--------- Good morning. It is 8:30 Tuesday, July 28th. I'll go ahead and call today's meeting of the Klay County Board of Commissioners to order. Our first item on the agenda is an approval of the agenda. >> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. >> We have an motion offered to approve the agenda from Commissioner Bear. >> Second.
>> A second from Commissioner Kabnoff. Any further discussion? Madam Chair, we do have a we do have a uh not an addition but an amendment uh to number two that we will be having a additional interviewer uh this morning.
>> Okay. Uh the proposed addition amendment to item number two would be to interview four candidates instead of three. >> That's correct. >> Uh Commissioner Bear, does that >> Yes.
Any further discussion? Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carried. Citizens to be heard today. Are there any citizens in the audience
wishing to address the county board? Any individuals wishing to address the county board? >> Mr. Larson, have we had any online requests? >> We have not, Madam Chair. Moving into the approval of the payment of bills and vouchers.
>> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve pay the bills and vouchers. Second >> motion offered from Commissioner Bear to approve the payment of bills and vouchers. A second from Commissioner Campbell. Further discussion discussion. Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify
by saying I. I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carried. The minutes from the July 14th board meeting were in the packet. move to approve the bills and vouchers. >> We've already done that. I'll make >> the minutes. I meant
>> for July 14th. >> We have a motion offered from Commissioner Kavanagh to approve the payment or >> I'll second that. >> Approve the minutes. Second from Commissioner Bear. Any further discussion? Discussion.
All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. I. >> Oppose. Same sign. The minutes are approved. Our next item today uh is the conduction of interviews. We have two appointments and or reappoints to the Buffalo Red
River Wershed District Board. The Klay County Board of Commissioners accepted letters of interest for the two managers uh and will be um looking to interview for a three-year term on the Buffalo Red River Wershed Board. The term will
expire August 31st, 2029 and by statute we need to make the appointment by July 31st. We have in the packet the um letters of
interest from candidates. Uh we have Mr. Curt Stubstead, Mr. Amos Bear, we have Mr. Joel Hildebrand and Mr. Steve Lindas. Good morning to all of you. Uh we will we have your letters and we'll just have invite you up to the
front and we'll have a couple question and answers if you if you if that works. Steve, uh would you like to come forward? Madam Chair, if I could uh just just for the board's uh information and and for the chair, uh I
I did review under the watershed uh district appointment managers 103D 311 the manager qualifications. A person may not be appointed as a manager who uh one is not a voting resident of the watershed district. Uh so I would just
be asking that the board would confirm that all uh individuals are uh living uh in the county. And then two is a public officer of the county, state or federal government except that a soil and water conservation supervisor may be a
manager. in looking at uh the statute, the public officer of the county. Uh although it sounds like maybe in the past people have been duly on other boards with with my research, I believe that they should not be on two different
um appointed boards. So, uh any of the individuals you're talking to, they should indicate if they are on a a different board and if they would intend to come off that board, if they're ultimately appointed to the watch. >> Okay. can ask that question.
>> Good morning, Mr. Lindas. >> Good morning. >> We have uh your letter request. We also have some uh questions that we'll rotate through if you don't mind, but if you want to just uh maybe introduce yourself, confirm your residency, and we'll go from there.
>> I'm Steve Lindos. Um I am a Klay County resident living in Morehead. um and uh work and teach uh students critical thinking through the lens of physics at MSU Minnesota State University Morehead.
Um to speak to attorney Milton's um other question, I am currently serving on the Morhead public service um commission and I'm not sure if that is the same in terms of city commissions um or county commissions. Um, so I'm not
going to refer to that. Um, I don't think I would um resign that position since I just started that position. So, >> all right. Well, let's uh jump into the questions if we might. We'll just I'll start with number >> and madam chair. I don't I don't believe
that would be it's other it's under county, state or >> go because it's a different >> Perfect. >> Okay. >> I thought that too. Uh, Steve, what experience would you bring to the Buffalo Red River Wershed District Board of Managers? >> Um, I think my perspective I would bring
would be one of a scientific lens um, physics, ecology, um, that sort of thing. Um I would say that the systems thinking um that I approach that I bring to most um items um the watershed in
particular the one watershed one plan approach is something that's um something that I definitely would support um as sometimes political boundaries conflict with watershed um issues. I have experience um through the
scientific lens. Obviously, the the city experience that I've I bring to um uh the board and planning commission work that I've done in the past um would be useful. Um the last two years I spent um
in DC getting more of a federal lens um experience um how essentially federal um money is is allocated and spent. So that science and technology policy perspective is also um a useful. Beyond that I have not what I would say is
strong um farming background. Um you know my roots are from um this area. If you go up north on the other side of the river, the Lindos um township is where my family farm is from. Um so that's Mayville area. Um but I also have roots
from the southern Minnesota um farming community. Commissioner Campbell, would you like to ask the second question or do you want me to run through them all? >> Well, you can just run through them. >> All right, Steve, why do you want to be a watershed manager? >> So, um talking to um another watershed
manager um Dr. Gerald Anan Hamburg um he had indicated that he learned an awful lot um but also was thought that the scientific lens was particularly useful um for this. And so I'm kind of
serviceoriented, but I also thought it would um dovetail nicely with the more public service work um because there's a aspect of water and whether or not you do a west central um water district um and you know how that overlaps um but
ultimately water is arguably probably more important or equal of importance to energy um in terms of what we need to be thinking about as a um society and community count. >> Thank you.
Mr. Lindas, what is your phil philosophy on managing drainage? >> Um, well, water is important and um, you know, too much water um, can be detrimental to both ecology or or
farming practices. um but uh too little waters also. So you you want to manage it in ways um and I'm not going to say I have the expertise to know how to manage it, but using the resources that are out there, you can actually apply those and
make sure that you're actually following um sound practices. >> Thank you. >> Did anyone have follow-up questions? I'm not meaning to >> Have you had personal experience with a watershed board in the past? If yes, was it generally a positive experience? And
how would that experience affect your service as a watershed manager? >> Not had any experience with the water board. >> Thank you. The Klay County Commission, we have not updated these questions, but the Klay County Commission has been in support of the diversion project. If appointed to
the board, how would you support efforts to achieve completion of this project that's anticipated in the next 12 months? >> Um, I don't think there would be much I would do except for to make sure that I I um was uh well getting getting the
required funding to finish the differential project would be um useful. >> Yeah. >> Sure. >> Yes. Commissioner. >> Yeah. And this this question is kind of somewhat outdated. Now when we when you see that the where the diversion is and it's it's expected to be substantially
complete by this October operational by spring. But one of the important things um that the watershed will always be carrying forward and and have to always
be concerned about is the permit requirements. Uh the permit requirements don't stop because the diversion project is done, you know. So I so whoever is going to be in this position has to understand those
permit requirements. and just make sure that they're being u upheld. That's, you know, and I I I'd say that to all four of you. You know, that that would be that would be something that would be a must. So,
>> any other questions? >> All right. >> Thank you. Before you sit down, I do want to also say I know that you were helpful in writing the MPCA grant with our county staff for organics and that has nothing to do with the watershed appointment, but just uh have not had the opportunity to see you. So, thanks
for helping us uh secure that grant. >> Thank you. >> All right, Mr. Hildebrandt, would you like to go? >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> We also have your letter. Would you like to introduce yourself and state
your residence, please? Uh >> Joel Hildebrandt. I've lived in Eglund Township for 18 years. >> Okay. Item number one would be, what experience would you bring to the Buffalo Red River Wershed District Board
of Managers? um lifetime of utilizing conservation practices on the land from growing up in Pope County, Minnesota to central Wisconsin to western North Dakota and then back to uh
Minnesota. I was a member leadership position in the Palm Care Joint Powers Board in the early 2000s along with being a Grant County Supervisor. Um, I've been a Klay County Supervisor for I
believe 14 years now. Um, so have worked with commissioners and Buffalo Red WHED and projects like the Snaky Creek um project which was shared dollars from
several entities and and I guess to address what Mr. Melton said earlier, um I did apply as I was under the impression after talking to several people that I could remain on planning
and zoning and if I happen to be chosen and I do not feel at this time that I would resign those positions if if required.
>> Okay. Do you want to continue to go through the questions? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Why do you want to be a watershed manager? >> Um I feel I have a lifetime of uh experience and practical knowledge of
how projects can be made to effectively manage water and when possible enhance the quality of water. Um sediment um
control, you know, is is a is a big thing from the buffalo and the subwater sheds that feed the buffalo, which you know, in the end feed the red. >> Mr. Hildebrandt, what is your philosophy on managing drainage?
>> Um, there is a time and a place for it. Um, we need to balance the needs of agriculture with the needs of everybody that's
living in the watershed. I'm a big proponent of tiling. I think that that has made a huge difference in runoff along with different farming practices where the water soaks through
two feet, three feet, four feet depending on how deep the top soil is in a heavy rain event instead of getting a, you know, five inch rain in five minutes where it all blows through the ditches and we've all seen it.
>> Have you had experience with a watershed board in the past? And if yes, was it generally a positive experience? And how would that experience affect your service as a watershed manager? >> No direct. Um where we live, we did get
um assessed something an a small assessment for the Hay Creek which is the subwaterhed and it would have no effect at all. It was just okay this is what we need to do.
And the fifth question is, the Klay County Commission has been supportive of the diversion project and if appointed to the board, how would you support efforts to achieve completion of the project andor funds?
>> Um, I really don't know how to answer that. You know, it's, you know, five months out. Um to me there's it's the diversion is done and the the
basic what I see as the core function of the watershed district would have nothing to do with diversion. >> Any additional questions from the board? Thank you Joel. Thank
you also for serving as chair of the planning commission and you talk about those conservation efforts. I've been on several farm visits with you. So thank thank you for your advocacy in in soil management. We do appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Bear.
>> Well, it's whatever seat. >> Pick anyone. >> Just make sure the microphone's green. Good morning, Amos. Would you like to introduce yourself and then state your residency as well? >> I name is Amos Bear. I've lived in
Egglund Township for 60 plus years. I run a um poultry operation in eastern Klay County and um I've served on the planning commission,
township officer, and am CEO of Bears Poultry Company. >> You're not just talking about the poultry operation that my 12-year-old has, which is like 12 chickens. You're talking substantial
egg, which is wonderful. All right, Mr. Bear, what experience would you bring to the Buffalo Red River Wershed District Board of Managers? >> Um, one one uh thing I've done in u
the past 10 years, I was u president of a Nelson County Pigs Cooperative, which is a cooperative of 28 members. was a cooperative of 28 members. We had 7,500 SAS
and they elected me president of that operation and to keep 28 farmers from Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota working cooperatively
is a monumental task, >> right? and they reelected me several times as president and I think that cooperation instinct is within me and I
think I could benefit the board. >> Why do you want to be a watershed manager? >> I I have time. I think I have the uh expertise to serve on the board and u
we'll see what happens. Okay. Amos, what is your philosophy on managing drainage? >> I do have a piece of land that I did drain maybe 15 years ago. I think it's uh very uh beneficial for
all parties. I think what has to be kept in focus is the upstream and downstream effects of water management. Any
follow-up questions? Question four, have you had personal experience with a watershed board in the past? And if yes, was it generally a positive experience and how would that experience affect your service as a watershed manager? >> I have had experience with the watershed
board. It was as a township officer of Hegeland Township. It was uh replacing a large culvert and I believe it was Bruce Albbright at the time and it was nothing but a positive
experience. >> And finally, the Klay County Commission has been in support of the diversion project. If appointed to the board, how would you support efforts to achieve completion of the project and the funding necessary? My focus would be on uh
seeing a speedy completion and uh get it done with quickly. >> Okay. >> Any other? >> Sure. >> Yes. Commissioner Campbell, >> a follow-up question based on an answer you gave. So um when you talk about your
philosophy and you you mentioned that there can be upstream and downstream effects which you are 100% correct on. Do you believe that in instances those can be mitigated? >> I believe so.
>> I I and and the the the biggest success would be if both parties benefit. Okay. >> Thank you. All right. Thank you, Mr. Stubstead.
>> Hot seat. >> Good morning, Kurt. If you'd like to state your name and confirm your residence, please. Uh, >> Curt Stubstead. I reside in Elma Township by Sabin. Lifelong resident there. All right. What experience would you bring
to the Buffalo Red River Wershed District Board of Managers? >> I get to answer this question differently than it did the last time I appeared before you. Uh I have been serving on the Buffalo River Wershed Board and have learned quite a bit. It's been a an eye-opening experience. Uh
there's a little bit more diplomacy and consiliation needed than I was uh than I thought there would going to be because believe it or not, everybody's got an opinion about where the water should go and how it should go there. Um and to try and take all that into consideration and and reach agreements that make the
majority of the people happy uh has been a challenge. >> Item two, why do you want to continue to be a wed manager? Well, with the uh issues that we've run into, uh there are projects and things
that we've done that kind of need to be run to completion. And so I feel like the experience that I bring after having been on there on the watershed board, hopefully that I can bring these uh projects to fruition. Uh, one of the big things that I learned is, uh, watershed
management now is is not as concerned with drainage as is with water quality, especially with the states and any of the money that we get. Um, the residents come wanting us to drain things. And the state isn't as interested in draining as
they are in water management. And so to meld those together so that the residents understand that we're trying to do both, but but we have to do it in a way that also uh enhances water quality and doesn't send sediment down the down the down to their buffalo and
to the red. >> And then that leads into what is your philosophy on managing drainage? Well, there's natural drains that we have to respect. And for so many years, the
philosophy was we need to drain this land. We're going to run a ditch as straight and deep as we possibly can get the water. And you don't have to drive very far around the county to see that the effects of that, the sloughing of the roads and the sides because the water comes too fast. The philosophy now
is more of a bringing it back to a natural meander, which is easier said than done when there was never a drain there in the first place. But we do need to work on the technology to keep those roads from sloughing off because again there's u there's a significant amount of those ditches that are just straight
true and deep and in the in the in the spring there's some there's quite a bit of sloughing that goes on and the technology is not up to speed to deal with that at this point in time. >> Item four. Have you had personal experience with the wershed board in the
past? And if yes, was it generally a positive experience? And how would that experience affect your service as a watershed manager? >> Yeah, I I we've I've had land that watershed projects have went through in the past. I did a ring dyke through the wershed board. Um so I've had experience
on both sides of actually helping manage the water system and and and uh being a either a beneficiary of that or uh having to contribute a little bit of land. And that's the the other thing to people to understand the benefits and I had to have that explained to me as well
and shown how it is benefiting me uh even though I don't seem to be there that close to it but but it there are ways to to u educate the public of how this benefits us. Madam Chair, just one follow >> you just finished your first term as on
board. >> So three years you've been on >> correct. >> And then item five, the Klay County Commission has been in support of the diversion project if appointed to that board, this board reappointed, how would you support efforts to achieve completion of this project and the
funding necessary? >> Interestingly enough, I was able to go on a big tour of the whole project and have a much better understanding of the project. Um, and so there are things we can do to um, as as Commissioner Campbell mentioned, the permitting process, making sure we're working
within the boundaries of the agreements that have been set forth with the W with the uh, um, the the the u entity that's now managing that is very important. Um, so and getting the funding, we still are looking for some money at the wershed
for our portion of this project. Any additional questions? >> All right. >> Thank you so much. >> I would like to uh personally thank all of you. uh not all of you said all of
the attributes as to why you would be good representations for uh Klay County on this board, but I have personally served with all of you in a variety of capacities uh watershed um planning, SWCD, other water specific
land use issues. and I um am really encouraged to see folks like you continuing to uh try to lend your time and talents to make Klay County a better place. So, a huge gratitude. All of your uh letters um are really encouraging on
um folks that want to continue to serve and I I appreciate that, >> Madam Chair. >> Yes, Commissioner. >> I um yeah, I agree. I agree with your comments and I um I do believe that Kurt Stubstead does deserve to serve on
another ter term. Uh so I will u make a motion to reappoint Curt Stubstead to a three-year term on the Buffalo Red Wershed Board. Okay, >> we have a motion offer to reappoint uh Curt Stubstead to a three-year term on the Buffalo Red River Wershed Board.
Commissioner Campbell. That second was from Commissioner Krabanoff. Any further discussion? >> I'll just make a comment. >> Yes, Commissioner Kavanagh. >> As one who attends the meetings every month, uh I've watched Kurt grow in his role and and certainly uh support the
motion. Um I think you've been uh the voice of reason several times. you talk about the disruption that goes on with that board from time to time and uh I think you've uh matured into the role very well and and uh hope to see you
continue on >> any further discussion discussion you're still up for the challenge >> here he's here >> chickenened out as he was talking through all those experiences
all All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I >> oppose. Same sign carried. Thank you. I would like to um we're looking for a second motion then. >> Yeah. Well, yeah.
>> Okay. Um so I I know all four of these individuals quite well. um been on a um boards with all but um Mr. Lendas, but we know each other pretty well from
living in Morehead and and uh having conversations uh in many areas. Um I for me and this isn't I think they're all uh very wellqualified. The one I I I um feel uh has a the
broadest knowledge of all things concerned in farm operations is uh Amos Ver. Um I think his years not only how we worked in county planning together the board of adjustments but I've been
out to his poultry operation see how they operate. They were instrumental in u some technology updates that were vital of Flay County with when you did the uh manure, the dry uh dry manure uh
conversions over the years and uh you did that in a very professional uh manner while facing some real strong uphill battles at the time. And I think that uh that type of experience can
easily carry over into the watershed board where the same thing happens. Up challenges from the public public and how do you manage that? So that's the um that's the one I just think you're very
strong at and and of course living on land you understand what wersheds are about to. So, I would make a motion that we choose Amos Bear for that board for that term. >> There's a motion to appoint Amos Bear to
a three-year term on the Buffalo Red River Wershed District Board. >> Is there I I will second it, but I >> have a motion offer from Commissioner Kavanagh to second from Commissioner Campbell for discussion purposes. >> Yes. And and I again I
um no matter which members you are the to me the watershed board, you know, it it does the watershed goes does have boundaries that go outside of uh Klay County as well.
And one of one of the concerns that I've always had is is um the natural flow of water and almost all of it uh goes to the Red River and a significant portion of our
watershed um can have an impact on the city of Morehead. And so I I I just I'm basically putting out there regardless who's in there needs to take into consideration that um
some of the things that Morehead might want to have or might oppose might be for a for a significant reason and you know it might be for the uh safety of the uh citizens of Morehead or maybe
from a water benefit. for the city of Morid as well. U this position has traditionally always been uh as long as I can remember somebody within the city limits of Morhead.
Um by with this nomination we would we would no longer have a representative from Morehead on the watershed district and that that is a little bit concerning to me. Uh but as long as everybody understands the importance and I and I
and Mr. Bear, I I specifically asked you the question about, you know, impacts upstream and downstream and and being having the I think the ability to mitigate is extremely important. And I I did like the way you answered that question
uh because and Kurtly, I know you know it too, that um you know, we all might have our opinions uh but by the time you hear everybody else's, you might be required to mitigate. And so that's that's where I'm at on it. And I think it's going to be really
important um that even though Morehead doesn't have a direct representative on this board based on this appointment, um it will still be taken into
consideration as though they were me a resident of Morehead. And that's that's what I care about. So >> I have one >> a couple comments. I also served with all four of these members on planning and zoning or board of adjustment in the past as well and I think they're all
qualified to sit on this board, but I I support Amos also being appointed. Just so everybody knows, he is my uncle. There is no financial connection between us, but I think he is one of the most qualified people that's sitting out there right now to be on this board. So, I I will be voting in favor of this
motion. Uh one one thing that I think is imperative uh you would be joining an additional member uh that we have uh Bill Davis is on the board. We have been
deliberate about trying to strategize a broad representation of individuals from Klay County that serve on that board. There's, you know, the hills that you live in and then the flat lands that uh Kurt and I live in. uh making sure that that perspective is represented and it
is a delicate balance working with the other counties that are on that board. Klay County is a significant contributor if you look at uh all of the parcels that pay into that. And my hope is that if this motion stands that uh Mr. Hildebrandt and Mr. Lindas, who both are
quite active in in soil and water mitigation efforts, will continue to be um helpful in us furthering the cause for water mitigation in Clay County. Any further discussion? All those in favor of this motion
signify by saying I. I. >> Oppos? Same sign carried. >> Thank you all for your interest, >> your work. is uh when does that start? >> Uh that is a good clarification. So my
understanding is the term uh Amos >> uh expires on the 31st. So you will be looped right in within this week. So Kurt, can you make sure and we'll work with staff Christine at the wershed >> in the hallway.
