New County Commissioner Sean Sullivan, left, takes the oath of office from County Auditor-Treasurer Wayne Stein. In back are County Commissioners Kurt Mortenson (back left) and Dan Bucholz (back right).

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

On Tuesday morning, Jan. 7, the new county board of commissioners held its first meeting for 2025, including newly elected member Sean Sullivan of Fergus Falls who replaces the retired Lee Rogness. Commissioner Wayne Johnson of Pelican Rapids is the new board chairman for 2025 and serving as vice chair for this year is Commissioner Bob Lahman of Parkers Prairie.  ¶  Also serving on the five-person Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners are Dan Bucholz of Perham and Kurt Mortenson of rural Underwood. The board usually meets twice each month, open to the public either in person or via live stream. 

 The Otter Tail County Commissioners elected Wayne Johnson (District 2), left, as Chairman and Robert Lahman (District 4) as Vice Chair, for the coming year at the board’s meeting Tuesday, Jan. 7.

Other public meetings are held throughout the year in various locations in Otter Tail County, when topics arise and public input is sought by county commissioners. Each county commissioner is elected by the people of his/her district and serves a four-year term.

County government, with assistance from the state and federal governments, works to maintain roads and bridges, ensure public health, provide veterans services, assist in job and housing creation, properly manage public waste, help those in need, provide for law enforcement, enhance tourism and play a role in many other endeavors.

The entire county budget for 2025 is $144.2 million with 39 percent of the county budget funded with local property tax dollars. The net property tax levy for this coming year is $53.1 million.

County board approves new business on Jan. 7

County board members, during their first meeting in 2025, approved new measures for Otter Tail County and addressed new policies.

Commissioners, on a 4-1 vote, approved a resolution for single-sort recycling in the southeast quadrant of Otter Tail County. This service will be provided by private sector haulers.

Each quadrant of the county will have a different effective date one year apart starting Jan. 1, 2026, in the southeast quadrant and Jan. 1, 2029, in the southwest quadrant. This will expand curbside collection to approximately 12,500 households.

In 2022, Otter Tail County received an Environmental Assistance (EA) grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for planning to initiate a curbside single sort recycling plan.

Solid waste haulers, as part of the private sector, who already are collecting solid waste in the county, will provide the option of recycling services to their residential customers. 

Donations policy for Otter Tail County

County residents, service organizations, businesses and church groups oftentimes donate blankets, gift cards and other items to Otter Tail County Human Services to assist in meeting the needs of people throughout the county. 

In prior months County Human Services would need approval from county board members in order to accept these donations. On Jan 7 the county board decided to shorten the approval process and make this a once-a-year approval.

The Human Services donations resolution received unanimous approval from the county board of commissioners.

Opposition to project in Maine Township

County board members, on Jan. 7, discussed opposition to a proposed subdivision plan near Maine Lake, just west of Pickerel Lake in Maine Township. At issue are 22 proposed lots, of which about half would be close to the lake. A new roadway would also be needed if the county board were to approve a conditional use permit.

Opponents have, in their opposition, maintained that the subdivision will have, in their words, “a huge environmental impact” at Maine Lake and another nearby lake. County government, however, points out that the proposed subdivision meets and exceeds minimum standards in the Otter Tail County Shoreland Management Ordinance.

“The proposed plat is nowhere near having a density that is too high,” said County Land and Resource Management Director Chris LeClair to county board members.

LeClair said that, after a review of subdivision plans and construction of a road, he and his department staff do not see adverse effects and do not feel that further review is needed through an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW).

County board members will again address this proposal at the Tuesday, Jan. 14 meeting of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners.