Good morning everyone. I will call the Cook County Board of Commissioners regular meeting to order on this day, Tuesday, September 9th. Uh we'll begin our meeting with the pledge. Please rise. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Are there any adjustments to the agenda? Madam chair, I'd make a motion to
approve the agenda as written. Support. All in favor? I opposed. Same sign. Um, at this time, we give an opportunity for citizens to come before the uh
county board. And I'm looking out to see is there anyone who would like to come before the board. I see nothing uh in the audience. How about anybody as the commissioners receive any comments? Okay. Thank you. We'll move on then to the consent agenda
items which uh consist of the claims. Um the minutes from our August 26th meeting, our September 3rd meeting. We also have uh 2026 striping agreement with St. Louis County, a final pay
request for SIP um 16-600-005 South Avenue West Paving. Um we have termination of an employee. Uh we have an appointment of Jeff Brand to the Northeast Minnesota
Home Consortium. Uh, would anyone like to um bring anything to our attention? Commissioner Gamble. Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't intend to bring anything to the attention, but I'd make a motion to accept the consent
agenda as presented. I'll approve. Okay. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Same sign. Motion passes. Our first uh line of business is going to be an update on the Superior National Golf Course.
presented by Howard Hedstrom. Good morning. Good morning. Morning, Madam Chair. Uh members of the board. Glad to be here. Um you I think you have a one pager in front of you. Uh we've been before you uh a couple times. Uh I
represent the EDA. Uh President Ghoul could not be here today, but I'm I'm standing in as a vice president. Um we've been in the process of uh marketing and advertising and selling Spir National Golf Course for about a
year. Uh we engaged uh North Co um probably in February March uh advertised it pretty extensively as you see we uh had over 50 inquiries. Mike Larson has
been very instrumental in shephering all those inquiries and helping Northco u get all the information out to the the potentials. Uh there's 12 companies that uh really came in and took a deep dive. We ended
up with three offers um to range between 1.5 and 1.8 million. Um, we went back to two of our preferred uh buyers uh with a counter offer of 1.85. Uh, that's been
accepted by Brady Hatcher. Um, he owns Golden Eagle Golf Course in Brainer, Minnesota. He's, uh, can't remember what his business is, but he's, uh, he comes with money. Uh, it would be a cash deal. He's got, uh,
quite a list of improvements that he wants to make. um in upgrades. It's exactly the kind of buyer I wanted and what I think I presented to you some time ago and that is uh to find a buyer
that will keep Spear National a top-notch successful golf course in a great destination golf course. As you notice there, the 1.85 uh million is enough to cover our bonds.
uh the agent fee uh closing legal fees and uh have a little bit left over. So it's a very happy scenario. We when we started this process, we wondered if we'd have to bring a check to the table uh to carry this off, but uh this is all
above the line and looks really good. So I entertain next steps of course you see there we have a 45 uh per day period of due diligence. Um we have a signed letter of intent at the
end of the due diligence. Uh we'll execute a purchase agreement. The the reason for the delay uh normally you would uh sign a purchase agreement, go through due diligence and all that process. Uh we have some deed restrictions as you may or may not be aware. Uh the original land for the golf
course was donated to Spir National by the by Bob Nelson at the time and is still retained by the Nelson family uh heirs and it includes a stipulation of right of first refusal
and after we submit a purchase agreement uh the right of first refusal has to be uh given Um that's anywhere up to 90 days. We have no idea, you know, how long that's
going to take. But after they either accept the first right of first refusal or we expect reject, uh then there's a stipulation of 60 days of closing and the buyers thought that 60 days was not enough to do their due diligence. So
that's why we're doing the due diligence up front. So mid you know mid October then we'll we'll be in the process of uh ex executing the purchase agreement um triggering the right of first refusal
and then it's either uh I can't imagine they turn around a day it could be up to 90 days but uh even if it is 90 days that pushes it out till uh October, November, December, January
um and then another 60 days to close. So, we, you know, the latest we'd close probably middle of March, which is still, you know, from a buyer standpoint, not bad timing. I mean, he's who's going to want to put all their cash down in the middle of the winter, uh, when they're not going to be doing
any golf or they can start some renovations like in the clubhouse. But, I mean, it'll be the timing looks really good. Um and uh somewhere in there we have a public notice and meeting as well. So we bring this to the public and have a have a
hearing on that. So and then the the EDA after the public comments uh we'll make a final vote. So I would entertain any questions. Commissioner White, um this will remain a public golf course. Correct.
And then this is probably to Brady. So now it will be private ownership. Do you have any idea what the potential um tax uh what we'll get for taxes on it? Oh, property taxes.
I have not looked at that. Okay. That that would be a Bob question. Well, no, I can get you that, but have not thought about it. Oh, okay. I've thought about it, but I've not done the calculation. But I'm sure it would be based on the transaction.
Sure. Yeah. That was it. Commissioner Gamble. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Howard. Um, I'm coming into this um after much has happened and certainly I was involved with this and
with Scott and and others uh early on when we went to the tax payment bond funding. Um so there's been opportunity for involvement and things and uh some questions I just have um which uh
respectfully are are submitted uh to understand as a governing body and making decisions that we're aware of all of the component parts and um uh with the covenant that was drafted at the time that the land was uh provided for the golf course with the Nelson family.
Um is that something that um in this process we have addressed that with them initially to find out based upon the provisions of that covenant what their position is. Have we engaged with the Nelson's?
Yes. Um early on um our our attorney which is Fred Dutterer uh reached had some conversations with the Nelson attorneys um and we kind of looked at that and said well it's really a buyer question and not a seller question and
so we and it uh doesn't affect it it may have the whole thing may affect the sale price a little bit because the buyer it makes the buyers a little bit more wary when they have uh not only the right of first refusal, but there's also a stipulation of a right of
re-entry. Um, which means that if it stops being a golf course, they get to have the land back. Uh, but that particular covenant lines up with my hope and that is it stays a golf course. So, there's there's pretty good
incentive to keep it as a golf course. But uh um the off the record comments, I mean, we're we're getting a sense that um they're younger than me, but you know, they're aging out, too. And it I
don't think that they're the opinion is they're they're not in it to run a golf course at this point in their lives. So, yeah. And I mean, the the question pertains to what what the language is in the in the covenant. So in other words,
if I I can make assumptions when there's a covenant and especially in the state of Minnesota, any land transfer, whatever, if there are covenants or things that are amendments to it, that it has to be stated in the document if it's of that nature. Yeah. Yeah. The the buyers are fully aware of all these.
Yeah. and and and so depending because I haven't looked at the covenant to see what the covenant says, but if we have an intention and if we have been consistent with the terms of the covenant and then we have an intention to sell, we think that the first place to start would say this is what we're
thinking of doing and we're exploring this avenue. We respect the covenant and therefore da da da da da. Again, without knowing the language of the covenant, I don't know where that falls in place. Uh but you think that that would be defined so that it would be clearly and then out of respect we would check with them say
we're thinking of selling da da da da and they would say define go ahead and pursue that. They're they're aware of of our actions and and like I say the our attorneys have been in correspondence with each other. So they're they um you know it's just that there I
looked at it pretty hard. I wondered if there was a role for the EDA to sit down with the Nelson family, but after a while looking at it, it was like, no, there's there's not a not a place for us. And so that'll be a the Nelson family uh still owns a
significant piece of land on the west side of the golf course. And I'm led to believe that uh the reason for the right of re-entry is uh if if that back nine that butts up to their property ceases
to be a golf course, the value of that land decreases a lot. So So their interest is aligned with ours is to have that golf course there. Yeah. Well, yeah. Again, without looking at the document, I can't say, but it's
just something that I would assume given given the fact that the covenant exists that it it would be something knowing with the terms of the covenant whether or not we the I mean the EDA whatever the county that we're following this protocol. Um the other you know concerns
that is raised which may or may not be an issue but um I know we as commissioners on on issues where there might be a conflict of interest that that we have to recuse ourselves to be sure that the appearance of conflict of of interest doesn't exist. And it's my
understanding that um in the EDA, you know, golf committee selecting uh the preferred buyer, Brady Hatcher, uh owner of Golden Eagle Golf Course in Briner, Minnesota has expressed interest in hiring SVN Northco to manage the Superior National Golf Course if the
purchase is approved and accepted. SVN Northco has been the management company for Golden Eagle Golf Course for over a decade. So in the in the situation where you have a real estate agent that you have selected that also potentially benefits
from the fact that they could manage this property. That was my first question out of the box as well with this buyer. Yeah. Uh and we we addressed that in our committee and and with Northco and and uh Northco has been number one very
above board and uh and frankly uh has been a seller has been an agent for the seller which is us and not you know that the selection of of Brady Hatcher is independent of any uh um advice or push
or or anything from Northco. So I mean in our conversations I I that that was the first thing that popped into my head too. Ooh, conflict of interest and or you know as you suggest appearance of such and I am convinced that uh um
you know it's an after sale I don't know if they've got a signed agreement yet but I mean it's it's an after sale deal and it's uh they are uh more than arms length away from our decision of who to who to select as a as a partner in the sale process.
