Well, good morning everybody and welcome to the Candy Ohio County Board of Commissioners meeting for Tuesday, August 4th, 2026. Please stand for the pledgece to the flag of the United States of America and to the rep for it stands one
nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Want to welcome everybody uh who's watching on uh YouTube as well as the folks that are uh in the chamber here
today. And uh uh just a great reminder here that it's fair week and uh Commissioner Dale Anderson is uh currently living out at the fairgrounds and uh uh thank him for uh for everything that he's doing and we're
looking forward to uh seeing everybody out there uh at our booth uh as we uh uh and there's another $25 for the food and double. >> There we go. Uh so with that uh uh the
first item of business is the approval of today's agenda. >> Mr. Chair, I so moved uh passive and give the approval to the consent agenda item or or the agenda rather. >> I'll second that. >> We have a motion and a second to approve
today's agenda. Any discussion, questions? Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> All oppose. That motion passes. Thank you. Uh the next item is the consent agenda. Uh consists of action items that are uh typically routine including the
approval of the July 21, 2026 county board legal minutes, approval of the auditor's warrants and claims and approval of human services warrants and claims. We're paying the bills. A revised resolution 2026-3
uh to reflect a new mileage rate uh that the IRS just published. Uh and then the uh resolution 2026-33 which approves county financial participation uh in the survey fiber internet uh
project. Uh commissioners, are there any items on the consent agenda that anyone wishes to pull for further comment or discussion? >> Move on the consent agenda. Mr. Chair, >> thank you commissioner. And >> I'll second that.
>> Thank you very much. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> All opposed. That motion passes. And with that, uh, we're going to invite Margaret Johnson, the district manager of Candyoi County Soil and Water Conservation District to the podium uh
for an annual report. Margaret, good morning. >> Good morning. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I was going to say if you're asking me, I can't help you. No, but your grandchildren probably could.
Here we go. Thanks for the intro. It's a long one. I'm Margaret Johnson with district manager with KYUI Soil and Water Conservation District. Uh come to talk to you today about we've what we've had going on over the last
year. I'll reflect on our district mission, talk about some county statistics, the challenges that we face in our county, our role um as the district and how we attack those challenges
briefly funding and our budget request and I will invite you to an event at the end. So we were actually established by citizen petition back in the 50s. We're a subdivision of the state of Minnesota
and we are established to carry out conservation on soil and water in the county. This was to help enact a statute that was allowing for local voices by locally elected officials making decisions on a
local scale because prior to that everything conservation was coming from Washington DC. Leadership and governance is provided by these elected officials. Um they are they show up on the same ballot as all
of you. They serve for a four-year term. They govern the month-to-month, year-toear. They establish policies. They follow follow statute 103C. We also have to follow other administrative laws like you all like open meeting law. Uh the districts are not based on
population and the five managers are supervisors are um pictured. The role of the elected supervisors is to develop policy, long range plans and budgets based on the mission which is to
use wise use of land and water and treat those resources in accordance with their needs for protection and improvement. Now, the fun part. I highlighted what I consider to be the most important. But of our 551,000 plus acres of
jurisdiction, 415 of those are egg land. 21,000 of those are irrigated eggland on,300 farms. Those are the people that we're helping. There's also 361 lakes, which means our county is 11% lake.
Uh there's 21 natural and altered water natural courses designated public waters. So like the example would be the middle fork, the north fork, shakipi creek. Um we also have 98,000 acres of wetland, seasonally flooded, wet meadow,
shallow marsh, deep marsh, shallow open water, which means that overall our county is 29% water. Um, you guys also have 604 miles of ditches. Um, to give you an idea of how
far that is from the top of Minnesota to the bottom of Minnesota is only 400 miles. So just within the county, you guys are dealing with a lot of water all within four major watersheds. The largest agriculture that we have here is corn for grain, soybeans, sugar
beats for sugar. We also have hay, halage, grass, silage. Um, there is a lot of transitioning to harvested vegetables. The five largest livestock inventories are turkeys, as you guys probably know,
hogs, cattle, sheep, and lambs. We are rated number one in the state for turkeys, third in the state for poultry and eggs. So, that's all great. Now to the hard part. Um this is showing you 130 years
of data from the climatology office in which we work with to collect that data. The dark circles are showing you what is called the variation in weather patterns. The red circle is what is showing a as a trend.
So our summers are getting wetter. The reason why this is very impactful is because our county is full of infrastructure that has altered hydrarology over decades. This affects ice outs. This affects lake
levels. This affects drought. This affects in lake vegetation, in lake ecosystems. And of course, this affects agriculture, farming, and drainage. I also have some scary slides that talk about those challenges.
So the challenge that we see because of that is infield erosion. There are several different types of erosion. Sheet rail gully what you're seeing on the top is gully erosion. And we see that there's going to be a major change
or a major loss in nutrients and it also impacts water quality. This is very very disruptive and since 1998 we have seen our and experienced nine of the 10 warmest and wetest years on record
but not to worry uh we're here and we play a role in that erosion. So the top picture what you see is construction happening in field to mitigate that erosion. Because Royal uh soil erodability depends on several factors. We provide
technical assistance and engineering assistance and cost share on projects to help that erosion. We consider slope, we consider soils, we consider the science, the geomorphology of those soils, the soil erodability, the susceptibility.
Um, so what you're seeing in the bottom picture is what we would call a water and sediment control basin in the field in field to help that erosion. Another challenge that we're seeing is all the human activity shifting how our
water flows across the landscape. Um, Austin actually took this with his drone and I took the bottom photo last June. We had a really wet June. We had lots of flooding, but we also have altered the hydraology. We have altered the hydraology by either speeding up the
water or slowing it down in places that the water historically hasn't been. We have developed areas that cause more runoff that run water runs off more quickly instead of soaking into the ground. We have also done um so much
that we're reducing the groundwater recharge where we're not actually allowing water to recharge back into the system impacting our drinking water. So faster moving water obviously causes erosion for streams and ditches. It
degrades habitat causes sediment problems in our lakes and streams. Um and we've also altered these flow patterns. Changing the oxygen levels in these streams and lakes causes problems to habitat as well affecting the fishery
and affecting other organisms. We have definitely overwhelmed our landscape with these changes and we need to you know maybe rebuild that infrastructure to handle um more runoff and some of these changes to the
hydrarology. So our role in hydraology is restoring using our technical assistance and cost share programs to permanently protect either through easements of habitat wetland restoration easements finding landscape where
there's already hydric soil where it makes a lot of sense the soil wants to return to that wet to provide wetlands provide storage. Um, another thing could be detention basins, bioells, floodplane restoration just to provide some of that
temporary and permanent water storage on the landscape where the water is trying to go. Another challenge that we're seeing is losing our pollinators and habitat. Um, when we reduce plant
diversity, we weaken the food web. Um, it also disrupts natural ecosystem functions. Habitat loss limits the space and resources um species need to survive leading to fewer species. Um and also
pollinator decline affects flood product or flood food productivity and habitat habitat degradation and no we should not rely on technology when mother nature does it so well. So
bringing the terrestrial and aquatic habitats back or just being a little bit more mindful of where those pollinators want to be. So we do also play a role in habitat. We provide technical assistance uh caution on pro projects. We would
like to permanently protect through easements habitat restorations and we also provide financial incentives. We use prairie and pollinator corridors to reduce habitat fragmentation. And we need to provide a place for
pollinators to feed, nest and overwinter. Another problem that I had mentioned earlier is groundwater. Contamination of groundwater can cause and spread illness. Um cardiovascular
problems that people are unaware of over their lifetime, especially to vulnerable populations like infants and the elderly. More contamination just means that communities have to invest more money in stronger filtration systems,
testing, and infrastructure updates. When our water and our sources of water become unsafe, people lose trust in their confidence of local supplies and if we are trying to find an access to clean reliable drinking water, it's very
very very expensive. So our role in drinking water, we do provide to anyone free nitrate screening in office, free arsenic screening and we also provide a cost share for abandoned wells because abandoned wells tend to be
a very vulnerable place that groundwater becomes contaminated. Another challenge is wind removing top soil of the soil profile. The top soil is the most fertile part. When we lose that top soil, it leads to
poor crop growth. And over time, once it's lost, that land is harder to farm and is more vulnerable to drought. It also is the essential nut. It does hold the essential nutrients that top soil that blows like nitrogen,
phosphorus. And when those organic matter is carried away, we reduce soil productivity, which means we now need to increase our inputs like fertilizers. And that increase our costs and it can be environmentally damaging.
