Good morning everyone. I will call the Cook County Board of Commissioners regular meeting to order. On this day of Tuesday, June 9th at 8:31, we 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 to the republic for nation indivisible indivice. >> Liberty and justice for all.
>> Um are there any adjustments to the agenda? Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion to accept the agenda as written. >> I'll support. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> oppose. Same sign. Motion.
>> Do we need to do a roll call vote because of >> someone online? >> Yes. >> I think you do because I'm not on site. >> Yeah. So Sullivan I
>> Gamble I >> Storley I >> White White White I >> approving the agenda. >> All right. Good. >> Okay. Motion approved. Um at this time we have an opportunity
for the public to come before the board to um discuss any um questions or comments they would have. Is there anyone in the audience who would like to do that? I see no one at that time. Have any of the commissioners received any comments?
>> No. >> Okay. Um motion uh moving on then to the consent agenda items on our um agenda. We have the claims and the minutes from the May 26th meeting. Um a permit for a
raffle for midtrail property owners association. Um, Minnesota DNR State Bowden Watercraft Grant and the National Park Service Grant. Would anyone like to pull anything? No. Okay. Motion.
>> Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion to accept the consent agenda as published. >> I'll support. >> All in favor? >> I I >> I roll call. >> Roll call. Sullivan. I >> Gamble. I >> Storley. I
>> white I sorry Jenny >> motion passes. So at 9:00 a.m. we're going to have a public hearing. But before we get to that we can move on to some other um items that we have on our uh agenda and
perhaps um we could go to the uh EDA. So if you come forward. Good morning. >> Morning commissioners. >> Morning Lucas. Good morning. >> Thank you for Thank you for having me. Uh happy to be here to give you just a couple of quick updates and then answer
any questions you may have related to the uh planned sale of the golf course. I put together a really quick slide deck. Um but it doesn't have very much material on it. Um so maybe if you want to just go through it. >> One second. I have to make sure that I'm
sharing it with teams. um that Commissioner White can see it as well. So, let's see here. Just give me one moment here. Okay, perfect. Um, so as I'm sure many of you know, and I'll try to quickly
sort of refresh everybody's memory on this. Uh, you know, part of the the process for sale included a right of first refusal. Um, so on the third slide, if you want to quickly jump past the agenda, uh, I have here, um, you know, starting on March 30, that's when
the, uh, right of first refusal 90-day period, uh, began. And at that time, the EDA was not sure whether or not, uh, the holders of that right were interested in waving it prior to the end of the 90-day period. It's beginning to look as we approach the end of this month when it's
going going to lapse that we are going to have the entire 90 days uh put out. But that kind of put a little bit of u uh softness to the timeline. We weren't exactly sure where everything would be. Uh at the end of the 90-day uh right of first refusal period once that lapses,
the agreement for sale has a 60-day period for final sort of negotiations. Uh and now that we're getting so close to the end of that, that's what the EDA is primarily uh focused on is is the final round of of negotiations prior to the date of closing. Those negotiations
specifically are about uh uh provisions in the agreement relating to irrigation and septic work uh that has to get done prior to to the sale of the golf course. To that end, um Mike Larson has been sort of fielding uh a lot of the leg
work for that uh on behalf of the EDA and then bar engineering has been secured to draw plans and and to present all of those. Uh if you're able to go to the next slide, um the the waterboard met on May 26th to review the plans that bar engineering had put forward. There
was sort of a a couple of of of meal options uh you know relating to how the the situation could be solved. And it's it's a little complex. Happy to get into it if if everybody's interested. Um but suffice of to say that each of those options has different costs uh and
potentially benefits and drawbacks. Um and and um now that we have those plans uh and and the waterboard has sort of in principle signed off on on accepting those um we're going back to uh various contractors to get more solid numbers on
on what that's going to cost. At which point we're going to bring all of that. uh the EDA is going to bring all of those numbers to sort of the final round of negotiations and and you know discuss with the buyer you know which of which of these are you going to to accept understanding that uh if depending on
what is done it's going to you know change the process right so obviously if we're above a certain cost threshold uh we'd have to go out for bids and that sort of thing. So um you know that's still a little bit uh up in the air. we're going to know, you know, a lot more once we're able to begin those
