you Chelsea, I see you online um as you are the sixth member of the board >> and it looks like I am able to unmute. >> So I think we have only one order of business >> that would be to approve uh the minutes
from our meeting of last week which are on page nine of our packets. approved. Second. >> Okay. Commissioner vaguely moves. Commissioner Olsson seconds approval of the minutes for the board of appeal and
equalization from June 16th of 2026. Is there any other discussion? >> Mr. Ward, the meeting minutes are accurate, but the whole system is I feel flawed. Um I did uh do do some
more research on that whole concept. If you don't have a a walkth through, then the county board has no leverage or power. It's line eight on a statute, but I could not find that referenced anywhere. And all the articles that you read about Minnesota property taxes and
assessing uh even the training I don't I I skimmed through the training again to look for that particular item and uh found did couldn't find it. um about that having to do a walkth through other than the county board has no control.
And the whole concept of the county board not having any control, but a an appointed hired uh staff person has the ultimate power just seems ironic in our local government. So, I will continue to
work with some state legislators and uh see if we can't get some clarity or some possibly some change in there. Um it and then I I do appreciate uh Miss Brandt sent out the list with the comments of why things were uh changed and I find
that >> um the criteria that they use to make those changes I I need to learn more about because it seemed a little discretionary for for a staff again to make those changes. of
course to approve them just seemed like it was a little discretionary or lacked uh clarity and I talking to a lot of you know constituents >> there I'll not going to be zoomed again.
>> Okay. So, hearing no further discussion, all those in favor of approving the minutes, the board of appeal and equalization, I'm going to do a roll call vote because we have someone attending remotely. So, uh Commissioner will I'm sorry. >> I
begley. >> Hi, >> Commissioner Eling. >> Hi, >> Commissioner Olsen. >> Hi, >> Commissioner. I >> passion Wednesday or not. Not because you live in a nice house or a small house or a big house or you know
size of house shouldn't m it. Everybody needs the same services. >> Six o'clock. >> Yeah. Should we go ahead and start without talking? >> Okay. I'll call this meeting to order. Would you all join me in uh reciting the pledge of allegiance?
>> Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thanks for coming everybody. I see we have a lot of guests. Welcome. Uh I will
tell you in advance we are not discussing the budget or library funding tonight, but I'm certainly happy to see you here. and uh I will applaud you for your civic engagement. Um we begin our meetings with a public comment period
and uh I will invite folks to come up to the podium and please try to keep your comments to two minutes. Uh but before we start, I understood that uh Chelsea Wilbrite did want to participate in public comment and I'm going to ask her
if she can unmute herself first. Chess Wilbright or Chassity Sur. >> Nope. Chelsea Wilbright. >> Okay. Sorry, Chelsea. >> Sorry, I couldn't unmute. I think we I was racing. You You beat Heidi back to her desk. Um, so yes, this is Chelsea Wilbright, auditor treasurer. I just
wanted to make a public comment on item 7.2, uh, being the liquor licenses you guys are approving today. When this item was submitted for approval, we didn't know at the time that Bass Camp has elected to no longer have their offsale
license. Um, so they will not be submitted to the state after tonight's meeting up after your guys's approval. I also wanted to note that the Twin Bluffs bar has not turned in any
items and we have been unable to contact the owner. their liquor license will expire June 30th. Um, if they don't get all of that documentation to us ASAP, we will submit the rest of them to the state tonight after your approval, but
Twin Bluffs will not be submitted to the state until it is run through the sheriff's department for background check, the attorney for approval, and um my office for signature after your guys's have approved it, as well as then
state final approval. So that one will not be pushed forward to the state at this time. >> So uh if they >> will she stay online so when we discuss that >> I think that's why she's talking now. >> Um if it isn't submitted will we need to
approve it separately and not as a part of today's agenda? >> And I'm >> I don't believe so. I think if you approve I just want you to know that if you approve them as a whole um Bas Camp and Twin Bluffs will not be submitted to the state at this time. Okay.
>> Bas camp won't ever Twin Bluffs won't be until they get all their ducks in a row. >> Okay. Anything else? >> Nope. That's it for me. >> All right. Thank you. >> Oh, wait. I guess Commissioner Ward has a question for you. >> Yeah. So, if Twin >> Not following protocol,
if Twin Bluffs does not have a liquor license, how fast is the turnaround time for them to obtain it? because we have a major holiday coming up and if they don't have a liquor license I mean they struggle a little outount bar restaurant struggles anyway and I don't need to
make them struggle more um the 4th of July and everything so how quick can the turnaround time be >> that depends on a lot of factors because it has to go through a lot of steps um we've for the county portion of those steps we've expedited it drastically by
using docyign it goes first to a member of the sheriff's department to do the background check, then to Ron himself for signature, then to Karen for signature, then to myself for signature, and then we're able to get it to the state. So, the county portion of it could probably get done in a day or two,
but I I don't know how long the state will take to approve it. >> And how have we notified the business that this is in jeopardy? >> We have attempted to call the business. I even attempted to call the new
business the same owner has, which is the Good View Bar. Um, I was unable to uh Twin Bluffs doesn't open till 3:00. Um, the new bar and grill in Good View doesn't open till 1 p.m. I had tried calling earlier, but there is no voicemail setup, so we could not leave a
message. Um, a member of my staff also emailed them with through the contact we had from prior years and we have had no response. >> Okay. But we haven't sent any like registered letter or anything like that or I see the sheriff and deputy said
could they make a personal call. I mean again I don't want to jeopardize them not being able to do business over Fourth of July. >> These things were due to us on May 1st. >> Yeah. Would you be willing to make a drive down to after 3 o'clock and see
>> uh I could but I don't have I don't have any >> I could just say hey you got to do this >> well and if we didn't approve it tonight which I don't think we can >> right >> then it isn't going to get approved until the 14th >> y >> of July because it's up three weeks
until we meet again >> correct >> well >> that's why I'm not suggesting that we like amend the appro approval for the rest of the liquor licenses. Um, but just know that we can't submit it to the state without all of those other prior
authorizations. >> Rebecca Church, but are you saying that the >> approve >> or are you saying they cannot approve? think when you found it. Um, >> Rebecca, you are very hard to hear, so I don't know if you're just not close to your microphone or your computer's in
the way. But I believe you asked that the board can't if they if the board can or cannot approve them. >> There is not a place on the liquor license, the actual application that gets sent to the state. There isn't a place for the county board's signature.
It's just the sheriff, the attorney, and myself before it goes to the state. So, I believe they could pass the the general motion to approve all of the non-municipal liquor licenses. Um, and then if if all the ducks get in a row,
then we could still submit it to the state. >> Open to your interpretation. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you. >> Y are going to proceed now with regular public comment period. Um, >> please step to the podium. Um, tell us
your name and your address. Or if you don't want to give us your street address, at least tell us where you live. >> I think it's on. Is this on? Oh, I don't mind giving you my street address. >> And um, please try to limit your comments to two minutes. >> It should be okay. >> Okay. >> Uh, my name is Blondin Bertolo. I live at 169 West Broadway in Winona. I've
been there since 1998. Um, I understand that you're not discussing cuts in library funding today. Uh, but I wanted to make sure that if and when you do, you remember how much our three county libraries are valued by county residents. Uh, I urge you to continue to support the libraries
at least at the same level you have in the past. Cuts would result in reduced hours. Cancellations of programs and services. Our libraries are good stewards of the limited resources they have. Funding them is never wasted. As the president of the Friends of the
Winona Public Library, I can attest that yes, we do fund raise and help support programs, special events that mean a lot to library patrons. We have also contributed to repairs and renovations of the building. However, the mission of our organization is not to make up for
the underfunding of operating costs. To quote the Minnesota Association Library uh of library friends, libraries are more than buildings and bestsellers. There are gathering spots, learning hubs for everyone, safe spaces, and cornerstones for informed, thriving
communities. Libraries are the key to literacy and education, and they deserve your support. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hello everyone. I'm Diana Seir. I live at 1426 West 7 or West Broadway,
apartment 207. I'm uh originally here from Good View, but now I am in the city and I'm still part of the county. I am speaking on behalf of the library. I am a friend of the friends of the library. I'm 79 years old. I have been going to
the library since 1956. My dad and I rode a bicycle to go to the library to get books and we read them and returned them. And then when I got older, my friends in the neighborhood and we rode bicycles down there, got library books,
went down, got some popcorn at this place on West Fourth Street and went to the levy, read our books, took them back to the library and got new books. I would like to say that um we've had I I at that time they had limited story time hours. Um when I
became a mother, I did take the same take my children and them to uh the library, but I would drive them then and they would get books and we would take them and we them and we would take them back almost the same day. But by that time, story time started and there was
things for children which have continued over the years. And now as a grandmother, I did the same with all of my grandchildren. How important how how important is developing minds of little ones? And if you came to the
library, I get a little teeyed, but if you came to the library and saw all these little kids going in and out of the library, and if we end up with cuts to that, I'm afraid what would happen to the helpers to those little children in that library part. Um, I'm I guess
that's about it. And I was just going to say I wore my wonderful Mad Hatter shirt. And how would I have learned about the Mad Hatter except about reading Alice in the Wonderland book? Thank you. >> Thank you. Hello, my name is Bernardet Murphy and I
live at 750 West 5th Street and I am an adamant supporter of the library. As we all know, library offers many great programs. These programs like that of a community center help people of all demographics.
