[0:08] God.
[0:11] We will call this meeting to order. Note
the presence of a quorum with all
[0:15] commissioners present. I would ask you
to please stand. Before the pledge, we
[0:21] would like to have a moment of silence
for the uh 343
[0:26] firefighters who lost their lives in the
tower. uh the first responders and all
[0:31] the victims of 9/11.
[0:43] Now, if you please join us in the
pledge.
[0:48] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to
[0:53] [clears throat] the republic for which
it stands, one nation under God,
[0:57] indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all. [clears throat]
[1:05] » Thank you. And on Friday, uh, the Aken
Fire Department will have their
[1:09] customary display [clears throat]
of 343 flags, uh, denoting the number of
[1:16] firefighters who lost their lives in
911. Um, along with the aerial ladder
[1:21] truck and the flag.
Um,
[1:29] » and also happy anniversary, Dave.
>> Thank you. This is Dave Mkey's oney year
[1:36] anniversary.
>> Feels like 10 [laughter]
[1:40] » or zero. I I don't believe a year has
gone by so fast.
[1:45] [clears throat]
>> So, happy anniversary.
[1:47] » Well done.
>> First item then uh would be approval of
[1:51] the agenda.
>> Dave, anything?
[1:54] » Uh nothing to change on the agenda. Just
a note for uh those who are watching,
[1:58] the screens in the room are not working,
but the live stream is working. Okay.
[2:04] Uh, entertain a motion.
>> So move, chair.
[2:06] » Motion on the floor to set effect
approving the agenda by Commissioner
[2:09] Carney. Support.
>> Support.
[2:11] » Motion supported by Commissioner
Levesci. Any discussion?
[2:14] » All [snorts] in favor say I. I.
>> Oppose. Same sign. Motions carried.
[2:18] Agenda is hereby approved. On citizens
public comment. Are there any comments
[2:24] or requests from visitors this morning?
Yes, sir. If you could please state your
[2:28] name and uh where you live.
>> Sure. Absolutely. Good morning. Charlie
[2:33] Christensen, C H R I S Ten Sen
30535283rd
[2:39] in Glenn. Um, I know most of you. I'm
currently on the board of adjustment and
[2:46] on the planning commission. I'm here
today,
[2:50] unfortunately,
to hope you consider giving us a pay
[2:55] raise on the commissions that I sit on.
Currently, the board of adjustment makes
[3:01] $60 per meeting. The last two meetings
that we've had, we've started two hours
[3:08] early because there's just a lot of
requests for these boards. And as the
[3:16] board chairman of this particular
committee, I come in and meet with the
[3:21] county at least an hour and a half, two
hours. We spend a lot of time
[3:27] making very important decisions that at
first when I became a member never
[3:33] thought they were going to be this
important, but they are. Um, I believe
[3:38] it's been at least three or four years
since we got a $10 meeting raise. Uh, I
[3:45] currently am a supervisor on Glen
Township and we make $120 per meeting.
[3:51] That actually is sort of low when it
comes to a lot of townships in this
[3:55] county. There's many townships that are
making over $200 for a meeting and here
[4:02] I sit at the board of adjustment and the
planning commission making $60. I just
[4:07] think it's not fair. Now, will I quit or
resign? Absolutely not. Cuz I love those
[4:14] meetings. But I'm also looking for the
future that I know it's been very tough
[4:20] if some me to try to get some members to
sit on these boards. And again, I'm just
[4:28] looking for the future. I think and I
hope you consider at least raising the
[4:35] meetings. I would also like to see the
site visits raised. We currently get $10
[4:41] per site visit. And many times I'm way
up in Jacobson Hill City area and it
[4:49] takes me an hour to travel up there and
an hour just to get right back to where
[4:54] I started just to see a site for $10. I
personally go and look at every site. I
[5:01] feel like every board member should go
look at every site instead of relying on
[5:06] some GPS satellite. So, I like that. But
I think $10 is actually low, too. Yes,
[5:14] we do get compensated for mileage, but
everybody knows the price of gas and the
[5:19] price of oil and the price of tires and
the price of a car probably makes out of
[5:24] a wash. So again, I hope you consider
it. I know money's tight. As a
[5:29] supervisor in Glenn Township, we always
try to watch our money, but again, I
[5:34] hope you consider somehow putting some
type of raise for those meetings. I
[5:39] appreciate it and have a wonderful day.
>> Thank you for your input, Mr.
[5:43] Christensen.
>> Are there any other comments or requests
[5:47] from visitors this morning?
>> Uh, third and last call for any citizens
[5:54] public comments or requests.
Hearing none, we will proceed to the
[5:59] consent agenda. And I would entertain a
motion.
[6:04] » I'd make that motion, Mr. Chair. We have
a motion on the floor by Commissioner
[6:07] Levisa approving the consent agenda. Is
there support?
[6:10] » Second.
>> Motion supported by Commissioner
[6:12] Westerland. Any discussion? Hearing
none. All in favor say I.
[6:16] » I.
>> Oppose. Same sign. Motions carried.
[6:19] Consent agenda is hereby approved. On
the land commissioner Dennis Thompson.
[6:24] Welcome DJ. Good morning.
>> Morning DJ.
[6:36] I just looked up at the screen. I've
done that a hundred times knowing it
[6:39] doesn't work.
All right. So, what we have uh in front
[6:45] of us is a a request for con funds. Uh
and this actually is coming from the uh
[6:51] Aken Airport Commission. So, I had uh a
couple things that I put together. You
[6:56] can see uh part of the packet is the
official ask uh that came in from the
[7:01] airport commission requesting 51,000
uh4250
[7:08] to satisfy a 2.5% local share
requirement for construction
[7:12] [clears throat] of the new terminal
building.
[7:14] » I know Commissioner Weedle, you are on
the airport commission. You understand
[7:17] the
>> Yes. And John Williams.
[7:18] » Yep. Yep. And John as well. So um and
then I put together just a memo. you
[7:24] should have that as well. We've talked
about the con funds uh a couple
[7:30] different times. I don't know if I ever
kind of did a summary or or put anything
[7:34] together exactly on
uh how how they came about and exactly
[7:40] where the funding is is coming from. But
uh of the funds that actually come in to
[7:46] the con, they are actually split. So
third it's only 30% that goes into the
[7:52] account that we are talking about here.
This the environmental trust or the uh
[7:57] county development fund uh which under
uh state statute is uh money is the
[8:05] direction of the county board for
spending that and it states for the
[8:09] rehabilitation and development of the
portion of the county within the
[8:12] conservation area or within the con
area. So pretty loose uh definition of
[8:19] of where that money can go to uh
development and and rehabilitation. So
[8:25] but you can see that fund is 30%.
