Good morning every >> beautiful fall day. As I said, driving up the river this morning, there's some greens, there's some light greens, there's some oranges, there's some reds. Uh we're going into a new season, so get ready. Who knows what winter's going to bring.
Call our meeting to order with uh the first item is public comment. Uh, anybody wishing to address the Winona County Board, please step to the podium, state your name and address, and uh, we have the two-minute timer on. Thank you. >> Chassity Saraki live at 1254 West Third
Street in Winona. I would like to address item number 7.3 regarding um, discontinuing the call-in option for public comment and going to just the live stream of the meetings. I am against this. I know other um government
bodies like the city of Winona or Winona area public schools do live stream only. However, we got to consider that their land area what they cover is much smaller than Winona County. Uh and I think it would be unreasonable to expect
someone say St. Charles to have to drive into their mind especially in the winter time if roads are bad. Uh so having the public comment online um who think it is a service to the public uh that we should keep. Also, I'd like to note that
members of the board have called in say if they were sick or traveling and I think we should continue that because I would like all five of you to continue um participating in the meetings even if you can't be here in person. So, please don't get rid of this. I also want to
mention I don't recall uh the porn spam happening when we were using ring central. So, I don't know if that's an option to go back to that. Or if there were security features enabled in that application that maybe need to be turned on in Zoom. I'm not sure how that works,
but I don't think we should do a knee-jerk reaction and just pulling it right away. Anyway, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else wishing to address the county board this morning? >> Is there anyone online? You still have
the option. Don't see any. And the last time, is there anyone else wishing to address the Winona County Board? Okay. Um if not, we'll move on. Um item number three is the approval of the county board meeting minutes from August
26, 2025. >> So moved. >> Okay. We have Commissioner Eling and a second by Commissioner Olsen to approve the county board meeting minutes. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. Nay. Okay. Approved. Um item number four
uh includes four items. Uh 4.1 is the road and bridge from February 18th. 4.2 is the economic development authority from June 26. 4.3 is the board of adjustment from July 17th. And 4.4 is planning commission July 17th.
>> I'll move to approve those um committee committee minutes. >> Okay. Okay, we have a motion by Commissioner Vegley, second by Commissioner Eling to uh acknowledge and approve and accept the uh committee meeting minutes 4.1, 2, three, and four. Any discussion? All those in favor say
I. >> Oppos? Nay. Approved. Um item five, consent, comments, and approval of the agenda. Um attorney Sonoman. >> Thank you. Was focusing on on one of the agenda items. Sorry. Um yes, I just have
one comment. Thank you. comment. Okay, Commissioner Vegley. >> Two quick things at the end, please. >> Okay, >> I've got a discussion item, a comment. >> Okay. >> Nothing. >> Commissioner Olson, Commissioner Meyer. >> Uh, just an announcement.
>> Okay. And administrator? >> Nothing, Madam Chair. >> Okay. And I've got a couple um announcements and maybe a request for board action. Okay. Uh and I would like
to pull uh 6.5 for a separate uh vote and 6.6 for little a little bit of discussion. So if we could make 6.57.0 >> and if we could make 6.67 67 uh
05 whatever however we want to I mean put them at the beginning of the general business. >> So with those changes um would we have an approval of the agenda? >> I'll move to approve the agenda as it was amended. >> Second. >> Okay. We have a motion by Commissioner
Meer, second by Commissioner Olsen to approve the amended agenda. Um all any discussion? All those in favor say I. I post nay. >> Approve. All right. Um, Miss Holty, would you read the business for consent
into the record? >> 6.1 Approve conditional use permit for Twilight Peterson. 6.2 Approve conditional use permit for Jake and Mary Yoder. 6.3 Approve conditional use per permit for Beverly Dulick. 6.4 4 approve
extension of interim assessor appointment and professional services agreement with Mau County. 6.5 was pulled. 6.6 was pulled. 6.7 approved 2022 hazardous materials emergency preparedness grant. 6.8 approved
resolution for funds received from Taylor family farm foundation for dive and rescue team. 6.9 approve purchase of dive and rescue team boat. And 6.10 10 confirm payment of dispersements. >> Move to approve the consent business as it was read into the record.
>> Second. >> Excuse me. We have a motion by Commissioner Meyer, second by Commissioner Olsen to approve the consent business as read into the record. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. Approved. Um then moving into general
business. Uh 7.0 which was 6.5. um approve the 2025 2027 department head association agreement. Um and I did and I apologize um I asked Miss Holt what what was was there any significant
changes in that agreement? >> Um I did respond the major changes are wages and benefits. All the rest of it is minor language changes. >> Okay. Um, one of the things that kind of gets my attention is um, you know, we put cost of living and I don't know it
it's not really a cost of living because the cost of living by the definition by the the bigger government is uh, for 2027 or 2026 is like 2.7. I think we have three in there. So maybe it's just the semantics or anything, but it's
really truly not the uh I don't know who calculates that it's 3% for Winona County and it's 2.7 for the the rest of the country. Um so I don't know, maybe it's just the terminology that they use, but and again I I didn't see any pay for performance issues addressed in it and I
was hoping at the department head level we would be moving forward and I think we are trying to move forward with department head level maybe pay for performance. Um >> we'll be having dialogue soon. >> Okay. All right. So, I mean, I keep [laughter] I keep hoping I keep I keep trying to do that. So, um
>> I'll move to approve item what was formerly 6.5. >> I'll second that. >> Okay. We have a motion by Commissioner Vegley, second by Commissioner Meyer to approve the department head association agreement. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. >> Oppos? Nay. Nay.
>> Nay. >> Okay. 32. All right. And then um 6.6 Six uh is the approval renewal of enterprise license agreement for geographic information systems ESRI software user
license and um my question for that is I know it's a renewal but but thinking uh working on budgets and thinking about budgets is in a bigger picture uh what's the definition of insanity and I guess I'm insane uh you know trying trying to
do the same thing over and over and expect different results. Well, we're when we go into budgeting and and our contracts and everything, we seem to be doing the same thing over and over. Yes. And we're really not getting different results. So, what my request is, and I did request from one of my neighboring
counties, but I didn't hear back from them, is things like this user software. I mean, we got 87 counties. We all basically have to do the same thing. We all do it a little bit different. And I don't know for sure why we do it a little bit different, but can't we share
software across county lines and uh and it'll come in maybe my board action. I have attorney Sonoman. Attorney Sonamon, you represent 87 counties in your role as leader of the county attorneys association. >> And isn't a county part of a county
attorney's job to negotiate or review contracts? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So my re my and and uh nothing against this particular one, but can't we somehow negotiate a statewide contract or all those that want to participate numbers usually mean better
figures? Numbers mean if I've got people trained on the same software in Houston County, Filmer County or Winona County that maybe eventually we could even share an employee. Um [clears throat] you know, because they'd all be trained on the same software. So, I guess that's what I'm requesting as we look at these
things in a different perspective of how can we save our taxpayer monies, be more efficient and and uh you know help each other out too. >> It's a good question. It really is. and uh this particular software and we have
many that we do share already through MC um Carpel Solutions was tag team by some other counties to try to get that um used by more than one county. Uh this is another example. We uh have a vendor called Pro West um and then we also did
some um bidding with another vendor on this. But EZRI is it's the main tool used by GIS for all of our all of our mapping. I it's it's the big one. It GIS this is our most important software. Uh I know it's it is a little expensive but
the cost is shared through other pro west reaches out and tries to get better value through other counties. Um that's why you see the number from 25 to 50,000. They kind of try to combine that demographic to get us the best prices. Um
unfortunately uh EZRI is kind of like well the next agenda item Zoom. It's the big one that everyone uses and you know, everyone kind of needs. So, um yeah, but we do we do try to combine with other counties and in different ways. Like I said, MC is one of them
that we we get discounts um share costs. Um MSISAC, we um have the ability to share costs for cyber security needs. So, we do try to explore ways to do that. >> Okay. Um this this particular contract um that was just up this year. We do
have it in our budget. It was uh previously under Bob's technology funds um Marine and I decided to move it to it just for better transparency and to keep all the software as much software as we can together. So it is an added item in
my budget this year. Um but that was a decision that Marine and I made to keep it all under one umbrella. Plus, the technology funds are a little bit more volatile. So, we don't know what we have with those every year. >> So, what are we doing with the technology funds then? Did they >> They're still there. They're still there. They're they're going to be used
for other software services. Um uh the funds are a little low on that one right now. So, we're trying to build it back up. I Bob can probably uh clarify a little bit better on that. It's >> be a point. Madam attorney, >> I just wanted to speak on behalf of the
attorneys. Yes. Um but uh I think forever we've got other software well like um uh Mr. Lang was talking about our our prosecutor by Carpel but even trying to get Weslaw
um to even combine with the law library Wlaw and my office or with like like you had mentioned you know all of the county attorneys why can't we get a contract? It's working with those companies and they're the ones that are the I guess
the the hurdle and um as Mr. Lang was saying, you know, these companies basically well I'm I'll say it. I don't think he said it that way, but they basically have a a lock on on you know a monopoly. So um it it's something maybe you know someday the legislature could
work on. Um but there shouldn't be any reason why we can't um share and and so it is frustrating >> and I do know Karin's team is trying to combat some of their issues with >> uh terms of service how long it's taking to implement
>> uh like central square with your email yesterday. So they're trying to keep them accountable and trying to you know make that prevent that monopoly from happening. But it it is it does happen. So, >> well, 87 counties would be one big customer and you know, if they want our
business. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It's >> we have to push back. We have to be we have to be aggressive >> in our ask and everything because you're right they think they got a monopoly on it and >> and it comes up every year and it's like you know knocking against a concrete
wall but um uh we try and we will continue to try and and make make some uh some good changes that will reduce the costs. Um as Mr. Lang was saying um there's there's ways to do that within the contracts within sharing agreements
like um yeah MC is a big is a big example of sharing and um and having that clout. So yeah >> commissioner >> just just thinking about this Chad >> Yep. is you know I look at this it's a
year contract and if S3 is ESR S3 I'm assuming correct >> regardless of who it is let's just say they're the player right the only real leverage we have is time >> I noticed they do a yeartoyear is that us or is that them appropriating that
>> that was us for the sake of time and getting this in front of you um the last contract from what I saw through Bob was a three-year contract this uh particular uh software was expiring next month.
>> Uh so I had Zachary from my GIS team reach out um to rene renegotiate to get us that one-year contract. But I foresee in the future that we're going to build off a three to five and try to save some more money there. >> 10% 15%. >> Exactly. And we do most of ours are three or five. >> Yeah.
