Yeah. >> Good evening everyone. It is 5 o'clock. I'll call today's meeting of the Klay County Board of Commissioners to order. Our first item on the agenda today is an approval of the agenda. We do have an agenda addition request. >> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to
approve the agenda with the agenda addition. >> Okay. Okay, we have a motion offered from Commissioner Bear. >> Second. >> Second from Commissioner Ebinger. The agenda addition is an approval of a letter of support to the Minnesota Federal Senator delegation requesting a
delay in the SNAP assistance uh SNAP administrative and benefit cost shifts. Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I oppose. Same sign. The motion carries. Citizens to be heard this evening. Are
there any citizens in the audience wishing to address the county board on any item that is not on the agenda? Any citizens wishing to be heard? Steve, have you had any online requests? >> I have not, Madam Chair. >> Thank you.
Moving into the approval of the payment of bills and vouchers. >> Madam Chair, I move that we approve the payment the bills and v vouchers. We have a motion offered from Commissioner Ebinger and a second from Commissioner Kenoff to approve the payment of bills and vouchers. Discussion.
>> Discussion. >> All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. That motion also carries. Presented in the packet is the June 2nd, 2026 meeting minutes. >> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the minutes.
>> We have a motion offered from Commissioner Bayer to approve the minutes as presented. Second. >> Second from Commissioner Kavanagh. Discussion discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying >> I.
>> Oppose. Same sign. >> Motion carries. Item two is a request approval of the advanced correctional healthc care contract renewal. Sheriff Empie deputy Martin. Good evening. >> Good evening madam chair, commissioners. Thanks for having us this evening. We
are here to get the uh approval to renew and sign a contract with uh AC who is our correctional care folks over at our correctional center. Um it is a 5.66% increase compared to uh last year and
that's been fairly consistent uh with their previous contracts as well. Last year they sent us an email saying they're roughly going to be a 7% increase but they're going to try and keep it under which they did do that. Um, it is it is budgeted because we knew
this was going to be coming. So, it is budgeted, but um I want to have the chief deputy kind of give you a little bit of a spoiler into what our budget for medical care is going to look like for 2027. Um, it's going to be a little
rough, I think. >> Questions for anything? >> Just briefly here. Um, as you know, when we have inmates, we're responsible for their their care while they're over at our facility. And that includes not just
from a providing care within the facility, but also anytime that we have to transport them to Sanford or any other medical provider. If they don't have insurance, um, we are we are picking up the tab for for those services along with any medications that
that they may have. Um, we are also um, taking care of those those costs. Over the last three years, we've seen we've seen those rates increase substantially. AC was a known. It was a given. We signed a contract with them in 2022. Um,
in 23, 24, and 25, their rates rose by 5% and they had estimated a 7% raise each of those years. So, that was a known. What was an unknown and still is an unknown is the amount that we're spending on Sanford and Diamond Medications, which is our medication
provider for for the inmates. Um, this year we had budgeted for 930,000. I ran the numbers today. We've already spent 590,000. Uh the majority or the biggest
difference why we're off of budget is the substantial fees that we paid to our medical providers and the medication providers. At this point, I'm projecting that we're going to be over 1.2 million for 2026 after budgeting 930,000 for
this year. >> So you you believe it will be 1.2 million total, not 1.2 million over the 930. >> Correct. I I think it'll be about 30% over what we had budgeted for and not this is not because of a it's because of
just increased fees and usage of of the providers. questions from the board. >> I have one question, Madam Chair. Is there another option other than AC? >> There are other options to go out and get bids for them, but again, I don't I
don't see this as an AC issue. They provide um above average care for our inmates. Um the the nursing staff that we have is very good staff and they have good connections with not just our staff, but with the inmates as well. And th those numbers are a known number. Um,
this year we're paying out 66,000 a month to have almost full-time coverage over there and they're very needed and used often. >> How many nurses are over there or how how many people are part of a that are over there. >> I'd have to check with Carrie to find
out for sure how many, but I believe they have >> got the main nurse nurse uh Sam and then I think they've got another full-time along with a couple part-time over there as well. I want to say there's four or five. And then it also includes having a an on call full-time on call doctor as
well. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Cample. >> Yeah, if my memory is rec if I recall correctly, we did have um another provider of this service not too long ago and and it was um a lot of trouble.
>> Correct. Yep. and you know so we made the switch I think it was right before you came on board commissioner bearer but but yeah so we did have and and um since we've had them I haven't seen any issues like we had seen before anyway in
terms of >> you know one of the things that uh Chris hit on was the medication side of it and I know that we just uh we lobbyed um our legislature to change that law that was written last year which we could not use generic medications it had to be the
same exact medication as somebody was um brought in with. Um so that law will go into effect here on August 1 and we'll be reviewing that to see if we're able to have a cost savings there from going from the actual med to a generic med. That should hopefully help.
>> Thanks for your work on that. That's very important. You have a followup? >> Yeah. Um just a separate question. So, um, when we have inmates in in their and if they are if they were on,
um, Mure or any any of those other things, that falls off, doesn't it? >> That is correct. Yep. We end up taking care of that. >> Well, it sure be nice to see that changed. >> I know. I I think for a while I I thought that was an AMC issue that they
were going to try to work on that. you know, because whether it's um menure, menure or um the other ones that the state provides, >> we could definitely look at that through our our MSA lobbyist and see if we can
make that one of our legislative priorities. Well, >> that's significant. I mean, >> I I don't know how many of your inmates are on some coverage. I would say there's some of them that are. >> Yeah, I can't give you that number. I don't know off the top of my head
either, but I'm sure there are some >> from the just for the public. So when somebody is incarcerated, none of their insurance applies >> and it goes it goes to a county responsibility. >> I I think that's just >> something should be changed in that
regard. >> Commissioner Evinger. >> Yeah. U Sheriff, are these folks that are committed? Are these folks that just can't make bond? Is there is there some way we can phase them out of the out of the the system?
>> Any alternatives on it? >> This is anybody that is booked into Arcllay County Jail and that we're housing. Um whether they're committed whether uh you know whether they're committed to a prison, state hospital, or county facility. It's anybody that we're housing, we have to pick that up.
I think maybe it's worth saying that the county attorney's office works with the sheriff and and and Carrie very often. I mean there are I mean it's all about public safety ultimately but sometimes we look at and and let's just say somebody who's a lower level offender
but is in there. Let's say they need dialysis or they need we've had people who have a come in with a major heart problem. They're going to need heart surgery. Well, if if it's a DWI person that needs heart surgery, that's a pretty easy decision that we don't need to incur a million dollar cost for the
county on that. But let's say it's a person with murder charges. Well, we can't furlow that person. And that's where the bigger issue becomes. The more serious people need to remain within the jail confines and they have to provide somebody watching over them while
they're in the hospital. And so we look at those all some of those more serious cases, you know, I think dialysis is probably some of the ones that have come up with the biggest ones and we've allowed furlow because they're less likely to be a public safety risk. They can't get out. They can't move very
much, but they've done something that, you know, garers charges. So I mean, we we do monitor those. I remember the the the video issue we had that was going to be a huge expense to the county and Drew
Wrigley was the US attorney then and he was good enough to file some charges on them since it was an interstate issue [sighs] and but um I had no idea that we were we were holding getting caught up on tabs
like this. Well, I to what your Commissioner Campbell has a question, but to what you uh identified with your state priorities and with uh Commissioner Ebinger on the public safety piece, that has been a continued AMC dialogue about what those costs continue to be. I do think it's
important to revisit it given the fact that um we're seeing such an escalation in what that is, keep it top of mind, particularly with 50% of the legislature being new next year. I'm not sure everyone is quite aware how expensive this care ends up being for counties.
