WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=jtMGNZGfIsE

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: jtMGNZGfIsE):
- 00:00:00: Law Enforcement Center Remodel Update Request Discussion
- 00:02:55: Meeting Begins with Public Comment Period
- 00:03:27: Public Comment: Bob Ammonic Re-election Campaign
- 00:05:05: Approving Board Minutes, Agenda Changes, Consent Agenda
- 00:07:50: Discussing Boating Safety Patrol Grant Agreement
- 00:11:23: State Flag Replacement Discussion and Vote
- 00:23:56: Commissioner Comments: Memorial Day, Graduation, Politics
- 00:24:28: Commissioner Comments: Local Vets, Whitewater Board, and Fair
- 00:29:53: Spongy Moth Treatment Announcement and Adjournment


Part: 1

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discuss discuss potential requests for update on estimates for law enforcement center remodeling options. Commissioner vaguely. >> So we can discuss it now. Correct. >> Uh no, this is to >> get three votes. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I would like just ask the staff to

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give us an update on where things are at to get the two different estimates if other folks would be willing to inquire about that on the remodel of the law enforcement center. You're just asking for an update as to we haven't heard anything for quite some time.

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>> So no decision, just an update. >> I support that. >> Not bad. >> We're going to find out where we are because then we authorized funding then >> 75,000 >> authorization was not provided. Um it was conditionally said um with the

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understanding that because there were two options in the contract that we would come back to the board prior to moving forward. And so that's where we're still at on that. We need to come back and say this is what we recommend to do. >> Well, let's do that. Be interested to hear what we have.

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>> Um question I did ask, but I didn't hear. Did the city get any bonding money for I >> No, >> the spreadsheet showed that they got money for their wastewater treatment plant. >> Wastewater, but not the law enforcement. >> I think the spreadsheet also said like Pwick Mill $400, something like that.

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>> And then there was something for Winona State that Yeah. Okay. I didn't think >> so. I think no. >> Okay. Is the answer. >> It might have been something. Or is that just waste water treatment plant? >> That was just waste water. >> Like $4,000 or or maybe that's a different

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>> No, I think it's like um 15 million. They got some before and they got some more now and it'll be half of the good >> half of the and it's a big number. >> Yeah. I guess that's something we could figure out is if Marine if you can ask Chad or whoever

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>> did they receive anything in regards to public safety. >> Yeah. >> So um we are not able to log on regularly in the boardroom here. There's still troubles troubleshooting. So you need to use a um

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either need to connect to a hotspot or work off offline. So you can get the >> I'm gonna try Legally Blonde. >> It's on here. Puppy Palace. >> Try what? Okay, that was the only business that we had.

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>> Is your Is there Do we have three folks at least or does everyone agree that we should >> I think everyone agreed, right? >> Everyone wants an update. >> Great. >> Uh and then I'm going to declare the committee of the board adjured. So, hotspot or

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um >> work offline. So, um really >> not going to help get to the internet for the >> No, because I got to pull up my >> I'm just going to say that automatically I >> thanks for coming. Um so, we start our meeting with public comment period.

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There's not a lot of people in the audience today, but is there anyone who would like to share some thoughts with the Winona County Board? If there is, please step forward to the podium, tell us your name and address. We maybe can't see everyone online, but

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good evening everyone. I'm Bob Ammonic, uh, 2024 Clinton, Winona, Minnesota. I have filed for re-election as county recorder and I feel like I have some experience in the many areas of the recorder's office and in my work as

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recorder I have done presentations and training sessions for new recorders and I assisted two counties many years ago that were hit with cyber attacks at that time. I reviewed documents and helped with restoration.

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I would with your help like to improve and strengthen our record security and also encourage the public to sign up for possible fraud notification. We're getting um countless numbers of

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communications from different government levels and they're all saying to expect more cyber attacks. I think we need to work more diligently to be prepared for that. I will continue to provide the updates that I do for the county commissioners,

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our county organizations, and our city organizations. And by doing that, I think we'll have a better informed uh informed public and they'll know a little bit about real estate sale prices and values. I thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Thank you, Bob.

