--------- at are you ready? >> Good morning everyone and welcome to the Candy Ohio County Board of Commissioners meeting for Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026. Uh please stand as you are able for the pledgece to the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for which it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. I want to thank everybody for joining us here in the boardroom today as well as those who are uh taking in this meeting
uh on our YouTube channel. Uh at this time I would request approval of uh today's agenda as revised. Mr. Chair, I'll make the motion to approve uh the agenda as revised. >> I'll second that.
>> Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion hearing? None. All in favor say I. >> I. All opposed. That motion passes. Uh the consent agenda consists today of the
approval of the January 20th, 2026 County Board legal minutes as well as approval of the auditor's warrants and claims. Do any commissioners wish to pull either of those items from the consent agenda? Mr. Mr. Chair, I move to approve the
consent agenda. >> Thank you. Is there a second? I'll second that. Mr. Chair, we have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. All in favor say I. I. >> All opposed. Motion passes. I do before we uh before we begin our business
today. I do want to uh just uh uh set out a couple of things here uh for for everybody in the uh room. uh specifically when we get to uh the presentation by Sheriff Tollison. Uh
today's discussion is narrow and intentional. We're only going to be focusing on the 287G agreement and what it would mean operationally for Candyo High County. Uh the individuals involved in this discussion are county employees
and partners who serve our community every day. We will hear directly from the sheriff who is responsible for jail operations and we will do so in a respectful professional manner. This is an opportunity for facts factbased information sharing not speculation or
assumptions. The ICE housing contract is not the topic today. That contract is a separate agreement originally signed in 2001. questions or comments that move outside the scope of 287G will be directed so we can stay focused uh specifically on that
topic. We recognize that this is a complex and sensitive topic. The expectation is a respectful focus and professional conversation and staying within this scope allows the public and the board to leave with accurate
information. So, I want to set that table uh at this time. And now we will move to uh our 9:00 item, which is consideration of resolution 2026-10 2026 bridge replacement program. Mel Odin, our public works director, will
present. Mel, good morning. Everyone's here to see you today. Mr. Chair, members of the board, thank you. Um yes, today is the uh presentation of the annual bridge replacement program resolution. And what
I have before you is um in your packet is the resolution that that shows the um I believe there's 30 bridges plus or minus on there. And then also maybe more importantly is in the back
um I show you where they all are. Um because you can kind of see in the southern um south of Highway 12 there's a bunch of them. Sure. Could you uh put that up for the
Thank you. And Mel, when we're talking about bridges, we're talking about a specific type of bridge here for the most part. Yes. >> Um, this this resolution um encompasses all of our bridges in terms of not necessarily just timber bridges, but it
encompasses ones that are a multiplate. Um, coverts. It involves the timber bridges and any bridges uh that are deficient. They do a local planning index. Anything that's below a 60 rating gets is eligible. Anything above a 60
rating, 60 and greater is not eligible for funding. Doesn't mean that you shouldn't watch them and you could replace them, but they're not eligible for the bridge bonding funding. So, I just want I just wanted for the sake of the public. Um the the blue bridges are
eligible for all the the resources that we have available, federal, state, um town bridge, and then the the red ones are the ones that are posted but not eligible for funding. So, the unique
part of that is is that we're a we're a big egg economy here and we've got we've got these bridges that are posted, but they're not eligible for replacement and and so that is a unique situation that
we have in the county because a posted bridge doesn't allow in some cases all legal loads. So, you got large large egg anymore. where the farm to market isn't, you know, 200 bush away and it's usually a semi, you know,
a grain cart. Those those posted bridges do not allow the passage of those legally over them. Just so um the other thing, so this is where they all are. You can see there's a there's a there's a bunch of them down
here. Those they're both township and um county bridges. These are only the bridges on the local system. If you if I refer back to the resolution, you can see the ones that are we've only
got two that are township bridges in this case. The rest are are uh county bridges. There's only two that are that are eligible for replacement right now. and the one we're going to be doing this summer. And then Paul and Township has another one that's that's going to be
eligible. Um well that is eligible we were going to try and do next year. The the problem that we these bridges are are a million dollars. >> So yesterday Yeah. Which one is going to be replaced? Is that the million-dollar
one or is it They're both in Fallen Township, right? That >> right. The the one is the one that that's we have one bridge that's closed in we have one bridge that's closed in the county and that's the bridge we're going to replace this year. >> That's that million dollar one. >> Yep. Okay. >> Yep.
>> And that's one on the judicial ditch >> uh GD1. >> Okay. >> Then the other one is just north there. So the problem that we have is those they're a million dollars the town bridge account dollars we only get about
$180,000 a year. So that's that's where the inequity starts to come in because we we they have the money. We physically don't have the money. >> Okay. >> The Tom Bridge account doesn't have the money >> and that's the township will be paying for it. >> They they pay for the first 20,000. >> Yeah. And then the rest is hopefully get
the money. So >> Tombridgeidge. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yep. So, there's a couple things I'd like to point out on this. I did I I did something on this resolution. Um, this resolution is a little bit there's a few more bridges because we did an advanced timber inspection
>> the last few years. It's a it's a really good thing because it's exposing some of the the the X-ray of it, if you will, of the of the piling that you wouldn't normally see if you just do your normal physical um hammer pounding, whatever.
But um but there's a there's a little footnote at the bottom right here that I just I do want to point out that if if because we've had a few bridges that we've had to close this year, but if you take this list
and when that bridge gets closed, we have 93 detour miles that this impact. The reason that I point that out and the reason that I wanted that calculated is because we're an economy and so if you start
brid bridges need to remain a priority otherwise we're going to add cost other cost. So, with that being said, um it's my recommendation to um consider this resolution of the bridges that need replaced and um authorize the chair, I
believe the chair and the administrator to sign on behalf of the county. And then what I do with this resolution is I send it to the state and then we use this in the bridge bonding. And so this is where you can use as a speaking point for money needs on the bridge bonding.
>> Thank you. Are there uh any questions or is there a motion? >> I would move on uh resolution 2026-10. >> Thank you. I'll second that motion. All right. We have a motion and a second discussion. Commissioner Beck.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, M. If I can, if I'm understanding this correctly, um I'm going to go down to the first line where you have some numbers that are in bold print. So about 2/ird of the way down the page uh and go to the
second column from the right there's a number there 5,246,000 those dollars are coming from the county state aid highway fund or local funds correct >> right correct >> so how much when you say local funds that would be levy dollars
>> it so the the local dollars would be sales tax dollars or levy dollars that's correct >> and how much of that 5 million if you can tell me is uh county state aid dollars or or sales tax or levy dollars. >> I don't have that split up on on a
county state a bridge is 50/50 finance bridge 50% bridge bonding 50% county state aid. Um so if you look any any road that's in the single or double digit would be county state aid. Um the
other ones would be levy dollars full. So if I may go on, Mr. Chair. >> Yes. >> So over just six short years, we need to come up with between state aid dollars and levy dollars, $5 and a4 million to
to cover this construction, >> right? And then yeah, there's there's yeah, 40,000 is township dollars, but yes, that would be and so yeah, and then but the one thing that I do want to point out, if you go over a few columns, there's 5.886 886 in bonding. If we
don't get the bridge bonding, we don't need to worry unless we want to fund it higher. We don't This is This is where this gets a little more critical. >> I understand. I'm kind of looking at minimums here. >> Yep.
Thank you. >> Anyone else? Commissioner B. Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. I just really want to commend you on this. I know at public health uh or not public health public works department uh uh admin administrator Odin I think you do an
excellent job over these years and how uh we plan five years ahead on on a lot of the roads and uh this has even taken it a step further and I commend you that we put this out there and plan ahead until 2035 and that's a good plan and I think these
are important I'm not a bricks and mortar person to uh when it comes to needs of the community, but these are safety needs and really important and uh we need safe bridges and good roads for our public. It's very important. So, thank you for laying that out for us.
You know, each year budgets vary as well, but I think we have to have a plan like this and I really commend the county moving forward. Uh Mr. Torson is here. I see. and he's laid out some plans for maintenance. Uh kind of similar to that, not quite that far off,
but uh it's nice for the board to see how we're planning ahead and makes our budgeting that much easier. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> All right. Thank you. We have a motion and a second to move the approval of
resolution 2026-10. All in favor say I. I. >> All opposed. That motion passes. Mel, thank you so much. And I get to tease him a little bit uh once in a while because we've known each other since he was a city ad engineer. So,
all right. Next item. Uh we're going to have Val for our assessor come up and Val has a fire abatement u uh item for us. Val, good morning. >> Good morning, Mr. Chair, commissioners. My name is Val Sabor, the county assessor. I am bringing before you today
I have a fire abatement for Louise Zymer. It the home was at 1,240th Avenue Northeast in Kfax Township. Parcel number was 12260010. There was a house fire on January 30th
of 2025. So we don't bring them to the board until a whole year has passed. So, we know what was there on January 2nd as to whether the house was eliminated or if there was a new replacement. They did bring in a new home. Um, but it was not
habitable on January 2nd. So, what we're looking at is the full months that the people were out of the home during 2025 is what my request is for abatement for the tax dollars on the part of the property where the home was a loss. So,
it's just on the house and so the land and all the other out buildings are still being taxed. The reduction in taxes would be $869. And so, this is where I would need a motion from you to for approval for uh
reimbursement to them for the $869 while they were out of their home. >> Thank you very much. Uh, Commissioner Anderson. >> Mr. Chair, I would move to approve the abatement. >> Thank you. And uh I'll second that. Mr.
>> Commissioner Dwayne Anderson seconds. Any discussion? >> Pretty straightforward. So, all right. Uh hearing no discussion. All in favor of the uh recommendation of staff say I. I. >> All opposed. That motion passes. Thank
you. Uh appreciate it. Uh Val, thank you so much. Uh at this time uh we will now hear from our facility man maintenance director Andrew Thorson. And you've got a library roof contract for us.
>> Yeah. Good morning, Mr. Chairman and members of the board. Andy Thorson, facilities maintenance director for the county. Um I'm before you this morning seeking authorization to move forward in awarding a contract to the McDow Company from Wake Park for replacement of the
library roof. Um the roof is original to the construction of the library back in 1999. So it's uh well past its expected life of 20 to 25 years. Um the roof has been a topic discussion between the city and
county staff for some time now on how and when we can bring this project forward. We explored the feasibility and possibility of doing this project through state contract um with Sourcewell. did our research and brought in Gorgon, a national firm that provides
cooperative job order contracting, which is a construction procurement solution delivered through cooperative purchasing networks. It allows eligible organizations like us to access pre-bid competitively awarded contracts to complete projects with verified preset
pricing also keeping in legal compliance with public procurement rules. Um I understand that the price tag is a little shocking. Um library is a beautiful building. Uh but the roof is very complicated. Um it has four main
roofs, four smaller roofs. Um and that doesn't include the five little bumpouts on the east and the south side which are little tiny roofs amongst themselves. Um so yeah, it's very labor intensive project.
Um, it was also decided to spec modified builtup roofing system that carries a 30-year warranty. And at the end of the 30-year mark, we can pull off the top layer, replace it. By doing this, we will add another 20-year warranty,
bringing it up to a 50-year roof. This is the same roof installed by the same contractor that we used for the law enforcement center 5 years ago. Um, I'm very pleased with that final product. Um, this project is anticipated to start
late summer. Um, the city did pass a resolution last night approving the county to enter into a contract with McDow to complete this work. And with that, I am open for questions. >> Thank you very much. Uh, any questions for Andrew? Uh, Commissioner Dwayne
Anderson. >> Thanks. Maybe you said this and I missed it. Uh, when was the last time that roof was repaired or replaced? Never. >> It's never original to the building in 1899. >> Okay. >> Anyone else? >> Commissioner.
>> Yeah, Andy, this is a pretty large bid. Um, I'm wondering why I and I know that going through the co-op purchase agreement uh makes it uh so that we don't have to go out for bid, but one this big wouldn't wouldn't you we want
to see what what options we have and we could have still gone to the purchase agreement co-op purchase agreement if the bids didn't come back the way we >> I I got some unofficial you know quotes or estimates from some engineering firms
and we're we're not far off. Um going this way, we don't have to hire an engineer to do this. That's going to save us between 50 and $70,000. Um so for the ease of it, that's why the city staff and county staff opted to go
this direction. Anyone else? Yeah, I'd uh uh back in my work life, I I'd had occasion to use uh uh state uh state contracts as well for my clients and uh uh pretty relatively speaking
pretty advantageous uh and especially like you indicate when we're not having to worry about engineering costs and that sort of thing. um you've had good experience with this uh vendor in the past, so uh
seems seems reasonable to me. Anyone else? >> All right, can you on? >> Yes. Um and this is not new to us. We knew this coming up and we had to discuss this for the audience information as well. We just don't see
this today and and make a vote on something like this. Been in getting in involved in the details as well. At this point, Mr. Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion that we approve this going forward. >> Thank you. And we have a motion. Is there a second? >> I'll second that, Mr. Chair.
>> Thank you very much. Uh discussion, >> Mr. Chairman, what's uh Go ahead. I I just I'm disappointed that we haven't seen a bid because I think we could we could get a bid and still go to the co-op purchase agreement if it's if it's
low. I mean, this is a big project. I remember a few years ago we had one roof, I don't remember which roof it was, local contractor, West Central uh roofing came in far below what the other estimates were. And I'm not saying that that would happen in this case, but how
do we know if we don't put it out for bids? >> Cuz we would have to do the engineering. So to get a bid, it's going to cost us between 50 and $70,000. >> So we'd have to have a bid of less less than a million to break even. >> Yep. And more than likely they would be
specking a different type of roof also. >> And uh Andrew, what's the uh uh breakout across uh city county? Uh >> uh it is 6040. Um the city is 60%, we are 40%.
So, our share is already in the capital improvement plan and in the budget for this year. >> Okay. All right. Anyone else? All right. We have a motion, a second to uh uh reprove uh uh to approve the
library roof project contract. All in favor say I. I. All opposed. That motion passes. Thank you much, Andy. >> This time we'll have Caroline Khan. uh approach her. She is our health and human services director. And Caroline,
you have a health and human services uh contract. Uh you and Scott talked about this last week. We did. So, good morning, Caroline Khan, Health and Human Services Director for Kio High County. Uh last meeting we had the opportunity to walk through a proposed partnership
with TIPCO uh to explore the possibility of bringing in an AI um automated phone system to our health and human services department to help streamline our work um and create efficiencies in the ways that we serve our community and and our
staff at the same time. So today I wanted to bring forward the contract and how that could look um for uh our our department and in moving forward in that work. Uh before you are two options. one would be moving forward with a one-year
agreement um which is laid out um at that 855 and then the opportunity to pre- purchase for two years which is where the exhibit C would come in um which would
allow for that fluctuation of um if our calls exceeded 25% then we would see an in an increase in costs and if they decreased if they were lower than expected then we would see a savings um and applied to a future contract. So,
exhibit C, I wanted to be transparent. It was only apply if we chose to take advantage of doing a pre- purchase for two years for the possibility of maximizing federal reimbursement uh during this time. So, um the
agreement really walks through the e, um the e expectations on both parties, how we agree to use their software, how they agree to support us in the use of their software moving forward and the uh work through the deployment and creation of
our system for our department. So today, uh, the staff recommendation would be to move forward with the two-year option in the opportunity to maximize our federal reimbursement, um, with the uncertainties of how that might look moving forward with the beginning of a
new fiscal year, federal fiscal year in October. >> Thank you. Uh, any questions for Caroline? >> Commissioner Mdeck, >> so is this a two-year contract then? I
see 2026 at 855 and 2027 at 74 uh25. >> Correct. That would be So each year would we could lump sum and pre- purchase the two years um and that would be for a two-year contract or we could just go with the one-year um at the 855
and that's the difference is that um one-year onetime setup fee of $15,000. Um, so again, we wanted to provide the opportunity to show what the two-year pre-purchase option would be. We could just go with one year if desired.
>> And >> so again, if I'm understanding, if if we go direct right right away to two years, it's $74,000 a year instead of $85,000 a year. Is that how it >> the first year would remain the 855 and the next year would be 7425 for a total
of 159. It would just give us the opportunity to purchase that or pay for it all at one time to maximize that federal reimbursement of 50% right now when it could go to will go to 25% um in October. >> Okay. Thank you. So right now the the
federal reimbursement would cover half the total of 159. >> Correct. >> Anyone else? Mr. Commissioner Burke. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. Um maybe could you elaborate a little bit further on what EVA is? A lot of people we've been
some of us or most of us have been really involved in this and and I think it's an excellent idea. I do have my concerns though about the cost the ongoing cost and I do agree that as well that we should maybe be looking at a two-year contract to to get into this.
But um so I got several questions if you can tell us a little bit more but then after that to to address some of the financial impact of that and liability and I just wanted to be sure Ken do county attorney Mr. Baker if he had a
chance to take a look at the 50page contract. >> Yes. >> Yep. Yep. All of our contracts do go through process in the review before they come to you. Um, and so we have gone through a work session and then previously we went through. So, um, I if
I go too far into the reexlanation, you'll have to let me know, but I'll just kind of recap what we've discussed. >> Uh, so EVA or TIPCO provides an automated phone system that sits at the beginning of our phone line. So currently when you call into our Candy Ohio County Health and Human Services
line, you're greeted with an automated dialer that asks you to press one, press two for your next option, and it goes through a a an automated uh number pressing system to help you reach your uh intended destination. With this new
platform, you will be greeted by um a warm voice that says, "Hello, my name is Eva. Thank you for calling Candy County. I'm an AI generated system here to help or how may I help? You can say, "I'm looking for food assistance." And then she can help walk through um some
questions and help get you to the right uh destination. Or she can help you complete applications. One of the the great advantages of a platform such as this is she can serve our community outside of the normal business hours that we employ staff. So, if a time for
an individual to ask questions or seek information or fill out an application or have assistance filling out an application is convenient for them at 9:00 p.m., they can have the support and assistance that they need or require at that time where currently we don't have
that availability due to our staffing time frames. Um, another benefit of this type of a system is the opportunity to automatically roll into preferred language. If you begin speaking to Eva in Spanish, she will begin communicating
to you in Spanish right away. Um, Eva is a closed system. She doesn't generate information. So, she's not similar to what you're experiencing with chat GPT where she will create answers for you. She will only source things that we provide to her. So we are very
intentional as to how we're looking at building that and working with our partners and inviting them to the table to say what would you like her to point to on your behalf so we can pro use her as a community asset and resource um to
help build that benefit for our community as well. So Scott and I have worked really intentional on these forefront conversations and starting to introduce this to our our team here at Health and Human Services and our county department heads um as to how this could
evolve over time to be not only a resource for our department but a resource for the county in general. >> Mr. Chair, >> very good. Thank you. and going over this so well um it it takes our level of
service in that area to a whole different level and I think it's going to provide so much better services for the people in our community after hours and the language interpretation instantly. Uh it's a great service to look at and I think it's important and I
believe Sterns County has already implemented this. >> Yep. Sterns County and Olmstead County are already um farther ahead in their crawl walk stage. I do want to be transparent. Nothing is perfect, right? And but the the benefit also of EVA is that we will have a dashboard that we
can monitor the calls and see what worked well, what didn't, did she send them in the right direction? If not, what needs to change next time? Um and we'll see what people are calling for. So we'll have a better pulse as to what the needs of the community are or in the needs of yesterday when we started the
day in a partial government shutdown. All of our calls were related to concerns of you know is my snap turning off because that's what happened in the last shutdown. There's a lot of heightened concerns within the community. Um we would be able to answer up to a thousand calls at one time to
ease the concerns of the community in a consistent empathetic way with a service like that. May I just follow up? >> Yeah. >> Just one more follow-up comment that this really looks to be a win-win situation because on the other flip side of that too, it is going to save some
time of some of our staff so they can get some other jobs done as well and save some money but important. We're providing better service to the people. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner. >> Thank you. So I grew up in Sterns County and I've been visiting with my
colleagues in Stern Sterns County and I asked them I said well does Eva understand Sterns County Pluto and they assured me that they could speak Sterns. >> I don't know if I do but I'm glad she's figured it out. >> But uh one of the things that I uh I think I heard you say it uh just in the
last minute or so you could sir you you gave the example of um someone calling in on a snap question. uh if at the same time someone in another language called in on a Medicaid question or eligibility question uh they don't have to wait till
this till Eva is done with the SNAP question that one can be done concurrently >> as long as they weren't the thousand and1 caller >> okay and so that leads me to believe that this will uh should be able to create an efficiency not only for the
clients that are calling in who might want to do it at 9:00 at night because they went to work early in the morning and that's when they have time but also um should free up our staff and uh potentially reduce some FTEEs for us down in that department. I mean that's
what a lot of the concern is actually for AI is that it's going to eliminate some jobs and in some cases uh that's a good thing you know when we don't have enough staff to uh to cover an area. >> Yeah. uh to to speak to that. Right now, the goal of EVA is to create space
within the staff that we already have and not have to come asking for additional staff in the future as um our uh requirements are continuing to shift uh with federal and state um mandates continuing to evolve. We see the need
for increased staffing on the horizon. So, this will hopefully be a way in which we'll offset that need in the future. Um, so we w we do see the potential of of great efficiencies um within the staff that we already have to free up time um within their work so
that they can start meeting those new mandates without having to add additional FTEES. And I would uh I would dare say that uh uh certainly we're going to see some of that uh time savings. Uh but given and and and I just want to point out the
cover of the Minnesota Counties uh magazine this month uh talking about a system on the edge which is all of the different antiquated uh programs that our eligibility workers and others have to use uh to uh work
with the state of Minnesota. These are state systems that are literally old DOSbased greens green screens. So for us to be adopting something like this is certainly a step in the right direction. But we need uh uh we will probably not
need to uh uh reduce uh FTEEs in the near future even with AI because once they fix this our folks will have will will be much more efficient in the work that they do. But that's something that we have to be uh uh working on with our
partners at the legislature too. Commissioner Dale Anderson, >> I just want to thank you very much for presenting this. I mean, I think it the biggest thing that I look at it is is that if we can answer a thousand calls at one time. I mean, there's a lot of people that that call and they get a
busy signal or get put down the chain and it doesn't eventually get to somebody. So, the fact that we can actually answer all them calls at the same time to me is the biggest thing. And the night calling is especially important. I don't know how many times that I've sitting there doing work and and all of a sudden it's five o'clock
and I I oh I missed a chance to call somebody and I should have done that. So I think it gives them a great opportunity for the people that are working to have that chance to um to make that call and get that question answered. So with that, I'd like to make
a motion to approve the the Typco EVA contract for two years with the Health and Human Services. >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> I'll second that. >> Thank you very much. There's a motion and a second to approve the recommendation of staff and approve the contract.
