I aliance 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 justice for all. Recognition [clears throat]
of Commissioner Meyer. >> Hi Dave. >> Hi. >> How's it going? [laughter] >> What are we doing with recognizing Commissioner Meyer? >> Oh. Um, >> thanking him for his years work. >> Erica. >> Yep. >> Well, that's right. You get to do it. I
did it last time. [laughter] >> I present this to you, Dave, for your leadership as a Becca funny chair in 2025. >> Well, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hey, we're recognized. [applause] Y I got to get out. >> I knew you look familiar. [laughter] >> All right.
So, Carrie, I believe you do this next part, correct? >> I can. Yes. Um, so I will call for nominations for board chair and I'll call three times and then once I do that, I will look for a nomination for board chair. We don't necessarily need
to second it, but you certainly can because we're used to doing that and then I'll call for a vote. Okay. >> Well, I'll nominate or you go ahead. >> I would You were one step ahead of me. >> Yeah, I was. Yeah. >> Um, I would entertain um nominations for
a board chair. I I'll nominate Erica Jeffson for board chair. >> Are there any other nominations? >> Any other nominations? >> I would entertain a motion. >> I'll make a motion to >> Do we appoint Eric Jeepson as board
chair? >> Yeah. >> Yes, we do. Okay. >> Yeah. Is there do we have a second or >> Well, you can second uh if you'd like to. Um all those in favor I >> All those opposed
>> motion carries. >> All right. You are the board chair. >> Nice. >> Draw the drawer. The famous drawer switch. >> My drawers. You want to switch your drawers later?
>> Yeah, we switch the drawers later. Just thought I was suggesting [laughter] >> I can't get mine switched. So >> sweet back here. >> Hi Richard. >> Hi Erica.
>> Don't be copying my notes. [laughter] >> Is it going to help me pass? All right. Thank you everybody. All right. Now, do we just move on to nominations for vice chair? Again, I'll say Miss Carrie. I'll ask for
nominations three times and then we'll vote. Do I have any nominations for vice chair? >> I I will nominate Phil Hansen for vice chair. Do I have any nominations for vice chair?
Any nominations for vice chair? All right. With that, I will take a motion or vote. >> I'll make I'll make a motion to appoint Phil Hansen as the vice chair. >> I'll second. >> All those in favor?
>> I >> I >> oppose. I >> I didn't oppose. I was late. All right. [laughter] Welcome to Vice Chair, Commissioner Hansen. >> All right. >> All right. Next on the agenda is uh
committee assignments. We all had the list of um committees in the packet. Anybody [snorts] want any changes before we go to the AMC ones? >> Yeah, Madam Chair. Number 35,
Partnership for Health. That should say Meyer and Jeepson. And then there's no alternate anymore either. >> At the bottom of the page, it says alternates >> or or anyone can >> correct. Yeah. >> But Partnership for Health no longer has >> no longer requires a specific named
alternate >> and I think there are two officially on. >> There's two commissioners on it. Yeah. >> Anyone else have any other changes? Madam Chair, uh just as we're looking through this, I mean
I'm looking for some history here, what has been done in the past. I mean, I'm happy with the committees I'm on, >> but in order to know more about other committees, should we be moving? Barry, you've been here for a long time. um like uh
>> yeah, I mean I think it's really up to us and whatever. >> It's taken me a long time to learn my committees. I'm old now [laughter] and and I I'm not I I need to know what I'm doing. And if you're going to take me and switch me to something else, then
I'm not going to know what I'm doing. Um and that's kind of where I'm at. Mhm. >> But Rich, uh, Madame Chair, Commissioner Varberg, you're going to know something about something that we vote on and that that that was my thought. Know something
about an area I'm not I don't know something about. >> Yeah. >> Is there a specific committee you are interested in being on? >> Madam Chair, I like all the committees I'm on. I
I I I wanted it for more general discussion than and I was hoping to hear from Commissioner Nelson. Um >> Oh, I think it's I think a a good mix of it, you know, to change committees every so, you know, every you know, if you're on here quite a while to switch it up.
Um there is a lot of benefit for having past history on committees. Um, so I mean it's it's what I mean if it's something a committee that you're really interested in, you're going to put more time and have more knowledge on it. So I think that's kind of where where we look
at I I certainly there's commissioners I think that do well really well and I would not want to see them off of certain committees. So I think it's just a balance and if there's something that you have a passion for that you see then you work with that a commissioner on that committee and see if you want to swap something out. But I've always been
able been I've switched committees numerous times. I've been on highway for a number of years and um I kind of gave that up to and you know but you always want to kind of have a balance. everyone has a balance of committees and if so
it's whatever whatever the board wishes and I think there was a time when it was shaken up quite consist quite a bit and the by the future chair and the the whole board was not happy with it so if you have a major change up
you won't get a lot of support I don't think >> madam chair would >> so for next year if you want to shake things up a lot [clears throat] probably won't get the support of the full board if you [laughter] I think madam chair just for me being on finance this year I think is going to open a lot of my eye to see where how
many flows and stuff. Um I brought this up before and um would there be any um capacity for this board to want to do this meeting of the whole with maybe just one of the committees just to see how it goes to see if we like it better or not.
>> I'm not interested. I I think you do committee as a whole. We I mean you look at our agendas now and it's it's almost getting to I mean we're getting less on the agenda. I like full discussion at the full board. If you have committee as a whole, you're just going to have another board meeting and that's where your full discussion of all committees
will be and you will eliminate the committee role. >> I think you lose a lot of transparency. >> Yeah, I'm happy with it the way it is now, Phil. For me, >> all right. >> Um I you know, so I I like [clears throat] being on highway. I know construction.
Okay. I like being on environmental. I know I know equipment that there's a lot of things that go on out there that I can understand. And if you start putting me in places that I don't understand, it's a stumbling block for me and it's hard for me to even talk about it up
here. Um, you know, I'm you know, I could have maybe learned something a long time ago. It's hard. It's hard to teach me and train me now. It doesn't go as good. >> Madam Chair, that and Commissioner Varberg, that's that's perfectly fine. we can stay this way. Um I just know
that a lot of money floats through uh a lot of different departments and and it involves a lot of trust of the people who are on the other committees and that meeting of the whole would we would all hear the same thing. I just think there's advantages to it. But hearing you guys what you guys think we can stay
that way and and I I'm sure I'll learn a lot more through finance because >> you know if you do committee as a whole and you'd basically eliminate your committees >> correct the absolutely correct and we have our sheriff's committees we our meetings go for three hours. I mean it's
not uncommon to have a three-hour meeting. So you're talking possibly a two-day work session at times. I mean for just committee as a whole. I was thinking of just easing into it, maybe trying it as one of the major departments that we spend a lot of money on as meeting of the whole just try one as a group, see if we like it. If we
don't, we go back. Um >> well, then you're just eliminating one committee and I I just don't I mean I just that's my opinion. >> That's fair, Richard. And okay, >> and I think [clears throat] you know if you have any interest in other committees, just reach out to that commissioner and then we can we can make
the change on the committee list at our next board meeting. we may make the commit >> or we may we may make the change. Um, one other that I wanted to change is I do have Cornerstone on here as a a paid PDM and I'm really just kind of a on
call so I don't think that one needs to be a we had discussed that at at >> last year and I don't think that one needs to be a a PDM meeting any longer. [clears throat]
Um then we can move on to the AMC committee appointments. Mr. >> Madam Chair, Madam Chair, go ahead. >> Do you want to approve and approve this >> with the elimination? >> Elimination and the change. >> Yes. Do you have a motion to accept the committee list for 2026 with the changes noted?
>> So moved. >> I'll second. >> All those in favor? I signify by saying I. I >> opposed. >> All right. Motion carried. >> Perfect. All right. For the AMC policy
committees, >> who was on the environmental and natural resources policy committee? >> I am. >> Was that very Do we want to >> change that up at all? >> Madam Chair, um I would uh I'm on
transportation right now. I'm really interested in environmental and natural resources, which Barry is on. Um, I'd like to go to the general government and I'd like to do public safety, too. Unfortunately, [laughter] you can't do all of them. Um,
but, uh, Richard could take transportation and, um, Richard, would would you you want to flip? Let's see. You're on general government. >> He's on general government right now. I'd like to [snorts] flip that for sure.
and and and the problem is is that these AMC meetings, they they run at the same time. >> So, but I would at least like to uh if Commissioner uh Varberg is open to that uh flipping general general government
with um transportation between >> I don't have a problem with that. >> Okay. >> We used to have some guy that was on transportation that knew a little bit. I don't what was his name? >> I think his last name was [laughter]
All right. So, Phil, you you want to go on general government? >> Sure. Yes. >> I'm fine with staying on health and human services unless there's somebody else that >> No, I'm good. I'm good with public safety, too. >> Madam Chair, the um you go down to the
voting dele appointments. Uh Carrie's name should be on there and I suppose any department head that would like that has it um we could add the department heads. Yeah, I think in the past we had Denise as an alternate and beyond that I can't recall. >> Well, I think we had up I think the list
is up to eight. You can just we can just list all >> I think we have three alternates is what I remember. Yeah. >> Yep. >> Not that they're going to be at many meetings, but I mean put list the >> but at least we have the list >> the people that can vote. Yeah. >> Carrie, Denise, Steve, uh Jim,
>> Sheriff Bonder. >> Hi. for public safety. >> I think he's on his own. >> You have your own >> Yeah, he is in his own world. [laughter] >> But for those appropriate. [clears throat] >> So is this I'm I'm guessing this is
something we have to vote on. Yes. >> Do we have to vote on the voting delegate appointments? >> We we can we can also amend say that whatever is appropriate to add to up to eight we need to. Can we do that? >> Yes. two or heads that are appropriate
to be on this list >> as alternate. >> Yeah. And I for some reason I think it's three alternates, but um if you want me to shore eighth on the list, you list up to eight. >> Yes, correct. >> So I think you just put Denise, Steve, Jim, >> it says it says entitled to a number of
delegates equal to three more >> than the number of persons on the county commission board. >> So it'll be eight. >> Oh, so you can have eight. Okay. So, we have uh environment commissioner Nelson, general government commissioner Hansen,
uh myself on health and human services, Commissioner Meyer on public safety, and Commissioner Varberg on transportation and infrastructure. And then for the delegates, we have Carrie Smith and then the department heads as appropriate. >> Yeah. And if you would like me to, I have a department head meeting
[clears throat] on Monday. they can certainly um ensure that they are willing for >> so so we have to [clears throat] >> sorry go ahead >> I was just going to say just just put their names down I mean it's it's not a it's not a significant >> and it's really just on behalf of the
county if >> if the commissioners >> I need somebody to stand in >> yeah can't be there >> so let's just list the ones [clears throat] you know Steve Jim >> Denise >> Denise Um, >> Madam Chair, should we bring that back
then next meeting? Make sure you run that past them or >> they've been listed in the past. I don't think I don't think there's ever been a request for them to >> if there's any issues, I'll bring it back. >> Yeah, I I would say just fill up the list and issues. >> Susan, >> make sure that it gets sent in.
>> Mitch, Judy, >> Judy is a good one. Although, yeah. >> Okay. >> I'll make a motion to approve the AMC appointments. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right. Any further discussion?
>> All those in favor signify by I. >> I. I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carried. >> Okay. Next on the agenda, we have Commissioner Perdium's additional meetings not on the committee list.
So I had added this um per the request of uh I believe it was uh Commissioner Meyer or one yeah it was one of you >> just to make it clear I think >> just to have uh some further discussion there we kind of keep coming back to some of those meetings of whether or not
we want to have them as a PIDA meeting and the ones that I could recall were work sessions of the board um the TNT hearing was there others that I oh the road tour >> road tour the road hearing was wasn't a >> yes, but those are the ones that have
been questioned and thought that it should be a board discussion. >> All right. Thoughts? >> I don't I think TNT is not one. >> I don't think like township meetings the annual should not be
>> No, I agree. >> So then I think the biggest question would be work sessions. >> Work sessions and the road tour. in the [clears throat] road tour. In the past, we've had a PDM meeting, but we've never had anything official. >> Correct. >> Um,
if there's called, I mean, I think usually when you have a work session, it's a called work session by the board and could identify it at that time. >> Okay. >> I mean, depending >> identify it at the time that it's scheduled >> with work sessions. >> Okay. >> And the road tour should probably just should be one.
>> Okay. And just for the board's information, I did ask the question of other counties and [clears throat] it was uh probably about 5050 for work sessions, just so you know. But but then also some other counties have regularly scheduled work sessions too. So that
factors in as well. >> So what we have is at the time is scheduled for work sessions, TNT and board of appeals not and row two are yes. and then any additional township meetings um that you may attend or not. >> So, I'll make a motion to approve what
you said. >> All right. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Any further discussion? >> Um can we could we discuss um uh what the pay is for those sessions? >> It's already set. >> The PDM the $75.
>> Yes. >> Can we discuss that now or We did talk about that last meeting. We said it. the same as last year. >> Okay. >> Um I just I did some quick math. Five commissioners, let's say we do 10
meetings a month. Um you know, this comes from we're we're raising our levy on our taxpayers $2.5 million um for this year. Um, if we just took a perdm, if we went $75 down to $50 per
meeting uh for the year, if we go to if we all go to 10 meetings a year, it'd save the county about uh $15,000. Um, can I amend that motion to include that? >> Do we need a resolution for that? We had
a resolution for it last when we when we approved it at the end of the year. We approved it via resolution. So, do we do we need to amend the resolution? >> I would say yes. >> You're you're talking about something
>> I think that's >> really attributed to this motion, though. >> Yeah, >> I would. >> This is not this is not the same discussion. You >> I think it's Yeah. >> What you're talking about, you would probably have to add an agenda item for to the
>> That's what I would suggest. If you want to talk about different pay on that, I would suggest. So let's move forward with the motion on the table regarding which meetings are not are PDM and are not PDM and then
let's vote on that first unless anybody wants to amend their motion to include that. Well, well, what Phil's talking about is reducing the pay on meetings and that's a separate issue than what meetings are
>> not prede because it's not on the agenda item. >> So, you're saying I would have had to bring this up. >> I would say it would be appropriate to put that on the agenda. Say you want to review board pay at meetings for for prediums.
>> All right. Okay. So we have a motion on the table to regarding um which meetings are PDM, which ones are not. We have a second. Any further discussion? Ju just just so you know, I mean, I saw this on the list and it says
commissioner pdeiums. So we're saying that we're talking about giving the commissioner pdeiums. We're not talking about the amount even though it says commissioner pdeiums on the agenda. What we're going to talk about >> it says commissioner pdeium's additional meetings not on the committee list.
