You want me to sit over there? I'll fall asleep in a half hour. Then we have to work on you. Oh, thank you. >> All right. Well, Tina had asked me if I could Are we ready? Yeah. Tina had asked if I could come
down and just do a little half hour overview of elections in Grant County. And I believe you sent most of this stuff to them. Can you even send do you make a thing of this too?
>> So, um needless to say, yours electronic, but it looks kind of like this. It's kind of a good little um packet, I guess you could call it, that was put together by the Secretary of
State's office when we were at our annual or by annual training that the Secretary of State put on back couple weeks ago. But it's a it's a pretty good just general overview of
um elections in Minnesota. Um you know some questions and answers in there. You know what are what are different things and we can go over some of that if you have questions. Um, we're going to take parts of this parts of this document and parts of
other documents and uh probably put those out on Tina's already done some work making like a one-page flyer for social media, maybe the website. I have to uh I have to go through our website and get all that
updated. That's from two years ago yet the information on there. So, we're going to get that done. Um, we sit down with Ashley Duncusen who we don't maintain our website page. She does that for us. So, I guess the other documents that I
kind of prepared here for you are um we're going to take a fairly high view of what happens because we don't have enough time and a half hour to go through all of it for sure. Um we'll start with the with kind of the
main how did we get to where we are at big day since I was started back in 2004. Um when I guess when we started or when I started here in 04 we had um we have 23
precincts. Um a precinct is where you would vote and our precincts are either your township or your city. We do not have wards like Elbow Lake is not divided into New York. We just have Elus one precinct. So each city and township is a precinct. We have 23 of those.
Um, shortly after, uh, I started, I believe it was 2006, the state and federal government came out with something called the HAVA, the Help America Vote Act, where there were funds available,
uh, grant funds for the, um, jurisdictions, the cities and the townships to purchase assisted voting machines, devices. And those are the ones that if a voter with a disability um has trouble voting with a with a paper ballot, they can insert that
ballot into a device and it'll help them mark their ballot for them. And they are required in every polling place uh that you have in in the state of Minnesota and I believe through the entire United States.
Those machines were fairly expensive um back in the day and they still are. And at the same time we then went to the ballot counting devices which back then were called an M100 and those were ones that you could insert your ballot in and
then it would uh it would get your totals and your results at the end of the day. So in 2006 we went through that. We would have had to have purchased 23 of each of those because everyone voted in their own town halls or city halls wherever they voted. So there was 23 of them. Plus we would have
needed one for the auditor's office and some backups and the funds that we had did not even come close to purchasing all of that equipment. So at that time the cities and townships got together and said, "Hey, let's share some polling places." And I believe we were down to
like seven locations or you know a city and a couple townships to get together or a couple townships to get together and all vote in the same place. Um which helped. To this day we still have some of those funds from 2006 the I'm a
little frugal with some of that money. Um we are going to to um purchase some equipment this year replacing those old assisted voting devices and and get updated. I mean, they're now 20 years old. They're large. They're bulky. Um,
and the only place we can use those now are at the auditor's office at the city of El Lake uh because they vote um in person or at a polling place. So, we're going to spend those money out. But what resulted with that was some townships
that were had very few, I will say, very few um voters. uh the smaller townships and and cities had asked if they could um become a male ballot precinct
which at the time there was only a couple of them and we thought well we'll give this a try and it was in 2010 when the first ones which were um Delaware, Gorton, uh North Ottawa
and say Norcross. So there's four of them in 2010. They I believe back in 2009 for 2010 asked if they could if they could uh be male ballot. So we agreed to that mail ballot has been going on um that that's been an option
in Minnesota for a very long time. Um and so this page that I presented to you or that I have in my packet of where all the mail or the precincts are this one >> page two >> page two. >> Mhm. That kind of gives a timeline of
when all of these cities and townships requested to be male ballot. The county did not go to the townships and say or the cities and say, "Hey, you know, you're going to be mail ballot. It was it was
the cities and townships that have um asked or passed a resolution uh requesting of the of the county to be mailed ballot." So, from that's kind of our timeline of since I've been here, how we got to where we are today.
Um, right now, the city of Ela Lake uh has a polling location. They vote here in person in Ela Lake. So, if you're a resident of Ela Lake, you vote right here at the community building um
next door or right up the street. Everyone else uh votes mail ballot through our office. So, our office had resolved the rest of the orders. Um, while we were transitioning from 2010 to
now, it was, you know, a little tricky because you'd have neighbors that, you know, I got my ballot in the mail and all that township or city over there voted in person. So it is however you do
it for us the administration part of it is a little easier now for us in the fact that when a voter asks where do I vote well do you live in the city of lake no before it was we had to kind of go find you and see which cities and
townships so um you know I don't have a preference I guess one way or another of mail ballot versus inperson voting and all of that it's just cities and townships requested um our office along with the county board agreed to do it and allow them to
do it and that's where we're at today. So that's just a little timeline on page two for you of um when when all of these jurisdictions or these cities decided to request the mail ballot.
Then we're going to move on to I don't know what page this is, Tina, but it's uh the main election dates for 2026. Is that page one? >> Yep. So, this is a a very condensed um
some very condensed dates as probably more for you guys uh in this coming year of 26. Of course, we are in the the midterm election, so there's no presidential election this year. That'll be in 2028, but the dates are relatively the same.
So May 19th through June 2nd, which is coming up soon, that'll be the candidate filing period for all federal, state, and uh judicial and county offices. So the this year in the midterms, it'll
be uh two county commissioners. It'll be the elected offices at the county, the auditor, attorney, treasurer, sheriff, and the recorder. And then there will be soil and water conservation district offices as well.
So those for those offices that will happen from the filing period be from May 19th to June 2nd. Then in June 26th absentee voting begins for the state primary. Um the state primary isn't until August 11th, but we are required 46 days prior
to the election day to have ballots in our office. So that you Okaba, which is your unformed and overseas voters, those have to go out um on that day. And then anyone that wants to vote an absentee ballot can come in and vote.
Then on July 14th through the 28th, that's when the candidate filing period for the cities, townships, and schools will happen. So, um the the uh the school districts, the the cities, and then all but four
townships have their elections in November. There are four townships in in the county that hold their elections in March. Um so they we we do a March uh election for those four townships. The rest of them have all decided to have
hold their election in November. Um going back again back in history um I started all the townships had their election in March at their annual meetings and um now the
you know the the decided to go to November. Um so they will all file with our office July 14th through 28th. Um the 24th is when early voting starts
for the primary. Now this is a change to how we have operated in the past. This is a law that was passed a couple years ago. um goes into effect. Don't quote me on this. I believe July 1st um of this year
that the law has changed that we had the option of something called direct balloting in the past where if somebody came in and decided to absentee vote, they could put their ballot directly into a ballot counting machine. We had
elected not to do that in the past just because of the layout and the logistics of how how our office is up there and the room the space the number of people that we have would you know just logistics we couldn't quite make it work
we didn't think well now we're forced to make it work because um starting on the 24th of July that has to happen. So, we're working through how we're going to do that. So, we will have on on
that day, we will have a a ballot a DS200, a ballot counting device that voters will um be able to use to once they vote, they can put their ballot directly in that machine. Um,
we'll get to a little bit of that later. So August 11th is our state primary and then we'll go down this uh this kind of repeats itself. September 18th absentee voting starts for the general election which is November 3rd. Early voting
again would be on October 16th for the general election and then November 3rd of course is general election day. So, kind of touching on um some more dates, you have another few pages here,
and this is just for you guys so you can kind of see what our office is going to be working on. And we prepare this for ourselves as well, our our highlights to make sure we meet some deadlines for publications. um the dates we start laying out our
ballots for you know for with our ballot vendor um public accuracy testing which happens for all of our electronic equipment. We test all of those machines internally
and then we have a uh we p we we put a notice out in publication um in the newspaper that we have a public accuracy test which is everyone from the public is invited. So we'll run run the machines to get some results,
make sure everything's is accurate. Um we've been doing that ever since we've gotten machines. Um so it goes through by that time that public accuracy is done it'll be three times for the machines for testing. Um
July 1st this year we have um and uh and we have to update our emergency plans for elections. So I'm going to go through that with go through that with uh with what we currently have and see if there's any updates. um run through it with Maya a little bit and make sure
we have everything kind of outlined there in case of an emergency, whether that be weather, excuse me, weather, um internet is down, gas leak in a building, any scenario you can think of, we got to try to cover in
that. um going back to June 1st, we now are I'm in the process of developing a chain of custody uh plan and that is with our you know that's just what it is. It's a chain of custody for our ballots um election
related materials, election equipment, all those types of things. Um so those are due to the office of secretary of state by June 1st. Then we have some just pre-registration, those types of things. um canvasing boards. So, you can go through that
list. Um this is a condensed list of 60 I believe it's 64 or 68 pages. So, it it's it's all stuff for us. Your guys is what I wanted to um make you aware of was the dates and the time periods for
filing when the election was when we're going to start voting and absentee and the absentee periods. So, um, kind of some highlights. We'll get back to the, uh,
the early voting. We will now be having a machine set up, like I said, where voters can come in um, prior to the election, just a short window prior to the election. I think it's 17 18 days and I forget the date
but there's some thought being there there's been discussions there's been thought of of how this is all going to work in our office as far as keeping it so we have a workflow we can keep an eye on the machine with the limited amount of
people we have you know so forth and so on so I think we have a pretty good plan um one of the things that will happen and guess If this is being recorded, if it's out on anyone, any of the voters are listening in Grant County, if you're
like me and probably most all of the rest of us except for Bill and we get our ballot in the mail and you walk in and you see that machine sitting there, we are not What we will do is we will spoil that ballot. Even if you've not
voted on it, we will spoil that ballot, which means we will take that ballot back and and destroy it, spoil it, and we will reissue a ballot that is not folded. We do not fold the ballots that remain in our office.
Um, which is a it's not a it's not a big deal. We just sign off on a piece of paper. It's kind of like you're signing the roster. And then we'll reissue you a ballot and then you could directly put that in the machine. um those that are returned, you know, via mail, dropping off and don't care to
use a machine, whatever it is, those ballots will still go inside of their envelopes to the ballot board that's comprised of at least two election officials, mostly three, that make sure you have your witnesses and all your signed and all that. And then they will
be opened by um election judges that we that we hire and they will be placed in a ballot counting machine. The reason we the reason we're not going to allow a ballot that was mailed to you to be opened up by yourself and then placed in
the machine is um we are required to track in our um voter statewide voter registration system how you voted whether it was by mail and you dropped it off or in person or if you voted
during this early voting period direct ballot into the machine, we might have a hard time keeping up with that. And another another reason is is um just going back to the chain of custody is at the end of the at the end of the
period if there was a full if our count is off for the number of issu ballots that we issued to people on our machine because it tracks you know it says how many ballots how many voters put in there. We we every day we are going to balance
that out. We issue X. There should be X in this in this device in the machine. Now, we don't run the tape and we don't know who's who got how many votes. We don't do that until after 8 o'clock on election day,
but we we double check every day how, you know, to make sure that that somebody didn't walk off of the ballot, somebody didn't put, you know, did whatever it is. If for any reason a voter came in and said, "Well, I forgot my ballot at
home." Whatever it is, a dog ate it, lost it, whatever it might be. Um, then we get to the end of the day and there's one extra vote in or extra ballot in there on the on the on the counter on the device versus what we issued.
Most than likely it'll be a folded ballot. Somebody has come in and put a ballot in. So, we can reject that one, pull it out, look at it, and we know that that's the ballot saw. So, if there's any folded ballot in that machine, we know that that's not right.
So, that's our kind of one of our checks and balances that go into this. So, we'll get through it. Um, you might I guess our our plan for now is is that you might see a table similar to this sitting out in the rotunda. So, instead
of coming into our office um and coming up to the window and say, "Hey, I'm here to vote. I'm here to register. I'm here to whatever it is." Um, they'll see it. You might might see me or someone else sitting out in a rotunda with a laptop and you come to you we'll
do that work out outside of the office to just eliminate some backlog of you know someone's not registered so they're standing there we're looking for you are going through giving you paperwork I can do that out in the hallway you know have a seat fill this paperwork out bring it back you know and other
voters can come in and and do their business that are that are registered or that are just dropping something for us. So, that's kind of our 10,000 foot view of what we're up against this year. Um, you know, elections happen every two
years for us. The main elections, we do have elections in the off in the in the in the odd years. There are some school districts that have have elections. When a school district has an election, um, we are very minimally involved in those, I would
say. Um, we we let the schools kind of handle their own election. We provide, you know, some help with ordering the ballots, the materials, uh, and again, they need the the assisted voting device. So, we get those
ready for them and program them and send all that in. Then we build them for that charge. So, that's kind of the the way way way high view of what we're going to be doing this year. Uh one of the law changes that went into
effect before the last well before 2024 is the uh hours that we are open. So we will have um not the the Saturday before the
election for the primary in August we will be open from 9 to 3 for absentee voting. We do not have to be open that Sunday. Um but before the general election in November, if you kind of go look at your calendar,
so the Saturday of the Saturday before, so two Saturdays before the election, our office will be open. So we work that week and then be open from 9:00 to 3 on Saturday. We will not be open on Sunday. Then we will be open the week before the
election, Monday through Friday as normal, extended hours on one of those dates. I think it's Thursday uh till I believe 7:00. Saturday before the election, we're open from 9:00 to 3. Sunday we're open from 9:00 to 3. Monday we're open till 5, I
believe. And then election night, we'll be there till we're everybody's done and everything's totaled out and everybody's gone. So, our office will have one day off and three weeks. We're pretty happy about that. Was that
old? They were still uh that was new two years ago. Yep. Yep. So, um, we're going to try to do a little better. I I I will admit we haven't done so great with our website, informing people of where they vote, how they
vote, those types of things, what the dates are. So, we're going to work on that. Um, hopefully in the next week or two and then we'll get ready for filing period. You guys have any questions? So I kind
of breeze through a lot of it really fast. I got a question. You know, you listen to our on the national levels. It appears there's a sentiment of uneasiness or mail in ballots that there's
they're not very accurate. Do you I don't feel that at all for Grant County, but just talk about that sentiment versus what you guys do. Well, everybody has feelings, right? And
when I I've said this not only about elections but other things, you know, when when I started here, I had no idea about taxes, elections, those types of things. And I said, "So my my kind of my little oneline meal is
whatever you're talking about, the view from inside of a fishbowl is completely different than the view from the outside looking in working with this and then going through and even the election judges that we
hire to help us that have gone through the process and other folks. when you sit down and we really walk through what the checks and balances are of mail voting or mail ballot elections. Um I
would say for the very for the most part most of those people are like really you do all of that? Yeah. So when people say, "Well, I voted three times in our system." Unless you have three names and you're
voting in three different areas, I don't know how it's possible. Um, but we have to keep in mind too, I I kind of take all of this with a little bit of we're out in Grant County, so we
either know most of the people that are coming in or probably related to them. You know, we're we're a small area, so we have a little more even just, you know, knowing of who's where and well, that person moved. I know they moved
three months ago to wherever else, you know. So if you if you see some for us, it's a little easier versus in a very densely populated area that you don't you don't know who they are or you don't know anything.
