Where do the candidates stand: Steele County Board of Commissioners

There are two contested and one uncontested races this year for the Steele County Board of Commissioners

Commissioner Rick Gnemi is being challenged by Josh Prokopec to represent District 3, while Commissioner Greg Krueger is being challenged by Scott Prestegard to represent District 5. Commissioner Jim Abbe is running unopposed to continue representing District 4.

All three of the districts up for election this year represent the city of Owatonna.

The People’s Press asked the candidates where they stand on some important local topics.

Background: In 100 words or less, how are you connected with and/or involved in the Steele County community, and/or what local government experience do you have.

Rick Gnemi (District 3)

Age: 74

Occupation: Certified General Real Property Appraiser (since 1977) and Steele County Commissioner District 3 (elected 2016); part-time employee at Lowe’s, Owatonna, MN since 2015

Education: High School, Hobart, Indiana,; Business Administration and Economics – Mankato University ( 1974); Real Estate Appraiser in Minnesota since 1977; Certified General Real Property Appraiser since 1983 licensure in Minnesota

I was elected in 2016 to serve as a Steele County Commissioner in District 3. I was re-elected in 2020. I have been a real estate appraiser in my own business, Gnemi Appraisal Service, since 1977. I was licensed in Minnesota in 1983 as a Certified General Real Property Appraiser (for all residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural real estate property in Minnesota.) I have been a member of the Owatonna Lions Club and Owatonna Coin & Collectors Club since 1975. I have remodeled approximately 60 homes in the Owatonna area since 1972.

Josh Prokopec (District 3)

Age: 45

Occupation: Manager — Gas/Water Operations & Engineering, Facilities at Owatonna Public Utilities.

Education: Land Survey/Civil Engineering Technician Certificate — Dunwoody College of Technology. Minnesota ‘C’ Water Operator License from the Minnesota Department of Health. A number of job related trainings over the last 20 years including Safety, Engineering, Natural Gas Distribution and Water Distribution.

Steele County has been my home since the beginning. I started my public service career at the young age of 14 with the SCFF, then worked two years at the Steele County 4-Seasons Centre, 17 years with the City of Owatonna, and the last six years at OPU. I have been involved with the SCFF for a total of 31 years, including five on the Board of Directors. Public service has been my passion, and I am committed to it for the rest of my career. My experience in local government will serve me well as a County Commissioner.

Jim Abbe (District 4)

Age: 60

Occupation: Aside from working as one of your County Commissioners for the last eight years, I also work as a Property Director at Life Style, Inc. in Owatonna; a career I have been involved in for over 30 years.

Education: Owatonna High School – Class of 1983

I was raised on a small farm in Aurora Township and later moved to Owatonna. I’ve been married to my wife Lori for 39 years. We have two adult daughters and recently welcomed our first granddaughter. I’m proud to say I’ve served eight years as your Steele County Commissioner representing District #4. I’m involved in various community organizations and serve on/work with several different boards, committees, and Joint Powers Boards. This is a position I do not take lightly and understand all of us elected officials have a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers who have put their trust in us.

Greg Krueger (District 5)

Age: 71

Occupation: Steele County Commissioner

Education: Associate degree/Business Administration

I owned and operated St. Clair’s For Men for 35 years, a member of the Blooming Prairie and Owatonna Chambers of Commerce. A member of Trinity Lutheran Church, serving on church council for 11 years. A member of Rotary since 1985. Served on the Owatonna Planning Commission, now serve on the Owatonna Airport Commission. My wife, Bonnie and I moved to Owatonna in 1980, raised two wonderful sons, one of which has started a business in Owatonna with his partners. My goal in running for re-election is to keep Steele County as the shining star of Greater Minnesota.

Scott Prestegard (District 5)

Age: 40

Occupation: Construction

Education: Owatonna High School Graduate, College Studies at St. Cloud State University and Riverland Community College.

