Good morning everyone. It is 8:30. I'll call today's meeting of the Klay County Board of Commissioners to order. The first item on the agenda is a approval of the agenda. >> Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve the agenda. >> Second. >> Motion to approve from Commissioner Bayer. Second from Commissioner Ebinger.
Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppos. Same sign. Carried. citizens to be heard. Are there any citizens in the
audience wishing to address the board on any item that is not on the agenda? >> Seeing none, have we had any online correspondents? >> Uh we did. Um Miss Madam Chair, I did have a email from Nicole Sanders from Birthright if you recall last fall. Uh
she came before this board and presented that they were facing some financial challenges uh and asked for support of the community. Uh, Miss Sanders did send in another uh request to to share this in front of the board uh that they are continuing to struggle and they need to
need some help or they're close to uh shutting their doors. So, if there's citizens out there that are willing to provide uh different uh different items for them, they would be would be greatly appreciated. >> Thank you. Next item today would be the approval of
the payment of bills and vouchers. I'll move to approve the vouchers. >> We have a motion offered from Commissioner Kabanoffgh to approve the payment of bills and vouchers. A second from Commissioner Bear. Any further discussion? Any further discussion?
Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Same sign carried. The minutes from January 6th, 2026 were in the packet. Madam Chair, I move for the approval of the minutes from January 6,
2026. >> We have a motion offered from Commissioner Evinger to approve the minutes. >> A second from Commissioner Kavanagh. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify
by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carried. Item two on the agenda today is a request approval to purchase survey equipment. >> Yes, good morning. So, the item I have this morning is requesting approval to
purchase survey equipment from Frontier POS precision. Included in this purchase is two GPS receivers, data collectors, and a robotic total station. Just kind of a little bit of an FYI on what we use this equipment for. So this is used
every day throughout the construction season and surveying. So this equipment is used in all of our surveys as well as staking for construction projects. And then the robotic total station allows for greater precisions when staking. Then also allows to stake underneath
bridges and in wooded areas where you don't get a GPS signal. And then the robotic total station can also be used to automatically scan and then also do stock piles for all of our materials that are in our pits and at our highway department. I guess any questions? And
then this would be out of the internal service fund. Um we replace this every 5 to 6 years. Last time we replaced it was 2019. >> Thank you, Justin. The internal service is adequate to cover the cost.
>> Yep. Any questions from the board? >> Madam Chair? >> Yes. >> I would move to approve the uh purchase survey equipment from Frontier Frontier Precision in the amount of 124,02363. >> We have a motion offered from
Commissioner Ebinger to make the purchase. >> Second. >> A second from Commissioner Bear. Any further discussion, Justin? In regards to what we are putting into the internal service, will it need to be adjusted based on the cost of this purchase?
>> A little bit. Um, so Lori handles most of that, but I will give her a life. And then >> for the most part, it has worked out really well. >> Any further discussion? Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I.
>> Oppos. Same sign. Carried. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Item three today is a request approval to refill the adult mental health targeted case manager position. Good morning, Quinn. >> Morning, Madam Chair, commissioners. Uh yes, I'm here requesting to uh refill
our adult mental health targeted case management or rule 79 uh more commonly referred to uh within our adult and behavioral health unit due to an upcoming retirement of a long-standing staff member. Many of you probably know her. Um she's been with us in this role for over 18 years and has provided
highly specialized and consistent services to adults with serious and persistent mental illness here in Klay County. Um so just a little bit of context, this uh position plays a critical role in supporting individuals with complex mental health needs. The work focuses on care coordination,
service planning, crisis prevention, and connecting folks to community-based supports that promote stability and reduce the need for higher uh more acute inpatient stays or ER visits. Uh so maintaining continuity in this role would be essential for positive client
outcomes. Um this position does generate revenue through MA billing. Uh we added a second rule 79 case manager uh in the end of July of last year. Um you all approved that. Thank you very much. Um the projected annual revenue at that time was 115,000.
Uh I looked at our actual revenues for 2025 and we do have a small state set rate decrease for that service. Um so I'm lowering the projection to 106,000 for this um to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible. Uh while it is slightly
reduced, the revenue would offset the cost of this new position. Um the incumbent's salary and benefit is budgeted into 2026's budget. So we will see cost savings as a result of that. Um
sorry, give the exact dollar amounts here. Um so the incumbent's salary benefits is $130,90. uh her last day in the office will be March 12th, last day of employment, March 27th. So, we will have a little
bit of that salary expenditure within 2026. So, taking all things considered, there should be about $3,478 in savings assuming the new person comes in at grade 18 step one. Um, I'm asking for this now, um, as there's a lot of
institutional knowledge in this position, uh, that we would like to try and transition over to our other rule 79 case manager and the new person coming on, but it is likely that refilling of this position will take about 5 to seven weeks. Um, so hoping to get approval today, but I'd yield for any questions
that you have knowing that we have some time. >> Thanks. One question, >> Madam Chair, I have one question. >> Do you need backfill on this? I I would I am anticipating internal interest, so I would appreciate backfill if if approved. >> And since we've hired that person in July, how's that person been working out? Are they ready to
>> really good? Yep. They're building up a case load. I think last time I checked, uh Kirsten said I think they're at eight or nine already on that case load. We're going to very strategically transition some of the long-term folks off of uh the retiring staff's case load onto the new case manager. So then when when we
bring on potentially a refill, if the board approves, then that person would be building a case load and have consistency for the folks that we're serving now and then build up a new case load with a new person. Perfect. >> Commissioner Kavanagh. >> Yeah. Uh thank you, Quen. Yeah. Uh
working with developmental health and and that group, I understand the high demand on this and certainly appre uh understand the urgency. Um uh and I hope with a another new person, you know, obviously they're going to both well
depends on the experience that comes toward the position of course, but um that they grow into making that um into two very efficient jobs as soon as possible. So anyway, thanks. Commissioner Abinger.