>> An anomaly a little bit. >> You know, for me I again the the challenge of getting paid is figuring out leverage. That's the key. >> And you know to go back and say, "Hey, we have alternatives. We'd like to stay with you." But I mean really that's all we have. >> Yeah. And we might even be able to do
that with this cycle with this if we can come back to it before the end of the year. But >> um there was it was time sensitive >> on those three to fives. Do they put an auto escalator in them? >> Mhm. >> Like the grand I find that in a fine print fact day I was on the board. We
found it in that sheriff's one at 5%. And you know, those are the killer of contracts. >> They are. >> I love it when they're in my favor. Hate it when they're not. >> And so, a lot of times I'll negotiate those out >> and say, "Hey, this is a flat fee, no auto escalator." Because what it does is sets the bar the next time.
>> You're used to paying five on five on five. And now >> eventually it's got to >> Yeah. And it's it's a trick is really what it is. So if we can negotiate out, I guess this is to >> what attorney Son of the ones is to escalate is to get rid of the escalators. Yeah,
>> I will say that this this year is a little bit of a pivotal point with software because like I mentioned, Miss Holy and I have worked together to try to bring more of it under the IT umbrella. So, some of the software is new to me and and the process of
negotiations. So, I anticipate getting through this budget cycle, we'll I'll have a better understanding. Uh we lost um Chuck at a bad time, too. Uh so it's just kind of a a timing issue with this one. >> So you bring up MC
and that is all counties are or no that's >> I I don't think it's all counties. >> Not all counties. >> It's a significant number. >> Yeah. Significant number. So are you guys >> I want to say 56. Are you being active with them and seeking out who we are who's using this and can we you know can
we tag team and and I know you know we have a a good GIS uh program and employees and maybe again thinking outside you know maybe we can share some of that employee with we've got a lot of small counties that don't have uh you
know GIS departments and then they're paying outside uh groups to do some of their work. Well, maybe we could do some of that work for a fee. I mean, I >> we do have a little bit of a chargeback for this software from the city of Winona. >> Yeah,
>> because they have um >> we do their >> Yep. They have two people that uh use the system. So, I can't remember. It might be $11,000 or something. So, it does cut into it a little bit. >> Yeah. But I guess I would like to see maybe ne our neighbors cooperating better. Commissioner Vagley. >> Um I'll move to approve what had been
formally 6.6. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Okay, we have a motion to approve the license agreement for geographic information systems. >> Yeah. Yes, sir. >> ESRI. Uh, Commissioner Vagely and second by Commissioner Meyer. Any further discussion?
>> All those in favor say I. >> I. Oppos? Nay. >> Approved. All right. Then we're moving into uh 7.1. Receive update from the University of Minnesota Extension. And I think we all got a um email um that really
highlighted we just wrapped up the Minnesota State Fair. Looks like Winona County did awesome work. >> Yeah. >> Did get one of those famous donuts up there. >> You did? >> I did. >> How long did you stand in line? >> I didn't. >> Crazy. >> Interesting. >> I walked up and a guy literally I just
said, "Hey, are they what they're worth?" And he had a bag of them. He goes, "You want one?" [laughter] >> Oh, nice. So I was not that I was not that honored. Uh so Lisa Dirks, regional director for extension. I'm going to do just a quick uh a few um acknowledgements um and some updates
about staffing and then turn it over to Micah to talk to you about updates about the Winona County 4 program. Uh so first of all, uh county extension committee, thank you for the recent appointment. We are now full for our public membership. Um, and so I want to acknowledge those
public um, citizens who who are part of the committee and bring forward their thoughts and ideas on how do we continue to improve services in Winona County. I also just want to give a thank you to Chelsea Wilbright, staff member for Winona County. She serves as our secretary and so takes those minutes
which is important for us to um, keep track of what we're all doing and remembering everything. Uh, a little bit about staff changes. Uh you are probably aware that Linda Mueller retired from Winona County earlier this spring after many years of service. And so Ann
Schwarz uh was an internal transfer. She has been great for our department. She hit the ground running. Um her first fair was within I'm going to say weeks, not necessarily months of her starting and she um just jumped right in. Um so we appreciate uh Ann and being a new
member of our team. Uh, also want to acknowledge Brody Ericson was our summer intern. He also came into Winona um Mau County. He's from Mau County originally. Um, not only brought his experience as a 4er, but he also had some tech uh skills
that we utilized to get us uh going through the fair as well. Um, yeah, he's a good kid. And then upcoming uh we are all patiently awaiting uh news from uh Kim regarding arrival of her second child. So, and then um she's still
continuing to work until she is on leave and then at that point Melindy Miller will be uh joining us as an interim educator um until Kim's return. So, those are just some administrative updates. I'm going to turn it over to Micah to talk about 4. >> Perfect. >> Thanks, Lisa.
>> Good morning. >> Good morning, everyone. Um thank you for giving me the opportunity to present our Winona County for updates throughout the year. And as you know 4 um our mission is learning by doing and experiential learning. And so today today I'm going to share a little bit about our programs
and how youth have those opportunities to participate in those programs in our county. So next slide please. Um here's a snapshot of our stats for our county. Currently we have 631 youth enrolled. We
have 129 adult volunteers. We have 15 community clubs throughout the county that helps our widespread reach of 4 along with our six partnership clubs that uh meet locally in the in the county here and that also helps with our widespread reach of 4. So
next slide. As you can see at the graph here, our 4 program is continuing to grow. In the red you will see our partnership youth programs. In the light blue is our community club youth and then the dark blue is the total youth in the county. So as you can see lots of growth there.
Um it's also important to note that whichever outlet these youth decide to participate in in 4, they're all considered 4 members and are welcome to participate in any opportunities that we have throughout the county um regional level and state level. So lots of growth
and momentum there. Um next I'm going to share just a little bit. I don't have a lot of time with you guys, so we're going to highlight just a couple of our opportunities and highlights throughout the year. Um, along with our increased membership and participation, we've had multiple different programs and outlets for these youth to participate in. Um, new this
year is our uh programs and partnerships with the impact center and the kids first program. Those will kick off here very shortly. Um, our success that we had at the Winona County Fair and State Fair, those those showcases, I'll talk a little bit more about that here. um our
successful internship programs that we have. We have one in the summer and we also host some in the spring through collaboration with WSU which has been a wonderful partnership there. Um our cooking clubs, outdoor cooking and gardening programs have been a hit this summer as well. Um personally my
favorite has been the cooking and nutrition programs because that is skills that build naturally. the teamwork, the math skills, measuring, adapting recipes, all of those skills happen so naturally and that has been personally my favorite. >> And I got to judge the steak at the
county fair. So keep that in mind. I got steak. >> Yes. Our steak cook off at the county fair. That was a big hit. Um and those programs have continued to grow this year thanks to our grant that we had through the Winona Community Foundation and the BK 5K grant. Um, we were able to
purchase five Blackstone grles for kids to do some outdoor cooking. So, that has been huge. If you ever want to do some outdoor cooking, let me know. I can help you out. Um, another successful program that we had this summer was our regional camp that happens every year at Whitewater State Park. We had about 60
Winona County kids there. Um, in total it was around 100 kids per camp, so a little bit over that. So, they're there for the full week. the third through or yeah the third through fifth graders for three days and then the sixth through eighth graders for the next three days.
So that has been an awesome program. Um along with our summer day camps too that happen throughout the summer. Um new this year we had traveling project sessions. We hosted two woodworking project sessions left with some bruised fingers but a lot of fun and lots of new
skills and cooking as well as STEM. So big highlights there. Micah, can I I'm not familiar. The Impact Center. >> Yes. >> What is What is that? >> The Impact Center is an organization. It's actually down the street here. Um youth will gather there after school to
do homework help um hands-on activities and this year we're going to be programming with them to bring some 4 activities there. So >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Yeah, they did come to the county fair as well on a tour I think Thursday when you guys were there. So yes, tour their facility and I'm sure John Mullen would
would welcome you to come and check absolutely kids and >> come check out our programs um and theirs too. Wonderful programming happening there. So all right, next slide please. >> I'm a great sample tester. [laughter]
>> We have an ice cream. I love ice cream. Uh, another key growth throughout the year has been our expansion of our community partnerships, which I lightly touched on. Um, currently I'm partnering with Winona area public schools, the community ed program as well through cooking um, clubs there, the Lewis Aluro
schools at their Cardinal Club, Ridgeway Community School, Rolling Stone Community School, the Impact Center, and Kids First. So, um, we truly value these partnerships um, with these organizations and it helps our outreach for 4. It's also good entry points for
um participation in other programs throughout the county. So, um yes, and these are these programs are happening during school hours, after school hours, um sometimes as special events, um monthly six week clubs, any sort of um
structure that they like, we typically work with them on. So, it's been wonderful to partner with all six of these wonderful organizations. Next slide, please. Um, as you can see, our community partnership growth has taken off in the last few years. Um, back in 2021 when I
first started here, we had one partner with around 100 youth and today we have six partners with um 400 youth and maybe even more than that depending on how um the rest of the year goes. So um as well as our summer day camp participation that has grown over the last few years.
Um, as you can see, um, I believe I shared that with you guys last year, but we are averaging around five to eight kids per camp in the summer, and this year we're maxing out at more than I should allow in 24 kids. So, it's been a fun summer. Um, lots of hands-on
learning happening and we really appreciate those entry points for our new families as well as highlights for our returning members to participate in these opportunities. So, next slide, please. Okay, another big highlight of the year,
our Winona County Fair and the Minnesota State Fair. Um, this year we had 299 youth participate at the county fair either in livestock or general projects. So, lots of kids at the county fair and from that group we had 63 exhibitors at the state fair, livestock exhibitors
with 21 general exhibitors. Um, we had some purple ribbons, we had some interview finalists, some judging teams, all of those things. Um you can see in the pictures they're holding up their ribbons, but um those are more than just ribbons. That is experiential learning that they are gaining throughout the
year and those proud moments that they get to showcase at the state fair. >> There's a number of Yeah, the livestock ribbons was I thought was really good. >> Yes. And you can see those results too online. Um we did link them in our newsletter um which I believe you all
received. So you can go ahead and check out our county fair and our state fair. um results. >> My question on that was green. Is that just a participation? >> You know, >> with a green rhythm. >> Yeah. So, I think that has been
happening the last couple years for our um showmanship results. I don't know if you can speak to that at all, Lisa, but Yeah. Yeah. And I was kind of picking Kim's brain about it, too, because I was like, I'm not really sure what that means either. So, but I do believe it's just for showmanship. I'm not sure if
it's >> That makes sense. >> Yeah. Yeah, I'll dig into that a little bit more because I didn't fully understand that either. So, but lots of participation happening this year for our showcases. Okay, next slide.
