Good morning everyone. We'll stand for the pledge. >> I pledge algiance 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.
Oh, that's funny. >> All right. Agenda, do we have any corrections, changes, or adjustments to the agenda? >> Um, Mr. Chair, under Highway number two, capital request, the 2026 Chevrolet 3500
with the Vplow, I would ask that that be removed. and for an addition. Sorry, I can't speak today. Y >> um under county administrator adding um
uh number five um commissioner um Nelson had asked that our assessor come and give an update on values since we're going to have our hearing next week. Okay. >> And he Lee has agreed to do that. So if you just want to add he'll just give a just an update.
>> Where will that be at? number five under county administr. >> That's all I have. >> Yep. And then we have that we have the public hearing at 9:30. So we have a lot of stuff before that. So we might have to we might interrupt your report several times. >> You may have to pause.
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> All right. Do we have any other adjustments to the agenda? Okay. Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to approve the agenda. Uh motion by Phil. We have a second. >> Second. >> Second by Barry. He's faster. A little
older but faster. >> All right. Any other discussion? Okay. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. Motion carries. All right. Minutes from November 18th meeting. Are there any corrections to the minutes? It >> was a pretty short meeting. Yep. I
>> I don't have anything. >> I don't have any either. >> What? >> I highlighted something, but I don't think it's important. Just kidding. >> All right. So, hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to approve the minutes. >> So, move. >> Motion by Erica. Do we have a second?
>> Second. >> Second by Barry. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Motion carries. >> Consent agenda. There any items on the consent agenda that anybody would like to pull? All right. Hearing none, I'll entertain
a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> So moved. >> Motion by Barry. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Second by Erica. Any more discussion? >> Okay. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries. >> We're half hour ahead. >> I know. All right. Commissioners that
might not last very long. Commissioners, open forum, sir. Nate, is there anybody on the list? >> That's fine. >> You don't have >> You don't have sign. You can just state you can just state your name when you come up. >> Okay. Come up there. >> Yeah. Great to the microphone.
>> Just state your name and address. >> Joe Lewaji, 2208 an Street, West Fargo, North Dakota. >> Go ahead. Yeah. >> Okay. So, I'm here because um we've got a lake place on Pickerroll Lake by Cotton um which is the lake northeast of
Detroit Lakes and I'm a member of the Picker Lake Association. And it's come to my attention that there's a few people that are on the lake that are trying to do a surface water restriction on wakeboats on the lake. And I just wanted to get out ahead of it and kind
of give some reasons on why I I object to it if they ever do bring this forward. Um, so I've just got a couple points I want to run through and then also some maps I printed out that I can give you guys just so you have them in your possession. Um, the DNR currently
has no restrictions but recommends boats making a wake stay at least 200 ft from shore. Um, there is a more extreme University of Minnesota study out there right now that these guys are basing some of their information off of and it recommends wakeboats operated in surf
mode at depths greater than 20 ft and 500 or more feet from shore. Um, Picker Lake has a very rocky shoreline, so erosion doesn't seem to be an issue there. And then I've attached maps um of Picker Lake showing areas that actually
meet that University of Minnesota study which I can submit. But basically in a to sum it up, there's roughly 1.1 miles that meet the area where we could operate a wakebo and be the 500 ft from shore um and also be in that depth of 20
ft or greater. Um, and just want to make a couple notes. Wake surfing is a low impact family activity that everybody gets to enjoy. Um, the water kind of belongs to everybody. I don't feel people should be able to create surface water use
restrictions. Um, another thing to note, if this h started to happen on one lake in Becker, it'd kind of open up a big chain of of problems for for you guys because basically the process is they would have to bring this to Becker County and then
Becker County would have to agree that this surface water restriction needs to go in effect and then Becker County would have to work with the DNR to to do this type of thing. So, you guys are basically like a middle stepping stone for them to get there. Um,
and yeah, just one of the big questions it, you know, who would be tasked with enforcement of it all? Would it be the sheriff? Would it be the DNR? And basically, overall, we feel much more emphasis put on education and communication between people who use
wakeboats and and everybody else on the lake. Um, versus just trying to create a ban on them. I I just I don't think it's a good idea and I think it would cause a major storm of problems for all the area lakes. So, and like I said, just want to get this
stuff submitted to you guys to get out ahead of it in case they do end up bringing this to you. So, >> Mr. Chair, um and thanks thanks for coming, Joel, because we haven't heard >> we haven't heard besides from myself, of course, um some of the >> some of the things that those the other side um sees. Now, I think the
University of Minnesota study put out their they started with the study by saying what they wanted to achieve with their study and then they found data to help support that achievement which um it also states in there at one point according to the Star Tribune that there
should be no activity in in 10 ft or less water. So, I mean, this is the most extreme study and the most extreme um example of what what a perfect world would be for Lake Bottom. No, no traffic at all. You probably also wouldn't want
to have uh um pontoons with um with with the stands. Uh what's the name of the >> what's the name of the sea legs? >> You wouldn't want bass boats to have to go down and anchor in with their with their bat. I mean, there's lots of things and and if anyone that wants to
come and propose water quality issues, I want to ask them, what have you done for your lake? What are you doing on your shoreline to protect the lake and water quality? That's so those questions are what I would say and and most people just don't want someone else to do something that they don't want to do. I
mean, yeah. Um, so I I think I think some of your points are well taken. Um f I mean I've I've when I've talked about this in I would support a greater distance from shore. I mean if we should as as responsible users of the lake and
that activity be 300 feet from shore. >> Yep. >> Um other than that I mean 20 ft of water that that's I mean any any boat going through the water is creating >> creating a disturbance no matter what. Um I I have we've spent fourth of July
on Lake Sally and if you want to look at a their pontoons are going by and you can track the pontoons going by in the shallow water because Sally is a very shallow lake in the front and you can see where the motors rip through that vegetation
>> every time they go by. I mean so >> we everyone is contributing to problems on the lake and we and we all should do better. I think good good users make for good neighbors. Now there I mean my nephews use my I have a surf boat so I
obviously am biased on that but they were out and I'm like get away from you know they weren't real close but get out in the water. I don't I don't want that either. So I I I appreciate the concerns. Yeah, >> but it's it's >> it's hard to police good stewardship of
of the lake and good and good neighbors. So >> yeah, I I think more emphasis on education and and again these couple people on our lake versus being, you know, so actively against it be more open to talking about how can we work
together to make it easier for everyone to enjoy the lake and and again based on my map we've got a mile that meets that extreme University of Minnesota study of 20 feet or greater and 500 feet on the side. So >> yeah, I think you know 500 ft is that's
that's I mean ideally that would be perfect world but um when you I mean you're driving continuous it's not a it's not a >> it's not a fastmoving sport so it's it's >> it's I understand both sides. I I don't
support specific ordinances on lakes at all. >> Yeah. We just don't want any surface use going into effect there. I I've said I would support a 300 foot 300t countywide um no surf surf area from shorelines but you know that would keep people away from shore and um most
mostly the shallow so >> great >> but any thank you >> yeah thank you for coming in >> can I turn this in just >> give it to Peggy and she can >> do I need to stick around anymore >> unless unless you want to watch our really >> once you speak you have to be here all
day and buy us luck L O U W A G I E >> Okay, I have something I >> Thank you guys. >> Neglected. I have I have an item in the consent agenda that I forgot about. >> Did you just see that? >> I did.
>> I I just saw it. >> Yeah. So, um can we go to number six of the consent agenda? It's on page 45 of the packet. >> Don't we have a procedure to do that? Yeah, I just we'll have to maybe resend
the motion if if we think this is important. Um so where when you go to the third whereas where the tire disposal fee rate is 375 per tire up to four tires and $7 per tire for five plus tires. >> I don't we don't want to change it
because I got about 100 of them I'm going to bring in for seven bucks for the total. >> Oh >> but so so here's my question. The first four are 375 per tire. Do they stay 375 or do they all go to $7 a tire when you
get five or more or just five or more tires? That's >> five or the first four are 375 and five or more is $7 per tire. >> It doesn't say per tire $7. So >> it says $7 per tire. No, let's take the per tire off then.
>> I would say you're I would say as it reads, you would assume that your first four are the same price. That's what I assume too, but it doesn't is it clear enough? I don't That's my question. >> I think we have consensus that that's what we can move forward. >> All right, let's go on then. >> I mean, that's so insignificant.
>> Yeah, >> I mean, >> yeah, >> we know we know what we meant. >> Yeah, >> the thought was to keep someone a tire business. >> Oh, yeah. I know. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Okay. But I but I'm just saying that if someone brings in five tires according
to this, we could say, "Oh, we're going to charge you $7 for all per tire for all five of those tires now instead of 375 for the first four." But >> Gotcha. I >> I don't think we would do that, but >> All right, sounds good. All right, let's move on to reports and correspondence. Who would like to go first?
>> I'll go. Um, had the watershed uh we have noticed the Bucks Mills project, so that is out for bid right now. Uh, still talking about more tonnage throughput, trying to get drier garbage to burn. Um,
something of significance that came up, um, our ash storage facility, which is along Highway 10 between Perm and New York Mills, is going to be full October 2027. Why we didn't know about this before,
I'm not sure. Um, we're trying to use ash in roadeds. Um, we've get we did get a grant or Ottertale County got a grant for an ash facility to store this stuff uh to clean it up and store it. Um,
we're working on trying to get some additional land just west of the current facility to create another cell if need be. So, we got a year lead time, but um it's something we're working on and you everybody should be aware of. Um airport
uh we had a resignation um can I say the name of the res of the person Mark Green uh decided to resign from the airports. We thank him for his >> from the board. Yep. So, we're looking for new board members. I I think uh we posted that.
>> Is this a city or a county appointment? Um, yeah, it's three and two. I think this is still a county uh a county person to fill out the the term till next September, I believe. Um, but it's noticed right now. I think it is a
county if I remember right. It's a county appointee because the city has two, the county has three, and then we switch. >> Then the city has Yeah. >> What do you mean you switch? >> Uh, then the then the city >> two and three >> the city has three appointees and we
have two. So it goes back and forth >> for appointees >> for terms. >> So we so to to get equal amount of appointments you alternate correct every >> other so everybody is um term is up at the same time. >> No >> no it's still staggered.
>> Okay. you know, if this was a contentious, I mean, it would, you know, we had this discussion many years ago that how is this happening and what and we don't have a long list of people wanting to be on boards in the airport. So, it's there's just not a it's just not something that we need to worry
about. And what would happen is we don't have a limitation on terms um and the city does and sometimes when they term out at the city then they'll take that >> that combined one. I mean um the the knowledge on that the years of service on that on these type of boards is
valuable and uh I think it's >> um Mr. Chair just just for clarification apparently we missed the posting so we'll make sure that that gets posted. >> Okay. >> And if this is a mid mid term there not be the same requirements for posting. >> Yep. And we did talk about that. So
>> but I think if we can find a qualified candidate that I mean or the city can come up with a recommendation we certainly will listen to Um hopefully there's more than one person interested in >> I did actually ask on our December 16th meeting um I did ask Mark Hagen who's the chair to come and answer some
questions that anybody has about future projects and stuff uh and what's happening and the good things happening out at the airport. So I did ask him to come to our next meeting uh and I think he he should be on the agenda to do that for our next meeting. Okay. Um Richard
and I had a Zoom call with the construction demolition regional plan. Thank you, Richard, for coming on. We're talking about nine counties. Richard brought up a lot of good points uh in that mostly cost to the county and not only cost, but uh you know, ownership.
Who makes the decision? We want to make decisions for our county. We don't want to put that over to someone else. Is that >> Well, I agree. >> So, it's a shared shared deal and and with other counties making decisions >> for us. >> Yeah. And I don't
>> I I'm failing to see the big benefit for for us to to take everybody else's demo. How how we how does Becker County benefit? We do lose control the way they want to do it. Um and so I I don't see I don't see the benefit of filling up our
landfill with somebody else's dim. >> Yep. And I I'd agree. Uh so basically we've we've got all the numbers who has capacity in these nine counties. Um and everyone's asking the same question. Well, what's it going to cost? So, the cost phase is they need to work on this
cost phase. What's it going to cost? Um, going forward. Um, >> and just just a point to consider is, you know, the state's pushing pushing these and and at some point we when we're when we don't have capacity, then they're going to push this and say, "Well, we gave you the chance." So, I
mean, just make sure we go and I'm not saying that we should do it. I'm just saying >> well >> if you very openminded >> be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be be careful because we might be forced into it with you know if their fun if funding comes available then we then you look at it more closely but >> and the other one of the other things is
they wanted to subsidize fuel and transportation. So we would we would pay the same as somebody from over in Wadina County or wherever to sub. So so our our rate would go up to dump in there to
even out their transportation cost which I don't like that either. >> Now now that that is true, but understand that we learned from Prairie Lakes that the closer people have an advantage and the further away people there's some tension there because oh we got to come from further. Um, so there
was some talk about trying to alleviate that >> and if you need the volume. >> So, so basically that's still in the works. These are the things we're talking about. Um, but cost is going to be a big thing. One thing they brought up that I didn't even realize. Well, first of all, there's two sites with the
most capacity. One in Ottertale County and one in Becker. Ours basically have the most capacity um or remaining capacity. Um, so you know, if you if you got nine nine or 10 sites right now, you know, could
you get that down to two or three? We would probably be in the running for one of those sites. Um, we talked about building transfer stations at all the other sites as a cost to the joint powers to bring their garbage here. I I
said, "What?" I mean, it you know, there's they have to be covered sites. There's there's there's qualifications to meet that requirement to transfer CND waste, I guess. So, we're studying we're looking into that. I mean, that alone could make it cost ineffective, let
alone all the others other issues that come with it. That was one question I had. How can how would we ever >> and my big question is why can't other counties have why can't we each have our own demo landfill? That's >> again, that's the state is >> There you go. That's
>> the state's saying no, we don't want it want every county to have these. That's why it's being driven otherwise. >> Right. But I mean, it's a lot more money to do it the way they want to do it. >> Right. And and if and if that's if we want regional sites, I think those other counties got to pony up and build their transfer stations adequately on their
own dime. And then if they then you want to come up with a solution with regional sites. So, I mean there's there's ways to get through it, but we shouldn't be, you know, as we've increased our structure and facility, there's should we shouldn't be paying for ours and theirs. I mean, it's >> No, >> that's one of the questions that's being
floated right now. The one thing that Oh, go ahead. I was just going to say I think this is a good conversation for the public to realize that you know there's been a bit of a controversy about our tipping fees going up and you know that we're we're making money but I I think people don't realize that the
tipping fees are going up because we have to also get rid of the garbage and we have there there's a lot of cost to it. So, I think that this it's all an important convers conversation for everybody to realize what what happens once the garbage once you
drop that garbage off at the at the landfill, what happens from there? >> We're not we're not talking municipal solid waste. We're talking construction and demolition waste. Two to they they are separated. But >> I asked the the guys uh running this. I asked them to to come up with, you know,
some things that keep us awake at night are municipal solid waste, our garbage waste, not our CND waste. >> You know, we don't really have an outlet for that. We burn half of it over in PUM and the other half we send to the Fargo landfill. And we've been getting some steady push back on that. So, I mean,
that's things that keep me awake at night. I asked them to go to all nine counties and tell them what their what their pressure points are and maybe we can find a way to work together. But like I said, it's a work in progress and it's >> it's a lot more work. >> If everybody for the people who cuz
people are complaining to me about their tipping fees, too, >> but if everybody recycled and separated it and did a good job, don't throw everything in one bit. Yeah. It's amazing how much we could save on everything.
