Meeker County Board Meeting
The Meeker County Board of Commissioners has set a public hearing for February 17th at 6 p.m. in the Board Room on the 2nd floor of the Government Center to gather input on the so-called “shotgun zone” law. The Board is expected to make a decision before May 1st on deer hunting firearms restrictions.
Back in 1942, the State of Minnesota began restricting the types of firearms that could be used to hunt deer within a part of the state which included Meeker County. During the 2025 legislative session, an act was adopted to repeal in Minnesota those shotgun zone statutes for the 2026 deer hunting season. The act also included statutes which permits a County Board to adopt an ordinance, following a public hearing, to limit the types of firearms used to hunt deer within a county, including restrictions of the same scope and type previously allowed by the former Minnesota Statute.
The County Board has two options to consider, if it desires to limit the use of firearms in the manner that had been in place in the 2025 deer hunting season and earlier. It may adopt an ordinance establishing this restriction. An ordinance should be adopted by May 1, 2026 to have the restriction be included in the MN Department of Natural Resources’ guidebook. If the County Board desires to allow rifles to be used during the 2026 deer hunting season and beyond, no action is necessary.
Beth Oberg will be chairing the Meeker Board of Commissioners in 2026 and Cheryl Van Ort will be the vice chair. The Board approved of authorizing the Public Works Department to set letting dates for 2026 construction projects. Public Works Director Phil Schmalz says the projects will include notch, widen and overlay projects for 1-point-5 miles of County-State-Aid- Highway 20 in the northwest corner of the county – next to Kandiyohi County, along with a 3-point-7 mile portion of Highway 20 on the south side of Lake Koronis; and a 7-point-4 mile portion of County-State-Aid-Highway 14 from Darwin to Highway 24; the bridge replacement on County-State-Aid-Highway 26 – south of Cedar Mills; and asphalt pavement chip seal on portions of County-State-Aid-Highways 3 and 12.
Also during the Meeker County Board of Commissioners meeting (Jan. 6), County Administrator Andrew Letson presented his goals for 2026 which include: 1. Overseeing and leading the implementation of the goals outlined in the County’s strategic plan – Sowing the Seeds of our Future; 2. Developing a fiscally conscience budget that ensures adequate resources for the County’s operations while aiming to minimize the impact to taxpayers and promoting operational efficiency, and seeking savings and efficiencies where possible, ensuring that departments have adequate resources while remaining lean and striving for new methods of meeting the County’s goals; 3. Successfully negotiating updated labor contracts with the eight bargaining groups whose agreements will expire at the end of 2026; 4. Monitoring the progress of the Xcel transmission line project and providing updates to the County Board; and 5. Developing and implementing a comprehensive communication strategy to better inform members of the community about the work of the County. The Board approved of the goals.