##VIDEO ID:p4-ve_gULSA## behind [Music] okay Mr chair thank you it is 5:00 I guess 5:01 um calling the croing County Board of Commissioners regular meeting to order um roll call I think first uh pledge firstedge pledge first okay Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence please rise United States of America and to the rep for it stands one nation God indivisible with liy and justice for all now roll call commissioner coring I'm here commissioner Ley here commissioner barrows is absent commissioner franzine commissioner hog here um this is time for open form this is for things that are not on the agenda that somebody would like to speak for do we have anything at this time we do not anybody online I don't see anybody other than Paul nope so we will go a dispense I think with the open form and go right on to the review and approve the minutes for the 11:26 regular board meeting we have a motion by franzine second second by hog roll call commissioner coring I commissioner franzine commissioner hog I commissioner Ley I motion carried uh review review and approve the agenda any additions or deletions Mr chair under Community Services number seven we're removing number 7.2 is that correct Taylor one for Garrison is being removed yeah so we're removing 7.2 off the agenda but no other changes beyond that okay do I have a motion second motion by franzine second by hog roll call commissioner franzine commissioner hog hi commissioner coring I commissioner lekey I motion carried consent agenda Mr chairman yes could I have is there anybody for an explanation about the auto State travel in 5.9 could I just have a brief explanation you know I'm not a big fan of outstate travel I just want to know what it is if they're going to go get trained and bring that training back here can I have just a brief explanation if there's anybody yep there's somebody coming up hi commissioner Corin Bethany imren Public Health supervisor this is approval for uh myself and the emergency preparedness coordinator the health educator that's underneath me to attend the preparedness Summit which is a summit in which they'll be talking about um specifically themes and Pathways of recovery after disasters so in discussion of recovery um for our programs which is part of our grant duties and requirements so it's a training opportunity uh we'll both be attending myself in regards to um being able to attend breakouts that discuss you know policies and improvements that happen on on that side of things and then she'll be in attendance and response to like best practices okay sounds good thanks that's all I needed Mr chairman motion to approve the consent agenda motion by coring second by Fran Zen all in favor roll call commissioner hog I commissioner coring I commiss franzine commissioner ly I motion carried uh we are right at the we're at 504 I guess we have a public hearing coming up at :05 I think we just have to wait that one oh it is 505 okay good evening Mr chair Commissioners Chris Pence environmental services manager for uh the land service department uh we're having a public hearing tonight to repeal some obsolete County ordinances uh one of the I've identified over the last year just some ordinances that really are no longer pertinent that we no longer have to really keep on the books and so I can kind of go down the list um addressing and sign is now addressed in the county of land use ordinance uh environmental review uh that is now handled in Minnesota rules 4410 uh so we don't need to have an ordinance for that filing of surveys um that's something that was put in place back in 1995 but it's not something that's been consistently done and after having a talk with our contract surveyor didn't feel like we need to have an ordinance to require that um gake access was an agreement that we had with the DNR uh last updated last in 1998 about hours of operation about the gulic access part of it was on County on County lands um the hunting stand ordinance that was uh put into our recent Recreation ordinance we approved earlier this year uh we have a Junk Salvage standard ordinance now in in the land use ordinance we also updated the park ordinance which falls under the the recreation ordinance the provisions for that were put into that Recreation ordinance phospherous fertilizer is banned in State Statute as well as in the land use ordinance uh the septage cleaning tanks from 1982 that is now handled through Minnesota's rules uh 780 through 83 and then Wetland Conservation from 1994 that is handled through Minnesota rules 8420 for the Wetland Conservation act uh there was also an ordinance about parking on the Cal from 1978 I was for when that was put in place so I didn't really think we probably needed that anymore uh and we have a couple um we had ordinances about methamphetamines and clandestine drug labs and those have both been put into statute so we don't have to have a Lo ordinance for that so um it's these are the ordinance that we're proposing that would be repealed um as part and as just I think cleaning up what we need to as far as our ordinances I'd be happy to answer any questions U do we need to do both of them separate chairman Mr chair we can do all of the ordinances as one repeal resolution we do have to hold a public hearing for the purpose ofing all but but there's another public hearing right under that that's a different public hearing we have to separate them okay so this one is separate okay is there anybody here to speak to the uh public y oh yep yes you're not coming through the monitor oh Mr chairman I moved to open the public hearing okay thank you second motion made and seconded do we need do we need r y uh commissioner Coring hi commissioner franzine hi commissioner ly I public hearing is open is there anybody here to speak to the public Hearing in regards to the repealing of the obsolete County ordinances is there anybody here online or in person to speak to the repeal of the ABS obsolete County ordinances is there anybody here to speak to the repeal of the obsolete County ordinances Mr chair I would move to close the public hearing second motion by coring seconded by hog all in favor commissioner coring hi commissioner franzine hi commissioner hog hi commissioner lekey hi now we're back open back open now you take the action to okay repeal now make the motion to repeal the uh outdated and duplicate uh ordinances second second motion by hog second by franzine roll call commissioner franzine hi commissioner hog hi commissioner coring I commissioner ly I motion carried now we have the 510 oh we got one more minute is it going to click quick timing timing's everything timing is everything Mr chairman could we maybe have an explanation from staff on what we're going to do and by that time that's over with we could sure move into great idea thank you Paul um you're welcome who is coming up to speak on the uh public hearing for the cring county 2025 Fe schedules good evening Mr chair and Commissioners so every year uh County staff reviews our fee schedules at the county has there's multiple departments we go through an analysis process to make sure that our costing and what we're charging to the public um aligns with what our analysis shows so in the packet there were multiple fee schedule revisions and some removals for the various departments they are noted um in the packet as strikethroughs for deletions and then in red font for any changes that we had so we had fee schedule revisions for community services for financial services also for the highway department the Land Services and I believe the Sheriff's Office and with that I will entertain any questions you may have any questions Mr chair yes yeah I would just point out the fact that the County Board has gone through all this in line by line at the budget committee so this is obviously not the first time that we've right seen just for the public to know uh so with that Mr chair I would open the public hearing or I would move to open the public hearing on the fee schedule thank you second we have a motion by coring seconded by franzine all in favor commissioner hog I commissioner coring hi commissioner franzine hi commissioner luy I public hearing is open is there anybody here to address the uh fee changes for 2025 County anybody here to address the 2025 County fee schedule anybody here to address the Crowing County 2025 fee schedule see nobody here or online motion to close second second we have a motion by uh motion to close by Francine second by hog all in favor commissioner coring I commissioner franzine hi commissioner hog hi commissioner I now I would entertain a motion to adopt adopt I'll make the motion to uh adopt the new fee scheduled for 2025 second motion by hog second by franzine all in favor commissioner franzine I commissioner hog hi commissioner coring I commissioner ly I motion carried thank you thank you community services is up next good evening Mr chair members of the board I'm Taylor lesmeister Public Health educator uh the property we have of concern today is located on the 7,000 block of barrows Avenue in Brainard uh this property was found to have a large amount of garbage household waste in piles mattresses other softsided items as well as tires and containers holding water all of which may attract nuisance animals insects microbes and give them an environment in which they can reproduce the property owner and tenant were provided with a notice to Abate these concerns and despite progress being made by the tenant the scale of the nuisance was not fully understood and some additional concerns had been uncovered um the tenant has expressed Financial barriers to being able to remove the larger items on their own and we are asking for permission from the board to use Solid Waste funds if the property owner is unable to continue making progress any questions from anybody on the board no questions yeah I guess looking for a motion I'm looking for a motion to approve the uh Public Health nuisance uh