Carver County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Carver County agendas: software contract, Highway 212 change order, park partnership talks

Three Carver County bodies posted agendas for early-October meetings listing a software contract projected to lower annual licensing costs, a Highway 212 change order, a Public Works reorganization and a possible park-services partnership. Minutes for the Oct. 6 and Oct. 7 meetings had not been published as of Oct. 19, so the available record shows what was scheduled for consideration, not what was decided.

Board of Commissioners, Oct. 6

The board's agenda included a 31-item consent agenda covering conditional use permits, professional services contracts, grant applications and personnel changes, plus a regular session.

Among the listed items:

• A contract with Northwoods Consulting Partners for OnBase licensing, described as reducing annual costs from $220,000 to an average of $85,988 over three years.
• Highway 212 Project in Benton Township: approval of Change Order #40 and an increase to change order authorization.
• A Public Works reorganization eliminating 1.0 FTE Transportation Planning Manager and creating 1.0 FTE Public Works Planning Director.
• Jon Maetzold request for three additional density wooded lots in Waconia Township (CUP #PZ20260032).
• Christine Leonard request to expand The Grater Good farm-related business with a 1,400 sq. ft. creamery in Waconia Township (CUP #PZ20260031).

The board was also scheduled to recess as the Regional Rail Authority to consider an easement agreement with the City of Carver.

Park Commission, Oct. 7

The Park Commission was scheduled to meet at 6:30 PM at the Carver County Public Works Building in Cologne. The main substantive item was an informational discussion of a possible partnership with Three Rivers Park District on delivery of Carver County park services. The rest of the agenda was routine: approval of the agenda and the 9/9/26 minutes, a commissioner liaison report, public comment, staff reports on general operations, recreation services and administrative and management business, and setting the next meeting date.

Board of Adjustment, Oct. 7

The Board of Adjustment was scheduled to meet at 7:00 PM in the Commissioners' Meeting Room in Chaska for public hearings on four variance applications affecting properties in Watertown, Hollywood and Laketown Townships:

• PZ20260027: continued public hearing, Billie & Brevik Tharaldson, structure on a non-conforming parcel, Watertown Township.
• PZ20260033: Nathan Jopp & Tracy Bates, reduced road frontage and width/depth ratio, Hollywood Township.
• PZ20260035: Anthony & Leanne Kunze, reduced rear yard setback, Laketown Township.
• PZ20260034: Barbara Zuppke, expansion of a non-conforming structure, Laketown Township.

The board also listed approval of minutes from its September 2, 2026 meeting. No other business appeared on the agenda.

Coming up

Oct. 20 — Planning Commission. Public hearings on three Conditional Use Permit applications: a Bongards Creameries permit amendment in Benton Township, and two requests from William, Teena, & Alexie Dietz in Watertown Township — an Equestrian Facility permit amendment and an Agri-Tourism/Educational Facility permit.

Oct. 20 — Board of Commissioners. The agenda includes an application for a $110,000 Metropolitan Council Planning Assistance Grant for the 2050 Comprehensive Plan, discussion of the 2027 AIS program and custodial services, and a consent agenda with professional service agreements for highway work: Prairie Restorations, Inc. for Highway 10 Orchard Park Turf Establishment, Schneider Excavating and Grading for Highway 43 Culvert Replacement, and Bituminous Roadways for Highway 26 Pavement Resurfacing. A personnel request would eliminate Facilities Administrative Assistant A13 and create Facilities Administrative Technician B21.

Carver County Board agenda: Highway 212 change order, Public Works reorganization, 31 consent items

Carver County commissioners were scheduled to consider a Highway 212 change order, a Public Works reorganization and a 31-item consent agenda at their Oct. 6, 2026 meeting, one of four county meetings listed in the past two weeks. Agendas were available for all four. As of Oct. 13, minutes had not been published for any of them, so the records provided do not establish what was decided or how anyone voted.

