will be on the flag pledge 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. Sure.
Commissioner Benoy >> here. >> Commissioner Heinen >> here. >> Commissioner Pop >> here. >> Commissioner Johnson >> here. >> Commissioner Gapinsky, >> he's excused. He's >> approve or amend the agenda.
>> Mr. Chair, two items for you to add. Uh, our county attorney has an item regarding a vacant position. If you could please add that right after the consent agenda. Right. After consent, you also have an item on non-union health insurance. Is we if we could please add that as the last item under
county administrator. The last item under county administrator. And Mr. Chair, I just wanted to note that u as we get to county administrator items, if there are folks here who have agenda items that are afterwards and you'd like to move administrative items
later, you know, so you can get the folks that are here, totally fine. You know, don't if if you'd like to do that. So, >> okay. Yep. >> Actually, >> and that's it, Mr. Chair. >> That's what I would recommend. >> Yeah. >> So, >> move for approval of the amended agenda. Mr. Chair,
>> second motion been made and second to approve the amended agenda. All in favor? >> I carried. >> 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 rules of order for its meeting. So, please obtain the board's consent before addressing the county board. Public comments are generally re review reserved for open form segment of the public hearing.
However, public comments on other agenda items may be allowed at the board's discretion. As we begin today, please turn off your cell phones and turn your phones to vibrate. Thank you. Open forum. Matt Fountain is first on the list.
>> Yep. Go, Matt. Go to the >> Good morning. >> Morning. >> My name is Matthew Fountain. I'm a resident here in Benton County. Uh my son and I purchased a property back in July at 7655 Jasmine Loop Northwest. It was used to be Fat Joe's Racecraft. It
was a rather well-known, I guess, automotive shop, for lack of a better way of putting it. We own a tree service. We had been doing business with them. We purchased the property basically for the shop so we could work on some of our equipment for our company. About a month after getting it,
I think July 2nd, we closed on it. Oh, that's my son Ander right there, by the way. He's one of the going to be the owner here pretty soon of it. And uh so uh we got a a letter from zoning stating that we can't operate a business there due to the fact that it's zoned
residential. When we purchased the property, first thing I did was contact or look at the tax statement and under the assessor's thing, it's done as residential/commercial land and building. I feel a reasonable person as myself, I'm not going to go
further than that because I believe that the county knew that a business was being operated from there. So upon purchasing that than getting a first letter, I contacted Miss Aman in the zoning department and we had several discussions about this and she said it is purely for zoning. Very few
businesses like a daycare or something could be run there. Um I said, "Well, is there a way I could appeal this process or something like that?" And she said there wasn't. So, we reached out to a couple people. I then contacted her again and said, "Well, I believe could I put in for a variance so I could get in
front of the board of adjustment because we made a very sizable financial thing into this business." And I want to emphasize and I told her also, we bought this just to work on our vehicles in that shop. That shop is a 55x 80, has
four lifts in it, and it's like, again, it's it's perfect for our business. There will be no wood storage, wood processing, anything of that. We have another property that we do all that at. We dump all our waste at berskis excavating. So I'm feeling that we're,
you know, that I'd like to be heard further. She said, I said, "Well, could we do a variance? Could we look at a conditional use permit?" Any sort of factor, nothing. We asked, "Well, what if we dropped off say a variance package?" She said, "I'll refuse it." I find it hard to believe that this county
is going to number one pass up on the revenue. Number two, pretty much shut down a small business with guys trying to make a go at it for that. And I mean, I'd be willing to talk about any stipulations, what size vehicle could be parked there, putting up a fence,
another building, anything of that sort. And then we also had a secondary thing about we put down some crushed gravel and it uh went beyond the impervious >> surface. So then we removed that. We took our wheel out and walked it around. that we believe were under the 25%. But
I really felt that we haven't been treated fairly so far by the zoning, at least upon being heard further on this. So, we received two letters from her and now we just got contacted by the county attorney's office saying that we're, you
know, that further legal action can be taken. That's the last thing I want. I was a postmaster in Rice for 16 years. I like this community. It's a good community and we want to contribute to it, but we don't want to do anything illegal. Oops, excuse me. Illegal anyways.
So, I I was wondering, can you guys propose something to me? Am I allowed to put in for a variance? I I find it hard that somebody could just deny it at the window. >> We do have the expert here on >> Far from that, Mr. Chair. Maybe maybe
Matt, if I could. And Mr. chair. Um maybe I'd suggest we have a conversation with staff and then yourself or Roxan or somebody reaches back to him at that point because typically we don't have the back and forth at the open forum. Yep. Exactly. But I appreciate >> So I think we've heard that and I think now we can take it from there and have
discussion with staff and I always like to say the other half of the story. Yep. Right. We've got your half. >> Every coin has two sides >> and then expect somebody to respond back to you hopefully shortly. >> All right. Well, thank you very much for your time. Have a good day. >> Y thanks Matt. >> Thanks.
Mike Leandowski. Good morning. Mike Leandeski, Alberta Township. Uh, Mr. Chair, I u some of this might be able to be answered uh when the site director has uh his time. Just some questions on uh the parking uh
issue for the new government center. Um, you and I spoke briefly and and I think we have an understanding on some of it and uh I I guess I understood that at this time it doesn't appear that Bent Countyy's looking to purchase any additional lands uh adjacent to the
property um for for any use for parking or whatever. question is, if this building or the old part of this building remains, and I know it's kind of in the works yet, but if the old building remains, could one assume that the parking here would go with the
building for employees? Has that been discussed already or can somebody refresh? >> I don't >> Monty. Sure. Uh, well, uh, we've had discussions about possibly converting the old 1901 courthouse into a parking
space. And of course we would continue using the space which is behind here on the north side of our building. Um so uh but that is that is the that's the plan at this point. Right. >> Plan to keep the parking here for employees. >> Additional parking by the new center
would be for the public. >> This on street parking, right? >> On street parking. >> Yeah. Yep. >> Okay. >> If if this building doesn't get raised or if someone purchases, I'm not sure if that's been decided yet. Correct. >> Well, there's been lots of discussions
about the 1901 courthouse and I think the general consensus of the of the board is it's not really salvageable and probably is best suited for for parking space. So, >> so the rest from the annex this way, that's I think still up for discussion.
Um, we're going to be meeting fairly soon to start talking about options. Um, okay. So, >> so likely would be that the building would be raised versus sold. >> To be determined. Uh, yeah. I think
again we're we're focusing on the 1901 courthouse is is the one that's the least salvageable of the of the three sections. Yep. >> And if that was raised and that would be parking for employees and then they would Okay. >> Yeah. I think it'd be parking for the public and employees. You know, obviously we want to make sure that the
the public has the closest available, most convenient parking. So, >> yeah. >> And I don't recall how many do we know the the count for the spaces on the new site for public? >> Which site? >> The new construction site. >> There's no allowance for parking on the site.
>> There's no parking on the site. It's all street parking. >> Simply it'd be street parking, right? Yeah. >> Got it. >> Yep. If you if you look at the site plan, there really is very little space actually left for parking. uh the a lot of the open space on the southside will
be consumed by a sedimentation pond. So there's really very little space on this on the lot itself for parking. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> All right. Thank you. All right. Thanks. >> Consent agenda. We have items 1 through
six. Motion to approve. >> Second. Motion's been made and seconded for items one through six. Any questions or want anybody want anything pulled? >> Uh I just have some general questions on three, four, and five.
>> Okay. >> You want to pull three, four, and five? >> Sure. >> Yes. >> Oh, can you amend your >> motion? Sy's here. I'll amend the motion >> to pull three, four, and five. >> Amendable on that second.