>> And all all in favor say I. >> I. >> All opposed. That motion passes. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Uh I do have a request to take a short break at this time and then we'll reconvene in 10 minutes. it. Are you ready?
>> Thank you everyone. And the Candy Ohio County Board of Commissioners uh is back in session. And uh at this time um again this is uh this is a discussion that will be limited
solely to the 287g agreement. Um and uh uh at this time we'll request uh uh uh Sheriff Toliffson to uh come up and uh present before the board uh provide an overview of that program. And uh,
Sheriff Tolson, thank you so much for being here today. Really appreciate it. And uh, you please begin. >> Yeah. Good morning, uh, Mr. Chair and board. Kelsey Shane, Eric Toliffson, Can County Sheriff. So, um, as you stated,
Mr. Gardner, I've uh, going to be up here talking a little bit about what's been what's called the 287g program. Um I think for the interest of a more of a productive discussion I think I should give probably a background you know historical I shouldn't say historical
probably over the last 18 months of kind of our thought process and how we arrived here. Um I promise not to get too deep into my brain cuz that might be a scary thing. Um but uh anyway um so
probably about 18 months ago uh I had a correctional officer approach me and uh was uh had just released an individual who had been on um some severe charges severe charges like criminal sexual conduct or something. I can't exactly
remember what and the the individual had a civil detainer in their file. So this was a request and I had never heard of these things before. Not only was I relatively new to running a jail, which has been a huge learning curve for me, but uh you know, I I wasn't familiar
with this type of thing. Uh so the correctional officer went on to state that yeah, there's a a request from immigration that this person be detained until they were able to uh come to our facility and take him into federal custody. However, the person had been, you know, I think sentenced to time
served or whatever the case was. And whenever someone gets released from jail, we technically have, I think, until 11:59 p.m. that day for them to walk out the door. So, uh, generally speaking, when you're released, whether
someone bails you out or you're RPR or you you plead guilty and you get sentenced to time already served or whatever, um, there's a process. I mean, you got to be processed out of jail. You got to get your old clothes back. You got to get your meds right. I mean there's a it's a booking out process so
it's not it's not rapid and jails are busy so sometimes things happen you know all of a sudden there's a multitude of arrests that come in so anyway that being the case um ICE wasn't able to get there in time to take the person in
custody they w they left the facility because they were released and uh the uh uh agents ultimately then did uh go out into the community and find this person ultimately I don't know if it was a day or two later, but anyway, this correctional officer brought this to my attention. I thought, well, that's
interesting. And uh so I started doing a little little looking into that. And uh of course, the first thing that when you start looking into this, you see the Noble Nobles County decision 2019 where their jail held someone on a civil detainer and then they were ultimately sued for civil rights violation. I think
a fourth amendment violation. So, it wasn't a they didn't commit a crime. Uh, however, there lacked uh statuto statutorial authority in Minnesota in order to hold someone on these detainers. I thought that was an
interesting concept because we routinely arrest people um at the request of probation officers who are out in the community who may have a dirty uh UA um may have violated the probation in some way, shape or form. And a probation officer will sign an
apprehension and detention. Um, it's not a judicial warrant, but it's something that we routinely go and find somebody out in the community, take them into custody, bring them to jail, and hold them up to 72 hours, not including holidays and weekends. So, as you can see, I'm kind of looking at these things
and I'm like, well, this is interesting. I have a another law enforcement agency is requesting that I hold somebody past, you know, um, their scheduled release from local charges. And uh because the the detainers
um ask that we it's it's a request. It's not a demand. It's they ask that we hold the person up to 48 hours until they can arrive and take him into custody. Anyway, so the noble Nobles County decision was like, "Okay, that's interesting. It's uh obviously we can't
do that, so that's why they leave." I talked with my jail administrator. Uh he says the same thing. Um, I said, 'Well, how often are we, you know, releasing people that are on these detainers? And it's pretty sporadic. I mean, maybe two times a year, maybe four, something like
that. I mean, it's not real common. Um, often times uh the federal agents are able to get to our facility in time um for for them to be taken into custody. Unfortunately, after the Nobles County decision, there's a bit of anxiety with
staff um when they know someone has a detainer and they make the phone call and say, "Hey, so and so is getting released here. They just got bailed out. Yeah, we're not able to make it." So, or you know, they know that if they intentionally delay the release of that
person, they're subject to civil litigation. So, that's a a level of anxiety that staff is, you know, experiencing as a result. So unfortunately, you know, they're pushing through this release. You don't want to do that because mistakes can get made
and you know whatot. So jails are a very complex place. I mean, there's a lot of things that can go wrong if you don't do your job well. Anyway, so we just sort of sat on that and then uh about February 2025,
uh the jail administrator came to me and said, "Hey, this 287g program is back in back in available again." I'm like, "Well, what's that?" Um so we of course started doing a little bit more research and realized that you know this is a a
program uh that allows cooperation between or the delegation I should say of certain uh federal authority to local law enforcement. Um, upon looking into this realized that it was originally implemented in 1996 under Bill Clinton
as part of the Illegal immigration reform and immigrant responsibility act of 96. Initially, it was in place to allow task force type agreements between local law enforcement and federal agents on the immigration side. We've been
doing task force agreements with federal authorities for years nor normally with uh sex trafficking and drug trafficking cases. Lots of times what happens is local law enforcement gets deputized federally in order for them to narrow or narrowly enforce federal law while
they're working on this task force. All right. The 287g program brought that that system into the realm of immigration. So while looking into this realized that upwards of 40 states have agencies that
have agreements under 287G. Um nine states actually have laws in place that allow for um the the enforcement of civil detainers by local law enforcement. Uh one of them being Iowa. So there's there's a very broad variety
of different models out there. Hopefully I'm not boring you here, but I I think it's important that I get all this out there. So anyway, um oh, and back to uh the reason I don't think I mentioned that the reason that we're able to take folks into custody on probation
violations is because there's Minnesota statute in place that allows for that arrest to take place. So we don't have a statute in place in Minnesota to allow us to enforce immigration, civil immigration detainers. So, um, anyway, under the 287G, there's
four or three models available. There's a task force model which, um, allows for that's probably the most robust that allows for actual personnel to be trained to go out into the field and work alongside federal law enforcement. All right, that's so hence the task
force. Uh there's a jail enforcement model which allows for jails to actively do investigations into the staff or into the inmate population within the jail. Um book people in under federal charges and that kind of thing. And then there's the warrant service officer model which
is what I signed and that oftentimes has been referred to as 287g light. I don't know because it's a pretty low-level involvement and what that rec so we looked into that we contacted our my jail administrator
at the time he's since retired but uh contacted uh homeland security talked to some people got some background we said hey we don't want deputies doing this you know in our in our since we already house for immigration it just it makes sense to to participate in this program
where we can allow for a controlled smooth transition from local custody into federal custody Um, and so we asked, "Can we have unlicensed correctional officers do this?" And they're like, "Yeah, absolutely." So, what it what it involved was 8 hours of online training
at their own pace for each officer. Uh, they have to complete a background investigation, a federal one, which they do, and then um and then take a written test and then pass that, of course. And then they essenti, for lack of a better word, become deputized to serve these
detainers under federal law. So, uh, this was in about February 25 as we're having this discussion. I said, "Hey, no money really." I mean, involved in this, uh, it's a very low-level type of a thing. It's basically, uh, sending,
uh, correctional officers to training to do another job task. Um, this would, in our mind, would uh allow again for the controlled smooth transition, um, with, uh, folks that are already in on significant criminal backgrounds. uh to
be transferred from local custody into federal custody once they're released. And that could take place within the jail. And that was another these agreements have a very very narrow scope of operation. Uh this uh particular one
only allows for the enforcement or the serving of these detainers. There's two specific detainers within the four walls of the secure facility. So, in a jail setting, that is only in the area that the that generally the public isn't allowed to be in. It's it's the jail. Uh
not in the lobby, not in the parking lot, not down the street. We have no authority to do that. Plus, the people that are being trained are not cops. So, we're like, hey, this is kind of makes sense, right? And at the end of the day, it's only going to happen, you know, two
to four times a year anyway. So, I mean, if any, but at least we have that. So reasoning there, lessen anxiety on staff. Correctional officers firmly believe if another law enforcement a agency wants somebody, it's their duty to hold them for them. We hold people
for other agencies all the time. Um and uh and for other states and and whatnot. So um we thought that was a good thing. It also would lessen uh the instances of of immigration uh officers coming into our community and finding these people
because to our knowledge, everyone that we had released before they got here, they went and found them. So, I mean, there's that. So, I mean, that's always a potential for uh you know, it's always safer to take someone into custody in a controlled environment versus out on the
street or somewhere, right? So, um I can touch a little bit more. Currently, So yeah, so I talked about you know the the the certification process. Um so during the course of this of course and this is another reason I think a lot of
people are probably here is our attorney general started issuing opinions on this particular matter and uh his first opinion came out in February February 6th of 2025 and that one was simply local law enforcement Minnesota has no authority
to detain somebody in a civil immigration detainer. Yep. I already knew that. Did the did the research you know I mean but that's all it was. So it's like hence why we decided to go with the warrant service officer program to then in our mind like okay this is
you know I mean makes sense and okay anyway um so everything's fine and uh so to speak in in my world I guess and then uh in September September 19th of 25 the attorney general issues another opinion
now in this one uh well that's that's when he sent the letter saying that he's going to issue a formal opinion October 15th And the letter was real brief. It just said, "Hey, you know, your agreement is null and void because you didn't go before the county board um because it falls under the joint powers agreement
and all this and that." And I'm like, "Okay, well, perfectly aware that whenever I enter into a contract, that's going to be a significant drain on taxpayer dollars or an allocation of resources that I bring before the board." brought several contracts before the board. Uh whether it be for food
service at the jail or medical at the jail or or the contracts we have with the towns for police protection and that kind of thing. Those all involve the allocation of time, money, uh and and resources. I was like, I'm sending people to eight hours of training, you
know, and they're going to serve a paper. I mean, instead of handling an inmate handing an inmate a roll of toilet paper, they're going to hand hand them a detainer, you know. So anyway, so that that was interesting. So of course I I brush up on the uh joint powers agreement statute, which I had never read before. And uh so anyway, I read
that and I like, okay, I can see how it kind of fits um to a certain degree. So I guess I can agree with that opinion to a certain degree. Um but I can also see the other side of it. But anyway, at the end of the day, you know, and this is also important, aside from filling out
the paperwork in this process and and and looking for volunteers, and we had 14 correctional officers that volunteered to do this, uh it it sort of just fell by the wayside. Um I think the uh it it became a pretty low priority for the federal government because no
training was offered. Um when we would reach out to our contacts, they're like, "Yeah, we're working on it. there's a lot of things going, you know, we're just so it was like obviously it's been so as of right now as I stand here, we're not even doing it. So I mean it's just nobody's gone to the training but
anyway so we're just kind of sitting there. Um but in December uh 12th the AG issued his third or second opinion actually and he went into detail basically saying these are the re or you know um obviously the Nobles County case and a Carver County case indicated that
we can't enforce the detainers. um this agreement, this contract um falls under the joint powers law in his opinion. Uh so you need board approval. However, even if you get board approval, you still can't enforce them. So I was like, well, what's the point of this five-page letter? You know, I mean, honestly, you
just got done telling us like, hey, we got to do this step and this step to make it valid, but even if it is valid, you still can't do it. I'm like, okay, well, this has got to be decided by higher court, obviously. Uh, in the meantime, um, you know, recently now, uh, Freeborn County is, uh, is the
subject of a of a civil litigation by the ACLU and and, uh, four members of the community down there, uh, because Freeborn had actually signed the same agreement, was in the same boat as us. And, um, so that currently just got removed from the local court to the federal court. So, we're kind of just
sitting there waiting to see what happens because until I think a higher court rules on this, you know, and then we can take another look at it. But, um, and just just for reference, uh,
currently, um, we have six people in our jail on local charges that have a, uh, deta they either have detainers in place or their detainer status is pending. That means that they're in the process of issuing it. Uh, one is in on four, excuse me, one is in on four counts of
first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Another one is in on threats of violence, a felony, domestic assault, misdemeanor, and a fraudulent identification. Uh, third one is in on first-degree DWI, which is a felony, driving for cancellation, in public safety. I think they've had uh three
DUIs in less than 24 months. Um, another one is in on DUI, theft, domestic assault, and fifth degree assault. Uh the fifth one is in on motor vehicle theft, first-degree criminal damage to property, and a hit and run. And the sixth one is in on two counts of
secondderee criminal sexual conduct, which is also a felony. So we had seven, but one got had a warrant from another county, so they were moved to another county. But so questions, anyone? Clarification.
>> How long did that take? >> Commissioner Indeck and then Commissioner Berg. >> Okay. Thank you. Well, first of all, uh, Sheriff Toliffson, uh, I want to thank you, uh, for, uh, the explanation. You and I visited for half an hour yesterday, and so I'm hearing most of
this a second time, and I know for the public, it's a little bit hard to digest because I've yesterday wasn't the first time you and I visited about this, and it takes a little while to understand it all. >> Uh, these are really interesting times
for you and us. uh um I don't think we've ever seen these kind of things before and and uh so I applaud you for being here and and giving us this explanation. But I do have a couple of questions. Well, more than a couple, but um to start with, do I understand that
right now nothing is being done. So these seven six individuals that you just referenced because you do I understand that you haven't been trained yet because the federal government has not made the resource available. >> Correct. Yeah. The training hasn't been
offered that that's the next step. Actually uh the 14 correctional officers that submitted their background information that got sent to Washington or somewhere and it's we haven't got any word back on that either. So I'm guessing it's sitting on someone's desk
somewhere. So even if you wanted to and the question of whose jurisdiction it is, county boards or the sheriffs, um you couldn't do that work because you haven't been trained yet. >> Right. We're not no one has received certification. Correct.
>> And so those folks that you just listed who I think everybody in this room and probably everybody in this county would agree probably should not be turned loose, you'd be forced to turn them loose if somebody came in and paid their bail tomorrow. if if they're the reason they're not on the street is because
they haven't made bail yet. Am I understanding that correctly? >> Correct. They you know and there's been some things in the news. I know Paul Schnella, director of corrections, has made it clear and this is where it gets kind of you know people are it's they politicize this and I try not to I mean
we our mission remains consistent regardless of who's in office. So um but he made the statement that well the Department of Corrections complies with all of these detainers. We've never had a case where we've let somebody go and they weren't taken into federal custody. Well, that's really easy when you work
in a system where you know exactly many months in advance the exact minute that they're going to walk out the door. In a jail setting, one of these people could be bailed out in 10 minutes and we'll make a phone call to the number down at in St. Paul and say, "Hey, so and so that you have detainer on that just got
bailed out. Yeah, we we're two hours away. We're not going to make it." So, I mean, that's that's the difference. It's not that. And there's been a lot of rhetoric out there about, you know, counties not complying and, you know, then the the feds issued a naughty list of jails that didn't comply. I mean,
it's all what it's just news, you know, and uh and at the end of the day, it's like, no, we we have to let them go. I mean, that's they've been released. So, um, but yeah, and and so, but again, when I look back at the prior instances
of us releasing them where, uh, where they didn't get here to pick them up in time, they've gone around and found them. So, >> but, but to be clear, because you haven't been trained, um, and you get this 10-minute notice, the only way, I mean, you can't hold
them because you haven't been trained. And the only way that ICE could pick them up is if they're already sitting in the community and maybe they're over at, you know, some parking lot waiting, you know, doing some scouring. Um,
and they could get there in the 10 minutes. Otherwise, you'd have to leave them. You'd have to release them anyway. Cor is that how I'm understanding it? >> Correct. Yep. And we have recently, I think it was October released one. So, >> all right. >> Um, yeah. Correct. and and even so like I mentioned um even
if they had been trained now of course the question has come to light from the attorney general as to whether or not we still can anyway so that's again it's the attorney general's opinion it's not it's not legally binding or anything like that um but uh it does
open the question then so then I mean ideally you know one of two things could happen there could be a court ruling that would remedy it or Minnesota would act legislation to allow it like Iowa or somewhere else. But anyway, it's where we're at. >> And if I may continue, thank you. And
you references the three different forms of 287G, the task force, the jail enforcement, the warrant service. And uh again, I've heard it three times now, so I think it's maybe worth some time to spend uh
talking about this a little bit. So the task force would say your deputies or whoever has been deputized could could go out and do the same work that ICE is currently doing in the community if that model was chosen. >> Correct. >> Okay. And if the training had been
available and uh you would have done the training, you would have had been trained first, I imagine. >> I didn't not the task force model. >> Not the task force. >> No, I had no interest in that. >> Thank you for that. Yeah. >> And in the jail enforcement one, if I understood that one, that is where you
possibly would go to through the jail records and scour those records to see if they had a uh some sort of charge in another jurisdiction. Is that what that >> I think it I think it allows for local staff to do the interview and the intake
process, which we don't do like under our current housing agreement. um all of the intake and interviews are done by federal agents because it's a very very complex thing. Um and uh so I I think I I didn't really you know research that model. Correct. Not at all.