Can it happen? Sure. Um I will say that we have had you know people will ask but what about this what about that? What about this? We've had instances where um
people have been referred to the county attorney in Grant County and they've been whatever Justin has done with them, charged them, not charged them, whatever it is. But the times that that's happened,
um yeah, I don't believe it to be intentional. And I I'll kind of use an example and we're not of course going to say any names or anything, but if you have a like I had I had a I had two kids that were in college and they would come home on the weekend
and it said, "Hey, your you know your ballot came in the mail. Do you want to vote on this?" Yeah. Yep. So they'll fill it out and either give it to dad to bring back or send it in the mail or bring it back and send in the mail, whatever they wanted to do. Well, when this these young kids are now at college
somewhere and there's a rush to, hey, we got it's election day. We got to go vote, we got to go do this, we got to do that. So, they go and they either try to vote or they register to vote or they do something. Um, that gets caught immediately on our
so now the two different counties are talking to each other and we have no option to refer those to our county attorney and that county attorney will have to look into that. So, some of it's just kind of, you know, they didn't realize, you know, they're
young. Um, but we have had those cases and I feel bad about that because I'd sooner sit down and talk with them and say, "Hey, listen. This is how this works." But I didn't have that opportunity. Um, but can it happen? Yeah, it it can, but
it's so scarce. I think there's there's much larger issues in my opinion than mail balloting. That gets the attention that gets the that that that's the federal the federal officials have a
much larger voice than I do as far as being on the news and social media and all that good stuff. So, all I can tell you is that uh I've got two extraordinarily good staff that go through this. I have in the past we've hired four to five election judges that
um some of them have actually been county employees, some have not and they've done it for a while and to the point now I just take orders from them because they're that good at it. So they like doing it, too. They they like doing it. They they've already started
calling me, hey, can we come and help? Can we do this? Can we do that? And then they're just they're very very very good and and they know I just tell people at the end of the day I don't we don't care. We just want you to be able to vote. We want to
make sure that if you want to vote we're going to get that figured out somehow some way for you if we can. And quite honestly at the end of night I don't know that any of us that work up there even know the results. We just know that Ela Lake had x number of voters. Does
that match the ballots? Yep. Appropellet Lake had this many voters. Does that match the number of ballots we had? Our our world is is did the number of signatures on our roster or did the number of ballots that were presented equal the number of votes that were cast, number of ballots that were
collected? And when we go home tonight, honestly, I don't even know who won. I can tell you how many voters we had. So that's our world. Yep. Well, good. Well, thank you, Chad. Any
other questions? Well, if anybody has questions, you know how to get a hold of me. Come on in. We'll make coffee. And uh again, this is a if you guys keep this, if anybody has questions, just it's a really good overview of how
things and then I believe I'm coming back in another couple weeks or a month. >> Two weeks. Yeah. We'll talk about taxes. All right, it's 9:00. We will start
meeting the flag to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible. >> Okay, we have this public
for our meeting today. Is there any public comments today? Okay, that's good. Um, so I'm looking for the approval of the agenda and uh there's one addition to the
agenda from Highway from the ditch committee down there ditch one. They took some bids on that. I think you guys received an email on that. So we'll add that to the agenda. No second. Okay, we have a motion and a
second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor say signify by saying I. >> I. Oppos. Same sign. Motion carried. Approval of the minutes. Yeah. Okay, we have a motion by Ken to approve
the minutes. Do we have a second? >> I'll second it. Second by Doyle. >> Any further discussion? Hearing none, I'll call the question. All in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. Same sign. Motion carried.
Approval of the warrants. I'll make a motion to approve the warrants. Okay, we have a motion by Troy to approve the war uh the warrants. Uh do we have a second? Second. Second by Bill. Any further discussion? Hearing
none. All in favor signify by saying I opposed. Same sign. Motion carried. Okay. Uh, Grand County Auditor. >> I'm just staying right here. Okay.
Well, I believe you have a I didn't bring the agenda with me. I'm sorry. >> Public hearing to set the county to offsell liquor license. >> Well, I believe Tina has brought
prior to this was a notice to have this public hearing. So, we're having that. So, the county had received a and going back in history, um an application
for a on sale liquor license, much like Tips and a Tips and a Bounds Golf Course. They are the tips and is the only one that is not within a municipality. So municipalities have their own off
sale on sale businesses. County is not involved. Tips is the only one that's outside of that county or outside the municipality that's in that's in a township. So, boy, it was back in March, we received a
uh application for a um an on sale liquor license from Black Silos north of Wendell. Um started that process, went through that. Um
the criteria for that is is is not so doesn't doesn't involve like the townships and all of this stuff. Um so once the uh the applicant um reached out to the state and we were kind of working through some things they came and had an
inspection and at that time the agent or the person that came out there from from the state had said that you don't they didn't qualify for an on sale. They would have to obtain an offsale license which changed things substantially.
Now we are doing public hearings. Um the town board has to adopt a resolution approving this that the next thing. There was criteria that they couldn't be within so many miles of a municipality. And if it it rolled into a whole bunch
more uh than I guess even we expected because I've never dealt with an offsiled uh application or license since I've been here. I don't know that really the county has ever probably had one. So, one of the things we're here today about
is not to approve the license, but um to set a fee because the county does not have a fee for an offsale license. We have a fee for the on sale license. We don't have a fee for the offsale license. That can be up to $800 per
statute. Um did some checking around. Um, my suggestion would be or my recommendation would be to set the fee at $500. Um, which kind of is what the surrounding county, Douglas
County does that. So, that that's our that's our uh that's what's in front of you today is just signing the fee. But going a little further into this now, the township is going to meet tonight. In order for the county to even
accept the application or to to consider the application for an offsale license, the township has to adopt a resolution approving it first. If the township for any reason says, "Nope, we're going to do X, Y, and Z, you know, whatever,
whatever," then this is all the point. We don't move forward. So they need tonight. So, >> and our fee can only be 20% of what your fee is. So, we need you guys to set the fee in order for us to set our fee.
>> Yeah. >> Good. So, my my recommendation to the county board is to um to set the fee at at uh at 500. >> So, question Judge. So, you mentioned that they didn't qualify
for an on sale. Is that because of county statute or county? No, it was just some and to be honest with you, I don't know why. I was just told that for whatever reason they didn't. And I believe there's a there's a variety of reasons. You know, one of them might be
I believe in on sale you have to have food available or I don't know. >> It's something to do with the business model of what they're doing out there. So, um, you know, she would have to speak to that directly as to what the engagement was, but my understanding was it was just the nature of the business. There's there's all kinds of you know
you can get a Ben breakfast license. You can get a whole there's all these it's it's like everything else and you get a license there's 500 reasons why you can and can't do things and that was not given to myself or to the township
as to why the state would not approve an on sale. Okay. So I I got a question Chad. So basically then what we if we if this goes through it'll be a >> liquor store. Is that what I'm hearing? >> An off sale license.
>> Yeah. So >> I think the township would prefer it was on sale. As far as I'm concerned, I would like to see it as non- sale and and see why he, you know, ends tonight. We'll probably find out what he has to what criteria he
has to have for an on sale because I would just assume that I have a liquor store. Okay? >> You know, in in a township on or off sale, you know, I see why they want would like to have an on sale
there. You know, makes sense. >> Yeah, that was that was the first application of sale. So, again, I don't >> and they'll be there tonight. So we'll get more insight on what they need to go that route. >> Okay. >> Well then, >> and again today we're just we're just simply setting a fee. So
>> whether that be for this case or anytime in the future, at least we have a fee set. >> Okay. So can we call I'll call for a motion to set this fee schedule. Uh you have that motion. >> Yeah. >> And Doyle, you want it at 500? >> Yep. 500 bucks.
>> Okay. So Doyle makes the motion at $500 for this county fee. Uh, do I have a second? >> Second. Bill seconded. Any further discussion? >> Yeah, just know just to be clear, you can you can set it at up to 800 if you
want to. That was just simply my simply my recommendation 500. So, okay. So, uh, we have a motion and a second to to set this county fee at $500. Uh, any further discussion? Hearing none, I'll call the question.
And all in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. Motion carried. >> Okay. So now we got a that a public hearing. >> Well well that was a public hearing. >> That was the public hearing for the fee.
Once we hear back after tonight's meeting >> then I believe with your blessing if that however that works out if we need to set a public hearing >> for the application we will >> because of the time and I will handle that prior to the next meeting. >> Right. And I didn't know if we needed
that approval now because we'll have to get the public notice and by the end of >> so yeah you can do that upon >> whatever the decision is of township. >> Yeah. The township says, "Okay, then we could have this. We could set that." >> But you could set the the chair ordinary
set that. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Okay. All right. >> So, will that fee be for on sale and off sale? Either or. >> No. On sale is different. >> Okay. So, what are you looking at there? >> 3,000 for the on sale. It's 25 bucks.
>> That's it. >> Yep. And then >> 25% of that very much, is it? And then that well that's what the that's what the current county on sale is is $25 of which the township then gets >> half of that and the county keeps that in. So
>> $25. >> Yeah. So we could revisit that too and that's just what it's always been. I don't know if the county board back in the day were all culters or what but that's what the fee is. You see my Douglas County Board, right?