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>> Is there anyone else here in the audience or anyone online that would like to participate in public comment? Can people unmute themselves now? >> To the best of my knowledge. Yes. >> Okay.

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>> I'm gonna ask one more time. Is there anyone here in the audience or online that would like to participate in the public comment period? Hearing none. I'm going to move on. Uh, next item is potentially approving prior county board minutes and some

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committee minutes. >> So move. >> I'll second that. >> Okay. Okay. Do you want to do both of them? >> We can. >> Okay. >> Okay. Commissioner Sing has moved. Commissioner Vegley has seconded approval of the county board minutes from May 12th of 2026 and also from the

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EDA March 26, 2026. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. No one seems opposed. Motion carries. Um, Miss Church, do you have any changes to

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the agenda? >> No. >> Commissioner Vagely, >> three quick things at the end, please. >> Commissioner Alsing, >> comment at the end. >> Commissioner Olsen, >> nothing for me. >> Mr. Ward, um, unfortunately, I have a question on

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the, uh, Minnesota Federal Supplemental Boat Safety Patrol agreement. So, maybe just let's just pull it in in a further discussion, please. >> Okay. So, we're going to make it 8.0. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yep. Okay. >> Uh, anything from the administration?

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>> Nope. And I have nothing. Okay. So, we have a slight change to the agenda. We're going to pull 7.3 and move it down to general business is 8.0. Um, >> I'll move to approve the amended agenda. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Okay. Commissioner Vegley has approved.

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Commissioner Ward seconds the uh agenda as it was modified. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. If anyone opposed, say nay. Motion carries. >> Um, Bill, are you going to read the uh

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>> Yes, I would. >> Yeah. Consent business for the record, please. >> Yes. Uh, item 7.1, award bid for 2026, chip seal project to Scott Construction Incorporated. Item 7.2, 2 award bid for

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2026 ADA seal surfacing to Scott Construction Incorporated 7.3 is now 8.0 in general business and item 7.4 for confirm payment of dispersements. Um item 8.

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>> Oh, that's general. >> We're going to talk about that. >> I'll move to approve the consent items. >> Second. >> Commissioner Begley's Mo. Commissioner Alson second. Elsing has seconded approval of the consent business as it was read. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please

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signify by saying I. I. Is anyone opposed? Say nay. Consent business is passed. We now move on to general business item 8.0 uh which is approval of a 2026 state Minnesota federal supplemental boating safety

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patrol grant agreement. Commissioner Ward. >> Yeah. And and I know we get this and it's a standard thing, but there's a few things have changed. The um education of young drivers. I think there's a graduated driving license now for uh you know using boats on the water. And I

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don't know if if uh Sheriff Ganude or uh there's another name here I'm not familiar with. Um Troy uh Lee Lee Freed if we're planning to do any kind of training for you know the youth element that are required um to have these different licenses. And then I it's a

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lengthy document. Um, >> I couldn't say anything about invasive species and I know um there that's a big problem. Uh, and I don't know that do we put uh and I I know Commissioner Olsson, you're on the river a lot. Do we put people at the the the um ramps uh and

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they inspect them? because I have been at lakes >> signs that another signs that >> the AIS a number of years back had a grant and that's if you go to any one of these lands that to the SWCD. >> Yeah.

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>> Now there is some of that and then the DNR will also they'll hire somebody to sit and watch people go in and out. I'm not sure if that's tied necessarily into boat safety but yeah and as far as the licensing goes that's been around for quite some time. Um something changed I thought

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>> I think additional >> additional for younger yeah but I >> 15 was the cut off because when I was 15 I I had got my boat license when I was 15 so I could drive a boat at 15. >> Okay. >> So I mean that's >> there is regulations where if you're

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above a certain age you don't need to have the >> used to be 18 and then I think they moved it to 21 or something. They they changed something. Yeah. I don't know for sure. >> I don't know. I don't >> They should do training on backing a boat in. >> Yeah, would be better.