barrows road in Brainard uh Solid Waste funds to cover the cost second okay motion by hog second by coring all in favor commissioner hog hi commissioner coring I commissioner franzine I commissioner luy I motion carried thank you we have 73 up here now a mental health Grant Region 5 plus Region 5 plus why is that written twice I'll let somebody I'll let somebody explain that to me good evening chair and Commissioners Tammy ly Adult Services manager uh over yeah Community Services um everybody's been coming to the podium uh just one second tamy before you start did we are we not oh you removed the uh Garrison 7. correct okay yeah okay sorry about that go ahead okay um yeah so I was saying everyone's been coming to the podium so I guess us is where I'll come as well but now I just broke this thing but anyway okay um so uh I'm we're here before you today to ask for um approval um not only to sign but also um uh approval for the grant contract and for Signature um this has come before you before um this happens every two years uh we receive our adult mental health our Region 5 adult mental health initiative Grant and we are the fiscal host that's for aen Cass croing Morrison Todd wadina and the Maxs and Leech Lake um tribal Nations um and then for our Crowing County um Community Support plan services and that's specific to croing County um the grant award the total award is 7,203 28 with 3, 37828 for Region 5 plus amhi per year for 25 and then we'll have that amount again in 26 this is over a 50% increase from previous years um legislatively there was some um changes made as well as there was a new funding formula that was adopted and um we saw a pretty significant increase these dollars are used to support our mental health Continuum of Care throughout the region and um the initiative has been busy working on their plans for 25 and 26 um with some of the services that we will be a to bring to the to the region that we currently don't have um the the CSP grant for croing County Remains the Same it's been the same I think since I've been here um which is over is 15 years so 223,000 449 um and that will be again we'll have that amount in 25 and 26 are there any questions I I have one how do you keep you said it comes in for multiple counties where the host where the fiscal host y fiscal host how does that get allocated do they ask for it from the other counties or is there a number that those other counties get out of that number that we so every year they um the board within um the adult mental health initiative so they met today as well and to review the budget for 2025 and then um so the way that it's been established is that crowing gets a little bit more because of our population um and then the other counties get a different percentage but that's kind of how the dollars are broken down and then we do go into contract with some agencies for as an example um for uncompensated care for um mobile crisis Outreach if there's um we may be um in contract with Northern Pines for that so the adult mental health initiative um like I said goes into contract for services um with some agencies Northern Pines nrms um trying uh trying to think of some other ones but that's how we do out dollars and those programs um typically are Regional um but there are sometimes where maybe we can't have a provider that was is able or willing to serve the whole region so we might like example of that would be Transportation so we may get Services established with one provider in crowing but we may have to use a different provider over in the wadina area kind of nice to see an increase yeah it's a it's a significant increase there's a need out there yeah there's a great need out there any other questions from any of the other Commissioners entertain a motion so moved second motion by franzine second by hog all in favor signify by saying I commissioner coring hi oh got you franzine hi commissioner hog hi commissioner ly hi motion carried thank you Tammy thank you m Mr chair yes m before you move on I I I should have I should have spoke to this when we did the uh consent agenda but if you'll just give me just a second uh I if you on the consent agenda we we approved the landfill contract with Marv strosin and I I meant to say this and I kind of forgot about it until just now and if you don't mind I'd like to just say a public thank you to Marv strosin and his family who have been running the landfill for a long time and I'll tell you what the croing County Citizens really old Marv and his family a big thank you they they do a tremendous job out at the landfill we've just signed another 10-year contract with Marv and his family and I just want to publicly say thank you Marv uh commissioner hog and I have been on the solid waste committee for 12 years and it has been an honor and a pleasure to work with you and I look forward to working with you for the next four years so want to just say publicly thank you Marv strine thank you thank you Mr chair you're welcome um now we'll go on to Land Services I see we're all up front here well good evening again uh Mr chair Commissioners we have before you tonight a um land use map Amendment located in section 35 of oklan Township the owner of the property is Anthony Peters uh the request is to amend the land use map from agricultural forested to rural residential 5 U Tes if we can go down to page the next page down there I think that's a good one so this is located um in Oakland Township you've got um hazelnut here and uh C 23 over here then 144 and so the proposal is to rezone this to an rr5 as a reminder what the colors mean again blue is the rr5 zoning the yellow is 2.5 the dark green the inside here is our agricultural forested district and then the yellow here is 2.5 and then the green here would be commercial one and the areas that are white are County tax forfeited lands and so the request was to reone this to R5 um the Planning Commission Board of adjustment held a public hearing on November 21st of 2024 and made a recommendation to the County Board to approve the land use map Amendment based on the application submitted staff report and the finding of fact on record staff have reviewed R the application as well and all information in the record and recommend approval I'd be happy to answer any questions is there any question from the board I'm trying to get it back up on my screen Mr chair and Chris can you put that or I should say theres can you put the map back up there um okay uh that's uh Chris it's in between 144 and 23 correct if we can go back to that up if we go back to the map of top trees maybe without the there we go that might make it easier hold on can you pull it out a little bit or yeah she's she's working on it well yeah my gosh there we go y so there there's if we can go back out just a little bit mores so we can see the the highways on both sides one well I guess it's not showing maybe is there a I think I have a third map in there too maybe that's not going to do it so this is the this is the best map here uh commissioner coring to to show but it would be 23 over here it' be 144 if you go down to that um and then there's 18 18 up top right there you can't see I guess I should be poking you can't see it you can't see that but uh that for some reason this isn't making sense to me because 144 is before you get to County Road 23 can we go back to the other can we yeah this one am I not reading that right over here what is that okay and then 23 here and then hazelnut goes then it goes over to Town Line Road over here and then okay I guess I'm I'm looking at it the wrong way 18 to the north y so okay I was thinking of butter not yeah I no I I understand yeah okay I understand that's all I had motion to approve thank you second we have a motion from coring second by Francine all in favor commissioner franzine hi commissioner hog hi commissioner coring hi commissioner Ley hi motion carried um 8.2 I guess you're up here for that too yes good morning or good evening Mr CH Commissioners even uh each year the state of Minnesota since uh 2014 2025 will be the 11th year they distribute $10 million to counties for Aid in developing a plan to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species and in 2025 croan County will receive $472,000 this is just a small decrease of about $200 from 2024 so we are required to update excuse me our AIS prevention plan every year uh this year we commenced a 30-day public comment period that went from November 8th to December 8th we received three comments during that time and they are attached in your packet and then we did uh have a presentation of the plan on November 6 right before our public comment period and we also took questions and comments during that meeting um for 2025 we are proposing just a few changes uh we are proposing pay increases for our staff to recruit new staff and to retain those ones that have been with us for multiple years and then a $2 per hour uh pay incentive for those that do the extra decontamination training and then we propos a shift change of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. previously we've been doing 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. um and we got some feedback on that and what you have before you in your plan is a shift of 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. instead of the proposed 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. um we heard their feedback we looked at the data and there is more voters that do come in and out between that 5 and 6:00 p.m. um initially we were kind of thinking of Staffing people would like the 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. more they'd get off an hour earlier uh but looking at the data we were able we decided that that would be a good switch of switching the shifts from 10:00 a.m. to 6: p.m. so it would still be a shorten shift they would just start an hour later than previously um so there is one correction in the plan on the map that's in the plan it does