All right. Good afternoon, everybody. It's 5:00. We'll call this afternoon's meeting of the Klay County Board of Commissioners to order for Tuesday, June 17. Our first item will be the approval of the agenda. Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. Second. We
have a motion by Commissioner Bear, second by Commissioner Ary. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. I. Oppos the same sign. Motion carried.
citizens to be heard. Do we have any sit? There's none in the audience. Um, do we have any online? Nothing, Mr. Chair. Right. Thank you. We'll move into approval of bills and vouchers. Move to pay the bills. Second. Motion by Commissioner Krabangh, second by
Commissioner Bearer. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. I. Oppose. The same. Motion carried. Minutes from June 3rd. Mr. Chair, I move for approval of
minutes from June 3rd. Second. Have a motion by Commissioner Ebinger, second by Commissioner Kraven. Any further discussion on the motion? Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. I. Oppose the same sign. Motion carried. Our next
item is recognition proclamation of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Good afternoon, Quinn. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, commissioners, uh, as you said, I'm here requesting a motion to proclaim 2025's World Elder Abuse Awareness Day,
um, or WED is what we call it in the office, uh, is recognized annually on June 15th, so it was on Sunday, uh, to promote awareness and understanding of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Um, our adult protection staff play a vital role in safeguarding some of our some of our most vulnerable residents.
Their work is often behind the scenes, but it is critical. Uh they respond to reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation with compassion, professionalism, and urgency. Our APS staff navigate complex situations to ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of older adults and adults
with disabilities. Uh we respectfully request that the board acknowledge Sunday, June 15th as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Uh, additionally I would like to inform you that we do have one of our APS staff members attending the weed conference which is tomorrow to further develop expertise and
collaborate with other professionals in the field. Uh, with that I'd yield for any questions that you All right. Any questions of Quinn comments? All right, Ezra, would you like to start the proclamation of the World Elder Elder
Abuse Awareness Day, June 15, 2025? Whereas Klay County recognizes the elder adults are valued members of our community who deserve to live with dignity, respect, safety as they age. And whereas World Elder Abuse Awareness
Day, WED, is observed annually on June 15th, bringing attention to the importance of preventing abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults. And whereas elder abuse is widespread issue that often goes unreported with one in
10 older adults estimated to experience abuse each year, affecting individuals across all social, economic, and cultural boundaries. And whereas Klay County's Adult Protective Services APS staff work diligently to protect
vulnerable adults, respond to the concerns of abuse or new life, and ensure every individual has the opportunity to lead free from harm. And whereas raising public awareness and fostering supportive communities are
essential to preventing elder abuse and ensuring older adults remain connected, respected, and safe. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Klay County Board of Commissioners do hereby proclaim June 15, 2025 as World Elder Abuse Awareness
Day in Klay County and encourages all residents to recognize and support the ongoing e efforts of professionals, families, and community members working to protect older adults and promote their well-being. Now, if we can just have a motion to
I'll make a motion to to proclaim June 15, 2025 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Second. You have a motion by Commissioner Bear, second by Commissioner Evering. Any further discussion? I'm glad you're treating all of us elders like
You're welcome. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. I. I oppose the same motion carried. Thank you, Quinn. You have another one now. I'll hang
around for another one. Okay. Okay. Go ahead. Okay. All right. Uh I'm also here to look into approve uh contract amendments with Sanford Medical Center and Prairie St. John's. Um, historically, our contracts with both of these providers, uh, excluded individuals on Minnesota probation or
parole from eligibility for certain mental health services. Um, it was expressively prohibited in statute. We had an interstate compact between North Dakota and Minnesota, and it excluded folks on Minnesota probation or parole. Um, this is a yearslong advocacy effort.
It was definitely started by Rhonda and I just got to carry it across the finish line here in the last year or so. Um, we got support from uh legislators on both side of the river. Uh, special thanks to uh, Representative Koopac and Senator Mather over in North Dakota that helped
us kind of get this across the finish line. Uh, we were able to get legislation on both sides passed effective March 19th in North Dakota and May 23rd in Minnesota that now permits these same individuals to be served under the existing interstate compact.
