--------- All right, good morning everybody. I will call this morning's meeting for the Klay County Board of Commissioners to order for Tuesday, August 26th. Our first item is the approval of the agenda.
>> Move to approve. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Commissioner Krabanhoff, second by Commissioner Ebinger. 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. Citizens to be heard. We have no citizens in the audience to be heard. Do we have any online? >> We do not, Mr. Chair. >> Right. Thank you. We will move on then
to the approval of bills and vouchers. >> I'll make a motion to pay you the bills and vouchers. >> Second. >> All right. We have a motion by Commissioner Bear. Second by Commissioner Krabanov. Any further discussion?
Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed the same sign. Motion carried. Approval of minutes from August 12th. >> M. Chair move for approval of the
minutes from August 12th. >> Second. >> Motion by Commissioner Ebinger, second by Commissioner Bear. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I.
>> I oppose the same sign. Motion carried. Our 835 item is request to fill an assistant county attorney position. Good morning, Mr. Milton. >> Good morning, Mr. Chair, commissioners. Uh, yeah, this is a uh outgoing
position. It was a new employee. uh she was still actually within her six-month uh time period, but is ultimately looking to do something different. She's moving out of state. Um and so we are looking to fill this. It is a budgeted position. So, and I am aware I did not
put to now I have the new thing and I I forgot to do it of putting a piece in there, but it wouldn't it's it is neutral. She's brand new. So, this would be a new entry level expected person that would be applying to. >> There wouldn't be much savings because there' be really any savings, right?
Right. Any questions, Brian? >> I'll make a motion to fill the assistant county attorney position. I'll second motion. >> Motion by Commissioner Bear, second by Commissioner Mojo. 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. Thanks, Brian. Yep. All right. Next, we have a request approval to adopt artificial intelligence policy. Here's our artificial intelligence
people, Arc and Rory. >> Good morning. Uh, morning. Uh, actually, it's actual intelligence here. Nothing artificial. >> Um, >> we'll be the judge of that. >> All right. Yeah. Okay. So, the reason
I'm talking to you today with Rory is uh one of my roles as in my communications roles as I've been helping with policies and getting them organized and squared away and all that kind of stuff. And uh there was a desire and a need for an artificial intelligence policy. And so Rory did a whole bunch of research and
got a bunch of sample policies and put together a whole page of things that we should include and sent that all to me and I packaged it up. But before I get to that, I wanted to talk a little bit about what is artificial intelligence and how it might be used here at the county. Um, I asked chat GPT that
question and it's on the screen. It says artificial intelligence is a technology allows computers to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence such as recognizing patterns, analyzing data, generating text, and making predictions. Uh, we can use it for a lot of different things. Uh, um, summarizing stuff,
drafting letters, case notes that all all sorts of things. One of the things I' we were just talking about that we've seen it used for is making um basically transcribing meetings, that kind of stuff or there's a huge array of different things. Um, I asked it to
write a GIS day resolution because, you know, GIS day is a big day every year here. And in less than uh a few seconds, it came back with a actual resolution with all the warehouses and all the stuff that we would need to
generate to bring that forward to you. So, it helps speed up a lot of things that we want to do here. So, it can be used for a lot of I don't actually know what all it can be used for, but I know that there's a lot of things that we've had examples of here locally. We as managers, we even had a class uh how to
use it to help write our uh annual reviews. So, to put the text together to make that a little easier, Darren showed us all how that can Chad GBT can help with that. Um, I asked it to
create a graph of the population of Klay County over the last hundred years. It took it 47 seconds. It produced this graph that you see on the screen right now. And then it gives you some choices like um how do you want to download it on all that kind of stuff. So I I could
do this myself, but this does it a lot faster and quicker. Now the reason we're coming forward with a policy is one of the biggest issues and in the policy item A specifically says that when I use this to do create something like this or anything I'm responsible making sure
that the data you see is accurate >> because that's one thing about AI is we don't always know where it's getting its information. Um, the other side of that coin is everything you put into it, it uses for everybody else, which is one of the reasons why our policy talks about not putting private or confidential or
criminal justice data or all those things into it because we don't want that spreading all over. So, there's some parameters on how you use this stuff. But I think probably the one of the biggest things for me as a user is to make sure that when I produce a product like this chart, I need to make sure I know that the data it used is
accurate, which excitingly I noticed it used a spreadsheet off our very own website. So I'm I'm going to go with it probably being good, but that's one of the things I'm responsible for. Um so what we're bringing forward then today is this policy which is uh basically we
took the policy as I mentioned earlier from three different counties along with a whole page of stuff that Rory had gathered put it all together into something that we could make work but as we developed it we have to make sure that we develop a policy that's fluid enough that it will or broad enough
however you want to phrase it that it's going to be able to adapt over time because we don't want to come back all the time and say oh we have to edit it because this techn is happening so quickly. So really in the policy, it's three pages long, but there's only really three bullets that are the policy part. The rest of it are are uh
guidelines and best practices and things like that to help our staff do use this technology in a way that's in the best interests of all of us. With that, I anything you want to add, Rory?
>> No, you did did great. Yeah, thank you. >> Questions? Yes, Commissioner Ever. >> Mr. Chair, I do want to point out this was u brought before pick and we ordered it on to the to the council. Uh
this policy I I've had a chance to review it and again the policy as as accurately indicated here is basically the the third highlighted area down which is fairly short and sweet. But the
rest of it is safeguards, selection of AI examples, best practices, things our employees are going to need to have in order to stay in compliance with the policy. So, it's well written. And having said that, I I uh like put
forward a motion that we approve the uh this uh policy as presented. >> All right. >> I'll second it. I think it makes sense. >> All right. Do we have a motion by Commissioner Ebinger, second by Commissioner Krabangh, and as as Commissioner Ebinger did state, this was
brought before pick. And we asked that um Mark would provide us with a little bit of a description of what AI is and your intelligence was high today. >> Did you ask AI?
>> Did we vote on that? No. >> Did you ask AI? I >> Yeah, we had we asked AI. I got it on here. Um, yeah. No, I I obviously that's really it's really big in the news now and how
that's expanding and us having some sort. Can I just ask chat GPT? What's the GPT and or does anybody know? >> Can't say. I I honestly know that. >> Ask Siri. >> I'm busy.
ask a I guess. Okay. All right. 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.
All right. We have a policy that takes effect today. All right. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. All right. Thank you. Next, we have a request approval to purchase TCP scheduling software for the
withdrawal management facility. Good morning, Troy Kathy. >> Good morning, Mr. Chair, commissioners. Yes, we um today are requesting uh
approval to purchase a software which would kind of modernize our scheduling process. Currently, we're doing everything by hand on calendars. Very time consuming. Um the
annual cost of for up to 60 users is $231120. They have a onetime fee where they will come in, set us all up, train us, um go through everything, make sure we're ready to go, and that's $2,100.
Um the length of the contract will be 60 months. any additional user over um 60, which right now I don't see us getting to, but each additional user would be $38 a month. >> Yes, Commissioner Roshel,
>> thank you. Uh boy, this seems to make a lot of sense. Is are there any savings realized because of the jail utilizing the same software? >> Um there there wasn't. He gave us the best price we could. I did push for that because we're using multiple, you know,
departments. He said if we expanded with more departments using it, then, you know, that's a possibility. >> Just as a followup, you know, I think if you look at what our cost per wear, if you will, is is monthly what that investment is. It's it's really minimal
when you talk about staff time and not needing to spend hours doing that. So, I it seems to really make a lot of sense. I'd make a motion to approve it. >> Second. >> Right. We have a motion by Commissioner Mojo, second by Commissioner Ebinger, and this was also brought before our
pick, I believe, was it? And then that we move that forward for approval. >> Yes. >> How many users would be on there right now? >> Um, I think I counted about 52 or so right now. 50. pretty much.
>> No, we're we're short some RN still. Um we're down one full-time tech that I'll have to get on board uh to request approval. So, yeah. >> Okay, Commissioner Ever. >> And that was going to be my question. Do you have is 60 enough?
>> I think at this point it is. >> And do you have the ability to expand if you need to? >> We can always add users um individually for that 30. I think it's like 3867 um
a person to add it. So add it somewhere. That's that's good. That would as long as we can cover it if if you finally get to full staff, which I know is a difficult task to do, but
>> yeah, it would it would be 38.52 per user. over 60. >> Thank you. >> What is fully staffed over there? >> What is fully staffed over there? >> Fully staffed would be um um we would
have 13 LPNs. Um four RNs, uh two lead RNs, an RN supervisor. Um we have eight full-time technicians, 20 variable hour technicians. Ideally,
it'd be nice to um have, you know, um five variable hour nurses that will work regular, but that's >> in addition to those 20. >> Yeah. Um the 20 are techs. >> Oh, those are texts. Okay. >> Yeah.
It's it's >> 53 54. The very difficult part about variable hour is they're inconsistent and they're just not um I don't know, they're not willing to work as much because they have other
jobs and it makes it hard. >> That's why you need the software to make sure >> Yeah. >> not swish them all around. >> Yeah. And then all requests for changes in schedules, you know, so we know who's on to make sure that we have nurses on that has to go through the system to get
approved. Overtime would have to be approved on the system. Um I'm told it'll track variable hours, you know. So >> no further questions, >> right? Anything else? Any further questions?
Seeing none, all in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. oppose the same sign. Motion carried. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you guys. Have a great day. >> You too. And by the way, I just did um from one of our good AI resources.
I just learned that um GPT stands for generative pre-trained transformers. So, we have AI that works well right here in All right. Next are we have our budget presentation.
Quinn, you're going to tackle this all alone. >> Usually we have a tackle this all alone. Although I'm Rhonda right now. This is like to have Rhonda back right now. But >> you're doing great. >> All right.
Good morning, Mr. chair and commissioners. >> Kind of what I'll do to start out with, I looked at previous years and we did a kind of an overview of the prior years before jumping into the budget. So, that's what I'm going to do uh for you today. Just provide a quick overview of
how we ended for 2024. Um, our total revenues were 28,642,93 and our expenditures were 28,737,623. Uh so we ended 95,529 expenditures over revenues. Um missed by just a little bit. Um with a budget that
size, uh was felt like it was a pretty accurate budget for 2024. Uh to kind of take you along as to how we ended there, um we did see some savings in salaries. Um just about $100,000 there. Overall, uh came in pretty close to budget across all our
program areas with a few variances. Um, undersspending was largely driven by retirements, vacancies, staff transitions, um, as well as some targeted funding like our MA unwinding dollars, which was 120,977
for 2024. Uh, that money helped offset salaries tied to our eligibility staffing needs. If you remember uh during COVID once, uh MA eligibility was expanded once the pandemic was ended those waiverss ended as well and we were given a significant amount of funds from
the state to help get the folks that were covered by MA off of MA. Um this board and Rhonda made the decision to bring on four eligibility staff back then. Uh which was great because we were very much needed them due to the workload. this MA unwinding money pays
for half of their salary whereas the income maintenance random moments generates enough revenue to cover the other half of their salary. Um our administrative expenses uh we came in at 97.8% of the budgeted amount. Uh this reflects total underspending of
about $34,943. Um you can see the breakdown there on the right of where in each of our three large program areas that happened. Social services uh is the bulk of that. It's the biggest um just on the radar for 2025. I took our temperature where
we're at halfway through the year. Now, I am expecting this to be a little bit more on target for 2025 as we've just moved into the fourth floor wing and had some increased administrative costs for that. Our auto home placements, this will always be a talking point um when it
comes to social services budgets. Um our autoome placement expenditures total just under $4 million in 2024. We were able to recover approximately $700,000 in uh placement revenue primarily through title 4E reimbursements
as you can see from that green revenue line in recent years. Really the loss of this fore revenue has had a pretty significant impact on our local costs. Uh the biggest driver of this loss is Family's First Preservation Services Act. Um, essentially what that does is
counties can only claim 50% federal reimbursement for placement costs at certain facilities if the facility is designated as a qualified residential treatment program. Uh, West Central, where the majority of our placements occur, is not QRTP certified. So,
>> and we're working on that. >> Yes, that is correct. Um, so we have to pay 100% of the costs at the juvenile center. So, that's where we've seen our revenue for those placements decrease. >> Oops. Just a quick question just that one's so
big it just it's disturbing is um has something you mentioned the one act but are there other things associated with the program program that have changed in the last session or two or I mean what
I'm trying to get at is there a way may this further discussion I guess but ways we should be going back to the state. >> Sure. In terms of the >> and trying to coales with AMC and others
in a way to say it's just too much. >> Sure. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Commissioner Krabanhoff, um I think your advocacy for the PRTF is exactly the right lane for that. This QRTP reimbursement is at the federal level. Families First Preservation Act is federal fore reimbursement that comes in. And it
really has to do with the fact that West Central is not QRTP certified. And that's not for lack of trying. I know that when this first changed in 2021, James and Josh did everything they could to become QRTP certified. It had to do with the lensures that they hold with the Department of Corrections versus
DHS. >> And that that's one of the that's one of the things that we've been talking about about with advantages with the new um nonsecure facility that that would have two addresses and we'd be able to incorporate and that would then be
qualified for that. And we could see then that federal money coming in to the tune of what close to maybe a half million dollars could be a half million dollars. >> Y okay that connects. >> Yes. >> Absolutely. >> But I you know what I would say one of you know one of the biggest concerns is the red line.
>> Correct. >> Just look at the red line. That's >> and and the problem is is, you know, when when we don't have any other places to to put them, >> we're sending them places that are $1,800, $2,000 a day, you know, to to
house these, you know, kids. So, that's that's that's where the issue is. >> Correct. Correct. >> You know, I'll highlight it when I get to 2026 as well, but even though that red line goes up, the number of children in placement has actually decreased. So, it's the it's not more kiddos that are
in foster care. It's the cost of the foster care and residential placements. >> I think in many ways, if I might, Mr. chair. Uh, not having 2014 and 15 on there, which were even higher than what
we were seeing there really is what spurred this board to have substantial discussion about transition housing, additional opportunities for our youth. because we were seeing a levy hit in such a way where we decided we needed to
look critically on alternative components locally to uh to have as options. Now, in regards to what DHS allows for reimburseable rates is ridiculous and is, as you can see,
getting worse every year. And it just really speaks to that. How do we um prove to them what the actual cost is? This isn't counties picking the most expensive option. Um >> it's the only option. >> Yeah, in many ways. Thank you.
>> All right. >> Uh so spending in our civil commitment related services uh which is civil commitments, sex offender placements, regional treatment centers. Uh you can see the four four indigent lines there and the totals. Uh we came in about $80,000 over budget in 2024.
There's an ongoing challenge of predicting these costs really tied to court-ordered placements. Um these are statutoily mandated high-cost services often with long stays and expensive daily rates. Again, this is for mainly for adults and they definitely range in the $2,000 to $2,100 per day. Um
especially at Anoka Regional Treatment Center. >> I just want to point one other thing out, Quinn. So, when we're talking about, you know, having to send these kiddos out to other places because we don't have any place here for them. Um,
and I mentioned the number, $1,800 a day is probably on the low end now. I based on, you know, the way things are going. But just as an example, in our um our member counties who are part of our West Central Regional Juvenile Center on the
secure side, um they're paying I believe we just I believe the cost is about $300 a day for doing it here versus you know the the cost of having to send it out when
there's nothing available. >> Correct. So, I mean, that's a significant difference, but we don't have any any more room. >> That's why a new nonsecure would be a wonderful facility to build here for us. >> That's all part of that PRTF
project. Um, with these four lines, looking ahead, uh, we do have the new statemandated 40% cost share for the, uh, this line is the indigent sex offender line. Um, you'll see me speak to that in our 2026 information. I just
want to highlight advocacy through MAXA for a more balanced state county funding approach to this specific program area continues to be a priority for us um with MAXA. And just to hit a few other highlights for 2024, uh, illustrating both increased revenue there in the green and
areas of overspending in the red, um, we did have some program areas that experienced higher than expected costs. We also saw strong performance in several revenue streams that helped offset those pressures. Um, particularly increased billing tied to our higher case loads in Caddy waiver, DD waiver,
and our SNBC programs uh brought in some pretty significant revenue for us that we weren't expecting. Um, at the same time, we did experience overspending in areas that are either unpredictable or mandated, such as nursing home costs for individuals under 65. Some of our
interpreter expenses, county funded burials, and detox. Many of these lines are driven by factors outside of our control like court orders, client needs, or service access. I just want to highlight a few of these for you. Our interpreter costs are really this line although it's typically $1,000 we had
expenditures of $18,728 for interpreters. I wanted to highlight the difficulty in predicting some of these lines as that cost represents serving one family given a very unique set of circumstances. Um did not budget differently for that thousands in 2026
because I just don't think we're going to see a family with that specific needs needing that interpreters into 2026. but it highlights how much it can fluctuate from year to year. Um, detox was a large driver of our increases. Uh, they exceeded the $1.15
million by $153,043. Um, our nursing home costs. So, social services is responsible to uh have a share of nursing home costs for citizens that are on MA that are under age 65 who remain in nursing homes past 90 days. Um
this line is also difficult to predict because we just don't know how many people are going to need this. Um in 2024 we saw overspending of $52,462. >> And on that detox piece, is there um is there any of that that's ever reimburseable?
>> Uh yes. Um I kind of if you would be patient with me, I would kind of speak to that in 2026es. Okay. Okay. I Okay. Um the social services also has a statutory mandate to provide uh county burials and
cremations uh for folks without sufficient means or responsible relatives to pay for their care. Um we also don't know exactly what that'll look like from year to year. So we did see an overspending of about 21,000 in 2024. Um I did account for that in 2026's budget for the paintings.
Um before I move on to 2026, any questions with how we ended on 2024 questions? Mr. Mojo, >> thank you. You didn't specifically identify it here, but I was at Lakeland Mental Health Center yesterday and it sounds like there was an issue in
regards to reimburseable allowable rates from the state um in terms of in face-to-face therapies versus in-person therapies. Uh so it sounds like uh Donna will be working with you
on that. Um it mainly was the fact that all of a sudden uh we were working together with Lakeland service was being provided would be getting sent to the state and the state said no we're not going to allow any virtual reimbursements. So it sounds
like they want to work with you on it. It sound like a big enough issue for their le or their budget that it was something that affected ours as well. So correct just know that she'll be following up. >> Thank you. And I'm sure there's some acronyms that >> only thing that's on my radar are TCM
rates with Lakeland, which I'm working with their CFO on. >> That might be it. >> Okay. Okay. >> Then then I'm aware and we're >> Okay. Thanks. >> Okay. Moving into 2026. Um the levy request for 25 was 14,982,224. Uh the levy request for 2026 is
15,733,925. a year-over-year increase of $751,71. Um, the decision was made in 2025 to use $350,000 of fund balance. So, year-over-year less that fund balance is $41,71 or a 2.55% increase from 2025.
Um, the increase >> So, when in 2024, your fund balance did not grow according to what you've said. >> That's correct. Um the increase uh is really primarily due to mandated cost increasing revenue shifts and program demands that I'll
discuss throughout the presentation. Um I do have one new request. Uh we did try to keep all of our requests to a minimal. However, this is one program area that we felt we needed and that we could justify. Um so requesting uh one full-time disability case manager in our
home and community based services division. Uh this unit provides case management to individuals with disabilities, helping them live safely in the community and avoiding more costly institutional care. Um as you saw in the revenue in 2024, the case loads have increased which has allowed for increased billing but also higher case
loads. Um it's important uh that we have kind of manageable case loads in this area as overextended workers cannot sustain the level of diligence that's required um when they're stretched out too thin making it hard to provide consistent oversight in the
documentation required to prevent fraud waste and abuse in the p publicly MA funded program. Um, by adding this new staff, it would strengthen our ability to provide those checks and balances while addressing our growing service demands and case loads, and it maintains our commitment to highquality person-
centered care. Uh, once fully trained, I do actually anticipate that this position would generate a little bit more than the $95,000 we're projecting in 2026. Um, I didn't do a full projection of revenue just with the onboarding and training. They wouldn't be billing day one of their employment
if it's approved. Um, I did include uh wage calculator in your packet for review for this position, but it is expected to be uh salaries and benefits $90,000657. So, it should have a positive net impact on the budget for 2026.
Any questions around the new case manager request? Questions? I'm moving on. I did in your packets you should have a kind of an overview sheet. This is what I'll be referencing as I go through the slides. Just have some visual aids to a company should look like this.
Um so starting with salaries um this graph represents salaries and then the increase that happened from year-over-year on the on the previous year. So you can see from 2025 to 2026 um the salary bene salary and benefit budget increased by 1.3%. Um, I do need
to note that this does not reflect colas or any changes to health insurance premiums. This is just the salaries and steps that were calculated. We did budget $162,000 of the healthcare unwinding money that we still have available to help offset those four eligibility staff that I
talked about in 2024's overview. Um, again, half of their salary is paid with this unwinding money and the other half is generated by income maintenance random moments, the time study for income maintenance. Um the unwinding funds are expected to be used fully
partway into 2027. Um so we are going to run out of those funds. However, the need for those staff has always been present since the COVID restrictions ended. Um but it's just been nice that we've had the MA unwinding money to not have to ask for levy funds for those
staff to deal with the case loads. Uh moving on to administrative expenditures. Um the expenses across all divisions are projected to increase by just over $41,000 for 2026. Uh most of the increase is tied to fixed operational costs and other obligations,
not necessarily discretionary spending. Uh financial services saw a small increase largely due to our casework software contracts, building insurance, and translation services tied to federal SNAP compliance. Um, we were told that, um, we needed to improve our phone
system and allow for a translation service to be an option once you dial. So, if you dial the 5200 number now, you'll be prompted to see if a translator is needed. This was to become uh, SNAP compliant, and there was a small increase to our telephone costs as
a result of that. Child support, fraud, and collections. Um, we worked as hard as we could and reduced about $1,900 through small adjustments, a few hundred here and there. Um, so we decreased by about $1,900 in our child support fraud and collections area. Uh, primarily
through a drop in our federal offset fees. So, counties are charged a fee for every successful interception of a federal tax refund when we're pursuing past due child support obligations. Um, we just are not seeing as many tax refunds being intercepted. So, the fee
along with that has decreased. Um, and social services, which is our largest program area, continues to carry the biggest burden and increase by about $30,000. Uh, mostly due to the fullear rent uh for our new fourth floor space, which is about 21,000 added. So, it's
41,000 total for that wing. Um, and our casework software contracts. We have several additions of caseworks and each of them saw uh cola increases in our contract for that electronic filing system software uh detox. So uh Mr. Chair, this is where
I said I would follow up on your question from earlier. Um detox is a pretty significant and growing cost within social services budget. Uh really attributing to our new withdrawal management facility and the increased capacity and need for their staffing. Um, so kind of how this works is public health will provide social services with
their projected costs for detox each year and we plug those projections into our budget. Um, 2025 we budgeted 1.5 million based on their forecast and for 2026 it's 1,990,15 uh 32.7% increase. Uh the challenge is that this
utilization and reimbursements are unpredictable. So it is hard to know exactly what we'll end up spending. So to speak to your question, when revenue has come in higher than expected, it has helped historically helped offset other costs as that goes into social services budget as well. But the opposite is also
true. So if expenses go over revenue, social services budget covers the difference there as well. So again, in 2024, Detox had an additional 153,000 of expenditures on top of what was budgeted. And >> Mr. Chair, if commissioners had a conversation with Mr. Robinson in
regards to uh his future needs. Uh and one of the things that we've asked if he's taken in into consideration the additional revenues that he would will now be bringing in based on uh the ability to uh to have that withdrawal withdrawal management license. Uh and
Mr. Almanson indicated to me that at this point they only have a few months into detox as far as reimbursement. uh and that prior to to finalizing the budget, he's we're going to take another look at that to see if we can offset uh some of the additional costs that would
be passed on. >> Yeah, because I I thought I thought that when we moved into that facility, we were going to be able to gain revenues that we could not obtain in the old facility. >> Yep, that that's correct. And and uh at this point, Mr. Robinson indicated that
he felt it would he didn't feel comfortable with as few numbers as we had to to have a a more aggressive number but hoping to by by this fall. >> Right. Thank you.
