Rice County Board of Commissioners

Sheriff Jesse Thomas requested and received approval for a new food service agreement for the Public Safety Center.

Julie Runkel. Environmental Services Director told commissioners the county received a $150,000 grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to address water quality concerns on French Lake.

Calls for service totaled 13,253 last year from January 1 through October 15. This year the total during that time frame is at 14,244.

Under the agreement Rice County will receive 40 percent of gross call revenue at the new facility and 15 percent at the current jail until the move is made.

A landfill fire public meeting is being held at 6:00 p.m. today, (June 13, 2023) in the Commissioner's room at the Rice County Government Services Building in Faribault.

Commissioners also tabled until June 13th a Conditional Use Permit request by the Strickers for a dog kennel business in Cannon City Township.

We were told on the tour the building is currently about two months ahead of schedule but construction officials said that does not necessarily mean completion will be two months ahead of schedule. The goal for completion is fall of 2024.

There are approximately 7 acres of land on the north end of the property where the new Public Safety Center is being constructed just off Highway 3 on the north end of Faribault.

Verdick says the approximately 50 million construction project is currently approximately 2.5 million dollars under budget and 3 months ahead of schedule.

Verdick told Commissioners the low bid on Phase One of the Finance Department remodeling was provided by Met-Con Construction of Faribault in the amount of $24,000. Despite the concerns voiced by Commissioners they unanimously approved accepting the bid and moving forward with the project.