When soil and nutrients wash or blow into nearby streams, lakes or rivers, they increase sedimentation and pollutants causing problems like elol blooms, habitat degradation. Um, I took the bottom picture actually
on South 71 last year, but we play a role in that too. We provide technical assistance to land owners, helping them identify soil health challenges and select the best practice for their operations. We support and implement soil building
practices like crop rotate conservation crop rotation, cover crops, which is what you see in this photo, reduce tillage to help improve that long-term productivity and resilience. We also offer soil health incentive payments
that encourage land owners to adopt and maintain these beneficial soil health practices. Another challenge is treating our lakes like they are pools.
We have lost 40 to 50% statewide of our natural lake shores. 1 to 2% is lost per decade. When we remove that natural vegetation and hardened our shorelines with rock instead of roots, this increases the
erosion and sedimentation. It disrupts wildlife habitat and fisheries habitat. Fertilizers from perfectly manicured lawns also carry harmful um chemicals into our water quality. And when we have
warmer water, heavier rain events, and longer growing seasons, this intensifies some of the invasive specy issues that we see around um our declining lakes in the county. Our role in lake protection would be
providing land owners with technical assistance for shoreland restorations. We provide a cost share program to help land owners. And I also strongly recommend our normal lawnmix. I did it at my house. It looks beautiful.
Which limits your fertilizer use and maintains that native vegetation. The Minnesota DNR reports that 35% of installed rip wrap statewide is unnecessary. Rock doesn't filter runoff. It does not
provide quality habitat. It also heats up the water which means we are losing the habitat in which fish like to spawn. So maintaining that native vegetation and avoiding the hard armoring or rip wrap and keeping development set back
from the water is what we should strive for. Oops. Our essential services are split up statutoily through 103C. I just put it in a pie. One slice is showing that
our role is to have that locally led voice leading direction and policy. Um we also have a slice representing our knowledge and guidance for conservation and resource management in the county. A slice would be on the ground pro
projects and programs to help protect natural resources. A slice is also for collecting data and using that sound science to inform decisions. There's a slice to use date tools that are up to date, equipment that's up to date, and
technology to help support our conservation work. A slice showing involvement to help support and guide regulatory programs. And a slice for educating and outreaching to the public. I'm not going to go through all of our
programs. Some of them are statutoily obligated, but this is a list of almost all of our programs um that we provide as services to the mission and goals of conservation in the county.
So briefly, in 2008, a majority of Minnesota motans voted in favor of the clean water, land, and legacy amendment, which is a amendment to the Minnesota constitution. This amendment provided sales tax revenue dedicated to the
environment and the arts. So for every $1 spent, 38 of 1% is collected and goes into what is called the legacy funds. The orange is the outdoor heritage fund which is 33% of the budget. The blue is
clean water fund which is 33% of the budget. The green is the parks and trails fund which is 14% of the budget and the red is the arts and cultural heritage fund which is 19% of the budget. These all come in the form of
funding projects like projects that the district does. However, it does require matching dollars. These locally matching dollars come in the form of an allocation from all of you. This year's request is $440,000.
To let you know, this is only 20% of our income. We match all of our $440,000 with as much state and federal funds as we can. Conservation work in the county does provide substantial benefits. So
for every $1 spent, $181 is generated in the local economy, such as buying cover crop seed from a local cooperative or hiring a local contractor to build a sediment basin to help mitigate soil erosion. Without this allocation, we are
unable to complete our work of conservation in the county. I will leave you with this. We do have a field event coming up on Thursday, August 20th to show different types of cover crops um from 11 to 1. Please
RSVP. >> Thank you. I'll take any questions if >> Thank you uh Margaret. And uh I just wanted to say on the pollinator side of uh things, I've been cautiously optimistic in that I've seen more monarchs this year than I have in
probably five or six years now. So hopefully I know that they're going to be starting their >> journey south here in about two weeks, >> right? >> And uh uh hopefully they will uh they will make it and uh hopefully they have habitat to come back to. I
>> agree. Any uh questions or comments for uh uh for Margaret from the board? >> Mr. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a couple uh comments going along with your talking about pollinators. I got some seeds from
soil and water about milkweed and I was surprised. It takes several years for it really come along. So, I was really disappointed and I got I got some property in town and all of a sudden now this year they're just really taking off. So, it's really >> it's kind of like asparagus. Yeah.
>> Yeah, it is. It's pretty cool. It takes some time, but it's unfortunately I got these spots in my yard where I have to mow around the milk and protecting it, but it's even expanding there. Um but also would you comment often it's you know it sound like your people think
about uh soil and water districts being all rural but you also impact all of Kandai County including the cities and can you expound on that in some situations you might be involved with some of the cities >> definitely so all of our >> Sorry to put you on the spot
>> no that's okay no good question uh the plans that we have we have four comprehensive watershed plans and each of them have information about urban. Um they have goals that we have for urban, objectives that we have for urban. Um we
have worked with the city of Wilmer in the past. We've worked with other cities too. Um certainly we would love to do more. I think storm water in the city of Wilmer, as you may all know, becomes a challenge. And like I had mentioned, if our summers are getting wetter, um, and
we have infrastructure that's maybe 50 plus years old, it it's going to be changing within our lifetime. You guys will probably see it. So being able to mitigate some of that when we can, when we have an opportunity, when we have a hole in the ground is much cheaper than
dealing with flood damage or um building if if there's an opportunity to do a partnership. Um it's much more efficient to do it that way. For sure. >> Can I just follow up? >> Yes. >> You you brought up the four watersheds
that we have >> and that's I think I think we're pretty unique in that. How does that fit with other counties in Minnesota? Are we Is that common to have that many wersheds going that different different ways in one county? >> Yeah, some have more. I mean, bigger
counties like Ottertale, I think they have like eight. Um >> Oh, really? >> Four is very unique. It is it is four different groups of boards, four different groups of staff, but we do have access to funds that we never have before from the clean water, land, and
legacy to be able to do implementation items within our plans. It's been a really really great um it's been a great effort and overall we've seen a lot more funding coming to um some of that money was used out of the fairgrounds actually. if you guys
get a chance to go peek at that, that was money used through those partnerships that came for storm water practices to mitigate some of that runoff from the fairground area. So, that's an example of of something that I would consider to be a little bit more urban. Yeah,
>> Commissioner Dwayne Anderson. >> Thanks, Mr. Chair. So, um you mentioned about contaminated drinking water. uh the wells that are abandoned. There's funding for that and how does that work and and people know about that? Because
I didn't know about it and I I I sealed about three on our farm and >> um it would have been nice if I'd have known about that but but just so other people can know that there are funds available. How does that work? Is it 50% or is it 100% cost share? How how does that work? >> Good question. I think we had a press
release in the paper on Saturday. Maybe you aren't reading the paper. Um, we have different sources of funding that allow for 75% up to 100% per well. Um, if you have a well, we have been seeing
around about $2,500 to seal, we want people to do it because it's the right thing to do, but it's not the most fun money to spend. >> Yeah. >> Um, people definitely are incentivized by those types of of cost share opportunities. um head to our office
because we can get you signed up. All you would really need to do is get a quote from a licensed well driller or well boreer and come to our office. You sign a simple contract and we get you a check the second the work's done. >> Okay. Thank you. And then I have one more. >> Yes.
>> Um so the the legacy funds, how hard is that for you to get that? Is that a is that like writing a grant or is it are is there like a shortage of or a lot of competition for that or how hard is it to get those funds?
