Observer notesCounty Board Meeting August 13, 2026

Observer notes: First let me say that because the Board Meeting was held at the Fairgrounds in Zumbrota with the 4H-ers and the Goodhue County County Fair Board members and volunteers working with great enthusiasm and quite noisily (human and animals), I missed a great deal of what was being both before the meeting and during the meeting. Terri Cook was also present and has offered to fill in or correct errors I may have made because I couldn’t hear. Thanks, Terri.

Prior to the commencement of the board meeting, County Board Commissioners Linda Flanders, Brad Anderson, Susan Betcher, and Todd Greseth met with the Isiah Group led by Pastor Quinlan Koch of Red Wing and supporters of the group (approximately 20 people) to discuss election integrity and the group’s request that the Board sign a pledge to keep the federal government out of our elections. A member of the group whose name I didn’t catch but she is herself an election judge spoke of the extensive and thorough training election judges go through and how solid election integrity is in Minnesota. All of the commissioners present agreed with that statement. Brad Anderson stated that he has complete confidence in our elections and that the Goodhue County primary elections held this week were seamless with no issues or fraud. He also stated that he has taken an oath of office that is exactly what Pastor Quinlan and the group present were asking for and there wasn’t a need to make any additional pledges or oaths. He thanked the group for all they are doing. Eric from Kenyon challenged that statement and said that he felt that because all of our federal checks and balances were way out of whack right now and that our Constitution is under attack, it is more important than ever that our local officials hold the line. He said we need an unequivocal pledge that our local and state officials will not allow the Feds to take over our elections.

The discussion was then ended as it was time to start the County Board Meeting. Susan Betcher did approach Eric and said she respected what he was saying but that she has faith in our system. Eric said right now Minnesota elections are solid but the Feds are ignoring the laws of the states as they stand and he is concerned that we won’t be able to protect our voter integrity from them. Susan Betcher said her concern right now is that our elections are fair and secure but because of the propaganda, people don’t believe they are. Eric agreed and said that what is needed is confidence reinforcement from County Board to help reassure people. He said that the disinformation is destroying confidence in our elections and that’s what we need to be concerned about. Susan Betcher said that she thinks they are both talking about the same thing and are in agreement. Then we all moved to our seats for the board meeting to commence.

Meeting commenced at 10:00 am

Commissioners:

Linda Flanders, Brad Anderson, Todd Greseth, Jason Majerus, Susan Betcher (all present)

Pledge of Allegiance

Disclosures of Interests (none)

Consent Items:

All the following items on the consent agenda were approved:

• Approve Parks ADA Transition Plan
• Approve the Medical Examiner Contract for 2027-2030
• Approve Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota Temporary On-Sale Liquor License
• Approve Treatment Court Agreement
• Approve acting as the Responsible Government Unit (RGU) for the Pelican Point Environmental Assessment Worksheet in Florence Township
• Approve Abatement Policy Revision
• Approve Final Contract Payment for the 2025n CSAH 2 Grading Contract-S.A.P. 025-602-031
• Approve for the Final Contract for 2026 Traffic Marking – C.P. 025-926-001
• Approve the On-Line Auction Items
• Approve the 2026 Highway Safety Improvement Program Contract – S.P. 025-070-015 & S.P. 025-070-0

??? A representative from the Fair Board (whose name and title I didn’t catch) spoke, stating that

the fairgrounds look better than they ever have before. At the Fair, everyone gets along. The Minnesota 4H is a leader nationally and it all starts at the Goodhue County fair. The Goodhue County Fair is well-attended and the 4H kids are excited for competition. The Goodhue County Board does a great job of supporting the fair. Brad Anderson complimented the Fair Board members for all their hard work, dedication and great results of their efforts – building a strong community. Susan Betcher agreed and thanked all who were present, stating this was the most people she remembered at a meeting and suggested that we all attend the September 1, 2026 meeting at 10 am.

Reports from Departments and Officials:

Land Use Management:

Consider a Conditional Use Permit for the Pine Island Sportsman’s Club in Pine Island Township:

Megan Smith, Land Use Management Director for Goodhue County MN reviewed her committees’ recommendations for the expanded acreage for the Shooting range and recommended approval once the detailed site plan was submitted. Brad Anderson commented that the conditional use permit only applied to the existing area of the shooting club and he moved to approve. All Commissioners approved.