Um, okay. To share a little bit about our formula for success. So we have our positive youth development with our um uh inputs there as caring adults, skilluing programs with our outcomes of confidence and young connected people.
Um this overall impact is great for our community. It has reduced risk behavior. Stats have shown that those who participate in 4 programs have are less likely um or to reduce that risk behavior in our community. And um that's
really how the real difference is of what we're making in Winona County. Um hopefully we can see these young people sitting where you guys are sitting today or where I'm standing today. So lots of impact um lots of growth and confidence and we truly are proud of all of our 4ers.
To wrap things up, we'd like to invite you guys and everybody listening today to attend our 15th annual Winona County Fall Harvest. This event is happening on Sunday, September 28th. We'll have a meal option. You all received complimentary tickets in your county
mailboxes. Um so we'd appreciate it if you could attend. Check out all the hard work and celebrate our youth throughout the year. Um it's a wonderful event. We'll have a a live auction, a silent auction, uh meal, kids activities, all that good stuff. So >> time on that
>> that is from 11 to 2 >> at the 4 building on the fairgrounds. at the 4 building on the fairgrounds. We'll have the meal from 11 to 1 and our live auction will start slightly after that. So yes, come on out, celebrate all of our success throughout the year. Um we'd
love to see you. >> All right, last slide. And again, thanks for letting me present today and share our updates. Um happy to chat more with you via email, over the phone, in person. You guys know where to find me down at the office over there. So, um, come say hi, come learn a little
bit more. Happy to share. >> So, any questions for Micah? >> Yes. Any questions? >> Throw a zinger. >> I don't have a question, but >> I just want to thank you for the work you're doing that it's very exciting and so yeah, enthusiastic. And um uh I I was
at the state fair at the 4 building just let's see on Labor Day weekend at the 4 alumni booth um with my twin sister and we were both in 4 in college um and to see the um as you said some of us sitting here and
there's quite a few of us who are in 4 um uh but to see the the folks come in and we were signing people up for the alumni network for 4 and um this one woman for instance she was in high school in 1973 when I was in high school
and she had brought her grand champion ribbon to the >> Oh cool [laughter] >> and was showing everybody and her family and the family groups that came and there was this >> uh attorney who was from Roseville but he had grown up in Cook County Chicago
[clears throat] and was in 4 in Chicago then which was I thought very unusual >> um but he was in cooking he was in um some of the classes that you mentioned, but it was just it was so um heartwarming to talk to the alumni and
to see the fruits of the labor that you guys do and then you know 10 20 30 years from now to see that come through. >> Yeah, >> it was just great. So I just Yeah. Yeah. Thanks for sharing. >> What were you like? What club were you? >> I actually was not a 4er, believe it or
not. I know. I know. Um, my parents said we're dairy farmers, you know, you get put to work, you don't get to do the fun stuff. So, um, >> was the Mabel busy? >> I was an Okabina be. >> Yeah, >> I wish I would have. I was the shy kid, but I think these kids have really
brought out different sides of me. So, >> sure. My family has a a standing joke that, "Mom, didn't you, you know, win ribbons in cooking and sewing and, you know, all that domestic things." I said, "Yes, I did, but I choose not to do those things. That's not my forte." Very fun.
>> I learned. I was taught. Well, thank you very much. Thanks so much. And yeah, hopefully the September 8th is a beautiful Sunday and get a huge crowd. It's a major >> We'd love to see everyone come and celebration. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I didn't know you were. Sorry. I >> I know. I know. Everybody asked me that.
So, but I wish I wasn't either. >> I'm a part now. >> Were you a 4er? >> No, I don't think you were. So, I was a 4er for a little bit of time. And if you go digging back on the Dodge County 4 Facebook a couple years ago, they asked
alumni members to send in a picture of themselves. And so there is a picture of me as a third grader with my rabbit. Um, don't ask me anything about rabbits now. I I did not learn. So, but then also moved to a dairy farm, got put to work. So, >> yes.
>> So, so they they can be taught and and they had video of all the share the fun things that we used to do in 4. You know, you used to do skits and plays and all that. I'm sure it would be blackmail today. >> The plays did those, [laughter] too. All right. All right. >> Thank you for your time.
>> All right. Thank you very much. >> Keep up the good work. >> Okay. Moving to 7.2. Approve recommendation to appoint Health and Human Service Director Jill Chaffy. Page 137. >> Good morning, commissioners. Todd Sadler, HR Director. I'm here today to
recommend the appointment of Jill Chaffy as the HHS director. Comes with many years of experience recently. So recently she's with Lutheran Social Services as the VP for um outbased
community- based clients. Um but had a great experience interviewing. We had four candidates and by far she you know stood out in in this. So recommend hiring Joe Chaffy. I'll move to approve um the hiring of
Jill Chaffy as HHS director. >> I'll second that. >> Okay. We have a motion by Commissioner Vegley, second by Commissioner Meyer to approve the appointment of Health and Human Service Director Jill Chaffy. Um any discussion? What's your expected date of employment?
>> Uh that's a good question. Was waiting for the approval today. It's probably going to be 30 days, I would assume. You know, she's got to give a notice over at um Lutheran Social Services because she's got Wisconsin and the upper Michigan Peninsula. >> Sure. Sure.
>> Tell her she'd better brush up on her budgeting skills if she's get coming in that late to the game. >> I know. I will. >> Yeah. Okay. Any >> It was an impressive resume with a wide range of experience. I'm looking forward to this and especially her I mean there's all kinds of experience but also her experience in mental health
>> services. Yep. Okay. Okay. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I. Close. Nay. Approve. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um 7.3 approve removal of public Zoom links from county board website. Preserve
observation only access via live stream. And >> so yeah, I don't think we need a backstory on this as to why I uh move to put this on the agenda and um remove our public Zoom link. Um before we start,
this young lady, I'll answer her question about Ring Central. Um and it was a great question. Ring Central when we started here at the country county with Ring Central just before my time here, it was a little known company that
is is starting to grow. But uh the difference between Ring Central and Zoom, as you can imagine, there's bad actors, thousands, who knows how many that just sit there all day targeting Zoom links across the world. I mean, we're one of, I think, 1,200 uh Zoom
bombings a day in the US. It's not uncommon. The reason you don't hear about it a lot is because it's usually not reported because other than being nefarious, there's nothing they can do to our network. um the only thing they can do is screen capture information that would be on the screen at the time.
So it's more of a nuisance. Uh big nuisance. [laughter] Um so Marina and I talked and I brought it up to her and I said, you know, a lot of other counties are moving to the live streaming. I I know Houston uh does the live streaming. Uh during CO a lot of
municipalities did the online where you can uh call in and and and speak. that's been removed in a lot of them. The way it'll work, it'll still have a link online. We'll have a link to the live stream. So, people can view the the video live just like you're watching a
football game, but there wouldn't be interaction. There wouldn't be um the public comment and there wouldn't be any way to interact with you at all during the meeting. Um, so from a security standpoint, that's my recommendation just because it would put me at ease
with all of you and everyone that um, you know, has been affected by what happened. Unfortunately, I mean, if you look today, there's nine or 10 people online um, interested in in the topic. So, I I get the other side of it. Um, I get
wanting to have uh, transparency. Um but if we choose to keep the link online for Zoom, um we are going to explore a couple even deeper security options. We have implemented a couple since the last bombing. Um one was
enable waiting room. So when a bad actor goes onto the Zoom looking for Zoom links, they don't care if we're going on the county or whoever, they capture that and if there's an enable waiting room, they usually will skip by because they're not going to get invited into the meeting. So that's
that's a big one that we we implemented. We also did implement removing whiteboard sharing which was happened in the the second time that happened here. Um so basically they used the software to capture the whiteboard feature within Zoom and then share that. It was a
pretty tricky way. And then one final thing that I'd like to do and this is a new feature uh that I spoke with Marine maybe just this morning or Friday about is there's an option when we start the meeting. Say if your meeting is at 9:00, if you're not a public participant
that's going to join at that 9:00 time, I'd like to lock the meeting once it's started. Um because a lot of bad actors will look for that link once a meeting has started to get in and and put in the bad material. Uh so Heidi will have the ability or whoever is administrating
hosting the meeting can lock that meeting so no one else can join. the people that were allowed in the waiting room like today would be able to raise their hand and ask a question. Heidi would have to unmute them um you know on
her side. But so those are some of the security uh options I'd like to do if you decide which you know whichever way you decide. It's my recommendation to make it a live stream. That's the kind of the route a lot of people are going. But I I understand the other side of it. Like I said, this young lady and and
some others that are used to having that convenient option to to call in. >> So questions, Commissioner B. Sorry. >> Go ahead. >> Well, I just wanted to comment from a legal point of view. >> Yeah. on this. Um, and it it's it's the
open meeting law which is the um the foundation of this. And um the open meeting law does not require um that u a public body u give people the right to speak at meetings. When I started as county attorney, I had
written the the rules, if you want to call it, because this body wanted to encourage people the right to to have a public comment period. Um but that is not required by the open meeting law. So shutting down the um I mean they can
comment in person, they can also comment by submitting written comments ahead of the meeting. Um um but in terms of shutting down the ability of people to Zoom bomb, I think that's what it's called. There's nothing that prohibits the board
from from um uh then once the meeting started to to shut down the ability to comment. >> Yeah, I did look that up too. I think it's 13D.02 other meeting law, >> right? And and I I had looked at this before um I mean because of the agenda.
Um, I do have a concern though about from the open meeting law perspective and the open meeting law you have to understand is kind of complex and and um arcane law. Um, but um members of the public do have a right to attend and observe the meetings. So locking people
out um online might be might be problematic. >> Yeah, I I went back and forth with that as well and I actually highlighted that line you just said. So, >> but but shutting down the ability for people to comment online is is um pro
permitted under the open meeting law. So, >> Commissioner Ve, >> um first of all, thank you to Chad and all your staffs. I know this is a very difficult issue and you are trying your best to try and keep that horrible stuff from appearing. Um I want to thank you for all the work that you do. Um I would
like to keep it um open access. Um, I've always been, um, when Commissioner Ward and I first started in 2002, the county was just starting to create a web page. Um, and the idea was to make it much more accessible to make information more accessible that have more eyes on it.
