Stephanie Buss

The meeting was convened as a Closed Session under MN Statute 13d.05 Subd.3A. The key discussion item scheduled for this session was the Annual Review of the County Administrator.

The meeting agenda was approved with an addition concerning a contract for Rebecca Young. Key actions included the approval of Auditor's Warrants totaling $631,297.25, encompassing various funds and several warrants exceeding $2,000, such as payments to the Mn Counties Intergovernmental Trust and Engebretson & Sons Disposal Service, Inc. Human Services warrants totaling $385,852.65 were also approved. The Board formally accepted various holiday donations as required by State Law through Resolution No. 260120-05. The updated Information Technology Incident Response Plan was approved. The Board authorized work not to exceed $25,000 for fire alarm system extension and garage space conversion using capital funds. Policy 6.9.2 regarding Expanded Alternate Flexible Work Schedules was extended through March 4, 2027. A contract renewal for the Westlaw Subscription for the Attorney's Office was authorized for up to $755/month for 5 years. A motion to certify a 30-acre wetland habitat easement was approved, though one Commissioner voted in opposition.

The meeting agenda included several significant items for discussion and potential approval. Key topics involved the review of Auditor Warrants and Commissioner Warrants, as well as the registration approval for a Low Potency Hemp Edibles Retail Application for Morris Liquors. The County Engineer presented updates on highway maintenance, including the installation of a floor drain and the completion of a water truck build. Furthermore, the Engineer requested approval to purchase a budgeted New Holland 108M disk mower, advertise the 2026 Mill and Overlay project, purchase an R980GPS Receiver, and approve a detour agreement with MNDOT. The Board also reviewed and requested approval for minor revisions to the Snow and Ice Policy. The Human Resources Manager had an update and resolutions for approval, and the County Administrator was scheduled to present on department updates, including the resignation and backfill for the Deputy Auditor Treasurer position, and provided an update on the childcare project.

The meeting agenda was approved, followed by the presentation of a 2026 solid waste collection and transportation license for Tom Kraemer Inc., which was subsequently approved. The County Engineer requested and received approval to purchase and equip a 2027 tandem truck with plow equipment from Towmaster. The IT Director presented a quote from Marco Technologies for Microsoft Teams calling licensing, support, and hardware to replace the state-hosted phone system, which was approved. Several items presented by the Auditor/Treasurer included the approval of a gambling and raffle permit for Stevens County Pheasants Forever, approval of a tobacco license for DG Retail, LLC (Dollar General), acceptance of a $100 donation for the Sheriffs Department, and approval of a budget adjustment for road and bridge funds. The Board also set dates for a future work session and a closed session for the County Administrator's review, and noted that the Auditor/Treasurer and County Recorder have filed their intent to file for the 2026 election. Committee activity updates were provided before adjournment.

The Work Session agenda included several key discussions. The Auditor Treasurer was scheduled to present details on investments, the Parcel Split Fee, and the Capital Asset Threshold. The Sheriff was set to discuss the Central Square LETG/CAD RMS Conversion and provide an update/proposal on the Axon contract. The Human Services Director planned to provide an update on Human Services, and the County Administrator was scheduled to address Data Security regarding shielding law. A quote summary for Axon Enterprise, Inc. was prominently featured, detailing a 120-month program with an estimated total cost of $589,160.64, alongside detailed delivery schedules for hardware and software licenses.