So, this is a budget working session. We got a bunch of new papers. Uh Moren, >> yeah. >> Or Bill, do you have you want to start us off? >> Yeah, absolutely. Um, great. Thanks for uh being here and continuing to pay some
attention and uh provide some feedback and guidelines for us. Um, so as uh Chris mentioned, you do have a lot of paperwork in front of you. So since um we met last on the 24th of February um there's been some focus on applying the
guiding principles um to current practice. Um and we'd probably um you know do it some justice to walk through some of those items in packet one and two as we go along. Please provide comment, feedback, questions because I
you don't want to hear my voice. Um we want to hear yours. So, we're looking for active engagement um to assist with our decision making. Um >> yeah. So, if we as we're going through this, if we decide we don't we have take issue with the guiding principles or we
want to add things to the guiding principles or whatever, you would encourage us to do that, right? >> Absolutely. >> Got it. >> Yep. Yep. So that feedback is what helps um you know provide followup or answers or uh questions that uh you know may
exist that we don't know about. Um and then you know we'll hear from Jill a little bit later. Um, and this is somewhat cliche, but I like to do it is to begin with the end in mind. Um, that we're looking for feedback and direction. Um, so that when we get to
April, um, to look at, you know, where we are in 2026 with the budget as well as progress that, um, we potentially have made on items discussed today or in the past. um and then just how we get um
additional direction on some of the mandates and functions that have been provided. So that's kind of my um uh welcome and intro. But if we were to look at um the packet one that was
distributed um on March 6th, we have um you know a little bit of dialogue about what we've been doing um you know utilizing the um guiding principles to uh apply to certain examples.
>> I apologize. Are we on a page or not? So this is board pack page one >> one >> packet one >> not really a page on it I guess >> packet one packet one >> in the back >> not a page >> head all the way to the back >> oh okay >> packet one package
>> new packets >> page one or >> page one >> oh yeah I guess page >> three but one and two >> anyway >> by Louis >> updated and good job >> yep that's right
>> so Um we've applied some of the guiding principles to some certain examples to give some specifics. Um those uh are detailed in the rest of packet one. Um you know provided that uh people have had an opportunity to look at those. Um
it it really just was a um practice um of applying the guiding principles and actions and recommendations that were provided to us. But they're real. >> They're real. >> You didn't make up anything. You didn't make up the numbers. >> Nope.
>> Okay, that's good. That's good to know. I assumed they were real. >> And it's page 10 on the agenda. Those who also want to follow along online. >> Thank you. >> That's what I I looked at the online version. This is my first time seeing the hard copy, but yeah.
>> Yes. So that would be um the application um you know if you look at the example B um that tells about um you know an exercise in review of EDA for example. So you know there's there's three
specific examples that were utilized um given the approach of things that were discussed um back in February. Um we've provided some look at metrics. So the metrics that we used um where it
made sense. Sometimes the metrics of taxable property parcels and population don't make sense. So we have to look at what um you know we have for actual numbers of people served by um those programs. So that is incorporated in the
very big documents that are behind packet 2. Um so if we looked at a couple of areas that um really needed some conversation um the feed lot program um we provided details and information on
that um you know and if there were to be any considerations on feed lot um there's going to need to be a uh period of time that would take to implement some of those suggestions concerns otherwise um and similarly for license
centers These are things that have been um discussed in the past. Were you going for something wrong? >> Yeah, the the feed lot one I didn't see the same breakdown. >> I don't think they did it yet. >> No. >> So, they told the feed lot and the license center are two specific areas
that the board asked us to gather information, bring it back so that you could talk about it. Yep. >> So, we didn't do the analysis um because we really need to first see what your direction is. >> Sure. And those are two programs that we
can one turn back to the state or sell uh release our either respons privatized. >> Yeah, they can be private >> in the license center. I did reach out some well-known people that I know up in Homestead County that own several and you know they said I just said hey would
you know we kicked this idea ideas around I didn't you know put anything in sort of certainty. They said that they weren't interested, but they know somebody else that might be and I don't I don't know who they are, but there is interest. You know, people are looking for these opportunities. >> Yeah, I talked to a gentleman and I have
it in my notes somewhere that was Yeah. very interested. >> You gave it to me. Yes. >> Um there would be three things at least for me questions that I would want answered before I could make a decision. Well, maybe four. Okay. I would say how many we'll see come right.
>> No. Um about the license bureau. Okay. So the first one is that I I would want us to have a conversation with the city since they would be offered >> and see because if they said to me, you know, I think we'll take it, that would ease all my fears, right? Um the second
and third are that if I we've been told that uh the state would make sure there was one in the county, >> I would want to know for sure that's true. And then I assume it would probably be here because the center population is here. Um, I guess if there was any way to get information about how
they make that decision, that would be really helpful for me in terms of feeling better about it. Um, so I would want to know those things before I uh, you know, move forward with a decision.
>> So in 2023, we did get that affirmation, but we can follow up again and ensure that it's still true. >> Okay. One of the other big things that I I know in the post office world, if you go online and buy something, a local post
office that you designate gets the credit, which is interesting. >> Okay. >> Um I don't know if it works the same way when we mail your tabs in. >> I don't know if it works that way. And I've been curious about that if there's
any sort of kickback, you know, for the county or, you know, if somebody goes here and goes to Rochester and gets tabs and they live in Winona County, is there a kickback? Do you see where I'm going with that? What what what are the true financials that are responsible for driving that?
Is it walk-in traffic only? How's that work? >> You actually pay more for in-person service. I just got tabs and it said it was like a I told Marine it was like a 2% >> more fee for having inerson service
versus mailing it in. Um but on the other hand, how >> is our center doing it or is that all centers? >> That was uh Houston County. Um but it that just said versus mailing it in. So it's almost like the state's
encouraging you to bypass. I'm going with it be was more important. But how can look at it a different way? How how are ones that are profitable being profitable other than we pay rent? If we had that in-house, would it be
profitable? Um, I know that we were we operated in the black and then we went to the red and then we're still in the red, but other counties are doing it having county employees with, you know, wages
and benefits, retirement. Um, >> they're better jobs. >> Better jobs than they're making money. >> Think they're making money. If you know of counties that are making money, please let me know. I mean, I will I will say that when I when I brought this up at Micah,
>> several other counties that were there at the table, including like Washington and Dakota, said, "Oh, yeah, we subsidize it." And the legislator that was there talking with >> I think shine light on this. I own 60 licensed vehicles.
I don't even know, be honest with you. They come to me if I want them to come to me because we're a huge account. Calonia Hollers walks in a million dollars out of crack. They go to a private person because they're going to sit down and guide them
through. They're going to come to you because they're getting paid every time these transactions. So, the customer service I think is completely different in a private scenario than in a maybe necessarily a public scenario. I don't think we service like that.
And I mean if I could begin to tell some of the iosyncrasies how they could be profitable and entice you to come to them rather than going online because they're going to do the paperwork. They're going to help you do things. They do a lot >> with managing like all our trucks and
fleets and I ifas and all that stuff where there's a lot of personal service there that probably doesn't exist necessarily on the government. >> Yeah. So, we did do a lot of this in 2023 and we have contacts we can
reaffirm the information we received before is still accurate. >> Um, but if you have questions such as the ones that were just posed, please let us know so that we can get the information back to the board for further consideration. >> Um, I really prefer not to keep going
back, going back, going back. If we could, >> you know, compile those questions would be helpful. One of the big things is that um the city of Lac Crescent does it and they had one outstanding person that ran it for years. I mean, she could
multitask and do so many things and she got you in and out. When she retired, unfortunately, they replaced her with two people. I think the level of staffing is what's critical as far as trying to make it profitable. Um and I don't know how many we currently employ.
Um >> five or six something. Yeah, that that's for our size of county and service area that to me it feels like we're over staffed. I don't know. >> They do over 50,000 transactions a year. >> Yeah. >> But I guess that would be a comparison
to like the Washington counties and such that you know that are >> and that falls at the auditor treasures department. >> Yeah. >> So I remember when Mr. Fritz was here that he added more staff out there. >> We added one. Mhm. That's true.
>> Mhm. >> Because it paid for itself. We were told. I mean, so it whoever's telling the story seems to spin a different tail. Um, >> and and was that because I I think maybe the workload for all these uh what real
IDs has that minimized? I mean, there was a big influx of of that workload. I don't know if that's changed or not, >> but that's pretty simple. I mean, I just I just had my license renewed, passport, gas bill from the house, and done. I mean, it wasn't any
>> Well, there for a while, they had to you had to have a multitude of documents and had to verify and people would show up at the desk and not have something. >> True. >> That's just a vote. >> Well, they should to vote. They should. Absolutely. >> And the DOT changed because you got Actually, that was for a DOT slre, not
the chipped one, but you know, >> but I that's one thing that I I don't know. If you did, you would do this full list this analysis like you have done for these other things and you would >> if you desire us to do that. >> Yeah, we can. >> I think so. >> Yeah, I think we need to look at that.
>> Absolutely. >> So, I guess I >> I do feed lot now too. >> Yeah, I look to you in terms of how you'd feel about the feed lot officer because that is your I I honestly feel like your constituents would be more concerned about that than the people in the east end of Win. Before we go to the
feed lot, since you before we move on, two more questions for the license center, um, is can we require that it be in in Winona County, which I think you've already answered. And if the idea is to provide better service at a lower price, if it's not better service and
it's not a lower price, could we >> Well, lower price, you mean to the consumer? I don't think the consumer changes, right? >> Other than >> maybe better service and a better at a lower price. But if that doesn't happen, could we take it back later on? Could we decide that we want it back? I don't know if that's the case or not, but that's
>> I bet not. But good great great question. >> Two questions that I have and then I'll I'll be done for tonight. >> Might get an opportunity to get it back if they say, "Hey, we're not making any money or making enough." >> They're going to want the little bit that I know is that there's pretty much
a preset fee for every transaction. Like you're you're paid so much for every single thing, right? So, and I believe in the commercial side is where a lot of that comes into play. But to entice the commercial side, why why I shouldn't throw names, but why does a person from
way over here driving way up there to go get everything done? It's service. Somebody's somebody's managing it for him and doing a lot of stuff in the background to get that transaction. So, people are driving to other locations
based on this concept. So, Why I go to Homemstead County >> analysis then? So if you do think of other questions in between, please send them so that we can include it in our analysis. >> Okay. >> Oh, I guess the one other question was
uh okay. So I I know that the the city, you know, like splits the cost with us on the Great River Rail membership and some other like is it if they feel strongly if the city of Winona if they as a government unit feel strongly enough about keeping it here that they'd
be willing to split the whatever the cost. >> Yeah. >> You're talking about the license >> like if it's 48 or whatever and they would service. >> Yep. if they would be willing to help us make up the difference. >> Yeah. And I'm not, you know, I'm not,
for me, it's not about I wished it was profitable somehow. That's the thing, you know, and I think there's a certain amount of enticement to get people to come in to a government facility versus a non-government and it's going to be that customer service
>> especially being our tabs in the state of Minnesota are amongst the highest in the nation and it can't make money doing it. papers this week. >> We fixed the parking lot is fixed. That should do it. >> Yeah, that was long. >> All right. Office. >> We didn't even go there because of that feed lot.
>> You want this, Marcia? >> Yes. >> PJ. >> And Ross says here, "If you have specific questions on, >> how many new feed lots have we permitted in the last five years?" I think I know the answer to that
question. But at least one >> new or expansion new. I said new. >> Yeah, it would be more more expansion. >> Yeah, >> the there have been a number of registration increases uh particularly this last year number of head has has
increased >> and when they reach uh the magic number the state pretty much thousand >> animal unit. Yeah, >> but they changed they they changed that now. Did they? Wasn't there some changes in that? >> Not that I'm aware of. No, >> I thought they reclassified Eric Hilkkey
called me and he was talking about they reclassified how they're doing those kayos and animal units and what they register a cow as. Now, >> um Brian is up up at Macau conference today and tomorrow. So, he if there's some updates,
>> I didn't know anything about it first heard. That was a conversation last Friday. I mean, I think if we did decide to do it, it might be good for staff to do a presentation at the township officers meeting or something. I mean, I asked about it at soil water and I got
answers on both sides. Um >> I think the biggest thing so I mean the the the unfiltered truth to me is it's perception of what our role of government is in
agriculture. If that person is looked at with a badge and a gun, they're going to say go away. If they're looked at as I'm here to help you, they're going to say come on in. And so that can change from
I think agendas on board members. It can change from person to person that sit in that position. It can change from state regulation. It can change based on what that person is put into. Right? So I could see how it could be very
beneficial. Why did we see a rise in expansion this year? Not in the dairy sector, but probably in the beef sector. We'll buy a pound of hamburger. Okay, there's money in it. Now, watch what's going to happen. Eventually, that's going to go this way because the market
saturation will come in and then we won't see that anymore, which justifiably we don't have the permits. We don't have the expansion because now you could then you could say, well, dairy is going this way. There's a limited app and all that. What does that look like? I could see in 10 to 20 years
um unfortunately being more of a corn bean county because we are losing animals. So it might naturally degrade itself out anyway as we get into this cycle of where's the dairy going and
when beef isn't profitable you just see the animals go away which means the third row crop rotations go away. So it takes so much alalfa to feed a cow. Doesn't matter what cow it is. So um you know whether they're segregated in an area or spanned across everywhere,
there's a certain amount of third crop that's going to get put in and there's a certain amount of people that need to regulate it. As we see the amount of farms go backwards, which is the trend, I think you're going to see less of us need for a feed lot officer. >> Well, the guys at soil water, they thought probably is it Mark Gernest?
