--------- The Kio High County Board of Commissioners is back from uh closed session pursuant to Minnesota statutes 13D.05 subdivision 3B uh where we discussed uh pending litigation and we have at this
time uh consideration of a proposed settlement agreement and release. and I will move to authorize the board chair to sign the mediated settlement agreement and release in a form approved by our attorney Kendra Olsen. The settlement agreement resolves all claims
that could have been made by Otis King in his pending lawsuit and is not an admission of fault but resolves the case along with our insurer MCIT in the most fiscally responsible way. I would uh look for a second to that
motion. >> I'll second that, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Uh any questions? All those in favor signify by I. I. All
opposed. That motion passes. Kendra, thank you for uh helping us with this matter. Oops. That all right. >> Thank you very much. at this time. Uh are there any administrative updates, appointments, uh
uh anything of that nature? >> Actually, I would just uh like to give an update on impactful for families. >> Go ahead. >> Yeah. Um I just want to share that we've had quite a week this past week among other things happening I guess in the
world but in fact for uh received on Tuesday a week ago u that they got two emails one at 7 at night one at 11 at night after that uh terminating two of our SAMA grants and
they totaled $1.2 $2 million and the termination was immediate and so there was no option to appeal it. So we did not know what was actually going on. But because of meeting laws and so forth, we did have a meeting to try to discuss
some plans uh the next day because there are several we have quite a few staff on there that are being employed and thus uh their salary stopped that day. Uh and we had to figure out budget wise how we afford that and all that. So, we were really caught off guard at just not
expecting this because we anticipated possibly we may not get those grants renewed and we got them renewed and that was great. So, out of the clear blue, not did do we did not realize that we thought we just got singled out here pack for for families and uh it wasn't.
Apparently, they uh uh terminated uh uh two billion dollar in SAS grants. The interesting thing is then two days later uh at night she was still getting uh the
administrator uh of of the agency still was getting emails about how to close this out because we had 120 days and they needed these forms filled out this way. And then I think it was around 11:00 again at night. She got another email saying, "Oh, we be sending that."
And and uh the good news is we're we're whole again. But I went through a lot of stress, a lot of uh anxiety. I mean, there's people in tears, you know. I mean, these social workers were working with kids and these kids have these families and and the trauma that hit
them, but all in 48 hours and it was new again. I mean, just it it was just really a sad way to deal with grants. uh at least not to give you a heads up and makes you kind of worry as we go forward in government. You never know when these grants can just disappear
like that or if funding can just disappear. So, but I just wanted to share with you we didn't know anything about that. >> Uh thank you for that and you would make me aware of this chaos and sorry that everybody had to go
through that. Uh does anyone else have anything that they wish to have a question? Uh do we have any uh does anybody remember what positions on advisory boards are open? Are there any?
>> Um I think extension still has two openings. >> Yeah, I still got to get some people too. >> Yep. Um I can go through that and send them. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And then if you do know like is it a district appointment like say it's from Dale's district or
>> yeah I can do that. >> I think planning and zoning I think is >> there was two um >> Ben and um >> All right. Anyone else uh have anything for the good of the order? Um,
go ahead. >> Administratively, I'll be sending out either this week or next week. Um, I've met with the board chair a questionnaire for my review which will be held on at the February 17th board meeting. >> Just so you're all aware of that and then you can work with the board chair
on that. >> Okay. All right. And uh uh we'll uh we'll talk offline about a couple of uh uh things to schedule. Of course, we still have the consideration of the uh shotgun versus
rifle uh uh and we'll be looking at having a listening session for that and we'll uh figure out some dates and make sure that uh that's going to work for uh for all of us up here as well as our staff.
Anything else? So Steve, are we proposing the listening session and a hearing associated with both ordinance or just go straight to the order and listening session? uh uh so that would be on uh the way we
uh I've envisioned this is uh it would be a separate uh thing where uh uh where we uh take in input from uh from our community members who are interested in this topic uh and then uh uh we would uh
then entertain a uh ordinance uh at one of our regular meetings. So we have that downstairs or something then is that >> it would it would seem to me that we would probably >> then we have to do another public hearing. >> There would be a public Yep. during the uh ordinance presentation.
>> Would it be would it be more efficient just go straight to an ordinance and then do the public hearing? >> You don't have to do it. >> We don't have to do an ordinance if if you're hearing from your constituents. There's some counties um that aren't acting on an ordinance at all. Um, I
just got an email regionally, um, uh, shoot, I should have that pulled up. Um, that some counties aren't even going to be doing an ordinance based off public input.
>> We because if we hear from the public input that that that isn't the direction they want us to go, we don't have to do an ordinance or do anything with it because it's state law right now. >> Yeah. We've been doing a lot of we've been giving a lot of public input already.
>> So, we just based on what I got a decision at this point, but I want to hear from more possible. >> So, would that be are you envisioning that to be like an evening meeting or
you know different day than a board meeting or what do you what do you >> I would say yes and yes. So, we probably should get that scheduled sooner rather than later because >> I think May 1st is the deadline, May,
>> right? >> So, we can uh we'll do do a Google poll or something. We'll pull up a couple of things that work for couple of dates that work for staff. >> Sterns County April 7th. Yep. They're going to be
scheduling hold a hearing. Um they're holding their board meeting in Melrose in the evening or no might not be the
Douglas County hasn't taken any action. >> County had had a hearing during their board meeting and they decided to wait. >> Stevens County is not looking at moving forward with
the ordinance. Um yes, the P County, he's uh the P County administrator was the one that sent the email to kind of gauge where other regional counties were coming in at. Most of them um either had a listing session or work session with DNR present to help explain things. So,
if you did the listening session, I I think we would try to get the DNR to be present there to provide feedback. Um, I think the only benefit I think I do see with the listening session is if you do choose to not move forward with an ordinance, then um that is the only
exception. if you are leaning more towards an ordinance, then I would say you probably wouldn't have to have a listening session or if you feel that you've heard from a lot of your constituents. Um, but I think that's it's your call. Um, but I don't see um a negative thing
to have a any negative point to have a listening session either. I think it aligns with some of our strategic plan in having more public engagement. that I think this board has talked to board and so I don't think that's a good step if you would choose to do that.
We'd have to have a board after this listing session, a board meeting that with a quorum of course has made a decision. Do we? Yeah. So, you'd have the listening session and then at the next board
meeting uh the board would decide what direction it wants to uh take the uh input that they've received and if they want to do an ordinance or whatever it is that the board wishes to do. Yeah. So, it's not a one-time thing
either. So, if we don't do anything this year, oops. You know, we always >> put in an ordinance in the future or we can change or if we do put in an ordinance, we can always say we don't.
And if we don't, it has a rifle, right? >> Yep. Goes reverts to rifle. >> All right. So, just one last question. I think we should make sure that we consider all forms of communication, not just who shows up.
>> That's correct. Yeah, because we're all getting >> mostly mostly the same emails that have one group show. >> Maybe just come with some dates at the February 3rd meeting so that we could get something scheduled or I I can add it.
>> I think we should wait because between functions that we have going on or vacations or whatever, you have to find that >> because you had originally said um >> you knew it was a doodle poll, but uh
>> Stephen mentioned February 20 23rd or 24th week. >> I won't be here. >> You're gone. >> I can send out an email, too. >> I think we should earlier rather than later because if we do move forward the
proposed ordinance then we have to have the >> drafted in the public public hearing. >> Okay. >> All right. Anything else? >> All right. Hearing nothing else uh I
will declare the uh Kai County Board of Commissioners meeting to be adjourned. Thank you everybody. Part: 2
Good morning everyone and welcome to the Candyo County Board of Commissioners meeting for Tuesday, January 20th, 2026. Please stand if you're able for the pledgece to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it
stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> I want to thank everyone for being here and also those who are uh catching us on YouTube. appreciate your interest in uh
uh county government. Uh at this time, I would ask the board uh uh for a motion to approve the agenda. >> So move, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you, Commissioner Mdeck. And is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> Commissioner Dale Anderson seconds. Any
discussion? >> Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> All opposed. That motion passes. Thank you. Uh and then the next item for action is the consent agenda. Uh these are the uh routine items uh that we
typically see come before us. They include the approval of the January 6, 2026 county board legal minutes, the approval of the auditor's warrants and claims, approval of human services warrants and claims. We're paying the
bills in each of those two instances. Resolution uh 2026-7 authorizing the auditor treasurer to make electronic fund transfers, approval of the annual radiological emergency
preparedness grant and resolution 2026-8 uh an update to civil process fees. Uh are there any u items that uh any commissioners would wish to pull from the consent agenda? >> All right. Hearing none, then I'd accept
a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Uh Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Commissioner Dwayne Anderson moves. Is there a second? >> Mr. Chair, I'll second that. Commissioner Berg second. Thank you. All in favor say I. I. >> I. All opposed.
>> That motion passes. Uh at this time we have a post-election review from uh our friends at the League of Women Voters and uh Mary Allen is going to present. Mary, good morning. >> Good morning and thank you. Um,
yes, I'm Mary Allen with the League of Women Voters of the Wilmer area, and I'm here today to make a few positive remarks regarding the postelection review of Cano High County following the
2024 elections. Shortly after the 2004 election, a nonprofit nonpartisan organization called Citizens for Election Integrity
Minnesota was formed to advocate for verifiable, transparent, accurate elections in Minnesota and across the count country. They closed down their organization
after about 20 years of service. And now the League of Women Voters of Minnesota is humbled to lead and build on what their work was over those 20 years. So a
postelection review, as I'm sure you know, takes place after every state election. and county canvasing boards randomly select precincts for those reviews.
A party balance party balanced election judges handc count balance in those precincts and the results are compared to a machine tabulation. Any differences are then investigated.
Additionally, all the absentee ballots are counted together with the election day votes from that precinct. In 2024, administrative errors in Scott and Sherburn County led to recounts, court
reviews, legislative changes, proving the systems ability to detect and correct any errors. No such errors were found in Kenyu High County.
160 trained nonpartisan observers with the League of Women Voters of Minnesota observed the post-election reviews in 43 of Minnesota's 87 counties following that election.