um and it doesn't matter now that they're on Minnesota probation or parole. So, it was really nice to see that actually occur. Prior to this, uh folks that were on Minnesota probation or parole that were put on 72-hour holds, we didn't have good answers for. They'd go to Prairie St. John's or they
go to Sanford and were denied service in times of mental health crisis. So, this is a really good thing for uh Minnesota residents uh to be able to receive that care they need across the river. Um I did attach addendums, draft addendums to the contracts uh for both Prairie and
for um Sanford. Uh these changes are consistent with the statutory intent and ensure timely and appropriate access to inpatient care for this specific population. Uh both Sanford and Prairie have reviewed and agreed on the updated language, but again I'm looking for uh
your approval. I do not anticipate any additional cost for this. Um these will be built into the contracts that we already have. It just adds folks to it. With that, I'd yield for any questions. Questions? Yes, Mr. Bear. Where where did these folks go before this? They
were turned away. Turned away. Yeah. I didn't I was not aware this was being worked on at this point, but it was a problem on a number of occasions for the police department here. uh you'd have people in crisis and there'd be nowhere
to get to put them. Correct. So, I'm really gratified to see this is happening and thank you. Anybody else? All right. We're looking for a motion to a amendments for the Sanford Medical
Center for and the I'll make a motion uh to approve the contract amendments with Sanford Medical Health Center Fargo and Prairie St. John's Fargo to reflect the 2025 statutory updates. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any
further discussion? Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. I. I. oppose the same motion carried. All right, very much. Thank you, Quinn. All right. Next, we have the Pollution
Control Agency and Partnership for Health board contract presentation. Kathy and Kent here today. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Almost said morning, but thank you for having us. I am joined
um with Kent. As you know, he's environmental health, so um this kind of fits under his purview. And then we have Patrick is our um health promotion ship statewide health improvement um program
person that we would also elicit some help in this process. So I'll just maybe go into some information about um how this transpired. As as you know, the pollution control agency
um had fined Bush Agriculture Resources, which is located in Morehead, based on failure to do some performance tests and exceeding the per permitted particulate matter emissions, which if you want to know more in detail on that, Kent can
probably describe that. Um, and this happened um in one of their inspections in 2023. So, it's been kind of an um kind of an ongoing thing. The violations then um were and and I sent a the
public information sheet out um in your packets, but it it lists some of the the violations that they did not meet. Um but the measured amounts of um some of it um exceeded permit limits but was not
expected to have harmed public health. So in other words, their air quality emissions um they deemed that would not be a public health um issue with people. Am I explaining that right? Kent, you can I believe so. Um this has been just
as new to us as anybody. uh this doesn't happen very often as we understand it and even speaking with state staff um there was a lot of thought before talking in our conversations because it's something that's hasn't happened too often so we uh have been working
through it together with the PCA and so correct so PCA and and also MDH has been um we've been having multiple discussions um there's some statutory language which um requires ires um a
certain level of um a fine. So if they are over a certain amount then part of that um has to go to the public health agency to follow up um in the community. Now again this happened quite long ago
and so uh PCA and MDH are not aware of any um issues with the population in regards to this. So, we're still required by statute to follow up and do some community efforts to determine what
the community, the resident citizens of our community would want to see with the amount of um money that we are going to receive and that is $129,540. So, public health um through the CHB, this this contract was through our
community health board, our for county CHB. Um and so because it's only affecting Morehead and and the residents here, then it goes straight to public health and we did receive a check for that amount of money from PCA um last
week. So, we just received that now. So now the task for public health is to convene some meetings in our community to determine what the residents and citizens would like us to do with the
amount of money we um we have been allocated to um dispense. Could could you say that amount again? The amount was 129,540. So the amount that they you can see the
amount that they find Bush agriculture resources was 323,850. Yeah. So it was a portion of that that we received. I believe it's 40% of that amount that public health receives. Um so that's our task. We have one year
from the time frame when we received the funding. So we received the funding just last week or a week and a half ago. And so we have one year from that date to convene the community meetings to determine what do the what does the community want to see happen with um
this funding? What environmentally I'll give you an example. Um we are the only second one in the whole state of Minnesota that has received funding underneath this statute. The first one was in East Grand Forks. That was a violation by Crystal Sugars um Crystal
Sugar Company and um they had approximately just a little bit more than what um we're receiving and their community through um through their length of meetings they decided to work on Griggs Park trail head for a certain
amount of money. They did some community tree planting. Um they did a library art and sensory garden. Um and then they did some ADA improvements with a particular park. Now the difference is Crystal Sugar is still in operations there. So they were really
kind of focusing around that um Crystal Sugar area. This um with the Bush um agricultural business that is no longer in operation. So, um, we don't necessarily have to focus on that area,
although the statute kind of states in that particular area is something we would need to work with the community on. Yeah. And I think I think the difference there too is the immediate area right around the Bush plant is pretty open
field and um there's not any residential settings directly adjacent to it. So, uh, pairing that up with some of the details of the testing, um, you know, some of these PM10 tests for particulate matter were above their standards, but
yet not above the federal standards. Um, and then there were also some tests that just were not that had not happened or had not been done when they should have been. Um, so there in what we know, there hasn't been any reason to think that there was um, anything really
harmful that happened here. it's we're following the statutes and the way that things were written for the second time in the history of that statute. So, state staff are looking at things very uh closely as uh they can before they answer our questions because they're not uh well verssed with it too. So, we're
working through it. So, Cassie, so I'm So, you you go through and you get some community input on different things that could be used, but ultimately who makes the decision on what? Well, they want the community um to provide um all the input and then from
there I guess we work with those community. I I would I would ultimately think we would probably need to provide some direction because if if we just ask community Yeah. I've never I've never known, you know, dollars like that to just be Yeah, I think there has to be
community spent. I I mean I certainly the community um you know and then and then how wide of an area do you are you talking about here? Um the entire city or you Yeah. is this
within a defined area or I could kind of speak to that a bit because through this process I had the same you know questions. How are we what are we doing here? How are we going to do it? and um through one of the things that we talked about were uh walking and bike paths and I said, "Okay, with a dollar amount like
this, what what kind of uh length of path could we get for something like that amount?" And it sounds like maybe a mile or two. Um so that kind of helps put it in perspective a little bit when we're thinking about the possibilities of what could what it could be used for. So, and Mr. Mr. Chair and Commissioners,
the the statute is um really we must meet directly with the residents potentially affected by the pollution which in this case there hasn't been any known one effects for the people. You you said in the report there were there
were no there was no harm done to residents. Right. Right. What MPCA has told us is there was no harm to the public um with their violation with the air violation. Um anything over I found the the
litigation. So anything over 250,000 if there's that fine then um 250,000 or more that is what drives whether public health is involved with some of this work. So, so it is pretty I mean
Morehead is a big city and to try to get all of that input. We have talked internally about ways we have Patrick on the line. He's done a lot of work with planning and zoning. So, he might be helpful in helping us determine who we can meet with and how we would
probably talk to the city of Morehead because it's in their jurisdiction. Um, just maybe they would have some ideas. So there's lots to determine how we should, you know, it's going to be quite a bit of an effort to get out to various
community organizations and residents to determine what they would see as a potential and that's public health doing that. Yeah, it's health and I would say that there per the statute, I mean it really is, I guess, public health, but there is oversight. There's a
requirement for a report to the legislature after one year. So the Senate and House has to have it and it has like some very specific have to have an account of expenditures has to have specifics of what the activities and purpose were. I mean so however it's
ultimately made and decided I mean is going to be reported on to the legislature. This the fiscal host Klay County the public health no the the fiscal host is actually the community health board but Klay County public health is the one that receded the money. So, we are responsible for those
funds and how it's allocated. Now, um Brian is right. The process of community engagement is something we'd have to report back um to the legislaturators the purpose and activities for which the funds were used and an account of the expenditures. So, there is kind of um
that report that we would have to submit back after one year to um the legislature. So, Mr. Aer, yeah, I've discussed this with Kathy. I'm this year. I'm I'm the chair of the partnership for health. Um we will have
to have meetings. I think East Grand Forks had three or four of them. They had at least four and then they did a QR code to get some residents that couldn't go to meetings. But we've got partners like Morehead Schools. They have the the
career academy that is in close proximity where this happened. you know, they may have have a program that that would benefit from it, but we don't know what partners are out there until we have the meeting, see who comes in. But as we all know, this is a nice
nice sum, but it's not going to go. You know, I I I would I would suggest maybe somebody take a look at recycling programs, too, which are, you know, something that environmentally friendly.