>> Thanks guys. second Monday of the month. >> Okay. Item three would be the request approval of the 5-year public safety camera systems modernization agreement with Axon Enterprise. Good morning, Sheriff. We do have additional information. Is this for this item? >> That is correct. That is some updated
information with updated numbers I just received this morning. >> Thank you. >> Um, do we have that? >> Uh, that's packet. >> We Okay, proceed. Good morning, Madam Chair, commissioners. Thank you for having us this morning. We are here
today to um hopefully get an approval for a five-year agreement for um updated body cams and incar cams. We're finding that our current system, which uh is GTA, is already starting to fail us where we're having trouble with uh the battery life
of the systems. We're having trouble with them uploading. For example, my body cam and other body cams uh will not upload unless the camera is completely uh dead. Uh so you have to let that drain completely down before you can upload your videos. I know that there is a uh well at least one patrol deputy
that's having that issue right now as well. Um and we're just seeing increase issues with them and then the customer service side of it has not been um all that great either. Um, with this
proposal, um, what we end up doing is we get a 30-year refresher on body 30 year 30 month >> 30 month. Wow, that'd be a tough one. Be a 30-month refresher on the body cams and the latest uh model of body cam. Therefore, when we initially go to this
program and we have an Axon 4 body cam, after 30 months, if the Axon 5 body cam comes out, we'll automatically get that upgraded model. and then a five-year refresher on incar cameras. Um we feel that this is probably the best um path
forward um to keep us to keep our technology updated and to ensure that we have the body cams um in use all the time that they're not being um drained or we're not having any issues or problems with them. This will also integrate very well with the county
attorneys acts on justice that they're uh moving towards and it'll also um be a very good it also helpful towards information sharing for other agencies that have acts on body cams which most agencies in our area have axon body cams. Now sheriff,
>> can you speak a little bit to that interoperability that was a big piece that we talked about uh the committee and and why we helped um support the request? Yeah, correct. This this did go to pick, by the way, two weeks ago. I was not able to make that meeting. Uh
Lieutenant Schroeder and Chief Deputy Martin was able to make that meeting. Therefore, I would defer to Chief Deputy Martin for that, even though I'm well aware, but uh to have the the best information for you, I refer to him. >> Yes. So, when we spoke at PIC, we talked
to um Mr. Melton as well and we talked about Axon justice and Axon evidence and the transferring um of our evidence to the county attorney's office and the workflow that would be reduced or work load that would be reduced just from
from adding axon getting that evidence to the county attorney's office. uh basically from the field when an a video will upload it also goes to our evidence and to um the yeah the county attorney's office as well at the same same time
saving multiple steps from our staff and Mr. Melton's staff as well. Um and then this is not just for for our deputies, it's also for corrections as well. We would have 54 units or body cameras that would go to our full-time staff over
there and a couple spares for our part- timerrs that they could use. We have 52 full-timers. Um, from the jail administrator all the way through all of our our cos would have these on as well as everybody at our office. Um, from warrants division to court security, you
would see them along with the sheriff and myself also wear them. >> Thank you. and we did talk at pick uh we've identified that this could potentially save hundreds of hours between several different departments in regard in regards to this. So as we as we decipher what the utilization of
funds would be that's a item of savings that has been highlighted >> and madam chair I just wanted to back that being on pick but I also just um as we've talked about before with Axon justice in our office that's just getting implemented now here at the start of August uh and talk with them
other agencies whether that's Morehead um the smaller agencies Dworth Barnesville all utilize Axon having a share sheriffs going to Axon 2 would would be we would expect a a time savings, a cost savings where just that
integrated movement of of uh body cam video, squad car video. Um I think our download times will go from hours to really minutes and everything. I So I think you'll just see a pretty good time savings there that we'll be able to move
some of those things fairly quickly. >> Yeah. So the the plan with this would be to roll out for November 1st with billing to start January 1st. Um our initial plan was to have our um jail roll out June 1st as we thought their um their agreement with GTA was up on June
1st, but we had recently learned that we can also roll our jail out um November 1st as well. Um, and that would probably cost us less money um, in the long run um, just but for the time savings and then we don't have to have that other
GTEC um, agreement for a year. So the plan would be to roll everybody out November one and Axon indicates that they are able to do that and we would get 45 body cameras for the sheriff's office with two spares. um that would
give every um every deputy a camera to include our part-time staff in the courthouse. Um it's very important that we have a camera for everybody out there. As the chief deputy mentioned, we'd have 54 um in the jail, including one spare as well in the jail. Uh we've
been we've been given the reassurance that uh if we do have any issues or problems with the body cams, they will overnight us a body cam uh so we don't go without one. It's it's very important not to or to have those cameras. Um, as far as the payment and fiscal impact, I
did include that in um what you have there. And the reason that I I provided a new one is I just got some information this morning where the yearly fee for the jail went from 38,000 and some change to 45,897.84,
which brings the 5-year total for the jail to 22948920. And then the five-year total for the jail is 533,86620. >> Can you repeat the jail one again, please? >> Yes, it's 229,000
489 I'm sorry. 48920. Okay. 22948920. Correct. Or the law enforcement side. Five-year total 533,86620. We have identified a current internal
service balance of $143,610.79 to use for uh 2027. So we will not be requesting any um any funds from the 2027 budget to go to this project. and then we would uh move forward with 2028 um budget to add this in there to ensure
this is now a budgeted item rather than an internal service item. >> Questions, Commissioner Campbell? >> Uh so I'm looking at your um page here where you have the law
enforcement and then the corrections agreement. That's slightly changed. It went from 193 to what you just said was >> Yep. 229. Um, and then under your deal, you you had the net cost after after using the
internal service fund was 619,000. That's roughly 20,000 more than that. 20, right, with the new number. >> That number is still correct. The 619744. The corrections agreement just needed to be updated to 22948. That's the only
number that was off on on this page. So the 5-year agreement was still the 763 355 and then the net cost is still 619744. >> Okay. So and so the um the 619744
is that payable over four years or five years? >> That would be five years. >> Okay. So when if we do the math, you know, 124,000, that's still uh and you're how much are you putting
in the internal service fund now for cameras? >> Um an annual basis. >> I don't know what Lori puts in there. Again, internal service fund, that's all Lori and Steve's magic. Um but that's something I can tell you. We had roughly 88,000 in there after about uh two and a
half years of for GTA services. We do budget for the jail about 26,500 a year um for GTAC upload and storage and then about 29,000 for the sheriff's office is a budgeted >> your current internal service balance of
143 though. Um my understanding is we depleted that when we made the new purchase. We will deplete that when they will depart. >> No, but prior. So if we're talking about how much is being paid in, you could assume that 143,000
143,000 has been two and a half years worth of internal service payments. Is that >> Madam Chair? Sheriff Sheriff Empty. I think because we didn't have cameras prior to the act or to the current GTA. We did have Motorola Solutions prior, but this this number reflects what we
currently have available in internal service to replace our G tax, which would be this. >> I I understand. I'm the question was how much are we paying in internal service annually? And I given the fact that was zero and now it's 143,000.
>> We pay that over the course of two and a half years. >> Correct. >> Yeah. My my point being and and what' you say the number 12 >> 124 >> over the next five years we're going to have to we're going to have to be paying $124,000 a year basically for those for
that fiveyear after we use up the internal service fund. Well, the internal service would be for 2027 and then for 2028 budget then we would have to budget uh the entire well we'd have to budget um
>> 155,000. Yeah, you'd have to you the remaining balance would be divided by four which is 155,000. >> 155,000 minus though the jail 26,500 which we currently have in budget and the sheriff's office 29,000 which we currently have in budget. So you're
still looking at probably an increase of $100,000 >> right at 100. >> It'd be roughly that. >> Yep. >> Minus the internal service, whatever that number is. >> Well, that's that is minusing those what's currently been going in there. >> But right now, roughly they're putting
in about 70,000 a year for internal service, not counting the 29,000 or the 26,000. >> Okay. >> Sounds like that's a good uh item that we need to dial in with Lori to see exactly. >> So roughly 30,000, right? >> Rough numbers. We commission >> I think what's being you have a question.
>> I think what's being proposed here >> it has it has a zero impact on what we're talking about for 2027 budget. >> Correct. >> Uh it it will have to be reviewed and there there will be an increase from
the years 28 through 31. >> Correct. >> Yes. >> That has not you know that's going to be in addition to what's currently being done there. And one of the things that I know that's coming up in uh probably 2027 is we're probably going to have and I this is an assumption on my part, but
we're going to have probably three to four deputies um retiring potentially. Um and if they do, they would be the high high-end deputy wage. Um and we hire at a lower wage. So we would have that fluctuation as well.
>> I just something to be be aware of that although this is I support this. I pick support it wholeheartedly, but I you know I I just we need to be on record too that come 2028 there will be an additional cost
that's going to have to be incorporated into his budget. >> Maybe we'll see that reflected in the savings of staff time. That's well, we'd probably see a big reflection of that because I can tell you already since uh Axon justice is coming along that our uh our office manager was a little
concerned about uh a lot of the work that she she and her staff would have to do to get videos our current videos over to the county attorney's office as she said that could take that could take all day for some of the videos. So, there would be a a savings there.
>> Commissioner Kavanagh. >> Yeah. Uh thank you. Yeah, I think it's very important to have this uh upgrade or this u modernization brought in. Um what what's the use is what's projected
useful life is it five years and then you um something else changes or how do you see it for the future? >> So for the cameras themselves, the body cameras, they project a lifetime of about three years and that's why they
come in and replace them. uh free of charge. Well, we're paying for it up front, but they'll rep replace all of our body warrant cameras after 20 or after 30 months. So, the jail and our office will get 99 new cameras at that point. The in squad cameras have a life
expectancy of more than five years, but they replace those at 5 years as well. >> All right. So, we should expect this for the foreseeable future is in short of what I'm asking. >> Yes. And I should note too that at that
30-month replacement, they will upgrade us to the most available or updated model. So if we're starting with four, >> an Axon 4 and they're at Axon 5 or six, that's the model that we'll get after the 30 months. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Additional question.
>> One question. How long have we had the current cameras? >> We're at about two and a half to three years with the current uh body cam and in incar cameras. >> And and they're the body cameras are starting not to work. They >> they're starting to they're starting to fail. >> Y
>> much needed, >> but also there was some software components that they were no longer upgrading. Correct. >> Correct. >> And we would we would use our any of the cameras that we have that are working. Um we we can transfer those over to the juvenile center if they have a chance to
use them. They would be available for them. >> Commissioner, did you have an additional question? I um I don't have an additional question but I have a comment >> commissioner >> and our comment again goes to uh we had a significant conversation on this in in
our personal issues committee meeting and um I was certainly satisfied with um the answers that were given and the savings that we're going to see uh as Commissioner Mojo mentioned in terms of labor savings
uh I think we're probably looking at a better quality uh improved faster storage. All those things come into play for transferring of document data. So with that, I would move to approve
the Klay County Sheriff's proposed 5-year public safety camera system modernization agreement with Axon Enterprises as outlined in this agenda request as presented. You have a motion offered from Commissioner Campbell. A second
>> ju just to clarify. >> I'll second it, but just to clarify >> also the jail starting November 1st. >> Yes. >> All right. Then then I'll second that. >> Okay. We have a motion offered from Commissioner Campbell, a second from Commissioner Bear. Steve, do we need to have a separate
motion to authorize the use of the internal service funds? Uh, >> I think it would be good if we did that. Yes. >> Okay. Do that next. Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. >> I.
>> Opposed. Same sign. Carried. We have uh the need for a second motion authorizing the use of 143,610.79. >> We have a motion offered from Commissioner Campbell, a second from Commissioner Bear. We cover everything there. >> Yes.
>> Any further discussion? >> All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. I. >> Oppos. Same sign. carried. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Our next item is the budget presentation
for withdrawal management detox. We have our detox director, Troy. You still there? And Andrew. Good morning. >> Good morning, Madam Chair, commissioners. Um, today we're going to
present our our budget. So, >> do we have that? >> Um, I guess I can kind of start with the revenue end of it. Our revenue comes from some different places. Um, if you
look under the self-pay, that is our contract with Southeast Human Services and um, for all of the uh, clients that come from North Dakota, they they pay for them. Uh, we also have a contract
with the Veterans Administration. So, that is in there. Uh, the Social Service contract is in there. And then the PAP medical assistance is our withdrawal management program. That's where we are able to bill um the $400
a day fee plus we get a $75 bed fee from the state. So um those are our revenue sources. Uh is there any questions on that part? >> Madam Chair, one question >> for proposed for self-pays 1.75
and so far from since June we've only collected 223,000. Is there just a delay on that or? >> There is a delay on that. Our um accounts receivable and payable person has been on maternity leave. So, she's just getting back into the billing.
There is also a a little bit of a delay because now some of the um PABS are requesting um to have uh pre-authorization for their clients coming to detox, which really creates
a lot of work. We have to send things from our files to them for approval, which never made sense to me how you get prior approval for a detox client coming in, but >> yeah, >> it's kind of how they're doing things. So, >> unless they're habitual.
>> Yep. Yep. Correct. So, so that's our revenue sources. Um, again, it was a little hard to kind of judge just because we've only had two months of of revenue coming in to know where we're kind of at to be able to
budget. The hope is that we can reduce the social services number um fairly significantly um with the withdrawal management money that we have billing. Um, if you go down to the salaries, um,
we're up a little bit in salaries, but I do have some new requests. I don't know if you'd like to talk about those right now. Um, but the first one I'm looking at is because our numbers took off so fast, I
think our two full-time LAC's needed a little extra help. So I am requesting a 6 LAC um which will help them when they go on vacation or they take time off to be able to um have somebody else there. The
variable hour staff that we have do do a nice job but they're kind of limited in how often they can work at our place especially during the week because they all have other jobs. So, uh, Troy, if I might, if that, uh, 6 would be approved,
would you see a decrease in you need on the variable hour component? >> That's it's possible. Yeah, I do have one variable hour going on sabbatical, so she's going to be taking some time off. Um, and it just varies. Um, the
biggest problem, too, is trying to find them when they do. Right now, I kind of have plenty, but there's been times when we are just really short on them, and then my full-time staff are working the weekends to help cover and then it creates a shortage. Uh, in the good old
days, uh, when I was rule 25 certified, I could fill in for them and and just see some clients and that really helped. But when they uh made the SUD changes in 2017, they made that position have to be
a LAC licensed person. So >> thank you. >> Can I ask one one thing? What does LED stand for? >> So it's licensed alcohol and drug counselor. >> Okay. >> In North Dakota, they're lac's just a
licensed alcohol counselor. So, um the second request that I do have is um for what else did we put in there for another? Oh, peer support specialist. Um
if you remember about a year and a few months ago, my um peer support person passed away unexpectedly. And with the state of Minnesota and their rules, you can only hire somebody who either works or lives in Minnesota
51% of the time. A lot of our folks live in Fargo, so they're not eligible for these positions. So, I went quite a few months without having one. We do have three right now and they're able to see all the clients. But I think that uh the
one has kind of stepped up his game and if we can move him to a point six I think that solidifies it if the other two variable hour um staff leave uh that is a mandated position by the state of Minnesota. So
>> I think that is an interesting requirement that we could benefit by raising the ringing the bell on that. I'm not quite sure why you'd have a mandated position and then mandate their percentage of residency.
>> It actually is a federal thing because I made many phone calls on this trying to get around it a little bit u because I had a few applications but they just didn't qualify. So >> very difficult position to to hire. Um, it seems to be a pretty common thing
what I hear from other detoxes across the state >> I mean that certainly is a border community challenge that I think we should raise. >> Is that is that position also under the salaries? >> Yes, >> there's two there.
>> Yep, there's two there. And the last one that I'm requesting is we have added the written electronic health record program and we have also added the scheduler um program.
And since we've basically doubled in size since we opened, it would be nice to have kind of a a trainer, what I call them, um that can um kind of handle uh the background and and working behind the scenes with the written with the
training. The same with the schedule. It'd be nice to have somebody who could do our scheduling for us. Right now, Andrew does that, and that takes a significant amount of his time um to schedule staff each month. And we're also looking at that person getting um
CPR certified so we can don't have a lag in in services there. So they are it's you'd like to have all your people always be uh CPR certified just because of the number of and the risk of the clients that we do have. So
>> is that a full-time position or >> that would be a full-time position. Can you elaborate a little bit what the training would be? the so if we get this training position they would be in charge of the written making
sure that's all done all the enhancements that we are requesting um be involved in the billing process to some degree um and then I think she could probably or this person could probably take over
the uh scheduling and and and do that on a daily basis plus if we get them CPR are certified. We could probably have a a class every month for that. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions?
>> I I do. So, yeah. Thank you. So, these new requests are in this these numbers? >> Yes. >> Okay. And then did you did you make an allowance for u uh getting rid of some
variable hours or are they still in here? um they are all still in there right now. Um variable hour are as needed. So if it came down to where we just don't need them, we probably won't be scheduling them to work as much.
>> Thank you. >> Any questions? >> Are are you done or are you you have more to >> Well, I that's my new request in the >> So we're done. Are we going to go through the Let's go through the rest of it then. >> Yep. That sounds good. Okay. Um,
so we got salaries and overtime in there. Um, health insurance is in there. Um, we were able to, let's see, P. If you go down to one of the other big ones was, if we go down to our prisoner
board, I'll comment on that one a little bit. Um we're actually reducing that with the contract we got from uh Trinity for our food service. Um we were able to reduce that number a little bit.
Um and in a few other areas we just because we had not been open for a year, you know, I think we are a little high in some areas. So we tried to reduce that based on last year's numbers.
Can I go up? Excuse me. Can I go up a couple lines to the 6251 utilities Morehead public service? >> Um, our budget was 50 and I know we were dialing it in. Um, but then the year-to- date actual was 111.
>> Y >> uh is why why the big is that a water included in that as well? >> Those those numbers came from Joe. >> Okay. >> Um he provided those for us. I assume that's all utilities.
>> Okay. Um, can we follow up on that one? I'm just curious about that one. And part of the reason I asked is curious if water uses is is in there. I know with Morhead losing uh a big contract. I've heard the water
rates have gone up substantially and I'm not sure if we're tracking that internally on all of our pieces. Um, that's an easy question for Joe, I would guess. I don't I don't know if that was a 2025. I don't know if that was >> No, but what I mean is as we budget
going forward, um is if water is included, we're seeing those rates go way high. Is 80 continuing to be an appropriate placement. >> All right. Um and Joe gave me the other number for the gas and oil and other professional
services that you see there, too. So, um medical consultant that is an increase there. Um we made the decision that we use our medical consultant from Sanford. Uh we hadn't adjusted it from when we
went from 16 beds to 32. So this effectively um addresses that issue. We also took and I agreed that um we would remove it from social services for their use of it
because it was pretty minimal what they were using him for. So if they would need something in the future, we would probably just be able to bill them or transfer something from from their account. So, um,
>> any other questions from the board on this? >> How many months were we open in 2025? >> 12. >> We moved uh December 30th or 31st of 2025.
>> 2024. >> 24, I'm sorry. 24. Time flies when you're having fun. >> Yeah, time flies when you're having fun. Yeah, it's uh so we were over there basically by January 1st is >> I have one question on the bottom of the
paper for your 2026 budgets is 5.350 and your proposed budgets 5.330. So overall your budget is down by 20,000. >> That's without the new request. Yeah, >> that's without the new requests. Or is that with the new requests?
>> That's without the new >> That's without the new request. And then you' add that 187,000 for the new request? >> Yeah. So if if if you look at the bottom, if we add the new request into um our proposed budget, that number is
very close to what the depreciation number is. So there it would balance the budget. We have it looks right now um when I got this from Lori, there's a 4,000 shortage what I'm seeing. So we may have to increase that in our revenue. I
anticipate the withdrawal management revenue to be hopefully higher than it was last year. >> It is uh fun, if you will, to um see how we're continuing to dial this in after we've been in operation. And you know, it was such a a big change now that
you've be able to kind of dial the budget in exactly where we need to better serve the folks. You see, so you know, it is encouraging that you have the ability to see additional revenues. >> Any other questions?
>> Yes, Commissioner. So the depreciation number, the 586,000, is that is that align with the um annual bond payment? >> U Madam Chair, Commissioner Campbell,
the we have no bond payment on the detox. We utilized dollars funds. Yep. In state >> I'm thinking of the DMV, I guess. So, so we have $586,000 worth of depreciation in there. That's
we don't write a check out to. >> That's correct. >> And that's that's why I think Lori is shows a over expenses over revenues of $43,220 rather than running a deficit and asking for more funds from
the social service department. Additional questions. >> Troy, is this your last time in front of us? >> Probably not. >> Okay. Well, >> you know, >> so Troy, I just want to say, and I know this wasn't on the agenda, but um I have
had the fortune of working with you my entire time on this board and uh through the the grant um application, all of the time it took for all of us to kind of brainstorm on getting the grant to open this phenomenal facility. and uh we were
in planning meetings talking about sandwiches and uh really challenging things. But uh boy, the the leadership that you've lent uh to that that population of the world uh cannot be underscored. It's just uh you have a huge heart and I know it's really really
hard work and uh I just want you to know that I really appreciate uh all that you've done for Klay County during this time. sorry to see your retirement, but um also know that there's um fun things ahead for you. So um if this is the last time you're before the board, just know
that we have really appreciated working with you and really grateful for the leadership that you've provided. >> Thank you. Um looking back on my 33 years that I've been here has been, you know, um I couldn't ask for a better place to
work, you know, and I appreciate all your guys' support, everything and I feel very proud what we've done for the clients of Klay County. So, um it was a very hard decision to make and
uh but >> thank you. >> We'll move on. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Andrew, do you have anything to add to the budget? Questions, comments? All right. Okay. All right. Thank you.
>> Thank you guys. >> We are scheduled for a fivem minute break. We will be back here at 9:46. Our next item on the agenda today, a budget presentation from West Central Regional Juvenile Center. We have our director, James. Good morning.