Commissioner Campbell. >> Well, I question I don't know if it can go to um our county attorney or the sheriff, but it seems to me that if we're going to if we're going to try to maybe talk to the legislature about allowing these people
should be able to keep the insurance that they have while they're in there if they have it. Mh. >> But but in terms of not knowing which ones do and which ones don't, it it might be good for us to do some research on that. I don't know what questions we can ask and what questions
we can ask, but I it seems to me that one of the things we should be able to do is to inquire whether they currently have health insurance. if um because if we're gonna I mean I I guess if we're going to in the in the future if we're going to look at trying to get the state
to look at allowing those on state covered health insurance to stay on it, we should have some sort of information on what percentage of our population that would be. And if we're able to ask that question right now, I'm sure our jail administrator would have that as
she's very detail orientated and she's very responsive if we if we were to ask her that. She'll tell us if somebody has it, if somebody doesn't have it type thing, she's very uh very on top of that stuff. >> Well, I think it would be good to good to have if we're going to be asking or
moving forward with AMC to maybe even look at a policy. That's okay. That's Thank you. >> She's good. >> Yes, Commissioner Kavanagh. >> Yeah. And just one question question back to the prescriptions that you were talking about, do uh with the doctors
that uh put out those uh uh scripts, um do they have the choice of generics first or do you know how that is? Do I have any do I have any say in that at all? >> Do the doctors have any say or >> No. Well, is it offered? I'm just saying
are we you know are generics being looked at? So right now, no, we don't have any say in that. With the the way that the Minnesota state law is set up, we do not. Come August 1st, then yes, we would have the ability to look at generics at that point. >> Okay. >> Thank you.
>> Any further questions on the request? >> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the contract renewal with Advanced Correctional Healthcare, Inc. effective July 1st of 2026. >> Second. We have a motion offered from Commissioner Bear and a second from Commissioner Ebinger to approve the
contract renewal with the implementation of July 1st, 2026. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. Same sign. Carried.
>> Thank you. >> Item three is a request approval of step placement for a healthcare unit eligibility worker. Social Service Director Quinn is with us this evening. >> Morning, Madam Chair and Commissioners. Or good evening, Madam Chair and
Commissioner. Sorry. Habit. Um, yes. I am here requesting a motion to approve an appointment of our internal candidate in our elig eligibility worker position in our healthcare team uh at grade 14 step 9. Uh, I got to be honest, I brought this to PIC and then I went on
vacation, so it's a little bit uh more delayed than I like to typically bring things from pick to board. Uh, I just want to be transparent about that out of the gate. So, it's been uh a few weeks since I brought this to PIC. Um, but earlier this year, the county board approved uh the replacement of our vacant eligibility worker position
within the healthcare unit. That was end of March, beginning of April. Uh, again, PIC reviewed the request for this advanced step placement, recommended bringing it forward for all of your consideration. Um, I am requesting approval to appoint this person at grade
14 step nine. Um the candidate was in this role, this exact role for about 10 years um prior to switching to a different role within social services. So they bring very extensive work with the MA and Minnesota care programs. Um
prior to transferring to the new division where she's now leaving. Um the employee had this same classification and was at that exact step in grade when when she left. Um, as you know, the healthcare team continues to manage high case loads and increasing program
complexity because of this previous exper experience. There's going to be a lot less onboarding that's going to be needed. Um, they'll be able to be at full capacity much more quickly than a standard higher I'm going to say just off the street. Um, kind of restoring our our capacity on the healthcare team
a lot more quickly than we otherwise would. Um, I do know step nine is way uh way advanced compared to where we normally start, but again, this employee holding that position for as long of a time as she did. Um, and kind of still having that knowledge, kind of being a
go-to person on that team, um, is a factor in why I'm requesting that. Um, even since pick, we've had some, uh, updates to this. As with a lot of internal movements is social services. We have now had a series of three additional internal moves as a result of
this one eligibility worker swing. So the numbers in terms of the dollars and cents have adjusted a little bit. Um so the eligibility worker would be filled at grade 14 step 9. The selected candidate is moving from
grade 16 step 10 down to this. um they are aware of that and and have accepted it under that that condition. That vacancy will be filled by another existing internal employee that's serving at grade 16 step five. So there'll be a small amount of cost
savings there. And the resulting vacancy will then be filled through it says an external hire, but that has changed even since this board agenda item is on. That will be filled by an internal hire at grade 16 step three, but that position is coming from child protection. Job
protection is coming down into this new role. So we will see savings. Uh that person is a grade 18 step five. We absolutely anticipate no internal movement to fill that one. So it'll be a grade 18 step one. All that said and done with the exception of factoring in
the grade 18 development because that was offered on Friday. I am still expecting a net overall savings of $6,234. I would actually anticipate that that would go up a little bit because grade 18 is obviously higher than grade 16. It's a little complicated in terms of
the dollars and cents, but all of that said, it's still going to result in a net savings. >> So then the motion to potentially be adopted or voted on would be the same as you have listed on the memo even though there are some other internal changes. >> That is correct. Yep. the back fill
request >> the the it's my understanding the backfill request you all gave that when I refilled the initial eligibility worker position so I don't believe I would need that with this request >> so Commissioner Campbell and I were part of the pick discussion where we um we talked about this and the road map and
how that all plays in. I do want to say I I am really appreciative Quinn on how you're analyzing where we have staff and what makes the most sense and where areas in which they can have reimbursement rates to uh
offset savings. And really at the end of it uh when it came down to it for pick there was an overall savings to the budget that we felt was a positive move by recommending this uh forward today. But any further questions on
request wishes. >> Well, I'll make a motion motion to approve the appointment of eligibility worker position at grade 14 step 9. >> We have a motion offered to approve the request from Commissioner Kavanagh. >> Second. >> Second from Commissioner Evinger.
Discussion. Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carried. Thank you. >> Item four this evening is a request approval to apply for the crisis
intervention and behavioral health grant for the West Central Regional Juvenile Center. Good evening, James. >> Good evening, Madam Chair, commissioners. Yeah, I'm here today to request permission to apply for the crisis intervention and behavioral health grants. Um it's it's federal
money, but it's coming from the um Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Um there's a million dollars available to local governments. Um and I plan on putting together a proposal um that wouldn't require us to hire any staff,
but um that to to try to get um up to 250,000 of it um over a two-year period. That'd be for a non-secure program. questions for James. We've had good luck applying for grants
in the past, so we're hopeful. >> Can always try. >> Madam Chair, >> Commissioner Abbinger, >> I move a motion to approve the West Central Regional Juvenile Center to apply for a crisis intervention and behavioral health grant. >> A motion offered from Commissioner
Abinger to approve. >> Second. >> Second from Commissioner Bear. Discussion. Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Oppos. Same sign. Carried. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Item five is a request approval to
refill a vacant care coordinator position in the adult health unit along with corresponding status change. Good evening, Jessica. Good evening, Madam Chair and commissioners. Uh I am here to request consideration uh to refill an
open position we have due to a resignation notice we received we received last month. Uh the primary reason this was not on consent today is we are also requesting a status change to move the position from a8 FTE uh so 4
days a week to a 1.05 days uh a week FTE. So I am going to focus my presentation on the status change today since the rest of the position uh typically would have just been approved through the pick process. Um so the
employee uh that resigned was originally hired as a 1.0 FTE back in October of 2021 following a leave of absence. She returned to work uh with the status change of going down to a point.8 eight.
