That's it. >> No, [laughter] >> a chicken. >> Chicken. We just take the neck instead. >> We need to get them. Yeah. >> Yeah. He's got a starter. >> So, what's
>> my brother? >> It's Monty. >> Your hips here and then there's like [clears throat] >> Monty, you got to start the meeting. Thank you. [clears throat] >> All right. How's streaming doing? >> We're good. Well, we'll take we'll take
our chances. Okay. Sometimes a little hit and miss with YouTube. >> All right. Let's call our first board meeting of the year to order. Uh Beth, could you please uh uh take the roll call, please? >> Oh, I'm sorry. We need to do pledge of allegiance. >> Yeah. Pledge of allegiance first.
>> And we're live. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. All right, Beth. Roll call,
please. >> Commissioner Benoy, >> here. >> Commissioner Pop >> here. >> Commissioner [snorts] Heinen >> here. >> Commissioner Johnson, >> here. >> Commissioner Gapinsky >> here. >> All right, let's select a board chair for 2026. Are there nominations for board chair for 2026?
>> Monty, I'll nominate Commissioner Heinand to serve as board chair for 2026. >> Commissioner Hein has been nominated as board chair for 2026. Are there any other nominations? >> I'm hearing none. All those in favor, Commissioner Hein as board chair, please say I. >> I. Any opposed?
>> Commissioner, you are chair, sir. >> Thank you. [clears throat] Now, we'll select a county board vice chair. >> Mr. Chair, I'll nominate uh Commissioner Johnson. I'll second that. >> We've got a motion and a second. Any
more, >> concerns, thoughts? If not, or nomination? Sorry. If not, I'll call the question. All in favor say I. I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. >> Uh approve or amend the agenda. Monty?
>> Yes, sir. >> Uh Sheriff Hack tells us he would like to pull from the agenda consent item number 11 and bring that back to a future meeting. And apparently the contract was not ready uh for signatures. So we'll pull that for for a future meeting. Uh Christine would like
to add an item for designating depository banks. If you could please add that as Christine's first item at 9:30. The first item at 9:30 depository banks. And unless I'm incorrect, that's all. Right. That would be it. Sir, >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to add uh
communications on the uh Lark and Hoffman out in uh DC for the lobbyist. >> Uh maybe let's put that under Monty. >> Okay, sure. Final item under Headley. Okay. >> Yep. >> Len Hoffman.
Is that it? >> That's it. Move for approval of the amended agenda. Mr. Chair, there's Christie. >> I'll second. Got a motion and a second. Any further discussions or anything to add? Now I'll call the question. All in favor say I. I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. County board
meetings are broadcasted live and video recorded on YouTube. Please refrain from speaking from the audience area and come to the podium so that the viewers can hear you. County board observes Robert's rules of order for its meeting. So, please obtain the board's chair consent
before addressing the county board. Public comments are generally reserved for the open forum segment or public hearings. However, [snorts] thank you. However, public comment on the other agenda items may be allowed at the discretion of the board chair as we
begin today. Please turn off cell phones or turn them on to vibrate. Thank you. Okay. Next open forum. Now, therefore, be it resolved, Benton County Board of Commissioners does hereby adopt the
following policies that govern the open form section of the county board meeting. The purpose of the open form section of the county board meetings is to allow public input and/or information to be presented to the board that does not require action by the board.
Personal attacks of any kind against another person is not allowed. Campaign type presentations are not allowed. The normal time limit is five minutes per speaker. The time limit may be shortened or extended at the discretion of the board chair. All imported information is
to be addressed to the board of the commissioners and not to the members of the audience. Speaker handouts are public information. The county may make copies of such handouts for the public if needed. County Board Chair will ensure that the open forum policy is
followed. >> First up, Carol. >> Carol. >> Hi, Carol. >> Did you sign Carol >> on the open form? >> Oh, no. I was here. >> Oh, you don't have to worry about [laughter]
>> Mr. Half. Uh Tom Half, Sock Rapids. Um happy new year 20. >> Happy New Year. >> You made it. Um just wanted to mention that uh we have seven uh mortgage
foreclosures going on in Benton County right now, totaling over $700,000. Just like to let you guys know that that uh we're losing a little bit of tax money there. Um, I didn't know that we were giving out raises. I was reading the paper here and
it looks like everybody got a good raise here. Uh, except for the county commissioner that wanted 15.9% raise, but you guys only gave her three. Way to go. Appreciate that. >> Um, uh, thank you guys for that. That was the county attorney. >> County attorney. Sorry.
>> Yeah. >> Um, I think you guys forgot somebody in those raises. Um, you forgot the taxpayer. Um, I think that we should have been put on that uh on that list a little bit and we should have been addressed on that. It's a concern not only of mine, but I
know of many other people in Benton County. Um, maybe we should have fired a couple people and uh and stuff instead of giving out such uh gracious raises and stuff. Um, my other concern is uh fraud in our uh in our in our in our area and
stuff like that. That's a big issue in uh the state of Minnesota and I hope we're addressing that uh aggressively in our areas of uh that we uh spend a lot of money on which is one is human services. >> Actually, we'll be addressing that today this afternoon. >> I really hope that happens and uh hope
we go aggressively on that and we get the sheriff involved and stuff like that and uh working with uh ICE and stuff like that to get those things done. I hope we are working with them. Um, one other thing that I had was I see that Chris is leaving us. Um, how many times
is he going to leave us and come back? Um, he's done that a couple two three times to us. Um, uh, hopefully, uh, this is the last time. Maybe we should, uh, maybe just cross his name off the list if he tries to come back again. It's not a hit and it's not a personal thing or
anything like that, but I believe that when someone leaves and comes back and then gets a big raise and then comes and goes, that's no good for the county. That's no good for our uh our highway department and stuff. We need to stay focused and uh stay on that problems with our roads and stuff like that. Um
the only other thing I had to say was just the about the the taxes and stuff. You guys are killing us. We're dying out there. We'd really appreciate some help in those areas and stuff like that. Um and I'm going to say again about our new building. Midway Iron's just waiting for that iron. [gasps and laughter] Whenever
you guys are ready to vote on it, to send it over there with the trucks, I'd be more than happy to drive one for you. Have a very nice day. Thank you. >> Thank you, Tom. >> Mike Deppa, >> mine has to do with water. So, >> okay. Thank you, Mike.
>> Okay. Consent agenda item. What do we want to do with 1 through 10? >> Move for approval, Mr. Chair. >> I'll second. >> Okay. We got a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Anything else being pulled? If not, I'll call the question. All in
favor say I. >> I. >> Oppos? Motion carries. Monty, >> just a second by me. >> Roxanna's logged in. Oh, it's me this time. Okay. First item, Mr. Chair, is to appoint an
interim county engineer. You should see two items in your packet. There's an employment agreement and secondly, a resolution. Uh we obtained this sample employment agreement from Jackson County and I think it serves us well. I it addresses the the compensation, the waiver of benefits, termination
provisions and so on. So I think it's a good agreement. It worked well for them. I think it works well for us as well, Mr. Chair. So again, we'd ask you consider the employment agreement. And then the second item is the resolution which which names Steven Bakowski as our
interim county engineer. Christian, we had some discussion about this is that MDOT insists that this position be an employee rather than a contractor. So, this accomplishes this and hopefully pleases Mandot in that regard. So, uh and Steve, of course, is here uh and perhaps he could come to the podium and
say hi to you all and just get introduced. >> Hello, Mr. Chairman, members of the board. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Morning. Uh just a quick background uh on my experience. Uh I I grew up uh outside of a small town, Flynnburg,
Minnesota in Morrison County. Uh received my bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from North Dakota State University. And following that, then I took a job with Black & Beach, a large consulting firm out of Kansas. And uh spent several years down there when
the assistant engineer retired at Morrison. Was fortunate enough to be able to uh get that job and came back after a number of years in that position. the board promoted me and I spent 34 years as the comm county engineer public works director for
Morrison County. I retired four years ago, but I'm looking forward to uh helping out for a few months to get as you finish up your recruitment process. I know that takes some time. Um but I'm ready to caretake for a little while and then get out of the way. [laughter]
>> Appreciate it. >> Thank you very much for stepping up. >> Appreciate that. >> So with that, Mr. Chair, looking for your motions on those two uh items. The >> Okay, board. We've got >> employment motions. Motion one. >> Approve the employment agreement.
>> So moved. I'll second it. >> Okay, we've got a motion in a second. Any further discussion on that one? If not, I'll call the question. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. >> Uh the second one, a motion to approve the resolution appointing Steve. >> So move, Mr. Chair.
>> I'll second. >> Okay, we got a motion and a second. Any further discussion on that? If not, I'll call the question. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. >> Thank you, Steve. >> Yep. Thank you very much. >> All right, Mr. Sh. May I move on to the
next item? Yes, >> please. >> Yes. It's time to schedule the regular meetings for 2026. Uh if the board adopts it or its schedule of meetings uh at the first meeting in January, then no further notice is needed after that point. The uh proposed schedule is on the back of
this agenda item. It maintains the typical first and third Tuesday pattern at 9:00 a.m. with one exception. That'd be December 1st. That would be an evening meeting for purposes of truth and taxation. Again, that's December 1st at 6 p.m. That mean again the TNT
portion cannot occur until after 6 p.m. So we move that regular meeting to an evening meeting to satisfy the TNT requirements. Otherwise, again, it's the typical first and third at 9:00 a.m. >> Mr. Chair Monty, is this calendar due at any certain time? The setting of these
meetings? Obviously, we we have to do it sooner than later, but is it >> you need to set at the first meeting first meeting in January? >> Has to be today. >> Yeah. >> Commissioner Johnson, concerns. >> I just was going to throw out the idea of looking at potential maybe one or two other locations and potential time changes.
>> We I like that idea. >> You certainly can. Those just become special meetings. You You can of course you can always change the date, time, and location of a meeting. It just becomes a special meeting then. >> So would it be appropriate then for us to have that discussion at our goal session meeting and >> absolutely sure you bet we could do that
but this yeah for better or worse we need at your first organization meeting of the year you need to set your schedule of meetings for the year. >> I'll move for approval then Mr. Chair. >> Right >> now second. >> Okay we got a motion and a second. Any further discussion on that? If not I'll call the question. All in favor say I.
>> I opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. >> Mr. Chair, if I could Monty, just as a a requirement then to put that on our goal session list, please calendar. >> We'll do that. >> Mr. Chair, uh, Miss Trout has the next item. >> Good morning, commissioners.
>> Good morning. >> I am just following up on a policy item that I had brought to you prior when we were working on the budget. Um, I'm looking for an approval and a signature on a software pro project agreement with its information systems corporation. So
what they'll be providing is a software solution that we will utilize at the county um for well two purposes. One is to automate the process of approval of invoices. So right now our process is very paper intensive. It's all printed
and um wet signatures on a voucher. And then right now we um store all of that information in a file cabinet, all paper copies. So, this solution would also store all that information electronically so that way everybody can have access to it as they need. Um, so
I've got the agreement together and I'm just looking for approval and the signature on the agreement. Is there any questions? >> Board questions. >> Mr. Chair, I would imagine that this is going to save save us some time and money. >> Yeah. Um, to to measure money is really
hard. It's more of a timesaver. Um, everybody, every department in the county has bills to pay. So, it's going to have a widespread effect on the county >> unless paper intense. >> Yeah, >> Mr. Chair, Jackie, just for clarification, you've got a dollar
amount in here for the actual software. Uh, then kind of a one-time charge for setting it up, if you will. And then there is an annual support and maintenance. Um, >> will that annual support and maintenance be a budgeted item then or is that going to be a CIP issue going forward or because you're looking at CIP dollars
for this whole put it in CIP and at some point we got to gravitate that annual cost over to Steve IT budget though. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> And is there any guarantee in how long that annual support and maintenance fee would be at that amount? >> I don't have a guarantee at this time.