>> It's okay. We >> You want to come? >> We got a motion to approve items one, two, and six. And pull three, four, and five. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Carried. Commissioner Benoy
number three. We'll start with >> Actually, it's a general question over all of them basically. Uh Sandy, I just have a quick question. Uh in some of our meetings that we've been or some of the meetings I've been attending, there's been a lot of talk uh about fraud that's
going on. H how do these are contracts? H how do we get the names of these places? Are they coming out of the cities? are are kind of just a general. >> So when they're on a consent agenda, they're in a they're
places we've already contracted with. So they are not new vendors, but we do have a policy as well about um with with various points on it of the research we do on new vendors as well as existing and on the amounts of money that we
contract for. And then we do audits and reviews. So, we do keep an eye on all of our contracts. >> Okay, that's what I needed to know. Thank you. >> Yes. >> Looks like they need a new agenda. >> I I'll make a motion to uh move three,
four, and five. >> Second. >> Motion been made and seconded to approve a consent agit consent agenda items three, four, and five. All in favor? I >> opposed. Carried. >> At this time, we'll go to the county
attorney. Good morning. >> Morning. >> Good morning. >> Um, as you may have heard, u, Mr. Leot has formally resigned. Uh, it's been a couple years um, since he's been gone on military leave. Um, he's formally resigned. Um, sent me a text on October
6th apologizing that it took so long. He was apparently deployed on September 15th. Um and then more recently October 12th sent in a formal letter of resignation. Um his email to me indicated he um intends not to return to Benton County and he's going to remain
on active duty for a minimum of four years and understands that we need this formal letter to fill his vacancy. So since we had asked essentially to overfill it quite some time ago, um Mr. Hadley asked that I come back and and let you know what was going on and then asked to fill that position. As you
know, we're already filling uh Miss Jansen's position. Um so our intent would just be to interview essentially for two positions. >> Move for approval, Mr. Chair. >> Yep. Second. >> It's been made and seconded to approve the request from the county attorneys to fill the position.
>> Mr. Chair. >> Yes. >> I I think we're still liable for another three years though in case he doesn't uh do us for your commitment. >> I think there is something that um HR had spoke about that. >> If I may. Yes. I I want to attribute some research to Shannon and uh Emily
and they tell us that uh the employee does retain reinstatement rights even though the employee has resigned uh up to that 5 years of of active duty service. So I just want to make sure that's that's fully disclosed. Okay. >> Yeah. >> So you've heard that. Um any other
questions? >> Yeah, >> I'm fine with that. >> I assume I assume when offering a new position that'll be uh informed to the new person. >> There's that potential. I'm not I'm not sure how HR goes about that. Um I I don't know the answer to that to be honest.
>> Well, it's on the record now. So, >> Yep. I just wanted that disclosed. Mr. >> Thank you. >> Sounds good. >> All in favor? I >> opposed. Carried. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Monty Headley. >> Uh Pete is here with an update, Mr. Chair.
>> It's all yours, Pete. >> Morning. >> Good morning, Mr. Chair, members of the board. uh Pete Philippi, Integrity Group, construction manager on the project across the street. So, uh quick update this morning on uh a little bit on the budget side of things. Uh and then I'll talk about the progress on the
site and what you can kind of expect to see. Budget-wise, uh we're early in the project. Uh we did get through our uh soil remediation, which I think reported on last month to you. Uh everything went well. We're under the budget that we encapsulated before early on. uh
should tame itself out a little over $100,000 and we had 200 in that line item. So hopefully we uh move free and clear which I expect we should at this point being that the site's entirely backfilled. Uh we do have five proposal requests out now that GLT has issued uh
minor in uh nature uh at this point in the process but few things we're cleaning up on the site and uh upon approval of those pricings a subsequent change order will be uh issued. So with that budget looks very healthy at this point. So there's no questions in regard
to the budget uh just move on to the site happenings. Uh currently all the foundation work is presently in backfilled. Uh you'll see some activity out there today and that is uh Kim and Dirt Work moving the excess stock pile off site to provide a little bit more
space for us to move around. Uh LJ Plumbing and Heating is on site doing the deep underground sewer uh work within the building. Tomorrow or later this week, uh Johnson Nelson Masonry will mobilize and start bringing up a
couple of the elevator shafts and stair tower for which we have steel bearing on. And we have steel scheduled to start showing up here later part of next week. I can't remember how many trucks are coming in if it's 10 11 trucks. And then uh Breitbach construction will be shortly thereafter to start to put the
steel uh start to erect the steel. did take a nice call from Eric Johnson who's uh K. Johnson uh concrete on Friday and just wanted to let me know that this was the most well-coordinated project he's been on in the last two years. The foundation work went in seamlessly and
he just wanted to give some positive feedback. So, we're moving in the right direction uh with things. Uh we enter this phase of construction where we're a little bit weather dependent and we'll see how things progress here as we move on to the next month or so. So that's
kind of the happenings. Uh by next month you'll start to see some steel coming out of the ground. So things have been progressing very nicely. At the same time, uh I know we're starting to kind of stick our feet in the water a little bit on acquisition of some furniture and those AV systems that we had budgets for
and that process will soon evolve itself a little bit more with some of your input. So just wanted to uh give you a quick update and see if there are any other questions. >> Mr. chair. Uh Pete, what do you see for timeline for those RFPs that GLT is putting out? >> Um I matter of fact, I talked with Evan
as of yesterday on the furniture RFP. I think he's real close on that and then he was going to uh check back on the AV component and I think that's shortly thereafter. Uh we did have conversation, you know, some of that stuff's over a year out, but it's nice to get that stuff resolved. Uh the AV component will
be of course a little bit more uh first come first serve as far as our needs on site goes. We just want to make sure that at least before ceilings and things go in, we've got all the conduit and wiring figured away for those pathways to the various rooms when we're providing the AV and the security side of stuff. So, >> and are you able to speak to what the
other couple RFPs would be? >> What's that? >> Are you able to speak to what the other RFPs would be? You've talked about AV and furniture. I think you listed off five of them. >> Yeah. Uh basically it's going to come down to two uh RFPs and the furniture component will be to get a vendor on
board to help through the design process uh with that uh and those will be brought back to of course the county board here for subsequent uh review and approval and acquisition of that furniture vendor will then help us through the process of identifying the workstations
uh the furniture components the tables chairs desks and some of that is important as well. Like I said, a lot of those cubicles have power and data feeds to them as well. So, we want to make sure that the holes in the floor uh going up the second floor and even in slab on grade are well coordinated. So,
we're hitting the center of these desks that have power and data to them. Uh at the same time, the AV security side of stuff will go out and uh once again, we'll start to vet through that process to make sure that the systems in place, i.e. county boardroom that microphones
and the speakers and monitors and things are well positioned and that we have the proper wires and ruffins in the walls. So subsequently when those systems are ready to be installed, we're not chasing wires down walls that we've already got sheetrock painted and such. So >> all right, thank you.
>> Yep. >> Any other questions? >> Thank you for your time this morning. Mr. Chair, Amanda's here with your next item. >> Okay. >> Good morning, county board. >> Good morning.
