--------- Good morning everyone. It is 8:30. I'll go ahead and 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. >> Madam Chair, I move to approve the agenda. >> Have a motion offered from Commissioner Ebinger to approve the agenda. A second
from from Commissioner Kavanagh. 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 individuals in the audience wishing to address the county board? There any individuals wishing to address the board on any item not on the agenda? 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. >> Move approval. A motion offered from Commissioner Campbell to approve the payment of bills and vouchers. >> Second. >> Second from Commissioner Ebinger. Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify
by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign carried. Workg group minutes from the June 9th, 2026 session. Madam Chair, I move for approval of the work session minutes from June 9th.
>> Okay, we have a motion offered from Commissioner Evaner, a second from Commissioner Kavanagh. Any further discussion? Any discussion? >> All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. The item carries.
Item two today is a request approval to replace two jail transport vehicles through Enterprise Fleet Leasing. Good morning, Sheriff. Good morning, Madam Chair, commissioners. Thanks for having me here this morning. I am here this morning for requests to replace two vehicles that we currently use at the
jail for um medical appointments or if inmate is uh transported over to Sanford or Essentia via ambulance, then our jail staff use those vehicles to um bring that individual back. As you can see from what I have uh submitted, we do
have total funds available of $161,16.99. And for the 60-month lease for both vehicles, it would be $98,352. And then an an additional $4,9942 to outfit those two vehicles with cages
at code force services in Pelican Rapids. With that, I would yield um for any questions that the board may have. >> Thank you, Sheriff. Any questions for the sheriff on the request, >> Commissioner Camp? >> Yeah. Thank So, um Sheriff, I know on
your squad car vehicles, you're norally do three years. >> Yes. >> Right. And then is the five years because we don't put as many miles on them. Is that >> That's correct. Yeah. These vehicles won't be getting as many miles as our patrol units or uh I went with a 60-month lease on these. I even asked
for a longer term lease, whether it'd be 72 or 84 months. 60 months is the longest that Enterprise will go with their lease. We will re-evaluate it at the 60-month point and see if we just buy these outright or just reup leases with with different vehicles.
>> Thank you, >> Commissioner Hinger. >> Madam Chair, I move that uh sure I have the numbers right. I move we approve the replacement of current jail trans uh trans transport van and Ford Explorer with two Chrysler
Pacific transport vans to enterprise fleet leasing at a cost of $81960 per month. That's $1,639.20 total monthly lease obligation has authorized code for services to and
authorized code force services to install the required prisoner transport partitions and related equipment at an estimated cost $4,9942. >> Thank you. A motion offered from Commissioner Ebinger. >> A second. A second from Commissioner
Bear. Any further discussion? Commissioner Campbell, >> one of the questions. So, so that total 5-year lease, we're looking at 100 with the with the equipment that you're putting in there, it's roughly about 108,000, right?
>> Um >> 103 plus >> 103,000 roughly. Yeah. >> Plus the 4,984. Yeah. So, and you have 161 in in the internal service fund that uh that so and that's been put
aside for those two vehicles. >> So, how are you have you talked to Lori about changing how much is going to be going into that internal service fund for those two items moving forward? >> However, Lori does that. I know I send fixed asset sheets to Stacy and then
Stacy uh she'll um she'll enter them into fixed assets. Then Lori sends them. Um, Lori does whatever Lori does to that. I I don't know what she does and I don't know how she's >> I guess previously these weren't leased vehicles, right? Correct. They were purchased vehicles and so now that
they're leased vehicles, the amount of the internal service contribution should probably go down. I guess Steve Madam Chair, Commissioner Campbell, I know that that's something that Lori Johnson evaluates. I know that one of the things that we've talked about because of the increased of the squads and the hitups
um she's made some adjustments, but it's also allowed to um make that shift to some of the other vehicles. Well, and I I guess I don't, you know, if there's reason for those dollars to be transferred, that's one thing, but I I just don't want to see us putting the same amount of dollars into the internal
service fund for these two vehicles the same as it was when we were purchasing them because they're two different things. >> Madam Chair, Commissioner Campbell, we've done that in in all of the other areas where it's gone from a purchase to a lease and so we'll make that adjustment. >> All right. Thank you, >> Commissioner Bear. What's the plans with
the other two vehicles that we do own outright? >> The other two vehicles will be sold at auction as soon as the next uh next auction comes up with Mlofflin. >> Additional questions? >> Well, it does show that the internal service equation is doing what it needs
to do, but I think we um we're because these don't have as much miles on them as some of the other ones. I think that's why we're seeing such a larger balance is because it's one of the last ones to go back to the le or into the lease piece. I know the relationship
with an enterprise has been very um cost beneficial for Klay County. Just want to make sure you know there's other stories from other other uh communities that might not have worked in the best but continue to keep that top of mind and make sure that we're evaluating that. uh
from my standpoint, we've saved hundreds of thousands of dollars for utilizing a relationship with them. Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I >> I >> oppose. Same sign. Carried.
>> Thank you. >> Item three before us is a request approval of the public health emergency preparedness all hazards plan. We have Sylvanas with us and our public health director Jessica Mickelson. Good morning to you both.
>> Morning. Okay. Good morning madam chair and uh good morning to members of the boards of commissioners. So um this our all has our plan uh was developed at original level but then uh
it specifies to the risks of Klay County public health. So the priority or the intention of this plan is to protect residents of Klay County and also um in ensure essential services
are coordinated during disaster and also um ensure an effective recovery uh plan after our emergency. So I'm just going to go into it shortly and I'm here this morning to request
your signature to approve our plan so that we can start training our staff and also activate this plan once there is an emergency. So the purpose of this plan is to provide framework to prepare for respond to and recover from public health
emergency. So not only that, this plan will also define specific roles and responsibilities, send out timely notification, make uh significant decisions during an outbreak
and also coordinate among partners and we work at a local level. We work with the state, we work with MDH, we work with community partners because in an emergency, it is always good to know your partners first. an outbreak.
There will not be an outbreak before you start to get to know people. So, in Click County, we have listed all of our emergency preparedness partners already and we are working with them. Why this plan matters? Like I said, this
plan was developed to protect the lives of Klay County residents and also respond effectively to any public health emergencies. This plan will also develop to maintain essential services and that we have our
coupe plan continuity of operation plan. Once there is an emergency, we know who to place at a specific area. and then build and coordinate with community partners like the Red Cross, Churches United, we know all of those partners capabilities. So once there is an
emergency, we know what they are coming and what they are going to contribute to the respond to support recovery efforts as well and to build community resilient and we are doing this building community resilient. I I go to the library last year every quarter to share um emergency
preparness education to resident of Klay County. [clears throat] So on this um page last year 2025 there was uh a risk assessment done by the county emergency management director and as you can see
tornado is on the top in the list and then we have uh cyber attack we have active shooter. So all of these emergency this plan covers every one of them. It was not developed only respond
to one emergency. This plan once it is activated we can lead or support whatever outbreak in Klay County. So these are the listing of the top five. >> Sylvanas. Can I just ask a question? Can
you go into presentation mode? >> Okay. thinking for the people online. >> Correct. For the people online, but I also cannot. >> Right. Thank you. >> There you go. That's >> wonderful. That's better. >> Okay. So, um sorry.
So, and at the bottom of it is wire. So, this like for public health, we do a risk assessment after every 5 years. And I think that is the same thing for the county. So, this was done 2025. So we're
going to do this again in the future to know what are the targeted risks in click county so we can prepare to respond to these uh risks and how the plan works. So our all hazard plan
um we are going to use this plan to to prepare ourself in developing plans. That's the first one. We have lots of plans that we need to develop. MDH uh has requested us to do that. We have uh some plans after this one. I know that
we're going to come back here again cuz we have uh a coup plan to update. We have uh a finance and administrative budget plan to do as well. So development of plans is one of our top
um responsibility of this uh all hazard plan uh to ensure that all of our staff understand the incident command system and that's why uh once we hire a new staff they go through some of the FEMA
RCS courses such as RCS 100 200 and 700 and then it is a continuous process we train our staff continuously on the incident command system and then also to activate our department operations
center. So once there is an emergency we will firstly activate our department operations center in our office and then work closely with the county emergency operations uh center as well and then uh
ensure staff readiness. So that is one thing that we concentrate on ensure all of our staff are ready to respond to emergency because we don't want when an emergency happens and we ask this person to do this and alert. We don't have the
required training for that. So we ensure all of our all of our staff are trained respond to emergency and then coordinate with uh county emergency operations centers. So while we are going to be running our department operations
center, we also have representative at the county EOC to work closely with them and give update on what is happening at public health and then to scale the response based on the size and complexity of the incident.
So we have our incident command structure in our public health and uh once there is an emergency our incident commander we activate those position based on the complexity and the skill of the incident. So we are not just going to maybe activate all of the roles at
once. Once it is a manor incident we are going to activate based on the nature of the registry and this is our notification table. So this table tells us when to respond
how to respond. So and we make it simple by placing it into colors. So once it is in white, so it's business as usual. We're not going to respond.
Once there is an incident, it changes to yellow. But then for this color yellow, we will send people on the scene to verify the information before we take action. Not just going to activate all of our incident command team members. We want to ensure that the information is
verified before we can respond. And then with the orange the emergency incident has occurred. We sent um people on the field to verify the information and uh it is truth. So we are getting all of our equipments and
respond materials ready and once it reaches to rare we're going to activate our department operations center and all hands on decks to start uh getting involved into the respond process. So this is how it works and then uh once we
have uh respond we are going to demobilize at the end of the respond ensure everything goes well. Respond priorities. So like I mentioned um the first priority of this plan
um is to protect the health and safety of the residents of Klay County and that is our biggest priority ensuring everybody is safe and uh properties damage are reduced.
This is what um this plan was developed for and also um coordinated with health care partners and emergency stakeholders. So right now we have the contacts of all of the clinics in Klay County, all of the health practitioners, even those
ones that are in Fargo as well. We are coordinating with all of them. We working together. the emergency preparedness coordinator in Klay County. He comes here and we plan together as well because like I said, we want to know all of our partners that are involved into emergency management
because when Klay County uh has an emergency, we shouldn't be looking around. We should know exactly who to call upon to assist us. And then uh mine essential health services when there is an outbreak. This is one important one cuz when there is
an outbreak people start to panic and everybody gets afraid but we are going to make sure that who's supposed to respond are present to respond and all of our services are running smoothly. So that is one thing um this plan is going
to concentrate on and then send out timely messaging to our partners and uh other stakeholders. We have a system that we use called Everbridge and we use this system to communicate with our emergency preparness partners. We use
that to communicate with even residents of Klay counties because we have contact numbers of uh the long-term healthcare. We have contact numbers of the corporate um those for the faster care. So all of those people that are in the um the
vulnerable people like we have all of their contacts number for us to be able to respond to them timely and we also built relationship with other organizations in Klay County from different background because those people we feel that they are one of the
people that uh will need help during emergency because some people don't read or speak English. So these people are in our plan as well. We have their leaders. will have this notification printed up and then give it to their leaders to interpret it to them in whatever
languages or or dialect that they speak especially for example the Somali so we're working with some head of the Somali organizations to communicate with them because emergency messaging is all about trust if they don't believe in your message your message they ignore
everything you tell them so that's why we try to work with the top of the various organizations So these are some of the organizations that we are working with at Klay County Public Health. The American Red Cross,
they provide shelter training for us um on a routine basis. Sometime after every 6 months, sometime on a quarterly basis. uh Minnesota Department of Health, we receive uh hands messaging for them, health alert network,
uh Mo Fire Department, uh the healthcare coalition, they help to provide trainings, the long-term health facilities, schools and universities. So sometimes I go after some of these colleges and present all emergency preparedness uh
information to the students the nur the nursing students and then hospitals EMS community organizations and the Minnesota respond. This is one of our uh key area that we are concentrating on as
well. Minnesota response. So we have um like 86 active volunteers in Klay County and once there is an emergency we're going to activate on these volunteers and place them in roles that they can perform and they're going to receive
just in time training before they can perform these roles cuz we don't want to place volunteer in positions that they are able to perform. And then this is just the um the holistic overview of uh our emergency emergency preparedness department what
we are doing. So one of our key concentration that uh Ben kind of taking out all of my time was our storage facility. Um we had all of our assets like very disorganized. So we were able to go there I think two weeks ago and
organize all of our assets and we are now tracking them in the system that we are using the Salamana life and then ensuring what we have cuz if you don't know what you have when an emergency happens you're not going to respond. So now we are tracking what we have. So
once we have an issue we are going to know what capability we have and how can we respond. And then um we have emergency go bags that we have for hand sanitizer and all of some emergency preparness materials. We put
it in those bags and we distribute it to the long-term health care facilities. We distribute them to some vulnerable populations where at the fair um I think it was Friday, right? We carry some and then we distributed them so to people we
had on our table. So it's just to keep informing our residents about emergency preparedness so they can be prepared because once people are prepared the impact of the disaster will not be uh very massive on the population at least
people will know exactly what to do and not be panicking during the emergency preparedness or the disaster process and then u continuous training. So for training is one of our big thing. We are always training staff to be ready. We
did a series of training um since the beginning of the year to now. We did our point of dispensing training. We did incident command training and so much more. And we just wrote our new grant for budget period 3. And there are lots and lots of trainings that we need to
do. So, um, we're going to go through them and I know we're going to come back here again. Perhaps we need other state travel for your kind approval again cuz emergency preparing like I said is continuous training and getting ready for whatever emergency. We don't pray
for emergency to happens in Klay County, but we are going to be prepared like always. >> And then uh >> Commissioner Kavanagh does have a question if I saw the training. I'm curious, how do you do that? I mean, do you do it
as excuse me, one type of emergency so you have the whole team come together at one time so you're hearing the same message or is it in you know or is it piece by piece?
>> Yes. So we do it piece by piece. So uh firstly we do the point of dispensing training and we target few staff like the nurses. Once we open up point of dispensing the nurses are going to be um men at the point of dispensing site. So we target all of our nurses to be at
that training for the incident command training. We target our incident command team members. So it just piece by piece and then uh we did risk communication training as well and we targeted our pro our public information officers and other staff members. So we target
specific staff to respond to uh to attend certain trainings >> and then for people along that line of that type of emergency say it's torn tornado. Yeah. Okay. >> Then do you uh somehow you have Do you
have a re relationship building between the people person to person or >> do you understand what I mean? >> I'm just saying. So there's >> they know who they're going to be working with. >> Yes. So we build we build relationship and we even cross trainin all of our
staff. So that's one big thing we do for our incident command team members. I'm the planning section chief, but then we train another person just like in my absent somebody should be able to effectively function in my role. >> Yeah. >> So all of our staff know how to function
in another capacity once the another person is outside. >> Yeah. Cross train staff. >> Yeah. >> Additional questions. Continue. Oh, I'm sorry, Commissioner. Apologize. >> Yeah, this is a little off off target here, but I think it
um It's it's a good question to know upfront if you guys have the information. So much of this response which is what we have here is based is predicated on the after uh effects that we've seen of emergencies in our community and that involves
reimbursement and support from FEMA. So the ICS, everything else I've gotten it in FEMA trainings and that goes through the through MDH and and state agencies. Is that partnership? Is that function still
working? And is it predictable that we're doing the right things up here uh that'll be required of us to seek reimbursement and rebuild and to get additional things post incident? Uh it's kind of vague, but I think it's going to
be important to to the commission uh when we're walking in after an event like we've had with floods to know we've got that federal support and I am seeing in the media that the federal support's not as predictable as it used to be. Are we looking at issues that may impact us
on that? >> Yes. So to answer that, yes, we are. Um we have the capability to fill out all of the FEMA forms because we are aware of that once there is an emergency we have to submit for reimbursement
uh in our RCS training we discuss that and uh we have all of the forms and we are training staff to know exactly how to fill in those forms form 204 211 all of those forms we yeah we know how to fill in them for appropriate
reimbursement to FEMA. Okay. And any indication of from the state that there's any problems to be anticipated? >> No. No. Because all of our work we do here, we relate them to the state. So we the state has to kind of like evaluate everything that we do. So once we do a
training, we send the report the ARP a to the state for review and then they give us feedback on what we have done as to what whether we are doing it right or doing it wrong. So they kind of supervise everything that we are doing. Yeah. >> Okay. Okay, very good. Thank you.
>> Thank you, sir. And then uh lastly, we Any other question? >> No, I was just making sure we're good. >> Lastly, we uh
preparing our emergency kit. So this is one thing that we inform our staff about consistently like once uh us as staff members when we are not prepared we cannot respond to emergency preparedness. So we encourage
our staff to develop their home emergency preparness plan and then uh develop their emergency preparer kit for they and their family members. And uh with that we go out there teaching um
other people how to prepare as well. So uh our priorities is to be ready, stay informed, build a kit and uh make a plan and our emergency preparedness program I grant funed. So we just roll out our
next uh fiscal year that starts July 1st to June 30th and that is budget per three and then we also have our response sustainability grant and CR city readiness initiative. So we have three
programs ongoing right now. And uh lastly um after our if there is an emergency we want to make sure that our demobilization process is effective. So staff are also trained on
how to demobilize uh our emergency response site. If we have a point of dispensing or shelter site uh established, we should know how to bring everything back to normal um and then
track all of our assets making sure we can uh carry them back to our storage facility. And then we do a comprehensive uh report with an afteraction plan. And this report will indicate what went
wrong, what went right and uh uh improvement plan like what we need to improve on. So these are things that we taking into consideration. And then all of our plans they are living documents. So we have to review them annually so
that they can't be sitting on our shelf and we wouldn't want to run to them do an emergency. We try to practice the plans, train on on these plans and update them so that we know how they worked. So
with that, uh, thank you so much for giving me the time to be here and I >> for any additional questions. >> Thank you, Sylvanas. Jessica, do you have anything to add? I just wanted to thank Sylvanas and the
team that um went out to the storage unit a couple of weeks ago and really um assisted us with getting that cleaned up, organized, all of our assets tracked in Salamander Live. Um I thought this was a project that was going to take us
weeks to get done and the group that went out there got it done in a day. So, it was really impressive to see how quickly they were able to move through everything. So, and Sylvanas is just very passionate about this work as you can tell and he's a good motivator to
our entire team in public health to keep us up to date on all of our trainings and to keep um plugging away at that ICS. We know it's not always the most entertaining trainings in the world for those who have done it. It's pretty dry,
but he makes sure everyone gets it completed. So thank you Sylvanas. >> Thank you J. >> Well I just want to thank say also thank you for the presentation but more importantly the work you named it when you said uh a disaster is not the time to start asking questions of who to
contact and so to have a really clear uh plan articulated is how we will will be able to be prepared and preparation is key. Correct. So, um, huge gratitude for connecting all of those dots and the work that you do to make sure the pro the plan was ready. Questions from the
board. Commissioner Ebinger. >> Madam Chair, just uh I want to make motion to approve the implementation of the Klay County Public Health all hazards plan and move forward with obtaining necessary signatures. >> We have a motion offered from Commissioner Ebinger. I'll
>> second >> and a second from Commissioner Kavanagh. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carried. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Jessica, you have our next item, a request approval to contract with Medicica to provide special needs basic care coordination services. >> Uh yes. Uh thank you, Madam Chair and
commissioners. Um, as you are aware, we were notified last year that UKaree would no longer be contracting uh with the uh Department of Human Services in Minnesota to provide managed care services throughout the state. Um, so uh
throughout the past year, there's been a lot of unknowns as to how this was going to look. Um, a lot of this contributed to the redistribution of the SMBC program fully to public health and moving men choices. um the initial assessment in community first services
uh to social services. So this was kind of part of that reasoning behind why we made those decisions to uh request um those transitions. But um essentially um Klay County currently provides uh care coordination services for members
enrolled in special needs basic care uh more commonly referred to as SMBC which is a Minnesota managed care program for people with disability ages 18 to 64 who are eligible for medical assistance.
UKare and Medicica have entered into an agreement in which Medicica will acquire certain UKare contracts and assets in 2026 which has been approved by both uh the Department of Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services. As part of this transition, we will need to enter into a new SMBC case management participation agreement with Medicica effective October 1st, 2026. Initially, we were thinking that this was going to be at the end of the year
and beginning uh January 1st of 2027, but we were notified about uh four weeks ago that um the contract with UKare is ending um earlier than anticipated. Uh the scope of work for Klay County Public Health will remain generally
consistent with current SMBC care coordination practices which includes completing health risk assessments, care planning, um completing referrals for participants, coordination with providers, and ongoing member support.
Uh the Medicica agreement requires Klay County to comply with Medicica and DHS SMBC requirements. So really a lot of that day-to-day work is not going to change with the contract changing from UKare to Medicica. Uh the most
significant operational change is that we'll no longer be responsible for providing ongoing care coordination to unengaged SMBC members. Um so really there's two types of members. those that are engaged, which means that they've
agreed to care coordination, they've completed a health risk assessment, and they meet with their care coordinator on a regular basis. An unengaged member is someone who has declined those services for whatever reason. And obviously, it's the individual's choice um if they
accept care coordination or not. Under the UKare contract, we still provided care coordination to all almost a thousand members. Um whether or not the person really accepted it. So um
it it just the level of involvement that we had with the person differed um whether they were considered engaged or un unengaged. So under Medicica um we will only be providing care coordination to engaged members. So, people who have
chosen to accept care coordination, completed their assessments and whatnot. Um, so currently under UKare, we receive $185 per member per month for engaged members and $25 per member per month for
unengaged members. Under the Medicica agreement, reimbursement is dropping to $135 and solely for engaged members. While this obviously represents a reduction of $50 per member per month, it also
reduces our case load sizes from approximately 210 members per care coordinator currently to appro approximately 73 members per care coordinator. Although the agreement results in lower
re reimbursement rates, it also creates a more manageable care coordination model by eliminating responsibility for approximately 761 unengaged members. Entering into the Medicica agreement allows us to continue providing local care coordination
services during the public or I'm sorry during the health plan transition while maintaining continuity of care for this vulnerable population. Commissioner having her ask a question. >> Yeah. Uh Jessica, could this result in
more people wanting to be engaged? >> Um that's our goal. Uh Commissioner Einger. Um I think um Susie and I have this falls under um Susie Ornik's um department. um her and I have spoke at
length about um ways that we can do better with outreach to try to get members engaged. It's really a service that's to their benefit when they have either a nurse or a social worker providing the service to them at a local
level. Um someone who is very familiar with the um you know health options available through the health plan at a at a local level and to help coordinate services. So, it's really to the members's benefit. Um, but I think previously with the case loads being as
large as they were, um, the care coordinators didn't have time to focus as much on outreach. Um, and so our goal with this transition is that we would, um, potentially look at restructuring some
things so that, um, outreach could be more of a primary focus. >> What would these people have to do? Is there a timeline where they'd have to declare they want to be engaged? >> Yes. Yep. So, upon enrollment and then annually thereafter, we will reach out
to them. Um, we do make several attempts to reach the member. Um, if we're not able to reach them, obviously they would fall under the unengaged category. um if we are able to reach them um you know the care coordinators explain the services what it would look like and
then you know some individuals may have a caddy case manager or role 79 case manager already so they don't feel that there's a need for the duplicate but the unique thing about care coordination versus case management is this is really more medically focused um it's an expert
with your health plan to help you navigate um kind of the health um services available to the person. So, >> so and we're staffed at a level that would be able to meet any increase in that. >> I'm sorry, what was that? >> We are staffed currently at a level that
could meet any increase of expectation to the to our employees. >> Well, with this reduction, um so I mean really the case load is dropping by 2/3. So, the staff will be able to
pretty much automatically absorb that um additional outreach work because they're not going to have as large of a case load beginning 101. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And just [clears throat] to go off that, I think you're getting to that point,
but the revenues will continue to exceed the personnel costs, correct? >> Yes. Yep. And I do have that down here that I'll um kind of detail more specifically. But um so currently we have 292 engaged SMBC members, 761
unengaged members. At Medicica's negotiated rate of $135, the current engaged membership is expected to generate approximately $39,420 per month or $473,040
annually. This represents an annual revenue reduction of approximately $43,500 compared to the revenue we were receiving under UKARE. Uh during contract negotiations, however, um and I just want to comment,
initially Medicica offered us $115 per member per month. Um that is their typical rate that they offered throughout the state. Um but we were able to get that increased to 135. Um and then throughout those um negotiations, they also agreed to
increase their rates um for the two other health plans that um were contracted with, we're currently contracted with already um to provide care coordination services um through Medicica for um Minnesota Senior Health
Options and Minnesota Senior Care Plus. So M show is probably a term you've heard of and then MSC plus. So Mshow is for Medicaid medical assistance um eligible um seniors who are also receiving
Medicare. MSC plus is for um 65 and plus um who have a separate Medicare plan. Um so when the fin financial impact of all three um programs is considered collectively uh we're looking at a
reduction of revenue of approximately $299,892. So uh the projected 2027 salary and fringe costs for the care coordination team is $439,000. uh based on current enrollment negotiated rates. Um our projected
annual revenue is $473,000 which um continues to exceed personnel costs by $33,987. Uh so just covering um our costs and with that I'll yield to any
questions. Commissioner Kavanagh >> um kind of may not even apply but I want to ask so when there's open enrollment I'm paying the seniors now Medicare and whatnot do the [clears throat] providers
out there know these programs and it's always part of that that discussion. >> Yeah. So um every health plan or managed care plan in the state goes through a procurement process with DHS. We are entering into a new procurement year in
2027 where there may be um new health plan options in Klay County. Um so that process happens every 5 to 6 years. Um so we're anticipating it occurring again in 2027. So new health plan um options
may be available. Um, so we go through it's kind of like an RFP process where each health plan submits their proposals um to DHS for where they want to um contract with. So um the health plan gets to determine what counties in
Minnesota they're going to be working in. Um a lot of times it's kind of based off historical practices just based off um which um healthcare organizations they're contracted with. But um so that's kind of the initial process with
how it works. So that determines what health plans are available. >> Um and then um you know all of the services um that would re be referring people. So senior linkage line um are obviously our income maintenance unit they are all well familiar with what
health plans are option or available and then they do their best to kind of educate the recipient. >> Well obviously they're the beginning. Yes. >> So hopefully that helps the engagement. >> Yes. >> Outreach. >> Yep. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> And it >> go ahead.
>> The member could still be receiving SMBC through Medicica but decline care coordination. So that's why it's really up to >> Why would they decline? >> Um you know um a lot of times it's because we can't
reach the member to explain the benefits of it. Um, I'd say that's probably half um the time why um why we aren't able to get a member to um engage. Um and then another big reason I think is people
already have so many providers that they're working with that they feel that it's overwhelming and that they don't have a need or it may be the person's needs are being met, you know, in a more informal basis so they don't feel that it's necessary. So I mean there could be
a wide range. >> Yeah. Thanks for that. >> Additional questions. >> Well uh it's very clear that this is quite a complex system and uh I am amazed at your ability to educate
yourself in your new role. seems like you've really done a great job to uh not only one advocate for Klay County, which you have in regards to the negotiation of the rate. Um but just um figure out this very very complex system. Um you
know, I I uh I support this request. I support the work uh clearly because there are revenues to cover. uh just I think internally as we figure out with reduced case loads and we've got areas where we're seeing really high case loads, how
do we manage that in the best [cough] way? Um [clears throat] that's managerial and I you know we'll work uh together to figure that piece out. But um you know these are areas where you can see really big cost swings either either side and so thanks for continuing
to keep Steve in the loop who in turn keeps us in the loop. Come Madam Chair, I would move Klay County Public Health enter into a contract with Medicica to provide SNBC care coordination services effective
October 1st, 2026 at a reimbursement rate of $135 per member per month. >> Thank you. A motion offered from Commissioner K and a second from Commissioner Ebinger. Further discussion? Any further discussion?
Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppos. Same sign. Carried. Thank you, Jessica. >> Madam chair, if if I could just in addition, since Jessica is here, I just wanted to extend not only thanks for the work that she did here, but also
extended thanks to the revalidation process that uh that she also got to learn a great deal about uh for Medicare. Uh we our our application had not been resubmitted for revalidation. Uh Jessica and her staff went in and got that done. And not only did they get
that done, they got it they were able to go back uh to fill the gap and received approval through a through an additional process uh so that Klay County was able to get the reimbursements. >> And can you I think it's important for the public to know what that amount was. It's substantial.
Do you know >> it's I think it's around 16,000 was what we were expecting to write off. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Our next item is a budget presentation. Uh we have the recorders office,
Kimberly Savageo, our county recorder. Good morning. >> Good morning, Madam Chair, commissioners. Um I'm here today to present my 2027 budget to you. >> And we do have that on the tables. Okay. Um I will I have no new requests
for you this year and I'll start with covering my revenues at the top of the page. Um that first line there that's our recording fees. It's kind of hard to know and guesstimate where um where that's going to be. So I just kind of kept that same based on some of the
research that I was able to do. Same with that second line. and that is the revenue um from my software program for our online services. That third line is the tech fund. That is an in-n-out. So you'll see a revenue of $95,000 there, but you'll see an expense at the bottom
for $95,000. That is a fund specific to the recorder's office that we use for technology expenses. So on my budget, it shows as an in-n-out because it's a a fund that keeps growing a balance throughout time. That fourth line is my compliance fund. I was here earlier this year to present
that to you and we have $105,000 allocated out of the compliance fund to use for 2027. That next slide, I do show a little bit of a decrease there. That is the county portion of the vital record fees that we receive. Over the past few years, we
have seen an increase in in customers needs for documents for Real ID. And I just feel that's kind of slowing down. So, I lowered that revenue just a little bit to compensate for that. interest revenue, I lowered that to just kind of based off what I've been seeing
from this year. And then plot book sales, those are kind of stay flat. And then that last line there, that is um just an in-n-out where I deposit my daily funds with the auditor's office. So that really isn't a revenue line.
Any questions on the revenue portion? Madam Chair, um Jess or excuse me, Jessica Kimberly, could you maybe provide just the board an update and our citizens an update of your fund that you utilize that also has an impact on the levy?
>> Yeah. Um so the technology fund um I kind of went over and made some notes anticipating a question about that today. So the technology fund is separate from the compliance fund. There's $10 from every document that goes into that fund in order to advance
technology services for the recorder's office and other land record departments. Um we had been for several years m trying to grow a balance in there so that we could in do a large scanning project. Remember during co I was able to use some of those I believe
it was ARPA funds to cover some of that. So now we've been able to use that technology fund to cover more of our annual um needs for the different land record departments. Um one of the things I do is Rory has an almost $19,000 bill
for our countywide imaging um software program and my office pays bill for that because we use that for land records. And so that would become part of Rory's budget if it didn't come out of this technology fund. I use that for various different recorders office softwares that I have.
Um that probably totals up to just under $30,000 annually that comes out of that fund. Also, um there's hosting that I pay for for my real estate records. If I didn't pay to have my technology services um vendor host them, we would
have to have a server here on site that Rory would need to purchase and maintain. So, we save money there. And then I also use $15,000 for technology services and $15,000 for GIS for our portion of what we use their services for. We use our GS and land records all
the time and different services that technology that Rory's department offers. And then I also do um the last couple years have purchased ours for the assessor's office software maintenance out of there too. So, we are spending
probably about $100,000 in various things for other land record departments out of that fund that would not be in their budget. >> Does that answer your question, Steve? >> Yes. Thank you. >> Yes. Any other questions on the revenue?
>> Not looking like it. >> Okay. U moving on to that bottom part there is my expenses. Those first eight lines are really all just in cost of employees. Um, I just wanted to bring up I know since some of you have been here a while, but some of you are newer, too.
I started in the recorder's office back in 2003. At that time, we had 6.5 employees and a roster employee. Today, in 2026, we have four full-time employees. Um we have technology has advanced what we do in our office
tremendously and with that we have been able to downsize um downsize the number of employees in our office which our employees is my biggest expense for for the recorder's office. Um going down on that um the next line
is for telephone. I just reduced that a little bit based on what I've been seeing coming out of my budget. Printing and publishing, I kept that the same. I do have an increase in my association dues and memberships. I am going to see an increase in my make dues. There
hasn't been one in 20 years. And so I have that increased about $180 for that. Um I do have a decrease in my professional services. And then skipping down, um you'll see that technology fund. Oh, sorry. I
skipped to where I just saw percentage increases. All those other line items I've just kind of kept flat and kept the same there. You'll see that technology fund that 95,000 with that 11.76% that's just that in and out. [clears throat]
And then that bottom line there is computer software. That's our licensing cost for the sale of our online real estate records. Any questions on any of those expenses? >> Any questions? >> No.
>> Commissioner Einger, >> not a question. And I've just been able to work with Kimberly on the basically a lot of things, but the technology fund every year as part of my portfolio. And
her department is run in an immaculate fashion. If there's uh technology that needs to be brought forward or innovation that needs to be implemented, since I've gotten here, I've seen leaps and bounds under her leadership and she
does a great job. and I appreciate it and it's going to embarrass her, but I'm going to say it anyway. Your mother would expect me to say it. >> Thank you. >> Anything else? >> Well, I I know that I've I've heard
you're doing some phenomenal uh work uh but not only in Klay County, but uh statewide. you've really been a part of some huge statewide initiatives and that leadership uh is really um something we're grateful for, but it continues to
show that Klay County is uh leading uh the conversation on dealing with some of the challenging components that we are and how do we do so in a a costbeneficial manner. So just I know that takes additional workload and uh appreciate that you're doing that uh to
bring us uh so far forward. >> Thank you. questions? Not. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, was Highway here? >> Of course he's here.
>> Justin, I feel like you want us to play like a walk out song because it's it's always like, "Is Highway here?" And then the door opens. Uh, Commissioner Campbell just stepped out for a brief moment, but uh, we can proceed uh, with your uh, presentation. We have Justin Sorum,
our county engineer, and an the uh, boss if I We've got three page sorry four pages of budget. >> Yes. So good morning and you're
presenting my 2027 highway department budget. >> Got it. >> Um as always it's kind of broken into four main sections. So it is 310 maintenance, 320 construction, 330 administration, and
340 shop. Got it. First we'll go to 310 maintenance revenues. So a lot of the revenues on the maintenance side are estimated using trends from state aid. So it's just the maintenance money that we get from the
state. And then town road, if you'll notice, it is up slightly. So last year was down a little bit. That's due to the TAA account, which is the transportation advancement account, and that's the retail delivery fee that was set in statute a few years ago. It was being
delivered to the townships and to the counties, and it was tracking a little bit lighter than they anticipated, so they just held off for a year. So, they're just receiving the payment the year after. So, the townships should receive a little bit more money because of this. And then 103105409
is townships township maintenance contract. And obviously as I have shared we are one less con one less township this year although the maintenance contract did go up. So um 2026 budget was 812,000 proposed in
2027 is 815,000. Any questions on the revenue side of things on maintenance? >> Yeah. So is the one less because they're going to do their own or >> Yep. They contracted with a different outfit or individual.
>> Okay. >> Expenditures. So 103106107 salaries overtime. So we did go up a little bit on this. We haven't been spending what we've been budgeting, but we also have had very mild winters in the last handful of years. Hoping that
trend continues. And then salaries other, you'll notice that doubled. So that's due to the union contract. So on call pay went from just under $30 to just over $50 with the new
union contract. And then 103106277. So that's training. So we did keep that flat at 15,000. Um so that is our CDL policy. Um, we've used it six times, going to be seven with a new hire that
started yesterday. I think the six, um, it's been working really, really well. Um, it's been a big benefit to our department and we've had really, really good luck with it. So, I appreciate that policy very much. Thank you. >> I just want to talk to that really briefly. You know, I know internally we
tried to figure out what we could do to kind of utilize uh funds to recruit and having CDLs be such a cost cost barrier for some people, I'm really glad to see that um that it's been working out and
uh given the numbers that you're using or that are using it, I you know, I will continue to support that. >> And part of that policy as well is if say solid waste meets a driver with it, right? Um, and we have actually done that a couple times. We've loaned Cory a
driver for a few days just to keep up on hauling materials. And then we've done a little bit of heavy hauling for solid waste as well. Like when their dozer broke down, we held it to get it fixed so they didn't have to pay a company to come do it.
Um 10310 6454 uniforms. So that is up. So in the union contract as well, boots went from being every other year to every year and then the cost of the reimbursement also went up. I think this was a a good thing. I
mean, if you see the guys boots after patching, I think two years is your boots are shot. So I think it's it's been a good thing and guys really like it. And then 103106502 road materials. So this covers basically
everything from gravel, mastic, patch mix. So we did go I did increase it 100,000 just to obviously gravel's going up. We don't know what gravel's going to be next year. So just trying to account for it. And then 103106509
traffic supplies is up 5,000. So, if you remember during my um department update, I kind of touched on that the new county signs are the blue ones from the white ones. So, those are more expensive. So, it's just trying to replace as much as we can while not increasing it
significantly. >> Madam Chair. >> Yes, Commissioner Barry. >> And that's dictated by the state. We are not making that change on the state it's telling us to make that change. >> Yep. So, we follow the Minnesota manual on uniform traffic control devices or the MUT manual. So we have to follow that
>> and we're changing those out as they >> as they're Yep. No longer reflective. Yep. >> So we're not we're not blanketly replacing them. We're replacing them as they go out. But it's not like a it has to be instantly. We just have to be in compliance eventually.
>> Yeah. >> And then 103106807 intergovernmental payments. So, one thing I did want to touch on is this is the last year of the 12th Avenue South turnback and [snorts] that annual
payment is $58,61525. So, in 2028 that will come off. >> Good. >> Any questions on the maintenance side? >> Uh, I just wanted to maybe go back to weed and brush control. Um, you know, I I see that we're not utilizing all of
it, but as I drive, I'm also seeing that there are weeds that continue to exist. Have we had internal conversation about utilizing all that is allotted or we just have a a core left over in case something big happens? >> Um, a little bit of both. So each spring
um myself so I go over to soil and water kind of give them what our budget is and then they kind of point out areas that they've been seeing all the noxious weeds and everything else. >> So they try to go as close to that number as they can. Sometimes we hit it,
sometimes we don't. And then we do lately we've been reserving a little bit for spraying trees around bridge ends. So been trying to this year I'm going to try to hit that number closer than we did last year. >> I'm also, you know, in coordination with
the wershed too. You know, I am noticing that there seems to be more shrubs in in ditches around culverts than we've seen in a long time. And >> sometimes when it's been a while since we've had a flood, we forget how um much of a nuisance that can be. So that might
be something we want to hit harder. I don't know. It is actually last year something that we did on 52. There's trees on a lot of those culverts by the railroad. So we it's been something we've been trying to tackle. >> All right. Additional questions on those
items he highlighted? No. Moving on to page 46. >> Yes. So 320 is 10320 is highway construction. So on the revenue side, we kind of estimate using both trends from state aid and then this is heavily
dictated by the five-year plan. So next year is a giant construction year. Um so with the CASA 21 both obviously we were planning the rehab of that road and then all of a sudden the bridge project that kind of got thrown in there as
well. So 10320 5271 is accounting for what we expect to receive in bridge bonding for CASAW 21 and then 5274 is regular construction. So CASA 21's going to be a huge project for us and then we're also planning the Glenden Township
bridge. I actually meet with Glendon Township tonight to go over some rightaway stuff and that's going to be $2 million bridge which for a town bridge project is huge >> huge. And then 10320 5320 federal grants. So
that is CASAW 3 from CASA 18 to 22. That's money that we received through Metrocog kind of making us whole for the contribution that we gave for the 11th Street underpass on some money that we got back from FHWA.
So it'll be a good project through Oakport. That's >> heard a few different things on it throughout the years. >> Any questions on those? I mean from anyone. >> Okay. >> And then and I will say this one
obviously on the revenue side it's up $4.5 million but that's also taken care of in the expenditure side. So it's just heavily based on the five-year plan and what we're doing for construction that year. Um on the expenditure side. So you'll
notice the salaries is down. So this is due to we had a long-term engineering technician that would would have been on grade 18 at the top of his pay scale take early retirement. So that position's been posted since roughly February. We haven't been able to fill
it yet, but we are expecting it to be like a grade 16 step one or two. [snorts] And then 103206107 overtime. So, we did go up $9,000 just strictly due to the amount of construction we have next year. We
expect a lot out of our technicians when we're busy. So, obviously that comes with a lot of overtime. And then 10320 6274 engineering consultant technical service. So, we up $50,000 there. So that's taking into
account both the designs for the Cass 21 bridge and then if you seen in the newspaper lately, we were able to receive um a grant with Pulk and Norman County for $24 million that would replace the Georgetown Bridge. So I
expect we'll be spending money on a structural engineer for that project next year. Um 103206454 boots. So engineering techs follow we've historically always followed the union contract. So they get a boot
reimbursement every year. So that's just accounting for that. And then probably the biggest change in my budget would be 103206565 right of way. So we've talked about CASA 11 quite a bit over the past couple
years. So we are next week I'll be bringing a contract for that project. And then this is just the amount of rightaway that we're expecting between temporary easements and permanent highway easements because obviously we're going to be widening the roadway.
So this would be expected to be a one-time increase next year would be back down to the $10,000 just because hoping to take care of all of the rightway next year for 2028 construction. Um 103206604
is equipment over 500. So we are planning to replace some of our testing equipment that's in our engineering technician lab just so we can do all of our own gradations on federal projects and such. The one that we have now is getting up there and they're a little over 5,000 bucks to
replace. And then the final item of note is 103206631. So this was the last year we had 600,000. This year was 800,000. So that's to as shown on the five-year
plan that's striping and seal coating that kind of took the place of the old Morehead turnback payment. We took what we were spending and put it here. Um, that being said, if if there is one area to obviously the right of way is a major
increase. If this is one area I could look to decrease if needed, >> Commissioner Campbell. >> Yeah, thank you. Yeah. Um, we had an opportunity to meet with Justin yesterday and go over some of these things and that's one of the areas um
with that 52 project or 11. Yeah. 50 U 11 project. >> Yep. 11 from >> eating all the additional right ofway. >> Uh we felt it would probably be um may maybe be appropriate to keep that at
600 >> to help offset and and the increased cost in that right of way that's going to be needed in 2027. >> Yep. I don't think it's going to change any in terms of the amount of miles you're going to be able to stripe,
right? >> No. So, next year is actually So, every other year we have an highway safety improvement project, it's called, but it's we partner with a bunch of different counties in district 4. So, it's money we received from the federal government to stripe. So, next year is a
federal year. So, there will be a lot of edge lines being done not out of this. Okay. >> So, I I don't think it's going to have a detrimental effect. I think we'll still be able to keep up on I think last year was a great year in getting everything striped and I think I don't think that
would be a detriment. >> Okay. >> Commissioner, >> do we have any seal coding projects on the docket for next year or >> any seal coding? Not at this time. Striping. Yes. Yeah. >> Commissioner Campbell,
>> can I just go back to um the line item above that the municipal construction which is that's what's funded with the city wheelage tax, right? Is that and that 163,000 is that for projects that have been
submitted? >> No. So that's tax collected, correct? Anticipated tax collection. >> Well, that's not revenue. This is an expenditure. >> That's the expenditure. So, it's shown in a tax and then um also it's just an in and out. Correct.
>> It's an in- and-out there. It'll it is shown as a revenue down in 805 >> the last page >> fifth page of the budget. >> Okay. Yeah. So, for example, and with the exception of
Morehead, I'd asked Justin to provide this um amount that we provide each um city and that number is 102 thou. This excludes what we give
to Morehead. It's $102,74. It's >> up on the screen there. And um and not all of not all of that is actually requested and paid for in that given year. Right. >> This is separate from wheelage tax. This
is money that's given out of our levy. Correct. >> Yes. Yes. And this will show in this expenditure would be in um up in 310 10310 uh 6807 intergovernmental payments. It's
part of that number. >> So the >> this is money they re So it's money they receive every year that when I bring that resolution in February they just get a check for. They don't actually wheelage they have to submit some sort of estimate or invoice.
>> Yeah. Well, this is confusing because on on on the expense side it says city wheelage tax projects and I I'm assum I was assuming then that that's >> that's above that's a separate payment that the cities get other than this
resolution. So the city wheelage tax projects they need to request >> the resolution there's not that's what goes out there's not a request >> correct >> okay so the cities get this component
and then when the requested that's what comes out of the wheelage tax line that we're talking about >> correct and I did I do have just kind of a cumulative total of wheelage tax that's been collected since 2013 13. On the city side of things, it's been about
$1.9 million collected and 1.6 that has been paid out so far. >> Then I do have detail for each city. I can send that to you if you would like it. >> I think that's what we were talking about yesterday, right? >> Yes.
>> That would be helpful. Commissioner Kavanagh >> your microphone >> going back to the expense being on this first sheet. Where do you say the revenue is picked up for the tax >> for the wheelage tax? Yeah.
>> Um the revenue is shown on would be on the last page page 49 here under um wheelage tax revenue. There's a county portion and a city >> without turning there. What's that number? Um the the revenue for the cities is
163,238 and then our county portion is 380,888. Those are budget neutral items because those same those same figures show as an expense. >> Yeah. >> On this page. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> M I have a question. >> Yes, Commissioner Bear. >> The sheet that's on the screen right now, we have one of those for the townships as well, right? that we give them money or no? >> Not so we give money to the townships based on the town road aotment. So that's >> dictated by the
>> that's part of the HUTDF fund that's gas tax driven. >> Yes. So this comes out of property taxes that we give to each city. >> Yes. >> All right. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Does that answer your question, Kevin? I
now I'm confused with what you just said there because the we get gas tax aotment that gets broken down from the township to the city to the county, >> right? >> This is on top of all that. This is property tax that we generate that we
give to the cities with no strings attached other than to be used on road. >> Yep. >> We do not give a percentage of property tax to the townships at the same >> No. No. >> Yeah. Th these are wheelage tax dollars. >> No, >> no, >> no. That is not wheelage. >> Okay. So, I'm confused on this.
>> What's on the screen is the same as in your hand. >> Yep. If you want to go to the wheelage tax, you had that on there. >> Go to the wheelage tax. >> Yeah. Okay. I had asked for the wheelage. That's why it was I'm confused by this number here. >> Yep. So, this is not has nothing to do
with wheelage tax collected. Okay. That's >> property tax that we allocate to the cities. Okay. >> Any questions on any other questions on the construction side of things? >> Not a question, just more a comment. You
know, if you look back, the direction that this board has given you is to make sure we are taking care of and catching up on some of these road projects. Uh construction is obviously uh more expensive than it used to be, but if you
look at the look back the last few years, uh we really are um amping up the construction and making sure we're taking care of those roadways. And u you know, I'm really glad to see that because that that really is probably the calls that we get um from a lot of
people making sure that those are being addressed and uh this is a testament to that. Madam chair, I have one question on highway construction on uh 6631 for what you had budgeted last year and what you have spent well what what you
budgeted last year and what you spent last year. That's a big difference there. >> Yeah. So a lot of that is due to like federal pay requests and such that we haven't so until I final out a project, it's not actually shown on here. So, it
will it'll equal up. Yep. >> It shows better in the five-year plan. Uh when he has that document, it shows what county wheelage tax um allocation would be applied for each and so it gives a better a better outlook on how
we're spending that. But again, based how you close it out, it shows differently. >> Yep. And depending on how like striping comes in or other projects come in, that's one that I kind of once a once projects start to get fined out and we see how they come in, then I can utilize
that money. >> Any question additional questions on are you the permit application fees? >> Ready for 3:30? >> Can I ask a question on 6903?
Yes. >> What's the >> um >> what are your trends you're seeing? >> So the main driver in this is if we have to get a railroad permit or not. So railroad permits are the most expensive far. >> You don't even need to make sense.
>> Yeah. And they also like to bill you to prepare your bill as well. So we get a bill prep fee. >> Perfect. Page 47. >> Yes. So this is administration. So this covers our office manager, admin,
assistant, engineer, assistant engineer, and highway accountant. Um on the revenue side, nothing really to note. Um 10330-5151 is moving in utility permits and then 103305830
is joint facility admin fees that we collect from the state and the city of Morhead. Um so on the expenditure side so one thing 103306202 postage. So we did increase this because with the Cass 11 project we are planning
on doing a couple different mailers to inform the public of the public meetings and land owners. 103306271 covers our cost accounting software RT vision stuff that we use every day.
103306331 travel and expenses. So we did go up from 9,000 to 10,000. So this covers travel for both myself and the assistant engineer for such things as like the NACE conference that we've been attending annually that I think is a
really good thing. And then also 10336 3333 conference registration has been going up slightly. So the conferences that we do go to including Minnesota transportation conference and the ACE conference have just gone up a little
bit. So it's just covering the cost of that. >> Do you include your AMC in that as well? >> Yes, AMC comes out of there as well. Thank you. >> Any questions on the administration side?
>> Moving on. >> Yes. So 340 is shop. So um the revenue that's shown so that's any expenses that we incur or that we bill out for the joint facility.
Um on the expenditure side 103406109. So on call pay similar to maintenance is up just due to the union contract. So our diesel mechanic does receive on call pay and we will put them on call if we have staff on call
103406302 equipment repair and maintenance. So we did go up 25,000 just trying to capture what we have been spending. Obviously it's really expensive to fix equipment. Um we've had a few transmissions go out and motor graders over the last few
years. So [snorts] hoping that we don't have to do any of those. 10340 6410 is fuel lubrication. So this covers all of our gas and diesel. Um obviously last year we did not spend we
were gas prices were good, diesel prices were good and we had a light winter. This is just trying to capture what obviously seeing the trend in fuel prices and if we do have a bad winter just so we don't have a giant discrepancy in what we budgeted versus
what we spend and then 10 340 64 54 uniforms. Um, so we do have a new uniform provider and then boots as well cuz it two employees in the shop do receive boots every year. And then we did switch our uniform
provider to the same one that Solid Waste is using. So it's a little bit nicer but a little bit more expensive. >> Any questions on shop or on budget in general? >> One one question shop for fuel lubricants. Do we bulk purchase any fuel
like at any of our shops? Do we have big fuel? >> So we have in Georgetown we have a fuel um barrel or it's like a 500gallon tank. >> Yeah, that's it wouldn't be that would be bulk. >> No. And then at the landfill we have the same thing. Um other than that we don't
have a commercial fueling station. It's been it's been a pretty heavy topic of discussion I would say at like district 4 meetings and there is one county that's trying it and seeing how it plays out from the environmental side. I know
it gets expensive for what you have to do for containment if you have a big one. >> Yeah. >> Right. I was going to ask that question too. You know, I think about [clears throat] if there's anywhere we can find some savings with that. But again, with that environmental piece, what you have to
come up with up front >> wipes out savings pretty quick. >> Yep. >> Commissioner Campbell. >> Yeah. I just I just want to go back and clarify something. I I think I got it now, but when I when we met yesterday, I had asked to have a print out of the
um annual wheelage tax that we were providing to each. That is that is not what this is. But then when I read this, when I read this, I thought I'm I'm still a little bit confused on this. Be so what this is is it's basically to cover these C's costs for maintaining
our county roads through their cities. Is that what this is? >> That's part of it. Yes. >> Okay. So, and I I guess when I read it, I was a little bit confused because it said it says money spent on city streets. Well, there we pay we pay for the county
streets within the city limits of these jurisdictions, >> right? Is that what this is? >> So why why why why would we because according to this is money spent on city streets for 2025 and I why do we why do
we pay for city streets? So, it's been a resolution that's been around long before my time. I feel like we've had the discussion a few different times, and I feel like every time we talk about it, there's not real clear
>> reason why we're doing it. >> Well, I, you know, I know, for example, Justin, you just said yourself that um the one um agreement that we had with Morhead was going to be coming off. Mhm. >> So, for example, right now, Morehead
takes care of 11 Street through >> Morehead. >> It's a county road. >> So, they they maintain and everything. We pay them for for doing that service. Is that what these items are for these other communities?
>> Don't know how to answer that question. I guess cuz >> my understanding with this has always been that, >> you know, if we have these our county routes that are running through the cities, >> if those cities happen to, >> you know, allow some snow, do maintain
them, >> maintain anything that this payment was supposed to >> cover those costs. That's >> Yeah. And that's and that's that's what I was getting. So that that's if if that's what this is for. I I guess the only thing that I would maybe see that
we could clarify the language that and I probably voted for this resolution. I'm sure I did. But maybe the way that we could um correct that language, for example, where we have resolution 2026-06 is reimbursement for cities for money
spent on county roads within city. I think that might help uh explain things a little bit better in terms of why we're pay why we're paying them for um >> streets within the city. >> We could look at adding that language to
the resolution for next year. >> I think it would just clean it up a little bit >> and I think it would be helpful to know how the equation comes about. What is what is how do we come up with the factors for each city?
Do we have them submit >> different calculates these numbers? I believe it's based on tax capacity. I want to say >> well I think we've got some >> good questions that maybe um
we can dive deeper in at the highway tracking. I I think you've heard some comments based on what we want to see the cities are getting on the wheelage tax. You can send that piece out. But maybe in regards to the equation, that might be a highway tracking item. >> Well, I I mean this this makes sense
that we're paying them for >> agreed >> for maintaining our streets within the cities, but I think it's how you know it determines how do you how is that what's the formula just like annual we have the formula for uh what we charge for annual
maintenance for townships. There's a formula for that. this one. I don't know how we arrive at these numbers. >> That's what I'd like to know. >> Yeah. And that and that can be for, you know, a highway tracking meeting moving forward to
look into a little bit more of it. >> Please have until February for the next resolution. [clears throat] >> Well, yeah. >> Sorry, I have to zoom it in because my eyes are >> I do have the formula somewhere in my email. I'm trying to find it, but I can get it to you.
>> I would. Yeah. Okay. Shall we we on 49 or do we finish 49? >> We're complete unless there's any other questions. >> Uh going back to the um change from 600 to 800,000 on that um
component. Uh and knowing how much we would see with the the rightway, >> you know, I think that might be an appropriate way to address that. um you know, you you've you've run a a pretty lean operation in regards to um all the
different changes that we've seen, but I do appreciate you having flexibility in that. Questions for Justin direction? Continue to talk about it. >> I think I think that makes sense.
>> Okay. And I and I I know I talked a little bit about the construction piece, but um the ability for your department to seek and receive grants lately is just astronomical. And I don't you know I want to highlight particularly the the
$24 million. That's an enormous amount of uh money and specifically Klay County Share. That's a very large allocation. So, I know that takes time to apply for those and I really am grateful for the work on that piece.