>> Okay. >> And then the warrant service model is just that uh ability >> if it ever gets enacted if you ever get trained is that ability to say look this individual is getting released in two days. If you're not here to pick them up
within two days, we still would have to release them after 48 hours. Correct. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. I got several questions. Maybe I'll just start with some and then let some other people talk
or ask questions, too. But first off, I really want to thank you for be uh being here today. I really appreciate this. I really appreciate this communication. uh had we had this communication earlier, I could have answered a lot of other questions that I didn't know how to answer them. And I'm also struggling
even more so we get into this as a county commissioner, what is our role and our authority in this whole thing as well and our responsibilities and do we have one and that's un undecided at this point way I understand. and have not been advised one way other than an
opinion uh uh that we should be concerned and and as a as a board our concern is always about the fiscal responsibility you know is this been vetted from that point of view the risk that we would have uh being a lawsuit and we know that or happening as you
mentioned but also I want to just comment that I I've been thinking about this a lot uh in the last few weeks and I tried to put myself in your shoes and it's pretty hard to do because I'm not in your shoes and I can't do that. But I
do recognize that uh and I know you and I've communicated with you many times over the years and the Candyway County Board has had a good reputation of being very supportive of our our police forces that we have both on a sheriff level and
and uh our collaboration with the local uh city of Wilmer Police Department. I think we're moving forward really well as as a community and and I see that collaborate collaboration to continue but I also we I know you're really busy but I really appreciate you're being
here and this more information we get I think is we appreciate being informed of this as much until this gets all sorted out whose responsibilities is whose responsibility let's put it that way going forward. So, it's a tough struggle and I appreciate and you're taking your
job very serious and you're trying doing the very best job. I know that and your people that that work for you as well and we're lucky to have them. They do care about the policing. They do care about our community a lot and I know uh this is a tough time for you as well. Uh
but it's also a tough time for everybody else as we're going forward. Uh going back to the the agreement, uh it is almost like it's on pause. Well, maybe a couple of questions about the agreement, too. It sounds like, and just to be clear for the public's information, you
have the authority. You do continue to contact ICE of somebody here that's illegal, you can call them up and say, "You got so and so in jail." Correct. And that takes place on a regular basis on on when that comes up. Can you elaborate on that just a little bit?
>> So, just to probably head off a few questions that may result here. So, um, the the question of immigration or or immigration status doesn't ever come into the equation when we have contact with people on the street or they're in reporting a crime or it's a traffic stop
or anything like that. >> Not even doesn't even come in that and that's meant just the people in the jail that but when if you do get arrested for a crime that would would be to the level that you get brought into jail and you know you don't get brought to jail for parking tickets, you don't get brought
to jail for running a stop sign. you you get brought to jail. Probably the lowest level offense you're going to get brought to jail for is a first time DWI and oftentimes you're a hotel sober and released or you're released that same evening um to a sober party. Uh if you're uh sometimes your release is
delayed over the weekend. Uh but that would probably be your lowest level, you know, like your misdemeanor level offense where you're actually being taken into custody. Um you're not taken into custody for driving after revocation. You're not taken into custody for driving after suspension. Um, so for you to be taken into custody,
it's gotten to the point now where it's got to be a relatively significant crime. Um, having said that, um, often times, um, it's part of the booking process, then the country of origin and your citizenship status is a question in the
booking process. There's several reasons behind that. Um, where there's there's international treaties in place that do require that question to be asked for certain countries. Uh there are certain countries that require that we notify their consulate if we have one of their
citizens in custody. I'm not sure why, but that's just the way it is. So there's certain there's several reasons why that happens. Nothing get really gets done with that. Immigration authorities have access to our booking records, which everybody else does. Uh they continuously monitor
this kind of stuff. Um, and oftentimes if it's somebody that they're interested in that's in our custody, they will issue the detainer by email, sometimes as quickly as three days, oftentimes it's been months later. So, I don't know their criteria exactly for
issuing them, but I do know that they do come electronically. Um, so we do receive them. They ask that we give the inmate a copy, which we do. And then they also ask, "Do you have any idea when they're going to get released?" Oftenimes we don't know. we we we say,
"Well, they have a settlement conference for February 5th, but they're not sure what's going to happen there, you know, plus you got the potential that they're going to get bailed out, so regardless." So, but that's that's I don't know if that helps answer your question, but that's >> Yes, I think it did.
>> Okay. Good. >> Yeah. Okay. Um as as a followup then at this point uh you mentioned that some other states are are operating at this level that you're proposing or or that you contracted in with on the 287 uh G
uh in in the state of Minnesota. Uh are there other counties that have been trained or is anybody actually operating under the same contract that or similar contract that we have at this point in time? Any other counties? not the warrant service officer. Um, everybody's
in the same boat that signed up. Uh, they haven't received the training. So, it's it's been consistent. I've been in contact with the other sheriffs that have signed the same thing. And yeah, that's that's the case is they're it's just sort of nothing happening right now. >> And how many counties have signed?
>> Um, the warrant service officer, I think there's like four for sure, but then some other counties signed the task force model. Uh, and then one county is actually uh implemented the task force model and was actively doing it. So,
but and and again too, like I said earlier, um the Freeborn County lawsuit I think is what we're paying attention to I'm paying attention to right now. I'm real interested in what happens there. So, >> and if I may, Mr. Sure. Yeah. And I'm very interested in that as well too
because I want to know if it's in the county commissioners or the county board's wheel uh wheelhouse that that we should be weighing in on this or not even and I want to know what our role is. But I am concerned about the financial impact of this, you know, in case any lawsuit that
we're connected because if they sue the federal government or they're going to sue us as well if something goes wrong with that. But it doesn't sound like the risk is very high. Am I correct? >> Well, I mean that's a in my line of work that's certainly an unknown. So I mean
but if in my opinion and of course I would have more in depth conversation with Shane and whatnot. But I think you know yeah I mean if if if a higher court does you know rule that this you know is okay then yeah probably. But you know
yeah I it's kind of unknown right now until we get a court decision on it I think or or something. But okay, >> it's certainly it's it's certainly brought to light. Let's just say since the inception of this concept, you know, as I explained earlier, um a lot has
come to light and a lot of uh you know, things additional information has popped up so that we need to consider. >> Okay, Mr. Chair, well, I think I'll get other people a chance to talk.
Thank you, uh, Commissioner Dale Anderson and then Commissioner Dwayne Anderson. >> Eric, thank you very much for coming in and and being put in the hot seat. That's what that's what I call that podium is the hot seat. So, >> I've been so
>> Yeah. Um, but I think the one thing that, you know, I want to say is thanks for answering my phone call because I called you and asked you clarifications on questions that I've been getting through emails and and phone calls. And I think the one thing that you haven't
touched on and I think is very important and and probably is the biggest thing of why all these people are in this room is is can you just touch on some of your community involvement in your engagement into into this issue as far as discussion things that you've had with groups or or conversations that you've
had just kind of what your what you've done or or what the sheriff's department has done as far as trying to help answer questions. >> Sure. Um we've so since I think within the last little over a year now or year um you know we've met regularly the so
the sheriff's association Minnesota chiefs of police association along with our federal partners have had meetings you know almost weekly at times depending upon what's going on um any time I've been invited to speak at an organization and touch on these topics.
I have had multiple one-on-one conversations with folks. You guys have probably heard me say this before. You know, after going through a campaign, I firmly believe that one-on-one conversations with people is far more effective. I I still believe that. Um not that I'm opposed to doing what I'm doing right now. You know, that's that's
fine. Um but or you know, either community organizations and that kind of thing. Uh I didn't keep a specific list. I just know it's been a it's taken a lot of my time over the last several months. um particularly since probably you know September when that final opinion came out from the attorney
general uh I think that brought it into the light a little bit more or under people's scrutiny. Um so I have fielded uh a lot of questions u you know a lot of lot of individual contacts and that kind of thing. So yeah it I've never turned anybody down. Let's just say
that. And um you know but again too I haven't um and I don't believe in doing this. I haven't um taken this issue and and made it a talking point on social media or even to the regular media because I think it's and some people
have I think criticized me and said, "Well, you're just keeping your head in the sand." Well, I'm I'm exact opposite. We're doing everything we can meeting with our federal partners and whatnot behind the scenes because if I see issues with another agency or something like that, I don't post those concerns
on social media. I contact their boss. And that's what we do. We go about it in a professional controlled manner and I find it far more effective. Unfortunately, there's some people I think that want me to take a stance or something like that. I'm apolitical. I
mean, I serve both sides of the aisle every day. We walk out the my folks walk out the door every morning. They leave their political affiliation, their religious affiliation, every other ideology behind them and they go to work. And we have to do that to be fair and impartial.
But sometimes we make mistakes and I'll be the first to admit that we are human. So, but yeah, >> I follow. Well, and that's what I was hoping just to let people know that you are out in the community and out helping
out. But I mean, I I think the big thing that I wanted to say to you is, you know, thanks for what you've been doing and thanks for all the sheriffs and all the people that are in corrections and everybody that's involved in this. Um, you know, a lot of stress. I I can't really imagine trying to go out and and
do your job. You know, I think you as sheriff's department and and the city police have worked timelessly to try to get a good working relationship with people in our community and and I have a real fear that maybe we've lost a lot of that right now. So, I know it's a lot of
uh work to keep that relationship going and and thanks for for all you've done to do that. I think you guys have done a great job with that and and keep up the good work. >> Yeah. And we and just to appreciate that, Dalan. Um but you know, so you know, like the leaders in the Somali
community, the the Latino community, they have my cell phone number and they have no problem calling me and they do. So I mean, we have direct lines of communication and we're on a firstname basis and we talk through these things. Um and then they bring it back to their communities. Um and I think that's that's also important to note. So we we
we have been doing that. And also I I appreciate you notice I mean you know the the stress on my staff but you know this has been very stressful for everybody. Okay. So I mean it's uh it's I just that's I just need to say that it's not just us. So
>> Commissioner Dwayne Anderson. >> Um so you mentioned that the attorney general has issued an opinion. Does that mean it's in court then or is that just his opinion and then >> Okay. takes into account case law and >> okay so
unless that gets litigated brought into court that it's going to just kind of stay in limbo then basically right >> I think that's all it and Shane can chime in but I think that's all it is it's just he does research and formulates an opinion but it's not
legally binding and this is more Shane's uh arena than mine >> okay all right well I I just you know I'm on that drug task force uh committee and I you know I'm one of the least informed there because I'm I don't have a gun with me.
>> But anyway, uh I I just I hear what you guys deal with as far as that goes, you know, which is a separate issue, but uh I I just appreciate what you guys do and and I feel like I I'm just there because I'm one of the people in the fan club, I guess. So So I thank you guys for what
you do. So >> thank thanks appreciate that. Commissioner Burton. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I just want to go back to to the board's uh role and where we're going with this, but also to address there is a uh lawsuit taking place and it is an active lawsuit that's
going to court and that's we're waiting to hear uh that Freeborn County and that'll help define the role of the county board as well as your role in these contracts. Am I correct? >> I hope so. Yeah. >> Hope so. And we can move forward. Okay. But the uh the good news is is to find
out and I I think talking individually is really nice. But also the way uh way things work, the way government works is, you know, we have an open meeting law on a county level. And so I other than maybe one other person, I I do not
have this discussion with the board. And so by you coming here on a regular basis and updating us, we're going to have these discussions so I can kind of understand where uh other people have questions on the board that I probably haven't even thought of. And so there's really good value in us having these
kind of discussions. Also, these are really even though the uh the community is not u able to uh ask any questions or comments, they they feel more informed too. And I think this this value that we're doing right now is good and I
appreciate it very much. Uh but going forward it I'm kind of wondering too why uh uh uh they uh kind of paused this almost themselves. It's been what almost nine months going on to since the contract was signed and it's not been
implemented. And I'm I'm glad to hear that right now because I don't think timing is really good to implement it at this point. But, uh, I think we're waiting to see what, you know, what comes out of this whole thing. And it's not necessarily up to, uh, the board's
decision if if we vote on that to implement it or not. I I kind of have a gut feeling because of the financial impact that we should have an some say in this. And for sure uh but going forward now that we're waiting to hear
and or if there any implementation takes place uh I'd like to request that you come back to the board uh as soon as you can to give us an update if if you would uh let us know that yes they are moving forward with this. We are going to start implementing this now and or a court
decision was made. I would just really would appreciate that very much to keep that communication going. No, without a doubt. And I think like I said earlier that um a lot of additional questions have been posed and additional information needs that we were
completely unaware of um you know 8 months ago. So um and different ways of looking at things. So uh yeah, absolutely. We'll nothing will just get sprung on anybody. So and and that you know and like I said that's why I gave the the in-depth
lengthy background into what we were thinking here. I mean this wasn't a knee-jerk reaction. This wasn't something like, "Yeah, rah rah, let's do this." It was it was a process of of >> Yeah, we didn't know that. Exactly. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Do a lot of that. So,
>> commissioner and >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, just a couple of things and this is and really not questions or comments um for the sheriff necessarily, but uh to those of us on the deis here. Um, as I read this
contract, and I read it two times, I'm not a a lawyer, but it does appear that the federal government is shifting some liability onto the county. Um, I'm under the ICE supervision. It says,
uh, no, I'm in the wrong spot here. Under letter H of the contract says liability and responsibility. It says LEA law enforcement personnel with regard to their property or personal expenses incurred by reason of death, injury, or incidents giving rise to liability is going to be the law
enforcement, local law enforcement's uh li or the county's liability. Um they're passing the buck on a couple of things. And if you get to the to the implementation of this um all the costs involved or there is costs of
transferring and uh training and and uniforms are going to be the responsibility of of local law enforcement. In my opinion, if if we're going to be facilitating this, the the county should be reimbursed for those
expenses and indemnified for the for the um liabilities. And again, I'm not a lawyer. You're not a lawyer. I don't expect to I assume uh County Attorney Baker has has reviewed this fairly thoroughly. And um but I
think there because we have the fiduciary responsibility for the county uh it is something that uh gives me a little bit of pause. >> Right. And so this text and this MOA is
identical for all three programs. So of course the task force model would a lot of these things would come into play. >> Yeah. This is there's no changing of uniforms. Uh there's no additional overtime. There's no uh there's enough staff that volunteered for it. So, if
this ever happens, and like I said, maybe two, four times a year that there's going to be someone on duty who can just legally serve them with the paperwork. Um through our housing agreement, we already get reimbured for any transportation through that. So, that's taken care of.
>> So, I I did look at all that. I mean, I I I I said, "What what does this involve? I mean, is this huge?" I mean, we don't send them anywhere for training. They can do it from a computer terminal while they're on regular duty overnight shift when things are slow.
Um, the written test is done again at our office. There's nobody's got to travel anywhere, get a hotel room. I mean, so from a financial commitment, it's probably one of the lowest level things that I've ever signed. So, and when you talk about liability, I mean,
you know, Commissioner Berg mentioned getting sued and that kind of thing. Pretty much every decision I make or my staff makes out on the road can result in civil litigation. >> Well, I'm just I'm just sitting here thinking about >> I don't know how to answer that. >> Well, I'm just thinking about who's paying the legal bill for Freeborn
County right now. Is it the property owners of Freeborn County in the lawsuit that they're involved with? >> I would imagine probably it is >> probably. Yeah. >> Yeah. And so that is a concern about the liability issue that that uh any county
including Katy County would face in this >> right >> uh Eric uh first of all again thank you for uh uh for being here today and so I just kind of want to go back uh over a couple of different points. I know
there's a county up north of us about 2 hours that is doing that uh most robust piece of the two 287g and working right alongside of law enforcement of of uh of the federal uh agents. Uh
nothing like that is happening here. >> No. >> And uh this piece of the 287g that you had signed on to is administrative in nature at its core. Correct. >> I would view it as that. Yes.
>> Yeah. Okay. Um and I think it's I I I I think it's going to be fair to say that uh your job of uh having good relations with all of our
community members has been made more difficult uh by uh re by recent events. Uh, that should probably go without saying. >> I think so. Yes. >> And I probably shouldn't have said it.
>> No. >> So, uh, again, I want to thank you. Any any last questions, uh, from the board for Eric before we, uh, >> Yeah, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I do like to talk as you've noticed.
I you mentioned too that you're available anytime, you know, to come and and I had been hoping and trying to work to see this happen way before this several times and I'm glad you're here now. But also, it's two-way street, too. If you because we don't know what's happening, so we don't know what
questions to say. Hey, come update us on this. So, this is a two-way street, too. And and I know you try to do that, but if you have something that comes up, hey, the board might want to know this. And there's a big value to this because this way the community knows what's better even what's going on. So, thank
you so much. >> Yeah, you're welcome. >> And uh uh I'll just uh mention to uh board members first of all, I want to thank everybody for staying on uh on topic today. It's uh most appreciated. I
know this uh as I indicated earlier this is a uh a sensitive topic and so trying to get the uh information out as best we can um as uh has has been pretty uh pretty important for us. Eric had
mentioned earlier uh working behind the scenes uh to you know try to help uh uh our affected communities our our communities at large uh and uh there are those efforts that are happening. I know
several of us in this room have been uh certainly involved uh in uh outreach to uh state and federal and local partners to uh try to uh try to make things work
and try to try to make some advances uh in in in some of these difficult areas that uh that we're currently having to operate in. Uh appreciate you, Eric. appreciate uh uh your entire uh
staff and uh uh as well as the uh our partners over at the city of Wilmer and uh uh if we have any questions uh we will make sure uh individually or otherwise that we reach out. Thank you so much.
>> Appreciate it. >> Thanks, Eric. >> All right. Thanks, guys. uh at this time uh and uh we are at the uh part of our meeting uh concerning administrative updates, appointments, calendar and committee reports. We will actually have
time for committee reports today. Uh and and I do want to offer this to uh board members. uh you may use your time during report outs uh at the end of our meeting for any comments on say uh recent events
uh as you may feel comfortable sharing. Um we are a aolitical body at its at its core. We all run as nonpartisans, but each one of us certainly comes with world views. Uh,
and uh, some of us may want to be able to express some of those today. And so that will be the time and the place to, uh, do that. Uh, I'm going to ask Administrator Baker, do we have any um, do you uh, would you care to do your
update first? >> We do. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh we had originally scheduled a health and human services work session for March 3rd and that is the AMC legislative conference that I do think some commissioners will be traveling down to the cities Tuesday
afternoon. So speaking with Caroline, we would like to propose two separate dates. That would be March 2nd, excuse me, March 2nd or March 10th. same time 1 pm to 3 pm. So, um I would like to get a consensus from the board of which date
would work better for staff to be prepared to do so. >> Mr. Chair, March 10th will not work for me. >> Okay. >> Same for me. March 10th does not work. The second would be fine. >> Yeah. Uh the second uh is open on my
schedule. Roger. >> No, I for the same reason I won't be here on the third. I won't be here on the second. as you have the CPT is it? >> No, I'm actually need travel. >> Oh. Oh, good for you.
>> And I will make both days work if needed. >> Okay. So, let's uh we kind of have a consensus around the u uh around the second uh and that the
10th uh would not work. Would we in any way, shape, or form need a third alternative? >> Mr. Chair, I would encourage you to go ahead with it. This time of the year, it's going to be really difficult to >> Okay. >> with the number of workshops that or sessions we have the rifle thing. Just
just go ahead with it. I can catch up with >> So, we're going to So, we're going to shift that then to the uh >> second. Okay. And um >> 1:30 to 2:30 again. >> One 1 to three. >> 1 to three. Okay. and it will probably
be 1 to 2:30, but kind of block off that time and I'll talk with Caroline to see um I know staff are already working on a topic so we can see if we can get that information out ahead of time. And then the other one would be to schedule the shotgun rifle listening session. I know the board had discussed this as well. I
um had sent out that doodle as requested um February 9th or March 9th came back as dates that would work. My recommendation would be March 9th. I feel that next Monday would be a little quick turnaround time. Um, and so that did seem to work for everyone on March
9th. >> Let me let me clarify what were the time again on on that because I I have planning and or there's planning and zoning in here on March 9th. >> Yeah. >> As long as it's ahead of time, if they don't have um >> I think >> a variance meeting and I think
>> is that the 5:30 one then on the 9th? >> Kelsey, that does not work for me. I'm going to be honest. at a state actually put it on. >> Those were the only two that came up. You offered us a lot. >> I did. I offered you a lot and I went
through the list and that was what everybody had >> that you had marked. >> Really? >> Well, I thought I hadn't. >> So, um, yeah, I'd sent a lot of dates, so I don't know if we're going to get a consensus for this. I think the goal would be to have the consensus.
