All right. >> Do you know our commissioner? >> I don't know everyone. >> Okay. Well, we can >> Billy Spear. >> Okay. Nice to meet you guys. Uh I'm Anthony Fresh with Western Services. There was a quick hand on it's just our
for some reference uh information. Um basically what our office is kind of made up of. Um we are operating under a joint powers agreement between the counties of Bigstone, Grant, Traverse, Stevens, and Wilin. Um this has been in
existence for octa years. Um our main function is to provide supervision for gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor, and all juvenile case loads. Um, what I've been doing in the last probably year is hitting all the boards is kind of giving them an update on where we're at with
everything, what we do, and uh, kind of explaining the delivery systems in the state of Minnesota and kind of that landscape and how that's changed over the last couple years. Uh, currently in my office, there's myself as the director and I have two agents, full-time agents and a uh, support
specialist as well. I am also an active agent. So I cover the counties of Stevens and Kickstone. We have a full-time agent dedicated just to Wilin. We have a agent in Grant County here who also doubles as our juvenile agent. Um
she is also a what we were calling a school uh preventionist, so to speak. Um and what that is is it's a position we created a year ago. We finally got it into the schools about uh Christmas last time. uh last year rather. And what this
is is this this agent will be in the five big schools. Um we just don't have the the the resources to put her in all the schools at one time. But uh we're there to support the counselors, the principles, uh teachers, staff. We're
kind of there as a tool. We're kind of there as a resource. Uh you know, for example, there may be a student or something that's having some issues, problems, concerns. Um, we're there to offer support resources as need be. Um, we did go around all the schools and
explain to them what we would be doing and that we are not shopping. We're not shopping for clients here. We're not looking for kids. We're not trying to find kids that are um being negative or having delinquent type behaviors, putting them on probation. We're doing quite the opposite and that is to
prevent these individuals from ending up in our our juvenile justice system. So, um, that's something we've been leaning really hard on in the last, uh, few months. We're going to begin the school year here in another month, and hopefully it'll be off and running on a full-time basis. So, that's kind of the
makeup of in a real quick nutshell. I don't want to take up a lot of your guys' time today, so I'll just jump into uh, kind of the outline of the delivery system in the state of Minnesota. There should be this form. I think you guys got this. Okay. Um, in the state of
Minnesota, probation is is um broken down into three delivery systems. So, you have the Department of Corrections, and I will I will point out that Itasa I I scratched off here. It's got red lines. That's that will need to be changed, but um there's three delivery
systems, and this is kind of an outline. You'll see the ones that are blue. Uh the department of corrections has a footprint there which means that they handle all the felony uh case loads for those counties. Um the next delivery system is uh DOC/CPO.
CPO is county probation office and that's what we operate on. Uh which means that again we will cover all the gross misdemeanor misdemeanor adult case loads as well as the juvenile case loads. And within that same region we operate, the Department of Corrections
covers all the felony cases. The last delivery system is CCA and those are designated in the white areas here. Uh CCA is community uh community corrections act. And what that designates out to be that all all cases
in those counties are controlled by the counties. everything from a juvenile case load all the way up to a felon uh felony case load or a person coming out of of uh prison on parole. Uh they control and they supervise all those case loads. Um
there are a couple other there's the federal system as well as the tribal government. We'll get into that, but this map kind of designates the breakdown. You'll see the ones in yellow. Um all the ones in yellow were DOC/CPO counties. The ones that have the red
marks on them, you can take I task out. I got a little little results there. Uh but the ones that have the red marks on them have now gone to a CCA platform. So for our region, Ottertale, Pulp County, um you guys probably work closely with
other commissioners from those regions. Uh they have left the C CPO world we call it and entered into the CCA um zone. And what that means is they're covering all felony case loads. Now u there is an expenditure that they have
taken over as well as uh manpower. The doc has no longer a footprint there. Um which resulted in their agents coming out of there. I don't think Ottertale County brought too many over. Um a lot of those agents were relocated to
different assignment areas. Um, the reason that I I'm bringing this to all the county boards for your information and as you you mingle with other commissioners throughout the state, when I took over Western information services approximately 15 years ago, there was 26
uh CPO counties. As of today, we are down to 13. Um, and I have five of them. So, there's been a significant shift. And you'll see, I think the last page here, this is kind of where we're staying. Everything that's highlighted
in yellow, these are the remaining 13 counties left um under a CPO designation. So, in recent months, everybody has has been talking about, you know, where do we go from here? Do we stay where we're
at? what's the best what's the best objective moving forward. Um I will tell you in April I attended a conference there was a couple counties that did go CCA that are uh maybe lamenting on their decision. Uh they thought it wasn't
going to be as as large of a transition or a use of resources as it is. So there is a few counties that are maybe questioning their decisions on that. But um by and large, as I indicated, in two years, we
lost all these counties. Uh so that will be a dramatic shift to the state. What's two years going to bring from here on out? What's the next five years look like? Um so, as I bring to the counties, I want you guys to be aware of these things. Um
I am not here addressing budgetary issues. I'll tell you this that our budgetary um our format came down in July. Um we're well funded void of any uh need from the support of the counties. Right now my
department within the five counties uh were essentially self-funded through the state. The monies that were allotted uh under a single source of uh funding source from the state developed I believe it was about three years ago maybe four years. I don't remember. I
bring it up at our one of our our meetings, but I don't recall. Um, under that formula that they created, our our region, our fivecount region has come out in a very good position to afford the counties
almost zero uh financial obligation. I think there's uh there's four retire well there's two retire three retirees, two agents and a support staff and a spouse that are still covered under some type of uh long-term health care um
which equates to approximately under $5,000 a year divied up amongst count. So on the grand scheme of things it's it's it's nothing. So um so from a budgetary standpoint we are very we're
in a very good position. Um, however, globally from where we want to go supervising uh people right now, we we work in conjunction really well with the Department of Corrections out of Morehead. Um, the felony office has
designated two full-time agents in this region. There should be a third one. However, they're having a tough time keeping that agent within Bigstone and Traverse County. I believe they're on sixth or seventh agents. People will come out, they come out to greater
greater Minnesota and they realize they're in greater greater Minnesota and they put their six months in and 3 months in and then they they transfer. So, um I know one of our one of our counties to the south um there's been some contention there because they can't have any consistency with their felony
supervision. So, um it's a concern of mine of moving forth. Um you know, two years, three years, like I said, 5 years from now, uh CPO counties may not not exist. We may not have an option. Uh it would either be, you know, you go
full-time with the BOC or you go, um to a CCA type format. If given my option, I would definitely choose a CCA format. Um I've been in this business 26 years. I've had the opportunity to work in all three of these delivery systems. Uh, by
far I like the way the CPO is designed. Um, it gives us the opportunity and latitude in our in our region and our our department to kind of create certain programs and and uh implement them as needed um without the structure um and
rules and and uh statutes that are required to do some of the felony work. So, I like that. But I think uh if we get to the point where we have to decide format is the direction we would we
should go. What that does um it provides a format for local local control. Uh the Department of Corrections about a year ago kind of started a campaign of going around to counties and saying, "Hey, we we can provide complete
services um juvenile all the way up through felony uh supervision in a more efficient and and effective manner and and kind of the we we know best type of type of platform type of attitude." Um I don't know how that's possible when they
don't utilize local resources and know the people locally. um in our office um including including myself I'm I'm from Dumont Wheaten area originally um everybody in my office is local everybody in my office u born and raised
I went to school there um and from my perspective I think that that lends itself into small communities of what we need and um I'm not going to say we know best but we kind of know what what we need here um so that's something that I
think is important Um, from the other aspect of of uh C CPO counties, we just don't have a lobbying power anymore. We we most likely won't have as large of a a footprint or a vi a voice with the with the legislators
moving forward. Um, we're still kind of as a group, there's still some of the the CCA counties that are attending our meetings and we're getting information. We're sharing some trainings, that kind of stuff. But um by and large I think our footprint is in our wo is is going
to be diminished further we go down the road here. >> So >> I got a couple questions. Uh so you know uh the uh DOC if if if we went that route we would
lose that money right the 150,000 a year. Well, what happens is so each county under the funding formula, each county was designated for their gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor, juvenile cases, for example, us, uh, we had $75,000. The DOC in that county was
$75,000. So for here, you have $150,000. Um, if you went doc, you lose that $75,000. That $150 goes directly to the DOC and you have next to zero ability to manage that money. Yeah. So then uh the uh you
know with with the CCA then that whole 150,000 would go to we'd get five. >> Correct. Because you're you are you are providing um the entirety of supervision. So you're you're providing
the felony services as well as the gross misdemeanor misdemeanor in addition to this funding formula. the way, you know, for us, I I I have some close colleagues that sat on that that board that generated this funding formula. Um, by
far, um, Western Probation Services came out very good compared to the rest of the state. Um, the funding formula is based per county, but it's also based on numbers. So, historically, and Miss Vipon here, Sheriff Vipon, she can
confess to that. she was in our office for a while. Um, we were at number adult numbers anywhere from 400 to to 450. So, the state now is paying us per adult case load. So, there's the 75,000
per county plus each case load, open case load. Um, and that ends and flows all the time. Um, so as we sit here today, um, the budgets out, we we we got our monies
for, uh, 2027. We know what that looks like. What's it going to look like next year? No idea. Uh, we can kind of plan and say, "Yeah, um, it's going to be $75,000 every year per county moving forward."
Uh, as we all know, uh, we will have a new governor. of whatever political party that is, that can affect the uh the money end of things. Um we know that the commissioner corrections there's talk I I don't know any specifics on
this, but there's talk that he's getting to the point where he would like to relinquish his position and retire. So there's always when always a change with regime, there's always a change with with the way money work as well, right?
Um, I would assume probably the next year after that the funding formula's been in a full four-year cycle, they'll probably sit down and take another look at this and go, "Okay, did this work? Is this not working?" Um, so the answer to your question, yes, we
would receive all that funding. What that funding would look like and how much, it remains seen, right? Um, we got to clarify though the the 75,000 currently comes to Grant County doesn't actually stay in Grant County. That all goes over to probation.
>> So that's I mean that's not when you say that Grant County would lose that. We're just passing that through. But it's not like we're paying other bills with that. >> No, no. That money that's coming in is for correction money period. So um and
Traverse County is our fiscal host. So all that Stevens County, uh, Wilin County, Bigstone County, uh, you guys, it all goes to Traverse County and Traverse County. Yeah. >> But one thing there too though, yeah, it's not our it's not our money, but
we're not lying like we used to because we used to dump in like around 50,000 a year for probation. >> Yeah. >> Right. Well, so historically under a CPO designation originally designed um the
state was to provide or offset costs at 50%. That was their that that was their designated portion. The first couple years that worked okay and then it started slipping down to 48 45 38. I mean I've seen it down around the early
low 20s. Um, and that was basically how this whole thing a few years ago got started is, hey, the state, they're making more mandates saying, well, we can't fund this, so where does the money go? It goes down to the counties. You guys got to come up with the money, right? Well, they looked at this and
said, well, your your current funding source at 50%, you're not even providing the 50%, so we got to figure something else out. And that's where this whole new funding formula came came about. The good part about the funding formula is that everybody essentially is in the
same boat. Doesn't matter what uh delivery system you are, whether you're the Department of Corrections, CPO, or CCA, you're all receiving that same designated line item. So, um for us, Grant County, uh gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor, and
juvenile case loads, you're receiving 75,000. Klay County is receiving 75,000. Uh Hubard County receiving 75,000. um Henipin County is receiving that 75,000. So big or small, it doesn't it didn't
match, right? And that's why we've come out at a pretty good lake here and been able to to offset any of those costs. Now, obviously you guys know this, you've seen some of our our juvenile auto placement costs or bills come through and and they're they could be expensive. Um, so are you
you're saving money and that's one thing I'm always advised counties that right now we're in a good spot to where it's not costing but it does cost you some of these outlier funds um is to plan accordingly for the future. Uh historically our out of home placement
costs have kind of kind of driven down a little bit but it takes one event with two or three juveniles from your county and boom now you have three four kids in placement at around rate of about 10 to 15,000 a month. So it can get expensive
significantly. So which uh and I will throw this out. Um, I had two conversations and several emails with the then uh deputy commissioner corrections regarding how we can use our monies and they absolutely emphatically would not let us
spend that money our monies on auto replacement costs. It's a definite need. It's an incurred cost and it's a cost that the county shouldn't have to pay for uh because the resources there uh was shot down at every turn to to the point of having legislatively
this statute in front of us going line by line um and still the word was out. So we go do that. But Tony, comparing the three different delivery systems, do
they track outcomes? >> Oh, yeah. Yep. >> Is there someone rising to the top or to the bottom or what's your >> as far as offenses or >> just a desired how how operationally what's the desired outcomes? Is one
better than the other? you know, and again, I'm I'm speaking from from my experience. Um, certain delivery systems work better in certain regions, right? Um, the Department of Corrections may have a better understanding of more
urban type or larger city um outcomes and practices. Um, what's going on in maybe say example Klay County, the city of Morehead is not necessarily beneficial than what's going on in Breenidge. what's going on in Breenidge and Wheaten and Morris maybe not so as
beneficial to what's going on in Rochester or Mano. Um you know a DWI is a DWI, right? It really doesn't matter in the state where it's at. It's the component of how that person got the DWI, right? Um the factors in
which same thing with with drug offenses. Um, obviously some delivery systems offer maybe a better resources to fit in with um, certain fences. I don't know if that answers your question, but um, I think
from a perspective of taking CPO completely out of this, I hope that we don't get there. I never would have thought when I started this, you know, you you look at the numbers in 15 years, we started with 26 and now we're down to 13 with five of them right here. Um, I
never would have guessed that, but here we are. So, I think from a a future perspective, if you took CPO out of this completely and went CCA and DOC, you really have to decide how much local control. And I and
I and I will say that repeatedly and uh and I have I have counterparts. I have some friends with the Department of Corrections yet. Um and they will say, "Well, you know, you still have local control." Well, you don't because it's it's being mandated at higher levels and
pushed down to regional offices that are then in total delivered out here. Um, you know, for example, um, when the the agent left the Big Stone, uh, Travers, the the felony agent, the last agent,
uh, she resigned her position. They haven't filled that, and that's been two years. Now, you know, the Department of Corrections is well within their right to do whatever they want, but I think there's a need for supervision out there specifically for those two counties, but yet the Department of Corrections hasn't
backfilled that. and they're supervising it from their regional office at Morhead. Well, that's 90 miles from Ortonville to to Morhead. Um supervision standards, living in an area and and being in an area and seeing folks on a
daily basis. Um that to me holds a lot more than than monitoring uh uh people from afar. It just it just does. solid. >> One other thing there, Tony, too, that you know, your citizens in in Traverse and Grant and stuff, they're they're talking to the probation officer about
clients. Yep. >> You know, I seen this guy over here doing this, I seen this guy over here doing that. So, you you get informed of uh a lot more information. >> Well, and here's I was thinking about this this morning. I mean, um, I have
coffee with the ex probation officers and the county sheriff almost on a daily basis, every morning. Um, I make it a point when I go to my counties, I go talk to the sheriff's departments. I run down quick. I'll talk to the social service folks. Um, you always get an
airphone. Did you know about this? Did you know about this? Did you hear this? Um, you know, even locally, I I live in Wheaten and you go to the hardware store and someone say, you know, who's this new guy in? Does anybody know what this? So, I mean, I think that's a value added
that that can be replicated from a state uh perspective, right? Um, the state will make mandates, they will send them down to the counties and say, "Hey, now go ahead and and work work this out. Do it do what you think is is beneficial."
Um, so again, I'm I'm not today I'm not here to to promote cheerlead one way or the other. I'm simply here to provide you guys with this information. I will tell you this that there's some DOC counties uh specifically uh Becker
County uh who has approached their board and explained to them um you know kind of the delivery systems of where they're going. What does that mean? Becker and Manomomen are pretty well attached up in that region. They're both um felony offices. I don't know if there's an
angle. They're they're they're looking to go in a different direction. I have no idea. Um but I know that there's talk. I've always uh encouraged all all the commissioners in each one of the counties. You know, when you go to your meetings, talk talk with folks. you know, if you can get a get to hear the
guys from Ottertale County and Pulk County specifically and ask them how are things going um you know, on this transition and and what what were kind of your decisions to go in those directions. I think it's always beneficial the more you know and the
more you can share and and uh and whatnot is is imperative. So, >> another thing too, Tony, is that if if we could talk, you know, we're at a meeting where the other five counties, you know, that we're all in this together, you talk to the commissioner there, too, to see what their thoughts
are. Yeah. >> On going one way or the other. >> Yeah. Like I said, and I talked to the DOC uh supervisor, Dale Arnold. Um, if you guys are on that that u uh criminal justice advisory
meeting, uh we're both on there, you know, uh we work we do work rather well together. When he started, he said, you know, I kind of like the way this is set up. And I said, I have no problem with that. I have no problem with it whatsoever. It works well as long as it's continue to be beneficial to the
communities and work forward. Um, you know, going forward, what does this look like? Again, we do have one county and it it's specifically the county attorney, her and I had several conversations over this. Um
they're feeling a little left out that they haven't replaced their agent back out in that region, right? So, um you know, there's more of a movement than that direction. Um, but I think right now everybody is kind of just comfortable and waiting to see what, you
know, November and the first of the year brings and um, and go from there. I never want to put the counties in a position to that all of a sudden now we don't have the funding support from the state and now it's going to be me coming
to the boards asking for uh $75,000 to offset costs, right? Well, if you but if you go the other route where you're adding additional staff, it's no longer 75,000 you're asking. >> Correct. At that point, it's going to be the 125 150,000.
>> And and I have been asked this, you know, what would it look like? And and I flat out, it's a minimum. Right now, um, you know, with myself, I have two agents. We did this for a number of years of just two agents. Uh, so we did have add another agent. But if you take on a felony case load, that's a whole
another whole another mechanism. And that's at least three more agents, full-time agents. Um, the staff is one thing. Adding the staff is is is a component, but in this region
out here because there's just not a lot of people to pull from. So, what you want to have is good quality people that want to come out here, stay out here. that that's that's the trick to any of this, right? Uh getting people who have ever been from here or understand what
what this environment looks like out here. So, it's getting good quality quality people as well. So, I have one other thing when you do place someone on out of home placement that we get an email notification. I'm not worried about the who the person is then what
the plan is because currently we'll get a bill and it'll be $20,000 but we don't know was that three months ago is that current is for two weeks or is this two weeks of a six month stay you know so we can >> for our budgeting purposes budget
>> yeah um we can work on something what that would look like I can just tell you um on average you're looking at anywhere from 8 to 12,000 So, anything above $12,000 most likely multimonthal month.
Yeah, most likely multimonthly billing. Um, but typically these auto license will bill every every single month, >> right? But when we get a bill, we don't Okay. Is that the first month or is that the whole state or do we have
>> four more anticipated months coming up? >> Okay. Okay. We can we can probably figure something out. And like I've said before that is I don't know your makeup of costs across the board right the county costs are significant
>> well that line item we have it it's its own entity in our overall but in our general fund so it's not associated with the department. Okay. And it's probably one of the least predictable. You have a cross >> and everybody seen the big bell and
panic going is this the first in six months or I started when I started Traverse County within five months I had six kids. It just it just happened. And I mean these kids were stealing cars and wrecking cars and breaking into things. So within the first six months I had six
kids in auto placement for up to a year. And I think they thought what did this guy do? Right? you know, and you can't predict that behavior. I mean, it's it's feudal. >> Well, it's 9:00, but uh we're going to stop, but uh I just want to make sure, Tony, that everybody knows that this is
a fivecount deal, and if anything gets changed, it has to be all five counties agree. Correct. Right. >> Correct. Yeah. It will be a it will be a consensus. Um uh under the joint powers umbrella, it's a consensus. So, three
counties agree. The other two are are are in. It's just it's a consensual thing. So, okay. I'll leave a couple cards. If you guys have any information or any request for information or further discussion, go ahead and call me. >> Thank you very much. Okay. It's 9:00.
I'll call the meeting to order with the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Okay. Before I before I uh ask for the public comment, I just want to I just want to make one little statement here. Um, we had a tragedy up on I94 uh this uh weekend where several people
lost their lives and I just want to make sure that David knows that we're thinking about those families that lost their families members and uh we're also thinking about our EMS uh crews that were out there,
the fire departments, the first responders um extricate and keep a lot of vehicles and uh the lifelink helicopters that came in uh to uh to transport the injured to the hospital. And uh
hopefully I want to say we we I want to think about the family members of these responders that go out there, the law enforcement people and uh because they see in the faces of their loved one what
they just went through. And uh so we're we're fortunate to have the responders. We do because there was a lot of them out there. And uh and I just want to tell them thank you. Okay. So public comment. Does anybody have any public
comments that they want to talk to us about today? Any any public comment? I don't I don't see any. >> I Well, I got some comments. >> Okay. It's on the uh sheriff's budget, not
sheriff's office or sheriff's department budget and something for you guys to look at since I think we all need to do our due diligence as uh public officials to do research. and tell me to review it today,
but that's a plan to reduce our sheriff's office staff from the current levels to get in line with what we can afford. And
it's listed in there what what's compared to other counties of comparable size. And it also shows uh financially how we can do it, how we can do it scheduling. I think we can be do a better job of scheduling our
deputies. And we uh reduce the hours of service to uh I forget what I did there. 20 hours to 24. But uh yes, I'm
this isn't the only issue we have within the county, but this is a start. And uh so yeah, I just gave it up for you guys to review. If you like an email of it, I can send you the PDF and you can have it in your file. And uh
yeah, that's it. Thank you. Okay. Is there any other public comments? >> I got a question for Mr. Carlson. >> Yes, sir. >> Obviously, you put a lot of work into this. Was it mainly with your
financial hat on or your public service hat or did you wear gold? >> Pardon me. was the work you did. Was it mainly with your financial hat on or a public service hat or did you wear bold?
>> Well, it's like lots of things. Um, in life there's things uh we always want, right? We always want lots of things. Hell, I want to keep three schools open. Hell, I'd love to have 15 deputies, whatever.
I want a 8,000 foot house. What can we afford? So to answer your question, yes, full. And that's why I did re I did there's research in here. This isn't a this is not an oped.
It's a plan uh derived from sources, uh from the state, uh other counties, everything. So this is not an oped. This isn't Boone Carlson saying I think we got to do this because of this. This is
This is a plan laid out. scheduling is actually I I I showed how we can schedule these deputies based upon how other counties do it because I from one thing I notice uh
with our political system especially local level we all come in here and saber rattle and maybe create some change but unless somebody's going to put together a plan
gets changed. So that's why I went home after I don't know a while ago and started thinking about how we could do this cuz I know that's always the question. It's not that people don't it's not that people don't agree with you. Everybody sits there and says, "Well, how are we going
to do it?" So I put together the how. I um and this is just a starting point. I mean for for you guys if it's your
decision but as I just felt with something to put together everything gets started with something on paper and from there it can get it can be a better plan and I think it can even be better than
this but that's with your guys's input and help but I truly believe like I said last time I was here you guys been given an opportunity with the cities being disgruntled about the contracts to
really comb through this budget and really see what we need for deputies in this county and and what we can afford and how do we still keep a level of service that's satisfactory
what we have and the other thing the taxpayers don't understand is from what I can understand the new building isn't even in the sheriff's budget. So that we still got to pay for that and the staff.
You know, we all live in a real world. That's like having your house for free, right? My house is in my budget. If I'm going to build a bigger house, I might have to make some cuts somewhere else. Yeah, that was a long answer. Sorry.
>> Thank you for your work. >> Yeah, no problem. No, I um No, that's fine. Thank you. >> All right. Approval of the agenda. Mike, I talked to you previously about adding
under human resources the deputy treasurer discussion. Y >> I'd like to add that in. We shouldn't shouldn't need any more time. >> Okay. So, let's see where would be. Okay. Okay. All right. >> Okay.
>> Then with that, I'd make a motion to approve the agenda. >> Yeah. Troy Troy makes the motion to approve the agenda. Do we have a second? >> I'll second it. >> Okay. Doyle seconded. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I.
>> Okay. >> Approval of the meeting. I'll make a motion to approve the minutes. Okay, we have a motion to approve. We got a second. >> Second. >> Second by Bill. All any further
discussion. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Post. Say motion. Motion carried. Approval of the warrants. Motion to pay the bills, Mr. Chair. >> Okay. Bill made a motion to pay the
bill. We had a second. >> Second. >> Second by Troy. Any further discussion? Hearing none. I'll call the question. All in favor say signify by saying I. I. >> I. Uh. Opposed. Motion carried.
Okay. So, we'll move into the discussion of the uh Grand County uh wind uh energy ordinance. We we were presented with some material there, the pros and cons.
>> Reed is online. He's at a conference, but he is online as head. >> Okay. >> So, if there's questions for the materials, he is available. those you guys we all read our our information there some
good points pros and cons I guess um I guess the only thing I was looking at was uh you know if we do nothing you know some things could probably happen that we uh probably wouldn't uh like or
whatever so I don't I guess I'm thinking wouldn't be a bad idea to probably have a moratorum for a year to start working on this. You know, we'd have to start working and looking at stuff, but uh that's just my thoughts. Anybody else
got any thoughts on that? >> Well, I guess I have a question. I I don't have a problem with moratorium. I mean that is there to gather more information but I would have a problem if we were to change our ordinance order.
>> Oh, I see. >> So I mean is the timing of the moratorum now knowing that we're going to spend the next let's say 6 months on solid waste before we would get to the the wind. You could run out of moratorum
before you get anything done. >> I don't know the answer to any of that. That's my concern. I don't have a problem doing it. It's just I would question the timing get closer to being done with the solid waste before we put it on. I I don't know the answer to that.
>> I got a question, Mr. Chair, and maybe you guys can, you know, fulfill that question. These federal credits are shrinking as we speak for some of these, you know, these companies that want to come in and do this kind of stuff, right? So it's it's just going to be an
investment groups that are going to plug this in and try to keep that that alive and well and you know moving forward. So if the government doesn't get involved with this stuff, you know, it I have to believe that and I've talked to the people that own the Roseville stuff down
there, you know, it ain't what it was cracked up to be. It was a good sales pitch in the beginning, but in the end is, you know, they got their money back and that's about it. So >> yeah, and I I don't know all about the federal I know that there was a federal
tax credit that you had to start a project by July 1. They did hurt up there with the back. So to me that means they started the project. Um, I don't know all the details about when it has
to be complete and and my worry was just with all the communication they were having with Reed. It sounded like they want to do something very soon. I have been checking with the CUP or with the PUC and I don't see that anything has
been um no application has been filed yet, but that doesn't mean it's not in process. So, it's just not actually filed yet. >> There isn't transparency enough is what you're saying, >> right? And that's that's my worry. Yeah.