PUBLIC WORKS:

Public Works Deputy Director Jake Rezac introduced New Assistant County Engineer, Dahlton

Scharmer, P.E.. Dahlton has a master’s degree in civil engineering and was a project manager at Sappi, a woodfibre and paper manufacturing plant in Sappi in Duluth, Mn. He will be working on county highway construction, planning, and design, road and bridge maintenance supervision, contract administration and regulatory permitting and will have oversight of local infrastructure and asset management. Dahlton stated that he was thrilled to be introduced at the Goodhue County Fair as he was a 4H’er himself, that he is excited to learn our roadways and that he and his wife are both thrilled to be living here now.

University of Minnesota Extension:

2026 Goodhue County Farm Family of the Year:

Tammy McCulloch, Regional Director at University of Minnesota Extension in partnership with the Goodhue County Extension Commission announced that the recipients of the 2026 Goodhue County Farm Family of the Year is the Cannon Valley Ranch, owned and operated by Bruce, LeeAnn, Taylor, and Aaron Waugh. Ms. McCulloch listed the many accomplishments and deep community involvement of the Waugh family since Bruce and LeeAnn established Cannon Vally Ranch in 1984. Bruce, LeeAnn, Taylor, and Aaron Waugh were all present to receive the award. Bruce Waugh thanks the Commission for the acknowledgement. He spoke of how seriously they take their responsibilities of being good stewards of the land and good community members. He invited everyone to participate in the upcoming events at the Ranch held on the first Thursday of September or the October Fall Festival where they offer soil health and watershed tours, have activities for the kids and delicious steaks for those who care to eat.

4-H Fair Update

Spokesperson for the Goodhue County 4-H, acknowledged the work of two young people – Lily and Natalie – who are working with other youths in the local 4H youth programs coordinated through the UMN Extension Goodhue County. She noted that Lily works especially well with shy kids in the program and Natalie works with the kids in the program that have learning disabilities.

Natalie spoke of how much she loved the 4-H program. She has been a 4-H’r since 8th grade and loves it. She is a county ambassador doing white water counseling and working with special needs kids. She is going to U of M-Duluth this fall, majoring in Social Work.

Lily is county ambassador in the 4-H program working in Day Care. She especially loves working with the shy kids as she remembers how shy she was when she first join 4-H. She wants to be a teacher.

The Spokesperson giving the 4-H update whose name I didn’t catch spoke again about how fantastic the 4-H program in Goodhue County is and how it continues to grow, expand and thrive. (She did list the numbers of participants, pens, livestock, etc. attending the Fair this year but I wasn’t able to catch most of it but I know it was very impressive from all the oohing and aahing in the crowd). She acknowledged the Waugh family for working with the 4-h’rs, especially LeeAnn who had just spent 8.5 hours in the heat yesterday (8/12/26) clerking the beef show. She stated how very proud she was of Lily and Natalie. She talked about how community giving is such a big part of 4-H. Susan Betcher stated how proud she was of all the 4-H programs and participants. Brad Anderson compliments the 4-H kids on their hard work and dedication and stated that the efforts of their work showed. He said it is the 4-H community that makes the Goodhue County Fair work.

OTHER REPORTS:

CONSERVATION AWARD WINNER OF 2026 – The Paul and Elaine Burfeind Family.

Chris Hinck with the Goodhue County Soil and Water Conservation District introduced the winners of the 2026 Conservation award.

He stated that the Burfeind family’s commitment to protecting soil and water resources while preserving a family farming legacy serves as an outstanding example of conservation stewardship in Goodhue County. Paul and Elaine Burfeind along with three younger members of their family accepted the award.

Mr. Burfeind spoke of his lifelong commitment to conservation and responsible stewardship of the land. The Burfeind family farm is located in the Wells Creek watershed in Goodhue County. The Burfeind family has successfully managed the land through decades of conservation-minded farming. The family has implemented a wide range of conservation practices. These practices help reduce soil erosion and improve water quality within the Wells Creek watershed. The creek had been dried up for 50 years but is running so great that they now have it stocked with trout. The Burfeinds have also demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to forestry, planting more than 26,000 trees on the farm over the past 40 years.

Goodhue County Sheriff Marty Kelly presented all the County Commissioners with the new Sheriff’s badges that will be rolled out later this year. The new design features an outline of Goodhue County and reflects the topography of the area with the river and bluffs and Frontenac State Park.

(My opinion, I think they are beautiful. I liked them much better than the old ones).

• No committee reports
• All Commissioners approved paying the bills presented
• All Commissioners approved adjourning the meeting

• Meeting Adjourned at 10:47 am