--------- [Music] 9:00 we'll call the county board meeting to order. Begin a flag pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under
God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Roll call. Beth, >> sure. Commissioner Benoy >> here. >> Commissioner Heinen >> here. >> Commissioner Pop >> here. Commissioner Johnson >> here. >> Commissioner Gapinsky >> present. >> Thank you.
approve or amend the agenda. Monty, >> Mr. Chair, we have one item to add. It's an a snap update by human service. Uh before we we add it, just I wanted to mention is we we need to make some schedule adjustments this morning. >> Okay. >> Uh so that you can recess county board
at 10. Um so that Kale from Rinky can join us. >> Yep. >> We need to move our close session to 9:30. So, we're we're going to need to to take a break about, you know, 9:27 9:28 to get the room set up uh for our labor attorney to join us for that
closed session. So, if you could plug into your agenda again, a break about 9:27 28 for labor labor turning close session and then a recess at approximately 10 for ditch authority. Uh so, I think those are pretty significant
uh stops. we really need to, you know, can't drift over because to keep with Kale's schedule and Susan's schedule, we really need to stop at those times. So, I guess the question is where does the human services item fit? U Mr. Chair, what I would recommend is to
do Roxan, do Troy, do Roxan, do SNAP, and then put Monty off hold, put Monty on hold until after the >> perfectly fine. So, you're thinking maybe is after Roxan at 9:10 the human services update. Okay. Okay. And then that's all the changes we have.
Mr. Chair, >> move for approval of amended agenda. Mr. Chair, >> second >> and moved and seconded to approve the agenda. Any other discussion? All in favor? >> I oppose. Carry. County board meetings are broadcast live
and video recorded on YouTube. Please restrain from speaking from the audience area and come to the podium so that viewers can hear you. The county board observes the Robert's rules of orders for its meeting. So, please obtain the board's chair consent before addressing the county board. Public comments are
generally reserved for open forum segment or public hearing. However, public comment on other agenda items may be allowed at the discretion of the board's chair. Please turn your phones to vibrate. Thank you. Open form. Nobody. Okay. Consent agenda.
We have items one through. Move approval. I want to pull >> second. No, you can go ahead. >> I'd like to pull item number four for
>> I'll amend mine uh removing item number four. >> And I will I will also >> Okay, we've got a motion and a second to approve items one, two, five. [Applause]
Six, seven, and eight. >> Mr. Chair, this is a correct one through three and >> Yep. >> One through three. Okay. >> Everything except >> everything except There we go. >> Is there was a motion? >> There was a motion in a second. All in favor?
>> I opposed. Carried. Number four. >> Uh, I just have a quick question. Um, I noticed on the application that on number six on the application it says, "Are property taxes current and the box
is marked?" No. Is it common for us to issue a license with the uh current taxes not up to date? >> Yes, but they have since paid in full. So, >> okay. >> I'm sorry. I didn't hear that. >> We can issue a license if the current
taxes are not paid. It's only if they're delinquent. >> Oh, delinquent. Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> I'll move item number four. >> Second. >> Motion been made and seconded. Uh move item number four for approval. All in favor? >> I.
>> Oppos? Carried. >> Troy. >> Good morning, commissioners. >> Good morning. back before you once again with the AC contract. Um, as I mentioned last time, we've been with AC uh to provide our jail medical services for um
the last three years. We have before you a three-year contract. Last time that I presented this, uh it was the wishes of the board to look at reducing the rate being proposed for the 2027 2028 years. Um,
following that meeting, I had a conversation with, uh, the folks at, um, AC, uh, thanks, I think, in no small part to our strong relationship that we developed with AC, they were willing to reexamine those two years and are
proposing a 3% increase in 2027 and 2028. >> Any questions? Move for approval, Mr. Chair. >> I'll second. It's been moved and seconded for a three-year contract with AC for JL Medical. >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes. >> Thanks for your work on this, Troy.
>> Absolutely. >> Appreciate you going back. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Carried. Thanks, Troy. >> Thank you, commissioners. >> Roxan. >> Good morning, commissioners. >> Morning. Morning. Good.
Okay. So, in light of some recent um concerns that have come up regarding land use and in light of a um planning commission item that'll be coming forward, a request to amend the comprehensive plan and uh a resoning
request. Um I thought it would be good to kind of review how zoning came to be and and how that operates here um not not only in Benton County but in all jurisdictions. Um so zoning is guided by the comprehensive
plan which lays out the fa framework for the development of the county. Um the comprehensive plan is generally updated every 10 years and it was most recently updated and adopted on June 4th 2019. As part of that process, we spent um
several meetings, seven meetings with the county board and planning commission, nine meetings with cities and townships, three with focus groups, and then 13 months of rigorous review of the comprehensive plan um to come up with what we have here as just one
component of that comp plan, which is the land use planning framework, and that is to help guide us in the development of the county. um maintaining that most of the county is agricultural in nature. Um and then reserving those areas along Highway 10
um and at intersections for commercial development just due to the location of the access points and the heavier traffic and then areas generally between the city of Rice and Sartell as primarily where we want to see most of our
residential development. um just due to the proximity of services and roadways. Um in addition, those areas have always maintained more of a residential or commercial nature simply due to the fact
of um the soils and they've they've been um not as good of quality as we see in the rest of the county. Of course, um advancements in technology have increased um their ability to produce. However, that is primarily the reason
why the comprehensive plan shows that side of the county as more of a residential or commercial area for the county. Um, so after the adoption of the comprehensive plan, we then thoroughly reviewed the zoning ordinance. And this
wasn't just making sure that it matched up with the comprehensive plan. This was a full overhaul of the entire zoning ordinance. It was a full repeal and replace of the zoning ordinance. And so we thoroughly went through every zoning district and the uses within those district to determine um if it made
sense with our comprehensive plan and for those areas in particular. That uh adoption occurred on April 21st, 2020. Uh so that led to what we see here as
our zoning map which each with each of our districts um identified in a different color. And again, you see how it matches up with primarily our residential districts um between Rice and the city of Sartell. Um
along with commercial areas along and adjacent to Highway 10, we do have some of these rural service districts that are at the intersection of more um major major intersections um such as 95 and 25. We've got uh Dwelm down here. Um so
just identifying those particular locations. Um, and the key purpose of these zoning districts is to regulate land use, guide development, protect uh public welfare, prevent incompatible uses, maintain neighborhood character and property values, and to provide for
adequate infrastructure. uh making sure that there is a different uh a difference between where we're placing our uh residential uses versus our commercial uses uh to protect the public health, safety, general welfare just uh
by making sure that there is um uh space between those for especially for safety purposes. Um and then just to kind of get into specifically that difference between commercial and and uh industrial development in a comprehensive plan um
under our goals we try to guide that commercial and industrial development to planned areas with adequate road service. Um but we do recognize that individual individuals do have home businesses. However, we state that allowed homebased
businesses in rural areas that are compatible with neighboring properties and access roads. And going on to the next page here, we kind of outline in our development code exactly what a homebased occupation or
extended home businesses. The home occupation is something that occurs within the single family dwelling structure and it takes up no no more than 20% of the home. Um and essentially it's not noticeable from uh the outside
of the building. Um home extended businesses occur in an accessory structure. Um, and some of those examples are, um, home offices, uh, seamstress, tailor, photography studio, uh, beauty or barber shop with limited customers, internet
sales with no face-to-face customer service, daycare services, and again, these businesses are relative to the zoning district in which they are located. So, you may not feel that um, you may not see certain home businesses in a residential district that you may
see in an agricultural district. Um, for example, we have a location that has horses and they do lessons. So, in the A district, that may be an appropriate use as an extended home business where they're providing lessons on horses
where that is not appropriate in a residential area. So, just to kind of go through a few of those things. Um, in in light of uh the most recent concern uh by a resident um granting of
a use variance, um we statutoily are not able to grant use variances. And that is so that we protect our zoning districts, the public health and safety of areas. So that when there are set standards and uses allowed in a particular zoning
district, we are not allowing one or you know picking and choosing the types of uses that are allowed in there, thereby affecting the full character of that zoning district. Furthermore, um reszoning a a single lot may be
construed as spot zoning where you're only changing the zoning of an area specifically to allow a certain use. And there is case law that um that um I'm losing the word here. Uh supports
that that supports that use variances are not something that can be granted and spot zoning doesn't always hold up. and you look into the size of the lot and whether um the surrounding zoning is different and whether is supported by
the comprehensive plan. I also know that there was concerns about tax classification versus zoning districts and the tax classification determines the tax rate based on the property's actual use while zoning regulates the potential and legal use of the property.
Um, so for example, let's say you do have somebody with a daycare. They're going to have a commercial tax classification, but it doesn't mean that all commercial uses would be allowed there. And so that's something that absolutely needs to be looked into um
before moving forward. So we can't say, okay, well, they're classed commercial. They have a daycare running there, but now they move out and I get to move in a retail operation because it's commercial. Um, and that's the difference between taxing and zoning
classifications. >> Uh, just for the board, I wasn't I was in DC at the last meeting when all this came up. So, a lot of this is due to my um questions on this uh on this issue because one of the things that came up
with was exactly that on the tax it says it's commercial. So they're getting tax commercial, but yet they can't have a commercial >> correct >> business there. >> So to me, something's got to change. You know, whether tax, they shouldn't be
being tax commercial if >> if they can't do business. >> If they can't do business, right? >> Well, no longer should they be in there doing business. They should not have been doing business. And so, um, with the ceasing of that operation, Yes. Right. >> But when they bought it, it was it it
was commercial tax. So, I can see, you know, ignorance of the law is not always good, right? I I get that. But you got to understand that people just starting a business, they're they're not attorneys and lawyers and they look at that and they're like, "Oh, I get it. They didn't ask the questions. Doesn't
make it right." That's why I think they're in this position. I don't think they meant to harm anybody. >> No. And most people I I I mean, I would say most people do not intend that. Um, but I do I I I get a lot of phone calls every every day, every week, um, asking
if certain things are are allowed. And I I think there was a lack of due diligence. And it may not have been on the property owners. It may have been on, uh, the realer or the previous property owner. Um, information was uh, misconstrued and and it's unfortunate.