>> I was told that they had some meetings down in Wheaten. This is a couple of years ago and the general public was not invited, you know, so there were some people that walked in and they knew that they would probably be a negative feedback from it and they were told to
leave. So they're not being very transparent with with what they're doing here, you know, and and so a moratorum I I support 100%. >> You know, and I'm a big fan of, you know, growth and where we're at and
what's happening, but you know, I have to believe that we should be looking at nuclear more than wind or or solar just because it's it isn't sustainable long term. >> That's the way I see it. We got we got land in this county that we should be raising food on, not worrying about the
wind. That's where I'm at with that. Got a question, Mr. Chair? >> Yeah. >> Reed, are you can you hear me? >> Yep, I can hear you. Yep. >> To follow up to Commissioner Johnson's comment and the chart that 2028 estimated adoption
in relation to the proposed potential moratorum address that because it feels like we have a potential gap and what can happen. There's there's something in that comment or question that you had
and I we got to have you address that. >> Yeah. Um so I'll just kind of Troy mentioned that we've been working on solid waste here for a little while. Um the hope is that there all those changes we've been discussing at solid waste and some of the ones we've been making along the way here will all be ready to go
January 1st to 28th. What that means is all that ordinance stuff that we've been leading up to has to be done, signed, adopted, everything by that time, you know, and there's a lot of timelines there that you have to meet. Excuse me. So that's kind of that part. There's not
a gap to me anywhere where we're not working on an ordinance for the next couple years. Um, we just finished that admin ordinance. Uh, we have the buffer one coming very shortly with the state dumping out their new model with the stat statute changes in 24.
Um, there is some potential changes here coming with shoreland because of the public waters inventory and they started that in May with no timeline of when that will be. Um, that kind of gives us half of 26 maybeish and mo all 27 to do
solid waste. Um, that's on top of the everyday normal things that we do. Right now, I don't have time to even start working on most ordinances most of the time. You know, I pick at it for an hour, a couple hours here, and then I'm off to who knows what, like today, off to a conference for a couple of days
here. So, and then as far as the start work, the folks over in Rosa there started uh the couple months ago, they reached out. They've been talking for a while. um they were all gung-ho about 18 months ago and then all of a sudden it kind of with the federal credits and
then with some other uh things inside their business that just kind of slow rolled them. They've just been kind of holding steady with nothing right now. Uh the last I had talked to them, they had no plans. They don't know what their plan is. Um they did a couple weeks ago
go and dig a a 5 foot by 60 foot wide hole. Basically, it slopes to the bottom as what they would call start work, but in all of their documentation, it basically is a start work as far as uh meeting federal credits, not start work as actually committing to doing any sort
of project whatsoever. >> So, if we did the 18-month mortorium, that gets us to basically rounding to January 28. We can't >> it gets you to the same time. can't have
an ordinance completed by January 28th. What happens in the interim if there's applications if there's projects or phase and what >> currently our ordinance meets all state requirements um there is abilities say they they do require a PUC permit
there's abilities to comment there and add uh conditions from the county board or from the pack they need a condition use permit we can add conditions there so say the setback is 200 ft well say the county board feels it should be 500 you can add that condition when you guys
approve or don't approve the application. That's one of those conditions you can add. Um but that's kind of ideal there. Even if we start now, your timeline is about the same. Maybe a little sooner if you do the moratorum, but not not really because it
all depends on the timeline of a lot of other things, a lot of ordinances. So, and the plan remember if you look at that priority list is to take those four ordinances uh public utilities, wind, solar, and the tower ordinance and mash them all
together similarly to what they did in Stevens County to make kind of a energy ordinance of types of some sort just so that we don't have to have myself or Ruben or the land owners and taxpayers go through four different ordinances for one project. It kind of spelled out
exactly what it is, what they need, how it works. Any other questions or thoughts? So, yeah. wonder this how long can a board coming
last statute and it says up to one year initially and then it says up to 18 additional months if more study or planning is needed but when I'm reading that that means it could be a year and a half two year two and a half years right
>> that's my understanding I know the second time you push for that extension though you need to have some pretty good documents and reasons why it can't just because well I didn't have time to do it in that first year. That's not really a good reason to, you know, the folks who are applying or even to the rest of the
public to on why things haven't moved. >> So, basically, we got we would have a year and if we wanted to extend that, we'd have to show some pretty good information as to why we're doing that. And uh yeah,
>> so once again I could ask another question of the board. So we've heard from people that are for a mortorium or potentially against
the expansion of wind right large and I don't know if we're planning for us to make a decision today but should we have heard from those who might be for it? I just feel like if I got to say hey or nay, I don't know
if I'm ready to and I maybe I miss something, but I I just got to be honest. I Yeah. Well, I suppose the people that are for it, they they know that we're having these meetings and uh I don't see them here, but uh you know I guess I
wasn't planning on a motion today, but uh I uh I'm certainly leaning towards uh doing that. Um but uh you know I I think we should but you know they they they do
know that we're meeting on this and I would think that they would have approached us their coordinator or whatever to get on the agenda and argue that a little bit because I'm sure they're out there. I'm sure there's pro people out there. There's that's just how it is on every issue. So
>> So one more question. And Reed, do you have a recommendation? >> Um, I think my recommendation kind of was that priority plan. That was kind of the whole idea behind the plan was to try and show kind of what our outlook looks like for the next couple of years here. Yeah, it's subject to change and things
come up and you shift things around, but at least the immediate ones are we've started making some pretty pretty good jumps and some solid waste and the messaging and education and all that. That that one has to be next. And that one is a, you know, from the AD's ordinance that's going to take quite a
bit of work just to get it, you know, into a readable, you know, usable thing. Right now, it's pretty difficult to use. So, I I'm either one is fine. I agree with the folks in the room that something needs to be done with the wind ordinance. That's the one about timeline
when But no, I don't have either one. That is up to you guys. >> So, Mr. Shar, I got a question and this is a question for Reed, too. Do you think we should get everybody in the room that that is directly affected, whether it's a pro or a con, and get a
meeting this coming winter, and put it all together so everybody can it can voice their opinions and and their concerns and the whole nine yards and then get get a face-toface time with this and do it like maybe in that Herman area being Stevens County is probably,
you know, directly affected as well. and then they could maybe show up and we can hold this thing in like Herman or maybe the school or something or what whatever whoever decides where the location is. It doesn't make any difference to me but I think we need more thought on this and
we need more people in the room. >> That's a moratorum does. >> Yeah. >> Gives you more time. >> It does. I agree with that. But we still get we should to K's point get more people in the room. You know what I mean? to just see the pros and cons and
where things are at versus shutting it down. >> You're not shutting anything down. You're a mortorium just gives you 12 months to come up with the plan. >> Correct. I get that part, >> Bill. I I don't if you don't mind. I I don't want it to turn into a I hate wind, she loves wind. This is a an
ordinance issue. This is we have a very old ordinance. This isn't about We don't want to because wind is a very emotional thing for a lot of people. And I just I don't want to see it get to that point where it's just a big fight over who
wants win this, who doesn't. To me, this is I brought this up to you guys because our ordinance is it's old and it just needs to be updated. It's not about loving or hating win.
If they do proceed with the Hoffman one or even a new one out out by us, it's we don't have an ordinance in place to support any kind of restructuring or a new wind farm anywhere in the county. >> Yeah. The townships addressed any of
this as well either. >> Uh we haven't had to. Um, but just like you guys waiting for Travis County to come up with their ordinance, we would just wait to see what you guys would adopt because obviously as a township, >> well, like I said, I support a morator.
>> Yeah, I moratorium are easy. You just you said it and then it gives you time to figure it out. Like like Charity said, we already have an ordinance in place that's outdated. >> I agree. and the and the moratorum just says, "All right, moratorium,
no new projects because we we're in the process of updating our ordinance." That's all it does. That's why there's the the uh 18th month, you know, like you said, that's at at the end of 12 months if you don't have your ducks in a row. You just can't take the next 18 because
in the past that had been used as a stall tactic against projects, any project. That's why it's 12 months and and that's and within 12 months you we'd have to get that done up.
>> What are you saying? We won't till 28. >> Right. That's and that's my concern is I came here two years ago and asked for it to be revised and was said, well, let's wait until Stephen and Travers come up with them. And that's why I came forward again because I got nervous with like
we're two years out from when I was here and we and now we're two years out from now to get anything done. And that's why I think the moratorum should be put in place. >> The discussion isn't about
>> win. It is you enact a moratorum because you've identified deficiencies in your existing ordinance to prevent the bad project from going forward. I I get it. So, back to
Boom's comment, if we're not ready in a year and it's not a stall, we could still use the 18 month if we're working on it based on Reed's scheduled time frame. Well, Reed is right that you would have to
have good reason for it and you don't, you know, if it's a matter of if if the ordinance is drafted and you just need public comments and meetings, then you would extend it, you know, not for 18 months, you might be extending it for
three months to finish up the the work that you need to get done. But Justin, if if uh say some company was trying to get a permit, they could press you on what are you doing here
actually, right? I mean, well, show us what you're doing then. >> Correct. >> Then we would have to show that we've been working on this. >> Yep. >> So, if you're not, they're going to probably slip through the cracks on that one, >> right? But I trust that Reed Gilbert
work on it. >> Yeah. Well, he's he's saying he doesn't really have time, you know, but I I understand, you know, sometimes we probably have to try to get something going. But, uh um so Reed, another
question. It's not a matter of if, it's when. Would you agree? >> Yes, that's that's what I'm saying. It's a when thing. And I'll point out charity did come, you know, a couple years ago. I was around then. between time she came and the time we to
recently that's when the whole solid waste thing was shifted and that's when we started to take time to go through solid waste and realize and operating at pretty much a 40 50 year you know look back for a while now
and everybody in the county costwise budgetwise everywhere that's where we said hey this ordinance needs to and then that led to okay if we're the pieces and dominoes fall for which ordinances are next.
>> These other counties that are working on this, are they do they have moratoriums going? >> They're done. Well, Travis County is done because >> Stevens County did not. >> Pardon me. Travis County went to the moratorum two years ago and they took the 12 months to
draft their new ordinance which is now in place. >> That was Steven. >> Travis. Okay. Stevens never had a bar trying in place. >> Okay. >> They came up with one pretty quickly. >> They came up with and well like we we've all been in well not all of us but in
government last times we did in our North Ottawa we adopted a ordinance you know feed lot ordinance. We didn't draft the damn thing. We went to another township that had one >> similar >> similar to what would work for us
>> and we read through it and and adopted it. And I think the county can do the same. We can read through Traverse's county. You know, we can >> So, Mr. Chair, I got a question for what So, what does the the Traverse County ordinance state? What where where is
that where does that lay and where you know is there teeth in it or you probably have read it, right? I haven't seen. So I don't know. >> I guess I'll deal yield to charity. She knows more detail on on the on the >> whole very extensive. Yes. And so is the Stevens County one. So they're both
online. You can go I mean I think they're 34 pages long. The Traverse County one. >> Are they pro or against? >> They can't. They can't be either. They're there to protect the public
interest. So what happens is um a lot of these old ordinances might have been drafted without the the knowledge we have today. The height of the towers, the length of the blades or the size of the solar farms. Setbacks weren't far enough on old or because nobody thought,
you know, it wasn't an issue. So nobody really cared. But I can tell you nobody wants a wind tower within half mile of their house. Those are the type of things that were addressed. um disposal, those types of issues. How do we get rid of them when they're shot?