>> Yes, Commissioner. >> Is your mic on? Oh, I'm sorry. >> Did you just mention those sources of of revenue the way they would come >> for for detox? Yeah. >> Um I have to apologize, Commissioner Kavanagh. I'm not familiar with the operations of detox. My understanding
the detox budget is just within social services budget. That's where we've chosen to have it be. When it comes to the actual operations and day-to-day, I'd have to refer to Mr. Almanson and Kathy. >> Oh, yeah. That's right. Thank you. >> All right. All right. Well, we'll we'll
have more discussions on that part within your budget later. So, >> um again, speaking to out of home placement trends, um in 2026, we're projecting to spend about $3.67 million in out of home placement costs. I guess the good news there is that's slightly
below the almost $4 million that we spent in 2024. Um hopefully we see that decrease. Um we're projecting to recover about $835,000 leaving us leaving us with about 2.83 83 million that hits the levy. Um even
though again like I said the number of kids in placement isn't going up, it's in fact decreasing. Um just like in previous years the family's first preservation services act is really hitting the revenue that comes in with that. So that's really where we're seeing the biggest hit is because the revenue is just so low.
>> You you had mentioned earlier Quinn about um the number of kids involved with this. Can you can you not can you provide us with kind of a how those numbers have looked comparatively over yeartoear? >> Yep. Absolutely.
>> I think you you me and maybe you have it in your report coming up but >> I don't but historically we do have a graph that usually accompanies this. Um when we were at our highest uh it was aboutund well we've had well over 200 children in placement at any one given time. For these numbers based on these
projections it was about 150. So we've seen it drop about 50 K 50 kiddos. >> So something is working in terms of reduced numbers. Uh something is not working in terms of expenditures. >> Yes, that's correct. Yeah, I would attribute the decrease in the number of
children in placement directly to the staff that are doing the work. We've had some consistency right >> in our child protection and with that comes better skills, better abilities, better engagement with families and as a result less children that have to be removed from their homes. Right.
Yes, Commissioner Mojo. >> I might also just speak though to the cost of what that care is. And so we've seen a drop of 50 children and and really I don't think that top line has changed a whole lot. Uh which is a cautionary um you know warning to us really at what
the actual cost of that carry is. It's substantial. >> Um we did increase kind of the net impact on the levy. This this chart represents well over a hundred lines in our budget. So rather than go through line by line and explain the different types of placements and do the needing to code it different ways for the
different funding streams, we kind of summarize all of those lines with this auto home placement trends graph. Um with that we kind of show what that net impact on the levy is with the blue there. We did increase kind of what that will look like for 2026 by $80,000. um
talking with Susan uh role and then Rhonda while she was still here to massively adjust this net impact on a levy from year to year based on the outome placement trends is just a really significant shock based on how big these numbers are. So to kind of make small incremental changes based on what we're
seeing uh is the path that we've kind of chosen to do with this auto home placement budget. So that that red line number you're saying that you're anticipating it to be about 3.7 million. >> 3.67 million. Yes.
>> So when you um when you do the simple math on that at 150 kids you're at you're over $2,000 a month. >> Correct. Yeah. Some of those children are in high high cost placements and some are I'm saying like family foster
homes. So I mean we're going to see huge disparity between it's not 2,000 across the board, right? Some children are much more expensive in terms of their cost of care than others. >> Thank you, Quinn. >> Um county burials, uh they remain a
mandated service for individuals who pass away without resources or family to cover those burial costs. Um again, there's an unpredictable nature of this expense. For 2026, we're proposing $200,000 budget, which is an increase of $20,000 from 2025. Um, based on rising
funeral, home, and cremation costs and the need to stay responsive to this demand. You can see kind of our projections in 2025 are a little bit above average, which kind of necessitates the increase budget there. Um, county bureaus reflect both a legal obligation and our public responsibility
um, which has to be budgeted for budgeted for yeartoear even though we can't precisely predict exactly how many we're going to need. Um, >> I think you know that one just the simple fact that you know when you see Klay County growing in population that
we do on an annual basis and obviously along with that growth there's some there's some deaths that occur and not all of those families have the ability to afford and so I mean that's something that's I think that's part of growing.
>> One one question on that. >> How does that work? Say I pass away and my family can afford it, but they come to you to have it pay for it. Is there a background check to see this family can actually afford it? >> Yes, we do income verification. Yep. There's a application that needs to be
submitted and then our financial unit will actually go through and look at um income. Okay. >> Um to specifically answer your question, it's legally people that are legally obligated to pay for. So, if um I don't want to be too morbid, but if your
parents were to pass away, you are not legally obligated to pay for their funeral. It would just be like the spouse or anyone that has legal guardianship over that person >> or or their estate >> or the or the estate. Yes. The the other part of this that I'd like to speak to is really the estate recapture portion
of this. That's the other difficult to predict variable. Um if a person who receives a county funded burial is later found to have an estate, you know, bank accounts, real estate, life insurance, things like that, um we pursue estate recapture to cover some or all of the burial costs with that. Um it doesn't
happen often because most individuals that qualify for county burials don't have estates that can be recaptured. Um it does it is an important component of this because it does happen and we're able to help offset some of the costs that go with um paying for the burials or cremation. And then do we pay for the
cheapest way to bury somebody? >> There are some legal obligations whether it's cremation or burial. Um uh I recently met with our funeral home directors uh Corsmo and Wright to kind of go over exactly what does that look like and it is I'm going to say the bare minimum. I mean dignity is a huge huge
important piece of this. But yes, there are not I'm going to say additional things. Um, part of our our county burial policy is that if funds are available to pay for additional things, then you probably don't qualify for the county burial itself.
>> I'm moving on to another area that has a big uh impact to the overall increase from year to year is the Minnesota sex offender program. Um, this program provides long-term court-ordered treatment for individuals who have completed prison sentences but are civily committed as being too dangerous
to be released back into the community due to an ongoing risk of sexual violence. Uh, counties are financially responsible for a portion of the cost when someone is civily committed to this program and largely outside of our control. Um, this expense makes up just one of those four indigent lines that I
spoke to in 2024, and I'm increasing the budget by $145,000, which in which incorporates this new 40% county cost shift that was passed in the state legislature this year. Um, previously uh counties were charged either 10 or 25% of these uh costs of
care based on when the person went into the program pre201 or post 2011. However, moving forward, all of these costs will now be 40%. Um, and then >> hang on to Commissioner >> curious the the new rule, is that based
on population? I mean, >> I I do not know, Mr. Chair and Commissioner Commissioner Krabanhoff, that was what the legislature discussed as some of the county cost shifts that we saw. This was one that stayed in. Um, as to where or how that number came from, I'm not sure. Well, we'll have to
ask. >> Um, speaking to a lot of other key budget drivers, um, our contracted providers, uh, you'll see in the overview form all together, there were some modest increases. Um, however, however, we did see a reduction of about $27,800
for our contracted providers. Um, again, this is a mix of a few small increases primarily to help some of our smaller providers cover uh increased staffing and operational costs. However, we do have a larger decrease in our village contract to help offset those costs. I've spoken with the village uh about
kind of strategically doing this without harming our service delivery. Um really we're going to see uh about a $30,000 decrease uh really because of the underutilization in that and we're going to change how services are being accessed and how the contract is being
utilized to not see a service reduction overall for the folks that need that. Um, we did see a few revenue decreases as well as about $96,000 in reduced revenues uh across several different funding streams including our community
living infrastructure grant which is dropping about $21,000. Our child welfare opioid funds which is dropping about $22,000. Vulnerable children and adult grant uh dropping about $21,000 again. And our Department of Revenue Equa reimbursement
uh which is dropping about $6,000. Um, our revenue decreases do also account for $25,000 lost in the behavioral health fund administrative allowance that was completely taken out of the 2026 state legislature. Um, some of our program, excuse me,
program expenditure adjustments. Um, these lines show a total decrease of about $22,500 but have some adjustments within them. Um, specifically our adult rule 79 case management. Um, Mr. Mr. Chair and Commissioner Mojo, this might be some of what you were talking about with
Lakeland with the adult rule 79. DHS um increased the rate for our TCM subcontracted providers. Lakeland is one of them. Um our county share is 50% of the monthly build amount for folks that are on MA and 100% of the monthly build amount if it's non-MA folks. Um our
substance use disorder county share or behavioral health fund costs. that's being reduced based on kind of our historical and recent trends, but it remains at a level that accounts for possible cost shifts into 2027. This was an area, the behavioral health fund,
county share, um this was an area that was on the table. If DHS is not able to realize the $17 million in savings that they need to, this would be an area that we'd see increased costs into 2027. So, it was decreased slightly, however, not so much that we wouldn't be able to
account for an increase if that was to occur in 2027. On our day training and habilitation line, um that provides support for adults with disabilities to help them build individual skills. Uh we've seen lower utilization in recent years as fewer clients are attending center-based
programs um and instead are moving towards individualized services and employment based options. So we've decreased uh that a little bit based on utilization. Uh same goes for our sheltered employment lines as well. This is a structured work environment where individuals with disabilities perform
tasks in a supervised setting, typically separated from their counterparts that do not have disabilities. Um again, more folks are pursuing community- based competitive employment as an alternative. Um really this decrease as a response to the state's uh employment first model. Um, so we've decreased it
by about $15,000. Our volunteer driver costs, uh, we continue to lean pretty heavily on our internal case to handle a lot of visits and transports. And as a result, our volunteer driver expenses have decreased. That being said, we love to have a very robust volunteer driver
program. So for any of the community that's out there listening, if you want to become involved in helping out families that are in the child protection system with getting parents to visits or getting parents to appointments that can attend with their children, that's often an area where our social workers can't be in two places at
once. So to have a really robust volunteer driver program is phenomenal. So I put the call out. Anybody that's interested can contact our office. We'd love to tell them more about our volunteer driver program. Um we've also seen some revenue increases. We're projecting about
$660,000 more in 2026 for revenue. Um, primarily in our MA admin and recoveries lines, our adult and caddy waiver lines, DD waiver, um, our adult protection grant increased pretty significantly. That total grant is $122,32
and our child protection grant increased pretty significantly as well. Will be um being allocated $364,240. Um, this does include the $115,000 in additional revenue for our new internal rule 79 case manager position that I
brought to you all a few weeks ago. Um, you know, we've seen strong performance in several areas, especially primarily in waiver program revenue, um, which has really helped offset our other rising costs like detox, the sex offender program, and our auto home placements. Um, these are not optional
services. is this budget is built around what we know has to be man mandatorily provided and statutoily delivered. Um you know that being said, social services does face considerable uncertainty kind of the end of 2026 when some of the federal changes kick in and
looking into 2027. Um from the big beautiful bill impacts to math implementation and the min choices flat rate reimbursement um as well as paid family medical leave. Uh, also we we we do know that big changes are coming. Um, but right now I didn't have enough
specific information to build in specific requests for all of those changes. Essentially, I didn't want to come to you all with a number and be wrong when we just don't know the implementation details of that yet. Um, so this 2026 budget reflects social services continued effort to responsibly
balance um our financial responsibilities and the opportunities we do have to capture new revenue where available while still providing the best quality service that we can. With that, I would yield for any questions. >> Questions?
>> Go ahead, Commissioner. >> What is your total increase that you're asking for? Okay. So, total increase again uh with the fund balance is $751,71 and without it's that $41,700. >> That that is what you're asking this year for.
>> Yes. >> And and what is your current fund balance? >> It is Oh, sorry. I have that on a different slide. Uh 11,772,123 as of 123124.
>> 11. Where you see is that on there? >> I I just have it in my note. 11 11,772,123. >> And that's at the end of 2024. >> End of 2024. I do believe that would account for the 95,000 um expenditures over revenues as well.
>> Okay. Okay. Yeah, that would be it. >> And do you know what you're trending for 2025? Are you >> um I just checked um it from the timing standpoint of it's it's pretty difficult to see, but I we appear to be pretty much on target.
So Quinn, I'm I'm just and we got to wrap up pretty quick here, but I'm looking at pages 16 and 17, the first two pages on this packet that you have here. And
so just to follow along, so the detox we're looking at an increase of 490,000, right? >> That's correct. And for out of home placement, the net is another 80,000. >> Yes.
>> And county burials is 20. And then the uh MSOP or however you say that it's 145. >> Yep. >> And so those are total around 735,000. And then you actually on the contract
providers you're down um or you're you're down you're actually revenue you're coming ahead by 27,000. >> Yes. So I rounded that to roughly 700,000 that were um expenditures
over and then when I look at the revenue de we have a revenue decrease in revenue decreases of 96,000 and then we have a the proposal in terms
of expenditures in those other areas of adult 79 and and those things you're that's a decrease of 22,500 >> correct >> and then revenue increases so that 669 is a positive
number right >> y >> so when I take those numbers 6 the uh basically 670 so it's 690 so it's about 600,000 on the plus side
in that area so I'm not coming up with 751,000. >> I I didn't speak to every single line in the budget. Okay. I I I highlighted the the there's several I'm going to say $500 changes, $1,000 changes here and there.
>> Okay. So, this doesn't represent >> everything all the highlighted ones that you wanted to share with. Okay. All right. Yes, I did include the full budget in your >> Yeah, I I guess I can. Yeah, because really the numbers that you have here that there's only like
$100,000 difference between gains and losses. >> Yes. >> Okay, Mr. Chair, if I if I could, I I just wanted to point out that Quinn's done, you know, realistically, this is his first budget. he was challenged with
several uh different potential legislative changes that were going to take place and honestly still may. uh but I think what he has done is one of the probably most intricate if not the most intricate budget has done a great job in going line by line even as he
mentioned earlier of a he went into different areas and addressed in in potential uh response to legislative areas uh and still made adjustments and those adjustments stayed there even though the legislative changes didn't place and as he mentioned maybe he
didn't go to the bare bones piece of to that so there is some uh some if adust adjustments need to take place next year won't be as hard. Uh but uh he did an extremely good job even prior to to the May uh start of this budget process. So
I just want to point that out. >> Commissioner Mojo. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair Quinn. This is uh really helpful. Thanks so much for the presentation and then uh obviously the packet that we can wade through. uh you know, I want to maybe uh piggyback off
of what Steve had mentioned in regards to how you've crafted a budget with really a moving target that would change by the hour. It seemed like uh I don't need to remind all of us from where we thought we were going to be in February and March and where we're ending up.
Again, things can change drastically, but I think what you've helped to do is educate us and also the public on why so much of this budget is really responsive to legislative action and reimbursement
rates. and it's not perfect and there's there's significant challenges to that uh changes that we can advocate for, but you've really done a great job in your first year of um without the training wheels, if you will, uh helping helping with that. Um, I get the most calls
about social services countywide and I think it's warranted because it is such a large levy piece. But once folks uh really understand what is being uh you
know what is mandated uh what is shifted how much how many of the uh positions that you have are really revenue generating uh that kind of cover themselves and really this is an opportunity to care for uh a lot of vulnerable people
in our community once people understand that we're talking about 200 children uh children in Klay County. I think people are more apt to understand where we're coming from. It is tricky and we need to continue to wade through this to figure out what makes the most sense. Uh
but you've done a really great job with that. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. Yes. All right, Quinn, thank you for your presentation this morning. >> We will obviously we'll be having some
follow-up discussions with you prior to the preliminary level. the last >> um sorry, can you clarify for me? Uh Commissioner >> 350,000. >> This one? Yep.
>> It's right It's right It's right here. Yep. I will get it to you. >> All right. Thank you, Quinn. Thank you so much. All right. Next, we have our budget presentation for solid waste. Good morning, Corey.
>> Good morning, chair, Mr. Chair and commissioners. I want to go on record of saying I don't want to follow Quinn next year. >> Well, your you know what, your numbers look a lot smaller, so maybe it's not such a bad idea.
I would like to start out uh we are passing around a summary of of all the changes due to the Morehead potentially leaving. Um I'll go over that at the end. I just wanted to have something on paper that you guys can all look at after we went through the budget. So um obviously this has been a very challenging year to do the solid waste
budget with the unknowns of whether we're going to have a contract or not. Um a lot of the departments nothing really changed so they'll go rather quickly. Uh but when we get to the existing landfill and the resource recovery center, we'll have several items to discuss. So, uh if we could
just start on the budget, page 81, very top, uh the first change that you'll see there is a 20% reduction in the special assessment. Um that is a result of us moving some stuff from capital budget into the operating budget. That would it would
take your per parcel fee on a single resident home from $50 down to $40. So, there would be a decrease there as far on the tax statement. Uh, the other item on page 81 I'd like to point out is the internal service fee under the existing landfill. Uh, there's
an increase there of $100,000. That would be an annual expense for the purchase of the new equipment at the transfer station. Um, the the bids for the new equipment, if we were to buy brand new, is coming in somewhere between $850 and $900,000 with service
plans. So obviously not a cheap um cheap process to go through. Um the next item I'd like to highlight is down on page 83. Uh the budget decre or the salary decreases of 100% and the benefit
decrease of 100%. Those items were moved into the transfer station budget. So they're still in the budget, but they have moved to the RSC portion and out of the operating budget for solid waste management. Um, moving on to recycling. Not a lot of change in the recycling
budget. Um, the only major change there is that we went from an employee that had been here for about 15 years to a brand new employee. So, we have a major reduction in the salaries. Uh, which does help us out and gives us a 6.39% decrease in that budget. So,
again, the public education budget is not changing. We felt very confident in those numbers and with the new with Mara the new recycling coordinator and education coordinator, she will be working within that budget. Corey, uh, can I just ask you on the recycling?
Um, obviously if we look on the top for the board's information, we receive a total of $225,000 in score funding that comes from the state of Minnesota based on the solid solid waste uh tax. Correct. That's they
collect over hund00 million and counties get about 30 million. >> Y >> um and it's supposed to be for solid waste. >> Correct. >> A lot of it goes to the general fund. >> Yeah, >> that's my little spiel on that. Um but anyway, the uh composting recycling
program implementation, we have a $600,000 expenditure. Where's that $600,000 go? >> We put that away for future costs and that kind of thing. It's a It's a $600,000 that is is for um implementation and that kind of thing.
>> Isn't that what we pay to our cities? >> Some of it. Yes. But it it's money that we're using for the composting and that kind of thing. It also goes into the recycling budget as well. Correct. >> What port what portion of that 600,000 goes to
our cities? Morehead, small cities. Morehead gets approximately $225,000 and then all the small cities and townships also get their portion depending on what >> so we have a we have an established formula that we >> correct >> so a significant portion of that
$600,000 is um reimbursing um >> yes >> our local community >> correct money we put away um for implementing programs for example if a small city wanted to redo their recycling building or something like that we would pay a portion of the
recycling facility for them. And it's based on a formula that they send in for reimbursement quarterly or however they would choose to, but they give an annual an annual cap that they can get from us. >> But I would venture that the majority of
that $600,000 is an annual payment, >> correct? >> To our communities. >> Yeah. Yeah. They're going to request their cap, >> right? >> I have a question on that. >> Yes. >> Is that $600,000 levy dollars? comes out of our per parcel fee and of our and our
uh operating budget both. >> So, so um Commissioner Barrett to answer your question uh really nothing in nothing in solid waste is levy dollars. Uh that is that is an independent fund that is uh its revenues are determined through tipping
fees. >> Tipping fees and other fees that we've established for revenues that come into our facility. So, so what Corey is presenting here to us in terms of a budget, it's an enterprise fund that is
self-funded and not part of the levy. >> Residents still pay that bill though. >> They so what what happens is is is we you know we obviously we have to determine what our for example what our total tons collected would be that
determine and we know what our operational expenses are that creates the tipping fee. The tipping fee then is goes to all of the haulers and independent or the cities who have and and that's what we charge them. And um
so in the case of me being a resident of Morhead, what goes on my monthly bill is a collection that includes that tipping fee. >> Yes. >> Yes. the residents do pay it, but it's but it's it's independent of what they
get on the property tax statement from a levy. >> The only thing that would go on the property tax statement is that per parcel fee. >> Yeah. >> And that pays for like our landfill sale and all that. Everybody pays for that equally, >> which you said was is about 55 and you're looking at >> $50 right now. We're looking at reducing it to 40. Correct.
>> And I will bring that to you at a later date once this is all finalized. >> Right. Moving on to page 87, the hazards household hazardous waste budget. Um there's not a lot of changes there. Um there's a 0.14% increase and a lot of
that is based just on costs of getting the material shipped out. Um we try to do two two truckloads a year. It works out to be about five every two years, a little more. So it we build that into the budget. Um and and those costs have
gone up and I I believe they'll continue to go up, but we felt comfortable with with just a slight increase there. Moving on to the existing Lill >> and that's all collected at the resource recovery facility, right? >> Correct. All >> All household houses, >> the entire county comes there.