So has there been any discussion about whether or not management granted that the uh once the sale takes place it's up to the owner to make a determination on on management. So there's nothing contractually or anything that says that that we still have a voice in that if we
were to do a competitive uh request for proposals relative to management and do an assessment. No discussions as such. No. Yeah. So again, back to the issue and and I guess again this this is said respectfully but also as in a position
of stewardship responsibility making decisions granted for us as a county. We want to um generate as much revenue as we can and we need to look at that in multiple different different areas. If we looked at that land, if we were selling that that land as parcels, you
know, it's estimated based upon uh the appraised value that it would generate 9 million. Now, if if somebody gravitates to a number and the higher number looks attractive, but how you get there and the feasibility are all issues to to
address. But my point is any committee or anybody that has authorization to be able to look at this should be, you know, addressing this on multiple levels to demonstrate to the community that we've stewardship this process
responsibly and certainly from a conflict of interest standpoint. Um I mean it's considered a conflict of interest when a company serves as both real estate agent and the property manager after the sale as it creates a situ interest interest in the sale might not
align with the owner's long-term best interest. And this is where we're at in the evaluation of looking at is our best interest as a county being served uh because of the the potential conflict of interest which you addressed yourself is
something that that you brought up. So again, the process, the information, all of the issues that that we're looking at in this whole, you know, transaction thing, our indebtedness, we'll retire our
indebtedness. The golf course is has lost a million dollars since 2017 to 2022. Um, well, I would have to see those numbers. It's been breaking even since my tenure on the ADA board.
Okay. and and certainly, you know, numbers are are are important and and what's accurate is true because I I don't want to convey an impression other than information that that I that I get. I think the general there's there's a general perception from some public that
the the golf course has lost money and has been carried by the taxpayer, which is not true. it's been breaking even and carrying its own uh you know aside from uh the cost of management from the EDA and and certainly the u all the effort
that the county did on the bonds but the bonds have been paid religiously over the years and are backed by the Cook County Tourism. Uh yeah. No, I I know all of those things are are are good because what we propose and what we uh say we're
back to the the selling point uh uh in my my original criteria in the board concurs uh in in what was presented here when we last uh sat before you is we were looking for
the best buyer, strongest buyer to carry on the golf course as as a destination golf course and as a you know high-end course uh and not base our decisions on
on highest price and you know frankly you mentioned the the financials I mean it has just broken even uh uh we have managed the the golf course with volunteer help you might say Scott Harrison ran the golf course for years
and and never took a dime Uh so you know a new owner is going to have to come in with a different level of management and and structure which is more cost. So um they have to come in with some confidence that they can run a
better golf course advertise more strongly have more rounds but you know if you base the selling price on on uh the financial performance you know we're there. So, it's uh and it it's plus that and
the covenants of it having to be a golf course. Uh uh if we shut it down and tried to sell it off as lots, I mean, it would revert immediately to the Nelson family. So, everything is pointing us toward selling a golf course and maintaining the golf course. And that's
uh that's my hope and goal and and wish. Yeah. Well, evaluating again dollar amount is one thing. Certainly covering debt that exists is is an important thing because we have had ventures where the debt hasn't been covered except by
levy. Yeah. Well, you see that we're you know come out. Yeah, I'm looking at that. Um and and if if intent uh is uh let me back up and say that if if we've wore down our role
relative to Superior National and so we just want to abdicate the responsibility and move on from that uh it it doesn't preclude the the need for stewardship of you know of the financial side of things and looking at best outcome and that
best outcome has to be evaluated on on a number of, you know, different elements. Um, but I I would just en encourage that um that we're as upfront as we can be on the process and address the issues of
concern that might come up because people make assumptions and there's perceptions. But as best practice and things, the conflict of interest is is something that because the appearance and the potential exists, it's something that should be addressed constantly to
make sure that we're serving our responsibility. Don't take Yeah. I mean, I'm here. I mean, this is uh No, I appreciate that. Did an article uh in WTIP and I think other places about the sale and in in my conversations in the community
uh I've had nothing but positive response, you know, from the sale and uh a potential sale. So, I appreciate your comments and and uh um that that's in our due diligence of of
meeting our obligation of getting out to the public and you know certainly the the public hearing uh that'll be advertised and do that best we can as well. I just again I encourage being as forthright and I I appreciate your
responses to the questions. Thank you. You bet. Thank you. Will it be in writing written in the sale that it's guaranteed to stay a public golf course or if what the criteria would be that would perhaps
make it make it not be public? I'm just asking for people that are concerned that they can't afford a big membership but they want to play golf. Yes, that that is specific in the documents. Yes. Okay, thanks.
Is that excuse me, Madam Chair, is that Howard specific in the document in the contract relative to sale or is that in the covenant? Both. Yeah, it'd be interesting if you could I mean, if it's available that we we could see that and maybe fellow commissioners
have seen it, but I would appreciate seeing the comment. Yeah, we we provided that to I think the Brady I think Jeanie has got the the documents as well. Thank you. I don't know what was forwarded to you, but yeah. Yeah, we can make sure that uh you know, right now what we have is a
signed letter of intent and that would that's public as far as I know. Any other questions or comments? Commissioner Mills, I just want to thank you, Howard. Uh this has been a long process and there's some catching up to do here, but um but
very very exciting and very big steps for our community. Yeah, really appreciate your work on this and it's a almost a full circle. My uncle Wes Hadstrom, who sat on the board, was instrumental in starting the
golf course 28 years ago. So, I don't know how I feel about being the one to You feel good. You feel good, Howard. You feel good. You feel great. But it's it's the right time, I think. And uh u I really have I'm really
excited about this buyer. uh he has the financial wherewithal uh and has good ideas and plans and and uh he'll he'll uh make a you know continue the go it it's it's interesting when you go to sell something uh and you get the
dialogue about all the faults how how bad something is that you're selling but I mean that's just part of the sale process or buying you know you want to beat this the seller down which they didn't have to do but it's like oh my gosh this is bad and that's bad and this is going to heck But um aside from that, it is a it is a
worldass golf course and uh I think I think uh Brady and his group um you know will do some good things there. So thank you for your support and and questions. I I didn't expect any less and I think we've
been mulling this over a lot and we don't come into this lightly or uninformed. So, thank you. Well, this is good news. Hopefully, it'll proceed as expected. Yeah. I've been a volunteer at the golf course
for many years, and I've worked with a dedicated group of people who take minimum wage and work hours after hours mowing and taking care of it like it was their own. They've added the winter business being open at the clubhouse. You can get a burger and watch a game.
So, you know, they s they saw the future of it, too. So that makes it especially interesting for a new buyer to say they're a creative group and we we want to work with creativity and and you know just aside the the the buyer and the management group have expressed strong interest in retaining
the staff that's there. Uh and uh any of you that have bought and sold businesses uh you know you you you buy assets, you buy accounts receivable, you buy the business, and you're also buying the employees. uh because you can't run a business without employees and and uh
they've looked at the the group we have there and they they have u realized we have a really strong team and so there's no there are no assurances in life but uh we're we're pretty confident that they're happy with what they see there
and they'll keep uh keep current staff which which you know from an employee standpoint that's their main interest and am I going to have a job when this thing closes I'm pretty sure they will. Commissioner Gamble. Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I
would say, you know, looking when we're when we're selling something, we can't always look at who the buyer um beyond what they're willing to pay. In other words, it's a transaction. And so, we look at the transaction, what we're
responsible for. But from the standpoint of shephering something and being, you know, part of the uh the golf course all these years and everything else, you like to entrust to somebody that you believe has the ability to do what you hope for.
And so I I think if you're looking at a buyer that's saying, "Gee, I'd like I got a lot of money and I'd like to have a golf course, but hasn't ever done anything." it it would well he does own a golf course and bring yeah because he owns the golf course and bring to the golden eagle whatever that
he has experience. So while the money is what determines the transaction the the awareness that it's somebody that we're entrusting to speaks to the stewardship issue and and hopefully u he's not coming into this without awareness of what it takes to
run a golf course in today's present culture. Not only that, but he's well aware. He's been up here several time at least a couple times and looked at, you know, we've provided all the financial information. I mean, this is not a OG I want to go buy this. This is a, you
know, going to be a very thoughtful purchase of his purchase. Okay. Again, thank you for your All right. Thank you. Thank you. Good question. So, we'll be behind you there as you move along with the uh appreciate that. Thank you.
Moving on to item number five. Um Robbie will present the opening bid for the Gunflint Multi-use Trail. Good morning everyone. Good morning. Morning. So, not the best news, but that's okay. Um
we had originally this this summer planned on constructing a multi-use trail along the Gunflint. It's one we've talked about quite a bit. Uh, it would continue what we completed a few years ago there next to GES up along that west side, south side of the gunf around the
LEC, behind my office, behind the school, in front of the recycling center. You know where it is. Um, so unfortunately that one ended up being a late bid this year. I was hoping just the scope of the project was small enough that it could tack on to some other things and we wouldn't see as much of a price hike as we did. Uh, but turns
out I was wrong and so which happens. um plan for this is if if you all agree with me on this, I would recommend actually rejecting this bid um since it is quite a bit higher than what our estimate was. Our estimate was even 30%
over what state averages are, which is normally where we start and where we typically fall. So, the fact that this was even another, you know, almost double what our estimate was was pretty surprising. Um but what's nice is when I talked to Mandot, we're not losing any
grant funding. um it just carries over into the next year. And so uh most actually probably 98% of this project was grant funds that we had secured through different state and federal programs. So none of that gets lost. We nothing hurts uh from pushing it another
year. And so what's nice is we'll rebid it this fall, early winter with all of our other 2026 projects. Um we'll be in a good bidding window then. So hopefully we can be first on people's lists uh and and hopefully get a better price. So, um, does anybody have any questions?
Yeah. Any comments or questions? Commissioner Sullivan, I just wanted to state that we talked about this at Highway Advisory. Commissioner uh White and I were there and um the bid is incredibly high and I
am um really glad that we have an opportunity to reject this bid because um it is in my mind outrageous. And so, um, those are my feelings and it pretty strong feelings at highway advisory.