Um, and I know just kind of to address I know there was concerns about other uses in that particular neighborhood. Um, and and I've talked to the applic or the the current property owners about this. There is there's a a repair garage in that neighborhood. I'm aware of that.
That particular uh property has had a repair garage prior to us regulating specific home businesses. And so they were allowed. And that is one example of where a non-conforming use is allowed to
expand because they were in place at a time in which it was not regulated. Th >> that's exactly what is wrong with government is because 99% of people don't understand that. You know what I mean? And that that's it's frustrating.
I'm >> Yep. Yep. And I and I take every opportunity I can to fully explain that uh to >> Well, I'm not saying you did anything wrong. I'm not saying that, >> you know. So, Mr. Chair, Sir Roxen, when that non-conforming use goes away, then
that goes away with the property, too, though. >> Correct. >> Because that was grandfathered in. But once that >> So, if it ceases to operate for one year, >> right, >> that use goes away. Yep. >> I I've dealt with this a lot at the city level. Yeah.
>> When I was with the city. So, I have a question on that repair shop. Sure. If if that person sells that piece of property, does that grandfather move with the property if someone else buys the repair shop? >> Yes. Okay.
>> I would imagine there's a C on there. >> There is not. >> So, it was even pre prior to that. >> Yes. Yes. It was allowed to be there when home businesses um did not require a specific permit. um they were simply allowed as a home occupation or a home
but home business. >> So is that why you can they need to be done if they don't do anything within 12 months because there's no cup there to go with the property. >> Um >> I mean what if there good question? >> Yeah
>> without a legal non. >> Sure. So the reason that we can it has to go away is because they don't have a cup and they haven't done business for 12 months. But if they had had a cup and not done business for 12 months, they
still have the cup. >> Yeah. Any other questions? >> Well, it's just from my standpoint, I'm sitting here going, we're begging begging work workers and businesses to come into the county. And on the on the
other side, not not not not your fault, but the laws don't allow us and then they they get upset with us and move out of the county, >> right? And I mean, Roxan, from day one, since you've been here, you've been really intelligent and up bringing us up
to speed on this kind of stuff and I really appreciate that. But I agree with Jared. Sometimes the law just is not right. >> It It's not and and we're the ones that answer for it. >> Well, and I think it's important to remember that. I mean, this is an exact situation, but there's some things that we have to look at it sometimes, right?
The billboard issue, for example, in Highway 10, >> we looked at that and decided as a board that that's something that needed to get updated. >> You know, are these some of those issues? I'm not talking about variances, but I'm talking about, >> you know, our comp plan, >> right? At some point that's going to get reviewed and some of this stuff is going
to get >> and and we're not prohibiting businesses per se in our residential neighborhoods, just certain types of businesses, ones that are going to have a lot more vehicles, bigger vehicles, more noise, traffic, um safety concerns for
residential roads and things like that. Um but I would say nearly 95% of the county it it would be allowed in. Yeah. So unfortunately they chose that. You know, >> I want to make it extremely clear. I'm not I'm not saying you did anything wrong at all. >> Means
>> it just >> it's a difficult conversation to have. Yeah. >> Difficult to have with the applicant or the person that did it. >> Yep. >> Well, and you look at the and I know you can't single out property, >> but you look at the property, it's actually kind of set up for something
like that to where it's got the tree barriers and everything like that. It's like >> Well, and and even the location, you know, I mean, you look at just to the northwest and there's, you know, big agricultural fields, >> 300 acres up there. >> Yeah. >> And right alongside the railroad tracks.
>> Yeah. Railroad tracks. Nothing's going to happen on that other side. >> Yeah. I mean, it's Yeah. I mean, but it's, you know, I mean, you were here and we did the comp plan and it was a long process and we met with township, cities, >> everybody, you know, the the one deal that was in the orderly annexation that
came forth up in the rice area. Boy, then people did not want it and we eventually come to an agreement >> and it's a great example of we can't cover every situation that might come up. >> Yeah. >> So, >> it's a blanket. >> It is. Yep. >> Anyway, anybody else? Any got anything
else? >> Nope. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thanks for all your knowledge. >> Thank you. >> Uh, snap. Snap. >> Yep. We'll do the >> You got the >> Good morning. I know that SNAP is on the
news every single day, so you probably can't help but see some of the updates, but I asked Janelle to give us a current update of where we're at today um with SNAP. And sometimes people might wonder if we're not issuing SNAP benefits in November, what our staff are doing. Um, our staff are plenty busy. They still
are doing all the processing, all the things so that things would be ready to go as soon as SNAP is back in place. And in fact, they're busier than ever because they're getting a lot of phone calls, a lot of people searching for food, a lot of questions about this process. But I will ask um Janelle to
give a little update on where we're at. >> Good morning, Janelle. >> Morning. Good morning. >> Morning. Okay, first of all, the regular federal funding um that normally pays for SNAP and MIP food support will not be issued
until probably until the shutdown is resolved. There was a federal court issued uh order issued on Friday um to the USDA to use contingency funds. There's about $5 billion in that and they figure that would maybe cover half
of the nation's need for food. Um, let's see here. Okay, those contingency funds, they haven't been released yet, but they're working on it. So, that'll probably take some time before it actually gets issued. Um, and they're not really sure
how they're going to do that yet. What percentage? >> Isn't that actually in the courts right now saying that they don't know if they have the legal ability to do that? >> I'm pretty sure of it. >> It's in the courts. He brought it back to the courts to explain to them of how
they're going to distribute it and what they can regulate, not regulate >> because the government has to be in operation in order to uh enact the contingency. >> Yeah, >> that's the loophole is what I have
understood. >> Sorry, Janelle. >> It's fine. >> Yeah. And I know there was like well there's a lot of food sources that are providing more and they've been given I think another four million in Minnesota to try to help with the shortfall but
not going to be enough. Um let's see here. I was going to clarify that MIP cash funding is still going out. So the MIP cash funding was not included in that at all. Um let's see. And I think Sandy said earlier, we're still doing
applications and renewals, still processing everything, doing the approval. It's just the funding that will be withheld. Uh let's see. Yeah, and she had mentioned too that our phone calls and stuff, our phone calls and referring people to other resources
will increase. And then I thought I'd let you know, we have 1,930 cases as of the end of October. And normally our issuing or our issuance for September was $545,636 and then we have 65 cases pending when I
checked it last. Any other questions, Mr. Chair? >> Yes. Uh uh when we were out in DC for the APO a week and a half ago, um we were out there for roads and bridges obviously, but one of the biggest things that we were talking about was SNAP and
how that was going to affect everybody, not just our area. And one of the questions that I had that that was even though our counties aren't stopping because we're state and local, what's it going to look like when federal
government comes back? how long is this process going to take to get caught back up? And they were, I would say, sheepish on on saying how long that would take, but they're they're saying significant time. >> So just because the federal government
starts back up, these programs start back up, funding doesn't automatically kick in. I want to give a kudos out to whoever does the uh uh human services Facebook page I think it is to where you uh
provided all of the areas to where people to look for food. My wife looked at it actually and told me about that the other day. So kudos to you guys. >> Thank you. You can also give kudos to our staff. They're doing a food drive as well. And over the weekend, um, a group
of them did put together like this, um, white chicken chili packages. So, with the all the things you would need with a recipe to do do white chicken chili. I mean, it's it's minuscule in what we need in the world, but I still think it it is worth noting what our staff are doing on their own personal time as well
to try and have an impact. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> Y, >> great. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> Any anything else? >> Thanks for the updates. >> Thank you. Well, at this point, we're close enough that we'll recess the county board and
>> so m chair we wouldn't recess. We just need to have a motion to go in close session pursuant to the agenda item. >> So moved. >> Yep. >> Second. >> And I could just note for the record again, you're closing uh the county board meeting pursuant to Minnesota statutes 13D. 3 subdivision 1 for
discussion of labor strategy and we're closing the session at 9:27. >> Can we also talk about Tim as long as we're doing that? Absolutely. Okay, that's right. >> So, I need to shut down and Part: 2
board. >> Oh, no. I bet I bet it's well 10 minutes recapping of just what we talked about at the cow. >> So, 10 minutes All right, we'll move on to Chris Bird, the county engineer, uh,
regarding the use of sales tax for the engineers cost. >> All right. Uh, well, here, let me just bring up uh, an item. I just wanted to kind of recap what the some of the documents I shared at the committee of the whole. And so, yeah, we're all familiar with the the local option sales
tax for transportation. It's what statute authorizes the board to to levy and it has to go to a specific specifically identified transportation project. And so in 2025, these are just the engineering costs that the highway department public works
highway department incurred. Maybe a million dollars, a little bit over a million, $1.1 million of engineering costs. $575,000 of that would be towards construction projects that are paid for by the sales tax.