>> Good question. So we would compete also too against people like the DNR. So the funding that we have for some habitat and restoration efforts up in Shakape, we were competing against people writing grants from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. It's very
competitive. There's always there is also a lot of money. Um but they all come in the form of a competitive grant. Um competitive grants it's not given out to anybody for anything. You have to be very specific in your needs in your
mission in your objectives and you are competing against every other organization in the state. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Anyone else? Commissioner. >> Thank you. Could you go back to about your fourth slide that you showed where you showed the watershed districts or
the wersheds I should say not the districts and I think there's some confusion a lot of us are familiar with the middle fork of the crow river wershed yet it's called the north fork of the crow river can you uh give us a little bit of
distinction uh for that and also for where we have watersheds and where we don't have wersheds because it makes a of who can do some of the Well, not long ago, we had a uh a request for uh
taxing district. Thank you. >> Um that came to us but not to the wershed because that particular area didn't have a wershed. Just speak to that. Right. >> Thank you. >> So everywhere in Minnesota is a watershed. There's 81 wheds in the entire state. Um these are major
watersheds. These aren't a political boundary. These are the hydraologic boundary. Middlefork is an established watershed district established through 103D. Um it's actually only a portion of the North Fork Crow River wershed which is
1.4 million acres from Brutin all the way to Delano. Uh the North Fork Crow River wershed district. There's a middle fork and there's a north fork. Both established wershed districts are both within the North Fork Crow River major watershed. The Chipoa River doesn't have
an established watershed district, which means if a lake association would like to establish um a lake improvement district, they would have to come to you guys at at the county to do that instead of the watershed district. So um there's no other watershed districts in our
county other than the North Fork and the Middle fork established wershed districts. >> And then we have one watershed one plan. >> I know >> which includes a middle and a north fork but not the south fork. Well, the South Fork has its own one wershed, one plan, as does the Hawk
Creek and as does the Chippoa. Um, so so yeah, we the state decided um to create this one watershed, one plan implementation effort because the science behind water water management
isn't on the political boundary. So all of us who work on a political boundary get together with everybody who's in that hydraologic boundary to determine of the plan what are the most what is the prioritizing objective here in the south for work and the hawk it tends to
be quantity and in the chipoa and the northwork it tends to be quality so most of the practices that we're doing will depend on the mission and the goals of those plans so we do have four plans that we're working within our office.
Um, if you're looking for something to read, they're all like 200 pages long. Um, we attempt to do it as efficiently as possible, but without those plans, that money isn't coming to our county. And without us being at the table, some of you guys are on those on those policy committees or joint powers boards,
without being there, that money won't come to our county. So, >> so last week, uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. last week or maybe it's two weeks ago now. It seems like if I allowed to back up a little, it
seems like we're always spending money to repair but never not very often spending money to prevent. So we let something happen and then we go back and spend even more money to try to fix it. I had the distinct uh pleasure and and experience of kayaking the Middlefork of
the Crow River about 10 days ago. It was at a low level, uh, probably as low as it's been this summer or close to it. And I was, uh, kind of amazed and appalled at the stream bankank erosion in spots and actual islands of sediment
that are in that in that river, which caused us to bottom out a couple times. Um, and as I'm floating it, I'm thinking, holy cats, what a great tourism opportunity. Here we are at the top of the watershed of near to the top of three different water four different
watersheds and um tourism is the second biggest industry in this county. Um and the backbone of that tourism industry is water and I think the investments we make and the work that we're doing is uh critical to keeping that industry uh
solvent, not solvent, but vibrant is probably a better word in our county. So, thanks for the work you do. >> Can I answer some of I mean, I just want to talk about um perpetual protection. We do have land owners that have per perpetually protected through our easement program. I think we've done
over $13 million in the last 20 years of perpetual protected easements. Some of them have been on untouched native prairie and those land owners have found it important to protect it forever.
um the Middlefork and the Chipoa um it's highly erodable soils and it's all it's all manmade dams what is which is is causing probably most of the erosion so also our wetter summers
>> Commissioner Dale Anderson >> well thanks um the biggest thing I think it is that that it goes back to and I I had a couple people say this to me and that's why I wanted to bring it up they said they didn't want nothing to do with the government. And and I said to him, well, go talk to the soil and water then
because they aren't the government. And I think that's a a mixed message that I think that it's too bad it's out there because you guys are Yeah. You get government loans and you do work with the government, but you're not the government. And I think there's a big fear out there amongst farmers and different land owners that they don't
want anything to do with the government because they don't like it. >> But we are the government. >> But you are. But it's it's a different twist. >> We're friendly government, >> right? But I think the biggest thing that that everybody needs to know is just come in you guys' office and be willing to work with with you guys to do
projects. That's really the key to the whole thing and and and that's the only way it's going to get any better. So >> everything we do is voluntary. We only I mean we'd love to work with anybody any time. Um but you're not required to do any of the work that we suggest to you.
>> All right. Very good. Anybody else? Uh, Commissioner B, >> if I can make one comment. A long time ago, I owned a house on Wilmer Avenue and and I realized that under the stairwell there's a little dugout there
and there was a well and uh thought nothing of it. But now you bring up capping wells. We always think of capping a well on a farm or out in the country. But in the city, if there's anybody in the cities that they should, you know, if they have something like that, they they probably want that cap, too.
>> We've done a handful in the city. Um, which is very funny because they are all in basements, but to think about if that house were to start on fire, guess where all that water and all the chemicals from the house is going >> right down into the drinking water supply. So, yeah, we work with people in the city as well. >> And so, they're aware of that. They
should look at that. And that's important. >> Definitely. Exactly. Thank you. And Margaret, uh, you and your agency will be out at the fair this week. >> Please come visit us. We're in the conservation building across from the fish tanks. >> And you have pollinator seed available
for anybody who >> We'll have packets. >> Wants wants a packet or two. >> Yeah, but don't talk to G Corky because he can't get his no >> pollinator habitat working. Huh? >> It it it does take a while. We're finally we're finally starting to see some of it over at Southfield Park now.
>> Good long game. Yeah, absolutely. >> Thank you for having me. >> All right. Thank you for being here and uh appreciate having you here at this time. Then we will uh ask uh Becky Anderson, our
truency specialist, back to school event for uh truency prevention. Becky, good morning. >> Hello. I've met some of you before, Corki. I'll be dating myself a little bit, but we used to work together at the Piggly Wiggly building on Lichfield
Avenue back in the 90s. >> So, I got this particular position in 1997 when Larry Klein actually developed it. So, we've uh he gave me the freedom to develop what we thought we needed uh
to combat and prevent truency in Candy Ohio County. And when I first started it, I thought I I'll put up a booth at all the open houses at the schools and people will want to come and talk to me. But that was not the case. People
avoided coming to talk at at uh my little booth. So we had to think of different ways to work with the public. And uh one of the things we've done for many years is the Salvation Army used to have a food truck and would go around to
the different um neighborhoods. So, I started following them around and handing out back to school information and the purpose was not to hand out um school supplies, but we would have a few pencils and actually ice cream and
things to get the kids and the parents to come over to the table. So, we did stop doing that during the COVID years for obvious reasons, but um again, now the school goes around to the different neighborhoods and hands out um the
meals. They do less. Some of the kids just come and grab the bag lunches and go back home. But, uh tomorrow we are going to be out there. for public health will be with me and um we're going to hand out freezies, a few little uh
fidgets. We've got some extra backpacks if people want them. But there is a very good stuff the bus program that actually provides school supplies and they partner with the school. So, our ours our goal is more to make sure kids know
when the first day of school is, that they're registered, that they attend the open houses, um that they're immunized because there is rules about that and kids sometimes miss school because they're not properly immunized. So, we work with public health on that. Uh we
hand out different sheets that the kind of the summary of all the open houses that are scheduled and and so forth. So, we are doing that tomorrow. So, I'm glad to be back doing that again.
>> All right. Uh any uh uh any and you're having that at the >> I'll follow I'll be following to nine different sites around Wilmer. I Okay. back up the county van with a card table and we have just the different supplies
and hand them out to to kids and parents to to make sure that they're informed. Another thing we talk about is reestablishing sleep patterns because as you know some kids like to sleep in in the summer and then you know the first day of school starts and this is
actually the first year that Wilmer will be starting before Labor Day. So that might be a surprise for for some people. So >> I'm sure it will be. Yeah. Any questions for Becky? >> Mr. Chair, >> Commissioner B. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just really want to comment on your uh many years of
experience and you I would think you're an expert in our region if not throughout the state of of providing all these services to our kids in our community. I had to it's got to be hundreds of them over all those >> probably thousands actually. >> Thank you for what you're doing. And >> we made it through the years too. That
was interesting years. >> Yes. Thank you. >> We're still paying the price for that actually. you know, students really struggled with that afterwards, too, getting re-engaged and going to school and so forth. >> Robin, was there anything else that you wanted?