>> Appreciate it. >> Any additional questions for Justin or Ann? >> No. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Well, we are scheduled for a 5m minute break. We're 10 minutes behind, but we'll come back at 10:05.
back with our budget presentation for technology services. >> Good morning, Rory. >> Morning. Thank you, Madam Chair. Good morning, commissioners. Um, today I'll be, as you mentioned, uh, running through our, uh, 2027 technology
services budget. Um, for next year, things are looking fairly fairly well. Um, with the even with the cost of living and being able to cut cut a few things and renegotiate a few things, we are looking at about a
0.54% increase overall. Um, a lot of this, a lot of this, what you'll see on the spreadsheet is maybe recategorizing or moving around software items that maybe weren't in the software line item into the software line item. Just kind
of wrapping up some loose ends there, getting everything accurate in accordance with our u auditing for software subscriptions. A couple notable areas that we saved a little bit of money on this year was uh we renegotiated our uh state of
Minnesota internet bill. Uh we were paying a little little too much. Um so we worked it out where city of Morhead and there's some other endstate entities and Morhead public service also feed off that same internet connection. So they redistributed the uh percentages
and recalculated those as well. So saved about $8,000 there for next year. >> Is that under >> Commissioner Bear? >> Is that under other professional services? >> That would come under under other professional services. Yep. >> Yep.
>> Um next next item. We've discontinued a file backup solution and actually reuse part of this uh application enhancer solution which uh myself and Kimberly from Recorders man uh pays for.
So that saved about $5,700 there. Um earlier this year we moved to an Amentum tax hosting solution on their platform. So, there were some onetime support support fees and onetime startup fees that are no longer needed for next
year's budget. Um, just little little bit of reduction in training budget. Um, the data processing supplies um about $4,000 there. Out of that, uh, $60,000, 40,000
of that is our manage print services throughout the county. So every every printer that we we purchase goes through manage manage services and just one big contract for all all printers and actually saves us quite a bit of money. I think last time we looked it was about
10 to 15,000 a year by going with this company. It was a good good move a few years back. And let's see. So equipment over 500 we reduced that about $25,000. we just we had been,
you know, strategically being able to utilize um new purchases along with the internal services fund. Um so internal services due to we we marked that up $30,000 for next year just due to the cost of
computer equipment uh with the all the AI data centers and the big onboarding of that just driving the memory and storage prices up. So that's to cover cover that over the couple hundred computers that we purchase every year.
Um but yeah, overall no no new requests. Um and I'll maybe I'll leave it leave it to you all for questions. >> Thanks Rory. Can I ask why we have a gas and oil line? >> I uh I had been using gas and oil out of our travel and expenses and now I'm
starting to use our gas and oil line. So, >> does it make sense to have it in a gas and oil line or should it be in a travel and expenses line? >> I I suppose for auditing auditors probably gas and oil. >> Yeah, madam chair, commissioners, I
yeah, in talking with Lori the it is to pay for a van and an older van that they utilize to drive around between campuses. And so, uh the auditor's office wished to have it in that line item. So then, if I might, does it make sense to have that as a vehicle instead
of a gas and oil? >> Gas and oil is pretty consistent in what we have in all of our other budget lines. >> Right. Questions from the board? >> Any questions? I I feel like you were just before us uh
talking about some of your bigger uh line item needs and so uh certainly we're well aware of some of the challenges um in the cost of the software. But any other questions? >> So we're not we're not looking at any
making any big uh software or anti virus purchases this year. >> We were potentially looking at a big phone system upgrade for next year, but I think we're going to push that off till 2028. Okay. All right.
Uh, well, to see a 0.54% increase, Rory, that's pretty phenomenal. >> We're trying. >> I We really appreciate that. Thank you. Any other questions? All right. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Item nine today is a Let's see. informationational update on long-term services support and supports. This is not going to be a 354 increase, unfortunately. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Commissioners,
uh, yes, unfortunately, my subject is probably worse than Rory's entire budget. I come bearing bad news yet again. Um, thank you, Sarah, for putting this on there. I adjusted some of my notes, so I'm going to pull mine up here. Well, that's coming up. Uh, you know, I
know that you've had lots of discussions with Steve as we are continuing to dial in where this gauge of um shifts from St. Paul and DC are landing on uh for Klay County. Unfortunately, uh, you know, we're just finding out maybe how
large these components are, but I I do really want to say thank you for continuing to stay as active and up to date and trying to dial that in. Uh, while it's disappointing uh because they're high numbers, we do appreciate that you're active in that. >> I look forward to the day I bring good
news instead of bad news. But thank you for that, Madam Chair. Um, so today I just wanted to bring it to the board's attention about another county cost share that's coming. Um, this is a high level overview. So if you have questions at any point, just feel free to jump in.
Um, let me know. This it can be dense. I tried to keep it kind of higher level. So to kind of set the stage, historically the cost of Medicaid funded residential services has been shared between the state and federal government. Counties have always played an important role in administering the programs. We determine their
eligibility. We complete the assessments and we coordinate the services. But we have not been responsible for paying for any part of the actual residential service costs themselves. Um, with this change for us, that would mean a portion of what has historically been a state
and federal Medicaid obligation would instead become a local property tax responsibility. This is set to begin July 1, 2027 if nothing changes legislatively before then. My goal today is to explain where this cost shift came from, what services it applies to, why
social service agencies across the state are concerned about it, and then what the financial impact is so we can complete our 2027 budget process. >> Um, so [clears throat] >> Commissioner Kavanagh, >> so I think maybe you told me once is it
is it like 50% or what percentage or elements? >> No. And and I'll get into the history of it a little bit too maybe. Can I pause and Okay, thank you. >> Um, so I want to spend just a little bit of time talking about what services we're
talking about. It's not every MA service. It's not every long-term care service. It's only four specific types of services. The first one is community residential services or CRS's. Um, those are traditionally licensed group homes where individuals receive 24-hour
supervision and support. oftentimes this is onetoone staffing or 2:1 or 3 to one staffing depending on that specific person's needs. Uh the second setting is integrated community supports or IC's. Um these are more apartment style living arrangements that still provide 24 uh
hour oversight but allow individuals to live more independently within the community. The third setting is customized living. Um these are most commonly provided in assisted living settings where people receive individualized assistance with daily living activities like medication,
meals, personal care, housekeeping. Um these are facilities with multiple beds. So like a farmstead, Lilac Homes, Arbor Park. Uh and the fourth one is family residential services. They change the acronym. Think of this as adult foster care. Um, so these are providers in a
licensed family home where an individual lives with caregiver who provides that ongoing residential support in the home. So across these four service types, we're talking about some of our county's most vulnerable residents, um, individuals with developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries,
physical disabilities, or others with pretty significant long-term support needs who require this residential the these residential services to safely live within our community. Um, this really isn't a question about whether these services are valuable. They totally and completely are. The
question now is about who pays for them. So, the uh hopefully uh Commissioner Krabanoff this can maybe provide a little context here. So, this is kind of the history of how we got here. During the 2025 legislative session, the governor and the state legislature was responding to a rapid growth in LTSS
spending um particularly in this disability waiver residential services area. Rather than immediately shift those costs to the counties, the legislature created a contingent county cost share scheduled to begin July 1st, 2027. At that time, it was thought to be
a 5% uh cost share. At the same time, the legislature created the LTSS advisory council uh to develop recommendations to reduce the LTSS spending by 177.5 million over the 2728
bienium. Uh the challenge on this is timing. So any recommendations from the LTSS advisory council and there are many are also going to require legislative approval and then federal CMS approval before we can actually imple implement them. So the concern for counties is
that those steps are not going to happen before the cost share is scheduled to begin. So even though that work is happening to bend that LTSS cost curve down, counties still have to make the decision to plan for the possibility that this cost shift is going to take effect July 1 of 2027. I think part of
the other concern that I have if uh if I might you know January 1st my understanding is there was anywhere up to six and a half percent increases in what those rates are which are justified based on the market. Um but in a time when we're seeing rapid growth on the
spending, you're seeing the legislature increase up to 6%. What that is, you know, it will it will be a significant challenge without looking at eligibility. Correct. >> Uh to reduce that by 177.5 million. >> Correct. And so we have this hard
challenge where um you know the foster care work you know those group homes demand fair payments and we've talked about fair payments right on those pieces. Um, but you just there's just not going to add up to what you you
said. And and at the end of the presentation, I think this board, who we've taken more of a legislative lead on things, I think this is something that will justify a priority from Klay County on what we legislatively push.
>> Thank you for that. >> Um, so the budgeting on this, it is difficult. Um this is this is uh kind of the explanation we got makes it particularly challenging. So even though we know the cost share is scheduled to begin July 1st 2027, we don't know the exact amount. Um the final cost is going
to depend on a lot of different moving pieces. It's how many people are going to be in those four types of residential placements at the time. the level of services that they need, uh, as the chair said, the waiver rates themselves, uh, the total state spending, and of
course, whether the legislature or CMS takes any actions before that July 1st, 27 date. So, this isn't just a fixed dollar amount that we can plug into the budget. It really is a best educated guess in terms of what this uh cost is going to be. So, for that number, I just
wanted to provide that context. It's just a planned estimate, not necessarily a final cost. So, uh, best information that we have right now, our estimated cost is between 505,000 and 543,000 for six months, uh, the second half of
2027. But beginning in 2028, if that cost share goes into effect for a full year, uh, with the projected inflation in that, we're looking at again approximately a$ 1.3 to$ 1.4 million or more. Again, depending on what's done
with waiver rates and the costs of those placements, depending on all of those moving pieces, um, if I'm trying to find a silver lining, the state is taking action on what they can control without federal level um, approval. So, effective April 1st of this year, the
state moved to a tiered rate payment system for FRS's or the adult the adult foster homes. Um, basically all new ones we're getting on this tiered rate and it will roll out to all F FRS settings by April 1 of 2027. The intent of that
change is again to bend that cost curve down to realize 177.5 million in savings. Since F FRS's is one of the four residential service areas included in this cost share, hopefully that action will stabilize or hopefully reduce the cost of at least one of the
four settings. Um again these are planning estimates not final numbers. The actual cost is going to depend on those uh metrics that I referenced. Um again the key issue for for us that I see is that this the current the way that the legislation exists right now is
this is required on July 1 of 2027 unless the legislature changes in the next session. Um, I'll continue to monitor obviously any legislation that comes forward, the work of the LTSS advisory council and if we get any approval from the federal level and update this board as I get new
information or it becomes available. But I mean with that I would yield for any questions that you might have. >> Commissioner Kavanagh >> because uh things are so legislative here. I mean are our
local folks, representatives, they're aware of this. >> Um I believe on the LTSS advisory council there are members of the disability community present as well as advocacy groups. Um in terms of the messaging that's gone out from that I don't know how well it's been.
>> So I think the question though was your if I might your question was are >> senator Joy and he >> are they I'm sorry was the question >> are they aware of this big bump coming? I I believe so in the 2025 legislature
that that was a part of the governor's budget and the budget that was moved. >> Madam Chair, we did have the opportunity to talk with Senator Coop on several issues last week. Uh and this was one of the issues that we did bring forward.
Uh well um when we look at uh the SNAP admin piece and this piece and a couple others that are substantial uh levy increases. Um I think this board has no choice but to
continue to advocate at a large louder level. Um but my question comes more of uh what are our colleagues throughout you know your other directors throughout the state what are they talking about how how could we realize some savings
are there any internal mechanisms that we could utilize to bring this piece down um because I I'll say we've had luck advocating for things at the legislature but I don't know if they care.
um we've told them what the increases will be and unfortunately they don't have any money and so it's the easy thing to do is to uh push it to the counties for the counties to figure out and we operate as an extension of the
state. Uh so we have to do these things but what can we do? >> What can we do? >> Talk about auto placement. No, I I know, but I'm >> I mean, we counties are trying to say,
"Okay, we aren't this isn't our program. We're administering your program, but we are going to have to cut unless Klay County wants to see double-digit increases in levies, which I know we none of us do, and our community has said there's no way we want to do this.
What can we do?" And that's not on you so much as on us, but something's got to give. Um, we we have had at least preliminary discussions like regionally with directors. Some of them are are I'm going to say rolling the dice or kind of budgeting less than what the the total
amounts are in hopes that we will get some legislative action. Um, I am also concerned given the overall state budget situation that there just isn't money to pull from to to fill some of these holes. So, I I do believe at least what I'm presenting with with my budget is
that we do need to account for the total amount of these costs because I just don't know that we're going to get that support at the state level. So, my you know, my takeaway is the majority of social service expenditures is salary. Um, so usually what we're able to do in terms of helping impact that levy is
reduce services, increase weight times, or look at staffing. Um, and again, I I don't want to do that. That's not our primary function at social services, but that's typically the levers that we have to. >> But some of the problem with the increase in the weight times is that's only going to burn us on the error rate components in other areas, too. I mean,
that's that's the challenge that uh we're going to have. Um, and I think from the advocacy component, you know, with um my the number I heard was 50% of the legislature will be new next year.
Uh, and so how are we, now that you're dialing in on what these numbers are, how are we outreaching the people that are running for positions, uh, not just Klay County, um, you know, this district area, but I think regionally we need to, and this is a priority that we need to
talk about at AMC at fall policy. >> Yes, Commissioner Bay, >> what number are you going to plug into your uh, >> from a trans transparency standpoint? probably 505,000. I think that that's the s like the most conservative to not overp project but also not underp
project. I think that 505,000 in that range that we said is probably the most responsible one based on what we know right now. >> Uh I am concerned as uh Madam Chair said about the increase in the waiver rates and what that could look like into 20 when we get to 2027 what that looks like
and to 2028. So I think that that's probably the best happy medium if that makes sense. Y, >> Madam Chair, and and Quinn, I know we'll talk more about this when you do your budget presentation, but to Commissioner Bear's question in rolling the dice a little bit, we are at this point we're
you're anticipating rolling the dice on on the act. Correct. >> That that is correct. >> Yeah. So, from a from a budgeting standpoint, again, we'll talk more about that moving forward, but uh but the African-American >> preservation um >> yeah, our child protect and I mean,
again, we can we'll get into more detail when I present my budget, but our child protection staff are incredibly good at what they do and I think we're able to absorb some of those responsibilities or at least that's what I'm going to be presenting and a way to hopefully not have to increase any expenditures there because I know all of these other things
are impacting us too. Any other comments? >> Thank you for continuing to dial this in. We appreciate you keeping us up to date. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Quinn. >> Item 10 today is a request approval to fill the auditor treasurer position due
to retirement and approve position PDQ. Steve. Well, thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, this is a sort of a sad day, a day I've had a year, this year I've had on my calendar for several years. [clears throat] After
nearly 39 years, Lori Johnson has made the determination that it's time to retire. Uh, and she is going to be uh uh her last day of work is going to be November 25th of of this year uh with her final day of employment at December
18th, 2026. Uh and so as you certainly well know, she comes with a variety of of different responsibilities along with all of the years of experience that she has. Uh and so we've been having ongoing conversations both in human resources
and also at the pick level for several months. Uh given the given the uh the importance of her role, uh we did work with Davidson associate and we had the PDQ uh updated. Lor's also had impact
and uh feedback into that along with with HR. We've had discussions again as I mentioned at at the pick level. Uh we are we are again concerned with with that level of institutional knowledge that's going to be leaving us and the
challenges not only with the auditor treasur's office but elections and also her oversight of the DMV uh of looking for a the correct transition period. uh so some of that information can be passed along and so uh there's two things here before
you today really first as was mentioned to to seek approval uh to to refill the position uh we have a timeline uh that we that again is tenative of looking at the the process again our our pick's
expectation uh would be is that we would like to have the full board uh as part of uh part of the uh selection process. Uh as I've shared in the past, this is one of the tougher jobs in the state of Minnesota uh to fill uh government
accounting uh that has all necessary qualifications. And so we wanted to start this process early. Uh so should uh we uh not be able to find the right candidate in maybe the first application that we would still have time uh to to
run a second ad uh and also provide uh provide an overlap with with Miss Johnson. And so as you can see uh we are we are here today at board action. We're looking to get the position posted uh assuming the board makes a decision to
do so today. uh and uh we'll look at first review of applications at the end of August. Uh we we will also then uh we also then have set up interviews in the middle of September uh and then selection of the board uh where some of
the tenative piece came in. If we do do have a situation where we have a a group of very good candidates, qualified candidates, we may look at at that that posted position moving a little bit more quickly.
Uh right now we're looking at roughly uh a six week overlap uh for for the new new auditor treasurer and and Lori. uh the benefit that this year is that does provide them the opportunity to be part of an election process uh the budget
process uh and then then ultimately uh I guess truth and taxation. So uh the second portion of the request today again then would be to to motion to approve the draft uh auditor treasure uh position that is attached and as I
mentioned has been uh reviewed by David Drowns and Associates Lori and also human resources. Uh as you can see there are as part of that David Drsson associate uh when the auditor treasurer position uh went uh from an elected
elected to appointed um Lori was placed on a a separate grid. Uh and our goal is to to have that position be brought back onto uh the county grid. And so in in the discussion that we had in pick after
reviewing the feedback from Davids and Associates, uh the recommendation before you is to place uh this position on uh on the on the grade 28. Uh and so u as you can see down in the cost impacts, I
do have uh the the grade 28 range there for both for 26 and 27. You also have um a wage calculator in the back of this uh your packet uh that shares that that same information of what that breakdown
would be. Again, we do not know uh we do not know what where the candidate would lie uh from an experience standpoint, but wanted to provide you uh with the range uh as we move forward with this decision. Uh and I believe with that I would yield for any questions.
>> Thank you, Steve. Commissioner Bear, >> for just a little bit of history, when did we go from this not being elected position? How long has it been? >> I can't remember the exact year, but it was when Brian Berg was still here. So,
it's been quite a while. Um, [clears throat] >> probably I've been here 12 years and it's not. Huh? Yeah. I want to say >> probably like 20 >> 20 >> 15 or >> 15 or 20 years. We can get that answer for him.
>> Any addition question on that >> board discussion? >> Looks like a good plan laid out here to >> Well, I reluctantly uh even want to address this. I think it's um it goes
without saying that Lor's led that department really well and her work particularly with the integrity of our elections has been phenomenal and how she works with the cities and our townships and all of the different polling places. So uh you I'm appreciative that she's willing to stay
on past the election of this fall as we u make sure we have some normaly and continuence there. Uh this was an item that we talked about at the pick committee last uh week and and certainly felt that having the information before
you um to kind of decipher uh not only the timeline but uh making sure that we place it back on the grid we felt was important. >> Commissioner, did you have anything else to add from that discussion?
>> Commissioner Ebinger. >> Yes. Uh Steve, have we are we letting Drone and Associates do the hiring process or is our internal uh HR going to be a function of this?
>> Madam Chair, Commissioner Ever, we're planning to to handle the applications. >> Okay. Is there any I'm sure there's statewide uh resources we can use to advertise this. Are we looking at possibly a national search?
>> Um, that again that would be up to this board. I think that uh from what we talked about in the pick, we would utilize the the the normal the normal state and local advertisements that we've done. >> Thank you,
>> Commissioner Campbell. I certainly think it's the intention that the final interview process will be the full board >> be doing the interviews of the you know and I don't know to what level we want to have that doodle down for example
based on number of applicants but um I don't think it's necessary to be doing a national search on this I but um in terms of the two motions that you're asking for here. Is there would there be a third one to establish the
grade or is that you want that included in the PDQ? >> I would have that included within the PDQ if if the board wished to do it that way. >> Madam Chair, I move approval of the rehiring of the auditor treasury position due to retirement to include overlap. >> We have a motion offered from
Commissioner Campbell and a second from Commissioner Bayer. Any further discussion? >> Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign carried. >> Madam chair, I'd also move to approve
the draft PDQ for the auditor treasurer position and establish a a grid with uh that position being on grade or the through our current grid at grade 28. >> I will also say >> we have a motion offered from Commissioner Campbell and a second from Commissioner Bear. Any [clears throat]
further discussion? Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. opposed. Same sign carried. >> Thank you. [clears throat]
>> Item 11 today is our unfinished business. Uh item A, the Klay County Board of Commissioners will consider modification to the University of Minnesota Extension contract staffing levels. This is uh we need to take this from the table.
>> I make a motion that we take this from the table and continue our discussions. Okay, we have a motion offered from Commissioner Krab off and a second from Commissioner Bayer to take from the table. Any for no disc it's not discussionable. Uh all those in favor of
the motion signify by saying I >> oppose same sign. I'm hopeful my my club leader would have been okay with my Robert's rules of order there, but okay. So, uh we do have uh Cecilia Amedu with us today and Carrie Robu as well. Thank
you both for coming back and also providing uh the information for us to continue this dialogue. Particularly appreciative after a phenomenal Klay County Fair wants to take it. >> Uh thank you, Madam Chair. As you
recall, this past week, there was the discussion about the potential addendum to our our current contract due to a an opening uh that currently uh is within the extension office uh and with the with the challenging budget that we have
ahead rather than potentially hire someone uh and then look to maybe have to adjust it later to have that discussion. Uh now we had uh several questions from from the commission uh that we were looking for additional information on uh and uh and
uh again because of the timing of the fair last week uh Cecilia was unable to bring that back while we were still in session and so we had the opportunity to to put that uh tabled uh to to talk about it today. And so, uh, you each, uh, received a handout of of the
paperwork from extension that's provided the additional, uh, information that you've asked for as far as numbers and usage. Uh, there's also within that packet, uh, a a potential adjustment to 8. Again, the board would have to make the decision if that's uh, what they
would wish to do. Uh, but you have do have that additional information. Uh, and I don't I'll turn it over uh, to extension. They may have some additional comments. Thank you so much. First of all, >> microphone is green. >> I hit the Yep, there you go.
>> Perfect. >> I will say again, thank you. Uh, I really appreciate you tableabling this conversation so that I could join my colleague to continue that conversation and answer any questions that you might have today. Uh, if I may take a moment
of introductions, my name is Carrie Rabidu. I am the Northwest 4 program leader. Uh I am a resident of Klay County and I am also a Klay County 4 alumni and as uh I understand a number of you have connections to the 4 youth
development program. I uh heard you reference a couple of my colleagues last week. So I just need to take a moment to say you know I was in nth grade when Brenda Schaefer uh joined Klay County 4 and uh later I worked for her and she was a great mentor to me. I continue to
work with Becky Harrington and so um I appreciate that longevity of um commitment and uh all of us looking at that tradition of 4 youth development in Klay County uh and being able to talk
about it with you today. Um I uh at this time I think what we'll do is take a look at that handout. Uh if you would reference that. What I would draw your attention to first is you see at the top that 4 youth development uh and our
youth and that participate in 4H youth development programs are beyond ready. And as we talk about that we know from longitudinal studies that young people who participate in 4 youth development programs are ready for work, ready for life. On a national level, 4H youth
development is making great efforts to uh continue to grow and expand the number of young people who are working in the or who are a part of the program. Um the traditional ways that we bring young people into the program are continue, but we're also looking at new
ways that we are uh able to engage even more young people. So in Minnesota, we're taking that in great strides as well and in Klay County. Um, and so knowing that young people who participate in the 4H youth development, they're two times more likely to be a
leader, three times more likely to to participate in community service. They're more likely to report that um they're living life with intentionality and purpose. That comes from the experiences that 4 offers young people and those opportunities for project
learning for both successes and failures and for them to be able to have those leadership opportunities from the time they start in a 4 program. So, as you can see, I'm I'm I am excited about the 4H's development program, and I could go on about that for a while, but let's jump down to the numbers, if
you will. One of the questions that was asked last week is to look at the last 10 years of data. Uh, and so what I have provided here for you is our total 4 youth during those years, our total 4 volunteers. uh as volunteer systems
management is a critical component of something that all of our extension educators do because if we only had staff working with young people, we would reach this number of people. But because of our volunteer systems and 4H youth development uh and the training
and onboarding um screening that we do for risk and safety uh for those adults working with young people, we're able to reach so many more. Uh so that total number of volunteers is a really important number to see that that has grown as well. And then uh we did look
back at past um MOAS to put in that staffing FTE. Now didn't go into the details of where we might have had some staffing transition uh where there might have been a year of of some gap there. I mean we could fill that in if we wanted to dig deeper into the numbers. Uh but I
hope that that helps give uh an idea of where we're headed. I will explain to you that bottom line 2526 we're not done yet. Uh we don't have all of the numbers in from the site agreements that we've had where we're uh doing 4 youth
development programs at sites as of you know ending this spring and we don't have summer numbers in there for programming yet either. Uh so that's a I wanted to put that in there still. I didn't want to uh leave out the 2526 year but certainly you can see the growth trends from there. I'll pause for
a moment and see if you have any questions uh or if that this data gives you what you were looking for there. >> Carrie, in regards to the uh the 2025 26 piece, that number is not unlike what we would see in other years at this time
because we've not finalized those. Um that's a typical number that we would see until we finish the end of the year with that. >> Right. Right. It's where I'd expect it to be now. Yeah. Commissioner Bear. >> Madam Chair, one question, one comment actually. Thank you so much for getting
these numbers. This is what I asked for last last week. I appreciate you getting these to me. I very much appreciate that. >> Uh I uh one, you know, I know you'll talk about the afterchool piece um later on in the presentation, but some one of
the questions that had come out is how have how has the program grown or ebbed and flowed throughout the past 10 years? And I've had the fortune of being on that committee throughout that time. And there have been some challenges and and changes in regards to how we staffed it
and trying to get back to to see what a post if we were intentional about staffing the office postcoid where I I think we saw a dip in the programming. What would that do? And if I were to
take 2425 for example, um there's a jump from 687 to 811 in that full year of programming with 2.0. Uh that is uh more than a class and a
half of graduating seniors at Morehead High. And so to have two professionals working with that demographic uh is quite substantial. my perspective. Any questions? Okay, moving on.
>> All right, so when you flip I think you're on a two-sided piece of paper. So when you flip that over, uh, as we talk about growth and impacts here, I I I've laid out three ways that young people are engaged in the 4 youth development program in Klay County. At this point, we have our 4 community club program.
Uh, we have community clubs scattered throughout Klay County. uh and 11 of them at this time. I gave a little description if you aren't familiar with a community club. Uh this is typically a community-based group of families, young people, adults,
not always parents, it's guardians, it's grandparents, uh who are gathering together to have uh meetings of sorts that always include business meetings, project learning. It can involve community service projects. Uh whatever
that group decides, they want to learn what their interests are and how they want to move forward. We also have 4 after school programs and over the last school year we were in Morehead uh at a multiple at a multiple sites DGF, Holly
and Barnesville. And then we also have our sitebased 4 programs. And this is so you know as you kind of look through that we have that community-based option. We have we go to schools and engage with kids right as they're leaving the their classroom and
uh they stay for an afterchool program. And then we have sitebased programs where we go to where they have adults working with young people. We partner with them, provide them with curriculum and that positive youth development approach to uh work with young people
through experiential learning opportunities and they have 4 at those sites and currently we are at New Roots Midwest uh the New American Development Agency, Barzela Africa and YMCA
Morehead. Uh so those are examples of ways that you know many people are more are familiar with that community club approach. Uh but it's important to understand that we have multiple ways that we're engaging young people in 4. I'll add then at the bottom where where
are we going from here? Uh we are I think I mentioned at the beginning if 4 always stayed exactly the same we would engage exactly the same way. Right? So we want to continue that because we have a great tradition and history uh through our community club programs, our
afterchool programs. But how else can we reach more young people? One of the strategies that we are looking at is engaging and partnering with our local schools to go into the classrooms where perhaps they have had to discontinue
programming that our school districts used to do. and we're able to bring in that learning experience during the school day and uh offer that experiential learning type opportunity and then those young people are learning about 4. they're having that 4
experience and then we say hey we also have afterchool programs we have community clubs we have summer programs that you can engage in uh just opening up so that more and more young people are learning about what 4H youth development is so that is a strategy uh that we have been working towards uh in
some of the other counties that I am supervising and across the state and that is that is a future uh potential and I think uh something that we will be doing here in Clay county as well. Um, I also put as another example, our
homeschool organizations are another natural fit uh for us. There are so many things that the goals of homeschool parents and what we're able to offer through our programming really align nicely together and where we are partnering with homeschool groups, we've
had great successes. So, as I look to the future for Klay County, those are some things that I see to do that. need staff, you know, and I I think um that that's what I'm here to answer any questions uh give you any information
that you need. Uh to of course I am on that side of supporting and and I want to see that staff in place where we have staff in place. We are doing programming. We're supporting volunteers. We're supporting the existing program but continue to grow.