3,000. Yeah. >> But that's what we got in front of us. Well, I mean, that's on the fee schedule. We can review that. >> You can review that at any point in time. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Y >> All right. So, we're good then.
>> That That's all for that item. >> I'm going to go back to work. >> Thank you. Rocks. >> Thank you, guys. >> Okay. You're not busy this afternoon, boy. Yeah. I got rocks. as well.
>> Good morning. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Hello, Sheriff. >> Good morning. How are you? >> Good. What you got for us today? >> So, we are just kind of organizing some paperwork. I received um communications from the BCA and they would like us to
update our joint powers agreement um with the BCA. So this this contract is usually updated every five years and the joint powers agreement will continue to provide access to the Grant County Sheriff's
Office to the Minnesota criminal justice data communications network and those systems and tools um which we are authorized to use as well as the court service court yeah excuse me court data services amendment agreement. So,
typically this is about uh 15 or $1,560 that we pay annually to BCA for the state of Minnesota um for the the structure and and all the tools that come along with it. So, this is uh pretty vital to the sheriff's office.
So, they uh just sent us the joint powers agreement. They also requested that we have the resolution. Um, so I believe that Tina filled out the resolution. So it's just an agreement, you know, between the sheriff's office and the state of Minnesota so we can receive the
tools and continue to be a law enforcement agency. >> Okay. We have a motion to that effect. >> Yep. >> Okay. Troy made a motion. Do we have a second? >> I'll second.
Do second. Any further discussion? hearing none. Uh, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I oppose. Same sign. Motion carried. Thank you. >> Okay. So, we're
next 9:20. Should we start early? Nobody else. >> That's that you get to make that. >> Yeah. I don't see anybody else here. So, okay. Go ahead. >> So, the intent like we talked about the last meeting is just to have
clarification. We have an offer up to the cities that was never withdrawn for contracts. And I guess as a member of the public safety committee, I would like to resolve now or at least have the discussion of do we
need Elake, Ashby, Hoffman, Herman, and Barrett all to sign contracts to have contracts or would we accept a contract from two of them and call that good? If it's only two of them, it throws off our whole
formula, right? and and I don't know that this will come up. I just want to be ahead of if it does. >> Quick question. You you said the contract board withdrawn. How do you help me with that statement? >> So when we had our meeting with the
city, there did not seem like a lot of we want a sign. So, you know, we made an we made an offer and there was at least one individual that said it was too expensive, too many hours, didn't want to do it. There was more that said they were wanted flexibility on the hours.
So, I mean, that offer was made. It was never withdrawn during I mean, so we get to June or July or even this month, the cities could all say, "Yep, we're going to accept." So, if we had them all come in, okay, great. We move forward. But what do we do if we get two or three of
them that say yes and the rest don't? Are we saying it's got to be all five of those or none? Or I just want to be ahead of that possibility so we're not looking at it after we've got two or three that have and the other one. So
what would we do? So I got a question. County board is responsible for setting the budget and That's, you know, within our perview and
and the setting the budget obviously in this case relates to these what you're referencing. At what point does it shift from our setting the budget to to your committee
to the elected officials appointed? Feels like some chicken and egg is mixed up here. Help me out with that. Somebody >> I don't think there's anything I can do to help you with that right now. I think
you're right. I mean, we that that's a question that we'll hopefully start resolving come June, the first meeting in June. Today the question is because we could go down that rabbit hole and when we're out of time we still haven't talked
about what that is on the cover sheet of do we need all five or not. Okay. So I may follow up with a question or comment and maybe this would be for Jennifer. So, if you hear the statement periodically that
we're required to address felonies or certain things, can you give me the quick version of that? >> Yep. So, per state statute, we we investigate felonies, some grossness moves, we drag the lakes for dead bodies
if something were to happen. And I mean, it's very limited. Um, obviously we don't want to go down that road, you know, like we all want to work together. We we need, you know, everybody needs us. Um,
yeah. And, you know, I think in the past that's always been said to the c the cities. Um, and they were not very appreciative of that. You know, we don't typically right away. We don't have to do the ordinances. That's all above and
beyond. Um, >> so that leads me to my question. So if we have the city contracts, we're asking them to commit to so many hours and there's a dollar amount that reflects the budget we approved. That theoretically
takes more time. So when it comes to the staff and how operationally we're structured, are we structured budget-wise, personnel-wise with the contract in mind or what's
required in mind? Because at some point, don't you get what I'm saying? Do we're you know, we have a contract through this year and we have a budget through this year. We don't have any of that in place for next year. So you until we do,
it's kind of hard to answer your question because we don't I mean that's that's all we're going to try to figure out over the next few months. I'm not trying to avoid your question. I just don't know. I mean there's a lot of things that have to be filled in before it can be answered.
>> Sure. Yeah. And you know for the whole time 40 years ago I came here you know the the major felonies and the uh serious crimes. We would help the PDS all the time and they would help us but
but but we were we were in charge of doing the reports mostly and uh and keeping track of the record management and all that. So, you know, it's it's always been a you we're always looking
we were always looking after each other when there was PTS. Well, now there's no PTS anymore. So, you know, the the liabilities went away from the cities and uh now we've got them. But, uh but the felonies and the gross misdemeanors
are always happening and they're getting taken care of. The cities don't see that. They don't see the investigations and the time and stuff with that. What they see, and I've said this before, is these ordinance violations, the dog complaint, unsighted promises. They
don't like that. They want they want us to investigate that and take care of that, which, you know, we try to do that the best we can. But there's a lot of time here that the cities, you know, they're worried about their time.
But but they're not so worried about when the felonies have all that time. And sheriff, you you report to the every month, don't you? As many hours, >> they're all over, aren't they? >> Yep. >> I mean, they have to be over.
So, so my my uh answer to choice question here is, you know, if if if some of those cities want to sign, I would say take them. And if some of them don't want to sign, I tell them start your own police department up again
and then see what the costs are and the liabilities and the responsibilities. Go go for it. So, that that's just my thoughts. I would say I I know it screws up your phone, >> but >> Well, it doesn't screw it up, it throws
it up. >> Yeah, I know. >> But but there's there's just so much that goes on there that uh that uh it's kind of like looking at the from the inside of that fishbowl. People people just they're not going to
understand it, but uh but yeah, they're it's a it's a good deal for them. They don't have to worry about nothing. And it's uh it's a lot less than they were paying years and years ago. But but yeah, so that's what I that's that's how
I feel. I you know, if if there's a c certain city that wants to do that, you know, then hire your own police department and you'll see how much fun it is. >> So when we had our meeting, um we listened to everybody. Um they they know
that they need to pay something. They just feel right now it's just too much and everybody has like big projects coming up and they're not able to. >> But what would they what would they do sheriff if if they didn't if they didn't have a contract with us? They'd still have a police department.
So, you know, yeah, we we have big projects come up too where we'd like to not pay, you know, into our into some of these budget, but it's just that's really not an use for me.
that we have uh that we have other things going on planned for them and uh like like we all have to do here. So yeah, but that's just me. So what about you guys? What do you think? Mr. Chair,
it's a huge liability for the county to take on law enforcement for the cities more than they I think they even realize. you know, the the the protocol, the compliance, the levels of, you know what I mean, and the investigation is and things like that. And I said it at
the last meeting, they're getting more than just, you know, you know, patrol time. They're getting the standard of what the county puts together for, you know what I mean, for this interoperability and and the EMS systems and all that stuff. So, you know, the
people that don't want to do it or the cities that don't want to do it, do they want to, you know, as far as dispatching their their city staff on trouble calls? I mean, who So then we're when we're done, we're done, right? Then we draw the line and if somebody calls in for an
emergency at the sheriff's office, you can just say, "No, you got to call a different number because we're we we don't participate in this." I mean, I'm being bold here, but that's that's what it is. This is all in the big picture, right? Do you agree with that? That's what it should be.