>> Commissioner, >> thank you. So, what is maybe the top one or two or three reasons for truency? Um, we see a lot of poverty issues, transportation issues,
um, parents that leave the house at 6:00 in the morning for their jobs. So, kids sometimes have to get themselves on the bus or get themselves ready in the morning. But those are a lot of the some, you know, some kids are not engaged in the whole school process,
whether it's mental health, untreated mental health, just not feeling engaged. And as I mentioned, um, we have paid the price for the whole COVID situation where kids were not in school for an entire year. My new office that year was
I sat in room 1070 with a giant shield and met family after family, you know, trying to figure out how to navigate the whole online system. you know, we had elementary kids that and you know, young kids expected to do online school when
you know, adults are barely equipped to do that kind of thing, much less kids. So, there was some fallout from that from for many years. You think about it, we had kindergarten kids that didn't really have kindergarten. They were how do you do online kindergarten? You know,
it was interesting years. So, >> any anyone else? Becky, thank you for being here today. Thank you for the work that you do and thank you for the many years that uh >> hanging in there. >> Thank you.
>> Uh at this time we have John Gilbertson, the dire deputy director of emergency management and uh going to talk about some new equipment for the rescue squad. >> Yes. Good morning uh commissioners. Thank you for having me. My name is John Gilbertson. I'm the deputy emergency
management director for Kuwai County. Uh today I'm pleased to share with the board uh that the Kenya County Rescue Squad recently took possession of a brand new piece of equipment, a Sherp. A Sherp is an all-terrain amphibious vehicle designed to drive where conventional vehicles cannot go. The
Sherp was purchased from the company Sherp USA in Baiji, Minnesota. Uh Sherp USA is the only importer, excuse me, of sharps in North America. You have to bear with me. I'm going to do a little bit more talking and then I'll have a chance to look at some uh pictures and video. I think Moses has
got one up there now. Perfect. Uh so the Sherp is registered with the Minnesota DNR as both a watercraft and an off-road recreational vehicle. In Minnesota, there are seven county agencies that own a Sherp and many other government agencies uh across the United
States. The Sherp weighs approximately 5,600 lb, 13 feet long, and 8 ft wide. The Sharp is powered by a 55 horsepower diesel engine, and is a six-speed manual transmission. One of the things that makes the Sherp
unique is its large tires. These tires can inflate and deflate quickly with just the push of a button. The Sher rides on a customuilt trailer, which we'll touch on in a little bit. I am the Sherp can uh can drive on both land and water and then everything in
between. I just learned that there is almost 100,000 acres of wetland here in Canai County. So, it's going to be real real good to have a piece of equipment like this. Um our ship was custom built for Cany County. It has two captain's chairs in the front for the pilot and co-pilot and four jump seats in the back
for carrying passengers. um as well as a custom Stokes basket um which is like a backboard uh for injured patients. Uh the basket can be removed and the bracket can be folded up and out of the way to allow for more passengers.
Between emergency management and the Can County rescue squad members, there are only eight trained drivers that went through the driver's training course in Baiji. At this time, these eight individuals will be the only ones driving the sherp. This ensures that the sherp that only trained operators will
drive the sherp. The sherp will have many rescue applications including saving stranded motorists on deep heavy snow covered roads, roads that are impassible for traditional vehicles. Think of highway 7 or highway 71 and some of those real bad storms. Think was
it Christmas Eve Eve a few years ago? Um would have been really nice to have a shirt back then to go help those those stranded folks. It could also be used for rescuing a hunter. Let's say a duck hunter that's stuck or injured in a slooh or pond. A pond that would not that you would not
be able to get to with a traditional ATV or side by side. A vehicle that uh a way you could only carry the person in or out. With the sharp, you'd be able to load them in the Stokes basket or the stretcher or the backboard and haul them out in the sherp. Um, also in ice water or thin ice
rescues where that that fisherman, that early ice fisherman wants to get out there, but the ice isn't quite thick enough and let's say he falls through through, you would not be able to get an ATV out there or vehicle just due to the thin ice. Uh, the Sherp can drive on thinner ice than traditional vehicles.
And also if the ice breaks away from the weight of the sherp, the sherp floats, of course. Um, and the sherp can then um drive straight out of the water and right back onto ice uh with its tools. Sh can also be used during search and rescue operations as another piece of
equipment that can tra traverse any terrain. With that, we'll go to the next slide. This is the front captain's area of the Sherp. Picture on the left is the the pilot and co-pilot seat. Picture on the
right, you can that is just the the pilot seat. You can see the manual transmission. On the right hand side of the picture, you'll see kind of a vertical post. That's actually the steering handle. If you're familiar with driving a skid loader, you kind of know the joysticks. Uh this is very similar to that. You can also see all the
buttons and switches in there to power the lights um and the heater cooler, all that kind of stuff. This is the back of the Sharp. You can see the Stokes basket mounted. Again, that folds out of the way if we need to add more people in there. The four jump
seats are all folded in upright position right now. Um, all kinds of lights back there for patient care. Uh, as well as it's heated and cooled for any weather. Looking at the exterior, um, I'm just so impressed by these tires. They inflate,
deflate very, very quickly. Um, the reason for that is just the terrain. If you're on a gravel road going down, you want to have the tires a little bit higher pressure. If you're in the mud or muck, you'd want to decrease them or deep snow. Um, our sherp was built with two winches, one in the front, one in
the rear. Uh, as well as we got a an extra heavy duty bumper. Um, during our driver's training up in Baiji, the bumper that we have can actually plow right through like a four or five inch tree. And actually, we'll just kind of level it down. So, there's almost no
obstacle. this the sherp can't get through. Uh the trailer we're going to touch on on the next slide. Um so let's get to the the graphics. Uh graphics were done just a couple weeks ago and they are reflective all around to help with visibility. Uh we have emergency lights um all
around the the sharp the red and blues as well as a light bar on top and uh then a siren and a PA system. We also have lots of exterior flood lights or scene lights. Uh so when we get onto a scene, um helps everybody see a little
bit better. Here's the sherpa being offloaded off the trailer. Uh the trailers are custom built up in Baiji uh specifically for these shirps. Uh as you see, the trailer doesn't tilt. You simply just back it off, drive it on. Yes, it looks steep.
Yes, it is intimidating being in there. Uh but after a few times, you do get used to it. Uh like I stated before, um land or water. So the the picture on the left, of course, it's on dry land. Picture on the right, it's in the water. Uh they float. They are watertight. They are
sealed. Um there's no engine like a like a boat motor. Um it's all propelled by the tires. This is going to be a video here, unless you can go ahead and start it. So this is uh just uh this is Lake Wakanda. Uh then I think they call the
north axis. Um you can see it kind of driving in action. Uh top speed for the Sherp is about 25 miles per hour on dry land. Next video here. Go to the next video.
So here we're going to see the sharp entering the water. Again, this is Lake Wakanda access. Um nice quiet access. Beautiful lake. Uh yes, it is intimidating to drive straight into the water. I was the first guinea pig with our sherp to to drive it
and then I got out and took some video of of some of our other rescue members. Okay, listen. So, this video is going to be um just the shirt driving in water. If you kind of keep an eye on the tires as it's turning, you'll see um the driver's side
tires spinning a little bit faster than the passenger side. That is because he is attempting to turn to the right. Uh top speed in the water is about 3 mph. If we had a situation where we needed to rescue somebody that's in a lake like this with no ice, we wouldn't take this.