No. >> So right now the agreement is just for the time period of the agreement. Okay. What would you like to do? >> I guess one additional question, Mr. Chair, Jackie, any other counties that are using the software and have they seen their annual support and maintenance numbers change?
>> Yeah, I have quite a list of and I don't have the number in front of me. For some reason, 16 sticks out in my head. Um, but I'd have to confirm that that I have other counties. The county that I got the most guidance from was Sibi County. They utilize this this software. Um, and
I've asked her a lot of questions as I've been trying to get the agreement together and to see if this is a best fit for the county and she has nothing but good things to say about it. It's really made a big difference in Sibling County. >> And I know we talked about this at budget time and coming out of CIP. My only concern is what might happen with
annual support and maintenance. >> Maybe other counties will jump in together. Well, yeah. MC C or I don't know. But thoughts typ typically, I mean, they'll give you six months notice that these are going to go up or three
months that that the these these fees, these annual fees will go up because there's going to be a lot of people that are affected by it. >> Sure. And again, my only concern, we're going to make the investment in the software, which I know we have to do. It's what's going to happen to the annual maintenance.
>> Yeah. And is that something that could be negotiated at this time or not? I don't know. And where are we at on a timeline of ratifying this? >> Well, I [clears throat] know initially at the end of the year there was a strong push to get this ratified because their prices were going up the first of
the year. Um, but they agreed to hold the current prices that they quoted me when I told them that I was going to bring this to the first meeting of the year. So, um, to get this one, I think they're looking for the signature on it to hold that price, but it is something
I can inquire about what what they're looking at for future pricing. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome, >> Commissioner Gapinsky. >> No, I Okay. I I don't uh these software agreements are pretty standard and and I
I like your thought process of seeing if we I think that should be a question that can be tied into it. But um I I think we're going to have a hard time getting them to >> cuz that's ne that would be us negotiating one versus, you know, and
then they're going to have all the other people that have to negotiate theirs. But I think bringing it up right now and seeing how long they would hold that would be good. Yeah, I can definitely inquire with them. >> Okay, board. What would you like to do with this?
>> I'll move approval. >> I'll second it. >> Okay, we got a motion and a second. Any further discussion on that? >> If not, I'll call the question. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Jackie. >> Monty, keep going.
>> All righty. Uh, next item was consideration a vendor for furniture. Ju real quick, uh I think what Commissioner Johnson brought up is is something that whenever we're doing software might be a good thing to put in right away. >> Yeah.
>> On any of these agreements, >> three or five year >> agreement. >> Yeah. >> On the maintenance. >> Even if it's just a statement by the software company to say we can't do this, but here's our typical, >> you know, >> or even if it is, I understand costs >> Yep. >> inflate. I get that. But I just don't
want a 10% surprise. >> Exactly. Yep. No, I I but I think I think anytime moving forward on these software agreements, we should at least ask the question before it >> comes here. We put it on Yeah. Can we will we everything like that? >> Kind of like similar to what we did with the sheriff. >> Yep.
>> Yep. >> Good point. Thank you. >> Okay, Monty, go ahead. >> Next is is recommendation from your government center building committee on a furniture fixtures and equipment vendor. [snorts] Um we visited uh two
furniture vendors yesterday down on the metro and uh unfortunately one of those vendors did not have pricing ready for us to consider. So we're not in a position to give you a recommendation today. Hopefully within the next two or three days uh GLT will receive those price uh estimates from one of the
vendors and we'll reconvene our committee sometime probably early next week and hopefully then arrive at a recommendation from you all. So my my thinking is to bring this back to your the January 20th meeting. So that's that's our time frame. Again, unfortunately, one of the vendors just
did not have that estimate ready for us. >> Right. Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. So, we'll bring that one back. Next one is uh it's more of a first meeting of the year issue uh to review the policy manual. This document was created about three years ago and it's a
kind of a wide ranging document of county board member statutory responsibilities uh how meetings are conducted um and so on. Uh I put it here for your review. One thing I wanted to to review more in detail, Mr. Chair, is the um the
provisions regarding remote participation. I always want to check in and make sure that's still okay with you all. If I can direct you to page six, page six where it talks about remote participation. So Chris, you know this the laws were changed to allow
board members to participate from a non-public location provided that that notice is published in your um in your agenda. And as you you may recall, we list the names of all board members in our agenda permanently. And we say that those members could be participating
remotely. And uh there's some elements of this I want to again review and these are really things that the board has decided as a matter of policy. And the first one is under under bullet point A the board may participate not more than four times per calendar year for regular board meetings and four times per year
for committees of the whole. I want to ask the question is that are you still comfortable with that that particular policy? Is that working? [snorts] >> I don't think none of us have ever had four at a time anyway. Mm-m. >> Um, Mr. Chair Monty, we had talked at
one time too about location. >> Mhm. >> Um, are we limited state side? Are we can we join out of the country? Um, you know, to address vacation periods. >> Um, I would need to pose that question
to uh the state office which which sort of oversees this particular subject. Uh, it's there's an office with the Minnesota Department Administration you can pose questions to. I don't have an answer for you on the out of country one. Uh you know certainly anywhere I think it's been accepted that anywhere
with the United States is fine. I but I need to I would need to find out about the out of country one. >> For example, I used it during COVID out of the country. I talked to it ahead of time and they do a global net, you know, to protect our systems. >> Yeah. >> And then he would just tie me in where I
was with the Wi-Fi so that there wasn't issues with it on our systems while I was out of the country. >> Of course. Yep. Let me pose that question. and I'll get an answer for you. Yep. Yep. So, uh then that again, so that's the four times for cows, four
times for board meetings. Uh I want to just again quickly review the other provisions is that if you do utilize this provision is, uh we must be able to hear and see you if you're remote. At least one board must be here present in the regular meeting location. All votes
must be by roll call. And again, we publish everyone's names in the agenda as a permanent picture. that takes care of that posting requirement. So, uh just a check in on whether or not these provisions are still okay with you all. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. >> I think I I think they [clears throat]
they're fine, but if depending on who would ever get on in the future, they could be changed because the state law says a little differently. We kind of limited ourselves. >> We just limit. >> Right. There's no limit in the statute. No, in terms of the number of times that you could be remote.
>> Yeah. To your point limit. >> Yeah. meeting. >> Correct. >> Yep. Yep. Okay. Good. Uh, one thing I want to point out, and this is more just perhaps so you could you could take a read of this later, is sometimes I get questions about what is an acceptable subject for a closed session of the
county board. And that starts on page nine. And I I wasn't going to review those today, but I would just ask you to take a look at those. And and that's a great reminder of of typical uh statutory subjects that are permissible for closed sessions. Um again I just
mention that because I do get questions from time to time of what is an acceptable reason for a close session. It's a pretty narrowly defined >> uh areas which are again subjects of close close sessions. >> Mr. Chair, are there any other questions or thoughts about this policy policy
manual from you all? >> Commissioner Johnson question. >> Maybe Monty that's if you have a chance of something that could be brought up at the time we have our goal session too. >> Sure. We could clarify then since we're all going to be there. >> Okay. Yep. We'll do. We'll do. All right.
Let me just make a note. If I don't put a note, I'll forget. >> I write everything down now. >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes. >> Just a clarification. This is available to the public, too, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> It's not posted on our website. If you'd like me to, I will.
>> Yes. Yes, I think we should just make it. >> Okay, I'll we'll put it on the county board page of the website. Okay, it is not on the website now. >> Yep, good point there. >> That's another note for me to make. >> Okay, got it. Uh I believe the next item is St. Cloud Regional Airport Authority.
U so Mr. chair. Again, a little bit of a history and I know uh in this document s I should attribute this to u an appreciation to Sherburn County for preparing this for us and again it's based upon discussion that occurred amongst the administrators of Stern
Sherban me and then the city of St. Cloud administrator. So, but I I want to acknowledge the work that Sherburn did to prepare this. They did a nice history on the first page of how do we get to this point today? Well, you may recall there was I know at least one meeting of a couple of board members with of us
with Sterns County and the airport authority and then ultimately there was a meeting of all the the four parties, the city, the three counties >> and I don't remember exactly how long ago that occurred but there's there was then direction given to the administrators to get together and
prepare a list of options for the four entities to consider. So, we had three or four meetings uh to get you to this list today. And again, it's simply that. It's just various options for you all to consider. Um I believe Sterns County and
Shervin County have already discussed these issues in their board meetings. The city of Sinclair, I don't believe has done so yet. So, I I might I think my task was to share this with you all, get your feedback and discussions. Um do
you have do any of these options appear uh of interest to you all? I think ultimately the goal here is to find is there a consensus amongst the four entities on some course of action. What is that consensus? So
if I I'm going to review this really quickly. So Mr. Chair that the recommendations or sorry they're not recommendations or options. I want to stress that options were broken into I think we got five categories here versus communications and u you can see that none of those
steps require any amendments to the enabling resolution or a minimum owner standard they can just be accomplished operationally for example you already see the monthly updates that are coming from the airport you got that that's a great step uh there was an idea about
having an an annual briefing of each entity by the airport authority Um maybe that's a good idea. Then it gets more more intensive when it talks about representation governance structure. So you can see a range of options. [clears throat]
One is for example where at one end of the continuum is where our airport authority representative would periodically update this board on what's going on. The second one is where each entity appoints an exofficial
representative to the airport authority. The third one is where each entity appoints actually you appoint a voting member of the airport authority. Again, at your discretion. You don't have to. You just could if you wanted to. And then the fourth would be each entity
must appoint a representative to the airport authority. So you kind of have this whole range of possible options. And you can see, for example, the last two do require amending the enabling resolution. And Sherburn put for you on
the first page the process to amend the enabling resolution. It's on the bottom of the first page. And basically, it requires the consent of all four entities to amend the enabling resolution. So the city and the three counties would need to vote to approve amendments to enabling resolution.