Uh in the past I gave a budget
[8:31] presentation here I think in August and
talked about survey and GIS half of
[8:35] their salary wages benefits come out of
the con. Uh we also use con dollars for
[8:41] ditch work, beaver control, highway
department for uh resurfacing, annual
[8:47] memberships in a couple of um a couple
of state boards or regional boards I
[8:52] should say. Um equipment purchases,
culverts, you can see it's been used for
[8:57] for a number of different things. Um
so right now and then I included in
[9:04] there the 2027 budget.
So the county policy for a minimum
[9:09] balance on the con account is 285,000.
Uh so right now current balance on there
[9:16] is is right around 500,000. That's
what's going to be projected at the end
[9:21] of 2026. So uh we did not have um a use
of fund balance budgeted for 2026.
[9:30] However, we have this request and then
we also had a request for work on the
[9:34] rabbi line ATV trail. So, that will put
in uh that will have um [snorts] this
[9:41] would I should say uh dip into that
overall fund balance. However, it's
[9:47] still going to be above what the what
the county board has set for policy as
[9:51] far as what that minimum balance is. So,
uh so you can see the request there. Uh
[9:58] just a little caution. Um
[clears throat]
[10:01] this is certainly in the Conan area. It
certainly can be used. Uh dollars can be
[10:08] used for this project. Um but just
knowing that uh you know it's not an
[10:14] unlimited fund and eventually with
survey and GIS um there might have might
[10:20] be some decisions that would need to be
made in the down the road with that.
[10:25] zone commissioners. [clears throat]
>> Mr. Chair, how much money did we get
[10:30] from the federal government for the
airport? It was $1.3 million
[10:37] and u the bids have come in. There are
local contractors involved,
[10:43] but one 1.3 million and that was a
direct uh no strings attached grant from
[10:50] the uh Federal Aviation Commission.
>> And how much is this tower going to
[10:56] cost?
>> Pardon?
[10:58] » This is the the building.
>> The building
[11:03] » uh it's I think 1.4 1.5.
total projects budget 1.986
[11:11] 700.
>> Yeah.
[11:13] » Okay.
>> And the um the airport engineers etc.
[11:20] management have come up with some other
funds too.
[11:25] The the gap is um what is being
requested
[11:29] uh in terms of con funds.
>> Sure.
[11:33] » Uh Commissioner Carney.
>> Yeah. Question. They're asking for 51
[11:37] also in appropriations. Are they is the
Aken airport still asking for 60,000?
[11:43] » Yes.
>> What is that funding [snorts] used for?
[11:46] » The general operations.
>> It's a joint powers with the city.
[11:52] » Yeah.
>> The airport.
[11:55] Twothirds county, one-third city.
[12:02] » Mr.
Uh, Commissioner Westerman,
[12:04] » is the city contributing to this also?
[clears throat]
[12:07] » Do they have any grants? Do they have
any?
[12:09] » Well, this is from the airport
commission. The city, uh, it's a one-/3,
[12:14] two3 joint powers.
>> So, out of the 60, they pay what? 45.
[12:18] » Uh, I think 20.
>> Oh, 20.
[12:22] » Would that be the correct math?
>> Oh, yeah. A third.
[12:27] » 2/3 and one third. [laughter]
>> The county owns twothirds of the
[12:31] airport. The city owns one/3.
>> So then the count the city's 30,000.
[12:36] » Yeah.
>> Because we're doing 60, it's 90. So,
[12:40] » right.
[12:43] » And this is above and beyond the
appropriation. [clears throat]
[12:53] » John, any comments?
>> I can speak if you want to.
[13:00] Well, this it's up to you as member of
the airport commission and
[13:09] » you know this this project for this
terminal building. It's uh it's been a
[13:13] long time in the making. You know there
was a a new federal program out to pay
[13:18] for uh such buildings at airports that
don't have them and we uh we applied. We
[13:25] were rejected. Uh we were lucky this
last year to to be selected. Uh you
[13:31] know, we don't we don't have a terminal
building. We lease space. We're one of
[13:34] the few federal airports that don't have
a terminal building. So,
[13:37] » and we least $2,000 a month.
>> We we just, you know, we I think
[13:42] everyone, including those that selected
this year's recipients, thought this was
[13:46] a really good project to finally, you
know, let Aken Airport have a have its
[13:51] own departure building for pilots.
It's an important thing for pilots to
[13:55] have that space to be able to, you know,
use. We think it's going to increase
[13:59] utilization of the airport. Hopefully,
we'll increase our fuel sales overall. I
[14:04] mean, we think it's just a really good
economic development thing for the
[14:07] community. The, you know, the the one
thing uh about it is that there was
[14:12] always a local match that went with it
and the airport commission struggles,
[14:17] you know, to make ends meet every year.
Uh, you know, there just isn't a lot of
[14:21] extra money there. and the expenses are
going up all the time. We have an FBO
[14:25] that we pay. We have a lot of costs that
we pay. Uh so, you know, we're we're
[14:29] just barely scraping by every year. That
was the one thing that we didn't know,
[14:34] you know, if we did get this grant, how
we were going to pay the the local cost
[14:38] of it because we knew there was going to
be a local cost to it. Um at one time,
[14:42] we thought that local cost was maybe
going to only be around 30,000, but it's
[14:46] significantly more than that. So, you
know, I think the the brainstorming of
[14:51] additional resources to fund the local
portion was that, you know, the it was
[14:56] talked about that the airport is within
the county development area. This this
[15:00] seems like a perfect project uh for
those funds to, you know, rehabilitate
[15:04] and develop the Kcon area. It just
seemed like a perfect fit to to do that.
[15:10] So, I think, you know, that's where the
that's where the request came from and I
[15:12] think it's it's unanimous request from
the airport commission.
[15:16] » Thank you, John. Thank you.
[15:23] » I don't have anything further,
>> commissioners. Uh
[15:29] uh direction is requested. Obviously,
I'm in favor of it.
[15:36] And one of one of the big
things when when North Air come in uh
[15:43] and they have to land at the airport,
there's a gap from the time
[15:47] They u take their crew to the hospital
um and they do what they do at the
[15:54] hospital and then bring the patient back
to the airport be it a fixed wind or a
[16:01] helicopter
>> and this gives their pilot a place to to
[16:06] go and there will be avionic equipment
in there uh weather equipment etc.
[16:12] » I do have one more question. Yeah. If
you do get the funding as approved
[16:16] today, do the does the commission have a
plan of preventing maintenance and how
[16:21] to maintain that? They'll have the funds
and the resources to to maintain.
[16:24] » Oh, absolutely. I mean, it's not a real
big deal. We're maintaining
[16:30] » a rental unit.
>> A rental unit. Now, this will this will
[16:35] save the airport commission about $2,000
a month.
[16:41] » All right, Mr. Chair, can't you just
purchase that building with that money?
[16:45] » No,
[clears throat] this was a special new
[16:49] terminal grant.
>> Yeah.
[16:52] » A subdivision of the FAA, Minnesota,
North Dakota.
[16:56] » Okay.
[17:01] » And again, the agenda request is not
necessarily for an official motion, but
[17:06] just u direction, right, DJ?