I also shared uh the five-year plan and put in bold boxes every one of the projects that are um funded with sales tax how much the engineering cost would be. And then over the course of five
years that was about $1.2 million of engineering costs. Uh, I guess that's over the four years. It didn't include 2026, but 1.2 over the the following four years. So, it seemed like there was a consensus regarding, yeah, maybe this
is a good idea to use sales tax for the engineering costs when the project is identified in the in the resolution as being funded with the sales tax. What's key about this is like up until now, it's been a levy cost. It's been a levy
to pay for that engineering for that sales tax construction project. Uh it's either been levy paying for our own staff time or for those more complicated things that was mentioned at the committee of the whole when we discussed this was we don't want to make this maybe a long-standing policy today be
able to revisit it next year at budget time and just have those discussions is what does 2027's budget look like? Is that a levy cost or a sales tax cost for engineering? Um, and so this this was included in
your packet. Um, it does say uh uh I thought I had some the language in here. Um, oh yeah, this effective date take effect immediately upon adoption and shall remain effect unless amended by res or rescended by future board action. So that's kind of how I drafted
that up. Not to say that it's an end date, but at any time the board wants to change that policy, you still have that that right to to do so. Um, so that's the the policy that I'm presenting for your consideration today. >> Mr. Chair, Chris, I don't know if it's
if it's helpful to have in the resolution that it's a a yearby-year. I mean, I understand the out that we can talk about, >> you know, unless we amend it or restrict it, >> but I I I'm just throwing that out there. Sure. Does it make sense for us to address that right up front
>> that this is for a one-year >> and it will be reviewed at budget time. >> So >> I think it should be reviewed every year >> and that's what we were talking about in the cow is that we should review it every year seeing where our half cent sales tax are and what we can use or should not use.
>> And and I agree with you commissioner Johnson that it should be a yearly thing. So when you adopt it, I think the language should be a yearly, >> you know, and I think we could address it to tie it to budget dates, you know, right? Yeah. >> This will be reviewed every August.
>> Yeah. >> During budget docs, so >> for a fiveyear road plan review, >> right? Being we're going back. So this would be for 2025. >> Go back and pay that and 2026. Right. >> Right. Yeah. >> Thank you for that clarification. But that's a good point, Chris, is timing
wise, does it make sense to tie it necessarily to budget or the 5-year road plan discussion? >> That is a very good question. And why this is important to to me as a highway engineer is because long before we turn a shovel of dirt out there on that road,
we have years of planning. And so some of these engineering costs are multi-year engineering costs, not just in one budget year. So, I respect the decision and the opportunity to discuss it at budget time every year, but if we commit it in 2026 and there's still lingering
costs into 2027 on that same project, um I guess the board still has that right to make the decision. Okay, in 26 we paid for it in sales tax, but in 2027 we want to put that on the levy or or not. Well, I guess when I think about retroactive 25 all of 26, that's the
commitment through the calendar year. >> But in August of 26, we're going to be talking about 27. >> Correct. >> And is that an okay timing? >> Is that the time to tie it to? >> Yep. >> I >> because typically that's about the time we start addressing the five-year road
plan as far as confirming it. >> Yeah, >> we've had discussions before that, but maybe August makes the most sense. Mhm. >> Yeah. Cuz I think in a lot of ways I try to operate that those are happening concurrently when you're adopting the 5-year plan that's kind of helping me set the budget for the next calendar
year to as establishing our workload and our work priorities and stuff. I I will say >> so hypothetically if we take take it at both times just say we get an overview of what this would look like. You know this is this is what would be on the levy and then
>> Yep. And then I'll rework this this part this section of the policy section five to reflect something that and bring it back um possibly using the consent item or just a regular item at the next meeting in November. >> Sure. >> 18th. >> Yeah. >> Can you go back? What was your five-year
projection that we'd need for engineering? >> So So yeah, here it is. So for years 27 through 2030, it's about $1.2 million of uh loss just for engineering. Now, over that same period time, uh, we're
anticipated to collect about $15.2 million of sales tax over those four years. So, percentage-wise, it's not a huge percentage. Still better than 90% 92% of the sales tax is still going towards physical construction costs.
>> And it's coming off the that 8% >> and it's coming off the levy. >> That that's I think the key thing as we go and we have these discussions every year. I think it's going to be really tough to say, uh, let's put that back on the levy. >> Even if you did 3.5 million in collection, which, you know, we probably
feel that it's going to go down a little bit here. That's still 17.5 million. We're only taking 1. Yeah. >> 33 million to do it, >> right? >> So, that's a pretty good gig. >> Either way, we got to pay for engineering. >> Either way. Either way. Either way, it doesn't go away. It's not a if or but.
But the thing with sales taxes, we have other people that don't live in the county helping to pay that. >> Yeah, right. >> That's right. It was more than it was more like 37% of our sales taxes paid for by those that are non-residents but are conceivably driving on our roads to get to those places
>> that generate the sales tax. >> Okay, I think we got a consensus then. >> All right, I'll revise the the the policy and bring it back to the next meeting. The only thing I'll add is that we had discussed at that cow 2 as setting another cow to discuss that sales tax list. So if that's something at the end of the meeting you still want
to consider, I'll be around at a meeting date for that. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Okay. So now I'll recess the county board and turn it over to ditch authority. >> All right. Call our ditch authority meeting to order. Uh we've done roll call. Everybody's present. Uh we need a
motion to approve our agenda. Are there any changes, Chris? >> Uh I have no changes for the ditch authority. So moved. >> Second. >> Have a motion, a second to approve our agenda as presented. All those in favor? >> I oppose? It's carried. We have consent agenda items one through five. I believe
that myself and Chris and Beth have beat these horse together >> on these minutes, so hopefully we have them correct. >> Oh, is there >> move approval? >> Okay, >> I'll second. >> Motion a second to approve the consent agenda items one through five. Any other discussion? Hearing none. All those in
favor? >> I >> opposed. It's carried. Thank you. Uh just for a point of interest before our board meeting started, Chris Ron Schmidt called my cell phone, but obviously I didn't answer it. So are you expecting him to be here?
>> I fully intended that yeah that they would be here. We have him and I have not had recent u communication. It was more than two weeks where before the last board meeting we had spoken on the phone and I understood that he was fully aware of the hearing today. >> And are we comfortable moving ahead without him present?
>> I mean we we Yeah, we posted it. Everybody on the ditch system uh uh received notice. It was advertised on our website. So, >> okay. Um I just wanted to bring that up because I don't see him here. So, >> he's not on >> leave you vice.
>> Um good question. I didn't look. >> He's not online, is he? >> Nope. I do not see a voice. Oh, just a second there. Yeah, here we go. >> Morning, Kale. >> Good morning.
>> Morning. He wasn't sure if it was today or not. >> So, I don't know. Anyways, he was noticed. Public was noticed. So, Kale, we were just Good morning, Kale. We were just talking about the land owner that uh has filed the petition is not present with
us today. uh he called me this morning during our regular board meeting, left a message to call him back. He wasn't sure if our meeting was today or not. So, I was just throwing out there if it was appropriate to move on without the landowner here. You know, the if the board decides to
approve this petition, ultimately the landowner is responsible for those costs. So, he might appreciate the board moving forward. uh at the end of today's hearing uh if the board wants to delay adopting the final findings in order until there can be some followup with him, I think that's standard practice
and that would give him a chance to to uh address any last minute questions he has. So, I'd recommend we proceed with the hearing and at least get that done today. >> And would you also recommend that we keep the public hearing portion open then so that he could speak or would he have that right as the land owner anyways?
Um I think that we should treat the petitioner similar to all affected property owners. So if the board wants to keep it open in case he has any comments then I think we should just following today's hearing uh continue it the board will direct staff to prepare
any appropriate findings in order uh and then >> other comments questions for Mr. Van Bergen. >> All right we'll turn it over to you Kale. >> Okay thank you Mr. chair and members of the public if there are any present on the board. Uh we're here today because
Ron Dorian Schmidt have filed a petition as the chair said under Minnesota statutes section 103E.805 requesting that certain property be removed from the benefited area of Benton County ditch 12. The affected
parcel is parcel ID number 08-0000376-1. It's a 16.67 67 acre parcel located in the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 29 Maywood Township. Uh however only.33 acres is within the
benefited area of county ditch 12. So the petition asks that the drainage authority remove from the benefited area the.33 acres that are currently subject to assessment. The county board acting as the drainage authority accepted the petition and then
set today as the date for the public hearing as required by the drainage code. Uh as the chair stated, the purpose of the hearing today is to give petitioners, affected land owners, and any other interested parties an opportunity to be heard on this petition
and request. The legal effect of granting this petition would be to remove that 33 acres from the drainer systems benefited area which means that that property would no longer be subject to assessment for the cost of construction, repair or maintenance of
D1 12. It would also mean that any future change in land use that would be designed to use Dish 12 as an outlet could only be approved by petitioning for express authority to use D12 as an outlet in the future. Uh, as the chair
said, the standard for the board's decision is whether or not petitioners have shown that their property is not and will not be benefited by the drainage system. If the board finds that to be the case, then the statute authorizes the board to order the property to be removed from the
benefited area. If the board finds otherwise, then the petition must be denied. So, today the board will hear from its staff uh on a little bit more context of this petition and request. Uh since there's no petitioners present, uh we won't be hearing from petitioners
today, but uh staff does have a lot of that background information uh about why this petition came forward. any uh affected land owners by ditch 12 or any other interested parties can comment. And the board's uh job today is to hear
all that testimony, receive all of that evidence, and then following the uh public comment portion of today's hearing, uh we'll go through a brief deliberation over what the statute requires the board to consider. Um at
that point then the board can either continue today's hearing uh or it can accept findings uh approving the petition today or it can uh approve the petition but continue the hearing to a future date for development of uh draft
findings or it can deny the petition and then continue the hearing uh again for development of those draft findings. So once the public comment portion of today's hearing is closed, Mr. Chair, I'll again go through those options and then be present to help the board
through its deliberation. Do you or any commissioners have questions for me before you move on to county staff for the uh notice of compliance with the notice requirements? >> Members, any questions for the attorney? >> All right. Thank you, Kale. Move on to
Chris. >> All right. Uh once again, I like to bring documents up on screen. So, um, first of all, I want to just touch on, um, the notice. Uh, Christine's office, the auditor's office had published this on our county website. Here's a
screenshot that it was posted beginning on October 9th, 2025 of the notice of the the hearing to take place on today. Also, here's a copy of the letter that was mailed out to all the benefactors on CD12. once again specifying that the
hearing is today, November 4th, uh to begin at 9:00 a.m. and we are in compliance with that because we started the hearing after the the published uh notice. Um once and I'll go back to when we became aware at the engineers office
of this uh petition. We we compared our maps and verified that our maps uh show this this blue area is the benefited area of CD12 and the petitioners property appears to be outside of that.