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>> That takes all the fun out of it. >> I guess with even our questions, if we could get some clarity from the sheriff's department what their role is >> on invasives on the train and the training. >> You want to wait it till you have that information. >> The training has been I don't know why. >> Is it time sensitive? Does it have to be

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after? >> Oh, it's after May 22nd was the approved. Yeah. A minute. >> Second. >> Yes, Miss Holty. >> No. Go ahead. >> No. Okay. So, uh, there is a motion by Commissioner Olsen, seconded by Commissioner Sing to to approve the

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contract, but you did want to ask for some additional information. >> Yes, I think we should have clarity on those issu those two topics and we should be educating the public to make sure. I mean, some type of news releases or something. Commissioner Ward, will you maybe perhaps direct your questions to Miss Holty and then we find the

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answers you can share with all of us. >> Thank you. Right now it's just a non test. >> Okay. Any further discussion? >> Um I I just I will comment that I did see um the sheriff patrol out this weekend. So um so they're actively uh

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out on the river and supporting boating safety. >> Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor of approving this grant agreement, please signify by saying I. I. >> I. Is. Anyone opposed?

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>> Motion carries. >> Okay. Last item of business is discuss the potential replacement of the Minnesota old state flag with the new design. I saw that we had at the table a memo

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from the county attorney's office. Commission. >> Yeah. Uh, Commissioner, uh, Begley and then you, Commissioner W., how's that? >> Just to get the issue up on the table for discussion, I'll move to approve uh, replacing the old flag with the new flag

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um, at the county county government. For the purposes of discussion, I will second that, but I would like to amend it. >> And what's the amendment? >> I had asked >> over. >> I had asked staff

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why we're even discussing this. If the state statute recognizes the new flag, why staff hasn't done it, then it was I was told it was our fault that it hadn't been done. Um, so the motion I think should just be to authorize staff to follow whatever the state statute

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recognize the flag and they would change it if it changes again and we don't have to discuss it. It just automatically changes. >> But isn't is it not >> Oh, Commissioner Warden then you Commissioner. >> Well, uh, Miss Sonaman's thing. Minnesota law does not require cities, counties to fly the new flag or any

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state flag at all. There is it is a controversial item. There's some people that don't like the new one. There's some people that don't like the old one and you're not going to ever please anybody. But I see no need to spend more money on a flag

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until till they're totally destroyed and we have to replace them. Then maybe >> looks like it's wearing out. >> I I don't think it's not sunfaded or it's not anything. And again, I I think we have higher priorities and why a lot of people don't like the process

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that it was uh how it was, you know, selected and but they just don't like the new ones. So, and you can see there's a number of people and it seems like when you turn on the metro news, somebody's deciding to not do it or do it or in the metropolitan media, um it's quite a quite a topic.

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So, I do not support changing the flag, not going to the new one. >> Commissioner Elsing and then you, Commissioner Begley. I was just kind of in the same situation. I I kind of looked that up from the very beginning and we've never actually been required to even have a flag, let alone change it. So, um, and I agree with

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Commissioner Ward. There's some people like it, don't like it. Um, you know, it is what it is, but I don't see an urgent need. I guess maybe it's never been brought up before as to question it, but I also don't see the need to necessarily change it. I think it it looks great. So, uh, for me, I just would rather just

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status quo and leave it as it is. >> Mr. vaguely. >> Um, this is not something I feel strongly about. However, it has been two years and I respect people who are concerned about change. I think this is the fourth time the flag has been

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changed. 1890s, 1950s, and 1980s. And I'm guessing in 30 or 40 years, if we're still around, there probably will be another discussion about another revision. Um, the state has made that decision through a process that's not perfect. No process is, but I think it's

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just simply time. Two years has been it's just simply time. I and I wish that this was not so politicized at the state legislature. This is completely separate from all the discussions of bills. I do not want to punish local local

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government units for for doing this or not doing it. Um, for clarification, um, Marine, how many We have this flag, the courtrooms have already switched, right? And then we have one flying outside the law enforcement center.