>> Um, in front of you this morning, um, you have an attached letter from the initiative foundation um, requesting appointments to our region 7W um, governing committee. Um this uh we've had previous conversations at previous board meetings about the um region 7W um
entity and um this morning we're requesting that the county board consider appointments to the governing committee. Um we are looking for an at uh large business um community representative
um and a staff appointee which I have volunteered that position. um out of ease for the county. And then also a third appointee would be an elected official. Um oftentimes the
elected official is a county county board member um to serve on that committee. Um we are hoping to have all appointments from all of the different uh counties appointed in October so that
we have at least time to meet at least one time this year yet. Um, so the business atlarge community representative, um, we had a discussion at the BEP board meeting this last month
and, um, it was recommended that Tim Rutder, one of our board members, um, serve on that committee as the ATL large um, business community member. So, um, with that being said, I'm going to turn it over to the county board to discuss
and have conversations about who would you would like to have serve on this regional 7W committee. >> Mr. Chair, I I have a question. You know, we all have different districts. I'm just wondering what district would make sense to serve on this board. Would
it be someone that uh is in the Foley, you know, your district or, you know, I >> I'm just I'm throwing that out there. >> Well, I I think with u Mr. Rutder sort of volunteering. I mean, we you know, it took some
>> little bit of con of conversation to get him to do this. I think that's a really good position that we got there. Yeah. >> So that'll be like the contact that comes back to the BEP board meeting along with Amanda. So I don't really think that there's a district that
really needs to be representative. I think >> I think it's pretty much just a county board person that can >> Mr. Chair Manda a couple questions. What's the time commitment? Um you foresee >> yeah I foresee you know one meeting this year um roughly an hour an hour and a
half um and then uh next year we'll probably have one or two meetings um just kind of getting the ball rolling. We have to get the application approved yet um this year. So there is going to be at least one initial meeting this year yet. So that's the time commitment
is maybe roughly um 3 to 6 hours. >> Okay. And then the second question is, does it make sense to have an alternate or two alternate county board members? >> I would think so. That would be a really great um option. >> Yeah. I just think this might be a good
opportunity where somebody goes and then somebody else goes next time >> type of thing. That's just a thought. >> Yep. We would like to have at least one appointee from the board um as an elected official to be the official appointee and then if we need an alternate, we >> But does that system allow for an
alternate? Um I don't have we haven't developed the bylaws yet. Okay. Um for this entity, but you know we can have that conversation with the initiative foundation. >> I just I know what happens with schedules is all of a sudden >> Yeah. >> So >> it's a good recommendation actually.
>> It's up to you Scott. >> Either way I'm happy to go to do it or be an alternate. I would like some involvement potentially but >> Right. >> Yeah. >> I I can take it or leave it. Well, my opinion would be then to put you and
then if they have an alternate, I'd like to be the alternate. >> Okay, >> we can do that. >> Point Scott Johnson. Commissioner Johnson. >> A second. >> Motion been made to appoint Commissioner Johnson and if they allow an alternate,
we'll turn to Commissioner Heinen. >> And Mr. Chair, just a clarification, Amanda, in do you need a a motion to approve yourself and the other one? So, if we could do you need them separately or could we >> um I think one motion um so in in the action requested in your staff memo um
it lists me as the appointee um as a staff appointee. >> I I'll reconsider my motion and then I'll make another motion. >> Okay. >> I'll make a motion to appoint BEP executive man as a staff appointee for the region 7W governing committee.
Appoint Tim Rutder as a atlarge business community representative and appoint board member Commissioner Johnson as a county representative and if possible or allowed an alternate
for Commissioner Heinen. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Motion been made and seconded to do what he just said. I won't go through it. >> Um any other discussion? All in favor? I opposed. Carried. >> Thank you very much.
>> Thank you. >> I I just I know my personal policy item is pretty lengthy. So I see Troy is already here. Perhaps if you would like to jump to his item. Yeah, sure. >> Yeah. >> Right at 9:25 too. Look at that.
>> Good morning, commissioners. Good morning. >> As you're all aware, we have a statutory requirement to uh provide medical care to inmates in the Benton County Jail. Over the last four years, we've been satisfying that requirement with a contract with Advanced Correctional
Health or AC. Uh that contract expires at the end of this year, at the end of 2025. We've entered into negotiations with AC and come up with a new three-year agreement to continue this relationship to provide medical services
in our jail through the end of 2028. Uh you'll note in the um contract that the price for our medical services for 2026 is a 2.5% cost increase. And then
we agreed to a 4% cost increase in 2027 and 2028. Uh this also takes two contracts that we currently have, one for the medical services, one for the electronic medical records, and combines them into one contract to avoid some duplication and
make things a little bit more streamlined. So be happy to field any questions the board may have. >> Um Troy, I guess I feel that the 4% for the two outlying years is pretty hefty.
>> Okay. I mean, I would, you know, um, we're in labor negotiations now and, um, we're kind of holding back on the three-year because of the, you know, the the state of the economy and everything like that. So, I mean, and then they go, you know, 4% on the two outline years.
Is there an option that we could look at that or is that pretty much what they offered? >> Uh, so this is what they offered and that's what you we were able to uh, get for negotiation. Okay. >> Um, yeah, I guess it's up to the discretion of the board. If if you think
that's an acceptable alternative. If, uh, if the motion fails, we'd go back and see what we else figure out. >> Mr. Chair, Sheriff, can you give kind of a broad overview as I read through here? It's uh, on an average daily population of 40. >> Yes.
>> Right. So, and then if you go more than 10 more, there's additional dollars. >> Correct. The other problem is is if your ADP goes to 25 or 30, we're still paying the minimum of 295 and then the outlying years. Is that correct statement? >> So the contract adjusts both up and
down. >> Okay. >> So currently our contract has has a baseline of an ADP of 50. So we've been getting credit back uh for quite a while because our ADP hasn't approached that. This adjusts it to a more more typical
ADP of what we've seen over the last couple years of 40. And yes, if we have more than 40, we'd be paying extra. If we have less than 40, we'd get a credit back for that. >> And would you say of your inmates, if you have, let's just say you have 40, are all of those receiving medical care?
>> Well, they all >> I realize that can change, but I mean, >> overall, is it typical that they would all receive medical care? >> They all get evaluated. Um, but as far as those that actively take medical care, not all of them do. I think a significant portion of them do because
unfortunately when they come to us, they typically haven't taken very good care of themselves. And especially uh the mental health um that we provide, there's probably at least a quarter, maybe a third that are on those are on those roles to be seen.
>> I mean, this the simple math on 40 inmates is $7,400 per inmate. for the first year >> that's why I ask if they're actually using it >> and others probably use two or three others time >> sir
>> right okay >> any other questions >> it's just another expense >> another healthy expense >> yeah that's passed on to the counties >> I mean it's a hefty expense there's no doubt about >> I mean I I agree with commissioner pop
the 4% in the outlying years. Is there a way to do a one year and look at it again or are they giving us a break the one year because of the outlying years? >> I so the the reduction in costs in the first year is a result of going from
that 50p down to the 40 ADP. Mhm. >> Uh there wasn't really a discussion about we're going to give you a break on on the first year for signing the second two. Um you know the 4% when you talk about medical inflation that that's a
pretty reasonable number and that's that's why we brought it here. So again I I leave it up to the discretion of the board. If uh if this doesn't uh meet with your approval, we'll go back and we'll try again. Um, you know, our our alternative is that
we would have to, you know, if we don't contract with AC, there really aren't many other players in the game. There might be one other player that's starting to work into Minnesota. Otherwise, we're looking at we would have to find a doctor and nurses and have our own staff. Um there's a lot of
larger counties in the state that are going that way, but that, you know, that presents some real challenges to Benton County to bring on a medical director of our own and hire our own nurses. >> Uh Mr. Chair, I I think we looked at
that quite a while back about bringing on a nurse from Centralare or whatever at that time and that was quite a few years ago and that was a healthy expense, too. And then you and then it was hard to get them on weekends and that was the biggest problem. >> Weekend problem I >> that was the problem we had.
>> Yeah. Is is there an opportunity like because we're not a large county that we could pair with another county that's having the same issues? >> I've not heard of any kind of co-op arrangements like that. Um I think that that's certainly a possibility, but I I
think that would we'd be breaking some new ground there. >> Yeah. And it would take some time to get to that point. >> It would. >> Yeah. M Mr. Mr. Chair, Sheriff, I know it addresses additional ADPs here. I think it just gives an example of 10, but are they you said they're currently giving you credits now. So, we're we're
under 50. We're with 50 ADP now, but you've been receiving credits because our ADP is at 35. >> Correct. >> So, are you getting a credit for each individual ADP or is it a block? >> So, we we get we get a credit each month
issued back to us. >> So, what you're actually using, >> correct? So, you paid for 50, but if you only use 35 that month, you're getting a credit for the 15. >> Correct. >> Okay. On a monthly basis >> or there, >> I believe it's a month. It's monthly or quarterly, but yes, we get a credit for
that. >> Okay. Mr. Chair, in the future, Troy, do you see the uh jail population going up above 40? I mean, you know, we're looking I know hypothetically, but but we also have to look at is it going to be at 50 next
year? Okay, now that's going to raise it 10 more inmates, >> right? >> You know, I think our jail population is very dependent upon the political winds that blow down in St. Paul. Uh when you have uh an executive branch that's controlled by a party that very much
favors not putting people in jail, that's the results you're going to get out of the system. Um, you have a legislature that passes laws that favor that outcome. You have an executive branch that puts people on commissions that set sentencing guidelines that favor that outcome. So,
absent a change at the at least the executive level, I think that you're going to continue to see an ADP approximately where we're at. I think that we've kind of hit kind of hit um a level here that's going to remain unless there's some type of political change.
