Press Releases

Placement of campaign and other advertising signage on any county highway right of way is not allowed under state law, according to the Olmsted County Public Works Department. All state, county, city, and township roads and highways fall under the same state law.

The public is invited to attend a public meeting on June 30, 2022 (6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.), to learn more about the County Road (CR) 44 and Highway 14 Intersection Project. 

Bituminous reclamation and overlay work is scheduled to begin on CR 117 and CR 104 between County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 15 and CSAH 25.

Concrete resurfacing work is scheduled to begin along CSAH 1 from TH 52 to CR 101.  The project consists of removing the existing pavement, widening the shoulders, and paving a new concrete surface. 

Olmsted County is hosting an open house on June 22, 2022, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Salem Township Hall at 8433 Salem Rd SW, Byron, MN 55920 for the CSAH 5 and CSAH 25 Reconstruction Project.

The GLUP is a long-range document, updated every five years to reflect changes in population, employment, land use projections, assumptions, and policy. This latest update of the GLUP looks out until at least 2045.

In partnership with local veterinarians, Olmsted County is hosting its 64th annual rabies vaccination clinic on June 22, 2022.

Veterinarians will provide rabies vaccinations for dogs, cats, and ferrets for only $20 each, cash only.

Many individuals eager to get outdoors and enjoy the warm weather will enjoy swimming, boating, and participating in other water-related activities. While these activities can be fun, it's important to remember that we share the water with others and are susceptible to recreational water illnesses.

The Olmsted County Public Health Services (OCPHS) team is asking for help from the community to prioritize health issues in Olmsted County. 

Every three years, residents can participate in the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) prioritization survey to help OCPHS identify the county's health concerns.

Olmsted County Public Health Services (OCPHS) is receiving a $388,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Infrastructure Fund to support data and epidemiology capabilities.

The funding will help OCPHS better serve the region in planning, data analysis, and epidemiology.

Mark Krupski, director of Olmsted County's Property Records and Licensing (PRL) department, is retiring after 32 years of service.

After 10 years as a self-employed realtor, Krupski came to the county as an appraiser. He then advanced to the assistant director role in PRL before becoming director, a position he has held for the past 16 years.

Due to inclement weather, bridge approach panel work is now scheduled to begin on County Road (CR) 104 on May 31, 2022. Work will consist of removal and replacement of the north and south concrete approach panels.  This work is in preparation of a bituminous preservation project along this route scheduled to begin towards the later part of June. A separate press release will be posted once the timing of that work is confirmed.

Bituminous paving work is scheduled to begin along CR 157 on May 20, 2022, weather permitting.

Reconstruction of CR (County Road) 101 between CSAH (County State Aid Highway) 20 (St. Bridget Rd SE) and CSAH 1 (Simpson Rd SE) continues with closure of the intersection at St. Bridget RD SE and 48th St SE for pavement and underground utility replacement.

Several additional projects will be funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) following the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners' approval on May 17, 2022.

The commissioners allotted $4.8 million to projects focused on mitigating COVID-19 impacts on vulnerable populations, public works, and county operations. Specifically, it will fund:

Culvert work is scheduled to begin on May 16, 2022, along CSAH 12 and CSAH 14, as shown on the map below. Work will consist of installing cured-in-place pipe liners in separated and delaminated concrete culverts.  Lane and shoulder closures will be necessary to complete this work.  Please reduce your speed and proceed with caution through these work zones.

Subsurface, Inc. is the prime contractor for the $120,000 project. Construction is anticipated to be completed by May 20, 2022.

Motorists should expect delays and seek alternative routes.

Canadian Pacific Railway will be performing maintenance work at the railroad crossing on County Road 146 (3rd Ave SE) beginning Tuesday, May 17, 2022. County Road 146 is estimated to be closed through May 18 while the work is being performed. A detour will be provided as shown on the map below.

Motorists should expect delays and seek alternative routes.  

Olmsted County Public Works is announcing the following road construction work beginning May 12, 2022.  Traffic signal installation work on CSAH 36 (Marion Road SE) requires lane closures and shifting traffic on Thursday, May 12, 2022, to Friday, May 13, 2022, weather permitting.  Traffic will be shifted and reduced to a single lane in each direction on CSAH 36 from approximately Park Lane SE to approximately 20th Street SE for the new Longfellow Elementary access location.  Egan Company is the contractor completing the traffic signal work.

Thousands of residents in Southeast Minnesota rely on private wells for drinking water. As a private well user, you are responsible for testing your water and maintaining your well system.