There are book focused programs for adults and kids, art and story events for families, presentations from local artists and authors, services for folks getting back into or just starting out in the workforce. Libraries help
students further their education. These are programs that benefit the entire population. Library accessibility and events are an important part of a thriving community. Higher literacy rates are associated with healthier
populations, less crime, greater economic growth, and higher employment rates. We could put money towards infrastructure that is a studied, known, and proven benefit to the current and future community.
It seems that the Winona Public Library is going to be hardest hit with these cuts. I'm not sure exactly how to divert the money, but there's a possibility that money could be diverted. The city has millions of dollars to put towards other infrastructure, and I
believe that thousands of dollars could be put towards the library. If there is enough need and demand for the library to be funded, I believe it can be done. Please invest in the future of the library system. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> I am Sue Amble, 46586 was Valley Drive in Lac Crescent. I am a Winona County resident and I rely on the library for not only books but the programming the library offers. The
library is a third place for me and many others to meet, learn, and collaborate with others. I urge you to maintain funding for the Lac Crescent, Winona, and St. Charles Library. Cutting the funding for Lac Crescent only means a
loss of 3500. But while it might seem small, $4,000 is our entire programming budget for the year. This could mean a significant drop in programming or a big reduction in our materials and these materials are
programs and high-cost materials like fox books, large print books, early literacy kit kits. Programs include speakers, entertaining and educational programs, nutrition classes, children's
programs, and programs for toddlers and seniors. Please consider that the Winona County residents who use the library made up 3,842 checkouts in the last year. Winona
County to maintain our funding. That's less than a dollar a checkout. Please consider maintaining the funding to the library. carefully consider this as this decision impacts all ages and demographic groups and healthy library
programs promote healthy communities. Thank you for your consideration. >> Thanks. Is there a copy for everyone? Okay, I'm going to give it to the Thank you very much. I'm going to give it to the administrator. Make sure it gets included in the pack.
Righty. Good evening, commissioners. My name is Katrina Hurley and my address is 415 East Howard Street here in Winona. But I'm actually here on behalf of the city of St. Charles to speak about the county library funding as part of the 2027 budget process. I understand that this conversation is still preliminary and
decisions will not be made tonight. But that is exactly why we're here tonight. The time to talk about the value of public service is before the numbers are locked in, not after the decision has already been made. Winona County has discussed considering an estimated $76,72
reduction in funding the St. Charles Lac Crescent and Winona public libraries. For the city of St. Charles, that would mean 11,500 approximately. But reducing funding does not reduce the need. It does not reduce the county resident use, nor does it lower the cost of books, materials, programs, open off o open
hours, or staff time. It does not make the library easier to operate. It simply moves the burden closer to the communities where these libraries are located. And for St. Charles, that does matter. The St. Charles Public Library is not only a city service. It is a regional resource. Roughly one quarter of measurable library use comes from the
Winona County residents who live outside of the city of St. Charles. Those residents use the library because it is close, trusted, and accessible. So, when the county support is reduced, the cost of serving those residents does not disappear. It shifts further onto the St. Charles taxpayers and puts pressure on the very services people rely on. Our
library has already worked hard to stretch every dollar through grants, donations, partnerships, and careful programming. That work should be recognized, but donations cannot replace a stable public support for a public service that county residents continue to use. This is simply not just a question of meeting the minimum state
funding requirement. It's the minimum should be a floor. It should not be become the measure of partnership, responsibility, or fairness. We are asking the county to keep the current library funding amount as it is or keep and also work forward towards supporting the actual county use and then also keep
this issue part of the public budget conversation. Regional support um needs to be addressed for our regional use. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Five years. >> There you go. You want to pass that? >> Is there anyone else would like to um
participate in our public comment period? >> Good evening, commissioners. I did not plan to speak. Um, thank you so much. I'm grateful for the opportunity. My name is Allison Quam. I live 309 East 10th Street here in Winona. I've been a resident of the county for 21 years.
Resident of Minnesota all but four years of my 47 years of life. Um, I grew up in northwestern Minnesota in a county that my town was about 25 miles from the closest public library. I went to a K12
school, had a very small library. The only books I had were probably handme-downs that I can remember. Around the time when I really became an active reader, we moved. I won't get into the personal reasons. Um, but we ended up being in a place that had a really great public library and had a really great
school library. And it exploded my imagination and my ability to think, to be a problem solver. And it's kind of a shock at where I am today considering where I began. I'm a librarian at Winona State University. Been a professional
librarian for over 20 years. Very grateful for the experience. Um the thing you know before in between the two meetings uh it was mentioned about resources matching services and and etc. The thing
that people have to realize is that today's information resources are expensive. You as an individual would never be able to afford all of the subscriptions that you can get at the public library. Never. You would never be able to afford
it unless you're a millionaire. It just wouldn't happen. It's so expensive. Electronic resources, databases are expensive. We have a database that costs $90,000 a year. You as an individual would not be able to afford that. But as
a community, as a group, when we all contribute, we can all have access to it. And when you start chipping away at that, where people get their information from is Tik Tok, Snap, all these other things that give you a snippet of
information, but not the whole truth, not all of the information, not a balanced perspective. You don't have access to all of the variety of voices and perspectives that you would have if you didn't have the library. Once you cut the library, you cut the ability to
have a grounded multi-perspective view of the world because the library is going to have access to many things and affordable to everybody. You don't have to be somebody who has a million dollars. You don't have to be somebody that only has
$10,000. you can still come to the library and use the resources cuz we're all equal there. And oh that's it. Thank you so much. I really appreciate your time. Have a good evening. >> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else who would like to participate in public comment?
I'm going to ask at least one more time. Please come up and share your thoughts with us. >> Hey, my name is Josh Murphy. Um I'm not here for the library, but I agree. I like the library. >> Um, I'm here to comment on item 7.1, the
uh intergovernmental agreement with Rice and Steel County. I'm here only as a resident, as a taxpayer in Winona County, but my professional and volunteer experience in this county has contributed to some of my perspectives and insight. Uh, the primary responsibility of every level of
government is ensure the safety and well-being of the community that it serves. The current situation with the dispatch center reflects a failure by the county board and the county administrator to fill that responsibility. Winona County owes its residents, businesses, taxpayers, visitors, and employees public safety
services that are robust, reliable, redundant, and effective. The county's inability to adequately staff its 911 center is none of those things. It's unstable, unsustainable, and potentially dangerous. The uh public safety is already an
environment filled with risk and uncertainty. Failing to provide adequate 911 services only increases those risks for both the people calling for help and the emergency responders serving the county. A public safety system is only as strong as its weakest link. The need to contract with RSC 911 makes it clear
that the first and arguably the most important link in that chain, our 911 center, is failing. Routing routing Winona Countyy's emergency calls to a dispatch center 90 miles away creates a system held together with little more than duct tape and hope. It may
function, but it will not function uh as well as a properly staffed and supported local system. Even the agreement itself acknowledges these limitations. It states that services provided are secondary to RSC 911 obligations to
member agencies and that the assistance will be provided on a besteffort basis. When the issue at hand is public safety and our when the issue at hand is the safety of our community and our emergency responders, a best effort is
an alarmingly subjective standard. The time for effective leadership and management of county operations is long overdue. The inability to act, the mismanagement, micromanagement of staff and services, and the continued hesitation to invest in essential public safety functions have created a
legitimate public safety concern. The residents of Winona County deserve a system that is stable, adequately staffed, and locally accountable. I urge you all to treat this not as a temporary staffing issue, but as a public safety priority that demands immediate and sustained action.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is is there anyone else here who would like to participate in public comment? And that would include folks who online probably you can unmute yourself.
If you can't put something in the chat, >> um, >> hello. Can everyone hear me? >> Thank you for having me and thank you for discussing everything today. My name is Kayla Olsen. I live at 1545 Homer Road. I have lived in Winona for about
almost 5 years now and I'm 31 years old. So, a demographic we haven't heard from today. So I want to speak again about the library and the library's funding. Um I too and am and I too am an academic librarian working over at Winona State
University. Um and just to reiterate, libraries are integral to social infrastructure. They facilitate lifelong learning and they nurture a spectrum of literacies. We've talked about books. We love books.
That is one form of literacy that's so important. And there are additional literacies that libraries help with. If you imagine, say you're not great with computers. Not all of us are. I was I was kind of a weirdo. I grew up on the internet at a
at an age where uh not everyone had phones in their pockets yet. And yet we all kind of had like one of those big home computers. Um but not everyone has access to that type of help. Not everyone has access to computer, you know, lab classes in school. It doesn't matter what age you are. If you are
trying to learn digital literacy skills, whether it just be able, you know, to send emails to your family members, um, to send, you know, digital cards to your grandkids or even to do some really indepth research about Winona history and, you know, cultures around the
world. That's not easy. It's not intuitive. But a public librarian can work with you on that one-on-one. That one-on-one assistance is incredibly important, and it is at risk if there are cuts to this system. So libraries also prov uh provide skilluing
opportunities for job seekers which is really important. If you imagine god forbid any of us have been homeless before where does one go to fill out paperwork. Where does one have access to the internet to try and get a job to fill out social resources? You go to the
public library. And then lastly to finish up here libraries connect communities with their history and facilitate cultural programming. And of course, they open up worlds of information and they aim to remove as many barriers as possible. So,
please continue funding our local public library. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else here would like to participate in public comment? Please come forward to the microphone. I'm gonna ask one more time. Is there anyone here would like to participate in
public comment? Hearing none, public comment is closed. Are we going to move on with the rest of our uh agenda? Um >> we want to give them a moment to It looks like they're anxious to leave. >> You could You're certainly welcome to
stay. >> Yeah, we would encourage you to stay. Actually, we locked the doors. You have to stay. >> But if they want to leave. Yeah. >> Thank you. Thanks for coming. >> Thank you. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Okay, we have some admin uh minutes that we could approve. >> I'll move to approve items 4.1, 5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4. Dr.