>> Morning, Madam Chair, commissioners. Yeah. I'm here today to present uh two budgets. Um one budget's for the secure program and the other budgets for the non-secure program. >> Um you want me just to get right into it? >> Yep. >> All right. >> What do you want to do first?
>> I'll start with the SKER program. Um the SKER program is part of a cooperative service agreement. Um so ultimate authority lies with this board, but it's part of a cooperative service agreement between 11 member counties. Um that's Becker, Cass, Clay, Douglas, Grant,
Ottertale, Stevens, Todd, Traverse, Wedin, and Wilin counties. Um and how that's break out is all the counties um share in the expense of the program. And um that's the go from there. So I'll
start with uh the revenue section of this one. Um and to start out um this oh this was um brought before my advisory board uh two weeks ago. Um and this was the budget that was approved. Um I
provided um that board with a couple different um um assessments for um non-member rate. So starting there with their non-member rate um they move they they moved to set our non-member rate at
$495 a day. Um, and that that puts us right even with what other facilities are charging. Um, $495 is a lot of money. Um, and it that's exactly what things cost now. Um, it's looking back
at 2025, our non-member rate was 375. So, and then uh this year it's 450 and then we're going to 495. um kind of some of the issues behind that um is there's a whole slew of stuff that came at the juvenile stuff in in
the past three or four years. Um the the high acuity of youth that are coming in um is causing a major problem. Um virtually no other options in the state of Minnesota. So everything's falling on um correctional placements. So, you
know, the mental health side of things basically is virtually almost non-existent in the state of Minnesota. Um, so everything's coming into ours. At the same time, the state had licensing regulations that came in um that SPS separation stuff that um caused our
staffing to increase. And then there's increased licensing oversight. Um there's less facilities now, but there's more um enforcement um enforcement and inspectors um that are watching over the facilities. So um there's lots of
correspondence with them. Um and then just natural inflation of costs and labor. So ultimately things get pretty expensive. Um but that's where we're at. So I'll start with uh the revenue section. Um I'll start with 5423.
That is our non-member revenue. Um so that's what we anticipate to get for non-members um if we hit our numbers. I budgeted that at uh 14 um non-member youth. Um and we've always been able to somewhat get that number. Our numbers
are consistent right now. Um you know, we have a waiting list still um in our our secure residential program. Um then moving up 5422 um that 1.7 million that that's our other members.
So that's all the other members except for Klay County. Um the top one that um 894,000 um that's Klay Countyy's costs. Um, if you kind of look back, um, 894,000 is up from last year. Um, about 93,000,
but back in 2024 was 843,000. And then before, right when the expansion happened, costs were climbing. Before we were able to get the non-member revenue in, we're at um, 2019, Klay County paid 1.1 million. So,
um costs have came down and and they they have stabilized um considerably even though all these things and pressures have been coming up. >> Okay. Commissioner Kraov has a question. >> Oh, >> go ahead. >> Oh, >> does do the non-members
um pay a different rate than the 495? >> Yes. So, how I do that is first >> that is their rate. Non-member rate is 495. It's 495 in 2027. >> Yes. >> Um in 20 it's 450 right now. >> Yeah.
>> Um so if you look back um in 2025 members on average spent um I think it was like $315 a day. >> Yeah. >> Um and that's that's on average. So, how I come up with a budget is I do the expenditures portion and then um I take
out what we're anticipating for the non-member revenue and then it's split up by a percentage of the members based on a two-year look back. >> So, that's how that numbers can change. So, one reason why Clay's went up is because Clay's percentage went up by two
points um this last year. So, um >> thank you. >> All right. And then kind of just moving down um the bottom um 5830 that's um revenues over expenditures from uh 25
and then the one above that is basically kind of a a hard guess but it's a half a million dollars I put um and that is miscellaneous reimbursement. I know that we're going to get um about 120,000 from the National School Lunch
Program, but the rest is all offset from um the other professional services fund. So, I'll talk about that when we get down there to the other professional services. Um that's paying for doctors and specific whatever for youth that that need that need those services. And
then I I back bill the county that that needed those services. So, if it's a Becker County kid or it's a, you know, Stzman County, North Dakota kid, um, they're getting that bill for those medical expenses and those are coming into on that revenue line up there.
Um, so, um, kind of just scrolling down ultimately getting into the expenses. Um, I went through this pretty hard. Um, the overall um, expenses I'm going up by 4.9%.
Um, that's what I'm proposing. Um, and if you look, we got lots of zeros and lots of negative signs. Um, but the the ones that's a positive is the one that matters. And that's the that's a staffing one. And that one I got going up by 5.75%. I got no um new requests
this year. Um, that's just straight um, colas um, step increases. Um we're having what's good sign about that is we're not having as many staff leave as we used to. So we're having really good retention. Um then we have our variable
hour. Um and that that um that's dependent upon our our needs too. Um but um then salaries overtime. It's important to know that the overtime on this one isn't just straight overtime for staff. It's it's our part-time staff that work a weekend. I not a weekend, a
holiday. they get paid at time and a half and that's how that's how they get funded because it's overtime pays at time and a half. So that's what the majority of those expenses are. >> Kind of scrolling down um you see the PR
um that went down. That's because the statute changed to for the correctional fund changed from 10.25 to 9% for the employer contribution. So that dropped it from the previous year. So, that's down.
Um, kind of scrolling down, um, postage is the next thing that's down. Um, basically youth don't, we used to mail letters all the time and that doesn't happen anymore. We have other means of communication. Um, which is free communication for the youth. Um, but we have other means of communication and
right now the postage is just basically us mailing property back to the youth. Um, that's what a huge majority of that is. Scrolling down, heating. Um I I moved that down. Um if you look, um we've had some mild winters and that's
and I've been overestimating the past few years and I've just kind of slowly gotten that in into grain. Um you know, we spent I assumed, you know, I overbudgeted the previous three years and I'm starting to get it dialed into what that facility is actually costing.
Um, and I think 45,000 is is a good assessment there. Um, again, um, other professional services, this pays for a lot of different things. Um, but a lion share of it is, um, the specialty
doctors, um, therapy, um, that type of thing. Um, we'll get medical bills. the juvenile center will pay the medical bills right away. So, the youth don't have to wait um to get care and treatment they need. They'll get the care and treatment they need. Um but um
the counties that that the county of financial responsibility will ultimately pick up that tab. Um so, you know, other things we did make slim some stuff down like we cut down our we we dropped our schedule. before we had scheduling software um that they
wanted. Um we paid 5,000 last year and they wanted 7,000 coming up. So we dropped that. Um we're able to um chat GPT and um uh Excel formatting and it
was able to give us a pretty good template type of a thing that could be go ongoing. So that's what we're that's what we're going through using the AI and Microsoft Excel. Um, and it's kind of giving us the same type of a thing. Um,
scrolling down, um, treatment costs. Um, getting that more in line of what we've spent the previous years. Um, and that that goes for like copyrighted books, textbooks, copyrighted treatment material. Um, and then the incentive program that that we run, gym equipment,
etc. Um, scrolling down, uh, travel and conferences. You see that we're going down on that. Um, we're kind of throttling back on on really just sending a few people there. Um, mostly just our our key people from our
residential program and our transition program um that attend those things. Now, um, building rent, you'll see that that jumped up a little bit. That's rent paid to Klay County here for um, and for admin space. And then that additional
space for um that that um was approved earlier this year, the old Birthright area. >> Um building insurance. Um I get that one. Um you know that one is we spent about shade about 10,000 last
year. Um I put 14. Um this year I I didn't I felt like it was I don't know. I just get good feeling, you know, after a while some of those um we had a kitchen fire um that caused a sprinkler head to go off and I imagine that um
MCIT is going to increase our premium. Uh so um kind of just keep on scrolling down. Um office supplies um things are in good repair. Um we're we do a lot of bulk ordering. So I mean that that
really saves us a lot of money. We're getting that really dialed in. Um, you know, we're not asking for anything else for uh repair and maintenance. Our auto repair, our fleet's getting older, but um we haven't purchased a vehicle in in
many years. Um but um our fleets, but we don't travel much anymore as much as we used to. We used to travel all the time. Um after co um ITV through the courts and stuff started getting handled more and more and that's becoming more and more popular. So that's what that saves
a lot of funding there. Um equipment over 500. Um kind of dropping that. You know, I got to give a good shout out to our IT department, Klay County. They they're awesome. Um they, you know, if we need a device, they can
refurbish one. Um you know, old devices. um they they can fix things up and and make them because their needs some most of the time are are not complicated and they're able to to get us some some just basic computer with a word document and
we're able to do that. So, um I really appreciate having that and they're very responsive to us. So, I mean that's that's one reason how we're not spending a whole lot of money on computers and whatnot. Um internal service. Um I throttled back on the internal service
fund. Um we haven't dipped into those funds in a while. Um and there's the the fund is is in a good spot. So um I throttled back on that one. And then miscellaneous um throttle back on that again kind of looking back more
reflective of what we've spent the previous years um and what things are costing. That's mostly our backgrounds um and stuff like that. uh capital improvements. Again, same thing. That fund is doing just fine. Um so I I
throttle back a little bit on that. Um and then the bottom you'll see is the 5% overage that is baked into the uh cooperative service agreement and that's for to make sure that in the event that something happens throughout the year. Um there's extra funding and that
funding goes back to the members and everybody that paid it in. But it's just kind of um provides that so I don't have to go back to the counties and ask for money in the middle of the year if something drastic happens, numbers drop, etc. Um and that's
in the cooperative service agreement. So does anybody have any questions about my secure budget? >> Any questions on the secure budget? >> No. Again, this this was presented to the nine member counties and
it was fully supported as presented today. So, >> I appreciate that insight. They um have been really good partners with that and um to hear that obviously we have increased costs, but to have bed
availability here is is probably the most important piece. So, I appreciate their support. Any other questions on the secure? Otherwise, shall we jump to nonsecure? >> Yep. All right, I'll jump into the
non-secure. So, the non-secure program has been going through the most changes recently. This is the one that's affected the most by, you know, basically lack of PRTFs in the state. Um, again, that was one of the things is for new nonsecured PRTF that was um one of the county's priorities for
legislatively. Um and it's kind of reflected here in in how difficult it is to to understand and know what youth we're getting. Um for an example, we get youth, this is not uncommon that we get youth that um get removed from a
hospital um for and they're things are they're too acute for the hospital to deal with. Um they're showing signs of aggression. Um, so these are mentally ill youth um that need to be in a hospital, but the hospitals are essentially um in most instances if
they're aggressive, they will kick them out. Um, they will end up in our in our non-secure program if it's Klay County youth. Um, and we will um take care of them there. Um, it's you'll see I'll I'll explain that in the train, but anyways, it's it's just an assessment.
It's just a guess basically of of the revenues that I anticipate getting. Um it's usually about 50 50% Klay County, 50% other counties. Um we we always take Klay County youth. Um and we'll always take Klay County youth and then when we
have space we'll take other counties. Um so that's where we're at there. The miscellaneous reimbursement on this one's a lot lower than it is for um the skiare portion because the difference between this one and the skiare portion is non-scure youth retain their MA. Um so that that the insurance is paying it
outright instead of counties. Um so kind of going through there again um we I got no new requests in this budget. Um got again it's just staffing um increases um that that are driving the boat on that. Um and a lot of it is is
with the youth. I mean we're one on oneing a lot of youth um out of necessity. Um, if you look down at our at our training, um, the training went up in this budget versus the SKER budget. The SKURE budget training I think went down a little bit. I don't
have the training really dialed in with the non-skear because we're we're really switching over to, you know, um, specialty and then autism training for some of our staff. um you know, our COG programming that that um works in in the in the correctional side of things does
not work for um other youth that um you know, the autism FASD type type of youth um that we that we're working with. Um printing and publishing, um that's just, you know, a few hundred. Um that's
that's carbon copied paper mostly um for forms, uh utility and heating. Um, I got those dropped down, getting it kind of dialed into, um, where we've been at previous years. Um, and then looking at, you know, um, different price indexes
and, you know, just assuming that's the numbers that I that I figured would hit. Um, and I think we're it's going to be close. Um, um, equipment repair and maintenance. Um, going up. Um, a lot of that is is glass.
Um, it's not real glass. It's like um some Lexon type of a stuff, but anytime our glass gets chipped or or cracked, um we replace it. Um anytime, you know, there's damage to an area, we we fix it. The areas always looks decent,
presentable. It doesn't look trashy and wore down, um that's that's very critical for um the well-being of the youth and and the way they feel when they're in there. if they're in a clean environment, um it's going to they treat it a lot better.
>> Building rent that goes up, that's paid to Klay County. Um that's for our our transition female program, the admin space share, and then the the new space share of that. Um
workman's count going up. Um office supplies going down. Um, health supplies, auto repair and maintenance down. Again, kind of the same thing. We're not traveling. Um, our equipment again, that's, you know, computers and
whatnot. I explained that we don't have much. We're able to refurbish a lot of things. Internal service, um, just going down a little bit and miscellaneous, just kind of aligning it with, um, previous years. So, overall,
no new requests. Um and the biggest driver is the staffing need in that program. And um you know primarily some of the non some of the variable hour youth um won't be used. Hopefully it doesn't have to be used. Um but it
really depends on on some of those youth that we get in um and and what we need to do to keep that those youth safe. Steve, >> James, in non-secure, you've been successful in past years of receiving
grants uh to help offset some of your DOC requirements. Uh you this board has approved you to move forward with another grant as the other grant has ended. Have you heard anything yet? >> I have not heard anything on the new grant. I'll heard back in um September is when they're supposed to start making
the decision because it goes into effect in October. So, I think we have a real strong application in there. Again, and I'm I'm sorry I forgot to mention that that that's one of the huge reasons why there's a percentage increase is because that we had a grant going into um uh our
transition program when we opened up the boys clips program. Um we ended up getting a grant which ended up paying for a couple of our staff. Um and we had that for six years. Um that grant's done. Um, now we got uh another grant that I think we have a a strong chance
of getting. Um, but we'll find out in September. Um, >> and and I think it's important for the board to note that it's been you've been very clear with with our departments uh when people apply for grants and the grant no longer is available uh that um
that we have to look at the staffing. I think it's important to know in this case is that James applied for this grant uh about the time the new facility opened or at the time the new facility opened. Uh and it wasn't a it wasn't additional staff. It was the funds that
he's received through these grants uh since then have been able to save money for the program. And so the staffing requirements are still there. Uh and so and this is a little bit of a different case where in the event that he would happen not to get the grant uh he still is required to have those positions.
We've just been fortunate to uh to through their through their uh grant grant ability to get those funds. >> So, um it's no secret to the public that this um your department has been something that this board has worked
really hard on a state and regional scope about how we deal with addressing bed capacity. And as you look at um you know board and care over the last few years um do you feel I mean I know this answer because I work with you a lot. Do
you feel like there's still a shortage in in the region on where people can go for placements? >> Most definitely. Um you know it's Yes. It's it shortage would be an understatement. It's I mean you you could they could increase 50 beds in the
state of Minnesota and it would be full. um the next day. Um it's there's there's such a huge need. Um Klay County has got the resource here. We're able to provide this resources to some, but some counties literally are um it's sad
there's just no options for kids. Um you know, the families are reaching out. Um everybody's reaching out the kids not safe. Um and uh the there's no response because there's nowhere um to help that youth. All right.
Any additional questions? >> No questions. Again, um both James and Josh and the SKU and non-scure I think are doing a tremendous job with um the the only unfortunate thing is we have to have as many kids as we do in
those in your facilities. That's that's the downside of it. But um you all do a terrific job over and I just want to thank you for that. Thank you. I I got great staff. Um supervisors are great, staff are great. That's one of the things bragging points
that I have around the state with other facilities I think are my staff are much better. >> And you're it's recognized throughout the state. >> We have counties all over the state wanting to send their kids here because of the the way you treat the kids. And
we have legislators at the state that frequently name drop your facility about meeting the needs. Whatever kid comes to you, you figure out a way to meet them where they're at and that is being noticed. So, I hope that notice equates to $24 million this legislative session.
Uh >> yeah. And just one last thing, I you know, I I I don't think we can go without recognizing the partnership that we have with Mor public schools, too. Oh, most definitely. >> It's a that's a tremendous asset to the
programming that you do. >> Yes, that that is a huge piece. Um, Mor public schools is amazing. I talked to other facility superintendents and stuff and and they are always butting heads with their school district. Um, we don't have that at all. Mor provides us with
what we need. Um, and it's it's amazing. Um, so very happy with that. >> Kids come first. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thanks, James. >> Thank you. >> Item seven,
Steve has a request approval to refill the detox withdrawal management director position due to the retirement and then entertainment of a possible reorganization. >> Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. commissioners. Uh as was mentioned earlier, the detox Troy has decided to
retire. Uh and uh and so that leaves a an opening here at the at the detox uh facility. And it always provides us an opportunity as we've talked about in in other situations where we can evaluate evaluate the structure that we have in
place and to see uh see what uh what opportunities there are. Uh and so we've had uh actually two pick meetings over the last week to kind of process uh through uh through this item. Uh currently Troy is sits at grade 25. He's
on step nine. Uh and uh looking at looking at if we just made the motion to move forward uh to replace that position. uh if you were to if you were to hire at grade 25 step one uh we would uh we would be looking at about a
savings of 31,783 uh dollars uh at that pay grade. Uh if you uh if you recall as the facility when the facility moved uh to the new location, one of the things that uh that we discussed was moving one this it
outside of the budget and also having uh having that position be a department head level uh position. And one of the things that was brought forward as part of our discussion of is whether or not we move back uh to the model to which we had previously to where uh the the detox
was under uh under public health. And so we vetted we vetted that uh over the last week and on several different occasions. Uh and uh in the proposal the second proposal that you would have for you to consider today uh would be to move that back under uh under public
health. Uh at that point, we would still look to replace uh we would look to replace Troy's position uh that is currently at grade 22 or excuse me at 25 and we would shift that down to a to a 22 uh is which is consistent with where
it was previously uh and all of the supervisory level positions and social services and p and public health are at. We would then look at uh in in looking at the the adjustment uh to to the uh
public health director position would then again take oversight over that uh which would bring uh over 80 employees back under under Jessica's fold. We would then be looking her looking to move uh Jessica to grade 28 uh step
five. Uh and so um we we really came to came to the conclusion understanding that the board is uh in a in a in a tough spot with the budget uh situation and in recommending that there would be additional costs to adjusting uh to to
this plan. Uh but the the discussions that we had at the pick level really focused on four separate areas. uh one uh uh to be honest, Troy's retirement was a little surprising to us. And so from a succession planning standpoint, uh while
we're certainly moving towards that point, u there was there are some opportunities there to to utilize Jessica's expertise. Um we've also efficiencies in moving uh from P under public health. there was a great deal of
help that came from the financial department that that Troy no longer had access to uh in his role and moving them back uh would would uh allow that service to happen. Most likely in the future, Troy would have been looking for
additional help to run with budgets. Um, I think that one of the things that while while it's a short window, one of the things that we've seen from Jessica as a public health director, uh, is she's been excellent at going in looking at policies, looking for efficiencies,
uh, and and so while we while we look at uh, maybe an additional cost, we're also not guaranteeing uh, but we're hopeful that she'll be able to go in with that same critical eye uh, and and enhance the programs, her policies, and procedures, but also do it in an efficient way. Uh, and the last point
that that we thought would be beneficial uh is based on the timing Mr. Robinson gave a gave a one month's notice. Uh, but with the timing uh of this uh of this hire and the process that we would go through, it wouldn't allow for a
great deal of overlap. Uh and and in in going through this option, uh Jessica would have there's built into our our plan, I guess, would be a a two-eek overlap where where Jessica would have access to to Troy and and to to process,
uh through some of the different things. And so, uh again, the recommendation would would be here to to shift the public health the public health directors uh to 28. uh we would be recommending that uh they that she be
paid on step uh step five and that then we would then be moving uh the current position of the uh detox withdrawal management director to a manager role uh on grade 22 and we would be looking to hire in that step one range.