Uh that was part of a retention strategy that public health used uh during an ongoing nursing uh workforce shortage. Um however, due to continued program growth, uh we don't feel that we can continue to accommodate this specific
position at that lower status and are requesting uh that it be refilled uh during this opportunity now that it's open back to the 1.0. Um the adult health unit continues to experience um sustained growth in both
volume for case loads and service complexity while staffing resources have declined. Uh so this specific position works with our blue health blue plus health plan. Um and it was previously staffed with four full-time employees
and two part-time employees. uh one of those part-time positions was eliminated due to a vacancy during the 2026 budget planning process. Uh so also offsetting this would help us restore it
just slightly um back to uh what it had previously been. So um under our current um setup with um FTEES compared to uh client ratio um our average case load size is 79 clients which is quite a bit
higher than where we would ideally want it to be. So adding this 02 back into the position um would allow us to reduce that even just slightly. So, um, let's see. Um, as this is a backfill
request, uh, the majority of the wages and benefits for the position were included in our 2026 budget. Um, the departing employee is classified at grade 18 step five with our intent to hire grade 18 step one. However, there is potential that this could be filled
with a BSN nurse rather than an associate degree nurse. Um, so that could bring that classification up to a grade 19. Uh, if the position is filled by August 1st, the estimated budget impact would be um, $323 if it's
approved today to increase the status. Um, that's at grade 18. If um, a grade 19 BSN nurse is hired for the position, we would see a budget impact of $1,958 to the 2026 public health budget. Uh and
then looking at 2027 at grade 18, we would see a impact to our budget of 12,44 at grade 18 and then $16,536 at grade 19. However, uh care
coordinators working with our blue plus health plan do receive reimbursement for direct and indirect client related activities of $101.84 per hour. uh restoring this position would give us eight extra hours of work
per week where we would estimate five to six hours of that time would be billable. Uh so we would see additional revenue in the amount of anywhere from 26,000 to 31,000 as a general estimate. So I truly feel restoring this position
back to a 1.0 O um and allowing for that additional billable time every week would offset any um additional expense to the county. So um and then I I am also requesting backfill
uh uh before questions I I think part of uh understanding that budgets are going to be really challenging for us this year. part of the uh dialogue that happened at the pick committee. And the reason that I believe Commissioner Campbell and I supported moving this forward really did have to do with that
final paragraph that you talked about the additional revenue that can be captured by adding just that additional um workday a week. Uh really could equate to a substantial savings for the county. But certainly want to hear uh dialogue too on this questions from the
board. Well, just in that summation, yeah, thank you. Um, as you were talking about, not only not only do the reimbursements help the the budget and the fiscal responsibility
actually does more work for you. So, I mean, we have to the effectiveness of having that point to something that uh has a large uh demand on it. Yeah, we'd really simplify things with case assignments, overall case load. I
think it would help program morale, um, evening out the distribution of cases, and then obviously the increased opportunity for revenue as well. >> What What might backfield look like? >> Uh, well, if we had an internal candidate uh within public health who
was either a um associate degree level or a bachelor's. >> Okay, I'll leave it at that. Right. Additional questions from the board. I cover all the things we >> you did.
>> Any further disc or discussion an action request? >> Madam chair, I move to approve the um care coordinator position restored to a one full-time position with Beckville. >> Okay. We have a motion offered to approve the CL clarification uh change
to a 1.0 with Beckville. >> Second. >> Second from Commissioner Ebinger. Further discussion, same comments from your department or to your department. Thank you for analyzing where makes the most sense for staffing placements so that we are able to um
simplify but also make sure that we're supporting staff in a way that's important. >> Additional comments, >> Commissioner Campbell. >> Yeah, I I want to follow up with that, too. I think that, you know, you being new in this position, you've you've really done a nice job of of really
trying to look at ways to uh modify or or what have you the way services provided and and how you work with your staff. So, I just I think you're doing a really nice job with that. So, >> any further discussion?
>> All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I >> I oppose. Same sign carried. Thank you. >> Item six is a request approval for solid waste to apply for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency recycling grant. >> Good evening, Corey.
>> Good evening, Madam Chair, commissioners. Um, as you know, this the MPCA is requesting that we try to shoot for a goal of 35% recycling by the year 2030. Um they came out with this grant and we've recently started a wood recycling program at the at the transfer
station and we'd like to expand that to the landfill. Um with this grant we would be able to purchase three pieces of equipment. One would be a basically a mini waste handler like we have at the transfer station, a skid steer on tracks and a trailer to haul them to the demo
landfill. Um we would use the equipment to pull out any lumber that we deemed usable. we could reach right in, pull it out rather than having to send somebody in there by hand. Um, this would also replace an aging skid steer that we have at the landfill and put it on track so
we can use it for mowing and that kind of stuff as well. So, uh, we felt it was a good op opportunity for us and it would come at a cost of $25,000 to the county with 149,000 149, 961 and60 uh total ask. So, that
would be my request this evening. Corey, can you uh just identify where that $25,000 would come from? I mean, I know you have the account for it, but >> it would come out of our internal service fund for uh replacing of the skid steer and that kind of stuff. [clears throat] >> Question, Commissioner Campbell.
>> Yeah, Corey, can you uh when you talk about that MPCA's wanting us to reach to 35% by 2030, is is that both the landfill and the demolition landfill? So, it's taking total tons and reducing
it by 35%. >> Right. Pretty much >> increasing our recycling rate. It's any recycling or reusing that we do throughout the whole county. >> And I'm sure there's score funding to come with that, right? >> Yep. Yep. The the better the better we do recycling, the more score funds we get supposedly.
>> Commissioner Bear. >> So, that that was what what I was going to ask. What if we don't hit that 35%. But it comes down to score funding and that's where the dollars come from. They haven't given us any negative consequences at this point. It's just a goal. Um, as long as I think as long as we're increasing and showing that we're
trying, they're they're going to work with us. >> Well, the state is already taking a good percentage of the score funding. Anyways, I digress. Did you have something else, Commissioner? I was kind of being kind of tongue and cheek when I said that we more score funding, but you know, so another thing that would
also uh help us reach that goal is the organic stuff that we're talking about, right? >> Yes. And we should hear on that. They said six to eight weeks. I believe it was eight weeks today. So, we should hear real soon on that. So, that would help us immensely as well.
>> That'd be that' be really good. Yeah. Thank you. direction. No, >> I make a motion then to approve the application for the MPCA environmental [clears throat] assistance grant in the amount of $149,96160
for the $25,000 local match. >> Okay, we have a motion offered from Commissioner Kavanagh. >> I'll second >> and a second from Commissioner Campbell. >> And I do have a question. >> Yes, Commissioner Campbell. Thank you. So, is this um this grant that we're applying for, does the MPC MPCA have a
certain dollar amount that they have? What's the how competitive is this grant? >> I don't know the exact dollar amount. Um I do know that Nathan, uh the new MPCA, he moved from Pope Douglas County. He sent it down to us and told us we'd have a pretty good okay
>> pretty good chance at it. Um the only stipulation is there's some also some stuff in there for recycling of hair products and we don't do that. So um >> not yet. >> Not well maybe [laughter] >> see how we do on this one. >> Yeah.