>> Okay. Uh, Commissioner Vegley has moved and Commissioner Olsen has seconded approval of county board minutes, board of adjustment from April 16th, parks and environment from February 4th, board of adjustment March 19th, and Planning Commission March 19th this year. Is there any further discussion?
Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> I. Motion passes. Um, uh, does the county attorney's office want to adjust the agenda? No, >> Mr. Bley.
>> Two comments at the end, please. Okay, >> Commissioner Elsing. >> Comment at the end. I'd like to pull 77. >> Sure. I will make 778.0. And you have a comment, Mr. Olsson. >> For the sake of discussion, let's pull
71. Okay, we'll make it 8.01. Anything else? >> Nope. >> Mr. Ward, >> um I would like to pull uh others that haven't been pulled. Um 7.4,
>> five and six as well, >> and 7.5, 7.6, and 7.7. They're all kind of related. >> Yeah. >> And uh I got the sheriff and I think 7.9. I have a question on that one. >> And then a um I have a I guess it would be board
action and then a a comment on a an event attended. Thank you. >> Okay. And I um I'm going to make a I repeat the announcement about spongy law
uh treatments. Okay. And so 7.1 it's going to be 8.01 um 7476 I have set that as 8.0203 and 04 9 7.9
is 05 and 7.7 is 8.01 would that be 8.0 because 8.01 was 7.1. Yeah, that was acting. >> Okay. >> All covered.
>> Yeah, maybe we should we should just >> don't we want to pull? >> Yeah, the entire consent. It would save me some time. >> Yeah, >> there's still free. >> Yeah. So, issues with too much going on consent. >> Okay. So, there were a lot of >> seven. I was going to pull, but I'm glad you did. >> A lot of changes. Would anyone like to
make a motion to approve the >> second the amended agenda? >> Thank you. Commissioner Elsing moves. Commissioner Ward seconds approval of the agenda as it was amended. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please
signify by saying I. I. >> Anyone opposed, please say nay. >> Motion carries. Um, administrator Holy, could you read the consent business that has left and for the record?
>> Okay. Uh, 7.1 was pulled. 7.2 to approve renewal of liquor on off sale and beer off sale licenses. >> I do. >> Could you want to pull that? >> I got just a question. Um we were told that we don't approve them. It's the
sheriff, the county attorney, and the auditor treasur. So what why do they show up on our agenda? What it just a >> It does need approval of the board to go to the state. >> Okay. All right. That's fine. It just sounded like we didn't have a role in it. >> You do. It's two. It's two parts.
Correct. >> Seven. Correct. >> Okay. Or more. >> Or more. >> 7.3 approved CASA 44 cattle pass replacement with 24 foot Tulbert. Oops.
7.4 was pulled. 7.5, 7.6, and 7.7 were pulled. 7.8 approved payment to Caitlyn Lang for well disc decommissioning. 7.9 was pulled. 10 7.10
approve amended 2026 fee schedule and 7.11 confirm payment of dispersements. >> I'll move to approve the remaining consent items. >> Second. >> Okay. Commissioner Begley moves. Commissioner Elson seconds u approval of the consent business as it was read. Is
there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor please signify by saying I. >> I. Anyone opposed? Say nay. >> Okay. Consent business is approved. We move on to general business 8.0. Previously, this was 7.7. Approve statement of work from H Heartland
Business Systems for Household Hazardous Waste Camera Project. And I believe that this is on page 98 of our agenda. >> Correct. I just simply pulled it for a little clarification. Obviously reading uh County Attorney Sonaman's letter or
if she wrote that. Was that you? No, that's just trying to get a little clarification. Obviously, I pulled this the first time. Just trying to understand, are we digging deeper into a hole? What does this look like? What should we do here? Here we go. So, I was
going to pull 74 through 77. So, I appreciate Commissioner Ward did that, but I just wanted to This was the bigger one that I wanted to stay focused on if somebody else wanted the other one. >> Yeah. So, I think I sent you as much justification as I could. Uh, simply
stated, uh, we've been using Verata for years. We're building on that system for the request of different departments not coming from it. This is us helping the other departments get these cameras in place. Um, it started with the courts uh
with their antiquated systems uh and wiring and and uh cameras. Uh we did the installation of that two months ago. Um Ross has been in dire need of a um camera upgrade in his area. So that's where this one's coming from with half
his funding coming from uh funds that he had in his budget. Um like I stated in my emails, Verata is the standard used by pretty much every county. Um and I, you know, I you touched on it last week, Jo. Um Mr.
Elsing, sorry, Josh and I grew up together, so it's hard to call him Mr. else and he's younger than me. >> Yeah. >> Um >> hey got me young. >> Um so you know there a few things you know you mentioned going a cheaper route that you know we
have infrastructure in place. Um I didn't realize even until I started providing more justification to you that um cameras such as rings uh ring cameras and they're they're actually illegal to install in government facilities. So, that's not even an option because of the
the standards and security standards. So, um I'm happy to provide you more, but um I'm really here to just help move this project forward that's been started several years ago. Um get us to where we need to be. Jump in here quick.
>> I think the real question, Chad, we were just the whole point of pulling this was to just question the overall costs. It's not a question of the need. So I think we could just wipe the need off the table. >> Sure.
>> Um it's a question of in business, in government, we start down a road and it gets too costly to get back out because that's what happens. You get in the hole. Companies know that. They're not dumb. And once they get you, they got you because it's
what we've always done and it would cost too much to get back out. So, and when we begin to look at the cost per camera, per unit, per anything that you do, I just began to say, boy, that seems, you know, just just very high.
>> And are we going to continue to go down this road where things need to get replaced, things happen, and we're going to continue to see this in a in a scope of, you know, we have people library funds and everything else. It's it's every dollar counts in this situation. So, I guess the question is is after
reading our attorney's response to this, there was some red flags is what I saw. And again, we're not questioning the need. I think it's questioning the procedure and are we are we falling into a trap with some of these companies where 10 years
from now, we just can't see a way out, you know, and that that's what I'm looking for. >> Um, so Commissioner Ward and then Commissioner Bley. Okay. Uh, I would agree with Commissioner Eling. Attorney Sonamon
brought up a thing and you know the old way of doing business was a handshake and across the thing. We don't do that anymore. It is so convoluted. Everything's getting so convoluted that this company does this, this vendor does that, that's so if the system fails and
we get ourselves in a jam, who do you go to? You know, we don't seem to have a direct connection. And I know it was brought up last time, we have some local companies that do similar things. Um, I prefer to do business locally. Um, but I
guess maybe they just didn't have the scope and scale to do >> We did we did speak with other companies um and get quotes back in the day. And >> Right. And how much different was it? 10% 20%. >> I don't I don't recall. This was several years ago. >> Okay. >> But HBF
um is considered a local company because they're in our region. They also do shop for best government rates. We are on a government rate. If you saw the cost of these cameras for folks like Dah who has ricotta systems, it's, you know, three times what we're paying um just because
we're a government entity. So, >> we didn't find any government grants. I mean, it was a federalmandated thing that we not use Chinese things. And I still would struggle to find a camera today that doesn't have some component. >> These are Americanmade, but >> well, American assembled or you know,
you can play with those terms, too. Um I I I'm just frustrated with the convolutedness of all these contracts and how it always seems to well it's not me you know I'm not held responsible and I think that's what attorney Sono was
saying be cautious. Um we have been using Bcata for many many years. Um I don't we have some older ones 10 12 years that we've had in place. Um, like I said, it's industry st standard. So
>> I I'll just What page is the actual contract that we're signing? There's a lot here. I mean, >> I don't have that. >> Starts on page 98. >> The actual contract starts on >> Yeah. Commissioner and then you, Commissioner Olsson.
