I'm going to call this meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance. >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> All right. Good morning. >> All right. Anybody have any changes to the agenda? Um, >> the only thing Dave and I
>> I think the H >> under I'll ask Dave what he wants to do. >> Yeah. >> Under commissioners number four discussion update leadership pay. We are just going to do that under committee report. >> We were just going to do it in our committee report. Okay.
>> I mean we don't need it on the but it's on the agenda so it doesn't matter. >> So it doesn't matter. We weren't going to ask for action. >> No, we're just going to >> Sure. We're just an update. Yeah. >> So, we can remove number four under >> or we can leave it there and just do it then. It doesn't matter. >> What do you want to do?
>> Well, we when we were in committee, we just said we'd update the board and ask for, you know, if if So, just >> so let's just remove it. >> You can give it in your report. >> Okay. Any other changes to the agenda? >> If not, I will entertain a motion.
I'll move to approve the agenda. >> All right, bill motion. Do we have a second? >> Minus item four. >> I'll second. >> All right. Any further discussion? All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion carried. Minutes. Anybody have any corrections to the
minutes? >> I don't think I had any. Mary gave me someone I couldn't the last names I >> under >> Mary got me >> page three of three under car administrator's report number two where
where we have the kudos to the two employees do we want to say what those employees are like their job >> yeah that would be good maybe so at least what department they're in >> yeah so like the uh Joan is the superintendent highway and then Stacy
Chris is the uh supervisor of DMV. That's all I That's the only thing I had. >> All right. Any other changes? >> There was a couple of changes to last names. Mary said,
>> which >> okay. >> Oh, yep. >> All right. I'll make a motion to approve the minutes with the changes. >> All right, I have a motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Any further discussion? All those in
favor? I >> oppose. Motion carried. >> On to the consent agenda. Anybody want to pull anything from the consent agenda? If not, I will entertain a motion. >> I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda. Do I have a second?
>> Second. >> Any further discussion? All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion carried. On to open form. Nate, do we have anybody for open form? >> Nobody. >> Nobody wants to talk to us this morning.
Okay. Reports and correspondents. Who wants to start? >> Um, Madam Chair, um, I had Lakeland Mental Health. Um we were waiting still for our audit so we didn't have a lot of financials. Um we are next our next
meeting we are going to after the meeting we're going to take out our 5-y year anniversary employees out for lunch. So we'll meet well out out in Fergus Falls. Um we do that annually and it's a good it's a good uh good relationship builder with employees. So
and I guess there's quite a few more there this year of the longer term ones. So it' be kind of interesting. >> Is it just five year or five year? They do five year increments. Okay. >> So every 5year increment. >> Um so basically almost 1/5if of the staff every year. >> Um
had a zoning committee. Um we had the ordinance review committee. Um we looked at a couple things. One was uh penalt you know some penalty things for um so we're reviewing that. We're looking at
language to the one thing is so if you clear a lot I mean to penalties for how how much vegetation how much trees you can take down and if so it's it's kind of complicated you know because you start going well I always think of the person
who's going to do as bad as they can you know so that's my mindset so we're trying to get language to address some of those concerns and we did push one thing forward it's the height restrict restriction that we have currently on and so we're trying to eliminate that on
non-reparian. So so thousand feet away from the lake and more. We're just looking at just eliminating that but then we're increasing some sideline setbacks if you have a house higher than 30 ft. So that will be coming um forward forward on us. So and a couple other things that we were that we looked at uh
but they're still in the earlier stages. I think one thing that Kyle had mentioned this has been I don't know a couple meetings ago about ordinance about data centers has that been >> yeah we're looking at all those data center big you know larger wind farm larger and >> discussions on what because we want the
smaller ones that are >> attached to homeowners or you know you don't want to hit those it's the big ones that you have >> um so we are looking at what we should have what what would be reasonable so >> okay Um, and then I also had courthouse.
I think most things are on the agenda, aren't they, Dave? >> I think so, except there's one >> um >> the refund policy for planning and zoning. Um, >> yeah, we had an had an incident that >> someone was asked for a refund and it
was a $100 and they didn't get exactly what they wanted, so they didn't want to move forward with it. But we had soil and waters out there flagged the wet land and zoning was out there. So I mean it >> we want to make sure we have policy stating that you know this is a non-refundable when once we go on site. >> But I think it's it's good though that
our office will refund if you do have a large building permit and you don't move forward you you know we're we're reasonable and we can refund. >> Yeah. >> But we want to get policy so we can go back. >> Yeah. We want to recommend we have we get a policy. So Kyle's done some work
on that and he's >> That makes sense. >> Um and we did discuss the leadership pay and we had quite a good discussion and with the >> from what Dave and I gathered for the not real strong support at the board and what the discussion was we didn't feel
that we were going to bring it back to the board at that time. >> Um unless unless this group wanted us to investigate it for >> Madam Chair, Commissioner Nelson um what leaders I don't understand what leadership pay is. the leadership pay that we discussed at the board that we
did not support and we brought it back to committee. So there's um department heads and and when they switched lanes and and >> is this longevity? >> No, this is leadership pay. So, we discussed it at board and it was to do with when we when the job description
changed and they changed their >> grade >> grade then their lanes is it lanes or >> steps changed the steps went down >> and we were looking at keeping them in the same step and what that would cost us to do. Um, so the board really didn't
feel strongly that that was something we wanted to do because all the employees and and some of the feedback we got then was, you know, the employees the we should everyone should be treated the same. You it kind of came back to that and um I think we vetted it quite well. I think we looked at it and
>> um with the lack of support from the Dave that Dave found at the board, we didn't feel that this was something that we were going to bring back, but we wanted to let you know that we did discuss it. if there was a strong feeling to review it. Tira has some numbers. We looked at an alternate rather than giving them the full step.
We went one step. >> Um and I >> we did that and then we also went uh getting six month increment steps until they get to the same step they were on. >> So expedited. >> Yeah, we it kind of we looked at both of those. >> And I guess at this time we weren't
going to ask for any change. Yeah. Um, unless we heard something differently from the rest of the board. >> Yeah, I would I think we just continue the way we're doing unless anybody else feels any differently. Richard or
>> No, I mean I need to be educated a little more on it. You guys did the work on it, so support what you guys came up with. Um, Madam Chair, Commissioner Nelson, you talked about the courthouse. One thing that was kind of looming here a month ago uh when we did that heater thing that we were talking about >> it we discussed that too and
>> um uh Brett came in and and let us know that you know yes we can address that. He said that's not our biggest that's not our biggest need >> and no no nothing to take away from the coldness there but he that we have some bigger you know the boilers and the um but he he was getting some quotes and
we're going to move forward with um some of those. He talked about replacing windows, talked about maybe taking an ex reviewing the windows, seeing if there's insulation inside the frames and if we can maybe um drill, you know, there's a company that drills holes and foams those and so I mean there we're looking
at other options. It's it's something that we want to address hopefully. >> It's getting warm out now and we'll forget about it until next year again and it'll rear its ugly head. That's what I've heard from, you know, those people talking up there. Could we replace one window and see if that helps
and then if it does, you know, do the rest of them if that solves the problem or am I not >> the I I think we want to get a company Brett Brent talked about getting some a company in to evaluate what how the windows are. Um they could be simple as
f filling in the you know filling in the hollow part of the window with foam and then going on the outside look at the glazing. Is that sealed up? Is there cracks in it? and then figuring out how to get better radiant heat in that in
those areas on the north east corner and the north uh on that corner over there and then the north side and the east side or north side and east side are the cold sides pointing the wrong direction I know >> but I think a lot of it I mean a lot of it is properly heating >> yeah properly heating is >> the area rather I mean
>> and and regulating that so it's >> he's coming back with some >> and I think Carrie was working with him on on getting some of that. But, um, we did talk about it and and getting some >> getting some professionals to look at it and give us some feedback on
>> cuz cuz the most expensive fix windows, replacing windows. >> I mean, you want to talk I mean, replacing the windows just just on the north side of that building. I >> I mean, you're talking easy six figures. I mean, there's no question it's going to be. >> And really, Brent's concern was like,
yes, that is an issue, but we have >> bigger, maybe more expensive. >> If your boiler goes out, you don't have heat. Doesn't matter what windows you got, what you got. >> Yeah. Yeah. And we have >> and it's not just the it's the No, I don't know my my duct work, but it's
it's the how that's being sent out and how I mean the the heat and how it's >> Richard probably can help me on some of the terminology on duct work and >> and >> well, you know, normally when they do this, there's >> if you have a window, that's where your
heat register is and it blows up there and it keeps them from frosting up and it takes care of that. Yeah, there's there's a lot >> there's probably a lot of different >> the the building was built inexpensively and and we're and we're seeing the >> cost of those in inefficiencies now.
>> Um >> um >> what else do we have in court? >> I think everything else is on the agenda. I think >> we did have a lot of discussion on the leadership and the building needs. Um >> I think that was it. Yeah, we have the
recorders request in front of us >> and the election request. Those were in the consent. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Um what was the >> criminal criminal justice report? >> I wrote that down. >> I did do I can't remember.
>> Um >> did Judy talk about that? >> Yeah, it was it Oh, it's a solution for criminal justice and and we're talking 40 phones. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's right. And um the cost would be 44,000 annually, but
it's a it's it's a solution for the the bure or the state requirement of of secure of secure um >> not >> not secure line >> for so you'd have to have a separate phone basically or or a separate
>> I don't know I asked about a uh calling forward calling So, >> um, but that wasn't that wasn't really We're just I guess we have to do a little more homework on. >> We got to do more homework. I'm assuming that would come to sheriff, too. >> Yeah. >> Um, other than that, I did you get the
appointment name I sent you, the email I sent you for appointment for Corman Watershed later? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um I just had I think I someone I sent this I gave this paper to someone but um you know we were talking about the
probation trans transition. Here's an article that um Wright County is having some difficulties with the state but they were on a PTO um vacation time. So they have they had their transition and I guess they had some I mean I found out a
little bit more about it. They had some individuals that had some conflicts. you know, ours ours seem we have a good working relationship with with our probation and staff. So, I mean, this is not us pushing something. This is working together, finding a good
solution. So, if anyone wants to read that article, um, >> okay, for yourself, >> it's the Monaceel Times. >> Oh, okay. >> I'll just leave that for you if you want to. and and yeah and Brian we and not Brian uh Tess is going
through some information on how these jobs would fit into our scale and and our grades and >> and >> so it is if we do this it is state there's some state the state has done this many times now so this is um how you transition is kind of dictated by
the state >> it's not it's kind >> how they you know transfer with their wages how they transfer their vacation to sick time. Um and that's kind of where their problem was. It would didn't transfer well with PTO and >> because the county had PTO. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.
>> Um and also um the health insurance is not the same. So that's one of the concerns of our our you know our local I mean how is this going to affect individually? How is it going to affect >> um I believe that would be all I have >> and then the sheriff the actually the
sheriff everything's going to be on the next board meeting. We had we had Sunnyside, too. >> Oh, yeah. Sunnyside we did have. We're our our finances are >> not as good as they were last year. We're in the red a little bit. U we
expect some kickback from um >> from the rate changes starting the beginning year, but um we you see ups and downs and and they said the hospitals are low census and the nursing homes are low census right now in this area. And he said that happens sometimes
where you just get a low numbers and and luckily we're financially strong enough we can hopefully ride this through. >> Yeah. The state hasn't got the new pricing done for January 1 of this year. So it'll be retroactive back. So it will once that that pricing comes in will gradually
>> get back in the black I'm assuming. >> All right. >> Madam Chair, Commissioner Nelson. Um, you guys had sheriff are are you guys working on a contingency plan for storage if as that July approaches as our >> Carrie was had a meeting about that?