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>> Yes. >> So, we're talking less than $100 or 100 and some change. >> Well, pretty spendy. >> There's three flags. Um, and depending on the size of the flag as to the cost, >> um, and also whether or not you have the gold fringe, etc., etc. So,

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>> are they at the county highway shops? >> No. No. >> Probably 300 bucks, 400 bucks for that flag right there. >> Or 80 bucks. >> When we first when we think it was probably during the conversation where we had the letter

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asking us to tell to tell the legislature that we didn't approve. Um the I thought that the conversation was such that when the flags wear out right now I don't that is like not going to wear out but the flags outside will wear out.

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>> Yes. >> That the idea was when they did we would go ahead and replace them with the new flags. Are we still planning to do that >> unless we're directed otherwise? Okay. >> Yeah. Commissioner Ward >> take them all down, fly the American

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flag and be done with it. Um again um What really upsets me is though that this last paragraph and we talked briefly about that we're a where a state legislature is going to penalize us for not that really that's really bad. I mean for them to think they have that

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power over us and that's what they're going to do. I I mean that really upsets me. So I said take them all down, fly the American flag and be done with it. >> Commissioner Vigley, >> um I agree with you in terms of the state legislature that I completely agree. Um,

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I think it's important to fly both our national flag and our state flag. And to get the issue of cost off the table, how many total flags is it? >> I believe there's three. Two outside in this one. >> I will volunteer to pay for up to $500 to replace the flags. Assume that it's

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less than that. I don't want don't get the don't get thousand flags or whatever else. I will make a donation to pay to replace so there is no impacted no impact on taxpayers. So, do we want to wait and see if we get it until we get an estimate?

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>> No. No. Ward. >> I've already paid so. >> Oh, and >> that's that's admirable and I had thought about that if somebody donates one. But there again, there are people that just don't like that new flag. >> Change is hard. >> And but but it's not mandated. It's not a mandate. It's not a law that we have

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to fly that. So, you're still upsetting a segment of the constituency. I mean, it's noble to, you know, that you willing to donate that and everything, but I guess I don't know how to explain to the constituency that Well, okay. So, here's the the the flip side. If a

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constituent wants to donate $500 to keep that flag, do we put up two flag poles and fly them both? Again, I you have to kind of think it through. >> There was I hear what you're saying. There was a public process. There was public input. there was a decision made. I don't think any decision would make

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everybody happy. It's the nature of what we do is we make tough decisions sometimes. >> Um, Commissioner Olsen, you investigated the costs for >> that flag. >> Houston County for that >> and that flag is with what? >> That that's because it's got the fringe

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and I sent it to Maria that was from and she found it cheaper on Amazon and >> yes outdoor quality. There's >> $90. >> $90. Okay. without tax and shipping, etc. Okay. So, there is a motion on the table right now

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uh made by Commissioner Begley, seconded by Commissioner Olsen, and it is I think it said simply to replace >> the existing three or four flags to replace the existing three flags. >> And uh Commissioner Olsson, did you want to amend it?

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>> No, I'll keep it with that. I Okay. Um, and can we accept a donation from Commissioner Bakeley? >> We would have to I'd have to look at the specifics about

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how that would work. Um, you may need to like purchase them >> and then donate them. But we'll we'll give affirmation exactly how we have to do that so we comply with the state audit. Now, it sounds like Itasa decided that

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they would fly both of them and they put in a new flag pole. >> Seems like a little much. I would I guess I also have a question about the sheriff's badges because the sheriff's star has the old seal in >> No, let's just keep it with the flags.