So I don't know that. So I'm talking about the offer that was made of how we've done it historically. There may be an option where there's all a cart. So instead of Barry having two hours every
day, they say we want to do x number a month or we want to do that. Changes how things I mean it changes the formula. changes how everything is. And I'm not saying that's not a possibility. What what I'm asking today is how we've done it historically, those contracts. Do we
need all five to make that the way we've done it continue or is two or three okay to continue as we have with those? To me, I I'm of the opinion and I'll make the motion that we would need
Elake, Ashley, Hoffman, Herman, and Barrett to all sign or that contract. How we've been going, it doesn't work. So, we need all five of those or not. And if we get none of them, what do we
do? >> We'll start working that on that in June. I I mean, so what if we get two of them? What if we just get two? We get Barrett Hoffman. I mean the it's the same question. What do we do? >> And just to let you guys know 300 like 342,000 or 340.
>> It's 340 to 350 somewhere. >> Yeah. That these contracts bring into our budget, you know. >> So yeah. Well, I mean it's, you know, the other side of it is is what if we say we're not going to have any other
options? It's just this and none of them do sign. You know, we still we still now are we still only have two of them. We still have that hole that has to be one way or another we have to get rid of that hole. So this is just are we going to accept
the part of the five or do we need all five? >> Did I hear a motion? >> I made Yeah, I'll start with that. >> So you we had six of the seven and now you left out one. So, and the reason the
reason why I left one out is window and they're55 to $6,000 annually. I would vote if we had all five of the ones that I listed. I would vote to accept those and move forward without window. Doesn't mean window's not important. It just
means for that dollar figure, I would do that. If we're sitting here in July or August, I would do that. So, that's why I made that motion that way. So back how was the rate determined for the cities
back how was it? So it 17 18 something like that >> we we had a rate that and we were doing 3% annually. We figured it out at that time. I believe it was 17 when El Blake
and Ashley came and the county was charging a little bit more than what the loaded rate was and we just continued on. That first year the county actually made a little bit of money on it. Since then the loaded rate has been higher. We figured
it out 3 four years ago. I think it was around $70 an hour. We're charging 58. It started like a 53 I think at one point. But what I was getting getting at is one of the things we reference is the rural the lack of the population and
there's probably not a lot of crime and a bare quarter of land but should we be applying the rate for the cities based on their population. So maybe Norwendo and Norcross they they they get to take part in the whole
program but they pay based on a percent of the population and often >> we can get to that in June. Today's question is do we need all five or no
we're those are all great but we're just getting ahead of ourselves those that's not the today question we'll get there. Okay. So, Troy made the motion and second by Bill. Uh, any further discussion? Yeah, I have. And
>> that and just to to make sure I captured it correctly, that motion reads that there must be five of the cities of Grant County to agree to the contract. >> No, the five that were listed, not just five. The five that were listed.
>> Blake, Ashby, Barrett, Herman, and Hoffman. >> Yep. must agree to law enforcement contracts for the contracting service to still be an option as is. >> Yeah. Any further discussion? Uh,
>> okay. I I got a couple things. Uh, so if they don't sign and we get into next year, then we got a lot of work to do. >> Well, we got a lot of work to do. We got to know that. >> So, August. Well, so we're going to get into June and we're going to the first
meeting in June. We'll lay out options. We'll meet the city. We'll lay out options. If we get into July and we don't have an indication they're going to sign, we've got that work to do by the end of September to fill that hole because we got to set our >> preliminary >> preliminary by then. So, Mr. Chair, I
got a question. All right. And you know, St. Wendle doesn't jump on board with this whole thing. So, then their ordinances that's on them then, correct? I mean all you know you're you still got to respond to 911s and things like that over there but >> right I mean we're still going to have
the calls and if somebody is you know a domestic you know >> yeah you're stuck with that you're going to do >> I mean but those aren't typically felonies you know we're not going to let two people beat each other you know um >> no but all the ordinances city ordinances that state
>> right and so then >> nuisance and things like that >> and we have done a lot of research and we're continuing to do a lot of research search and you know maybe having an allocart you know like if you want us to do 10 hours of ordinance you know we can set up a fee you know a service fee for
that you know somebody also mentioned that maybe we should look at dispatch you know fees for dispatch I mean I mean the list goes on and on and on um because we've reached out to a lot of different counties and I'm getting you know how they're doing them so
>> well >> we do have a lot of work to do ahead of So the motion really pits five cities against each other either together or apart which is the nature of what we're talking about.
if I'm sitting on a city council and I'm one of the same if we're out but what's our option and so when will that come back because theoretically one city can really throw a wrench in these gears and
if they do if we don't have an answer where where is that at >> I think the purpose of today's question was we have a 34042 I $,000. That's what the city contracts are paying. If we don't get all of that
$342, what's $1,000? What's going to happen? >> Yeah. Well, the bottom line there is won't be good. What's going to happen? Cuz we won't be able to afford to have a couple deputies. >> Well, that's the bottom line. That's why
we've got them is because of these police contracts and uh so >> and we really can't afford to go less than what we're doing right now. >> No, I know. But uh but yeah, so
>> and Troy, not to speak for you, but there's kind of a timeline here, right, for the work to do that kind of is to your point, I think Ken is today is just kind of giving some framework for the work to continue at looking on options and educating the cities because there's
going to be a meeting, correct me if I'm wrong, with the cities where collaboratively everyone Everyone works together to try to work through this. And then at that June meeting, there's an hour scheduled for the board to go through all the options that come out of
that city meeting. So the cities will be well informed and then the full board will have that hour in June to discuss it. So then hopefully by the beginning of July, there can be a really positive resolution and how to move forward. And
then if it's not, you know, if it does affect budgeting, then we would work through that in July and August. So by the time September comes, there's a resolution and a plan in place to address 2027.
So there is a timeline, right? Is that your plan, Troy? >> Right. I mean, so the last few years, the signing of them from some cities has taken longer and longer and longer, and not a full board hasn't expressed to me that they're not
going to sign, but members of boards have expressed they're not interested in signing. So if we get past the end of September and we haven't filled that hole in our budget and they don't sign now we are knowing I am knowingly
saying well I'll just deal with that hole after we've said the prelim we kind of need an answer to that hole beforehand. I mean that to me that said okay if we have two or three that have signed before that preliminary levy in September
what do we do today? We're hopefully going to answer that question before that meeting where we need to sign that. I mean, I hope we come back here in June and they're all signed and we just move on with their lives. But so, Troy, the preliminary there, if they haven't
signed, we almost got to put that 342,000 into the preliminary and then cut it December. So again, we're we're getting ahead of oursel, but >> we can resolve that all the the options of how you fill that
hole. And I don't mean just the income side. You brought up deputies that I mean you can crunch that hole from either side. We're just today I'm asking what are we what are what would we do at the last meeting in September when we're
signing the preliminary and we have two of the three two of the five that have signed but the other three haven't. What are we going to say? Are we going to say well we're not taking these two because we don't have all five. We taking those two. >> I don't know if I'm communicating that clearly that
>> I get you on that. I'll I'll I'll vote for that for for now. >> I get what you're saying there. >> You know, the other issue we can resolve, we just have to know by that preliminary meeting how we close that hole. We really have until the end of
the year. We just have to know if we need to put that $340,000 in our preliminary or not. But the only the only thing and I've expressed that many times is I don't want that 342,000 to go back on the egg.
>> I really don't either. But we have until that December meeting then to resolve that hole. We just need to know that one thing I'd like to comment is, you know, we're referring to asking these individual cities whether they're in or
not. I think we should be fully clear that it's our responsibility to be doing a level of job where they want to participate. We've proved that it's way less money for that city to be part of the contract than it is to run
their own. And for these cities to not want to sign, there's a reason. Now, you're challenged with that right now, Jennifer, but they should want to. And if there's a reason they don't, then we should fix that. >> It's money. It's they they clearly made that it's money and they would like to
see more enforcement of their ordinances. >> Yeah. But but but there's only so much time, you know. >> Yeah. >> Because Right. >> because uh that and that's that's just for your negotiation down the road here. But they want less hours. But we still
got to handle the felonies of gross misdemeanors which put them up to their maximum every month probably and and way over for the year if you add them all up. But they want less hours to pay for less. So they want to pay less and uh and receive
the same. So yeah, but uh >> and so they have they have come up with some different ways of you know how we can try to even this out. Yeah. You know, >> well, let's not get it. That's the No, that's down the road.