>> Madam Chair, I would like to just make a motion uh to fill the rule 79 case manager uh with back fill if there's internal interest. >> Okay. We have a motion offered to approve with backfill from Commissioner Ebinger. >> Second >> and a second from Commissioner Bear.
The slot of um these requests coming up, not just this one um but did all go through the pick. >> Oh, I'm Yes. Thank you. Yes, this did go to pick. favorable um recommendation. Any further discussion? Any further discussion?
All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carried. Thank you. >> Item four today is the request approval to create a cadet program for the Klay County Sheriff's Office. We have Sheriff Empt with us today and Chris Martin.
Good morning. >> Good morning, Madam Chair, commissioners. Thank you for having us this morning. Uh what a cadet program would be, it'd be creating like another pathway to policing. This would be for college age uh students who are in a criminal justice program, whether it be
at Morhead State, Alec Tech, wherever it would be. Uh but we're looking for that individual that is looking to go into law enforcement. Uh this would be a program that uh they would be able to see all aspects of the sheriff's office, not just one, not just not just patrol,
but also investigations, civil courts, things of that nature. They'd be able to help out during jury trials when we're short right now in the uh in the courtroom. We'd be able to use them as as bailouts. Um currently right now, if we're short, we have to pay overtime uh
to our our deputies to cover some of those court uh shifts. We'd also have them experience the jail as well. So, it'd be something that they'd be able to experience all aspects. Um, and I think it would be uh good for us as far as recruiting in the future to where we are
able to see uh how they how they operate and uh how they uh operate under stress and we would be able to hopefully have that person go from cadet to deputy um when they have completed their schooling and when they have uh have taken their post test.
Uh, one thing up for discussion today is we we did discuss this in pick. Um, but it's where to start the start this person on the grid. Generally, we don't start people um below a grade eight, but I think this is this is one of those positions where we could start somebody
at step one, grade one. Um, and I did provide some wage calculator sheets um in the packet as well. >> Thank you, Sheriff. Questions? Yes, Commissioner. >> Yeah. Can you a little more background on the cadet program? So, what age is
this group and um is there any type of background that they might have prior to starting? >> Yes. So, they would be college-aged. So, anybody 18 and above and the background would be is um we would definitely do a
background check on them. And again, the schools generally do check backgrounds as well. So, this is somebody that's going to be in a criminal justice program already and uh we should be able to have a pretty good idea on what their background is. We have met um with a
couple of individuals already who's very interested in this program and would like to like to be part of it. >> Yeah, just seems to make sense. A great way to feed the program and the work. >> Thanks, Commissioner Abbeer. Yeah. Sheriff, what kind of training would you
have uh for these individuals within the department to make them uh capable in in the duties you assign them? >> Yeah, we would provide them some of our basic training that we would have first aid, use of force, things of that nature in hopes that they're not put in any
type of situation like that. We're not going to have them have a taser on them or anything like that. Um just some basic some basic type um things to start off with. You know, these are going to be people that are more going to be with a deputy um if they're doing a transport
or directing traffic at maybe a a parade in the summertime, things of that nature. That's what we're going to be looking for there. We had a the first 28 years I worked, I was with the department that had a cadet program. It
was a an excellent tool for recruiting and vetting people, too. we you'd have have some kids that got in there that you knew you didn't want to y >> advance um and you had you know solid reasoning behind it. So this sounds like
a great idea to me. One more question. They will be uniformed in something that correct >> clearly distincts them from >> correct. It will be uniformed. And the other thing I should mention as well is we're not not asking for any additional funds for this. We did have a variable hour. Uh deputy indicate about a week
and a half ago that he's not going to be able to uh work with us any longer. His full-time job is fairly busy now, so he's not going to be able to be with us. Therefore, we did budget for his um salary for 2026. Therefore, we're not asking for any additional funds for this
program. We would use those funds to cover the cost. >> How many how many cadets would you >> You'd be looking for three to four. >> Okay. Madam chair, I have one question. >> Yes. >> So, how how long can a cadet be a cadet? Do they sign up to be a cadet, go
through school, finish school, >> pass their tests, and then if they get hired, or can they still stay on as a cadet? >> We would, the ultimate goal is for them to pass their test, and then become a deputy with us, get licensed, become a deputy. That's the ultimate goal to the
program. So, you're only hoping, you know, depending on what school they're going to, whether it's a two or four year school, that they're only a cadet for that period of time. Further questions from the board? >> No questions, but I I'll make a motion, Madam Chair, to approve the creation of the Klay County Sheriff's Officer Cadet
program and establish pay to grade >> to be >> step one grade one. Is that >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Second. >> We have a motion offered from Commissioner Bear, a second from Commissioner Ebinger. Any further discussion? The motion reflects what we
talked about at Pink as well. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carried. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The next item would be five.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair and commissioners. Um, this is one program that uh the chief deputy has researched and come up with. Therefore, I'm going to turn it over to him. I just would like uh to voice my support for this as well. I think it's a good a good thing for the sheriff's office and the county.
>> Good morning, Madam Chair and commissioners. Um, so what you have in front of you is a joint powers agreement that the Minnesota BCA has come up with. They have a anti- hero heroin task force um that we were notified about and would
like to participate with um with the JPA. I did send it over to Mr. Melton last week and he reviewed it and sent it back to me. Um, the JPA would allow for us to be part of the task force. Um, which would mean that we would have access to up to $5,000 in reimbursement
funds per case for reimbursement of overtime while investigating heroin, opioids, or opiate investigations, which includes uh distribution and overdose investigations. Um each case would have
that um threshold of 500,000 or $5,000 if if approved by the BCA um which could go a long way for us um for investigations. One thing that's not required is we don't have any additional cost to our agency to be part of the task force. We
don't have any additional training that we would have to send members to uh to participate with the task force. Um it it appears to be a significant benefit for us to be part of the task force and I'm open for any questions if you have them.