>> Questions from the board. I might also highlight just so the board can as you decipher uh I it was probably two years ago Carrie where we met at the main line with the uh fair county fair board and there was some uh pointed
concerns about the partnership between uh extension staff and the fair board and how we continue to support each other moving forward and where the fair board felt there were certain gaps in areas that extension had um previously uh kind of covered And I I brought that
back to this board and this board supported that and brought it back to a 2.0 uh and uh fresh off a county fair that just ended on Sunday. I was deliberate to make sure and talk to fairboard members and other uh leaders in program areas. And I'm happy to
report that they were really pleased with uh the presence of extension, particularly at the check-in day that is a high stress, high craziness day, but to have it um staffed in such a great capacity and particularly the animal
shows where there's a lot of overlap with Clay 4 and extension or 4 and FFA and the fair board. it really went seamlessly so as to make sure that our young people had the best experience possible. And so I just want to um thank
you uh both for hearing those concerns from them and making sure we address that. I'm hopeful in whatever this board deciphers um that we can continue to make sure we're addressing those needs because uh you know that that really is a large part of having the the Klay
County Fair as successful as it has been. questions. Thank you. >> So, uh just to recap, uh we currently are under theou uh we do have anou that will end in 2027.
Uh we are under extend the extension committee at the state is just now creating a subcommittee that will work on negotiating what the nextou will be. uh anything. This board has an option of um
approving the rehire of the position as theou stands or making an addendum to theou to tweak if we felt um felt like that was appropriate. Uh we need to advertise based on the
university's timetable which is why there's been a little bit of a hiccup there. We can only hire during that, but because it's been a longer amount, there will be a savings to what Klay County will see on the 2026 price because that's been open for a
while. Correct. Um [clears throat] so uh if this board were to entertain uh reducing one of the extension educators in the youth development area that would uh result in a 20 approximately
sorry >> 21,000 >> yeah approximately 21,000 for 2027. However, there has been because it's been open May, June, and likely all of July, there
will be three months of savings potentially in that. So, effectively what we're talking about is a savings that or an increase that we've already seen a savings roughly. >> Commissioner Kabangh,
[clears throat] >> excuse me. Thank you for uh answering the questions. Um I guess I want to repeat kind of go back to last week um as we had our >> [clears throat] >> um last extension committee meeting. It
was at at that time uh Commissioner Mojo and I brought this up to you about the budget strengths that were having to face in the coming year and we uh talked about and and um wanted to bring forward
uh moving this position as it uh gets uh we look for it to be refilled to bring it to 08 uh rather than the 0.1 and we thought we did work, >> huh? >> One point, not 0.1. >> Oh, excuse me. Okay. Uh, a full-time.
And, uh, instead you had a 08. And so, um, we talked about that. I think at this point I'd like to make a motion. Um, and we can discuss that as a board, but I'd like to make a motion to the
uhou agreement that we fill this uh u um this employee educator extension educator to a 0.8. >> Second. >> Okay. We have a motion offered from Commissioner Krabnoff, a second from
Commissioner Ebinger to reduce uh to amend the uh agreement with theou between the University of Minnesota and Klay County. With that discussion
any Commissioner Ebinger, >> I just restate what what we discussed last week. Uh we have two pretty capable people who have a portfolio assignment on the extension and having heard from
them I I think I'm I'm grateful you're coming in with a reduction as we as we just had another example u from when it's going to be a tight year but we can't
we can't start destroying partnerships and relationships and functions that we've had for decades in this commission. We are facing a challenging time, but we certainly aren't going to surrender by
mass reductions in in in things that benefit our county and that our citizens expect and 4 is one of those things. I understand I appreciate that these are lean times and it may be a couple rough years uh in budgeting but this is a
measured response. uh it certainly makes sense to me, but I don't have the knowledge of the extension or 4 that our two commissioners that are serve on that board do. And if it's seen as a as a uh
reasonable reduction and something that won't damage the partnership or the the things that we provide to our county residents, I'm going to be supportive of it. >> Any further discussion? Well, I uh talked earlier about
the highway department and the amount of construction projects that we've added based on the community input that we've heard. Um making sure we're addressing what our community wants and um I have not talked to anyone that supports cutting this to 08.
uh my community uh the residents that um are investing in uh what they feel as the um holistic programming that their grandparents have supported that they've uh worked hard to continue to support
that they've seen savings uh with their school districts. This is a way that our school districts are able to see savings. And I know you just highlighted four, but my understanding is all five of the school districts have had the afterchool programming. Um, and uh, yes,
there are challenging times and I have put forth a point. 8, but um, because we are trying to see challenging times, but uh, nobody wants this. Um, and so the challenge for us is do we cut locally wanted things because we're
getting mandated for things that are really challenging. And that's a really hard decision that this whole board has to um experience. But I spent the entire county fair at the county fair. Our family uh checked in and camped Thursday until Sunday when
it was 100°. And when you see a hundred children at seven o'clock in the morning washing animals, feeding animals, being driven to do really great things, that's not something I'm willing to cut.
And so I appreciate and I pushed forward, but I I um I'm willing to um push this forward as a full-time and um allow this to um see what we can maybe
see some savings in negotiation of anou. Additional comments? Any additional comments? We have a motion on the table. Sarah, will you do a roll call? >> Commissioner Ebinger. Hi. >> Commissioner Kmanhoff. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Mojo.
>> No. >> Commissioner Campbell. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Bear. >> Hi. >> So, we have an amendment to the contract. Uh, thank you so much for providing the information.
And Cecilia, you will work with the chair of the extension committee to sign that agreement and push that forward. >> And then as soon as that's done, the timetable will then carry. You'll have the ability to
do >> Yeah. Uh our next hiring round isn't until the end of August, but we're working towards a special hiring round for Klay County so we can get it posted as soon as possible. Okay, great. All right. So then uh the next
item is to take off the table the other component. >> Did we do both? Did we do both? >> Uh we did not specify. We just specified the first item. >> Okay. So we'll need a motion to take from the table the extension budget
presentation for 2027. >> Move to do so. >> Okay. We have a motion offered from Commissioner Kavanagh to do so. >> Second. >> A second from Commissioner Bear. It had to be Commissioner Bear. Uh all those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carried.
>> Thank you. >> And Madam Chair, Commissioners, you do have uh you received a handout today with two separate budgets. I believe that the budget that we'll be discussing based on your action uh is the first first of the two. Uh if you look at
regular salaries to 6105, it would be the 355430 uh document. >> Yeah. And I just want to emphasize that that um number includes our office admin position as well. So all the staff in the office um is included in that line
item. Um and then just want to highlight the area that's talking about the marketing. Um we we had a few things in our office that are running out and we want to make sure that we're sharing our store with our community having a little trinket. So we're increasing the u
marketing line um line to $1,000 to account for that. Um otherwise everything is pretty standard and accounting for just office supplies and and pdm for um CC meetings and um some of the insurance fees that comes with
our commissioners on the board. So, >> okay. >> And I just want to just highlight that we have some great donors that um have been continuously supporting um by giving us a $10,000 donation that is included on the top line item there. So, that's continuing to come in and uh
we're grateful for that partnership um um to that farms. So that brings our total to 390 3 um 6665. I said total um budget for the 2027.
>> I'm sorry I didn't hear the last What was the number? >> 393665. That was before the amendment though, right? >> Um, Madam Chair, that's after the the second. Yeah, >> got it.
>> Okay. >> All right. Is there any item additional items you want to highlight on the budget or any questions from the board? >> Thank you. I do want to appreciate uh you for continuing to keep that the the office supplies component in the printing and publishing. That was a
really important piece uh for general operations of the office. So I uh think that is and it's in there and I continue to thank you for keeping it in there. Anything else, Commissioner? All right. We just want to thank you for
your continued support. We understand some of the challenges that are coming down, but um as you know, the numbers are speaking for itself and we just really appreciate the continued partnership. >> Yeah. Thank you. Well, thank you both for being here and make sure you thank
your staff for the excellent work the last week. Absolutely. >> Especially Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Okay, item 12 today is our committee reports. Commissioner Abinger.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, last Wednesday the 8th, I was virtually uh participated in Northwest Emergency Communication Board meeting. um just general business took place. It was
fairly for that committee it was fairly brief meeting. Uh we did uh discuss the uh group had a uh our former or our previous meeting had been at the Red River Regional Dispatch Center. Um and
there were a lot of compliments and very impressed with the facility that we've got here. Um, also an IPO appointment, uh, Richard Groves as as our alternate and
other than committee reports, that was the the entire uh, meeting on Friday the 10th along with all of our commissioners, I was at the Klay County government day, Klay County Fair. Uh,
very impressive, very warm, but we enjoyed it. It was a good opportunity to uh meet some of the of our constituents and uh support the what Klay County is doing to them and there was was a pretty good reaction from some of the fair
board that came by too. >> So was happy with that and that completes my report. >> Thank you Commissioner Evinger and Commissioner Kavanagh. Thank you. So on Thursday,
uh [clears throat] July 9th, I was at the ClaySwc monthly board meeting. Um we went through uh uh regular uh voting business on and just want to make um comment that there
were a couple uh cover crop plannings uh that were um being uh requesting assistance. Uh there was one well sealing. We don't do many of those anymore, but uh uh we gave that cashier
up for one. and then u a contract assistance for another cover crop throughout our u uh other discussion items. Uh we had our updates. Um
I think uh Ezra was there. If you have any comments on those Ezra, you can. Um I want to um maybe that's all all I'll really say. Ezra, you can fill in if you like.
Um, on on the 9th I did was part of the Klay County government day with the rest of you. I too enjoy that time at the fair. Got really comfortable being as a group. But I was really impressed this
year how our group continues to grow. The way had that all laid out with our roughly eight tables of people there. I mean, you know, it's gathering more attention uh for people to come visit with us and and I think it's so
important to be showing ourselves at at the fair. Um on the uh on Sunday, I was back there for uh most of Sunday afternoon uh through the historical society. I sat for a couple hours in the humbled uh
schoolhouse. Always enjoy doing that. It had air conditioning and so people would drop by on that. But it's fun to see the history and I'm old enough to remember the uh little country school that was
less well as the crow flies about a half mile away and that was on the very south end of Morehead Township called Clear School. you know, many of these schools, especially to the north, closed in 1958 when the referendum in Morhead came to
place and we ended up with Saving School, Georgetown and North and South Junior High. So, um, they did go on for a long time as well as the Humboldt School was 1958 when it's closed, but it
did it did start in 1918. So anyway, it's always fun to be in that building. And then the other part I was able to be a part of and uh honored to help uh help out for extension with was
being part of the award ceremony and that was uh on Sunday at 3:00. Uh we had a outstanding family farm family of the year which is the Ryan and Michael Hog farms in Barnesville. We also had the
outstanding farm leaders which was uh Brad and Commissioner Jenny Mo and family. So congratulations to you and and appreciate all the work that um your family is involved with throughout the
county and uh um you you you bring just a strong asset to our county. Your whole family does so. And then we had the Indie issue Harvest Bowl uh agriculturalists that was a Harman Tandy family. Uh there were three that were
honored in the hall of fame. They've been all past board members to the um uh to the fair. Melissa Thun Sim Thank you. And then Flurry Smith. And
many of you might remember Flurry. He was a long-term person on the county planning commission and good friend of mine from the saving area. So, um that's about the fair. On uh Monday, uh I was part uh earlier in
the day. I did take in uh the uh American or AMC uh lunch and learn and it was uh about the state of demographics and I am going to get more specific ones for Clay County but uh this uh Kelly
actually presented [clears throat] the state of rural um 2020 state of rural Minnesota 2026 and just a couple of things I'll make note of that uh Klay County generally
and there was never anything on the negative side, but when it came to migration change, when it came to uh natural change, meaning death versus uh uh births,
uh we are growing our our migration changes domestic and in international are also growing into rural areas. Uh as a community, we're um uh more uh uh
there's more bipok uh uh up throughout the state and larger in um county. cost of housing is uh is goes up and the pressures are there, but we're
considering our wage uh the different uh the wages that we have in our county that different differentiation uh between costs and u um uh wage growth is is less. So that's those are all
fantastic uh trends that we have in Klay County. Uh we have a a low unemployment rate. Um yeah and oh yeah and then we were one of the higher and which is important to me of our our citizens we
have a high one of the highest participant participating labor forces in the state. All very very good assets that we have here. Uh last evening I was part of the Buffalo Red WHED district. Um most of
the meeting was uh really under citizens to be heard. Uh went for quite a while. Uh [clears throat] we did um we did have a report uh from our new uh Bowser conservation um person uh for the uh for
the for the Buffalo Red. Her name is Mariah Roofer. Uh she's stationed out of Detroit Lakes. Um, we also had a um they discussed
uh because of the last couple hearings that they have had at the Buffalo Red, they got very controversial. They got off track. Um they did not feel well. some of their their last decision. They were felt they were sort of uh bullied
uh to use their words uh out of making a um a decision that they'd really supported prior uh trying to listen to the community, but the tactics were um uh very disingenuous, nonrespectful, and
and just was not controlled well. So they want they uh were looking at to revise their rules of order uh not only for their board meetings but also for their uh public hearings. Um right after
that we did have a uh presentation by Apex Engineering Group and they're the people that are doing the engineering for storm sewer as the uh hybrid 10 project that goes through Dworth goes through town. Um there's four parts of
it uh from uh starting on the west side going to the east that they figured out how how to handle their storm sewer and then have treatment for it. Uh the biggest thing uh the big part why the
buffalo red on the south side of town al on just the north side of tracks is uh uh ditch 41 and that's where the um water is going to is they're working it now. Well, if you think of Highway 10
and uh the um storm water that comes off, anything from Highway 10 south will end up going toward a retention pond to be retreated just north of the tracks. Then after that treatment, it'll flow
into number 41, uh which then which is at um uh County Road Ditch. Uh no, I had a backup here. Yeah, county ditch uh 41 will run to the west over to 34th Street. Then we run
into ditch 50 and that'll run it north out of town. So that that is a big plan and uh really uh is make uh re having to redesign how they handle their sewer uh uh storm sewer systems throughout
Dworth. And I had one more thing here I wanted to talk about. Um I think yeah they approved one drain tile. So yeah those were the the oh they had their audit and everything was u uh
received with no concerns and they call it unmodified opinion which means it was a clean report. That's my report. >> Thank you. >> Thank you >> Commissioner Kavanagh. Commissioner Campbell. >> Okay. July 7th, we had a personal issues
committee meeting. Um there was a few things that we acted on based on that. The full-time LPN um status change, the specialist position to child protection
and an assistant position or legal assistant position due to a resignation. And we also had some discussion regarding the sheriff's departments with the body worn cameras. Uh we're looking at they're looking at maybe
um changing um that technology to a different company as well as the um storage that's involved with that. And that's that will be the sheriff's department will be coming before the board in the future
with that. Then we also talked about and and we acted on today the um replacement of Lor's position on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week. I had, excuse me, I
[clears throat] was in Duth for the um or the um the conference for um Lakes Country Service Cooperative. There's seven cooperatives in the state and I serve on the board for Lakes Country Service Cooperative.
And items of note of that and that's their annual conference. And items of note in that uh we had an outstanding service award for Lakes Country Service Cooperative was given to Phil Jensen who was the outgoing superintendent of of Holly schools. That was very nice to see
him get that award. And then also there was another and that was for Lake Country Service. There is also an award that was given. It's called the 20 it's the Barbara Hexum award and that's given to one individual throughout all of the
seven cooperatives and this year's recipient of that and that's really a prestigious awards was was Dr. Lin Kovash from uh M public school. So that was uh it was quite an honor to be there. Um
Dr. Kovash's all of their all of her kids were there and some of the grandkids were there and it was really a a nice u thing to see that Lynn got that that award. Uh then uh then I got back and I was
able to attend the out at the fair for a little while. Uh it was hot. That's my report at the fair. It was hot. You guys all covered the rest of it well. Uh and then yesterday we had um a
highway tracking committee meeting. We talked about the CASA 52 projects um to close on the 22nd of July. Um Holy Cross Township, the work is progressing. Comtock Road is now open
and and that project is um been completed and well done. Uh we talked about the Red River Bridge build grant for $24 million and one of the sign I think it's a the
total bridge project is $25 million and 24 million of is going to be in grants. So that's a great deal. Um, however, we talked about the probably the biggest in incre well actually that that one uh that one will probably be able to use
bridge bonding for the local share on that as well. Um, CASA 11 uh that one they received six proposals and KJ was selected as contractor and that
will be before the board next week. Um and then we talked about the significance of the right ofway that's going to be needed for that project going from uh basically from 94 to Sabin. So
there's going to be a lot of additional rightway that's going to need to be acquired. So and the Casaw 9 project is complete. CASA 26 project is scheduled to start in August and that goes from Highway 75 to the river.
And then we had some, you know, we had some budget discussions um that we talked about today when Justin was here. And that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Commissioner Campbell. Commissioner Bear.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Last Wednesday, July 8th, I went to the Wild Rice Watershed District where they approved nine permits and tabled two for more discussion at another meeting. They also set their hearing date for their budget and levy will be the at
their next regular meeting at 9:30. Oops. So, it be the their August meeting at 9:30. They'll have their budget and levy hearing. Then that afternoon, myself, Commissioner Mojo, Mr. Larson, and Quinn Jagger met with Senator Coopek to
discuss the SNAP error rates and the LTSS which and just gave us an update today on. So we had a discussion with him on that with I mean had a discussion with Senator Coop on that. And then the next day, July 9th, I went to the west
uh soil and water board regular board meeting where commissioner Krabanov is also in attendance. And the one thing that I'll add to his report was they discussed the 2027 tree program where they decided that from instead of having
a 20 75% cost share, they're going to move it to a 50% cost share going forward because they have a lot of people wanting to cost share their trees. So they've changed that. So they'll go 50% cost share. And then also they changed their minimum for planting and matting trees to $350. So you have
to spend up to $350. >> Mhm. >> And then cost share from there for a minimum at least. And then Friday, that's all I'll add on to that. Commissioner Kanghov gave a good update there. And then on Friday, I was also
out at the fair. And I'd like to thank all the staff that were there for the four hours. It was warm, but it it was it was still nice. It was met with a lot of people, and it was a I I I love going there for that four hours, but I also go to the fair other than that. So, I just
enjoy being down there around all those people. And then last >> camp next year. >> What's that? >> You can camp next year. >> You have room. [laughter] >> The Fairborn does. [clears throat] last night. Then I went to uh the Morgan
Township community picnic where I gave them update on the rural water project. That is all I have for reports. >> Thank you, Commissioner Bear. Last week, I also attended the monthly pick committee meeting that was uh
summarized well by Commissioner Campbell. I attended the meeting with Senator Coopek in regards to the state shifts that we'll um we are anticipating and just talked a little bit about some strategy and how we can continue to discuss that messaging and uh what we
potentially need from him in regards to uh help advocating that one item we also did talk with him about that is uh given the amount of bonding dollars that Klay County received for the non-secure detention component And given how long it's taking solutions
to get uh their accreditation, we will need a legislative um ask for a legislative delay on uh earmarking those PRTF funds. So talk to him about having bill language ready to go for session uh to get that done. So
it really kind of was something we'd wanted to talk to him about, but uh we did. So, thank you to staff for uh such a great turnout for the Klay County government day. I really appreciate and was noticed by a lot of fair board
members. Uh grateful for the turnout and also the additional um information that was brought out for the fair. Um you know, I do maintain that that is one of the most important things we as a Klay County can do is be present at that is
there's just so many people available. So, thank you to all of those individuals who came out and I hope everyone had as much fun as we all did. And uh as noted, I attended the Klay County Fair uh highlighted some of the
extension work and committees that Commissioner Crab and I are on for that. But, uh had the privilege of having a long conversation with the Minnesota Egg Commissioner Tom Peterson, who for a long time we've been trying to get him to the Klay County Fair. was able to talk to him about some of the trends
that we're seeing in Klay County and how we believe the Klay County Fair is one of the strongest fairs throughout the state, but uh really grateful for um him for being there. But I just want to give a a shout out to the fair board. Uh that is a something that they work entirely
um on all year long and while it was hot for all of us, we got to early dismiss with animals and projects on Sunday evening. and those folks are staying uh well into the 90 degrees to make sure it's packed up and ready for the next year. But uh a huge great gratitude to
all of the fairboard members for the work that they do uh to put it on. I attended the highway tracking committee as noted from Commissioner Campbell and last night was asked to attend the scree township meeting. As you recall, there's a potential uh larger solar project that
would go into southern Klay County and parts of scree township in coordination with Matt Jacobson and planning uh in the township. They identified that having a solar ordinance identified in their ordinance would be really important. So yesterday was their first
step to discuss that. We met for almost three hours on the language of what that would be. They came out of it uh creating a planning commission. They'll have a public hearing later on and what the potential language would be, but um thankful for the opportunity to go out there for that. We'll work with
Barnesville Township potentially, but um Humbult Township has already identified that they would like to do something similar. And that concludes my committee reports. >> I think madam chair last Tuesday participated in the pick meeting that's been well covered. uh also had
individual budget pre-budget meetings with the assessor's office uh and facilities. On the ETH we had management uh we of course discussed budget uh follow-up responsibilities from our intergovernmental retreat earlier this year uh and also heard updates from IT
and HR on the ETH. Also met with Brian uh and went through the attorney's budget uh and also met with Dale from the DOC. Appreciate Dale uh transparency with the budget, working ways to uh to
try to limit the impacts uh of uh of the cost for for the Department of Corrections with Klay County. Uh we'll be having a regular budget meeting uh coming up before uh before it comes before this full board. Um worked with James O'Donnell. Uh this board approved
him to submit for a stabilation stabilization grant. Uh and we worked the state of Minnesota to get that submitted last week. I also participated in the meeting with Senator Coopek that's been well covered. Uh on the 9th I met with Joe and also Kevin and Tony
from the soil and water uh in in regards to the tree discussion from Commissioner Bear. Uh the location that they store their trees is in limbo a little bit and they're looking at potential any potential partnerships that they would have with the county. So we'll have more
to come with that at the building committee level. Uh again on the 10th participating in Klay County government days again appreciate our staff and commissioners uh presence there again uh talked with James from the fair board again all the positive things that were
uh have been said he shared uh it's a it's good to uh see so many people uh I think you know when we were there on Thursdays uh several years ago we didn't have quite as uh good of an opportunity to talk with citizens and I think that shift to Fridays made a big difference.
Uh we yesterday met with James on the West Central Regional Juvenile Center budget. Uh I know that they have an advisory board this week to talk that through. Uh the highway tracking uh that's also been well covered. Uh and
then uh just to update, we have our staff watching and so March March of 2014, the board passed a resolution shifting both the auditor treasurer and the recorder from appointed uh to elected. That concludes our report March 2014.
>> All right, that concludes your report. Mr. Melton, >> thank you, Madam Chair. I I just want to say too, I had the opportunity to uh attend the fair as one of the department heads and uh it was a very uh really good experience, a lot of fun. Uh it was actually pretty cool and comfortable in
the beginning part of the day. Definitely heated up a little later. Um but uh just want to thank uh all this board for its support uh and then also uh to the fair board. I I think both what Steve said uh moving it to a
Friday, but also placement where we're at. I think in times past where we were either under the grandstand or in some of the other uh buildings not not as much traffic and I think where they've placed us really gave us an opportunity to to be out uh where a lot of traffic
and and citizens were coming through and had a lot of opportunity to talk uh to folks. Uh for my office uh personally, we uh we had a a Plinko board there that a lot of kids came through and uh got to win a lot of uh candy uh andor we had
some squish balls and and right after the fair then I I saw a news report that said one of the latest Tik Tok challenges is where kids are sticking uh squish balls in the microwave and lighting them on fire. So don't put your squish ball in the microwave. That's
give that little personal announcement. So thank you. Thank you. And >> you also brought Edison. >> Yeah, we actually Right. We had a It was a lot of fun, too. Uh he did a great job. He did very well out there. Again, pretty warm, but he held up very well and we got to do a lot of pictures with
a lot of kids that came through. He was obviously a big hit and uh so it was great to have him out there as well. >> Thanks. >> Thank you, Brian Darren. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh most of mine has been covered already. the um pick meeting. I attended that. Also at on
Monday the 7th, July 7th, I had a meeting with Peton Law Firm on a ongoing or or possible personnel issue that we're going to be probably dealing with. Um and then I attended the pre-budget meeting for the assessor and facilities. On the 8th, I attended the manager
meeting, pre-budget meeting with the attorney's office. And then also on the ETH, uh Corey Brian, the county attorney, uh Ashley and myself had a meeting with uh Grossman and Kelly law firm. Um they're suing some corporations
for PAS contamination and mo I think most of it had to deal with drinking water and and um uh treatment plants, but they said also that landfills could be uh included. Uh so we had a little bit of a
conversation after that. We didn't think that that would be something that would be pursued as for this county at that at this point. Maybe the city of Morhead might be interested. But um on the 9th, I worked on some data requests that came
in. Um I reviewed a complaint packet in preparation for a personnel matter that's uh currently developing. Had a meeting with Kimberly on suggesting a new process for recording deeds and mortgages. On the 10th, I worked on
approving the citizens concern form and uh I also then ran down to the county fair in Barnesville and it was hot. Um on the 13th I had a meeting with Quinn and his supervisors to discuss some of the data practices act uh with his crew.
Uh, I attended the pre-budget meeting with juvenile detention and then Ann and I had a call with uh the corrections union business agent on trying to uh clean up a little bit of the uh contract um interpretation. So that went well. Um
also on July 1st, 2026, the IRS updated their standard mileage rate um to 76 cents per mile driven. um that's up 3.5 cents from the first half of the year. Sometimes they do a mid-year adjustment.
So, um that's in our personnel policy. Uh and basically we follow the IRS guidelines. Uh Anna asked if that had to come back to the full board for that and I was I would ask you is is that something that would have to come to the board or we just make the
>> My understanding is the motion that's made is the standard rate. >> Yeah. I think that in the past the the verbiage that's been brought forward is to make it that way so it does not have to come back if it were to be changed. >> Yeah. Okay. Just I would just wanted to confirm that.
>> Um and the last thing uh is that uh I think you're already aware that we were granted a $2 million um grant for our organic program. So we'll start working with Corey on the particulars of that. He doesn't think that it'll probably go.