>> Yeah. So it's it's clarifying which committee which meetings are not or are. But >> if I may, Madam Chair, that was the intent of the agenda item was to um really decide which meetings were going
to be PDM and which ones were not. >> And really we did set the PDM rate. >> We did >> already at the end of >> But it's certainly something if you want on the agenda in the future for future discussion, we certainly can do that. >> All right. We can uh we can vote on that or I have no more discussion.
>> Okay. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carries. >> Do we need a break? >> You can move your break if you'd like. >> Yeah, we can move the break. All right. Agenda confirmation. Any changes to the
agenda? >> Um Madame Chair, there's a a couple of tweaks, if you will. um under county administrator um the discussion with regards to the museum should be removed. I believe she'll be coming to the next meeting she
needed to have some clarification in her information that she would like to bring to the board. In addition to that under sheriff um there is purchasing of uh five squads. I believe it should be two.
That correct? Correct. Right. Two. Two squads instead of five. And uh certainly if there's questions on that, the sheriff can answer that when he comes up to the podium >> up to the table. >> Okay. Any additional changes? >> Um Madam Chair, um uh Carrie, are you
going to do the update? I think we need to know. Were you going to >> I can certainly cover that in my report. And then um I wanted to to add to where we at with the bladed pro properties and the conditioning use permit. Um look
back where we at with those things. >> Do we want to um address that in Carrie's report? >> Yeah. Can you add that report to your board, Carrie? >> Uh >> I mean just to update and have much of an >> Even if it isn't I don't have much added under me. Okay. Sure. It's the benefits
of being the county. >> You know, Madam Chair, uh we've been talking about when I came in last year, we started talking about this. We've had meetings on it. We I mean, >> was that lawyer back in November? I mean, >> it's either do something or
>> so we don't have anything to vote on at this time. So we we don't need to add anything to the agenda, but Carrie will report on can can touch on that during her report >> or future updates when what you what we can expect to hear from it.
>> But other than the museum and the sheriff, are there any changes to the agenda? >> I don't have anything further. [snorts] >> Okay. I'll entertain a motion. >> I'll make a motion to approve the agenda with the changes. >> I'll second. >> All right. Any further discussion?
All those in favor signify by saying I. I >> opposed. Motion carries. >> Okay. Um minutes. Any changes to the minutes? >> I I have one under summary of
administrators review page two of four. The last bullet point. I don't know if renegotiate is the right word. I think maybe just amend. We're not really renegotiating.
>> Agreed. >> Yeah. >> Any other corrections? >> If not, I'll entertain a motion. >> Motion to approve. I'll sec I'll second. >> All right. Any further discussion? >> All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> I. I. opposed. Motion carried. Uh consent agenda. Anybody want to pull anything off the consent agenda? >> For further discussion. >> Motion to approve the consent agenda. >> All right. I have a motion to approve the sec or the consent agenda. Do I have
a second? >> A second. >> Any further discussion? >> All right. All those in favor signifi signify by saying I. I >> opposed. Motion carries. Open form.
>> Anybody signed? >> Nobody signed up. Nobody wants to talk to us this morning. >> Okay, then we'll move on to reports. >> Anybody want to go first? >> Uh, sure. Madam Chair, I'll go first. Uh, I had a Pelican River wershed
meeting. Um, haven't had a levy increase since 2011. and they're going up $50,000. Uh their annual budget is about $750,000. Um the award was uh for Bucks Mills was bid and let um uh Asheville
in Cota, Minnesota got the bid. So that work will be starting uh this summer. Um, [clears throat] Prairie Lakes still working on a ash landfill permit from the MPCA, trying to get drier fuel so we can burn more and uh, but pretty much
everything there is is steady as she goes. Airport, um, we talked about the arrival and departure area, renovating that. Engineers estimate was 1.3 million. Uh, they should get bids in sometime here in January, and they could do the renovation by the end of 2026. I
asked about county funds to help that out and they assured me that there would be none. So, they said that that should all be grant funded. Um, construction demolition, uh, Zoom, uh, we're we're we're really in the mud. Uh, we are
working on costs and just so many other things are coming into this regional construction and demolition landfill thing. We're really getting weighed down uh, with just everybody's got different issues. Um, but we're still we're working on it. Still working on it. No,
no end result yet. Uh, environmental. Um, we've got a grant ready application for a new HHW building. More on our campus there. Uh, because the H current HHW building is outdated and it's way off campus. Um, we're working on uh
[snorts] grinding some of those uh wood chips, those pallets, and making them useful for uh turkey wood chips for bedding. Um, so that's something that's kind of exciting. Um, organics is continuing to grow.
Um, uh, Richard and I, uh, and and Steve had a long talk about, uh, the MURF there, uh, material recovery facility and and getting a fiber screen in there to separate the paper out. Um, it's expensive, but it would really move us
to the next level with recycling. Um, so that where we're we're doing some due diligence on that. Um, and it's already been the building's been retrofit for this device. The device is just expensive, probably 7 $800,000. Mattress recycling, we recycle about
3,500. We're going to try to push I'm going to talk with Steve, but try to get more mattresses in here to get recycled. >> Um, for how did the uh >> ask? Uh, we only got we got 50 56 [laughter] mattresses as well. Um, I thought we'd get more.
>> Is that including both the box spring or is there are they measured separately? >> Uh, I I call them all one whether it's a box spring or a mattress. >> If it was two box spring and a mattress, that's two. >> Correct. Correct. >> I brought two of them in. >> Yep. There's like 56 I think we got. You know, it's cold. Uh, mattress isn't
something you can really store for a while like electronics. You can kind of put it on a shelf. So, we learned something. Um, and I think it went well uh for for for starting. It didn't really interfere with anything. Kasa County, what is it? $15 times 56 mattresses. That was the cost, but it
keeps them out of the ditch. Um, purchased new walking floor trailer. We're going to talk about that. The boom tractor boom [clears throat] and mower with NRM. We're talking about that. Uh, we got a pile of compost out there and we're going to attempt to trauml that
and get good compost out there and hopefully have a end market for it and sell that. We'll working on that in the spring. Uh we're going to purchase a a little over $10,000 scan tool uh to help diagnose uh equipment issues which we'll be able to
>> trade up on the agenda. >> Yep. It's on the agenda. Um and then the last thing Richard and I we talked about Steve said, "Hey, I I need to have some special ex exceptions." Um, and it isn't on the agenda now, but for some things that people come in and
are asking like selling or collecting collecting that film like the film, plastic wrap, >> compost, uh, ground sheetrock. He he has to come to the sometimes he has to move quickly, he says. And, uh, so he's going to come up with a plan, uh, for some of
these special exceptions that aren't on our list of costs. Um, >> so like I'm not sure what you mean. We've got >> So, like how much it's going to cost for people to bring that in >> or or or or even or even sell it
>> back out. Uh the sheetrock, we grind it up. We got a pile of it. A guy says, "Hey, I'll take a you know, >> rather than come to board and wait another month sometime." >> So, more of a policy. >> We don't know yet. Steve was going to look and see what other c uh counties were doing, but he would come back with something just so that he could move on
some of this unique >> like the highway department with with piles of gravel to townships or similar to that. Let's see what he comes up with first. But yeah, similar to that, just special exceptions. We have our list of things, what tires cost, what general things that come in, but
sometimes there's some unique stuff that comes in in expense or goes out as input and he'd like little free will to do uh a little bit on some just unique exceptions. And that's uh that took >> power. >> Yep. Yep. That's right. So, that took me
up to Christmas and that's all I had. >> All right. No, I'll I'll go next. So, I had a DAC meeting. Um, we met with the arch an architect or the architect that we're going to use. We're working on a building project and we we've now
decided that we are going to do a remodel inside instead of adding on. Um, the architect the re the rationale for adding on the first time was that we would interrupt the ser we would interrupt where the services would be at. They could still be at the DAC, but
it doesn't really He said, "We can retrofit your building and and and make it your space more usable and it would be actually cheaper and you'd have a better result." So, we're going to do that. So, we will when we do this be looking for a place to be for
about 3 months. Um, so we had talked about maybe during it doing it during the summertime and maybe we could get one of the schools to allow us to use some space or lease some space to >> Mstate M or Mtate. Yeah, MState. That'd be a possibility, too. I I we brought up
all those possibilities. So, um, yeah, that's our big big projects going on there. Um, also had a sheriff's meeting with with Commissioner Barry Commissioner Nelson. Sorry. >> And don't call me Barry. >> Don't call me Barry. [laughter] Um, I think everything's on the agenda,
I think. Do you >> um >> or except for [clears throat] uh we talked about the the um >> the one thing on the agenda, there's there's five vehicles to purchase and there's five vehicles, but three have already been authorized. So, that was
one thing we want to um discuss the the impound future of the impound and we're kind of putting on the on hold right now to see what >> what other options are available. Um there's three grants and then uh service
agreement think they're all agenda. >> That's all I have. You guys are lucky today. [snorts] >> Commission Richard and I had natural resources. Um I think at this time we're going to continue with um keeping the the
building the Pelican W former Pelican wershed building for storage. We had a revised quote for reduction in price but um I think at this time we want to just keep it and see see the needs of that. Um we received on the agenda there's some quotes for the old shelter. That's
on the agenda. Um, the deal Nordic Ski Club is requesting if they can place donation boxes for trail upkeep on on county property. Um, Mary has a problem with the title work on Osage Beach, but uh, we've got it's
either county land or DNR land and we're going to continue on moving forward with that. Um, we're looking at that a draft um position description for a full-time employee um to help with county parks and recreation.
Um, anything else, Richard? Resolution with Woods and Wheel ATV Club. Uh, >> anything else? Well, that property up on Sugar Bush, we talked about that a little bit. We don't know what we're going to do with that yet. And and the tribe, we talked to the tribe a little
bit about maybe working together on taking care of it and and who wants it. Do we put a public swimming beach in there or what we're going to do with it, but other than that, I can't think of anything. >> There's still a And there's a house there, too. >> There's a house there and that's kind of a
>> I don't know what do you do with that. I I keep thinking about what we do with that house up there, Barry. And maybe >> yeah, I don't I don't like the idea of having a a house on or a to use it as a facility. So, I don't know what what you want to do with it. I mean, >> you may have the one thing about that
house is it's a it's there's some value in that house. >> Mhm. >> That's a log home and you can take it apart. >> I would I believe you could take it apart piece by piece >> and put it back together the same way. And so, there's some value there and we could maybe sell that house. Yeah, I
think we It's not a finished product. It's a >> No, >> it's it's a but I don't >> But you know, I've seen people sell really old log homes. >> Um ones that have been sided over that cuz that's that's what they did with some of those log homes. They sided right over it.
>> So I think there's some value there. I I keep thinking about I don't see why we would leave it there. We I don't want to own a house and I don't want to rent it out and I don't we don't so it doesn't really fit with what we're thinking about doing. >> No. All we're looking for it's a bathroom facility facility and I think
retrofitting that to that would cost more than just put a vault vault up. >> Yeah. So >> um the only I had Lakeland mental health um we're not meeting our budget for the year but we are going to be in the positive. So I mean that's the good news. we our revenues weren't met, but
our um expenses were also adjusted to that. So, um there it's it's not much of a in the black, but um I think it's I think moving forward, we've set some goals to improve some sites that um I think are good and we we were in the
positive. So, that's one of the one thing you want to make sure. Um other than that, I think, you know, I've had some questions about assessing again. Um I think I forwarded Carrie some of those um concerns on I had a specific one. So I think the hopefully
the assessment assessments on some of these open lands I mean even are are going the right direction or going down in value for our upcoming years because um yeah we're we're overvaluing a lot of
these bare lands in my opinion. One thing I thought of this morning at the joint governance meeting when the um commerce mentioned I don't know coffee and community I think was what they have monthly and maybe that would be an opportunity for
us to to host one to discuss property value and assessing and how the levy you know all the the I mean if there's anybody here that can that can competently explain our state's property
tax system, but that it might be helpful for a community education because as we've seen at our TNT meeting, like there's a lot of people that could maybe would maybe be interested in in learning
more about that. But >> and that kind of is the function of the TNT meeting. Mhm. [clears throat] >> I mean, um, usually we have a slideshow showing how this how the taxs are collected and how they're divied out and, um, >> here it is right here. >> So,
>> I mean, it shows you takes through step by step why, how, when. Now, >> to relay that. >> It gets complicated and people tune out, but it's really I mean, >> we've done simple things to try to explain it. It is surprising to me how many people think that just because the
assessed values go up, we get more money. I mean, there's still >> there are still people that think that the mill rate levy was how you function, and that's that's not the case. I mean, the county >> or when our levy goes up 9%, their taxes are automatically going to go up 9%. You
know, that I hear that from a lot of people. So, it's it's very complicated and and it might be just a way for us to to partner with the chamber to to see if there's any interest in having more conversations about and maybe we don't do it till fall or maybe we do it in the
spring around the board of appeal time, whatever it might be. But, um >> I think right before right before the deadline to apply for for abatements would be or you know >> for the appeal. >> Yeah. for the appeal of their property values would be a good time to highlight
that so they have know get informed about that timeline on and what to do >> because I've had people ask me how do I you know what what's the process and I said you have to go to the township first >> y or the city >> any other meetings
Richard did you have any >> I just had an inter with bar and environmental phil and I will just say on this environmental with this fiber scream that that Phil mentioned it. It's very expensive, but it would go a long way. And
>> is there grants for it? >> Huh? >> Grants? >> Well, we're we're we're always looking for grants for it, but we've actually got it wouldn't it wouldn't cost anything on the levy. we actually have money, you know, in environmental. >> Mhm. >> And now with the, you know, with this
problem with our crew leader and the problem with this source of of >> people there. this this could replace a lot of people and it's a lot of money but it's something that I think the board needs
to think about >> um because it would go a long way in in more for more recycling and [snorts] with the cost of putting garbage in landfills and sending it to the incinerator
I I I I don't like to spend that much money but I don't I think it's something that we should all think about >> Madam Chair Just to piggyback off what Richard said, you know, it's our bottleneck right now. >> This paper fiber screen is what is holding us up from from
>> doing more. >> Uh so that that that was kind of the impetus for talking about this and say, "Hey, let's try to move this forward." It is expensive. You know, grants come and go if you wait around. We probably been waiting for a grant for it for several years. Our our MURF is it's fit
for it. >> Yeah. >> I mean, that's a big thing, too. They made it for this piece of equipment. Equipment's expensive, but it could it could solve some other issues. Probably create some too, but it could it could get more throughput through the day. >> And and the problem is the future of
garbage is doesn't it's very uncertain where where we could take it and what it's going to cost. And it changes all the time. And so we would have more control over what what those [clears throat] costs are going to be if if we do less
landfilling. I'm you know >> and does that have anything with your regional? >> No, >> Madam Chair. No, that that's that's C and D. That's construction, demolition, landfill. This has nothing to do with that. >> Okay. >> Uh >> nothing directly to do with it.