>> Mr. Chair, I think the bigger question is if you feel 4% for the outline years is a real number because >> Yeah. >> Well, Mr. Chair, the medical field has gotten very expensive, >> right? >> And it's going to keep getting very expensive.
I'd be more inclined to do a one-year, but that's just my initial thought. It's it's the dilemma of, you know, if it comes in at 6%, then you wish you'd had done it, right? So, >> correct. >> So, Mr. Chair, Commissioner Johnson, would you like to see this go back and
see if we can't negotiate for a 3% for the second year and a 3% for the third year or 3% for the second year, 4% for the third year? I I guess what I'd like to see potentially is for it to go back and see if we can come up with a percentage that's agreeable for signing
a three-year contract. >> Yeah. >> You know, we're giving them three years. Now, they may look at it and say, "Okay, we've answered that with a 4% fix in the outlying years. I understand that, but I don't know that we know that yet from what I'm hearing." >> Okay.
>> When what's your timeline, Sheriff? >> Well, our contract, uh, as I said, expires the end of this year. we have some time to work with. >> I guess I would agree with that. >> I guess my thought is let's have another conversation with them and see if we can negotiate a solid three-year. If we're
going to do a three-year, I'm a little leerary of that, but >> I do recognize that they may want to fix that percent. I I understand that. >> So, that's just my thought. >> I would agree. >> You would agree with that too, Commissioner B?
I think the consensus is to go back and see if you can negotiate if a three-year is going to deal, we'd like to see a little less percentage on years two and three. >> All right. Very good. >> And we'll we'll entertain it as soon as you bring her back. >> Yeah. >> Thank you, Sheriff.
>> I'll be back. Thanks. >> Um, let's move on to Christine. We'll come back to Monty. >> Okay, I'll stick around. >> All right. >> Good morning. >> Morning. Morning. >> So, a little update on the county owned parcels for auction. Uh the last time I
was here, we had one parcel that we were considering maybe um listing with a realer. Uh it can be listed with a realer. However, the listing price cannot be less than 90% of the estimated market value. And with the estimated market
value being 25,000, the minimum list price would be $22,500 or more. And then additionally, the property carries that special assessment of 11,522, bringing the minimum total cost to a
buyer of $34,000, um, not including the realer fees. Comparable properties in the area are currently selling for between 19 and 20,000. And then also selling this parcel may be a challenge due to the presence of
wetland and the usable area on the parcel. um we need to do a 30-day publication period. And I had also handed out um a
spreadsheet of starting bit uh prices so that you could see with the buyer's premium and the deed tax, special assessments, recording fees, etc. where a starting starting price would lead you into a final price.
Um Michelle, did you have anything to add? >> Um say that when you follow the auction process, you do have that leniency to consider all of the factors of the property to set a more reasonable price versus going
through the broker. So, I do want to make you aware, you probably already are aware of that, but just an FYI, you do get to lower that price. Any other questions? >> Any other questions? >> Uh, no, M. Mr. Chair, I I just know we
have a willing buyer and he says that he can make it work at 15,000, you know, because he's got to pay that $11,52212. I'm just going to ask where the recommendation for the $4,000 sale price came from. >> Yeah. >> Right. You know, and as as I'm looking at these numbers, personally, I would
like to see it starting at 3,000. Now, we've it's been on the books for how long already? Since 2012. >> Yes. >> So, it's been on the books for quite a while, you know, but that's just my recommendation and my
thoughts. >> Mr. Mr. Chair Christine, just to clarify, you said uh properties are currently in the 19 to $20,000 range is what they're bringing >> in that area. I had checked with the St. Cloud Assessor and that's what he had. >> But this one has a wetland on it,
>> right? >> Yeah. Half of it basically is wetland. So, it's a very small buildable lot. >> That's I say is the buildable lot. >> Very small. >> It's build, but you'd have to get creative. >> It's got to be a slab on grade and everything, too. So,
>> and we've been sitting on it for 13 years. >> Yes. And and unfortunately, we have to go through an auction, which I understand now. >> Mhm. >> But I'd make a motion to uh make a minimum bid starting at 3,000.
>> And just to clarify, Commissioner Heinen, before Well, I'm sorry. I'll second it for discussion. >> Okay. Yeah, there we go. Just to clarify, Commissioner Heinen, um 3,000 for the sale price, but then recognizing that there's special assessments and that type of >> correct >> with all the added assessments.
>> So, a $3,000 sale would cost approximately $14,729 bucks. >> Correct. Yep. >> I'll leave my You have a second, Mr. Chair? >> Got a motion and a second for a $3,000 starting along with the special assessments. Any other discussion?
Just a quick question. So, if it starts at 3,000, how long is it out there for auction? >> Um, we're going to we would start it on December 1st and it would be out for two weeks. >> Okay, that's what they need to know. >> Mr. Chair, may I ask Christine question?
Will it be posted on the public surplus website? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Yep. >> Another question. So, when it's uh on that uh public website, do all the assessments and all the other fees get posted too? So that everybody knows. >> Yes. Everything is on there under the
buyer's terms. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Anything else? We got a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I opposed. >> Great. >> Thank you, Christine. >> Thank you. She has one more item. Yep.
>> I just wanted to um update you on our Tyler tax system and just some of the issues we've been having recently. So, if you get any phone calls, you're aware of them. Um, currently our online portal does not have any instructions to
taxpayers on how to enter their parcels in. I'm trying to work with them to get more clarification on there. Um, there's no kickback email to anybody if their payment is declined or doesn't process correctly. only one owner can be printed
on the receipt and I've reached out to them to see if the second owner can be printed on there and it cannot. Um the online portal does not allow for phone number to be entered. So if there are any issues with payment, we have no
way of contacting them. So it's kind of on the taxpayer to make sure that everything goes through. Um, just this past week, we had our tax day on last Wednesday. We did have issues getting
our AC direct pay file to the bank. We managed to get it there with 15 minutes to spare. Um, the escrow files were an issue as well. There are things that are posting to the the system, but we didn't receive
the money from the bank actually. So, we're we're following through on that. It's just been a lot of issues and our support team has been on vacation from October 10th to October 28th. So,
just if you get any phone calls, we're doing the very best we can. >> Mr. Chair, what's the support been like? I mean, I realize they were gone. You just said that, but what's the support been? >> Um, it's been questionable. I would say on the tax side, the CAMA side, I know
Brian has had phenomenal support. Our tax implementation consultant quit 3 days before we went live. So, we ended up our implementation consultant now is um part-time only. So, he's only
available until noon each day. So, if we have issues after that, we don't have any any support really. So, >> in other words, your phone's been ringing off the hook. >> Yeah, it's been busy,
but people have been pretty good understanding that it's a new system. >> Sounds like it's got a ways to go. >> Uh, yeah. >> Right. And I mean, when we implemented the new system, I thought we were going to get all this support, >> right? >> Yeah, that's what I thought, too.