County Board: Highway 212, Public Works, contracts

The Board of Commissioners' Oct. 6 agenda included a regular session item on the Highway 212 Project in Benton Township: approving Change Order #40 and increasing change order authorization. Also in the regular session was a Public Works reorganization that would eliminate 1.0 FTE Transportation Planning Manager and create 1.0 FTE Public Works Planning Director.

The 31-item consent agenda included a contract with Northwoods Consulting Partners for OnBase licensing, described in the agenda as reducing annual costs from $220,000 to an average of $85,988 over three years. Consent items also covered conditional use permits, professional services contracts, grant applications and personnel changes.

The board was also scheduled to recess as the Regional Rail Authority to consider an easement agreement with the City of Carver.

Land use: two requests, four variances

Two conditional use permit requests were on the Oct. 6 consent agenda. Jon Maetzold requested three additional density wooded lots in Waconia Township (CUP #PZ20260032). Christine Leonard requested expansion of The Grater Good farm-related business with a 1,400 sq. ft. creamery in Waconia Township (CUP #PZ20260031).

The Board of Adjustment met Oct. 7 at 7:00 PM in the Commissioners' Meeting Room in Chaska for public hearings on four variance applications: PZ20260027, a continued hearing for Billie & Brevik Tharaldson (structure on non-conforming parcel) in Watertown Township; PZ20260033 for Nathan Jopp & Tracy Bates (reduced road frontage and width/depth ratio) in Hollywood Township; PZ20260035 for Anthony & Leanne Kunze (reduced rear yard setback) in Laketown Township; and PZ20260034 for Barbara Zuppke (expansion of non-conforming structure) in Laketown Township. The board was also to review minutes from its Sept. 2 meeting.

Water committee: data centers, East Chaska Creek

The Water Management Organization's Citizen Advisory Committee met Sept. 29 in Chaska. Business items included the organization's role in data centers, a cost share project review and an East Chaska Creek feasibility study. Field notes covered a Carver Creek fish survey. Information items included a new meeting packet format for accessibility, a budget update, We Are Water planning and a Soil & Water Conservation District update. The committee advises the County Board on water management, including projects, funding, the water levy, water and groundwater plans and water quality programs.

Parks: Three Rivers partnership discussion

The Park Commission met Oct. 7 at 6:30 PM at the Carver County Public Works Building in Cologne. The main substantive item was an informational discussion of a possible partnership with Three Rivers Park District on delivering Carver County park services. The rest of the agenda was routine: approving the agenda and the 9/9/26 minutes, a commissioner liaison report, public comment, staff reports and setting the next meeting date.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings were listed in the records provided for the next 14 days. Residents should check the county's official meeting calendar and published agendas for dates and any added sessions.

County board reviews CDA levy request, road resurfacing contract

Carver County officials this week reviewed a proposed property tax levy increase for the Community Development Agency, considered a $4.46 million road resurfacing contract, and held public hearings on four variance requests. No final decisions were made; minutes from these meetings have not yet been published.

Community Development Agency levy request

The Board of Commissioners held a work session on July 28 to discuss the Carver County Community Development Agency's (CDA) 2027 budget and strategic plan. The CDA is requesting a 2027 levy of $3,959,665, a 3.5% increase from 2026. The proposed tax impact on an average-valued home of $508,000 would be $1.92. The agenda included discussion of CDA affordable housing and economic development programs, as well as a review of Community Growth Partnership Initiative grants. A final levy is scheduled for consideration on September 1.

Road resurfacing contract and other county business

At its August 4 meeting, the board reviewed a construction contract for the CSAH 10 Resurfacing Project with GMH Asphalt for $4,461,161.86. The board also considered a Joint Powers Agreement with the City of Waconia for the same project, with the county's share set at $1,984,631. Other agenda items included a discussion of a construction manager for the Government Center Project, a lower-potency hemp edible retail registration for Champlin 2005 LLC (Cub Foods), and a temporary on-sale liquor license for the Justin Kukowski Foundation for October 3, 2026.

