BLUE EARTH– With the end of the year approaching, the Faribault County Board of Commissioners, at their meeting on Tuesday, acted on a number of housekeeping items, including setting their pay for 2026.

The commissioners unanimously passed a resolution setting their annual salary for 2026 at $25,913.

“This represents a three percent increase over the previous year,” county coordinator Brian Hov said. “Each individual commissioner will also be paid a per diem of $100 per day for service on any board, committee, or commission of county government, including committees of the County Board for the performance of services when required by law. The per diem is the same as last year.”

The meal reimbursement approved by the board remains the same as last year with up to $12 allowed for breakfast, up to $15 for lunch and up to $30 for dinner.

The mobile device stipend also remained the same as last year at $50 per month.

After a brief update on the finances of the Faribault and Martin County Health and Human Services (HHS), the board decided to schedule a budget work session for 3 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10 to discuss the possible need to replenish the HHS reserve fund.

Public Works director/county engineer April Wellman attended the meeting and was asked about the county’s policy on roadside memorials.

“We only have an unofficial policy. I have not found any official written policy,” Wellman replied. “Technically, it’s encroachment.”

“If it is a wooden cross and flowers it is no big deal,” board chairman Greg Young remarked. “But if it is a stone monument, it is a problem.”

Groskreutz agreed.

“If they get to the point of putting something permanent in and it is in the right-of-way, then we can do something about it,” Groskreutz offered.

“It’s a delicate situation,” Loveall concluded. “That is why we have handled it on a case by case basis.”

In other business the board:

— Approved the Hauler Collected Service Fee contract between Faribault County and Prairieland.

— Voted to approve the request to issue a credit card to Veteran Services Officer Jennifer Howard for departmental use with a limit of $2,500.

— Approved a resolution to submit, adopt and implement the Blue Earth River Watershed Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan.

— Approved the training request of Bryan Schaper of the Public Works department to take a recertification class as a concrete field inspector.

— Voted to approve the requests of Public Works Department employee John Oswald to attend a bituminous street inspector recertification class and a refresher course on bridge safety inspection.

— Approved Public Works Department employee Taylor Doering’s requests to attend courses to recertify as an aggregate production tester and a bituminous plant tester and to take a refresher course on bridge safety inspection.

— Approved the request of Veteran Services Officer Howard to attend District 9 County Veteran Services Officer training.

— Approved the request of interim county recorder Kelly Hendrickson to attend the Minnesota Association of County Officers meeting.

— Approved the request of Sue Jahnke of the Sheriff’s Department to attend the 2026 Homeland Security Emergency Management Governor’s Conference.