BLUE EARTH– The Faribault County Board of Commissioners will be hosting a work session on the question of rifle versus shotgun for deer hunting in Faribault County. The commissioners scheduled the session for 7 p.m. on Jan. 28. Because of the possibility of more people attending this work session, they decided to hold it in the Ag Center.

The Wells Rifle and Pistol Club will also be sponsoring a meeting on the same subject beginning at 7 p.m. on Feb. 18, at the Wells Community Center.

Starting with the 2026 deer hunting season, Minnesota will allow rifles statewide for deer hunting, ending previous shotgun-only restrictions in southern and western zones, though individual counties can still opt out by passing ordinances; legal rifles must be centerfire, fire a single projectile, and use expanding bullets, with the Department of Natural Resources recommending appropriate calibers like.220 or larger for ethical big game harvesting.

The County Board is holding the work session in order to help them decide if they want to pass an ordinance which would keep Faribault County a shotgun-only county.

The commissioners also:

— Voted to hold a special election on April 14 for county residents to vote on making the County Recorder’s position an appointed or elected position.

— Approved the purchase of nine Poll Pads to aid in the electronic voter check-in and verification process for election authorities. Two will be used in the courthouse, three will be used by the city of Blue Earth, two by the city of Wells and two by the city of Winnebago. The estimated cost is $4,028 with some of the expense possibly being offset by grants.

— Approved the appointment of John Roper to the Human Services Board.

— Approved the appointments of Dwight Olson and Don Brown to the Planning and Zoning Board.

— Voted to approve the training request of Britney Gehrking of the Sheriff’s Office to attend the United States Police Canine Association Narcotics Trial.

— Approved the requests of Merissa Lore and Luke Schonborn of the Drainage Department to attend a drainage conference.