Meeker County Board Meeting

The Meeker County Board of Commissioners received a project update on the Xcel Energy transmission line from Randy Fordice and Matthew Langan. The new line will be constructed from Lyon County to the Sherco Plant at Becker and will travel through western and northern portions of Meeker County – following roadways, field lines and section lines.

Langan says they looked for a route for the approximately 175-foot line that would have the least impact, and a final decision on approval of the route will come from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in April. He says Xcel will then negotiate easements with each individual landowner, and then construction is expected to take place from 2026 to 2028.

The Meeker County Commissioners approved of an interim use permit for the mining, washing and processing of gravel in Section 4 of Dassel Township on 278th Street for Warren Lindberg of Cokato. County Administrator Andrew Letson presented a letter that the County will send to the Governor regarding concerns with his budget for the next biennium which will create cost shifts in state-mandated programs. The cost shifts would result in an $860,000 increase in costs for the county and require a 5% increase in the tax levy, along with a $113,000 reduction in funding for aquatic invasive species prevention.

The Meeker County Board also received annual reports from Feedlot Officer Ann Steinhaus, Public Health Supervisor Chukuma Ijioma, and Human Resources Director Mikkell Johnson – and a year-end report on taxes collected/uncollected from Property Records, Taxation and Elections Manager Barb Loch.