vote. Following this procedural clarification, the Board addressed a variance request. After a motion to deny failed, a motion to approve was made and seconded, but it did not achieve a majority vote, resulting in the variance being denied. The applicant was instructed to coordinate with land services for next steps. Subsequently, the Board approved the minutes from the previous meeting, confirmed there was no new or old business, and then adjourned.

The meeting centered on a variance request from Delford and Carol Mory (represented by Steve Mory) to expand a non-conforming structure located within the bluff zone of Lake Alexander. The variance sought to add a 4x6 ft extension to an existing porch to convert it into a main floor bedroom, intended to accommodate an aging and handicapped resident by avoiding stairs. Staff reported that the request required a variance due to setback requirements from the top of the bluff. Discussion among board members focused on the minimal nature of the proposed 64 square foot addition, which would utilize non-excavating peer footings, and the property's excellent existing stewardship, evidenced by native growth and lack of erosion, despite the structure originally being built in a prohibited area. Board members debated whether the request harmonized with land use ordinances, citing both the rule against building in the bluff zone and the minimal invasive nature of the addition. The need for a main floor bedroom for accessibility purposes was discussed as a non-economic consideration. The board confirmed that the septic system capacity was adequate for the proposed additional bedroom.