He's projecting probably the spring of 2027 of getting that up and running. Uh so I think you are all probably aware of that already. Uh last thing is that um after this meeting I will be going uh off-rid into
the Canadian wilderness somewhere. Uh I will be back hopefully on Monday and if I'm not back on Monday, please send a search party uh on Tuesday if I'm not here for the board meeting. Uh that >> is that what you're referring to going to your office? Is that what you call
it? The going to [laughter] >> Yeah, that's also off-grid. So um and that concludes my report. >> Okay, thank you. Any further discussion? If not, we've concluded all items on the
agenda. Uh take note uh there are two advertised opportunities Tuesday or today is that leadership forum and then the chamber legislative recap. Uh but we will be here next Tuesday at 8:30. We are adjourned. Part: 2
Good morning everyone. It is 8:30. I'll go ahead and 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. >> Madam Chair, I move to approve the agenda. We have a motion offered from Commissioner Ebinger to approve the
agenda. A second from from Commissioner Kavanagh. 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 individuals in the audience wishing to address the county board? There any individuals wishing to address the board on any item not on the agenda? 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. >> Move approval. >> A motion offered from Commissioner Campbell to approve the payment of bills and vouchers. >> Second. >> Second from Commissioner Ebinger.
Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppos. Same sign. Carried. Workg groupoup minutes from the June 9th, 2026 session.
>> Madam chair, I move for approval of the work session. Uh, minutes from June 9th. >> Okay. We have a motion offered from Commissioner Ebinger, a second from Commissioner Kavanagh. Any further discussion? Any discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I.
>> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. The item carries. Item two today is a request approval to replace two jail transport vehicles through Enterprise Fleet Leasing. Good morning, Sheriff. >> Good morning, Madam Chair, commissioners. Thanks for having me here
this morning. I am here this morning for requests to replace two vehicles that we currently use at the jail for um medical appointments or if inmate is uh transported over to Sanford or Essentia via ambulance then our jail staff use
those vehicles to um bring that individual back. As you can see from what I have uh submitted, we do have total funds available of $161,16.99. And for the 60-month lease for both vehicles, it would be $98,352.
And then an an additional $4,9942 to outfit those two vehicles with cages at code force services elican Rapids. that I would yield um for any questions that the board may have. >> Thank you, Sheriff. Any questions for
the sheriff on the request? >> Commissioner Campbell. >> Yeah. Thank So um Sheriff, I know on your squad car vehicles, you're normally do three years. >> Yes. >> Right. And then is the five years because we don't put as many miles on them. Is that
>> That's correct. Yeah. These vehicles won't be getting as many miles as our patrol units or uh I went with a 60-month lease on these. I even asked for a longer term lease, whether it be 72 or 84 months. 60 months is the longest that Enterprise will go with
their lease. We will re-evaluate it at the 60-month point and then see if we just buy these outright or just reop new leases with with different vehicles. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Abinger. >> Madam Chair, I move that uh
sure I have the numbers right. I move we approve the replacement of current jail transport van and Ford Explorer with two Chrysler Pacifica transport vans to enterprise fleet leasing at a cost of $81960
per month. That's $1,63920 total monthly lease obligation as authorized code for services to and authorized code force services to install the required prisoner transport partitions and related equipment at an
estimated cost $4,9942. >> Thank you. A motion offered from Commissioner Ebinger. >> A second. A second from Commissioner Bear. Any further discussion? Commissioner Campbell, >> one other question. So, so that total
5-year lease, we're looking at 100 with the with the equipment that you're putting in there, it's roughly about 108,000, right? >> Um >> 103 plus >> 103,000 roughly. Yeah. >> Plus the 4,984. Yeah. So, and you have
161 in in the internal service fund, correct? >> That uh that So, and that's been put aside for those two vehicles. >> So, how are you have you talked to Lori about changing how much is going to be going into that internal service fund
for those two items moving forward? >> However, Lori does that. I know I send fixed asset sheets to Stacy and then Stacy uh she'll um she'll enter them into the fixed assets. Then Lori sends them. Lori does whatever Lori does to that. I I don't know what she does and I don't know how she's
>> I guess previously these weren't leased vehicles, right? Correct. They were purchased vehicles and so now that they're leased vehicles, the amount of the internal service contribution should probably go down. I guess Steve Madam Chair, Commissioner Campbell, I know
that that's something that Lori Johnson evaluates. I know that one of the things that we've talked about because of the increase of the squads and it ups um she's made some adjustments, but it's also allowed to um make that shift to some of the other vehicles. >> Well, and I I guess I don't you know if
there's reason for those dollars to be transferred. That's one thing, but I I just don't want to see us putting the same amount of dollars into the internal service fund for these two vehicles the same as it was when we were purchasing them because they're two different things.
>> Madam Chair, Commissioner Campbell, we've done that in in all of the other areas where it's gone from a purchase to a lease and so we'll make that adjustment. >> All right. Thank you, >> Commissioner Bear. >> What's the plan with the other two vehicles that we do own outright? The other two vehicles will be sold at auction as soon as the next uh next
auction comes up with McGloin. >> Additional questions? >> Well, it does show that the internal service equation is doing what it needs to do, but I think we um we're because these don't have as much miles on them as some of the other ones. I think that's why we're seeing such a larger
balance is because it's one of the last ones to go back to the le or into the lease piece. I know the relationship with an enterprise has been very um cost beneficial for Klay County. Just want to make sure uh you know there's other
stories from other other uh communities that might not have worked in the best but continue to keep that top of mind and make sure that we're evaluating that. From my standpoint, we've saved hundreds of thousands of dollars for utilizing a relationship with them. Any
further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carried. >> Thank you. >> Item three before us is a request approval of the public health emergency
preparedness all hazards plan. We have Sylvanas with us and our public health director Jessica Mickelson. Good morning to you both. >> Morning. Okay. Good morning chair and uh good morning to members of the board of
commissioners. So um this our all hazard plan uh was developed at original level but then uh it specifies to the risks of Klay County public health. So the priority or the
intention of this plan is to protect residents of Klay County and also um in ensure essential services are coordinated during disaster and also um
ensure an effective recovery uh plan after our emergency. So I'm just going to go into it shortly and I'm here this morning to request your signature to approve our plan so that we can start training our staff and also activate
this plan once there is an emergency. So the purpose of this plan is to provide framework to prepare for respond to and recover from public health emergency. So not only that, this plan will also define specific roles and responsibilities,
send out timely notification, make uh significant decisions during an outbreak and also coordinate among partners and we work at a local level, we work with the state, we work with MDH, we
work with community partners because in an emergency, it is always good to know your partners first. If an outbreak, there will not be an outbreak before you start to get to know people. So, in Click County, we have listed all of our emergency preparedness partners already
and we are working with them. Why this plan matters? Like I said, this plan was developed to protect the lives of Klay County residents and also respond effectively to any public health emergencies.
This plan will also develop to maintain essential services and that we have our coupe plan continuity of operation plan. Once there is an emergency, we know who to place at a specific area and then build and coordinate with community
partners at the Red Cross Churches United. We know all of those partners capabilities. So once there is an emergency, we know what they are coming and what they are going to contribute to the respond to support recovery efforts as well and to build community resilient
and we are doing this building community resilient. I I go to the library last year every quarter to share um emergency preparness education to resident of Klay County. So on this um page
last year 2025 there was uh a risk assessment done by the county emergency management director and as you can see tornado is on the top in the list and then we have uh cyber attack we have
active shooter. So all of these emergency this plan covers every one of them. It was not developed only respond to one emergency. This plan once it is activated we can lead or support
whatever outbreak is in Klay County. So these are the listing of the top five. >> Sylvanas can I just ask a question? Can you go into presentation mode? >> Okay. think of for the people online.
>> Correct. For the people online, but I also cannot. >> Right. >> Thank you. >> There you go. That's >> wonderful. That's better. >> Okay. So, um sorry. So, and at the bottom of it is wire.
So, this like for public health, we do a risk assessment after every 5 years. And I think that is the same thing for the county. So, this was done 2025. So we want to do this again in the future to know what are the targeted risks in cllay county so we can prepare to
respond to these uh risks and how the plan works. So our all hazard plan um we are going to use this plan to to prepare ourself in developing plans. That's the first one. We have lots of
plans that we need to develop. MDH uh has requested us to do that. We have uh some plans after this one. I know that we're going to come back here again cuz we have uh the coupe plan to update. We have uh a finance administrative budget
plan to do as well. So development of plans is one of our top um responsibility of this uh all hazard plan uh to ensure that all of our staff understand the incident command system and that's why uh once we hire a new
staff they go through some of the FEMA RCS courses such as RCS 100 200 and 700 and then it is a continuous process we train our staff continuously on the incident command system and then also to
activate our department operations center. So once there is an emergency we will firstly activate our department operations center in our office and then work closely with the county emergency operations um center as well and then uh
ensure staff readiness. So that is one thing that we concentrate on ensure all of our staff are ready to respond to emergency because we don't want when an emergency happens and we ask this person to do this and like we don't have the required training for
that. So we ensure all of our all of our staff are trained to respond to emergency and then coordinate with uh county emergency operations center. So while we are going to be running our department operations center, we also
have representative at the county EOC to work closely with them and give update on what is happening at public health and then to scale the response based on the size and complexity of the incident. So we have our incident command
structure in public health and uh once there is an emergency our incident commander we activate those position based on the complexity and the skill of the incident. So we are not just going to maybe activate all of the roles at once. Once it is a manor incident we are
going to activate based on the nature of the registry and this is our notification table. So this table tells us when to respond, how to respond.
So and we make it simple by placing it into colors. So once it is in white so it's business as usual we're not going to respond once there is an incident it changes to
yellow but then for this color yellow where we send people on the scene to verify the information before we take action not just going to activate all of our incident command team members want to ensure that the information is verified before we can respond and then
with the orange the emergency incident has occurred. We sent um people on the field to verify the information and uh it is truth. So we are getting all of our equipments and respond materials ready and once it
reaches to rare we're going to activate our department operations center and all hands on decks to start uh get involved into the respond process. So this is how it works and then uh once we have uh respond we are going to
demobilize at the end of the respond ensure everything goes well. Respond priorities. So like I mentioned um the first priority of this plan um is to protect the health and safety
of the residents of Klay County and that is our biggest priority ensuring everybody is safe and u properties damage are reduced. This is what um this plan was developed
for and also um coordinated with health care partners and emergency stakeholders. So right now we have the contacts of all of the clinics in Klay County, all of the health practitioners, even those ones that are in Fargo as well. We are
coordinating with all of them. We working together. the emergency preparedness coordinator in Klay County. He comes here and we plan together as well cuz like I said, we want to know all of our partners that are involved into emergency management because when
Klay County uh has an emergency, we shouldn't be looking around. We should know exactly who to call upon to assist us. And then uh mine essential health services when there is an outbreak. This is one important one cuz when there is
an outbreak people start to panic and everybody gets afraid but we are going to make sure that who's supposed to respond are present to respond and all of our services are running smoothly. So that is one thing um this plan is going
to concentrate on and then send out timely messaging to our partners and uh other stakeholders. We have a system that we use called Everbridge and we use this system to communicate with our emergency preparedness partners. We use
that to communicate with even residents of Klay counties because we have contact numbers of uh the long-term healthcare. We have contact numbers of the corporate um those from the faster care. So all of those people that are in the um the
vulnerable people like we have all of their contacts number for us to be able to respond to them timely and we also built relationship with other organizations in Klay County from different background because those people we feel that they are one of the
people that uh will need help during emergency because some people don't read or speak English. So these people are in our plan as well. We have their leaders will have this notification printed up and then give it to their leaders to interpret it to them in whatever
languages or or dialect that they speak especially for example the Somalis. So we're working with some head of the Somali organizations to communicate with them because emergency messaging is all about trust. If they don't believe in your message your message they ignore
everything you tell them. So that's why we try to work with the top of the various organizations. So these are some of the organizations that we are working with at Klay County Public Health, the American Red Cross.
They provide shelter training for us um on a routine basis. Sometime after every six months, sometime on a quarterly basis, uh Minnesota Department of Health, we receive uh hands messaging for them, health alert network,
uh Mo Fire Department, uh the healthcare coalition, they help to provide trainings, the long-term health facilities, schools and universities. So sometimes I go after some of these colleges and present on emergency preparedness uh
information to the students, the nur the nursing students and then hospitals, EMS, community organizations and the Minnesota respond. This is one of our uh key area that we are concentrating on as
well. Minnesota response. So we have um like 86 active volunteers in Clay County and once there is an emergency we're going to activate these volunteers and place them in roles that they can perform and they're going to receive
just in time training before they can perform these roles cuz we don't want to place volunteer in positions that they are able to perform. And then this is just the um the holistic overview of uh our emergency emergency preparedness department what
we are doing. So one of our key concentration that uh been kind of taking out all of my time was our storage facility. Um we had all of our assets like very disorganized. So we were able to go there I think two weeks ago and organize all of our assets and
we are now tracking them in the system that we are using the Salamana life and then ensuring what we have cuz if you don't know what you have when an emergency happens you're not going to respond. So now we are tracking what we have. So once we have an issue we are going to know what capability we have
and how can we respond. And then um we have emergency go bags that we have um hand sanitizer and all of some emergency preparedness materials. We put it in those bags and we distribute it to the long healthc care facilities. We
distribute them to some vulnerable populations where at the fair um I think it was Friday, right? We carry some and then we distributed them so to people. We had it on our table. So it's just to keep informing our residents about
emergency preparedness so they can be prepared because once people are prepared the impact of the disaster will not be uh very massive on the population at least people will know exactly what to do and not be panicking during the emergency preparedness or the disaster
process and then u continuous training. So for training is one of our big thing. We are always training staff to be ready. We did a series of training um since the
beginning of the year to now. We did our point of dispensing training with the incident command training and so much more. And we just wrote our new grant for budget period three. And there are lots and lots of trainings that we need to do. So, um, we're going to go through
them and I know we're going to come back here again. Perhaps we need out of state travel for your kind approval again cuz emergency preparing like I said is continuous training and getting ready for whatever emergency. We don't pray for emergency to happens in Klay County,
but we are going to be prepared like always. >> And then uh >> Commissioner Kavanagh does have a question if the training I'm curious How do you do that? I mean, do you do it as as
excuse me, one type of emergency so you have the whole team come together at one time so you're hearing the same message or is it in you know or is it piece by piece? >> Yes. So we do it piece by piece. So uh
firstly we do the point of dispensing training and we target few staff like the nurses. Once we open a point of dispensing, the nurses are going to be um men at the point of dispensing site. So we target all of our nurses to be at that training for the incident command
training. We target our incident command team members. So it just piece by piece and then uh we did risk communication training as well and we targeted our PO, our public information officers and all our staff members. So we target specific
staff to respond to uh to attend certain trainings. >> And then for people along that line of that type of emergency, say it's torn tornado. Yeah. Okay. >> Then do you uh somehow you have do you
have a relationship building between the people person to person or do you understand what I mean? >> I'm just saying. So there's they know who they're going to be working with. >> Yes. So we build we build relationship
and we even cross trainin all of our staff. So that's one big thing we do for our incident command team members. I'm the planning section chief but then we train another person just like in my absence somebody should be able to effectively function in my role. >> Yeah.
>> So all of our staff know how to function in another capacity once the another person is outside. >> Yeah. cross train staff. >> Yeah. >> Additional questions. >> Continue. Oh, I'm sorry, Commissioner Heinger. Apologize.
>> Yeah, this is a little off off target here, but I think it um it's it's a good question to know upfront if you guys have the information. So much of this response, which is what we have here, is based is predicated on the after uh effects that
we've seen of emergencies in our community. and that involves reimbursement and support from FEMA. So the ICS, everything else, I've gotten it in FEMA trainings and that goes through the through MDH
and and state agencies. Is that partnership? Is that function still working? And is it predictable that we're doing the right things up here uh that'll be required of us to seek reimbursement and rebuild and to get
additional things post incident. Uh it's kind of vague, but I think it's going to be important to the commission uh when we're walking in after an event like we've had with floods to know we've got that federal support. And I am seeing in
the media that the federal sport's not as predictable as it used to be. Are we looking at issues that may impact us on that? Yes. So to answer that, yes, we are. Um we have the capability to fill out all
of the FEMA forms because we are aware of that once there is an emergency we have to submit for reimbursement. uh in our RCS training we discussed that and uh we have all of the forms and we are training staff to know exactly how
to fill in those forms form 204 211 and all of those forms we yeah we know how to fill in them for appropriate reimbursement to FEMA >> okay and any indication from the state that there's any problems to be anticipated? No, no. Because all of our
work we do here, we relate them to the state. So we the state has to kind of like evaluate everything that we do. So once we do a training, we send the report the ARP ARP to the state for review and then they give us feedback on what we have done as to what whether we
are doing it right or doing it wrong. So they kind of supervise everything that we are doing. Yeah. >> Okay. Very good. Thank you. >> Thank you sir. And then uh lastly, we Any other question?
>> No, I was just making sure we're good. >> Lastly, we uh preparing our emergency kit. So, this is one thing that we inform our staff about consistently like
once uh us as staff members when we are not prepared, we cannot respond to emergency preparedness. So we encourage our staff to develop their home emergency preparness plan and then uh develop their emergency preparedness kit for
they and their family members and uh with that we go out there teaching um other people how to prepare as well. So uh our priorities is to be ready, stay informed, build a kit and uh make a plan
and our emergency preparedness program I grant funded. So we just roll out our next uh fiscal year that starts July 1st to June 30th and that is budget per three. And then we also have our
response sustainability grant and CR city readiness initiative. So we have three programs ongoing right now. And uh lastly um after our if there is an emergency we want to make
sure that our demobilization process is effective. So staff are also trained on how to demobilize uh our emergency response site. If we have a point of dispensing or shelter site uh established, we
should know how to bring everything back to normal. Um and then track all of our assets, making sure we can uh carry them back to our storage facility. And then we do a comprehensive uh report with an afteraction plan. And this report will
indicate what went wrong, what went right and uh uh improvement plan like what we need to improve on. So these are things that we taking into consideration and then all of our plans they are living documents. So we have to review them annually so
that they can't be sitting on our shelf and we wouldn't want to run to them to an emergency. We try to practice the plans, train on on these plans and update them so that we know how they worked. So
with that, uh, thank you so much for giving me the time to be here and I for any additional questions. >> Thank you, Sylvanas. Jessica, do you have anything to add? I just wanted to thank Sylvanas and the
team that um went out to the storage unit a couple of weeks ago and really um assisted us with getting that cleaned up, organized, all of our assets tracked in Salamander Live. Um I thought this was a project that was going to take us
weeks to get done and the group that went out there got it done in a day. So, it was really impressive to see how quickly they were able to move through everything. So, and Sylvanas is just very passionate about this work as you can tell and he's a good motivator to
our entire team in public health to keep us up to date on all of our trainings and to keep um plugging away at that IC. We know it's not always the most entertaining trainings in the world for those who have done it. It's pretty dry,
but he makes sure everyone gets it completed. And so thank you Sylvanas. >> Thank you J. >> Well, I just want to thank say also thank you for the presentation but more importantly the work you named it when you said uh a disaster is not the time to start asking questions of who to
contact and so to have a really clear uh plan articulated is how we will will be able to be prepared and preparation is key. Correct. So, um, huge gratitude for connecting all of those dots and the work that you do to make sure the pro the plan was ready. Questions from the
board. Commissioner Ebinger. >> Madam Chair, just uh I'm going to make motion to approve the implementation of the Klay County Public Health all hazards plan and move forward with obtaining necessary signatures. >> We have a motion offered from Commissioner Evinger. I'll
>> second >> and a second from Commissioner Kabanov. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carried. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Jessica, you have our next item, a request approval to contract with Medicica to provide special needs basic care coordination services. Uh yes. Uh thank you, Madam Chair and
commissioners. Um, as you are aware, we were notified last year that Ukare would no longer be contracting uh with the uh Department of Human Services in Minnesota to provide managed care services throughout the state. Um, so uh
throughout the past year, there's been a lot of unknowns as to how this was going to look. Um, a lot of this contributed to the redistribution of the SMBC program fully to public health and moving men choices. um the initial assessment in community first services
uh to social services. So this was kind of part of that reasoning behind why we made those decisions to uh request um those transitions. But um essentially um Klay County currently provides uh care coordination services for members
enrolled in special needs basic care uh more commonly referred to as SMBC which is a Minnesota managed care program for people with disability ages 18 to 64 who are eligible for medical assistance.
UKare and Medicica have entered into an agreement in which Medicica will acquire certain UKARE contracts and assets in 2026 which has been approved by both uh the Department of Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services. As part of this transition, we will need to enter into a new SMBC case management participation agreement with Medicica effective October 1st, 2026. Initially, we were thinking that this was going to be at the end of the year
and beginning uh January 1st of 2027, but we were notified about uh four weeks ago that um the contract with UKare is ending um earlier than anticipated. Uh the scope of work for Klay County Public Health will remain generally
consistent with current SMBC care coordination practices which includes completing health risk assessments, care planning, um completing referrals for participants, coordination with providers, and ongoing member support.
Uh the Medicica agreement requires Klay County to comply with Medicica and DHS SMBC requirements. So really a lot of that day-to-day work is not going to change with the contract changing from UKare to Medicica. Uh the most
significant operational change is that we'll no longer be responsible for providing ongoing care coordination to unengaged SMBC members. Um so really there's two types of members. those that are engaged, which means that they've
agreed to care coordination, they've completed a health risk assessment, and they meet with their care coordinator on a regular basis. An unengaged member is someone who has declined those services for whatever reason. And obviously, it's the individual's choice um if they
accept care coordination or not. Under the UKare contract, we still provided care coordination to all almost a thousand members. Um whether or not the person really accepted it. So um
it it just the level of involvement that we had with the person differed um whether they were considered engaged or un unengaged. So under Medicica um we will only be providing care coordination to engaged members. So people who have
chosen to accept care coordination, completed their assessments and whatnot. Um so currently under UKARE we receive $185 per member per month for engaged members and $25 per member per month for
unengaged members. Under the Medicica agreement, reimbursement is dropping to $135 and solely for engaged members. While this obviously represents a reduction of $50 per member per month, it also
reduces our case load sizes from approximately 210 members per care coordinator currently to appro approximately 73 members per care coordinator. Although the agreement results in lower
re reimbursement rates, it also creates a more manageable care coordination model by eliminating responsibility for approximately 761 unengaged members. Entering into the Medicica agreement allows us to continue providing local care coordination
services during the public or I'm sorry during the health plan transition while maintaining continuity of care for this vulnerable population. Commissioner Evinger has a question. >> Yeah, Jessica, could this result in more
people wanting to be engaged? >> Um, that's our goal. Uh, Commissioner Epinger, um, I think, um, Susie and I have, this falls under, um, Susie Radnik's, um, department. um her and I have spoke
at length about um ways that we can do better with outreach to try to get members engaged. It's really a service that's to their benefit when they have either a nurse or a social worker providing the service to them at a local
level. Um someone who is very familiar with the um you know health options available through the health plan at a at a local level and to help coordinate services. So, it's really to the member's benefit. Um, but I think previously with the case loads being as
large as they were, um, the care coordinators didn't have time to focus as much on outreach. Um, and so our goal with this transition is that we would, um, potentially look at restructuring some things so that, um, outreach could
be more of a primary focus. >> What would these people have to do? Is there a timeline where they'd have to declare they want to be engaged? >> Yes. Yep. So, upon enrollment and then annually thereafter, we will reach out to them. Um, we do make several attempts
to reach the member. Um, if we're not able to reach them, obviously they would fall under the unengaged category. um if we are able to reach them um you know the care coordinators explain the services what it would look like and then you know some individuals may have
a caddy case manager or rule 79 case manager already so they don't feel that there's a need for the duplicate but the unique thing about care coordination versus case management is this is really more medically focused um it's an expert with your health plan to help you
navigate um kind of the health um services aail available to the person. So, >> so and we're staffed at a level that would be able to meet any increase in that. >> I'm sorry, what was that? >> We are staffed currently at a level that could meet any increase of expectation
to the to our employees. >> Well, with this reduction, um so I mean really the case load is dropping by 2/3. So, the staff will be able to pretty much automatically absorb that um
additional outreach work because they're not going to have as large of a case load beginning 101. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And just to go off that, I think you're getting to that point, but the revenues will continue to exceed the personnel
costs, correct? >> Yes. Yep. And I do have that down here that I'll um kind of detail more specifically. But um so currently we have 292 engaged SNBC members, $761 unengaged members. At Medicica's
negotiated rate of $135, the current engaged membership is expected to generate approximately $39,420 per month or $473,040 annually. This represents an annual
revenue reduction of approximately $43,500 compared to the revenue we were receiving under UKare. Uh during contract negotiations, however, um and I just want to comment, initially Medicica offered us $115 per
member per month. Um that is their typical rate that they offered throughout the state. Um but we were able to get that increased to 135. Um and then throughout those um negotiations, they also agreed to increase their rates um for the two
other health plans that um we're contracted with. We're currently contracted with already um to provide care coordination services um through Medicica for um Minnesota Senior Health Options and Minnesota Senior Care Plus.
So Mshow is probably a term you've heard of and then MSC plus. So MO is for Medicaid medical assistance um eligible um seniors who are also receiving Medicare. MSC plus is for um 65 and plus
um who have a separate Medicare plan. Um so when the fin financial impact of all three um programs is considered collectively uh we're looking at a reduction of revenue of approximately $299,892.
So uh the projected 2027 salary and fringe costs for the care coordination team is $439,000. Uh based on current enrollment negotiated rates, um our projected annual revenue is $473,000
which um continues to exceed personnel costs by $33,987. Uh so just covering um our costs. And with that, I'll yield to any questions. >> Commissioner Kavanagh um kind of uh may
not even apply, but I want to ask. So when there's open enrollment and paying the seniors now Medicare and whatnot, do the providers out there know these programs and it's always part of that that discussion?
>> Yeah. So um every health plan or managed care plan in the state goes through a procurement process with DHS. We are entering into a new procurement year in 2027 where there may be um new health plan options in Klay County. Um so that
process happens every 5 to 6 years. Um so we're anticipating it occurring again in 2027. So new health plan um options may be available. Um, so we go through it's kind of like an RFP process where
each health plan submits their proposals um to DHS for where they want to um contract with. So um the health plan gets to determine what counties in Minnesota they're going to be working in. Um a lot of times it's kind of based
off historical practices just based off um which um healthcare organizations they're contracted with. But um so that's kind of the initial process with how it works. So that determines what health plans are available >> um and then um you know all of the
services um that would re be referring people. So senior linkage line um are obviously our income maintenance unit they are all well familiar with what health plans are option or available and then they do their best to kind of educate the recipient.
>> Well obviously they're the beginning. Yes. >> So hopefully that helps the engagement. >> Yes. >> Outreach. >> Yep. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> And >> go ahead. >> The member could still be receiving SMBC through Medicica but decline care
coordination. So that's why it's really up to team to >> why would they decline? >> Um you know um a lot of times it's because we can't reach the member to explain the benefits of it. Um, I'd say that's probably half
um the time. Why um why we aren't able to get a member to um engage. Um and then another big reason I think is people already have so many providers that they're working with that they feel that it's overwhelming and that they don't have a need or it may be the
person's needs are being met, you know, in a more informal basis so they don't feel that it's necessary. I mean there could be a wide range. >> Yeah, thanks for that. >> Additional questions. >> Well, uh it's very clear that this is
quite a complex system and uh I am amazed at your ability to educate yourself in your new role. It seems like you've really done a great job to uh not only one advocate for Klay County, which you have in regards to the negotiation
of the rate. Um but just um figure out this very very complex system. Um you know, I I uh I support this request. I support the work uh clearly because there are revenues to cover. uh just I think
internally as we figure out with reduced case loads and we've got areas where we're seeing really high case loads, how do we manage that in the best way? Um that's managerial and I you know we'll work uh together to figure that piece
out. But um you know these are areas where you can see really big cost swings either either side and so thanks for continuing to keep Steve in the loop who in turn keeps us in the loop. Madam Chair, I would move Klay County
Public Health enter into a contract with Medicica to provide SNBC care coordination services effective October 1st, 2026 at a reimbursement rate of $135 per member per month. >> Thank you. A motion offered from
Commissioner K >> and a second from Commissioner Ebinger. Further discussion? Any further discussion? discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I oppos same sign carried. Thank you
Jessica. >> Madam chair if if I could just in addition since Jessica is here I just wanted to extend not only thanks for the work that you did here but also extended thanks to the revalidation process that uh that she also got to learn a great
deal about uh for Medicare. Uh we our our application had not been resubmitted for revalidation. Uh Jessica and her staff went in and got that done. And not only did they get that done, they got it they were able to go back uh to fill the gap uh and received approval through a
through an additional process uh so that Klay County was able to get the reimbursements. >> And can you I think it's important for the public to know what that amount was. It's substantial. Do you know >> it's I think it's around 16,000 was what we were expecting to write off.
>> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Our next item is a budget presentation. Uh we have the recorder's office, Kimberly Savageo, our county recorder. Good morning. >> Good morning, Madam Chair,
commissioners. Um I'm here today to present my 2027 budget to you. >> And we do have that on the tables. Okay. Um I will I have no new requests for you this year and I'll start with covering my revenues at the top of the
page. Um that first line there that's our recording fees. It's kind of not hard to know and guesstimate where um where that's going to be. So I just kind of kept that same based on some of the research that I was able to do. Same with that second line. That is the
revenue um from my software program for our online services. That third line is the tech fund. That is an in-n-out. So you'll see a revenue of $95,000 there, but you'll see an expense at the bottom for $95,000. That is a fund specific to
the recorders office that we use for technology expenses. So on my budget, it shows as an in-n-out because it's a a fund that keeps growing a balance throughout time. That fourth line is my compliance fund. I was here earlier this year to present that to you and we have $105,000
allocated out of the compliance fund to use for 2027. That next slide, I do show a little bit of a decrease there. That is the county portion of the vital record fees that we receive. Over the past few years, we have seen an increase in in customers
needs for documents for real ID and I just feel that's kind of slowing down. So, I lowered that revenue just a little bit to compensate for that. interest revenue, I lowered that to just kind of based off what I've been seeing from this year.
And then platbook sales, those are kind of stay flat. And then that last line there, that is um just an in-n-out where I deposit my daily funds with the auditor's office. So that really isn't a revenue line. Any questions on the revenue portion?
Madam Chair, um Jess or excuse me, Jessica Kimberly, could you maybe provide just the board an update and our citizens an update of your fund that you utilize that also has an impact on the levy? >> Yeah. Um so the technology fund um I kind of went over and made some notes
anticipating a question about that today. So the technology fund is separate from the compliance fund. There's $10 from every document that goes into that fund in order to advance technology services for the recorders office and other land record
departments. Um we had been for several years m trying to grow a balance in there so that we could in do a large scanning project. Remember during COVID I was able to use some of those I believe it was ARPA funds to cover some of that. So now we've been able to use that technology fund to cover more of
our annual um needs for the different land record departments. Um one of the things I do is Rory has an almost $19,000 bill for our countywide imaging um software program and my office pays bill for that because we use that for
land records. And so that would become part of Rory's budget if it didn't come out of this technology fund. I use that for various different recorders office softwares that I have. Um that probably totals up to just under $30,000 annually that comes out of that
fund. Also, um there's hosting that I pay for for my real estate records. If I didn't pay to have my technology services um vendor host them, we would have to have a server here on site that Rory would need to purchase and
maintain. So, we save money there. And then I also use $15,000 for technology services and $15,000 for GIS for our portion of what we use their services for. We use our GS and land records all the time and different services that
technology that Rory's department offers. And then I also do um the last couple years have purchased ours for the assessor's office software maintenance out of there too. So, we are spending probably about $100,000 in various
things for other land record departments out of that fund that would not be in their budget. Does that answer your question, Steve? >> Yes. Thank you. >> Yes. Any other questions on the revenue? >> Not looking like it. Okay. Uh, moving on
to that bottom part there is my expenses. Those first eight lines are really all just in cost of employees. Um, I just wanted to bring up I know since some of you have been here a while, but some of you are newer, too. I started in the recorder's office back in
2003. At that time, we had 6.5 employees and a roster employee. Today, in 2026, we have four full-time employees. Um we have technology has advanced what we do in our office tremendously and with that
we have been able to downsize um downsize the number of employees in our office which our employees is my biggest expense for for the recorder's office. Um going down on that um the next line is for telephone. I just reduced that a little bit based on what I've been
seeing coming out of my budget. Printing and publishing, I kept that the same. I do have an increase in my association dues and memberships. I am going to see an increase in my make dues. There hasn't been one in 20 years. And so I
have that increased about $180 for that. Um I do have a decrease in my professional services. And then skipping down, um you'll see that technology fund. Oh, sorry. I skipped to where I just have percentage increases. All those other line items
I've just kind of kept flat and kept the same there. You'll see that technology fund that 95,000 with that 11.76% that's just that in and out. And then that bottom line there is computer software. That's our licensing
cost for the sale of our online real estate records. Any questions on any of those expenses? >> Any questions? >> No. >> Commissioner Einger, >> not a question. And I've just been able
to work with Kimberly on the uh basically a lot of things but the technology fund every year as part of my portfolio and her department is run in an immaculate
fashion. if there's uh technology that needs to be brought forward or innovation that needs to be implemented. Since I've gotten here, I've seen leaps and bounds under her leadership and she does a great job and I appreciate it and it's going to embarrass her, but I'm
going to say it anyway. Your mother would expect me to say it. >> Thank you. >> Anything else? Well, I I know that I've I've heard you're doing some phenomenal uh work uh but not only in Klay County, but uh
statewide. You've really been a part of some huge statewide initiatives. And that leadership uh is really um something we're grateful for, but it continues to show that Klay County is uh leading uh the conversation on dealing
with some of the challenging components that we are and how do we do so in a a costbeneficial manner. So just I know that takes additional workload and uh appreciate that you're doing that uh to bring us uh so far forward. >> Thank you. >> Questions?
Not. All right. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, was Highway here? >> Of course he's here. >> Justin, I feel like you want us to play like a walk out song because it's it's
always like is Highway here and then the door opens. >> Uh, Commissioner Campbell just stepped out for a brief moment, but yeah, we can proceed uh with your uh presentation. We have Justin Sorum, our county engineer,
and Ann, the uh boss. We've got three page sorry four pages of budget. >> Yes. So good morning. I'm here presenting my 2027 highway department budget.
>> Got it. >> Um as always it's kind of broken into four main sections. So it is 310 maintenance, 320 construction, 330 administration, and 340 shop.
First we'll go to 310 maintenance revenues. So a lot of the revenues on the maintenance side are estimated using trends from state aid. So it's just the maintenance money that we get from the state. And then town road, if you'll
notice, it is up slightly. So last year was down a little bit. That's due to the taa account, which is the transportation advancement account, and that's the retail delivery fee that was set in statute a few years ago. It was being delivered to the townships and to the
counties, and it was tracking a little bit lighter than they anticipated, so they just held off for a year. So, they're just receiving the payment the year after. So, the townships should receive a little bit more money because of this. And then 103105409
is township's township maintenance contract. And obviously as I have shared we are one less con one less township this year although the maintenance contract did go up. So um 2026 budget
was 812,000 proposed in 2027 is 815,000. Any questions on the revenue side of things on maintenance? >> Yeah. So, is the one less because they're going to do their own or >> Yep. They contracted with a different
outfit or individual. Okay. >> Expenditures. So, 103106107 salaries overtime. So, we did go up a little bit on this. We haven't been spending what we've been budgeting, but we also have had very mild winters in the last handful of years. I'm hoping
that trend continues. And then salaries other, you'll notice that doubled. So that's due to the union contract. So on call pay went from just under $30 to just over $50 with the new
union contract. And then 103106277. So that's training. So we did keep that flat at 15,000. Um so that is our CDL policy. Um, we've used it six times, gonna be seven with a new hire that
started yesterday. I think the six, um, it's been working really, really well. Um, it's been a big benefit to our department and we've had really, really good luck with it. So, I appreciate that policy very much. Thank you. >> I just want to talk to that really briefly. You know, I know internally we
tried to figure out what we could do to kind of utilize uh funds to recruit and having CDLs be such a cost cost barrier for some people, I'm really glad to see that um that it's been working out and
uh given the numbers that you're using or that are using it, I you know, I will continue to support that. And part of that policy as well is if say solid waste needs a driver with it, right? >> Um and we have actually done that a couple times. We've loaned Corey a
driver for a few days just to keep up on hauling materials and then we've done a little bit of heavy hauling for solid waste as well. Like when their dozer broke down, we hauled it to get it fixed so they didn't have to pay a company to come do it. um 10310 6454 uniforms. So that is up.
So in the union contract as well, boots went from being every other year to every year. And then the cost of the reimbursement also went up. I think this was a a good thing. I mean, if you see the guys boots after patching, I think two years is your boots are shot. So I
think it's it's been a good thing and guys really like it. And then 103106502 road materials. So this covers basically everything from gravel mastic patch mix. So we did go I did increase it 100,000
just to obviously gravel's going up. We don't know what gravel's going to be next year. So just trying to account for it. And then 103106509 traffic supplies is up 5,000. So, if you remember during my um department update,
I kind of touched on that the new county signs are the blue ones from the white ones. So, those are more expensive. So, it's just trying to replace as much as we can while not increasing it significantly. >> Madam Chair. >> Yes, Commissioner Bear. >> And that's dictated by the state. We're not making that change under the state
it's telling us to make that change. >> Yep. So, we follow the Minnesota manual on uniform traffic control devices or the MUT manual. So we have to follow that. >> And we're changing those out as they >> as they're Yep. No longer reflective. Yep.
>> So we're not we're not blanketly replacing them. We're replacing them as they go out. But it's not like a it has to be instantly. We just have to be in compliance eventually. >> Yeah. >> And then 103106807 intergovernmental payments. So, one
thing I did want to touch on is this is the last year of the 12th Avenue South turnback and that annual payment is $58,61525. So, in 2028 that will come off. >> Good. >> Any questions on the maintenance side?
>> Uh, I just wanted to maybe go back to weed and brush control. Um, you know, I I see that we're not utilizing all of it, but as I drive, I'm also seeing that there are weeds that continue to exist. Have we had internal conversation about
utilizing all that is aotted or we just have a a core left over in case something big happens? >> Um, a little bit of both. So each spring um myself so I go over to soil and water kind of give them what our budget is and then they kind of point out areas that
they've been seeing all the noxious weeds and everything else. >> So they try to go as close to that number as they can. Sometimes we hit it, sometimes we don't. And then we do lately we've been reserving a little bit for spraying trees around bridge ends.
So been trying to this year I'm going to try to hit that number closer than we did last year. >> I'm also, you know, in coordination with the watershed too. You know, I am noticing that there seems to be more shrubs in in ditches around culverts
than we've seen in a long time. And >> sometimes when it's been a while since we've had a flood, we forget how um much of a nuisance that can be. So that might be something we want to get harder. I don't know. It is actually last year something that we did on 52. There's
trees on a lot of those culverts by the railroad. So we it's been something we've been trying to tackle. >> All right. Additional questions on those items he highlighted. So moving on to page 46. >> Yes. So 320 is 10320 is highway
construction. So on the revenue side, we kind of estimate using both trends from state aid and then this is heavily dictated by the five-year plan. So next year is a giant construction year. Um so with the CASAW 21 both obviously we
were planning the rehab of that road and then all of a sudden the bridge project that kind of got thrown in there as well. So 10320 5271 is accounting for what we expect to receive in bridge bonding for CASAW 21 and then 5274 is
regular construction. So CASA 21 is going to be a huge project for us and then we're also planning the Glendon Township Bridge. I actually meet with Glendon Township tonight to go over some rightaway stuff and that's going to be $2 million bridge which for a town bridge project is huge.
>> Huge. And then 10320 5320 federal grants. So that is CASA 3 from CASAW 18 to 22. That's money that we received through Metrocog kind of making us whole for the contribution that we gave for the 11th
Street underpass on some money that we got back from FHWA. So it'll be a good project through Oakport. That's >> heard a few different things on it throughout the years. >> Any questions on those? I mean from
anyone. >> Okay. >> And then and I will say this one obviously on the revenue side it's up $4.5 million but that's also taken care of in the expenditure side. So it's just heavily based on the five-year plan and
what we're doing for construction that year. Um on the expenditure side. So you'll notice the salaries is down. So this is due to we had a long-term engineering technician that would would have been on grade 18 at the top of his pay scale
take early retirement. So that position's been posted since roughly February. We haven't been able to fill it yet, but we are expecting it to be like a grade 16 step one or two. And then 103206107
overtime. So, we did go up $9,000 just strictly due to the amount of construction we have next year. We expect a lot out of our technicians when we're busy. So, obviously that comes with a lot of overtime. And then 10320 6274 engineering
consultant technical service. So, we up $50,000 there. So that's taking into account both the designs for the CASA 21 bridge and then if you seen in the newspaper lately, we were able to receive um a grant with Pulk and Norman
County for $24 million that would replace the Georgetown Bridge. So I expect we'll be spending money on a structural engineer for that project next year. Um 103206454 boots. So engineering techs follow,
we've historically always followed the union contract. So they get a boot reimbursement every year. So that's just accounting for that. And then probably the biggest change in my budget would be 103206565 right ofway. So we've talked about CASAW
11 quite a bit over the past couple years. So we are next week I'll be bringing a contract for that project. And then this is just the amount of rightway that we're expecting between temporary easements and permanent highway easements because obviously
we're going to be widening the roadway. So this would be expected to be a one-time increase. Next year would be back down to the $10,000 just cuz hoping to take care of all of the rightway next year for 2028 construction.
Um 10320604 is equipment over 500. So we are planning to replace some of our testing equipment that's in our engineering technician lab just so we can do all of our own gradations on federal projects and such. The one that
we have now is getting up there and they're a little over 5,000 bucks to replace. And then the final item of note is 103206631. So this was the last year we had
600,000. This year was 800,000. So that's to as shown on the 5-year plan that's striping and seal coating that kind of took the place of the old Morehead turnback payment. We took what we were spending and put it here. Um,
that being said, if if there is one area to obviously the right of way is a major increase. If this is one area I could look to decrease if needed, >> Commissioner Campbell. >> Yeah, thank you. Yeah. Um, we had an
opportunity to meet with Justin yesterday and go over some of these things and that's one of the areas um with that 52 project or 11. Yeah. 50 U 11 project. >> Yep. 11 for
>> needing all the additional right ofway. >> Uh we felt it would probably be um may maybe be appropriate to keep that at 600 >> to help offset and and the increased
cost in that right of way that's going to be needed in 2027. >> Yep. I don't think it's going to change any in terms of the amount of miles you're going to be able to stripe, right? >> No. So, next year is actually So, every
other year we have an highway safety improvement project, it's called, but it's we partner with a bunch of different counties in district 4. So, it's money we received from the federal government to stripe. So, next year is a federal year. So, there will be a lot of edge lines being done not out of this.
And >> okay, >> so I I don't think it's going to have a detrimental effect. I think we'll still be able to keep up on I think last year was a great year in getting everything striped and I think I don't think that would be a detriment.
>> Okay, >> question. >> Do we have any seal coding projects on the docket for next year or >> any seal coding? Not at this time. Striping. Yes. Yeah. >> Commissioner Campbell, >> can I just go back to um the line item
above that the municipal construction which is that's what's funded with the city wheelage tax, right? Is that and that 163,000 is that for projects that have been submitted? >> No. So that's tax collected, correct?
Anticipated tax collector. >> That's not revenue. This is an expenditure. >> That's the expenditure. So, it's shown in a tax and then um also it's just an in- and-out. Correct. >> It's an in- and-out there. It'll it is shown as a revenue down in 805
>> be the last page >> fifth page of the budget. >> Okay. Yeah. So, for example, and with the exception of Morehead, I'd asked Justin to provide this um amount that we provide each um
city and that number is 102, thou. This excludes what we give to Morehead. It's $102,74. It's up on the screen there. And um and not all of not all of that is
actually requested and paid for in that given year, right? >> This is separate from Wheelage tax. This is money that's given out of our levy. Correct. >> Yes. Yes. And this will show in this
expenditure would be in um up in 310 10310 uh 6807 intergovernmental payments. It's part of that number. >> So the >> this is money they re So it's money they receive every year that when I bring
that resolution in February, they just get a check for. They don't actually wheelage they have to submit some sort of estimate or invoice. >> Yeah. Well, this is confusing because on on on the expense side it says s city wheelage tax projects and I I'm assum I
was assuming then that that's >> that's above that's a separate payment that the cities get other than this resolution. So the city wheelage tax projects they need to request. >> The resolution there's not that's what
goes out there's not a request. >> Correct. >> Yep. >> Okay. So the cities get this component and then when the requested that's what comes out of the wheelage tax line that we're talking about
>> correct and I did I do have just kind of a cumulative total of wheelage tax that's been collected since 2013 on the city side of things it's been about $1.9 million collected and 1
six that has been paid out so far then I do have detail for each city. I can send that to you if you would like it. >> I think that's what we were talking about yesterday, right? >> Yes. >> Commissioner, >> that would be helpful. >> Commissioner Kavanagh
>> your microphone. >> Going back to the expense being on this first sheet, where do you say the revenue is picked up for the tax >> for the wheelage tax? Yeah. Um the revenue is as shown on would be on the
last page, page 49 here under um wheelage tax revenue. There's a county portion and a city >> without turning there. What's that number? >> Um the the revenue for the cities is 163,238
and then our county portion is 380,888. Those are budget neutral items because those same those same figures show as an expense. >> Yeah. >> On this page. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I'm have a question. >> Yes, Commissioner Bear.
>> The sheet that's on the screen right now, we have one of those for the townships as well, right? That we give them money or no? >> Not. So, we give money to the townships based on the town road aotment. Yeah. So that's >> dictated by >> that's part of the HUTDF fund that's gas tax driven.
>> Yes. So this comes out of property taxes that we give to each city. >> Yes. >> All right. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Does that answer your question, Kevin? I now I'm confused with what you just said
there because the we get gas tax aotment that gets broken down from the township to the city to the county, >> right? >> This is on top of all that. This is property tax that we generate that we give to the cities with no strings
attached other than to be used on road. >> Yep. >> We do not give a percentage of property tax to the townships at the same >> No. No. >> Yeah. The These are Wheelage tax dollars. >> No, >> no, >> no. That is not Wheelage. >> Okay. So, I'm confused on >> What's on the screen is the same as in your hand.
>> Yep. If you want to go to the Wheelage tax, you had that on there. >> The wheelage tax. >> Yeah. Okay. I had asked for the wheelage. That's why it was I'm confused by this number here. >> Yep. So, this is not has nothing to do with wheelage tax collected. Okay.
That's >> property tax that we allocate to the cities. Okay. >> Any questions on any other questions on the construction side of things? >> Not a question, just more a comment. You
know, if you look back, the direction that this board has given you is to make sure we are taking care of and catching up on some of these road projects. Uh construction is obviously uh more expensive than it used to be, but if you
look at the look back the last few years, uh we really are um amping up the construction and making sure we're taking care of those roadways. And u you know, I'm really glad to see that because that that really is probably the calls that we get um from a lot of
people making sure that those are being addressed and this is a testament to that. Madam Chair, I have one question on highway construction >> on uh 6631 for what you had budgeted last year and what you have spent well what what you
budgeted last year and what you spent last year. That's a big difference there. >> Yeah. So a lot of that is due to like federal pay requests and such that we haven't so until I final out a project, it's not actually shown on here. So, it
will >> it'll equal up. >> Yep. >> It shows better in the five-year plan. Uh when he has that document, it shows what county wheelage tax um allocation would be applied for each and so it gives a better a better outlook on how
we're spending that. But again, based how you close it out, it shows differently. >> Yep. And depending on how like striping comes in or other projects come in, that's one that I kind of once once projects start to get final out and we see how they come in, then I can utilize
that money. >> Any question additional questions on are you the permit application fees >> ready for 330? >> Can I ask a question on 6903?
Yes. >> What's the >> um >> what are your trends you're seeing? >> So the main driver in this is if we have to get a railroad permit or not. So railroad permits are the most expensive. >> You don't even need to make sense.
>> Yeah. And they also like to bill you to prepare your bill as well. So we get a bill prep fee. >> Perfect. Page 47. >> Yes. So this is administration. So this covers our office manager, admin,
assistant, engineer, assistant engineer, and highway accountant. Um on the revenue side, nothing really to note. Um 10330-5151 is moving in utility permits and then 103305830
is joint facility admin fees that we collect from the state and the city of Morhead. Um so on the expenditure side so one thing 103306202 postage so we did increase this because with the CASL 11 project we are planning
on doing a couple different mailers to inform the public of the public meetings and land owners. 10330 6271 covers our cost accounting software RT vision stuff that we use every day.
10330 6331 traveling expenses. So we did go up from 9,000 to 10,000. So this covers travel for both myself and the assistant engineer for such things as like the NACE conference that we've been attending annually that I think is a really good thing.
And then also 103306 3333 conference registration has been going up slightly. So the conferences that we do go to including Minnesota transportation conference and then ACE conference have just gone up a little bit. So it's just covering the cost of that.
>> Do you include your AMC in that as well? >> Yes, AMC comes out of there as well. >> Thank you. Any questions on the administration side? >> Moving on.
>> Yes. So 340 is shop. So um the revenue that's shown. So that's any expenses that we incur or that we bill out for the joint facility. Um on the expenditure side 103406109.
So on call pay similar to maintenance is up just due to the union contract. So our diesel mechanic does receive on call pay and we will put them on call if we have staff on call. 103406302 equipment repair and maintenance. So we
did go up 25,000 just trying to capture what we have been spending. Obviously it's really expensive to fix equipment. Um we've had a few transmissions go out and water graders over the last few years. So hoping that we don't have to do any of those.
10340 6410 is fuel lubrication. So this covers all of our gas and diesel. Um obviously last year we did not spend we were gas prices were good, diesel prices were good and we had a light winter.
This is just trying to capture what obviously seeing the trend in fuel prices and if we do have a bad winter just so we don't have a giant discrepancy in what we budgeted versus what we spend. And then 10 340 64 54 uniforms. Um,
so we do have a new uniform provider and then boots as well cuz the two employees in the shop do receive boots every year. And then we did switch our uniform provider to the same one that Solid Waste is using. So it's a little bit nicer but a little bit more expensive.
>> Any questions on shop or on budget in general? >> One one madam one question shop for fuel lubricants. Do we bulk purchase any fuel like at any of our shops? Do we have big fuel? >> So we have in Georgetown we have a fuel
um barrel or it's like a 500gallon tank. >> Yeah. This wouldn't be that would be bulk. >> No. And then at the landfill we have the same thing. Um other than that we don't have a commercial fueling station. Mhm. >> It's been it's been a pretty heavy topic
of discussion I would say at like district 4 meetings and there is one county that's trying it and seeing how it plays out from the environmental side. I know it gets expensive for what you have to do for containment if you have a big one. >> Yeah. >> Right.
I was going to ask that question too. You know, I think about if there's anywhere we can find some savings with that, but again, with that environmental piece, what you have to come up with up front >> wipes out savings pretty quick. >> Yep. >> Commissioner Campbell. >> Yeah. I just I just want to go back and
clarify something. I I think I got it now, but when I when we met yesterday, I had asked to have a print out of the um annual wheelage tax that we were providing to each. That is that is not what this is. But then when I read this
when I read this I thought I'm I'm still a little bit confused on this be. So what this is is it's basically to cover these cities cost for maintaining our county roads through their cities. Is that what this is? >> That's part of it. Yes.
>> Okay. So when I I guess when I read it I was a little bit confused because it said it says money spent on city streets. Well, there we pay we pay for the county streets within the city limits of these
jurisdictions, >> right? Is that what this is? >> So, why why why why would we because according to this is money spent on city streets for 2025 and I why do we why do we pay for city streets?
So, it's been a resolution that's been around long before my time. I feel like we've had the discussion a few different times, and I feel like every time we talk about it, there's not real clear >> reason why we're doing it. >> Well, I I, you know, I know, for
example, Justin, you just said yourself that um the one um agreement that we had with Morhead was going to be coming off. Mhm. >> So, for example, right now, Morehead takes care of 11 Street through >> Morehead.
>> It's a county road. >> So, they they maintain and everything. We pay them for for doing that service. Is that what these items are for these other communities? >> Don't know how to answer that question. I guess cuz
>> my understanding with this has always been that you know if we have these our county routes that are running through the cities >> if those cities happen to you know plow some snow to >> maintain them >> maintain anything that this payment was
supposed to >> cover those costs incidentally >> that's yeah and that's and that's that's what I was getting. So that that's if if that's what this is for. I I guess the only thing that I would maybe see that we could clarify the language that and I probably voted for this resolution. I'm
sure I did, but maybe the way that we could um correct that language, for example, where we have resolution 2026-06 is reimbursement for cities for money spent on county roads within city. I
think that might help uh explain things a little bit better in terms of why we're pay why we're paying them for um >> streets within the city. >> We could look at adding that language to the resolution for next year.
>> I think it would just clean it up a little bit >> and I think it would be helpful to know how the equation comes about. What is what is how do we come up with the factors for each city? Do we have them submit
>> it's different? But >> Lori calculates these numbers. I believe it's based on tax capacity. I want to say >> well I think we've got some >> good questions that maybe um we can dive deeper in at the highway
tracking. I I think you've heard some comments based on what we want to see the cities are getting on the wheelage tax. You can send that piece out. But maybe in regards to the equation that might be a highway tracking item. >> Well, I I mean this this makes sense that we're paying them for >> agreed
>> for maintaining our streets within the cities, but I think it's how you know it determines how do you how is that what's the formula just like annual we have the formula for uh what we charge for annual maintenance for townships.
There's a formula for that. This one I don't know how we arrive at these numbers. That's what I'd like to know. >> Yeah. So, and that and that can be for, you know, a highway tracking meeting moving forward to look into a little bit more of it.
>> Please have until February for the next resolution. >> Well, yeah. >> Sorry. I have to zoom it in because my eyes are >> I do have the formula somewhere in my email. I'm trying to find it, but I can get it to you.
>> You can. Yeah. Okay. Shall we We on 49 or do we finish 49? >> I We're complete unless there's any other questions. >> Uh going back to the um change from 600 to 800,000 on that um
component. Uh and knowing how much we would see with the the rightway, >> you know, I think that might be an appropriate way to address that. um you know, you you've you've run a a pretty lean operation in regards to um all the
different changes that we've seen, but I do appreciate you having flexibility in that. Questions for Justin direction? Continue to talk about it. >> No, I think I think that makes sense.
>> Okay. And I and I I know I talked a little bit about the construction piece, but um the ability for your department to seek and receive grants lately is just astronomical. And I don't you know I want to highlight particularly the the
$24 million. That's an enormous amount of uh money and specifically Klay County Share. That's a very large allocation. So, I know that takes time to apply for those and I really am grateful for the work on that piece.
