Back off again. >> Good morning. Welcome to the county board meeting. Would you please join me for the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence? 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. Roll call. >> Commissioner Coring >> here. >> Commissioner Lupkey >> here. >> Commissioner Barrows >> here. >> Commissioner Franine
>> here. >> Commissioner Lee >> here. Open forum. Um, you'll have three minutes to speak on on the item that is not on the agenda. Kathleen Dyikoff.
Good morning, commissioners. My name is Caitlyn Dyoff and I am a recent resident of Crowing County and I've been here for about a year and a half. I'm an EMT with the Log Ambulance and I am soon to be wife of one of the sheriff's deputies. For legal purposes, I must state that
the views I express today are my own. While I am a servant of this community, I am also the granddaughter of an immigrant. My grandmother arrived to this country under complex circumstances. brought here by my grandfather who served our country overseas and arriving in a place where
she didn't know the systems, the language, or what her future would hold. After her divorce, she worked her way through the long, expensive, and confusing path of citizenship, studying for a test that many of us in this room may not pass.
I remember her sitting at the table, flipping through flashcards, practicing questions about US history and government, determined to earn her place here the right way. and she did. And then she went on to earn her nursing license and spent her life caring for others. In the past few months, I have
felt a fear I would not wish on anyone. I feared for my grandmother, for my father, and my siblings. And while I may appear white in the winter, not everyone in my family does. And I lived with the fear that someone I love could be taken or that I could. And I'm not alone. I
watch my ambulance colleagues wonder whether someone might try to take a patient from our care. I watch small business owners close their doors out of fear. And I've seen people in our community afraid to leave their homes, even for groceries. And these fears are
not unfounded. Over 170 US citizens have been detained this year alone. People have been deported to countries they've never known. Individuals that are here legally with no criminal record are being held, including in our own jail. You've heard about the woman from Apple
Valley who was wrongfully detained in our jail for 2 weeks. And I've read the ISGA agreement. It's for 20 beds specified for men only. And yet she was here with more than 30 detainees. So I ask you, who is paying for the overflow? Who is paying for those held outside of
this agreement? Who will pay for the legal action when it comes? because it likely will. Counties like Freeborn are already being sued by their own taxpayers along with the ACLU. There are hundreds of lawsuits across the country being tied to these agreements costing
taxpayers millions of dollars. The ACLU of Minnesota has stated clearly, "These agreements do not shield you from legal liability." So, who will bear that cost? Us, the local taxpayers? And how long will we allow a federal agency to exceed
what we've agreed upon without accountability or compensation? How long will we let a government organization take advantage of the few resources that we have? At what point do we say enough? And to our sheriff, I ask directly, how long will you allow state and county
laws to be bent or broken before you act? Commissioners, I ask of you for the very least for your constituents to put these agreements for public discussion. >> Your minutes are up. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Jane Breen. >> Good morning, commissioners. My name is Jane Breen. I am a long-term growing county resident. I live on Donaldson Road, unorganized territory. I have a commitment to
um advocate for um people on the margins that can't advocate for themselves. And today that involves the immigrants that live here in our county. Um, I'm here because there's been a partial government shutdown around this issue of
ICE and their unlawful and questionable tactics around how we detain um our immigrants. And so I'm here to, you know, ask three questions of you commissioners to consider in um a
as you're as as you're looking at and this this process of 287G and IGSA agreements unfold here. And I see it as an unfolding there. We can always turn back and do it differently. And and I ask that in my questions. Um it's
suffice it to say that the federal law enforcement um has you know really eroded our trust and and I want trust back here not just federally but on a county level as well. So these three
questions involve uh the data that must be out there somewhere um regarding the numbers of detainees arrested and jailed here in Crowing County um since signing this agreement. Um are there some financials? Are there some numbers in
terms of uh crimes committed by these detainees? specifics around th this agreement and how it impact has impacted our county since this agreement's been signed? If so, can the taxpayers um be informed? Is there transparency is
my question around this? Um, the second question is, uh, has the board, um, taken a good look and considered the Minnesota Attorney General's opinion in December of 2025, stating that county
boards must approve these agreements? Have the uh, board members read this long opinion and discuss this opinion on any on any level, individually or as a board?
um what is our liability um and and why would we not take into consideration what the attorney general is saying it just in terms of the legality. The third question is of the 87 counties
here in the state of Minnesota only seven have signed these agreements. Has the board a individually or as a collective spent any time looking at why such a low percentage and we are are we able to comply with
federal statutes without >> your three minutes are up. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next is Patrick McDermott. Good morning. I'm back again. >> You have three minutes. >> Well, I'm going to change this up a
little. I interviewed one of most of you before about owning and riding an ATV trail and approving an ATV trail on a public uh roadway on Miller Lake Road. And uh you guys said you're going to Mr.
Barrows was going to contact the ATV club. I don't know why, but did the attorney go leave? I want to address her about this because what happened when you guys approved of that
trail behind my house on my cult and created a very safe unsafe condition where they made a 90° turn and they dug 17in deep ruts and my ambulance that picked
me up from a stroke was going to inject my the clot buster vein whatever they do. And uh what they did, they violated the law by creating that dish for the for the
ambulance they hit and the the ambulance's personnel was in back of the ambulance was in putting the injection and they hit the 17in dip and she bounced over the top of me and the needle went straight into my elbow. So
she had to start it all over. And so that created a a very unsafe condition. And the only way you can do get rid of that is take that EP trail off of off of that roadway and put it on the other side of the wetland. And Mr. Lee says we
can't do that because that's uh state land. It doesn't matter. It's the ATV club that's uh maintains that trail. So they can they can they should be able to move it. And if you want a fatality, that's a
good way to create a fatality used by ambulances. My 95year-old mother-in-law next door, she's had several trips into the clinic by ambulance and they keep hitting that thing. You know, you got to wait for somebody to die to take action. I don't
think you should have to. I think it should be rubber stamp. Move the trail. And by putting the trail there and creating that ditch, she violated the law because the law is don't pile snow
on top of a road public roadway. Uh didn't break and probably want to get him involved, but he he knows about roadways and u they violated the law and their former attorney
approved it. Had to approve it. Everybody voted on it. So move the trail. You don't have to eliminate. Just move the trail. >> Thank you, Mr. McDermott. Your three minutes are up. >> That was quick. >> Thank you.
>> I I promise I won't slam the door anymore. >> All right, sounds good. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay, next item. review and approval of the minutes of the March 24th board meeting and the amended meet minutes of
the February 24th board meeting. >> Madam Chair, I make a motion to approve. >> We have a second. >> I'll second it. >> Motion by Commissioner Lubkkey, second by Commissioner Lee. All those in favor?
>> Commissioner Coring. >> I. >> Commissioner Lupkkey, >> I. >> Commissioner Baros, >> I. Commissioner Lee. >> I. >> Commissioner Francine. >> I. Motion carries. Review and approve the agenda. >> No changes. Madam Chair.
