--------- Okay. Good morning everyone. It is 8:30. I'll call today's meeting of the Klay County Board of Commissioners to order. Looking for an approval of the agenda. >> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. >> A motion offered from Commissioner Bear to approve the agenda. Second from Commissioner Ebinger. Any further
discussion? Any further discussion? Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. >> Opposed. Same sign. Carried. Citizens to be heard today. Are there any citizens in the audience wishing to address the
board on any item not on the agenda? Darren, have we had any online correspondence for this? >> Uh, Madam Chair, no online correspondence. >> Thank you. The next item is approval of payment of bills and vouchers. >> Move to approve the bills and vouchers. >> Second.
>> A motion offered from Commissioner Krabanov to approve. A second from Commissioner Ebinger. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I.
>> Opposed. Same sign. >> Carried. The next item today is the minutes from the February 3rd meeting and the workg groupoup session. >> Madame chair, I have one correction from the February 3rd meeting on page 29 of our packet. It would be Cassab bridge
36, not 26 on the first paragraph there talking about the CASA bridge replacement support letter. >> With that, >> has that noted? With that, Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from February 3rd and the workg groupoup session minutes.
>> Have a motion offered commission com from Commissioner Bear to approve the amended minutes and the regular minutes and >> second. >> Second from Commissioner Ebinger. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Any further discussion?
All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carried. I'd like to go back for a minute. I neglected in the consent to acknowledge we uh our K9 program in the sheriff's office received a very
generous donation of $5,000 from Randall's Excavating. Randles is a Klay County business. Uh really fortunate to have such um generosity in our community, particularly around the K9 program. Those donations have been vital
to ensuring we have a sustainable program over there. So, thank you so much for the donation. Item two today is a request approval for out ofstate travel. >> Only if you wear that the entire trip. >> Good morning.
>> Are we doing the out of state? >> Yep. Uh >> your mic on Kurt >> out of state travel the this year it will be for Jennifer for Reno Nevada um May 31st through June 5th. That's our
annual CU training that we get. I am not attending in person. We have our grandchild due on June 1st. So uh I'm I'm staying behind to to do it online. So I'm not sure my attention span can
handle all that. But uh I will more than likely be in the office but online but not there. So and then I might be in Benson doing it online where the baby's born. So yes, so out of state travel for
uh Jennifer for the first one would be for 31 May through June 5 to Reno for annual training. >> And this is a budgeted item. >> It is. Yes. About four years ago, the state start stopped paying for it out of
the grant for everyone except uh just VSOs to pay out of the grant. So, we had to put that in the budget. So, it's been there for a few years. >> Board questions, >> Madam Chair. >> Yes, Commission. >> Just a point of clarification. Uh the
we've got the agenda here and it's May 29th. Oh, June 5th. >> Thank you. Sure. Any questions for the board? >> Oh, clarification. The reason why that is uh I know uh she uh Jennifer is
taking the certified veterans advocate course. Extremely difficult taught by lawyers. Uh so she is uh stepping up her game here. So she has to start on Saturday in the official date to starting Monday. So that's why she's
going early. So, we will have one of few CVAs in the state in Klay County. So, hopefully it's a three-year process. So, she'll get started this year. >> Madam Chair, >> Commissioner Abiger,
>> I'd recommend that we approve the out of state travel for the veteran service representative to attend national training in Reno from May 29th to June 5th. >> A motion offered from Commissioner Ebinger to approve. >> Second. A second from Commissioner Bear. Further discussion.
All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign carried. Item two would be the request approval for the out of state for the VSO DC May 10 to May 12th. >> Yes. I got uh asked to go on the honor
flight for as the VSO. So I didn't know. I think it was just acknowledged that your best employee will be out of the state. So, I just brought that to your guys' attention. It'll be vacation time or however you guys see fit, but uh it'll be a volunteer VSO status. So, I
will be out uh attending that even though I hate flying, but uh figured I figured I'd be stuffed in there with a bunch of veterans. We're safe, aren't we? So, >> I don't know. So, I will be out of the state. >> Well, congratulations, Kurt. I'll make a
uh motion to approve out of state travel for veteran service officer to attend the honor flight to Washington DC from May 10th to May 12th. >> Second >> motion offered from Commissioner Kraov, a second from Commissioner Heminger.
Any further discussion? >> Any further discussion? I think it's fantastic. I just hope that you can uh enjoy it near as much as the joy that you bring to all of us. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Yeah. You know, you know, I've witnessed
them leaving and coming home and never the full process. I got asked about five, four or five years ago and said, "No, I just I hate flying." But ever over the years developed, I'm like, "Let's do it this year." So, we're going to try it.
>> Well, wonderful. Any other discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carried. We'll go into your annual update. Well, good morning. Our 2025 report uh
uh introduction. And we're going to uh the services we provide, some county comparisons, uh payments to veterans in Klay County, uh property tax exemption comparisons,
uh from 2015, I believe, and then just some contact information. So, myself, uh extremely great team we have down there. It's it's just not Kurt. It's all three of us basically and putting in the
hours. I mean, we we go past 4:30 almost daily. So, uh but it's uh the customer service that we provide to Klay County employees is uh remarkable. So, obtain military records, documents. We
assist enrolling health care system. That's primary R1. that's with service connections or uh just healthc care benefits income wise. Uh that's that's our primary one. Uh compensation claims, that's daily occurrence uh with
appointments, home loans, financial assistance, MDVA benefits. We work with the state uh uh for MDVA benefits, honors briefings, death and burial. um Voke Rehab. We appeal decisions
working with their power of attorney for claim service organizations, the VF, the VA, the uh American Legion, the DAV. Um and we just assist with overall general benefits.
You know, when I took the job, now it's been a decade, huh, long time. enjoyed every minute of it, but uh um no one said you had to be an accountant, a counselor, and everything involved in the in the job, but it's
it's been very rewarding. So, um SSAP, these are state grants, uh special needs grants. That's a once- ina-lifetime grant that a vet can apply for if they qualify. and and that ranges from um fixing a furnace, putting in a
furnace in an air conditioner, a car repairs, anything that uh keeps them in their home or gets them to work. Um steps, you know, in the front of their house. So, it's once in a lifetime. Uh
use it wisely, we say. So, uh not everybody qualifies. is there are some financial constraints but not uh not not much dental and optical grants with subsistence uh th those have some financial uh barriers uh to their uh
income to apply. So, uh, we have 3419, 3,419, uh, vets according to, uh, um, the polls, whatever they do annually. MDVA is recording that. I want to say
that's about 7,000 in my books. Uh, but, uh, that's the official number published by MDVA. Um, our SSAP for uh 2025 was $93,030 compared to $74,890
last year. So, we upped it a little bit. Just a little comparison, Anoka County, they have 19,024 vets. Six times, five times and a half more than us. They did $45,000.
Uh, so it varies. It's putting in the work. This is a long application and and many supple supporting documents that go with these. Uh Washington County, they have uh four times as much we and they did just over uh 5,000 more than we did.
So for a smaller county um uh the numbers just show that we're compared to bigger counties putting in the applications and approval rate too. So,
uh, payments to Klay County, these can vary. Some are retropay, meaning that, uh, we put the claim in in January and it gets done in August, it goes back to January, uh, for retro payments. Uh, so these all fall in the month. Uh, and
then we move it over to if it's done in August. Some money goes into February, March, April, May, all the way to August. So 765,82453 for uh 2025 um in in payments to Klay County
veterans property tax. I started in 15 and we started recording these. I just went back to 2020. Uh Klay County uh as a whole uh not the city. Klay County had 113 and we now were 2025 had 223
uh property tax exemptions. That's that's for a veteran rated 70% or higher with the VA. Uh 70% to 100 is 150,000 currently um off their homesteaded uh property tax
market value. So if their house is 300, they get 150 relief. They pay on 150. 100% permanent total. The highest you can get is a $300,000 benefit. Uh so um 300,000
house, they break even, they pay on school. Uh the specials are not included in that, but that doesn't add up to a whole lot. So City of Morehead 186. In 2020, we're at 347. uh for a combined of 570
total properties uh tax exemptions. Um legislation this year is a big uh big one for us to try to get the 150 to there's many variations out there, but 150 to 200 and the 300 to 400 is the
push. One of one of our one of our goals this year is to try to get that through along with other things, but that falls in there. Uh just some numbers 241 1926. I didn't put last year. I think it was 1917.
Uh we uploaded 4,217 documents and and talked or phoned or something to 4260 uh communications. I think that's averaging what we've did in 2024 as well. A little bit higher this year.
And then me and the big thing is thank you. Over the last decade, I can't thank you enough. The commissioners that I've had have supported our office, our veterans of Klay County. It's uh great to have a supporting staff and to support my craziness. So, and that'll
continue till I retire. So, it's the way I cope for the day and get through the the hectic, but I enjoy it and I'm grateful for the position. So, thank you, Kurt. Any questions on the presentation?
>> I didn't say thank you and incredible work. Those numbers are outstanding. >> It's a team effort. It hurts. >> When we go down there, it's fun to be down there in the office with you. Yeah, set a good good atmosphere. Yeah, >> it's how you
>> I think get through the day. >> Jennifer's birthday tomorrow, too. So, come by if you're in town. >> 25. >> Yeah. >> Uh well, I just want uh also to echo the sentiments. We have been really
fortunate to have such a wonderful leadership group in your office. uh your staff uh treat our veterans in such an amazing way. And you know, you think about uploading 4,217 documents. That's a feat. Uh and if
you've ever uh worked with someone who was challenged by uploading a single document, you know how important that is for them, particularly with benefits. But uh you make something that could be quite frustrating uh just have it and you do it. So, thank you for comm
continuing to meet the needs of our veterans and our veterans and our community and you're always so um eager to just get to work and get it done. I know you've you've yourself fixed an air conditioning unit for a veteran on a very hot day and u we really appreciate
>> it. Was hotter in the house >> which is why you were fixing. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Welcome. Thank you guys. Really? >> Okay. Item four today then would be a request approval for a vehicle replacement in our sheriff's office.
>> Morning, Sheriff. >> Sheriff. >> Yeah, you know, I knew you were coming. I I was glad I was coming before everybody asked for money. They been a little cra They had been a little crabier. Oh, only you. Uh, good morning, Madam
Chair, commissioners. Thanks for having me here this morning. I am here today to request to lease uh two Ford Expeditions for our warrants and transports division. Um, how this all came about is we did initially order vans for them and had them upfitted and something changed
somewhere from 2021 to 2025 and 2026 specifications in the vans. And it's not allowing the driver's seat or the passenger seat to go back any further than what it can now. and the warrants, two of the guys in the warrants and transports division are somewhat taller
in stature and it's uh causing them to not be very comfortable in the vans on their long trips. And you'll hear uh next week uh during my board update that last year they put on 11,000 more miles in 2025 than they did in 24. Um so they do have some long trips that they're
taking and it's getting to be very uncomfortable for them. Uh we did try and work with our installer in an effort to see if we could get those cages pushed back a little bit further. And that is something that they said they would be willing to do, but they would be fabricating their own brackets and
they would want us to sign off on a liability waiver. So if something did happen that they weren't going to be held liable for it, that's just not something that I wanted to put my name on. And I don't think the county would want to put their name on anything like that either. So I didn't even present it to our county attorney.
Um, as you can see, I'm not requesting any additional funds for this. And initially, the thought was was to turn those vans back in, but we had very little equity in them uh through enterprise leasing. And one night I was at home thinking about this and I thought, well, one one of the
investigators asked for a van. It just blends in a little bit better. Things of that nature. And we have more equity in his 2023 Durango. So, if we turned around and sold his Durango and issued the van to him, that could save us there. And then it turned out the next day when I talked to Lieutenant
Schroeder, there was actually two uh investigators that wanted advance. This is actually turning out working in our favor. So we would take those two investigator vehicles, turn those back into uh enterprise leasing in which we have more equity built up in them in those Dodge Durango than we do the vans
and then uh issue the vans out to the investigators and then get these set up and upfitted with cages in them for transports. I think we've also talked, you know, those Durango have been nice, but you wanted to get back to the Expedition
Tahoe chassis, right? >> Yeah, that that's correct. And we're just having more and more equipment that we're putting in vehicles and even for our investigator vehicles, we have different type of boxes in the way back to secure their uh their firearms and things of that nature. So, it eats up a
lot of space. >> Questions? Madam Chair. >> Yes, Commissioner. >> I uh move to approve the uh lease of two Ford Expeditions for the Sheriff's Office. >> I'll second that. >> Motion offered from Commissioner
Ebinger, a second from Commissioner Bear. Uh further discussion. >> Makes sense. >> That bigger vehicles >> that enterprise leasing really seems to be the ticket. We've really saved a substantial amount of money doing that.