Those type of things are addressed. I think uh when ordinances get updated a lot of it just with new knowledge that we have today that we didn't have 10, 15, 20 years ago, you know, we can't put ordinances in place to stop projects. We put ordinances in places to protect the
public interest. Um actually and then the state government will if if your ordinance is too strict the state they somebody who wants a project can take your ordinance to the state and say hey this isn't right they're basically just blocking the whole thing they I mean and
the state can override you so you kind of want to find that line where you're protecting the public interest but still within the rule of law. >> Mr. Chair I guess I got one question before we move on. would I mean ideally the goal is a completely rewrite of the
ordinance would updating the ordinance in the intern. So we've talked about setbacks and I don't know what exactly they are. Let's say they're 500 ft but we're talking about an 800T tower. Would updating those setbacks allow us to proceed to you know we get
into January and now we put that moratorum on with the plan of getting the ordinance rewritten. you know, do we can we resolve some of these issues with an update rather than a complete rewrite? >> That's so
>> I don't I think you want more than just the setbacks in place because the road use is a huge problem too. if they were to come in with to repower those 10 turbines down there with big cranes and all things, there's I mean it it can
really affect roads and um and if they went bankrupt next year, then guess what? That's your problem to fix all those roads up that they they wrecked. So, it's not just about the setbacks. There's many things that go into the ordinance. I'm not opposed to, you know,
if we are worried that the Hoffen one is going to be repowered, um, put some setbacks in right now, but, uh, I I still feel like you're just kicking the can down the road and just creating more work for Reed or whoever has to do the
interim ordinance, I guess. >> Reed, are you still on? >> Yep. I'm sorry. So option three under cons you got revision to this ordinance isn't until 28 pot the potential for projects before with no ability to pause
them. Is that >> when you do so when you do a moratorum you basically are pausing any more development of said whatever that mortorium is on they can't do anything now until that ordinance has been updated. Um there are some different
ways of if a project has been applied for whether or not that positive or not is kind of case by case. Um currently we have no projects proposed, no new wind uh farms or anything like that. Current folks who have them, there's things they
could do. Even if we did update ordinance, they would require nothing from us. There are things they could do that would require things from us. That was in that other ordinance fact sheet that's also part of the board packet. So my question was your option three was
that assuming that there's an interim mortorium in place? >> No. No. My my assumption was that we didn't do one and that we rolled with the previously talked about plan and then because our ordinance does still meet all the state requirements. We
still have some teeth in different ordinances or other things that we would be incorporating into the update or the revamp. But no, that was my point. >> I never get it either. >> So my my assumption was that we would
not have a moratorum and that our current ordinance covers what it needs to as far as meeting all the state minimums and still giving us the ability to the project comes in. Yep, you meet the wind ordinance. Yep. You meet these ones, but you still need use permit. We
can still attach on condition. And then in 28, we would start that. Take all four of those, get them. >> Justin, could you give us a recommendation? >> Well, it's up to you whether or not you're satisfied. you know, I think that
there is a risk associated with not entering a moratorum and getting um you know, some an application in the interim that doesn't address things. You know there,
you know, this is different, but you know, there was a time maybe a year or two ago that, you know, all these farmers were getting mailers from solar companies and want the these solar panels and it was all fine and dandy,
but you know, the bond to remove those panels didn't kick in until after five years. if you know a solar company is going to go belly up or you know I'm assuming they're creating a a separate entity for
every farm that they put up that's going to be in the first 5 years and you're going to create big problems you know so you know there have been deficiencies that have been identified in the ordinance and if you want to correct
those without fear that you're going to be stuck with those on a project that you know occurs or it's applied for at the interim. The best way to do that is with a moratorium. I I I do agree with that because you
know that's always been a concern of mine if somebody applies here big big big companies and deep pockets and things like that. So >> Mr. Mr. Chair, could I ask that you're the representative on the planning
advisory from the board committee? Could you guys come up with a plan whether it's a moratorum, you know, we come back a month from now, so not the next meeting, the one after that, and let's have a plan. Is it we're put a moratorium on right away, we're put one on in December? I mean, let
let's have a better idea of a plan how we're going to get this accomplished. >> Yeah, we could we could do that. uh Reed could call that meeting and we can do that because yeah I I just think that there should be
a moratorum but we we can plan that and if if we can get by for another month that gives it another month on the other end I guess >> I got I got another question for Justin you stated
the risk factor if there's someone waiting in the wings following this decision today and present us with a plan. Has are we too late for what Troy and Dwight just addressed? If
there you go. >> If there's risk, the risk then lies on us today. Well, the other side of that is if you don't have a plan and you get right back here at 2027
and we don't have an ordinance rewritten, it's under the old one. >> Yeah. >> The one that it's the same as today's. I mean, the odds of get from what I've read, the odds of getting that 18-month extension is you got to be waiting for a study that won't be done.
But the risk of not getting it done is less than the risk of someone proposing a plan that we can't do anything bulk. Will it be the same you get here on July 22nd of 2027 if we put it on today and
we don't have that ordinance done which the information we've been given is saying it probably won't be. We're operating under the exact same rules. >> Why wouldn't why couldn't it get done? The information we've got currently is saying that that's not and the board has
passed adopted this plan that that is number three on our priority list with the completion of it says 27. No, that's all the waste. >> How long would it take How long would it take to get another county's ordinance and review it and make changes? I mean,
honestly, we're not reinventing the wheel. >> Okay. Well, with that, uh, we're going to we're going to set this on the agenda for August 18th, uh, and the planning commission can, uh, we'll meet and then
we'll, uh, we'll we'll make a recommendation. That sound okay? >> Yeah, Mr. Chair. Yeah. Are you sure? Am I sure? Are you sure we should delay
it? Oh. Oh, I see. Okay. You're But you're >> Well, I if we listen to council Yeah. >> and risk >> we're willing to apply the risk factor and put it on the next I just saying. Are you sure?
>> Well, I'm not hearing motion. Well, I can I can enter if if somebody wants to entertain a motion. Oh, well, I'll do that. So, is Reed, are you still on? Yep. I'm still there. >> So, we did something and back to Troy's
comment July 22nd of 2027. Is it possible to delay one and fasttrack another to get something in place? >> I think it's more likely that we end up working on both. It we can't not do one to do the other
because then you just delay the rest in it. uh solid waste. We have been planning and planning and planning since we were given solid waste in 24 wind because those newer ordinance than majority of the other ones minister was
picked for a later date. Um we can make things shufflings around but I have a feeling that we're going to be asking for that extension when it comes to July. Uh Reed, I got a question for you. Um if if we pass this moratorum today,
would that be one of the first things that you'd look at then is getting a hold of Traverse County's ordinance. >> I have copies of Travers and um Stevens County ordinances. They're online. Easy peasy. What today you'd be doing is telling me that you and Tina that you
want to do a moratorum and then you need to do the whole moratorum process with noticing and all that. It's an ordinance. It's interm ordinance. So that has to get you know taken from somewhere updated to be what we need it to be and then brought back to a public meeting with the correct timeline and
then done again. So the date wouldn't start until all of that has happened. >> Okay. Well, >> I have a question. Not really just in moratories in general. Can you can a person, company or individual, can they still
apply for a special use permit within a moratorium process? >> Depends what they're applying for. >> Okay. I I would just I I don't know why I thought that in my head right now. Like I said, if somebody was to come over,
>> they can, but they it can't be approved because there's a moratorum in place. >> Oh, okay. Okay. So, does anybody want to make a motion? >> I'd make that motary, don't we? do the one year more term to women at risk and and we
get to work. >> Okay, Kenny made the motion. Do we have a second? >> I'll second it. No, you're you're talking about an intermator, correct? >> Okay. So, Bill, second that motion. Uh, any further discussion?
>> So, you you mean to get the process started? Yeah, there's things that got to be done. We got a hearing. There's a lot to it. Whatever. >> Oh, we heard recommendation from Justin. We've had a lot of discussion and and I
I understand the date. I think we have an opportunity to limit that limit that risk even if it's only 30 days or the risk there may be. Okay. All right. Any further discussion?
Uh hearing none, I'll have the coordinator do a roll call here on this. >> Doyle. >> I >> can >> I Okay, motion carried.
All right. So, we're a little bit over on that one, but it was good discussion. >> Um All right. So, uh we'll move on then. Uh Commissioner Johnson Troy Planning
Advisory Committee application. >> So, you read in the the board cover sheet that we've got two applica applicants for it. And we to my knowledge, we haven't had this before. So, how does the board want to proceed? Does do we does the board want to spend
5 minutes, 10 minutes talking with the applicants? Do they want me to do that? Personnel committee. How do we proceed? We've got two applicants and we need direction on how to proceed to narrow that down to the one.
>> Okay. Well, I read the one. Yeah, we read them. they they both had their inheritance in there. So I don't know any thoughts on that how to go about with that. So we will be making a decision not just
based on what with these applicants but basically a long-term decision since this could occur in the future also. >> Right. I mean we to my knowledge we've never had two applicants for the same spot on the board. So what I would say the answer is for the district one pack
member would be the same answer for the strategic planning which that doesn't have a district tied to it but well I I we used to you know like in our districts before we had this procedure
but we would just nominate somebody and so I would then leave it up to you. >> Okay. And that's fine. I I would like to meet with both of them before I would come forward. I just didn't >> want to go through that process and then
have the board say, "No, we should all I I'm open to whatever." >> I I think they should come in front of the board. I think that's that's the start of a you know, it's a professional setting, you know, and it is government, you know what I mean? So, you it would be good to do facetime with them. I
think that's my personal fine with that too. >> I think we should have the personnel committee make a recommendation. >> So there's our third option, right? >> Do you have one? >> Yeah, I do. I mean they're going to be
on the planning advisory committee. I think they should interview them. They know what they want or they should know what they want, I would think. Well, there's four. I I I'm kind of out of options there. Oh, I'm going to go to
Doyles. Yeah, I'm going to Doyles. >> Well, then I'll make that motion. >> Okay. You want to You got that T of the motion in a roundabout way. >> Motion was made by Doyle, seconded by Troy Carrie to have the app advisory
commission make a recommendation to the Grant County Board for the district run seat. >> Yeah. inter interview and make a destination. Okay. All right. That's the motion. Any further discussion?
Hearing none. Uh all in favor signify by saying I. >> I oppose. Same sign. Motion carried. >> Okay. So, same question but for strategic planning. >> Yes. >> I would point out there is a difference,
right? because they're planning advisory commission. Each district has a representative that sits on that that board. The strategic planning committee is made up of department heads, two commissioners, and three public seats. So, it is it is a little bit different.
Um, and I just wanted to make sure to to point that out and also to point out the fact that it's a good problem to have. This is the first time we've had multiple applicants for seats on county boards, which which is good. Well, I guess
we could that could probably be the full board, I guess. But there's only one applicant, right? >> No, there's two for this. >> If there was one, you just proceed with >> Oh, I thought there was two for the >> There's two for both of them. >> Oh, there is.
I didn't scroll down on the second one. far enough. Okay. So, yeah, I I I think the board probably should make the decision on that one. That's my thought. Bring them in front of the board.
>> Give each of them five minutes and >> Yeah. Yeah. We okay with that? Do we need a motion on that? >> I don't think so. >> Okay. All right. We'll bring him in front of the board then uh when we when Tina can get that set up. So,
okay. Uh moving on. Uh human resources here. >> Um I'm wondering if you're running on the because I have not heard work with the on. Um, so I'll bring that back when we we'll make an agreement with the
union. Um, the added agenda item was the the treasurer position. So, we have a finance technician position. Um, we have well, two were approved in the treasures office. However, um, we have not filled
the full-time finance tech position. Um, we do have a maternity leave coming up in the fall and instead of hiring a permanent full-time just because there's there's not enough work to justify a full-time, um, we're hoping to hire a
temporary full-time finance technician to cover the ter. Um, and then we also have a temporary part-time that comes in, but we have to stay under the the amount of hours. Um, and the days that
the this individual has left, he'll not cover the maternity leave. So, I'm looking for a full-time temporary uh finance type position to fill that maternity leave, which would be done um would end in the spring.
>> I think we said first sign off and then the offset go back to normal function after that. >> Okay. So, I would make a motion to have a temporary full-time position in
place of one of the full-time positions be unfilled. Okay, we have a second. >> I'll second it. >> Second. Any further discussion? >> Hearing none. All in favor signify by
saying I. >> I opposed. >> Same sign. Motion carried. >> Thank you. >> Okay, >> next up would be law enforcement finance options. Mr. Chair, I got so good. All right.
I'm sure So the the excess wages were remember we pulled all of the wages and wage related expenses out of the budget last year when we were just a wage.
This amount here was test once they were plugged into the into the budget. So that is just the access It's it is about half this
unit based on that roughly 3,000 per house. We're now saying that's a Glad the city that's contract covers the 342. What's important?
Okay. Law enforcement finance options draw. Yeah. >> Just one second. So in the packet was Cowboy Lakes letter and you guys received by email the Herman the letter from Jeff Neighbor from the city of Herman. So you guys all received that
letter. So you have that letter with what his proposal was and then the letter from Jeff Olsson from Elite was earlier. We didn't >> that was a couple three weeks ago. >> We had right before the last meeting. There's nothing.
>> So yeah, my name's on there. You know, we our timeline originally when we started this process discussion, I believe back in May, that in July, we would start eliminating options. We also talked about putting
dollar figures. I know we had them before, but putting dollar figures with decisions. Obviously, you know, there's now a proposal from Herman and an offer from Elbow 8, which would it's not reflected in either one of these documents, but
you can figure out I mean, if they're talking half of the income, then the assess or the values the impact would be half, right? So, that was just getting this back in front of the board to see if there was
options we wanted to eliminate. You know, I would like to have us pretty narrow down on the path we want to go by the end of August so we have budgeting time. So, it'd be really nice to have a a rough preliminary budget in August. I
don't know that that's going to happen, but it would be nice. So, you know that we've had the Herman and the Elake one, and I'm not in favor of those options. So let's say currently we have a $60 an hour loaded rate and we're
charging 58 for a deputy. There's $2 an hour that's being covered by the county for patrol time in a municip let's use Barrett >> $2 an hour. So if we went to the half the rate which would be $28 an hour more we now
have $30 an hour covered by the general fund for patrol hour in Barrett. 21 of that becomes just bare agricultural land at 70, you know, to 70% of it. So every hour that would be patrolled in Barrett would be $21 be coming off the bare
land. So if you have 6,000 hours of patrol time for the year, we can all do math. So So and so my two cents worth is that too I I I don't agree with either offer. Um,
my biggest problem is putting uh, first off, everybody knows my opinion on city contracts. They're a good deal for the cities. There's no doubt about it. They they uh, they don't have any liability. They don't have
equipment. They don't have personnel issues. They they have nothing other than to say, "Go talk to the sheriff if they're the problem." Okay? and and and I understand that. If I was on a city council, I would love that because uh it
just it just takes the liability off of the towns and and everything else that comes along with police protection. So, with that being said, I I'm not in favor of putting anything more on the farmers tax on the 83%
of the uh county to pay for police protection in in these towns. City of Ashb. I want I want police protection in Ashb. I want it and uh I'm willing to pay for it there, but I don't want to pay for Elakes or Barretts or
Hoffman or Herman. They they need to take care of that themselves. Then there's always this argument of we're paying double. Well, I can tell you this. Um that the calls come into these towns because there's people living there.
That's where your dog complaints are. That's where your unsightly premises are. Um, you know, uh, neighbor disputes. Um, people problem. Okay. And and and most of the people in Grand County is very
there's some, you know, there's I don't know what the ratio is, but there's way more people in the towns than out in the county. And when I was a sheriff for 22 years, law enforcement for 31 years, we didn't answer a lot of call down in Logan. Florence, North Ottawa.