And so if you're complaining about tipping fees and you're not recycling everything, then um you need to look >> well. A big part of our reason why our tipping fees are high is because we are incinerating, you know, producing producing steam for it. And while that
costs more, it's more environmentally friendly than just throwing. And we made a decision as a board years ago that we are going to make that commitment to do better with our garbage. Now the state is saying that incineration we they want to there are some at the state that want
to eliminate incineration and and the question is well what's your solution and it's don't have garbage that's the solution is don't have garbage >> and honestly that's what that's what they're >> that's what some of the discussion you
we shouldn't be producing garbage and we do produce a lot more garbage than we probably should I mean >> absolutely >> I included I And when you take a trip, if you ever taken a trip to Europe or Swed, you know, we went to Sweden and it's a whole lot different. They have
their in the hotel rooms, their garbage cans are this big and half of it's for recycle. I mean, everything's recyclable. I mean, they they recycle everything and they expect you not to have much garbage. So, um it's a whole different it's a different world. And
it's like, where's a garbage can? You know, it's because as Americans, we have lots of garbage. we and look at the packaging, you know, it's it's terrible. >> But >> so that was our CND Zoom call there. Uh thank you for your input though. All
those things, your input helps. Um uh had a I went to a project 412 meeting. Um good meeting to see if we can partner with them a little bit. Uh planning and zoning, we had a a place a gun sale that's coming up later in the meeting, so I'll hold off on that. I
attended the wild rice watershed for Barry up in Ada on the 24th. Good meeting getting to know those people pretty well up there. Um and then yesterday we had the rack meeting. Project 412 actually presented at our meeting talking about maybe if we can
collaborate with signage with with with all horses, snowmobiles, ATVs, everything. Could we do something collaboratively? So they're going to come up with a plan. uh probably would cost some money at the end of the day, but we need to know the plan first. We're also do some vehicle and trail
counts. We had an ingenious guy that said, you know, they're $1,000 on the market. He said, I I can make that. So, we've got some we've allocated a few dollars from uh rack or to to fund this,
some trail counters, uh some out of done locks. Everybody is is uh the the whole group. Project 412 is using some of them so we can get good data to see what we have coming in uh to our parks, especially done logs, walkers. Uh we can also get on vehicles to see how many
vehicles we have coming in that parking lot. So data would be good. Um we talked about the VFW shelter out there. That's still kind of an item of contention uh to fix that up a little bit. We're waiting on a grant for it. Um that deadline is in the spring. And we talked about H Heartland Trail Routing. kind of
a continuation of what we talked at our work session a little bit. Uh just and we have a heartland meeting I think coming up here couple weeks 18th I think. So uh just we're talking about that corridor from Dun Locks basically
going Cormont Highway 10 hooking up with >> with Klay County. So that's all I had >> just to add a little bit to the the rack committee about the um the signage that that Phil was talking about. Um, it
really what it is is it's called the Becker County Regional Trail Trail Alliance and Project 412 is really heading that and they're willing to make a brand for all of our our trails because what they've discovered is we have a large amount of trails in Becker
County, but they're all kind of separated and nobody really knows where they are and what you can go on. So, it's really a matter of trying to make like a hub, whether it's on our Beck Fund web page or whatever, that people can go to and find out about all of the
trails in um the county and then um being able to brand them, have some kind of signage at all of them, of what what's allowed on this trail and whatever our brand is going to be. Um and that is something that project 412
is willing to complete is that brand book. um there. So, they're just asking for the rack to support that process. And then once that brand book is is decided and there's more information, that's where then we would have to come up with a plan of how we would fund those those signs or whatever the the
plan would be. So, um >> just a quick thing on I would interrupt you. Yeah. >> But so when I was on the rack committee when I first started, >> that was a big topic >> and we had really no >> plan of how to do that. So I'm glad. So
when then project 412 was in its infancy. So that's awesome to see that. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Possibility work. >> Yeah. It's exciting. Um just a couple things. Um couple other meetings I had were the EDA with
Richard. Um, as a result of kind of our conversation here about that marketing the county, um, we did discuss um, contacting the Minnesota Extension Office um, about possibly doing a tourism assessment. Um, so Cody's going to talk to them and arrange for them to
come to an upcoming um, EDA meeting. We did talk, you know, at length about what Ottertale County is doing because um we like what they're doing and they have hired an outside agency called Ottertale County Lakes Country. Um and so we're
just exploring to see what what um our options are. Um we recommended the MMCDC housing contract for one year. Um, and that I believe is Cody's bringing it later today as as well as some information on establishing a local
housing trusting trust fund. Um, couple updates on our housing. We do have one of our houses um that's not a part of the public housing HUD funding. Um, it's one that we had purchased that has some significant work. So, we're
looking at what our options would be, including possibly selling that house, just cuz um I I believe it was right around $20,000 of work that needed to be done. >> Yeah, there's a lot of work to be done there, and we maybe use that money for something.
>> Yep. Yep. Um and then our housing choice vouchers, just an update on that. We have 206 applications on the waiting list at this time. Um we will not be issuing anymore because we are out of funding. So, we will receive additional funding annually, which I believe I
believe they said comes in January. Um, we have our 25 public housing um homes. Those are the ones that are through HUD. Um, we have 29 applicants on those waiting lists. Uh, we recently approved one application for a unit, so that they
will all be and then we decided with the Maple Avenue, we will be sending out that RFP the beginning of the year. We had originally said in the spring, but um at the meeting we decided let's do it sooner rather than later. So hopefully we can now is the time of the year the local contractors are out looking for
their work for next summer. So we're hoping we can um get that in time for so that we can get some local contractors. Um I had planning commission with Phil. That's on the agenda. Um extension with
Barry. Um just a couple things. I know there we have um >> Cecilia >> Cecilia and Linda here to to give us an update but um one thing is we're looking for farm family recognition. We will be meeting in January. So if anybody has
any nominations you can reach out to I don't know Barry or the extension office. Um and then on 11 on November 23rd the 4 had their achievement program. Um I did not attend but we it was talked about at the meeting. it the program was put on by the 4 ambassadors
which are the the youth. Um and it sounds like they did a fantastic job. Um there was lots of kudos given to them at the meeting. So um just wanted to give a little shout out to them. And then again just I'm always amazed at at this meeting at the number of volunteer hours
that is talked about at whether it's through 4 or the master gardeners. um our through the 4 program we um are far above average um throughout the state for the number of volunteers. And then
um so far this year for the master gardener program, we have um 1,188 volunteer hours um just given back into Becker County
residents. So, I think that's always a fantastic thing. >> And you can throw the library, too. The library has volunteer hours. >> Tons. >> Yeah. >> Anything more with extension, Barry? >> No, I think we'll Sandy's the new SEC the new secretary. >> Sy's the new secretary.
>> Thank you, Sandy. >> Mr. Chair, Commissioner Jibson, did you say we extended our management agreement? >> No. >> By a yearc. >> Yes. >> Oh, through EDA. Yeah. >> Through EDA. Mhm. >> Yeah. Well, we're recommending it >> one year.
>> Um, for one year because we need if we need to evaluate more the cost effectiveness of bringing it back inhouse and planning a transition because there's >> you have to hire a couple employees to manage something that they have no idea what it is. >> Yeah. So, there'd be a lot of training
there. It we don't we don't have time. We've known about this for >> well we've we're finally getting to the point where we're talking about moving. So we we've known about it, but we
couldn't quite see a cost savings. >> We have 64 doors and we're paying 200,000 for somebody to manage that. >> Yeah. >> 220,000. Did they see that? >> Mhm. >> Yeah. And it's we're not going to we're not going to save a bunch of money by
doing it ourselves, but we will have more control over it. And uh but we're not we're not going to save a bunch of money. We we've looked at it quite a few different ways, but we we'll have more control over what we're doing, >> which important. >> And and the other thing that we've
talked about too is our contract with this the software is up. I believe they said in August and there are additional software out there that costs more money but >> way better >> um is way better less labor intensive for um employees.
So we're hoping that will help. >> Um but trust me when I say we have looked at this and looked at this and looked at this. I mean this was not a decision that was made lightly. We had many conversations with MMCDC. Um, and
we I believe there's 180 days, six month um, >> if you want to if you want to >> if if we want to get out of it. So, I mean, this isn't something that we're not we're like, "All right, now next August, let's let's talk about this again." Like, this this will be
something that we will we will continue to >> try to figure out. >> Yeah. And it's also very very complicated. >> It it is very complicated programs and every program is full of red tape and rules and and
so that's why we need a little time if we're going to switch. We need a little time to actually say yes, we're going to switch and then prepare for it. >> And I think the other thing to note like this this isn't just the managing the housing. It's we we have to have
maintenance on staff 24 hours a day for to respond to all these these places. So it it is a lot more planning than just we >> maintenance isn't included in the >> No, it's not. But I mean that's >> but you still have to organize the maintenance. You have to have to manage
it. So you somebody's got So yeah, they are sending people to do it, but they're they're taking that information and then finding the people to go do the different >> because there's a lot of different Well, it's it's homes and >> I don't know about the programs and the filing. I don't know about all that, but
I mean 5% >> is a is a typical management fee in the real world and in in private world um trying to make very much so. I I'm an investor in several apartment buildings. I mean that's what we're paying for that and like I
said I don't know the tape stuff but >> so this is this is a little bit more than just I mean we've had that conversation also >> the private sector but this is more than just managing the >> there are some services also that that Mahubiawa provides to some of the
residents that we coordinate and it's it's a complicated it's a very complicated thing. I've always I've always said it'd be it'd be cheaper for us to build a home and give it away every year than to manage. Seriously. I mean, and you'd provide one a year.
>> But but you are providing services for people that to help them understand the processes and the ownerships and the responsibilities. But it >> and the the voucher program from what they've told us is a lot of
work in that it's not just you know even though we have that what did I say we're on the waiting list 20 26 applicants on the waiting list for housing voters and 29 on the waiting list for public housing. Like you can
only be once you're I think this I don't think this is for either one of those. I think that's for section 8. But you can only have once you're issued a voucher, you only have I think it's 60 days to find housing. If you don't find housing
within that 60 days, you go to the bottom of the list and then the next person. So, it's like this revolving door and when we have the the shortage of housing that we do in our county, it is hard to once you have that voucher to find the housing so that the h the
voucher can be used. So it's it's when we have that a lack of affordable housing in the county like we do this is what happens but so it is a lot more work is I guess what I'm saying than just managing the property
but I do share your concern about the amount we are spending so um then the only other meeting I had was our fair board meeting they plan to come to the board meeting um >> 16th >> December 16th. We are currently getting
some bids for a new fair sign in front of the fairgrounds. Um it has been decided the rodeo be will be there again this year Wednesday and Thursday. Um the rodeo of course would like to come Friday and Saturday but um that is the demo derby and the demo derby is the the
big money maker for the fair. So we will try Wednesday, Thursday again this year. Anything else from the fair? >> Just just one one couple things. one thing. So this if you remember on senior day this la this year at the fair there
was no program. So there was a there's some confusion apparently between so some of the people on the committee said that the fair board didn't want to do it and the committee some other people on the committee told the fair board they didn't want to do that that the
committee didn't want to do it or they didn't have not that they didn't want to do it but they didn't have anybody to recognize. So, they're going to meet as a committee and as a fair board or a couple of them are going to meet and they're going to figure out, you know, that we don't they don't want that to happen again. If people want to have a
we want to recognize our seniors. So, so there's >> that sounds like there was a lot of >> there's a lot of Yeah, there was there was not having it. >> Yeah. There was not communication with the committee and the fair board and parts of the committee and so they're going to fix that. >> I want to nominate Jerry. [Laughter]
>> We're not to appointments yet. You can't do that. All right. So, they're going to And then the other thing is they're also trying to explore they they they have the new bleachers in the grandstand area and the they remodeled the the existing on the north side. They're trying they're
trying to come up with plans to do more stuff in the grandstand area other than just during the fair because they really really realistically the fair uses um the grandstand area what four day four four days out of the year and they
don't I mean there's other activities are in there in the >> turf war in there. Yeah, they're not talking about other activ. They're talking about >> other fair. >> They're going to do. Yeah. So, they're looking they're exploring ideas. Uh anyway, so it uh Richard, you have
>> I had EDA with Erica and a Zoom meeting with Phil. So, that's they've covered everything there. So, >> I had two more. Uh, so I had a DAC meeting last last month and we are going to lean we're leaning more towards
remodeling the current facility and instead of instead of expanding it right as of right now with the possibility of future expansion if if it's needed. Um the the the consultant from Hammers Construction recommended that after he looked at all of our data
and everything and all the space he told us that we're not using our space inside very well at all. So and and that'll also make the inside of the facility look way better than it does. It looks better now than it used to. And when it used to it when you walk you look like
you're walking into an institution and it looks it looks better now but it would even be even more use better. That's a word better better better utilized. Um so w with that before our next board meeting we are going to uh
who whoever can go of the board members are going to take a tour of productive alternatives in PUM because Hammers Construction did the remodel there too. So they're going to get an idea of what things could look like and some of the things that Hammers has already done in another facility. So I think that'll be
very valuable for us too. And then the last thing on the DAC is we we uh our next board meeting is December 19th, I think, and we're going to decide if we are going to open up our uh our executive director position that we need to fill or we might fill it internally.
We have a candidate internally that could do really well. So that's actually the interim director now and and that's a possibility. And then we also need to decide along with that if we're going to hire a public relations fundraising person, especially with this building
project. It it it's just depends on what we do with our executive director position and I so we we'll decide all that. And then I also had a partnership for health meeting. Did you talk about that at all, Eric? >> Nope, I didn't go.
>> Okay. So, um, that was our last official meeting with the four counties that are involved with Partnership for Health. Uh, Ottertale, Wilin, Clay, and Becker. And we we are going to split after after first of the year, we're going to go
with uh Clay and Beck. It's going to be Clay and Becker, and it's still going to be called Partnership for Health. And then Ottertale and Wilin are going to um create a new CHB, which will be called Prairie Lakes. And there is a there is we are going you
know we're committed with Clay for this year and we can also we can see how it'll go throughout the year and if we want to we can make a decision before the end of next year if we want to file this if we want to stay or file to leave. Um we'll just see how it goes. There's a lot of unknowns with Clay that
are seem to be working out well. They hired a new Clay hired a new uh public health director and our public health director was excited about that because she used to work with with our public health director. So, and then she went before she went to Clay and then also so
the transition is really smooth. Um the the the finance person at Klay County is sharp as attack. He is amazing. So he's getting all these grant well he's getting all these grants to
line up for each county and he's going to manage them and he's doing a great job. So that that's part of why the transition is going very smoothly and um Ottertale is and and Wilin are willing to mainly Ottertale because they're going to be in charge of basically this
their CHB are willing to do any help us do any services that we need because we aren't because we aren't you we aren't all four together again. So, it's it'll be a it's a it's a positive good split and and and we'll still get
services if we need help. Uh Barry and I had a courthouse. I think everything's on the agenda. Uh fair board's done. We did go to the township. I did uh I think Commissioner Hans and I went to the township meeting and Commissioner Arrig met my brother, too.
>> Oh, that's right. Dave does have a brother. >> I do have a brother. He's a little smarter than I am, so it's good. So anyway, there was a large discussion on paid family leave. Mhm. >> Um, so here's here the biggest issue
they had is they have to manage this paid family leave and they really don't have the knowledge and training that people that work for the small or these townships like every so so the people that have to pay the paid family leave portion or the or or the township does
either either if the they can split it with the employee are all the employees of the township. So those are all the supervisors and the clerk and and that's mainly just all the townships >> and the treasur >> and the tre yeah when I said clerk the clerk and the treasurer they're >> clerk and the treasure they're two different people
>> they're two different people okay so they have to manage this and they don't know how to do that and then and they're in the same boat and and the supervisors actually are in the same boat as all elected officials. They have to pay their portion of the paid family leave and they can't use it.
So that's an issue for that's probably a bigger issue for them than but that's an issue. And they also um Yeah. So and then Steve Green, Senator Steve Green was there also and he talked about it too. So he probably
>> he's not in favor. He's not he's always on the other side of the >> Mr. Chair. Yeah. Go ahead. Coming from the township too. I mean we also talked about election judges. >> Yeah. That's I mean it is very hard to get election judges let alone have to go through this extra step because they'd
be paid employees and part of this too. So um yeah it this is not good for townships. >> It's not good for any >> anything in Minnesota. It's one of the worst things that has come down the pike in a long time. Well, it certainly
should have had some exclusions on some I mean some of the >> and then and then the reason why it's an issue for election judges is the IRS says you have to consider them employees. So in the in the past they had been 1099 so it wasn't an it
wouldn't been an issue but that's and they're and they're literally there every what other year >> it's hard to get election judges this would be the they would just say no I'm not going the accounting and fees and management fees on on this is going to cost more than the salary.