>> They had a meeting about it. Yeah. And she I think she emailed us but she didn't uh >> because we'll need to >> Yeah, we got to decide. >> There's something there. >> When is that up in July? >> July. July. End of July. >> End of July. >> End of July. July is our last month of it. Or is it >> first or 31st? Jerry Carrie had a
meeting with Mtate and then now she's going to meet with Kelsey too when she comes back. >> Okay. >> Okay. She was going to see if we could rent space. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Out there. >> Yeah. >> You got I I'll go next. So, I had a fair board meeting. Um the fair board hired a
handyman to they have a big list of stuff for the handyman to do for this over the summer up to the fair. So, he's going to be pretty busy. So, that's good. They got just a lot just smaller projects that they have to update stuff and fix stuff and get stuff going. And
um they're also working on that that's if you drive by the fairgrounds that sign that's triangle like that. They're looking at replacing that. Um, they have a couple they got a couple quotes on a straight flat sign and then then now they want a quote on the triangle sign because they they
don't know. They want the company that gave them the quotes to come over there and decide how what would be a better way to do it. They also want to make the sign part of it permanent but part of it removable so they can change the dates and the times and the days of the of the yearly fair. Uh, they looked at a
digital one and that was like crazy expensive so that's not going to happen. But anyways, the uh they they decided they needed they gave them some information and some pricing, but they wanted more like more data, more like drawings, shop drawings. They wanted
some, you know, material lists and so forth, so they can get get a better idea of what it what it's going to look like. They're also raising the judging fees for next year. Um not raising the the amount they pay the judges. So, what
they're going to do is they're going to give each 4H club a budget and then they can decide how they're going to pay the judges that they get. Um, they also with that budget are going to have some recommendations of what to pay. But we we've been consistently
in the last 20 years lower than any other fair that pays judges. So they need they need to get that fix fix that because it's getting harder to get some of those judges and some of those judges are stay there for a while. >> Yeah. And it's important they talked
just about having good judges. >> Yep. >> So that you know kids that >> that know what they're doing. Judges that know what they're doing so that if they're, >> you know, eligible so that they're they're able to go to the stand when warranted. Yeah. So, >> and they want the they want good judges
and that's why the 4 people are >> pretty adamant about that. >> So, the next thing is they also we're also going to raise the grandstand fees for >> adults. I don't know if they were going to raise I can't remember what they were child but they're going to raise up to $15 an event. But you can also purchase
a pass for all four of the events, the two rodeos on Wednesday and Thursday and the two derbies and you'll save $10. Um, so it would be $50 for a four event pass and then if you want just a rodeo
event pass for the two rodeo nights, you can uh get that for $25. So you'd save $5. Um, they decided not to do a derby pass for the two nights because they just I don't remember the rationale, but they but you but so you'd be able to
purchase those passes. You won't be able to purchase those passes at the gate. You have to purchase them from the from the office. And yeah, I got one more thing. Go ahead. >> Yeah, you killed me. So, and and then last thing, they are now going to take credit cards and debit cards at the
event. So, people can >> That'll be good. >> Yeah. I don't know. We'll see. >> Oh, I was just going to say I just remembered I just remembered the mobile device um management was enrolled in the controlled MDM systems that allow remote locking and wiping of the device if lost
or stolen. And that would be for the sheriff's office in jail. I didn't really just remember that. Judy just emailed me. Thank you, Judy. >> There's no way you remember that. Okay. So the la the last meeting I had I had a so I had sheriff fairboard courthouse uh
sunny side DAC meeting uh we hired a new executive director and I'll I can say her name because she starts on Monday and it's Lynn Drews and she w was she still is until tomorrow or till Monday a
board member so she'll she'll was one of our board members. interviewed seven candidates and so we're we're excited to have her come aboard. We're >> Did you sit in on the interview? >> Yeah, I did. Yeah, we already tasked uh with her. We have some tasks for her
already going forward. Um so we have we were having this ADA swing that we're going swing set that we're going to set up just to the east of our our building on that little area there. Um, and so we are having her work with one of our
other board members. We got a we got a we got a plan that we sent to T-Mobile because T-Mobile's paying for a majority of it with a grant and we're going to get that going this summer. Uh, and hopefully we'll have that done. We'll have a we'll have a cement slab with a
rubber pad over it that's about 3 and 12 inches thick. And I believe me, I didn't know they did that. The rubber pad is the most expensive thing out of all of the stuff that's there in concrete and and swings combined. Uh so uh but that's
going to be real nice. And then we also are going to leave some area and possible space for expansion of maybe like a basketball court or a shaded area with it. But we just didn't we just didn't want to spend that much money now to do all that. So So that's go that's going going to get going this summer.
And then we also we had I had talked about our building project um in previous reports. So we're still working on that. We got plans and pricing from Hammers Construction. We the pricing we got was we we were okay with it. Um but
the interest rates at the banks was going to make it almost not doable. So we are meeting with rural the rural development authority on Monday. um the board chair and I'm the I'm actually the vice chair. I know it
doesn't mean anything, but we're uh we're meeting with the rural development authority per person and we're really excited because he the guy that's meeting with us wants it wants to try to make this work and their interest rate is about 2 and a half% lower. So that makes a big difference.
>> So that's it. That's all I have. I'm done. various. >> I was just curious if if anyone's reviewed some of the budget possible budget cuts the at the federal level that they're talking if if >> um I just looked at some of the budget cuts that what President Trump was
proposing to in this next budget cycle and some of these programs I think that we have in the county would be um could be hit and I just I just know when you start talking about some of the programs and and and I don't Oh, you have to
really dig in deep to see what the end thing is. But it just it's kind of concerning how you move forward at this level when when there's possibilities of um some significant cuts >> in the near future. So >> I don't know if any of those cuts are in
Medicaid but you know med Medicaid you know does we do generate a lot of revenue from Medicaid >> and what's what I read it could change >> 10 times before the end time but you know it's something we need to keep an
eye on >> and and that budget goes from September to September doesn't it? >> Yep. >> Yeah. October 1st. >> October 1st. Yeah. So that puts a monkey wrench into it too. >> But just we just have to as we plan for
the future, we have to keep an eye on on that stuff too. Just to >> planning for the future. I mean, we're not planning for it. We're going to have to react to it is what you're saying, right? Is that your >> Well, we have to use the mo the most up-to-date information we have when we make those decisions, you know. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. three months before the decisions are made which is the which is the hard >> I mean sometimes well no three months >> you know if there's something that we see hey this this funding is in jeopardy we just won't make you I mean we can postpone decisions till it we we know maybe um
>> all right >> okay um I'll go next um we're going to we're launching today a tire recycling event can hand that to those three you three are got it already um with environmental so we're just trying to clean up the county a little bit used tires tires, big tires. Um it's hard to
fit it all on one page, but uh we are doing that. Um we're also >> You can have rims on those tires, can't you? >> Go. Please bring them. We'll take the rim off and that'll be in our metal pile. Yep. Um also, this is a newsletter that I'm or we're going to be sending
out just to promote our organics uh thing. Um we're going to try to do that quarterly. Um just to promote the organics thing. We're hopefully expanding to the Corroad area and we'd like to get into some of the schools
with that organics recycling. Um uh with that, Richard and I had environmental um uh we know that STS is gone, but there's some threats to the ickwick. >> No, the other >> didn't you get one at >> Yeah, we're going to give it give it the
name. >> Okay. Um just the IQwick program. There's only three other counties in the state. Carrie told me that uses IQwick. So, I mean, we use it. It really works for us, but if it doesn't, we'll have to have some contingency plans in place.
Um, you know, is that F5? Is that better futures? Uh, so those are some things that are coming down the pike that we're going to have to have to deal with. We're aware of them. Um, we need to know if it's going away before we we make a plan. Um, our plan
and permit application for our our uh transfer station is going well. We're also going to put some uh advertising. We've been waffling for a year. What what are we going to do with our advertising budgets? So, we do some radio ads. We do a little everything. Um, but one thing we're going to spend
some money on is we're going to go to those blue bins and we're going to put up some uh sleeves to put stuff like this in. um by the time it gets wet and is wore out, it' be probably time for a change anyway. But we just thought that that would be a good advertising uh piece for the people that do go to
the blue bins and recycle and stuff. So that you will be seeing um the watershed uh the Bucks Mills project is underway. If you haven't driven by, go take a look. It's really incredible. That Ashwell company is working at record pace. October's their deadline. They
said they're they hope to be done by June. Yeah, I stepped over there last night and uh actually we drove through and you can drive it you can it the road's closed but you can drive across it. It's that it's that much complete and the >> the sound of that water running through
those rapids is so I mean it it's it's it's a lot louder than you would think it would be when you stand there. But it's going to be a really really nice spot, >> you know. And just hanging off that a little bit. I mean I think that that can be as nice as Dun Locks. not as big, but there there's someone that owns that
property with the building right there. Um they live down in that area. But if we could ever uh the county could ever get that property and turn into some kind of a park with some parking and fish in there, I just think that'd be really >> It used to be a a nice little bar. Did
they serve they serve burgers there, too, I think. >> Yeah, I think they did. >> Boy, if they put a deck out the back now, you'd be right over the water. It'd be amazing. And I was thinking that would be amazing spot to have a burger on. But >> Mitch has had some conversations with them. They don't want to sell and maybe they're trying to monetize the area and
turn it into that. I don't know. But if it ever becomes available, I I'll be a hard pusher to >> one of one of the reasons why they did their lake or their frontage on that was limited. So if they they can't sell anything and still have lake access. Basically, they can't sell that building
to us and have lake access yet. I mean, >> there would be no lake. That's after the dam. That would be the riffles and stuff. Right. >> Right. But they they don't have enough. What I'm saying is they don't have enough to split it and still and sell that and then keep access to the water. >> So then they wanted the access to the
water >> which would be a good reason why it'd be a good county. >> Yeah. >> project to have. Yeah. >> But that was one of the reasons they still wanted that because it's a beautiful site. >> It is. And it's going to be even more beautiful when they get it get it finished there. That is so cool. Um okay. So that's the Bucks Mills project.
Uh Campbell Creek and Rice Lake. That's north of Floyd Lake there. just continue to work on trying to get some bank stabilization there and they're working on a plan for that. That'll be probably planning most of the rest of the year. Um they're also doing a little study uh Floyd Lake, Little Floyd, uh Cara and
also Milfoil, it's becoming really an issue up by the lake shore. So there's some people putting in some money to do some studies there. Um so that's what happens with the watershed. Um our CND construction and demolition, we had a meeting I attended via Zoom. It was in
Morris. uh getting some more information on those costs. Um and it's it it's looking quite a bit more as you would expect, but uh next meeting I should have some more complete costs on that. Um airport uh the taxi line resurfacing
uh they did that last fall. They held 5% back. Uh we'll we'll investigate that in the spring, make sure everything's okay, and then pay off on that. And then the apron expansion, those were two of the things we approved last summer. I think that'll be happening this summer. H how
was the uh low bid on that so they will be doing the work. Um watershed wildershed I attended that for Barry um uh Houston engineering has a has some really nice software. It's update software that that tells you how
the implementation of wershed projects is going. Um we decided to to invest in that. Um very good graphics, very good stuff. Um it's $15,000 and there will be a $3,000 annual fee. Um so one question I asked there just because I've been
attending for Barry. So Barry don't answer this question but the rest of you this is for you because I didn't know this. I look at their budget and I say you get $1.9 million every bianium for the last 10 years. I said where where does that money come from? Because it's not levy money. It's not where does it come from? Does anyone know where that
money comes from? >> Bowser. >> Uh Bowser oversees it. But where where how is the money generated? >> Oh, lottery tickets. >> No, >> I didn't know this either. So Barry, do you know? >> Well, there is levy dollars to go to the
wershed. >> Not for this implementation stuff. Not as I understand it. Not the stuff that Bowser oversees, but that comes from our legacy fund. Remember in 2009 when we voted for that 38 of a cent increase, >> you know, it goes to the arts. 20% goes to the arts, 14% goes to parks and
trails, 33% goes to outdoor heritage. And then 33% goes to the clean water fund and that is what Bowser is implementing you know buffers into rivers and I even some CRP they do some CRP uh bank stabilization so that's the
clean water aspect of that and Bowser oversees it and these implementation wild rice implementation put put that into into the works. So, um, >> that was that was through the one watershed, one plan, >> correct? >> That's where the that's where they're
and that's not on that's not forever. >> No, it it actually sunsets in 2034. We started >> even the funding for the one watershed one plan implementation is not I mean it's it's that's just a set dollar amount. >> Well, I assume it would go until the
money until unless we we re-up the 38 of a cent sales tax. No, but it's not something that they're going to continue fund getting funding from Bowser for. I don't think >> the implement it's not implementation >> been there for so many years it's no longer implementation. >> There's going to they're going to be
continuing funds coming through Bowser but I don't I think it's a different well I could be wrong but implementation was funding it to get that done and then there's going to be some ongoing so it's a couple different pots of money but they also I mean it's they get a good
share from the taxpayer too. >> Okay. Um, so I just thought that was interesting and off obviously the the goal of all that is sediment uh phosphorus reduction into the water. So I mean that pretty much supersedes everything >> and flooding
>> and flooding. >> Um, I went to the the the power line uh the Kyoga to Maple River power line. I just went to that event. They had it over at the at the community center here. Um, they have uh come up with a
preferred route. Um, it is going north of Detroit Lakes. Remember, the PUC is the one who will eventually decide where that route goes exactly. Um, I do have a a map here that >> I have had a couple people call me about that frustrated that the
there there are several land owners along that that have not been contacted. And when I went to that last fall, it was my understanding that all land owners would have been contacted prior to them determining the route. So that was a little concerning, but >> I've had some calls on that too and
because it's one guy it's going to go three threequarters of a mile through his property >> and then he asked is you know is there a tax you know property tax reduction for that >> and you know I would certainly think that would lower it would
>> that should lower the value of that property but >> well I'm just saying if you you know because >> I think anytime you have permanent easement going through your property. It will >> does it. I don't I didn't >> Yeah.
