Meeting to order, all please rise for the pledge of allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag, The United States Of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Welcome everyone. Looking for a motion to approve the meeting agenda with the following update under report of auditor treasurer to remove the resolution to set a public hearing for County Ditch
32. This will be brought to the board in March. Someone like to enter that motion. I'll enter that motion. Enter by Commissioner Casa. Is there a second? Second. Second by Commissioner Severson. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. The agenda has passed. Consider a resolution approving the consent agenda with the following items: approval of
the minutes from the 02/04/2025 board meeting approval of minutes from the 02/11/2025 special meeting. Someone like to enter that resolution. Motion. Entered by commissioner Severson. Is there a second? I'll second. Second by commissioner Ekstrom. Any discussion? Hearing none, will the clerk please call the roll. Commissioner Severson? Yes. Commissioner Casa? Yes. Commissioner Ekstrom? Yes. Commissioner Edwin? Yes. That is passed. Report of
board committees. Commissioner Severson? I had the State Health and Human Services Advisory Committee and SEMCAK at State Health and Human Services. We had an update from the Commissioner Minnesota Department of Health. Couple other things, there's a lot of talk about cannabis, specifically the 2 and a half million dollars in cannabis grants for prevention and a few other things about cannabis. Thank you, Commissioner Casa. I attended my Cedar River
Watershed Meeting. They went through projects that were done last year and what's coming up this year. And we set the board members as the same as last year officers. So that was it. And then I had a polar plunge in Waconia for my son and my husband's birthday and my son's birthday. So and then I've been harboring in the house because it's been so cold. Okay, thank you. Commissioner
Ekstrom. I had the emergency communication board meeting and some decisions that Freeborn County can help in different aspects of that. We'll be working with the sheriff on that. And then just quite a bit of research into this Apex Solar project. Lots of phone calls and emails going on for that so I can just make a good decision today. And then a number of phone calls actually this time from constituents. So I actually enjoy those phone calls.
That's what I have to report. Thank you. I met with Alita in Greater Jobs and as it is known, those a lot of that's confidential, can't speak of at this time, but I think there's some good things in the future, some in the near future that the community will be very appreciative of. Moving on miscellaneous business to consider a resolution appointing to extension advisory board members. The names being
do we have the names here. Leah Colby and we need to do the separately. And Gordy Tungus Gordy Tungus do we need a resolution for them separately okay. All right. Would somebody like to enter that resolution appointing these two Extension Advisory Board members? I'll enter the resolution. Enter by Commissioner Ekstrom. Is there a second? I'll second it. Second by Commissioner Casa. Any discussion? Hearing none. No. Go ahead. Just
gonna say that I've known Gordy Tonjes a long time. He served on the Fair Board and he did an excellent job as president there. I think he'll do a wonderful job. Thank you. Any other discussion? Hearing none, will the clerk please call the roll. Yes. That is passed. Moving on, consider issues presented by persons of the general public and or other general items, persons wishing to address the board concerning matters pertaining to this agenda as well
as other matters will be recognized at this time. Is there anyone wishing to address the board? Seeing none, we'll move on to reports of various departments. Report of auditor treasurer. Good morning Mr. Chair and commissioners. I have one resolution before you today. I have a resolution approving the various tobacco licenses within Freeborn County. There's an application process that each business must
go through that we present to the county attorney and to the county sheriff. They review those to make sure that there has not been any violations. David Walker has been on vacation and I'm waiting for signature on one application. He is back now, but I would request that this resolution be passed. Some who wish to enter the resolution. So moved. Entering by commissioner Severson. Is there a second? I'll second it. Second by commissioner Casa. Any discussion?
