at 8:30. >> I'm looking to make a little help with the financial. >> Good morning everyone. I will call the Cook County Board of Commissioners regular meeting to order on this Tuesday, May 12th at 8:30 a.m. We begin
our meeting with the pledge. Please rise. I pledge algiance 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. >> At this time, we do have an opportunity for citizens to come before the board to um give us an opinion about something. Is there anyone in the audience that would like to do that? I do not see anyone there. Have any of
the commissioners received any comments? No. Okay. All right. Moving on to the consent agenda. We have claims uh minutes from the um April 28th meeting, the uh permit to sell tabs through the
Cook County Snowmobile Club and appoint Patrick Elias to the EDA board. Does anyone have anything to pull? >> Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Support. Oh, she already got it.
>> Okay. Uh motion by Mills and second by White. All in favor? >> I >> oppose. Same sign. Motion passes unanimously. >> And Madam Chair, I'd like to make an adjustment to a regular agenda if I may. Um, just sneaking in before the highway
department, I'd like to make an introduction to our new EDA director. And with that, I'd like to make a motion to approve the agenda as a as a whole. >> Support. >> Support. Okay. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Hi. >> Oppose. Same sign. All right. Yes, let's do that.
>> All right. >> Come up front. >> Well, come on down. This is uh Lucas Wakefield, everyone. He's our new EDA director, and uh just happy that he's here and able to be introduced. And don't know if you want to give a little spiel, but people >> you might want to sit by the microphone
so that members of the public >> turn so >> do a dance >> just so people can see your face on on camera. >> That's good. >> And he has a he has an interview on WTIP, too. That's that's really >> But they won't see his face. >> Oh, yeah. There's a picture.
>> Not coming through my radio. >> Too sh Yes. Thank you, commissioners, and thank you, Commissioner Mills, for uh adding me to the agenda so that I can say hello to you all. Uh yes, as of April 13th, I am the economic development director for
the Cook County Grand Marray Joint Economic Development Authority. Really pleased to be here. I've been uh making it a personal uh ambition to meet as many people in the area as possible. There are a few of you commissioners that I have not yet had the pleasure to
introduce myself uh uh to you sort of separately individually. Please know that that uh is not meant to be a slight. Uh I would love to have the chance to to sit and talk with all of you individually and get your thoughts on the state of the uh economy up here in Cook County and what we can be doing
better as as an EDA. So really open to that. Excited to be working up here and happy to answer any questions that that you may have for me. You can feel his enthusiasm. >> Oh, yeah. >> Welcome. >> I guess we don't right now, but we'll be
stopping by your office, I'm sure, in the next few weeks. >> Please do. And thank you so much again. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Okay. On our agenda next, we have um authorization from the highway department if they want to step up. Good morning.
>> Good morning. >> Uh, I'm just going to hand it over to Matt to talk about equipment because he knows more than I do. >> Good morning, everybody. Um, so what we're hoping to do today is replace a trailer we currently have in our fleet with a much more effective trailer. And
we're we're hoping to do so a year in advance of when the replacement is scheduled. So, this trailer uh that we have had is no longer useful to us. Why? because we've changed our operations over the years. You know, this is a several decades old trailer. Um, we
currently just don't use it. Um, and we'd like to move it out to pasture. Uh, sell it for probably a couple thousand on minbid. Um, and instead invest in a trailer that's much more useful to us,
uh, that we can haul equipment like the mini excavator and the skid steer on. Can we survive without this trailer? uh for the summer absolutely. Um it's not something that that we need to do tomorrow necessarily, but it will make
us much more effective uh at mobilizing more of our personnel uh to different areas simultaneously. Um I think we'll be able to better serve uh Cook County with this trailer as soon as this summer. That's one of the reasons we'd
get it off the lot at McCoy rather than going through the whole like buying a brand new trailer. Um, and this one's only lightly used as well, so we're going to get decades out of it. So, I would entertain any questions. >> Commissioner White,
>> what's the U dimensions the of the old one and the new one? And so, what you're saying, you can haul two pieces of quit equipment simultaneously on the new trailer. No, this so this this trailer is it's still dual axle, but we can now
legally uh haul a piece of equipment whereas before the we called it the hay trailer. Um and that trailer doesn't have the same weight rating. >> Sure. Okay. >> Over time, equipment has also gotten bigger. >> Uh so, you know, the standard uh piece
of equipment now is is thousands of pounds heavier than it than it used to be. Um, and our operations have also shifted a little bit. We used to use more backho, now we use more skid steer and mini excavator. So, it's kind of just over time operations have changed.
Um, the work remains the same, but also the expectations of the community have increased. >> You bet. Okay. Thanks, >> Commissioner Gamble. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So um in your narrative you said that uh
you had projected that this replacement would take place in the 2027 budget and um with the airport we saw that their pickup you know in a situation like that it wasn't anticipated. it might have been anticipated, but you're hoping
you'd just hang on and and so then we have to respond because it's it's an unknown. And and my intent for this conversation is simply to say that when you're looking at your capital improvement budget going into 2026 and you look at your equipment and you say
this, that the other thing, and then you prioritize that, um I'm just wondering if this was even on your your radar is is my point. And as as a commissioner on the fiscal side of things, the the more that that
we put our budgets together with an understanding of need, the easier it does is for us to do it. Otherwise, we get a budget and we think we got a hold of something that we can manage going into 2026 and then we find different
things that come in that weren't even on the radar in our discussion for our budget. And and so it's like as we go through this budget process, we're looking at what we agreed to based upon information we had, we're looking at what we're going to project going into 2027
and we look at what's coming in that's the unknown and it gets a bit unwieldly. So, I'm just saying I I appreciate when when departments as much as possible can anticipate and then as we discussed as we
bumped into each other walking into the door that it was on our 2027 radar, we might have something come up that's a good deal that meets our need that we're going to take advantage of it. And that is what has changed in the landscape. it just as
we go into 2027 and we note that this was in our 2027 budget but you granted us da da da da da so we're acknowledging that and managing dollars in the context of that big picture. So >> no and that's all good points and I
think what's what's nice and we've talked about at length you know here and in you know highway committee meetings is our equipment replacement plan. you know, it's a living document and we we move I I don't want to say we move things around all the time, but in this case, right, we can take this piece of
equipment and move it to 2026. Now, it's not in our 2027 budget anymore, so you won't see us coming back here asking, "Hey, I want another trailer to replace." Um, you know, the dollar amount that we're talking about here is, you know, I think it's 1 or 2% of our
entire um equipment budget ask generally year-over-year. And so we don't run that down. I think it would be foolish on our part to have an equipment budget that runs it to zero. Um, you know, budgeting that way, not anticipating because we do our best to guess what inflation is
year-over-year, not just for equipment, but also how much to increase or maintain what our equipment ask is every single year. So this um 16,000 and change um is still within our budget. We're not coming to say, "Hey, I need
16,000 out of the general fund." It's there, we have it, we're fine. Um, this is just kind of to the points that you had brought up and Matt has brought up of needs change. You know, now instead of having one trailer to mobilize skid steers and our mini excavator across the county, now we have two and we now what
we can do is now everyone can go that much faster to their spots. And so that's um uh what this is. Yeah. If if this was, hi, I want a new plow truck for $400,000. No, that's a different conversation. And this has been identified by our crew as as something
they'd really like to see. And so, as much as Robbie and I plan for replacements and like what we see as a priority, uh, often times, you know, we hear we hear different information from our crew and we try to make tweaks where
where needed. Um, yeah. >> Um, administrator Treble. >> Thank you, U Madam Chair. So the one piece I want to point out is that they've mentioned that the current trailer is not functional in our current operations. So that to me is a key part of this discussion is we're paying
insurance and we're keeping um something in our our fleet that is not operational. So we need to in my opinion move on and ensure this purchase. >> Commissioner Sullivan, you had your hand up. >> Um I was just going to say kudos for
finding a gently used trailer. I really appreciate the fact that we can save some significant funding because we're willing to look at something that's slightly used. So, I appreciate that. >> Commissioner Gamble. >> Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. Um, yeah,
and I I'm in no way in disagreement because I think you've demonstrated the the integrity of process and and uh that's that's an important component. It's it's just a a generic statement relative to our budget process and and
how we handle things and how we're informed as much as we know kind of thing. So, uh I I I appreciate the conversation. Um and with that, I would I make a motion to approve the purchase of a Town Master T16DT trailer for $16,122.88.
>> Support. Any further questions or comments? All in favor? >> I >> oppose. Same sign. Motion passes unanimously. >> Thank you all. >> There we go. >> Expect to see you in the parade. >> So, next we have um land services.
Director Maxwell is going to talk about the solid waste management plan amendment adoption. >> Good morning. And I have to say this almost broke my arm when I printed it off. It is only one side, but >> yeah, the irony of a solid waste
management plan being almost 200 pages long and having to include that. So next time maybe I'll use a link instead. Um, so thank you very much for your time today. The item here is an amendment to the regional solid waste management
plan. This plan was recently adopted in 2023 and it includes Cook County, Lake County, Cooch County, Carlton is like the whole northeast region and it needed to be updated because as many of us have heard the superior landfill where all of
our waste was being trucked down to is closing. And so as a region there needed to be put together a plan and to update this regional solid waste management plan. And uh this went out for public notice. The public notice period ended yesterday. And so the public notice has
now uh ended and so the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is requesting all of the county boards of all the affected counties to adopt this newly updated plan. And with that it is primarily just the location change. Um our regional solid waste plan has Cook
County outlined to bring our waste to Virginia, Minnesota. Um that's the closest for us. It is I think a 14 mile difference from where it was going to Superior before. Um, so it's a little bit further away, but at the end of the day, um, what Cook County's
participation in this plan is is mostly trying to gain our advantage with economies of scale where we can. Uh, we're just such a small population that we don't have a lot of sway in the regional planning efforts of where the new landfill is. It's mostly just trying to make the best of it.
>> I noticed that this was approved through 2023. Has anything changed between 2023 and 2026? The biggest thing is that change in the landfill location and then the plan was updated to recognize the Hovlin transfer
facility that was recently added to Cook County. Um, and that's that's kind of that was a last minute addition into this plan update. >> Questions or comments? >> Commissioner Gamble. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, thank you,
Neva. Are you up and running? >> Yeah. Yeah. up and running. >> Never stopped running. >> Two cups of coffee in. We're good. >> This this is something Yeah, that was uh being discussed. Whatever. Um and with our our new facility, you know, on the
horizon here, um and how all of this fits in and coordinating this. Um, I think that the the partnership certainly for identifying need within our region is is an important and and good
direction. Um we also on the local level with our new transfer station and the um the existing recycling center that that's something I think looking at in
the context of this and what we do moving forward is a discussion that that uh needs to be had. And I know you had some some ideas on that which I'm not trying to mine out at this point, but but this does bring up that that point.
It says in the document that we're looking at our recycling uh increasing but our cost not increasing and how we manage that with increasing need and still maintaining reduced cost.
uh when we were looking at how we were going to assess the costs for building the new transfer station and uh we assigned that you know individually by household or parcel that in calculating what our annual budget is right now we're paying
somewhere between 86 and $100,000 per individual if you take the budget divide it into our population if you want to look at it households or whatever but um that figure when I researched It was basically because we were looking at
putting an assessment on and wanting to let people know that you're already paying this amount in this particular area. So to that point in this document relative to cost maintaining the same, we're hoping to see that we can be find
some efficiencies in how we handle this to try to reduce that impact of that cost the way we're doing it now. So, this is just an opportunity to move it up on the radar a little bit so that we can have that discussion. So,
>> yes, I appreciate that point. And I should have clarified this plan is primarily focused on the municipal solid waste, so people's garbage and where that's going. Um, when you dive into this plan and talk about Cook County specifically, it outlines our priorities. And one of the biggest things in the waste hierarchy as
outlined in the Minnesota Pollution Control AY's um guideline in state rules is that we should try to reduce our waste first. You know, divert the garbage and try to incentivize more materials that can be recovered through the recycling process. And as I've been
moving into this position and evaluating our programs, I do feel that we do have more capacity to deliver more program elements to our community in that waste reduction element, which would drive um people's ability to have a lower garbage
fee eventually. Um so I think trying to get more recycling programs in the county where it makes sense and making strategic uh changes to our recycling program. We've been talking a lot with our um broker cartels down in Duth about potentially moving to single sort um
with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's discussions. They don't see a difference in prioritization whether people do uh source separated. You know, here's my glass, here's my plastic. Um from the MPCA's perspective, people tend to recycle more when they have less
decision-m as long as they know exactly what is recyclable. So, um, that is one area where I think simplifying our messaging and recycling and improving our education, I think, is one of our best ways for the county's position to support the community with waste
reduction and trying to make it easier for people to recycle. >> Thank you. >> When I visit other counties and I see their garbage cans, everything is in their plastic and everything. It just >> riles me up actually because we've been
recycling for so long. M >> and you're just used to the fact that we can, you know, separate things out. However, they took away the magazines because I know there wasn't any buyer. Hopefully, there'll be buyers for cardboard, >> you know, and does it go a little by little pretty soon? You might as well
put it all in a bag because there's no way to recycle things. So, appreciate what you can do on that. And then composting, you know, I think there's little folks have little buckets in their kitchen and they can throw little stuff in there and take it out. And so that's one way. Maybe we could get some
promote a little bucket brigade here and have some available. You can go online, but you know, that's one way. There's other ways you can do it in your garden, too, for composting. Commissioner Sullivan. Thank you, Madam Chair. I just um think that um this is not just a Cook
County issue. Certainly, we're looking at northeastern Minnesota right now in this particular um plan amendment, but this is a discussion that AMC is having statewide looking at solid waste construction and dem demolition facilities, PAS. I mean, there are all
kinds of things as as a state we need to work on. And I just appreciate the fact that this plan is one step and we have a lot more to do. But I think Neva really nailed it when she talked about education. We need to educate our public and then
composting is a big part of that. If we can get our restaurants engaged during the summer, um that will have a huge positive impact on what we're able to um lighten the load as we head to Virginia. So, lots of good things I'm sure to come.