still state that the hour or The Landings will be staffed from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. so if you do approve the plan we will change that on the map before we publish it um so that's what we have and we recommend that you approve the 2025 AIS prevention plan any questions on the board in regards to this um maybe uh with those increases in how many hours does that uh uh take away from the say last year's uh schedule um we're still proposing to cover the landing just like we did last year just one hour less each day okay so so it's otherwise it's still the same same day same everything perfect thank you have we had in the last year because we've done this now a couple years where we've increased it in order to have enough people have we been having enough people to be able to man The Landings fairly well in this last year uh last year we did do really well with that we could have had maybe five more throughout the whole season just because of people coming and going but mostly for the whole season we're pretty well staffed so by increasing that we have been able to fill it in I mean we have the money there it's to be spent to be inspections but if we don't have people that can be there they don't get inspected right so and so this has helped at least have people there and a lot of it is education correct it's it's not we're not out there taking people's boats away because they got Weeds on them but correct we have no Authority like that out there right I know I just thought I'd ask you so is there anybody in the audience that wants to speak at all I didn't ask that because it's on the agenda I don't know if there's anybody here wants to speak to a that's Mr Shar Tes could you put up the map on page 293 just a question Jessica is there any changes to any of The Landings than what they were in previous years or are you proposing the same yes yeah if you could so um niswa we are increasing um they will be covered on Fridays Saturdays and Sundays previously they were only Saturdays and Sundays and then I don't remember exactly but there's two or three in the southern part of this County that we reduce to only Saturdays and Sundays instead of Friday Saturday Sunday so overall the hours kind of evened out we just are kind of switching them around from Landing to Landing do we really know how often or when those Landing are landing are used or the only time we know is if there's somebody there as as one of our inspectors are there there's no I know on some of the landings there was an indicator that would that would say how many people were using the landing some kind of a sensor or something like that but it never really told the time right yep so basically right now it is when our inspectors are there we have buried car counters it's been about five or six years since we've done that and we do have some Lake Associations that have installed their own cameras that say Hey this is when they're the busiest they'll give us the data sometimes Okay so we can you know time it so you know if somebody's sitting there and there's nobody showing up the landing and they could be at another Landing it' be nice to kind of kind of guide that it's how long has this been going on how long has the state been giving us that money in AIS 2025 will be the 11th year 11th year okay so is there any other questions I would ask for a motion to approve I guess I make a motion to approve the 2025 uh invasive species plan second motion by hog second by coring all in favors commissioner hog I commissioner coring I commissioner franzine I commissioner ly I motion carried 83 land use revision thank you Mr chair yeah this is uh we're bringing before you tonight amendments to the land use ordinance I'll just go briefly through what are what's being changed and then I'll talk about the process and then um I'll discuss what happened at the Planning Commission meeting on November 11th so uh there's uh some significant changes to the ordinance tonight that um are important for what um as we need to plan for 2025 so article 7 um we added um interm use permits those are similar to a conditional use permit it just allows us to put timing on it and sunset dates um for that so certain uses um we think it's more appropriate to be an interim use we did some housekeeping article 9 which is a subdivision article we just needed to clarify about septic site suitability requirements for the winter Windows um article 10 this is really based on uh some of the work that you guys did as we uh work through the comprehensive plan and so the comprehensive plan had some recommendations to streamline some of our land use districts so this article 10 we we're deleting Ro residential 20 we're combining our commercial land use one and two districts into one and our commercial industrial land districts as well into one so we're going from five phos districts down to three um we're clarifying where inter use permits are going to be implemented uh in the ordinance uh they're going to be uh for areas where we're going to have potential cannabis businesses as well as gravel pit and extractive uses would be uh proposed as being interim uses we're proposing to delete liquor honor off sale from the shoron district and that because it needs to be in the commercial uh zoning District to be able to get a liquor license from the county as well and then to add Marina as AAL use in commercial districts um there's been little a bit of confusion tonight I want to clarify um one of there was a proposal um to amend article 11.4 F which would be would allow a setback averaging um just want to be clear that and it said in the RBA that uh the Planning Commission did not recommend um approving that section of the ordinance article 14 is our residential zoning um article we're just deleting Ral residential 20 out that more just more housekeeping um Article 15 um that was uh one of our the probably the biggest uh add to this ordinance is just how do we regulate uh commercial cannabis use that'll become effective and go um live with the state of Minnesota on January 1 of 2025 and then there's a there's a few um um added definitions in article 46 basically in place to be clear about what's needed to uh for cannabis um and uh and so that was the you know the main um change to the ordinance just from a timeline perspective we were uh staff presented to the County Board updates the ordinance at the October 15th 2024 committee the whole meeting uh and then uh based on that conversation we came back and and went to the um the Planning Commission Board of adjustment we had a workshop prior to the be to the meeting that night going over the land use uh changes and then on um November 19th we came back to the county board with a final proposal at the commit of the whole meeting and then we had a public hearing on November 21st it's also important to to know that after that meeting on October 15th we did do a public hearing um or not excuse me a public hearing but a public comment period from um October 15th to November 15th that we received one comment during that time when it was from the DNR and we also have a conditional letter of approval for that section for any changes to the Shoreland part of the ordinance um so just in in summary the Planning Commission Board of adjustment held a public hearing on November 11th 2024 for the ordinance revision nobody testified at the meeting and then the pcbaa made a motion to recommend approval to the County Board to amend the land use ordinance as submitted excluding article 11.4 F setback averaging so they made a recommendation to to the board to approve everything except for um article 11.4 F yeah there was a little confusion on that thank you for clearing that up and I'd be happy to answer any questions um I he's Steve is not here tonight or commissioner barel is not here but I know he had some concerns about that interm use did you get that all Yes uh yeah uh Mr chair and Commissioners I did have a meeting with commissioner barels after that Comm me the whole meeting um in November and we sat down and had a good talk and and worked through it he was he concerned he was concerned he said we're we're answered and he had no other uh other issues or concerns with the ordinance Mr chair yes if you're ready for a motion I make a motion to approve the resolution amending the land use ordinance as recommended by the Planning Commission and board of adjustment except to include the article 11.4 F setback averaging I'll second motion by coring seconded by hog commissioner coring I commissioner franzine I commissioner hog I commissioner ly I motion carried thank you thank you that was a lot of work that was a little bit of work there getting that baby done wasn't it I'm glad it's done it's not done thank you very much appreciate all your work and helping us through the process so thank you um next up County Sheriff shff that's me County Sheriff that's you that's me that's me uh I don't have a lot for you today I just wanted to uh I just wanted to share one thing with you that we started in the beginning of the year and that was uh we have these business cards throughout our office and we have these little boxes and people fill these cards out when somebody a coworker does something good and uh the first uh the first month that we did it we had 155 people participate with those cards and we've been doing it over the jail for longer than that and we get around 155 over 156 I think they had they always beat us by a couple um but uh um when we first started that we really were um you know I was really worried about whether or not we could sustain that going forward because we do Employee Appreciation month and we recognize all the employees from those cards or some of them some of the employees from those guards uh the good work that they do and um uh we you know this last month uh we checked the numbers uh to see if we were still getting the participation in there and uh and it's true we have we've had over a another 