>> Okay. Well, I did not have any meetings other than we did all attend the joint governance meeting. Um, [clears throat] we got a good overview on the Westlake Drive project that will um hopefully be finished by fall of this year. Um, and
then just learned a little bit about other um what the city is doing, city of Frezy is doing um school and MState. [clears throat] So, that is all I have for reports. Anybody else have anything for reports and correspondence? you know, at our
joint government's meeting this morning when when Steve was talking about MState, I think, you know, something to consider is is I think Carrie maybe take Denise over and say if there's a partnership that for community health over there and human services, you know, a partnership rather, you know, to start
with and >> and uh see what the other outbuildings would be might be a situation where you could discuss that that partnership in the short term or, you know, in the midterm and >> um and see what the use is for the outbuildings if they're not going to
have the uh need for those, too. So, >> yeah. >> Um it might be a win-win, you know, and then eventually see that where >> what happens >> moves to. >> Yeah, I think that's a good idea. >> Um Madam Chair, I was just going to add to the joint governance meeting. I think
uh towards the end um just for information the focus or the uh reminder I guess is as a collective group what we can do as a collective group for the [clears throat] community uh versus individually. >> Yep. Yep. Which we've been talking about for as as Sean said for
>> for a year >> for a year. Yeah. >> So, which is really, [snorts] >> I think, a good >> reminder >> reminder and a good >> thing for that meeting, you know. I mean, that's a meeting where you have all the boards come together and and it would be a great opportunity for us to
to have more of a a discussion. It's just it's a very tight time frame. >> Yeah, it's not, >> you know, it's at 7:00 in the morning. And >> Madam Chair, um, our meeting, >> there was a discussion about the roundt discussion with Senator Coop and Representative Joy. Um, I would suggest
if this full board is looking at or more than two are going to that, we'll need to have some sort of >> Oh, yes. >> We we probably should advertise it just in case. I would say >> I think just to be on the safe side, I think we'll just advertise that meeting >> January what 9th at there was calendar invite that went
out. Yeah. >> In the in the same room we were in. Yeah. Just so everybody knows, there's the city is hosting a legislative roundt with representatives just to talk about the upcoming legislative session and and what we would like for priorities for for this community. So,
okay. Anything else for reports and correspondence? Otherwise, we can move on to appointments. Any appointments? >> I know it was a corrant opening and I have not heard from anyone. Carrie, has there been any [clears throat and cough]
information? So, that'll be vacant until we fill it. >> Do we have any other openings? >> I would [clears throat] think there'd be some in planning and zoning and some renew some reappoints. >> Some reappointments. >> We should probably double check on >> Yeah, I think I'm my dis my
>> there's got to be some every year, I would assume. >> Okay, we'll move on to um county administrator. We have the Minnesota Power is first on the agenda. So, if you guys want to come on up you
good morning, Madam Chair, members of the board, thanks for having me. Uh my name is Drew Jenkee. I am an environmental compliance specialist with Minnesota Power. uh here today to provide an update and a general overview of our Maple River to Cailluna or MRC
transmission line project. >> Um I believe we had shared a >> Madam Chair that that's north of Fargo to the Brainer area. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> I I I had to ask that question when I went to one of your sessions. Where exactly does it go? So >> Sure.
>> So yeah, um we do have a a a project um overview. Uh we have some slides here um that I'll walk through. But if at any point uh there's questions, please just stop me um really want this to be more of a discussion than a presentation, but I'll present um and hold hold for
questions um either during or after. So uh if you could click to the next slide, please. And even one more there. So a little [clears throat] bit about the project um and where the project gets its namesake from. So the Maple River to Cailluna project um really gets its name
from the two endpoint substations. Um the Maple River substation on the western end is a substation owned by Ottertale Power. Um and then on the eastern end is the Cayilluna substation just outside of the Brainer Baxter area. Um and that one is owned by Minnesota
Power. Uh the project itself is uh will be co-owned by Minnesota Power, Ottertale Power Company and Great River Energy. Uh it is a new approximately 160 mi uh depending on final routing. Um
single circuit 345 kilovolt transmission line project built on double circuit capable structures. Uh the project will initially operate as a single circuit. However, we are proposing to hang both sets of conductors. Uh so, six wires
total, three on either side, which will get into some of the structures here. Uh initially, those wires would be jumpered together or connected to operate as a single circuit. Uh so, when the time comes, we're unsure at this point, but roughly 10 to 15 years down the road to
energize a second circuit, we would remove those jump uh jumpers and energize a second circuit. Uh if you could next slide please. Uh a little bit on why we're uh proposing the project. Really the need
is boiled down into four major points. Um it's to [clears throat] enhance the reliability of the regional transmission grid. Um so really broad or broader regional transfers of electricity, increasing transmission system capacity uh to meet that growing electrical
demand uh on either side of the project. So the electricity is birectional. It can flow either east or west uh depending on where the need is greatest at any time. Um and enabling cost effective regional transfers as I touched on.
Uh next slide a little further uh or wider overview um and and where the project fits in at the regional scale. So, the Mid-Continent Independent System Operator or MYSO is a federally approved uh electric system
operator for a majority of the Midwest. Uh MYSO's territory covers portions of 15 different states as well as the Canadian province of Manitoba. Uh and MYSO among other things is tasked with ensuring the reliability of the
electrical system or the electric grid. Every so often, MCO will review this system and um either approve or deny projects uh that they deem as it's called a multialue project. Uh and recently in December of 2024,
MYSO approved uh trunch 2.1 uh essentially a batch of projects aimed at upgrading the electric grid. And the MRC project is one of 24 projects that was approved in December of 2024 by MYSO. Uh what you're seeing here uh in
the figure, all of the lines either dashed red or dashed green are part of that recent trunch 2.1 portfolio. Uh and then the lines that you see in gray were part of the first batch or
tranch one uh batch of projects. Uh and so you kind of get a an idea of how all of these transmission system projects uh correlate and connect. Uh next slide, please.
Uh touched on this a bit. Um [clears throat] so again, the project's roughly 160 miles uh give or take uh you know, depending on final routing um and once we get through the permitting process, which I'll touch on in a few slides here. So, uh, next slide.
Timeline, um, where we've been, um, and really where we're going here last year already with 2025 was really heavy in the stakeholder engagement. Uh, we did host a couple of rounds of public open houses. First round was in June. Um, and
we started with a really broad study area, which we have a figure, I believe, on the next slide. In October, we held a second round of public open houses. Um and from at that round we were able to show a more condensed uh view and what we are calling
preliminary routes which is where we're currently at. [clears throat] From those preliminary routes we're going to narrow down even further into a preferred route and then eventually into a proposed route that will go to both the state Minnesota state public utilities commission as well as the North Dakota
public service commission. um through this year and really for the next couple of years, we'll progress with permitting. Um really hit the ground with engineering and environmental surveys once we have a preferred route narrowed down a bit more. Assuming all goes well,
construction would commence in 2029 and the project would be in service by no later than 2033. Next slide. So this is that initial study area that I referenced. Um, I guess for reference
here, uh, there's a couple of black S's there on the figure on the far left or northwest portion is the Maple River substation just outside of Fargo. And then on the far right or southeast portion of the map here is the Cailluna
substation. And what you see highlighted generally in blue um are existing transmission lines with a 1 and a half mile buffer or three miles total wide um off of those existing transmission lines. So we're our policy and really
we're we're following state routing criteria is to colllocate or route alongside existing high voltage transmission lines as much as feasible. uh and the definition of a high voltage transmission line is anything over 100
kilovolts. So really anything that functions as a transmission line versus a distribution line which connects more into residences. So we started with this um initial broad study area and if you could click to the next slide please
um we condensed it down into what we're calling preliminary routes. Um so you can see the change here really cut out a large portion of the southwest area of that initial study area. Um among other things the a big driver for
that was Glendelo State Park in the far southwest portion of the study area. Um the state park is sandwiched between uh two lakes. So there really it was tough to conceive a route that would make sense through that area. Um there were,
you know, there's there's high residence [snorts] density um throughout certain pinch points along the area, but there were certainly um those factors as well that helped us to reduce or remove the southwest portion. Um if you could click to the next slide, it just shows the
preliminary routes uh a bit better from this. Um we're working um to come up with a preferred route that makes the most sense. So this will be refined even further. I mentioned we did have those two rounds of public open houses last year. We are planning for a third round
of public open houses and uh late March. We're [clears throat] still working to nail down venues and dates and times, but really we're looking at the end of March. And at that point, we hope to have this refined down further um to get feedback on what we're what we would
have as a preferred route. Next slide. I touched on this a bit earlier here. Um, but we're we'll be dealing with uh permitting processes in both states. About 95% of the project is anticipated
uh in Minnesota. And so we will be going to the public utilities commission for two types of permits. Uh the first one, as you see there, is a certificate of need, which is essentially just like it sounds. We go to the public utilities commission. [clears throat and cough]
fairly thick application packet uh outlining why the project is needed and in the interest of uh our consumers and the general public. Uh and then the second type of permit is the route permit and that is the one where we go to the commission with a proposed route
on a map um for them to review and consider. Um typically these applications um would be filed in a combined application. However, in this case, we need a little more time to uh develop a proposed route that's going to
make sense. So, the certificate of need application will go in first uh likely by the end of January um at the latest by February 6th. Uh and then the right now we anticipate the route permit being filed right around August of this year.
I'll note that through both of these processes, there's all sorts of opportunities for public comment and through the route permit process, anyone can propose alternative routes for the commission to consider. So just because we propose it doesn't necessarily mean that's what comes out on the back end.
Uh next slide. And then similarly uh across the river uh we will be going to the North Dakota Public Service Commission um which operates in a similar function to the Minnesota PUC and we will be going for a certificate of public convenience and
necessity which is similar to the certificate of need here in Minnesota. Um as well as a certificate of corridor compatibility and route permit which is similar to the route permit process in Minnesota. Uh next slide.
So again here um kind of outlining our routing process uh where we've been and where we're headed. Uh so we started with that initial study area. [clears throat] >> Uh had that initial round of public open houses. From there took feedback um both
from the public and from agencies that we've been meeting with. Um identified our preliminary routes which is where we're currently at. again planning a third round of these open houses, taking that feedback, getting down into a
proposed drought, and then proceeding uh through the state permitting process. Next slide. some [clears throat] of the considerations uh we take into account and really what we're asking um both the public and agencies for feedback on to
come up with a proposed route that makes the most sense is not only you know we we know what sort of constraints we need to avoid and there's a long list of them. Um but we also want to hear if there are routing opportunities or suggestions. We take all sorts of
feedback. um try to get as much feedback up front as we possibly can so we can make adjustments um up front rather than at the 11th hour. Uh next slide. Uh so once we do have a preferred route
or proposed route, we will go into the field and do field level studies which further drives our routing. Um starting with geotechnical surveys. So those uh really drive our structure design and where we can place the poles and
structures. Um but then also a full suite of environmental surveys from cultural and archaeological resources to wetland and water body uh delineations and surveys and then a full suite of biological surveys. And we do consult pretty closely with uh both the
department of natural resources and then uh typically informally with the fish and wildlife service on those service surveys. Uh next slide. So here is a drawing of our typical
preferred uh structure design. So steel monopole um anywhere [clears throat] from 120 to 180 ft in height depending on the topography and where we're at. This is a double circuit capable structure. Uh so one electrical circuit
hangs on three conductors on one side of the pole and then that second circuit um hangs off the other side. The right ofway width for a standalone 345 kovolt transmission line is 150 ft
wide in a collocation scenario which is what we're aiming for as much as possible. And if you could click to the next slide please. um there is opportunity to overlap that 150 foot right ofway with an existing
right ofway by up to 30 feet. So in this uh figure here uh you'll note there in the middle there's an overlap of 30 ft. Um so off of that existing 230 kilovolt right ofway we would go 120 ft
additional off of an existing right ofway in this scenario. Um you'll note, you know, the structures are about twice as tall as your typical wooden H frame 230 kilovolt transmission line structures. So quite a bit taller um
than what folks might be used to currently. >> You [clears throat] when you colllocate like that, are you excuse me, are you purchasing the the shared space also again? >> Correct. Y >> you're buying it again.
>> Yep. So the easement would be the full 150 foot regardless of overlap. Uh next slide. So I mentioned uh the steel monopole is our preferred design. In some scenarios
um where typically it's poor soil conditions um really driven by that geotechnical survey we do. We may need to explore lattice tower structure options like the two on the right. Um those are four-legged structures
compared to the single pole um that we prefer. And I guess for reference the lattice tower structures the four pole footprint is about 30 foot by 30 foot. Um we prefer the monopole. Typically land owners prefer it as well especially
um farmers or those with agricultural land prefer the monopole. But [clears throat] um so that those are some of the structures uh we may be looking at. Uh next slide. Uh this one just shows you know pre-construction into operation phasing.