negotiations. The problem with having a a right of first refusal is you're not even entirely sure until the end of that period who your buyer is, right? So, so those final negotiations kind of have to wait until until that point. Um, so yeah, if you want to go to the next
slide, um, everything I just said, uh, you know, stands. I guess I got ahead of myself. And the slide afterwards, just a quick update on the loan um that the the county gave to the EDA. Uh of the 200,000, 70,000 uh were provided to
Superior National Golf Course in May for their operations. 130,000 is being held uh in, you know, sort of held back by the EDA u potentially with an eye for the costs associated with closing relating to to septic and irrigation. Um
and then just a reminder on sort of uh what was discussed in relation to gunflint view um starting in August the repayment window of the monies that they owe uh will begin and then that period will last a full calendar year. Uh so we have not received any money back from
them nor would we have expected to by this point. Given all of that commissioners do you have any questions that I can answer uh concerns or anything else that I can address? I would have one question and that would be in the right of refusal is that done in written form?
>> So the the the notice was given in a written form um and then you know the the window once it lapses it just lapses and I don't believe that any additional notification needs to be given in terms of providing them that the time period has lapsed. Um but but yes that's
>> so that's June 30th the end of this month >> right the end of this month is when that period will will lapse and then that begins the 60-day window for for all of the you know sort of buildout related to what gets us to closing. Now, it's possible um and again, all of this is
going to be in relation to those negotiations that even after the probable date of closing, which would be the end of August um you know, for for the actual sale, depending on what what the EDA and the U buyers negotiate out,
there may be some ongoing um responsibilities that the ED EDA would have in order to deliver like a an irrigation project. Um we're not sure yet. It'll depend on what what we're able to to negotiate out if that makes sense. And I'm not not trying to dodge,
but but of course because you're talking about a live negotiation, sort of don't want to hand over too much, you know, of of of the cards that we hold or don't hold. So, >> thank you. Any other board questions? >> I just want to thank you for the update.
I really appreciate it. >> Absolutely. Yeah. Thank you for having me, >> Commissioner Gamble. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Lucas, for coming without anybody writing shotgun. Um, I I
have several questions. I have several comments, but um I guess what I'd like to do is I'd like to find a time that's convenient for you to sit down and address these. >> Sure. And um uh as decision makers to
facilitate processes we are asked to review information that comes before us and then in the context of that understanding to make decisions. So there's many many things in this process. This will be the fifth meeting now related to Superior National and the
sale and um I had requested that the update come because I think just the stewardship responsibility we have as decision makers is to be aware where are we at in the process and what is happening and so many of the things in following this process since its
inception meaning when Howard Hedstrom came initially to speak with us in 2025 I believe that um the issues and the questions that are raised and the things that get discussed here and the things that get discussed in the EDA and the things that get discussed in other
areas. Those are things that I would like to address. And in the discussion that we had in the follow-up meeting when uh Peter and Mark had come um there were things that rep were represented to
us for our understanding and things that have changed in the nature of that is what I'd I'd like to have the conversation on just just to be sure that um that being forthright in how we
represent things so that we as decision makers have all the information and know what the process legitimately is is very important. And so I could take considerable time this morning uh to address those things, but I think out of
respect for you stepping into the position and being here and your lonesome that um I'd just like to schedule time to sit down and talk to you. >> Certainly, Commissioner. happy happy to give you any and all information that that uh I can at any time that you'd like. So, absolutely be happy to meet
with you. >> Any any other questions? >> I guess that's that's it for now, it sounds like. >> Perfect. Thank you. Thank you, commissioners. Really appreciate you having me. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay, so we still have a little more time here. Um would you like to give
your updates? >> Sure. Sure. And um I did send our engineer a text message letting him know that we're moving quickly. So hopefully he'll be here in a few minutes and we can get to his agenda items as well. >> Um but I do have a couple updates. Um
the first one is regarding our transfer station. We have a ribbon cutting ceremony planned for the end of June. It's on June 26th from 10 to 1. We have sent out the invites to folks. So, we're hoping that we'll have community members as well as all of the representatives