>> They didn't tell you they were going on vacation for that long period of time. No, not during the Minnesota tax collection, >> right? >> Yeah, it was. >> And we're not the only county having problems. I had other counties reach out to me on tax day
>> whose AC file pulled multiple times on their taxpayers bank accounts. So, >> oh boy. >> Oh, man. >> We didn't have that problem. Thank God. >> One would hope even though they were on vacation, they'd still have a support. >> Yeah, correct.
>> Right. Thanks for the update. Yeah. >> Wish I had better news. >> Okay. Anything else you want to report on? >> Nope. That's all. >> We would prefer good news instead of >> I'll try better next time. >> Great. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Um we'll now move in to Sandy Schelberg from human services. >> I'll have Janelle and Lindsay join us. Actually, I think Lindsay, are you giving the So, have Lindsay give an update. >> Good morning, commissioners. >> Morning.
>> Um, just here to give a brief update on the impact of the federal shutdown for the financial assistance programs. Um, currently the programs we're looking at seeing affected are the SNAP, so the supplemental nutrition assistance program, formerly known as food support,
and then also the family cash program, MIP, which is the Minnesota family investment program. Um, in the event that the federal shutdown continues, the November benefits would not be available to recipients. um DCYF, so the Department
of Children, Youth, and Families is notifying recipients today um via text and email um regarding the potential of benefit stopping for November. Um as of Wednesday, um October 29th, the
MIAB cases processed on or after this date, we cannot approve. And then as of Saturday, November 1st, um SNAP cases processed on or after that date, we cannot approve. Um and then there's some additional steps that we've been staff have been given direction to follow um
to notify recipients um regarding these changes um adding some information to notices um and then verbally explaining these changes during interview processes for new applications. Um just a couple statistics. Um currently we have 1,931
active SNAP cases in Benton County. In the month of September, um there was $452,000 issued to SNAP benefits in Benton County. And then for MIP, there's currently 178 active cases in Benton
County. And in the month of September, we issued $193,000 um to recipients in Benton County for MIP. So that's what I had, just a brief update. Any questions?
>> Any questions? So, what happens? I mean, if we go forward for a long period of time, um, are we going to have to have staff reductions? Are we going to have to What's your theory on that? >> I'm not sure. I've never been through this. I don't know what to anticipate at this point. Hopefully, they get a
resolution and we don't have to get to that point. >> I mean, it's not much we can do right now. >> No. >> Something we have to watch. >> Yep. >> Just like everybody else. >> Yeah. shouldn't wait. >> Any other questions?
>> Thank you for that good news. >> Can I just add one thing as well? Uh we also get reimbursement from the federal government as well for our staff who are working these programs. So obviously that will be on halt as well. So um we don't know if we'll get reimbured
backwards or not as far as I know. Do you have something additional Mr. >> Commissioner? H I'm sorry, Mr. Chair. >> Yeah. >> So, you said that uh that reimbursement will stop the 31st of October. >> I'm guessing we will we go we bill
quarterly. >> So, okay. >> I'm not sure. As with most of the shutdowns with the state, in my experience, they usually go backwards and then go back and reimburse. We don't know if they'll go back and reimburse, but we would not get this until January. But there's a potential that during this
month of October, we'll miss out on some reimbursement and potentially November as well. >> So, Mr. Chair, Sandy, so is o is October the first month of a quarter? I mean, I understand it is on a calendar year, but is that the way? Okay. >> Yes. >> So,
>> so the longer it moves on, the more cost the county could absorb or they might go back and reimburse us in full. We've been doing the work, but there's no way to know this at this point in time >> and nobody to tell you what they're going to do. >> Correct.
>> Yeah. They've been saying all the information I've been receiving too from the federal government is that it's wishy-washy. Yes, they will. No, they won't. Every day it's a different story. >> In history, it has usually done that, >> right? >> But I can't speak to that now. Right,
>> Mr. Chair? Lindsay, the September numbers you gave us, are those fairly average? Are they up? >> Um, I would say they're average. >> Okay. >> Okay. Any other questions? >> Guess not.
>> Thank you. >> I have one. Hold it. >> I have one. So, if they don't come back online, potential cost, do you know or can you get that information and get back with the board on that potential cost from
October to December to the county board? >> Yes, I can get that for you. >> Okay. >> I think the other thing, of course, the major consideration of course for our public is they won't be getting their food benefits and >> the cash. >> I mean, the cash. So, I mean, that's a pretty major thing. We'll we will be
referring them to food shelves, etc., But that's they're going to be drained. So it is a major issue. >> I think we heard yesterday Second Harvest is only out 3 weeks. Got inventory. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So that'll be gone in
>> a week. >> Yeah. Probably. >> Yeah. Because they're sounds like they're pulling early on even some of that from our meeting yesterday. >> So Mr. Sure. Uh I will confer with Ashley to try and estimate uh how much
admin resources we may lose. >> Okay. >> So we're kind of informed about that issue. Kind of know the size of it. Yeah. Yeah. Rather than just kind of guessing. So um I'll do that. >> So what do we do to alleviate that loss? >> Uh that may be a policy decision that
this county board may have to make. That's right. You know, I mean our fortunately as we head into this, our reserves are are good good shape. Uh but there's limits of course, right? Yeah. Yeah. >> And it certainly would be concerning if we don't if they don't retro back then simply we've got to absorb that. That
would be very concerning. >> Well, that's my concern. >> And my concern would be that even if they retro back there, you know, and if they don't, they're not going to know until they reopen. >> Correct. >> So, we may have already accumulated all that expense. And I mean we can't expect
the employee employees to work and well we may get reimbursed for your time and we may not. >> Yeah. >> That you know you can't get we can't tell them well you might not get paid even though do the work that ain't going to work.
>> Well fortunately to his point there's some fun there's some reserves to deal with to start with. >> Correct. Yeah. >> You know of course involving employees we'd have to navigate the issues inside labor agreements too. Right. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. Anything else? >> So, we'll just be in limbo.
>> Correct. >> No, nothing else. Thank you. >> Now, go to Monty. Now, we'll go back to Monty. Okay, Mr. Chair, um we're going to talk first about personal policy revisions.
>> Yep. And I am going to go off what's on your screen and I'm going to refer to page numbers in the personnel policies not not like the the packet page numbers. So if I may. So this is going to we're going to start on page 38 of
the personnel policies. And before I game as chair there's really three big issues to address for you this morning. The first is our proposal to eliminate the the leave donation program. The second is to make revisions to our earn sick and savetime policy. That's
number two. And then the third is to put into place policies regarding Minnesota paid leave or PML, paid family medical leave. There's different acronyms that people use. I kind of like Minnesota paid leave. So, we'll call it that. Okay. So, those three buckets that we're
going to talk about this morning. Okay. First one again is on page 38. We've had in place for a long time a policy allowing employees to donate their own paid time off or or vacation leave to another employee. Uh and Commissioner Heinen and
Commissioner Pop have heard this issue over and over in labor negotiations. So if I'm missing a key point, please add over time we've discovered it's extremely complex and difficult to administer. Um, it sometimes requires employees to divulge awkward personal
issues in their life regarding their health. That's very awkward and unpleasant. Um, I think there's been concerns about, well, some people get donations and some people don't. I think really what triggered this was the realization is that January 1, Minnesota paid leave starts where people
have accessed up to 20 weeks of paid leave. And I think our conclusion is that well we don't really see that the donation program will be even needed anymore. So we've had some success uh with some groups negotiating that out of collective bargain agreements and this
would apply then to non-UN employees. So commissioner and pop anything you wish to add from we've heard we discussed this extensively in labor negotiations. So >> I just wanted to make sure that it's for non-union employees >> because one union is bringing up this
yet. >> Yeah. So it's non-union, >> you know, and we may not negotiate it out of all agreements and you know that's okay. We'll take it one by one and uh perhaps over time as employees see the benefit of paid leave, they'll
say, "Look, you know, we don't need the donation program anymore." So, and that's the important point, Commissioner Hein, is that the personnel policies apply to non-UN employees. But here, I should add though with this caveat, >> they apply to union employees when the
union contract is silent on an issue. Right? >> So, again, for example, um you won't find in the a union contract lots of civics about mileage reimbursement or or you for example, the remote work policy.