150 cards that come in monthly about uh you know was saying or talking about the good work that their co-workers do and I believe that you have to be intentional about uh taking care of our our people or about thanking our people for doing the good work that they do and I and I sure do appreciate them um with that uh uh we're putting together a year-end uh annual report for you I don't think you guys have seen one ever before from the Sheriff's Office and um that'll be coming out at the beginning of this next year uh caps ating what we have done over this last year uh just in a snapshot so that you guys can have a kind of a good idea of what uh what our year look like for law enforcement uh overall I also wanted to uh wish you guys a Merry Christmas uh to you and your families I I sure appreciate this last year working with you and the support that I've had and felt from you as well uh in support of law enforcement uh specifically I I wanted to thank Tim H obviously he's gone and Debbie Erikson had some big shoes to fill and and I want to report to you that uh she has filled those shoes um above expectations for us I I do appreciate you uh uh Deb for all the good work that you do with us and your support for law enforcement and what we're trying to accomplish over there not always um uh in a way that you guys are probably used to we a little um we do things a little differently but uh you've you've been really really patient with us and I really do appreciate that um and I also I wanted to uh I wanted to thank uh uh Doug Doug hog commissioner hog for his uh good support and and for us as well uh we thank you for your commitment to uh the citizens of croing County and for your all these years of service that you've done and we take our hats off to you and really really do appreciate you so uh with that um Stephanie up there as well definitely a distinguished guest and uh she has she's been a rock star for us as well and and that's thanks to you guys for uh allowing her to work on these really kind of sensitive uh issues that we've had throughout the county and she's been a big support and a big help to us trying to get these things taken care of so with that thank you uh Merry Christmas to you I hope you guys have a great uh New Year thank with that I'll entertain any questions if you have any well how about a comment you thank you for your service and looking at what's happened in our neighboring state in the last couple days it's it's uh really brings it back to why we need you guys here and thank you for your service and and all of your staff thank you anything else from the board thank you County attorney I see we have representative good evening good evening I do not have anything that Don has provided me um for the meeting today he asked that I be here um at this meeting tonight and I was also here for obviously public health issues thank you Eric for the nice um comments I would entertain any questions if somebody would have those any questions from the board for the assistant County attorney thank you Stephanie ony administrator Mr chair the first item that I have for you tonight uh senior management team report we did not hold a meeting this week so there's no report coming from senior management team there uh the next item I have is a resignation from the airport commission Dave elers was one of the county appointees to the airport commission with his term running through January 1st of 2026 Mr Albert has submitted his resignation from the airport Commission effective after the November meeting so the action before you today the recommendation would be to accept the resignation of Dave elers from the Brainard Lakes Regional Airport commission authorize a certificate of appreciation be prepared for him and then also to advertise to fill the vacancy we would advertise in our local newspapers and uh ask applications be received by December 31st for the board to make a new appointment in January Mr chair yes I don't know if you need a motion I think you could probably do but I'll make a motion anyway a motion to accept the resignation of Dave elers from the airport commission and to uh um I guess accept letters of Interest until the 31st and also to uh give Dave Elber a certificate of appreciation okay sounds good second motion by coring seconded by franzine all in favor signify by roll call commissioner franzine I commissioner hog I commissioner coring I commissioner lekey I motion carried Mr chair the next item is the citizen committee appointments teres I think you have provided them with that list anything to add to that item that is there so this is the list of committee appointments that are expiring either at the end of December or at the end of January any of the items that you see here for your District or as an atlarge appointment these will be items we'll be looking for your feedback and input on in January for those appointments to be done unless they have unless you have anybody who yeah I would like to reappoint John will to the extension committee Mr chair yes I do have Jim ga's number phone number uh but I do not have Brad Arnold's phone number thees could you email that to me if you I would assume that we have it somewhere right I do I'll email you thank you thank you so much you have on here this term would expire 131 to 25 does that mean they're still on uh for another month another month yes but all of these are eligible for reappointment you have any of them will send out something and ask them if they want to reapply or how do you do that no you can I can reach out or you can reach out okay okay just let me know what you want me to Mr chair yes Mr chair normally in always in the past the commissioner of that District would reach out to those because those are your appointees y so uh I've always reached out and ask those people if they would be willing to serve again so I I just think it's better that the commissioner Reach Out rather than thank you and actually um Mr chair I do reach out to the at large folks um if it isn't me it's the department that is in charge of the committee yep so we will take care of those just for my curiosity the acronym SL SSD serpent Lake sanitary sewer district okay that would and those are City appointments that' be over or someplace and I have heard from that representative that she is in touch with all the four cities okay and that she will let us know when those folks are appointed is there really any action on that or is that just affirm those actions for the suant lake board those are the only ones that you affirm rather than actually make the appointment but you are required to affirm the appointment because the County Board is the one who actually established the serpent Lake Sewer District any action we need to do tonight on it other than Rosemary had mentioned she wants to reappoint John Wallen are there any others that you are all ready to appoint or is that the only one then that's the only appointment you would have to make Mr chair so you make that appointment I'll make that appointment to appoint John wene to the extension committee and these will be on your next agenda also and the agenda after that and probably the one after and one after that and the one after that but like like commissioner coring said I should reach out to those people first y if you need any phone numbers emails got them all I think I know most of them thank you thank you anything else Mr chair that's the last item I had unless you have any questions of me any questions from the board for our administrator if not I guess we are Mr chair our next item is the budget and Levy presentation which is scheduled for a 6 p.m. public hearing so if you would like to recess until 6 pm. I would I would love to recess for 15 minutes so so we are recessed for 15 minutes till 6:00 to start our public hearing for the the 6 o' it's a public uh hearing for the 2025 budget in Levy and CIP we will have a report from your title is finance director thank you from Nancy and afterwards then we will hear public hearing we'll open it for public hearing thank you put the first slide up for me Nancy so tonight the purpose of tonight's meeting is to discuss the County's 2025 budget and Levy if you are here to discuss your property valuation or classification that's not what will be discussed at this meeting but if you do have questions on your value or the classification of your property our County Assessor Gary Griffin Land Services director and his team are here on site to help answer any questions that you have with regard to valuation or classification so if any of you are here for that and would like to go with Gary to have that conversation you are welcome to do so you're also welcome to listen to the presentation that is here for the budget and Levy as well if you are here with regard to the County's budget and Levy increase of 3.99% increase in the county Levy this is the meeting that you should be attending and that's what this session is for for those of you who have indicated that you have questions or want to discuss the library funding I need to make a couple of announcements at the beginning of this meeting so you have an understanding of what is being discussed tonight you will not see any information in this presentation with regard to library specific funding the library funding is part of the croing county general fund Levy which is included in that 3.99% increase there is currently 9,000 $127 included in the County's Levy for 2025 for funding for the kagami Regional Library that is an amount that is set by Statute that the the county is required to provide to the library for those Library Services there cannot be any reduction in the amount that is there however the County board at this meeting can no longer increase the levy above the 3.99% increase that they have set in place for 2025 the time to increase that Levy was prior to September when the preliminary Levy was set once the preliminary Levy is set the levy can be reduced but it