So to again to have a county board member as a voting member of the authority you'd have to amend the enabling resolution. Uh moving on city of St. Cloud support there was general I think the recommendation is look you know the city is providing certain services to the
airport authority that's really between the airport authority and the city to work out through a memor memorandum ofum agreement. They can negotiate what services they're going to ask the city to provide. That's really between those two entities. I think you know the recommendation or the option is is to
encourage the the city and the airport authority to continue working together on on service provision but again leaving it up to them to decide what that is what is the best business decision for the airport authority in terms of where it gets its services right yeah uh regional sales tax again
encouraging that to continue once I believe it expires in 2038 so to encourage that to be renewed so resources continue to go to the airport authority from the regional sales tax section. The last one I think I think there's
really two I think the most key issues here in these in these options and first of course is representation and the second is a levy and an option presented here basically is to create like a levy limit so to speak uh as a percentage of
tax capacity. [clears throat] So the option identified here is a levy limit of 0.004% 004%. The next door table on the other page shows you well what would 0004% generate
and I believe this was done by the folks over at Sterns County and it would generate 1.5 1,560,000 a 04% tax capacity levy limit so to speak. So uh
and I I of course you know this is I think just a number to get the discussion going. I guess it's a matter of consensus for what is the right levy limit. I guess that's for elected officials to decide but this just gets the discussion started about well here's what a 04%
levy limit would create. So it could be some other number um that would require a change to enabling resolution to impose a levy limit on the airport authority. You'd have to change the enabling resolution.
[snorts] Uh so those are those are the items. Mr. Chair, uh looking for your discussion, thoughts, feedback. >> Commissioner [clears throat] Gapinsky. Um, I've I've been on this committee with Commissioner Pop. Uh, when we tried
to renegotiate this, um, uh, this this policy was put in place before a bunch of us were on. The the problem I see right now is we got to we we don't have a way to get out unless it's voted. You know, three out of the four have to vote
that we get out. So now we got to limit our exposure of of this. And right now they they put a a $1 million levy on us. And if we go to the 1.5 just as a talking point in a in what four years,
City of St. Cloud is out, that's $680,000. >> It's got to come from somewhere. >> It's got to come from somewhere. So, this is going to have to be relooked at again or I think we need to peel that onion back right now and and work with the city of St. Cloud and get them on
board to make sure that that money continues moving forward. So, if I'm looking at the the two biggest things is rep representation and levy. Number one, we need to limit the levy, >> right, >> on what they can do. And number two,
until they become profitable, I think we need to have an elected official on I I think I think having an elected official on there by all parties would take care of that levy limit too rather
>> to some extent. Anyway, >> to some extent, >> Mr. Chair, Ed, do you know if we have any indication from Sterns and Sherburn what their thoughts have been from their board meetings? >> Uh, Mr. care. I have received some
feedback, but I think it's probably better for those counties to share with you in person. >> Okay. >> What their consensus is on this matter. I don't want to mischaracterize it. >> We'll talk to >> So, I think they probably should talk for themselves about what is the what is their position on this matter. Yeah.
Yeah. >> Commissioner P. >> So, Monte, if we want to change the agreement or anything like that, does it take a 40 vote or >> Yes. Yes. It does. So that's, you know, that's going to be really hard. >> It is going to be really hard, but it took a it took a 40 vote to get this
done, >> right? >> I mean, >> yeah, >> to be quite honest, we we need I think we need to get that bargaining party back to the table again and say, "Listen, there's a lot of things that have changed from time this agreement was signed to the time because you you
guys were told that we weren't going to be levied for at least 10 years." >> Years, correct? >> So, there's a lot of things that have changed in between here and there. So, I I think this needs to be wholeheartedly renegotiated. And I get the airport authority doesn't want to probably have elected officials on
there. They But at I don't want to pay a million dollar levy. >> They speak for themselves. I'm not exactly sure where they land on this issue. >> Well, and Commissioner Kapinsky, to your point, just to clarify, the million-dollar levy spread with the three >> with three counties. It is, >> but [snorts] it's still >> But right now, part of it,
>> Sterns County does not pay the St. of St. Cloud. >> Um that's 680,000. Anybody who lives within the city of St. Cloud does not pay a levy >> for the county portion of that. They pay their levy for the city portion. And at the end of that
>> 10 years goes away that then the city of St. Cloud people come in come involved with the Sterns County portion of that. >> Right. That's true. Right. Yeah. >> Correct. But that doesn't but but regardless that $680,000 of the city of St. cloud goes away, >> right?
>> So, there's a there's a shortage right there that we're going to be dealing with in four years. >> It actually, if I understand it right, it reduces the amount of Sterns County in general. Yes. Because it includes the city of the >> city of St. Cloud. >> So, I mean, it it ain't going to make any difference to Benton County or
Sherman County. >> Yeah. >> It'll just reduce the amount that Sterns County has to >> and and one of the one of the things we need to get away from and and I've heard this many times. Well, Benton County's portion is a is a cup of coffee or, you know, per person. It's per capita,
right? >> So, it it it's the same across the board in Sterns and Sherburn. It the same this it just means that the other counties have more people, >> right? >> More taxpayers. It's the same across the board. >> Capacity. >> Yes. >> More parcels to tax.
>> Yes. Exactly. More tax capacity. So, we're in the same boat. We're all paying the same share. it just because Benton County is a lot smaller doesn't mean it it the the factors are changed. >> Right. >> So miss it says on the the last page it
says the administrator suggests these recommendations be presented a ranking of concerns preferred actions be helpful administrators may reather. I'm I think probably the best next step would really be the elected officials from each the city and the and the counties to reconvene and then share
their discussions and and see if they can find that consensus. I'm not sure probably a I mean administrators useful at this point. So >> I would have to agree. >> I mean this really again it really rises level of the elected officials making the call. >> Well, Mr. Chair, maybe we've got
representatives here but we have some consensus on what our two priorities are. I think we're all in agreement that we want representation >> and and limits on >> limits. Yeah. >> And levy. But with what goes in the representation is a report back from our existing >> appointments >> who are non-elected.
>> Yes. >> At least quarterly, I think. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> So that these guys know what to take back. >> Right. So, a consensus in terms of like we'd like to see an elected official from each rep of each organization on the
board and some some type of levy limit. I guess the levy limit to be determined, you know, what is the right what's the right number. >> I think if they can actually get to this point of having a elected official from each county and the city on the board,
that's when the discussion can be made about >> Yeah. The problem is is remember it's going to take >> four four entities to do that. I think our number one is limiting from my standpoint limiting our li our our levy
amount. >> Correct. >> But in a very very close second have an elected official on there because elected officials can can still go to the meeting. We just can't vote. >> And to that point, Commissioner Kapinsky, we're still in the driver's seat on the appointment.
>> Correct. >> Yeah. So, and all the counties are >> Yep. >> So, I will then um communicate with the the administrators and attempt to get a meeting set up amongst the four entities. Yeah.
>> Go from there. Okay. >> Then, uh our representatives will be Commissioner Gapinsky and Commissioner >> But that I think was decided a while back, right? Those these two board members are reps to that effort. Yes. Yes. >> Okay. I think my last thing is the
pdeium for boards and commissions. Typically, Mr. Chair, the first board meeting of the year, the board sets the piums for boards and commissions such as the park commission, planning commission, and board of adjustment. Uh that pdium usually has followed the same pdium set for county board members. You may recall the board did make a change
this year to allow for a higher pdeium when a meeting or a series of meetings exceed four hours. So, I want to ask you, do you want to apply that same pattern to these boards of commissions or instead just leave it at the same $70?
>> Mr. chair. >> Um, the only the only question I have about that is that sometimes somebody from the planning commission is on the board of adjustments and they do a visit in the >> Hey, and I've heard people say, "Well, you know, yeah, I got to spend all day,
you know, go out and do a site visit in the afternoon and then go back at night." So, they're actually doing two two meetings and getting $70. And I know I don't think that's right. >> No. I mean, they're putting their time and it's hard to hard to find people to do some of that stuff. Roxan,
>> so I would think that we should compensate those people in a manner that would would be right. So, >> can I ask Roxan? Hey, Roxy, I see you're with us online. Can you can you describe for us how the site visit and pdeium is paid for members of planning commission
or is it say board of adjustment? >> Yes, >> board of adjustments. >> Board of adjustment. Can you tell us how that works with the site visit payment and also the pdium? Uh yes. So they do get $10 per site visit and then they do get uh mileage
for each of those site visits as well. >> Oh in addition to the 70 for the meeting and the evening and mileage to come back to the meeting. >> They get that's what I thought. They're getting that site visit fee and then mileage and then pdeium for that meeting that night. Yeah. >> Correct. >> How many site visits do they do usually
that day? >> Depends. That question Roxan >> one to two. >> Yeah. It's usually not too many, but I I do understand it does take up a portion of the afternoon. >> But Roxan, it could be one in Glendero Township and one in Langola Township. >> Absolutely.
>> Across the county. Yeah, >> they do get mileage for that part. I agree with that. But >> they're also spending that spending the whole >> Commissioner Pop. Are you just suggesting that it mirrors what the county board would have? >> Yeah. Well, that that would be an easy way to do it. We want to do something outside of that for
>> I don't know how many how many members of planning commission are in board of adjustments. [clears throat] >> One one >> Oh, so that's one that we heard of. I >> heard. >> So I guess in this instance it' only be if you had like a really long planning
commission meeting that went four hours or more. That probably doesn't happen very often, >> but this is the only instance where that would that apply. Well, the issue the issue with board of adjustment though is that they may do site visits at one o'clock in the afternoon and then come back here. >> They're getting I believe they're getting though the
>> they're getting the $10 for the site visit though, right? >> In mileage mileage, >> right? >> Yeah. >> So, that really doesn't consider considered a meeting. Yeah. Per se. I mean, is is it p Roxan, do you publish
those as as you may have a quorum? >> Yes, >> you do. Okay. Yeah, >> you could have a quorum. So, >> I I'm struggling with this because we we we we talk about mileage like that's a wage. You're you're still it you're
you're spending it whether it's >> Well, I suppose one option is certainly you could leave the PDM at 70 and it's certainly fine to have some additional discussion about overall compensation for board of adjusted planning commission members. uh if you want to have a separate
discussion about how that's you know the site visit fee and so on so forth if you'd like to have that is that really Roxan correct me if I'm wrong I don't really remember any changes to that compensation since I've been here it's it's been very static how that's how board of adjust planning commission
members are compensated >> so it's always been $10 >> as far as I can remember >> Roxan I think we're really dealing only with board of adjustment here planning commission doesn't do site visits >> they don't do site visits so it's only board of adjustment So >> what do other counties do?
>> So does does if you're not on planning commission, does every board of adjustment just get $10 or do they get the 70 70? >> Well, they get >> they get the 70 as well. >> It's just the and the site visits another $10 and their mileage. >> Well, what you could think about is just
raising the site visit visit >> dollar amount. Of course, if you raise a site visit dollar amount, pretty soon you're at that $100. >> Hey, Roxan, is that site visit dollar amount set forth in like an ordinance or
do you know where that lives? >> It's just set forth in what you're adopting right now for the pdiums. >> Okay. Okay. >> Well, because I think if you went to the $100 over four hours, you got to have the formula there that if they spend over four hours, then they're going to get 100 bucks, right?
>> Yep. So at that point in time, it's better to just raise >> raise the perite visit. >> Yeah. >> What [clears throat] do other counties do? >> I don't I'm sorry. I don't have information. So >> Roxan, >> I do have that information, but I wasn't
prepared to talk about it today. So I can get information to you, just not right this minute. >> Okay. >> Roxan, generally, how long do they stay on a site visit? Do you know? Have an idea? >> 20 minutes, maybe? >> I'm sorry, what was that? >> 20 minutes. >> 20 minutes.