That's not in any labor agreement. It's in the personnel policy. So, the personnel policies do apply to union members when the CBA is silent on an issue. All right, that is page 38 and 43.
Um, again, we we could donate either PTO or vacation. Let's move on then earn sick and save time and that starts on page 46. Okay, here's the big issue with earn sick and save time. Initially, based
upon the advice of our labor attorney, they said under guidance from the department, Minnesota Department of Labor, the first 48 hours of PTO or sick leave you use will count as your ESST. So, in other words, the first of the year you use 48 hours, you've used all
your EST, you're done. Well, as Susan Hansen has told us, the Minnesota legislature changed the law to say, "Okay, all of your sick leave and all of your PTO now counts as ESST." So, if so, instead of having this just
48 hours, if you've got, let's just say, for example, a,000 hours of sick leave, the ESST rules apply. So, what what does that mean? uh I tried to give you so let's back up for a
moment with PTO you can use that for any reason what this really affects though is sick leave so the rules regarding sick leave I'll use a little analogy are like this the P the ESST rules are like this in other words they're more flexible they're more broad so I've
tried to give you a few examples of where the ESST rules differ from the sor rules here's an example I've highlighted you can use ESST for the enclosure of the employees place of
business due to weather or other public emergency. You can use ESST due to domestic abuse, sexual assault, and stalking of the employee. You can use ESST if your your family
member's school or place, for example, daycare is closed due to weather. And you can also use it for if a family member is also experiencing domestic abuse, sexual assault and stalking. Also, you can use ESST for bereavement
leave. Um, and and that definition is right here to make arrangements for to attend funeral service or memorial and so on. So, these are instances where ESST is more broad than our sick leave policy. But the law says, okay, if you
have sick leave on the books, the ESST rules apply. And again, that issues we've discussed extensively in labor negotiations. So basically, Mr. Chair, is uh we strike out all that first 48 hours of business
and we say employee balances of paytime off or sickly may be used in accordance with the rules governing ESST. Yeah. Um, and actually this law is on the books today. It's not something that starts January 1st. It's on the books
today. So, this is this is clean up for our ESST policy. Alrighty, let's move on now to paid leave starting on page 51. Um, oh, I forgot one issue to mention on
the ESST. This is a discretionary issue that employers may put into policy or negotiate into labor agreements. And it says basically if you're an employee in a in a critical public safety position, uh we can deny the use of ESST.
So for example, let's just say you're a dispatcher or you're a SOP plot driver. We can say because of a weather emergency, we can deny you the use of ESST. So, as we've been negotiating with our groups, we're attempting to get this language in all of our CBAs, and it all
should also should apply to non-U employees as well. So, again, it gives the employee the authority to deny the USS use of ESST to those critical positions during a public emergency or a weather event. So,
because without it, for example, um let's just say again you're a snowplot driver. If you didn't have this in policy or CBA and a snowplow driver could rightfully say, you know, I have a legitimate ESST use. I need to be off even though the
roads need plowing. So again, hopefully we can see that in all of our labor agreements. So alrighty, scrolling on down. So Minnesota paid leave begins on 51 on page 51. So I'm going to pause just for
a moment, Mr. share and kind of talk big picture. My goal in in drafting this policy was not to describe everything about how Minnesota paid leave works, >> right? >> That's beyond the scope of personnel policies. It's a very large and largely
unknown and complex program. So, we're not going to attempt to explain it in our personnel policies. What we're going to do, and I've kind of said this over and over again, is when employees have questions about it, we're going to say, "Please call the Minnesota paid paid
leave helpline or visit their website." Um, we do in this policy attempt to give a broad overview of Minnesota paid leave and I can cover a few of those things here. So, Minnesota paid leave begins January 1st. It provides 12 leave, 12
weeks of leave for your own serious health condition. You can also get an additional 12 weeks and it's described for the purposes one, two, three, and four here. Bonding leave, active duty leave, leave to care for another person,
and safety leave. But the combined total cannot be more than 20 weeks between the two. Not more than 20 weeks between the two. Um, you get job protections after 90 days of employment with your with the county.
That's again flowing straight from the law. Um it's has broad application as it says here. It's available to full-time, part-time employees, seasonal and temporary employees and elected
officials. The only as we've learned from various se we've gone to many seminars on this about the only type of employees that are excluded are seasonal employees in the hospitality industry. That's it. Otherwise, you're you're covered.
Again, it's job protected leave. It's so it's kind of like if you you're familiar with FMLA, so it gives you that job protection to return to the same or equivalent job after you've used your eligible leave. Talk a little about the enrollment process. It's it's going to be totally online. So, employees go online to the
state website. They begin the application process. Our role is somewhat limited. We do some verification that yes, this person works here. How many hours do they work for you? What's the rate of pay? Things of that nature. Shannon's going to be our
PFML administrator handling those. So we do some again verification, but that's really the limit of our role. So this gets into so why do we have the policy and our personal policies? Well, we need to address some discretionary
areas where employers can establish their own unique policies. So, what I have here is consistent with what we've been pursuing in labor negotiations. It's very consistent. It comes from guidance from Susan Hansen. All right. The first one I try to highlight with this sort of like I'm not
sure what color you describe that. It's not yellow. It's the I'm not sure what is that color path. as a matter of county policy, FMLA or Minnesota parent and leave shall run concurrently with any PFML. And the notion there is
you don't want the leads to stack. In other words, you know, you wouldn't want someone, for example, to have their 20 weeks of P PFML and then there's another 12 weeks of FMLA on top of that. So, you would have someone gone for a very long time. So it's within employers
discretion to require that these leaves run concurrently. They run concurrently. Uh the next area of discretionary is about what's called topping off. So employers can allow their employees to
top off their paid leave wages using their acred paid time off vacation sick leave up to 100% of what their normal pay is. And as we've been negotiating, we've been proposing that actually employers could deny that. I'm not sure really why they would.
>> No, but employers could deny that. Um, and I should stress is so this policy would allow that. >> But employees don't have to though. They can say, look, you know, I want to just preserve my PTO, my sickly, my vacation, and I'll just take, you know, the paid
benefit. So they don't have to use any wage replacement to top off their paid leave wages. >> Otherwise, they would be at 66%, right? >> It varies. I think the max is 66 down to around 50%. Okay. >> As as your income level grows, the
percentage of wage replacement falls. >> Oh, that's so that's one more discretionary issue. Uh, another is the the subject of intermittent. So PFML can be used intermittently, but the law says employers can prescribe some policies
around how that's how that's done. So here's the proposed policies and again I adapted this from guidance from Susan. Um it's got to be scheduled. So in other words, I can't just say, "Well, tomorrow I'm going to go take pay leave." It's got to be scheduled at
least 14 days in advance. Uh you have to have 14-day notice of a schedule change. Um it runs concurrently FM f FMLA. Um and we can also establish a cap of how much can be used intermittently. And this says this this goes with what the
statute allows. 480 hours can be used intermittently. And the remaining 12, excuse me, the remaining eight weeks would have to be used continuously. Um we have folks that use FMLA intermittently now. And I will admit it's definitely a challenge to track.
Um, so this will add another layer of complexity to already complex tracking when when folks use lead intermittently. But that does occur now where it's used intermittently. Someone perhaps has a a chronic condition that you know that
they they almost essentially need that form of almost permanently. Um, I believe Mr. Chair, that is the final of the three discretionary policy issues uh that employers can enact
inside a paid leave program. >> And happy to answer any questions that you all may have. >> Any questions, >> Mr. Chair? Just for clarification, Monty, um the old sick leave, what we've been on PTO since 2011, 2012. >> Okay. Approximately how many employees
are on the old roughly? >> You would ask me. >> I'm sorry. I'll I'll get that answer. I'll get that answer to you. >> That's fine. And did you say that that sick leave bank is included in the ESST, >> right? So again, if I've got a thousand hours of sick leave, it all counts as
ESST now. Yeah. Under the rules of ESST. >> So it becomes much more I wouldn't say much more, but it comes more more broad and the in the ways you can use it for Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'll let you know. I'll let you all know how many folks are still on the old sick leave system.