>> Yep. They have to bring it there. >> Onto the existing landfill. Uh the very first line, you'll see the landfill fees. There's a decrease there of 48.72%. Um, it's not an actual decrease. It's just a movement. Once again, in the past, all tipping fees have gone under
the landfill. Um, with the contract not being signed with the city, we're going to move all of the city of Morehead's contract or their tipping fees into that budget into the resource recovery budget. Uh, so that's approximately $1.3 million reduction there. Uh, it's still included in the budget. it'll just move
down to the to the transport station side and you'll see that coming up. U moving down uh there's a 250% increase which seems like a lot but it's only um $5,000. It's a large increase because due to the new staff we have at the facility. Um
all those have to get their landfill operator training and and such. So we'll be sending a lot of people there. Um CDL training and all all that is included. So, um, although it's 250%, it's it's a minor amount of money in the grand scheme of things. Also, 100% increase in
the cost of equipment repair and maintenance. Um, costs are going up. Seems like everything we break nowadays cost $10,000. So, um, I did increase that a little bit just to cover um, in case that we do have some repairs on all of our equipment.
Moving on to page 89. Um, the very top line 6820. We move that into the uh resource recovery center as well. Um that 358,440. Um that did increase that in the budget this year to 375,000. Um it's come to my attention that number
may be a little high at this point, so I can adjust that down going forward, but um we didn't have the number when the budget was originally put together and and that's still a work in progress. So um but again, that's included in the budget. It just moves into the resource recovery portion.
Um, so if you see a 9.53% reduction in the existing landfill budget, um, as a result of moving those things out, uh, moving on to the resource recovery budget, the landfill fees, here's where you see that $1.3 million increase or movement from the existing landfill into
the transfer station. That's based on the 24,000 tons that Morehead delivers. Um, we put all that into the transfer station budget as well as a h 100,000 or $120,000 from the tipping floor or the public drop off, excuse me. Um, we
included all that in the resource recovery budget. Um, there's also an addition of $600,000 in tipping fees just to pay for the expenses and that is an increase um to the transfer station tipping fees of $25 per ton. So going
forward, we will be looking at a $56 per ton tipping fee at the landfill. If it was delivered directly there, if it's delivered to the transfer station, it will be approximately 81. And I would bring that to the board at a future time for for approval as well.
Uh moving down, salaries regular increase. Um that is due to the movement from the from the uh solid waste management fund as well as hiring an an operator. So the increase of 62,684 is a new hire as well as the benefits
below of 12,383 472 3886 and 909. That would be to hire a new operator to run the equipment in the transfer station which the city of Morgan is currently doing. Um I did that based on hiring a new truck driver. I do believe that one of our truck drivers
will take that operator position. So, we have somebody who knows how the system works and is familiar. Um, so we I basically split the difference between a new truck driver and what an operator would cost to try and balance that out. Moving down to line 6252, gas. Um,
there's a $35,000 increase. That's the portion the city of Morhead was paying the last few years. So, that increased their budget. Uh, download a further um equipment repair and maintenance. I increased it by $20,000 just based on the fact that we'll have two very large
pieces of equipment um that we may have to be taking care of and and maintaining snow removal. Um the city of Morhead was doing that in the past. That also includes lawn lawn care. I've spoke with Joe um as far as both of them. The
transfer station staff would do the would do the snow removal with the equipment we have on site. Um we would purchase a new lawn mower and Joe's staff would do the actual mowing. Um, we would the solid waste department would buy the lawnmower though, so that is included in a later line item or included in that $100,000 annual
internal service fund. But we think we can do that for $15,000. Moving on to the uh fuel and lubrication of vehicles. Um, we're we're estimating it's going to cost roughly $47,000 to run the
equipment in there. um with snow removal and all that added in, it's it'll be a little higher than what Morehead's number was, but that that's our best guess at this point is what it's going to cost us to have that equipment running all the time. Uh if you move down to there's a $30,000
increase. Um that would be a request that we have going forward for insulating our garage in the back and for a concrete dolly pad in our for our semi-p parking area, our trailer parking area. Um, we removed Freon in that back garage and it's going to cost roughly
$20,000. We did apply for a grant. We have not heard word on that yet. Um, to insulate that so that we can remove Freon all year. Um, I know I brought that to the board in the past, but the the issue we have is that freon can't be removed when it's below 40 degrees. So, we have to keep the building at 50 just
to remove the freon. If we don't, we end up with three 400 Freon units to start removing in the spring. So, and the dolly pad is roughly $17,000 to put in a a 7 foot by 80 foot dolly pad where we can dolly trailers down on. Um, this year with the wet summer we've had,
we've lost three trailers. They uh dolly down, drive away, and they sink off site. We've been able to get them all um rehooked with with the use of the payload at the transfer station, but to save that cost in the future, we would like to put that in. So, that would be
the only request I have for that. And then the internal service fee of the $100,000 would be for the new equipment there. And then on the final page 90, the $375,000 is also moved down from the um from the capital budget into the
operating cost. So with all that said and done, it it comes to a $25 increase at the transfer station. And if you look at the sheet I handed out, it breaks out all the added expenses that I added in there. Um, obviously this is kind of a crapshoot for us because we don't know
all the the minor expenses the city of Morhead had, but we have a pretty good idea. So, if you start at the top, the additional internal service to cover new equipment is $100,000 annually. Salary and benefit increase to the RC budget is 84,6564. The Prairie Lakes fee of 37 375,000.
Electrical increase of 35,000. Equipment repair and maintenance of 20,000. snow and grass of 15,000 fuel and lubrication for new equipment 47,000 the updates to the RSC which we talked about for 30 and then including the drop
off fees of $120,000 which previously has gone into the the landfill tipping fees total changes is $586,000 564 and I would like to point out that the new equipment is not included in this budget I just received the bids and
they're approximately $850,000 that will come out of our internal service fee and we would have to come up with a way of trying to pay that back. >> Question, >> what is the what would be the new equipment? >> The waste handler. A brand new waste handler and a payloader. Yeah. And
they're built to the same specs. Um the waist handler we can really only get from one company, Butler, and it's built to the same specs as the machine that's there now. The payloader has a few a little different options. We've got a grapple on it rather than a tip bucket. Um, speaking with our
operators, they felt that a grapple would be a little bit more efficient for them. Um, the other thing I may add into that would be a a snow push blade for the payload that we could just clip on, push the snow, and then we'd have the we already have the skid steer and the snowblower for that. So, we would take care of the rest ourselves. And with
that, I will yield for any questions. >> Commissioner K. >> Yeah. Uh, just clarification then on that uh new equipment. That's all equipment now that Morehead may have of that type. >> It's the exact equipment that Morehead has. Yes.
>> And nothing else? No. Just a pure replacement. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Uh the wait time on that, just to clarify, is anywhere from 8 to 15 months depending on the piece and and the availability. >> And just to point out on the um
on the sheet that Corey has put out here the word shows the increases due to Morehead leaving the contract. The Prairie Lake solid waste man moved to the um to the transfer transfer station budget
that's 375,000 but that's also part of the reason why we've reduced the correct >> capital which was on the property tax statement. >> Correct. >> From 40 what is it? >> $50 to $40 per parcel. 50 to $40 per
parcel. Um and and part of that is, you know, we we always looked at that as um more of a capital expenditure, but the fact of the matter is it's going to it's going to be ongoing as long as we're partners there. Um unlike some of our
other capital expenditures, you invest in capital and at some point in time, you pay it off. um you know it's going to be many many years before we'll be paying off um PURM. So um
yeah, I I do really question the $15,000 for snow and grass. I I'm I mean it's great that you think you can do it for that, but I >> I hope I prove you wrong.
>> Well Well, yeah. Well, I mean, it's your those are they're your numbers, but I just >> and I base that on we can contract it out or they've contracted it out for 25,000. >> So, if I have the employee there and the machine sitting there um right,
>> we're already doing the sidewalks, we're already doing portion of it. So, I I feel >> you're making you're making use of >> correct. Yep. The staff we have on hand that are already, you know, >> will be there plus the equipment we already have. And to be honest, there's there's days where I've gone out and swept the
sidewalk for them because I wanted to get the the light snow off before it turned to ice. So, we've used our sweeper and taken care of that for them now. So, >> Commissioner Mojo, >> thank you. Uh, you know, this is a day that I I think we were all hoping and
have worked really hard to avoid coming to a point where we need to start planning for these pieces. uh for the public. We're holding out hope that um we can find a solution for this. Um you know, I think there's some several
several pieces and you've talked about them where the county has done them and not added it into the budget because um it just made sense to do like you talked about with the moving snow off of sidewalks and around doors and the janitorial pieces. And I think that's a
tit fortat piece. I'll say it always costs me more to have things contracted than to do them myself. And so I think there are some cost savings that can be realized. Um the hard part here is that we have um
we've really worked towards um there not being a major jolt to residents. And I think that's the piece where we're all trying to find what makes the most sense so that residents in a time when we're hearing from people that it costs more to buy groceries and
gas and all of those things don't see such a large hit here. Um I'll I'll there's a a Henry Ford quote uh that says coming together is a beginning, keeping together is a progress and working together is a success. And I
think right now there's a partnership that has failed and that's really disappointing. >> I agree. I yeah, it's this has been a long process and and you know, I'm speaking as a a Morehead resident and as a county
commissioner and I I really believe that when we entered into this agreement back when we did on this transfer station, starting from uh the lobbying efforts that were done and nobody lobbyed harder than our uh landfill administrator at
the time, Klay County landfill administrator at the time did for this project. And um that that being that being said, uh I think that the original deal was great for everybody. I mean, the county took
over an incredible amount of expenses >> that we didn't have to do because it wasn't our transfer station. you know, it's the transfer station was needed by Morhead, but I you know, when
you when you talk about what you know, the original tipping fee that we've had has been $56, right? >> Correct. And now if we if we adjust these expenditures based on just to what is
happening within the uh resource recovery facility and you put those expenses in their appropriate places, that tipping fee number for the resource recovery facility goes to $81. >> Is that Did I am I using the right
number? 81. >> Yep. Correct. And and I could argue that it could go even higher if if we wanted to be nitpicky because as you mentioned, I have a list here of um things that we added that we're paying for. Nine dumpsters that we wouldn't have needed
if we wouldn't have built this facility. A hook truck. Um nine dumpsters are $72,000. A hook truck is $80,000. The skid steer is 52. The forklift 40. Two semi-trailers. Four semi- garbage trailer tractor or trailers, excuse me.
Um, all those things add up as well as the staff that we've added. We've added a a scale operator, um, a drive-through attendant, three part-time drive-through help, an office manager, and a second truck driver that were those are still being spread out amongst everybody. So,
so, so you know when you look at those numbers, you know, you could probably say that the county has been subsidizing that resource recovery facility, but the county has benefited as well by having, you know, I think there's probably 20, I
think we talked about 21% of the uh waste that goes into that facility uh is from outside city limit. limits before the small transfer station at Morhead. I I don't know that they even allowed >> did not know >> they didn't allow anything from outside
of the city. So there there clearly is, you know, there clearly is some uh some subsidizing that went on on behalf of the county in the operations of that facility. And like you said, the
I mean there was additional surprises to you didn't you didn't talk about the new scale operator that we also I don't think you listed that one as well. >> I did have a scale operator in there. >> Yeah, second truck driver. I didn't include the trucking cost that we've been covering. That's that's over
$200,000 in itself. So yes, I agree. We have subsidized or have been subsidizing to benefit the whole county. Um but Morhead gets the majority of that benefits. So, I you know, and again, I I'm I'm still holding out hope that we
can still get this figured out before, but at some point in time, uh in the near future, Cory's going to have to let everybody know. Um we have a lot of a lot of rural haulers who are depending on, of course, if
they're rural haulers and if they're willing to take it to the landfill, uh their tipping fee won't change. >> Correct. But if there there's some of those rural haulers who are using the resource recovery facility, >> apparently all of them are using at least part-time.
>> Yeah. And so, you know, they may elect to not bring that material there. >> Commissioner Binger. >> Yeah. Just a question. And uh I was not part of this commission, but I was working for the city of Morhead when
this uh resource recovery was was accepted as a as a team effort. Does the county Klay County with the exclusion of Morehead need a resource recovery
site? >> No, we did not need a transfer station. We could have built additional building at the landfill that could have held our household hazards and our recycling and done it with the staff that we had at that time um by by moving it to Morhead and and creating a
second location. We had to add all the staff and we did not need the tipping floor at all. That's purely the city of Morhead that needed that. And uh my understanding is the county carries the the bond on this
>> that the county financed the building of this. >> Yep. >> Yeah. We purchased the land. We paid for the utilities to come out there. We bonded for it. >> Okay. In fair in fairness to that component of it, all of the county is helping pay for that through either
through the capital thing on the property tax or through the tipping fee. Everybody's everybody's helping pay for that bond. >> Understood. But the county is carrying the the debt. >> Okay. On a on a facility that was built to serve our county residents in the
city of Morehead. The county has accepted that debt and the county has built the facility that the rest of the county did not need, but the the county residents within the city of Morhead do. >> Correct. >> Okay. One one thing, Commissioner.
>> I don't think it would be it's it's a want. It's not a need for the city of Morhead. They can truck to the landfill. >> Be paying for a lot of maintenance on trucks and a lot of new trucks. >> Well, yeah. >> If you want, it's not a need. >> Well, I think, you know, in in fairness,
they they they did have a transfer station before. Right. Um and and part of, you know, part of that transfer station does have benefit for the county in terms of uh allowing us a better way
to supply Prairie Lake or Prairie Lake solid waste with a sorted burnable garbage. So, so that even though that we don't need the transfer station as a county, I mean the city that's the city's deal, but there's we can't be
mistaken that there isn't a benefit to the county. you know, I'm I mean, in all fairness, we have to talk about that because um but I I guess it to me it just goes back to uh I you know, when I said early on, I said I as a Morehead
resident, as a county commissioner, I really fel felt that both parties really we did some give and take in this original deal that really developed a good contract. And yeah, would I like to as a county commissioner responsible for the county
stuff, would I like to be able to go and say, "Boy, we added an awful lot of stuff that we didn't know about because we did." And maybe another party doesn't want to do do the snow removal in the grass anymore, but the fact of the matter is is we all took have taken on more than
than what we probably thought we should have. >> Hence, I still think the contract that we have is a good contract. And one way we can avoid all these tipping fee increases is to just stay with our contract. >> And that was an option that was given.
>> So any do we have any any other thing? I um I know I know and I do want to point out that our administrator and and assistant county administrator Darren have have been working with the city and the negotiations with the city manager and
and I guess I've kind of from our standpoint we've just asked Steve to try to work out a deal and if we can't work out a deal this is what we have. So the followup to that uh not knowing the dates, we need a preliminary levy uh in
September, >> right? >> And so this for the current time, this is the proposed budget we will be working with, right? But if it's um here's what I'm getting
at. What if there isn't a settlement in um one way or another that isn't known until October? Then I I'm just saying that um do we have a
do you have numbers that would we would adjust back to if there you know with the new agreement before December? >> Yes, I I have this is about the fourth budget I've done for this for this year. Okay. Um >> I have a budget if they were to sign the
original contract again or sign renew the contract. Yeah. >> Um if there's any renegotiation somewhere in between that then I would have to adjust but we could we could do that rather quickly. >> So we're still in that time frame. Okay. >> All right. Um >> Mr. Chair.
>> Yes. I might also just say in regards to um full transparency for the public, we've had lots of meetings since we received the the uh the letter, uh we've um met with city council members. We've met with uh the administration. We've
requested to present this to the city council, the numbers to the city council at meetings and at workshops. So, um you know, we are we stand ready to provide information if needed. All right, Corey, thank you for your presentation
this morning. And um we will going back to Commissioner Krabangh's uh question. Um, I I think an ultimate decision is going to have to be made in, you know, tying in with our even though these aren't
really levy numbers, but tying into that same time frame that we're those are the decisions we're because if we're taking this over, uh, we have some significant things that decisions that have to be made on equipment. >> Correct. >> That's probably the biggest issue that we would face immediately.
>> Yep. and we we can't be I mean I mean we always have an option of of temporary leasing equipment but that isn't in our best interest. So um so I think Commissioner Krabnoff to your question I I would think that this better this should be resolved one way or another um
by the time frame we set for establishing our preliminary lobby. >> I also need to get letters out to the haulers if things are going to change and generally send those out in October. >> Yeah. All right. Thank you, Corey.
>> Corey, would you like to give a plug for your empty pesticide collection? >> I don't have the dates with me, but yes, we'll be doing our annual pesticide collection at the landfill. I believe it's the first >> September 2nd through the 5th. >> I believe it's the first week of September. So, any empty pesticides can
be brought out there and we will store them until they're hauled away. >> Shockingly, we are two minutes within our time frame on our We're take a five minute break. All right. All right. We are Let's see. We got everybody back here. We are back
in session. Our next item is a discuss discussion and approval of the 2026 Insurance Broker Partnership. >> Yes. Good morning. >> Good morning, Anna, >> commissioners. Um so the first item I am here for this morning um is to discuss
our uh broker for 2026. Um Klay County is currently partnered with a company called National Insurance Services, also known as NIS. And that contract um and partnership has been in place since approximately 2018 or 2019. Um NIS has provided um support and the transition
in 2020 when we moved from or added the grandfathered and non-grandfathered status. And then they also helped us secure a four-year deal with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Um, however, over the last couple years, we've I've experienced increased satisfaction in the service and the both customer service and
communication that's been provided by NIS. So, with that, uh, this summer, I went out and looked for other broker opportunities um, and found a local broker named Choice Insurance located out of Fargo, North Dakota. um and choice has come to the insurance
committee um to kind of discuss their proposal and also in the RFP process. So, we're looking to move to choice for 2026 um due to just stronger communication and transparency uh and local knowledge on the market. They do have kind of a unique perspective being local to Fargo Morehead where we haven't
had that before. Um, and then ultimately the decision lies with you all, but the insurance committee did vote unanimously to recommend the carrier change from NIS to choice for 2026. That >> any further discussion? Commissioner
Kavanaaugh? >> I I >> Yeah. No, that's >> you looked at me like >> Yeah. I want to make a comment. So, you know, our health committee has had uh multiple uh discussions over these
last few months. Um, we heard from uh Anna and others uh the changes that were going on, the silence uh um just a lack of response from MI NIS >> and and when the other group that uh
choice benefits came in um I think we've listened to them three times is my memory and and the amount of data they've given us and the choices and the
um deep dive into the processes. Uh I think it's been a true benefit, a real education for me personally and and I just feel that um yes, they're vying for the business. I understand that. But
they're doing their job and I I don't feel that um we've gotten that. Uh I think the um we're going to hear some pretty good rates uh very happy rates in fact uh of our possibilities of uh uh
with the choice of a new health um provider. Um but I think a lot of that came uh by the work of choice benefits and we may or may not seen it uh if they hadn't
gotten involved. if we had just been solely talking with NIS alone. So um anyway, I appreciate all the work you've done. Um um you know uh NIS they're pleasant people
but uh again in my opinion they just aren't doing the job that they uh uh should be. Anna, do you want to we also talked about the how what how the fee is based and can we give a comparison between
um the per member uh with NIS versus choice? >> Absolutely. So NAS charges $62626 per member per month for health insurance and $1 per month for dental. Choice would be charging $6 per member
per month for health and $1 for dental. So there would be a 26 cent savings per member per month with Choice. >> And we have how many members? >> Um as as of yesterday we have 514 contracts. >> Okay.
>> All right. So the um again the insurance committee met again yesterday. I I serve in that as well with Commissioner Krabanoft and and um that's one of the things when we went through this Commissioner Krabanoft
and I did not vote in in in yesterday's meeting. uh we wanted to get a true opinion from everybody else and as Anna mentioned I I think you said it was unanimous >> was >> recommendation and so at this point in time there's a
request and um I Anna is also up against the clock in terms of getting ready for open enrollment and all the things that would need to be done in that regard. So I think we are definitely looking for a
decision on on this today as long as other recommendations that follow this today. Right. >> Correct. >> All right. So any other questions among the board? Commissioner Abier. >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion uh to fulfill the financial obligation to
MI NIS and buy out contract for 2026 and switch brokers. Is that in order? >> I I I think what we're looking for today would just would be a motion to
um approve the hireer of choice as our broker. >> Okay. I'm just reading from the >> sheet we've got here, but >> um the broker is >> Well, I mean,
>> we Yeah, we're we're the recommendation by the insurance committee was to go with Choice as the broker. Okay. I think that's kind of >> I'll just amend my motion that we go with Choice as our insurance broker.
>> So, we have a motion to um hire Choice And I I would imagine that you'd want that effective now, right? >> Correct. So the contract would be in place for 11 one of 2026. However, we would be working with choice to I guess get through open enrollment and leading up to that. But the contract would be
for 1112 >> starting 11 26. Okay. We So we need a second to that motion if there's >> Yeah, certainly. I'll second that. Okay, we have a motion in a second to hire
choice as our insurance broker uh effective 1126. >> Okay, >> question. >> Question. Yes. >> Is that a one-year contract? >> So, we because we haven't seen a contract yet. Um we can negotiate whether that's one year, two year, so
forth. I think that as it being we I'm going to get into excuse me, I'm going to get into health in just a second. Um the health is a two-year contract. So, we'll have to decide if we want it to be a one year or twoear to start. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, the next item we haven't voted yet.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. >> All right. Do we have any further discussion on that motion? Any further discussion? >> I'll just one last comment if I may. So, you may have said it, but yesterday when this our our committee voted on this,
this is purely unanimous. So I just want you to know there no reluctance on uh the group uh that was there. >> All right. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I.