um it does have that.33 acres on the the redetermination of benefits that was adopted in April of 2022. So we reached out to the viewers um the viewers provided a statement that uh on March 5th that they looked into it and stated
that they had removed 54.97 acres from the wershed due to a private ditch draining north to the St. Francis River. However, this parcel 080037601 for some reason wasn't removed and that they are recommending that it be removed. Um
uh so here's just some some maps. Once again, this blue area represents the benefited area of CD12. That's the petitioner's property. Um um and then this here's what our beacon looks like. um it shows that there is looks like
there's aerial photographic evidence that there is a ditch maybe that can convey that water to the north and away from that um parcel. So that that concludes my um staff report of the petition.
>> All right. Any questions for Chris? >> Any questions at all? >> All right. Then we're going to move into a public hearing portion. Um I believe there's one person here' like to speak. If Eugene, if you could please come to the podium and state your name and your address and maybe uh give us a rough
location from you from the ditch. >> My name is Eugene Stopnecker. I live at 140906th Street Northeast. Um I disagree that it should be removed because I far I farm the land right next
to it. I I'm hired to from a guy that I drive tractor for. I only live a half a mile away from this situation the way the crow flies. I've been on that farm. I've been on that field
years ago. >> I'm sorry. Mr. Chair, >> go ahead. >> Chris, can you blow up the uh map of where he's talking about the brown right there >> or whatever so we can show where he said he's farming?
>> Yeah. Eugene, can you come around to the front screen and maybe just point to us where you're talking? >> Okay. I I I work for Jake Barley. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> I run tractors for this is where I farm right here. >> Okay. >> I farmed for Jake Barley against that
field. >> Okay. >> And I have drove across that field myself. I used to farm it years ago for hired out for another guy that used to rent it. And that whed includes all of
this. If you walk out there and you look at the piece of ground, there's at least 20 acres that drain to the east off of this piece of ground because that's all the hillside in here. And there's another picture that would show that a
little better where the color ones are. I believe it. Yes, that one. This here is the peak of the hill. the pasture down here. But this line in through here, this lighter line, all
that water drains to the east towards ditch number 12. Because when I farm that field alongside of there, the closer I get to that fence line, the wetter the ground is because the water is coming this way
from such a big area. And I would prefer would like to have somebody walk across it to see that. And then the biggest reason why I'm fighting against letting him get out of this is because the second you let one
guy out of to do this now you open the floodgates for all over the >> county. 100%. >> And it says he only owns 3.3 acres in the wershed.3. >> Walk across. There's at least 15 to 20
acres in that water jet. And that's why I disagree with letting him out of it. And like I said, you let one guy out, you open the floodgates. >> No pun no pun intended.
>> Yeah. >> Right. Right. >> Thank you, Eugene. >> You know, so thank you. >> That's my opinion on it. >> Sure. Thank you. Anyone else wants to speak? Um Chris, I do have a question or maybe for Adam. Do you know has any staff been out on the property?
>> Uh no, we did we have not uh been able to get out to the Schmidz property? So we just confirmed I mean our maps today show that that is not in the the benefited area although it was left on the spreadsheet. The >> view got a gentleman was here this
morning and asked if he was on the agenda and I told him no. Well, so yeah, there's not a public hearing to speak to his uh item, but this is the first drainage authority meeting we've had since receiving a petition. So, we did receive a petition um for Mr. Olsen, uh
he's co-owner with uh Vince Jansen of this parcel that is within the CD12 benefited area. So, he's petitioning the same thing as Ron Schmidt to be removed from u the assessment roles of CD12. But
just for clarification, he's in the he's in the >> water, >> correct? >> Was approved. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yep. So that is a valid petition. >> Okay. >> So the action before us today would be to um set a public hearing uh on to to
consider this petition for CD12. >> Okay. >> Mr. Chair, >> could I ask that you blow that that parcel up on the map? >> Would you like to see the the map, Mr. Young? So I have a better understanding of where that is. >> So this this is the parcel uh of the
petitioner. >> Um once again, very similar to Schmidt, but not exactly. Um Mr. Olsson remembers having some of those same conversations after the land owners meeting with the uh uh viewers. And so once again, he did
have a large portion of that 55 acres that was removed, >> but there is a tiny piece of this parcel that that according to the viewers is in the benefited area. So it's not exactly the same situation. And I appreciate
Kale's comments about considering one doesn't mean the same conditions exist for all land owners within a watershed. So the little small triangle is in the watershed. >> Yeah. This >> right where? Yep. Right there. Okay. Thank you for that, Mr. Chair.
Appreciate it. >> So members, looking ahead, I mean, why wait? Uh November 18th, >> ditch authority. >> Hold it. No, >> we would have to mail out >> 30 days. Oh, >> so we would Yeah. have to you follow the same kind of time frame. It actually
pushes us to a month probably by the time it's like 3 weeks advertised on the county. uh county board meeting is December 2nd right away in December and it's that evening with the TNT which is probably too early because that doesn't give you a month,
>> right? >> So we almost have to have it on December 16th then. >> Yep. >> And then there will be costs. >> I was going to ask that >> make sure that the applicant knows that there will be cost. >> Please let Ernie know that there will be costs that the petitioner be required to
pay, not the system. Um, and do we have a rough number on that? Is it $100? $1,000? >> You know, up here how many letters that is? >> Um, I don't know. 12's pretty small. >> Yeah. >> So, if you had to guess, I won't hold you to it.
>> Okay. So, it's not big money. >> Not for the notice portion, but if Kale needs to attend. >> Yep. So, maybe that's a conversation. >> Yeah. Uh, yes. I think also our as a staff perspective. It's not the same
situation as Ron Schmidt. So I think some of that conversation will include him having to provide evidence to the contrary that he benefits from CD12, which may include a topographic survey of his property. >> And is he a minimal $10, too? Oh boy.
>> Oh boy. >> Oh, >> we might want to explain the cost that it's going to take him years to get that back. I would have to agree with that. I >> mean, just let him. >> He's going to he's going to accept it or not is >> he's going to encounter a high cost.
>> Just mailing mailing out. >> It'll take him 10 years to get that back. >> Okay. Well, are we good with December 16th? >> Sure. >> I would hope that it gets cancelled. >> I I think we're okay at 10:00, aren't
we? We never get board meetings done until >> So we probably need a we need a motion to >> Yeah. >> So moved for setting the meeting December 16th at 10 o'clock. >> Okay. We have a motion and second to set that hearing at on December 16th at 10:00.
>> All those in favor? >> I opposed. It's carried. Thank you. >> Oh my god. All right. So the next item I'm going to just step aside and let Adam run with this. It's anformational item on some of the recent uh uh cleaning work we did on county district
10 and 11. So >> away Adam, >> thank you Chris and thank you board on this morning. >> Thanks Adam and thanks for that clarification earlier. >> Yep. >> Yeah. So I know Chris and I have been going back and forth on a lot of a lot
of things regarding that petition and since it's just 33 acres, it's it's still has to be treated as a 100 acres. You know what? They're all They're all the same at the end of the day. Um, so luckily this one, like Chris said, it is justformational. Um,
hopefully this works here. But I just have a quick 6 minute video regarding the cleaning we did. Um, you guys approved last meeting for um, an individual to come out and do some
ditch cleaning. And so this is the excavator that um he used and this is just kind of a quick this is two times speed. He doesn't go that fast. He'd be dizzy by the end of it. Um but it just kind of shows just a quick example of him kind
of taking out a little bog area. Um I think it's very a very good option that that you guys chose to do this. Um, just see how quick and easy and kind of non-intrusive this this type of work is where he's just working in the ditch
bottom. He's not ripping up more than he has to. Um, and I I just I I think it went really well. Um, like I said, this is a six-minute video. Um, so after this portion is done, it'll kind of go kind
of show how fast the water is moving. Um, and I guess you guys approved for this to be done between the mile stretch of Cass 4 and 55th Street. So, this is kind of in the center of of that area. >> Um,
yeah, sorry, no music for this, but yeah, this is the 55th Street Culver. So, this is south of where he was working, >> and he obviously worked up north. Um, and this just shows all that algae and and stuff moving along. And this is north of Cass 4 here. This was right
after he completed. As you can see there, he his little excavators there. Um, and this is just kind of shows all the >> algae moving south. And there was a big beaver dam right in this area here that he removed. Um, and so you can kind of
see closely there is that algae just slowly moving down. Or not slowly, it's pretty fast. But, um, yeah, here too, you can see how fast that water is moving. >> Yeah. >> Um, so yeah, like I said, this was right
after he finished that mile stretch. >> And most importantly, that first beaver dam. >> Yeah. And this is Monday, so three days after that. >> This is bare soil here. >> Wow. Um, so that showed how much water
was was removed. Um, unfortunately here you can start to see >> Mr. Beaver is back. >> Um, multiple beavers actually. So this was made within 3 days. >> Yep. >> Um, >> busy beavers, right?
