--------- Good morning. It is 8:30. I'll go ahead and call today's meeting of the Klay County Board of Commissioners to order. Our first item on the agenda today is an approval of the agenda. >> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. >> Motion offered from Commissioner Bear to approve. Second. >> A second from Commissioner Campbell.
Discussion. Discussion. Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Same sign. >> Citizens to be heard. Have there any citizens in the audience wishing to address the county board today? There
any citizens in the audience wishing to address the board? Steve, have we had any request to speak online? >> Nothing, Madam Chair. >> The next item on the agenda today is our approval of payment of bills and vouchers in which you all received. >> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to pay
the bills and vouchers. >> A motion offered to approve the payment of bills and vouchers from Commissioner Bear. >> Second. >> Second from Commissioner Kabnoff. Discussion. Discussion. Discussion. All those in
favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carries. The minutes from May 12th, 2026 were in the packet. >> Madam chair, I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from May 12th, 2026. >> We have a motion offered to approve the minutes.
>> Second. >> And a second from Commissioner Ebinger. Discussion. Discussion. Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. >> I. >> Oppos. Same sign. Carried. Two. Today is
the request approval of the letter of support for the federal rail administration grant. We have our county engineer with us today. Justin Sorum. Good morning, Justin. >> Good morning. So, yes, this first letter of support is for the city of Dworth.
So, BNSF on behalf of the city of Dworth is applying for what's called a Chrissy grant. This is a project that the railroads really been pushing for. It was part of the Metro Rail study and BNSF is also covering the cost of this grant application. If successful, this
would eliminate a county crossing in Dworth. One once it's constructed and it is very needed in this area. If you've ever been in Dworth, that crossing is constantly blocked. >> Questions for Justin? questions hearing. >> None. I'll make a motion to approve the
letter of support for the Federal Rail Administration grant. >> A motion offered to approve the request from Commissioner Kavanagh. >> Second. >> A second from Commissioner Bear. Discussion. Any discussion? I think this is an important uh
collaboration between the city and the county and it really does seem to make the most sense and always support uh the ability to utilize grants to help. >> Mhm. >> Any discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I >> I
>> oppose. Same sign carries. Item three is also yours today. >> Yes. So this one's very similar. Um, this is a letter of support for Federal Rail Administration safety program grant. So, MDOT is preparing this
application. There's eight crossings throughout District 4 that they're looking at. One of them being located in Klay County. If if they were funded, it would just basically update like crossing arms, signs, everything like that to where typically that's a split between the railroad and the road
agency. This would cover the cost of that. Justin, it it doesn't identify what Klay County crossing is. >> No. So, the request came through Steve and I tried to call the lady that was applying for it just to see cuz it
didn't indicate where the crossing was. So, I was not able to find that. >> So, you feel like this board making a motion of support only helps even though that has not been identified. >> Yep. So, it is I think it's a good thing
to apply for. I don't know what crossing it is, but I still feel as though it's it's needed. Um, if MDOT's identifying the crossing is needing repair, I think it's a good thing. >> And we internally have identified crossings that we want to continue to
see where the the most safety upgrades can be. So, I appreciate that. >> Yep. And MDOT, so MDOT has a rail office. So last year, for example, the one just outside of Glendon, um they did receive a grant for this and it got new signals which we didn't have to pay
anything for. >> Great. Additional questions, questions. >> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the letter of support for Federal Rail Administration Railroad Crossing Safety Program Grant. >> Second.
>> Motion offered from Commissioner Bear, second from Commissioner Ebinger. Any further discussion? Madam Chair, I >> Commissioner Campbell, >> I I still think it it'd be nice to know if we could if we could reach out to Mandot and find out what that location
is in the event that we uh were to be getting questions from >> land owners in those areas. We would at least know. >> So, I did leave her a voicemail on Friday. I just haven't heard back yet. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. Make sure when you do identify that to forward to Steve for us as well. >> Yep, I will do that. >> Any additional questions. >> All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carries. >> Thank you. >> Justin.
>> Item four today is a request approval to lease 10 vehicles from Enterprise Fleet Management for the Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Empt. Good morning. >> Uh, good morning, Madam Chair, commissioners. Thanks for having me here this morning. I am requesting approval to lease um 10 vehicles from Enterprise
Fleet Management. These vehicles would uh replace current leased vehicles that we have. Um as you can see from my request, we have total internal service funds available of $668,58362. Uh the total amount of the lease um
would be $545,3556. Mind you, that is for the total amount of the lease for one car being 48 months and the other cars being 36 months. It's not a one-time request per year. Um, and then the estimated vehicle upfitting cost would be $110,154
a total cost of $655 or 655,000 655,42060. Um, and just forformational for the commission, 2022 was the last time we uh flat out purchased vehicles from Nelson Auto. And at that time for eight
vehicles for a onetime cost was $37,000. Um, for this it's per year would be $177,848.40. So there is a savings there um for the lease vehicle program. >> Thank you for identifying that, Sheriff.
If we were looking at that and uh you know based on what you can purchase a Tahoe on the market right now um we're substantially under the money. It seems as though this enterprise the move to enterprise has really proved beneficial not just for your department but um for
maintenance as well. Uh I do want to say that it's also good to note uh to internally that that internal service fund is doing what we anticipated that we're continuing to earmark funds in the appropriate amount so that we can continue to um move that forward. And
then my last uh comment is um seems to be that we're able to get the Taho again. I know that was a difficult um difficult before. >> Yes, that's correct. They are actually showing up much sooner than the Fords for example. Um, Tahoe showed up this year, January, February, where we
already have some of our Taho on the street. We're still waiting for uh, two of our Fords that we ordered. They're not here yet, and they were ordered, you know, last year, September, October time frame. So, it's taking a long time for them to show up. >> Okay. Questions from the board,
Commissioner Hbing, or >> Were you able to get white ones or >> um, black? >> Okay, we're switching to black. Yep. it uh started off as a uh supply chain issue is why we switched to black and then we just kind of continued to go down that route.
>> I kind of like the looks of them better. So, >> additional questions? Yes, Commissioner Campbell. >> Not a question, but just a comment. So when you look at the um sticker price of a Tahoe today and
and when you compare that to the 36-month lease payment that we would make, uh we would probably we would probably have to if we were to buy those out, we would we would probably have to
sell those in well in excess of over $30,000. um at the end of that 36-month period uh and not knowing, you know, some of those could end up with fairly high mileage on it. >> So, I you know, again, I think this is
it's um it's very costbenefit I think in this particular case and leasing versus the buying. So, fully support your request, >> Steve. And and just to add to Commissioner Campbell's comment, Madam Chair, we've been able to make
adjustments to our internal service and our budgets uh because of uh the rental agreements and the amount that we're able to sell them back for. So for our citizens, we're able to um I guess lower our levy requests by by participating in
enterprise. >> Any other Yes, Commissioner Bear. >> On average, how many miles does a patrol vehicle get a year? It really depends on the deputy that we have one deputy that he is constantly driving and in three years he'll put on 115 to 120,000 miles
and then there are others that are putting on anywhere between um you know 85 to 100,000. >> Yeah. >> And I know just in speaking with Enterprise they do like to try and cycle the cars out before 100,000 miles
because their resale value is much better and they get more dollars for them. So, if we are able to recycle them prior to 100,000, um they would prefer to do that. >> And and just to follow up more on that, um Enterprise works with Joe and the
sheriff that in the event that there's a like a peak point even before these the 36 months are out, they manage that for us to get the most out of because it's the benefit to the county is this isn't like a normal lease where at the end you just turn it in. if there's if there's
revenue or if there's additional dollars left in that once we once we trade it back in uh the county gets to receive those dollars >> questions commissioner >> yeah maybe that answers a question I
have but so they they work with you on anticipating cost as they go in the future >> that's correct yes we meet quarterly with our our enterprise rep and we go through our entire our fleet and we try and determine, you know, which car is
going to be best to cycle out uh first so we can get rid of it um prior to those mile mileage so we can get the best bang for our buck so to speak so we can the resale is better. >> Goodness, >> questions.
>> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the lease of 10 vehicles from the Enterprise Fleet Management for the Sheriff's Office. >> Second. We have a motion offered from Commissioner Bear, second from Commissioner Ebinger. Clarification. This is also approving the lease but also the estimated fitup costs. Is that
correct? >> Does your motion reflect that? Is the second? Okay. Any additional questions? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I oppose. Same sign carries. >> Thank you, Sheriff.
Item five today, committee reports. Commissioner Ebinger, >> ready for you. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> Uh, last Thursday, um, the 21st, I attended the special meeting of the board of the Greater
Fargo Morehead EDC. The meeting was called to consider a contract that had been profered by Cass County um as a requirement for their uh
continued funding support of the EDC. Uh there were some extensive conversations over the last month or so about this. Um we basically had three options to vote on. One is to decline the contract
at which case Cass County had indicated they would withdraw uh the considerable support to the EDC. They they not only pay for but represent Fargo, West Fargo and Cass County and there's some substantial state funding that goes
through um Cass County to the EDC for some projects. The other would be um we signed a contract and meet the qu the specifications in that contract.
And the third was that we well really those are the two contract those are the two items we ended up with at the end of the conversation or two options. One of the major points I had and I think a lot of the other board members
had was that Cass County wanted to uh have approval rights over the annual budget of the EDC. They also wanted uh to eliminate any contract positions within
the EDC and put all the employees as at will employees. uh in the latest version of the contract they presented, they had removed the budget approval component of it and there's only one contract employee
in the uh EDC at this point and that's the executive director and his contract will end at the end of the year and the contract with Cass Cass County required that the uh all employees being at will
starts at the beginning of next here. So, effectively, uh there there was nothing very objectionable about the contract they were agreeing to with with Cass County. And that on uh
vote of the board passed 6 to1 in favor of signing the contract. Later that day, I attended the uh Lake Agassy Regional Library Board uh full meeting. Probably the primary thing
we we got in there that's relevant to discussion is a new formula that has been developed for the annual uh cost determination of uh for each of the
signitories. We looked at the old old uh method which had the formula been around since 1995 and it was based on 80% borrower borrower transaction 10% population of the signatories jurisdiction and 10% of
the property value of that jurisdiction and it was kind of a convoluted u process. As part of the the discussions we've had since late last year, we asked to see what the actual
cost of each uh signator's operation is and how does that compare with what they're paying. And we did find some some uh differences, some of them marked differences. Um
Clay County, I have that handy. Klay County was paying 103% of what it cost to run our operations in Klay County where some other jurisdictions were
paying as low as 71% of their costs. These were generally smaller jurisdictions, but uh we reformulated it to where the the cost is based on
the uh operating costs of the of the entity. Now, some of these the smaller communities, Wil County, Pulk County, uh would find themselves in in a real whiplash if that happened over a one-year period. So, we are the motion
that was put forward and passed was that it be based on cost, but it it be it's changed over a four-year period so that these other communities are going to be able to anticipate the the marked increase in
their fees and it won't be a dramatic thing over over a one-year period as a result of that. And I this is this is still open for discussion, but they're asking for a 7% increase from all the signitories this year to absorb some of
the salary costs and uh moving costs and everything else we've gotten, but we would only have a 5.39% increase. And we would continue to reflect a lower increase than the request three years after this until it
stabilizes actual cost. If there's any marked um either somebody that can't meet meet the request comes in for an increase or um they can't meet some of the smaller
jurisdictions they can't meet the increases they're looking at uh every year the option is to cut back on services and that's something that they'll have to consider. So that motion came forward and it was
passed unanimously. Uh it's not a great thing, but it's the best op best thing we can do for the smaller jurisdictions that need to get adjusted and need to make up during a it's hard times for all of us. And uh so
that was the what we came up with at the conclusion of that. >> Commissioner Ebinger, can I ask one question? How is the communication what is the communication plan for their smaller entities? I I I think from your reports before you've talked a little
bit about making sure that they knew there was some discussions about this but now >> staff is and the meetings we have each community is represented u but staff has also from from Lake
Agassy has also been in contact and not only are they going to or they have been keeping them a breast of what's going on. A lot of them were represented either by Zoom or present at the meeting. And um Liz, the executive
director, will be making the rounds, including with us over the next couple of months. She's going to appear before the commissions and councils of all the signitories. >> They're very much aware that and and really as a board goes, the
participation of of everybody has been pretty good. >> Thank you. I'd be happy to answer any other concerns. >> One other question. >> We So Klay County would be Barnesville location, Holly's location, and then the
Uland location, right? Not Morehead. Morehead is is an entity. >> More Morehead is the biggest and and the only entity. And they have been operating right at 100, which was I mean ba basically they're they're break even
right now. They're where everybody ought to be. and uh Becker County and Detroit Lakes I think were 110 and 109 111% and they had big concerns and they're
the ones uh one of the Becker County uh representatives was was uh the one that put forward we need to do this stage it over we we looked at one three uh no two three or four years
and you know We we want to support the the the uh library system as a whole. >> So we we went with a three >> additional questions that
>> I got one more and this was pleasant. Commissioner Mojo and I attended uh on the 22nd the sheriff's department's uh gathering to recognize some of their employees and to look at some promotions. uh and two uh civilians. There was a
life-saving award uh that where actions directly save an individual who was there, gentleman who had a heart attack out in Holly. It included two deputies, uh, a, uh, trooper from state patrol and
a, uh, >> Holly police officer and one emergency response team member and two citizens who took action when they saw the gentleman's go down with a heart attack. They started CPR and it was just a very,
it was a great uh, story. Uh, they they got the guy's heart going again. and he was conversant the whole bit when they put him on the helicopter. They got him out to Holly airport and it was just a wonderful uh you you you just
there aren't are a lot of good stories about good police response that aren't nice but this was a very nice thing. Man was there with his family and he survived a heart attack because not only the first responders but the people in the community were there for him. Uh
there was als uh and they gave life- saving awards to the officers involved in that. There was also a commendable service award for two de deputies and a medal of valor award for four deputies who responded to a call in Morehead last
year. Uh it was a very difficult situation. Suspects were shot at that scene. there was an exchange of of gunfire and the officers acted in a really commendable manner and it just reminds you what kind of people and what
kind of department we've got with our sheriff's office. Uh the cere ceremony also had two promotions. Uh sheriff's office uh promoted Sergeant Nicole Reno to Lieutenant uh Nicole Reno. she'll be
taking over the emergency uh position emergency uh coordinator with sheriff's office and then uh Sergeant Michael Files was promoted to sergeant. Uh both of them worked with me in the Morehead Police Department many
years ago. They're both very good officers and we're fortunate to have that kind of leadership coming up through the ranks. But my compliments to Sheriff Hemping and to his department and his people and it was very nice way of recognizing this outstanding behavior. So that completes my report.