It only goes 3 m an hour. We would take one of our boats sheriff's office. Um, this isn't really designed for wide open lake settings, but uh it was our training opportunity uh that day. I don't know what happened with this
one, but it was good. Um, so this is uh just a sharp driving out of the water. Apologize for the technical issues. And then the last is last uh slide here. Of course, this is not our sherp. Um this is somebody else's, but I wanted
some pictures. I wanted some visualizations of the shirt being utilized on ice. Picture on the left. I believe the sherp is crawling out of the water after it fell in. Um to get out of the water and back onto the ice, it actually uses its tires. So, you deflate
them quite a bit and the sherp actually crawls out um of the of the water back onto the ice. And then the picture on the right is it going uh back into the water again. They float. They're water they're water tight, water sealed. Um
and uh they're good to be used on the water. So, with that, I will stand for any questions. Forgot Director Bunam is here in the back with me. So, if you guys beat up me too bad, Ace will come up here and help me out. So, stand for any questions if you have any.
>> Yeah, John, uh, I just wanted to ask one real quick here. So, I'm thinking of all of the different fires up north and things like that. Are they using sort of similar equipment in some of those instances? And would that be something where if the need arose down here,
there'd be some inter agency uh play to be able to make something like this available? >> Yeah, absolutely. Um, I know St. Louis County actually owns two sharers and that's where the majority of the fires are. So, I I would imagine they are using them. I don't know that
for sure. Um, but yeah, certainly um uh Mr. Odin, if he has folks that need to get out to an area where their vehicles can't, certainly give us a call. Same thing with the sheriff's office, police department, other local fire departments. Um, it's uh it's ours. Like
I said, only we will drive it. Um, but we're happy to uh to help out any other departments that need it. >> Commissioner Ber. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Um, thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I just a couple questions about that. First off, it's
it's awesome. It's really cool and I'm really glad to see Kandui County Emergency Management Services are on the cutting edge and it should be a priority. I mean, if you can save one life or possibly >> uh it's worth it no matter what it costs. Um, but I would like to know what
it does cost. >> Yeah, absolutely. So, um, as is with all of our lights, the winches, the bumper, the trailer, $220,000 is what it cost. Um, we were actually able to trade in the Sherp or I'm sorry, the hovercraft to the same company, Sherp USA. Um, and
they knocked off about $70,000 from it. >> Um, and so brought it down to $150,541 uh was our final cost with it. Um and then we used our our capital equipment fund um from the board. >> Just follow.
>> Yes. >> Actually, it's a lot cheaper than I anticipated really when it comes right down to it. And it's a good thing you got a trade in on that. >> Absolutely. >> And it sounds like it was a pretty good >> That was almost worth it right there. Just getting rid of that hovercraft. >> That is really awesome. Thank you very much.
>> You maybe need one for your backyard. >> Yes, I would. Yes, >> Commissioner Dwayne Anderson. >> Yeah. Are there going to be any uh opportunities for people to see this? Uh like is it going to be at the fair or? >> Uh we're not going to have it at the fair. Um it's just a little it's a
little too crowded at the fair. Um as you saw in one of the videos, I think leaving the water, it can be a little herkyjerky um on steering. So right now, if we do take it in a parade or any type of event like that, it would be on the trailer. Um all of us or the eight of us have been through the driver's training
course, but other than that, very little experience driving it. So, just as a matter of public safety, we're going to keep it on the trailer unless we're out at like a an empty lake or something like that. Um, I have had some ideas. I haven't talked to Director Bunam about them yet, but I do want to have a kind
of a show and show and tell, a field day, and invite the commissioners out, um, other department heads, um, and we'll we'll take you guys out, show you the capabilities of it. >> And then, uh, what's the name of the company that makes them? And they're made in Baiji. >> Bamiji. Yeah. Sherp USA. These are
actually built in Ukraine and then shipped over here for final assembly um in Baiji. And that that company Shirp USA is the only distributor in the United States, only importer. Um other people can sell them but but they buy them all from this place up in Baiji.
>> Thank you, >> Commissioner. >> Thank you. I'm struck by how short it seems to be. And it must be fairly light, too. Was that a single ax? It was a single axle trailer, but is it tandemss or is it single? >> Single axle. Yeah. >> So, what does it weigh? >> 5,600 lb roughly.
>> Oh, that's not much at all. >> No. No. 8 ft wide, 13 ft long. >> And when when you considered buying this, was there any opportunity uh for FEMA funds to apply for any Now, you wouldn't be able to because it's already purchased, but
>> um it's it seems like something that would be a perfect fit for FEMA dollars. I'm not aware of any grants for equipment at that time. Um that FEMA I mean we have our other grants from from HSCM FEMA um but not specifically for
equipment like this. All right. Anybody uh anybody else with any questions for John? >> All right. Well, nice work and uh congratulations on having the equipment and I'm sure that uh as Commissioner Berg mentioned uh uh this would be a
great boon for public safety here. Absolutely. Candy County. >> Thank you, commissioners. >> Thank you. >> Uh at this time then request uh uh Mel Odin, our public works director uh has a bid award for us.
>> Mr. Chair, members of the board, um this is a uh I'm Mel Odens, public works director. So, we this is the last closed bridge that we have in the county as of now. Um we just did some inspections and
found a couple more that are going to get close, but uh this should this should take care of the last one. So, we took bids on July 28th. We had five biders. This is for Fallen Township just north of Big Candy Lake. Um we had five
biders and three of the five were below our engineers estimates. So we thought that was a really good um a really good indication since it's so late in the season because we do want to get this thing built yet this year. But that being said, um it's our recommendation to award the bid to Structural
Specialties Incorporated of Hutchinson, Minnesota in the amount of $526,956.40. wishes of the board. >> Uh Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion to uh award the contract to uh Structural Specialties, Inc. of Hutchinson, Minnesota in the mount
stated. >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> We have a motion and a second to approve the recommendation of staff and award the bid. Any discussion? >> Um Commissioner Anderson. >> Yeah. When when is it you're expecting
that if this is awarded then uh to be constructed or >> We'll be calling for a precon probably this afternoon. >> Oh, okay. Fairly soon. >> Yeah, we want to get them started because uh you run into uh weather issues after October 15 for the deck. Um
and so it requires some special heating and deck deck work. So we want to get it done as quick as we can. Thank you, >> Commissioner. >> And thank you. Um, this question is not related to this bridge, but I've been
taking some calls just within the last week on the bridge on Indian Beach Road that when it was damaged. Would you remind me at least and maybe the public for the schedule and the time frame on that bridge replacement or
>> um we we took quote. So, the bridge was damaged earlier this spring um by a vehicle and so we had to work with the township on getting quotes to for insurance purposes. So, we got quotes
and it's a timber bridge and so timber bridges take a while to actually make the timber pieces and I believe um they were like 12 to 14 weeks out once you order them. And so, we we got quotes. They I believe they're going to start
after September 15th. >> So this fall? Yeah. >> It it will be repaired this fall. Yep. >> Yep. >> And this question is not related to any of that, but uh we did have a bit of a rain event here last week and uh was
there anything uh of note uh from from your perspective? >> No. Um not you know luckily enough we didn't have there that much on the north end of the county. So, our water or wastewater plant was um to the best of my knowledge, I can I can get the thumbs
up. That's about all I need to know. Um but from a down in our area down here, no, we got five inches of rain in the in the Wilmer proper. Um but substantially less north of here. And it you know, it rained
>> we had we had three and a half >> eight to 10 hours and we got five inches. So like a half inch an hour and it just came down. there was no torrential like downpours. So, um I'm other than I think there's some city of Wilmer issues, but that was a construction related thing, but I don't think there was any flooding that I'm
aware of. >> Yeah. Yeah. I know that they uh they had asked residents to uh uh hold back on water usage just because I'm sure they were releasing a lot through the uh wastewater treatment plant. >> They can stop pumps and
>> Sure. Commissioner B. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Would the uh the fact it's been really dry, would the water absorb faster then? >> Under under torrential downpours, no. When it's that dry and hard packed, it
will run off. This actually um got it to be more spongy and it well it rained for eight hours. >> Oh, it wasn't. >> I mean, it wasn't No, no, we didn't. We the runoff wasn't near as substantial as we've had on many rains, even two inch rains. >> No.
>> All right. Anyone else? We have a motion and a second uh to approve the recommendation of staff. Uh all in favor signify by saying I. I. >> All opposed. That motion passes. We are going to take a fivem minute recess.
Well, >> it's Are you ready? >> Yep. I think so. >> I think it really will help. >> Let me let me know. Yeah, >> it worked.