Uh there's not many calls out there. Yeah, once in a while there's some serious stuff and we go ahead and they go handle that. But the majority of the calls, the calls for service are in the town. You got the parades, you got all of that stuff which needs to
be taken care of, which is a good deal. So, so yeah, I I don't know what we can do here. Um the the uh I I take like Stevens County, you know, they went B County law enforcement down there and uh
I uh I asked the question, well uh I didn't ask anybody down there, but I I found out that basically that Morris just turned over their levy to the county. They didn't they didn't come in there for a reduced rate.
So, so I don't know what the options are here, you know, if if we don't get this this levy because it it's it's so important, you know, that that 300 whatever it is, 350,000, you know, that's that's a couple
deputies, deputy and two, two and a half deputies maybe. So, and and the bottom line is there's less law enforcement in this county today than there was 40 years ago when I started here. Now, there was only two deputies, but uh but
the cities all had police and they were our backup. They helped us a lot. And uh so yeah, I would be when I was on duty back in ' 86 through whatever
probably five or eight years maybe when I was working I was the only guy outing but when I had troubles Billy's dad would come out and help me. Al city of Ashby Hoffman was out Barrett
Kenny Mo and Marlon Riley down in Herman. So, you know, there was a sense of security that way a little bit and they were good backup, too. But, you know, if we get into reduced deputies
and you get one guy out there, now we got the whole county, somebody gets sick or whatever, you know, you got you got some issues there that would on the safety end of it. So, so that's my spiel. I uh I don't know what we can do about it, but uh
but the cities are getting a good deal here. >> I'd like to make a comment. You know, we're looking at the analytics costs and talking about the city irregardless of whose name is prepared
by it happens to be Bo Carl cities here. Remember when he built the law enforcement center, they said it's going to be good for 50 to 100 years. ever if we don't at least look at some opportunities and I haven't
studied what boom's got here but if we truly believe that we're going to operate the same with technology and in this county in the future
we have to look at some operational savings and not just look at how to pay for the same old and and so we would be truly missing the boat if we don't look
at that piece and then apply how we're going to pay for it. >> Can I ask a question? Yeah. >> Are there and it's just >> I would agree. I think the city's done a hell of a deal for a long time. I mean, looking at what they pay, I mean, that's
pretty reasonable, right? Are they No, I'm not I'm not the city. Are they opposed to paying anything or they were they just afraid of paying more or what's their concern or what were you guys asking the cities to do? I guess I you know what I'm getting at. So, if a city was paying $30,000 a year, were you
looking at raising that or were they still wanting to be able to would they still pay the 30? Would they still pay the 30 today? >> Well, let me answer that truck. >> Yeah. The last offer that the county made was to freeze the rate paid for
this year for I believe three years because we tried redoing how the cities weren't happy with the 3% increase. So we tried going to a percentage of actual and then that was when we got into 25 and we had a large
overrun. So we offered to freeze it for three years. Now, we've had an offer since then back from what Dwight and I were addressing where we had Herman and then Elake where they essentially wanted to have the same number of hours but pay half of the rate of what they had been
paying. So, it was $58 and some change. I don't remember exactly what it was was the hourly rate. Our loaded rate is I believe the loaded rate depends on what all you put in there, right? But I believe it would be higher than that 58. So that's
where when I say it's the it's subsidizing that's where that comes from. >> Well, for context, the budget I have in here has that money. The cities, you know, freezed where it was at, you know, >> the 342. >> Yeah. Three I think I had 330 or 3 whatever. Yeah. 340. But just for
context, I I assume the cities would still I can't. But we've had a number of meetings and what we've presented here and I believe there's copies back there Tina of this. >> Yes, they're very important
>> is these numbers are assuming we've got 350,000 rather than the 330 or the 342. But that's assuming what the city's not signing the contract. So, we're losing that revenue. >> That's what worries me is
putting that back over on the overall county. I don't think that's right. So, um, Bill, do you have anything? >> Mr. Chair, I do. So, you know, I mean, if you want to talk about this contract in front of us, which I don't know if
you got it in front of you there, but you know, and Deb, she's in here, the mayor, the mayor of the town of El Lake here, proposed that the the cost of our contract with the Grant County law enforcement be 1/2 of the current 2026 rate,
which is 171,000, and the remaining amount from the current contract be made part of an overall tax levy for the entire county for 27 27 and 28. Okay. So, that's what's in this the city
levels. I'm not going to refer to Herman. They can >> I guess they can talk about it themselves. >> They make a comment. We we offer that as a proposal so that we can start a conversation between the
city and the county because there are some concerns that we have about we've had the conversation with Sheriff B and we do appreciate the service that this the um sheriff's department provides. It seems that the question at
hand is about code enforcement and code enforcement is important in all of the cities and that's that's something that if we need to have a code officer employed by the city of Ela Lake, we need to look at reducing the cost that
we have for law enforcement because that's not happening through, you know, that's not offered through the sheriff's department. So that's part of the deal. >> What's cold? Is that >> code enforcement is things like nuent properties?
>> Yeah. Ordinance with >> ordinance. >> It's a it's a civil or administrative process >> because what we understand is that sheriff's department provides the felony coverage which everybody pays for in the county. Our city residents pay a tax to
the county. I think this is exactly what we needed to know to see this number. like how does that affect our city residents if this goes like what what what would be be the impact because I think the reality is yes egg land they
have more um that is taxable than a city um owner possibly so you know there's that that piece we say you say that there aren't people out in the the county when you think about the number of lakes that we have if you look at the people that live around the lakes that's
probably more than some of the cities, but they're they're covered under, you know, the the sheriff's um contract. They did pay that as. And so our question is, what are the services that we've received extra that are under our contract?
Are they different than the services that are received out the rest of the county? We want equitable. So the things that a county resident no matter if they live on a farmland, they live around the lake receive, what are those services and are they the and do we receive the
same ones? So I think there's there's a conversation that we need to have and this is helpful and that's part of it and that's why we offer that option. >> But mayor, here's the deal that there way more calls in Ela Lake than the
rural county. There always has been and there always will be. Hubble Lake has the most calls for service uh in the county and unless it's changed the last nine years. >> 938. >> So it it all boils down to you get
people congregated and you got calls. That's that's that's the deal. Yeah, there's some calls out on Palter. There's not that not that many because there's there no ordinance violation.
Um very few dog complaints, very few citizen disputes out in the rural Grand County because they're they're spaced out and uh and it's just the it's just a calls for service above and beyond,
okay, for felonies and stuff. So, and I think and it was time consuming. I'll tell you, I I I I worked on ordinance violations for years and they're they're they're they're difficult. That's all I can say. So, you know, Mr. Chair, there
were three of us on this board currently that were here in 2017 when we added two cities and hired three deputies. And that's always been my view of the board's involvement in these contracts
is for x amount of money, we will provide the staffing for this many hours. So if we don't have the funding, I mean that that's always been my my role or my view of how this board is is
for that much money, we're going to provide the staffing to do that. And so that's exactly what I was getting at. If you look at the reduced service operating plan, they're telling us they're telling us to reduce the service
plan. We're just not hearing it. Yeah. And I, like I said, I wasn't on the board in 17, but I'd have been, you know, I can say that now, but I'd have been when I was the sheriff, I was really really cautious about taking on any more contracts. >> Well, because we we added originally we
added two deputies. And what we discovered then was we were at a staffing level where you actually needed another one because of all the vacation and then you had the military, all the additional things. So, it wound up being three instead of two. >> Yeah. And understandable when you add
manpower you're adding overtime holidays >> union the old wall of last and that's why I'm saying it's not a bad deal for the town it really can but uh >> but yeah >> so Mr. Mr. Chair, I got a question for
the mayor again. So, have you guys ever entertained getting back into the law enforcement business and hiring your own people? >> Have you have not done that? >> No. >> Okay. >> And that's not to say that we don't realize that that is a much more efficient, effective, and probably less
costly because we're thinking about the taxpayer than the city too, >> right? everybody in the whole county as a whole. That's where, you know, our our main stay is here. >> And you know what? We're a very we, you know, when you talk about Grand County,
I just did a I was kind of curious like how we would how many cities are larger than the entire population of Grand County. You know, we're a small county. We're not there's there's a lot of cities that aren't this size. And so it's like, you know, there's there's a
uniqueness to our situation in our small size at the county level as well as at our state level. So, >> well, this this is kind of, you know, I've looked over your plan here a little bit and options and things like that. You know, well, the level of service that you're looking for and this is a
starting point and this is what you're telling me here, but at some point, you know what I mean? can you can't afford our services and I don't know if we can afford to provide that service for you at a reduced rate. So, you know what I mean? There's got to
be some give and take here. >> Exactly. Exactly. And I I think too, you know, that there had been some uh give from the county because when they entered into this agreement with Ela Lake contract, they
their budget was a lot more than 170,000. So they, you know, I don't know what what they gained by coming onto the county, but it probably 60 70,000 you see. So there's some give there from the county to to the city. Ashley, too, I
can speak for that. They they went from a about a $110,000 budget down into the mid40s when they come on and and they were happy with that. And I I don't know if they're still happy, but they were really happy
with that. So So there's been some give there's been more give by the county than take that's for sure. and uh because we've always we've always uh never charged the cities for dispatching and stuff for the
fire departments and I would want to do that now but that's always been a you know out there because you know we're all working in the team here so but uh but yeah I I uh I just know how
important that funding is for the sheriff's office So, it'll continue providing good public safety. So, anyway, anything else? Well, and
I don't know that the response is today, but I mean, El Lake has made an offer, so I think that probably should put that on the agenda for the next meeting and respond to that offer. >> And then Herman do then? Well, yeah, that they're I think they're
pretty close to the same offer, but yeah, I you hit that, Dean. I think we should put on the agenda to respond to El Lake and Herman's offer at the next meeting >> if that's what the mayor, you know, she's saying this was a proposal, but
>> this is a proposal that we expected to have a response and have a conversation about this. Yeah. >> Okay. the the question another one that I have I noticed that Commissioner uh Troy you have a meeting planned >> is that for your district only or is that countywide?
>> I'm not checking where people live at the door that's >> has there been any thought that maybe that would be a good thing to do in each one of the the districts to kind of see where you know people are are thinking you know what you know the taxpayers
Well, I uh I guess it just depends on on who shows up. That's all I can say. >> That's always the case. Who shows up here at the at your at your county uh
commissioners meeting? Those are the voices that you hear. Yeah. >> Right. They're I'm not doing straw holes and but yeah, it's So yeah. So Mr. Chair, yes, we're in the process. The budget
committees working hard and I'm sure the departments and the auditor and I think we're going to be faced with a number of unfunded mandates and a number of departments. That's kind of what this is.
And so I just think if between the public safety committee and the budget committee and the law enforcement sheriff Bipon, I don't know what's in here. But if we only look at the funding side
of the equation and not the cost side, we are missing an opportunity. And we'll probably need to do it in other departments. We can't we don't just build bridges cuz we don't have the money, right? We
waiting for the money. Well, we got to look at this. Well, if you go back to the options laid out, this addresses the funding side of it. You know, there were potential cuts in the options, right? you reduce those out those 6,000 hours
you reduce those that's going to be addressing the the expense side. This is not all-encompassing going to solve all of our problem. This is what if you just put that straight onto the levy or the solid waste style assessment that's what
those costs are that but I remember and of course maybe Jennifer can address voting for the Axon program because it was going to use artificial intelligence and speed up this and save deputy time and I don't
know if we've had any savings or not. I think you asked Justin about that >> reports to kinder I would say um it eliminates
you know a lot of doubt as to what happened. Um, you know, I think when you were discussing Axon, um, you know, I shared that, you know, when I first started, we had deputies and squad cars and they were
pulling over people for drunk driving and, you know, we had a a challenge to every stop. Then we got dash cams and that shows you, you know, did you hit
the fog line? Did you cross the center line? Um, and we stopped having a lot of omnivous hearings on on stops, you know, and these are capturing, you know, everything. Um the and I'm not
suggesting that the reports weren't timely, but you know, when someone is arrested, you have a limited time to get them before a judge. You know, and when you have, you know, an event that happens at 3:00 a.m. I think the last thing that a deputy wants
to do is finish out that report and, you know, this technology is helping that so we can get people before the court in a timely fashion. So, um, you know, so it's been
good for, you know, the criminal justice system and >> Okay. Uh one other thing, you know, uh I think we really got to be careful though because we got to watch uh officer safety
out there. Uh and that's that's the only public safety. Yeah. But officer safety, too. They're the ones confronting uh these people. And uh sometimes bad bad things can happen and it's not not an easy deal out there. So there's a lot of
things to look at here though. Okay. So uh so how should we leave that? We're going to committees are going to keep working and we're going to set set
a a deal for the next commissioner meeting to either and go over th those two proposals and uh and then we'll either >> I guess I would also like to see us narrow down that list of options that was sent out. You know, there was I
think there's five, six, seven different options. We need I mean we're going to be in August, so we need to start narrowing down Yeah, because in September we got to set our preliminary budget. So, >> so Mr. Chair, I got a question for the
mayor again. So, are you guys coming with a different proposal than when what's in front of us here or is this >> We yet had a conversation with the county. I mean, this is our proposal. >> Yeah. But now I think if that were if I
heard correctly to review the options presented would that also mean that there would be some conversation with the with cities that have pro made a count offer but made a a proposal. >> But wouldn't that come after our meeting
where we're either accept or denied? >> Yeah, we'd have to >> when you start negotiating again. Well, if we're and if we're getting into negotiations, then I'm going to defer to Justin is if we're going to make a counter proposal, then I don't know if we got to close the meeting or I mean I
Well, Mr. Chair, we said if all five don't go in, it's enough. Well, so you're rolling the dice on $343,000 and they offered half, you know. Well, sometimes 170 is better than zero.