>> But thank you for your work. >> Thank you. And >> one thing about personal composting of things, >> boy, do my bears in the east end of the county love it. The Mhm. >> You know, I'm like, what now? Let's put it in my garden.
>> That didn't work so well. >> Yeah. >> To bury it. >> Well, you know, >> 10 ft under. >> And I probably shouldn't miss the opportunity as I speak about education to inform everyone that we will have upcoming recycling events. Our electronic waste recycling event, um,
which is includes more than just computers. Uh, will be June 13th, I believe, the second Wednesday in June. Uh so we have some flyers and we'll have a community connections article that goes out to help educate the public about what materials are available for that. And then in July as well, we'll
have uh the household hazardous waste collection event. And I don't have that date top of mind, but it's in July. Um and the that event, what's important for that is for the business community to become informed because that's an opportunity for what we call very small
quantity generators, VSQGs. Uh so small businesses that collect um not more than 200 lb of household hazardous waste um but they need to sign up in advance with resource renew or WLSSD. And it's very important that we try to get the word out to the business community to take
advantage of that collection event. Um so we have these other opportunities to get rid of some of this more troublesome waste and get that out of the waist stream, especially those batteries. Those are causing a lot of issues um in our waist stream. So we'll have more coming out but just to kind of put the
feelers out for folks to you know keep it tuned. >> Commissioner Gamble. >> Thank you Madam Chair. So Nea with regard to the electronic uh in the in the past sometimes it's been no cost to the public when they come in and sometimes it's an event but there's a
cost associated. What's it going to be this time? >> There is a cost. It's the same rate that we've had with um retrofit companies as the vendor who offers that service. And so it's uh the cost is based off of the type of item. And so the way we've done our flyer this year, we revamped the
flyer to educate people better about what that cost is in advance. And so the flyer kind of says like here's the item beginning at and then there's a big QR code that people can scan in and it'll take them right to the full menu of costs. But it is subsidized but there is
there is still a fee for that disposal. >> Okay. All right. >> Continue. >> Uh so you'd like a motion uh to for the regional solid waste management plan amendment adoption which I'd make that motion.
>> Support. Any further questions or comments? All in favor? >> I >> oppose. Motion passes unanimously. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Okay, you can move on. >> The second item I have for you is um
different from what I typically bring to you. Um so, as as we all recognize, Wayne Henchie passed away um over a year ago now, and he was the person that was fulfilling the services of county surveyor for Cook County. Um since he has passed, I have been trying to find a
new private entity that's willing to do those surveying services for us. And after many phone calls and many emails and many discussions, we did find a surveying company that'd be willing to offer that service. And as I've been working with the attorney's office to put together a contract for the updated
rates and agreements, um the attorney's office uh identified that there is a state statute that requires the county board to set the fee at which we pay this private entity to do these surveying services. And um so that is what we have before you. This is the
rate that our office and the private surveyor agreed to, which uh frankly was less than I was anticipating based off of my many phone calls with other private entities in this. Um I provided you a cost breakdown as to how this fee relates to our standard platting fee.
And um I probably should have um led with the message that we use this service for the reviews of plat. And so um this is a timely element. Uh we do have a plat application that we just received. So, we do need to be able to move forward with this agreement. I'm
hoping that you have the information um that you need to be able to make an informed decision today. And um that's what we have for this agreed upon rate. It's $500 per plat with $45 per additional plat or additional lot. Thank you.
>> Questions or comments? I'd like to make a motion to approve the plat review compensation rate at $500 per plat plus 45 per additional lot. >> Any further questions or comments? >> All in favor? >> I oppose.
>> Motion passes unanimous. Have a nice day. >> Thank you. >> Now we'll move into the auditor's division here. uh talking about transferring funds from the general fund to the airport fund. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, this relates
to uh an issue that actually started back in 2011 and uh air by our airport engineering uh consultant resulted in a loss of federal funding for portions of the runway extension. Um the error
wasn't discovered actually until 2016 uh when the FAA determined that um the environmental assessment only covered the actual uh runway itself. It was one of those mental errors. It just didn't
go out far enough to cover the areas uh that are affected by the runway. And so when the work was done for rock blasting and tree clearing, um the FAA determined we cannot fund that. We're not eligible to fund that because the AW wasn't done.
It was done subsequently and they paid for that, but they would not pay for the work done at that time. Um we we looked at legislative solutions. I think Ann was involved and we tried everything but
um no avail. So then we uh sought the money from RSNH and their insurance etc. And that didn't get settled. Uh there was actually a lawsuit and it didn't get settled until last year. So we got 345,000 last year, but we were out
563,000. So the difference is about 218. And the airport fund is short. Those were monies that they had in their fund and expected to use for match for different projects. They're mostly grant funded. So, um there's no requirement
here that you do anything, but um it seems right to put them back uh whole or something close to it if you can. So the the request here is to to move up to 218,000 from the general fund back to
that airport fund. >> Questions or comments? >> Commissioner Solan. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I would just say that um serving on the airport commission and knowing we have gotten approval from the FAA for our master plan and we'll need match money moving
forward, it's very very important to the airport that we get that $218,172 back for match on upcoming projects. >> Commissioner Gamble. >> Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. And I would say relative to the the airport that um in in my first term when we were
looking at expanding the runways and everything else, this has been quite a journey and very convoluted and not always in the uh following best practices and the integrity of process which makes it even more difficult for
us especially as a small county. So, um, uh, having gotten through all of that and the meetings that we had with all the agencies involved and the evaluation and the assessments, uh, and whether treetops were too low, too high, and who had the authority to
do it, it it it's been quite a journey, but I I would agree that that u we want to make them whole and put them in a position. Uh, and it certainly isn't because of a lack of due diligence on the part of the airport and the commission in this whole process. So, I
I certainly would support that, >> but I'll let my fellow commissioner make that motion as she's on the airport committee. >> All right. I will make a motion to transfer funds from the general fund to the airport fund in the amount of $218,0001
172. So support. >> Any further questions or comments? All in favor? >> I >> oppose. Same sign. Motion passes unanimously. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Now we have um our next item involves um
the Luden Township and we have representatives here who will come forward. >> Yeah, I can I can start it out, Madam Chair. So, as we left it last time, the last meeting, the commissioners approved a loan to the town of Ludson to support
that rescue truck uh with the following items to still be approved. The total loan amount, the interest rate, and the terms and the administrator and I uh worked on
to try to provide you with some options. Um you're not limited to these options but their thoughts were three. One is that the uh county pay 50% of the total cost total cost being 48,668
county share that 204,334 with the local share 204,334 at Luden Fire Department. Option two, that the county pays the remaining balance after the truck fund
contribution would mean uh Luden funding 327,000 and the county financing 81,668. And then a third option is that the county uh pays the amount requested by
the fire department uh 306,501 with Luden Fire paying 1021 167. We also looked at again you're not limited to this but looked at the uh financing term in the revolving loan
fund when we make equipment loans there. It's a it's a and we do that fairly frequently and the loan term is 10 years. We limit it to um 10 years for those loans. So you might consider that.
Um, other considerations is that the fire department uh continue applying for grants and submit a summary of all grant activity to the county board, including any awards, denials, pending
implications. Um, couple of other notes that the county, we've provided equipment loans to fire departments in the past and they've been anywhere from $1,000 to 80,000 for equipment. The fire halls
have been much larger, but this is a significant increase for an equipment loan. Not that you can't do it, just a large increase. the county. Another consideration, the county has large outstanding loans to local entities from
our county fund balance and we need to work on a policy um I think we've talked about that to prioritize and put a cap limit limit of some kind on those uses. So, I'll uh open it to
>> Okay. Thank you. So, we have the township um supervisors here. I'll have them introduce themselves starting with Carl. Hi, I'm Carl Freezner, town chair Luden. This is Steve Duclo, fire chief. >> Chris Homac, town supervisor.
>> And Carl is the board chair for the Luden Township. So, um, I'll open this up for questions. Commissioner Gamble. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um the first statement I would make and uh this is something that uh we've been working on
is is revisiting policies and uh policies drive decisions or they should and so it's very important we do that. The other thing I think that came up in our discussion previously when you brought this before us was that uh uh if
without a policy that has taken into consideration all of the the present circumstances and things that we face uh relative to finances. um we don't want to set a precedent
that hasn't evaluated how we want to operate when it comes to the difference between building buildings and funding equipment. Um, so when I when I looked at this, I our present policy is uh if if it says that
we're tied to 2% under the the Treasury bond rate that that rate, correct? >> We're talking revolving loan fund. And then Yes. And then we did put that same into the policy 2% under the 10-year T-
bond, right? >> To match that revolving loan fund policy. >> Yeah. So that uh that right now as of uh May 12th the 10-year Treasury note yield
is is around 4.39 to 4.43. >> The other other consideration on that let's this may happen before we set an overall policy unless you're going to do that today. Right. >> But uh that we just did this with um the
EDA. It wasn't an equipment loan. >> Yeah. >> But we set the rate at 4% which covered our um short-term money market fund cost. >> Yeah. >> And it we thought as a as an option that
that that might be a way you could go on this one as another short term prior to setting a a new policy. >> Yeah. So when I look at this um and we can look at it from our our county
stewardship responsibly and if we you know look at it from the standpoint of Luther Fire Department and and how you're trying to manage your your monies, we're all trying to get what we want to get that we've uh you know looked at and
uh with the least amount of of dollars. Um, what I would say is that if that rate now with the county loan as as it stands right now, it we're not going with the revolving loan but going
with taking it from our reserve fund. So depending upon how we want to do that. In other words, if if we did it and we went with the revolving loan, we'd said 4%. >> Yeah, we we couldn't do that. Um, since it's not a the revolving loan fund is a
business uh, correct and it has a limit on it, right? But >> well, there's a there's a job creation element to that that doesn't really work here. >> Well, and I thought you you referenced it when you were saying the EDA and that's why because I didn't even look at the revolving loan. We're just looking
at our policy as it states right now, >> which would put it at the 2.39. >> Um, and the the total interest paid on $36,5001, which is what the asking is. Uh, if it
were uh a 20-year term, that's about $80,000, which is equivalent to just under 20% of the total price of the vehicle. Um if we look at uh the that amount of money 306,501
if we're taking from our reserve fund if we're over that same period of time if we were looking at a 20-year term at 3.5% which is a modest relative to my question to you and what has our earnings been on that that that yield
would be about $344,000 over that period of time. So I understand that th this is a lot of statistics but the difference in earnings for to the taxpayers of county would be $265,000.
If you if you looked at this earnings right now with the money that we have we in in reserves that's earning 3.5% and you look at at loaning it out at that lower rate that's that's a $265,000
difference. Um, from my standpoint, I would be willing to support given Luden has established their loan fund for the spec specific purpose of financing rescue vehicle purchases, I would recommend that they
use the proceeds in their established truck fund, given that's what it's designated for. And if they were to borrow under our present policy 900 or $999,999 it would be interestfree.
And so and and I would set it at a term for 10 years because it is equipment. Um, the other thing to take into consideration when we look at our responsibility to our community overall is that we made a loan for $350,000 for
the fireh hall back in 2012 and um the balance on that right now is 110,000 if I understand that correctly. >> Uh if I put it on there, I'm not looking at it right now. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, on the accompanying information in our packet, the remaining
balance on that is 110,000 uh on money's loan in 2025, which are at 1% over a 20-year term. That was 350,000. So, I I think when if if you came into a bank and you ask the bank and bank's going to look at, okay, what's your present obligation? What are you looking
for? What's the investment going to be? What's the interest rate? What's the term? If we were to look at a municipal commercial loan under 20 years uh for this amount of money, you'd be looking at a rate between 5.23% and 8.75%
as of May 2026. If you took the lower of those two rates at a commercial loan, 5.23% and a term of 20 years that uh that cost of funds would amount to 188,000. So
if I look at it from your standpoint, I say, "Okay, we got this much money in reserve." Depending on how you've got that invested, what you're earning on that, it it seems to me that the least cost would be to say, "Let's take the reserve fund, which we establish to make these
kinds of purchases, take the just under $100,000 that we give you interest free based upon our existing policy, and make that that purchase." And when I'm evaluating overall cost of funds and options for getting those funds um from
the county side, I think we need to be fiscally responsible uh relative to um what we're earning on those dollars as they exist right now. And if we give give it out at a lower rate, that that that means that it's taking taxpayer
dollars to do that. and we have to be willing to do that from a precedent standpoint consistently when we have other entities within our county asking for these kinds of monies. So given that consideration
from my standpoint, I I would say that that using the fund balance and taking the h 100,000 just under 100,000 by $1 interest free and make your purchase uh I would certainly be willing to support a motion to do that.