>> All right. >> Any >> and I I I can say the same thing about what how you've been doing with solid waste. The same that we've talked about with Quinn and Jessica today. you're what what
you're doing is really really beneficial to all of our uh taxpayers in Klay County. you really are watching out for um the best ways and the best ways to um approach things and it's again it's great greatly appreciate I happen to
Commissioner Mojo and I happen to serve with you in that capacity and we really we see it firsthand and I know all of your SWAK committee group think highly of the work that you're doing as well. So >> we try to get all the funds we can and
and not spend any more than we have to. Just one one comment. >> Yes, Commissioner Bear. >> Just keep us up to date on if we receive that grant funds or not. >> Absolutely. >> We will because we'll have to find 25 grand. >> Come out of the internal >> if we find the organic. We're going to
have to find >> both of them. I mean, both of them. Yeah. All of them. I mean, we we we approve them to ask, not just him, but all our departments. We ask them to go after these grants, but sometimes we don't get informed if we've received them or not. I'd like to start knowing if we start receiving them or not. as we know.
>> Good. Any further discussion? >> Madam chair, commissioners, just note that when it comes to the grant writing that Commissioner Bear mentioned, uh Corey has staff, uh actually James, we have a number of staff that uh are participating in grant writing opportunity through AMC here in the
coming weeks. And so we're hoping as a as a collective group of leadership that uh that that's an avenue that we can look to offset the taxpayer dollars. >> Great. Any further discussion? >> All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I.
>> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carried. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Corey. >> Item seven is a request approval of the bridge maintenance agreement. >> Good evening, Justin. >> Good evening. Yes. So, the first item I
have is this is really similar to the bridgeou that I brought a couple months back with Cass County. So, this is just updating a bridge maintenance agreement with the city of Fargo. Also included in the maintenance agreement is the city of Morehead, Cass County, and the city of
Fargo. Um, this doesn't change anything how we're doing things today, and it covers two bridges, the Wall Street Bridge and Cass 12 bridge, 60th Avenue South. So, the federal highway is basically requiring more specific language in these agreements than was
included in the past. And since North Dakota DOT is starting to take more of a inspection role, they asked that we updated this agreement. So it's not going to change anything currently how we've been operating.
>> Questions for Justin on the request? >> Madam Chair, I'll make a >> Commissioner Bear. >> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the bridge maintenance agreement. >> We have a motion offered from Commissioner Bear to approve, a second from Commissioner Campbell. Any further discussion? Discussion.
All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Same sign. Carried. Item eight, the request approval of the comment letter to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. >> Yeah. So recently the Minnesota the MPCA
is updating their MS4 permit requirements. So MS4 is municipal separate storm sewer systems. So, the city of Dworth, Minnesota State University, Morehead, City of Morehead, Klay County, and the Buffalo Red River Wershed Districts all participate in the
MS4. We actually recently went through an audit and it is a ton of work. Um, so anyway, with the new permit requirements, one of the main things that the MPCA is trying to implement is requirements for total maximum daily
load. basically what goes into the river and city of Moore had contracted with Houston engineering to look at this and there were some major major concerns that would be an extreme cost to every entity. So what I'm asking for is
approval of the comment letter basically stating our concerns and some data behind it that we would send to the MPCA on behalf of all the entities. >> Well, we talked about this at highway. >> Yes, we did. I give a >> synopsis or do you want me to?
>> Why don't you start? >> Can I ask one question to that? >> Commissioner Bear, >> why is this on transportation? Why is this with if we're talking load in the rivers and streams and >> uh well, you can answer because it >> the engineering which >> Yeah. So, the highway falls on your
plate. >> The highway department is the permit holder for the MS4 permit and being that we have outlets into the river, it's the highway department's jurisdiction. >> Okay. And then we haveus with the city of Dworth, Buffalo Red, and the city of
Morehead. Basically, anything in the city of Morehead, the city of Morehead handles. Anything in the city of Dworth, they handle. And then we have a few outfalls, but it's it's really not a lot compared to like for the city of Morehead and city of Dworth. This is
major and it would have a budget impact on us too if this was implemented. I just wanted to >> Well, you know, we talked about this and there are some concerns uh with comment phasings, not just with this, but statewide there's concerns with rules
and how the state goes through rules and how they might deviate from a rule in one thing and not deviate in another. So, I think the the process is cloudy and what we're identifying and what we talked about is that it it seems to be a a tricky process and that um there can
be a better way to do this. Um but uh really felt that having this technical memo was really the first step, if you will, to address the concerns there. >> Yeah, I um I would agree. I know we we've had a lot
of discussions over many years about the TMDLs and >> how the MPCA is changing that. I think you're you know especially when it gets into the major tributaries like the Red River >> um because it you know there gets to be issues that go
and wide all the way up to Lake Winnipeg and so it can be some of those factors that go into the river. But I I do think that um I'm really I'm really thankful that um you and the other engineers with
the city of Morhead uh have really pinpointed some areas of concern >> that maybe u you know they need to hear a viewpoint and I think this request does that. I mean certainly it asks to let us be heard.
>> That's that's really important. I I get what they're trying to do, >> right? >> Yep. >> You know, but at the same point in time, it's it's important to hear from us. And I'm I'm glad you're you and these city
engineers and the Red River or the Buffalo Red are all interested in >> sharing those concerns. Thank you for doing that. >> I think it's important. Um, Minnesota State Morehead is also in this and it's in the the cover letter. But part of the
the challenge is that when you're commu commu >> communicating with so many different people, there are 13 people from FPCA copied on. >> I mean, it's challenging technical stuff and to have solid comments from all of us united is really helpful in our our
case as well. >> Yeah. And I just I just again I'm going to say and I I've said it the last I think the last couple meetings we've had in terms of when these agencies when they get into their rule making they're these rulemakings are being done without uh without legislative support and
sometimes uh you know that overview >> you know isn't there but I I'm hopeful that that this will help and that we can at least have our I'm repeating myself I guess >> and I I can say after going through an
audit in 2025, we there's some very minor things that we had to address, but if this was implemented the way it is and nothing changes, we'd probably have to look at hiring a one staff member just to make sure that we're adequately covering all of the bases that the MS4
permit requires. And that's just a staff member, not some of the BMPs that we might need to put on some storm structures. Madam Chair, I would I would move that we approve the comment letter to the MPCA. >> Okay, we have a motion offered from
Commissioner Campbell. Do second. A second from Commissioner Bear. >> Further discussion. >> Any other discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carried. >> Thank you. >> You.