So we would begin with that initial surveying um and then begin right-of-way clearing from there. stake out the structure locations, pour foundations with anchor bolts, uh stand up the structures, string the
wires, and then after energization, there is a cleanup and restoration phase um that we need to achieve before the project is deemed fully operational. >> I I got I just got one question. Sorry. Um, so you're building a you're only
putting in one new circuit though, but it's a capabilities of having two. So you could add another circuit without doing another right away and Okay. >> Yep, that's correct. And actually, so through that MYSO approval process, um, we were it was approved on structures
built as double circuit capable for that exact, you know, consideration. Uh, next slide, please. So, I believe this is the end of my spiel here, but um just to I guess recap
and uh make people aware, we do have a project website that we update pretty frequently. Um we also have a phone hotline as well as an email hotline. Folks can leave comments on the project website. So, we do interact um with
folks as comments come in um as much as we can. Um we've had two rounds of public open houses. We are planning for a third round here as I mentioned in March. Um and then you know lots of engagement uh both now and a lot more
probably to come as we move forward. So that is it. I will uh hang out for questions. Madam Chair, Drew, what will this board's responsibility be when or if this does happen or is this already taken care of by the public
utilities commission? Will will there be any decisions this board has to make concerning this? >> Uh we don't anticipate any decisions required by the board. Um really we're doing these um project overviews just so you all are informed um in case you do
get questions from your constituents. But the public utilities commission route permit typic supersedes local zoning ordinances. >> Okay, that's what I was at. So they're the authority on this. And >> that's correct. It's similar to when if
there's a um solar farm or if there's a wind farm that gets to be a certain point in size, the county doesn't have any any official capacity for determin determination. It goes to the state. Um,
so if the public utilities approves this, does that um and if there so if there's land owners not willing to cooperate, the public utilities permit kind of is the condemnation. Correct. And we do we do try to work with land owners as much as possible and
and we try to avoid that condemnation process. But yes, once the certificate in of need and route permit is issued, that does trigger that condemnation authority. >> I got one more. So, I think it was two
summers ago, um Detroit Lakes, here in Detroit Lakes, they they were recommending that businesses come up with what you could shut out, you know, if if they turn power off, >> brown outs. >> Yeah. Whatever it's called. Yeah. And is
that going to alleviate that? this by when this is up and running will that solve that problem? >> Yeah, that's correct. Yep. This whole um long range transmission planning the MYSO approval process is really intended to increase reliability and relieve
congestion that's blocked at some areas. >> So you did you say we we're sending power to Manitoba? Is that right? >> Uh so Manitoba is part of MYSO. So the province is covered under MyS's perview
and it's part of the same interconnected electric grid. It goes either direction. >> Electricity can go either direction. >> Correct. >> Yeah. You just got to turn the switch off. [laughter] >> Interesting.
>> All right. Well, thank you. Any other questions or comments? >> Appreciate your time. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next on our agenda, we have Minnesota Red River Valley Development
Association by Bruce Hines. >> Morning, Bruce. >> Morning, Bruce. >> Morning. >> Morning, Bruce. >> Just Just so everyone knows, the transmission lines are going south that go south of Ottoan and
Lake Park uh cut through Bruce's property quite uh quite heavily. and and uh of course some of our properties also might >> my property is right down the middle of this one. >> So it's >> Did did the gentleman leave just now? >> He's outside. Yeah.
>> Okay. Anyway, [laughter] and and and I intended or I guess I brought that comment forward because I would have rather had him hear it. But anyway, um you know, they insist on co-locating these lines and uh Erica
knows very well out there, you know, the the boys that were at the meeting from Wolf Lake were talking about, you know, if you own a 40 acre field, you already have one line going through that makes it almost impossible for aviation,
irrigation, even larger machinery we have now. but they insist on having another line right next to it and it almost makes that 40 acres unusable >> for farming. And uh and of course I've
suggested that they go from their line they could go straight across all the way to Highway 59 by using road ditches. So there wouldn't be any farmer that has a pole in their field. But they but they refuse to even uh look at that kind of a
project. And um so anyway, >> why do they refuse to look at that road ditches? >> Because because somehow the state and the federal have said, "Oh, whenever possible, we're going to colllocate these lines. >> They have no consideration for the
person who owns the property even though they pay an upfront fee and so on." You know, the last time it came through in the late 40s, $1 and you live with that the rest of your life for one buck.
>> And I don't care what they pay. When you've got kids out there that are operating your farm machinery and you run into a power pole or have an accident out there, >> it's a life-changing event. >> Yep. And uh you know there's no reason that they couldn't follow those lines,
especially when they can go straight across without affecting anyone's field. And a lot of places they could go that whole distance without even going by a farmstead. >> Mhm. >> Um and I've gone through this many times with them. So um but anyway, maybe you
guys could have more influence on them than a poor guy like me. But >> I think I think we know our influence there also. >> Well, you know, it's kind of one of >> it is it is difficult. You know, we farm around these I think the ones we farm are the are the bigger or the quads and
and now if you co-mingle >> and you know there's oh we can we can share some of that space. Well, it doesn't do us any good because your machinery can't fit in between the two if they're parallel next to each other. Now now you got to fold up booms and you got to farm in between them. You got to fold up to get in between them. So that
it's not an it's not a positive. I mean, it'd be better if they're on the edge of the se on the section lines anyway or something like that, but >> and they they tend not to even consider that. I'm not sure. I I I can't understand why. I've asked the question so many times and I haven't really
gotten a good answer, but uh anyway, that's uh some of you know Gladwin Walker. Mhm. >> Um uh back in the 70s when I was the egg teacher at Frzy, I was out helping those guys spray for army worms and they were
trying to spray around these poles. Well, they bring these pilots in and they say, "Yeah, we'll spray the outside of the field, but the middle of the field we can't do because there's a power pole there." Well, they had a good crop on this side of the quarter. They had a good crop on this side of the
quarter. The center of the quarter was there was nothing. I mean, literally nothing uh for them to harvest in the >> something to take into consideration. >> Yeah. In the fall. So, um and of course, once you add another line in >> Mhm.
>> Uh other than the fact that they somehow [clears throat] seem to think that, well, this, you know, we've already got this right away, so we add another 100 ft or whatever that it's going to be easier. Well, I don't think it's going to be any easier for him, >> but uh anyway,
>> that's not really what I came here for. >> That's right. [laughter] >> I could I open the can of worms. >> I knew there was a button there to >> Yeah. Well, anyway, we've been kind of fighting with power lines forever and and uh you know, common sense seems to
be lacking, but uh you know, and of course, it's not their job to consider what land owners feel, but um it it makes for some really tough deals. But anyway, what I'm here to talk about today is the Red River Valley Development Association.
Um the the association is an association of 14 counties in northwest Minnesota. Um they've been in operation since uh 1914, so 112 years. Uh Becker County was one
of the founding counties original member and has been active in it ever since. Um, and it's uh a an organization that uh was very interested in community involvement um and rural leadership from the very
beginning. That's kind of the thread that's been going through the organization. There have been many different things. Now, do you have the copy of the >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Is it just on what you have here or what you have at your desk? >> We have it on here. >> Okay. >> Yep. Um anyway, uh I've been your
director for 34 years and uh have been president of the organization for almost 30 years. And uh so that brings me down to our activities that we work on today. I'll start out with the outstanding leaders award that we give out. Um this
used to be the major focus of this organization. We used to have a banquet in Krookton. It was and at that time it was called the um um Red River Valley Farmer Homemaker Program and of course
that been changed to uh rural leaders since then. Uh we used to have a banquet. It was a very prestigious banquet. Um, in 19 or excuse me, 2014, the year of our 100th anniversary,
uh, we were contacted by Governor Dayton and, uh, they asked us if it would be all right if the governor attended our banquet. And uh they told us that well because this is this is the most uh uh prestigious
um agricultural gettogether in northwest Minnesota, they wanted the governor to attend. Well, of course, he ended up getting sick and wasn't able to attend, but it anyway, our banquetss were really great and I think Barry mentioned it a number of times. Uh Jerry, of course,
had been there along with us when he was a commissioner. Um and uh anyway when CO came along we were not allowed to have a banquet and uh uh our partner at that time was the extension service and they
kind of got used to not having all that work of helping us put on this banquet and when uh CO was over um and we had already realized that having a banquet and having that one particular part of
our program um was really not the entire focus of our organization. We had already started uh expanding some of our other projects and so um we really decided that having a banquet wasn't the
best focus and of course a lot of people would have to travel 150 miles to go to Krookton for the banquet. A lot of people said, "Hey, at one time that was a big deal to go to the University of Minnesota in Krookton and go to a banquet." Well, you know, they say,
"Well, we take our kids to Disney World and we go all over the country. Uh, going to Krookton's not that big of a thing anymore." And so, uh, we anyway, we've we don't have our banquet anymore. And I think that, uh, it's better use of
our funds that we have, very limited funds to to, uh, bolster the funding in other areas. And I'll go through some of those things. Um, we mentioned the outstanding leader program that we still operate and we give that award at our
county fair and I uh, Linda Pine and Lonnie were the last winners. Um, uh, um, um, let's see, your soil and water guy from Wolf Lake. Um, >> Tony Beck.
>> Tony Beck was the was the previous one. And I would ask all of those people. I said, "Are you satisfied with this?" they say, "Oh, we would prefer doing this than to go and get this award 150 miles from home." So, anyway, enough
about that. Our next program that I'll mention is the youth leadership program. Um, this is this is a um uh college program. Now we used to uh we used to you know have applications for that but
now uh we offer these awards through the University of Minnesota Krookton which is our closest land grant college and we also have started a program this year um at Mstate and so we offer uh awards through that program leadership awards
um there are pretty high standards to win these awards um and I might say that Becker County really comes out long on the on the good side of it. You know, out of 14 counties and and by the way,
uh Ottertale and and and Pulk County are divided in two. So, they're actually 16 units that pay $900 a year to be part of it. Um we've actually had about a third of the winners or the recipients of this
thing over the last six years that we've been offering a more expanded program. So we really do well in that area and there's there's a reason for that. Uh first of all we have a very active 4 program with a really important
leadership component to it. We also have uh uh egg programs in Freyszy, Detroit Lakes, and Otaban Lake Park that are very active, good programs. And then we're red by really good programs where
Becker County kids go to like Ulin hit her doll, Holly, Pelican Rapids, PUM, New York Mills, Sabika, uh and Park Rapids had just started a program. So, a lot of Becker County kids go across the
border and and uh and attend school there. And so, when Becker County kids show up in in a in kind of an almost unbalanced relationship to the other counties, um that's probably the reason
we have great youth uh leadership programs here. Um our other ne our next thing is we're involved with uh county 4. Um we have county 4 leadership awards. Uh we've been giving those in every county. Um we also have started a
FFA leadership program. This is separate from the other youth leadership program that we have. And then we have a builder of the valley program and and you probably see on one of the pages that the list of people and and uh we've give and two of those have gone to Becker
County people. uh Dagot Truck Lines from Freys. I guess they won the award when um Roxan Daget was a state legislator, but you know, they've been a very active thing and of course they're celebrating their hundth year this year.
Um, and then Colin Peterson. Uh, you know, we try to we try to shy away from political things if we possibly can, but as you know, Colin was a leader nationally in agriculture conservation
um, in the US Forest Service. You know, he was the chairman of of the egg committee when the Democrats were in power. So he was in charge of all those programs, rural development and a whole long list of things that he was involved with and uh when the Democrats weren't
in power, he was the ranking member and longerving and that's why he received that. Uh we've had a little bit of a we have a lot of conversation about that award. Um and uh we have a few people that we feel are are
um really have earned that award, but we haven't figured out a way to do it now that we don't have a banquet anymore. And I guess our present plan is that our next winner of that award. We probably will offer that award at our county fairs in the district or in the county
where those people come from. Okay. The final thing I wanted to mention is the emerging leadership program. um in 19 about 1985 and I was still involved in the what was called the King Agassy program at the time. It kind of
transformed into the emerging leadership program and that program has just been a wonderful program and if you look on your books in page on page 24 you'll see the long list of people that have been involved from Becker County. And uh I
guess what I've asked and I think I've talked to most of you board members about that maybe except Barry. Um we've sorry to leave you out Barry but >> [laughter] >> uh wish you >> anyway uh we have a long long list of really outstanding
uh rural leaders from our county that have taken this program. And I guess what I've asked is to the commissioners uh uh take a look at that list and if you see people on there, ask them about the program and I'm sure you'll get glowing reports about it. Um in all the
years we've offered that program. Um I've never heard one complaint except that uh uh the program does take a lot of time and it's sometimes a little hard for young families with small kids to be involved in it. That's really the only
complaint we've ever heard about it. It's just been so outstanding. Well, and it was offered uh we started it as an organization and um uh and it's been offered uh extension was our partner and
uh recently of course the people that uh retired uh from extension that helped to run that program uh uh you know when they a good program should be perpetual uh it shouldn't end when somebody
retires but anyway That's what happened. And so they've uh uh started a new program called um growing local leaders. Um and uh they no longer uh ask our counties to
submit people to be involved in it. That's one of the most that's one of the things that really bugs me the most about it. We've always uh we've have a great group of uh emerging leaders in the past that have formed a county committee that look around to to find
people to send to this program. It's been very uh you know they've they've really worked very hard at it. And so what I ask you is take a look at it. Now, we as an organization have already talked to extension and we've said we think you should move back toward that
original emerging leadership model. But we're just a little organization. If you looked in your thing, we're supposed to be a quiet, substantially useful regional influence. Emphasis on quiet.
In other words, we don't have a lot of a lot of political sway or anything, but I think county boards may certainly you can't just demand anything of them, but you can certainly make very strong suggestion. And so I've I've kind of all
of you except Barry, I guess. And and of course Barry's the one that probably knows more about our organization than anyone else. So anyway, um uh it's a great it's a it's been a great great leadership program. And if you look at the list, you'll see people on there
that are have become county uh um board members like yourselves, township officials, uh rural leaders of all sorts in our county and throughout the Red River Basin. Um and it's been just a
great program. the pre program they have now they had um 18 participants where we normally had of almost 40 participants before uh the first class was 18 the class this year I understand is down to nine and
they don't have the programming like we used to have they just have a kind of an online program now our our organization continues to fund them um that part of our program is uh $4,500. So, it's still
a substantial part part of our money. And um but anyway, if you take a look at that and feel that you should comment on it, I hope you would. And uh kind of brings me down to the last couple of things. Um last year at our annual
meeting, our our sec our uh uh secretary treasure has been fighting cancer for a dozen years and he um uh has continued to do a very good job. Um but last year uh he he would always
send out the letter asking for appropriations and a report of our activities for the year. Well, last year, Becker County was left out. And um and I didn't know about that until well, at the annual meeting, we knew he'd been
very sick. And so I we we all asked him, he said, "Are you sure you can keep going on?" And he said, "Oh, yeah, I can keep going on." He said, and what he told me was he said, "If you notice that I'm not at every bison game,
then you'll have to start thinking about replacing me." That's kind of what he said. Well, anyway, um I talked to Carrie. Well, anyway, he sent me a um a a uh email and saying that um this was
the very first part of November saying that uh uh his doctors had taken him off all of his medications and put him on hospice and he was going to have to be resigning his position. And so I called him up right away. And the first thing he told me, he says, "Well, you know,
Becker County hasn't paid their appropriation this year." And I said, "Well, I've talked to you almost every month all all year, and you haven't mentioned that." And so I came in and talked to Carrie about it right away. And uh and of course uh I went down that
same week and picked up the treasurer and secretar's materials. And uh we actually had a pretty good visit. Uh uh but he died 3 days later. And uh so anyway uh when I got the books home, I
realized there were actually six counties that he had not contacted. And so I called all the directors from those counties and they visited with their people and and uh um anyway, I end I ended up having to contact four of the
counties myself, three Becker County and three others. And uh um and uh so anyway um I guess I'm here today to ask for your appropriation. We haven't gotten yours yet. Everybody else has paid. I I
guess I don't know about Klay County and and Kitson because they said no, we'll take care of that ourselves. So I haven't heard from them yet. But anyway, um I hope you continue to fund this program. I think that we have a uh uh as
a group uh because we've dropped our banquet and all the emphasis on that rural uh leadership thing which is a lifelong award and it's really a great award but to change from the main emphasis of that to all the other
programs that I think is really a positive and I think you get a lot more for your investment in that. So, uh, with that, if you have any other questions, um, >> I don't, but I do I do just want to say that, you know, as I said on the phone,
I would I would for sure reach out to, um, our extension regional director and we have another member of our extension committee in in the room here that I think I think we will put it on our next um, extension agenda for us to at least have that discussion with Cecila because
I do think it's important we continue to grow Becker County leadership. you know, we have a good thing going. We don't want it to to end. So, >> how how to submit names. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> For that program. And and Bruce, just so you know, we've asked we brought it up at the board um our awards program
through extension um to we mentioned the commissioners if they know any names that they would like uh submitted to for potential awards in for future to get them to >> Linda or anyone on the committee. >> Right. And we'll be meeting next week, I
think Wednesday, for our annual program. I think Eric has been invited to come and Barry has been there the last number of years. >> Jerry been involved on that back in the days when he was a commissioner. And so anyway, >> u >> unless you have other questions.
