By Robert Williams

Editor

Chairman Wayne Johnson addressed numerous messages he has received regarding Governor Tim Walz’s budget as a specific line item of the agenda at the Otter Tail Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday, Jan. 28.

“I’ve had a number of phone calls, people concerned about the proposed Governor’s budget,” Johnson said. “There is a proposal in his budget to cut Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) funding, cut county program aid funding; there’s all kinds of proposals in the Governor’s budget and I know there are people that are concerned with those potential budget cuts and cost shifts. I want everyone here to be aware, especially the county board, please read our MICA and AMC packets. They do a great job and that’s why we belong to those organizations of sorting out exactly what it means for county budgets, levies and those kinds of things.”

County officials will meet on Feb. 11 at the committee level to develop a platform for the county and will adopt the platform if necessary.

“We’re already lining up meetings with our legislators, bonding chairs, committee chairs; I just want everybody to make sure they are paying attention,” Johnson said. “I just want everybody to make sure they are paying attention. This is a big deal. There is a lot of money that is being shifted and moved and removed. We just need to pay attention to it. We will have a time in August and September when we develop our budget to react to and be prepared for what happens because this really won’t take effect until July, 1 of next year.”

Commissioner Kurt Mortenson commended Otter Tail County Attorney Michelle Eldien for her efforts in testifying twice in the county’s interests as it relates to Human Services.

Eldien specified that she testified in regards to Direct Care and Treatment (DCT), fraud, medical assistance programs and the application process.

Healthcare

The commissioners approved Human Services Director Deb Sjostrom to be the Signatory Authority for the Early Engagement Pilot Program Allocation and Agreement. Allowing Sjostrom to sign was agreed upon to increase efficiency as the program is enacted, rather than having to wait on county board approvals for the two-year grant. In turn, Sjostrom will keep the board informed on the progress.

At its November 5 meeting, the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners approved a grant agreement with the Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board (EMSRB), allowing Otter Tail County to serve as the fiscal agent for an innovative two-county emergency medical services response model pilot program.

The state Legislature enacted the pilot program during its 2024 session. It is intended to enhance the delivery of advanced life support services in rural and underserved areas and improve response times, patient outcomes, and overall community outcomes. The Legislature designated one pilot program for a combined effort between Otter Tail and Grant counties and a second for St. Louis County.

“This pilot program is an important step toward strengthening EMS in rural Minnesota,” said MN State Senator Jordan Rasmusson. “By bringing rapid response units to underserved areas in Otter Tail and Grant counties, we are working to ensure that residents have access to life-saving care when it’s needed most.”

The pilot program in Otter Tail and Grant counties will provide up to three rapid response units that can provide advanced medical care services at an emergency scene until more help arrives. Partners in the program include Henning Ambulance, Parkers Prairie Ambulance, Perham Area EMS and Ringdahl EMS in Otter Tail County and Ashby Ambulance, Hoffman Ambulance, and Lake Region Ambulance Elbow Lake in Grant County. Otter Tail County and Grant County are also represented on the program’s board.

“I’m glad to see this (pilot program) address the challenges of rural healthcare,” said County Commissioner Robert Lahman. “I am thankful for the collaboration that will bring positive results to our residents and communities.”

The EMSRB approved the grant agreement at its meeting on November 21. The program is expected to launch in early 2025 and be authorized to operate through June 2027.

Extension

Two commissioners are appointed to the County Extension Committee, currently Kurt Mortenson and Dan Bucholz. In 2025, Mortenson will be replaced by Commissioner Robert Lahman due to an ongoing schedule conflict of Mortenson’s.

Highway

A new position, Asset Management Supervisor, has been established in the county’s highway department. The purpose of the position is to lead the work of the fleet maintenance and sign crews as well as maintain the asset management program. 

The position was included in the 2025 budget and reviewed at committee level multiple times.

NYM tax rebate program

The City of New York Mills has elected to offer a tax rebate program for new residential developments within its boundaries. Application timeline is January 1, 2025, until December 31, 2030. By request of Mayor Latham Hetland, the city is seeking the collaboration of Otter Tail County to extend the program to a county tax level, aiming to further support new residential development within the city limits.

“I’m pleased to see communities still wanting to pursue that; we knew that would be an option for them and there has been interest expressed,” said Commissioner Mortenson.