Election integrity in Cano High and other Minnesota counties is ensured in part by rigorous machine testing before elections and strong election day security measures. In addition, the
handling of ballots and election equipment follow strict conditions. In conclusion, the League of Me the League members observed that the process is being followed in a transparent manner. Thanks to the election officials
following statutory requirements, we hope that our observations and report show that Cano High counties voters can trust that our elections are handled and certified with integrity.
Thank you for your time, >> Mary. Thank you. And uh before you step down, I just want to ask the commissioners if they have any questions or comments. >> I just have a comment. I I think Candy County does a good job as far as I can
tell. I I was a election judge for many years because I sat on township board and and sometimes I got volunte judge and and I wouldn't sleep before that because I knew that the county the people that worked at the county if you made a mistake you got grilled and it's like why did you do it this way? And
it's like, well, I don't know. But, you know, but you you you learn to step up and and I'm just glad that we got people at the county level that uh do a great job and keep us close. So, >> everything done in a very professional manner and very welcoming people if you
go there as an observer. >> So, thank you, >> Commissioner. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I've served on the chemistry board too at at the end and that's really at the after all those other reviews and the board reviews that too. I don't believe we ever had anybody from the public
actually interested in sitting in on that final review and uh I'm sure the League of Woman it's a public meeting league of women voters would be welcome to attend. Well, as I'm sure you all know, the league is a they're hund and
some years old and their purpose from the beginning has always been to um educate voters and to try and understand what all the processes are and to just kind of keep an eye on how things work
and encourage people to vote. >> So, so it's hard to get rid of us. >> Commissioner. >> Yeah. Thank you. Um just a little clarification. Did I understand you to say that another entity since 2004 had been doing this review and now the
League of Voters took it over within the last year? >> Yes. Because the other entity dissolved and wanted to be finished. >> When did that happen? Um well it was pretty recent like right before the last
election or you know we did have observers at the 2020 elections but at that time the other organization was taking responsibility for compiling the information and
disseminating it. Well, I think it's good that we have uh essentially a citizens review, you know, so that besides just county officials and city officials and staff, uh, you know, gives you an independent observation. >> Well, and you try to um, like I said,
inform the voters that, hey, what we've got going here is a good thing and you can trust that your vote is handled appropriately. So, and hopefully we will be able to observe in a few more counties with the next election. Now,
>> so >> I'd like to uh uh just lend my voice to this real quick. Thank you so much for all of the work that the uh you and that uh everybody at the league does uh locally here. Of course, you have the uh uh community conversations uh series
that unfortunately this last one had to be postponed. Uh and then also the hot topics and that's the first Thursday of >> Wednesday of each month. Yes. uh up at the uh uh meeting room up at the library
library and there's uh always fascinating topics and we've been so pleased with the community's participation in the the turnout for those events has been we've had large groups of people and we're very very
happy to see that many people interested in such topics as oh the KY dump and the you know the water rights and just all the things that play a part of our lives, but we don't always think about.
We've had issues had topics on mental health was um that was one that was attended by a good number of people and we're also pleased with the variety of people who attend the various sessions.
So, it's been a I think a good thing for the community. So thank you for >> well and thank you so much and thank you for uh for your report today. >> Thanks. All right. At this time then u uh we
have a discussion related to the town road account allocation. Uh Denell Williamson is here to present. Uh Denell, good morning. Just uh uh identify yourself and who you're with for the record, please. >> Good morning. Uh most of you know me, Denell Williamson. I'm the chairman of
the Candere County Township Association. Um, I did have the our um sheet um placed in your packets today um just because there's so many numbers to um look at that it's easier for you to look
at than just to me tell you. I'm here today to talk to you about the township road account allocation distribution formula. As you know, townships receive a portion of the Minnesota Highway User Tax Distribution
Fund, often referred to as the gas tax. There are five 55,665 township roads in Minnesota. For 2025, the townships received 49,66,956. That sum was allocated equally to
townships within the counties according to road mileage, resulting in an amount of $891.20 per township road mile. It didn't matter if it was White Bear Township in Ramsey
County with a population of 11,82 or Hangguard Township in Clearwater County with a population of 7. It was $891.20 per road mile. Townships in Candy County
have a total of 733 miles road miles and receive 653,383 miles from the Minnesota Highway User Tax Distribution Fund. Divide it out, that comes to $891.20
per Township road mile. Remember, this is not a cost to the county as the money just passes through from the state through the county checkbook and on to the townships. In 2010, the Candy County Public Works
Department, Candy County Commissioners, and Township officers met at the Health and Human Services Building to discuss the allocation distribution formula. At that time, township officers voted to leave the formula at 40% population and
60% road miles. A year and a half ago, it was suggested by a few township officers to look at the allocation formula once again since it had been 15 years that it was that we had discussed the
formula allocation. I met with Mel and Jeremy at the Candyway County Public Works Office back in February of 2025 to get the mileage for each township and the population so I could compile the formula sheet that you have before you
today. After I completed the township road allocation formula sheet, I presented it to township officers at the annual meeting in March of 2025. questions were asked and answered, giving each township time to go through
the numbers and how it would affect them. Then in September of 2025, the Kandere County Township Association hosted their annual township road meeting. I brought up the formula sheet again. We had good discussion on what
was fair and equitable to all townships in the county. We took the a recommendation vote that night. Four townships voted to leave at 4060. One township voted for a 7030 split and
14 townships to use 100% road miles and not have population as a factor in the formula. Five townships were not present. um just for for fun the in 2010 um there was four
townships that also didn't um participate in the vote. Um it just happened to be that it was the same townships. So why do we recommend not using population as a factor? Not all residents live on township roads. Some
live on state highways, county roads, and private developments. Half to twothirds of the roads in in Dovery, 21 out of 34 miles. Green Lake, 25 out of 39 miles. Irving 20 out of 34
miles. And Lake Andrew 13 out of 28 m have true rural roads. So what do I consider a true rural road? a less than four resident houses per mile of road, a
gravel surface, crop land or CRP on both sides of the road. Much like the majority of less populated townships, New London Township is the only exception to this, where most of their roads are asphalt and are highly
populated. With more population, these townships have a larger tax base in which to draw funds from. Uh the township road allocation is a small percentage of the total township's road levy. It's not
supposed to replace the levy, but help to reduce it. Townships have seen a 66 and a half% increase in the township road account allocation in just the past 10 years. As the total amount in
allocation raises, the differences from the highest payment to the lowest payment gets larger. In 2011, the largest payment was 32,000 and the low lowest payment was just under 9,000, a
difference of $23,000 between the high and the low. In 2025, the largest payment was 63,000 and the lowest pagement was 16,000. a difference of 47 47,000
roads. Roads don't just stop at the edge of the township. It's a network of everyone, every township, county, and state working collectively to get the people to where they need to go. As I stated earlier, the township buffers
took a recommendation vote back in September because you as the county commissioners have to make the final decision as to what the allocation should be. We have tried it one way for a few few years. Maybe it is time for
change. Five or so of these townships are giving up a little bit of money so that 19 others gain a little extra. Do not think of it as give and take. Think of it as more as what is fair,
equitable for all townships in the county. Thank you. And I stand for your questions. >> Uh Denell, thank you. And uh are there any questions from uh any members of the board? >> Commissioner Mck.
>> Thank you. Uh Dell, thanks for that information. Um, so do you know in 2010, you said that was the last time this was visited, right? >> Correct. >> Um, was it created in 2010 or was it created prior to that? >> Uh, it was created um farther back than
that. Um, possibly 15 years before that. Um, was the the breakdown of the 4060. >> And who did you say did the review in 2010? Um it was a collective um by the public
works uh county commissioners and the townships. >> And how what was the process like? I mean did they sit down around the table and Yep. >> So we were given three ops >> I'm I'm dating myself cuz
we were given three options. Um at that time um I believe it was a 50/50, a 4060 and a 7030 uh split. >> So you were there? >> Yeah. >> Okay. And so do you do you recall how um
they landed on the 6040? >> Um that's how it was before that. >> Okay. >> Um and at that time we agreed to leave it the same. So, >> and what has really changed from 2010 to
2025? >> Uh, so the the increase in the allocation has um increased 66 and a half%. Uh, we went from a little over 300,000 up to over 600,000.
Um, so it's just it's the the the spread is getting to be more and more um and the um at our September meeting um two two of the larger townships uh New London
and Irving both spoke in favor of the 100%. Um so they're they're willing to give a little I'm sorry. Go ahead, Kelsey. >> I do have a hand out of what the formula is for each county that the public works
director provided. So, I will if you guys would like to see that. >> It was one of my questions, but I wanted somebody else. >> Sorry. Yep. So, if you want to give that to Roger, I'll give this out. Um, >> all right. Any uh Commissioner B. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank Thank
you, Mr. Baker. Um the question I had is when does this take effect then? And do the townships already have their budget set for this year? Right. So this is going to take effect impact their budgets then the ones that one way or the other.
>> So our our levy is for the money that we get in 2026 is levied in uh 25 at the 25 March meeting. Um so we're kind kind of a year behind. Um so the money that we
get um through this gas allocation uh road allocation uh is money that was collected in 2025 u paid in February March of 26. >> Okay. So Mr. Ch follow. Yes. So just to
be clear, um people set the the townships set their budgets, but this willffect the budget then this year or next year? This year's budget then, right? >> Well, we can we can't change what money we're receiving. So
>> Oh, okay. So this will take effect then if we approve this next budget year for the townships. I'm just thinking if I was on a township, I'd be a little concerned about the impact on my budget. >> Yep. Uh so so this is money that um the
town townships aren't sure uh what the amount will be um because it goes according to sales tax and stuff >> each each year. So you just you're guessing on your budget too like we do sometimes. >> We are. Um >> Okay. Thank you,
>> Commissioner Dale Anderson. So after I got the sheets that there's all the townships except for a couple of them are at some percentages. >> Correct. >> So I guess it makes me wonder why we're going to that 100%. And and I know you
tried to explain that, but why didn't all these other counties go to a different I mean I am just everybody is about the same. So it's just it's just weird that that we're going to go to 100%. So, in the state statutes, um, if
the county boards do not make a decision, it reverts to a 5050 split. Um, I if if the county doesn't make a decision, I feel that's not not good on the county's part. Um, so I would say a
lot of the ones that say 50/50, um, throughout the state, um, the county has not done their, uh, county or townships has not done their due diligence on, um, deciding that. So, and just looking at this uh, uh, sheet
that uh, Kelsey just passed out, uh, Chipoa, for example, has a 955 >> split. uh but that's uh as much of an outlier as what uh as what we would be talking about here in this uh in this instance but this is uh I also see some
of these formulas take uh tax rate and equalization into account on a formula here and this seems uh like a much quicker way to do it all on road miles >> correct >> uh and so you're just you're just
funding the roads uh and that That seems to make some sense >> when when you go out and look at the countryside. Um, so I I am a a town township roadside mower. Um, I hit hit
the roads at 5 miles an hour mowing roadsides. I I see the townships. Um, I'm mowing in eight different townships. Uh, they are very similar. Um, no matter what the population is, they mo most of
the roads are very rural and um like the the few townships that do have populations, they're um bunched together. >> Uh so it doesn't cover the all the miles um that there is a higher population. So
>> Sure. All right. And so uh uh uh just a second. Uh go ahead. Oh, and you know, you said you wanted to be fair and so forth, too. >> Correct. >> Um, and we're hearing from you. So, looks like there's a few of the townships are going to financially
really lose on this thing. U, we haven't heard from those. So, what what are what are they saying to you? >> Uh, so I mentioned that New London Township, um, they are the they are giving up the the most. Um, they were
they were in favor of the 100% mileage. um Irving Township um the one I'm I um represent as clerk uh where we we we went for 100% mileage just to be fair to everyone. So,
and so I'll ask uh uh Mel uh if I may. Uh any any comments? And when are we do you know when we're going to see this? And maybe that's a Kelsey question. At the board, >> you'll see at the first meeting in February.