So, am I am I understanding that correctly that you guys want us to use our funding that we have? So, my concern there is some of our equipment is older and if we deplete that fund, how where's the money come from to replace that or fix it? Um, you know, at our annual
meeting that was was brought up that from the people that were there, they did not want us to use that fund. They wanted it to be used in case of an emergency. Um, you know, we have our stuff is insured, but you know what happens if
our our pump goes out on our engine and that's thousands and tens of thousands of dollars and that's not there's not a budget. That's what this fund is for is is those kinds of things. Um, we had an engine damaged at the Loots and Resort fire.
um you know just going down the road some of these back roads we lose skid plates and things like that and we got to have someone come up and repair that and that that's where that money comes from is that truck fund. So it was uh and from members on the department that was a real concern of theirs as well is
depleting that truck fund. Madam Chair, the um so relative to what your experience has been in that funding, um what would you say the likelihood of of
needing that? And it's a difficult thing when a smaller entity is looking at what your experience is um in having to replace equipment. Um, but I'm assuming in your evaluation, your presentation at at the
township board that you would have said, "Here's, you know, what we've experienced in the past." So, we hate to draw that all the way down because then we don't have recourse when it comes to having to replace and we typically replace da da da da da da which amounts
to this kind of money. It's similar to our discussion when it comes into our reserve funds saying we need to keep it at this balance given what we need for operation should you know the bottom fall out kind of thing. So I'm just my question is is that uh likelihood and
what's your experience been relative to tapping into that reserve fund? >> Uh well we've we've had to tap into it. I mean Chris like say uh the insurance claim for the engine. I mean, the one insurance claim from the Luden Reserve Fire, we ended up pulling um between8
and $10,000 out of that reserve fund just for minor trim and other damages to that fire engine that insurance didn't cover. Um like we talked about at the previous meeting, uh truck refurbishment and things like that is anywhere from 45
to $60,000. Our tender is due in the next couple of years for that. Um, but the reality of it is is we don't have a crystal ball to say what's going to happen in 2010. >> Um, it takes one fire, one incident, and
Matt, like any other insurance trust or insurance company coming back and saying they won't cover something, and then all of a sudden we're staring at um a 2030 $100,000 fix to one of these vehicles. uh when we're talking about a
million-doll fire engine at replacement cost. Um, so the idea that to replace or to deplete that truck fund entirely for this purchase is not responsible as our on our side as the town board. um to
take that fund down to zero because as the town board, we have reserved funds just like the county does to be able to cover a year of operations in the event that we didn't take in any uh property tax revenue, state grant and
aid, um PILT or any of these other fund sources. Say it all disappeared in one year, we have enough funding to sustain for one year as a township and that's what we have. um if we were to have some kind of an incident that all of a sudden
insurance only covers so much and what are we going to do? We can't be out a fire engine is really what it comes down to. Um and so for my standing, I don't believe that we can deplete that truck fund entirely. And so where we're
sitting right now, we we also duly elected town supervisors went to our constituents and they said that they didn't want to use the entirety of that truck fund. So, at this point, it's a matter of we would appreciate a loan from the county in the amount that
you're willing to give at the interest rate that you set. And 4%, yes, because those funds are probably invested in a CD or money market, just like our funds are in this truck fund and our excess uh reserve township funds are also invested
in CDs. 4% makes sense. um the term also makes sense, but as far as the amount, if you're unable to fund at the requested amount, then we will most likely end up going outside for a commercial loan to fill that gap. There
are other grants that we have looked into um there are things out there, but the probability of receiving any of those funds is unknown um because they are highly competitive. There is a grant and loan program through the USDA that I
found, but there is no guarantee of funding on either of those. Um, as I've experienced personally in my business world, going through any USDA grant program right now or loan program is difficult at the easy end um to almost
impossible. So, at this point, whatever that fund or whatever you choose to fund the loan at, we will most likely have to find that funding through other commercial loan options. And madam chair and thank you and out of respect for your processes if I were to
ask the question what do you feel that your loan fund balance needs to be at to be comfortable? I mean I'm just saying an honest evaluation if we it's it's like when we're talking about well we're going to
give this are we comfortable and we ask our auditor treasur can we draw it down to this point. So my my question to you and out of respect for your process is is what would be that comfort level if we work together and say well we'll try
to do what we can on our side but we also don't want to fund the >> sure >> the ask. >> Yeah. So I think um currently what do we have in >> 327 >> we have 327,000 in our reserves for the truck fund right now currently. Uh, and what had we discussed before as a
township board? Um, was that third number? >> We, yeah, we had discussed bringing it down to the or using 102,167 out of that truck fund. Um, at our annual meeting, we had also discussed the possibility of using half of the
truck fund for this purchase. So that being >> 635 um would be half of that available truck fund. We talked about using up to that. >> Um but going much more than that. It'd be difficult because yes, we're putting
money into this truck fund every year. We don't again can't look forward and say, "Oh, we're going to have a large mechanical breakdown in two years on our engine. All of a sudden, we have a million-doll replacement." Um, and so
kind of in our thinking was that we need to have enough to be able to do a down payment on a new >> truck if something were to happen with our existing vehicles. >> And so that could be upwards of >> 200 to 250,000 knowing that we do have
some money coming in annually to that truck fund. >> Yeah. >> But I I appreciate your response, Brady. But you said relative to options what was that section second option I believe which was uh around the 200
>> remaining balance. >> Yeah the second one was um county financed amount of 81,668 and if they used their entire 327 >> the first one was 5050 which was 204,000
each. Okay. And then the full payment. Thank you, >> Mr. Zen. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to make a point of recognizing that the cost of fire trucks has gone up exponentially. And um although we looked at the history
of what we've contributed to other fire trucks in the past, there have been huge increases since the pandemic. And I would like to make a motion to recommend that we split the cost of the fire truck
with Lootson Fire Department and that we use a 10-year term at 4%. I think that's a compromise that I hope we could live with and I will second that. So, we have discussion time.
Administrator Travel. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I'd like to just go back to a comment that was made the last time we discussed this um by Commissioner Mills, which was coordination with the other fire departments. Th this is a large cost um
to the county and to the township as well. Um, and I know that Mike Keeport, our emergency management director, sits in on uh the fire chief's meetings. I think it's monthly if I recall. And I would really like to see some discussion
and coordination on how we can leverage this countywide or at least start some discussions about how the fire departments can assist each other with equipment that the the county is supporting. And my reason for that is because of the cost, but also just
making sure that we've got the resources throughout the county as needed. >> Commissioner Mills. >> Yeah. I appreciate you bringing that up and I think it's still a good idea and um maybe not feasible or practical in time
for the needs of loot and fire but um I think it's really important and I just had I mean since since our last meeting I've had a lot of other thoughts a lot of doubts too uh some regrets but not really uh and uh one of the things I would like to know more about is the
relationship between Luden Township and Luden Fire Department because there seems to be some intersection there. And I don't really understand that dynamic and that budgeting process. And part of the reason why I understand that more is because I don't think other fire
departments have a township to be able to use to levy from, right? And so all the other fire departments if any engine comes breaking down have to either just do it or come into us. And so versus
Luden Township can levy Lootson Township for that and to have reserve funds versus other fire departments. I'm not so sure can but my understanding of this is pretty shallow. So >> well if I may um Luden Township has our
fire district. Uh Toy and Schroeder do as well. Both toy >> do what? Do do what? have their uh uh fire district, their fire area that has the ability through their township to levy funds. Um I don't know the exact
>> way it's written and how it's broken down. What I do know is that we have our loots and town budget, admin budget. We have our fire budget both on the administrative side and fire side. It's all under the umbrella of Loots and
Township. So the fire department isn't separated out. Okay. >> We we have the budget separated for budgeting purposes and it's broken up differently, >> but Loots and Fire is under Loots and Township. >> Okay. >> It's not two separate entities.
>> And so Schroeder can also Yes. Okay. Thank you. >> Um whereas all of the others I believe because they are >> unincorporated. Yes. It goes back to being unincorporated and unorganized. And >> one other point I'd make is Luden also
covers an area outside of Luton. >> And an organized area between Luden and Grand Marray, Luton Extension Area. >> So they they levy for that also. >> Oh, they levy. >> Well, it's it's uh
>> for that district pays their share. >> The the unorganized district. >> Yeah, it's the way it's done. Um, this agreement came many many years ago. So, it's it's bas it's the same rate across
Luden and the extension area. >> So, >> if you look at Looten Township and the map, Luton Township is only so big. But then you look at what the fire district is, it goes all the way down to Onion River Road on one side, it goes to >> kind of road seven on this side, and
then all the way up to the grade and the Boundary Waters. >> Mhm. That's helpful. >> In terms of service area and it's the same way as well for um toy they cover to then onion river road and I don't know what their other border is but they go all the way up to um the grade as
well and then Schroeder has their district. So when you look at the organization of the townships they're all smaller areas and what actually is Luden Township but the fire district is much larger. And so that also plays into how why there are two different budgets and what that works out as. And so the
each township uh has a fire district that's larger. The township's taxing district is smaller, but the fire taxing district is for the whole fire district. And so that just helps me a lot. So just following
that and I'm sorry to keep going on commissioner uh is just thinking about okay truck breaks now what or uh you know the gunflint trails truck breaks now what and and they don't have that
and so you know we don't really want to assume the worst plan for the best sort of thing but uh assume they all break and then they're all coming to us like are we going to be in a position and I guess to commissioner Gamble's point What precedent is this setting? I like the idea of splitting it. I also Yeah.
So, I'm just wrestling with all that. The worst cases. >> The last four or five years, we've been overwhelmed with fires. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> The uh fire they had up at the condos at the ski hill. You had to go and get
water somewhere else. >> So, it's wearing and tearing on equipment no matter where you are, but especially in the West End right now. I hope things will settle down. Yeah. But it's a wear and a tear on equipment for sure. >> So, Commissioner Sullivan, >> I just want to make a point. I really
appreciate Commissioner Mills you bringing up that the township difference than unincorporated areas like Kovville and Hovland. And I think when we write our new policy, that has to be taken into account. I think that's really
really important. Um and also um you know one of the things is that townships have opportunities to apply for some grants that uninccorporated areas don't. That is one of the benefits of being a township >> and so that's a bigger discussion as
well. >> Right. Yes. >> Go ahead. >> I got something to add as well as far as like you know getting together with other departments and whatnot. We already have a countywide mutual aid agreement so we can go we can be called anywhere. I mean within the county
>> as well as outside the county. We've been down to Finland for fires as well, Ilgen City. So the the agreements are there, but just like Grand Marray and Luden, Toffee, Schroeder, you're not going to deplete your home base and send everything elsewhere. You still have to
protect your own assets in your district. >> So just to touch on that, those agreements. And not only that, when you're talking about um countywide cooperation, when you look at fire engines and you look at
trucks and different things like that, um if you look up the gunflint, they have a lot in the terms of uh brush trucks and wildland gear. Again, I think we talked about this last time. Uh Kleville has their um heavy rescue for highway rescues and things like that.
Hovland has the stop team. Um, Tooffy is in charge of uh, SAR equipment as part of Cook County SAR. We all have our different pieces of equipment. And the one thing with all of that is is that for the most part, we aren't
we aren't using equipment and selling it before its end of life. Um, for the most part, if we're replacing a piece of equipment, it's because it is no longer usable. Um, most of these departments have I mean our engines and things like
that were 10 15 years old and we will refurbish them again and we will use them until their end of life. And so there isn't the ability to then take that truck and in some ways pass it on to another department that may be looking. Um and then in terms of some of
these other loans and things that have happened in the past, we as Looten Township have in the last couple of years through levying uh town property taxes as well as fire district taxes. Um replaced all of our turnout gear due to
NFPA standards which needs to replace be replaced every 10 years. We've also replaced all of our air packs through levying uh taxpayer funds and that's to the tune of over $200,000 between those two projects. Um and so those are things
that we as a township have taken on on our own and not come asking for funds because we do have the fire district. We don't take coming to the county lightly in terms of this funding. Um, it's because we can't continue to put the
large burden all at once on a single year of funds being levied. >> Commissioner Gamble. >> Yeah, thank you. I I appreciate the discussion and uh the other thing is is that um as a community the word
community meaning uh the various aspects of community which uh uh to Commissioner Mill point we have differences we have uh some of us can tax and some of us can't tax and some of us rely on this and whatever but awareness and we as we
as county commissioners want to be mindful and empathetic to the diversity university that exists within our county. So, we want to work together and unlike the state legislature, we want to find a way to resolve real issues and not from a political or adversarial
standpoint from a a coming together and having a discussion. And the multiple things that we have to be mindful of in this particular decision is this the the amount of dollars we're talking about a policy that's outdated and being careful
of precedent so that that doesn't get played. And um as um we look at um negotiating contracts with our our bargaining groups, one of our values is consistency in how we approach things.