>> Can I have a motion? >> Madam Chair, I'll make the motion to approve today's agenda. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Motion by Commissioner Barrow, second by Commissioner Lee. All those in favor? >> Commissioner Barrows. I.
>> Commissioner Lee. I. >> Commissioner Coring. I, >> Commissioner Labkkey. >> I, >> Commissioner Fran. >> I motion carries. Consent agenda. >> There any discussion?
>> Madam Chair, if there's no questions, I would make the motion to approve the consent agenda. >> There a second. >> I will second that, Madam Chair. >> We have a motion by Commissioner Baros, second by Commissioner Lubkkey. All those in favor?
>> Commissioner Lupkey, >> I. Commissioner Barrows. >> I >> Commissioner Lee >> I. >> Commissioner Coring >> I. >> Commissioner Franine. >> I. Motion carries. >> Northland re real reliability project
update. >> You can come up to the table if you'd like. >> Oh, you want me to come to the table? Okay. I also have hard copies of the presentation too if you guys would like them. Uh my name is Brian Hunker. I'm with Great River Energy and I have Cody
Dirks here from JCG Land Services as well as Mike Putney with Minnesota Power back there. Um we're going to provide an overview of the Northland Reliability Project and then we'll get into some specific discussions about uh Crowing County and the project. So the Northland
Reliability Project is a new high voltage transmission line and um it's proposed jointly by Great River Energy and Minnesota Power. Um it's roughly 180 miles long. It extends uh basically from
Grand Rapids, Minnesota down towards um Becker and the Shero area. So we um if you could flip to the next slide please or do I do that? Okay, great. So this is a map of our
project. Um we have started um on the south end of the project uh as shown in green and that is a rebuild of two existing transmission lines that are both roughly 20 m long. One extends from the Shero plant up to the uh existing
Benton County substation. The second line is um a rebuild of our um existing 230 KV line that goes from the new Big Oaks substation that's proposed um under the Alexandria to Big Oaks project. And
uh that also extends up to Benton County substation. Uh Benton County substation is um being expanded into a new substation called Cherry Park. All of that work is uh under construction right now. Phase two of the project extends from
the Cherry Park substation north to the Cailluna series compensation station, which is uh just right outside of Crosby there. And uh work on that line is anticipated to begin this September of 2026.
don't quite know yet if we're going to break out and have one crew starting down at Cherry Park working north or if we're going to have one crew at Cherry Park working north and a second crew starting in the uh what we call the the Crosby Cayilluna area. Within that area,
there's a large amount of existing transmission that is also going to be rebuilt. So some of those rebuilds and realignments may be started here in uh September uh October, so fall of 2026. Phase three of the project is going to
begin in uh 27 and that extends from the Cayilluna area north to the Iron Range substation which is right outside of Grand Rapids. Um the Iron Range substation work is going
to begin there. grading work, civil work this uh summer of 26 and the Cailluna series compensation station work is going to begin there this summer of 2026 as well.
Um just on the the south side of Little Rabbit Lake um there are two existing substations. One is called the Riverton 115 KV sub. The second one is called the Riverton 230 KV sub. That Riverton 115
sub is going to be dismantled and that work is underway right now. And that is that substation is going to be rebuilt within the existing uh Riverton 230 KV sub station. Slide here.
This is a snapshot of our uh Benton County Cherry Park substation. So, uh, in the background there, the existing sub is the Benton County sub. In the foreground is our, uh, Cherry Park substation that's getting built. This is down again near, uh, right outside of
St. Cloud in that Sho area. Um, but this is, uh, kind of a a nice view of what is going to happen in the Cailluna uh, series compensation station area. And um right now we're currently
underway with some of the engineering design finishing up that that services and um much of the real estate work is already in progress. What happens after we get our design
services is we start figuring out our disturbance areas. We work on permitting with um DNR, local, county, and townships as well as we'll begin some of the pre-construction activities, which is staking of the rightway, staking of um
the structure locations as well as installing sediment and erosion control BMPs. And then uh the last step there is the beginning of construction. So staking will probably be in that September time frame. Some of the construction services will begin uh shortly after that in
September, October within uh Crowing County and other areas of phase 2. Our our um easement process is well underway. We are um staking those structure locations, staking of the rightway that allows us
to develop our easement exhibits and then we present those to the land owners and we finalize the easement documents. So within uh once construction starts, some of the common things that people will see will be lighting um on uh
there'll be lighting, some noise, some dust. You'll often see trucks on the on the roads. So that could be any anything from a pickup truck to a 18-wheel semi moving in our structures uh bodies as well as like concrete vehicles.
uh m much of the date, much of the work is going to occur um Monday through Saturday from roughly 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. as well as um they'll see tree removal. And so that would be a cutting of trees and then hauling of the tree um
the trees themselves. You'll see erosion sediment control measures out there as well as matting. We plan to mat the majority of our rideway as well as the work areas and those will be wooden or composite mats. And then there might be some temporary
or lane temporary road closures or lane closures as we're pulling the um the the conductor over a road surface. And then you'll notice signage and traffic management, especially as we have a entrance to our rightway that comes off
of an existing township or county road. So, um I'm going to flip back to that map. Specifically within Crowing County here, you can see roughly that um uh phase two of the project covers, I'll
just say the southern part of the county. Phase three is the northern part of the county. So our series compensation station nearly breaks it in half. So um so that's a that's an important
component and um all of the items that we're going to talk about are going to occur in in two phases again. So the southern part is going to occur in phase two. Northern part is going to occur in phase three. um discussed how construction at Cailluna is going to be starting here
this summer. The Riverton station is already um underway. We are currently working with the land department here for um easements and easement requests. So right now we're going to stake the right ofway that will
provide us the information to develop the easement exhibits as well as we are working with a land appraiser to develment requests um to the county for their review. That process will probably start here in
miday and extend into June. And again, that's only going to be for the phase two portion of it. The phase three will occur uh probably about a year from now. Um and then we'll work with your uh permitting entities for the road crossings as well as um access from like
an existing county road onto the right ofway as well as road use agreements. So, right now we're figuring out uh the exact roads we're going to use, developing maps, and we'll have those um conversations. So that would be for existing roads and then also with your
with your forestry department as well. Um and the last item I just want to discuss is our uh we are looking for layown yards uh within this area. Right now, our focus is on existing gravel pits. And um once we figure out what those
locations are, then we'll come and work with you guys on a um conditional use permit as well as any access or or roads that might be needed into that layown yard. I'll flip to the last slide here. So, we do uh of course want to continue our
project communications. We do have a uh project email set up, a project website, a hotline that anybody can come and take a look at our information on there. We do have an interactive construction map that shows the specific structure sites
and what phase of construction they're in. So whether they're in planning, so they're going to be um developed in the next three weeks, whether their foundation is getting poured, structure is getting um set, or of course line
stringing. We do have plans to uh continue to come and present to the county board as well as um we do have uh periodic newsletters that come out and we have our land rights team that will come and connect with with land owners.