That assuming that's kind of where where this is supposed to go towards. So, and Mr. Chair and commissioners, um because of all the work that we're going to have to um provide in convening all these and writing the report, we can keep a
percentage, okay, of that 129540. So, the the legislature has stated that uh a reasonable percentage could be kept by those of us that are doing the work. Well, I you know I you know I think you know I think you should be keeping track
of the work that goes into this by paid personnel anyway. Sure. And I I don't know um commissioner and um or Mr. Chair and commissioners if Patrick has anything. He's on on remote and I don't know if Patrick you had
anything to add. Um, everything that you've said so far uh corresponds with my understanding. I I just wanted to make one more point and Kathy, you're certainly welcome to correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe we have 12 months not only to determine
what to use the money for, but to actually use the money. So, uh, the time pressure is even greater. Am I correct on that? Correct. Yep. Well, I you know, I guess you know,
anytime that you you know, you're going to if you have community involvement, you're going to probably have a lot of different ideas that are going to be floated out there. And at some it goes back to who's who's who's going to be making that decision, you know,
that is the question. And I think that's where Patrick will probably help a lot too, having some experience with reaching out and engaging the community on some of these things. So, we're hoping that'll help shape the conversation that is going to happen here. And um probably would have no
doubt that city Morhead will probably be, you know, a major partner or likely. So, and Patrick has done a lot of environmental things through the ship program. So, um, with his area of expertise, um, that might be helpful as
well to determine what kinds of things we can be looking at or what we can offer for suggestions. And we'll have to vet out, you know, costs and who wants to do what with some environmental ideas. And not to go too far in the weeds, but
but what about the facility itself that created the issue? Um um well they they were fined. Yeah. But so is that is that property for sale or Oh no. Yeah. So, I'm assuming that's for
sale. And um would it would they be using those same type of um burners or I think sir, um the downtown Morehead, I've had a discussion
on this briefly. um it's really going to be a desirable piece of land particularly if some things that are developing happen and um they've already been contacted by a couple of people I think
and and this is just speculation on my part but from the sounds of it I don't think that facility is really um a key marketing aspect of the property the location and the potential to be
near the new fuel processing and and some of the developments are going on in Morehead. Yeah. Uh seems to be the draw. So, I don't know. It's I think there's a good chance that equipment or that building itself may be it may be necessary to remove it.
That's a possibility. So yeah, if if I may, I I uh agree with that and some of the reading that we've done here. I think there are some major changes that would be needed for that building to continue on in that same. So I I don't think the building itself is a major part of the property. Again, just
speculation, but I think that maybe Annheiser Bush, they got a couple of big fines and they looked at their equipment and maybe they decided it was to take their sign and go to Texas. Yeah. I I guess I'm just I'm just wondering if there you know if there might be
something environmentally that comes up whether it's a you know if there is a tear down of the building or whatever too. Might there still be some issues that are related to environmental that nobody's going to want to I think that would probably be the
responsibility of a developer. Oh yeah. But it can also make it very expensive for a developer. Yep. All right. Well, I think we'll just um we'll just wait. We'll I mean, I'm
assuming you're going to start the public process and reach out to the community and see see where it goes, huh? Yeah. Are you leading that charge, Kent? Oh, no. I think Patrick will help. It'll be all of us. We're kind of
muddling our way through. Yeah. But we, as was stated, we got 12 months. So, yeah, 12 months is not a real long time when we think about all of the work that needs to be done and then and then you know completing the whatever it is that the community decides completing
all of that work for hundred something thousand dollars. So and there's no there's no dispute amongst the four county members as to who the where that money should be go to. Right. Well, the re the legislature wrote it as as um funds
coming to the community health board, but there is no other impact in those other three counties. So, they wouldn't be allocated any of this money. We verified that with Okay. our grant manager. Answers my question. Yeah. Just for transparency, I would want this to be on the next agenda for the community
for public health just so it's obvious that we're not trying to get this by them if they're, you know, if there was any entitlement for them, but it's pretty pretty clear that it's Klay County that's been impacted. Yes. And thank you for that. Um, we
could not share that at our last community health board meeting because it was still confidential. Okay. All right. So, so today it's pretty much information. Steve, did you have something? Oh, yeah. No, I think information only. And I think just to clear what Kent said, it it's very
strange in talking with the grant manager and at the MPCA and and uh and DHS, uh, you know, really this is a situation in which Klay County is receiving dollars for something that didn't happen. Um, I mean, from a from a
from the standpoint of impacts on our citizens, right? And so I think if for for people that are watching today, that's the takeaway. They weren't put in situations of danger. This is something that the legislature shared. The DHS person said if the board was confused, um they would be happy to come and
explain the same thing that that Kathy and and Kent have done. Uh but uh I think the big important part to our citizens is that that there wasn't an impact to their health based on the violations that were discovered. Correct. Y I got one comment. Yes, Commissioner
Bear. when once you figure out what we're going to spend this money on, can you come back and give us an update on that? Sure, absolutely. Well, yeah. And that that again goes to my I think one of my first questions is who makes the final decision. Is that us? I assume
makes the final decision. No, no. I I'm sorry, Mr. Chair and commissioners. You do not get to make the final decision because it came through the community health board. So actually public health works the with the community and and then comes up with some shared um
solutions. So all right an update would be nice. Okay. is that it's the it's the community health board public health, right? Yeah. Let's see. Yeah. So, last week of or last week we received the check. So,
sometime June of 26, everything has to be completed and then a report submitted. All right. Well, we'll hear back from you then. Is there any anything else that we need to discuss regarding that? We'll be reaching out if we would like some assistance. Thank you. Thank you.