>> Yeah. Okay. So, we'll uh any further discussion, I'll I'll call for the vote here. Uh all in favor signify by saying I >> I opposed. Motion carried. >> All right.
I got to get what Troy said, but uh and the truth of the matter as we get to the end of September, it's just a word. Okay. >> How you guys doing today? >> Couldn't be better. It's good. >> It's nice and cold outside this morning
in least you didn't have to put the blow back on. >> Not yet. No. That's both. >> Well, if there were moisture in there, it would be. Yeah. >> All right.
I have three items. Pat has one. Mine should be quite simple. Uh the first item would be the contract for Casad 20 resurfacing project. Uh contracts with Mark Santa Gravel. We awarded the bid here about a month ago
and it was an amount of $1,413,667. Uh they signed the contracts. We also had some extra time in here. So uh county attorney's already gone over the contracts and signed it. So just looking for the board to approve the contract and sign off on.
>> Okay. Do we have a motion to that effect? I'll make that a motion. Mr. Chair Bill makes a makes that motion. We have a second. >> Second. Second by Troy. Uh any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor signify by saying I.
>> I. Opposed. Motion carried. Next item is pretty much the exact same thing as would be the contract with more seal coat and truck incorporated for our seal coat fog seal project this summer. Uh we awarded it in the amount of $590,000 $62
here about a month ago. contracts are signed by seal code and the county attorney and this open for approval board. >> Okay, we have a motion excuse me is that the chair seal we talked about
>> we have a motion >> I will make that motion Mr. Sir committee. >> Okay. Bill made a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Second by Doyle. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor signify by
saying I. >> I. I. >> Oppos. Same sign. Motion carried. The uh third item I have is uh engineering service agreement with Bronner Techch and uh they were asked to submit proposal for material testing on
Cassad 20 for the reclamation project. Uh we will be doing the inspection the dayto-day daily inspection on the project and they will be doing the testing for us. Their proposal is for $41,923 and I would recommend uh awarding this
to Brown Intertech and this was budgeted at we are currently under budget for the project. So I guess motion could be to have the board sign or the chair sign it or if they want they could authorize this agreement. >> I'll make a motion to approve it and
have the engineers. >> Okay. Do we have a second? I'll second it. But I got a question for you. It is an estimate. Do they stick with their price? Pretty much. >> Yeah, for the most part it stays right there unless there are changes on the project additional testing. But
>> the material testing schedule is set out. So when a project starts, they look at all the quantities in there and they go to the schedule and see how many tests they have to do to meet the requirements. That's what the dollar is based on. Is there any alternate bids
there quotes for us or is that the only one? >> This would be the only one for this. >> We typically work with them on the previous project. >> Okay. Any further discussion? Hearing none, I'll call the question.
All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Same signs or motion period. The gravel purchase. >> All right. So, I think it was two meetings ago. I had you guys reject all the the bids for the gravel because it came in over $175,000 and I didn't do
the profits right. Uh so we went back, we lowered our amount that we were going to purchase down to 25,000 30,000. Um I sent back out four uh bids to different companies. I got three back. Um Central Specialties came in the lowest at $5.91
a ton, which comes to $147,500. Um, and they will be putting that up just south of Barrett there in their Donovan Olsson pit. So, I'm looking for your guys's approval to go ahead and purchase that crap.
>> The unit prices change or just the quantity >> the quantity change and the unit price change. >> So, we went down from uh the lowest quote last time was $614 $64 a ton. So, now we're down to $5. Yep.
So good. Do we have a motion to think? So move. Mr. Chair, Bill made the motion. We have a second. >> Second. >> Second by Kenny. Any further discussion? >> I am going to abstain because I think we
all know I do consulting work for central Specialists. Okay. All right. Okay. So uh all in favor of motion signify by saying I >> I opposed. >> Motion carried. >> Just write down that I abstain.
>> Okay. I see you have your sheets here. So I'll just recogn >> and then well there's one more thing you're in. >> Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Which one? >> Which one? I don't know if you guys have anything. I have nothing on that.
>> Okay. We he sent us >> I know. I just didn't know if they need if you guys had any questions if they wanted to stay back. >> I don't know. I said I saw earlier yesterday and he he he was gone today and he wanted to get this bid on ditch one done and I said okay send it to
Peina and send it out to us. >> We'll take care of it. So that's his whole project. So yeah, >> I just wanted to make sure you guys in case there was any questions, >> but there's nobody else >> and then you'll I don't need to say
anything. You'll just sign up. >> Y >> Thank you. Okay, you got that information up on your with what Erin wanted to a good amount of
>> the quote summary and recommendation for Grand County ditching Cina from County Road 48 to Cassad 21. Headstrom excavating came in at 10,400. Red Rock tiling and excavating came in at 16,500.
SF excavating came in at 28,750. Um Erin recommends awarding the contract to the low bidder of Hedstrom Excavating in the amount of 10,400. >> Okay. And the reason that Aaron wanted to get this in is Headstrom. He wanted
to start next week, I guess, on it. So I'm looking for a motion to this issue. >> So moved. >> Okay. Troy Troy made a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Second by Doyle. Any further discussion?
Hearing none, I'll call the question. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Oppos. Same sign. Motion carried. All right. Okay. Tina Grant County EMS committee
local sprint paramedic program plan. Um, >> so in the packet I did send out the uh the draft Grant County local sprint paramedic program plan. At the last board meeting, the board directed the
committee to go back and get something in writing specifically about the capital schedule of replacement. And so in doing that, we just kind of put together the whole plan. So if you look on page two where it starts talking
about the budget, um is where we put the narrative in there regarding the um capital schedule. So, of the $165,000 appropriation annually in this plan, it
identifies taking $100,000 annually and putting it towards that capital schedule. Um, and there are numbers in there and uh timelines for replacement. And the schedule starts with Hoffman this year in 2026, which at the last
meeting the board did approve funding for that ambulance. then Ashby, then Lake Region, and I did get some feedback um when I visited with Commissioner Ken Johnson about the Sprint vehicle itself
that um Eric or Carrie drive. Um that should probably be included in here as well. Um and so if that is the consensus of the full board, we can get that addition added to the schedule as well.
>> Yeah, I got a question, Tina. Okay. So, you said Eric's Eric's rig, too. >> Well, I don't I don't know if we should call it Eric's rig, but the sprint >> the two sprint rig. >> Yeah. But the one by Lake Region. >> Okay. >> Also, Lake Region Ambulance
>> Ash by Ashby. I mean, >> yeah, >> we're we're under that kind of goes to the one and I didn't get a hold of Tina is I would like in there. It says that if a entity goes out of business, the other entities have the first right of
purchase or refusal. I think it should just be given. >> Yeah. >> If it it's not a buying, it's I mean we're the the county taxpayers are buying it. We're not letting that be sold somewhere else. >> Correct. And I that is the intent of the
committee when we've discussed it. And >> I think it's like a $1 a year leasers. whatever Justin said we can do. >> Yeah. The only the only thing with that with Hoffman ambulance is that Hoffman put in about 100,000 on that ambulance,
>> you know. So that would be they they they have some interest in that besides the levy fun. So and just to be clear, I chatted with Senator Asen and that that was grant dollars that bought those sprint
pickups. So they will be staying here in the area. They will not go back to the state or anything like that. So that was his words. So we we probably going to have to probably maintain something there eventually down the road. They're fairly new, but they're going to get
eaten up, I'm sure. So we have Well, we have the Hoffman one. If Hoffman's putting in 100, and we didn't fully commit. Well, that was CO money anyway for the Lake Region renewal. So that's not but the Hoffman one I would say just have
get you know the committee to if they're in agreement that Justin would drop an ownership percentage. So then you know if five years down the road the ambulance is worth $100,000 if we say well the countyy's going to keep it and give it to somebody else
we'll have to pay hop on and their percentage of the value. Well we should assume some role of discretion. I mean, we're not taking their money. They put into it. So, >> I mean, that >> otherwise, I would say we just work out a a lease that, you know, the next one
is least a dollar a year. >> So, then something to give us some teeth. >> But, but with uh with regions sprint truck, you know, I I I think my thoughts are that we're we're we're providing capital
for the ambulance. probably not not not that truck, but you know, because they they they have that now. It's theirs. And I I don't know about buying them a pickup, too. So that the ambulance, you
know, that's just my thoughts. They they had that program going way a long time now, and it's a very successful program. We're lucky to have it. Yeah. So, >> one of the questions I had, Mr. J is it it referenced the
local sprint paramedic program and so and and I believe that that refers to the ALS of the advanced life support which we have what two. So one of the questions I would have is that we're
dedicating the meeting which I'm 100% for but things change. What happens if we only add one or if there's a time when there's none and doesn't mean that we're not I don't think that then we would not continue to support.