>> Appreciate it. >> Any additional questions for Justin or an? >> No. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Well, we are scheduled for a 5m minute break. We're 10 minutes behind, but we'll come back at 10:05.
back with our budget presentation for technology services. >> Good morning, Rory. >> Morning. Thank you, Madam Chair. Good morning, commissioners. Um today I'll be as you mentioned uh running through our
uh 2027 technology services budget. Um for next year things are looking fairly fairly well. Um with uh even with the cost of living and being able to cut cut a few things and renegotiate a few things we are looking at about a uh
a.54% increase overall. Um, a lot of this, a lot of this, what you'll see on the spreadsheet is maybe recategorizing or moving around software items that maybe weren't in the software line item into
the software line item. Just kind of wrapping up some loose ends there, getting everything accurate in accordance with our u auditing for software subscriptions. A couple notable areas that we saved a little bit of money on this year was uh
we renegotiated our uh state of Minnesota internet bill. Uh we were paying a little little too much. Um so we worked it out where city of Morehead and there's some other state entities and Morhead public service also
feed off that same internet connection. So they redistributed the uh percentages and recalculated those as well. So saved about $8,000 there for next year. >> Is that under >> Commissioner Bear? >> Is that under other professional services? >> That would come under under other
professional services. Yep. >> Yep. >> Um next next item. We've discontinued a file backup solution and actually reuse part of this uh application enhancer solution which uh myself and Kimberly
from Recorders man uh pays for. So that saved about $5,700 there. Um earlier this year we moved to an Amentum tax hosting solution on their platform. So, there were some onetime support
support fees and onetime startup fees that are no longer needed for next year's budget. Um, just little little bit of reduction in training budget. Um, the data processing supplies, um, about $4,000
there. Out of that, uh, $60,000, 40,000 of that is our managed print services throughout the county. So every every printer that we we purchase goes through manage managed services and just one big contract for all all printers and it
actually saves us quite a bit of money. I think last time we looked it was about 10 to 15,000 a year by going with this company. It was a good move a few years back. And let's see. So equipment over 500 we reduced that about $25,000. we just
we had been, you know, strategically being able to utilize um new purchases along with the internal services fund. Um so internal services due to we marked that up $30,000 for next year just due to the
cost of computer equipment uh with the all the AI data centers and the big onboarding of that just driving the memory and storage prices up. So that's to cover cover that over the couple hundred computers that we purchase every year.
Um but yeah, overall no no new requests. Um and I'll maybe I'll leave it leave it to you all for questions. >> Thanks Rory. Can I ask why we have a gas and oil line? >> I uh I had been using gas and oil out of our travel and expenses and now I'm
starting to use our gas and oil line. So, >> does it make sense to have it in a gas and oil line or should it be in a travel and expenses line? >> I I suppose for auditing auditors probably gas and oil. >> Yeah, madam chair, commissioners, I
yeah, in talking with Lori the it is to pay for a van and an older van that they utilize to drive around between campuses and so uh the auditor's office wished to have it in that line item. So then, if I might, does it make sense to have that
as a vehicle instead of a gas and oil? >> Gas and oil is pretty consistent on what we have in all of our other budget lines. >> All right, questions from the board. >> Questions? I I feel like you were just before us uh
talking about some of your bigger uh line item needs and so uh certainly we're well aware of some of the challenges um in the cost of the software. But any other questions? >> So we're not we're not looking at any
making any big uh software or anti virus purchases this >> we were potentially looking at a big phone system upgrade for next year but I think we're going to push that off till 2028. Okay. All right.
Uh, well, to see a 0.54% increase, Rory, that's pretty phenomenal. >> We're trying. >> I We really appreciate that. Thank you. Any other questions? All right. Thank you. >> Thank you.
Item nine today is a let's seeformational update on long-term services support and supports. This is not going to be a 354 increase unfortunately. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Commissioners,
uh, yes, unfortunately my subject is probably worse than Rory's entire budget. I come bearing bad news yet again. Um, thank you Sarah for putting this on there. I adjusted some of my notes, so I'm going to pull mine up here. >> While that's coming up, uh, you know, I
know that you've had lots of discussions with Steve as we are continuing to dial in where this gauge of, um, shifts from St. Paul and DC are landing on uh, for Klay County. Unfortunately, uh, you know, we're just finding out maybe how
large these components are, but I I do really want to say thank you for continuing to stay as active and up to date and trying to dial that in. Uh, while it's disappointing uh because they're high numbers, we do appreciate that you're active in that. >> I look forward to the day I bring good
news instead of bad news, but thank you for that, Madam Chair. Um, so today I just wanted to bring it to the board's attention about another county cost share that's coming. Um, this is a high level overview. So if you have questions at any point, just feel free to jump in.
Um, let me know. This it can be dense. I tried to keep it kind of higher level. So to kind of set the stage, historically the cost of Medicaid funded residential services has been shared between the state and federal government. Counties have always played an important role in administering the
programs. We determine their eligibility. We complete the assessments and we coordinate the services. But we have not been responsible for paying for any part of the actual residential service costs themselves. Um, with this change for us, that would mean a portion of what has historically been a state
and federal Medicaid obligation would instead become a local property tax responsibility. This is set to begin July 1, 2027 if nothing changes legislatively before then. My goal today is to explain where this cost shift came from, what services it applies to, why
social service agencies across the state are concerned about it, and then what the financial impact is so we can complete our 2027 budget process. >> Um, so >> Commissioner Kavanagh, >> so I think maybe told me once is it is
it like 50% or what percentage or all of it? >> No. And and I'll get into the history of it a little bit too. Maybe can I pause and Okay, thank you. >> Um, >> so I want to spend just a little bit of time talking about what services we're
talking about. It's not every MA service. It's not every long-term care service. It's only four specific types of services. The first one is community residential services or CRS's. Um, those are traditionally licensed group homes where individuals receive 24-hour
supervision and support. oftentimes this is onetoone staffing or 2:1 or 3 to one staffing depending on that specific person's needs. Uh the second setting is integrated community supports or ICS's. Um these are more apartment style living arrangements that still provide 24 uh
hour oversight but allow individuals to live more independently within the community. The third setting is customized living. Um these are most commonly provided in assisted living settings where people receive individualized assistance with daily living activities like medication,
meals, personal care, housekeeping. Um these are facilities with multiple beds. So like a farmstead, Lilac Homes, Arbor Park. Uh and the fourth one is family residential services. They change the acronym. Think of this as adult foster care. Um, so these are providers in a
licensed family home where an individual lives with caregiver who provides that ongoing residential support in the home. So across these four service types, we're talking about some of our county's most vulnerable residents, um, individuals with developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries,
physical disabilities, or others with pretty significant long-term support needs who require this residential these residential services to safely live within our community. Um, this really isn't a question about whether these services are valuable. They totally and completely are. The
question now is about who pays for them. So, the uh hopefully uh Commissioner Kenoff, this can maybe provide a little context here. So, this is kind of the history of how we got here. During the 2025 legislative session, the governor and the state legislature was responding to a rapid growth in LTSS spending um
particularly in this disability waiver residential services area. Rather than immediately shift those costs to the counties, the legislature created a contingent county cost share scheduled to begin July 1st, 2027. At that time, it was thought to be a 5% uh cost share.
At the same time, the legislature created the LTSS advisory council uh to develop recommendations to reduce the LTSS spending by 177.5 million over the 2728 bienium. Uh the challenge on this
is timing. So any recommendations from the LTSS advisory council and there are many are also going to require legislative approval and then federal CMS approval before we can actually in them implement them. So the concern for counties is that those steps are not
going to happen before the cost share is scheduled to begin. So even though that work is happening to bend that LTSS cost curve down, counties still have to make the decision to plan for the possibility that this cost shift is going to take effect July 1 of 2027. I think part of
the other concern that I have if uh if I might you know January 1st my understanding is there was anywhere up to six and a half% increases in what those rates are which are justified based on the market. Um but in a time when we're seeing rapid growth on the
spending, you're seeing the legislature increase up to 6%. What that is, you know, it will it will be a significant challenge without looking at eligibility >> uh to reduce that by 177.5 million. >> Correct. And so we have this hard
challenge where um you know the foster care work, you know, those group homes demand fair payments and we've talked about fair payments, right, on those pieces. Um, but you just there's just not going to add up to what you you
said. And and at the end of the presentation, I think this board, who we've taken more of a legislative lead on things, I think this is something that will justify a priority from Klay County on what we legislatively push.
>> Thank you for that. >> Um, so the budgeting on this, it is difficult. Um this is this is uh kind of the explanation we got makes it particularly challenging. So even though we know the cost share is scheduled to begin July 1st 2027, we don't know the exact amount. Um the final cost is going
to depend on a lot of different moving pieces. It's how many people are going to be in those four types of residential placements at the time. The level of services that they need. uh as the chair said, the waiver rates themselves uh the total state spending and of course
whether the legislature or CMS takes any actions before that July 1st 27 date. So this isn't just a fixed dollar amount that we can plug into the budget. It really is a best educated guess in terms of what this uh cost is going to be. So for that number, I just wanted to
provide that context. It's just a planned estimate, not necessarily a final cost. So, uh, best information that we have right now, our estimated cost is between 505,000 and 543,000 for six months, uh, the second half of
2027. But beginning in 2028, if that cost share goes into effect for a full year, uh, with the projected inflation in that, we're looking at again approximately a 1.3 to$ 1.4 million or more. Again, depending on what's done
with waiver rates and the costs of those placements, depending on all of those moving pieces, um, if I'm trying to find a silver lining, the state is taking action on what they can control without federal level um, approval. So, effective April 1st of this year, the
state moved to a tiered rate payment system for FRS's or the adult the adult foster homes. Um, basically all new ones we're getting on this tiered rate and it will roll out to all F FRS settings by April 1 of 2027. The intent of that
change is again to bend that cost curve down to realize 177.5 million in savings. Since FRS's is one of the four residential service areas included in this cost share, hopefully that action will stabilize or hopefully reduce the cost of at least one of the four
settings. Um again these are planning estimates not final numbers. The actual cost is going to depend on those uh metrics that I referenced. Um again the key issue for for us that I see is that this the current the way that the legislation exists right now is this is
required on July 1 of 2027 unless the legislature changes in the next session. Um, I'll continue to monitor obviously any legislation that comes forward, the work of the LTSS advisory council and if we get any approval from the federal level and update this board as I get new
information or it becomes available. But I mean with that I would yield for any questions that you might have. >> Commissioner Kavanagh >> because uh things are so legislative here. I mean are our
local folks, representatives, they're aware of this. >> Um I believe on the LTSS advisory council, there are members of the disability community present as well as advocacy groups. Um in terms of the messaging that's gone out from that, I don't know how well it's been.
>> So I think the question though was your if I might your question was are senator Joy and he >> are they I'm sorry was a question. >> Are they aware of this big bump coming? I I believe so in the 2025 legislature
that that was a part of the governor's budget and the budget that was >> okay. >> Madam Chair, we did have the opportunity to talk with Senator Coop on several issues last week. Uh and this was one of the issues that we did bring forward.
Uh well um when we look at uh the SNAP admin piece and this piece and a couple others that are substantial uh levy increases. Um
I think this board has no choice but to continue to advocate at a large louder level. Um but my question comes more of uh what are our colleagues throughout you know your other directors throughout
the state what are they talking about how how could we realize some savings are there any internal mechanisms that we could utilize to bring this piece down um because I I'll say we've had luck advocating for things at the
legislature but I don't know if they care um we've We've told them what the increases will be and unfortunately they don't have any money and so it's the easy thing to do is to uh push it to the
counties for the counties to figure out and we operate as an extension of the state. Uh so we have to do these things but what can we do? >> What can we do? >> We haven't talked about auto placement. No, I I know, but I'm
>> I mean, we counties are trying to say, "Okay, we aren't this isn't our program. We're administering your program, but we are going to have to cut unless Klay County wants to see double-digit increases in levies, which I know we none of us do, and our community has
said there's no way we want to do this. What can we do?" And that's not on you so much as on us, but something's got to give. Um, we we have had at least preliminary discussions like regionally with directors. Some of them are are I'm going to say rolling the dice or kind of
budgeting less than what the the total amounts are in hopes that we will get some legislative action. Um, I am also concerned given the overall state budget situation that there just isn't money to pull from to to fill some of these holes. So, I I do believe at least what
I'm presenting with with my budget is that we do need to account for the total amount of these costs because I just don't know that we're going to get that support at the state level. So, my you know, my takeaway is the majority of social service expenditures is salary. Um, so usually what we're able to do in
terms of helping impact that levy is reduce services, increase weight times, or look at staffing. Um, and again, I I don't want to do that. That's not our primary function at social services, but that's typically the levers that we have to. >> But some of the problem with the increase in the weight times is that's only going to burn us on the error rate
components in other areas, too. I mean, that's that's the challenge that uh we're going to have. Um, and I think from the advocacy component, you know, with um my the number I heard was 50% of
the legislature will be new next year. Uh, and so how are we, now that you're dialing in on what these numbers are, how are we outreaching to people that are running for positions, uh, not just Klay County, um, you know, this district area, but I think regionally we need to,
and this is a priority that we need to talk about at AMC at fall policy. >> Yes, Commissioner Baker, >> what number are you going to plug into your uh, >> from a trans transparency standpoint? probably 505,000. I think that that's
the s like the most conservative to not over project but also not underp project. I think that 505,000 in that range that we said is probably the most responsible one based on what we know right now. >> Uh I am concerned as uh Madam Chair said about the increase in the waiver rates
and what that could look like into 20 when we get to 2027 what that looks like and to 2028. So I think that that's probably the best happy medium if that makes sense. Y, >> Madam Chair, and and Quinn, I know we'll talk more about this when you do your budget presentation, but to Commissioner
Bear's question in rolling the dice a little bit, we are at this point we're anticipating rolling the dice on on the act. Correct. >> That that is correct. >> Yeah. So from a from a budgeting standpoint, again, we'll talk more about that moving forward, but uh but the
African-American >> preservation um >> yeah, our child protect and I mean again, we can we'll get into more detail when I present my budget, but our child protection staff are incredibly good at what they do and I think we're able to absorb some of those responsibilities or at least that's what I'm going to be presenting and a way to hopefully not
have to increase any expenditures there because I know all of these other things are impacting us, too. Any other comments? >> Thank you for continuing to dial this in. We appreciate you keeping us up to date. >> Thank you very much.
>> Thank you, Quinn. >> Item 10 today is a request approval to fill the auditor treasurer position due to retirement and approve position PDQ. Steve. Well, thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, this is a
sort of a sad day, a day I've had a year, this year I've had on my calendar for several years. After nearly 39 years, Lori Johnson has made the determination that it's time to retire. Uh, and she is going to be uh uh her
last day of work is going to be November 25th of of this year uh with her final day of employment at December 18th, 2026. Uh and so as you certainly well know, she comes with a variety of of different responsibilities along with all of the
years of experience that she has. Uh and so we've been having ongoing conversations both in human resources and also at the pick level for several months. Uh given the given the uh the importance of her role, uh we did work with Davidson associate and we had the
PDQ uh updated. Lor's also had impact and uh feedback into that along with with HR. We've had discussions again as I mentioned at at the pick level. Uh we are we are again concerned with with
that level of institutional knowledge that's going to be leaving us and the challenges not only with the under treasur's office but elections and also her oversight of the DMV uh of looking for a the correct transition period. uh so some of that information can be
passed along and so uh there's two things here before you today really first as was mentioned to to seek approval to to refill the position uh we have a timeline uh that we that again is
tenative of looking at the the process again our our pick's expectation uh would be is that we would like to have the full board uh as part of uh part of the selection process. As I've shared in the past, this is one
of the tougher jobs in the state of Minnesota uh to fill uh government accounting uh that has all necessary qualifications. And so we wanted to start this process early uh so should we uh not be able to find the right
candidate in maybe the first application that we would still have time uh to to run a second ad uh and also provide uh provide an overlap with with Miss Johnson. And so as you can see uh we are we are here today at board action. We're
looking to get the position posted uh assuming the board makes a decision to do so today. uh and uh we'll look at first review of applications at the end of August. Uh we we will also then uh we also then have set up interviews middle
of September uh and then selection of the board uh where some of the tenative piece came in. If we do do have a situation where we have a a group of very good candidates, qualified candidates, we may look at at that that
posted position moving a little bit more quickly. Uh right now we're looking at roughly uh a six week overlap uh for for the new new aud treasure and and Lori. uh the benefit that this year is that does provide them the opportunity to be part
of an election process uh the budget process uh and then then ultimately uh I guess truth and taxation. So uh the second portion of the request today again then would be to to motion to approve the draft uh auditor treasur
position that is attached and as I mentioned has been u reviewed by David drowns and associates Lori and also human resources. Uh as you can see there are as part of that David Drsson associate uh when the auditor treasurer
position uh went uh from an elected elected to appointed um Lori was placed on a a separate grid. Uh and our goal is to to have that position be brought back onto uh the county grid. And so in in
the discussion that we had in pick after reviewing the feedback from Davids and Associates, uh the recommendation before you is to place uh this position on uh on the on the grade 28. Uh and so u as
you can see down in the cost impacts, I do have uh the the grade 28 range there for both for 26 and 27. You also have um a wage calculator in the back of this uh your packet uh that shares that that
same information of what that breakdown would be. Again, we do not know uh we do not know what the where the candidate would lie uh from an experience standpoint, but wanted to provide you uh with the range uh as we move forward with this decision. Uh and I believe
with that I would yield for any questions. >> Thank you, Steve. Commissioner Bear, >> for just a little bit of history, when did we go from this not being elected position? How long has it been? >> I can't remember the exact year, but it was when Brian Berg was still here. So,
it's been quite a while. Um, >> six years. >> I've been here 12 years. >> Yeah, I want to say probably like 20 Okay. >> 20 15 or >> 15 or 20 years. We can get that answer.
>> Any addition question on that >> board discussion? >> Looks like a good plan laid out here to >> Well, I reluctantly uh even want to address this. I think it's um it goes
without saying that Lor's led that department really well and her work particularly with the integrity of our elections has been phenomenal and how she works with the cities and our townships and all of the different polling places. So uh you I'm appreciative that she's willing to stay
on past the election of this fall as we u make sure we have some normaly and continuence there. Uh this was an item that we talked about at the pick committee last uh week and and certainly felt that having the information before
you um to kind of decipher uh not only the timeline but uh making sure that we place it back on the grid we felt was important. >> Commissioner, did you have anything else to add in that discussion?
>> Commissioner Ebinger. >> Yes. Uh Steve, have we are we letting Drone and Associates do the hiring process or is our internal uh HR going to be a function of this?
>> Madam Chair, Commissioner Everger, we're planning to to handle the applications. >> Okay. Is there any I'm sure there's statewide uh resources we can use to advertise this. Are we looking at possibly a national search?
>> Um, that again that would be up to this board. I think that uh from what we talked about in the pick, we would utilize the the the normal the normal state and local advertisements that we've done. >> Thank you,
>> Commissioner Campbell. I certainly think it's the intention that the final interview process will be the full board >> be doing the interviews of the you know and I don't know to what level we want to have that dwindled down for example
based on number of applicants but um I don't think it's necessary to be doing a national search on this I but um in terms of the two motions that you're asking for here Or is there would there be a third one to establish the
grade or is that you want that included in the PDQ? >> I would have that included within the PDQ if if if the board wished to do it that way. >> Madam chair, I move approval of the rehiring of the auditor treasury position due to retirement to include overlap. >> We have a motion offered from
Commissioner Campbell and a second from Commissioner Bayer. Any further discussion? >> Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign carried. >> Madam chair, I'd also move to approve
the draft PDQ for the auditor treasurer position and establish a a grid with uh that position being on grade or the through our current grid at grade 28. >> I will also say >> we have a motion offered from Commissioner Campbell and a second from Commissioner Bear. Any further
discussion? Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. opposed. Same sign carried. >> Thank you. >> Item 11 today is our unfinished
business. Uh item A, the Klay County Board of Commissioners will consider modification to the University of Minnesota Extension contract staffing levels. This is uh we need to take this from the table. >> I make a motion that we take this from the table and continue our discussions.
Okay, we have a motion offered from Commissioner Krab off and a second from Commissioner Bayer to take from the table. Any for no disc it's not discussionable. Uh all those in favor of the motion signify by saying I >> oppose same sign. I'm hopeful my my club
leader would have been okay with my Roberts rules of order there, but okay. So uh we do have uh Cecilia Amadu with us today and Carrie Robodu as well. Thank you both for coming back and also providing uh the information for us to
continue this dialogue. Particularly appreciative after a phenomenal Klay County Fair wants to take it. >> Uh thank you, Madam Chair. As you recall, this past uh week, there was the discussion about the potential addendum
to our our current contract due to a an opening uh that currently uh is within the extension office uh and with the with the challenging budget that we have ahead rather than potentially hire someone uh and then look to maybe have to adjust it later to have that
discussion. Uh now we had uh several questions from from the commission uh that we were looking for additional information on uh and uh and uh again because of the timing of the fair last week uh Cecilia was unable to bring that back while we were still in
session and so we had the opportunity to to put that uh tabled uh to to talk about it today. And so, uh, you each, uh, received a handout of of the paperwork from extension that's provided the additional, uh, information that you've asked for as far as numbers and
usage. Uh, there's also within that packet, uh, a a potential adjustment to 08. Again, the board would have to make the decision if that's uh, what they would wish to do. Uh, but you have do have that additional information. And I don't I'll turn it over uh to extension.
They may have some additional comments. Thank you so much. Uh first of all, >> microphone is green. >> I hit the Yep. There you go. >> Perfect. >> I will say again, thank you. Uh I really appreciate you tableabling this conversation so that I could join my
colleague to continue that conversation and answer any questions that you might have today. Uh if I may take a moment of introductions, my name is Carrie Rabidu. I am the Northwest 4 program leader. Uh I am a resident of Klay County and I am
also a Klay County 4 alumni and as uh I understand a number of you have connections to the 4H youth development program. I uh heard you reference a couple of my colleagues last week. So I just need to take a moment to say you know I was in nth grade when Brenda
Schaefer uh joined Klay County 4 and uh later I worked for her and she was a great mentor to me. I continue to work with Becky Harrington and so um I appreciate that longevity of um commitment and uh all of us looking at
that tradition of 4 youth development in Klay County uh and being able to talk about it with you today. Um I uh at this time I think what we'll do is take a look at that handout. Uh if you would reference that. What I would
draw your attention to first is you see at the top that 4 youth development uh and our youth and that participate in 4H youth development programs are beyond ready. And as we talk about that we know from longitudinal studies that young people who participate in 4 youth
development programs are ready for work, ready for life. On a national level, 4H youth development is making great efforts to uh continue to grow and expand the number of young people who are working in the or who are a part of the program. Um the traditional ways
that we bring young people into the program are continue, but we're also looking at new ways that we are uh able to engage even more young people. So in Minnesota, we're taking that in great strides as well and in Klay County. Um,
and so knowing that young people who participate in the 4H youth development, they're two times more likely to be a leader, three times more likely to to participate in community service. They're more likely to report that um they're living life with intentionality
and purpose. That comes from the experiences that 4 offers young people and those opportunities for project learning for both successes and failures and for them to be able to have those leadership opportunities from the time they start in a 4 program.
So, as you can see, I'm I I am excited about the 4 Youth's development program, and I could go on about that for a while, but let's jump down to the numbers, if you will. One of the questions that was asked last week is to look at the last 10 years of data. Uh, and so what I have provided here for you
is our total 4 youth during those years, our total 4 volunteers. uh as volunteer systems management is a critical component of something that all of our extension educators do because if we only had staff working with young
people, we would reach this number of people. But because of our volunteer systems and 4H youth development uh and the training and onboarding um screening that we do for risk and safety uh for those adults working with young people, we're able to reach so many more. Uh so
that total number of volunteers is a really important number to see that that has grown as well. And then uh we did look back at past um MOAS to put in that staffing FTE. Now didn't go into the details of where we might have had some
staffing transition uh where there might have been a year of of some gap there. I mean we could fill that in if we wanted to dig deeper into the numbers. Uh but I hope that that helps give uh an idea of where we're headed. I will explain to you that bottom line 2526. We're not
done yet. Uh we don't have all of the numbers in from the site agreements that we've had where we're uh doing 4H youth development programs at sites as of you know ending this spring and we don't have summer numbers in there for programming yet either. Uh so that's a I
wanted to put that in there still. I didn't want to uh leave out the 2526 year but certainly you can see the growth trends from there. I'll pause for a moment and see if you have any questions uh or if that this data gives you what you were looking for there.
>> Carrie, in regards to the uh the 202526 piece, that number is not unlike what we would see in other years at this time because we've not finalized those. Um that's a typical number that we would see until we finish the end of the year with that.
>> Right. Right. It's where I'd expect it to be now. Yeah. Commissioner Bear. >> Madam Chair, one question, one comment actually. Thank you so much for getting these numbers. This is what I asked for last last week. I appreciate you getting these to me. I very much appreciate that.
>> Uh I uh one, you know, I know you'll talk about the afterchool piece um later on in the presentation, but some one of the questions that had come out is how have how has the program grown or ebbed and flowed throughout the past 10 years?