>> Thanks, Justin. >> Item nine is a request approval of the Axon Justice software purchase application. We have county attorney Melton with us. Good evening. >> Good evening, madam chair. Uh good evening, commissioners. I am coming here uh to request uh purchase of a software
program, Axon Justice. Um I did go to pick and and talk through a lot of this, but Axon uh is a primary uh body cam uh maker and and uh that does body cam for police departments and and nowadays body
cam uh is a constant for us. Uh so every department that we work with uh between Morhead PD, all the other towns uh throughout Klay County and then sheriff's department all have body cam now. So we're always getting uh video
and processing that. And so uh currently we have what's called just a created Z drive through the IT department. It's about a 13 terbyte drive. It costs about $31,000 uh to maintain yearly. uh this program
which would be about at least for the next year uh budget year would be about 36,000 about $5,000 more would allow uh a great deal more as far as being able to store that video. Um, currently that 13 terabyte is is limiting and so we're
constantly having to uh get rid of uh video and and monitor that. The axon justice would be unlimited. So we wouldn't have to be constantly kind of fighting against that uh storage uh piece. And then there's extra features
within the the software program itself which would help with timelines and getting stuff done currently. Sometimes, depending on the amount of video, as you might imagine, sometimes you might have an event that happens, and you have five or six officers that go there, interview several people, a lot of different
video. Um, and it can take up to 8 to 10 to 12 hours to get all that video downloaded, and then we have to disclose it. And we'll go from 12-hour time frames down to minutes. And so, that timing alone will really help pay for itself, you know. So, there is a there
is a cost factor. It's about a $5,000 increase uh to the budget. Um but I think that time savings is going to be well uh worth it. So, I I know I I put a feature sheet in there just some of the different things that it does and allows
for, but I know that uh my folks as we've been uh looking at that and getting some updates or or uh briefings from Axon of of how we would use this um you know, they're really I won't say it's a gamecher, but it could be a very
impactful thing to help limit having to add staff uh in the future for legal assistance. I mean I think it's going to give a time savings to all of them which could be extremely helpful for us. Well, I think we also talked to pick [clears throat] that uh the time piece
uh people's time costs lots of money uh particularly within your department and uh in times when you need to access the information as quickly as possible as you're working through cases. We felt that the cost which you compared to what the just the data storage is would
justify [clears throat] the payment and and you would see a substantial cost savings uh every year going forward as well. >> Commissioner Ever. >> Yeah, Brian, I I read this through and I'm a little unclear on one part of it.
They can take what you've got on the current system and put it within the framework of you. You only have to access one data. Correct. Everything that we'll have this will this will change over. we will no longer have that Z drive and that 13 terbte piece and
that cost. Everything will get transferred over and and really all the so again everybody uses Axon except for the sheriff's department and I uh I want to say Greyhawk but that's not quite right. I can't think they use a different one but that too can get stored in there. They just have to go
through a different cycle to to get it stored into. So all of that program that program will store all video for us >> and it's on the cloud >> on the cloud. Correct. Well, the redaction and I'm doing this
from a position of somebody that was looking at this stuff what eight, nine years ago, but what they've got right now uh addresses a lot of the fears we had on not being able to keep up with redaction and getting things out for for
uh information requests and and the whole bit. So, >> right, >> I think I see where the savings is going to be. >> Correct, Commissioner. Beyond just that download piece, again, I didn't get too into the other features, but there's a lot of other features for able to to do
our own redacting. It has a a I guess, if you will, an AI feature that produces an instant uh transcript, which is very helpful. It's not a 100% transcript. You still have to go through it. And when people are talking over each other, you got to you'll get about a 70% transcript, but that's better than what
we have currently where we have to go back to law enforcement, ask them to create one. So there's definitely some features that are going to be other time savings that we haven't even really explored yet. But uh yeah, redaction is a big piece too. >> Yeah, I know during our pick meeting
when we talked about this, we did spend time talking about the redaction piece and how important that is and and I this whole thing I think from the reason PIC was recommending this of course was um for one thing it seems to me it's just
an upgrade to something better. Um, and it really is in my mind it it's going to pay for itself in the time savings um that that we're dealing with. And didn't you mention something too that there's a
potential for some do you have like forfeite dollars or something that could go towards this? >> Right. If if you look the I I gave it obviously one of the primary things is it's a five-year contract. Um we do contract with them for a period of time. currently, uh, Morehead, which would be
the biggest customer, they're on a five-year contract, staying with Axon. So, I expect all those will be going, but we do expect to, um, implement immediately after approval here in July. Uh, and that July through
the end of the year, I would pay for through forfeite money. I have for that 13,000 would would uh come from me in forfeite and then after that be budgeted into the 27 and then future uh budgets after that >> just like it is now. >> Just like it is now.
>> Additional questions? >> Any question? >> Yes, Commissioner Bear. >> And then coming 2027 budget, we'd be not paying for what we currently have. Correct. That would come off the books. >> Correct. I would expect Rory would I >> I haven't told him or well we've talked specifically about it but I'd be telling him that if this is approved then I
would expect his would come off of that budget currently that's in his >> that's in his budget >> correct >> madam chair >> commissioner make a motion to approve the purchase and application of the Axon justice software system for the attorney's office
>> motion offered from commissioner Ebinger >> second >> second from commissioner Campbell uh Steve did Do we need a dollar amount included in the >> um I think it I think for this first year the first years or six months we would the rest of them would be captured
in uh in the upcoming budgets. Was that that number specifically identified the six months? >> Is that the 13? >> Madam Chair, that was that um scrolling down. >> Sorry. >> 12999.60. >> Okay. Does your motion reflect the the
1299? >> Yes. >> 960 and second. >> Yeah. And that would come out of because >> the forfeite >> forfeite. >> Further discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. I.
>> Oppos. Same sign. Carried. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Brian. Item 10, the request approval of resolution 2026-12 for continuation of the performance measurement program. We have our assistant county administrator, Darren
Brookke. Good evening. >> Thank you, Madam Chair, commissioners. Good evening. Um, this is the uh resolution for continuing the performance measurement program for 2026. Um, a little bit of history on this.
This started that I tracked back in 2011. Um it is a state auditor's program and what it does is it uh we we identify different categories from our departments and that we have been
tracking data since 2011 and uh each year we get a little bit more data. Um it doesn't take a lot of time to put together because a lot of the departments track this already. So when this comes up it's due on July 1st of
2026. the data will be from 2025. And so when I when this comes up, the departments are able to give me that um that information very quickly. Um the other nice thing about it is that last
year we received $9,359 from the state auditor's department because we did participate in this program. And that's about the same that we normally get every December. Um in 2025 there was 39 cities that um
participated in this program and 28 counties. So not all of the counties or cities participate but um we have since uh 2011. Um this uh information will be posted on
our website for 90 days so the um citizens can review that if they want to. Um, and with that being said, I am open to any questions that you may have. >> Thank you. Any questions?
>> So, we it's the same every year. Darren, it's it's something that you can provide them the information that they need and and the you can do that for probably less than the 9,359 that we get, right? Isn't it? >> A lot less. Yes. [laughter] So, it's a
revenue producer. >> It's a revenue producing. Okay. >> Yes. I don't know where that money goes. I think a general fund, but uh it doesn't come to the administrator's budget, I don't think. No. >> Well, to follow up, I do think this data is really helpful as you walk through
some of this. It shows some needs areas and interesting just in interesting data for us as we make decisions on programs. >> Additional questions? Madam Chair, I move to approve the resolution 2026-12 to pursuit in the
state performance measurement program for 2026. So it's 27. >> It it'll be for 2026. So >> Oh, it's okay. >> This year we'll report next year. >> We have a motion offered to approve the
request resolution 2026-12. Second, >> a second from Commissioner Bear. Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I >> oppos same sign carried. Thank you.