>> Yep. Yep. And then whatever direction
[17:12] the the board wants to take with it, uh,
I would come back then with with an
[17:17] official
>> Mhm.
[17:21] » an official request.
>> Yeah. An official request. Yep. Yep.
[17:24] Official agenda request on on the
transfer and the approval of it.
[17:30] » Chair, so you're saying the con fund can
handle this and still maintain.
[17:36] » Yeah, that's what he said.
>> Okay. Thank you. I have no no problem
[17:40] supporting it as long as the airport
commission has a plan
[17:46] to
>> spend the money wisely.
[17:51] » Well, it's pretty much laid out. It will
be put towards the terminal building,
[17:57] » right? Has the state
the state I believe John uh MDOT
[18:03] aeronautics have made a contribution to
this as well? Yeah, Mr. Chair, it the
[18:09] state share is $53,42.50.
[18:14] » Thank you.
[18:19] » I'm good also.
>> Okay,
[18:21] » I'm good. That's I think it's a good use
of compound.
[18:24] » Okay, I guess we have a consensus.
>> Okay, perfect. I will uh bring it to the
[18:29] next county board meeting then with uh
uh for official passage and as well as
[18:34] the transfer then a resolution for
transferring that.
[18:38] » Okay, great. And the timing of which
ties in with the uh the uh budget.
[18:44] » Yep.
>> And I think
[18:46] » they're looking for these funds I'm
assuming for 2026,
[18:50] » correct?
>> Well, [snorts] I
[18:54] believe it'd be 2026. Yeah.
>> Yeah. Now. Yep. Okay.
[18:58] » So, and it'll hopefully it'll help bring
in some economic development. I mean,
[19:03] that's
>> we really need something going on here.
[19:07] » Well, so the the use of the airport,
sorry. Um, when it comes to say the
[19:14] Talon project, what's going to be more
utilized? McGregor airport or Aken
[19:18] airport?
>> It depends on the type of aircraft.
[19:20] » So, we can handle bigger aircraft at the
Aken airport than McGregor. Is that what
[19:24] we got?
>> We can handle jet. Yeah. Okay.
[19:27] » All right.
>> Yeah. Just depend on the aircraft type
[19:30] coming in.
>> And are I know Commissioner Sample had
[19:33] brought it up before. Are we planning on
transferring some funding back to the
[19:36] McGregor airport that we took for the
Aken airport at that one time?
[19:40] » It'll have to be discussed. Yeah.
>> Just kind of tie it all together here.
[19:44] All right.
>> And I think that particular thing would
[19:47] fall under the appropriation discussion.
>> Okay. Right.
[19:51] » D. Perfect. I'm good. Yep. And
Commissioner Levisca had asked for just
[19:56] a short update on the ATV trail. Um we
were out there with uh the contractor
[20:02] Bigwolf Site Works here on Friday. Did a
walk through with the engineers.
[20:06] Everything is coming along nicely.
They're starting the work on the county
[20:10] uh 2 highway 2 project as far as that
shoulder build uh for the ATV trail
[20:16] there. The grubbing and everything is
done. The trail corridor is in. They've
[20:21] done uh they had a turf establishment
that they've already done. You can see
[20:26] grasses are coming up on that trail
already. So, uh roughly 2600 ft 2,800 ft
[20:32] of wooden boardwalks to be installed by
the land department.
[20:37] We have uh probably about 2100 or 2200
of those feet have been installed
[20:43] already. So, the boardwalks have been uh
there's just a couple shorter ones left.
[20:49] Um I think there's an 80footer, a
30footer, and uh and another 100footer
[20:55] or two that are that are left in there.
So continuing on along with that, uh as
[21:01] we progressed with the bonding dollars,
looking at the the match and the match
[21:06] requirement that the county was required
to put up for uh for that, it was
[21:10] $150,000 for that match. So uh just
trying to tie some ends together with
[21:15] that and to get that all straightened
out. made some progress on that as far
[21:20] as where that match is coming from. A
combination of uh a couple different
[21:24] sources, possibly wetland credits that
the county had available um as well as
[21:29] staff time to construct the uh construct
the boardwalks. I know the highway
[21:34] department has time involved with it
with some of the trail clearing. Uh STS
[21:39] has has some time in there. So, uh, we
will be able to utilize the the inind
[21:44] for for the portion of the match. Uh,
otherwise, everything is coming in.
[21:49] It's, uh, under budget for the time
being, and I would expect it to stay
[21:54] that way. We're still looking at an
October 31st completion. As far as the
[22:00] contractor is concerned, when when their
work needs to be done, uh, the ATV
[22:05] season is officially closed. October
31st, the trails are closed. So, in all
[22:10] likelihood, it's going to be a a May uh
2027 kind of grand opening for that. So,
[22:16] » awesome. Thank you.
>> Yep. Mr. Chair, I got a question.
[22:19] Commissioner Sample
>> DJ,
[22:23] that grant we got from the from the
state.
[22:26] » Yep.
>> When does that end?
[22:29] » That's uh December 31st of this year.
>> We'll be done.
[22:33] » So, we'll be done two months early.
>> Yep. So, Okay.
[22:42] Good.
>> Thanks for that update.
[22:44] » Yes. Yep.
>> Commissioner Aisca, thank you for
[22:47] bringing that to our attention.
[22:52] » On the economic development, Mark
Jeffers, welcome, Mark.
[22:56] » Morning, Mark.
>> Morning, Mr. Chair and commissioners.
[23:00] » I'm here this morning to request
approval to award two additional
[23:05] revitalization grants. um one for
Guidepoint Pharmacy and one for 210
[23:11] Fitness. Um in your packets, you see
what what each one of those um
[23:17] businesses are doing. Uh doing some
aesthetics outside, doing some um really
[23:22] good work on some signage, uh different
things like that. So, here again to
[23:28] request approval by the board to award
these two grants moving forward.
[23:33] » Commissioners, you've heard the request.
I believe this was a unanimous
[23:37] recommendation from the county economic
development committee as well, right
[23:41] Mark?
>> That's correct, sir.
[23:43] » Approval.
>> A motion on the floor approving the
[23:46] request by Commissioner Levesca.
Support.
[23:48] » Support.
>> And that motion is supported by
[23:50] Commissioner Sample. Uh any discussion?
Hearing none. All in favor say I. I.
[23:56] » Oppose. Same sign. Motion's carried.
>> Grants are officially approved.
[24:01] » Thank you, sir. And the Aken Economic
Development Authority also uh made
[24:06] contributions to these businesses.
>> Yes. Yep. Correct. [snorts]
[24:09] Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mark.
[24:12] On to County Engineer
John Wellie. Welcome, John.
[24:17] » Morning, John.
>> Sorry for the no screens.
[24:20] » Yeah, good morning. Thank you. Uh yeah,
I'll I guess I I wish I would have sent
[24:26] the presentation.
>> Do you have Do you need We have
[24:28] » with you.
>> Yeah. Oh, he's do everyone has a copy of
[24:31] it.