>> Thank you Mr. Larson. Uh Commissioner Campbell. >> Yes, thank you Madam Chair. Uh as me Steve mentioned, we we did have quite a bit of conversation in this two two separate uh pick committee meetings regarding this and and I I think um a
concern that I think most of us shared in PIC was um to what level of experience we would have in the management area now that Troy is gone. we we really haven't had the ability to really create that succession plan as a
standalone entity. Um what we've seen and learned from uh Jessica is her ability to really really be good uh in in the area of management and um so I I think you know and and I
you know these are it's a significant position uh to have that and and you know and obviously we reached out to uh Jessica before we brought this here, we wanted to make sure that that these
things would be acceptable to her. And one of the, you know, in in in this proposal that's being forward here would basically be moving that grade 25 position to grade 22. That would be bringing that down a little bit and and
it it wouldn't be a director position, but a manager position. And I think in that regard, it would be to focus more on the medical side of things. that's uh you know would be really beneficial. Jessica doesn't have the background in
the medical part of it. That would would have been a concern of hers and so by and I think that would still meet uh according with Anna and Darren the PDQ process. I think we would still be in good shape there at that 22 level or 22
grade for um hiring somebody with with that ability in that regard. It's in a perfect world it's it's it's a I think overall it's a slight increase to the budget Steve isn't it like
>> yeah it would it would be a slight yeah yeah slight increase um overall if you look at the the 265 we would there'd be an additional cost of 16,182 to move the public health director to to
285. Um we would uh we would also but then also potentially depending on the internal hierarchy, we may see some additional savings with the internal shifts. >> Yeah. Because you Yeah. So you're you're eventually going to be getting down
where you're probably going to be hiring somebody at a step one as opposed to another step. So, so the savings and I and I I think the importance of the um having good good supervisory supervisory skills there
um can avoid other potential costs that could come in come into play. So, and we've got a good person in Jess, you know, in terms of pick, I think we we're all in agreement that um provided that she was willing to to do this that we
felt this would be the right move and that's that would option two is the recommendation that came out of pick. I also had the opportunity to attend both of those meetings over the last week and and uh you know we didn't know what we didn't know when we moved to the
new facility and uh with the staffing uh group that we had making sure that we were making adjustments that seemed to make the most sense. But there are challenges with a 24-hour facility that are also really great opportunities and felt that this retirement presented an
option for Klay County to figure out how we best uh support staff that were out there uh while also um making sure that we were making adjustments that made sense. I believe that there will be some additional savings that are identified
with uh particularly uh the move to have a detox manager that detox supervisor uh team if you will uh to maybe u have some reductions in variable hour components but um I maintain that I feel like this
will uh provide the the oversight the managerial financial oversight while also allowing u the medically licensed folks to do their best work uh through that model and um and so it did come with a recommendation from this board uh
to make that agreement uh also with um making sure that uh Miss Mickelson was in part of that dialogue too, not not wanting to um bring something back into a department if uh she as the manager wasn't willing to do uh do so.
Any additional questions? So there is a recommended motion is that then reflected with So we do have the option sheet. There's the three options. You've heard what um the um the board is
is or the the pick committee is recommending. Um I >> Yeah, I I guess um B, you know, following the recommendation of the personal issues committee, I would move that we um
we refill the detox withdrawal management director position. Actually, take move it back. >> Take two. >> Yeah. Item number two. Yeah. Yeah. Move to to move detox to public health permanently and increase public health director to grade 28 and hire a detox
manager at grade 22. >> Second. >> We have a motion offered and a second. Uh, Commissioner Campbell, Commissioner Kavanagh, any further discussion? Do we need to make adjustment to the 20?
the supervisor piece or not? >> Um, no, we do not, madam chair. >> And then would that the motion uh reflect a backfill? >> We would ask that there be backfill. It would that would meet >> and second reflect backfill opportunity.
Additional questions comments. And in regards to the um and maybe a question for Darren because I know we had this conversation, but the um detox manager at grade 22, do we have
to redo the PDQ for that? Uh yeah, we would have to come up with a PDQ for that. I'm sure a lot of it would be taken from the detox director's PDQ, but take some of those managerial tasks and duties away from that. So, we'll
have to work on that a little bit more. >> I I think Commissioner Campbell and following up with Darren, if if you recall before we made this shift, um that grade that's where the where it lied before lie at grade 22 and so I think a lot of the work has already been done. We're just being >> I just didn't know if we needed to have
a motion to cover that PDQ update, but >> and then I and then I just want to um I just want to point out I haven't personally talked to Jessica, but uh I know Steve did reach out with you obviously before this was presented. We wanted to make sure that it was
something she'd be comfortable with. And um I just want to thank her for um being willing to do this. This is a it's a big move and and I think for Klay County it'll be a positive move. So I just that out.
One of the additional points that we didn't really bring up today but we talked about in pick is uh there are so many different state regulations and uh changes in lure that's happening and we really feel like similar to the discussion that we had with James are
proud of this work but wanted to make sure that we allowed for staff capacity to continue to advocate for changes or tweaks in legislation if needed and so felt like because public health is working on dialing in what changes uh
are happening. That would be another uh beneficial move for the organization. All right. Any further discussion? Jessica's not running out of the door yet. So I >> All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I.
>> I. >> Opposed. Same sign. Carried. >> Thank you. Okay, we'll move into our committee reports. >> Commissioner Kabanov, would you like to go?
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, last Tuesday on the 21st, we had our adult uh mental health. It was actually our annual meeting as we call it. Um we invited uh more the public and also other people
in the mental health world to come. We had a nice group. Um it was in the 30 range of people who came. It was a rather than having a presentation or spotlight by one entity. it was more
about updates and reporting uh and uh currently what's going on and then we as a larger group um talked about what's what will be ahead as we continue through 26 into 27
uh possibly new ideas and speakers in the future. Uh, one of the main topics was um, crisis responses that are needed and how that fits in with the work we do within our, uh, homeless community
specifically. So, um, good conversation and look forward to the work ahead. On Wednesday the 22nd, uh, we had our historical culture society um, board meeting. um on the board with
the board meeting. Uh we had a presentation by um uh Tanya Blennage and she's part of the arts partnership um uh in this area. uh we uh received grants
through them and uh she gave a background of the arts partnership and u it was good information things I didn't know about and I think others learned the great work they do and uh she
pointed out u what a significant effect that um our cultures or our historical society plays uh in the FM area whether it's on the place of county side of the cast.
Um yeah, I think that's probably on that one. Other than that, I've reported most the other things um last last week. Um
then on Thursday, uh had my uh cap uh finance meeting and board meeting. Um, we run those back to back. Uh, we had a u general uh most things on it. We had a
spotlight uh from our housing division uh by director Emma Smith Schmidt, excuse me. uh she really it's amazing the work they do and many of the things we we hear from other organizations but
uh how they the collaboration in this area when it comes to housing um whether it's with more public housing whether it's H us and uh and also that communication with places like Maric's
mission uh how we all have one common goal and looking for housing supports as well as uh keeping people um finding the homes as well as having money so they can rehabilitate their homes uh to keep
where they uh currently are. So ongoing work that is uh increasingly under pressure uh but at the same time continually building. Uh we had one new um board member elected and I better get
to so I can say the name correctly. Uh Michelle Forshell uh haven't met her yet. She uh she'll be at the meeting next month, but we uh she came with great background background. We had uh three candidates and she was
the one chosen. Um then on yesterday we had my um uh Cascade Food Commission steering committee meeting. Um our structure this year has been a little different and it's working out pretty well. And so the
last two meetings, just as a recap, uh we had Flay County work on organic food recycling, which we're we're actually moving the grants, so we're moving to have one. And then uh then we heard from West Phy on their orchards um in their
uh throughout their city and that those programs. Uh our next meeting will be uh Wednesday September 10th uh when the full commission will be together and the host at that time will be Morehead and we look forward to whatever they uh can
develop. Uh we also tal quite some time working along with Great Plains uh foods and and then also the uh members of the um hunger coalition about some potential large state grants over on the North
Dakota side that could filter into the work we do. So very early stages but it was uh federal dollars coming into the state maybe we utilize. So that was uh uh the whole part of that meeting. So
that that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Commissioner Kavanagh. Commissioner Campbell. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. On Tuesday the 21st, we held our first of two pick meetings this last week and um it was all in regards to the resignation of Troy Amenson for his
retirement. I I do want to point out um I know Mr. Mojo talked about his uh service as public health director and the good things he's done. >> Detox detox >> or detox, excuse me. Uh I do want to
also point out that prior to that he I I worked with him for a number of years in juvenile detention and he also did a great job there and he kind of helped set the stage I think for where where it's at today. Um, so thanks again to
Troy for his work in different areas with Klay County. On the 22nd, we had a Prairie Lakes meeting in Purum. Uh, things are going well there. We are ahead of last year and our cash
reserves. U things are moving quite good. um the ash uh grant that was received by Ottertale County of which part of it is for the ash
management um landfill that grant agreement is scheduled to be signed by the end of the year. Um other than that it was the performance everything else seems to be going
fairly well with Prairie Lakes. I don't have anything else to add to that. on the 22nd then or that afternoon got back for the um land management meeting for the diversion authority and we um authorized a couple of
different parcels to u go to the through the policy of excess lands for sale. Um and we had an update on the Horus Railroad Plat
which is involves a number of lots, parcel owners interested in those lots and then an update on the mitigation. It was a slide basically showing how the mitigation has worked on land acquisitions from the beginning of the
project. It was quite interesting to see that Thursday morning, July 23rd, we had our solid waste management committee meeting. Um we talked some more about the um organics grant that's uh has been
received now and that one we're also looking at that grant agreement probably being signed by the end of the year so that process then can start to move forward. Thanks a lot to Ella, Ashley, and Corey
for their efforts in obtaining that grant along with some like Steve Lendus was here this morning, other members from the Morid community who who helped push for that grant.
Uh I think I think that pretty much covers that. Commissioner Mo was there if she can add to it if she there's anything more. Uh that afternoon then we had the Klay County Morehead Klay County Joint Powers
Authority meeting. We got a property status acquisition up or update excess lands update and a litigation update. Um, we really had no and we did have a
one actionable item on a administrative platting uh regarding some lots in the area that we approved that for replplat. After that we had the diversion board of
authority meeting. I think all is going well there. I didn't have I think we took another update on or another whiffy alone uh update on that. Um they did they did report the finance committee did report
that um right now the sales tax for the city portion the city portion of the sales tax for the diversion project is up 12% over last year which is good because last year's number was somewhat
level or that was excuse me that's 12% for the county sales tax and the city of Fargo is a 5% increase over last year and
concludes my report on that. Yesterday, Commissioner Bear and I attended the monthly meeting of the West Central Regional Water District and we also had a um
finance workshop. We talked we got we got updates on the 2024 earmark, the 2026 earmark, and the 2027 earmarks pending and the status of the $5 million bond. Um they're having outreach meetings set
up for several communities. Commissioner Bayer and I are planning to attend the Georgetown and Felton ones next week. And then we had a
a significant conversation about what how it's going to look moving forward and what what we can provide with land owners on what we think might be ultimate costs for them to hook up and what water rates might look like. So all of that is there's a lot of deep dive
going into that and um they had recommended u three committee member a committee of three to work on that and I was kind of nominated to be part of that instead
>> can't go out just by leaving. So yeah, so that's and that that is a that's a big task that one with all of all what's going on there. So I told them it needs to be done by December if they want me to be on it and they said we'll have it done. So,
and then uh uh let's see then this then yesterday afternoon then we met again on the personnel issues committee meeting again and uh it was basically to uh have additional information based on
what we had talked about the first time we met in regards to the detox position and and ultimately with what's presented today. That concludes my report. >> Thank you, Commissioner Campbell. Commissioner Bear. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. On two, last
Tuesday in the evening, I went to the Klay County Planning Commission meeting where there was four hearings. The first one was on the Red River Communications. They were asking for a conditional use permit for a telecommunication hunt in Alliance Township, and that was approved.
The next one was a Westland excavating request for an interimm use permit for a 39.5 acre gravel mine in Keen Township, which that was also approved with conditions that match their pit that was right next
door. And then we heard uh Gerald Zimmerman request for an interimm use permit for an agricultural working housing uh building that they'll he'll house uh
truck drivers and agricultural workers during harvest and planting season in Oakport Township which was approved with some conditions on making sure the septic and all that got certified. side.
And then the last one was White Oak Gardens LLC request for an additional use permit for a 5 megawatt community solar garden in Elmwood Township, which also was approved. All four had there was no
public comment at all four of those, so they all went pretty easily. Then on Thursday the 23rd, I went to the Klay County Criminal Justice Advisory Board meeting where we had an update on
the community corrections comprehensive plan two-year update which we went over. And then Clay County was also submitted to do a full comprehensive plan in 2027 which that the board will have to
approve when that comes around. We also had a update on the correctional staff. The department of correction staff in Klay County has started using an AI pilot to
do recordkeeping and report reporting report writing. That was pretty neat. Then later that afternoon, I went to the uh Klay County Public Health Community Health Improvement Plan, the CHIP
meeting. We had one in June and then we had a second one here to discuss the outcomes from the June meeting which were in Klay County and Becker County. This was the first second meeting which was in Klay County. The next one there'll be a second meeting for Becker
County today actually. and we went over the the the initial community partnership, the outcomes from the first meeting with was transportation and mental health. And we had group discussion and on both of those and small group discussion on
those on figuring out the best ways to come up with a chip plan for transportation and mental health going forward. And then on Monday, I was also up in Grand Forks for the West Central Regional Water District meeting, which a
little update on that I'll add is the the line from Climax to Neilville has been the design has started on that and letters for easement have gone out for the landowners along that route. So hopefully we can get that that should be
going out for bid here shortly and with construction maybe even this fall if the bids come in properly for that line. And we also the we also yeah that was the main thing that we also had the finance workshop which commissioner
Campbell did a very good job and yeah he was nominated to sit on the finance committee along with P County Administrator Mr. Whiting and an office coordinator from HMU alley and then uh that would also be A2S staff
would be a part of that committee. That is all my reports. Madam Chair, >> thank you Commissioner Bear. Going back two weeks, I was uh invited as many of you were to the churches United Community Roundt on uh strategizing outreach and talking about how mutual
and shared services affect uh the residents that they work with. appreciate their uh willingness to host so many different folks from uh our cities and schools and uh business community as well to that. That evening I attended the Glendon Township meeting
as our uh county engineer discussed last week just on the 21 uh easements we'll be working through next year. And I that day attended the greater Fargo Morehead EDC. They had a business attraction working group. uh just uh helpful to
hear from the business community some of the challenges and opportunities particularly on the Minnesota side as we uh continue to advocate for policies that strengthen business attraction on the Minnesota side. Uh that week I had the opportunity uh thankful to all of you for the
opportunity to attend the annual uh conference for the National Association of Counties. uh through that had uh an opportunity to tour two flood control projects particularly of interest to me because I think there's a lot of overlap
and how those uh parishes and the cities uh work through a finance plan and uh strategy for on&m maintenance moving forward. The first was touring the army corps's western enclosure dam tour which was a project in which they uh built uh
they built it right after Katrina. It took three years to come up with a plan and they were able to build this $1.1 billion structure. Within three years of that uh series of levies, flood wall gates and pump stations. It's how uh the city uh closes a dam arm, if you will,
on that channel to protect from a storm surge of up to six feet. Uh so they're able to uh close that canal so the um storm surge stays out of the community while also because uh Louis or New
Orleans is six feet below um um uh sea yeah sea level uh every single drop of rain needs to be pumped out. So that facility has the um capacity to pump 200,000 cubic feet per second out of
that system. And it also is a system that can close within 15 minutes. That channel sees $1 billion in commodity value go through it every day. So being able to open and close that quickly was really important to them. And they've already had three hurricanes that has uh
paid for itself uh 10 times over. The second tour that I was able to attend later on uh in the week was uh visiting pump station 6 which is their um one of uh 111 pumps that they have throughout the city. It pumps everything into
poncha train because ponet train is lower than uh the Mississippi that capacity u has um that system has the capacity to pump and fill the super doome within 30 minutes. So, if you think about your normal pumps, some
pumps at your house, uh, and how it just trickles out of there, what that capacity is, I have the links and information that I'll be sharing with all of you, but, uh, was really helpful to see how that overlap between the systems um, and the levy levy authorities uh, work together. Uh
throughout the p the conference I had the opportunity to attend the first time attendee meetings uh public land steering committee uh which uh you know that I did uh co-author a bill in regards to removal of the w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w from the protected species act. We also had uh
substantial conversations in St. Louis County was there. Uh conversation with for uh the forest mitigation on all of the fires that were going on and how management on the front end could have avoided a lot of other components. Uh we had land use presentations. I attended
the agriculture and rural affairs committee. Uh we talked a lot about AI and county government. Uh we talked about enhancing the funding for our local rural health programs, particularly how can we work together to support rural emergency medical services
challenges that we've all prioritized at the capital. Uh also interesting was a presentation from uh Louisiana Extension Service on some of their 4 programming that's going on in their state. Uh well, we talk a lot about um pro um production
of animals that talk, you know, cows and swine and and uh the like. Their big pilot program is seafood packaging. So their 4ers are working on seafood packaging projects. That was really exciting to learn more about. I also
attended a county administrator roundt that highlighted um pilot projects with youth mental health services which I think will be helpful for us and then also talked um and attended the midsize county caucus uh meetings. One of the highlights of the entire uh meeting
though or conference was a subcommittee that we pulled together at the last minute to meet with leaders from the states of North Carolina, New York, Ohio, and Minnesota to talk specifically on the SNAP challenges that we're all seeing and how we're strategizing
outreach to legislative uh work. And I then attended the pick committee meeting that was highlighted from Commissioner Campbell last Tuesday. I attended the land management committee that uh he
also highlighted. I appreciate that we're um looking at uh excess land sales and making sure we're uh tweaking that to make the most sense. I attended the uh debris removal and restoration subcommittee meeting here at Klay
County. Thanks to staff for uh preparing that room, this room for us. We had to follow up on the discussion and how we make sure we're tweaking the um contractor list and outreach list to not only land owners but particularly growers as we craft what that uh cleanup
policy will look like. That day I attended the SWAT committee meeting. We had an update from staff particularly on the organics grant and how we are waiting on um some approval from the state for that $2 million uh
funding and moving forward. I appreciate that we've talked with uh Commissioner Bear on on maybe what what makes the most sense in regards to the equipment needed uh making sure uh having a tractor instead of the other
self-propelled thing uh self-propelled equipment will really maybe meet a better use uh for the landfill as a whole. We talked about the local match and then also a cross trainining event uh abilities. After that, we had the uh
annual meeting with the city of Morehead to discuss the uh resource recovery contract. Um from our perspective, there are no need uh needed changes. The city of Morehead has reduced the staff out there from two to one. They're in the um
uh analyzing stage right now to see what makes the most sense for staffing out there. If there is an amendment in duties, they will um forward that for us for our deliberation. But uh we left the meeting um all satisfied that we're
continuing to meet the needs of all of our uh uh residents. And I attended the Barnesville community picnic. I also attended the MCC JPA meeting as highlighted from Commissioner Campbell.
And Friday I met with the concerned citizens on some land use proposals in Klay County. Yesterday I attended the Lakeland Mental Health Center uh board of directors meeting in Fergus Falls. We talked about um some challenges with ARMS and their electronic visit
implementation certification. Another just another thing that the state has implemented that uh probably means well but creates some significant challenges. and had updates on the crisis supervisor programming. As you recall, that's something that Ottertale and Klay County
have that services their um abilities. So, um discussing how they outreach the emergency rooms, offices, schools, and uh at additional community events. Um and then we went through the client referral service, our source survey
results. our ED um our co county social services director was there which I continue to appreciate that and then that afternoon I attended the personnel issue committee that we um already took action on. That concludes my reports. Steve,
>> thank you madam chair. Last Tuesday participated in the pick meeting that's been well addressed. Also um that afternoon met with Mr. Milton and representatives from MCIT uh looking at some coverage questions. Uh also uh on
the uh 22nd I worked with Sarah and board prep with because on 23rd and 24th I was at MAC tech technical days. Uh again as you may recall this board's allowed me to participate in MACA and also in in the planning for for Ma
training sessions. And so we we have three per year two technical days and one our annual conference. uh excited to see that this year based on our on past years we had nearly 60 60 of the administrator group there. Uh we talked
about AI uh of course budget challenges, the cost shifts and what other counties plan to do with many of the human service uh shifts that are coming to us. We talked about legislative planning, the upcoming platform discussion uh and then it's uh everyone's favorite
strategic planning uh discussion. Uh we participated virtually yesterday with the the board meeting for the water district uh and then had to leave uh leave the budget planning for the pre-budget of the sheriff's department. That'll be coming on August 11th.
Participated again the additional pick meeting and then had a had a meeting with Sheriff and Brian Melton on series of county issues. Uh of note, we did receive our MCIT dividend notice. Uh MCIT is providing $5 million in dividends this year. three million in
workman's comp dividend and and two million in property casualty. Uh our dividend here at Klay County for for this year is $91,598. Uh it's probably we've seen a decrease over the last several years. A lot of
the drivers that MCIT has talked about uh is uh is workman comp compensations related to law enforcement p PTSD. uh also some different challenges uh with uh with workman's comp property and casualty reinsurance increases and so uh
generally it's been the board's practice that we reinvest that in the upcoming budget. Uh and so I will talk with Miss Johnson about that moving forward. Uh and that concludes my report. >> Thank you Mr. Larson. Mr. Milton, >> Mr. Brook.
>> Thank you Madam Chair. I also attended both the pick meetings uh which has already been discussed on Tuesday the se um 7:21 at a meeting with Peterton law firm and the sheriff's department AHR to discuss a personnel issue. Um I also attended the board of adjustment and
planning commission meeting which was already covered by commissioner uh bear. Wednesday uh drove to the AMC technical conference and then uh attended the conference with Steve's and he has already covered that very well. Uh yesterday I had a meeting with Kimberly
on a proposed Tanipin County uh to conduct Torrren's examiner discussion. Um that'll be probably coming to the board for information here shortly and then of course the PIC meeting yesterday as well. That concludes my report. >> Thank you. Sarah, do you have anything?
Okay. Our next item on the agenda is item number nine. It's a closed session regarding attorney county attorney as permitted by uh statute section 13D-05 subdivision 3 attorney client privilege
to discuss potential litigation. >> Go into close session. >> We have a motion offered from Commissioner Barer to go into close session. >> Second. >> A second from Commissioner Kavanagh. Any further discussion? discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I oppose. Same sign. We're in close
session. All right, we are back in session. Seeing that we have no further business before the board, we've covered all items. Our next uh meeting of the board of commissioners is scheduled for August 4th at 8:30. We are adjourned. Part: 2
Good morning. It is 8:30 Tuesday, July 28th. I'll go ahead and call today's meeting of the Klay County Board of Commissioners to order. Our first item on the agenda is an approval of the agenda. >> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. >> We have an motion offered to approve the agenda from Commissioner Bear. >> Second.