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>> Okay, just the flags. Okay. by the sheriff >> l and >> and the courtrooms board le outdoor and the courthouse. >> Okay. >> But I'm sorry you did say the ones in

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the courthouse have been were they state purchased? >> The courtroom state of seals. I had to change those in Houston County. I pul the old. >> So it may only be two then. >> But the courts themselves that was state of Minnesota. >> Yeah. Okay. Not not count. >> So you let me know what to do. >> Yes. >> Anyone wants to join me in these flag

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purchases? >> I'll kick in some. >> Uh okay. >> I want to pull to fly my t-shirt on then. >> I You weren't here. I have a t-shirt with the old flag. Very nice blue. >> She did. She shared it with us. She like she had a shirt and then during the

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appropriate time in the discussion she took off her over shirt and had on her blue t-shirt. >> I should I was going to wear it tonight but I picked a different wardrobe. >> Okay. >> That one's nice, too. Okay. Is there further discussion? Hearing none. Uh, all those in favor of

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this motion to replace the old flags with the new flags, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And those who are opposed, please say nay. >> A. Motion carries. 32. >> Yeah. Being that we have a lawyer in the room,

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this was this isn't a is this was this a statute? Um, Commissioner Olsen brought up last time that we take an oath to uphold the constitution, but this is a statute. So, a statute isn't const. It's linked to the constitution somehow, right? But where is that? It's a gray

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line for me. What a state statute and being and then also Minnesota law does not require. So where's the guts to a statute? Can we challenge other statutes? It's not a law. >> I don't know your exact question, but my

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oldest of both the constitution Minnesota statute >> Minnesota >> and the Minnesota >> and the and Minnesota statute. Okay, look at ours. >> But but being that Miss Sonaman said Minnesota law does not require So this

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was a statute that was changed. So, can we challenge other statutes? >> She says law to me is interchangeable with statute. So, my understanding is there's nothing that requires the county to fly the Minnesota flag old or new. No,

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>> the new what the legislation attempted to do is my understanding is to make statute that would penalize for not flying the correct or flying the new flag, but that um died without even hearing ask. My understanding is that

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there is nothing statute, constitution, law, what whatever word you put in there that would require the county to fly the state. Yeah. >> But there is a statute that says the new design is a state flag. >> Yeah. >> Yes.

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>> But where I'm going is even past this. So we we do all kinds of things because it's statutoily required from us. So here was a statute that was allowed to deviate from. What other statutes can we deviate from? That's my question. I mean, we've got a

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lot of things, big expensive things that are statutoily required. Can we deviate from them? This is opening the door for me. I think that I can deviate from them. Just a question to ponder. I don't need an answer tonight. We can have further

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discussion sometime about. We can have coffee, a long coffee over. >> Good. Okay. Further discussion on the flags. Otherwise, Commissioner Begley, you had three things. >> Uh, real quickly, Memorial Day. I know I am a day late. I just want to thank all

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veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice and thank all gold star families for their sacrifice as well. Um, congratulations. Winona Senior High School has not graduated yet, but to all the seniors at Winona Senior High School, Lewon, St. Charles, Carter, Hope

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Lutheran, who am I missing? to all the seniors in the class of 2026. >> Luther >> actually we have a number of kids from my community go to Luther in Alaska. >> Alaska. Okay. >> Y >> we'll cross the river. >> Yep. >> Um and then thirdly, um I one of the

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things I teach is American government. It would be remiss of me not to encourage folks to run for office. Our democracy works better when more people take part. That's it. >> That's it. Commissioner, >> thank you. Um, first of all, yeah, it does just uh we backing off from

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Commissioner Vagley. Just wanted to thank uh, you know, all the current vets and those that have served both past and present in all branches and our local law enforcement and just everybody that helps protect us. I think a lot of people take that for granted. Uh, also

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just want to apologize for being absent the last couple meetings. Uh it's it's a lot of work in the springtime um for in the business that I'm in and it's just very difficult to get away. It was about 30 some days straight of 16 to 18 hour days. So we just really did not get rain

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breaks this year. So it was uh I was pretty tired here about a week ago, but um so appreciate everybody being patient with me not being here. Um this morning um I had I guess I'm going to call it the privilege of uh chairing the last

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Whitewater joint power board. It's a board that's been around for many many years. Um just to kind of give an oversight to that, I made mention I would talk a little bit about that today. I've been on that board for 10 plus years. I've chaired it. It's got to be at least six years. I I'm not sure to