>> And this kind of shows how much water gets held back from just one beaver dam. >> Um, I also found this too. This is like a might be Mark Abnet, our our maintenance superintendent. Um, he said this might have been like an old snowmobile crossing or something.
>> Um, this is pretty low in the ditch, so it's not really obstructing too much, but it's still something of notice for for future maintenance. >> Why not take it out? >> I Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was going to say the exact same thing. >> So, what happened is when he went out
with the excavator, he wasn't able to see that. that was only able to be seen three days after the water drained. So the water was probably two, three feet above that. So he had no idea it was there. >> Yeah. Get that. >> And this is the same day, 3 days after that. There's still some, you know,
pretty good flow. >> That water line. What's that? 20 in or so there. >> That culvert. >> Yeah. >> Look at that. >> Yeah. I'll pause it here in a second. >> Look at that. >> Yeah. Yeah. See, it used to be, you know, here. And I think you're right. It's over a foot at least.
>> Wow. of water. So So there's still some trickle here, but but obviously not as much as it was 3 days ago. And so this was 10 days after. And you can see the water >> because of the beavers. >> The beaver came back. >> Look at that.
>> Um so what I do want to say is I know you might question why we removed those dams prior to catching the beavers. Um, the reason for that is their house, we believe, is somewhere in here and there was just so much water that our trapper
could not find their house or trap the beavers. So, really what he did is they needed to kind of clear this first and then the trapper went out there to be able to to find them. >> Did he get any yet? >> Yeah. So, he got, as far as Mark Ednet
has stated, they got five beavers already. And so the plan we so this next overview is just going to be a mile stretch between Cassaf 4 and 55th Street just to show how much kind of the water has drained and you can kind of see some sediment
>> on the sides and stuff. So this is just a quick two time speed drone video. >> What I want to point out is when you remember when he was working there, you can see his excavator tracks on the left side. That water was pretty much up to where his excavator tracks were. So downstream of the beaver dam, we're still we dropped that water level about
2 feet. >> Wow. So >> Oh my god. >> That's what a ditch >> exactly what the people were saying too. >> Yeah. And what they wanted. >> Got another one. Oh, that's just sediment. >> Yeah, there's some sediment obviously there. You can see sediment as well. And obviously he could not see this sediment
like Chris just stated. This was, you know, a foot to two feet taller. So this really is able to show you with, you know, constant maintenance that, you know, next year if the water's still low, then maybe, you know, an individual could come out and get those sediment
spots. Um, >> yeah. >> Chris, do you got any pyro people? >> We we know some people. >> So what Chris >> them ke? >> What Chris has stated is we're going to wait. Our trapper is still actively out
there. We're going to wait, you know, a few days to a week um with empty traps. Once we have a week's worth of empty traps, we're planning to go back out there and hopefully finally take that dam out for good and they won't be able to rebuild it. Um so yeah, I think it's
been a couple days since they trapped a beaver. Like I said, there was five they trapped. >> Um so hopefully soon we'll just be able to go off Cass 4, grab that beaver damn quick, and then be done with >> this 55th here. Yep. That's 55th right
there. >> Crazy. >> And then so this was >> Looks good. >> So over that last weekend um the the beaver dam was partially removed with explosives. The same guy who did the um
the excavator um he's also certified in explosives. So he came out and and just did that quickly. Um he didn't need to bring his heavy equipment. So, this shows too all that water is gone again. Um,
and then obviously that beaver dam is partially removed. Um, it was just it's been a constant month battle or three weeks battle between the beavers and and us, but I think we're finally at that stage where we may have gotten them all.
And so, you can kind of see it, the explosion kind of, you know, separated some of it, but it was still there. And this is just kind of the p the last photo I kind of want to leave you on. Um 10:10 here was the day he was out there.
And this was obviously a week ago. >> And so you can't tell off the top photo that there's a channel here. >> And then this bottom one, you can definitely see where it's supposed to be. And even >> even in the top right section here, you can see there's water holding here.
>> And now it's slowly draining. And so hopefully this land um you know we'll be able to be more dry in the future if we if we maintain it. I know this is a very heavily wetland area. So yes, we trapped five beavers now, but that's not to say more won't move it.
>> Yeah, sure. >> But I know you guys agree with the maintenance and and stuff. If we keep keep up on it, we should be we should be fine. >> Great. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Very helpful. >> Those uh drone that's a big deal there. Oh, and so we will keep you up to date
probably at our next we'll have another agenda item to kind of finalize the cleaning and just keep you guys informed if we got all the beavers and if that dam is is fully removed. >> So, Adam or Chris, where does it sit now with this valid repair petition and
where the engineers are with their repair report? >> Well, yeah. So, we still need to have a hearing. We still need to bring that back to kind of close the loop on that legal process of the petition to repair. Um, >> so hypothetically, if the drainage authority were to just say, "Hey, the
maintenance we're doing, we're good with it. We're not doing a repair." >> Um, >> but hypothetically do that. >> I think that's up to the board's Yeah. the the drainage authorities discretion. So, um, I would anticipate as part of the staff report at that public hearing would be to share some of these
photographs and the work and, you know, in in advance of the public testimony, show those things and then let the public testimony be what it is and allow the >> fact of the matter is there's been 135 grand spent already, which will be assessed.
>> So, and I would say that part of that 150 grand was to do the reestablishment of drainage record. So at some point in the future if the drainage authority wants to do that full excavation down to where the bottom um of the ditch we still have that right because we did we
went through the process with the regulatory agencies to say where that as constructed and subsequently improved line is that doesn't mean today we have to do that full excavation but we could sometime in the future if so choose. >> And Mr. Sure. That should be good for many years.
>> Determination of benefits, not just >> Yeah. >> You know, not just today, tomorrow. >> Well, and if we if hypothetically chose not to do the repair, that would leave that culvert alone on 55th, too, >> right? >> Mhm. >> So, maybe that's something that we have a drainage subcommittee meeting soon to
uh to discuss that and bring back a recommendation scheduling that hearing just to kind of close that loop and >> Yeah. um see if the public wants more work done at a greater cost or satisfied with the the progress so far. >> I mean it does bring up some good
questions. We we didn't we didn't mow or remove trees on both sides of the ditch on this one like we have on other one. So there is some considerations there um just for the land owners to be aware of. But >> Mr. Sure. We just have to clarify to let them know that we had to do this process
first of all and then this process will stay in place. >> Well, hopefully we're going to hear from the testimony about what they want done, right? >> Because I think you're going to have both ends of this. >> Have the ones that say don't spend any more money and have a couple that are going to say fix it. >> So, that's what we're going to have to
hear. >> Go from there. All right. Anything else? >> No, that was it. Just information. >> All right. We're journed at 1056. Turn it back to the board chair. We'll go back to 9:25 on Monty. >> Sure. >> All right.
[Applause] Our first subject is uh Minnesota paid leave. And we've been calling it PFML at this point, but I understand the state wants us wants us to call it Minnesota paid leave. MNPL. So, we want to get with the program. So, Mr. Chair, of course, as
you know, we're we're in discussions with our bar units about the the cost sharing arrangement on Minnesota paid leave. This action before you today is to address cost sharing for our non-UN folks. Uh, and I recommendation to you is that the 0.88 be split 50/50 between
employees and the county. And again, that's consistent with what we're attempting to achieve through through negotiations. Um, so the action before again is to is to set that as a 50/50 share as of January 1st. >> Mr. Chair, Monty, question, and you probably said this already, so forgive
me, but um I know that we chose to go with the state paid leave plan. Is that a one-year, a two-year? Do we have an option of looking at a different plan in the future? >> Yeah, we can we can move uh after this first year. >> Okay. >> Once you go private, though, I believe you got to remain in private, it's
either two or three years before we can go back to state. >> Okay. Okay. So, you can't just jump back and forth year, you know, year round. You have to stay a little bit. So, yeah. >> So, there's a potential in a year where you could review the state plan. >> Absolutely. Right. Possibly go to the private plan. Yeah. >> All right. I'm going to move for the 50/50
uh contribution from the employer and the employee. >> Second. >> Motion been made and seconded to move to a 50/50 for the nonUN employees. Any other discussion? >> All in favor? I
>> opposed. Carried. All righty. I think your next item is is is an administrative report. And I've got three items to discuss if I could, Mr. Chair. Uh one is uh the first one is on the government center. And uh what I'd
like to do, Mr. Chair, is address a couple of assertions that we've heard in social media regarding the government center. I think it's uh time has arrived to address those issues and perhaps uh clarify some uh I would describe as misunderstandings about how we funded
certain things. So the first assertion I'd like to address, Mr. Chair, is that we didn't budget for FFE, which is furniture, fixtures, and equipment. I've seen this assertion that we did not budget for that. So I'd like you'll have to bear with me because I'm going to show you a bunch of numbers and if I'm
going too fast, please tell me to slow down. But here's a here's my illustrations to show that um the provision of FFE has been acknowledged going way back. Uh when you first engaged with integrity, >> they shared for example various project
estimates during committees of the whole which included provision for FFE. I'd like to show you one formal acknowledgement of that and that occurred at a meeting on June 23rd uh this year where the board awarded the
bids for the project and you got in your packet this budget from Contegrity and uh the column on the left basically represents all the low bids from the 27 different contractors and out to the
right were various alternatives which the board considered. down here at the bottom, but I'm going to actually enlarge this if I may just a bit. You can see what's described as owner items. >> That includes FF, which is the estimated
provision for that was 1.5 million. And then what's called internal IT, I'm calling it tech. We call it tech. That's for example audio visual, uh, door control systems, uh, cabling and so on and so forth. Uh, provision of 1.2 two
million for that. Again, these are described as owner items. And then you can see the at this at the time it was described as asbesus uh removal and then finally landscaping. So uh what contemporary then brought to you was the
the core 27 uh contracts for example for dirt work, steel, um uh um all the things that go into a building basically plumbing, electrical and so on. But I wanted to stress is that from way back when we
first started talking about this project with integrity, we saw this allowance for FFE which is furniture, fixtures and equipment. All righty, let's keep on going. So that answers one question. Was it in the budget? Did we acknowledge it? The answer is yes. Let's move on if we
may. July 1st. Now I think maybe this is a number that folks maybe kind of got thrown off by. So on July 1st, the board then formally awarded those 27 contracts. And you may remember this number of 16,499316. So this was the list of those
27 contracts. For example, you know, there's some electrical, uh, masonary, uh, heating, cooling, and so on and so forth. Again, all those core things which make up a building. So, I think folks saw that and thought, "Oh, where's
the furniture?" Well, again, it was in there all along. Let me jump ahead then. So, again, this looks familiar to you. This is a Integrity product. They produce an updated budget every month. So, let's
just focus in on a few numbers. So, there's that 16499 316. 16499 316. Those are your core 27 contracts. And here at the bottom again is the owner items FFE tech uh landscaping.