>> So, it basically they for us in Becker County um it's coming through the center of the county county uh of the county and then it was going to split and go through the cornrod area or go north and they've decided that it's going to go north. Once again, we don't decide this. I mean, we can we can go to these
meetings and tell them what we think just like anybody else can, but the PUC is the one who eventually decides the wrong. >> Can I ask can I ask you a question? >> Me? >> Did anyone did anyone think that our input would make a difference on this? >> Well, >> did anyone really believe that the they
didn't have their preferred route and this was all just shows so they could say they I mean, honestly, they knew where they were going to put this route before they >> Yeah. I mean, when when I attended last fall, they they already had those two
routes in mind because they want to go along. >> You want to parallel existing existing. >> Yeah. I I called Steve Green because that property owner was so upset and I didn't really have I I told him I thought it would be very hard to fight these people and probably cost a lot of
money and >> Well, there's nobody told me >> there's no >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I'm sure >> there's nobody that's going there and saying, "I want it on my property." So, no matter where it goes, you're going to have a group of people fighting no matter where it goes. >> Everybody wants power though, too. So,
and I get it. Not my backyard kind of thing. But >> the one person that did call me too was was angry because they don't have a large property which means the power line would go through her backyard where you know you can hear the
>> Yeah, I think those are the people that have that should be compensated and bought out if they're within ear. >> Those things are loud. >> What I really It would be nice being paralleling the current system. Why Why wouldn't they build this new one large
enough to carry both lines? >> So, I think I think it's big enough to carry an extra line, isn't it? >> So, they're they're only going to put one line on it, but they could put on. >> I mean, it would be nice paralleling and you have one one tower system and
instead of having two that are >> 180 ft apart, you're just >> Mhm. >> as a >> but I'm sure the costs would go up astronomically and they got one already there. So, it's >> Yeah. So I asked I I asked the guy there. I said, 'You know, this is coming right through our county, through the middle of our county. I said I said,
'What benefit is this to us? We've already got power. Our power doesn't go out. I kind of just tried to information. >> They were here. >> Yeah, they were here last fall. I know. Um and and he said, "Well, consider it like an interstate. If you want to go to Minneapolis, you get on 94 typically and and go to the interstate. This is this
gets power and then it comes back through substations and stuff." So >> yeah, like he said here, it's it gives you more more reliable and better I mean more reliable power source. >> Yeah. So >> and we are becoming much more reliant on >> electricity >> power.
>> Y so that was that meeting. Uh a lot of people were in attendance there though. Um uh then me and Richard had highway on uh the 30th. Um highway 39 we're going to do 5 miles uh reclaim. Highway 40, we're going to do 10 miles to reclaim
this spring or this summer. Um, nine miles is going to have ash in it and then we're going to do a test mile. Um, so, uh, those bids all came back good. Uh, everything went well with that. Um, one thing that we brought up, actually Jim brought up, uh, uh, Spring Creek. We
got a wetlands quarter up in Spring Creek uh, township west of Ogma, and there's been a request for some cattle grazing there. I went up, took some pictures of it. got no fence around it or anything. It's I I and I don't even know if we could do that. Uh what uh um
Ed Clem, you know, if we did want to move forward with this, um we'd ask Ed for a grazing plan or something and and and he wanted to do more than a one-year deal. Um I I don't know what the board Rich Richard, we said we bring this to
board and kind of ask what you got. We we didn't >> know exactly what to do with that. you might know Barry is it this grazing land how does that pay >> well I think we'd have to ask um we'd have to ask the powers that be if that's allowable and the problem with
>> the problem with that >> it our our wetlands that are in that program aren't well defined it's that was one of the early ones and it's just kind of a a block and it gives you so you know like and now now the wetlands that you in the program they're defi they're defined they're surveyed out and
but those are not And that's why we looked at it pro possibly selling that property years ago to farm. You know, there's some areas to farm, but it was deemed that you could you would you there's no lines where you can say because we are responsible for keeping
those wetlands now in compatible or within the program guidelines. So, um I I don't I think if you can if you can do it in a way where it's allowable, there might be some shorter timelanes and and I don't
know does any I I imagine there's people that hunt that ground. It's public, you know, it's public land that so it would hurt hunting up there. I mean, you wouldn't have when you graze it down to nothing. It's not good hunting. >> It won't get grazed down to nothing. There's a lot of brush and stuff uh coming up there, but but that's where Ed
Clem would and we want to know if you if we wanted to proceed with this and ask uh I >> imagine I didn't know I I'm kind of >> we'd have to I would have >> I think we'd have to public hearing it just because there's people now that probably gotten used to hunting. I don't know if you any any other game out
there. >> I think you'd also have to put it out for a >> competitive bid. >> Yeah. I mean, you can't just say we're going to rent it to this farmer. you'd have to >> and then who's responsible for fencing and upkeep of the fence? >> We wouldn't. Um but then again, that's why he would want to do a or he or she
would like to do a long-term deal. But then we get into I mean, how much income would it really bring in? I I don't know. What do you get for rent on pasture? 50 60 bucks an acre. >> That's That's pretty high. >> What do you get for pasture there?
>> With good fencing, it's about $30 per pair per month. >> Five grand. around here. Um 3 to four acres per pair. So it's if you rent it by the acre it' be at the max 25 bucks
taxes on it kind of >> it's a lot of wet it's a lot of wetlands in that chunk you know. >> So >> so is the direction for the board to kind of just not do it or what what do you guys think? >> I don't know if we I don't know if that's worth it. Jim might have a
comment. Yep. There is benefit for hunting too I imagine out there. Do you know if there's a lot of people hunt that >> and it would diminish that. So >> I did talk to Ed Clema a little bit and um you know he kind of waiting to get
some direction too. The grazing plan is kind of difficult. Uh there's a lot of hurdles to go through. Um he says you know with the broken up land and stuff like that. I know Gra when he they've only done one other one in the county
and it's a private one and uh he never he hasn't heard of government doing any of them but uh he just thinking um >> you know it's not going to generate a lot of money. The person has to put fencing up and that probably and if he wants it for multi-year um
that's going to restrict probably hunting use. >> Yeah. the the cattle >> here's a land >> cattle will need to be watered they they can't they won't allow them to drink in the slooh and stuff and I don't even think that's good for cattle anyways maybe or um so it's kind of intense
>> plan it would be um so I guess um >> I don't know >> seems to me that it's not really >> won't provide us a lot of benefit and if it ties it up for a period of time I
know This person asked if we would participate in fencing and I don't know what your appetite for that is. I mean we would lose all our essentially our our payback on that would take several years of rent and >> we wouldn't have any income to start with on it
>> if we would fence it >> if we would contribute to it. Yeah. Just the rent alone would take a long time to pay that. >> We'll find out how expensive fencing is here in a few minutes. >> Yeah. I I and I if people are using it for other purposes >> like hunting
>> hunting I >> be good feeasant core >> that would eliminate that >> I guess are we saying the answer is probably no on that >> we're leaning more dirt of no side I would >> I think so >> and maybe we can invite this gentleman into highway committee and if we glean any new information that
>> sees that it's feasible and then we could have Ed Clement that meeting and really get an understanding of what he wants and need needs uh to make it good for him. And if it's >> I think if you look at if if you look at the cost or the profit that we could
make and it's not significant. I don't know. >> It's not >> I don't know why >> less than five. >> I just don't know how you could fence off public land though. >> Well, you know, like how >> would that work very >> well the fish and wildlife >> still hunted even if I mean can >> I don't know. Fish and wildlife is uh
fenced off that chunk just south of Lake Park. that whole >> Yeah, they did it over there. >> So they're then they're grazing it now. So there are >> and I don't know if hunting's allowed or if they move the cattle out for deer hunting then or timeline. So I mean you can do some more looking into it. I just
don't know if it's I'd look at fish and wildlife and ask them maybe just what their what they did to do that. >> They did it out by me. They didn't put up any signs any different. All the signs are still there. But the state law that says you can't hunt in
>> pasture land. >> Okay, that's what I was wonder. >> Does anyone want to pursue this further? Is it pretty much a no. I'm an O. >> Doesn't sound like it is. No. >> If you want to invite that guy in and he's got some grandiose proposal, I mean, that's fine. But I'd call him back and say, >> "Yeah,
>> we weren't real perceptive." >> Don't Don't leave, Jim. Um the second thing is um we have a gravel pit that we've had a beehive on for several years up north of town somewhere and there's some neighbors that are allergic to bee stings or something. So Jim, can you
shed some more light on this? Do we >> Well, we're working with the um the beekeeper, whatever you call them. um you know that's kind of a big business and you know they send their bees south during the winter and they bring them up in the spring and um he's had them there
for a number of years and we've contacted him and asked about looking for another spot and um >> because of the neighbors, right? The neighbors. >> Yeah. and we've offered them maybe to some other people to contact uh to look at going on private land, but uh I guess
we don't have a policy or not uh that gravel pits are typically closed, you know, gated, but I mean for him to go in there and check his bees and harvest his honey and stuff like that and >> my experience is bees
like that don't typically travel. I mean, they're not they don't become a nuisance to the neighbors. Yeah, I'm >> is my experience because I've grown up with having bees on our property most of my life. So, >> it's a fair distance. How far is it, Jim? Do you remember it was >> I think we figured it was about quarter
mile from where they currently are set up. And >> they are honeybees. They're not or anything. So, >> but um >> it's on the county. It's it's county tax forfeit land where we have a gravel pit currently and
>> the gravel pit is old and nearly spent and >> so but >> I think I think if you can accommodate by getting more distance even if it's a you know a half mile I think would be >> and that's what we kind of >> I think there's some allergic allergic
reactions to the beastings. So you I mean has some serious ramifications if there is an event, but um it's it's kind of it's kind of tough when it's on the it's on county land and now you have a joining property owner
that says, you know, we just soon it wasn't there or farther away because we have a concern and we don't have a policy. So it's >> I think you have to address something on it. Madam Chair, I I I think what Richard and I came to is if we can get it further away, which there are some opportunities, maybe get the beehive
further away, we would want to explore those. They can't bring it back and we'll have to figure out what to do. >> Is that >> I think that's okay. >> All right. Uh and then we just talked about Westlake Drive. You guys that were at the um meeting this morning heard all
about that. Um local road improvement program funding. Uh nothing was funded in our area. Um this round uh we had 230th in there. We had a couple different projects. Nothing was funded in this area. Um >> I want to just complain about the trees
being cut down. So >> get in line. Um uh Prairie Lakes, we had our audit. I went down to Fergus Falls on the 30th and uh just no issues with audit. Everything's running smoothly there. That's all I got. >> Did you read that there was one tree that was cut down that they counted the rings? It was 200 years old. I did see
that >> and that one looked I that one looked pretty solid. I was like >> I don't know I know there I know you have to take down trees per progress and I think most of those I think over 85% of them were necessarily to come down because of the they were they were
hollowed out. >> Yeah. Just to go off that though if anybody is interested they do have the Detroit Lakes I think it's on their city site the >> there's a it's in the back there too if you want >> plan and it does >> Oh and ours too. So, it does explain the tree removal and um
>> I'm I'm sure every one of them had to come down, but there was a couple I think that would have been nice, >> but >> yeah, >> I I was not I did not get involved in that. So, I'm not going to be critical because I >> if you want to if you want to get involved, you got to get involved early.