>> Yeah exactly. Yeah that's it's it's ridiculous. So anyway, it was a big hot topic. And then there was one other topic. Um, Hideland Township drafted a sample resolution to that townships or would look at to for them to have control of
>> um what am I trying to say? >> Cannabis. >> Cannabis. Yeah. >> Would retail or growing facilities. They would have they would have >> go for the zoning rights or >> we're totally in favor of that. >> Oh yeah. I not an issue. Be a great idea. All right. Does anybody else have
any other >> Yes, I do. >> Okay. >> Um being you didn't call on me at all. So, um so I didn't even call it. >> So, um as we said, we have courthouse uh head soil and water there. Um um I did bring up the Lake Ida outlet. I think I
touched on that possibility last time. Um there's another lake that that does have some taxing that they tax um for curly leaf pondweed in middle Corin. Middle Corman's completely in Becker County though. Um so that was I can't remember if that's a taxing district and
Mary's trying to work through some of those possibilities for that outlet also. Um so soil and water I think I reported on before they have to when there's federal monies they got to make sure there's prevailing wage opportunities for the contractors. So um that's kind of a stickler raises some um
increased costs for projects going in in the county. And um I think think that's about it there. A lot of the the shutdown caused a lot of issues because there's federal programs intertwined in so much of the um there's projects that were
halted, you know, on the ground projects, construction projects there, you know, the CRP payments still haven't went out. So, there's there's uh um it caused a lot of issues and and and cost cost people money in and in Becker County. So, it was not it's not good to
have um a government shutdown. Whoever's fault it is. I don't know. But um a couple questions on we have the AMC annual thing. Did we put together a basket for that? And if so, we're we all owe >> some money. I >> already paid. >> I I just want you to know that I already
paid. >> Did I pay? >> Um >> let us know who does and Phil I was going to ask you, would you want to do would you want the natural resource environment committee? Did you want to be on that committee more? So if you do, we could just >> You mean at AMC? >> Yeah. I mean that
>> you know I kind of jump around depending on >> I know you don't you go you want to be in everything so um uh attended a Lakeland mental health we are not meeting our budget but we are in still in the black I think our budget was between three and 4% in the positive but
we're we're just at 1% um there are some some places that we need to we're eyeballing pretty close to make sure that they um gain some positive um ground. Um, I wanted to I got a call from a father of an individual. So, I want to give a
shout out to the sheriff's department. Um, the individual was out muzzle load hunting with a group and they they got lost up in the woods in the big woods and and they're familiar with it, but they went into a different area and got turned around. And of course, you know, when you have your phone, when you're relying on your phone and your phone go,
you know, goes dead in the cold weather, the battery life on phones and garins and everything just diminishes. And so they didn't have they didn't have and they couldn't see their compass. They had a compass too. But so um congratulations or thank you to the sheriff's department and all those
participated in that um successful um I I don't know you know you don't know if it's life-threatening but he w he fallen through some water and was wet up to his waist and he did have a mummy bag. So you know just you it was just a positive ending and that father was so appreciative. want to make sure I send a
thank you to Todd and all the all the people that help. I think Carsonville Fire Department was out there and um found him. It was um five six hours out in you know after dark though it gets to be pretty scary especially if you're the father of the parent of that young person wasn't a child but uh out in the
woods. So, um, congratulations on, you know, and we we complain and myself included complain about all the equipment and, um, all the stuff that we have, but when you have a successful successful rescue, um, it it it's and and you don't hear about it for the most
part, but um, >> I didn't know about it. >> So, that was I don't know just this last Saturday. >> Mr. Chair, Todd, just since this just happened, did we use drones? What what kind of equipment did we use to >> We couldn't use the drones because of the snow. We tried it.
>> It was snowing too heavy. >> It didn't work. Uh so we used ATV side by sides. And again, thank you to the rescue squads and fire departments that came out to help, including White Earth and White Earth Conservation, our local
DNR as well, >> you know, and and in the woods and Jerry probably been out in the woods and especially when it's snowing and snow sounds are muffled. You don't hear I mean, he was shoot, you know, no shots like he was shooting, but nobody could hear shots, nobody could hear hollers,
nobody could hear people. So, I mean it it it is, you know, and people don't think, well, we're in Minnesota. Well, you know, you get up in those big woods and you don't have, you know, there's lots of disadvantages up there. So, it's miles and miles till you can hit roads. So, >> Mr. Chair, uh, Commissioner Nelson, I
mean, I didn't know about this, Todd. I mean, I I I do see some articles and papers and stuff, but I I didn't know about this. I mean, please bring these items to our attention when they happen. I mean, whether it's in the hallway or here, because, you know, it helps for decision- making down the road. Let's just put it that way.
>> Oh, he'll let us know, don't worry, >> if we try to cut something. But I mean, it it is a um and there was a couple guys that were tracking him, following in footprints cuz they were trying to, you know, and and uh so they they were um but reminder out in the woods, go in
prepared. I mean uh and he was prepared but uh it still is it still is a traumatic experience for for those involved. Um I think I think that was it by um yes budget works we went through that.
>> Yep. >> Does anybody else have any uh >> extension was going to present today? So thank you. >> Anybody else have any more reports correspondence? All right, let's move on to appointments. Does anybody have any appointments? >> Nope.
>> I have one. So, um I Joan is, you know, know is retiring. So, we need So, we need another appointment for that to the It's the Northwest Regional Advisory Committee, which is part of the Northwest Regional Emergency
Communications Board. Um Shane Richards is our appointed representative for that committee and we need an alternate. So the recommendation that I got was to appoint Jacob KH um to the Northwest Regional Advisory
Committee. So I will make an a motion to appoint him. >> And just to clarify, it's alternate, right? >> Is the alternate? Yes. Correct. >> So do I have a second for my motion? >> So So we have a motion by me, a second by Barry. Do we have any more discussion? Oh, what was what was the main what was his name?
>> Jacob Kh. >> Um, just just a it would be nice to get a little bit of more in, you know, prior to or in the packet or something. Just >> Yeah. Yeah. I just I just found out yesterday. So, yeah. >> But well, and I think when when available, we >> This is This is in house.
>> In house. Yes. Correct. Yeah. Yeah. No, I agree. I talked to already mentioned that. So it was just a it was a last minute thing. So do we have a motion and second? Do we have any more discussion? Okay. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries.
>> All right. Let's move on to our under our county administrator and we have our F5 project. >> Mr. Chair, would you mind if we started out with pre-trial? >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Go ahead, Brian. So >> go over the boring stuff first.
>> That sounds good. I don't know. Is any of it really boring, Brian? >> No, never. >> Morning, Brian. Morning, Jody. >> Good morning, all. >> Well, we have successfully reached our one-year point uh for our pre-trial supervision program. Um and I believe
Peggy may have >> PowerPoint, >> the slide up. >> Peggy may have Peggy >> andor I believe >> I think all of you have it in your packet. I have it. Okay. Okay. So, first of all, super excited to be here
today also along with FI project. Uh, so we'll get to that in just a second, but we did want to go over some of our data that we have for the last year of the pre-trial supervision program that we put in place last November with uh Jody Kulich being our main pre-trial
supervision agent. uh super impressed with the amount of clients that we've already had within the pre-trial surface pro supervision program. As of the full year, uh we have served a total of 67
clients so far, a total of 81 cases. Um our male clients um are considerably higher than our females. Um, and then what's nice to see is uh twothirds of our clients are Becker County clients and uh the other third is out of county
clients which we continue to provide supervision here in Becker because of their charges. Uh the second piece is our successfully completed and completing pre-trial supervision successfully as in they're still in pre-trial supervision. So that would be
approximately 61 people so far for the last year. That's five, Peggy. >> And we've had uh >> just ne No, below that >> page 61. >> And we're on this right here. >> Yep. I can wait for No problem. >> Sorry, Brian.
>> No, you're good. >> You are good. >> There we go. >> Couple more. >> Right there. Perfect. All right. So, uh, pleased to announce, um, over the past
year, we've had a 92% success rate. >> Um, typically when you talk about, uh, any of our rates within the criminal justice model, anything above 70 80% success, we're doing very well. 92%, that's very high. So,
>> Brian, what 92% is that recidivism rate? I mean, how do you measure that? I mean, it's only been one year. I mean, you're saying none of the people have >> committed. So, in one year on pre-trial supervision only. >> So, what h what happens on pre-trial
supervision is they're given pre-trial instead of possibly going to jail. Um other types of uh sanctions that could happen and then they're placed on supervision with Jod before they actually are convicted of the of their charge or brought to court to go through
the whole case. Okay. And so for that time period, folks are out in the community with us. And so there really wouldn't be any recidivism at that time unless they're one of the unsuccessfully terminated ones. >> Got it. >> Where they would be removed from pre pre-trial.
>> Okay. So >> I'm sorry. So that means that they if they're unsuccessfully terminated, they go to jail until >> most of the time. What would happen is Jod would recommend andor speak with the county attorney's office to see what we want to do with that client at that time. Some of those could have been on
warrant status. They didn't show up for court. No, they're still been 60 days. So, we consider them unsuccessful at that point. >> Gotcha. >> Mr. Chair, Brian, or either. So, so we can measure this with some metrics. I mean, do we have statistics on what it was before we started this
pre-trial stuff? >> Yeah. Uh, so in Becker County, we have not had a formal pre-trial supervision program as of last year. But can we take pre-trial client client or however you term them and say what the rate was
before to see how so we can measure this. >> Unfortunately, no, we can't. >> No, no, because pre-trial is brand new to us. >> Okay, got it. >> Regular supervision like what we provide on outside of pre-trial that we have all that information,
>> you know, but then that's a whole different Okay. supervision model. >> M Mr. Mr. Chair, Brian, with that though, a lot of these individuals would have been incarcerated aaiting >> awaiting um >> convictions or all of their court stuff. So these are the success is that they're
not sitting in jail. >> Oh. Oh. So they would have been in jail, correct? >> Possibly. >> Oh, okay. All right. Possibly. >> So that's probably a huge piece. >> Yes, it is. Okay. >> Yep. and and that'll kind of speak to the end part of the uh presentation here, but what we want to do within pre-trial supervision is support them
during that time of supervision on pre-trial, whereas before they were just basically released to the community and they either complied with their uh conditions of the court, etc. without supervision. So now we have that in place, >> but Carrie just said they were in jail
before >> possibly the judge could have possibly placed them in in custody or >> maybe I'll follow up at another time. Why don't you just keep going? >> That's okay. So pre-trial is basically our beginning program that we've never had before and that's why we're really
glad to have that in place now. Our high-risk clients, we have 16 throughout the last year, we had 16. 23 were medium risk and low risk. We had 28. Um all of them uh twothirds were MENPAT eligible and the others were non-eligible but we
continue to provide pre-trial supervision for them as well. >> Brian, could you define high-risisk? Is that high-risisk to reaffend or high risk as their severity of crime? So on a minat is what our Minnesota pre-trial um
uh assessment tool determines whether or not they're going to be a high risk, medium risk, or low risk to violate their terms of supervision. So for the most part, we want to hit those mediums and high risk when they're in the community on that MINPAT tool.
Okay. So, for the most part, we're doing very well with the amount of clients that we're um serving because the majority are the medium and high risk. >> It's not risk to the community, though. It's risk to reaffend. >> Risk to reoffend and not successfully complete treat uh trial. >> But I mean, I just I just didn't want
the impression thinking these are murderers that were the high the high-risisk murderers or high, you know, high-risisk, you know, violent crimes. It's that's not what the risk is. The risk is the offending rate. Reaffender rate. >> Correct. Yep. Absolutely.
On the next one, um this is where we kind of go into uh Commissioner Hansen's question. Uh 12 months of pre-trial supervision. We've had 67 clients. That equals 5,267
days of community supervision versus folks possibly being in jail for those 5,200 days. Okay. What I did this time, and I want to make it real clear that just because you see a unrealized cost
savings of $316,000, that doesn't necessarily mean that that goes back into the budget of Becker County. >> We're going to cut the sheriff's budget by $36,000. >> Then I'm leaving cuz I'm going to get in trouble. Um, what this means is if every
one of those 67 clients were in jail, the pdium on those daily rates at the jail is approximately $60 a day. So if you tally all that up, 5,000 uh days, that equals an unrealized cost savings of about $316,000.
That's why we put pre-trial supervision in place is so that we can provide support while they're in the community and also handling a different way of providing supervision so we're not just having clients in jail wasting time where they can get into treatment earlier. They can start working with Jod
earlier etc etc to get that support. I think the big thing too is is try to keep these people members of your community successful in you know hopefully in their jobs and I mean because um that's that's the that's the key. I mean hopefully they just made a
mistake and we can get them back on the right track and keep their job status >> and just just to clarify like typically they wouldn't have your services until they they've been convicted. So I mean this this is really kind of allowing
you guys to provide those services prior to it being required under a conviction. >> Correct. >> Right. So going back to the page before this um talks about programming. >> So of those 67 12 of those people while they were out went to outpatient
treatment or started um eight of them went to inpatient treatment. They wouldn't have had that opportunity had they been sitting in jail. And that's all voluntary piece of the pre-trial supervision. >> It's and it's good for them. They can, you know, when they do this and they're successful in some of these programs before they get to the judge for
sentencing, then they say, you know, this is what we've done. This we are we are hopefully sincere and serious about getting, you know, back in their the right state of mind. The other piece that's important to notice um and to
know and like we've said before is we have absorbed uh I think it's important for the county commissioners to know we've absorbed pre-trial supervision within our department at no cost to to Becker County whereas you will have some other counties well where they will have
a full department um dedicated to pre-trial supervision depending on the size of of the county. Um you take for instance like Henipin and Ramsey I mean they have a full super pre-trial supervision department just because of the amount of clients that they serve
whereas here um we were strategic um in ways where we divided up some casework etc etc and we're able to make it work within our model as it is. So um the last slide here again this is similar to
what we went through the last time um all the things of success keeping folks in the community monitoring compliance reduction in failures to appear is very very important to us. Um that's probably one of the the biggest indicators of
success of pre-trial is if we continue to have clients come forward to the court instead of missing court or failing to appear. it uh it does engage that client even further reduction of unnecessary jail stays realizing meaningful meaningful cost savings and
supporting safety with early access to treatment. So we had had the initial launch last November. We came before the board six months ago and now we are here uh just to give you a year's full of data to show you how things have been going with a pre-trial and then our next
one for pre-trial will be here a year from now to just give you the kind of full gamut of what this has looked like for a two-year process. So any questions from the board at all? >> Just kudos. >> Awesome. Awesome. Thank you guys very
much. >> You guys doing awesome. Jody is lost. Probably better than Brian. >> She is better than me. Let's be honest. >> I'll pay you later. >> Yeah. So, without uh anything further on pre-trial, um I am very very pleased to
bring forward our F5 project and their staff. Uh we have co-founder uh Adam, co-founder and CEO Adam Martin here with us today. um they're going to walk us through and introduce themselves um all the way from Adam um and to our uh peer
coordinators and peer support staff that we have or they have hired um and they are working with us in our local probation office down on uh on Minnesota um across from dental associates there. So they are with us every single day and
it's been nothing but amazing the work that they are doing. So, if I could have Adam and Scott and uh you two come up and then we'll have the others introduce themselves, that would be great. >> Apparently, I have a new title today.
