Go for it. >> Yeah. >> All right. And uh item number one, discuss contribution for holiday meat and cheese trays. >> Uh >> is it local? It >> I think it probably will be local. I don't know. Maybe it's H I >> think it is.
>> I think it was IV last year. Um for folks who are unaware, we're not allowed to spend tax money on uh party. So, we don't do a holiday party for our staff, but the commissioners for the last couple years have put together along with the administrator
uh enough funds to purchase meat and cheese trays for our entire staff and all of the locations. So, uh Commissioner Vaguely and I are wondering if uh the board would like to do this again. >> We've done it every year since I've been on. How much is it again? Did you figure
it out? >> $100 a piece. >> I thought it was more than that. That's okay. Oh, it might have been. >> I thought it was 150. >> Yeah, what it was >> 150. >> Yeah. What do you need now? >> That much? No, >> we'll get a quote. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Check around that that I I'm not
opposed to it, but that just seems like a lot of >> What about like a ZNA meets or one of the other meat places? Would they maybe want to look into something like that? Maybe you can check out them, too. Maybe spread it around a little bit. >> Yeah. But part of it is that there's one for the highway shop, one for here, one
for public health, >> law enforcement, courthouse. >> Yeah. It's not just one. It's >> Yeah. >> But then you've got, if you really want to be fair, you got Udica and Nodine highway shops. >> We coordinate with the highway to go take them out. >> I mean, there's people that are based out of there.
>> I can just walk next door to my Utica and get something out of >> It's a truck to get to downtown. >> Cheese trades in there already. They keep dropping them off. So anyway, yeah, I think that was a yes. >> Yeah, we could do it local. I don't know if there's any other that's you're
referring to the new one out on uh highway. >> Well, DNA is just a repeat. It's what was once Pete's meet. I one that there's there's >> other meat places that do things like that, too. So, I just thought >> do business locally. Okay, >> be good.
>> All right. Any other discussion on that? All right. Item 1.2, to discuss potential allocation of through the Ripple drug awareness organization. And >> so I asked last meeting if you could put this on the committee of the board or
the audience here and anybody listening at home. We're not going to make a decision today. This is just a discussion. If enough people support the idea of further discussing it and possibly making a decision, then we'll move it to a regular business meeting.
Um but uh I have seen the RIP Ripple um group in action all over the community. Um their members have been at the high school a number of times over the years. Um I've seen the legit fox everywhere. Um to our credit at the county fair um
at community events um um all over the place. and one of the three I'm sorry what was the term the three legs of the stool the three pillars >> we have prevention stabilization and recovery and the prevention is one of the pillars
>> um and this falls squarely in that category um so I would like to um I guess I'm not quite sure what I'm going to be asking I'm going to ask that they be invited to submit a proposal um is that the best way to frame it because there is a process to go through to go
through to request funds. Is that correct? >> So we don't have a process to request funds. How we are doing the committee is that the committee members are focusing on the three pillars and we establish events under those pillars and then
members of the the committee actually do the research and look for organizations or individuals who can provide the services that align with it. And then we do a professional service agreement with measurable outcomes. So it there isn't a
process to request funds, >> right? >> It's based on events and outcomes >> because this is opioid dollars, not property tax dollars that we >> So it's a little that is a little different. >> All right. But so I'm sorry. >> I'm sorry to interrupt. So >> in the process is the committee brings a
recommendation to the full board. Correct. So in a way I I do and the committee has been because of some staff has been it's been hasn't met in a while. I would like to um prevention the key to it under captain obvious is prevention sooner is better than later
is to possibly allocate some more funds to allow those good people to do even more sooner rather than later not months or year a year from now etc. So um in since the committee is not meeting I don't want to necessarily skip that step but it comes to the board any for a
recommendation correct and there is money allocated for community education I believe right >> yes there is um I did speak with if I may madam >> um I did speak with health and human
services director Miss Chaffy Jaffy sorry um actually just before this meeting and she is going to schedule a committee meeting in January. Um, and so her hope is to be able to
bring something forward, February, early March. >> Um, I don't want to speak for her because she, again, we just she's only been here a little over a month. >> So, pardon my voice. I'm getting over being
sick, everybody. So, um, the questions I have are I know very little bit about this, but, um, this is out of the opioid opioid money, correct? Which is obviously grant money or in essence free money. Um, >> lawsuit money. >> Lawsuit money. There we go. Yeah.
There's no such thing as free grant money from the government. We pay for it one way or the other, but this actually came from lawsuit money. But are we setting some sort of continued precedent down the road to continue to fund this, or is this a oneanddone type of a deal? How does that work?
>> It might be both. >> Actually, the administration or >> the intent is not to have anything ongoing. >> It's a one. >> It's to help. >> We get that in writing. >> Very upfront about it in the committee. Um we repeat it often. We say it when
we're talking with the individuals that we're doing professional service agreements with. This is the intent is to help the community get the resources. And >> no, I I fully understand the intent that I'm all about prevention even though it's kind of contradictive to passing laws, legalizing things.
>> Um, which is just blows my mind to this day. But nonetheless, what I'm my fear with this is I see it the same as seed money. So although I fully support this hopefully going to these types of things, I just want to put it on record that hey, I see that I see what's going
to happen when this dries up and we're going to have a whole bunch of groups out there going, hey, we'd like to continue doing this. I just want to make sure that we're very aware that down the road we're not stuck with footing bills that we didn't anticipate. >> Sure, >> Commissioner Vage. >> And I that's a good point. Um there are
a number of different um programs that are going to be tied to these three pillars, prevention, stabilization, and recovery. And it is tied to the um opioid funds. And they're not meant to be forever funds, but they are meant to be used for the current today opioid
crisis. and on the all the other all the other forms of it etc. So um I I'm not quite sure I guess how to move this I >> Madam Chair >> I think by consensus we could say move it to the committee and let them discuss. Yeah, that's that would be my
>> I would say that's probably the best. >> I mean, so H Highwa Valley Mental Health came to us. They wanted to start up a medically assisted treatment program. We did not give them all of the money that they asked for, but we asked for a set of detailed financial and record plans and then staff and the committee vetted
that. >> So, I would hope that we could just do that same process. >> And are we doing this based on an underfund? you know, hey, this group does a lot and they're severely underfunded or how do they evaluate that? You know, there's got to be that committee's got to be looking at that, right?
>> Some people know what they do. Uh some of us just have a very high level. So, it would be to their benefit to educate, you know, what what they have available. That's part of the process. >> What was interesting about the medically assisted treatment is that they asked for a lot of money. They asked for like
$100,000 and Emily said >> WA Valley asked for that. Yeah. And Emily Vulman, our public health person, said, "Oh, no. You can you can collect from insurance for but no, this can't be right." And they met and they actually in the end asked for $15,000.
>> I'd be interested to see what the committee says, I guess. >> Well, we have to put the onus on attorney Sonoman. How many more lawsuits there? There are other pending lawsuits, aren't there, with opioids? >> There's one that they just settled that we should see more money from. >> Oh, okay. >> Down the road. I don't know when exactly
it'll be distributed, but >> I'm not sure how many are in the pipeline, but >> Okay. >> Okay. Yeah. Okay. So, is the direction to send it to the committee? >> Um, >> that would be my that's what I'd favor. >> What you need because we don't do actions here, but consensus
>> find me. So, is the commissioners Ward and Commissioner Meyer who are on the committee? >> Right. Would you like you like >> I could stop and you could go on the committee. >> Miss Holy, Miss Sonamon. No, no. >> Um, was there someone from law enforcement?
>> Ruth. Um, >> um, trying to think who else is on. >> It's been a while since we met. So, yeah, but we can actually discuss that later. >> But I would certainly be willing to break with you for something else. >> Correct me if I'm wrong. There's roughly
$1.2 million already sitting in the county, right? what needs to be based on what you >> there is but that's not really what's available >> but the thinking in the beginning was 180,000 or so a year for like
>> for 18 years >> yes yeah >> so this isn't meant to be like a future hypothetical there are funds today >> I just hope that we can expedite this now commissioner war you asked about high level there there are some people here from Ripple um can we ask them
since we have time to give them a couple minutes to talk about like an overview of what they're what they do because we do have time you not you know not forever I mean but more than the two minutes that might be a lot >> is that legal >> I can ask a question >> yeah that's what you have a question
>> yeah we have questions I have to I have to make a statement though and Malia can respond to this so the other night >> watching network TV I don't know what station was but you know it was um they were talking about the opioid addiction and there's a new drug you take you don't have to be totally off opioids,
but there was a new drug, another a new drug you could take for to relieve opioid thing. And then, of course, have the Narcan in the counter, too, just in case. So, a drug for a drug for a drug. What is the message we're sending here? I mean, if we want people to stop using
things, we're just substituting things. And I don't You can come up to the mic. I just I didn't write down what name it was. I mean, every night there's a different drug for something. >> You can come on up, Millia. Well, can um maybe in addition to that, maybe could we start with um if I could start with
two of the more specific questions. Could you summarize Malia what you've done and what you would like to do if you had more funds available, etc. Because I know basically you're are you all volunteers or >> Okay. Yes. >> So there's no >> so summary of maybe of what you've done
and what you what you hope to do if you had more funds available. >> Sure. So for those that do not know, my son did die of an a fentinel poisoning. Um, I just came from Oaklair speaking to two high schools today, rushed back here
to be able to be before you where they have just lost a 15year-old to a one pill can kill. Um, we are going into schools since 2023. Josh died in 2022. Two weeks before he died, he had stated
to me, "Mom, people are dying of fentanyl and no one's talking about it. That is why I do what I do. This is in his name. It is in his honor. And I'm sorry it's very emotional, but it is to keep people safe. Getting up before
these kids and saying to them as I'm crying, you never want your mother standing up here is making a huge impact. Since 2023, we have spoken to well over 3,000 kids. We are in
southeast Minnesota. Redwing Good Hugh County has given us opioid dollars. We're doing $40,000 worth of work for the next three years through their opioid committee. We have a 14-year-old that died in Redwing,
and that's why we're there. Uh I live, just FYI, I have property in Winona, raised all my kids here, but I live across the river. So I am also doing uh central west central Wisconsin. We're
going in the schools. We are educating them. Who in this room knows carfentinol, nitizens, xylazine >> and metatomodine. So I'm not just teaching fentanyl
anymore. I am now teaching carfentyl, xylazine, meditate, metatomodines and well the carfentanol is um they're all opioids. Um we're getting nlloxxone. I can tell
you in this city we are the harm reduction. We have two boxes and my board here is putting boxes of Nlloxxone into little libraries throughout the
city. People's home fronts with their little libraries. They have two boxes in them that we go to regularly. We are the ones that place the Haya Valley Mental Health Center outdoor 247 dispenser. I
have a contract with the state of Minnesota, the Nlloxxone portal and we that is not something that we have to pay for that comes to us and we have hundreds that we have put out. Uh Sasha
and I just filled tonight because Hayawa Valley called and said it was empty. >> Um >> I'm sorry, but does I Doesn't it free? Isn't there a temperature life expect? no life expectancy. >> Okay, they've eliminated that then. But temperature is
>> the temperature it it is compromised. It will it will freeze. It will overheat, but it will come back to its original. So, you just have to put it under your arm. Plus, I do not feel that Dwayne's going to go there's an elox or there's
an opioid. Run down to high valley and get this. We need to be caring. Every single one of us need to be caring. We have fire extinguishers in our home. How often do we use it? Not very often. If we use it, we need to be doing the same
with nlloxxone. I brought you each a box tonight. >> Um I have it's >> do anything for the flu. >> Um not that I know. >> And does the question >> but I have a lot of oils I can tell you about. >> Does it have a can it have a negative
effect on somebody like you know kids? >> Absolutely not. like peanut but kids have peanut allergies and stuff like that. So I mean there is no negative that anybody said >> babies born to mothers using substances are immediately narcanned and they're
staying in the hospital withdrawing from the opioids from the system. It will not hurt a person who's having a diabetic reaction who's having an epileptic seizure. you are best. It won't do
anything for xylazine or meatomdine. It won't do anything for methamphetamine, but it also won't hurt. It's just to reverse that opioid. >> Okay. Okay. >> Okay. Fine. >> Yep. So, there is no Absolutely. You
need to know that I work only with the DEA. That is who my evidence-based program is coming directly from the Drug Enforcement Administration. That's why I do have the most recent car fentanyl
nitzine all of the um of the facts. It's not something I make up um other than the stories and I don't make those stories up. I'm telling the stories of Anthony Gloopka who was standing against the wall dead. It just takes your your
breath, your your respiratory and your um um can't think of it at this moment, but >> heartbeat. >> Cardiac, >> respiratory. You're respirator. Okay, >> Malia, thank you for bringing those
boxes. That's a wonderful house. Um thanks to you. I have one in my car. I have one in my one in school. Um but yeah, like there's no such thing as too much of this. >> You should have it in your desks definitely in open meetings. Absolutely. You should have no lock zone here available.
