Morrison County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Morrison County Board to consider $6.6M in warrants, wireless refresh

No decisions have been published from recent Morrison County meetings, as minutes are not yet available. The most consequential item on the upcoming agenda is the County Board's consideration of warrants totaling $6,614,768.67 at its Aug. 25 meeting.

County Board of Commissioners

The County Board will meet Aug. 25 to consider a consent agenda that includes:

• Warrants totaling $6,614,768.67
• A wireless infrastructure refresh not to exceed $66,000 from the Capital Equipment Fund
• A new tobacco license for Bob & Fran's (formerly Big Johnson Market) in Swanville, with new owners Paul & Kathey Koetter
• A contract for care coordination on behalf of Medica, effective Oct. 1, 2026
• A public hearing on the agenda

The board will also discuss the Crookneck Lake Improvement District and the Council on Aging.

At its Aug. 11 meeting, the board considered a consent agenda that included warrants totaling $1,028,258.94, the June 30 cash report showing a total fund balance of $64,895,660.29, a raffle permit for Operation Recon at Mud Fest Hillman (Sept. 4-7, 2026), an investment policy, and a separation agreement with an employee. Minutes from that meeting have not yet been published.

Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment

The Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment held public hearings on Aug. 18 for three land-use applications:

• An interim use permit for an autobody/collision repair shop at 16949 185th Ave
• A variance to expand a non-conforming structure at 5062 Island View Dr, Cushing
• A variance to develop a lot that cannot support a Type I septic system at 25376 Jewel Rd, Little Falls

The Board of Adjustment separately heard the two variance requests (by Eric & Tracy LeBlanc and Craig Freudenrich) and approved minutes from its July 7 meeting. Minutes from the Aug. 18 meetings are not yet published.

Coming up

• **County Board of Commissioners** – Aug. 25, 2026. Will consider warrants, wireless refresh, tobacco license, and a public hearing.
• **Board of Adjustment** – Sept. 1, 2026. Public hearings on a variance for Rainbow Acres Dairy Property LLC at 13399 Highway 28, Swanville, and a variance for Marnita Van Hoecke at 21828 205th Ave, Little Falls.

Morrison County Board approves $308,032.75 Soo Line Trail surfacing contract; feedlot and wind-tower hearings ahead

Morrison County commissioners approved a $308,032.75 contract with Kowalczyk Gravel, Inc. to lay aggregate surfacing on the Soo Line Recreational Trail, the largest dollar item from the July 14 County Board meeting.

County Board of Commissioners — July 14

The board acted on its consent agenda and several separate resolutions. Final minutes have not yet been published, so the following reflects the agenda summary.

• **Soo Line Trail surfacing:** Approved Resolution#2026-050, awarding a $308,032.75 contract to Kowalczyk Gravel, Inc. for aggregate surfacing on the Soo Line Recreational Trail.
• **Vendor payments:** Approved Resolution#2026-049, designating all vendor payments as auditor warrants covering $13,898,656.32.
• **Northland Reliability Project:** Approved an Interim Use Permit for a temporary contractor storage yard associated with the project.
• **Licenses:** Approved new food-pool and lodging licenses for businesses including Lake Shamineau Lookout, Falls Bar, and Rising Loon Coffee.
• **Pavement markings:** Approved a final payment certificate for Sir Lines-A-Lot, LLC for 2026 pavement markings.
• **Personnel:** Recognized a retiring employee. No name was listed in the agenda summary.

Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment — July 7

Both bodies were scheduled to hold public hearings July 7 at the Government Center in Little Falls. Minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes are not available.

Planning Commission items:

• David & Sara Brutscher — after-the-fact conditional use permit to expand to a Tier IV dairy feedlot in Ripley Township.
• Platte River Prairie LLC — conditional use permit to establish a mini-storage facility in Bellevue Township.

Board of Adjustment variance applications:

• Chad & Amy Kronbach — variance to separate a parcel that cannot support two Type I septics in Morrill Township.
• Christopher Nieland — after-the-fact variance to encroach on a side property line with an accessory structure in Scandia Valley Township.
• Gary & Sharon Justin — variance to exceed allowable dwellings on a parcel in Darling Township.

Coming up

Planning Commission — July 21 (Government Center, Little Falls). Public hearings are scheduled on three land-use applications:

• Interim use permit for a temporary meteorological tower in Hillman Township — Troy & Rebecca Kapsner / Swift Current Energy.
• Interim use permit for a temporary meteorological tower in Morrill Township — Keith & Monica Funt / Swift Current Energy.
• Conditional use permit for a Tier III hog feedlot in Buckman Township — Allandale Dairy Partnership.

The Board of Adjustment has no items listed for the July 21 meeting.