I'm a co-founder, not a founder. >> I am not I am not the co-founder. I'm just the guy that showed up. So, >> chair, uh, commissioners, thanks for letting us come and speak, uh, today on, uh, behalf of FI Project and our partnership with the county and the Department of Corrections. My name is
Adam Martin, the founder of FI Project. Um, started in 2016. Uh, and it was really just a um an idea of of trying to do something different than
what's been always done. Uh, I think we've all heard the analogy of what insanity is, doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. For addicts and alcoholics, we've been told that repetitively throughout our lives. And after being sober for a while and seeing that the state, county, and the feds were doing
the same thing as we were doing back in the 80s, um, and still having a 75 to 85 recidivism rate. Um, it was my idea that I thought that that was insanity. And so I didn't know if I could do anything
better, but um the best thing to do is be in the environment. And I started going to the jails and talking to the guys. And then um a wild idea, I started letting guys sleep on my couch when they got out of jail. And next thing I know, I got three
guys in my my apartment uh playing Call of Duty with my kids. Um and it was working. And so we started a housing model. Scott came on um a few about a year later and uh we contracted with the
state of North Dakota to start providing re-entry services. And so people who were being released from jail or prison, they were put on probation. Um and fast forward, we have about 600 participants on that contract with the state of North
Dakota that we provide services in 10 nine 10 cities throughout uh North Dakota. And so when we were approached by the Department of Corrections here on possibly doing something, um, we jumped at it. We've always wanted to be in Minnesota and within 3 weeks our peer
support team, care coordination team had over 40 participants that they were providing services to. And um, it's grown faster here than we ever did in North Dakota. And it's because of the
collaboration between the Department of Corrections, having the right staff, the right team, um, and having county commissioners that believe in doing something different. >> You know, the other thing too that comes with this is this is brought about to us thankfully, uh, from the opioid
settlement grants. Um, without those funds here and without the commissioner's approval on on where we can spend those funds, this may not be happening. And so that's such an instrumental um way on how those funds have been spent to really help the clients that
Cassie and Michelle and James and Scott, everybody that gets served there. I can't tell you how valuable that uh that grant has been within a very short amount of time. So >> yeah, >> and I think you know, commissioners, uh
my name is Scott College. I'm the chief development officer. Uh, I was a probation officer for in law enforcement for 20 years and as was talked about earlier, you know, back in the 80s and 90s it was cuff them and stuff them. You know, we we didn't do anything. We
weren't doing a lot to make those changes and we were expecting people to change inside the prisons. It wasn't happening. So, you know, when I had been in Michigan and they were doing something similar to this and we brought this idea back and when I brought it up,
we had a meeting with Brian and Judge Lawson and and we made this suggestion. I I had thought for sure we're going to have to jump through a bunch of hoops, >> you know, to to make something like that happen because even in North Dakota, you know, when we started the free through recovery program in 2018, there was a
lot of resistance from even the Department of Corrections like this isn't going to work. this isn't going to work. You know, we've been we've tried things. This doesn't work. You know, and you know, the idea that we or the the reception we got from Brian and from the
DOC and from the commissioners was amazing. And I really believe that is the reason that we're having this success. You know, we have 45 participants in less than we launched September 24th. That's amazing. And and
I think you know we have a couple of the probation officers here that have utilized the program and there's something that happens when somebody can sit down with another person and have been through that situation and lived that kind of lifestyle and now they've turned their lives around. There's
there's power in that. So, you know, again, kudos to to the commissioners to to take a chance on something that nobody's really done. And this is something that I've thought of or you know even in North Dakota we tried to do
it and they're doing it now but they're going to have their that person as a department of corrections employee which I don't still don't think that's going to have the impact that we're having as a third party entity coming in and saying here's what we can do for you. So
um >> do we have time for a quick story? Joe, could uh Joe and Cassie, could you come up and we we'll get out of the way. >> Yeah. >> These are the people that do the real work. >> Good morning, commissioners. Uh my name
is Joe Peterson. I'm one of the probation officers here in uh DOC office. Um, I can't say how really the I can't do justice to the impact that this program has had so far.
Um, because connections matter and I have lived experiences, but a lot of my lived experiences don't necessarily align with individuals I'm working with. Um, I've done my best to try and treat people they the way I
would want to be treated. Um but yet connections matter and the connections um that the staff with F5 have been able to bring with them and make with the individuals we're working with really have made a significant impact. Um one
of the instances I had I had a a a gal that I'd been working with and she'd been struggling with addiction for some time. Been through a number of treatment programs. Uh been in custody different times. Uh the last time as a as a result
of a violation um a judge had ordered her to spend six months in jail uh for basically for for dirty UAS for using. um she comes out and struggles again and I tried to offer support and and which
we did and more treatment programming but yet there was something just missing that I I didn't necessarily pick up with or or could see um and and so when the F5 program started I had been talking with
this young lady about earlier this summer about hey F5 is coming I think it'd be a good fit for you because I think it would be something that would be supportive and could make a connection with you. So, we were waiting and trying to get her to that point, which we finally did, although she
continued to struggle and I felt I I was kind of stuck in a mindset, I guess, so to speak, that when we finally had F5 on board and I had done a referral to the program and she came in uh on that day to meet with them, she still had been struggling. And I was stuck in kind of a
mindset that well, I have to do my job. I have to hold her accountable. I'm gonna have to return her to the district court. She's going to have to face consequences. And at that point, the likelihood was that she was going to be going to prison in Shakipi.
And really when when she came in and sat down with Cassie and James and they kind of shared their lived experiences with her and all of a sudden she opened up and started talking about things that I
hadn't known about and all of a sudden some pieces to the puzzle started falling into place and I and it was really kind of a light bulb moment for me that for me thinking that the only way I do my job is about holding people
accountable was really it for me doing my job is about promoting and providing opportunity for change. I mean that accountability is always there and and we do that but like Scott talked
about the cuff them and stuff them kind of mentality is something that is is still there and it's needed at times but by and large just the mind the mindset and the shift to look doing my job means
just that about providing opportunity for change and that young lady was able to connect with uh the F5 with their peer support with Cassie. Um, and she is doing amazingly well right now. Um, she went to another treatment program. Um,
where she is has grown. She's opened up more about things that we didn't know about. Um, and she is just blossoming. And to think that this is somebody that really potentially was very close to just being
sent um to state custody and the taxpayers are spending money on to house. But now she's been able to um to make that connection. And like I said, I think the connections are what matters. I mean, it's it's interesting
to find out that we as in the probation system and and uh myself as supervisor and my agents, we don't necessarily have time to go take a walk with our clients, right? There's those relationships and those boundaries of of being personable
or being personal. Whereas when F5 comes in and Cassie tells me that she simply took a walk with somebody the other day, that that little thing right there builds that relationship within our
department so that they feel safe coming in into our office. It builds that relationship with F5 for that peer support model. put those tiny little things that weren't offered before because we just simply can't do those things because of time. Guys, this has
been an amazing journey so far and it's only been sub since September and there's already been 45 people that have interest and have been referred to the program. When Joe came and shared this story with me, I was I was on the fence
as to what to do and he said to me, "Well, what if we use Cassie?" And I said, "Do it. Let's go. Let's see how this works. That gal is not in prison. She's doing well because of the efforts of Cassie and everything that that program offers. So,
I wanted to give you guys a uh a glimpse into what we go through on a daily basis with uh with F5 now that it's put into play and just talk so highly of the work that's been going on um and and really saving and saving the supports for
Becker County and everything that we're doing for resources. >> Thank you for coming and and sharing. I'm a huge proponent of trying something different because if what you're doing over and over again isn't working, it it it is time to find something different. And I am a true believer that whether
you're a an adult or a child, you need that one person to believe in you. Um so thank you for for being that one person for these people that really in many ways the world has given up on. Um so thank you. Yeah,
>> I I think one of the reasons why we have s success here, why this taken off is is Brian and his staff in in the office. I mean, you can't you can't um you can't you can't replace good people and and fortunately I think F5 brings that that
much more to what we what we can offer here. But um kudos to Brian and his staff for for bringing this for for moving this direction. And then the monies obviously with the opioid settlements has been a blessing in disguise. I mean the the the opioid
problem is the problem. And um but the the funds here hopefully can help get those people that um were actually the ones that were targeted or maybe not targeted but um that it affected. So hopefully they can they can get back on the right path. So thank you for what
you do >> Mr. Chair. Uh Adam or anyone. Okay. Okay. You said you have 45 participants that are interested. What what what would be happening with 45 of the participants if this program wasn't here?
>> Adam Scott, you want to take that one? >> It's a good question. >> Um well, from my personal experience, I'd be locked up. Uh I'd probably be high, be in a trap house. Um there's plenty of them in DL. Um I've blacked out and woke up in Detroit Lakes before
and so um >> Mr. Chair, what what is a trap house? >> Oh, >> sorry. >> Sorry. Um a drug house or whatever. We're just a place where people do drugs, right? Um and I'm not saying there's like hundreds of them around here, but they're around. Like we can in
Fargo pretty much half the north side, right? So, um, and when people don't have services like this, they go back to what they know. And, and sometimes that's a toxic family. It's toxic friends. And people, you know, not that
they're bad people, but they're all just they're living that lifestyle, right? And um, and you're 100% right. The the settlement funds are prevent these people are targeted, >> right? There's drug dealers that are looking for our people. My biggest
competition has never been other nonprofits or agencies. My biggest My biggest competition is drug dealers because they're actively This is why F5 works because we're out in the community. We're in the jails. We're in the prisons and we have a better marketing plan than drug dealers do. And
we t we just basically took their book and and went after the same people and we're trying to save lives. And I think we're doing a great job with it. So these 40 people, there's a likelihood that there would be a lot more obituaries, there'd be a lot more um mug
shots, there'd be a lot more people in the jails. Um >> lack of supporting complete lack of support. >> And I think the mentality is is I mean for me is that every time we meet with someone, I see
a future CEO of F5 when they're just getting out of detox, right? And I think that's what sets us apart is that we're not just there to hold people accountable. And um I mean, think of it this way. If a person comes through our program and
they get better and they do awesome, right? Um or a person comes through jail like like are we upset they're not being punished or are we upset that there's less victims, right? Like, so I think that our our play is creates less
victims, more public safety, more recovery. And so the only reason someone wouldn't want to support that is because they just want to punish people. You know what I mean? And so it really comes down to a worldview. Do you believe people truly can change? And from me
being in a five-point restraint chair with a mask, sitting in a jail full of, you know, urine and puke, you know, just got tased and maed by the law enforcement in the jail lobby, you know, 15 years ago to being the CEO of F5. I believe every single person that comes
through our program has the capability of being the same. >> So, so Mr. Chair, so I mean what I'm gathering is this your your secret sauce then is, hey, I've been there, done that. >> Yes.
That's what they term lived experience. >> Yeah. >> And it changes the addict's life, but it really changes the family of this person >> because that that's what holidays and everything. If you have this problem and
you get rid of it, it changes a lot of people's lives. So >> yeah, in my opinion that the formally incarcerated or the justice impacted individual, the felon, right, is the single point of connection to basically every agency in town because they
usually have kids that are going through, you know, the foster care system or there's a child protective case order, there's child support orders, there's they have fines to pay that, you know what I mean? In every direction, there's someone connected to them. So I think you know from an impact
economy impact this is the single person that will impact the entire economy uh in one shot. >> Well we are very thankful for you to be here. I um >> I worked in child protection for um
about 12 years and I wish we would have had this program when I worked here um because I think it would have made me a better social worker to have um a resource to provide um the parents that I worked with. So, thank you for being here. >> Mr. Chair, if I may, just one more thing. >> Yes, please.
>> Um, we also uh at the same time and thankful, very thankful of Carrie and her idea to bring about uh the better futures model for our clients to be able to work um through Better Futures over at the landfill. And we are pleased to announce that I think we have three
full-time um workers uh through Better Futures at the mattress recycling program through Steve and um Alex. And so that is again another thing that's been going really well. Um so thank you to Carrie for the
support of F5 and Better Futures. Um so a lot of really really good stuff is going on right now. So >> Well, thank you Brian. >> No, thank you. I mean, >> you guys are doing I went to the meeting at the uh police department the when you
guys first came and I was impressed and I was hoping this is going to be awesome and obviously it is. So, thank you very much. Yeah, >> Mr. Chair, too, Brian, just to echo what everyone has said, um you know, change is hard and for you to say, "Hey, let's
give it a whirl and and try." I mean, I never got any feedback that, oh, wow, I'm I'm a little worried. You know, it's more work. It's whatever. So, thanks for >> absolutely >> trying something new. >> Thank you, Commissioner. >> Yep. >> Appreciate y'all. >> Could I address the commissioners? I
just want to let you know, too, that you know what you guys are doing here and what you've done. I believe Adam and I have talked about this a lot that we are going to be bigger in Minnesota than we are in North Dakota. And you guys are the foundation of that. by willing to
take that chance and take a an idea that it's kind of out there, you know. So, I just wanted to make sure you guys knew the impact you're having on your own community. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yep.
>> Maybe for next year, um, Carrie, that we could maybe have a presentation at AMC for this for other counties at our annual convention. It came up a little quick this year in December. That is a very good idea, >> but it certainly would be something we could push out for the rest of the state in that format and that would could grow
very quickly. >> That's a great idea. >> As long as we have the invite from you guys, consider it done. We'd absolutely do that. >> Yeah, >> 100%. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank Thank all of you for coming and and and >> informing us. Thank you very much. >> Let's now we're going on to the the hemp
discussion. So, >> yeah, let's let's uh >> not necessarily a good transition. >> Let's we're going to skip ahead a little bit. Uh we'll get back to everybody else that's on the agenda. We need to get to our public hearing. So um yeah, we need to open our public uh Kyle
Kyle, you going to come up or is Mary going to >> All right. So we I need a motion to open a public hearing to adopt registration and fee schedule for low potency hemp and cannabis products. >> I'll make a motion to open the public hearing.
>> So do I have a second? >> I'll second. So, we have a motion by Erica, a second by Richard. Do we have any more discussion? Okay. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. All right. The public hearing is now open. Do we have anybody
that would like to make a comment in the public hearing? >> Mr. Chair, just to make note, uh, we are jumping ahead in the schedule because this was scheduled for 9:30, so we're running a little bit behind. So, there's going to be extension and a couple things, um, coming up right after this. We'll get back to it. >> Correct.
Is there anybody that would like to make a comment for the public hearing? >> Is there anyone? >> All right. So, I will entertain a motion to >> Mr. Chair. Maybe Kyle can just give an explanation on what the public hearing is for. I think we need to have some
some D, you know, people know. Go ahead. >> And I just want to add one additional item to that. So the public hearing is for basically a registration fee schedule for cannabis and basically what that does is cover compliance checks and
things like that. It's specific to retail only. So the lure is again retail only. So like wholesale doesn't um or manufacturing doesn't pay for this. Um, I do want to add one more thing to it
though that probably wasn't clear for something for you to consider would be um, low potency hemp verse cannabis. So, we have a cannabis ordinance right now. Low potency hemp is defined as
basically 5 mg or less in a serving. So there has been um ongoing sales of low potency hemp in liquor stores and gas stations and things of that nature prior to the
legalization of cannabis. So what I would like you to consider today is making that permissible. Um and also exempting low potency can or low potency hemp from
the setbacks and other requirements that we have for cannabis just because it's been ongoing. There hasn't been an issue with it. Um the state just kind of recently stepped in and said we need to start licing it. So >> they would be still be required a
lensure but by by >> Yes. But it would be permissible instead of conditional like cannabis is conditional right so low potency hemp would just be permissible. >> Would the permissible be I mean what are
the what are the restrictions? I mean you can't sell it at school. I mean what are the what are the restrictions for low potency hemp? >> Well you have to be 21 years of age. Um but so again they've been selling it for the past >> right but I mean there has to be some
rule I mean we have to have some rules on it right 21 so it's 21 and older so so there's no restrictions other than that so it would have to be a right >> but they just to clarify they've already been selling it at gas stations
>> they have liquor stores bars they've been doing it so I talked to the city of Detroit Lakes yesterday um they took the same approach just because it's been I I guess legal, you know, prior to cannabis itself. It's just a
it's hard for me to understand, I guess, myself. It's a lower deprived amount of THC in this product and it's it's been on store shelves for years. Um the state just recently came in and said you need to apply for this lensure in the month
or prior to October 2025. There were some businesses that didn't follow that. They had ended up having their product removed from their shelves. So, we started having this discussion of what we have to do basically to regulate it.