All right. Next, we have the request approval of draft contract for restorative practices initiatives grant. Ryan, thank you, Mr. Chair, commissioners. I'll I'll pretty much turn this over to Michelle, but um exciting news. Uh as
you may recall back I didn't realize this was already back in November when we came before the board. It it seemed not as long ago, but then Steve reminded me that was back in November. But uh we had come here asked about uh the the opportunity to apply for grant um the
amount that was at least initially available was 500,000. uh we we put in for uh the grant and I'll have Michelle ultimately describe the areas that we uh looked at to try to address in regard to restorative practices, but ultimately we were awarded $230,000.
So, I think it's a very exciting uh part uh for uh the the restorative justice program and the chance to expand some services across the county and and I think it really goes to show uh I know uh Commissioner Ever has been at some of the meetings, but uh just some of the
work that's been done and being done uh and I think it really showed through uh during the review process and having um the individuals there that were talking about it and and showing that our program really does stand out. Uh so I think it was looking to try to reward
success and look to to build on that. And so this is a opportunity for 18 months to use some money, but I'll Michelle kind of talk through it a little bit more and walk through some of the things that we're looking to do. Turn your um so yes, so we were approved for this
restorative practices initiative grant. I had learned um 55 programs or entities had applied. I think they um awarded 31 of those programs. So um obviously 500,000 was a a big ask for us. Um so
really to come down to a point of 230,000 is still a great opportunity and I think we can get a lot of work um and really great things within this 18 months. Um so today in front of you is just the graph a draft of the grant
agreement. Um I am waiting for the final one from the Office of Justice Programs. Um the possibility that might change is the effective date. We do have because we're a government entity, we have the availability to start this July 1st and go through um December of 2026.
So, um, the ask from the grant administrator was to get the con the draft pro contract approved, um, with signage later both from the county board chair and the county administrator. Um, so really what we're looking for is with
our work and some of the initial funding that we got through ARPA and some of the public safety funds, um, we're really wanted to continue this work. Um we were really seeing some great success in the numbers of youth that were able to assist and address issues both at the
school setting but also in the community. Um we're out within all of the districts in the school districts within the county. So all of our communities are being served. Um but we were definitely at a capacity for our growth because of it. I think uh doing great things is really good but
sometimes that creates then more opportunities for more work ahead of us. So, um, what we're hoping with this funding, what we had wrote in for the grant is to have, um, an a part-time facilitator to, uh, partner up with Lucas Brandon, who's our full-time
coordinator right now, to take on some of those additional cases and referrals that we're getting. Um, we're also able to do some training and professional development. Um, we're working with a professor at UND who will do a program evaluation for us and really have a
comprehensive plan at the end of this about the success. Um, how we're gathering data and the effectiveness of this work. Um, and then we also have built in ongoing supports for our more at risk or the higher risk kids that we're working with so that after they're
done with their diversion process, we can then hand those students off to even more supportive services in our schools um in our community. So, um, part of this too is, um, as Brian said, um, uh, Commission, Commissioner Ebinger has
been part of our restorative practices advisory council and committee. And so that RPAC is what we call, we'll be meeting quarterly throughout this grant cycle as well. Um, so over these 18 months to kind of just again have input from our partners and make sure that
we're kind of following through the grant requirements that we're looking at. Um, so I just am hoping to get approval on the the contract. Yeah, this has been a really um well executed, well well planned
endeavor to get the Michelle has done a remarkable job not just on the grant work but drawing in people in the community who really are engaged and Lucas and some of the people at the school district just fantastic people.
