# Blue Earth County Commissioners meeting for October 20, 2026

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.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure, Healthcare
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 20, 2026

### Sources
- [Blue Earth County Commissioners meeting for October 20, 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLwk7ROVaL4) - Blue Earth County, Minnesota