>> Can you tell us what you would do if more funding reports become available? >> We need a campaign. Have any of you have you seen our ripple billboard? You saw it? Yeah. So the Ripple billboard we had up for four months thanks to the
generosity of Selonies. They gave us the money for four months to have that up. It moved around town four times. It had 16 faces of beautiful angels and eight
of those were Winona people. So um we would like to have messages on the back of city transit. we would like to have at the theaters um uh advertising uh commercials, commercial breaks.
That's a lot of kids that are seeing that. So media is a huge one is getting the money out there. Um, you know, as far as what we do volunteer-wise, it would be nice to be able to go into
school and get, you know, like 50 bucks for your time, >> but we've been doing it for three years without it. Um, there's just there's ancillary things, of course, buying these things and all of our pins and our pens and the wristbands. Kids eat that
stuff up. So, um, we tr do try to work with law enforcement. We're going into the jails. Some of our people in recovery checking to see Jesse's awake. Um, some of our people in recovery um are going
into the jails already and we're getting Ripple to go in as well because you would think that I'm preaching to the choir there, but they have their own idea about what um I I met a person that was a meth manufacturer that argued with
me that fentanyl wasn't in meth. Well, it wasn't in his math, >> you know, he was manufacturing it. But hey buddy, my kid died from meth laced with fentanyl. So they have a warped sense. I think you guys would probably
agree. Yeah. Um Yeah. And so um yeah, not all but some. Not you guys. Um the awareness getting out into the county um you know
tableabling uh the harm reduction is huge. I I don't have the funds to buy the test strips, the xylenazine test strips, the fentanyl test strips. That was something that the DHS was doing and now they don't do that anymore. They
don't send that out to us free. And that that's huge as well. >> So, you have to test strips. >> What do you do with these test strips? The person or the the drug? >> The person is picking up test strips to test their drug to assure. Now, that
seems like enabling, but again, that's giving you some sense of responsibility and possibly if it's coming up with fentanyl, they're going to get the message. I don't want to be doing this.
So, it is all in in the name of my opinion, keeping people alive for as long as it takes. And I do need to stress the these are not choices that people make. This stuff is so addictive
that there is no thought about how how I started. I mean, we have I know you've seen these people walking around town. They have no way of becoming uh
recovered. we need to be helping um to get them into something. >> How many people roughly have you spoken with again >> in in Southeast Minnesota? 3,000 at least since 2023. So >> that's why the funds are already here.
The people are those people are already doing this work. We need to find a way to get this money to those people as soon as possible. This isn't some far off distant wildfire. It's it's here already. It's all over. It's here. >> Just last week at lunch, uh there's a
teacher who rented an apartment um and uh this is on the deep east end. There's a house that burned down a couple weeks ago by a drug dealer. Yeah. Um etc. So, this is mean this is literally here and here and now, etc. So, we need to find a way and I hope that if the committee can
meet, we can expedite this. Of course, go through all the normal channels. I'm sure they'll meet the requirements, etc. But we just need to find a way to get the funds and it's already budgeted for community education and prevention. So we just need to find a way to get these funds and make sure that there's
followup and that there is um evaluation etc. But I have >> and you may know this but in 2021 um it was four out of 10 pills all 10 pills are are deadly.
four of them will actually kill you. By 2022, it became six out of 10, seven out of 10. In 2023, I was certain in 2024, I was going to go into the classroom with a DEA slide that said eight out of 10.
It went down to five out of 10. Called the DEA and said, "This is a typo. What What is this?" No. because of our mothers and our families going into the classrooms and doing the work that you're doing. Because you're getting the
harm reduction tools into people's hands, those numbers have come down and they are going down again. You know that your medical examiner came and told you that yours went up 100%. And that broke my heart. It broke my heart. And I need
for you to see ripple. I need for you to see what we are doing and that we need because we are the lived experience. Right. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And if other people would want to make comments at the six o'clock meeting,
there's a two-minute time period for public. >> We'll have that open. Yeah. One of the things just just a little bit that I hear and the good thing is is this is not levy money. This is settlement money. Yep. To the taxpayers. zero cost. >> It's blood money. Second thing is is
>> so many times in so many things we do. So much of the cost goes to administration. >> Just people in the background. This is boots on the ground and I'm a boots on the ground sort of person. And so that's what I like about the little bit that I know. That's what I like. It sounds like you're boots on the ground type of
people. >> Thank you. Great. Um I don't have a question for you, Malia, but for staff. I just hung up at Houston County Courthouse um maxalone and a a boxes on every floor of
the building um that are stocked. Do we have I didn't see it. Okay. I just >> I don't know. >> So, we have the in Houston County. I don't know what prompted it or what, but we have those on every floor of the building. Um so,
>> I can check into it. I know that we have a I'm not sure >> that' be great because if we don't have an arcan available I assume that we did >> I I think >> social services >> law enforcement does >> and the southeast emergency communicate our emergency medical services was a big
distributor of that for many many years that's kind of changed now we don't have to go through that >> particular we have >> containers on the report must >> well I've also seen it on my cross country um in rest stops Mhm.
>> And I was kind of surprised it was like a dispenser thing you could get, you know, just take them out. >> How many How many is this? One dose. What What is this one? >> There's two blister packs in each one. >> Okay.
>> Um it gives the directions for how to use on the side. >> Oh, thank you. >> Do you have one or two extra to give to Marine to possibly if we don't already have it somewhere in this lobby area as well? >> We'll do. Thank you. >> Thank you, Malia. Thank you, everybody.
>> All right. Thank you. >> We got a couple minutes if somebody anybody needs to use it. >> Like a tequila shot. >> Okay. So, we'll >> take a break. >> Yeah, we'll take we got about a four minute. We can take a break. Yes. But we don't like
we don't want that to happen. Okay. Um, we start our meeting uh with the public comment. Uh, well, are we going to recogn Are we recognizing a a retiring employee? >> Retiring. >> Okay. All right. We'll do our
recognition first. We're recognizing a retiring employee. And not that she's the only one that's retiring this this year. Maybe it's just timing. Sheila Harms. She's been with us for 13 years of service in planning and environmental services department. And Eric, do you
have more to >> Yeah, good evening, uh, county board. I just wanted to echo a few comments as I believe was in the bio, 13 years in the planning department. Yep. So, just want to take this moment to honor Sheila and
all her efforts. um back in the day when she was hired, we used to have a county water plan and she worked on that and then as that evolved into uh individual watershed plans and then ultimately the
one watershed one plan uh she's been very valuable for multicounties here down in southeastern Minnesota, the Whitewater joint powers board and the multiple county planning and other SWCD departments that are down here been
pivotal and working and collaborating the watershed planning process. Um, a real asset. So, it's sad to uh see her leave. Um, Ross Stunsmore wanted to give some comments, too. He had other
commitments tonight. He might be here later, but I just wanted to read this into the record, too. Um, five short months ago, Sheila let me know her plans to retire. Ironically, during a conversation on training to back up her
and assist with essential duties to perform for the department, always the professional, Sheila was ready at work preparing her files and guidance documents to help in the transition. As we've navigated the past few months,
Sheila's value to our citizens and the natural resources community around southeastern Minnesota has been on full display with her colleagues expressing their appreciation for her work and thoughtfulness as a person. Sheila's
legacy can be seen in the projects completed to protect and improve the environment in the whitewater windlac and river watersheds. We will miss Sheila very very much and wish her the best in her well-earned retirement. So
that to turn it over to Sheila >> speech speech parting words >> parting words. I just thank you for the opportunity to be an employee here and um it was what I really like about this job. It was so varied and there was a
lot to do and every day was different. So, >> okay. Well, we thank you. I I've always referred to you as, you know, Mrs. Miss Water for Winona County. If you needed a water question, go see go see Sheila. She knew about the water.
>> I just like to thank you personally, Sheila. We've worked together for >> long time. >> Long time. 10 plus years. Yep. >> Uh just the different various boards. >> Maybe 14. probably shortly after you started, not too much longer. Anyway, so just with all the different committees
and boards I've been on over the years and um I just I I've said it for many years, especially on the Whitewater joint, without Sheila, it doesn't exist. And interestingly enough, we are going to just, you know, we're going to dismember that board. And um she's
really the one that put the time into grant writing and and just an exceptional person to always depend on, very organized. Without her, I'd be somewhere else. She always keeps me, hey, we got to do this. She literally was just up here. We need to do this, Josh. Right. So, very organized and and
very very uh very good at what you did. So, I just wanted to thank you personally for all these years. And uh like I said, you were instrumental in keeping a lot of these things going. So, >> thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. But now, >> you live across the river though, don't you? >> Pardon? >> Do you still live?
>> I do, but not for long. >> Michigan. >> Oh, Michigan. >> Yes. Oh, okay. Well, good. I'm moving north. >> Without you, Sheila, thank you for all of the hard work that you've put in. I don't The one wershed, one plan plans would not have gotten done without you.