>> Any questions for Chief Dy? >> Yes. >> Uh yeah, sounds like a very good opportunity. I'm curious um your association with BCA now. >> Um we are part of a couple of different
task force with them. Um, one is for juvenile investigations. Can't think of any other ones off hand that we have with them. We we have additional BCA agents, three agents that are stationed um at the LEC as well. So, we have close ties with our our agents
from Minnesota. >> Okay. Yeah. Anything to strengthen the relationship, >> Commissioner Abinger? >> Yeah. What other agencies uh are involved in this task force in the region? So, I'm not sure what other ones are involved in the task force. And it's
a little bit different than what you would normally think of as a task force where you're working as a group for the investigations. Being part of this task force, we can operate individually um and do our investigations and then submit the programs to to the BCA um so
that they can they can review them. We don't necessarily have BCA agents working with us or other agencies working with us on the investigation. >> Okay. So, it's not like the old ta drug task force. >> Correct. >> Okay. Sounds like a a good idea. And madam chair, I'd like to make a motion
to enter into a joint powers agreement for the state of Minnesota's anti- heroin task force program. >> A second. >> Motion offered from Commissioner Ebinger, a second from Commissioner Kraven to approve the request. Any further discussion?
Any further discussion? Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I. >> I. >> Opposed. Same sign. Carried. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thanks, guys. >> Item six this morning, the request
approval of the electronic health record program. Trey in the hallway. Okay. James, can we take your item? We'll move to agenda number eight.
>> Morning, Madam Chair, commissioners. >> Good morning. >> I'm here this morning to uh request permission to uh rehire uh an open position in our non-secure unit. Um we have a staff that's moving to Bumiji. So, um like permission to refill that.
Um there was a wage calculator provided. Um, looks like there'll be a savings of about $2,900 between the new and old um, employee if it got refilled. And I believe Anna brought this before pick last week um,
for me. Um, >> yes. Any questions? There's a request with backfill. >> Is this been by pick? >> Yep. Anna brought it before pick last week full. >> Okay. Commissioner Bear,
>> I'll just Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to rehire the open juvenile counseling position in the non-secure unit with Backville. >> Okay, we have a motion offered from Commissioner, a second from Commissioner Ebinger. Any further discussion? >> Any further discussion?
>> Any further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign carried. >> Thank you. >> We're a little ahead of schedule. Can we do uh committee reports? Commissioner Ebinger, can you start?
>> Sure. Okay. On the uh Wednesday the 14th, I attended the Northwest Mercy Communication Board meeting virtually. Um, we had election of offices
uh for both the rack and the the board. U Bruce Johnson and Jim Duckstead, our chair and vice chair for the uh the board and Chris Müller and Nancy Schaefer are chair and vice chair for
the rack. Uh we also did committee assignments within the rack and board and I move from the alternative uh or alternate uh representative on the legislative committee. I'll now be the
primary representative on the legislative committee. We uh voted on meeting dates and either the 13th of May or the 7th of uh or the 8th of of July, we will be
holding a meeting in Fargo at the new Red River Dispatch Center to get a tour of that. Uh later that day or no I'm sorry the following day on Thursday the 15th I virtually attended the Greater Fargo
Morehead EDC executive committee meeting um had a discussion on cash reserves and got an update on on uh decisions by the governance committee. There is a
discussion on uh the Fargo West Fargo membership with the EDC. Their uh share of dues are being paid or their their costs are being paid by Cass County and it is uh either going to take a change
in bylaws or some type of investment from from Fargo and West Fargo for them to be voting members. Uh we also had a uh review of the retreat results from December
and a discussion on the strategic playbook draft. Cass County uh just just before Christmas did contact and meet with uh Joe and and some of the executives
uh and they wanted to have a working written agreement that had states attorney review with expectations on measurable items. They received the agreement. It was uh
pretty extensive. And at this time there's a discussion as to whether they uh can work something out with Cass County to to sign it. If not, there will be Cass County does
contribute 2.5 million for the EDC and the U chamber with through the innovate 28 program. So that's to be determined. Later that day, I attended the meeting
for the West Central Regional Ju Juvenile Center. We had a uh everybody had wanted to go over. We held it at at the center. One other tour. We got a tour of the secure detention, secure residential, non-secure and clips
uh areas of the of the juvenile is very well received and it's just a reminder to me we really have a professional team and the people we have in there including the teachers are really committed to to helping these kids and
to being there for them and it's I I think we're all aware of it. I'm preaching in the choir here, but we're very lucky to have the leadership and the the staff that we've got over there. um
had a discussion on law enforcement response to West Central Regional Juvenile Center, and that stemmed out of um a kid who self-reported there on Cass County uh probation pickup, juvenile
probation pickup, and he was there was with his mother, and there wasn't a law enforcement agency to sign him in. and they contacted the probation officer. I'm sorry, it was a a Minnesota pickup order. The kid's a resident of Fargo.
Anyway, it led to some confusion and um I think with the solution we came up with is to get with Sheriff Empting and make sure that the deputies are aware if this need arises, somebody on duty can come in and sign them in. uh reviewed the 2025 statistics and
reviewed the uh draft of the budget. Also uh had discussion on the food service contract. It was updated uh same as as we've seen in our meeting. Uh later that day I had two meetings for
the library regional library board. The first was the finance committee meeting. Uh we approved a list of authorized institutions, Bell Bank and Edward Jones. I reviewed draft to the 2026 final budget.
