Douglas County Board Meeting June 3 2025

Douglas County appreciates a dedicated workforce and at the June 3 meeting, county commissioners helped recognize a woman who has dedicated 26 years to the Douglas County Library. Tammy Schmidt is retiring as Assistant Library Director. Her boss, Dawn Dailey, presented her with a formal certificate and commissioners publicly acknowledged the outstanding leadership and service Schmidt has provided every day to make sure the library meets the needs of residents and visitors. Following the meeting, Dailey said, "It’s been an incredible privilege to work alongside Tammy for so many years. Over time, she and I became more than colleagues, we became friends, confidants, and a steady part of each other’s lives. Seeing her retire is bittersweet. While I’m so happy for this new chapter in her life, I’ll deeply miss her presence, her wisdom, and the way she made every day a little brighter. Thank you for everything Tammy — you’ve left a lasting mark on all of us."

Land and Resource Management

The work to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Pope Douglas Solid Waste facility is wrapping up. Executive Director Steve Vrchota appeared before the board to offer members a tour of the new Environmental Center and Material Recovery Facility. This complex operation provides improved opportunities for recycling, disposing of unwanted hazardous household waste and other products, and additional sorting of waste. The solid waste management system also includes organics recycling and metal recovery from ash. Vrchota explained the costs to make these improvements were higher than anticipated when the project was budgeted in 2018 so now there’s a need to pay down the debt. He asked the board to approve increasing the solid waste service charge to $139 per year. That’s an increase of $9.00. Commissioners Charlie Meyer, Tim Kalina and Jeff Way voted yes. Commissioners Shane Schmidt and Jerry Rapp voted no. The motion carried.

Commissioners voted to approve several requests for Conditional Use Permits forwarded from the Planning Advisory Commission. The Alexandria Shooting Park needed a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to put up a 17-foot sign with a 180 square foot sign face along Highway 94. A family in La Grand Township needed a CUP to have up to 20 chickens in a Residential zoning district; and an Evansville Township family needed a CUP to expand its existing animal feedlot. Following a question from Commissioner Meyer, Feedlot Coordinator Mark Koep explained the plan for handling manure after the feedlot expands to approximately 200 finished steers.

Commissioner also approved a request to subdivide 23.55 acres in Belle River Township. Commissioner Jerry Rapp said he has heard from people concerned about lot sizes in the county. Following a discussion focused on this request, the board approved the request for three lots ranging from 5.92 acres to 9.71 acres with frontage on the Long Prairie River.

Public Works 

Public Works Director Tim Erickson brought forward a request for action on an item previously discussed at a county board work session. He said, “Historically Brophy Wayside rest had been controlled by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. When the interstate opened, the state gave the wayside rest to the county to maintain but the ownership structure has not been reviewed.”

He requested, and the board approved, hiring legal counsel to review and clarify ownership of the Brophy Wayside rest area land which sits on County Road 82 above Lake Brophy.

The next board meeting with be June 17 at 1 p.m. at the Douglas County Administration Building located at 821 Cedar Street.