>> No, I see no reason why we wouldn't continue our support. >> Do we need a motion to continue? >> It's budgeted already. Y and are you talking about last year's appropriation or this >> uh last year's appropriation was not made because the requests weren't made
and like like I say six other count or six counties total that didn't get that. How that happened, I don't I I can't figure it out. I talked to Milin's wife. Uh I called her uh just before Christmas again to just touch base with her and
she said, "You know, Milin was really really sick uh this last year and a half." >> And I realize you guys didn't know that because he would he had a way of, you know, when he'd come to your meetings, he would bolster himself to go to the
meetings, but uh he really really was sick. And so I can't explain it. I can only apologize for it. Uh I apologize that you didn't get the report that we annually send out or or the appropriation request, but uh I think
you understand that and I visited with most of you about that. >> We we have gotten the request for this year though. Correct. Is that >> um I did give Carrie a request and I >> Oh, here it is right here. Yeah. And then I guess I would thank thank Peggy also for doing this this uh uh you know
running this booklet for you and and her her work. >> And uh um we have we have a me uh we have had three county commissioners who've been members of our organization in the past the past few years. We also
have a a treasur auditor from Clearwater County, Alan Pollson, and he'll be taking uh over sending the appropriations request and so on. That's part of it. We've kind of broken down Milin's job into a separate secretary, a
separate treasurer, and then another person who handles these appropriations and and this part of it. So, uh, how Milin actually did the whole job all by himself for all those years is kind of amazing. And he was kind of an amazing
guy despite the fact that he was such a horrendous Bison fan. [laughter] >> So, some of you probably heard about Montana State winning last. >> Anyway, I I wish it would have been the Bison, too. But, uh, >> well, thank you for coming.
>> All right. and Carrie, you'll be in contact about the appropriation. All right. >> Thank you, Bruce. Hey, so we are going to look into this leadership program. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Because that's very I talked to him about it. Very disappointing, but it seems to be the way that things are
going for rural counties, especially in in western Minnesota. We're getting excluded from a lot of different things. So, >> yeah. and and uh well I guess I guess I've visited with you quite a bit and I sorry to take a lot of your time. >> No, thanks Bruce. Appreciate that.
>> Was happy to come in. [clears throat] >> We're still on schedule. So we we >> you must have known that >> we have time to probably take a break after this too. >> Do we want a break right now? >> No, let's do it the easier. >> Oh, okay. >> No, event in about >> You maybe want to do that session break? >> Yeah. Yeah.
>> Okay, that'll work. >> Okay. >> Hope I can make it. >> Sorry. We're next on the agenda is the 245th Avenue discussion. So, Mike Ingram and Detroit Township members, >> come on up. >> Good morning. >> Morning.
>> Good morning. >> Kevin, do you want to start or do you want me to start? >> Go ahead. Okay. >> Good morning, Mike Detroit Lakes. I've been here uh several times before the board. Um to be honest, I come here in frustration today. Um I'm frustrated
because June 17th, uh we all appeared in front of you and we had a public motion made that the uh gate would be resolved on 245th. And uh I figured we had it put to bed to get a letter from our attorney saying
that the uh county is not believing it's a public roadway. And uh so now that's starting to cost me money and because uh as a citizen I have to pay my attorney bills. Um and I'm frustrated by that. And then the next
thing is is the south gate is placed across the roadway on the south line and I can't get my pickup through it with the manner of the way the gate's placed with my uh tow mirrors. I have to fold them in to get through this new gate that's now placed across the public roadway.
In 1993, that gate was placed across a public roadway. The public roadway was posted. I I've given the board in the past the pictures of the public posting of the roadway. Um 20 plus people have access to this roadway. of those 20 plus
people that have access to this roadway are not all members of the ownership of that original piece of land that we in talk to in the southwest I'm sorry the southeast quarter of section 17. I um I hear through the rumor mill that
uh we should uh take easement through Wayne Schlaughterhoff's property. Wayne Schlaughterhoff is no longer a part of this southeast section of land. he is uh given his rights up to the uh trust of the the next group of people and so
there is no access there's no access across the Suline railroad way the railroad will not give us uh grant us access across that and the the access point through Waynees is private so if he sells that property we don't have access in the fact that he's a relative
that's allowed us to come through there's no there's no easement there's an easement And I rephrase that we have public access through the public roadway that's there. The gate was determined by the board to come down. Um from my
understanding uh Steve Skoo uh hired an attorney through the environmental group to review this. He's not elected official. He's spending my taxpayers dollars when this public board made a motion to resolve this problem. and I'm
back here today with this. Um, when we left that day, it was determined that the gate would come down. The road would stop being barricaded. The public road would stop being barricaded, which was illegally done in 1993 when the gate went up by the county. So, in turn, can
we just stop the wrong that started in 1993, remove the gate, and allow the road to act as the the access point that it was publicly designed for? That's all I asked for. And stop costing me money after you guys sat and listened to me in
June and made a public motion. Now, someone behind that's under your guys' umbrella of leadership undermines that and starts costing the the LLC group money to have to fight through attorney costs. This is ridiculous. And I'm frustrated that somebody's not listening
to the board that's uh not an elected member. He is an appointed leadership member of your county. And I feel that that's strongly giving you guys the middle finger in the term that he's not listening to you as the board and [clears throat] it's frustrating me as a citizen and as a
taxpayer. >> So I'm sorry. >> Yep. Go ahead. >> So um I did go back and look at the the notes from that meeting and the motion that was made was not to to remove the gate at that at that time. The motion that was made was for us to get a quote
for fencing to determine what our next steps would be. >> Correct. And if you if the meeting's recorded, you probably hear me multiple times say, "We would be willing to work with you for public safety to get the fencing in place to get the gate removed." >> Mhm. >> Not to get another gate placed across the roadway that we can't get a vehicle
through. And mind you, force management, which we have to be mindful of this piece of property. We do need to log this sooner than later. If I can't get my 3/4ton pickup through, how's a semi getting through? >> Mhm. >> We're being ignorant. It feels retaliatory that, you know, when we come to the board now, the next thing you
know, we're getting up putting up gates that aren't big enough to get vehicles through and it's going across the same public roadway that we recognized at that meeting to take down on the other end. It's awkward. >> Mhm. >> So, >> Madam Chair, has the committee discussed this at all? >> Um,
>> no, we haven't. And this is what >> just a little bit so small. But I I I said again >> the direction that I believe we gave to him was we're getting rid of the gate. He was going to get some pricing for
some fencing. Okay. And he's never mentioned an attorney. I wish he would have because I and I think he should pay for the attorney's opinion. It's a really weak attorney's opinion. It's very sad that what we've done to to my
neighbors and this is my district and that's my public road. It's it's always been a public road. It just wasn't registered. But it's a public road. There's a thing called adverse possession. You don't need to be an attorney here to see. They've been using this road for a hundred years.
>> I was going to point that out. Whether it's >> There isn't. They don't have a legal That's the worst opinion I ever seen. He wasn't given all the information. This is very sad what's going on that these guys got to take their time out. All these guys are busy and they got to come
in here and go through this again. I know the direction that was given that day because Mr. Skoo sat back there and shook his head. I wish there was a camera. He knew the direction that was given that day. And so I'm very
disappointed and I'm I'm sorry fellas that I wasn't more on top of this. I thought it was done. Commissioners, I I address you again in the respectful manner that 1986, 1989, 1991, the mileage township reports where the
county gives tax back to the township for the road mileage. T9 or 529 is the road that we in question are talking about. >> 579. >> 579. Thank you. Is in. So, the counties paid tax on this road. So, back to the
public conversation. Is it a public roadway or not? It was recognized back before the gate ever went up as this roadway. And so in turn, and it's still posted that way. There's still a posting. If it had been vacated, the first thing that we would have done as or I'm sorry, first thing the township
would have done is take the public posting of the roadway down. It's never been vacated. It's publicly posted. It's still on the gate today. The gate that they put up over madam chair, a question for the towner Kevin, what what uh do you see as resolution?
ret remain a township >> road. >> Well, >> and clarify that it is a township road if need be. >> Well, here's the fact that just really frustrates us is that has been a township road for since way back into the 40s. I've
talked to people with the township neighbors and that type of stuff. [clears throat] There's never been an issue if that's a township road. I mean, at one time there was several families living back there. I mean, the school bus used it. It was graded. It was maintained. It's only since 1993 or '94
approximately right in there when it was illegally gated. I mean, we look back through our minutes, through everything. We've talked to everybody we can possibly talk to and how on God's green earth the county thought they could put a gate up
across the township road just totally baffles us. Um, I mean there's even recordings in in the Becker County Courthouse that like with the early property owner sold the west
line was the township road. >> I'm just trying to think what our resolution or what our directive here today will be. >> We did the wrong thing by gating it. We need to take the gate down. It was mentioned to me, what's the county's liability if somebody gets hurt back
there and the ambulance driver doesn't have a bolt cutter? You know, when you start talking about legal opinions here and and it it it is I live I that's my township road. I want it back. There was no public hearing vacating that township
road. This board has done things wrong in the past >> and some of it's unbelievable and this is one of them. And what we need to do is get the gate down and quit causing trouble for these taxpayers. It's I can't believe it's gone this way.
>> Well, I could could I believe? >> Yep. >> So, based off our last meeting, it was a gray area when the gate was going to come down. As soon as we left that meeting, I addressed these guys and I said we should have give a deadline on the date >> when the gate was >> deadline on the date on when the gate
was coming down. We made a mistake there. We assumed the fence was going to go up and the gate would come down at some point. Now that leads us to this date today. >> Commissioners, I set a date on today
resolving this issue Barry by setting a date when we're going to take the gate down when the fence is up and we put this to bed up into something much larger than where it should have. >> So I so I think one of the issues with us setting a date is in Anybody here can
correct me if I'm wrong that we can't take the gate down until the fence is up because of MPCA regulations. >> Well, ma'am, I understand that, but that hasn't been properly fenced in the entirety. The South Line has never been fenced. >> So, it hasn't been secured. I truly
understand and respect your decision there, but I it's kind of ironic to me that now it's a concern today when it hasn't been properly fenced since 1993. It's only been fenced on the north and the the west and the east. It's never been fenced on the south and so it's
always had uh openness if if you want to. It's never been in described. I don't disagree with what your your opinion is. I just my request today is please take the gate off the north and the south side and please fence it along
the the township rightaway road edge and uh to the ownership of the property of the landfill and leave the road open. >> So what I we don't have anything to say this board doesn't have anything to say about that township road. I don't even know why you're asking us. This is what
I told him. Take it down. And for a dollar, I offered them when I found out that we had a legal opinion to hurt the township and these property owners. I have a warm back hole, a rubber tire backhoe in the shop, and I offered the township supervisors for a dollar. I'll
take that gate down. This is ridiculous, >> Richard. I I >> Well, it's ridiculous. >> I don't disagree. I'm not saying I don't >> We don't have any say and we we act like we do. We don't have any say. It's a township road. What are we doing? It's a matter that's that we we want to resolve
it. >> Well, do you want to go to court with these guys? They're ready. >> I don't think we should. >> Well, I I >> I think we should all apologize to them. >> I I certainly apologize for the delay and and the miss the but solutions and we just have to get to
>> what what I'm asking is that you give us 30 days. We have I'm not going to say 30 days to take the the gate down >> because that's but 30 days for for us to figure it out >> and then and then we can provide you something in writing.
>> Madam Madam Chair. Okay. I I'm going to disagree with Richard a little bit on this. Um what I thought happened back in June. Yes, we talked about the fencing a little bit if we had to do this. Then the MPCA came into it. We got to be careful about that because we got a landfill there. So, I I remember saying,
"Hey, let's get let's get what our attorney thinks." He had already said that, "Hey, I don't I don't I I'm a little aloof on the situation." So, he asked a township attorney who we know well, Troy Gilchrist. He knows township
law. He came back with his opinion, which you're right. It does. >> That's a crap. That's the worst. Phil, whoever asks pays for it gets the opinion they want. If this is not >> I went a little bit further and I asked what uh I asked uh what does the road
certificate say? Well, they haven't collect road tax. Detroit Township has not claimed that as a road since 1993. 1993 9293 something happened and that's what we're all trying to figure out. Am I right there? >> Minimum maintenance road. >> That's when the gate went up. >> No, it didn't become a minimum
maintenance road because you stopped accepting >> gas tax on it in 1992 or 93. That's right. They're still posted to this day, Phil. If you drive up there, it's mostly >> We collect road on our minimum maintenance roads. >> We don't turn it in on ours. That's the difference.