Uh looked at design designated funds and approved them. And we appointed a committee which will be the finance committee to uh address the the issues that came up on a new formula. and we are going to start work on that immediately.
Following that, we had the full board meeting. Welcome new trustees, uh, Deb MacArthur from Manomomen, Paul Reese from Pulk County, and Terry uh, Khalil from Becker County.
And we had a review of the results of the finance committee and they voted on the on the appropriate issues. We approve the uh 2026 board meeting schedule and board committee assignments.
And Friday, uh on the 16th, Commissioner Bear and I both virtually attended because of weather, we weren't going to go to Becker County, but we had a had our Clay Becker Partnership for Health Community Health Board meeting.
uh had a review of all the doc the documents that we needed to put the new committee together. They've all been signed and they're all official joint powers agreement uh delegation agreements and bylaws. Had a transition update.
Um Brandon Nelson covered our financial review and our grants. Uh had a legislative update. We have the ship ship memorandum of agreement uh with the partnership for
health and prairie lakes which is the old coalition of all four counties and we are going to continue and shift to work together as one. Uh Clay Becker Partnership for Health uh for health official appointments. Uh I was chair
uh Dave Meyer from Becker County is vice chair. We have a community member from Becker County. it's their turn to have it. And uh the appointed state community health service advisory committee member will be Commissioner Bear.
And that completes my report. >> Thank you, Commissioner Abinger. Good morning, Troy. Can we take your item? We'll start with item number six, if you've had a chance to catch your breath. Uh item six is a request approval to
purchase an electronic health record program for the withdrawal management dedux program. >> Yes. Good morning madame chair and commissioners. Uh the first item I would like to discuss is we took this to pick and um we are looking for approval to
purchase a uh electronic health record program for our withdrawal management detox program. We're currently using paper uh charting and it is um not ideal. I think at least getting
into the 90s would be great and we could we could uh you know hopefully move forward with that, make our program better. We are going to um I have talked to um public health about uh the money
available for this system um and there is money in the opioid um funding um to to support this. So we're hoping to use that to get an initial start and then after that we will put it into our budget each year.
Um we'd be able to save some money because we wouldn't be paying into PH Doc anymore. Um, so it should be >> Thank you. Did you want to comment on it? I know you gave us some good insight at the pick committee.
>> Green. >> Um, improving to an EHR adds to safety. That's as a nurse, that's my priority is client safety. And uh you have our paper charts which are
easy to miss things whereas we get this written system. They have stops so they if they forget to put in vitals it lets them know and then they go back and then they make sure they do that and there's just safety steps in play to ensure that >> there's a lot of check and balances.
>> Yes. to ensure and that's where I look at it as that the safety aspect for clients and then it improves charting for our staff members too instead of just handwritten. >> Thank you. >> We talked about this at pick. We really felt that adding additional controls in
would um lean to what you talked about. We talk about this being a a leading uh facility throughout the state and making sure we make this transition would make the most sense. I don't know if any of us have gone into our doctor's office in the last 20 years and had paper charting
done. So, uh, I think it's justified. But any questions from the board? Yes, Commissioner Kavanagh. >> Thank you, Troy. Um, so I'm curious money. You said you talked public health
about the opioid dollars. What kind of I don't how big is that pot of money left right now? Do you know? And then what kind of strain is that going to be putting on that um fund um
for use? Is that >> Sure. The last number I got from them is that there's $338,000 in the opioid settlement. >> Okay. >> And this program would drop that continually. >> Um nope. It would be just a onetime
$25,000 um to get it started this year. And then we would incorporate that into our budget for each year following. >> Okay. And I want to just come back then. That's great. I agree with all that. Um tell me um I'm just going to read here.
Funding would be provided by revenue loss due to uninsured clients. You were talking about having better records. >> Yeah. >> So tell me how that would work. So when a client comes in from Minnesota, if they don't have any insurance whatsoever, what we have to do is we
fill out a form. Say the the client is from Becker County, we would send a behavioral health fund request form to them. They would get that person on um on uh insurance and we'd be able to bill for that. Right now, because of the
increase in the numbers we've had, we've missed a few of those throughout. whether it's because they, you know, so many of them go back and forth from North Dakota, Minnesota, and it's sometimes hard to keep track. So, I know there's um revenue that we've lost
because we did not get that completed. Right now, our nursing staff is doing that. Um my next um item, if approved, would allow us to have somebody to track it every day >> and ensure that we wouldn't miss some of those payments.
>> Thank you. >> Yep. Additional questions? >> Yes, Commissioner Binger. Uh, >> Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve the purchase of the written electronic health record program for the withdrawal management detoxification
program utilizing opioid settlement funds. >> We have a motion offered to purchase. >> Second. >> Second. The motion was from Commissioner Ebinger, second from Commissioner Bear. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Any
further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Carried. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The next item would be are you anticipating someone joining you for the next item?