The first meeting we had, we had the director from the state agency here. He went away so impressed that when we had AMC last year, the public safety committee met and he presented and he
identified Klay County's uh proposals here as ideal and as what what they're looking for. So, I don't have to tell Brian that he's got a really good good person. Oh, thank you. Uh, handling this
operation, but I've seen it up close and it's it's remarkable. You've done a great job. And we'll give a lot of credit to the people that have come in in the community and engaged so so strongly. This is something that's been with us a long time. They had restorative justice
when I got here in '08. Oh, yeah. and it's something we need to continue to support, but this lets us take it to the next level and it's pretty exciting. Having said all that, I I I'll make a motion to approve the draft contract for restorative practices initi initiives
grant award. I will second that. We have a motion by Commissioner Ebinger, second by Commissioner Bear. Further discussion. So on this, so so originally you had you had applied for a $500,000 grant and We were fortunate to at least
get the 230. Right. For sure. So, Brian, how are you are is that something that you're going to incorporate into your county attorney's budget then for the rema the second half of 2025 and then all of 2026, right? We'd have to look at how that can be accounted for. I
mean, I mean, portion of it, I think, as as Michelle said, you know, and we'd asked for before a part-time person to help Lucas, but there's also money within there to pay a portion of his salary. Um, so we'll we'll incorporate that. Really, the remainder of it
largely is either grants um or contracts that we're looking to do with other people like F5 and some of these other facilitators that, as Michelle mentioned, can help take things even, you know, beyond what we're already doing. So, some of those are contracts. So, I don't know that we would incorporate all that because we're going
to just pay that out. Um, and then some of it again for payments to do some analysis on it as well. But there's I think a a portion or a way to to put that into uh to a budget. Yeah. I I just wasn't sure what portion of it would be 2025. I don't know if we know that. I
haven't looked at that exactly yet how to exactly put that in there, but and so we kind of just paired down everything and I would say all of our partners have been so supportive. I mean, I think everyone was just so grateful for both the opportunity and what this means. And
so, um, we weren't a we didn't need to cut any of the contracts or any of the work that we're doing. We probably will reduce a little bit, but everybody was really, uh, willing to rework their budgets that they were sending to us in that way. And I think the original ask
for this um, additional staff was full-time in our in our application. So, that we already that we brought down to a part-time recognizing that, too. And I would I just want to Yeah. go back to what what Commissioner Ever said about
the restorative justice program. We've we've had that here in Klay County for a long time. It's been very successful um and and has had full support from this board for many years. And I you know I I think that um the success of
that program has a probably a reason for this being able to as Dave said take this to the next level. Uh I you know I think we have a good track record uh from past experiences to go on that puts us in a good position to do that and and
your work on that has been very very helpful. So thank you. Thank you. Yes, Commissioner Kreov. Yeah. So I just wanted to shout out kudos congratulations. Um I know how hard you've worked on this and very excited.
Uh um one question I did have you talked about training. Yep. And I was just curious, is that uh an internal training that you're already doing or is it something that you're developing out
within the schools or whatever? Yeah, so it's um so we kind of we actually presented at a conference at MSUM and our presentation was from courtroom to classroom. So how we took our program really from the traditional court process now into the schools. So, we're
partnering with a program or an organization called Circle Up Education, and it's focused primarily on restorative practices in a school setting. So, they're going to provide us even some more training on being able to provide this in the schools and make it
more widespread in the schools. So, all of that will be mostly virtual with that agency. Um, and then they'll do some ongoing support, too. So some of these contracts that we had, we recognize that they probably are within that 18 months and then we might not need to sustain
that part of it if once we get the training they also will provide us train the trainer. So um I know one of our uh partners Jeff Nyquist is interested in getting the training to then go out and do trainings within our schools in Klay County. So kind of building that
sustainability within that. Thank you. Yeah. All right. Yeah. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. I oppose the same sign. Motion here. Thank you, Michelle. Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
All right. Next we have a request approval of Klay County Board to sign a 30-day timeline waiver for public for the public hearing to provide input for proposed establishment of a tax increment financing district number 1-11
creative rentals and we have Karen Lowour here from Barnesville. Good good afternoon, Karen. Good afternoon. All right. Thank you. Thank you for this opportunity. I think I alluded to this project at one of the earlier meetings
that I was at. Um approximately six years ago, our economic development board uh purchased some property on the edge of the community with a vision that this would create an opportunity for multifamily housing. And since that
time, uh we've been actively working to identify a developer that would in fact be interested in creating a multifamily housing project on that site. Um little bit of background there. The site itself
was not large enough and so we needed to acquire some additional adjacent property as well as vacate a rightaway. Now the parcel that is in place is large enough to accommodate a 31 unit twotory
apartment building. Um and the developer has requested uh financial assistance in the way of tax increment financing. So he is proposing uh to utilize state statute and create a
housing district which does in fact put in place some income limits for a percentage of the units. Um and with a this is a rental facility. So under that
type of tax increment financing income restrictions remain in place through the life of the district. We've been uh working with this individual for close to a year now. These large projects have
a lot of moving parts and uh we've reached a point where in order for him to start construction this year, we we really do need to fast track this project. So the city of Barnesville and
the Barnesville EDA works with Ellers as our financial advisor. So, I've been working closely with Todd Hagen from Ellers over the course of the the last year. And so, we come before you today
to to request a 30-day timeline waiver. Uh Minnesota state statute indicates that um this is required uh if in fact the public hearing is being held on a date that doesn't allow
for the standard notification. Um and in order to get this project underway, uh the developer hopes to pull a building permit in July. The city council has taken action to call for a
public hearing on the creation of the tax increment financing district. That public hearing will be held on July 14th. And following state statute requirements, the publication for the public hearing um will take place in the
record review newspaper of July 30th, excuse me, June 30th. Um, so it doesn't really allow for the 30-day requirement or it would set the project back to a point that it might be difficult for the
developer to enclose the project to be able to continue construction over the winter. The timeline as it sits now was he would pull the building permit in July with construction to be completed in May of 2026.