>> Um, I want to thank Commissioner for raising the questions at the last meeting. Those were fantastic questions. After we received the memo, the document from um County Attorney Sonomon, I asked um Chad some follow-up questions. I appreciate how you answered each of
those questions. Um I understand the difference between government level in terms of security and other requirements. Um I'm going to not meant to shut down discussion, but I'm going to just to get formally on the table. I'm going to move to approve item 7.7
to get it on the table. >> I'll second that. further discussion. >> And one last thing, I want to thank Chad for taking the time to go through all my questions in between the meetings. Thank you for that. >> Unfortunately, I wish that could have been shared with all of us. >> Commissioner Olsson has asked
>> I I did send I I believe I sent justification and some documents to every board member. Um his were >> simply it's followup but yeah sent an initial one. >> Yeah. Yes, ma'am. I have the unfortunate obligation of changing a lot of cameras
out in Houston County in our um in our jail and in our courthouse. Um now I'm changing out the Chinese uh cameras that we put in six years ago and paid a contractor to put in. And uh so I do appreciate that a lot of the cost is the
wiring the connection the connectivity uh the the cameras themselves are interchangeable um but the wiring aspect of it and then to have >> and that is local we did get a Digicom does our work >> then to have the control center in order
to um record and hold that data. So, I do appreciate u the work that goes into it and uh uh it's good to have good equipment. >> Appreciate it. And that is a a large cost is is that cloud backup, the storage and the backup is a that's a big
cost as well in general. >> Commissioner Ward, um another issue that's uh come before us, uh who monitors these cameras? Is it dispatch? >> No. Um Todd's team in HR um requests um
video from us in IT. If something comes up, if there's a theft, uh if there's an incident, um Marine, Todd, and their team reaches out to us, we pull the camera. It's not monitored 247, per se, but it is on 247. So, we we do get
requests from Todd's team quite a bit. >> Mr. I guess my final statement to this is Chad obviously you know we we talked afterwards none of this was brought up in a facicious matter the very first day I sat on this board no different than all the different
board of directors and different things I've been on the different business situations is you begin you begin to question everything and when you see contracts contracts are usually one of the first things you begin to question and you can probably see my pattern as a county commissioner just the same as
everything else I constantly the very first one was actually for the sheriff I question the 5% automatic renewal every year right you guys remember that >> I remember >> very first thing and because if somebody isn't paying attention that's how in government inflation that's how this gets out of control so the idea here
bringing this up was simply to say here's an item that's easily identifiable most people can recognize general cost and to say hey as administrator as staff as commissioners because I'm not going to be here forever Are we paying attention to these things?
And are we digging ourselves into a hole that later on we find out because I've done this. I'll say it again. It's difficult to get back out. So, I bring these things up. I'm not going to say theoretically or hypothetically, but practically to say, let's question these things in government because that's how
we're going to remain a low tax based system um and an attraction for people to live here because that's our number one. That's my I'm gonna vote for it because I know we need it. Yep. >> But I want to question every one of these because I feel that's our job.
Checks and balances >> and I I'll I'll agree the contracts in general for it and just everyone as Karen stated have become so complex and so we do rely heavily on Rebecca and Karen's team. Um Steve and I went back
and forth on a contract uh this week several times. They catch the wording. They they do a great job. So, I appreciate your team as well. >> And I think that the the last thing with that is are we or are we willing to to do a better job at negotiating some of
these just erroneous terms sometimes that fall into place, these escalators, the automatic things that are so easy to do that the get you gotas that the fine prints and um rather than it's so easy uh to to let them go. In fact, just shortly before I came to the meeting
having a discussion with quite a large company and the discretionary by large company I mean they're 20 billion dollar company and the discretionary unit of staff being disconnected from the financial wherewithal of how they spend
a dollar because they're so far disconnected that it's easy to do it and then the terms get bigger and bigger in which they're it becomes easier to do it. Today it's a 100, it's a thousand, it's 100 thousand, it's a million, it's 10 million. So that's all I'm trying to do. >> We we are spending a lot of time on
contract re review it as we speak with Marine, my team. So we're deep in it. Not just this one, but all of them. >> Mr. Ward. >> Yes. Um, come November, we will have a new county attorney. I'm looking probably at her right now. It's always bothered me somewhat that a
lot of these contracts, and you're right, they're they're complicated and I'm not, you know, like I say, I I did a lot of business over a handshake, not these convoluted documents, but I would hope many times we see that they've been approved to form.
What does that really mean? Does that mean it's the best deal for Winona County taxpayers to pay it? I guess I I would hope that maybe we put somehow some checks and balances in any of these contracts that we know that that it's you know and I know a lot of work goes into them and it's unfortunate we have
to spend so much time checking who we're trying to do business with because they're trying to take advantage of the taxpayer of Winona County which you know they're out they need to make profit. I know I made pro you you got to make a profit when you're in business. But I would hope the county attorney's office can do something to give us a better
assurance that it is the best deal for Winona County property taxpayers because they're they're the ones footing the bill. Thank you. >> I am going to support this motion. Um did everybody get this? Maybe it came in everyone else's. >> It was in your >> Oh, I dropped that in your just
additional information. >> Yeah. does a good job of talking about why it's a 10-year contract and what the benefits are and how that um guarantees the cost even though there's inflation and that there's hardware failure >> document >> that's from BATA
>> it was in your mail bin picked up >> hardware failure incurs no new capital cost new capital request for the county so um yeah I'm going to support this is there any further discussion >> hearing none all those in favor please signify by saying I >> if anyone's opposed please say nay.
Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> And Ross. >> Okay. Item 8.01 previously was 7.1 and that is the approval of intergovernmental agreement
for emergency communication and support services with Rice and Steel 911 center. for folks in the audience. Um the county has a dispatch center. We've lost a number of staff, so we don't have uh
enough staff to man. And the contract is a temporary three-month contract uh so that we will get some assistance from Steel County. Mr. Elie, >> it's his >> I was just raising. I figured he was
going to say something. >> I discussion. I I know that uh this was on the agenda. I asked some questions. I have my um morning conversations with Marine. Um we'll write a book someday.
And I would just like the public to know more about what this is about. Um as uh we had a community member and uh law enforcement speak to it. Um I think it's important that the public understands it
better. Maybe Ron could present that. >> I think we're going to have a team of presenters here. >> Yeah, I think we all have thoughts and I guess just to explain what's going on. Since I've been sheriff, we have never been at full staff in the dispatch center. We're allotted 13, including a
dispatch supervisor. um she has given her uh resignation moving on to another job. So we're going to be down even more. So we have been uh talking uh with county administration and
amongst ourselves here as a team along with Jennifer Lvala, the dispatch supervisor on how we can u uh put bodies in the seats at the dispatch center to answer the 911 calls. And the best that we were able to come up with at this
point is a temporary fix using um Rice and Steel County's dispatch center. Um that's kind of the basics of it. We're we're really down staff. We really need eight. They work 12-hour shifts. So you
have two on the day shift, two on the night shift, and of course they're opposites. So, we can run it with that, but that doesn't leave you any opportunity for um sickness or vacations. So, with the contract that um we're
proposing, uh Rice Steel would provide us with a dispatcher over in their center. They would work through teams with a dispatcher in our center. And I guess uh Jeff maybe or Ben can speak to it a
little better, but that's that's the basics of it. But I guess I would answer any questions or let them make comments. Also, >> you have a question. >> Is there any cross trainining between jail staff to in a in a pinch? I know I
know it's a specialized job and I know that >> it is a very specialized job and and that's part of the issue that we've had with why we're understaffed. One of the one of the reasons is because we have a long and in-depth training process. you really need somebody in there that knows
what they're doing. Uh I don't think any one of the three of us could go in there and do their job. Uh Ben would probably be the closest because for the last few weeks he's been in dispatch a lot. But uh it's it's kind of like he was pointing out to us at a meeting the
other day. Uh Ben, go ahead and and sit down and and feel the calls I need to do whatever. Maybe he can explain it better, but basically um you answer the phone, it's not going to be a 911 call. It's going to be uh a
general phone call. You answer the phone and it was a 911 call transferred from Homestead County. Now what? So, no, we can't crossrain our transport or our jailers or our deputies or ourselves. Um we we have somebody on
late duty right now. My my comment to the group was, "Let's train him in." Well, he'll be off light duty before he'd be trained in well enough to take over a shift. >> I I just I'm familiar with smaller communities where I work, Houston County, where they they alternate in
there between jail staff and and >> Yep. They're they're trained in dispatch and they're trained to work in the jail, but they've had the training is my point. >> Did you have anything else and then Commissioner Vagel? >> So, is that something we could do is begin to
So, a little bit of research on this. That's a high turnover rate nationwide. >> Nationwide. >> So, we're not going to solve that here in Winona County. So, we have to learn to adapt. Just like in business, I'm not going to solve the RIA prices doubling because of any given reason, but I got
to learn to adapt. So, I you know, that's that's my thing is that, you know, how do you solve a problem realistically and affordably? And so, Commissioner Olsen brought up crossraining some staff. smaller communities maybe don't have the budget, resources, personnel. So I don't think
we're going to kill this problem just by wishing it away or buying our way out of it. Um so I would be very open to figure out some other ideas from first of all I think one of the good things is is that just when this got
brought up and I appreciate Mr. Holty reaching out and filling me in about a few things. this was one of them. Um was that we just don't throw money and jump on it right away because often times that can lead to a whole new problem. Um and so but taking a step
back and then working together to find a resource to get us by. It may not be the best. It may not be ideal but it's better than nothing. And you know sometimes that it's hard it's a hard pill to swallow but it's better than just jumping. and and a lot of times we
see that happen. So, kind of like the idea of cross trainining. Uh maybe that could solve part of the problem. Um and I'm sure there's other things that need to be looked at, but it was uh I think the other thing that we're going to see down the road um like it or not is uh
probably more incentive for I'm going to say regionalization. I'm not saying this is what we're trying to do, but I think we're going to see more of that incentive for regionalizations. Um, so maybe something we might be forced to have to look at at some point too. I don't know.