>> No, I don't think so. >> Seven would be the request approval to move the shared administrative assistant from a half full-time equivalent public health to one point full-time detox. Yeah, to give a quick background on this, this was uh back in June, we came
to board to ask for a administrative assistant to split between public health and detox um because of our increase in numbers and um it's put a lot of pressure on my other um case aid um with the billing stuff. So, we are asking
that we be able to move her from halfime at public health move to full-time in detox and we would um use her as a full-time employee. >> Okay. Again, we did discuss this at pick. it seem to make the most sense,
particularly um as we look with uh the new director in public health, making sure that we have projects available for employees during that time. Uh you can certainly use the help over at your facility and it may seem to make the
most sense. >> Okay, questions. I'll make a motion to move administrative assistant from a shared position with public health to a full-time detox employee. >> Okay, we have a motion to approve from Commissioner Koff, a second from
Commissioner Ebinger. Any further discussion? >> Just one question for Troy Commissioner. >> Yep. How many people are over there today? >> We have 28 in the building right now. >> And how how what what's capacity? >> 32. >> We have a lot of discharges going on right now.
lower. But yeah, >> that was quite a jump from the last time you reported. >> Yeah. >> Which was what only a week ago or maybe two. >> It it it it can go, you know, we can be at 14 and the next day I get there it could be 30,
>> you know. So >> it goes up and down very quickly. >> Any further discussion? >> I do. >> Yes, Commissioner Koft. So, if we have a couple minutes here, kind of tell us the other side of it. I mean, you're you're
taking care of a an acute stage when they come to you and getting them stabilized. >> Yep. >> Can you tell yet how your progress is going in keeping these people in for a little bit or till they not only
stabilize but they become maybe interested toward treatment? Yep. >> And a better outcome. Yeah, we have um quite a few clients right now out of the 28 that are um awaiting they've been there a week waiting for a a treatment bed to open somewhere in the state. Uh
our LAC's do an excellent job of working with these clients to try to get them um into some type of program. I've got three people working toward peer support right now, variable hour for us. That'll be another additional thing because
they'll be able to talk to the clients having been through this whole process knowing what you know is is is going to happen and stuff and that's that really helps kind of calm people and and and get them into treatment. So yeah,
>> the treatment facilities that you're able to steer toward, is that directed quite a bit by insurance or is it just availability? Maybe it's a combination of both, but >> it would be a combination of both, but mostly availability.
>> Okay. >> And uh and you can use sites both in Morehead and or Clay County and Cats or how does that work? >> Um we work on getting people into treatment in for for Minnesota residents. Um North Dakota clients, um
they work with Southeast to get into a treatment program that they have or or somewhere across North Dakota. >> I see. So, it depends where they came from. >> Depends on where they're living. Yeah. Got it. Okay. >> Sometimes you get people back and forth, you know. >> So,
>> yeah. >> And the I'm sorry, last uh the waiting time is for treatment, >> you know, it can vary. Um, it can be a week or it can be a month depending on
a lot of the clients past behaviors, past treatment programs they've been in, things like that. Sometimes it takes a while to get them into a program. >> Um, >> and and so then do they seem open to staying with you during that period for
>> most of them? Yeah. The ones that are longterm are are at our place on a court order. So they they understand that they have to be there, >> right? And and do they receive some type of treatment during that time? >> Um we we don't provide treatment per se
because that would be a different license, but um we're always educating them. We're always working with them, trying to help them. Um we have a lot of educational material out there, things like that. >> Yeah. All right. Thank you, Joy. >> Yeah. >> Thank you, Commissioner Koff. Any
further discussion? All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I >> I >> oppose. Same sign carried. Thank you. >> Thank you guys very much. >> Thank you. >> Going back into our committee reports.
Commissioner Kavanagh. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, January 15th was a Thursday and we had uh our monthly uh rethink mental health and substance use prevention coalition
meeting uh very well attended. Again, we always get about I don't know 30 plus people online providers and other uh people that work in this area. Um the main subject we we had two things. Um we
had invited uh Robin Liy Saul. She's the prevention prevention coordinator for the harm reduction division of uh Fargo public health and she really talked a lot about uh harm reduction and the
misinformation that gets talked about it by the work they do. Um she shared many many uh uh success stories. Their one big program that they have over there that we don't have in Morehead is a syringe um
uh program where people can bring in if they are willing um use needles and uh syringes and and get new ones. Uh 30 years of research uh definitely show um by these people starting to come in,
they become uh more open to uh changing their lifestyle and getting medical treatment uh um as needed. Anyway, talked in very uh and they have a syringe services program uh
over there that is part of the North Dakota state law. Um there was a period of time in Fargo that uh meth pipes were being given out but that no longer is the case. Uh the other thing that they're they're doing on the Fargo side
just awareness they have the fire engagement center you know that's been uh over by the civic center for quite some time and in May they'll be have the opening of their new building on 2001 first Avenue North. So that'll be
relocated on the Klay County side. Uh Annabelle talked about the program and um and on the uh Klay County side, I should say, we do not have a syringe pipe or pipe program. However, they do
provide Narcan uh fentanyl strips and other preventable uh prevention aids. And uh you know the big big thing here uh for such a horrible thing to have be in people's lives by this work you know
it's keeping down on hepatitis C HIV there's a lot of different diseases that come from the use and anything we do to reduce those things are certainly large savings and metal medical costs and then last uh uh both mainly through Karen
Narsy who leads this program we came back to and we talk a lot quite often sources of strength and this more works on mental health about suicide prevention and the great work that really is being done in the schools.
Examples were uh um work being done in the Morhead school system involving uh 85 students and adults getting together. That was in November. um talking about s the sources of strength um uh the Holly students in uh
that have been part of reach um uh out there are working doing a monthly campaign uh advertising and bringing closer to the rest of students about sources of strength and then as well they have weekly meetings. So um just a
lot of really uh high level things going on and then again uh there's been a promotion within by five more the high students um getting and helping students be aware of the 988 uh number for suicide prevention that's so important.