>> Thank you, Commissioner Evinger. Commissioner Kavanagh. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. On the uh 19th uh we had a monthly meeting for the Fly County Adult Mental Health Lac. uh they had presented to us uh uh the week
before. Um so uh we talked briefly about that um report that they brought to us and uh talked about the feedback all positive. Um we did our agency reports uh sharing
of information. I think we had uh nine different agencies at this meeting and again um just finding out where needs are, referrals, those type things and everybody's everybody's uh certainly busy in this world on a professional
level. Um the other the last part of that meeting was uh as far on the consumer side is uh people um we'll still have a booth at the Klay County Fair. They normally set up a little
table by us on uh on that Friday when we have government day. Um on the on the 20th I had the historical and cultural society finance meeting. Our budget is on track. Um it's tracking
well in certain areas a little higher, others a little lower, but it's all working out. We had an extensive talk about the upcoming budget in 27 uh working with the county without any increases and then also we'll be uh uh
working toward a new city lease uh for the historical society. So uh one of the things uh that was a deeper discussion is is ways of sustainability for the uh society so that we aren't relying on
government uh for u as much and that and we actually are working on strategies with a um company tell uh and how to do that for more uh endowments gifts um
just more memberships and strategies and uh throughout our system to be uh more uh revenue building on on Thursday the 21st. Um so I don't know if I mentioned this before but over
the last few months uh as part of the suicide and substance use prevention committee commissioner ever was on this too. they have uh given it a new name working it in and it's called rethink
mental health uh coalition. The coalition um on the mainland it uh is about 80 uh professionals and people surrounded in the work of uh mental health through our public and it runs
through our public health services. Um excuse me. So, uh, there's rebranding going on and so, um, from this point on, we'll just call it rethink mental health for a group and they're, um, yeah,
they're working on new logo as we speak. Presentation uh, for the month um, uh, was a organization called change the outcome. It's a meaningful program that provides education for Klay County
students uh surrounding opioid epidemic emergency emerging excuse me drug drug trends and substance use disorders. Um she was coming in this this lady that did the presentation
worked a lot in the Twin Cities um and the challenge they have there. But it was interesting in their in their groups where um probably the greatest needs are and
and work being done um they find that 25% of the children uh that are at high risk uh also are being raised by parents with some type of substance use disorder. So, um, anything we can do to
help the those families get off to a better start, we need to. Uh, also there was a just a report given on the suicide prevention summit. Uh, that was really good, a kind of a recap if you will. I was unable to
make that, but there was about 200 professionals that part of that summit. Um, one of his presentations was um through our sources of strength which we talk about often that um through public health were doing that at
Morehead and Holly and um uh anyway they uh they had a panel of eight students and um talking about what they're doing working peer-to-peer giving peer-to-peer supports and as well as education and u
just a gathering And it's not always about drugs. It can be depression. It can be many grieving. It can be many factors involved in this. And how working student to student. Um it just
this group is getting bigger and bigger. And there was one really really gripping story that was told at at the summit and uh uh there was a student that was uh contemplating suicide. He
was on the bridge and um it just happened to be he was standing there and a truck went by and stopped and said, "Do you need help?" and and just gave him enough time to think and he got help
and and now he's uh um uh working through his challenges and uh anyway he received a standing ovation from the 200 people. So anyway, sharing stories and people just need to know
they aren't alone. So uh that was the meetings I had. Thank you. >> Thank you Commissioner Koff Commissioner Campbell. I had one meeting last week at well I was out of town I was going to attend virtually and I had a difficult time connecting so I was unable to be part of that and that was the chamber
meeting on our wrap up of the session so I'm sure commissioner Mojo will give an update and that's all I have >> thank you commissioner Campbell Commissioner Bear >> I had uh one meeting going all the way back to the Tuesday the 12th for the EDA EDC which you all reported on last week
but I'd also like to give a thank you to all legis legislators out there for their hard work during the session and addressing our county's needs in the bonding bill that was passed. So, that is all I have to report to. Madam Chair, >> thank you, Commissioner Bear. >> Last week, I attended the planning
commission meeting. We had an IUP request in Keen Township for a gravel mine. It was a revisit of a 2023 permit that was granted, but not mined, 39 12 acres. uh that did pass with um unanimously.
There was some concerns. There's a uh bin site on the west side of the road and as the road sometimes gets a little uh rough, folks tend to veer into that private approach. So, making sure that that was noted and working with the
sheriff's office and uh county engineer on making sure that uh that isn't happening in the future. And then because it was a light agenda, we did have a a really good update, uh, more of a discussion presentation on data centers and what the trends we're seeing
throughout the nation, but particularly in Minnesota when Commissioner Bear and I attended the nuts, bolts, and boardroom uh, data centers uh, conversations are happening in a lot of counties throughout the state. and so talked a little bit about what uh counties can do uh what uh the standard
of practice if you will is on some of these substantially larger ones. But um if you think about the the uh the project that was presented in Worthington uh down in Nobles County was almost a thousand acres. So these um
substantially large land use projects are on the horizon and I appreciate that Matt Jacobson is keeping us all a breast. I did talk to him about sending that presentation to the rest of the board um knowing that we don't have any any u requests in Klay County right now,
but I think it would be helpful just so so folks can keep up to date on that piece. The next day I attended the Red River Basin Commission joint powers board meeting. We did have a presentation from GritMay from the International Water Institute on uh
rural flood mapping. really great uh data set that they have uh in throughout the basin. And then Danny Halverson talked about the river watch and river of dreams programs that they have in school districts throughout
uh the basin. Klay County does have some clay count or some school districts that are working with them. And what they do is they take these little canoes that are made in Thief River Falls and students are able to uh pinpoint where they put the boats in the water. uh
stream and then the hope is that uh it's able to continue to be tracked throughout. There's a little QR code and uh it's kind of like geocaching. If someone finds it and scans it and checks in, it's uh really a helpful educational piece for kids to see where the um boats
end up. A lot of them tend to uh get in snarled under bridges and and whatnot. But a really cool presentation on that mad >> commissioner, one note on that. My fourth grade daughter sent off her boat down the Red River just last week. So, >> yeah.