>> Opposed. The same sign. Motion carries unanimously. All right, Anna, you have the next item is the request approval for 2026 health insurance renewal. >> Yes. So, this one's kind of exciting. Um, the
item I'm here for today is our health insurance renewal. As um, Commissioner Campbell said, um, we finished up an RFP process this summer. We are coming off a four-year contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield that offered rate caps. And in the RFP process, we received multiple
proposals from several insurance companies. Um if you look at the spreadsheet that I provided to you all um you will see that the best offers that we received were from Medicica Health Partners and United Healthcare. Uh the insurance committee is recommending a change to Medicica
insurance for 2026 and 2027. Medicica came in with a proposal for a negative 12% increase for 2026 with a 15% cap for 2027. So not to exceed 15% that second year. um it would be a saving an annual
premium difference of 783,000 and some change. Um however, the way that that um savings is split between Klay County and the employee is a 50/50%. So with a 12% decrease, uh the employer takes on or
would save 6% and the employee would save 6%. um you will see on the spreadsheet that the number um 783,000 split in half does not exactly equate to the total decrease that's in the right hand corner and the reason for that is
um Klay County is basing the um so I should say the renewal is based off of all the people that are on the health plan so all 514 contract or excuse me all 500 plus contracts there's there's more than 514 however Klay County pays the county contribution on 514
individuals ual. So, we have individuals that are on COBRA um or disability insurance through um the state that they are on our health plan but not compensated by Klay County. So, the savings to Klay County for um to the employer specifically would be $425,000
just shy of $426,000 for 2026. Um with the proposal for Medicica, they are also giving a one-time wellness credit of $50,000. There's some parameters on how that can be used, but essentially we have a wellness committee here in Klay County that meets occasionally. I wouldn't say
not super often just because it's no longer funded. Uh, and so we would be able to kind of reestablish that committee and find wellness um incentives and things for our staff. The Medicica proposal also includes EAP. So we do have EAP through MCIT. That would not replace MCIT, would just be an added
benefit. Um, and then Medicica also is going to provide or pay for a program called Healthy Invest at no additional cost for two years. So employees can earn um HSA or VIBA dollars by completing specific goals each month. Um the one
uh change to Medicica um from Blue Cross, if that's um the way that we move, is that it would drop the fourth quarter carryover. So right now our Blue Cross plan has what's called the fourth quarter carryover and any claims met in the fourth quarter applied to your your deductible and automatically roll over
to the next calendar year for three of our four health plans. And so there's some compliance issues with that in terms of having an HSA and if your plan next year is considered a high deductible based off deductible you met in a prior year etc. So the proposal with Medicica would be dropping the
fourth quarter carryover as well. Um, and with that, I will open it up to any questions. Oh, I should probably add the insurance committee did vote unanimously to move to Medicica as well. >> And, you know, I think you're showing on
this kind of what it would look like. Um, >> correct. So, um, based off of the, uh, county contributions that the county currently pays, um, that is what the spreadsheet is listing. So, we have 227 employees that
are grandfathered. We have 80 individuals that carry a family health insurance plan and 207 individuals that are non-grandfathered. So, the savings to the county is based off of the grand or based off of the county contribution contracts, not the total membership as a
whole. So, if I may just add one thing, you may have already said it, but I just want to reiterate it. >> So, if we would uh go with Blue Cross Blue Shield, we'd have a 6% increase. We go with America, we're going to be
having a 12% decrease. And so, that's a huge net change. Now, I'm seeing um help me on this. I'm getting caught up maybe at the uh bottom, but that was somewhere in the
$700,000 range, was it not? >> Correct. So, it's a total of approximately $783,000 savings to as a whole, but the it's split between the county and the >> Yeah. And that's why the 425.
>> Yeah. So, thank you for clarifying. I skipped right to Medica and didn't talk about Blue Cross, but Blue Cross initially came in at a 21.9% increase for 2026, lowered it to 9.9 and then lowered it to six. So, it's a positive six for Blue Cross or a negative 12 for
Medicica. U both policies are the same in terms of coverage and where the individual goes. Open access, they can go to Sanford, Essentia, Mayo, any small clinic as long as that provider takes the correct insurance. um a very small disruption. I think it was less than 06 which was mostly
chiropractors. >> I didn't mean to steal your thunder. >> No, that's okay. Thank you for the reminder. >> But the net is the long and short of it, it's almost a million dollars. So >> yeah, m Mr. Chair, >> it's a little bit over a million. >> Yeah.
>> But if if we would have between going from a 6% increase to a 12% decrease, it's over a million. And I I would also note, Mr. Chair, commissioners, that when I gave the initial levy projections, we did have a we did have a proposed increase within that. Uh so if
the board's actions were to move forward with Medicica, we would also be able to remove that uh dollar amount uh for the upcoming budget. Uh 300,000, right? Um so these are change these would be
changes to the cafeteria plan but also within the cafeteria plan we have the are some of those other um like the dental isn't that part of the cafeteria plan too. >> It's well no it's not. So we base the county contribution off the increase or
the decrease to the health plan only. We do require that individuals also carry at least single dental and basic life, but that those premiums are not factored into the county contribution. >> Mr. Chair, commissioners, Anna is
planning to bring the ancillary um >> ancillary line the benefit line item next next week. Uh part of that decision was going to be what what you did what decision you made on the broker piece. uh because we have have different information for each of those brokers.
>> Thank you. >> Uh I I I just I I have a little bit of questions and clarifications on um how this breaks down. >> Okay. >> But it it should not prevent us from
making the the decision to move from Blue Cross to Medicica today. I think that's that's the request that the insurance committee gave and I Um, I just have a few more questions that I got before this is actually before the
cafeteria plan is finalized on how that works. Um, but I think I think today uh it would be appropriate to um have a motion to follow the recommendation of the insurance
committee and go with Medicare passport plan. >> Correct. um in place of blue cross >> for 2026 and 2027. >> Correct. >> And the 2027 number also had a maximum
increase of 15% I believe it was for for this. But that is also very similar to what Blue Cross had offered. So the second year, um, there's a max, there's a cap. I I guess that's the word they use is a cap. And that cap is probably
very similar between Blue Cross and America. So >> So if I can help with that language, I'll make a motion. And your motion is to >> Yeah, I'll make a motion to support the insurance committee's recommendation for
the renewal uh uh or to have a renewal our renewal to be with a Medicica passport plan cafeteria plan for the years 2026 and 27. >> Very good. We have a motion. Is there a second?
>> Second. >> We have a motion by Commissioner Krabanov, second by Commissioner Bear. Any further discussion? Just one comment. >> Yes. >> Before since I've been I'm a private employee. I work for myself and I've had Blue Cross Blue Shield and Medicica for the
last back and forth for the last 10 years. You do not notice a difference >> when you're using it at the hospital. >> Basic basically what we've been told is you're you're going to carry a different card. >> It's a different card. >> All of the everything else. Um, I think
there was a very small uh maybe difference that might be more chiropractic related. Anna, do you want to just touch on that real quick? >> Absolutely. So, there was um a 99.4% match between Blue Cross and Medicica in terms of the providers. So, that um 06
is going to be the mostly chiropractors. I don't have those numbers in front of me today, but there was one or two um health providers that were either in the cities, we had one in Florida. So, a pretty small disruption for health insurance specifically. >> The employees should not see a difference really other than the card
they get in the mail. >> That's correct. Right. Any anything else? >> Chris, did you have a comment? You're just are you just kind of listening in? I know Chris was part of our insurance. >> Okay. I know Chris is was part of the
insurance committee, too. So, all right, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion on the motion? Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I >> oppose the same. That motion carries
unanimously. Thank you, Anna, for you did a lot of work on this. >> Thank you. >> You and u Darren and everybody else. We're a little behind schedule, but we will uh make open enrollment happen. >> Right. Very good. Thank you.
>> All right. We are on to our committee reports. Mr. Mo, would you like to start today? >> Sure. Last week I attended the Metrocog TDP virtual open house which was a recap on all of the work that they've done during
that study. Some really great information that you can access on the Metrocog website. I attended the Klay County Planning Commission meeting. There were a number of hearings that were held. There was a CUP from Mincota Electric, a substation
in Glendon Township that was approved. an IUP uh for Westland Materials, a mining permit uh in Keen approved. There was a request for a CUP from Novel Energy for a 1 megawatt community solar
garden in Flowing Township. There were pretty long discussion on um the amount of cups that have been approved but have not moved towards uh completion of the project, but uh nevertheless, this one did uh receive an approval.
A cup for a cannabis business in Holly Township on the south side of Highway 10 was approved. And there was a text amendment request uh from a Scott DMS wanting to add cannabis
retail to the egg service uh establishment um district. Long discussion on that. Obviously, it's a recommendation to this board there. It did um not re receive favorable recommendation towards this
board. Just um a lot of comments from the the folks on the board stating that a lot of work had gone into where we would allow those businesses wanting to see what the market does in regards to what is existing and how that
moves forward. Uh but this board will have the opportunity to um weigh in on that with the final say. I think we all received invitations from the applicant on what they'd like to see in that.
That's the Baker um Baker elevator. I attended a PRTF planning meeting with Commissioner Kavanagh and Administrator Larson in regards to moving forward with the grant. uh awarding that we'd received from the state. There's some information that
Steve had to provide to them moving forward with that. Uh had discussions with Representative Keeler about that and the legislative request that we have forward for the non-secure facility, but
also the flooding um bills and then uh discussed with her about the transportation meeting that I believe two of our commissioners did attend. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of last week, I was in Hastings for the AMC uh
board of directors strategic planning. I appreciate the board's uh willingness to allow me to serve in that capacity. A reminder that u my um expenses for that were covered by AMC and not for the county. Had the opportunity to take in one of our great festivals in Klay
County, the Potato Days Festival in Barnesville. great work to the planning committees that uh put that on. Yesterday I attended the Lakeland Mental Health Center uh board. There's interesting that we talked about um health insurance today uh at this board.
There was a long discussion at that board about that. There's um receiving proposals of increases of 40 to 52% on theirs. uh reminder they decided to go self-insurance and that has been
challenging in um in in a many different ways. So uh they are working through that. Uh we did attend at the Alexandria office. That um uh office has had some challenges because of road constructions
folks getting to the office um still providing great services. But I would say in the 10 and a half years that I've served on Lakeland's board, this was probably the single worst month that they'd ever had. They were seeing um high singledigit margins for the entire
year in July. Uh that wiped their margin to 0.1 for the whole year. So uh couple that with um lots of programs in the red and their uh their um insurance components. um they're they're doing some things to
mitigate losses going forward. The difference is they usually July is slow because of the school-based mental health pieces and and um children's services uh slows in the summer. So hoping they can rebound in a healthy
way. And then after that, I attended a flood mitigation strategic session with Commissioner Campbell, members from the chamber, the diversion authority, and the city of Morehead. on bonding tour um
items. And that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Commissioner Bear. >> Last one, Wednesday, August 20th, we had a building committee meeting where we had an update on LEC BCA BCA audit from
Sheriff Empting. We passed the audit, but there's a few things, minor changes over the LEC that we have to fix. And then we also had a project updates. The joint highway roof project started August 18th. The F FSC light replacement
projects about 40% done. And then the fitups on the in on floor second the second and fourth floor on the FSC is complete as well. And uh the departments are moving into those two floors and the attorney fitup project is complete. We had all those projects have
came through this board with approval and I'm just giving you an update on that. And then we also had there the cap Joe has been putting together a capital improvement plan for 2025 a uh a living plan that shows what been happened and
and what plans on happening. He'll come and present that eventually to this board. And then we also discussed rental over at the FSC building. where we're going to get some more
information there. And then we also had an over at the joint highway building, we had an AC condenser go out over there that would cost roughly $18,000. Joel figured fund 19 can fund our portion of our our portion is about
$18,000 and fund 19 with the savings on that roof project should cover that. Um, that's pretty much what happened at the building committee. Commissioner Campbell was also there, so if he has any comment, he can. And then yesterday,
I was up at Holstead for the West Central Regional Water District with Commissioner Campbell as well. And we had updates there. The final survey is wrapping up. We should be done with the final survey in the next six
weeks. Once we finish that, we should be able to ask for a court hearing to get that done. And we're hoping to have that in nove late November, early December to finally put the pin in the West Central Regional Water District to get off the
ground. We also had an update with AE2S is going to be applying for permits this coming week to for the H Hallstead crossing with the city of Holstead.
We had an update on our EPA earmark for 2024 that we're waiting for. That's about 1 point right around $1 million, $1.1 million. And we've got a new person that's working with us there. So, it's there's been some changing there and it's it's dragging out longer than we're
hoping for, but hopefully we still get that money this year. And for 2026, uh, PK County is in there for about $750,000 still for earmark funds. So, we'll hopefully hopefully they stay in,
but we'll find out. And um we have spent about 90 90% of the $500,000 that's allocated by all three counties. We're about 10% left there in the fund.
And that's about all I have to comment on that. Those were my two committees. Chair, >> thank you. >> Commissioner Ebinger. >> Thank you. Uh Tuesday the 19th uh I attended the pick committee meeting
which covered u the issues we had today as far as the uh art artificial intelligence policy and the u detox scheduling software. Both those were approved by pick and went forward. On uh Thursday the 21st, I
attended the board meeting for the Greater Fargo Morehead EDC. Uh discussed the goals for I28. Um we looked at uh the budget as well that
they had the projected budget for I28. Um they had a board survey that we discussed that's going out this week and they're planning a board retreat for September and that was part of the discussion.
And on uh later that day, I attended the safe routes to school community conversation that Representative Keeler had gotten together to address the uh concerns that some of the Morehead
citizens have on the routes to school in general, but specifically it was around the fatality traffic accident that occurred at 16th uh 40th Avenue and 16 16th Street South uh here a couple of weeks ago. Uh had a
really good conversation with people there. The turnout that Representative Keeler got to come was phenomenal. We had um Senator Coop. We had uh the chair of the transportation committee from the house. We had uh school board members.
We had Morehead City Council members. We had um uh a presentation from uh on blanking. Dan from >> Dan Farnsworth from Metroco.
>> Yes. Dan Farnsworth from Metrocog which is part of the study that has been done for Morehead and applying for these funds. It was a it was a very good turnout and it was a very good meeting. Uh I'm I'm really gratified that we had
this the uh elected officials. Mr. Kravangh was there too. Uh it was a it was a good good evening. And then uh Monday I yesterday I attended the uh diversion authority financial plan
meeting with the uh director and some of the staff from the diversion authority. very informative uh very thought well thought out and as a board member I now feel really empowered
with a lot of information that was valuable on where we're going to go in the next 30 years so it's uh it's worth the time and a lot of effort was put into it by the diversion staff and that completes my reports.
>> Thank you Commissioner Kavanagh. >> Thank you Mr. chair on the uh afternoon 19th u had the adult mental health monthly meeting very well u uh attended
our group continues to grow. Uh we had a presentation by Pearl Harbor about the work they do when not only um uh their work as a ERS facility but also um uh crisis um uh um
a crisis u what's the word I want um crisis bed uh place also and there weren't um we then we had agency reports from everybody and just a lot of cross
stockcking uh of sharing information and moving forward that group continues to grow with uh providers as well as um consumers. Uh, as already me mentioned by Commissioner Moto, uh, the next day, uh,
we had Jenny and I and Steve had a talk about the items she talked about, as well as I, um, mentioning just a couple, um, conversations about potential lobbyists um, in the future.
Um on Wednesday afternoon uh I had the um historical and cultural society finance uh committee we had an indepth uh presentation by um uh uh on our annual audit and uh uh
things that they have the highest rating they can get for this type of audit. So that will be um uh presented again to the board uh this week and then um get set so that they can do their 990 work
later in the year for the nonprofit. On 21st Thursday I had a um part of the co coalition virtual meeting with the suicide and substance abuse group. about
50 people were online. Uh lots of good conversation. I should get my note here. Again, new trainers uh in the area for sources of strength were brought up. Uh very successful program in our school
districts. Uh also uh a couple awarenesses um by uh the uh health and human side uh health suicide prevention coordinator
from the department of health. He uh gave a little bit of a awareness of the programs and the toolkits that they provide and then a reminder about the effectiveness of the 988 uh call. Um 988
day is September 8th coming up and September is um suicide prevention um month. uh people that call in on this number, there's stats um for people considering suicide or suicide thoughts
um that there's a 85% effective rate of stop stopping um potential damage and and uh really important. It was noted sadly that uh at that meeting maybe there were more but they noted that even
in the month of of um of the last month I should say we had four side four suicides in LA County. So it's something we need to continue to be aware of. Um
uh later that morning I had the uh HA monthly board meeting went through the treasures report. Uh they're trending in a positive direction which is good with some of the challenges that we're facing legislatively
uh doing very good work. We will be meeting them obviously this uh afternoon get further detail from Dyron Group as to their projects what they're doing and then they'll come forward with a tax levy request for us which looks at this
time to be uh the same as last year. Um and she'll tell you more about some uh grants uh she's been able to get utilizing levy dollars that we provide for them. After
that, I had the uh health insurance committee. Obviously, we made our motions and passed them today of those discussions. We're having a health provider, our broker as well as the health health policy provider.
Um then, um I went um to the Metrocog meeting. Uh just real quickly on that, they had their consent agenda with um their in the months and reports as well as purchasing some pedestrian counters
to be used in their work. Um they had uh um the main thing the H Heartland Trail study uh their work has been completed that's online. Uh there certainly is further action, but as far as the alternative routes that community
wanted, they're they're all identified. And then also, it's not known yet well if it will be a state trail or a uh regional trail. And there's different sources of funding and different uh regulations for each. So we'll hear
about that down the road. And then they were um beginning a um uh kindred comprehensive and transportation plan. Uh right after that I caught the first 45 minutes of the conversation that um
Commissioner Ever talked about at the invite of Rep. Keeler on regarding the um um the safe routes to school. Um and after that I had my CAPLP board
meeting and um again incredible work being done by this group and uh number of grants uh leading forward um and I'm trying to think if there was anything particular to really reach out but um
anyway moving forward in a good way lots of and I want to thank them too. They put on two events uh for the community and they were really well um um attended. They had their 61st first an
annivers or 60th anniversary sorry of CAPLP in um in uh for Lakes and Prairie. Uh as a fact it was brought into Morehead one year after it was signed into law by uh President Johnson. So
kudos to them. And then yesterday I had the completion of another um health insurance committee meeting. Again we acted that on that. So that's my report. All >> right. Thank you. August 19th I also attended the personnel issues committee
meeting and commissioner Everinger has reported on that. I really don't have anything to ask. We did have a couple other other things on the agenda that were not recommended at the time. Uh further information was
requested on that. The 20th I attended the building committee that Commissioner Bayer reported on. I really don't have any thing to follow up on that other than I think they when he talked about the LEC BCA audit. I, you know, I think there
was some door security issues and those types of things getting into the weeds a little bit, but they were somewhat minor things that that they wanted to have done to fulfill the audit. So, the sheriff and um Mr. Olsen are working
on getting that those resolved. On the 21st, I seemed to attend another insurance committee meeting, one of several that seemed to go on and uh ultimately uh those discussions were
part of what we discussed with Anna today and the recommendations that ultimately happened. Uh the 25th, I attended the West Central Regional Water Board meeting that Commissioner Bear reported on. It was actually good to see um the
regional director of the DNR there. Um, and I think he, you know, he basically gave us some good advice ahead of time in terms of, um, you know, as we talk with communities and and, you know, you
get some of your bigger communities and they want to be water suppliers as opposed to recipients of water. And the DNR just wants to be aware of all of those things to make sure that what these lo local communities think they have cap have for
capacity is what they really have for capacity because almost all of them are taking it from groundwater and um DNR pretty much governs the aquifers and groundwater capacities.
So it was I think it was information well received by the board to keep them in the loop. Yesterday I did attend the uh insurance committee meeting um and we acted on the things that need to be acted on today.
There were also decisions on uh carriers for the ancillary insurance plans which will be coming forward next week. And I I I wanted to comment a little bit on I I know Commissioner Emir and Kravenoff mentioned they were at the safe roads to
school thing that was put on by um Representative Keeler and I I think that's that's a great conversation that went on and I know with that tragic accident that happened in the area there it certainly uh um did invoke some
discussion. Uh I I you know I I think we got to remember that there's when we when we talk about the actual safe routes to school programs uh this board sees a lot of things that come forward from our highway engineer
and in all smaller communities I believe it's any community it's either under 6,000 or 5,000 people or less any safe routes to school grant applications have to go through the county uh for a as
part of um um basically we have to sign off on it or be a sponsor I think is the word that Justin would use. Whereas this the city the size of Morehead uh they don't have to go through the county for their safe routes to school. They have
they go through their own engineering process. So um but I I'm glad to see that there was some some good dialogue in terms of uh safe routes to school. We we try to act when we can and help in all of our smaller communities. So
overall, I think that was a good thing. Steve, would you care to give your report, please? >> Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. On the 19th, I participated in the PIC meeting that's been well covered. Uh also on the 20th, participated in the PRTF uh discussion uh or committee meeting that we've talked about. I think that uh in
addition to things that have been shared, we're going to be looking to restart our internal committee uh to uh to start planning for anticipating the next legislative session. Uh the 20th also participate in the building committee that's been covered. Well, uh I did have a meeting on with
probation. Uh it's a second budget update that we've had from Dale. Uh just to be aware, he's going to be on the board next week. uh he was made aware recently uh since our first presentation that he provided of some legislative
changes in funding that that pertained uh to uh to felony probation uh that would have a negative impact on on the our budget. Um I will leave that uh I'll leave that for ne further explanation next week from Dale uh because I want to make sure that it's said correctly. uh
but uh just an awareness that uh could certainly have a significant impact uh on on what we what we cost what it cost us for probation services. Uh as was mentioned, we had multiple insurance committee meetings last week that were covered. Also participated in the West
Central Water District uh meeting virtually. Uh just a couple different things that we we do have a on our website, we have a opportunity for a citizen opportunity for Klay County Extension Committee. uh we're looking for a member to be one of our six appointed uh county residents. And so if
you're interested in that, there's more information on the web page. On Thursday, I'm going to be meeting with uh Kristen Christristen Christensen, uh who is the new regional out outreach director for Senator Clolobashar. So, if there's any anything
this board would like to make sure we discuss as part of the importance of Klay County, please let me know. Uh and just lastly uh based on the discussions that we had uh today with the insurance uh we are set looking to set by our
schedule our preliminary uh levy a little bit earlier this year um September 16th. So, I plan to bring uh Lori and I forward next week for some budget and looking for some further insight from this board, particularly on uh on uh potentially the use of fund
balance uh the the dollars that we pay uh or have been providing non-county entities uh so we can look at finalizing uh that budget for the preliminary. That concludes our report. >> Thank you, Ryan. Darren,
>> thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh on Tuesday I also attended the pick meeting. I won't cover that. It's always been covered well. Uh also I attended the board of adjustments uh remotely. The only thing three things we had there was uh uh
three companies gravel and excavating were asking for right away setbacks and uh to move a scale house. Those were all approved. Commissioner Mojo um already covered the planning commission meeting, so I'll skip over that. Uh Wednesday morning we had a meeting with some of
the government center um employees on the operations. I also attended a building committee which has also been covered. On Thursday I drove down to um St. Paul to attend the in-person MC meeting. Uh Friday had a meeting with
Steve and an on some personnel issues. And then yesterday um reviewed some of the responses to the corrections proposals. uh that Josh Hegim has sent me. So I reviewed those. I also attended the insurance committee and then had a
meeting with uh Anna and uh Steve Monday afternoon on a personnel issue issue. That's my report. Sarah, nothing. Okay. Anything else? We are Part: 2
All right, good morning everybody. I will call this morning's meeting for the Klay County Board of Commissioners to order for Tuesday, August 26th. Our first item is the approval of the agenda.