Well, that's 40 bucks an hour. [laughter] Sorry. Yeah. You know. >> Yeah. But out of out of your day, you know. >> I know. It is out of your day. >> I'll use an example. When they came out for a site visit to my place, you know, the the creek was there, the waterway,
and so they looked at that. They looked at everything that goes with it while they were there, plus did a little homework prior, too in order to make a decision whether it was good or not. Mhm. >> So, >> so >> may I let me suggest how about just leaving the the 70 as the basic
perdemium for these boards of commissions and then >> ask Roxan to bring back to as a future agenda items and discussion about the site site visit fee. We could probably look at what some other counties are paying >> and hasn't been revisited for a very long time. >> Right. >> So, and I think you know I think we all
acknowledge board of adjusting is a very timeintensive commitment for folks. Mhm. >> Um it is it's a substantial commitment. So would that be okay to bring back a specific discussion about board of adjusted site visit compensation in the future? >> Sure.
>> And just leave the current the basic pdium at 70. >> I'm okay with that. >> So Mr. Chair, I'll move to set the 2026 PDM rate for boards and commissions as presented with a discussion coming back on the board of adjustment site visits.
I'll second them. >> Okay. Got a motion and a second. Any further discussion on that item? If not, I'll call a question. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you, >> Christine. No.
>> Sorry. >> Apologize, >> Mr. Chair. I I know we [laughter] >> I know uh uh over the last couple meetings we've been talking about the uh the national lobbyist with Lark and Hoffman and an additional cost to or
additional fee to the APO to cover that and we had talked about 23 24 grand. Uh Megan did get me that over here right before the meeting today. But I just want to w with everything going on with the governor's race and everything.
We're already losing Senator Smith this year. >> Potentially if uh Clobashar jumps in the race and and potentially she wins, we're losing another senator. I think we really need to hit this this uh county road one project hard. I think it's it's
lined up for us with the raise build grant. I think it's I I think this is our year to hit it and get it and and both state and federally. So, um I am going to push hard to to do the extra 23 24 to get get uh Lark and
Hoffman going on that. Face it, we've got a lot of problems in front of in in front of County Road One or in front of the high school on County Road One, >> that whole stretch. >> And the more we get from at some point, it's got to be dealt with no matter what. But if we can get the feds on on
board, which I do believe from our last trip out to DC, they are on board. I think through our bonding tours and everything like that through the the state area or the state side, I think I think they're on board. And pulling these together are going to take away a
lot of taxpayer um uh liability from our local area. So, >> well, and I think you could concur that without them out there, we'd probably be lost. Oh, absolutely. I mean, I think >> time I was out there, [clears throat] you'd spend all your time trying to figure out what you're doing.
>> Well, look what h look what it how it is going at the state level, you know, for us. >> Yeah. >> When you need an answer for this, Commissioner Gin, >> well, put it this way there. I I would like to have a consensus on it now and
we would just have to probably sign it at the next board meeting, but I I know it's 23 24 grand, but you look at what that project is from the three mile stretch. What is it? 20 Where's Chris left? 20 >> 23 million. >> 23 million
>> with inflation probably higher. >> So, Mr. Chair, Commissioner Pensy, just to clarify, this would be a through APO though. >> Yes. the APO or organized lobbyist group that would be shared within APO not just >> B we already pay into the APO which
covers the the APO portion of it. This would be an additional contract that the APO would manage but it would be directly for us on that on whatever we need. >> Okay. So, um, one of the one of the contributing factors to this is last
year when we applied for this raise build grant, >> there was about $490 million available for it >> and about a million or a billion dollars didn't meet those expectations of the of the raised build grant. This year,
they've got $1.5 billion in there. So, there's a there's a billion dollars in which we would more than likely be falling into. Not to mention um uh uh um Congressman Emmer has has lifted his his
uh he still only gets 15 projects, but he doesn't have a dollar amount to live by right now cuz he's the whip. The the fortunate thing with this project is he could show a ton of support for it through the raise build grant and it
wouldn't come out of the >> his his 15 projects. Um we have we have we have met with Clolobashar's office, Smith's office and um Emmer's office and all three are on board and would sign off on it and put pressure on the raise
build grant to to get this across the finish line >> and he would help push that being we did get 5 million correct 29 >> correct round. >> I think this is good money well spent. >> [snorts] >> Uh this is something you want to bring
back to the APO on Thursday then Commissioner Kapinsky >> preferably a consensus at least on where we're sitting. So um I can give an update there. I mean obviously the APO is just the facilitator of that this
extra money would be our whatever we need the to lobby for the feds like county one. >> Mr. Chair, Commissioner Kapensky, did is this a one-year [snorts] or is the APO negotiating like the counties did for a two-year package or
>> This is a one-year right now, but I foresee uh a I foresee other entities, uh other counties, um other cities getting involved as well, um with with additional funds. So, what we're trying
to do is we're trying to build a um we'll call it a a larger agreement, a central Minnesota agreement. So, right now the APO uses a lobbyist and we pay 48,000. Sterns County uses a lobbyist out there. They pay roughly 48,000. Um
you know, uh city of St. Cloud uses a lobbyist and they pay roughly 48,000. One of the things I brought to everybody after our last trip is why don't we pull our money, make it a much larger contract for one lobbyist and now
instead of everybody being little fish in the sea, we become one big one big um uh fish in their in in their pond and and they work a lot harder for central Minnesota. So, uh, that made a lot of sense to the lobbyists and it's making a
lot of sense to, um, the other other boards and councils, but it takes time to get through all the other boards. We have an immediate need right now. >> Yes. >> With County Road One, and we've got uh
uh I think the best uh um what we'll call it reason why we need this. Uh and it and we this will be our fourth year applying for it now. So I think this our striking point. We when
we were out there the last time we we actually made a lot of uh uh uh innuendos on, you know, how can you go up in one criteria back in the other? It's all subjective on this raise build grant. And um two years ago, I remember
when uh Commissioner Hina and myself were out there, I brought that up to Luke from Emmer's office and I said, "So this is in the eyes of the beholder." >> Mhm. >> And over the last year and a half, we've proved that with how we've come out and that's where I I think all the the the
two senators and Congressman uh Emmer are all on board on getting this pushed across the the the the finish line. Where would you like this money to come out of? >> That would be a Monty question.
>> Uh, I'll have to give that some thought at this point. You know, we've got the budget for APO, but that's just limited to the DC representation. >> Yep. >> We're paying the Lark and Hoffen state out of the board contingency and of course that start to go down unless it gets replenished.
>> Yeah. >> So, we need to talk about Yeah. So >> these these raise grants are due I believe in February. >> Correct. Yeah. >> We are people are already lobbying for this money. So we need we need to get
somebody to the table quickly in order for this to pay off. >> Positive thing is we received another grant for this. >> Yes. 5 million. Yeah. >> [snorts] [clears throat] >> Well, I think Commissioner Gapinsky is looking for a consensus if this is
something you're interested in doing. >> I think in the long run, it's going to save our general taxpayers a lot of money. >> You know where I stand. >> I know. >> Yeah. >> Well, the return on the investment so far has been crucial. I mean, we received $5 million,
>> especially with the last accident we had there a month ago. >> Yeah. Another fatality. >> Another fatality. >> Yep. Yep. >> Do we have consensus then? >> Yeah. I think it's the timing is if it wouldn't be for the timing, I think we'd probably have to take a second look at
it, but I think that the timing is right. And I don't think if you don't >> if you're not successful this year, it's probably not going to be successful. >> I I would have to agree with that. >> Yep. And the nice thing about this is Larkin handles our state with >> Grady >> and and Megan would be the the national.
So they'll be working hand in hand. >> If the APO still had their previous lobbyist, I would not be interested in that. But since they switched >> Yep. Yeah. And and the APO That's a good point, Commissioner Pop. Uh the APO did switch to Lark and Hoffman. [clears throat] >> Yeah. Yeah.
>> From their from their prior. >> Okay. All right. >> You got consensus. >> You good with it? >> I'm good. Okay. >> Okay. Christine, >> good morning. [clears throat] >> Morning. Good morning.
>> Before you, we have a deed for the conveyance of property that we sold um county owned property on back in November. And the deed has been drafted by the county attorney's office. So, we're just looking for a signature of the board
chair. This was for one of those little wedges. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> That was road right ofway for a time period during a road project. >> Move for approval. Mr. Chair. >> Thank you.
>> I'll second. Got a motion, a second. Any further discussion on this item? Not call the question. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. >> Thank you. One other item, the um redesating the depository banks. >> Oh, that's right.
>> Um just authorizing the auditor treasurer to use the following depositories. uh Francen Bank and Trust, Falcon National Bank, First National Bank of Malaca, US Bank, Wells Fargo, and the Magic Fund, as well as all banks
and financial institutions that our brokerage firms deposit into. >> And these are the same ones we used in the previous years. >> Yep. >> I'll move for approval, Mr. Chair. I'll second that. >> And Mr. Chair, just a little discussion. Um Christine, how much do we use the big
national banks like you bank? Not much. >> Very little. >> I've been dwindling it down. >> Yeah. >> So that we focus more on the local. >> Correct. [clears throat] >> And mostly France and Falcon and First National. >> Yeah. And Magic, too, because they have the highest rate uh interest rate right
now. >> Yep. Okay. Thank you. >> Great. Got a motion. Did Do we have a second? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Who second it? >> You did. Okay. Thank you. Got a motion, a second. Any further discussion? If not, I'll call the question. All in favor say I. >> I. I. opposed. Motion carries. Thank
you. >> Uh Sandy or I'm sorry, Brent. Good to see you again. >> Hi, Brent. >> Y good to see y'all. One second. I just got to open up our survey. Maybe I can just start a little bit
about about we started looking at this. So over the years, human services has had a number of customer satisfaction kind of surveys out by units. And a little over a year ago, um we began looking at what could we do as a whole department. That was an ongoing survey all of the time. Um so that's when
Britain and I started talking about this and looked at Crowing County that um I don't do any of the techie part. That's all him, but how to model after Crowing Counties and their customer satisfaction survey. And then we brought that to the whole um uh county. so that different
departments could also use a survey. But I'll let him talk about the techie part. >> Yeah. So, u like Sandy said, we got the idea from Crowing County and then uh of course I made some adjustments to uh how we're doing our survey and and how frequently it's being updated. I know
they did like quarterly stuff. Ours are all being pulled in daily. Um so everybody has those up-to-date surveys within 24 hours. So, uh, clients can, um, leave information in these surveys, and I'll go over here in just a second on what is all included in those surveys. Um, but the surveys are being
rolled out in, uh, QR codes and then also on email signatures. So, that's kind of our primary, uh, tactic to, um, allow people to fill out those surveys. Uh, so there's about four questions in there that have uh, they're based on like a a point scale from 0 to five.