>> Yeah. >> Used to be used to be. Yeah. They thought it would fall back to him and then some of them liked him and some of them didn't and that depended on what they thought about >> where I get my comments from >> whether we should have or not have the feed lot operator. So, but that falls the same currently. I mean, a lot of
people like Carly McGinty and Brian uh they don't they don't know who he >> don't know him and such. One of the things that would be part of the decision here is um looking at page 17 of the packet here and and we did this
and I don't you know we we >> took the manure management dollars and gave them to soil and water conservation district to do the manure management things but on on page 1917.1 I'm wondering if we did this right the grantee shall neither assign or transfer any rights or obligations under this
grant contract agreement without the prior consent of the state and fully executed agreement exe executed and approved by the authorized parties or their successors. So, did we do that right? >> Had had we contracted out the entire program, I think is what that language
is referring to. We did we did um we did run the the contracted manure management, educational work and and site work through through the through the agency and they did approve that. >> Well, so if we're getting money to do don't we get and I I don't think it was in here. we get a certain amount of
money to have a feed lot officer correct from the state. So we got to see >> what like I think it's less than 50% >> uh the 50/50 match plus then then on top of that there is minimum program requirement funding that comes that that
uh improves the the cost to the county as well as performance credit money. So, um, in in a well operated program, you can you can start reducing th those those numbers don't count against the county's 50/50 match. So, you can you
can actually improve your what what the county is actually contributing. >> Is it a based on a full-time physician or a 7.5? I mean, what's the match based on? We have to have it designated full-time. That's all they do. >> Can this person >> he does other stuff? No, it's it's it's
it's it does not have to be and and I'm working on we'd had this discussion previously and I am starting to reallocate there is some capacity and Brian that we can we can utilize some other grant funds. >> Well, and so I had conversation just last night with uh Houston County
Commissioner and you know it's for the reasons you said every county is being faced with this. Are animals going to go away? It's going to eb and flow and such. So, I don't know if there's any uh capacity in the neighborhood. I mean, I don't know. Does Wabashaw have a full-time, Filillmore, Houston, uh
Olmstead, do they have full-time feed lot officers? >> I compared a little bit when I sat on the whitewater board or when I sat on the SWCD board. We saw the joints the joint power aspect where rather than having somebody hired as you know a designer for every location we started
to go to the JP authority if I remember right all the acronyms that one person would work with a bunch of counties you know and I think is that what you're alluding to because it just wasn't enough for that one person >> right and if you if you become good at something you know why have 10 people
half good at something have one or two people in the neighborhood really good at their job. >> I guess the short answer on this, you ask me my opinion. I don't see the dire need to get rid of it, but I do see down the road if we don't keep our animals.
Yep. Um eventually it could for sure start spanning through multiple counties or we could look for a contract higher situation to do it for other counties or whatever that might be. >> As as the revenues reduce, we will
>> make sure that we're offsetting those. chill is I think the urgency that the administration is trying to push on us. The very first page of this shows that with health insurance, wages, SNAP, not even including the act, we're
already looking at almost a 10% levy. >> If you include the act, it's 11% levy. >> So I assume we'll be in a position looking for a million2 million dollars of savings in a few months. So the question is would I I feel like this
year I'm going to be asked to give up some things I don't want to give up. I'd rather not give up the license bureau at all, but I'm con I'm willing to consider it. I get that's the question I guess is would you be willing to consider this or no? So, if I could also guide you to page 18 of packet two because that is
the larger spreadsheet that will demonstrate the expenditures if you will and it's highlighted in kind of a bold color because it's not mandatory. >> Are you looking at the bottom here?
>> So, it's packet two. >> It's one of the big foldout. >> One of the big fold up. Okay. Gotcha. to it. >> It says on it board of commissioners, >> natural resources. >> Okay. Natural >> that has the funding in there, but it
doesn't have the match funding taken back down. Is that correct? >> Natural resource. Okay, here we go. I'm finally there. >> So, the non- levy funding, >> I would say that that's what we're funding. Or is that No, >> no, >> no.
>> That's what's coming in as revenue in some fashion. The 68 is levy. 68,000 is levy. Okay. >> So, >> okay. >> Arguably 60% of the program 70 62% of
the programs paid. >> Yep. >> I And I go back to >> follow that where we were on the street. >> I'm sorry. If I go back to if this person this could be a phase out position but
it could be a phase into something else. In other words, as this person that if that we don't know we don't well I we do know what the trend is right now. Um but it's animals are the number of farms are decreasing with animals on them. The
animals are staying about the same. So I look at as that job is going to be phasing further and further down to continue to review. But if that person can be a dual purpose person that's a pretty cheap person at 60% of the whole
thing and we look at really one person for the amount of revenue I guess farmers produce and the tax base for the county and to really have one person representing all that. pretty efficient even at a 40% rate. 60 60% of it's paid
for. >> Brain has been engaging in a number of educational activities with the proposed rule changes. He's been breaking some of those down to try to help help make that more understanding. I know he did send out a mailing on Monday >> uh breaking down some of that information for the producers, trying to
give them just kind of a more brief breakdown so they understand here's what here's what this means to you. So uh you know that is our first our first uh purpose with the program is to assist the producers. Obviously there's
oversight that goes along with it as well. Uh but it is it has an educational focus. >> What's the direct what's what's his time spent between right now? Is it all is it 100% feed lot? Is it >> right now uh with the retirement of the
water planner? He is covering some water planning activities. uh he's doing some training in in uh he has a background for literature in in the well program. >> Uh so we are we're looking at >> 6040.
>> I think we can right now I think I have him in about uh 75% at feed and that's that's not in the budget yet but um that's where that's where I've got him worked at. >> 70s 52. So it's okay. >> So you hit another one though. Water
planner. What do we really need? Oh, >> how much do we need a water planner for? I I know we've had retirements and such and I'm not sure. I mean, we disbanded the joint the Whitewater group, >> not officially. >> I mean, how much how much planning do you need to do with water? >> I don't you know,
>> a lot of this falls there there's recordkeeping and reporting that's required under the natural resources block grant which funds a great number of programs uh including septic, shoreland, a lot of it mandated. So there they're we have to track all of
that information. There's every every uh every payroll that has to be accounted for that has to be assembled and those those do need to be tracked and >> that we get reimbured for their time >> payroll. You mean keeping track of what their >> time >> where their time is being attributed to.
We have to all >> a lot of bus lot of I'm sorry it sounds like a lot of busy work. >> Well so this is what I allude to. You know, I always look when it's you writing the checks out, you know, is this a $5 an hour job or $100 an hour job? You know, anymore is probably $20 and $100. But that's what I always look
at. You know, do we have the right person on the right job? Do we have a $80,000 a year employee doing a $40,000 a year job? You know what I mean? Basic recordeping, things like that where we have an oversight and then we got the busy bee doing the work, you know? So, as long as we don't have an $80,000 a
year job to excuse ourel into a $40,000 a year. You see I'm going you see you see yeah >> we're trying to make sure that we're maximizing our revenues and minimize >> but I mean it doesn't turn into that where we have this person we don't know what to do. So here go do this like
commissioner Ward says go do this busy work just to give you something to do. You know, >> sounds like maybe you're not interested in having admin do the analysis about getting regular feed lots through that you've >> I just think for the value what it is in such a big part of the tax base. I mean,
we're looking at an employee right now that's only 40% of the cost and 75% of that 40%. It's a pretty low thing to kick them to the curb on true cost because then it's the replacement also
of what they're doing on the water side. We've got to figure out who's going to do that. So if we eliminate the position, we're not just eliminating that, we're also eliminating the potential for the other side, too. So I'd say right now it's probably not the best thing to do. Yeah. >> But I think there what we're being asked
I think that administration and Ross as a department head would figure out how to reposition his staff. >> Maybe wouldn't even you know we would Bri, it's not about Brian particularly. It's about that position in terms of the
duties of the feed lot officer. Maybe he'd be reassigned to do other stuff. >> It's actually about the program. >> Yeah, exactly. >> Does the board want to continue actually doing the program here at Winona County or do you want it to go back to the state? That's really the
question. I really prefer that we not get into people or or position. >> And I'm not it's not people, it's just position specific. Hey, it could be anybody. name somebody in the position. I'm looking at ratios of time spent, what they are, the value to the community, >> cost effectiveness, >> the cost effectiveness. It's it has
nothing to do with a person. That's why I've not said what, you know, is that person good at something. I'm just saying what do they do? How do they spend their time? And are they the right person for their job doing what they're doing, right? Regardless of who the person is. So, >> well, people are b our biggest expense.
So all this reporting which I understand the state mandates and everything is that and we use an AI function to do that stuff versus people. I mean I mean seriously as as Josh said do you have a you know an $80,000 employee doing
$40,000 you know work and >> especially when you're worried about fraud. No, you probably don't want that. >> Well I don't know. I you know again we have to look at how we do those things having a person sit there and justify hours and pay and and stuff. I mean if it's a clerical function you know
>> there's a combination there there are clerical I I also have uh the support staff also handling part of it. So it's it's it's not just one it is you know where the the duties are divided among multiple people. So there is also a familiarity because when we do lose
staff, we've had people so pigeonholed that that when that person left, we were we were left scrambling trying to pick up. >> Well, I guess I I would leave it at this. We can move on the subject, but I would leave it at this. If we're if if this person is weaponized, I can tell
you right now the committee is going to say get rid of that person. If that person is perceived as I'm here to help you, they will embrace that person, especially as more and more mandates are coming down. That is the that is the feedback that I've heard in the country show >> that in >> literally >> honestly that what Steve Jacob used to
say is that he felt like if it was our employee >> all the producers would be more comfortable >> if they're not weaponized. It doesn't matter who they're from. If they feel they're a threat they don't care. I don't care who you come from. You come from he could be my brother. I think
he's a threat. You're not coming on my farm. >> Right. >> Yeah. So >> we always approach all of our activities to educate. Our citizens are not our enemies. >> Well, right now the common consensus I know when Carly was here was absolutely come on in. You know, I I don't know haven't heard a whole lot of feedback
and I'm not going to talk specific. I know Carly enough to be able to say that. So, but that would be the governing factor and honestly that could be a moving target. Like I said from the very beginning, where I'm going with this is is I'll put some feelers out. I'll ask some people, get their opinion,
and I'll get back to you. >> So, in the interest of time, for the commissioners who have not yet chimed in on the BE thought program, do you have thoughts? Just we have a lot to cover. >> Oh, for as long as I've sat at this table, I've heard I've heard this that
you don't have to worry about the feed lots that the state is governing that they're in charge of, the bigger ones. You have to worry about those little guys. Um, we've all been told that. We've been told that by the big producers, >> ever Ralphing. Yeah.
>> Um, so are we cutting ourselves short by saying we we, you know, we're going to save money, but we're going to not worry about the pollution or their operations of the littleer guys that we do manage
now. So, um, and I do think that I've never known our staff to be weaponized by any commissioner, but, um, I have never heard that before until today. But I think that, you know, anybody in
an enforcement position can approach it as a helpful manner to work through things or as a, you know, >> yeah, when when violations are are noticed during during inspections, it it's it's from an educational approach,
>> chance to repair. And yeah, so that so my opinion is if we indeed still have a need for it, that need didn't change. um our ability to fund the need has changed, but the need is still there. >> Correct.
>> I'll just add that I'm glad that you refocused this. I feel like I feel like you're two teachers working with a classroom full of 88 88. >> Start with something and we go like 10 different directions. I call the Marshall the Marshall Ward effect. We go or whatever else, right? But we cover a lot of ground and that that's good. So,
but you just need to like get a starting point from us. You're not asking make a decision, right? So, I don't feel like I have enough information to make an informed decision. I'm very interested, Josh, and what you find out. Um, I want to hear that. I also would like to hear um what you two and what Ross and anybody else in Wanda, what they think
the pros and cons are, and if you even have a recommendation, you know, feel brave to make a recommendation. We don't obviously need to follow it, but like what do you think? What are the pros? What are the cons of keeping the program? I need more information to make an informed decision and I'm really interested in what you personally have
to say, but also what you get from other folks as well too. So, >> and can we regulate the 10 chickens within the city of Winona? >> Well, well, no rooster. No roost. >> Let's not go there. Let's suppose >> so.
>> Well, and I would like to know what the neighborhood is doing, too. Is there any capacity? you know, is does everybody else in the neighborhood >> You mean like sharing a feed lot officer? Is that what you're talking about? >> Potentially, you know, in in all our positions. I mean, I think we need to look at our neighbors and you know, we
don't need to duplicate everything if we have if there's capacity >> when there there is not capacity. When we when we when Carly did leave, we struggled to even contract it out. Um, so there was there was no willingness to with
>> you talk to the commissioners. No, you talk to staff. So there there's a difference there. Okay. Point made. Um so on the examples A, B, and C, which is >> Were you back under packet one? >> We're back.
>> Sorry. Does the staff have what you need from us? >> Yeah. On those on these three examples, right? So >> the library. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> The EDA and then adult services, right? Which you gave us as examples,
>> right? Are they actually just illustrative or do you want us to come back with an opinion about them? >> Well, I think part of it is to walk through the example that this is approachable um not just by me or Moren
but by you all with the information provided. Um and we can't do this for the hund and some odd programs we have right like so when we ask for feedback and commentary it would be directed right um because this doesn't just
happen applying the principles right the guiding principles but >> okay so if the library is a real example I would want to know from the library if we took $76,000 away from their base you know from the funding that they have
been getting from us what that would mean for their programming. I would I would want to know that before. I'd also kind of want to know what the city thinks about it >> and city one because it's their you know
I realize our it goes towards all the libraries they make a big contribution in the facility of the Winona public library. So, if I may, um, part of the logic in
coming up with the guidelines and the criteria is so that we didn't get bogged down in some of these other different perspectives. Y, >> not that that's not important. Um, but again, the the logic was for you to have
some criteria in which you can base your decisions on. Again, however you want to do it is fine and we'll we'll get the information, but the more we go down the rabbit hole, the less we're going to be able to really achieve decisions >> right now or ever.