>> So, how can we collect how can we expect to collect maintenance fees if we're not maintaining it? >> There was no need to maintain it. So, we did the right thing and we didn't collect money that we didn't have coming to us. >> That's the reason we did that. >> I want to do the right thing, too. >> But I'm just going to tell you
something. There's a this this will not stand in any court. You know what adverse possession is? Do you know people have been using that road for over a hundred years? >> Adverse possession does not say it's a township road. >> It doesn't matter if you've been using a piece of property. >> Gives you access to your property. [clears throat]
>> So you've been using something for so long. >> I struggle with the fact that the illegal operation of gating this back in 93 >> is now benefiting you when you did the illegal act as the county. Then I that's where I'm at with this Phil is that you can't go and take a wrong and make it into a right
>> and that's what you're trying to do this >> and I and I struggle with this because in turn I get it as a taxpayer I don't want to buy any more fence but in turn I don't have any options as a land owner >> I think >> and it's a public road and it's my access point. >> One of the things questions was what
what we required for on fencing. I think that was one of the questions that we had for us. >> That was the only question. >> What what are the requirements? That's what I thought the question. >> It wasn't just the cost of the fezing is can we do that? I mean, we've got part of our campus on the other side of that
road. So, we have a CND landfill on the other side. You know, we need to get through there daily. I mean, I'm looking out for what's best for the county, too. I want whatever happens to be cleared up, and I want to take care, give you guys access. I want that. delaying you're delaying us finishing our work as
a LLC on the purchase because there's no there's a discrepancy between the county attorney access and our attorney and it's upholding our business on our end. I left here in June thinking that it was resolved by a public motion that this was done and in turn we still don't have
our transfer of land completely recorded yet because of this discrepancy and now your hiring attorney is making us fight it backwards when it was illegal in 1993. So, I say please acknowledge the public roadway. Figure out your budget on fencing it. I'm sorry that you have
to spend the money, but please, as a landowner, recognize that it's public and so we can get on with our private business. You know, it's simple. I I I want to protect the county whenever I can. But when the county's done something wrong, I don't want to protect them. When the state of Minnesota has
all this fraud down here, do I want to protect these people? Absolutely not. This was wrong. That's my township road. It should have never been gated. Like I said, we're going to make another wrong. No, this is really simple. There's a right and a wrong way to take care of
these people. These are our people. They are the county. Let's do the right thing. Let's quit messing with them and get the gate down. >> Madam Chair, >> can I get a some public acknowledgement to where we're headed here and then we're we're done. I think we've
exhausted our action. Madam Chair, what I was going to say is whether it's a township road or whether it's not is >> to to me somewhat irrelevant. You have we have to provide access to you to your property and and that's been a road in existence for who knows how long.
>> The township attorney's opinion. I do not see that the county is obligated to provide the owners access to the subject property. Now, I want to provide access. This is his opinion. This is a township attorney who works at this to get it from. >> So, all right. All right, guys. Listen. Yeah, >> I don't we're not we're not going to get
anywhere today. What I what I had previously said was give us 30 days. Let us try to figure this out. We'll we'll look at the the estimate for fencing and we'll give you an answer in 30 days.
>> I think the I think the option >> I don't even agree with that. Whatever. >> That's not acceptable. That's not >> Well, that's what I that's what I can motion. Okay. Just >> it doesn't go against our motion. Our motion was to get to get an estimate for fencing. >> I think you guys should take your gate
down and then let us sue you and let us pay for the attorney. That's what I would do because you're going to win and then you don't have to put up with this crap. I would just go take that gate down today and go ahead and call the pollution control agency and tell them where we're at because we can't treat
our our people right and we can't do the right thing. There's a right thing and a wrong thing. the the wrong thing was done to gate my road. That's my township road. It should have never been gated. If somebody gets hurt back there, there's there's a You want a legal opinion, Phil? It's who's ever paying
that? What's he say about people using that road for 100 years and you can you you think you can take that away? What attorney would say that? That I know you can't take that away. I I I don't have any kind of legal education, but I know this. If I was you guys, I'd take the
gate down and let us worry about it. >> Mr. Olsson, you have to do >> Thank you, Commissioner Barber. But it we want to work with you. We're not here trying to be adversarial >> and we're not >> we are getting very very frustrated. Um,
I sent an email to the county asking them to send me some proof as the board chair showing me where that township road was ever vacated or what gave you permission to even put that gate up there in the beginning. Nothing was ever sent back to me. Okay. So, that right
away tells me that you guys did something that was not right. That's all we're asking is please help these people. Um, as time goes on, there's different land ownerships and different things are going to change. It's not going to get
any less severe being able to have access to that land. So, we might as well address it, get it taken care of now so these guys can do what they want with that land, whether it's develop it, log it, do whatever. Um, we want to work with you, but we are
getting very frustrated and and quite honestly, you guys did something very illegal that >> Well, we didn't. >> I didn't. >> No. The county the county Phil I've went back and read your the county agendas uh minutes from back in 93. There's no conversation in the
minutes of the board to put up this gate. There's conversation that Jack Murray, the commissioner that lived that was a part of Detroit Township, came to the Detroit Township meeting and discussed it openly, but no motions and nothing of that nature ever got made in
no hearings of vacating this road. I've done the leg work on that. And so in turn, it comes back that there is no legal recording of us allowing the gate to go up. So it just got gated and and acknowledged that it got gated. >> So what I can tell you Yes. Go ahead,
>> Commissioner. >> I think what what if we could give some direction. I believe and this is my opinion that we should provide access through that so-called township road or by whether it's not a township. If it's not a township road, then it's uh their
access point. It's been their access point. I think they could argue that in court and have a very solid case that this is our continuous. We could ask this, >> you know, I think it's seven years if we've used this to access our property and then done some maintenance. I think they have I think they have a solid
point there. So I believe that this is going to be the access point in the future for them. I think if we can come to some sort of acknowledgement and saying we'll find a resolution for you to use this as your as a township road or a private road wherever it is. I
think that's that's what we indicated at our last meeting. And I think if we reiterate that that's the direction that we want to go, whether it's a township road or a private road that we privately maintain is something that we can work out how we get to that point. But I believe that this is the access point
for their property and they need to be confident that we will work to that end. >> A judge would decide that. I know we would. >> Well, I think I think for me, I'm not prepared to make any decisions because I have not read this legal opinion and I don't >> Have you guys seen this? You guys seen this?
>> You just disagree with it. Correct. Absolutely. I don't think it's factual because I don't think all the facts are known to this attorney. That's what I think. I don't think that he knows that it's been publicly I don't think he knows how much access has been to this roadway and used how much. >> The legal opinion doesn't >> doesn't carry a lot of weight with me
because what's right. >> I mean to me it might not it might win in court but it it doesn't win in >> it's not going to win in court. They forundred years. We Everybody knows that when you've been using something out, if you Barry, if you'd been farming part of
my land for 100 years, guess what? It's yours. >> That's That's the way it is. No, it's not. Well, >> it has to be a fence line or road or something. >> I know for a fact that a township road is or a road that's been maintained by township for seven years automatically becomes a township road.
>> Even if was not recorded, even if it's not intended to be a township road, there is court law to prove that. So, I mean, the fact that it's a township road is not an issue. >> John, did you ride the school bus down that road to pick up the
>> family? I think the thing for all of us in this room to to remember is none of us are attorneys. None of us are going to be arguing it in a court court and and we both everybody has something potentially to lose. So, I think that give it let's let's take a little bit of
time. Let us figure [cough and clears throat] out what we're going to do and and go from there. Well, if we if this board can't give a direction, >> I think we can. I >> I I mean, I I think we need to give direction to Carrie to lead this to to get through this as a board right now. I mean, whether we want to fight this or
we want to we want to find a solution for this >> and I think we we should find a solution. We should find it. It's the rightly guided before. I think finding a solution, but we don't have the solution right now. >> We do. We we do have a solution. We put up a fence like we were supposed to do
on both sides. That's the solution. Give the township back the road. Give them their legal access. That's the right thing to do. They should have never gated it. It was wrong. It's wrong today. Let's get the fence up and get the gate down. It's simple.
>> Madam Chair, >> it's so simple. >> Madam Chair, just >> looking out for the county. Um, I do want to give access. Okay, let's say we do put we do fence both sides of that. Like I said, I mean, there'll have to be gates. Yeah. To open up and close daily.
>> Yeah. Big deal. >> To get back. I don't know if you have to close the gates after you go. I I don't know because the public will be able to come down there. I I I don't know those things. >> Um the gates the gate will take it off their land and it'll gate our land to access our property.
>> But we need to get on both sides of that. Then >> we have two gates. >> Then we have two gates. >> Two gates. Two gates. Just two gates. I thought that >> well just >> I thought it was under I thought that's what we kind of were going >> and that's I that's what I believe the direction this board >> we need a date please set a date today
when you're going to close it and that will start this process >> that's what we should do I don't believe I don't need to hear any more >> I'm not prepared to set a date >> take the gate off set a date today that will start this process and that'll
facilitate or >> let's just do the right to get it done. I guess what we're asking >> Well, I think there's there's two issues here. One is a inappropriate gate for you right now. And the second is that might may have to stay up until
we can get appropriate. Well, what would help me is a motion that you're going to agree to open this up because then I can go forward with this that the fact that now I have legal access that can be recorded on this township road and and identify that I
can move my stuff forward. >> The gate date that I I'm flexible on as long as you just put it something in in a formal motion that it notes that it's comfortable. But what you're asking me to do just to say you're asking me to make a motion and vote on something when I don't have all the information. I
haven't read this legal opinion and so I'm I don't know what that legal opinion says and I'm not prepared to to make a motion based on that. >> I am >> well I mean you can but I'm not. >> Is it maybe it's appropriate to come to bring a formal motion back to our next meeting to give you a solid date? Would
that I mean to give a timeline and and uh I mean I think that >> agenda is that? >> Yeah. I mean, I think at our next and two weeks, >> two weeks. We mean two weeks again. >> I mean, to give and that would give us time to get some more information just to make sure we're dotting our eyes and crossing our tees to make this official
to say and maybe we can look into if we can get confirmation whether it is or well, I don't think we can get confirmation whether it is, but how to make that a how to make that a township road. Then how to that's not how to make how to make it >> clear how to clarify that that is a
township road then it is signed as a township road right now and >> and I could show you back before the gate went up where was that road >> do we agree to to coming putting it back on the agenda on January 20th is that our next [clears throat] >> here's your warning township town county
this township's giving you a warning you have the first of March and that gate's coming down we'll take it down. And there's your warning. You can work on your fence. You can work on anything else. Um, 1 of March, we're taking the gate down. Madam Chair, is there any
other reasonable acceptable access point besides that road that you would consider >> for? Not that I know of, sir. Not and the reason why I say that because the >> the easterly line is all uh suline
railroad and obviously there's no access across that and then the northernly line is either a swamp which is created by the pumping of the water from the landfill which I'm fine with it's it's actually been doing well for the uh habitat so it can but it prevents our
access so it it has to this road is really the only access point and if it's The township is on board. It is a road. It's already in place. It's just comes down to the gate. >> So your answer was you would consider another access
there was one. >> There isn't one or one created. >> We looked into this before. We did look into it. We couldn't find any other access. I asked about this the Canadian Pacific. They said absolutely not. They're not going to let groups of people cross this. The other side is a
swamp. It would be hugely expensive. But the bottom line is this is a township road and we don't have any say and you guys have been really really good. But and and I wouldn't be as good as you were if I was on the township and and I
really appreciate what you do for us and so I am not going to punish you for doing your job and I'm going to apologize that >> Madam Chair. >> So nobody knows why that gate was put in. Is that correct? Oh, we know. >> Yeah, we know. But nobody can find any
documents to support. Was it MPCA? What was it? >> It was to meet the MPCA uh uh fencing agreement when they dug out the landfill. >> You're sure of that? >> 100%. >> Yes. >> MPCA required that gate. >> Yeah. >> But that doesn't mean it was done appropriately.
>> Yes. And that's and that's the whole like >> it's here's an example. I own land on both sides of 230th Avenue. [clears throat] I run cattle. I would love to put gates across that goddamn road so I could run them back
and forth. Do you think if I did that the sheriff wouldn't be out there an hour later? >> Well, >> that's exactly what the county did on our township road. >> Do you think the NBCA in your situation might not be out there later? I mean, we got to figure that out, too. >> But it's >> it ain't none of their business. in
talking to the old-timers, the ones that are still alive and and still know something about it, it was just a a a courtesy of the Schlaughterhoff family and the neighbors to allow them to temporarily put that
gate up there. It turned into 35 years later that gate is still there and now it's become an issue because they need access. >> Why would it have only been put up there temporarily >> until they could find a solution to do something? [clears throat] So they were >> got a little bit of a situation.
>> Good to also goes in the same sense they never finished the gate the fencing around the rest of the property that that gate was only went for quarter mile down each side. The rest of the south end of that property has been open since that time
the gate went up in 93. >> Well I think the original idea was that that fencing would have been completed hence no need for the gate. >> Correct. But it never got finished. I don't know if it ran out of money or why. I that I don't know, sir. >> Well, we will put this on the agenda for
our next board meeting. >> They're taking the gate down in March. One March gate coming >> commissioners. Thank you. I'm sorry if uh I feel a little frustrated, but I think you can understand. I appreciate your time. >> Yes. Apologize for the problems.
>> Madam Chair, Commissioner Nelson, um these have been pretty intense discussions in our subcommittee meetings. That's probably why hasn't come back here. We were waiting for this. >> I was not waiting for that. I had no idea that that was being done.
>> If I'd have known that was being done, >> I could have warned those guys. We should be ashamed of ourselves for You should be ashamed of ourselves for trying to take my township road. >> Okay. >> Gez, what's the matter with us? [laughter] >> Do we need a break? Let's take a break.
>> I need a break. Let's take a break. >> Take a break. We'll come back at 10:26. behind. >> I don't think that's my fault. >> A farmer chair never let us get behind. [laughter] [snorts] >> Yeah, I don't know.