>> Okay. Well, we'll do our our allocation. I I think, you know, this is a pass through for the county board. I think what you know, the townships meet and recommend something like what you see and I think the county board just you know, you
represent everybody and and so um it's it's just how you feel the constituents of the county >> um are being treated, you know. Yeah, that's probably about it. I mean, it's a past year for us.
>> All right. Uh, Commissioner Dwayne Anderson. Yeah. So, I I was kind of surprised by this, but at the same time it you guys get together and you meet and and uh if you came up with this, I'd be supporting of it because, you know, I don't know if I agree with it or not,
but I I I don't like to go against township people. I I think sometimes the township officers and township boards feel like they're getting stepped on, not not being recognized. So, you know, I I think we'll leave it to you guys in my opinion. For me,
>> and we're we're working with our own levies and our own roads. So, we we we know what's out there. >> Yep. Yep. >> Commissioner Dale Anderson. Well, I I just wanted to say, you know, I've only had one phone call on this and and I guess my concern is if people really did
have concern with with this, I wish they would have called because, you know, we can only go by what we hear or what we're our gut is telling us and and where we're at. So, I wish if people really had concerns about this, they would have called. And I only got one phone call and that was from my local
township. So, >> okay. Uh and and so that that's the only reason that I don't have a lot of concerns with this because otherwise people would have called. Um so you know I always say if people have concerns they need to call us as commissioners.
So I'm I'm hoping this is the case that nobody has concerns >> and as chairman of the county association um I'm representing them um in the fairest manner I feel. So >> all right. Uh Commissioner Im.
>> Thanks. So, as I look through this sheet, it looks like um I don't know if it's a third, maybe about that uh does it in a 50/50 uh matter. And I think I think I heard you say they just are apathetic about it and so they don't
address it. And that may that may or may not be. Um and Kenya at 6040 is more fair than that if we're basing it more on mileage than on population. Um, and I wasn't in the room. You were. And
I don't know, it was a long time ago the last time it was reviewed. But when you go into these townships that have the higher population, there are going to be higher demands. Um, it's not just about road ditch mowing. It's about changing that road to um
from gravel to pavement or resurfacing the pavement because of more traffic. I'm thinking of the road, the township road that goes from our county road 9 to US71 comes out at um Hillrest. Uh that thing's got two 90 degree curves in it
that someday somebody's going to say, "Hey, we need to take those curves out of there." And and you know, because of not just the residents, everybody uses that road to go out to the landfill. >> And so, um I think the 6040 has been
working. I I don't especially the 95% I would have a hard time uh supporting that u because you do have differences in and heavier. We're doing a project in New London Township right now. We're helping them through an LRIP and I I know that's not levy dollars, not these
dollars, but the demands are greater there because of traffic, just sheer volume. >> Yep. I I agree with you. Um the traffic is different, too. Um on a on a gravel
road you typically um have farms. Uh you have um semis which the roads were not built for semi- traffic. Um no matter if it's muddy or or springtime we get a
little little reprieve but um we have larger tractors. uh some tracks. Uh when you turn with the tracks, uh they really tear up the gravel roads. Um on a typical residential road, uh your your
largest piece of equipment is probably a garbage truck. Um that typically goes on a regular basis. Um the this this past summer, uh we had
tremendous rains. Uh I know uh County 20 washed out um and Lake Lake Lake Elizabeth Township. Um so there's a lot more wash outs. Um typically in the wintertime
uh we deal with um excess snow. uh where in a residential area you wouldn't be pushing them back with um bulldozers and that uh where out in the resident rural area um you have to just to get through. So there's some some
other costs that aren't typically um thought of um that the rural folks um have also u commissioner and then commissioner. >> Yeah. And I don't know if it's fair for me to ask you this, but I think Mel
wouldn't know. Are these funds out of the highway user tax distribution formula? >> Commissioner Anderson. >> Okay. I I agree with you when you talk about like farm traffic. So in the in the fall of the year, we get a lot of semi- traffic on those roads and it
really pounds on them and and then townships have to reshape the road afterwards a lot of times. Um if it gets really bad and we know it's a certain farmer on a certain road, then we, you know, as a township, we would build them for a little bit of gravel and stuff. Um
but yeah, we get a lot a lot of heavy traffic and those roads were literally built back in the day when we had horse and buggy or the Model T. So I I blame townships to a little bit of an extent. I wanted to rebuild a bunch of township roads, but I was outvoted on my
township. But uh uh yeah, so they should in my opinion a lot of the township roads should be rebuilt, but uh that I you know I I understand why they don't do it, but um they do get a lot of heavy traffic in in my area in the summer and >> back then they were built with just
taking out the ditches and piling them up on the road and putting a little gravel over the top. So um not not the way to build a road. >> No. >> What could go wrong? >> All right. any uh anything else for Denell Commissioner B.
>> Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. Um I'm kind of a person where if it's working, why were we changing things, but apparently it's not working either. And u and also I was want to really point out I'm a little torn here in the sense that uh I don't represent any townships and for me to
make a decision in that uh for the townships and I really respect the township association doing this as well. uh taken that responsibility and um we got you know we >> you want to be fair you know you say you want to be fair but there's always
there's always winners and losers to everything >> and since it was working people were okay but apparently we weren't okay with it otherwise when it came up it's been talking about for some time >> we we saw a problem and we um researched it and um came up with a better solution
we feel um and it wasn't just a a one meeting decision. We we took our time figuring out the numbers. So, >> Mr. uh when you say we, is that the township association or did you have
others? >> The township association. Um so, at our our March meeting, everyone all the township officers are invited. At our fall road meeting, all townships are invited. So, >> well, I I didn't you were talking about
the 2010 review and that included a a more diverse group than what than just the township, right? >> 2010 one, >> correct? >> Um, so at the 2010, it wasn't brought up from the township. It was brought up by um the public works and the as a
collective um at that time. So, >> all right. Anything else for Dell? Well, thank you for the heads up on this and for the great explanations and uh I I come away from this with a better
understanding. So, I appreciate you being here today. >> Thank you. I'm available if you have questions afterwards, too. So, >> that sounds fair enough. Thank you so much. All right. At this time, we have several items from public works director Mel Odin's. And uh Mel, you got a couple
resolutions for us to uh uh deal with. >> Mr. chair, members of the board, I do um I've got the first one is actually um I've got the first one is a sponsoring agency for the Eagle Lake Trail Rehabilitation that we're going to
be doing. Um it's a project that we've submitted for for 2030 funds and what they need is to make sure that um we continue to sponsor a trail that we built in 2013. So, it's my
recommendation to pass resolution 2026-05 to um enter in and authorize the um actually in this case, well, the administrator and the chair to sign on behalf of the county to that you would be a sponsoring agency for the
rehabilitation of the Eagle Lake Trail, which goes from the DNR trail west to Eagle Lake and then north up to the north side of Eagle Lake. >> Mr. Chair, I'd move on resolution 2026-5. >> Thank you. Commissioner Mck moves. Is there a second?
>> I'll second that, Mr. Chair. >> Commissioner Dween Anderson seconds. Any discussion? >> Uh, Commissioner, just a comment. Excellent idea if we can afford it. Yes. >> Yeah. It'll be 17 years old when we re when we rehab it.
>> All right. Anyone else? All right. Hearing none. All in favor of moving on resolution 2026-5 signify by saying I. >> All opposed. >> That motion passes. Uh and uh next item.
>> So Mr. Chair, if I could, I'm going to talk about the the maintenance of that one. There's a resolution um that we probably should have got in when we So there's a maintenance resolution as well for the exact same trail. It's one the 1.3 mile section of so um it's basically
saying if we get the funds and we rehab it are we willing to maintain it for the next 20 years and my recommendation Mr. Chair is that we would so I would recommend to pass resolution 2026-06 seeing that we will maintain
the trail in accordance with state and federal guidelines. >> Mr. Chair, I'd move on 2026-06 as well. >> Commissioner Beck moves. Is there a second? >> I'll second that, Mr. >> Commissioner Bergs. Any discussion? Commissioner Deck.
>> Yeah. Uh, Mel, could you um refresh our memories as how that portion of the trail happened >> in 2013? We got DNR funds and built >> somebody couldn't use theirs as I recall. Right. >> What's that? >> Someone else who had funds uh couldn't
use them. And >> that was it was done um the year before I came here, but typically that's what happens when there's DNR funds that that aren't used. The we're one of the counties that they go to kind of like
the extension of the box covered on the Middle Fork on Highway 40. And this was DNR funds that was done to 2013. >> If I could Yes. So, I do remember that Gary Danielson was the public works director at the time and and this this
was a meet this was a very collaborative project to do this extension because school district Wilbur school district put some money in I believe Green Lake Township put some money in the county put some money in of course the state I think I know the county that wasn't able to use it because they couldn't come up
with their match that was that and I bring that up because those matches are really critical and I think they're a growing element of getting work done. So, >> um it was a it was a very, as I recall in the public hearing downstairs, there was perhaps one person that was opposed
to it, um out of many that were in the room. >> Yeah, it's a it's a it's a good connection to the state trail from Eagle Lake. >> Commissioner Dwayne Anderson. >> Yeah. So, I drive on that road once in a while. Not a lot, but um that 26. Is
there is there something there now or is it just the shoulder or >> No, no, no. It's paved. It's an off-road grade or >> it's in the road ditch basically. Yep. Okay. I just haven't paid attention. I better start paying attention to that. So, all right. Thank you. Any other questions for Mel.