>> It did. >> All right. Thank you everybody. Uh the uh Candyo High County Board of Commissioners is back in session. Uh and Administrator Baker is uh going to present uh to us uh in regards to a nuisance abatement that uh we've
discussed here in the past. Kelsey, good morning. >> Good morning. Kelsey Baker, Candy County Administrator. Um, I'm sorry. I don't know what it There we go. As the chair said, before you today is
the Roger Moon nuisance abatement. Um, as you see in the board packet, uh, staff received the complaint back in May. This has come to the board uh, two separate times. The board has then had questions regarding past practices and
what are the full options. Um the property that was in question about the past practice was over on Eagle Lake. Um this has not ever been on a board agenda. It was handled internally between staff and the property owner. Um and the the work that
was done was to install basement windows. Um and really that was all. Um the original permitted um as a movedin house in 2002. And so um that property really has never set a precedent to the board. And so
today we are asking for action on this particular incident. Since the previous board um board update with this, that information was uh answered. And then uh yesterday, August 3rd, uh the neighbor to the east of the
moan property uh said that he would has an agreement to purchase the property and a bid to demo the home. Um I believe he is here today. Um and so if that is the case and if the board wishes to talk to Mr. Camson. Um,
that would be your wishes. But if that would be completed by November 1st, I would recommend that the board allow Mr. Camson to do that with the property. However, if it is not done by November 1st, I would recommend that the board
authorize staff to move forward with the abatement. >> Um, thank you. And, uh, uh, I think we should, uh, uh, Mr. Hson, are you uh able to come up and address the board, please? Uh and uh for the record, uh
state your name and your address and uh tell us about your plan. >> Mike Campson. I'm 12058 212th Avenue Northeast, New London. I live right next to Roger and Wanda there. I did. And and I'm planning on purchasing their place
and demolishing the house. And that's about it, I guess. >> Okay. And uh the plan that was uh just outlined uh by the administrator uh uh that is that a timeline that you can meet?
>> Um it should be probably I I got like uh three or four bids I do from demo companies I do and and they should be able to work it in by then. I would think they're not sure, but I it should be pretty close in there, I would guess. >> Yeah. because because if the if if the
proposed deadline would not be met, then we would proceed with the abatement. Uh uh and uh >> so I'll jack. >> So we would need we would need some asurances that uh that's going to be uh that's going to be met. Uh, Commissioner,
>> uh, I would like to, uh, offer a motion to the, uh, effect of what the administrator said that, uh, the board will postpone any nuisance, uh, abatement, uh, until, uh, November 1st of this year
or the first opportunity after November 1st of this year. I don't know what date November 1st is. >> So, I'm just I'm just looking for a clarification. uh uh you would not want uh you're not offering uh uh direction of staff if that is not met to uh uh uh
automatically proceed, we would uh we would need to meet on it. Uh >> I'm just offering to postpone an abatement. Uh the reason being is because if there's a week or two weeks or even a month where the contractor can't get there or some minor reason, I
don't think we'll want to go in and mitigate. That's that's fair enough. I'll offer you a second on that uh discussion. >> Commissioner B. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And we understand this is agreement with both parties involved in this and going
forward. I'm just really feeling glad as a board we did put look at this and reviewed this very closely and to get to this point. This is a to me in my mind a win-win situation. >> Yeah. >> And I'm cross my finger that it works out. So >> it should
Anyone else? No. All right. So then uh uh do we need a motion? Yes, we do. A motion. >> Second. >> A motion and a second to uh uh approve the recommendation of the uh administrator and allow the additional
time for the purchase to take place and the demolition to be completed by November. >> All clear. M >> that's not quite the way the motion was. The motion was to not mitigate until uh at least November 1st and and then
revisit it if it's if >> if it's not >> nothing's done by then. >> Yeah. But but we plan on having it done by then anyway. But >> I but I understand and and I agree with that. >> All right. Everyone else is clear on the
motion. All right. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. All opposed. That motion passes. Good luck. Thank you. And >> good luck to you. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> I need to bring this back up. Uh and administrator Baker is going to then uh
present to us uh in regards to a uh playground equipment grant for a couple of our county parks. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Kelsey Baker, Candy County Administrator. Before you today, I would be requesting for the county to fill out
an application um for two playground equipments for Games Lake and Diamond Lake. Um these parks serve the residents not only in Candyoy County but across the state of those who are visiting for outdoor recreation opportunities within
our county. Um we have outdated equipment at both parks that need to be updated to improve safety and accessibility and the overall experience for the like I said for the residents and individuals enjoying our county parks.
This grant would allow the county to complete these improvements while limiting limiting the impact on local property taxpayers. Um, this investment supports the county strategic goals and plans moving forward with maintaining public facilities and strengthening
communities. Um, we would ensure the equipment is appropriately selected, uh, professionally installed and maintained as a long-term public asset. And so today I would recommend that staff are allowed to apply for this grant. And as you can see in the quotes, um I did the
quote for two and that would be the the dollar amount um let me site see this. Sorry. Um for the grant. So it would be the total of the $82,139.15.
>> Thank you. You've heard the uh uh request of the administrator. Discussion. Commissioner Anderson. >> I would like to make a motion to follow staff recommendations to apply for the grant. >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> I'll second that, Mr. Chair.
>> All right. Now, uh now any discussion? Commissioner Anderson. >> Yes. So, uh, just so I'm clear, there's a $82,000 one and then a 64,000. Or are we doing separate motions on this or is this >> Thank you. >> The two was I put an option in there for
three and that wasn't the number. Sorry, I was just scrolling down. Um, the the total for the county would be the $64,895.68. That's for the two playground equipments. >> So, our our obligation is >> is the 64,000. Yep. The 65,000. Thank
you. when you were speaking. >> I too wondered if you needed to add those two numbers. Thank you for that. >> Thank you. I spoke too soon and then Commissioner Anderson made the motion so quickly >> there. All right. Uh and uh uh that's a
fairly small commitment for two playgrounds. Uh that was that's normally what you would spend on one at least. Ironically, this individual reached out to our maintenance supervisor in public works, Todd Miller, and I couldn't believe it. Um, when Todd said, "Should
we just explore having a conversation with him?" Like, is this legit? Um, they've this is this is a legit organization. They help communities all over the state of Minnesota, all over the state of Minnesota and around regionally as well. Um, they just
started offering this type of program. And so when they reached out to us, I he did actually our sales rep did actually visit all of our county parks. >> Okay. >> He he came out from um the cities and looked at the parks and was very
complimentary of the parks that we have in Candyway County. Um but did also see the need to update our equipment. And uh one thing that I did uh just want uh clarification on uh it says here that the county parks are already wood chips
and ADA compliant. I mean you're not we're not putting down a concrete pad or anything like that. Are they use I know that they do use some other materials, some rubberized uh uh uh areas, that type of thing. I know they've done that over at the destination playground. Uh
is there are we talking about that there or just the wood? >> Just the wood chips. We're not looking at um >> which kind of fits more the vibe of a county park. Anyway, >> I agree. It kind of keeps that rustic look either easier for maintenance and accessibility. >> All right. Any other questions from the
board? >> All right. Uh we have a motion and a second to uh approve the request of staff. All in favor say I. >> I. All opposed. That motion passes. Thank you. And you have a budget update for us. Yes. Yes.
>> Did you need these passed out? >> I do. >> Okay. >> And I already have one. And you guys get these here. >> Oh, yes. >> This is Yeah, there would be. Yeah,
>> this goes this way. Mr. Chair, this is different than the one we have in our packet, right? >> That is correct. Okay. >> And then these go this way. >> That's That's too small. I can't figure this one we had before.
>> Yeah, it's just the the one, not both. >> Oh, not both. The yellow Which one? >> There's a recommended >> this one. >> Okay, >> then grab that one for Shane.
