2026 Committees

As part of my activities as Commissioner, I will be serving on the following committees in 2026:

• Physical Development (Buildings, Roads and Bridges, Infrastructure, etc.)
• Housing and Rehabilitation Administration
• Housing and Rehabilitation Authority Board
• Legislative Committee
• Parks and Trails
• Rochester Olmsted County Youth Commission
• First Homes
• Rochester Olmsted Council of Governments (ROCOG)
• Minnesota Intercounty Association (MICA) Board of Directors
• Lake Zumbro Joint Powers Board
• Building Authority Board
• Regional Rail Authority Board
• Association of Minnesota Counties General Government Committee

I look forward to serving the people of District 3 in 2026

Thank you for your support in 2025; you elected me with over 66% of votes.  In spite of the difficulties of the year caused by the pandemic, I worked to ensure that Olmsted County continued to serve the needs of the people in the most efficient and cost effective way.  In 2026 I will work with the Board to support more housing for low-income individuals and families and to reduce the homeless population.  I care about the people in my district and Olmsted County.  I work to maintain the trust you have placed in me.  I was elected to a four-year term in 2020 but because of redistricting, I ran for re-election in 2022.  I will be running again this November and I thank you for your continued support.

I Have Kept You Informed

To keep you informed in 2025 posted items to my website 13 times with about 66 items of interest and updates on county projects.  I also included several videos and pictures.  I will continue to update the people of District 3 in 2026.

A Look Ahead to 2026

Construction

• Start Construction on Interchange at Highway 14/County Road 44 and improvements to County roads 3 and 5 intersections.
• Multi-Purpose building at Graham Park (concrete footings will be completed in January)
• Start construction on the Materials Recovery Facility.
• Improvement to Lake Zumbro Park that will bring it up to a County Park Standards and allow for expanded use of fishing at an upgraded pier, picnic space, small craft launching, bathroom facilities, and ADA accessible standards.

 Improvement for the Waste to Energy facility. 

1. Increase the Reuse facility
2. Reduce the amount of trash that goes into the combustion chamber
3. Recover more material that can be sold and recycled into new products.

Continue work on preparing the County for the Next Generation of Green Energy

1. Developing a process to sort out organics (food scraps) and divert them to create biogas (methane).

At the Legislature

In addition to the Capital Improvement Bond requests, Olmsted County will be working on:

• Redesign of the Department of Human Services (DHS)
• Working on Legislation to create secure facilities to treat individuals with Acute and Chronic Mental Illnesses.  And providing more services for mental illness.
• Working to create facilities that will provide secure facilities that will assist youth with severe behavioral issues through compassionate programs so that the youth can return to the community and engage in productive living.

Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)

Currently no funds have been cut.  The Federal Government has ordered states to provide information to examine and account for funds provided to the State.  This information is to be delivered January 9.

• Olmsted County Administers Federal Child Care Assistance eligibility and authorize payments issued by the State
• CCAP funds come from the Federal Government (50%) and the State of Minnesota programs.
• The State distributes CCAP funds to the counties and the Counties administer the program.
• 918 families currently receive assistance
• 1,677 children are supported
• 134 Licensed provider child care and 16 Legal non-licensed that are registered with the State.
• 10 Eligibility county workers oversee the program
• Child care provider compliance checks are carried out by the Department of Child Youth and Families Inspector General and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
• Average assistance per family is $20,415.  Average per child is about $11,175. About $18,741,332 total.
• The County also has employees that are assigned to fraud investigation/prevention.  The county has shut down providers who have not been in compliance.

Child care is essential to the economy.  Child care provides the opportunity to have parents gainfully employed and reduces dependence on other family assistance programs.

Overnight Shelter

The County continues to provide overnight shelter for unsheltered individuals.  The county provides about 40 overnight beds but has the capability of increasing the number for overflow situations.  Catholic Charities of Minnesota provide the management of the shelter.  Olmsted approved about $88,000 for the management of overflow.

Dangerous Dog Ordinance

The county has updated the Dangerous Dog Ordinance.  (County Ordinances Chapter 2600).  A hearing on the ordinance will be held at the January 20^th Board meeting. The ordinance update includes additions for victim rights.

County 3 and 5/Highway 14

Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has awarded $1.37 million to Olmsted County. This award will not fully fund the Engineering and environmental documentation needed for the eventual overpasses, it will get us started on the project.  Highway 14 is designated as a Corridor of Commerce.  County Roads 3 and 5 are east of Byron and currently have grade level crossings on Highway 14.  The overpasses are needed to allow traffic to flow unimpeded by vehicle crossings.