Hearing none, will the clerk call the roll? Yes. Yes. Commissioner Ekstrom? Yes. Commissioner Edwin? It is passed. Thank you. Report of environmental services. Good morning mister chair. Good morning commissioners. The first item that I have for your consideration this morning is a resolution approving an appointment to the Freeborn County Planning Commission. Again, the Planning Commission is a seven member board and terms are three years for a maximum of three terms. Currently, the Planning Commission has one vacancy due to an expired term. The following
individual has submitted interest in volunteering for the Planning Commission and if appointed would be entering his first three year term. This would be Daniel Ottin who lives in Section 8 Of Hayward Township. Someone wish to enter that resolution? I'll enter the resolution. Entered by commissioner Ekstrom. Is there a second? Second. Second by commissioner Severson any discussion. Mister chair just I can save this for after the vote but since it's a discussion considering that there's a lot of new members now on the planning commission
including myself and Commissioner Casa, would it be possible just in the near future maybe have some type of a meeting with the new members so that they understand what expectations are, things that they can do to prepare instead of waiting until the very first meeting when there's actually something to do. Yeah Mr. Chair, Commissioner Ekstrom, we've been researching videos and trainings for the Planning Commission. We're hoping that we can find something through either MCIT or the law firm that we use in the cities
that will have you know some kind of training information that we can host a meeting and have everyone watch I would like to do that possibly before the first application I agree with that. Great thank you. Any other discussion? Hearing none will the clerk please call the roll. Yes. Yes. Commissioner Ekstrom? Yes. Commissioner Edwin? Yes that is passed. Thank you. The next item I have for your consideration is to set a public hearing date for the adoption of the Freeborn County's Cannabis Business Registration
Ordinance. This ordinance language was drafted through the Planning Commission closely follows the office of cannabis management's model registration ordinance business registration is the last step in local compliance for all cannabis businesses licensed through the ocm. Someone wished to enter that resolution. I'll enter the resolution. Is there a second? I'll second it. Second by commissioner Casa. Any discussion? Hearing none, will the
clerk please call the roll? Yes. Commissioner Casa? Yes. Commissioner Extra? Yes. Commissioner Edwin? Yes. That is passed. Thank you. And the final item I have for your consideration is a resolution approving amendments to the Freeborn County Code of Ordinance Chapter 42. This is the zoning ordinance allowing for the regulation of cannabis businesses in the unincorporated areas of Freeborn County. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on both November 11 and December second of twenty twenty four on the proposed amendments and voted unanimously on
a recommendation of approval for the zoning ordinance amendments. This ordinance language restricts all retail operations to the county's business districts and all other activities to the county's industrial districts. Furthermore this ordinance makes all cannabis businesses a conditional use requiring notification public hearing and final approval by the county board. Someone wished to enter that resolution. So moved. And then by commissioner Severson is there a second. I'll second. Second by
commissioner Ekstrom any discussion. Hearing none will the clerk please call the roll. Yes. Yes. Yes. That is passed. Thank you. Of facilities manager. Good morning, commissioners, mister chair. I have one item today. It's a to consider a resolution to approve this Apex solar project. Which would involve installing solar on the rooftops at four
County buildings. Some of which to enter that resolution. All into the resolution. Enter by commissioner Ekstrom, is there a second? Second. Second by commissioner Severson. Any discussion? Mr. Chair. Yes. So Brad, I've already emailed Brad because I didn't think it was fair of him to not understand why I was voting the way I did. And so because I can't do share it with anybody else before open meeting, I just wanna read you all what I sent
to Brad. And I said some some of the board members seem to be in a hurry to spend the million that we have set aside for rural internet. Not sure why. 40,000 in interest a year is a fact. The fact things at the state are going to be turned upside down. I do believe it will be needed just to curb expenses next year, so it will get spent. And by the way, my Internet still sucks. In all searching in all my research on the Internet, like that's true, but I have been
searching and found that you can find supportive documents for anything you want, whether pro or con on any issue. They have items that argue your side. So in wanting to be open minded, I researched both sides, and what I have found that was a commonality to pro and con is that solar is still in the infancy stage. As you well know, technology advances at break light speed, and so I'm convinced that if it is going to improve in the next few years, just like
computers, cell phones, and medical technology. I feel we don't need to be on the ground floor. We can let others be the guinea pigs. I would put money on it that if we pause and wait five years, it will be half the size, half the cost, and twice the power. Also, with the 02/1940 full green law, even without term limits, there will be some legislative changes in the state over the next fifteen years. Who knows if that law will even exist in fifteen years? But if it does, they will be in such a hurry to be able to say they accomplished it, they'll start pumping money into
it in grants and incentives. They're all politicians and they always want to pat themselves on the back. We should wait for that as well if the law stays. I just think that next year as things are going, we need to focus on needs, not wishes. This would be a wish item. We will have needs. There will be repairs that will need to be done just to keep our buildings in good condition, and I trust Brad and his staff to do a great job. Like I have stated before, it's not a big enough savings to put up that large amount
of money. And with only one oops or oh no, we forgot, that savings will be eaten up. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against solar. I just think we don't need to rush to it. Let it tweak itself and improve and get cheaper before we jump in. Let other richer counties be the guinea pigs or let the private sector use their own money to iron out bugs, and we'll see how well it goes. The first computer took up a room only large companies could afford them. Now you can do as much on a laptop as you could with that,