>> Well, potentially both. I don't know. >> Uh, okay. >> Again, I'm just >> because there certainly I mean, >> we can spend a lot of time doing a lot of gathering of information, but what are we going to do? >> Right. However, you do want to know if on any
topic where you broach it, if we have questions that I let we need to have answered in order to make that decision, you do want to know what those are. >> We do, right? >> We do. >> So, do you want to talk libraries? >> If you >> or do you want to just like have us
follow up with questions on paper for you or, you know, email you? >> I'm good either way. >> And revisit it. >> I mean, the the intent is to hear from you. You know, we we just selected and I'll be upfront. I'm the one who selected the three. Yeah. And here's my logic to it.
>> The library is a yes no mandate. Yep. >> It's a yes. You're mandated to a certain point and it's a no for the 70some,000 that you're not required to do. That's right. >> So, it's a yes, no. >> Um the economic development is 100% no.
It's not mandated. It's optional. Um the adult services again could be a yes no but we don't know that it's under analysis but it's definitely mandated and so that's why we did the analysis to show
you're required to do certain things but at what level >> okay so I was trying to show the different oh you scared me the different methods in which we are paying for things or things are paid for I should say. So the question I would have about
EDA is >> um >> I'm sorry we just hopped from Celco. That's it. >> I just asked my questions. >> Okay. >> Do you have questions? >> I just want to make sure that we're following some kind of you're trying you're trying to create a process like is this a good decision making? >> Yes. Yeah.
>> Now we're hopping all over the place again. >> So let's >> I'm fine doing whatever. >> We want both. But yes, we want to know is the process amanable to the board because we came up with guidelines and criteria and we need to know is this
suitable for your decision- making. >> I think yes. But that but I will have questions on >> it's very good information. It's the most detailed information I've had in 20 plus years. So thank you for that. >> Yep. And that agree >> and again but you're right
we we will jump all over and who supports what and everything. So, um I guess that's just >> I >> appreciate that. I really do. >> And it's good for us to understand and know that. >> Yeah. >> Um my concern is that if we spend too much time on
>> all of those details, will we get to a point of making a decision? >> Sure. >> And I don't mean me. I mean the board. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Right. >> So, we have 45 minutes for this. Thank you very much. And we do have um a couple more areas to
cover with the board. I can bring it back if you >> I would want to know if um the fees that are going to do the EDA stuff I mean you know the staff costs whatever if the main thing that the EDA does is
the loan revolving loan fund could we recoup those we charge those fees to that fund? My guess is no based on the agreement that gives deeds money. But >> well, >> Russia said no. >> Yeah.
>> Well, the EDA did have we ever asked that got started back in the flood of 07. They gave us a bunch of money and we started revolving. Um when you break it down levy cost per loan and total I mean that's a bank would not be in business doing it this way. So, if we're thinking
of a business model, have we asked, "What else can we do with that money versus a revolving loan fund?" And I don't know that I've ever heard the state tell us what we can and can't do. Maybe we have. I just didn't listen. G >> given current the current interest rate
trends. We have a lot of that those revolving funds committed. They some have not been dispersed yet, but they have been committed. Um, so the amount of available funding, I would have to check the latest budget report, but I believe it's in the 400,000 range, 4 to 500,000 range that we have left
remaining. So, um, >> so what else can I do with $400,000? I could reduce the levy considerably. >> We continue to get Well, no, I don't see you being able to do anything with it. >> Well, do we know what the state would let us do with it? Can we take it out of
revolving loan and do something else? We have that in writing. >> I suppose we can it's something we can investigate, but I think that >> we have looked ability. I've never heard anybody give me an answer. >> Well, I think we've had that answer. I think it's right in the bylaws what that
money can be used for, what it cannot be used for. Ultimately, it goes back to the state if we dissolve it. So >> I guess the bigger the bigger thing with the EDA I would hate leveraging money is how you make money,
right? That's how you make money. Go spend it gone. Can't make any money off your money. So we got there's a perfect example of but you have to understand the expense behind it. >> And if our expense to loan ratio is too high,
>> you're screwed. >> Yeah. >> Right. awfully high. >> Yeah. But government is not about making money. >> I disagree. >> No. >> 100% disagree with all of my heart and soul disagree.
>> In this in this we No, it isn't because if we have the opportunity to use >> money to help other people make money. We make money, they make money, everybody makes money. And if we dissolve the ability to do that by
liqufying or liquidating a fund, we can no longer continue to keep the machine rolling. I I disagree wholeheartedly with that. >> I don't think we are supposed to make money. I that's what EDA is for is to help businesses in the community grow.
>> It's an indirect way to make money. But if we can use money and leverage the money to make money, that is the key. invest it. It's the very thing I said with the opioid funds. All this stuff, let's create a money generating machine that indefinitely pays out to our
community rather than just figuring out how to get rid of it and having a short-term gain, long-term loss. >> To me, it's about generating a a constant stream of revenue that offsets or adds to whatever benefit for our
taxpayer. as they $100,000 and buy a bunch of beef cows and feed our prisoners and reduce. >> Amen, sister. Let's go do it right now because we can make money just just to to provide a little background here. The the revolving loan
fund is bridge funding. So when when you know so so if a borrower is not able to leverage all the whatever capital and resources they have >> they then they come to they come to the
county to provide that bridge to get to where they need to be to be able to to realize their project. Um when interest rates are low uh our interest rate has always been higher. So then then they pay pay the
county off and then that that fund replenishes um as well as the regular payments that are occurring on what >> I guess the model in my head is if you can somehow create a scenario
where whatever funds we have this would be the idea. I'm not saying we're going to get there but I would love to get there. Whatever funds you have generate enough income to begin to do something and you only leverage the income in
which it's created and then you leave a certain portion so it continues to grow to keep up with inflation. Set the inflationary factor. So something generates $50,000 a year out of three or $400,000 of the funding whatever that might be. you add your inflation factor
to it and you can only lobby back against the revenue generated. That was the way an EDA should be run. That's the way a lot of these things should be run where whatever gets put back into the pot is the only thing that can go back out.
>> So, we are not allowed to offset any of the fees for the loans against the loan fund. So, >> yeah. Yeah. But go ahead. >> Yeah. Um, so if I'm hearing
by consensus or a majority that you would like us to review it for efficiencies to see if we can lower the cost of what it's taking us to perform it. Is that what I'm hearing? >> Well, how did you come up with, you know, this is 13,000?
What what went into that figure? I don't know. Staff time or something. Then that's that's not on the it's not efficient in my quick analysis. >> We review it or efficiency and if need be we'll bring it back. Is that
workable? >> Okay. >> Yeah. The the cost per levy and then total cost 29,000. I mean yeah that's that's a lot of money to do paperwork. >> Okay. Uh Mr. Olson >> is eating but wants to share something
with us. trying to chew >> and referring to a Joshua um you're not realizing that the gains that we have in the community when we are funding a business that expands and it's growing and they're hiring more people. So
that was not enumerated in the equation. both. >> Yeah. >> Well, a good ad EDA would have those figures and facts for us to say what it has generated for every dollar spent. What's the magic number that it generated? I don't know. I guess I don't
>> Well, all I know is a couple have defaulted that we did and I I I don't know the success stories to tell you the truth. >> You know, the cost that you are have in here is are not taken into the these ways. the intangibles
of what economic development is. >> Yeah. >> Um Chris, do you think we could segue to address um Jill Chaffy >> um and her uh so if we if we were to transition to packet two?
>> Yep. There's a uh small presentation about the funding process that's found on page 50 >> because >> makes HHS funding so easy. >> That must have been add to the binder.
>> Yeah, the add to the binder was on our table. >> Yes. Thank you. All right. So, we'll we'll start at the beginning uh and have some good conversation. This is a really good example around I I just appreciate listening to the
conversation before about business models. I come from a business family. I get it and this system is not structured to I mean in so many ways and I will tell you I've
worked in a for-profit and I've I know how to make money if that's the goal of the process, right? This system is not structured to make money. And I'll I want to start it there because it's very confusing, very complex,
and I'll try to put it in terms that are pretty uh as concrete as I can because it is complicated. >> What page? >> Um we are on page 50 of packet two, >> but it looks like this. And in your packet? >> Yes.
>> I thought it's 86. >> Oh, sorry. Page 88. Yes. Of the packet. >> There's two things. There's the packet packet two number is 50. The board packet itself is >> 88. >> We're just prepping you for how
confusing this process is going to be in this discussion. If you can follow that, we can talk funding and human services. >> Got it. >> Okay. So uh basically the funding streams I want to take it I always look
at these like funnels. All right the very big picture and I'm going to acknowledge they call them different things at different levels. Doesn't make it easier. All right so the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services you might hear about as CMS. It's a portion of the
Department of Health and Human Services at the federal level. So, and it also CMS oversees Medicaid and Medicare. So, when you hear those two terms, they're two different funding streams, two different rules, two separate
requirements, but they're both overseen by CMS, which is the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. So, at the federal level, they make the general parameters and they have the federal dollars that are provided to the state to deliver services.
In Minnesota, the state receives the federal funds and they take what they need for what they refer to as supervision of the county system and then distributes the remaining funds to the county. So, that's a simple and then
we have county levy gets in the mix. Okay? Different states do this differently. I've seen it very different in very different places. Um, if you have questions as we're going through this, just ask them. I prefer it. I prefer you to have your question answered. So
>> now, um, with recent >> I'm sorry. >> Oh, that's okay. >> The, um, governor in his illustrious wisdom has said maybe the state is going to take some of this
>> supervisory Yep. stuff back. But I think he had a very long timeline and you know maybe the message is finally getting through because it seems to be a very duplicative repetitive. You got supervisors at the state level, you got supervisors at the county level and
who's supervising in between and a lot of inefficiencies. >> Don't disagree. >> Yeah. But he has finally come out and said a state. Wasn't there a statement about that? >> Yes, there was a statement. He made he had a press release. We actually just met this earlier. Well, actually last week we met and had a discussion with
Maxa about it. Yeah. >> And the reality is there's so much in there that are all supplements to the budget. It's 167 pages to read through. It's a lot >> andough too. >> There's a lot in between that is not
guaranteed. And so, you know, there's a lot of things that are decisions and it would scare me to be honest with you if they moved too quickly as well. um because there are some things that are very intertwined that if you start, you
know, pulling apart, peeling the onion, so to speak, you're going to get to some things that you don't expect. And I think some of the things that are being proposed, one of the things in particular that is getting a better reception would be the piece about doing a study,
>> understanding it first. >> We need a study, right? >> We do in that I would I hear you. I'm not I'm not someone who wants to like support those things either. At the same time, it really kind of just saying I'm going to do this rather quickly makes me
a little nervous because we will be answering to the people in the community and that's the hard part. We're going to have those answers to give and how do we balance that piece? >> Question. Nancy Zilleski at Micah. She's like there's no way this is happening because both the Democrats and
Republicans in the House. >> Oh, I know. It's lip service. They're they're trying to it's feel-good politics. >> Yeah. >> And last week at the human at the health and human services advisory committee meeting, I asked Joel and the other staff if you think it's going to be a credible issue to let us know your thoughts, but if it's not going to be
Yep. >> then don't waste your time on it. >> Yep. >> It it's a it appears to have landed like a lead balloon and I don't think it's going to go anywhere. So I don't even want our staff to if they don't think it's worth spending time on, don't spend >> I'm I'm keeping pace with it. keep them,
you know, in including them as employees need reassurance. So that's the piece that I would engage with. >> Commissioner Ellison, >> what do you know about the SNAP programs? What happen? Do you know are you involved a whole lot with that or
not? >> Well, I know that there's going to be a significant cut in 2027 and that has not changed and so that is still very much on the agenda. Um, >> are they looking at redoing? >> Oh, gotcha. There
>> because right now it is income based, not asset based. >> Um, what I would say is there is c that's a level of detail that they haven't even gotten close to yet. Commissioner, >> that's a big >> it's a big >> part that's going on where you can make yourself look I I make myself look broke
every year. So, >> um, I can tell you that Micah and AMC are lobbying for the state to backfill it. >> Yeah. the funds that are being taken away from counties. >> Yep. >> Yep. So, every year the funding changes.
So, it's never a guarantee. Every year things change at every level. So, it's very difficult to budget. Uh so, the other piece is the financials outline specific federal funds and they're coded a specific way. It doesn't look like a
typical budget that you're going to see. And you got you all know this. Um, some funding formulas are dependent on the number of people served by each worker. How much we get back is about how and it's not reinforcing um or incentivizing efficiencies to be
completely honest with you. It doesn't. And that's something we can't control. I wish it did. It does not. Um, other funding is built on a fee for service basis like your medical care. Okay. So when I think about the kind of the history of human services and how we
came to where we are now, a lot of these services, we all know our medical care costs are very high and they keep getting higher. We're actually delivering a service that is drastically underfunded that is a medical service today, but it was designed years and
years ago to be part of a county system and it's mental health and substance use services. um the funds used to deliver or fund the services include those three pockets of money and sometimes they're called different things that we might get the parameters but then the state's going to
give us the oversight the guidelines and the resources and which we have to follow. The local level does all of the delivery of service, the documentation, and sometimes authorization of service. And I want to highlight that because that is particularly important when we're talking about um people with
disabilities because we may be authorizing very specific things that um we have to be very aware of the effectiveness and the cost effectiveness and how much is being spent on it. And it is something like a good question
came up and I'm very comfortable with these kind of questions because I think they should be asked. Um does the person I see you're authorizing a shower for this particular person. Um did that was that necessary? How do how come we're putting a shower into this building
because um they don't own that building but we're doing it and now the landlord is getting that money right for that shower. And so the problem is there's nowhere that this this person doesn't own a home. the landlord is not going to do it and if we don't authorize it and
invest in that then that person may end up in a higher level of care which will cost us much more in the long run. So all of those things are factors that we think about as we're authorizing a service. Um right now there is a temporary halt in federal funding for 13
14 I believe specific services. They were referred to as high risk and these are not services I mean they're services that we see in the community but we haven't had as much direct connection with so they're not the types of things we're authorizing at this point in time.