So if we're going to reference it specifically for the sprint program which is is under the ALS the advanced life portion. I don't know if that's our intent to the monies. Am I making sense how I'm referencing
that? Well, I don't and I could be wrong, but I don't think that Lake Region being an ALS is necessarily tied to the sprint paramedic program. They go hand in hand. Well, you have to have if I look if I heard in the
process, right, you have to have a paramedic on the ambulance for it to be an ALS. Now, the sprint paramedic gets, let's use Eric, to a call in Herman way quicker than going and waiting for that ambulance to be staffed. So, that
ambulance when it leaves may not have a paramedic on it if it's not an ALS, but when it gets there and Eric gets into it, it becomes an ALS. So, the ambulance service can be a part-time ALS without the sprint paramedic. It's just your response times
become that paramedic. resource. It's the resource to make it a sprint. >> It's the per Yeah, it's the person sprint just gets the paramedic there ahead of the end. >> So then go back to Dwight's response or
question about are we with our 100,000 a year going to go towards the the placement and and is the pickups going to be in that rotation? Well, I think the one would be
do we need to identify that or don't you know was here but he must be on the call right now because he was planning to come to talk about that. I can't speak on behalf >> and maybe you know maybe I haven't talked to Eric about it. Maybe maybe it
would make sense, but I I just I just know that uh right now Lake Region owns that rig and and they don't own the the second one that's under the sprint paramedic program. >> And so continue that
>> the one there's one for me to to fly. >> Uh because Lake Region's still going to have Eric, they're paying him. We're not, you know, >> and we can table this and we can we have a committee meeting and we can get more.
All I really wanted was I wanted to come from that committee this under the budget the V the schedule that the committee is saying this is what the schedule I wanted that formalized so it isn't this board saying well it's Hoffman and then it's supposed to be
Ashb but all of a sudden well no we switched it or >> no and I understand that it was just it made sense to put together the plan instead of just the schedule but I think the question is is >> should one of the sprint vehicles be
included in the rotation schedule >> and and and I'm not against I'm not I'm open-minded, you know, maybe they have other thoughts, but uh but wasn't there something about this on the paper a while back or something about the sprint thing
>> because I had an individual call me happened in fact he called me yesterday and if it wouldn't have been for the sprint car he said that they would he would have lost his wife. was it was within the last week. >> I think we all got full belts on it,
didn't we? >> I did. >> I did. But I think if we ever get to a point where that resource for the county is in jeopardy of not being there, I think there's going to be strong feelings that
it needs to be there. >> Well, I don't know the answer to what would go into this. Well, there's no doubt. I I wouldn't want to even think about being without Eric. That that script.
I mean, that's that's been a >> blessing for us for years of success. >> The best option right now um is to table this >> and bring it back, have a committee meeting where Eric's there, right? and we we make sure that we have a clear understanding
>> of those two sprint trucks and how they're funded, who owns them, and talk as a committee and then come back with a recommendation to the full >> they just got one outfitted in the last couple years, right? Uh Eric last year was
>> where one of them just showed up in the What was the cost of that? come come back with that cost because if it's $100,000 and your life expectancy of that vehicle is 10 years, let's say
it's five years, it's $20,000 a year. I think we'd have a lot of problems if we said we're not going to fund that and it wind up going away. >> Yeah. Yeah. the grand dollars that did buy, you
know, and bought the system and and got it up and kind of got it running, that is going to go away. So, we got to figure out some type of a mechanism to at least maintain one of those sprinkles. >> The hospital probably can maintain one, too. You never know. They might well have one a couple of them. So,
>> the hospital is talking about this. Eric and I met with them and um talked about our plan. And so I what I foresee in the future is is a meeting um or maybe having like region actually come to the board. Maybe we do a work session and we talk more about the details. But I think
there's some more committee work to be done to find out the cost of that sprint truck as well as you know like just the history if it's if it's one bot with grant or two bot with grants and then I think the committee
you know brings back that recommendation because again we can't have a local sprint paramedic program if we don't have one of those sprint trucks that can get a paramedic on scene quicker. than waiting for an ambulance because that is
the main goal of of the program. >> Yeah. Well, they are going to wear out and they could, you know, so sooner or later something's going to be planned for, >> but like I said, I I wouldn't want to be without those two. >> I know that. I mean, I just assume that
Lake Regent has it now and they would continue that. >> I don't know those details for sure. Again, if Eric was here, I'm sure he would. So, I think it makes sense for the committee to meet and get those details for sure and find out the cost. Um, and you know, we can just bring it
back and we can keep talking about it because it's it's a good deal. We want to it's saved lives and we want to keep it. >> Yep. That's for sure. >> Okay. So, we're we're done with that one then >> if the board agrees to table it. That was just a suggestion.
>> Yeah. So that's all we got to do is table it then. >> Yeah. >> All right. Okay. Red River Basin Commissioner, I see we owe a lot of money. >> Well, we don't owe them money. They they
want a release of the funds of the $112. Um I did a little historical research and Troy, I don't know if you can pull that email up. You had sent an email. Um, I'm having a little bit of difficulties on my laptop here.
>> So, I got it in a bunch of different emails here. So, we paid >> Let me look here. >> And Chad, um, >> it's not a specific line item in our budget. So, to say we budgeted, was it $112
that we do not have a line item that says we taxed our citizens for this $112. So, it was not much of it. I've got another one here. We did pay it in 2025.
Let me look. I got more. I think that's the only time we did pay it. Yeah, if my memory serves right, there's like three other times I found it in the minutes going back to 2004 where the board consensus or made a
motion not to pay it, but last year in 2025 the board did. >> So Tina also has an email out asking them because they're representing this as a joint powers. When did we sign on to the joint powers?
when did we sign a document that said we would budget this? And I mean, if if they have either one of those, they have something that a previous board has agreed to, okay, then we'll pay it because we agreed to it. If not,
>> then >> and I did >> then I would be against it. >> I did ask Justin um if he had anything on file, he does not. And I did reach out to the Red River Basin Commission and I asked them if they could send it a
copy of any signed document back. And so they were going to work on that and and see if they can find something and send that back. But >> I sat on that. We we created that committee I think back I don't remember what year it was and I and and Ron
Staples used to go up to that meeting up in Morehead and talk about some things and where things are at and all that stuff and I think that's just a that's just a basically a a a commitment fee to you know what I mean be part of the this process and that I did it for two years
and there was no takeaway from any of that stuff. You know, we talked about county business and things like that, but this is this is something that I thought, you know, there should be somebody else other than a commissioner sitting on it, but there there's other people in the valley that feel that this
is important to be able to be on the forefront on some of this information. So, I did it to begin with, but there wasn't much takeaway. So, then I did not, you know, I kind of refrained from doing any of it anymore. And I don't remember us paying 112 bucks or whatever
it was. I don't maybe we did a long time ago which was just last year. >> Yeah, but I think that I I haven't been going to the meetings for at least probably three years. This will be the third year. >> I went back in the minutes of 2004.
Um and I I couldn't find anything in the official minutes unless it was before 2004. I haven't got gone back any further than that. I will make a motion to table this until we get a document showing that we
are obliged to pay it. >> Okay. Do we have a second? >> I'll second it. >> Doyle second it. Any further discussion? Hearing none. Uh all in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. >> Motion carried.
Okay. Or do we got anything else? $112. 2 >> two and a half% per capita in terms of population. It'll never change. >> I think it's a good precedent to set
that to the constituents that we are checking out these agreements, making sure that we actually have the documentation that says we should be doing the things things like this. And I think it's just good to kind of clean up homework >> so we know how to move forward in the
same consistent transparent pattern >> in I think if you go back in our committee assignments that we had you know what I mean 3 four years ago you'll see it listed there and my name was on it. So that probably be the only spot that you would probably find it. It's
been talked about. It's I found it in the official minutes from the past like I said, but the consensus or the motion was always not to pay it. It's just we're searching out that document if there's a joint powers board agreement that's been signed.