And all that information is is right here as well. So that concludes the presentation. Do are there any questions? >> Madam Chair, >> Madam Chair,
>> you'll be next, Commissioner Carring. >> Um >> Okay. Thank you. >> Not not really a question at this point, but more of a comment. just I would ask that you please just uh commun continue to communicate well with the property owners that um you're working with on
these easements and the sales. Um obviously this is almost all within my district and this is been a an issue of I wouldn't say contention but nervousness and apprehension. So um that would be my ask is that you just
continue to work well with the land owners and keep them in the loop. Absolutely. Yeah. Thank you. >> Okay. Commissioner Coring, >> Madam Chair, thank you. Uh the only thing is is just if you could leave uh
the card of the main contact for this project. So, if I have a constituent, the line goes actually all the way through my district. Uh I'm I'm having a hard time remembering the first fellow that that uh gave uh Commissioner Hogue
and myself a very detailed explanation of the project. I had his direct number, but I want to have a contact person in case I have some constituents call with some concerns. I don't want to have to go through a whole bunch of mumbo jumbo to get get to somebody. I want to have
the main contact person. If you could leave your card with the county administrator, that would be good. and I can get that when I when I return. >> AB: >> Absolutely. We do have two uh contacts
right here as well with their direct email addresses and phone numbers and I'd be happy to leave mine if needed. >> Perfect. >> Any other questions? >> Oh, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Community Services.
>> Thank you very much. >> Morning. >> Morning, Madam Chair. County Board. Uh Cara Terry, community services. >> Tammy Loy, adult services manager. >> All right. I have three items for you today. Um the first is around just making sure. Yes, we're on the same
page. Source. well community impact fund application. So, Crowing County uh community services did submit a tenative grant application to Sourcewell for community impact funds. Um but of course need your approval and a request for board action uh approving that
application. Um funding will be twofold. $100,000 is the request um for a two-part project. The first would be um the implementation of EVA which is an AI enabled secure multilingual ADA
compliant virtual phone assistant that's hosted by TIPco. EVA will provide 247 access to screening uh resource navigation, crisis and service pathways and real time information for Crowing County residents. Um the tool will
reduce after hours barriers, streamline general inquiry calls, support improved referrals, and enhance our data um planning. The grant funding request for this first component is 55,500 of the 100,000. The second component of
this request, and we'll talk more about it in our next agenda item, is to fund a shared min choices assessor position between Crowing County and Aken County. The model um of a shared position will add capacity for the assessors to be able to complete um men choices
assessments more timely to reduce the wait times and ensure individuals who require higher touch assistance receive that timely followup and support. Um the request for uh this position would be 45,500
of the $100,000 that we're requesting from uh Sourcewell. I we can go over the um goals of the men choices shared position with the next agenda item if you would so choose. Um basically commu uh community services would be the
project bleed uh the fiscal host and work through the com procurement and compliance for the EVA piece. Aken County will be responsible for the um full-time position hosting that full-time position um and sharing it.5
with us. So today we're asking for a request for board action to approve community services to apply for source well impact funding in the amount of $100,000. >> Madame Chair. >> Yes, sir.
>> Uh question the are you you're going to apply for the grant. Are you It sounds like you're assured of the grant grants. Yeah. Sometimes you apply for a grant, you don't necessarily get the grant, but are you assured that you're going to get
the grant? That's the first question. >> Well, it's my understanding, commissioner, that the grant has to go through the approval process for Sourcewell. Um, we have talked with uh representatives from Sourcewell regarding this grant application because it was supposed to be turned in. It was
turned in timely, but we were missing the piece on the RBA. So in our discussion with Sourcewell, we let them know that we hope that that RBA will be coming. Um I cannot say for certain that we will get the grant. Um however, we
have a pretty strong grant application. So then madame chair so if you have not been approved for the grant the second portion here the shared position if you don't get the grant I mean if we're if if that's approved
today if you don't get the grant then you can't go forward with that correct >> well um in terms of the other request for board action to approve the shared position with Aken County you I don't I don't know if you want to jump to that, Madam Chair. If you want me to answer
questions. >> Yes, please. >> Specific to that. Okay. So, >> go together. >> The second request for board action is related to the shared position with Aken County. And if we are not approved the Sourcewell grant in the amount of 45,500.
You can see on the third page of our request for board action um that we have savings through the F PML um work or leaves that our staff have
taken. Um so we have additional savings there. Um and we've also been working with temp staff to um complete this work. So, we would have the temp staffing costs to be able to go through this go to this position as well. There
would be no fiscal impact to our budget um with this shared position. Um we do have the monies in our existing budget to pay for it. >> And madam chair, another question. So on going back to the first one, the the the
tool um if you get the grant and you get this tool um obviously to help streamline things. So then what is the ongoing is there ongoing
costs and if there are ongoing costs I would I would assume there's an initial startup cost and then would there be ongoing costs every year then for this particular tool that you're talking about? >> Uh commissioner there will be um ongoing
costs related to the tool. However um this first year will really be a trial run. So, if the um if the tool does not work out for us, if we find that it doesn't make things easier on our um on our clients or your constituents, um we
will not continue with this um with this tool. Um there are other counties that have implemented this tool. Um you may have read about in the paper. Um, so we are one of several that are um implementing and we've been able to get
on board after some of the um kinks have been worked out with other counties. So, um we're asking for this, um dollar amount if um well, we will plan on it being part of our process through the
additional um budget planning, but this uh dollar amount that we're asking for through Sourcewell will give us this trial period to see how things work. >> No further questions, Madam Chair. Thank you. Any other questions,
>> Madam Chair? Excuse me. So, when we spoke about this in in uh budget committee, the temporary position that's currently doing this, h how is that funded now? How has it been funded up to this point?
