By Robert Williams

Editor

Otter Tail County introduced Natalee Yates as the new Public Information and Education Officer (PIEO) in the Solid Waste Department.

Yates brings extensive environmental expertise and a passion for community education to the county’s recycling and waste reduction programs.

Yates was born in Virginia and earned a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Conservation from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. She dedicated 10 years to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, working across diverse landscapes before relocating to Fergus Falls in 2017. Her specialized work focused on waterfowl surveys and banding, along with expertise in data management and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

In her new position, Yates will collaborate with schools, businesses and community organizations to share educational programming covering recycling, composting, waste reduction and sustainable practices. She will facilitate tours of solid waste facilities, distribute educational materials and serve as a primary resource for teachers and organizations seeking to incorporate environmental education into their curriculum.

“Having someone with Natalee’s environmental background and communication skills will enhance our outreach to businesses, teachers and community organizations with recycling and waste reduction education,” Chris McConn, Solid Waste Director said.

Reflecting on her new role, Yates expressed enthusiasm for expanding her environmental impact. 

“I have a lifelong commitment to the environment. I am excited to expand my impact from wildlife to waste reduction,” said Yates. “Solid waste affects everyone directly and I am excited to work with a variety of people. I am looking forward to giving tours of the facilities and showing people that the choices they make have real impacts.” 

Teachers and organizations interested in scheduling facility tours, accessing educational materials, or collaborating on programs are encouraged to contact Yates. She will be available to provide presentations, offer hands-on learning experiences, support and continue to communicate the importance of waste reduction and recycling. Contact Natalee Yates by calling (218) 998-8950 or emailing nyates@ottertailcounty.gov.

A.I.

A team of cross-department employees helped create the county’s Artificial Intelligence Policy and Guidelines. County Administrator Nicole Hansen and nine other employees were trained to help guide the work.

“I think this is a policy that will need to be reviewed from time-to-time and updated as A.I. changes,” Hansen said. 

Online accessible and in-person training will be made available to all county employees.

Hemp

Lower-Potency Hemp Edibles (LPHE) registration applications were approved for Mills Lanes and Lucky Strike Grill in New York Mills and Snak Atak (Deer Creek Express) in Deer Creek. An application from Orton’s Holiday in Pelican Rapids was denied, according to Land & Resource Management Director Chris LeClair.

The City of Pelican Rapids delegated registration authority to Otter Tail County in May of 2025. LeClair verified with the applicant that the LPHE is not in a separate part of the store. Therefore, it does not meet the requirement to be a 21 and over establishment. 

“Unfortunately for them there is no separate area so the general public can access this material and as a result I said, ‘We’re going to recommending denial to the county board.’”

District 2 Commissioner Wayne D. Nelson questioned policy on why the store can sell cigarettes behind the counter, but not low-potency hemp.

According to County Attorney Michelle Eldien,  hemp drinks and gummies are comparable to alcohol more than cigarettes.

Nelson also questioned why Mills Lanes should be approved in comparison and the answer was restaurants are exempt as long as it is consumed on site and not a retail sale out the door.

“Those same convenience stores and every one I know of sell 3.2 beer,” said Nelson.

He continued discussion on maybe needing to change the ordinance in the future depending on what happens at the federal level with LPHE. Last year, Congress passed a law expected to take effect in November 2026 that changes the federal definition of hemp, which would effectively outlaw many hemp-derived THC products, including those popular in Minnesota.

Commissioners voted unanimously on the two approvals and the lone denial.

The Deer Creek Express approval was contingent on a site visit by LeClair to assure there are no hemp items in the general area of the store.

Notifications have been sent to 24 stores that have not yet sent in applications to do so if they are planning on continuing hemp sales. Nine have confirmed they are not, according to LeClair.

Highway

Commissioners approved an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to replace bridge L0927 along County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 76 over Bluff Creek. It is positioned approximately two miles east of the junction with Trunk Highway 10. The structure was built in 1956 and is maintained by the County Highway Agency.

The agreement provides $225,628.75 in state Local Bridge Replacement Program funding for the above referenced bridge replacement project. The remaining $394,635.75 in construction costs will be funded through county state-aid allocation. 

The county board awarded this contract to Marvin Tretter, Inc. at its January 6 meeting. Construction is expected to start in June and take approximately one month.

County Engineer Jody Teich also included a 2030 program for a roundabout on Highway 210 and CSAH 35 in Underwood. Federal highway safety improvement funding will cover 90 percent of the cost of the project.

Human Resources

After multiple reclassifications the Drainage Inspector position has been moved back under the Highway Department by a unanimous vote of the Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Feb. 24. The position has been vacant since March 2025 when the department was restructured. Since then, duties have been handled by the Highway Maintenance Superintendent and the Parks and Trails Director.

“That model is not sustainable long-term,” said Assistant HR Director Stephanie Retzlaff.

Three full-time Employee Services Specialist positions will be added throughout the year as part of the Minnesota Family Investment Program.

To align with union contracts, Compensatory time will be paid out at the end of the year, rather than at the time of rate. Staff can carry the balance longer and the move eases the administrative burden on payroll staff, according to Retzlaff.

Public hearing

A public hearing was held to consider approving the updated Long Range Transportation Plan.

Over the past two years the county has been working on updating the plan with the help of Transportation Collaborative and Consultants (TC2). 

The plan’s proposed approach to pavement preservation was presented to the full board and the advisory committee at a work session held on December 2, 2025. At its January 27, 2026 meeting the county board scheduled the public hearing for February 24. The draft plan has been on the county website since Friday, Feb. 13. 

One change from past plan updates is the fact that seal coat projects are not specifically called out in each road improvement program year in this update. Because seal coating is not a capital improvement, this type of project is not eligible for sales tax funding and therefore does not need to be specifically called out in the road program. The seal coat program will be analyzed on an annual basis, and other methods of pavement preservation will be studied for effectiveness in maintaining pavement quality.

Teich will bring the finalized plan back to the board on March 10 for approval.

Solid Waste

The county received a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency $250,000 grant to help support  recycling in the northeast quadrant of the county. The funds were earmarked for recycling carts for residents, an artificially intelligent camera in one of the trucks and to contract a third-party hauler for New York Mills, Ottertail and Parkers Prairie, according to Assistant Solid Waste Director Scott Bjerke.

Yates accompanied Bjerke in front of the board as it was her work that got the county the grant.

“She’s the one and only reason we were selected for this grant. With her hard work I wanted to make sure she got recognized by the board for everything she did behind the scenes to make this possible,” Bjerke said.