>> I I would just say consider we're in crisis mode here. We We need to have people in the seats answering the phones. We can't say, "Well, you can work tonight by yourself. You can handle it tomorrow during the day by yourself." We need to have at
least two dispatchers answering calls. They are busy as it is. Uh, we can't get by with one. We can't get by with none, obviously. Um, so I'm not saying throw money at it. I'm saying we need to address this the
best we can. This was the idea we came up with. >> No, it's good. >> Um, >> no, I agree. >> We have to do something. >> Yeah, this is a great idea. >> And I know that both Ben and and Jeff would have comments they'd like to make, too. >> Would you like to make them now? >> I I would like to. >> Please go ahead. >> And then, Commissioner V and then you
position. >> So, I I agree with a lot of the things Mr. Murphy said. We've been going down this road for a long time. I also agree with you. It's not a Winona County problem. It's a national problem. I was
just reading in uh dispatch magazine the other day, dispatch centers are historically staffed to minimums, which works great till somebody gets sick, somebody quits, somebody whatever. In business and government, you don't want
to pay extra staff to have extra staff. But 911 is the hub of your emergency services. I can have a thousand cops, but I don't have two 911 dispatchers. Those cops can't do anything. You can't
get those cops to come to you. Same with fire, EMS. This is a band-aid. It's a good band-aid. We looked closer. We've talked with Houston County. We've talked with Wabasha County. We talked with Olmstead. Unfortunately, Mau beat us to
Mstead and is doing the same agreement right now because they're that short. Um, we we probably've never kept up with hiring like we should because we were okay. We were at eight. Things were functioning. We're at seven now. We're
not at eight. We're at seven with one out on FMLA. So, we don't have bodies here to fill the seats without doing this. >> And then just real quick points, I know you guys have things you want to say too, but on the crossraining part, it it
does sound like a good idea kind of on face value for it. Um, the case I would make for that is is twofold really. When you crossrain someone, number one, they get the training. That's the type of job where you need to be not trained on it.
and then sit in there three months later to do the job trying to remember what you were crossrained. And then probably the bigger point, I know it sounds self- serving for it, but it's not that we're so overstaffed that we can cross train somebody else to take them from their job and put them in the dispatch center
to work because then we're short the spot we just took them from where we're at. So, we are at minimums for all of those things I would make the case for. And it's not simple as taking one from another and putting them in there. Um,
and other than just reiterating real quick what Ben said, it works and it has worked for us and we've gotten by. Right now, we're not getting by anymore. So, just to once again stress, it's crisis mode for us, meaning that we need to
have people in those seats doing those jobs. >> Mr. Um to hopefully move the com help move the conversation forward, not to end discussion. I'd like to move to approve item what had been formally 7.1. This is a short-term crisis. This is a necessary
um short-term solution. And I look forward to having all the people involved um take part in a discussion to figure this out. It's a complex issue with many people. I don't think there's a simple there's a simple person or group to blame for this. This is a state
issue. It's a nationwide issue. But we also we all have we all have a respon I don't want to duck responsibility but we also shouldn't lay blame at one person or one group etc. But I hope that we can give you guys the time that you need to get this figured out. So I'll move to approve item 7.1.
>> Mr. Ward um first I want to say Jennifer I see she's online. Uh good luck in your future endeavors. You've given quality years to Winona County. You will be missed. um who will manage because she's the key.
She was a key. So, who will manage the department now? >> We're working uh something out with the county administration and >> Okay, that's great. Because that that's critical. Management is critical. >> Um so, I've sat on for years the emergency communications group in
southeast Minnesota and almost every meeting I get solicited by Rice Steel. Come join them. Um, we have touched on regionalization of dispatch because every county, as we've just said, it's not just us, it's state and national. Uh, there aren't enough people to do
these jobs. And part of it, part of the angst, too, is that um, is there a career path? If you become a local dispatcher, what you know, if you want to navigate through the system, it you have a limited career path. So, I was lucky enough to tour Anoka County, which
is a very large, fast growing county in the north metro. And my oh my gosh, you talk about a dispatch organization. I mean, that blow your mind. But, um, and I did share with Miss Holty, uh, the state patrol used to have multiple dispatches across the whole state of
Minnesota. Now, they have two. So, it can be done regionally. Um and I and uh the emergency communications group has considered discussing it. Um we will have a lot of new sheriffs in town come November and that's a decision that is
important to be made uh you know with with all the as you said all the parties at the table to do some of those things. But Rice Steel has made quite a invest uh investment. Uh they are neighboring counties but they technology and I think they remodeled recently. I haven't ever seen.
>> They're working on it right now >> or they're working on it and stuff. Um but they were um more than willing and wanting more counties to join them. So Mau went to Mstead. Okay. All right. And that would have been a na natural for us, but timing timing and everything. Um
three months is going to fly by. So I guess yeah, this is a a hot topic. Problem is is >> who are you going to hire? I mean again there just aren't people. >> I think Jennifer can Jennifer could address that. They they they did accept a lot of applications lately. >> Oh wow.
>> Okay. >> A lot compared to what we've had in the past. >> Yeah. Because it's been an open we haven't closed the search. >> It isn't that we haven't tried. >> No, it isn't. But just uh as it goes with law enforcement in general. Um I appreciate Mr. Vley's uh comments on
it's going to take a group effort to solve this problem and there's going to be a role for the board >> for the county in general and probably some of those ideas are going to be brought forward to say here's some ideas that we have uh to do that
should have probably been done even earlier in that but once again when we're functioning and we're working we're getting by now we're not anymore so Mr. else. >> Yeah. The reactive nature to the proactive always is is worse. U the cost
factor to this something you and I didn't talk about. What's we look at what this is? I mean in your opinion is this is the cost factor to this good in comparison to hiring more staff
because we know this service is going to be here all the time versus a staff member can come and go. But I'm not allocating for anything. I'm just curious like if we get driven into a corner where we can't find replacements because that can happen. Is this
something is this a viable option to begin to look at if we can't find candidates that we feel work? >> Can administrator >> administrator? Yes. >> So we have some preliminary numbers. Um I'm not ready to to state them outright until I get some more clarification, but
I can get back to the board. So the second part of the question is >> to address that too if I can. >> Second second part of that question is >> do you feel as though you know the whole thing I have is not to abandon what we're doing but if we get ourselves in a
position where as we say it's so dire um because we need this right I mean there's no doubt about that and I was actually happy that I didn't realize we could even do this was a great thing. Um, is it something that you think arguably we can kind of turn on, toggle on, toggle off as we need it somewhat
efficiently, or is this a difficult thing to step in and out of? >> I wouldn't recommend stepping in and out of um most certainly we can analyze that um with the team. Uh again, I'd rather not talk about numbers until I have
follow-up uh questions with Jennifer and the the rest of the team. >> I'm just curious, >> but most certainly I can get back to you. So I I don't I have numbers won't talk numbers but when we started this discussion with Rice Steel to be
proactive to have a backup plan we wanted a agreement for 247 that we could step into if we lose more staff. This was the max they would give us and three months >> max date max amount of time
>> max amount of time and max amount of people. Gotcha. So, it was one shift. We wanted We weren't going to use it all, but to be proactive in case something else happened, we wanted the agreement in place. >> Is that because Ben, we're not a member? Is that the reason why they wouldn't do
that? Or is this They're at capacity in this. >> They're at They're at capacity. They're hiring. They're hiring staff and they're also moving facilities in three months. So, that makes sense. There's a lot of moving parts, right? >> Lavala would like to speak. Jennifer,
can you unmute yourself? If not, can Heidi, can you do it? >> Just so you know, Jennifer is in dispatch dispatching right now. >> I've I've been able to unmute. Thank you. Can you guys hear me? >> Yes. Thank you. >> I do just just want to speak to this a little bit. Um I appreciate the
discussion. The most pressing matter at hand is to approve thisou for this three-month gap to be able to allow our staffing to continue with somebody remaining on site with all of the knowledge and the understanding of how Winona County PAP operates while working in tandem with somebody at Rice Steel
PAP at the same time to ensure continuity of efforts in our 911 center. I would also like to mention that Rice Steel has generously offered to allow us to utilize their orientation training program that they provide to their new
employees. This will help to assist us in the training process while we're short staff, while we're short training officers to have a better chance and likelihood of hiring and training good candidates, getting them through the training process, and getting them to the point where they can help supplement our numbers and improve our staffing
levels at the Winona County PAC. So I think it's great discussion. I don't think we are going to solve all of the issues with with what's to come and regionalization and all of the intricacies. And I would love to have that conversation with every single one of you. Um the the most important matter
is that we push this forward and know that we're committed to trying to improve our training processes to ensure that we retain all new employees that we receive through this next batch of people. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate it. Um, so we were offered the opportunity
to sit in on a session at dispatch. I think many of us as commissioners did do that. I did that. Uh, Jennifer and I have had a couple conversations about regionalization. So, while I understand the attraction of that, I also when I
got to see what the dispatch operators do for our sheriff and police that they know our residents, they know where a street address is or they know where a rural route number is. So, they're so
familiar with Winona County that I think it gives us a leg up in terms of emergencies. Um, I've shared before with this group that uh we had a friend who had a pulmonary embolism at our house
last summer and dispatch and Winona ambulance saved his life and I don't want to do anything that hurts that kind of a response because it is important and it does save lives. So, I'm certainly open to the conversation about regionalization, but I do want
there to be a robust conversation that includes all of the positives and negatives um and doesn't just talk about the money. So, uh I I will get to you Commissioner Elsing, uh Assistant County Attorney Rebecca Church, >> if I can speak, but I I just want to
tackle what you said. It's something I've been thinking the entire conversation. I appreciate this agreement. I know what's needed. I appreciate all the hard work that went into it. Um, but I think there I I hope that when we talk about regionalization that it's a
very thorough conversation because I also appreciate that when you call dispatch if you say, "I know a dispatcher." So, I'm like, "Hey, so and so, I need your help. I'm out at at Jeremy's parents house like or or somebody that calls in all the time."