Five being the highest, zero being the lowest. And I'll show you those in a just a second here as well too. And so, uh, the survey was designed so that it's pretty generic so that any departments that want to be involved on it can be. And as of right now, most departments have been. I'll show you that list here
in just a second. So, um, when you go and select uh, that survey link or follow that QR code, uh, brings you to this landing page, which is mobile friendly as well too. uh you can fill out, this is optional, your name or organization, whether you're a Benton
County staff, client or community partner. And so we can filter everything out that way. And then here are all the departments that have opted in for this survey. And then for the four questions that were graded on that zero to five scale,
uh it's asking if the service and information uh that they received was provided in a professional manner, if it was complete and accurate information, and if the staff was friendly and respectful and then also an overall experience um and if that was
satisfactory. Uh individuals do have the option to fill out comments as well too and contact information. maybe they want to be contacted uh regarding something that had happened. And um so that's the whole survey. I wanted to keep it nice and
short. Um the idea was to keep it under 10 questions. As you can see, we got it to 11, but uh I think that's the goal is to hopefully get as many of these surveys as possible to take in some of that feedback. Anybody have any questions, right?
>> And then just a quick summary of what human services surveys have been come back. Most of them have come back. um very positive. So it's on a five scale rating with five being the highest. Um so uh we've received 48 from the county from different county staff with a
rating approval rating of 4.7, 20 clients of approval rating of 4.8 and 21 partners of approval rate of 4.9. Now this has only been in action since last March. We do this a little differently than Crowing County does. In Crowing
County, they require every employee to get 20 surveys res responses back. That's part of their performance review. So, there's a lot of pressure on the employee to go out and try to get these responses back. We don't do that. We just expect that uh customers can
respond back as they choose and as they wish. And realizing that often we're going to get either the very positive or the very negative. Some people will respond, but if you're going to take the energy to respond, it could be either way. But so far mostly all very positive. >> Good.
>> Good. Great. >> Greatation. [clears throat] >> Great. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Next. >> Next. So um kind of in well indefinitely in response to news that's been all over the um TV. We heard about it there.
Apparently the state heard about it there as well as social media about the looking into fraud in child care settings. Um, as you know, we do have a fraud investigator employed by human through human services, but that fraud
investigator within human services looks at the kind of fraud that individuals do. So, if you're um defrauding the government through your application for medical assistance and saying you have no income, for example, and you do, this
type of fraud that's by providers is investigated by the state. So, this is not the kind of fraud that we investigate, but I thought you'd want to understand how our grant works and how the program and the money flows. So, I've asked Nina Wegman and Janelle
Shamuski to come up and explain how that works in Benton County in particular. >> Good morning, commissioners. >> Morning. >> Um, let's see. She already did some of my stuff here. Um, I'm just going to go through like the general information
like statistics a little bit and then I'll have Nina Wgman jump in and um do some more eligibility stuff that we look at and then if you have any questions after that be great. Um, let's see. We
hadund right now we have 140 184 family >> on childare assistance. of that 1845 that are also on input cash assistance with it. And then we do trainings once at least
once a year and then um usually coverings and any type of updates that come through are covered with the individual units. So we touch on quite a bit and
prettyated in that particular area. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Morning. >> I'm going to go over a little bit how the child care program works um with counties. So, there's a lot of factors that come into play when somebody applies for childare assistance. They
complete the application. There are mandatory verifications they have to provide. We do have to verify the household income to determine oh to determine eligibility there to determine eligibility. Um we also have
to verify the relationship from the parent or the adult applying for child care to that child that they're requesting child care assistance for. Um we also have to verify what type of activity they're doing to qualify for the childare assistance program. Um,
there are what we call minimum activity requirements. So, they have to be working a minimum of 20 hours per week. They could also request child care to do job searching that is limited to 20 hours per week or 240 hours per calendar
year per person. Um, they could request it for education, whether it's finishing high school for the younger kids or post-secary education. they have to meet our post-secary education plan requirements in order for education to
be approved or if they are on the MIP cash program they usually are working with our employment services provider and then they develop what we call an employment plan and they could have a range of activities in that employment plan and based on that employment plan is what their child care would be
authorized under. Um the way we authorize child care hours is by those minimum activity requirements. They are required to provide work schedules to verify their hours of employment. Um we also have to verify the school schedule
of any children attending school of any kind. And then we also look at the provider's hours of operation. So, we take all those into consideration based on a parent's employment um schedule, child's school hours and schedule, and
the provider's hours of operation. That's how we determine how many hours per child uh per week or bi-weekly that we'll authorize for the child care assistance for that household. Um multiple kids in a family could be authorized for different amount of hours
depending on if they're in school or not in school. um maybe they only need care after school, maybe a younger one needs full-time care for a parent to work full-time. So, the hours can really vary based on case and based on the child uh
in the household. Um the provider side of it. Um that's kind of what's been in the news is more of the provider fraud and the licensing of the family home providers is down done at the county level. So, we do have a daycare licenser
that goes out to the homes and does all the checks and balances to license that family provider. Um, all the child care centers, those are licensed by the state. So, we don't really have any control over them being licensed um or all the checks and balances with that
licensing. And then there's also what we call a legal non-licensed provider. Um, that's usually somebody who is maybe a family or friend or just somebody in the community that is not licensed as a
family provider, but maybe they're watching their neighbors kids or a family member's kids. Um, and they have to also go through certain criteria and training and um, like CPR, stuff like that, safety
courses in order to become what we call a legal non-licensed provider. um the state took Do you have a question? >> How do you track that? >> So, prior to um this last year, as of April 28th, uh 2025, the state took over
all the registration when it comes to the providers. Um but prior to that, the county did the registering of the providers. And then the legal non-licensed, we actually have a policy we have to follow based on the relationship of the child they're
watching and the age of the child. There are certain training requirements they had uh to complete and they also have to do a background check uh and pass that background check in order to become a legal non-licensed provider for the child care program. So we at the county were the ones keeping an eye on the
training, making sure they had all the required training and you know checks and balances in order to authorize them as a legal unlicensed and then as of April of last year um the state has taken over all the registration for all
types of providers. So, the state now is the one that if we get a call and somebody's interested in becoming registered um for payment under the child care assistance program as a provider or as um becoming an eligible
legal non-licensed, we contact the state with their information and then the state does following up with them to get all the required training, background checks, um and then register them for payment under our program. Um, and that's [clears throat] all providers
now. So, it would be the centers, the family ones, and then authorizing the legal non-licens. So, if a provider is not registered with the state now, um, then they're not eligible for payment or if they don't meet all the requirements, they're not going to be eligible for
payment under the child care assistance program. So, >> Mr. Chair, so if two questions, how much fraud are we seeing in applications? um application fraud. I don't feel we see a lot um I feel a lot of times
because of those minimum uh requirements to be eligible for child care assistance. Um if they don't meet them or they don't provide the mandatory verifications we need, their application's going to get denied. um if we question, oh, if they have more
income than what they're reporting or if they are reporting one job and we're like, well, maybe you have a second job, we will refer those households to our fraud investigator and they will go out and do an investigation and provide us with more information. >> And when you refer to requirements, are
you talking county requirements or state requirements or combination of? >> So, majority, it's going to be state requirements for the eligibility determination. It's going to be what the state has put in place. >> They're following those particular. >> Yep. It's going to be the same requirements. Um the only thing that comes down to county requirement is our
post-secary education. Every county can have a different um criteria in their post-secary education plan on what they're going to authorize for um the child care program to cover somebody attending post-secary school. >> Okay. Thank you.
questions. Thank you for bringing up all this information. We've been hearing a lot about it out in the public, too. So, >> you're welcome. Thank you. >> Just we're looking for a little more clarification at the county level. And I'll just note the most recent thing we've received from the state was a
press release which is out there already to the public but state yesterday's press release indicated that beginning immediately on-site checks will be conducted by DCYF office of inspector general and with assistance from agents from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal
Apprehension. So they are starting now to do that on-site investigations. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you for that update. appreciate that. >> Thank you. >> Okay, let's move on. Roxan, Land Service,
the DNR. >> Good [clears throat] morning, commissioners. Mr. >> Good morning. >> I'm going to pull up the [clears throat] some materials here. Okay, excuse me. So, the DNR has started their
uh preliminary map corrections and we received notice uh in December of these preliminary corrections to the map. And I've got the map up here on the screen. And um so what they're proposing is
actually four corrections. In the letter that they sent out, they said 10 corrections. I did reach out to them. They that was an error. Four corrections are all that's being proposed in Benton County. And so they are proposing to remove three public waters wetland
basins totaling um around 24 acres of land. And those are in Langola, Alberta, and Minden Townships. They're designated by the red circles. Those are the wetland basins that are proposed to be removed. And then they are proposing an
addition of roughly a quarter or excuse me, close to a half mile segment. And that is in Graham Township. It's kind of by the Rice Sportsman's uh property there along uh uh Highway 25. Um so that
is their only proposed addition of public waters and it would be a segment of of uh public waterway not a water bas not a wetland basin or anything like that. Um the public comment period started December 27th and it's open
until February 25th I believe. Um we've got I've got the timeline up here just to kind of give you an idea of what that looks like. Um, so we're at the process here where the county public meeting will be held on January 26th over at the
Foley High School and that's at 6:00 p.m. The public comment period ends February 25th. And so they're just looking to make corrections from errors that occurred back in the 70s and 80s.
Um, I I think this actually is less intense than I was anticipating. Um I did look at some of the other counties that are going um so currently Aken Benton, Blue Earth, and Clay County are under public comment and then under
preliminary review are Brown, Chicago, Crowing, and Douglas. Um and they they're seeing a lot more corrections than Benton County. Any questions for me? Um there is a specific process that must be followed. They have an online form for submitting
comments if there's comments um that we would want to uh put forth. Otherwise, the public hearing is on January 26. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I don't I don't think there's I was totally surprised that it was that little. >> Yeah.
>> But actually the the one that was deleted was very close to me. So, >> okay. >> It's like Yeah. I mean, >> Mike, you got a question? I'll let you speak. Can you list a section and parcel? >> Oh, you can get that from Roxan. Yeah,
she can list that for you. >> I can. Yeah, I can provide you with that. Um, you're looking at the one that's added or the one that's deleted or all of them? >> All of them. >> All three of them. Yeah. >> Yep. >> Or four of them. >> I can just if you want to come to my office right after this, we can touch base.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Any other anything else for Roxan? Oh, >> thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Huh? >> Chris. [clears throat]
>> Well, good morning, commissioners. >> Good morning. >> Morning. >> Um, the item I have for you today, um, is the sales tax item. Uh as you recall last month in uh December on December 16th we had a public hearing to consider
reauthorization of our sales tax resolution. Uh once again this is the sales tax for transportation projects that we already have in Benton County. It is 1/ half of a percent and it must go to specific transportation projects.
So we're not imposing any additional tax. We're just basically wanting to use it for more things than what we originally established. At the public hearing we had last month, there was a couple changes that were requested. One of them, um, as we see on this map, uh,
was this road right here. It, uh, County Road 82. It was originally proposed that we would just, uh, do the project from County Road 84 up to State Highway 25. and uh the changes being made to continue that whole stretch from County
Road 13 up to uh State Highway 25. The other projects were listed uh was County Road 65. Originally, it was shown to stop at 22 and it was recommended after the public hearing to extend that all the way to the the Morrison County line.
