Pipestone County reports HR updates, pay equity compliance and approves small assessment-rate change

Pipestone County administrators on March 24 presented routine human-resources and assessment items to the Board of Commissioners.

Human Resources Director Charlotte Seager reported staff changes: Jessica Harris moved to Building and Grounds Lead Worker (effective March 1); Steve Moffitt was hired as a seasonal Building and Grounds Maintenance Worker (effective April); Myranda Baumgartner was hired as a full-time Jailer/Dispatcher (effective March 23); and Hailey Thompson resigned her full-time Jailer/Dispatcher position effective March 9. Sheriff Keith Vreeman announced he will retire as County Sheriff effective Dec. 31, 2026. The county reported it met the requirements of the Local Government Pay Equity Act (M.S. 471.991–471.999) and Minnesota Rules Chapter 3920 based on the 2026 Pay Equity Report submitted to Minnesota Management & Budget on Feb. 24, 2026.

County Assessor Jean Nelson asked the board to approve assessing agreements for multiple townships for the 2027–2029 assessment years and recommended increasing the per-parcel rate from $12 to $14 because of higher fuel and wage costs; the board authorized the $2 increase. County Auditor/Treasurer Amanda Sandy requested scheduling a public hearing for new-home tax abatements in the City of Edgerton for April 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.; the board set the hearing as requested.

Next steps: personnel hires and recruitment will proceed administratively; the assessor will implement the $14 per-parcel rate for the specified assessing agreements and the public hearing on tax abatements will be held April 14.