>> All right. Hearing none, then uh we have a motion and second to move resolution 2026-06. All in favor signify by I. >> I. All oppose. >> That motion passes. >> Okay, Mr. chair. Then the last one I've got is the final payment acceptance
project on the 2025 seal coat project. We opened bids in March of this year. We did five miles. It was a low bid amount of $161,930.97. Um asphalt surface technology Aztec out of
St. Cloud was the the contractor. And basically what we have is that withheld is the 5% retainage and it's my recommendation to accept the project and authorize final payment in the amount of $8,49.75. >> Thank you. You've heard the recommendation of staff. Is there a
motion? >> Uh Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion to accept the project and make final payment to Asphalt Surface Technologies Corporation. >> And is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> Thank you. And uh any discussion? Hearing
none. All in favor signify by I. I. >> All opposed. >> That motion passes. Mel. Thank you. Uh at this time I'd like to invite uh Jodi Amberman uh our public health manager and she has a presentation for us on the
healthy kids Minnesota program. Jody, good morning. >> Good morning. Jodi Ammerman, um, public health manager, and we at public health have an opportunity to, uh, partner with Minnesota Department of Health, um, to
be a part of the Healthy Kids Minnesota program. Uh, the Healthy Kids Minnesota is a pro program um to work to better understand children's exposure to chemicals um, that may harm development. And so
with um the partnership with school districts and public health agencies, the program uses biio monitoring to um measure chemicals in preschool age children. So children ages 3 to six.
And they're doing this um across the state. and the results help inform families um and address community concerns and promote policies that reduce uh children's exposures. So, this is a statewide program and they
have been in different areas and um this year they are in our area and so they have reached out to us and the Wilmer school district and are looking to start in our area and so um they would be
starting this spring and how the program works is the um Minnesota Department of Health Lab tests children's urine samples and the families give consent for this
and it um tests different chemicals found in our air in drinking water in some foods and also some household products. So different metals pesticides
um that sort of thing. So this would how it works is it would take place during the early childhood screenings. Um and they they try to get they said like 20 250 to 300 kids
from each region and they work with one to five sites in our area. So we would be one of the five sites in the west central region. um they would do a contract with us and they would do it a separate contract
with the school. So it would be a joint powers agreement and it would all be funded by Minnesota Department of Health. So it'd be a non levy. So um our nurses time would be paid for by Minnesota Department of Health. So they
they when with the early childhood screening the letters go out to the families um it is voluntary so families can decide whether or not they want to participate with this um program. Uh and then when they come to the screening the
nurses would introduce the program to the families. Then consent would um they would get their children's consent and they would administer a short survey explain the program. The parents then
would help um the children collect the urine sample and then they would get a $40 gift card, Visa gift card. And then they also provide a free well test kit
too for the families. And they've had good uh participation for this program. Horizon Public Health just did it and they had good results with that partnership. So uh right now we would
just like to seek approval to move ahead with the process to sign to go forward with the joint powers agreement. um and move forward with this. >> All right. Thank you, Jody. Are there any uh uh questions? Um Commissioner
Anderson? >> Yeah. So, I my question is so that you know it's kind of neat thing that, you know, some people may say it's too invasive, but you know, it's voluntary. Um and then they get a $40 gift card, which is kind of nice. Uh do the parents
or the families that participate in this do they get the results back then for their kids or or is there >> they do. >> They do. Okay. So that would be another benefit then. >> Yes. >> Okay. Absolutely. >> Nice to know. >> Commissioner B. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um just kind of follow up on on this. I've been reading
about the program in the paper and I was kind of wondering I wonder if Kenya County will be involved in this or not. It sound like a pretty good deal from what I see. Is there any downsides to not be involved in this? >> I
I wouldn't see where there would be a downside. >> So So Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion that we support participation in this pro uh program. >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> I'll second that, Mr. Chair. >> Commissioner Dwayne Anderson seconds. Discussion.
>> Commissioner Embeck. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, public health is what we do. So, uh, I think it's a good thing, too. But I'm curious, uh, are we going to be the managing jurisdiction then govern for for this program or is it going to be joint
between school districts and the county? And then about how much investment by staff are we going to have uh, in this uh, endeavor? >> Sure. So, it'd be a separate joint contract with the school. MDH, Minnesota Department of Health would have a separate joint contract with the school,
a separate contract with us. Um, our staff time, so the early childhood screening is twice a month. So, it'd be 2 days a month. Um, I would have five of our nurses that would be trained. We'd have one training day and then, um, it
would be half of a day. I would have um each nurse work a half a day um a month for two days. So it would be two full days nursing time. So >> So it's not >> 16 hours of nursing time. >> It's not going to require any extra staffing or anything. You'd be able to
do it with the staff. >> Nope. It would Yeah, we would be able to sustain that. And just to clarify then I think what I'm hearing is that this is going to happen at concurrent to uh already the pre-screening that you're
already doing. >> We are not involved with the early childhood screening >> right now. Well, we do at in Princeburg we do with um CMCS screening but this will be in Wilmer.
>> So yes. Yeah. And it's it'll it'll be for six to seven months. So we would train for a day in March and then we would start this in April and we would go through October. So it's a short period and then they will move to
another area. >> Commissioner Dale Anders >> just just a comment I you answered my question Dway Dwayne asked. So, but I think the big thing is this is what I guess I hear about is well what we got all these things that are getting into
our food and into our water and everything. So, I think it'll be a great way to see, you know, really what is out there and then maybe it can be a follow-up thing of what are we going to do about it then because you're going to have some results and good data I think by going through this. So, so I hope at
the end of this we can get a report or something so that we can maybe follow up and do something about what you're going to find. And maybe we can't do anything, but it's just good to know what's out there so that if there is something we can do, we at least have an avenue of starting to look at it.
>> Absolutely. And that's Yes. why they're doing that. And um I've met with Minnesota Department of Health and and they say if they find something um they that is very dangerous, they do inform the
families, you know, right away and work with them and educate them and look into what, you know, what they found and and why they found that in the child. >> Great sample. >> One more question, >> Commissioner. Um, and this this topic
has come up at one watershed, one plant actually. Um, lead pipes from the street into the house. Is that going to be uh I didn't see lead in here? Well, metals, I suppose, if it comes from that. >> Yes, metals. >> Yeah. Drinking water.
>> Yeah. So, would would it would they be able to identify the source of that? In other words, will they connect that child with the address? >> Yes. Yes, they will. Yeah. And one of the things I don't have arsenic is one
of the things that they've found and then um mag me too is one of the things that they have been finding >> in children. >> Yeah, I I understand arsenic is naturally occurring in water but levels
are is what the concern is >> in our lakes. All right. Thank you. Uh, anybody else? All right, we have a motion and a second to approve the recommendation of staff to uh uh participate in the Healthy Kids
Minnesota program. All in favor signify by I. >> I. >> All opposed. >> That motion passes. Jody, thank you so much. And we look forward to uh uh uh seeing the results down the road. Okay. >> Uh we will take a 10-minute recess.
Can't let it. Are you ready? >> We're reconvening the Candy County Board of Commissioners. At this time, I'll request Andrew Thorson, our facility maintenance director, uh to come up and give the uh 2025 facilities maintenance
department review. Andy, good morning. >> Good morning, Mr. Chair and members of the board. Uh Andy Thorson, facilities director for the county. I'm here today uh to present my annual department presentation. Um so this first slide that'll show uh
the makeup of our department, myself, three supervisors and their technicians and workers. Um, we do clean and maintain 500,000 square ft of facilities, 40 acres of green
space, um, acres of, uh, parking lots, and quite a a mile or so of sidewalks. Uh, this uh, this slide No, you got to go back.
Okay, so this slide uh shows how many work orders staff completed in 2025. Um reactive maintenance work orders are work orders that are submitted by county staff and tenants requesting work to be done. Some of those submitted are by
supervisory maintenance staff as well for tasks that come up that don't automatically generate on our preventive maintenance work order system. Plan maintenance work orders are uh work orders that are scheduled in advance and
generate automatically to keep equipment building systems uh in good working order rather than waiting for something to break. Examples include HVAC maintenance, safety inspections, equipment maintenance. Um, I will have
to note that not all our work is documented in the system. Things like our normal daily cleaning, mowing, snow removal, etc. are not inputed into this system. Could they be? Yes. But that's a
lot of extra keyboard time. Um then we move on to how fast staff completes the request for service. 88% completed under a week. Um we're in the top 20% of 954 other government
maintenance staffs that also use this software that we use. Um some work orders, you know, take a while to get on the schedule and to complete. Uh painting, carpeting, uh work along
that line. Um and of course, we'll strive to make the top 10%. Um um work orders per staff. This metric gives us a direct comparison of maintenance staff's productivity compared to peer institutions.
But once again, not all our work is documented in the system. This is just the average count. Prevented maintenance versus uh requested work orders. Uh this graph shows how successful we have been at
transitioning from a reactive to a proactive mindset and it indicates how much of our resources are dedicated to prevent preventive maintenance versus reactive maintenance. As more time is invested in to prevent maintenance, we
should see a decrease in reactive work, an increase in cycle times, and an improved learning environment. Once again, we would strive to make the top 10%, but now we're in the top 20 against our peers.
This slide shows the percentage of paint preventive maintenance work orders and how it should grows on a yearly basis which should reduce the number of reactive maintenance work orders in the future. So last year, I can't see the number from here because it's too small.