cannot be increased so any funding increases for the library would be looked at as part of the 2026 budget in Levy that that process will be occurring starting shortly after the first of the year I can let you know that cone staff is already working on the 2026 budget we've already started to have conversation with Library staff about that process and we will be including that Library earlier we'll be including the library earlier in the conversation of the budget as we go into 2026 but I just wanted to make you aware that you will not be seeing anything specific to the library in the 2025 budget presentation this evening Mr chair if there's no questions from the board Nancy if you're ready with your presentation we'll let you take that away have to run it because I have to I don't know if that's a screen you want to see she's going to share her screen I think I think Teresa is going to bring it back up on the screen for me right I yeah yeah there we go okay next slide okay okay so I'm going to start off with um talking about the 2025 proposed tax statement the information presented at tonight's meeting is the County's portion of your property tax statement that is noted in red in the red box on the lower half of the property tax statement that everyone receives questions relating to other entities that are shown on this statement should be directed to those entities and their meeting dates and times are noted on the statement next slide so where do your tax dollars go although you pay property taxes at C County it does not mean that we retain or keep all of those tax funds the county acts as an intermediary and disperses your taxes to the various authorities per dollar of property tax that comes into croan County uh the county keeps approximately 31 cents of that $1 the remaining 69 cents is distributed to schools cities townships and other special taxing districts some of those other special taxing districts can include the housing and redevelop M Authority Hospital districts and also Region 5 next slide how are property taxes calculated this is a very highlevel overview of how taxes are calculated for croing County we will start at the top with the red box and we'll work clockwise on this graph so Market values are assigned to a property and they are based on the like sales of properties uh then we then the classification is assigned to a property some types of class ifications include residential commercial seasonal agricultural Etc the next step is the market value and the classification of a property determine the net tax capacity tax levies are adopted by the different authorities so that's the county your schools your cities your townships and your special taxing districts where the property resides and those are divided by the net tax capacity of all properties with within those respective entities boundaries and that determines the net tax capacity tax rate then the net tax capacity tax rate for all authorities are added together and that determines What's called the unique taxing areas that's the total of the net tax capacity tax rate and finally the tax capacity of each property multiplied by the net tax capacity tax rate of the unique taxing area determines the total net tax capacity tax of a parcel next slide so this table shows you the market value changes and new construction valuation changes excuse me for croing County for the Last 5 Years in green shows you the payable year 2025 and you can see that the taxable market value between years 24 and 25 increased by 3.28% total new construction decreased between 24 and 25 by just over 10% and the percentage of new construction in Rel to the taxable market value is 1.31% so you can see the trend there of those different areas on this table next slide next we'll look at the taxable market value by property type so this is looking at the agricultural residential seasonal and commercial property classifications we're just comparing two years so we're looking at 24 to 25 to see if there were increases or decreases between the two years so if we look um The Bottom bar graph is for 2024 the top bar graph is for 2025 if we look at the blue portion that's our agricultural property type and that is showing an increase from 5.04% in 2024 to 6.29% in 2025 or an increase of 250 million next in Orange is the residential property type that is also same an increase of about $133 million seasonal is in gray that is also showing an increase of about $238 million from the two years and last in gold or yellow is commercial and I do need to make a adjustment on this I received some information from our Land Services Department recently it does show that that had a decrease between 24 and 25 that is not the case it's actually having an increase of just over $100 million so that is a clarification there so all the property types taxable market value has increased from 24 to 2025 next slide we have on the screen the property tax levy history for the last 5 years in green is the property tax levy that we're proposing tonight of 47,7 41,45 as County Administrator Ericson noted that that is a 3.99% increase from the prior year next slide we wanted to provide you some information on what that looks like between taxes paid in 24 versus 25 for some of the property classifications on this slide we're looking at the commercial property the residential property and the seasonal we took some average Market values on the lower end mid-range and higher end to see what that comparison in tax would be so if you look at the Gold box that's the commercial property so if you look at those average Market values of $15,900 if everything stays the same the market value does not change for the property from year to year their taxes would remain stable same with the 150 or I'm sorry the $158,100 average market value the tax um difference would be an increase of a dollar and then the 89 $7,000 average market value would see an increase of approximately $6 we also have that breakdown for the residential property so we have a lower mid-range high level average Market values for most of them the taxes remain the same with the exception of the $570,000 average market value taxes would increase approximately $2 and finally an orange Mr chair Mr chair oh excuse excuse me I didn't hear you yes yeah so Nancy is this uh could you go back to the yellow box just for so that 158 or I could just take any of them that $539 is that just the county portion or are or is it are you including the school district or whatever City or Township that somebody's in that would just be the county portion just the county okay that's what I thought okay thank you continue and then uh the seasonal property which is The Orange Box again the uh increase in tax would occur in the high value of the 739 th000 which would increase approximately $2 the next slide our 2025 budget timeline it is a year-long process it's not something where it's just a few months we quickly um wrap up the budget um and present it it starts in January where we start with preparations of our budget calendar for the year from March through June departments are preparing their budgets meetings are held with the myself and each of the different departments and also meetings are held with our Capital Improvement plan advisory committee then in July and August we put all the information together we have ongoing meetings and we start presentations at the budget committee level here at the county you will see some dates noted there July 12th that was our first submission of budgets that we received from departments here at the county at that time our Levy ask was at $ 53.4 million which was a 16.41% increase on August second we had reduced that Levy down to $ 49.1 million or also reduced it down to a 7.05% increase which was a reduction of $4.3 million and then finally on September 6 we had our Levy down to a $ 47.7 million increase which is what we're presenting tonight and that's a 3.99% increase so overall from July 12th to September 6th we were able to reduce our Levy by $5.7 million we had seven rounds of budget revisions 90 employees are included in this process and thousands of hours of work was involved to get the levy to where it is tonight Paul yeah Mr chair I would also point out nasty that at some point in the spring the County Board does uh give direction as far as what they would like to see uh the percentage of increase be and that's the goal that staff starts to work on from that point correct in September the County Board certifies the preliminary Levy this needs to be done before September 30th and then in October and November we're continuing to finalize our operating and our Capital Improvement plan budgets and then finally Where We Are Tonight is the budget and Levy public hearing the Board needs to certify the final Levy and budget on our before five day five working days after December 20th so those are the guidelines that we follow here at the county next slide so the 2025 budget in Levy the county Levy funds consist of our general fund Highway fund Community Services fund and capital projects fund again the tax levy Revenue that we're proposing is 47 m741 458 other revenue for 2025 we budgeting for $ 61.2 million expenditures we're budgeting at $109 million and we're budgeting for some fund balance utilization of just over $217,000 that is planned utilization of fund balance it's not something we take lightly we always make sure when we're utilizing F fund balance that we have a longrange plan is how we're going to utilize those funds next slide I also wanted to provide some information for the unorganized territory Levy funds as some of you know the County Board is the governing body for the unorganized territory they do not have a town board or a city council so I wanted to provide some information on the their Levy amount as well as well as their budgets so the unorganized territory consists of the first assessment district and the second assessment District the first assessment District tax levy