Uh we had some losses last year in the Mo school. It's tragic and uh any work we can do to prevent and get down to zero um I think is worth a total effort. So uh after that I had my monthly
meeting with HR and housing. Um H is hanging in there and thanks again for the support that we do and or the taxpayer does and in their levy. uh they they uh are operating now on about a net
zero on operation costs, which is awesome. They're uh uh they're they're really getting to a point where uh they're getting a stable group of people. Um uh they haven't uh they're working along with Sharon. I know you
stated some issues on Yulan. I think that's really gotten straightened around. If you hear otherwise, let me know. um uh but they you know they were still at that point when they came to us a couple years ago in the fact that um they didn't have any reserves. Well,
they really don't have any reserves yet, but at the same time we aren't going negative, which is great. And then uh so all that was kind of in their reporting and and they went through their 25 or 2025 goals. Um uh you know and they're
doing uh they're doing good and so far anything with federal changes haven't affected them at all yet. Not saying it won't but uh for now and then once again we talked about this when Dar was here. you know, for their monies that their
federal dollars, they're being strengthened by the amount of work that they do. And uh it's the smaller groups that are uh it seems to be uh they're getting hit a little harder than uh the big operation that we do around or
larger operation that we do around here. So, and then the last we ended it with just and I don't know if this has already been approved, but the possibility of our our group meeting with them in April. So that was brought up. All right. Um then uh on Friday I
had um the uh um Clay County Early Childhood Initiative. Uh there was over people uh 20 people online about that. talked about coordination between a lot of uh just a
lot of different groups uh that are actively involved networking uh groups things they do for youth development and the big one coming up will that the planning starting is going to be um uh the uh kids fest over at the
library and uh you know they work with safe kids programs other things for uh infants to uh youth age. Um one of the things that is being uh because of
funding cuts um uh West Central initiative has helped pay for the coordinated job with that Jody Jet does with this program. That funding is uh been cut out unfortunately from their as
loss of some of their funding. So uh the group whole uh as a whole is trying to find ways and sponsors um now to rebuild that part. It takes away about uh she altogether this program is about $25,000
a year and that will take around uh roughly uh 6 to$10,000 out of that. So be looking for sponsors and other sources uh to keep you going. Uh it's a good group. Uh, I think it does great things for children's safety and
well-being. So, that's my report. >> Thank you, Commissioner Kavanagh. Commissioner Bear. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. On Wednesday, January 14th, I was at the Wild Rice Watershed District meeting where there was three permits. They were all tabled. Some of them are waiting to for land
owners to get together in the spring to discuss tile outlets. Then we also discussed the south branch wild rice grade stabilization which will be occurring in Hagen Township on the south branch of the wild rice where they'll be putting rocks in the river to see if we
can get the river's bed to raise and stabilize the river going backing up. So that was talked about. Hopefully that project will start in the spring or summer. That'll be the first project. There's
about seven or eight more that might go on if this project actually works. That's pretty much what we discussed at that meeting. And then on Friday the 16th, I was also online with Commissioner Ebinger for the Partnership for Health meeting which he explained
very well. I have nothing else to add on that meeting. Those are my two committee assignments. >> Thank you, Commissioner Mayor. Last week I attended the personnel issues committee. Uh it was a rather lengthy meeting uh about two and a half hours probably after um we addressed the
issues that came forward at this board meeting today. But one item of note just trying to be cognizant of staff members time when we have a meeting like that. Someone had shown up early and waited two hours. Uh what is the efficiency of
our department heads in doing that? And so we did have a long discussion about what the policy is for that. Making sure that we have ample opportunity at committee levels to kind of jump into the weeds on some of the justification on on um new hires or rehires or um all
of those pieces. And you know I think we will have a discussion coming forward to the board later on. But, you know, at this point, we were thinking maybe um if it made sense to have still have a vibrant conversation at a committee level on rehires uh have rehires go to
um or the consent agenda. And the reason is um you know you this board still has the opportunity to pull that information if you want more information. all of the the you know the PDQ information, the financial sheet will be in there on what
the savings is, but we're just trying to figure out what is that um you know modest level of of allowing people to present and and justify the the replacement but also understanding that they have time and if meetings go late
um you know it can kind of derail things. Granted, any new new pieces would still come to the full board for dialogue. Um, you know, I'm not sure, Steve, if you wanted it to come forward with discussion at this point if we want to do it on an agenda item later, but,
uh, both Commissioner Campbell and I did, um, you know, talk for a long time about this and this was our recommendation going forward. uh he regrets that he's not here so he can't answer for it. But just you know not trying to circumvent the board in any way but uh also trying to understand
that uh if if department heads come forward for a request um and would have to wait for a lengthy amount of time you know justifying it twice that could take a long time is up to what this board's wishes are.
>> Commissioner >> I agree and I've I've expressed this before. Our employees time, particularly our department heads, is valuable and it's good that we give these things scrutiny and that we make sure that they're
legitimate and I think pick does that. And I think a pick approves a to refill a position, not a new position. That's something that needs come before the board. But if PIC agrees to refilling a position, uh it should be on the consent agenda and
the documentation should be there for everybody on this board to review and they can pull it off consent if they have concerns. But that keeps um our our valued leadership in this county from having to come into two meetings and sometimes it
goes long, they miss other meetings and they get backed up. So I think that was a good discussion and it resonates with me. >> Yeah, I' I'd echo that voice. Um I agree. We need we're asking for
efficiencies from this them. This is one way to help them with that. So um we all read our packets, go in depth on it. So, and I trust, you know, the three years I've been here, I always tr trust the information that comes through.