Um, >> do it whenever you have to >> at this listing session. Hold on, let me pull up some of these dates. >> I believe I did it prior to the planning and zoning. >> I think you did too, but I don't remember. >> It wasn't that early. It >> was like an hour and a half, I think.
Yeah. >> Yep. We don't need a motion on this, but I I'd go March 9th on at 5:30. What room to be determined? >> Probably uh probably want to do
downstairs, right? >> Yes. >> I think this would be fine. >> If planning and zoning is at 7 though. >> Oh, yeah. Well, >> yeah. So, we would probably have it downstairs in the MPR. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I'll plan for March 9th then
>> and uh and we'll get an invite sent out for that. >> 5:30 to 7. >> Outstanding. And then we'll >> 5:30 to 7. So Roger's able to >> Yeah. >> up for that. >> And we'll need an updated invite for the um >> work session
because I can't I can only delete that. I can't. >> Yeah, that's fine. >> Okay. >> We'll make it work. >> You said if need be. >> I know. because there was hard there was like
three I mean you guys you obviously must have really busy schedules right now because to narrow it down to even get a consensus for all those dates I sent out >> was tough >> was tough so >> it's pretty much every day >> I'm sorry I didn't I did try
>> um and then >> February 9th doesn't work why just too hard to get >> I just think it's a little quick turnaround time for everybody >> um to get the word out um >> okay >> it would be noticed I could notice it
tomorrow we'd have plenty of time for to by uh not violate open meeting law >> but I just think to get it in the paper to get community members here >> I think it'd be better to do it on the for that purpose just because we want to have everybody informed so they they don't feel they
>> weren't given the chance >> and then just a few different administrative things I've been working with um I think Commissioner Meknos this lake and or Dale Anderson to um Lake Andrew uh Lake Association regarding a lake improvement district. Um I've been
working with some members on that. So that is a new process, not necessarily a new process. Diamond and Nest Lake have lids um but maybe a new process for me and our new auditor. And so I've been working with those individuals. I just kind of um handed now the process over
to the auditor and she will work with the lake association on the timeline. There's a some pretty specific timelines within the statute. Um but it it will eventually it is a county board approval. So I probably will send out some information on that because I don't know if this board has approved a lake
improvement district before and so I'll send some background information out on that. Um, and then I've been working with Austin Hillenbrands, our drainage manager, on our um, no wake zone ordinance. And so we're finalizing that.
My goal is to bring it back to board in March. Uh, kind of like what we did with the cannabis. Uh, maybe a first review. Um, no discussion taking place, but just kind of to review the ordinance, and then we would go through that public hearing process. And so that would be
set to be done by um Memorial Day. Um there was I think that was it. Those were the two items um that I wanted to just let you know that I'm working with community members on. And and then the township meeting. I think you all should be aware of this now. And maybe you got
the invite. March 23rd is the township meeting. I believe that starts at 9:00 a.m. Um Jane Youngrants has asked Caroline Khan and myself to do a presentation regarding um the shutdown and partial shutdown and the um the
impacts to our community members. And I think that's a um a bold move for the township because it's still got local government and affects the individuals that are living within their township. And so just a heads up, Caroline and I will be um presenting on that at the
township meeting. that's outside of their normal presentations like Mel and ditches and so I just wanted you all to be aware of that but I think that's a really good uh communication for us for all of us. Is it uh going to be at Legion again then?
>> Yeah. >> Yes, you're right. It's the holiday and do do you all get individual invites on that? >> I have I haven't and I have a CPT meeting that day. >> Okay. Yep. It's I believe it's at 9:00 a.m. and you're and you're right it's the holiday in this year. Could I could
I spin the the the lid? Yeah. >> Uh >> no, I forgetting exactly what it stands for. Improve >> lake improvement district. It's basically uh for those who are wondering what it is. Um >> generally they're done through a watershed uh district if you have a
watershed district, but Lake Andrew does not. So the water otherwise a watershed district could do it but it basically u allows them to uh in assess a tax. >> Yeah. >> Because generally what happens now is that you have members of a lake
improvement association but only about a third of the property owners participate. So they pay all the bills and so this is an opportunity for everybody to share. I know um the uh North Fork of the Crow River has done a couple of them over there and Middle
Fork has done a couple of them. So um >> they're nothing new. >> They're nothing new and and they would know how to go through the process. >> Yeah, more new for more new in the process of coming up through the county board instead of what Roger said through a water.
>> Um Sterns County, Ottertale County have done lots of these through the county board. Um Sterns County has a phenomenal timeline laid out. So I went over that with uh the members of the lake association which are um they have been great to work with. The second thing was
um at the March 3rd board meeting we will have someone here and a few commissioners are aware of this of um Calhoun Lake uh the renaming of that. And so there will be a presentation and then a board discussion for that as follows. I've been working
with Mel Odin's on this as well. Um, I need to have conversations with the county attorney and then the DNR regarding this. And so, um, there's a process. I think it was brought up at their lake association this last summer. And so, it's been a process. Um, but my
contact has been really good on working with. And, um, he's also got a busy schedule. So, um, March 3rd works for him and I can, um, that the presentation that he has and the background information of that will be also included in the board packet ahead of time. >> We're going to find out what this is about.
>> Yeah. in the packet. Okay. >> It's basically to determine is it Lake Calhoun or Calhoun Lake. >> Oh. >> Because it's printed different in different places. Okay. >> And there's a lot of history within that name. >> Yes. >> Um and so that's what has spurred the
conversation. And so it's nothing that uh needs to be done tomorrow, but we need to see, you know, I think the lake association and myself at this point in working with Mel, we want to see some action taken and then that and including in that process, no different than the
lid, needs to come through the county board for approval. >> I'm always amazed of all the different things we get involved in. >> All right. Uh any other questions for the administrator? All right, then let's uh uh let's go to
report outs and uh let's just start from the left. Sure, if you're able right ahead, >> get my calendar back up here real quickly. When was our last meeting? >> 20th. >> Okay, so um I had a CPT meeting last
Monday and CPT is uh growing computers or counties providing technology. We picked up uh two counties in Minnesota, Dodge County, Wabasha County. And as you recall, the services that CPT offers are sort of a all a cart. You can do
assessing, you can do tax statements, you can do a number of different uh payroll. I think you can also do, right, Kelsey? A lot of different things. Kenyuai County subscribes to a lot of them, but not every county. Some counties just do the taxes or just the assessing. We have like four or five
counties. one is new in in North Dakota. So, it's kind of a growing uh organization and um it is an enterprise. So, it's a for-profit business and uh I forget exactly how many of us counties,
21, I think 23 um are the owners of it and uh so it's growing. There's about 21 or 22 employees. So, it's it's a robust it's not as big as Prime West, but it's pretty big. And uh so that was CPT. Then um
uh MMDC, Mid Minnesota Development Commission. I think I got the uh drove the furthest award last Wednesday night uh down to Gleno for that meeting. Uh and then yesterday, I was telling Dwayne uh before the meeting, I am on a
statewide mind committee. every 10 years maybe maybe it's less than 10 years they need to review the rules that engineers like Mel Odin's uh have to review when they do a road improvement for example um
what are the slopes at an intersection of the ditches and what are the lane widths that that are allowable and a lot of what are the speed limits that are allowable we spent four hours yesterday and I think there's only well there's three commissioners from around the
state and a couple of city council members, but mostly nerds, engineers, uh, and they love this stuff. But, um, we spent three almost four hours yesterday deciding the, uh, uh, what
we're going to recommend for doing parallel back in parking. So, instead, not parallel, that was wrong. So, currently we have a lot of parallel parking on our city streets. Well, this is going to allow diagonal parking. So you drive forward and instead of parallel parking you back in at a 45, 60
or 90 degree. Really what it does is it uh increases the capacity in a city block by quite a bit. Uh but there's got to be rules for it. How deep that parking lot or that uh parking space should be, how wide it should be, can
they swing across the center line as they're backing in. And it applies to all state aid roads. So that would be our county roads with numbers under three digits and in most towns uh trunk highways because the the highway went through almost every little town in the
county has got a highway going through it. So pretty interesting stuff. But uh this will go on for over a year. They hope they hope to be done in December, but they don't know if we can. Hey, that's it. >> All righty. Thank you very much. Uh
Commissioner Dwayne Anders. Y so I had a few meetings not not really busy but a couple every week I guess basically um I just want to go back kind of about the Pioneer Land Library meeting. Uh we we met on the 15th which is kind of before
last meeting but um so we're we're currently just to be aware that we're currently searching for a new director because uh the current one she's going to be retiring. So uh so that's what we're kind of going through that process. Um then on the 22nd I had a
UKAP meeting that was just uh remote uh Zoom in the winter time they usually meet just via Zoom so that uh uh some of the people there little elderly and stuff and don't like to drive. So uh so we've gone or it's always been basically
uh remote type of meetings as far as I've been on on there. So um that was pretty much just a regular meeting. Uh and then on the well I guess I have on the 15th we had a JD3 you know drainage hearing but you guys most of you know
that. Uh and then on the 28th they had a central Minnesota emergency services board meeting and then yesterday there were a couple that were cancelled and that was EDC broadband I think and then vision 2040. >> All righty. Very good. Commissioner B.
>> Uh thank you Mr. Chair. Um I I think I reported back u for the week prior to uh to our last board meeting already and that was a very busy week this past uh two weeks since yeah be yeah almost two weeks since our last board meeting I did
attend a zoom meeting uh with the updates on the 20th uh that afternoon with AMC. Also had a youth a Prairie Lakes youth program committee meeting and um it was a very very long meeting as usual and we really got into some of
the financial issues. You know things are not perfect yet financially. We're still uh trying to figure uh different ways to be more profitable in making that work and including uh looking at some employees. We have actually quite a
few employees that are working 30 day uh 30-hour weeks and that gets really difficult and from a cost perspective too it's also u not very good let's say it that way and compared to having a few
people working 40 hours you got quite a few people working 30 hours in and so we're looking at addressing that. So there's we got uh things to deal with there as well as the concerns about you know the secure unit and the problems with that and the uh the maintenance
needed on that building. It's uh it's well needed. I also then after that took a vacation my third vacation in my eight years and uh um I went to Florida to visit and I think it was Chevy Chase Vacation. I don't know if you ever saw that movie, but it kind of turned out to
be that way, but it was still a good vacation. Went back there. The weather wasn't perfect and car problems and so on and so forth. And uh anyway, long story short, and a lot of work phone calls and I and I did take them and mostly uh uh I'm used to doing that. So,
but I'm back and and it was good to be gone for that period of time. >> Well, thank you, Mr. Griswall. Yes. >> You got the wrong You got the wrong >> I got the wrong one. >> I know that's right. >> What do I know?
>> All right. Uh, Commissioner Danders. >> Um, just a couple meetings. I went to the soil and water uh conservation meeting after our county commissioner meeting on the 20th. Um, it's always fun to see what programs are going on with them. Um, I'm sure that right now are all messed up again with the government
shutdown. Um, it affects them greatly um, in that area. Um, and then the other thing, the other meeting that I had was yesterday, and that's a tourism meeting. And and I I really am amazed. They they put out this nice little brochure about
where people are spending money and what they're spending it on and what area people are coming into our our county from. And and it still amazes me, and I think it goes back to our discussion about if we're ever going to build something. um that 45% of the income
that's in Kenui County is from out of state. Um so that's a huge part and and it's really interesting that the top three uh origins of markets were from Minneapolis by not uh Bismar Dickinson
and from Chicago, Illinois. But this was December's report. So I mean we get a little bit of Christmas into this report also. But we do get a lot of visitors into our area from out of the county and out of the state and and they do it for the statewide and for the county. So it
it we see where other counties are coming into our area and Renville County and Chipoa County are the two counties that come into Kenya County the most to do business. So um it's it's really kind of interesting. Um they have moved into a new building now. They are out um
straight that way. Well, straight that way from us. um just getting kind of into their new building. There'll be signage out there right now. There's just a big W that's on the outside of the building where their office is at. And they have another big sign that they showed us was sitting in the in the
lobby that they're going to be putting out there so people know where the where they're at. Um but a great improvement. There's a big boardroom in there for people to have meetings. Um a lot of information. They have a little store if you want to buy anything from Kenui County. There's a store in there now
with all kinds of different bling that you can buy that says Kui County on it. Um, so I think it's a great improvement and a and a great way for us to promote our county and and a lot of brochures and a lot of things that people want to pick up and and bring to different events. That's all available through
them also. So, um, it's a great opportunity. Um, nobody else has touched on it, but I'm going to a little bit. Um, I I really appreciate all the emails and the texts and the phone calls that I've gotten over the issues that are going on in our county and in our state
right now. Um, people need to know they're being heard. I think that's what I've been told and been asked and and I hear what people are saying. But I do appreciate people calling me and I do appreciate emails. Your response to my emails though is to
call me because I like to talk to people. I don't like to email back. So, um I appreciate anybody that's wants to talk about issues. Um I'm always available and if I don't answer, I'll for sure get back to you. So, appreciate all that. Um I think the biggest thing
that I'm a little disappointed with is social media is just social media and and that's been very uh very tough to deal with, I think, is the social media part of it. people just need to be informed and understand the the whole
story. And I think that's what I think our job is as commissioners is to be able to answer that phone and try to get some answers for people when they're have concerns. So, just wanted to touch on that a little bit, but thanks. >> Thank you. And going back to the
previous item with the uh tourism office being moved, uh the Wilmer area Chamber of Commerce is in that same uh building as well. And this is towards the back end of the uh administration main administration building. Uh and uh uh
it's it's it's a great space. So uh if you're if you're looking for either one of those uh two offices, uh don't go to the Best Western anymore. >> No. Uh they're uh they're both out there now. So >> is out there. Are you talking about the >> here at the Midwest campus? Yes. Sorry,
I should have been more specific when I when I said the administration building. So um just uh several uh several items that I wanted toh cover. I have spent a lot of time uh recently uh as a member
of the personnel committee over at uh uh Central Community Transit uh helping to uh move things along uh in regards to a couple of items. Uh one specifically is a uh uh climate assessment that is uh
currently being performed uh throughout the organization and they're uh getting the input of uh uh everybody involved with that uh organization and uh uh think that's going to uh uh have some
strong impacts uh uh and giving the boards uh a strong sense of what direction we need to be taking that agency in uh as well as uh we selected a
uh uh uh someone to do the executive director search. Uh it is uh uh South Central Service Cooperative uh is handling that uh search uh at about uh 50% of what you would normally pay for u
for executive searches. and they do much of the uh much of the same types of uh search as uh as the private firms do. So uh I believe they're out of Mano uh and uh uh looking forward to seeing what
they uh what they may be able to uh uncover for us uh as we look for a new executive director there. Uh, as I'd mentioned earlier, I've been in a number of meetings with uh, uh, other community leaders, uh, legislators, so
on and so forth, uh, all relating to the, uh, ICE, uh, presence in, uh, in our community and in our state. Uh, and we had a robust discussion at the AMC board of directors, uh, in that regard.
and to uh uh to hear directly from uh someone uh such as uh Commissioner Garrison McMerry from Ramsey County. Um uh to hear just how real those impacts
are every day for uh his community and other communities uh has was was really instructive. And uh uh I want to thank Commissioner Mick Merry. He's not going to hear this, but I already told him uh
uh thank him for that uh for that perspective. It means it means a lot. Um we did uh have a little bit of fun. Uh on Friday, a number of us from the EDC uh as well as the u uh uh city of Wilmer
uh and some other uh community leaders uh were able to uh attend the 40th annual uh uh governor's international trade awards uh uh banquet. uh that uh
uh was in response to a uh uh the nomination by the uh EDC uh of one of our local businesses uh that engages in international trade and this year uh they were the winner of the uh uh
smaller business uh recognition and that was Novatech uh right again right out here on the uh on the tech campus. Uh and it was it was kind of interesting because of course the governor was there to uh present the
awards and uh uh had a lot of different folks from the administration uh there and uh uh from DED and other uh and the Minnesota trade offices uh and it was a good opportunity for us to even
have some conversations with folks about tell us a little more about Wilmer and Candy Ohio County. So, uh, so I had a couple of I think there were a couple of opportunities there that may, uh, uh, at least for conversation, uh, that we'll
have, but, uh, the folks at Novatech, I think one of them said it best, didn't realize this was as big a deal as it is. So, and it is a really big deal for uh, uh, for uh, an organization like uh, Novatech and uh, and for our state in
general. Um we have a highly diversified economy uh across the state and especially here in Candy County and so uh uh it was a great opportunity to uh to celebrate uh that uh with that. Yes,
>> I have a few more things. Sorry, just um if that's okay. >> Thank you. the next board meeting. Um, we did have a light agenda today >> regarding um, business items, which means we have quite a few on the 17th. I
did try to do some behind the scenes working around. I couldn't due to schedules. But as of right now, tenative agenda items for February 17th will be uh, my performance review. Um, I will be bringing back the Prairie Lakes youth program contract. I had asked the board
had approved an extension on that. I've met with Kristen Johnson. So, I'll be bringing back that contract for 26. Um Jennifer Swenson with Prairie Woods um Environmental Learning Center reached out to me and she is asking for the county board to approve a resolution for
the Greater Minnesota Trail. Um that the work that they're doing out at Prairie Woods. So, that needs county board approval. And then um our election coordinator will be bringing forth the tax forfeited properties. There's a lot why I'm saying this now, there's a lot of information
in that. The board chair and I actually met with her due to some of the legislative changes that have happened. Um, so we will get the board pack out right at we will looking at Leah. We're going to try to get that right out at uh th next Thursday at 2 o'clock. Um, I
will work on uh communication with Michelle if we'll send that out ahead of time to the board to give um more background information on that because it's it's pretty lengthy on all the properties and the processes and things like that. Um, but those are just tentative agenda items that I know of
right now for our upcoming meeting. And then if you haven't um read the internal newsletter yet, I'm doing this when Melissa is out. Um but the sheriff's app um is live and so if you want to download that you can look into that. Um
our IT department is really busy working on the migration over to um Office 365. Um we will be also looking at the phone systems and things like that moving over to Office 365. And so um I'll connect with Scott to see if we can have a board
update as well for a department. I'm not sure when his department update is >> and then the >> will we be getting 365 too on our iPads? >> I believe so. Yep. >> That be that'd be really nice to have that. >> Yep. So, everybody will have it >> scheduling and everything. >> Yep. And then I just want to remind the
board of our strategic plan. One of the the notes was for staff and professional development. And next Monday we are bringing uh someone in for supervisory training pretty in-depth um a little bit of technical. And so I just thank the board for allowing us to do that and to
allow our staff um to continue their leadership growth within Candy County. So um we're staying in line within the strategic plan and also um providing staff resources to like I said improve their skills within their county. So that's all I have. Sorry about that.
>> 365. Um >> could we get a little training on that? >> Yeah, I'll talk with Scott on that. >> Yeah. I I I don't know that we could get enough training. At least I I could u I
I think I expressed to all of you my uh difficulty in trying to get a word document off of here to all of you all. >> There's a way it does you can convert it but loses something sometimes too. And now they just did another update on that
>> pages and all a sudden this is totally different again. >> Yeah. And this is this is the problem I had with the last uh with the last update too. Um >> uh and uh Kelsey mentioned her uh performance review. Did everybody get
the u uh uh get it the second time I sent it out. >> Uh just turn those in uh to Katie. Uh, and then Dwayne, you and I need to uh find a a time before the next meeting to
just sit down and compile those. So, uh, anything else that anybody has for the good of the order? >> Who's buying today? >> It's me. >> Okay, good. >> So, all right. Um, uh, with that then we
are adjourned. Thank you everybody. Part: 2
Are you ready? >> Good morning everyone and welcome to the county Ohio County Board of Commissioners meeting for Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026. Uh please stand as you are able for the pledgece to the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. I want to thank everybody for joining us here in the boardroom today as well as those who are uh taking in this meeting
uh on our YouTube channel. Uh at this time, I would uh request approval of uh today's agenda as revised. >> Mr. Chair, I'll make the motion to approve uh the agenda as revised. >> I'll second that.
>> Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion hearing? None. All in favor say I. I. >> All opposed. That motion passes. Uh the consent agenda consists today of the
approval of the January 20th, 2026 County Board legal minutes as well as approval of the auditor's warrants and claims. Do any commissioners wish to pull either of those items from the consent agenda? >> Mr. Mr. Chair, I move to approve the
consent agenda. >> Thank you. Is there a second? I'll second that. Mr. Chair, we have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. All in favor say I. I. >> All opposed. >> Motion passes. I do before we uh before we begin our business today. I do want
to uh just uh uh set out a couple of things here uh for for everybody in the uh room. uh specifically when we get to uh the presentation by Sheriff Tollison. Uh today's discussion is narrow and
intentional. We're only going to be focusing on the 287G agreement and what it would mean operationally for Candyo High County. Uh the individuals involved in this discussion are county employees and partners who serve our community every day. We will hear directly from
the sheriff who is responsible for jail operations and we will do so in a respectful professional manner. This is an opportunity for facts factbased information sharing not speculation or assumptions. The ICE housing contract is
not the topic today. That contract is a separate agreement originally signed in 2001. questions or comments that move outside the scope of 287G will be directed so we can stay focused uh specifically on that topic. We recognize that this is a
complex and sensitive topic. The expectation is a respectful focus and professional conversation and staying within this scope allows the public and the board to leave with accurate information. So I want to set that table
uh at this time. And now we will move to uh our 9:00 item which is consideration of resolution 2026-10 2026 bridge replacement program. Mel Odin, our public works director will present. Mel, good morning.
Everyone's here to see you today. Mr. Chair, members of the board, thank you. Um yes, today is the uh presentation of the annual bridge replacement program resolution. And what I have before you is um in your packet is the resolution
that that shows the um I believe there's 30 bridges plus or minus on there. And then also maybe more importantly is in the back um I show you where they all are. Um because you can kind of see in the
southern um south of Highway 12 there's a bunch of them. >> Sure. Could you uh put that up so everybody can see it? Thank you. >> And Mel, when we're talking about bridges, we're talking about a specific
type of bridge here for the most part. Yes. Um this this resolution um encompasses all of our bridges in terms of not necessarily just timber bridges, but it encompasses ones that are a multiplate um coverts. It involves the timber
bridges and any bridges uh that are deficient. They do a local planning index. Anything that's below a 60 rating get is eligible. Anything above a 60 rating. 60 and greater is not eligible for funding. doesn't mean that you shouldn't watch them and and you could
replace them, but they're not eligible for the bridge bonding funding. So, I just want I just wanted for the sake of the public um the blue bridges are eligible for all the the resources that
we have available, federal, state, um town bridge, and then the the red ones are the ones that are posted but not eligible for funding. So, the unique part of that is is that we're a we're a
big egg economy here and we've got we've got these bridges that are posted, but they're not eligible for replacement and and so that is a unique situation that we have in the county because a posted bridge doesn't allow
in some cases all legal loads. So, you got large large egg anymore. The farm to market isn't, you know, 200 bushel wagon. It's usually a semi, you know, a grain cart. Those those posted bridges
do not allow the passage of those legally over them. Just so um the other thing and so this is where they all are. You can see there's a there's a there's a bunch of them down here. Those they're both
township and um county bridges. These are only the bridges on the local system. If you if I refer back to the resolution, you can see the ones that are we've only
got two that are township bridges in this case. The rest are are uh county bridges. There's only two that are that are eligible for replacement right now. and the one we're going to be doing this summer. And then Paul and Township has another one that's that's going to be
eligible. Um well that is eligible we were going to try and do next year. The the problem that we these bridges are are a million dollars. >> So yesterday Yeah. Which one is going to be replaced? Is that the million-dollar
one or is it They're both in Fallen Township, right? That >> right. the the one is the one that's we have one bridge that's closed in we have one bridge that's closed in the county and that's the bridge we're going to replace this year >> that's that million dollar one
>> yep and that's one on the judicial ditch >> uh JD1 >> okay >> then the other one is just north there >> so the problem that we have is there's a million dollars the town bridge account
dollars we only get about 180,000 a year. So that's that's where the inequity starts to come in because we we they have the money. We physically don't have the money. >> Okay. >> The Tombridgeidge account doesn't have the money >> and that's the township will be paying for it.
>> They they pay for the first 20,000. >> Yeah. And then the rest is hopefully get the money. So >> Tomidge. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yep. So there's a couple things I'd like to point out on this. I did I I did something on this resolution. Um, this resolution is a little bit there's a few
more bridges because we did the advanced timber inspection >> the last few years. It's a it's a really good thing because it's exposing some of the the the X-ray of the if you will of the of the piling that you wouldn't normally see if you just do your normal
physical um hammer pounding, whatever. But um but there's a there's a little footnote at the bottom right here that I did I do want to point out that if if because we've had a few bridges that we've had to close this year but if
you take this list and when that bridge gets closed we have 93 detour miles that this impacts. So the reason that I point that out and the reason that I wanted that calculated is because we're making economy and so if you start
bridg bridges need to remain a priority otherwise we're going to add cost other cost. So, with that being said, um it's my recommendation to um consider this resolution of the bridges that need replaced and um authorize the chair. I
believe the chair and the administrator to sign on behalf of the county. And then what I do with this resolution is I send it to the state and then we use this in the bridge bonding. And so this is where you can use as a speaking point for money needs on the bridge bonding.
>> Thank you. Are there uh any questions or is there a motion? >> I would move on uh resolution 2026-10. >> Thank you. I'll second that motion. All right. Have a motion and a second discussion. Commissioner Beck.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, M. Jones, if I can, if I'm understanding this correctly, um I'm going to go down to the first line where you have some numbers that are in bold print. So about twothirds of the way down the page uh and go to the
second column from the right there's a number there 5,246,000 those dollars are coming from the county state aid highway fund or local funds correct >> right correct >> so how much when you say local funds that would be levy dollars
>> it so the the local dollars would be sales tax dollars or levy dollars that's correct >> and how much of that 5 million if you tell me is uh county state aid dollars or or sales tax levy dollars. >> I don't have that split up on on a
county state a bridge. It's 50/50 funding bridge 50% bridge bonding 50% county state aid. Um so if you look any road that's in the single or double digit would be county state aid. Um the
other ones would be dollars full. So if I may go on, Mr. Chair. >> Yes. So over just six short years, we need to come up with between state aid dollars and levy dollars, $5 and a4 million to to cover this construction,
>> right? And then yeah, there's there's yeah, 40,000 is township dollars, but yes, that that would be and so yeah, and but the one thing that I do want to point out, if you go over a few counts, there's 5.886 886 in bonding. If we don't get the bridge bonding, we don't
need to worry unless we want to fund it higher. We don't This is This is where this gets a little more critical. >> Yeah, I understand. I'm kind of looking at minimums here. >> Yep. >> Thank you.
>> Anyone else? Commissioner B. Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. I just really want to commend you on this. I know at public health uh or not public health public works department uh uh admin administrator Odin I think you do an excellent job over these years and how
uh we've planned five years ahead on on a lot of the roads and uh this has even taken it a step further and I commend you that we put this out there and plan ahead until 2035 and that's a good plan and I think these are important I'm not a bricks and
mortar person to uh uh when it comes to needs of the community, but these are safety needs and really important and uh we need safe bridges and good roads for our public. It's very important. So, thank you for laying that out for us. You know, each year budgets vary as
well, but I think we have to have a plan like this and I really commend the county moving forward. Uh Mr. Torres is here. I see. and he's laid out some plans for maintenance uh kind of similar to that, not quite that far out, but uh it's nice for the board to see how we're
planning ahead and makes our budgeting that much easier. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> All right. Thank you. We have a motion and a second to move the approval of resolution 2026-10.
All in favor say I. I. >> All opposed. That motion passes. Mel, thank you so much. And I get to tease him a little bit uh once in a while because we've known each other since he was a city ad engineer. So,
all right. Next item. Uh we're going to have Valor, our assessor, come up and Val has a fire abatement uh uh item for us. Val, good morning. >> Good morning, Mr. Chair, commissioners. My name is Val Sabor, the county assessor. I am bringing before you today
I have a fire abatement for Louise Zymer and the home was at 1,240th Avenue Northeast in Kfax Township. Parcel number was 12 0260010. There was a house fire on January 30th
of 2025. So we don't bring them to the board until the whole year has passed. So, we know what was there on January 2nd as to whether the house was eliminated or if there was a new replacement. They did bring in a new home. Um, but it was not
habitable on January 2nd. So, what we're looking at is the full months that the people were out of the home during 2025 is what my request is for abatement for the tax dollars on the part of the property where the home was a loss. So,
it's just on the house and so the land and all the other all buildings are still being taxed. The reduction in taxes would be $869. And so, this is where I would need a motion from you to for approval for uh
reimbursement to them for the $869 while they were out of their home. >> Thank you very much. Uh, Commissioner Bale Anderson. >> Mr. Chair, I would move to approve the abatement. >> Thank you. And uh I'll second that. Mr.
>> Commissioner Dwayne Anderson seconds. Any discussion? >> Pretty straightforward. So all right. Uh hearing no discussion. All in favor of the uh recommendation of staff say I. I. >> All opposed. That motion passes. Thank
you. Uh appreciate it. Uh Val, thank you so much. Uh at this time uh we will now hear from our facility man maintenance director Andrew Thorson and you've got a library roof contract for us.
>> Yeah. Good morning Mr. Chairman and members of the board. Andy Thorson facilities maintenance director for the county. Um I'm before you this morning seeking authorization to move forward in awarding a contract to the McDow Company from Wake Park for replacement of the
library roof. Um the roof is original to the construction of the library back in 1999. So it's uh well past its expected life of 20 to 25 years. Um the roof has been a topic discussion between the city and
county staff for some time now on how and when we can bring this project forward. We explored the feasibility and possibility of doing this project through state contract um with source well did our research and brought in Gorgian a national firm that provides
cooperative job order contracting which is a construction procurement solution delivered through cooperative purchasing networks. It allows eligible organizations like us to access pre-bid competitively awarded contracts to complete projects with verified preset
pricing. Also keeping in legal compliance with public procurement rules. Um I understand that the price tag is a little shocking. Um library is a beautiful building. Uh but the roof is very complicated. Um it has four main
roofs, four smaller roofs. Um, and that doesn't include the five little bumpouts on the east and the south side which are little tiny rust amongst themselves. Um, so yeah, it's very labor intensive project.
Um, it was also decided to spec modify builtup roofing system that carries a 30-year warranty and at the end of the 30-year mark, we can pull off the top layer, replace it. By doing this, we will add another 20-year warranty,
bringing it up to a 50-year roof. This is the same roof installed by the same contractor that we used for the law enforcement center 5 years ago. Um, I'm very pleased with that final product. Um, this project is anticipated to start
late summer. Um, the city did pass a resolution last night approving the county to enter into a contract with McDow to complete this work. And with that, I am open for questions. >> Thank you very much. Uh, any questions for Andrew? Uh, Commissioner Dwayne
Anderson. >> Thanks. Maybe you said this and I missed it. Uh, when was the last time that roof was repaired or replaced? >> Never. >> It's never original to the building in 1999. >> Okay. >> Anyone else? Commissioner.
>> Yeah, Andy, this is a pretty large bid. Um, I'm wondering why I and I know that going through the co-op purchase agreement uh makes it uh so that we don't have to go out for bid, but one this big, wouldn't wouldn't you we want
to see what what options we have? We could have still gone to the purchase agreement, co-op purchase agreement if the bids didn't come back the way we >> I I got some unofficial, you know, quotes or estimates from some
engineering firms and we're we're not far off. Um going this way, we don't have to hire an engineer to do this. That's going to save us between 50 and $70,000. Um, so for the ease of it, that's why
the city staff and county staff opted to go this direction. Anyone else? Yeah, I'd uh uh back in my work life, I I'd had occasion to use uh uh state uh state contracts as well for my clients
and uh uh pretty relatively speaking pretty advantageous uh and especially like you indicate when we're not having to worry about engineering costs and that sort of thing. um you've had good experience
with this uh vendor in the past so seems seems reasonable to me. Anyone else? >> All right. M. >> Yes. Um and this is not new to us. We knew this coming up and we had to discuss this for the audience and
information as well. We just don't see this today and and make a vote on something like this. Been in getting in involved in the details as well. At this point, Mr. Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion that we approve this going forward. >> Thank you. And we have a motion. Is there a second?
>> I'll second that, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you very much. Uh discussion, >> Mr. Chairman, what's uh Go ahead. I I just I'm disappointed that we haven't seen a bid because I think we could we could get a bid and still go to the
co-op purchase agreement if it's if it's low. I mean, this is a big project. I remember a few years ago we had one roof. I don't remember which roof it was. Local contractor West Central uh roofing came in far below what the other estimates were. And I'm not saying that
that would happen in this case, but how do we know if we don't put it out for bids? >> Cuz we would have to do the engineering. So to get a bid, it's going to cost us between 50 and $70,000. >> So we'd have to have a bid of less less than a million to break even.
>> Yep. And more than likely they would be specking a different type of roof also. >> And uh Andrew, what's the uh uh breakout across uh city county? Uh >> uh it is 6040.
Um the city is 60%, we are 40%. So, our share is already in the capital improvement plan and in the budget for this year. >> Okay. All right. Anyone else?
All right. We have a motion, a second to uh uh reprove uh uh to approve the library roof project contract. All in favor say I. I. All opposed. >> That motion passes. Thank you very much, Andy.
>> This time we'll have Caroline Khan. uh approach her. She is our health and human services director. And Caroline, you have a health and human services uh contract. Uh you and Scott talked about this last we did. So good morning
Caroline Con, Health and Human Services Director for Kai County. Uh last meeting we had the opportunity to walk through a proposed partnership with Tipco uh to explore the possibility of bringing in an AI um automated phone system to our health and human services department to
help streamline our work um and create efficiencies in the ways that we serve our community and and our staff at the same time. So today I wanted to bring forward the contract and how that could look um for uh our our department and
and moving forward in that work. Uh before you are two options. one would be moving forward with a one-year agreement um which is laid out um at that 855 and then the opportunity to pre- purchase for two years which is where
the exhibit C would come in um which would allow for that fluctuation of um if our calls exceeded 25% then we would see an in an increase in cost and if they decreased if they were lower than
expected then we would see a savings um and applied to a future contract. So, exhibit C, I wanted to be transparent. It was only apply if we chose to take advantage of doing a pre- purchase for two years for the possibility of maximizing federal reimbursement uh
during this time. So, um the agreement really walks through the e, um the e expectations on both parties, how we agree to use their software, how they agree to support us in the use of their software moving forward and the uh work
through the deployment and creation of our system for our department. So today, uh, the staff recommendation would be to move forward with the two-year option in the opportunity to maximize our federal reimbursement, um, with the uncertainties of how that might look
moving forward with the beginning of a new fiscal year, federal fiscal year in October. >> Thank you. Uh, any questions for Caroline? >> Commissioner MD, >> so is this a two-year contract then? I
see 2026 at 855 and 2027 at 74 uh 25. >> Correct. That would be So each year would we could lump sum and pre- purchase the two years um and that would be for a two-year contract or we could just go with the one-year um at the 855.
And that's the difference is that um one-year onetime setup fee of $15,000. Um, so again, we wanted to provide the opportunity to show what the two-year pre-purchase option would be. We could just go with one year if desired.
>> And >> so again, if I'm understanding, if if we go direct right right away to two years, it's $74,000 a year instead of $85,000 a year. >> The first year would remain the 855 and the next year would be 7425 for a total
of 159. It would just give us the opportunity to purchase that or pay for it all at one time to maximize that federal reimbursement of 50% right now when it could go to will go to 25% um in October. >> Okay. Thank you. So right now the the
federal reimbursement would cover half the total of 159. >> Correct. >> Anyone else? Mr. Commissioner B. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. Um maybe could you elaborate a little bit further on what EVA is? A lot of people we've been
some of us or most of us have been really involved in this and and I think it's an excellent idea. I do have my concerns though about the cost the ongoing cost and I do agree that as well that we should maybe be looking at a two-year contract to to get into this.
But um so I got several questions if you can tell us a little bit more but then after that to to address some of the financial impact of that and liability and I just wanted to be sure Ken do county attorney Mr. Baker if you had a
chance to take a look at the 50page contract. >> Yes. Good. >> Yep. Yep. All of our contracts do go through process in the review before they come to you. Um and so we have gone through a work session and then previously we went through so um I if I
go too far into the reexlanation you'll have to let me know but I'll just kind of recap what we've discussed. >> Uh so EVA or TIPCO provides an automated phone system that sits at the beginning of our phone line. So currently when you call into our Candyohigh County Health and Human Services line, you're greeted
with an automated dialer that asks you to press one, press two for your next option, and it goes through a a an automated uh number pressing system to help you reach your uh intended destination. With this new platform, you
will be greeted by um a warm voice that says, "Hello, my name is Eva. Thank you for calling Candy Ohio County. I'm an AI generated system here to help or how may I help? You can say, I'm looking for food assistance. And then she can help walk through um some questions and help
get you to the right uh destination. Or she can help you complete applications. One of the the great advantages of a platform such as this is she can serve our community outside of the normal business hours that we employ staff. So, if a time for an individual to ask
questions or seek information or fill out an application or have assistance filling out an application is convenient for them at 9:00 p.m., they can have the support and assistance that they need or require at that time where currently we don't have that availability due to our
staffing time frames. Um, another benefit of this type of a system is the opportunity to automatically roll into preferred language. If you begin speaking to Eva in Spanish, she will begin communicating to you in Spanish right away. Um, Eva is a closed system.
She doesn't generate information. So, she's not similar to what you're experiencing with chat GPT where she will create answers for you. She will only source things that we provide to her. So we are very intentional as to how we're looking at building that and working with our partners and inviting
them to the table to say what would you like her to point to on your behalf so we can pro use her as a community asset and resource um to help build that benefit for our community as well. So Scott and I have worked really intentional on these forefront
conversations and starting to introduce this to our our team here at Health and Human Services and our county department heads um as to how this could evolve over time to be not only a resource for our department but a resource for the county in general.
>> Mr. Chair, >> very good. Thank you. and going over this so well. Um, it it takes our level of service in that area to a whole different level and I think it we're going to provide so much better services for the people in our community after
hours or and the language interpretation instantly. Uh, it's a great service to look at and I think it's important and I believe Sterns County is already implemented this. >> Yep. Sterns County and Olmstead County are already um farther ahead in their
crawl walk stage. I do want to be transparent. Nothing is perfect, right? And but the the benefit also of EVA is that we will have a dashboard that we can monitor the calls and see what worked well, what didn't, did she send them in the right direction? If not, what needs to change next time? Um and
we'll see what people are calling for. So we'll have a better pulse as to what the needs of the community are or in the needs of yesterday when we started the day in a partial government shutdown. All of our calls were related to concerns of you know is my snap turning off because that's what happened in the
last shutdown. There's a lot of heightened concerns within the community. Um we would be able to answer up to a thousand calls at one time to ease the concerns of the community in a consistent empathetic way with a service like that. May I just follow up? >> Yeah,
>> just one more follow-up comment that this really looks to be a win-win situation because on the other flip side of that too, it is going to save some time of some of our staff so they can get some other jobs done as well and save some money, but important we're providing better service to the people.
Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner. >> Thank you. So I grew up in Sterns County and I've been visiting with my colleagues in Stern Sterns County and I asked them I said well does Eva understand Sterns County Pluto and they assured me that they could speak Sterns.