>> Yeah. And this is just proving where it's assisting us in in this matter where, you know, we had had a vehicle come this year and it's like it's not it's just it didn't work for us just because we didn't we weren't aware of the specification changes. And to be able to just take that van, issue it out to to an investigator and then take his
vehicle, which we have more equity in, and sell that just that just made sense. So, this just proves its value. >> Any further discussion? >> When do you think you'll have these up and running? um up and running. I'm not sure. I I do know Enterprise has them
currently on hold for us. So, as soon as we can get them here, I know our squad upfitter will uh get them in as soon as possible just because we're he knows this the situation and predicament we're in. >> Perfect. >> Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify
by saying I >> I same sign carried. >> Thank you. Next item, sheriff, is a request approval of theou and body warn cameras addendum with the marshals task force. >> Yeah. So what this is, this is just updating our current US Marshals Task
Force addendum with orou, I'm sorry. Um with our current signatures and things of that nature. Um the currentou dates back to Sher Burquist and we just wanted to get current signatures on there. Um, on top of that, we added the
body warn camera addendum to just explain who uh who gets that data and when the camera should be operated and where is that data going to go, etc. Uh, after the fact, this was um reviewed by our county attorney and approved to move
forward as well. >> Any questions? Any questions? >> One one question, manager. How long is this good for? >> This will be good for until it gets brought up again. Yep. >> Till names change.
>> Till names change. Exactly. Yeah. And what this does, it uh it allows the person that's working on that task force uh to have him be eligible for overtime reimbursement when they're working the US Marshall case. >> Any further discussion? Commissioner Abinger. Madam Chair, I I move to
approve theou with the BWC addendum uh to allow execution by the current sheriff and maintain Klay County's ongoing participation in the US Marshalss task force. >> Thank you, Commissioner Ebinger. We have a motion to approve. >> Second. >> Second from Commissioner Bear. Any
further discussion? Any further discussion? >> All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. >> Oppos same sign. Great. Item six, sheriff, is request approval to update theou with the US Postal Inspection Service Task Force.
>> Yes. Again, this is very similar. There's a new uh a new postal inspector, special agent in charge. So, it's just updating with uh their information uh and our current information. Uh the one thing with this particularou, it not only provides uh overtime
eligible reimbursement to the sheriff's office for that deputy working, but it also uh provides an $850 a month vehicle stipen back to the sheriff's office that we uh put in into internal service for squad car reimment uh for that deputy. And what I am doing for this particular
squad car, and I should mention for the others, we're doing a 5-year lease uh on those. and it uh brings the cost down uh a little bit more. So, uh this particular squad car costs us $883 a month to lease. Uh as you see, we're getting the $850 a month stipen. So,
it's about $33 for us. >> Quite a deal. >> Yeah. >> For the sheriff. >> Yeah. I I don't I'll make a motion though. Motion to approve the updated between the Klay County Sheriff's Office and the US uh postal inspection task
force. I'll second that >> motion offered from Commissioner Kavanagh to second from Commissioner Bear. Any further discussion? >> Any further discussion? Any further discussion? >> All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> Same sign carried.
>> Thank you. >> Item seven today is a request approval of the proposed new position, the facility integrity and compliance coordinator for West Central Regional Juvenile Center. Good morning, James. Morning, Madam Chair, commissioners. Yeah, I'm here today to seek permission
to implement a facility and facility integrity and compliance coordinator. Um, this position um was approved by the pick last week and then for some background, it's it's part of our 2026 budget. Um, I brought it before my
advisory board in Janu July of 25 prior to the budget being approved at that level. Um and then I brought it again in January of this year just understanding that all the counties are have a lot of financial constraints going on and just
brought before all the counties again, you know, explain the need again. Um and they reiterated the the need for the position um is definitely still there. um you know just kind of the need for the position kind of is manyfold but you
know there's kind of two major reasons and developments that's been happening in Minnesota. One is a lack of appropriate mental health placements um across the state um leading kids to be either boarded in hospitals, correctional facilities like ours or
just you know in hotel rooms, social service offices, um all that sort of stuff. But we're getting a lot of youth that with mental health issues, significant mental health issues that shouldn't be with us that are with us for extended periods of time. Um, and
the other piece of that is the new SPS rules, which is safety based separation rules. Um, we made arrangements going into that, adjusted for that with staffing. Um but what we didn't anticipate was the amount of um
regulatory, you know, reviews that are happening and how often we're having to respond to um investigations from the state. So juvenile facilities, um although we're licensed by the DOC, um we're licensed under 2960, which is
shared with DHS and DHS does a lot of the investigations. So, um, so we get kind of double looked at a lot of times. Um, I included, um, in the packet, um, attachment B there. It just kind of, um,
illustrates kind of the regulatory oversight that's currently happening in Minnesota. Um, basically, um, in this case, there's significantly mental health use that was in a facility in Minnesota. Um, you know, the NAACP was
involved in that. Um, and it just kind of goes on and on. Basically, the facility was doing what they were licensely obligated to do, but they failed to have some documentation. Um,
that cames after the site. Um, basically, um, it's a lot of a lot of issues and complexities are being put on. So, um, you know, let's see here. Yeah. So, basically, I'm looking for,
um, some a position that, um, is centralized oversight, regulatory compliance, um, in an increased highly scrutinized um, juvenile justice program. Um basically we're right now the oversight is done by you know myself
uh Josh or the unit supervisors and that gets spread out. Um I include in that one the time study that I did back about 7 months ago and just responding to SPS's alone. It was about 33 hours of work. Um, and so basically I'm looking
for somebody that we can hire a professional that's going to be responsible to review all the SPS's and incident reports. Um, this is going to be a person that's um, it's going to need to be very very well rehearsed in
2960. Um, an expert in 2960 and also can um, communicate via written communication very very well. Um, and this position will be the the core responder. So when the state calls and asks a question about an
incident that happened 3 months ago or something like that that this person will already have a file on that incident and basically will be inspection ready at all times um instead of um getting a call about an incident
it's currently you know and then I have to review it find it and then start investigating from there. Um, so like to be on the front side of things. Um, is there any questions? >> Yes, Commissioner Kavanagh.
>> Yeah. Um, sounds very complex. I'm just curious. Um, have these type of rules or guidelines, however you want to look at, some obviously are mandatory, have they been do they um
I don't know what I'm saying, have have they been building up quite a bit over the last few years as far as more regulations or I'm just saying is or is some of this uh pretty standard what you I understand the time element But uh
it's uh uh work that you've been doing all along anyway. I'm >> Yeah. So yeah, to to answer the question, um it has been building up. There has been increasing primarily around the SPS. Anytime we separate a
youth from the other youth, um there there is new language in the rules now. Um, and that documentation alone is what's a a huge driving piece of of what all this exists. Anytime we separate a youth from the other youth, um, there's
halfhour check-ins and then every hour basically it's got to be articulated what we're doing. >> Um, what we're doing to get the youth back integrated, why we can't, and justify why we can't, and what are we doing to get over that justification so we can get the youth back into the
program again. And that happens steadily. And then every four hours there's a bigger report that goes with that. And then at eight hours we have to trigger something to the our licensing. And >> just you've been doing that type of
thing long enough. I mean you have it figured out how it flows uh down in the nonsecure then >> in in nonsecure. >> Oh insecured area on this. This is all secured. >> Yes. This is this the SBS and and most of our
>> and and it does some of our incident reports. We'll we'll get into the nonsecure stuff, but the SBS stuff, safety based separation is mostly insecure because nonsecure it's >> not really a an an issue. Um but there is mental health instant reports and
stuff that that does occur in that area as well. >> Okay. Thank you for that. Yeah, Madam Chair, I'm I'm on the advisory board. This was wellreceived and and James pointed out uh by counties
that are running a lot tighter to to uh meet their budget than we are. Uh West Central has proven to be fiscally a very uh desirable operation.
and it pays for itself and there is surplus left over to maintain the facilities and get the work done. One of the things that I think we're most proud of is the accountability and the the efficacy of our staff. Uh state of Minnesota is not cutting any
slack for what we've done up to now. Uh every time there's an incident, there's the same level of scrutiny directed at us as anybody else. and it the credibility is ours to lose if we don't have staff that can get these things done. So, I strongly recommend that we
we do this. And having said that, I uh we'll make a motion to hire a facility integrity and compliance coordinator at line 17 for the West Central Regional Juis Juvenile Center uh secure unit. Uh also with the permission to fill back
field, the uh position is filled internally. >> Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Binger. We have a motion to approve. >> Second. >> Second from Commissioner Bearer. >> I just had one question that occurred to me. Do you have people on staff that are interested that have already have the
capacity to do this work? >> There's a lot of staff that we have that are and then there's Yeah, there's a lot of staff in our facility right now that are probably going to be interested in the position. um because there's a lot of there's a lot of knowledge and we've able able to retain a lot of staff over
the years. So, we're very grateful in that. Um one of the things that we're going to be really looking for is written and oral communication discussion. >> This did go through pick. We did uh approve of it moving forward to this
discussion if you had any additional pieces since this is new but it was part of the budget process as noted. It was went through the advisory committee also. My question is in regards to dealing with the office of inspector
general and I think having this in our facility continues to make us a leader in the state and what we're doing. I think what you what you proposed it makes it the most sense. Are we seeing an increase in in the time required to deal with some of the issues
coming out of the office of inspector general? Um, not so much the inspector general. It's coming from DHS. Um, which might have be their inspector general wing of DHS. Um, and the DOC has one too. Um, and but yeah, there's lots of
requests coming out of of those. Um, the DOC is our main licenser. Um however, anytime there's a complaint that occurs, it seems to be DHS's side that's coming in and looking at that um with a lot more scrutiny and detail and um and
they're the DHS's tend to be less responsive than the DOC's too when we ask them a question in general. So, >> I was at a meeting in St. hall Friday and we tal or Thursday we talked about this same issue where you're getting
conflicting um interpretations of rules from DHS and DOC and how that >> I mean we've talked about this at length but how that can financially really start to affect facilities and continue to keep us updated when when that starts
to happen. I know it happens continually, but when it starts to happen to a point where we're seeing um some disruption in service, let us know. >> We'll do. >> Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I
>> I >> oppose. Same sign. Carried. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is Justin. >> There he comes. >> Good morning, >> Justin. And we have a request approval
for of the temporary promotion of the road foreman to maintenance supervisor. This is something we discussed at pick last Tuesday as well, but uh due to the um guidelines wanted to make sure it came before this board. >> Yeah. So currently our maintenance
supervisor is out on paid family medical leave and it's looking like it's going to be eight eight or more weeks. So, what I'm looking to do is promote our m or our road foreman to our maintenance supervisor temporarily and then in turn also making one of the maintenance
workers acting road foreman and then that would be an additional $2 per hour per the union contract. And kind of what this does is obviously we're in the middle of winter. So, our maintenance supervisor and our road forming kind of split the county at Highway 10 and one
takes north and one takes south. So, this would just kind of make us be a little bit more flexible, especially with potential weather coming this week. And then once that employee does come back, then it would just go back to the way it is now.
>> Question. >> That was Madam Chair. I was going to ask what happens when the employee comes back, but he addressed that. >> Yes, Darren. Uh just a note on that also madam chair that uh I have talked to the union and they are okay with our process
here. So um we shouldn't get any push back the way we're doing it. >> There was one additional piece Justin that we talked about Tuesday to bring forward was at the union. >> Any further discussion on this?
>> Madam chair I'll make a motion to approve the temporary promotion of the road form into maintenance supervisor. We have a motion offered from Commissioner Barer to approve. >> A second >> and a second that reflects the increase in pay as well. Yes. Both.
>> Well, we wish our uh road foreman the best in his recovery as well. Make sure he knows that. We appreciate the work they do. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I.
>> I. Same sign carries the request approval of resolution 2026-06 for the small city street aotment. >> Yes. So this is a resolution that I bring forward every February. So it is the funding that goes to non-state aid cities for the work done on city
streets. Um and then if you would if you looked at previous resolutions in the past, this was also when the city of Morehead turnback payment would also be included. So this one is significantly less than it normally was. >> Questions for Justin.