Commissioner White, maybe you want to remark as well. I would just like to have the engineer say out loud what it it is for people that are only listening. They're not seeing our screen at all. Oh, that what the original what your estimate was and then what Northland and
KGM came in at. Sure. So, our engineers estimate was was just under $570,000. And like I said, that was already, you know, I think a 25 or 30% over kind of what state average would have this project as. Uh, and so then our low bid
was just shy of a million dollars. Uh, so it's about 60 about 70% over our estimate. And then the next bid after that was just shy, you know, just over 1.1 million. Um, so yeah, very very expensive. I think the caveat with all of this is obviously if we reedit or
when we reedit, you know, to me when we eliminate kind of that variability of the window where we say we know we're in a good time frame. Now, if they come back and it's almost the same, then it's another question. Then it's another data point that we have to say, do we need to crank up our estimates even more?
Because we've all talked here about estimates in the past. It's our best guess on what we think it is. But sometimes what we think and what the market thinks can be two very different things. And so, um, pushing it a year, I think, will at least enable us to to look financially and say if this thing
does come in, even if it's $700,000, you know, we can move some money around and try and see, you know, can we still do this? Does something else that I had planned for 2026 need to move them um in order to do this. So, you know, it's living up here has its pros and cons.
Yes, administrator trouble. Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to um thank Robbie because I think this really is the responsible approach um to make this recommendation to the board to rebid. Commissioner Gamble. Yeah. Thank you, Madam Chair. So,
Robbie, um when you talk to your peers and you've got things you're bidding out and you're finding that things are coming back higher, whatever. I mean, normally when we make our best guesstimate, we look at other things for comparables and then we find out and it's like it's a surprise. So then we're
scratching our head trying to figure out I wonder why that is and in your conclusion if you're saying maybe it's the timing the time of the year and if you're talking to your peers and your parents yeah we're finding this too right now we have to look at a different window. So through our experience we
inform ourselves so that we become you know smarter whatever and and and manage things accordingly. So I guess that would be my question. Are you hearing this or seeing this as happening elsewhere and uh is it primarily related
to the season? Yes, to everything. Um the the window up here for us, so our construction season is a lot shorter than other places. And so that was something we had even heard from our contractors that bid on this was because we're already this late into the year kind of starting it already.
Even though it is a short project, they're still concerned for that time frame. Um, and then just our location in the state, you know, if if this was down in the cities, you'd probably get five people bidding on this. So, we consistently have two, sometimes we have three biders. Um, and so, you know, if their plate is already full and we're
trying to throw one more thing on there, it's not happening. And so what I've seen and what I learned real quick when I when I got up here and when I started this job was if we can get things out fall, early winter, you know, right around the new year even pricing wise, everything still looks good. When we've
tried to bid projects, and I've come here before with when we've done late bid late, you know, like March or something, and if things come in too high, you know, we I typically I chalk it up to that. Um, the fact that we're already cranking up our estimates to try and match or, you know, try and
compensate for where we are geographically, I think gets us pretty close. I think a great example is when we talk, you know, our big gunflint project going on right now, right? Um, you know, $12 million project and we were within a percent. And that's the
same process that we used here to put this one together. And so that's where I can say, okay, you know, we we tried to bid this real late, tried to get it done this year. And I think that's our biggest factor right now. This is the contributing factor is that um you know contractors like I said already have
their slate of projects going on and they they weren't able to kind of we can't just throw this one in and say oh it's a small trail just do it. It's like well you still need the people and the equipment and the materials and all that. So yeah thank you madam chair. I did go ahead.
I was going to make a motion. Sorry. So, I'd like to make a motion to reject the bids we've received for the multi-use trail and rebid um this fall or early winter for next year construction. Support.
Any other comments or questions? Commissioner Mills, do we need the time frame in the motion? Up to you. Not necessarily. We'll let it stand as it was proposed. Okay. Okay. I'll call for a vote. Commissioner
Gamble. Yeah, just one the comment that I just made, my apologies to my back when I see have to give me a little bell there so I know. Um what I was going to say for the public is that when we're saying well we're finding the bids are coming in higher and so therefore we're going to
ratchet these up that it it's and you said earlier 98% of this was monies that we have that will carry over. So being aggressive in trying to get the funding for this, it's when you make application for the funding, you're moving that figure up. So I think it's important to
clarify for the public that this moving it up is when we make our initial request for these grant funds that it is it is that we get the money that we need based upon what we're seeing in our experience and it's not that we're moving it up and it's a burden that
falls on the taxpayer. I think it's important to make that. Absolutely. And and that's where I spend and we talk so much about grant funding and outside funding here and that's what I spend a lot of time in is in order to do the these projects don't happen without outside funding. Yeah. You know we get limited resources from the state
to do this type of work and so that's where yeah I had put this estimate together you know three years ago in order to apply for funds and so you know if we're off 10% that's one thing but to be you know this is coming in 70% over okay something else is going on here you know. So yeah.
Yeah. Thank you. Mhm. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? I oppose. Same sign. Motion passes unanimously. Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you. Our next item number six is maintenance. Brooke will come before us with some
updates. Thank you, madam chair and commissioners. Um, the first one wanted to touch on quick was just the uh pricing agreement we signed with Superior Fuel um for propane for our all of our
facilities combined. I kind of brought everything back in so I could negotiate the best price for everything and we saw a significant price decrease. So on our bulk tanks, which will be the 12,000galon underground here at the courthouse and the 12,000galon
underground at the at the law enforcement center, we will drop from $1.46 per gallon to $111 per gallon. So with about three fills a year, that's a savings of about $9,450.
And then all the smaller 1,00galon tanks, we will drop in price from $146 as well down to $139, which will save us another $2,000 over the course of a year. You're going the right direction. Thank you on that. And then on the uh
gym project update, I'm going to turn it over to Charles who's done all the heavy lifting on this project to kind of give you an update. I haven't actually lifted anything very heavy, but um so maybe if if I could just sort of
explain where this thing came from that that I mean that gym is really a a really highly used community resource. The fifth and sixth grade volleyball girls are in there. the junior high or the fifth and sixth grade basketball kids are in there. It's overflow for the
school for um fied classes. Uh recess, they go in there. The daycare uses it for running around time for the little kids. Um parents come in there with their kids. It hosts uh volleyball tournaments. Can Thunder Bay Thunder Bay people come down and host volleyball tournaments in in the middle of the
winter. Pickle ball is in there like five days a week these days um using that gym. So uh oh yeah even it's a volleyball and pickle ball tournaments come like crossber tournaments. So it it gets a lot of use. It's a really I think
important community resource and and it's highly used. So um I and and and I work I work part time at the Y. I kind of help out there and I'd been looking at that scoreboard. Um it's like this is crazy. The thing's falling
apart, broken. doesn't work. Uh we should do something about it, but it's complicated. Um and uh it was it it was clear that, you know, it was probably a nobody high on wasn't high on anybody's list to come up with funds to do this. So I said, "Well, maybe we could figure
out a way to raise money from the community to do this." And um and it and that had a few parts. The Cook County Booster Club said, "Well, we could ex we could be the fiscal agent kind of. it's not really formally that, but they would be sort of the bank for the project. So,
they were they were willing to accept funds. We set up a little website um so people could go look at it and and you know, it explained the project and what we're doing. Um and then oh, we submitted a couple grant applications to Arrowhead Roundup Program to the Lions
Club. I think we we didn't submit one more but anyways um had an article in the in the Cook County News Herald about it advertising on Facebook just saying you know here's our project we're trying to raise money for the scoreboard but well um it was actually a great surprise
uh that people responded really enthusiastically to this and I think that's uh comment on how people regard that that gym and the YMCA as a as a really important community resource. So, we got really a surprising response from
the community. We were able to the the original goal was $10,000. We were able to raise eventually almost three times that um which was just amazing. and um and you know people were stepping up with really large donations partly
because they they wanted to honor um the tradition that that gym has and and the sort of the legacy that gym and the the the centrality it's had for the community when it was the varsity gym, you know, back in the day. And I think that's part of it. There's sort of a
loyalty to that to that facility. So, um, we had 18 donors contributing $500 or more. Um, we get did get a grant from the Lions Club, got a grant from Arrowhead Cooperative. Um, school chipped in money for it. Uh, the YMCA
chipped in money for it and and this point we were we started talking to Brooke about, well, it seems like we can do more than just replace the scoreboard. Um and Brook's been really
really great and very supportive and um and it's been coordinating kind of the county side of it which is including um mounting the scoreway which is actually happening right now up there. They're up there. They're up there doing it right now. But also new
lighting for the gym. Uh there's going to be a new uh center divider curtain which a lot of people don't notice because it's often rolled up but we you bring it down it's tattered and torn. um various sort of aesthetic improvements around the gym. Um new little wall
facilities, improvements to the volleyball equipment, improvements to the basketball equipment. See what else is here. Uh oh, a ventilation system. Um Brooks has arranged it and part of it is we are we are sort of partnering with the county.