and anyone can afford it. My husband's first cell phone was the size of a brick, and the charger and carrying case took up the passenger seat in his semi. Five years later, it fit in his pocket and had only a cord to charge up The doctor told us when my son was born that had he been born ten years earlier, he would not have lived as they had not known how to fix the impala seal. I know you're all younger than I am, but five years goes away so fast, and things will improve faster now than they ever did
then. It will be amazing to see the changes, and I don't want us sitting here in ten years going, oh, why did we do that? So hope that helps you all understand. I will be a no. Thank you. Any other comments? Yes. Mr. Chair, first of all, I want to thank Brad so much because just over the past month oh my gosh I emailed you, called you with all kinds of questions and then gotten answers from Apex, I've communicated with AMC, individuals who have
solar, so really have looked into this quite a bit. One of my big concerns was the green incentives or the green energy incentives and I am at least in the time being especially yesterday afternoon from AMC because that was my biggest concern with that but the sorry I don't have my glasses on here but yesterday the Senate Energy Committee did meet and it says that the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the energy division said that the tax credits that would impact us or that would
apply to this project have not been impacted. So I was happy to hear that. A couple things with this project, so solar has been around since the late, at least the late nineteen sixty's. So this isn't new technology. We've been sitting on this broadband money for a long time and I think it's important that we use it for a worthwhile cause. I absolutely never ever want to waste money. But by investing in this project and investing
in our buildings, I think in the long run I do believe you know these are guaranteed savings through Apex. But even so after talking to people that do have solar, their energy production and their savings has even exceeded what they had expected. So this is a way of, if we were to look at using that broadband money, even next year to
just offset costs, it's just simply one year. Whereas by putting it into a project like this it will offset costs but year after year. And so I think it would be a good use and even if the savings ends up not being tremendous, any savings is good savings if we're saving tax dollars. With that broadband money as well we've been sitting
on it for years and we should not be sitting on taxpayer money. I mean we need to be using it for a worthwhile project and let's see here, I just wanna to quickly look at some of my other notes here. The biggie was just confirming that tax credit and that grant incentive. Let's see here, just give me one second here just in case. The other thing, just reading a
lot of news, the energy demand in Minnesota has skyrocketed despite you know them trying to get people to conserve energy and all these other things. And that energy demand based on the industries that Minnesota is looking at including these massive data centers, the energy demand is expected again just to spike and with that energy prices will spike. So this is another way for us I think to be forward thinking and to attempt to, if we can
offset those energy costs, I think that is a great, this could be a great way to do that. I've probably said enough with that. I think that's enough. I'm sitting here looking at all my notes to see if I need to say anything else but that should be good for now. Thank you. Mr. Chair. Thank you. Yes. Thanks. Tax dollars, they are not, that million dollars is not local tax dollars, correct, TPat? It is the COVID
ARPA funds? Correct, thank you. And we are making about 40,000 a year on the interest right now. Thank you. Any other comments, discussion? Yes. Since coming onto the board, I've really gone back and forth on this since I've come on a lot. And to help me decide, kind of put it into terms of, you know, with this rural broadband money, what is the best use, fiscally responsible, efficient use
of this money. And I do think that with growing operational cost of electricity, that this will be the most efficient fiscally responsible use of these funds. Any other comments? Alright, then I'll end this with my comments. The yearly savings that we're looking at with a project like this through multiple workshops and discussion on this. It did not include maintenance, repair or
increased insurance costs. It was talked of maintenance, doing the maintenance in house, but there is also increases in cost with that. We're looking at initially over a million dollar investment. There's no payback on that investment for nineteen to twenty years. In other words, we're borrowing the money to Uncle Bob and he's going to use that million dollars for nineteen and twenty
years paying us back a little at a time interest free. Twenty years from now, that solar field, those solar fields on top of those roofs won't be up to date with the technology as it's moving. It was also said that if we had to borrow the money, this project would not be feasible because we'd be paying interest on top of that initial startup costs. The broadband money has been
talked about quite a bit and I feel at this time there would be a better way to invest that money in our community. A couple of ideas that were kind of talked about with prior administration was revolving loan fund for economic development, where we could create this pool of money that different businesses or even homeowners could utilize to improve the tax base in our county and there'd be a bigger return on something like that. There's also
future needs realizing that to do something with our 2026 budget would be a one time but we're looking at a very, very tough budget cycle going into 2026. And there's also the possibility of needs for doing something above and beyond what dollars might be spent on the UP Trail that we've been focusing on. We might be able to use that, those dollars to do something there that grant money
didn't cover that would make it a better, better recreation area for us. So I for one just think the money's there and we're on a quick spend, but I think there's some other things that could be done with that money. And again, as with Commissioner Casa, I'm not against renewable energy, but I look at these projects such as this and the grant dollars that are available which there's a return of about $350,000 on a $1,200,000 investment.