They changed the labeling of that asbestous soil remediation. You know that was removal of the contaminated soil and also some asbesus containing material. So again I'm just trying to document it was acknowledged it was in the budget. So the the second part of this question
is well do we have the resources to cover the cost of that fee? Do we have the resources? >> So do me a favor and remember that number right there. This is the grand total current project budget. >> 24 million238. So please remember that number right
there. 24 million238. All right, let's jump ahead to the bond issuance. The bonds were sold on August 19th, 2025. I'm going to skip a couple of pages. This is all from North End Securities, our bond adviser.
All righty. The bonds were bought by an investment firm called Robert Ward. Alrighty. So, what was deposited to the construction fund? In other words, what resources were made available between bond proceeds and county cash? Bond
proceeds and county cash 24 million 238. 24 million 238. So basically, and the board identified this a long time ago, you were going to devote 2 million of county cash to the project and the rest was made up of bond proceeds. So you can
see up here sources of funds, 24.8 million. 2 million is cash. The rest of it is bond proceeds. That was deposited with a trustee bank, US Bank. We draw down on that as we get bills from uh Contegity. They send us a bill batch of
bills every month. Jackie goes into US Bank. We draw it down. We cut the checks and we send those to integrity and the contractors get paid. So this is answers the second part of this question is were the resources provided for FFE
and again I'm referring to the total budget 24 million238. What do we have available to fund the project? 24 million238. All right. There's another assertion out there that
oh I should just one more thing I want to point out is the board discussed on jumping ahead on September 23rd a plan to acquire FF. So you may remember we had this discussion about what's the way we're going to go about this and the
board agreed to this plan where uh we're going to do an RFQ and we're going to send this out to GLT is going to do this for us. They're going to send an RFQ out to all the companies are on state contract. We're going to narrow that down to a couple and ask two of the top contenders to
interview with you and you make the final selection on who will be our FFE provider. I think it's a great plan and identified by by by GLT to allow lots of more lots more back and forth about what our furniture needs are and also too to
identify what per what furniture we can repurpose. So I think that's going to be stressed is where you know the furniture we have how much of it can be repurposed to bring down our cost of new furniture. All right. So that was discussed. All righty. The second assertion I've
seen in social media is that we don't have the resources set aside to demo possibly the 191 courthouse and put in car uh put in parking. That's the assertion. We don't have the resources and we'll have to go back to the taxpayers again for more resources to
demo the 1901 courthouse and put in parking. Alrighty. Well, back in February, uh provided the county board with an estimate of what would it cost to demo the 1901 courthouse and put in parking. The
estimate was 1,266. So, you've been you've had an estimate for quite a long time of what would that cost be? So the second issue is well do we have the resources set aside for this purpose? The answer is yes. All righty. I'm giving you lots of
numbers. All right. So right now I want to show you I ran this as of as an end of September. We have $5.2 million set in our CIP fund. 5.2 million set in our CIP fund cash. Now two million of that
is for the project. Let's keep on going down. This is a spreadsheet that I use to track our CIP fund, our projects, what we have in terms of available resources. I'd like you to remember that $5.2 million number. And you can I'm going to jump
down to the bottom and I'm gonna back up. So, this spreadsheet ties to that. Shows we have 5.2 million in cash sitting in our CIP fund. Let's jump back up to the identification projects. All right, here's what I got highlighted.
So you can see on line 13 we've spent about 1.6 million on all what I call precon. So that's GLT. That was all the the soil work done by Bronn Intertech. Uh those are the big things because you may remember GLT's work with us went
goes back almost two years >> to you know uh very much preliminary scoping and then what they call design development and then actually construction documents and so on. So that that's almost two years worth of expenditures, 1.6 million. There's the 2
million sitting there for our share of the uh the construction cost, the the 2 million of cash. You can see we we we actually spent a little bit. So before we got the bond proceeds, we had to use our own money to pay bills. So now that
we got the bond proceeds, we're going to just, you know, sit on our resources and spend down those bond proceeds first. And then once those are exhausted, we'll go back to this. So yeah, we had to pay a few bills before the bond proceeds were available.
And then there on line 15 is the 126 383 which is sitting there for the possible demolition of the 1901 courthouse and parking. And again, I just want to go back up to show the number. There you go. 126 382, which is the estimate from
those two costs. And this shows you the resources are sitting there waiting for the possibility that those could be used for parking and the demo of the old courthouse. So the answer question is no. We do not need to go back to the taxpayers for more resources for this
project. Uh again I just want to show is my my total ties to the the number I showed you above. So this is my spreadsheet and maybe sometimes people challenge spreadsheets. This number right here is from our from our our financial system.
This is IFS, our financial system, and it shows 5.2 million in cash sitting in that fund. >> Um, okay. I think that's I want again I want to address two assertions. Number one, we didn't provide for FFE and second, we
don't have the resources available for the parking or the demo of the 1901 >> Mr. Courthouse. >> Uh, let's see. I guess Mr. share. My final thought is this is, you know, for folks that are watching this on YouTube or they read our minutes and if they
have questions about the building, uh, I would urge them to call me, send me an email. Uh, we're an open book. Virtually everything that's happening with this building is a public record, right? >> I was thinking earlier, it's like, okay, what about any of this has been private?
Really, only one thing. The board had to have a close session to talk about an offer price when it was going to buy the property. Everything else has been done and open committees on the whole board meetings and so on. So if anyone has a question, I would say uh please uh give
me a call, send me an email, stop by. I'm happy to answer any questions that folks have about the project. >> Mr. Chair, couple follow-up questions for you, Monty. Um about a month ago we went through this.
>> Oh our our financial statements. Yes. >> Just a the spreadsheet is refer I mean not in this one here but every year it gets audited. Correct. >> We are audited by law by Yes. by by an external independent auditor. Yes. >> Okay. Now I want you to bear with me
because I'm going to read something from Benton County voters from a Daryl Watercott. And I just want to see if this is a true or a false statement. They have said employee parking at the new government center is going to be uh
street parking until the old part of the current courthouse is removed and made un made into a parking lot. This sure sends the message that they don't care much about the employees or we county residents who will be who will need to
fight for parking uh a block away. It says, "And we weren't all and why weren't all these hidden costs part of the original bids? Who knows?" Or who you know you're going to need parking
spaces for employees and county residents. You know, you're going to need furniture. That's right. They didn't even have furniture costs in the bids. So, we were paying for So, we're paying for all of these uh out of something else.
And then it goes on to say the total cost of this this thing is going to be well over 24 million that was sold to us as such a great deal. We were lied to again. >> Is this a true or a false statement on
public on social media? >> Well, Mr. Chair, is uh when the new building is built, we're still going to have this parking lot behind our building. >> I'm showing it above on your screen. It's not going away. Yep. >> This parking lot will be there. Yep. >> So, in the interim, employees can
continue and we'll ask them to continue parking in this lot. Does it mean a little bit of a walk to the new building? >> Yep. >> Yep. And I should say, Mr. Chair, I we are we are working towards a solution on the old courthouse. We had our first meeting
with our group about a week ago. We're meeting with the city soon. Uh so we are working forward a solution to possibly transform this area into additional parking for the new government center. Uh but for again for initially folks our employees can continue parking in a lot
that's behind this building right now. >> Let me rephrase this Monty. >> Did we account for furniture? >> Absolutely. Yes we did. >> Okay. Have we discussed parking lots and tearing down the old facility >> at length? Yes. At length. Yes. So, in
context, would you agree that this is a false statement? >> Yes, I agree. I just wanted that on the record because what I want to make sure we sit up here and we get attacked on everything we do. >> And when when people are reading things
that are unfactual on social media, it affects a lot of individuals. And I just want to make sure that what people got to uh censor themselves on what they're reading because it gives a different light of what the entire situation is.
>> Yeah. Ms. I want to just add is uh is I I have great faith in our employees that they will uh not choose to park in these prime spots here. As you can visualize, of course, the new building will be here where I am showing on my mouse. These
will be the prime spots in front of the building and also to some here on 6th Avenue. I have great confidence our employees that they will not take these spots and they will reserve those for the public as they should. Um and and and uh so I I'm confident that will occur.