>> There we are. And >> Okay, >> it's just two handouts. >> All right, I think we're Yep. >> Yep. I think we're uh I think we're good here. Go ahead. >> Thank you, Kelsey Baker, Kyoi County Administrator. Uh before you today, I wanted to just provide a brief update
from our previous work session for the 2027 budget. Staff continued to refine and review the preliminary budget. Um and today we have a few items that we're going to go over. It's the quasi government funding request which you
have a recommendation in front of you. Um the fund balances which is a handout that was provided to you all. health insurance. Just a brief update on our human services levy and then next steps. So, going back to the quasi governmental
um funding, these are the requests as you can see in um in column I. You probably can't see column, but it says requested 2027. all of the appropriations that have been
received. That's the dollar amount that they are requesting. It was since um sending out this information in your board packet and conversations with the chair uh he recommended a 5% decrease across the
board uh to the appropriations to start there. And so what you see in your handout in front of you is that 95% reduction. Um, so it's that five, I shouldn't say that 95, it was the total. So the 5% reduction across all of the
requested appropriate appropriations outside um of extension, the library system and Prairiewoods environmental learning center. extension and the library system. Those two uh
entities we are somewhat obligated to provide the requested amounts. I left Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center because their request request has not changed uh since 2020. It has continued to stay stagnant at that
169,700. All of the others I did decrease by 5%. So as you can see then on your handout um the suggested total that they are requesting for 2027 would be roughly 1,768,942.
What I would recommend with that 5% decrease for the requested would be that $1,547,460. And looking at appropriations throughout the state, um we are a little bit higher, but it really varies. You might
have one county that gives 1.5 million to their library system. Uh you might have one county that gives $100,000 to their historical society. I feel that ours are very consistent in the size of the organization for the appropriation.
And so my recommendation to the board, but these are board, you know, this is up to the five of you would be to go if you would want to lower those requests would be that 5% decrease uh to the the majority of the appropriations to keep
it at that 1.5 million. And I do want to uh just uh mention uh why I uh uh why I offer the 5% option. Uh the other recommended decreases that we had seen prior to the uh to this meeting today uh
were going to fall primarily on uh uh on two agencies. And honestly uh we get a little bit more bang for our buck if we just spread this across evenly across the uh uh uh the entire appropriation. I think there's a larger conversation to
be had ultimately about uh uh what we do with particular uh uh agency requests and is this a proper role for us or not. Uh and there's a lot of history here. Uh and so we uh uh I wanted to offer this
as an option for us to uh consider and we'll see what the wishes of the board are. Does anyone have any uh questions or comments? Commissioner Rim Deck. >> Yeah, I think uh I would not be able to support something like this as it's
presented. Number one, probably should be a board discussion, not a a chair recommendation. >> I'm just I'm just throwing that out there again just because I wanted another option to talk about. >> And number two, I think we need to look at the at the complete picture of uh
where our uh reserves are at and to see how much of this is necessary. We just got done talking about um soil and water conservation and and water quality and tourism in as an industry and um you know it's been pretty flat for three
years now as a recommendation four years. Um so is this the 200,000 roughly $200,000 number one is it necessary and and that will be determined by where we're at with our reserves and number two is it
prudent. So, um I guess on first blush I'm uncomfortable with this, but you're right about questioning whether or not it's our role to be funding, you know, the the uh humane
society and the food shelf and the county fair and those kind of things. And um you know unless we give unless the um the legislature actually has to do this gives soil water conservation taxing authority it's still the county's
responsibility to fund that. >> Commissioner Burke. Uh thank you Mr. Chair. Um yes I think we all hate to cut uh funds like this. I have a couple questions. You know taking a look at it 5% across the board on one hand. And I think that's not a bad way to look at
this. But then is do we just look at this way or do we look at our entire budget this way? And that would be even a harder harder uh thing to tackle. But I think this is all part of discussion. Um, also and I I like the idea in some
places there's we do have the reserves that we can use those and for soil and water and and and they're a big player in this whole thing because the different projects they have that come up and with the KCED uh that they're looking at the mall the
candy mall area or the uptown area too and maybe soil and water be involved in that or so some other project for any of these they could still come back my question to request special funding from reserves for pro major projects going forward. So
>> yep and I in in budget 2024 SWCD did receive the 285,000 plus an additional 300,000 from our building reserves for their new build. >> Um so >> and so the the total amount that went to SWCD in 24 was a total of around
600,000. Um but the appropriation was around the 300 >> and the appropriation to them before that had been about 156,000 >> correct >> uh prior uh prior to that and uh and now
it's 350 >> Mr. Sure. But for historical perspective, that was intentionally kept low for several years and uh because of the activities that were at taking place there and the um
the amount that Kenui County gives is still far less than what the amount Maker County does for solid water. Really, >> we have 360ome lakes, more lakes than Mer County does, and we're a bigger county or about the same size county.
Anyone else? Go with Dale. >> Commissioner Dale Anderson. >> I think I I think this is good information. I don't want to get into the argument right now. At some point, we probably have to have the argument, but every one of these organizations you could argue for or against. So, I think
as long as we have something to keep thinking about, I guess I would just like to leave it there. Um, I understand Kelsey's trying to make the budget work, but I think this is going to get to be a hot topic at some point and I don't really want to do it now.
>> And and to that to that point, I'll have Commissioner Dwayne Anderson and then Commissioner Burg uh again. Uh uh we're really talking about ultimately the same roughly the same dollar amount either
way. uh uh within the uh uh quasi government uh budget requests. Uh you can you can still work with that because we're really talking a few thousand as opposed to anything really goalpost really being moved. Uh
Commissioner uh Dwayne Anderson. >> Um yeah, my I guess my preference would be not to cut but maybe to keep it the same as 2026 if that's possible. >> Okay. Commissioner B. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. I I have a
couple of things. We're looking at making these cuts and I well, I think it's a good place to start. I've been on some boards and committees and some major things in the past and trying to figure out where do we start and you don't go anywhere. This way, we
got something to work with and then we can dig into that later. So, I see I'm glad we got this. This is very good. I think there's some areas we can tweak for sure, but we got to look at the whole budget and how this fits into that because I'm a little concerned that yes,
we focus really strongly as as commissioner Gardner mentioned about our uh budget here and the size of this budget and effect of it. uh because I don't you know we look at our whole budget this is really a small amount and we got I think we got to be reasonable
in making major cuts for a small amount it really hurts them too. >> So I know the administrator was looking for a little more definitive direction on on on where the board would like to be but I'm sensing some divergence of
>> uh of opinion here on on on next steps forward. Is this something that we can take up at the 18 on the 18th? >> Well, as I recall at the July 21st work session, it was discussed to put it on this agenda um not necessarily a work
session that it could have a discussion here um to bring back for the 18th included in that budget that would be presented. Um so what I'm hearing are mixed comments throughout the board. Um, but what I can do is look at all of the
requested dollars. Um, I could provide another option if I can. Um, it's a 221,000 20 Yeah, 221,000 difference based off what was requested with that 1.7 million versus what we would input in the budget
with that 1.5 million. And so, um, I will work through that and it would it's up to the board, as Commissioner Mike said, it's up to the board's discretion on if they want to allow further. Um, I would, um, caution using reserves to offset an appropriation because once you
give that appropriation, there were if you give that 350,000, say if it's to the library or or not the library, but Prairie Woods, that becomes that consistent in their budget. So, I I do I would caution the board using reserves for appropriation. I don't know if I have heard of another county using
reserves for for appropriations. Uh but at my recent conference, a lot of uh administrators are asking boards to look at the appropriations within the budget based off cost shifts and what's um other services that we're providing. Um
in some of these we have other um uh regarding like United Community Action Partnership, we we give an appropriation and we also uh have a contract with UKAP regarding in human services and give dollars towards
staffing there. Um I don't think any of these appropriations are out of line. I think for the size of county um 1.5 million is on that little higher end. Um, but each county is unique in what services we provide and how we provide
our services. And so I I think it's truly up to the county board. If you want to look at um look at this information today, just know that if I put in at the 18th on that work session, I'll use the number around 1.5 million
uh in the spreadsheet that would be and put it in the budget. Unless you want me to leave everything as is. I I assume that you'd be uh leaving the uh uh received uh 2026 number in the uh budget then.