And so it's it's a big picture approach. Um to the extent that that uh the fire departments within the county work together, if that agreement is something that you see the substance of the outworkings of that where that really has been beneficial. We just earlier in
our discussion talked about the solid waste and partnering as counties within the northeast region and it is dependent on our survival in many cases that we partnership and work together but it has to be realistic in that assessment. So
um I guess >> administer trouble. >> Thank you madam chair. Um so later in this agenda we'll be talking about our budget plan um timeline and one of the items is when each one of the fire departments needs to present their
budget to the county board and I wonder if as part of that process so kind of shifting us a little bit but I wonder if as part of that process we could ask what the equipment replacement schedule is for all of the different fire departments within the county just to
learn more about the fire trucks and the the lifespan so that we can anticipate costs as we move forward so that when we get requests like this, we've got solid data on what we look like countywide in terms of our fire needs. So that's not specifically related to this agenda
item, but I wanted to raise it while we're here. And what I would like to say as far as concern about setting precedents um we put a caveat on this like we we need to create the policy and the policy will
be a new it will not be pulling from from the past history. We'll use that to help us create a policy but decisions in the past will not drive the policy. So I'm not concerned about giving you folks too giving yeah giving
you folks too much money and then then the next person comes along and accuses us of being playing favorites. So um and one never knows when your transmission is going to go or
you never know any anybody that drives a vehicle in this county and or anywhere for that matter. And so to have no no safety net is just asking for trouble. Just it it
will happen. That's just how it goes. So uh I'm not in favor. I mean 5050 and then we just really hope nothing happens with your big mechanical
problems. I don't know for sure. I mean, I guess I would even be willing to pay. What was that first one? >> First one I said >> um where where we pay more than option two.
>> That would be the last one. >> Pay what was requested. >> But but that's not what commissioner but but yes the 50/50 I would be fine with. Commissioner Mills. >> I Yeah, I really like Commissioner
Gamble's suggestion because of the interest rate play. Um, I do have concerns about depleting the fund completely because I hear you. If the engine goes out and you have to refurbish it, then it's it's 60 grand. But in my mind, it's like, okay, let's keep 60 grand there, not 200. Um, and I
know there's other stuff that has to happen, too, but that's that's kind of what that fund is for. But um that uh if we did the 100 grand off of that, that would still be a that would still work out. I think you'd still have if we did 100 grand, you'd still have enough for an engine refurbishment. But
>> what about our our like our annual maintenance on the trucks that comes from that fund as well? >> What is that amount? >> I don't know that dollar amount. >> That's the pump testing, things like that. Oil changes. >> Yeah. So say that's 15 grand or something like that. >> And like like Chris mentioned before, we
do have our is it the tender that needs to be refurbished in two years? >> In two years. >> So which is going to be, you know, we had the engine done three years ago and it was $40,000 and sure it's going to be probably 80 now because of cost of things. Um so that's a factor to
consider and we have time to do some fun. We also have we have four vehicles in the fleet right now. So you know that's a lot of engines if something catastrophic happens. And so what's the on those four? What is their maintenance cost? Uh in the in the in the near
future uh annual maintenance is budgeted as part of our bud our annual uh levy and budget process. The refurbishment is separate and that's the additional anywhere from 50 to 80 that we're
talking about that will have to come out of the truck fund. the others are just out of the normal budget. >> Okay. >> Um >> so we probably want 80 for sure left in there >> at at least. But I mean again the the the tricky part is is that that's the
refurbishment amount. I mean again if we're talking engine drivetrain, we're talking the large pump mechanical pieces. Um or say we blow a seal on the tank in the back. I mean, what did Toy just spend on their tender tank to
replace that poly tank in the back? >> I think just a tank was like 70,000 or something >> to replace their tender tank that blew because they blew the seal on it at the Loots and Resort fire. Um, and so I mean, and again, some of that may be
covered by Matt insurance, but we've had issues going to Matt because they say it's mechanical or um, it's operator error or something like that, and then they don't decide they aren't going to cover it.
>> Um, they had fought us on um, inind replacement parts on our engine after the Loots Resort fire. um they lowballed the bid and came back with $6,000 when we to replace to the state it was in was
close to $20,000. And so there there are so many calculations that go into it >> and I I appreciate that. I guess my point is just why I'm not sure we need $200,000 in there for all of those things that you just mentioned, right? And so it's hard to know what's going to
happen in a catastro catastrophic failure, but um we do know how much there is and what the maintenance is and the operations. Um and I'm I don't know this, but I'm assuming the our other fire departments
have uh maybe more difficult situations with their equipment. Um and so that's what I'm trying to like figure out. Okay, where are we going to go? How do we draw this line and how does it all fit together? But
>> as a fire chief, I would strongly oppose depleting that down below 200,000. If we have to make a down payment on a new truck, we don't have it. >> Well, then then you can come to the board. That's kind of what I'm saying is like you guys carry it or we carry it. >> What's the guarantee that you guys will be able to back it
>> if something happens? There's there's only promises, no guarantees. Yes, there's I mean >> we can all change and >> we could all say no, but uh the the need versus the risk. That's what I'm that's
what I'm trying to weigh. >> I don't know. Minister of Travel, >> I I was just going to make the same point that if there is an issue that doesn't um that the fire department cannot um fund that they still could
come back to the county board and request funds if needed for an emergency. >> Mr. White, did you have a comment? >> Who lost it? >> Okay, it's okay. >> Commissioner Gamble. >> Yeah, thank you. I really appreciate the conversation. Um
I guess very simply what what we're saying and and I would agree with the that is why we are here in good faith to respond to real need. It just that the whatifs are very difficult to define and so consequently we have to find out that
the emotional nature of the whatifs doesn't drive our decision. And so what that means basically we're asking you because we want to be empathetic and understand what could you live with with the understanding that we in good faith
don't want to lend more money given our fiscal responsibility but we'll do what we can in partnership to figure out what what will make this happen with the understanding we would be here if if something came up because
we're all operating from a good faith position. So, we're saying what is the least amount that that we could lend you being mindful of your concerns relative to the budget issue. And having said
that, it means that our risk and your risk is in the perspective of if the unknown happens, we will be here to address that and maybe we'll have a policy that is rightly aligned so that
it's easier to do. But that that would be my my question relative to you know the discussion that we're having is >> I'll go ahead and let you respond to that. What would be the least amount?
>> Um so the the 50/50 I think makes makes the most sense if we're working together on this. Um we don't want to deplete down to you know if it's a 99,00099 that brings us to 200. You got to come up with $220,000 out of our 320 or No,
sorry. >> No, it's cost us 41. >> Hang on one second. I I'm trying to run some numbers while we're talking. >> Sure. Sure. Appreciate it. >> We'll give you time. >> 5050 split is is a very uh generous and intelligent move
because you both kind of win on that on that end. >> What's the other? Um, I mean, if we went to the I if we went to the 99999 number and then leaving, we would still
have uh roughly um >> couldn't we round that out to 100,000? >> Well, you can't only because >> it has to do with the loan amount. Yeah. >> Yeah. But it's interest free. >> Good point.
>> Sorry. I mean I I'll give you a dollar to make that the hundred thousand may also while they're crunching numbers. I do recall the comment being made by up there that um you know the best intentions are there that that's
not really something that we as a department can rely on from the county. Um so I just want to bring that point up again. What if the economy tanks and you guys are hurting just as much as we are? Um, and you still have a responsibility
for the over for the county overall, not just Luden. So, I got to keep that in the back of the mind, too. >> Or a bigger thing that I mean, we've talked about in the past is just what if the Fed wants to come back and change Pilt reimbursement again. >> That takes a huge hit on the county
budget. >> I agree. >> Um, sorry, I'm trying to run all of this. 400 >> 49. >> Okay. So, the total cost of the engine is $49,000, right? So, let's say you it's $100,000 $9.99. That's $39,000. We
have 326 left in our in our budget, right? So, if we come up with a $300,000 leaves 30 grand in our >> in our coffers. That's not okay. We can't do that. >> So, I think the the splitting it makes the most sense because like I said, >> we're happy you're happy. Um, yeah,
>> it's something. Yeah, if we have to go out and seek a second loan from a private institution, we can do that. But, >> so I was able to figure that out. So, if we did the $99,999, we depleted our truck fund down to leaving $100,000, which is our bare
minimum. Um, we would still have a deficit in a second commercial loan that we'd have to go and find of 81,700 roughly. Um, In my mind, the minimum that we want to
loan you guys is $180,000. Basically, it's going to it's going to go over that threshold, but based on what you're saying, that's the minimum we want it. And what Commissioner um Sullivan's motion was was for 204. So, at this point, we're splitting hairs. Um
kind of >> I mean, >> but I'm happy we got here. >> Yeah. I mean, it makes sense to do the 50/50 and then we will >> as a township at our next meeting have that discussion and decide what we need to go outside for for the second loan anyways.
>> So, we will probably lose this pricing >> cuz it's good until May 20th. >> That's why we need to make >> we have our Yeah. >> Right. But if we have to go and secure more funding and it's not clear, are you going to sign a contract? >> Yep. >> Um, so things aren't getting cheaper.
they would just keep going up. So there's there's that part of it to take into consideration. >> Well, if if we if you have a $24,000 loan secured, you can use that for a down payment on a truck and you're golden. It's >> either way.
>> And this is, as I understand it, this is 600 days before we actually see the product show up. >> Craziness isn't due until we have to secure. We wanted to make sure we were not like, "Oh, yeah. We can do this." And then >> not be able to.
>> Oh, yeah. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> All right. I just want to not I give credit to the townships. I mean, these are citizens who have been working long and hard for years to have
uh emergency services available for the people on that end of the county. And it's for any any vehicle anybody ever has to deal with, let alone more than one. How lucky do you feel? Like that's the
question. And so I want we as a the county and not to really offend every taxpayer in the county, but the county has the deeper pockets than the people on the west end of deeper pockets than anybody else to help us tide over storms
if we need to. And so I think uh the 50/50 and giving the support to the people on the people on the west end is the uh respectful thing to do. period.
I don't know if that's exactly what I was going to say in the first place, but that's that's what I mean. I mean, I truly uh applaud any all the people that give us emergency services in this county and how well they have done through the years of
working with one another across the county. So, thank you. So refresh our memories here now for Commissioner Sullivan's motion was for 204,000, >> right? So that's the 50/50 um split at a
10-year rate of 4%. >> 4%. >> And Carl seemed to appreciate that, >> I think. I mean, >> yeah. >> Yeah, that would be fantastic. >> Okay. Okay, Commissioner Mills. >> And I'm comfortable with that. I also
just want to really encourage you guys like in a process um grants are really fun to go for first like >> and we are >> Yeah. Yeah. >> We have a list and it comes down to when they're available and timelines of when we can apply.
>> Yeah. And this is this is out of order, but just looking at the the drone request clearly there's plenty of, you know, grants that were gone after and funding. So, it's just for processes that's I think helpful for for any and everything. But, um hopefully those will
come through. Otherwise, I'm I'm really happy with with where we're at. >> And Luden Township has a brilliant grant writer. So, she will dig and she, you know, developed um our little um picnic area and signage and historical thing
and she's out there just beating the bushes. So, whatever else we need for her to do, um, she'll be there. So, we had the motion and the second. Commissioner Gamble. >> Yeah. Where did the second come from? >> Me.
>> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Just given the conversation appropriate. Appropriate. Yeah. Uh well, I I I appreciate the conversation and um uh it's it's important for us to to be informed on decisions and uh a big
element of that being informed is also understanding uh the environment in in which you are called to operate and protect us in the community. Um I I believe very strongly that uh it is the responsibility of
leaders to equip those that serve and um while that is a very very strong value um the other component of it is how we do that financially with our fiscal responsibility to the people that are you know taxpayers with in our community. But I just wanted to
underscore the healthy nature of this conversation. And uh at that I guess we take a vote. >> Okay. I just have to say this real quickly since I've annoyed many people. They are not getting free money. We're going to get 4% on it.
>> So we're not favoring playing favorites by giving giving lending money to the West End. they will be paying for our generosity. So that's it. So I'm ready now. >> Okay.
Any further comments or questions? >> I'm ready for a vote. All in favor? >> I I >> oppose. Same sign. Motion passes unanimously. >> Thank you, commissioners. Thank you for your work. Thank you for all. >> We appreciate your work. >> You can stay right there because the next topic and I tried not to put this
together, >> but that's the way it went. So, um you all know that um I had gone up to Kovville to uh attend their open house and and all of a sudden um they had this drone that they were showing us. Well, this I'm going to pass this down. This
is the drone that Ludson Township has purchased. It's a little bit different drone in that it um helps rescue people. It has a heat sensor on it. They can drop an EpiPen down from it if somebody is in dire trouble. I mean, it is like
the Cadillac. Is that Kovville or Luton? >> This is Luton. >> That's This is >> Oh, this is the Lutum. >> This is what you would call high-tech. >> That's the brink. >> Madam Chair, >> Sharon, >> Hexom has requested that we contact her for this agenda item. Do you mind if I
have Danielle come up and and get her on the phone? >> Good. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Sure. So we can >> they're asking for um the finishing of the contract.