And I think um, to the points that Miss uh, that young lady made. Um, I I agree that our county is large. um and especially in winter time and for even people who live in town if they're working or have kids at home. I think I would like to try it with the um wait enable waiting room option and have
Heidi Heidi um who or whoever control access to >> she's been doing that the last two meetings and it seems to you know in fact the last meeting I was testing it with her at home and I couldn't get in to talk to you guys so I was on the meeting I really was I was texting Marine I don't know what's going on >> right you were trying to crash your system
>> I was um but on on your note there as far as I did speak to some other com uh counties um Olmstead County and I leave lacrosse even though they're Wisconsin. Um they do something where the
they post a link on their website that when you click the link takes them to their agenda which houses the uh the Zoom link. So I think that might be another way for a bad actor to say I'm not I'm not going to be able Yeah. my my
code might not even let me get into that. >> And it's only one click. It says to join the board meeting, click here and then they see the agenda and the live link or the Zoom link is right there. So, I think that's an extra step. I hadn't mentioned it to Marine yet. I just read up about it. Um, uh, both Homemstead and
Lacrosse do that and like I said, Houston is, uh, they're live streaming now. But, go ahead, >> Commissioner Alison. >> Well, the other one is, you know, so I I I feel as though we need to do everything we can to keep it open. I I just I like the interaction. I want to give people the opportunity to
participate. Um, you know, a couple things I was thinking is obviously I'm not going to let a few bad eggs wreck it for all the constituents. Um, I appreciate the waiting room. The other one was, you know, oftenimes to even get into some of these links, there's the, you know, click on all the bicycles. Yep.
>> You know, that type of stuff. I don't know what they call that. I'm not ask me something about phosphorus, you know, I'll tell you. >> So, >> um, you know, I just figured there had to be some additional security measures to put into place that we could try. And then if we continue to have that issue, maybe go down the other road. >> There are and you know I did enable a
passcode when so it's a unique passcode every time. At first when we started we had a generated passcode for Zoom. Now it's unique so each time the meeting's different so those bad actors aren't scan scanning the same one. >> And I know so every Monday morning I have a company meeting with all my
employees scattered in different states and Maddie sets up our Zoom links and I know we have like that double you got to click and then you got to click. Yep. And that we have that enabled on ours. >> No, but we can >> No, I'm saying we do. Okay. Yeah, it it's two steps to get in. So, and that's
supposedly supposed to eliminate >> it. Turns them off from even like trying to Yes. So, yeah, we can. That's an easy I mean I can do that today. I can make that agenda on a separate page. So, >> Commissioner >> But, >> uh, so the changes that we're talking
about, are they for the board meeting? Are they for only public meetings? Does it include planning commission? That's a great question because um I would like it if if we are going to take that off to do for planning as well. I do work with an and the planning team. So all of the security uh things that we're doing
we're also doing with her. So whatever direction you take, it's going to be locked down across the board. for anyone that posts on the website, which is usually just planning um the board meetings and maybe a couple other here and there. But >> I do think I mean I'm going to agree
that it's important and we do have people who frequently participate in board of adjustment and planning but don't have to come in. So that would be good. Um, I guess the one thing I would say is if this ends up costing us
something, which is to say I have in some organizations, you know, what let's just say the city city of Winona has a person that comes in and runs their technology specifically for every meeting and they have to pay for that. >> So that we just want to be cognizant that if that is true, >> they're [clears throat] the cost of
this, but I'd say it is probably worth it. >> Train Heidi. >> Yeah. um they yeah they would do the same things that um we're able to do um here internally but I I do get I know HBC helps them and um they just don't have the capacity either as part of it but um you know I I told Marine on
Friday I said no matter what direction you go my you know ultimately I just want to have the best security we can network Zoom wise anything so I had to at least put it out there for my peace of mind >> you also fix the deal with it requiring a commercial Zoom No.
>> Oh, >> I am consistently getting that. >> Didn't we get you one though? So, what what we were going to do is add all of you under our umbrella as a zoom. So, I think you don't want to do that. >> No, I would. [laughter] But you didn't do that. >> Okay. I thought we I thought we might
have done it. Okay. >> Planning and board of adjustment. I had to call in on my phone because I can take care of that. >> Then you can't see the presentation, right? >> Yeah, we can do that. Commissioner >> Ellson, yeah, I don't think anything here to start these additional measures should have any financial impact. No, it comes with >> it comes with it. Yeah, exactly. And
then two, if we just leave it the way it is, I don't know if we necessarily need a motion to change anything because we're not actually changing anything. You're just putting a couple additional measures in. >> I don't think we call >> commission vaguely. >> Well, I that was uh that was a question I had as well. So, this looks like an
action item, but if we don't act on it, then we do not >> change >> do not change. Correct. We're just going to put a few extra security things because I think the comment with the planning and board of adjustment and and I know um you know if if somebody's out of town here, we don't want to lock a
commissioner out of the system. >> We did lock any uh users outside of the United States. >> Okay. >> Both of them came from somewhere other than US. >> Okay. So, you can tweak this without us really >> Yep. And I already have for the most part, but yeah, we'll stay on top of it.
everybody comfortable with >> unless the staff wants us to make a clear vote. I mean, is it is it >> No, it's not necessary. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Appreciate your time. Thank you, Chad. >> And of course, you know, Zoom bombing, you know, isn't that part of free speech in this country? I mean, I think you're
treading on an area that, you know, a higher court may weigh in at some point in time, but um let's hopefully we can avoid it. Okay. Uh thank you, Chad. Thank you. Um 7.4 Four, approve resolution setting preliminary levy page
139. >> Who wants to Commissioner Begley? >> Unless Miss Holy, you have anything? >> No. >> Um, I'll make a motion to set the initial levy at 12.49% with the hope that we'll be able to reduce it by the time December comes.
>> I will second that motion, but also Commissioner Vegley's comments. I know that we are in negotiation with our insurance provider hoping to reduce that a couple more points. Um so I it's a lot. So I'm hoping that we can bring it down.
>> Well, I think this is one of those things we can agree to disagree. Um I hope everybody's been getting the calls and the emails that I have um about that percentage increase. Of course, thank you Winona Post for highlighting that to the the public which they rightfully
know need to know and as I I have said is that you know we get to send out the statement and so ours is on there, the school board's on there, the city or township is on there and when you get to the bottom line I I I feel for people. It's it's going to be um a not a a good
year but that's where um it just uh I understand some of the stuff but I don't like it. Uh, I have had some conversations with uh the legislators that they they've got to, as I said with, uh, attorney Sonamon, we I hate to say it, um, for better or worse, we
need, in my opinion, we need at the state level an Elon Musk type of person to come in and look at these programs. You know, we're asking even locally here, we're asking department heads to think where can they cut, where can they do things different, which I greatly appreciate. But you know if you've been
working in that field all your life and everything it's very difficult to to see outside the realm of what you've been doing. I think at the state level I would like to see somebody look at some of these programs that is purely you know arbitrary that can analyze use these you know we use these performance
measures we just approved them here you know we have to plow the snow and roads in so many minutes and and response time use those performance metrics to really look at what we're doing as the state of Minnesota because we all like I said earlier we all have to counties all have
to do the same job we choose and and have we have little choice of how we do it differently, but um we need more choice of how to do things differently. So, I'm going to plead to the legislature, hey, you need to do this at the bigger level. Each little county can't doesn't have the resources or the
the time and such to analyze what we're doing and how we can change things. Commissioner Meyer, >> I I agree with you, Marca. Um I mean, if you look at our budget from the packet last time, our health and human services budget is something like 22 million. 8
million of that is not reimbursed by the state or the federal government. >> We know that the SNAP cuts are going to increase that almost another million. So there is a task force that's supposed to find cuts in HHS and if they don't the legislaturator is going to transfer
another 151 million to counties. So we um I've heard it said, "Oh, counties need to have skin in the game." Well, they're not acknowledging that we do have skin in >> and that we're doing this work on behalf of the state of Minnesota, but not getting reimbured for it and these changes come back and fall on the
property tax >> and and I appreciate them doing that task force, but the task force is mostly HHS people and and social workers and stuff like that. And I and I do appreciate that they're trying, but I think they really need a neutral party to come in and say, "Hey, this is, you
know, this is not working or this is working." And yeah, so I think that would be one of our pleas. Um, any other comments on setting the preliminary living? Commissioner, >> I look at the egg sector and I look at what I do every day
and there's really besides beef is not a good sector in the a industry right now. >> Um, in fact, they're facing some major major issues. And I would say the majority of the calls I had after the last meeting have been from the a sector
and the elderly the fixed excuse me fixed income people even out of my district which is kind of crazy. Um and I'm sure that that's in response to the to the post. Where I'm going with this is that you
know I take a I take any business my my business and a business it doesn't make a difference. We don't have the option to stick our hand out and fill it. We have to find efficiencies. And Mr. Ward, you alluded to the word cut. And cut is a scary thing because it means that
something has to be removed. The reality of it is is that I don't think anybody has a perfect government, business, farm, pick something. Right? So I like to use the word inefficiencies. We have to find the inefficiencies. And
that's what we pay big money for for people in all these sectors to do is to find the inefficiencies. That's what a CEO does. That's what a business owner does is they go out and find those areas and say there's waste there or we're getting taken advantage of. It's the 5%
escalator. It's it's things like that that we pay people big money to do. the experience that they have and what rock to kick over and and and what to do. That's what these department heads, that's what, you know, my business development manager, that's what people
in business do. And we don't have the option to say, "Well, we're just going to take it from you because we didn't go kick this rock over." And that's not I'm not putting anybody under the bus. But that's what we're asking from our constituents.