>> A second from Commissioner Kabnoff. Any further discussion? >> Madam Chair, we do have a we do have a uh not an addition but an amendment uh to number two that we will be having a additional interviewer uh this morning.
>> Okay. Uh the proposed addition amendment to item number two would be to interview four candidates instead of three. >> That's correct. >> Uh Commissioner Bear, does that >> Yes.
Any further discussion? Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carried. Citizens to be heard today. Are there any citizens in the audience
wishing to address the county board? Any individuals wishing to address the county board? >> Mr. Larson, have we had any online requests? >> We have not, Madam Chair. Thank you. >> Moving into the approval of the payment of bills and vouchers.
>> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve pay the bills and vouchers. >> Second. >> Motion offered from Commissioner Bear to approve the payment of bills and vouchers. A second from Commissioner Campbell. Further discussion. Discussion. Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify
by saying I. >> I. >> Oppos. Same. Sign. Carried. The minutes from the July 14th board meeting were in the packet. >> Move to approve the bills and vouchers. >> We've already done that. I'll make >> Oh, the minutes. I
>> for July 14th. >> We have a motion offered from Commissioner Krabangh to approve the payment or >> I'll second that. >> Approve the minutes. Second from Commissioner Bear. Any further discussion? Discussion.
All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I >> I >> oppose. Same sign. The minutes are approved. Our next item today uh is the conduction of interviews. We have two appointments and or reappoints. The Buffalo Red River
Wershed District Board. The Klay County Board of Commissioners accepted letters of interest for the two managers uh and will be um looking to interview for a three-year term on the Buffalo Red River Wershed Board. The term will expire
August 31st, 2029, and by statute, we need to make the appointment by July 31st. Uh we have in the packet the um letters of interest from candidates.
Uh we have Mr. Curtis Stubstead, Mr. Amos Fair. We have Mr. Joel Hildebrand and Mr. Steve Lindas. Good morning to all of you. Uh we will we have your letters and we'll just have invite you up to the front and we'll have a couple question and answers if you if you if
that works. Steve, uh would you like to come forward? Madam Chair, if I could uh just just for the board's uh information and and for the chair, uh I I did review u under the watershed uh district appointment managers 103D 311
the manager qualifications, a person may not be appointed as a manager who uh one is not a voting resident of the watershed district. Uh so I would just be asking that the board would confirm that all uh individuals are uh living uh
in the county and then two is a public officer of the county, state or federal government except that a soil and water conservation supervisor may be a manager. in looking at uh the statute, the public officer of the county. Uh although it sounds like maybe in the
past people have been duly on other boards with with my research, I believe that they should not be on two different um appointed boards. So, uh any of the individuals you're talking to, they should indicate if they are on a a
different board and if they would intend to come off that board, if they were ultimately appointed to watch. Okay, you can ask that question. >> Good morning, Mr. Lindas. >> Good morning. >> We have uh your letter request. We also have some uh questions that we'll rotate
through if you don't mind, but if you want to just uh maybe introduce yourself, confirm your residency, and we'll go from there. >> I'm Steve Lindos. Um I am a Klay County resident living in Morehead. um and uh
work and teach uh students critical thinking through the lens of physics at MS Minnesota State University Morehead. Um to speak to attorney Milton's um other question, I am currently serving on the Morhead public service um
commission and I'm not sure if that is the same in terms of city commissions um or county commissions. Um, so I'm not going to refer to that. Um, I don't think I would um resign that position
since I just started that position. So, >> all right. Well, let's uh jump into the questions if we might. We'll just I'll start with number >> and madam chair. I don't I don't believe that would be it's other it's under county, state or >> federal government because it's a different >> Perfect. >> Okay.
>> I thought that too. Uh, Steve, what experience would you bring to the Buffalo Red River Watershed District Board of Managers? >> Um, I think my perspective I would bring would be one of a scientific lens um, physics, ecology, um, that sort of
thing. Um I would say that the systems thinking um that I approach that I bring to most um items um the watershed in particular the one watershed one plan approach is something that's um something that I definitely would
support um as sometimes political boundaries conflict with watershed um issues. I have experience um through the scientific lens. Obviously, the the city experience that I've I bring to um uh
the board and planning commission work that I've done in the past um would be useful. Um the last two years I spent um in DC getting more of a federal lens um experience um how essentially federal um
money is is allocated and spent. So that science and technology policy perspective is also um a useful. Beyond that I have not what I would say is strong um farming background. Um you know my
roots are from um this area. If you go up north on the other side of the river, the Lindos um township is where my family farm is from. Um so that's Mayville area. Um but I also have roots from the southern Minnesota um farming community. Commissioner Campbell, would you like to
ask the second question or do you want me to run through them all? >> Well, you can just run through them. >> All right, Steve, why do you want to be a watershed manager? >> So, um talking to um another watershed manager, um Dr. Gerald and Van Hamburg,
um he had indicated that he learned an awful lot um but also was thought that the scientific lens was particularly useful um for this. And so I'm kind of serviceoriented, but I also thought it would um dovetail nicely with the more
public service work um because there's a aspect of water and whether or not you do a west central um water district um and you know how that overlaps um but ultimately water is arguably probably more important or
equal of importance to energy um in terms of what we need to be thinking about as a um society and community count. >> Thank you. Mr. Lindas, what is your phil philosophy on managing drainage?
>> Um, well, water is important and um, you know, too much water um, can be detrimental to both ecology or or farming practices. um but uh too little waters also. So you want you want to
manage it in ways um and I'm not going to say I have the expertise to know how to manage it, but using the resources that are out there, you can actually apply those and make sure that you're actually following um sound practices. >> Thank you.
>> Did anyone have follow-up questions? I'm not meaning to. >> Have you had personal experience with a watershed board in the past? If yes, was it generally a positive experience? And how would that experience affect your service as a watershed manager? >> Not had any experience with the water
board. >> Thank you. The Klay County Commission, we have not updated these questions, but the Klay County Commission has been in support of the diversion project. If appointed to the board, how would you support efforts to achieve completion of this project
that's anticipated in the next 12 months? >> Um, I don't think there would be much I would do except for to make sure that I I um was uh well getting getting the required funding to finish the differential project would be um useful.
>> Yeah. >> Sure. >> Yes, commissioner. >> Yeah. on on this this question is kind of somewhat outdated now when we when you see that the uh where the diversion is and it's it's expected to be substantially complete by this October
operational by spring but one of the important things um that the watershed will always be carrying forward and and have to always be concerned about is the permit
requirements. Uh the permit requirements don't stop because the diversion project is done, you know. So I so whoever is going to be in this position has to understand those permit requirements and just make sure
that they're being u upheld. That's, you know, and I I I I'd say that to all four of you, you know, that that would be that would be something that would be a must. So, >> any other questions? >> All right.
>> Thank you. >> Before you sit down, I do want to also say I know that you were helpful in writing the MPCA grant with our county staff for organics, and that has nothing to do with the watershed appointment, but just uh have not had the opportunity to see you. So, thanks for helping us uh secure that grant.
>> Thank you. >> All right, Mr. Hildebrandt, would you like to go? Good morning. >> Good morning. >> We also have your letter. Would you like to introduce yourself and state your residence, please?
>> Uh Joel Hildebrandt. I've lived in Eglund Township for 18 years. >> Okay. Item number one would be, what experience would you bring to the Buffalo Red River Wershed District Board of Managers?
>> Um, lifetime of utilizing conservation practices on the land from growing up in Pope County, Minnesota to central Wisconsin to western North Dakota and then back to uh
Minnesota. I was a member leadership position in the Palm Air Joint Powers Board in the early 2000s along with being a Grant County Supervisor. Um I've been a Klay County Supervisor for I
believe 14 years now. Um, so have worked with commissioners and Buffalo Red WHED and projects like the Snaky Creek um project which was shared dollars from
several entities and and I guess to address what Mr. Milton said earlier, um, I did apply as I was under the impression after talking to several people that I could remain on planning
and zoning and if I happen to be chosen and I do not feel at this time that I would resign those positions if if required.
>> Okay. Do you want to continue to go through the questions? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Why do you want to be a watershed manager? >> Um I feel I have a lifetime of uh experience and practical knowledge of
how projects can be made to effectively manage water and when possible enhance the quality of water. Um sediment um
control, you know, is is a is a big thing from the buffalo and the subwaterheds that feed the buffalo, which you know, in the end feed the red. >> Mr. Hildebrandt, what is your philosophy on managing drainage?
>> Um, there is a time and a place for it. Um, we need to balance the needs of agriculture with the needs of everybody that's living in the watershed. I'm a big
proponent of tiling. I think that that has made a huge difference in runoff along with different farming practices where the water soaks through two feet, three feet, four feet
depending on how deep the top soil is in a heavy rain event instead of getting a, you know, five inch rain in five minutes where it all blows through the ditches and we've all seen it. >> Have you had experience with a watershed board in the past? And if yes, was it
generally a positive experience? And how would that experience affect your service as a watershed manager? >> No, direct. um where we live, we did get um assessed something an a small
assessment for the Hay Creek, which is the subwaterhed, and it would have no effect at all. It was just okay, this is what we need to do. And the fifth question is, the Klay County Commission has been supportive of
the diversion project and if appointed to the board, how would you support efforts to achieve completion of the project andor funds? >> Um, I really don't know how to answer that. You know,
it's, you know, five months out. Um to me there's it's the diversion is done and the the basic what I see as the core function of the
watershed district would have nothing to do with diversion. >> Any additional questions from the board? Thank you Joel. Thank you also for serving as chair of the planning commission and you talk about those conservation efforts. I've been on
several farm visits with you. So, thank thank you for your advocacy in in soil management. We do appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Bear. >> Well, it's whatever seat >> pick one. >> Just make sure the microphone's green.
Good morning, Amos. Would you like to introduce yourself and then state your residency as well? >> I name is Amos Bear. I've lived in Eglund Township for 60 plus years. I run a u poultry
operation in eastern Klay County and um I've served on the planning commission, township officer and am CEO of Bears Poultry Company. >> You're not just talking about the
poultry operation that my 12-year-old has, which is like 12 chickens. You're talking substantial egg, which is wonderful. All right, Mr. Bear, what experience would you bring to the Buffalo Red River Watershed District Board of Managers?
>> Um, one one uh thing I've done in u the past 10 years, I was u president of a Nelson County Pigs Cooperative, which
is a cooperative of 28 members. was a cooperative of 28 members. We had 7,500 SAS and they elected me president of that operation and to keep 28 farmers from
Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota working cooperatively is a monumental task, >> right? >> And they reelected me several times as president.
And I think that cooperation instinct is within me and I think I could benefit the board. >> Why do you want to be a watershed manager? >> I I have time. I think I have the uh
expertise to serve on the board and u we'll see what happens. >> Okay. >> Amos, what is your philosophy on managing drainage? I do have a piece of land that I did drain maybe 15 years ago. I think it's
uh very uh beneficial for all parties. I think what has to be kept in focus is the upstream and downstream effects of water management.
>> Any follow-up questions? Question four, have you had personal experience with a watershed board in the past? And if yes, was it generally a positive experience? And how would that experience affect your service as a watershed manager? >> I have had experience with a watershed
board. It was as a township officer of Hegeland Township. It was uh replacing a large culvert and u I believe it was Bruce Albbright at the time and it was nothing but a
positive experience. >> And finally, the Klay County Commission has been in support of the diversion project. If appointed to the board, how would you support efforts to achieve completion of the project and the funding necessary? My focus would be on uh
seeing a speedy completion and uh get it done with quickly. >> Okay. >> Any other? >> Sure. >> Yes, Commissioner Campbell. >> A follow-up question based on an answer you gave. So um when you talk about your
philosophy and you you mentioned that there can be upstream and downstream effects which you are 100% correct on. Do you believe that in instances those can be mitigated? >> I believe so.
>> I I and and the the the biggest success would be if both parties benefit. Okay. >> Thank you. All right. Thank you, Mr. Stubstead.
Hot seat. >> Good morning, Kurt. If you'd like to state your name and confirm your residence, please. Uh, >> Curt Stubstead. I reside in Elma Township by Sabin, lifelong resident there.
All right. What experience would you bring to the Buffalo Red River Wershed District Board of Managers? >> I get to answer this question differently than it did the last time I appeared before you. Uh I have been serving on the Buffalo River Wershed Board and have learned quite a bit. It's
been a an eye openening experience. Uh there's a little bit more diplomacy and consiliation needed than I was uh than I thought there would going to be because believe it or not, everybody's got an opinion about where the water should go and how it should go there. Um and to
try and take all that into consideration and and reach agreements that make the majority of the people happy uh has been a challenge. >> Item two, why do you want to continue to be a watershed manager? Well, with the uh issues that we've run
into, uh there are projects and things that we've done that kind of need to be run to completion. And so I feel like the experience that I bring after having been on there on the watershed board, hopefully that I can bring these uh projects to fruition. Uh, one of the big
things that I learned is, uh, watershed management now is is not as concerned with drainage as is with water quality, especially with the states and any of the money that we get. Um, the residents come wanting us to drain things and the
state isn't as interested in draining as they are in water management. And so to meld those together so that the residents understand that we're trying to do both, but but we have to do it in a way that also uh enhances water
quality and doesn't send sediment down the down the down to the buffalo and to the red. >> And then that leads into what is your philosophy on managing drainage? Well, there's natural drains that we have to
respect. And for so many years, the philosophy was we need to drain this land. We're going to run a ditch as straight and deep as we possibly can get the water. And you don't have to drive very far around the county to see that the effects of that the sloughing of the roads and the sides because the water
comes too fast. The philosophy now is more of a bringing it back to a natural meander, which is easier said than done when there was never a drain there in the first place. But we do need to work on the technology to keep those roads from sloughing off because again there's u there's a significant amount of those
ditches that are just straight true and deep. And in the in the in the spring there's some there's quite a bit of sloughing that goes on and the technology is not up to speed to deal with that at this point in time. Item four, have you had personal
experience with the watershed board in the past? And if yes, was it generally a positive experience and how would that experience affect your service as a watershed manager? >> Yeah, I I we've I've had land that wershed projects have went through in the past. I did a ring dyke through the wershed board. Um, so I've had
experience on both sides of actually helping manage the water system and and and uh being a either a beneficiary of that or uh having to contribute a little bit of land. And that's the the other thing to people to understand the benefits and I had to have that explained to me as well and shown how it
is benefiting me uh even though I don't seem to be there that close to it. But but it there are ways to to u educate the public of how this benefits us. Madam Chair, just one follow >> you just finished your first term as on
the board. So, three years you've been on. >> Correct. >> And then item five, the Klay County Commission has been in support of the diversion project if appointed to that board, this board reappointed. How would you support efforts to achieve completion of this project and the
funding necessary? Interestingly enough, I was able to go on a big tour of the whole project and have a much better understanding of the project. Um, and so there are things we can do to um, as as Commissioner Campbell mentioned, the permitting process, making sure we're
working within the boundaries of the agreements that have been set forth with the W with the uh um the the the u entity that's now managing that is very important. Um, so and getting the funding. We still are looking for some
money at the watershed for our portion of this project. >> Any additional questions? >> All right. >> Thank you so much. >> I would like to uh personally thank all
of you. uh not all of you said all of the attributes as to why you would be good representations for uh Klay County on this board, but I have personally served with all of you in a variety of capacities uh watershed
um planning, SWCD, other water specific land use issues. and I um am really encouraged to see folks like you continuing to uh try to lend your time and talents to make Klay County a better place. So, a huge
gratitude. All of your uh letters um are really encouraging on um folks that want to continue to serve and I I appreciate that, >> Madam Chair. >> Yes, Commissioner. >> I um yeah, I agree. I agree with your comments and I um I do believe that Curt
Stubstead does deserve to serve on another ter term. Uh so I will u make a motion to reappoint Curt Stubstead to a three-year term on the Buffalo Red Wershed Board. Okay, >> we have a motion offered to reappoint uh
Curt Stubstead to a three-year term on the Buffalo Red River Wershed Board. Commissioner Campbell, that second was from Commissioner Krabanoft. Any further discussion? >> I'll just make a comment. >> Yes, Commissioner. >> As one who attends the meetings every
month, I've watched Kurt grow in his role and and certainly uh support the motion. Um I think you've been the voice of reason several times. you talk about the disruption that goes on with that
board from time to time and uh I think you've uh matured into the role very well and and uh hope to see you continue on >> any further discussion discussion you're still up for the
challenge >> here he's here >> chickenened out as he was talking through all those experiences all Those in favor of the motion signify by saying I >> oppose. Same sign carried. Thank you.
I would like to um we looking for a second motion then. >> Yeah. Well, yeah. >> Okay. Um so I I know all four of these individuals quite well. um been on a um
boards with all but um Mr. Lendas, but we know each other pretty well from living in Morehead and and uh having conversations uh in many areas. Um I for me and this isn't I think
they're all uh very wellqualified. The one I I I um feel uh has a the broadest knowledge of all things concerned in farm operations is uh Amos
Bear. Um I think his years not only how we worked in county planning together the board of adjustments but I've been out to his poultry operation see how they operate. They were instrumental in
u some technology updates that were vital to Flay Found with when you did the uh manure, the dry uh dry manure uh conversions over the years and uh you did that in a very professional uh
manner while facing some real strong uphill battles at the time. And I think that uh that type of experience can easily carry over into the watershed board where the same thing happens.
Upill challenges from the public public and how do you manage that? So that's the um that's the one I just think you're very strong at and and of course living on land you understand what watersheds are about to. So, I would
make a motion that we choose Amos Bear for that board for that term. >> There's a motion to appoint Amos Bear to a three-year term on the Buffalo Red River Wershed District Board. >> Is there I I will second it, but I
>> have a motion offer from Commissioner Kavanagh to second from Commissioner Campbell for discussion purposes. >> Yes. And and I again I u no matter which members you are the to me the watershed board you know it it
does the watershed goes does have boundaries that go outside of uh Klay County as well. And one of one of the concerns that I've
always had is is um the natural flow of water and almost all of it uh goes to the Red River and a significant portion of our watershed um can have an impact on the city of
Morhead. And so I I I just I'm basically putting out there regardless who's in there needs to take into consideration that um some of the things that Morehead might
want to have or might oppose might be for a for a significant reason and you know it might be for the uh safety of the uh citizens of Morehead or maybe from a water benefit. for the city of
Morid as well. U this position has traditionally always been uh as long as I can remember somebody within the city limits of Morehead. Um by with this nomination we would we
would no longer have a representative from Morehead on the watershed district and that that is a little bit concerning to me. uh but as long as everybody understands the importance and I and I and Mr. Bear, I I specifically asked you
the question about, you know, impacts upstream and downstream and and being having the I think the ability to mitigate is extremely important. And I I did like the way you answered that question uh because and Kurtley, I know you know
it too, that um you know, we all might have our opinions uh but by the time you hear everybody else's, you might be required to mitigate. And so that's that's where I'm at on it. And I think it's going to be really important
um that even though Morehead doesn't have a direct representative on this board based on this appointment, um it will still be taken into consideration as though they were me a
resident of Morehead and that's that's what I care about. So >> I have one >> a couple comments. I also served with all four of these members on planning and zoning or board of adjustment in the past as well and I think they're all qualified to sit on this board. But I I
support Amos also being appointed. Just so everybody knows, he is my uncle. There is no financial connection between us, but I think he is one of the most qualified people that's sitting out there right now to be on this board. So I I will be voting in favor of this motion.
Uh one one thing that I think is imperative uh you would be joining an additional member uh that we have uh Bill Davis is on the board. We have been deliberate about trying to strategize a
broad representation of individuals from Klay County that serve on that board. There's, you know, the hills that you live in and then the flat lands that uh Kurt and I live in. uh making sure that that perspective is represented and it is a delicate balance working with the other counties that are on that board.
Klay County is a significant contributor if you look at uh all of the parcels that pay into that. And my hope is that if this motion stands that uh Mr. Hildebrandt and Mr. Lindas, who both are quite active in in soil and water
mitigation efforts, will continue to be um helpful in us furthering the cause for water mitigation in Clay County. Any further discussion? All those in favor of this motion signify by saying I. I.
>> Oppos. Same sign carried. >> Thank you all for your interest, your work. Uh when does that start? >> Uh that is a good clarification. So my understanding is the term uh Amos
>> uh expires on the 31st. So you will be looped right in within this week. So Kurt, can you make sure and we'll work with staff Christine at the wershed >> in the hallway. >> Thanks guys. second Monday of the month.