>> So, within our annual budget, we do have some dollars that we've set aside for temping. And that typically would Yeah. comes from I don't know. I don't want to say exactly where it's made up, but it's within our annual budget right now, those temping dollars. But we are running over. So like in this particular
team, we've had three people out on leave um in the first quarter and we um expended $17,000 approximately. So um but that's already been built into our um approved budget. Uh it's just that we
can't continue to temp because we're that's an area where we're running out of funds. But it also hasn't been very successful. And I think I spoke to that last week about um we we have a lot of churn in that. People that do men choices assessments have to be certified
assessors. So they have to be um go through that certification in their training. And so it's been really difficult. Uh and I would say we've tried that for the last few years. And so it feels like we're just bringing somebody in, getting them used to our system, and then getting um them out there to do assessments. and we're
really just not getting a return on investment in that area. So, I think this position would help us that we'd have an we'd know we have a 0.5. They would be a certified assessor. It's a full-time position for the person that takes the position. They'd be covering two counties and um I think we'd have
more stability and success with this type of shared position with Aken County. >> Okay. And this grant is obviously um a one-time grant. And I'm assuming this 455 that would go to this second component
um is going to cover the first year. The gr the position is a two-year. How do you propose we're going to pay for the second year? >> So the grant that we get through Sourcewell starts July 1st and goes through June or of next year. So it would really allow us to put some of these dollars towards next year if we
are awarded that grant. We know that we have the leave of absence savings this year to help support it this year as we move forward. So we potentially could be dedicating these dollars to that. I don't know about upcoming leaves. I know within this team I have another leave towards fall. So we would potentially
have this happening again in the fall with the potential savings at that time. >> How long have we been using a temp in this position? >> I would say three years. We've been trying to use temps at various times when we've had people either out on leaves or, you know, just as we've been
able to. It's not easy for us to get a temp in this area because it tends to be somebody that maybe either worked for us or worked for someone in this type of position because they have to have that certification. Um, some of them have gone back to school, people that have
andor retired and then they come back and they want to work pretty minimal part-time hours and that's what's made this difficult. And in addition, I'll just um say that we've tried many different um solutions to this issue. Um
we've trained some folks in our housing um team to be able to respond to those requests for assessments that need to occur within 24 hours. So, she's taking some time out of her day and her work with the housing stuff to go to the hospital and um do an assessment. for
example, we've shifted a position from our 65 plus team um because they had a bit of a reduction in the case loads um we've shifted that person to this team. And so we're really trying other um opportunities too to fulfill um this
work. Um but the leaves um with those three folks out on leave, it's been very difficult to to keep up with the with the work. this position, while it's a two-year, will hopefully help us to catch up with our weight list um to get
on top of it and then be able to to move forward um when this position is done. >> Barrows. >> Madam Chair, as most of you know, I sit on the board at Sourcewell. So, to Commissioner Coring's question about funding and
whether we're going to get this or not, Source allocates $500,000 to this fund, if you break it down, it's $100,000 per county depending on their application. I know that your application is very strong. I know you've talked with Nancy,
can't say NY's last name very well, so I won't attempt that. So, I know that that there's the great opportunity. It's probably a 99.9% chance of getting this grant or funding. So, I am not afraid of whether we'll get it or not. I
think there's a, you know, a pretty good chance that we'll get it or very good chance we'll get it. And I will throw my two cents in to Nancy. I know that mental health is a priority for Sourcewell in the 5count area, which I'm very proud of that we're working with
the counties to help mitigate some of the stress that we have in our county. So, um I'm looking forward to this, but I I do think that there's a very small chance that it won't be given to us. So, just want to throw my two cents in
there. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Any other questions? Yes, Madam Chair. Um, what right now if if they don't get through this men choice assessment, those people are waiting for services. >> Yes.
>> That that and how what is that wait time right now? I mean, what what should the you you said 24 hours, so I'm sure if there's an emergency situation, you get them in as as fast you can. What is that wait time and what should that wait time be? How backed up are we >> right now? We're back to October. So,
we're >> What What does that mean? Um so s like yes we have people waiting potentially six months five to six months for these assessments. Um obviously we take the expedites people that have um are in hospitals potentially incarcerated um that are
needing some sort of placement. We're going to make every effort to get that assessment done. That's why we expedite that's why I have members on the team to try to go out and do an um an expedited case or assessment. Um, but it is definitely creating barriers for people
getting needed services. So, if you are currently living in your home and you're looking for additional supports to come into the home, you are not, you know, that's not a priority. And so, we are going to try to get, you know, you'll go in the order that that was received, but um, it would not be expedited. So, if
something happened in my household where I needed to get onto a men choice program and I'd come to you and say, "Gee, I need to get on this because I need some help uh in this area." You'd say, "Well, we'll see you in 6 months." >> Yep. We try to Yep. Really? >> Exactly. >> Okay. >> We tell them where we're at within the
within the wait list. We've been making contacts with individuals. We just did a round of going out and, you know, going and calling all of these individuals just to kind of see where they're at, uh, how they're doing, if we can offer out any other kinds of resources while they wait for that assessment. Um
yeah, and the services that this is, you know, evolves around is um our um all the way down to children up to our older adults, so our over 65 uh that are needing either home and community based waivered services and potentially what
you know as PCA, which is now CFSS. >> Yeah. Another alphabet. So, >> so personal care assistant. Yeah. >> Yeah. That's all I had. Thank you. One last question. Um before we before we brought on temps for this
uh three years ago, how far behind were we then? >> We were not um I wouldn't say we were we were not behind like this. Um we started early that weight list started to grow probably about 3 years ago. Um and I think I talked about this last week too.
just some there's been a new men choices tool that's been put out that took a little time for us to adapt and get the training and get utilizing that and utilizing it effectively. Um and then I would say some of the leaves and turnover in the staff and then CFSS this
PCA to CFSS I think um there's kind of another step in that process now and so we have to do the assessment it goes out to a consultation company comes back in we touch it again so there's been some increased time that it takes for us to complete some of this work and I think
we are improving I mean definitely that tool now has been around for a couple of years and so I think um that is assisting where our numbers are back up where you know we want them to be for our assessors. All the assessors have if they're doing new assessments we're requesting that they complete at least
10 assessments a month. If they're doing reassessments um that's 15 to 16 very um comparable to other counties. We go out and we look at what other counties are doing and we're right in with where the other counties are at with this as well. I think last week I was also asked if
other counties are experiencing this and they are and I did speak to a few counties that are also experiencing this and uh just like we are for sure metro counties but also counties kind of similar in size to us. >> Madam Chair, one one more thing. These
are mandated services, correct? The state and the feds are telling us we have to do this. >> Correct. They are mandated services and we are currently not meeting the um required timeline >> and they can change requirements at any time which adds potentially another
burden onto our staff without any kind of reimbursement. Madam Chair, if there's no other questions, I would make the motion to approve the community services request to apply for the Sourcewell community impact funding in the amount of $100,000.
Madam Chair, I'll second that motion. Okay, >> we have a motion by Commissioner Barrow, second from Commissioner Lubkey. All those in favor. >> Commissioner Coring >> I. >> Commissioner Lubkkey >> I. >> Commissioner Barrow >> I.
>> Commissioner Lee >> I. >> Commissioner Franine >> I. Motion carries. >> All right. Next agenda item is the community services shared position with Aken County. Um not sure how much more you want us to go into uh detail with
this position. I will note that the shared position agreement is currently with the county attorney for her review and she's talking to the Aken County attorney. So they're working through the legal ease of the uh agreement should we choose to pursue this option.