And again, so talking with, you know, the city and other people, it's like, well, it's been on shelves for for years. And >> yeah, I I know I I saw it years ago with low potency and at anyway um so I'm just trying to get So does it have to be
behind the counter? >> Yes. Okay. So I mean there there are some rules that should apply to this and that's why we'll do compliance checks on them, but it's permissible but with with the rules that it's got to be 21 and older behind the counter. I mean there has to be >> so like in a liquor store obviously you
know >> well that's 21 already. Right. It's going to be on a shelf, but like going into >> I'm just wondering a gas station shouldn't have it out in the in a at the end cap and someone can grab it and >> No, I I don't believe they do. It's got to be like cigarettes, you know, behind
the counter. >> I was just going to say I think it's very similar to tobacco sales and and uh the rules around that. >> So, I'm I'm agree with everything you're saying, Carl. My only question and I guess this would probably be towards Carrie is our public hearing is only to
adopt registration and fee schedule. >> So I >> can can we make a a recommendation to make it permissible under this public hearing? >> I noticed it that way in the paper >> that the >> that it would be an amendment to
>> okay >> or for consideration. >> Okay. >> Your >> when it's under for consideration, you can you have some options. Your agenda item is a little specific, but the way I noticed it was more bag. Okay. >> Okay. Just making sure. >> Yep. >> Yep.
>> So, anyone does anyone else have in the public have any comment on that? >> Yep. >> Roger. I see that is here for the townships. >> I'm just here for a bit other than u like I said earlier, we did the resolutions except for a couple and
pretty much most of the townships are relying on what the county can do for us. law enforcement and whatever your regulation fees, we'll go with it. >> Okay. >> Thanks, Roger. >> Thanks, Roger. Anybody else have any
public comment for All right. So then we need to close the hearing before we go through the fee schedule or the resolution >> later on. >> But yeah, so I'll entertain a motion to close the public hearing.
>> So moved. So, we got a motion by Barry. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Second by Erica. Any more discussion? >> Okay. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. Motion carries. >> Um, question. Do we want to go right
into the cannabis license fees or do we want to go back to extension and then come through? >> We may as well do the cannabis. >> Okay. All right. >> And then come back to zoning later. >> All right. Sounds good. So, >> I noticed I noticed that the renewal was more expensive.
>> Yeah, that was that was my question. >> Is that how it was supposed to be? >> Here comes Mary. She'll explain it. >> The renewal annually was a,000 and the initial is 500. >> Yeah. >> Okay. That's for the regular cannabis for the low potency hemp and everything
that we're talking about. Um it does say in the statute the initial registration they have to actually pay double. Um it is the initial registration fee on page 71 of the packet. >> Yeah.
>> The initial registration fee includes the fee new registration and the first annual renewal. >> So the renewal fee is charged at the time of the second renewal and each subsequent annual renewal reafter. This
was adopted from Klay Countyy's policy. These are the fees that basically were set by the state >> and it says after you uh >> so so if I can clarify that.
>> Yes. >> Do I have this right? So the the the initial fee is $500. the then they have to also pay a renewal fee with that $500, but it's not charged until you renew it the >> No, they're charged up front. So, it'd be $1,000 the first time that you
register and it covers your registration and your first annual renewal. >> So, then these fee schedules are not that lining up. >> These are these Well, that's what the statute says. So, but but on the the paper that we have, it says new registration fees for cannabis
retailers, cannabis mezzo business, and medical cannabis combination business are 500. >> And then the renewal registration is a,000 for each of those. >> Right. >> So then they pay $1,000 every year.
>> Yes. After the first >> after the first in after they register register 500 then the renewal is a th00and and it says initial registration fee includes the fee new registration and the first annual renewal.
>> Wouldn't collect it until their second year >> but you won't collect until the second year at the time of the second renewal. So then I think it would be 1500 right >> at of the second renewal.
>> It's a little confusing. >> It is. >> Um if if and when we make this motion, I would they would ask that the motion maker make it as the the the fees the
maximum fees that the state is allowing. Okay. And then so then we can then we have the >> then we can move >> whatever however it's supposed however it's worded. >> Yeah. And the and the statute is clear on that what the maximum is. So >> yeah right >> it is clear what the max
>> and then that could be ongoing if the state raises then the local would raise. Yep. >> I will make a motion to approve the retail business registration and renewal using the maximum
fee allowed by the state statute. Yeah. >> So, so we have a motion by Erica. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. Um I do have a question. Now this is for this covers the both cannabis and the
>> yes >> the low potency is at the bottom there >> at the bottom >> each column. Yep. >> That one's just 125 per year. Um, I don't know if it's needed, but do we
need do you think we should state that it would follow the same rules that applicable to cigarettes or or alcohol for >> for behind for behind counter sales or >> Well, there's it's governed by statute
this 342.22. You have to have a valid license. You have had to pay the registration fee. >> You have had to pass your compliance check. All of your current property taxes and assessments must be paid in full. So it's like, >> but that doesn't say it has to be sold.
I mean, how it's sold in a gas station if it can be accessible. I I just may maybe we just state that it, you know, these products can't be access. These must be >> Is that a separate motion? Is this the motion just for the registration fees
and then we need a separate motion for the >> low potency hemp? >> Yeah. >> Making it permissible? >> Yes. >> And so or >> Okay. >> Is this registration renew renewal form
>> contingent on them following all the I mean do we need that in the motion also that they must pay the fees but also must follow >> all safety protocols >> all protocol statutes. I mean you could certainly include that but yes there should be two different motions. If you
want to include it in both I would >> I will include it. I will amend my motion to include that the the fees as well as following the statutes required for following for the registration.
>> I'm fine that um >> but it doesn't the statute doesn't say >> accessibility. >> Well the I'm just It restricts it some, but I I just >> Well, that that's where we're coming up next. >> It doesn't because this I think this is
this statute is just specific to the registration itself. I'm sure there probably is a statute applicable to >> how it's sold, you know, like >> probably. Yeah. >> So, so they would need to be in compliance with Minnesota statute
>> 342.22. >> And there there is another one. I don't have it with me. 342 >> 3 Yeah, I think it's >> one >> white one. >> Uh, Sheriff Glander, do you have any knowledge of the a statute um limiting accessibility at a you know like a
>> what's your point of >> Well, you Erica just a motion >> and do you need a second to that? >> It's a friendly motion that second accepted it. >> He accepted the amendment. You can modify it anytime. >> Okay. Yeah. I mean, it was state law, aren't we?
>> I just have >> Okay. >> It's a friend. Yeah, it was a friendly amendment and he accepted the friendly >> separate from us. No. >> Okay. >> So, so I think I think we just make move forward with this and then if there's a I don't know if we need to clarify accessibility at another one or
>> I I don't think so. I mean, >> doesn't the state I think the state must have this? >> Yes. I >> Yeah, >> but I have seen it in in a in a you know accessible to anyone >> and I don't think that I think it should
be sold like cigarettes behind the counter. Not not the old candy machine where you can put in your I'm old enough to remember the machines where you could buy it right in the >> They were outlawed. >> Yeah. >> But that's what I mean. It should be sold similar to restricted sales like
cigarettes. It shouldn't be on the counter where a kid can just grab it and >> but that's that's a second if that's a second thing then >> second motion >> and maybe we need a >> hearing on that also. I don't know you know a different >> maybe we can get clarification for now
and and come back to that. >> Let's call for the vote on this one. >> Yeah. Okay. So we have your >> So we have >> your objective is >> Yeah. >> And I do know >> just from just from round table discussion type things that
one of the compliances was that it does it can't be accessible like there was a liquor store that had it on the counter like near the cash register and it's supposed to be like behind so you can't just >> Correct. And even at a liquor store, it's it's
different than if it's at a gas station where you have kids running around and kids got sticky fingers and >> All right. So, we have a motion and a second with a friendly amendment. Do we have any more discussion? >> All right. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. All right. Motion carries. >> Opposed.
>> Oh. Oh, sorry. >> All right. My fault. >> And just just remember, if you're not if you don't ask for a roll call, the opposed motion won't get recorded necessarily. >> Okay. So, >> so if you want it, >> let's do let's we need to record it. Let's do a roll call vote. >> I >> I >> No.
>> I >> I >> All right. Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> There would be a second consideration though for low potency hemp to be permissible and exempt from the cannabis
requirements of the zoning ordinance, >> but still licensed. >> Yes. >> So, you're asking for an additional motion. >> Correct. >> So the city of Detroit Lakes is is it's permissible with the lensure. >> Yes. >> And it if we don't do anything, it would
have to be conditional use with lensure. >> Yes. >> And there's numerous businesses that are doing it currently. >> Currently. >> Yes. >> And we have >> we'd have so we then we'd have to have a conditioning permit for all of them. So almost I mean I think
>> so like >> nearly every bar >> like the city of Ottoman probably has their own ordinance so they would allow it. Correct. >> They do. Yes. Their example it was permissible low potent. So and the city Detroit lakes all the city is allowing it. So it's permissible. >> Yes.
>> So I would say the rest of the county should be in the same guidelines and make a motion to allow it permissible with fee the lensure. So we have a motion by Commissioner Nelson to make low low potency permissible with by with
through the fee. Do we have a second? >> I will second. Okay. Any uh more discussion? Okay. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries.
All right. Let's move on back up to our extension. So please come up. >> Mr. J, should we take a >> take a little break first? I >> think we're getting to that. >> We are actually We are actually getting close. So, >> statue 342.46, which does show >> we're we're sorry to interrupt you
again. We're going to take a little break, but you guys can get ready. So we'll we'll take think she's short. >> All right, we will readjourn our meeting. >> That's it. Okay, re >> not
>> reconvene. I don't know. We're going to come back to our meeting and then with our extension. So please uh tell us who you are and what good some good stuff. We all know you but >> good morning. >> Go ahead. >> Good morning. My name is Cecilia Amedu.
I serve as a regional director for University of Minnesota Extension and I'll have my colleagues introduce themselves. And we have a special guest with us today. >> I am Elliot Lawrence uh for educator here in Becker County. >> Linda Prime, Becker County Extension
Office Manager. >> Are you new to the county, Linda? >> Yes. >> Yeah. came here about first time I've ever been here >> 45 years >> 49 49 >> I'm Nick Williams a local Becker County uh master gardener volunteer >> welcome >> welcome to all of you
>> it was really exciting to hear all the amazing work that um F5 is doing um in Becca County and in North Dakota and that was exciting but I think we have even much more exciting grand people to go
so hopefully today we'll get to share some updates um about the work we've done. Um Elliot has done some amazing work with the youth um this past year. So he will have some data to um share with her and then Linda will share some master gardener updates along with some how she supports our office and then our
amazing master gardener will share kind of how he supports and how he comes into play and then we'll close our questions. Elliot. >> Yeah. So, uh, Beck, uh, Becker County 4 has had a good year, um, this past year as you can see from the impact report
that I gave you all and, uh, Peggy has up on the screen right now. So, uh, ever since, um, prior to me being here, um, but around 2020, um, all the 4 programs throughout the United States really took a little bit of a hit. Um, and so we're
in a slow growth. Um we've grown pretty much every year since um since 2021 since about 2021 2022 when I started. Um and uh and we we had a a fairly large increase this past year which is really
exciting. Um so uh uh 4 if you're if you're unfamiliar give a quick quick overview of 4. 4 is a world's largest youth serving organization and um we have uh there's a 4 program in every county in Minnesota and there's a 4
program in every county pretty much every county in the United States um it is uh ran by the land grant institution um in that state in Minnesota uh we are ran by the University of Minnesota um and uh so uh we like to pride ourselves
on having quality youth education at a informal level um that's researchbased and backed um with data and facts. Um we do a lot of tracking in the 4 world and if you sit on our uh county extension committee you get to
hear about that uh on a quarterly basis. >> Um and uh we have a lot of programming that goes on in in Becker County um in in the world of 4. Uh, one of the most exciting areas that we uh that we have every year of course is the the Becker
County Fair as you guys were talking about. Um, and we thank you very much for the support for the Becker County Fair. Um, it is truly one of the one of the premier county fairs in this area. Um, I've been to quite a few. Um, I've actually been to a ton um throughout all
of the United States and uh it's an excellent fair. Um, and of course the fair is is not um sometimes we lose the value of the fair. Um and it's really about um youth showing off what they've learned the past year in 4. Uh so they're working on these projects
throughout the entire year and uh the fair is really their culminating event to show off uh what they've been working on um past uh for the for the past year. Um so it's really awesome always it's it's always really awesome to see that. Um you know very competitive of course
uh and um the kids do a great job. Um, it is a uh whirlwind. Um, I think uh Linda and I both get a few more gray hairs after the week affair. Linda probably doesn't, but I do. Um, luckily mine only happens in my beard. Um, and
so uh uh but um but it's it's just really exciting. Um other things throughout the year, we have um uh some make and take days um that uh explore project areas, different project areas. I like to look at project areas that maybe haven't been uh utilized a whole
lot um throughout uh previous years and bring experts in to uh lead a uh hands-on make and take day. Um and um and so that's always uh that's always really fun. Um and uh lot of different
other events. For camp is a is a huge thing. Um I uh we take a group um to uh down to Battle Lake every year and um that's a a three-day uh two one one night two days and then the counselors
who's a group of uh older teen for each members are are the ones that lead that camp. Um so that's a lot of fun as well. Uh we just got done with our annual awards banquet. Um and uh that once again then they the um is a is a way to
uh let the kids know that what they've been doing is is really awesome. The other thing the awards banquet does um that the the fair the fair is a culminating event for the kids. The awards banquet we do like to recognize all the adult volunteers um that we have in the county. Um and so that uh that's
part of that awards banquet is recognizing those adult volunteers. We had 138 uh at the uh awards banquet this year, which is uh really really good. Once again, um a lot of counties struggle with their awards banquetss these days and getting people there. Um
and we had uh we we consistently have about 140 people come to that every year. Um so it's really awesome to see that. Going over some numbers and then I'll pass it on. Um, on the impact report, we had 366 participants in
Becker County last year in 2025. Uh, as I said, we're we're growing and and increasing every year. The previous year in 2024, we had 298 foreers in the county. Um, so it truly was a nice increase this past year. Um, statewide
there's 53,744 participants um in the 4 program in the state of Minnesota. Uh, another area we really succeed in is, uh, getting new members to 4 in Becker County. And last year we had 85 new 4 members in Becker
County. Um, in all of Minnesota, there's about almost 11,000 uh, first year members. Another huge um, we're actually in the top um, 10, we're top I think we're number 13 in the state. The last time I checked is our retention rate.
Um, from year to year, we keep the members. Um the state retention rate for all of 4 is sitting at about 77% whereas in Becker County we're at actually at 87%. Um so that's something that we're really proud on uh proud of. Uh youth stay an
average of seven years in the Minnesota 4 program. Some other numbers um on the back side you'll see a ton of different numbers. Um, one other thing that down at the bottom there, we do have 60 screened 4 adult volunteers, which once
again, the adult volunteer program in 4 is how we run the program. Um, and, uh, that is 60 is a great number. Um, aside from this screen volunteers that we have, we have probably um a total of about a hundred volunteers that are
episodic volunteers that that that just kind of come in and help us um for oneoff events. Um there's a ton of help during the fair. All of those volunteers might not be screened and background checked uh because they're not in direct contact with youth, but we can't get the
job done um without that. Uh last year, speaking of the fair, last year we had over 211 youth showcase their learning at the Becker County Fair and uh across the state there's about 20,000 youth that participate in some kind of fair
event. Um and then we also had um 67 youth um that participated in the state fair um or uh any of the state events that happen after the fair. Um so state horse show, state dog show, state shoot.
Um all of those events alto together we have 67 youth that participate in all of those events. Any 4 questions? >> Mr. Chair, what is a screened volunteer? What does that mean? >> So screened volunteer is they go through
a background check. Um, and uh, that means that they're leading the the the way we determine whether or not they become screened or not is if they're going to have uh, one-on-one direct access to youth. Um, whereas the unscreened volunteers are, like I said,
the per the best example of that is all the volunteers that help at livestock shows during the fair. They're all out in the public. They're all helping um but they're not having that one-on-one connect with the uh with the youth. >> We put you in the lifestyle category.