>> I don't know if I do but I'm glad she's figured it out. >> But uh one of the things that I uh I think I heard you say it uh just in the last minute or so you could sir you you gave the example of um someone calling
in on a snap question. uh if at the same time someone in another language called in on a Medicaid question or eligibility question uh they don't have to wait till this till EVA is done with the SNAP question. That one can be done concurrently
>> as long as they weren't the thousand and one caller. >> Okay. And so that leads me to believe that this will uh should be able to create an efficiency not only for the clients that are calling in who might want to do it at 9:00 at night because they went to work early in the morning
and that's when they have time, but also um should free up our staff and uh potentially reduce some FTEEs for us down in that department. I mean that's what a lot of the concern is actually for AI is that it's going to eliminate
some jobs and in some cases uh that's a good thing you know when we don't have enough staff to uh to cover an area. >> Yeah. uh to to speak to that. Right now, the goal of EVA is to create space within the staff that we already have and not have to come asking for
additional staff in the future as um our uh requirements are continuing to shift uh with federal and state um mandates continuing to evolve. We see the need for increased staffing on the horizon. So, this will hopefully be a way in which we'll offset that need in the
future. Um, so we w we do see the potential of of great efficiencies um within the staff that we already have to free up time um within their work so that they can start meeting those new mandates without having to add
additional FTEEs. And I would uh I would dare say that uh uh certainly we're going to see some of that uh time savings. Uh but given and and and I just want to point out the cover of the Minnesota county's uh
magazine this month uh talking about a system on the edge which is all of the different antiquated uh programs that our eligibility workers and others have to use uh to uh work with the state of
Minnesota. These are state systems that are literally old DOSS based green screens. So for us to be adopting something like this is certainly a step in the right direction. But we need uh uh we will probably not need to uh uh
reduce uh FTEEs in the near future even with AI because once they fix this our folks will have will will be much more efficient in the work that they do. But that's something that we have to be uh working on with our partners at the
legislature too. Commissioner Dale Anderson, >> I just want to thank you very much for presenting this. I mean, I think the biggest thing that I look at it is is that if we can answer a thousand calls at one time. I mean, there's a lot of people that that call and they get a
busy signal or get put down the chain and it doesn't eventually get to somebody. So, the fact that we can actually answer all them calls at the same time to me is the biggest thing. And the night calling is especially important. I don't know how many times that I've sitting there doing work and and all of a sudden it's five o'clock
and I I oh I missed the chance to call somebody and I should have done that. So I think it gives them a great opportunity for the people that are working to have that chance to um to make that call and get that question answered. So with that, I'd like to make
a motion to approve the the Typco EVA contract for two years with the Health and Human Services. >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> I'll second that. >> Thank you very much. There's a motion and a second to approve the recommendation of staff and approve the contract.
>> And all all in favor say I. >> I. All opposed. That motion passes. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Uh I do have a request to take a short break at this time and then we'll reconvene in 10 minutes. it. Are you ready?
>> Thank you everyone. And the Candyo High County Board of Commissioners uh is back in session. And uh at this time um again this is uh this is a discussion that will be limited
solely to the 287g agreement. Um and uh uh at this time we'll request uh uh uh Sheriff Toliffson to uh come up and uh present before the board uh provide an overview of that program. And uh,
Sheriff Tolson, thank you so much for being here today. Really appreciate it. And uh, you bet. >> Please begin. >> Yeah. Good morning, uh, Mr. Chair and board. Kelsey Shane, Eric Toliffson, Canary County Sheriff. So, um, as you stated,
Mr. Gardner, I've uh, going to be up here talking a little bit about what's been what's called the 287g program. Um I think for the interest of the more of a productive discussion I think I should give probably a background you know historical I shouldn't say historical
probably over the last 18 months of kind of our thought process and how we arrived here. Um I promise not to get too deep into my brain cuz that might be a scary thing. Um but uh anyway um so
probably about 18 months ago uh I had a correctional officer approach me and uh was uh had just released an individual who had been on um some severe charges severe charges like criminal sexual conduct or something. I can't exactly
remember what and the the individual had a civil detainer in their file. So this was a request and I had never heard of these things before. Not only was I relatively new to running a jail, which has been a huge learning curve for me, but uh you know, I I wasn't familiar
with this type of thing. Uh so the correctional officer went on to state that yeah, there's a a request from immigration that this person be detained until they were able to uh come to our facility and take him into federal custody. However, the person had been, you know, I think sentenced to time
served or whatever the case was. And whenever someone gets released from jail, we technically have, I think, until 11:59 p.m. that day for them to walk out the door. So, uh, generally speaking, when you're released, whether
someone bails you out or you're RPR or you you plead guilty and you get sentenced to time already served or whatever, um, there's a process. I mean, you got to be processed out of jail. You got to get your old clothes back. You got to get your meds right. I mean there's a it's a booking out process so
it's not it's not rapid and jails are busy so sometimes things happen you know all of a sudden there's a multitude of arrests that come in so anyway that being the case um ICE wasn't able to get there in time to take the person in
custody they w they left the facility because they were released and uh the uh uh agents ultimately then did uh go out into the community and find this person ultimately I don't know if it was a day or two later, but anyway, this correctional officer brought this to my attention. I thought, well, that's
interesting. And uh so I started doing a little little looking into that. And uh of course, the first thing that when you start looking into this, you see the Noble Nobles County decision 2019 where their jail held someone on a civil detainer and then they were ultimately sued for civil rights violation, I think
a fourth amendment violation. So it wasn't a they didn't commit a crime. Uh however, there lacked uh statuto statutorial authority in Minnesota in order to hold someone on these detainers. I thought that was an
interesting concept because we routinely arrest people um at the request of probation officers who are out in the community who may have a dirty uh UA um may have violated their probation in some way, shape, or form. And a probation officer will sign an
apprehension and detention. Um, it's not a judicial warrant, but it's something that we routinely go and find somebody out in the community, take them into custody, bring them to jail, and hold them up to 72 hours, not including holidays and weekends. So, as you can see, I'm kind of looking at these things
and I'm like, well, this is interesting. I have a another law enforcement agency is requesting that I hold somebody past, you know, um, their scheduled release from local charges. And uh because the the detainers
um ask that we it's it's a request. It's not a demand. It's they ask that we hold the person up to 48 hours until they can arrive and take him into custody. Anyway, so the noble Nobles County decision was like, "Okay, that's interesting. It's uh obviously we can't
do that, so that's why they leave." I talked with my jail administrator. Uh he says the same thing. Um I said, 'Well, how often are we, you know, releasing people that are on these detainers? And it's pretty sporadic. I mean, maybe two times a year, maybe four, something like
that. I mean, it's not real common. Um often times, uh the federal agents are able to get to our facility in time um for for them to be taken into custody. Unfortunately, after the Nobles County decision, there's a bit of anxiety with
staff um when they know someone has a detainer and they make the phone call and say, "Hey, so and so is getting released here. They just got bailed out. Yeah, we're not able to make it." So, or you know, they know that if they intentionally delay the release of that
person, they're subject to civil litigation. So, that's a a level of anxiety that staff is, you know, experiencing as a result. So unfortunately, you know, they're pushing through this release. You don't want to do that because mistakes can get made
and you know what. So jails are a very complex place. I mean, there's a lot of things that can go wrong if you don't do your job well. Anyway, so we just sort of sat on that and then uh about February 2025,
uh the jail administrator came to me and said, "Hey, this 287G program is back in back in available again." I'm like, "Well, what's that?" Um so we of course started doing a little bit more research and realized that you know this is a a
program uh that allows cooperation between or the delegation I should say of certain uh federal authority to local law enforcement. Um upon looking into this realized that it was originally implemented in 1996 under Bill Clinton
as part of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 96. Initially, it was in place to allow task force type agreements between local law enforcement and federal agents on the immigration side. We've been doing task
force agreements with federal authorities for years. Normally with sex trafficking and drug trafficking cases, lots of times what happens is local law enforcement gets deputized federally in order for them to nar or narrowly enforce federal law while they're
working on this task force. All right. the 287g program brought that that system into the realm of immigration. So while looking into this realized that upwards of 40 states have agencies that
have agreements under 287g um nine states actually have laws in place that allow for um the the enforcement of civil detainers by local law enforcement. Uh one of them being Iowa. So there's there's a very broad
variety of different models out there. Hopefully I'm not boring you here, but I I think it's important that I get all of this out there. So anyway, um Oh, and back to uh the reason I don't think I mentioned that the reason that we're able to take folks into custody on
probation violations is because there's Minnesota statute in place that allows for that arrest to take place. So, we don't have a statute in place in Minnesota to allow us to enforce immigration, civil immigration detainers. So, um anyway, under the 287G, there's
four or three models available. There's a task force model which um allows for that's probably the most robust that allows for actual personnel to be trained to go out into the field and work alongside federal law enforcement. All right, that's hence the task force.
Uh there's a jail enforcement model which allows for jails to actively do investigations into the sta or into the inmate population within the jail. Um book people in under federal charges and that kind of thing. And then there's a warrant service officer model which is
what I signed and that oftentimes has been referred to as 287g light. I don't know because it's a pretty low-level involvement and what that so we looked into that we contacted our my jail administrator at the time
he's since retired but uh contacted uh homeland security talked to some people got some background we said hey we don't want deputies doing this you know in our in our since we already house for immigration it just it makes sense to participate in this program where we can
allow for a controlled smooth transition from local custody into federal custody Um, and so we asked, "Can we have unlicensed correctional officers do this?" And they're like, "Yeah, absolutely." So, what it what it involved was 8 hours of online training
at their own pace for each officer. Uh, they have to complete a background investigation, a federal one, which they do, and then um and then take a written test and then pass that, of course. And then they essenti, for lack of a better word, become deputized to serve these
detainers under federal law. So, uh, this was in about February 25 as we're having this discussion. I said, "Hey, no money really." I mean, involved in this, uh, it's a very low-level type of a thing. It's basically, uh, sending,
uh, correctional officers to training to do another job task. Um, this would, in our mind, would uh, allow again for the controlled smooth transition, um, with, uh, folks that are already in on significant criminal backgrounds. uh to
be transferred from local custody into federal custody once they're released. And that could take place within the jail. And that was another these agreements have a very very narrow scope of operation. Uh this uh particular one
only allows for the enforcement or the serving of these detainers. There's two specific detainers within the four walls of the secure facility. So, in a jail setting, that is only in the area that the that generally the public isn't allowed to be in. It's it's the jail. Uh
not in the lobby, not in the parking lot, not down the street. We have no authority to do that. Plus, the people that are being trained are not cops. So, we're like, hey, this is kind of makes sense, right? And at the end of the day, it's only going to happen, you know, two
to four times a year anyway. So, I mean, if any, but at least we have that. So reasoning there, lessen anxiety on staff. Correctional officers firmly believe if another law enforcement a agency wants somebody, it's their duty to hold them for them. We hold people
for other agencies all the time. Um and uh and for other states and and whatnot. So um we thought that was a good thing. It also would lessen uh the instances of of immigration uh officers coming into our community and finding these people
because to our knowledge, everyone that we had released before they got here, they went and found them. So, I mean, there's that. So, I mean, that's always a potential for uh you know, it's always safer to take someone into custody in a controlled environment versus out on the
street or somewhere, right? So, um I can touch a little bit more. Currently, So yeah, so I talked about you know the the the certification process. Um so during the course of this of course and this is another reason I think a lot of
people are probably here is our attorney general started issuing opinions on this particular matter and uh his first opinion came out in February February 6th of 2025 and that one was simply local law enforcement Minnesota has no authority to detain somebody in a civil
immigration detainer. Yep. I already knew that. Did the did the research you know I mean but that's all it was. So it's like hence why we decided to go with the warrant service officer program to then in our mind like okay this is
you know I mean makes sense and okay anyway um so everything's fine and uh so to speak in in my world I guess and then uh in September September 19th of 25 the attorney general issues another opinion
now in this one uh well that's that's when he sent the letter saying that he's going to issue a formal opinion October 15th And the letter was real brief. It just said, "Hey, you know, your agreement is null and void because you didn't go before the county board um because it falls under the joint powers
agreement and all this and that." And I'm like, "Okay, well, perfectly aware that whenever I enter into a contract that's going to be a significant drain on taxpayer dollars or an allocation of resources that I bring before the board. have brought several contracts before the board. Uh whether it be for food
service at the jail or medical at the jail or or the contracts we have with the towns for police protection and that kind of thing. Those all involve the allocation of time, money, uh and and resources. I was like, I'm sending people to eight hours of training, you
know, and they're going to serve a paper. I mean, instead of handling an inmate handing an inmate a roll of toilet paper, they're going to hand hand them a detainer, you know. So anyway, so that that was interesting. So of course I I brush up on the uh joint powers agreement statute which I had never read
before. And uh so anyway, I read that and I like, okay, I can see how it kind of fits um to a certain degree. So I guess I can agree with that opinion to a certain degree. Um but I can also see the other side of it. But anyway, at the end of the day, you know, and this is
also important, aside from filling out the paperwork in this process and and and looking for volunteers, and we had 14 correctional officers that volunteered to do this, uh it it sort of just fell by the wayside. Um I think the uh it it became a pretty low priority
for the federal government because no training was offered. Um when we would reach out to our contacts, they're like, "Yeah, we're working on it. there's a lot of things going, you know, we're just so it was like obviously it's been so as of right now as I stand here, we're not even doing it. So I mean it's
just nobody's gone to the training but anyway so we're just kind of sitting there. Um but in December uh 12th the AG issued his third or second opinion actually and he went into detail basically saying these are the re or you know um obviously the Nobles County case
and a Carver County case indicated that we can't enforce the detainers. um this agreement, this contract um falls under the joint powers law in his opinion. Uh so you need board approval. However, even if you get board approval, you still can't enforce them. So I was like, well, what's the point of this fivepage
letter? You know, I mean, honestly, you just got done telling us like, hey, we got to do this step and this step to make it valid, but even if it is valid, you still can't do it. And I'm like, okay, well, this has got to be decided by a higher court, obviously. Uh, in the meantime, um, you know, recently now,
uh, Freeborn County is, uh, is the subject of a of a civil litigation by the ACLU and and four members of the community down there, uh, because Freeborn had actually signed the same agreement, was in the same boat as us. And, um, so that currently just got removed from the local court to the
federal court. So, we're kind of just sitting there waiting to see what happens because until I think a higher court rules on this, you know, and then we can take another look at it. But, um, and just just for reference, uh,
currently, um, we have six people in our jail on local charges that have a, uh, deta they either have detainers in place or their detainer status is pending. That means that they're in the process of issuing it. Uh, one is in on four, excuse me, one is in on four counts of
first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Another one is in on threats of violence, a felony, domestic assault, misdemeanor, and a fraudulent identification. Uh, third one is in on first-degree DWI, which is a felony, driving for cancellation, inical to public safety. I think they've had uh
three DUIs in less than 24 months. Um, another one is in on DUI, theft, domestic assault, and fifth degree assault. Uh, the fifth one is in on motor vehicle theft, first-degree criminal damage to property, and a hit and run. And the sixth one is in on two
counts of secondderee criminal sexual conduct, which is also a felony. So, we had seven, but one got had a warrant from another county, so they were moved to another county, but So, questions, anyone clarification?
>> How long did that take? >> Commissioner Ind. >> Okay. Thank you. Well, first of all, uh, Sheriff Toliffson, uh, I want to thank you, uh, for, uh, the explanation. You and I visited for half an hour yesterday, and so I'm hearing most of
this a second time, and I know for the public, it's a little bit hard to digest because I've yesterday wasn't the first time you and I visited about this and it takes a little while to understand it all. Uh, these are really interesting times for
you and us. uh um I don't think we've ever seen these kind of things before and and uh so I applaud you for being here and and giving us this explanation. But I do have a couple of questions. Well, more than a couple, but um to start with, do I understand that right
now nothing is being done. So these seven six individuals that you just referenced because you do I understand that you haven't been trained yet because the federal government has not made the resource available. >> Correct. Yeah. The training hasn't been offered that that's the next step.
Actually uh the 14 correctional officers that submitted their background information that got sent to Washington or somewhere and that's we haven't got any word back on that either. So I'm guessing it's sitting on someone's desk somewhere. So even if you wanted to and
the question of whose jurisdiction it is, the county boards or the sheriffs, um you couldn't do that work because you haven't been trained yet. >> Right. We're not no one has received certification. Correct. >> And so those folks that you just listed
who I think everybody in this room and probably everybody in this county would agree probably should not be turned loose, you'd be forced to turn them loose if somebody came in and paid their bail tomorrow. if if they're the reason they're not on the street is because they haven't made bail yet. Am I understanding that correctly?
>> Correct. They you know and there's been some things in the news. I know Paul Schnella, director of corrections, has made it clear and this is where it gets kind of you know people are it's they politicize this and I try not to I mean we our mission remains consistent
regardless of who's in office. So um but he made the statement that well the Department of Corrections complies with all of these detainers. We've never had a case where we've let somebody go and they weren't taken into federal custody. Well, that's really easy when you work in a system where you know exactly many months in advance the exact minute that
they're going to walk out the door. In a jail setting, one of these people could be bailed out in 10 minutes and we'll make a phone call to the number down at in St. Paul and say, "Hey, so and so they have a detainer on that just got bailed out. Yeah, we we're two hours away. We're not going to make it." So, I
mean, that's that's the difference. It's not that. And there's been a lot of rhetoric out there about, you know, counties not complying and, you know, then the the feds issued a naughty list of jails that didn't comply. I mean, it's all what it's just news, you know,
and uh and at the end of the day, it's like, no, we we have to let them go. I mean, that's they've been released. So, um, but yeah, and and so, but again, when I look back at the prior instances of us releasing them where, uh, where they didn't get here to pick them up in
time, they've gone around and found them. So, >> but but to be clear, because you haven't been trained, um, and you get this 10-minute notice, the only way, I mean, you can't hold them because you haven't been trained.
The only way that ICE could pick them up is if they're already sitting in the community and maybe they're over at, you know, some parking lot waiting, you know, doing some scouring. Um, and they could get there in the 10
minutes. Otherwise, you'd have to leave them. You'd have to release them anyway. Cor is that how I'm understanding it? >> Correct. Yep. And we have recently, I think it was October released one. So, all right. >> Um, yeah. Correct. and and even so like I mentioned um even
if they had been trained now of course the question has come to light from the attorney general as to whether or not we still can anyway so that's again it's the attorney general's opinion it's not it's not legally binding or anything like that um but uh it does
open the question then so then I mean ideally you know one of two things could happen there could be a court ruling that would remedy it or Minnesota would act legislation to allow it like Iowa or somewhere else. But anyway, it's where we're at. >> And if I may continue, thank you. And
you references the three different forums of 287G, the task force, the jail enforcement, the warrant service. And uh again, I've heard it three times now, so I think it's maybe worth some time to spend uh
talking about this a little bit. So the task force would say your deputies or whoever has been deputized could could go out and do the same work that ICE is currently doing in the community if that model was chosen. >> Correct. >> Okay. And if the training had been
available and uh uh you would have done the training you would have had been trained first I imagine. >> I didn't not the task force model. >> Not the task force. >> I had no interest in that. >> Thank you for that. Yeah. >> And in the jail enforcement one, if I understood that one, that is where you
possibly would go to through the jail records and scour those records to see if they had a uh a some sort of charge in another jurisdiction. Is that what that >> I think it I think it allows for local staff to do the interview and the intake
process, which we don't do like under our current housing agreement. um all of the intake and interviews are done by federal agents because it's a very very complex thing. Um and uh so I I think I I didn't really you know research model correct not at all.