And and >> um the la last thing I had on finance, this came up last time. Um you know, we we decided to purchase the sheriff's guns. They're they're county equipment. Now, one thing I didn't really think about was the holsters. Holsters. So, we
spent $4,500 on holsters, too. So, those that's county >> when we put that the holsters were part of it. >> Okay. They must have >> because because the guns are are specific, especially with the new sights. >> Yep. >> That they have to have different holders
holsters for those new sites. And and the reason why the holsters weren't bought at the same time is because they wanted to make sure that they had they hadn't picked the sights yet of what of what site they wanted. >> So make sure that's why they're coming in late. Yes. Okay. >> All right.
>> I just had the um EDA on this. Uh just a couple things that are on the agenda. Um the RFB um bid approval for Maple Avenue and we have a local housing trust fund ordinance um to set the public hearing that Cody will talk about later. Um,
just a couple housing updates. Um, we did find another possible cheaper option for our lead testing. So, we have not approved anything yet. Again, that was 73,000. Was that what it was, Richard? Mary, >> I think 73,000. >> Yeah, it was 70 something,000. >> So, we're hoping um we have found
another possible option. Um, so we're looking into them more. Um, and we're also have found a couple possible grants that we could apply for. Of course, that's not open yet. So, we're hoping we can get some grants to pay for that. Um, because it does seem as though we are
not going to get out of it. Um, all of our public housing units are full. We did have our Inspire inspection was completed in March. We don't have the inspection report. Um, but there were some post inspection repairs that were required. So, we'll see some of
those um additional repairs coming through. there was a change in their standards and and protocols. So many of those um required updates to be made in compliance, but again, my understanding it was nothing major. Hopefully at our
next board meeting or the next one, we should have that inspection report. Um we're currently assisting 46 families with vouchers. Continue to have 236 applicants on the waiting list. And then Maple Avenue and the West River Town Homes are full.
>> And that was all I had. Anything to add? >> No. >> The EDA return? >> No. >> And then did you have any other? >> No, I had environmental and highway with Phil. That's all I had. And he's covered everything there. So, >> and highway. We had highway too. >> Yeah. >> All right. Well, anything else before we
move on the agenda? Do we have any appointments? >> Yes, madam chair. Um I have an appointment for the Corant Lakes wershed. It's a a appointment to fill a vacancy. Um Tony Nistler has has
resigned due to personal health issues and um wish him the best and thank him for his service. Um I would like to appoint at this Melissa Guzlaw um to to fill his term which ended the I
to to fill his term. That's my motion. >> Okay, we have a motion. Do we have a second? >> I'll second it. >> All right. Any further discussion? >> Um, she did attend the some Corman Lakes wershed and she was recommended by the wershed board to >> Okay. >> Um, and they have an another one that's
going to be vacated soon. So, they're still looking for another applicant. So, we can keep that keep that um notice online that there would be a opening there because there's another gentleman that's that has a that sold his place and is moving. So, we'll have to get his
spot. >> All right. Okay. Any further discussion before we vote? All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion carried. All right. Becker County Food Pantry. >> Yes.
>> So, um we have are we doing the Becker Bay funds or do we want to do the presentation first? you here. >> Let's Let's do the presentation or the updates first. >> Okay. You first. >> Yeah. I'm sorry. Dale's not here. He's
sick. He's got influenza. >> A >> So, I told him to stay away. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> There you go. >> Thank you. >> Oh, thank you. All right. >> Yeah. First, thanks for having me. And
you know, you guys are so supportive of the pantry. It's amazing. This whole community is so supportive of the pantry. It is just amazing. And what I gave you, it's just a little update on last year, our numbers. And I did I do
have an error in there. Yearly totals for 2025 households. It says 35 should be 335. So to sum it all up, we've actually last year we served 1493
more people than the year before. And the way this year's quarter is going, we're going to be even we're going to be above that as well. Um we have cut back on what we're giving the quantities. We're finding we get our
food from the North Country Food Bank and they're seeing cuts coming their way. So, it's harder for them to offer us the lower free food. So, we're spending more money already this year and getting less from them. So, it's
going to be an interesting year, but like I said, the community is so supportive that it's just amazing. Um, I would imagine the Ruby's Pantry is no no longer um going to be doing distribution. So,
>> right, >> that could increase your numbers. Yes, for sure. >> Do you know where all that food is going? >> I mean, is that is there an opportunity for us to obtain some of that food that >> We're trying. Okay. >> We're trying to source that.
>> Um, hopefully we can. And from what I understand, I'm pretty new in this community, but Ruby's Pantry used to come here to DL and then they stopped. >> So, we've got a few people that kind of really know it. They're trying to find out if we could get a hold of that food.
>> Okay. >> So, and that would be a purchase, but that's okay because it's a lower cost purchase from what I understand. Um and then with the SNAP benefits changing in November that that really pushed us forward and now this year the
all those changes are coming as well. They have a lot a lot more eligibility requirements for people. So a lot of people are going to lose even more people are going to lose their SNAP. So we're going to we're going to see a big increase.
>> All right. And another thing I just wanted to point out with this is that like I said, the community is fantastic, but these retail stores, they're so generous with us. We have donation drivers that go to Walmart and Aldi's
three times a week and we go to Central Market every day of the week. And Central Market had they're all great, but Central Market has really stepped up. I mean, we're getting produce, which is amazing, fresh produce. In the summer, we do really well. We get a lot
from the farmers, but the winter months are a little tougher. So, yeah, it's been it's been good. >> What do you do with expired food? >> Yeah. >> What do you do with expired food? >> So, the USDA has uh they have policies
on expired food. So, technically, a canned food is good for one year after expiration date. So, we we will put that out, but we let people know. They they we look at the dates when we're we shop with them shop. We help them pick their food then. But the fresh produce and
think those types of foods we have local pig farmers come and pick it up. So we have one we call mostly all the time. She's not available then we go down our list. So it's pig and chicken farmers we give all that to. >> Nice. >> Yeah.
We don't ever want to throw anything away. >> All right. Anybody have any other questions for Liz? >> Anything else, Liz, before we >> No, just thank you. >> Thank you with our So, we had um for those here that don't know, we have an auction every year among the Becker
County employees um where they donate items and then we bid on it. And what was our grand total for this year? >> $2,756. >> $2,756 was will be donated to Becker County Food Pantry. And Peggy organizes it all. So, she deserves a role.
>> I didn't do too by myself. >> Well, I've been planning and zoning and Tony is amazing. Um, he sets up the website. So, >> that's we like to out bid each other. It's fun. >> It's such a creative idea. That really is an auction. >> Yes. >> For fundraising.
>> So, thank you to all Becker County employees that participated. And >> I bought some pickles and they were the best pickles. >> They were really good. I got some >> and I was going to out bid his pickles, but I fig I better be nice. Let him know >> cuz he would take photos, right?
>> No, they were really share with my wife. She took them. >> Liz, should we take a photo? >> Yes. >> I feel like Sandy should be up here holding it. >> It's a different jacket. >> Okay. We couldn't print it. >> Where do you want to do this?
>> Um, right in front of the seal. >> I better get on the lower. Yeah, those hot people on the upper level. >> She couldn't step up. >> Okay. >> Am I the only one back here?
>> No, you look really tall. >> You guys are good. >> Good. Are we ready? >> On three. One, two, three. One more. One, two, three. Excellent. >> Thank you. Good job.
>> Okay, sounds good. >> So, when the food pantry opened up, was it two years ago now? The new food pantry. >> Mhm. The new building. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> I was there with John Okasen and Sandy was there. >> Sandy. Yeah. >> So, she and she said, what was what was your quote? What did you say, Sandy?
This is an awesome place cuz it's it makes people feel wanted when they come in there or makes them feel important like we or valued. >> I don't remember what word to use but >> it was perfect at the time. >> Yeah. I would I I didn't I never saw the
old one but I heard about it. >> Yeah. >> And compared to the old one, this one it's like a little grocery store. If you've not been there, please come and take a tour. And uh they w they come in and they they're empowered. They get to pick their own food. >> And you'd be surprised how many people
it and it all goes on household sizes as to how much they can pick, but a lot of people will they won't even pick their max number. They'll say, "I'm good on this. I'm good on that." So, it's it's just it's a really nice concept. >> Yeah. It's an awesome place. If you guys haven't got looked at it, go look at it.
>> Yeah. You're welcome to come Tuesday, Thursday, noon to 3. >> Impressive when you walk in. >> It It is. And And the volunteers, that's another thing. It's we use about 25 volunteers. We're only open Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 3, but each one of those days we need about 25
volunteers each day to help that run the way it runs. Yeah. >> Well, thank you guys for meeting the obviously quite large need um for our community. So, thank you. >> Happy we can do it. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> All right. Next we have just an informational. The spring Becker County Township Association meeting is this Thursday at 6 and I see Mr. Winters is here. Do you have anything to add to that? >> Yeah, just to add a little bit. I want to welcome you all there. We're trying
something different. Uh we want to start at 6:00 our meeting. Uh majority people working close by maybe come over there. They're going home coming back. Okay. And uh Erica, you're going to be up
first. >> I'm going to be up first. >> You're going to tell us everything that what's going on so you don't have to come and be surprised. So I'll tell you the time. >> Sounds good. Yeah, >> I'll be there. >> Yeah. Okay. And then uh we're already trying to plan our fall meeting so we
have it before the election. So candidates >> are invited will be invited to come at our uh >> township meeting. So, we got to pick the state yet and we'll let you know on that. And the last 25 years, the
townships has worked and the county have worked together. You know, we've been working together all these years and sometimes it don't go so good, but majority majority of it with the townships and the county people and back and forth, I
think it's going pretty well. Thank you. Just just so you know, you have some big shoes to fill for your first meeting as the board chair told you. >> Nah, I'm not worried about it. >> Madam Chair, Roger, I I'd send a reminder out because that's always been at 7 o'clock. You've changed the time to six o'clock. I mean, just so I I would
send some kind of a reminder >> because I've had a lot of people ask me. >> Yeah. Okay. Very good. Thanks. >> Yeah. I I put it in my phone at 7 o'clock because I'm like I always come at 6 and I'm always there an hour early. What registration at 53.
>> All right, we'll move on to Tiara human resources. >> Good morning. >> Morning. >> I have two items before you today. The first is resolution 4261D. This is for temporary help in the
assessor's office. We have one individual out on leave. Um, so this would be to backfill some office support duties at uh a wage of $19 an hour. Um, there would be a cost savings. This
individual is out on um, PFML, so this Metife pays the majority of their wage. Um, they have opted up to use what they can of their own leave, but there would still be a cost savings for this. >> This is one
D. Madam Chair, >> and the agenda is wrong, >> but >> I'll move to approve uh resolution 4261D. >> All right, we have a motion to approve um 1D. Do we have a second? >> Who second? >> Barry.
>> All right, any further discussion? >> Just uh one one thing just to encapsulate this. We have 17 people using paid family leave at this juncture y of the year. Just so you know. >> All right. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I.