So we're really sending though a mixed message to a lot of people. You tell me that. >> So, today on network TV, there was an ad for Medicare Medicare people to sign up for a $1,200.
You can buy groceries or all this stuff. And it was an 800 number. I felt like calling it just to see what kind of song and dance we're getting. So, if we can get our people to get $1,200, that would be huge. But I don't know who. So, who's paying that $1,200? Where's that $1,200
coming from? >> Well, it really depends on the >> 800 number and I'll call them tomorrow or something. >> Yeah, I think feel free. I would say it really depends and that is the hard part in our system. There's no clear this is what comes from this money and this goes there. >> What I'm saying is we're telling them on
a TV ad, you got all kinds of money, come get our money and then we at the county are saying we're struggling to pay for these things. So again, it's a it's a real convoluted message to the general public. They don't tr and I I hate to say it is that the trust in
government is probably low and going lower. >> Yes. And actually that brings me to the next section. So thank you for that segue. Um we do have to talk about fraud and abuse internally at the county. Uh abuse is when payments or services and
there's no legal entitlement to that payment or the provider has not knowingly or intentionally misrepresented something. Fraud is when that somebody knowingly does that and intentionally does it. So we really talk about if you see something, say
something. We want to know if there's something going on here. If somebody's not doing what they're supposed to do, we want to know about it. So and then we have the piece where if somebody does report it, they cannot be there's no retribution. They cannot be discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened,
harassed, any of those kind of things. So those are basic parameters that we are expected to make sure people are aware of if they're providing services that are funded through the federal government. So when I look at the financial reports and why they are structured the way they
are, it's like each level of government is having to intersect in those and it's super complicated. I mean Phil and I have had conversations. I think about how I did it either in the private sector in Wisconsin or in the public sector and how do these things all
intermet do they come together. Um each funding stream at each level of government may have set of rules or set of parameters. So all of these things coming together could be conflicting messages as Marcia said you know those kind of things. The GL code consists of
numbers that align with those realities. So certain portions of those GL codes align with certain services or certain funding streams that we need to align with. Then we have a whole another level that I think um also gets confusing is
who's eligible? How do we make eligibility determinations? And so the county is responsible for that. So we have various eligibility systems and determinations we need to make in financial services. That's in with our SNAP and our income maintenance. Those
are situations where we look at the paperwork that's completed. We're asking people for their tax information, their pay stubs, their bank statements, a lot of details that they must bring in and we have to put in the system to support our decision-m around eligibility.
>> What's the what's the how do I say this? >> What's the incentive to get off from it? >> I would say a vast majority of people do get off of it. Okay. And that is seriously a vast majority of people use the system when they need it and then
they do get off of it. There are people who may need it forever. They take a person with a disability. >> Yeah. That >> a person who >> different scenario. >> Yes. Oh, but they they're included in this group, too. Yeah. So, they're they're one of our subgroups that we serve in I'll talk in more detail about
that, the under 65 and the over 65 and how that all blends, but you're absolutely right. There are subgroups that are on system support or work with the system for example for life. Others do not and a vast majority of people do
move off of it. >> But what's the incentive to get off of it? >> Well, I'll tell you from what I hear from people, it's about not wanting to be dependent upon coming in here and feeling like you've got to ask for something. I haven't met anyone that
likes to ask for a for what people might refer to as a handout. I've never met a person who wants that. It does take time where people need to feel it to be different and when you have never
experienced something making that shift. So I don't know if that's I I don't know if that's what you were looking for, Commissioner Elsing, but certainly that's what I have seen and a majority of people don't want that. is a question
is eligibility the same in Iowa as Minnesota as Wisconsin or >> there might be pieces of it that are the same but certain parts that are not >> not okay because Minnesota has the tag of being a welfare friendly state and a
lot of people have come here because we have very good benefits and everything so >> so this is a good example what would happen is the state of Minnesota needs to put forth a plan to the federal government and say do you approve of this plan. So there might be a base set
of parameters and or rules per different types of services, but exactly what Minnesota does goes to the feds and gets approval. >> Funding may come with it or not. >> Well, yes, very much so. The state makes decisions about what in what funding
comes from the state level to us. >> Yep. And the feds determine if they like the plan or not. >> Yep. And Minnesota's kind of in a hyper scrutiny area right now. >> Yep. I would agree. >> Okay. >> I don't know if I I I
it part of me says it's happy, but that you say what you say, but I could give you countless countless people in the last 20 years I would disagree with you with that I know are on riding the government. They rent from me. I've
employed them. that the words are I can't make that much because I'll lose the funding. I can't make that much because I'll lose my helic. I can't make that much because I lose my insurance. I can't make that much because you can't can you pay me cash? Can I do this? Can
you make the contract say this so that it says this? I don't know if I can count that high. >> Okay. So, I think what you're talking about is the threshold, which is really a challenge% no incentive to get off. So there's this threshold where it costs more to
purchase insurance for sure. And we all see it, right? We all see those realities. So unless we make the pay, >> I could give you 20 people right now that have been on it that I've known for 20 years. >> Yep. But that's >> and they've had every opportunity to get offer.
>> Yes. >> Chose not to. >> And will they be better off financially if they're off of it? >> Well, so that's the thing. What's the incentive? What's the step out? What's the That's a big part of the problem. >> That's what I mean. And so is there if
we don't talk about it, it won't change. And that's why I bring up whatever because >> there has to be there has to be something to get these people off from it. Whether it's forced >> or whether it's hey, you you had this opportunity for so long and you as time
goes on, it's going to get harder to stay on it. like does that mean I'm I'm just using a big hypothetical but I have been asked to do some crazy things to help people get keep on assistance and at the end of the day you want to help people but at the same time you realize
they're just not helping themselves they they are purposely choosing to stay in this life because for them it's easier to do that than it is to take on the struggle to move forward >> I I would say that's a symptom of a bigger problem in our country to be completely >> agree we've been too many people and I
say, "Why don't you work on Saturday?" >> Yeah, >> I I work seven days a week for 30 years and oh, well, I don't want to do that. It's easier for me to do this. So, I'm just frustrated. >> Things are changing though because the the work requirement has changed. The
the age of people being on some of these programs has changed. >> I guess I just bring it up so we don't lose sight of that. No, I could I I think um that's an example of sometimes our systems are not built in the way we'd like them to be and they don't
incentivize the things we'd like them to incentivize. So I talked a little bit about the eligibility with financial piece. Programming also has a number another level or a separate eligibility where you might need to have a certain
um number of symptoms or a certain number of needs and or functionally you may be having problems. That's the program eligibility. The reason I highlight these is we are responsible for those in their areas that sometimes
are gray. Okay? So that is a risk area for us as we think about things and as we move forward with our funding. >> And I go back to what I brought up about the SNAP situation and it's not it's income based. It's not asset and income based. And to me that's bothersome
because you can hide you can hide things very easily and say hey I'm I'm a victim when you're sitting on an asset. >> Yeah. So if they restrict soda and chips that'll change a lot on the SNAP program. So, one of the next things I want to talk about is the busy work I
think has been referred to here. Um, we do a lot of documentation and a lot of accountability for things that I have personally been surprised by. Um, I always give the example my daughter had an ear surgery was 40,000 I
think or 10 I can't remember somewhere high numbers. I asked for the records. I got the records. No, nothing against this physician. wonderful surgeon. She can hear now. That's a beautiful thing, right? Um, this paragraph, this long was
what that surgeon wrote for that $40,000 surgery. Do you know how much we write for a $100 service every time we deliver it? That is another example of systemic process where there's a question about
whether or not we can be accountable and whether or not we're doing the right thing. And yet we're taking up a vast majority of our employees time on documentation systems and service documentation to prove it was worth it or to prove ourselves. But it really is counterproductive.
The other thing I want to just quickly highlight, Phil, how am I doing for time? I'm going to move a little bit faster here. Um, medical necessity authorizations. The things we need to think about are is it medically necessary? Is the documentation accurate and clear? Are we using an
evidence-based service? Are we in compliance with regulation and is this reasonable and cost-effective and are we being good stewards of taxpayer dollars? So, anytime we authorize another service, these are additional things that folks need to think about.
All right. So, with that, we get money from or the min state of Minnesota gets federal dollars after we meet requirements from the feds. The state of Minnesota determines the methodology which can be different based upon the service, the method that we get paid,
and then the method um and then the technology systems that the counties utilized have been developed and are maintained by the state. While they provide great statewide information, I've heard this from folks in other states. Oh my god, Minnesota has so much good data. The reality is that data
technology does increase our risk at the county level when we start talking about errors and potential risks questions usefulness. Was this useful not useful?
>> Oh yeah, any of this stuff. >> But I guess maybe you could at some point um you know give us what are the gray areas? What what do our staff have to make, you know, just what what's a big one? I mean, are we being more
supportive or less supportive? How do we balance if it's a gray area, if the state says it's a gray area, like you give here reasonable and cost? So, purchasing a weighted blanket for $100 versus a weighted blanket that's covered in expensive fur. >> I mean, do we have a lot of that kind of thing?
>> No. But there are times and I will tell you this this didn't occur here but I have spent personally in an appeal a period of at least 16 work hours giving in another state giving a appeal to a judge because we we denied a
service. We denied a gazebo that was thousands of dollars compared to another item that we said was sufficient. And so it takes time and it takes work to be that good steward. And so there are examples of gray areas all over the
place. That shower that we talked about, >> was that the right decision? That's why we really look at that medical necessity. How do we do it? And is it the most cost effective? And that's also why we've got to not have too much turnover at every level because there's a lot of detail to this work and we got
to have people knowing what they're doing. >> Yep. what's right and wrong. I personal I got a couple sister-in-laws living in the great state of Massachusetts and the services and benefits they give. I just cringe. I mean, they they don't need what they're getting and it just
>> the state of New York right now, what did they just announce on CNN Fox? $81,000 per homeless person they're spending. >> So, that's why I question if every state has a certain amount of discretion. Give them the money. >> Oh, yes, they do. Absolutely. Every state does. This goes to show the
inefficiency of government and when government gets involved >> gets messed up. >> Okay. I don't I don't know. I would say I just want to qualify. I think a lot of it too is how we were established hundred years ago. >> How what we thought of mental health and substance use at that time is very
different than today. And I think we're all grateful that it's different than it was then. And so we're just seeing the ramifications of some of those things over time. >> Do we have time to hit Bloom's contract? >> Yes. I would I need to I
>> I think Okay, so we're looking at packet two, page seven, county board agenda packet page 45. The one thing that I did want to communicate to all the commissioners, um, I have prepared a I've went through these spreadsheets.
I prepared a list of items in here like extension, license center, uh, land survey, remonumentation, revisiting the ownership of Apple Blossom Park as items that I wanted staff to do an assessment of. I'm
encouraging you guys if you have items in here to do the same thing and send them to them. >> Yes. Yep. That was something I mentioned um when we when we kind of d jumped into the dialogue is that that those inquiries and feedback are what's going
to take some of the deliverables that we can provide that's in here. So that's a great list and I can create a list but we should probably see those list as they come so that we don't >> duplicate our lists. So as soon as
>> I think they can merge them. >> Yeah. Or well so if you've asked >> Excel spreadsheet and then you can add or say I mean agree with that >> sooner than later so we don't spend time asking the same question or even our time to >> Chris if you could supply that or anyone
else who has a list that would be wonderful. >> Yep. I have adjusted it for some of the conversation we've already had. Thank you. >> I'm sorry for that deion. All right, go for it. >> Well, I'm gonna Sorry. So, we're going to start committee board at 5:15. Will we give ourselves five minutes in
between? So, just just doing a time check. >> Yep. >> I'm usually I'm usually the one that stays in the room while you all wait. >> You older folks get a chance to use their >> careful. Oh, there's a discriminator. Don't make
them wisely before my talk. >> A lawyer in a room for age discrimination. >> I mean, I'm the one that also needs I'm younger than me, too, I think. So, I'll be going. So, in the interest of time, if you could >> Well, you got over 65. Let's get the blues.
>> Uh, this is a >> You want to quit the contract? You can save us money. Is that the nuts and bolts? >> Well, it's not just save money. And I want to I want to talk about how amazing this group of employees was when I talked with them about this. Um, one
thing that has been very difficult for me as I have started here is are the weight lists that we have. We have a 100 person weight list for under 65. >> Yes, >> we have a 50 person weight list for over 65. We know that we're not in a place
we're going to get more employees. >> And so what creates the weight list? what creates we have ended positions and not filled them. >> Uhhuh. >> We have uh more people needing services. Um and I will tell you across the
country you're seeing more people in need of disability related services and that cost is is rather high. And those are the two groups that we're looking at here. And Marie, do you remember during the budget stuff I was talking about a constituent of mine that the the one of
the had been taking care of the spouse who had had cognitive decline, but then the one that had been doing the caretaking started to have trouble and a relative called me because it was getting worse. and they had told uh they had called the county asking for help in
July and they were told realistically no one would come to do an assessment to see if they could get services until now March or April of this year >> and it still might not be happening to be honest with you. It's it's >> so we have and as their situation declines it's gets pretty dire for them
and that I am concerned I am very concerned. >> It's very uncomfortable and difficult position to be in um to be a person leading a service and I want to commend the people delivering this service. I have been through situations where I go
to people throughout my career and say we got to do something different. This group said we can't keep doing this Jill. we can't keep doing what we're doing. Thank you for looking at something different because this doesn't feel right to us anymore.