We're asking them to take the burden of us not looking for more inefficiencies. So I hardly doubt that we're running a perfect government system at a county level. I don't think we ever will and I don't think we ever have. But we need to
continue to strive down that road because the one thing I haven't seen put in front of me is I've seen ways to reduce the ask, but I haven't seen anything put in front of me to reduce what was. And that's the key because we can reduce
an ask. That's easy. But it's going back and looking at what was and saying here are the areas we found inefficiencies to determine, hey, not only can we reduce that ask, but we can reduce what was. We've found things over time that saved
us money and present them to say this is going to offset this. And so that to me is what we pay top level people to do and our department heads, administrators, what I would pay somebody to run my business, what I see farmers having to do. I'm in the a
sector when I have to increase somebody's rent on my rentals and they say, "Why?" And I say, "I'm sorry you're on a limited income, but my expenses have gone up. I'm sorry. You're going to have to figure out how to go make more money." That's the stuff that I want to see
coming to the county is finding these inefficiencies. I don't want to call them cuts. I want to call them inefficiencies. And if we have to cut something, we do it based on necessity. This is more important than that. Um, and go that route. So, I believe that there's room to do this. I don't want to
set the bar this high. I think we can find some of those inefficiencies. Um, I trust our department heads and leaders to go after him and I'd be very intrigued for some of that information to not what's being cut today, what's being proposed, but what we already have
to find those inefficiencies. So, that's my thoughts. >> Commissioner, just one last story that I wanted to share and I've shared it with this board before. um particularly for people who are seniors who are on fixed incomes or who have low incomes and
property tax increases. There is a property tax refund program in the state of Minnesota. I have a a constituent of mine who actually has not did not realize this is on a fixed income. All he has is a social security. He went to
the senior advocacy center. They helped him fill out several years and he is getting the back property tax refund for a number of years that he didn't collect. It's enough that it has cons helped him uh meet an increase in his um
his he has a mortgage and so he has an escro payment that he has to make every month. So >> I would encourage the other commissioners to share that information with constituents when they call particularly when they are low income or retired folks on a fixed income. >> Yep. And I know Chelsea Wilbrite has
been a a asset in trying to communicate that, but you're right. It's on the back side of your tax statement. I think there is a a section about that. If it goes up X percent or dollar, there's a dollar, I think. Yes. >> And that is exactly what that is for,
for people who are at risk because their property tax went up. And and as great as that is, and you know, everybody gets the pamphlet and stuff for that, the the the problem with it is is that it doesn't alleviate the burden. And I'm very happy that people on fixed incomes
can do that, but it passes it on to everybody else. It doesn't actually solve the problem of government spending. So it doesn't solve the problem of finding the inefficiencies. It's just passing the burden on and spreading it out amongst everybody else. So, as much as I am for that, it doesn't
fix the root cause of the inefficiency. So, I I've suggested that to several people, too. I just received a call from somebody in your district ask actually. >> So, the again I go back and say these are great programs to have, but we need
to stay focused on the true issue which is efficiency of government. So, >> well, and there's another phase of this is is our assessing or or the market value. And I know that's staterun. I mean, our market values continually
continually jump and jump and jump. And so, even if we didn't change, you'd pay more taxes because your value went up. And I'm not sure if that's the best system. Of course, that's a state system that we need to look at and and evaluate more. But um yeah, I mean it's it's uh
of course people are paying big bucks for houses, but just because they're paying big bucks doesn't mean I should be paying big bucks if I'm not moving and such. It's a it's a not an efficient system. I don't think I think there's a lot of inefficiency. >> Yes. >> Make one more comment.
>> And I've said this multiple times and I say this because I live in these areas. We have to protect what attracts people to Winona County. I want to be number one, not number four. I want to be the bestrun county in the state, not number
four. I'm not even happy with number four. And so, at the end of the day, one of the greatest things that we have is why we see the mushroom effect out of our neighboring economy and why people are coming here and not choosing other communities in those counties. And
everything we do should protect probably our most valuable asset which is our cost of living right now in Winona County. And my my own sister lives in Alura. Why does she live in Alura? The cost of living. She will not move to St. Charles lives there. She said it's just so much cheaper to live in Alura. Now
that's just inner county. And so we have to protect that and we can't forget that. Thank you, >> Commissioner Vegley. >> Okay, I have to say some things. Um the primary driver of this is not government inefficiency. Uh there are always efficiencies. I am proud to be in a
county that is out of 87 in Minnesota is the fourth lowest per per capita. There's always room for imper improvement for sure. I'm grateful for what the committee the county administrator and other department heads have been doing. The primary drivers is the cost of health insurance increase
30% for two years in a row. That is insane. >> It's health insurance that's it's it hits hitting the private sector and it's hitting the public sector. That's what's sucking up all of our funds. Um, and then tax cuts for billionaires, plain and simple, political payback at the
federal level, which gets passed down to the state level, and the state level passes it down to the the county level. Um, and there's also other factors, drivers, um, cost of living adjustments, but we need to offer our staff um, competitive wages because private sector, public sector faces labor
shortages, workforce shortages all over the place. So I just want to let all these comments go without another perspective added. >> Commissioner, >> yeah I there's definitely there's no doubt that there's increase in cost and I'll bring it back to the egg industry.
Fertilizer is at an extreme high and the out the input is high and the output is very low what they're getting paid but we can't just go anywhere and take money from somebody. You find the inefficiencies to pray pay for the offset. That's it. We can't just keep go
taking it and ignoring the fact that we there's efficiencies in farming that we can gain too. I use it because that's what I'm experienced with. So the number one task I'm taxed with is figure out how to make my fertilizer budget more efficient. >> Not change the grain price, not worry
about what costs are, not worry about those because we have no control over that. So it's find it within the system itself. Yes, we acknowledge that these things come up, but the difference in government is that we can legally take it. In every other sector, we can't. We have to find the efficiencies and figure
out how to generate more revenue. And so, if we can run a system that's more like that, we can save our constituents money. That's all I'm asking. >> Miss Wilbury, thank you. Morning. >> Good morning. Um, I tried to get on raise my hand. I couldn't find the button, but so I I ran in here.
>> All the bicycles. >> Yeah. I I couldn't get on via Zoom, but I just wanted to correct because your value goes up does not mean your tax goes up unless the levy also does. So, I just wanted to clarify that cuz
>> I'll get a lot of calls wondering or or the assessor's office will get a lot of calls about >> pie. >> Yeah, it's a pie. >> It always like a pie. >> Yep. Yep. So, if everybody's values go up and the levy doesn't, then your taxes aren't going to go up because of that. So, but that's all
>> it's kind of relationship and it it's odd that the insurance industry doesn't think my house is worth as much as the county does. >> Um, you know, >> so there's some interacting, you know, figures that uh circulate and yeah, hit
home. >> Well, that that and that's probably an assessor thing to think of. I just >> Yeah. >> bought a home, too, and it's right. >> Yeah. >> They're a couple years behind >> point. There were years in the past where we we set the levy at 1% etc. But
people's val the type still went up four, five, six percent and that is because of the value um assessment of their properties. Their properties >> they get to share more of the pie. >> Yeah. If they if their property went up not consistent with everybody else at a higher rate than everybody else and
their piece of the pie is bigger. Yep. >> Because that that has happened many times. >> Yes. Yeah. Yeah. It's it's >> it is also worth noting that also we add to our property values from new construction. >> Yeah. >> Every year which makes the pie in fact bigger which reduces
>> everybody. It's supposed to I just never quite see that. I'm going to watch my new Hartford Township because I got a bunch of new houses. So there on a small scale it should my you know in theory my taxes should go down if there's more houses in my township >> unless the levies go up considerably.
That's good logic. Yes. the cost of gravel and >> well sometimes those new houses will bump up your >> Yeah. Yes. >> Yes. Yes. >> Expensive neighborhood. >> Yes, I do. I can't see. >> I wasn't taking away. Efficiency is definitely the way to keep our taxes low, but I just wanted to correct that.
Okay. Thank you. >> Appreciate >> appreciate the long drive in and thanks participating. >> Okay. All right. We have a motion to set the preliminary levy at the 12 >> 49 >> 49. Yeah. Percent. Any other discussion?
All those in favor say I. >> Oppos? Nay. Nay. >> Motion carries. And then we're um communications and committee reports. Uh Miss Sonamon, you had a comment. >> Yeah, exactly. Just to note, today uh in
my office um Merily Berto who's um a legal assistant, today is her the her 50th year of being a county employee. >> Wow. She started September 9th, uh, 1975. And, um, so we're honoring her
throughout the week if you want to stop by any time to greet her. She won't be here this afternoon, but, um, and I just also, so for the record, being an attorney, I want the record to reflect that Maril Bartos has served this county um, honorably for 50 years, which is
amazing. Um, and also to thank the board for um, signing the uh, certificate which I've framed and put by her desk for her to see today. So, um, and thank the staff too that helped get that certificate put together so you could
sign it. So, so um, just it's important to honor our employees, I think. So, >> thank you. >> Okay. Uh, Commissioner Vagley. >> Um, two things. Uh tonight there is no tomorrow night I apologize at Stockton. Yeah open house for the comp plan 5 to 8
people are welcome to come by. >> Um it's you don't have to be there for all three hours. There'll be presentations at three three different times. So um the public is very welcome to come and hear um information and also provide input. Um and then I also want to thank Senator Jerry Miller um Jeremy
Miller uh for his announcement. Um I don't want to thank him for his announcement. I want to thank him for service >> um because that was a surprise to me. I want to thank him for his what will will have been 16 years of service. It's it's been nice to have a moderate voice um in
whereas some both sides tend to be being pulled to the extremes. Senator Miller has been a nice voice of reason and moderation in the middle. So I want to thank Senator Jeremy Miller for what will have been 16 years of service. And I get it. With three young kids, three young boys, it's not easy doing what
he's been doing for a long time. So that's it. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh Commissioner Elling, >> uh couple things. Um one is uh state fair. I just going to bring that up. Uh excess success. We were up there another packed house. It was good to see good to
see that so many attend that and uh just you know all the 4 stuff that's up there. It's neat to see all the animals and projects. Um the other one I wanted to bring mention to was uh we are getting into uh harvest season. So we're going to start probably chop chopping corn silage here. Some have already
started. There going to be a lot of trucks and tractors going up and down on our own. So just encourage everybody to be safe. Uh take take the time. Um I know we can get in a hurry. I'm guilty of it. And uh so just just uh be accountable for that and um watch out for our farmers. Last one I wanted to
bring up was uh I received Did anybody receive an email from uh uh chief of police Jose Place from St. Charles? >> Um about what >> uh it was about the records management system. >> Oh, >> the RMS. No. >> Okay. I just wanted to bring that up. he
has some concerns with uh really the efficiency that's going on there and it's it's a it's a it's a very well-ritten um document here email and it was the it deals with the transition from the RMS system from a previous
system and just some of the issues that they're having and I'll I'll I'll share it with you >> and but I'd like somebody to dig into this >> yes >> okay if could forward that. >> I'm going to forward that to you. Um I
just received this last Thursday, so I decided to wait until the meeting here to see if anybody else had it. Um but you know, he's he has some genuine concerns with some of the lack of uh transparency and things like that. So like you take a look at that. I wanted to bring it up officially at the meeting, so he did know it was being
mentioned and if any other because that's shared with Lewon and Winona, I think, and a few others. So if anybody else have any other concerns, so I'll forward that over to you. Um that's all I have. Hey, Commissioner Meyer. >> Um, I wanted to, um, make an
announcement about the Braver Angels events. Um, I have some brochures from Braver Angels. If you are interested in knowing more about them, they are an organization, a nonprofit organization. I attended MCIT, uh, used them to do some training a
couple years ago, um, how to have difficult conversations with your constituents. I thought it was a a fabulous event. They really work on helping folks with different political views and ideologies to have civil conversations and understand one another better. And I have found some of their
insights pretty helpful to me. Um they are going to be partnering with the center of civics at Winona State and they're doing a series of events for the whole day. The pastors are gathering in the morning. They're speaking to the president's cabinet. They're doing
events for the faculty, for the students. And then they're doing two events for the community. So I think we all got an email from Alyssa Aladi, but if you didn't or you want, I have a flyer. Um Pne, I don't know that you would have gotten one, but I I've asked
the sheriff to come. I I've asked Marine to come. Um we passed that around. it uh there is a lunchon that is for elected local elected officials and community leaders uh to help us sort of have a conversation about uh understanding one another better and then there's an event
in the evening and oh Marshall do you want >> yeah I don't remember seeing this much of a detailed >> there's more in there I think um and there's an event in the evening which was for um the community and I have uh they hope to gather people who have uh
they call them blues and reds and they really do need people of both kind of political ideologies in order for us to have a successful uh conversation and understand one another. So I would encourage um folks in the community to come and then I hope that the county board can make a good show.