And would we even be having this discussion if we weren't taking other people's money, tax dollars from other people to do these types of projects? Probably not. Any other discussion? Mr. Chair, I'm not sure where you're coming up with those numbers but I mean clearly I can see how the votes going to go anyway but anyway if you looked at that, the Apex partnership, the solar model where it does give the revenues down through the twenty years. It's like around 1,500,000.0 by the time
you factor in all those each year, the energy savings. So, the project does pay for itself. And anyway, one last comment only because like I said I know how the vote's gonna go now, but as far as, it's not a good characterization to say it's a hurry to spend the money because the county's been sitting on that money for years now. And so anyway I think this has had
a lot of analysis, multiple workshops over it, multiple workshops even about how to spend that money, even with the previous board. There were some ideas that the rest of board, you know, we decided wasn't a good path for that money. So I just don't want the public to think that it is a quick decision when it isn't when we've had lots of workshops talking about different options for these funds. Any other discussion. I do think this
would provide over a long period of time for our budget a much more predictable and lower energy costs altogether. Mr. Chair. Yes. When I look through the guaranteed savings contract, all that has to happen is an act, there's, it's just like the thirty year guarantee on my shingles. There's gonna be every reason in the book why they don't have to pay
it, It's going be an act of God. It's going to be something else. It's going to be installation or whatever. I don't know if anybody else ever tried to get your guarantee on your shingles, but I have, and you end up with about $220. And it also said in there that if they, APEC or if the company that's guaranteeing it, all they have to do is file bankruptcy and there will be no guarantee. So I'm I'm we can vote. All right. Any other? Hearing none, will the clerk please call the roll?
Mr. Sigerson? Yes. Commissioner Casa? No. Commissioner Ekstrom? Yes. Commissioner Edwin? No. That has not passed. For all your time I appreciate it. Thank you for all the time at the workshops and thanks to the building committee for all their time spent on this Thank you. Moving on, report of the Sheriff's Office. Morning commissioners. Morning. Mr. Chair, have in front of you guys a resolution to accept the 2023 Emergency
Management Performance Grant. I know it seems weird to say 2023, this grant is always a year in arrears, but now we're in 2025, but that's just due to some hang ups at the state. Rich Hall applies for this grant every year. We put it towards his salary, pays for a little better than 25% of his salary. And he had his stuff done fourteen months ago. Someone wish to enter that resolution. I'll enter that resolution Mr. Chair. Entered by Commissioner Casa. Is there a second?
Second. Second by Commissioner Severson. Any discussion? Will the clerk please call the roll? Commissioner Severson? Yes. Yes. That is passed. Thank you. Thank you. Report of County Administrator. Good morning. I got a few resolutions here for you. The first one is to consider resolution to fill the vacant accounting specialist DHS position. This is due to an internal promotion to the accounting
supervisor. Someone wish to enter that resolution? I'll enter that resolution, Mr. Chair. Enter by Commissioner Casa. Is there a second? Second. Second by Commissioner Ekstrom. Any discussion? Will the clerk call the roll? Mr. Severson? Yes. Commissioner Casa? Yes. Mr. Extra? Yes. Mr. Edwin? Yes. It is passed. Alright, next one is to consider resolution to fill the vacant appraiser position. This is due to an internal job transfer. Someone on
wish to enter that resolution. So moved. Enter by Commissioner Severson. Is there a second? I'll second. Second by Commissioner Ekstrom. Any discussion? Hearing none, will the clerk please call the roll. Commissioner Sakson? Yes. Commissioner Kasat? Yes. Commissioner Ekstrom? Yes. Commissioner Edwin? Yes, that is passed. The next one is to consider resolution to fill the vacant detention deputy position. This is due to an employee taking on a new position at DHS as an eligibility worker. Someone wish
to enter that resolution? Enter that resolution Mr. Chair. Entered by Commissioner Casa. Is there a second? Second. Second by Commissioner Severson. Any discussion? Will the clerk call the roll? Yes. Commissioner Casa? Yes. Commissioner Ekstrom? Yes. Commissioner Edwitt? That is passed. The next one is consider a resolution accepting the resignation of Garrett Everett, Patrol Deputy effective 02/07/2025. Someone wish to enter that resolution? I'll enter that resolution, Mr. Chair. Enter
by commissioner Casa is there a second. I'll second second by commissioner Ekstrom any discussion. Hearing none will the clerk please call the roll. Yes. Commissioner Ekstrom. Yes. Commissioner Edwin. Yes that is passed. And the last one I have for you is to consider resolution to fill the vacant patrol deputy position. Someone wished to enter that resolution. So moved. Enter by commissioner Severson is there a second. I'll second it. Second by Commissioner Casa. Any discussion? Hearing none,