So some of this money is going to the county to to help support the county side of this. So, yeah, I think the pro the the projects that the county is doing with the lighting and the fans and the and the ventilation, we're close to, you know,
$15,000 in cost, but with the help of the contributions, it's only going to end up costing us right around $6,000 out of the county funds. So, I mean, it was a big help in kind of kickstarting the CIP projects that were already
identified in that gym without having to pay for everything basically. Yeah. So, it's been uh the the partnership with the county has been awesome and it's been just great. And I mean, people walking in do the new lighting's in there and it's it's maybe
even too bright. We may have to adjust it down a little bit. People walk in like, "Wow, this is amazing." that a lot of people commented is like, "Did you paint this place or something? What happened?" Because everything is just so much brighter. It looks It looks great. And I guess another thing is we will be
getting uh some kind of rebate from Yeah, that's that's I calculated the rebate in from the PUC. So that's where it brings us down to about $6,000 cost on the on the 15,000 with the PUC uh rebate and the contributions from the
donors. Yeah. the re the rebate coming because the new lighting is LED. It's more efficient and that's being supported by um the uh Southern Minnesota SPA SMA. Yeah. Simpa southern Minnesota Municipal
Power Association. So they're they're they're really encouraging this kind of project and so they're they're supporting it through uh rebates on the lighting installation itself. So, um, we're really grateful for to the county
especially, uh, and to the community for really stepping up for this project. Um, to the school, to the YMCA, and, uh, I I don't know. I I'm I think everybody should be really proud of what what's happening here. It's It's amazing. It's great.
Sounds wonderful. I know. One little LED light in my house makes it look like I have sunshine all day long. I can't imagine what a gym would look like. Yeah. Well, we want it to be bright. We We don't want people to have to wear sunglasses playing basketball, but but
so so we're we're getting that part figured out. But you can Can you dim it down? Oh, yeah. Yeah. That's the nice part with the LEDs. You can have like four different colors from 5,000 down to 3,000. Then also wattage on these. So, we can drop the wattage as well. So, we've dropped the wattage so far. And maybe we'll play
with the color a little bit or Yeah. Any questions or comments? Administrator Treble. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I understand there's a volunteer event coming up, so I was wondering if you wouldn't mind making a plug for that as well. So much for mentioning that. And I I I'm
hoping this is going to take an hour. We're just as kind of a final thing, we're getting the walls scrubbed. There's 10 years of scuffs and smudges from kids running bikes into the walls and whatever else happens in there. So, we're uh on Saturday we're having at one
o'clock we're having people in just people come in for an hour maybe and help scrub off the walls. It's it actually works remarkably well with the magic eraser. And uh so it's so we're going to get that as a final thing and then we're hoping to have the or plan to
have the grand opening grand opening on a reopening on Monday right before the uh seventh and eighth grade girls volleyball game. So encourage all of you
to attend that as well. I might have dreamed this, but I think perhaps I've read that there's a a naming that gym facility. Uh, I think you dreamed it, but No, I haven't heard anything about that
either. No, there well maybe what you're referring to is um so Dan Helmerson and Cara Thomas um they I I talked to them about getting support from um Visit Cook County and they were
like that's that's not probably right. That's not really within the that that group's mission sort of and uh maybe Cook County Business Association not really either. But then they called back and they said, "You know what? Both our parents were longtime coaches at this
facility and we would really like to honor them by making a sign significant contribution to this project." And and they did. and and what we're doing to so to honor them to honor the gym's legacy and uh is to
create and it this should be arriving within a couple days a plaque sort of talking about the gym and what it's meant to the community and then honoring their two u parents who was it Lee Helmerson and Donna or Donna
Helmerson and Lee Thomas were the longtime coaches there And it it was great actually to learn about the stories of those people um because they were amazing and longtime contributors to the to the school and to the community and the athletics program here.
So that maybe that's what I think that was what it was because if it w it's a county building and it now if there was really an effort to name the gym. We've been through this. Yeah. And the and the last thing was we need to have a policy.
Yeah. No, this is not dot dot dot and nothing has happened. So that's great. The plaque we're not renaming the gym and it will be hung so when people enter probably they'll be so they can walk in and see it. Yeah, I think it'll be great. You're going to list the donors as well on Yeah, there'll be a donor plaque as well as
to to credit the people who really stepped up especially within the community. So thanks Commissioner Mills. Thank you, Chico, for for your work on this and really amazing and um yeah,
you know, your all this would not have happened without your efforts. So, I just wanted to recognize you as well. Well, I appreciate that. But, uh it's as I say, the the community support for it has been stunning. So, it's it's really awesome. Thank you. Yeah, you're welcome.
Any other comments or questions? Commissioner Sullivan, just a a comment that this is a perfect example of the kind of collaboration that we have in Cook County and the the way that we all support one another. And again, thank you for your leadership on this. Oh, you're welcome. Commissioner Gamble.
Yeah, thank you. I would e echo Commissioner Sullivan's comments because as I listen and hear this story, which is a great story to be telling that uh our resourcefulness is an example example of that. So this can serve as a
model for things that we hope for. There are other ways of being able to achieve it and the community demonstrates that they're certainly willing to stand up uh to the challenge when it comes to providing for things like this. So this is this is a a great story and and
something that we can model so that we don't have to walk away from opportunities, but we can look at them through a different lens. Yeah. Yeah. It really is a great collaboration. Um I'll say one more thing is that we will be looking for someone I don't know if it's going to be tomorrow or later
on. The simp uh likes to likes to uh credit organizations when they have figured out how much they are going to be crediting like the county for this work at the YMCA gym. So, and they like to have somebody probably a county
commissioner in the picture in the photo that they take and then published like here's the big check. Maybe you may have seen these big check photos. So, if any of you would be willing to do that, please let me know. And uh I I don't know if it's going to happen tomorrow. I know that she's going to be up here tomorrow.
Yeah, she's I don't think it's going to happen tomorrow. I think they're still working on all of the all the county project numbers. Yeah. She said, "Well, maybe we just have the photo and then fill in the number later." But anyway, yeah, maybe it's a photo shoot opportunity.
Yeah. So, okay. Any other comments on this topic? I'm in Doulas tomorrow if it happens. Um, one thing, there's another the uh scoreboard at the Papyright baseball field.
Oh. Um, I just know that it had been the county and I don't know who else in the school trying to get a new scoreboard for the for the players and the um people that come to watch it. And ultimately, Java Moose stepped up and
just bought it. So, that's another example of our community supporting, working together, and then people helping to make it better for us. So, yeah. And I don't know is how they ever got any credit for it. Oh,
so I mean it was just a random I said who did this? You know, because there wasn't a lot of fanfare on that one. So that's great. Okay, thanks for that reminder. Anything else on the YMCA?
Thank you so much. Really appreciate your updating and your involvement. And Brooke is going to continue on. Yes. So, we we brought the um construction manager at risk
to the uh special meeting last week and there were a couple questions um before so we didn't get it approved at that time and I think we have gotten those questions answered. Um yeah any any further questions the the
questions we had were the the part 7.2.2 the 2% of labor on small tools was a question that was brought forth and that is the 2% is off the total number of the total cost of labor. So, it's uh $6,700
is what he has and that's already accounted for in the guaranteed maximum price. So, that just spells that out. So, it is accounted for. It's not going to be a after the fact hit on anything. It's as we know the structure to be
built right now. It is that that fund is accounted for. And one one of the other questions was the the contractor's fee major contractor Johnson Wilson and I think that's built in also. Yeah, Johnson Wilson adds that to every
single every single subcontractor list item. So their 4% is throughout the entire entire um con the entire guaranteed maximum price list of all the subcontractor's costs.
Okay. Okay. On that questions, Commissioner Gamble. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, thank you, Brady and Brooke and Gene, whomever else provided the information providing the the bonding documents. And, um, I think
it's uh, if you look at the construction manager fee at 4,000 or 4% rather, that translates to 326,000 appro approximately. And I I think it just understanding these numbers as dollars makes it it better uh especially
for public to understand when we're looking at big contracts and things percentages say something but the dollar amount translates to something that's more digestible. Uh the other thing I I would just make a comment on that. Uh appreciating the followup and then as we
are learning there are tangible benefits in hiring a construction manager early in the process in addition to planning, coordinating, budgeting and supervising someone who given their experience can identify potential risks, the unknown and the inherent associated costs
upfront rather than after the fact. And so I I think that u we've seen as we've had this discussion and our experience that having somebody that's knowledgeable take this from the front end is able to oversee that and uh
that's that's beneficial that should should and I think consistently demonstrate through this practice that you'll save money and have less grief. So in other words, it's an investment that is well spent if you have the right person because it saves us dollars and
time. Definitely. Commissioner B. Uh couple of questions. Um is there and this is probably to our attorney. Is there a um
where is it in here? If one, what is the warranty? How long is the warranty? I mean um um product and labor on this in in residential it's two years. It's
an you don't have to write it down. It's just a two-year thing. In commercial it's one year. Okay. And then let's see. Is there a somewhere in the contract that
uh what Okay, here's the question. If a subcontractor does a lousy job that goes to the who identifies the lousy job and gets that subcontractor, this is all hypothetical like to fix the
tile on the floor or whatever it is. Is it your job or is it the construction manager? And there should be no monetary expense to the county if it was
application or product failures. Question mark. Yes. Well, during the initial we we've signed a contract with Twin Ports Testing, which will test the soil they're they're refilling with. We'll test the concrete.