>> And Commissioner Meyer, what's the date? Uh Thursday >> 25th of September and the luncheon is at 11:30 to 1 and it's at Minnesota State Southeast. The evening event is at Krisco Commons and um 6:30 to 8. So we
get if we go at the lunchtime, we get lunch. But um I think there'll be some snacks for the evening. Okay. >> Sorry. Any that covers it? Thank you. Um let's see. Uh couple things. Yeah, the comp plan uh tomorrow night in Stockton. Uh yes, the regretful news from Senator
Miller. He served us well and um but totally understand. um something we've touched on. So maybe a potential board action. I've had several with the news of the 12 and plus percent increase. I've had several people reach out to me and and ask me to reconsider and again
with the loss of staff, Chuck leaving, it was none of our doing, but you know, we don't have a finance is um to to create that citizen advisory finance committee. And I don't know if I have a second on that and and um >> I'll second it. >> Okay. So that would go for next time.
Thank you. Uh oh, and um we got a lot of bike rides coming up and I I was notified. So we got the uh ride and you talk about traffic on the roads with the farm equipment. So we're going to have a lot of bicycles Saturday, September 20th. Um not this weekend, next weekend.
We have the Ride the Ridges, which is kind of a Winona based thing, but they come out into my neighborhood down into downtown Nine and everything. And there's another uh it's called the it's a national gravel. I I know little about it because they didn't contact me. They've I have been in contact with the
sheriff's office in the highway uh gravel road race uh based out of Lac Crescent and they're going to be overlapping some of the same roads. Hopefully, we won't have we don't have traffic lights and we don't have roundabouts up there. So, they should be okay. But just so everybody's aware, we're going to have a lot of bicyclists
in the area, especially um that uh the souththeast part of the county on Saturday, September 20th, and to be aware of them and uh you know, just slow down and and let them share the road um because it's it's not usual to see a lot
of bicyclists out on the rural uh roads. So, it is something to be aware of. Okay. Uh anything else to come before the Winona County Board? Entertain a motion. So move. >> I'll second that. >> We have a motion by Commissioner Elling Comm and second by Commissioner Vegley
to adjurnn. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. >> Those nay. Ajourn. Can we take like a five minute break, please? Thank you. >> 10.1 discuss potential presentation from Southeast Minnesota nitrate strategies
collaboration workg group and commissioner meer. So I passed around their report last time. Y >> at this meeting I want to know if three of at least three of us would be interested inviting them to come give a presentation about what their findings
were and um I think probably we could ask if specifically like the folks who were from Winona County maybe Glenn Growth and um >> Dr. city clerk >> um >> Rita >> Rita Young maybe would like to So yeah
that's the question today are three at least three of you interested in asking them to come give us a short presentation >> sure yeah >> okay >> but timing wise >> maybe after we get some of this budget work done I mean to give them to give them our full attention you know not
cram it in when you know it doesn't need to be tomorrow I mean when we have opportunity and time to >> to think about it okay all right that's it Okay. Um that takes care of that. Then uh working session 11.1 discuss
compensation philosophy, performance management and direction of the organization. Page 142. And it looks like he's been doing some homework. Thank you. >> Hello. >> Good morning. >> How's it going? >> Good.
>> Wow. That podium little side table. >> Isn't that nice? >> Yeah, it is. cut. >> So I do have a a PowerPoint that >> difference in the one in the packet. Okay, then I got I got it in bigger
>> take notes. >> Y >> thank you >> again. Thank you for the time. So looking at you know I've been there four months now looking at some things that I recommend as far as a comp philosophy
heard some of the commission members very well very clearly uh that looking that performance is one of the priorities in the board. So starting with I think you can
philosophy is what we'll talk about today and then also performance management performance management gets into a paper performance and truly we have been communities I'm going to say from experience was successful one time many years ago
when I was a county administrator HR director for Jasper County Iowa was able to get it through 61 care facility budget reasons we looking at a million dollar increase and closed our care facility so I didn't get to implement
union >> um so and then pay performance is a future discussion I think we need to set the parameters first what the comp philosophy looks like I think the board might have been through this back in the 90s I think um similar >> discuss >> similar discussion on the comp
philosophy >> and Another thing I want to look at is what is the comp philosophy if you can I usually do it myself. I apologize. Uh effectively implement compensation and I heard the board a couple of
sessions ago was saying is our comp still correct looking at the seven surrounding the seven counties that we have. Part of that is looking is we need to look at other comparable uh consistence performance management is
is important. Right now we have UKG and that in that system we have the capability of putting a performance management system in there. We've been inconsistent by that is we meet with our employees but it's not a standardized process.
looking at measurables, looking at the effectiveness of that. >> And then um transparency and fairness is is important and like we talked about earlier today about the transparency uh to our constituents out there, seeing what we're doing as an organization in
alignment with Mona County values and guiding principles is important. And then sustainability as we look at it. I don't you know you look at the the future economist and our taxes and and the constituents are very concerned about the taxes keep going up. We need
to look at sustainability. We can't continue to have some of the levy increases that that we have. Two slides. Um again alignment with our goals county goals and and strategic goals. as I've been talking to our leadership um about
the importance of our we set a goal for our county. We set a value and mission statement. That's important and we do it one for a reason is our is our guiding principles. Performance management again is important. Um as we look at that and
as we look at reporting to the to the board, the commission on how our employees are performing, are we meeting our constituents needs? Are we meeting the commission's needs? So that's important. Market competit compatibility
and fiscally responsible. And one thing looking at being fiscally responsible is one making sure our perform employees are performing uh to the standards that we would like. Um also looking at the market, making sure we're not above the market. We're
at the we want to stay at the mid-range of the market. >> I can I ask a question? So here we're saying market and you mentioned our neighboring counties and maybe uh cities and such which I appreciate but then
when when we uh go to doing these comparisons you use those counties that are comparable. So is there a big distinction between those figures? You know when you do the well we'll have it coming up the the elected officials. you you pull out
those counties and you use those counties for and and again I I question why we use those counties versus the neighborhood. Of course, the neighborhood we know includes Olmstead Rochester and then that probably may throws us all off. But
>> yeah, so part of it is I mean we have 10 bargaining agreements or you know as far as looking like interest arbitration and I'm assuming that's how when we establish some of the counties is looking at what's comparable because if we go to arbitration, you know, can we compare oursel to Mstead County
population 150,000? >> No. >> No. And that's a neighboring county. that's one of our adjoining counties. So that's what you got to look at as our population, tax base, demographics and those type of things um as part of that comparable and the seven we're using
maybe that's changed over the the years as to the comparability to our county, but we are using those currently. I think the um um election commission, is that what we call? I'm sorry. Uh the commission that looks at the pay for elected officials, I'm assuming they're
using the same counties uh that you mentioned. Uh actually what we do is we use the same counties but it's just based on um I'm going to back up just a little bit. Um we again many years ago the board looked at
what counties are comparable by 10% above and below. I wasn't >> 10% population >> population. I'm sorry. I'm not saying that that was an exact science but that is the direction that was established. Um, but this is exactly why we really
should revisit is what should our comparables be today. >> Yeah. >> Okay. We haven't done that for many many years. >> Sure. And none of us are at the table. You were probably the only one in the system, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Probably. Um,
>> except Mary Lee Barrentos, >> right? Um, but how we did come up with the comparables is to look at if we're going to go to arbitration to compare it to what the arbitrators are going to use.
>> And that's how we came up with those entities. Again, I'm not saying it's 100% right, >> but it's what they use, >> the methodology they use. Yeah. So going back to that, so that methodology would be
negotiated with 10 unions. >> We we did at the time it was seven unions, >> but how long has that been? And as you said, it might need to be revisited, but do you have to negotiate revisiting it? >> Uh because an arbitrator is going to
say, "Why did you change it?" >> Technically, no. We just have to have a basis, a reason for why we changed. And if we want it to go smoothly, we're going to work with the collective bargaining groups about why. I mean, yeah, sure. We need to have logic. Commissioner,
>> is it still true that when we have gone into arbitration that they use those exact counties or did they pick different ones? >> Once in a while they have selected some other ones. Um, but for the most part, those are >> Yeah. >> And they don't do that because they're
the ones that we use. They do that because they have their own criteria. >> Correct. >> Okay. But now these wage studies, have we done a that's something that haunts everybody. Um, and I know I've had a couple counties do those and they really have thrown the loop.
>> Yeah, that's one thing I'm recom going to recommend. Um, Heidi, if you could go like three slides. It's the mission alignment with the mission statement. The next one. Thank you. So, one thing that I'm going to recommend to is a is a comp study.
And you know I did it at West De Moine. Um we did it at the state. And one thing is that the last one was either 99 or 2000. Looks like there might have been one in 2009. You know general standards are recommended every 3 to 5 years. I'm not
recommending that today. But one thing I I am going to you know is going to be the recommendation. we can't make any decisions today as a comp study because one thing over the years we've sent it to hay the the onesie positions and we
can get out of line with that. The other thing that a that a compensation study would do is they would look at our what we're looking at now for our comparables and they would look at that market analysis to determine is this the the best fit for our county uh to utilize
these comparables or other comparables >> and they don't come cheap, >> you know, and I did out that we did survey um and the lowest would have been in it's $43,000. >> Oh, not as bad as I thought. Uh, and it'd be over two years. And then the
other one was 70,000. 75,000 was one of the um, can I say who they are? Uh, Cornferry was 75,000 minimal cost. Uh, David Don Don was 55,000 and the McGrath was 41,750.