>> Move to approve. >> Second. We have a motion by Commissioner Krabanhoff, second by Commissioner Kbinger. 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. Citizens to be heard. We have no citizens in the audience to be heard. Do we have any online? >> We do not, Mr. Chair. Right. Thank you. We will move on then to the approval of
bills and vouchers. I'll make a motion to pay you the bills and vouchers. >> Second. >> All right. We have a motion by Commissioner Bear, second by Commissioner Krabanov. Any further discussion?
>> Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Opposed the same sign. Motion carried. Approval of minutes from August 12th. M. Chair move for approval
of the minutes from August 12th. >> Second >> motion by Commissioner Ebinger, second by Commissioner Bear. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I.
>> I oppose the same sign. Motion carried. Our 835 item is request to fill an assistant county attorney position. Good morning, Mr. Milton. Good morning, Mr. Chair, commissioners. Uh, yeah, this is a uh outgoing position. It was a new
employee. Uh, she was still actually within her six-month uh time period, but is ultimately looking to do something different. She's moving out of state. Um, and so we are looking to fill this. It is a budgeted position. So, and I am aware I did not put to now I have the
new thing and I I forgot to do it of putting a piece in there, but it wouldn't it's it is neutral. She's brand new. So, this would be a new entry level expected person that would be applying to. >> There wouldn't be much savings because >> there' be really any savings, right? >> Any questions, Ryan?
>> I'll make a motion to fill the assistant county attorney position. >> I'll second motion. >> Motion by Commissioner Bear, second by Commissioner Mojo. 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. Thanks, Brian. Yep. All right. Next, we have a request approval to adopt artificial intelligence policy. Here's our artificial intelligence people,
Arc and Rory. >> Good morning. Uh morning. Uh actually, it's actual intelligence here. >> Nothing artificial. Um >> we'll be the judge of that. All right. Yeah. Okay. So, the reason I'm talking to you today with Rory is uh
one of my roles as in my communications roles is I've been helping with policies and getting them organized and squared away and all that kind of stuff. And uh there was a desire and a need for an artificial intelligence policy. And so Rory did a whole bunch of research and got a bunch of sample policies and put
together a whole page of things that we should include and sent that all to me and I packaged it up. But before I get to that, I wanted to talk a little bit about what is artificial intelligence and how it might be used here at the county. Um, I asked chat GPT that question and it's on the screen. It says
artificial intelligence is a technology allows computers to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence such as recognizing patterns, analyzing data, generating text, and making predictions. Uh, we can use it for a lot of different things. Uh, um, summarizing stuff, drafting letters, case note that all all
sorts of things. One of the things I' we were just talking about that we've seen it used for is making um basically transcribing meetings, that kind of stuff or there's a huge array of different things. Um, I asked it to
write a GIS day resolution because, you know, GIS day is a big day every year here. And in less than uh a few seconds, it came back with a actual resolution with all the warehouses and all the stuff that we would need to
generate to bring that forward to you. So, it helps speed up a lot of things that we want to do here. So, it can be used for a lot of I don't actually know what all it can be used for, but I know that there's a lot of things that we've had examples of here locally. We as managers, we even had a class uh how to
use it to help write our uh annual reviews. So, to put the text together to make that a little easier, Darren showed us all how that can Chad GBT can help with that. Um, I asked it to
create a graph of the population of Klay County over the last hundred years. It took it 47 seconds. It produced this graph that you see on the screen right now. And then it gives you some choices like um how do you want to download it on all that kind of stuff. So I I could
do this myself, but this does it a lot faster and quicker. Now the reason we're coming forward with a policy is one of the biggest issues and in the policy item A specifically says that when I use this to do create something like this or anything I'm responsible for making sure
that the data you see is accurate >> because that's one thing about AI is we don't always know where it's getting its information. Um, the other side of that coin is everything you put into it, it uses for everybody else, which is one of the reasons why our policy talks about not putting private or confidential or
criminal justice data or all those things into it because we don't want that spreading all over. So, there's some parameters on how you use this stuff. But I think probably the one of the biggest things for me as a user is to make sure that when I produce a product like this chart, I need to make sure I know that the data it used, which
is accurate, which excitingly I noticed it used a spreadsheet off our very own website. So I'm I'm going to go with it probably being good, but that's one of the things I'm responsible for. Um so what we're bringing forward then today is this policy which is uh basically we
took the policy as I mentioned earlier from three different counties along with a whole page of stuff that Rory had gathered put it all together into something that we could make work but as we developed it we have to make sure that we develop a policy that's fluid enough that it will or broad enough
however you want to phrase it that it's going to be able to adapt over time because we don't want to come back all the time and say oh we have to edit it because this techn is happening so quickly. So really in the policy, it's three pages long, but there's only really three bullets that are the policy part. The rest of it are are uh
guidelines and best practices and things like that to help our staff do use this technology in a way that's in the best interests of all of us. With that, I anything you want to add, Rory?
>> No, you did did great. Yeah, thank you. >> Questions? Yes, Commissioner Ever. >> Mr. Chair, I do want to point out this was u brought before pick and we forwarded it on to the to the council.
Uh this policy I I've had a chance to review it and again the policy as as accurately indicated here is basically the the third highlighted area down which is fairly short and sweet. But the
rest of it is safeguards, selection of AI examples, best practices, things our employees are going to need to have in order to stay in compliance with the policy. So, it's well written. And having said that, I I uh like put
forward a motion that we approve the uh this uh policy as presented. >> All right. >> I'll second it. I think it makes sense. >> All right. Do we have a motion by Commissioner Ebinger, second by Commissioner Krabangh, and as as Commissioner Ebinger did state, this was
brought before pick. And we asked that um Mark would provide us with a little bit of a description of what AI is and your intelligence was high today. >> Did you ask AI? >> Did we vote on that? No.
>> Did you ask AI? I said >> Yeah, we had we asked AI. I got it on here. Um, yeah. No, I I obviously that's really it's really big in the news now and how that's expanding and us having some
sort. Can I just ask chat GPT? What's the GPT and or does anybody know? >> Can't say. I I honestly know that. >> Ask Siri. >> I'm busy. ask a I guess. Okay. All right. 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. All right. We have a policy that takes effect today. Right.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. All right. Thank you. Next, we have a request approval to purchase TCP scheduling software for the withdrawal management facility. Good morning, Troy Kathy.
>> Good morning, Mr. Chair, commissioners. Yes, we um today are requesting uh approval to purchase a software which would kind of modernize our scheduling
process. Currently, we're doing everything by hand on calendars. Very time consuming. Um the annual cost of for up to 60 users is
$231120. They have a onetime fee where they will come in, set us all up, train us, um go through everything, make sure we're ready to go, and that's $2,100. Um the length of the contract will be 60
months. any additional user over um 60, which right now I don't see us getting to, but each additional user would be $38 a month. >> Yes, Commissioner Roshel, >> thank you. Uh boy, this seems to make a
lot of sense. Is are there any savings realized because of the jail utilizing the same software? >> Um there there wasn't. He gave us the best price we could. I did push for that because we're using multiple, you know, departments. He said if we expanded with
more departments using it, then, you know, that's a possibility. >> Just as a followup, you know, I think if you look at what our cost per wear, if you will, is is monthly what that investment is. It's it's really minimal when you talk about staff time and not
needing to spend hours doing that. So, I it seems to really make a lot of sense. I'd make a motion to approve it. >> Second. >> Right. We have a motion by Commissioner Mojo, second by Commissioner Ebinger. And this was also brought before our pick, I believe, was it? And then that
we move that forward for approval. >> Yes. >> How many users would be on there right now? >> Um I think I counted about 52 or so right now. 50.
No, we're we're short some RN still. Um we're down one full-time tech that I'll have to get on board uh to request approval. So, yeah. >> Okay, Commissioner Ever. >> And that was going to be my question. Do you have is 60 enough?
>> I think at this point it is. >> And do you have the ability to expand if you need to? >> We can always add users um individually for that 30. I think it's like 3867 um
a person to add it. So add it somewhere. That's that's good. That would as long as we can cover it if if you finally get to full staff, which I know is a difficult task to do, but
>> yeah, it would it would be 38.52 per user. over 60. >> Thank you. >> What is fully staffed over there? >> What is fully staffed over there? >> Fully staffed would be um um we would
have 13 LPNs. Um four RNs, uh two lead RNs, an RN supervisor. Um we have eight full-time technicians, 20 variable hour technicians. Ideally,
it'd be nice to um have, you know, um five variable hour nurses that will work regular, but that's >> in addition to those 20. >> Yeah. Um the 20 are techs. >> Oh, those are techs. Okay. >> Yeah.
It's it's >> 53 54. The very difficult part about variable hour is they're inconsistent and they're just not um I don't know, they're not willing to work as much because they have other
jobs and it makes it hard. >> That's why you need the software to make sure. >> Yeah. >> Not switching all around all. >> Yeah. And then all requests for changes in schedules, you know, so we know who's on to make sure that we have nurses on that has to go through the system to get
approved. Overtime would have to be approved on the system. Um I'm told it'll track variable hours, you know. So >> no further questions, >> right? Anything else? And any further questions?
Seeing none, all in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I >> oppose the same sign. >> Motion carried. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you guys. Have a great day. >> You too. And by the way, I just did um from one of our good AI resources.
I just learned that um GPT stands for generative pre-trained transformers. So we have AI that works well right here in All right. Next are we have our budget presentation.
Quinn, you're going to tackle this all alone. Usually we have a tackle this all alone. Although I'm Rhonda right now. This is like to have Rhonda back right now. But >> you're doing great. >> All right.
Good morning, Mr. Mr. Chair and Commissioners, >> kind of what I'll do to start out with, I looked at previous years and we did a kind of an overview of the prior years before jumping into the budget. So, that's what I'm going to do uh for you today, just provide a quick overview of
how we ended for 2024. Um, our total revenues were 28,642,93 and our expenditures were 28,737,623. Uh so we ended 95,529 expenditures over revenues. Um missed by just a little bit. Um with a budget that
size, uh was felt like it was a pretty accurate budget for 2024. Uh to kind of take you along as to how we ended there, um we did see some savings in salaries. Um just about $100,000 there. Overall, uh came in pretty close to budget across all our
program areas with a few variances. Um, undersspending was largely driven by retirements, vacancies, staff transitions, um, as well as some targeted funding like our MA unwinding dollars, which was 120,977
for 2024. Uh, that money helped offset salaries tied to our eligibility staffing needs. If you remember uh during COVID once, uh MA eligibility was expanded once the pandemic was ended those waiverss ended as well and we were given a significant amount of funds from
the state to help get the folks that were covered by MA off of MA. Um this board and Rhonda made the decision to bring on four eligibility staff back then. Uh which was great because we were very much needed them due to the workload. this MA unwinding money pays
for half of their salary whereas the income maintenance random moments generates enough revenue to cover the other half of their salary. Um our administrative expenses uh we came in at 97.8% of the budgeted amount. Uh this reflects total underspending of
about $34,943. Um you can see the breakdown there on the right of where in each of our three large program areas that happened. Social services uh is the bulk of that. It's the biggest um just on the radar for 2025. I took our temperature where
we're at halfway through the year. Now, I am expecting this to be a little bit more on target for 2025 as we've just moved into the fourth floor wing and had some increased administrative costs for that. Our auto home placements, this will always be a talking point um when it
comes to social services budgets. Um our autoome placement expenditures total just under $4 million in 2024. We were able to recover approximately $700,000 in uh placement revenue primarily through title 4E reimbursements
as you can see from that green revenue line in recent years. Really the loss of this fore revenue has had a pretty significant impact on our local costs. Uh the biggest driver of this loss is Family's First Preservation Services Act. Um, essentially what that does is
counties can only claim 50% federal reimbursement for placement costs at certain facilities if the facility is designated as a qualified residential treatment program. Uh, West Central, where the majority of our placements occur, is not QRTP certified. So,
>> and we're working on that. >> Yes, that is correct. Um, so we have to pay 100% of the costs at the juvenile center. So, that's where we've seen our revenue for those placements decrease. >> Oops. Just a quick question just that one's so
big it just it's disturbing is um has something you mentioned the one act but are there other things associated with the program program that have changed in the last session or two or I mean what
I'm trying to get at is there a way may this further discussion I guess but ways we should be going back to the date. >> Sure. In terms of the >> and trying to coales with AMC and others
in a way to say it's just too much. >> Sure. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Commissioner Krabanhoff, um I think your advocacy for the PRTF is exactly the right lane for that. This QRTP reimbursement is at the federal level. Families First Preservation Act is federal fore reimbursement that comes in. And it
really has to do with the fact that West Central is not QRTP certified. And that's not for lack of trying. I know that when this first changed in 2021, James and Josh did everything they could to become QRTP certified. It had to do with the lensures that they hold with the Department of Corrections versus
DHS. >> And that that's one of the that's one of the things that we've been talking about about with advantages with the new um nonsecure facility that that would have two addresses and we'd be able to incorporate and that would then be
qualified for that. And we could see then that federal money coming in to the tune of what close to maybe a half million dollars. Could be a half million dollars. >> Y okay that connects. >> Yes. >> Absolutely. >> But I you know what I would say one of you know one of the biggest concerns is the red line.
>> Correct. >> Just look at the red line. That's and and the problem is is, you know, when when we don't have any other places to to put them, >> we're sending them places that are $1,800, $2,000 a day, you know, to to
house these, you know, kids. So, that's that's that's where the issue is. >> Correct. Correct. You know, >> I'll highlight it when I get to 2026 as well, but even though that red line goes up, the number of children in placement has actually decreased. So, it's the it's not more kiddos that are in foster
care, it's the cost of the foster care and residential placements. >> I think in many ways, if I might, Mr. chair. Uh, not having 2014 and 15 on there, which were even higher than what we were seeing there really is what
spurred this board to have substantial discussion about transition housing, additional opportunities for our youth. because we were seeing a levy hit in such a way where we decided we needed to look critically on alternative
components locally to uh to have as options. Now, in regards to what DHS allows for reimburseable rates is ridiculous and is, as you can see, getting worse every year. And it just
really speaks to that. How do we um prove to them what the actual cost is? This isn't counties picking the most expensive option. Um >> it's the only option. >> Yeah, in many ways. Thank you. >> All right.
>> Uh so spending in our civil commitment related services, uh which is civil commitments, sex offender placements, regional treatment centers. Uh you can see the four four indigent lines there and the totals. Uh we came in about $80,000 over budget in 2024. There's an ongoing challenge of
predicting these costs really tied to court-ordered placements. Um these are statutoily mandated high-cost services often with long stays and expensive daily rates. Again, this is for mainly for adults and they definitely range in the $2,000 to $2,100 per day. Um especially at Anoka Regional Treatment
Center. >> I just want to point one other thing out, Quinn. So, when we're talking about, you know, having to send these kiddos out to other places because we don't have any place here for them. Um, and I mentioned the number, $1,800 a day
is probably on the low end now. I based on, you know, the way things are going. But just as an example, in our um our member counties who are part of our West Central Regional Juvenile Center on the secure side,
um they're paying I believe we just I believe the cost is about $300 a day for doing it here versus you know the the cost of having to send it out when there's nothing available. >> Correct. So I mean that's a significant
difference but we don't have any any more room. >> So a new nonsecure would be a wonderful facility to build here for us. >> It's all part of that PRTF project.
Um with these four lines looking ahead uh we do have the new statemandated 40% cost share for the uh this line is the indigent sex offender line. Um, you'll see me speak to that in our 2026 information. I just want to highlight advocacy through MAXA for a more
balanced state county funding approach to this specific program area continues to be a priority for us. Um, with MAXA and just to hit a few other highlights for 2024, uh, illustrating both increased revenue there in the green and areas of overspending in the red. Um, we
did have some program areas that experienced higher than expected costs. We also saw strong performance in several revenue streams that helped offset those pressures. Um, particularly increased billing tied to our higher case loads in Caddy waiver, DD waiver,
and our SNBC programs uh brought in some pretty significant revenue for us that we weren't expecting. Um, at the same time, we did experience overspending in areas that are either unpredictable or mandated, such as nursing home costs for individuals under 65. Some of our
interpreter expenses, county funded burials, and detox. Many of these lines are driven by factors outside of our control like court orders, client needs, or service access. I just want to highlight a few of these for you. Our interpreter costs are really this line although it's typically $1,000 we had
expenditures of $18,728 for interpreters. I wanted to highlight the difficulty in predicting some of these lines as that cost represents serving one family given a very unique set of circumstances. Um did not budget differently for that thousands in 2026
because I just don't think we're going to see a family with that specific needs needing that interpreters into 2026. but it highlights how much it can fluctuate from year to year. Um, detox was a large driver of our increases. Uh, they exceeded the $1.15
million by $153,043. Um, our nursing home costs. So, social services is responsible to uh have a share of nursing home costs for citizens that are on MA that are under age 65 who remain in nursing homes past 90 days. Um
this line is also difficult to predict because we just don't know how many people are going to need this. Um in 2024 we saw overspending of $52,462. >> And on that detox piece, is there um is there any of that that's ever reimburseable?
>> Uh yes. Um kind of if you would be patient with me, I would kind of speak to that in 2026es. Okay. Okay. I Okay. Um, the social services also has a statutory mandate to provide uh county burials and
cremations uh for folks without sufficient means or responsible relatives to pay for their care. Um, we also don't know exactly what that'll look like from year to year. So, we did see an overspending of about 21,000 in 2024. Um, I did account for that in 2026's budget for the place.
Um, before I move on to 2026, any questions with how we ended on 2024? Questions? Mr. Mojo, >> thank you. You didn't specifically identify it here, but I was at Lakeland Mental Health Center yesterday and it sounds like there was an issue in
regards to reimburseable allowable rates from the state um in terms of in face-to-face therapies versus in-person therapies. Uh so it sounds like uh Donna will be working with you
on that. Um it mainly was the fact that all of a sudden uh we were working together with Lakeland service was being provided would be getting sent to the state and the state said no we're not going to allow any virtual reimbursements. So it sounds
like they want to work with you on it. It sound like a big enough issue for their le or their budget that it was something that affected ours as well. So correct just know that she'll be following up. >> Thank you. And I'm sure there's some acronyms that >> only thing that's on my radar are TCM
rates with Lakeland, which I'm working with their CFO on. >> That might be it. >> Okay. Okay. >> Then then I'm aware and we're >> Okay. Thanks. >> Okay. Moving into 2026. Um the levy request for 25 was 14,982,224. Uh the levy request for 2026 is
15,733,925. a year-over-year increase of $751,71. Um, the decision was made in 2025 to use $350,000 of fund balance. So, year-over-year less that fund balance is $41,71 or a 2.55% increase from 2025.
Um, the increase >> So, but when in 2024, your fund balance did not grow according to what you've said. >> That's correct. Um the increase uh is really primarily due to mandated costs increasing revenue shifts and program demands that I'll
discuss throughout the presentation. Um I do have one new request. Uh we did try to keep all of our requests to a minimal. However, this is one program area that we felt we needed and that we could justify. Um so requesting uh one full-time disability case manager in our
home and community based services division. Uh this unit provides case management to individuals with disabilities, helping them live safely in the community and avoiding more costly institutional care. Um as you saw in the revenue in 2024, the case loads have increased which has allowed for increased billing but also higher case
loads. Um it's important uh that we have kind of manageable case loads in this area as overextended workers cannot sustain the level of diligence that's required um when they're stretched out too thin making it hard to provide consistent oversight in the
documentation required to prevent fraud waste and abuse in the p publicly MA funded program. Um, by adding this new staff, it would strengthen our ability to provide those checks and balances while addressing our growing service demands and case loads, and it maintains our commitment to highquality person-
centered care. Uh, once fully trained, I do actually anticipate that this position would generate a little bit more than the $95,000 we're projecting in 2026. Um, I didn't do a full projection of revenue just with the onboarding and training. They wouldn't be billing day one of their employment
if it's approved. Um, I did include uh wage calculator in your packet for review for this position, but it is expected to be uh salaries and benefits $90,000657. Uh, so it should have a positive net impact on the budget for 2026.
Any questions around the new case manager request? Questions? Okay. I'm moving on. I did in your packets you should have a kind of an overview sheet. This is what I'll be referencing as I go through the slides. Just have some visual aids to a company should look
like this. Um so starting with salaries um this graph represents salaries and then the increase that happened from year-over-year on the on the previous year. So you can see from 2025 to 2026 um the salary bene salary and benefit
budget increased by 1.3%. Um, I do need to note that this does not reflect colas or any changes to health insurance premiums. This is just the salaries and steps that were calculated. We did budget $162,000 of the healthcare unwinding money that
we still have available to help offset those four eligibility staff that I talked about in 2024's overview. Um, again, half of their salary is paid with this unwinding money and the other half is generated by income maintenance random moments, the time study for income maintenance. Um the unwinding
funds are expected to be used fully partway into 2027. Um so we are going to run out of those funds. However, the need for those staff has always been present since the COVID restrictions ended. Um but it's just been nice that we've had the MA unwinding money to not
have to ask for levy funds for those staff to deal with the case loads. Uh moving on to administrative expenditures. Um the expenses across all divisions are projected to increase by just over $41,000 for 2026. Uh most of
the increase is tied to fixed operational costs and other obligations, not necessarily discretionary spending. Uh financial services saw a small increase largely due to our casework software contracts, building insurance, and translation services tied to federal
SNAP compliance. Um, we were told that, um, we needed to improve our phone system and allow for a translation service to be an option once you dial. So, if you dial the 5200 number now, you'll be prompted to see if a translator is needed. This was to become
uh, SNAP compliant, and there was a small increase to our telephone costs as a result of that. Child support, fraud, and collections. Um, we worked as hard as we could and reduced about $1,900 through small adjustments, a few hundred here and there. Um, so we decreased by
about $1,900 in our child support fraud and collections area. Uh, primarily through a drop in our federal offset fees. So, counties are charged a fee for every successful interception of a federal tax refund when we're pursuing past due child support obligations. Um,
we just are not seeing as many tax refunds being intercepted. So the fee along with that has decreased. Um and social services which is our largest program area continues to carry the biggest burden and increase by about $30,000. Uh mostly due to the fullear
rent uh for our new fourth floor space which is about 21,000 added. So it's 41,000 total for that wing. Um and our casework software contracts. We have several additions of caseworks and each of them saw uh cola increases in our contract for that electronic filing
system software uh detox. So uh Mr. Chair, this is where I said I would follow up on your question from earlier. Um detox is a pretty significant and growing cost within social services budget. Uh really attributing to our new withdrawal management facility and the increased capacity and need for their staffing.