that were engaged in the process during that time. Um, so we're really excited about that and and again, anyone and everyone is invited. So, we are planning on opening the transfer station sometime um likely early July. We're finishing
that project and so we'll have more information on the opening date um as we move forward, but we're we're still looking like it's probably going to be end of June, beginning of July, which is great news. Another event I want to mention is our e e-waste collection event, which is this
Saturday, June 13th, from 9 to 1 at the recycling center. So, you can bring in um your e-waste, so computer um monitors, cords, and things of that nature. Um, so that is free of charge to community members. So, wanted to make sure that the community is aware of
that. >> Um, yeah. >> Is it free of charge? >> There are some items, I believe, that are free and others that there is a charge for. >> Yeah. Yeah. Just >> there's a QR code on that flyer or poster and that shows
>> that'll show you. >> Yes. because I think I had that conversation with Neva and I and sometimes it's been free but if it's been free it's been subsidized by the county otherwise there is a charge associated but if there are items that are accepted that aren't free but I just wanted
>> let me pull it up just to make sure that I am >> because my last conversation with her she said there was fees associated with it but >> so is that how it'll be in the newspaper will people have to go to a QR code in the newspaper.
>> Okay. Yeah, it was already published >> and then it'll it'll show what is and what isn't. >> Correct. Having a charge associated. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I just wanted to be sure that it wasn't >> Thank you for that. >> Wasn't that free and people come and go,
>> yeah, I I apologize for that. Is it is a coste effective way to safely dispose of electronic waste, batteries, lamps, um, and small appliances that should not go into regular household trash. So there are some items um that it looks like
there is no cost and others that there there is a small fee associated with it. >> Did you have a comment J? >> Yeah. Um and I just want to if people weren't aware the most recent community connections article, you know, every every week the county tries to have a
county connections article in the newspaper. Uh last week, Neva Maxwell had an article that shared about this event in detail and um it was really helpful to me even because I think she even mentions um you know if you've got
a junk drawer at home with random cords that you're not sure what they go to. I believe that they accept things like that too. So I would encourage um anybody to either grab the most recent newspaper or go to the Cook County website and um read Neva's article. It's
informative and there's even some humor in it as well, but you'll learn a lot about this collection event. So, >> excellent. >> Just wanted to share that. >> Thank you, Jana. >> Okay. And then the next item I wanted to mention is um as many of you know, we
were planning on a courthouse um space building workshop on Monday and that was postponed um due to our architect needing to postpone that. I am working on a new date. um we met with some of our directors yesterday to to look at calendars and so I hope to get that date
out to all of you commissioners um before the end of the day today. So um moving forward with that soon. And then I also wanted to mention and Commissioner Stoley, I'm sure you'll talk about some of the events coming up as well, but wanted to mention that next
week is a very very busy week. we have an event um a county community event um every night and so the first one is the Takenite Harbor public meeting on Monday June 15th from 4:00 to 7:00 that's at
the Schroeder town hall um and so the the goal of this meeting is to share the advisory committee's findings and recommendations for the future of Tacite Harbor site so that's on Monday and then on Tuesday is the EDA presentation regarding tech regarding Tech Knight
Harbor at 4:00 at the city hall. Um, Wednesday we have our Association of Minnesota Counties District 1 event in Luton and that's the one I'm I'm assuming you're going to talk a little bit about, Commissioner Stoley. So, I'll let you you carry that one, but wanted
to mention that we have that all day on Wednesday. And then Thursday evening, we have the county board of appeals and equalization. So, it'll be a busy, very busy week. It will be. Yes. In fact, on um Tuesday
evening at Charlie's at 6:00 as the u other folks come in from the other counties, we'll be meeting informally. >> Mhm. >> And then Wednesday morning back in behind mogul at the event center from 8 to noon is our meeting with everyone
from AMC. Then I scoot off to a garden club meeting and on and on it goes down to Duth and I won't be back till Friday. So it is a busy week. Perfect. >> Yeah, that's for sure. >> All right, that's everything that I have. Thank you. >> Okay,
so I don't know, Robbie, uh, we are going to be breaking at 9:00 for a meeting, but can you do something in 10 minutes? >> Oh, yeah. >> Okay. Pretty non-controversial. >> I know. Yeah, >> probably not yet. >> Come forward and try our new chair.