Revenue we're proposing just over $1.3 million other Revenue budget at $53,000 expenditures within the fad of $ 1.4 million and a fund balance utilization of just over $86,000 for the second assessment District or sad uh tax levy revenue of $91,000 91335 other Revenue budgeted at $6,600 expenditures of just over $54,000 and a fund balance increase of just over $43,000 next slide organizational chart will give you a breakdown of the levy funds at the County so I I had mentioned the general fund the highway fund community services and capital projects and then The Fad and sad these are the breakdowns of the different divisions underneath each of those funds so you'll see under the general fund we have different service centers one related to governance then we have administrative Public Safety and Land Services and then you'll see the breakdown for the other departments as well next slide we will look at the property tax levy Broken Out by fund so the general fund you will see at the bottom of this chart and there will be we're proposing an increase in that tax levy for the general fund of 4.22% for the highway fund uh that would be a tax levy decrease of 4.34% community services is proposing a tax levy of 7.48% increase capital projects would see a decrease in tax levy of 23.12% the first assessment District would see a tax levy increase of 5.99% and then the second assessment District would see a tax levy increase of 8.98% comparing years 25 to year 2024 next slide uh the table show here shows the 2025 Levy budgets uh broken down by numbers again same information as far as L fund and service centers um you will see um we have then in blue the blue column show you the percentage of CH change from the prior year so overall the total Levy funds for expenditures we'll see an a change of an increase of 3.3% on the revenue side excluding the tax levy that will be an increase of 12.4% and then we have fund balance utilization of $260,000 for all of those different funds and finally the tax levy change from 24 to 25 of 4.1% and this again includes the first assessment district and the second assessment District as well now we're going to provide some pie charts to show you the total revenue total revenue for the 2025 budget in the levy funds just over $110 million the biggest piece of the pie for revenues is property tax levy which is 44% followed by intergovernmental revenues at 37% that includes state aid County program Aid police Aid and local state and federal grants next we have other taxes at just over 9% and the biggest Revenue we receive under that category is our local option sales tax revenue then we have charges for services at just over 4% and then it goes on from there to Investments miscellaneous and licenses and permits on the next slide our 2025 total expenditures equal just over $110 million the biggest piece of the pie here is Personnel Services at 52% followed by services and charges at 24% that includes electricity and water legal fees contractor fees software services and Property and Casualty Insurance next we have public aid assistance at just over 12% that includes a lot of our programs through Community Services which includes our foster home placements our correction placements and our mental health initiatives then we have supplies of materials that just over 5% followed by Capital outlay at 4% and other expenditures at less than 1% the next slide is an organizational chart showing the non-levy funds that are part of the resolution for tonight those non Levy funds consist of the ditch fund the solid waste fund the public Land Management fund and the landfill fund and the breakdown of the different divisions underneath those funds are noted there the non-levy budgets is the next slide again the comparison of percentage of change from 24 to 25 for expenditures for those funds expenditures are going to see a decrease of 10 .9% from those two years revenues will see a slight increase of 2% and there will be a fund balance build of $699,000 in those respective funds for the pie charts on the next slide for the revenues again 2025 total revenues equate to 5.7 million the biggest piece of the pi is charges for services at 47% that's our charges at our landfill followed by other taxes at 18% that are the the largest component of that are special assessments within our Solid Waste fund and our ditch fund followed by licenses and permits at 12% that equates to the majority of that is for our Timber permits and Then followed by miscellaneous intergovernmental and Investments on the next slide we'll look at expenditure 2025 expenditures total just over $5 million the biggest piece of the P are services and charges at 38% uh the majority of this is for Consulting fees and contractor fees followed by Personnel Services at 26% then we go to Capital outlay at just over 133% the majority of that is for our landfill projects followed by other expenditures and supplies of materials the next slide shows how we compare to other counties within the state the counties we have listed here um consist of counties within the Minnesota inner count Association also known as Micah and also our neighboring counties um close by uh croing County or bordering croing County so you will see in green Crowing County is the green bar that you will see there on this chart it's the second one from the left and this shows us what our tax levy increases are for each of these counties um within the state of Minnesota in red that is the Statewide average so the Statewide average is at 6.42% croing county is at 3.99% which is the 15th lowest out of 87 counties the next slide shows the per capita by County again Statewide looking at these same county comparisons as the previous slide you will see croing County there in Green at $699 whereas the Statewide average is $727 croing county is 21st lowest out of 87 counties the next two slides show some property tax refunds that I just wanted people to be aware of they are not refunds or credits that we at the county administer have any part of these come directly through the Minnesota Department of Revenue but we went on their site and provided you the criteria with what um criteria that they have or requirements that they have and that people may be eligible for these different refunds so the first one is the regular homestead credit refund some of the criteria for this is that you need to own and live in your home on January 2nd of this year your household income for 2023 needs to be less than 135,00 $10 the refund is based on your income and property taxes and there is a state form that you need to complete all of that information is on the Minnesota Department of Revenue website if people have any questions please contact that um agency directly there is also another credit refund on the next slide called the special homestead credit refund the criteria for that one is that you need to own and live in the same home on January 2nd of 2023 as well as January 2nd of 2024 your home's net property tax increase is by no more than 12% between 23 and 24 the net property tax increase was at least $100 and the increase was not because of improvements you made to the property again the same form is needed for this one as well further information please please reach out to the Minnesota Department of Revenue and with that Miss Mr chair that's the end of my presentation thank you any questions from the board any comments a lot of work Nancy thank you um this would be the time to open the public hearing okay and I have a motion to open the public hearing y motion to open the public hearing do we have a second second motion by franzine seconded by hog roll call commissioner hog hi commissioner coring hi commissioner franzine commissioner Ley I and I will go right down the list here I have a bunch here from the library but I have two other ones uh not regarding the library one is here from a Troy Sheffer you have three minutes sir oops y That's Library you ready yeah yes okay good evening board just wanted to show up to let you guys know that I really appreciate the great job you guys have been doing just kidding um you guys are about as corrupt as it gets and I had to show up I'm I'm supposed to be fighting Satan I got a LW suit against the the state right now trying to get the devil out of the the state capital B so I didn't want to do this but I knew there was going to be BS that was told to these Library folks um this nonsense about you can't raise a levy that that could be true but you know what you could also do is not give yourself 10% raises this year that could fund the library but it seems to be kind of a repetitious thing 2022 you guys voted yourself a 10% raise while everyone else is going broke losing their jobs they're making less money you guys are giving yourself more money and raising their property taxes hell of a team you guys got going on right there because you don't seem to ever speak out about it I me it funds a guy to sit half the year in Florida doesn't even have any interest in staying in his community to serve people directly in his district I would say shame on you but I'm going to have to say shame on the public because they keep electing people like you it's embarrassing now you guys just wrote me a nice size check because you guys are so corrupt and it's still coming it's going to still come you guys pull these tax frauds uh the last one little uh Miss Franzen or franzine if you want to church it up uh that one cost you uh this time I'm going to go for six figures I think I and I'll I'll bet you guys that I get six figures this go around so I guess expect that coming shortly uh looks like Doug gets to avoid the the fun of that but uh I'm also going to bet that one of you guys ends up going to jail uh cuz this time uh being that I went to the Sheriff's Office they placed charges with regard to that tax fraud went to Don Ryan he had a conflict out for obvious reasons but now it's been sitting for two years and nothing so I guess we'll go to