>> With that said, I think we all sit up here. This this should be common sense. We can't tear down the 1901 building >> until it's empty >> until the new building's up. So therefore moved in. We can't put a parking lot in until then we're moved in. >> Correct. >> Abandoned one building before you can
tear it down. >> I I didn't I didn't know if I was missing something or >> So, yeah. >> Okay. >> So, again, we'll we ask employees to take a little bit of a walk to get to the new building. Yes. Um but hopefully that's just a short-term issue and it's
resolved in short order when when we possibly again convert this to Barking. Yep. All right. Um, oh, one thing I did fail to mention is, uh, I'm going to go back to my, um,
let's just jump back up. Just one other issue to think about that I think it's kind of it's responding to the issue of, well, you know, it's going to go over budget and and so on so forth. I wanted to point out that the construction uh, budget includes
almost there, almost there includes a contingency. So you can see here, I don't have it highlighted, but it says contingency 1 million073. That's 5% of what's called the DDS, the design development estimate. So there's a 5% contingency built into this budget
to help cover change orders and unexpected things that come up. >> So we have a decent contingency built in. And that's all I had, Mr. Chair. Again, just urge folks to to contact me if they got questions. It's we're an open book.
>> Well, and quite frankly, they should be contacting their commissioner because the commissioner should have the answers for them, too. >> If they refuse if they refuse to get the answers, then that's on them. They don't have to agree with it, but they need the information. >> For two years, we've been an open book. All of our cows and everything, it's all
documented. Everything's right there. All they've got to do is ask for it. all they've got to do instead of being on social media and giving their opinions, which is fine. >> I mean, giving your opinion is fine, but it comes down to facts. >> Do your research. do your research and
and I'll tell you with obviously the I'm on AMC board and I'll tell you one of the comments that was made by a by a board member is boy you guys are making a lot of public um
you guys are in a public lot on this building >> and he and this individual actually ended up saying do you realize that you guys are the 27th largest county and out of everything that's going on. Look at where all the other counties are at on
building projects. We are if not close to the lowest priced project in the state for a county. >> Well, look at I was looking at Mer County what they had to do >> because they remodel what their levies did. >> Yeah. >> I mean, ours is respectable compared to
that. Well, I think I shared before I was in Itaska County in June. They have 2,000 more people than we do. So, let's just say basically the same size. They spent 75 million >> and this is this is going around the state that that I mean these projects
are in the 40 50 60 70 million range. We're bonding for 22 million basically and I mean we have taken a beating and it's noticed around the state. It is I mean legislators to other county me uh
board members it's it's very well noticed and one of the comments was made to me too is I mean this this goes right to business. It's like you look at businesses that are seeing Benton County in the news. Who wants to move here whether it's true or not. We just read
things into the record that are completely unfactual and this is what people are hearing everywhere. So >> it's borderline gaslighting the situation. It is. >> It's you're you're purposely putting out information that's not true. It's it's beyond disagreeing. It's unfactual.
>> Correct. >> And to their points, they obviously have a right to their opinion. We all do. I'd fight to the end for everybody's opinion. But when you're purposely putting out things that aren't factual, you're gaslighting a situation that's not in very good shape right now
statewide, nationally. You know, just just like Commissioner Gapinsky said, one day we spent 56 meetings that are all documented. >> We did our research. We did our homework. Two years. You know, I
personally have over 450 hours into this facility. I know Commissioner Gapinsky's got a lot more because you're in it. You know, I mean, we've done our homework. [Music] All right, Mr. Chair. Uh, thank you. Uh,
let's see if I can may I move on? Yep. Okay. Health insurance. So, you all got your health insurance packets from from from Beth, and I wanted to mention to you that when we asked the board to adopt the non-un health insurance a while back, uh, we were assump we assumption that the increase is going to
be 5%. Well, we had some discussions with Amy from MMA and some clarification. And you may recall that part of the recommendation was that the deductibles will increase. So 3,400 for single,
6,800 for family. And Amy said under that assumption, the increase should be 3% instead of five. So what you all got in your your packets was a 3% and everyone else agree non-un folks too. It's a 3% increase rather than five. So
it's a good it's a good news. Good news. >> Thank you. >> Yep. Uh lastly, I want to ask you all, do you have any followup from me or thoughts from me regarding our conversation with the with our county attorney recently? Any potential
uh direction, thoughts, what have you. I'll just leave it at that. >> Well, I think she made it quite clear that she needs a little help. I know it's not budgeted, but >> No, I I think she made it. She I I think
we we worked around we we we got an area to where it helped her out on on the county attorney, the assistant hiring another attorney. >> Yeah. Right. Without any sort of conditions attached to it, right? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So, I mean, on the other
side, I just want to make sure that that number one, we can find money for it, and number two, it it's got to be give and take >> on on both sides working together and and stuff like that. >> It was a very productive meeting. We'll just see where it where it takes us,
>> okay, >> for the future. That's my opinion. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. just wanted to ask. >> I would say that this is going to be something that'll be ongoing. >> Okay. >> From my standpoint anyway, I'm not
speaking for you guys. >> So, Monte, are you looking for direction from the board as to whether um another office assistant or something like that? Is that what you're looking for direction on or >> Well, um that would be addressed I think
during our budgeting. >> Yes. So if if you're inclined to you could certainly discuss it uh when you have a budget cal before the end of the year. You could just certainly discuss it then. Yeah. No, I am not looking for direction of of that's up or down at this point. No. No. Okay.
>> That can be discussed later. Yep. >> Yeah. Okay. I'm good. I think there was a lot of things covered in that meeting and I think there's there's got to be more discussion on both sides >> y >> in my opinion. >> Okay,
>> that's all I had, Mr. Chair. >> Okay. Okay. >> I guess we're now to commissioner meeting updates. >> I can go first. >> Okay.
Um, I attended uh a Betton soil and water meeting on 10:22. Um, interesting. It was the first one I was able to make it to since I was um on the board. Um,
and uh we did the BEP quarterly meeting on 10:23 and then um we met in the sheriff's situation room to go over our our county safety plan. basically. Um and then uh and then Scott and I
attended a redevelopment of the old co county government center um meeting. So where I'm at. >> Okay, I'll go next. Uh same thing. Uh but I was at Epic and
I ran into a lady. She ran into me. Um >> was it Avis? No, I just >> Well, she didn't give me the card to Avis, but now Michelle Schmidtz.
>> Okay. Uh and she works, she's for Excel Energy. And uh we had a long conversation about moving that Highline pole. And she also wanted to clarify that if there's something else moving forward in the county, please let her
know right away so she can start working on it too. And I said, "That's great information. I will let Chris know." >> And uh >> who I'm sorry, who was that you're talking to? >> Michelle Schmidz >> from >> uh Excel Energy. Oh, >> okay. Do they have like money for us?
Did they have money for us? >> No. No. It was just a conversation of how it went with the poll we had to move that cost us a million dollars and and moving forward. You know, if there's something else that she needs to be aware of, let her know right away so she
could start working on the situation. >> Okay. >> Did she didn't she didn't mention that she worked with Amanda on that million dollars, did she? >> No, we didn't. It was very light because there was a lot. >> Did she? I don't know. I don't know who she worked with on that. >> Yeah. No, but I just wanted to bring
that up. It was good conversation. So, okay, done, I think. >> Okay. All right. Uh, of course, back in October 21st, we had our committee the whole and talked about our local option service tax, which we addressed today. Uh, 22nd had a highway 23 uh and a
monthly meeting. Uh 23rd, our BP quarterly, Tri County solid waste and a fully care meeting that evening. uh 27th um uh county
I can't read my own writing here uh >> uh we had our coupe meeting which commissioner Benoy had mentioned um 28th ditch subcommittee meeting uh Commissioner Pop and I were at and then of course that afternoon uh Commissioner Benoy and I had our redevelopment meeting here uh Monty brought it up
before but we are trying to schedule a meeting with the city of Foley to get their input and what they foresee in in this area. Uh the 30th Tri County Solid Waste again, but this time it was with Pope Douglas. It was a joint meeting between the Pope Douglas Board and our board uh transportation alliance
yesterday. Commissioner Benoy and I were at that. Um and I did miss Sunday evening. Commissioner Benoy and I were also at the 4 banquet and thank you to Commissioner Pop. uh uh his his uh nonpresence created a a
spot where he was supposed to be speaking and it ended up being myself a little bit. But it was fine. It ended up just fine. >> They go pretty they're pretty mellow. >> It was a it's a great banquet. It's a great time to honor those those people that volunteer and >> and as we all know when we do the
proclamation for the 4 week, we get to see those future leaders. So it it's always fun to get to that that banquet. Well, and it's pretty amazing that I mean there was some of them that honestly 40 years of service and >> and more
>> in into that. It's >> Yeah. >> Good recognition. That's it. >> Okay. I thank you for going there. I had actually signed up to try and be there too. But with my children being in basketball and travel basketball and then the fall leagues before the actual
leagues get going, it always comes down to usually it's boys on one day, girls on another. And it and I happen to have both. So, and it just happened to be where there's it would have been over by the time I got there. So, I apologize.