>> Okay. Item three would be the request approval of the 5-year public safety camera systems modernization agreement with Axon Enterprise. Good morning, Sheriff. We do have additional information. Is this for this item? >> That is correct. That is some updated information with updated numbers I just
received this morning. >> Thank you. >> Um do we have that >> uh is that this packet >> read? Okay. Proceed. Good morning, Madam Chair, commissioners. Thank you for having us this morning. We are here today to um
hopefully get an approval for a five-year agreement for um updated body cams and incar cams. We're finding that our current system, which uh is G-Tech, is already starting to fail us where we're having trouble with uh the battery life of the systems. We're having
trouble with them uploading. For example, my body cam and other body cams uh will not upload unless the camera is completely uh dead. Uh so you have to let that drain completely down before you can upload your videos. I know that there's a well at least one patrol deputy that's having that issue right
now as well. Um and we're just seeing increase issues with them and then the customer service side of it has not been um all that great either. Um, with this proposal, um, what we end up doing is we get a 30-year
refresher on body 30 year 30 month >> 30 month. Wow, that'd be a tough one. Be a 30-month refresher on the body cams in the latest uh model of body cam. Therefore, if when we initially go to this program and we have an Axon 4 body
cam, after 30 months, if the Axon 5 body cam comes out, we'll automatically get that upgraded model. and then a five-year refresher on in-car cameras. Um, we feel that this is probably the best um path forward um to keep us to
keep our technology updated and to ensure that we have the body cams um in use all the time that they're not being um drained or we're not having any issues or problems with them. This will also integrate very well with the county attorneys acts on justice that they're
uh moving towards and it'll also um be a very good it also helpful towards information sharing for other agencies that have act axon body cams which most agencies in our area have axon body cams. Now sheriff >> can you speak a little bit to that
interoperability that was a big piece that we talked about uh committee and why we helped um support the request. Yeah, correct. This this did go to pick, by the way, two weeks ago. I was not able to make that meeting. Uh Lieutenant Schroeder and Chief Deputy Martin was
able to make that meeting. Therefore, I would defer to Chief Deputy Martin for that, even though I'm well aware, but uh to have the the best information for you, I refer to him. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. So, when we spoke at PIC, we talked to um Mr. Mountain as well and we
talked about Axon justice and Axon evidence and the transferring um of our evidence to the county attorney's office and the workflow that would be reduced or work load that would be reduced just from from adding axon getting that
evidence to the county attorney's office. uh basically from the field when an a video will upload it also goes to our evidence and to um the yeah the county attorney's office as well at the same same time saving multiple steps
from our staff and Mr. Melton's staff as well. Um and then this is not just for for our deputies, it's also for corrections as well. We would have 54 units or body cameras that would go to our full-time staff over there and a couple spares for our part- timerrs that
they could use. We have 52 full-timers um from the jail administrator all the way through all of our our cos would have these on as well as everybody at our office um from warrants division to court security you would see them along with the sheriff and myself also wear them.
>> Thank you. and we did talk at pick uh we've identified that this could potentially save hundreds of hours between several different departments in regard in regards to this. So as we as we decipher what the utilization of funds would be that's a item of savings
that has been highlighted >> and madam chair I just wanted to back that being on pick but I also just um as we've talked about before with Axon justice in our office that's just getting implemented now here at the start of August uh and talking with them the other agencies whether that's
Morehead um the smaller agencies Dworth Barnesville all utilize Axon having the sheriff's going to Axon 2 would would be we would expect a a time savings, a cost savings where just that integrated
movement of of uh body cam video, squad car video. Um I think our download times will go from hours to really minutes and everything. I So I think you'll just see a pretty good time savings there that we'll be able to move some of those
things fairly quickly. >> Yeah. So the the plan with this would be to roll out for November 1st with billing to start January 1st. Um our initial plan was to have our um jail roll out June 1st as we thought their um their agreement with GTA was up on June
1st, but we had recently learned that we can also roll our jail out um November 1st as well. Um and that would probably cost us less money um in the long run um just but for the time savings and then uh we don't have to have that other
G-Tech um agreement for a year. So the plan would be to roll everybody out November one and Axon indicates that they are able to do that and we would get 45 body cameras for the sheriff's office with two spares. um that would
give every um every deputy a camera to include our part-time staff in the courthouse. Um it's very important that we have a camera for everybody out there. As the chief deputy mentioned, we'd have 54 um in the jail, including one spare as well in the jail. Uh we've
been we've been given the reassurance that uh if we do have any issues or problems with the body cams, they will overnight us a body cam uh so we don't go without one. It's it's very important not to or to have those cameras. Um, as far as the payment and fiscal impact, I
did include that in um what you have there. And the reason that I I provided a new one is I just got some information this morning where the yearly fee for the jail went from 38,000 and some change to 45,89784,
which brings the 5-year total for the jail to 22948920. And then the five-year total for the jail is 533,86620. >> Can you repeat the jail one again, please? >> Yes, it's
229,000 489 I'm sorry, 48920. Okay. 22948920. Correct. Or the law enforcement side. Five-year total 533,86620.
We have identified uh current internal servants balance of $143,610.79 to use for uh 2027. So we will not be requesting any um any funds from the 2027 budget to go to this project. and then we would uh move forward with 2028
um budget to add this in there to ensure this is now a budgeted item rather than an internal service item. >> Questions, Commissioner Campbell? >> Uh so I'm looking at your um
page here where you have the law enforcement and then the corrections agreement. That's slightly changed. It went from 193 to what you just said was >> Yep. 229. Um, and then under your deal, you you had
the net cost after after using the internal service fund was 619,000. That's roughly 20,000 more than that. 20, right, with the new number. >> That number is still correct. The 619744. The corrections agreement just needed to
be updated to 22948. That's the only number that was off on on this page. So the 5-year agreement was still the 763 355 and then the net cost is still 619744. >> Okay. So and so the
um the 619744 is that payable over four years or five years? >> That would be five years. >> Okay. So when if we do the math, you know, 124,000,
that's still uh and you're how much are you putting in the internal service fund now for cameras? >> Um on an annual basis, >> I don't know what Lori puts in there. Again, internal service fund, that's all Lori and Steve's magic. Um but that's
something I can tell you. We had roughly 88,000 in there after about two and a half years of for GTA services. We do budget for the jail about 26,500 a year um for GTAC upload and storage and then
about 29,000 for the sheriff's office is a budgeted item. >> Your current internal service balance of 143 though um my understanding is we depleted that when we made the new purchase. We will deplete that when we may will purchase. >> No, but prior. So if we're talking about
how much is being paid in, you could assume that 143,000. >> 143,000 has been two and a half years worth of internal service payments. Is that >> Madam Chair? Sheriff Sheriff Empty. I think because we didn't have cameras
prior to the act or to the current GTA. We did have Motorola Solutions prior, but this this number reflects what we currently have available in internal service to replace our G tax, which would be this. >> I I understand. I'm the question was how much are we paying in internal service
annually? And I given the fact that was zero and now it's 143,000. >> We pay that over the course of two and a half years. >> Correct. >> Yeah. My my point being and and what' you say the number 12 >> 124 >> over the next five years we're going to
have to we're going to have to be paying $124,000 a year basically for those for that fiveyear after we use up the internal service fund. Well, the internal service would be for 2027 and then for 2028 budget. Then we would have
to budget uh the entire well we'd have to budget um >> 155,000. >> Yeah. You'd have to you the remaining balance would be divided by four which is 155,000. >> 155,000 minus though the jail 26,500
which we currently have in budget and the sheriff's office 29,000 which we currently have in budget. So you're still looking at probably an increase of $100,000 >> right at 100. >> It'd be roughly that. Yep. >> Minus the internal service, whatever that number is. >> Well, that's that is minusing those
what's currently being going in there. >> But right now, roughly they're putting in about 70,000 a year for internal service, not counting the 29,000 or the 26,000. >> Okay. >> Sounds like that's a good uh item that we need to dial in with Lori to see exactly. >> So roughly 30,000, right?
We >> commission >> I think what's being >> I think what's being proposed here >> it has it has a zero impact on what we're talking about for 2027 budget. >> Correct. >> Uh it it will have to be reviewed and
there there will be an increase from the years 28 through 31. >> Correct. >> Yes. >> That has not you know that's going to be in addition to what's currently being done there. And one of the things that I know that's coming up in uh probably 2027 is we're probably going to have and
I this is an assumption on my part, but we're going to have probably three to four deputies um retiring potentially. Um and if they do, they would be the high high-end deputy wage. Um and we hire at a lower wage. So we would have that fluctuation as well.
I just something to be be aware of that although this is I support this I pick support it wholeheartedly but I you know I I just we need to be on record too that come 2028 there will be
an additional cost that's going to have to be incorporated into his budget. >> Maybe we'll see that reflected in the savings of staff time. That's well, we'd probably see a big reflection of that because I can tell you already since uh Axon Justice is coming along that our uh
our office manager was a little concerned about uh a lot of the work that she she and her staff would have to do to get videos our current videos over to the county attorney's office as she said that could take that could take all day for some of the videos. So, there would be a a savings there.
>> Commissioner Kavanagh. >> Yeah. Uh thank you. Yeah, I think it's very important to have this uh upgrade or this modernization brought in. Um what what's the use is what's projected useful life
is it five years and then you um something else changes or how do you see it for the future? >> So for the cameras themselves, the body cameras, they project a lifetime of about three years and that's why they come in and replace them. uh free of
charge. Well, we're paying for it up front, but they'll rep replace all of our body warrant cameras after 20 or after 30 months. So, the jail and our office will get 99 new cameras at that point. The in squad cameras have a life expectancy of more than 5 years, but
they replace those at 5 years as well. >> All right. So, we should expect this for the foreseeable future. So, I'm in short of what I'm asking. >> Yes. Yes. And I should note too that at that 30-month replacement, they will
upgrade us to the most available or updated model. So, if we're starting with a four, an Exxon 4, and they're at axon 5 or six, that's the model that we'll get after the 30 months. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Additional question. >> One question. How long have we had the
current cameras? >> We're at about two and a half to three years with the current uh body cam and in incar cameras. And and there the body cameras are starting not to work if they have >> they're starting to they're starting to fail. >> Y much needed. >> But also there was some software
components that they were no longer upgrading. Correct. >> Correct. And we would we would use our any of the cameras that we have that are working. Um we we can transfer those over to the juvenile center if they have a chance to use them. They would be available for
them. >> Commissioner, did you have an additional question? I um I don't have an additional question, but I have a comment. >> Y commissioner >> and our comment again goes to uh we had a significant conversation on this in in
our personal issues committee meeting and um I was certainly satisfied with um the answers that were given and the savings that we're going to see. Uh, as Commissioner Mojo mentioned, in terms of labor savings,
uh, I think we're probably looking at a better quality, uh, improved faster storage. All those things come into play for transferring of document data. So, with that, I would move to approve
the Klay County Sheriff's proposed 5-year public safety camera system modernization agreement with Axon Enterprises as outlined in this agenda request as presented. >> We have a motion offered from Commissioner Campbell, a second.
>> Ju just to clarify, >> I'll second it, but just to clarify >> also the jail starting November 1st. >> Yes. >> All right. Then then I'll second that. >> Okay. We have a motion offered from Commissioner Campbell, a second from Commissioner Bear. Steve, do we need to have a separate
motion to authorize the use of the internal service funds? >> Uh, I think that would be good if we did that. Yes. >> Okay. Do that next. Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. I.
>> Oppos. Same sign. Carried. We have uh the need for a second motion authorizing the use of $143,610.79. >> We have a motion offered from Commissioner Campbell, a second from Commissioner Bear. We cover everything there. >> Yes. >> Any further discussion?
All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I post same sign carried. >> Thank you. Thank you. Our next item is the budget presentation for withdrawal management detox. We have our
detox director Troy. You still there? And Andrew. Good morning. >> Good morning, Madam Chair, commissioners. Um today we're going to present our our budget. So
>> do we have that? Um, I guess I can kind of start with the revenue end of it. Our revenue comes from some different places. Um, if you look under the self-pay, that is our contract with Southeast Human Services.
and um for all of the uh clients that come from North Dakota, they they pay for them. Uh we also have a contract with the Veterans Administration, so that is in there. Uh the Social Service contract is in there. And then the PMAP
medical assistance is our withdrawal management program. That's where we are able to bill um the $400 a day fee plus we get a $75 bed fee from the state. So um those are our revenue
sources. Uh is there any questions on that part? >> Madam Chair, one question >> for proposed for self-pays 1.75 and so far from since June we've only collected 223,000. Is there just a delay on that or?
>> There is a delay on that. Our um accounts receivable and payable person has been on maternity leave. So, she's just getting back into the billing. There is also a a little bit of a delay because now some of the um PABs are requesting
um to have uh pre-authorization for their clients coming to detox, which really creates a lot of work. We have to send things from our files to them for approval, which never made sense to me how you get
prior approval for a detox client coming in, but >> yeah, >> it's kind of how they're doing things. So, >> that's their habitual. >> Yep. Yep. Correct. So, so that's our revenue sources. Um,
again, it was a little hard to kind of judge just because we've only had two months of of revenue coming in to know where we're kind of at to be able to budget. The hope is that we can reduce the social services number um fairly significantly
um with the withdrawal management money that we have. Um, if you go down to the salaries, um, we're up a little bit in salaries, but I do have some new requests. I don't know if you'd like to talk about those right
now. Um, but the first one I'm looking at is because our numbers took off so fast, I think our two full-time LC's needed a little extra help. So I am
requesting a 6 LAC um which will help them when they go on vacation or they take time off to be able to um have somebody else there. The variable hour staff that we have do a do a nice job but they're kind of limited
in how often they can work at our place especially during the week because they all have other jobs. So, uh, Troy, if I might, if that, uh, 6 would be approved, would you see a decrease in your need on the variable hour component? >> That's it's possible. Yeah, I do have
one variable hour going on sbatical, so she's going to be taking some time off. Um, and it just varies. Um, the biggest problem, too, is trying to find them when they do. Right now, I kind of have plenty, but there's been times when
we are just really short on them, and then my full-time staff are working the weekends to help cover and then it creates a shortage. Uh, in the good old days, uh, when I was rule 25 certified, I could fill in for them and and just see some clients and that really helped.
But when they uh made the SUD changes in 2017, they made that position have to be a LAC licensed person. So >> thank you. >> Can I ask one one thing? What does LC stand for?
>> So it's licensed alcohol and drug counselor. >> Okay. >> In North Dakota, they're lac's just a licensed alcohol counselor. Um the second request that I do have is um for
what else did we put in there for another oh peer support specialist. Um, if you remember about a year and a few months ago, my u peer support person passed away unexpectedly.
And with the state of Minnesota and their rules, you can only hire somebody who either works or lives in Minnesota 51% of the time. A lot of our folks live in Fargo, so they're not eligible for these positions. So, I went quite a few
months without having one. We do have three right now. and they're able to see all the clients. But I think that uh the one has kind of stepped up his game and if we can move him to a point six, I
think that solidifies it if the other two variable hour um staff leave. Uh that is a mandated position by the state of Minnesota. All >> I think that is an interesting
requirement that we could benefit by raising the ringing the bell on that. I'm not quite sure why you'd have a mandated position and then mandate their percentage of residency. It >> actually is a federal thing because I
made many phone calls on this trying to get around it a little bit uh because I had a few applications but they just didn't qualify. So >> very difficult position to to hire. Um it seems to be a pretty common thing what I hear from other detoxes across
the >> I mean that certainly is a border community challenge that I think we should raise. >> Is that is that position also under the salaries? >> Yes, >> there's two there. >> Yep, there's two there. And the last one
that I'm requesting is we have added the written electronic health record program and we have also added the scheduler um program. And since we've basically doubled in size since we opened, it would be nice
to have kind of a a trainer, what I call them, um that can um kind of handle uh the background and and working behind the scenes with the written with the training. The same with the schedule. It'd be nice to have somebody who could do our scheduling for us. Right now,
Andrew does that and that takes a significant amount of his time um to schedule staff each month. And we're also looking at that person getting um CPR certified so we can don't have a lag in in services there. So they
are it's you'd like to have all your people always be uh CPR certified just because of the number of and the risk of the clients that we do have. So >> is that a full-time position or >> that would be a full-time position?
Can you elaborate a little bit what the training would be? >> The so if we get this training position, they would be in charge of the written making sure that's all done, all the
enhancements that we are requesting. Um be involved in the billing process to some degree. Um, and then I think she could probably or this person could probably take over the uh scheduling and and and do that on a daily basis. Plus,
if we get them CPR certified, we could probably have a a class every month for that. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> I I do. So, yeah, thank you. So these new requests
are in this these numbers. >> Yes. >> Okay. And then did you did you make an allowance for u uh getting rid of some variable hours or are they still in here? >> Um they are all still in there right
now. Um variable hour are as needed. So if it came down to where we just don't need them, we probably won't be scheduling them to work as much. Thank you. >> Any questions? >> Are are you done or are you you have more to
>> No, I that's my new request in the salary. >> So, we're done with Are we going to go through the Let's go through the rest of it then. >> Yep. That sounds good. Okay. Um, so we got salaries and overtime in there. Um,
health insurance is in there. Um, we were able to, let's see, P. If you go down to one of the other big ones was, if we go down to our prisoner board, I'll comment on that one a little
bit. Um, we're actually reducing that with the contract we got from uh, Trinity for our food service. Um, we were able to reduce that number a little bit. Um and in a few other areas we just
because we had not been open for a year you know I think we are a little high in some areas so we tried to reduce that based on last year's numbers. >> Can I go up excuse me can I go up a couple lines to the 6251 utilities
Morehead public service. >> Um our budget was 50 and I know we were dialing it in. Um but then the year-to- date actual was 111. >> Y >> uh is why why the big is that water
included in that as well? >> Those those numbers came from Joe. >> Okay. >> Um he provided those for us. I assume that's all utilities. >> Okay. Um can we follow up on that one? I'm just curious about that one. And
part of the reason I asked is curious if water uses is is in there. I know with Morehead losing uh a big contract, I've heard the water rates have gone up substantially and I'm not sure if we're tracking that internally on all of our pieces. Um
that's an easy question for Joe, I guess. >> I don't I don't know if that was a 2025. I don't know if that was >> No, but what I mean is as we budget >> going forward, um is if water is included, we're seeing those rates go way high. is 80 continuing to be an
appropriate placement. >> Yep. >> All right. Um and Joe gave me the other number for the gas and oil and other professional services that you see there too. So um
medical consultant that is an increase there. Um, we made the decision that we use our medical consultant from Sanford. Uh, we hadn't adjusted it from when we went from 16 beds to 32. So, this
effectively um addresses that issue. We also took and I agreed that um we would remove it from social services for their use of it because it was pretty minimal what they were using him for. So if they would
need something in the future, we would probably just be able to bill them or transfer something from from their account. So um >> any other questions from the board on this?
>> How many months were we open in 2025? 12. >> We moved uh December 30th or 31st of 2025. >> 2024. >> 24, I'm sorry. 24.
>> Time flies when you're having fun. >> Yeah, time flies when you're having fun. Yeah, it's uh So, we were over there basically by January 1st. is >> I have one question >> on the bottom of the paper for your 2026 budgets is 5.350
and your proposed budgets 5.330. So overall your budget is down by 20,000. >> That's without the new request. Yeah, >> that's without the new requests or is that with the new requests? That's without the new >> That's without the new request. And then you' add that 187,000 for the new
request. >> Yeah. So if if if you look at the bottom, if we add the new request into um our proposed budget, that number is very close to what the depreciation
number is. So there it would balance the budget. We have, it looks right now, um, when I got this from Lori, there's a 4,000 shortage what I'm seeing. So, we may have to increase that in our revenue. I anticipate the withdrawal management
revenue to be hopefully higher than it was last year. It is uh fun, if you will, to um see how we're continuing to dial this in after we've been in operation. You know, it was such a a big change now that you've be able to kind of dial the budget in
exactly where we need to better serve the folks you see. So, you know, it is encouraging that you have the ability to see additional revenues. >> Any other questions? >> Yeah. >> Yes, Commissioner. So the depreciation number, the 586,000,
is that is that align with the um annual bond payment? >> U Madam Chair, Commissioner Campbell, the we have no bond payment on the detox. We utilized
grant dollars funds. Yep. And state >> I'm thinking of the DMV, I guess. So, so we have $586,000 worth of depreciation in there. That's we don't write a check out to. >> That's correct.
>> And that's that's why I think Lori is shows a over expenses over revenues of $43,220 rather than running a deficit and asking for more funds from okay from the social service department.
Additional questions. >> Troy, is this your last time in front of us? >> Probably not. >> Okay. Well, >> you know, >> so Troy, I just want to say, and I know this wasn't on the agenda, but um I have had the fortune of uh working with you
my entire time on this board and uh through the the grant um application, all of the time it took for all of us to kind of brainstorm on getting the grant to open this phenomenal facility. and uh we were in planning meetings talking
about sandwiches and uh really challenging things. But uh boy, the the leadership that you've lent uh to that that population of the world uh cannot be underscored. It's just uh you have a huge heart and I know it's really really
hard work and uh I just want you to know that I really appreciate uh all that you've done for Klay County during this time. sorry to see your retirement, but um also know that there's um fun things ahead for you. So, um if this is the last time you're before the board, just
know that we have really appreciated working with you and really grateful for the leadership that you've provided. >> Thank you. Um looking back on my 33 years that I've been here has been, you know, um
I couldn't ask for a better place to work, you know, and I appreciate all your guys' support, everything and I feel very proud what we've done for the clients of Klay County. So, um
it was a very hard decision to make and uh but >> thank you. >> We'll move on. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Andrew, do you have anything to add to the budget? Questions, comments?