Like, there are things that are very valuable about having our own go >> because they know us and they know our region. Okay. So, Commissioner Elsing, then I think Ben and then you, Commissioner Begley. >> Yeah, I I I guess we're you know, I was just going to kind of call the question here and um I my whole point I think
Commissioner Olsson pulled this was to validate this is a great option, but as a business person, we always expect the worst. And so my whole thing is is how viable is this option? How can we continue to do this? We're not going to make the problem go away. It's a national issue. So to find those
solutions is key. So, we're very thankful and I'm surprised that somebody's willing to do this for us. Um, but also to be open and receptive to what might unconditionally be pushed down on us at some point. So, thank you. So, I I think we can >> Okay, Mr. Begley and then I think uh
emergency >> Mr. Clair first and then Okay, go ahead. >> I just real quick and it's because I lost my train of thought. I wanted to reply to the Anoka County thing. I toured Anoka County, too. It's awesome. It's wonderful. They uh invested $28
million just in the building and over $500,000 in AI to assist their dispatchers. So, >> yes, I want to echo >> what Commissioner Eling was saying is let's um I we for sure need to have that robust discussion about redressing. Can
we agrove it and then move on and then come back to >> there any further discussion? Like if no one has any Okay. Well, who's the lead on this? Sheriff, who's who's gonna, you know, we're going to lead here tonight and Okay, we got this three-month contract, but it's going to go fast. Three months is going
to fly by. You're the lead. >> The sheriff's office. >> Okay. All right. >> Because the team Okay. All right. Thank you. Okay. All those in favor of what was item 7.1? Now 8.01. Approve intergovernmental agreement for emergency communication support services
with Rice and Steel 911 Center. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. >> If anyone's opposed, please say nay. Motion carries. >> Okay. We um move on to 8.02, which was
previously 7. No, that's wrong. >> 7.4. >> Yeah. 74, 75, and 76 are kind of all >> So 8.02, 03, and 04. Can we deal with them all at once, Mr.? >> Yeah. >> Yeah, they're all related. >> Yeah, we go to approve. Thank you. >> I'll second the motion to approve,
>> but there there's some things again, a lot of lot of words on paper and stuff. Yeah. >> Um the term um and the public is still asking a lot of questions about the cyber attack. So, there's a term in there, security enhancements. Are these
is it all this just we're repeating what we've done or is it truly an upgrade, a better system, and more protection? >> Good question. It it's an upgrade. We're we're moving to a cloud-based solution, which >> in hindsight would have saved us the last two incidents. Um so this was
actually um a project that was started uh we were meaning to start last year in July um because of um uh we lost a staff member in it and um there was a delay in the the project kickoff because of the cyber incidents. We're we're really
behind the the eightball on this. So we are behind on this project. So I asked Sam Michael to re-engage in this um month or so ago. Um this will really improve it. So for those of you that don't know, OnBase is our document
management system. It is very robust. It's very technical. Sam has I think a degree in this in this thing. Um some very high level C certifications. Um we had um Lois Akaran was here for 30 years. She managed on
base. She was full-time managing onbase. Um our last onbase administrator is no longer here as well. So Sam is doing what Sam does, uh, triple duty here. Uh, but we really, uh, I don't ask
very often for things that I really want to push through and think that we need, um, that are very important. This is one of them. Moving to a cloud solution, uh, improving the security of OnBase, I think, is critical, especially with what we've went through the last, uh, six
months. Um, it's a big project. Um, we have a lot of work ahead of us, but um, we've been working on this one on and off for almost a year and we really need to get it moving. >> So, >> so prior I I have been asked and I don't understand all this stuff and I don't I
don't want to and I don't need to but >> I envy you. >> I'll make it through the system. Um, but prior to this we didn't use cloudbased backups. So now we will be this is moving this
>> but but our our email was as a service. Right. >> Right. >> Yes. >> Yep. So on on base is we're moving this entire system to the cloud. So that's correct. >> Okay. Okay. That was a question that was asked by some tech people. >> And there there's a lot of enhancements
that are going into the the upgrade as well. Um there's a lot of things that aren't working. Um Marine can attest to that uh that we really need this upgrade to to fix and um improve the enhancements, you know, and there the ROI on this. I know it's a uh a lot of
money. Um Josh will appreciate the the leg work that we did on this. um just having that full-time support person for EDMS and moving it to the cloud and having some of that support taken off off of our plate and having just that model um is going to it's going to
there's going to be a good ROI in that >> and customer service is critical. So do do this on data bank >> datab bank. We we've been working >> customer service. >> Yes, we've been w with uh datab bank since 2015 I believe. They're they're excellent, very responsive. They've
always been great. So >> Okay. >> Yeah. Longtime customer. >> So I was going to pull this but not for the reasons why you would think. It's not to question again the need. I've been through what the county went through. I've got everything redundantly
backed up through three different drives cloud-based >> that there is a monetary cap in which it can be to you know protecting yourself. The reason why I brought this to fru I wanted to pull this but this award did
which is good and part of the reason why I didn't is I really understand it probably better than some but it is again just to make sure that the dollar we spent from the person that
gave it to us which is our taxpayer is just the best way to go about it and the justification of any situation when we For me, it's I want to say this. It is in a normal course of action
in any board or board of directors to question these types of things and to have clear answers as to why to justify spending. I mean, you guys own stock, right? You would hope that somebody at
the board of the stock you own is questioning every expense to some capp level. So this is not anybody saying we don't trust what you're doing. We don't trust what they're doing. We don't trust what the sheriff's doing. It is the job of the board to ensure at the highest
level that things happen. So I I say that just so you we're not picking on anybody. Right. >> I understand that. And all of the the questions that you do bring up, Marine puts us through the ringer as well. So before we even get to you, we do have
conversations extensively there. So, this is not to me a question of a need. In fact, I was surprised we didn't actually weren't actually going down this road. Um, I'm just the the the call to question on this to me is is is are we doing this in the most fiscally
responsible manner that we can. Um, and again to just challenge that otherwise it's just an open door. Nobody's going to ask us. We'll do what we want because it might not be you guys sitting here and I guarantee it won't be me sitting here forever. So, >> sure. So, one of the um benefits of going to this cloud solution, as we've
learned in the last two cyber incidents, um is we lost availability of the program, not only for our staff um but for county constituents that would come into the building. Um one of the benefits of OnBase is it stores land records and tracks and >> I did have one more
>> um vital records that the public can come and use our terminals for to look up. Um and though we have our own backups on site to restore these things, that's impingent on our other infrastructure being up and readily
available to function and restore to. Whereas the cause solution um theoretically we wouldn't lose connectivity to so we could just get to it. Um the other key piece of it through the last two incidents was the inability to adequately produce agenda items.
Yeah. um for packets. Um um >> yeah, it's uh >> looking at you. >> You are. I can feel it. It's okay. >> Um >> Miss Holy can attest that it's still not functioning great for her and her staff. Um it's got some hiccups that are um it
would and it would take more time for us to invest to fix them in its current state than it would just to migrate to the new solution and upgrade our um infrastructure with it. So, uh, this would give us higher availability in the event that, you know, there was another >> unfortunate. Commissioner Elsing and
then Commissioner Ward. >> So, again, um, I'm by no means doubting the need and so I just I go back to the practical aspect things I would ask my own side, somebody else. I'm saying that
just so you understand my thinking. One of the big things that I always ask is how easy is it to get in or out of something. So when we this is this hole that you dig yourself into and you find it is so expensive to get out. It's cheaper to just keep going even though
that's not the cheapest option or the best option but you you resolve and companies will pinish in on that and they they know that. So um that's the question I have when we get into these types of contracts into these cloud-based systems. Do you foresee a
hole we get into that we can't easily get back out, transfer the information? It cost $2 million to set it up in another location. Do you see where I'm going to this? I don't know the ins and outs and out like Commissioner Ward. I don't know the ins and outs, but I'm going to ask the highle questions with an expectation of, you know, >> Yeah. Um, so the way that OnBase works,
it's a product supplied by Highland's uh solutions and they rely solely on third parties resellers to do the selling of the product as well as the customer support. Um the Highland staff is only focused on the developments and you know future aspects. Um and datab bank is the
approved um regional reseller of OnBase. Um we've been a partner with them like Chad said since 2015. >> Um and I mean that's we if if we were to go somewhere else, you know, we would have to look at a completely different vendor and product. Um but we've had nothing but success over the years.
We've done several projects with datab bank. um their support, their SLAs's are within 48 hours and they have yet to um disappoint us on that. They're usually within 12 hours that they get back to us. Um but I don't I don't foresee it and it hasn't happened to me in my six
years of working with them. So >> we get rid of the 3% escalator. Nuts. >> I I would take that over throwing at us. >> Anybody see that? There's an escalator built >> in there. It's stand. It seems to be standard. >> We tried. We You know what? you you probably all
see me and Sam here first thing in the morning late at night. We we do work through these and we do pay attention to all that and we do negotiate. So, um I was actually happy with 3%. A lot of these aren't giving us that 3% they're more. So, >> Commissioner Ward.