>> Yeah. And it it really is uh as we all I remember uh working and seeing, you know, we talk about drains and what the ditches or the the the runoff goes to the rivers. But it's just another helpful piece for kids to think about where exactly that is. And some have
made it to Lake Winnipeg, which is exciting as well. And then we did have other business uh talking about revisiting the joint powers board agreement. And this might be um to our elder statesman of the group, Commissioner Campbell, uh who was around when we talked about joining that. And
and really it was an opportunity for the Minnesota entities of the basin commission to have an opportunity to be a sounding board about the projects that were happening on the Minnesota side. And I I don't believe that uh that agreement has been revisited since its
inception. And there was um some minor funding component that was talked about how it was tied to uh growth of the individual counties and making sure that if that's something I know our contribution to the basin commission is smaller but if that's something that is
continued just making sure that we update the bylaws I think is important. Uh and then for um a number of years it's really been the same folks attending that uh Marshall and Pennington and uh Clay and Becker and um
making sure those gaps in the joint powers board uh those folks are either updated or know that it it happens. So um I really think it's worthwhile for Klay County to continue to advocate on
that level. uh certainly the amount of matching grants that they have um secured uh has been helpful for us. And then the next day, as noted, I did
have um the update on the legislative work that we uh were able to accomplish um with all of you from the flood mitigation ask at the legislature. that that call was only uh flood mitigation
focus. So we did have the Buffalo Red WHED district, the FM diversion authority in the city of Morehead active there. Um Senator Coopek was able to attend and uh being able to secure such a large amount of bonding dollars to help make sure
that we protect the Minnesota interests in those projects are really important. Obviously, it protects the entire project, but those are the components that we need to uh button up. So, uh you know, in a a tricky bonding year, it was really all hands on deck uh to get that
across the finish line and appreciate that we were able to do that. I just want to um give a shout out there. Um now, I'm gapping. Neon Amy from Neon Lon uh had done a phenomenal job of helping
to do this the um the communications components all of the um material that we'd handed out at the legislature. She would quickly uh update and get that information to everyone. But the day before our last push at the legislature,
uh Amy delivered uh three and a half bags of um stress relief sandbags to my house at 11:00 p.m. because they had not come in until after 8:00. And so she ran out to the farm to make sure that they were on the deck so that when I left at
5, they were there. And um the staff uh the staff lift on that piece is can't go unnoticed. So, thank you for all of those folks that helped. and I attended the no uh rural action counties caucus meeting. Um interesting of note that the
issues that we're all continuing to hear about the challenges that our cities with the economic uh meeting that we had two weeks ago uh are all similarly reflected in uh smaller counties throughout the nation. I appreciate the
opportunity to attend that uh meeting. And then I attend the Metrocog policy board meeting and it's uh disappointing that we were unable to reach a quorum unfortunately. Uh we have so many Fargo uh commissioners on that and we were
unable to reach a quorum. So uh in the bylaws that we're still able to pay staff uh uh hopefully that we can get North Dakota folks to attend that meeting. It's they're over 50% and that's the challenge.
And then I attended I apologize I'm a week ahead of schedule. And the next day, as Commissioner Ebinger reported on, I did have the opportunity to attend the sheriff's office awards and appreciate that
Sheriff Empt uh holds those. It's such a great opportunity to celebrate the wonderful things happening within the department. Uh so congratulations to those who received the awards but also the promotions. Uh for uh Lieutenant
Reno to have her son Tommy pin on her badge on the same day that Tommy was graduating from DGF was quite a powerful day. But uh that entire uh room was full of community uh folks supporting the sheriff's office. And then I yesterday
had the opportunity to attend the Memorial Day service in Barnesville. And I know there was a number of Memorial Day services happening throughout Klay County. Uh just a a wonderful opportunity to um celebrate and remember
folks that we've lost uh not only um in service but also um memor um honoring our fourstar families as well. And then that concludes my reports. Steve Thank you, Madam Chair. Last Tuesday, I met
with Annabelle, Rory Beal, and Jessica and discussed opioid settlements. I received a had I guess we had an update. We talked about the annual report requirements. Uh and further discussed some of the requirements of the funding that that we've received. uh asked that
Annabelle uh come forward here later this uh summer to to provide the board uh an update uh of how they plan or would like to move forward with your support. Uh that afternoon met with regional administrators, city managers. Again, most of the discussion was the
fallout from the legislative session and what impacts uh and from bonding uh the benefits that each of the counties and cities received. I also uh had a discussion with Quinn that afternoon. We discussed the SNAP impacts and
additional increases uh from administrative costs and also the error rate. Uh the 20th had a department head evaluation. Also met with Commissioner Cavanhoff and completed some paperwork with MCIT. Uh
met uh on the 20th afternoon I met with Trenton from the Caslay uh County Land Trust. I received an update on the work that they do uh here in our region. Uh just of note several years ago, Trenton came here uh before the board and and
this board asked what what work was being done in the Klay County side. Uh as of this this year, he'll have over 20 projects or their team will have over 20 projects uh in Morehead uh Dworth and also now there's projects starting out
in Barnesville. Uh so that was a positive meeting. I met uh with Anna on the 21st uh with her back in the office and discussed several ongoing HR issues that are happening. On the 22nd, the MCC JPA prep meeting. We have a meeting coming up this week. Uh and also
participating in the flood mitigation work session. Again, thank Senator Coop for his work. And also really thank Kale from the chamber. uh Kale was instrumental in organizing that meeting on a weekly week weekly basis. Uh so we we appreciate again the work of the
chamber. And then just last of note just uh following up uh Commissioner Ever's comment on the library. Just for your recollection, this this year we're funding the library at a level of $349,29. Uh state statute requires local support of of minimums. Uh we receive those
minimums for the ne upcoming budget in August. Uh but just uh for your perspective uh this year the minimum state requirement uh of support was $198,497. And that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Steve Ryan.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. I thought I'd just mention uh I do have uh my newest employee starting today, Edison. Um, so, uh, as the board knows and recalls, we, uh, authorized or reauthorized us to look into helping pause and work towards
getting a facility dog. Uh, and so we now have him, uh, here. He he was here last week, but not starting in the office. Now he's going to start coming in half days. And there is some other certification that uh, Pam is still working through uh, and helping. Paul
has asked us not to do any other official uh press release or other announcements u till the full certification is done. Uh and when that's done, we plan to bring them up here to the board and and do a little bit more. But we're excited to, you
know, incorporate him into the the helping of uh individuals, you know, child abuse, child sexual abuse, domestic violence, other people that are uh suffering and and going through uh issues and having to navigate the the court system. And so we're we're looking
forward to utilizing him much more. Uh but starting today, he's here. So I just thought I'd mention that board. And again, thank you for your support of that. Thank you, Brian. Darren, >> Brian, we'll have to get him a badge and
his I9 form before he starts. You need three days for that. Um, on uh Tuesday, I had a discussion with Anna and uh Corey and Ashley about uh a landfill operator position that's uh
being filled. on also on Tuesday I traveled to Maddens on G Lake and met with Mary Sarosino. Um she works with improv that works with our UKG platform and we talked about a
few things that their company could do to help out us in the HR payroll system. Uh and then at from 4 to 5 I had the MC membership meeting also at G uh Maddens. On Wednesday, I went back to Maddens's
for the IFS user group meeting which I was uh sitting in for Lori and then at 2:30 we had the HR payroll meeting. Unfortunately, we didn't have a quorum. So, I get to remain chair for another
month and hopefully next month we'll have a quorum and I can get out from under that. Um, on Thursday, uh, we had an EAC meeting on the planning of the picnic, which will be on June 23rd. That flyer should have gone
out to everybody. And then on Friday, um, I also attended the uh, sheriff's office awards ceremony, which was uh, covered by Commissioner Ember. Very well. >> That concludes my report. >> Thank you, Darren. Sarah, do you have
anything? Thank you. On the uh advertised meetings, we do have that Klay County Treatment Courts Alumni uh group launch this afternoon at 3:30, but uh having concluded all
business before the board, our next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, June 2nd at 8:30. We are adjourned. Part: 2
Good morning. It is 8:30. I'll go ahead and call today's meeting of the Klay County Board of Commissioners to order. Our first item on the agenda today is an approval of the agenda. >> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. >> Motion offered from Commissioner Bear to approve. Second. A second from Commissioner Campbell. Discussion.