All right. Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you guys. >> We are scheduled for a fivem minute break. We will be back here at 9:46. Our next item on the agenda today, a budget presentation from West Central Regional
Juvenile Center. We have our director, James. Good morning. >> Morning, Madam Chair, commissioners. Yeah, I'm here today to present uh two budgets. Um, one budget's for the secure program and the other budgets for the
non-secure program. Um, you want me just to get right into it? >> Yep. >> All right. >> Which one do you want to do first? >> I'll start with the SKER program. Um, the SKIRE program is part of a cooperative service agreement. Um, so ultimate authority lies with this board, but it's part of a cooperative service
agreement between 11 member counties. Um that's Becker, Cass, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Ottertale, Stevens, Todd, Traverse, Wedina, and Wilin counties. Um and how that's break out is all the counties um share in the expense of the
program. And um that's go from there. So I'll start with uh the revenue section of this one. Um and to start out um this this was um brought before my advisory board uh two weeks ago. Um and this was
the budget that was approved. Um I provided um that board with a couple different um um assessments for um non-member rate. So starting there with their non-member rate um they move they they moved to set our non-member rate at
$495 a day. Um, and that that puts us right even with what other facilities are charging. Um, $495 is a lot of money. Um, and it that's exactly what things cost now. Um, it's looking back
at 2025, our non-member rate was 375. So, and then uh this year it's 450 and then we're going to 495. um kind of some of the issues behind that um is there's a whole slew of stuff that came at the juvenile stuff in in
the past three or four years. Um the the high acuity of youth that are coming in um is causing a major problem. Um virtually no other options in the state of Minnesota. So everything's falling on um correctional placements. So, you
know, the mental health side of things basically is virtually almost non-existent in the state of Minnesota. Um, so everything's coming into ours. At the same time, the state had licensing regulations that came in um that SPS separation stuff that um caused our
staffing to increase. And then there's increased licensing oversight. Um there's less facilities now, but there's more um enforcement um enforcement and inspectors um that are watching over the facilities. So um there's lots of
correspondence with them. Um and then just natural inflation of costs and labor. So ultimately things get pretty expensive. Um but that's where we're at. So I'll start with uh the revenue section. Um I'll start with 5423.
That is our non-member revenue. Um so that's what we anticipate to get for non-members um if we hit our numbers. I budgeted that at uh 14 um non-member youth. Um and we've always been able to somewhat get that number. Our numbers
are consistent right now. Um you know, we have a waiting list still um in our our secure residential program. Um then moving up 5422 um that 1.7 million that that's our other members.
So that's all the other members except for Klay County. Um the top one that um 894,000 um that's Klay Countyy's costs. Um if you kind of look back um 894,000 is up from last year um about 93,000 but
back in 2024 was 843,000 and then before right when the expansion happened costs were climbing before we were able to get the non-member revenue in. We're at um 2019 Klay County paid 1.1 million. So, um costs have came down
and and they they have stabilized um considerably even though all these things and pressures have been coming up. >> Okay. Commissioner Kraven has a question. >> Oh, >> go ahead. >> Oh, >> does do the non-members
um pay a different rate than the 495? >> Yes. So, how I do that is first >> that is their rate. Non-member rate is 495. It's 495 in 2027. >> Yes. >> Um in 20 it's 450 right now. >> Yeah.
>> Um so if you look back um in 2025 members on average spent um I think it was like $315 a day. >> Yeah. >> Um and that's that's on average. So, how I come up with a budget is I do the expenditures portion and then um I take
out what we're anticipating for the non-member revenue and then it's split up by a percentage of the members based on a two-year look back. >> So, that's how that numbers can change. So, one reason why Clay's went up is because Clay's percentage went up by two
points um this last year. So, um >> thank you. >> All right. And then kind of just moving down um the bottom um 5830 that's um revenues over expenditures from uh 25
and then the one above that is basically kind of a a hard guess but it's a half a million dollars I put um and that is miscellaneous reimbursement. I know that we're going to get um about 120,000 from the National School Lunch
Program, but the rest is all offset from um the other professional services fund. So, I'll talk about that when we get down there to the other professional services. Um that's paying for doctors and specific whatever for youth that that need that need those services. And
then I I back bill the county that that needed those services. So, if it's a Becker County kid or it's a, you know, Stzman County, North Dakota kid, um, they're getting that bill for those medical expenses and those are coming into on that revenue line up there.
Um, so, um, kind of just scrolling down ultimately getting into the expenses. Um, I went through this pretty hard. Um, the overall um, expenses I'm going up by 4.9%.
Um, that's what I'm proposing. Um, and if you look, we got lots of zeros and lots of negative signs. Um, but the the ones that's a positive is the one that matters. And that's the that's a staffing one. And that one I got going up by 5.75%. I got no um new requests
this year. Um, that's just straight um, colas um, step increases. Um we're having what's good sign about that is we're not having as many staff leave as we used to. So we're having really good retention. Um then we have our variable
hour. Um and that that um that's dependent upon our our needs too. Um but um then salaries overtime. It's important to know that the overtime on this one isn't just straight overtime for staff. It's it's our part-time staff that work a weekend or not a weekend, a
holiday. they get paid at time and a half and that's how that's how they get funded because it's overtime pays at time and a half. So that's what the majority of those expenses are. >> Kind of scrolling down um you see the PR
um that went down. That's because the statute changed to for the correctional fund changed from 10.25 to 9% for the employer contribution. So that dropped it from the previous year. So that's down.
Um kind of scrolling down, um postage is the next thing that's down. Um basically youth don't we used to mail letters all the time and that doesn't happen anymore. We have other means of communication. Um which is free communication for the youth. Um but we have other means of communication and
right now the postage is just basically us mailing property back to the youth. Um that's what a huge majority of that is. Scrolling down, heating. Um I I moved that down. Um if you look, um we've had some mild winters and that's
and been overestimating the past few years and I've just kind of slowly gotten that in into grain. Um you know, we spent I assumed, you know, I overbudgeted the previous three years and I'm starting to get it dialed into what that facility is actually costing.
Um, and I think 45,000 is is a good assessment there. Um, again, um, other professional services, this pays for a lot of different things. Um, but a lion share of it is, um, the specialty
doctors, um, therapy, um, that type of thing. Um, we'll get medical bills. the juvenile center will pay the medical bills right away. So, the youth don't have to wait um to get care and treatment they need. They'll get the care and treatment they need. Um but um
the counties that that the county of financial responsibility will ultimately pick up that tab. Um so, you know, other things we did make slim some stuff down like we cut down our we we dropped our schedule. before we had scheduling software um that they
wanted. Um we paid 5,000 last year and they wanted 7,000 coming up. So we dropped that. Um we're able to um chat GPT and um uh Excel formatting and it
was able to give us a pretty good template type of a thing that could be go ongoing. So that's what we're that's what we're going through using the AI and Microsoft Excel. Um, and it's kind of giving us the same type of a thing. Um,
scrolling down, um, treatment costs. Um, getting that more in line of what we've spent the previous years. Um, and that that goes for like copyrighted books, textbooks, copyrighted treatment material. Um, and then the incentive program that that we run, gym equipment,
etc. Um, scrolling down, uh, travel and conferences. You see that we're going down on that. Um, we're kind of throttling back on on really just sending a few people there. Um, mostly just our our key people from our
residential program and our transition program um, that attend those things. Now, um, building rent, you'll see that that jumped up a little bit. That's rent paid to Klay County here for um, and for our admin space. And then that
additional space for um that that um was approved earlier this year, the old Birthright area. >> Mhm. >> Um building insurance. Um I get that one. Um you know, that one is we spent about shade about 10,000 last
year. Um I put 14. Um this year I I didn't I felt like it was I don't know. I just get good feeling, you know, after a while some of those um we had a kitchen fire um that caused a sprinkler head to go off and I imagine that um
MCIT is going to increase our premium. Uh so um kind of just keep on scrolling down. Um office supplies um things are in good repair. Um we're we do a lot of bulk ordering. So I mean that that
really saves us a lot of money. We're getting that really dialed in. Um, you know, we're not asking for anything else for uh repair and maintenance. Our auto repair, our fleet's getting older, but um we haven't purchased a vehicle in in
many years. Um but um our fleets, but we don't travel much anymore as much as we used to. We used to travel all the time. Um after co um ITV through the courts and stuff started getting handled more and more and that's becoming more and more popular. So that's what that saves
a lot of funding there. Um equipment over 500. Um kind of dropping that. You know, I got to give a good shout out to our IT department, Klay County. They they're awesome. Um they, you know, if we need a device, they can
refurbish one. Um you know, old devices. um they they can fix things up and and make them because their needs some most of the time are are not complicated and they're able to to get us some some just basic computer with a word document and
we're able to do that. So, um really appreciate having that and they're very responsive to us. So, I mean that's that's one reason how we're not spending a whole lot of money on computers and whatnot. Um internal service, um I throttled back on the internal service
fund. Um we haven't dipped into those funds in a while. Um and there's the the fund is is in a good spot. So um I throttled back on that one. And then miscellaneous um throttle back on that again kind of looking back more
reflective of what we've spent the previous years um and what things are costing. That's mostly our backgrounds um and stuff like that. Uh capital improvements. Again, same thing. That fund is doing just fine. Um so I I
throttle back a little bit on that. Um and then the bottom you'll see is the 5% overage that is baked into the uh cooperative service agreement and that's for to make sure that in the event that something happens throughout the year. Um there's extra funding and that
funding goes back to the members and everybody that paid it in. But it's just kind of um provides that so I don't have to go back to the counties and ask for money in the middle of the year if something drastic happens, numbers drop, etc. Um and that's
in the cooperative service agreement. So does anybody have any questions about my secure budget? >> Any questions on the secure budget? >> No. Again, this this was presented to the nine member counties and
it was fully supported as presented today. So, >> I appreciate that insight. They um have been really good partners with that and um to hear that obviously we have increased costs, but to have bed
availability here is is probably the most important piece. So, I appreciate their support. Any other questions on the secure? Otherwise, shall we jump to nonsecure? >> Yep. All right, I'll jump into the
non-secure. So, the non-secure program has been going through the most changes recently. This is the one that's affected the most by, you know, basically lack of PRTFs in the state. Um, again, that was one of the things is for new nonsecured PRTF that was um one of the county's priorities for
legislatively. Um and it's kind of reflected in in how difficult it is to to understand and know what youth we're getting. Um for an example, we get youth, this is not uncommon that we get youth that um get removed from a
hospital um for and they're things are they're too acute for the hospital to deal with. Um they're showing signs of aggression. Um, so these are mentally ill youth um that need to be in a hospital, but the hospitals are essentially um in most instances if
they're aggressive, they will kick them out. Um, they will end up in our in our non-secure program if it's a Klay County youth. Um, and we will um take care of them there. Um, it's you'll see I'll I'll explain that in the train, but anyways, it's it's just an assessment.
It's just a guess basically of of the revenues that I anticipate getting. Um it's usually about 50 50% Klay County, 50% other counties. Um we we always take Klay County youth. Um and we'll always take Klay County youth and then when we
have space we'll take other counties. Um so that's where we're at there. The miscellaneous reimbursement on this one's a lot lower than it is for um the ski portion because the difference between this one and the skiare portion is non-scure youth retain their MA. Um so that that the insurance is paying it
outright instead of counties. Um so kind of going through there again um we I got no new requests in this budget. Um got again it's just staffing um increases um that that are driving the boat on that. Um and a lot of it is is
with the youth. I mean we're one on oneing a lot of youth um out of necessity. Um, if you look down at our at our training, um, the training went up in this budget versus the SKER budget. The SKER budget training I think went down a little bit. I don't have the
training really dialed in with the non-skear because we're we're really switching over to, you know, um, specialty and then autism training for some of our staff. um you know, our COG programming that that um works in in the in the correctional side of things does
not work for um other youth that um you know, the autism FASD type type of youth um that we that we're working with. Um printing and publishing, um that's just, you know, a few hundred. Um that's
that's carbon copied paper mostly um for forms, uh utility and heating. Um, I got those dropped down, getting it kind of dialed into, um, where we've been at previous years. Um, and then looking at, you know, um, different price indexes
and, you know, just assuming that's the numbers that I that I figured would hit. Um, and I think we're it's going to be close. Um, um, equipment repair and maintenance. Um, going up. Um, a lot of that is is glass.
Um, it's not real glass. It's like um some Lexon type of a stuff, but anytime our glass gets chipped or or cracked, um we replace it. Um anytime, you know, there's damage to an area, we we fix it. The areas always looks decent,
presentable. It doesn't look trashy and wore down, um that's that's very critical for um the well-being of the youth and and the way they feel when they're in there. If they're in a clean environment, um it's going to be treated a lot better.
building rent that goes up that's paid to Klay County. Um that's for our our transition female program, the admin space share and then the the new space share of that. Um
workman's count going up. Um office supplies going down. Um health supplies, auto repair and maintenance down again. Kind of the same thing. We're not traveling. um our equipment again that's you know computers and whatnot. I
explained that we don't have much we're able to refurbish a lot of things internal service um just going down a little bit and miscellaneous just kind of aligning it with um previous years. So overall, no
new requests. Um and the biggest driver is the staffing need in that program. And um you know, primarily some of the non some of the variable hour youth um won't be used. Hopefully it doesn't have to be used. Um but it really depends on
on some of those youth that we get in um and and what we need to do to keep that those youth safe. Steve >> James in nonsecure you've been successful in past years of receiving grants uh to help offset some of your
DOC requirements. Uh you this board has approved you to move forward with another grant as the other grant has ended. Have you heard anything yet? >> I have not heard anything on the new grant. I'll heard back in um September is when they're supposed to start making the decision because it goes into effect in October. So, I think we have a real
strong application in there. Again, and I'm I'm sorry I forgot to mention that that that's one of the huge reasons why there's a percentage increase is because that we had a grant going into um uh our transition program when we opened up the
boys clips program. Um we ended up getting a grant which ended up paying for a couple of our staff. Um and we had that for six years. Um that grant's done. Um, now we got uh another grant that I think we have a a strong chance it's a getting um but we'll find out in
September. Um, >> and and I think it's important for the board to note that it's been you've been very clear with with our departments uh when people apply for grants and the grant no longer is available uh that um that we have to look at the staffing. I think it's important to know in this
case is that James applied for this grant uh about the time the new facility opened or at the time the new facility opened. Uh and it wasn't a it wasn't additional staff. It was the funds that he's received through these grants uh since then have been able to save money
for the program. And so the staffing requirements are still there. Uh and so and this is a little bit of a different case where in the event that he would happen not to get the grant uh he still is required to have those positions. We've just been fortunate to uh to through their through their uh grant
grant ability to get those funds >> questions. >> So, um it's no secret to the public that this um your department has been something that this board has worked really hard on a state and regional scope about how we deal with addressing
bed capacity. And as you look at um you know board and care over the last few years um do you feel I mean I know this answer because I work with you a lot. Do you feel like there's still a shortage in in the region on where people can go
for placements? >> Most definitely. Um you know it's Yes. It's it shortage would be an understatement. It's I mean you you could they could increase 50 beds in the state of Minnesota and it would be full.
um the next day. Um it's there's there's such a huge need. Um Klay County has got the resource here. We're able to provide this resources to some, but some counties literally are um it's sad there's just no options for kids. Um you
know, the families are reaching out. Um everybody's reaching out that the kids not safe. Um and uh there there's no response because there's nowhere um to help that youth. >> All right. Any additional questions?
>> No questions. Again, um both James and Josh and the SKU and non-scure I think are doing a tremendous job with um the the only unfortunate thing is we have to have as many kids as we do in those in your facilities. That's that's
the downside of it. But um you all do a terrific job over and I just want to thank you for that. So, >> thank you. I I got great staff. Um, supervisors are great, staff are great. That's one of the things bragging points that I have around the state with other facilities I think are my staff are much
better. >> And you're it's recognized throughout the state. >> We have counties all over the state wanting to send their kids here because of the the way you treat the kids. And we have legislators at the state that frequently name drop your facility about
meeting the needs. Whatever kid comes to you, you figure out a way to meet them where they're at and that is being noticed. So, I hope that notice equates to $24 million this legislative session. Uh >> yeah. And just one last thing, I you
know, I I I don't think we can go without recognizing the partnership that we have with Mor public schools, too. Oh, most definitely. >> It's a that's a tremendous asset to the programming that you do. >> Yes, that that is a huge piece. Um, Mor
public schools is amazing. I talked to other facility superintendents and stuff and and they are always butting heads with their school district. Um, we don't have that at all. Mor provides us with what we need. Um, and it's it's amazing. Um, so very happy with that.
>> Kids come first. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thanks, James. >> Thank you. >> Item seven, Steve has a request approval to refill the detox withdrawal management director position due to the retirement and then
entertainment of a possible reorganization. >> Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. commissioners. Uh as was mentioned earlier, the detox Troy has decided to retire uh and uh and so that leaves a an opening here at the at the detox uh
facility. And it always provides us an opportunity as we've talked about in in other situations where we can evaluate evaluate the structure that we have in place and to see uh see what uh what opportunities there are. Uh and so we've had actually two pick meetings over the
last week to kind of process uh through uh through this item. Uh currently Troy is sits at grade 25. He's on step nine. Uh and uh looking at looking at if we just made the motion to move forward uh
to replace that position. uh if you were to if you were to hire at grade 25 step one uh we would uh we would be looking at about a savings of 31,783 uh dollars uh at that pay grade. Uh if
you uh if you recall as the facility when the facility moved uh to the new location, one of the things that uh that we discussed was moving one this it outside of the budget and also having uh having that position be a department head level uh position. And one of the
things that was brought forward as part of our discussion of is whether or not we move back uh to the model to which we had previously to where uh the the detox was under uh under public health. And so we vetted we vetted that uh over the
last week and on several different occasions. Uh and uh in the proposal the second proposal that you would have for you to consider today uh would be to move that back under uh under public health. Uh at that point we would still
look to replace uh we would look to replace Troy's position uh that is currently at grade 22 or excuse me at 25 and we would shift that down to a to a 22 uh is which is consistent with where it was previously uh and all of the
supervisory level positions and social services and p and public health are at. We would then look at uh in in looking at the the adjustment uh to to the uh public health director position would
then again take oversight over that uh which would bring uh over 80 employees back under under Jessica's fold. We would then be looking her looking to move uh Jessica to grade 28 uh step
five. Uh and so um we we really came to came to the conclusion understanding that the board is uh in a in a in a tough spot with the budget uh situation and in recommending that there would be additional costs to adjusting uh to to
this plan. Uh but the discussions that we had at the pick level really focused on four separate areas. uh one uh uh to be honest, Troy's retirement was a little surprising to us. And so from a succession planning standpoint, uh while
we're certainly moving towards that point, uh there was there are some opportunities there to to utilize Jessica's expertise. Um we've also efficiencies in moving uh from P under public health. there was a great deal of
help that came from the financial department that Troy no longer had access to uh in his role and moving them back uh would would uh allow that service to happen most likely in the future Troy would have been looking for
additional help to run with budgets. Um I think that uh one of the things that while while it's a short window, one of the things that we've seen from Jessica as a public health director uh is she's been excellent at going in looking at policies, looking for efficiencies. Uh
and and so uh while we while we look at uh maybe an additional cost, we're also not guaranteeing uh but we're hopeful that she'll be able to go in with that same critical eye uh and and enhance the programs, her policies and procedures, but also do it in in efficient way. Uh
and the last point that that we thought would be beneficial uh is based on the timing. Mr. Robinson gave a gave a one month's notice. Uh but with the timing uh of this uh of this hire and the process that we would go through, it wouldn't allow for a great deal of
overlap. Uh and and in in going through this option, uh Jessica would have there's built into our our plan, I guess, would be a a two-eek overlap where where Jessica would have access to to Troy and and to to process uh through
some of the different things. And so uh again the recommendation would would be here to to shift the public health the public health directors to 28. Uh we would be recommending that uh they that should be paid on step uh
step five and that then we would then be moving uh the current position of the uh detox withdrawal management director to a manager role uh on grade 22. and we would be looking to hire in that step one range. >> Thank you, Mr. Larson. Uh, Commissioner
Campbell. >> Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh as me Steve mentioned, we we did have quite a bit of conversation in this two two separate uh pick committee meetings regarding this and and I I think um a
concern that I think most of us shared in PIC was um to what level of experience we would have in the management area now that Troy is gone. we we really haven't had the ability to really create that
succession plan as a standalone entity. Um what we've seen and learned from uh Jessica is her ability to really really be good uh in in the area of management
and um so I I think you know and and I you know these are it's a significant position uh to have that and and you know and obviously we reached out to uh Jessica before we brought this here,
we wanted to make sure that that these things would be acceptable to her. And one of the, you know, in in in this proposal that's being forward here would basically be moving that grade 25 position to grade 22. That would be
bringing that down a little bit and and it it wouldn't be a director position, but a manager position. And I think in that regard, it would be to focus more on the medical side of things. that's uh you know would be really beneficial. Jessica doesn't have the background in
the medical part of it. That would would have been a concern of hers and so by and I think that would still meet uh according with Anna and Darren the PDQ process. I think we would still be in good shape there at that 22 level or 22
grade for hiring somebody with with that ability in that regard. It's in a perfect world it's it's it's a I think overall it's a slight increase to the budget Steve isn't it like
>> yeah it would it would be a slight yeah yeah slight increase um overall if you look at the the 265 we would there'd be an additional cost of 16,182 to move the public health director to to
285 um we would uh we would also but then also potentially depending on the internal hierarchy, we may see some additional savings with the internal shifts. >> Yeah. Because you Yeah. So you're you're eventually going to be getting down
where you're probably going to be hiring somebody at a step one as opposed to another step. So, so the savings and I and I I think the importance of the um having good good supervisory supervisory skills there
um can avoid other potential costs that could come in come into play. So, and we've got a good person in Jess, you know, in terms of pick, I think we we're all in agreement that um provided that she was willing to to do this that we
felt this would be the right move and that's that would option two is the recommendation that came out of pick. I also had the opportunity to attend both of those meetings over the last week and and uh you know we didn't know what we didn't know when we moved to the
new facility and uh with the staffing uh group that we had making sure that we were making adjustments that seemed to make the most sense. But there are challenges with a 24-hour facility that are also really great opportunities and felt that this retirement presented an
option for Klay County to figure out how we best uh support staff that were out there uh while also um making sure that we were making adjustments that made sense. I believe that there will be some additional savings that are identified
with uh particularly uh the move to have a detox manager that detox supervisor uh team if you will uh to maybe u have some reductions in variable hour components but um I maintain that I feel like this
will uh provide the the oversight the managerial financial oversight while also allowing u the medically licensed folks to do their best work uh through that model and um and so it did come with a recommendation from this board uh
to make that agreement uh also with um making sure that uh Miss Mickelson was in part of that dialogue too, not not wanting to um bring something back into a department if uh she as the manager wasn't willing to do uh do so.