>> I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carried. >> Next one. >> Second item is the job description for the natural resource um parks and wreck maintenance lead. So this is a new position to the county. Um this is a
move from STS crew lead that we previously had under the sheriff's office, moving that over to parks and recreation and a little bit of a different job description for them. Once um I should say if this is approved by the board, then we'll proceed with
posting and filling that position. >> And is this will be a full-time position? >> This will be a full-time position and it was budgeted for under the sheriff's office as STS and those funds were moved under parks and rack. >> Okay. All right. With that being said, any
questions for Ti about the job description? >> Do we need to approve that? >> Yeah. Yeah, I'll move to approve. >> All right. All right. Um the um parks and wreck maintenance job description. >> All right, I have a motion. Do I have a second? >> I'll second it. >> Any further discussion?
>> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Tara. >> Thanks, Jar. >> All right. Next, we have Jim. We're only 11 minutes behind this morning. That's not bad. Morning commissioners. We has two items for your
consideration. First is the award of bids >> uh for our work on county road 39 and 40. Uh we had good results and we had several biders uh competing for this project. Uh the low bidder is Zavveril.
That came in at uh 4,20,77,000 uh which is about 19% under our estimate of about $900,000 in savings. Uh as a has worked for us before and we are recommending award to them. >> All right,
>> we'll move to approve resolution 4261B. I'll second. >> All right, we have a motion in it by Phil, second by Richard. Any further discussion? All those in favor favor say I. >> I opposed. >> Motion carried.
>> Jim, can I ask a question? The >> what do you think the reasoning for under significantly under the the estimate? >> Surprisingly, we had real good pricing on asphalt. Um, also this contractor got some jobs in um Wedina County right next
to us. So, he's got some other jobs nearby. So, I think that's part of the reasonings. So, >> I mean, I think they're I mean, they're all fairly close, too. I mean, there's some fairly competitive ones, too. So, I'm not worried about missing something, so I'm we're happy to see that. >> Yeah, we are.
>> And I asked him that, too, and he work is a little slow this year, too, Jim. Right. >> For uh road work. Yeah. As far as paving work, it is. Yep. >> Six competitive bids. I mean, that's that's impressive to get six >> for that kind of work. >> All right. Next request.
>> Sure. Um, next request is for a purchase request for pickup. So, I got some information for you. Please, >> thank you, Jim. This request is for uh the purchase of two halfton pickups. We are looking to replace some older pickups, uh, some
2012 units, half ton Dodge units. Um, those, uh, the list I gave you shows you kind of, uh, our list of all of our equipment. I know you always sometimes wonder how much we have for inventory and stuff like that. Um,
the spreadsheet uh, shows a um, kind of a rating system we have. Uh, we give a point for the age of the vehicle. uh we give points for mileage. Those points for mileage are essentially uh approximately about every truck that has
about 10,000 miles we give a point to. So you see these trucks that we're looking at are all over 100,000 miles. Uh one is I think around 116. The other one is around 106. Um, one of the pickups we're showing you, uh, that's highlighted in the
yellow. Two is one, the half ton or the 3/4 ton, which we replaced earlier. That was to replace a, uh, 24 year old pickup. Uh, just so you can see uh, that and how they uh, kind of go in the
ranking. So, the total points, you see, we've selected the highest ones with the most points, which are the ones in the worst condition. Um I've given you some information on the our capital improvement plan. Uh these are in our
budget. Um we had planned for the 3/4 or the tandem plow 3/4 ton and the two half tons. Our estimates are are shown in the uh budgeted amounts on the kind of the left column there and then on the on the right is kind of the actual pricing on
what you see there. So the have come in under our estimates. Um so we're we're keeping it within our budget. And then the last page just kind of pictures shows those pickups. Uh those pickups
are the bodies are in decent shape. Um our pickups are used. These are the ones mainly used for highway inspection. Um the bodies are nice because typically we don't drive them much in the winter. uh but they are used uh significantly in
the summer. Um we had a question in finance, you know, thinking mileage wasn't quite that high, but realizing that these trucks idle significantly uh you know, during the daytime and their usage. So they're they're hour meters probably would indicate a lot higher mileage on them, but these don't
have hour meters on. So, uh, if you have any questions on those, I guess, or I want to have a conversation >> that that I was going to note that, um, Jim, that we we did discuss that at finance yesterday because that was my question that, you know, we do have these pickups that only have I think
there were 103 and 135,000ish miles between the two, which I thought was actually low miles for a vehicle. And Jib did point out which you I didn't take into consideration that these do sit idle
sometimes for you know maybe eight hours a a day. So that could be taken into consideration. So >> so generally we look for that kind of that sweet spot on when to sell them and when we can get some money and where we have don't have significant uh repairs
coming. These pickups, one of them, you know, does have a a little tick or knock to it. Um, and it's got a little uh body damage on the one side um with some rust. The other one is fairly decent uh as far as body wise, but um
typically, you know, you don't have costs incurred. They kind of inverted bell. When you get to the bottom of the bell, then you start having increased costs. And we're kind of at that point where we're going up. We have replaced the front sway bars on on those Dodges
which is known to rust out on them. Um but uh and there are other issues that we know with those particular years of pickups. Um when you do research on the internet and stuff like that, they show that some
of those pickups of those years are prone to transmission issues and electrical issues. And we don't want to get into there. If we have to replace a transmission essentially then you know you lose all your uh revenue on you know the re if we go to auction them or or
sell them. Uh the other thing these could be used in um environmental they may be looking for some pickups. So these would be available for them which would make them you know use uh further.
Anybody have any other questions or >> Madam Chair, I'll move to approve the uh purchase of two halfton pickups for highway. >> I'll second. >> All right, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?
All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? >> Motion carried. >> Thanks, J. >> Are you opposed? >> No. I was just curious on the did it include in the motion the disposal of the two >> the option either option
>> well I just option to sell them I mean I I think we >> I think we include that either if either by county another agent another department in the county or by public auction >> yeah that' be fine >> is that acceptable to be included in that motion >> I I would make that change
>> I mean that >> make that change >> so we have the disposal so we don't have to come back to >> since We already voted on it. Do we need another vote or >> we need to amend it and then vote on? >> Do you just want to >> You can just I'll make a motion to authorize the highway department to sell
through public auction or to another department in the county the two pickups that are being sold. >> So we have a motion to authorize sale of these two pickups either by auction or to within county. Do we have a second? >> So I'll second. >> All right. We motion second. Any further discussion?
>> All those in favor say I. >> I. opposed. Motion carried. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thanks for that, Barry. >> Thank you, Jim. >> Yeah, that was a good barrier. Think about >> All right. Next up, we have Cody. >> Morning, commissioners.
>> Morning. >> Morning, Cody. Uh, first item you have is to accept the bid award for the RFP 2601 renovation of the Maple Avenue Apartments in Frezy. This would be resolution
>> 1F 04261F for the total amount of 250,3953. >> Any ADA guys want to do that or you want me to >> do we have any question? Do we have any more >> the the low the other there was a lower quote but that wasn't complete. Is that
the reason why we couldn't accept them? >> Yep. >> Um on the bid sheet there's one lower bidder but they didn't submit all the required documents in a bid bond. Um, so they were pulled out. Uh, we did receive a few other bids and inquiries and they were just incomplete or not received
before the bid deadline. So the next lowest one was the Timberland Exteriors and um, they had submitted all the required documentation as well. >> Um, does every everyone on your committee feel that this uh is a
reasonable bid? Yeah, we um we had some bids that were higher than that the first go round uh last fall and um uh a couple of them came in around this price range. Um initial kind of
preliminary estimates were I think around 215 and that was last year. So, um we're in the ballpark. >> I mean, of course, we would have liked them to come in lower, right? >> I mean, I expected That looked fair to
me from what we've been we've been going through this for quite a while and that that that you know and so yeah >> one one nice thing compared th this round compared to last is we did have locals and in Timberland is local. The last RFP none of them were local. So
it's always nice to um you know be able to support local. I saw the low the low bid also did not have the alternate did not >> yeah there there were there were a couple things with the low bid um I was part of here for the bid opening and I
can't remember at all but um other than the you know of course >> so we are well within our rights by refusing the low bid because they did not have the >> requirements bid we deemed them the non-responsive >> Jimmy you agree with that
okay >> madam chair Uh Cody, do you have a deadline on this? Uh has to be done by a certain date. >> Uh we put a hard stop in that it'd be done by September 1st, I think. But their project timelines are considerably shorter than that. So I think this one's
roughly 8 weeks. So >> So September 1st to get the work done. >> Yeah. Substantially completed, but I think we'd be starting earlier than that and done quite a bit earlier than that. So >> yeah, I don't remember. He had his the dates in his bid, but yeah, his was just
eight weeks. So, it was done, I want to say, by Julyish. >> So, all right. With no other questions, I'll make a motion to approve 1F. >> I'll second. >> Any further discussion?
All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Next we have our set a public hearing date. >> So the second item in there is to a request to set a public hearing at the next commissioner meeting. Um it's a
requirement of the Minnesota statute 462C um to establish a public or to establish a local housing trust fund. Uh it has to be done through ordinance at a public hearing. Um this kind of is in conjunction with the
the bid award. Uh the source of funding for that project is the statewide affordable housing aid. Um so the idea was that we can transfer that money into a housing trust fund to establish that. um that kind of meets one of the
criteria of recognizing it as spent. And then this project would be our first money coming out of that fund. And then the remaining funds um would be used for further programming. And then it would also give us an opportunity to um start
looking at different um uh there's in the past been a couple grants that you could leverage for like housing trust fund matches and stuff. currently not any open, but um there's anticipated ones for 2026 and um some other revenue venues to look at that we can leverage
that for. So um this is just to uh kind of formalize that process. We have the draft ordinance that's been reviewed through committee um and approved at TDA. They're pretty straightforward, kind of um used across the board for the most part for all counties. Um there's
not a lot of variation and and deviation in them. Um but we'll highlight that part in the ordinance um for discussion. Um but otherwise in terms of the revenue sources, those are kind of listed in the summary on page 43 I think it is um
eligible match opportunities and then the types of projects and programs that are typically um paid out of this type of fund. So um overall it's just a a flexible leverable fund. Um, and this
would be a way to formalize that. >> Cody, I got a question. Can you can you use like revolving loan fund on that too? >> Yeah. If there's a program that's set up out of this, then there are like eligible funds that are first established with it. Um, the money that goes out once it comes back in goes back
into the fund. So whether it's revolving um or deferred, but yeah, if there was any interest and other things like that, there'd be generating, you know, revenues to to help support it. All right. Any other questions for Cody about
>> you just need a motion to set that as a the public hearing time or you just need you need a motion to set that? >> No motion to set the public hearing date for the housing trust fund ordinance. Yep. >> Um I'll make a motion to set that public hearing date for housing trust fund ordinance April 21st, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.
>> All right, we have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> All right, any further discussion? >> All those in favor say I. I >> opposed. >> Motion carries. >> And then I just had one other quick
question. We closed our um vacancy appointment today. >> Oh, >> so I'm not sure Phil if you had any updates for that or not, but I know you had So >> I forgot about that. >> We didn't receive any um >> letters of interest or
>> John Okasen had suggested that he was interested in that. >> Right. So I just >> So was that my job to bring it to the >> Yeah, we should have brought it to the appointments. >> You can make it now. I mean, we're under EDA. >> Yeah, you you had reached out ahead of time and said that he was interested. So
if that that was the intent and and you're prepared to do that, you could. Otherwise, we would just probably repost it. So um if we needed to. >> I'll move to uh put John Oaken on the EDA board effective. Was he filling out a term or is he
>> uh it's a vacant term, so it' be a new term. >> Okay. >> Effective this year for six years um district three. >> Okay. For district three. >> All right. We have a motion to appoint John Okasen to the EDA to represent district three. Do we have a second? >> Second.
>> We have a second. Any further discussion? >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Welcome to the >> Is he new to government? >> Yeah. I think I don't think he's been a part of government for >> quite busier at all than he was.