We're not going to address the expense side. We're just going to talk the money side. Take the 170 and distribute the rest and go on. I think that's what Herman's, you know, somewhat proposal was portion of it. Right. That's that I thought I should
>> like, hey, it's fine. We're done. We said that. >> Yeah. Well, I think we should change that myself, but I I I I still think that if like say if a city wanted to sign for the froze amount, I think we should take it. I've been thinking about
that for a couple months cuz I I don't know, but I I just think that originally there was some that probably would have signed. I don't know. But uh so to answer your question, Mr. and and Commissioner Johnson. So, say we
take half. Okay. Now, could the ordinances be on the cities? So, then all we do is the criminal end of it and then they take care of their ordinances. Could Could that be a proposal coming back and then it's it's half the work,
so it's half the money. So, it's you crack the workload in half. That's the type of thing we need to discuss. And then also I want you I know that you said that there's right there are more people here but we want to make sure it's equitable. Again taking into
account that people in Elbow Lake are already paying to the county through their county tax. And so the city then they get another part of that is that we want additional um law enforcement. My understanding is
that the the county provides felony coverage, right? >> You were currently paying that as as a and you had your own licensed peace officers, correct? You were currently paying that. The dispatches, you know, the the dispatch centers, the the
current law enforcement center, you know what I mean? you know, maybe probably, you know, accelerated that a little bit more on on some of the county taxes there, but the training, all that stuff, you guys weren't paying any of that for the deputies at that point. And you were paying insurance for League of Minnesota
cities for an umbrella coverage for insurance. And do you have that number? I've asked Jeff for it half a dozen times. He don't surface with it. So, what was that true cost that you're not paying anymore? Right. So I mean there's a lot of hidden
costs, a lot of over overage costs >> both sides and I think if we we just need to look at what how that affects our the people in our cities as well as the people that are not city residents that are just county residents. All of us are county residents.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But I mayor I always get back to this. Why why does Fergus Falls have a police department? Why does Alexandria have a police department? Then why why are there why Battle Lake have a police
department? They could just say county, you take care of it. We pay taxes. It's because of the extra stuff that goes on in the municipality. And and I know that's a little hard to understand, but but it uh that that's the reason is
there's people that are requesting services and need services more so than out in the rural parts. The other thing is if if you apply the levy concept
and you're paying double, what Bill was saying is your levy was higher having your own department just like Hoffman's was. >> Correct. >> But the effect to the taxpayer in Aland is better today than it was.
>> So we got to make sure that the math is been spoken. And I think what Commissioner Johnson's saying there is Hoffman came into a contract with Grant County in 1989. And uh they had a police department there just prior to that. And I don't
know what their uh budget was in in ' 89, but it it probably was, you know, close to what what they're paying now, you see, with a lot less liability and stuff. And and Herman the same way. I
know Marlon Riley came to the county in '91. So I know that in 1990 that their budget probably would have been what at least equal to the whatever they're paying now with 48,000 or whatever it is. So
that's years ago, long time ago. And and they're still not up to it to where where they are. And uh I know for the city of Ashby, same thing. they're they were happy with this and uh I haven't been told that they're unhappy. Uh but
uh so it it's it's just uh it's just uh that that's that's how I see it. It's it's that's why it's a good deal for the for the town because it's cost savings for them and a lot less headaches and uh and things
like that. So, but uh anyway, so we'll uh we'll put that on the agenda for the next meeting then and we'll we'll either say yeah or no or whatever to these proposals. Okay. And uh with that then
does anybody else have anything else? Well, so we're going to put the funding piece on the agenda for next meeting and we're going to put the operational piece reflecting this document that presented us.
>> I ask you guys to review this. Yeah, it might fix a lot your it might actually fix a lot of your problems if you look at it. >> I mean, I just if we're going to and I have no problem putting on next agenda, but I think we should we have something presented to us. We shouldn't ignore it.
>> No. And I'll mean I'll I'll put on the public too so your voters look at it too and they'll call you. >> Okay. We'll we'll do our homework on that. Take a look at it. All right. Okay. We're going to move on then. Uh
H levy request. Now I I uh I put this on the agenda. uh basically to I know the the uh budget committee met with the H and I guess I I haven't you know been told what what
that meeting consisted of and uh and then Ken Marshall letter to uh to us about the H. So, does somebody want to give us a spiel on how that meeting went with with
the H and the budget committee? >> Well, they presented their budget and you know, at the beginning and it so when you look at the letter, it says they want to be treated like a department of the county, but there we
met with them, they stressed again that they're completely separate from the county. So, I'm not sure which way that is, but they presented their budget and we said, "Well, that's all well and fine because they have to do that, but it still has to come to the board because that's what our policy,
you know, to me. What is the difference for them and let's say the treasur's office when money's levied and given to them, we don't review bills. So, the treasur's office, we're reviewing that after the fact." So, you know, to me, there's your
difference. >> Okay. So, what was their proposal? >> I've got it in here. I mean, that's it's the $200,000 again, and they've got, you know, budget breakdown for it, but our policy states they got to come and present that here.
>> Okay. All right. Bill, do you got anything? I just, you know, I'm I'm reading what a letter from from their attorney is, you know, you know, what as far as compliance with the statute. Can you can you refer to some of that, Justin, if
you would? I mean, what have we not complied or where we at on? So what the statute says is that the authority shall each year formulate and file a budget in accordance with the budget procedure of the city.
You know and in the chapter a city refers to any you know >> in the same manner as required of executive departments of the city or if no budgets are required to be filed by August one.
So, if the budget committee continues to have questions about the request, you know, if if you had if the budget committee had questions about my budget,
there's nothing that would prevent the budget committee to say, I got questions about Anderson's budget. He needs to come and explain it to the whole board. And that is what I understand. was discussed at the budget committee meeting.
>> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And I don't have questions as far as a budget committee member. It's it's forthright and it's it's laid out very well and you know it's got justification to it. I mean they got a lot of buildings to maintain and you
know there's staffing and there's a there's a lot to do there. So, you know, I feel the 200,000 is is is a fair ass being that they're they're maintaining a building outside in order they're maintaining their own business model if
you want to consider that, you know, and staffing and everything to track all that. There's a lot to it and these buildings ain't getting any newer. So, there's a lot of the maintenance to it. you know, you know, flooring and faucets and this and that and there's, you know, I mean, they've had fires and, you know,
explosions and all kinds of stuff. So, that 200,000 is I I have to believe is justified. That's where I'm at. >> So, Mr. Chair, I just need to say 7 months ago in December of 2025,
prior to that, there was a data request by a taxpayer and Mr. Andish addressed the need to increase the$100 to $200,000 and there were seven items. Four four of them were remodel the HRE current office, furniture and miscellaneous expenses
associated with the remodel of the new office, maintaining their new office, utilities, grounds maintenance, and new storage of $100,000. We gave them $200,000 and they paid $180
for the building. So they had $20,000 over and above what we paid out of our ARPA funding and they increased their ask by $100,000. Now the year before that they had $100,000 in 24. They had $100,000 in 23
and they had 75 in the two prior years. They did not demonstrate the need to increase it last year. Yes, they have a lot going on, but they specifically answered the request of a taxpayer with those four items
and they have yet to come back and demonstrate the need for the hund. And so if we're going to run some departments through the mill, then we should run them all through the mill.
Okay. Well, I I wasn't at the budget committee meeting, so I didn't hear what they proposed. So, maybe they proposed what they're going to use that money for, I would imagine. Am I right on that? So,
what do we need to do here? Uh bring them bring them in bring it up in front of the board. >> So, the budget committee does not have any authority to accept that proposal, but they can make a recommendation. the board has a policy that says they need to come before us.
>> Right. Okay. And I understand that. But uh the budget committee can make a recommendation. We've done that before, too. But no, we'll uh >> Well, what I want to me is Mr. Marshall is spinning this thing in statute.
Let's not forget the facts. The data was presented December of 2025. It did not lie. The current audit isn't available, but
the data remains the same. And let's not be spun with legal fees and legal speak. The data remains the same, but that's that's that old data there.
Now, this is new stuff what they're proposing. So, we need to hear that then. So, um, so we'll Dana, let's set it up on the next board meeting and first board meeting in August. H can
come in here and give us their spiel. How does that sound? That okay with everybody? Okay. So, that would be uh August 4th. All right. Anybody have anything else? We're good.
All right. Okay. Uh Grant County budget finance committee resolution uh budget amendment and Troy has some information on that here. Yeah. So
that's a resolution just to amend the budget. So when it was passed the it still contained the 50 that the board still had $50,000 in there for the fair appropriation which we said earlier we wanted to do 25. So this is taking that
25 putting it in with the excess budgeted wages and benefits for countywide. So we're going to amend the budget to have that line item be 77,133. really understand how we got there with the wage the excess waging budgets
our benefits excuse me. >> Okay, you guys, we all have the information in front of us here. So, >> I would make the motion to adopt resolution 2026 721- second.
>> Can you second it? Yep. Do we have a motion and a second? Uh any further discussion hearing? None. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppos. Same sign. Motion carried. >> Um
okay. All right. So we go down to committee report here because we we do have an afternoon session here for couple appropriation requests. So, but uh budget committee uh budget and
finance committee uh plan for bill preliminary budget gotten started. >> Okay. U building committee drawing bill. Well, you can see that we got a bill in the mail for the looks like
the flooring and stuff that we did at the courthouse. So that's about where that's at. >> Okay. That that looks very good up there. >> Yeah. >> Um EMS committee, Bill and Dwight. >> Well, we had a meeting yesterday.
>> Yeah. And uh we're keeping on discussing things. I don't know. Do you want to give a little overview on that, Dina? for >> so um Justin had provided a draft agreement that um the committee looked
at yesterday and we'll be bringing forward to the full board um when we feel like we got it um where we want it to be in regards to um equipment that the county uses levy dollars, the capital, the ambulances and stuff that
are purchased with levy funding. Um, so that agreement, we still have some work to do on it or review to do on it, and we'll bring that to the board when it's done. And then the committee also talked about inviting some of our local elected um, senators and representatives and to
a committee meeting and um, tell them what we've done here in Grant County as far as our sprint paramedic local plan and um, show them the budget that we're working on. So, if there happens to be any of that legislative funding left and
the pilot projects are sunseted, um we want to show them that we would be ready to um take on that if there's any extra funding and be able to put it to good use in the sprint paramedic program. Um the only other thing that kind of echoes what Dwight started with um over
the weekend there was really really bad um accident on 94. There were two of our sprint paramedics there on scene. Um, and it's it's a it's a good deal. We're we're making a difference in emergency
medical services with this program. And I think not only are the constituents receiving that care, but anybody passing by on the interstate or traveling to our county or here visiting are very fortunate to have the resources and that we have. So >> yeah, cuz like Tina said with I94 out
there, our our EMS is out there a lot. I can only imagine the pressure on those EMS people when you're extricating two people out of separate vehicles trying to get them out of there with all that racket going on. But they they did a
great job. control. >> And not only that, but the the support and resource to our volunteer EMTs and first responders that are out there trying to do what they can do, but they're limited, right, for their training. And when the paramedics show up, helps everybody on scene feel better
because they're trained at that higher level of care. >> Yeah. And then then when the helicopters come, you know, out where that accident happened, it's two-way traffic because they're rebuilding the uh westbound lane. They brought those choppers in and
landed them on that construction zone where where it was safe. And then these workers had to carry these people up to the guard rail and they had six people on the other side of the guardrail to hand them over and uh and get them to the choppers and uh so yeah, I I can't
thank all those people enough. We're we're lucky to live where we do. So EMS is a is a big deal and and I I gotta tell you this that the state's kind of looking at us here. It's our what we're what we're doing here. That's what the
reps tell us anyway. So all right, personnel committee. >> I think we're up to date on where we were. When we get hear back from the union and then come back here. >> Okay. Uh personnel committee Bill, did you get Matt's update there? No,
>> but I I can I can >> You have it in front of you. >> Well, let me I I guess I don't, >> but I I do have Matt sent me an earlier update on they're working on County Road 4 right away ac acquisition up there. Uh
you know, it's uh it's down the roadways, but County Road 4 is not in good shape and they're they're working on that. So, they're contacting all the land owners up there uh with with information about that. And then uh see
here, >> you got it there, Bill? >> I do. Okay. And if you want me to touch on this? >> Yeah, I would. Okay. On the maintenance side of things, Central Specialies has finished our class 5 stockpile south of beard. staff will be hauling and spreading gravel for the near future,
mostly completed with noxious weed spraying and we'll continue monitoring some of the problem locations. On the construction side of things, uh the bridge on County Road 52 is moving along which people and I was out there and took a
look at it and it's actually it's it's looking really really nice. It's a wood decking that they're going to cover with black top and it's it's very well built. So all right, I'll go back to what I'm reading here. We'll be working on back fill and building the road approaches
and completion by the end of August is on track four with Tony Tony Road 52 bridge. Work on CASA 20 north of Casaw will begin this week with the road closure to replace a culvert and
line a culvert. Roads will be closed during the cover work but not but not expected to be closed beyond this week. Pavement reclaiming and subsequent asphalt paving will begin next week and will be open to traffic for the
remainder of the project. Flaggers will be utilized when needed and more seal coat of stockpile gravel and requested temporary traffic sign locations, but we don't have an exact date for the seal coat project yet.
Okay. Is there more here? No, that's it. Thank you. >> Public safety committee Doyle. >> I think we've covered what we had. Good. Solid waste
beet. I don't think there's anything new, is there? >> Strategic planning committee. >> Haven't met since I don't remember when we met last. >> Okay.