Oh, she's busy or not. >> She said she was going to be in route but asked us to steal. >> Oh, maybe she got into a dead zone. >> Yeah, >> a lot of denzo on the 61. >> We can we can try and answer any
questions. She's our amazing grant writer in the who's in town area and he's done quite an amazing job of that. >> She's great. Um, should we wait for the other two hearing? >> Madam Chair, would you like to wait for We'll wait a minute.
>> B. Chair, while we're waiting, uh, could I ask a question? >> Oh, sure. Um we had received correspondence uh from Arvis relative to a drone that um is is available in the
community. Uh and um I think that that was offered to the sheriff's department. uh and I I don't know if you gentlemen are familiar with that drone or not but given the nature of drones and their capabilities
uh and looking at uh the integrity of companies that train and facilitate these uh this company has a good reputation u is well respected and
so we might think of drone generically but there drones specific to their application, which we have unique circumstances given our terrain and the things that that we deal with. And so a
drone is not just a drone. Um and uh while I respect that that there's a citizen that purchased a drone that is available for Kovville, that um uh understanding the nature of drones and their
applications, it it's it's a bigger issue than just saying we've got a drone. >> Um and I don't know the particulars about the one that that was, you know, donated by a citizen. I think too when you're looking at the price of high quality drones that um this falls sort
of in the middle range but the criteria that defines the need is what is sort of driven this. So it's not like trying to buy the Cadillac. It's defining what need is and then finding one that's that is going to be credible in service and has the support that we need and the
training that is what is offered by this company. So, um, but I I did want to mention the fact that that there was one that was made available, but the reason that that it wasn't accepted by the sheriff's office might be because it didn't meet the identified need. I don't
know that. >> Maybe you could explain. I know that I just mentioned a couple things that it does. Probably it came out around 82,000. >> Uh, 84,961. >> And that was that's training. >> Yes. Yeah. So that's that's training for
three pilots, >> um testing and all of that. >> So >> the idea of I we know there's one in Coleville, but that operator is not always available. And so the idea of of having three
operators and Looten is pretty much a guarantee that we're going to have someone there that can operate it. And also that this is, you know, it was mentioned at the last chief's meeting, um this is going to serve the entire county. We don't want anybody to not to
hesitate to call for a missing person or a fire. Um, they're great. Uh, the state marshall's office brought theirs up when we had the fire at Caribou Islands and it was awesome. They could put it up. We could identify hot spots, go in there
with our thermal imaging camera and really hone in on those hot spots and try to get it knocked down. Uh, the drone is the responder drone. Um, so it's got emergency lights. It's got it's got the weewoos.
Um, like Jenny had mentioned, it can drop a payload. So if we get somebody in the woods who's have an allergic reaction, we can fly an EpiPen to them a lot faster than we can get there on foot. Um, we've got I don't know if you I'm guessing you guys have copies. We
got several letters of support >> from various places in the county. Um, you know, we signed the contract with them. It's bumper to bumper, no questions asked. Um, and it for dollar, you know, apples to apples, it was our
best bargain. We could have bought it outright, but then we're responsible. No software is included. If it's damaged, it's on us. Um, has a parachute and uh, the guys just did their training with the Brink company on Saturday for eight hours. In the event that parachute does
get deployed, the drone will be damaged when it hits the ground. And they're carbon fiber, so they're not cheap. Um I there's going to be some variances that we're going to have to seek. One going over 400 ft. Uh one going out of
We got to dig into this one line of sight cuz right now you got to keep that drone within sight. But that doesn't mean it can't be launched from here and we have an observer up the road and it's still in continuous sight. So it's working through some of that stuff.
>> The other two townships considered uh also um donated to the fund and then of course you read in here the different uh support groups tribal uh my keyport um Patty Lias Senator Hoschild. So, um,
we all can read that in the in the packet here. And the 9,000 is just the remaining on the contract cost. Um, administrator trouble. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, after um the board received some questions from a community member, I did reach out to
Mike Kiport, Sheriff um Halberg, and um Rowan Watkins as well just to ask the question about do we need more than one in the county? And they all very much support having one on the east end and the west end. um and were very supportive of moving forward. So, I wanted to make sure that the board is
aware of that. Um and the only request that they had was that the standard operating procedures be shared with the sheriff's office and our emergency management operator um director so that we have that as a county as well, but
very supportive of this request. Right. And again, have you in the past um needed a drone and considered asking Kovville to borrow theirs or hasn't
just this curiosity and or hasn't an event shown up where you needed a drone? >> Um well, it would have been nice like say Looten Resort. >> Okay. Um, so typically when we're going out for searches, it's we're mutual aid
for for search and rescue. So that would be their decision to make. >> Okay. And then we uh like um highway director Robbie's redundancy. There's nothing wrong with redundancy. To have
more than one is a good idea in the a county this size, geographically large. and the number of emergencies we could encounter are just wide open out there. So, um uh the
distance I mean we have more than one fire department for a reason and so I believe having more than one drone would be very beneficial and a good idea. That's all. >> Commissioner Sullivan.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. um in some of the research related to drones um both for my work with the airport advisory commission and also for uh looking at emergency management. The nationwide standards if you look at an area our
size, our county is 3,340 square miles. The minimum suggested is three to five drones for an area as large as ours. And some places in the United States have up to 12 for an area our size. And they need
to be available to be distributed among key stations or locations around our county either before a fire gets out of control or before a search becomes old. And that's why that thermal imaging on a drone is so important whether it's
search and rescue or it's for fire. Um the standard operating procedures, I think I would strongly agree with our emergency management director and the sheriff's department. Those should be um shared and we need to work together um to make
sure that our fire departments can continue to get more drones, more training to make sure that um we are in good shape for making sure we are safe and our visitors are safe. And so um and then the one other thing I would address
is law enforcement. They have very different issues and requirements for drones. Um and there are very different liability issues um related to property damage, injury from a crash, and even invasion of privacy. So that is
something if our sheriff's department were to purchase those, they'd be working with our county attorney on um liability issues and and how to work out that. So, I really am pleased with the direction um that we've gone and am
appreciative of not only purchasing an additional drone and our contribution of $9,000, but I really appreciate the training for multiple operators. That is the key. >> So, I will go ahead and make a motion to
um approve the Luden Township request of 9,000 support for the Brackone remaining contract cost support. Further discussion and comments. Commissioner Gamble. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh yeah, I would
agree that um uh in in just looking at this as drones as first responders that rural and small town agencies need durable multi-purpose drones that can handle varied terrain and weather, thermal and night vision capabilities are considered non-negotiable for night
operations and search and rescue. weather resistant ratings, all of these different things that are are recommended. Um, and um I I think that the we know in emergency situations that
that responsiveness is is hugely important and uh and so they referenced vehicles should be equipped with drone as first responder capabilities. I don't know if that's something that's been discussed or not when you're looking at that, but it allows for rapid deployment
often within seconds rather than waiting for a certified pilot to arrive. Um, I would agree with Commissioner Sullivan on the operations. uh a clear understanding. That's where the training comes in so we know how to use the the equipment. Establish clear
policies limiting drone use to specific emergency incidents. And um the other thing that they recommended in looking at this is just the incremental implementation which is what we're doing. Start with one or two drones and a small team to build expertise and
demonstrate success uh before scaling up. So, um it it's great that technology has created these options for us, especially where where we live and as much acreage as uh we are responsible as
Commissioner Sullivan referred to. So, I'm in support of this. I would I would encourage just like we did to Commissioner Mills point relative to trucks and fire departments that that we communicate and we look so that we know the resources we have and we can deploy
them. And when we run scenarios and things in advance of actual emergency situations, we're better equipped to respond quicker because we've anticipated and had those discussions. So I'd encourage that.
>> Commissioner W. Um just for the public just a clarification again. So you are on a contract to purchase or to lease. >> This is a purchase. This is our drone >> and then there's a maintenance that goes along with it in this contract or
>> Yep. They and then annual training as well. >> Okay. And that and that's part of that's I just want that information out there. >> Yep. It's all covered in that contract price. >> The only part that's not covered is the various insurance which we're working through on our own. Um, and we're having
to do that through a third party that's not Matt because Matt uh did not uh want to cover it as it is a an air vehicle. >> Um, and they do not do that. So >> yet >> I don't know if they ever will, but
>> uh I mean Matt has been insuring townships forever and there are other townships that have um air resources and things like that and I don't think that they have ever covered those. So we are going through that process right now for
specialty uh liability insurance for the operation side of this. So >> Matt is um acronym for Minnesota Townships as we have AMC. >> So Matt would be comparable to MCIT.
>> Yeah. The insurer. >> I did want to add too that at 2 and a half years we get another drone at no extra charge. So that was really the selling point. >> Wow. And um it's in my opinion in that
the drone that we're training on now goes off to another area department. >> Um and I don't know what that looks like. That's the township's uh job to figure that out. >> So you get Excuse me. Go ahead.
>> So you get you get to keep the one you have. >> Yes. >> And pass it along and then they give you a new one which I would assume would be >> Yes. It's >> a bogo. But they say bogo on it. >> What does bogo mean? >> Buy one get one. >> Oh,
>> I don't know. $80,000 bogo. >> So, at our next month's chief's meeting, we're going to meet in Lootson and do a demo with it as well. So, >> great. I can certainly work on getting our our guidelines put together for that next meeting and get to Mike
and other chiefs so they know how we're operating it and when to use it and when not to. But I encourage you as much as we can. >> Yeah. >> Get it out there, get it, get the public to see it. Um, if I may one point to uh,
Commissioner Gamble, it was the idea that more responders are able to operate the drone. That all goes back to liability and the insurance side. So, right now we have the three trained operators. I think there is a goal that eventually we might train more um, or
have more trained. But for right now, it'll be those three mainly because they're the ones that will also be covered under that policy as the operators. So there's an FAA like testing this, >> not just like, you know, >> simple. >> Yeah, >> there's a lot of moving parts there.
>> It's not a weekend certification. There's more to it. >> These are not private drones. >> These are not your grandfather's drones. >> Well, your grandfather didn't even know that. That that was a an Irish musical response. Yeah.
>> They probably looked up to the sky and thought there, what is that flying around up there? unidentified objects. Commissioner Gamble, >> thank you. So, I'm imagining that Brink drone with the educational component, the training component of this and the
policy issue, you know, operations things that'll define its use. um that they advise in that regard, but also if we find somebody with similar terrain circumstance, learning from their experience would be helpful in informing
that as well. So yeah, thank you. >> So we have a motion and a second. Any further comments or questions? I'll ask for a vote. All in favor? >> I oppose. Same sign. Motion passes
unanimously. Thank you guys. >> You guys better get out of here before you have to start paying rent. >> Thank you. >> Go spend some money. >> Pay for it. >> So, moving on. We're going to have um
discussion with Brady on the um secure rural schools title. And I have to say after this first came out I had phone calls from different people with different schools like you mean Grand Portage is it? So I think we need a better a good explanation as to you know
what this includes because it it's only is 166. >> Yes. And that's I don't have a definitive uh statute regarding that. Um that's where the money has gone even preceding secure
rural schools. The county got a 25% payment from uh the forest service. Uh and that went it was split basically the same way. It was uh to schools and highway that that law goes back to 1908.
And so I went back and looked at that and that says nothing about what type of school um that I could find. And then the new law, the secure rule schools in 2008, refers back to the old law. Um, so we we
need to get a definitive answer somewhere else. No one else that I talked to um is giving it to charter schools. >> Um, they said no, it's not for charter schools, but I don't have a statute or they think to give you St. Louis doesn't give to charter schools, for example. So
maybe they can come up with a statute for us. could look at. But uh but in the meantime, we've been doing it this way since whenever Cook County started receiving it many, many decades ago. >> Yeah. Um so this is a request to do the
publication of the notice of the use of the funds. Again, the highway and the school are going to get the uh they're going to share 85% of what we get. And then 8% goes to the
resource advisory council based in Duth. There is a Cook County member, I believe, but uh I don't know who that is. We don't we don't hear anything about it generally, but they use 8% of it for general some kind of general use
that's allowed under the statute. Uh we don't see the money. We don't know how exactly how that works. Um, but the the 7% comes to us for the title three and that's the one that has the stringent requirement to go out and get put out a
notice and wait 45 days for comments and then we can use it um as allowed under the statute which is for things like uh our firewise program or for search and rescue in the federal forest. And right
now we're asking to use it for the the general Firewise uh program because that's where we're short. Um we still have some allocated for uh search and rescue, but that's that's uh you know rare, but you can change the use also as
the board determines. So this is just to to make that request of for the 29,52960. This is for the fiscal year 25. The one we just got was the again was the 2024 when search and rescue or SRS was
reapproved um late last year early this year. So that's why you're hearing about it again. This is the regular fiscal year 2025 payment. So >> Commissioner Gamble. >> Yeah, thank you Madam Chair Brady. Uh
given that proportion that goes search and rescue, I mean given the conversation we just had, would that actually been a funding source that we could draw that money from for the drone? >> Um it's for actual expenses
for the search. So if you were doing it, you can't buy equipment with it. Yeah, when we've used it, it's the sheriff has to come up uh with the search and rescue team uh how many people were out there, what did they spend, and we have to have a list of expenditures.