Um, but you can see last year compared to this year and I expect next year it to be even greater. Um, this graph is a measurement of responsiveness of proactive work. An above average measurement here leads to
higher productivity and decrease in the backlog. So we are a little below the top 20% of our peers but still way above the median. that can be from staff forgetting to close work orders and things along that line. Um, expect to
see an improvement in next year's presentation. And then, uh, we move on to the capital improvements review for 2025. Um, so we did bring all our elevators up to the 2016
uh code compliance at three of our locations had four elevators work done on them. The rest elevators in the county have already been completed prior. So we're good to go for a long time to the future until
the state adopts a new building or a new elevator code. but then they give you 10 years to get that work done. So, we beat the state by a year. Um, we had uh HVAC projects of all types, five different
locations, uh public works building, county office building, library, law enforcement, boilers, heat pumps, uh furnaces, pumps and motors for a total of $314,000.
Uh we had a one roof replacement of the garage here at uh the health and human services building for 31,000. So our uh total capital outlay for 2025 was $836 $351
and no cent um we don't have a lot of projects but they're big dollar projects. Um, we have the courthouse and library uh electrical switch gear project. This is original 1964 electrical switch gear. Um, you
cannot get parts for it anymore. Yes. >> What is a switch gear? >> It's your it's your main power that comes in. So, you'll have one gigantic let's say breaker, you know, but it's
usually big. And then you'll have other gigantic breakers which free which provide power to other breaker panels. So it's like a big gigantic breaker panel >> just redoing some of major electrical things that
>> Yeah. Yep. And it it's stuff that needs to get done. >> Wow. >> Yeah. Um we have uh two restroom remodel projects. Um two window replacement projects. um a pavement replacement project and
then we have uh two roof projects. One down at the library which is in conjunction with the city and then we have the maintenance garage where my office is um for a total of uh I mean
the cost is one a.5 million but the county share is $831,000. Commissioner B. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. There's a a question about the roof projects for the library. The library then is really considered considered the roof separate
of the courthouse roof in the territory. >> Yes, absolutely. >> Did we do those not too long ago? >> Um the courthouse is there's actually five roofs. It's five separate roofs on the courthouse. So, we used to in years
past just fix what was leaking. Um, so that roof is on a weird schedule. Um, we don't have anything within the next 10 years to be done on the courthouse.
>> Thank you, Commissioner Dwayne Anderson. >> So, back to the elevators, it it was 2016 code compliance. Uh, you said you beat it by a year. Um, is there a reason why I mean we took nine years to do it?
I So why did it take nine? Why not? >> Well, we could have did it right away, but then you risk the state adopting some more code, >> different changes, okay? >> And then we would end up doing something
else. So everybody kind of waits till the end and that's the norm throughout the industry. Um there is a lot of people scrambling this year to get theirs brought up to compliance. So by doing it a year in advance
um you know the availability of contractors was better. So you get better pricing and >> and then you do all three locations because you kind of bundle it all at once with one contractor. Is that kind of >> um >> or did you do it three separate times or
>> No, it was so we we we bid out the uh the county office building and the county attorney together. >> Okay. >> And then these two elevators in this building were under one. >> Okay. All right. And then one last thing. It says 2016. Does that mean that
this year they're going to come out with another one? >> They surely could. >> Or does it mean they have to or >> Oh, no. No. It's it's it's it's driven by uh industry safety standards. Okay. >> Um if elevator companies, the industry
comes up with better ways to make things safer, then you know, they approach the state and the Department of Labor industry will adopt those and bring them to the legislature and get them adopted statewide.
>> All right. So, we could be good for a while. >> Oh, yeah. I think well even even if they come out with something new >> next year we have we're good for another 10 years. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions?
In closing, I'd like to thank the board county admin for their continued financial support to keep the county's facilities safe, clean, well-maintained in investing in the facilities that need extra work and improvements. >> All right, Andy. Thank you so much.
>> Oh, uh, Commissioner, if >> I just make a comment. I really like the way you laid this out and information. It really helps give us a good overview with what's all involved. Yep. >> And, uh, you're very busy because there's a lot of stuff that doesn't show up on there that you're doing. Oh,
>> that. Yes. >> And I hope next year I can point to every slide where there's been changes to the good. >> Okay. >> All right. Sounds good. Thank you. >> Yep. Thanks. >> All right. Thank you very much. uh this
time then I'll uh request uh to have uh uh health and human service director Caroline Khan and IT director Scott Holand uh present to us on uh EVA. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> As mentioned by Chair Gardner, I'm
Caroline Khan, director of health and human services for Candyo High County. I've asked Scott, I'm not going to make him walk through this, but he is certainly available for um questions as it relates to an area outside of my scope of technology um after the presentation. So, this
morning we wanted to bring forward um the conversation we held in 2025 related to a phone system for our health and human services department known as uh EVA um from the parent company Tipco. Um so this morning is more of anformational
update to provide you with some base information and then we will be bringing the contract forward um at the next county commissioner meeting. So the current state of our system so lay of the land of how our phone system
works today. Uh we receive about ten tens of thousands of calls each year alongside an even higher volume of paperwork. All of our calls currently enter through a traditional automated call tree system. So if you call in, you get an automated dialer that then asks
you to select um a number which then brings you to another number which and then another number to help you route your call to the appropriate um landing place. All callers must navigate this recorded menu options to reach their appropriate program or staff. This often
results in frustration for the customer. and significant um language access barriers for neighbors whose primary language is not English. Some of the challenge challenges with our current model are the the difficulty
for uh residents to navigate particularly for individuals with limit limited English proficiency and individuals with varying literacy or accessibility needs. Some of these are also inefficient for staff and increase misdirect calls or call transfers or
call drops. Handling upset customers due to the call system u possibly navigating them incorrectly andor creating a longer lag time and then repeat contacts with individuals uh reaching out for service. Um we have addressed this uh numerous
times throughout my tenure with Candy Ohio County. Uh Scott has indicated that it's typically on a system about once every six months we revisit the phone system trying to seek opportunities for improvements um and to enhance different
processes in which to to provide a better uh phone process. Um and then another barrier or challenge is that the support is only available during staffed hours which are typical business hours for the county. So why this matters is that it impacts
timely access to services for our neighbors. This significant um this can have significant implications given the current and future expectations and upcoming penalties that are associated with the HR1. I don't want it to be framed though that this decision is only
based off of the upcoming um implications of HR1. It is something that we are have been navigating and and assessing prior to um HR1 but timely access or benefits as we navigate the future state of our expectations. It
also creates avoidable frustration um for our residents and our staff and limits our availability to provide um equitable and responsive service delivery. So, we'd like to introduce you to Eva, an AI phone assistant. Um, uh, Eva is
designed specifically for county health and human services service programs. She can be available 247, 365 days of the year. She can answer common questions in real time, route callers directly to the appropriate staff or team member, uh, be
available to help resource navigation for community members seeking supports like housing or food access. um and provide timely access to other community supports. Another benefit of EVA is she can provide immediate first language
access to many of the most commonly used languages in Candy Ohio County. So when calling in, if you begin to speak to Eva in say Spanish, she will automatically uh pivot over to speaking Spanish in response to the caller. Another benefit
uh from another enhancement from EVA is EVA interview. This opportunity gathers client data and helps complete applications on behalf of the client and the staff. This also o affords the opportunity for rights and responsibilities which is a process in
which our financial assistance team uh goes through about a 15minute experience with our indivants to inform them of their rights and their responsibilities within their financial assistance application. This process takes about 15 minutes per caller if
delivered in English. If we use an interpreter, it does increase that time as well because we have to delay um or repeat the information twice. We also are required to capture verbal signatures for this process and EVA can
help ensure compliance and and um accuracy in that process for our um auditing purposes. Another benefit of EVA interview is it provides transcription generation which is something we do not have today which will help provide better experiences for
our customers because we can go into the portal and see what their experience was with EVA as well as with our staff providing greater accountability um and learning enhancements for our team. Um and we can also have the benefit of
seeing what people are calling us for. We also can create customizable interactions. So under EVA interview, we anticipate that this could create a staff capacity of about 30 hours per month just in being able to help transition that interview rights and
responsibilities portion from staff experience to an EVA supported platform which would greatly increase our staff capacity during the during um the time. So what happens when you call EVA? When you call would call into our number, you would be greeted by a customizable
message that would be created by us and clearly and honestly informs the caller that they are communicating with Eva, an AI um powered assistant here to help. Eva asks smart questions to help under callers understand what they need like information about benefits, paperwork,
or interviews and connects callers to the right help. She can help text application links to clients, guide callers through forms and basic questions, share detailed details um provided by callers with the right team members so that callers no longer need
to repeat themselves and then connect callers with community resources even after hours. One benefit is a lot of our clients are are working individuals with amid um typical business hours. Those are the typical times that we are available to take
their calls. So, they no longer have to take time out of their day and away from work to call and leave an interview or um leave information. They can call and leave that with EVA and go through that process at say 7:00 p.m. or 2 a.m., whatever works most conveniently for them. And then it can be processed and
delivered to the staff the next day um for completion. Every call helps Eva continue to learn and improve and can be reviewed by staff for accuracy and training as she continues to grow her ability to serve residents. Our hope is that the impacts will create
a more seamless and accessible experience for residents, improve the timely access to services and reduce reliance on live interpretation. Um lower and helping lower overall translation costs to the county in the as well. Um the supports to staff will
help collect basic intake and interview again 247 and then collap capturing client updates. So, if a client moves, they can call and leave an updated address with EVA um and be able to have that update seamlessly transition into
their case with their worker. Assisting with documentations of rights and responsibilities, again, in the preferred language of the client. All right. So, as we continue navigating um through, I'm sure the burning question is what does EVA cost? Um so to
for transparency providing a two-year uh contract window when we went through the work session we did propose an additional platform of more of that um opportunity for policy where we could type in and then it would help answer questions. At this time we felt it most
beneficial to just start with two products that we thought would be the most impactful to the way that we work today and we can further evaluate that other module in the future. Um but for deployability, maximum efficiency um and greatest impact to the way that we're working today and what we need to
accomplish uh our recommendation would be to look at EVA phone and EVA interview um at this time. So with the 37 licenses that would include financial assistance and our child support team um for EVA interview
and then the EVA phone total. It would also be staff's recommendation coming forward to to explore the enhancement of pre- purchasing for two years to maximize our um utilization of federal participation or FFP reimbursement. We
anticipate and know that that will be reducing um at the end of 2026 from 50% to 25%. So, in order to maximize the reimbursement at this time, if we prepay um for the two-year contract ahead of
time, we can ensure maximum uh reimbursement on this investment. So, our next step would be to begin working in partnership with our IT department as well as TIPCO, the parent company for EVA, and project managers to develop our portal and platform. This
roll out takes about 12 weeks to begin um creating the full deployment for Candy Ohio County. We will be able to tell Eva what we want her to source to. So it's not this open like regen regenerative AI where she makes things
up. Um she only can tell you um what you tell her, she can tell clients. So we have that control. She won't start making things false facts up. Um we can tell her what to source from. and if we see if there's an update from DHS or
DCYF, we can put that in and she can immediately start sourcing from it um and utilizing that information to help informing clients. So, um, recently we've been receiving a lot of information because the news gets ahead of the news that we have sometimes. And
if we can start informing clients once they're calling in, um, and putting things on the front end, we can help create a better experience for our callers and informing them um, with the accurate information from us through EVA um, and in in a more timely fashion. EVA
can handle up to a thousand calls at one time. we certainly cannot um so we can help increase access to information and and resources for our community in a timely manner. Um and then as well as moving forward to help
um introduce EVA to our community and our partners and then as well as training staff. So now we have time for questions. >> Uh Caroline, thank you for this. And uh if I remember from when this was first
presented to us last year, uh this is uh a module or two uh related to uh some uh software that we're already using. Correct. Or am I thinking of something else? >> You're thinking of something else. This
would be a different enhancement to another technology system that allows us >> um to work differently with what we have. So the intent of EVA is not to streamline staff out. The intent of EVA is to streamline the ability to not ask for additional staff in the future and
allow the staff that we have today to work more efficiently and create capacity within the state space that we have. Um I believe it was at your AMC uh conference in December where the presentation said it's not time to do more with less, it's time to do
different with less. So really looking and embracing that to say, hey, you know, we understand the capacities and the constraints that we have moving forward and how can we >> challenge ourselves to do different um with what we have to to maximize space
>> and we wouldn't be uh first adopters on there are other counties within Minnesota already using correct I believe is it Sterns and Mstead >> Olstead and many and a handful of other counties that are in the process of all um introducing EVA to their communities
as well. But currently Sterns um has been an early adopter um and it has been um proven to be a positive impact to the their workflow so far. Um they've also taken the lead on creating other modernization processes um that can further enhance the ability for the EBA
system to work within our other systems as well. Then I assume we'll be doing some data collection, tracking, that type of thing to uh determine uh uh on a data driven basis. >> Correct. >> Exactly uh exactly what those uh
positive impacts uh may be and uh uh and if there's anything else that you might want to add to this in the future. >> Correct. Right now we have no ability to gather any data from our phone system other than a call log. um by strict numbers. It doesn't tell us any
information about what that call comes in requesting. Um it's numerical is the best maybe way to put it and and time based. So it allows us further information to further develop and enhance um our our overall data
system as well. >> Okay. Uh Commissioner Dale Anderson and then Commissioner Burton. >> Well, just maybe just a comment. you know, when you showed us this the other in in 2005, which was really interesting.
