Houston County adopts $75 fee for personal information and real-property records under Minn. Stat. 480.50

The Houston County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt a $75 fee per property for requests related to personal information and real-property records authorized under Minnesota Statute 480.50. The decision followed a public hearing during which Michelle, a county staff member, said the fee is authorized by statute and noted it may not fully cover staff time.

Michelle explained the scope of the request and the statutory basis for charging a fee, saying, “This is by statute. We are allowed to charge... I don't know that $75 would totally cover it, but that's what we're allowed to charge.” Commissioners discussed that the amount represents a statutory maximum and that staff could track costs and revisit the fee if necessary.

Unidentified Speaker 5 moved to adopt the $75 fee and Michelle (Speaker 7) seconded the motion; the board approved the motion by voice vote. County documents presented at the hearing referenced Minnesota Statute 480.50 as the legal authorization for establishing the fee.

The board did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript excerpt; the action was taken by voice vote and recorded as passing. County staff indicated the fee applies to personal-information and real-property record requests and that implementation details would be handled administratively.

The public hearing for the fee and the subsequent vote concluded the matter for this meeting; the county indicated it will monitor volume and staff time and may adjust procedures if the charge does not cover administrative costs.