Um, so kind of how this works is public health will provide social services with their projected costs for detox each year and we plug those projections into our budget. Um, 2025 we budgeted 1.5 million based on their forecast and for 2026 it's 1,990,15
uh 32.7% increase. Uh the challenge is that this utilization and reimbursements are unpredictable. So it is hard to know exactly what we'll end up spending. So to speak to your question, when revenue has come in higher than expected, it has helped historically helped offset other
costs as that goes into social services budget as well. But the opposite is also true. So if expenses go over revenue, social services budget covers the difference there as well. So again, in 2024, Detox had an additional 153,000 of expenditures on top of what was budgeted.
>> And Mr. Chair, if commissioners had a conversation with Mr. Robinson in regards to uh his future needs. Uh and one of the things that we've asked if he's taken in into consideration the additional revenues that he would will now be bringing in based on uh the
ability to uh to have that withdraw withdrawal management license. Uh and Mr. Almanson indicated to me that at this point they only have a few months into detox as far as reimbursement. uh and that prior to to finalizing the budget, he we're going to take another
look at that to see if we can offset uh some of the additional costs that would be passed on. So, >> yeah, because I I thought I thought that when we moved into that facility, we were going to be able to gain revenues that we could not obtain in the old facility.
>> Yep, that that's correct. And and uh at this point, Mr. Robinson indicated that he felt it would he didn't feel comfortable with as few numbers as we had to to have a a more aggressive number but hoping to by by this fall.
>> Right. Thank you. >> Yes. Commissioner, >> is your mic on? I >> can you just mention those sources of of revenue the way they would come >> for for detox? Yeah. Um I have to
apologize, Commissioner Kavanagh. I'm not familiar with the operations of detox. My understanding the detox budget is just within social services budget. That's where we've chosen to have it be. When it comes to the actual operations and day-to-day, I'd have to refer to Mr. Almanson and Kathy.
>> All right. That's great. Thank you. >> All right. Well, we'll we'll have more discussions on that part within your budget later. So, >> um again, speaking to out of home placement trends, um in 2026, we're projecting to spend about $3.67 million
in out of home placement costs. I guess the good news there is that's slightly below the almost $4 million that we spent in 2024. Um hopefully we see that decrease. Um we're projecting to recover about $835,000 leaving us leaving us with about 2.83
million that hits the levy. Um even though again like I said the number of kids in placement isn't going up, it's in fact decreasing. um just like in previous years, the Family's First Preservation Services Act is really hitting the revenue that comes in with that. So, that's really where we're seeing the biggest hit is because the
revenue is just so low. >> You you had mentioned earlier, Quinn, about um the number of kids involved with this. Can you can you not can you provide us with kind of a how those numbers have looked comparatively over
year to year? >> Yep, absolutely. I think you you me and maybe you have it in your report coming up but >> I don't but historically we do have a graph that usually accompanies this. Um when we were at our highest uh it was aboutund well we've had well over 200 children in placement at any one given
time for these numbers based on these projections it was about 150. So we've seen it drop about 50 k 50 kiddos. >> So something is working in terms of reduced numbers. Uh something is not working in terms of expenditures. >> Yes, that's correct. Yeah. I would
attribute the decrease in the number of children in placement directly to the staff that are doing the work. We've had some consistency, right, >> in our child protection and with that comes better skills, better abilities, better engagement with families and as a result less children that have to be removed from their homes.
>> Right. Yes, Commissioner Mojo. >> Can I also just speak though to the cost of what that care is? And so we've seen a drop of 50 children and and really I don't think that top line has changed a whole lot. uh which is a cautionary um you know warning to us really at at
what the actual cost of that carry is. It's substantial. >> That's great. Thank you. >> Um we did increase kind of the net impact on the levy. This this chart represents well over a hundred lines in our budget. So rather than go through line by line and explain the different types of placements and do the needing
to code it different ways for the different funding streams, we kind of summarize all of those lines with this auto home placement trends graph. Um, with that we kind of show what that net impact on the levy is with the blue there. We did increase kind of what that
will look like for 2026 by $80,000. Um, talking with Susan uh role and then Rhonda while she was still here to massively adjust this net impact on the levy from year to year based on the outome placement trends is just a really significant shock based on how big these
numbers are. So to kind of make small incremental changes based on what we're seeing uh is the path that we've kind of chosen to do with this auto home placement budget. >> So that that red line number you're saying that you're anticipating it to be about 3.7 million.
>> 3.67 million. Yes. So when you um when you do the simple math on that at 150 kids you're at you're over $2,000 a month. >> Correct. Yeah. Some some of those children are in high high cost
placements and some are I'm saying like family foster homes. So I mean we're going to see huge disparity between it's not 2,000 across the board, right? Some children are much more expensive in terms of their cost of care than others. >> Thank you, Quinn.
>> Um, county burials, uh, they remain a mandated service for individuals who pass away without resources or family to cover those burial costs. Um, again, there's an unpredictable nature of this expense. For 2026, we're proposing $200,000 budget, which is an increase of
$20,000 from 2025. Um, based on rising funeral, home, and cremation costs and the need to stay responsive to this demand. You can see kind of our projections in 2025 are a little bit above average, which kind of necessitates the increase budget there. Um, county bureaus reflect both a legal
obligation and our public responsibility um, which has to be budgeted for budgeted for yeartoear even though we can't precisely predict exactly how many we're going to need. Um, >> I think you know that one just the simple fact that you know when you see
Klay County growing in population that we do on an annual basis and obviously along with that growth there's some there's some deaths that occur and not all of those families have the ability to afford and so I mean that's something that's I
think that's part of growing. >> One one question on that. >> How does that work? Say I pass away and my family can afford it, but they come to you to have it pay for it. Is there a background check to see this family can actually afford it? >> Yes, we do income verification. Yep.
There's a application that needs to be submitted and then our financial unit will actually go through and look at um income. Okay. >> Um to specifically answer your question, it's legally people that are legally obligated to pay for. So, if um I don't
want to be too morbid, but if your parents were to pass away, you are not legally obligated to pay for their funeral. It would just be like the spouse or anyone that has legal guardianship over that person >> or or their estate >> or the or the estate. Yes. The the other part of this that I'd like to speak to
is really the estate recapture portion of this. That's the other difficult to predict variable. Um if a person who receives a county funded burial is later found to have an estate, you know, bank accounts, real estate, life insurance, things like that, um we pursue estate recapture to cover some or all of the
burial costs with that. Um it doesn't happen often because most individuals that qualify for county burials don't have estates that can be recaptured. Um it does it is an important component of this because it does happen and we're able to help offset some of the costs that go with um paying for the burials
or cremation. And then do we pay for the cheapest way to bury somebody? >> There are some legal obligations whether it's cremation or burial. Um uh I recently met with our funeral home directors uh Corsmo and Wright to kind of go over exactly what does that look like and it is I'm going to say the bare
minimum. I mean dignity is a huge huge important piece of this. But yes, there are not I'm going to say additional things. Um, part of our our county burial policy is that if funds are available to pay for additional things, then you probably don't qualify for the
county burial itself. >> Okay. >> I'm moving on to another area that has a big uh impact to the overall increase from year to year is the Minnesota Sex Offender Program. Um, this program provides long-term court-ordered treatment for individuals who have
completed prison sentences but are civily committed as being too dangerous to be released back into the community due to an ongoing risk of sexual violence. Uh, counties are financially responsible for a portion of the cost when someone is civily committed to this program and largely outside of our
control. Um, this expense makes up just one of those four indigent lines that I spoke to in 2024, and I'm increasing the budget by $145,000, which in which incorporates this new 40% county cost shift that was passed in the state legislature this year. Um,
previously uh counties were charged either 10 or 25% of these uh costs of care based on when the person went into the program pre201 or post 2011. However, moving forward, all of these costs will now be 40%. Um, and then like
>> hang on. Commissioner, >> curious, the the new rule, is that based on population? I mean, >> I I do not know, Mr. Chair and Commissioner Commissioner Krabanhoff, that was what the legislature discussed as some of the county cost shifts that we saw. This was one that stayed in. Um,
as to where or how that number came from, I'm not sure. Well, we'll have to ask. >> Um, speaking to a lot of other key budget drivers, um, our contracted providers, uh, you'll see in the overview form altogether, there were
some modest increases. Um, however, however, we did see a reduction of about $27,800 for our contracted providers. Um, again, this is a mix of a few small increases primarily to help some of our smaller providers cover uh increased staffing and operational costs. However, we do
have a larger decrease in our village contract to help offset those costs. I've spoken with the village uh about kind of strategically doing this without harming our service delivery. Um really we're going to see uh about a $30,000 decrease uh really because of the
underutilization in that and we're going to change how services are being accessed and how the contract is being utilized to not see a service reduction overall for the folks that need that. Um, we did see a few revenue decreases as well as about $96,000 in reduced
revenues uh across several different funding streams including our community living infrastructure grant which is dropping about $21,000. Our child welfare opioid funds which is dropping about $22,000. Vulnerable children and adult grant uh
dropping about $21,000 again. and our department of revenue equa reimbursement uh which is dropping about $6,000. Um our revenue decreases do also account for $25,000 lost in the behavioral health fund administrative allowance that was completely taken out of the
2026 state legislature. Um some of our program excuse me program expenditure adjustments. Um these lines show a total decrease of about $22,500 but have some adjustments within them. um specifically our adult rule 79 case management. Um Mr. Chair and
Commissioner Mojo, this might be some of what you were talking about with Lakeland. With the adult rule 79, DHS um increase the rate for our TCM subcontracted providers. Lakeland is one of them. Um our county share is 50% of the monthly build amount for folks that
are on MA and 100% of the monthly build amount if it's non-MA folks. um our substance use disorder county share our behavioral health fund costs that's being reduced based on kind of our historical and recent trends but it remains at a level that accounts for
possible cost shifts into 2027. This was an area the behavioral health fund county share um this was an area that was on the table. If DHS is not able to realize the $17 million in savings that they need to this would be an area that we'd see increased costs into 2027. So
it was decreased slightly. However, not so much that we wouldn't be able to account for an increase if that was to occur in 2027. On our day training and habilitation line, um that provides support for adults with disabilities to help them build individual skills. Uh we've seen
lower utilization in recent years as fewer clients are attending center-based programs um and instead are moving towards individualized services and employment based options. So, we've decreased uh that a little bit based on utilization. Uh same goes for our sheltered employment lines as well. This
is a structured work environment where individuals with disabilities perform tasks in a supervised setting, typically separated from their counterparts that do not have disabilities. Um again, more folks are pursuing community-based competitive employment as an alternative. Um really this decrease as
a response to the state's uh employment first model. Um so we've decreased it by about $15,000. our volunteer driver costs. Uh we continue to lean pretty heavily on our internal case aids to handle a lot of visits and transports and as a result our volunteer driver expenses have
decreased. That being said, we love to have a very robust volunteer driver program. So for any of the community that's out there listening, if you want to become involved in helping out families that are in the child protection system with getting parents to visits or getting parents to appointments that can attend with their
children, that's often an area where our social workers can't be in two places at once. So to have a really robust volunteer driver program is phenomenal. So I put the call out. Anybody that's interested can contact our office. We'd love to tell them more about our volunteer driver program. Um we've also seen some revenue
increases. We're projecting about $660,000 more in 2026 for revenue. Um, primarily in our MA admin and recoveries lines, our adult and caddy waiver lines, DD waiver, um, our adult protection grant increased pretty significantly.
That total grant is $122,32 and our child protection grant increased pretty significantly as well. Will be um being allocated $364,240. Um, this does include the $115,000 in additional revenue for our new internal
rule 79 case manager position that I brought to you all a few weeks ago. Um, you know, we've seen strong performance in several areas, especially primarily in waiver program revenue, um, which has really helped offset our other rising costs like detox, the sex
offender program, and our auto home placements. Um, these are not optional services. is this budget is built around what we know has to be man mandatorily provided and statutoily delivered. Um you know that being said, social services does face considerable uncertainty kind of the end of 2026 when
some of the federal changes kick in and looking into 2027. Um from the big beautiful bill impacts to math implementation and the min choices flat rate reimbursement um as well as paid family medical leave. Uh, also we we we
do know that big changes are coming. Um, but right now I didn't have enough specific information to build in specific requests for all of those changes. Essentially, I didn't want to come to you all with a number and be wrong when we just don't know the implementation details of that yet. Um, so this 2026 budget reflects social
services continued effort to responsibly balance um our financial responsibilities and the opportunities we do have to capture new revenue where available while still providing the best quality service that we can. With that, I would yield for any questions.
>> Questions? >> Go ahead, Commissioner. >> What is your total increase that you're asking for? Okay. So, total increase again uh with the fund balance is $751,71 and without it's that $41,700.
>> That that is what you're asking this year for. >> Yes. >> And and what is your current fund balance? >> It is Oh, sorry. I have that on a different slide. Uh 11,772,123
as of 123124. >> 11. Where you see is that on there? >> I I just have it in my note. 11 11,772,123. >> And that's at the end of 2024. >> End of 2024. I do believe that would account for the 95,000
um expenditures over revenues as well. >> Okay. Okay. Yeah, that would be it. Yeah. >> And do you know what you're trending for 2025? Are you >> um I just checked um it from the timing standpoint of it's it's pretty difficult to see, but I we appear to be pretty
much on target. So Quinn, I'm I'm just and we got to wrap up pretty quick here, but I'm looking at pages 16 and 17, the first two pages on this packet that you have here.
And so just to follow along, so the detox we're looking at an increase of 490,000, right? >> That's correct. And for out of home placement, the net is another 80,000.
>> Yes. >> And county burials is 20. And then the uh MSOP or how however you say that, it's 145. >> Yep. >> And so those total around 735,000.
And then you actually on the contract providers you're down um or you're you're down you're actually revenue you're coming ahead by 27,000. >> Yes. So I rounded that to roughly 700,000 that were
um expenditures over and then when I look at the revenue de do we have a revenue decrease in revenue decreases of 96,000 and then we have a the proposal in terms
of expenditures in those other areas of adult 79 and and those things you're that's a decrease of 22,500 >> correct >> and then revenue increases so that 669 is a positive
number right >> y >> so when I take those numbers 6 the uh basically 670 so it's 690 so it's about 600,000 on the plus side
in that area so I'm coming up with 751,000. >> I I didn't speak to every single line in the budget. Okay. >> I I I highlighted the the there's several I'm going to say $500 changes, $1,000 changes here and there.
>> Okay. So, this doesn't represent everything all the >> This is not every single highlighted ones that you wanted to share with. Okay. All right. Yes, I did include the full budget in your >> Yeah, I I guess I can. Yeah, because really the numbers that you have here that there's only like
$100,000 difference between gains and losses. >> Yes. >> Okay, Mr. Chair, if I if I could, I I just wanted to point out that Quinn's done, you know, realistically, this is his first budget. He's challenged with
several uh different potential legislative changes that were going to take place and honestly still may. uh but I think what he has done is one of the probably most intricate if not the most intricate budget has done a great job in going line by line even as he
mentioned earlier of a he went into different areas and addressed in in potential uh response to legislative areas uh and still made adjustments and those adjustments stayed there even though the legislative changes didn't place and as you mentioned maybe he
didn't go to the bare bones pieces to that so there is some uh some if adust adjustments need to take place next year won't be as hard. Uh but uh he did an extremely good job even prior to to the May uh start of this budget process. So
I just want to point that out. >> Commissioner Mojo. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair Quinn. This is uh really helpful. Thanks so much for the presentation and then uh obviously the packet that we can wade through. uh you know, I want to maybe uh piggyback off
of what Steve had mentioned in regards to how you've crafted a budget with really a moving target that would change by the hour. It seemed like uh I don't need to remind all of us from where we thought we were going to be in February and March and where we're ending up.
Again, things can change drastically, but I think what you've helped to do is educate us and also the public on why so much of this budget is really responsive to legislative action and reimbursement
rates. and it's not perfect and there's there's significant challenges to that uh changes that we can advocate for, but you've really done a great job in your first year of um without the training wheels, if you will, uh helping helping with that. Um, I get the most calls
about social services countywide and I think it's warranted because it is such a large levy piece. But once folks uh really understand what is being uh you
know what is mandated uh what is shifted how much how many of the uh positions that you have are really revenue generating uh that kind of cover themselves and really this is an opportunity to care for uh a lot of vulnerable people
in our community once people understand that we're talking about 200 children uh children in Klay County. I think people are more apt to understand where we're coming from. It is tricky and we need to continue to wade through this to figure out what makes the most sense. Uh
but you've done a really great job with that. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. Yes. All right, Quinn. Thank you for your presentation this morning. >> We will obviously we'll be having some
follow-up discussions with you prior to the preliminary level. the last >> um can you clarify for me? Uh Commissioner 350,000 >> this one. Yep.
>> It's right It's right It's right here. Yep. I will get it to you. >> All right. Thank you, Quinn. >> Thank you so much. All right. Next, we have our budget presentation for solid waste. Good morning, Corey.
>> Good morning, Mr. Chair, Mr. Chair and commissioners. I want to go on record of saying I don't want to follow Quinn next year. >> Well, your you know what, your numbers look a lot smaller, so maybe it's not such a bad idea.
I would like to start out uh we are passing around a summary of of all the changes due to the Morehead potentially leaving. Um I'll go over that at the end. I just wanted to have something on paper that you guys can all look at after we went through the budget. So um obviously this has been a very challenging year to do the solid waste
budget with the unknowns of whether we're going to have a contract or not. Um a lot of the departments nothing really changed so they'll go rather quickly. Uh but when we get to the existing landfill and the resource recovery center, we'll have several items to discuss. So uh if we could just
start on the budget, page 81, very top, uh the first change that you'll see there is a 20% reduction in the special assessment. Um that is a result of us moving some stuff from capital budget into the operating budget. That would it
would take your per parcel fee on a single resident home from $50 down to $40. So, there would be a decrease there as far on the tax statement. Uh, the other item on page 81 I'd like to point out is the internal service fee under the existing landfill. Uh, there's
an increase there of $100,000. That would be an annual expense for the purchase of the new equipment at the transfer station. Um, the the bids for the new equipment, if we were to buy brand new, is coming in somewhere between $850 and $900,000 with service
plans. So obviously not a cheap um cheap process to go through. Um the next item I'd like to highlight is down on page 83. Uh the budget decre or the salary decreases of 100% and the benefit
decrease of 100%. Those items were moved into the transfer station budget. So they're still in the budget, but they have moved to the RSC portion and out of the operating budget for solid waste management. Um, moving on to recycling. Not a lot of change in the recycling
budget. Um, the only major change there is that we went from an employee that had been here for about 15 years to a brand new employee. So, we have a major reduction in the salaries. Uh, which does help us out and gives us a 6.39% decrease in that budget.
Again, the public education budget is not changing. We felt very confident in those numbers. And with the new with Mara, the new recycling coordinator and education coordinator, she will be working within that budget. >> Corey, uh, can I just ask you on the recycling?
Um, obviously if we look on the top for the board's information, we receive a total of $225,000 in score funding that comes from the state of Minnesota based on the solid solid waste uh tax. Correct. That's they
collect over hund00 million dollars and counties get about 30 million. >> Y >> um and it's supposed to be for solid waste. >> Correct. >> A lot of it goes to the general fund. >> Yeah, >> that's my little spiel on that. Um but anyway, the uh composting recycling
program implementation, we have a $600,000 expenditure. Where's that $600,000 go? >> We put that away for future costs and that kind of thing. It's a It's a $600,000 that is is for um
implementation and that kind of thing. >> Isn't that what we pay to our cities? >> Some of it. Yes. But it it's money that we're using for the composting and that kind of thing. It also goes into the recycling budget as well. Correct. >> What port what portion of that 600,000
goes to our cities? Morehead, small cities. Morehead gets approximately $225,000 and then all the small cities and townships also get their portion depending on what >> so we have a we have an established formula that we >> correct.
>> So a significant portion of that $600,000 is um reimbursing um >> our local community. >> Correct. This money we put away um for implementing programs. For example, if a small city wanted to redo their
recycling building or something like that, we would pay a portion of the recycling facility for them. And it's based on a formula that they send in for reimbursement quarterly or however they would choose to, but they give an annual an annual cap that they can get from us.
>> But I would venture that the majority of that $600,000 is an annual payment, >> correct? >> To our communities. >> Yeah. Yeah. They're going to request their cap, >> right? I have a question on that. >> Yes. >> Is that $600,000 levy dollars?
>> Comes out of our per parcel fee and of our and our uh operating budget both. >> So So um Commissioner Barrett to answer your question uh really nothing in nothing in solid waste is levy dollars. Uh that is that is an independent fund. That is uh its
revenues are determined through tipping fees. tipping fees and other fees that we've established for revenues that come into our facility. So, so what Corey is presenting here to us in terms of a budget, it's an enterprise fund that is
self-funded and not part of the levy. >> Residents still pay that bill though. AP. So what what happens is is is we you know we obviously we have to determine what our for example what our total tons collected would be that determine and we
know what our operational expenses are that creates the tipping fee. The tipping fee then is goes to all of the haulers and independent or the cities who have and and that's what we charge them. And um so in the case of me being
a resident of Morhead, what goes on my monthly bill is a collection that includes that tipping fee. >> Yes. >> Yes. The residents do pay it, but it's but it's it's independent of what they
get on the property tax statement from a levy. >> The only thing that would go on the property tax statement is that per parcel fee. >> Yeah. >> And that pays for like our landfill sale and all that. Everybody pays for that equally. what you said was is about 55 and you're looking at >> $50 right now. We're looking at reducing it to 40. Correct.
>> And I will bring that to you at a later date once this is all finalized. >> Moving on to page 87, the hazards household hazardous waste budget. Um there's not a lot of changes there. Um there's a 0.14% increase and a lot of
that is based just on costs of getting the material shipped out. Um, we try to do two two truckloads a year. It works out to be about five every two years, a little more. So, it we build that into the budget. Um, and and those costs have
gone up and I I believe they'll continue to go up, but we felt comfortable with with just a slight increase there. >> Moving on to the existing land >> and that's all collected at the resource recovery facility. Right. >> Correct. All >> All household houses >> for the entire county comes there.