>> Okay, great.
[24:39] » We'll be flipping through a lot of pages
here. Um, just give a very brief
[24:45] overview of the highway department
budget, which as in other years, it
[24:50] contains three different uh components.
the operations budget, the capital
[24:54] equipment and facilities budget, and
then the capital infrastructure budget.
[25:00] U I'll go into uh some detail on all of
those. The operations budget first. Um
[25:07] I'm looking at the the pie chart there
that shows the operations budget
[25:12] expenditures by work section. Uh with 20
excuse me, with 29 total employees in
[25:18] the department, 19 of those are in our
maintenance section. uh six are in the
[25:22] engineering work section. The remaining
four are in administrative section. You
[25:27] can see the corresponding costs uh of
all of those sections. Obviously, the
[25:32] the road maintenance section is the
highest cost. Uh that area contains not
[25:39] only all of our costs for the employees,
but also all of our costs to maintain
[25:44] 519 miles of county roads as well as 39
miles of unorganized township roads and
[25:52] uh then our entire ditch system
including the Mississippi River
[25:56] diversion channel. Uh on the next page,
you see another pie chart that shows the
[26:02] budget expenditures by expenditure type.
Uh so here you can see that payroll uh
[26:09] with 29 employees is 54% of our total uh
operations budget costs. Uh the the
[26:17] costs of those uh uh the cost of our our
payroll costs increased 5.4% from the
[26:24] 2020 excuse me that's on the next page.
I'm getting ahead of myself. Um so the
[26:29] the payroll is 54% the supplies are 22%
supplies include everything from diesel
[26:36] fuel gasoline equipment maintenance
parts uh gravel salt culvert signs posts
[26:42] asphalt materials shop supplies
basically any supplies that we need. Uh
[26:46] road maintenance services are about 20%
of our operations budget. Uh that
[26:50] includes anything that we hire others to
do for road maintenance including
[26:54] calcium chloride application, pavement
marking application, uh the tuminous
[26:59] crack sealing, patching, municipal
maintenance agreements that we pay to
[27:02] the cities to maintain the the routes,
the county routes in their
[27:05] municipalities. Uh we have a couple of
county line maintenance agreements with
[27:09] adjacent counties and then also beaver
control services that we pay to trappers
[27:14] to help control beaver. Uh and then you
can see the last two categories there,
[27:19] insurance and dues and utilities. Uh
they uh each account for about 2% of the
[27:25] total operations budget. So now on to
the next uh page where it shows that
[27:30] overall our operations uh costs are
increasing about 5.1%
[27:37] from 2026. Uh payroll costs increased
about 5.4% from the 2026 budget. Uh part
[27:47] of the reason that we were able to keep
that cost down is we only budgeted for
[27:51] 97%
of our fully staffed payroll cost. Uh we
[27:55] have a 5-year average. We track our TW
our five-year average uh actual payroll
[28:00] cost to if we were fully staffed. And
our most recent five-year uh
[28:07] uh figure is 96 or excuse me 95.5%.
Again, that's actual payroll costs to if
[28:14] we were fully budgeted. So that's four
and a half percent less than 100. We So
[28:18] we discounted our payroll cost by 3% out
of the four and a half. We thought that
[28:23] was reasonable and prudent uh to do to
help reduce the cost.
[28:28] » So John, I got one question for you.
>> You got 29 employees now.
[28:34] » Yes.
>> And you're figuring payroll at 97%
[28:38] » of fully staffed.
>> Of fully staffed. How many people do you
[28:41] have when you're fully staffed?
>> 29.
[28:45] » 29. We have 29 positions. One of the
reasons that our 5-year average is only
[28:50] at 95% is that we pretty much
continuously have an open engineering
[28:56] technician position, which we have had
for the last three years.
[29:01] » Yeah, right. Right now, we're one staff
short. We have 28 of 29 positions.
[29:08] So, moving on into the supplies uh uh
area, we had a 9.3% cost increase from
[29:14] our 2026 budget. Um basically all of the
supplies increased across the board with
[29:20] the way inflation and costs are going.
Uh fuel is one of our biggest supplies.
[29:25] Um this budget includes 91,000 gallons
of uh gasoline and diesel fuel that
[29:32] we've budgeted at $32 per gallon. And
that's a 5-year uh running average of
[29:38] our costs over the past 5 years. Last
year, the cost that we budgeted was 280.
[29:44] So, we're budgeting an extra 22 cents a
gallon for fuel. We'll talk more about
[29:49] fuel later because the uh the immediate
impacts are much more drastic than that
[29:53] than those 5-year averages. But, uh
pretty much all of our supplies
[29:57] increased signs, salt, equipment repair.
The only supply cost that decreased was
[30:03] culverts. And that's because culvert
costs are finally coming back down from
[30:07] their ridiculously high costs a few
years ago. So they're they're coming
[30:12] back down and that's showing a little
bit of a decrease cost from previously.
[30:18] Road maintenance and other services are
showing about a 6.8% cost increase from
[30:23] the 2026 budget. Uh nothing really
outstanding there, just increases across
[30:28] the board.
uh insurance. This budget in this budget
[30:32] uh reflects a 5% estimated insurance
increase to MCIT for liability or comp
[30:39] insurance. Um we've recently been told
that our uh the highway department
[30:45] percentage increase for liability is
going to be 13% above last year and our
[30:50] work comp is going to be 29% above last
year. So, if if those uh if those
[30:56] projected increases actually happen, uh
we will be underbudgeted in insurance by
[31:02] about $22,000.
And then the last category, dues,
[31:07] utilities, other expenses. They just
increased the nominal 2.6% from the 2026
[31:12] budget.
[31:18] So, now you should be looking at the uh
the annual average diesel gasoline cost
[31:22] graph. I We like to show this every year
as part of my presentation because uh
[31:28] really the entire highway department
budget goes as energy costs go. And uh
[31:34] you can see from this graph right now uh
the red and the green lines represent
[31:41] just our annual average cost per gallon
for gasoline and diesel fuel. And you
[31:45] can see at the end of 2025 we were in
pretty good shape or end of 2025 we were
[31:51] in good shape.
um with fuel costs and diesel costs
[31:55] around 260 to 270 a gallon. But 2026, uh
it's pretty much been a straight line
[32:02] up. You can see from the blue line, the
the blue line represents our individual
[32:08] uh unit prices that we pay when we buy
tankers. We buy uh eight or nine tankers
[32:13] of diesel fuel every year. So the blue
line reflects our cost of each tanker.
[32:19] Uh, our most recent our most recent
tanker purchase was $4.24 a gallon. Now,
[32:27] last year when I was here giving this
budget presentation, I told you that our
[32:31] most recent [cough]
diesel tanker purchase was 259 a gallon.
[32:35] So, that's an increase of $165
in one year. Um, I guess
[32:42] trying to be positive, it's lower than
the high price we paid in June of 22,
[32:48] which was $4.78 a gallon, but it's also
significantly higher than the 97 cents a
[32:54] gallon we paid just 24 months earlier in
2020.