>> Okay. >> Then the warrant service model is just that uh ability if it ever gets enacted if you ever get trained is that ability to say look this individual is getting released in two days. If you're not here to pick them up within two days, we
still would have to release them after 48 hours. Correct. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner B. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. I got several questions. Maybe I'll just start with some and then let some other people talk or ask questions too. But first off, I
really want to thank you for be uh being here today. I really appreciate this. I really appreciate this communication. uh had we had this communication earlier, I could have answered a lot of other questions that I didn't know how to answer them. And I'm also struggling even more so we get into this as a
county commissioner. What is our role and our authority in this whole thing as well and our responsibilities and do we have one and that's un undecided at this point way I understand. and have not been advised one way other than an opinion uh uh that we should be
concerned and and as a as a board our concern is always about the fiscal responsibility you know is this been vetted from that point of view the risk that we would have uh being a lawsuit and we know that are happening as you mentioned but also I want to just
comment that I I've been thinking about this a lot uh in the last few weeks and I tried to put myself in your shoes And it's pretty hard to do because I'm not in your shoes and I can't do that. But I do recognize that uh and I know you and
I've communicated with you many times over the years and the Candy County Board has had a good reputation of being very supportive of our our police forces that we have both on a sheriff level and and uh our collaboration with the local
uh city of Wilmer Police Department. I think we're moving forward really well as as a community and and I see that collaborate collaboration to continue, but I also we I know you're really busy, but I really appreciate you're being here and this more information we get I
think is we appreciate being informed of this as much until this gets all sorted out. Whose responsibilities is whose responsibility, let's put it that way, going forward. So, it's a tough struggle and I appreciate and you're taking your job very serious and you're trying doing the very best job. I know that and your
people that that work for you as well and we're lucky to have them. They do care about the policing. They do care about our community a lot and I know uh this is a tough time for you as well. Uh but it's also a tough time for everybody else as we're going forward. Uh going
back to the the agreement, uh it is almost like it's on pause. Well, maybe a couple of questions about the agreement, too. It sounds like, and just to be clear for the public's information, you have the authority, you do continue to
contact ICE of somebody here that's illegal, you can call them up and say you got so and so in jail, correct? And that takes place on a regular basis on and when that comes up, can you elaborate on that just a little bit? >> So,
just to probably hit off a few questions that may result here. So, um, the the question of immigration or or immigration status doesn't ever come into the equation when we have contact with people on the street or they're in reporting a crime or it's a traffic stop or anything like that.
>> Not even doesn't even come in >> that and and I meant just the people in the jail that >> but when if you do get arrested for a crime that would would be to the level that you get brought into jail and you know you don't get brought to jail for parking tickets, you don't get brought to jail for running a stop sign. you you
get brought to jail. Probably the lowest level offense you're going to get brought to jail for is a first-time DWI. And oftentimes you're a hotel sober and released or you're released that same evening um to a sober party. Uh if you're uh sometimes your release is delayed over the weekend. Uh but that
would probably be your lowest level, you know, like your misdemeanor level offense where you're actually being taken into custody. Um you're not taken into custody for driving after revocation. You're not taken into custody for driving after suspension. Um, so for you to be taken into custody, it's gotten to the point now where it's
got to be a relatively significant crime. Um, having said that, um, often times, um, it's part of the booking process, then the country of origin and your citizenship status is a question in the booking process. There's several reasons
behind that. Um, I'm aware there's there's international treaties in place that do require that question to be asked for certain countries. Uh there are certain countries that require that we notify their consulate if we have one of their citizens in custody. I'm not sure why, but that's just the way it is.
So there's c there's several reasons why that happens. Nothing get really gets done with that. Immigration authorities have access to our booking records, which everybody else does. Uh they continuously monitor this kind of stuff. Um, and oftentimes if it's somebody that they're interested
in that's in our custody, they will issue the detainer by email, sometimes as quickly as three days. Often times it's been months later. So I don't know their criteria exactly for issuing them, but I do know that they do come electronically. Um, so we do
receive them. They ask that we give the inmate a copy, which we do. And then they also ask, do you have any idea when they're going to get released? Often times we don't know. we we we say, "Well, they have a settlement conference for February 5th, but they're not sure what's going to happen there, you know,
plus you got the potential that they're going to get bailed out, so regardless." So, but that's that's I don't know if that helps answer your question, but that's >> Yes, I think it did. >> Okay, good. >> Yeah. Okay. Um as as a followup then at
this point uh you mentioned that some other states are are operating at this level that you're proposing or or that you contracted in with on the 287 uh G. Uh in in the state of Minnesota uh are there other counties that have been
trained or is anybody actually operating under the same contract that or similar contract that we have at this point in time? Any other counties? not the warrant service officer. Um, everybody's in the same boat that signed up. Uh, they haven't received the training. So, it's it's been consistent. I've been in
contact with the other sheriffs that have signed the same thing. And yeah, that's that's the case is they're it's just sort of nothing happening right now. >> And how many counties have signed? >> Um, the warrant service officer, I think there's
like four for sure, but then some other counties signed the task force model. Uh, and then one county is actually uh implemented the task force model and was actively doing it. So, but I and and again too like I said
earlier um the Freeborn County lawsuit I think is what we're paying attention to I'm paying attention to right now. I'm real interested in what happens there. So, >> and if I may, Mr. Sure. Yeah. And I'm very interested in that as well, too, because I want to know if it's in the
county commissioners or county board's wheel uh wheelhouse that that we should be weighing in on this or not even. And I want to know what our role is. But I am concerned about the financial impact of this, you know, in case any lawsuit that we're connected because if they sue the federal government or they're going
to sue us as well if something goes wrong with that. But it doesn't sound like the risk is very high. Am I correct? >> Well, I mean that's a in my line of work that's certainly an unknown. So I mean but if in my opinion and of course I
would have more in depth conversation with Shane and whatnot. But I think you know Yeah. I mean if if if a higher court does you know rule that this, you know, is okay, then yeah, probably. But you know, yeah, I it's kind of unknown
right now until we get a court decision on it, I think, or or something. But okay, it's certainly it's it's certainly brought to light. Let's just say since the inception of this concept, you know, as I explained earlier, um a lot has
come to light and a lot of uh you know, things additional information has popped up so that we need to consider. >> Okay, Mr. Chair, well, I think I'll get other people a chance to talk.
Thank you, uh, Commissioner Dale Anderson and then Commissioner Dwayne Anderson. >> Eric, thank you very much for coming in and and being put in the hot seat. That's what that's what I call that podium is the hot seat. So, >> I've been honored. So,
>> yeah. Um, but I think the one thing that you know I want to say is thanks for answering my phone call because I called you and asked you clarifications on questions that I'd been getting through emails and and phone calls. And I think the one thing that you haven't touched
on and I think is very important and and probably is the biggest thing of why all these people are in this room is is can you just touch on some of your community involvement in your engagement into into this issue as far as discussion things that you've had with groups or or
conversations that you've had just kind of what your what you've done or or what the sheriff's department has done as far as trying to help answer questions. >> Sure. Um we've so since I think within the last little over a year now or year
um you know we've met regularly the so the sheriff's association Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association along with our federal partners have had meetings you know almost weekly at times depending upon what's going on. Um any time I've been invited to speak at an
organization and touch on these topics. I have had multiple one-on-one conversations with folks. You guys have probably heard me say this before. You know, after going through a campaign, I firmly believe that one-on-one conversations with people is far more effective. I I still believe that. Um not that I'm opposed to doing what I'm
doing right now. You know, that's that's fine. Um but or you know, either community organizations and that kind of thing. Uh I didn't keep a specific list. I just know it's been a it's taken a lot of my time over the last several months. um particularly since probably
you know September when that final opinion came out from the attorney general I think that brought it into the light a little bit more or under people's scrutiny. Um so I have fielded uh a lot of questions um and you know a lot of lot of individual contacts and
that kind of thing. So yeah it I've never turned anybody down. Let's just say that. And um you know but again too I haven't um and I don't believe in doing this. I haven't um taken this issue and and made it a talking point on
social media or even to the regular media because I think it's and some people have I think criticized me and said, "Well, you're just keeping your head in the sand." Well, I'm I'm exact opposite. We're doing everything we can meeting with our federal partners and whatnot behind the scenes because if I
see issues with another agency or something like that, I don't post those concerns on social media. I contact their boss. And that's what we do. We go about it in a professional controlled manner and I find it far more effective. Unfortunately, there's some people I
think that want me to take a stance or something like that. I'm apolitical. I mean, I serve both sides of the aisle every day. We walk out the my folks walk out the door every morning. They leave their political affiliation, their religious affiliation, every other
ideology behind them and they go to work. And we have to do that to be fair and impartial. But sometimes we make mistakes and I'll be the first to admit that we are human. So, but yeah, >> I follow. Well, and that's what I was
hoping just to let people know that you are out in the community and out helping out. But I mean, I I think the big thing that I wanted to say to you is, you know, thanks for what you've been doing and thanks for all the sheriffs and all the people that are in corrections and everybody that's involved in this. I'm,
you know, a lot of stress. I I can't really imagine trying to go out and and do your job. You know, I think you as sheriff's department and and the city police have worked timelessly to try to get a good working relationship with people in our community and and I have a
real fear that maybe we've lost a lot of that right now. So, I know it's a lot of uh work to keep that relationship going and and thanks for for all you've done to do that. I think you guys have done a great job with that and and keep up the good work. >> Yeah. And we and just to appreciate
that, Dalan. Um, but you know, so you know, like the leaders in the Somali community, the the Latino community, they have my cell phone number and they have no problem calling me and they do. So, I mean, we have direct lines of communication and we're on a firstname basis and we talk through these things.
Um, and then they bring it back to their communities. Um, and I think that's that's also important to note. So, we we we have been doing that. And also, I I appreciate you noticing. I mean, you know, the the stress on my staff, but you know, this has been very stressful
for everybody. Okay. So, I mean, it's uh it's I'm just that's I just need to say that it's not just us. So, >> Commissioner Dwayne Anderson, >> um so you mentioned that the attorney general has issued an opinion. Does that mean it's in court then or is that just
his opinion and then >> Okay. >> takes into account case law and >> Okay. So unless that gets litigated or brought into court that it's going to just kind of stay in limbo then basically right >> I think that's all it and Shane can
chime in but I think that's all it is. It's just he does research and formulates an opinion but it's not legally binding and this is more Shane's uh arena than mine. >> Okay. All right. Well, I I just, you
know, I'm on that drug task force uh committee and I, you know, I'm one of the least informed there because I'm I don't have a gun with me. But anyway, uh I I just I hear what you guys deal with as far as that goes, you know, which is
a separate issue, but uh I I just appreciate what you guys do and and I feel like I I'm just there because I'm one of the people in the fan club, I guess. So So I thank you guys for what you do. So >> thank thanks. appreciate that, Commissioner Burke. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I just
want to go back to to the board's uh role and we're going with this, but also to address there is a uh lawsuit taking place and it is an active lawsuit that's going to court and that's we're waiting to hear uh that Freeborn County and that'll help define the role of the
county board as well as your role in these contracts. Am I correct? >> I hope so. Yeah. >> Hope so. And we can move forward. Okay. But the uh the good news is is to find out and I I I think talking individually is really nice. But also the way uh way
things work, the way government works is, you know, we have an open meeting law on a county level. And so I other than maybe one other person, I I do not have this discussion with the board. And so by you coming here on a regular basis and updating us, we can have these discussions so I can kind of understand
where uh other people have questions on the board that I probably haven't even thought of. And so there's really good value in us having these kind of discussions. Also, these are really even though the uh the community is not uh able to uh ask any questions or
comments, they they feel more informed too. And I think this this value that we're doing right now is good and I appreciate it very much. Uh but going forward it I'm kind of wondering too why uh uh uh they uh kind of paused this
almost themselves. It's been what almost nine months going on to since the contract was signed and it's not been implemented. And I'm I'm glad to hear that right now because I don't think timing is really good to implement it at this point. But uh I think we're waiting to see what you know what comes out of
this whole thing and it's not necessarily up to uh the board's decision if if we vote on that to implement it or not. I I kind of got have a gut feeling because of the financial impact that we should have an some say in this and for sure uh but
going forward now that we're waiting to hear and or if the implementation takes place uh I'd like to request that you come back to the board uh as soon as you can to give us an update if if you would uh let us know that yes they are moving
forward with this we are going to start implementing this now and or a court decision was made I We just really would appreciate that very much uh to keep that communication going. >> No, without a doubt. And I think like I said earlier that um a lot of additional
questions have been posed and additional information needs that we were completely unaware of um you know 8 months ago. So um and different ways of looking at things. So uh yeah absolutely we'll nothing will just get sprung on anybody.
So, and and that, you know, and like I said, that's why I gave the the in-depth lengthy background into what we were thinking here. I mean, this wasn't a knee-jerk reaction. This wasn't something like, "Yeah, rah rah, let's do this." It was it was a process of of >> Yeah, we didn't know that. Exactly.
>> Yeah. Thank you. >> Do a lot of that. So, >> commissioner and >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh just a couple of things and this is and really not questions or comments um for the sheriff necessarily but uh to those of us on the
deis here. Um as I read this contract and I read it two times. I'm not a a lawyer but it does appear that the federal government is shifting some liability onto the county. Um
I'm under the ICE supervision. It says uh no I'm in the wrong spot. Under letter H of the contract says liability and responsibility. It says LEA law enforcement personnel with regard to their property or personal expenses incurred by reason of death, injury or
incidents giving rise to liability is going to be the law enforcement local law enforcement's li or the county's liability. Um they're passing the buck on a couple of things. And if you get to the to the implementation of this um all the
costs involved or there is costs of transferring and uh training and and uniforms are going to be the responsibility of of local law enforcement. In my opinion, if if we're going to be facilitating this, the the
county should be reimbursed for those expenses and indemnified for the for the um liabilities. And again, I'm not a lawyer. You're not a lawyer. I don't expect to I assume uh County Attorney Baker has has reviewed
this fairly thoroughly. And um but I think there because we have the fiduciary responsibility for the county uh it is something that uh gives me a little bit of pause. >> Right. And so this text and this MOA is
identical for all three programs. So of course the task force model would a lot of these things would come into play. >> Yeah. This is there's no changing of uniforms. Uh there's no additional overtime. There's no uh there's enough staff that volunteered for it. So, if
this ever happens, and like I said, maybe two or four times a year that there's going to be someone on duty who can just legally serve them with the paperwork. Um through our housing agreement, we already get reimbured for any transportation through that. So, that's taken care of.
>> So, I I did look at all that. I mean, I I I I said, "What what does this involve?" I mean, is this huge? I mean, we don't send them anywhere for training. They can do it from a computer terminal while they're on regular duty, overnight shift when things are slow.
Um, the written test is done again at our office. There's nobody's got to travel anywhere, get a hotel room. I mean, so from a financial commitment, it's probably one of the lowest level things that I've ever signed. So, and when you talk about liability, I mean,
you know, Commissioner Berg mentioned getting sued and that kind of thing. Pretty much every decision I make or my staff makes out on the road can result in civil litigation. >> Well, I'm just I'm just sitting here thinking about >> I don't know how to answer that. >> Well, I'm just thinking about who's paying the legal bill for Freeborn
County right now. Is it the property owners of Freeborn County in the lawsuit that they're involved with? >> I would imagine probably it is >> probably. Yeah. >> Yeah. And so that is a concern about the liability issue that that uh any county
including Katy County would face in this >> right uh Eric uh first of all again thank you for uh uh for being here today and so I just kind of want to go back uh over a couple of different points. I know
there's a county up north of us about 2 hours that is doing that uh most robust piece of the two 287g and working right alongside of law enforcement of of uh of the federal uh agents. Uh
nothing like that is happening here. >> No. >> And uh this piece of the 287g that you had signed on to is administrative in nature at its core. Correct. >> I would view it as that. Yes.
>> Yeah. Okay. Um and I think it's I I I I think it's going to be fair to say that uh your job of uh having good relations with all of our
community members has been made more difficult uh by uh re by recent events. Uh, that should probably go without saying. >> I think so. Yes. >> And I probably shouldn't have said it.
>> No. >> So, uh, again, I want to thank you. Any any last questions, uh, from the board for Eric before we, uh, >> Yeah, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I do like to talk as you've noticed.
I you mentioned too that you're available anytime you know to come and and I had been hoping and trying to work to see this happen way before this several times and I'm glad you're here now but also it's two-way street too a few because we don't know what's happening so we don't know what
questions to say hey come update us on this so this is a two-way street too and and I know you try to do that but if you have something that comes up hey the board might want to know this and there's a big value to this because this way the community knows was better even
was going on. So, thank you so much. >> Yeah, you're welcome. And uh uh I'll just mention to uh board members, I first of all, I want to thank everybody for staying on uh on topic today. It's uh most appreciated. I know
this uh as I indicated earlier, this is a uh a sensitive topic and so trying to get the uh information out as best we can. um has uh has has been pretty uh pretty important for us. Eric had
mentioned earlier uh working behind the scenes uh to you know try to help uh uh our affected communities, our our communities at large. Uh and uh there are those efforts that are happening. I
know several of us in this room have been uh certainly involved uh in uh outreach to uh state and federal and local partners to uh try to uh try to make things work and try to try to make
some advances uh in in in some of these difficult areas that uh that we're currently having to operate in. Uh appreciate you, Eric. appreciate uh uh your entire uh staff and uh uh as well as the uh our
partners over at the city of Wilmer and uh uh if we have any questions uh we will make sure uh individually or otherwise that we reach out. Thank you so much. >> Appreciate it. >> Thanks, Eric. >> All right. Thanks, guys. uh at this time
uh and uh we are at the uh part of our meeting uh concerning administrative updates, appointments, calendar and committee reports. We will actually have time for committee reports today. Uh and and I do want to offer this to uh board
members. uh you may use your time during report outs uh at the end of our meeting for any comments on say uh recent events uh as you may feel comfortable sharing.
Um we are a a political body at its uh at its core. We all run as nonpartisans, but each one of us certainly comes with worldviews. Uh, and uh, some of us may want to be able to express some of those today. And
so that will be the time and the place to uh, uh, do that. Uh, I'm going to ask Administrator Baker, do we have any u do you uh, would you care to do your update first? >> We do. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh we had
originally scheduled a health and human services work session for March 3rd and that is the AMC legislative conference that I do think some commissioners will be traveling down to the cities Tuesday afternoon. So speaking with Caroline, we would like to propose two separate
dates. That would be March 2nd, excuse me, March 2nd or March 10th. same time 1 pm to 3 pm. So, um I would like to get a consensus from the board of which date would work better for staff to be prepared to do so.
>> Mr. Chair, March 10th will not work for me. >> Okay. >> Same for me. March 10th does not work. The second would be fine. >> Yeah. Uh the second is open on my schedule. Roger. >> No, I for the same reason I won't be here on the 3. I won't be here on the
second. Does you have the CPT? Is it? >> No, I'm actually going to be traveling. >> Oh. Oh, good for you working >> and I will make both days work if needed.
>> Okay. So, let's uh we kind of have a consensus around the u uh around the second uh and that the 10th uh would not work. Would we in any way, shape, or form need a third
alternative? >> Mr. Chair, I would encourage you to go ahead with it. This time of the year, it's going to be really difficult to >> Okay. >> with the number of workshops that or sessions we have the rifle thing. Just just go ahead with it. I can catch up with >> So, we're going to So, we're going to
shift that then to the uh >> second. >> Okay. And um >> 1:30 to 2:30 again. >> 1 1 to 3. >> 1 to 3. Okay. and it will probably be 1 to 2:30, but kind of block off that time. And I'll talk with Caroline to see
um I know staff are already working on a topic so we can see if we can get that information out ahead of time. And then the other one would be to schedule the shotgun rifle listening session. I know the board had discussed this as well. I um had sent out that doodle as requested um February 9th or March 9th came back
as dates that would work. My recommendation would be March 9th. I feel that next Monday would be a little quick turnaround time. Um, and so that did seem to work for everyone on March 9th. >> Let me let me clarify. What were the time again on on that? Because I I have
planning or there's planning and zoning in here on March 9th. >> Yeah. >> As long as it's ahead of time, if they don't have um >> a variance meeting, then I think we'll be >> Is that the 5:30 one then >> on the 9th? >> Kelsey, that does not work for me. I'm
going to be honest. at a state actually put it on. >> Those were the only two that came up. You offered us a lot. >> I did. I offered you a lot and I went through the list and that was what everybody had. >> No, I don't >> that you had marked
>> really. Well, I thought I hadn't. >> So, um, yeah, I'd sent a lot of dates, so I don't know if we're going to get a consensus for this. I think the goal would be to have the consensus. Um, >> do it whenever you have to >> at this listing session. Hold on, let me
pull up some of these dates. I believe I did it prior to the planning and zoning. >> I think you did too, but I don't remember. >> It wasn't that early. >> It was like an hour and a half, I think. Yeah. >> Yep. We don't need a motion on this, but I
I'd go March 9th on at 5:30. >> What room to be determined? >> Probably uh probably want to do downstairs, right? >> Yes. >> I think this would be fine.