And I can tell you from my experience, I'm not in any way, but I use them in West De Moine. And I can tell you that they both it's it's a privately ran company. And she was a city administrator for years and then started this company. >> What was the name of the last? >> McGrath. >> McGrath. >> Yeah.
>> But we're we're not at that point yet. >> We're not at that point. No. And it'll be it'll be over two budget years. So, um, >> could we get Could we negotiate the union pays half? >> No, probably not. No, probably. I'm not. I've not had the union ever agree to
that, but >> if you don't ask, >> yeah, >> if you don't ask, you >> put it on the table. Okay. >> Um, but again, the comp philosophy fits into the mission and vision of our organization. One is that alignment with the mark
conditions and that's under 471.993. competent decisions must be made um internal alignment, external competitiveness and proportion differences across job levels and responsibilities. So again, that's why I'm at the recommendation of doing a comp study is making sure that we are
aligned. Um and then of course Minnesota statute again u required counties are required to establish equitable compensation relationships across jobs classifications eliminate sex gender based wages um having a formal job evaluation system as part of the
evaluation or statute and results must be shared with employees representatives um in the collective bargaining. So that's where, you know, it's not really an agreement, but it's the discussion that here's the comparables because the county can use different or sorry, the uh unions could use different um
comparables, but they have to be able to explain those as well. And and and you know, I I've seen it over the years where, for example, West De Moine, they may have used um a county in in um Illinois that was a very, you know, like Neapville,
very expensive, kind of affluent community, and it wasn't comparing apples to apples. So you get to be able to compare. >> Sure. >> Um, so >> in a I apologize in a comp study for like us, would they compare us to like the city employees? >> No.
>> Or it's county to county? >> It's county to county. Yeah. Yeah. >> The only thing is that, you know, sometimes with a comp study, they'll look at if you're losing employees to a city, uh, then they may pull that in to see what's going on. Is it the pay? Is it the benefits? But you know at arbitration I would argue it's not
comparable because it's a city versus a county. >> Okay. >> And the comp philosophy one is to retain skilled motivated employees. Um you know the markets become very competitive. Um and sometimes what you see now is that
employees use like coming here to to um look for a job. They use that to gain more higher pay for their current job where they're currently at. But we got to look at retaining our skilled, motivated employees, strengthen counties knowledge and abilities and that gets into the the comp philosophy with the
performance evaluations etc. Foster culture of continuous improvement. Um what I heard earlier is we always got to look at how we can improve prepare leadership for transition and then deliver higher quality forward-looking services is what I see in a comp
philosophy. And then again, uh, fiscally sustainability. When we develop a comp philosophy, that's why a lot of times I recommend doing a three to five year study on the comp study. Make sure you're not out of whack, um, as far as your pay plan, but also making sure um,
that you know, you're being fiscally responsible, mindful. Heidi, if you could go two slides, one more. >> It's a little bit more. >> One more. Nope, another one. Sorry, I lost track.
I wasn't watching the screen. I'm looking at my own. Um, workforce stability and retention. Like I said, community impact, public trust, and again, if the public sees that we're being mindful and one, evaluating employees. Two, they're
always looking at the market. Um, and then also develop a culture of continuous improvement and long-term return on investment. um our invest our employees that was stated earlier is the number one investment. It's one of our highest part of our budget and we got to
make sure that um we're we're being mindful of that piece of our budget. >> And the other thing I was going to bring up, I'll find my draft that I put together. Let's put another folder. But one thing is it's looking at a total reward system. And it's more than the
wages. Wages are important, but it's also, you know, our work life balance, um, our benefits, sickly, vacation, all of that is a is a total rewards, um, healthy initiatives. So, it's it's an all-encompassing that you put into a a
philosophy. For instance, Scott County describes its philosophy as offering six categories: investment, physical health, belonging, physical security, work life balance, training, and emotional health. for example, that's what Scott County put together as part of their comp philosophy.
You can move two slides, Heidi. One more. So, like we stated, we have 10 bargaining units um and collective bargaining and a merit-based um adjustments and you know looking at performance
evaluations and the language in our contract doesn't prohibit evaluations but it would have to be negotiated if we did a pay for performance. um you know in other sectors what I've done in Iowa law is different very
different but you know we did if somebody wasn't performing we withheld their their their step increase somewhat of a pay for performance um and then like I said most counties uh most county positions are unionized I
think we have only 14 that aren't uh compensation philosophy is implemented through the collective bargaining um agreements which may include general salary increases, step progression, merit-based performance increases. So that's you know that's again getting
to a paid performance even like what you said the directors they do they are an association it would have to be bargained but um so it's a key driver of the organization's performance and community impact. If you can move Heidi one slide and ensures we reward the talent,
commitment, innovation needed to deliver meaningful outcomes today and for the generations to come. So like I said, one thing I'm I'm asking that we consider is is a comp comp study. Um and these generally take seven to
nine months. That's why it's over two budget terms. Um and then also you know that we really need to look at structuring our performance evaluation process where you know managers are required to do performance evaluations
are required to have core competencies that an employee is rated on and that communication is consistent with those employees. Um you know I've done um um employee engagement surveys in different places large organizations small organizations and the number one key
thing that came out of that is the feedback and knowing how I'm doing it as an employee. Employees want to know so it's important that we have a a stringent um performance management process. Um so why performance philos excuse me
performance management why a compensation philosophy management? It helps allocate resources based on data, not guesswork. Um, ensures policies and investments are aligned with real outcomes. Offers evidence to justify budget, grants, or legislative changes. Builds public trust
by showing taxpayers how the money is spent and achieve and what we're achieving through the evaluation of our employees. Um, if you can go two slides, one more. Thank you.
um drives better outcomes uh for residents, enables departments to identify what's working to and and fix what's not. Uh it focuses on results, not just activities or outputs, helps prioritize programs that deliver the most impact to the community. Link daily
operations to long-term goals. Everything that we're doing should as a county should be associated with our long-term mission, vision, and and core values. Whether it's getting grants or any projects that we're working on, it should be budget based based on our
philosophy. Encourage collaboration across departments for shared priorities. And again, what I found with this is sometimes you have two employees doing the same thing in different departments or similar things. Why are we doing that as an efficiency? Why isn't one person in in reallocating them? Keep the county focused on
missiondriven outcomes and then identify under un under un under un under un under un under un under un under un under un under un under unperforming programs are typically services. Encourage evidence-based budget and process improvement saves times and money by limiting inefficiencies. Um if you can go to the next slide.
So again working effectively and efficiently efficiently. I'm sorry I'm trying to be cognitive of time. So uh includes setting clear expectations, providing regular feedback, eviding performance and developing skills to improve services. And this again it just highlights the
next slide Heidi just highlights again why I think it's important um that we look at this um that we can set clear expectations and defy performance gaps training needs transparent communication expectations across the department
coming from our commissioners to our employees better return on investment and personnel so the other thing that I've just kind of some highlights here two slides um one is a countybased competencies and that's
just what our the next one uh the form looks like. It's in UKG. There's no cost to it. It's a it's part of the the HRS product we bought out of UKG. Um we don't have to recreate, but we put the competencies in there that we want all employees to have and then that' be
specific to their department. Managers will be responsible for smart goals. And again, it's specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, timely goals, measuring those goals um to get the outcomes that we want as a county.
Give me one second. I'll find my draft recommendation. You want this? Do you have one in the packet? >> Yeah, that's it. >> Do you want to look at that one? >> So, I did put together, it was in the
packet, a draft um comp philosophy to consider. And >> I think it might be on page 167. Is that the one Marine? >> Yeah, I gave them my So I also went
through and um drafted specific just a specific and again this is up to the commission but um different from the packet is I reworked the lights that I put together and put a specific trap of
sanction velocity other legal consider. >> So this is different than what was in the P. >> Only thing that's different is it's just the first part of it is and maybe I shouldn't be handing it out but I just wanted to rather than the board having to recreate
I put my highlights together for a specific excuse me philosophy. So it's all there. It's just composed into a paragraph. What's the ask today? Are we just thinking just thinking about how >> consider I would like to put on the next
agenda um you know for discussion the compensation um >> study? >> Yeah, Mr. Mayor. >> Yeah. Um, we had have had numerous discussions about activity based budgeting and we were going to start with planning and environmental services. Is it even
though Chuck abandoned us, are we still going to be moving forward with that initiative? >> We still are. >> Okay, great. because I see that fitting in with many of the things that you're saying in terms of knowing these are the main activities of this particular department and then our ability to know
that the employees are focused on the ones that the board sets as priorities. So I >> I think that's great. I think that would be a great direction to go and it would provide more transparency >> here. Go ahead. This is a tough one. How to because what
motivates people is different. And I've been working for other companies, my own companies, trying to figure out a way how to make it happen. I go back to Jerry Maguire.
Remember that movie? >> Yeah. >> Show me the money. >> Show me the money. Right. It comes down to in every aspect when you put a system into play on anything that has to revolve around
money is this phrase, how do we monetize it? Because if you can't monetize it when dealing with money, you almost can't reward it. And because outside of that, all you're
doing is redefining the role of what somebody should already be doing and then you begin to pay a bonus on something that or a reward system on something that they already are doing. And I've seen that happen where we take a particular person's role and we say,
"Well, if you follow these measures, we'll give you a bonus." Well, that's already def definitive in their job description of what they're supposed to do. So it's one of the issues when it comes to pay for performance, bonus systems, comprehensive payback plans, whatever it is, right? So one of the few
things that I've learned is starting things with minimal impact. For example, we can we implement it in any area that we don't have to worry about any push back from, you know, our our unions or something like that. um
almost as like a trial type scenario when we look at pay for performance when we look at setting these standards in which to follow. The other the other thing that I would really want to focus on is the monetization aspect of it. In other words, the re you know the reduction
bonuses the the hey we've set a the budget is set here. You came in under this budget. There's I'm just using an example. You came in under this budget. Hey, that group of staff gets a percentage of that. You know, things like that. Getting creative as to we can
have the one through five sixes here. Um, but as we move forward with this and we start looking at getting down this chart to the pay for performance future and how we set up the compensation philosophy and performance management is all leading up to the pay for
performance aspect. And I think if we start with a vision of what are we trying to achieve as the end goal that will set the and define that. So for example I'm working on that right now in what I do. So does that make sense? >> Can I respond?