>> Oh, so yeah, the the screening does happen. Um that is every 3 years. Um they do that that requires a rescreening. Um so all of our volunteers do become resscreened every every three years, which once again is a is a background check. Um and uh there's also
a training every year, annual volunteer training that's led here in the county that I lead. Um that um that that's also a requirement for for the club volunteers as well. >> Next. >> Okay. I'm Linda Prime, Becker County Extension Office Manager. I work with
Elliot and with the 4 families and I'm also a master gardener. I took that training about 41 years ago. and um I was seven. Um and I'm also the master gardener program coordinator. And today with me is Nick Williams. Um we have 24
master gardeners right now in our county. And um Nick is has served on the um Minnesota State Advisory Board for four years. And uh so we're going to talk today a little bit about how how you can become a volunteer. Um so the
Minnesota Master Gardener program is offered through a volunteer opportunity. um through the University of Minnesota where individuals are trained um on research ben gardening researchbased gardening knowledge and um same thing
they have to have a background check and a safety of minors training that's the first thing to even join and there's a registration fee and then there's a 48 hour core course and that is online when I took it back in the day we drove down to Fergus Falls
>> probably didn't have online >> didn't have online computers. Um, >> we had cars. Oh, yeah. Well, I can tell you a story, but I better not about what car we drove in. You know those little ones that have those little push buttons and then you can see the the the the um
>> your feet running underneath them. >> Yeah. You can see you can see the tar. Yeah. We only rode in his car once. Uh and so anyway, then um after they complete their 48 um hours, then that next year they have to give back 50 hours to that county. And um they can do
it in different many activities which um Nick is going to talk about. And and then to stay certified every year they have to do at least 25 hours and 5 hours or more of continuing education. And um some of our Becker County Master
Gardeners this year instead of doing the 25 we've had four of them that did 100 or more. And um then they also do the educational, some do the five, some do 20. Uh it's very but when they come and help with people it's always researchbased. It's not not you know
just don't Google something. A lot of people come into our office and they'll ask a question and well we read this online and blah blah blah and it's like um let's go see what the University of Minnesota says and that's that's that's the cool part about the whole thing that we can um give them the good stuff. Give
the right information Google. >> Right. Okay. Mr. clinic. >> Uh, as mandated by the morale act of 1862 signed by Abraham Lincoln, uh, land grant universities are required to maintain an extension department to
disseminate science-based information to the public. Uh, at first the emphasis was on engineering that has evolved into an emphasis on horiculture. Uh the current master gardener problem here
program here in Becker County uh has 24 active members as Linda said with a cumulative total of 1,369 hours as of this morning. That's an average of about 53 hours per volunteer.
and an outfit called independent sector has determined somehow that the value of these hours is about $38.16 each. Uh the university educ extension budget is 77.2 million of which counties
contribute about 22%. Each county in Minnesota all 87 of them contribute some amount some more than others. Uh federal funds amount to about 10.6 6 million of that 77 million that the extension office uses. Uh various
programs are done by the local volunteers and we have reached over uh 715 local citizens answering questions and providing advice primarily. Although we do do some formal programs including um pest and plant clinic, library talk,
seed starting for kids, uh walk by garden at the county fair, programs at the Boys and Girls Club, and many other uh local programs. Uh I should note that each of the programs that we do has shown increasing participation over the
years that I've been a master gardener. Uh there is not one program that does not show an increase in participation. Statewide. The master gardener program has over 3,283 volunteers and about 700 interns. that
is people that are learning the ropes so to speak, taking the core course and doing their uh volunteer first year volunteer hours. Uh in statewide the master garden program has reached 147,000 residents on a yearly basis.
About 195 volunteer hours are recorded. Uh the thing that I think is most important about the master gardener program is that all the efforts that we're doing science-based dissemination of information are showing increases.
Who knows where that's going to go, but it's getting better every year. >> This year we have um last year we had three people take the core course. This year there's four signed up. One of them's in the room right back there. >> She moved
>> Sandy. Darn. >> So, in closing, we would like to um just share the value that extension has in um Becca County and we are thankful for your continual partnership um in this program. Without you um as a county commissioners and our community um
serving in this role, the program wouldn't be what it is. The master gardener program in Becca County is one of the strongest in the region um along with Clay. So, and that thanks to um Linda's work um supporting the the master gardeners here. Um Klay County
does have a great program, but we have a local a staff that support that um program as well. So, that support plays a huge role in the success of the program. So, with that, uh we're growing youth. We're getting them ready for the future and setting them up to come and hopefully sit in the seat that you're
sitting. for serving communities in the way of um food and a and natural resources in your community and um we hope to continue serving in that role for endless time. So, thank you for your support. Thank you,
>> Mr. Chair. >> Um especially to Nick, I mean the hours that you put in and volunteer for Becker County, I just want to say thank you and to the other master gardeners. Um >> thank you very much. It's just incredible what you give back to community and and I find I find you're I would love to have all your knowledge.
Um but we can't we can't all be um experts in those fields but I I used to listen to um KFGO when when the Fargo um what was his name was it he would he would be on every >> No, this is before this is way before
your time. Was it uh he did a master gardener or or a a show, but he would answer all the questions about your apple trees, you know, about the about the leaves falling, about I mean just >> everyone everyone that has is utilizes outdoors has an interest in what you
guys have your expertise in. So, um thank you for your time and thank you for being here today. Um and again thanks to the fellow master gardeners because we do have in Becker County a huge huge support in volunteerism in every category from the library to extension to um cleaning roads for every
organization with the lions and the you know all the other service groups. So thank you for your time. So >> on behalf of all the master gardeners, thank you. And I should say that it's a labor of love. I mean we all >> people are at their best when they're talking about gardens. >> Yeah.
Except when we have pests in the gardens. >> Yeah. >> And through the years you just made I mean when you have a common um gardening thing, whatever that is, that love for it. Those you become lifetime friends with these people. You really
do. It's um it's just fun. >> And they do fundraisers. You have a plant sale. >> Yes. >> Is that when is that? >> The plant sale is Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. So, >> and the funds we use for that, um, I could explain that the master gardener
course is getting quite spendy. It's probably about 300 almost 400 bucks. >> And so, um, in order to help promote and keep these people coming back, uh, or staying with us, whatever you want to say, after they've completed that 50 hours, we'll give our our group, Becker
County Master Gardeners, gives 50% back to them, >> and they stick. They, you know, they just feel loyal to the the group. And um so that's just one of the ways. And then with the Boys and Girls Club, we have different kinds of uh projects that you know cost money, so we're using it that way.
So, but enjoy the walk by garden at the Becker County Fair. We'll soon find out what the next theme is. This year was grow your own groceries, so it's always fun. >> Yeah. Well, thank you. >> Thank you very much all. [Music]
>> Let's uh go back to Carrie. Let's do the Let's do our assessor's update first, though. Yeah. So, Tony, would you please come up and >> Lee? H Lee? Oh my gosh. Nobody else heard that but Commissioner Nelson, so don't tell anybody. >> I mean, I heard it, but I wasn't going to say anything.
>> Jerry might have heard it out in the lot. >> Lee, go ahead. >> All right. Um Harriet as called me and just asked for a little update uh on on our egg.
So what it looks like I'm looking at possibly at a 10 to 15% reduction on egg land and rural vacant land. We have actually I just checked and we had a negative 2.7 trend this
year. So, >> I did see a, you know, as a farmer, I get flyers from from around the area for land sales and I think it was Stephus had a land sale um because they're promoting their business to sell more eggland. So, they had a sale. They were
promoting this the sale that they had in in Klay County and it sold for 8,000 something an acre was the farmland that sold bare farmland. >> So, so they're promoting that as their top price and our our taxable our tax statements just came in. If you haven't
got calls yet, if you're in a rural district, you probably will. Um, and I this is what we were talking about this spring. So, those those proposed values are now in today's and yesterday's mail. Um, and and if people didn't notice that last spring, they're noticing it now.
>> Um, farmers are getting calls from from their land owners that they're the the tenants on. Um, but I wanted to make sure that you you know, last year the state adjusted sales price. We were the highest in the state at over 20%. Um, and we did not appeal that which this
year I think I don't know the timing or when that comes but if it should be a negative and I would say a significant negative amount that we have. Um, >> we over we are overpriced in our land. There are no sales. There is not a sale in the county that has these prices on
it. You can't you have not shown me any sale that I have land that's valued. It's 10,000 an acre. There are no sales. So, >> yeah, >> we should be in the negatives on our adjusted sale price. >> And like I said, the the trend I just
got last Wednesday, the 24th, whatever, it showed a negative 2.7. >> What is this? What did the state when the state sets that trend? Is that the trend? >> Yep. That's the yearly trend.
So if for our for our meeting on next th a week from Thursday so 10 days from now could you get all bare land sales just so we have it because there will be people here asking for that and I know we've had sales in the 9,000 but we are we are at over we are $10,000 per per
acre and we're over way over that for tillable acres. So what? Yes, I I can put I can put together >> so we can see where that trend should be. >> Yep. >> And where those land sales are, they're under what we have. And then the trend
should be the adjusted sales price. So if if our average, now correct me if I'm wrong, if we have 10 sales and they show that we're o that we are higher, we can adjust it by those sales. And then the state will come in and say the adjusted sales price has a negative trend. So, so
our dollar amount might be lower, but then we're going to add a negative depends on the time of the year, a 2.5% reduction correct >> after that, too. >> So, that the trend will not only will our sales show that we're going down, the adjusted sales price then will go,
as Lee said, 2.4% will take that those sales down in price. So if you sold it for 9,000 at January 1, it will reduce that sales price by the end of the year to 9,000 minus 2.5% or 2.4%. >> So that's so that's what happened to us
last year. We were in the uptick. So those sales were at at 8,500 they got increased by 20%. 20% the state increased them. Now depending upon what time of the year it'd be 20 or maybe 10 or maybe five depending on the time of
the year. So, we were that's what happened to us last year. We should have appealed that 20% raise and said, "Well, give us 5%." We raised our property values 48% last year. I think we're catching up. We don't need another 20%. >> Right. Right. I'll be and I'm more
looking at those trend numbers uh to make sure. I mean, I I'm not going to appeal a negative trend. I'll be honest. >> Well, you'd appeal it for a more negative trend. Well, should we what can we do? What can we because I've already got a phone call
on this. And what can we do to straighten this out? >> We have to wait through time. Like I said, next year's time and and the sales are below what the sale what the appraisals are or the assessed values are. So, that'll bring it down and the state's adjusted sales price will bring
it down more. >> Mr. Chair Lee, why did they why did they move it up 20%. That seems like an awful lot. Why did what what were the things that h they didn't just come in and do and say we're going to pick on Becker County. No. Why did they do that?
>> Why? Well, they they sales ratio through the state. They look at all these things and they look at at sales and what the how they're appreciating
through through a um well it's not a 12 month but a 21-month period and they come up they make that determination. Now the the total formula
>> were we between the 90 and 105 the previous year? >> Uh no they they got a state increase the previous year. >> So that's the reason the state came in right because we had undervalued something. >> No this is this this is separate from that. This was not a state
>> increase mandated. This was our mandate, but then the adjusted sales price is at 20% is it's a different thing than if they came in, we were we were undervalued and we were increasing, but the state's adjusted sales price comes in and takes that sale price and adjust it also. So, it's it's not the same
thing as them coming in and mandating it. Every state has a different adjusted sales price. There are some states in the southwest corner that had a negative. >> Some states you're saying >> or some counties in the southwest had a negative. So if they sold it for X amount, it would be that minus the
percentage divided by the months. >> Mr. Chair Lee, did this happen in other counties around here? >> Did >> we hit last year? We did have the highest one around here. >> We were the highest in the state. >> Yes.
>> That doesn't I don't like that. So I Isn't it supposed to be that I look at my property taxes and it's always less than I can sell it for? Isn't that is this >> the state? The statute is you're supposed to be between 90 and 105% of >> market of market
>> market market value. Correct. >> But aren't we supposed to be below that? Isn't that normally? >> No, we're supposed to be between that. >> That's I >> Well, I mean below what you could sell it for. >> No. And and we have >> Yeah, I know what you're saying. >> I mean that's general banks and
everybody have always depended on that. That should be what your taxes are. the value is it should >> that's not what it is because I will sell I will I will sell my land for what I'm being appraised at what assessed at >> so if you've got >> well I'd like I want to correct this if
we got to appeal something or what can >> there you go you got a checkbook >> Mr. Chair. >> Yeah. >> Lee, so what what Barry was saying about the 2 and a half% trend, >> would that be applicable for 2026 or is
that moving forward that pay >> 27 27? Okay. 27. >> That's 26 pay 27. >> Got it. Okay. >> You know, everything closes. What happened last year is over and now we go this year. >> And there's nothing we can do for this
year. There's nothing we do for 26 but 27 that I remember you talking about that. >> Yes, the 20% should have been appealed and the the local assessor and and but you have to remember these timelines we had we've had turnover in that office. So it was it was a timing thing too for for >> for these
>> um but that 100% should have been appealed. It should not have been and that brought us to the extreme. That's how we're that is why we are valued higher than any sales. >> Isn't that accurate? Well, yeah. The the
accuracy is remember I'm looking at sales all you know from for this year we were looking at sales from um let's see October of 24 through September of 25. Those are the
sales I'm looking at to set this the 26 assessment. Last year it was sales from 23 of October to 24 of September 24. >> And the other thing Lee could have done
is reduce that percentage where his target was. He targeted I think 97% where you could have targeted 90%. >> Mhm. >> Well, I I would I do try to target around 95.
So, and that's why we we considered reducing the reducing the whole class >> class. Yeah. >> Um but that would cost >> that has expense for us too and and and we were down to a couple couple two 3% and it was like
>> let's we decided not to do that at >> at the tax meeting in the spring. >> Yep. >> So, >> does anybody else have any more questions for for Lee? >> All right. Thanks. Thank you, Lee. Uh, all right, Carrie, let's go on to your report.
>> I'm going to try to be quick. Just a couple of items because a lot of what I was doing has been on the agenda. >> Um, so our next meeting, traditionally, we've hosted or the commissioners have hosted the Christmas tea and >> so is that of interest? Again, I assume
it's been tradition. >> What is that? >> Is it December 16th? >> There's really no >> I believe so. Is that the right Christmas >> be our next meeting? >> After the next meeting. After the next meeting, >> we are um scheduled to have pizza after >> I was just I had sent uh Sheriff Glander
a message saying uh we may need to push out to January because I wasn't considering when I respond >> pizza combo >> and January February. >> Yeah, we'll do January. >> All right. >> Yeah, that's what I had suggested when I sent the email to him. And then the only
other thing obviously um we're all going to the AMC conference and and just a um a little bit of a a tidbit I think our county is one of the only counties where all commissioners are attending. >> Okay. Now you put Richard.
>> That's the the only county. So I did brag that all five of you were going to be in attendance and I did not >> always five. Well, we're not counting them, >> but I mean there there are lots of counties that have their hope. >> I'm just saying on on uh the uh county
administrator, nobody else that I was speaking to at that point could say all five of their commissioners were going. So, >> good job. >> I did yesterday. I might not be able to. >> I'm going to go, but I I saw my
reservations. I the last night I have I'm not staying the last evening. So the Sunday night I'm staying Monday night but Tuesday night I'm not. If you could cancel that for me >> had a girl pig >> my >> Yeah.
>> I'm actually I should cancel it the day before but I'm not. My wife's having surgery and I'm going to be home that night. >> I'll be home for you that night. Someone else can bring you there to the doctor. It's just it's just on a need. It's just >> just a D.
>> Um and that is all that I I will leave it there and um that is all that I have. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Karen. >> Awesome. So, our ne next we have our veteran services, Anthony Masten. >> Well, good morning everybody. >> Morning.