>> Can we do the agenda addition now? >> Uh thank you madam chair commissioners. for you uh this evening is a proposed letter to Senator Amy Cloverar and Tina Smith regarding the implementation of a recent changes to the SNAP program
enacted through HR1. The letter uh request support for extending implementation relief to all states as the state senate develops the 2026 farm bill. As outlined in the letter, uh, SNAP serves more than 7,700 Klay County residents and the new federal
requirements will create significant administrative staffing, training, and technology demands for county human service agencies that this board has uh, spoke off and on. While Klay County has maintained a strong SNAP payment accuracy rate, less than 2%, the
legislature reduces federal administrative funds and introduces new cost sharing requirements tied to state payment error rates. creating substantial financial exposure for both the county and the state. The proposed correspondence asked the Minnesota senators to support a delay in these
cost shifts provisions for all states, providing counties the time uh necessary to implement program changes, maintain maintaining service levels and continuing to improve payment accuracy without disrupting assistance to vulnerable residents. Uh the
recommendation would be for the board uh to consider signing uh the attached letter and that uh I yield for any questions. >> Thank you, Steve. The other reason this came as an agenda addition is Niko sent out a urgent request for folks uh counties to contact their senators on
this questions. >> I'd move approval of the letter. >> Uh Commissioner Campbell offers a motion to approve. >> Second. Second from Commissioner Ebinger. Discussion.
Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carried. We'll email that to the offices as well as a hard copy. >> Item number uh 11 is the request
approval of the recommendation for the H Heartland Trail state or regional trail designation. Thank you, Madam Chair. As you recall, on June 9th, uh this board held a work session, we had a presentation from Dan Farnsworth from Metro Crog. Uh he shared the findings and recommendations of the Hartland
Trail study uh that the counties participated in going back to 24, 2024 and 25. The presentation reviewed the proposed alignment extending the Hartman Trail throughout Klay County, the work completed to date, and the considerations associated with uh
pursuing the project as either a state, a regional, or a combination of both types of trails. Since the completion of the study, the H Heartland Trail Task Force has continued evaluating rightaway opportunities, coordinating with partners throughout the Minnesota with including the Minnesota DNR and the
Buffalo uh River State Park, and exploring long-term implications of trail designation, funding, construction, and maintenance responsibilities. Uh the key policy question before you you this this evening is determining uh which is your preferred direction of advancing the
project. Uh the board had a robust conversation after the presentation evaluating both the pros and cons of e of each option. At the end of the discussion, uh this board asked county staff to bring this item forward for discussion and consideration. Uh and with that, I would yield for comments from the board.
>> Thank you, Steve. Commissioner Campbell. >> Madam Chair, thank you. I um when we had that uh workg groupoup session last week uh it's too bad that we didn't have that agenda in reverse order
um because when it got down to when we started talking about our Klay County 2027 budget target discussion uh we we all realized the significance of of the impacts that are
going on right now with our budget. it. And you know, and I I said it during that time with um Metrocog here that I I really believe that um if we were to go this regional approach,
it it could really cause some problems, financial problems for our county that we just are in no shape uh to handle right now. And I I guess I'm speaking up just like I did at at the root workg groupoup session and advocating strongly
that we adopt the state uh type of a plan that would go forward with the with the trails. I know there's there's some things and that is to say that maybe there could be a small stretch down during this planning process that maybe we could alter that down the road to um
maybe get something where it's of significant use uh to more more people. Uh that would be good. But at this point in time, I I think our budget's going to be stretched so so thin. And I I'm even looking beyond 2027.
You know, you look at the next even three years, the demands on our budget are going to be just incredible. So, I'm advocating for the state option. >> Commissioner Abinger. >> Yeah, I'm going to have to agree with Commissioner Campbell. We are not in a
position right now to take on u although a desirable resource resource that is going to take a lot of money to develop and to maintain. So, um, although it may be a quicker route to
put it on on the county and locals to to pay for it, I think state has got this program and we need to let them run with it and support them however we can, but we don't have the money to take it a re make it a regional rail.
>> Commissioner Kavanagh. >> Yeah, I I would agree with that. um it's too much risk and um I think we have the patience um to know that if we work it through a regional approach someday
it'll be done and um we'll be able to work along with the state in doing that. So would would approve uh move along with the approval of the regional. [snorts] >> Madam Chair,
I sit on the Heartland Trail Committee with about six other township officials and state officials and all that. And I appreciate your insight, all your insights on that. sitting on that. I I've I've always wanted to have the board make that decision on which way we lean on that so
we can work forward on that committee because right now we're in a stalemate on which way we should go. So I appreciate you all chiming in on that and I'd like to make a motion to have it go into a Heartland Trail follow the state trail designation. >> Second. We have a motion offered from
Commissioner Bear, a second from Commissioner Ebinger to follow the state designation. >> Commissioner Kavanagh, >> I want clarity. I guess I don't have the paperwork in front of me. >> Apologize. >> That's okay.
>> So with that, uh, this so I'm straight. The state one is the private uh >> that is a state funding it >> bonding. You follow the bonding, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Just making sure. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay.
>> Well, I think the great part about having this as a work session is it did give us an opportunity. Commissioner Bear is on that committee. He's had those dialogues. Metro has done an enormous amount of work, but they too are seeking guidance in which avenue to go. I grew up spending a lot of time on
the H Heartland Trail. I think it's a great asset. It's a great uh uh system that can be an economic driver. But unfortunately for Klay County, the counties that have these trail systems also have um parks and trails
departments. >> We do not have that at all. Uh so what would end up happening likely if we chose the regional component is it would be an extra burden on what our highway department is is feeling there's some
substantial work requirements that come out of that maintenance requirements and we're in a time when we're trying to find ways that we can do more with less on our road systems and uh I am in full support that I think uh following the
state system is the best option for Klay County. It is disappointing because I know that comes with some um long-term um it it's a challenge to secure long-term funding. I do think the avenue for state funding opportunities
are a little more promising there than having it uh solely on the county levy. So, I agree with the my colleagues here on this one. Any further discussion? Commissioner Campbell. Madam Chair, I want to go back a little bit and Commissioner Wayland when he was when he
was on this board uh and he served on the Hartland Trail Committee and um he he said a long time ago years ago he said he said that the diversion project would be done before Hartland Trail and and he's been absolutely correct uh on
on that. Um the diversion is set to be done in October. Um I I the the frustrating part about this is that it um and I I drive from here to PUM where my lake place is at and I see the trails
that are completed and they're used a lot and it you know but it it's [clears throat] a um this is for me this is like triage uh with what with what we can pay afford to pay for and what we can't. And it's
it's it's like what we need versus what what we want. And this is something that everybody would like to see happen. Uh unfortunately, there are other things that have greater needs. And I think we're making the right choice based on
that. I do believe that moving forward, you know, going back to the statewide vote that put x amount of dollars, I can't remember what it was, into the sard sams and those types of things that that maybe they could expand the ability to use those dollars in some of these ways would be beneficial. I I'm I don't
know all the ins and outs of that, but I would think that that might be a source. Anyway, that's I support the motion. >> So, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I >> I saying sign carried.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. Moving into our committee reports. Commissioner Abbinger. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um last Tuesday on the 9th, I was with the rest of the
board on the workg group that we covered uh or that we has been covered in tonight's meeting. a lot of uh good groundwork for us and and I think it helped helped is helping us make some good decisions. Uh the next day,
Wednesday the 10th, I [clears throat] met with Mike Arnston, who's the chairman of the Greater Fargam Morehead EDC. We reviewed the uh 360 evaluation of Joe Raso, the uh CEO of
the EDC and general and had a general discussion on it. It's an issue be brought before the board, the EDC board in the coming months. And on Thursday the 11th,
I uh got to get my notes. Remotely attended the treatment court initiative advisory committee meeting. I represent the AMC on that. Uh had a great deal. It was a two and a
half hour long meeting. We discussed some of the u development of formulas to uh review these courts as are coming up. Talked about confidential confidentiality policy uh issues
involving staffing who can be present while the staffing discussions are going on. Um then we discussed future meetings and scheduling on it. Uh best practices and some of the treatment court evaluations
that we're doing and um I'm not going to go too far in the weeds on some of this stuff. It's not relevant, but it was a very productive meeting. And that's completes my report. Thank you, Commissioner Ebinger, Commissioner Crow.