Uh the other projects being added to the sales tax list as discussed was Mayhew Lake Road from State Highway 23 up to Casat 29 and the reconstruction of County Road 25 between State Highway 95
and 23. Um the other one, the last one was uh I shouldn't say the last one, reconstruction of CASAN 9 from State Highway 95 to Casaw 4. And then this gravel road, this one mile stretch of
gravel road of 72 between 22 and the Morrison County line. So all those projects now appear on the list of projects eligible to receive the sales tax uh proceeds.
>> Mr. Chair, Chris, if I could, I was reading through this a couple times and I'm I'm trying to make sure I understand it. Item 11 and 21 to me do not make sense and I want to make sure that we have them listed correctly. >> You're right. So item 11 um is a project
that was already on the first authorization that we did and this is county road 84 in Oh, I shouldn't have closed it in Gilman. >> Yep. >> So that's the east west road basically reconstructing Gilman up to 82. So then
item 21 should say oh that should say county road 82. >> Mhm. >> County road 82 from 13 to 25. So that is that is a typo in the resolution. >> So 11's correct and 21 needs to be corrected. >> Yes. >> Okay.
>> I don't think I can do that here. But >> so 11 again though county road 84. So from Gilman to County Road 82 and then north to trunk highway 25 is how you're describing it. >> No, go from starting from the west to
the east. So item 11 or project number 11 would be county road 84 starting at 82 east to Highway 25. The map doesn't show it going all the way to State Highway 25. So it's going from west to east. >> Okay. Thank you. >> That's the clarification. Yeah. So, so
[snorts] it is kind of confusing because they're very similar numbers ending at similar roads 20 state highway 25, but the intention would be 84 from county road 82 which is a gravel road today. >> Yeah. >> Uh extending that all the way to state
highway 25 past the Gilman go up. Yeah. >> So, and then 82, the intention is that should list county road 82 paving the gravel road between Casaw 13 north to Highway 25. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> So, I guess a couple options. We can have the resolution amended and bring it back or uh have the motion say um adopt it with the change to 21 to say county road 82. >> Mr. Chair, I'll move in the motion to adopt the local option sales tax list as
presented with the correction made to item 21 to State County Road 82. >> Now second. >> Got a motion and a second. Any further discussion on this? >> And Mr. Chair, I think we had public input was well done at that time.
>> Yeah. >> And and just one item I think maybe was missed. We did talk about 40 up northeast. Just to highlight that too. As long as you're talking on the map. >> Oh, that's right. That was discussed uh extensively at the last uh public hearing. I did not call it out today,
but you're correct. That is on the the list and on the the map ear. So, that would be project number [clears throat] 18. >> Right. Okay. >> Okay. Oh, I'm sorry. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Now, to call a question. All in favor say I. I.
>> I. Oppose. Motion carries. Thank you. >> Let's move on now. the Patent County Community Health Board. Know that all members are present. Uh, select a community health board chair for 20126.
>> Mr. Chair, I'll nominate Commissioner Heine. I'll second. [clears throat and cough] >> Got a motion, a second. Any further discussion? If not, I'll call the question. All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Post. Motion carries. Now we'll select a vice chair. I nominate Commissioner
Benoy. Second, >> vice chair. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> I got a motion and a second. Any further discussion? If not, I'll call the question. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I oppose. Motion carries. Uh, consent
agenda item number one. What would you like to do with that? >> Approve. >> Did we schedule the meetings? Oh, >> I'm sorry. What? >> You reset the schedule of regular meetings. >> Approve the agenda. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Long out. >> Yeah, we need to back up. I'm going to approve the agenda first. >> Yeah, thank you, sir. Yeah.
>> Um, I stepped ahead. I apologize. Motion to approve or amend the agenda. Anything to add, Jack? >> Uh, two items to add this morning. One would be a health partners resolution to accept a microrant fund and the second would be a Lamar advertising campaign.
>> Move for approval of the amended agenda. Mr. Chair, >> I'll second. Okay, we got a motion and a second. >> Thank you. >> Anything [clears throat] else? If not, we'll call the question. All in favor say I. >> I.
>> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. Schedule the regular meetings of the community health board. >> Mr. Chair, I move that we schedule them to mirror the county board schedule. I'll second. >> Okay. Got a motion, a second on that. Any further discussion? If not, I'll
call the question. All in favor say I. >> I. I oppose. Motion carries. Now we'll go to the consent item number one. >> What would you like to do with that? >> Move approval. >> Now second. Okay. Got a motion in a
second. Any further discussion? If not, I'll call a question. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Jacqueline consider contract agreement RNC consulting. >> Yes. Well, good morning commissioners and commissioners. Um so as you may
recall this is a contract I introduced at our last committee of the whole meeting um as it pertains to our central Minnesota alliance. Uh basically our public health department's looking to engage with a contract with RNC consulting to really support our CHO chip process our community health improvement plan and community health
assessment process. It will include activities outlined in the agreement, but a lot of focus will be put on our data infrastructure and data capacity um and especially around technical assistance around our foundational public health responsibilities. Essentially 100% of the cost will be covered through our state innovations
funding contract. Um that if you recall that contract was is a $800,000 uh I'm sorry uh yes $800,000 contract uh with the state of Minnesota. Benton County applied for it on behalf of the Central Minnesota Alliance. Um really throughout this last year, Central Minnesota
Alliance has been working on a joint collaboration agreement. However, in the meantime, we're not prepared with that agreement yet. It still needs to go through all the the three county boards and we have a lot of logistical items to that need to take place. So, we want to maximize our grant funds while we have them and would like to contract the
services out in the meantime. So, that is the contract before you today. Um I would just be looking for board approval for us to get moving with this contract. >> Questions board? Mr. Chair Jaclyn, just to clarify, no levy, direct levy impact. >> No, these this this contract will be
100% out of our state innovations funds. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Any other questions? >> And I'll add MDH has already approved the use of funds as well. So, >> I'll make a motion to
>> No second. >> Okay, we got a motion and a second to approve the approve the contract. Any further discussions? If not, I'll call the question. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Consider the Ser family found Foundation site
agreement. >> Yeah. So, this also goes back in time a little bit. Um, our community health board, we had had some discussion around um submitting our hat in the ring for a family resource center model um a potential data assessment. So, Benton County Public Health after that approval
submitted a grant application to the Sour Family Foundation. We were selected. Um, if you recall, Brenda Mahoney had come and talked with the board a little bit about what that model would look like. Um, so we were approved and and elected um and awarded a $50,500 grant for us to be able to do a 9-month
data assessment. So, we'll be beginning to um conduct that assessment following board approval and contract signatures. So, um that's what's before you today. Commissioner Johnson, [laughter] >> you're probably going to get tired of me asking, but no levy impact. And this is
an actual family foundation grant. >> These are incoming. Yes. Incoming grant dollars. Yep. Yep. 50,500. And we probably overestimated, you know, we we looked and consulted a little bit with some of the other counties on how much funding did they need in order to complete their assessments and really
based our numbers off of that. So that 50,500 is our best estimate of what it would cost for us to complete that assessment. So, >> yep. >> Board. Any other questions? >> Move for approval, Mr. Chair. >> Second. We got a motion and a second.
Any further discussion? Now to call the question. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. Dental coordinator updates. >> Yes. So, I have Tessa here with us today who will provide an update around um the work that she's been doing as our regional dental coordinator, our
community health specialist with Benton County. I'm going to pull up her presentation here and then um I will pass out copies for you as well. And then following Tessa's presentation, I'll give a funding update on where Dental is at as well.
Share. All right. Good morning, commissioners. >> Good morning. >> Um, as Jacqueline mentioned, my name is Tessa. I am the region 7W dental coordinator. Um, and I'm just going to give a short update on what we've been doing pertaining to dental.
So, first I just wanted to highlight some projects and outcomes from 2025. Um so we provided oral health education at 10 outreach events throughout the region. Um some in Benton County, some in Sherburn, some in Wright, and some in
Sterns. Um throughout these outreach events, we provided about 550 toothbrush kits to the community. Um all of these supplies were donated to public health from the health plans um or the Minnesota Department of Health. Um so none of them were purchased by us. they
were given to us and we distributed them out. Um, at these events we also provided fluoride varnish for any families that were interested. Um, and then we also helped individuals get connected to care. So whether that was at the outreach events when they
interacted with us or whether it was them calling us and us connecting them to care from there. Um and then also I compiled healthc care access data to highlight the gaps and um the services that are needed in our community. That's one of the packets that was passed out
to you. Um you may have seen it in the past. We just added some updates to it and recently shared it with the Foley City Council. So wanted to share it with you as well. Um next I just wanted to highlight some um opportunities I had in 2025
um with partnerships and just some presentations. So first is that I worked with the other regional dental coordinators and was able to present on local data at the Minnesota Oral Health Coalition conference um that was in the cities.
And then also at a dine and dialogue event in at the St. cloud library. I was able to present some local dental health data um to the community and then also hear from the community at that event um what their um like
what services they were looking for and like the struggles they faced finding dental care or the like the access problems they were facing. Um and then also just want to highlight that I meet with the other regional dental coordinators bi-weekly. Um and
then once a month this group um of dental coordinators also meets with other key partners um such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Children's Dental Services, the Minnesota Department of Health, and then others that kind of trickle in here or there. Um and then when I stepped
into this role in April, there was already a Sterns Benton dental work group happening. um and I kind of took that over and then invited um Wright County and Sherburn County to join as well. Um so then we renamed it the regional dental work group and this
really just serves um as a way for the four counties to like stay connected on what we're doing pertaining to dental, what we're seeing is needed. Um Central Care is also invited to that meeting and they are also working on some dental initiatives. So, it's kind of just a way for all of us to stay connected um and
not duplicate um services where it's not needed. And then I just wanted to highlight some things that are already planned for 2026. Um so, first, February is National Children Children's Oral Health Month.