[32:58] » So, fuel costs are once again having an
impact. And
[33:04] I I'm really concerned because uh I mean
we haven't seen the worst of fuel costs.
[33:10] It's going to get worse probably before
it gets better if you believe what the
[33:14] experts say. Uh so turning then to our
operations budget revenue.
[33:20] Um so this graph just shows where our
revenue comes from for for our uh our
[33:25] operations budget. 54% of it or a little
over 3.4 4 million is from uh county
[33:31] state aid highway revenue. Most of this
comes to us through our uh annual
[33:37] aortionment of which 40% uh is for
maintenance. We can use it to maintain
[33:42] our county state aid highway system. Uh
the next biggest category is is levy
[33:47] revenue which this year we're asking for
1.9 a little over 1.9 million of levy
[33:53] revenue. So that represent 30% of our
operations cost. And then the remaining
[33:59] revenue is just what we call our local
non- levy revenue which is which amounts
[34:03] to about a million dollars close to 16%
of the total revenue. Uh that revenue is
[34:09] basically just revenue that we earn from
selling supplies and services to
[34:15] townships. We do engineering work for
townships for their projects. Uh, so
[34:20] this year we have $70,000 of
reimbursement for engineering work from
[34:25] Glenn and Melmo Townships for for work
we're doing on their projects. We also
[34:29] have $120,000
uh shown here of the county development
[34:34] funds that DJ was just talking about uh
to help offset the costs of aggregate
[34:39] surfacing that we're going to process
this coming year.
[34:43] » John,
>> yes.
[34:44] » I just have a question about do you do
you have to purchase dyed
[34:50] fuel and off-road or can you just use
dyed? I mean, there's a big difference.
[34:56] » So, when when we purchase fuel, uh we we
don't pay any taxes on it, right?
[35:02] » We track where that fuel goes. So, the
fuel that ends up being used by our
[35:07] trucks that are using the roads,
>> the onroad,
[35:09] » we we will end up paying the on-road
taxes or that fuel
[35:14] » for the fuel that goes into our off-road
equipment, our dozer, our loaders, our
[35:19] backho,
>> we don't have to pay the the highway
[35:22] user taxes on that on on that.
>> Okay. So, you don't even purchase dyed.
[35:28] » I'm when you when you ask that question,
I'm trying to remember. I I guess I'm
[35:32] not sure if we if we purchase the dyed
or the undyed, but we I mean we
[35:37] » Yeah, there's on-road and off-road,
>> right? We I I'm pretty sure we pay we we
[35:42] purchase the on-road okay
>> fuel. We just don't pay the taxes and
[35:45] then we pay the taxes monthly after we
track the use.
[35:49] » Okay.
[35:56] So the next uh the next page then is
just a graph showing our annual county
[36:01] state aid highway aortionment. You can
see that luckily our our state aid
[36:05] aortionment does continue to increase.
We're anticipating a 3.9% increase for
[36:11] this coming year 2027.
>> John does that come out of the state gas
[36:16] tax?
>> The the gas tax is one of the components
[36:20] of the highway user trust fund. The
other components are the uh the tab fees
[36:26] that you pay annually to renew your
vehicle [clears throat] license. Um also
[36:31] motor vehicle sales tax, a portion of
that goes goes into the highway user
[36:36] trust fund. But yeah, the fuel tax and
the license tab fees are are the two big
[36:40] ones.
>> Okay. Thank you.
[36:42] » Revenue.
[36:45] And you know I should mention on that um
two two two years ago they were there
[36:52] was a drastic increase to vehicle
license tab fees which resulted in you
[36:56] know some nice revenue increases for us
unfortunately. It also resulted in a lot
[37:02] of really high tab fees for a lot of
people and it's become a political issue
[37:07] uh since then. So, this past year's
legislature, they did, I think, just for
[37:12] a one-year, just a one-year time frame,
they rolled back the tab fees uh to what
[37:18] they were previously, and they they
supplanted it with general fund dollars.
[37:23] So, the highway user trust fund would
take a hit, but it's going to be
[37:26] interesting to see what happens going
forward with that. Um because we now
[37:31] with our with regard to our tab fees, we
are not only the highest in the region,
[37:36] we are significantly higher than any
other state in the region when it comes
[37:39] to tab fees. So I'm sure they will
continue to be a you know a hot topic at
[37:44] the legislature and whether whether
those increases and the revenue that
[37:47] accompanies it is sustainable or not. I
guess we'll find out.
[37:51] » Mr. Chair,
>> yes, Commissioner Westerland.
[37:54] » Where does all the specialty money go
for licenses? you know, like the the
[37:58] black ones and the I mean, it it's an
extra cost
[38:02] for the, you know, the lady slipper and
all the Minnesota special.
[38:07] » Kathleen,
>> Kathleen [clears throat] Brian, our
[38:09] county auditor.
>> I can see her over there.
[38:13] » Thanks for chiming.
>> Yeah, I can answer that. I can't answer
[38:16] all of them, but like the blackout
plates that you mentioned, those that
[38:20] money goes into the general fund. I'm
not sure if that's going to highway or
[38:23] not, but I know that money goes to the
general fund. The other licenses go to
[38:27] specific funds. So like the state park
license plates that those funds go into
[38:33] the state park money. So some of those
specialty license do have specific funds
[38:37] that that money is going to not just
like general fund or highway funds.
[38:42] » Well, and the black ones are not cheap.
>> No,
[38:46] » I mean they're so and a lot of them are
I call the willy-nilly fund where we
[38:51] don't even know where that money goes.
>> Yeah. So the black ones I know are going
[38:55] into the general state general fund for
the state. The other ones are do have
[38:59] specific reasons that they are funding.
>> That's why I won't buy one. [laughter]
[39:04] » Thank you, Kathleen.
>> Does the bedroom?
[39:07] » Thank you. I'm glad [clears throat]
someone had the answer to that question.
[39:10] » Yes. Thank you, Kathleen.
>> Yeah.
[39:12] » Um so so moving on to our our total
operations revenue uh sheet here. Then
[39:17] we're showing the 6.4% that's on your
sheet is actually an air. It's 5.6% 6%
[39:23] increase in our total operations revenue
from 2026. Uh our state aid maintenance
[39:29] revenue, I already said that's
increasing 3.9% from 2026. Um county
[39:34] state aid highway construction revenue.
This is where we can use our
[39:37] construction fund uh our construction
funds that come to us from our state aid
[39:42] allocation. The 60% component uh that
typically is used for construction. We
[39:46] can also use that to reimburse staff
engineering time. And so typically we
[39:50] budget between 200 and $300,000
based on the year based on how many
[39:56] reimburseable costs we think we're going
to have. Uh this year we think we're
[39:59] going to have more. So we increased that
to 300,000. So that's a $100,000
[40:03] increase from 2026. That helped reduce
the levy. Um non-local levy revenue. I
[40:10] already mentioned the $120,000 of uh
county development funds that we've
[40:15] asked for as well as the township
engineering reimbursement. So that
[40:19] leaves a local levy revenue increase of
6% from 2026 that we're asking for from
[40:25] the operations for the operations
budget. So with that, I'll I'll move on
[40:30] to capital equipment facility unless
there's any questions about operations.