the feds to see what's going on now as far as that settlement that just happened the public might be saying well what was that all about well I don't know ask Miss Ericson why she tells her husband who is the dispatch Editor to hide stuff uh with regard to the corruption in the county it's interesting I thought that was a conflict of interest even higher but uh you know it is what it is um you went from uh the last administrator that uh actually helped Miss fransen with the tax fraud um the internal emails are pretty clear that that was going on uh she really pushed after the county attorney said no you can't do that that's unlawful well she told Land Services to do it anyhow so you know you should uh maybe take the money you stole from me well you kind of compensated me a little a little bit from last check and and maybe put it towards the the library but I just knew you guys would pull this crap and try telling these people that need their Library funded that there's just nothing you can do and we're working on it next year but hey you're going to keep your wallets fat again I'm not going to say shame on you I'm going to say shame on them maybe next go around they'll get rid of all you I think uh they made a right choice by getting rid of Doug uh he's been around he was there and In fairness John you weren't there when when Franzen was pulling her little tricks but uh it also reminds me of Josh heinsman you guys should look at your three minutes are offic sir thank you yeah thank you uh next we have uh Gary Thompson talking about a land question is Gary here to talk speak on that unless it was something he took out he might have gone out okay the rest of these are the library do I want to start them individually and the first one is I think it's is it how would you pronounce it rues merch okay come right up right up here yep yep and your name name for the record please your name um Rula okay ever since we got our library cards we would go to the library every Saturday after basketball and would check out books and have so much fun because we got to read and check out books and I think you should fund it more so we so that lots of people can come and check out books and so the library can have more fun activities and all my family think that too and that is why I think the library should get more funding we love the library give the library more funding please thank you thank you very [Applause] much I I think the next one is birdie say your name yeah say your name again yep see your name birdie um I think the library should get more funding for many reasons ever since our family got library cards we have been going to the library every Saturday after basketball going to the library is kind of the highlight of our week it's so fun we enjoy playing with the fun stuff in the children area and doing scavenger hunts to where when scented bookmarks we also like doing puzzles and coloring at the library and of course checking out and reading books I think the brand new Public Library plays a huge part in the community and I think that the library should get more funding so everyone can find the uh joy and happiness in Reading with more funding we can enjoy reading and fun activities uh sometimes I have to place holds on books at the library with more funding the brard public library can get more copies of popular book so we so you can get a book right away thanks for listening thank [Applause] you okay uh we have a Mary Ager what you say Mary agreer okay please come forward name an address for the record just so we keep that clear 615th Streeter yep I have to say I'm confused about the funding but uh first of all I volunteer at the library I see an incredible spectrum of people using the library everything from little kids about this High who are basically pulling sh books out of the low shelves to people even older than I am um reading looking at the magazines taking naps whatever um it's just an incredible resource um you said that what I mean as I said I don't understand the funding bit but you said the levy increase was 3.99% so is the library's budget 3.99% bigger than it was last year no okay is it 7 point use is the library under Community Services no as I mentioned the library is listed under the general fund portion of the county budget so what was the general fund increase this year in the levy when we talk about the county Levy we look at it as a whole not individual budget so the 3.99% was a as a whole I understand that but I also understand that the libraries had pretty much the same budget for some incredible number of years like 11 correct okay is there anything you've purchased recently that cost the same amount it did 11 years ago 10 years ago 9 years ago I I I understand a budget is not an easy thing to do but library is a wonderful thing and it needs to be funded much more enthusiastically thank you thank you [Music] Mary next will be Aura Roth or Ruth I apologize if I don't pronounce your name right I'm not real good at reading some of this handwriting but when you come up to the please correct me thank you Laura RI um address to if you don't mind uh 15847 old Stonebridge Trail in Brainard thank you for listening to us all I would Echo what you've heard so far and say that the library is a very valuable community resource the first place I usually go to and the first place I went to when I moved to Brainard was the library to get a library card um it's like law enforcement and firefighters and public parks all kinds of things that we pay for that benefit everybody and if that means increasing my taxes go for it please they need to be well funded paid what they're worth um it's a valuable resource for everyone in the community thank you for listening to us thank you [Applause] Diane mayor would be the next one that's I have in front of me here you say Diane Mayer Diane mayor Meer Meer okay Diane Meer 13588 Red Pine Road um I am saying the same thing as other people the funding has been stagnant for 10 to 11 years the budget keeps going up but the library funding does not the library is a valuable service to this community and I think it should be raised our taxes have not stayed the same for 10 years the library funding should not stay the same for 10 years thank you thank [Applause] you Doren Iceland eand I'm getting better aren't I yes you are name and address for the record so we got it my name is Doren Eastland I've live at 14386 sheview driving bter I guess the the comments I had prepared some of them are moot since it's not going to be addressed until sometime next year but my question first of all is when should we be coming back to look at this funding in September for 2026 or fa if I may the the budget process as Nancy had pointed out in the calendar is going to kick off in the spring the Departments will be looking at their budgets bringing that information forward at that time most likely by the August September timeline that's when the board has the authority to set that preliminary Levy is in September so that should be when that discussion is had at that point okay then then a few other points because in these statistics may be we've heard a lot of Statistics these may be a little old uh but this was from 2023 cuz we do take this seriously I have been a friend of the library I've been a library Patron for for much of my life before I even moved here but in the last this is 2023 47% of the County population are regular register users of the library that's nearly half the population of the county and I would say that's probably an undercount because if you go to any given day when there's children's activities or anything else going on at the library those kids don't all have library cards but they're all there using those services and I think the important thing is it's called a public library it is for the public it's for the benefit of the public like some of these other services they mentioned it's vital to the community and you raise the citizens of tomorrow that learn critical thinking skills how to decide things for themselves they learn information about other people besides themselves other people that aren't necessarily like them I just think it is one of the last Community safe places where people are welcome all people are welcome and there's no subscription fee there's no um everything's free to use you don't you don't have to have a certain designation or prove yourself to use the public library and I can't tell you how many seniors I see in our community that go there for Community for one thing to read the newspaper to meet with other people besides all the events and activities that go on day after day after day if you spend any time in that Library I think you'd be overly impressed with the work that the people do with less and less funding and I'll tell you the staff are stretched about as far as they can go without breaking like a rubber band you can only stretch it so far and we've already um they did a real thoughtful job when they had to reduce Library hours by looking at usage and when it was used the most and when it would impact the fewest number of people but I'd hate to see that go further and further reduce the ability of our community to use this public service thank you thank you Judy ran good evening I'm here um I'll name name and address Judy Judy Bon 14152 oxcart Trail brainer thank you I I'm here to Echo what has been said um our library is a valuable community resource from small children to elderly following the excellent presentation that you were given by the kigami regional director my family reached out with emails to all of the Commissioners and sad to say only one commissioner responded thank you John um our own commissioner did not respond to the emails that was that were sent to him which is rather disappointing uh since you're supposed to be serving the community um anyway with just with the costs of everything rising over the last 11 years it's kind of ludicrous to think that the library can remain