uh we'll do all the all the major foundation testing work for us but once you get to interior finishes that is on us to do you know punch list items and we rely on Johnson Wilson to identify
that as well their expertise so and so that'll be you and Johnson Wilson's you will be the person that we will direct the public to correct if there's an issue thank Feels
good. Thank you. Any other questions or comments to Brooke? Mills. I'd like to make a motion to approve the construction manager at risk contract with Johnson Nelson Constructors. Support. Thank you. We have a motion and a
second. Any further comments? Commissioner Gamble. uh to thank you madam chair to commissioner white's comment that uh when we did a lot of different projects with the 1% monies that we had the library was amongst
those and uh we had some some issues as you're discussing and uh so that that oversight is is important and identifying that is important too upfront uh because we we dealt with some very fundamental issues that uh we ended
up having to deal with it because it wasn't clearly defined. So, appreciate your oversight on that. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? I I oppose. Same sign. Motion passes unanimously. Thank you, Brooke, for your
upgra. We'll start with the proposed tax levy. Now he has supplied us with a lot of details and a lot of information. Um whenever he's been asked to come up with some more statistics like please list
the mandating he's done that and his team and everybody involved in that. So what I want to say at the onset is since I've been watching a lot of football this is kind of the game plan okay or the road map. We aren't going to solve
it today, but this is a wonderful draft. The only thing that Brady's asking us today is to set the levy and that's based on everything that we see here. And so, um, all of us have been seasoned to understand the levy and how important
that is now. And then we make the final decision in December. We can't go up any further. So, what we set today is it. So, keep that in mind. And so I'll turn it over to uh Brady for further discussion. So I'll I'll kind of go back to the
beginning a little bit. So all of our requests came in uh for the major departments and uh for the general fund it was 14%
increase. Highway was 10, PHS was 26. A lot of that was we've been using fund balance in those other departments to keep those levies down. And so our bottom line on requests is a 23% increase. And even with those increases
in those departments, the the major increase is our bonds. Uh two bond issues. The full payments are coming on this year for the first time. That's over $900,000 that wasn't there previously. So, we have the money in our fund
balance. We discussed that at the last meeting and we we've held it there from uh interest earnings, not putting it into the budget because interest is still funible. So, it's there. It could could have been in the budget, but it's
not. Um I don't want to budget that number because it's going to change next year. Um but it's there for the use. So then what I've presented is using some of that fund balance uh 1.4 million of it uh to bring it down to potentially
9.13. I gave you another option just to look at if we used 1.6 million of that fund balance to bring it down to 7.37. And it's your decision. It could be one
of those numbers or uh anything else, but it typically um counties, cities, all have a when they have a preliminary levy like this, you tend to leave it a little bit high
for the unknown. It may come up because you can't raise it. You can't do anything about it if something happens between now and then, new information. So it's wise to leave uh a margin there. Uh you don't want too much because this is the information that goes out on
truth and taxation in November. So it it needs to be a sensible amount but enough to cover what may happen. So um one thing one statistic is uh putting the the numbers
against what we show for our uh uh tax our tax rate on our uh tax values right now shows about a 4.88% increase. And that's with the 9.13%
levy. And that's because, you know, our values have gone up about 7%, a little over 7%. So, but what that really means is if you go up, the average
uh of the county 7.13, the impact on you as a homestead is going to be about is going to be 5%. or so. But if your value is higher, that's that's always uh um the thing with
values and that's the personal part on taxes is what happens with your property. But if you're if you're at the average, the increase is going to hit you at about 5% just on the county levy. There are other levies too, but uh I think I'll leave it at that for
questions, but uh um listening to the news, um question about insurance. I mean, I just like anyway with the chaos in the world and all of this going on. If the insurance
companies decide like, oh, I don't know, in June that they they're going to ratchet they're going to ratchet up their premiums. It's just a question about when we are with an insurance company,
can they in the middle of a fiscal year raise our um premiums on us? They won't. Not MCIT. Okay. Uh because we're a it's a joint powers. Yeah. Yeah. uh trust and so we set our
own rates and they go out and and go into the reinsurance market to offload the big increases and they're uh those are giant multinational firms that do that. So they're you got to believe
they're pretty cognizant um of what may happen. So um who knows the world collapses but in in general uh yeah we've we haven't seen changes in our insurance in midy year even during
the great recession in 2009. So if it didn't happen then I and like the health insurance we just got the notice on that now that the being raised 11%. Oh yeah, they don't do it in the middle of
the year. We have to always usually wait till September or later trouble. That was my comment as well, Commissioner. Yeah. You commissioner. Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair. So, in in
looking at this and and uh some discussions um just some comments that that I would like like to make from my perspective. Um the way to reduce the levy is not by drawing down the county's reserves, it's by reducing the spending.
Um I think we we all understand that we'll say in principle practically applied is is is another question and and the reason I make the the comment is when I look at the all of the documentation which I appreciate that we
see that the um that how we affect that levy is based upon how much fund balance we use. So this is my point is saying that the way that we reduce uh the levy is not by drawing down fund balance. It
is by reducing spending. And looking at the 2026 budget proposals by departments, how many project um or project less revenues for 2026 yet are putting forward increasing spending. So if you if you want to look at the revenue side of things, if we see that
the revenue is going down for whatever reason and we're certainly making those projections, but we look at increased spending, that seems counterintuitive. So it's just an observation. As commissioners, we have yet to roll up our sleeves. Uh staff have devoted
themselves to the process in response to our initial requests. However, the rolling up the sleeves is the very difficult challenging work of questioning and looking at places where we can try to reduce that exposure. that is certainly coming out of of of the
class that I was able to participate in and appreciate it is that u that difficult work it was expressed by those that participated when they introduced themselves and said here's the challenges we're facing and this is what we're looking to know how we can be
better stewards of taxpayer dollars. So our shared role is that of stewards of other people's money. We have not been elected to hire or hired s to simply spend other people's money without checks and balances. I would respectfully submit we set the levy at
the lower amount and discipline ourselves to do better. That would be my position. And the other observation I would make given my first term as commissioner and looking at our processes now, I would also request that future non-mandated requests for
taxpayer dollars come before those elected to represent taxpayers and not be something that is chewed on by others and that come before this board. I think the particulars and all those things that evaluate taxpayer dollars for
non-manded mandated entities should be something that the the commissioners are tasked with wrestling with. So I would encourage us as as a challenge that we can rise to by disciplining ourselves to set that lower rate and not letting the
unknown drive us to the higher rate. Granted, we can set the higher rate, but it it sort of takes that responsibility away from us. And uh again, having gone through budget process in the past and things that learned since then, um I I
would really challenge fellow commissioners to and our staff to roll up our sleeves and see what we can do. We have our initial here they are. We look at it, but the response to it to try to alleviate some of that impact is through use of fund balance. And I'm not saying
we can't use fund balance, but it was preached and harped on over and over again. We shouldn't be using fund balance, but we seem to uh have relied on that as opposed to rolling up our sleeves and doing the hard work of stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Thank
you. I think one of the cons considerations here too is in looking at the department heads and what they have submitted. we perhaps will have more questions to them and I would encourage us to not
individually go to them but have them come before the full board so that they can say this is the reason I need Susie Q and this is the reason why we need this and this is the reason to come before the full board and we have two and a half months that we can work on
that. So um if you want to submit questions to administrator trouble and have her do the inviting but um we can certainly consider that over the next few months so that questions will be answered and and then that's how we make
our decision as to how much fund balance we uh will be able to use. Now, you know, if we are looking probably not every day at the stock market, but we know that it's going to drop that our um interest rates are going to be, you
know, not going up, but they'll be dropping even more. So, um that's a consideration how we um work with our county funding also. That's the future next year and the future after that and so forth. So, this is kind of a really
big decision-making year going into 26 because we don't know what's going to happen with percentages of of interest and and uh so forth. But a lot of considerations here, any other comments?
And in referring now to the levy, that's where we are. Commissioner Gamble. Thank you, Madam Chair, and I appreciate your comments. I I would suggest that we do something to uh build a structure under which that'll happen. In other words, so that we're not just talking
about it, but that we actually are putting in place a schedule that is timely so that we can bring substance to our intent in that regard to really and if we're going to meet and and ask those questions that we want to allow enough
time so that we can do that credibly. Yeah. Administrative trouble. And madam chair, if that is the desire of the board, I'd be happy to work on a schedule um to ensure that you have an opportunity to ask any questions of the department heads.
Great. Thank you, Armen. So, would anyone like to offer their opinion as to how we set the levy? Commissioner Salvin, I just want to keep in mind um and I'm sure all of us have been watching what other counties are doing at this point
in time and um recently St. Louisis County recommended a 12.4% preliminary levy. Again, we're thinking about what is the maximum amount. All right, we can always come down. Um, we
still have a lot of unknowns. Um, I noticed that Winona County um came in at 12.5, Ramsey County, which is obviously Twin Cities, 9.75, but a lot of them are are actually close to 10%. And one thing we did discuss
previously as a board is making sure our preliminary levy is always under 10%. So I appreciate these two options that um Brady has provided us because they both come in under that number. Commissioner Gamble.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Um I attended the northern county's land use coordinating board which has shortened their name thankfully to northern counties coalition and we had a roundt discussion with the uh commissioners from various counties during that and uh
there were a number of counties that were 0 to 5% and of course St. Lewis was there. So they did mention their 12, but there were a number of them that were set in their preliminary and their range was was around 5%. So um typically I I
would I would look when it becomes available because in our local media here we get information on where the board has set its preliminary levy and you can research that and then make a list and find out where people are at. It is one element of the process that
gives you why are others able to do this when our pos our position is to say that one thing that's significant that Brady alluded to is the fact that our bonding is part of our budgeting process and we have to look at that and say whoa that's that's a significant thing. So that's
different and you'll see that variation with other counties too when you ask them why are you at this? Well, because we da da da da da asking those questions and understand that gives us context to know what we can and cannot learn from others when it comes to setting the
budget. So I I I I believe because of our position relative to our reserve fund and the commitment to build a discipline around this process that if we set it at the
the the lower rate, we will work hard to do that. I I I think I think we shouldn't feel so comfortable and and I think if we do our work and it's evidence-based decisionmaking which we can work on in the future that we will
knowingly be able to set that with more certainty when we come to this point in our budget season. So any other comments about the levy? Commissioner Mills? Um, I just want to bring us back to uh, let's see, this
would be August 26th. Um, our fund balance was about $4 million above what our budget policy states of having that 75% of our operational for the year. And so, um, I
would be comfortable spending down from that. It is not sustainable, of course. And this is kind of, you know, bringing bringing the conversation back from last year, too, is I I really want to have a plan to uh get off of our dependence on
on spending the fund balance. Um we're in a really strong position because of the interest rates and so that won't continue. But um it with our I'm looking at the last page
now. um with our 2026 budget requests and that's one about 1.4 million there. Um and then we're spending from the fund balance potentially 1.4 million. So all these numbers are um
uh are significant I think to put in the big picture there and and just like Brady said it's about 930,000 in um the bonds and so um that by far is is the significant chunk. Not that the
other parts other costs aren't other requests aren't significant either, but um you know if if uh if we spend more of the fund balance, we we'd still be within that 75% operational cost, but we
could only do that for two years this year next. And that's just that's worrisome. Um much to Commissioner Gamble's point, it's it's uh it's not sustainable. Um and so we need to look for efficiencies or um
or or other funding sources or um some kind of uh solution in the longer run. New things pop in all the time. And if you look at the second line here, family paid leave, that's new.