[40:35] So capital equipment and facilities. Um
we're showing a total of $757,000
[40:43] in expenditures in this budget. That is
a 16% decrease from 2026. The reason for
[40:49] that decrease is you recall last year I
told you that we had two pieces of
[40:53] equipment that were uh giving us major
maintenance problems and we wanted them
[40:58] out of our fleet. So we uh we replaced
we we included those two pieces of
[41:03] equipment that elevated our uh our
expenditures [clears throat]
[41:07] last year. So this year uh that's what's
resulting in the 16% decrease. We're
[41:13] kind of back now to a normal a normal
maintenance program for equipment.
[41:18] Facility improvements. 130,000 uh
130,000 of that 757 is for facility
[41:26] improvements. We're continuing to budget
100,000 a year uh for what we're
[41:31] planning in 2028 to expand our Aken
shop. Um, we also are have included
[41:39] $30,000 for some lot resurfacing work in
McGregor.
[41:44] Equipment replacements uh amount to
572,000
[41:48] of that 757,000.
But the interesting thing about that
[41:52] 572,000 is we're not buying a single
piece of or we're not replacing a single
[41:58] piece of equipment [cough and laughter]
in 2027. It's all either paying back
[42:01] purchases that have already happened or
uh starting to budget for future
[42:06] purchases. So, you can see the amounts
there. Uh 336,000 of that is for our our
[42:11] 2025 tandem truck purchase. Uh and
there's amounts there, 50,000 and 36,000
[42:18] for a couple of equipment purchases that
happened last year. Uh again, the
[42:23] purchases have already happened. The
money is just budgeted in multiple years
[42:26] to uh to soften the effect. Uh and then
we're starting to budget $150,000 for
[42:33] our next round of tandem truck purchases
in 2028. We are however adding a piece
[42:38] of equipment. U it wasn't too many years
ago. We have three belly dump trailers
[42:42] that we haul gravel with in the summer.
wasn't too many years ago, probably five
[42:46] or six, that we would take the dump
boxes off of three of our plow trucks,
[42:50] put on a fifth wheel hitch, and use them
to pull the belly dumps. Uh we started
[42:55] analyzing costs of doing that. And we
thought, you know, it's probably going
[43:00] to be better if we would just buy a used
high mileage truck chassis that we could
[43:04] end up hauling probably three yards more
in those belly dump trailers with
[43:09] because they're so much lighter than our
plow trucks. So, we did that. We did two
[43:13] of them and this is we're proposing to
do the third one. The payback on this
[43:17] $55,000 expenditure is probably as
little as five or six years just from
[43:22] increased efficiencies. So, it's
something that we wanted to do as soon
[43:26] as possible and we added that in to the
2027 budget.
[43:30] Uh in your in your attachments uh were
the the the complete five-year capital
[43:37] equipment and facility plan. I'm not
going to go over that, but you can see
[43:40] every piece of equipment and what's
planned for the next 5 years. If you add
[43:44] the totals of the equipment and the
facility plan, you'll see that uh again,
[43:50] this year we're at about 757,000.
In 2031, we're projected to be at
[43:56] 85,000. That's that's good news. I guess
that's less than a percent and a half
[44:01] increase uh per year over those five
years. that, you know, if those numbers
[44:06] hold true, uh hopefully our uh increases
in capital uh equipment and facilities
[44:12] will be start starting to level out a
little bit. The chart on the or the
[44:17] graph on the next page, you can see how
those uh expenditures have increased
[44:22] over the years and you can also see by
the dotted lines how it's uh anticipated
[44:27] to start to level out. Hopefully
hopefully that happens.
[44:37] » [clears throat]
>> So then on to capital infrastructure
[44:39] budget. Um
I didn't I did not uh give any
[44:45] information on our 5-year capital road
improvement plan. I'll be scheduling a
[44:49] separate board agenda item for that
probably in October. So I'm just going
[44:54] to very briefly go over this. Our 2027
expenditures for our capital
[44:58] infrastructure show 162,000 in
professional services, a little over 6.9
[45:04] million in contract payments. Uh 2027
revenue, you can see the revenue sources
[45:09] there. Uh everything from uh well I
should mention our local levy 740,000.
[45:15] We're not increasing that at all from
last year. Uh that's in part due to the
[45:21] action you took last year to uh change
the road designations on some of our
[45:27] routes. We saw some major improvements
coming up on some of our county roads
[45:30] and we made at least one of those routes
into a county state highway route. So
[45:35] that's now a county state aid highway
expenditure rather than a county road.
[45:39] So that, you know, that's that was a big
part of why we're able to uh, you know,
[45:44] hold that local levy for our for our
county road construction program level
[45:50] uh for now and and hopefully for the
foreseeable future, although we'll see
[45:54] what happens with costs. We have
$953,000
[45:58] of state park road accounts uh listed as
revenue. That's for a Malmo Township
[46:03] project that came up rather quickly and
we wasn't included in the 2026 budget.
[46:07] So, it's included in 2027 even though
the construction is happening this year.
[46:12] Uh we're showing about $229,000
in bond funds from the local bridge
[46:17] replacement program. So, once again, you
know, we're continuing to utilize uh
[46:21] that program through the through the
bonding bill at the legislature. [cough]
[46:26] And I'm not sure if I was trying to
think if I ever made the board aware of
[46:30] this, but this past year there was a
solicitation for local road improvement
[46:33] funds, which is also a bonding program
uh through the state. It's very
[46:38] competitive program. Probably less than
20% of the projects get funded. But we
[46:45] were fortunate enough to get a $1.5
million grant uh that was announced to
[46:50] us this past I think May for our work on
County Road 14 that we're planning for
[46:55] 2027. So that's included in the budget
and the remaining three and a half
[47:00] million is just our regular state aid
construction funds. So total revenues
[47:05] and expenditures that we're showing in
our capital infrastructure budget are a
[47:08] little over $7 million.
So then on to the budget summary. Just
[47:13] to summarize all three budgets.
[clears throat]
[47:30] So on the on the top uh is list is our
our revenue which you can see just
[47:36] matches our expenditures. So, I'm just
going to talk about the expenditures.
[47:41] Uh, our operating expenditures, as I
said, are increasing 5.1%.
[47:46] Our capital equipment expenditures are
decreasing 16% and our capital
[47:51] infrastructure expenditures are
decreasing about 32%. So, a total of
[47:56] 14,811497
[48:00] uh is our 2027 proposed budget. Uh, and
again, that's an overall 17.4% 4%
[48:07] decrease primarily because of the
equipment, the capital equipment and
[48:11] capital infrastructure portions of the
budget. Again, the operating budget did
[48:16] increase by 5.1%.