functioning at the level of you know the number of hours open and the number of services when you don't give any increased funding please please give the library the funding that it needs to remain open and to serve the public as it's supposed to thank you thank you next Paula persons and repeat it into the mic in your address Paula sherff Paula person 100032 Island Drive in brainer Minnesota I just want to reiterate what everybody else is saying I know you have a tough job but we have to look at the future if we don't increase the amount of money we give we are going to lose the books books are not getting any cheaper you can't go out and buy a book some of them are costing $50 a piece I am at the library every Monday morning I'm there for I use their P their meeting rooms which is a wonderful thing for the uh Community but it amazes me the amount of small children the homeschooled children children who are using it so much we do support our children in this brainer area in croing County but look at it in the future things are not going to get cheaper if you are not going to increase your budget how how is your library going to survive some people say we don't need libraries yes we do it's a Val very valuable Community Asset to us thank thank you I think it's Kathy gray she left she left huh she left she left okay uh Tom or and again in the mic with your address so we've got it Tom my name's Tom War I'm 9707 legionville Road Brainard I guess everybody's covered I came with a thing how my family and little kids all the way grandchildren all the way up how we use it but it's really not right now for that that'll be when next July when I come and stand um my I guess my only question is why is it funded the minimum that why you know you guys all have a I don't know do you use the library that that's the key why is it the minimum every year and if the state doesn't turn up the minimum then then we lose that's that's the key we lose in in our in our area here so that's uh that's my question to you is why the minimum is it so you can keep that 3.9% or lower or how maybe maybe other things it's important thank you two Sterling thank you for hearing this my name is Sue Sterling I live at 217 Southwest 4est Street in brain I won't reiterate everything everyone else has said but I will emphasize that the Brainard library is a learning facility for all ages it is a thinking lab and kids spend too much time with their faces in their phones and the library gives them another place to put their face and books is a great great area to put it it is a meeting facility for so many of the community organizations in town and when you reduce the hours of the library you reduce the ability of groups to get together also it is a very nonviolent facility it is a retreat it is a rep pose for people in this computer Community to go to when they need thinking time when they just need to get away and for certain part of our population it's a place to go to get warm to get cold when they don't have air conditioning there's a large population that uses the computers because they don't have internet access at home or they're homeless and it's the only place they can go to learn how to get a job the library has so many resources for all ages and we truly do need more hours there so I ask you please tell us who to go to to emphasize the need for more hours so we can be on top of this for 2026 thank you thank you [Applause] sue TJ Jones hi my name is Tom Jones 4028 West Gro um now my understanding maybe I misunderstood this I presume the library got the same in increase as the rest of the budget 3.99 Mr chair no the library increase was Zero for 2025 the library received $59,750 19,1 127 in 2025 okay and and in my mind my taxes keep going up I know like theyve said before you have a hard job I understand that my taxes keep going up the library is a you know a very important resource for the whole County so I would think their budget would continue to go up as well and that's the bottom line in my opinion so thank you thank [Applause] you Christine rasmason Christine rasmason to 103 Crest View Lane um I have been Library user here since um the first week of January when we moved here in 1982 in the old location and I have always seen a huge variety of people I'm in the library about twice a week sometimes more more and um this morning as an example of wonderful staff help I walked into the library and here is an elderly gentleman in a wheelchair and staff is assisting him in sending a fact I'm assuming he could have no other way to do that easily um I see many elderly people reading the paper reading magazines using the free magazine exchange lots of parents bring in small children and always they are welcomed the staff goes out of their way to um help you with anything you need even if they have to dig for it and um they are so deserving and the programming for children for a number of years um they helped me with a program uh through Master Gardeners and um until Co came long and I needed to um not do that anymore but I really appreciate your hearing all of us and I certainly hope hope with everything else being adjusted upward uh with the realities of the economy that the same can happen for the library thank you thank you [Applause] Christine and I think I have one last one here sahab sahab bassart bassart did I how how bad did I it was pretty bad but so hey so hey basharat I live 7981 Hinkley Road Apartment 218 backer um we moved here 5 months ago it's my wife and we have a one-year-old daughter and we have uh benefited immensely from the library both me and my wife have checked out books and loan books and read from the library and our one-year-old daughter goes there for story time and meets other kids there and looks at pictures and baby books there so it's been hugely beneficial for us and I would want to have better funding for the library for the future um you know education is the most important thing I think for a society and uh Library plays a key role in that particularly for kids you know they're spending more and more time these days on social media and library is one way we can get them out into the real world and interact with physical books and people and get interested in books and read so it's really important to have the library funding um go up and I just wanted to clarify one thing you said you know in 10 years it hasn't increased so $59,000 $900,000 10 years ago today is actually worth like $381,000 so it's I think unfair to say that we haven't increased the funding what's fair to say is that actually it's gone down so it has gone down every year that it's not increasing if it's not increasing at least by yearly inflation that means it's going down so uh I think that's not right like everything else you know the funding is increasing at least it should be going up by inflation every year but probably more than that to catch up on these 10 years that it has gone down so I think that's really important and then last thing I wanted to ask was that you say you said that the 3.9% levy cannot be increased for this coming year but are you able to readjust whatever funds that you have raised between different categories and in that way can you increase the library funding or no so while keeping the levy the same can you readjust the funds Mr chair the the levy cannot be changed I mean the levy cannot incre but there can be adjustments within the lovey that's listed there so so that's something that should be considered because otherwise it would feel like we're just punting it down one year from now and maybe hoping people are going to forget you know it's so why not consider that if that is an option maybe that can be considered and I know you guys have a tough job and I appreciate what you're doing but maybe that's something you can consider if it's in your power that's all thank you so much thank you [Applause] I would just like to thank everybody here who came here to speak for the library I serve on the gami library board I've only served on it for a couple of years I understand how the funding works the funding for the library is a mandated is it what do they call it a what's a maintenance of effort minimum maintenance of effort minimum maintenance of efforts which is actually a State statue and that's what the state says we have to pay so that's what it's been for the last 11 years if I'm correct you are correct Okay so um is there anybody else here who wants to speak to the library that isn't on here and this is just for the library there any other comments about the budget presentation that Nancy provided okay or anything else on the budget presentation if you haven't spoken yet if you haven't spoken yet 3.99% so Mr chair then if there's no other public comment the if there is no other public comment I would make a motion to close public hearing so you need a motion to close I need a motion would somebody please make a motion make a motion to close the public hearing we have a motion by hog second by Francine all in favor commissioner coring I commissioner franzine commissioner hog hi commissioner luy I public hearing is closed now we're at to the final budget and Levy resolution am I correct for for the year of for the budget for year of 2025 so action would be in front of you to adopt the the motion in front the resolution in front of you I'll make the motion to adopt the 2025 uh budget as presented second I didn't hear did did you say second Paul I didn't hear you second okay we have a motion uh by hog seconded by coring all in favor signify by saying I BR commissioner franzine commissioner hog hi commissioner coring I commissioner ly I motion carried budget is approved Mr chair that's the final item we had before you today I would entertain a motion to adjourn second motion by franzine second and by hog all in favor all in favor oh hold on okay um commissioner hog hi commissioner coring hi commissioner franzine commissioner lekey I motion carried we are adjourned thank you stop stop