>> Yep. they have to bring it there >> onto the existing landfill. Uh the very first line you'll see the landfill fees. There's a decrease there of 48.72%. Um it's not an actual decrease. It's just a movement. Once again, in the past, all tipping fees have gone under
the landfill. Um, with the contract not being signed with the city, we're going to move all of the city of Morehead's contract or their tipping fees into that budget into the resource recovery budget. Uh, so that's approximately $1.3 million reduction there. Uh, it's still included in the budget. It'll just move
down to the to the transportation side, and you'll see that coming up. U moving down, uh, there's a 250% increase, which seems like a lot, but it's only um $5,000. It's a large increase because due to the new staff we have at the facility. Um
all those have to get their landfill operator training and and such. So we'll be sending a lot of people there. Um CDL training and all all that is included. So um although it's 250% it's a minor amount of money in the grand scheme of
things. Also 100% increase in the cost of equipment repair and maintenance. Um costs are going up. Seems like everything we break nowadays cost $10,000. So, um, I did increase that a little bit just to cover, um, in case that we do have some repairs on all of
our equipment. Moving on to page 89, um, the very top line 6820, we move that into the resource recovery center as well. Um, that 358,440. Um, that did increase that in the budget
this year to 375,000. Um it's come to my attention that number may be a little high at this point so I can adjust that down going forward but um we didn't have the number when the budget was originally put together and and that's still a work in progress. So um but again that's included in the
budget. It just moves into the resource recovery portion. Um so if you see a 9.53% reduction in the existing landfill budget um as a result of moving those things out. Uh moving on to the resource recovery
budget, the landfill fees. Here's where you see that $1.3 million increase uh or movement from the existing landfill into the transfer station. That's based on the 24,000 tons that Morehead delivers. Um we put all that into the transfer station budget as well as 100,000 or
$120,000 from the tipping floor or the public drop off, excuse me. Um we included all that in the resource recovery budget. Um there's also an addition of $600,000 in tipping fees just to pay for the expenses. And that
is an increase um to the transfer station tipping fees of $25 per ton. So going forward, we will be looking at a $56 per ton tipping fee at the landfill. If it was delivered directly there, if it's delivered to the transfer station, it will be approximately 81. And I would
bring that to the board at a future time for for approval as well. Uh moving down salaries regular increase um that is due to the movement from the from the uh solid waste management fund as well as hiring an an operator. So the
increase of 62,684 is a new hire as well as the benefits below of 12,383 472 3886 and 909. That would be to hire a new operator to run the equipment in the transfer station, which the city of
Morgan is currently doing. Um, I did that based on hiring a new truck driver. I do believe that one of our truck drivers will take that operator position. So, we have somebody who knows how the system works and is familiar. Um, so we I basically split the difference between a new truck driver
and what an operator would cost to try and balance that out. Moving down to line 6252, gas. Um there's a $35,000 increase. That's the portion the city of Morhead was paying the last few years. So that increased
our budget. Uh download a further um equipment repair and maintenance. I increased it by $20,000 just based on the fact that we'll have two very large pieces of equipment um that we may have to be taking care of and and maintaining.
Snow removal. Um the city of Morhead was doing that in the past. That also includes lawn lawn care. I've spoke with Joe. Um, as far as both of them, the transfer station staff would do the would do the snow removal with the equipment we have on site. Um, we would purchase a new lawn mower and Joe's
staff would do the actual mowing. Um, we would the solid waste department would buy the lawnmower though. So, that is included in a later line item or included in that $100,000 annual internal service fund, but we think we can do that for $15,000.
Moving on to the uh fuel and lubrication of vehicles. Um we're we're estimating it's going to cost roughly $47,000 to run the equipment in there. Um with snow removal and all that added in, it's it'll be a little higher than what Morehead's number was, but that that's our best
guess at this point is what it's going to cost us to have that equipment running all the time. Uh if you move down to there's a $30,000 increase. Um, that would be a request that we have going forward for insulating our garage in the back and
for a concrete dolly pad in our for our semi-p parking area, our trailer parking area. Um, we removed Freon in that back garage and it's going to cost roughly $20,000. We did apply for a grant. We have not heard word on that yet um to insulate that so that we can remove
Freon all year. Um, I know I brought that to the board in the past, but the the issue we have is that freon can't be removed when it's below 40 degrees. So, we have to keep the building at 50 just to remove the freon. If we don't, we end up with three 400 freon units to start removing in the spring. So, and the
dolly pad is roughly $17,000 to put in a a 7 foot by 80 foot dolly pad where we can dolly trailers down on. Um, this year with the wet summer we've had, we've lost three trailers. They uh dolly down, drive away, and they sink off site. we've been able to get them all um
rehooked with with the use of the payloader at the transfer station, but to save that cost in the future, we would like to put that in. So, that would be the only request I have for that. And then the internal service fee of the $100,000 would be for the new equipment
there. And then on the final page 90, the $375,000 is also moved down from the um from the capital budget into the operating cost. So with all that said and done, it it comes to a $25 increase at the transfer station. And if you look
at the sheet I handed out, it breaks out all the added expenses that I added in there. Um obviously this is kind of a crapshoot for us because we don't know all the the minor expenses the city Morhead had, but we have a pretty good idea. So if you start at the top, the additional internal service to cover new
equipment is $100,000 annually. Salary and benefit increase to the RC budget is $84,6564. The Prairie Lakes fee of 37 375,000 electrical increase of 35,000 equipment repair and maintenance of 20,000 snow and grass of 15,000 fuel and
lubrication for new equipment 47,000. the updates to the RSC which we talked about for 30 and then including the drop off fees of $120,000 which previously has gone into the the landfill tipping fees. Total changes is 586,564
and I would like to point out that the new equipment is not included in this budget. I just received the bids and they're approximately $850,000 that would come out of our internal service fee and we would have to come up with a way of trying to pay that back. What is the What would be the new
equipment? >> The waste handler. A brand new waist handler and a payloader. Yeah. And they're built to the same specs. Um the waist handler we can really only get from one company, Butler, and it's built to the same specs as the machine that's there now. The payloader
has a few a little different options. We've got a grapple on it rather than a tip bucket. Um speaking with our operators, they felt that a grapple would be a little bit more efficient for them. Um, the other thing I may add into that would be a a snow push blade for the payloader that we could just clip
on, push the snow, and then we'd have the we already have the skid steer and the snowblower for that. So, we would take care of the rest of that, I will yield for any questions. Commissioner Kre. >> Yeah. Uh, just clarification then on that uh new equipment. That's all
equipment now that Morehead may have of that type. >> It's the exact equipment that Morehead has. Yes. and nothing else. Just a pure replacement. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Y >> uh the wait time on that, just to clarify, is anywhere from 8 to 15 months
depending on the piece and and the availability. >> And just to point out on the um on the sheet that Cory has put out here, the word shows the increases due to Morehead leaving the contract.
the Prey Lake solid waste man moved to the um to the transfer transfer station budget that's 375,000 but that's also part of the reason why we've reduced the correct
>> capital which was on the property tax statement >> correct >> from 40 what is it >> $50 to $40 per parcel >> $50 to $40 per parcel um and and part of that is you know we we always looked at that as um more of a
capital expenditure, but the fact of the matter is it's going to it's going to be ongoing as long as we're partners there. Um unlike some of our other capital expenditures, you invest in capital and at some point in time you pay it off. Um
you know, it's going to be many many years before we'll be paying off per. So, um, yeah, I I do really question the $15,000 for snow and grass. I I'm I mean, it's
great that you think you can do it for that, but I >> I hope I prove you wrong. >> Well, well, yeah. Well, I mean, it's your those are they're your numbers, but I just >> And I base that on we can contract it all. or they've
contracted out for 25,000. >> So if I have the employee there and the machine sitting there, um, right, >> we're already doing the sidewalks, we're already doing portion of it. So I I feel >> you're making you're making use of >> correct. >> Yep. The staff we have on hand that are already, you know, >> will be there plus the equipment we
already have. >> And to be honest, there's there's days where I've gone out and swept the sidewalk for them because I wanted to get the the light snow off before it turned ice. So we've used our sweeper and taken care of that for them now. Commissioner Mojo,
>> thank you. Uh, you know, this is a day that I I think we were all hoping and have worked really hard to avoid coming to a point where we need to start planning for these pieces. Uh, for the public, we're holding out hope that um
we can find a solution for this. Um, you know, I think there's some several several pieces and you've talked about them where the county has done them and not added it into the budget because um it just made sense to do like you talked about with the moving snow off of
sidewalks and around doors and the janitorial pieces. And I think that's a tit fortat piece. I'll say it always costs me more to have things contracted than to do them myself. And so I think there are some cost savings that can be realized. Um
the hard part here is that we have um we've really worked towards um there not being a major jolt to residents. And I think that's the piece where we're all trying to find what makes the most sense so that residents
in a time when we're hearing from people that it costs more to buy groceries and gas and all of those things don't see such a large hit here. Um, I'll I'll there's a a Henry Ford quote uh that says coming together is a beginning,
keeping together as a progress, and working together is a success. And I think right now there's a partnership that has failed, and that's really disappointing. >> I agree. I yeah, it's this has been a long
process and and you know, I'm speaking as a a Morehead resident and as a county commissioner and I I really believe that when we entered into this agreement back when we did on this transfer station, starting from uh the lobbying efforts
that were done and nobody lobbied harder than our uh landfill administrator at the time, Klay County landfill administrator at the time did for this project. And um that that being that being said, uh I
think that the original deal was great for everybody. I mean, the county took over an incredible amount of expenses >> that we didn't have to do because it wasn't our transfer station.
It's, you know, it's the transfer stationation was needed by Morhead, but I, you know, when you when you talk about what, you know, the original tipping fee that we've had has been $56, right? >> Correct. And now if we if we adjust these
expenditures based on just to what is happening within the uh resource recovery facility and you put those expenses in their appropriate places, that tipping fee number for the resource recovery
facility goes to $81. Is that Did I Am I using the right number? 81. >> Yep. Correct. And and I could argue that it could go even higher if if we wanted to be nitpicky because as you mentioned, I have a list here of um things that we added that we're paying for. Nine
dumpsters that we wouldn't have needed if we wouldn't have built this facility. A hook truck. Um nine dumpsters are $72,000. A hook truck is $80,000. The skids steer 52. The forklift 40. Two semi-trailers. Four semi- garbage trailer tractor or trailers, excuse me.
Um, all those things add up as well as the staff that we've added. We've added a a scale operator, um, a drive-through attendant, three part-time drive-through help, an office manager, and a second truck driver that were those are still being spread out amongst everybody. So,
so, so you know when you look at those numbers, you know, you could probably say that the county has been subsidizing that resource recovery facility, but the county has benefited as well by having, you know, I think there's probably 20 I
think we talked about 21% of the uh waste that goes into that facility uh is from outside city limit. limits before the small transfer station at Morhead. I I don't know that they even allowed >> did not know >> they didn't allow anything from outside
of the city. So there there clearly is, you know, there clearly is some uh some subsidizing that went on on behalf of the county in the operations of that facility. And like you said, the I mean there was
additional surprises. You didn't you didn't talk about the new scale operator that we also I don't think you listed that one as well. >> I did have a scale operator in there. Yeah. Second truck driver. I didn't include the trucking cost that we've been covering. That's that's over
$200,000 in itself. So yes, I agree. We have subsidized or have been subsidizing to benefit the whole county. Um but Morehead gets the majority of that benefits. So, I you know, and again, I I'm I'm still holding out hope that we
can still get this figured out before, but at some point in time, uh in the near future, Cory's going to have to let everybody know. Um we have a lot of a lot of rural haulers who are depending on of course if
they're rural haulers and if they're willing to take it to the landfill, uh their tipping fee won't change. >> Correct. But if there there's some of those rural haulers who are using the resource recovery facility. >> Yeah. Apparently all of them are using at least part-time.
>> Yeah. And so you know they may elect to not bring that material there. >> Commissioner. >> Yeah. just a question and uh I was not part of this commission but I was working for the city of Morhead when
this uh resource recovery was was accepted as a as a team effort. Does the county Klay County with the exclusion of Morehead need a resource recovery
site? >> No, we did not need a transfer station. We could have built additional building at the landfill that could have held our household hazards and our recycling and done it with the staff that we had at that time um by by moving it to Morhead and and creating a
second location. We had to add all the staff and we did not need the tipping floor at all. That's purely the city of Morhead that needed that. And uh my understanding is the county carries the the bond on this that the
county financed the building of this Yep. Yeah. We purchased the land. We paid for the utilities to come out there. We bonded for it. >> Okay. >> In fair in fairness to that component of it, all of the county is helping pay for that through either through the capital
thing on the property tax or through the tipping fee. Everybody's everybody's helping pay for that bond. >> Understood. But the county is carrying the the uh debt. >> Okay. on a on a facility that was built to serve our county residents in the
city of Morehead. The county has accepted that debt and the county has built the facility that the rest of the county did not need, but the the county residents within the city of Morhead do. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> One one thing, Commissioner,
>> I don't think it would be it's it's a want. It's not a need for the city of Morhead. They can truck to the landfill. >> You'd be paying for a lot of maintenance on trucks and a lot of new trucks. >> Well, yeah. >> If you want, it's not a need. >> Well, I think, you know, in in fairness,
they they they did have a transfer station before. Right. Um and and part of, you know, part of that transfer station does have benefit for the county in terms of uh allowing us a better way
to supply Prairie Lake or Prairie Lake solid waste with a sorted burnable garbage. So, so that even though that we don't need the transfer station as a county, I mean the city that's the city's deal, but there's we can't be
mistaken that there isn't a benefit to the county. you know, I I mean, in all fairness, we have to talk about that because um but I I guess it to me it just goes back to uh I you know, when I said early on, I said I as a Morehead resident, as a
county commissioner, I really fel felt that both parties really we did some give and take in this original deal that really developed a good contract. And yeah, would I like to as a county commissioner responsible for the county
stuff, would I like to be able to go and say, "Boy, we added an awful lot of stuff that we didn't know about because we did." And maybe another party doesn't want to do do the snow removal in the grass anymore. But the fact of the matter is is we all took have taken on more than
than what we probably thought we should have. >> Hence, I still think the contract that we have is a good contract. And one way we can avoid all these tipping fee increases is to just stay with our contract. >> And that was an option that was given.
>> Any do we have any any other thing? I um I know I know and I do want to point out that our administrator and and assistant county administrator Darren have have been working with the city and the negotiations with uh the city manager
and and I guess I've kind of from our standpoint we've just asked Steve to try to work out a deal and if we can't work out a deal this is what we have. So the followup to that uh not knowing the dates, we need a preliminary levy uh in
September, >> right? >> And so this for the current time, this is the proposed budget we will be working with, right? But if it's um here's what I'm getting
at. What if there isn't a settlement in um one way or another that isn't known until October? Then I I'm just saying that um do we have a
do you have numbers that would we would adjust back to if there you know with the new agreement before December? >> Yes, I I have this is about the fourth budget I've done for this for this year. Okay. Um >> I have a budget if they were to sign the
original contract again or sign renew the contract. Yeah. >> Um if there's any renegotiation somewhere in between that then I would have to adjust but we could we could do that rather quickly. >> So we're still in that time frame. Okay. >> All right. Um >> Mr. Chair.
>> Yes. I might also just say in regards to um full transparency for the public, we've had lots of meetings since we received the the uh the letter. Uh we've um met with city council members. We've met with uh the administration. We've
requested to present this to the city council, the numbers to the city council at meetings and at workshops. So, um you know, we are we stand ready to provide information if needed. All right, Corey, thank you for your presentation
this morning. And um we will going back to Commissioner Krabangh's uh question. Um, I I think an ultimate decision is going to have to be made in, you know, tying in with our even though these aren't
really levy numbers, but tying into that same time frame that we're those are the decisions we're get because if we're taking this over, uh, we have some significant things that decisions that have to be made on equipment. >> Correct. >> That's probably the biggest issue that we would face immediately. Y
>> and we we can't be I mean I mean we always have an option of of temporary leasing equipment but that isn't in our best interest. So um so I think Commissioner Krabnoff to your question I I would think that this better this should be resolved one way or another um
by the time frame we set for establishing our preliminary lobby. >> I also need to get letters out to the haulers if things are going to change. You generally send those out in October. >> Yeah. All right. Thank you, Corey. >> Corey, would you like to give a plug for
your empty pesticide collection? >> I don't have the dates with me, but yes, we'll be doing our annual pesticide collection at the landfill. I believe it's the first >> September 2nd through the 5th. >> I believe it's the first week of September. So, any empty pesticides can be brought out there and we will store
them until they're hauled away. >> Shockingly, we are two minutes within our time frame on our We're going to take a fivem minute break. All right. All right. We are Let's see. We got everybody back here. We are back
in session. Our next item is a discuss discussion and approval of the 2026 Insurance Broker Partnership. >> Yes. Good morning. >> Good morning, Anna, >> commissioners. Um so the first item I am here for this morning um is to discuss
our uh broker for 2026. Um Klay County is currently partnered with a company called National Insurance Services, also known as NIS. And that contract um and partnership has been in place since approximately 2018 or 2019. Um NIS has provided um support and the transition
in 2020 when we moved from or added the grandfathered and non-grandfathered status. And then they also helped us secure a four-year deal with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Um, however, over the last couple years, we've I've experienced increased satisfaction in the service and the both customer service and
communication that's been provided by NIS. So, with that, uh, this summer, I went out and looked for other broker opportunities um, and found a local broker named Choice Insurance located out of Fargo, North Dakota. um and choice has come to the insurance
committee um to kind of discuss their proposal and also in the RFP process. So, we're looking to move to choice for 2026 um due to just stronger communication and transparency uh and local knowledge on the market. They do have kind of a unique perspective being local to Fargo Morehead where we haven't
had that before. Um and then ultimately the decision lies with you all but the insurance committee did vote unanimously to recommend the carrier change from NIS to choice for 2026 that >> any further discussion commissioner
Kavanaaugh I >> yeah no that's >> you looked at me like >> yeah I want to make a comment so you know our health committee has had uh multiple uh discussions over these last few
months. Um, we heard from uh Anna and others uh the changes that were going on, the silence uh um just a lack of response from MI NIS >> and and when the other group that uh
choice benefits came in um I think we've listened to them three times since my memory and and the amount of data they've given us and the choices and the
um deep dive into the processes. Uh I think it's been a true benefit, a real education for me personally and and I just feel that um yes, they're vying for the business. I understand that. But
they're doing their job and I I don't feel that um we've gotten that. Uh I think the um we're going to hear some pretty good rates uh very happy rates in fact uh of our possibilities of uh uh
with the choice of a new health um provider. Um but I think a lot of that came uh by the work of choice benefits and we may or may not seen it uh if they hadn't
gotten involved. if we had just been solely talking with the NIS alone. So um anyway, I appreciate all the work you've done. Um um you know uh NIS they're pleasant people
but uh again in my opinion they just aren't doing the job that they uh uh should be. Anna, do you want to we also talked about the how what how the fee is based and can we give a comparison between
um the per member uh with NIS versus choice? >> Absolutely. So NAS charges $62626 per member per month for health insurance and $1 per month for dental. Choice would be charging $6 per member
per month for health and $1 for dental. So there would be a 26 cent savings per member per month with Choice. >> And we have how many members? >> Um or as of yesterday we have 514 contracts. >> Okay.
All right. So the um again the insurance committee met again yesterday. Uh I I serve in that as well with Commissioner Krabanoft and and um that's one of the things when we went through this Commissioner Kraban
and I did not vote in in in yesterday's meeting. uh we wanted to get a true opinion from everybody else and as Anna mentioned I I think you said it was unanimous >> was >> recommendation and so at this point in time there is a
request and um I Anna is also up against the clock in terms of getting ready for open enrollment and all the things that would need to be done in that regard. So I think we're definitely looking for a
decision on on this today as long as other recommendations that follow this today. Right. >> Correct. >> All right. So any other questions among the board or commissioner? >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion uh to fulfill the financial obligation to
MI NIS and buy out contract for 2026 and switch brokers. Is that in order? >> I I I think what we're looking for today would just would be a motion to
um approve the hireer of choice as our broker. >> Okay. I'm just reading from the >> sheet we've got here, but >> um the broker is >> we're well I mean
>> we Yeah, we're we're the recommendation by the insurance committee was to go with choice as the broker. Okay. >> I think that's kind of >> I'll just amend my motion that we go with Choice as our insurance broker. So
we have a motion to um higher choice and I I would imagine that you'd want that effective now, right? >> Correct. So the contract would be in place for 111 of 2026. However, we would be working with choice to I guess get through open enrollment and leading up to that, but the contract would be for
one of >> starting 11 26. >> Okay. We So we need a second to that motion if there's >> Yeah, certainly. Second, >> we have a motion and a second to hire
choice as our insurance broker uh effective 1126. >> Okay. >> Question. >> Question. Yes. >> Is that a one-year contract? >> So, we because we haven't seen a contract yet, um we can negotiate whether that's one year, two year, so
forth. I think that as it being we I'm going to get into excuse me, I'm going to get into health in just a second. And um the health is a two-year contract, so we'll have to decide if we want it to be a one year or two year to start. Okay. Thank you. Um the next item we haven't voted yet.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. >> All right. Do we have any further discussion on that motion? Any further discussion? >> I'll just one last comment if I may. So you may have said it but yesterday when this our our committee voted on this
this is purely unanimous. So I just want you to know there no reluctance on the uh the group uh that was there. >> All right. Any further discussion? Seeing none. All in favor signify by saying I. I
>> oppose the same sign. That motion carries unanimously. All right, Anna, you have the next item is the request approval for 2026 health insurance renewal. >> Yes. So, this one's kind of exciting. Um the item
I'm here for today is our health insurance renewal. As um Commissioner Campbell said, um we finished up an RFP process this summer. We are coming off a four-year contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield that offered rate caps. And in the RFP process, we received multiple
proposals from several insurance companies. Um, if you look at the spreadsheet that I provided to you all. Um, you will see that the best offers that we received were from Medicica Health Partners and United Healthcare. Uh, the insurance committee is recommending a change to Medicica
insurance for 2026 and 2027. Medicica came in with a proposal for a negative 12% increase for 2026 with a 15% cap for 2027. So not to exceed 15% that second year. Um it would be a saving an annual
premium difference of 783,000 and some change. Um however the way that that um savings is split between Klay County and the employee is a 50/50%. So with a 12% decrease, uh the employer takes on or
would save 6% and the employee would save 6%. Um you will see on the spreadsheet that the number um 783,000 split in half does not exactly equate to the total decrease that's in the right hand corner. And the reason for that is
um Klay County is basing the um so I should say the renewal is based off of all the people that are on the health plan. all 514 contract or excuse me all 500 plus contracts. There's there is more than 514. However, Klay County pays the county contribution on 514
individuals. So, we have individuals that are on COBRA um or disability insurance through um the state that they are on our health plan but not compensated by Klay County. So the savings to Klay County for um to the employer specifically would be $425,000
just shy of $426,000 for 2026. Um with the proposal for Medicica, they are also giving a one-time wellness credit of $50,000. There's some parameters on how that can be used, but essentially we have a wellness committee here in Klay County that meets occasionally. I wouldn't say
not super often just because it's no longer funded. uh and so we would be able to kind of reestablish that committee and find wellness um incentives and things for our staff. The Medicica proposal also includes EAP. So we do have EAP through MCIT that would not replace MCIT would just be an added
benefit. Um and then Medicica also is going to provide or pay for a program called Healthy Invest at no additional cost for two years. So employees can earn um HSA or VIBA dollars by completing specific goals each month. Um the one
uh change to Medicica um from Blue Cross, if that's um the way that we move, is that it would drop the fourth quarter carryover. So right now our Blue Cross plan has what's called the fourth quarter carryover. And any claims met in the fourth quarter applied to your deductible and automatically roll over
to the next calendar year for three of our four health plans. And so there's some compliance issues with that in terms of having an HSA and if your plan next year is considered a high deductible based off deductible you met in a prior year etc. So the proposal with Medicica would be dropping the
fourth quarter carryover as well. Um and with that I will open it up to any questions. Oh I should probably add the insurance committee did vote unanimously to move to Medicica as well. And we, you know, I think you're showing
on this kind of what it would look like. Um, correct. So, um, based off of the, uh, county contributions that the county currently pays. Um, that is what the spreadsheet is listing. So, we have 227 employees that
are grandfathered. We have 80 individuals that carry a family health insurance plan and 207 individuals that are non-grandfathered. So the savings to the county is based off of the grant or based off of the county contribution contracts, not the total membership as a
whole. >> So if I may just add one thing, you may have already said it, but I just want to reiterate it. >> So if we would uh go with Blue Cross Blue Shield, we'd have a 6% increase. we go with America, we're going to be
having a 12% decrease. And so that's a huge net change. Now, I'm seeing um help me on this. I'm getting caught up maybe at the uh bottom, but that was somewhere in the
$700,000 range, was it not? >> Correct. So, it's a total of approximately $783,000 savings to as a whole. But the it's split between the county and the >> Yeah. And that's why the 425.