And I've had the fortune of being on that committee throughout that time. And there have been some challenges and and changes in regards to how we staffed it and trying to get back to to see what a post if we were intentional about staffing the office postcoid where I I
think we saw a dip in the programming. What would that do? And if I were to take 2425 for example, um there's a jump from 687 to 811 in that full year of programming
with 2.0. Uh that is uh more than a class and a half of graduating seniors at Morehead High. And so to have two professionals working with that demographic
uh is quite substantial. my perspective. Any questions? Okay, moving on. >> All right, so when you flip I think you're on a two-sided piece of paper. So when you flip that over, uh, as we talk about growth and impacts here, I I I've
laid out three ways that young people are engaged in the 4 youth development program in Klay County. At this point, we have our 4 community club program. Uh, we have community clubs scattered throughout Klay County. uh and 11 of them at this time. I gave a little
description if you aren't familiar with a community club. Uh this is typically a community-based group of families, young people, adults, not always parents, it's guardians, it's grandparents, uh who are gathering
together to have uh meetings of sorts that always include business meetings, project learning. It can involve community service projects. Uh whatever that group decides they want to learn what their interests are and how they
want to move forward. We also have 4 after school programs and over the last school year we were in Morehead uh at a multiple at a multiple sites DGF Holly and Barnesville. And then we also have our sitebased 4
programs. And this is so you know as you kind of look through that we have that community-based option. We have we go to schools and engage with kids right as they're leaving the their classroom and uh they stay for an afterchool program. And then we have sitebased programs
where we go to where they have adults working with young people. We partner with them, provide them with curriculum and that positive youth development approach to uh work with young people through experiential learning opportunities and they have 4 at those
sites and currently we are at New Roots Midwest uh the New American Development Agency, Barazzula Africa and YMCA Morehead. Uh so those are examples of ways that you know many people are more are familiar with that community club
approach. Uh but it's important to understand that we have multiple ways that we're engaging young people in 4. I'll add then at the bottom where where are we going from here? Uh we are I think I mentioned at the beginning if for always stayed exactly the same we
would engage exactly the same way. Right? So we want to continue that because we have a great tradition and history uh through our community club programs, our afterchool programs. But how else can we reach more young people? One of the strategies that we are
looking at is engaging and partnering with our local schools to go into the classrooms where perhaps they have had to discontinue programming that our school districts used to do. And we're able to bring in that learning
experience during the school day and uh offer that experiential learning type opportunity and then those young people are learning about 4. They're having that 4 experience and then we say hey we also have afterchool programs we have community clubs we have summer programs
that you can engage in. Uh just opening up so that more and more young people are learning about what 4 youth development is. So that is a strategy uh that we have been working towards uh in some of the other counties that I am supervising and across the state and
that is that is a future uh potential and I think uh something that we will be doing here in Klay County as well. Um I also put as another example our homeschool organizations are another natural fit uh for us. There are so many
things that the goals of homeschool parents and what we're able to offer through our programming really align nicely together and where we are partnering with homeschool groups. We've had great successes. So, as I look to the future for Klay County, those are
some things that I see to do that. need staff, you know, and I I think um that that's what I'm here to answer any questions uh give you any information that you need. Uh to of course I am on that side of supporting and and I want
to see that staff in place where we have staff in place. We are doing programming. We're supporting volunteers. We're supporting the existing program but continue to grow. >> Questions from the board? I might also highlight just so the board
can as you decipher uh I it was probably two years ago Carrie where we met at the main line with the uh fair county fair board and there was some uh pointed concerns about the partnership between uh extension staff and the fair board
and how we continue to support each other moving forward and where the fair board felt there were certain gaps in areas that extension had um previously uh kind of covered And I I brought that back to this board and this board supported that and brought it back to a
2.0 uh and uh fresh off a county fair that just ended on Sunday. I was deliberate to make sure and talk to fair board members and other uh leaders in program areas. And I'm happy to report that they were really pleased with uh
the presence of extension, particularly at the check-in day that is a high stress, high craziness day, but to have it um staffed in such a great capacity and particularly the animal shows where there's a lot of overlap with clay uh 4
and extension or 4 and FFA and the fair board. it really went seamlessly so as to make sure that our young people had the best experience possible. And so I just want to um thank you uh both for hearing those concerns from them and
making sure we address that. I'm hopeful in whatever this board deciphers um that we can continue to make sure we're addressing those needs because uh you know that that really is a large part of having the the Klay County Fair as successful as it has been.
questions. Thank you. >> So, uh just to recap, uh we currently are under theou uh we do have anou that will end in 2027. Uh we are under extend the extension committee at the
state is just now creating a subcommittee that will work on negotiating what the nextou will be. uh anything. This board has an option of um approving the rehire of the position as theou stands or making an addendum to
theou to tweak if we felt um felt like that was appropriate. Uh we need to advertise based on the university's timetable which is why there's been a little bit of a hiccup there. we can only hire during that, but
because it's been a longer amount, there will be a savings to what Klay County will see on the 2026 price because that's been open for a while. Correct. Um so uh if this board were to entertain
uh reducing one of the extension educators in the youth development area that would uh result in a 20 approximately sorry >> 21,000 >> 2000
>> yeah approximately 21,000 for 2027. However, there has been because it's been open May, June, and likely all of July, there will be three months of savings potentially
in that. So, effectively what we're talking about is a savings that or an increase that we've already seen a savings roughly. >> Commissioner Kabangh, >> excuse me. Thank you for uh answering
the questions. Um I guess I want to repeat and kind of go back to last week um as we had our um last extension committee meeting. It was at at that time uh Commissioner Mojo
and I brought this up to you about the budget strengths that we're having to face in the coming year and we uh talked about and and um wanted to bring forward uh moving this position as it uh gets uh
we look for it to be refilled to bring it to 08 uh rather than the 0.1 and we thought we did work, >> huh? >> One point, not 0.1. >> Oh, excuse me. Okay. Uh, a full time and, uh, instead you point eight. And
so, um, we talked about that. Uh, I think at this point I'd like to make a motion. Um, and we can discuss that as a board. But I'd like to make a motion to the uhou agreement that we fill this uh
u um this employee educator extension ed educator to a.8 >> second. >> Okay. We have a motion offered from Commissioner Krabnoff, a second from Commissioner Ebinger to reduce uh to amend the
uh agreement with theou between the University of Minnesota extent and Klay County. For that discussion any Commissioner Ebinger, >> I just restate what what we discussed
last week. uh we have two pretty capable people who have a portfolio assignment on the extension and having heard from them I I think I'm I'm grateful you're coming in with a reduction
as we as we just had another example uh from Quinn it's going to be a tight year but we can't we can't start destroying partnerships and relationships and function that we've had for decades in this
commission. We are facing a challenging time, but we certainly aren't going to surrender by mass reductions in in in things that benefit our county and that our citizens expect and 4 is one of those things. I
understand I appreciate that these are lean times and it may be a couple rough years uh in budgeting but this is a measured response. Uh it certainly makes sense to me, but I don't have the knowledge of the extension or 4 that our two
commissioners that are serve on that board do. And if it's seen as a as a uh reasonable reduction and something that won't damage the partnership or the the things we provide to our county
residents, I'm going to be supportive of it. >> Any further discussion? Well, I uh talked earlier about the highway department and the amount of construction projects that we've added based on the community input that we've
heard u making sure we're addressing what our community wants and um I have not talked to anyone that supports cutting this to point8. uh my community uh the residents that um
are investing in uh what they feel as the um holistic programming that their grandparents have supported that they've uh worked hard to continue to support that they've seen savings uh with their school districts. This is a way that our
school districts are able to see savings. And I know you just highlighted four, but my understanding is all five of the school districts have had the afterchool programming. Um, and uh, yes, there are challenging times and I have
put forth a point.8, but um, because we are trying to see challenging times, but uh, nobody wants this. Um, and so the challenge for us is do we cut locally wanted things because we're getting mandated for things that are
really challenging. And that's a really hard decision that this whole board has to um experience. But I spent the entire county fair at the county fair. Our family uh checked in and camped Thursday until Sunday when
it was 100°. And when you see a hundred children at 7 o'clock in the morning washing animals, feeding animals, being driven to do really great things, that's not something I'm willing to cut.
And so I appreciate and I pushed forward, but I I um I'm willing to um push this forward as a full-time and um allow this to um see what we can maybe
see some savings in negotiation of anou. Additional comments? Any additional comments? We have a motion on the table. Sarah, will you do a roll call? >> Commissioner Ebinger. Hi. >> Commissioner Kmanhoff. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Mojo.
>> No. >> Commissioner Campbell. >> I. >> Commissioner Bear. >> Hi. >> So, we have an amendment to the contract. Uh, thank you so much for providing the information.
And Cecilia, you will work with the chair of the extension committee to sign that agreement and push that forward. >> And then as soon as that's done, the timetable will then carry. You'll have the ability to
do >> Yeah. Uh our next hiring round isn't until the end of August, but we're working towards a special hiring round for Klay County so we can get it posted as soon as possible. Okay, great. All right. So then uh the next
item is to take off the table the other component. >> Did we do both? Did we do both? >> Uh we did not specify. We just specified the first item. >> Okay. So we'll need a motion to take from the table the extension budget
presentation for 2027. >> Move to do so. >> Okay. Okay, we have a motion offered from Commissioner Kenoff to do so. >> Second. >> A second from Commissioner Bear. It had to be Commissioner Bear. Uh all those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Same sign.
>> Carried. >> Thank you. >> And Madam Chair, Commissioners, you do have uh you received a handout today with two separate budgets. I believe that the budget that we'll be discussing based on your action uh is the first first of the two. Uh if you look at
regular salaries to 6105, it would be the 355430 uh document. >> Yeah. And I just want to emphasize that that um number includes our office admin position as well. So all the staff in the office um is included in that line
item. Um and then just want to highlight the area that's talking about the marketing. Um we we had a few things in our office that are running out and we want to make sure that we're sharing our store with our community having a little trinket. So we're increasing the u
marketing line um line to $1,000 to account for that. Um otherwise everything is pretty standard and accounting for just office supplies and and PDM for um CC meetings and um some of the insurance fees that comes with
our commissioners on the board. So, okay. >> And I just want to just highlight that we have some great donors that um have been continuously supporting um by giving us a $10,000 donation that is included on the top line item there. So, that's continuing to come in and uh
we're grateful for that partnership um um to that farms. So that brings our total to 3903 um 665. I said total um budget for the 2027.
>> I'm sorry I didn't hear the last what was the number? >> 393665,000. That was before the amendment though, right? U Madam Chair, that's after the the second. Yeah, >> got it.
>> Yeah. >> All right. Is there any item additional items you want to highlight on the budget or any questions from the board? >> Thank you. I do want to appreciate uh you for continuing to keep that the the office supplies component in the printing and publishing. That was a
really important piece uh for general operations of the office. So I uh think that is and it's in there and I continue to thank you for keeping it in there. Anything else, Commissioner? All right. We just want to thank you for
your continued support. We understand some of the challenges that are coming down, but um as you know, the numbers are speaking for itself and we just really appreciate the continual partnership. >> Yeah. Thank you. Well, thank you both for being here and make sure you thank
your staff for the excellent work the last week. Absolutely. >> Especially Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Okay, item 12 today is our committee reports. Commissioner Abinger.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, last Wednesday the 8th, I was virtually uh participated in Northwest Emergency Communication Board meeting. Um, just general business took place. It was
fairly for that committee was fairly brief meeting. Uh we did uh discuss the uh group had a uh our former or our previous meeting had been at the Red River Regional Dispatch Center. Um and
there were a lot of compliments and very impressed with the facility that we've got here. Um, also an IPO appointment, uh, Richard Groves as as our alternate and
other than committee reports, that was the the entire uh, meeting on Friday the 10th along with all of our commissioners, I was at the Klay County government day, Klay County Fair. Uh,
very impressive, very warm, but we enjoyed it. It was a good opportunity to uh meet some of the of our constituents and uh support the what Klay County is doing to them and there was was a pretty good reaction from some of the fair
board that came by too. >> So was happy with that and that completes my report. >> Thank you Commissioner Evinger and Commissioner Camp Kavanagh. So, on Thursday, uh, July 9th, I was at the ClaySwc
monthly board meeting. Um we went through uh uh regular uh voting business on and just want to make um comment that there were a couple uh cover crop plings uh
that were um being uh requesting assistance. Uh there was one well sealing. We don't do many of those anymore, but uh uh we gave that cashier out for one and then u our contract
assistance for another cover crop throughout our u uh other discussion items. Uh we had our updates. Um I think uh Ezra was there. If you have any comments on those, Ezra, you can u I
want to um maybe that's all all I'll really say. Ezra, you can fill in if you like. Um on on the 9th, I did uh was part of the Klay County government day with the
rest of you. I too enjoy that time at the fair. gotten really comfortable being as a group. But I was really impressed this year how our group continues to grow the way that all laid out with our roughly eight tables of
people there. I mean, you know, it's gathering more attention uh for people to come visit with us and uh and I think it's so important to be showing ourselves at at the fair. Um on the uh on Sunday I was back there for uh most
of Sunday afternoon uh through the historical society. I sat for a couple hours in the humble uh schoolhouse. Always enjoy doing that. It had air conditioning and so people would drop by on that. But it's fun to see the
history. And I'm old enough to remember the uh little country school that was uh less well as the crow flies about a half mile away. And that was on the very south end of Morehead Township called Clear School. you know, many of these
schools, especially to the north, closed in 1958 when the referendum in Morhead came to place and we ended up with Saving School, Georgetown and North and South Junior High. So, um, they did go
on for a long time as well as the Humble School was 1958 when it's closed, but it did it did start in 1918. So anyway, it's always fun to be in that building. And then the other part I was
able to be a part of and uh honored to help uh help out from extension with was being part of the award ceremony and that was uh on Sunday at 3:00. Uh we had a outstanding family farm family of the
year which is the Ryan and Michael Hog farms in Barnesville. We also had the outstanding farm leaders which was uh Brad and Commissioner Jenny Mo and family. So congratulations to you and
and appreciate all the work that um your family is involved with throughout the county and uh um you you you bring just a strong asset to our county. Your whole family does so. And then we had the
Indie issue Harvest Bowl uh agriculturalist that was a Harman Tandy family. Uh there were three that were honored in the hall of fame. They've been all past board members to the um uh
to the fair. Melissa Thun Lois Se thank you. And then Flurry Smith. And many of you might remember Flurry. He was a long-term person on the county planning commission and good friend of
mine from the saving area. So, um that's about the fair. On uh Monday, uh I was part uh earlier in the day. I did take in uh the uh American or AMC uh lunch and learn and
it was uh about the state of demographics and I am going to get more specific ones for Clay County but uh this uh Kelly actually presented
the state of rural um 2020 state of rural Minnesota 2026 and just a couple of things I'll make note of that uh Klay County generally and there was never anything on the negative side, but when
it came to migration change, when it came to uh natural change, meaning death versus uh uh births, uh we are growing our our migration
changes domestic and international are also growing into rural areas. Uh as a community, we're um uh more uh there's more BIPO uh uh up throughout the state
and larger in in um county. cost of housing is uh is goes up and the pressures are there, but we're considering our wage uh the different uh the wages that we have in our county
that different differentiation uh between costs and uh um uh wage growth is is less. So that's those are all fantastic uh trends that we have in Klay County. Uh we have a a low
unemployment rate. Um yeah and oh yeah and then we were one of the higher and which is important to me of our our citizens we have a high one of the highest participant participating labor forces in the state.
All very very good assets that we have here. Uh last evening I was part of the Buffalo Red WHED district. Um most of the meeting was uh really under citizens to be heard. Uh went for quite a while.
Uh we did um we did have a report uh from our new Bowser conservation um person uh for the uh for the for the Buffalo Red. Her name is Mariah Roofer. Uh she's stationed out of Detroit Lakes.
Um, we also had a um they discussed uh because of the last couple hearings that they have had at the Buffalo Red, they got very controversial. They got off track. Um they did not feel well.
some of their their last decision. They were felt they were sort of uh bullied uh to use their words uh out of making a um a decision that they'd really supported prior uh trying to listen to
the community, but the tactics were um uh very disingenuous, nonrespectful, and and just was not controlled well. So they want they uh were looking at to revise their rules of order uh not only
for their board meetings but also for their uh public hearings. Um right after that we did have a uh presentation by Apex Engineering Group and they're the people that are doing the engineering
for storm sewer as the uh highway 10 project that goes through Dworth goes through town. Um there's four parts of it uh from uh starting on the west side going to the east that they figured out
how how to handle their storm sewer and then have treatment for it. Uh the biggest uh the big part why the buffalo red on the south side of town al on just the north side of tracks is uh uh ditch
41 and that's where the um water is going to is they're working it now. Well, if you think of Highway 10 and uh the um storm water that comes off, anything from Highway 10 south will end
up going toward a retention pond to be retreated just north of the tracks. Then after that treatment, it'll flow into number 41, uh which then which is at um uh County Road Ditch. No, I had a backup here.
Yeah, county ditch uh 41 will run to the west over to 34th Street. Then we run into ditch 50 and that'll run it north out of town. So that that is a big plan and uh really uh is make uh re having to
redesign how they handle their sewing uh uh storm sewer systems throughout doors. And I had one more thing here I wanted to talk about. Um I think yeah they approved one drain
tile. So yeah those were the the oh they had their audit and everything was u uh received with no concerns and they called it unmodified opinion which means it was a clean report. That's my report. >> Thank you. >> Thank you
>> Commissioner Kavanagh. Commissioner Campbell. >> Okay. Okay, July 7th, we had a personal issues committee meeting. Um, there was a few things that we acted on based on that. The full-time LPN um status
change, the specialist position to child protection and an assistant position or legal assistant position due to a resignation. And we also had some discussion regarding the sheriff's departments with
the body worn cameras. Uh we're looking at they're looking at maybe um changing um that technology to a different company as well as the um storage that's
involved with that. And that's that will be the sheriff's department will be coming before the board in the future with that. Then we also talked about and and we acted on today the um replacement of
Lor's position on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week. I had, excuse me, I was in Duth for the um pray or the um the conference for um Lakes Country Service Cooperative. There
are seven cooperatives in the state and I serve on the board for Lakes Country Service Cooperative and items of note of that and that's their annual conference and items of note in that uh we had an outstanding service award for Lakes Country Service
Cooperative was given to Phil Jensen who was the outgoing superintendent of of Holly schools. That was very nice to see him get that award. And then also there was another and that was for Lake Country Service. There was also an award
that was given it's called the 20 it's the Barbara Hexum award and that's given to one individual throughout all of the seven cooperatives. And this year's recipient of that and it's really a prestigious awards was was
Dr. Lin Kovash from uh M public school. So that was uh it was quite an honor to be there. um Dr. Kovash's all of their all of her kids were there and some of the grandkids were there and it was really a a nice u thing to see that Lynn
got that that award. Uh then uh then I got back and I was able to attend the out at the fair for a little while. Uh it was hot. That's my report at the fair. It was
hot. you guys all covered the rest of it well. Uh and then yesterday we had um a highway tracking committee meeting. We talked about the CASA 52 projects um to close on the 22nd of July.
Um Holy Cross Township, the work is progressing. Comtock Road is now open and that project is um been completed and well done. Uh we talked about the Red River Bridge
build grant for $24 million and one of the sign I think it's a the total bridge project is $25 million and 24 million of is going to be in grants. So that's a great deal. Um, however, we talked about the probably the biggest in
incre well actually that that one uh that one will probably be able to use bridge bonding for the local share in that as well. Um, CASA 11 uh that one they received six proposals and
KJ was selected as contractor and that will be before the board next week. Um and then we talked about the significance of the rightway that's going to be needed for that project going from
uh basically from 94 to Sabin. So there's going to be a lot of additional rightway that's going to need to be acquired. So and the CASA 9 project is complete. uh Cassad 26 project is scheduled to start in August and that goes from Highway 75
to the river. And then we had some, you know, we had some budget discussions um that we talked about today when Justin was here. And that concludes my report.
>> Thank you, Commissioner Campbell. Commissioner Bear. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Last Wednesday, July 8th, I went to the Wild Rice Wershed District where they approved nine permits and tabled two for more discussion at another meeting.
They also set their hearing date for their budget and levy will be the at their next regular meeting at 9:30. So, it'll be the their August meeting at 9:30. They'll have their budget and levy hearing.
And that afternoon, myself, Commissioner Mojo, Mr. Larson, and Quinn Jagger met with Senator Coop to discuss the SNAP error rates and the LTSS, which just gave us an update today on. So, we had a discussion with him on that with I mean
had a discussion with Senator Coop on that. And then the next day, July 9th, I went to the west uh soil and water board regular board meeting where commissioner Krabanov is also in attendance. And the
one thing that I'll add to his report was they discussed the 2027 tree program where they decided that from instead of having a 20 75% cost share, they're going to move it to a 50% cost share going forward because they have a lot of people wanting to cost share their
trees. So they've changed that. So they'll go 50% cash here. And then also they changed their minimum for planting and matting trees to $350. So you have to spend up to $350. >> Mhm. >> And then cost share from there for a
minimum at least. And then Friday, that's all I'll add on to that. Commissioner Koff gave a good update there. And then on Friday, I was also out at the fair. And I'd like to thank all the staff that were there for the four hours. It was warm, but it it was it was still nice. It was met met with a
lot of people and it was a I I I love going there for that four hours, but I also go to the fair other than that. So, I just enjoy being down there around all those people. And then last >> camp next year. >> What's that? >> You can camp next year. >> You have room.
>> The fair board does >> last night. Then I went to uh the Morgan Township community picnic where I gave them update on the rural water project. That is all I have for reports. >> Thank you, Commissioner Bear.
Last week, I also attended the monthly pick committee meeting that was uh summarized well by Commissioner Campbell. I attended the meeting with Senator Coopek in regards to the state shifts that we'll um we are anticipating and just talked a little bit about some
strategy and how we can continue to discuss that messaging and uh what we potentially need from him in regards to uh help advocating that. One item we also did talk with him about that is uh given the amount of bonding dollars that
Klay County received for the non-secure detention component and given how long it's taking solutions to get uh their accreditation. Uh we will need a legislative um ask for a legislative delay on uh
earmarking those PRTF funds. So talk to him about having bill language ready to go for session uh to get that done. And so it really kind of was something we'd wanted to talk to him about, but we did. So, thank you to staff for uh such a great turnout for the Klay County
government day. I really appreciate and was noticed by a lot of fair board members. Uh grateful for the turnout and also the additional um information that was brought out for the fair. Um, you know, I do maintain that that is one of
the most important things we as a Klay County can do is be present at that is there's just so many people available. So, thank you to all of those individuals who came out and I hope everyone had as much fun as we all did.
And, uh, as noted, I attended the Klay County Fair uh, highlighted some of the extension work and committees that Commissioner Crab and I are on for that. But uh I had the privilege of having a long conversation with the Minnesota Egg Commissioner Tom Peterson who for a long
time we've been trying to get him to the Klay County Fair was able to talk to him about some of the trends that we're seeing in Klay County and how we believe the Klay County Fair is one of the strongest fairs throughout the state but uh really grateful for um him for being there. But I just want to give a a shout
out to the fair board. Uh that is a something that they work entirely um on all year long. And while it was hot for all of us, we got to early dismiss with animals and projects on Sunday evening. And those folks are staying uh well into
the 90 degrees to make sure it's packed up and ready for the next year. But uh a huge great gratitude to all of the fairboard members for the work that they do uh to put it on. I attended the highway tracking committee as noted from commissioner Campbell and last night was asked to attend the scree township
meeting. As you recall, there's a potential uh larger solar project that would go into southern Klay County and parts of scree township in coordination with Matt Jacobson and planning uh and the township. They identified that
having a solar ordinance identified in their ordinance would be really important. So yesterday was their first step to discuss that. We met for almost three hours on the language of what that would be. They came out of it uh creating a planning commission. They'll have a public hearing later on and what
the potential language would be. But um thankful for the opportunity to go out there for that. We'll work with Barnesville Township potentially, but um Humble Township has already identified that they would like to do something similar. And that concludes my committee reports.
I think madam chair last Tuesday participated in the pick meeting that's been well covered. Uh also had individual budget pre-budget meetings with the assessor's office uh and facilities. On the 8th we had management uh we of course discussed budget uh
follow-up responsibilities from our intergovernmental retreat earlier this year uh and also heard updates from IT and HR. on the ETH also met with Brian uh and went through the attorney's budget uh and also met with Dale from
the DOC. Appreciate Dale uh transparency with the budget working ways to uh to try to limit the impacts uh of uh of the cost for for the Department of Corrections with Klay County. Uh we'll be having a regular budget meeting uh coming up before uh before it comes
before this full board. um worked with James O'Donnell. Uh this board approved him to submit for a stabilation stabilization grant. Uh and uh we worked the state of Minnesota to get that submitted last week. Also participated in the meeting with Senator Coopek
that's been well covered. Uh on the 9th, I met with Joe and also Kevin and Tony from the soil and water uh in in regards to the tree discussion from Commissioner Bear. uh the location that they store their trees is uh in limbo a little bit
and they're looking at potential any potential partnerships that they would have with the county and so we'll have more to come with that at the building committee level. Uh again on the 10th participating Klay County government days again appreciate our staff and commissioners uh presence there again uh
talked with James from the fair board again all the positive things that were uh have been said he shared. Uh it's a it's good to uh see so many people. Uh I think you know when we were there on Thursdays uh several years ago, we didn't have quite as uh good of an
opportunity to talk with citizens. I think that shift to Fridays made a big difference. Uh we yesterday met with James on the West Central Regional Juvenile Center budget. Uh I know that they have an advisory board this week to talk that through. uh the highway
tracking uh that's also been well covered. Uh and then uh just to update, we have our staff watching and so uh March March of 2014, the board passed a resolution shifting both the auditor treasurer and the recorder from appointed to elected. That concludes my
report. March 2014. >> All right, that concludes your report, Mr. Melton. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I I just want to say too, I uh had the opportunity to uh attend the fair as one of the department heads and uh it was a very uh really good experience, a lot of fun. Uh it was
actually pretty cool and comfortable in the beginning part of the day. Definitely heated up a little later. Um but uh just want to thank uh all this board for its support uh and then also uh to the fair board. I I think both what Steve said uh moving it to uh
Friday, but also placement where we're at. I think in times past where we were either under the grandstand or in some of the other uh buildings not not as much traffic and I think where they've placed us really gave us an opportunity to to be out uh where a lot of traffic
and and citizens were coming through and had a lot of opportunity to talk uh to folks. Uh for my office uh personally, we uh we had a a Plinko board there that a lot of kids came through and uh got to win a lot of uh candy uh andor we had
some squish balls and and right after the fair then I I saw a news report that said one of the latest Tik Tok challenges where kids are sticking uh squish balls in the microwave and lighting them on fire. So don't put your squish ball in the microwave. That's
give that little personal announcement. So thank you. Thank you. >> And you also brought Edison. >> Yeah, we actually Right. We had a It was a lot of fun, too. Uh he did a great job. He did very well out there. Again, pretty warm, but he held up very well and we got to do a lot of pictures with
a lot of kids that came through. He was obviously a big hit and uh so that was great to have him out there as well. >> Thanks. >> Thank you, Brian. Darren, >> thank you, Madam Chair. Uh most of mine has been covered already. the um pick meeting. I attended that. Also at on
Monday the 7th, July 7th, I had a meeting with Peton Law Firm on a ongoing or or possible personnel issue that we're going to be probably dealing with. Um and then I attended the pre-budget meeting for the assessor and facilities. On the 8th, I attended the manager
meeting, pre-budget meeting with the attorney's office. And then also on the ETH, uh Corey Brian, the county attorney, uh Ashley and myself had a meeting with uh Grossman and Kelly law firm. Um they are suing some corporations for PAS contamination
and mo I think most of it had to deal with drinking water and and um uh treatment plants, but they said also that landfills could be uh included. Uh so we had a little bit of a conversation after that. We didn't think that that would be something that would
be pursued as for this county at that at this point. Maybe the city of Morhead might be interested. But um on the 9th, I worked on some data requests that came in. Um I reviewed a complaint packet in preparation for a personnel matter
that's uh currently developing. Had a meeting with Kimberly on suggesting a new process for recording deeds and mortgages. On the 10th, I worked on approving the citizens concern form and uh I also then ran down to the county
fair in Barnesville and it was hot. Um on the 13th I had a meeting with Quinn and his supervisors to discuss some of the data practices act uh with his crew. Uh, I attended the pre-budget meeting with juvenile detention and then Ann and
I had a call with uh the corrections union business agent on trying to uh clean up a little bit of the uh contract um interpretation. So that went well. Um also on July 1st, 2026, the IRS updated
their standard mileage rate um to 76 cents per mile driven. um that's up 3.5 cents from the first half of the year. Sometimes they do a midyear adjustment. So um that's in our personnel policy. Uh
and basically we follow the IRS guidelines. Uh Anna asked if that had to come back to the full board for that. And I was I would ask you is is that something that would have to come to the board or we just make the >> My understanding is the motion that's
made is the standard rate. >> Yeah. I think that in the past the the verbiage that's been brought forward is to make it that way so it does not have to come back if it were to be changed. >> Yeah. Okay. Just I would just wanted to confirm that. >> Um and the last thing uh is that uh I
think you're already aware that we were granted a $2 million um grant for our organic program. So we'll start working with Corey on the particulars of that. he doesn't think that it'll probably go. He's projecting probably the spring of
2027 of getting that up and running. Uh so I think you are all probably aware of that already. Uh last thing is that um after this meeting I will be going off-rid into the Canadian wilderness somewhere. Uh I will
be back hopefully on Monday. And if I'm not back on Monday, please send a search party uh on Tuesday if I'm not here for the board meeting. Uh that >> is that what you're referring to going to your office? Is that what you call it? The going to >> Yeah, that's also off-grid. So,
um and that concludes my report. >> Okay. Thank you. Any further discussion? If not, we've concluded all items on the agenda. Uh take note uh there are two advertised opportunities Tuesday or today is that leadership forum and then
the chamber legislative recap. Uh but we will be here next Tuesday at 8:30. We are adjourned.