>> One question, Madam Chair. >> Yes, Commissioner Bear. >> They receive this aotment once a year. >> Correct. >> Make a motion to approve resolution 2026-06 for Small Cities 31. >> Motion offered from Commissioner
Kavanagh to approve. A second from Commissioner Ebinger. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. >> Carried.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. We'll do our update from the attorney's office since we are ahead of schedule. >> Yeah. Good morning, Mr. Melton. Good morning, Miss Foss. >> Good morning, Madam Chair. Thank you for
having us say I don't have a jacket like uh >> Kurt. So sorry. >> Kurt Cannon had a USA blazer. >> We were all black. >> Stars and stripes Fourth of July type thing. >> It's quite a show. >> Right. I
>> Yeah, there you go. Right. >> Oh my gosh. >> Well, thank you, Madam Chair, commissioners for having us stay. It's always nice to be able to present here in front of you. I think a lot of times we seem like the county attorneys goes at the end. Um, which is always interesting because we get to see a lot
of the others that have gone before us and and we obviously work across a great deal of the different departments within the county itself. Um, obviously just very glad to be here and appreciative of the opportunity. Uh obviously our uh mission to be able to promote justice
and work through public safety uh prosecute crime is a primary uh piece as well as protecting those in need through children protection uh need of protection services uh juvenile uh criminal matters uh and then representing uh all different
departments across Lake County. Uh obviously I've got uh Pam here, Miss Foss here with me today. Katie Stock couldn't be here um as the our two chief assistants uh within the office that do a great deal of work. Uh a lot of stuff
going on. We'll talk through some of it here today. Uh my budget around 2.5 million. I think it's gone up a little bit from that, but uh primarily salaries, trial expenses that we have. Our clearance rates still uh are very good across uh compared across the
state. We clear about 88% of cases. Somewhere between six to 10% are typically in warrant status over time. Uh I know the board's very aware we've had some volatility within staff for a period of time, but we are fully staffed now. Um so I don't even want to talk
about it, but I'll knock on wood to make sure we're staying. But uh both chief assistants obviously uh 10 assistant county attorneys, uh seven legal assistants and other office staff, and then five victim service staff. Our case totals remain pretty steady somewhere
around right around 2,000 new cases per year that we're processing through. And then technology obviously is a very important piece that we continue to work through uh and continue to be on the cutting edge both through our office, the courts. Uh we do secure file
transfer for all disclosure now which helps not having to copy onto discs or sticks, those types of things. And probably one of our biggest issues that we're going to see continue throughout the future uh video evidence is a a expected thing common thing that we use
daily uh within contested hearings within trials. Uh that storage of all that is a big uh matter for between our office and it um and likely require new software for management of all that into the future.
Again, crime remains generally steady and and around the same amount due to population growth. Drug use within the community has a piece to everything that we do. Uh grand juries are important to us. That's where if we have bigger cases, very serious cases, premeditated
murder, uh some of those types of things. We did have one grand jury last year. Um our child in need of protection or service cases continue to remain steady. We'll show some stats here in just a future about that. our mental health commitments also u
steady uh increasing over time. We just see a lot of mental health pieces that I know the board is very familiar with within different committee committees that we work with. And then our civil work is uh a lot of different things going on obviously within the county uh that we cut across
the office staff, the legal assistants there. Uh I like to give a picture of them. They're not always seen as much. They're doing a lot of the work every day. Um if you look at some of the uh trial prep um preparation of cases that we have to be ready to go for trial if
they ultimately come up most of them resolve um but 412 trials that were prepared last year. Uh that includes 1300 subpoenas notices to law enforcement. Uh and then disclosure, uh 3,200 plus um pieces of disclosure sent
out, 11,000 efiled items with the court as we move through cases and process them. Uh administrative subpoenas that we help support law enforcement with to help gain information or help them when they're doing investigations. and then other individuals that are out there
that have failed to peer or have warrants um rits that they've been arrested in other states that type of thing and they need to be processed and brought back here. We had 52 of those and uh those continue to increase at all times. So, a lot of work going on. Uh
the ladies there in the office do a tremendous amount of of work, put a lot of effort in everything they do and so we really appreciate all the work they do. Uh again, like I said, Miss Faucet here today, and I'll let her talk through just the criminal division.
>> Thank you for having us. >> Thank you. Thank you for having us here. Um giving me the opportunity to talk about the criminal team that we have down in our office right now. We have seven attorneys or six attorneys. Seven. Um we have Caitlyn Herurlock, Britney
Hartzell. Now, she got married, so we've got a name change there. for Megan Kelly, Jackson Ilmquist, Michael Euan, Cecilia Knap, and Ashley Turner. Um Cecilia is on leave right now, but expected to come back next month, so we'll be very happy to get her back in
the office. But they are our attorneys. They are split up their case loads. Um different areas. Some do property crimes, some do drug crimes, some do the crimex and the more assaulted person crimes in our office. Um just kind of an overview of last
year. We had 60 criminal trials last year that went through verdict. Uh that is triple from the year before. The year before we had 10. Um so we have been very busy with jury trials in the past year. This was probably the first year
that I can remember that every single member of the criminal team actually had at least one jury trial. Um, sometimes it's clumped to mainly person crimes or something like that or there's not a lot of trials. But this past year, every single one of our criminal attorneys had at least one jury trial. Couple of them
had about five or six. So, lots of jury trials, a lot of work by the whole team. We, like Brian mentioned, we had one grand jury for a first-degree murder. Um, the year before we had two grand juries for murder cases. So, the grand juries, at least for murders, were down
this past year. Um, with the jury trials, when you look at appeals, um, when we try those cases that have the serious consequences or the prison sentences, um, they normally result in an appeal. So, when we have high years of jury trials, we know the next year is
going to be a high year of appeals. Um, right now we have 14 pending. We've had six come in since January 2nd. Um so we are not only working on the litigating in the court for in the district court
but a lot of our attorneys are now working in the appellet court as well writing the briefs and doing the oral arguments. So it will be a busy year of appellet work as well. Um I just threw in a some of the stats for our convictions. Um we had three murder
cases resolved that it resulted in about 787 months of prison. We had four attempted murders that we either went through trial or resolved for 753 months. Again, the drugs and the weapon charges, as usual, were pretty high. Um,
they come with pretty high prison sentences. So, we had 16 either drug or weapons crimes that resolved. We actually had a carjacking, which is a newer statute in Minnesota. Um, but we have seen those come through as well.
and we had a criminal vehicular homicide that also resolved. As for the drug seizures or um work within our community, we had 44 first or second degree drug sale cases charged
out. We seized 155 fentinyl pills from the 340 grams of powdered fentinyl. um up dramatically I think from last year was the amount of meth that was
seized and certainly the amount of cocaine. Um we had one I think one big case that had a lot of cocaine seizure that we were able to get off of the streets um and get those individuals charged. I think it is worth saying uh 30
criminal jury trials, not 60. Uh just uh I think when we said that originally, it's 30 as in the slide, which is still up greatly. You know, we've averaged for a long time somewhere in the 25 to 30 range for a long time and then they went down remarkably over the co years and
then kind of stayed very low for quite a period of time, but we're back around and that's averaging two or a little bit more than that per month, which is about right like like Pam said, more attorneys getting more familiar with the the trial piece and everything. I will say this
year looks to be extremely busy. As you might know or understand the idea sometimes those bigger cases, some of the murder cases that we've had, uh we've had some different um defendants um that were uh what we call rule 20,
but not competent to stand trial. It takes a long period of time to get them back up to competency. So, that's happened. And so we have some uh murder trials u couple different cases that have moved quicker but several that were slower all kind of coming at at one
time. So I know uh Miss Foss is a very busy schedule for murder trials coming up this year. So it's going to be going to be a very hectic year I think on the trial side of things. So >> and then one other thing that I wanted to note about our office is that we do have a high volume of violent crimes
which means a high volume of victim needs. That's one thing I think our office really focuses on is keeping the public safe but also when we have these victims of these violent crimes like being supportive of them um trying to make those victims whole which I think
will come up later in the presentation. Um but we had 174 new domestic related offenses LA opened in the past year. Um we had 70 sexual assaults or child sexual assault or um CESAM or used to be
called child pornography cases or predatory offender cases. We had 70 opened in the past year and 94 assault or serious assault or robbery cases. Um that means we have a lot of victims with a lot of needs that not only um are
suffering either economically or emotionally from the event itself but the stress of going through a trial. So, one of our highlights and we talked about it I think last year is we are working towards getting a facility dog in the office that will help with those
victims to navigate through the process. We are top on the list is what I'm said for the next dog that comes through. So, we're hoping within the next few months we will have that dog in the office and get that training going. >> What?
>> We haven't in our office before. No. So, this will be the first time. It's a kind of a new thing in Minnesota, but a lot of agencies are jumping on board. I know Pulp County Attorney's Office. They just got one in October >> um from the same place that we're hoping to get one. I've met that dog. So,
they're really helpful in this. >> I think as the board might remember, we presented before and and we had been told that it could be anywhere from 6 to 12 months, but uh in fact, it um uh we were hoping it'd be shorter, but it really has been close to about a year
now. So, at uh just the way it it goes, but we are anxious and hoping that it'll come sooner than later. So, >> uh, in regard to the civil division, um, the three attorneys that work with, uh, with Miss Stock, um, James Lopez, Reed
Thomas, Melissa McCabe, both Reed and and Melissa are newer, uh, within the office, but they're doing a terrific job for us. Uh, looking at the some of the numbers, the CHIPS cases, about uh, 66 cases. We had three uh, termination of
parental rights trials last year. Those are regularly appealed. Our our truency work both between the the civil office and then also um with the u victim witness service and and and juvenile services that I know Michelle
will talk about here shortly. Um but but constantly working to to work on truency. We know that truency is important just because that can kind of be that tip of the iceberg if a child's missing school that that can show or lead to other difficulties that that child might be experiencing. So we do
the county attorney mediation program where we invite parents to come in before we have to file a chips um involving that family and involving that juvenile to just uh stress on them the importance of getting into school and and being productive, understanding
their place in society. So, we've been doing that for uh the last two years and it's been very successful. Um I the the long uh the MAFPA, the Minnesota African-American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act
that I know you're familiar with and have seen from Quinn. We know that's coming up uh as a a piece that will be impacted by as well. I think largely when we look at everything that's going to happen with that, we believe that,
you know, the the real impact is upfront to to social services and the work they have to do, it may even cause some of our numbers to go down a little bit in the CHIPS area just because it's about reunification and keeping the child out with family members. So, we'll see how that goes, but we're prepared for it,
prepared for its imple implementation. So, I think it should go pretty smooth within our office. Our juvenile cases, uh, you can see they're they're up a little bit. Uh it's good to have the SRO's back in the school. That's uh obviously helps us to have eyes on and and see what's out there as well as
again juvenile services from our office that are in the schools. We have seen an increase in some of the more serious crimes within the schools. Fentanyl pills within a middle school, that's pretty serious. We just haven't really seen that kind of thing. some firearms issues also that again we're we're
looking to address those and and stay on top of those along with law enforcement. And then lastly on this slide, the law change that goes into effect August 1st of 2026 where 10 through 12 year olds will no longer be considered uh if if
they have an act that's regularly considered a crime, it will not be considered a crime any longer. that will be a child in need of protection or services matter. And I think how that impacts is more than likely what you'll see is a lowering of the juvenile case numbers, but you're going to see an
increase within the the CHIPS cases when those matters come be more directed towards getting the parents to be involved instead of putting them into the juvenile system. So, uh that's how we look at that and and we'll see where that impact comes. We'll probably have some bigger numbers for you next year. I
think one of the things that Miss Stock really wanted to highlight is the work we've done with adoptions. And I do think it's it's it's a terrific amount of work and very uh interesting and productive. And the next slide I have too just demonstrates within a graph. But back in 2022 when we were looking at
average days that a child that was looking at adoption was in foster care, they were at around an average of 883 days almost three years uh that they were there. and and that just had to do with a lot of the wasn't that they were just languishing, but a lot of the work
that went into it, private attorneys trying to work through the whole process thing. And then we adopted a a more streamlined uh approach where we're doing the majority of the paperwork up front uh for them. And that really
worked to drop the days that uh child is in foster care. So we went from 883 days down to 570 down to 497. And the average days last year through 20 2025 were 205 days. And so you just look at that
financial impact or cost uh that's a child in foster care every day. Just the work that socials workers are doing, mileage, meals, the travel time, all that. It just it really helps to reduce u cost, case load, stress that's on that system. So uh they should be very proud
of themselves of the work they did. It's just a graph demonstrating the the amount of time and the fact that that increased or the decrease in time in foster care for those children is around 77%. So they really need to be complimented on that work that's been
going on. Our guardianships were were fairly uh limited last year, but that's usually about average 9 to 12 somewhere around there. Um we're seeing higher levels of litigation in some of those uh get more contested. our commitments are up uh which we've kind of expected and
seen that u just a lot of different mental health issues that are ongoing. Rule 20s are again cases where individuals have committed a crime but have mental health issues and then they're not processing through the court currently. They're instead going through
mental health treatment and and and that type of thing. So had quite a few of those as well. uh adult foster care license revocations was another piece that u that Miss Doc wanted to highlight because we have seen that where instead of uh the child foster care side of
things. This is adult foster care for for um adults that are are um vulnerable. So vulnerable adult issues. Um but we had seen abuses in the past and where you see some of that fraud. Uh, I think it's good for the board to
know that that social service has done a terrific job of faring that out, finding that out and and and stopping it. So, a lot of the cases that we've had um the last five or six um they've identified that early. They've been successful. Uh
they've been successful on appeal and a lot of those cases are now cases that are being seen in court when they're discussing some of the fraud type things that you're seeing down in in the Twin Cities. they're they're referencing back to Klay County cases. So, uh they've done a great job uh both social services
as well as the attorneys that have worked on those cases. And then uh financial recovery side of things, our forfeitures, we we took in about 39,000 uh dollars in forfeite money last year. Our billing for child support and
welfare fraud that we can get from the state. Uh again, around 17,000. We've had several tax court appeals. uh those are businesses that are are working uh with and and disputing issues uh through Jill um with the assessor's office. And
so we uh work through those. They are complex litigation. They involve lengthy discovery and work. Um and then the probate work that we've done over the last few years when Katie came on, I think also needs to be highlighted. We we didn't always see some of those
numbers uh getting uh money back. you know, the the money that's owed for medical assistance and those types of things that uh can and should be recovered. We've done a good job of of bringing that in. So, um those are important numbers to look at as well. We
had contract litigation last year. We were able to recover about $135,000 and so that was good work in the civil team. And then obviously just continue to advise all the county departments. talked a little bit last week just in my
update um when when Mark Sloan was talking about ADA compliance. We have a lot of compliance uh issues that are ongoing and so our documents that we use proposed orders um when we do motions and everything else. So the court now
need to be in a ADA compliance form. So that's a we have over 200 uh proposed orders that we provide to the court. So, we're working through all those now to have them uh updated and correct here by April. So, that's a a big project that the the legal assistants are working on.