>> I mean, it it really is something that that I think we we can't really be without coming into the future because we do have language barrier and we do have don't have enough ability to answer them phone calls that come in and and there's nothing more frustrating to me
than getting put on hold or or having that phone ring ring ring when I need to really talk to somebody that about something that I'm trying to get done. So, I can't even imagine how these people are feeling when they're trying to call in numerous times and maybe not getting through. So, the fact that it can handle the number of phone calls
that it can do and and the ability to to do the things that I've seen in the presentation that you did, I mean, it's really a no-brainer and and and the cost isn't one person even. So, you know, we'd probably have to hire two, three people to do the ability of what this
would do, maybe even more than that. So, yeah, it's a lot of money, but it still is a very cheap investment, I think, for what it could handle. So, I want to thank you for digging into this more. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. Very good comments. I'm kind of excited about this
to see how it turns out. And just to be clear on a couple things, all the phone calls come in will be handled by this. every even if it's just an inquiry about the hours or whatever of business and >> in increments we'll we'll work with Scott's teams to phase that in
>> but you >> eventually Yep. our our phone our our 2317800 phone number will roll to EVA first >> and then have the back end of the phone tree system so if for some reason that fails we have that backup. So, right.
Okay. And eventually all all the calls. So, that's going to eliminate push this button if you want such and such or you don't you just get a call and get somebody. I I'm on some of us are on the Prime West board. You uh you know they have se over 70,000 healthc care clients
calling in and in addition to all the providers and they answer the phone within and they don't use a system. I don't know how they do some of these places, but that's the kind of service we want here. And it's going to help help everybody. So, it can handle
multiple calls at one time then. >> Up to a thousand calls at one time. >> Wow. And and also multiple interviews at one time. >> Correct. >> And after hours. >> And after hours. I think another benefit is um if if someone's calling into say
dispatch to look for resource navigation after hours because we there that's that's a number they know that they can call for support and services. Um dispatch could do a warm handoff to Eva at over time to say, "Hey, Eva's
available." um she can give you she can help you navigate some resources and maybe help decrease some in dependence on our dispatch system as well. That's a that's a hope of mine to grow to that in the future so that people can get the resources and supports that they need
but also create some space in another um compressed area. >> Mr. Sure. Just follow can even the other way around make make referrals right away or hand off to dispatch for somebody with with their permission >> I'd have to clarify the line at all to
make sure these handoffs are uh completed. >> I I see Scott nodding his >> Yeah. Yeah. I can't get into I want to alert you to that. >> Yeah. Okay. >> I was going to say I'll follow up with you and get you the correct answer.
You're welcome to join me. >> Uh, Commissioner Dwayne Anderson, >> thank you. I think most of my answers have or questions have been answered, but so, um, when you implement this, will the other system go away or is it still going to be kind of operating at
it's just at this >> This is where my partner comes into town. >> Okay. No, we don't we don't intend for this to completely replace what we've got. Um, we've got a system that's working. maybe not as perfect as we want and we we will probably revisit that again as
well. Um but no, this will be the front end. If that fails to meet the need, there will still be a tree behind it. Unfortunately, >> okay, then it goes back to that system if it >> and there's ways within the system that if a caller says, I need to talk to this
person, it can make that transfer. >> Okay. >> So, so it should be very friendly to the constituents. >> Okay. Okay. And then this is probably for Scott as well. Um, so this is just going to be in health and human services. We're not doing >> currently this is geared towards health
and human services. That's what this company focuses on and their niche is >> human services structured like the state of Minnesota and counties like ours. >> Yep. So state they they specifically focus on state
supervised county administered states in that in that structure. Um so like New York um Ohio and some of the other states that's where their their niche is is they focus on delivering a a platform that best suits um state structured like those.
>> Is there a plan then for us to do countywide type of similar programming? >> You know I think we're looking at that. Um we'll walk first and then we'll we'll jump in a little bit. But um >> because this is the way it's going to go. I mean >> you know I think so. But it may be not
with just this company. Um, we don't know that. But that's this is where they live and breathe. Um, this is why we're focusing there. Um, and we have changes coming with our technology and our telecommunications that have to play into this. So, yes, >> Commissioner.
>> Thank you. Um, so how long has EVA been? And I I too I think I'm excited about this. It seems like a fairly minimal cost, but I've got a couple questions anyway in terms of how new is EVA, you know, has it been around a few years or is it still in the
beta stage? >> I believe Sterns County has been with them over a year. >> Yeah. Right. And they were not early. They've been doing this in other states for quite a while. >> That's the question. New York has been >> We are not beta testing for them. we are
beta testing for us >> and we're gonna, you know, I think they're very confident in what they're doing. Yeah. Which is is nice. We were just talking about that onboarding time. They've got a process that that really looks um as a good pace for us to move forward. >> That was one of my questions is how long
is the onboarding? >> So, it takes about 12 weeks for their development and but we can go as as fast as we want to. So, their development process with their project manager is a 12-week process um in which where they heavily work with myself and Scott um in
in their project manager to to design this for Candy Ohio County. Prior to our work session, they began that process. I already have a little fake number that we can call and it will do a little bit of Candy Ohigh County uh sourcing that they provided so we could do a live demonstration during our work session.
Um, it's not perfect, but it gave you guys the gist because they didn't spend all the hours sourcing it perfectly. Um, but if we wanted to only roll out certain portions at certain times, we have that flexibility to kind of self-direct. If we'd say we wanted to do
this over a longer period of time, I believe Sterns put it at the back end of their phone system to gather more information on their calls before they brought it to the front end. And that's something that I would take Scott's direction um and guidance from because
that would be more his alleyway um in working with his counterparts at Sterns to to evaluate the benefits of that longer period um or a a faster crawl. >> Yeah. >> Um so EVA has been around for a while.
