Waseca County approves settlement to accept Steele County withdrawal from Mid Prairie joint powers

The Waseca County Board on Dec. 2 approved a settlement agreement that implements Steele Countys withdrawal from the Mid Prairie joint powers arrangement and clarified transition terms for the remaining partner counties.

County staff summarized negotiations over several months that sought to unwind the joint powers arrangement in a manner acceptable to the remaining partners while preserving service continuity. The settlement text incorporates Steele County's formal withdrawal resolution and includes procedural clarifications requested by county counsel, including explicit reference to Steele Countys resolution numbers and signature authorities.

The resolution authorized the county board chair and designated staff to execute the settlement agreement and to take related administrative steps. The board conducted a roll-call vote and the record shows a 4-1 outcome in favor of approving the settlement; staff said the agreement will allow Waseca and Dodge counties to reorganize shared services under a shorter timeline than a full three-year withdrawal process would have required.

County staff and commissioners framed passage as a pragmatic path forward to stabilize the regional arrangement and permit the remaining partners to move quickly to a reorganized governance structure and staffing plan.