City Council Meeting Date: December 2, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Lynette Peterson, City Clerk
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Consider Motion Approving Joint Powers Agreement Between Rice County and the City of Northfield for Absentee Balloting and Election Services for 2026 Elections
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Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council considers a motion to approve the Joint Powers Agreement between Rice County and the City of Northfield for Absentee Balloting and Election Services for 2026 Elections.
Summary Report:
Since 2016, the City of Northfield has served as a “remote” absentee voting site for Rice County, operating from City Hall under a contract with the County. In 2022, Northfield received $10,000 from Rice County for these services. Following a review of expenses, staff negotiated an increase to $20,000 for the 2024 election cycle. City Council reviewed information presented by the City Clerk at their July 22, 2025 Council Meeting directing staff to send a letter to Rice County requesting negotiations for additional money to conduct absentee balloting for Rice County as a remote location; providing one election judge training session in Northfield to save the costs of mileage for judges to attend training in Faribault; and aligning training hours with the required State Statute hours required.
The City Clerk and City Administrator met with Rice County election officials to discuss Northfield’s absentee ballot location. The County agreed to reimburse the City of Northfield $20,000 to conduct a remote absentee ballot location for all of Rice County for 2026 Elections and added an additional $2,000 to cover mileage expenses to send election judges to Faribault to attend election judge training. The County was unable to add additional funding as requested due to budget constraints. Staff recommends approval of the attached agreement outlining the Absentee Balloting and Election Services the City of Northfield will provide for Rice County for 2026 Elections.
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
The cost of conducting absentee balloting at City Hall is estimated at approximately $36,000. The City will receive $22,000 in reimbursement from Rice County for providing these services.
Tentative Timelines:
Reimbursement of the $22,000 from Rice County will be paid on or before September 30, 2026 as per the JPA.