>> Okay. Committees. >> Next we have Mr. Skoo. >> Morning madam chair board members. >> Morning. >> Morning to you. >> Uh today we have a resolution concerning
securing 245th Avenue. There's been a lot of discussion on this and uh was talked about in finance. They were interested in knowing what some of the projected costs were and then also uh what kind of traffic that we actually have going to our demo landfill. So I
ran some updated costs for that some ticket numbers and that there's an average amount per month. Keep in mind that's an average. Some days it might be higher than that. Thank you.
You don't trust me, Nick? >> I got also there's some cost estimates. >> This is updated from yesterday. Uh, I got some additional information from Harvey.
>> Thank you. >> Thanks, Steve. Is this an additional one to the ones that were in the packet, Steve, or is this >> That's the actual cost. So, when I put together the packet, I didn't have all the information. >> Oh, gotcha. >> Uh, so I got some updated information
from Arvig. Uh really the it came down to um finding information on a number of things because when you talk about securing the campus, you have to have some way of blocking off or separating
our demolition landfill from our solid waste campus and keeping both both secure. There's there's permits that require that we do that. So there was some over the last year there was some question about different types of fencing. So, I put together
some options in there as far as cost estimates for chain link. Um, either netting with some barb wire or some height dens. Uh, >> what is netting? >> Like sheep netting type of uh farm
netting that you see on farms. Sometimes they'll have 4ft netting fence with some barb wire on top. >> Oh, okay. All right. Uh, also it's not just securing that road, but it's uh securing that access so you
don't have people leaving without paying or coming onto our campus without being able to to track them. And that's gets to be the expensive part because if you look at how we do our ticketing and how we track traffic in
and out of our solids campus, basically there's one ingress and egress right now. Um, we can follow through that. Peggy, do you have that PowerPoint? >> Yeah. >> You bring that up. >> Give me just a second. So this is a map of our campus. You can
see down on the bottom left that's that's the that's to the north and that's where our entry is. It's one way traffic. So customers come in, they have their things to get rid of. They enter in, they go to the transfer station, you know, go to the next one.
And at at the transfer station, an attendant will look at the load and then with our system, we don't track the people coming in. We don't ask your names or driver's license or anything like that. Uh they'll document what's on the on in their load. They'll give the c
they'll the attendant will sign that or initial that uh ticket. He'll give them original. We'll keep a carbon and then they'll direct them where to deposit it. And then we go to the next one. So in this case, if they were to proceed out to the demo landfill, you can see
where they would go. They would go up to the demolition landfill. They would offload their items. You know, if they had some tires, they'd go offload those or brush or whatever they may have. Then they'll come back out. You want to go to the next one? So they bring it to the pay station,
which is at the exit where the clerk will then accept that ticket. So we still don't know who that person is. We don't have any way of tracking that vehicle. They'll ring up. They'll they'll take that ticket. They'll calculate out what the bill would be in. >> Can I ask you a question? >> Sure.
>> Why do we not pay when we get the ticket originally? We are creating another stop and I I think we're just we're adding adding work. I was just out there and I thought of this the other day. I'm like, why am I just not swiping a card and paying this when I when I get the ticket? >> So So part of the problem is that you
don't know what's in in that load. >> They've already weighed it. They've already >> No, no, it's not by weight. It's by what's >> they've already gave me the ticket and I don't stop back and >> No, but we do require if somebody comes in with a rolloff, for example. A lot of times there's debris that's
buried underneath and the staff will they'll tell them to bring it up to the demolition landfill. They'll they'll occupy them up there and then they'll look at that load and if there's debris that's buried underneath it that's not supposed to be in there, they'll either make them separate it or our staff will do it and then we'll build them on that
ticket. So you occupy any rolloff? >> Not anyone. Well, if we suspect that there's there's something there that we don't know, they will. Or if they know they went up there and they track if they if they know the rolloff that went up there and somebody was up there, they would they would look at that and they'd observe it. For example, if you
bring >> So you're talking the the the driver then would be in violation of what they're what they're >> what they said was there. So quite often they don't know necessarily what's what's there because the rolloff is dropped at a at a let's say a construction site. >> He just picks it up and
>> he picks it up and correct. >> My question still is why wouldn't we have them pay initially? And if we find out that they have an additional charge, you could still additional charge them. >> You could >> because if you don't go out there and inspect it, you're not going to know that. And they're not going to self-report 99% of the time. I don't
imagine. >> No, they don't self-report it. But that's to your to your point that's part of the reason why we do that. >> I'm just I I mean this probably doesn't have anything to do with the fence, but I think we're creating an extra step there that we're going to have to look at modernization out there in that regard. That's my opinion.
>> It it's going to cost us in order to you know Steve's kind of worried that somebody's going to drive off without paying. Okay. But to ensure that the cost of that is going to be high and most of our licensed I I don't believe any of our licensed haulers are are
going to drive off. Now somebody may drive off but the expense of that I don't think is going to come close to what it cost to make sure they don't. And I think that we could always do something if we're seeing that being a
problem. We could always do something. I the other option is I mean we could force them out that way to pay out that way if you wanted to >> you could make it an in out and not not let exit out that so you control the exit and you control it on on the count township road. So >> exact but you can control it on the
public road. >> You you can control it at your site and make them pay at the at the at where we have the recycling or the the building there. I mean, you could make make them come in there and pay instead of paying go this way and have
it just a loop. I'm just I'm just >> I would rather see us pay when we don't. >> Well, >> but anyway, continue on. It's >> I was going to say that's kind of here nor there. >> Well, it is here nor there if we were thinking we don't, you know, >> Well, because it's going to cost a lot of money to I I
>> We're worried about drive offs. That's one way to fix >> that is. And I'm I'm not I'm not saying somebody but with some strong language on some signage and you know a warning from the attendant give you the ticket. I don't think >> I think someone's going to dump it in a
ditch before they're going to go in and haul it to the dump and then drive off. I mean seriously >> I don't I don't think it's going to be a big problem. If it was if it turns out that we're seeing a big problem, we could do something about it then. But the expense of the cameras and the fiber optic, I mean we just need some rolling
gates. We I roll my gate all the time. Now, I do have a button, but sometimes I have trouble with it. They're so easy to open and close that I don't see the need for running fiber optic and electric and all that
over there. And then the operator on the gate is the most expensive part of the gate. There's a computer and a motor and a heater and and if you roll that gate open in the morning, roll the other one open in the morning, close them at night, it seems very simple to me.
That's that's what I see. But so >> so when I we talked about this and you have to have a secure campus. So the next step would be if the board wishes to implement this then we'd have to
submit a plan to the MPCA on how we're going to secure the campus both during operational hours and when the facility is closed as well. And that's going to be reviewed by two different departments. It's going to be closed by the closed landfill department and it's going to be be reviewed by your uh
operations the people that permit our operations out there. So you're either saying Richard, you said you open both gates in the morning, you close them both at night. If the MPCA says, "No, that's not secure." Then it's every time
you go across, which is 700 or up to in busy season up to 700 times >> you're going to have it >> per in and out. >> Say that our other gate, we're not opening and closing the entrance to the
landfill every time somebody comes. We don't know. I don't believe they're going to give. We should have found this out by now because we do have a deadline coming when when that landfill is not going to be secure. And that's I think that we really need to get moving here.
This should have been done quite some time ago because that deadline is coming and it that gates coming down and we're not going to be ready. Um I don't believe that that's one of our problems. I don't believe if we're it's it's during you've never asked this question to him, Steve. >> We did. We actually met with them about
>> what did they say about it? >> You have to have that's one of their questions is that as per the documents that the county signed when they closed the the landfill and when we uh opened up our operations there, the county agreed that when we make changes
that we will >> we have to submit a plan to them in order for them to approve. So we we have to come up with what the plan is going to be, >> which we >> we did, but we've met with them twice now, and they told us that everyone is different. We some don't don't even need
fencing. They just need logs. That they they said rocks. They told us I don't believe that that gate has to be closed every time somebody comes in and out of there. I was at both meetings with the pollution control agency and they made it they they were very helpful and made
it very easy to secure this. We we can even use that hightensil wire. So I I'm not worried about somebody stealing anything out of there or dumping a load. And I'm I'm I don't believe they're going to make us open and close them gates every time. That would surprise me.
>> I think it would surprise me too. And if it and I think we submit a plan and I would go to the three-wire fence. I don't know why you'd need a five wire. >> We don't. We wouldn't. >> But do a three-wire fence in the black line as presented. I don't know why you'd need gates on the closed landfield across from the household hazardous
waste. And I don't know why you'd need gates on the on the very south end on the blue line. I don't know why you'd need gates there. I think you just put gates rolling gates on the on the intersection where we cross and and put a rolling gate. You're only
going to open those two gates in the morning. And if and if we have to have surveillance on it, if they say we have to have surveillance, if we have a problem, we can come back to this at another time and enhance it more. >> So, I'm I'm just going to tell the board here where where I'm coming from. I've
I've done, you know, some research looking into to this roadway and this this roadway is is unless somebody from the township or somebody can tell me different was established as a cartway in 1918. And we have no other documentation whether in
the township or county of anything other than a cartway. A cartway is is much different than a public road. >> A private cartwhe. >> Madam chair, could I ask is I see Roy Smith is here and there's probably no one in the room that has more knowledge.
Do you have any input on this or any thoughts on on the road itself? Roy, >> I really didn't. I talked to Mary a little about it just to get kind of recaped on the thing. But >> um the road was set up in 1918 as a
private carpet. The private carp was only 23 feet. The purpose was to get from a public road a half mile south to a guy by the name of Keel. It was a private road to get to his property
and all the land was going to be there's a quarter line running right down the middle of the section. This land was all going to be on the west side of the of the >> section line quarter line.
>> Quarter line. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Well, the fact is the public has been using this road. It's irrelevant to me if it's a public road or not in my opinion because we have to I I assume we
have to provide access to that property >> and and they've been using it. >> Whether you want to argue it's a township road or not, that's to me that's irrelevant. We have given a 33 foot easement >> and we have provided access for the last 30 years and and I and I I'm not saying
we don't continue that. I I I do think we continue it. I'm just not in favor of us spending this amount of money or any any amount of money that the the point is is we have an obligation to ensure that our landfill is secure. Whether it's to
prevent illegal dumping, maintaining safety at the site, whatever it might be, that is our obligation. And we have been performing it this way for 30 years with no objection from anybody. And now 30 years later, we as the county
are expected to spend a significant amount of money to provide legal access when it's a it was established as a private cartway. So we I mean we >> this this has never been established as a public road. So, I'm not in favor of
spending >> a >> any amount of money and I think if we um any attempt to remove the the gate at this point I think interferes with county operations and could create legal liability to the township. So, that's where I stand.