Steele County has been my home for 40 years. I grew up on my family’s farm southeast of Owatonna. I have a background in the city water and wastewater sector, working for and leading Medford’s department for 5 years, as well working for the Blooming Prairie’s wastewater division. Currently I work for Steve James Excavating at their Owatonna location. For the past two years I have served as a Steele County Sheriff’s special deputy, ensuring public safety at various events. I am part of the coaching staff for Owatonna Wrestling, also serving as the Alumni chair on the Wrestling Board.

Why are you running, and what are the most significant issues and/or topics you want to address?

Gnemi: We have accomplished positive and necessary budgetary fiscal changes for the county in safeguarding the taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars. The budget has been consistently maintained at approximately 4% for the past 8 years, well below the double-digit spending experienced with previous boards. I wish to continue maintaining a reasonable and fiscally accountable budget during the Sheriff’s Department renovation and the Community Corrections building construction. Equally, it is my desire to remain focused on Drug Court, SEMCAC-Headstart, Work Force, public safety, and mental health/awareness through South Central Human Relations Center. I want to represent my district well by working on the board to provide services cost effectively; working collaboratively with all departments, committees/boards, and the public taxpayers.

Prokopec: For the past several years, I have been seriously considering a candidacy for County Commissioner, inspired by my deep commitment to public service and a desire to take on new challenges. With nearly three decades of experience in this field, I have cherished every opportunity to serve and am enthusiastic about the possibility of furthering my dedication to our community in this new role. I take great pride in being a composed and thoughtful individual who values the opinions of the public, offers well-informed insights, and is prepared to make difficult decisions when the situation calls for it. Steele County truly deserves a strong and confident leader who can guide it into the future, and I am fully prepared to be that representative voice.

Abbe: I am running to be re-elected as your County Commissioner so we can continue the momentum of the last eight years. I am proud of what we have accomplished together. The most significant issue each year is setting the budget as it relates to balancing the wants and needs of our constituents and keeping the tax levy at a manageable level. Employee costs continue to rise, health care costs are increasing, and the cost of materials and labor increases each year, all adding to the budget pressures year over year. I will continue to push for a pay-as-you-go approach to capital spending, so hopefully we don’t have to bond for and/or levy the taxpayers for infrastructure projects.

Krueger: I am running again because so many citizens ask me to run again. We have made major progress in upgrading and replacing county buildings, reducing our debt service, and keeping our levy increases to understandable amounts. I want to help create a Capital Improvement Fund, without increasing the levy, so future maintenance and building projects will keep bonding amounts to a minimum, if needed at all. We are waiting for the Federal Transportation analysis of the eastside corridor project so we can move forward with one of the routes, making it as safe as feasible for travelers and pedestrians.

Prestegard: I am grateful for all the support this town and community have given me over the years and will continue to provide me into the future. With that in mind, I feel like this is a time in my life where I can give back to my neighbors and the county in this role as commissioner. I have seen a lot of changes in our community, some positive and some negative. My goal is to bring a fresh perspective and a fiscally responsible mindset to keep the county thriving and make constructive contributions for the benefit of all residents. In addition, I have a special interest in mental health awareness and would like to increase the availability of services for first responders and all residents.

What are your plans for maintaining and improving county infrastructure, including roads, bridges and public facilities?

Gnemi: It is a commissioner’s role to work collaboratively with the board, county departments, committees/boards, contractors/suppliers, and the public taxpayers to provide services in a cost effective manner. In that light, I want to serve my district to the best of my ability to accomplish the maintenance and improvements to roads, public facilities and bridges in our county. I will use my 40 years of experience and expertise in finance, real estate appraising and renovating properties to accomplish those goals. I make it a point to visit the ongoing county projects of construction on a weekly basis to stay current with the development, to discuss any issues or problems which may have arisen, and to keep up to date on costs/expenses.

Prokopec: I strongly believe that developing a long-term strategy and prioritizing projects is of utmost importance. It is vital to implement or follow a pavement rating system to evaluate the necessary maintenance and set a timeline for its completion. Furthermore, addressing road repairs properly is essential, rather than relying on temporary solutions. When quick fixes are applied, taxpayers often find that they do not receive the full value of their investment, which can result in even greater expenses down the line. Failing to conduct timely maintenance can transform what could have been a minor repair into a costly reconstruction. Therefore, effective maintenance is crucial, and with my extensive knowledge and experience, I am equipped to ask the pertinent questions that will drive improvements in these areas.