Um, we did have a central Minnesota medical services board um the other day last uh Friday. Um, we didn't have a quorum for about 20 minutes. So, >> yeah. Yeah. And I took the 5:00 a.m.
flight from Bismar in so I made it. So we uh um one of the things that we discussed is is uh maybe trying to set up a regional appreciation for medical responders, first responders, everything like that cuz cuz Morrison does a great
job at one right now. >> Really good up at Camp Ripley. So we're going to try and model that after them coming up. So, um, uh, my trip to DC, I think, was was absolutely phenomenal for not there was nobody out there. I mean,
there for people wise, but every one of our legislators was there. >> Everyone, I mean, well, the ones that we were going to meet with, >> but uh, um, we said we seen the whip, Emmer, um, Clolobashar, Smith, all their top aids were there, stuff like that,
and it very well. Um, I thought I think we as a priority. The nice thing is is we had Sterns County out there. We had Jake Anderson, the mayor of St. Cloud, uh, Baton County. >> Just to clarify, mine was through APO. >> That was through St. Yeah. St. Cloud
APO. And because I'm the chair, the APO takes care of our >> um, uh, our costs on that. But we were able to push our APO priorities out there. Sherburn was going to be out there, but but Ran Danielski had some personal stuff come up. But we've got a
very good pack that we've started going out there and and really lobbying for central Minnesota. Uh we met up with Megan. Phenomenal. Absolutely. Yeah. Great. But um uh one of the things that
came back is is uh their county one county one pro road project is I think I don't want to ruin it, but I think we're in good good spot. So, we need to get we need to get all that stuff. Actually, going from meeting to meeting to
meeting, we came up with a plan that everybody's got to sign a letter. Here's a process we got to do, and they need to get that information right away. As soon as we got it, don't wait for it to be turned in. Let them turn help turn it in. >> Okay. >> So, I think uh I don't And then the
bonding tour that we did, I think that went very well. Um uh I think uh between the state and and uh the feds I think and I think county road one will become a reality. >> I got Can I I'll do a followup on that.
You know Jerry and I have >> Commissioner Benoy was there too. Commissioner Benoy, but we've testified four or five times already in front of legislators, you know, and everything. All all year we've been at the capital for, you know, I don't know how many
times. We we spent a lot of leg work on this and Chris has been on top of things. >> Chris has been with us the whole time and we are actually gaining a lot of good traction. >> Yeah. >> Uh, I got one other thing to add. So
Brad Brad Burkstrom, superintendent of Soccer Rapids, has been talking to me regularly and uh he opened and asked the question to see if the board would like to meet with their board January 12th, the whole board to just to have a
conversation of what's going on with the building with Cassawan and talk about, you know, what the school wants to do to so I just wanted everybody to know that he opened that invitation to the whole board to be there. >> I think it's important too to note that
the city of Sock Rapids, the the school district, Brad Bergstrom, they've been very intricral in all of this. So >> that's all I have. >> So I had pretty much the same thing. The the coupe bitten
um ditch subditch my we had a BEP board meeting after our last deal and there's July 22nd. Um block that date. That's the taste of Benton County. It's going to be at the Benton County Fairgrounds. Um they're hoping to raise in that neighborhood of
15,000 bucks. They do have a sponsor already. It wasn't um they didn't want it out there who's sponsoring it, but it's one of the local banks that's going to sponsor that deal. Um they're open to sell a fair amount of,
you know, food space and uh it's going to be in the hockey or the >> Hockey Arena. >> Hockey Arena part. >> Hockey Arena East. >> Sports East. >> Sports East. Yeah. Um they looked at other venues there and that's looked like pretty much the the best one to
have it at. So, um couple of things. There's She's got some things coming down the pipe that may benefit Benton County. Um she had mentioned is that could be bigger than the magnet.
>> Nyron um she's always working on something, but they're trying to they're trying really hard to make sure they can generate some money without coming back to this board and I really appreciate that. >> So, >> well that Niron is huge for central Minnesota. >> Oh my god.
>> I mean that they're our neighbor and >> that's going to be big for the area. >> That was all that I had. So committee of the whole >> There is none. >> No, thank you. >> Mr. I got a very long list for you. >> Better delete it.
>> You need to schedule a final budget cal. Unfortunately, the window for that is fairly small. Typically, it doesn't occur until after the TNT hearing, but then before final budget adoption. And in the middle of all that is the EMC conference.
>> So, uh your your TNT is December 2nd. Final budget adoption would be December 16th unless you have a special meeting. So, it really leaves like Wednesday the 4th uh Thursday, I'm sorry, Wednesday the 3rd of December or two Thursday the
4th of December or Friday the 5th >> or the following week of the 11th 12th. >> It ain't going to be the 11th. Sorry. >> Excuse me. >> I can't do I can't do the 11th. >> So, you're kind of left in with the
third fourth of the fish. I could do the morning of the third. >> I can't do the fourth or fifth. >> Okay. I can do the morning of the third, too. >> 12:30. >> The third. >> Yep. >> 8:30. >> Let me propose this to you, Mr. Chair. So, it's a final budget discussion, but
you also talk about elected official salaries for >> Y 26. Let me also suggest this to you. How about use it to talk about board and commission assignments for 26? >> Amen. There's no change in the county board as of January. Could we use that to talk about your appointments to
boards and commissions for 26? Is that okay? >> Sometimes these organizations are asking, they're already asking for your point for 26. >> Yeah. >> It'd be nice going into January, we could tell them because you, as you know, they're off at meetings right away in January and they want to know like,
okay, who's your pointy first? Add that to your agenda. Yep. >> So that is Wednesday the 3 at 8:30. >> 8:30. Yep. >> Wednesday the third. Yeah. Uh Chris is here if possible committee of the whole to discuss the local local
option sales tax resolution. >> Do you want uh I'll just do you want to try to get that done before the end of the year or um sounds like schedules are filling up pretty quick. So and this the purpose would be to discuss the current list discuss possible projects to add
and then set I mean a future hearing sometime after that cow. >> How about Monday the 15th? of November. >> December negotiations that day all day. >> Okay. >> Oh, yeah. I didn't I guess we could back
into November here. >> Yep. >> Monday the 15th in November would be tough. >> No, I meant uh when I was December 15th. >> Yeah. Isn't what
>> we're here for a cow on the 17th unless it gets cancelled. >> Yeah, that's >> I know we try to set aside that date for our next tech meeting. >> Yeah, 17th. >> Okay. >> How about after the board meeting on the 18th?
>> Is there I mean is there going to be enough stuff for the the other cow? I I have not yet seen an agenda yet, but I know they do want to have one right now. >> Could we do the >> talk about this Salem facility? I know.
>> Could we do the 18th after our board meeting? >> Uh, sure. >> That works for me. >> Yeah. >> Since we're here, >> November 18th for sales tax discussion. I have one other Mr.
It's it's about the agenda that's on your dis AMC is putting on this is really a replacement for its new commissioner training. They're offering something new. Uh I think it is more of a basic uh
information for commissioners. It's January 21st, 22nd, 23rd. Begins at noon on the 21st, ends on noon on the 23rd. It's in person at the Intercontinental Hotel in St. Paul, uh, you have an agenda there if you'd like some time to
think about it and let let Beth know if you're interested in attending. Looks like a lot of interesting content. Um, >> it's it's in place of AMC's normal new commissioner training. >> Jared, is this going to happen like every other year instead of the new comm, you know, because there's no new
commissioner? >> It's all up in the air right now. They're going to be there. It's it will it's a work in progress. You mean on the new commissioner stuff? Well, this is, you know, and normally they wouldn't have anything this year because there is no new commissioner. >> So, are they just going to try to replace something with this or
>> Oh, I see. >> You know, so we're going to do this every other year from now. >> They're they're trying to come out with more trainings for everybody to keep them up to speed on things. So, it's >> Oh, >> yeah. I don't have an answer.
>> Part of me says, "Yeah, it's a good idea." Part of me says, "Yeah, it's another expense for all counties to send people down there." >> Yeah. >> Does it make sense to register and then be responsible to let Beth know you're not going
>> because you get if you want rooms and if you wait till January 1st, >> you're not going to get them. >> The issue is fills up or the hotel's full. >> Usually these are a uh like a set amount of people too. We And then they sell out. they would cap it, right? That's
true. >> Yep. >> Well, I'm just going to say it. Be being less than a year in as a commissioner, all this stuff is a learning process for me. So, yes, I would definitely be
interested in going because I think that, you know, as much as I know about open meeting laws and whatnot from being on the township board, there's always new stuff coming out. So, >> I'm interested. I just can't commit yet. But I don't have a problem putting a note on my calendar to cancel it in time. So
>> if Beth finds out what the cancellation date is. >> Yeah, she would. >> I'm interested too. It's just a matter of I'm flying out the 24th for another vacation and I don't know if my wife will let me go. >> You better talk sweet to her. >> Y find out. Be nice. >> For sure.
>> We can always ride down. >> You can put me down and I'll cancel. >> Same with me. Well, if there if there's no charge for cancellation, I can I can put down, but I >> No refunds will be issued after January 14th. >> I'll know by then.
>> Yeah, I'll know by then. >> So, just put a note on your calendar. The 1st of January, >> can you make a note? >> Just put them all. >> For the most part, these AMC trainings are very good. >> They are. >> They don't just waste people's time because we talk about that in the We
don't want to have something where we're just wasting people's time and money. >> Exactly. you know, that that uh uh that neutral deal, that mediation deal I went through, >> I literally wanted to leave the the first night. That's how intense it was.
And it was four nights. You learn a lot. So, I won't say that AMC just doesn't put something on to put it on. >> That's all we have, Mr. Chair. >> Motion to approve the cows, Mr. Chair. Second. >> All in favor?
>> I >> I thought there was another one. >> Um, >> we can always add it. >> Yeah, if you can add it, we can add it. >> I don't know what's at the government
center. I can't >> Oh, um you're talking about a potential uh governor candidate coming to South Rapids. >> Yeah. >> We adjourn, Mr. Chair. orjourn 11:40.