MNPrairie separation is complex, time consuming

Tara Reich, executive director of the collaborative human services agency referred to as MNPrairie, reported to the Waseca County Board of Commissioners during their March 3 meeting regarding steps currently underway to reconfigure the organization. 

 

MNPrairie was established in 2014 when Dodge, Steele and Waseca counties put together an agreement to form a collaborative and consolidate the funds that support it, including funds from the three counties and money the state usually provides individual counties to support human services.

 

In March of 2025, Steele County commissioners voted to withdraw from the collaborative, even though the joint powers agreement all three counties had signed did not give them the authority to dissolve the organization. Dodge and Waseca counties communicated regarding the circumstances and, in December of 2025, voted to allow Steele County to withdraw. A timeline of one year was set for the full separation, at the end of which Steele County would again be in charge of its own human services programs and funding while Dodge and Waseca would continue forward as a collaborative.

 

Reich summarized the steps that are underway to meet the Jan. 1, 2027 target. The process has many facets. For one, the State of Minnesota Department of Human Services must separate records, funding, and much more–Reich mentioned there are more than 20 sets of records which must be extricated from one another at the state level. 

 

She reported the state office has not committed to being able to complete all the steps by January. 

 

She also mentioned that Steele County has not yet hired a director of human services, which slows down communication and the decision-making process.

 

An important factor is dividing the 180 current staff members between the two future agencies. Some employees were with Steele County before the 2014 consolidation, or have been working mostly with Steele County clients. Reich stated she is doing what she can to assure agency workers their positions are secure, but says it is logical that employees are “doing the math,”  and taking steps to avoid any chance of becoming unemployed.

 

“It’s a big loss,” Reich observed of each staff member who leaves, mentioning that it often takes one to two years before any new employee is comfortable with and skilled in all the elements of a position.

 

She told the board she is meeting with representatives from Steele County at least once a month, and that she will be reporting to the commissioners of both Dodge and Waseca counties every quarter.

 

“It’s going as well as it can,” she said of the complex process, mentioning that Steele County leaders are being cooperative and responsive.