And then if you look at the uh the chart
[48:22] showing the local levy revenue summary.
Uh so here uh the percentages aren't
[48:28] shown, but we're showing a 6% increase
in our operation. Local levy for
[48:33] equipment, it's an 8% increase. And as I
said for capital infrastructure, we're
[48:37] budgeting the same 740,000. So no
increase there. But what we're asking
[48:42] for then total local levy is just under
3.4 million, which is a 5 05% increase
[48:50] from last year. And then finally, just
this last sheet, I just like to show the
[48:56] historical uh perspective on our our
levy amounts because it, you know, it
[49:01] gives really a a reflection of our of
our overall financial situation in the
[49:05] highway department. You know, we have
our programs, we have our revenue
[49:10] sources that we can tap into, but at the
end, it's the local levy that makes up
[49:15] the difference. So you can see here uh
you know dating back to 2011 through
[49:20] 2021 our local levy amounts were were
really stable. I mean very little
[49:26] increase during those years. But since
then I think we all remember what
[49:30] happened in 2020 and since then costs
have just uh gone through the roof on
[49:35] pretty much everything that we use. Uh
although not not all at the same time.
[49:40] That's what was kind of interesting that
some costs went through the roof
[49:43] initially and then went down. Others
went through the roof later and we're
[49:47] still waiting for them to come down. But
you can see that, you know, although
[49:50] we're proposing a 5.05% increase for
this year, that's a 34% increase over
[49:56] what we levied just 5 years ago. And,
you know, interestingly, only 37%
[50:01] increase over what we levied 10 years
ago. So, that just shows how this last
[50:06] five years have really been uh tough on
property tax levies. uh just trying to
[50:12] deliver the same services. Uh just
[50:18] » that's all I have unless there's any
other questions.
[50:21] » Commissioners,
>> uh John, for 26
[50:28] [cough]
we budgeted we budgeted 6.64 64 million
[50:35] operating
and then as of June 30th we're at 3
[50:41] million7,000.
[50:46] How are we looking? Are we going to come
in
[50:50] under budget over budget?
Pretty close. You see where I'm going
[50:54] with that?
>> I think we're going to come in under
[50:57] budget again. um just because of a
couple of things is that that vacant
[51:02] position that I talked about. I mean,
we're we're nine months into the year
[51:08] now and the position's been vacant and
will continue to be vacant. Um you know,
[51:14] there's I think everything else in the
operations budget, we've tried really
[51:18] hard to keep it close to budget and I I
guess I expect that the end of the year
[51:22] will be very close to that 6.6.
>> And Mr. Mr. Chair, I just want to
[51:27] compliment Mr. Welli here. Since I've
been a commissioner, he's one of the
[51:34] only department heads that I can walk in
and say, "Where are we at on the budget,
[51:39] on your budget?" And he's on top of it.
That's very impressive to a dumb country
[51:47] boy like me. Thank you.
>> Just one correction. My staff is on top
[51:52] of it.
>> Thank you.
[51:55] » Thanks, John. Thanks, John.
>> Good report. Thank you, John.
[51:57] » Thank you.
>> Your staff did an excellent job on 62,
[52:04] by the way.
>> Thank you.
[52:08] » There's three different types of
government county accounting.
[52:12] There's your general accounting like our
household
[52:17] budgets.
[clears throat]
[52:19] And then you have health and human
services. I mean, it's way out there.
[52:23] It's a specialty. and you've got road
and bridge. It's just a very unique
[52:29] thing the average person cannot
hardly comprehend.
[52:34] » Can I make one correction? You got
fourth, the sheriff's department and the
[52:39] jail. Their stuff is
>> with the doc.
[52:43] » Yeah,
>> that's a little bit complicated, too. Uh
[52:48] on to uh preliminary 2027 budget.
Kathleen Ryan, County Auditor. Welcome,
[52:55] Kathleen.
>> Okay.
[52:57] » And I believe everybody has the uh
handout.
[53:00] » Yes, sir.
[53:06] » Um I'm going to recap the general fund
budget kind of a little bit for you
[53:12] guys. You had presentations from the
other departments, Health and Human
[53:16] Services,
um road and bridge, um land department.
[53:21] So, I'm just going to kind of recap
what's been going on in the general fund
[53:24] and then talk about the preliminary levy
and ask for direction as far as um how
[53:29] the board wants to set the preliminary
levy. We do need to set the preliminary
[53:34] levy at the next meeting in September.
This again will be setting the
[53:38] preliminary levy. It can go down, but it
[snorts] cannot go up.
[53:43] So, with that, um I believe you have
handouts. So again, um the budget
[53:49] committee met on August 24th. We
reviewed the budget adjustments to
[53:53] develop a um preliminary levy increase
recommendation for the overall board of
[53:58] commissioners. Um this presentation will
highlight key budget adjustments and
[54:02] provide an opportunity for board to
discuss um for discussion and direction
[54:07] as we move forward finalizing that
preliminary levy
[54:11] where we're sitting. So overall levy and
again this is including all departments.
[54:15] So, Roaden Bridge Health and Human
Services, not [clears throat] land
[54:18] department because land department is
not a levy department minus parks.
[54:23] Um, total revenue is 44,88,000.
Total expenditures $46,170.
[54:32] So, total levy we're requesting is
20,516,30.
[54:39] This is representing an 8.09%
increase.
[54:43] This did increase from the budget
committee. Those on the budget
[54:46] committee, I was stating something a
little bit lower. In the meantime, we
[54:50] did get updated um MCIT numbers. So,
those have been included in here.
[54:55] » Kathleen, how about health insurance?
What did that go up?
[54:58] » So, we are budgeting 15% for
>> We still don't know.
[55:01] » We do not know and we will not know
health insurance until end of October.
[55:06] » So, that's the hard thing with in health
insurance. We don't get that until far
[55:10] after the preliminary levy's been set,
>> but we haven't been raised for a couple
[55:15] years, have we?
>> Mr. Chair and Commissioner, um, so the
[55:22] indications that Bobby has been getting
is to expect a double-digit increase.
[55:27] So, we don't know the number, but we
have been advised that it's going to be
[55:31] a significant increase, which is why
there's 15% uh in the budget.
[55:36] » Okay. And again airing on the side of
caution as Kathleen indicated once a
[55:42] preliminary budget is established
officially it can go down but not up and
[55:49] I don't think we need to shortch change
ourselves
[55:52] » underestimating [clears throat]
what this insurance it it's got a
[55:56] dramatic effect. So,
>> and I believe last year, so two years
[56:00] ago, insurance went down from our
preliminary levy projection, but last
[56:06] year it actually increased. Um, and so
we had to kind of consider in some fund
[56:12] balance to cover that because it was
after the preliminary levy was set. And
[56:16] I don't remember what that increase was,
but I know it was more than what we had
[56:20] set in the le.