Olmsted County Public Works is announcing the following road maintenance project beginning Thursday, May 12, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. The work is scheduled to be complete at the end of the same day, weather permitting. 

Culvert replacement will take place on CR 108 SW, approximately 1,700 feet east of CR 115.  County Road 108 SW will be closed to through traffic from CR 115 SW (70th Ave SW) to 60th Ave SW, as shown on the attached map.  Residents will have access to their properties within the closure.  No official detour will be posted.

Bituminous overlay work is scheduled to begin along the following sections of roadway:

• CSAH 2 between TH 42 and CSAH 10
• CSAH 2 between CSAH 10 and CSAH 39 (in Winona County)

Work will be completed one lane at a time, with traffic being controlled using flagging operations.

Rochester Sand and Gravel is the prime contractor for the $1,900,000 project.  Construction is anticipated to be complete by June 6, 2022.

Motorists should expect delays and seek alternative routes.  

The 2022 Seasonal Load Restrictions will begin to be removed on Olmsted County roads on Monday, May 2nd, 2022.  Please be advised that spring load restrictions remain in effect on a road if it is still posted.

Any questions on the load restrictions can be answered by calling Olmsted County Public Works at 328-7060. 

Reminder: Motorists are reminded to always drive with caution, and never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones.  Please reduce your speed and proceed with caution through these work zones.

A media event on April 29, 2022 highlighted House America and current housing efforts in the region. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, along with staff from the Office of U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Senator Tina Smith joined the city and county for today’s event. It was held at Olmsted County’s newest transitional housing facility, located at 105 Broadway Avenue North in Rochester.

Olmsted County is now considered to have a “high” COVID-19 community level under parameters set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

New COVID-19 related hospital admissions have increased in Olmsted County to 10.3 per 100,000 residents over the past seven days. The CDC also looks at new cases and percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients.

“While we are concerned about the increase of COVID-19 in Olmsted County, we know we have the tools to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in our community,” Olmsted County Public Health Services (OCPHS) Director Denise Daniels said.

Effective immediately, Olmsted County passport services will be temporarily suspended. The Property Records and Licensing (PRL) team that provides these services is experiencing a staffing shortage due to illness.

As we expect temperatures to begin increasing over the next few weeks, Olmsted County Public Health Services (OCPHS) offers advice to help families avoid potentially severe insect-related diseases associated with warmer months.

The Olmsted County Parks Department is planning several prescribed burns at Chester Woods, Oxbow, and Root River Parks. Prescribed burns are a useful land management tool in the restoration and maintenance of parks and other natural areas. The use of controlled fire as a land management tool has many benefits, some of which are:

As part of the routine maintenance of concrete pavement, there are multiple isolated locations throughout Olmsted County that have been identified to be replaced. Doyle Conner is the prime contractor for the $558,000 project, which includes removal and replacement of these concrete pavement and curb and gutter locations.

The repairs will be completed under traffic with lane closures and/or shifts needed to accommodate the repair areas.

Construction is anticipated to be complete by the end of July, weather permitting.

ROCHESTER, Minn. – Hoffman Construction is the prime contractor for the $9,800,000 project, which is moving into the final stage of concrete surfacing and bituminous shouldering. Additional aggregate placement and fine grading will be starting the week of April 25, 2022 with concrete surfacing anticipated to begin the week of May 9, 2022, weather dependant.

Each year, the critical work of public health is recognized during National Public Health Week, sponsored by the American Public Health Association (APHA). National Public Health Week provides opportunities for residents across the country to learn more about the many contributions made by public health professionals nationally and here in Olmsted County.

ROCHESTER, Minn. – Mathiowetz Construction is the prime contractor for the $7,200,000 project, which includes grading, concrete surfacing, and realignment of CR 101. Construction is anticipated to be complete by October 7, 2022.

The CR 101 project will be completed in three phases. 

Phase 1: CR 101 will be closed from the intersection of St. Bridget Rd SE and 45th ST SE to CSAH 1 with both intersections open to traffic. During this phase, a cul du sac will be constructed on 45th ST SE and CR 101 will be realigned to connect to 48th ST SE. 

Mary Blair-Hoeft will become Olmsted County’s next director of Property Records and Licensing effective April 25, 2022. Blair-Hoeft will have the opportunity to train under current Olmsted County PRL Director Mark Krupski until his retirement on May 31, 2022.

On Tuesday, March 15, 2022, the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners approved an updated Olmsted County Parks rules and regulations ordinance.

Under the revised ordinance, Chester Woods Park no longer has an admission fee. The board suspended park entrance fees in December 2021 to encourage people to use the parks as a wellness avenue during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their vote on March 15 makes free admission permanent.  