>> And as we as always, uh, you know, this board has the opportunity to pull things off consent. I think in order to allow folks to come forward, you know, if something were to get um pulled off, that's fine. We can um probably just maybe have a standard that it would be before committee reports if they have so
they can plan to get here if they need to. But um you know for instance that meeting uh took over two hours Tuesday we're talking about needing to have an additional one. And then the other um in January and the other piece is because
of paid family we're seeing some um things happen uh that need to happen quicker than maybe we uh realized before. And so um we're just trying to figure out what that how that all works together. um trying to be more flexible on the pick side so that we can get
stuff to this board quicker for departments. >> That sounds good with me, man. >> So, Steve, uh maybe we should put that on the agenda. >> We can I can have that on for next week. >> Okay. >> I I appreciate the board's uh board's thought and conversation on this. I I
think that uh well served in in having the policy addressed to make sure that we review every every position to to ensure that financially it makes sense to continue that. Uh I I also appreciate your willingness to look at it from the perspective of having department heads
and supervisors sometimes sitting two three hours uh for for an item that takes you guys a couple minutes to to approve in most cases. So I'll have that add that to the agenda next week. So thank you. >> Thank you. And I think it's important uh for folks watching, these are these are things that we uh weigh heavily every
January. And so this is a review that we do periodically or yearly on how we approve it. And uh we've done such a great job and in talking through these uh hires with departments during the budgeting cycle. It's not like we're not having conversation with department heads uh and they're hearing our
perspective several different ways. Okay. All right. Uh the next day I traveled to St. Paul. I had meetings as part of the environment natural resources committee with uh the director of the board and soil and water resources, John Jashki. Uh the MPCA,
Commissioner Kesler, DNR, Commissioner Strawman, and their teams, all of them. Uh it really was uh in the weeds but incredible meeting to really um bring some concerns to the forefront that us at counties and uh planning and zoning
and feed lot officers and uh MCPA I guess is the other one that's planning and zoning but anyhow uh solid waste rather really had a great opportunity to bring forward some concerns on some of the issues that we've seen um some of the dialogues that need to continue. We
talked about the importance of um being at the table both early uh and before information goes out to the public so that we also can uh learn how the different regulations and terminology will affect folks so that um uh we kind
of avoid when things come out to the public and then 20 minutes later we have citizens wanting answers on that making sure we're part of that dialogue. Um uh there's some verbiage in the wetland management and the WCA challenges or changes that we wanted to have some
further insight on and then PWA or PWI updates shoreline management and then obviously we're talking about solid waste policy and funding initiatives. Uh you know DNR talked a little bit about how they had recommendations um in the governor's budget. Uh the
governor's bill obvious uh came out with $97 million not identifying local projects in those pieces per se but there is about uh $10 million in uh dam safety and then I think we was there 9 million in has
mitigation uh and then about $5 million in C and D waste transition and then $5 million is the LRIP funding. So, uh, good good information there. Really grateful for the opportunity to go down for that.
Also had a meeting with, uh, Winthrop. We had a great dialogue on, um, making sure there's some text amendments to our bill language so that we can hit the ground running for the legislative session. Uh, really great updates from them on the connections they've made.
The next day, I attended the Metrocog meeting. uh we did have the election of officers and uh grateful for the opportunity to serve as chair and vice chair over the next over the last two years but also grateful for the opportunity for West Fargo and Horus to take that over. Uh we had several me
amendments to the work programs uh as you know when funding shifts there there always has to be an amendment. So we're making sure to follow what the federal uh and state requirements are on that. So, we did have a couple of amendments on that. And then, uh, we talked about
that almost million dollar grant, federal grant that will go towards, um, making sure the network for blood and plasma delivery is swift. Again, thanks to staff for writing for that. That is a fantastic partnership with the um, so
many different people. And then this evening we do have the um public meeting for the new mapping changes. Let's see. The comment period uh is still open, but the public meeting is at 6 p.m. at the Yum
Center for the PWI update. There's a handful of changes, properties, uh lands coming on to the map. Uh folks have the opportunity to attend that meeting this evening. And I believe that concludes my report. Correct. At 6 o'clock.
>> Yep. Uh that concludes my reports. Steve, >> uh thank you, Madam Chair. Uh last uh Tuesday part participated in the pick meeting which has been well covered. On Wednesday, we had county m management. Uh had a couple updates, several updates
from HR, IT, GIS. Uh on the 14th, we met with Darren and Anna on a county HR issue. uh the 14th participated in the Klay County legislative planning which has been well covered. Also had a short
meeting uh with our White Earth update just representatives from from Morehead uh DG DGF or Dworth and um um downtown Morehead Inc. Uh nothing new has come
there. are still waiting for the report uh that to come to the casino in their second plan study. Uh later that afternoon at a meeting with Dan Molly, Robert Wilson again talked about staffing uh and also uh the hiring
challenges that we have. Uh some of it's brought about by ourselves by each doing a market study on random years. And so um trying to determine if there's better ways that we can work together specifically with the positions that are hard to hire for. Uh on the 15th uh sat
in some meetings with Darren and our labor attorney with union negotiations that afternoon. Uh sat as part of our MTCA Budweiser settlement funding. uh uh final final recommendations uh for those those dollars that we received a little
over $120,000 that have to be spent uh expanded by June of this year which here some of the projects it's kind of tough with the winter and so I believe that we'll be having that come before the board here uh for your approval in the
coming weeks. Uh Friday worked on some department head evaluations. Uh and then just lastly over the last couple years as board has allowed me uh to be part of the uh futures group through AMC uh with commissioner Mojo's uh appointment or to
second VP. Uh they generally don't allow to have two two members from the same county as part of the futures committee. Uh and so I I was approached uh this past December about the possibility of of working with MAC professional development. Uh and this week uh this or
on Friday I was notified the executive board did approve that appointment if with board approval. And so uh your request before you would be one to I would send a withdrawal from uh from the futures AMC futures group uh and then uh
receive approval to be part of the MACA professional development committee. We need a motion for that. >> Um, you did have a motion to put me into futures. So, um, so if there if we could have a motion, that'd be great. >> Well, I'll make a motion then for the,
uh, Steve to withdraw and then be, uh, into the master group. >> Second. >> Thanks. We have a motion from Commissioner Kavanagh, a second from Commissioner Ebinger. Steve, we knew that you would be appointed to that because like we've said throughout the state, uh you are the best administrator
in the entire state. So, it's no shock to us that you were appointed to that and your leadership will be very valuable on that board. I'm just um bummed that um you can't explain to me what I need to do on futures now. So, any further discussion?