Discussion. Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. >> Citizens to be heard. Have there any citizens in the audience wishing to address the county board today? Any citizens in the audience wishing to
address the board? Steve, have we had any request to speak online? >> Nothing, Madam Chair. Thank you. The next item on the agenda today is our approval of payment of bills and vouchers in which you all received. >> Madam chair, I'll make a motion to pay the bills and vouchers. >> A motion offered to approve the payment
of bills and vouchers from Commissioner Bear. >> Second. >> Second from Commissioner Kabnoff. >> Discussion. Discussion. Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign.
Carries. The minutes from May 12th, 2026 were in the packet. >> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from May 12th, 2026. >> We have a motion offered to approve the minutes. >> Second. >> And a second from Commissioner Ebinger. Discussion.
Discussion. Discussion. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Oppos. Same sign. Carried. Two. Today is the request approval of the letter of support for the federal rail administration grant. We have our county engineer with us today, Justin Sorum.
Good morning, Justin. >> Good morning. So, yes, this first letter of support is for the city of Dworth. So, BNSF on behalf of the city of Dworth is applying for what's called the Chrissy grant. This is a project that the railroads really been pushing for.
It was part of the Metro Rail study and BNSF is also covering the cost of this grant application. If successful, this would eliminate a county crossing in Dworth once it's constructed and it is very needed in this area. If you've ever been in Dworth, that crossing is
constantly blocked. >> Questions for Justin? >> Questions? Hearing none, I'll make a motion to approve the letter of support for the Federal Rail Administration grant. >> A motion offered to approve the request from Commissioner Kavanagh. >> Second.
>> A second from Commissioner Bear. Discussion. Any discussion? I think this is an important uh collaboration between the city and the county and it really does seem to make the most sense and always support uh the
ability to utilize grants to help. >> Mhm. >> Any discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I oppose. Same sign carries. Item three is also yours today. >> Yes. So this one's very similar. Um,
this is a letter of support for federal rail administration safety program grant. So, MDOT is preparing this application. There's eight crossings throughout District 4 that they're looking at. One of them being located in Klay County. If if they were funded, it
would just basically update like crossing arms, signs, everything like that to where typically that's a split between the railroad and the road agency. This would cover the cost of that. Justin, it it doesn't identify what Klay County crossing is.
>> No. So, the request came through Steve and I tried to call the lady that was applying for it just to see because it didn't indicate where the crossing was. So, I was not able to find that. >> So, you feel like this board making a motion of support only helps even though
that has not been identified. >> Yep. So, it is I think it's a good thing to apply for. I don't know what crossing it is, but I still feel as though it's it's needed. Um, if MDOT's identifying the crossing is needing repair, I think it's a good
thing. >> And we internally have identified crossings that we want to continue to see where the the most safety upgrades can be. So, I appreciate that. >> Yep. And MDOT, so MDOT has a rail office. So last year, for example, the one just outside of Glendon, um they did
receive a grant for this and it got new signals which we didn't have to pay anything for. >> Great. Additional questions, questions. >> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the letter of support for Federal Rail Administration Railroad
Crossing Safety Program Grant. >> Second. >> Motion offered from Commissioner Bear, second from Commissioner Ebinger. Any further discussion? Madam Chair, I >> Commissioner Campbell, >> I I still think it it'd be nice to know if we could if we could reach out to
Mandot and find out what that location is in the event that we uh were to be getting questions from >> land owners in those areas. We would at least know. >> So, I did leave her a voicemail on
Friday. I just haven't heard back yet. >> Thank you. Thank you. Make sure when you do identify that to forward to Steve for us as well. >> Yep, I will do that. >> Any additional questions? >> All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I.
>> Oppose. Same sign. Carries. >> Thank you, >> Justin. >> Item four today is a request approval to lease 10 vehicles from Enterprise Fleet Management for the Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Empt. Good morning. >> Uh, good morning, Madam Chair, commissioners. Thanks for having me here this morning. I am requesting approval
to lease um 10 vehicles from Enterprise Fleet Management. These vehicles would uh replace current leased vehicles that we have. Um as you can see from my request, we have total internal service funds available of $668,58362.
Uh the total amount of the lease um would be $545,3556. Mind you, that is for the total amount of the lease for one car being 48 months and the other cars being 36 months. It's not a one-time request per year. Um, and then the estimated vehicle upfitting
cost would be $110,154 a total cost of $655 or 655,000 655,42060. Um, and just forformational for the commission, 2022 was the last time we uh flat out purchased vehicles from Nelson
Auto. And at that time for eight vehicles for a onetime cost was $37,000. Um, for this it's per year would be $177,848.40. So there's a savings there um for the
lease vehicle program. >> Thank you for identifying that, Sheriff. if we were looking at that and uh you know based on what you can purchase at Tahoe on the market right now um we're substantially under the money. It seems as though this enterprise the move to
enterprise has really proved beneficial not just for your department but um for maintenance as well. Uh I do want to say that it's also good to note uh to internally that that internal service fund is doing what we anticipated that
we're continuing to earmark funds in the appropriate amount so that we can continue to um move that forward. And then my last uh comment is um seems to be that we're able to get the Taho again. I know that was a difficult um difficult before.
>> Yes, that's correct. They are actually showing up much sooner than the Fords. For example, um Tahoe showed up this year January, February, where we already have some of our Taho on the street. We're still waiting for uh two of our Fords that we ordered. They're not here yet. And they were ordered, you know,
last year, September, October time frame, so it's taking a long time for them to show up. >> Okay. Questions from the board, Commissioner Abbing, or >> were you able to get white ones or >> um black? >> Okay, we're switching to black. Yep.
it uh started off as a uh supply chain issue is why we switched to black and then we just kind of continued to go down that route. >> I kind of like the looks of them better. So, >> additional questions? Yes, Commissioner Campbell. >> Not a question, but just a comment. So
when you look at the um sticker price of a Tahoe today and and when you compare that to the 36-month lease payment that we would make, uh we would probably we would
probably have to if we were to buy those out, we would we would probably have to sell those in well in excess over $30,000. um at the end of that 36-month period uh
and not knowing you know some of those could end up with fairly high mileage on it. >> So I you know again I think this is it's um it's very costbeneficial I think in this particular case and leasing versus the buying.
fully support your request, >> Steve. >> And and just to add to Commissioner Campbell's comment, Madam Chair, we've been able to make adjustments to our internal service and our budgets uh because of uh the rental agreements and the amount that we're able to sell them back for. So for our citizens, we were
able to um I guess lower our levy requests by by participating in enterprise. >> Any other Yes, Commissioner Bear. On average, how many miles does a patrol vehicle get a year? >> It really depends on the deputy that we have one deputy that he is constantly
driving and in three years he'll put on 115 to 120,000 miles. And then there are others that are putting on anywhere between um you know 85 to 100,000. >> And I know just in speaking with Enterprise, they do like to try and
cycle the cars out before 100,000 miles because their resale value is much better. and they get more dollars for them. So, if we are able to recycle them prior to 100,000, um they would prefer to do that. >> And and just to follow up more on that,
um Enterprise works with Joe and the sheriff that in the event that there's a like a peak point even before these the 36 months are out, they manage that for us to get the most out of because it's the benefit to the county is this isn't like a normal lease where at the end you
just turn it in. if there's if there's revenue or if there's additional dollars left in that once we once we trade it back in uh the county gets to receive those dollars >> questions commissioner.