>> Yeah. >> And you could allocate a portion of a drone cost or something if they use that. But >> and the uh secure rural schools funding is that's something that we've been vacasillating as to whether expectation we're going to see it or not see it kind of thing.
>> It has to get reapproved. They reapprove. Congress will reapprove it for two years or one year at a time. They could do it longer, but you know how they operate bill or something. >> Yeah. They seldom do anything for long periods of time on funding. So, >> and then they'll
periodically they'll just let it go. They can't make a decision and it'll wait a year, sometimes a year and a half and then they'll approve it and then you'll get, you know, backfilled Yeah. on previous years. And the amount of money for the public that that uh
translates to Cook County is >> uh total was 3 uh 88,13 with 85% going to the highway and school and then this 29,529 for
>> Yeah. Thank you. Firewise program. >> Any further questions or comments? I'll make a motion to approve the uh notice of the publication for the allocation use of 29,529 and60s of the FY2025
secure rules schools title 3 funds >> support. Any further questions or comments? All in favor? >> I oppose. same sign motions unanimously.
Thank you on that, Brady. >> And the last item is that the budget calendar. >> Yeah, the budget calendar uh a little bit later this year, but um so you see the calendar, it starts today with approval
um of this calendar proposed or you can make changes to it obviously. Um it says we when you approve this we start distributing budget materials to department heads and then the administrator and I start our uh
discussions letters to departments and uh it sets the deadline for department requests and non-mandated to June 26 so the end of June and then uh skipping ahead to the new things the
requests by departments Um we didn't set a specific date um but late July early August we'll set that date later when we understand better what uh what's coming from departments
and then just another uh suggestion just something to think about um we haven't had a real budget committee to review these things uh midstream like this. So on here it says, you know, after the presentations you could have a committee
with the administrator, representative of finance, two board members to review and consider their requests before the administrator makes the uh presentation of the preliminary budget in later in August. So
>> Commissioner Sullivan, >> thank you, Madam Chair. Um, one thing I wondered if we could add to the budget calendar just under May 15th is um distributes budget materials to department heads and non-mandated users. >> Ah
>> um in past years sometimes um non-mandated users like the airport have not gotten that information at this particular timeline and have had a pretty condensed period of time to turn their materials in. So just if we could add that >> or the library,
>> right? >> Thank you. >> Good point. >> And the the rest of it is statutory on the list. So you have to have a you have to set a preliminary by the end of September. We've always shot for the first week, but you don't have to be
tied to that. You've got the whole month. Um if you're not ready, don't push it. And then um all every entity has to have a budget. The county, the school, the city, um EDA, everybody by
the end of September and then the notices go out under statutory time limit for the truth and taxation. You've got to set the date to that meeting in September when you approve the preliminary and then we have to uh finish it all up by the end of December.
So, >> Commissioner Gamble. >> Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, with the non-mandated u I brought this up before, but the library is an example. when we're looking at agreements that we're looking at policies, we're looking at many
things which is important to do >> and uh their policy as I understand it and I sat on the library board previously is that uh they can increase their budget request by 5% and if the board doesn't say anything about it,
it's an automatic and 5% is significant. Uh, I just think that that when you look at entities that rely on taxpayer dollars that we should make sure that that um that how we we manage the budget process
is equal to all entities because I'd love to have be in a position if we don't look at it then it's automatic. So it's just a matter of looking at things and weighing things in context so that the rules of the game are consistent if you want to call it that.
Madam Chair, if I may respond to that. Um, so we are working, Brady and I are working on a template to send out to the non-mandated to um collect data on their request in a in a different way than we
have in the past. So for example, asking if there is an increased uh request to increase their budget by using your example 5%. What is the reason for that? so that we have that information. And then um as Brady had mentioned with the
July and August budget committee when we have that review discussion, I think one of the options that that budget committee could consider is um going back to some of the requests from the non-mandate non-mandated
um budgets and ask for a presentation, ask for additional information um and whatever else may be needed to truly understand their request. So that's not outlined here, but that is something that we've discussed is um ensuring that um we have all the information that's
needed um if if there is a significant increase to a budget. >> Commissioner White. >> Um and I'm going to throw this out again. I still think that I would like to have a conversation as with the
commissioners about the hub about can we include the have a discussion and and have um perhaps the end point being that they will be one of our line items and non-mandated service.
um you know per once upon a time the county supported the hub and even owned the building and at this point it's all on them. though except for what they get through the uh uh competition of uh
going after the funding. And so I would like us to have a discussion at some point because I believe the value of that entity is is much greater than it was even when the county was the sole
supporter of that place. Commissioner Sullivan, >> I appreciate that and I think um a broader discussion that would include that would be having a policy related to non-mandated services to try to come up with something like that. So that'd be a
great committee of the whole discussion. >> Go ahead. >> And so we have a lot of policies that we need to get on and that one and then then about the uh >> drones or the fire departments. I mean, we need to we need to get a policy in place and I'm sure there are a lot more,
but I'd like those to come to the front of the line. >> Commissioner Gamble. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I the um recommendation to have a committee.
I I would say that uh in looking at budget, we've talked about, you know, the big picture umbrella. What are all of the things that we as county government are responsible for? In other words, I guess the way to phrase that is
say what are the things that fall under the umbrella that we are presently supporting and then evaluating in the cont context of mandated and non-mandated. to understand and often times in our discussion we'll say well we could do this and then Brady or
attorney will say well you can't under state statute or da da da and it limits our ability to do things in the context of policy rule of law statute and I think we need to have that conversation so that in identifying our values and
the level of service that we want to provide in our community that our dollars will match that discipline process. us. So having said that as the big picture then it's a matter of saying how do we best accomplish that if we
have a budget advisory committee what is their role and significance of what they are looking at and by way of coming to recommendation to this body in the budget process and if we're going to have a committee what is their role and
I'm just looking at efficiencies and how best to accomplish what we want so we have other eyes on this and not necessarily create another committee. I think that the advisory committee and I think it's to the benefit of this full
board to be involved in the process of determining direction >> because I I think we need we need to be mindful of the things that have to be chewed on in the budget process. We have sorted out the mandated and
non-mandated every year. But then, you know, maybe we need to also add your request and consideration and anybody else to make a full view of everything. So, we have had that sorted out. We have to resort again. I think we resort every
year actually. >> Life changes every year. >> It does. Yeah. Administrator Treble. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So, um, to Commissioner Gamble's, um, point, um, what Brady and I had discussed was for that budget committee, um, having the
two board members, our our hope was is that we could leverage the two board members that are part of the advisory the budget advisory committee so that we can connect the work to the budget advisory committee because you're right, that comes as a recommendation. They provide recommendations to the board on
the budget. And so what we had discussed was appointing those two commissioners um potentially to that to make sure that we've got that continuity. And then to Commissioner White's comment about um ensuring that the the loan policy and the non-mandated policy are at the top
of the list, they are. and uh Brady and I had a conversation with Ellers to try to get some examples of other counties non-mandated policies and loan policies and we're just waiting for feedback from them so that we can move forward with um
revisions to those two policies. >> Commissioner Gamble, >> thank you. Um again when when you take a look at the big picture and then you figure out how we're going to get there that if the
advisory committee a subcommittee and if we understand the rationale the thought in the discussion that informed in the recommendation then that would say that makes sense or is there another way based upon what we're trying to
accomplish. I just throw that out. Um and the other thing uh we've all probably participated in strategic session or decisionmaking sessions when uh the the items that were addressing
are identified and there's a presentation to understand you know the component these different various elements and then we're all given a bunch of stickers and then we go around and we can put our stickers up based upon our priorities And so if if you
have listened to the dialogue over our various board meetings, you'll know that Commissioner White keeps bringing up the hub. And so I'm assumed there would be some stickers that would arrive, you know, show up from Commissioner White. It's um it's just one way of saying
priorities and you can have that discussion. I think when we look at the hub in the context of the demographics of our community that u we've talked about child care, we've talked about business, we talked about tourism and the significant portion of our
demographic that is served by the hub. It just seems like we're not aware of who our community is relative to need. And uh that may be a fair unfair statement, but in from my standpoint looking at if
we have a significant elder population and that's who the HUD primarily serves, then why are not we helping them address that when we're choosing to address some of these others that are not as
significant an element of the demographic of our population. That would just be an observation. We can always say is it agism? I mean are we which I'm saying no we do not have a bias against old guys old
people but because we do support child care. >> Yeah. >> So the other end of the scale where there are probably more older people in this county than the little ones. >> Yeah. And I and I think the discussion
and this is why I say the full participation of the board to me I I would encourage it because it gives us a better basis under which to make the decisions when we're having to go through these and have these discussions. We had a significant discussion today that that discussion
could have happened in a committee of the whole >> you know because a lot of times board decisions are basically an agenda of approving things that have been chewed on. But today we chewed on some things because we didn't have the opportunity. And I think we need to find more
opportunities to really wrestle with the things, roll up our sleeves and understand so we go into the budget process. We're not defined by a rhythm that we follow. We're defined by an evaluation of where we're at and prioritizing the limited dollars we have
and saying to a public, this is the discipline we've built into a process that is caretakers of your dollars and providers of services we identified based upon prioritization. That's hugely important. >> We had an excellent presentation at our
committee the whole from the hub. >> Yes, we did. >> And they're waiting to come back. They've now got a new flyer. they've got new funding sources that they're >> pretty positive about >> and it's a matter of consideration and a matter of who's out there. Um, Toy
Township owns Birchboro School and it's used multiple ways, but one of the ways is to hire a lady, and I would call her a chef, but she says she's only a cook, to provide a lunch every Wednesday. And it's for all ages. Even though people
say senior lunch, anybody, any age can come. And it is a gathering place for all of us to come. Like the hub in Grand Marray >> just for people. And if she offers a painting class or somebody wants to do quilting, you know about who's doing
what. And that's the nice thing about having those kinds of choices, you know. So that's all consideration for sure. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Anything else on the budget?
>> Well, I not the calendar. >> Okay, Madam Chair, I actually do have one other thing on the budget that I meant to mention, which is um Commissioner Sullivan's request for the notifying the non-mandated. I would just ask that we move that to the May 29th instead of May 15th as we're still
working on that template that we want to get out to um just ensure the workflow is what we need it to be for this process. So just a little more time >> that they that's understandable. It just understanding to do it as soon as we can
because we've discussed that but sensitive to needing to be able to make sure there's time to do it. We can say no later than the 29th. We'll get it out as soon as possible if that is okay. >> So that's the 29th of May. May >> Okay,
>> we still need a motion. >> We do. >> I'll make a motion to approve the 2027 budget calendar >> with the >> with the changes as mentioned to May 29th regarding the non-mandated. >> I'll support that. Any further questions
or comments? All in favor? >> I >> oppos. Same sign. Motion passes unanimously. >> Okay. The next item is is something that I've been I've been discussing with administrator Treble. Could we please
start with something that we could consider and pass and have a policy on? So, we picked these two only because they're pretty simple. I don't think there's a lot of reconsideration on what we do and so I'll turn this over to
administrative trouble. Thank you, Madam Chair. So, um, we have two policies before us. Um, the first one is the public comment policy and with that policy, the the biggest change is around issues raised. We wanted to make sure that the community um as as they come
forward um before us um are aware that there are some things that we can do with the information that's provided. So sometimes when we hear public comment we refer the issue or the topic to a staff member to make sure that they're they're working on the concern. Sometime the
topic might be deferred to a future agenda item um or it might even be addressed during the current meeting agenda item but that's at the discretion of the chair but just wanted to make sure that the community is aware that that is one of the changes. Um we also
um in this policy very much encourage the public to comment, ask questions, voice concerns, make a statement um and come before the board to share their feedback as that really um is important and matters to the board. So it also um
just outlines the procedure, the rules of conduct um and our written public comment process as well. And the one change with that is making sure that we receive the comments 24 hours in advance. That gives us the ability to make sure that everyone has
reviewed the comments. Um, and then we're also asking individuals that provide written comments to let us know if they want those comments to be read at the board meeting. Um, and then we have our recording and documentation part of the policy as well. So those are kind of the key changes
and I'll stop there if that's okay and just see if there's any questions on that first policy before I move on. >> Commissioner Gamble. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Just to clarify that the the changes relative to written comments that come in and then we review in the 24 hours. Our review is just so
so we're aware and we know whether you are as the public are requesting to have it read. uh the the review is not to determine what gets read or not read. It's just simply that we want to have it because sometimes we get them last minute and then we don't have a chance
to to look at it and it doesn't get read. We don't we want to send a clear message that if you have a comment we will make that comment in the context of the provisions of how comments can be made and the review is not to determine which will get read and which won't. If you want it read, we will read it.