So, >> thank you. >> We will miss you. >> Thank you, Sheila. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. All right. Safe safe travels to Michigan then. >> Thanks. >> All right. Okay. Then we will move on in our agenda uh for public comment. Anybody that
would like to make a comment, um, feel free to step to the podium, uh, state your name and address for the record. Um, and the question is, is this the time to talk about the, uh, budget and the tax and everything? No, that will be
u down in the agenda after we do our consent business. So, uh, you can if you have a comment, a quick comment about it, u feel free to do that, but uh, there'll be more discussion later in the agenda. So, good evening, Miss Wilbright. >> Hello. Um, my name is Chelsea Wilbright,
county auditor treasurer. I live in Whisoy Township and my public comment was initially to address that for all the folks that are in the audience that are here because they got their proposed tax bill. Um, if you're if you have questions or concerns
specifically about valuation, we do have a signup sheet to have one of the assessors give you a call. That's not what this meeting is about tonight. That is um tonight is about the levies. Valuation has a lot to go that goes into
your tax bills. But if everybody's went up, if everybody's value doubled and the levy didn't change, your tax bill would not go up. So levies are just as just as important to your tax bill as the valuation. Um, again, if you have
valuation questions, there's a signup sheet out out there. Um, there's also information about the various homestead credits and, uh, different exclusions you might be eligible for. But the truth and taxation meeting is item 8.1 are on
our agenda. >> So, be sure there is a sign up if they have a specific question about the valuation that appears in their upper right hand corner of their statement that they just got. >> Yep. Okay. And you had was this sheet out there too? Um Chelsea, I don't know
where I picked it up. >> Programs. >> Well, how value affects taxes? >> Yep, that's out there as well. >> Okay. So, there is an explanation of how how the value changes affects taxes. Yep. >> I haven't looked at it yet, but it comes from Department of Revenue. >> Yeah, it comes from the department.
>> Yeah. Just real quick, if the few minutes didn't kick in, so I don't know how much time we have left, but if you don't mind a quick question. I I have been noticing and had had uh several calls about some uh discrepancies as far as homestead exclusions and different things not showing up. Are we on that?
Are we I just wanted to make a public record. I'm bringing it up. Are we fixing some of those situations? >> Uh I've heard of a few one-off. Again, Homestead and things that is the assessor's department. Um but they impact tax. So I've I'm in the loop.
I've heard of a few oneoff with the TNTs, like a few parcels out of the 26,000 that are taxable. Um, it's not a widespread error. >> I just I wanted to bring it up because usually if there's a couple, that means other people might not be looking. And
I'm just public awareness, hey, look at your tax statements. >> Look at your truth and taxation notice. If it if you're expecting it to be a homestead and it's not, um, call the assessor's office. >> Yep. Otherwise, we've we've had them for that
one specific we had Tyler look through the whole system to see if there's any similar issues that happened in the same fashion and that was the only case. So, to our understanding, it's not a widespread issue, but definitely take a look at your TNT. >> Commissioner Meyer.
>> Thanks. The other thing I wanted to point out is that there's a sheet out there as well. Um there are property tax refunds specifically for folks who are on fixed income and whose tax is a high proportion of what their income is. That is what that's for. And so there's
information out there. >> Yes. Of programs. >> Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> Can Mr. Sadler speak please? >> Uh sure. >> What was it? >> Oh okay. >> Yeah. Just to reiterate what Chelsea has stated. We are looking at it. It came to our attention. I had a constituent stop
in earlier in the week. We had a lengthy discussion with Tyler on it. They did check the system, but we're if there's any other issues that you find, let me know, please. >> Have you even seen pop up online? I was just going to find one quick somebody else that that had happened to. So, >> and have them get me.
>> Best is to call Todd. Start with you. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> And I'll just jump I'll jump on it as well. >> Next year, the statements will arrive sooner, correct? Yes. Next year the statements will arrive sooner. There some people have concerns because they missed the city truth in taxation. They missed the school board.
>> There's time for ours, but next year they'll arrive soon. So, >> right. Right. There is no good time to talk about taxes. You should talk about taxes all the time, what what they're doing and everything. So, >> anything else, thank you. >> All right. Thank you. All right. Two minutes. Please step to the podium.
Thank you. >> Well, I'll try not to be nervous this time, guys. Uh, my name is Jacqueline Venal. I'm a resident of Winona County. Um, I have been a known drug user for
17 years or more. No, 15 about 15 years. Uh, I am now in drug court. Um, I work and do volunteer service for Ripple and I go to the county fairs and everything and I sit at a lovely booth and hand out information packets and tell my story
and what I've been through. Um, I would just like to see our outreach expand more. I've also um I've spoken with like my job to see about a education and awareness and so they are going to be reaching out so
that we can do that and tell people okay well hey if this happens at work this is what you got to do and I got nervous um but no so uh it's it's just being able to do my volunteer work through
Ripple means a lot and giving back to to a community that I took so much out of is exceptional and I would like to see them expand in their opportunity to help our help our county. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Great job.
>> Thank you. >> Jesse Kane, uh Winona County resident, you know me. Uh uh you guys, I I've been in the paper over the years and been a drain on this community. Um I would not be standing here if it wasn't for Narcan and
treatment court and a lot of factors played into it. Um been sober four years now. >> Been here uh sober, clean and sober four years now. Um I have a great job. I worked hard and I put my free time into
helping with Ripple because I know the good it does. I know a lot of the people that are, you know, in this community suffering. They're not all bad people. Um I'm sure half the community wrote me off years ago. Um and I
wouldn't have blamed them, but uh you know, it saves lives and it's a miserable life to live. I hate to see anyone live it, but if I can, like you say with the Narcan, you know, people,
it saved my life a few times and here I am. So, Ripple's a it's a good cause. I believe in it and we're doing good things out there. When we're at the county fairs and people in the medical community are
saying, "You guys are this is fantastic. I mean, we need this out there. Keep it up. Good job." I mean, that's that's huge. I think I know it is. It's cuz I see what the drugs have done and I know. Yeah. But anyway, that's my piece.
>> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else wishing to address the Winona County Board? Dwayne, can you pass the coffee? >> Absolutely. >> This way. Thank you. My name is Amanda and I'm a Winona resident and I have a
13-year-old daughter and I want her to learn everything that Ripple has to say. And I want her to go to the movies with her friends and see the ads on the video screen before the
movie plays. I want her to be walking through the community and see the buses driving by and see the ads. I want it to be everywhere out there because I don't want to lose her and I don't want her to lose her friends and I don't want other mothers to keep losing their children.
So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else wishing to address the Winona County Board? Chairperson Ward, could I just ask for some clarification? Yes. Did your
earlier instructions mean that tax related comments are supposed to be deferred until >> at the Yes, we'll hold a public hearing. Yes. >> Thank you. >> And that's more about our budget and the
amount of taxes, not any valuation um issues. >> Yes. Not a problem. Uh, is there anybody online that wants to address the Winona County Board? >> Any high school students in the audience that want to car share some thoughts? Yeah.
>> What brought them out on a cold gray? >> It's an assignment, not for my class. >> Oh. Oh, please. What do you have questions? Do you have comments? >> If you sit in the back, you automatically got to come to the front. If you're in the back corner, you must speak.
>> What's What's I We're a little informal here. What's the class? >> AP AP US history. I mean, AP US government. >> Well, AP, you're supposed to be at the top of the class and you're supposed to be willing to share and talk and discuss. You're not the Come on. Don't you have a question for us? No
questions. Okay. All right. I'll duly note it to the instructor that they you were nonparticipatory in the in in local government. I'm sorry. >> All right. Okay. >> All right. Uh, last call. Is there anyone wishing to address the Winona
County Board? And I see a few things popped up online. Anybody on the uh online that wanted to make a comment, please. Uh >> yes, I would like to make a two minute, please. >> Yes, please do. >> Uh my name is Linda Johnson. I'm from Lac Crescent. As you probably already
know, I'm not a big advocate of funding outside agencies with taxpayer money. I've been following Winona accounting process with outside agencies for quite some time. Winona County contributes to many outside agencies. In fact, in 2025,
you contributed over $739,000 and is projected to be over $820,000 in 2026. When I originally started following this, this was a process that I thought was supposed to be followed. In fact, I have saved the information and from what
I can tell, that process has not been changed. The process for outside funding goes like this. An outside agency submits a Winona County request for funds application. This application states information such as the organization's reserves, the amount
requested, what they're going to use the funds for, and lots of very good information. This application then goes through the appropriate county officials and then comes to the county board. in this process. Number five was also about dispersement of funds which states that
the county shall disperse the funds to said agency only after receipt of a fully executed copy of this agreement referring to the Winona County request for funds agreement is submitted. And you're probably saying, "Well, there are
990 forms in the December agenda." Yes, there were 990 forms in the December agenda this year because they were requested by the county financial person. From my understanding, this should not have to be a request. The request for funds is supposed to be done
yearly and the questions of what the funds are going to be used for, etc. are then answered. I don't think it's too much to ask that these agencies follow the protocol or they don't receive the money. Instead, Winona County is giving money to outside agencies that have
hundreds of thousands of dollars in reserve and do not follow the rules. It's time to form a financial advisory committee so we can have some accountability. Thank you. >> Thank you. Is there anyone? Oh, I see a brave soul.
>> Wow. >> Hey, Sam. >> I'm Sam Schultz. I'm a senior at Winona Senior High School and my sophomore year, Ripple came to our school and they did a presentation and they handed out pictures with faces on them and they didn't clarify initially what they were but as the presentation went on they
were victims of overdoses and it was very impactful to me personally and everybody around me was very impacted by the presentation and what happened and you know I've had personal experiences with overdoses
And I just I really love what Ripple's doing. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Okay, last time. Is there anyone else wishing to address the Winona Conport? Ted. Ted Hazelton, 1073 West Fifth Street,
Winona. I would like to inquire about county advisory committees. In the past few years, I've applied for a few. Nobody lets you know one way or the other whether you get on
or not. You're left hanging. The and then the you require an application to fill out. Basically, it's a job application where they want your past employment and everything else on it.
Why do we need to have a job application to get a county job for an advisory committee? And there needs to be more accountability with that. People need to know whether they made it or did not make it. A simple phone call or an email
would be nice instead of leaving people hang. I've gone through two, three years of this now. You know, if you don't want me, say so. So if you do want me, let me know. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> All right. I'm seeing no one else step forward or nobody online, we'll move on in our agenda. Thank you for those comments. It's an important part of uh discussion. I came from a a a statewide counties meeting and we had a conversation around one of the tables.
You know, how many have open mic and some just say, "Oh, we wouldn't do that." And I said, "We have done it for probably close to 20 years." Um, and we have our controls. We had a little hiccup this last summer, but I said, "It's a valuable tool for a county board." And so, they were going to go
back and think about it. I says, "Yeah, you'll scare the G hebies off your HR and your county attorney, but other counties do it. You can use this as a model. >> Your county attorney helps start." >> Yeah, I know. I know. But some county attorneys don't don't like that that option. But anyway, it I I feel and I
think our board feels it's a valuable uh valuable opportunity. Okay, moving on in our agenda item number four, approval of the county board meeting minutes from November 25th, 2025. >> So moved. >> I'll second that. >> Okay, we have a motion by Commissioner Eline, seconded by Commissioner Vegley
to approve the meeting minutes from November 2025. All those in favor say I. >> I oppose. Nay. Okay, meeting minutes approved. Um, number five is the acknowledgement of the receipt of approved committee meeting minutes. Uh, 5.1 is the planning commission from
October 16th and 5.2 is the board of adjustment from October 16th. >> So moved again. I'll second them. >> Okay. We have a motion by Commissioner Eling, seconded by Commissioner Vagely to acknowledge the receipt of the approved committee meeting minutes. Any
discussion? All those in favor say I. >> Post nay. Approved. Um, number six, uh, consent items and approval of the agenda. Attorney Sonman, >> nothing for me. Thank you. >> Commissioner Vaguely, >> uh, one, >> one, >> one, one comment. >> One comment. Okay. Uh, Commissioner
Elling, >> some random some different various comments at the end. >> Topics, I guess. >> Commissioner Olsen, >> nothing for me, Madam Chair. >> Commissioner Meyer. Uh, committee update from the land records committee meeting. That's it.
