Wood and Yard Waste
The city and county are investigating co-locating a new wood waste and yard waste drop off facility. The joint venture would serve the city and county. Composting yard waste would continue. We have outgrown the current wood waste site and it will soon be surrounded by housing developments.
Oxbow Zoo Improvement
The County has been awarded $367,000 to improve and relocate the county road that accesses the Oxbow Zoo and Park. Currently, County Road 105 runs through the middle of the park and bisects the Zoo and the bison and elk exhibits. The relocated road will go around the bison and elk exhibits and allow the county to join the zoo and bison fields. This will greatly enhance public safety and move traffic away from the zoo. The project will probably start in 2028. Total cost, at current pricing, is estimated at $2.1 million.
Child and Family Services
Olmsted offers support and education for families to better the lives of the parents and children.
In 2024:
- 930 Parent Information Meetings were held to address school attendance challenges
- 890 family conferences were held serving 216 families and 453 children
- The Family Access Center provided a safe environment for 1335 parent-child interactions and safe exchanges.
Cannabis Ordinances Revised
The county Board revised Chapter 2150 of the Code of Ordinances regarding Cannabis businesses. You can view the ordinances at:
Further revisions will be discussed at the May 6 Board Meeting.
Seneca Site
Olmsted County requested development proposals for the Seneca site. Two proposals were received. I voted with the majority of the Board to not consider either proposal. The Board did not believe either proposal was in the best interest of the community. The Seneca site was gifted to the people of Olmsted County by Dr. Graham and Blanch Graham as part of what we now know as Graham Park. The Seneca site was sold to Reed and Murdock as a vegetable canning plant. Dr. Graham agreed to the sale. (It later became Libby’s and then Seneca). Several years ago Olmsted County purchased the 11 acres from Seneca. This land was part of the original gift of Dr. Graham and Blanch Graham. Now that it has been restored to the people of Olmsted County, I continue to advocate for the Seneca site to be added to Graham Park to preserve the site for the people of Olmsted County.
Provide Your Opinion on the Community Health Needs Assessment
Every three years the community is asked to participate in a survey to prioritize our area’s top health concerns. You can help identify the top health issues . I encourage you to take the survey. Here is the link to take the survey: community feedback
More information can be found at: Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)
Budget Uncertainties Pause Improvements
Due to concern about State funding cuts, the Olmsted Board decided to delay the remodeling of the Planning and Environmental Services space (Building 2122). This was originally scheduled for 2026 at a cost of about $6 million.
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