Abbe: Steele County has qualified and dedicated staff working for us to manage and maintain the more than 750 lane miles of road and numerous bridges as well as the county taxpayer-owned buildings. As your Commissioner, I will continue to work with staff on the five-year Highway Capital Improvement Plan, and the County Building and Grounds Capital Plan to ensure we are forward looking in both the planning for the work and have a plan in place to pay for the projects. In the short term as our communities continue to grow, discussions will be needed on how to best move traffic from the north to the south side of Owatonna to address downtown congestion, especially during peak times.

Krueger: Our county has done a great job at improving the quality of our roads and bridges but we need to be diligent to continue to keep upgrading our infrastructure. These public facilities have been improved, the Courthouse, Building and Grounds and Emergency Management. In progress, the Sheriff’s Office, and Community Corrections (probation), these two projects are being done with no levy dollars. Future projects are County Attorney office and Public Health as well as maintenance needs That is why a Capital Improvement Fund is needed to keep levy increases to a minimum. All our facilities will be new or upgraded decreasing the cost of maintenance in the future.

Prestegard: To maintain county infrastructure, we need to focus on creating robust preventative maintenance programs, including routine safety inspections, that will help extend the life of our roads, bridges, and public facilities. This would prevent expensive potential emergency expenses on failing assets. We should also review the current budgets and prioritize critical repairs to prevent future problems. This should be transparently communicated with county residents for input and to make sure the projects align with the needs of the public.

What will be your approach to balancing the county budget in terms of reducing spending and/or raising taxes and fees?

Gnemi: As a commissioner, I have worked closely with the board, contractors/suppliers and county departments to monitor budget needs in a fiscally responsible manner. This is a collaborative effort, therefore, transparent professional relationships are vital between all parties. I make a point of answering communications sent to me in a timely fashion and to attend each board/committee to which I am assigned on a regular and consistent basis to establish those relationships. Forming productive and effective relationships between myself and the commissioners, department heads, staff and the public is vital. It takes time and intentional endeavor to accomplish this, and I believe I have achieved this during my service and will continue this process.

Prokopec: I firmly believe that getting the most value out of every dollar spent is of utmost importance. We should adopt a creative mindset and seek innovative strategies to enhance our programs without imposing additional tax burdens on our residents. Our primary goal should be to maintain stable spending while simultaneously identifying effective processes that enable us to progress and improve. It is vital to ensure the continued health, safety, and security of our community, while supporting law enforcement and infrastructure development. Additionally, we must prioritize the retention of our dedicated Steele County staff while also exploring new and effective ways to attract fresh talent. By focusing on these key areas, we can foster a thriving community that meets the needs of all its residents.

Abbe: Creating and implementing a workable budget is the top priority our county faces each year. County government is tasked with the challenge of balancing rising personnel costs, the costs of the mandated and unmandated programs, maintaining our roads and bridges, and increased pressure on our public health and human services programs. Our county employees work hard, and I will continue to ask for efficiencies and accountability from all staff to make sure we are making the best use of your hard-earned tax dollars. As we continue to face challenging decisions, it’s important to recognize that the taxpayers cannot be expected to shoulder the full responsibility.

Krueger: This County Board has proven that we can accomplish good county government without raising our levy beyond believable amounts. Our entire county workforce does a tremendous job at serving the citizens and being our partners in keeping our levy increases in line. We can’t control property values or selling prices but by keeping our levy increases low we can help ease the impact on your property taxes. It is my goal to make our future one of county prosperity and fiscal responsibility. Steele County is a great place to work and raise a family, all our communities are proud and thriving my goal will be to keep it that way.

Prestegard: My approach would include a review of the current county project list and prioritize according to public needs year by year. I would focus on funding public safety, health, and county infrastructure and cut back on non-essential spending. I would like to ensure that if taxes and levies are proposed, we create a fair approach for both rural farming homesteads and city residents. Overall, I am hoping to save money for the people of Steele County.