[cough] >> Okay. Um we will move on to car's report. >> All right. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um [clears throat] the a I probably have referenced this before. The board had approved um purchasing of additional AEDs. So we are
working on getting those out into the buildings and I'll be bringing before uh committee and AED uh policy for uh consideration. Also, just a couple of things on my radar that I am working on. and I've sent some drafts out, but I can
certainly share that uh in the near future as well. There was a request to start taking a look or vetting an email retention policy as well as a suggestion of a delegation of authority uh for myself to sign off on ongoing yearly
contracts on behalf of the board. So, I got some drafts going on that. So, that that'll be uh coming in the in the near future. Um there's been continued work being done on our final I say final we're getting there on the final roll out of
uh Paycom working continuing to work out the bugs and I I just can't uh stress the amount of time and effort and uh things that have went into the roll out of that. So I >> but it'll be worth it in the end, right? >> Yes, I think so. >> That's what we have to
>> We better eye on the prize. >> Yes. Um it's it's again streamlining processes, cutting cutting down on peril errors and and I mean those are the goals. So um I I think we're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. That's why I bring that up. So um safety
training uh we're initiating that. Myself and Cody have had some conversations with regards to county employees. We use safe assure. So we want to ensure that um safe assure and ensure that our employees are um going to be up to up to date on completing
those safety trainings. So we're getting the listing together and we'll be sharing that with department heads. So that'll be again in the near future. Um I did quite a bit of work here in December with Becky from the museum. Um we are at the tail end of closing out
the museum grant uh through DED. So, um the final payment on that or allocation for that museum um was requested through the state. So, that is in process. So, that'll be uh I'll be happy when that's completed. It was a lot of documentation
and a lot of paperwork that needed to be completed to uh complete that. So, Becky and I have worked quite a bit on that. So, um the last thing I have is um I just wanted to gauge interest. We are now at the beginning of the year. we've gotten
through uh budget talks and I was uh if I recall I was told to bring this up in January as far as looking to future work sessions again for uh strategic planning a capital budgeting. So I again just want to uh bring that up to see um what
what direction you'd like to go with that. >> Yes. >> Yeah. I I know you're going to say >> to conserve money. I say no. [laughter] >> Okay. All right. Are are you serious? >> Yeah. >> What if we do a no pay work session or
did we already say >> well work session we is determined at the time we schedule >> at the time of the scheduling of the work. >> So it wouldn't be >> unless noted it would not be >> unless noted it would not be correct. That's that's what we decided today. >> Um
>> in the form of a motion >> correct >> it would need to be in the form of a motion. Correct. to have a work session. And >> Madam Chair, at the very least, we need to go through Car's slideshow that we missed at the last work session back in November. I mean, we paid we paid some money to come in here and help strategically do some strategic
planning. I mean, Carrie's got something that we need to look at. >> I would agree that we should that very minimally see Carrie >> SL. I've tried to show you a few times, >> Barry. [laughter] >> I I agree. We do we do need to um have one work session.
>> Can we do it on an off week 13th? Next Tuesday. >> Um >> that a Tuesday. Did you say Tuesday? >> Yeah, I just suggested it. Next Tuesday is the 13th. >> NRM next Tuesday. >> Morning. >> Yep. >> Morning. Okay.
>> I don't Hold on. My [clears throat] calendar's downloading. 13. >> Uh, suggest another day then if that doesn't work, you want to do it before our next meeting. >> What's the work session? Just going to watch the video.
>> Well, I um >> pressing things would be that. How long is the video? >> Okay. It's not a video. It's my presentation [laughter] that I've been trying to show you. I would say um it's really to start the conversation and to start talking about policy of how we're going to make
decisions about how we're going to prioritize projects so that this board can get on the same page about how you're going to go about prioritizing >> and that'll lead into MSTate. >> It'll lead in to several things. So I would say an hour and a half is what I
would suggest. >> I can make next Tuesday morning work. >> What? >> We have NRM. >> What time is your NRM? 8:30. >> Yeah. I don't know what time it gets done. Barry, what time is NRM get done? >> Well, we could have a short meeting at 8:30 and start the your meeting at 9:00,
half an hour. >> Is that >> I can always also make Tuesday afternoon work, but open on Tuesday afternoon as well. So, which whatever works for this. >> We're done early Tuesday afternoon. I can do it. >> Do it Tuesday at 9:00. Then I don't have to come into town twice. >> I'm okay with that.
>> All right. Okay. >> So, I will ask Peggy to send out the invite. or meeting >> one and a half hours. >> I said one and a half, but I'll I'll gear towards one. How about that? >> I like that. >> Okay. >> All right.
>> And we said at the time we scheduled it, we were going to decide if this work session was going to be a PDM. >> I'm fine saying no. >> See, if I have NRM, it doesn't matter to me. >> Doesn't matter to me either. >> No was fine with me. >> So, I have other media J. It doesn't
matter to So, we will we will have a work session Tuesday at 9 um Tuesday the 13th with no >> no PDM >> PDM. >> I don't think you need to mention that unless you have a PDM. >> Yeah, >> that's all. >> I just wanted to make sure everybody
>> we do we those meetings are mileage meetings. Is that correct or not? To me it doesn't matter the mile. >> I would assume any when you have a scheduled meeting you have a mileage. >> That's a lot. Okay. >> Okay. We got that scheduled. Anything else? Um
>> Peggy, you'll send out a calendar. I got one enthusiastic member over here to my left. Um the last thing I just wanted to mention to the board, I'll be out of the office. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> Uh I will be out of the office
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of next week. Taking some vacation days. >> Okay. >> Enjoy. >> Um that's all I have. Oh, nope. Um you wanted me to bring up blight properties commission. flight properties and where we are in conditional use permit look back >> conditional use
>> like like following up to make sure that they're following the >> right >> the bladed properties was I mean we talked about that last year at this time >> and where we at I know I heard it was at the attorney the last I heard bladed properties
>> some of them not all of them >> last round table yep thought it was kind of a gonna be on the committee type discussion. >> We had talked about the person from the
district that it's in that >> that is that is the last discussion that I was at as well where um specific properties the commissioner that was in wherever those blighted properties along with whatever the team was determined was going to go out and potentially view
the property bring back recommendations. So we maybe want to have a put together of some sort of form or policy that we follow on that. It seems to me like no matter what is going to be what what the blight property is going to be, we need something in our ordinance, a
policy, something. >> We need a policy for review. How to review that and escalate that to that >> like how you're going to go about >> I don't know something you think. I would assume that. >> I would assume. >> I would assume most.
>> And then the conditional use permit look back. I mean, we have no followup to make sure the conditional use permit, we issue them, but we don't check to make sure it's done properly or not. So, I wanted to go back five years, about 30 a year, Kyle said, and I wanted to do it in the winter because um that's the time
they got more time to go back and just make sure. And Barry, you said we don't want to be snooping around. Well, if we give the conditional use permit, we should be able to access the property. If we don't, let's do a drive. Let's do the best we can to make sure they abided by
what they said they were going to do. That's that's all it was. >> I think I disagree with that. I think that we >> overreach. >> Yeah. Just let sleeping dogs lie. If somebody has a complaint, bring the complaint in. We'll act on it. >> That's how we've operated. go out and start causing trouble for people doesn't
make any sense to me. A lot of this stuff like the guy who's supposed to keep all of his stuff inside [laughter] that. But yet the neighbor doesn't have to keep his stuff inside. I If there's a problem, let's address the problem. Let's fix the problem. Let's enforce the
conditional use. Let's not go looking for problems. I It doesn't make any sense to me. Madam Chair, Commissioner Varberg, don't disagree with you, but when we were talking about this blighted properties, we needed to have a process in place. So
this kind of fit that we are doing this, >> I'd say when there's a complaint for a blighted property or a complaint for conditional use permit [laughter] problem, then we address it. Otherwise, we just let people live their lives. I'm not into giving people trouble. I've
always said that when we when we add conditions on [clears throat] conditional use permit, we should re we should have a review and it it doesn't have to be a a official review, but we when our when our people are driving around, I mean on other things and we
have a you know just have your list of properties that have condition that have conditions on them under that you can just drive by and see if they're meeting those if they're becoming a an issue. I mean, I don't I'm not saying walk on site, but I'm saying a drive if you're driving by and see there's a violation.
I think then we then we the discretion of the employee at that time can take note and say I think this is something to consider sending a letter or not. Now, if they say, you know, it's it's minimal. It's not anything that we want to then we don't. But I think that some
we give the discretion to the employee to say this this I see getting escalating if if it >> Madam Chair what what I see from that commissioner Nelson is uh well you let them do it. You let everybody else do it but you don't let me do anything. I mean I hear that time and time again. I heard
it on the watershed a lot. You let somebody else do something and you don't let someone else do it. But to me this would make it consistent. It would make it fair. If that person has a specific place then then they tell you and then you go say give me the names of the complaints that you want then and we
will review them. >> I mean >> madam chair I I think with this uh discussion and we've had this discussion before you know it's really about philosophy of the work. >> Are we reactive? Are we proactive >> and where do we want to be in zoning
specifically? Now, if we want to be more proactive with this, this would be something as we talk about measurements within departments, this might be something, you know, as far as a measurements, how many violations once you issued these and those kinds of types of things if that's the direction you want to go,
>> which I think is a policy, right? Like I would >> a policy that we would have to >> it's a sh it's a shift in how you do your work. Mhm. >> Well, we had one come well nearly came of the Dollar General that was not following the conditions on their usage. >> Mhm.
>> Um and they weren't they weren't listening. So, it came back to re we were going to remove their conditional use permit to allow that business because they weren't following the conditions. That's where it ended up. And then they started following them as soon as that was said that we're going
to put you on the agenda. So, um, you can get compliance rather quickly if you if if they're not, you know, through the office have sent out letters and, um, but I think there's priorities on what on >> Yeah. >> different properties. There's one that I
mean like like a commercial use like that in a residential area, if they're not following their conditions, that's that's significant. Now, >> Madam Chair, Commissioner Nelson, you had said uh a little thing. You said some of these storage sheds, you know, well, we need we want some buffers, some tree buffers out there. Well, let's say
they don't do it. Not that big a deal. Nobody's complaining about it. It was in the conditional use permit. Is that an example of something that, hey, they should be reminded or, hey, remember this was like something like that. How should that be handled? >> The same Dollar General had that and they they were required to and they
didn't do it right away and they and the neighbor said this was part of it. So, I I I don't I don't know. I I just I would love us to go out and and monitor annually, but I we don't have the the staff to do it. >> No, I I asked Kyle. We do. He said we
issue about 30 conditional use permits a year and to go back five years in the wintertime when he's got more time and especially with not going on site and and check making a checklist, just doing drive. He's he said he could handle that, >> you know. And then there are some that
that we don't how do I say this that are in violation that I don't want to that I don't care to correct that I don't that are things that aren't needed to address. I'll give you an example. There's one by my house. I'm not going to but it's got a conditional use permit. Now it's not
being used for that anymore. It's sold and one of the conditions is there can be nothing outside. Now they decorated with old machinery. I mean it. >> Mhm. >> So they would have to go back and get this remove this conditional use removed from that property. Cost them money to remove it because and because now it's
just a private, >> you know. So there's things like, oh, this is going to this will hurt people, too. Well, it's it seems to me if if we have Kyle saying it's something that he can do, maybe Kyle has the direction and if he
>> if he we we allow him to do what he wants, you know, what he's able to do, >> there has to be some administrative or employee review to say that this this is significant enough. I I want to bring it forward. >> I mean, um a tree plantings I think that's the simple one. You have not
complied. I think you should fix you should put those trees up. I mean that one's simple but a condition that you can't have outside machine outside any anything outside storage on your commercial use now it's changed ownership it it shouldn't be conditional use
permit there anymore because they don't use it it's for private storage and for their and they have a camper there >> I thought that after so many years of not being used the conditional >> use that's just initial use I believe >> just initial >> I'm not sure >> I think it's just initial but I'm Sure.
>> Well, do we have any just for the [clears throat] >> I think continue to move on. Is there anything >> on the blight or on the on this type of thing? I think if Kyle has time to do that and and I think if we can use administrative judgment on those I I
think he can do that without us doing anything but just start reviewing some of those that >> the conditional use permit is the conditions on those. I think some of those should be reviewed >> and have administrative jur >> to see if they're rise to the level of bringing those forward or not
>> or just a letter stating that you know you need to plant these trees by next year. We'll review you again. >> Madam Chair, Commissioner Farber, um I'm not going out looking for stuff. I just want to say if we are the authority here, we're issuing these things >> and you haven't complied. it's not fair
to everybody else and why do we have why do we issue them? Why do we have, >> you know, part of the problem is if a condition use on a business, um the neighbors don't know, they don't know what's allowed, what they should or shouldn't be doing, but um so they could
add something and you know, four years down the road you something else goes up or something else and I don't think that's appropriate. So I I don't have a problem with some review of these on some sort of, you know, for administrative review. I think it's a I think it's a good idea. Um I
>> I see all kinds of problems whether they have so say that I I see all kinds of problems where they don't even have a conditional use permit and there's there's such a mess in some of these places now they're not blight properties. That's what I mean. There's
people who don't get conditional use permits and I'm not sure everybody should have a condition. >> We did change that >> in every place. some of those administrative like >> in through our through our process, we just changed some of those. So, some of those don't need. >> I mean, I'd say I I'm going to tell you
right now >> out here at Brandy Lake, that's a terrible thing. When we get that stuff straightened out, then maybe we should go around looking, but we're going to go look for problems when we can't fix a real problem where they're blocking the
road and and on daily basis. And we we're doing nothing about that, but we're going to go look for more trouble. I'm I I like it when somebody complains, we address the complaint to fix it. Let people have their lives, have their land, use their land, you know, don't
dump oil in the lake, don't, you know, don't run your sewer line into the lake. I mean, there's there's a lot of things they shouldn't be doing, but I don't want to nitpick. >> Well, we're not looking we're not going out. These are conditions on conditional use permits that they agreed to to get the condition. We're not looking We're
not going out looking for businesses that are in viol or new new things that are in violation. >> Yes. >> But we're looking at >> So I do think though that we should probably get something we because as Commissioner Hansen has said, we've been talking about this blight property issue
for a long time. I do think we need to continue if if it's something that we need to get into our ordinance so that we can enforce it, then I think we need to to move forward with that because >> there are your property, you know, I I
have one in my property that we we would like to do something with it >> and we're we're kind of back at a standstill of what do we do? So, I don't know if that's the zoning ordinance review committee that does that or who who that is, but
I do think we should move forward with whatever we policy ordinance, whatever we need to do for those blight properties. >> We need to do that. >> I think as far as the conditional use permit, we can >> that is something that Kyle can handle. >> Yeah, he can. He's got time. >> We I don't think we need a policy or we
need we need anything. If he has time, he can follow up with them and and make sure >> if there's a concern, he can let the board know. >> They didn't plant trees yet. When you plant those trees, go ground proof. >> Okay. Anything else with that or
>> Well, Miss Madam Chair, I think I think >> to make sure we're clear then, we're asking Carrie to to bring us back some sort of timeline or something for blight prop some kind of something >> some or next steps or >> concrete thing that we can act on to
have a pol have a policy for >> a policy or how we're going to be pursuing the >> pursuing BL properties. Correct. Yeah. >> Got it. Yep. Yep. I have it. Okay. Anything else before we move on to resolution 1F? >> Um, I don't have anything else in my report.
>> Okay. So, next on the agenda, we have resolution 1 1261F, which is the setting of minimum salary for elected officials. Do you want to speak to that, Carrie? >> Correct. Um, so there's statutory language um prior to uh filing dates for
elected official that the board must set uh minimum salaries. This is minimum not maximum. So obviously um what I did um I looked back to see when the last time this was done and I found set in 2017.