will the clerk call the roll? Commissioner Severson? Yes. Commissioner Casa? Yes. Commissioner Exner? Yes. Commissioner Edwin? Yes, that is passed. Thank you. Moving on. We will consider resolution approving the drainage ditch inspector contract. Moved. Who wish to enter that resolution? So moved. Enter by Commissioner Severson. Is there a second? I'll second it. Second by Commissioner Casa. Any discussion? Will the clerk
call the roll? Yes. That is passed. Finally under County administrator consider a resolution accepting the employment contract for the County administrator as Melanie Ashleman. Someone wish to enter that resolution? So moved. Entered by Commissioner Severson. Is there a second? I'll second. Second by Commissioner Ekstrom. Any
discussion? Hearing none, will the clerk please call the roll. Commissioner Severson? Yes. Commissioner Casa? Yes. Commissioner Ekstrom? Yes. Commissioner Edwin? Yes. That is passed. Other items necessary but unknown at this time. Moving on, County Commissioner items. We have members of our American Legion Riders here today and they have worked very hard building and
putting together a Freedom Rock that stands on our county grounds now. It looks excellent. And I know walking by many, many times, there was you and others out there doing the work. And it's just amazing to me that you put this all together and not only got the funds together to complete the project, but used your hard work and backs to get it done. So here to ask to
enter a resolution designating ownership of the Freedom Rock to Freeborn County. And as we do that, if you gentlemen would kind of come up forward, I'd appreciate it. Someone like to enter that resolution? All into the resolution. Entered by Commissioner Ekstrom. Is there a second? I'll second it. Second by Commissioner Casa. Any discussion? Mr. Chair, just Yes. Really appreciate it. It looks fantastic out there and it's been wonderful,
just over the course of the year to see people. Just when we come in and out of the courthouse, I'll see people out there observing the rock as well as I see people sitting out by the picnic benches out there now so thank you so much it's a wonderful addition. Any other discussion? Hearing none will the clerk please call the roll. Mr. Severson? Yes. Mr. Casa? Yes. Mr. Ekstrom? Yes. Mr. Edmund? Yes. That is passed. Thank you. I just wanna shake your guys' hand if you don't mind. Yeah, me too. And
as long as I'm up here first of all want to thank the county for allowing us put that on your property that was at almost three years ago was that two and a half maybe. But we appreciate the opportunity to put it there where it should be. And I also wanted to thank Brad and his staff they were immensely helpful to us while we're doing that to help us out. And we had a lot of other help too. This is just some of the committee here. There was a bunch of us, but I just wanted to thank you guys
for allowing us to have that there. I think it's a great addition to the Veterans Memorial and stuff and you're gonna get a lot more people coming to see it, I'll guarantee it. People do travel around and see that, so. But thank you guys for everything you did for us too. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, Alright moving on approval of claims. Someone like to enter that resolution. I'll enter that resolution Mister chair. Entered by commissioner Casa is there a second? I'll second. Second by
commissioner Ekstrom. Any discussion? Hearing none, will the clerk please call the roll. Mr. Stevenson? Yes. Commissioner Casa? Yes. Commissioner Ekstrom? Yes. Commissioner Edwards? Yes. Claims have been passed. Mr. Chair, before you adjourn under County Commissioner Items, can I just add something? Oh sure. Have something too. Okay good. We had been asked the question just again since we weren't all together, asked the question about having Mr. Pettis stay on once Ms. Ashleman begins and I think that's
a fantastic idea so I just wanted to share my thoughts with you together as a board. I think it would be really beneficial to have some overlap there. So I just wanted to let you know my thoughts on that. Okay. I would like to actually congratulate the Albert Lea Area Tiger Wrestling team on winning the section one triple A championship. I think it would be cool if we could maybe invite the coach and couple of the wrestlers and just show them some recognition. I
agree. Do you have something? I do. Okay. I thought I've been saving it for the whole time because I've been so excited. And it's not a great my daughter's a hairdresser in Minneapolis. And yesterday, we got a text from her and a call last night after she was done. She was specifically requested to do a haircut for the border agent that was shot in Vermont back in January. He's
originally from Minnesota, and I looked him up. He's from Blue Earth and graduated from Fairmont High School. His name was David Christopher Milan, and Taryn was requested by the family to do his hair for his funeral service that will be this Friday. And I don't think I've ever been prouder of my daughter. So thank you. Thank you. Anyone else have any comments? All right. That brings an ending to
our meeting. We are adjourned. Thank you. Thank you.