>> Any questions? >> Madame Chair, if there are no other questions, I would make the motion. >> We have I'm sorry. It's okay. Uh, not a question, just a comment. This this concerns me a little bit. Um,
I'm going to support it, but I want to make sure that we are very very diligent about monitoring its success or failure. I don't believe that this hangup is on our staff. This is, as we've talked
about in budget committee, this is based off the state's new requirements and ultimately we have to pay the price for it. Granted, there's this is going to be grant money coming in, but if that grant money dries up and we're left holding
the bag, I'm not going to support it in the future. So, >> Madame Chair, that is loud. Um, to Commissioner Lee's point, perhaps there's an opportunity for your team to bring back updates on how the weight list is being cleared,
what the time frames have been perhaps every few months to give you an idea of what the success of the position is as well as the hours that are being spent and verifying that information for the board. >> We can certainly do that. We will be coming to the committee of the hold to talk about the LTSS work that Morgan um
has been doing with the state. And so at that time uh we can provide an update. Hopefully we'll Akin will have the position hired by then. Um not that we'll see a huge impact to our weight list by that time, but we'll certainly be bringing information forward on that as well as all the LTSS
stuff for your review. >> What does that mean? What What is that acronym? >> Long-term services and supports. Yes. LTSS. Yeah. >> Uh yeah. So it's the group that's been um working um Morgan Altos is a part of
that um with AMC Maxa and the DHS to look at ways that we can reduce um the timelines the budget in this area for the state and um so trying to come up with uh those key ways that we can maybe
make some of those changes because that it's continuing to be a very daunting process for consumers and even you know and for our staff as well. And this shared position is only if we get the sourceville grant.
>> So we do have savings that are from the leave um the leaves that we have experienced. If you look at the third page of the our uh request for board action, you can see that right now the adult team has personnel savings were
under budget by $43,637. And all social services salaries are under budget by $102,152. This was as of last week. And those are in regard to the um leave of absences and the vacancies that we've had. So, we have the funding to cover within our
budget if we do if we're not um allowed the grant. >> Okay. Um not only do I want to know how how much work is being done, I want to know where the money stands. >> Okay. Sure. >> So, if we can somehow put that into the
>> Any other questions? >> Madame Chair. >> Yes. >> Madam Chair. >> Yes. Madam, Madam Chair, if somehow uh Cara, if you could provide, you know, you talk about this weight list and somebody's been waiting six months. Um I don't know
if there's HIPPA laws or or something has to be redacted, but if I could see this list, uh not that I don't trust you, I just have to verify. Um I think it's my job as oversight to
make sure that this list exists and how many people are on it at least if you can provide me with some of that information that would be great. >> We sure can, Commissioner. And if you'd like some of the stories behind the people, too. Sometimes the weight list
doesn't say everything about um what it is that the folks are needing. So, if you want more information too, we're happy to come and share uh more about it, too. There are um rules around data practices and uh HIPPA and all of that stuff. Um, so we wouldn't be able to
share it publicly. Um, but we'd be able to share some information with you as a board >> and please share it with all of us. Okay. >> Madame Chair, if there's no other questions or concerns, I would make the motion to approve the shared position between Crowing County Community
Services and Aken County Social Services, subject to review by the county attorneys. We have a motion. Is there a second? >> Madam Chair, I'll second that motion. Okay. >> We have a motion by Commissioner Barrow, second by Commissioner Lubkkey. All
those in favor? >> Commissioner Lee, >> I. >> Commissioner Coring, >> no. >> Commissioner Lubkkey, >> I. >> Commissioner Barrows, >> I. >> Commissioner Franzine, >> I. Motion carries.
>> Thank you, Commissioners. The final um item I have for you today is a request for opioid funding. Our Blade Coalition uh steering committee met last week to discuss. We received a funding request from the Peekquat Lakes High School grad blast committee to support their grad
blast event. They didn't um ask for a specific dollar amount. However, they did note that they have 160 students who will be graduating. As I mentioned, the steering committee met on uh April 8th to discuss this request and improved an allocation of $200 for each school
district or high school in Crowing County who provide grad blasts or similar graduation activities. Um so we're asking today for support um for $200 um for each of the participating Crowing County high schools to fund um
something to do with their grad blast parties. This could include Brainard, ISD 181, Cross Lake, Crosby, Iron, Peekquat, Lakes Region. We weren't sure if we were missing other schools in there, but those were the folks that the list that we came up with. And then I'd
also like to share uh Commissioner Coring, you often talk about prevention efforts being used. So, we see this $200 per school as a prevention effort promoting um blade and making healthy choices, but also we're doing a number of other preventative efforts within the
school. Um, April 8th we were at the BHS Warrior Day, the BUB Extraordinary. Um, we participated in that. Um, April 3rd, Peekquat Lake staff development at their school. We did a presentation on cannabis andratom and the impacts for
that. Uh, we will be at the CLC health fair on the 15th, community focus on the 16th. There will be an article in the dispatch related to healthy choices and um, blade on the 15th. We are hosting also a drug takeback day on April 25th
at Super 1 in Brainer from 10 until 2. Uh we're doing this with um Brainer PD. And we've had interest from other police departments wanting to expand within their uh areas um specifically Baxter and then um some of the northern towns
in Crowing County as well. We're thinking of providing a trophy for those um police departments that collect the most. Um but we'll see. We we'll see. Um we will also be at the Arboritum for ARB day on May 2nd for proper disposal of
vapes and the dangers with that. And then finally, we are in partnership um with a couple local providers within the community for the recovery summit that will be held on June 30th at the Gitchzib. And a couple of our
commissioners will hopefully be there to speak. Commissioners Love Key and Barrows Basically, we ask for your um approval to allow $200 per high school grad blast party. >> Madam Chair, if there's no questions, I would
>> No questions. >> Madam Chair, >> you got to be a little quicker with your >> I was just waiting for Commissioner Coring, but he didn't jump in. So So are we is there going to be a blade representative at these schools? Is
there anything in uh program involved with grad blast while this is going on? >> For the grad blast parties specifically, we have not discussed that we would have a physical presence there, but we would be um allocating the dollars. We have I
my keychain is in my backpack, but we have some pretty cool keychains with Blade um on there. So, we would provide that and then utilizing our um logo and any literature that we could share or put in maybe a grad blast information
bag. Um we would do that as well. I don't know that we would have persons there from blade at the grad blast. >> Okay. So, you're you're I guess take on this is that this meets the criteria as being preventative
somehow. Is that right? So promotional number one to get the word out on Blade and what we do, but also the information that we share is around vape dangers for example. And so sharing that information um within the packets for the students
um we feel is um preventative in getting some of that information out there. >> Madam Chair, if I might, it's interesting that you asked that question. It is part of the education process to address with the high school seniors. And we didn't at the steering
committee talk about having a presence at these grad parties. I'll just throw this out there. Maybe next year we'll have each of us commissioners attend one of these as the representative for the blade effort.