Verizon public health. Well, we were we were there last Monday maybe. Yeah. And uh the new new leadership is in place there. He she seems to be doing a good job and uh but
it's uh totally new. The new finance guy was there. Uh and uh we we kind of asked him if he'd uh you know come around to each county board that they represent and give us a little feel there. >> But I think also our what we paid them
was going to be the same as last year. >> Okay. Yeah. Yeah. That's right. our our levy the levy request is staying the same. Um that recommendation came out of the finance committee to keep it that way. So we're doing good there.
Okay. There anything else? What? Okay. Western Perry Human Services. Anybody want to comment on that meeting that we had last uh Friday? I guess we just all got together with this time. So
they should have a range of estimated increases in the levy river hopefully by the end of the week. Okay. Not the preliminary levy but an estimated drainage of the increase.
Okay. All right. And with that then uh we're just going to take a recess here. Is that what we do till 1:00 when we have a couple more items on the agend? Thank you.
>> What was the fair attendance of the year? I had a quite a view. Really good. I think I was there Thursday night, Friday night, and it was really, really good attendance >> cuz my we were in the parade and that's
the least amount of candy we've ever thrown out. >> Barrett was even worse. I was surprised that we go through usually a bag and a half of candy at Barrett and we went through a half a bag
and I finished that bag and started the second one in Herman and that's always been two bags. So >> I thought both at least of course 95 degrees and 100% humidity doesn't help with >> Sanford you go through the prayer.
>> Yeah. Everybody tickled to see the old what was their last name? Narine. Wasn't that a Narin truck? >> And how wagers too? >> Aurora was their name. Aurora. Yeah.
>> I don't know what her husband's name. >> Pete. >> Henning. No. >> Henning. >> Was it Henning? Okay. I remember Aurora though. >> Yeah. >> She was school teacher. I remember with us >> hey librarian and taught like research
>> chad too there I miss that over now he was quite a character forget that first night that we did the flashlight down at the museum there he was sitting in that thing people were to kick and he hit the starter on the old
pickup sitting in there. Those people those flashlights would show. You'd see them. You had quite a sense of humor. Got a new project for you, Billy, too. >> Yeah, really help.
Stone bridge to take all those trees down. You can't even see the stone. >> I know. I I drove by the other day going to take some waiters and go down through the bridge and walk up to them. You know what? If you do anything there, I'll help you.
>> Now, we looked on our map and we don't know if it's on our land or heads land or the counties. >> It looks like it's in the rightway. >> It's probably in the rightway. I was going to ask that. Is that a problem to take down? >> Oh, they'd love trees. And
>> they love you to do it. >> Yeah. pushing them right away a bit. Yeah, I noticed that. >> But someday when it's cool. >> Yeah. Well, Bob and I are working on getting that contractor down in there and trying
to figure out a plan. I talked about maybe taking a liquor culbert like concrete culbert and tucking it right up close and then putting concrete on it and on the wall and putting some mesh you know like like chainling fencing or something like that and then blow
concrete on it. I don't know. It's getting expensive. >> You notice it Troy when you drive by it's right by >> I see it. You don't see it either. Exactly. You
did mow down to it. I see >> must do 25 >> or 21. >> Yeah. Bob's passionate about a chirby. He wants it fixed. Whose place is that? Right on the west
side. Okay. It was Earl B forever. >> Yeah. Okay. It's 1:00 and we'll come out of recess and uh first item on the agenda
is uh the Grant County Historical Society is going to give us a little spiel here. So go ahead. >> First of all, I'm Larry Gatsinger, the treasurer of Grand County Historical Society, and we have Patty Benson, the curator of the Grand Cornney Historical
Society with us. I guess I am the financial expertise and do most of the budgeting and investing and uh we're obviously a nonprofit. Uh we do not get audited. However,
our returns tax returns are prepared by Kelly Gerber and Anderson. So, uh, an audit is quite expensive or they don't do the financial reviews anymore, but they at least rec I reconcile the bank
statement. They get a copy of that and our investment accounts and verify all of that. They set up our depreciation. So, it's like a a mini review at least. So, everything is above board. Uh
this first sheet I think is in your packet is our proposed budget for next year and I showed you what our last year budget and where we were through the first six months to show you right where we are and in the
past we've been good enough for you to get $32,000 for the last about four years or so I think Um, and that it accounts for more than 50% of revenue in a normal
year. Uh, and what's not normal in the last two years, we've received some large estate gifts. Wouldn't you know, spam, too.
um that have allowed us to do some long overdue roof repairs uh and some expansion projects. So, I'll get into that, but uh typically uh if
you'll see our proposed revenue is about 60,000 and you're paying $32,000 of that. And that basically covers Patty's salary and her benefits within $200 of that. So, it can be allocated anywhere.
But, that's where I I guess we use it. I could say for example in the co year we didn't close obviously um and the biggest uh
variation in our revenues typically what do we get in donations and then you can go a normal year I'll say the worst year we had was co was about $7,000 and usually in the best year about $20,000
depending on we had we had two large gifts last year. received $124,000 gift from a deceased Palm Care Township resident and
the year before two years uh who got from a Elbow Lake graduate uh that works at retired living at I used to teach at Iowa State and work for uh US Atomic Energy
Commission gave was $70,000. Well, that's an anomaly. But what it allows us to do is we've got a new brand new furnace. We've got three brand new air conditioners. Uh
it allows us to do some of that. the >> the cab the work we did on the >> CO the 60,000 was designated for the work we did on the cabin which we're still waiting to get the chinking done on
>> yeah I forgot to mention yeah just raising and moving the cabin was $25,000 so but we put a foundation underneath it and it was sorely needed and uh chinking keeps
What should I say? Our guy that volunteered to do it each of the last two years has had her operations and doesn't want to get on the ladder anymore. And now we think we finally got another person out of Ashley. That's interesting. >> We had a couple of names to check off.
>> So we hope to finish that this year. But, uh, expense-wise, we're, I'll say, really conservative where we spend our money. Um, most of it, uh, is in the computer
support area. Patty has been good enough and been successful enough to get grants for multiple projects that we got going. Just read in the paper, we just got a $5,400 grant to
Why don't you explain it or? >> Uh, well, it's for a collections management software and a pilot inventory that we're going to do. Um, there's paper some paperwork. Well, we
got paperwork on some of the items in the museum. A lot of stuff that's in there that we have no record of where it came from. I know there's stuff that's been there, you know, longer than I've been there, of course, but uh so
this pilot inventory, we we've got a bunch of volunteers. We we call for volunteers. We've got like 10 people that came forward to volunteer to work on that. And we will be going through just a set number of items um to see how long it's going to take
for each one. For each item we have to take first check to see if it's got a number record, you know, get that in there. If it doesn't have a number, we have to give it a number. Uh we will put in a description obviously say what the
object is. Uh take measurements, take photographs of it. So we have a photograph connected to the to each object >> who the donor was. >> If Yeah. eventually that might not come
the first part, but um and then just kind of seeing how long that's going to take and then maybe possibly using that um to write a grant where we could hire one or two people to to work on it. uh
with the number of volunteers we we got, I'm kind of hoping that maybe we, you know, they're just willing to kind of keep on and and uh continue with the inventory without having to, you know, pay hire someone or, you know, put out there to hire someone, you know, if we
if we if they are willing to keep on at it, you know, with the number of people that we got, which was, you know, we put it out there hoping to get two or three. So to get as many as we did was a pleasant surprise for us. Um and
hopefully get you know even give some of them involved in some other projects even too and um with that. So and then like a couple of the other the grants we had a grant couple years ago to purchase a new microfilm reader digital
uh you know printer reader kind of thing. And then last year We did a grant to actually to order microfilm to get our newspaper collection up to date um on microfilm
at that but so I think we've written three grants and each of the last three years have been successful and all the one was 10,000 one was about 6,000 5400 so that's helped our cause immensely
um We've got, you know, ongoing uh the biggest variable is always what the insurance market's been doing. And that's hit us hard. That's up to about $5,300 a year or so. And that's
probably not this past year it only went up 3% for us, but the year before it went up 20%. It took that that hit. But everybody's experiencing that. and the utilities. But our donations we do
obviously the fundraiser doing Flea Fest the oldie sale that usually draws about $2,500. That's the biggest one day single event. So, but ongoing you know the gifts
I noted what are some of the capital projects on the repairing of the stone bridge on county 21 we've had a bid for roughly 17,000 that the board has approved. Uh we've also approved the
quanset roof repair is about 23,000. What's happening there is they've got uh what screws or rivets going down through the roof that don't have washers on them and they're starting to leak and the the
clear >> the skylights >> skylights are leaking your own sun. So, they need uh Prairie Ridge Builders has given us an estimate and they're on our list to make it. And same thing with
our little quants to the west of the building. We're actually going to expand that. That's got the same roof leap, but we're also going to uh insulate that and heat that and and air condition that so
we've got extra space. and we're going to tie it into the rear quite so we can use it in the winter. Right now it just gets snowed in. It's unusable. So we're going to add about 200 square ft to that
as well. Uh and that project's going to run roughly $80,000 all new roof. They got to put in a new concrete floor uh or addition to the floor because of the sweating once we put HVAC in there.
Otherwise, it just mold up. So, >> new post, too. >> And new posts. There's a couple rotten posts. Uh and then finish the cabin chinking. We're guessing that's going to run about five grand, too. So, that alone is about
125,000. And that's what that gift was. Uh uh although we've got still some money to spend some future project we looked at actually air conditioning the big
quantit and insulating it that and doing electrical upgrades but there's another $100,000 stereo. But we have not approved that. all these other 125 branches been approved by the board.
So, so I guess well we're hoping that we'll continue your continued support that the commissioners give at the Grant County
Museum and Historical Society. Well, we're uh lucky to have have both of you over there. I know Patty does a wonderful job over there. People tell me that I I've seen it over
the years. So So with that, uh I don't Does anybody want to make a motion to >> No motion? >> We can't do that. >> Informational. >> Justformational. That's because this wasn't on the That's why it wasn't on the bridge. No. Yeah, I
got you. >> And I think I can't remember whether it was Ken or Joy that asked about the investment account the 10,000 that basically we what we've done is put the money up in dorm doesn't make sense in the bank of the
west earning a half%. So, we've got invested in the Gabelli money market, which is basic US treasuries and T bills. And right now, I just checked with Matthew this morning, it's at 3.61. But most of last year, it was over five
and then it's dropped. Each time the interest rate drops, it it goes down. But uh current CDs I could buy for 4.1 today, but we know we're going to spend 125 of that. But at least we make use of
that money. They're providing us$10,000 of cash flow. >> Yeah. >> And there there, you know, Mr. Sure. If I can touch a little on this, you know, there's a lot of donated hours and time and you know what I mean? I mean, you know, you know, we we got to pay
somebody, so we got to pay Patty to, you know what I mean, to take care of the place and keep the doors open and things like that, you know, but you know, if we had to pay ourselves, you know, it' get ridiculous as much donated time as went into the museum. And, you know, there's there's certain things that we do and
things like that, you know. So I got a lot of time into that old log cabin hauling dirt out of there and you know landscaping and you know we we put up wood you that wood fence and you know signs out front and you know just trying to enhance it a little bit and then
create activities enough to justify you know staying open after hours and things like that on Saturdays and stuff like that. That's all donated time. And so there's a lot of donated, you know, inind contributions coming from a large group, whether it be your genealogy
bunch or, you know what I mean? It's it's it's it isn't a ghost town up there anymore. There's a lot of activity going on. The trouble is we're getting older. >> Yeah. Billy's been on the board for the previous nine years and he's now has to
be off the board for by our bylaws forever. >> Billy and for Hal Sanford and myself are the grunts. >> Yeah, >> we're the young ones. >> I have to be off for a year and then I don't know then you guys can maybe put
me back on again if you so choose. But it's, you know, it's just you you need, you know what I mean, the reoccurring people to show up to do certain things. Even right down with the parades and right down the helping move move stuff for the old sale and all
that. There's a lot to it, you know, just to be able to, you know what I mean, for the common good of keeping a museum alive and well >> and just, you know, I don't know if you you looked at the website, we've got, you know, gchsmn.org is our website. Uh is our web master
puts a lot of time has put a lot of time into that and keeping things updated and stuff on there too. >> Yep. And I say the same thing. Linda came on board two years ago. >> Two years ago. >> Well, I think it's longer than that now.
>> But we had just a static website and that's far. Now we can collect dues. We going to put a store on. It's retroactive. We're on Facebook. We're on our own website. Very dynamic. Ties in with Minnesota Historical Society and
other Minnesota Association of >> local history museums. >> Yeah, >> that's something too like with the inventory. Um the software that we have for that is actually in the cloud um that we that
they're putting it on and we can make we we we will be able to choose to make some of those things public if we want. Probably not everything that we have in inventory would go public, but there it's mcollections.org.
You can go on there. There's over probably almost 70 other museums that are using the same software and you can go on there and they have different you know things in their collection on that site. So then you know museums can visit
the other or the public will be able to go in and and u see what we have that at least the stuff that we choose to make public. There are things in there that for, you know, certain reasons that you don't want to necessarily make public
just, you know, if it's got a kind of a sensitive nature to it. But, uh, you know, there's a good chance that down the road a good share of our collection, you will be able to go in and online and kind of see what we have, too.
>> And we continue to get new donations and gifts come in every month. Lots of duplicate stuff. We're starting to turn. >> Well, yeah, it's got to get kind of particular on a lot of things now just because we don't have room. >> But that's it. We're out of space.