Um so, during this month, I have reached out to some schools and I will be going to some schools to provide oral health education. um mainly to first grade as first grade is when children usually start brushing their teeth by themselves. Um and then there is a
program through Delta Dental that schools have signed up for called the smiles at school program and Delta Dental um then donates toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, water bottles to these first grade classes. So the schools sign up for it and then all that
supplies gets shipped directly to the schools. And then when I'm giving education to the schools, the schools will pass out these supplies to the first graders. So that way they can go home and create these healthy oral health habits. Um and then also I will
be providing fluoride varnish at conference nights, so after school for any families that are interested. It's obviously not mandated. It's optional. Um so just offering that service for families and then also helping connect them to care if they have questions um on how to find care. I'm also there to
help navigate that. And then you'll hear about this a little bit later. Um but we were awarded the health partners micro grant. So at the last um board meeting we asked for um permission to apply. We applied and then
we were awarded it. So we will bring it to you guys to accept this funding. Um and if given approval to accept, we will use the funding um to bring mobile clinics to Benton County to help increase access to dental care. And then finally, there is an online
dental referral form that is live already. Um and it's on the Benton County Public Health website. Um and it is for individuals to fill out on behalf of themselves or someone they might know that's looking for dental care and needs help finding dental care. So, when they
fill out the form and submit it, I get a copy of it and I'm able to reach out to that individual needing care to help them get connected um and find these dental services that they need. And then finally, I just wanted to highlight um the dental coordinators
reach throughout Minnesota. So, this data is from Blue Cross Blue Shield. So, there are six dental coordinators throughout Minnesota in total. Um, and this just kind of highlights the work that we have done altogether. So, this
is from January 2025 to September 2025. So, about 3/4 of a year. Um, and you'll see that about 21,700 people were interacted with. Now, this is a rough estimate, just our best guess. Um, and then you will see that 421 people were
assisted by dental coordinators. Um, and that's just people who needed help finding care. Um, and then the other thing I wanted to point out is that about 27% of dental providers that were called um are taking new patients. That is all I have. If you have
questions for me right now, happy to answer them. Otherwise, my email and phone number are on here. You can always reach out at any time. >> Any questions? >> Mr. Chair, just quick comment. I just want to thank Tessa and Mariah again for attending our uh redevelopment uh discussion we had with the city of Foley. I think that was helpful to have
you there and put out the options that we're potentially looking at. So, thank you. >> Yeah. Thanks for having us. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. And then, um, I just wanted to give an update on the funding from BlueC Cross Blue Shield. So, as um, the end of the year closed out, Bluec Cross
Blue Shield has not yet secured additional funding for the calendar year of 2026. However, um in anticipation of that, I have looked at other alternate funding sources and have approval from the state of Minnesota to authorize some additional funding that we have from grants for public health to sustain
Tessa's position. So, um MDH is also working on a sustainability plan for these regional dental coordinators because they have shown such an impact across the state on addressing the systems change and the need for access to dental services. Um, so the MDH is currently working on a contract with
each of the counties who host a regional dental coordinator. Um, in the meantime, they'll be sending over $15,000 to help help sustain. Um, we have our workforce in infrastructure funding that we can utilize for Tessa, which MDH has already approved us to sustain for dental work.
Um, as well as remaining Bluec Cross Blue Shield funds because Tessa did not start until the second quarter. So, we still have around 26,000 of those funds remaining out of the 75,000 that we started with. So, I think we're looking okay for the full calendar year of 2026 and utilizing the grants that we have, but wanted to give you that update as
well. So, >> great. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Health Partners micro grant. >> Yeah. So, as Tessa mentioned, this was an add-on. So, when I when I started this morning, we received the check from Health Partners. So in your um handout is the resolution to simply just accept
the micro grant award because it is just a small award amount. There is no contract. It's just a check that we received. So this resolution would allow us to cash the check and for Tessa to coordinate those dental mobile visits. >> Check. >> Yeah. Move approval. >> Second.
>> We got a motion and a second. Any further discussion on this? If not, I'll call the question. All in favor say I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Laamir of St. Cloud contract. >> Yes. So, also hot off the the press this morning, um the Lamar contract for St.
Cloud. In the past, we had run an advertising campaign. We'd like to rerun a campaign using our CO dollars that we have through March. Um this campaign would start on January 20th and would run through I think it's March 29th or end of March utilizing for a COVID um
grant that we have already received prior authorization from Minnesota Department of Health to use those grant dollars. So just looking for approval of this contract with Lamar so that we can have this effective on the 20th of January. >> Commissioner Johnson.
>> Any questions? >> Got a motion. >> Second. >> Got a motion and a second. Any further discussion? If not, I'll call the question. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Thank you, >> Jacqueline. Anything [clears throat] else? Um, I don't have any other agenda
items. I I could make a comment. You'll see come out in your email shortly a year and review publication from the public health department that one of our community health specialists has worked on. Um, Emma Hansen. Um, I hope that each of the community health board members will um find that helpful. And if as you read through the year and
review, it is on the longer side. It's a an overview of the work that happened in the public health department over the last year. Um, but as you read through that, if you find any topics that are interesting to you or that you'd like to learn more about, [clears throat] um, if you want to reach out, let me know and I'll have that person join me at a future board meeting to give updates. So, >> great.
>> Looking forward for that to come out. Yeah, I'm really proud of all the work that they accomplished in 2025. So, happy to share that. >> Thank you. >> With that, we'll adjourn the uh, Benton County Comm Yeah. We'll adjourn the Benton County Community Health Board at
10:39. Turn it back over to the board chair and we're going to go on ditch authority. Uh note that all the members are present and so se we'll call to order the Benton County ditch authority. We'll select a ditch authority chair for
2026. Motion Commissioner >> Commissioner Johnson. >> I'll second. >> We got a motion and a second for Commissioner Johnson [clears throat] to be chair. [laughter] >> Any further discussion? If not, I'll call the question. All in favor say I. I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. I'll turn it over.
>> Yeah, sure. Try there. Yeah. Must have closed it out. >> Yeah, you're good. >> You're good. >> You're good. You're good. >> Okay. >> Okay. [laughter] >> Shut that thing up. >> Shut that thing up. [laughter] >> What's going on here?
Let's just close it out. >> Close it out. >> Yeah. Well, usually when you get an echo, that means that someone may have it enabled, you know. Oh, it's on twice. That's why they opened it again. It's on twice. We're fine. Okay. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um,
move on to selecting a ditch authority vice chair for 2026. I'll nominate Commissioner Pop. >> Second. >> Okay, we have a nomination for Commissioner Pop for vice chair for 2026 potential authority. Any other nominations? A motion in the second. All those in
favor? >> I >> opposed. It's carried. Congratulations. Commissioner Pop. All right. Move on to approve our amendments to our agenda. And before we do that, if I could get some consensus from the ditch authority, if we could have an ongoing open forum uh opportunity on our ditch authority. I
see I know Mike's here and like to speak and so we don't have to add it to our agendas. Just have a standing open forum. >> Sure. Okay. Yeah, you bet. >> That' be great. All right. So, we move to approve or amend the agenda. Is there any additions? Uh Chris isn't here. I don't believe there was anything. He didn't bring anything up to me.
>> Is there a motion to approve? >> Second. >> Motion a second to approve our agenda as presented. [clears throat] All those in favor? >> I opposed. It's carried. Um we need to schedule our regular meetings of the ditch authority for 2026. Mr. Chair, again, this mirrors county
board and there's one item that we should note. I know this is from a recommendation in the past, is to have an annual meeting to consider maintenance assessments in August. So, that would designate your second mean in August for the purpose of the annual um
maintenance assessments. Now, you may recall last year you also had a special public meeting over at the Foley Schools >> and that could certainly be scheduled later if you wish to have a similar meeting again this year. Uh, I guess that's something to think about. You want to have a similar meeting.
>> Can you add that to our session? >> Of course. And we'll get that >> a date that comes up and get it set. Be okay. >> So, we need a motion to approve the calendar for the regular meetings of the ditch authority for 2026. >> So moved. >> Second. And again, that motion includes
miring the county board. >> County board. Yep. >> Okay. >> Any other discussion on that? Hearing none. All those in favor? >> I oppose. It's carried. Consent agenda. Approve or amend the digital authority minutes from December 16th. >> Second. >> Motion a second to approve those
minutes. Is there any further discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor? I >> opposed. That's carried into an open forum. Mr. Depa, did you have something you want to talk about? Good morning everybody. Morning. >> I'd like to talk to you about ditch
number seven. I'm really not surprised on the letter from Adam Richie. I'd like to know who Adam Richie is. >> He's our ditch inspector. >> Okay. Where is he from? >> Highway Department. >> Okay. Here in Benton County. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. He uh states, "I'm writing to
provide this information that you requested on 118. I've added the envelope request that had during the 11825 meeting. In the following pages, we'll see a map dispicting our best idea." Best idea
was written in the letter of why the viewers considered a partial benefit from ditch number seven. Well, I disagree with ditch number seven. I paid I pay for ditch I'm assessed on ditch number seven as Mr. Pop would know that
one of the neighbors took there and change the flow of water that runs south. Put it back onto my property. I paid over $30,000 to uh put tile in and drain that
property. I've uh got other I have another two ditches on different parcels of land that I have authority to clean and maintain. Okay, they all have a buffer zone.
Everybody knows what a buffer zone is. It's for the runoff of the water. Okay, I did those buffer zones on those other sections. As you look on the map that he sent out, he circled the two parcels
and it shows that on their partial that he used the view. That's the way they view it as there's no runoff with a buffer. The reason that you have the buffer is is it's a grass. It holds the water.
Prior to prior to getting assessed on that ditch, I had a neighbor had their property in the fish and wildlife. So when they had the property on the fish and wildlife, they were getting
paid through the ASC office to maintain the water so it wouldn't flow. So, that neighbor is getting paid, but the water's backed up in my property. Okay. I also had a neighbor
change the flow of water on the property into my property, which I tiled into a buffer zone. And now in 20 22, they show that that ditch has been
changed. Yeah. Yeah, that ditch was changed so the water would flow. I paid for that. The neighbor paid for that so the water could run out to Highway 25. It goes over to Highway 25 across to
Barb Gapinsk's property over there. I'm assessed for all that. I paid over $30,000 to have the tile done on another section of property. I pay to have my water stop
from the other neighbors programs, not from their program, but from their land. And I put a buffer zone in. That was all approved through ASC office. I don't believe I should be assessed
on that property on that ditch number seven. They can say that my water flows into ditch number seven, but I had to spend a lot of money of my time to fix my property. And now after
the 22, they included this line on which would be the trap's property which that ditch was maintained and a permit was gotten to clean that out. So now you add on that
and he gets assessed on that property. And we did all the maintenance by ourselves, paid out of the pocket. And now you're asking me to pay more money on the neighbors that are on the other side of Highway 25 South, which the
ditch goes through, and the ditch doesn't go through on my property. And I had to maintain everything to get my property back to where it was. I want to be removed from ditch number seven. And the ones that can take care of the
ditch number seven is the commissioners. And they can go take a land survey from up above. They can take a drone and say this is the way it is. Go check. There's a buffer zone. There's grass all around
that. And I don't think it's right that I have to pay again and again and again. and I would like to have some resolution to it and I want it to come to an end. Um I know that the you could talk for
only five minutes but what's right is right, wrong is wrong. I'm being wrong twice. I'm being wrong twice and I shouldn't be assessed for ditch number seven. I want to be removed from ditch number seven. I have what do you call
it? the papers here that are signed off by Headley and Mr. Heinen that we had a meeting in 2022 at the high school in at the high school. [clears throat] >> Yeah, Henry's. >> Where was Henry's?
>> Okay. At Henry's Catering. >> I talked to the person that was doing the assessment there. He was going to get back to me. I believe he was from Cambridge. I I could be wrong. >> [snorts] >> He was one of the spokespeople there and
it was a heated meeting. I did not talk. Okay. I just thought he would come out and we would have a conversation to agree to disagree or whatever it is. That never happened. >> So So Mike, if I could I'd love I want to help you with this. Um I think
there's two options we can look at to start with. Number one, would you be interested if I could contact H2 overviewers and have them contact you directly to describe how they came up with what they came up with? >> That's number one, >> right? And it and it's written in the H2
thing is written in here. >> But but I want I'd like him to have a conversation with you, not just the paperwork about how they got to that point. Correct. >> I can't promise. We have no way of forcing them at this point because we're four years out. But I think we've got a good enough relationship with him that I
think he would call you and have the conversation. [clears throat] So, number one. Number two, if you want to be removed from CD7, there's a process for that. You can you can petition to be removed. >> We can't just remove you. So, because that would potentially affect everybody else that's on that
system. So, by statute, we'd have to go through that process. You can you can petition to be removed. Those are the two things that I can offer you and I'm happy to help with those. >> Okay. I I I appreciate it and I thank you for your information and
>> so let me Mike if I can let me call Brian Murphy at H2O reviewers and see if he's willing to contact you. Could you please leave me or does somebody have your contact your phone number? >> I don't give out myself but uh my home landline is 3872780.