>> I'll smile while I say that. Please do. So I don't want to commit any of you but >> well I think we can definitely take that back to our group and I mean like you said it did come up and >> you do serve on the steering committee so you can bring that request forward. >> The reason why I bring that up is I have
been involved with grad blasts and I've been a donor for grad blast for many years and I don't think this kind of meets our criteria so I don't think I'm going to be in support of it. It's a great program. Um, but it's for the
kids. It's more of a end of year party and end of high school party and I don't I don't see the connection that would make this a benefit for the program and for the uh blade dollars. So, >> as a steering committee member, Madam
Chair, I I would say that, you know, this is one of those evenings where it's important that we remind them to make good choices. A lot of times it's an evening when they don't make good choices and I just I think we have to make the effort to encourage them to make those better
choices in their life. So >> and I agree with that. That's why I asked >> Yeah, that's why I asked the question is going to do that. >> I think anything that puts something out in front of him is better than nothing is what I think. So that would be my
reason for supporting this >> and that's why I asked the question about you know if we would have representatives there for this that you know I there's a lot of speakers that are part of um the programs that have been in front of us before that have
outstanding uh what's looking for testimonials about their recovery. I think something like that would be great to have a person like that at Grad Blast, but just to give them $200 for their party is not to me meeting the criteria. So, if we do that in the
future, I may get behind it. >> Madam Chair, if there's no other concerns, I would make a motion to approve opiate funding in the amount of $200 for supporting grad blast parties at local Crowing County high schools.
Madam Chair, I'll definitely make a second on that. >> Okay. Motion by Commissioner Barrow, second by Commissioner Lubkkey. All those in favor? >> Commissioner Barrows? >> I. >> Commissioner Lee, >> no. >> Commissioner Coring,
>> no. >> Commissioner Lovekkey, >> I Commissioner Franine? >> No. Motion fails. >> Thank you. County engineer. Madam Chair and commissioners, I'm Tim Bra, county engineer, and today I have
before you our annual uh consideration of the five-year highway improvement plan. This is a followup to our last TAC meeting, our quarter one TAC meeting that was held on March 3rd where
we spent several hours talking about uh the highway department and this program that I'll I'll walk through. >> Excuse me. >> The summary, please. I do have the full so in the board packet I did for the public's consumption to make sure that
they see the whole 52page document but I don't believe that uh we need to go through the 52page document. >> We've already gone through it >> and you have and we did we I think the slide deck at the transportation advisory committee meeting was about a
100 slides or so. So, but for the public's consumption, the full copy is on uh in the board packet. Here's the cover page. It's our CASA one uh paving that we did this last year.
Let's see. Do I have control of this? I start with a overall summary of the funding and then some of the other metrics behind this or some numbers. Uh the plan, and I'll show you the map in just a second, um encompasses just about $80 million worth of total investment.
That's actual construction, the engineering behind it, and some of the other things that it does include some of the partnerships that we have and the dollars that they contribute to some of these projects. Broken down further, it's about $8 million worth of federal funding that we've gotten through grants. Um
some block grants that are available every year and others are specialty grants. $28 million worth of county state aid funding. This is the gas tax, the little portion that Crowing County gets for uh from the gas tax that we all pay and
license fees and some of those other things that go into the highway user tax distribution fund. And I want to note the fourth bullet there. Crowing County levy zero. This is the first time that's been zero and we've been really working hard
to do some leveraging to make sure we're maximizing the local options sales tax and I think we're on the 14th year of a zero or negative levy at the road and bridge levy at the highway department. We're hoping to uh put
together a proposal where that will change and we'll see some increases this year, but none of the money is going into the construction or engineering from the property tax levy, which is uh 2 million. So, the good news is we're
leveraging and maximizing these outside sources and you can see the the amount of work we're we're doing. The next one is uh the investment in the first assessment district which is 2.8 million. This year we have a huge program six miles for a township. That's
extraordinarily large. And then the local option sales tax which is our largest uh source now. uh total expenditures of 34 million and then some bridge bonding and then that partnership at 4.3 million is the
contributions by local communities um that latch on to our projects and to realize some economy of scale sailings. There's some of the grant passroughs that are in there too. So a good amount of local money is coming through us also. And the plan
encompasses about 133 miles of total surface improvements. And that's broken down there uh through the different types of systems. And the last one there is 64 miles funded either fully or partially by the local option sales tax.
So those are the roads that would likely not be able to do if the board had not passed the the local option sales tax back in 2015. And we've done a lot of work with that. Very important. Includes the the whole five years includes the
installation of four roundabouts, six bridge replacements, and three bridge rehabs. So, a lot of work going on. Here is a graphical summary of that colorcoded by year. Um, lots of color, lots of good
distribution uh amongst the districts. Um, and here's even a further summary by year. The amount of mileage this year is one of the largest years we've had ever. 39 miles of uh resurfacing including
that pavement quality and one of the reasons why the board wanted to pass the local option sales tax to be able to attack that. Back then, we were deferring 150 miles per year. We we knew they were bad, but we didn't have the money. So every year it was we weren't getting
into getting to the roadways to get them improved. Um and then it is broken down by other years. I will note that in 2030 it's the out what I call the outyear. It's the last year of this planning cycle. That
is low right now, but as we as we progress towards that over the years, we'll have more grant opportunities. we'll have a better sight picture of the scoping needed and some of the pavement needs then I expect that to grow. So it
is low but that will change over time just like the the 39 miles when it first got into the program 5 years ago might have been really low too and it has gotten to the point where those funding sources and the scopes are in place to increase that mileage.
The next uh Whoops. The next slide, we always try to provide a summary of changes. Um, and this go kind of goes back to the promise that we we all make to the public when we put it in the five-year plan or you put it in the five-year plan. It's a promise to the public and we've been delivering on
that for years and years. And we want to make sure we when we promise it here and if it's adopted today that that is built in the year that was promised or sooner and uh some of the significant so I
always try to track it here how is there any movement and by how much there are a number of minor changes on here there's a couple significant one fairly significant ones and we did talk about these at the TAC the first one is in 2027 seven program.
So, next year's program, we've been working with uh Eagle View Elementary School up in Commissioner Lupkey's district. We've uh formed a partnership with the two cities in the township and we've landed on a interim solution for
some of their congestion problems there. We had some savings uh in some of our construction projects this year in bidding and we were able to introduce a $200,000 interim solution instead of a $2 million roundabout
solution. So we're going to try this $200,000. Hopefully that that fixes the problem or makes it better instead of going to the larger roundabout later. So, that was something that was inserted that was that has never been seen before except for at the TAC meeting and we we
talked about it there. Um, in 2028 is down in here. Uh earlier this year or actually last year, we had uh met with Mindot and Mindot had a community
meeting in Deerwood talking about the improvement of trunk highway 6 and 210 in the vicinity of the junction of the Deerwood cutoff between then and now. they are introducing the concept of installing a
roundabout and so that would increase our cost participation. The previous project did not have as much or any cost participation from the county. So, uh the potential of that roundabout that they're continuing to develop right at
the intersection of 6210 and the Dearwood Cutoff. If you think about Holiday Gas station and there's another business there and to the south the railroad that's the location what we're talking about. So we introduced uh a concept of increased cost participation
in 2028 for that. And the other significant change is down at the bottom and this is a delay. Um back in last year and even in previous years we've been talking about working
with MDOT to improve the intersection of CASA 30 and trunk highway 6. This is the southerntherly connection, the south connection south of the Bridge Tavern bridge on Highway 6. We've been working closely with them on those both the
north and south intersection. We are well on our way to delivering it. Our design team is starting to work on the roundabout on the north side. We have not secured the funding with Mandot yet and locked in a year. We're prepared to
deliver it in in 20 uh 29, but it is a partnership. It is certainly a trunk highway. It's the intersection of two Cassar roads. So, we need the two funding sources to line up. So, it will cause a delay officially on paper. We're continuing to try to move it up and get
our resources aligned to still meet 2029, but it is a a delay, not through our anything that we've done wrong. It's just a a timing of the finances. Those are the significant changes. Other ones are just minor things.