>> Morning. >> Anthony Massen, the veteran county service officer. I would like to bring up to the board of commissioners a donation that was uh sent to us for $1,000 to be used uh to help vets in our community. And the donation person wants
to remain anonymous. Um but I would like to bring this to the board. And then this might be the corrected version. I might on your version the third line down. Does it have a name on it? >> No. I still >> Okay. I just want to make sure that
there's no name on this because the person wants to remain anonymous. >> Mr. Chair, um Oops. >> Tell the per tell the donor uh tremendous thank you for her donate her or his donation. Um >> um >> absolutely
>> and from the board and and I I think this really helps um veterans and and I'm sure they appreciate it when they when they get these things. So, um, I make a motion to approve 1 C. >> 2 C. >> Two 2 >> C >> in the pack. It's 2C
>> on the agenda. It's 1 C, but the >> is it 1C? >> I'll make a motion to approve the resolution accepting the donation for veteran services. >> I'll second. Correct. >> All right. So, motion by Barry, second by Erica. Do we have any further discussion?
>> Okay. All in favor signify by saying I. I. All right. Motion carries. I just want to thank um Anthony and um his office uh Jason. They are doing an awesome job. I hear stuff in the community all the time >> about how you guys are doing a great job
and your veterans are happy. So, >> thank you. >> It's a pleasure to help the veterans in our community and we honor serving them >> and it's just it's just a tremendous honor especially when a veteran or family comes in and they're they're so thankful for the things that we can help
them get get accomplished. And Anthony, you heard the F5. I mean, I'm sure there's some service member that is have some issues also. So F5 is there for for some those that are having some addiction and some some of those problems. So um I think that can help us in in I think one of one of the members
said that it not only helps the individual but their family, their school, their their their families, you know, it it's just a spiderweb how that how that goes out. So um mental health and is very important. So, so thank you. >> Awesome. >> Thank you.
>> Thanks. >> All right, let's move on to human resources. >> Good morning. >> Morning. >> As you guys know, I have a number of items in front of you today. So, to start with is the policy for Minnesota paid family and medical leave. Um, this
is a new policy. Obviously, this is a new item that's coming forward in 111 of 26. So, um I will leave it to all of you if you have any suggestions in the policy, any changes. This did go through courthouse committee as well. Um
yeah, >> Mr. chair. Um, this is a lengthy policy and I think um I mean we can we can change it at some point if anyone sees any issues with a new policy and a new mandate from the state. Um I think we ti
vetted this quite well and I would like to make a motion to approve the Minnesota paid family and medical leave policy. >> So we have a motion by Barry. I will second that motion. Do we have any more discussion? Okay. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I.
>> All right. Motion carries. >> Okay. The second item that I have before you are the job descriptions for the auditor treasurer's office. So there was quite a delay in doing the auditor treasurer job descriptions. Um this did come before you but get pulled from the
agenda one other time. So we are confident in where we're at at this point. So, the only real grade change suggestions for this is adding a career ladder for the deputy auditor treasurer position from being a nine, adding a career ladder, moving the deputy auditor
treasurer to a a one to a 10. Sorry, and then adding in a deputy auditor treasur that would be at a grade 11. >> Motion to approve. >> Sorry. Go ahead. >> Did you >> if you have any further questions on any of them? The other the other career
ladder was the payroll specialist position. >> Motion to approve all the mo. So we have a motion by Barry to approve all the auditor treasur job descriptions. >> Second. >> Second by Erica. Do we have any more discussion? >> Mr. Chair. Um
we did this study in 2023. I wasn't here. But why are all these changes coming before us? I mean this is for a whole department. Why is that? >> So these aren't changes. So um what are we approving? Correct. I also wasn't here in 23. So when I came in in 24, we
were still working on approving all of the job descriptions. As I said, there was quite a delay in approving the auditor treasures department. They are the last department in the county. Um so this is the finalization of the job descriptions through the DDA uh compend
class review. >> Okay. So we have a motion and a second. Do we have any more discussion? Okay. All in favor I'm sorry. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. All right. Motion carries. >> So the next item that I have on the
agenda, um we do have Tessa online as you can see, so she can speak um to this, but I did do a resolution um resolution 12251E, which is suggesting suggesting I can't talk today. I apologize.
>> Um the grade changes per the market study. Mr. Chair, just for a point of clarification, and Tessa can speak to this as well, but um >> perhaps just a little bit of a backstory. Um we are um maintaining our
um overall um comp and class study. So this is our first actual review um and with the guidance from Tessa as far as looking at positions. So you reviewed half, correct? >> Correct. Yes. So, >> so these this is what came from a review
of half of the positions in the county. >> So, to your point, Commissioner Hansen, that this did start in 23. We were supposed to start the maintenance phase in 24, but due to the delay in approving all the job descriptions, we did not start maintenance in 24. Hence, we're
we're doing half the job descriptions this year for 25, half of them next year for 26, and then we will resume that one-third per year that was in our original agreement with DDA. >> And I think the reason why you do that annual maintenance now, it should be
one, you know, review a third every year or, you know, we could go to a fourth every year. I think it's another thing because >> if you don't we we you get caught up you get caught behind the eightball and and when you do the major and if you wait five six seven years to do that comp
class study again and there's there's there's jobs that are way behind and there's jobs that are that maybe got too high. So um if you monitor it closely you won't have as I mean we went through that comp that major comp and we had waited many many years and there was
lots of lots of heartache and we're still managing pushing through those. >> Um so this hopefully people are the employees feel that they're being looked at and treated fairly and and reviewed on a somewhat regular basis to make sure
that they're be being in an in adequate pay scale. So, according to Mark, >> Mr. Chair, Commissioner Nelson, um I want to pay our employees and I don't want to get behind the eightball. That's that's an excellent point. Um I look at
our levy for this year, what we're going to be talking about. I mean, we're we're we're going up $2.5 million. We're going to ask our taxpayers for $2.5 million more dollars. 1.9 of that is for a salary increase. Is this something we can we should expect every year? I mean
when I see these potential of moving grades and classes I mean >> well I think for that you will see you will see those I mean we budget we budget plan on budgeting for raises and employees every year. I mean that's
that's our main 85% of our budget is employees. >> Yep. So, um I I I I read an article um and it it talked about the Ford factory and if you remember the Ford Ford factory when its beginnings um when they
were starting to build the the cars they were they were losing I mean this is model T's model's they were talking about um Henry Ford took a a a huge step in in changing you know he was paying low
wages and and the turnover was so much and he I think he went and asked you know how do we how you know reviewing he went and he gave employees $5 a day wage which was huge in that that day and he said I want my employees to be able
to afford the cars that they're building and and that and that worked in today's world now the new CEO of Ford has looked back and said what you know asked his employees what what is going on why can't we what what why are we losing so many employees and they're saying because we have so many employees employees taking a second and even third
job trying to end working here. So they're they they changed the philosophy too and they're they're they raise their wages and maintain they can maintain employees. So the cost of training and I mean you can you can debate it all day
what what the co what what people should be paid but if you are losing employees consistently and constantly your cost to to manage that is far greater than than paying a a salary to keep those employees. So >> it gets deeper than that though. Barry,
there is the cost there, but then there's a lot of >> the knowledge. >> There's a lot of anger. There's it's it causes that turnover that we were having before we did this study was causing so many problems in our county and and a
lot of those. So yeah, there's cost involved with training, but there's a lot of anger, there's heartache, there's it's just a lot of it's it's just and the data shows that since we got this study completed, um we have retained our
employees. >> Yeah. >> And that's >> the pools are bigger to choose from. K. And the pools are bigger when we need an employee. So we can get better employees too when we need to get employees. So >> or more qualified maybe. >> Mr. here. I'm just saying I'm trying to find that offset or that balance with
the taxpayer >> too. I mean, we went from 26 to 28 million. Now we're asking to go from 28 to 30 and a.5 million for our levy. >> You know, unfort unfortunately for us, >> we are being given mandates that require
us to do jobs uh requ and without being compensated from the state. Um, and and there's, you know, we just passed a new policy for the for a for a program the state's requiring requiring us to do. Not saying it's a bad I mean, the the
the thought behind it is good, but it costs money and >> another $200,000. So, that's on top of the 1.9 already. That takes us to 2.1 of the 2. >> I think we >> 194,000 it's going to cost county. >> Was it 194,000? The >> I thought it was 90
>> power share. I think I thought it was 90 94. >> Are we talking PFML? >> Yeah. Our cost was >> Yeah, it's No, it's over 100. >> I don't know the exact number. I didn't bring that with me. I can get that to you. We have talked about it. >> But it's significant. >> It's about 200.
>> It is right around 200. Yeah, >> I believe so. >> The point44. Yeah, >> I believe so. >> Which we aren't actually at the point4. We did end up going with the private um providers. Anyway, back back to our point. Um,
>> did we are we do we have a motion or >> No, we don't. We haven't. >> Mr. Chair, Commissioner Nelson, I mean, my point is as a new commissioner, I'm trying to balance the taxpayer versus having good employees. And I I want both. I want to I want to >> well >> do both. And it's really a struggle.
>> These first >> It's a struggle. >> The first two years too cost more in this in our in our wage because we're catching up. >> Is this the second year of that? This is the second year. 26 will be the third year. >> Yes, >> Mr. >> So, it is gonna get better. We were way
behind and that was a big problem and we're going to >> You don't have nothing to say. Do you? >> I don't have anything to say. No. No. I I just uh for point of reference, I when we're talking about the levy and the cost for employees and and the increase, the majority of that cost is what we
already had in play as far as our COLA and the step movement through the grades. What she's um referencing with regards to movement on the grades, the cost of that, I'm not going to say there isn't any cost to that, but that's pretty minimal actually. So,
>> it's really opening up grades so people have opportunities in the future to advance um and not don't get capped out and staying in pace with the market. >> But every advancement is a step in pay increase. Right.
>> Well, correct. And and the way we are advancing employees currently in the county, whatever grade they are placed on, and historically we have done COLA increases in January for our employees to again keep pace with inflation and
those types of things which is costly to the county um as well as um movement through over time to retain your employees a step movement within their grade that is what the cost majority of
the cost that you're referencing is I just wanted to make that point >> and we have more step movement right now because our employees were >> very underpaid or frozen >> they were maxed out in the old old scale, we got the new system, they came
in in in in the middle of the scale instead of at the top. I think I just want to reiterate a little too of why many of the the jobs that we have at the county are to provide health and
safety to our citizens, whether it's, you know, at human services and the the social workers, the eligibility workers, the h the sheriff's department in >> the the deputies, the um jail, the public health, the highway, keeping the
roads safe and clean. like the the the services that we are providing to the citizens, we want to have good employees and in order to have good employees, you you you do have to pay them. So, I think um it is hard and it it is it is a
balancing act of of how do we balance what our citizens are pay taxpayers are paying with the services that we're providing. And I think we're trying our best um because we we do want to make sure that we we keep our good employees.
And I see Tess is online. We also have a s a really really good company and consultant that we we trust her to do what she believes is correct best for us. So I think that's positive for us too.
>> If I can add just a little bit of context to what Carrie was saying for for you, Commissioner Nelson or Commissioner Hansen, my apologies. Um, with the grade changes, we have it in policy that it allows at least a 1.5%
increase between where the person currently is in their grade and step to the next grade. So, it's not a significant amount of money between the two. It really is, like Carrie said, opening up opportunities for them going forward. So, it's not that 3.5% COLA
year after year. It really is kind of capped at that right around 1.5% when we are doing these grade moves. >> Get a motion in second. >> All right. Do we have a motion to approve onee? >> Wasn't that discussion? Didn't we already have >> We didn't have a motion.
>> That was for the job descriptions. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, do we have a do I have a motion to approve uh resolution onee? >> I'll make a motion. >> So, we have a motion by uh Richard. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. Second by Erica. Do we have any more discussion?
Okay. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> All right. Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> The last item that I have before you, hence the sheriff sitting here as well, is for a move um a temporary move from >> Oh, I was going to say, are we is Tessa
done? We didn't even give her an opportunity to talk. >> I was going to say >> Tessa came online to to ask answer any questions and we just dialogue over you, Tessa. Thanks for thanks for being available, Tessa. Um, again, DDA's helped us through this process
extensively and Tessa has been a huge asset for us and to navigate this. So, Tessa, do you have any comments you want? >> Nope. I had something prepared. I know you guys are running late, so I'm not going to go through it, but maybe another time I can go through the whole process for new commissioners, but I
would just echo what Carrie was saying. I mean, we did an estimate for the classification changes. It's about 24,000. That's what the increase is. So, it's not the big number, but that has to pay for your employees. Your employees are your greatest asset, but they're your greatest part of your budget. And I
would echo what your commissioners and Carrie said. This maintenance program is really like your pavement improvement. We want to do small changes annually so we avoid the big wage gap and later. Um, but also want to work with the board to maintain competitiveness, but also be
fiscally responsible. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Tessa. >> Thank you, Tessa. >> Thank you. Well, >> Mr. Chair, Tessa, before you jump off, do you have any information or some historical about, you know, I wasn't here in 23. I
wasn't here in 24. Um, >> it's a good question for AMC time. >> Are you down at AMC? >> Absolutely. >> You know what? I'll I'll plan on meeting with you maybe a little bit. >> All right. Maintained all the time. Yep.
Thank you, Tessa. >> It's where I met you, Tessa. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Have a good one. >> You got crushed and bean bags, too, by the way, just so you know. >> We beat them. >> I know. Or you beat him. I didn't. All right. >> You can't talk about that in a public
meeting. >> Okay. I'm not going to say anymore. >> All right. Let's move on to our baiff information. Go ahead. >> So, the final item is resolution 12251F. This is to temporarily move a part-time
bailoff to a temporary full-time position for a six-month period. Um, as it states in the resolution, we do have some vacancies in our screening area. So, we had two um part-time screeners that have resigned that we have not
opted to fill those positions at this point. Um, and we also have some leaves that are upcoming that are creating quite a uh a deficit in hours that uh that these individuals can work. So, we're running up against um running into
overtime for this part-time individual and would like to do it the right way to just move them to full-time so that we have those. >> This um Todd was asking a committee and we said Carrie figure it out because we're supportive stay within budget. So, um I'll make a motion to approve 1F. >> I'll second.
>> Okay. So, we have a motion and a second to approve 1F. Uh, do we have any more discussion? >> Mr. Chair, Todd, uh, the sixth month timelmited full-time. What does that mean? Six months seems part-time, but it's a for a full-time position. Can you explain that?
>> Do you want me to speak to it? Okay. >> So, reason for it, we have these leaves that are upcoming that will be ending by end of April is what our anticipation is or at least will give us a better insight. >> Current employees going on leave. >> Correct. We have one one of our part-time baiffs and then one of our
part-time court screeners that are going on leave for an extended period. Um so we need to be able to fill that gap and at that point when those six months are up we can at least have a better insight into what will be needed if not move this back to parttime at that time. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> All right. So we have any more discussion? Okay. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Right. Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Let's move on to highway. >> Mr. Mr. May I? >> Yeah, absolutely. Just I want to go back to Commissioner Nelson's report earlier
in the meeting and uh one thing I just want to mention is that you know we were talking about equipment and uh we have some staff we have staff in our dispatch center are that are kind of forgotten at times but they were able to monitor where my sergeant was uh through his
body camera where he was at all times while he was tracking this individual along with two other individuals as well. and they were able to direct us uh those the other, you know, people that were searching with our, you know, ATVs
side by sides, putting them in front of where these tracks are going u by the use of our our equipment. And I just want to say that, you know, between radios, body cameras, it's pretty amazing um and what we what we can
accomplish. And uh but again, our dispatch center with the use of their maps and the equipment, they're were able to help us with that. So, I just wanted to give a kudos to uh >> Awesome. >> to everyone else that was too. >> Thank you for that because we do forget our dispatch.
>> Yeah, we do sometimes and they are the first line. >> Very crucial. >> Very crucial. Very crucial. So, thank you for that reminder. >> Yep. >> Thanks, Todd. >> I don't know if any of you know this. I worked at Dispatch. Well, >> I did. Well, you like to talk.
>> Talk. >> Dispatch doesn't talk. >> Morning Jim. >> Directs. >> Good morning, commissioners. >> Morning, Jim. >> Uh, one item for your consideration today. Uh, we have a capital expenditure request uh to order a new plow truck for
2026. Um, we order this now because of the long lead times. Uh, about a year to get those trucks. >> Uh, the amount this year is 330,341. Um, this is, uh, 2027 MAC truck uh, with
the toll master equipment package on it. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> So, we have a motion and a second to approve the truck. Do we have any more discussion? Okay. Okay. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Motion carries.