>> 2780. So, give me an opportunity to reach out to H2O reviewers and see if they're willing to call you and then they could call you at this number. >> That's correct. They can leave a message and I'll get back to them. >> And then you might have to get back to them to set up a time that they could actually for sure call and talk to you
>> so that they have the information in front of them. It sounds like you have your redetermination of benefits packet in front of you that they gave you, >> correct? >> Okay. So, that's good that you have that. So, then they can talk directly to you about how they got to that point. If you determine at that point that you're
in disagreement, >> you'd have to move on to a petition to remove. >> I thank you for your time, >> Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair. >> Yes, >> Commissioner Pop. Go ahead. So, on the first project that he mentioned, I was out there when they when he did that
when the water was diverted >> to the north and then I mean without knowing that there's tile in there or H2 overviewers, I could see where they assume that it was going to that ditch. Sure. I guess for my own clarification, when I hear you talk about cleaning or
doing this tiling stuff, this is on private ditches. >> Negative. >> Yeah. >> It's on CD7. >> It's on It's on It's on my property that I did the tile. >> It's your private ditch. >> No, but the the second part are my
private ditches now. But I have to get approval through the county because it goes out to the county ditch. Okay. So, but does your first approval deal with soil and water conservation or ASCS to get the permit to clear?
>> No, I got the permit to do the tiling. I had I had I had the company that did the tiling. I had them go into the ASC office. So, everything was on the up and up. I didn't go in and get the permits. They went in and got the permits. >> But the county was involved because you
were bringing the water to the county road ditch or the county drainage ditch. neither on that. It the the water that got drained from the neighbors onto my property, I tiled and put it on my
property at the lowest level so I could continue to farm that land. Otherwise, I couldn't farm that land because they changed the flow of the water that goes south east. They brought it back to the north on my
property. Okay. >> From their property. It's and um I the Army Corps of Engineer was also contacted with that at that time.
>> The ASC person office there. They did nothing. >> They know they unless let Ed explain it to >> unless you were out there and visibly seeing what happened. You can't believe that, you know, soil and water and some of the army corps would let that happen, but they did.
>> But but you since you were out there, it was a that was a private ditch. >> It was Well, he built the ditch. >> Who did? >> Um, the neighbor landown. And then he was stuck because nobody would do anything with the water. There was a correct me if I'm wrong. There was like
a brim or something there. Correct. But it constantly seeped through there into what I considered a very nice field of of agricult. Okay. >> So he tiled it at $30,000 to get rid of that water and nobody really helped him. >> So nobody stepped in when the neighbor
built a private ditch without a permit. >> I don't know about the permitting part. >> He didn't have a permit and Mr. Water, rest his soul, is not here anymore. >> He dug the ditch. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Okay. And it was done at night.
>> Would it [laughter] would it behoove us about that another set of eyes out there? Would it behoove us to get another set of eyes out there? I would have no problem going out with with you if you want. I know you guys are >> if you just if you just It's hard to explain from Mike's standpoint, unless
you're out there standing in the corner of that property to see what happened. >> Sure. I mean, >> so I assume it wouldn't make sense to go view that right now, right? >> You can. Yeah, it has to be reviewed. I mean, I'm just >> talking about timing wise. >> Sure. You can do it any time. I'm
willing to work with >> Will we see what we need to see is what I'm questioning. >> I would say when there's no snow would be better, Mike. >> Whatever you decide. >> Okay. [laughter] >> And I think the viewers should be out there, too, because that could >> I mean, yeah, >> it is four years, but
>> let's start with the viewers reaching out to you and having a conversation about the redetermination of benefits and see how they got it. then let's go from there. Is that okay? >> Thank you for your time. Yeah, >> give me a mic. Have him call you and I'll reach out to Brian.
>> Yeah, Jared's got my cell phone number, so it's all good. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you for your time. >> Yep. Members, anything else for dig authority? >> Okay, we're adjourned at 10:55. Turn it back to board chair. >> Okay, Commissioner, let's [clears throat] do
commissioner concerns first. Any concerns you want to bring up? >> Nope. >> Okay. Meeting updates. >> I'll start. End of the year. There was really not a lot going on. >> No. [laughter] >> So, I had a handful of them. I'll go through them very quickly. Uh December 16th, city of Foley, uh Commissioner
Bonite, myself, Monty, met with the redevelopment group, had a very constructive meeting, I think, with the city. It lasted about two hours. Uh so there'll be more information coming on that. Uh the next day uh attended the building committee meeting on site at the job trailer at at the government
center site. Uh a fully chamber dinner was that evening. Uh the next day Tri County solid waste meeting uh over in White Park and a Betton Economic Partnership dinner that evening. >> On the 19th was the ODM clinic ribbon cutting here in Foley. And uh again on
the 31st we had I had attended virtually a building committee meeting which was short and sweet uh for an update on the site. So that's all I had. >> I didn't have much of anything other than the meeting, Scott. Um and the [clears throat] year I didn't have much
for meeting. We had well labor negotiations the day of the the Met Economic Partnership meeting and then I had labor negotiations with the library and it's going about as well as the county. >> Yeah, that's it. Yep. two union
negotiations and Monty and I actually was on a Zoom meeting uh with >> the bonding >> Alexis I don't remember her last name Governor's office for bonding bill. >> Thank you for taking care of that >> and that went very well. Grady was on
hand too. >> Grady. Yep. Yep. >> So that's all I had but that went very well. Okay. Committee of the halls. Monty. >> All right. So let's start with the easy ones. >> January We need I'm sorry. What? Monty >> I said let's start with the easy ones. >> Yeah.
>> Um I do you want to put on there the DNR public waters meeting which is this January 26 at 6 p.m. Foley High School. Would you like to put that on it just in case folks want to attend? >> Sure. >> Again that's January 26 p.m. Foley High School the full the DNR public waters
meeting. Uh second, you're invited by the Sock Rapids Rice School District to join uh the school board for a joint meeting with the board on January 12th at 6 PM over at the high school um uh school board meet uh schoolboard uh room.
Again, that's January 12th, 6 p.m. The the stated purpose is to share information on the prog progress of these schools um building projects. I think also talk about de developments on Kasha 1 where that's going. So I think it's it's the goal there is an
information sharing meeting >> January 12th 6 p.m. this schoolboard meeting room. [clears throat] >> Okay, let's move on. How about scheduling your your 2026 goal setting meeting? Sounds like that agenda keeps getting longer.
>> Yep. Um, what's is working for you all? Goal setting. >> My opinion, I know we're busy, but sooner than later. >> Sooner than later. Okay. How's next week look? Monday or Tuesday? >> Monday.
I am out 13th, 14th to 15th. >> So, we do have a tech a tech group meeting that morning. We I think probably should try and keep that one, right? I know you want to stay away from end of the week. Is Friday an option? >> No. >> Okay. >> No.
>> So, but well, uh, okay. >> How long is your tech meeting going to go? >> Uh, I'm not sure. It's hour, hour and a half. 90 minutes maybe max, right? So, we we should be done by 11. >> 11 o'clock.
>> Yeah. >> On the 12th. >> So, 11:00 a.m. You want to also go back to Jack and Jim's? Yep. So on >> for goals 12. >> Yep. >> At 11 gyms. Okay. Um I'm not sure if you're if we're ready to schedule these today. I
wanted to bring them up though. And that is the question of do you want to continue having these quarterly human services public health committees of a whole? Those have been we've been doing that for about um oh gosh four or five years now. the quarterly human services
public health committees hold uh you can certainly schedule them today or that might be a good subject for your goal setting. >> Goal setting. >> Yes. >> Okay. Also too, typically this first meeting of the year you've scheduled the employee forums. Uh we've had three the
past couple of years. Those precede regular board meetings about 8:15. So the question is do you want to continue scheduling those uh in that same number at about the same time? I I do believe the the relations team I whatever they're going to recall that is
looking at options there. >> So >> wait for them to get back to us. >> Yeah. The community or the uh what do we call it? The culture team. >> Yeah. >> They're renaming that culture team name. >> I heard that. Yes. >> Yeah. But I think uh I think we should
uh attend their next one and find out what they're thinking. >> Okay. >> On that. So, hold on that one for now. Okay. You think any different locations? Maybe >> different locations. I might be I would really like to kind of wait till
they >> Okay. >> More to come. >> More to come. Yeah. I mean, if we want to, we can schedule them next meeting. Yeah. >> Oh, sure. Sure. No hurry. No hurry. Okay. >> I mean, I don't think I don't think any of us want to get away from them. No. >> It's just using their recommendation.
>> Yeah. Maybe try and increase attendance. Exactly. Yeah, sure. Sounds good. >> Want to put it on the list. >> Uh, this next section really isn't a committee the whole, but it's important to schedule department head performance evaluations. Those are done in close session. Uh, I think the last year or
two you've done maybe maybe two at one meeting and another two at the next meeting. Um, unless you want to just knock them all out at one one board meeting or you could have a special meeting for this purpose. Do you uh Monty, do you have any idea how full the agenda will be on the 20th?
>> I'm sorry, I don't. Uh I this point I don't really have a whole lot. You'll have a construction. You'll have a geo I'm sorry. You have a integrity update. That's all I can think of. But shouldn't be a whole lot. No, >> let's just get them done with. >> You just want to knock them all out >> all in one day.
>> Yeah, >> that's fine. Provided that we don't got three hours of meeting, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Tentatively scheduled the 20th. Okay, we'll just knock them all out. All right, got it. Jan 20th.
All right. Um, let's see what else I have here. Oh, um, uh, requesting a committee of the whole to discuss potential auditor treasure appointment. I was asked to propose this to you all. If you wish to have a committee to hold to discuss this topic.
>> Yes. >> Any other cows scheduled right now that we could tie it with? >> Uh, no. No, we don't have any others scheduled at this moment. >> What happens if we look at the February 3rd? >> Or I was going to say, how about be
before the 20th board meeting? >> It needs to be Well, if you're going to consider this for this year, it it would need to occur in January. >> Could we do 8:00 the 20th before the board meeting?
>> Sure. That's the only item. I can't imagine that it's >> Where do you go? >> Feb 20th, 8 a.m. >> January 20th. >> What did I just say? >> You said Feb. I think >> I'm sorry. January 20th at 8 a.m.
Jan 20. Uh lastly, you're invited to the Benton Economic Partnership annual membership meeting. It's Thursday, January 22nd, 7:30 a.m. at Harvester Square. We have registered
you all. Anyway, so again, January 20th, 7:30 Harvester Square and Mr. Chair, that's all we have. >> Move for approval of the cows, Mr. Chair. >> Uh uh second. Got a motion and a second.
Any more discussion on the cows? Now discussion. All in favor say I. Oppos? Motion carries. >> Thank you everyone. We're adjourned at 11:04. That's uh the 22nd