All those in favor of the motion signify by saying I. I >> oppose. Same sign carried. Thank you. Thank you, board. That concludes my my report. >> Thank you, Brian. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh good to see everybody. I feel like I've been uh gone
for a few uh weeks. I had some uh trial work come up and and then uh I just thought I'd report uh I had the opportunity last week to go to uh the National District Attorney Association um homicide conference which sounds a little bit ominous but it's a very good conference with uh prosecutors from
across the United States uh working on serious cases and uh some of the most severe um homicides and just talking through uh best practices whether it's from jury va through uh use of different
uh electronic means and and body camera surveillance video all those types of things. And I think mostly what I took uh away from that conference was uh it feels good to know that a lot of the work that we're doing here through uh our law enforcement uh and our prosecution office that we're doing some
of the uh those things that are right. you know that there, you know, some of the presenters had things and saying, you know, make sure you're doing this and those are things that we're already doing and and and talk about and discuss uh within the state of Minnesota often. So, uh it was a very good conference and and uh much appreciated be able
opportunity to go to that and and learn from that and see that. So, uh, I also wanted to mention, I think, uh, as you may recall, uh, late last year, Darren and I and and Mark Sloan, uh, had meetings to discuss a lot more how we're seeing a lot more, uh, uh, data requests
and and public, uh, data, uh, coming in. So, a week before last, I had a a meeting with um um Jill with the assessors and and Kimberly uh and then ultimately also with uh planning and zoning where we had a pretty large scale
request uh through a subpoena ducus tikum. Uh so, legal matters that we're not even involved in, but legal matters that are happening and uh requesting information, large volumes of information from the county. uh and all three of those departments did a great job of just making sure we had all the
right data and right information to get turned over in a in a timely manner. So, uh we're working through that now, but uh I expect we're going to see that a lot in the future for a lot of the data practices requests and those types of subpoenas. So, uh the the other thing I
wanted to mention, I did have the opportunity uh a week before last to attend the state of the city's uh breakfast uh put on by the chamber. Um and I I came away from that uh mainly I wanted to just say how much uh
excitement there is. You they had one of their largest uh ones about 700 people uh and the discussion uh before the mayors came out they had discussion of the projects that were of interest and almost every single one of those projects are projects that this county
uh and this board work on. Uh and I just appreciated the work that all of you do uh to make those projects uh go. They discussed um the um the diversion was one of the primary projects and the work that I know uh commissioner camel, commissioner ever and I think several of
you have worked on. Uh there was water projects they were discussing um that I know are integral or part of it uh and economic development that are going on. Uh and then there was a discussion of public safety uh and the fact how well
and although they they posted as cities, but they did give a shout out to the counties, but really it's the uh the fact that we work SWAT together, we work bomb squad together, and then a a large discussion of the 911 uh dispatch center uh that we have worked a lot on or that
you have worked a lot on. Uh and then finally uh one of the other biggest projects or discussions was the uh city of Morehead development and the um 11th Street underpass development. And so all of those just had such a uh uh footprint
of uh Klay County and the work that all of you do. So I just want to say congratulations and thank you for your work because although it was mostly about cities, it's definitely uh integral about the counties and the work that the county board and and all of you do. So that was a good uh good breakfast
to go to. Finally, I wanted to mention that uh we had our first annual uh hot dish uh competition. Uh when Rita had come and presented for United Way, I was thinking about the fact that you know family service center had something going on with bake sale and and the
government center. We didn't really have anything here at the courthouse. And so I had asked uh probation now that they're all located here and then also court administration if they wanted to have a little bit of fundraiser. And so we did do a a cook off, made hot dishes
uh that everybody could sample and then we had a voting app that we created so that people could vote. And and I will say unfortunately uh the the county attorney's office did not win. But uh uh we did find out that uh Dale Arnold is a very good cook. Uh and ultimately
probation won the first annual one. So he's got the traveling trophy. So we'll see if we if we can figure out to do a second one. I think we need to do more advertising, get it out more and everything. But it was fun and we did raise about $500 for uh United Way that we're going to wait and save for Giving
Hearts Day. So, we'll make about $1,000 for them for as when I talked to Rita, just a good start for this year of 2026. So, it was a fun event. Thank you. >> Fantastic. Thank you, Darren. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I also want
to uh I appreciate the discussion that the board had on the uh refilling of the position process. I think you're it's going to be much more efficient and without sacrificing um accountability. So, I I appreciate that. Um on the 13th, I already uh also attended the pick
committee which has already been covered. On the 14th, I had a meeting with the deputies business agent um reference a ongoing discipline area discipline process that we're looking at right now. Um I attended the legislative update meeting and in the afternoon I
had a meeting with the sheriff and chief deputy. Um on the 15th I had deputy negotiations. We're still trying to come to a tenative agreement with that one. Uh still still a work in progress there. Uh and then in the afternoon I had a meeting with Lauren and Anna referenced
the uh no tax on overtime just to make sure that we're um doing that correctly. Uh on the 16th um speaking of data requests, I worked on a data request that came in and uh as I was sitting
here, we had another data request come in. So I think that's a good topic. Um and then uh on Friday the 16th I also worked on some performance evaluations. That concludes my report. >> Thank you Darren Sarah. I think all
right that concludes the business of the board. We will meet here next Tuesday the 27th. We are adjourned.