That goes into effect January 1st. You know, it's not that we're paying everything, but that's a new item and you have to be able to turn and be flexible when it comes to putting that into our estimated cost. Commissioner Sullivan,
I just also want um for all of us to keep in mind that um the county levy is not the only thing that our taxpayers are dealing with. We have a 15% hospital levy and the voters um will uh be making
a decision um for ISD 166 as well for their ballot question in November. Um and given that I would also feel comfortable with the 7.3 um 7% option which is option two um knowing that we
have other things that our taxpayers have to deal with as well. Right, Commissioner Gamble. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I would make a motion that uh the board accept the challenge to work on this and encourage our our staff to work in partnership
with us on behalf of the stewardship of tax dollars for our citizens and set that preliminary levy at 7.37%. And I I would concur in making that motion that that we do have the luxury of having those those dollars there. But
I think it needs to be a combination of of um rolling up our sleeves and doing the hard work and decision making as well as supplementing and managing that trust. If you're a foundation, uh you have times when your revenues are
generating a lot and you can be more gracious with your dollars, but when things are tight, you need to keep that fund perpetuating in order to still fulfill your mission. So I think that's how we manage it. We manage it as trying
to balance the burden of governance with our our intention to be basically more self-sufficient just like a family not having to live from their savings and retirement but trying to be able to generate the revenue they need for the
cost of living that they've come to accept. So that would be my motion. I appreciate the discussion floor at 7.2% 7.37 37. Okay. Is there a second? Commissioner White, I'll second it.
Further discussion. Commissioner Mills, did you intend to do 7.57? I said 7.37. Mhm. Is it What is it in your document? I thought I wrote down the doc the 57. All right. Thank you. I would amend my
motion to go on Brady's documented amount in his paperworks which is 7.57. Thank you, Commissioner Mills. I will second that. Okay. Any further discussion before I call a vote?
I think it's important to state what percentage of fund balance we're leveraging with the 7.37%. again 7.57 or 7.57 I'm sorry.
Yeah. Uh well using that um 1.6 million to get to that um we have about as Dave stated we have almost 4 million above. So this would leave us with 2.4 4
million above our our goal, our floor of 75% of current expenditures. What point? Which is Yeah, we our our county policy is we stay at 75% of our current expenditures
and we're about 4 million over that right now. If we're saying we're going to use 1.6, six. That still leaves us about 2.4 above that goal. So, okay. Thank you.
And thank you, Madam Chair. So, I would amend my motion again simply to include that uh we're re we making a motion that we set that levy at 7.5% with the understanding
that uh we would be using 1.6 6 million of fund balance. Uh that doesn't mean that we will. However, it just means with the understanding that potentially that would come from 1.6 million fund balance. And I I guess I should I should state
out a lot. I I use that number in here, but it's it could be fund balance. It could be cuts. It's just it's a convenient number to tell you where your levy is going to move to. No, I agree with that. one number rather
and and I would like to see it through rolling up our sleeves um and and contribute if we have a a contribution that comes from fund balance but I think you know to administrator's point is that if we want to put in there with the understanding
that initially we could use the fund balance however our intention is to try to make cuts and just to clarify that's 7.57% yeah And um
1.6 million is 40% of our available fund balance. Well, yeah. Of our available above our policy, right? It's all available. How you doing on notes? Yeah.
She needs a big eraser. If if we were Yes. If we were to use um 1 if if we uh went with the 9.13 number and we were to use 1.4 million in fund balance, that
would be approximately um 35% of our fund balance that's above the 75%. Okay. So, we've had a motion to set the levy at 7.5%. 57 577. Sorry, I got everybody off the
wrong track. 57. Any further discussion on this? I'll call for a vote. All in favor? I I opposed. Same sign. Motion passes unanimously. Thank you, board. Thank you.
Thank you, Bri, Madam Chair. The next next item is uh at the same meeting where we set our proposed levy. We have to set the time and date of our truth and taxation
meeting which can be anytime between about November 25th and December end of December but um so we have to keep in mind that um the first part of December we're at AMC so
correct then we have Thanksgiving we don't want that week what is the first date we can um utilize or have that meeting.
It's around the 25th, but we've tried to stay away from Thanksgiving, right? We've set it close to that date and uh we've regretted it in the past. So, Okay. Yeah. Thank you. Eat our turkey. Yeah. Well, people want to be able to to come
on the 27th. Yeah. our last board meeting on in November is the 25th. So, Madam Chair, just for clarification, Brady, the the last day that it needs to be said is December what?
It's the last uh we just have to have this meeting before we set the final final levy levy and it's the last business day in December. I don't have a calendar in front of me but yeah we typically try to do it at the first
uh meeting in December so that if we you know have issues we have a sec potentially second meeting December 9th no second one first meeting
yeah just remember that um I think the AMC annual conference is December is it 8th through the 10th or 9th through the 11th. Right. Correct. So, our board meeting schedule will be December 2nd and then the 16th and there will be no
committee of the whole kind of like we've done the last couple like we've done the last couple years. So December 2nd is so we could I tried to look at the county calendar and um two dates that
pop out would be December 2nd which is a Tuesday in the evening and then Thursday December 4th in the evening. Those are both available on the 4th is a a chamber meeting if
that makes any difference. Does the second work for everyone? Yeah. Want to make a motion? Make a motion to set the truth and taxation for uh Tuesday, December 2nd at uh
It has 6 p.m. Yeah, it has to last past 6. So, we can start it then or as long as it doesn't finish before 6. Well, okay. 6 p.m. Sure. Okay.
Okay. So, we set it for December 2nd on a Tuesday at 6 PM. Call the vote. We have to vote, right? We have to vote. Oh, yeah. Well, any questions or comments? Then I'll call for a vote.
[Music] All in favor? All in favor? I oppose. same. We're creatures of habit. So, get it on our calendars right away. Okay. Our last item here is
an amendment for the uh trail builder work on pin cushion uh mountain. This is bike trails and this was phase two of that project. Uh Tim Kennedy is here from uh Superior
Cycling Association. So the county had a $200,000 grant from the environmental trust fund, state money from lottery and that funded um I think we spent about $181,000.
We've got about 19,600 left of that grant that can go to this finish project of uh the back 80 is the only part of that pin cushion trails that hasn't been completed, but it
wasn't enough to finish it. So SCA went out to ITRB and got another $27,000 grant from them to help finish the project. And that's a grant to SCA and we're the fiscal agent came to the board
here. So, so the contract includes both uh you know using the money uh we're going to finish from the one grant and then the 27,000 and using the same contractor to finish that project. So,
anything you want to add, Tim? Yeah, I think you explained it uh very well. Um, you know, first before we we even start any conversation is, you know, I'd like to thank the board for continued support that you've given to Superior Cycling Association over the
years. You know, we've u created a great uh recreation resource in the county and our mountain bike trail system. And, you know, we continue to try to uh keep that trail system uh at the at the highest level of riding standards. uh these
grants we've written uh do that. Uh this last grant uh from IT RB will complete the uh restoration and rehabilitation of all the trails uh at Pink Cushion Mountain um this over last year and this
and this year. And uh you know in addition to that uh we also put in the uh skills park and pump track at the community center this year which was a big addition to uh making uh uh mountain biking and cycling in general more
accessible to uh our our you know youth and uh even adults that were trying to uh bring uh their skills up before venturing out on our mountain bike trail systems. But all in all, I mean, I think uh the SP recycling association is
thankful for the support the they've received from the county and uh and even the through through being the fiscal agent, doing legal work, uh doing bids and uh you know and all the things that
that uh make make uh what we've done possible. But uh this last grant I RB grant is really designed to finalize the rehab at at Pin Cushion. We knew we were going to be a little bit short and didn't make sense to uh do all the rehab
and leave about a mile of trail um un un uh done. So uh so we we wrote another grant uh and we just need to make an amendment to the agreement that was approved last year uh for phase two of this project to include this last
portion of it. So, thank you. I'll answer any questions you might have. Questions or comments for Tim. Thank you for bringing this um to our attention and we um we have a broad area of supports here from recreation to we
name it. So, we are glad we can work with you on this. Commissioner Sullivan. Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve the amendment to the agreement with Dirt Candy Designs LLC for trail builder work at the Pin Cushion Mountain Bike Trail
Rehabilitation Project Phase 2. Support. Okay, any further comments or questions? All in favor? I I oppose. Same sign. Motion passes unanimously. Thank you very much. Appreciate all your support.