With that, I know Michelle's here and I'll let her jump in to talk victim services and juvenile diversion. Sorry to bump the time up. >> That's okay. Good morning. I'm glad it was here. So, thank you. Um, so as far as our victim services and juvenile
diversion team, um, we have currently, uh, we're in negotiations with filling our part-time, um, victim witness coordinator position. That individual would be working primarily with our juvenile matters and then, uh, some of our adult case load as well. um that's a
20-hour a week position that's been really helpful for um just some of the increases that we're seeing and the the severity of cases that kind of take away time from other coordinators as well um to kind of fill in. So Lexi Gomez is I
think on her um started her sixth year fifth or sixth year here with the county um as a full-time she's the 40-hour uh victim coordinator that works primarily with our domestic violence type cases. Um, and then Nikki Ericson uh has been
she's on her 17th year here with the county and she does a lot with our um property related offenses but really has taken on a a higher level of some of our more serious um personal crimes as well. Just again because of the nature of what we're taking in and how we can kind of
uh spread that out amongst all of the coordinators that we do have. Um, as far as our juvenile diversion and restorative justice, we have Lucas Brandon still in the role of our coordinator for uh, restorative practices, and he's at a full-time um, level. And then Peter Ferguson was who
we were able to bring in um, part-time at 20 hours uh, for the duration of our um, uh, restorative practices initiative grant that we received from the state. So, both of those individuals are out in the schools. Um Lucas is someone who
travels out in um all of the Klay County school districts. Uh Peter is primarily focused on Morehead schools uh most often at Horizon just because that's where a lot of our needs are being met with um with the cases that that we're
seeing there. Um we for victim services, we continue to provide support and assistance to victims and witnesses throughout the criminal justice system. I would say um in years past our kind of from incident
to trial, we wouldn't normally say maybe that would take about nine months to a year's time. I would say we have cases now that are on that 2 to threeyear mark. So, the length of time that we're continuing to work with some victims throughout the criminal justice system
has definitely extended just because of the I think the um the volume of cases, the severity of cases and just um the reality I think of the the justice system and and the case loads that the judges are seeing as well. So, um, we do
feel like we're having a lot of our connections are are kind of a little more, uh, lengthy than what we've experienced too in the past, but we want to make sure that we're still providing um, victims their informations for their rights to be able to, um, enforce and ensure those throughout our court
processes. Um, provide with those court notifications, assist with any restitution and reimbursement that they might have available to them. um attend court with them and then really connect them to some of the re uh referrals and resources in our community. Um and then
with restitution um this is a big piece that I know Nikki provides for our office which has been super helpful. She just is um really knowledgeable and and just really competent in in working through some of our restitution requests. So, we had um 43
requests for just individuals um for reimbursement. That amounted to $296,000 that were able to be requested back from defendants. And then 46 businesses requested a total of $3,444,000
um in this last calendar year uh committee work. So we're uh each coordinator kind of has some designation based on their case load. So we do participate in elder the elder abuse committee that's designated to Klay County. Um our domestic violence court
is something that Lexi assists with and kind of co-f facilitates with the rape and abuse crisis center. We have a human trafficking committee that we're involved in. our juvenile law enforcement committee, the Klay County collaborative safe roads, um our restorative practices advisory
committee, and then Lucas is a part of one of the stakeholders with the family resource center. So, I think all of that connection allows us to learn what's going on, be kind of at the front end of of changes as they happen, but also make sure that those partners know what
services that we're able to offer to those individuals, too. Um there'll be another request for proposals for uh another grant for our crime victim services grant. That's been one that we've continued to have. I know throughout my duration here, I'm sure
back into the uh n u 1990s there was probably funding. So we've we've maintained and um continue to seek out funding to help support some of the costs with our program. Um this year is a competitive grant. I know they've already talked about there's going to be
a reduction in what dollars are available from the state. Um I did meet with my grant manager. Uh the challenge I see is that we aren't really viewed as um we're viewed more rural at times and
so we get similar grant funding than some of our very rural counterparts. um you know, even Norman County, I think, is similar because the state just kind of disperses based on geographical regions. And so I've been working with her to show how we can better align the
work that we're doing, the cases that we have, and try to correlate that better with the grant funds that we receive because I do think um it could be more proportionate is kind of my goal here too in this next cycle. Um, with the juvenile referrals, I just
wanted to take a look at 24 and 25. So, um, we received 253 referrals for our juvenile diversion program. 42 of those for were for outside of the Morehead area. 180 were within Morehead. 31 could be individuals who committed an offense
in Morehead, but don't necessarily reside here. So, we've had some juveniles maybe who are in Fargo or they've gotten traffic things, but they're not from this community. And so, we do help and kind of manage some referrals even uh with individuals outside. A lot of those are probably
going to be our online educational courses. So, those are self-pay um programs that those juveniles might be receiving as well. But, um we do have some individuals if the crime is happening here in Morehead, we're still working through those. Um, so for
prevention cases, these are individuals who are not yet gotten or it hasn't been to the point of law enforcement involvement, but they're kind of seeing that things are either bubbling up. We have students that are selfreerring. Actually, they've said that we have
issues with another student. How can you help me kind of work through this? And so those prevention referrals, I think, are really impactful. And that's a lot of the work that Peter is doing right now, too. Um and then 20 145 were direct diversion referrals either through law
enforcement or um our the county attorney's office and then 20 were from disposition. So these would be after someone's gone through court. Um there's some restorative practices opportunities we can do while on probation. Um so
those numbers definitely increased from 24 to 25. A lot of that again I think is just um a role of Peter being in the schools, us being a little more prevention focused to try to alleviate um and address these issues sooner than
it becoming a criminal act. And so um the prevention it was just great to see how much more we can do kind of on the front end. So we're seeing an increase. A lot of that too I think is just being in the schools being present. I know both Lucas and Peter are individuals
that students, teachers, and administrators recognize and are kind of reaching out to them to um let them know what's going on and trying to get a handle on things. So, um as far as the grant portion of this funding, um we do
receive Klay County Collaborative funds and then um most of the growth that we were able to have came from this restorative practices initiative grant. And so we had some uh budgeting set aside for consulting. Um check and connect is through Morehead Area Public
Schools. We were able to partner with them to hire a full-time um truency coordinator. That would be uh Brody Clark is his name. So he is working with students who are really at the cusp of not quite um that full 15-day drop, but
kind of that's where they're going is is some of those really um those truency concerns. And so he's doing daily check-ins with them, whether that's one-on-one or um electronically texting them, where are you at? Are you at school? How are things going? And then
there's weekly um face tofaces that he's having with those students as well. And program evaluation, we're meeting with an individual um from UND who's helping us just kind of uh work through efficiency. What's going how are we showing our success as far as this
program goes? And so that's been I think will be a really uh beneficial thing too on the back end of this to show what this um 18 months has been for this funding. And then we do have some restitution dollars which is a great resource that we have available. A lot
of juveniles if they have a criminal offense that then they're responsible for that cost. It's either on the parents or we're trying to recoup that in a lot of different ways and it's really challenging. So through this grant we were able to allocate a certain
set of funding to um be able to pay to re make that victim whole for what they were out and in um lie of that we're asking juveniles to do community service. So we kind of have a graph um designated by how many hours they would need to do um in order to kind of re um
show their faith in kind of getting this um reimbursement given to the victim. So, it's been a great opportunity that we just haven't had funding like that for in the past. Um, and then the rest really is just that um assistance with helping uh fund uh both Peter fully but
then a portion of Lucas's role as well. Um, and then just as far as victim services, really just the amount of contacts with victims, um, and our increase over the years, we're just, uh, again, I think what we're seeing is the numbers might
not be that much more, but the severity of the cases and the longevity of having contact with these individuals, I think is where really seeing the impacts of that. And with that, uh, again, thank you for everything, the support, uh, of our
office and and support of public safety and and everything that all of you do for it. So much appreciated. It's been a busy year and I expect it'll be a busy year upcoming. >> Yeah. Fantastic. Yes, Commissioner Aminger. >> I just want to jump in. Uh, part of my
portfolio, I'm on the the ARPAC committee, restorative justice practices. Uh Michelle has done a remarkable job at getting grant funding and with that money she's put together a great group of community members on our
pack and I can't say enough about uh Peter and Lucas and and Brody. You've got some real exceptional great people that are working with our schools and the kids relate to them. I I
work out with one of the teachers at Morehead High and knows knows these two guys like she just gives the highest praise to them and they relate to the kids and they do really good work. Uh you know, I
can't say enough about that. I we this is an area that's overlooked a whole lot of places and this is pulling kids out of a situation uh before it becomes ingrained or more ingrained and gives kids that have made a mistake a chance
to own their pro their their actions and be accountable for them but not go into life with the label and it's just been a great experience for me to work with them and I can't say enough about it. Michelle's done an excellent job.
>> Thank you so much for the work that you do for the county. We really are grateful for all of that. And uh I echo the sentiments on the grant pieces. Uh finding folks that can write well to secure funding to continue those the
great work. And I'm sure that you'll need some grant funding potentially for the dog piece. I don't know if that's >> I I think largely that's going to come through uh use with forfeite funds. We'll be able to fund any piece of that with forfeite. >> Wonderful. >> Well, thank you.