>> That is correct. >> Yeah. Anything else on that? Okay. Then the next policy. So the next policy is the community listening session policy. And this was previously referred to as town halls.
And we haven't had a specific outlined um policy for town halls. And so we wanted uh the board in our work session discussed moving forward with a community listening um session policy uh just to outline what is a community listening session. And so this is where
elected officials and government representatives bring together members of the community to discuss specific topics, hear directly from the community and answer questions. So it's not spaces for official business um decisions or votes. No formal minutes will be taken,
but the intent is really to provide an opportunity to hear from the community um and engage in positive dialogue with community members. Um it's also to promote transparency and accountability in Cook County government. Um and so we've got some criteria for when a town
hall can or when a community listening session can occur. um a procedure is outlined as well and let's see rules of conduct and then the key rules for attendees as well. Um as a
note we also have mentioned that commissioners may still hold their um individual meetings. This is not in place of that but this is more um a countywide community listening session. Um, notification to the administrator is also preferred if there are individual
commissioner meetings that will be happening that are broader than just a one-on-one meeting just so that we can ensure that if there are staff that can help to provide information that's necessary or other commissioners that um need to be aware or engaged, we can
share that information. So, that's kind of a high-level overview of the community listening session um policy. But again, the intent for anyone listening uh to the the meeting today is really to make sure that we're hearing from the community members um engaged in
d positive dialogue um so that that can make us better decision makers. advice. >> Um the uh community comments and when when comments come in and and the questions
or the issues that are raised and they we send them we you someone sends them to one of our departments to get more information. Does someone go back to the person that asked the question and tell them within a timely manner that this is
happening so they know that we their comments did not fall on deaf ears that we are going to try to find the information or whatever our plan of attack is. I just think getting back to people so they
know that they were heard is important. >> Yes. and I can speak to that briefly and um I would say for the most part most of the time we have gotten back >> to the community members. I can't
guarantee that it has happened 100% of the time. Sometimes it's dependent on what issue is brought forward. Sure. >> Um but I always try to make sure that we're circling back and providing information. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Gamble.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. And um that's that's good. I I don't know that we've always done that, but um it's important. Um if people feel that they're heard and that their voice matters, they'll show
up at the point that they're dismissed, that's why bother. And and we can we can encourage what we say where we want community informed decisions. who want the community to give, you know, commissioners, elected officials that they put in position, uh, information,
concerns, whatever it might be, suggestions. The other thing I would point out between the two policies, the the public comment and the community listening is that the frustration when the public comment, you tend to hear from citizens who feel commissioners
just sit there and then we make a comment that it might be really something important to us and and there's no sense of that where do they fall on this because we don't have that dialogue for reasons because of timeline and other things. But the community
listening is this opportunity for that dialogue. And so uh it's important that you have the two because the timeliness of the public comment gives you immediate access to things that are agenda that the community wants to
comment on. The listening is opportunity on major issues to be able to address those so that we can have that respectful dialogue. So those are two important policies. And the community comment having once upon my time.
>> Public comment. >> What? >> Public comment. >> Public comment. Oh yeah. Public comment. Um with a room filled with people. This was up at the school wanting one thing and like a dozen people spoke all in favor of something. It was not three minutes
later that the sitting board. It was like no one had said anything. they just and then they just went on with what they were going to do. And having personally experienced that, that is just a really great way to anger people
to uh make make the community not trust you. And then why bother? Why bother? So, uh, we need to I mean, I believe this board has been working to change that and I understand why the
community hasn't been showing up, but the community needs to know that this can be a pretty exciting place. You should come on Tuesdays and listen to us. We want to hear and we really need to hear particularly what's not going well in
the county because how would I know? We all live in our bubbles and we all have our other things, but the community is so important. So important. And by and large, we have a great community. So
that's it. But on the other hand, if the community does not want to reach out to their commissioners and they just want to sit back and complain about it, I'd like to have a conversation with you because as as a part of a democracy, you have a responsibility to make your voice
heard, not just grumble. That's it. >> The last point here on the community listening session, um I'm so lucky because I have townships. You get free food. >> I do. You go to the you go to the birch grove. >> That's not free.
>> Oh. >> So the but the point was when I went to the township's annual meeting in March, I had a request. Could somebody please explain to us all of these VRBOs that are happening and so I contacted Andrew
>> and uh he's coming this coming Thursday evening to the Topi Township. Um but it's a you know I mentioned it to all the other townships so people are aware that if they want to come to Tafties township meeting on Thursday night they will hear an explanation and that's how
I kind of deal with the the community concerns because I have that voice >> with the three townships. >> Commissioner Gamble. >> Thank you Madam Chair. I'd I'd like to make a motion to uh support the public comment policy and community listening
session policy as presented. And uh in making that motion also underscore the fact that uh uh I appreciate that these two policies sort of came to the forefront with everything that we've got going on because we recognize their importance and so we chose to uh address
this and move this forward. So, just so the public is aware that uh when it comes to prioritizing, we realize the importance of of public participation uh we represent the public in our decisions and our county administrator in her
resume and answering and responding to questions said she likes to make public informed decisions. So, this is substance that proves that. Thank you. >> Support. Okay. >> Madam Chair, just one >> point of clarification. So the
um any comments received at least 24 hours in advance >> are recorded in the meeting minutes in full each one of them. Sometimes there's 10 or 15 just making sure and uh even in verbal have to be translated into
written for the minutes and then when they get published we always do a summary of what's in the full published minutes. Would that still be the same where this would be a you'd have a summary of comments rather than all
published in the newspaper? >> Are you talking about paper posting >> newspaper? That's where we publish. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So would that still be a summary as the rest of the minutes are a summary? >> What would you recommend? A summary. Well, I'm just asking because it's um
>> if you had 25 comments uh five minute comments, you'd be paying thousands of dollars >> to print them. >> If that happen, I'm being ridiculous, but I'm just >> My recommendation is a good point is that that the summary would appear in the publish with reference to the full
uh in the in the minutes >> and they can they can reference that. >> Yeah. So it's not like we're withholding, it's just that we're trying to not spend so much money by publishing verbatim. >> So Madam Chair, just to be clear, so then under the first bullet under
recording and documentation, we would change that to a summary will be recorded in the meeting minutes. >> Well, with reference to the full >> Well, I'm asking whether See, there's two things. There's one the the minutes that are online >> versus what gets published in the paper.
They're right now they're different. So we we put the entire >> So it would be a summary in the published. >> Yeah, that's what I'm asking. >> Suggest in the policy that there be an asterisk to that and then underneath it just say the publication the paper
publication will be a summary. I would just aster it so it isn't >> We can do that. >> Yeah. >> Commissioner. >> Yeah. And I thank you for bringing that up. I meant to um be because I was wondering if it's if it is practical or
best practice to publish all public comments and verbal as well as written. I can see that >> going sideways really fast. >> Yeah. And I'm not even sure if you had 25, but somebody has to translate it right the way it's kind of written
>> even into the regular >> minutes. But if that's what the board wants, they want if there are 25 five minute comments or I don't know what the period is. >> I I'm >> Do you want them in the full >> uh
um what am I saying? Not the >> not the newspaper minutes, but even in the regular. Do you want the full of everything that is said 24 hours in advance in the regular minutes? It would it may dwarf the rest of the minutes, for example.
I'm just asking. >> No. Right. >> I mean, that's what I was that's that was what I was concerned about summary. >> But even even in like the legal minutes, that's what I'm like is this what what is best practice? Is this done elsewhere where
>> a summary >> only summaries is my understanding. So and so is here and spoke. I mean, some sometimes there's a topic included, but um I just see that getting way out of hand immediately.
>> And and I would add for transparency, it is live streamed. So, some boards do not live stream >> and some choose to live stream just the uh the business items and not public comment. Mhm. >> So I would say from a transparency
standpoint because we are live streaming >> anyone who's interested in that part part of the um dialogue can go back and listen to that. So I think either a summary or just identifying the topic and the person that has spoken would be
appropriate. >> Commissioner Gab, >> I would agree. Um it's like in the in the process of drafting these documents if you anticipate everything or whatever then you you're you're thorough but whenever
it comes up you know which it just did now then uh we we have to deal with it and and it goes back to addressing our values. If our values is saying that we want to you be transparent uh but we also need to manage the fiscal
and just the cumbersome nature of verbatim the reference back to the fact that it is live streaming that the video is available. If you want to go back and know the actual word um when you look at a statute you can read the statute with
its its bullet points and then it'll reference the historical context if you want to go back and read all of that. So I I think how do we provide transparency and yet not encumber the process? I would agree that we can reference in the
policy that the the full uh narration is is available here but for da da da purposes it'll be a summary. Yeah. >> Can can what do you mean here? What does here mean? The full will be here. You
mean full on the live stream? >> That's right. Okay. In other words, if you want to go if you want to go back to the full Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No. And that's exactly an example of being clear on what words mean. >> So, if we say we want to be transparent and then all of a sudden, where is it?
>> But but we we're going to be protectors of all the component parts that this policy represents. So I would amend my motion to say that we will clarify that in the policy as to what we mean by
published. >> Um well should we support the amendment? Is that >> if if commissioners are comfortable with that? >> I would support that amendment. >> Okay. And so then I was just I was almost just thinking we should get some
specific language for this bullet point just so >> we're all on the same page. Yeah. >> And so right now it says and what we're looking at is the public comment >> policy. It is under recording. It's the last section recording and
documentation. The first bullet says, "All public comments that have been provided for a specific board meeting received 24 hours in advance of the meeting will be recorded in the meeting minutes." This will include comments that are provided in verbal and written formats. And so, should we say,
>> a summary? >> A summary of all public comments. Is that good enough or is that not good enough? Is that what we want? >> Personally, that's what I would want and I think is reasonable given that we have the live stream.
And and I would say if you're going to say that language in the policy that then you would still asterric it and put down the full >> we the next bullet >> and it maybe shouldn't say may be live streamed will be will be. >> Yeah will be
>> or is live streamed. >> Yep. >> Okay. So the motion is as amended and then we can just read it as as amended >> so we know what we just >> Okay. So what what I'm hearing
Commissioner Mills say that um these comments that are provided verbal and written format will be summarized uh in the comment published in the paper or just >> yeah the what I was going to suggest is just that full first bullet point is
just say a summary of all public comments >> summary >> just so we just preface it with a summary. >> Okay. And then uh the second bullet instead of may comments may be live streamed will be >> will be
>> and uh that could also be challenging at times technology but we do what we can. >> Absolutely. >> I I know there have been instances where that didn't come as it should have. push away.
>> So, we're just like the rest of the world with technology. I do not have a laptop that's working today. So, um, now that I did that aside, I don't know what I was saying, but anyway, I believe, oh, at some point we need to have there was a discussion a couple of
years ago like how long do we pay for >> keep archiving and how many years do we go back >> and then >> we need a policy for that. >> We do have a policy for that. So, the board um approved a policy for that at I
can't remember if it was our last meeting or the meeting before that, but it was our data retention policy. >> How long? >> I would need to look back to see it. Depends on >> It's either three or five years. I can't recall. >> The streaming was excluded from that.
That was something I'd asked directly about because how frequently I reference years and years and years ago >> and do that. >> Yeah. And I believe it was directly referenced. No, this is just for staff's data.
>> I could be wrong. I'm often wrong. >> I will look into that and I will get back to the board. >> Okay. >> But that's uh but this is going back to an earlier discussion what Commissioner White was referencing is uh Rowan directly addressed
>> the streaming um >> expensive. >> It's very the retention there. And so that's something we're going to have to wrestle with. But I I see so much value there being able to go back 10 years and reference what was discussed. That's really powerful
because the minutes I feel like can't can't always capture everything that's going on in the room. >> As long as we own the historical building, I think that's where we storm. >> Yeah, we just do it. We should Yeah, we should take it offline.
>> Put them on tape. Yeah, vinyl. >> Microfish. >> Vinyl is the Oh, yeah. Micro. Yeah. >> Type them up and put them on microfish. >> So, Commissioner Mills, you amended your motion. >> I'm sorry. I Yeah, >> it was it was my motion and I as amended.
>> Amended. As amended. Okay. Do we have that as amended? Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. Good. we have everything there and it'll be tweaked, you know, because this is the first policy that we've put together in these two topics and so but it's good to go over it with
everybody and >> when it gets into action then we'll see. >> Madam Chair, one thing I neglected to state was that this will will be put in the handbook as well, the commissioner's handbook. And so I will work with the county attorney's office on on the updates to that and we'll be working on
those updates um for the election and have it ready by that time as well. >> Okay, >> great. >> Okay, on that um so do you have any other updates for us administrator? >> Oh, we need Oh, we haven't Okay, let's
do that, shall we? Okay, I'm not going to ask for any further comments. Going to ask for a vote. All in favor? I >> oppose. Same sign. Motion passes unanimously. All righty. Updates from the administrator.