>> I would like to ask the question the definition of of legal a private cartway. Um if the if the if the person that owns that land if they're if we're requiring them to lock and unlock a gate if that
is that lawful on a legal on a legal cartway. I mean it's a legal question. I have no idea. So we're asking them to go above and beyond. So are we >> the private cartway is not for that property. really what I see Schlatter Halfs have
have is a prescriptive easement, not necessarily a the cart way. Um prescriptive easement, again my understanding, I'm not a lawyer, is we just allow access. We have been allowing access. We will continue to allow
access. Um but I'm not in favor of spending this amount of money to when when it's been this way for 30 years. And I think it's it makes no sense for us to to completely change our operation
and spend a significant amount of money when it's been going this way for 30 years and it will be on the backs of the Becker County taxpayers. >> Well, it should have been done. It was done wrong 30 years. We don't know that it was. >> We No, we do know. >> We have no documentation that it was. >> We know we know that you gated that
road. Okay. Now, our attorney told us I asked him if this went to court. He told us that the township and that family would have a very strong case. That was his word. >> Which attorney? >> Our attorney right here. Our attorney
sat right here and told us that >> Brian madam told a very strong case. >> I think I think there's some concerns here. I I mean, if we put a proposal in and ask if we can just do the three strand wire and put in we'd have
one, two, three rolling gates. I mean, I don't think we're talking a lot of money. I mean, >> we're not talking a lot of money. >> It's not the money either. It's the disruption of the operation. >> And there's not a huge disruption. And this sounds like >> this is paid for by >> people are making a bigger deal out of
this than it really is. fees. >> Um, it's it's not that big of a disruption to open two gates for us to to landlock this property and take the value out of these taxpayers property is is amazing to me. None of us would want
it at our on our property. They were very good when they allowed us to gate that. They have been using that for years. And I'm going to tell you, there's liability to having if somebody was hurt back there, there's that we're we're liable. Am I wrong, Brian? If what
happens if somebody gets hurt back there and the ambulance can't get back to that property and got it gated, >> they would have another route to go around. >> Well, on the weekend, do they? Well, they're I mean, if somebody was hurt in
a hunting accident back there and an ambulance can't get in because the county's got that gated, are we liable for that, Brian? >> First of all, I want to correct the record here. I said the Schlaughterhouse would have a very strong case for a prescriptive. I didn't say anything
about the township. Okay, >> I'm sorry about that. I didn't I wasn't sure how it was meant, but the slaughterhoffs are here. Um, so they would have a very strong case >> for a prescriptive easement. >> I think we all agree that they have a right to get to their property. I think
I think we all agree to that. We're just agreeing not in agreement what the solution is >> to for what's the best solution. Um, I don't know where we're at in, you know,
>> I >> in the process, but I would like us to move forward with >> well, >> applying for the permit through the MPC or the whichever group with the three put a proposal in for a three-wire fence and
for the roll gates not to be moni monitors on them. If that's needed, then we look at that later. But I don't know at this time that I would rather see us put our if that's the case, then I would rather see us do a loop around and charge on the way out and then you're
monitoring then your then your out gate is monitoring that those access points. >> Yeah. >> So I guess uh madam chair uh I do want to provide access as well. I have offered a an access point to keep our landfill closed so it doesn't go down.
it doesn't split the middle of our our landfill to go to the east south of the HHW building. That gets them over to their property. Uh actually their field property uh um that
was offered and I think we could do that. We'd have to okay that with the MPCA tool too, but that would provide access as well. >> But it doesn't provide access to the back property. There's a big swamp there. I think there's a
>> it limit it it it limits that access to the main property that they're using, >> Madam Chair. But I think that's a mute point unless they agree to that. >> Well, correct. Absolutely correct. >> And they did not we've already you've already asked them that and they didn't agree to it. >> Correct.
>> Are we willing to >> they as in the land owners >> how much are we willing to spend on a fight, a legal fight? And I asked the sheriff about taking down the gate and he he's not going to he's not well he's not here right now but
>> well this has it's so much gray area I don't know what you're going to do >> and we shouldn't we shouldn't be doing this to our township and we shouldn't be doing this to these land owners period. It's wrong and we should spend the money secure our landfill. It's not going to
be that much. And I'm sorry, it's not a big hassle to open two gates and close two gates. It is a big deal if we landlock their property and devalue that property. That is a huge deal. And I don't
>> I I think my understanding if we had a private cart cartwway, this land has always been landlocked. Like there like that's if the private cartway went to a different property, this land has always been landlocked. Whether that gate is there or not, they have the the access
through a prescriptive easement, which means this is how they've been accessing it. They will continue to access it that way. So I I mean I think >> when we're talking about the gate though, is the gate legal or not? And if that's a private cartway or not, is that
gate legal to be there? And I don't believe it is. the research that I have done, as long as as long as land owners have access, which they do through having access through the gate, it is legal. Again, I'm not an attorney, so I
can't say for sure, but the research that I have done, a private cartwway can be gated as long as all property owners have access. A cartway is established to for private land owners to gain access. I think you're I I mean you could one
could argue you're cook if if that's the solution you're kicking the can down the road anyway. >> We are because >> at some point there's numerous owners with that property and there's if they split at all there's going to be numerous key holders and at some point even at this point it's not a secure
landfill when you have numerous people that aren't affiliated with the county have keys to to completely access your landfill. >> Madam Chair, so let's not kick the can down the road. Let's go to the to the east there because right now that field is being accessed and you can correct me
if I'm wrong, but they come across the railroad tracks. I called the CP line. I got a hold of an MDOT guy. So that is a private roadway there. But how are how are they going to get into that field if they let's say the person who owns that
property that is allowing them access right now say they die move on uh sell it whatever how are they going to get that tractor in there if they go down this road that we create still doesn't solve their problem for the tractor in that field you talk about kicking the can down the road I want to solve the problem now it should have been solved
30 years ago it wasn't handshake deals I get all that but let's solve it now let's keep our campus one piece We can still give them access by going around our camps, gate that off, fence that off, do whatever we have to do going to the east. We can do that.
>> Doesn't give them access to where they're they're hunting Phil. How are they supposed to >> how No, it doesn't. There's a big swamp there. How are they supposed to get back to where they're hunting to where the land they're using? How are they supposed to do that? Walk through the swamp? >> Then let me ask another question. How
are you going to get the tractor into the field? I'm not concerned about getting the traffic into the field. I'm concerned about keeping that cart way open. >> How they use their land owners worried about devaluing their land. It's a small
problem for us with a threewire hightensil fence and two gates. It's a small problem. If you want to make it into a big problem, I watch people come in here and say, "This is the end of the world. There's a resort coming in. It's going to devalue my property."
This is not This is the same thing. It's not a big problem. We We open and close gates. We take care of the property owners. They've worked they've been here and worked this land forever. Um these are the salt of the earth and we should take care of them and do the right thing
and we should quit kicking this down the road. They keep showing people the township keeps showing up here. We need to treat our township right. We need to treat those people right. It's not a big deal to secure this landfill. And if you want to make a big deal out of it, you
can, but it's really not. I mean, I I see the benefits of having it not not having the road there. I mean, obviously, it would be best if it wasn't, but I I see this as truly a workable situation with the three wire
strand and and gate gate. Those two gates are going to be opened morning and night. Um, if we let >> if the MPCA says they can, if they don't have to be closed every time, how we we don't know that yet because we haven't come up with a plan yet. >> We should have known that by now. But they told us we can use rocks and logs.
You heard it, Phil. Does it sound like that we have to have I don't believe we have to close them every time. If if you did, that would that would shock me, you know, and they were very willing and able to work with us. That was when you were talking to them, that was the
closed landfill people that were talking. >> There was so many different people there the second time, Steve. But they made it very clear that they wanted to work with us and I don't believe they're going to make us open and close those gates every day. >> Steve, are you aware of any other
landfills, whether it's in the region or in Minnesota, that have a public road dividing their campus? >> Not that I'm aware of. I I just don't know. >> I make a motion. I want to make a motion
to do this that fencing and >> I Well, there's there's a motion move. We'll discuss. >> All right. We have a motion to I'm assuming it's >> M. Madam Chair, I will second, but let's clarify the motion. I I would ask that
the motion maker state that put in for a permit from the Minnesota Pollution Control for a three-wire fence um with rolling gates as needed um as proposed and up to up to six rolling gates. I
don't think we need rolling gates, maybe some access points, but um put in for the proposal and see and if they if they accept it, then we can review it. And if they say we need more, then we review it. But I I think that's that's what I'd like you to do and that's would be my second.
>> Yeah. >> Now in if we're in discussion I'm >> I think >> are we in discussion or would you >> Well, we have a motion and a second you second. >> I second the motion. >> Any further discuss? >> Do we apply apply for the
>> um Madam Chair? I think Roy has a comment maybe. >> Yeah, let's talk to Roy first. I'm just wondering if you're going to put the fence up, how wide are you going to have it between the fences? Is it going to be 33 ft or is it going to be 66 ft? >> You Oh, you mean on but on the side of the road?
>> When you're bringing the When you're bringing the fence to the south, I don't think it can be 66 feet. >> No, it can't, Roy. There's a cap on that closed landfill and we can't. >> Right. But that's what I'm wondering. How wide is your >> You want to state that? >> Is it only going to be 33?
>> That's what That's what our plan was. Yeah. >> Well, if they're going to do something in the future down there as a development or anything, then they're probably going to have to have 6060. But as I understand it, we have okayed
>> access like this before and and I we don't know if they're going to develop or not, but certainly if they did, I found out or we we we had talked that they that we have developments with narrow uh access like this.
>> There's a difference between the cartway, which is only 33 ft, and a public road, which is 66 ft. But normally you would have to have a public road to get to a development down there >> which we don't have. >> But >> right >> there's a difference between a cartway
and a prescription use. Prescription is just using it. >> No document but it's just used by the public. A cartway was actually the document that was prepared here in 1918.
So if it's going to be a cartway it's 33 ft. was going to be prescriptive road. It could be 66 just by usage over the years. >> So, >> well, I was I was under the impression at when we initially that this was only
a 33 foot cartway. Um, that's all that I was I I wouldn't I wouldn't have supported a larger one initially. So, I would suggest that it would be um and right now they they're not talking about a development. They're talking
about using their hunting land >> and logging >> and not and and of course they've spent money and some of them have bought bought in and some of them is sold and and of course they don't want that. So, we're not really talking about a development today. We're talking about
legal access to their property. My question is is if you're going to put fencing up, how wide how how >> Well, we're going we're going to stay within that 33 >> within the 33. >> Yeah. We've had our highway out there and done some
>> We will have >> Madam Chair, you know, Richard, you talked about rocks and logs and stuff. I mean, that does have a cap on it, that closed landfill part. I mean, are we going to be driving holes into that landfill? That is on the west side of the road. That >> You're right. I mean, >> do we have any do we have any more
discussion specifically about the >> Yes. >> Yeah. I would I would say that we we'd ask for um 33 foot except that gating areas that they can go in to accommodate gates and the distance between fence
posts. I suppose do we need to identify that or that will be something that the committee committee could look at? >> Yeah. I I just want to state I have I have two concerns. One is I don't believe that opening that taking
that gate off and having that be a public road is responsible of us to securing our landfill because I I think that opens up not not I'm not saying during the day when we can open the gates and we can use it. I just think that we're opening up a big can of worms
for anybody that can go in there and just do whatever they want. Um, I don't like that. I don't think that we're being responsible for that. I don't like necessarily like having to spend money, but the amount of money that we were talking about now is a lot less possibly, but then we're not
securing our landfill. If we don't have cameras, if we don't have ways to make sure we know who's done some of these things that we think might happen, then how are we going to secure our landfill? I
>> What do you What What's I'm I'm confused about the concern, Dave. Do you think somebody's going to go through those wires and go and damage something in there? I mean, >> we're going to have cameras on all the buildings. I don't I'm I'm confused about what >> it's a landfill. They're they're
Nobody's going to steal anything. They might dump something. >> They're going to dump stuff in. >> Well, they're dump They don't dump it right there. They dump it down the road. We've seen it. And yeah, they dump on all the roads close to there, actually. Um, so but that's if somebody does dump
something, I I'm failing to see the big the big issues there. >> So now instead of dumping on other roads, they can drive in there and dump it >> and what would h what would happen? A place would explode or I mean this is the part that's getting me is we're not
we're making up stuff that that really somebody dumped a couch there. Well, >> you know what our township does? They go pick it up and bring it to the landfill. It's like any other that's what that's the kind of guys we have. >> If there did become a problem, we would
we would create measures to alleviate. >> We would create measures that would then become $350,000 for us to >> Yes. All you have all you have to do is put a camera at your entrance and exit of the facility to see who's if someone drives
in there with a with a couch and then they drive out without a couch, you know who it is. I mean, look at you motors out there and all the stuff that's sitting there. I mean, there's there's there's we have a landfill and >> I mean, I think you're I don't >> I don't see this as a
>> Yeah. >> All right. I don't see it. Now, if this passes, we have a direction that we are going to >> ask Steve to put together a presentation for MPCA to see if it's allowable. Um, but if we don't pass this,
what is the solution? Well, it looks like there's going to be a leak. >> But I'm just saying there we don't have a solution. Now, Phil has proposed an option and we can do that option at any time if we get the land owners, you know, but that option will cost us a quart million dollars. And the option that we're looking at here, I bet will
be 5060. >> Madam Chair, Commissioner Nelson, no, it won't. I got to No, it will not cost a quarter of a million dollars with with my >> to build a road to build a road that's what half a mile long, threequarters mile. Uh it's about a quarter mile and I
got a gravel road estimate from our construction uh people and they said about $30,000 maybe a little more. Now that doesn't include the fencing $3,000. >> You just put a put in a driveway less than 100 yards is $35,000. >> I I got that number from Brian.