they must have had uh some sort of um measure of what other counties are experiencing in terms of efficiencies. Uh I haven't seen that, but it seems um it seems like we should be able to
capture efficiencies. You mentioned uh um especially translation. There won't be as much time in translation. I'd be disappointed if we didn't have some savings, not only once we're onboarded, uh, but even going forward to your point
of not having to hire more people if the workload gets bigger. But until we have to do that, there should almost be some savings, uh, where staff can be redirected to other other work or something. Uh, are you anticipating that or did you try to estimate that? Yes, we
tried to estimate that based off our workflow and that's where we got kind of that 30 hours that of of time spent per month just on reading the rights and responsibilities based off of our application flow from our financial assistance workers. Um as well as the
time we have an FTE um a day dedicated to answering the phones um through that call tree system. So we could look at possibly redeploying the scope of work um assigned to that um
personnel because that t that work will be shifted. Eva did or tip code has provided some information based off of the efficiencies they've seen in say New York and they anticipate um like 30% of workload um savings from
a the phone. I'd have to pull that up and I can get that for you. Um it was in my my work session presentation. I'm just trying to remember which uh PowerPoint slide it was on. But they um do have some of those metrics. We were just trying to bring those back to a Candy Ohio County perspective because
we're not the same size as like Syracuse, New York or um some of their larger populations. Um but I would anticipate those to be very comparable from a a scope impact too. So that
>> well I'm trying to put it in in the context in which I can understand. I'm going to use our robotic vacuum cleaner that we have out at our place of business. So my wife is trying to re trying to retire or at least cut back on the amount of work she does all the cleaning. So I said, "Well, we could buy
robotic vacuum cleaner to to replace half of what you do because she thinks a deep cleaning is still going to be necessary, but it is a saving. So, we're not going to be paying Judy as much. And I'm hoping that, you know, with this, we also will have some savings uh in
addition to future savings. And sounds like one FTE is about what you're talking about, you know, and >> well, I would think, you know, we kind of get stuck into thinking of this as our phone answering system. And there will be some savings there most definitely, but I think we're really
going to see clear savings is when it's doing these interviews and reading these >> right >> things back to clients in their native language that now our staff person can be doing something completely different, unassociated. That's a win. >> And we're paying translators right now,
aren't we? >> Correct. >> Yeah. So, that that should be another financial benefit. >> I think what's going to be hard to gauge or just add a complexity to it is the increased demand or increase of frequency that we're also experiencing
at the same time. So, what was once a year will now become twice a year um and and shift from a state perspective. So, we're we're having a a bit of a turning point um for lack of a better
where or or a fork in the road where our in the demands on our workers are also skyrocketing while we're creating a lever that helps decrease that. So, it will be um up to us to help find a way to to measure that because the savings
might be unrealized because we won't have to add to make to make that possible, >> right? But we should be able to have some measurement be because those go into effect in 2027 and so this is going to be onboarded as I understand it in about three months. So we should have about a half a year to be able to
depending on when we act to to have some good measurements. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> All right. Uh Commissioner B. >> Oh thank you Mr. Chair. Just going back to EVA and EVA is all over and EVA is an acronym for what's you you know what it
is for? No, this is not a program for uh health and human services or or counties or whatever. It's all over. I know I experience with airlines and I tried to get some answers from Eva. Bad experience and answered. Oh, this is
EVA. I'm going this is EVA. That's the same we're talking about. So, but it's also I it's my understanding when we had that meeting with them that since EVA for counties doing this, it is still pretty new because for each state is so different and Minnesota is only one of
10 states that have this kind of health and human services. So there is I thought they did say this was kind of a beta thing with Sterns County and them starting at first for these kind of services, but I'm totally behind this, don't get me wrong, but it is going to be a learning curve and I think they're going to be learning off this as well.
>> Right. You know, I don't know that the technology is necessarily a beta, right? That part of it. Um getting used to Minnesota regulations. Yeah, >> we are fortunate to have Homestead and Sterns ahead of us. >> Yes. >> Right. >> All right. Very good. Uh thank you for
your presentation and uh look forward to uh uh hearing more in the future. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. I've got a request for a fivem minute recess. it. Are you ready? >> Ready.
The Kandai County Board of Commissioners is back from recess and a request uh to have uh County Administrator Kelsey Baker uh introduce the next topic, which is considering approving a resolution to support authority uh to impose a local
sales tax to fund specific capital improvement projects. I could have shortened that by a law. Kelsey, go ahead. >> Good morning, commissioners. Kelsey Baker, Candy County Administrator. Uh before you today is a resolution, as the
board chair said, to impose um a local option sales tax. Um this resolution would support the county's request to the Minnesota legislature for to impose a 0.5 local option sales, excuse me, local option sales tax. Uh by doing
this, this preserves the flexibility. It does not obligate the county uh to levy the tax, issue bonds, or move forward with any of the potential projects that we have been discussing. Um, as part of the evaluation for our long-term facility plans, we have
identified two capital projects that would include the justice center and then the health and human services building, potential government center. Uh this would provide countywide regional benefit, improve public ass access, safety and service delivery and
represent reasonable stewardships of taxpayer resources. Um for the new justice center, it would consolidate justice related services into a single secure campus. Uh one of the reasons for looking at this project, um our number
one um priority was safety and security. This would improve public access and operational efficiencies, again, enhance safety for the public staff and individuals, uh reduce inmate transportation, staffing demands, and
long-term operational costs, uh and serve as a regional role supporting court functions um within Candyoy County and beyond Candy County. for the Health and Human Services building, the renovation. Um, this would centralize multiple county departments, um, to
improve customer service, allow residents to access multiple services within one, uh, county location, uh, maximize the use of existing facilities that we own, um, and reduce duplicative staff and operational costs. and then
with a long-term p plan uh towards moving towards a consolidated government center model. The timing of this is the first step um to request for local option sales tax authority. This must be submitted by January 31st, 2026 to be
considered in the upcoming legislative session. Again, if if the board were to take action on this, it's as um this is just a flex um a financial opportunity um as an option that the county could
use, but it doesn't uh tie our hands to doing any of these potential projects. Um it, like I said, it doesn't commit the county to either project. Um any future tax, bonding or project advancement would also require uh county
board approval. By doing this today, it keeps our options open uh and flexible for making a final decision. Um positions the county to respond responsibly to future capital needs and then to have local
control and financial flexibility moving forward. Uh Todd Hagen with Aaylor is here to answer any of the additional questions if I cannot answer those and so I would stand for any board questions or comments. >> Does anyone have any questions for
administrator Baker? Commissioner Dale Anderson. So, Kelsey, and I know we probably have heard this and maybe it's just me not remembering, but so if we do this, how long of a time do we have that, you know, let's say that it we don't do it this year or next year, you
know, how many years do we have to work with this once we get this approved >> by the legislature, >> right? >> A long time. >> So, there's not a set like you have to have this done within two years or four years or >> No, you would have >> two >> two election years. two election years.
>> Okay. >> Correct. >> Okay. But if approved and to point out in the resolution number eight, um if approved by the legisl legislature, the board further authorizes the amount and duration of the local option sales tax to increase
by an increase in total costs per project up to 3% above the amount set forth herein and by an additional period extended by up to 10 years if necessary to cover the increased cost per project authorized herein. But in no case will
total duration exceed 30 years. So I'm sorry that's where I was saying it was a lot. But you do have two years, two election years. >> Right. >> Uh anyone else? Commissioner B. >> Just uh just just to clarify, uh even though it's nice to have options and
keep our options open, but I'm assuming if we approve to go in this direction, the expectation is we will we're doing this because we expect to be committed to this. So, it's not even though technically we're not committed, we're we're committing that as a group that this we probably want to see this
finished out going in this direction. Um, but along those same lines too with the two with the two years and if we uh get approval that goes on the ballot, right, and then this vote and is approved, then we have we could then
proceed in collecting dollars for the rest of the two years, right? >> Correct. uh without actually starting the project and that would be the the benefit of that. >> Yep. >> Correct. >> And go ahead. >> May I just have another question? Can
you uh for the public basically uh there's concerns about the levies? So u we have to guarantee this with the levy and and so we clarify for the public it's approximately close to 5% would have to be put on the levy. But that
doesn't mean that they would actually levy for that. >> Correct. >> So even the first initial thing wouldn't have to be levied for. >> Correct. >> So if you collect the sales tax option, there should be no levy. It will be on
hopefully on the sales tax, but the the equity or or the for the loan would be the levy for the >> correct. Correct. And uh another question about estimates of the interest rates too.
>> We we talked about four and a half% or something like that. >> Yep. That sounds about right. >> And Todd, if you would just please introduce yourself and who you're >> Todd Hagen from Ellers and Associates, um your financial adviser in bonding and sales tax for today. >> Yep.
>> And that's that's correct. So, we're looking at a um if it's a 25-y year bond, which again fits nicely into into your sales tax right now. So, we kind of backed into all this to make sure that the term is is correct as well. Um so,
this uh half a percent sales tax would um would actually pay for uh with with the amounts we have in here right now, the estimated amounts would pay for the bond completely, right? So, if you went in for a quarter percent, it would pay half of the bond issue. So half of it
would be on sales tax and the other half would be on property taxes. But what we want to do is make sure we time it if we do indeed want sales tax to pay for this completely. We would want to time the bond issue um such that sales taxes is paying 100% of this and not property
taxes. But uh we could go either way with that. So this is maximum flexibility to get in line for sales tax like we are are thinking a lot of municipalities are doing this year after the moratorum. Um so this is just uh
it's a good tool right a good option for us to um to use and and right now yeah we're we're sort of looking at about a maybe 4.35% interest rate on that too but if we issue bonds two years from now or
whatever so that's that might change. So, um, we don't know. We don't have a crystal ball of what those interest rates might be then. Hopefully lower, right? >> Okay. Just follow up with >> Go ahead. At what point if the county did this, do we like you you go get a loan or something, you'll lock in. So,
when at what point do you lock in and when you are ready at that point? You could say two years from now, that's when you lock in. But that's your gamble what the rate will be too. It could go down or up. But the rate, correct? interest rates don't affect this but not
as directly as we would understand. Correct. When it comes to bonding, >> right? When we when we sell the bonds, that's when they get locked in. So that would be like after the project bids come in, right? And we as a board accept that and say we're going forward with this amount, then Ellers turns around
and gets this bond issue packaged up uh uh per that amount, right, for each of these facilities. And then when we we market the bonds, that takes a month or so to get that, we come back with bids on the bonds like the contractor does with the the the project itself. At that
time, uh that's when we'll know the interest rate and then we close the bonds three weeks after that or so. Um but it is all locked in at that board meeting after that board meeting when you accept uh the low bid on the bonds. And so we won't know that for a you know
couple years I suppose or or so. So y That would all happen pending lots of discussion and planning um amongst the building committee, the county board in which project or if any project uh the county board would like to proceed with.
If it's the justice center um and the health and human services renovation or just the justice center building, um that's that still gives within this resolution the board flexibility to do either project or both.
All right. Thank you. Anyone else? Uh, Commissioner Anderson and then Commissioner MDC. >> Let Roger go first. >> You say Commissioner. >> Uh, Dwayne. >> Yeah, I didn't have a question. >> Oh, you Okay. Your Dale.