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a couple uh brief updates. First of all, and I I think some of our commissioners can speak to this as well. Um, but we had the first um um SGSD meeting yesterday and I was not able to make it as I was
at another meeting with Grand Portage that I'll talk about in a moment, but it was the the kickoff meeting and so they'll be meeting uh monthly as we move forward and figuring out what our steps are with that project. So, just wanted to make sure the community is aware of that. Um the meeting that I was at
yesterday was a meeting with Chairman Desamp, Anna Duchamp, Judge Hanky, and April McCormack. So I met with them um just to talk about staffing changes at the county um and any other um areas of collaboration or concern that needed to
be addressed and we have decided that we're going to start meeting by monthly with that group. And so I look forward to continuing to meet with them and work uh work with all of them as we move forward. So, um, just wanted to make sure the board is aware of that. And the
last update I have is just a construction update for two, um, capital projects, the law enforcement in the center and the transfer station. The law enforcement center, we're finishing up the rough and electrical work, plumbing, and the HVAC and getting ready for
sheetrock. So, that continues to move forward very nicely. Transfer station. Um, the interior concrete is 99% complete. Um, and there's not a lot of interior kind of wrapping up work that needs to happen as it's a transfer
station and so a lot of it just remains as is. And so that work will happen pretty quickly. We still have some exterior work um that needs to happen. And so we'll be finishing the interior finishes and then um continuing the exterior work um but hoping to be done
with that project in the near future. So both um both are moving forward very well. So, those are my updates. >> Okay. Thank you. Moving on to commissioner reports. Uh, any meeting updates? >> Anybody else?
>> Well, I was at the hub yesterday, but >> they're just zooming along and they're exhausting in their enthusiasm and their efforts. >> Okay. >> Commissioner Sullivan. Um, Commissioner White and I were both at the subordinate
governmental service district meeting and uh, it was a really good first meeting. We reviewed the charter, talked about kind of the direction that the group will be taking. Um, looking at uh, times that we will be meeting and um, we're just anxious to get to our June
meeting. >> Okay. >> I also have some other updates. Um, we had our AMC solid waste group and I think the information that Neva shared with us and and uh the vote we took there is very reflective of a lot of the
concerns and efforts that are going on in counties in northeastern Minnesota and throughout the state. Um number of us attended it was Commissioner Gamble and administrator Treble and I the nuts bolts and boardrooms
um presentation by AMC and we spent time with Bruce Kimmel and um Ellers talking about alignment of strategic plan and our um capital improvement plans, how to align resources with our goals, looking
at sustainability and then we also talked about state bonding. Congress, congressionally directed spending and just in general good governance talking about our roles, responsibilities and how we work as a team. But it was a very
very um effective um workshop and I think on Friday the opportunity to that Friday morning go to the Capitol and actually go in the House, go in the Senate and the Supreme Court and talk about the kinds of cases that they're
dealing with and how that kind of backs up to the work that we do um was very valuable. We had our emergency management conference um the first weekend of May and the Minnesota Air Rescue Team came and I want to stress to
the public that our response when we ask the Minnesota Air Rescue Team to come to Cook County is free. We do not pay anything for that service. Um it's a partnership between the Minnesota State Patrol Flight Section and the St. Paul
Fire Department. Um the equipment, the helicopters, the staffing and everything is fantastic. It's very specialized support that we get for search and rescue in really remote and hard-to-reach areas. They would really
love to get more calls to Cook County because they are designed to do the kind of work that we have here. Um so that was really um stressed for those that were in attendance. And um we also looked at the arrowhead
AED um which we accepted and um Commissioner White and I had a chance to actually look at the equipment that will be housed up at the community center outside and I would encourage all of you to go and take a look at it um read the information how to operate it but it's
very simple and um it's amazing how they can keep that equipment um safe out in the weather. So um really happy to have that. We had a two-day boundary waters canoe area collaborative meeting. Um this is done annually and we made
recommendations to the US forest service on changes related to um permitting the reservation system, visitor management, um AIS, fire management. And so later this month there will be some
information that the US Forest Service will put out in response to our recommendations. And I don't share that because it's part of controlled unclassified information. Um there's federal rules about what you can share. And so the US Forest Service will be
sharing our recommendations and their response. But it was a really excellent meeting and in particular I was fascinated by what I learned about fire management. We had an a 4-hour uh field trip, if you will, that took us out to
private, and this is all adjacent land that was private, state, federal, and boundary waters area to see the different kinds of fire management techniques that are allowed in each of those areas. And we looked at it, you
know, years after a burn to see what grew back and what it was like. And it was really incredible and was a very nice um bit of background information to have prior to our soil and water conservation district meeting uh last
week where we um the group approved a prescribed fire act resolution and that knowledge that I had really helped me to understand that solution and how important it was. But that resolution is requesting that our state legislature
standardize training and certification across government and also private entities to enact prescribed burns. Right now we don't have enough people to do what our landscape needs to protect our property. And so um hopefully that
will create a stakebacked insurance fund also for prescribed burn bosses and will put in motion some things that are really needed particularly in northern Minnesota right now. So that was very valuable. Um we had Pad Elias's
retirement gathering last Friday. He had his final sign off on the radio which is kind of a a solemn and respected tradition that uh sheriffs have as they leave. So that was great to participate in. And um
then for tonight, little homework for all of you in the public. WDIO is which is an ABC affiliate out of Duth has a special on workforce housing and they are featuring the heights here in Grand Marray as part of the way that
communities can solve their workforce housing issues. So I would encourage you and the public to all look at that. Is that the one at 6:00? >> That's at 10 p.m. >> Oh, at 10. Oh, we have to stay up. >> Yeah, we got to stay up late. >> Sorry. >> I thought it was 6. That's okay.
>> I'd like to piggyback on what Commissioner Sullivan said about the uh air rescue. Mhm. >> Um they were very emphatic and repetitive in saying even if you think you've got an
emergency where we could help, call us and we will not take offense if we get in the air and you call us back and say false alarm because that's that's what they're there for because they can, as
they said, we can get inland a lot faster than you taking a 12-hour our paddle in to rescue somebody. So, they want to be called and they also reiterate it. The entire tax the
taxpayers of Minnesota pay for it, not specifically Cook County and they will not send us a bill for false alarms. >> That's correct. And um if anybody would like to look at video of that, I have it and we'll be happy to share it after our board meeting. So you can see what a
tiny area they can drop into. So right in front of where we're saded, they can drop in equipment >> um multiple people and um it's just amazing. A little hole in the trees and they can drop down. So very very
skillful operators. Anyone else with meetings? Commissioner Gamble. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I would just uh reiterate that the nuts and bolts uh some excellent presenters and uh it's
it's a great resource. AMC Association of Minnesota Counties are always looking for ways to uh equip uh elected officials, those that uh work on behalf of of county. And uh we had a couple of
those sessions when we just said, "Wow, those people know that what they're talking about." Sometimes you have individuals that are that are tentative that have knowledge and sometimes you have individuals that have both knowledge and lived experience and they are not tentative. They're they are very
>> I know what I'm talking about. And that benefits us because of all of that learned experience. It helps inform us. So that that definitely is a good resource. And you also will get calls from individuals that participated with you from other counties that are that
follow up on on issues that get get addressed. Um, I think that part of the benefit of building in um, value to those that attend those is if if somehow we could summarize some of those things
for the benefit of of staff um, on some of those key things. >> If I may respond to that, Madam Chair, I did send out the PowerPoint presentations. I downloaded them and sent them out to our management advisory team so that they have the resources. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's it's it's great. So,
that's very good. The um I did uh participate. It is a uh a course that I had enrolled in in a year ago which is the um uh effective budgeting and budgeting that matters is what they call
it and um evidence-based and they have a meeting uh every monthly Wednesday and so I participated in that. I think here again the the benefit is just the number of counties across this
country who are are dealing with the financial struggles and the the mandated non-mandated and and uh just how you try to do more with less which we always hear but hearing their stories and um um
being able to discuss these issues is very beneficial. Uh the other thing I think we all probably got a notification that the uh Minnesota legislature passed a significant uh human resource uh funding. So how
that translates into addressing the real issues relative to processes and how information gets input and and dealt with uh remains to be seen. Um, personally I I think it's an allocation both dollars as well as a commitment to
a timeline that doesn't take five years to figure it out that there's others that do it well. Let's learn from them and implement that. Um and then um the public uh health advisory committee uh
are meeting jointly with the mental health uh advisory committee and we'll make a determination uh moving forward whether we want to combine those two committees and I do see some real benefit in in the nature
of the subject matter and the issues that we're dealing with when it comes to wellness overall. So I think that that'll be very beneficial. Um and um all of these committees I I appreciate uh leadership that tries to find out how
we build more substance into what we're doing as opposed to just meetings. So that's good. >> Yeah. And uh I just have one meeting I would uh well before one meeting to update on but uh um there's the um
Takenite Harbor openhouse. um being asked to um share uh information about. And so that is Monday, June 15th, 4 to 7 p.m. at the Schroeder Town Hall.
And then there will be a follow-up EDA presentation at the EDA um meeting uh Tuesday, June 16th, the day after at 4 p.m. our normal EDA um meeting. So that's that. But um if we
go to the EDA's website, I think all of the um TAC Harbor Advisory Committee materials are all up there and you can see and just want to point out this is not a um a master plan. It's more of just a vision and a bubble map and that sort of thing. just um I think the real
value is maybe just in the behind the history and every all the info we can find coming to that and so I think the presentation will will um be be good for that just uh to to see the before and where things could or might go based on
how our community wants to and what options are available out there. Uh, other meeting I just touched on is the food access council and that was a really great meeting and this one um had a different a little bit different slant and um Sarah Waddle was uh kind of led
the charge on an exercise with the group just looking at the different different uh areas um touch points where food access can be. And it was really enlightening to me because, you know, I'm someone who always wants to try to
do it all and we can't do it all, but we can still try to do it all. But what this exercise showed me is um other organizations or other people maybe are not in the same position uh to have the same touch points, you know, as we are
as commissioners. And so to really lean into that um and to try to focus our energy and our efforts where we can have the most impact and uh it it gave me a lot of pause for thought there. Um and I'm sure she has the materials. I
was um doing it off camera so it wasn't quite as good but they did an excellent job of having the in the room folks and then the virtual folks doing their own and then coming together. It was really really well done. So kudos to to Sarah and then Christina too of course for um
holding that meeting and that's all I wanted to update on. >> Okay. Thank you. I did attend a interesting uh emergency management topic Friday and that we're all familiar with 911 >> 988. I did not realize if you're even
having a bad day >> to call and just you know have somebody listen. Obviously, at the other end, if there's some mental issues, they're there to refer you to, especially to perhaps an area that could be more helpful, like to our county, 988 is a
general number, and then they would refer a person here. And we had a presenter from Carlton County, and um for the local staff, too. And it was really enlightening and encouraging because if we know of people who are having a bad day or a meltdown no matter
what age long they can talk >> because we know kids have meltdowns all the time but um yeah it was really very much enlightening for sure. >> Okay thank you everyone. Yes. Yeah, I I just on that that issue in the uh public
health mental uh health u advisory committees we had a presentation from mobile crisis and I believe mobile crisis will be presenting at the next public health. >> So >> that's an organization that's been around lots of years know what they're
doing. So it'll be a good partnership. >> That's what I was wondering is just what your take was but >> Okay. >> Yeah. and and when we look at it, it just saying uh what's our experience been in previous relationships and why it works and why it what it doesn't what
doesn't work. And I think in our previously with Birch Birwood is that uh they're very out of duth they they they're set up to address the issues that they deal with locally and and uh
whereas the uh the other organization that we'll have the presentation on they they deal throughout the state of Minnesota. So they're they're very well experienced in these areas on multiple levels. So
>> it'll be >> good for the board to see that presentation. >> So being this is the month of May, we have Memorial Day and so the courthouse will be closed on Monday, May 25th and then our next boarding board meeting is
the next day on the 26th. So be aware of that. Um, we have uh May staff anniversaries. Uh, Cody Johnson with the highway, one year. Jesse Johnson, land services, two
years. Morgan Starky, sheriff, two years. Ty Beckland, sheriff, three years. Uh, Stephan Dennisy, soil and water, four years. Tia Parks with the highway, four years. Jason
Hughes, sheriff, sheriff, 11 years. Troy M with um maintenance 11 years. Kyle Hberg with the MIS 21 years. Paul Spry, sheriff 24 years. And Darcy Ziller,
sheriff 28 years. And then milestone anniversaries. Elena Hanzel with Soil and Water 15 years. Allison Plameumber with HR 20 years. Will Sandstöm sheriff 25 years. and Rusty Rusty Johnson with
the highway 30 years. Yes, >> Madam Chair, Cody Johnson is actually with land services. So, we've got an error in the agenda there. So, I just wanted to make mention of that. >> I now promote you to the other department. >> Okay. With uh no other business, I will
adjourn our meeting for the day. >> Thank you. >> Thanks everyone. So you were right streaming is not yet included in the policy but that's why I >> is your risk.