And then I just break it down year by year. I don't want to spend too much time in there just a little more detail. Um beyond this year, 2026, very robust year. 39 miles of resurfacing or reconstruction. We've already started Mapleton Road, County Road 170 is
underway. Uh within the next couple weeks, we're going to be talking about taking the pavement off already and start really getting into it. It's um fairly early construction season, which is good, early beginning, early start or early finish. So
um so there's a list there. We got two two bridges. One of them is in uh coordination with a township Leisure Lane and then also the rabbit rabbit lake narrows bridge north of Cailluna is going
and then of course we are a partner with MDOT's project on Washington Street. We will have some cost participation at the intersection of Mill Avenue and 210 where a roundabout will be installed. And then in 2027, I won't dive into each one of these in detail, but you can see
that again good distribution. Our part of our backbone of our county road system, county road 3 is going to see a major um surface improvement there. And then some other projects
28 29. Again, the detail of this is on the full version that for those who are watching in the full packet, these details are are included in there as well. And here's 2030, which is that out year. It's very light, but we expect
over time as we understand the funding sources and the scopes of other projects that this will grow. One thing I do want to note here is that for several years we have been um specifically
setting aside money for the Mill Avenue bridge. We knew that that it is a big expenditure and in 2020 2030 we will be doing a rehab on that bridge. It's still not at a point where it's going to be a a replacement that is
millions, you know, probably over 10 million or so dollars. So, we're still saving for that. We did a study a few years ago that recommended a rehab first and then after that just let it go to the point where it needs to be reconstructed. So, just want to talk
about that because we've been saving some money for that specifically for that project. Uh here is a summary of what we did in the last five years. So if you combine that with what I showed before, this is what the local option sales tax
and uh our state aid dollars really has done and it's made a significant impact on the roadway conditions in Crowing County. And people notice like we get a lot of comments about how well our system is. and we always track the right quality in
it. So, we're measuring every year to that roughness and we're helping in the decision process to bring forward to you which one should be in the program uh in the coming five years. Here I always give a status of where we
are compared to what we thought we were going to get to when when the local option sales tax was adopted. That's we are on track. Um there is a it does start. So just to orientated the black line is what we thought we would get in
terms of system def mileage deferments and up till about in 2027 it looks it's going to diverge a little bit from that goal but again we feel that they were going to get more mileage in those out years and we'll come back towards the goal. I think we are right on track even
though it looks like a little above the line but those are a couple years out. we still have some things to discover in terms of getting projects in the program. Um include this year graveling. So this year we're going to gravel portions of 132
uh and other southern gravel road systems. And we're on a five-year cycle for all of those. And then of course the first assessment district kind of the same thing. Very robust program in the fad this year six miles. It includes Birchdale, Sinam,
Executive Acres and also includes a partnership with Center Township to take on the east side of that. So they will be resurfacing their portion as well all the way back towards as far as it goes towards the river. And here's a breakdown of the mileage.
And here's what we've done over the last five years. Again, uh lots of work in the first assessment district. Just a reminder, it is not uh local option sales tax is not available for the township level roads. The things that pay for these or the gas tax that they
get a very minimal amount combined with their road and bridge levy. So, still restricted on funding in in terms of compared to the county, but still doing a lot compared to other townships, I would say.
And we do look at the ride quality too to help the decision- making process and which ones need to be done. And then there's a graveling plan. There's only four miles of official or four or five miles worth of official gravel in the first assessment district. And we're on here's our plan for that
over the next five years. And the second assessment district we're on I think every five years their whole system is done. And the next uh plan is to do it in 2029. So several several years out. This is a large expenditure for them and they have a low road and
bridge levy that that forces them to save up to be able to do this. And so 2029 is the soon is the next round. And then the local option sales tax just broken out that mileage I talked about earlier. This encompasses that for the
next five years. and what we've done over the last five years with the local option sales tax, the roads that likely would not have been able to do if the local option sales tax stock was not in place. Uh bridge priority list I mentioned
there are six bridges. This is this represents this map represents the bridge priority list that you approved a few meetings ago and it's an important milestone to make sure that these bridges within Crowing County either on the township level or at uh the county
level are eligible for state and federal funding sources. They have to be endorsed by the board to be a priority. That's all I have today. I' I'd be happy to answer any questions. Um, chair. >> Madam Chair. Oops. >> Right ahead. >> Thank you. >> I was trying to jump.
>> Um, Tim, um, there was a I don't know if it was a year ago or so, we put some money towards, uh, some, uh, work to be done on 29, 107, and 371. >> Yes. >> Now, I just came by it today on my way to work and and I could see cars on both
sides on 29 and 107 looking at trying to get across that I mean, gauntlet there. And I just didn't know. I see it's not on this plan at all. I didn't see it in there. Um, do you know if if it does come up, can we insert that in there because that is, you know, that has had
a few fatalities up there and stuff. So, >> did I commissioner Loki? I believe it should be in there and maybe that it's led by Menot and so we didn't get it on our list, but I know that they have >> landed on a preferred alternative. They
had some public meetings in in this that you and I attended. >> I believe it's 27 or 28. They're committed to the funds and they are going to do it. >> Uh >> I mean we still have a we have a a part to play in that, don't we? Or is that all state? >> I think it'll be minimal cost share from
the county because many of the the improvements that they are had landed on are within the the mindot rightway. So maybe that's why it doesn't include it here. There's no cost share, but it is definitely happening. >> 27 28. I know that those that are
interested in it can go to the mind. District 3 website. I know they have a specific page for that that talks about it. >> And I think even at the TAC, I I shared uh some of the graphics associated with that. At that MIDOT site, you can find those. It's definitely coming. >> I just want to make sure that make aware
of it that it wasn't in there. Uh the other thing is is I remember when was the the uh um tax first put in the I shouldn't say tax, the user tax, the local option sales tax. What year was that when that was put in? Was that 20? The first time
>> it was adopted by the board in late 2015 and then it takes about 3 months to get set up and get normalized. And the first time that it was implemented was I believe April 1st, the the second quarter of 2016. And we've been I
remember I as a I was serving as mayor at that time and I remember coming down and speaking towards it because I didn't see any other way that the county could even get anything done with the amount of that was going into the normal levy. I mean right now if you look at it even if you say the local option sales tax I
think at the time when they were doing it I can't remember it was 40 60 or what the split was between the the taxpayers who live in Crowing County versus our our guests and neighbors that come in and use you know come into Crowing County and and buy. But it was you know
so there's like $17 million you know that we're looking at that would come in from outside that that if we put it on our levy would just blow our levy right out of the water. So, I really appreciate the fact that we're doing it and I think it's a great great tool in our toolbox to get these roads done. So,
thank you. >> It has been a great tool and that number that I shared before is that the property tax levy that goes to the highway department is we're we're not spending it on the roads because we have all these other sources. And if we didn't have that source, that number
would be high and uh certainly higher than it is. But along the way, every every year of that 14 years, we would have had to come and ask for a levy increase. And so instead of two million or 1.9 million where we're at right now, I would anticipate that we'd be at
three, four, 5 million have at least requested and still not have gotten to the point of what we've been able to deliver over the last 15 years or so or not not that long, 12 years. >> That's all I have. Thank you, >> Madam Chair.