>> Thank you all. Appreciate it. >> We'll go ahead and take a five minute break quick. Okay, item 12, we're back. Is a request for approval for the Klay County Board of Commissioners to send a letter to Minnesota DNR requesting an extension for public comment opportunity
pertaining to the recent release of the public water inventory study. >> All right, Erin, you're going to pitch it. >> I'm going to try to pitch it. Um, my next two things deal with water and uh not my wheelhouse except for drinking it. So, I'm going to try to muddle
through this. Um, as you know and and last week we had a few citizens come in and describe the difficulty that they were having in filling out the forms for the MD um Minnesota DNR for the uh public water inventory study. And
unfortunately that the comment period is was only 60 days and ends on February 19th. And so um Commissioner Bear asked that we submit a letter to the Minnesota DNR uh requesting a 30-day extension to
that comment period. And so that is what's in your packet. Um on I don't know what page it is, but the letters uh in your packet and the request is to send that to DNR to see if they would extend the uh extend the comment period
for another 30 days. >> Good job, Darren. >> Commissioner Bear. So after last week's meeting, I had some more land owners reach out to me and explain the difficulty of putting comment in. So I thought this would be a good idea to see
if we could get them to extend it 30 more days. So the 60 days, it's a 60-day comment period, but the first 30 days, they sent out a letter notifying us about of a public hearing 30 days later. And then after that 30 days, that's when
the last 30 days starts. And it's coming to a head here on Friday, >> Thursday. I think it's Thursday the 19th. >> The 19th. 19th or 20th. But yeah. So, with this letter, hopefully they'll extend it another 30 days, especially Klay County being the first county to go
through this. I I think that hopefully they'll listen to us and give give the land owners another 30 days to get through this process and see how it works out. So, that's why I asked for this letter and I support this letter. Commissioner Kabghov, did you have that
comment and make a motion? Is uh >> Wait, I just >> So, Commissioner Kavanagh made a motion. Do you want to second that? >> Second. >> Okay. Commissioner Ebinger, comments. >> I thought we were one of five counties that are doing >> four. >> One of one of four, but we were the
first one to hold the public hearing of the four. >> Have we uh reached out the other four to see if they want to join us in this effort? I >> I have not yet. No. So, Commissioner Ebinger to that question. One, we've not reached out to the other counties, but
shortly after the hearing that was held at the Yums, Commissioner Bear and I uh had AMC's environment policy analyst, Brian Martinson, reach out to us to ask us about potential issues that had been brought up from residents during that
time. all falling sort of within the same uh area. Because I heard Thursday that we were putting this on the agenda, I did have a chance to circle back with Brian about the dialogue. There have been some additional comments from folks
that have expressed difficulty with the mediums allowed to submit comments and he he did generally support what Klay County is doing here. understanding that this is a short turnaround and given session starts at noon might not have
official action from DNR but thought it was important for counties to go on the record about the counties or the difficulties being encountered. Now, I think it's important for the public to know that because the comments are set
to close on Friday, DNR will start working through the comments that have been received. And there is um an ability, not official, but an ability for folks to continue to upload comments during the process as they work through
that. And then once DNR weighs in on official comments on the received questions, there'll be an additional 90day time frame for folks to submit comments. So, um, there is a avenue for folks to continue to do this, but given
the fact that Commissioner Bear expressed we're the first four counties to do this. We're the first county to have the deadline, uh, making sure that they tweak this for a better userfriendly process moving forward is the most. >> There's still a lot of counties out
there that haven't even started in this and we can impact on that. That's a great I appreciate Commissioner Bear bringing this to uh bringing up this this idea and it addresses the concerns we've heard heard from our constituents.
So very very much supportive of this. >> We do have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? >> Could we also send the letters to Senator Coupek and Representative Joy so they're aware of it? Let's copy Koopac,
Joy. Well, all all of them. >> All five. >> Keeler, Gander, and Johnson. >> Yeah, >> I'll accept that in the motion. >> Any further discussion? >> All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign.
Item 13 is a request approval to submit congressional dead erected funding application Klay Countyy's magnes and arsenic mitigation west central regional water supply project. >> Darren, are you pitching this one too? >> I'm going to I'm going to tackle this
one too. Um this is a uh West Central Regional Water Supply project uh as you know goes from Norman and Pulk County and Klay County. And what they're looking at is um bringing over 440,000 residents and businesses uh a
sustainable and abundant water supply uh coming from I believe it's the source is North Dakota. >> Yeah. East Central Region Water. Yeah. No. >> And so, um, they are looking for a grant to, I believe it's to water test for
these maganesees and arsenic levels within the water supply. And the cost for that testing would be $5,566. And I'm sorry, five 5,566,888.
So >> So that would be more than just testing. that that's what we are looking for to receive from the >> where we at here >> the application pot million68
>> and we we've applied for this through Klay County for from years past. So this isn't the first time we Klay County is doing this on behalf of West Central Regional Water District. The only clarification maybe for the minutes would be that it's identified
that that's the pool of money. The cost impact is slightly deceiving. It looks like it could potentially uh be a Clay County specific. >> So, let's just have the minutes reflect that if that's the intent. >> That's the intent. >> Any further discussion
>> here? Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the submitting the congressional directed funding application for the West Central Regional Water District Project. >> We have a motion offered by Commissioner Bayer, a second from Commissioner Krabanoff. Any further discussion?
All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Same sign. Carried. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Ebinger. Committee reports. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, last Tuesday on the 10th,
uh, I attended with the rest of the county EDC EDA quarterly discussion. Uh, Matt Lysith is a new executive director in MOR Downtown Morehead, Inc. or Morehead Downtown, Inc. Uh we've had
a lot of support from them in the past and uh Matt presented gave us some uh information on what's going on in downtown Morehead and he also indicated a fairly good idea of of the county position on a lot of things.
um update on social media and highlighting businesses and Klay County land availability and promotion of economic uh development tools. I had a up brief update on Innovate 28
and Klay County Commission cho choosing not to participate in that. um had reports from the comm from the cities on this and it really was impressive what they're doing out in some of our smaller cities in the
county. A lot of good ideas and a lot of good energy. Dworth, Barnesville, Holly uh really are are breaking some ground to in growth and in funding on things. So all all things
considered was very impressive meeting and that concludes my report. >> Thank you Commissioner Evinger. Commissioner Kavanagh. >> Thank you Madam Chair. So Tuesday the 10th along with u the
rest of you uh I was part of the EDA EDA EDC and EDA that Commissioner just reported on very thoroughly. I really don't have anything to add other than just uh um double down on how
effectively the work is going for these four communities that uh we talked to with the bigger projects and growth for their own communities. On Wednesday the 11th, I along with Steve Sums from um
Solutions Behavioral Health went down to uh the cities uh to the Association Minnesota Counties and meted met with a ad hoc group between AMC and Minnesota Indian Affairs Council. Um uh we gave a
presentation for our uh two-step process with the PRTF and the nonsecure um uh uh request that we're trying to get binding for from uh legislature this
session. Um a lot of support uh by all the tribes and um um yeah it was afternoon well spent. We discussed it for over an hour. So, a lot of positive feedback and energy to move
into session. And then on Thursday, I was part of the SWCD meeting. I think on those notes, uh I think I'll pass on to uh Ezra and he can give a more thorough report. That's all my my meetings. >> Thank you, Commissioner Kraov.
Commissioner Barry. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I was also at the EDC meeting last Tuesday. And then that night I went to three township meetings, Spring Prairie, Glendon, and Riverton Township. Attended all three of those meetings, gave them an update at what's happening at the county and
informed them about the public hearing on the rifle zone that we did earlier that day. Then on Wednesday the 11th, I was at the Wild Rice Wershed District meeting. It was a quick meeting. They only had five
applications there. Two of them were tabled. One was returned and one was approved and one was withdrawn. We also had another public waters input there update there from Wild Rice because of a lot of the property in Klay County is in the wild rice district that
is being added. So we discussed that at that meeting as well. And then Thursday, I went to the SWCD board meeting where we discussed farm
farmstead windbreaks and field windbreaks where we approve where they approved about what is it 2, three, four, five, six, six field windbreaks and another four farmstead windbreaks
for cash share. And then we also discussed the public waters input study that they're doing and we went more in depth with them there. They came out of that meeting said going to be sending a letter to the DNR as well to ask them to come out and
look at all the properties that they're potentially adding to actually have them physically come out and look at them. Put boots on the ground. So they will be sending that letter out. Hopefully that was meeting. Hopefully they'll have it sent out. if if they haven't I haven't followed back to see when they've gotten it sent out, but
they plan on getting it sent out this in this week. And then that evening, I went to Mullen Township and Highland Grove meeting. I went to both
those meetings also on Wednesday, Thursday night. And then last night, I went to the Keen Township meeting. So, I've attended a few township meetings and given them updates on yeah, what's happening at the county with the West Regional Water District meetings and uh
gun shotgun rifle zones. So, and other updates in the county. So, that was all the uh meetings I had. Madam Chair, >> thank you, Commissioner Bear. Last week, I also had the opportunity to attend the EDA EDC meeting. Really grateful for
that opportunity to hear from them. uh they just do such a great job of finding additional resources and grants available for their communities. Barnesville just had a a federal awardee of some congressional designated uh
funds as well. That's really exciting. uh but to hear from all of them uh what they're doing and then to talk a little bit about how we can continue to collaborate with them or share resources to uh expedite the cause. We did have a
pretty good discussion about legislative priorities and how we can continue to help each other going forward there as well. Earlier that day I had the pick committee meeting. We did have a long discussion on all of the items that this board uh did address earlier. So, I
appreciate this board's support on that. The Wednesday the 11th, I attended the Red River Basin Commission joint powers board meeting. We had really good updates on some of the grant processes
and work there. I attended the Buffalo Red River Wershed District Citizen Advisory Committee. Great updates on those projects, particularly of note are the the Clay Clay County ones that they're continuing or just um starting.
So, I appreciate that dialogue. I did we cancel the legislative meeting day? >> Okay. I believe we did have a Klay County legislative planning meeting. We talked about uh the session that starts
here in 2 hours. So uh we will continue the work. I'll head down to the Twin Cities uh in a half hour to make sure we're there for the opening day of session. And then that day I also had the solid waste discussion. We did discuss a number of issues that are
moving forward particularly in the uh realm of the demo landfill discussion. Thursday morning I had an additional uh watershed policy committee meeting
did have some discussion on some uh work with Houston agreements moving forward and then traveled down to St. Paul, I attended Thursday and Friday the AMC futures committee meeting. Really great planning and dialogue. We had a long
long discussion with uh DOC representatives particularly in um uh the rule making realm. How what is the process for rule making? What is the input ability for rule making? what is that cycle and how it gets back to
legislators which it doesn't really seem like uh rulemaking discussion does get back to legislators. I know we've had this discussion in regards to environment natural resources issues as well. And so how do we fill that void so that we're educating legislators that
are making the rules on issues that are uh really pertinent to folks uh locally. So really great updates on that. And then we did have uh representatives from the Minnesota Sheriff's Association. As you know, the sheriff's association did
have a vote of no confidence uh with uh the commissioner. And so how do we bridge that gap since we're all really working together uh on issues and then also had a long discussion with the uh deed commissioner on issues that local
folks are seeing particularly with paid family implementation and how um if there's any issu uh room for negotiations when we see some issues that might not uh might gaps in what's allowed and not
allowed. So, uh definitely more to come on that one, but uh we will see. And that I believe concludes my reports. Darren, thank you, Madam Chair. Um first and foremost, and probably the most
important is that uh Anna and Eric uh welcomed a new baby boy last Tuesday. All are doing well and healthy as far as I know. Um, I I did ask her she was coming back to work on Monday and I did not hear back from her. So, I'm assuming
I'm going to be in that role for the next 12 weeks. >> So, cong congratulations to them. Uh, Tuesday the uh 10th, I also attended the pick meeting. Uh, most of the items were dealt with today. Um, we do appreciate
the department heads not having to come back and that that things are on the consent of agenda if they're just replacing uh an employee that's already been budgeted for. I think that certainly helps and we can try that and see if it it works. Um, I also attended the EDC EDA meeting which has already
been covered. On Wednesday the 11th um we had a Klay County management meeting. some of the things that we discussed there. Uh we discussed the uh April 24th management retreat and uh what what that's going to entail and uh trying to
get maximum participation on that. Uh we notified the department's heads of the change from 1,000 to 5,000 for the inventory asset policy and the 1,000 to 10,000 for the building asset policy which uh the board approved. I believe it was last week. Um, we discussed some
of the 2026 legislative priorities. We had an update from IT on the new app extender program, which is uh what HR uses and other departments use for all of our file um documentation and data.
Um, we got a update on the GIS website accessibility improvements and we discussed uh that during you we discussed that during Mark's uh department update when he gave that on uh making our website accessible
um meeting uh referenced the background checks for detox with Melissa, Jesse and Troy. a legislative planning meeting. I also attended that. Um the building committee meeting uh uh one of the big projects this year is the replacement of
the heating plant roof at a cost of about $100,000. Um Joe went through that. uh also discussed the security at the front desk of the courthouse and how that can be configured uh better to have more people come in and not have to
stand outside when they're processing people through the uh the um metal detectors. Uh we talked about public health giving up a portion of their area and we also talked about um the LEC. The BCA came
down and did an inspection on the LEC and had some security storm uh concerns about some of the windows and the door alarms. So Joe is working on that as well. Um,
and then we also talked about uh the county conference space and and who can use county meeting rooms and when. So Joe put together a policy on that. Um, and so I'm assuming eventually that will come to the full board for approval. Um,
meeting with Corey referenced the demo landfill and some of the portions that might be available going forward. uh it's still in the initial planning phases and we also discussed the score funding and how funds are distributed and trying to come up with a fair
calculation method. So that was all on uh February 11th. So it was a very busy day. Um on the Thursday the 12th I had a discussions with Quinn on some personnel issues. had an email going to the 49ers
group on the maintenance supervisor and road foreman moves that we were planning to do which we discussed today and on Friday had a meeting with Steve to discuss items that may come up during his vacation time and that concludes my report. >> Thank you Darren Brian.