>> You can put in a quarter mile of gravel road for 30,000. >> Wow. I'm >> We're not talking. You know, Jim, I build roads and I I gravel >> from who? >> I got it. I asked from who? >> From an for an estimate from Jim and
Brian. I asked >> Really, Jim? I got one more. >> A quarter mile of gravel road for 30 grand because I do this for a living. And that is >> clearing and the road is already partially there. So, you just got those are time to build the ditch. And
>> well, it's not going to be a wide gravel road. will be about 22 ft wide, which is about typical for a subdivision. >> I got to look at distance. >> Yeah. Well, the land owner already offered that. >> Can I get a question? I just have a
question. I'm going to use my pointer here. I'm going to look here. Now, where are we talking the gravel road? So, the gravel road, we'd have to Where are you securing? Here or where would you talk about the >> Go to south of the HHW building and go directly east. >> South here. >> Yep. We have a 50 ft
barrier before the landfill starts going east. >> Going east here. >> East. Keep going. >> Oh, yeah. >> Keep going. Right there. That's where the the the farm field starts. From there, they could go down and access their property. You're right, Richard. >> You're saying that your road would only
go on this line. >> Correct. >> Oh, that is correct. >> I thought you were talking coming around here and accessing down here. >> No. >> Well, they don't have, like I said, that doesn't give them access. And they did. This has been offered to them and they've turned it down. Is that right, Phil?
>> Didn't you offer this to them and they turned it down? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, they are in >> off group say they didn't want that >> of it. >> And again, >> and so how much are you willing to spend on a legal fight? >> These agreements could go on beyond going whether regardless of today.
>> I mean, we could try. Correct. We could find >> We also talked about trading some land or buying some land. They said that they need to get the the loan secured before those things can happen. But those things are hopefully still on the table down the road as well. >> I think, you know, hopefully those type those things can be on the table
regardless what we do here today. We can ask that we present something to MPCA and see if that works. And we can still ask, hey, can we find another solution for this? Madam Chair, Commissioner Nelson, but you're going to outlay $250,000 to put a fence in and then >> it's not going to cost
>> act or okay, whatever it is. >> The fence, the five strand fence was 30 28,000. And if you do go down to two three wires, you're talking probably, you know, 23,000. You're talking five, you're talking another six gates. And
where are your gates? Swing gates $1,000 per. I could tell you I'm not in favor of us just doing minimum to get by to secure our landfill. I think we need to make sure it's secure. With that being said, any further discussion before we call upon >> Yeah. I got one more thing. >> Okay.
>> So, originally they came in and asked for a just to make it a permanent easement. Um I don't remember if it was a 66 foot or a 306 feet.
I think that it I would be okay with giving a permanent easement of 33 ft. They have a key to the gate. We make it permanent. We make it forever and then then the township would have to uh agree
to I I I still I don't think it's township roll. That's irrelevant. But they would have to agree to it would be vacated and then I I think that that that's worked. It's been it's worked before. It will continue to work. I don't think it devalues our property. It hasn't
devalued. It would just be the same as it what it it is now. I >> And this is this is how it's been back there, Dave. >> And this how does this not devalue their property if you've got when you go home, you have to take a key key and open it
up and now you want to sell that house back there. No, this does devalue. It limits access to the property and it definitely does devalue it. they had access before the county stuck their nose in there and did this wrong 30 years ago. >> Madam Chair,
>> and um if we pass this motion, this motion is only directing Steve to put together a proposal to to request if if MPCA would approve it. It would still have to come back before us to get hard numbers and hard quotes. I mean, this is this is moving in the direction on this
option. Doesn't mean we have to do this option even if it does get approved today. That's I just wanted and for me >> one one second for me it's been working for 30 years. I don't know why we're disrupting it. >> So I think
>> Madam Chair I guess I would answer that if I was the land owner and I built a house back there. I'm not going to get out of my car and open a a locked gate and close a lock gate every time I go through there. >> Well, when you only have a prescriptive easement and no documented road. >> That's easy easy to say when we're here. But this is a court. This would be in
court, I would assume, to determine what is what we can what we can and cannot do at at having a locked gate at our entrance on for a landowner. I mean, that's the that's the crux of it. What and I think we would not we would have to put up an automatic gate opener up
there for for whoever wanted it if that's the option. We would have to put up automatic and we'd have to set it back so you could get trucks in there before you hit that opener. So you I mean that's that's the same expense too >> and and so and our attorney just said
they would have a very strong case if they did take this to court. So >> if we were not going to allow access. >> No, that's not what he said. He said >> and so because we he did not answer about the locked gate and I want to know what is the county's liability to have a
locked gate if somebody's hurt in an accident. Back >> you're asking you're asking you could ask five lawyers and you get five. So, >> so yeah. Well, >> so, so if we vote on this and we pass this, well, we're going to vote on it. Um, we're just basically saying that
we're going to have Steve look and see what the MPCA >> if they will allow that as a solution. >> Okay. And then if they do allow it as a solution, then we're going to we'd have to vote again, approve the solution >> and the expense and the expense >> and get hard quotes on it. >> Yeah.
>> All right, let's call it to vote. Or do you want Kevin to >> Oh, Kevin. Sorry. Oh, that's right. >> This is a stance of the township in talking with our legal council at the Minnesota Association of Townships
at length >> about this situation. That road was originally recorded as a private cartway. >> Mhm. by usage. It became a public cartway when as many as three or possibly four families lived back there
and used that. It became a public cardway by usage. It was maintained by the township. So, we are very confident that if needed that is still a public road. It's still recorded as a minimum maintenance public road. It was
illegally gated in 1993 by the county. We actually as township supervisors have been kind of called to the carpet for allowing that gate to be up there as long as it has. So they are going to have the full
strength of our Minnesota Association of Townships if we remove that gate. And that is what's going to happen. So, if we want to get into a a peeing match back and forth about who's right and who's wrong, um that's what's going
to happen because we're taking a stance. You guys illegally ged that road 30 some years ago. >> Well, I mean, we don't know what happened 30 some years ago because there's nothing on nothing there that says the township the the township has allowed it for 30 years.
>> Usually, just by the township, >> we have records to that effect. So it is a public road. It's a public car >> that has not been maintained for 30 years. >> Yes, it has been maintained as a minimum road. >> And what what has been maintained about
it by the township for the last 30 years? >> Is gravel not gravel but graded up until about 14 or 15. >> How often? >> As needed. That's what a minimal maintenance road is. But you don't have
>> we're not going to grade us five times a year just just to have a maintenance record. Um we graded it. We're township. We don't have very big budget. We graded it as needed. So that's the stance the township is
going to take. If you guys I just want you to know that when you do your vote because that's where we're coming from. That that is a public road. >> Madam Chair, do do you understand our dilemma? I absolutely agree. I do.
>> But but at the same token, >> we we cannot condone you guys illegally gating to save money back in 1992 or 93. At that time, the only reason that was allowed to have that gate come up was it
was a it was a temporary deal until you basically did get something resolved with the MPCA. But what happened is nobody kind of gave a rip. So we left the gate got to stay up there and the county just took advantage of it. So for us to feel sorry for the county now
because it's going to cost you $100,000. It could have cost you $10,000 back then. It's kind of hard to feel sorry for for not kind of doing it right back then. You took easy way out then. And we're not going to allow you to do it again. That's what I'm saying.
>> All right. We're willing to work with you, but it cannot continue with that gate there. >> Well, Madam Chair, would working with us be going to the east there? Is that workable? >> No. >> Why not?
>> We can't get to all of our property. >> Our land is flooded from the water. The MPCA is dumping on us. >> You can get to that field if you want us to go to east. You can't force that solution on the land owners. >> If we're not agreeable to it, then
that's that's the way it is. >> All right, let's call it to vote. >> All those in favor >> want to re repeat the motion or whatever >> that we we will get >> we're asking Steve to um put together a
a plan consisting of a three- wire fence and up to six rolling gates and if you need walking gates or other gates. um and submit it to the MPCA for approval. >> So, so we're just do we're not we're not >> we're asking for approval of this. We're not asking to do it. We don't have
quotes. We'll if we get approval, they'll have to go out for quotes for uh the gates and the fencing and come back to the board. So, this really is just saying let's see if this is an if we can do it this way and what they what their response is. And maybe they'll come back and say we
need five wires. Maybe they'll say we need monitoring, but this is at least get us the minimum. If they allow the three-wire and and rolling gates opened in morning and night for the access and clo they will we will have our gates closed
during non-b businessiness hours. >> Is that accurate, Richard? >> Yep. >> You do roll call or you >> Yep. I'm I'm going to call a roll call vote. Start with Commissioner Nelson. >> I >> I >> No. >> No.
>> I >> All right. Motion carries to move forward with a um plan to the MPCA. I would also like to in the meantime have us get a a legal opinion as to what our
requirement is to secure or to allow access and how that could should work. Um, as far as whether it's a prescriptive easement, uh, cartwway, >> madam chair, I >> what it might be,
>> I don't support that. And because I think the only the only we have to work with the land owners, we don't need to work with the lawyers. I mean, if the land owners say this is what we want, I mean, I think we're at a point where they we have to provide
access to that and and we should provide. they've been getting that and and we can find a lawyer that say can say I can fight this in court and win and they can find a lawyer and say I can fight this in court and win. Uh I think if we can find solutions if if if Phil's solution would work I mean certainly not
something we can't still pursue. All of these options we can pursue as we're moving forward with this. That's what I'm saying. And I agree with Barry and but also our attorney did say they would have a very strong case and I'm not willing to spend any more when we talk about spending money.
>> I think the key is if if if the land owners are are are acceptable to a different solution, we can still do that. I mean, but I don't know what that is. >> I and I just want to note our attorney said that the Schlatter House have a a strong case of a prescriptive easement. >> No, it's not.
>> What does that prescriptive easement mean? >> That's not what he said. >> I I That is what I said. I >> I asked him if this went to court, who would win? We didn't talk I didn't ask him about a prescriptive easement. >> That's not how it was stated.
>> I think Erica is stating does that prescript can we keep a fence up on a prescriptive easement? >> Does a prescriptive easement mean that they they have the right to access the way they have been accessing it for the last 30 years? or does it mean we have to do whatever they say they want in
order for us to get access? That's what I want a legal opinion on. >> Just one comment. >> Mhm. >> The reason this started was because you can't grant easement on public road. That's legally not possible. >> Y >> and it was determined this is a public road.
>> Yeah. >> I don't know that it was determined it was a public road. >> There's lots of battles within this and I don't if we don't have to fight them today because hopefully we don't have to fight them. I mean, I just sue not. >> So, I would encourage the slaughterhoffs to continue to work with whether it's
Steve, Phil, whoever's been doing it to try to find an alternative access so that we can continue to secure our landfill. All right, moving on. Anything else? All right,
Kyle, >> I requested some further information on both these towers, so they're going to be tabled. >> Oh, okay. >> I got Well, I we have one question though for Kyle. So, when I was looking at the appointments and then I looked at the notes, um
is still on the planning and zoning. Was he not? >> No, they're both on. He just hadn't run out of term. >> He hadn't turned out. Okay, that's that that was my question. We're waiting till he turns out. >> Excuse So, and then that that whole board discussion Yeah. appointment process is on the next department head agenda. >> Yeah.
>> And we're going to try and streamline them for EDA. Everybody, >> we're trying to work something out. >> Yeah. I just didn't know if we had said no right away or if we're going to wait for him to turn them all. >> Got it. >> All right. Thanks, Kyle. >> Thanks, Kyle.
>> All right. Meeting adjourned. I think carried.