ROCHESTER, Minn. – Olmsted County Public Works is announcing the following road updates beginning next week.

Mask guidance has changed for anyone visiting government buildings or facilities in Olmsted County and the City of Rochester. Effective today, masks will no longer be required in them. Olmsted County and the City of Rochester still welcome the use of masks in local government buildings for whoever wishes to wear them and strongly encourage unvaccinated and immunocompromised individuals to continue wearing facial coverings.

ROCHESTER, Minn. – Each year, in October, The Olmsted County Soil and Water Conservation District sells trees and shrubs in bundles of 20 to 25 bare-root transplants. This is an inexpensive way to simply add color and beauty to your property. The trees are great for homestead windbreaks, living snow fences, and wildlife habitat.

Returning this year, the district is now offering Seed Mixes and Plant Kits for the public to purchase via the SWCD Sales Website.

Dodge-Fillmore-Olmsted (DFO) Community Corrections program manager James Johnson will continue his career with Olmsted County as the next division administrator for Health, Housing, and Human Services (HHH). Johnson will officially assume the role on Monday, March 14, 2022. 

Beginning February 25, 2022, all Olmsted County residents are encouraged to participate in the online version of the 2022 Olmsted County Resident Survey. Surveys are available in three languages: English, Spanish, and Somali.

On Tuesday, February 22, 2022, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued a writ of special election to fill the state’s Congressional District 1 seat following the February 18, 2022 death of Representative Jim Hagedorn. A special election to fill the vacancy will be held on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. If necessary, a special primary election will be held on Tuesday, May 24, 2022.

The City of Rochester and Olmsted County are hosting two Virtual Open House sessions for the Viola Road NE (CSAH 2) and Cassidy Drive NE Intersection Improvement Project. This project, which is currently in the design phase, will improve traffic operations and safety around Century High School. The project team recommends a single-lane roundabout as the preferred engineering option for the intersection. Construction of the roundabout is expected to occur in 2023.

Olmsted County and the City of Rochester are encouraging residents to take part in the 2022 election process, and that begins with registering to vote or updating voter registration.

Olmsted County residents are encouraged to participate in the 2022 Olmsted County Resident Survey. On February 4, 2022, 4,200 surveys will be mailed to 600 randomized households in each commissioner district. 

“Understanding residents’ needs is important to Olmsted County,” said Olmsted County Board of Commissioners Chair Mark Thein. “Through this survey, we are able to get a pulse on residents’ thoughts and perceptions of life in Olmsted County as well as their experience with Olmsted County government.”

From December 14, 2021 to January 22, 2022, Olmsted County and the City of Rochester held 11 virtual redistricting listening sessions. These were opportunities for residents to share valuable information on what matters to them before new city ward and county commissioner district maps are drawn. Video recordings of each listening session are available on the City of Rochester redistricting website under Events. Frequently asked questions and comments from the listening sessions can also be found on the City of Rochester and Olmsted County redistricting websites.

Olmsted County Public Health Services (OCPHS) is looking for employers interested in implementing a workplace wellness plan. This free opportunity can help increase employee productivity, decrease absenteeism, improve morale, and manage health care costs.

Olmsted County’s Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) offers employers a free opportunity to learn about starting or building wellness programs. Since 2015, 17 employers in Olmsted County have participated. Employers will meet one-on-one with the SHIP worksite wellness coordinator to tailor their wellness program.

On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners signed an agreement to have Rochester Area Economic Development, Inc. (RAEDI) serve as the county’s redevelopment consultant with respect to the Seneca Property owned by the county.

RAEDI will partner with the county to develop and execute a Statement of Interest (SOI) process to solicit development proposals and evaluate the highest and best use, with RAEDI providing expertise and capacity to the county. 

Olmsted County, Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota, and the Rochester Salvation Army have developed an isolation plan for residents who are homeless, seeking shelter, and have tested positive for COVID-19. This plan is effective immediately.

Redistricting listening sessions are being offered on January 11, January 13, January 19, and January 22, 2022, and are an opportunity for you to share valuable information with local governments before redistricting occurs. This can include sharing perspectives from communities of interest, such as a neighborhood, community, or group of people who have common policy concerns and would benefit from being maintained in a single district. 

To help Olmsted County residents learn more about updates to the General Land Use Plan (GLUP), a collection of StoryMaps is now available for public review on the county’s GLUP webpage. These user-friendly summaries introduce Olmsted County’s land use planning efforts and policies, the factors that influence them, as well as plan updates and implementation strategies.