>> Thank you. >> Thanks, Jim. >> Mr. Chair, I recommend we move to planning and zoning. Yep. >> Before we do EDA, >> I agree with you. >> All right, let's move on to planning and zone. Or is Kyle, you know, planning and zoning guy?
>> Cuz you don't get these guys out here. >> Oh, they're here for that. >> Um, >> okay. Yeah, >> I don't need to sit any longer. >> Yeah. Let's when can you page Kyle or >> Yep. >> Let's Should we do the housing contract while we're waiting for Kyle?
>> We can do that. >> Just so we can keep moving. >> Yeah. Cody, would you come up and let's do let's do the housing contract first and then when Kyle gets here then we'll probably interrupt you and the rest of your stuff >> being you're not as you know >> that's fine.
>> Is it just the contract that's on there or did the other items? No, there's two items, but >> three items. >> We're You're just here until Kyle gets here. >> Yeah. >> Okay. No, I was just All right. Uh, so contract, right? Um, >> so included in the packet is a
memorandum kind of outlining the housing management contract services. There's a correction to the date on the top of it. >> No, you're come up front. >> Swap out. >> Yeah, I may as well just swap. >> Yeah, let's do it. Thanks, Cody. >> You're welcome.
>> Thanks, Cody. I was listening, but I wasn't fast enough. >> Believe me, when you get older, it's even slower. >> Yeah. >> Uh, good morning, commissioners. Mr. Chair, I have planning commission
recommendations from, uh, November 19th. First one, uh, DHV Ventures LLC requesting a conditional use permit to rent out shop space for commercial use and storage. The recommendation was to approve.
Is anyone here to speak on those? >> Um, yeah, sir. >> Yeah, please come up. Just >> You don't have to speak. I was curious if you're speaking in four or against. >> Four. >> If there's no one here, >> definitely four. >> If there's no one here to speaking against, then you don't probably want to say too much.
>> Oh, here. Smile. >> Yeah. Just state your name. >> Oh, yeah. Hi, my name is Marcus Gone. >> Okay. I don't >> I don't have any questions. Thank you for coming. So, um I'll make don't have anything to add. We'll go ahead.
>> I'll make a motion to Yeah. Confir the planning commission. >> Okay. We have a motion by Erica. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Phil. Any discussion? Okay. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. That was easy. >> Motion carries. Thank you. >> Thank you for your service. Merry
Christmas. >> Thank you. Merry Christmas. On the last applicant, uh Devin Wood on behalf of Timothy Hegiston requesting a conditional use permit to operate a firearms business with the condition um
that the basically any firearms use would be to restricted to personal use. So no testing of firearms, no customers shooting guns there or anything like that. >> Okay. Anyone here speaking?
>> Yeah, Deon's here. I don't but >> Deon is here yet. >> No opposition. Didn't see any significant at the >> No, outside of I mean the the biggest concerns were just wanting to know if it was going to be like a gun range or something. And just some clarification
there is a similar business with like within one mile down the street. He's been operating for years. Um basically all these folks do is it's like an appointment based thing. until like I contact you, buy a firearm from you, we do the paperwork on your desk and you
leave. >> Um, >> motion to concur with planning and zoning. >> Okay. So, a motion by Barry. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Richard. Do we have any more discussion? >> Okay. All in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. >> All right. Motion carries.
>> Thanks Devin for coming. I had Devin as a student at Trent Lakes High School and coached him in football, too. >> And you still made it. >> Yeah, still he still turned out okay. >> Had him and he still made it good. So, >> I remember Devin jumped off sides a lot in ninth grade football, but >> have a good day, De. Thank
>> you. >> All right, let's go back to Cody now. We can go right >> now. We can take our time. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> It all in. Cody, one thing I mentioned, Erica, is um I got an email from West
Central Initiative that has some funding opportunity, grant opportunities and um maybe you can look into that and try to promote, you know, Becker County businesses. Hopefully, we get some applicants to to get >> Was it the promise act grants? >> I think so. 10 to 50,000.
>> Yep. That's some promise act. >> Yeah, I think that is promise act. Yeah. promote that as much as we can and >> y >> hopefully get some recipants >> recipients >> recipients and some supplemental information for the contract if you want
just for a breakdown of the proposal of the 221,000. >> Yeah, like to see it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. [Music] That's just to uh add a little more
context I guess to the how the um management fee is derived. That's what's proposed to us and what's uh in the format of what's reviewed annually. Um so you can kind of see the comparison. It's also included on the memo from the
years prior, but essentially we had a a a no cost increase this year to our contract. Some of that's contributed to some uh restructuring in staffing with their uh organizations. So, um, you
know, that was, I guess, NRI is a win a little bit to to keep the cost down and and that financial impact, but, um, you know, historically, we've seen those, uh, numbers listed on there. And the annual management fee, um, from what it has increased over the
past, you know, 5 to 10 years. So, um, on the memo, there's a date correction. Uh, it says December 2nd, 2024, should say. uh 2025 today's date. Um the contract expires this year. So we're
just looking to uh do a continuation of the current services through the uh year 2026. >> Mr. Chair, Cody, uh Cody, this is not directed at you at all, but do you think this is a fair deal?
>> I don't. Yeah, we vet it, you know, through some cost analysis comparisons with, you know, what we can derive from other available contracts. And >> how many other available contractors can do this type of work in the region?
>> We did an RFP for it two years ago and MMC was our only >> our situation is a little unique because of our public housing program and the scattered sites. Most property management type companies want to do density so >> apartment buildings, >> apartment buildings and that sort of stuff. Um, so there there's a couple
other agencies that do similar work in similar type of properties, but not not the scattered site housing. So in terms of workload and all that sort of stuff, um, you know, we we pulled up some hours too and and that sort of stuff. So there's
staffing time that's attributed to uh these numbers and things like that. So, you know, we did we did look at what that would look like, you know, um for the number of staffing positions um based on our um you know, analysis of
it. Their structure, their organization utilizes different staffing because of how it's um compartmentalized between duties and things like that. So, um you know, what what is utilized versus what's maybe required might be slightly different. But, >> Mr. Chair Cody, how in the world can you
include 7 77 housing voucher programs in your 138 total units taken care of? I mean, it it's a voucher. Maybe there's some paperwork there, but you're not taking care of a unit. That's that's disingenuous to put that in there, I think. H who how who who who decides
that? >> Well, this is the proposal that's given to us. Um, our contract for vouchers is 77 units. We have roughly Well, I think the most recent one was down 40. >> When I think of a unit, I think of a place where someone is living, a door
that you walk in and you stay, >> right? Yeah. This is just >> a housing voucher. 77 units. It's under the units thing that that's that's not real. The Merurl, the five homes, aren't those the homes that they're buying contract for deed? Do
aren't aren't they managed? Don't they fix their own uh refrigerator when it goes out or whatever? Don't >> they require insp maintenance and stuff's required. There's just an annual inspection. I think that's that's required in some of the the real
>> major things like emergency repairs. Um but yeah, no, to your point, you know, that's stuff that we've um questioned and and requested further details on and and had that discourse over. Um,
this isn't based on a per unit number necessarily, but it's included as a number. So, yeah, it kind of, you know, skews the way things look maybe a little bit. >> I mean, I I think we're looking at ways to move for as we move forward, how to
bring this in house or possible or or continue on. I mean, those are discussions for future. Today, we're at a I mean, we don't have >> we don't have a we don't have any choice. We don't have an option another option, >> but just to give you, you know, a Merurl house, you know, you'd think that would be
um really easy, but we had one go tax forfeit >> not too long ago and we had one that that um required so much maintenance or fixing up um and we got permission to to sell that. So, we sold one to in the open market. So I mean it's not just I
mean there are there are times when it's easy to manage some of these houses and then it's times that it takes expanse of hours. I mean I mean you have run in it's it's just like today's our agenda said we were supposed to be done in an hour. when you start getting into something all of a sudden it takes a lot
longer than what you think it would cuz these these properties are not your normal commercial properties where you can kick you know hey if you're not following all my rules I can kick you out you know these are >> these are difficult programs to manage.
So, I mean, I agree. It's I think we're we're paying at a high rate and I think we should look at solutions to that. >> And we are we are we are looking and we've been looking at this for a long time. And Phil, we're not going to save a bunch of money here. >> But you will have an additional minimum
two employees and then contract contracted labor. >> So on when you see it, it's it's very this is not managing an apartment building. Not even close. And when mistakes are made, it costs us a lot of money. And we've experienced that also.
So, >> and I think MMCDC stated there's they they have an equivalent of 2.6 people was the latest number. >> Um, >> you have to remember every one of these programs audited too. >> I mean, it's
>> Yeah, there's big audits >> and that requires a lot of time and a different set of skills than just fixing. Yeah. No paperwork. Yep. Red tape. Y >> I I've I think I said this earlier. I think we could do better if we just built the h, you know, built the house
>> and gave it to a worthy family. I mean, and the Merurl program, if we can get rid of those five homes, well, it's no longer in existence. It's it's just But we have five Mural homes that at some point >> 2037 >> will be gone. >> 2037 is when the
>> unless unless unless something happens. I mean, unless that homeowner change. >> Yeah. >> Um, with that being said, I'll make a motion to approve the MMCDC >> housing 221. >> Yes. >> Second
for 221, right? Is that okay? All right. So, we have a motion by Erica and a second by Barry. Do we >> No, this is just a This is a one year >> one year. >> One year. Yep. >> Yep. >> So, motion by Barry, second or a motion by Erica, second by Barry. Do we have any more discussion?
Okay. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> All right. Motion carries. All right. Cody, you are on the city's participation. >> Yeah. So, this one too there, the dates were uh carried over. So, it should say
today's date on the top of the memo. Um, and then in the memorandum notes, the program would be running through 20 26. So, instead of 2024 on the first bullet point there, it should say 2026. But essentially what what this is is a
recurring uh participation agreement uh with the uh with Minnesota housing to provide fairly down payment assistance and closing cost loans through qualifying lenders in our community. Um this has been kind of a long-standing program. The program doesn't really
change. It just has a requirement that it continues to be uh meet utilization um over 50% utilization which it has. So that's why we want to keep uh reapplying since it's being utilized. Um it would probably be appropriate to just
have the um in the past I think the county administrator has also been a second signatory on the uh the commitment agreement on this last page. So if you want to make a motion to approve this and authorize that that would probably be appropriate.
Otherwise, it's >> I'll make a motion to approve the Minnesota City participation program commitment agreement and include the administrator as a authorized officer. >> Signatory. >> Signatory. >> Signatory. So, I have a motion by Erica.
Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Richard. We have any further discussion? Okay. All in favor signify by saying I. I. All right. Motion carries. >> And the last one you have is the housing trust fund. Cody. >> Yeah. And then lastly, this is just kind
of someformational stuff uh put in front of you um as a leadup to what we would like to bring more information about and make some presentation on. But this is a little dated because it's 2023. It's the last report that Minnesota Housing Partnership put out, but it summarizes
and captures um what a local housing trust fund is essentially. Um, so that's just forformational purposes, but um, >> Cody, what is a local housing trust fund? >> Yeah. So, um,
through Minnesota statute 462, it allows counties to establish by ordinance um, a trust fund. And what this does, it's a flexible funding source that can take a variety of different revenues um, and >> grant revenues.
>> It could be grant revenues. Um, loans that are taken out of the fund revolve back in interest from that endowments, uh, private and philanthropic philanthropic donations or matches from like employers or just private entities, um, estate stuff like that,
contributions, bond proceeds. Um, Minnesota Housing had a grant program for a 50% match in 20 in the spring of 2025. So, um their hope is that'll continue in the future years, but it is closing uh or it was awarded
and will be closed this year. So, um those things pop up periodically. Um the county received uh four years of certification for statewide affordable housing aid dollars, which was through legislative action. Um that can be put
into the fund. um the HA levy, general fund levy, those contributions can also be put into there tiff surplusing um local sales tax portions and even sir charges from like real estate recording fees and different things like that. So, it's a very broad
um revenue acceptance source, but it can really be determined however this board want >> to promote housing >> and it all pro promotes housing um in the forms of loans, deferred loans, gap financing, grants. >> So, we kind of have something like this
in place when we did the loan programs for first-time home buyers assistance. Similarly, >> we could rename to >> do that. And there's a lot of local businesses that have matched that or or included that in their
>> um funding that so that and that's a revolving loan. So maybe this is something that could be part of that. We put money into that. >> Yeah, this this operates like a revolving loan, but like I said, you can also do grants and other things out of it. >> Can have other things. One other thing
too is, you know, it creates a a readily acceptable source, revenue source that like when we receive some of these programs like this statewide affordable housing aid SAHA dollars, when it's transferred to a local housing trust fund, it's considered spent under the state legislation. So, it's also a way
to help expedite some things or bypass, you know, some of those statutory requirements, too. Um, but what it does is the intent is to set up a long-term pool of investments from a flexible, you know, public and private contribution source to create a long-term, you know,
pot of money that can contribute to different projects and um, development and things like that for more affordability in our county. So, this is really just kind of the the introductory part, but uh the intent would be to elaborate on that, maybe at
the next meeting, you know, give a little more of an in-depth presentation. Um Minnesota Housing Partnership provides technical assistance for establishing these. That grant is expiring um December 31st of this year. So, we want to utilize them as much as
possible through the end of the year for their free assistance. Um, but we have established uh template resolutions or an ordinance um essentially a program uh manual and everything ready to go. So we
can just put that in front of you in the near future. Um and the only requirement for the fund is that it has to be established through ordinance. So we'd have to set a public hearing um you know to establish that. So, >> and we have the the goal would be to put
the SA SAHA funds in there to start it. >> That'd be an immediate contribution through the establishment and then look at what what else might potentially be available. But um yeah, so more information to be uh presented on
at the next meeting and then probably a request to to set a public meeting and then I would anticipate if all moves forward then we would set a public meeting in uh January to get it established. >> Mr. Chair, Cody, if this does move forward, who is going to manage this? Is
that you? Is that on your plate? >> Yeah. So, it requires an oversight body and that would probably work best through the housing committee. Um, we can expand the housing committee by adding ad hoc members or whatever it might be, but um, we already have three
members on an advisory committee. Um but that would be the kind of governing oversight of the approvals and applications and recommendations coming out of there and it would flow up you know through the economic development authority board and then dear for final
approvals. Um in terms of managing it that would just come down to the types of programs and projects that are dictated in the program and decided upon. So, um that could be something as simple as, you know, RFPs for chunks of money for specific um grand
>> or it could be >> monitoring continuous um >> but there's no these wouldn't be m or maintenance or inspecting the homes or anything like that. This is home ownership. This isn't >> Mr. Chair Cody starting up the fund the saha or whatever this these funds are.
Are they already committed? If we provided an ordinance or resolution before year end, would they be committed or is that something that is competitively sought after? >> Well, this the SATA funds are committed for the Maple Avenue project.
>> Oh, they're already here. >> Yep. A portion of them are. We received certifications in 23, 24, 25, and one coming in 26. So, um, four years of distributions that we're receiving. some of the money is already here and um we
had allocated a portion of that for the rehabilitation project. Um when the money goes into the fund, whatever requirements that are stipulated to it essentially carry with it. So if it's got a certain um income guideline like
the SAHA does, that has to be followed, you know, as it's dispersed. Um, but when it revolves back in, it recaptures it and then it kind of becomes like a general fund type thing revenue source. So, does anybody have any more questions for
Cody? All right. Thanks. Thank you, Cody. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for a all the awesome Thanks. >> Yeah. Thanks, Cody. All right, we are going now.
>> Yep. We need the motion. We need a motion to move into close session. >> Make a motion to close the meeting pursuant to Minnesota statute section 13D.05 subdivision 3A. >> I'll second. >> You have to read the whole thing. >> Yeah, you Yeah, you did pull that up.
All right. So, we have a motion by Erica, second by Richard. Do we have any discussion? Okay. Okay. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. All right. >> Motion carries.