That's one of the reasons why we're expanding that lead. >> And yeah. >> Yeah. >> Hope and hopefully get reorganized so we have some better storage. >> And again, you guys are Zoom events for your meetings and things like that. you know, there's people that are, you know,
that sit and watch the meetings and and their their board members and it it lets you create a quorum and things like that. And if it wasn't for the Legion, Clint Grove and Steuart Anderson years back to be able to create that, you know, Memorial Hall, you know, for the veterans and all that stuff, you know
what I mean? That that just enhanced you, you know, the museum's meeting room, let alone anybody else that wants it. You know, the the veterans memorial board, they they meet up there. where I sit on that and think things like that. So, I mean it's it's it's a busy place.
>> The Legion donated that hall to the museum. Now, this year, the first year, we had some repair work. 30 only $3,200. They thought it was going to be worse where the the rubber bladder came off. >> The gable the gable end gable end
>> steel steel blew off the gable end. Patty Patty noticed a sheet of steel and we all looked and said, "Where where did that come from?" Jody Cruz went up there and goes, "I think you guys better address this. There was a great big hole." >> Yeah. >> So, >> happened to be out there looking for something else and noticed that that's where he
>> So, we there's there's more roof repair that's ongoing, >> you know, that that's that's time for us to do that. And when we all talked about it and kind of got some bids and move forward. So, and I have been to the last couple meetings, you know. So, >> and you were up since
>> I don't I'm not coming. You know what I mean? I get the emails and I read up a little bit, but you guys pretty much got it right. And this year's pretty flat year so far. Just revenue match the expenses. That's
that's what we try to do. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I got a question. If if is there any stuff for the oldies showing up over there? People hauling stuff in for that. >> Uh not yet. Uh I'm sure it'll come. I know people have asked about it. I I
kind of encourage them to, you know, if they can hold off maybe another week, >> you know, out already. >> Yeah. >> So, so we get so we don't get inundated all at one time. >> With with stuff. So, >> make that Troy wants to start on the
lean tune the week before the >> We got to clean all that out. So, but uh my owner donated her trailer for us to put it in and we're going to park it down by the
>> Strum the old >> lumber yard property. >> Yeah, the old Mard. >> Strum and Bson. Is that what you you were searching for those words? >> I just looked at it. >> The website I was looking at it is pretty nice. >> Okay. Yeah,
>> it's dynamic in the moods. >> Been a lot of work in the last 10 years I've been there. They've done a lot which is good. >> Flashlight added to your museum. What do we get 90 plus? >> Uh not that many. I a good year. I think
the best year we had seven, you know, 75 or so maybe the >> the one year, but then we also they have when they have trunk or treat here and that's usually before Halloween. So then when we had trunk or treat here in town, we're open then, too. And we have over
100 kids and adults that come in at that time, too. So, >> and the members guest dress up and different costumes. >> What does Bill dress up as? You don't have to dress up. >> No, >> I'm I'm one of them oodloos in the back
that that scare people. >> He puts puts on his >> Well, you got your >> He's got a sheet metal thing that he rattles that scares all. >> I'm in a Jason Bory's mask sticking out of the dark. I I put
something on a fishing line and crank it out in front of them and get them. So get them get get kids, you know, it makes they just love it. They're howling and they're they're having a but they really are. It's a lot of fun and there
is a sickness in me. It's scary. >> It's a lot of fun. So >> anything else you want to add? Why don't I just uh just make you aware of you know coming up uh next Thursday evening uh we're going to have a program at the
museum about the protest and the controversy. Right now we have a it's Minnesota refle um electrifying Minnesota uh temporary exhibit through the that's through the Minnesota Historical Society that's up. So, as
kind of to coincide with that, we're going to do this. Uh, one of the panels in that exhibit talks about the power line controversy from the 70s. So, we're going to uh I have a DVD that had been given to us uh where they're talking
about the grassroots protest that popped up with the uh powerline controversy there. So, we're going to show that and then hopefully have a discussion. Hopefully get some, you know, some people that it affected, you know, or were in the area participated in the
protest, whatever to just kind of have a discussion about it afterwards. So, that's next Thursday. Then during Fleck Fest, we're going to have a a program on the ghost towns in Grant County.
>> So, on your uh power line protest, Have you talked to Sheriff Williams about being there? >> No, I guess I hadn't. I should. Yeah, >> you he'll tell you. >> Jeff Hol should help you be there. I know. >> Yeah. >> Well, and Jeff um kind of going along
with that too, just before we we had it about at the beginning of May, the end of April was our annual meeting. So, we had Jeff Olsen come and do a program on the otter power elbow lake uh bite that
>> US Supreme Court decision. with that too. So we have >> Yeah, it's good. >> Yeah. Too bad Jerry Walwick still isn't around. >> Yeah. >> Just a little bit of tidbit on that. I wasn't here at the time, but uh that
powerline controversy that really put the Hoffman Co-op on the map, which I managed for over 20 years. When I remember talking to the Ben manager, Tom Larson, and he had a mob at his house, you know, but and some of the employees that worked for me, they'd have to have
police escort to go out on the site. I mean, it was quite a bruta in the county and but they sold them a boatload of stuff. And after that happened, >> that's when they built the new station. >> Then Williams still live in town.
>> Yep. 11th Avenue. >> I can give you his phone number. Me too. >> I probably have because they're members. >> He he he he told me a lot, you know, when I first started. >> You would be good for that.
>> He he said it was something else. And we never lost a tower in this county, but there was some tense times. And then of course in P County, it was pretty wild. >> Pretty violent down there. There was there was a bullet went through the squad car down there one day with two
guys in it. I got a little hairy, but yeah. So, but he he'd be a good resource. He's he remembers that clearly. So, yeah, good suggestion. Thanks, >> I'll uh I'll get that number for you,
though. >> Yeah, I think I'm pretty sure I have their number their members. They're in our membership file. So >> I know it's home number 4103 because >> you shouldn't say that public number. >> Yeah, they can't figure out the first part.
>> Okay. So yeah. Anyway, >> any further questions for this? Good job. >> Thanks for coming. >> Thank you. And thank for your continued support. Yeah.
Thank you for coming. Hello. >> Chairs right at the table. Right up front, front center. Awesome. Sure, I can do that. Got a little moss for you guys. How are you?
>> Good. How are you? >> Good. You're living out of the lake. >> I am the lake is >> it is weed everywhere. Hi. Hi. >> How are you? >> I'm good. You have one for you. Thank
you. >> See your son about every day. >> Oh, probably. Yeah. He talk a lot in there. Well, we probably want to start out and first say thank you for supporting us
and for the money that you sent oh back few weeks ago. It helps us a ton. We appreciate it. >> Um and then we just wanted to maybe let you guys ask us questions. We do have some
numbers for you of like how many animals have come in this year. >> Yeah. Um, >> so far we've taken in since the first of the year 42 cats and 26 dogs.
We've done about 70 uh spay and neuters. Um, I mean around the area, you know, on animals. Um, we we um we work with Lake Region obviously or Lake Serious Spawn, sorry.
Um and we put together a program where we give if we give funding that's specifically for spay and neuter that some people want to support us that way. Um and then Dr. Kendra and her team um give discounts. So it's kind of like what used to come to the shelter that
mobile unit that was they used to come up from the cities. They don't come as far anymore but they would do span neuters at a discount. >> Yeah. And I used to just uh for a while there that the closest they were getting to us was St. Cloud once when they quit
co you know gas the whole nine yards and then St. Cloud was the closest they would get to us. Well for most people which is it's not convenient. I mean, I can't take off a whole day to bring an
animal in somewhere to get him or neither and basically spend all day by the time I get back, you know. So we started this um uh we did about uh oh gosh I think we
did uh I want to say 90 to 100 last year and we've done already 70 this year >> and it is based on income. >> Yeah. You know, and they, you know, it's
we it each animal technically costs us out of our restricted funds for spayneuter on an average is about $35 to $40 per animal. And that is all money that we
have earned or requested like through grants um runstone uh electric you know different things whatever it is and that is the only thing that money is used for. We don't you it's not you know used for anything else within the shelter
>> and it um we we had our board meeting last night. We think of helping um we think our numbers are down of what comes in. It has been. We do have a waiting room difficult on cats. We have a fairly good waiting list on cats right now
again. But we also have eight uh cats in ISO and we can't get any more in until we can get them out. And I mean that they're all babies,
so it's going to take a little bit, but once we get them out, we'll be able to bring in more. But we're kind of stuck at the moment. >> So, you're not taking little kitties, though? >> Yeah. We just got done with eight uh eight six
bottle babies >> that we I mean everybody was taking home, you know, every night feeding and every every day brought it in, you know, whatever. And at least for past the bottom babies right now. But yeah, that's
that's a norm. >> I'm training mine to open doors. Hey, we have stand by the door and open it up. >> Hey, we had one that opened our refrigerator all the time. >> Yeah, they're craft for sure.
>> Uh what else, Marina? Do we >> Well, just over on the paperwork that I gave you on the very first page um under the 4,100 or 41,000 area direct
support. Last year we basically had $90,000. This year, so I mean, and that's to date. That's from January actually to today's date, we're only at 74.
So that's quite a drop, you know. I mean, and we understand it's, you know, things, you know, things change and, you know, and stuff. So, we try to do as much obviously as much
fundraising as we can. Um, we just had our our boutique with the uh food truck and we made $1,100. I mean, it's, you know, and then we got of course now Flea Fest will have our rumage sale.
>> That's one of our big ones. We bring in about what 5,000. You know, generally depending on everything, >> we can do close to five on that one. Yeah, >> there's a lot of work. >> Yeah, it is. >> It is a lot of work.
>> We do the wine tasting um April and um that brings them uh brings in well this year we had a matching matching grant from Modern Woodsman >> and so total we brought in about 8,000 on that. >> Yeah. But averages about f between 5 and
6, you know, and we're hoping they do a our pasta night supper um maybe in September coming up. That's another half week. So one, you know, more fundraising we can do the better. Of course, it
doesn't always work for, you know, for us either on time frame and what else is all going on and whatever, but we try to do as much as we can. And then we try to do a lot of grant writing. Um, we just,
it's not fully completed, but we had applied for a grant from the Ela Lake Fire Department and gave us $1,500 towards new kennels indoors at the shelter. We've got a couple of
them that are still originals. I mean, they're, you know, they're getting fat on us. And we sort of did some brainstorming because our outside area uh for the isolation
was getting well used. So, what we're going to do is we're going to take the inside kennels that we're replacing. We we're going to bring them outside
and use them for our outside area for the for the isolation. And I got a hold of Jesse Shriner uh from Lake uh Lake Country Concrete
who very graciously came in, did all the work. The only thing we got charged for was the cement. And we put in a uh 20 by 20 slab for the isol for the isolation
area which will be a major upgrade as far as being able to clean, sanitize, you know, where it needs to be. Now the kennels have finally come in. So they the new ones will go inside, the old
ones will go out and we'll go around that area completely and we'll be you know >> we used to go in there with the city skid loader and kind of clean it up and freshen it up and everything like that you know so so that concrete probably
>> no only in so the isolation is a very small area compared to the rest of the whole dog yard >> and the reason we thought concrete was best is because of the sanitary very nature. Isolation is for animals that come in um that we don't know anything
about and we can't, you know, we don't know if they have disease, they haven't had any shots, so they can't be around the other animals. So, they have to have their own area to go outside. >> Okay. >> And then they have their own area within the shelter, too. So, that's why it's it's just cleaning. Yeah. On that slab there once,
>> but we still have the gravel out in that area. Okay. >> Yeah. And once this the new isolation area is finished, we got to then we have to uh get more um rocks inside the main bar area, you know, on the uh for the uh
uh dog run area, you know, whatever. But >> we've held back on that. We've needed it, but we held we've held back on it because it'd be so much easier to get that area finished than it is to try and dig rocks away from things again, you
know, to finish up the camping. So, >> what kind of questions do you guys have for us? >> I had a question. What was what was the ask? What's the ask for this year? >> Um, we we asked for 10. Yeah.
Thank you. Thank you. >> So, got a question. Where have you you guys have any water problems with your you put that new roof on that building up there? >> And you haven't there's been no problem on the east side. It goes around and it gets out of there. And I mean, we we've
had some pretty significant rain events. >> Water coming in the building. Good. >> Good. >> It's not coming in from the roof obviously and not around the building either. That's not we haven't had any any wire issues at all. >> You did for a little while. >> Yeah.
>> The new roof has made a big difference. >> Yeah. >> Cuz then comes the new roof actually goes all the way I want to say basically all the way down. >> Yeah. Whatever. So that there's no spacing in there. And that's going to
make a difference for us. >> Good. And sitting they come and blow your snow for you. >> Yep. very graciously. That's wonderful because there's, you know, especially with depending on the way the wind the way unfortunately the way the building
sits and the wind blows. Yeah. >> It fills up right now, you know. So, it's >> they, you know, anytime that we have some major snow, they come in and they they do a two, three swipes with the uh uh backo and I mean, we're done, you
know. >> Yeah. We appreciate all the support we've received from everybody, businesses, the city, the county. We couldn't do it without you. So, we're sure >> those any other questions, please. >> We thank you for what you do, though.
>> Yeah. Well, >> because I plainly see what you do. >> Yeah, that's for sure. >> It's very rewarding. Um, I think it's much needed. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Well, we'll let you guys get back at it. Thank you for the time. Yeah. You're
welcome. Thank you. Thank you for coming in. >> Yeah. Thanks, Tina. Good to see you. >> Okay. Well, >> uh that there's no other business, so uh I'll call for the adjournment at 1:40
p.m. Thank you.