>> Yeah. So, thank you for clarifying. I skipped right to Medica and didn't talk about Blue Cross, but Blue Cross initially came in at a 21.9% increase for 2026, lowered it to 9.9 and then lowered it to six. So, it's a positive 6 for Blue Cross or -2 for Medicica. U
both policies are the same in terms of coverage and where the individual goes. open access. They can go to Sanford, Essentia, Mayo, any small clinic as long as that provider takes the correct insurance. Um, a very small disruption. I think it was less than 06, which was mostly
chiropractors. >> Didn't mean to steal your thunder. >> No, that's okay. Thank you for the reminder. >> But the net is the long of it, it's almost a million dollars. So, >> yeah, Mr. Chair, >> it's a little bit over a million.
whe if if we would have between going from a 6% increase to a 12% decrease, it's over a million. >> And I would also note, Mr. Chair, commissioners, that when I gave the initial levy projections, we did have a we did have a proposed increase within
that. Uh so if the board's actions were to move forward with Medicica, we would also be able to remove that uh dollar amount uh for the upcoming budget. Uh 300,000 Right. Um so these are change these would be
changes to the cafeteria plan but also within the cafeteria plan we have the are some of those other um like the dental isn't that part of the cafeteria plan too? >> It's well no it's not. So we base the county contribution off the increase or
the decrease to the health plan only. We do require that individuals also carry at least single dental and basic life but that those premiums are not factored into the county contribution. >> Mr. Chair, commissioners Anna is
planning to bring the ancillary um >> ancillary benefits line the benefit line item next next week. Uh part of that decision was going to be what what you did what decision you made on the broker piece uh because we have have different information for each of those brokers.
>> Thank you. >> Uh I I I just I I have a little bit of questions and clarifications on um how this breaks down. >> Okay. But it it should not prevent us
from making the the decision to move from Blue Cross to Medicica today. I think that's that's the request that the insurance committee gave and I um I just have a few more questions that I got before this is actually before the
cafeteria plan is finalized on how that works. Um but I think I think today uh it would be appropriate to um have a motion to um follow the recommendation of the insurance
committee and go with Medicare passport plan. >> Correct. >> In place of Blue Cross for 2026 and 2027. >> Correct. And the 2027 number also had a
maximum increase of 15% I believe it was for for this but that is also very similar to what Blue Cross had offered. So the second year um there's a max there's a cap I guess that's the word they use is a cap and that cap is
probably very similar between Blue Cross and Medica. So, um, >> so if I can help with that language, I'll make a motion. >> And your motion is to >> Yeah, I'll make a motion to support the insurance committee's recommendation for
the renewal uh uh or to have a renewal our renewal to be with a Medicica passport plan, cafeteria plan for the years 2026 and 27. >> Very good. We have a motion. Is there a second? Second.
>> We have a motion by Commissioner Krabanov, second by Commissioner Bear. Any further discussion? >> Just one comment. >> Yes. >> Before since I've been I'm a private employee, I work for myself and I've had Blue Cross Blue Shield and Medicica for the last back and forth for the last 10
years. You do not notice a difference >> when you're using it at the hospital. >> Basic basically what we've been told is you're you're going to carry a different card. >> It's a different card. all of the everything else. Um I think there was a very small
uh maybe difference that might be more chiropractic related. Anna, do you want to just touch on that real quick? >> Absolutely. So there was um a 99.4% match between Blue Cross and Medicica in terms of the providers. So that um 06 is going to be the mostly chiropractors. I
don't have those numbers in front of me today, but there was one or two um health providers that were either in the cities, we had one in Florida. So, a pretty small disruption for health insurance specifically. >> The employees should not see a difference really other than the card they get in the mail.
>> That's correct. Anything else? >> Chris, did you have a comment? You're just are you just kind of listening in? I know Chris was part of our insurance. >> Okay. I know Chris is was part of the insurance committee, too. So, all right,
we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion on the motion? Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I >> oppose the same. That motion carries unanimously. Thank you, Anna, for you
did a lot of work on this. >> Thank you. >> You and u Darren and everybody else. We're a little behind schedule, but we will uh make open enrollment happen. >> All right. Very good. Thank you. >> All right. We are on to our committee
reports. Commissioner Mo, would you like to start today? Sure. Last week I attended the Metrocog TDP virtual open house which was a recap on all of the work that they've done during that study. Some really great
information that you can access on the Metrocog website. I attended the Klay County Planning Commission meeting. There were a number of hearings that were held. There was a CUP from Mincota Electric, a substation in Glendon Township that was approved.
an IUP uh for Westland Materials, a mining permit uh in Keen approved. There was a request for a CUP from Novel Energy for a 1 megawatt community solar garden in Flowing Township. There were
pretty long discussion on um the amount of cups that have been approved but have not moved towards uh completion of the project, but uh nevertheless, this one did uh receive an approval. a CUP for a cannabis business in Holly Township on
the south side of Highway 10 was approved. And there was a text amendment request uh from a Scott DMS wanting to add cannabis retail to the egg service uh establishment
um district. Long discussion on that. Obviously, it's a recommendation to this board there. It did um not re receive favorable recommendation towards this board. Just um a lot of comments from the folks on the board
stating that a lot of work had gone into where we would allow those businesses wanting to see what the market does in regards to what is existing and how that moves forward. Uh but this board will have the opportunity to um weigh in on
that with the final say. I think we all received invitations from the applicant on what they'd like to see in that. That's the Baker um Baker elevator. I attended a PRTF planning meeting with
Commissioner Kavanagh and Administrator Larson in regards to moving forward with the grant. uh awarding that we'd received from the state. There's some information that Steve had to provide to them moving forward with that. Uh had discussions
with Representative Keeler about that and the legislative request that we have forward for the non-secure facility, but also the flooding um bills and then uh discussed with her about the transportation meeting that I believe
two of our commissioners did attend. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of last week, I was in Hastings for the AMC uh board of directors strategic planning. I appreciate the board's uh willingness to allow me to serve in that capacity. A reminder that u my um expenses for that
were covered by AMC and not for the county. Had the opportunity to take in one of our great festivals in Klay County, the Potato Days Festival in Barnesville. great work to the planning committees that uh put that on. Yesterday I attended the Lakeland Mental
Health Center uh board. There's interesting that we talked about um health insurance today uh at this board. There was a long discussion at that board about that. There's um receiving proposals of increases of 40 to 52% on
theirs. uh reminder they decided to go self-insurance and that has been challenging in um in in a many different ways. So uh they are working through that. Uh we did attend at the Alexandria
office. That um uh office has had some challenges because of road constructions folks getting to the office um still providing great services. But I would say in the 10 and a half years that I've served on Lakeland's board, this was probably the single worst month that
they'd ever had. They were seeing um high singledigit margins for the entire year in July. Uh that wiped their margin to 0.1 for the whole year. So uh couple that with um lots of programs in the red and
their uh their um insurance components. um they're they're doing some things to mitigate losses going forward. The difference is they usually July is slow because of the school-based mental health pieces and and um children's
services uh slows in the summer. So hoping they can rebound in a healthy way. And then after that, I attended a flood mitigation strategic session with Commissioner Campbell, members from the chamber, the diversion authority, and
the city of Morehead. on bonding tour um items. And that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Commissioner Bear. >> Last one, Wednesday, August 20th, we had a building committee meeting where we
had an update on an LEC BCA BCA audit from Sheriff Empty. We passed the audit, but there's a few things, minor changes over the LEC that we have to fix. And then we also had a project updates.
The joint highway roof project started August 18th. The F FSC light replacement projects about 40% done. And then the fitups on the in on floor second, the second and fourth floor on the FSC
is complete as well. And uh the departments are moving into those two floors and the attorney fit up project is complete. We had all those projects have came through this board with approval. and I'm just giving you an update on that. And then we also had there the cap Joe has been putting
together a capital improvement plan for 2025 uh a living plan that shows what's been happened and and what plans on happening. He'll come and present that eventually to this board. And then we also discussed
rental over at the FSC building where we're going to get some more information there. And then we also had an over at the joint highway building, we had an AC condenser go out over there that would cost roughly $18,000.
Joe figured fund 19 can fund our portion of our our portion is about $18,000 and fund 19 with the savings on that roof project should cover that. Um that's pretty much what happened at the building committee. Commissioner
Campbell was also there. So if he has any comment he can. And then yesterday I was up at Holstead for the West Central Regional Water District with Commissioner Campbell as well. And we had updates there. The final
survey is wrapping up. We should be done with the final survey in the next six weeks. Once we finish that, we should be able to ask for a court hearing to get that done. And we're hoping to have that in nove late November, early December to
finally put the pin in the West Central Regional Water District to get off the ground. We also had an update with AE2S is going to be applying for permits this coming week to for the Hallstead
crossing with the city of Holstead. We had an update on our EPA earmark for 2024 that we're waiting for. That's about 1 point right around $1 million, $1.1 million. And we've got a new person that's working with us there. So, it's
there's been some changing there and it's it's dragging out longer than we're hoping for, but hopefully we still get that money this year. And for 2026, uh, PK County is in there for about
$750,000 still for earmark funds. So, we'll hopefully hopefully they stay in, but we'll find out. And um, we have spent about 90 90% of the $500,000 that's allocated by all three
counties. So, we're about 10% left there in the fund. And that's about all I have to comment on that. Those were my two committees. Chair, >> thank you, >> Commissioner Ebinger. >> Thank you. Uh Tuesday the 19th, uh I
attended the pick committee meeting which covered u the issues we had today as far as the uh art artificial intelligence policy and the U detox scheduling software. Both those were approved by pick and
went forward. On uh Thursday the 21st, I attended the board meeting for the greater Fargo Morehead EDC. Uh discussed the goals for I28. Um
we looked at uh the budget as well that they had the projected budget for I28. Um they had a board survey that we discussed that's going out this week and they're planning a board retreat for September and that was part of the
discussion. And on uh later that day, I attended the safe routes to school community conversation that Representative Keeler had gotten together to address the
uh concerns that some of the Morehead citizens have on the routes to school in general, but specifically it was around the fatality traffic accident that occurred at 16th uh 40th Avenue and 16 16th Street South
uh here a couple of weeks ago. Uh had a really good conversation with people there. The turnout that Representative Keeler got to come was phenomenal. We had um Senator Coopek, we had uh the chair of the transportation committee
from the house. We had uh school board members. We had Morehead City Council members. We had um uh a presentation from uh on blanking. Dan
from >> Dan Farnsworth from Metro. >> Yes. Dan Farnsworth from Metrocog which is part of the study that has been done for Morehead and applying for these funds. It was a it was a very good turnout and it was a very good meeting.
Uh I'm I'm really gratified that we had this the uh elected officials. Mr. Krabangh was there too. Uh it was a it was a good good evening. And then uh Monday I yesterday I attended the uh
diversion authority financial plan meeting with the uh director and some of the staff from the diversion authority. very informative uh very thought well thought out and as a
board member I now feel really empowered with a lot of information that was valuable on where we're going to go in the next 30 years so it's uh it's worth the time and a lot of effort was put into it by the diversion staff and that
completes my reports. >> Thank you Commissioner Kavanagh. >> Thank you Mr. chair on the uh afternoon 19th u had the adult mental health monthly meeting very well
uh attended our group continues to grow. Uh we had a presentation by Pearl Harbor about the work they do and not only um uh their work as a ERS
facility but also um uh crisis um uh um a crisis u what's the word I want um crisis bed uh place also and there weren't um
we then we had agency reports from everybody and just a lot of cross stocking uh of sharing information and moving forward that group continues to grow with uh providers as well as um
consumers. Uh, as already me mentioned by Commissioner Moto, uh, the next day, uh, we had, uh, Jenny and I and Steve had to talk about the items she talked about, as well as I, um, mentioning just a
couple, um, conversations about potential lobbyists um, in the future. Um on Wednesday afternoon uh I had the um historical and cultural society finance uh committee we had an indepth
uh presentation by um uh uh on our annual audit and uh uh things that they have the highest rating they can get for this type of audit. So that will be um uh presented again to
the board uh this week and then um get set so that they can do their 990 work later in the year for the nonprofit. On 21st Thursday I had a um part of the
co coalition virtual meeting with the suicide and substance abuse group. uh about 50 people were online. Uh lots of good conversation. Should get my note here.
Again, new trainers uh in the area for sources of strength were brought up. Uh very successful program in our school districts. Uh also uh a couple awarenesses
um by uh the uh health and human side uh health suicide prevention coordinator from the department of health. He uh gave a little bit of a awareness of the programs and the tool kits that they
provide and then a reminder about the effectiveness of the 988 uh call. Um 988 day is September 8th coming up and September is um suicide prevention um month. uh people that call in on this
number, there's stats um for people considering suicide or suicide thoughts um that there's a 85% effective rate of stop stopping um potential damage and and uh really important. It was noted
sadly that uh at that meeting maybe there were more but they noted that even in the month of of um of the last month I should say we had four side four suicides in Clay County. So it's something we need to continue to be
aware of. Um uh later that morning I had the uh HA monthly board meeting went through the treasures report. Uh they're trending in a positive direction which is good with
some of the challenges that we're facing legislatively uh doing very good work. We will be meeting them obviously this uh afternoon get further detail from Diren group as to their projects what they're doing and
then they'll come forward with a tax levy request for us which looks at this time to be uh the same as last year. Um and she'll tell you more about some uh grants uh she's been able to get utilizing the levy dollars that we
provide for them. After that, I had the uh health insurance committee. Obviously, we made our motions and passed them today of those discussions. We're having a health provider, our broker as well as the health
health policy provider. Um then, um I went um to the Metrocog meeting. Uh just real quickly on that, they had their consent agenda with um their in months and reports as well as
purchasing some pedestrian counters to be used in their work. Um they had uh um the main thing the H Heartland Trail study uh their work has been completed that's online. Uh there certainly is
further action, but as far as the alternative routes that community wanted, they're they're all identified and then also it's not known yet well if it will be a state trail or a uh regional trail and there's different
sources of funding and different uh regulations for each. So we'll hear about that down the road. And then they were um beginning a um uh kindred comprehensive and transportation plan.
Uh right after that I caught the first 45 minutes of the conversation that um Commissioner Ever talked about at the invite of Rep. Keeler on regarding the um
um the safe routes to school. Um and after that I had my CAPLP board meeting and um again incredible work being done by this group and uh number of grants uh leading forward um and I'm
trying to think if there was anything particular to really reach out but um anyway moving forward in a good way lots of and I want to thank them too. They put on two events uh for the community and they were really well um um
attended. They had their 61st first an annivers or 60th anniversary sorry of CAPLP in um in uh for Lexon Prairie. Uh as a fact it was brought into Morehead
one year after it was signed into law by uh President Johnson. So kudos to them. And then yesterday I had the completion of another um health insurance committee meeting again we acted that on that. So that's my report.
>> All right. Thank you. August 19th I also attended the personnel issues committee meeting and commissioner Evinger has reported on that. I really don't have anything to ask. We did have a couple other other things on the agenda that were not recommended at the
time. Uh further information was requested on that. The 20th I attended the building committee that Commissioner Bayer reported on. I really don't have any thing to follow up on that other than I
think they when he talked about the LEC BCA audit. I, you know, I think there was some door security issues and those types of things getting into the weeds a little bit, but they were somewhat minor things that that they wanted to have
done to fulfill the audit. So, the sheriff and um Mr. Olsen are working on getting that those resolved. On the 21st, I seemed to attend another
insurance committee meeting, one of several that seemed to go on and uh ultimately uh those discussions were part of what we discussed with Anna today and the recommendations that ultimately happened. Uh the 25th, I
attended the West Central Regional Water Board meeting that Commissioner Bear reported on. It was actually good to see um the regional director of the DNR there. Um, and I think he, you know, he basically
gave us some good advice ahead of time in terms of, um, you know, as we talk with communities and and, you know, you get some of your bigger communities and they want to be water suppliers as opposed to
recipients of water. And the DNR just wants to be aware of all of those things to make sure that what these lo local communities think they have cap have for capacity is what they really have for capacity because almost all of them are
taking it from groundwater and um the DNR pretty much governs the aquifers and groundwater capacities. So it was I think it was information well received by the board to keep them in the loop.
Yesterday I did attend the uh insurance committee meeting um and we acted on the things that need to be acted on today. There were also decisions on uh carriers for the ancillary insurance plans which
will be coming forward next week. And I I I wanted to comment a little bit on I know Commissioner Emir and Kravanov mentioned they were at the safe routes to school thing that was put on by um Representative Keeler and I I think
that's that's a great conversation that went on and I know with that tragic accident that happened in the area there it certainly uh um did invoke some discussion. Uh I I you know I I think we got to remember that there's when we
when we talk about the actual safe routes to school programs uh this board sees a lot of things that come forward from our highway engineer and in all smaller communities I believe it's any community it's either under
6,000 or 5,000 people or less any safe routes to school grant applications have to go through the county uh for a as part of um um basically we have to sign off on it or be a sponsor I think is the
word that Justin would use. Whereas this the city the size of Morehead uh they don't have to go through the county for their safe routes to school. They have they go through their own engineering process. So um but I I'm glad to see that there was some some good dialogue
in terms of safe routes to school. We we try to act when we can and help in all of our smaller communities. So overall, I think that was a good thing. Steve, would you care to give your report, please? >> Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. On the 19th, I participated in the PIC meeting that's
been well covered. Uh also on the 20th participated in the PRTF uh discussion uh or committee meeting that we've talked about. I think that uh in addition to things that have been shared, we're going to be looking to restart our internal committee uh to uh to start planning for anticipating the
next legislative session. Uh the 20th also participate in the building committee that's been covered. Well, uh I did have a meeting on with probation. Uh it's the second budget update that we've had from Dale. Uh just to be aware, he's going to be on the
board next week. uh he was made aware recently uh since our first presentation that he provided of some legislative changes in funding that that pertained uh to uh to felony probation uh that would have a negative impact on on the
our budget. Um I will leave that uh I'll leave that for ne further explanation next week from Dale uh because I want to make sure that it's said correctly. uh but uh just an awareness that that could certainly have a significant impact uh on on what we what we cost what it cost
us for probation services. Uh as was mentioned, we had multiple insurance committee meetings last week that were covered. Also participated in the West Central Water District meeting virtually. Uh just a couple different things. So we we do have a on our website, we have a opportunity for a
citizen opportunity for Klay County Extension Committee. uh we're looking for a member to be one of our six appointed uh county residents. And so if you're interested in that, there's more information on the web page. On Thursday, I'm going to be meeting with uh Kristen
Christristen Christensen uh who is the new regional out outreach director for Senator Clolobashar. So if there's any anything this board would like to make sure we discuss as part of the importance of Klay County, please let me know. Uh and
just lastly uh based on the discussions that we had uh today with the insurance uh we are set looking to set by our schedule our preliminary uh levy a little bit earlier this year u September 16th. So, I plan to bring uh Lori and I
forward next week for some budget and looking for some further insight from this board, particularly on uh on uh potentially the use of fund balance uh the the dollars that we pay uh or have been providing non-county entities uh so
we can look at finalizing uh that budget for the preliminary. That concludes our report. >> Thank you, Ryan, Erin. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh on Tuesday I also attended the pick meeting. I won't cover that. It's always been covered
well. Uh also I attended the board of adjustments uh remotely. The only thing three things we had there was uh uh three companies gravel and excavating were asking for right ofway setbacks and uh to move a scale house. Those were all
approved. Commissioner Mojo um already covered the planning commission meeting, so I'll skip over that. Uh Wednesday morning we had a meeting with some of the government center um employees on the operations. I also attended the
building committee which is also been covered. On Thursday I drove down to um St. Paul to attend the in-person MC meeting. Uh Friday had a meeting with Steve and an on some personnel issues.
And then yesterday um reviewed some of the responses to the corrections proposals. uh that Josh Hegim has sent me. So I reviewed those. I also attended the insurance committee and then had a meeting with uh Anna and uh Steve Monday
afternoon on a personnel issue issue. That's my report. Sarah, nothing. Okay. Anything else? We are