Um so I basically looked at the salaries that were set then doubled them kind of looked even though these individuals are not on uh DDA scales but I that's how I came up with the minimum. Madame Chair, I will move to approve resolution 1F.
>> Second. >> Any further discussion? >> I I just want to note that these are minimum salaries that we can't go below. >> Are they minimum salaries? >> And minimum salaries. They are minimum salaries. You can go >> We don't we don't have to hire somebody at this salary. We can go above the
salary if we hire somebody. >> Yes. >> Or get somebody. >> This is the minimum standard. >> So are these? >> They're minimum. They're minimum. They're minimal and minimal. [laughter] >> All right. Any further discussion? I would say something but I can't say in a public sitting. >> I'll call for a vote. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I.
>> Opposed. >> Motion carried. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. And that is all I have for today. >> But they're minimum, right? >> But they're No, they're minimal. >> Minimum. [laughter] >> All right. Next up, we have NRM Mitch and Steve. >> They probably deserve that. >> Hear about the Dutton Lock shelter
renovation estimate. Morning. >> Still morning, right? >> Yeah, >> still morning. [laughter] >> Thanks, Mitch. >> We'll just give you an update on the Dun
Lock renovation shelter. Um the old one, we went and got two quotes for updating the shelter. Um this has been through NRM, it's been through finance. Now we're bringing it here. The quotes are to do basically so
we we lock down what we can do with the property or get us some estimates so we can fix it. We're also going to hold off on this until we uh there's a possible grant opportunity. We're going to do some research on that to see what it if we could get a grant to help pay for
part of this as well as some of the parking lot and the driveway. Once we get those estimates um for the paving and fixing of the parking lot, that'll give us an idea where we want to go with whether we want to apply for a grant or
not. And then this would move forward in the spring. >> So, as far as the estimate goes, do we need to act on that today? >> I guess it'd be nice to have the estimate approved at maybe at this amount. Um I you know let's say a month from now we come back to that same
contract and changes but I'm just looking for >> Madam Chair Mitch this was considerably more than what we had kind of thrown around >> for the shelter. I think we're looking around that 20 30,000 when we talked to N max at NRM to spend a rent do some
renovations on that. >> I was remembering put some windows in and >> do some I was remembering five to 10. >> Yeah. This will dress it up a little. It's not going to be fancy. It is a a a park shelter at the same time, but >> well, I expect it to be a little fancier than the 5 to 10 we were talking about,
>> but to remove the existing stuff that's still there. It takes time, too. And um >> All right. >> This this includes windows, though. >> Yes. >> I mean, it includes the cost of the windows. >> Um [clears throat] I think I think when we were in NRM, I think we said we're
looking at under 20. I think >> that's what I thought we what we said in our committee. >> Okay. >> And I think re very reasonable. Oh, I don't know what >> that was my opinion. >> Yeah, I question this does include the windows correct. >> Yeah, because it was so >> it was
>> Yeah, that was a followup at NRM to make sure all the materials included in the R. So, >> um so I guess the question is if we make a motion to approve this, are we making a motion and approve it with or without the grant monies? because we're we're we're trying to use
this as bait to get monies for the grant because they don't grant use grant money for paving of the parking lot. You we wouldn't get much. But this improvement might qualify. So, are we My question is then if we make a motion to approve this, are we making a motion to approve it with or without with unconditionally
with or without the grant? >> Because we talked about Barry that it's a lot of trouble to get a grant, right? >> Yeah. If it's a $500 grant, it's not worth the time to go after a $500 grant. >> My my I guess my request would be if if we were unsuccessful with a grant, I
guess everything would get packaged up and brought back to committee >> with with an estimate of the paving or parking expansion, but if we were unsuccessful, could we move forward with um this this estimate or or something very close to that and absorb the cost
through recreation budget >> and which that money can only be spent on certain things. Correct. [clears throat] >> Recreation. >> Yeah. So, the money for this, say we say we went ahead and fixed this shelter, >> that doesn't affect our That's money we
can't spend on something else. Is that correct? >> At this time, it's not levy money. >> No. Right. >> But just to point um those funds don't increase like they used to and and it to improve our recreation activities in the future may require us to put general
fund monies in it. >> Correct. in the future, I would suspect. >> However, I do think that we need to do something with the shelter if we're going to keep it. If we're keep it, but we need to do something with it. Yes. And it it there is quite a bit there to throw away.
>> Mhm. >> Isn't there isn't that >> so to to construct something like that would be very expensive. >> Well, is it something we want to keep or if it if it's not? That's our options. If if it's not, then >> So, how much how busy is is that new shelter? Do you
>> this first summer is busy? Yeah. And there's, you know, >> do you think people would be using that this one if we fixed it up? >> Have Have you guys been paying attention, Phil? Have you been paying attention to what's going on down there with the with our new >> people down there? >> Yeah.
>> I mean, I've been out there a few times. I mean, I don't know. You'd have the numbers for the reservations, right? >> Yeah. It's it seems like it's growing and growing and we put the new shelter up that's got a lot of attraction to it. Um, it's got that year round aspect. But the one thing to note is we we uh reserve the the new shelter and then the
one up on the hill and this this original one, the BFW shelter uh through committees and and I think the board said we're going to leave that so the public general public don't have to worry about um getting in somebody's wedding reunion their wedding party they can. That's that's for the general
public. >> Non-reserved reserve. >> Yeah. So right now somebody could come out there and find out come out there and use to use the new one and find out it's reserved and not be able to use it and have to leave then. >> Okay. So >> um Madame Chair, Commissioner Nelson,
you said this isn't taxpayer dollars or levy dollars. What did you mean by that? >> These are fund there's two funds that NRM has that are generated by tax forfeited land sales and timber sale land sales. Okay. >> And that's what these that's what we generally funded this with. um as we've
changed some of the funding formulas now with the state not allowing us to keep all those funds they're not going to replenish like they did at one time >> but those funds must be used on certain >> on these recreation >> these two funds are yes they're limited what [clears throat] you can spend on
>> so Mitch what is this bid is good for how long [cough] >> don't know the dates they didn't >> so we so what I'm asking is NRM wanted to keep it under 20 so We we make a motion to accept this bid. Should we
also say hey the bid might you know up to a >> I would say ex if we want to accept the bid I think it's if it's not I mean >> I think it is what it is. If it's not then we have to come back. >> Okay. >> Madam chair I'll move to approve uh the low bid for the uh Dunlocks shelter
renovation estimate >> uh excluding grant. I mean, if you get it, great. If you don't go forward >> for payment up to 16 >> 16310 16310, >> I'll second it. >> All right, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?
>> Just a question. Um, if there's any change orders, >> do we authorize Carrie to review those and have use her judgment and any up to her? >> Sure. >> Up to her. >> Yeah, we're both I'm good with that. So, see
>> maximum without board approval? Mhm. >> of 5,000 maximum 5,000. >> I mean, >> knowing that we're not looking for anything improvements for change orders, so use our discretion. >> Yeah. >> I mean, I think we just So, we're all >> You guys are okay with that? >> Yes, I am. >> Yes. >> All right. Any further discussion?
>> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. >> All right. Next, we have the tractor loader boom mower. >> Yeah. Next item. Uh, it's Yeah. capital purchase for a John Deere tractor, a
loader, and a boom mower. That boom mower is more of a brush cutter that would be used out at our county forest roads, which we have about 50 miles of recorded county forest roads on. And then there's on top of that, there's minimum maintenance roads out there that also connecting those main arteries and
our land base that we manage. Um, if you can, if you want to look at the tractor and all that details on it, but this includes Yes. the the tractor, a loader with that and then a diamond cut boom mower. Um, which >> I don't think we have. [clears throat] >> You could you could put a box blade on
there >> and fix that trail a little bit too >> so Jerry can Jerry's charger. >> Are you actually going to use it? [laughter] >> Hire you on and you can run it. >> You could probably drive behind it with
your car so you can see it. Be >> Madam Chair. Um, Mitch, where are you going to store this? Will this be a highway or environmental? Where are you going to keep this? >> Yeah, ideally, um, it could be put out a highway, I think, out in the bone yard there with our other trailers and stuff, but if it was there's an option to put
it inside, that's great, too. Um, I don't know if there's room at the River Wershed building or >> it's not tall. >> Are we going to use it? >> Like to take care of it. >> Are we going to use it at the landfill? Yes, >> we might use it some there obviously to most things or
>> lots lot of the forest roads are more towards the northeast side of the county. We have a back >> shed that's full of some stuff out at Oage. >> We could temporarily store it there, but we'll find some space to store it. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And there's Isn't there room in the hazardous?
[clears throat] >> That's pretty full. >> That big shop with the big door is all full out there. They use that operationally. >> Madame Chair Mitch, I mean, h what's your estimated number of hours? I mean, is this gonna I mean, if we're going to spend this money on a which I'm I'm all
for, let's get it out there and let's let's get somebody using. Do we we have the capacity to put people in here regularly so that it's not sitting in the shop? >> Yeah. Ideally, and and I think coming forward, we'll we parks and wreck maintenance position, a lead that kind of took over the roles that STS crew
leader did. Y >> um for things [clears throat] like that. And I think there's those those times of year where you know late spring, late fall where they're not out mowing and doing stuff like that's a great time to be you can see what you're brushing. >> Um and also doing forest road maintenance a good time to do it. So but
I think during the middle of summer as well um it' be a good opportunity to cross train forestry staff to do this work as well down the road. So yeah, I think there'd be time for I can't give you an estimated hours but we would we would use it. Um, we haven't brushed since 2020 a lot of our forest roads.
So, and they grow in within four or five years really quickly. So, >> Madam Chair, this is a big I'm a huge advocate for this. This is a lot of money. I just I want to make sure that's not sitting in a shop somewhere. I want to get it out there and get it used and let's take care of these trails. I think that's great. >> Cherry approves.
>> All right. I'll entertain a motion. >> I'll make a motion to approve the purchase of the tractor loader and boom mower for up to $240,000. >> All right. We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Any further discussion? All those in favor say I.
>> I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carried. >> All right. On to Mr. Skoo. >> Uh, we'd like to buy a new walking floor trailer. We got four quotes. Um, we
would like to go with low quote. It's a MAC trailer uh purchased through North American Trailer Sales for the amount of $119,425. Currently, we have four newer trailers, one older one. [snorts] Uh the older one is that is was a leftover from that we
purchased from the contractor that was hauling our refues in the past. Uh that trailer is reaching the end of its life. The crossmembers are rotting out and the county just continues to grow. the more things that we do then with we handle there's a more need for these trailers.
So we budgeted for this for this year and we just like to move forward with the purchase. >> I I I have one question. >> You need [clears throat] the liner too. So is that going to become later? Is that in the budget? >> Once we receive it, we would contact
Horn Plastics Fargo >> and then we would probably we'd fund that just as a repair. Okay. >> I will move to approve the purchase of the walking floor trailer request. >> I'll second. >> What's Can you put >> the dollar amount? >> Sorry. Where's that?
>> It's one [laughter] >> We're up to 125,000. Is that what >> it's 119,000? >> 1942. >> Okay. >> For that amount. Richard, >> we have a motion. We have a second. Any further discussion?
>> All those in favor signify by saying I. I >> I >> opposed. Motion carried. >> Thank you. Uh the second request is to purchase a motor diagnostic scan tool. We have quite a few motors out at the Sal campus [clears throat]
and our mechanic uh would like to be able to purchase a scan tool to help with his diagnostics [snorts] of problems that they run into. Uh we did look at two different types of scan tools and this is based on government
pricing for this one. Uh it's a Snap-On is the company that's behind it. Uh this includes three years worth of software service that goes to to back this up. >> Madam Chair, what we found was that uh Environmental was running over to
highway to get their scan tool quite regularly. So, we inquired how many times and then we just thought it'd be better to have this scan tool. We did upgrade it so that highway could now maybe use this scan tool on some of their equipment. It's like you need a
scan tool for every different type of machine, but this is a pretty heavyduty scan tool machine and it would be uh shared with Highway when necessary. Um, >> and it would make sense because we have a mechanic out at >> We do have a mechanic out there now
>> and we can build highway back too if we let them use it. >> So with that, I will move to approve the diagnostic scan to >> Just kidding, Jim. >> Up to $14,000. >> All right, we have a motion. We have a second. Any further discussion? >> Well, just for the sharing of of
equipment, I just hope there's not a lot of bill paying back and forth. [laughter] >> Bill sent back and forth. Yeah, we've been borrowing their I don't think >> I'm sorry. I just made a joke up. >> Yeah, it's okay. You can make a joke as long as it's funny. [laughter]
>> All right. Any further discussion? >> I'll call to a vote. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carried. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Thanks. My uh Mitch and Steve. Hello, Sheriff Gunter.
>> Good morning, Madame Chair, members of the board. I have uh one request that's a purchase request for two squad cars. [clears throat] They're both Fords. Uh one at a cost that's a marked squad cost of
46,61944 and an unmarked at 46,17244 for a total of 92,791.88. And this is in our budget. Motion to approve. >> I'll second. >> Any further discussion?
[cough and clears throat] All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Todd. >> Feeling better. >> Getting there. >> Madam Chair, I'd like to uh talk to Mary and say I really like your new glasses
over there, Mary. >> I haven't seen those before. Okay. Um, we Is there something I need to read? >> Yep. You got to read the whole thing like they made me do. [laughter] >> Just read the statute. >> Just read the statue. >> That one That one said something about
>> about team service. >> You were 100 100% right on the gate. >> Hey, >> you're not supposed to point at people. It's intimidating. Um, >> so what's here I can just read, but just
>> not going anywhere. >> But just need to take off the pen the with >> what's in the >> what's on the agenda says with teamster 320. >> Oh. >> Oh, I didn't know that. >> I didn't see that. >> So, but I'll just stop >> based on the attorney.
>> Yes. Potential impending legal actions. >> Yes. >> Um, one second. Nate was wondering about the legal opinion if he could if or when he could get a copy of that. >> The what was what was discussed on the
road. >> Uh >> I told him I did. >> Thank you. >> It's a Brian. We we have to determine when we can get it to you. >> You said just hand it over. [laughter] >> He's right there. >> Did he?
>> Oh, I was like Brian. [laughter] >> Okay. Go. >> Okay. Um, I'm going to make a motion to close the meeting pursuant pursuant to Minnesota statute 139.05 subdivision 3B based on attorney client privilege to
discuss potential and pending legal actions. >> 13D. You motion D. >> Yeah, she did say I'll make a motion. So, I'll second. >> All right. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> We are in close session.
>> Hold on. Oh my gosh.