>> So, on the [clears throat] uh Wednesday the 10th started out the day with the CL County Extension Committee, uh we had our new board member, Michael Butnoff, in attendance. So, it was nice to meet him and hear
more about his background. We also have um there's open position right now u and some of the work that's being filled in by we had a they have a intern through
August she's a senior uh from Ohio State um senior in degree in agriculture so she's helping out fill the gaps uh we mainly went through program updates from 4 into the uh agriculture and natural
resources uh master gardener program and then uh other regional updates. Uh, a big part part of the discussion was from our uh, Northwest Minnesota uh, program
leader uh, um, Carrie Revenue and she really went deep into the new initiative that they've been bringing about called Beyond Ready Initiative and it's purely a youth development program that starts
uh, pretty much uh, ages 10 years old up to 19 and the value to that um in nurturing these kids through youth development. Uh one fact that is coming out of it, these kids are three times
more likely to be engaged in community activity than kids that don't go through these programs. So that was the main gest of that meeting and uh so many good things are going on prepping for the Barnes or the I call it the Barnesville
fair county fair and uh getting ready for that and they have high numbers of kids being involved uh kind of the highest level they've ever had. Um [cough] later [clears throat] in the day I had the um Clay County govern
collaborative government governance meeting. Um we had um presenters uh from their different um providers and their requests
uh there was u for funding for 2027. There were 17 uh requests brought forward by different um some some of them through the same entity but diff uh seven 17 different um grants if you will
that we put out in the uh uh collaborative. 16 of the 17 were approved. The other one wasn't. It was determined it wouldn't fit the criteria. And these total requests add up to $512,486.
So, I mean, it's a lot of money going out there. I think if you added up all the kids involved is what, 300 kids. I mean, it was uh an incredible amount of work that they do and u uh really appreciate what their collaborative is
doing for our our county. Um, and I had the class WCD on Thursday here. Excuse me. Uh, mainly >> [clears throat]
>> uh finish up some u there was uh one, two, three, five, nine CRP contracts that were uh planted for reimbursements of cash share. Um and u I haven't got the final three
amount yet. We'll have that next month month in detail. Uh but we've done 10 miles of adding and many plant jobs. Field one brakes were in the neighborhood of what was approved. Uh looks like there was right around a
dozen of those. So, um, also a big part of what they talked about, um, was they're working on their budget that we will be, uh, um, having
on, uh, July 21st. And I think my big takeaway um been around this organization for many years but and was me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me mentioned last week a little bit as we talked about our own budget and how we work with the class
WCD but the number of things that we share in common with them and what they do that is passed through money from that comes the county that they do for us. So anyway, all that is appreciated and we'll hear that much more in detail
when they present on the 21st. So overall, um yeah, I I think that's what I have takeaways from that meeting. Um uh it would have been on Friday. I had a
um historical and culture society finance meeting. I will say that our budget's on track and again toward budgeting and the uh the you know everybody's pitching in here u the efforts uh to increase our revenues and
again we're working we've been strategizing this uh to increase those revenues continually and some of the things are starting to happen in in a positive motion. So um that's more or less at the infancy stage. And then
um Monday I had um two meetings that kind of revolve around CAP LP. Um one was the fact they took on uh reach out and Holly. Uh they've now set up policies and procedures for them uh in
their thrift store that's being set up there and it's kind of been refreshed. um they expect to have a right at $80,000 role and um the efforts that they're doing there is to uh have that a
for-profit center so that they can work in the community around Holly and in rural rural Clay County of services that they can provide uh um um residents of
that area. Um the other part is uh through the F FRC that's also housed with CAP. Um uh bringing a transportation plan u that maybe we could work with. We're working along with Matt right now and several other
entities to make that much more efficient to uh kind of see what we can do to improve the efficiency of our transportation needs in the city of of Morehead and Delorth. And then this afternoon or two things uh happened
today. Law library uh we had a quarterly meeting. Um, this uh group is funded uh by the number of court cases that go through the district. We get $10 a court case and that balance is up to $124,000.
It's amazing. These people are working over there. And uh anyway, uh what do we do with the money? And uh so we've been doing improvements to the law library itself. We're making um um iPads available for people needing needing
help in in their their work. Um whether it's they're in the courts courts, they're doing something um uh typically on their own. Um, also, uh, two upcoming things that are just in development and
probably be taken off, uh, over the next couple months will be a family mediation program and also a chips mediation program. Uh, Clay County hasn't had these in the past and um, Ottertell is
uh, the medi family mediation. I think Becker's got the chips. So anyway, kind of following um and making these available in Klay County. And then this afternoon I had the uh Klay County adult
mental health. Uh we did reports of our agencies again well attended. Then we had a presentation from Jason McCoy on a public health and there is a um a newer um u not it's not an app it's it's
online but it's called uh um crediblemind uh.com and it's really um really harnesses for people a way to get into uh a website that really uh treats and
gives good information um for people that with mental health needs. Uh helping people to let know something, know where they have information and guidance like when they're one example just getting really anxious or uh to the point of anxiety.
So, um that's what came out of that meeting. >> So, that's it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Kabanov, Commissioner Campbell. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. And I want to start off just um the workg groupoup session that we had last week that and the agenda items that you had put on
there was uh welltimed and I want to kind of incorporate a couple of my um committee meetings together because if we recall one of the items that we had I want to thank Haley and Thomas for being here and during that conversation I brought up to them you know the the
success we had but I also talked about that $9.5 million of additional dollars that are out there for state flood mitigation dollars. The reason I'm going to incorporate so we had a planning committee meeting of the diversion
authority on the 11th and during that meeting we talked about one of the things we talked about was Minnesota funding and one of the things I I brought up to them is if we were successful in getting uh any more allocation of that $9.5 million would
the diversion authority match that? because that was not clear before and under based on what we learned from the diversion authority planning committee meeting. Yes, it would. So, so I think it's I think it would be good for us to let Haley and Thomas know that as well
as let you know um I believe the Buffalo Red has its own uh lobbyist as well >> and and then maybe even follow up with uh Dr. Zimmerman because he's going to be part of that um plan in place with Steve and applying for some of these
things that go on. But that could that might really be a carrot to get us some additional funds knowing that that would be matched. I have have nothing else on the workg group that was just all timely discussions. Uh the county personnel
issues committee meeting was on the 9th. Uh we acted on just about everything. We did have one uh conversation regarding the phone system cost comparison and I've got a I've got a cousin who has
a band and and their the band name is easily amused and at that meeting I was easily confused. I I was really confused over the presentation on that and I think everybody felt the same way. So, I think we're going to be getting some more information on on any of on that
before we'd make any changes to to that system. Everything else we talked we dealt with today. Then we had the uh dispatch um meeting of the June June 10th also and that was
the budget and finance committee meeting and we had learned that the executive committee had agreed to move forward with the um budget that included
the technology specialist. For those that don't know, the technology specialist is going to be um basically an assistant to Brian. That's and Brian has been involved with that for many many years. And and I would
think it's just a matter of time before, you know, he'll probably be pulling the plug too. He hasn't said that, but you just time would just say that. So when we talk about um about um having plans for replacing
um that that position was included none of the other ones in the other options were and so the um budget that was approved originally would have been 8.28% increase. However, we did have a we did
have a look back um to the population and and Klay County's number did drop. Um >> yeah. So, so under the previous one,
Morhead was at 7 point 17.8% of the budget. Klay County was 8.3 under the new numbers. Based on the census information provided, Morhead dropped to 17.3 and Klay County dropped to 7.9,
which is probably saves about $2,500 for Klay County. >> So, what does where does that shift get made up? >> It it goes to Cass County because it it's population based and Yeah. So, and then we talked the draft budget. So, anyway, so the 2026 budget was approved
with those numbers. It's it's unfortunate but uh most of it were software issues that are required to pay and so and then um then on the 11th I was in um Grand Forks for the West
Central Water meeting along with Commissioner Bear. we had basically we're trying to plan out uh how we're going to deal with the moving forward with with financing and funding of different projects and I think we're really coming up with some good plan
options there. Uh more to come in that we're going to be meeting again as a full board up up in Grand Forks on the 29th. Um I think we're really setting this up to really see some pipe coming in the
ground in 2027. Right. It's Yeah. So, and I I think both Ezra and I kind of really pushed for a timeline to see some uh with our goal getting water
to Felton uh as soon as possible. So, that would be good for northern Klay County for the residents up there. Uh diversion authority planning committee meeting then was also that um on the 11th. Um
I talked about we did talk about some governance issues in in reviewing the u executive director position. Uh one of the things that uh we talked about where there is concern and now that uh I we noticed that um council member um
Hendrickson from the city also has decided he's not going to be running. So, it appears that we we have the potential for having uh eight uh diversion authority board members off the board come December.