>> If planning and zoning is at 7, though. >> Oh, yeah. Well, >> yeah. So, we would probably have it downstairs in the NPR. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I'll plan for March 9th then. And uh and we'll get an invite sent out for that. >> 5:30 to 7. >> Outstanding. And then we'll
>> 5:30 to 7. So Roger's able to >> Y >> up for that. >> And we'll need an updated invite for the um work session. >> Uh because I can't I can only delete that. I can't. >> Yeah, that's fine. >> Okay, I'll make it work.
>> You said if need be. >> I know it. because there was part there was like three I mean you guys you obviously must have really busy schedules right now because to narrow it down to even get a consensus for all those dates I sent out
>> was tough >> was tough so >> it's pretty much every day >> I'm sorry I didn't I did try >> um and then >> February 9th doesn't work why just too hard to get it
>> I just think it's a little quick turnaround time for everybody Okay. >> Um to get the word out. Um >> okay, >> we it would be noticed. I could notice it tomorrow. We'd have plenty of time for to buy uh not violate open meeting law, >> but I just think to get it in the paper
to get community members here. >> I think it'd be better to do it on the for that purpose just because we want to have everybody informed so they they don't feel they >> weren't given the chance. >> And then just a few different administrative things. I've been working with um I think Commissioner Mcknosis
Lake and or Dale Anderson too um Lake Andrew uh Lake Association regarding a lake improvement district. Um I've been working with some members on that. So that is a new process, not necessarily a new process. Diamond and Nest Lake have
lids um but maybe a new process for me and our new auditor. And so I've been working with those individuals. I just kind of um handed now the process over to the auditor and she will work with the lake association on the timeline. There's a some pretty specific timelines
within the statute. Um but it it will eventually it is a county board approval. So I probably will send out some information on that because I don't know if this board has approved a lake improvement district before and so I'll send some background information out on
that. Um, and then I've been working with Austin Hillenbrands, our drainage manager, on our um, no wake zone ordinance. And so we're finalizing that. My goal is to bring it back to board in March. Uh, kind of like what we did with
the cannabis, uh, maybe a first review. Um, no discussion taking place, but just kind of to review the ordinance, and then we would go through that public hearing process. And so that would be set to be done by um Memorial Day.
Um there was I think that was it. Those were the two items um that I wanted to just let you know that I'm working with community members on. And and then the township meeting. I think you all should be aware of this now. And maybe you got the invite. March 23rd is the township meeting. I believe that starts at 9:00
am. Um Jane Youngrants has asked Caroline Khan and myself to do a presentation regarding um the shutdown and partial shutdown and the um the impacts to our community members. And I think that's a um a bold move for the
township because it still got local government and affects the individuals that are living within their township. And so just a heads up, Caroline and I be um presenting on that at the township meeting. that's outside of their normal presentations like Mel and ditches. And
so I just wanted you all to be aware of that. But I think that's a really good uh communication for us for all of us. >> Mr. Chair, is it going to be at Legion again then? >> Yeah. >> Holiday. >> Yes, you're right. It's the holiday. And did do you all get individual invites on
that? >> I have I haven't. And I have a CPT meeting that day. >> Okay. Yep. It's I believe it's at 9:00 a.m. And you're And you're right. It's the holiday in this year. Could I could I spin the the the lid? >> Uh,
no, I'm forgetting exactly what it stands for. Improve >> Lake improvement district. It's basically uh for those who are wondering what it is. Um, >> generally they're done through a watershed uh district if you have a watershed district, but Lake Andrew does not. So the water otherwise a wershed
district could do it but it basically um allows them to uh in assess a tax >> because generally what happens now is that you have members of a lake improvement association but only about a third of the property owners participate
so they pay all the bills and so this is an opportunity for everybody to share. I know um the uh North Fork of the Crow River has done a couple of them over there and Middle Fork has done a couple of them. So um >> they're nothing new. >> They're nothing new and and they would
know how to go through the process. >> Yeah, more new for more new in the process of coming up through the county board instead of what Roger said through a water. >> Um Sterns County, Ottertale County have done lots of these through the county board. Um Sterns County has a phenomenal
timeline laid out. So I went over that with uh the members of the lake association which are um they have been great to work with. The second thing was um at the March 3rd board meeting we will have someone here and a few commissioners are aware of this of um
Calhoun Lake uh the renaming of that. And so there will be a presentation and then a board discussion for that as follows. I've been working with Mel Odin's on this as well. Um, I need to have conversations with the county attorney and then the DNR regarding this. And so, um, there's a
process. I think it was brought up at their lake association this last summer. And so, it's been a process. Um, but my contact has been really good on working with. And, um, he's also got a busy schedule. So, um, March 3rd works for him and I can, um, that the presentation
that he has and the background information of that will be also included in the board packet ahead of time. >> We're going to find out what this is about. >> Yeah. in the packet. Okay. >> It's basically to determine is it Lake Calhoun or Calhoun Lake. >> Oh, >> because it's printed different in different places. Okay.
>> And there's a lot of history within that name. >> Yes. >> Um and so that's what has spurred the conversation. And so it's nothing that uh needs to be done tomorrow, but we need to see, you know, I think the lake association and
myself at this point and working with Mel, we want to see some action taken and then that and including in that process, no different than the lid, needs to come through the county board for approval. >> I'm always amazed of all the different things we get involved in.
>> All right. Uh any other questions for the administrator? All right, then let's uh uh let's go to report outs and uh let's just start from the left. Sure, if you're able right ahead. >> Get my calendar back up here real quickly. When was our last meeting?
>> 20th. >> Okay, so um I had a CPT meeting last Monday and CPT is uh growing computers or counties providing technology. We picked up uh two counties in Minnesota, Dodge County, Wabasha County. And as you
recall, the services that CPT offers are sort of a all a cart. You can do assessing, you can do tax statements, you can do a number of different uh payroll. I think you can also do, right, Kelsey? A lot of different things. Kenui County subscribes to a lot of them, but
not every county. Some counties just do the taxes or just the assessing. We have like four or five counties. what is new in in North Dakota. So, it's kind of a growing uh organization and um it is an enterprise. So, it's a for-profit
business and uh I forget exactly how many of us counties, 21, I think 23 um are the owners of it and uh so it's growing. There's about 21 or 22 employees. So, it's it's a robust it's not as big as Prime West, but it's
pretty big. And uh so that was CPT. Then um uh MMDC Mid Minnesota Development Commission. I think I got the uh drove the furthest award last Wednesday night uh down to Gleno for that meeting. Uh
and then yesterday I was telling Dwayne uh before the meeting, I am on a statewide mind committee. every 10 years maybe maybe it's less than 10 years they need to review the rules that engineers like
Mel Odin's uh have to review when they do a road improvement for example um what are the slopes at an intersection of the ditches and what are the lane widths that that are allowable and a lot of what are the speed limits that are allowable we spent four hours yesterday
and I think there's only well there's three commissioners from around the state and a couple of city council members, but mostly nerds, engineers, uh, and they love this stuff. But, um, we spent three almost four hours
yesterday deciding the, uh, uh, what we're going to recommend for doing parallel back in parking. So, instead, not parallel, that was wrong. So, currently we have a lot of parallel parking on our city streets. Well, this is going to allow diagonal parking. So
you drive forward and instead of parallel parking you back in at a 45, 60 or 90 degree. Really what it does is it uh increases the capacity in a city block by quite a bit. Uh but there's got to be rules for it. How deep that
parking lot or that uh parking space should be, how wide it should be, can they swing across the center line as they're backing in. And it applies to all state aid roads. So that would be our county roads with numbers under three digits and in most towns uh trunk
highways because the the highway went through almost every little town in the county has got a highway going through it. So pretty interesting stuff. But uh this will go on for over a year. They hope they hope to be done in December, but they don't know if we can. Hey,
that's it. >> All righty. Thank you very much. Uh Commissioner Dwayne Anders. So, I had a few meetings, not not really busy, but a couple every week, I guess, basically. Um, I just want to go back kind of about the Pioneer Land Library meeting. Uh, we
we met on the 15th, which is kind of before last meeting, but um, so we're we're currently, just to be aware that we're currently searching for a new director because, uh, the current one, she's going to be retiring. So, uh, so that's what we're kind of going through
that process. Um and on the 22nd I had a UKAP meeting that was just uh remote uh Zoom in the winter time they usually meet just via Zoom so that uh uh some of the people there little elderly and stuff and don't like to drive. So uh so
we've gone or it's always been basically uh remote type of meetings as far as I've been on on there. So um that was pretty much just a regular meeting. Uh and then on the well I guess I have on the 15th we had a JD3 you know drainage
hearing but you guys most of you know that. Uh and then on the 28th they had a central Minnesota emergency services board meeting and then yesterday there were a couple that were cancelled and that was EDC broadband I think and then vision 2040.
>> All righty. Very good. Commissioner B. >> Uh thank you Mr. Chair. Um I I think I reported back u for the week prior to uh to our last board meeting already and that was a very busy week this past uh two weeks since yeah it'll be yeah
almost two weeks since our last board meeting. I did attend a zoom meeting uh with the updates on the 20th uh that afternoon with AMC. also had a youth Prairie Lakes youth program committee meeting and um it was a very very long
meeting as usual and we really got into some of the financial issues. You know things are not perfect yet financially. We're still uh trying to figure uh different ways to be more profitable in making that work and including uh
looking at some employees. We have actually quite a few employees that are working 30 day uh 30-hour weeks and that gets really difficult and from a cost perspective too it's also u not very uh
very good let's say it that way compared to having a few people working 40 hours you got quite a few people working 30 hours in and so we're looking at addressing that so there we got uh things to deal with there as well as the concerns about you know the secure unit
and the problems with that and uh the uh the maintenance needed on that building. It's uh it's well needed. I also then after that took a vacation, my third vacation in my eight years and uh um I went to Florida to visit and I think it
was Chevy Chase vacation. I don't know if you ever saw that movie, but it kind of turned out to be that way, but it was still a good vacation. Went back there. the weather wasn't perfect and car problems and so on and so forth and uh anyway, long story short, and a lot of
work phone calls and I and I did take them and mostly uh uh I'm used to doing that. So, but I'm back and and it was good to be gone for that period of time. >> Well, thank you, Mr. Griswald. >> Yes, >> you got the wrong got the wrong
>> I got the wrong one. >> I know that's Yeah, right. Right. >> What do I know? All right. Uh, Commissioner Dale Landers. >> Um, just a couple meetings. I went to the soil and water uh, conservation meeting after our county commissioner meeting on the 20th. Um, it's always fun
to see what programs are going on with them. Um, I'm sure that right now are all messed up again with the government shutdown. Um, it affects them greatly um, in that area. Um, and then the other thing, the other meeting that I had was yesterday and that's a tourism meeting
and and I I really am amazed. They they put out this nice little brochure about where people are spending money and what they're spending it on and what area people are coming into our our county from. And and it still amazes me and I
think it goes back to our discussion about if we're ever going to build something. um that 45% of the income that's in Kenyu County is from out of state. Um so that's a huge part and and it's really interesting that the top
three uh origins of markets were from Minneapolis may not uh Bismar Dickinson and from Chicago Illinois but this was December's report. So I mean we get a little bit of Christmas into this report also but we do get a lot of visitors
into our area from out of the county and out of the state and and they do it for the statewide and for the county. So it it we see where other counties are coming into our area and Renville County and Chipoa County are the two counties that come into Kenya County the most to
do business. So um it's it's really kind of interesting. Um they have moved into a new building now. They are out um straight that way straight that way from us. Um just getting kind of into their new building. There'll be signage out there. Right now, there's just a big W
that's on the outside of the building where their office is at. And they have another big sign that they showed us was sitting in the in the lobby that they're going to be putting out there so people know where the where they're at. Um, but a great improvement. There's a big boardroom in there for people to have
meetings. Um, a lot of information. They have a little store. If you want to buy anything from Kenui County, there's a store in there now with all kinds of different bling that you can buy that says Kenui County on it. Um, so I think it's a great improvement and a and a
great way for us to promote our county and and a lot of brochures and a lot of things that people want to pick up and and bring to different events. That's all available through them also. So, um, it's a great opportunity. Um, nobody else has touched on it, but I'm going to
a little bit. Um, I I really appreciate all the emails and the texts and the phone calls that I've gotten over the issues that are going on in our county and in our state right now. Um, people need to know they're being heard. I think that's what I've been told and
been asked and and I hear what people are saying. But I do appreciate people calling me and I do appreciate emails. Your response to my emails though is to call me because I like to talk to people. I don't like to email back. So, um I appreciate anybody that's wants to
talk about issues. Um I'm always available and if I don't answer, I'll for sure get back to you. So, appreciate all that. Um I think the biggest thing that I'm a little disappointed with is social media is just social media and
and that's been very uh very tough to deal with, I think, is the social media part of it. people just need to be informed and understand the the whole story. And I think that's what I think our job is as commissioners is to be able to answer that phone and try to get
some answers for people when they're have concerns. So, just wanted to touch on that a little bit, but thanks. >> Thank you. And going back to the previous item with the uh tourism office being moved, uh the Wilmer area Chamber
of Commerce is in that same uh building as well. And this is towards the back end of the uh administration main administration building. Uh and uh uh it's it's it's a great space. So uh if you're if you're looking for either one
of those uh two offices, uh don't go to the Best Western in anymore. >> No. Uh they're uh they're both out there now. So >> is out there. Are you talking about the >> here at the Midwest campus? Yes. Sorry, I should have been more specific when I
when I said the administration building. So um just uh several uh several items that I wanted to cover. I have spent a lot of time uh recently uh as a member of the personnel committee over at uh uh
Central Community Transit uh helping to uh move things along uh in regards to a couple of items. Uh one specifically is a uh uh climate assessment that is uh currently being performed uh throughout the organization and they're uh getting
the input of uh uh everybody involved with that uh organization and uh uh think that's going to uh uh have some strong impacts uh uh and giving the boards uh a strong sense of what
direction we need to be taking that agency in uh as well as uh we selected a uh uh uh someone to do the executive director search. Uh it is uh uh South Central Service Cooperative uh is
handling that uh search uh at about uh 50% of what you would normally pay for u for executive searches. and they do much of the uh much of the same types of uh search as uh as the private firms do. So
uh I believe they're out of Mano uh and uh uh looking forward to seeing what they uh what they may be able to uh uncover for us as we look for a new executive director there. Uh,
as I mentioned earlier, I've been in a number of meetings with uh, uh, other community leaders, uh, legislators, so on and so forth, uh, all relating to the, uh, ICE, uh, presence in, uh, in
our community and in our state. Uh, and we had a robust discussion at the AMC board of directors uh, in that regard. and to uh uh to hear directly from uh someone uh such as uh Commissioner
Garrison McMerry from Ramsey County. Um uh to hear just how real those impacts are every day for uh his community and other communities uh has uh was was was
really instructive. And uh uh I want to thank Commissioner Mc Merry. He's not going to hear this, but I already told him uh uh thank him for that uh for that perspective. It means it means a lot. Um
we did uh have a little bit of fun. Uh on Friday, a number of us from the EDC uh as well as the u uh uh city of Wilmer uh and some other uh community leaders uh were able to uh attend the 40th
annual uh uh governor's international trade awards uh uh banquet. Uh that uh uh was in response to a uh uh the nomination by the uh EDC uh of one of
our local businesses uh that engages in international trade and this year uh they were the winner of the uh uh smaller business uh recognition and that was Novate uh right again right out here on the uh
uh on the Tech campus. Uh and it was it was kind of interesting because of course the governor was there to uh present the awards and uh uh had a lot of different folks from the administration uh there and uh uh from DED and other uh
and the Minnesota trade offices. Uh and it was a good opportunity for us to even have some conversations with folks about tell us a little more about Wilmer and Candy Ohio County. So, uh, so I had a couple of I think there were a couple of
opportunities there that may, uh, uh, at least for conversation, uh, that we'll have, but, uh, the folks at Novatech, I think one of them said it best, didn't realize this was as big a deal as it is.
So, and it is a really big deal for uh, uh, for uh, an organization like uh, Novate and uh, and for our state in general. uh we have a highly diversified economy uh across the state and
especially here in Candy County and so uh uh it was a great opportunity to uh to celebrate uh that uh with that. Yes, >> I have a few more things. Sorry, just um if that's okay. >> Thank you. the next board meeting. Um,
we did have a light agenda today >> regarding um, business items, which means we have quite a few on the 17th. I did try to do some behind the scenes working around. I couldn't due to schedules, but as of right now, tenative agenda items for February 17th will be
uh, my performance review. Um, I will be bringing back the Prairie Lakes Youth Program contract. I had asked the board had approved an extension on that. I've met with Kristen Johnson. So, I'll be bringing back that contract for 26. Um Jennifer Swenson with Prairie Woods um
environmental learning center reached out to me and she is asking for the county board to approve a resolution for the greater Minnesota trail um that the the work that they're doing out at Prairie Woods. So, that needs county board approval. And then um our election coordinator will be
bringing forth the tax forfeited properties. There's a lot why I'm saying this now, there's a lot of information in that. The board chair and I actually met with her due to some of the legislative changes that have happened. Um, so we will get the board pack out
right at we will looking at Leah. We're going to try get that right out at uh th next Thursday at 2 o'clock. Um, I will work on uh communication with Michelle if we'll send that out ahead of time to the board to give um more background information on that because it's it's
pretty lengthy on all the properties and the processes and things like that. Um, but those are just tentative agenda items that I know of right now for our upcoming meeting. And then if you haven't um read the internal newsletter yet, I'm doing this when Melissa's out.
Um but the sheriff's app um is live and so if you want to download that, you can look into that. Um our IT department is really busy working on the migration over to um Office 365. Um we will be also looking at the phone systems and things like that, moving
over to Office 365. And so, um, I'll connect with Scott to see if we can have a board update as well for a department. I'm not sure when his department update is question. >> And then the >> Will we be getting 365 too on our iPads? >> I believe so. Yep. >> That be that'd be really nice to have that.
>> Yep. So, everybody will have it >> scheduling and everything. >> Yep. And then I just want to remind the board of our strategic plan. One of the the notes was for staff and professional development. And next Monday we are bringing uh someone in for supervisory
training pretty in-depth um a little bit of technical and so I just thank the board for allowing us to do that and to allow our staff um to continue their leadership growth within Candy County. So um we're staying in line within the strategic plan and also um providing
staff resources to like I said improve their skills within their county. So that's all I have. >> Sorry about that. starting 365. Um, >> could we get a little training on that? >> Yeah, I'll talk with Scott on that. >> Yeah,
>> I I I don't know that we could get enough training. At least I I could u I I think I expressed to all of you my uh difficulty in trying to get a word document off of here to all of you all.
There's a way it does you can convert it but loses something sometimes too. And now they just did another update on that >> pages and all sudden this is totally different again. >> Yeah. And this is this is the problem I had with the last uh with the last update too. Um
>> uh and uh Kelsey mentioned her uh performance review. Did everybody get the u uh uh get it the second time I sent it out? Okay. Uh just turn those in uh to Katie. Uh and then Dwayne, you and
I need to uh find a uh time before the next meeting to just sit down and compile those. So, uh anything else that anybody has for the good of the order? >> Who's buying today? >> It's me.
>> Okay, good. >> So, all right. Um uh with that then we are adjourned.