And Michelle, that's what we've got for you. >> Questions. >> Complicated. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Fortunately, I've been through this with a couple other boards I sit on already.
>> Okay. If I can just add one last comment is I know uh with with Shannon's assistance and Emily's, we plan to have some sessions for employees and supervisors on paid leave and we'll do our best to educate folks uh about how the system works. Uh but we're all
learning as this goes along and uh I I won't promise it's going to be perfect. We'll do our best. >> I think that's everyone's in the same boat. We're just trying to learn how this is going to work. So with only through experience will we know actually how it's going to work. So >> and I think you've explained that pretty
well during negotiations. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So this is a >> action item. >> Action item. >> Action item. >> Yes sir. Looking for a motion to approve the ad revised personnel policies as presented. >> I'll make that motion. >> I'll second.
>> Motion been made and seconded to approve the revised um resolution. Personnel post >> personal personnel resolution. >> Other discussion all in favor? >> I opposed. Carried. >> Okay. One more item on
>> Yes, sir. All right. Uh nine non employee health insurance. Um well, we're almost to the start of open enrollment. It starts in about a week or so. And uh for folks to make informed decisions about what they want to choose, we need to tell them what the the rates might be, the whole premium
structure and plan structure. So, uh, there's been quite a detour in health insurance, so bear with me. Uh, about a month ago or so, the benefits advisory committee came to you and presented this plan for a new four tier structure. Bold, innovative, a great
great recommendation. So, initially when we talked to MMA, we asked the question because we kind of thought, you know, probably won't have all of our labor agreements done by January 1st. So we could have some folks on the old system and some on the new.
So initially we said hey can Blue Cross Blue Shield administer that old system, new system. Initially MMA said yes. So we asked again and maybe a couple more times. Are you really sure? Are we really sure? And upon further digging
the answer was no. They cannot administratively manage with our group folks on old and folks on new. So in negotiations, what we're attempting to do is is bring on board the new four-tier system in 27
>> which leaves us with the existing two-tier system. So that's what got us to this today. Also too, you may wonder, well, you know what? If you get settlements during 26, can people then enroll in? The answer is no. to preserve the pre-tax nature of our deductions that you can only switch
amongst these high deductible plans with a qualifying event, marriage, kid, that sort of thing. It's going to have to wait until 27. >> I think we're all disappointed, but again, I I don't want to diminish, you know, again, the bold nature of what the BAC brought to you all and very
innovative, creative, and I hope someday we can get to the four tier system. So, so Mr. chair um asking you to consider what's in your packet and if I may offer a few explanations. So um when we we post the MMA, well
folks, um we're going to have to stay with the two two-tier system. Is it still going to be a 3% funding increase? And they said, no, it really needs to be five. And here's the reason why. The four tier system also included this new what I call kind of a super high
deductible plan 5,000 10,000. They made certain assumptions about employees moving to that one which would reduce the funds costs. In other words, employees are going to be paying more potentially out of pocket themselves with the super high deductible. The plan would pay less. So the funding need was
lower. Well, we're not going to do the super high deductible plan in 26. So instead, BMMA says, well, your funding increase really needs to be 5%, not three. That's the first thing. So again, staying I'm going through the agenda item, staying with the two-tier
structure. Uh, and this is part of the recommendations which is flowing from labor negotiations is currently the county contributes 80% of the single plan and 75% of the family. What's been
flowing from labor negotiations though is increasing the single contribution from 80 to 85. From 80 to 85. So that's improvement there for the single. And I if I could back up for a moment as as we've heard in labor negotiations, it's
quite common for employers to pay most if not all of the single plan. 90 to 100%. It's very common. So our 80% was kind of an outlier. So, we've heard that in labor negotiations. Uh, moving on down, uh, this again
flowing from negotiations is to increase the contribution for the VIBA and HSA family from 250 to 283. And the goal there was get that close to 3,400. So, basically, that's the number. It's 3396.
I think we left out the cents, but it gets you to 3,400, which is half the this the uh deductible. Uh, moving on down the list is this also would increase those deductibles to 3,400 for single and 6,800 for family.
And you may recall we're obliged to increase the HSA single to retain that concept of called an embedded deductible at 3,400 for 26. So, and this really is adapting a BEC
recommendation to make the Bibba deductible the same. and then the family deductibles be to be double the single. So we're we're adapting a bit of the BEC recommendation here to move the deductibles of 3,400 and 6,800.
Mr. Chair, I have included in the packet then what the table would look like uh for actual contributions viva, HSA, single and family. You can see the employee contributions in the green and then county contributions. Uh
for reference, I included the current 2025. So just give you a sense of of where employee contributions would go. I that's my handwriting in red. Um you can see for example the current s employee
contribution for single is 16838. That's going to go to 13260. So again from 168 38 to 13260. So a nice improvement for those with single coverage and on the the HSA from 154 to 121. The family the
family because that stays at 75%. Uh that does go up a bit on the on the viva from 599 to 629 and the HSA from 549 to 577. Um so I'll pause there. questions, thoughts
uh especially from Mish Hein. Mr. Pop, you've been hearing this a lot in lab negotiations. >> Thank you. >> Questions or for me? >> Number of times we've got it. >> Yeah. Yeah. We we don't we don't like it probably, but we understand it. We have to do it.
>> Uh Monty, who set the $34,000 for the >> 3,400? >> Yep. >> This is adapting a recommendation from the BAC. >> Okay. is they had recommend that the that the uh viva deductible mirror the HSA one
>> and then that the d the family one just be double the single that's where we're we're taking that lead from is from the BC recommendation. Yeah. >> And you can see it's an additional 95,000 on the county's budget. >> Right. >> M chair that's that was going to be my
question. You really only have two options here. You're going to take out a fund balance >> or we're going to make some type of reduction. >> Right. Right. >> Because we're not going to raise a levy, >> right? >> So, >> right, that's really your sources. >> So, what's the reduction options? Do we have reduction options that you're thinking of at all? >> I don't have any in the moment. Right.
You know, >> what's the timeline on approval of this? When do you need this approved? >> We we really need it today, unfortunately, because open enrollment starts >> 24th of October. >> Yeah. >> Next week. Yeah. Yeah. >> When it closes November 11th, >> 14th.
>> 14th. Okay. I had those dates wrong. >> Thank you. And this is kind of what we proposed to the unions yesterday, too. >> Yeah. So, >> well, we're trying to be as consistent as we can. Um, you know, with with what we're seeing in negotiations. Yep.
>> Y I mean, we don't other than the 95,000 coming out of reserves, I don't see a lot of leeway to move with the time frame that we're in. No, >> as of now it would have to come out of reserves, >> right?
>> Uh, you know, Mr. Chair, just one last um comment is um I guess I always try to keep this in mind is you make your health insurance better, so to speak. You make yourself a more attractive employer in extremely competitive labor market. So, as we move closer to the
prevailing trends, especially with single coverage, that can help us as we're, you know, Emily is working to attract applicants and hire people. So, I try and keep those things in mind. >> And we did hear yesterday and specifically from a neighboring county
that they went to 100% on their single coverage. >> Yeah. And >> so I mean basically they were hoping to get more contract settlements by they have a larger number of singles and that's what they were hoping. >> Did they say how they paid for it? Did they prepare for that the proposed
budget or they taken reserves >> and we do have probably one of the lowest health insurance increase thanks to our >> selfunding selfunding deal that we did many years ago. >> I mean what some of we're talking 11 12%
and we're at well 35 now. So, this does need approval today. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. I'll be the bad guy. >> Okay. >> Motion to adopt non-un employee health insurance for 2026 as presented.