>> Well, it's going to be complete, but it's going that's I mean that project's going to go on for 30 years with maintenance that there's it's just a whole different amount of work. Um, so there's that's going to be interesting to see and and of course
there'll be changes to our MCC JPA board and and all those things that are going to be happening be some of our board members will go off in June and some of us will go off in December. And that concludes my >> Okay. Thank you, Commissioner Campbell, Commissioner Bear. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. On Tuesday, I
was also at the work group session which I thought was very good. And then on Wednesday, I was also at the Klay County Collaborative Governments governance meeting where we went over the program funding and we approved those grants. And then we also approved
the LL LCTS coordinator contract and the approval of the coordinator contract. And then I also went up on June 11th up to Grand Forks for a workshop for the West Central Regional Water District on our next financing options and building
options which will be reporting back to the full board on the 29th. And then on June 12th, I went to meet with Derek Le Point on the behalf of West Central Regional Water District to discuss funding options with Bill Bank on that project and getting him up to date on
that project where that sits. Those are all my committee reports. Madam Chair, >> thank you, Commissioner Bear. Last week, I also attended the PIT committee that was represented well from Commissioner Campbell's standpoint. The piece that needed some additional clarification had
to do with our phone systems throughout the county, what made the most sense. Uh we needed more data to better grapple with what we were discussing. Uh thank you to all of you for your input on the work session. and it really felt like it was a valuable conversation so that we
could take action on the items of importance today. And I also think that uh the timeliness of wrapping up the legislative session and talking about the successes at the uh legislature, but then pivoting as we are under contract
with uh Tom and Haley, where is uh areas that we can put them to work on in the off season that really would help maximize uh issues for Klay County? and we've identified a couple of them today, but particularly that flood hazard mitigation pool of funding. Having their
expertise on those application proposals would be very important. I also attended the Klay County Extension Committee meeting with Commissioner Kabanov. We did have a good discussion uh from all the presenters. Particularly great to have new membership on there. And then
we did talk about the budget and uh the constraints that we're looking forward. We did float the idea on that open position to recommend uh changing it to a 0.8 position from a 1.0 position. That
decision needs to likely happen soon as the intern will cover the additional um workload during the off season and the fair season. But once we get into school-based programming, that position covers a lot of that school-based programming. and we've heard from our
school districts the importance of having the representation in those school districts. So, uh Steve will be working with Cecilia on what that looks like. Anticipate something coming to this board for approval or action going
forward and that als June 10th we talked about the legislative session 2025 budget. uh our upcoming uh appreciation picnic uh Klay County government days at the Klay County Fair on July 10th and also Darren's been along with several
department heads has been spearheading a data practice update for the county. Uh on the 11th I met with Darren Anna and Tessa Melvin from David Drsson and Associates. As this board's aware we determined that we're going to be looking at a market study next year with
an adjustment uh or implementation in 2028. So, we're having those discussions what that would look like. Again, any discussion will most likely come to pick and then before the board on the 11th also met with Jessica and Joe on a series of county issues. I did uh have
opportunity to to go to open house for Payton Master Dworth administrator. Wish him well as he moves on. I think he had his first board meeting in Nebraska that today. Uh and so that was great to wish him well. appreciate the work that he
did with the county. Um, I think that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Steve. Brian, >> thank you, Madam Chair. I think maybe just worth mentioning, um, as this board may be aware, there's a a law change coming in effect August 1st that affects
juvenile law and the fact that, uh, juveniles 10 years of age through 12 years of age will no longer be uh, considered capable of committing a crime. Uh and so that has some impact within the juvenile uh setting. Um and
so uh instead of it being referred to uh through the juvenile criminal process and ultimately uh from law enforcement to our office, uh those issues now that potentially arise will now be uh
going to uh the social services department and looking at potential uh chips matters in those cases. And so the only reason I mentioned it's coming up August 1st, but I have uh meetings planned with law enforcement uh to discuss that with uh sheriff's
department and local smaller uh agencies this Thursday and then the week after with Morehead just because they'll be a larger uh scale operation. And ultimately some of the discussion is how to get them referred to social services but also restorative justice still has a
a role and a part in that that even if it's not a criminal matter getting referred specifically to court uh that it could still be and benefit from restorative justice. So how to make sure that still remains uh in play u is is something that you're going to be discussing uh in the upcoming weeks. So,
I just wanted to mention that to this board uh as you might be aware of it or see it in the news upcoming. I did also want to just mention that um we have our own internal uh wellness week within our office uh that we're doing. We have some different things over noon hours, some
mediation or uh meditation stuff uh mental health CLE, trauma and legal profession on Tuesday. But what I wanted to mention was that on Thursday, June 25th, so next week, Thursday, we do have a potluck. Um, and I would invite anybody from the the board if you're
welcome to come. And now because we love our potluck and love eating down in the county attorney's office, but this is a salad potluck. So, which we did do two years ago and it was actually very successful. A lot of different variety of different salads and different stuff
and people are signing up to bring meats and nuts and all. So anyway, I would invite any and all of you to come on down for a salad potluck if you want to see how it goes. So it'll be next Thursday at noon on June 25th. >> Thank you, Brian. Darren, you have a minute to go before
>> I got one minute. I'm not sure I can top that salad potluck, though. Um everything is uh been covered already. The only thing I had uh that was summarized was uh I had a meeting with Rory to tighten up that phone system presentation. Uh so that'll come back to
the board here in the next couple weeks. Um also, uh had two evaluations that I did for the recorder and the planning and zoning. Had a Lauder Mill hearing on Thursday and everything else has been covered. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Sarah, do you have anything? Okay. If not, uh we have concluded all business for the day. We are set to have our board of appeal and equalization here in a couple minutes. Uh the county offices and um buildings will be closed Friday in honor of the federal holiday
and then we will meet here next Tuesday at 8:30. We are adjourned.