And so with that, the maturity with which they approached it and the recognition that they can't continue with the different rules and the and and I know Commissioner Elsing, you said the government is good at rulemaking.
Private insurance is really good at rulemaking. Okay. the check I write out every month. >> Yes, I believe you. >> Anybody Anybody do that first? >> So, I get it. >> So, with that, this group really handled it so professionally. I want I want you to to
imagine saying to someone, "Yeah, we're going to we might be shuffling some things. We've got this weight list." And them saying, "Yeah, Jill, thank you for actually talking with us about it beforehand." So, I've talked about it with the people impacted as well as the
entire health and human services group because I want to be transparent with them about decisions that have may have to be made. And so with this, what I intend to do would be to shift and address those weight lists because those are services we can't give to somebody
else. Blues can't contract with somebody else. Blues can deliver these services without utilizing us. It will take time. There will absolutely be a transition. That is not a question. The transition will take a lot of time.
At the same time, I think people need to see that we can start addressing some of these things. We will continue to deliver mandated services. The state of Minnesota requires us to do services for over 55 for people who do not have blues
or do not have other coverage. The state of Minnesota requires it. So we will still have a smaller case load of folks who would be receiving these services. What I would like to do is look at combining all the over and under 65 so
that we could be maybe a little more efficient and streamlined knowing that these are some of our challenges. We are anticipating at least 80% of those 100 people will need case management. But you're saying blues can do. >> Yes, they can do for
>> they take I I guess I don't understand the division of responsibilities. Then >> it's who they cover. They will cover who they cover and we have to prioritize them. >> Don't isn't there somewhere along the line when you sign up for something you have to pick and choose. >> That's exactly what they do. >> Okay.
>> And that's and we are the Blues provider. So we provide for Blues of Minnesota. this particular service >> want to be that >> we what we're proposing here is that we no longer deliver that service and we only accept the state of Minnesota
people that were required to accept >> ones were mandated >> the ones we're mandated to accept >> private insurance the blues will have to take >> take elsewhere >> how do we lose a certain portion of the funding >> absolutely so if you look at um page
let's see here >> yes page 47 Seven. >> This outlines. So >> agenda. >> Yes. >> Page packet n >> n cost analysis. >> Yep. >> 512. >> But I guess I got you. Okay. So
>> 65. You don't have his attention. >> As you can see, we have had losses >> every year with the exception of 2023. >> Every other year was a loss. These were in red and black. So, I apologize for that, but the red um we were in the in
the black in 2023. Every other year has been in the red. So, we will we will be losing revenue. >> Net losses. >> Yes. Yes. >> Josh, 2023 is the only one that's black. >> And why? >> We don't have color. >> And why color?
>> We don't have color. >> And why? Yeah. >> Um well, >> yeah, but you're saying net it wasund like 2021 you've got 199,000 net. >> That's loss. >> That's a loss. >> It was red.
>> Okay. I just looked at the look at the expenditure column. >> Okay. I'm sorry. >> Yeah, it's in the red. Sorry. >> Consistently loses. >> So, it consistently loses money. >> Yep. >> We would transfer to a program that we would still be billing for. Okay. And um
part of the challenge is the complexity. I will tell you um I'm covering for a supervisor who has left and she oversaw over 65. I probably get four different directions from blues a day of do this different, do that different, no that's
not the right one. Can you check on this? Can you do it's very interesting. Um and uh so those are things that I think are very overwhelming to the people trying to spend time with people to assess them and to serve them. >> So who's Blue's competition in this
realm of clientele? >> There is none. There's nobody else. >> Oh, there's other agencies that are have have an HMO or an MCO. >> So is this where the counties that were allowed to go to um the um what do they call it? Um
we tried to do it with Mstead County a number of years ago 10 the the um what do we call it um where we insure we do the we do our own thing we don't go to the blues uh county based purchasing >> yes yes >> okay so are the countybased purchasing
counties they seem to be doing better in the and maybe it's not this program >> no it's something else okay >> no they all >> my question would be do you believe that the folks would get a better, the same or a worse level of service?
>> I think we have excellent staff. I think it is really hard to do this service without adequate personnel to do this service. >> So, you don't know >> they they would get time. >> Oh, yeah. More time. >> Yeah. They would I mean, Blues is very
clear. You must prioritize their people and that's in the contract. by having that in the contract, the list of people that you referred to previously, um that list continues to grow. >> So, do we go to the positive then if we
do this? >> I don't know if we'll go to the positive because it is a transition, but disability services are also paid for on a fee for service basis. So, that is another revenue stream. And when I say fee for service, it's like when you go
to the doctor and you'd get charged for 15 minutes or a half hour of service. Now, Blues does fund at a higher rate. However, the administrative work that our teams need to do to meet the needs
of Blues is much higher. >> So, okay, if there's a competitor, I think we should be talking to the competitor and try. >> It's not our decision to make. The Blues gets to choose who gets the contract. >> Yes. >> Yeah. But is a person signing up for Isn't this when they sign up for
Medicare? Medicaid. Medicaid. >> No. No. This is this is past that. >> This is something different. >> Yeah. This is this is when you're over the age of 65 and you start to have challenges that impede your ability to function on a daily basis, not just related to Medicare.
>> Okay. All right. >> So, according to I'm looking at page 10, right? So um you would ultimately decrease the need um in the FTPs right from 5.6 to 2.6 and then you would take
that staff or rearrange staff so that you could better address the waiting list of people who are trying to get >> Yes. >> which is also something we get reimbursed for. >> Yes. >> So >> and with time again with time you may see reduction in FTEES but we have to
get through that phase. that transition >> it likely would take a year and through normal attrition. >> It still comes down to netting out. >> Pardon me. >> It still comes down to netting out. You get rid of all the people, but we're still not netting out better. It we don't >> system isn't designed for us to net out.
>> But what I'm saying is that the whole point of this is a combination of better service but also save money. Is that correct or are we just looking at >> Oh, it's both. It's always both. >> Well, that's what I'm asking. Something should >> net out better. So even if we took a
$230,000 loss projected this year and turned it into a $100,000 loss, we got a half a levy point right there. >> Yep. >> Is that what is that what we're trying to object or try >> in a roundabout? Um again, a big part of
this is taking and and utilizing the levy money to satisfy your mandates, >> your mandated services and programs versus something that's voluntary. >> Yes. Yeah, >> but still comes down to the end of the day. It still comes down >> and it means it means that the
constituents who have been on your on our weight list, 150 of them who >> as I said it's a combination of better service, but there also has to be a financial aspect to it to a certain extent like we we're trying to figure out how to save money too. You know, we have two objectives.
>> No, absolutely. there again. So is some I I'm I'm sorry your last paragraph the transition plan you know that they choose that as their health plan. So I know we provide these services the senior citizen center or something. So
who helps them choose a service? Is there a better service than Blue Cross Blue Shield? What are the options? Is there a better one? >> It really depends on all the different options of HMOs that people look look at and choose to. So what happens at the state level is those aren't decided by
the county who what type of HMO you can sign up with. I believe the regulation is you have to have two options per county at least. It could be more. Um but it really depends upon what's available in your area. >> Yeah. But there I go back to that county
based purchasing they keep talking about they're better at handling their clients than the commercial providers. So I guess I'm confused. I guess I'm not sure what you're referencing. >> I don't know, >> but I I don't know who guides them in
choosing if Blue Cross Blue is >> Are you talking about when people go to like um uh in and look at their options for when they first choose a medical plan associated with Medicare? >> Am I confusing them? >> That's an initial education piece. I
know what you're talking about now, Commissioner Ward. Well, they they they messed those up this year and my husband was fussing over those things. >> Yes, there was there's a lot of different >> that's not what we're talking about here. >> Nope. Nope. It's a different issue. >> Okay. But it seems like if there's
somebody else that we could get them to choose that would benefit us. >> So, there's a desire to move forward with this concept. Do you have additional questions? I mean, >> I truly
don't understand it yet, but >> need more information to make an informed decision. >> Yeah. My my big thing is is it's I I get the whole concept of service, but we're signing up for something else that it definitely could cost us even more money that >> No, we're just going to try to do what we are not doing now.
>> Yeah. >> Trying to lose less. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Trying to lose less. >> Yes. >> Yeah. You said it's going to take more to do it their way. and and and so >> that's blues that's blues the one we're trying to leave >> that paperwork function right we wouldn't have to be yes
>> like you said I I don't understand it >> fully >> we don't know what the unintended consequence maybe >> and you know >> that's what I'm going for right there we don't know the >> it's hard to know what I can say is that
we there's a volume of people that are Medicaid or um state Minnesota state uh that we will need to cover. It's a much smaller number. It will allow us the people opportunity to serve those 150
people on the wait list >> if it's mandated. And I I >> We can always go back though, right? I mean, this isn't a do or die decision. >> We can, but it's that's a big it's a big jump back >> back. But if we find that it fails, >> that's why
>> and and then we could go back >> once they're off the wait list. That's when the the staffing levels could potentially be less. >> Well, potentially, but >> you eventually will catch it. >> I will tell you this. >> It'll never get le I haven't seen
disability area is expecting to grow and grow and grow as is the aging and you know it's old people are Yes. >> It's the aging population and people with disabilities that's who we're looking at and I don't see that population shrinking >> and when it is Dwayne will rub it in.
He already went >> and he can I would love to see that happen. >> Gray in those that facial hair. >> That was an unfair cheap shot. It's because you're coffee drinker that you need. >> And just speaking of which 5:15 may the board 5:30 health board. >> Yeah. Okay. Yes. All right.
>> Thank you. >> So, can we take that two-minute break? >> Yes. I'm calling this this part of the this working session adjourned. >> So, Marine, may maybe this will help a little bit. Um item 2.2, two, we had a >> the board
uh first item is discussing um well, let's just start by saying I think Commissioner Begley is withdrawing item 2.2. >> Yes, last night uh we had a steering committee meeting for the homeless shelters at St. Paul's Church and we think we have a different emergency shelter plan for a so we can we can pull
that off. >> Okay. Okay. Item two, then we'll start with item 2.1. discuss townships proposing to take over zoning administration. Um, so this was something I was interested in having a conversation about. Um, and what where are we? Are we
>> This is your um >> This is number two. So if three people want to do it, we're going to then do it at a regular board meeting or another one of these. Okay. So um >> it's a discussion. >> Yep. It's just a discussion. But I guess we're not part of the decision making.
If they choose to do it, we don't really have >> No, that is true. >> Or say >> that is true. However, I if you read the article in the Winona Post, some individuals, some township supervisors say the reason that they're wanting to leave is because um we don't do home
inspections and that's a thing that they want. So, I really just wanted to know if the board wants to be flexible in terms of asking I I know that um Ross has uh spent some time sort of talking
to township officers and finding out what they think and why they think it, but it would be if we want to offer that sort of thing or any other flexibility in terms of um asking them if they you know would they reconsider if we did this or this.
I just want to have the conversation. >> I support the idea. >> Yep. I support it. >> We're not going to decide anything. We're to discuss it. >> We can't make them do anything legally. No, we don't have any authority. Yeah, we have no say. That's okay. So, that's at least three. So, we'll move on. Item
2.3, discuss receiving a report for opioid expenditures. Some of you may have noticed there was a some letters to the editor in the Winona Post a couple weeks ago. Um while I think that some of the criticism was fair, um there were some statements about things that we
have funded with the opioid settlement funds that I think were inaccurate. So I would like staff to go through with us the things that we have funded and how much the cost of each of those were and what the benefits were, how many people were served. I'm interested to know if
others would be wanting to have that report as well. >> I would support that. I I had the same conversations with Marine over some of the things I was reading and you know was told well that's not true. So
I would hope that I don't see him online um that he could put some clarification to it if we do get the Winona Post involved. >> Yes. >> As he stirred the pot. >> Okay. Yeah. I I I don't want staff to
take a huge amount of time though because we've got a lot of other things and and it's >> I think they are most of the way there with that report we got at the opioid settlement committee meeting the other day. >> Yeah, just th those meeting minutes probably would suffice a lot of the discussion. >> Maybe if we had counts of the Carol Aley
stuff and then counts uh from the um navigator in terms of service there was a count but maybe number of people different variety of the services that they helped them with. >> Fair enough. Okay. All right. So, that's it for the committee of the board.
Commissioner Ward, you want the gabble? >> No, that's okay. Community health board. We're good. We'll call to order the community health board. Uh item 2.1 is the January 13th meeting minutes. >> Move to approve. >> I'll second. >> We have a motion by Commissioner Vagley,
second by Commissioner Meyer to approve the meeting minutes from January 13th. >> I see Dr. Adine has been joined us. >> Yep. I saw him come in. Um any discussion? If not, all those in favor say I. I. >> I. >> Oppos. Nay. Okay. Meeting minutes are approved. Um chairperson report. Uh we
did have a a shack, a state community health service advisory committee meeting virtual. Um I'm not sure, Commissioner Meyer. I think you >> virtual. I didn't come back after lunch. >> Okay. All right. Um they were referring to, you know, the corner of public health and public
health has been under a lot of scrutiny lately. Um but we have a lot of um in a lot of our lives social erosion and social media uh playing into a lot of our information, good information,
misinformation. Um it's it's debatable, but it is uh compounding the challenges of burnout in uh public health staff across the nation. It's not unique to Minnesota and not unique to to Winona County by any means. Um and there's many
many competing responsibilities uh money fundings and mandates and uh there's just continually uh a push and pull as to the mandate and if it's being funded and how it's being funded. And in my own observation, it seems like every
time public health gets some money, the state staff tends to grow faster than anything else and they add people to administrator a new grant. So I I have heartburn over that. um another one of the other doctors uh or health people I apologize I don't think she was a doctor
measles measles was a discussion of the outbreaks of measles in our communities and I don't think we've had um I look at school teacher have we had uh big are you knowledgeable about any measel outbreaks in the public school systems >> I haven't we got Jackie and Dr.