So, uh, in respect to the the commissioners, we we do ask that you support us in our efforts to create this affordable housing project in the community, and I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have. Thank
Thank you, Karen. I I do um want to mention that I have a letter here from Commissioner Mojo uh that she wanted to be part of the record. So, I think I'll just read it because she would have been wanting to make those comments had she been here
and says, "Dear Miss Lowour and members of the Barnesville Economic Development Authority, as the Klay County Commissioners represent as the Klay County Commissioner representing Barnesville and its surrounding communities, I want to express my full support for the proposed tax increment financing district number 1-11, Creative
Rentals. This project is critically important to the economic development of Barnesville. The addition of third of a 32 to 36 unit apartment complex will address a significant need for diverse housing options in our growing community. Safe,
affordable, and accessible housing is the foundation of a thriving economy and a resilient workforce. And this project will provide muchneeded opportunities for individuals and families who want to live and work in the area. While I regret that I am unable to attend the related the related
discussion at the Klay County Board of Commissioners meeting, I respectfully request that my comments be entered into the record. I also support the city's request to wave the 30-day notification requirement to help keep the project moving forward in a timely manner.
Thank you to the Barnesville EDA and city council for your leadership in pursuing this forward-looking development. I remain committed to supporting housing growth and economic opportunity in Barnesville. And that is from Commissioner Mojo.
Commissioner Abinger. Yeah, I u I appreciate Commissioner Mojo's thoughts on this. Um we need housing. It's one of the priorities in this in this county. We have a community in Barnesville that has engaged and done a lot of good
things and and thoughtful processes and they're responsible and we certainly understand trying to get a building project in the dry before winter sets in because we've had a couple of them ourselves. So, all that being said, I'll I'd be happy to make a motion to approve
the signing of a 30-day timeline waiver for public hearing to provide input for proposed establishment of a tax increment financing district 1-1 creative rentals. All right, we have a motion by
Commissioner Ebinger, second by Commissioner Kraban. Any further discussion? Discussion. Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. I oppose the same. Carried. All right, Karen. Thank you for your support. It means a lot to us. You
bet. All right. Next, we have our committee reports. Commissioner Abinger, would you start, please? Sure. last Wednesday uh attended a meeting of the positive
community norms grant group that has been working on uh a grant for the last five years or it's had a grant for the last five years bringing positive community norms into
the uh DGF school district or D uh DG yeah DGF school district. Um, we had a review of what they've done over the last four years and it has had an impact on the on uh use of tobacco
products, marijuana, and alcohol within the school district there. Um, through the self-reporting, of course, adjusted, but self-reporting uh surveys they do every year. They've come up with a plan for the last year of the grant uh which will be this upcoming
school year. Um they u also will right now it looks like there's going to be a submission for uh a possible drug-free community grant that would work towards uh picking up what they've done here and continuing to
fund it. on Thursday attended beyond the yellow ribbon meeting. Um we have a new member on the uh beyond the yellow ribbon committee. Dr. Brandon Lunick is representing the school
district and he appeared uh said he's very happy to be part of it. It was pretty much what happens in the summer. We had a sparse attendance and there was general discussions and reporting on some of the veterans research outre uh
resource outreach uh directorate MSUM just kind of touching base on what they're covering is just a general business meeting. Later that day, um, I spoke with Kathy McCay on the item we had to today on the
Annheiser Bush properties and the funding that was coming our way. And she she covered that thoroughly. On Monday the 6th, we had our quarterly meeting of the Dancing Sky Area uh uh agency on aging.
There are potential, and I'll say potential, grant or uh grant funding that is not going to meet what we've had over the last few years. There are some some opportunities out there where we may be able to augment the funding, but
a lot of it has to do with the SNAP and the food funding that is being cut back. And it's a pass through from the state and the federal funds may or may not be there. A lot of it's just unknown. Um again covered general business and that
completes my report. All right. Thank you Mr. Krabanov. Yeah. Thank you Mr. Chair. Uh so last Tuesday on the 10th I had our Clay County law library meeting. We meet quarterly. Um they gave uh
financial updates. Obviously, a lot of things are going on in the courts and that fund is uh for the work that the Klay County um uh receives is from the directly from the amount of court cases that we have here. And that fund is
built its way up to about a hundred grand. So, um want to knock that down. So, we're going to be making some investments into more materials in the library and u I think um uh Judge Rosenfeld and um a
couple others will be um kind of working to collaborate what would be best needed down there. Uh within the law library, we have our legal clinics. Um I believe it's three days a week and uh it's been nice and steady. Uh most people go down
there um uh to get background uh to represent or get information represent themselves and or get further information mostly in the areas of u family law which could involve divorces and child custody.
So anyway, good meeting and uh um it's nice that we're able to uh have good participation uh with the uh library in our community. Uh next uh let's see uh next morning on the 11th uh
we had the u county um extension um committee uh and uh the extension committee um we uh this a quarterly meeting uh we had a guest speaker talking about growing local leadership
for educators. It was a program that started in 20 24 21 counties are involved with it learning creating skills for emerging leaders. She talked in depth about that and the rest of the
meeting quite a bit uh dealt with the upcoming Klay County Fair which is going to be July 10th through the 13th and certainly 4 is a and the extension is a huge part of that. all the events, make
sure people come see their projects and meet the kids and see their animals. Um on the uh 11th um I had the Klay County Collaborative.