The purpose of the City of New York Mills Rebate Program, which is in line with the county’s former Big Build program that expired in 2024, is to encourage the construction of new primary residence single and two-family housing units and to encourage replacement of dilapidated housing structures within the City of New York Mills between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2030.

New York Mills joined Pelican Rapids and Ottertail in running the program.

Any person who constructs a new single family or two-family home and who files application materials and seeks formal approval from appropriate local jurisdictions between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2030 may be eligible to receive a 100% tax rebate of the City’s share of increased real estate taxes as a result of building a new home, for a period of up to five (5) years or up to $5,000 (whichever is met first) provided all of the following criteria are met:

1. Property is located within the City of New York Mills and zoned properly for the proposed residence.

2. The applicant/property shall not have benefitted other local financial assistance (including tax Increment financing (TIF), Workforce Housing, Small Cities Development Program).

3. Project is built to all local, state and federal regulations at the time the building/zoning permit is obtained.

4. Property taxes are current and paid on time and in full. Failure to keep property taxes current shall result in revocation of the tax rebate for each year taxes are not current.

5. Administrative approval must be obtained prior to the start of construction of the new home.

The real estate taxes to be rebated shall be for up to the full amount of the real estate taxes collected resulting from the added tax base of the newly constructed home annually. The current value of the property (defined as “original value”) will not be rebated as part of this program. Any eligible rebate is calculated on the tax increase due to a value increase resulting from the new improvement.

Partially constructed housing may result in the first rebate year significantly less than the following years. This will still be considered one of the five years of eligible rebate.

In the event the property owner refuses access to County Assessor staff to perform an appraisal for tax assessment purposes, the tax rebate shall expire for the remaining term of the rebate period.

The rebate period will begin in the tax year when the property realizes a value increase over original value due to construction of the housing project. In the event construction has not commenced within one year of approval, the rebate is eliminated and the property owner will need to reapply in accordance with the program. Additionally, the rebate will transfer with the sale of the property for the balance of the five-year period or until the $5,000 maximum rebate is met.

Public Health

Otter Tail County Public Health has been awarded a UCare Nutrition and Food Security grant in the amount of $25,000 for the grant cycle beginning Jan. 1. These funds are to coordinate a produce prescription pilot project using evidence-based strategies targeted at reducing the percentage of Minnesotans who experience one or more chronic disease diagnosis.

Otter Tail County Public Health is the designated lead agency to execute the responsibilities for the UCare Nutrition and Food Security grant in coordination with Partnership4Health.

Funds will be used to provide community partner awards to Lake Region Healthcare and St. Francis Healthcare to build sustainable policy, systems and environmental changes that support produce prescription goals.

Sheriff

The commissioners passed an all-inclusive resolution for the Sheriff’s department to accept donations over the course of the year, rather than at every board meeting.

“We find ourselves receiving donations throughout the year to whatever program it is,” said Sheriff Barry Fitzgibbons. “We’re very thankful for the support that we have.”

Fitzgibbons will continue to update the board on donations that are received.

Water Management

The county board approved the expansion of the Otter Tail Water Management District (WMD) through the addition of five parcels:

• Parcel No. 02-000-99-0614-002; West 55’ of East 135” of Lot C Shirley Beach (Otter Tail Lake)

• Parcel No. 25-000-99-1046-000; Lot 4 Block 1 Homestead Development (Deer Lake)

• Parcel No. 46-000-99-0178-000; That part of Government Lot One (Otter Tail Lake)

• Parcel 46-000-99-1048-000; Lot 4 Block 1 Four Winds (Otter Tail Lake)

• Parcel 74-000-99-0267-000; Lot 10 Block 1 Paulson’s Island View (Otter Tail River and Lake)

The WMD is a local unit of government in relation to septic systems that was established by the Board of Commissioners in April, 1981. They are the regulatory authority of subsurface treatment systems within 1,000-feet of the following lakes: Blanche, Deer, the southern portion of Long Lake, Otter Tail, Round and Walker and within 300-feet of the Dead River between Walker and Otter Tail Lakes, as well as, the section of the Otter Tail River between Otter Tail and Deer Lakes and Blanche Creek between Otter Tail and Blanche Lakes, according to Land & Resource Management Director Chris LeClair.

A public hearing was held by state statute to add the five parcels to their district membership roles in the property tax system.