2025 was a busy year for the Sherburne County Commissioners.

The board started the year by electing Commissioner Gary Gray as Board Chair and Commissioner Raeanne Danielowski as Vice-Chair. They also served in the same positions for the Regional Rail Authority and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority.

Housing Fund

A few weeks into the new year, the county passed an ordinance establishing a Housing Trust Fund in Sherburne County, and in mid-year, the board approved the establishment of a Housing Trust Fund Homeowner Rehabilitation Loan Program. The fund will provide loans and grants to property owners, homeowners, local units of government, for-profit housing developers and non-profit housing developers.

Hwy. 169 Interchange

The biggest road project in county history continued to get a big part of the county’s attention in 2025. In March, the board approved an Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) agreement  for the Hwy. 169/Co. Rd. 4 Interchange in Zimmerman. The county was fortunate to receive an award of $24,732,000 for the proposed project.

Along the way, the board approved  two separate amendments for wetland mitigation totalling $763,800 - all funded by non-levy dollars.

Cannabis

Throughout the year, the board approved joint powers agreements with a number of jurisdictions related for the enforcement and regulation of cannabis retail business registration. Any fees or penalties collected for retail registration and enforcement will remain entirely with the county.

Heaney Retirement

April saw the end of an era for the county when Kathleen Heaney retired after a distinguished career of more than 30 years of serving Sherburne County, including 22 years as county attorney. The board approved a proclamation declaring April 30, 2025 as Kathleen Heaney Day.

Notable Recognitions

Other county people were recognized by the board in 2025. In May, the board approved designating a segment of Co. Rd. 43 from Hwy. 10 to the Elk River in honor/memory of 1st Lt. Orville Anderson. A native of Big Lake, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 and graduated from Army Air Corp basic and advanced pilot training, as well as night fighter school. He was killed in action in the early morning hours of April 14, 1945 while conducting a combat patrol on his 39th mission.

The board recognized and honored Richard Rauenhorst for his exemplary service during the Vietnam conflict.

The Army originally presented the Bronze Star Medal to the veteran in 1971. That medal was later lost. Veterans Services was able to obtain a replacement Bronze Star Medal from the National Archives. He was presented with the medal by the county in September.

The board recognized the Golly Family of Clear Lake as the 2025 Farm Family of the Year in December.

Kiel Golly grew up farming alongside his dad, John on land first established by his parents, John and Lynette, in 1979.  Kiel now manages about 1,700 acres, raising corn, soybeans and rye seeds.

The farm was recently certified under the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Program, highlighting their commitment to stewardship. John and Lynette remain involved as the original founders and partners, while Kiel’s wife, Malorie, and their kids, Brielle, Lincoln and Brooks, support wherever they are needed.

The board was introduced to one of its newest employees in June, Peach, a therapy dog in training.

HHS

In May, the board helped expand the HHS service area further west by approving a one-year lease between the City of St. Cloud and Sherburne County for satellite space at the 1010 Building in Southeast St. Cloud. HHS plans to conduct financial assistance interviews, do WIC appointments and other client-related services at the site.

Fairgrounds

The board also approved a three-year lease with the Sherburne County Agricultural Society for leased space on the Sherburne County Fairgrounds, effective June 1, 2025, through May 31, 2028. The lease includes several performance expectations that will help the county determine how things will work going forward.

Electric Vehicles

In July, the board approved two agreements  with MnDOT for electric vehicle charging stations and the purchase of electric vehicles.

The county was successful in securing $42,222.32 in grant dollars from the Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) Funding to install charging stations on the Government Center site. The county was also granted $200,000 to cover part of the cost for electric vehicles.

Interchange Project Award

In August, after years of planning, grant applications and multiple agreement modifications, the board awarded the contract for the Hwy. 169 & Co. Rd. 4 Interchange Project to Ames Construction at $44,390,384.85. The project is expected to be substantially completed by the end of 2026.

Parks

The county continued its commitment to improve the county park system. The board approved a professional services contract with Natural Resource Services, Inc. for habitat restoration and enhancement work at Two Inlets at Bdé Heḣáka - Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans Regional Park and Island View Park at a cost of $274,238.24, which will be reimbursed to the county from Clean Water Land and Legacy Funding.

The board also accepted an Outdoor Recreation Grant Award of $191,814 for park improvements at Oak Savanna Park in Becker.

Commuter Bus

The board approved a two-year commuter bus pilot program beginning in 2026. The bus will serve county commuters as the NorthStar Commuter train ends operations Jan. 2. Estimated cost of three round trips from Big Lake to Elk River to Minneapolis is $487,000 per year.

Budget/Levy

In the final meeting of the year, the board set the 2026 budget at $139,677,354 and set the levy in the amount of $66,842,287. This represents a 6.49% increase from the 2025 levy.

Administrator Bruce Messelt said a significant amount of the increase, nearly $900,00, is due to cost shifts from the state to the county. That amounts to about 1.4% of the increase. The state has also deferred another $1.6 million in cost shifts into future years.