>> There was no takeaway that you know what I mean? You sit around and there were some things that they talked about, but a lot of it was up the valley. It had nothing to do with Grant Calvin, but we're on the top end of the drainage. You know what I mean? So they want us at the table. That's the reason why.
>> Well, they don't want us at the table. They just want us to do what we're told. >> All right. Board committee updates. Budget and finance committee. >> You got it. >> We already got meetings coming up. We haven't met since our last meeting.
>> We've got a meeting May 28th and then in blue um where budget finance committee is meeting with each department. to start looking at budgets for 2027. >> Okay. And when when you when we meet with each department, do we look at how they're doing this year through the
halfway through the year or whatever? >> Well, we looked at at the end of the first quarter and we'll look at it again. I don't know that we'll look at necessarily the department breakdown for this year in June. That would be uh
like a July once we have the we'll look at it again. Gotcha. All right. Uh, building committee. We got a meeting next week. >> Yes. >> Okay.
EMS committee. I think we covered that. Personnel committee. Troy and Doyle. >> We got a meeting for that, I think, next week, too. We haven't met. We haven't for a while. Yeah. Okay. Highway committee. Well, we just seen
math there. They're getting rolling now. Um, so public safety committee I we're trying to get meetings line. We're going to get I just was messaging Jen before the meeting. We're going to
try to get set up on a monthly schedule. Otherwise, I think the committee's up to speed with what >> So, I got a question. Uh I appreciate the work you two committee members have done on this because I
think it's I don't the heavy lift for you but here it has taken some time. Uh, I'm just wondering if if we don't get five of the seven we talked about, it really changes for those who are in. And I wonder if we shouldn't I guess Bill
should be in the room when I say this, if we shouldn't be talking to our local councils and mayors to press on them the importance of being in this system because I don't know if the alternative is very good. Now, I don't know if I'm
wrong on that or not. And I know we're paging forward again, but you need our help in our own individual communities. >> Well, I would encourage the So, we're going to have June 2nd, we'll lay out some options. I'm not going to say
they're all of them because I don't know that they're all. We'll lay out some options here. That's the second. Third, we'll meet with the the committee of the cities again and then we have an hour dedicated the 16th of June to this. I would
encourage the cities well to talk to their members on that that uh committee but then if they also want we have an hour of if they want to come I'm here if they want to be on Zoom I mean however
that is and but I would never discourage you from talking to them what I mentioned Bill is that this the committee members on this public safety have worked hard. But I'm just wondering if we or shouldn't be communicating with our individual
communities, councilmen people, and mayors because if if they don't support this, it's going to potentially change quite a bit and that we maybe need to step up and help them with our own individual council.
>> I agree. Yep. I've had discussions already. >> Yeah. you know, so I don't think it's, you know, they they're it's a grumbling thing to try to, you know, I mean, move forward with something, right? And
Dwight's kind of spot on. Dogs and nuisance properties. That's that's kind of number one and number two, I think. You know, that so that's I think a little bit more a level of compliance on that part would certainly change the
face of the discussions. But I appreciate the work you've added down. Yeah, because it's, you know, it's not any fun. No, it's not. But and I I I've communicated with Ashley some like I've
said before, I haven't heard of complaints. They think they've always told me they thought it was a great deal going from, you know, like a hundred dollar to whatever it is now, 50 or whatever. Well,
So you guys move through building and grounds committee kind of a thing. You already did that. Yeah, >> you got it. Well, you know, the email that was discussed was, you know, about park. Did Did you guys talk about that at all? >> It's that's pretty preliminary. I think
as a committee we need to talk about that. There's I'm we're still doing some homework to find all all the information we need before we can kind of talk about that one. >> Okay, that's what I don't care. I just we just got in an email here.
>> Yeah, an individual um approach me about possibly buying some of the land at Pine Ranch Park. So, uh, we're just in the very preliminary stages of collecting the homework and or doing the homework and collecting information to even see if that's a possibility or not. So,
well, there might be more to come on that. >> Okay. Solid waste committee. >> Well, we met with Inger Britz and Troy and and his staff member Carissa. Re had put together or they had put
together together I guess a lot of the information and kind of extrapolated out the anticipated 4% increase in the tipping fee and what it would look like in 2028 as far as the rates and
what else. Well, there going to be a big a bigger media campaign about, you know, trying to educate the population on what's coming because for some people there's going to be a significant increase in and that what that dollar figures to so
that everyone is paying the same per gallon of solid waste. try to get the word out that, you know, every pound of organics that you take out of the solid waste stream, I mean,
we're not, it's what, $105 a ton for solid waste to get disposed of. It's half of that for solid or for organics. Sure, if I only take out 10 pounds a month out of my garbage and put it into organics, it doesn't seem like much. But if you have a thousand people doing
that, that's 10,000. I mean that's what five tons every month. So heads up. >> So I mean what I would say to that is that you know RE is doing a good job trying to get weekly things out on their
social media and on the website and he's also reached out to all the city and mayors. So if you do talk to your respective cities about you know if it's law enforcement contracts also remind them that there is a meeting coming up in regards just to solid waste and what
changes are going to take place before 2028 when the county moves to vendor billing and what those you know increases are so cities have some time to plan for that. Um so there's you know some crucial information that'll be shared at that meeting. So, if you do
talk to your cities, you know, encourage them to to try and attend that that solid waste committee meeting. Um, and if they can't, you know, reaching out to read making sure they're getting all that information well in advance so they can they can plan for that and do their
own outreach with their city constituents as well. >> Strategic planning schedule. >> June. Early June. Yep. and Sean Larson from Morse Electronics is going to be in attendance and we're going to talk about, you know, long-term planning into
the future. What does it look like for Grant County? Um Sean's going to share a little bit of what his plans are for as he moves forward and, you know, retirement and what we at the county should start planning for now.
>> Horizon public health. Is the dust settled there yet? >> Uh well yeah it uh as you all know the top three are leaving but uh but
yeah they they're in the process now we had a meeting when they >> next Monday. Yeah, but we had a meeting there last week on because I'm the vice chair. We're confronting our process there to fill those two positions.
So hopefully keep running good. a Western Prairie Human Services. >> Um Stacy's going to be coming to the forward meeting next meeting um with the
new lease agreement for the indirect cost reporting um change. And so we're going to try and schedule her at the very last of the meeting because she's meeting with the Traverse County Board. It's right at 9:00 and then she's want like to come here and be here in person. If we can't make that work, she'll join
us Zoom, but that'll be at the next meeting. >> Okay. And Hope County did approve this morning. >> Okay. All right. Um I have I just have one
other thing on EMS. Uh on on May 1st, there was the reporter that came and it was all set up. Now I I don't know how it all went but uh they were the reporter was out of the metro I think but he was going to be with Ottertale in
the morning and then he came they were coming here and there were and I think they went down to Herman and probably interviewed one of the people that were saved at least that was the program anyway. So there probably be something
coming on the news about that one. I got to ask Eric how that went. But they were he was he was in the sprint rigs with them too on call. So So scar property with the >> He's a movie star.
>> Yeah. Yeah. That's right. So >> yeah, every meeting I I attend a lot of meetings and whenever EMS comes up and they talk about the sprint paramedic program, it's always positive. Everybody says it could be a solid waste committee
meeting and if it's brought up, they say we have to eat that program. That's it's all positive feedback. >> And what uh I heard some of the commissioners talking about they got got some phone calls. I didn't get one, but there was some that was helped out.
>> Okay. Was it was it an elder? >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. Well, he they were very appreciative of and they didn't realize just how important and how thorough and how you know what I
mean, how expedient, you know, once you make the call of how quick people can get things like that in a big way. So, well that sprint car, you know, uh I've seen it in Ash the fireall 6 in the
morning. I've seen it. I've seen it around the county. So, the one the one that is operating just doesn't make a difference and it has. So, that's good. Okay. Well, I'm going to
journ this meeting then. If there's nothing else there 1017. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair.