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to order. Stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

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justice for all. [clears throat] >> All right, good morning everyone. Got a packed house. >> Got a packed house. >> Jerry's here. Haven't seen Jerry in a while. >> Can't hear you. >> I see his hair different places, but not

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him. >> Okay. Any changes to the agenda? >> I don't have any changes. >> If not, I'll entertain a motion. >> I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. >> All right. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Any further discussion? All those in

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favor say I. I. opposed. Motion carried. All right. The July 7th minutes. Anybody have any corrections or questions?

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>> Um yes. Um on page [clears throat] two of three um under public hearing under EDA on the bottom of the page on one of the bullet points should just state that uh there was no public input I thought. >> Oh. Oh.

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>> Mhm. >> Um on the next page on on number under county administrator [clears throat] >> um something to in the effect that um a little the the EOC has opened MSA due to

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tornado and I would just kind of give a little dialogue that near Floyd Lake because it's mentioned in the next meeting. We have an emergency meeting for that >> event. [snorts] So maybe just mention that EOCC's open at MTA or maybe Kerry administrator talked about the tornado at at at Floyd

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Lake or near Floyd around Floyd Lake and then the [clears throat] next bullet point EOC was set up to approve for that tornado. Um and then on land used environmental services number two motion second approve the capital purchase of a lift

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in the amount of 22,000 probably state where that was at um >> working yeah where it was purchased from and then I would put a period after that and then state the lift will be shared at no cost

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with other departments in the county otherwise that runon sounds that it's not sure if you're the cost will be shared or the use. >> I'm sure that's all I have [cough] [clears throat] >> on that one.

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>> Anyone else? >> All right. If not, I will entertain a motion. >> I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from July 7th with the corrections. >> All right. Do you have a second? >> Second. >> Any more discussion? All those in favor say I.

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>> I. opposed. Motion carried. >> All right. Uh June 8th minutes for the emergency meeting. >> Um I just thought it should be noted that it was at Floyd Lake, the commissioner tour. >> Yep. >> Um >> I had that. >> Oh, yep. >> And then you got another one.

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>> Well, just how that sentence read. >> I had that too. >> Um >> and tour the storm damage at Lake Floyd with >> Representative Michelle Fishbach. And then is that bottom line with the

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7:33 p.m.? Is that when we were done out there? Okay. I just checked. I wasn't sure. >> Okay. Anything else? >> Approve. >> All right. I have a motion from Barry. Do I have a second? [clears throat] >> I'll second. >> Any further discussion? >> All those in favor say I. >> I.

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>> Opposed. Motion carried. All right. [clears throat] Next up, we have the consent agenda. Um any I at after finance yesterday we um

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or I just wanted the um corrective deed easement pulled just because I had a couple questions which is why Mr. McDonald is here. Anybody have any else to pull from the consent agenda? >> Madam Chair, are we going to talk about that now or are we going to put it

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someplace to talk about it? You generally put it if they don't have other topics um after me, but if they're both here, I mean, I wouldn't you could do it first if you'd like. >> Approve it and then do it right away. >> Approve. >> Yep. I'm fine with that. >> I'll move to approve the consent agenda

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with item six, uh the corrective deed pulled. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carried. Okay. Um, Brian, just a couple questions

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about this easement. Um, I just want to >> come up. >> You want to come up here to the >> I just wanted to make sure that there's no changes being made and this isn't going to inhibit any of the neighboring

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property owners. This is really just a change of language to make sure that the it transfers from land owner to land owner. >> Correct. Run with the land. Okay. >> Yeah. I commissioners, good morning. I'm Charlie Ramstead. I represent Rick and

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Roberta. >> There's a pre-existing easement. >> Uh and I believe some of the other land owners also have a pre-existing easement over this, right? But I didn't do a title research of their property. >> Yep. >> Um

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it's it's a it's to clarify. There is no change to the easement language, to the description, to anything like that. It is a non-exclusive easement. So, it doesn't mean that the Hendersons have exclusive rights over that road in any way, shape,

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or form. They never did, and they're not getting it now. Uh the only difference is is that the the language of a of an easement if you want it to transfer to the next person who owns the land, the

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fancy legal word is that it has to be a pertinent. What it really means is that you have to say it benefits this particular piece of property. So this easement is for this particular property so that it passes with the property not

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to the person who owns the property. I mean we we grant the easement to the person who owns the property now >> but if it's a pertinent that means if they sell the property the easement runs with the land and the language of the existing easement doesn't clearly state

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that. Uh the Henderson's also obtained this road runs across some uh private land and also across some state DNR land and in those two easements it is clear that it's a pertinent and so this is

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just a technical correction I guess to to an existing easement but it doesn't change anything else as far as the easement. Okay, >> Madam Chair, Mr. Ram said, "Why uh why wasn't this done the first time or why it was an oversight or >> oversight by your county attorney, your

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assistant county attorney who drafted?" And really, it's never come up. I mean, I've drafted probably eight or 10 of these and I that's why we had a discussion at NRM is what what is the intent? What does the the committee and the the board want? >> Sorry, he did that. I'm sorry. I I was

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>> he Steve did that last week. >> It's never come up and I don't I didn't know what the intent of if we wanted to run at the land or if we wanted each subsequent land owner to come back and apply for these non-exclusive easements across tax forfeited land. you'd have

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them coming back each time that it transferred, which again, but that's a policy question. And it says to me >> that I have to believe that the intent was that when you granted the easement once, it was going to continue with that land and not just to that person. I mean, I'd like to claim that that, you

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know, I'm some wizard and figured this out, but I will point out I'm having some dealing with Josh Juml's attorneys and they pointed [laughter] it out to me and they said, "Well, don't you think you should look at that?" And it's like, >> "Yeah, you're right. I should look at that. And so that's that's why we're here. >> Yeah. I mean, I can see it both ways. I

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can see including it and I can see not including it. Not in this case, but like as an overall policy. >> Well, the reason there's a difference, and not to go on forever, but is that, you know, there is a difference. There are sometimes where easements are intended to be just to that particular

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person. Okay. >> Um, but I that doesn't say this in this case either. and the state easement and the private easement are clearly >> a pertinent or they run with the land and so that's that's the request. >> Okay,

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>> I'll give you an example of what might be one that's not have goes with the individual if I think there's one that we talked about a little bit after, you know, after this one and we're getting some more information. It's they have

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access through another county but ours is the closest. So, you know, it's not necessarily we have to give it to them. There they have access to another way. But, so this one, you might want to say, "Well, we'll give you access, but only to you because we don't want this property developed back

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way back on a on a small lake that's all >> that's that's got all government land around it." Sure. >> So, I mean, that case, it's like, you know, >> we don't want this to be a open an open >> exclusive >> road. We don't want to have 20 um places

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back there because this is Oh, anyway. >> Yeah, you might want it to go away. Sometimes in private land owners, most typically for what I end up doing is, you know, somebody gives somebody access across their property to uh to be a neighbor to get to a dock, let's just

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say, or a boat lift or something like that. And so, yeah, you can go across my property and you can put your boat lift there. But I like you. Yeah. So, I'm going to give it to you, but I but I don't necessarily want it to be to the person who you're going to sell it to cuz I don't know if I'm going to like them, right? That's where I'm run into

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it the most. >> And this one is a benefit. There's mut there's numerous people that have easements on this. It's not it's I mean, there's numerous properties that are getting through on this road to get to their property. >> Damal uses this road to get to his properties. his are just south of the so

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I mean it's yes there are a number of land owners along that east side of juggler >> madam chair Brian you're for this I take it this doesn't put the county in a bad situation >> for or against it again I think it's a policy decision of what the board wants to do you want people every subsequent

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landowner coming back and applying for a tax forfeit easement or an easement across tax forfeited land or do you want to do it once >> this case in my opin is clearly one that travels with the land. >> Yeah, I would I would agree. I think from a policy

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>> standpoint, I think we take it case by case. >> Madam Chair, I would agree with what you guys just explained and what Barry said. I think some of these are very case by case situations. >> Yeah. Okay. With that being said, um >> Madam Chair, I saw Mr. Skoo and I don't

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It looked like he was attempting to talk, so I'm not sure if he wanted to chime in. [clears throat] Anything. >> Steve, did you have anything? Uh, no, Madam Chair. >> Madam Chair, no. >> I'll make a motion to approve um with

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approve the change to the easement to make it pertinent >> a pertinent. >> Okay. >> Apert and with with the county attorney's final approval, >> I will >> with his final sign. >> I will second that. >> All right. Any further discussion? All

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those in favor say I. I >> I >> opposed. Motion carried. >> Thanks, Charlie. >> All right. Thank you both. >> Thank you, >> Madam Chair. Just what am I just to clarify the motion and I would just authorizing the the county attorney to make the final judgments on it if there

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was any clarification. So, >> yep. >> Thanks, Brian. >> Okay. Anyone here for open form, which would be >> Jerry? >> Just you, Jerry. >> No, I'm going to let you down. You got nothing, huh? >> Hey, Madam Chair, would since Jim is

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here, would you like to do the Heartland Bill first? >> Yeah, we can we can do that. Well, maybe we should wait in the event that Well, I guess it is 8:30. I was going to say just in case somebody else was >> Yeah, I just saw it was 8:32. We maybe we could do our reports first, too.

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>> It's up to you. >> Um, let's We can do Jim. It's 8:28. You want to come on up, Jim? >> Say Jim, before [clears throat] we get started on that, we do have a little bit of time to um I just had a What is our

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policy on signs? I mean, I just uh just I mean I I fully expect political signs and we kind of we allow political signs. I the what signs I'm getting to be so much problem and I not

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really a problem but >> is the signs for advertising for for numerous different things. Yeah. Just everything. I mean from from windows to to lawns I mean that are just >> blanketing every corner of every you

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know of every busy road. Um what is our policy on that that kind of stuff? >> Um essentially we don't allow signs in within the rightway. We >> What's the rightway then? Well, that would be back, you know. >> Yeah, I know. But what's the distance? >> 50 ft from the center line. So, I mean,

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that sets it back ways and most people don't. So, generally, you know, if we get have issues or sight visibility, we will pick those signs up, pull them out. Um, we don't have the time to move everything back. So, a lot of times we just bring them to our shop and they

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come and pick them up and then re reset them. I mean, I'm not suggesting that with people in their political signs putting it on their driveway. I I mean, I and and for sale signs and Roman sale signs. I mean, I think we But some of these these are just strictly massive

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advertising for their business and and throwing out and I I I think we should if we have a if we pick those up more often, they will quit doing it because they're not going to be allowed in the right. It is a good reminder as we are coming upon election for those that are

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putting signs out and and I know you're not referring to just, you know, political signs, but it is a good reminder that there is, you know, the right away that those all signs should be out of. >> Yeah, maybe we should put out a public notice or something just so it gets out

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on like the radio on our website or whatever. Yeah, >> Madame Chair, uh, [clears throat] at Lake View the Township, we the road signs were especially problematic when we went to mow the ditches. >> Um, so smaller township's a little smaller in the county, but we picked

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them all up, took them to our township site and you can come pick them up, but hopefully that's a little education. Don't don't put them in the right that I mean, unless you're mowing that first swath, you better not put a sign there because I mean, we want those mowed and hate. >> But they're on they're on electrical

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electrical poles. They're I mean they're everywhere but >> right but I'm thinking for mowing we want to mow that first swap. >> Correct. >> And we can't have >> correct >> signs there that unless unless you have a mode >> or right under your mailbox where you

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>> Jim does the city have an ordinance for in the rightway too or not? >> I would think they do. I guess I >> because I know that you see a lot of lot of signs on the boulevards and stuff and that would be the in the rightway. >> Yep.

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Okay, let's talk H Heartland Trail. >> Well, I guess um I didn't come super prepared. I got these letters that were sent in. I think um uh Jay Carlson had sent a letter discussing uh you know his thoughts on H

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Heartland Trail because he wasn't going to be able to be here. And originally we thought we might have some sort of, you know, formal discussion and decision on H Heartland Trails. I think through all the um [clears throat] uh review and request for people to kind

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of state their opinions, we asked for people to in the H Heartland Trail Committee to provide a vote on what they wanted to do. kind of the impetus of what's driving this is um the remaining funds that are left from the H Heartland Trail construction.

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There is excess funds that could be used for um engineering design of the next segment. >> So the funds left over are the funds that went to Freys, the trail to Frezy. there's approximately 500,000

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or $550,000 available and um so those have to be allocated before uh December of 2027. um you know we could uh decide in December 27 and and get that contract

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executed then they would be locked and we could you know continue on or doing it earlier you know we we can do that as well. Uh but the funds, >> Madam Chair, they have to be encumbered. >> Encumbered is >> Oh, they don't have to be spent. >> They don't have to be spent by them. Okay. Just encumbered.

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>> So that if you look at it that way, we do have some time on this. >> Uh so because it sounds like maybe we need a little bit more public engagement. I don't know. Um but uh let's see. Well, the letter from Jay um

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he expressed his thoughts on what he was voting for in the trail segments. I think we provided kind of, you know, several options based off of the Houston engineering study. Um, there were some options in there that didn't rise to the

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top, but we thought we'd revisit uh going out of essentially how we leave Dutton locks and go west. Um I think the uh study had you know a few options that rated high and one of them was along

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going down 59 towards the Bucks Mill and maybe using our county road 17 um or or 59. Another one was um I think going north out of the uh Dun Locks and

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then along our six and then down through the Pearl Lake area and I don't know there were some other options like using our county 22 and stuff and going down towards you know the golf course and stuff like that. all kind of seeking to

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either get to Bucks Mill or, you know, I think the long-term goal was get to the Corrant area before we head north into Lake Park where, you know, we constructed the bridge there to accommodate the trail and then go west

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on our county road uh 102 and meet up with the Klay County. Um, >> Madame Chair, Jim, uh, you had mentioned we constructed a bridge in Lake Park to meet these requirements. >> Well, reconstructed the road bridge, which with the trail on it,

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>> the trail kind of planned for that bridge, >> right? >> That was back in 2017, I believe. But we planned for that cuz um, we knew. >> So, only crossing over the railroad tracks between DL and >> Holly. I mean, that doesn't

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>> just cross. I mean, it's it's over or under. It's only >> Madam Chair, Commissioner Nelson, um I had heard some I can't remember who I heard this from, but the the clay the clay route was is is that in stone north of Lake Park coming in on the north side

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of the railroad tracks because I had heard that I had heard uh that they had backed up on that and we're going to come a different way now because they couldn't get across the railroad track in a safe way. That's I I had heard that from the multiple people that I talked

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to. Had you heard anything like that? >> I haven't heard that. >> Okay. Then I >> generally it's I think believe their route stays south of 10 and and and when it gets to Holly that's when it moves uh across Penn and north and there is a railroad

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crossing there but it's it's that's grade separated but it's a very small and narrow bridge. I don't know if you you might know Barry and where 102 comes in and meets up with Klay County. It's a very narrow bridge there. >> Very. >> So that would have to obviously be

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widened or reconstructed to get the path through there, >> but that's still there. >> It's just barely I mean it's two trucks can meet in that. >> Hold [clears throat] on. Hold on. Madam Chair, the bridge you're talking about is the railroad bridge, right? That's what we were talking about before was

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construction in 2017. talking two bridges, two different bridges. >> Okay. Can you >> one over by Holly, which is an under under the bridge. It's very narrow. >> Um, so you can't add a bike trail under the bridge to go under the railroad in that current bridge. >> Okay.

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>> It's it's two vehicles can meet if they're small, but two trucks I would not meet on that bridge. It's a low traveled road. It's >> um county 102. Is it >> old number two is what I call it. north of the tracks paralleling the tracks going north on the on the north sides

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from Lake Park to Holly. It's called old number two >> on that road. >> Commissioner Nelson, that's that's that's Klay County issue. Where was the bridge in R and Lake Park? What what bridge? >> Main Street >> right in town. >> County Road 7 we can reconstructed the bridge and you know >> the railroad bridge going over the

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railroad. >> The road bridge over the railroad. Yep. >> Okay. I guess I didn't know that. Yeah, that that's got a what what's the a separate lane for non-motori or the the snowmobile trail uses it. Um but it's

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it's separated by a the concrete barrier and then so there's two lanes here and then a then a another lane and then both both sides have sidewalk right on the edge of the railing. >> But that's kind of getting further but that was kind of the intent to get to

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corn area and stuff. How do we get there? Uh so I think looking at these different options um we had a vote. I don't think the full committee voted but then I think seven us voted for the 59 route and four voted for uh kind of the

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the Pearl Lake route and stuff and I think some would like to see the trail go to Ottabon as well. um which is difficult or whatever once you get to Ottabon going to west to uh Lake Park.

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It's essentially all on township roads or would have to be on the highway 10 right away. >> Is there any chance that I mean I look at the railroad rightway. Um the railroad has huge swath of rightway out there and I wonder if they'd ever

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consider allowing an easement for a bike trail. Well, you know, our attempt when we went tried to go out down our county road 10 uh to Frezy and use a railroad right away that was kind of nixed by the CP or that would be

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BNSF. >> Mhm. >> It's very difficult. I don't know if they ever get, you know, >> how wide was that easement they have there? >> Oh gosh, I think they had a 140 ft. We actually over overlapped. >> Excuse me. [clears throat] and we were

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100 ft away from the trail or the tracks I believe. >> Yeah, they have huge a huge chunk of land. >> Mhm. >> But I mean you you can imagine how big that organization is and nobody in the lower is going to authorize it. You got to get way up there and then

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>> what do they care? I mean >> so what what is needed today? Is this just information or do we >> I think it's information um >> guidance. >> I know uh Mr. Carlson thinks that we should do further study, you know, using

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this excess funds. We can't. Just so everybody's understanding, the remaining funds now have to be used on a single approved or, you know, corridor by us to go into final design. We can't do any more concepts or

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>> comparisons between the two using that money. So >> without the map being here to look at, I'm I'm kind of travel or thinking blind. But could you go the other way? >> Could you Is there a solid route from the Cormmont area that's going to meet up with either way you go? You know, so

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you could madam chair, Commissioner Nelson, that brings one one more of several issues in is corn is not included in the current corridor H Heartland Trail corridor. We have had discussion at Harland Trail meeting of

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expanding the corridor. Well, that takes time. In the meantime, we need to expend these f funds before 20 end of 27 or encumber them at least. >> Um that would take that may may take until 27 or 28 to be able to expand the

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core >> or from Lake Park down. You know, Lake Park is part of I mean that's the bridge is already there. >> Yeah. I think for me, I'm just not for going along Highway 59. And I know I've told you this before, Philip, but I just think if I'm going to go for a bike

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ride, it certainly isn't just to go down Highway 59. You know, I would I would rather go see something a little more scenic or >> you know, especially if we want tourists to >> An example of that is I've we've went we go bike riding, not very much, but So,

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do we go to Pelican and ride that leg along the main road? No, we go we drive past that and go into Maple Log and drive in in the and there's there's parking. We park in a church parking lot and then you drive to Maple Log and come back through.

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>> So, we we bypass the road. What is that number? That's 59 there. >> Mhm. >> And we we drive to get past that because it's like, well, we don't want we'd prefer not to drive bike ride bike for three miles on 59 and then get into some scenic country and

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>> Y. So that's but there are people that stop in Pelican and go to Pum, you know, so >> they ride to Pum and back and that's that's that's a heck of a route. So I mean there's >> Madam Chair about the scenic part. Uh

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yeah, I I get the Highway 59, County 17, but after you get down to Bucks Mills, um you know, it's pretty scenic going the other way. Uh if we can get to Cormra County six, >> you know, I guess we're coming around the top of Mson that might be a little more scenic, but uh

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>> I would push back a little bit on that. Um and also connecting the nucleus of our our the biggest part of our our our our county. Uh Detroit Lakes is kind of the center of that. We're connecting. Harland Trail always talks about connection, connection, connection.

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We've had Freys to DL connected. Um, you know, I I would support either way. I I voted for the Bucks Mills way because we've already done some work there. Um, but I just want to keep the project moving. >> If the goal is to eventually

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[clears throat] hook up to Klay County, it kind of seems like we're going the wrong direction to go down to Bucksville. >> Well, the quickest and easiest and cheapest way is probably to go highway 10, and nobody really wants to do that. So, >> no. No. Well, I highway 10 [clears throat] wouldn't be bad if you could get that railroad property, get

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off get on the north side of the railroad, that would be a really nice route, but >> I mean, if you could be on railroad property and and uh >> you're north of 10, but I mean it's not feasible. >> Madam Chair, did everyone read uh uh

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Jay's comments? Yeah. Okay. So, we're >> and I think Cleon had sent one, too. I don't know. You should probably get a copy of that. kind of explained, you know, our process and um so I guess maybe we just need to regroup and kind

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of talk >> I think I'd like to hear from from like Lake Ununice too cuz they had talked about it's not on number six but on the the township roads going through Pearl Lake um >> and if there's room in there because I drive that those roads all the time um

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>> that's a lot quieter lot you know a lot >> here and more >> Madam Chair I I did talked to Lake View Township to see what what there the the three representatives there two of them suggested the Bucks Mills and one wanted the county six so it wasn't unanimous from Lake View but Lake Ununice that

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might be nice to ask them to but what is the what is the Erica feels pretty strong in county 6 Dave Barry Richard >> so if I didn't vote because I missed it but I would have voted for 59 and 17 just for the simple reason that we've

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done the study there we go. We get to Bucks Mills and then there's a lot of scenic ways to get through Corro and back up to Lake Park. Um I do agree though the other way >> to Lake Park. There's not a lot of scenic. >> No, but I mean to get through that to get to Corro from Bucks Mills.

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>> Okay. Not you're not talking. >> Yeah. No. And I do agree with Erica that the other way is is a cool way to go. It is. Mhm. >> I just when we when we looked at it, there was there was a lot of variables like elev there's like if we get let's say we get to 138 or we get down 22, there's a lot of elevation issues and

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you can't do anything about those. Am I correct on? Yeah. So that that was kind of the bigger biggest block for me is like you get here. >> No, you if you're going to have a bike trail, they can only have a certain grade. >> Jim, is that uh or Madam Chair, Jim, is

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that expansion of the corridor? I mean, that's just a process we go to. I mean, we will get that or could they deny the expansion of the corridor? >> I don't think they would deny. It's just a process cuz they have a master plan that they approved and adopted that

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through their public process. So, they probably just have to do, you know, more public engagement to see that, you know, the county supports, you know, doing it in these locations and the residents do, too. I think that's been demonstrated, [clears throat] especially by the work

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that Mr. Carlson did and meeting with all these townships and getting resolutions of support on that. So, um I think we can easily demonstrate that our county wants it more south of 10 than along 10.

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>> Yeah. No, and I just that that that would just my my thought and I but like I said, like I guess like I said with Phil, I'll support either way because like I want to get moving on it. >> So, what what is the direction? And so we know we have to have this money encumbered by a year from December. So

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December 2027. >> Um it can't be used for studies. It has to be used for actual [clears throat] engineering. >> Do we want to get more public input? Is that what you think might be beneficial, Jim? >> Well, I don't know. I mean, we did have

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a lot through our our study with Houston. I mean, when you look at >> that was specifically for those routes, right? like that wasn't looking at anything going towards Karma. >> Um >> it did not have an end end [clears throat] point on it.