>> Yeah, maybe that answers a question I have. But so they they work with you on anticipating cost as they go in the future. >> That's correct. Yes, we meet quarterly with our our enterprise rep and we go through our entire fleet and we try and
determine, you know, which car is going to be best to cycle out uh first so we can get rid of it um prior to those mile mileage so we can get the best bang for our buck so to speak so we can the resale is better. >> Goodness.
>> Questions? Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the lease of 10 vehicles from the Enterprise Fleet Management for the Sheriff's Office. >> Second. >> We have a motion offered from Commissioner Bear, second from Commissioner Ebinger. Clarification, this is also approving the lease, but
also the estimated fitup costs. Is that correct? >> Does your motion reflect that? Is a second. Okay. Any additional questions? >> All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign carries.
>> Thank you, >> Sheriff. >> Item five today, committee reports. Commissioner Ebinger, >> ready for you. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> Uh, last Thursday,
um, the 21st, I attended a special meeting of the board of the Greater Fargo Morehead EDC. The meeting was called to consider a contract that had been profered by Cass County
um as a requirement for their uh continued funding support of the EDC. Uh there were some extensive conversations over the last month or so about this. Um we basically had three options to
vote on. One is to decline the contract at which case Cass County had indicated they would withdraw uh the considerable support to the EDC. They they not only pay for but represent Fargo, West Fargo
and Cass County and there's some substantial state funding that goes through um Cass County to the EDC for some projects. The other would be um we sign the contract and meet the qu the
specifications in that contract. And the third was that we well really those are the two contract those are the two items we ended up with at the end of the conversation or two options.
One of the major points I had and I think a lot of the other board members had was that Cass County wanted to uh have approval rights over the annual budget of the EDC. They also wanted uh to
eliminate any contract positions within the EDC and put all the employees as at will employees. uh in the latest version of the contract they presented, they had removed the budget approval component of it and
there's only one contract employee in the uh EDC at this point and that's the executive director and his contract will end at the end of the year and the contract with Cass Cass County required
that the uh all employees being at will starts at the beginning of next here. So, effectively, uh there there was nothing very objectionable about the contract they were agreeing to with with Cass County.
And that on uh vote of the board passed 6 to1 in favor of signing the contract. Later that day, I attended the uh Lake Agassy Regional Library Board uh
full meeting. Probably the primary thing we we got in there that's relevant to discussion is a new formula that has been developed for the annual uh
cost determination of uh for each of the signitories. We looked at the old old uh method which had the formula been around since 1995 and it was based on 80% borrow borrower transaction 10% population of the
signitories jurisdiction and 10% of the property value of that jurisdiction and it was kind of a convoluted u process. As part of the the discussions we've had since late last
year, we asked to see what the actual cost of each uh signator's operation is and how does that compare with what they're paying. And we did find some some uh differences, some of them marked
differences. Um Clay County, I have that handy. Klay County was paying 103% of what it cost to run our operations in
Klay County where some other jurisdictions were paying as low as 71% of their costs. These were generally smaller uh jurisdictions, but uh we reformulated it
to where the the cost is based on the uh operating costs of the of the entity. Now, some of these the smaller communities, Wil County, Pulk County, uh would find themselves in in a real
whiplash if that happened over a one-year period. So, we are the motion that was put forward and passed was that it be based on cost, but it it be it's changed over a four-year period so that these other
communities are going to be able to anticipate the the marked increase in their fees and it won't be a dramatic thing over over a one-year period. as a result of that and I this is this is
still open for discussion but they're asking for 7% increase from all the signitories this year to absorb some of the salary costs and uh moving costs and everything else we've gotten but we would only have a 5.39%
increase and we would continue to reflect a lower increase than the request three years after this until stabilized is an actual cost. If there's any marked um either somebody that can't
meet meet the request comes in for an increase or um they can't meet some of the smaller jurisdictions, they can't meet the increases they're looking at uh every year. The option is to cut back on
services and that's something that they'll have to consider. So that motion came forward and it was passed unanimously. Uh it's not a great thing, but it's the best op best thing we can do for the
smaller jurisdictions that need to get adjusted and need to make up during a it's hard times for all of us and uh so that was the what we came up with at the conclusion of that. >> Commissioner Ebinger, can I ask one
question? How is the communication what is the communication plan for their smaller entities? I I I think from your reports before you've talked a little bit about making sure that they knew there was some discussions about this but now
>> staff is and the meetings we have each community is represented um but staff has also from from Lake Agassy has also been in contact and not only are they going to or they have been keeping them a breast of what's going
on. A lot of them were represented either by Zoom or present at the meeting. And um Liz, the executive director, will be making the rounds, including with us over the next couple of months. She's going to appear before
the commissions and councils of all the signitories. >> They're very much aware that and and really as a board goes, the participation of everybody has been pretty good. Thank you. >> I'd be happy to answer any other
concerns. >> One other question. >> We So Klay County would be Barnesville location, Holly's location, and then the Ulin location, right? Not Morehead. Morehead is is an entity. >> More Morehead is the biggest and and the
only entity. And they have been operating right at 100, which was I mean bas basically they're they're break even right now. They're where everybody ought to be.
And uh Becker County and Detroit Lakes, I think, were 110 and 109 111% and they had big concerns and they're the ones uh one of the Becker County uh representatives was was uh the one that
put forward we need to do this stage that over we we looked at one three uh no two, three or four years And you know, we we want to support the the the uh library system as a whole.
So, we we went with a three. >> Additional questions. >> Is that >> I got one more and this was pleasant. Commissioner Mojo and I attended uh on the 22nd the sheriff's department's uh
gathering to recognize some of their employees and to look at some promotions uh and two civilians. There was a life-saving award u that where actions directly save an individual who was there gentleman who
had a heart attack out in Holly. It included two deputies uh a trooper from state patrol and a uh >> Holly >> Holly police officer and one emergency response team member and two citizens
who took action when they saw the gentleman's go down with a heart attack. They started CPR and it was just a very it was a great uh story. Uh they they got the guy's heart going
again. and he was conversant the whole bit when they put him on the helicopter. They got him out to Holly airport and it was just a wonderful uh you you you just there aren't are a lot of good stories about good police response that aren't
nice but this was a very nice thing. Man was there with his family and he survived a heart attack because not only the first responders but the people in the community were there for him. Uh there was als uh and they gave life- saving awards to the officers involved
in that. There was also a commendable service award for two de deputies and a medal of valor award for four deputies who responded to a call in Morehead last year. Uh it was a very difficult
situation. Suspects were shot at that scene. there was an exchange of of uh gunfire and the officers acted in a really commendable manner and it just reminds you what kind of people and what kind of department we've got with our
sheriff's office. Uh the cere ceremony also had two promotions. Uh sheriff's office uh promoted Sergeant Nicole Reno to Lieutenant uh Nicole Reno. she'll be
taking over the emergency uh position emergency uh coordinator with sheriff's office and then uh Sergeant Michael Files was promoted to sergeant. Uh both of them worked with me in the Morehead Police Department many years ago.