>> Yeah. Look at these. It's fancy. Good morning, everybody. >> Good morning. Okay. >> Um I will say I don't know the order of the two agreements we have. Is the first one the local road improvement one? >> Multi-use trail. >> Other one. Wonderful. Great. So yeah, the first one it's a grant agreement um for the multi-use trail. It's a funding
source. Um I believe it's the active transportation one. And so we're going to start construction on that here this summer. It'll wrap up before school starts. Um does anybody have any questions about it? >> I'm just excited it's finally going to happen.
and at that cost. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Be great. >> Commissioner Gamble. >> Yes. Thank you. Thanks for showing up early. We'll get you out of here. uh make a motion um to sign the grant agreement for $132,590
of active transportation program funds for SP016-612-081 SP016-615-004. I'm sure you got that >> support. I'll second that. All in favor? I
>> I >> roll call. >> I roll call >> Sullivan. I >> Gamble. I >> Storley. I >> White I. >> Thank you. Motion passes.
And then the next one, agreement on the N gunflight 92s project. >> Yes, another agreement. Slightly more money at this point in time, but uh yes, it was local road improvement grant. That's a state funded grant. It'll go towards the Gunflint92's project. I believe that one was for about $1.5
million. Again, that will start uh later this summer. Uh we're thinking early August and that'll wrap up uh by midocctober, though. Does anybody have any questions? >> Mr. Sullivan. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh just wondering when we're going to have or if
perhaps you haven't scheduled it yet, but if you have, do you know the date of when we'll have a community meeting up there to inform everyone of this? >> Yes. Uh no date is set yet. We'll get it scheduled in the last half of June. Um I'm hoping June, early July, just with the later construction date. I want to
have as much information in front of me as I can um to bring that to a public meeting. So then if people have questions about, you know, an example is, you know, the updated detour, how there isn't one anymore and everyone can stay on the gunflint. Um, stuff like that. So as long, so I I would say the
later part of June or early July is when we can plan to have one up there. >> All right. Thank you very much. >> You're very welcome. >> Um, with that, I'd like to make a motion to uh recommend that we uh sign the grant agreement for $1.5 million for the
project between the 92s. support. >> All in favor? >> I I >> Sullivan I. >> Gamble I. >> Storley I. >> Motion pass. >> I
>> and wait. Yes. Motion passes. There we are. >> Thank you all very much. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you Robbie. >> All righty. Well, we still have about eight minutes. >> We can do some updates. >> We could go to updates. Sure. Anybody
want to update anything? A meeting they've been to? >> Well, I have several as usual. Um, >> so at the end of last month, I participated along with many other people in a mock evacuation at the area
near our um fire hall 2 by Gunflint Lake. And the group provided um some very interesting scenarios during their mock evacuation um including an individual who um was refusing to evacuate and had a loaded
firearm. Someone who encountered a vicious dog when they tried to get inside of a cabin uh to notify people of evacuation. a person stranded in a campground with no vehicle to evacuate in.
Another scenario was an injured firefighter who fell through a rotten deck board while trying to knock on a cabin door. Um, another firefighter that experienced a dead battery on their radio. And finally, a family with
children refusing to evacuate their cabin and it required a deputy physically removing the young people, which they are legally authorized to do. Um, and I was really impressed with not only the work of the volunteer
firefighters and the EMTs and our deputies and search and rescue personnel, but I really appreciated their afteraction discussion. Um, it was very thorough. Um, they talked about what they could do to improve or to change, make things more efficient and
more safe. And I just really want to take my hat off to the Gunflint Trail Fire Department for annually having these mock evacuations. Um, they really help for our community to feel at ease and to really know that there are plans
and preparation in place and it helps them to better prepare as they may need to evacuate. Um, another um, thing that I did was attend our Firewise meeting and um, one of the exciting things is we may have a
new Firewise community developing up near SAG Seagull and our Firewise coordinator will be going up with me um, later on uh, this summer to talk to individuals about organizing that community. Um, we do want to notify the
public to make sure that when they are putting brush in the firewise pits that are located throughout the community, it is brush. We have had carpeting, garbage being put into our firewise pits
and uh it's it's really inappropriate and um costs a lot of money to remove that. And so we want to remind people it is just for your down trees for brush and for contractors that are doing and providing those services to our firewise
communities. Um we had our rainy river Vermilion River one watershed one policy committee meeting and we transferred $200,000 from the lake and St. Louis County funds to help with culvert work on the gunflint
trail. So that helps our firewise um department in that area of the Rainy River Vermillion River at the end of the trail and we really appreciate that transfer of funds. Um soil and water had their meeting recently. They shared their 2027 budget that they're working
on and they will be making that presentation to us at a committee of the whole meeting in the future. And then lastly on Saturday we had our Gunflint Trail Cleanup annual event. We had 150 people participate from basically the
water tower all the way to the end of the Gunflint Trail. Um, our highway department, I want to thank engineer H and his crew for going out yesterday and picking up all the trash bags, um, tires. There was an air conditioner, part of an old boat trailer with a 2003
license tab on there. Um, but and and I found a golf club from uh the 1930s. It was a mid mashy before the irons were numbered. So, we found a number of very interesting things um along the Gunflint Trail. But the one thing we didn't find
many of, and I'm so excited to say this, are cigarette butts. >> This has been the primary thing we've picked up >> over the years. And of course with how dry it is, we always worry about wildfires and very few cigarette butts
were found this year. So that is a huge improvement. >> And that would be the end of my report. >> Commissioner Gamble. >> Thank you. Um we met yesterday the University of Minnesota Extension.
Extension began in 1909. So uh they're celebrating 100 years. And the presentation was on agricultural business management and their sole purpose is basically to keep farmers in business. So they come alongside
farmers. They can help them um with ways to be more productive. They do cost comparisons with different states uh in farming so that you can see how can somebody do it that inexpensively. Um, and they also, um, help with tax
preparation and just knowing how you want to organize your business so that you can take advantage of tax incentives. And, um, the presentation uh, discussed
the transition from family farms, which back in 1909, you can imagine there's a lot of family farms compared to where we are right now. and we've seen the um the fall off on the number of farms as well as commercial farms that are buying up
family farms. So, it was uh very informative. We also had a presentation from a gentleman that talked about the aquafer and um uh one of the committee members from extension uh mentioned which I in affirmed that our soil and
water does an excellent job in understanding um our our water up here and both in the aquifer and through the one water uh one management plan. And so there's various within the 87
accounts, you can imagine there's various degrees of expertise and there's change over, but we've had consistency in that department and we also have passion in that department. So it's something that that serves us well. >> Thank you. >> The last thing we talked
>> Yeah, it's 9:00. So thank you. We'll have you continue. Okay. So, it's 9:00 a.m. I will call the um meeting to order. U public hearing at 9:00 a.m. and I'll turn it over to Brady. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, this the