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be honest with you. And it was an interesting board when we first came on. You know, when I first got on that board, it was pretty active. We did a lot with the DNR. We did a lot with the state. We did a lot of grants. Um um we would see, you know, actually at times a fair amount of a lot more people come to

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that meeting than even the SWCD meetings. And I think it's just the the topography and geography with the Whitewater, you know, was so and that really dwindled. And a number of years um ago, I had made mention, hey, we could probably go to every other month,

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which worked fine. And then after that even we said I said hey we could probably do this just in an effort to save PDMs in time to go every three months. It it did post a challenge though more for the administrative side than what it did for anything just getting checks signed and things like that. So I think at some point

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especially with Sheila wanting to retire we all realize that and this is the good thing and I brought this up this morning was that you know the idea of government is to serve a purpose not just to continue something to continue it. And that's really how I see what that the

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board was established for a reason and the white water needed help and just due to its uniqueness and the flooding and things that were happening. So the good thing is is that we ran out of things to do. That to me is the idea of government that we shrink government not continue to grow it. And you know the one

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watershed plan and and windlac and things like that and in the onset of the SWCDs have really stepped up to take over the things that we were doing. Um, maybe a little bit of a negative is that as a separate entity, we were able to file for different grants that some of the other things weren't. But long story

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short, uh, I I considered it a a good moment in time in history for the county as well as Wabashaw and Winona, excuse me, Olmstead County. Um, Wabasha and Winona or excuse me, Winona and Olmstead had about an equal share. Wabashawa was about twothirds of of a individual

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share. Um, so there's the monies that'll be coming back to the county board and I hope that we can disperse those back to the SWCDs to continue to do what we were doing in the Whitewater joint. So, um, I just wanted to, like I said, I think it's a good thing, uh, in in one aspect

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that it's been disbanded. So, along with that also, uh, SWCD had their safety day. Um, I had the privilege years ago being involved in one of the first ones to approve the funding for that. That has garnered a lot of attention from the state. the state did come down and film that and they're going to use that kind

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of as a as a what's the word I'm looking for kind of a um proposition to other counties to do something similar to what we created here in Winona County which has been attended very very well so um also with the SWCD uh as as many may or

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may not know but Wanda has stepped down so they are actively looking for somebody to take over the administrative role um so we want to thank Wanda for many years of service she's still there But um obviously just you know looking to kind of go back to her former role. So if anybody knows anybody interested in that that's open. Um the other thing

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I wanted to make mention of is we talk about farm safety and you know this year I thought we were cruising along and everything was going well. Um but I just want to you know say my thoughts and condolences to the Adam Graden family. Adam suffered a pretty tragic accident out checking crops here a week and week

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and a half ago. Um leaving him in a pretty sad state. So there is a GoFundMe for them. He has young kids. Uh he's, you know, an active farmer and and and welder and different things in the well known in the in the county. So um just wanted to bring mention of that. So and

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just the awareness of you know the risk that we take every day in the in the agriculture industry. So the last thing is the Winona County Fair. It's going to be here before you know it. Everybody knows I'm a big supporter of the fair and 4. So um just hope everybody's got their projects going and their cattle

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rolling and sheep and everything else. But uh um just encourage everybody to go out. We're still one of the best attended fairs in the state. We'd like to keep it that way. So that's what I have. Thank you. >> Um I had a brief announcement. I'm going to say this for probably the next

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meeting as well. Um we earlier this year we approved uh treatments that for the Minnesota Department of A to do spongy moth treatments. I think it used to be called gypsy moth. And so this is going to happen um between mid June and early July. If you go to the department of a

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website and you Google spongy moth, you'll there's an interactive map so you can see but the our letter said three places but I saw four on the map. Beaver Latch uh John Latch State Park Stockton and then the biggest area is Winola. So

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just for anyone who uh is concerned if they see the fly planes life and that's it. Uh would anyone like to adjurn? >> So adjourned. Second. >> Okay. Commissioner also moves. Commissioner Eling second. So

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adjournment. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor please say I. I. Anyone opposed? We are journed. >> I'm glad you made it Josh. >> Thank you for your work helping farmers. But you're the cause of