They're both very good officers and we're fortunate to have that kind of leadership coming up through the ranks. But my compliments to Sheriff Hemping and to his department and his people and it was very nice way of recognizing this outstanding behavior. So that completes
my report. >> Thank you, Commissioner Abinger. Commissioner Kavanagh. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. On the uh 19th uh we had a monthly meeting for the Fly County Adult Mental Health Lac. uh they had presented to us
uh uh the week before. Um so uh we talked briefly about that um report that they brought to us and uh talked about the feedback all positive. Um we did our agency reports uh sharing
of information. I think we had uh nine different agencies at this meeting and again um just finding out where needs are referrals those type things and everybody's everybody's uh certainly busy in this world on a professional
level. Um the other the last part of that meeting was uh as far on the consumer side is uh people um we'll still have a booth at the Klay County Fair. They normally set up a little
table by us on uh on that Friday when we have government day. Um on the on the 20th I had the historical and cultural society finance meeting. Our budget is on track. Um, it's
tracking well in certain areas a little higher, others a little lower, but it's all working out. We had an extensive talk about the upcoming budget in 27 uh working with the county without any increases and then also we'll be uh uh
working toward a new city lease uh for the historical sighting. So uh one of the things uh that was a deeper discussion is is ways of sustainability for the uh society so that we aren't
relying on government uh for u as much and that and we actually are working on strategies with a um company tell uh and how to do that for more uh endowments gifts um just more memberships and
strategies and uh throughout our system to be uh more uh revenue building on on Thursday the 21st. Um so I don't know if I mentioned this before but over the last few months uh as part of the
suicide and substance use prevention committee commissioner ever is on this too. they have uh given it a new name working it in and it's called rethink mental health uh coalition. The
coalition um on the mainland list it uh is about 80 uh professionals and people surrounded in the work of uh mental health through our public and it runs through our public health services. Um
excuse me. So, uh, there's rebranding going on and so, um, from this point on, we'll just call it rethink mental health for a group and they're, um, yeah, they're working on new logo as we speak.
Presentation uh, for the month um, uh, was a organization called change the outcome. It's a meaningful program that provides education for Klay County students uh surrounding opioid epidemic
emergency emerging excuse me drug drug trends and substance use disorders. Um she was coming in this this lady that did the presentation worked a lot in the Twin Cities
um and the challenge they have there. But it was interesting in their in their groups where um probably the greatest needs are and and work being done um they find that
25% of the children uh that are at high risk uh also are being raised by parents with some type of substance use disorder. So, um, anything we can do to help the those families get off to a
better start, we need to. Uh, also there was a just a report given on the suicide prevention summit. Uh, that was really good, a kind of a recap if you will. I was unable to make that, but there was about 200
professionals that part of that summit. Um, one of his presentations was u through our sources of strength which we talk about often that um through public health were doing that at Morehead and Holly and um uh anyway they
uh they had a panel of eight students and um talking about what they're doing working peer-to-peer giving peer-to-peer supports and as well as education and u just gathering and it's not always about
drugs. It can be depression, it can be many grieving, it can be many factors involved in this and how working student to student. Um, it just this group is getting bigger and bigger. And there was
one really, really gripping story that was told at at the summit and uh uh there was a student that was uh contemplating suicide. He was on the bridge and um it just
happened to be he was standing there and a truck went by and stopped and said, "Did you need help?" And and it just gave him enough time to think and he got help and and now he's uh um
working through his challenges and uh anyway, he received a standing ovation from the 200 people. So anyway, sharing stories and people just need to know they aren't alone. So, uh, that was the meetings I had. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Commissioner Kenoff, Commissioner Campbell. >> I had one meeting last week at while I was out of town. I was going to attend virtually and I had a difficult time connecting so I was unable to be part of that and that was the chamber meeting on our wrapup of the session. So, I'm sure Commissioner Mosha will give an update
and that's all I have. >> Thank you, Commissioner Campbell. Commissioner Bear, >> I had uh one meeting going all the way back to the Tuesday the 12th for the EDA EDC, which you all reported on last week, but I'd also like to give a thank
you to all legislators out there for their hard work during the session and addressing our county's needs in the bonding bill that was passed. So, that is all I have to report to, Madam Chair. >> Thank you, Commissioner Bear. Last week, I attended the planning
commission meeting. We had an IUP request in Keen Township for a gravel mine. It was a revisit of a 2023 permit that was granted but not mined. 39 and a half acres. Uh that did pass with um
unanimously. There was some concerns. There's a uh bin site on the west side of the road and as the road sometimes gets a little uh rough, folks tend to veer into that private approach. So, making sure that that was noted and
working with the sheriff's office and uh county engineer on making sure that uh that isn't happening in the future. And then because it was a light agenda, we did have a a really good update uh more of a discussion presentation on data
centers and what the trends we're seeing throughout the nation, but particularly in Minnesota when Commissioner Bear and I attended the nuts, bolts, and boardroom. uh data centers uh conversations are happening in a lot of counties throughout the state and so talked a little bit about what uh
counties can do uh what uh the standard of practice if you will is on some of these substantially larger ones but um if you think about the the uh the project that was presented in Worthington uh down in Nobles County was
almost a thousand acres. So, these um substantially large land use projects are on the horizon, and I appreciate that Matt Jacobson is keeping us all a breast. I did talk to him about sending that presentation to the rest of the board. Um knowing that we don't have any
any uh requests in Klay County right now, but I think it would be helpful just so so folks can keep up to date on that piece. The next day, I attended the Red River Basin Commission joint powers board meeting. We did have a presentation from Grit May from the
International Water Institute on uh rural flood mapping. Really great uh data set that they have uh in throughout the basin. And then Danny Halverson talked about the river watch and river of dreams programs that
they have in school districts throughout uh the basin. Klay County does have some Klay C or some school districts that are working with them. And what they do is they take these little canoes that are made in Thief River Falls and students are able to uh pinpoint where they put
the boats in the water uh stream and then the hope is that uh it's able to continue to be tracked throughout. There's a little QR code and uh it's kind of like geocaching. If someone finds it and scans it and checks in, it's uh really a helpful educational
piece for kids to see where the um boats end up. a lot of them tend to uh get in snarled under bridges and and whatnot. But a really cool presentation on that mad >> commissioner bear one note on that. My fourth grade daughter sent off her boat
down the Red River just last week. So >> yeah. >> Yeah. And it it really is uh as we all I remember uh working and seeing, you know, we talk about drains and what the ditches or the the the runoff goes to the rivers, but it's just another
helpful piece for kids to think about where exactly that is. And some have made it to Lake Winnipeg, which is exciting as well. And then we did have other business uh talking about revisiting the joint powers board agreement. And this might be um to our elder statesman of the group,
Commissioner Campbell, uh who was around when we talked about joining that. And and really it was an opportunity for the Minnesota entities of the basin commission to have an opportunity to be a sounding board about the projects that were happening on the Minnesota side.