You uh made mention of the highway 6 roundabout at County Road 30. How about Highway 6 and 11? Is that coordinating with our plan for County Road 11? >> Yes, County Road 11 is uh in the works.
Uh just a reminder, we have already partnered and secured the funds with Mandot. Our design team has been collaborating with the Mindot design team. they've landed on a a roundabout has always been the alternative. Um they
did some of the preliminary work. Now they've turned those that preliminary work over they they've gotten a layout approved by high downtown MINDOT I would say uh the central office and now they've turned that layout over to us that has been approved to our design
team which in Crowing County designers will be actually doing the plans. Um so that's well underway. We're not sure if that's going to work out the same way for for the next one at uh Cass 30 on the south side of the bridge, but we're well underway. Our project manager
Jordan is doing a great job with that coordinating with the Mandot project managers, >> but that will happen at the same time that our 11 project happens or is it going to be a year later now? >> Excuse me. >> The the actual intersection then of 6 and 11
>> 6 and 11 is scheduled for 28 20 >> 28. Okay, that's that was where my question was is at one time we were talking about that being sooner than that. So, okay, thanks. That's all I've got. >> Any more questions?
>> Can I have a motion? >> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the uh 26 through 2030 highway improvement plan. >> I'll second it. >> Motion by Commissioner Lubkkey, second by Commissioner Lee. All those in favor? >> Commissioner Lubkkey?
>> I. Commissioner Barrows. >> Hi, >> Commissioner Lee. >> Hi, >> Commissioner Coring. >> I, >> Commissioner Franzine. >> I motion carries. Thank you. >> Thank you, Tim. Thank you. Okay.
Want us to wait? >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Madam J. >> Continue on. She said, "Go ahead." >> Okay. Uh, commissioners, good morning. Uh, Chief Deputy Andy Bradley here with Fleet Manager Joe Lux. Uh we have before
you today a request from the sheriff for a budget amendment uh to purchase two vehicles that was not on our 2026 budget plan. Uh recently we came into uh some unanticipated funds from the federal government here two weeks ago to help
offset the cost of these two vehicles. Uh namely the first vehicle is a 2001 GMC Savannah van that we use for transport vehicle. This vehicle is uh turned into a mechanical issue. It's uh
consistently breaking down more so than we're utilizing it. So, we'd like to replace it. It was slated to be replaced in 2028 for 93,500. Uh we would like to replace it now utilizing these federal funds that we received recently. And we'd also like to purchase a second or the second vehicle
as a squad car as a spare vehicle to help us utilize uh the speed in which we can get a new squad car on the road when we have vehicles that get damaged and taken out of service. Uh the last year or so we've had several vehicles damaged
u while they were in use. Uh I think last year we had three vehicles that were totaled and the time frame it takes to replace those squad cars up to 10 months. As you know, currently we are still uh working through a squad car that I was involved in an accident that
was totaled out last September and we just recently we're that that vehicle is now ready for the road that was 7 months later. So, we're trying to speed up that timeline of getting vehicles back for our police officers that are working the street and not have to put them in vehicles that uh are a risk for them to
be operating at high speeds. Uh today I request uh the board's approval to uh amend the budget for the sheriff's department 2026 to add these two vehicles to our fleet >> question. Have a motion.
>> I'll make a motion. >> Madam Chair, I would move to I would second that. >> I like that. >> Motion by Commissioner Lee, second by Commissioner Coring. All those in favor? >> Commissioner Coring
>> I. >> Commissioner Lupkey >> I. >> Commissioner Barrows >> I. >> Commissioner Lee >> I. >> Commissioner Franine >> I. Motion carries. Thank you. >> Thank you. You >> the county attorney online. >> Hey county attorney.
Good morning, Madame Chair, commissioners. I don't have anything for you this morning, but I'd be happy to answer any questions anyone has of me. >> Any questions? Thank you. >> County administrator.
>> Thank you, >> Madam Chair. Commissioners, I only have one item for you today. Uh, senior management team update. We did meet yesterday and we heard some updates from our continuous improvement team on several projects that they have been working on as well as some of the upcoming plans that they have for how
the team will be assigning new projects to team members to make sure that all members are able to employ the tools that they are learning so that they can flex those muscles once they have gone through the training to become green belts and black belts and that will in
turn benefit the organization as well. We also reviewed a process to document grants on our website. There was a law change that occurred uh for any grants that are received after January 14th of 2026. There has to be a listing on our
website of those grants. And we are discussing how to provide that information in the most efficient process without it taking up a whole lot of extra staff time to make that happen. So hopefully within the next couple of weeks, you'll start to see that list be
made available on our website there. And then finally, we discussed a new ongoing community endeavor as far as to tell our story. If you recall a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that we had had conversations about how do we get the message of Crowing County out in the
community. One of those ways is that um Jory has worked with our local the center with the executive director of the center here in Brainer to set up a monthly Crowing County coffee chat, if you will. Um so we will have folks that
will be going over the first Wednesday of each month to kind of talk about just different topics of things that are happening at Crowing County and a way to help get that message out in the community. So that's one of our first endeavors that we'll be going down that path. That is all I have for you today, but
I'd be happy to answer any questions if you have some for me. >> Any questions? Thank you. Additional business, Madam Chair. If nobody else has additional business, I do as normal. Um,
April 12th through the 18th is public safety dispatch recognition week. I want to acknowledge them and the great job that they do. They are behind the scenes. We don't see them, but they really are the glue that keeps the communication process going in
emergencies. Um, I would encourage each of us commissioners to go on to SharePoint. There's an opportunity to recognize them there. I think that that's welld deserved by that group. Uh, the second thing I have is that I want to announce that it's been a privilege to have served as the county
commissioner for District 3 and Crowing County as a whole. And having said that, I am officially announcing that I will not seek a third term. Thank you very much. And with that, I would make a motion to adjurnn. >> There second.
>> There a second. >> I'll second it. >> Motion by Commissioner Barrow, second by Commissioner Lee. All those in favor? >> Commissioner Lee >> I. >> Commissioner Coring. I >> Commissioner Barrows. >> Hi,
>> Commissioner Lubkkey. >> Hi, >> Commissioner Franzine. >> Hi.