# Blue Earth County Commissioners meeting for October 20, 2026


**Body:** Blue Earth County, Minnesota
**Date:** October 19, 2026
**Jurisdiction:** SLED

**Tags:** Construction & Infrastructure, Healthcare, Physical Infrastructure, Grants & Funding


The Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners meeting on October 20, 2026, included several procurement and infrastructure decisions. The board approved phase-one construction for the Red Jacket Trail Repair Project, with Holtmire Construction selected as the low bidder at $900,224.75 against an engineer’s estimate of $1.14 million; approximately $100,000 for a previously ordered box culvert was excluded from that estimate. The board also approved drainage repair contracts for County Ditch 65 to Stevens Drainage and Excavation for $77,356.43, County Ditch 88 to Groundworks Backhoe Service (the transcript’s stated low-bid amount is incomplete, approximately $48,490), and County Ditch 93 to Groundworks Backhoe Service for $52,733. A proposed County Ditch 47 repair, estimated at $25,140, was tabled. For Ditches 88 and 93, the board approved amended repair reports focused on ditch cleaning, with crossings and other repairs deferred; commissioners noted that some deferred work may later be coordinated with road authorities.

The board approved 2027 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards, generally averaging about 105% of fair-market rent and effective December 1, with adjustments for certain bedroom sizes and rural areas. It also approved a mental health services contract of up to $533,986.83 for October 2026–September 2027, a 6.03% increase, and authorized negotiating and signing a grant-funded agreement for child and adolescent crisis services, with no contract amount stated. The board authorized an equal-value land exchange for the Red Jacket Trail project. No other major procurement awards were identified in the transcript.

**Source:** Blue Earth County, Minnesota