>> That's what's in there now. And you it's you can request different. >> Sure. This I think this gives us a little extra time to uh uh mull over the particular options. Commissioner Berg and then Commissioner Anderson. >> Thank you, Mr. chair and I agree with
you entirely about uh using reserves for certain things when it comes to this and I was really trying to make the point is looking at some of those budgets do they have big expenditures for a special project that's coming up that if we had to use reserves we would use those for those projects and and we have done that
in the past we use reserves for a lot of projects that come up but uh I really want to make make a note of that that we examine that possibility So that's I I think overall I I think I don't think it's going to be that big of
a discussion and it'll go down the road. Maybe I'm wrong where we uh appropriate the money. >> All right. Uh Commissioner Anderson. >> Well, after looking what Dwayne said, I I guess I would kind of agree with him on that. I mean, the 2026 numbers are
all kind of a little bit of less than what they people are asking for 27. So maybe that is something that we could look at. Um it kind of gives us the same end dollar amount. So maybe that's that's a way to look at it. I I hadn't really looked at it that way, but I I
think that is something to probably look at. >> Commissioner. >> Oh, thank you. Um so we do have non- levy revenue sources and so using non- levy revenue sources is not using
reserves. True. they have automatically those non- levy uh revenue sources have automatically gone into reserves. Hence why we have some growing reserves, but they're not reserves until we put them in there. And so non-revenue
uh sources of funding can be used to mitigate other uh expenses in the county. >> No working. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. Now some of these for example the CCT or community transit um since uh the money we put
into that program the other counties and cities or something match we everybody puts in the same amount so the when you're making a cut there then all the other entities are aware of that and we'll be doing the same thing.
>> Yes. So, so that's been really kind of a heads a head nod from all the other uh uh players in the joint powers. >> So, so I think I'm hearing you saying in that example uh Renville and Mer
and then I think the city of Wilmer city as well. >> Yes. >> Uh there's there's a more than several entities that put into uh uh CCT. So, uh, and that might be a conversation with, uh, uh, with the new director, uh,
as well. >> I I I know that those are, >> uh, what we're talking about here are relatively small numbers, uh, for for them as well. >> But, Mr. Chair, that's also true of like United Community Action. >> Yes,
understood. So before us make the cut now, we need to to have that conversation >> and we can email this out to them and let them know >> see what they >> All right. Is the board comfortable with that? Uh taking it in that direction and
then we revisit on the 18th. >> All right. Uh very good. And then uh uh ask the administrator if there's any administrative updates or anything like that. Well, I'm not quite done with the budget update. >> Oh, okay. Yes. I'm sorry.
>> So, also as a handout, you have before you are the fund balances. You've als you have all seen this document. I usually send it out around this time of year preparing for the following year budget. Um, also another document for you to review
prior to the 18th. Um this afternoon just also um I am meeting with the chair and the vice chair regarding the 2027 budget and preps for the August 18th budget work session. Um as you can see it goes through all of the different funds. You know it lists the county
revenue the road and bridge fund welfare goes through the cash investment and then the total. And then on the right column, it's for the June 30th, 2026 ending, quarter ending, and where we're sitting with our cash investments in total.
So, I will let you review this. I'm not going to go um into detail because it's a lot of information, but as you know, that's been presented from Clifton Larson Allen about our reserves and our fund balances is that we do have healthy reserves. And I think we're at the point
where we need to spend down some of the reserves specifically maybe in road and bridge and the human services fund. And so I will say I'm working with the the directors on that if that's a possibility and how we move forward with uh capital equipment or capital
improvement projects. All of that I am working with um also with the department heads and then our staff uh to evaluate how we would use these reserves appro appropriately in support of one-time costs. um looking at the building
maintenance projects, like I said, the capital improvement, the capital equipment. And then when we're reviewing the health insurance um dollar amounts and the premiums that are coming in, we are looking at how would if we could possibly use the reserves for that. We're still waiting.
A couple things that are ongoing and prepping for the 2027 budget is we are still waiting on what our health insurance numbers would be coming in at. Um, we have a meeting next week or hopefully the following week with our brokers on what our final number will
be. Following that meeting with the brokers, we will have a health insurance committee meeting with staff. The other thing that kind of ties into that is we have negotiations that will be starting in August, September, um, that will go into new cycle for 2027.
The human services update and that levy. I just wanted to provide an update in talking with the association of Minnesota counties executive director Julie Ring and other county uh administrators and uh Caroline touching base with human services directors. It is the recommen recommendation to leave
those numbers in the 20 2027 budget as full to levy for all of them just in preps for what will come in 2028. Um, again, that is up to the five of you. If you see you would want to use part of those numbers and the other reserves.
Um, I have not had a chance to meet back with Caroline and Carol on the human services budget, we'll do that prior to the 18th. Um, but those numbers for SNAP was a 372, uh,751. And then the long-term services and
supports um the LTS LTSS was 422,372. And so that was our total cost shift in that section right there. And so really for the next steps then um I will incorp I'll kind of take all of the talking points today and figure out how we'll do
the quasi government requests and maybe a couple different options when we look at that levy on the 18th. I can input um different options. Um hopefully by the 18th we'll have a little bit more solid health insurance projections that we can provide to the board. Um review the
human services levy and those cost shifts, continue evaluating the fund balances and the appropriate use of the reserves. And then I will present preliminary levy options on the 18th. And like I said, I'm meeting with the chair and the vice chair this afternoon. Um, we'll review some of those pre
preliminary levy options that I have come up with and then we'll we'll present that on I will present that on the 18th. >> Mr. Commissioner Mck, >> I think it would be helpful for us to um I mentioned earlier about the non levy sources of revenue that the county has.
One of them may or may not take place, the Prime West proposal that we got recently that could add revenue to our county that isn't taxed dollars. Um, we've got the landfill, we've got the jail, we got
interest on on reserves. Um, I'm probably missing some. Um, it would be helpful to get a profit loss on those areas to see because those dollars should be available to balance our budget unless they're automatically
going into reserves. >> And with our reserves climbing, I I wouldn't recommend that we continue to put that revenue into reserves. >> Okay, I can look at that. the revenue that we do receive in each department
goes into that department. It's outside if if it's in the general fund, let's say the the sheriff's office, um that budget, those reserves go into the general fund. It's anything within fund 10, um which would be road and bridge or the human services fund or the landfill
fund. Those revenues build these fund balances. Um, but each of the revenue that you're talking about does go directly in to offset that net levy for that specific department. So, for
instance, our uh fund 65, our landfill, I'm recalling this um in the IFS budget if I pulled it up quick, but I think the overall net levy for the landfill is 153,000. And so, we don't levy hardly anything
for our landfill. And so um with the report with the spreadsheet that I'll provide that we typically provide it's that net levy the differences for each year's budget that will be handed out at the 18th as well and that will show but I I can see if I can find get something
that you're looking for >> M. So, um, last year when we had the audit, it was reported that we had a 9-month reserve, which is a very healthy reserve. And I'm not suggesting that we spend that down, but I'm suggesting we
don't add to it. So if there is revenue coming in from the landfill, from the jail, from potentially from Prime West, from investments that we use that first before we levy dollars to and then the uh the reserve is is still protected.
And quite frankly, the reserves at nine months are pretty strong. Stronger stronger than they need to be. >> Yeah. And we're a little bit higher than that nine months. >> Yeah. I I'm assuming they're continuing to grow for those very reasons of the non non levy revenue that we have coming in.
>> Yeah. Okay. >> All right. Does anybody else have anything that they wish to add uh on this subject? >> No. >> No. >> No. >> Well, I'll save it for the next session. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh and uh uh before we
uh move into close session, uh were there any other administrative updates? Anything like that? uh uh commissioners will visit about the fair booth schedule when we're all done here today. So uh with that then uh we will move into uh
we will recess the candy county board of commissioners uh regular meeting and we will move into a close session. >> You'll need a vote for that. >> Have to have a motion. >> I have a motion. You need a vote or a motion and a vote to go into close session. >> Ah thank you. We will need a a motion to
I will make the motion to move into close session per site the basis >> and site the >> whoever is making the motion site the statutory basis. >> Yeah, that's what I was doing. That's what I was reading. >> Um I move to move into a close session
pursuant to Minnesota statute section 13D.05 5 subdivision 3B for confidential discussion with legal counsel regarding possible resolution of pending litigation. >> Uh that's the motion is second. >> Thank you. Discussion
>> hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> All opposed. That motion passes. We are recessing the county board