public hearing is about a request to enlarge the Rosebush Hill Subordinate Service District. Um and I've prepared a resolution in the event that you would so approve that after the public hearing. By summary,
the current property owners in Rosebush Hill subordinate government service district would like to expand the district to include an additional 11 properties. The road section currently being serviced would not be affected by
the change. The size of the district that benefits from the services on that road section would be enlarged. The property owners in that district, Rosebush Hill, are part of the ongoing discussion on subwined service districts
and are aware that no decisions have been made on the future of the districts. So those talks uh and meetings will continue regardless of what happens here today. So and I guess we'll open it up for the
public. Would you like to come forward? >> My name is Rick Han. I am the uh liaison for the Rosebush Hill Service District. Um first of all, I'd like to thank um Brady in particular and Kristen and Kyle
Oberg and Mike Keeport. They've all been involved in this. Just a little background history. Um if that there's a map I don't know if you can by chance put that map up on the screen. >> We have them in our packet. >> Okay. All right. So if you were to look
at that map um effectively there was a east side development done by John Levine back in uh and then Nelson and Matown properties north of the Levine property. And that road going straight all the way up, which is the territory
we're now trying to create, was originally under a 1987 easement agreement uh on Rose Bush Hill Road. Um the terms of that easement agreement provided for all properties contiguous to that road um to have access rights
through that easement agreement. Then the west side began to get developed and a series of other easement agreements were written. Many of which probably could be argued are unauthorized and conflicting certainly with access rights. I've been a property
owner now for almost 30 years there. I think the longest standing one. And it's literally been a a bad situation as far as property owners and disputes as to who's paying for what and and what rights they do or don't have. So, we
embarked last fall to fix this. And it became an effort that Dave Mills uh assisted me in and uh I approached him and we took more of the approach of if this was now a plan development, how would these roads have been allocated
essentially to the property owners. So we're in effect bifurcating separating Coyote Road from Rosebo Shell Road. And we have a new amended easement agreement that is now in the process of getting distributed to all 18 property
owners of Rosebush. They will all sign. They've all contributed to the legal costs of this. And we're finally bringing the debate as to access rights, I think, to a very clear conclusion. We have one property that sale is pending
because a title company wouldn't sign off on the access rights as they existed prior to us fixing this. So, we're in the process of fixing that. So, in that the service district still exists,
um Brady clarified for me that there's a difference between the actual service district that's being maintained and the territory that is serviced through that. So all we're trying to do is expand the territory because all of these property owners only access to their property
will be going up Rose Bush Hill to what will now be named the upper part will be named uh Trillium Trail. That's at the request of Kyle Oberg for mapping purposes. I might also point out that the county has never been comfortable with the mapping the way it was done and
for emergency vehicles and other things. So they wanted this clarity as well. So um there's a there's a driveway that was kind of referred to as Lone Pine that goes up onto the off of Coyote. That will be the East Coyote Road, the
remaining East Coyote Road. And then Rose Bush and the upper part will be Trillium Trail and Rosebush combination. Uh, so all of that mapping is in process, I believe, and new fire stop numbers will have to be sequenced off of
Rosebush for the people on the upper end so that uh emergency responders have very clear, you know, mapping to get to properties for fire andor safety. >> Are there trilliums up there? >> I don't know how Kyle came up with that
name. That was his request. Anyway, it goes along with the flower, I guess. >> Yeah. >> Any questions? >> I just want to thank you for taking on this initiative. It's um not an easy task. Um I had looked at property up in
that area and became aware of some of the issues >> um that were occurring. So, I really appreciate you taking on that challenge and for everybody coming together to work together for a very reasonable, common sense solution. >> Yes. Thank you. It it was Bill Ferdy
worked hard. Bob Evans is here. He represents the coyote side. So we met nine months ago. It took a long time to get this to where it is, but we're very very close to the finish line. And again, I want to for sure thank Brady. He's been my voice of reason throughout
this whole process to try to try to get this in place in the uh amended agreement. If the service district goes away, then we'll deal with those precautions. Hopefully, we'll be able to figure out a way to keep it to survive. >> Thank you. >> Um I have another