Any additional questions? So there is a recommended motion is that then reflected with So we do have the option sheet. There's the three options. You've heard what um the um the board is
is or the the pick committee is recommending. Um I >> yeah I I guess um b you know following the recommendation of the personal issues committee I would move that we um
we refill the detox withdrawal management director position actually take move it back >> take two >> yeah item number two Uh yeah. Move to to move detox to public health permanently and increase public health director to
grade 28 and hire a detox manager at grade 22. >> Second. >> We have a motion offered and a second. Uh Commissioner Campbell, Commissioner Kavanagh. Any further discussion? Do we need to
make adjustment to the 20 the supervisor piece or not? >> Um, no we do not madam chair. >> And then would that the motion uh reflect a backfill? >> We would ask that there be backfill. It would that would meet
>> and second reflect backfill opportunity. additional questions, >> comments, and and in regards to the um and maybe a question for Darren and because I know we had this conversation, but the
um detox manager at grade 22, do we have to redo the PDQ for that? >> Uh yeah, we would have to come up with a PDQ for that. I'm sure a lot of it would be taken from the detox director's PDQ,
but take some of those managerial tasks and duties away from that. So, we'll have to work on that a little bit more. >> I I think Commissioner Campbell and following up with Darren, if if you recall before we made this shift, um that grade that's where the where it
lied before lie at grade 22 and so I think a lot of the work has already been done. We're just paying back. >> I just didn't know if we needed to have a motion to cover that PDQ update, but >> and then I and then I just want to um I just want to point out I haven't
personally talked to Jessica, but uh I know Steve did reach out with you obviously before this was presented. We wanted to make sure that it was something she'd be comfortable with. and um I just want to thank her for um being willing to do this. This is a it's a big
move and and I think for Klay County it'll be a positive move. >> So I just that out. One of the additional points that we didn't really bring up today but we talked about in pick is uh there are so many different state regulations and uh changes in lure
that's happening and we really feel like similar to the discussion that we had with James are proud of this work but wanted to make sure that we allowed for staff capacity to continue to advocate for changes or tweaks in legislation if needed and so felt like because public
health is working on dialing in what changes uh are happening. That would be another uh beneficial move for the organization. All right. Any further discussion? Jessica's not running out of the door yet. So I think
>> all those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carried. >> Thank you. >> Okay. We'll move into our committee reports. >> Commissioner Kabanov, would you like to
go? >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, last Tuesday on the 21st, we had our adult uh mental health. It was actually our annual meeting as we call it. Um we invited uh more of the public and also other
people in the mental health world to come. We had a nice group. Um it was in the 30 range of people who came. It was a rather than having a presentation or spotlight by one entity. it was more
about updates and reporting uh and uh currently what's going on and then we as a larger group um talked about what's what will be ahead as we continue through 26 into 27
uh possibly new ideas and speakers in the future. Uh, one of the main topics was um, crisis responses that are needed and how that fits in with the work we do within our, uh, homeless community
specifically. So, um, good conversation and look forward to the work ahead. On Wednesday the 22nd, uh, we had our historical culture society um, board meeting. um on the board with the board
meeting uh we had a presentation by um uh Tanya Blennage and she's part of the arts partnership um uh in this area. uh we uh
received grants through them and uh she gave a background of the arts partnership and u it was good information things I didn't know about and I think others learned the great work they do and uh she pointed out u
what a significant effect that um our cultures or our historical society plays uh in the FM area whether it's on the place of county side of the cast.
Um yeah, I think that's probably on that one. Other than that, I've reported most the other things um last last week. Um
then on Thursday, uh had my uh CAP LP uh finance meeting and board meeting. Um we run those back to back. Uh we had a u general uh most things on it. We had a
spotlight uh from our housing division uh by director Emma Smith, excuse me. uh she really it's amazing the work they do and many of the things we we hear from our other organizations
but uh how they the collaboration in this area when it comes to housing um whether it's with more public housing whether it's H us and uh and also that communication with places like my
mission uh how we all have one common goal and looking for housing supports as well as uh keeping people um finding the homes as well as having money so they rehabilitate their homes uh to keep
where they uh currently are. So ongoing work that is uh increasingly under pressure uh but at the same time continually building. Uh we had one new um board member elected and I better get
to so I can say the name correctly. Uh Michelle Formshell uh haven't met her yet. She uh she'll be at the meeting next month, but we uh she came with great background background. We had uh three candidates and she was
the one chosen. Um then on yesterday we had my um uh Cascade Food Commission steering committee meeting. Um our structure this year has been a little different and it's working out pretty well. And so the
last two meetings, just as a recap, uh we had Klay County work on organic food recycling, which we're we're actually moving. We got the grants, so we're moving to have one. And then uh then we heard from West Phy on their orchards um
in their uh throughout their city. And that those programs uh our next meeting will be uh Wednesday, September 10th uh when the full commission will be together and the hosts at that time will be Morehead and we look forward to
whatever they can develop. Uh we also tal quite some time working along with Great Plains uh foods and and then also the uh members of the um hunger coalition about some potential large
state grants over on the North Dakota side that could filter into the work we do. So very early stages but it was uh federal dollars coming in the state maybe we utilize. So that was uh uh the
whole part of that meeting. So that that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Commissioner Kavanagh. Commissioner Campbell. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. On Tuesday the 21st, we held our first of two pick meetings this last week and um it was all in regards to the
resignation of Troy Amenson for his retirement. I I do want to point out um you know, Mr. Mojo talked about his service as public health director and the good things he's done. >> Detox >> detox
>> or detox, excuse me. Uh I do want to also point out that prior to that he I I worked with him for a number of years in juvenile detention and he also did a great job there and he kind of helped set the stage I think for where where
it's at today. Um, so thanks again to Troy for his work in different areas with Klay County. On the 22nd, we had a Prairie Lakes meeting in PUM. Uh, things are going well there.
We are ahead of last year and our cash reserves. U things are moving quite good. um the ash uh grant that was received by Ottertale County of
which part of it is for the ash management um landfill that grant agreement is scheduled to be signed by the end of the year. Um other than that it was the performance
everything else seems to be going fairly well with Prairie Lakes. I don't have anything else to add to that. on the 22nd then or that afternoon got back for the um land management meeting for the diversion authority and we um authorized a couple of
different parcels to u go to the through the policy of excess lands for sale. Um and we had an update on the Horus Railroad Plat which is involves a number of
lots, parcel owners interested in those lots and then an update on the mitigation. It was a slide basically showing how the mitigation has worked on land acquisitions from the beginning of the project. It was quite interesting to see
that Thursday morning, July 23rd, we had our solid waste management committee meeting. Um we talked some more about the um organics grant that's uh has been
received now and that when we're also looking at that grant agreement probably being signed by the end of the year so that process then can start to move forward. Um, thanks a lot to Ella, Ashley, and Corey
for their efforts in obtaining that grant along with some like Steve Lendus was here this morning, other members from the Morid community who helped push for that grant.
Uh, I think I think that pretty much covers that. Commissioner Mo was there if she can add to it if she there's anything more. Uh that afternoon then we had the Klay County Morhead Klay County Joint Powers
Authority meeting. We got a property status acquisition up or update, excess lands update and a litigation update. Um we really had no and we did have a
one actionable item on a administrative platting uh regarding some lots in the area that we approved that for replat. After that we had the diversion board of
authority meeting. I think all is going well there. I didn't have I think we took another update on or another uh whiffy alone uh update on that. Um I did they did report the finance committee did report that
um right now the sales tax for the city portion the city portion of the sales tax for the diversion project is up 12% over last year which is good because last year's number was somewhat level
or that was excuse me that's 12% for the county sales tax and the city of Fargo is a 5% increase over last year and that concludes my report on that.
Yesterday, Commissioner Bear and I attended the monthly meeting of the West Central and re Regional Water District and we also had a um finance workshop.
We talked we got we got updates on the 2024 earmark, the 2026 earmark, and the 2027 earmarks pending, and the status of the $5 million bond. Um they're having outreach meetings set
up for several communities. Commissioner Bayer and I are planning to attend the Georgetown and Felton ones next week. And then we had a
a significant conversation about what how it's going to look moving forward and what what we can provide with land owners on what we think might be ultimate costs for them to hook up and what water rates might look like. So all of that is there's a lot of deep dive
going into that and um they had recommended u three committee member a committee of three to work on that and I was kind of nominated to be part of that
>> can't go out just by leaving. So yeah, so that's and that that is a that's a big task that one with all of all what's going on there. So >> I told them it needs to be done by December if they want me to be on it and they said we'll have it done. So, and
then uh uh let's see then this then yesterday afternoon then we met again on the personnel issues committee meeting again and uh it was basically to uh have additional information based on
what we had talked about the first time we met in regards to the detox position and and ultimately with what's presented today. That concludes my report. >> Thank you, Commissioner Campbell. Commissioner Bear.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. On two, last Tuesday in the evening, I went to the Klay County Planning Commission meeting where there was four hearings. The first one was on the Red River Communications. They were asking for a conditional use permit for a telecommunication hunt in Alliance Township, and that was
approved. The next one was a Westland excavating request for an interimm use permit for a 39.5 acre gravel mine in Keen Township, which that was also approved with conditions
that match their pit that was right next door. And then we heard uh Gerald Zimmerman request for an interimm use permit for an agricultural working housing uh building that they'll he'll house uh
truck drivers and agricultural workers during harvest and planting season in Oakport Township which was approved with some conditions on making sure the septic and all that got certified. side.
And then the last one was White Oak Gardens LLC request for an additional use permit for a 5 megawatt community solar garden in Elmwood Township, which also was approved. All four had there was no
public comment at all four of those, so they all went pretty easily. Then on Thursday the 23rd, I went to the Klay County Criminal Justice Advisory Board meeting where we had an update on
the community corrections comprehensive plan two-year update which we went over and then Clay County was also submitted to do a full comprehensive plan in 2027 which that the board will have to
approve when that comes around. We also had a update on the correctional staff. The department of correction staff in Klay County has started using an AI pilot to
do recordkeeping and report reporting report writing. That was pretty neat. Then later that afternoon, I went to the uh Klay County Public Health Community Health Improvement Plan, the CHIP
meeting. We had one in June and then we had a second one here to discuss the outcomes from the June meeting which were in Klay County and Becker County. This was the first second meeting which was in Klay County. The next one there'll be a second meeting for Becker
County today actually. and we went over the the the initial community partnership, the outcomes from the first meeting with was transportation and mental health. And we had group discussion on both of those and small group discussion on
those on figuring out the best ways to come up with a chip plan for transportation and mental health going forward. And then on Monday, I was also up in Grand Forks for the West Central Regional Water District meeting, which a
little update on that I'll add is the the line from Climax to Neilville has been the design has started on that and letters for easement have gone out for the land owners along that route. So hopefully we can get that that should be
going out for bid here shortly and with construction maybe even this fall if the bids come in properly for that line. And we also the we also yeah that was the main thing that we also had the
finance workshop which commissioner Campbell did a very good job and yeah he was nominated to sit on the finance committee along with P County administrator Mr. Whiting and an office coordinator from HMU alley
and then uh that would also be A2S staff would be a part of that committee. That is all my reports. Madam Chair, >> thank you Commissioner Bear. Going back two weeks, I was uh invited as many of you were to the churches United Community Roundt on uh strategizing
outreach and talking about how mutual and shared services affect uh the residents that they work with. appreciate their uh willingness to host so many different folks from uh our cities and schools and uh business community as well to that. That evening
I attended the Glendon Township meeting as our uh county engineer discussed last week just on the 21 uh easements we'll be working through next year. And I that day attended the greater Fargo Morehead EDC. They had a business attraction
working group. uh just uh helpful to hear from the business community some of the challenges and opportunities particularly on the Minnesota side as we uh continue to advocate for policies that strengthen business attraction on the Minnesota side. Uh that week I had the opportunity uh
thankful to all of you for the opportunity to attend the annual uh conference for the National Association of Counties. uh through that had uh an opportunity to tour two flood control projects particularly of interest to me because I think there's a lot of overlap
and how those uh parishes and the cities uh work through a finance plan and uh strategy for O andM maintenance moving forward. The first was touring the Army Corps's western enclosure dam tour which was a project in which they uh built uh
they built it right after Katrina. It took three years to come up with a plan and they were able to build this $1.1 billion structure within three years of that uh series of levies, flood wall gates and pump stations. It's how uh the city uh closes a dam arm, if you will,
on that channel to protect from a storm surge of up to six feet. Uh so they're able to uh close that canal so the um storm surge stays out of the community while also because uh Louis or New
Orleans is six feet below um um uh sea yeah sea level uh every single drop of rain needs to be pumped out. So that facility has the um capacity to pump 200,000 cubic feet per second out of
that system. And it also is a system that can close within 15 minutes. That channel sees $1 billion in commodity value go through it every day. So being able to open and close that quickly was really important to them. And they've already had three hurricanes that has uh
paid for itself uh 10 times over. The second tour that I was able to attend later on uh in the week was uh visiting pump station 6, which is their um one of uh 111 pumps that they have throughout the city. It pumps everything into
ponchet train because ponchet train is lower than uh the Mississippi. That capacity um has um that system has the capacity to pump and fill the super dome within 30 minutes. So, if you think about your normal pumps, some pumps at
your house, uh, and how it just trickles out of there, what that capacity is, I have the links and information that I'll be sharing with all of you, but, uh, was really helpful to see how that overlap between the systems um, and the levy levy authorities uh, work together. uh
throughout the p the conference I had the opportunity to attend the first time attendee meetings uh public land steering committee uh which uh you know that I did uh co-author a bill in regards to removal of the w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w from the protected species act. We also had uh
substantial conversation since St. Louis County was there. Uh conversation with for uh the forest mitigation on all of the fires that were going on and how management on the front end could have avoided a lot of other components. Uh we had land use presentations. I attended
the agriculture and rural affairs committee. Uh we talked a lot about AI and county government. Uh we talked about enhancing the funding for our local rural health programs, particularly how can we work together to support rural emergency medical services
challenges that we've all prioritized at the capital. Uh also interesting was a presentation from uh Louisiana Extension Service on some of their 4 programming that's going on in their state. Uh well, we talk a lot about um pro um production
of animals that talk, you know, cows and swine and and uh the like. Their big pilot program is seafood packaging. So their 4ers are working on seafood packaging projects. That was really exciting to learn more about. I also
attended a county administrator roundt that highlighted um pilot projects with youth mental health services which I think will be helpful for us and then also talked um and attended the midsize county caucus uh meetings. One of the highlights of the entire uh meeting
though or conference was a subcommittee that we pulled together at the last minute to meet with leaders from the states of North Carolina, New York, Ohio, and Minnesota to talk specifically on the SNAP challenges that we're all seeing and how we're strategizing
outreach to legislative uh work. And I then attended the pick committee meeting that was highlighted from Commissioner Campbell last Tuesday. I attended the land management committee that uh he
also highlighted. I appreciate that we're um looking at uh excess land sales and making sure we're uh tweaking that to make the most sense. I attended the uh debris removal and restoration subcommittee meeting here at Klay
County. Thanks to staff for uh preparing that room, this room for us. We had to follow up on the discussion and how we make sure we're tweaking the um contractor list and outreach list to not only land owners but particularly growers as we craft what that uh cleanup
policy will look like. That day I attended the SWAT committee meeting. We had an update from staff particularly on the organics grant and how we are waiting on um some approval from the state for that $2 million uh
funding and moving forward. I appreciate that we've talked with uh Commissioner Bayer on on maybe what what makes the most sense in regards to the equipment needed uh making sure uh having a tractor instead of the other
self-propelled thing uh self-propelled equipment will really maybe meet a better use uh for the landfill as a whole. We talked about the local match and then also a cross trainining event uh abilities. After that, we had the uh
annual meeting with the city of Morehead to discuss the uh resource recovery contract. Um from our perspective, there are no need uh needed changes. The city of Morehead has reduced the staff out there from two to one. They're in the um
uh analyzing stage right now to see what makes the most sense for staffing out there. if there is an amendment in duties, they will um forward that for us for our deliberation. But uh we left the meeting um all satisfied that we're
continuing to meet the needs of all of our uh uh residents. And I attended the Barnesville community picnic. I also attended the MCC JPA meeting as highlighted from Commissioner Campbell.
And Friday I met with the concerned citizens on some land use proposals in Klay County. Yesterday I attended the Lakeland Mental Health Center uh board of directors meeting in Fergus Falls. We talked about um some challenges with ARMS and their electronic visit
implementation certification. another just another thing that the state has implemented that uh probably means well but creates some significant challenges and had updates on the crisis supervisor programming as you recall that's something that Ottertale and Klay County
have that services their um abilities so um discussing how they outreach the emergency rooms offices schools and uh at additional community events um and then we went through the client client referral service, our source
survey results. Our ED um our co county social services director was there, which I continue to appreciate that. And then that afternoon, I attended the personnel issue committee that we um already took action on. That concludes my reports. Steve,
>> thank you, Madam Chair. Last Tuesday participated in the PC meeting that's been well addressed. Also that afternoon met with Mr. Milton and representatives from MCIT. uh and looking at some coverage questions. Uh also uh on the
22nd I worked with Sarah and board prep with because on 23rd 24th I was at MAC tech technical days. Uh again as you may recall this board's allowed me to participate in MACA and also in in the planning for for Ma
training sessions. Uh and so we we have three per year, two technical days and one our annual conference. Uh excited to see that this year based on our on past years we had nearly 60 60 of the administrator group there. Uh we talked
about AI uh of course budget challenges, the cost shifts and what other counties plan to do with many of the human service uh shifts that are coming to us. We talked about legislative planning, the upcoming platform discussion, uh and then it's uh everyone's favorite
strategic planning uh discussion. Uh we participated virtually yesterday with the the board meeting for the water district uh and then had to leave uh leave the budget planning for the pre-budget of the sheriff's department that'll be coming on August 11th.
participated again the additional pick meeting and then had a had a meeting with Sheriff and Brian Milton on series of county issues. Of note, we did receive our MCIT dividend notice. Uh MCIT is providing $5 million in dividends this year, 3 million in
workman's comp dividend and and 2 million in property casualty. Uh our dividend here at Klay County for for this year is $91,598. Uh it's probably we've seen a decrease over the last several years. A lot of
the drivers that MCIT has talked about uh is uh is workman comp compensations related to law enforcement p PTSD. Uh also some different challenges uh with uh with workman's comp property and casualty reinsurance increases. And so
uh generally it's been the board's practice that we reinvest that in the upcoming budget. Uh, and so I will talk with Miss Johnson about that moving forward. Uh, and that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Mr. Larson, Mr. Milton.
>> Mr. Brook. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I also attended both the PIC meetings uh, which has already been discussed. On Tuesday, the se um 7:21 had a meeting with Peton Law Firm and the Sheriff's Department AHR to discuss a personnel issue. Um I also
attended the board of adjustment and planning commission meeting which was already covered by commissioner uh bearer. Wednesday uh drove to the AMC technical conference and then uh attended the conference with Steve's and he has already covered that very well.
Uh yesterday I had a meeting with Kimberly on a proposed Tanipin County uh to conduct Torren's examiner discussion. um that'll be probably coming to the board for information here shortly and then of course the PIC meeting yesterday
as well. That concludes my report. >> Thank you. Sarah, do you have anything? Okay. Our next item on the agenda is item number nine. It's a close session regarding attorney county attorney as permitted by uh statute section 13D-05
subdivision 3 attorney client privilege to discuss potential litigation. go into close session. >> We have a motion offered from Commissioner Bear to go into close session. Second. >> A second from Commissioner Kavanagh. Any further discussion? Discussion. All
those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. Oppose. Same sign. >> We're in close session. All right, we are back in session. Seeing that we have no further business before the board, we've covered all items. Our next uh meeting of the board
of commissioners is scheduled for August 4th at 8:30. We are adjourned.