Thank you. Thanks. Moving on to item uh eight under a on administrator contract for Birchbark Consulting. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um we have had a minor change to this proposed professional services agreement. So I've
asked Jana to please assist us in pulling it up on the screen so that the community members, the public that is watching as well as all of you can see um the changes to this service agreement. So, this agreement is um to enter into a contract with Megan Mo, who
is a um independent consultant and contractor um who provides um contracting services in the health and human services area. She has worked in Ramsey County Health and Human Services in the past as a manager and director um
and has also been a consultant for the past nine years working with small, medium, and largesiz counties. So our request is to bring her um on board as a contractor to do an assessment of our PHS division. So with that, she would do
an an initial kickoff meeting um to outline what the project would include and then gather information. And this would include potentially surveys and interviews um look at information from our case management system. Um and make
sure that she's engaging staff but also stakeholders in getting information from the community. Um so the changes that I have in the first few tasks are simply to change the language so that um we have a little bit of flexibility in terms of the number of hours that she
needs and the timeline that she needs for um completing the tasks. um in consultation with her uh she felt that that flexibility might be helpful for the community and for the county as we move forward in that she might be able
to complete some of the tasks sooner than what she had anticipated in the timeline. So our hope is is that with that flexibility um it provides um us a benefit to potentially leverage that. So after she completes the information gathering um she will come on site and
visit Cook County um to conduct some of those interviews that I had mentioned um and complete the survey and then she will complete a draft report for us. In that report we'll provide um opportunities for improvement within PHS
and um recommendations as we move forward. Um we also added two additional tasks to the contract. one is providing um coaching as requested. So if we feel a need for the new um to assist our new director once we hired the new director
for PHS um she is willing and and able to provide that service. Um we also added provide other tasks agreed upon in writing by the county as approved by the interim director um or his successor and the contractor. So, as we um as she
starts to begin this work, if there there are needs um for other tasks that we would have the ability um to add that into the contract. Um the cost for this, I believe, was right around 26,000.
I'm not sure that's included in the in the contract. 31 26 25 Yes. Yes. 26 26,025. So that is my proposal today. Thank you, Jana.
Thank you. Questions or comments? Commissioner Gamble. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, first statement I guess I I would make is I I appreciate um the professional and thorough response to an identified
need and I think that that that's hugely important. It's difficult to tackle difficult issues. Um but in in doing so um we want to make sure that uh we can learn everything that we can learn and
we need professionals who understand we'll say in this particular area of the industry uh that can help us do that. So, as we are all aware of, we've gone through a process. We've been privy to information that's become available to
us to help inform us. And this this information is is not directed to be mean-spirited uh towards any individual. It is our stewardship responsibility to understand
what it is to create um uh governance that serves us well and we build in best practices. We build in accountability. We build in encouragement for staff and processes that get the most from and contribute the most to the people that
serve us. So I I applaud the the investment that has gone into this which is challenging. it has been for Reena and it's something you have to pick up on stepping into and all those people uh plowman and his his role. Um but we we
need to support these things. So we walk away from what is a difficult situation having learned and it would be interesting to look in this assessment which is something we've talked about in public health human services before
certainly in my first term as to billable where we can generate revenues for the services we provide. We know there are enough non-mand or that non that are mandated nonfunded services that we have to provide those where we
do have revenue streams that help us in providing those services we need to make sure we're taking full advantage of that. And so my comment is is that if we go through this budget and we look at proposed and what's there, understanding
that in the context of opportunity, there could be opportunity lost is is important. And so these are multiaceted things that are going to inform us and make us better at what we do. So I appreciate it. Madam Chair, if I may
respond to that, I I agree and part of this assessment will be to look at um how we are billing for some of the services that we provide. We are able to receive reimbursement from the state for some of our targeted case management
services. And so in this we will be um asking for assistance in making sure that we're leveraging the financial support that we can. Any further comments or questions? I'll make a motion then to approve the
uh contract with Birchbark Consulting LLC. I support. Any further questions or comments? All in favor? I oppose. Same sign. Motion passes unanimously. Thank you on that.
Appreciate bringing that forward. And moving on then to administrator updates. All right. Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a few brief updates today. Um the first one is the the Mill the Hill project. Um on Wednesday and
Thursday of this week um the road Gunflint uh trail will be closed. Thank you. Will be closed um in 10 to 20 minute increments six times over those two days. And so we are trying to get
the exact time that it will be closed. Uh Robbie is working on that with the contractors, but wanted to make sure that the community knows that um if you can reroute on Wednesday and Thursday, that would be ideal as it will be closed um six different times during that that
time frame. I also wanted to mention that we are moving forward with implementing two uh new projects and one is in Brady's office, the payroll system. We're working with the contractor and hoping to start that um implementation process over the next few
months with the goal of implementing that around January 1st. We're also moving forward with implementing e-recording. We are the only uh county in the state that is not leveraging e-recording at this time and so we've started that process and hope to have
that implemented around that January 1 timeline as well. So, some of the projects that have been deferred for a little bit of time, we're starting to move forward with. Brady, is there anything you wanted to mention on the payroll? Not really. I mean, it was expected we'd
do this earlier. Um, we waited a long time for UKG to get their team geared up. They said they're uh they've had a lot of activity. So, anyway, they finally are ready to go. We've been ready for a few months, couple of
months, but they're ready now. So, we'll get moving on it and uh hopefully uh we can we can get there by the end of the year. That's the goal. So, we've got a team uh an internal team of uh IT, HR,
administrator, my office. Uh so, thank you, Brady. So, yeah, we're very excited to get both of these moving forward. I also wanted to mention something that um the sheriff shared with our management team yesterday and that's um that um Grand
Portage as well as um Austin Cook County um have been able to leverage I believe it was $5 million if I'm not mistaken um funding secured from the state to secure four um marine units, four boats that
have been used um or that can be leveraged and used. So, one is in um Grand Portage and so chairman Bob Bobby Desamp has been part of that process. We have one in Grand Marray and then we have actually um provided one to Lake
County so that we have full coverage on the Northshore and we had the first rescue um that occurred I believe it was this last weekend in Grand Portage and so we're very uh grateful to have have this resource for our community at this
time. All right, the last update that I have is that we have a board meeting scheduled on a holiday which is November 11th. So, we need to reschedu that. And Jana is telling me that the the best dates may be November 12th or the 19th,
I believe. So, I wanted to check in with the board to see if we could reschedu that. 14th is on a Friday. the 12th or the 19th? Oh, the 12th is a Wednesday. Okay. Two Wednesdays. 12th or the 19th.
Madam Chair, would it be possible, unless everybody else has their calendars in front of to take those two dates and and send in response what's most workable? 19th is out for me. I have three meetings, 19th and 20th. Yeah.
Okay. So, tentatively look at the 12th, but everybody check their calendar and we just get back to Jen on that. Yeah. 12 works for me. Yeah. Okay. So, it's three. 12 works for me. That's four. 12. Yeah. So, 10. And I would um just suggest that we all
bring our laptops so we can look things these things up and that way we don't have to get back to Jana. On my phone. Yeah. November 12th board meeting. Anything else, Administrator Treble? No, thank you. Okay, thank you for those
updates. Then we'll move on to um Commissioner report meeting updates. Anybody have anything to share? Commissioner Sullivan. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, so the HA had a special meeting this month and um, just so the board is aware, there was
approval of a resolution to allow Jeff Brand, the executive director, to apply for up to $220,000 uh, to the ILR in support of the Borberg project in Grand Marray, the housing project. So I wanted to inform people of
that. Um we had a firewise meeting and um what was really exciting is that um we identified that a an award was to be given to the Lon Lake Bay Road Association for their Firewise community
and I was there when they presented um to them on September 30th. And also at Firewise we welcomed Brandon Gillespie to represent the West End. we've not had a firefighter um participating in those meetings. So, we really appreciate the
fact that he is able to attend Firewise now on behalf of the West End. And we talked a little bit about fuel reduction that is being done throughout the county. Um things are very limited because of um funding changes. Um so, we
did discuss our concerns around that. Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway met um last Tuesday and invited the US Forest Service and both um Kyle Stove and Myrainer came and talked about the burn
piles that are by Bear Skin. Uh they're a little bit lower in height than those that um were near Swamper last year and so people were very pleased with that. And then they also talked about that projects have been awarded um to Lullabi
Creek, an 18 acre area that will have fuel reduction. And then currently right by Northern Light Lake, there is a project going on right now and there is a large crew present and they are not um creating burn piles. They are slashing
off branches and just leaving it on the forest floor to rot. So that is another way that we do fuel reduction. But uh you may see some activity along the Gunflint um for those projects. Um we had our second Roso meeting in
Kovville a little over a week ago and it was interesting. Commissioner Gamble was there also. Um, there were some qu questions about the Roso district, but a lot of questions just in general about zoning. And I want to uh commend uh Neva
Maxwell for addressing those concerns and questions about zoning and uh clarifying things for property owners in the Kovville area. soil and water conservation district met and they are continuing or actually have at this point I believe finished their work with
the highway department on the little devil track river and um also they have finished um the addition of trees and shrubs around the village ditch. So, I'm sure you've seen this summer a lot of the activity um
there, but they have uh made their final payment to Prairie Restorations, which provided those uh plants, trees, and shrubs. And then lastly, uh last evening, I attended the Voyager Point Road Association meeting and they had questions about the subordinate
governmental service districts. I just um suggest and and expect that all commissioners who have one of these in their districts will be invited to a meeting. Um and it was great. The highway department provided maps of the subordin
service district like we saw on our screen at committee the whole but we had copies to distribute to property owners. We shared copies of the policy and state statute and had a really good conversation about last night the needs of that particular group and a little
bit about the history of that group which was the first one formed back in 1992. Um so anyway, just a heads up to commissioners that you'll probably getting um in the near future an invitation to some of those meetings.