>> No thank you. >> Okay Sarah, do you have anything? Okay. All right. Any other business before the board? If not, our next meeting would be Tuesday, February 24th at 8:30. We are adjourned. Part: 2
Being at 7:00, the uh February 17, 2026 meeting of the planning and zoning will come to order. Just a point of order, whoever has not signed in, if you'd please sign in legibly because this is a public meeting and everybody's
attendance will be noted. Um, the role has been taken. We do have a quorum, so it's good to see that. Do I have um I think everybody's got their packets. Uh, if you look at the
agenda, is there a motion to approve the agenda? >> So moved. Second. >> A motion made by Mr. McDougall and seconded by Miss Ashley. All in favor say I. >> I.
>> Opposed. Agenda is approved. >> Is everybody had a chance to go over the minutes from the January 27th meeting? Mr. Chair, I went over the minutes. I wasn't here for it, but I found one
correction on page seven of the packet when it talks about Eric Ori and his wife. It would be Summer, not Heather. Other than that, I do not. That's the only correction I have found. Okay, that's noted. Is there any other
things in the minutes that a person wants to bring up for clarification or correction. >> I'll make a motion to approve with the uh change made. >> Motion made by Ashley. >> Second.
>> Second by Kurt. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed. Same sign. The uh minutes are approved. Is there anybody in the audience that would like to be heard and speak on
something that is not on the agenda? Is there anybody in the audience that would like to speak on something that is not on the agenda? Third time. Anybody in the audience would like to speak on anything not on the agenda?
Matt, is there anybody online? >> There is not, Mr. Chair. >> Okay. There's no citizens to be heard and we encourage citizen input. If there's something that uh someone wants to speak about, you're certainly welcome to to make it known.
The next thing on our agenda is the public hearing and this is um I'll just read it's Wesland excavating request for interim use permit amendment. The applicant is requesting to amend the operating hours and dates
for a gravel mine on a previously granted interim use permit number 792404 on parcel ID 17.015.2000 2000 0
part of the northwest quarter, northwest quarter of the southwest quarter, the east 1/2 of the southwest quarter and the southwest quarter of the souththeast quarter of section 15,
township 141N, range 45 W in Keen Township. Is there a motion to open the public hearing? >> So move. >> Second. >> Motion made by Ezra and seconded by was
it Laura? Laura. All in favor of open the public hearing say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Same sign. Being at 7:04 on February 17th. The public hearing is now open.
We're going to get a staff report um from Matt on this request. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, this is a request for an amendment to an interim use mining permit brought forward by Westland Excavating. The land
owners are Cory and Karen Rodwald. Um this is a 324 acre parcel. It's located uh about 3 and a/4 miles north of County State 8, Highway 26. a lot of uses on it. Uh agricultural, mining, residential. There's some shore land as
well. Uh there is an active interim use permit for a 20acre mine that was granted uh in 2019. There's also a variance to the north property line mining setback that was granted by the board of adjustment in 2023. You can see that variance right here. Here's kind of
the mining area right here. Uh lots of zoning on this property as well. The base zoning is egg general. Uh there's also general flood plane resource protection aggregate resource protection biological and shoreland special protection as well. Most of that overlay zoning is kind of on the south
side of the property there. So the applicant request is to amend condition five of the current IUP. The current wording of condition 5's operations will only occur March through December, Monday through Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. And the applicant
request is to operate from January to December 24/7. Um, this wouldn't be like a um I don't think the intent of the request is for like a uh aggregate industries pit where that is continuously operating, just the opportunity to be able to do so. On the
winter months would primarily be loading trucks and hauling and some potential excavation of material from the water if conditions allow. So there's that open water area I can find. Yeah, right here. Some considerations. There are some
history there's a history of impacts to county state aid highway 27 um from previous operators. I know that the highway department has worked with previous operators on this um just with some uh larger jobs that have happened
um on the North Dakota side uh of of the metro area um Amazon and and things like that their their facility. Uh and then there's just been some issues with with road maintenance on that as well. Um
there are multiple residences along this hall route as you can see there's a number kind of scattered along pretty close to the road. Um Keen Township does have you know operating hours that they want to keep them consistent with all the permits in
Keen Township of 7 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and then 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Holly only on Saturdays. um with the caveat that there might be some instances where they could operate beyond those hours if they get permission from the township and the um
planning department. Uh the land owners are agreeable to the proposed um amendments to these conditions. So again, comments or uh approval may be required from the township and we have some representatives here tonight. And then just again that the highway
department did have some concerns with in past uh impacts to county state highway 27. I think with this operator um have not had any issues on this particular pit. So
it's a previous operator. Uh from our comprehensive plan, we have a natural resource and environment aggregate resources goal to foster a balanced approach to aggregate resource extraction that is compatible with the natural resources and rural character of Klay County, requiring adequate buffering and landscaping for new mining
operations when adjacent to existing residential areas as well as when existing operation expands or substantially modified um and would negatively impact the surrounding area. Um, again, this operation is more than 1,000 ft from the nearest residence, which is
to the south. Uh, unrestricted 247 access or operations could impact negative residences, but you could limit put limits and conditions to mitigate those impacts. We also have an objective to avoid or mitigate against impacts to groundwater, surface water, native prairie,
woodlands, wetlands for new or expanding mining operations. And I should note that the applicant does not intend to expand this uh pit at all. They're just going to be working in the footprint. There are some portions um of the of the Burming that are in our special
protection rivers and streams zoning district. Uh we don't allow mining in this in these in this zoning district. So no further encroachment should occur. Uh we have a requirement for phased end reclamation plans and bonds. Um there is
already a $20,000 reclamation bond um for this active for the current permit. That's $1,000 an acre. Uh and then to consider cumulative impacts of existing nearby mining operations for new or expanding operations on the environment, egglands, residential areas, and
transportation infrastructure. So there is a history of mining activity in the area, documented history of negative impacts to CASA 27, the primary hall route, u multiple residences that could be impacted. Um I do think that mining
in this particular area is kind of winding down a little bit for some of the some of the other mines. We're not seeing as much activity uh u in those pits at all. So, any questions for me? And I can
take you to it here. Matt, were you looking for something else to add? >> No, I'm just looking for the um the property. >> Does anybody have any questions
of Matt at this point? >> Okay. the uh the applicant, would you like to come forward and uh state your name, please, and u tell us what your request is all about?
>> I'm Jeff Busby with Wesland Excavating. Um, I guess I understand you guys probably wouldn't want to grant the 24-hour deal for the term of the permit, but we're working on the AI project in
Harwood and they've depleted our stock piles over the winter and we need to get caught up somehow in the spring. So, I think if we could run like 3 weeks, but I
would ask for like a six week window and then it we would just uh run Monday to Friday if we were going 24 hours and be peaceful on the weekends. And >> so, you feel in three weeks of running
24/7, you could >> we would get caught up. Yep. But I would like six weeks and just in case the weather or something impeded. Um I met with Keen Township last night
and Logan and Wesley are here. They were on board with it I guess. And um have any Mr. Bear? >> I have one question. Sure. >> So it' be 6 weeks of just crushing.
Correct. 24 hours at the most. >> There will not be any trucking at night. >> At night. So it'd be just crushing at night, getting building a big enough stock piles to get through the season. >> I'm assuming when we are doing this, the road restrictions will
be on and we won't even be hauling out of there. Period. >> Out of there. Yep. So hauling hauling are you fine with hauling seven to seven or and then crushing 24? >> Yeah, if we kept the permit the same for that,
>> but allow crushing for a six week time frame in the spring so you can get it piled up and ready to go. >> Yep, >> that's what you're looking for. >> And the uh Thank you, Mr. Bear. the hall route that's already been established
and you're fully aware that you need to maintain that road and >> y >> if it gets used a lot it definitely gets beat up and >> Oh yeah, >> that's for sure. >> Any other questions of Mr. Busby?
>> Has any of the like the residents been have there any conversations of crushing 24 hours and any response from the residents about the crushing 24 hours for that 6 week time frame at all? I haven't heard anything from anyone. Uh the land owners, Corey and Karen are
here. I think they've kind of talked to some of their neighbors a little bit, but I don't know if they've heard any negativity. I guess >> I just know it said no no response, but I didn't realize uh if the they were aware of the 24-hour crushing for that
six week time frame if that's been relayed to them. Cuz what what would happen? Say you're a couple weeks into it and we're getting complaints. All of a sudden they're they're crushing here. I can hear it at 2:00 in the morning. I got to work at 7:00. That's just the only concern I have initially right off top. If anyone's even thought about that
on that side. >> Yeah. And um what do our recourse be then? >> Our recourse in that case would likely be they would still have to comply with all the um Minnesota um noise pollution
rules. Um, so something like a noise test could be done. Um, or some additional burming. I know a lot of the the crushing that they want to do is going to be at the very floor of the pit and they're going to would be burming around it and that can really
dampen dampen the noise. The house to the south, uh, there's a big the all the black dirt is piled up on the south end of the pit, I guess. So, I think that would muffle a lot of the noise. >> Just trying to think outside the box. I
want to say like, "Hey, we're good to go." Then all a sudden we geted with complaints and now you're like, "What am I going to do?" So, >> I have one question for staff, Mr. Chair, >> not the land owner, but who's the how close is the next nearest house to that property?
>> It would be this property the south or um a little over a thousand feet away, maybe a little more. >> And there's a big burm on the south side of that pit. Yep. So they would be Yeah. Quarter mile.
>> Quarter mile. >> And so um Mr. Mr. Chair, something that might help with some of these questions is is in Keen Township and other in the past where we've had the 247 crushing operations for a limited amount of time is um this is the proposed condition
that we've that I've this is my proposed condition, but this is very much almost verbatim for the other um uh permits in in Keen Township and then just in the county in general. uh just
very clear operating hours but then unless they get prior approval approval received from the planning department in Keen Township must provide a specific time frame of deviation from the stated hours and the dates of operation. >> I just don't recall hearing 24-hour caution before trying to help.
>> Sure. Yep. And I think that that has happened um in the past. And one of the conversations that um or one of the discussion points is that crushing could be done um within just normal working
hours, but that would typically extend it out um whereas oo whereas if you're looking at crushing for two weeks now, that becomes four or five weeks. Um, and so once residents hear that sometimes if they can they almost want it to be done
sooner than um they can tolerate it for for a couple weeks as opposed to multiple weeks. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Matt, when the U Mr. Busby, you said this is for the Harwood AI facility.
when the uh Amazon facility is being u trucked from the probably come from the same general area, but was there a 24-hour crushing during that period of time as well?
>> Yes, I believe there was some. We did not receive most of the majority of the complaints that were received were not from the from crushing, but it was from the hauling and the impacts to the road. I believe that one they also hauled 24 hours. >> They did haul 24. Yep. That was the
chief complaint was the hauling. >> And Mr. Busby, you don't anticipate hauling? >> No. Well, you will just be hauling during normal working hours. >> Now, uh has there been any formal com formal uh
uh any response from the locals uh in the area? said thou quarter mile is the closest neighbor to the pit. Is there any been any response from anybody out there? >> Not for we haven't heard anything for this particular request.
>> Okay, >> Mr. Chair, I would say a good chunk of the people might be sitting in the audience right now from that area. >> That that what >> would be sitting in the audience right now from that area. >> Okay. Well, they'll have a chance to speak here in a second. So, uh, anything
else you'd like to add, Mr. Busby? >> I think that's about it, I guess. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um, is there anybody in the audience that would like to speak either in favor
or against this uh proposed uh request? you go up and state your name, please Dunham. Uh, this is the first time that anybody's actually came and said they want to have a permit. We've had 24
hours before. We had one last summer. They never come and asked come to our town board and asked if we should do it or not. This is the first time this company's ever came and asked us, can we do this? And let's do it the right way. And we have 11 gravel pits in that
township. If they want to mine and they go through the right procedures, we have no problem with them going 24 hours a day as long as they follow the rules and fix the roads. Thank you. >> Mr. Dunham, are you a township supervisor? >> Yes, I am.