And I I don't believe that uh that agreement has been revisited since its inception. And there was um some minor funding component that was talked about how it was tied to uh growth of the individual counties and making sure that
if that's something I know our contribution to the basin commission is smaller but if that's something that is continued just making sure that we update the bylaws I think is important. Uh and then for um a number of years
it's really been the same folks attending that uh Marshall and Pennington and uh Clay and Becker and um making sure those gaps in the joint powers board uh those folks are either updated or know that it it happens. So
um I really think it's worthwhile for Klay County to continue to advocate on that level. Uh certainly the amount of matching grants that they have um secured uh has been helpful for us.
And then the next day, as noted, I did have um the update on the legislative work that we uh were able to accomplish um with all of you from the flood
mitigation ask at the legislature. that that call was only uh flood mitigation focus. So we did have the Buffalo red watershed district, the FM diversion authority in the city of Morehead active there. Um Senator Coopek was able to attend and uh
being able to secure such a large amount of bonding dollars to help make sure that we protect the Minnesota interests in those projects are really important. Obviously, it protects the entire project, but those are the components that we need to uh button up. So, uh you
know, in a a tricky bonding year, it was really all hands on deck uh to get that across the finish line and appreciate that we were able to do that. I just want to um give a shout out there. Um now I'm
gapping. Neon Amy from Neon Lon uh had done a phenomenal job of helping to do this the um the communications components all of the um material that we handed out at the legislature. She would quickly uh update and get that
information to everyone. But the day before our last push at the legislature, uh Amy delivered uh three and a half bags of um stress relief sandbags to my house at 11:00 p.m. because they had not come in until after 8:00. And so she ran
out to the farm to make sure that they were on the deck so that when I left at 5, they were there. And um the staff uh the staff lift on that piece is can't go unnoticed. So, thank you for all of those folks that helped. And I attended
the Niko uh rural action counties caucus meeting. Um interesting of note that the issues that we're all continuing to hear about the challenges that our cities with the economic uh meeting that we had two weeks ago uh are all similarly
reflected in uh smaller counties throughout the nation. I appreciate the opportunity to attend that uh meeting. And then I attend the Metrocog policy board meeting and it's uh disappointing that we were unable to reach a quorum unfortunately. Uh we have so many Fargo
uh commissioners on that and we were unable to reach a quorum. So uh in the bylaws that we're still able to pay staff uh uh hopefully that we can get North Dakota folks to attend that meeting. It's they're over 50% and
that's the challenge. And then I attended I apologize I'm a week ahead of schedule. And the next day, as Commissioner Ebinger reported on, I did have the opportunity to attend the sheriff's
office awards and appreciate that Sheriff Empt uh holds those. It's such a great opportunity to celebrate the wonderful things happening within the department. Uh so congratulations to those who received the awards but also the promotions. Uh for uh Lieutenant
Reno to have her son Tommy pin on her badge on the same day that Tommy was graduating from DGF was quite a powerful day. But uh that entire uh room was full of community uh folks supporting the
sheriff's office. And then I yesterday had the opportunity to attend the Memorial Day service in Barnesville. And I know there was a number of Memorial Day services happening throughout Klay County. Uh just a a wonderful opportunity to um celebrate and remember
folks that we've lost uh not only um in service but also um memor um honoring our fourstar families as well. And then that concludes my reports. Steve. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Last Tuesday, I
met with Annabelle, Rory Beal, and Jessica, and discussed opioid settlements. I received a had I guess we had an update. We talked about the annual report requirements. Uh, and further discussed some of the requirements of the funding that that we've received. uh asked that Annabelle
uh come forward here later this uh summer to to provide the board uh an update uh of how they plan or would like to move forward with your support. Uh that afternoon met with regional administrators, city managers. Again, most of the discussion was the fallout
from the legislative session and what impacts uh and from bonding uh the benefits that each of the counties and cities received. I also uh had a discussion with Quinn that afternoon. We discussed the SNAP impacts and additional increases uh from
administrative costs and also the error rate. Uh the 20th had a department head evaluation. Uh also met with commissioner Kavanhoff and completed some paperwork with MCIT. Uh met uh on the 20th afternoon I met with Trenton
from the Caslay uh County Land Trust. I received an update on the work that they do uh here in our region. Uh just of note several years ago, Trenton came here uh before the board and and this board asked what what work was being
done in the Klay County side. Uh as of this this year, he'll have over 20 projects or their team will have over 20 projects uh in Morehead uh Dworth and also now there's projects starting out in Barnesville. Uh so that was a
positive meeting. I met uh with Anna on the 21st uh with her back in the office and discussed several ongoing HR issues that are happening. On the 22nd, the MCC JPA prep meeting. We have a meeting coming up this week. Uh and also participated in the flood mitigation
work session. Again, thank Senator Coop for his work. And also really thank Kale from the chamber. uh Kale was instrumental in organizing that meeting on a weekly week weekly basis. Uh so we we appreciate again uh the work of the chamber. And then just last of note just
uh following up Commissioner Ed's comment on the library. Just for your recollection, this this year we're funding the library at a level of $349,29. Uh state statute requires local support of of minimums. Uh we receive those minimums for the ne upcoming budget in
August. Uh but just uh for your perspective uh this year the minimum state requirement uh of support was $198,497. And that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Steve Ryan. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I thought I'd just mention uh I do have uh my newest
employee starting today, Edison. Um, so, uh, as the board knows and recalls, we, uh, authorized or you authorized us to look into helping pause and work towards getting a facility dog. Uh, and so we now have him, uh, here. He he was here
last week, but not starting in the office. Now he's going to start coming in half days. And there is some other certification that uh, Pam is still working through uh, and helping. Paul has asked us not to do any other official uh press release or other
announcements u till the full certification is done. Uh and when that's done, we plan to bring them up here to the board and and do a little bit more. But we're excited to, you know, incorporate him into the the helping of uh individuals, you know,
child abuse, child sexual abuse, domestic violence, other people that are uh suffering and and going through uh issues and having to navigate the the court system. And so we're we're looking forward to utilizing him much more. Uh but starting today, he's here. So I just
thought I'd mention that board. And again, thank you for your support of that. >> Thank you, Brian. Darren >> Brian, we'll have to get him a badge and his I9 form before he starts. You need three days for that. Um,
on uh Tuesday, I had a discussion with Anna and uh Corey and Ashley about uh a landfield operator position that's uh being filled. on also on Tuesday I traveled to Maddens
on G Lake and met with Mary Sarosino. Um she works with improv that works with our UKG platform and we talked about a few things that their company could do to help out us in the HR payroll system.
Uh and then at from 4 to 5 I had the MC membership meeting also at G uh Maddens. On Wednesday, I went back to Maddens for the IFS user group meeting which I was uh sitting in for Lori and then at 2:30
we had the HR payroll meeting. Unfortunately, we didn't have a quorum. So, I get to remain chair for another month and hopefully next month we'll have a quorum and I can get out from under that. Um, on Thursday,
uh, we had an EAC meeting on the planning of the picnic, which will be on June 23rd. That flyer should have gone out to everybody. And then on Friday, um, I also attended the uh, sheriff's office awards ceremony, which was uh,
covered by commissioner. Very well. >> That concludes my report. >> Thank you, Darren. Sarah, do you have anything? Okay. Thank you. On the uh advertised meetings, we do have that Klay County Treatment Courts
Alumni uh group launch this afternoon at 3:30. But uh having concluded all business before the board, our next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, June 2nd at 8:30, we are adjourned.