Board of Adjustment variance hearings

On August 5, the Board of Adjustment held four public hearings on variance requests in Young America, Watertown, and Waconia Townships. The requests were:

• File PZ20260023: sidewall height, structure height, and storage space (Young America Township)
• File PZ20260024: cargo container parcel size and structure setback (Young America Township)
• File PZ20260022: total personal storage space (Watertown Township)
• File PZ20260026: agricultural production land in Amenity - Wooded Lots (Waconia Township)

The board's determinations on these requests have not been published.

Coming up

The Park Commission will meet on August 12 to discuss regular business, including a request to consider an off-leash dog facility at Lake Waconia Regional Park. The agenda also includes approval of minutes from July 15, liaison and staff reports, and public comment. No final decisions are listed on the agenda.

County board to weigh $4.46M road contract; recent meeting outcomes pending

Carver County residents are awaiting results from several late-July meetings where commissioners and planners considered land acquisitions, infrastructure contracts, and land-use permits. Minutes have not yet been published for any of those sessions, so outcomes are not yet confirmed. Meanwhile, the Board of Commissioners has a packed agenda for August 4, including a proposed $4.46 million resurfacing contract.

Highway 40 eminent domain and property settlements

On July 21, the Board of Commissioners was scheduled to consider authorizing eminent domain proceedings and settlement agreements for the Highway 40 Project in the Silver/Bevens Creek Area. A separate agenda item called for a resolution to authorize settlement of compensation for real property interests tied to shoulder widening and pavement improvements in the same corridor. Because minutes are not yet available, it is not confirmed whether the board acted on these items.

Dakota Rail Regional Trail and other contracts

The same July 21 board agenda included a bid award to Pember Companies for bridge repair and replacement on the Dakota Rail Regional Trail, a bulb recycling contract with Recycle Technologies Inc. not to exceed $30,000, a Professional Services Agreement with Apex Engineering for Highway 52 and Highway 53 box culverts, and a Special Use Permit for the Minnesota Astronomical Society's 2026 Camping with the Stars Event. Outcomes are pending publication of minutes.

Planning Commission hearings on three land-use permits

The Planning Commission met July 21 to hold public hearings on three applications:

• **PZ20260021** — Interim Use Permit for Gregory Wickenhauser, a Home Extended Business Accessory Use in Dahlgren Township.
• **PZ20260014** — Conditional Use Permit for Timothy & Rhea Kerber, a Contractor's Yard in Young America Township.
• **PZ20260019** — Interim Use Permit for Eric & Erica Hoese, a Home Extended Business Accessory Use in Watertown Township.

The commission also planned to consider approval of previous meeting minutes. No decisions are confirmed yet.

CDA 2027 levy request discussed

On July 28, the Board of Commissioners held a work session on the Carver County Community Development Agency's 2027 budget and strategic plan. The CDA requested a 2027 levy of $3,959,665, a 3.5% increase from 2026. The estimated tax impact was listed as $1.92 on an average-valued home of $508,000. Discussion topics included CDA affordable housing and economic development programs and the Community Growth Partnership Initiative grants. A final levy is scheduled to be presented for consideration on September 1.

Coming up

• **August 4 — Board of Commissioners:** The board will review a construction contract for the CSAH 10 Resurfacing Project with GMH Asphalt for $4,461,161.86, plus a Joint Powers Agreement with the City of Waconia for the Highway 10 Resurfacing Project with a county share of $1,984,631. Other items include a Government Center Project construction manager discussion, a lower-potency hemp edible retail registration for Champlin 2005 LLC (Cub Foods), and a temporary on-sale liquor license for the Justin Kukowski Foundation for October 3, 2026.
• **August 5 — Board of Adjustment:** Four public hearings on variance requests in Young America, Watertown, and Waconia Townships, covering sidewall height, cargo container setbacks, personal storage space, and agricultural production land in a wooded-lots amenity zone.