I don't think I don't think in Minnesota it's >> Yeah, it's pretty >> the I do know that South Carolina has now surpassed Texas in the total number of measles cases. So that's the epicenter right now as far as measles in the country. >> Yeah.
>> But they're concerned about >> most of those 91% or something of the people that that had measles in South Carolina hadn't had any immunizations >> immunizations. Yep. So the MMR measles, MS and Rebella, they're encouraging. But
again, every parent and such should be discussing these things with their own provider and their own children and their own family history to determine uh what what they need to do. Um water uh well testing came up and I asked if there was more uh funds for well testing
and uh the reverse osmosis things. They said there was. I said the the thing it was that came about it was very public and it seemed like there was a high level of interest and now it it's dropped. So I said if we have money and we have funds available to do that we
need to you know educate and advertise and the one of the staff members was supposed to get back to me on that. We have a you know we have the county fair coming up and I know the soil and water um booth is always a good asset to do some of those things. So, I'm hoping we get some more information, but they said
there was still money available for uh water testing and and reverse osmosis systems. Um, so that kind of takes care of of uh Shack. Uh, anything else in the community anybody has that's
earthshattering? Okay, good. Dr. Redee, >> I wanted to say one other thing uh that's just uh happened. As you know, Minnesota and this guy, Western Wisconsin are we have a fairly heavy Lyme disease population. >> We have the doctor come to the podium.
>> I guess Dr. Dean, we need you to come to the podium here. >> Online can hear you. >> Yeah, they can hear you better. >> This is too damn loud, but you're part of the record. >> Yeah, they will be recorded. Yeah. >> Uh at any rate, so we this is, you know, a hot bed almost as bad as lime Connecticut for having Lyme disease. And
the other thing that's happened is there are more and more tickborne diseases that are, you know, we used to have C5 about five things that our ticks had and now we're seeing loans because of global warming or whatever. We're
seeing the lonear tick which was a Texas thing coming up this way. Um, so there's more and more stuff there. Fizer just completed a trial on a Lyme disease vaccine and it was not as good as they hoped it would be, but it was still
about 70% effective in preventing Lyme disease, which is >> but it wasn't approved yet, right? >> Well, no, no, this is just the trial has been presented. it it it will go to the FDA or whoever and and it has to be looked at but at least it that's you
know 70% is a lot better than what we've got which is nothing. So I think in in in areas like Minnesota where it's endemic that's that may be something justformational piece. >> It was national news I think much the same thing. >> You know I read the I read the medical
journals so I don't read knowes but it sounds you know it sounded good but not as good as they would have liked >> but u >> and it tick season is knocking on its door >> right. Yeah. >> Be careful. Okay. Thank you. All right.
Uh being no consent business, we have uh general business. 5.1 approve resolution naming agents of community health board page 107 of our packet. 107.
>> I will make a motion to approve um if actually if it's okay with the board and then we can separate it. Item 5.1 and 5.2. >> I'll second that. The agents are Ross Dunsmore, >> Ross Dunsmore, Ross Dunsmore, Marine
holds the Rossmore, Ross Dunsmore, Ross Dunsmore, Ross Dunsmore. >> Yeah, I guess uh questions on that, Ross. I I appreciate your willingness to do that. Are you the only one in Winona County that has the right credentials to do these things? >> Can you handle another thing?
>> That's that's total total none of that matters, but we we will we will make it happen. So, um >> will not be permanent either. The idea is just in the in the short term until Jill is ready for the transition and then I'll just provide her in a support role. So
>> Okay. All right. So you're okay with it short term? Okay. Well, you need to let us know if Yeah, we need to do something different because we appreciate your willingness to do that. But again, is uh I have to ask Jill and is there somebody else that's going to work on getting the
right credentials to handle these public health? And I know the state has rules and >> Yes. Um, I do meet the general qualifications. They want to finish some orientation with me and I'm meeting with uh the regional person regularly in order to make that happen.
>> So, I do meet the qualifications. It's just their orientation process that I'm working through. >> Okay. All right. >> And then also in hiring a supervisor whenever possible, we're always looking for a backup for me as well. >> Sure. Okay. All right. So, there was a motion to approve 5.1, 5.2, and
>> it just 5.2. >> Oh, one and two. Okay. All right. Any Did we have a second? Second. >> Okay. Motion by Commissioner Vegley, second by Commissioner Meyer. Any further discussion? >> All those in favor say I. >> I. Nay. Okay. Approved. Thank you. Um
5.3 page 131. Approve CDC strengthening public infrastructure grant amendment. And Jill, what can you summarize just why we need to amend it? Um, this amendment is a result of some of the
activity at the federal and state level in regards to contractual language about incentives. We were not doing any of the things outlined in this amendment uh to begin with. So, that's not anything we need to worry about. Um, it also gives the state the ability to end the
contract without notice as CDC funds have at times been suspended. >> And Jill, you would recommend I'm sorry, Commissioner War, you recommend approving this? >> Yes. Um, there's nothing in there that we aren't doing or can't do, and we
certainly are being aware of how we spend those funds so that we are prepared to step back if there's something that changes rather quickly. Well, not realizing that we lost a key person. I mean, ironically, the state of Minnesota hires our people away. And
here they're asking us to train new and existing public health staff so they can hire them away from us. That's that's a great that's a great plan. County Justice, I move to approve this. >> I'll second that. >> We have a motion made by Commissioner
Meyer, second by Commissioner Vaguely to approve the amended grant agreement. Um, I I will say when we have another state meeting, I will make this known. It's kind of a moronish thing that you're trying to tell us to train and retain and hire new staff and then you hire.
How many have you hired away from the counties? What's your staff look like? Where was their last job? Was it a county? Look at what you're doing to us. Okay. Uh, all those in favor say I. >> I post nay. Okay. Passed. Um, and then 5.4 for received presentation regarding
HHS advisory HHS advisory report 2025 and that oh okay we got people here all right >> yeah good afternoon >> good e well evening >> yeah 5:30 >> after 5 it's evening
>> five o'clock somewhere but >> awesome well we're really excited to be here today uh my name is Jackie Henderson I am the chair of our health and human services advisory committee Um, I've served on the committee since 2024 and then I was chair in 2025 and then reappointed as chair for this year.
And with me is Sarah. I'll let Sarah introduce. >> Yeah, I'm Sarah Fonbud. Um, I'm the vice chair and so we split the committee into two. We have health and human services and I uh lead the human services. >> Yes. Um so the purpose of our presentation tonight is to provide you
an update of uh the the topics that we've discussed from the past year. Um and we uh feel that these topics were the most important ones that surfaced throughout our committee meetings and both our committee members and county
leadership that are involved in the committee recommended this approach as a way uh to strengthen our communication and improve our alignment um with the board. Um, so >> I apologize that's was confusing. >> Oh, okay. There it is. Okay. Thank you.
>> Yes, >> we didn't have a page number on our our agenda. Okay. Thank you. >> Yes. So, a little bit of background. In April of 2025, the main health and human services committee um divided into two subgroups of the committee. Um so we had
our public health focused group and then our human services focused group. And those two groups met on the alternate months that the full committee did not meet. When we would reconvene during our full committee meetings, we would share um updates and report outs from what each committee worked on as well as
discuss any items that those subgroups felt was uh relevant for the whole committee to discuss. Um so looking ahead into the future we plan to provide the board a formal kind offormational report each year um that
summarizes the committee's work. Uh as well we would like to uh build the structure to offer recommendations on any current matters that you will be discussing um to ensure that our advisory role remains um aligned with issues that are shaping our operations.
Um so the slide that you'll see uh this is public health subcommittee focused work. Um so we talked a bit about Minnesota immunization rates. Um Dr. Adine and Dr. Osman are our two uh medical consultants for the community health board. Um you might recall that
in August of 2025 they provided the community health board with an update on Minnesota immunization law current statewide vaccination trends. Um and then they also provided that same uh deep dive of information for our public health group.
Um our discussions really focused on how legislative changes and public perceptions can influence vaccination rates across the state and it also sought to understand um what the county is currently doing to educate, promote um and prevent communicable diseases that are vaccinereventable.
Um we also reviewed several community health initiatives. Um a few uh environmental health areas were private well testing as well as air quality alerts. Um so seeking to understand what the county is currently doing to uh assist private well owners in testing
and getting mitigation if their wells were to test um for contaminants. And then also understanding how the county uh sends out any alerts relating to like air quality alerts and stuff. Um
and then another area we focused on was talking about substance use and opioid overdose prevention. Um also just seeking to understand what the county was currently doing to uh address substance use. Uh talk about harm reduction uh Narcan distribution. Are
there any community trainings happening? Um however the committee has not really had further discussions on this because we didn't want to be duplicative of what the opioid settlement committee is doing. Um, that said, if the opioid settlement committee was interested in having our public health group look
further into an issue or advise on something, we're still there to do that. We just don't want to duplicate the work. Um, another area we talked about were dental clinics. So, we had learned about some of those dental clinics that come to our schools and provide free uh
preventative dental care for youth. um and talking about how can we expand access to this or increase availability of this service because dental access continues to be a pressing need in the community. Um and then we talked more about uh
broadly what is Winona County doing to uh ensure that we are meeting our foundational public health responsibilities especially as they relate to uh immunizations. Um and the public health responsibility is to uh prevent communicable disease. And so we
just talked more about what that looks like and the programs that we offer to do that. Next slide, please. Okay. Um, a big part of our time was spent reviewing the various public health grants that support our public
health department. Um, and Emily Vulkman at the time provided a pretty in-depth portfolio of how all our public health services are funded. um the requirements behind these grants um and how uh the grants can uh shape our local uh
priorities. So there are over 20 public health grants that I I don't think it's exactly 23 because things have changed, but approximately 20 uh public health grants that each have their own objectives, their own reporting requirements, uh their own timelines,
spending guidelines, all of that stuff. Um and so reviewing those guidelines really just helped the committee further understand complexity of funding streams that support our public health services. Um and then given the number of grants and the depth of them all, the committee decided to focus uh specifically on the
foundational public health responsibilities grant. Um as this grant um is kind of designed to strengthen our capacity to meet uh foundational public health responsibilities um in our local jurisdiction.
Next slide please. So building off of that um that foundational structure area that was uh probably the biggest theme of our discussions into the end of the year. Uh we wanted to talk about uh possible uses
for that funds, what's currently being done to um or what those funds are currently allocated towards. Um but uh we talked about different ideas such as strengthening data systems, improving our outreach, um standardizing our
processes and protocols, um and just really ensuring that the county can meet those public health responsibilities. Um the last area that the public health subgroup uh worked on was talking about our community health needs assessment process and the community health
improvement plan that results from that. Um so just also seeking to understand what the county does and what the uh statutory requirements around uh community health improvement plans and community health needs assessments are. Um and the subgroup did express interest
in uh strengthening its alignment between community needs public health planning um and the committee's advisory role as we continue into 2026. Next slide. Um, so I'm here to talk about the human
services subcommittee and uh we uh we the first thing that we started talking about is our outreach to promote county services. So we have a mix of providers and people who work with the county and people like me who are just you know uh receive services say and uh so we have
various different resources and so you know that gives us some opportunity to outreach to various different groups. Um so we thought about social media, school newspapers, resources on the website, uh print materials, community events and you know outreach to places that we have
some um some uh well so for instance uh outreach to Winona State where I teach. Um, so, uh, we are using the the minds of the committee, if you will, to try to, uh, outreach county service, uh, to promote
county services. And we spent a lot of time, actually, we've been really spending a lot of time lately, uh, doing policy review, and this is a mouthful, so I'm going to try to say it correctly, of the Minnesota African-American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disport Disproportionality Act. I'm going to
call it the act. um that it's really a mouthful, but we uh saw a presentation in the September meeting um and it does contain it contains provisions that support greater protections for African-American children and children who are over represented in Minnesota's child welfare system. But so that is
true, but this is most of the folks that we serve that so when you say it that way, it doesn't really capture the picture of this being most the people. Um and so because it's most that means that the implementation will require significant resources. Um, and that is
really the um, punchline of this. And so if you go to the next page, there's some more information about this. >> And Rebecca is also happy to elaborate too for the legal side of >> rep. Yes, absolutely. So, um, this is just some of the legal information about the act, which I am not going to call by
that long name again. Um, but it it is a Minnesota statute chapter 117. Um, and so it requires what's called active efforts, which is something that's very tricky to understand. We've spent a lot of time trying to wrap our heads around what active efforts means, but um, what
I do understand is that this means a lot of work. Um, and so a new cultural competency uh, training um, so limit use of emergency re view removals, foster care placements, and terrenation of parental rights. But really um so what
this means is that you know if you think about it means that you're more actively working with the families which is just a lot more work. Um and it also and so that is really the punch line again for Winona County I think if you go to the
next page. Um so oh if you switch slides so the um the child welfare staff had have been taking this active efforts training and you know following the statewide work sheet work groups because even what active efforts means you know
that takes some training to to discern um and uh we we've been exploring how we might um help them and uh and we've been exploring all these different aspects the best aspects of this act but really for us I think this means exploring that
how we might help the county with this honestly it's a lift right so if you go to you can see all these things that we that um the county has been exploring but I think from our perspective it's really a matter of how can we help with this lift um so if you go to the next play slide
we'll talk about our potential projects >> before you go to that maybe um maybe Miss Church can fill us in because there's currently a lawsuit over this whole thing And where where are we at on that? >> So the best of my knowledge, the lawsuit really wasn't about if >> the act it was
>> right. It was more about how implemented in Henipin County because they were a phasing county. So they were rolling it in slowly because it is a a big lift. Mhm. >> Um and so my understanding of the lawsuit was that um somebody that said
that they would qualify but they weren't having the active efforts because they weren't one of the you know they said like we're going to take one of you >> can choose >> right so um so it really is really about Henipin County and how they were phasing it in. I will say I don't think Henipin
County was doing anything wrong. They were just trying to figure out how to take out such a big thing. So, to the best of my knowledge, any lawsuit was specific to head of accounting will not affect the act as a whole or or Winona County. >> I I do know uh AMC and I don't know if
Micah too though, but we were looking at trying to phase it in a longer timeline. >> There was a bill that was trying to ask for money and um >> time >> um Shannon Watson's email, Micah update email from this week indicated that didn't get enough votes to even get out
of committee. Okay. All right. Thank you. >> I read that too. Do you know why why it couldn't get out of committee? Is it there wasn't opposition to it? There just wasn't to me. There's got to be enough consensus around this. Either fund it or or take it off the comm.
>> I totally agree with you. State legislators don't think that way unfortunately. >> I'm just curious why it didn't get out of the committee. Did anybody know? >> I don't know why. I understand for like myself all child protection do not think this is a bad idea. We want to
help families to the max we can. >> We just don't have money to do it, right? >> And >> so I don't know if they didn't want to touch it because then it made them look bad for touching this thing that looks really good on paper. >> Yeah. >> Or they don't have any money anyways. I don't know why.
>> I think it's both the optics in in my observation, right? They everybody agrees it's something right. It it's the right thing to do and everything, but we don't have we don't have people trained in it and we don't have the workforce to support it. and >> and some information I just received today. Even the trainings I should even
the trainings that are currently out there are not adequate trainings or appropriate trainings. So when we're trying to even work ahead and we're trying to be wise with how we're doing things, it doesn't matter. They're not going to count and they they're not enough. So we have to wait and anything
that was done is not going to count. So we're gonna have to >> Yeah. It's it's a mess. >> It is kind of a mess. >> Yeah. Okay. All right, we agree. >> Um, so the potential projects that we've been thinking about uh are include
developing promotional materials and communications and carrying out some of this outreach. So we're really trying to have a more I would call it a more active flavor to the committee than I've seen in the past. And also we've discussed establishing a work uh work group to support implementation of the
act. And I was going to add to this that we've also talked about data gathering and feedback opportunities because we do want to leverage all the brains in that room. They have lots of different perspectives and so that's a great thing to do with that committee as well. >> If I can add Sarah like it's great really talking about it in this committee. I'm on I attend these
meetings. Um because there is so many so many people from so many different areas that come. We can discuss is there ways we can utilize what's already in our community. Is there ways we could partner? Um, so the county is not taking everything on and the county, you know, and we're not reinventing the wheel. So,
it is a really great, I think, a topic that we continue to discuss as we utilize other people and they know the resources and again, how can we partner? How can we utilize what we already have or maybe we kind of have it and then we can work together to make it work how we need it to work.
>> Yeah, I absolutely agree. And that is what we have for you, but if you have any questions, we're happy to take some questions. out of lack of what you can do and want to do, but thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The the one thing the you know to call
it the Minnesota AfricanAmerican Family Preservation, I mean it should just be child welfare preservation because people are saying yeah they they kind of singled out a specific uh group of people which I in this day and age I don't know why they did that. Well, my
understanding of those >> Well, I would >> the background background is it started many years >> disproportional >> many years ago it started as just the African-American act such as we have the equa we have the Native American act so but that tried for one or two sessions
to pass and it didn't. So they added the disproportionality to get it passed. So that's that's why I assume it has such a long title because it started out specifically just for the African-American act to be similar to Native American act. >> Okay. But it's really all children. It's
>> it really Yes. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's not you don't have to be of a certain ethnic group to >> No, it will be it will be if you um the disproportionalities will to the best of my knowledge currently will include um mental health conditions of the child or the parent um if they are in poverty
which I would say to the best of my knowledge 95% of them are because they 95% of them um all have courtappointed attorneys. I actually only have one parent that I can think of that we have an open case on that didn't qualify for a court appointed attorney. So, they are
at the property level. Um, homelessness will will be um controlled I think controlled substances will end up being in there. Um, the thing is this agency or this group that they've created there's talk that they can change it every year based on the numbers which
will get complicated as well. Um, but currently based on what I know it will be 95 plus of we currently serve. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. >> And I feel like I almost wish that we could have the staff not do any anything until I think it's going to die. It's
it's just I hope it's going to die its own death, >> but but I don't want to waste staff time. At the same time, we have to be prepared in case it does happen because Yeah. You need to either fund it. >> Well, you need to you need to speak to your Henipin and Ramsay County commissioners because they're all gunhole. They really want this type of
stuff. >> That's only 14. Oh, yeah. I mean, >> yeah. Right. But they're pushing it and they're the model. They were the ones picked to be uh the experimentee of filling it out and such. So, yeah, there's >> Oh, I >> But but most of rural Minnesota is just
saying, "Hey, we don't have the workforce. We don't have the funds. We don't >> Yes. the money to to make it happen." Absolutely. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Um, I would say though that I do think the value of the committee in
researching all of the potential resources and partnerships is still something we should do. >> Yeah. >> Because if we have that opportunity, I don't know why we wouldn't do it. >> Sure. >> So, I I think we should still focus on that aspect at a minimum.
>> Sure. Yeah, that makes sense. >> For all our other programs. >> Yeah. Yeah. That that work will not be wasted, right? Yeah. You got a wealth of people because it's uh yeah good programs. Okay. All right. Well, thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Yeah.
>> All right. Anything else to come before the public health board? We entertain a motion to adjourn. So move. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Commissioner Eline, seconded by Commissioner Meyer to adjurnn. All those in favor say I. Nay. We're journal.
>> Good evening. >> Good evening. Uh we start our uh meetings with public comment but I think we have a special event tonight. Uh we are going to recognize uh Daryl for 20 years of service with us in the maintenance
department. >> That would be me. >> Who is making this presentation? >> I am. Where's the golden mop? Yeah. Dwight. >> No golden mop. >> I was the maintenance, not the custodial. >> Oh, okay. I'm sorry. screwdriver.
>> Screwdriver or hammer? There you go. >> A hand. Is there anything I'm giving him? >> We have a certificate. >> I'm not sure. Did I need to give you any? >> No. >> Or did you already get your award? >> Well, well, I got the the jacket.
>> Okay. Yep. >> Yep. I got that. >> So, you got a jacket. Okay. Good. >> Yep. >> Oh, just uh 20 and a half years and about about time for me to do some of my own stuff, I guess. So, >> thank you for service. I'm totally
appreciative of that. >> Let me answer. >> Did you train in the new guy? >> Amazing. >> No, I don't know if they have a new guy yet. Not sure. I don't think so. >> Well, no. That's one thing that Well, I started after the last guy was gone for years, so >> Oh my gosh.
>> I trained myself. >> I hope we don't have to wait four years for you. I work in I work for Houston County Maintenance and uh I appreciate all your efforts. >> You walked around with me once before you went down to Houston County. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Thank you, Darl. >> I want to give you a big hand. Yes.
Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Well, you're still gonna pay we're still gonna send you the tax bill. What is that? >> I don't know why she had to bring that up. >> Retirement. >> Because I haven't gotten my Winona County one, but I've gotten a couple other county tax bills. I don't know
where the Winona County one is. >> Don't worry. >> I can't get to your room unless somebody lets me through. >> There's somebody. >> I'll twist Charlie's arm. >> All right. >> Congratulations. Thank you so much. enjoying
the time. >> Yes, that's fabulous. Okay, so um we start our meeting with uh public comment period. Um if anyone who's here in the audience has some thoughts that they would like to share with us, please come to the microphone. Please tell us your name and address. Sure. Is there a
baleiff or um these notices? >> Probably hand them to the county >> administrator. Yeah. And if you can please try to limit your comments to two minutes. Um I do have one, two, three, four that are willing to give me their two minutes. Uh I don't
think it works that way. Could you give them Do you have your comments written down and they could come make them for you? >> Oh, do they just want to finish reading public notice? >> Sure. >> Sure. >> All right. Gratitude. >> Okay. So, all right. This is public input notice. State and county.
>> And your name and address? Uh Danielle Marie, Kingdom Whisper Ministry, PO Box 18, Minnesota City 55959. We are adopting the elements of this letter for our community. Our United Republic, 27, Trinity Place, Unit 114,
New York, New York 10006. Reason Charlotte County Community Public Notice of Appearance of the American Republic. Our United Republic. Elements of intentions going forward. Jurisdictions. Interamerican National. North American
Continental Territory. United States Domestic General Law and Equity National Response Framework Region 04 Florida State Territory Emergency Response Plan Region 06 Charlotte Sarasota and Lee County Communities.
Article One. This notice's intent and purpose is to give rise to the Charlotte County community as well as the Inglewood area and Gasporella Island area that our organization has taken permanent station as a private public polit political body politist with
capacities as an American veteran organizing alliance. United States Treasury Direct Registry Trust entity and an authorized North American private securities originator in the form of an American religious establishment as referenced in the
American Bill of Rights. Amendment one. We will be operating with and will be facilitating the return of international common law and domestic national defense mechanisms in the United States as well as establishing and/or facilitating the
transition of authorities having jurisdiction HHJ regarding the hierarchy and American law and as prescribed by law permend to the United States under article three in the constitution for the United States of America. Article
two, items determined necessary and proper to be modified. One, private qualified individual primary residents without encumbrances shall be moved out of the public and into a private North American holding company administered by local community
delegated individ individuals and no longer taxable with the assistance and guardianship of the United States military judge advocate generals. Two, an American veteran. Uh, can you wrap it up or transfer to the next individual? >> Thank you so much.
>> Wrap number two. >> Number two, an American veteran. Will >> Oh, yeah. Please tell us your name and address. Thank you. >> Forgive me. >> Thanks, Josh. >> I am Tracy Hazelton. Address P. Box 20,
Minnesota City 55959. Two. An American veteran militia will be established and regulated by the United States Marine Corps Division Street. All public service and private or public service facilities, spaces and
judiciaries will be operated in conjunction with the United States military judge advocates with capacities to include US militia and state guard territory mechanisms of regulation.
Four, domestic law enforcement and emergency incident services will be nationalized centrally to be coordinated with the United States military through through the war department, National
Intelligence Agency, NSA and CIA, etc. Five healthc care and general welfare origins will descend to a public slope, excuse me, please private/public
community organization level for individual assistance. Six, schooling and education shall be reorganized into a trifold national defense
work. Wait, excuse me. State workforce and community, government, social and civic based system. Seven, all public land and holdings will be transferred to a private/public
community council for administration also with the assistance of the United States military judge advocates. Number eight, the commun the current and future political corporation charters,
commissions, boards, assembling entities will be deemed foreign and United States federal per article one for profit and shall be operated with mechanisms through either the United States Navy
for maritime revenue or the United States Coast Guard for admiral t commercial per article 3 with a consistent presence of the United States Marine Corps
Division C authenticator. >> Can you uh >> pass it on to the >> Certainly. >> Yeah. Thank you so much. >> Number nine. >> Number nine. Tim Priy uh 50 Lyndon Street, Lewis, Minnesota 55952.
Okay. Ultimately, the board of Charlotte County Commissioner's public role will be reduced to addressing business licensed entities and mechanisms to facilitate state regulate or regional commerce for the benefit of revenue and most likely collecting
transactional taxes. Number 10. Finally, the area known as West County Englewood as well as all land south of El Joane Bridge south of Maninnesota branch road is in South Sarasota County to Bokeh
Grand Pass and to the northern edge of the Meka State Forest is intended to be moved into the Department of the Interior Interior as a unified national parkland. Each department and system
assembled shall be audited and reconciled or what is known as doed prior to its transition to the new jurisdiction platform. Number 12, indictments, warrants, and prosecutions
for matters regarding fraud, waste, and abuse, as well as other high crimes for those who have been bestowed duty will be facilitated through the United States Military in conjunction with the Department of War, National Intelligence Agency, and United States Marine Corps
Division, Maine, as is relative to the Interamerican Court of Human Rights under the Geneva Convention and Laws of War. Number 13. During the transitional period per operation pale horse, the authorities having jurisdiction shall be placed under martial law. However, the
public and private community members lives are to be inferred or interfered with as little as possible unless reasonably warranted. And then it says uh master guardian Robert Lewis Craft LB
constitutional criminal prosecution the American republic our United Republic uh let's see intel uh or named Christian minister license number DA12576
DC International Bar Association number 2740174 committees on Human Rights, Indigenous People's War Crimes, National American Forums. >> I believe that's >> Yep. There you go. K. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Have a good evening. Yep.
>> Is there anyone else in the audience that would like to share in public comment? And if you are online and um also want to talk to us, you certainly can. Um you can unmute yourself. I'm going to ask two more times.
Is there anyone here in the audience or online that would like to participate in the public comment period? And for the final time, is there anyone here in the audience or online who would like to participate in public comment? Hearing no one, I'm going to move on to
uh consent comments and approval of the agenda. Oops. Nope. I'm sorry. >> Six. >> Number six, approval of the county board minutes for March 10th. >> So move second. >> Mr. Olsson, >> I wasn't here. >> Oh, maybe you shouldn't. All move.
>> Still second or third or wherever we're at. >> Yeah. So, Commissioner Vaguely moves. Commissioner Alston. County approval of the county board minutes for March 10th of this year. >> Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> If anyone's opposed, say nay. Motion
carries. Consent, comments, and approval of agenda. Um, Assistant County Attorney, do you have any adjustments to the agenda? No, thank you. Commissioner Vley, >> one comment at the end, please. >> Commissioner, >> uh, comments at the end, please.
>> Olson, >> nothing for me. >> Commissioner Ward, >> a comment at the end, please. >> Okay. Uh, administrator Holy, >> nothing. >> Okay. So, there just some slight changes. Um, agenda, uh, a motion to approve the agenda might be in order. Move.
>> Second. >> Commissioner Elsing moves. Commissioner Ward seconds approval of the agenda. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. I. >> If anyone's opposed, say nay. Agenda is approved. Um, administrator Holty, can
you read the consent business for the record? >> 8.1 Approve resolution appointing Ross Dunore as community health services administrator. 8.2 Approve County Board Chair Recommendation for Human Rights Commission applicant. 8.3 approved
resolution LB214 premises permit application for the horse. 8.4 approved CDC strength strengthening public health infrastructure grant amendment. 8.5 approved memorandum of understanding
with family and children's center. 8.6 approve 2026 solid waste hauler and facility license applications. And 8.7 confirm payment of dispersements. I'll move to approve the consent items. >> Second.
>> Commissioner Begley has moved. Commissioner Ellson has seconded approval of the consent business as it was read. Is there any further discussion? Commissioner War. >> Um I just have something that I think we should look at uh going forward being that we 8.6 we approved the 2026 solid waste hauler and facility license
applications. at uh the AMC meeting, I had the opportunity to sit with some Mstead County um people and they're working on a they had a name for it. It's it's their waste management system and how they're they're working towards
uh you know zero waste and and avoiding using landfills and everything and they've got some pretty aggressive plants. So I think just at some point we should have a discussion with them because they said they had capacity and if it's something that we need to look at from a long range perspective as far as you know garbage and landfills and
everything. So just sometime touch base I I know I have a contact name uh in Mstead County that was working on that. >> Thank you. Any further discussion hearing? None. All those in favor of the motion to approve the consent business please signify by saying I. >> And if anyone is opposed say nay.
>> Consent business is approved. We move on to general business. Item 9.1 discuss and or appoint citizen advisory committee members. >> One out of two. Correct. >> Yeah. One vacancy. >> But we also have um don't we have uh ad
um what's the adm? What's is that the right term? >> Exicial. >> Exicial. >> So we have two vacancies and two applications. >> We have two or >> this is on page um >> one vacancy one out of two is what I was saying. We have to pick one out of the two is the way I understood it. Correct.
>> No, one vacancy. >> Two vacancies. >> Two vacancies. The board of appeals has one vacancy and no applications received. >> Oh, okay. EDA has two vacancies and two applications. >> Yes. >> Oh, okay. I must understood that. >> Um, >> yes, Commissioner Ward.
>> Well, I did uh I took the opportunity to get a hold of Mr. Heaven. Yeah. >> Um because he did not list any work experience or education or anything. and his comment to me was he didn't know that that was required. I don't know if
we um if we don't put that in there, but I I mean I've always been I think our application process is too cumbersome. Um but he uh shared um he's I think more than qualified. He's an engineer. He's retired. He moved back here. He teaches
just so people know he does um he he didn't call me back right away because he was out delivering meals on wheels which I appreciated him. and he also teaches math to um people who are trying to get their GEDs through the technical college. Um and he's an engineer and he
has a lot of experience. I I want to say he worked on panels that went on the one of the space shuttles. I thought that was pretty cool and stuff. So I mean I did have a a nice conversation with him. So I would move to appoint uh both people to the EDA.
>> I'll second that. >> I apologize. I don't know. Um, but it was a more of an application. I don't know. Um, >> Barry Olsson. >> Yeah, I don't know him personally, but it looked like his application he was more than qualified. >> I forwarded the request for u membership
to both of these gentlemen. >> Okay. >> I happen to be related to one. >> Yeah. >> Uh oh. Now that might change my >> Commissioner Ward has moved and Commissioner Begley has seconded approval of both of the candidates uh Terry Olsen and G. Charles Aer to the
EDA. Uh is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. I. >> And if anyone is opposed, please say nay. Motion passes. Next item is 9.2 as is a carryover from last month um or
last meeting. Discuss potential contribution to the homeless shelter. Uh Commissioner Begley, did you want to kick us off? Um Administrator Holy, >> I'll start off. Um, I guess I
if the board is okay with it, I'll start with a motion and if there's a second, we can discuss it. Um, and then we can go from there. I guess I'd like to get get the ball rolling by making a motion to allocate the $15,000 that was in the request from our existing SAHA funds uh
for this year. And um that would be the motion. >> They were last year's funds, but yes, >> I'm sorry. Correct. Last year's funds for this year's request. And then this is not part of the motion, but I just just so folks would know moving forward when it comes to the next budgeting cycle, I would like to make it a part of
the budget, but I will suggest offsets so it's budget neutral if that makes sense. But the motion is is to allocate the $15,000 from last year's soft. >> I'll second it. >> Um I did not see any additional information what they were going to use
the 15,000 for. or it was referenced last time. It was kind of like staff or or people, it wasn't a tangible uh concrete uh remodel project or anything. And and unless that's changed, I didn't see anything there. And then I did re
ask if the city was uh contributing any of their SAHA dollars to this endeavor. I >> think administrator Moly has it. >> I'll have your answer. >> Okay. Thank you. Um the city has not used any of its SAHA allocations towards the day or overnight centers. Um to date
the city is using its SAHA allocations for owner occupied rehabilitation projects for low to moderate income households. >> They were but we got no breakdown of what the 15 was going to be spent for. >> Was part of the original request.
>> Yeah. But I didn't I don't remember. You remember a budget? >> Probably dig it up, but yeah. >> Doesn't matter. Was it in the last bucket? >> Yeah, because I said I would I I would prefer something I can put my hands on if we're just going to pay staff and and >> it would it was going to go towards staff
>> in the last in the original request. >> It had been eluded by a private citizen. >> It was okay. No, >> not in the last packet, but it was written originally. Yep. >> Um I had been, you know, somebody from the community had said they were going to remodel something. Now, you said that they've done something for April and I I
could support as is the city using owner occupied updates and everything, but if it's just staffing and I can't it's not tangible. I can't put my hands on it. I uh SAHA dollars I think have to be in my opinion are supposed to be tangible upgrades to
current housing or new housing. Um uh we did ask just to clarify we had asked staff and uh spending the money on emergency shelter which is qualifies as is allowed under the Saha money. I I
realize that you have your ideas about it and that I'm not disputing that. When Commissioner Vaguely originally brought this up, I uh was supportive of the of it being budget neutral. Um I don't
want it to be another expense. Um and as it is, I think it's an appropriate use of the SAHA fund. So I would support it. >> Any further discussion? >> I just I I'm going to go back and just the same soap box I'm on. It's a dangerous slippery slope when we start
getting involved in this. And the reality of it is is I don't want to take the momentum away from the private sector that's trying to fund this. And I I've said it a million how many times I just there's a noble cause around every corner. And the traction sits here with a group of people to continue this. And
I I I I bring back to what I brought up in an earlier meeting today. State of New York right now. I believe it was on one of the major news channels said they're spending $81,000 per person that's homeless.
If they haven't figured it out at a government level, I'm not sure how we're going to figure it out at a government level. And you start a precedent of build it and they'll come. And I did run this by quite a few people and say there's a moral code to take care of people, but is the moral code to take it
from somebody else to do it? To me, that's a little bit of Peter Pan or Robin Hood, whatever you want to call it. Um, I'm just my fear is that we take the momentum away from the private sector that's I believe has been
doing a very good job and and and begin to take it from other people and then we build a a bigger problem with what we already have when we start attracting people. So, I guess I wanted to give it time to see if the private sector was able to continue to do what it is that
they do before uh brother government steps in and says, "Well, hi, we're we're here to help um and create a new dependence." Um so, I I don't support it under that motion because I my fear is that we'll take something good and flush
it down the toilet by the government getting involved. Not that anybody has ill intentions, but um I could give you the state of California, New York, all these other places that have done it to an absolute failure and a disaster. And
so my fear is I I don't see us doing anything different than what they're doing by simply taking taxpayer money, throwing it at the wall, and hoping the problem goes away to the point where even Commissioner Meyer said, "Man, let's just go buy him a house for that kind of money." So yeah, I mean, and so
what are we doing different? I mean, we can't even figure out what the money is going to go towards. We're just throwing money at the problem as little as it is. So again, I just don't I don't want to exhaust a good thing that might have already been started. And you know, it's relatively So it's not that I my job is I I talked
to a lot of people and said, "What do you think?" And they said, "Well, boy, you know, I do this or I've done that or I've helped these people or I've done that." And I say, "Right." and what happens when the government gets involved and you know I guess in a common consensus there was a bunch of different thoughts about that but it all
boiled back to well then they have it and that's what I don't want to see. So I I I want to see some defined use of the money um and and really understand what it is. I couldn't agree with Commissioner Ward's point about maybe some physical structures or tangible things that we can touch that we know
are going to be there uh not just go to a staff time and uh you know that's a little easier pill to swallow because you can see what it is that it went towards. So based on that at this point I'm not saying now no never I'm just saying I don't know if it's I don't want
to pull the rug out from underneath it. >> Anyone else? Um all those in favor of um Commissioner Begley's motion, which is to make a $15,000 contribution out of the previous
the 2025 SAHA funds to Catholic Charities for the homeless shelter. Um I will stop now, but I don't want to say it again. So go ahead, Commissioner W. >> I I have I have an uh I apologize. Another question. The SAHAD dollars are totally within the county control. They
aren't dollars that we put in the TR housing trust fund that went to SEMRA. >> Not yet. >> Not 2025s. >> Okay. Okay. >> We did 2024. >> Okay. All right. I remember some of that. >> And we can we can choose to give the remainder of the balance. >> Yes. All right. Thank you. I just one more question >> for that clarification.
>> It's very odd to me that the city doesn't want to help fund this. That's what's interesting to me. Like do they know, you know, what's the reasoning behind it? Is it the same reason that I'm saying like, "Hey, build it and they'll come." Is it they don't
see it to be an issue? You know, they're they have the fear of the build it and everybody will come. I mean, what I would to to really get behind this because I I don't see a massive homeless problem in my district that we've got to get behind this. I would have to think
that it's a regional more of a regional problem if it is. And I'm disconnected from that. But it's interesting to me that they won't get behind it. And that makes me wonder if there's thoughts of hey, the more we support this, the more attractive it is to come here.
Is there an issue with that? So I that that that is again I just don't have enough reason to start the can down the road to say, "Hey, we're going to we're going to start something and then continue to fund it and go from there." If we got a reason to take dollars away from another program, can't we justify
that somewhat by saying, "Hey, we can save the taxpayer money by just simply not f focusing on that pro or not funding that program as much." So that that's where I'm at. So I' I'd still really interested besides the canned response of what it is that we're already doing, why they're genuinely not
supporting it. Uh, I'm not going to repeat the motion, but all those in favor of approving this motion, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Those who are opposed, please say n. >> Okay. Motion uh carries 3 to two. Um,
we're now down to um committee reports and comments. So, Commissioner Begley. >> Um, we all, I believe, received an email uh from Commissioner is it Flanders from Good Hugh County? >> Yeah. about the the river cleanup.
>> Then there I've also received a follow-up email, not sure if you all did as well, from one of the staff in Goody County, >> Nick Leur. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Saying that um in that the marine um art museum already organizes a cleanup event and if we could just help promote the
event. So, I'm not asking for any staff time. I'm just I guess asking the question, what can we do to help promote it? I'm not asking us or our staff to do anything or require them, but can we just somehow I guess add it to the web page or just somehow share the information uh with what already takes
place. I think last year he said over 40 people helped um seven museum staff, 40 volunteers um helped out. I I remember last year when this came up, my concern was it's it's in flood season. >> Yeah, it was >> this flood is it's also flood flood
season for them first, etc. Although the snow pack's not not bad yet, >> they talked Black River was cresting today. Yeah, >> but it worked last year. So, I guess I just want to see if we could help promote it. I don't know if that requires a discussion or a vote or whatever, but if we just help
>> I think it's great. >> It's totally optional. No staff time, no paid staff. It's just >> you forward it to me today. >> Yep. >> Yep. And actually tying in with that, uh, the Dresback area, they do a river cleanup kind of just there as their own community thing. I don't know that they
tie into this group, but they're they're a river town. Yeah, >> river town. >> Commissioner Flanders is trying to trying to piece together quite a few boat house association participates. >> Awesome. >> Yeah, because you've done it before. Okay. Anything else, Commissioner Vick?
>> Thank you, >> Commissioner. >> Just going to bring it up again. Probably hear me say it for the next couple months, but uh farming's getting close to being on the way. You're going to start to see a lot of big equipment and small equipment running around in the countryside. be patient. Um, you know, they're doing the best they can to
get up and down the road to go uh plant the food that we eat every day. So, just everybody be cautious. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, Commissioner Ward, >> um, we talked about the townships doing their own zoning and planning. They're celebrating. Their annual meeting is tomorrow night. Um, they have a um, not
sure if they have a speaker this I haven't heard any details. >> Would imagine that they will. They usually do and such, but they celebrate their organization and they all had their annual meetings just within the last month. Um, so they'll be celebrating tomorrow night um at Whitea
the tavern there. The nice room. >> I'm sorry. Am I supposed to react to this or I I don't understand. >> Okay. I don't understand what >> I teach American government. I don't understand what that was. But yeah, >> I understand what it is. I honestly do and um if I just
>> Okay. Well, if you can Okay. Well, if you can fill us fill the blank, >> you'll let us know later. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, we can communicate. >> Okay. >> Yeah, because I don't know what it >> Do you think it's appropriate now, Rebecca? >> Okay. All right. >> Later. >> Yeah. I get handed something. I don't
know if I'm supposed to respond or not. Okay. Uh, that takes takes care of it. Thank you. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> All right. Commissioner Elsie moves. Commissioner vaguely seconds. Motion to adjurnn. >> Uh, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Anyone oppose say nay. We are adjourned.
>> Marine, can we hand these back to you then? >> Yes, you sure can.