>> Um, you know, I I could go a lot of ways with this, but I'm going to just be nice. um this really is our only option to give our constituents a chance to vote on this in in an election. So, I mean, I
think we're foolish not to take and send this to the legislature and if it goes through there, it has to go on the ballot and that's going to be our signal if people want this or don't want this. And I think that's the biggest thing that I keep thinking about. But we have
a lot of ways to lot of outs but yeah we have a lot of options by doing this that are very good if we want to go ahead with this project. I don't know if right now is the right time. I'm not sure but this gives us opportunities to to do something and it gives us a few years of
latitude to do it in. That was why I asked the question of of how long we have. So, I think we're really we really have to pursue this even though people don't truly understand and and and are concerned over taxes. And I totally get
that and I understand that and and maybe I'm a weird person, but I know that KWM put a lot of thing put something on this on Facebook yesterday and there's a lot of comments on there. Um, but I would like to hear an email or a phone call to
us commissioners and maybe I'm speaking everybody else is going, "No, no, no." But if if we don't hear it ourselves, I'm not taking it off of comments on Facebook. I'm sorry. That's just not the way I feel it's the right thing to do. So, if people have concerns or comments about this, they can call or they can
email me or or or talk to one of the commissioners or one of the staff people. But I think we're we're foolish not to take this opportunity to give us a chance to have a way to pay for this project if we do decide to do it down
the road. And if our constituents don't want it at this time, then then we'll bring it up again later and see how it goes then. But I think we have to we have to take this chance now because maybe in two years we're never going to they won't allow a five half% sales tax
again. So I think that's our opportunity to take now when when we know it maybe is there and that gives us a chance to give us some time and yet a chance for our con constituents to vote on it also. >> And I'm going to piggy back on that just a little bit. This would by going
through this process, this will then also give us an opportunity to lay out the case for exactly why it is that we want to do this. Um and and and I think there's a lot of outofhand dismissing of
the idea that we should even be talking about this uh without even thinking about what the possible reasons might be why we think this is a good idea. And it's not when I say we uh this is the board, but it's also staff. It's also uh
uh uh public safety, uh the court systems, uh you know, all of the different reasons why this is something that our building committee has talked about and why we're considering pursuing this now. And if folks will actually
take some time to listen to the rationale, then they can come to their own decision. uh don't just dismiss uh the idea or are even considering this today uh just because tax is bad. So uh
Commissioner Mdeck >> uh thank you Mr. Chair. So following up a little bit on what Commissioner Dale Anderson started Commissioner Dale Anderson started to say um I'm not quite clear on what an election year is. I know this year is would the
next election year be the next calendar year or would be 2028? >> I'd have to double >> I'd have to double check that. >> I would think if it's next year it would have to be a special election. I don't know if special elections are allowed
>> to check on that. >> Well, you do not want to spend the money on >> Let me let me double check on that and I'll follow up with you on it. All right. Any other questions for Kelsey or for Todd?
All right. Well, thank you very much. So then this is an action item and we have within the packet before us today a uh resolution 2026-09. Um
uh and I'll just read the first part of it. Resolution to support the authority to impose a local sales tax to fund specific capital improvements providing regional benefit to establish the duration of the tax and the revenue to be raised by the tax and to authorize the county to issue bonds supported by
the sales tax revenue. Um and uh I am going to move on resolution 2026-09. Is there a second? I'll second it. >> Thank you. Commissioner Dale Anderson
seconds. Uh discussion by the board. Anyone? All right. Then hearing no discussion, we will move to a vote. All in favor of resolution 2026-09 say I. >> I.
>> I. All opposed. I I >> roll call. >> Um, Commissioner Dale Anderson >> I. >> Commissioner Dwayne Anderson >> I. >> Uh, chair votes I. Commissioner Berg >> nay.
>> And Commissioner Mdeck. >> Nay. >> Three eyes, two nays. The resolution passes. Thank you. And at this time, we will recess the uh Candyo High County Board of Commissioners for the purpose
of reconvening as the Candy County Drainage Authority. And with us today is Austin Hillbrand's public drainage manager. And Austin, you've got a several different items for us here. >> Yes. Good morning, Mr. Chair. Uh board members, Austin Hillbrand, your drainage
manager. Yes. First thing would be to approve the drainage authority meeting minutes from December 19th, 2025 for county to 7 redetermination of benefits hearing. >> Heard the recommendation of staff to approve the request to approve the drainage authority meeting minutes of
the 19th of December. Is there a motion? >> Also move. >> Thank you. Commissioner Dale Anderson moves. Is there a second? >> I'll second that. >> Commissioner Dwayne Anderson seconds. Discussion >> hearing none. All in favor say I. I >> all opposed.
>> Motion passes. Next item. >> Next item is the uh the annual um drainage systems repair fund levy for Kandai County. They will set the special assessment amounts for 2026.
So in your packet, you should have my proposal. The proposal lists the ditch system on the left, the general location with the township, um what districts, what commissioner districts that ditch system falls in. Um in green, the Canai
County total benefits and then the year-end ditch balance as of um December 31st, 2025. So these year end or these balances are um for each ditch system are separate separate fund or separate accounts. Um these these uh accounts are
paid for by benefited land owners only. Um so anything we raise today is paid for by benefited land owners based on the last redetermination of benefits or the or when the D system was established. Um in blue there we have the levy percentage. That percentage is
multiplied times the green um the total the the benefits for each disc system which gets the amount raised on the right. So, if you go to the page two at the bottom, we're going to raise $776,885.35 for 2026.
Um 2025 was an interesting year for the drainage systems. We had severe flooding um throughout all of Kandai County, but especially the southern half. Um we received extensive um flood damage, so we had multiple repairs for that.
Luckily, we're able to apply for state disaster public assistance for a lot of those repairs. Um, anytime you have high water though, we we have, you know, all of your tile issues show up. Um, multiple other drainage system repairs. That being said though, the drainage um
the farmers in the area, they they had severe crop damage. Um, so I elected to lower all of these percentages um pretty much across the board except for a few we'll go over. Um, so that 776,000 is about 400,000 less than than last year
and about 500,000 less than the year before. Um, we even with that amount of money, we should our account balances should look pretty good after after um the in 2026. So, so we can go back to
the front page there or the first page. We can just run through these a little bit. Um, county did seven, county did seven JD3s that we share with Chipoa County and JD7s that we share with Chipoa Renville County. We're in the redetermination of benefits process. Um,
we are the lead county, so we carry those negative balances till that redetermination is approved. Those redeterminations were approved. They should be hitting that appeal period pretty soon. Um, and then there was the consolidation. We have to wait till the consolidation is done before we can um
send those joint bills out and um start levying for those new new benefits. So we carry that negative balance for kind ditch 7. Kind ditch 8. We had a fair amount of cleanouts on that system. Um we jump down to county ditch 27. We
we just started that redetermination benefits process. On top of that, that one had some state aid damage, so we should have money coming back to that system. So, we carry that negative balance till the red termination is done. Um, count 29. Same thing. We started that redetermination. I we we're
going to levy 3.25%. Um, for that system, that will zero that account out for any previous bills that before we um before the order for redetermination. And then we carry that negative balance till that redetermination is done. County ditch 40
number 24. Um we had a large tile repair scheduled. We had landowner meetings last year. We on top of that we had other tile issues that showed up this fall with the high water. So that balance this balance will will carry for two years. Um two land
owners have the majority of this system. So I talked to them. They're going to have a high assessment. Um both of them are good with with uh that with the assessment I have listed there. So, um, we can jump down to county d 64 and
65, number 39 and 40. Those are our two pump systems. Those those unfortunately, um, have high bills every year running those pumps, um, repairs on the pumps. So, those those I was not able to lower for this year. Go to the second page. We get into the
JD3s that we share with Chipo County. Like I said, we will send the joint bills hopefully this spring once the are all finally um through the appeal period and we get to JD7 that big number jumps out at you. Um we did there is roughly
the redetermination cost roughly cost around 248,000 for that joint system that's over 50,000 acres. Um we also had several um flood damage repairs. We should be receiving $267,399
back on that system. Um, and then soon as soon as soon as reetermination is complete, we send the joint bills and we keep our portion of that cost. But, um, that's that's about it, I guess. Do you guys have any questions for me? >> There any questions for Austin from the
board? Commissioner, >> I think this is an action item, right? We we need to >> It is. Yes. Uh the uh uh uh >> yeah, >> we would have a mot need a motion a second to adopt the 2026 public drainage systems levy for Candy Ohio County.
>> So move, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> I'll second that. >> Thank you. And uh discussion questions for Austin. >> So Commissioner MDC >> the all of the columns with the red
numbers. Yep. >> Uh those are yet to be redetermined. Correct. And that's why the Or is that not true of all of these? >> Uh no, the the ones with the red numbers where we went in the into the negative and we we we do a one-year assessment to bring it to bring it out of the
negative. >> Okay. But are they have they been redetermined yet or are they scheduled to be redetermined? That's why we're not >> So yes, all the ones that are 0% with a neg a red balance, those are those are in the redetermination benefits process.
So most of those JD3s have been approved and they are they should be hitting the appeal period this week. Okay. >> We do still have to wait till that consolidation is done before before we can start assessing >> that new benefits. >> And that makes sense too so that when you have the new assessment that you spread it out over the
>> the new people. Yes. Yep. Generally when you do a reettermination it expands the watershed um after 1987. So >> all right. Anyone else? All right. Very good. Then, uh, we have
a motion and a second to adopt the 2026 public drainage systems levy. Uh, all in favor say I. >> I. >> All opposed. All right, that motion passes and the levy is adopted. Austin, thank you so much.
>> Uh, next thing I got for you, one last thing. >> Yes, >> we have the uh, Rinky Nunan services fees. We already have a um agreement in place from 2021, but the fees go up generally every year. They went up about5 to $20 across the board. I'm just
looking for a motion to approve that. >> Mr. Chair, I also move. >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> I will second that, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Uh and uh any discussion? All right. Hearing no discussion. Uh all
those in favor of uh uh of approving the uh legal council services agreement say I. >> I. >> All oppose. >> That motion passes now. Thank you. >> Thank you guys so much. >> All right. And then at this time we will
uh adjourn the drainage authority uh uh meeting and we will reconvene from recess uh as the Candy County Board of Commissioners for the purpose of moving into a closed session pursuant to
Minnesota statutes 13D.05 subdivision 3B for attorney client privilege to discuss pending litigation against the county. Uh and so at this time uh we will uh request uh >> you need to vote on that >> vote on that. >> I'll I'll make that a motion.
>> Thank you. Uh you're making the motion. >> Yep. >> Thank you very much. Is there a second? >> I'll second that, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Uh any discussion? >> All in favor of moving into close session say I. >> All opposed. >> All right, that motion passes and we
will move into close session.