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>> There was no end point. Yeah. But >> initially we're looking to get to Shorewood area, but then we know that's or >> shore. I mean >> there's a lot of >> narrow roads and you know those are natural preservation routes that

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>> you know they're hard to >> expand and certainly we can't buy right away there. >> Mhm. Um, but I think kind of the reason I think a a lot of people in the group who voted for the southern route were have been members for a long time and

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they understand how difficult it is to move this process along. So we look for wide corridors, easy corridors where we don't have rightaway to acquire. um where more the newer people I think voted for the some of the other stuff

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and thinking and that would be great to do realistically, you know, that could add several years to the process. But I think if we talk with like Ununice and that and see if they have support to use on their roads, you know,

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our six is fine. We would probably remove uh one parking lane on one side to get the trail in. I don't see a lot of people parking on that road through the Mson Lake area, so can easily get by. That's the biggest pinch point. And then

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going uh uh south down to the Pearl Lake. You know, we got the gravel pit there. Um you know, we have maybe a great opportunity to work with them. Eventually, they're going to walk away from that. So, I'm sure they would allow

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wider rideway and stuff along there for us to to build along. And then once you get in, we figured East Pearl would be the easier route to get on because that's where the snowmobile trail is. And then get down to 22. And then we go

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on 22 over to I believe it's St. Mary's Point Road to get down. >> What is the plan for East? I mean, eventually the plan is to hook up in Hover County, right? >> Yes. >> The whole goal is to get to Wolf Lake

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area. Um >> there's a few different options there, you know, going straight down 87 that are uh there's a few of our roads we could get up into there. >> From Wolf Lake, uh the vision was to go through the Smoky Mountains. That's

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>> has a lot of obstacles now with the motorized trails there and and uh incorporating non-motorized trails through that. >> Yeah, that would be tricky. Madam Chair, one of the reasons this is really important, I mean it seems like a long way off and it is, but Itasca Itaska had

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done all of this kind of work about getting down to Park Rapids and stuff. I I talked to Dave Shaskco about this. The DNR was coming on board and did some studies and stuff and then at the last minute they said, "Oh, well, there's some people with farmland that want to

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keep hunting and don't want this to go through this area." and uh I think a board member and their recreation person pretty much said no we don't want this we want this to go this other route so I know this sounds very preliminary but we

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need to plan and project even if this doesn't happen in the next 5 8 10 years that that's why I think this is important that's what Dave said to me as well uh Jim one other question uh as far as miles like as far as trail miles if

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you If you use Dun Locks as your starting point and corn as your end point, these two ways are they about equal or is one longer than another? I was going to look at that and I never think they're generally >> I don't know. They're not significantly

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more if you're just looking from Cormont, you know, if you go up to six or if you go down to Dutton locks. Um, I guess there's a few options, you know, whether you leave from Bucks Mill or from

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um, you know, going the north route on which roads you take to go west. Uh, if you went down to Bucks Mill, you have to cons the easy one that we see is just taking 20 all the way down to Zorbas

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um, just because that's a wide county road. there are alternatives uh to get through there and go north and kind of the only route going west is 138 and that does have some obstacles. Could that be mitigated? I I suppose uh

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when you look at some of the trails that go through the Maplewood area that they have steep grades and essentially all they have to do is they can go 8% for so long then they have to have a flat area where you can stop and rest and eat. I mean it would be stepped. Uh but um I

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think it's all a matter of you know what you want to or which areas you want to go and touch. I think the county road 20, you know, that touches a lot of people, you know, at Fair Hills. >> Yeah. >> And all the residents there 138 is

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agricultural, so it's not as much, but it is scenic and stuff, but >> and I and I did talk to Wayne Johnson from Otter or Ottertale, and they would be they would like, you know, if we decide to do that, they would be willing to that little chunk that goes in on 20

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that goes into Ottertale. they would be willing to be let that put that put that in the corridor and they also said yeah we'd like that that would be great then then we could hook up our trail to that [clears throat] you know the trail they have over there

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so whatever that's called the what's that called um Prairie Lakes Trail or something like that >> well I think their plan is it's that Pelican now I suppose Rapids and I think they probably would like to go up county road 9 to meet up with Pelican Lake area

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where their trail is on the west side >> and and and they have then there's a lot of people that live on Pelican Lake that would like like to have a trail there too that live on that side on Ottertale side. >> So what do we need for today?

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>> This has been information and just a I asked Jim to come in I put it on the agenda just to talk about it. I mean I I I get a feel from everyone except uh Commissioner Varberg. I look at it seems to me that going, you know, through Bucks Mills might cost a

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lot more. You have any idea about that, Jim? >> I Well, it it has a segment of uh um Township Road there. So, I mean, it has width restrictions, but once you're through the Bucks Mill, um we have our

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147 that we can be on. Um, I mean there's we kind of looked at, you know, what how much wetlands the impact when you look at both of these trails and how you have to have a trail next to a gravel road and stuff. I mean, there could be cost

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of realigning gravel roads or reconstructing gravel roads to fit this and have the drainage, you know, with the trail along it. This is stuff we haven't done yet. Um, when you look at the two routes where I think that's why we looked at 59 that has good drainage.

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It can sit on a back slope like it does on Highway 10. >> Mhm. And uh um but then when you're on a narrow gravel road with no little to no ditches and stuff, you just got to make sure you accommodate the drainage off

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the township road so you don't impact that and have the trail there. >> At at Bucks Mills, [clears throat] do we have a long-term I mean there's quite a bit of state land there and we have just a sliver of land. We don't have enough to I mean make it a real

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>> focal point at this point. I mean hopefully we but are we can we add will the DNR the I mean that's all walk we I mean people can walk in there. Do we have a plan to expand some just a footprint? I mean if we're going to have a bike trail going there what are we

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going to you know is there something that they're going to besides driving across the bridge. Is that a I mean are we going to somehow make that more friendly for >> visitors with you know in part has to be in partnership with the state because

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they're they're the main they have more land than we do and um are they going to allow bikers to go in there or do you have to leave your bike at the gate or you know >> and that might be something we look at too if if that's if we can have a I mean because they have some beautiful land

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back there and and if we can highlight that as a tourist attraction, then it might rise it more to go to there. >> I don't I don't have a bicycle. I'm not getting [laughter] >> I was going to ask you. >> Yeah, I don't.

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>> Madam Chair, I I And help me out with this, Jim, but I I guess at this point I I I guess I would not like to see the Harland Char Committee come up with something and and we can go back. Let's talk to Lake Eunis Township and see if there's something they want to say. I I

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would really hate to come back here and have a a battle. That's why I'm bringing it forward or we're bringing it forward first >> to see. I mean, I I don't know any more than what I presented today or what Jim has said or what Jay has said. I don't know have any more information. I just whatever we go with,

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>> I would hope this board would be supportive. And like I said, in a couple years, it might be all new board sitting here. So I >> well and I do I do you know with what what Jim had said about the those that voted for you know the seven that voted

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to go along 59 know the process and know the hurdles that you have to go through. So I mean that does make sense and you do have to [sighs] take that into consideration. Um but also like I also think new blood is

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sometimes good to get new ideas in. So I could see it both ways. So, >> you know, Jay has been very good on this H Heartland committee. He's really committed to >> and he's he's spent >> time. >> So, I mean, I really respect that and admire that when they they told us what

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trail would you rather have, I >> you know, like I said, I >> if you could guarantee one way or another and the least obstacles, the least cost that that those things would would help me make a better decision. But, for where we're at right now, this is my decision. But, uh, like I said, if

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if if the other way is supported in a different way, I I I want to support it, too. I want to see something done. >> Okay. >> Well, if you're if you're wondering, Phil, like >> I will support either way. I think for me, that was just my preference. >> Yeah.

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>> Do you know what I mean? So, I mean, I'm not I'm not going to cause any ruckus if it doesn't go one way, but >> I'll agree that when we end up voting, then we'll support whatever the majority goes with. >> And that be where I'm at. I I

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>> it's the one way looks a little simpler to me, but but I don't know. I haven't measured everything and I don't know about wetlands or anything like that. And so, >> I I don't have a real hard opinion either way. I'd like to see the trail. I think it's important for tourism and for

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just for just for people who live here. So >> I think you get a a map >> and then on the side you you just list some pros and cons of each each way. I mean they both have pros and they both have cons. I mean >> uh one one the Bucks Mills if we can highlight that that might be a

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significant pro that hey we think this is a site that should be viewed at. Is there any sites going the other way that hey, this this one that goes on the Pearl Lake Road, there's a significant site there or a

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significant view, you know. So, I don't know. >> Yeah. To be to be continued, I guess. >> Yeah. >> All right. We're good with that. >> Mhm. >> All right. >> Great. >> Thanks, Jim. >> Thanks, Jim. >> Thank you, Jim.

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>> All right. Reports and correspondents. Who would like to go first? >> I'll go. >> Um, H Heartland Trail Routes. Good. We got that done. >> Jim, >> um, >> I had a name for H Heartland Trail that was very interested um to to join and

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get into discussions. Did you get that? Um, I think Mitch or Steve had that name. Did you forward that? Mitch. Yeah, we can invite him. >> Okay. >> Grammar. >> Brian Gram. >> No, not Brian. It's his brother. Is it

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Rob? >> I got But he was interested. He was wanted to help fasttrack this. >> Oh, there you go. >> Madam Chair, uh correspondence and meetings. Uh so we had a Becker County Trail Alliance uh meeting and we came

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out with these window window clings. So I'd like to give a few of them to all the commissioners. If you can spread them out through that your areas that would be great. Um we have planning and zoning on the 8th uh just one item on there. The county 59 storage units on South Highway 59. Uh they were actually

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approved by the township. That subdivision regulation goes to the township, not the county. So that was uh we did the planning for it, the preliminary and they they approved it. Um recreational advisory committee. Um I know you guys had NRM. Some of this stuff probably doubles up. We talked a

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lot about the sugar bush improvements. Um we've got our new new hire on staff mowing our 51 accesses uh DNR and our accesses. Um and then uh just coming out of the rack committee uh Karen Mari uh is going to have to take leave for some

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health concerns just so you know. Um watershed we had our Bucks Mills celebration completion of the event on the 16th. Um I talked about this this trail alliance meeting. You see the QR code on there. Um that'll take you to the Becker County

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our IT department is working on this. Uh it's it's up and running right now. It's not complete. All the websites that uh attach into it, the the the snowmobile trails, the bike trails, cross country skiing, downhill bike trails, that's all

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this is the hub to send you out to all your sites with whatever you want to do in Becker County. So, I'll pass a few of those out to each of you to put in your areas hopefully. Um airport, uh the high temperatures were delaying the putting down of asphalt. they just couldn't do

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it and meet the spec. So, they've been set back a little bit. Today probably a good day to be putting down asphalt. Um, I had said the last meeting that the arrival departure the building there, they had applied for a grant. They were denied. They're looking for new uh

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revenue sources to complete that. Um, me hunt uh is the consultant. They were uh they're the engineer. Um, and we extended their contract another five years. um environmental. Uh so I wish Steve was in here. We just got a lot to

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talk about here. Uh so we're a growing county. Um summer's the busiest season up there. This tornado was was an excellent stress test for our uh for our department. Um we're down

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employees right now. We can't find a truck driver. It's been offered to two different people. Both been declined. Uh we're hurting up there. We can't shut our gates and take a week off. Those people have all worked overtime up there uh through the tornado. Uh we've got

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some serious stuff we got to work on up there. Um we did shut down the We had a long discussion about the grinding uh of the brush. Uh we shut that down on Thursday. They were here a week. Cost about 50 grand. Um but that is shut down. Um

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[clears throat] material is still coming in. um that week probably filled up our brush and log pile to where we would be at the end of the year. So, we've still got some hurdles to get over being down employees and everything else that's

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going on up there. Just so you know. Uh some good news, we did that sheetrock grinding. I think we got rid of this stuff actually. Uh so, Steve will be putting together some costs, weights, uh what that looked like and if it was a success. I I'm thinking it's going to be a success uh and not a cost to the

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county. Uh and we kept it out of our landfill. Uh but that is to be determined yet and will be coming. 245th is just about done. I think a couple gates. We'll probably have to figure out when we want to open that up, Richard. Or is that is that as soon as the gates are up, we're opening or talk with the

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township or I don't know exactly how we're going to do that. >> No, I I believe that when we're ready, they want to open. Okay. So >> So that's that's still in >> get some rid of some of the >> Yeah. and they they're they're being patient and but they'd [clears throat] like it open and so yeah.

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>> So the other thing uh the next thing is uh we talked about cameras having cameras so we can protect our facility or know what's going on. Uh we need to replace some cameras anyway. We talked about some infrared cameras so they can detect heat. Uh so this led to other

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discussions uh and that led to uh should our transfer station have sprinklers in it? Uh, Richard feels strongly about that. I tend to concur with that. Uh, I'm not sure we could handle another fire and go into the old transfer station like we did 5, eight years ago,

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whenever that was. Um, so one question leads to another and a bigger question, but that sprinklers is a big deal. Um, they got vapes going off. We have we've had fires during the day. There's batteries in there that heat up piles. if we don't see them. Um, it's a serious

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concern. Our MURF is sprinkled, our transfer station is not. Uh, so we had a long discussion about that. Barry's question about, you know, can we take credit cards at at >> different points and stuff. We're still working on that. That's going to be

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it's going to take a little more time because there's a whole bunch of stuff involved with that. Uh Redfin Mary was our Redfin was our credit card company. They explained it takes you got to put it in four time and it takes forever which was a lot of holdup when we were

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trying to get people through the storm, get them out the gate. So we were going to discuss that. I guess we have a countywide policy or a countywide credit card user and credit card.

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We didn't dig down very far because I I didn't know the next question to ask and we had a lot to get to, but we're we're we're working on that yet. Richard, anything to add on that or? >> No, but I sooner than later, I'd like to have that sprinkler talk just because and I know it's

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expensive, but if it does happen, it's going to be a bigger problem than it was before. >> And it probably should have went in there right away and it didn't. But now can we can we deal with a fire? We have enough problems out there. >> Stocking sprinkler in the

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>> transfer station. One part of it. You don't need it in the >> No, you probably drive through lanes. >> No, I wouldn't think so. But where that garbage is piled all the time, there should be something there. And and I just it it it would just be a really big

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problem if there was a fire in there. our our old transfer station is not going to handle what we're doing now in especially in the summer. So, I don't know. I don't want to I want we'll need to get some quotes. >> Yeah. And so, we're we're going to talk

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about it here and and it's not cheap cuz we we'd have to drill another big well there. But, >> but I it's certainly something that is going to be a problem for a long time if it you know if it if it happens. So, and then if it happens again. So, I guess

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that's I I would like you guys to think about this. >> Is there is there any outside [clears throat] the box ways to to sprinkle that? I know I know you could have water on site. Would that be cheaper than drilling a well? >> So, them tanks that system is really expensive, too. So, we looked at that

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when we did the expansion on the MURF. We look we went both ways and probably that well is probably it's it's close but >> I mean you there's probably used tanks you can get. I mean there's

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>> Yeah, but it's the >> reliable >> but you got to have the pumps and everything anyway and so by the time and then those tanks >> you have pumps either way right >> you got to have pumps either way you got to have big pumps either way I like the well it's cleaner >> you know if we don't have to meet specs of I mean

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>> right >> you don't have to it doesn't have to be an elaborate >> no >> up the code system it just would the would this suppress it enough till the fire department got there >> you know that's what that's what we you know So you don't need the you don't need to be as good as it should. I mean

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as you would install it under code it doesn't have to be that good. It can be something that just holds it under in control till we till we can m till we get fire department. So I mean >> madam chair commissioner Nelson if if we got a fire I don't want something that might put it out. I mean I don't want to

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spend the money. >> If you're going to go up to code you're going to do the whole building. So obviously we're talk not talking that already. >> Yeah. And I don't I don't know why we'd be that worried about the rest of it, but we could look at we could look at prices. I I first certainly I you know,

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and it's going to it's expensive either way, but >> let's let's we're digging down on this. We're we're Steve's going to gathering some information. Maybe if we have some more information. >> Yeah, we do. We got to have more information, but I just wanted to see where you guys are at on it. Um

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>> yeah, it sounds like it's something that needs to happen. >> Well, it would be a bad thing if it happened again. It would be a bad thing. >> It would. >> But otherwise, I don't have anything else to add for >> Yeah. So, we're digging down on the sprinkler system and uh and the credit card thing a little bit with Mary. Uh,

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another thing is I I I see a lot of bills coming in. Hog is moving our rolloff containers all around. So, we need some more rolloffs anyway that we sent out to Osage. The these are just these are these are problems when an area is expanding. We're we're getting

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more garbage in. Um so we're we're going to be coming with some rolloff purchases 30s and 40s and we need one more hard top for an organic container. That'll be coming down the road. We talked about the rolloffs. We need more containers and we're kind of at the mercy of how

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when they got their lift truck to move our containers around our site. Uh so we talked about should we should we have a rolloff truck that we can move these things ourself. This is the same conversation I think you guys had when we started transporting our garbage to Prairie Lakes rather than um farming it

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out. This is the same kind of conversation that I think Richard and Steve and John probably had before. Uh but it it's coming so be prepared for it. Um >> is there any other contracts contractors that have rolloff?

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>> Well, we use how we use who's ever there when they come up with a rolloff truck. I think Steve, don't we? We use who they are just to tote them around our site. You know, one gets full, we got to move it. We don't have a truck to move that. >> It's inconvenient is what it is. I'm not

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saying we'd save a whole bunch of money, but if we were, we would we would we were talking a used truck, you know, not not, you know, not something all worn out or something, but cuz we could, you know, haul some of our own stuff, too,

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that we are paying for, but it'd be really it's really kind of inconvenient if you're in the middle of something. >> That's what I was just going to say. That's one of the issues. If we don't have staff, >> do we want to invest in >> your truck? But that there, you know, so

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say say they're they're separating because we're we're gonna we're separating more stuff. We're trying to keep more stuff out of the out of our demolition landfill. So there's it's just in inconvenient if you and so staff

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are not know now maybe transferring stuff around the state is not an option. I don't know about that. But I do know that yeah, we do have staff to move it around the landfill. And it if you got to sit and wait for somebody to come and move this now, it's it's just doesn't

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that's not a good thing for me. It doesn't work in my business. I need what I need when I need it and I don't like to, you know, and and we are growing out there. So, >> you know, our our staff in in response to we don't have enough staff out there. You're right. But our staff is very well

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cross trainined. I mean, we can get guys down to the MURF working if we got a a problem. And we have had we got guys with this tornado. I'm sure we had guys moving doing different things that they've never done before. So, they've been putting in monster hours. And so, the staff is cross trainined. They can

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get it done as far as getting a a trailer, not waiting for how to come in there to transfer a trailer. I mean, all our guys can do that. >> Yeah. That's it. Right. >> Just if you got to stop doing that now and then go and go find something else to do when you could have continued on

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doing it. It seems to me it's just inconvenient and probably something that I I would support a used truck to to do that there. But couple more things just uh moving over to the MURF uh the the

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recycle center. Uh we're we're we're seriously considering about adding some equipment to uh minimize the people there. We know about Iwick. Uh you know, Carrie suggests that that is, you know, coming to an end. Um uh so we're trying

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to get more equipment in there. Richard and I are both in agreement to get more equipment, uh less people to do the work there. Um so but but there's going to be some serious costs with that. These are not cheap machines to expand that facility. So, that is still in the works

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and is coming. Uh, Better Futures contract, uh, the reuse people we use up there, they've also been, uh, working on our mattress recycling. Um, they've asked for an increase in pay. Uh, so we're we're working through that contract um, with them. Uh, might be we

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might have to increase our uh, cost of taking in mattresses, but we'll we'll see how that that works out there. We're working on that. organic still growing. We got more sites around. Um we Richard, I and Steve spent the last 45 minutes of our meeting on the 10-year solid waste

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management plan. What we want this to look like in 10 years. Uh this is important work for for the future. If you've guys got any specific opinions or anything, please make it make your voices known as we come up with this and we'll present it uh uh as it is

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completed. Um and then we're still waiting on that regional CND study. I just texted the guys yesterday that CND thing where that study came to an end. I want them to present to you. Um, they're not going to get it done in July, so it's going to be August. >> So, that's all I got. But there there's

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a lot going on up at Environmental right now. A lot. >> All right. Who's next? >> You want to go next? >> Go ahead. >> Okay. All right. So, I had a historical

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society meeting and the they had that lumberjack festival. Oh, was it about >> June? Father's Day weekend. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And it went it went well. Um it it the first day was a little sketchy cuz it rained a lot, but they still did it. So, uh but they did

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it. They had a pancake feed the next day and they fed 75 people. So, that was good. >> Nice. >> All you can eat pancakes with they had, you know, breakfast sausage eggs. >> You had you had a few. I didn't. Yeah, I think I left them somewhere. So anyway, so they're they're planning

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on doing that again next year. The one thing they did realize is when it did rain, they moved it from the arena up to the to uh kind of that where the mid not the midway, but where that big tent is in that area. >> Mhm. >> So they're going to do it there again cuz it was it worked out better. But

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they need [clears throat] signage to direct people there cuz people some people were wandering around where where's it at? So So it it it'll it'll be good though. I think it'll work out well. Um, I had a DAC meeting yesterday and the swing set slab that the ADA

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swings that we supported will be we're on the we're on the we're on the list. It's supposed to be done early August. So, early a early August is a wide range of days, but it'll be done. And then as soon as that's done, uh, Dakota Dakota Swing Equipment is going to come and

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spray the rubber pad down and then they're going to install the swing sets. So, and it has to be done by September 1st and according that's what the grant from T-Mobile has this uh [clears throat] on the dock for. So, that's going to I think that'll work out well. U, they

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also the the DAC also had a not really a float in the parade, but they had one of their vehicles. All all the DAC vehicles are wrapped. It say Becker County DAC on them. And so they had our director and I think three or four clients and one of our board members were driving driving

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one of the vans throwing candy at people. Probably hope they didn't hurt anybody. But that was in when I was in the parade four years ago. I hit a kid in the head with a >> and I didn't mean to. >> Yeah, but you weren't supposed to [clears throat] give canned food. [laughter] >> Maybe he should have caught it.

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[laughter] >> [clears throat] >> Uh so anyway, Barry and I had a courthouse meeting and one of the things we talked about is uh uh Anthony Masten and um Jason uh Cowwell from are the are our two uh

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work uh veterans in there and they are creating the Minnesota National Guard and Reserve Legacy Marker Fund. um they're going they're they're in the process of creating the policy of how to do it and then they'll bring it to us and we'll we'll look at it and you know and hope I'm assuming hopefully we'll

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prove it. But anyway, what what's happening is these people that are members of the guard or the reserves that don't get deployed do not qualify for a marker. Like they can be in for 18 20 years and they're they're a veteran of that but they don't

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qualify for that. The state >> just the state of Minnesota. >> Just the state of Minnesota. Yeah. >> North Dakota does. North Dakota does, but but so eventually what they want to do is they want to they they want to pay they want to have a develop a fund so that it can help pay for these markers so these people can get these markers

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for their for you know their >> the end goal would get state legislative change so these >> veterans are recognized. >> Yeah. >> Madam Chair, Commissioner Nelson, what is a marker? What is >> the marker is in the grave for the at

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the in the cemetery? They have a, you know, flush with the ground, a bronze marker with their name and and and then, you know, there's usually like a 4 inch concrete around it. It's flush to the ground. That's the marker they're talking. So, just a grave marker stating that they're a veteran. So, they didn't

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under this program at the state of Minnesota, they're not considered a veteran if they're not deployed, but they are certainly veterans that are >> and you know, they served their country. They just didn't. So, this program and and we were very supportive at committee thinking that we should

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>> actually go to AMC and and promote this >> a little bit um and >> try to get this some legs under it. So, all the I mean, this this is a program that's going to happen in Becker County. So, we're going to try to, you know, support it and fundra for it in Becker

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County, but this is something that we think should be statewide. >> Yeah. [clears throat] Mark recognizing that there >> and and then and then I think and if AMC gets a hold of it and we get some >> legislative >> legislative support I think we'll >> maybe we keep >> pretty easy but right now one of those markers costs $910

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>> and then installed in the cemetery is usually right around 600 bucks so it's $1,500 and and there's you know there's a lot of people that lose their loved one they don't have 1,500 bucks to pay for that. So >> so yeah that's a we thought it was a great great idea actually. So to and Tony and Jason have worked a lot of

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there's a lot of they've done a lot of work. They've got they got a mission statement. They got you know everything, you know, kind of in the beginning stages ready to go. >> Yeah. They're taking this >> they're taking the charge. They taking the lead on this charge. Yeah. Good. >> And and and Anthony was saying that boy

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it's tough to tell someone that we can't get you this because you don't you're they don't qualify when they serve their country. Just >> to me that's just terrible. And there is some I think there was also they were talking about some qualifications for you have financial [clears throat] need kind of

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>> financial need would be one of them. Yeah. And and you have to be you have to be honorably discharged. You can't you know be dishonorably discharged. So you don't they don't qualify then you have to. >> So there there are there's like there's like 10 or 15 qualifications that you have to qualify for in order. So there are some people that don't get it

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because they don't meet those normal regular qualifications that that are set forth then. And then uh was everything else on the agenda or is there No, we talked about >> Well, just uh just some long-term costs tonight. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's that's

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that's nothing new. That's ongoing. [laughter] >> Um Judy said we're going to have to replace firewalls in the what, next year or two? >> Yeah. And then and we were expecting some big numbers and it's a big number, but it's certainly not her biggest number. She shared about 50,000. >> Yeah, it was. Yeah. It was like, oh,

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okay, that's not so bad. um >> had when 50,000 is a deal when he talked to Judy >> and then and then we talked about security for our employees. So, we're going to turn off our computers at night and she's going to work on that. So, >> that because a lot that that makes a big difference apparently that they can get

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into your computer when it's on obviously when you're if you're not here. So, >> doesn't really affect you Richard >> even when it you're talking you're not talking like just sleeping you're talking like shut down >> turning it off. Yeah. Powering it off. Yeah. Yep.

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That's for Yeah. in in the system, not our iPads. >> And so >> they're not connected. We're not connected. >> Yeah. Do you have anything else on >> No, I don't think so. >> I don't think so. Then I had an economic development board for that West Central Initiative meeting and I just got a

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couple interesting stats. So from 2020 to 2024, 94% of Minnesota's net population growth was from immigration. or immigration or migration, not necessarily immigration from other countries, but people moving

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>> or migration or domestic migration to other states. Other states Yeah. So that's that was like really that that was really interesting to I was surprised. Um no, some of this could >> So are we a net positive? >> You have to look at the total, you know, >> population going up

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>> going out. Yeah, the population is that the projection for the population is increasing in Minnesota but very slowly >> but it's because of immigration and migration now with the with and all these all this data is from 2024 so it

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ended there so they haven't have new data so the new data could change drastically because our if our you know our immigration policies have changed so it could change >> and Becker County is one of the only counties in this region that is growing.

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>> Correct. So in this area um the the counties like Becker County like Ottertale Clay is actually is growing a little bit but we're in the light like light blue area which is moderate increase and then there's some counties that are dark blue like most of those are around the cities areas in St. Cloud

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and Rochester and their metro project but there are a couple counties up north. Uh Bel Tramy is in the dark blue. They're they're have great population growth and St. Louis County does too. So >> lakes are lakes >> area duth area that would make sense.

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>> Y so yeah but but um most and and the trend is moving into you know lakes area counties away from the bigger areas but there's also a lot of >> migration to the bigger areas too just like probably normal it's probably normal in every state I would imagine that way. And then another interesting

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stat is that currently right now women in Minnesota h have 1.7 children. Obviously you can't have a 7 child but >> but anyway so the replacement level which replacement level means that [laughter] I know the replacement level is 2.1.

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[snorts] So >> a child >> Yeah. So like so without deaths [laughter] >> to steady the population >> to steady to level the population. So the only way that we can continually grow or level the population without

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increased child births is to have migration or immigration into our state. So that that's that's how important it is. But as a result of that, what that that affects our um our business, our our uh labor force. So our labor force

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is projected to grow very very slowly. And I can you guys probably see it now. I mean to try to find a cook to work at a restaurant is >> impossible. >> Or a driver to drive a semi. >> A driver to drive a semi is Yeah. Yeah. So I mean it it's getting tough and and

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and some of the things that might happen. We might have to recruit people from out of state to come here to do those to work those jobs. >> Or we might have to cook our own food. >> We might have to cook our own food. >> Yeah. You're going to go into the restaurant, cook your own food. Here you go. Here you go. >> Pay more. >> Yes. Yes. Richard, >> you know, that's

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>> pay raise the pay a little bit. >> I think I think artificial intelligence is going to >> step up and take a lot of lot of jobs. Um, some of them I mean I don't think they're going to be able to to but you know I'm I understand the the need

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to grow your your workforce but I'm under the I mean I would rather have our global number of people start going down rather than up. I mean we can't sustain continuing growth in people or we will >> well not there nowhere to put them. >> It's just >> well we don't have a place to put them

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right now. I mean our we have a housing crisis in >> Alice. [laughter] But that's another story. Are you done? >> No. >> Oh my god. >> I know. It's awesome. Hey, I'm not going to be nearly there as long as [laughter] >> you are. >> So, Minnesota is expected to continue growing, but really slow and slow

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population, but the population is al also aging. The aging population is increasing probably just like every other state. Um, so in order to keep our workforce and our economy going, we're going to have to rely heavily on migration of people into the state of

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Minnesota. So, and just some of those numbers were interesting. Last thing I had, I had a partnership for health meeting with Erica and we uh one of the things that we had if you could bring that up, Peggy. Um the credible it's a credible mind. It's a mental

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mental health and well-being website. So, what what Partnership for Health did is they purchased this from this company for Becker County and Klay County. And there's a QR code. I have there's going to they have little flyers like this that with a QR code on it and anybody

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can get link you know take a picture of the QR code get on their phone. What what the difference between this website is and an app and other apps are is there is no advertising no popups no distractions for people. This is purely simply people can log in create an

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account and they can get they can they can have uh stress relief ideas. There's bunch of there's a lot of information on there. They can they'll if they need to see a a professional, they can have links to to how to do that, where to go. Um, so this is actually a really one of,

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you know, one of the biggest things that affects our our our school age children's mental health. And this is a site that's going to be they're going to they're going to present it to schools. They're going to present it to the counselors, the people. And and I think it's a great opportunity. And and like I

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said before, one of the nice things is is there there's no distractions on it. You get the you get the exactly what you need and what you want. And so anyway, and and they they made it a website for that specific reason. But if you know how to use a phone, you can change you

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can change any link that you get for a website into an app for your just your phone or just you. So anyway, >> and they can't make it an app because it is a paid. It is a paid. Yeah, >> it's paid by the county but free for >> Yeah.

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>> those that use it. So, there's no way of of making it an app so that it can be >> done that or I'm sure there is a way but >> Well, yeah, but they didn't want to do that. >> They didn't do it that way. >> Yeah. They did they wanted to keep it a keep it this way so that it was free for people. >> Yep.

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>> Yep. Um also to uh one thing we talked about is what is it called? Is that what called? you you want you know more about that than I >> Nope. >> I don't know a lot about it. >> I think I was I missed that conversation meeting. >> So anyway, this is a big problem. This

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is a this is an herbal extract that is a very it's a it's supposed to it's a chemical or an extract that >> it's supposed to like relieve anything like >> like pain and it's available gas stations and it's very >> very addictive almost they said probably

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more addictive than opioids. >> Mhm. and and it's and but the one thing so there's really no regulations on it. One thing our state did though is they or the federal government say you it's either a state or federal government state you you have to be 21 to purchase it. >> Um but they don't but you don't have to have behind the counter. You don't have

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to have it anywhere. It's uh but it's crazy. I got the information on it. >> Yeah. I read a couple articles. It was there was several articles in the Fargo forum about it. Yeah. in the Fargo Morehead area >> and and >> it's a scary >> it is scary and they sell it in gas stations.

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>> I don't know if they sell it here in town. >> Yeah, I don't know either. >> I mean the last time I heard about it was at our last partnership partnership for health meeting and it was just a blurb about it. Now they have >> gave us some information. So >> yeah, >> it's a big deal. Do you have anything else on partnership for health?

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>> Nope. >> I'm done. >> Nope. Um kind of a segue right into >> right into um our benefits committee. Eric and I were at benefits. We are looking at the healthiest you for the

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county. Um there's a cost to the county. This is this is something that if the the thought process would be if we had this it might we have to pay for it upfront but it might reduce visits to the hospital for employees and therefore

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keep our rates less than what they would be. >> Um the so there's lots of things uh mental health is one of their things that that they provide. Um the cost of this would be so all the employees have to do it. We have two options either all

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the employees that are on medical or all the employees that get benefit >> that are eligible. So the cost for all employees on on medical would be 32,292 for the whole county and the other one was 40,296. Um,

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>> and the hope of that is, sorry, >> there's lots there's lots of numbers that we could go over, but the thought and and we're doing some more research on that, so we'll probably have another discussion on that. But that's what it is. It's it's something that it would be free to all employees. They could have

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they could have visits to doctors. I mean, we're paying for it up front, but then any anything after that is all free. So you could if you have pink eye you can call this number probably get a snap a picture of your eye and then have confirmation and get get a prescription

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that way rather than going to the doctor. I mean it's it's not going to fix broken arm or anything but I mean >> madam chair commissioner is this tellaalth is this a form of health >> the difference is is it doesn't count towards our utilization rates. So one of the things that is drastically driving

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our health insurance premiums is our utilization rate. So that's why they're going up. So the benefits committee and here are really looking at options of what can we do to keep our utilization rate down. >> So if we have this if they choose this to go to tellahalth mental health

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appointments or tellahalth you know for rashes and pink eye ear infections. >> Yeah. Things like that. >> It doesn't cost them any money because this >> it doesn't go towards their >> their deductible. It doesn't go towards their deductible either. >> But it doesn't cost them anything and it keeps our utilization rates down. So

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there were discussions about don't we have Sanford Health has or some of the hospitals have some of these things already available. So um but they cost money. >> We're going to be looking into that. >> Is that is that same thing or similar to what BFW is doing right now with their veterans? >> I have no idea what BFW

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>> Well, let's not get off topic here and uh let's uh continue on. We are we are looking at more we're continuing on the options for dental. So look looking at those. Um we had um was it short-term disability that's going to be re

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eliminated because there's nobody taking that anymore. Um so that will be >> paid family leave >> because of the paid family leave. >> Do how much was that a a year? >> I don't know. >> Like is that similar to what this healthiest healthier you healthiest you more expensive? It depends on how much

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you're getting paid wage wise. Another top the final topic that we had we had an employee or an individual that um their check doesn't is less than their benefits. So so the deducting all the benefits from their check they have a

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zero pay >> and in the past we've only had one check that we've taken out of. So now we're looking at options of taking some of those benefits out of the you know the remaining balance of that benefit package out of the second check. So,

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hold on, hold on. Commissioner, you you said that someone is working, I assume, part-time and >> fulltime full-time employee. So, the cost of benefits is more than they're making. >> The cost of benefits and and and HSA is more than they're making. >> I'm guessing it's a family.

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>> Well, HSA is is a choice, right? >> Yes. It's a >> So, the it's it's um it's not giving them anything more. It's just the option would be taking what they are deducting out of their next paycheck, not out

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because their first paycheck isn't >> covering >> covering it covering the covering their requested deductions. >> Which goes back to the long conversation, long-standing conversation that has been going on for probably over a decade is our family insurance is not

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cost-effective. So, I mean, we we have lost many employees, myself including, because of the price of our family insurance. Yeah. And we don't have a lot of people that >> And this is this is going to pro, you know, we're looking at a 19% increase

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next year. So, >> I mean, that's >> So, you're saying we have bad insurance? >> No, I'm not saying we have bad insurance. Our family insurance is very expensive. >> Well, doesn't necessarily >> Doesn't expense equal better insurance?

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Don't Aren't you paying for what you get? I mean, I hear this they can't even pay for the insurance. I mean, I I don't know who situation. Should we not insure our >> No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I That's not what I'm saying. >> Mhm. >> But you just said you left because of

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poor insurance. >> I for family insurance. >> Some of us have husbands that don't work outside of, you know, my husband's a farmer, so we don't have I we our family doesn't have an option of another spouse to get health insurance. So,

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>> and the discussion at this meeting was not >> we took family insurance >> was not anything other than they would like their remaining >> expenses taken out of their next check. It wasn't a >> So maybe we change it so that >> well >> some of those benefits come out of both checks. >> But but hold but if you take it out of

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their next check, what are they going to owe you the next month? Are they going to owe the county for working for us? No, this the >> you're splitting the expense in two. >> So, right now the all deductions are taken out of one check. The second check doesn't get

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these health insurance and and reductions >> being paid twice a month. >> Yeah. You're we're paid every two weeks. Yeah. >> So, they're only taking out of one check and the second check. So, no, there would be not [clears throat] >> certainly not that. So, anyway, that's being looked into. Any any options on

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that? Uh we covered uh uh moving on to NRM. Um obviously we um we are the White Earth has contributed a dock to the Little Sugar Bush Park. Um that we had some

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discussion I think rack committee is looking at what what we can do with that foundation of that building when it's done. Is that correct? >> That is correct. Um, Harland Trail. Um, just looking, we talked about a lot of this stuff, so I don't need to

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discuss any. I had the Jibuway rally request. Um, so that got recommended to move forward. Uh it was kind of interesting conversation but um there was a wider report that there

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was discussion of uh Ottertale County had ticketed a couple tribal members for for leeching on without a state permit and in the past that's hasn't been considered. So um they're they're

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battling that. That was quite concerning cuz um if we know that the there's some history there with >> but um those those tribal members have always been allowed to to leech on on uh state and federal lands and I

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think I don't know if they were on private or not. So that was a little bit discussion but >> but that was in Ottertale County. >> That was in Ottertale County. >> We don't we we it was a DNR person that take Yeah. Yeah.

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Um, anything else on Richard? Anything else on that? Uh, >> no. >> Other than that that tower or they want us to >> Yeah, we've got that. >> Want to buy us out? >> That's coming up on the agenda.

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>> Well, you're going to talk about that? >> I am. Unless you want to. >> No, I do not want >> um I think that I'll let >> I'll let >> Are you done? >> Finish. Yeah. Do you have any Richard? [clears throat] >> I'll talk to you and you're going to do

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that. I don't have anything then. You guys are all fortunate. I'm not going to [laughter] >> Richard and I also had human services. Um but one just a couple things to note. Um the they did review the Becker County opioid settlement fund review team like the bylaws because when it came forward

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we had talked about having a commissioner on the review team. Um so they reviewed the by the bylaws. Um, and there is no reference to who must be on the re review team. So, um, there are no changes to the bylaws needed if we want to have a commissioner sit on the review

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team. So, um, if everybody's okay with it, I'm willing to do that on the next review >> for it agenda to for appointed commissioner. >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I'm already on the I mean, it would it would just be an an

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additional meeting to the opioid >> extension of your duties >> advisory. Mhm. >> Probably still have to appoint you though. >> Probably still have to point. >> I don't know. >> I would say yes. >> Yeah, I would say. Okay. I'd say >> next month. >> Yeah, we can do that next month because it won't it'll be several months before

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we have another review. So, >> do we and one one should be good enough. We don't need two. >> I don't know. That's up to >> let's put it on the agenda and then and >> discuss it. >> Discuss it. >> Sure. >> Okay. >> Um, another thing um at our meeting, Denise wanted to make sure that we

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recognized the supervisors um in human services and the public health staff for really stepping up and assisting at MState following the tornado. Um just she really appreciated their teamwork and willingness to help. Um she sent out a text that night and every supervisor

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responded and and was there. So kudos to the the human services team over there for stepping up. Um we also talked about the changes coming to SNAP and and Medicaid. Um the the current estimate to

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the county um for the the shift in administration costs for the SNAP program um is about 25% which is expected to be um between 200 and 300,000 for Becker County alone. So that'll be an increase. >> Those were the numbers that I was asking

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about y last. >> And so we we don't know that that's necessarily, you know, of course Denise and the the team over there is really looking at other things. So we're not saying that the budget is going to increase that much, but that's what >> are those mand those are mandated. Those

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aren't it's not optional if we can or can't provide that. >> Correct. I mean this is this is a direct >> shift >> direct shift from the federal government that just unfunded things that are mandated. So this is >> this is 100%

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>> this is this is the cost to implement a federal program that [clears throat] >> and they just cut funding >> administrative cost >> administrative cost. Yep. Um, you know, the other thing that come that could come with that is the state. So, I I

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believe Shannon said it was a 5% um cost of the program. So, not just the administrative cost, but cost. If a state has higher than a I think it's a 6% error rate and we are at a 6.2. Um, we meaning the state, not Becker County.

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Becker County is always consistently lower than that, but we don't know how that's going to affect if if Minnesota can't get that air rate down. We don't know how that um cost is going

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to trickle down to counties, if it's going to be only those that are under the air rate or if it's going to be equally dispersed among all that that we don't know. Um so that there's more to come on that but

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>> which do you know which counties are what are >> no I don't >> I think >> I would say Henipin and you know like the metro area are probably and again that is I would say much due to the >> technology >> the technology the technology used for

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those programs is almost as old as me not quite but >> well probably volume [laughter] >> yep >> madam chair so so I mean you just mentioned this 300 2 to 300,000 that will be part of our levy for next year because we don't have a choice. >> It will be part of the human services

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budget. Now that does you know Denise was very clear that we don't know that human services budget is going to go up two or 300,000 but because they will look for other cost savings and >> yes that portion of it will is increasing. Yeah. >> Yep. It's we begin um paying that the first quarter of 2027. Okay. So just

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because the federal government stands on their soap box and say we just cut cut cut your taxes doesn't mean anyone's going to see any cost savings because we're going to be paying now a local property tax paying for a federal program that's >> y >> that maybe they should have cut and found inefficiencies rather than just

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let's just slash and someone else figure it out. [clears throat] >> Um I'm going to keep on going with the good news. Um [laughter] >> 300,000 is good news. >> No. So, um medical assistant staff um just again because of changes made to

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the Medicaid program um they will see an increase in their workload um that will double um because they will now have to touch every Medicaid case. Um previous to 1127, they um process those applications once

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a year, those renewals once a year. Um they now have to touch those applications twice a year. So it's um they now have to be reviewed every six months. So they will have double their case load um than what what we have previous years. Um they will also begin

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because if you recall there's now work requirements that come with Medicaid. Um so they will again um be receiving system generated tasks for them to complete which would be those additional tasks that would be you know checking those work requirements. And how much

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how much increased funding did we get for this double workload? >> None. >> Oh. >> Um, so so they Shannon did say, you know, they of course will monitor it to see, you know, what their team can handle. >> Yeah. And I don't know necessarily double. I mean, I understand the double

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that, but hopefully efficiencies can come with that >> more contact. And I think the goal was less fraud and more get back in the workforce. So that the the end goal, I mean, I don't have a problem with the goal. It's a good positive. Um, but I

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think I think the mandate on some of this is is a stretch because some of those they they should allow some of the >> some discretion, >> you know. >> So, >> Yep. >> Okay. Um, that's all for human services. Um, I had the Mui Outwa senior council.

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Um, so Muovia Outwa received notification that they were approved for the RSVP grant. If you recall, I believe it was last year they applied and were denied. Um, they reapplied this year. Um, they were approved for a three-year grant and this really helps support the

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volunteer program that they have. So, they were very excited to have that um back as an option for their um volunteers because they do um have a large volunteer program over there. Um just a reminder, the um Becker County Outstanding Senior Ceremony is scheduled

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for July 30th at 1 p.m. at the Becker County Fair. So, >> July 30th. >> Did I say July? >> Yeah. I was just thinking usually thinking >> Yeah. Yep. And they do have um I believe a couple you know there was a an article that went out because they had not had

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any nominations and I believe they had 17 of them. So that the article really helped um from the DL paper. So um I had West Central Regional Juvenile Center. We approved the budget for the

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year. Um it was a 4.99% increase. Um the the reason for that increase really is the the youth that are coming into the juvenile center, they really have an increase in mental health needs. Um which of course requires additional

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staffing. Um they also have uh the new legislation, I believe it's the second or third year called safety based separation. So, um if a student or if a a youth in the correctional or the juvenile center um gets in trouble and

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they have to be separated from the rest of them, um there's an additional ream of paperwork that has to be completed and explain everything that um was done prior to and after and during

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and um it has resulted in a significant amount of paperwork. Now, they have been recognized for how they've handled the safety based separation, and many of the juvenile centers, not just in Minnesota, but throughout the country, have kind of mirrored that because they do a a really

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good job at West Central. Um, but that again has increased their paperwork and um need for additional staff, which we did approve, I believe, at the last board meeting. So, um, as a result, we did um, look at our non-member rate. um our non-member rate

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was, you know, lower in um compared to the the rest of the state. So, we have in been increasing it every year. Um I believe we were at 450 for non-member rates. So, those that aren't a member of West Central get charged that rate and

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then those that are a member get charged uh based off your usage. Um, so we were presented options of 475 or 495 and the board chose to go with the 495 because it's really still aligns with with what

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other juvenile centers are charging and um it it it um still it we're not searching for kids to come. Like we still have a a high need.

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There's still a high need for it. So, we're not worried about um charging $4.95 and them not coming. >> Is that a daily rate? >> It's a daily rate. Yep. $495. Yep. So, that that $495 charging the 495 instead of the 475 saved Becker about $18,000 for this

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year. So, um that was a good thing. Um so when looking so how West Central um determines their yearly our what we pay West Central a year they look at the 2-year look back period. Um

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and we have seen an increase in stays at the juvenile center of about 18%. >> We're at a high trend right now. >> Um Yep. So that caused our um our cost drastically increased. I believe last year we were at right at

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300,000. Um this year we are at 515,000 to pay West Central. So um so we are going to be paying for that. That does include um again for those members they get a credit for this year it was the revenue over expenses for 2025 which is

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again based on your usage for that year. So that includes that 515,000 includes the um 118,000 that we we got a credit for for 2025. So um so just so you know sometimes it

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might be beneficial for us to look into what can we do to keep juveniles out of um juvenile centers because it is spendy. Um and >> quite a few years ago we had a very high rate too. we were going up and then we >> then I don't know what

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>> yeah we had two years where we were trending down and and our rate was was pretty low but a couple juveniles can really increase it. So um and and also just a note um this price you know our

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juveniles 10 to 12 will no longer be able to go there um after to the secure unit. They I believe they're still able to go to the non-secure, >> but they will no longer be able to go to the secure unit >> and as of August,

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>> I don't know if we have a lot of those, but when they do, >> we do have Yeah, we do have one. Um >> spendy. >> Mhm. It is. It is spendy. And >> so that was my news for West Central. >> I got a question for you. Yeah, Richard.

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Um what so and I know I know they have a plan but what what is kind of our plan is adult child protection just going to [clears throat] take over all that >> for 10 to 12? >> Yeah. >> Um yep. So the the plan as of August 1st will any juvenile offenses will be

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referred to child welfare and then um I don't know that official guidance has be been given by the state like on how to handle it. as of [cough] the human services meeting, it had not been um but what um they did say at the West Central

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is to to we still have the option if we have a 10 or 12 year old that has been picked up on a serious offense and we don't have a place to go, we can always call there to see if they have openings in the shelter non-secure side. Um you know, and that that could be an option,

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but not long not a long-term option. it would not be included. You know, that would be an additional cost onto that for West Central, but um [clears throat] I mean that is an option if we don't have a place for them to go. So, um yeah. Anything else?

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Okay. Um I just have EDA. [clears throat] Um just for those that are interested, they're having I believe we talked about this at our um meeting with the joint governance meeting, but they're having a rededication for the Hake Lucky Park in Frezy tomorrow at 7

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p.m. in Frezy at the park, his park, which is right by the kind of by the over underbridge in Frezy if you know where that is. >> Um Karen Mari, um she did resign from the EDA. Um, so we do have an opening in district 1. We did accept that

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resignation and I believe we have it posted for district one EDA or we will have it posted. I was going to say I don't think [laughter] >> we will have it posted. Um, just an update on some of our public housing. We do have one opening in one of our public

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housings um or public houses as of June 30th. Um, but we have 31 people on the waiting list so we it will be filled up. Um it might even be filled up already. Um we are currently assisting 50 families with a housing v voucher program, but we do have 249 on the

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waiting list. Um Maple Avenue is near completion. We seen pictures of it at our EDA and we were very pleased with the end work. We just have some um outside the deck lights that we do. There will be an extra cost for that because that was not included. The

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electrical work was not included in that. So we will have to get that completed. But it looks really nice. Our West River town homes are full. Do you have something? >> Madam Chair. Yes. Maple Avenue. Who was the Do you remember who did the construction of >> Timberline?

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>> Timberlain. >> And And you're very you're happy with it? >> Yes. Yeah. The It looks nice. They provided pictures um you know, progress pictures throughout the project and >> Yeah. >> So, and the the tenants were also very

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happy about it. So um then just my the final thing I want to talk about is our housing contract. Um so you know the last couple years we've had a lot of discussion uh because of the continual increase of um our MMCDC contract. Um

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and we've had a couple issues with it. Cody Cody and Tom Cleavey who's our um chair of EDA had a meeting with HUD regarding our Inspire inspection. Um so every I think is it every three years Mary we um have the the state comes in

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and inspects all of our public housing. [snorts] Um so we had [laughter] they had a meeting because of it. Um Becker County did not pass our inspire inspire inspection. Um so we'll now be required to have the inspection every year. Um and at that meeting um

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Minnesota had advised that we um have a change in our housing management that we cannot basically we cannot be status quo. Um when we we talked to MMC CD MMCDC about it um they did they have assured us that all the corrections have

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been completed. Um we have not gotten all the documentation but but they have submitted the documentation to the state stating that they have it has been completed. Um they stated that the reason for um the results of the inspire inspection

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was really because there was new inspectors um and that there were things that had passed before that would have passed but didn't this time. Um my concern with that is if that was really the case that would have been seen across the state. Um and really I think

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there were two um public housing agencies that did not pass. Becker County being one of them. Um so this along with the side the the loss of funding that you know we did talk about I believe it was our 2024 funding um

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that we lost for the capital improvement or capital project which was a result of again their failed um reporting MMC the MMCDC's failed reporting. Um we're really looking at at what our options are for

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housing. Um, we [clears throat] made it clear at that meeting that we we will be making a decision at our August meeting and if they're going to come to us with a a contract proposal, um, that contract proposal proposal must be with more Becker County oversight and must be

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drastically reduced if we're going to if we're going to consider continuing with MMCDC. Um, so we will have a decision for this board. I I believe probably at our September

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meeting because we will be making the decision at our next EDA board. >> So, are you looking at all options? I mean, you're looking at all options for that August meeting to make the decision. >> Yep. Mhm. >> Including in-house or other agencies or whatever combination is

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>> and it might be a combination of that. Um, so is it Hover County that >> Cody that could help us? >> Um, Cass. >> Yep. that they had a me meeting with him. He actually used to work for Becker. I can't remember his name, but

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>> yeah. So, we're looking at a lot of different things, but we we probably do have to we have to change something. Something's got to change. >> Madam Chair, Commissioner Varber. So, you're talking about taking that either inhouse or all like Barry said, all all the options are are being considered

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now. You'll make a decision at August, but that will come before this board. >> Yep. We have to make the final decision. >> The board does. Yep. >> Yep. EDA will make a recommendation to this board and then this board [clears throat] will >> will make that final decision and we want to do that prior to this.

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>> If it was brought in the house, is there any >> would there be a benefit for the employees to be c I mean they're not going to just be specific. They would be in in our accounting or I mean we would be one of >> I'm just thinking we can

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>> there's quite a bit of work there. So, >> right, but I mean you're not going to have one person just in for for housing for I mean you will no but I'm saying you will have them cross-trained in other are I mean I would hope that we have more than one employee that can

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handle that job and have cross trainining and then that I mean that's what I'm getting at >> more uses rather than just >> at least one full-time >> I'm not arguing that it's not full-time position I'm saying I would want cross training >> it would we would probably be looking at

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two so some of the document or accounting pro processes is it would be part of the accounting team a another full-time person in accounting or accounting slash >> housing whatever >> y >> but you know what I'm saying I I if it look at it as an opportunity

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>> yes >> to in to enhance a program already >> the the other thing that we need to also really look at is our m the maintenance of the homes you know we you're going to have to have an on call person um so so we've talked about looking at our

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current what what do we have in maintenance but also looking at sending out an RFP to see if there's a an agency that wants to do all of our maintenance and be that on call person. >> I have had I've suggested a company has

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come to me asking to do that. >> Um and I've tried to set up some times to have them present at a >> courthouse committee meeting but haven't had a lot of >> buy in. It doesn't. So that might be a good option for the housing.

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>> Yeah, it might be. Yeah. >> So it's all kind of, you know, all these discussions for the last couple years is finally kind of coming to a head of, you know, it's really time to rip the band-aid and just >> do it. So So that'll come. Anything else to add to that, Richard? >> No. [cough and clears throat]

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>> All right, that's all I have. >> Are we done with reports? >> Yeah, I think so. Do you want to take a break before we I I'm looking that direction. Yeah, >> that would be awesome. >> We'll take a five minute break. Thank

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could be a QR code to Richard's website. [laughter] >> Do I dare put one on Richard's? >> Yeah. Give me a couple. >> Okay. Um the only thing what for appointments is just the EDA. You're going to get that

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>> posted. Anybody have anything else? >> Um >> um I think we should just send some thank yous on for former members that you know like for Karen and I don't know if Ellis Peterson from Watershed ever got a thank you for serving but I mean he put a lot of ears

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and just a thank you from the county is when we can catch these I think that should be our good idea. >> Yep. >> I like that. >> Uh who who Madam Chair who who's going to do that? Well, whenever we have a a like if it's for planning and zoning, I think they should if we see a

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resignation. I mean, we're not gonna we're going to miss some. No question. But I think when we find them, we do it. I think we ask >> um well, when we have a new appointment, we could ask, you know, someone replaced, we should thank them for >> we're all We should all monitor that, but the department head in charge of

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that should >> Okay. >> Remind us. >> It's not a >> No, I I agree. I just if it's not assigned to everybody to someone, everybody thinks everybody else does it and it never gets done. >> Right. >> Okay. >> Um just moving on. Since we are so far behind, I'm going to move I'm going to

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skip over you. >> Oh, okay. >> And move to it so we can get >> Judy. Would you like back to work? >> Judy and Steve back to >> Okay, that's fine. >> I mean, they're more than welcome to stay and listen, but >> that's I listen upstairs, so that's fine.

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>> So, good morning. >> Good morning. >> Morning. Um, I'm bringing before uh a memo for action which is the Microsoft server licenses uh which allows us to go from 2020 from 2019 to 2022 and 2025.

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It's good for 30 31 months and the cost is 56,45536. So are there any questions on this? And we do this every so often and usually we have about a year where we don't pay for it at all. Um it depends on how often they come out with new things

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>> and in in committee we this specific ite wasn't budgeted for >> that much but she has other >> budget that that offsets that. So this is this is a three-year so that yeah we don't we don't have much choice. Madam Chair, I'll move to

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approve the Microsoft Server licenses, Microsoft Square licenses. >> SQL 4 SQL. >> Okay, we have a motion. >> Very second. >> Very second. Any further discussion? >> All those in favor say I. >> Opposed? Motion carried. >> Thank you very much. Thanks, Judy.

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>> Thanks, Judy. >> All right, Steve. >> How's it going, Steve? >> Morning. Not bad. I have one item before you today. It's uh resolution 07263. Uh it's a request to combine two

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part-time piece pay station clerk positions into one full-time position. >> All right. Madam Chair, any questions? >> I have a question. How does how does the part-time get get um health insurance? >> Well, it says 58989

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59.88 88 under a 26 cost to fill under health >> there is in the I believe it's the teamsters contract there is uh an allowance for part-time >> to get a I'll call it a stipen towards health insurance

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>> I think it's $200 a month >> I believe it's 200 >> I don't think anybody's actually used it though have they >> I that I can't answer for you I don't know >> 200 a month is 24 >> there's two of them >> there's two positions 48 how it comes up to that. Yeah, that that part I can

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answer, but I know in the team's contract specifically, there's lang >> and that's just we we have to budget for that in the event that >> in case somebody exercises that. Yeah. >> Okay. Well, I >> but I didn't do the math. Yeah, I was going to say I didn't do the math on this so I can't

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>> The math doesn't add up. >> So my point is if that health insurance is eliminated the budget would be >> 56 or is it 352? >> It would be what the the difference is

403
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what 8 something 8 267. Well, when when I see one number wrong, I don't have a lot of faith in the rest of the numbers or one one thing that can't be answered. I don't have a lot of faith in the >> Madam Chair. Steve, did you come up with this table or where did this >> I did not? I got that from the auditor's office.

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>> So, what are the how many hours is are the two positions? >> The two positions they were >> 28 each. >> Yeah, roughly 28. >> They're 28. >> 28 and 30. >> They're both 28. So that's [snorts] >> the problem we had is we were we had two vacant positions and we were trying to hire and we weren't getting any

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response. We hired one, he left and so we're back. We just aren't getting applicants for the part-time positions and so we did post and advertise it as a full-time position and we did get some response at that. Um,

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I don't I don't I don't know. I don't think these numbers are real good. I don't I don't know what to look at. But as far as the philosophy, if it's a if it's a cost savings and the work can get done. The only only other thing that I would like is if we don't have just

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someone at the pay scale, I would like to make sure we have this person available cross trainined and and the job description broad enough that they that we can bring them into the say we say we changed how

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we ticket and we pay at weighing that they can be a a way or a monitor of the load and tickets there. So what I'm saying is if we do change our our system a little bit that they will still be >> with their job description that they

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will be >> taking payment on on a different area, you know. So otherwise that if that's if that will work, I'm okay with >> I think we can adjust the pay station clerk to do that. I was >> in in regards to your question about that in previous meetings we talked

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about doing research and finding out if we can uh more streamline the ticketing process. So I had looked at um I went to Bel Tramy County looked at how they did it. Many counties use the same software that we do as far as for solid waste.

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And I wanted to find out how other places did it because there is uh ways that you can maybe streamline this part of the time. Some of the time it it wouldn't work just depending on the circumstances. But there's times I think in the shoulder seasons of the

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month or if it's slower out where you this might work. and not not the only these last week. >> I look at I don't see how this wouldn't streamline your whole process all the time and be a cost savings, but that's for another day. Um I'm just if this moves forward, I just make sure we have

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a broad job description so that we can move them and do different things rather than just ticket and they can check loads. And >> so what what currently is the is the clerk what is the clerk uh pay station clerk is it a is it a pretty basic job

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description now is it broad enough to cover something like that or does that >> no we would we would adjust it we would look at in the future as we get them trained in this and then uh look at cross trainining them in other things and adjusting that >> that uh job description at that time.

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>> Okay. So, we would want to do that if we if we >> So, I think you just modified the the resolution a little bit to say um pay play clerk and additional pay clerk and additional duties as needed. >> So, your job description could will

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change. We're not defining what your job description here is, but we want to expand to make sure that it >> the you hire someone that they [clears throat] say, "Well, that's not in my job description. I'm not going to go check a load and get then give a ticket. So, >> and that's that's included in a lot of

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these job descriptions as as other duties as assigned. But to your point, that definitely is something we would want to >> Well, I think I think you want it in the in the resolution and other jobs. >> And for the for the cost here, Barry,

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were you questioning the 4,800 or the 59.89? >> 59.89. So the 5989 is what it's going to cost for the fulltime for the rest of the year. >> Yeah. When I looked >> and the 4,800 is what was budgeted for the two part time. >> So that would be that would be

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>> $200 a month >> for the whole year. >> For two part time, >> right? >> Yep. And then the 59.89 is what it's going to cost >> for the full-time person for the remainder of the year. >> I I know it makes sense. And then the very right column is what it's going to

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>> be budgeted for 2027 >> for full benefits for full-time. >> Yeah. >> So the 48 would equate to 200 a month for two people. >> For two people. Yep. >> So our 26 budget will be 66,000 and change with when you add up the 26

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cost and the current those two will be 66 >> some dollars and our budget is 85. So we'll be considerably under budget. And then next year is where is the 8,000? >> It'll be 8,000 more. Yeah. >> 77 >> 8,000 less >> or less.

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>> Y >> the net cost will decrease. That's what I meant. 8,000. >> Well, Madam Chair, I'll make a res I'll make a motion to pass resolution 07263C with the addition of um in the first whereas full-time pay station clerk and other duties in environment. Just add

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the other duties. >> That's fine. >> As job des as the job description pertains. I'll second that. >> All right. Any further discussion? >> You know, just this is just another example of up at up up at Solid Waste. I mean, we're really trying to build this plane in the air. I mean, we are growing

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so much. I mean, it's like everything is absolutely important right now. This is one one aspect of it, but we need this. So, um >> All right. All those in favor say I. >> I. [cough] Motion carried. >> All right. That was a good meeting. Thank you.

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>> Yeah. >> Not yet, Barry. Yes. >> All right. You have been waiting for this the whole entire meeting. >> We're going to end it with Carrie today. >> Yeah. Best for last. >> Oh, yes. That's it. >> Um, thank you, Madam Chair. Um, under my

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report, I I don't recall if I updated before, the one boxes for the Narcan have all been installed through the county. Um, those are instructional for the use of Narcan and the Narcan as well. So, maintenance completed that. I believe it was last week or the week

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before. Um, one bargaining unit has reached out to schedule. I know I've been uh waiting for this. Um, I did give some dates back that were would work for the negotiation team. However, haven't heard back again. So, I do know

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that those dates were also provided >> per the email that I received to other groups as well. So, I don't know if we're going to be able to get that in. and it was into August here so we would have started that was my hope >> but more to come on that >> okay

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>> I will be in duth for a mcca conference uh Wednesday Thursday Friday or actually late tomorrow I'll be in in the morning we've started our review of budget with the budgeting team and departments we're starting that this afternoon just

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starting that process just starting to run through where some of those numbers are and and Anna has continued to work on the the payroll numbers um as well with the increase of what we're potentially anticipating for our insurance increase and we're planning

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for the max on that. So, so that has begun and we'll finish up just again with our initial meetings with all departments um next week. I think we couldn't get everybody in all at the same time so we got in another date that worked for people.

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Um quick update on tornado recovery. Some of this has already been talked about. Um that the grinding had had stopped the end of last week after our meeting out at environmental. They're exploring other options such as you know in the future burning permits or you

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know potentially hauling that to a gravel pit etc. more cost effective. Um, with that, um, this coming Friday, the state emergency management team will be here from 10 to 12 and we are to

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we're getting all of our figures, our costs together for preliminary numbers for the state team. Um, we anticipate we'll have additional costs that'll come come forth, but again, we have been I know Nicole and uh the departments that

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this affected are putting numbers together. So um that als that includes you know wages, contractors, machinery costs. I did get a list that I did distribute out to those departments. So they could >> Will we have that for Friday or not?

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Like I mean I know it won't be a finalized number because it'll >> we will have that that I I Yes. Uh the preliminary numbers that we have thus far, the idea was to have that ready by Friday when they come on site. >> Okay. >> So yes. Um, let's see what else.

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>> Madam Chair, we talked about attendance at that meeting. I would like to sit in on that and hear what they have to say. We've got to >> make sure we don't have a quorum there. Does anyone else want to or >> I plan on being there, but did >> if you if you two guys go then

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>> or Okay. >> Yeah, we can just go ahead and post it. Just >> You want to post it? >> I can post it. >> Yeah. And that meeting is here at the commission room from 10 to noon. And that's also for townships as well as uh

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utility companies, public entities. >> What day is that? >> Friday. >> Friday. >> Friday 10 to noon. >> So yeah, we'll just post it just in the event even with one having two. >> Mhm. >> Want to probably post that. So

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>> um any questions with regards to the disaster? Um, I know you all got all my updates that I was um media releases that I was doing during that time. >> Oh, yes. The piece of Yes, the wood trophy, the tree trophy, I'll call it.

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>> Um, I was able to go over to Rubicon early one morning uh prior to them going out into the field and the tree trophy again, as I've so uh named it, was uh given to me to present to the commission. Um, just for appreciation,

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that was a tree that was trimmed out there and the team, the volunteers signed off on that. So, >> I think, you know, one of the problems I see is if they're going to cut cut the chunks in that smaller pieces to haul out, it's going to take a long time. [laughter]

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>> They're volunteers, >> especially if they have to sign all of them. >> Would you uh would you explain what what that group is? >> Yes. It's a veteran organiz organization. It's nationally known or recognized and they're basically a group

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of volunteers. I had the Michael was kind of the gentleman that was in charge of this. They had anywhere from 20 to 30 volunteers in the area for a week. They did service for they went out and did a lot of assessments. So they did more of

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that emergent types of volunteer work for the people that were affected by tornadoes or that needed such as roof tarping, uh tree cutting up and stacking, brush removal, debris removal.

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So they it was uh at no cost to the county or to the homeowner. You know, I think that should be brought up at the meeting and state that, you know, there's a lot of hours here, you know, and I don't know if they can be reimbursed for some of their >> they are putting together. I don't know. He wasn't sure if he had if he'd have

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all of his data ready for Friday, but I will receive that. He did indicate that they're ours, >> you know, just another huge shout out to all of them, you know, >> yes, >> giving their time and and labor, but and also to all the other >> individuals and and groups and charities

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that have donated even food and waters out there and and the families out on site. I mean, we were >> when we were walking around there, there was a family that just was feeding people. you know, the crews, the the Wild Rice Electric was out there with I don't know how many trucks and people were, >> you know, frantically getting getting

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people their power back that night. Um, it just it was really amazing to be out there and just the community spirit and everyone. Um, today we had accepted donations that will go out to to individuals who need it the most and um it it's just a thanks to all the county

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staff. We heard such positive remarks for the county staff that was that came on site and was helping immediately and and protecting the the property. So, you know, you can't you can't say enough about the the actions of of the people that responded to this and and with

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between law enforcement and rescue and wild rice and the community >> and Adam the >> Adam had it all planned out. >> Yeah. I mean, he did he just >> such a fantastic job >> and it went off like a without a >> Yep. Flawless. Yep. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. When you have a disaster, um, this

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probably went as as well as it could have. >> Mhm. >> So, >> yeah. No loss of life. Um, >> absolutely. >> And and to those that that see the pictures and the drones, they are they're bad, but they don't bring anything to justice of what's out what

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was out there. When you walk it, it's like, holy mackerel, it's a lot worse. >> Two days later. Yeah. I mean, so just imagine what it would have been like. freestyle garage that was attached to a house that you don't even know where it is. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. The emergency response was

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amazing. I lived right there and it was fast and it was there was a lot of it was man was really good. So um again that meeting is Friday so we are collecting our information and we

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will be submitting uh very in the very near future. So um the last thing that I have is the Verizon tower discussion. I did bring this forth. It was alluded to with regards to reports through the courthouse committee but I thought that

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this would be a topic that you would all want to be brought up to speed. So, this is in relation to our Verizon our the Verizon tower that is out in the bad medicine area. Um, I got contacted by a

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gentleman um a lease agent I think was his title and uh Mary and Steve both had sat in on the phone call with me. And so basically what they were indicating is that they would like us to consider we we currently have a contract where this

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is our second year of a 4-year contract. There are uh four five-year renewal. No, that's not right. Fiveyear contract and then there's an additional option for them to renew four times at five years a piece. Um so that's what it currently is. >> That is what it is currently. Yes.

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$8,400 lease payment a year. And so they were asking us if we would consider um lowering our lease amount to $500 with a 5% escalator, which I think is 525 if I did my math. >> 5% every 5 years.

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>> Every five years. >> Not annually. >> No, just every five years. >> Every five years. Yes, you're right. >> So 1.1% increase. >> 1% increase. >> Yes, you are correct. And so again, it would be significantly less that we would we are able to

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collect on this particular contract or for the county to consider a one-time buyout payment which they have um put in here. And so when I discussed this at the committee the and I did bring this

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up also in the finance committee, I did not hear a lot of support from this board to take any of those options. But I wanted everybody to hear the same information. >> Well, I just got a new phone and I offered to pay less to them and they declined. [laughter]

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>> I mean, but it doesn't make any sense. I don't understand what the what the incentive is for for us. >> Yeah. >> Um I I couldn't unless you have something. >> Well, if you read if you've read the the letter, they're indicating that they may

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or may not continue use of this >> tower then. >> Correct. And >> so the risk you and they can also in our credit contract give a notice >> decisions on $2,400 a year >> there may be >> then I think we're in trouble. They're they're in trouble. So if they're going to drop this because of a $2,400 isn't

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it $2,400 annual decrease on 2400 >> uh 56,000. Yes. 24 Yeah. Right around 2400 >> and a long-term decrease. I mean, if they were reviewing it on a at an annual at a renewal time, it would be something you could you could re look at, but mid

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midterm on a it's like, no, we have a contract and you're going to you're going to pay this amount regardless if you have a tower there or not >> for the next five for the five-year term and then then you can ask us to think about it. But other than that, not even

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it shouldn't even No. Well, and in the contract uh language, it also indicates that there can be a a 90-day notice as well on the contract, >> but then they have to remove the property. >> The way it's written currently, they would have to remove the property. They were also asking in the new language for

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a perpetual easement, which would mean if they vacated then, >> so there's absolutely zero benefit for Becker County taxpayer and everything for a a billion dollar. >> I couldn't think of any benefits. [laughter] I I looked for some benefits for the county. I can't find any.

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>> Any fees, >> an activation charge. You buy You've had a service there for 20 years and you have to activate a phone for 40 bucks every time you >> I don't what I had suggested is for Carrie to go back to him and say we are not interested and if they want to provide us additional information,

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they're more than welcome to come and present. >> That's exactly what I said to the board. They want to explain why we should even consider it. Come come to the board and speak your [clears throat] case. >> And then everyone bring our Verizon bills and say, >> "Yep, >> show me where I walk. >> Where where will I see the savings?"

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>> Where? Yeah. Where will you have a line deduction for Becker County residents on this bill? >> Mhm. >> Because it's the only way if we can get a cost savings for Becker County. >> Yep. Yep. So, just to reiterate, I wasn't necessarily looking for this as an action item unless you really wanted

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to pursue one of these. Mhm. >> other options, but I wasn't hearing that there was support for that. But I >> counter with will act we'll raise the price if they want. >> Mhm. >> $40 a time >> and even 12 grand a year. >> Mhm. >> They want to increase. We'll consider

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that. >> I will not consider perpetual easement. I already know that. But everything else is negotiable as far as I'm concerned. >> Well, they must be My guess is they're losing customers because I I left rising >> saved about a lot. Really? >> Yeah.

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>> I better review that myself because I have six lines of them. >> All right. >> All right. So, >> anything else? >> That is all I have. >> All right. Anything else for the board? >> All right. We are journ. >> All right.

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Achieve this.