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May 15, 2026
Tina and Jeff Kalis 1102 4th Street SE Little Falls, MN 56345 License Number: 1083654 (Adult Foster Care) Dear Tina and Jeff Kalis: The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Licensing, received your request for reconsideration regarding the citations in the correction order issued to you by Sourcewell on behalf of Wadena County on January 28, 2026. After an independent review of the record, the Commissioner has determined there is sufficient evidence to support the citation, and it is affirmed. Reconsideration Determination Citation 1 The citation was issued because the program did not comply with a required Fire Marshall reinspection, initiated upon reasonable cause, due to the continued use of extension cords as permanent wiring for large or fixed appliances and the installation of a new window. Fire Marshal paperwork was provided to the license holder on January 5, 2026, and emails were sent to the license holder with no response from the license holder. Applicable Law Under Minnesota Rules, part 9555.6125, subpart 2, if the commissioner has reasonable cause to believe that a potentially hazardous condition may be present, the commissioner shall request a subsequent fire marshal inspection and written report by a fire marshal to verify the absence of hazard.
Your Response and Response from Wadena County You submitted a letter in which you indicated you believe the citation was incorrect. You indicated the new window did not have a reasonable connection to a fire code issue, and you indicated the issue related to extension cords was fixed. You also indicated the licensor provided unreasonable timelines and that communication from the licensor was unclear. The licensor submitted a letter and copies of emails in support of the citation. The letter indicates that on January 5, 2026, the licensor provided Fire Marshal forms to you, explained the process by phone, and advised she would follow up in writing to ensure the process was clear. On January 8, 2026, the licensor sent a follow-up email with detailed instructions about where and how to submit the documents. On January 20, 2026, the licensor contacted you to follow up. The licensor did not receive any responses from you, and on January 28, 2026, the licensor issued a correction order. On February 3, 2026, you responded to the licensor and indicated the paperwork had been submitted. Reconsideration Determination The scope of this review is limited to a determination of whether the cited violation was correct under the applicable law. The applicable law requires the commissioner to request a subsequent fire marshal inspection if there is reasonable cause to believe that a potentially hazardous condition may be present. The licensor indicated the use of extension cords as permanent wiring to operate major appliances, which you do not dispute occurred, triggered the request for a new fire marshal inspection because it presented a safety concern. You indicated you received an email from the licensor on January 8, 2026, indicating forms needed to be sent to the fire marshal, but you did not advise the licensor the forms had been submitted until February 3, 2026. Although you corrected the violation, you did so after the correction order was issued. There is sufficient evidence to support the citation, and it is affirmed. Disposition The Commissioner has reviewed the relevant laws and all the information you submitted in response to the Correction Order. The record supports the citation, and it is affirmed. This is a final agency decision. The Commissioner appreciates your response and encourages you to continue to work cooperatively with your licensor regarding questions about corrective action ordered in the correction order. Sincerely,
Frances Simon Standing, Attorney Legal Counsel’s Office Office of Inspector General cc: Angie Ealy, Regional Licensing Specialist
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