>> Okay. Committee update. Miss Holty. >> Nothing, Madam Chair. >> Okay. And I'll give a a brief of the AMC conference and possibly others. All right. So, with that, we
would need an approval of the agenda. >> I'll move to approve the agenda. >> Second. >> We have a motion by Commissioner Meyer, second by Commissioner Olsen to approve the agenda as presented. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> Oppos? A approved. Miss Holty, would you
read the uh consent business into the record, please? >> Absolutely. 7.1 Approve conditional use permit for James and Charie Allen. 7.2 Approved conditional use permit for Arnold. 7.3 Approve extension of interim
assessor appointments and professional service agreement with Mer County. 7.4 4 approve LG220 gambling application for exempt permit southeast Minnesota quail forever 3060
7.5 approve resolution to adopt 2025 hazard mitigation plan 7.6 Six approve amendment number two for Minnesota Department of Human Services adult mental health grant award for 2025 2026
7.7 approve renewal of purchase of service and business associate agreements with Frederick guardianship services 7.8 8 approve renewal of purchase of service agreement with Catholic Charities Dascese of Winona Rochester for guardian conservator
services 7.9 approve renewal of state of Minnesota joint powers agreement with career force to provide Minnesota family investment program and diversionary pro work program oh excuse me employment and training services 710 accept certificate
of performance and authorized final payment to Scott construction Construction Incorporated for 2025 chips seal project 7.11 approve updated insurance policy 3.05 5 7.12 approved memorandum of agreement
with department head association 7.13 approved memorandum of understanding with supervisors association 7.14 approved memorandum of understanding with 536 detention deputies 7.15
approved memorandum of understanding with 537 dispatchers 7.16 approve first amendment Sub agreement with RI river soil and water conservation district. 7.17
approve 2026 2027 natural resources block grant agreement. 7.18 approve purchase of dive rescue equipment and 7.19 confirm payment of dispersements. >> Move to approve the consent business as it was read.
>> We have a motion by Commissioner Meyer, seconded by Commissioner Vaguely to approve the consent business as read. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. Post nay. >> Okay. Approved. Um I will have to just a compliment to um whoever worked on the
uh the u memorandum agreements for the the newly enacted state program of get the right name. Is that family a do I have it right? No. >> Minnesota paid leave. >> Minnesota paid leave. And that I appreciate that that we've done that. U for people know that's a new program
that the state of Minnesota has. It's kind of like an insurance program if you need to take extra time off from work and it is a shared uh uh premium between employer and employees. And so that was >> if the union agrees. >> Yeah. Yeah. And the unions did did agree
for the most I think >> four >> four. Yes. Commissioner vaguely. >> Um just for the members of the audience sometimes county board agendas can be confusing. Um, if you were here for any of the conditional use permits or any of the other items under the consent, >> that was all. >> Oh, they were there. They were there.
>> Yep. I'm sorry. Thank you. >> Good. Good to double check. Those were all approved. So, if you were here for that, you guys are good to go. You of course are welcome to stay for the whole meeting, but if you if you're curious sometimes, this is actually a short agenda for us this time of the year. It's only 282 pages. I don't know. It's
hard to figure. >> It's a lot for consent. >> That's a lot. That was a lot of consent items. So it'd be for James Allen, Sharon Allen, and the >> Hoff Allens. Correct. >> Hoff. >> Hoff and Allen. >> Okay. >> They did get approved. So
>> with no changes. >> No change. >> That high. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Have a good night. >> Okay. Um, general business 8.1 conduct public hearing on 2026 budget, 2026 fee
schedule, and the transportation sales tax project. >> Uh, was there um was there a sign up out in the hall? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Do you need a motion to Yeah, we'll need and we'll need that signup sheet. >> Are you making the motion? Yeah, that's why I brought it up. The motion to I'll
second that. Okay. Motion by Commissioner Eling, second by Commissioner Meyer to open the public hearing. Um the group, I know we've got quite a few people. I'm not sure if everybody's going to speak. Um do we want to limit um an initial time to Can
we put the two-minut timer back up and and if you've got much more to say, um we'll definitely allow, but two minutes just gives us an idea of uh a timing >> for starters. And you can also speak if you missed the signup sheet, right? >> Right. Yes. Oh yes, we'll uh we only
have two on the signup sheet, but it was there was a lot of stuff out there. So, but on the signup sheet p uh excuse me, signup sheet printed uh Pat Moga. >> Good evening, commissioners. Um I looked at the 2026 budget and um I have a few
questions or maybe um just questions. Um, the one thing that I was wondering if things changed with um the sales tax fund, which is funding the jail, because you're moving out 1.9 million and you're
only paying 1.5, so you're actually using $5 million for other expenses within your budget or $500,000 within your budget. Um, I was just wondering what uh fund 31 was and I'm thinking that's maybe a bond that you're thinking
about doing in 26, but I did see that you were funding it in 25. Um and then the other another item that I noticed that is um for the um
um for your um levy, your the 2025 levy and the 26 levy are the exact same amounts. So I don't see that the levy amount is in your 25 budget yet. And then um
um jumping all over here. Um then then I was going to mention about your um capital. I'm kind of I've kind tried to follow that capital, but I'm kind of really um haven't seen what your numbers are because last year when you
started out, you were going to spend 1.5 of levy, but you uh of reserves, but you only had 1.1 million and then came around and you actually um brought some monies over that weren't spent from 25 and I think it's up to like 4.3 million,
which I think $2 million is for the roofs. So you have about 2.3. So I I just recommend that maybe I should just list out what you're spending and where it's coming from because you're kind of using all the money, but
I think you're also have money that's supposed to be used for future like like you're putting away to bank for something. One of those items being it. And I think it would be just more transparent if you actually had it listed out of where the money's coming
from and do is it in the bank or not in the bank. And um and the other thing I did notice on the Minnesota paid leave, I see it's in your budget. I was trying to figure out what percentage because it looks like it's all over and I don't know if that's just
being changed as the unions are approving it because right now one place it was the point4 some place it was different. So, I thought maybe it's because the unions hadn't approved. >> Good thing. Yeah. And if you have any questions, let me know. >> Thank you. >> And Pat, if you could maybe make a list
of your questions, you know, we do I don't know if you've met our new finance director. >> Uh, and Bill, could you raise your hand? >> Yeah. Bill, >> um, you you have a unique in, you know, insight having been in that position. If you could maybe make a list and work with Phil on getting the the right answers.
>> Phil, if you have a card or something, then I could even give you a phone call or you can call me. Sure. Maybe we can talk later. >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay. Uh Ted Ted Hazelton. >> Uh Ted Hazelton, 1073 West 5th.
I would like to talk about the proposed budget and the tax levy over 12 point over 12% is excessively high. I am semi-retired. I'm in the fireworks industry. I don't
do anything from October through May. and I get social security disability that's being increased by 2.8%. 5 to 7% is more palatable which is
similar to the school district in the city of Winona. I would really like the county board to scrutinize these proposed budgetary items, particularly donating to outdoor or outside
activities and outside services. I have a little sheet here. For example, the Selco library, it's required by statute of a contribution of
197,000 715, but in the budget it's $274,417. That's a 76,72 above and beyond. Then you go further down
and $167,000 for the soil and water conservation district. And then there's outside agencies such as the Women's Resource Center, Volunteer
Services, Project Fine, and whatnot. I have this here from project fine and they they bring in $1.9 million and the county is giving them 45,000. I don't think taxpayer dollars should
cover that. If people want to donate to these outside organizations, so be it. Why Why should taxpayers have to pay that? and and and then we're stuck with a 12% plus uh levy increase. It's
unsustainable for people on fixed incomes and I qualify with that since I'm a seasonal employee and and I get social security. So, I would ask that this needs to be really looked at
along with uh some of the salaries that some of the department heads and administration get in this county that make more than our governor of Minnesota. So, please look into this and try to cut where you can.
We don't need need a status quo or with stuff like that. And it ain't fair to those that have limited income such as myself and senior citizens and those with disabilities.
So I would really implore the board to pair it back a little bit. It's unsustainable and it's double what the other taxing entities in are proposing. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. Thank you.
Um, anybody else that would wish to address the county board about this would be the time. My name is Kelly O'Neal, 29182 Hartwood Drive, Rushford, which is in Winona County.
I uh would just like to u make the board aware that um our uh average uh property tax increase from
2023 to 2026 proposed is in excess of 28%. Okay. >> Uh I have testified before
that our our window on the efficacy or efficiency with which Winona County runs is the Winona County Highway Department on which we have a a daily uh
uh observation. Um, we we went through um uh County Road 19, the the last iteration of
the uh proposed fixes to County Road 19 more than a decade ago. Um, we uh went to court with uh
Mrs. Sonamon representing Winona County. uh to uh our our intention was to prevent um stupidity or squandering of resources in
that first county road 19 reconstruction. Uh now we are faced with a a subsequent county road 19
reconstruction. Um, and I am I I think it is uh pretty similar to the report uh released uh this week
of the uh special inspector general report of what happened to the $140 billion that was spent over a handful of administrations over 20 in Afghanistan
and the the punchline being that 30% of that was utterly squandered. I would I I I would like to ask for a show of hands of the number of board
members who have been on County Road 19 in the last pick your time frame. Uh or or let alone Gayy Hill. Um, I
drove down I drive N County Road 19 probably more than any other Winona County resident or at least at least as much as any. the um day before yesterday, I think
maybe yesterday morning of the rock portion of Gene Hill, County Road 19 was safer than the blacktop portion. The blacktop portion has been
um unrepaired since we've been here. So, a third of a century. It's a a a third world road. Surely it would need repair prior to
realigning the hill, which uh Commissioner Ward referred to the last time we went through this as uh Wiscoy's Yoseite. Uh I believe the current
>> the the current proposal from uh Mr. Kramer is to essentially mountaintop removal to take the top portion off and put it on the bottom of that road.
And it is um it it is it is just an aberration that the this county board would approve expenditures
of those resources and at the same time have our anti increased by 28% in a handful of yours.
So I I beseech you uh to uh please be a little more sensible about your uh county highway investments.