>> Okay. >> Yeah. Commissioner Gamble. >> All right. >> Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Um Brady, I think in your o opening remarks, you commented on the subordinate district um issue that we are addressing as a board
overall and um no determination has has been made on that. Um the my wife and I when we moved up here we on rose bush on the lower lower leg that goes down to to the shore and um
Bob Block was responsible for handling you know that maintenance both in the winter and the summer. But um uh moving forward and and looking at things that are reasonably informed and
participation uh both financially and from an information standpoint to inform direction is is a good thing. and and uh we as commissioners in the position that we sit in when we see a community or
group of individuals come together and put forward something to where there is participation and commitment to that that's also a healthy thing that um I feel is easy to support with the caveat that we're looking at this in the biggest bigger context but I appreciate
the work and the recognition of county staff that have contributed to this process So, >> yes. >> Commissioner White, did you have any questions? >> No. >> Okay. >> No, I'm sorry. I don't know what my
hands were doing. So, no, I do not. >> Okay. >> I might just add I am in the working group also on the uh >> Okay. >> on the future of the service district. So, >> okay. There being no other questions or comments from anyone, I will close the
public hearing and we'll further discuss the resolution. Commissioner Sullivan. Thank you, Madam Chair. Well, I think this is really a a common sense um request. I think we've heard a lot of um history and information um to make us aware of the
current situation and uh the work that has gone into this. And given that, I'd like to make a motion that by resolution we expand the Rose Bush Hill Subordinate Governmental Service District to include an additional 11 properties.
>> I would support that. >> Um, all in favor? >> I I >> Sullivan I. >> Gamble I. >> Storley I. >> Motion passes. >> Motion passed unanimously. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Commissioner Gamble, did you want to continue on with your >> Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Whatever your thoughts were, >> I was just going to say that the um the last thing we discussed at the extension meeting was budget given that u uh
departments and government entities are to have their budget in by the end of this month and uh then do a presentation to the board. And so, uh, the University of Minnesota Extension, uh, serving the 87 counties throughout the state, they
sort of have a a governing body that makes a recommendation in the context of the big picture because there's nuance that exists and certainly there was when uh, our extension service uh, was
formatted differently because of long-standing service in that position. So they're coming with a 3% recommendation and uh for the 2027 budget it was requested by the committee
that there would be a breakdown that would reflect how that 3% is spent. And while it is difficult given the fact that is a lump sum that distributed differently to the extent that we can
find out how those funds are are spent uh would be beneficial and the committee felt that that that was important. Um the the situation we have in that
partnership um is really we have a choice because we have a three-year contract. And so if we want a different language in the contract, that contract will end with the 2027 year. Then we will negotiate a new
three-year contract. So, if we wanted to put language in there that would be more detailed relative to our evaluation of increases, that would be beneficial. Right now, uh it's a it's a situation where
we we approve that we will adhere to the contract and that means that that 3% is is what will be proposed and come before the board. But we have asked for a breakout to the extent that it's possible so that when both the committee
looks at it and we look at it we have a better understanding of what 3% means. I use the example of the library which we have a contract with our library and the library contract says that they can increase budget 5% annually unless commissioners
uh ask for review and question that increase of 5%. And I think it's healthier to have a detailed evaluation than it is to just have a presentation come in that has a contract commitment to 5%. Uh because there's a lot of
organizations that would love to have a 5% increase annually. So it's incumbent on us as commissioners to review budgets and understand contract terms. So again, this budget and contract with the
University of Minnesota is a three-year contract and it'll renew in 2028 for the next three years. The other thing I would mention is uh and maybe some of uh you have seen this is they um came from
NAO and I I think it's interesting looking at it from the budget standpoint that the office of management and budget has proposed sweeping changes uh to uniform guidance and in coordination with all federal grant making agencies.
The uniform guidance is the regulation that governs federal grant rules for all recipients of federal lands or federal funds rather. And so uh we are looking at at our processes
and I think it's interesting and affirming to see that uh the office of management of budget is also looking at reforming how they go about distributing taxpayer dollars. So that would be it. Thank you. Okay, Commissioner White, did
you have any updates on meetings? >> Uh, the primary uh one was just the hub, the Council on Aging, and they have um they are have
hired um oh no, I can't remember his name. >> Jim Boyd. >> They've hired >> Jim Boyd. Yes, Jim Boyd to uh seek all sort what whatever uh grant funding is out there for nonprofits and he's been doing a
great job and um they've got uh a plethora of ideas as to how to advertise the hub and to expand the services and an idea that is is in the
early stages and Jim is going after funding for this. Um, it would be an intergenerational um Oh, sugar, hold on. Uh, shoot. Um, sorry. It would be um an
intergenerational interviews between uh uh grade school youth in the county and important elders in their lives. And it's a contest. It's a it's a huge thing
required and then resulting in a book to uh have a moment in time. These are our kids and this is where they came from. So that's a one huge thing and the other one was they would like to know specifically
uh they're anticipating coming before the board us uh in July if that's adequate or if you'd like them sooner with a detailed um financials and
of what they actually offer at this moment in time. So, do you can I give them like first week in July? >> Do we know yet? >> Respond. >> Um, we can respond to them and try to figure out a board meeting agenda that
works best to have them come and present in the near future. >> So, we'll take care of that >> because they're okay. And then the other one was the active living. Robbie was there, Christine Matson, talking about
trails that we have and um opportunities for community members to be active with their feet and um always much of the same, but but always uh very positive about how mobile
at least a great portion of our comm at least a great portion of our community continues used to be. >> So that's about it. It's been really slow for me. >> Okay, thank you on that. Anybody else
think of anything additional? >> The only thing I can mention is that I did go on the radio with Kelly. >> Um I did request that maybe we need a kind of a review and updating what does it mean to be a commissioner. So I spend quite a few minutes with her um talking
about the practical stuff and and then the boring stuff and um just um want people to know that um it is a commitment and it affects the families and uh but it's also very rewarding too and went over the fact that there are a
lot of boards and commissions that require a lot of attention and so forth. And so um hopefully the candidates who are running will be able to have a better idea if they listen about what their commitment would be for the four
years that they would be selected. Um if there are no other updates or reports then I will go on to the update of the meetings. Um there again um we have the open house at Attack Night Harbor on Monday, June 15th from 4 to 7.
And then we will have our uh Association of Minnesota District meetings. Uh we're District 1, so we always get to be the first one on their agenda, which they seem to enjoy. And uh that's on Wednesday, June 17th. And then just a
really heads up that the courthouse will be closed on um June 18th, which is Junth. Junth, which um will be um uh for the uh 18th of June, the
courthouse will be closed. And then >> Stoley, I believe that's um the 19th. >> Oh, >> Friday the 19th. >> Okay. June 18th. Junth on the 19th. Yes, that's correct. >> All right. Um H I thought it was on the
18th. Junth on the 18th. No, >> I will double check with HR, but I have it on my calendar as the 19th and I'm looking at our staff here who I think also have is it? Is that correct? Okay. >> So, the Junth is on the 19th. Okay.
And then we have in our packet the correspondent memos of the lodging tax comparison through March 26th. And we have recognition of staff. So we have June anniversaries.
Uh Andrew Hel from Sheriff's Office one year. Elsa Lundy Sheriff's Office one year. Erica Turns public health and human services one year. Mike Kruel, uh, human resource, one year. Sean Bergman,
um, deputy sheriff, two years. Margaret Johnson, public health, two years. Anna Clolobachar, community center, two years. Katie Paige, public health and human services, two years. Isabelle Shien, public health human services,
seven years. Callie Berg, auditor treasurer, nine years. and Rachel Espie, assessors, 12 years. We also have milestones Andrew Beavers, land services, five years. Tyler Johnson, land services recycling, five years. And
Jean Peterson, attorney, 5 years. And there be no other business, we are adjourned. Thank you everyone. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Are you off and running?