Wabasha County

Bridge repair in Hammond planned

May 6, 2026

Bridge repair work on Wabasha County Hwy. 11 bridge over the Zumbro River in Hammond was scheduled to begin approximately Wednesday, May 6, according the Wabasha County Highway Department. County Hwy. 11 will be reduced to one lane of traffic during the bridge work. Traffic delays should be...

Sheriff to retire effective May 31

Apr 22, 2026

Wabasha County Sheriff Rodney Bartsh, who had planned to retire in December after nearly 40 years in law enforcement, said he has chosen instead to retire on May 31. Bartsh announced on Feb. 26 that he would not seek a fifth term in November. He has served as sheriff since 2002. He will have...

Wabasha County Board hears spongy moth management presentation at March 3 meeting

Mar 18, 2026

Wabasha County Commissioners on March 3 heard a presentation regarding proposed 2026 management of Spongy Moth, an invasive insect which defoliates forests, feeding on more than 300 species of trees and shrubs. John Larsen, Spongy Moth Treatment Coordinator for the Minnesota Department of...

Wabasha County Sheriff: Bartsh announces retirement, Bade announces candidacy

Mar 4, 2026

The two leading candidates for Wabasha County Sheriff in 2022 both made announcements releated to the 2026 election, but a rematch appears unlikely. Sheriff Rodney Bartsh has announced that he won’t seek another term. Jason Bade announced Monday that he would again be running for sheriff. “Public...

Arrest made in campground death

Mar 4, 2026

Wabasha County officials have announced an arrest and charges in the death of a Lakeville woman at Mac’s Park Place campground last August. “The Wabasha County Attorney’s Office and the Wabasha County Sheriff have arrested 69-year-old Stanley Alan Munstermann of Madison, Minnesota,” the county...

County: Contract offer a win for employees, community

Feb 25, 2026

Our community relies on strong, professional social services to support children, families, seniors, and residents in crisis. To ensure these services remain stable and effective, the County has proposed a 2026-2028 contract that represents a historic investment in our workforce while addressing...

County withdraws from Whitewater Joint Powers Board to focus on ‘One Watershed, One Plan’

Feb 11, 2026

Wabasha County Commissioners on Feb. 3 approved a motion to terminate and withdraw from the Whitewater Joint Powers Board (JPB) Agreement. Members of the Whitewater JPB, which includes area County and Soil and Water Conservation District board members, have agreed that, due to changing...

Wabasha County to replace real estate tax and value systems

Dec 31, 2025

Wabasha County Commissioners on Dec. 22 approved a contract with Counties Providing Technology (CPT), of Morris, for a Property Tax System and direction on implementation and funding options. The Auditor-Treasurer’s Office obtained and executed a formal quote from CPT for conversion, installation...

Union president urges county board to ratify contract

Nov 19, 2025

Shep Austad, County Planning and Zoning officer and president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3542, thanked Wabasha County Board members for commissioning a wage study earlier this year, and said the study shows the potential for a 14 percent...

Court rules in favor of county attorney in salary dispute with commissioners

Oct 22, 2025

A court has ordered Wabasha County to raise the Wabasha County Attorney’s salary back to $130,900 for 2025 after finding fault with the county board’s decision-making process in reducing it for this year. In a ruling filed Oct. 14, Third District Court Judge Joseph A. Bueltel said commissioners “...