You have a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers of Winona County. We don't grow soybeans, so we don't get a Trump check. Um, it's pretty damn difficult, pardon my French, and uh these uh tax increases
uh do not assist. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Kelly. >> Thank you very much. >> Anyone else wishing to address county board? Becky. >> Hello. Becky Clark. Uh 18635 County Road
114, Rolling Stone, Minnesota. Um I just I would like to talk about the tax increase um for farmers and farmland. Um you know over 12% is is a lot right now with commodity prices
being dairy prices being lower than than the cost of production. We're going into probably at least a three-year downturn and having these tax increases is really really hurting especially when you rent land
and you know those people need to be whole with this huge tax increase. So, some of them are more than $50 an acre that they need to raise in order to pay for some of these proposed taxes. And that's that's a lot um on farmers and
their bottom line, especially when you guys cap have animal caps where you can't grow to create more revenue. Um, when you put a on that and also, you know, like the dog kennel thing is the same. you know, you put a cap on what
people can do out in the country to make money and that's just it's really hard. So, either you need to exempt us from some of this uh spending or um you know, let let the people in the country um do
what they need to do to >> put foot the tax bill you guys are asking for. >> Thank Well, maybe maybe we could um would you be willing to give us so many cows to pay your taxes and because we have a hunger problem in this country, too. Maybe we could uh provide the food shelter with some meat and milk. I mean,
that's what they did in the old days. They brought in so many chickens or ducks or eggs and paid their taxes. Maybe we need to look at something like that. I I don't know. I mean, you're absolutely right. It's not sustainable. So, how do we make it sustainable? >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Becky. I don't want to milk that cow though. I did enough of that when I was young. Is there anyone else wishing to speak? Chelsea, are you going to speak? >> Yes. >> Oh, okay. All right.
Uh Chelsea Wilright, uh Wispy Township. I second your concerns. I live on County Road 19 and with these last snow falls, the gravel was safer than the pavement. Um, that's not why I'm here, though. The statutes I'm passing out are statutes
that I sent you all ahead of the levy um being decided last year. It they're the statutes that allow the auditor and the treasurer to respectively to appoint deputies. Um the next statutes
respectively are in there say that yes, the county board sets the levy. Uh but nothing in the subdivision shall li shall limit my right to appoint deputies. Um
we're struggling in the in my department. We're I'm still working on abatements for this year. I've got about a dozen historical land record issues that are going to take considerable time to straighten out. Um,
we're constantly against deadlines. Uh, the tax software has not helped that situation, but it's not it's not all. Um, we've we're supposed to have a tax forfeite sale every year. Pre Tyler versus Henipin, we were supposed to have
a tax forfeite sale every year. Now we have to have it done within six months of the properties forfeiting. We've had one in the last 12 years. One auditor, treasurer were separate departments. They each had two deputies.
That's six people doing the job that I'm trying to do with three. It's not working. Admin is trying to help and take some load off. Um, I don't think that shelling out my statutory responsibilities is the long-term
answer. If other departments have that capability or have that availability long term, then shift an FTE to the auditor treasurer's department. Um, David Bear spoke to you guys after an error with the tax system earlier
this year, causing us to send out several tax statements as revised, asking you to ensure that this doesn't happen again. Staffing my department appropriately is how we ensure it doesn't happen again. We need time to proof before
we're have that like we're mailing on the last day and we have been for a decade. Um last consideration is not even not including the libraries. There's 465,000
in donations to outside entities. The auditor treasurer position on here is quoted at 85,000. Please consider staffing what we are statutoily required to do before donating tax dollars.
Thank you. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else wishing to address the county board? Dave. >> Good evening. Hi, I'm David Unrew 24163 County Road 110 Winona at farm. Like to
reiterate Kelly O'Neal's and Becky's uh position on the taxes and uh it it this is not sustainable for us in production egg. We do not I cannot raise my price for soybeans by a penny to try to increase my income. I have to suck it
up. Everything's going up. What's going to end up happening is these farms, Winona count, excuse me, Winona County on average 50% of us 160 acre farm is woods. It's 80. That maybe gives you an income once every 20 years. Those are
all going to get sold off. Then you guys are going to have to deal with everybody wanting to build a house and easements and rightaways and you guys are up for it's I've got a landlock 80 I'd like to sell. I got to give easement across
three 80s to get to it. So you guys got to come up with a different way to come up with this funding. If you keep taxing us, we're living a real life Yellowstone here. You're going to tax us off things that our forefathers passed down for
generations. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. Mark Clark, 22199, Highway 248, Rolling Stone, Minnesota. Good evening again. I'm here to talk
about the extra-l large tax increase. I have read the reasoning for the extra-large tax increase you have planned for the taxpayers of Winona County. Your labor costs are increasing. Yes. But all of the businesses in the county are also facing increased labor
cost. Unfunded mandates from the state. All workers in the state and businesses are also paying for new unfunded mandates from the state. Road maintenance costs are up. Parts to maintain vehicles and machinery are
skyhigh. Not only affecting the county, but everyone living and working here, especially businesses. Right now, agriculture is in a downturn as the price of corn, soybeans, and dairy are well below the cost of
production. So, the extra large tax increase will be difficult for people living on fixed incomes, farmers, and other businesses throughout the county who have most of the same issues that Winona County has, plus an extra-large
tax bill with no one to send a bill to when our costs go up. As a county, you need to become more efficient like the private sector businesses have to be. In the last 15 years, Winona County's population has fallen by 3.8%.
Did the county staff fall by that much? With computers, AI, and other technology, you need to become more efficient with our tax dollars. And one reason, one, I could save you $150,000
right now. I believe you wasted $150,000 on hiring a consultant for updating the comprehensive plan. you have talented staff on hand that could have done a better job for less and that's a story for another day but that is very very
not going well in the county as a comp plan. Thank you for your time. >> Goodbye. >> Thank you. >> Thank you Mark. >> Is there anyone else wishing to address the Winona County Board? Hi, >> good evening. >> I'm Dr. Patty Bar. We own two properties
in Winona County. um one on County Road, one in the Crescent and one um agricultural property in um we got the two tax bills on the same day and the homestead where we live, the total
increase was 4.9%. But our agricultural property that's 120 acres that's been in the family for many years increased by 95.1%. And that we're just having a hard time
wrapping our head around that when the >> sorry in in value or >> the total excluding special assessments increased 95.16%. the valuation only went up about 10%. >> Okay, that that needs to be verified
with uh >> Yeah, >> yeah, with >> Yeah. >> Yeah. With Yeah, that doesn't sound right. >> That does not make sense. >> Especially if your valuation didn't increase, I think. >> Yeah, it only went up by 10% but the taxes doubled. >> No, I I hope that's not right. I won't I
don't know the system that well, but uh talk to Miss Wilbright and then if you need to the assessors or or Miss Wilbright can put you in touch with the >> Thank you so much. >> You need to check that out. And if any and one of the things there too is if you can check with your neighbors, did they have something similar happen to
them, Miss Miss Barge? >> I don't know. >> Yeah, just by chance um if the neighborhood all changed. Um >> yeah. Okay. >> All right. Okay. Did you have more to say, please? >> No. Okay. We'll get you with the right
people. Is there anyone else wishing to address the county board? >> Right spot, but yeah, >> I have a similar issue to her. And I thought I was getting thrown to the wolves. >> Okay. >> 51% incre uh value increase or the tax
increase. >> My name is Tom Hall. I am not a resident of one county. I am an owner of a business, a disabled vet at that trying to make it. But soon I won't be an owner. I won't even be a caretaker of it because a laundromat does not sustain
this. I mean my what? >> So this is a this is a commercial property that went >> correct. >> Okay. >> What my value goes up is going to be 78,000 quarters that I have to make additional >> 78,000 quarters. you know, hey, no, in a laundry mat, it's not a very lucrative
business. >> No, it's it's an necessity. I uh touch base with Miss uh Wilbrite and let's check into it. Um that seem again seems very But then commercial taxes is a whole another
>> tell me about it. >> Animal. Is there anyone else wishing to address the Winona County Board? I I hope you three students back there are paying attention. So when you get out in the real world, >> there's nothing for free. >> Yeah, there's nothing free. Get ready to
pay your taxes >> regardless of what they teach you. >> Or if go home and ask your parents what their taxes did. >> Yes, sir. >> Getting back to that about asking the neighbors. >> Yes. >> The insurance company across the street, their taxes increased $200.
Uh the other businesses I've talked to, it's $2 and $300. I don't have a problem paying that. But >> sure, >> $1,800 is >> that's a lot. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Let's especially when you can't even make that much. >> No. No. Let's check into it.
>> But that that's good to know because then that that triggered um concern which is what you need to do. Is there anyone else wishing to address the MONA County Board? Anybody
online? I don't see anybody. Anybody stepping up? Okay. So, we would entertain a motion to close the public hearing. >> I'll second. >> Okay. We have a motion by Commissioner Eline, second by Commissioner Meyer to close the public hearing.
>> Um, we'll let people >> Yeah. Thank you for coming. Thank you. >> One other thing I'd have >> Yes. Yeah. Go ahead. >> So,
ironically, I got I I called the county and they gave me a contact number of a guy named Josh, a cell phone number. I called it for a week now. >> And today was the first dime. >> Is that you, Josh? that there was
anything that was that his voicemail was full every day except today. >> Okay. >> And yes, my number is on your phone. I called you >> number is I've got a whole bunch of spam here. >> 5072727338. Today >> I have you today, but that's it.
>> Well, I couldn't leave a message any other day because >> but it doesn't even show that you called. >> But if you talk with Miss Wilbrite, she'll we'll get you taken care of. >> Yeah, you can see every you can see every call I've made. You're not even on here till today. Right here. >> Why would they have give
>> if if you want to look at my phone, I can show you that I >> I don't just believe you. I'm just I'm right here. I'm just trying to make a look. >> Yeah, >> but we need to get you a staff that have the the facts and the figures. We >> But I will say I've had a lot of problems with this phone. I've been down to it many times with this thing and
I've had many issues with it. So, it doesn't surprise me. By no means was it >> telling you that mobility doesn't travel like a rock. >> Yes, for sure. Oh yeah, without a doubt. Yeah, and by no means was I definitely trying to avoid you. So I get phone
calls all the time. So that's very odd. >> Do you remember what staff person gave you a commissioner number by chance? I mean they we don't have the facts or >> Okay. We unfortunately we don't have the the records, you know, the par parcels
and everything like that. So uh you know, if I got that call, I would I would get you with staff to to answer those questions because I don't have that information. or access to the information. So, I apologize. I'm sorry that >> Yeah, >> it's just notable. >> No, it's not professional either for the
them to >> It's just very odd, sir. I mean, I literally only have about 10 voicemails I've saved in here and there's a full record of every call that I have for months. >> Only day I could leave a voicemail. >> Well, that's that's what's odd is you can see here I only have about maybe 10 or 12 voicemail, which would never max
out your voicemail. >> Get that phone fixed, Commissioner Ellie. >> I've never liked this since day one since I've got it. And it's a county phone when I've had issues. >> Had a good good time answer. >> No, I don't think so. >> Probably to your best interest. Don't feel bad. >> Oh, sure. All right. >> Sounds like it. Well, I just wanted to
apologize. It definitely wasn't intentional. >> You didn't do intentionally. Nothing to apologize for. >> Right. >> Okay. All right. >> It's interesting. >> We'll get you with the right people. Okay. Um the wishes of the board then. We do have um >> We did not vote to close the >> Oh, I'm sorry. All those in favor of closing the public session say I
>> I post nay. Okay. The public session is closed. >> You are on there today. I and your voicemail is actually on there, but it was at 3:50. So, I would have been getting ready to come to the meeting. >> Okay. So, the wishes of the board. We do
have um uh some documents in our packet. We have the fee schedule in our packet and um the transportation sales projects in the packet. Um, do we want to vote on them as a whole or
>> what's the wishes of the board? I don't think >> or do they need to be approved tonight or just actually the next meeting which is the >> um that's uh December what the date that's >> December 23rd at 9:00 in the morning. Then that's when the the final. So if
anybody has any other issues, they could bring them to the to the board prior to um that vote. That'll be a voting um on the levy. >> Okay. >> Text messages. >> All right. >> It's very odd. >> Um I did have a question on the um the
fees. Um only the they were reviewed by all departments that have the the fees and I did see some some did get adjusted. Um so we've we've went through the process of looking at all of them. Okay. And
anybody that runs into a fee that seems an error, we always can change fees. Uh it, you know, during the year, it's not a oneanddone thing. We can correct and change if there's something that has um misstep or something in a process. Okay.