>> Yeah. So I mean one thing in public sector we can't we can't get bonuses. >> Um so it is it is the pay. Um, and what a what I'm recommending on a performance evaluation process is not we can't get bonuses, but if an employee is not
performing, then we look at do they get the step increase. >> Yeah. Um, and again, you said was loose laid based on my top of the steps and I don't want more steps. I >> Yeah, >> I I understand that. But again, if they're at the top of the the steps and
they're not performing, which can happen for who knows what reason, then what then what's the alternative to? >> We should be addressing the performance through the other measures that we have as far as corrective action. And again, I'm not up here advocating that we discipline everybody, but and if
somebody's not performing, we need to know that, right? And that's where the documentation from the evaluation system comes in. Cuz if we don't start there, we don't I mean it's not fair to the employee or the manager as to that conversation. You're not performing. Well, this is news to me. You never told
me that before, >> right? And that's Yeah. >> M >> I I Mr. Elsing, I I feel a need to sort of express an alternate point of view. Um because while the financial part is
important, I think that it is wrong um to communicate to our staff that the only thing we care about is lower taxes and spending less money because we are a government sector and we provide services.
So, I thought about how like what I would want our employees to have as a goal when they're meeting people at the counter. And so, let's say that an individual no longer qualifies for SNAP because their age has changed, but they're having trouble feeding
themselves and they are talking to one of our social workers. I want that social worker not to tell them to go away because I don't have a program from the state that can help you. I want them to provide them with a list of all the food shelves in town and other ways that
they could supplement um their food supply. So sometimes I want our staff to provide a service even if it isn't a direct thing that we will get reimbursed for by the state of Minnesota because overall we are responsible for the
health and welfare of our residents and our job is human services. In the same way, if somebody came to the planning and environmental services counter and they're wanting to get a conditional use permit or some kind of other permits and
our staff, I want our staff to have spent the time to fully understand our zoning ordinance and all of the complexities of state and federal and local uh ordinances around whatever the
request is. and then to take the time to give them guidance if they feel like, well, you know, there's a couple things about what you've said about your site plan that are going to conflict with this or this and require maybe you have to come in front of the board of
adjustment, but if you were to do such and so and consider not moving, you know, moving the house this way or that way, I want our staff to feel like they can take the time to provide the services for our residents.
And honestly, in when I look at the services that I get from government, I I want Chelsea's staff to have time to talk to me about a problem. I don't want our staff to think that the only thing that the county board cares about is
keeping costs low. Not that that's not important. Of course it is. But I in our position, it is also about the services that we provide and helping people and helping them to feel like they're getting the value for the tax money that
they pay to us. So, I mean, I think it's important to recognize both. >> So, I think you probably must not have heard the first couple things I said. The very first thing I said was in conjunction with these six core principles, the reality of it is is to me the very first thing I said was we
oftentimes redefine the role which is what they should already be doing. Those things are things they should already be doing. So now we're just giving them a bonus for doing what they should already be doing. And I use the word bonus. I realize but what I'm saying is that the pay for performance to me that's what they should already be doing. So we're
just redefining the role of the very jobs that they should be doing already. I I want all of those things, but at the end of the day, to monetize it, you have to recognize something that created inefficiency for the taxpayer. So, I have an expectation when I come in that
they do every one of those things already. And if they're getting paid 50 grand for that, great. Keep paying 50,000 for that. I have the expectation that's going to happen for the negotiated salary already. I'm not asking them to do any more than what they already should be doing. I'm just
simply saying, how do you monetize it? And so this is what I've seen that very thing back starts to fall. When you look at that, it's it's no different than in sales. Well, I have an expectation to sell. Well, how much? And the more I give them, they tend to work harder towards that. True experience. I've
lived that myself. But the reality of it is is you could say, well, they're just expected to sell. When do they quit? Well, I don't know. How much information should they give? Well, I don't know. So, I have the in I have the expectation that they do all that already. What I'm asking for is it it you go back to the
the monetization aspect is what we're after. So I'll give you an example. If that particular person doesn't want to do that and a department head recognizes that they're they're not taking the time to do that. It would be a reason to say, "Hey, we're not going to give you a step increase. We have an expectation that
you were to go do all that stuff." Right? That's already what your job description is. You should be doing all that. where the monetization aspect comes into play is if the person says hey I see we're getting busier here um
or is it can you find a way to do and find all this information more efficient so we don't have to hire another person to go do all that that is how you begin to monetize it because the as the workload increases we find the inefficiencies we fix the efficiencies
so that we just simply don't throw more money at the situation as the workload increases so the monetization an aspect comes in that the set of professional customer service that we have an expectation when somebody walks into this building that we don't just begin to throw money at it to fix the problem
but we look at saying how do we access this information better the above and beyond starts to happen as workload increases or decreases and recognizing as the work as you mentioned to having two person people doing one person's job or overlapping we also recognize it on
the downward side as we decrease the need for any particular thing, somebody steps up to the plate and says, "Hey, we have two individuals here that are really only working threearters of the time." Is it a lot more efficient for us to say, "Hey, can we repurpose you into a new role? Put this all into one
person's plate and figure out how to compensate them for willing to do that." That's the monetization aspect, but yet the same outcome of the professional services happen. That's pay for performance and that's the department heads putting
those programs together and figuring out how to monetize that. That that's what I'm looking for. >> Yes. other >> the other thing I was going to say I'll bring forward is is and I'll make sure it's on the board packet the updated but
the comp philosophy to see if the board will approve a comp philosophy and then you know as a comp study so >> right um I don't know if it's part of our decision- making but it's always informationational I I will contact a a
county administrator up in Itasa County and I think they just went through a comp study And look out. It was It was significant. And they live in Lake country. It's beautiful up there. >> What was significant about >> payraises?
>> Yeah. The payraises they had to do to get Yeah. in with the neighborhood, I guess, is what you'd say. And I don't know any details of it, but the comments have been made. It was it was s a significant pay increase uh and stuff like that. So,
but you know, you don't have to, like you said, you don't have to do it all with pay. And you know, I reading some, you know, this Gen Z and all the the new employee coming through is has different expectations than the the, you know, the
the different generation and stuff. So, I don't know how we address that. I mean, they want flexibility and work schedule. They want to, you know, they want to have that work life balance type of thing and they want more time off or they want to work from wherever Timbuktu. I think we have to require
them to work in the United States. You know, they can't zoom in from out of the United States, but uh I know well we had during CO we had an employee working from Florida and I didn't know you know for some time. Um so so there's more than I agree but it's it most of it's
Yeah. how much what's the the checkbook check look at the end of the pay period. Um but there are other other things and I don't know how counties accommodate that those desires of the new workforce. I don't know. Um I know uh you know some
most of my children don't work from don't go to an office every day. But then I made a comment why is there so much traffic in the metro area? Well mom everybody's back in the office. No you're at home Tuesdays and Thursdays. Why has the traffic, you know, gotten and why are the downtown business
buildings empty? Because they're not working from the office. But there again, it's it's a different mindset of what that employee wants to do and how they do it. And then how do we monitor and how do we um Yeah, >> I just think it's great that we're starting to look at this. And it's it's
a very difficult process. It really is. And it's it I just gives me chills when I think about how to motivate people. And u it's it's difficult. But I think if we
>> it's different now. >> It's different now. And um there's a lot in one aspect there's a lot more asked of people. In another aspect there's a lot less asked of people. And um it's it's a balance. >> You know what? This afternoon I'll ask perplexity how to do it and they'll give
me a whole big reporting. This is I'll just I'll just add um so we should probably get going is that I hope that we also talk with the staff and the unions because they also are very vested in in the interest of so I know as a teacher sometimes what the bullet school board does is like a million miles you
know away from reality etc and reality checks I hope we have this conversation with unions as well. >> Yeah I don't know that I don't know my employees jobs. No, no, I don't. >> And because they they are also interested in long-term they want a long-term rewarding job and it is
monetization is important but so is autonomy, freedom and ownership some control over their space and being rewarded. So, so as in addition to this, I I support the idea of a comp and a comp study might like you just said, it might not re result in the you know, the
end result may not match your political philosophy because the facts might come back, but that goes for all of us as well too. [clears throat] >> A question for Marian. So, I what I was union president for several years and I know they said he would only did a comp
study, but they wouldn't share it. um confidential documents. >> Confidential document. So we really don't ever know what it said. >> The the outcome um so the actual document is confidential to administration and then
it needs to be deciphered because there's a lot of questions that go back and forth to get clarification about why it came out the way it did. Um because again they have a snapshot. They don't really have that intimate knowledge of what each position does. So, it's gonna
be like the Epstein files. So, >> no files. >> That That's No. >> Um [laughter] Um >> get the Zoom bombers. >> But but it is um the outcome meaning
what is the county going to do with that outcome has to be shared with the employees. >> There's a summary at least that I've >> Right. But again all the details of the the confidential report is not provided to the employees or the unions
>> but the outcome is you know what I mean >> so is >> 25% under competition >> that they find that X position should be adjusted by X or yeah that kind of stuff >> and then how does that work in the pay equity report when you have female
dominated positions and male dominated positions and then do you have to justify by a change because [clears throat] of a compensation study. >> And that's why you need a a vendor >> y >> that understands Minnesota law because it's different than Iowa, different than
Illinois, but they have to look at that as part of the whole comp philosophy and the comp study. But that's a great point and that's one thing we look at is do they know Minnesota law? I mean the equity and making sure they're they're looking at that as they're doing the comp study. Yep. It's important. We discriminate. The other part is
>> it's outright discrimination. >> The other part is market. >> Yeah. You know, there are market demands for certain positions and sometimes we have to pay more for certain positions at certain periods of time. >> Um, you know, it es and flows, but
that's all part of having, you know, a specialized vendor do the process because that's their job is to figure that out. So this vendor would we is it like a qu I guess >> none of us really know what it how they do that. I guess an example of like is
it a questionnaire that they come in and such. So if we could see those parameters before they start that would maybe give us some insight what we're going to end up with. >> Yep. I can put a some >> an example >> a summary together. Um just >> it really depends what vendor.
>> Yeah. Well, when we get closer to, you know, picking a vendor, I guess. Yeah. Some >> How much you have in your budget? >> You know, um I've got like two vacant positions. Just kidding. [laughter] >> No, >> just kidding. Just just kidding.
>> Bad HR sense of humor. >> Um but yeah, I mean that's what it' be over two years. Um you know and I in looking at what we have in the budget I think you know over two years we'd have to look at it but I think the
recommendation would be to to do that so >> great >> thanks for your work on >> stay tuned there will be more >> there'll be more >> there'll be more educate us okay all right anything else >> close session >> yeah now we got to go next door to a close session
>> we are next door session We have to read it. >> Yes, we have to close here and then go in there. >> All right. We're going into close session pursuant to Minnesota statute 13D.03 subdivision 1B to discuss strategies for labor negotiations for all collective
bargaining units.