>> I'll second that. >> Mr. Chair, for discussion. I I understand the need and the timeline and I understand that it's probably going to need to come out of fund balance, but at some point I think we better have some discussion about some potential reductions. I mean, this is $100,000. >> So, I don't know when we're going to do
that, if we're going to wait till our goal session, but >> Well, I know, Mr. Chair, it's uh of course we'll have at least one final budget committee the whole >> early December, and that'd be a great time to talk about, you know, what could be done to to even things out. Yeah. So
then I guess the ask would be to include that in that discussion. Be prepared with some potential reductions. >> You bet. Yep. >> Okay. Comment well received. Um with that, all in favor? >> I opposed. Carrie. Thank you.
>> Do we have uh >> community health board? >> We'll recess the county board and go to community health board. We'll call over the Ben County Community Health Board. Note that Commissioner Gapinsky is gone. Uh approve or amend
the agenda. Do we have anything to add? >> Good morning, commissioners. I do not. >> Okay. >> Move for approval, Mr. Chair. >> I'll second. >> You got a motion and a second. Any further discussion? If not, I'll call the question. All in favor say I. I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Consent
agenda item one and two. What would you like to do with that? I'd like to pull number two. >> Yeah. >> Move for approval of consent agenda item number one. Mr. Chair. >> Second. >> Okay. We got a motion, a second to approve agenda item number one. Any
further discussion? If not, I'll call the question. All in favor say I. I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Uh Courtney, you want to talk a little bit about this CO funding reinstatement? >> Yes. So, um, we did get an email from,
uh, the Minnesota Department of Health just letting us know that it's being reinstated. Um, I don't know all the details on the why behind it. Um, but they had asked if the if we had interest in utilizing any of the funds and
reinstating. Um, we did email uh, MDH with just some ideas of what we had for it. Um, most being uh, related to the new building. um potential costs related to an immunization clinic or a med clinic um and just some items
potentially like a fridge um just different things like that Walmart um exam chairs things like that. So at this point that's all that we foresee utilizing it for. Um yeah, any questions on that? So, when the funding was cut
about two weeks later, I got notification from the federal and the state that they were possibly going to restart this again. And this is what they did. They restarted it again. I think they were looking at where all the funds were being used when they shut it
down. >> Yeah. >> And a lot of them were being used inappropriately. >> Thankfully, we did not have any staffing time or any big projects going on. We were just kind of utilizing it for um potential immunization type things um
and updating some of that kind of stuff too for the new building costs. M >> Mr. Mr. Johnson. >> Yeah. Courtney, this contract expires on March 31st already. >> It's very quick. >> So, are you thinking you can utilize these dollars that fast? >> Potentially. Um we had some items lined
up previously before it uh kind of closed down. So, we already had some uh maybe quotes and ideas of how to utilize it. Um, so that's kind of what we were hoping um to do prior to that March date. >> That's a large sum of dollars to be used up by that time. Correct. It is.
>> Most likely it wouldn't be the full amount. >> Okay. So then the rest has to go back. >> Correct. >> And I believe it's an invoice basis. So it's not that we're getting the full amount. It's just we would invoice for what we >> So you could invoice up to 737,000.
>> Correct. >> Mr. Mr. Chair, so when you talk about items for the new building, are you in a position to be able to purchase those and invoice those or whatever it is you plan on doing >> before March 31st? >> We would look at that before purchasing, but yes, that would be that would be the
goal. And anything that wouldn't be able to be um invoiced before that, we would not be able to purchase or not plan to purchase. >> Courtney, could you get an example of what you could use this for, like the wick clinics and all that? Yeah. So, just some items that we had um got
approved from the state. Um so, I'll just kind of run through. So, exam chairs, sharps, walnuts, uh vaccine fridge, lockable uh medical supply cabinets, um M supplies, storage and organization type um items. Um let's
see, staff medical chair, temperature, like monitoring devices. Um, some of this stuff could just go not necessarily directly to IMS, but potentially doubling as like a wick um in uh wick items as well. Um, signage, uh, vaccine
talking points, materials for the walls, um, floor mat, safety equipment, sharps, things like that. >> And this was already a pre-approved by >> Yep. So, um Jacqueline had emailed MDH um previously just to ask if these items will be um covered under that and it was
approved. So, >> and Mr. Chair, have you seen the list of um suspended or barred vendors? >> I have I have not. Uh there might uh Jacqueline might have. >> Yeah, >> she's on vacation right now.
It just, you know, we're we're not a large county and this is a large amount of money and you imagine what's gone out and it's coming from an organization that's under, you know, Department of Health and Human Services that's under so much scrutiny. Why would they push this much money out?
>> It just don't make sense. >> I wanted to mention, Mr. share to to to Courtney that uh if if we need to acquire items um that are intended for the new building, I'm sure we can find place to store it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I think we can come up with something. Yeah. >> I mean, we don't want to give up
so-called free money, but just seems kind of crazy. >> It does. >> Yeah. >> Any further discussion on that? With that, I'll uh approve agenda item
number two. Motion to approve. Sorry. >> Second. >> Okay, we got a motion and a second. Any further discussion on that? If not, I'll call the question. All in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. >> Motion carries. Thank you. Courtney, I also asked you to give us an update.
>> Yeah. Related to Wick. >> Yep. So, our women, infants, and children's program is a nutrition program um that we've offered here at Benton County for quite some time. Um so at this point there has been no changes to public health or the wick program and
how we're running everything um has remained the same. Um I will say uh MDH has updated the amount of communication and meetings um related to this during the federal shutdown. Um so every Wednesday we have a meeting. There's been some national wick meetings as well
that myself andor our coordinator has attended. Um, so what we know right now, um, so this would be as of last week because our next meeting is tomorrow. Um, so as of last week on the 16th, um, MDH received funding from tariff revenues. Um, so $3 million. Um, I
should clarify, so there's two different separate like funding sources. So there's food funds, um, which is basically for the families. Um, so when they get their benefits, it's for like the milk, eggs, cheese, yogurt. Um, that's what's uh, supplied under the wick um, and some more items as well.
But those are just a few examples. And then there's also what they call NSA, which is nutrition service administration funds um or admin administrative funds uh for staffing. And so my understanding that those two funding sources don't mix. They don't
cover one or the other. They are very separate. Um, so there was $3 million in the food funds for the families and then $1.3 million for the NSA or nutrition uh services administration costs. Um, so
with that it would last us through mid November. Um, after that time um it's kind of the unknown similar maybe to the SNAP benefits where we don't know what will happen after that. It's just a wait and see kind of kind of thing. Um what I
do know is uh from our grant cycle for WIC goes uh October 1st through September 30th every year. That's the fiscal year for for the WIC grant. Um we we invoice about 25 uh 25 to $27,000 a
month to cover our staffing cost. Um so that's what we know at this point. Um but anything after after that we it's uncertain. Okay, >> questions board. Mr. Chair, how many
about how many clients people are served with WIC roughly? >> So, on average, we're at around 800 um participants. So, that includes like the children and uh like the the mom as well or the parent. So, >> thank you.
>> And that's per month. >> Oh, thanks for that clarification. >> Yep. Any other questions for Courtney? Thank you, Courtney. I appreciate it. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> Yep. Have a good day. >> Thank you.
>> We will now adjourn our meeting at 10:25 and turn it over to the board chair. >> Okay, we're down to >> 1028 >> commissioner meeting updates. >> Mr. Chair, do you want to finish our meeting or recess for a few minutes and get into our cow and come back and finish up? What would you like to >> That's what I Mr. Chair, I would
recommend now. Okay. >> Recess it and >> come back and start the cow. >> Start the cow in a couple of minutes. Okay. >> Monty, can we remain here? >> Um, of course. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Is Chris.
>> I believe Chris was gonna monitor the head over >> Okay. So, we'll recess for a couple of minutes and then we'll