All right. Um we'll move on then to 8.2. Receive the jail update. Good evening, Chief Deputy Mueller. Uh oh, you're getting taking your coat off. That's We're getting serious now. >> You You didn't get invited on the
cruise. >> Yeah, I didn't get to go on the cruise. Commissioners, thank you. Jeff Mueller, I'm the chief deputy with the sheriff's department. I was asked to come tonight to give you a update uh on the jail. So, put together a couple notes just real
quick little bit of history on it. uh October of 2016 is when we initially got our classification reduction from the Department of Corrections that sent us down to a uh 90-day lockup facility. Uh September of 2018 is when we got our
notice from the Department of Corrections that they would be closing us with a sunset date um for that. The jail officially opened. Um it was December of 20 I think 23 is when the jail officially opened and we're open
for business. We're officially up and running right now. Um all of our programs that we have um implemented in the jail are up and running. Um fully staffed at this point with a little bit of variations. A couple people have come
and gone but uh pretty much fully staffed up to this point. Uh just a real brief on the jail itself just to give you a little bit of a refresher on it. The jail right now is an 80 bed jail. Um not to be confused with how many housing
units there are. There's 51 housing units in the jail. If you think of a housing unit as a cell, of those 51 housing units, um 29 of those are double bunkked, which gives you the total of 80 beds when you add that up. the previous
jail where we came from. Little bit deceiving in that, but the upstairs prior to building that annex downstairs, uh, that was a 37 bed jail upstairs. Downstairs in the annex is it was a 44 bed facility with a total of 81 beds.
and the prior old jail. When you add the annex and the upstairs together, uh without getting real deep into the weeds on that and everything else, the 80 beds that we currently have is all prefaced on doesn't mean you can have 80 people in jail at any one time. It all depends
on the type of classification that the person has while they're in jail. And also, you can only operate the jail technically at a 95% capacity, making room for new arrests. Technically, if we were completely full, it would be 74 people that we'd be able to have in
jail. Of the 51 housing units that we have that I had mentioned, 15 of those housing units are actual mental health um beds and housing units. Uh what does that mean? I think everybody commissioner-wise at least has toured
the jail or has seen the jail. our uh mental health um rooms that we have as I always describe it is anything one piece in a vacuum doesn't mean a whole lot but when you put it all together is what gets us to the mental health softer
rooms natural light things like that make them our mental health beds um currently right now our average daily population is about 20.25 25. One interesting point that I'd always make to that when we talk about our average daily population that we have in our
jail, um the average daily bookings, so the people that are coming into our jail, right, on an average daily basis right now is 4.4. Prior to building our jail, and with the old jail, it was roughly 4.6.
Our average daily bookings are the exact same as they've always been. um roughly with a little bit of variation to that. Uh the average length of stay has gone down a little bit. Uh males are staying about 8.65 days. Females are staying
about 5.69 days on average is what the numbers um have shown us for that. Uh staffing levels haven't changed in the jail at all since uh from our old jail to our new jail. We're still running with the same number of FTEEs uh that we have uh from the old jail.
haven't increased that at all. >> So, uh, right there is that with that in my opinion a low population. Is that the minimum that the staffing we can do or where does that fall? >> So, the just a little bit about the staffing real quick without once I don't want to get real deep into the weeds on it, but we're we're regulated by
staffing by the Department of Corrections. >> Correct. >> The Department of Corrections says this is the amount of staff that you have to have to operate the facility you have with the numbers that you're running. >> So, yes is the short answer to that. A lot more goes into all that, but that's the short answer for it.
>> We're following the guidelines. We're excess because when when you wanted to build that big jail, in my opinion, I think our staffing costs were considerably higher because it was going to require more people. >> Say that one more time. >> Well, when we built the the larger
capacity jail, if it was near capacity, we would have quite a few additional staff. Correct. >> No. >> Oh, we wouldn't. >> No, that's not accurate. >> Less. >> Yeah, that's not accurate. uh you missed his capacity talk um where he said that
we're the jail isn't >> the beauty the right words not beauty the the efficiency of this new jail is that and the argument has always been with the design of the jail that we currently have right now compared to with the
design of the jail that we had before the reason that we weren't having to increase the number of employees or anything else is literally because the design of the jail, we're able to watch more people, for lack of a better term, uh, with less people. Why is that?
Because of the design of the jail. That podular design in essence, one person standing right here looking around saying, "Okay, I can see you all." >> So, if I I'm sorry to un to understand this. So, we've been hovering around tw. I look at it a couple times. If what if
we went up to 40, would then we would need more staff or No, >> we wouldn't need more staff. I will say to give you one point that when we reach a certain capacity there is more um what's what is the uh I can't the
assistant jail administrator or I can't remember the uh yeah the a so there would be potentially one more staff but that's if you maintain also that level for a period of time so it's not where okay we got up to uh 45 one day now that triggers that you need to hire an
additional staff or something like that unfortunately I don't have at the tip of my finger what that number is uh that they have, but there is a level that you get to, but you have to maintain that level for um a period of time also uh before you have that requirement. One thing that's it's it kind of goes
along the jail, but I want to make a note of it and it probably came up in budgetary talks too, but I think that it's a big deal uh to affect the budget is a law change uh related to the jail um that has to do with medication. Not sure if you're familiar with that. Maybe you've discussed that one to death
already, but just that's one that uh >> Yeah. >> Yeah, that one that's that's probably going to affect us and is affecting us. Not it's not maybe I mean it's happening right now. It's in the the law and we're spending money on it right now. >> And the money is being spent on paperwork
to administer to >> the money is being spent on medications. >> We're actually having to buy the medicine. >> Okay. They can't bring anything in. No, we the the medications in essence there's a lot to the law, but >> prices are you paying Walmart prices?
You know, if you get an aspirin in the hospital, it's probably 10 bucks, >> you know, >> Walmart prices. >> Walmart. Okay. W >> with some I mean, I I say that a little bit jokingly because it's not really true. you there is certain regulations
for generics versus uh um name brands and things like that that they have regulations on that for um >> yeah so but that's one of the big ones that are kind of affecting us uh right now for that um any other questions I
can ask answer for you about the jail just in general since it's been open or anything like that >> we I mean I understood that we had to we kept someone in the state county jail for a while. Um that big murder case, but otherwise we are keeping all of our
prisoners here. We're not having to uh put them in other jails. >> Yes, that's correct. We haven't housed anybody out in another jail and I I don't know even how long. And that one specific situation that you're even talking about there, that was right in the flux of the jail being built and
everything else. Once we obtained capacity and the jail was opened, >> they came back. >> They came back. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Um question regarding juveniles. Are we using Houston County? >> We are. >> Yep. We are utilizing Houston County when the uh need arises at least
anywhere >> under contract or just >> no contract. >> Case by case. >> Case by case. Yep. No contract that we've uh done with Houston County or anything like that. So, we're using them as they have uh needed. It's worked out good so far, meaning that they've had
the bed space um for that when it's when it's been needed anyway. So, uh it's been helpful for that. >> Just to clear something up. So, we're covering the cost of some of these medications, correct? >> All of the medications. Yep.
>> Regardless of whether they can or can or have an additional way to get it through their own insurance, etc. There's no repay back program. No way to get it. It's just on us, right? No, there is some recuperation if they do have insuranceances and things like that that they were able to. Um
the hard truth is the folks that that unfortunately we're dealing with that's not an option a lot of times um that that were able to recoup through that. >> But of course, if your average booking or stay is 8.6 and 5.6, I'm sure we're
not buying a 30-day prescription fill for them. Well, no, but you also have there is in the law when you read it, there's a amount that has to be they have to be given when they leave the jail, too. Um, I don't know honestly sitting here without looking at the law
first, but it isn't the day you walk out of jail, you're done. There's a supply that you do have now. It's a limited and I don't know the exact amount of that. However, though, >> it's adding to every county in the state of Minnesota. >> Yeah, it was a big it was a big topic. I guess is >> we think the state legislature provided
us with an opportunity to be >> one of them county. >> Pardon me. >> We just chase them to another county. >> We could not get on the box too much about it, but one of the things that was frustrating probably to the sheriffs and the state in general about it was the
consultation between our doctors in the jail and the doctors that people have on the outside at least anyway. And once again, a little bit into the weeds on the law, but the short version of it is the doctor on the outside can overrule
the doctor on the inside, our jail doctor, as to if the our jail doctor in a very simplified version, if our jail doctor says, "We don't think you need this medication. We think that you should be on this medication." And they have a consultation with the outside doctor and the outside doctor disagrees
with that, you have to go with what the outside doctor says. >> Sure. >> Yep. Dave Sando used to just say, "Take it out of town, Elsing. Maybe we should when I lived in Lewis, so maybe we should just do that alone county. Can't we just shoe him out of the county?" >> Shoo him out of the county. Yeah. >> It's a It's an unfunded mandate. We
always talk about those and such. And and having a husband who just went for his one-year checkup today, and I said, "What drugs did they take you off of?" Because he keeps talking wanting to get off of them. And a doctor is very reluctant to take them off any, you know, because what if? It's what if?
Yeah, in general just the overview kind of sum it up unless you have more questions for it though. Just that >> maybe I'll follow not tonight. Um when we built this and everything it was all this programming and all these good you know good programs and everything but I I'm concerned with that short of stay
how much impact that has and and maybe somebody that does some of this program at some time and a cold day in January that's nothing else to talk about can come in and give us a little you know how is that part of the jail running? I have no idea. >> Our programmers are very passionate
people. They come and love to talk to you for hours on end about uh the programs and the effects that it has and uh and the the positive impacts that they have the opportunity to make in the short periods of time that they're seeing people. >> Okay. And we should have some statistics to go along with it. >> Is Sergeant Horse still in charge of
>> That's correct. >> Yeah, that's who could come and talk. >> Sergeant Kelsey Horse is the uh our current programmer. >> Okay. Well, a condensed, you know, u presentation. I think some facts, you know, numbers and and um >> because there was a the CJCC had a work
group for a while where the it was in the process of recruiting people to come do that programming. >> The only thing I guess >> meeting any >> Yeah. The only thing I'll say to it is our program as a compared to type situation. So our programs compared to our old jail compared to the programs we
have now are a lot more robust. I I don't have the numbers in front of me. she'd be able to give you all that. But if you're looking even for a comparison to say, well, here's just number and names of the programs we had in the old jail compared to the names and numbers of the programs that we have in the new jail. >> Sure. I just uh you know, with such a
short stay, the impact I mean, >> usually it takes a long time to change a behavior. >> I mean, eight days, >> all anecdotal and everything else, right? But that's the average stay. We have people that stay a lot longer than that, too. Up to one year is what they can stay. Um,
so yeah, however that affects those people, I guess, is would be a question. >> Like to know what it's doing. >> No, Steve Boswell was here. He'd still be talking. >> Aren't you glad you you got me? He wanted to phone in from uh the ship and I said, "No, no, I'll just go over here and I'll take care of it."
>> I'm not paying for that. >> The uh but in general, I mean, the the jail is it's up and running. We've had uh no um horror stories or anything like that that we've had up to this point. It's uh been running smoothly and um we
look forward to continuing to keep that going for you. Anyway, >> are the mechanical operations running okay? >> Yeah, they are. I mean, there's I ain't going to lie to you, there's still some hiccups uh that that we're still dealing with on that to try to get all that uh uh smoothed out. Um I'd let Aaron Lefy
probably talk about that as much as myself or Boswell even on that sort of thing. He's, I'll be honest with you, turned a lot of that over to him, to Aaron, uh, to try to get that worked out with the different uh, vendors and things like that who kind of deal more within that area and have more of the
expertise to deal with that. >> Cheryl, >> it's a catch 22. You know, to justify the jail, we're looking for more people in it, right? But at the same time, the more people in it, the more cost there is. So, you're going to find a complaint on either side. And the reality of it is
is here it is. and now let's do it as absolutely as efficient as possible. >> Well, my catchphrase that I've always used with the jail that uh Ron the sheriff's was that he believes in compassionate accountability. So when somebody does something wrong, they should be held accountable, but they
also there's chances for people too. >> All right. >> Hey, thank you for coming. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. 8.3 uh discuss approve SEMRA special benefit tax levy resolution and approve budget for fiscal 2026.
And I know Buffy's here. There she is in her festive uh best. You're looking good. Thank you. Um good evening. I'm Buffy Baronic. Um former executive director for SMRA now consulting. That's why I'm here tonight um to talk about
our 2026 uh final levy request. Um our initial levy request was 144,000. In September we set that at 130,000. Um we had a lengthy discussion on that
and um and we left it at the 130 with that difference being taken out of the housing trust fund. So, the levy request is identical to what was presented, and I can go through that in detail if you'd like me to. Um, and then we just took
out that difference out of the housing trust fund. So, the contribution rather than being a full $25,000 to the housing trust fund is $10,766. Um, our um levy is broken down into basically three components. The first
being the general fund expenses uh just shy of $70,000. Um the second component um being community and housing development of $49,500. That component is broken up into some funding of sumptuous staff along with
15,000 that is pledged to the Lewon bonds and $10,000 for community development grant match money. That's our small cities grants that we are um um applying for in 2026. And then um the
final component being the housing trust fund. Um I'll just pause there to see if there are any questions um regarding the levy. >> Mr. Vley, >> um thank you Buffy for coming tonight. Could you remind me what is the current balance of the housing trust fund?
>> Um we have the housing trust fund dollars obligated. Um so we have two grants that were funded. Um that being the um Habitat for Humanity loan for the south for the
homes being built in South Fork and um a um rehab on a Lewon project um for an apartment of about 70,000. >> The Habitat will happen. >> I am hopeful that that will happen. Yes. >> How much So how much is the full committed amount?
um 70 um a little over 225,000 roughly right around that number. >> I'm glad to hear that the habitat >> Yeah. Yes. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Big. >> I'll just to get on the table, not to mention to stop discussion, but I'll
move to approve resolution 2025 number 2025 um to set the levy at the $130,000 amount for Simply Okay, we have a motion. I'll second it. Okay, we have a motion by Commissioner Vegley, second by Commissioner Meyer to
approve the central levy for the requested amount of $130,000 for 2026. Discussion. I'm not comfortable with quite that much. Um, Samia does a great job. Uh, Buffy's leaving us now. Will the next
person do as great a job? That's yet to be determined. We haven't uh there is a search committee and they're working on um employment and stuff. But now um this is a complex organization and funding and everything and I've always
depended on Buffy to to help me navigate this. But now we had a tiff district in St. Charles that is closed. But now that TIF money is dedicated to through the SH SER board to the housing trust fund. >> Yes. Correct. So, we're putting some
extra money in there with that. >> Correct. >> And that was >> uh tell me remind me the figure again. >> Going to be about $90,000 a year, >> right? Yeah. So, with >> I just want to just real quick on that one. So, there's there's a there's a
loan on the books that's due to STAR. Um, and that money we if the money was paid back to Sumptra and it wasn't put into the housing trust fund, it could be put in the general fund, which means it could be spent in good any other counties. So that
>> being trying to be good financial stewards of your money, our decision was to put that into the housing trust fund. >> Right. >> For Winona County. >> For Winona County, right? >> Yes. Right. And that's a pro that selfwork project predates me. Um that was one of the last things Commissioner
Heim uh >> and previous uh Joe Wheeler um made happen and stuff. So we're actually putting more money in our trust fund from that. So I would like to advocate for my even $100,000 for SEMA.
I don't know if anybody else has the same feelings or they're willing to go need to vote on the first um motion and then that if it could entertain another one. Well, I just want to know if there's anybody else that supports reducing it. If not, then it's a mute point.
>> I don't know what happened to this gentleman trying to call me, but and most people call me on my other phone anyway, but the amount of people that have said, "We can't withstand this." And countless countless farmers especially are the ones that are saying, "Hey, this
is there's an issue here and we've got to do something about it." So it's again every one of these groups for the most part is just and you can say it's great but there comes to a point we're footing the bill and people right now are just
saying hey we we until this thing gets to a point where it's sustainable. We've got to pick and choose our battles and so I'm in the same boat. You know it's always tough to say no. It's the hardest thing to do in any of these government positions or as a business owner, but you know, it just it isn't realistic to
continue to keep giving to some of these over and over, especially when they're wellunded and there's other means to gain revenue. That's the biggest thing. You know, nobody walks in and and and donates to the highway department to fix a road. So, um yeah. Yeah, I'm in the same boat. I I just they're all great
organizations, but we we have to start capping and reducing to some extent. I just reiterate that this is out out county. It's not the city of Manona. Commissioner Olson. >> Um question. You indicated that your
original request was >> was 144234. >> Last year's levy was 126927. Thank >> and we do SMA does do the section 8 for the city of Winona and >> that is correct >> and they and that's Buffy will leave
this legacy we we lose less money um because we did that um that they contribute a very small what couple thousand >> couple thousand >> couple thousand dollars to administer the section 8 and I I can guarantee if you went over to the projects there's
quite a few people gracefully living uh but using section 8 dollars in the city of Winona and they're just city of Winona just I I believe they aren't paying their fair share for ad even administrating that one single program.
So we have a motion we have a second to approve the levy at $130,000. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> Oppos? Nay. Nay. It does carry three to two. All right. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Thank you.
>> Congratulations on your >> Yeah. Thank you very much. >> Yeah. Buffy's going to Michigan, too. I don't know what the draw of Michigan is. >> Go south. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Jackson. >> She is moving into a house that is right
on the shore of Lake Superior. >> Oh, a picture. >> Oh, we have to get her forwarding address and if we're ever in visit. Yeah. Look, look her up. >> There you go. Okay. Uh moving into 8.4 uh page 279, discuss and adopt the uh
commissioner 2026 salaries. And this was tabled from last meeting um so that we had a full county board to discuss this. >> All right, discussion. Commissioner Vagley. >> Um I'd like to move to approve. They're all the same numbers, correct?
The motions. It'd be the It'd be the resolution that would increase it to $25,024. That's um well third. Yeah. Is it >> the second one? I believe >> B. >> Yeah, they do. The resolutions have the same number, right? 2025, but it's B. It would be B.
>> Thank you. Um B. This is the one that would uh they would make an increase for the first time in roughly 14 years, etc. The thinking is I know this is tough during a tough budgetary year is to make small changes over time instead of having to do like the city has done or other entities were later on. where you
want to get remotely close to what other public bodies public bodies of the private sector are paying, you need to make a larger um increase later on. So I think smaller increases over time is a more effective way um to address these changes, incremental changes over time.
>> Okay. So that was a motion to adopt resolution B. >> Yes. >> Do we have a second? >> As is for this year. >> Have a second. For the purposes of discussion, I will second.
>> Okay, we have a second by Commissioner Olsen. Okay, discussion. >> Um, Madam Chair, I'm not supportive in not in support of this motion. I think at a year when we've heard a lot of people tell us the taxes are too high. I'm not giving myself a raise. >> Commissioner Alson,
>> I I agree with the with the concept of a little at a time because it will get out of hand. I brought this up many times. I definitely not here for the money. Um, but you know, there will be people that will probably need that as an income and
we need good people that entice good people on these boards. So, I it does need to happen at some point and my fear is it will end up I've said it from the very beginning. It will make national news when you go to double it or some crazy thing. So, um, but again, I'm
going to stick true to what I've said before and we might find ourselves on the front page or somebody might someday having to do it, but I just think this year I I would be at a zero. As much as I appreciate that's good business sense the way you're the way you approached
it, but I'm going to vote zero myself. >> I could not tell till the very end. >> And and I would I would also uh some of the same comments. Um, I would hope nobody wants this job for a
paycheck because the things you deal with don't, you know, the pay isn't and and I just came from AMC and we got states, you know, different sized counties across the state and I talked to some, you know, Henipin and Ramsey and theirs are they get paid more >> real jobs. They are fulltime they are
full-time jobs. >> Yeah. Professional staff >> with staff. Yes, I I know. I I I know that, Commissioner Vaguely. Um but um his son has been hired by one of them >> county >> two weeks ago. >> But but Winona County has we have set
this up with um important staff positions um and our meeting schedules and everything that again like I said it it's a a very difficult job to have because of the the the scheduling to to schedule a day's you know work around
it. But I would hope nobody would take the job for the paycheck because I do strongly feel that it's a certain amount of community uh you know service and public service and so I yeah I will not support that and you know it is it is a small what is it I don't know is it what I didn't get my calculator out
>> $78 78 >> yeah less less than $800 >> the the issue becomes though in all fairness is to say and this is the way being a business owner is to say If a
commissioner hasn't received a raise in 14 years and the justification is because it wasn't needed, it tells me 14 years ago they were overpaid. >> Probably you can laugh, but that's in all seriousness. When it's your money, when it's your cash and you got a list
of employees out here, you got to write their paycheck out and at the end of the day they can walk away with their keys in their hand and you're still held with a note that you might owe to the bank. It's not a laughing matter. And if we approach government the same way as that and to say what is realistic is it were
we or weren't we or has the attitude changed? And I I don't think I can necessarily agree with Commissioner Ward that says somebody might not ever take this solely for the paycheck because there's a lot of good people in fact most good people demand to get paid.
That's the reality of it. And so at the end of the day, I just don't want to see that become a hindrance for good people running politics or or their government like a well-run machine. And sometimes that takes having to entice people with with payment. >> Mr. Vley,
>> and I know we all need to pick and choose our battles and what hills we're going to die on. This is not a hill I want to die on, but I in other counties across the state, people leave the state legislature, >> both elected officials and professional staff, and move to county government because it is more stable. And
especially if you have a full-time job or a part-time job, the salary does make a difference to some people in terms of the kind of people, the talent that you hope to attract um now and in the future, etc. In my first eight years on the count board, I was I was commissioner Ward can vouch for this. I
did not want to raise it. My gosh, at some point in some decade, in some century, um, we need to increase it just even a little bit, etc. Or else we will have to make someone's have to make a a very large increase. >> Front news page. >> Yes.
>> To follow through from last year. >> Okay. So, >> I just >> The original motion >> Do we have a motion? >> You have a motion. >> There wasn't a vote. There wasn't a vote. >> Didn't vote on the >> Oh, I thought we did. I thought >> No.
>> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. And we had discussion, but we didn't vote on >> on the on B. >> On B. >> Okay. So, we're we're considering resolution B. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppos? Nay. >> Nay. Okay.
>> Make a motion for resolution A. >> Okay. >> Zero. Yeah. No. >> I'll second that. >> Okay. We have a motion uh made by Commissioner Eling, second by Commissioner Meyer for resolution A, which would be um maintaining the status quo in in salary.
>> Oh, I thought that was the donation one. Oh, >> you're more than welcome to. Nobody is stopping you one bit. Commissioner, >> send it over to the >> I donate all my vacation. >> Okay. So, uh all those in favor of the motion say I. I post nay. Nay.
>> That does pass. All right. Okay. All right, >> chicken. >> Okay. Uh, we're down to committee reports. Commissioner Vaguely, >> um, I know that it's not the Winona County shelter and it's never going to intended to be. Um, but the the only
shelter in the county this past Monday there we there was a steering committee meeting. Um, and we every week when we have meetings, we get updates on numbers. Um the shelter, the overnight shelter at Wesley um United Methodist Church is now close to the capacity.
There's some been some nights where it's almost 20 guests are there. It's not every night, but it's getting close. Started off in the low in the low high digits, 6 7 8 9 10, but now there have been some nights where it's getting closer to 20. And the interesting thing, I think I mentioned this last time, is
that unlike the past, it's all it's either half or just over half female guests. And that hasn't happened in the past. in the past like in um it's been almost like 90% or more males. So that's an interesting no one seems to know why that's happening as well. But just a quick update and I'm not sure where to
start with this is somewhat related. Um there is and maybe county attorney Son and others and maybe Miss Jaffy at some point all these overlapping circles. Um there is there are the shelters completely nonprofit completely run that way. There is the hub which was an interesting concept and worked for a
while and then there's um wrap plus etc. We lost hub right there's right now the hub program I would like at some point could some of the county staff give us a summary about what happened because there are now holes there are holes in our local uh safety net that is going to
either come to us in the form of emergency rooms or probably jail cells. Um and also on Monday at the steering committee meeting there was an individual they had to call local law enforcement. Apparently this gentleman is on a list a waiting list to get on the in become part of the RAP plus
program to receive more services. It just all of these overlapping circles but so I'm not quite sure if that's a question for the county administrator or for our new HHS director but at some point can you help us give us a summary of what happened with the hub? um because that is that was a major program
for a while and they've lost their their um community all the navigators everything etc. and how that's going to possibly impact the county and I realize that's something that might take a month or two to gather but it'd be good to like what happened and how's it going to impact the county is that's that will
impact us eventually. I actually have been meeting with um the CEO uh Bel Schultz um every two weeks I meet with her. So we are in conversation but I'll I'll bring Miss Jaffy up to speed. >> Thank you. >> And we'll get a update to you. Thank you.
>> What happened and like how is it going to possibly and maybe I don't know for sure but I believe in some form it's going to impact it's going to flow to the county. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Thank you. That's it. >> All right. Commissioner. >> Oh couple things.
Excuse me. Uh, number one, obviously, uh, we've all heard about the grain bend. Did that happen before or after the last meeting? >> Sure. >> After, just after. Yeah, >> I saw your video. >> What's it? >> I saw your video. >> Yeah. So, interestingly enough, I happened to snap that. Um,
chief of police there, Jose. He let me in. We were just by the barrier and I just happened to pull my phone up and pow took it right when it fell. And, uh, so crazy how that travels. There was 126,000 views. I think I just pulled it up here. So,
>> um it did make it all over. I I did end up on KTTC and WCCCO and a few other things, but um but yeah, flash explosions and things like that. So even to be as close as what we were, we were probably right on that verge of
harm's way. So you know, St. Charles Police Department, obviously the uh first responders, EMTs, Winona County Emergency Management, uh um you know, fire department, everybody that was involved police department. So just wanted to say thank you to everybody because you don't know how bad those situations are going to get and you kind
of sit there a little bit in suspense. And if you would have asked me sitting there, I would have told you the grain man next to it was full of grain until that thing came down and realized that it wasn't. So, um, just wanted to say thanks to everybody for that. Um, couple other things just to bring up. One of them was, you know, obviously the tax
statement issue. Um, I I kind of alluded to it before. I just, you know, anybody that's listening or watches these videos after, check your tax statements. I mean, if a few people are seeing mistakes, I would have to imagine there's a few more out there. And that's not to be, you know, facicious by any means, but just it's easier to fix them
now than it is to fix them later. So, um, I do also am interested in some of the things that Mr. Boa brought up um about some of this capital outlay and some of this levy funding, especially the $500,000 situation. A little bit interested in getting some feedback or digging into that. Um and then also I
want to bring up the comp plan. Um um Mark Clark, Mr. Clark brought up. Unfortunately, I was not able to make it to uh the county uh the excuse me, the township meeting last night. I talked with Commissioner Ward. Um, my voice is better now than what it was yesterday
slightly. Uh, I just more than anything I didn't want anybody sick, but I I contrary to popular belief do take a fair amount of phone calls and um I still can't figure that one out, but whatever. It um it is getting on the radar and I've had
multiple people bring this up, quite a few actually about some of the issues within. So, I'm not sure if we got off track somewhere or what's going on, but I will start to dig into it a little bit deeper. Um, especially now as we slow down a little bit with work. So, whatever's happening there, um, I'm kind
of discouraged by the negative feedback. And I was a little bit worried about that to begin with. And I'm not I don't want to say I'm correct or hey, I told you so, but it is starting to go down that path. And so, um, you know, the people that are involved with that, um, let's just make sure that they're
staying on on even so much as changing the name of it, which I I don't know the reason for most of this stuff, but, um, let's make sure we uh, don't let that get too far out of hand. The other one that I wanted to bring up um, was this financial advisory committee and and and
I think it's it's something that I've brought up a little bit, too. uh not the last meeting obviously I wasn't here but the meeting before just discussing you know we we we look at such a small part of the budget and scrutinize it but I think there's a very large part of the budget yet that we should be looking at
and I had called administrator holy and um you know I made mention just some just some real basic things like digging into you know supplies what does that mean well there's millions of dollars of just a supply item using that as a basic reference to say hey is there
just an exponential increase. Is there a reason for it? It's it's an easy area to hide things in. Um, you know, is money being reallocated? Is it truly being spent as needed or is it just being spent because, hey, we don't want to lose it. I I I believe there's there's a
lot of money here that we can dive into. And I appreciate the comments of, "Hey, we really trust people at the top." But I can tell you now, I am the top of what I own, which is not huge by any means, but it's many millions is what our company does. And I can tell you right
now, I don't have all the answers. And I'm constantly turning to people to tell me what to do because the only way I improve is to find my mistakes. And so that just reiterates another need to to look at these financial advisory communities to to really dive into the
rest of the numbers and say, "Hey, is that necessary or has that just been status quo?" I can tell you now, I am not going to support any sort of substantial raise in this levy because it's just not feasible and no different than I recommended for SEMRA. It's just
the way it has to be. So between now and that side of things, the pencil is going to have to get really sharp. So >> Mr. Mer. >> Oh, thanks. Um I I am glad that um auditor treasurer will break is still here. So at the land records meeting
there was an interesting conversation. Apparently the legislators passed a law and so people involved in the judiciary are allowed to hide their public records related to their ownership of property. Is this I get that right? And I'm not sure that we fully have the ability to
implement it. We're working on it, but the understanding is this will probably get expanded in this next legislative session. Um, >> does it stem from the shootings? I'm guessing people can find our records or addresses. >> Is there anything else that I didn't say that you would like to add? Um
it we just as a county need to be mindful of how far that reaches. Like you think of the recorders department and public records and um the audit treasurers, the assessor's department for the statements and things that we
send out that are generally public record and available online. But um the meetings that I've been to with MACPO it that we also need to think about like permitting is that also something that will be considered private etc. And just
need a plan to make sure that we can comply. They do have to request like they have to fill out paperwork and there's a fee um per property that they want hidden hidden but we need to be ready for it. It goes into effect
January 1st. I just want to make everybody aware about it. You know how this stuff comes out. Miss Holding. >> In addition, we were waiting for Mr. Bick to go to a meeting on the 10th. Um, so yesterday. >> Yesterday. >> Um, and so we have another meeting
scheduled the first part of January. Okay. >> And then we'll have all the parties at that meeting so that we can determine what what can we do, how should we go about it. Um, so I just want to and we would have Mr. Sadler as the assessor
representative there as well. Okay. >> Um so just you know we are working on it but we don't know exactly what does that mean yet >> what it entails. Gee I kind of know where President Trump lives. I mean that's not a secret or >> he might be he could he could be most
anywhere in the world. He probably on Air Force One. Um just a real quick uh we had the AMC America uh Minnesota uh counties association um uh conference and we had some awesome uh they have like three keynote speakers throughout
the these uh days and one was you know trust matters more than ever um trust it's uh government's not really too trustworthy right now so we have to work on that and then they had another one with um um courage to innovate um you
know to think outside the box and do things a little bit different and then they had another one on gener generational workforce that was very interesting the um I'm a baby boomer how the Gen X works how the the millennials and how the um Gen Z's and uh it's kind
of scary but what what they require and and we need to understand that because our workforce is constantly changing but a couple u not any one speaker but um I did like a theme that uh ran through some of it was um for for government uh
make every public dollar work harder. Make every public dollar work harder. >> And then I see uh Jill Chaffy, our our health person. This struck with me too. If you don't make time for wellness, you
will be making time for illness. And that's both in a wellness physical wellness and a mental wellness and everything. So, if you don't take time for I I thought that was a good way to put it. If you don't take time for wellness, you will be making time for illness. Um it it was a good conference,
well attended. Um lots of good uh breakout sessions. Um Jill did represent the county, the southeast Minnesota um data group. It was uh keyheaded by um Olstead County because they've got we always have to send We need to send you need to have a a stack of thank yous. We
need to send Almstead County thank you notes every now and then because they do a lot for southeast Minnesota. They created this uh data uh base uh board. Is it baseboard? No. Is that right? Baseboard. >> Dashboard. >> Yeah, dashboard. Dashboard uh with data and everything that's uh being used by
about what about 10 counties um and everything. So, and Jill was there and Jill got to partake in a number of the sessions and and hopefully she learned learned a lot. Um, yeah. Other than that, be careful, be safe. Uh, we got extreme
cold weather coming up, so people be careful. Be safe. And I do appreciate the don't too many claims with slip and falls and we don't need those claims. >> Motion to. >> All right. Motion by Commissioner Eling. >> Second. >> Second by Commissioner Vagley. Any discussion?
>> All those in favor say I. >> Oppos? May we we are adjourned.