Thank you, Commissioner Gamble. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um yeah, just to follow up a bit on the uh public meeting that NEA is holding those in the various districts and um they've attended two of them, the one in Hovind, now the one in
Kovville and and um I made the comment that u the individuals coming out that obviously he was focuses on the new opportunity relative to the zoning and the overlay but uh the willingness of
participants to contribute to multiple issues relative to county governance is is a good thing. It's an indication that that people appreciate the opportunity to be able to have, you know, respectful conversations, ask their questions and and get responses. So, that that's a
good thing and I think it underscores um our administrators commitment to public informed decisions. So, that's that's a good thing. Um during the northern county's coalition uh board meeting I mentioned uh the roundt discussion about where counties are on
their levies and also a commissioner from St. Louis County is traveling to Washington DC tomorrow to uh speak with Representative Stabber on the pill issue and um so uh we believe that uh if uh
Representative Stabber takes a lead in supporting this that um we might be able to see that we would put a a um uh a basement on. you can't go below a certain amount when it comes to this.
And I think the discussions and that we had in that was informative understanding the position of representatives and senators on this issue. And as you know, we're trying to be very u respectful and manage this in
in a way that doesn't send a message to other counties around the country relative to the Thai blacknick provision that is in place. So there's multiple issues there as to trying to uh I would
say um advocate on behalf of the benefit that comes through PILt which certainly for counties like ours with a significant amount of government land. Uh this is a huge important issue to us. So, I'm I'm hoping that uh the personal
representation with Commissioner Stabber will uh help to see see this uh this happened at least as a a temporary um fix uh moving forward. um
the uh upcoming AMC in Alexandria which will be all but Commissioner White will be attending. Um the opportunity we have there to connect with peers and uh see how they're addressing budget and and issues like that is is certainly an
important element of of these opportunities. So I'm I'm looking forward to that. Any other reports? Commissioner Mills. Um yeah, I just want to let you all know that and the public I want everyone to
know that um the attack harbor um uh redevelopment project or or visioning project has the website live and the advisory committee is now we're in recruitment and so the application is on there um and there's a bunch of
information that looks really nice. Um so that's EDA related. Parks and Trails had a lot of discussion around uh Sawtooth Bluffs and Commissioner Gamble was there as well talking about the the Save the Bluff Committee and just the
the dynamics there. Um there is a a firm that worked with the city and their master planning um HKGI that has a proposal um that's about half the half the cost is what the city paid. Um but
we do not have the funding secured at this point. Um, so we're going to be looking, I guess, to the city and other sources. Might be put off till next year if there's some state money available to help with this. But, um, it was just
encouraging to hear of some of that, um, progress. Um, oh, shoot. Oh, um, DCYF, I think I'm off the hook there now. Um, we had been meeting four times a month for two years. Um and now they have their IA
versus the I A before. Um I AG was just in formation of the IA. IEC is uh state and charter. And so um we still have um Commissioner Terrell Clark. Um
Commissioner Reena Moran, uh looks like Neil Commissioner Neil Gwick. Um, and I'm missing the other two that are on there officially now, but it looks like a great group in um, rural Minnesota will be represented as well as
the metro. Oh, uh, Commissioner Bingham, I think, um, is there too. Um, um, but I'm, you know, as happy to be on that. I'm also happy to be off of it now. Uh, little relief there. And um
I'm sure we'll hear more about that at AMC. I thought there was one other thing I wanted to Oh, yeah. Of course, the the golf course. We already talked enough about that. So, Commissioner White, well, firewise, I attended and Commissioner Sullivan covered that. And
then there was a Roso um town hall meeting in Hovind the week ago and Commissioner Campbell covered that. And so I uh yesterday I was at the uh hub for the uh
uh for their monthly meeting and uh as engaged as the conversation was the two-hour meeting went to two and a half hours. So it was all very positive. So, and then the other big the other big one was the aquatic invasive species.
And uh they're certainly busy scooping up little craads, not craads, crayfish, which is crayfish to the tune of 3,000 pounds pulled out of of caribou as of some date. So,
so um hard at work and um that's about it. So, and tomorrow is the uh Arrowhead Health Alliance meeting. I forgot one, I'm sorry. Um update. Northwood's food project and this
happened after the meeting actually has secured some more funding. Um the farmers market has been so successful and the tokens that are used there are so successful um that they're looking to see how they can leverage that. And it,
as it turns out, there's more produce beyond um the length of the farmers market in the in the season in the year. And so they're hoping to extend that token program beyond the market and somehow uh wrangle that. So that's part of how
that funding is going to be used. Um but it's very exciting. It really is the intention is to make um the the coordinator position in the Northwoods Food Project more sustainable and and longerlasting because I really think that's that's hugely beneficial for the
organization and our community then too. So, but it's pretty pretty big pretty big news um for that group. Commissioner Sullivan. Um thank you, Madam Chair. Um when Commissioner White mentioned aquatic invasive species, I wanted to make sure that everybody was aware if they hadn't
seen on social media that they have discovered um spiny water flea in Popular Lake and that is one of our very heavily used lakes in Cook County. We have outfitters whose businesses rely on that lake. It is also an entry point
into the Boundary Waters. So, I cannot stress enough, clean, drain, dry, and read the information that has been distributed by the DNR so that you're very aware of what you need to do to protect our remaining lakes that are
free of invasives. Well, speaking of water fleas and spinies, this and that, I attended the Caribou Lake Association, which they meet um twice a year, Memorial Weekend and Labor Day. And um they are so on top
of everything. They even told us the water temperature on Saturday, which was 72 degrees. So, everybody wanted to go jump in the lake because that's a good temperature. But they do, you know, and I go on and on, but anyway, they do
testing for phosphorus and for nitrogen and for you name it. And um it isn't just one person. It's the whole association, people stepping in. I can't say everybody, but they have a good representation. You can go out at the end of your dock and you can help
gather up these little critters that are floating around, but there's no true way of keeping them out of Caribou Lake. They'd like to go to the DNR and say, "Could you put up a gate, but that's evidently not going to be possible, but
they would like to work with the DNR to say maybe there's some possibilities here." So, that's always a interesting and and a great meeting to go to. Um, so I attended the uh new and
reorganized uh Niko meeting. Organized meaning we have a new chair from he's from California and uh oh my is he a go-getter. I mean he he lined up a lot of things that we need to think about. Basically September is a reorganization
and talking about what is going to be our goals and um set priorities which we'll do in October. um they'd like the steering committee which I'm part of to be um aware of possible 10 um areas of
suggestions. One of them is more in uh disease prevention and um behavioral health. Those are two areas that they would like us to work on. Um resolutions, platforms, all of that will
be discussed in um October. And I think you've heard me say we should think out of the box. Well, the new chair has suggested that we be ready to pivot for the future.
So, good discussions is always there and more coming. So, a week ago, I attended the citizens advisory advisory committee with the University of Minnesota Extension. Dean um Durgen gave quite a report. I'll just simplify it to say
they're doing their budget cutting also 7% across the board which cuts 18 positions and then in the SNAP and education nutrition health 16 positions are being cut there.
Um but she says and she looked at all of us we appreciate the county support. So, as much as we can do to to support them um and they're looking at their future, how can they leverage in certain areas?
And one of them is perhaps joining other universities within the North Dakota system and Wisconsin system to um collaborate in some areas, maybe professors, maybe collaborate within um outreach of um some of these uh health
education areas that are being dropped. So, um, the part of the point of meeting down there, which I've done for years, is 4 is a big deal in other parts of the county as we know. And so, we go over to the 4 building and we meet with a group
over there. And, uh, they're very proud 4ers and uh, the good news is that the building is very old. Is that good news? No, the good news is that there's money been donated to refurbish the 4 building on the fairgrounds. So um they're going to
start at the very top level is where we used to bunk bunk in because a for each member that's where I was but um and they're going to look at that but start in the second and first floor. So that's over a period of time. Um the donation
is very substantial so they want to use that money wisely. And then I have to say I did try a few things on a stick and I enjoyed the rest of the fair and I mentally said to myself if I can't do what I want to see in four hours I'm
done. And I was done. Okay. Um so moving on to upcoming meetings to note. Um a lot of things are gearing up uh with the uh county. I know myself we're gearing up now with ARDC and Arrowhead counties will be meeting
um next week in Duth and um you know you continue on with your firewise and budget facilities and so forth and then at the um end of our packet we do have the updating of the lodging tax comparison through June.
So, we'll move on to the recognition of staff and this is the September staff anniversaries and we have a lot of you out there and we appreciate every one of you and we're going to call your name. So, the oneyear anniversary is Betsy
Blazedell in public health and human services. And then one year is Brooke Lassard, director of our facilities. Two-year recognition is Carol Schmidber, Highway Department, and Jay Ernest from Assessor's Office. Three-year
anniversary is Adam Maxwell from public health and human services, Andrea Cuthbert, public health and human services, Brenda Port, public health and human services, and Lauren Nelson from public health and human services. And
then we have more beyond the three years. Uh Kathy Pulley, four years in human resources. Mike Keeport, six years in emergency management. Um Amanda Anderson, seven years in the sheriff's
office. Uh Richard Walchick, maintenance, seven years. Jade Waltman, eight years in public health and human services. Andrea Dbor, 12 years public health and human services. and Melissa
Rexrod and MIS 12 years. And we have Roman Rowan Watkins and MIS 13 years. And then we have a milestone Patty Lasan, Sheriff 30 years. Thanks to all of you.
Appreciate all that you do and work on and support um with the county. And be no further um business. We are adjourned.