>> Okay.
[56:22] » I got a question, Mr. Chair.
>> Yes, sir. pipeline money.
[56:26] [clears throat]
>> When do we get that and how do we figure
[56:29] that in the budget?
>> So, we don't get pipeline money,
[56:32] » but [clears throat]
>> the pipeline increases our net tax
[56:35] capacity. So, they're figured into the
formula as far as when we are, you know,
[56:41] calculating taxes overall. They pay
taxes on their net tax capacity just
[56:46] like other taxpayers in the county. So
the the county, you know, sets our levy.
[56:53] That levy is allocated out per tax
calculation ac across all net tax
[56:58] capacities through the county. So the
pipeline pays their portion based on
[57:03] their net tax capacity of how that
pipeline is valued.
[57:08] » They don't they don't pay us $50
million. So they don't do that. They are
[57:12] taxed like any other
>> basically property tax income.
[57:16] » Correct.
>> Okay. Just I just wanted to Dave
[57:20] » just since um Commissioner Sample raised
the issue of pipeline [snorts]
[57:25] I think everyone is aware that Enbridge
is at in tax court with the state of
[57:30] Minnesota and these are state assessed
properties. So the state of Minnesota
[57:34] assigns the value off of which the tax
capacity is calculated. If, as happened
[57:41] several years ago, if there's a
significant adverse ruling from tax
[57:45] court, then that would actually be real
money that would be due back to the uh
[57:51] Enbridge in this case.
>> Scary.
[57:54] » Yeah.
>> And that comes from the state or from
[57:56] us?
>> No, it would.
[57:59] » It depends on what happens. it for it to
come from anyone other than the county
[58:05] and the other taxing jurisdictions would
require a state law change.
[58:10] » Okay.
>> So, last time the state covered it. This
[58:13] time is not necessarily the case.
>> No guarantees.
[58:17] » No guarantees and it can last a long
period of time. So, we're in an unknown
[58:23] situation right here and until
>> collecting interest if they do get a
[58:26] ruling in their favor.
Nice. Um, with the so part of this levy
[58:34] increase, the 8.09%
increase, we're also figuring in a
[58:39] general fund deficit of 1.3 million,
almost $1.4 million. So, we are using
[58:46] fund balance to then bring that down to
that $ 8.09%.
[58:50] » And [clears throat] then where are we at
with that 1.3? I think I asked you this
[58:56] the other day, Dave. We're at 47 48%.
>> Uh, Mr. Chair, Commissioner Sample, um,
[59:04] Kathleen has a slide coming up that
shows those and so if you can hold your
[59:08] question until she gets here, I think it
will become clear.
[59:12] » Mr. Chair,
>> yes, Commissioner [clears throat] Leisa,
[59:14] » with that budgeted deficit or planned
use of fund balance, that again is
[59:18] one-time expenditures, not ongoing
operation support,
[59:21] » right? So that's we're looking at
capital increases. Part of that is it
[59:25] which is a major contract that we're
paying and it will come up again in the
[59:30] future but it's not a yearly ongoing.
>> Thank you.
[59:34] » Um so of the proposed levy just to kind
of detail that down from for everyone.
[59:40] Um the general fund is 11.997
that's a 6.59%.
[59:46] Road and bridge is a 5.05%.
Um, Health and Human Services is at 4.4
[59:52] million. That's a 14.17%.
[59:56] Bond principal and interest is $73,952.
That's an increase of 13.4%.
[1:00:05] Um, we went through arbitrage and was
were evaluated a couple years ago and
[1:00:11] found out that our fund balance in the
bond fund was too high and we had to
[1:00:16] spend that down, which we did. So now
we're [clears throat] now we're just
[1:00:21] budgeting for our principal and interest
that we have to pay yearly. So that is
[1:00:25] where that increase is coming from. And
I think I brought this up at the budget
[1:00:29] committee. I was questioning
you know the bond payment is a fixed
[1:00:38] payment. uh there's no escrow unlike you
know our mortgages and but then using
[1:00:45] this financial arbitrage or as one of my
economic professors
[1:00:50] um financial leverage quote unquote we
were actually gaining we were paying
[1:00:58] what what's our bond payment we hit it
at a low rate
[1:01:00] » we have a very very low rate our bond
payment is low but also that then that
[1:01:06] yeah and our interest was a little
higher than our bond payment interest.
[1:01:11] So, um we can't benefit from that.
>> We can't That was one of my first
[1:01:16] questions when we went through the
bonding phase. Um can we use this
[1:01:22] financial leverage? You know, we're
paying 2%
[1:01:26] um on the bond. I'm just taking figures,
>> but we can make 3% with our investments.
[1:01:35] and Kirk Baser at the time, you can't do
that. That's the arbitrage. That's the
[1:01:41] That's the reason we have to pay it
back.
[1:01:44] [cough and snorts]
[1:01:46] » So though, and then parks is um we levy
$15,000 for parks. We have forever. I'm
[1:01:53] not quite sure where that number came
from, why it's set at 15,000, and we
[1:01:56] haven't increased it. Um that's
something that I want to investigate
[1:01:59] further, but currently for 2027, we are
holding at 15,000. Um, so that is an
[1:02:07] increase in levy of $1.5 million.
1,534985.
[1:02:13] So that's our 8.09%.
And again, that's with that deficit in
[1:02:18] the general fund. A majority of this is
um onetime capital, you know, the IT
[1:02:24] upgrade projects that we're looking at
[1:02:29] on to fund balance. So, um, looking at
our fund balance in the general fund,
[1:02:35] um, and this is updated. We haven't
offici we don't officially have our 2025
[1:02:40] audit finalized. They will be reporting
to the board in October, but we do have
[1:02:45] preliminary fund balance numbers. So, I
was able to update those. So, um, ending
[1:02:51] fund balance, unassigned fund balance
for the general fund is 10,743,595.
[1:02:58] Um if we go with the um
um option of spending or you know or
[1:03:07] spending 40 or keeping 40% of
operations, we still have 2.9 million
[1:03:13] almost $3 million um available to spend.
If we want to go with um only using or
[1:03:21] keeping 50% for operations of our fund
balance, then we have $1.2 2 million
[1:03:28] above and beyond that we are able to
spend. [snorts]
[1:03:32] » Mr. Chair,
>> yeah, it's Steve.
[1:03:34] » So, Kathleen, just to [clears throat]
make sure the arithmetic in my head is
[1:03:38] working, if we take that budget deficit
of $1.3 million on the previous page,
[1:03:44] that lines up with close to that $1.2
million. So if we spend the reserves as
[1:03:52] planned, we would be just under 15% or
50% but well above 40% of fund balance
[1:03:59] remaining. So well within the target
range that the board has set.
[1:04:03] » Correct. Thank you.
>> And that's a state recommendation,
[1:04:08] right? That we stay between 40 and 50%.
>> Correct. That is a office of the state
[1:04:13] auditor.
>> Yes.
[1:04:15] » