Meeker County Upcoming Public Hearings

Meeker County wrapped up some major remodeling projects this past year, and held two open houses – at the Government Center and at the Justice Center/Law Enforcement Center – in 2025. The Meeker County Board will hold a couple of public hearings next month that are likely to be well-attended.

County Administrator Andrew Letson says the Legislature eliminated a law regarding shotgun zones to open up deer hunting to rifle use, but Meeker County is in a shotgun zone – so it could remain that way or it could open up, so they want to hear what the public thinks. He says the Board has also set a public hearing on February 4th regarding a possible local option sales tax to help fund transportation projects.

Letson says most counties in the state have a local option sales tax or a wheelage tax to help fund transportation, and all of the neighboring counties have a local tax. He says costs for road and bridge projects are exceeding what the county gets from the state and federal governments, and in 2026, there will be two major bridge projects – on County-State-Aid-Highways 2 (in Forest City) and 26 (in Cedar Mills Township).

Letson says putting together the 2026 budget was challenging as there are forces – state and federal mandates – beyond the county’s control that have added $1.6-million in new costs. He says they are trying to prepare ahead to 2027 and 2028 with the adjustments in the 2026 budget and had to make some cuts to the funding they normally provide for some local organizations.