we met and uh it was a a a good a fun meeting and I thought so we had every any of the groups that received funds through the collaborative this year uh came and gave a short synopsis of of
what their grant was about and how they utilize it. Uh so each of them and most of them uh had a lot to do with uh schools and um just to hear the work that's being done and uh seeing where
money is going. It's just such a healthy thing to be doing uh for our community. So that was that going through all those on uh Thursday the 12th uh clay um SWCD
monthly board meeting. Uh with that one we had some cashier contracts of projects that had been finished up. Um the stream bank up by the north of Glendon $170,000 project. And much like our road
construction, uh we're seeing it in our work that we're doing on projects with u u one wershed, one plan for environmental projects. Same thing. Bids are coming in lower than estimated, which is good. More work with um uh with
the money that we have. cashier contracts for a waste facility closure, a pollinator planning and out by saving a replacement of some trees or other parts of approval for a cashier. Um they uh went through their county
budget um that they'll be presenting to us it looks like. Well, I'll wait for them to present it. I won't give the amount yet. And um and then the uh just further update on the Buffalo Red one watershed one plan they're in that pool
of funds that they have much like wild rice they have 1.9 million among their group to spend on projects is their current time and yeah uh that's probably what I'll report. Ezra was at the meeting also he
can chime in on that one. Um then uh today um this morning uh Commissioner Campbell and I were part of a discussion on paid family medical leave. Now that uh the session is ended,
we know pretty much um what's what's going to be coming up u starting 26. And so we just did a little discussion of what it would be. Uh the options would be the state plan or if
we'd look at um potential private plan instead. And I think there are um many unanswered questions yet between the two as we get in deeper in the weeds. So it's just a wait and see and we'll have
further discussions as we move toward the end of the year. Uh right after that we had our Klay County uh insurance meeting and uh I'm happy to report on that one for the premiums that we uh
took in our claims were less and so that really is going to be helping us out as we uh have have renewal coming up to uh for our next uh period of years. We don't know exactly what that will be
yet, but it looks like we've done uh the our whole employee group has done a really good job of of preventative um care and uh and our claims are down and mainly our
prescription um u u prescription uh needs are are lower this year too with more people. So, I think uh we'll be when they put the um uh RFP out for bids
to for those companies that may want to u um insure us. I think we're going to we're in good light right now for some competitive bids and hopefully an increaseable increase would be minor.
So, that's my report. Thank you. All right. on uh let's see I'll let you go. All right. On on Wednesday, June 11th, I had the water wild rice wershed district managers
meeting board meeting up in Ada and we they discussed they passed eight permits with most of them were all grain tile installs and they tabled five more to get more information on that. And then we also
had good discussion on districtowned land. Right now the wild rice district is sitting on about 364 acres owned in Klay County with a project in that when they originally purchased this land, a project on the
table, but they haven't moved that forward for the last five or six years. And they just finished a project about a mile south of there. So with these 364 acres in Klay County, they don't know exactly what to do with them. So they're they're figuring out what longterm what
what they should do with the acres if it's they sell them or just keep doing what they're doing. Right now they are renting them out for a contract for to be farmed. So we had great discussion on that. And then later that afternoon I also
attended the Klay County Collaborative. Commissioner Krabangh gave a very good report there. It was yeah it was very very good very good meeting with an update on how everybody that received grant money and how they're spending it and yeah most of it is being used on our
youth in the county. So that was very informative. And then on June 12th, I also attended the SWCD with uh Krabangh. And the other thing I want to mention there is they're wrapping up
tree planting. And they planted what they planted. They they sold about 10,000 trees. They're plant they're wrapping up planting right now with and they planted about 4,267 trees with just about three members that work there. So a lot got done in a very
short window. and between the rains. So, so yeah, the trees I planted in my yard, all of them are alive still and growing good. So, that's all I have to report on that. And that was all my meetings. Chairman. All right. Thank you. On Tuesday, June 10th, we had a
diversion authority planning committee meeting. Um, we gave an update on the Minnesota funding for at the end of legislative session. There wasn't a lot to update on there. Um,
we spend an awful lot of time talking about operations and maintenance moving forward. We're getting closer to switching from construction to that uh that part of it. So, um, the plan they're they're really they're
really moving forward with the positive plan. We still got on the this side of the river determine how we're going to um be able to collect those, you know, the city of Morhead may use a, you know, just part of their utility for
theirs, but then there's certain benefited areas in Klay County where we would have to come up with a a plan for those benefited areas for the operations and maintenance. Um, we've spent some time talking about the current governance policy that's in
place and with the new administrator now in place, uh, he's been reviewing that and looking at a few modifications to that policy. And, um, we talked about a midyear review
of the administrator. um to be done in July um at the July uh board meeting and then uh we are looking at having a fall retreat again to be held in
September for the full board. That concludes that one. Then on the June 11th, we had the Red River Regional Dispatch Center Budget and Finance Committee meeting. Uh we we went through the 2025 year-to- date budget and then
the 20206 draft budget uh which was then uh moved to go forward to the full board for the meeting later this month. And the current draft proposal that goes forward
would show a 4.77% increase over last year. And there's some considerable factors involved there. Of course, we're dealing with moving into a new building and um
keeping the old building as a backup for emergency purposes. And so that that'll go before the full dispatch board later this month.
On Thursday, June 12th, we had a Klay County solid waste advisory committee meeting. The we got quite a few updates from Corey on different things going on at the land landfill and and within the um
resource recovery facility and I gave the update on the PURM process which I gave here um last time at our last board meeting. Cory is here if he wants to add
anything. Okay. And then and then the other thing I had today we did have the um we did we did meet this morning. Commissioner Krabanov and I did meet uh to discuss the um
yeah paid family leave act issues. And you know the big the big discussion now there's an an awful lot of the counties are are going through the process do we stay with the state or do we go private and you know there's I
think uh Anna's done a really good job starting to put together a lot of information and there's some really there's some really close numbers and Darren's been involved with it as well and the numbers are close. We're not ready to make or even to suggest a a you
know which direction we should go yet. There's multiple factors in there. One of them would be if we left then then we'd have to go to a completely new open enrollment system or hire a new open enrollment system to at around 18 grand.
So some of these things end up, you know, maybe showing a wash and and that but there's they're doing a good job on on that. Um, if I were to say today, I would think it'd probably be stay with the state, but we there's more to come on
that. Then immediately after that, as Commissioner Krabuff said, we did have our benefits committee meeting. Um, we got a lot of a lot of good news as Paul talked about. Um,
you know, we did have um premiums over claims. Um when you even when you add both the medical and the drug claims um for 2025 we were um $451,000
to the good in terms of you know claims versus premiums. But then when you take into consideration the admin costs we we lost money but but the admin costs somebody made money on it and it wasn't Klay County.
So, so anyway, so and just going through the formulas as as was presented today. And of course, we still have to go through that process, but there's the the increases are looking very very promising. Yeah, that's the word
that I was. Thank you, Darren. And again, it's a lot of good work on the part of Anna and Darren and and Steve from NIS helping us. So, we I think we've got a meeting scheduled for the middle of
July, 22nd of July, the insurance committee will will meet again. And hopefully we'll and by then we will have there's I think on June July 3rd 1 there the bids are they'll be opening bids.
You want to put your mic put your mic on or get talk into your mic there. I think they said that the bids will be back on July 1st. Okay. And then they'll take a couple weeks to go back and forth with the bidding the Yeah. and then uh on
July 22nd they'll present that to us and then we'll probably have to make some decisions at that point. All right. Yeah. So what it's but just based on the early indications are I think by our advisors it seems like we're going to be
in a fairly good position compared to what early on what they were projecting was a was a higher I'm not going to get into percentages here because I don't want to sway the people bidding on this thing here but it's looking positive
and that concludes my report Steve. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Last uh Wednesday, participated in management. We touched on uh budget items. We talked about the legislation special session. Uh we had updates from uh Anna and Darren in
regards to human resources. Uh that afternoon, had a conversation with the executive director, the flood diversion diversion authority about the Minnesota legislative funding. Uh spent a significant amount of time last week completing the MMB documents. uh they
were turned in by the end of the week both uh for flood mitigation uh for the PRTF and then also work closely with the Buffalo Red in getting their application submitted. We did receive verification uh that the state did receive those uh that day and and the following day. I
did have conversations with MPCA and DHS uh earlier to better understand uh the item that we had on the agenda today. Uh on the 12th met with Darren and Anna in regards to a personnel matter. on the 13th with met with Mr. Melton on a series of county issues. Uh also had
three different department head uh discussions uh yesterday met with or had a phone conversation with Scott Fedig uh talked about the legislative wrapup uh in regards to our PRTF and also had an item that uh will be coming to board
next week for your consideration about another 179D energy efficiency designer request. I participated uh today in the paid family medical leave and the insurance committee uh that it's been well covered uh and uh participated this
afternoon in the city manager meeting. We discussed budgets uh fire districts and cannabis legislative session. Uh also talked with Dan Molly in a series of county city issues. Uh and just a reminder to our citizens that we will be
closed Thursday the 19th in observation of Junth. And that concludes my report. Thank you. Brian, anything for us? Darren. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, Tuesday the 10th, um, we got a report of some
alleged stolen money in one of the departments. So, we started an investigation on that. Wednesday the 11th of June, um, I also attended the manager meeting, which has already been covered. uh also started the some gathering some data for the that
investigation that was uh reported on Tuesday. Thursday the 12th uh I also attended the swack meeting which has already been covered. Um then we had a uh a planning meeting for the county picnic which is next week. So hopefully everybody got their invite and we'll
we'll be there on the 24th. Um, we had a meeting with Steve and Anna regarding the personnel issue which Steve has covered and we also had a meeting with the consultant regarding the open enrollment platform. On Friday
the 13th, I had uh Kimberly's evaluation. Um, another one of team Brook's stellar performers and Corey. Um Jill and Jill. Is Jill
there doing? Oh yeah, Jill's there, too. All my stellar performers are here today. Um had a phone call with Keith Turland who is the business agent for the deputies and we're looking at uh taking the sergeants out of the deputies
bargaining unit and putting them into the lieutenants bargaining unit. Um I did uh talk with Mark and Chris about that and they're okay with that as well. So there's a lot of uh details that we'll have to get, you know, the devil's in the details on how we're going to do that. Um
on Friday, also the 13th at a MC RFP meeting and started work on the performance measurement program which I'll be bringing to the board on July 1st. Um on Monday the 16th, I'm prepping for a LauderMill hearing that I have
tomorrow. uh and then had a discussion with Anna on some ongoing personnel issues. Uh today, Tuesday the 17th, um most of this has been covered. We had the RFP discussions with commissioners Gravenhoff and Campbell, insurance
committee meeting, and right before this meeting, I had a safety committee meeting where we covered um reviewed the quarterly accident report, uh MCIT risk assessment, which we had uh and had very good results on that. And uh
let's see. That's probably about good enough for now. All right, that's all. Okay. Uh yeah, I just forgot one meeting. So I just on Monday the 16th, I had my
finance meeting with the Circleville uh cultural society. Just knowing they're uh doing well this year. Admissions, gift shop sales, and grants are all up. So hopefully we'll hold that course. That's all. Do you have anything
for us? Nothing for you. Okay. All right. I guess that does it for today. Okay, we are journed.