>> Okay. Thank you. come up and state your name, please. >> Uh, my name is Logan Langrude and I'm on the Tom board as well. I also live on 27 and like Wes said um uh at Westland is willing to work
with us. I mean, the 27 is usually pretty beat up and they're willing to do chloride and the grading. I don't know if they figured that out yet, but he he did talk about it. So, I am not opposed at all to the truck traffic or the 24
hours. So, >> thank you. >> Anybody else in the audience like to speak? You could state your name, please. My name is Corey Rodald. I'm the land owner. Um
I'm in favor of Westland Excavating to do what they want to do there. Um they're a smaller company than what has previously been in there and they're willing to come to the people, ask permission. Um they've shown as Wesley
has said they've shown they want to follow rules and um they'll have a plan to keep the road at bay. Um like you, Mr. Chair, you said that uh the road has been a problem. it
it has been a problem with previous mining operations, but you know, I feel that Westland can take care of this and they're going to follow through with what they say. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Roald.
Does anybody up here have any questions that have gone unanswered yet that you want a clarification on? Okay. >> Do I have a motion to close the public hearing? >> So move. >> Motion made by Mr. Bearer,
>> second by Mr. McDougall. All in favor of closing the public hearing say I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed. Same sign. At 7:22, the uh public hearing is closed. Now we go into discussion.
would I go through the findings of facts that normal order of things? >> Uh yes, Mr. Chair and just um as previous to last month, I did draft both findings in uh approval findings and denial findings for each of the um eight
uh review standards. And um these are your findings to do with what you see fit. If you want to um if you're looking in in favor of approval, I'd recommend going with that one. and and leaving the denial one and vice versa. Um if there
is any um points of contention with the denial, it's hopefully something that could be addressed through a conditions. >> Okay. Thank you. Number one, the interuse will not be injurious to the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of residents of Klay
County. The amendment only modifies the hours and dates of operation, does not expand the 20 acre mining footprint. Um, it looks like they're going to be compliant with the dust, noise, and
maintenance of the road and and all the permits required. Um they will be monitored by people I imagine at times and but it sounds like they they're trying to be they plan on being or they
have been a good good neighbor for this. So um how how do you approach this now? Uh I just don't want to put my inputs on first time doing this Mr. Bear. So, I'm kind of looking at you for a little guidance, but I don't want to approach
this in the wrong way either. Uh, >> so, uh, Chair Stiken, I would just say you could definitely just open it up if anyone has any comments or questions or if anyone's in favor or if we can make a positive finding for this this finding and then move on to the next one.
>> Okay. You've all had a chance to read the uh uh positive and denial findings. Um, is there any discussion on any issues with either of those two? And if somebody wants to um address them, would welcome your comments. >> I agree with the approval of the
findings, the approval side of the findings. I we're just changing just the hours a little bit for the crushing time on that. I believe that would that would not the effect affect the health, safety, morals, or general welfare of the Klay County residents. Okay. So, >> I approve with that. Agree with that.
>> Sounds good. Number two, the interim use will not be injurious to the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity for the purpose already permitted. >> Well, they've already been operating um I guess with no complaints, Mr. Dixon.
No formal complaints. >> Um no formal complaints. We haven't heard any. >> Right. So, looks like they're complying and they're being a good uh u uh they're following the rules like we would expect them to. So, this is just a little
extending what they're already doing right now. Um I would ask some input on the uh item number two. If there's u um agreement for approval findings for this number two
>> be an approval for of number two. >> Okay. and they'll require I mean the required setbacks burming and dust controls have already been addressed. So um it looks like u we're agreement on approval of
number two. Going on to number three, the establishment of the interim use will not impede the normal and orderly development and improvement of surrounding property for use predominant in the area. Nothing's really changing. It's just continuing with a little more
flexibility on uh the uh mining operation and uh they understand uh the conditions they will understand the conditions um that we're going to address later on. So what's the board's wishes on the uh
findings on number three? >> I would agree with the approval finding on number three. Okay, we have approval finding on number three. I think are we all in agreement with that? Good. Thank you. >> Number four, the ad adequate measures have been or will be taken to provide
utilities, access, roads, drainage, and off- streetet parking and loading spaces as required by the ordinance. Nothing has changed from what they're already doing. Um they're just going to continue doing what they're doing. And it looks like the uh the town board members that
are here are backing Westland's operations. So, can I get some input on what you feel if there's an approval finding for um number four? >> I also agree with the approval finding
and it's an existing pit and we're not changing much of the footprint. We're not changing any of the footprint of the current permits for it. So >> everybody in agreement on that? Okay, good. >> Number five,
adequate adequate measures have been or will be taken to prevent or control offensive odor, fumes, dust, noise and vibration, water pollution, and soil erosion. So that none of these will constitute a nuisance and to control lighted signs or other lights in such a
manner that no disturbance to neighboring properties will result. This also just a continuation of what they're already doing and there has been no u problems noted. Um they're going to
deal with the MPCA noise and burming requirements, runoff controls and reclamation bonding which will be part of their conditions. So what's the u commission's uh feeling on findings on number five?
>> Also agree. Agreed. >> Yep. Yeah, >> everybody in agreement. Good. Thank you. Number six, the interim use will not create an excessive burden on current or anticipated public infrastructure or services that serve or are proposed to
serve the area, including but not limited to parks, schools, public safety services, roads, water supply, sanitary sewers, and storm sewers. unless the county and applicant establish a development agreement that determines how such impacts will be resolved.
Same thing here. Um they're just continuing what they're doing and everything has been fine on how they've run their operations so far. Um long as they're in compliance with bonding and road maintenance and regulatory permits.
What's the board's feeling on the uh number six finding? >> Agreement with the approval finding there. >> Everybody in agreement on number six. Okay. Thank you. Number seven. Interim use is allowed by this ordinance and conforms with any specific use standards
established in chapter 8 use regulations as may be applicable. The proposed amendment does not expand the footprint and remains subject to all extractive use standards including setbacks and lot lines. So just
continuing what they're already doing. Uh they're not going to expand their pit beyond what they what already exists. >> What's the board's feelings on the findings of number seven? >> Also agreed. >> Agreed. Agreed. >> Everybody agreed. Okay. Thank you. Number eight, the interim use is
consistent with the goals and objectives of Klay County comprehensive and transportation plan and any comprehensive plan of a township or city as may be applicable. Well, we approved the uh the uh use a
few years back. They just want to basically change the hours and they got approval from um the town board here, which is it's always good to see the town the locals supporting the um the uh
request long as they control the noise and road maintenance and limitations on the hours and follow that and if there's a change u they need to come before the board again. What's the board's wishes on
findings number eight? >> Agreement with the approval finding. >> Approval. Yeah. Great. >> Everybody agreed. >> Mr. Mr. Mr. Chair, do you want me to add in a sentence just about uh Keen Township not having any obje objections to the amendment? >> I think that'd be worth noting that.
>> Okay. Now we're going to go through. Is there any other comments that before we need to move on? Okay. Okay. The um you got the uh should we go through the uh uh conditions, Matt? Okay.
There's 11 conditions listed here. Has the applicant had a chance to review these? But we're going to go through them one by one just to verify that uh you understand. Number one, applicant shall operate within provisions of the Cly County Land
Development Ordinance. Operations shall adhere to the 100 foot RP bio overlay setback. What's RP bio? >> The resource protection biological. >> Okay.
>> And 300T water course setback. Operator is to reclaim all areas of encroachment into these setbacks. No further encroachments on these setbacks can occur. Operator shall control dust and provide necessary maintenance on all and any
gravel hall roads, including all of the hall route along Casaw 27. Operator shall provide proof of NPDES, storm water management and air quality permits as required to the planning
office and shall be in compliance with any and all local, state, federal regulating agencies prior to commending commencing mining operations. >> Commencing >> commencing makes more sense. >> Now, this isn't red in ours. No, this is
a little different I'm guessing being red line. >> Yeah, I just Mr. Chair, this is the one that was changed or that's the amendment that's proposed to to or condition that's proposed to be changed. >> Okay, I'll read this and we'll listen very carefully. Operations at the site are limited to
January through December, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and hauling only on Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Unless prior approval is received from the planning
department and Keen Township. Operator must provide a specific time frame of deviations from stated hours and dates of operation. Is the commission in in agreement on the wordage on number five? >> I agree with that because that gives
them an opportunity if they need a crush for three weeks, 24 hours or two weeks, that gives them that opportunity. And then also the Keen Township signs off on it and the planning director. So if there's a bunch of complaints after they crush for two, say they get they get approved to crush for three weeks, they
crush those three weeks and a lot of complaints come in, then they'll know next time if they want to crush, they have an opportunity to say no for 24 hours. So I I believe that covers all the bases. >> Okay, everybody in agreement on that? Okay. Number six, a maximum of 20 acres
is approved for mining operations, excavation, screening, crushing, stockpiling, etc. If additional acres are proposed to be opened in the future, a new or amended IUP would be required. Applicant is required to post a
reclamation bond of $1,000 per acre. Applicant is required to reclaim mined out areas once mining operations cease. Applicant is required to return site to farmland or land owner specifications.
Applicant shall provide parking, screening, lighting, drainage, and portable sewer facilities consistent with county regulations as determined by the planning department and county health department. The interim use permit shall expire
December 31st, 2036. So that's a little over 10 years. So is there any other does the applicant and the town board and everybody do they understand these
conditions and you're agreeable to them? Could you come to the mic, Mr. Weslin, and uh state your name again, please, and see if you agree with the conditions 1 through 11? Jeff Busby, I agree with the conditions. >> Thank you.
Is there anything else that we need to address here? This is just continuation. So, looks like it's covered quite well. Okay. We seen the uh we went through the findings of facts and they all were approval and we went through the U conditions
listed with the change on number five. And so there's 1 through 11 that the uh operator is agreeable to. Okay. At this point, we need to decide if the interim use permit will be issued
or denied. What's the is there any motion for a uh is there a someone that wants to make a motion for this permit? >> I'll make a motion that the interim use permit be issued following the uh 11 conditions. And we got a a motion by
Ashley for issuing the permit. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Josh. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Same sign. The interimmuse permit is issued.
Thank you. That takes us to uh number seven on the agenda, the unfinished business. >> I don't have any unfinished business, Mr. Chair. >> No unfinished business. Okay. New business. Uh we got two things on
there. I think Mr. Jacobson's going to talk about the uh planning and zoning department update first. >> Thank you. This is uh something that I give to the county board every year and thought, you know, I should be giving it to the planning commission, too. So, just to
give you kind of a highlight or recap of of 20, it's I know it's 2026, but this is our 2025 kind of update and and what's happened here in the past year. uh start off just by saying what the mission statement of um the planning office is. It's to promote the public
health, safety, and general welfare of county citizens through the development, implementation, and administration of appropriate planning, zone, zoning, and subdivision regulations which follow applicable state and federal laws in the Klay County comprehensive plan.
So for 2025, um just looking at uh we'll just go through some different uh permitting statistics. So building permits, uh use permits, subdivisions, variances, violations, um and kind of see you will be able to
see back in time about 10 years and see what how uh last year compared to th to those years. So uh for building permits, um those were were up. Uh we're not quite to where we were in 2023. They were down 2024. Um a lot of these I
would say though are after the fact building permits too. So there's things that could have been built in previous years. Um uh one thing that's positive and seems to be bucking some of the trends more statewide and nationally is just the
number of new new residential dwellings being built. So, um, up, uh, to 35 new housing starts this year compared to 20 last year, which is always nice to see. Um, and then you can get a sense about where some of this development is
happening. Very scattered throughout the county, though. Uh, typically, um, Park and Eglund townships see the most development, um, in in the county. So, we're looking in this area, right?
right here kind of the southeast part of the county. Um although development has been pretty uniform in the past year as well just throughout the county. In terms of building permit valuation, uh the average
permit issued, the average value of the construction um was just north of of $160,000 uh or just yeah, just a little bit north of $160,000. And then total looking at our building permit be roughly $30 million in in new
development uh in the county in 2025. Any questions on permits at all? >> Do they have values of the projects? Yeah, typically permits are like the the fee for a per permit is calculated based off of the construction cost. So it
might not necessarily represent the the value of the project, but essentially how much it cost to to build it, materials, labor, things like that. So it's, you know, when you're permitting any anything from like a $2,000 shed to a um
$1 million uh house, you know, that's kind of runs the gamut there. So, uh for subdivisions, uh they were a bit down in terms of just just our typical single lot subdivision.