>> Yes, please. Okay. Um some of the things you said are troubling to me that we're again we got multiple players doing this that and the other thing, but I guess that's part of the industry. Um after the cyber attack, are any of these things did they come as recommendations that we should do to protect ourselves?
Are these products uh correcting the problems? And did did somebody else at outside these walls say, "Hey, use this. This will work for you." >> So we were initially having these conversations pre-cybertech. Um like Chad had mentioned, we started this a year ago. Um just with the way our
industry moves, you know, it the cloud has higher availability than what we can provide. um that's just the way that it works. And then in tandem with working with the 177 CPT, the National Guard when they were here, um their recommendation was anything we can get to the cloud for that availability is the way we should look at going. Um but
this was one of those things that we've already been discussing prior to. Um >> and that's kind of lessons learned. Did we are we are we applying things of the lessons learned that we just went through? >> Yeah. And it's it's it's across the board, too. This is just the first stepping stone of many. Um, but this is
one like we started a year ago, so we are, you know, doing that one first, but there's a multitude of other things that we're looking at and investigating. >> Okay. Well, I get a little nervous on my little iPhone. It says your cloud your your storage is full and I don't have anything on there. So, I mean that I
hope we got bigger clouds than my cloud. Um, >> but then here just a real small problem. Why do we >> keep having problems here? I mean, Commissioner Vagley had a problem. I had a problem tonight. I've never >> it it has a lot of it has to do with us still working through the kinks of our
new security enhancements. Um we've locked ourselves down um to the point where to let any traffic through. We're t taking a toothpick and poking minuscule holes only where we need to. >> Um >> very locked down >> and it's so it's it's not so much to do with the fact that it's user error. It's
more us being so secure that we have to find avenues to allow. Um in working with the National Guard, we locked ourselves down to the Department of Defense standards. um just in the interim so that we were fully secure knowing that as we progressed through restoration, we would have to loosen
those restraints to conform to our environment because we're not the Department of Defense. We don't need, you know, biometrics to get into every file and every door. >> Um but we still want to be as secure as we can. So, it's requiring us to finetune and loosen those restraints as things come up. >> Okay. All right. Okay. Commissioner
Olsen has moved and Commissioner Meyer second approval of what was 7.4, 7.5, and 7.6. Six. Is there a further discussion? >> Thank you for taking the time. Yes. >> Yeah. Anytime. >> Yep. >> Okay. Hearing none. >> Build by confidence level. >> Good.
>> Then we would be approving what we're currently calling 8.02, 8.03, and 8.04. It's approving the statement of work in datab bank to upgrade onbase to approve the renewal with datab bank for onbase system maintenance and to approve cloud hosting agreement with datab bank. All
those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. If anyone's opposed, please say nay. Motion carried. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you guys. Thank you very much. >> Hey, Commissioner, is the coffee behind you? >> He's He's hiding behind it over there. >> It's only 7:30. I need some more.
>> What was previously item 7.9 has been recatategorized as 8.05. It is to approve the 2026 state of Minnesota boat and water safety grant agreement. >> Yeah, I just Commissioner W. >> Yeah, I have a question. I I thought we approved something. Is this a second? We
did some vote to see safety. >> Yeah, we have one. >> Okay. A question is on page 151. What membership dues and fees? What are we members of for $270? >> 171. Marcia,
>> uh, page >> 151. Oh, I'm sorry. I mean, I thought it was strange. I mean there's equipment, there's training, there's building, but what am I paying dues and fees for? What what do I get a card to go somewhere? Three pass to do use the river or something.
>> This is what we're asking them to give us in the grant. So >> So we send >> you go to please for the river. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Um so for our water patrol for the last few years, we've only had one one officer. Troy Lee Freed has been the
only guy. can't fill the position. But uh when we when we uh reassigned Robbie Beth this year, we sent him to training to cover water patrol laws and how to operate the boat safely. So that's part
of that training. So we're asking the state to reimburse us for those those kind of fees, costs and fees. >> Okay. It just looks very odd on there. All right. Move to approve. I'll second.
>> I'm gonna give it >> there's benefits to membership. I want to know if >> Mr. Ward and you guys both seconded it, so I'm going to give it to Commissioner. Okay. So, Commissioner Ward, >> I make it count. >> Okay. Is there any further discussion? >> I just wanted to say how blessed we are
that we can throw names out in our county and we know who we're talking about because there's a lot of counties we would not have that conversation. We would have no idea who that person is if we were in the metro. We're so disconnected and how fortunate we are to know people.
That's it. >> And I'll just say we've been really lucky that Troy stayed on with us for over 25 years. >> Oh, 100%. Who was out during the fireworks? >> Uh Troy and Ben actually. >> Oh, Ben was >> Yeah, Ben was with >> I saw they had a stop a barge out there.
>> Oh, really? >> Almost hit that or that boat almost got hit. Yeah, >> that tugboat came up. Okay. So, Commissioner Ward moved. Commissioner Begley seconded approval of the 2026 state of Minnesota boat and water safety grant agreement. Is there any further discussion?
Hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. If anyone's opposed, saying nay. >> Motion carries. Okay. We move on to item 8.1. Appoint the board of adjustment layers on to the planning commission. Boy, this kind of
late in the year for this do. Yes, we we did not end up having a board of adjustment meeting until March and then with the second cyber security event, it kind of slipped through the cracks and uh as we were double-checking, we realized we needed to get that before
you. So, uh so the board of adjustment did u vote to reappoint Jordan Potter uh as the liaison to the planning commission. Um so this is just formality to complete that process. >> I'll second that.
Okay, Commissioner Ward, did you have He does an excellent job. >> He does. Okay. Okay. Motion by Commissioner Elsing, seconded by Commissioner Begley to go ahead and appoint Jordan Potter uh as the board of adjustment layers on to the planning commission. Is there any further discussion?
Hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> If anyone's opposed, say nay. >> Motion carries. Item 8.2. appoint two county board members to the joint airport zoning board. Now, I will point out that
>> you haven't ever met. >> No, we haven't this year, but we uh we changed some of our positions and we agreed that you would be the person on that board, but apparently, >> which still never happened. >> Yeah, >> that's right. Because >> I actually wrote that down because I was kind of curious myself.
>> Not the same terms, right? though it doesn't come up and but I'm happy to give you my position on that board >> if we change um >> so is that >> the resolution? >> Yeah. So, we need a motion to do that. >> Yeah. >> I'm not going to motion it myself. >> I'll move to approve Commissioner Eline.
Commissioner Olsen, are you okay? >> Sure. >> Okay. I'll move to approve Commissioner Eline and Commissioner Olsen to be appointed to the Joint Airport zoning board. >> I'll second. I will advocate that it that the does this airport accept small commercial jets
>> to a certain size. It there's no contract, but you can land you can land I'll check it out. >> You ain't going to get a 737. I've flown I'm a I've been a pilot. I used to fly out of there for years. >> If I want to catch a ride someday, I can land. >> Got really good brakes. They won't go
into the rhubarb with a drink. I'll tell you that. >> It's actually more the concrete is the issue. We were meeting during the pandemic. Isn't that right, Commissioner Olsson? >> Yeah, because they redid the zoning because it wasn't in compliance with the emergency area. Yeah. Right. But other
than that, in the eight years, it's never met except for that. So, >> okay. So, uh, Commissioner Vegley has moved. Commissioner Myers seconded appointing two county board members to join the airport zoning board. And those two members are, uh, Commissioner Elsing and Commissioner Olsen. Any further
discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. >> If anyone's opposed, please say nay. Motion carries. Okay. Receive information and discuss awarding the 2027 to 2031 recycling
services contract. And we're not making a decision. We're just discussing it. >> We have brought this up kind of >> in continuence. Correct. >> Right. So, so, um, we did take the recycling, uh, contract out for, uh,
request for proposals. We had four contractors who attended the pre-bid meeting and we received two bids. Uh, so what you have in your board packet uh, is a summary of the bids. We did have a
slight bid anomaly um with one of the contractors where they mistook um how to the the price that they entered for the commercial and and multifamily um 96gallon cart. So um
>> what was highlighted at >> that's what that is what is highlighted. So if we if we discontin you know take it given the bids that were received um Harters was the apparent low bidder uh Hill Topper did come in with disregarding
the anomaly they were 216,000 higher in bid um with dividing their monthly bid that they had submitted in half um that would take the contract cost up to 256. 6 256,000.
Now, that would not address the monthly serviced and monthly serviced and weekly service carts, which would still provide an issue, but given the the other factors and the review of the other u um qualifications that we reviewed in in
the process, it seems a fairly moot point. We have a we have a a competent bid uh at at uh over 200,000 lower. >> Go. Please go ahead. Commissioner,
>> do do these bids address containers? Uh do we buy them? Do they replace them if they damage one? We we uh yes the all of that is included in the the request for proposals as well as in the contract um which was part of the request for
proposals. Um Winona County owns its bin its containers. Uh we we currently do routine replacements. So we we budget money annually for a certain amount of replacements.
um the multifamily sites and the commercial sites. Uh the contractor provides those containers. >> Mr. Ward, >> property tax, you get a line item on your property taxes for this. Um is that what we're collecting there? Is that
still covering this service or >> I'm I'm I'm hopeful. Yes. based on the based on the bid. Uh essentially for many of the categories, um the price for 2026 will be repeated in 2027 with a a 1
cent increase on many areas and a slight reduction on the uh two-year dumpsters for multifamily and and the commercial collection. >> Now, the commercial and multif family, they they pay more. Correct. >> Yes. Yes. ba based on based on size. It is it is tiered the number of solid
waste fees they that they pay. So we're >> they monitor where these bins are if they're I I did they collect per bin or I know some households don't use them. Um was on a bike ride today at our county shop in Nodine. There's a little blue bin back around the corner by the
big dumpster. There was a couple pieces of cardboard in there. I just don't know that we it justifies having a blue bin if they come pick it up or not. that that is actually for the for the uh the county service for for the the maintenance shop. Uh the other container
for the that that had been requested for the residents for recycling drop off still exists there. Yes. And that that would that would increase the frequency at which that that that container is on call. So if we were picking up a aard
container every two weeks or something then it would be much more expensive. So which is why we provide the 96gallon cart for the highway shops use. It's at a overall it's at a lower cost to the county by utilizing a smaller container. So it
seems it seems a little counterintuitive but it is it is a better deal. >> Pop can in the bigger one and avoid the $5. >> But then we have to pull that one more frequently. Oh, we don't we don't empty that very often. >> No, you don't. I know you don't. Okay.
Well, I guess we need to analyze if that obviously you already have that that fee collected is covering the costs a little bit. >> It it you know, we are there's been a lot of changes. Uh but uh with with the pricing that came in for 2027, I feel pretty good about it right now. So on my
right, this is on page 182 and you guys have done an analysis based on this chart here >> and you assigned points and you reviewed the contracts and assides points based on a set of criteria and Harters came out with 98 and Hill Topper came out with 73.
>> Yep. >> So I've gone blank again here. >> I'd be happy to give you my copy. Yeah, >> the majority of that was related to low the the the lowest bid >> but actually yeah 25% >> and the and the rest of it was mostly
attributable to >> the uh RFP from Hill Topper did not detail >> not making the decision commissioner vaguely >> commissioner read my mind we're not so we're not making a decision tonight this is just a just an update right >> so no motions are necessary >> no >> thank you
>> I I I would make the recom recommendation to proceed with with uh executing a contract and awarding the bid. We can do that at we can do that together at the next meeting or you can I can just put it would you want it on consent for to award and then follow up
with contract. I can do it either way. >> So uh perhaps you could start start us off by telling us which of the two contractors you have a preference. >> All right. I think the harder is the clear. Um, is it okay to make a motion to Ross? Could you repeat that again?
>> Been a long day. >> Yeah, it's my recommendation would be that that um you award and execute a contract at the July 14th meeting with Harters. >> Oh, with Harters. There we go. That's >> like to make that motion. >> Second.
>> Okay. >> Okay. award and execute contract with harders of July 14th meeting. >> Okay. So, Commissioner Vagley moves. Commissioner Olsen seconds uh going ahead with a contract for Harters and to have that on the agenda at the July 14th meeting. Is there any further
discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. If >> anyone opposed, please say nay. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you, Ross. >> Thank you. Thank you, Ross. That was our last item. Oh, okay. Here we go. So, Commissioner Vegley has two comments.
>> Uh, the first deals with the law enforcement center, but it um I I'm looking forward to the discussion at our next meeting where we're going to hear an update on the studies to look at different options for the law enforcement center. >> That is our hope.
>> So, what I'm I don't want to go there. Um, but I I here's what I do want to say. I will make it clear to the public and to the city, speaking for myself only that I am still very interested in discussions and especially studying the
issue of the city and county staying together at the law enforcement center. Um if there's been any um mixed messages that city council has received or has perceived um I speak for myself only. I am very interested um in
continuing uh to explore the possibility of the county and city uh staying together. I don't have enough information to make an informed decision yet. Uh we need that study, but I think that what might be in the best interest, better services at a lower cost would be to have the city and county stay
together. So, I just want to say that speaking for myself only. And then for secondly, I'm going to I want to try to connect three dots. Um, item 7.3 was the cattle pass replacement, $62,000. >> Yes.
>> Library funding, $76,000. And July 4th, I'm going to connect July 4th. Library funding and cattle pass replacements. We do need to replace cattle passes. >> July 4th. >> July 4th in terms of the 250th anniversary. >> The shirt you're wearing. Yeah.
>> The pin I'm wearing. So, um, here's the connection. Um, we need to replace expensive cattle passes and we need to invest in libraries because our public libraries are one of the pillars of this beautiful fragile thing that we call American democracy. Public libraries,
public schools, public services. So, I think it was I enjoyed all the input and discussion tonight. Um, and I want to just remind everyone again of every July 4th is a special birthday, but this is an extra special birthday. This country
was founded to as a protest against kings and I'm worried that so many people today seem to want another king. Um uh I am so very proud of our American history and our heritage and I hope people take a m
moment to reflect. I'm glad to see some of the 250th um um signage popping up and people um us often in the form of advertising or new sales promotions, but I I love the fact that some people I think are more aware of how special this next birthday is in July. That's it.
Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And we do need cattle pass replacements and we need to fund our libraries. >> Commissioner Ellson. >> Yeah. So, a couple things on the docket. Uh thank Mr. Bameick for bringing these u up today. Um, just had the privilege
to honor a couple scenarios here in the county or ces ceswis ces 10. There we go. We said it. >> Senator >> said it earlier. Uh, it's it's a big one, but 150 years for the beaver out dairy. Uh, that's up in the northern
part of the county. It's a spelts family up there. I believe originally might have been Leo's. Um, so hard to believe 150 years for that. So, and then also on the Century Farm side uh was the Heim uh farms in St. Charles. So, 1921 and uh
the other one is 1876. Can you believe that? It's insane. So, country was 100 years old. So, um just thank you to the fine folks that um you know obviously have been farming all these generations and feeding us. So, uh next thing I wanted to bring up kind of
goes hand in hand a little bit with that is the fair. uh that's coming up. Uh make mention of that uh usually two months in advance. So I encourage everybody to uh uh be a part of that. Um take a look at the 4 stuff, attend uh attend the fair uh activities that are
there. It's what keeps it going. And we have a we're very fortunate to have a very well attended fair and uh so just hope everybody can be there. So thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Ward. Okay. Uh first thing uh with and I think they all know
the library. One of the things that I would like is we appoint a person to represent us on the library the south library board and I I'm at a loss who that person is. Um we do and I would I would like that person see I think some
of the miscommunication is that you know we don't >> number of years ago we used to pick and choose each library and gave them staff allocated dollars to each one u the last many years we give the total sum to now
is Celco going to change any of the funding I have no idea um are other counties you know and other organizations that fund them in a budget I think we should get a report. I would like to ask for a report from our Selco representative from Winona County to
clarify how they determine funding because it may not be in our in our hands. Um if if we even give them the same that we've always given them, they may have to shuffle things around. I don't know. >> So, we have that information already. I can get that out the board. >> But I would like this person to come to
us >> and give us a little >> So, you want the so representative? >> I think so. I think it's only fitting that >> I get them a cop. >> Again, we don't even know who that person is, but we appoint them. >> Okay. Are you asking for like a second? >> Yes. >> Okay. I'm open to having a Celco
presentation. We had one once. I remember now. >> Again, I mean, I don't want it to be out of our hands. If it is, it is. I mean, but we should know. So, that's one thing. And then, uh, I know Commissioner Meyer and I attended and then it was, um, Eugene Hansen, um, data centers.
There was a presentation at in this uh happened to be in Lewon. It was a University of Minnesota um presentation. It was it was interesting. It was like how decisions are made, but uh I don't think I heard it there, but I think I heard it there's a lot of talk about data centers across the nation and
everything. And the library people probably wouldn't like this, but they said data centers, think of them as libraries with lots of books on them. I don't know if I can agree with that, but it What's a data center? it's got all the, you know, it's on shelves and it's,
you know, that's a comment that somebody made. So, data centers and I know we're going to be discussing that at the planning um and a lot of communities um are looking at them and trying to the discussion was how do you who are the players that make the decisions and how do you make the decisions?
>> Are you going to shack on Thursday? >> I am planning on it. Yes. Public health. Um I don't keep telling them we need more clean water money. >> Do Oh, you have one. >> I have one thing. Yes. Okay. I want to talk about the spongy moth treatments.
So the department of eggs sent out these cards. I got one at my house because Winona is one of the areas. Um and so they are going to start on the 24th and they may be starting in like on that in the mornings as early as 6:30 and going
throughout the day. the treatment. I know. I swear that I see I've received Sunday. >> They Yeah, I received phone calls Sunday morning. >> So, their press release says not until Wednesday the 24th, but I agree with you because I saw them during the parade lineup for Steamboat Day.
>> I got two phone calls. >> At any rate, um if you didn't get a card, you can Google this, but then they can text you. There's a phone number. Then they'll text you the exact information about your area. So, just wanted to inform people about that.
um in case they see planes flying over it. >> Real quick, just on that as a reminder, and I had to refresh myself, it's a phenol they're spraying and all it does is just confuse so they can't mate. >> Yeah. And it's not toxic to humans. >> One of the growers was organic and
that's concerned. >> Our business for the day. >> Second. >> Okay. Commissioner Olsson moves. Elsing seconds adjournment. Any discussion? All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> Anyone oppose say nay. We are adjourned.