Did 51 this year. Uh had three plats um as well. uh the past few years for us well especially in 2021 through 2024 we'd saw a lot of of subdivisions just
due to refinancing so folks splitting off their their um farm site or farmstead from the from egg land that was very common I'm not seeing as much of that didn't see as much of that in in 2025 terms of use trends. Um,
pretty similar to 2025 is very similar to to 2024. Uh, saw 13 interim use permits and 11 conditional use permits. Um, not as high as in 2021 2022. Uh a lot of those in 21 and 22 if you
were were on the board uh around the commission during that time um stem from mining either new gravel mines or expanding gravel gravel pits and a lot of that was uh driven by larger projects like that Amazon uh facility and then
also the the diversion as well. Get a getting a little closer in there. You can see just by our indust different industry. Industrial is far and away the uh um uh the most permitted type uh in
the county followed by commercial and some essential service as well. And then breaking that down even further, you can see a lot of it uh permit um being issued are for new new and expanding gravel pits. Um, a lot of home occupation permits, community solar
gardens, uh, and then some I want to say storage as well is another one that's yeah, warehouse and storage as well. Those are kind of the bigger or um top three or four um, uses that have been permitted here in the past um,
5 to 10 years. And last year and last year you can kind of see where those um those per those permits where they were issued in the county. Any questions on use permit trends at all? >> I like your symbols. Well, you think
area those are Erica's Erica's symbol symbols. So, yeah. >> Makes sense. Total. Is that a maple leaf or the >> I'm gonna look at a maple leaf in a whole new way. >> Those are not new maple syrup businesses. Yeah. >> Really question that maple syrup I just
bought on. >> Don't come to my house next tomorrow. >> Yeah, it's around me. Oh, all right. Variances. So, these are um essentially deviations or variances from
the the land development code um that are um decided on by the board of adjustment um kind of down this year for variance requests. And I think I want to attribute a lot of that to um staff and
not myself, but but Erica and Rita and helping folks uh finding other options uh that wouldn't require a variance and and that's always preferred. I think if you can find a different option without having to to vary from from the code, um
that's um I think um more beneficial. And so, uh, kudos to them for helping walk people through and and finding, uh, different solutions to, um, to get projects permitted within the, um, the bounds of our our current code. I also
think that just updating our code as well, um, was very helpful in in, um, with variance requests >> because a lot of a lot of those variance requests from 2019 and the I mean, were gravel mining setbacks. >> Yep. Property property setbacks.
>> Yep. Exactly. And so this is kind of where you'd see either in the north or the south. Any questions on variances at all? All right. Zoning violations. So um you can see from 2019 to 2024 there's a
significant jump uh in the number of of zoning violations. A lot of these are are you know unpermitted um development building can be resolved with a just a building permit. Um some are a little bit more substantial than that. So they
kind of go from year to year to year. Um follow us around a little bit. So, um, still a high number of of zoning violations. A lot of them have come down from 24 to 25. And again, a lot of credit to Erica um for her work um with
the zoning violations. Not a fun part of the job enforcement and um she does a really great job with it. So, any questions on on violations? >> Had a question. Um the color shaded for
active or multi-year violations does that slowly drop if you viewed this slide in a few years from now or is that are some of those just ongoing issues that >> that the hope is that they will drop? Um
but those are typically some of the more complicated ones either that the violation is substantial um the violation might be going through a court process. >> Okay. um with our county attorney's office um or just a landowner issues as well. So, some land owners are a little
easier to work with than others on resolving violations. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Uh the other thing I want to bring up just because you all you are the body that permits uh gravel pits is just our gravel tax. Um excuse me.
And so after a year where uh 2024 when it was down um quite a bit, we're kind of climbing back up a little bit with uh with uh gravel tax revenues collected. So um looking at a little over $10,000
more this year compared to last year. Um nothing though like 2023 and even even further back um into you know eight or eight or 10 years ago but trending more
in the more in the right direction. And again with the gravel tax, um 42 and a half percent goes to the county, 42 and a half percent goes to townships who are either where the pits are >> located >> pits are located and then 15 goes into a
reserve fund um for um potential reclamation, road projects, things like that. >> One question, Matt. >> Yes. >> I've gone to a few township meetings. When does that check normally get cut for the town boards? That is a good question for the auditor's office and
that's something I can find out and and get back to you. Yep, >> Matt. I've been working with Ann on those. Um, they usually go out at the end of of February. >> That's that's what I thought. So, >> all right. >> Yep. And big thanks to to Rita on on
this. Rita and Ann um from the auditor's office. Rita is is the one sending out letters every quarter and and actually getting the their reporting back and working with the auditor's office on that. So big thanks to Rita for um for
keeping this program going. >> Rita, does the gravel tax has it changed much over the years? The per toner, per yard, >> has has it changed? How >> has it gone up much or is it pretty stable in what whatever the tax is on
the cubic yards or >> total tons? Well, basically what I track is um about five years ago, we realized that we had no tracking per
pit. We were only tracking the um dollars and tonnage or cubic yards from each operator. I created a spreadsheet and now we track every quarter what was
taken out of each pit. We identify the pit with the parcel number, what was taken out volumewise and the taxes collected on that amount. >> So that's the requirement of the operator, pit operator to submit those quarterly reports to you.
>> Yes. And if they don't, they hear from me. >> They hear from you. >> And the the gravel tax itself in terms of the rate is it's 21.5 cents per cubic yard and and 15 cents per ton. Yep. >> And that has not changed.
>> And that that's that's in states. State dictates how much you can tax on gravel. >> Y. >> So even if we wanted to increase that, we couldn't. >> Okay. >> That's a state. >> Yeah. It'd have to go through and there'd have to be a statute change to that. >> That's statewide. >> That's statewide. >> Gotcha. >> Now, we could we could I I believe we
can tax less than that if we wanted to, but we tax at 15 50 cents per ton. >> Yeah. some and the counties can choose to exempt some operators who are um >> doing county projects >> doing well and maybe not um
not uh producing a lot of material there's a there's a threshold and I don't know what it is exactly but um but if you only put up so many tons of material a year and if you're under that amount then you can the counties can exempt from that
So, moving on to a couple big highlights. I think the biggest one and big thanks to you all um for all your help on this is our land development and subdivision ordinance update and a big thanks to the county board for for funding this um project and and providing kind of the oversight for it
and guidance and having that being enacted in in June. Uh, also the Buffalo River better data letter of map revision was completed. Um, so that's an area of the Buffalo um river spanning roughly
from I think I could even just get to it here. We'll see if this loads. Oh, maybe it's gone. I can show you on here. It's roughly from roughly from just southoutheast of the
um Buffalo River Speedway to north of um Glendon. And you can see in this area, this orange area, this is all flood plane or was flood plane fringe. Um, so 100red-year flood
plane and this has been changed dramatically as a result of that. Bas essentially when this was first done, it was not done with the the best data and now we have that's why it's hence it's called the better data lards. Now we have better data. uh and so was able to
provide a lot of relief to an um probably over 20 residents, land owners, um who were able to get their homes removed from um the flood plane. And this is a something that had a project that was only supposed to take a year
and I think it started in 2017 and just finished this year. So, >> do you have the most up-to-date map on what it looks like now? Um, I would have to get that from FEMA. One thing we will need to do though at at some point here is um the FEMA actually went in and
changed what the flood plane looks like. Sometimes what they'll do is they will just put a little addendum on the map and say it's changed for these properties. Um, since they actually went through and changed it, what we will need to do is work with the state to update our flood plane zoning so it
matches that. And so that's something that I've been started conversations with the with the state flood plane manager. Um and so hopefully that's something we can get done this spring. >> Yep. >> Matt on that map. What's the farthest
northwest? How I mean is it Glendon? Is that the right north of Glendon? Is that where >> Yeah, it's roughly I think just north of Glendon. The cutoff is is around here somewhere. good enough of where the where the revision
happened. And maybe we do have the RGIS had built a really nice map that kind of that showed showed it all. And I'll find it and send it to you. All right. So, that was 2025. Any uh questions or
comments or looking into 2026? >> Is there anything you anticipate uh struggling with, dealing with, working with that you haven't already experienced? Um it's possible we'll start to see more
data center inquiries. We've already received one um data center inquiry. So I could see that. So that's something I know we've talked about um workshopping a little bit more um and coming up with developing u some performance standards
and an ordinance for for data centers. Um that's kind of been top of mind. Um, I'm not sure we might see a slowdown with uh community solar just because I think we're kind of hitting our capacity in in the county
for that. Um, I think probably just a lot more home occupations potentially. Um, but I don't know if Erica if you have anything to add. I think enforcement is just continuing
to be a big issue. Um just enforcement of of of the code. So we appreciate your support with that, especially with um u the permits that you have oversight over with um conditions for different permits. And so
know we all you are the ones you're the body that issues those permits with those conditions. And so we as staff want to do our best to make sure that your um your decisions are uh upheld and and implemented as well. And so any issues, we will definitely bring those
back to you. I think um we start to hear a lot more about those in the in the summer months. So >> what I really like is the planning is I love the discussions. We got a real diverse body of knowledge here. Uh and with the women in the back, they do
excellent job. It's good that everybody brings a lot of extra background information, you know, from new Josh and he's fairly new here, but he's valuable in that he has a good understanding of of the
engineering side of things. Yeah. So, I I do appreciate everybody bringing information to it and as long as they're fair and consistent, I guess we're doing our job. Um, the other thing go to in 2026 is I'll continue to look at at getting
someone from the diversion to come speak with us. Um, we might want to look at their dam safety zoning. Again, that's something we could we can talk about, but just give an update on the project itself. Um, data centers as well. Um, and then anything else if any of you
have a have a topic. Um, I know the the DNR um has always say that they're willing to come talk about any number of topics. Mining reclamation, um, shoreland, flood plane, all of all of that. So, those are all topics that
can be on the table as well. One thing that gets mentioned being I'm from Dworth u maybe you can't even speak to the uh casino idea a part this casino where that is at and I understand if you
can't or don't or shouldn't speak of it but is there anything you can tell us about that? >> Uh at this moment I really can't because I think they're going through their process with the um Bureau of Indian Affairs and um Department of Interior. So they're just working through that
process right now >> and they're meeting on somewhat regular basis. So I guess it's it's still in the forefront obviously. So >> Yep. Y but I think it's going to be a multi-year >> Yeah.
>> No doubt. >> Yep. So yeah. >> All right. >> Yeah. you hit on the uh diversion update because we did have one update here or two back. So, we do if we follow it, you
do hear enough or understand a little bit of it, but it's nice to be able to sit down and have a question and answer of specific things. That' be if you can get that worked out, that'd be fantastic. >> Yeah. Okay, that sounds good. >> That's on track to get certified by next
spring. >> Yep. And that's something too that will that has the potential to dramatically alter um the the flood plane in especially western Klay County. Um looking at the um the diversion, they
had to submit to FEMA a conditional letter of map revision which would basically show what the map would look like with the the flood plan with the project fully built out. And um if it stays that way um and I'm on a committee we meet like every two weeks and we talk
about about well that's one of the things we talk about. Um uh there will be a significant reduction I think in the in the flood plane in on the on the Minnesota side. >> Any other questions for Matt? Appreciate Matt uh your work and getting
that compiled. So moving on, the other thing that's on the new business is election of officers which is held every February. So Joel, >> I see Joel has joined us here on >> Joel was here.
>> There he is. Yeah. Well, right now Joel is the uh chair and I'm the vice chair and Laura is the secretary. Uh I know Joel said he is willing to stay
on as chair if the commission is agreeable to that and I would say I would be willing to stay on as a vice chair if if they're also agreeable. Not sure about Laura what she wants to do. >> My signatures are working out okay.
she still can sign her name. So, she's uh she's still important. So, but that's just I mean it's your choice, your decision on what how you want to deal with it, how you want to handle it. So, I'll open it up to anybody that wants to
uh >> I'd be okay with keeping it as it is. >> Seem to be doing a pretty good job so far. >> I would agree. >> Do we need a motion on that for a unanimous ballot? Is that how we do this? >> Yep. >> Okay. I imagine. Um, is that was that a motion?
>> I'll make that motion. >> Okay. Sebastian makes the moves to uh keep it as it is. And Ashley, >> uh, agrees seconds that motion. So, everybody in favor of keeping it as it is, say I. >> I. >> I.
>> Opposed. Same sign. Looks like um I'm uh going to be with Joel and Laura for another year. So, appreciate that. and it makes a person work a little bit more than I I didn't realize the board of adjustments is part
of this thing. So I need to get up to speed and just telling Matt to understand the flow of things and understand that a little bit. So I mean the mechanics are kind of there. I just it's a whole different it's it's a different train of thought. So but
um anything else for the good of the order tonight? If there is none, is there a motion to adjourn this February 17th meeting? >> So moved. >> Moved for made by Ashley, second by >> Laura. >> Laura. All in favor say I.
>> I. >> Post same sign. >> Meeting is adjourned until assume we're having one in March. >> Correct. March 17th. >> March 17th is the date. So hope everybody has a good month in
between here. So thank you all.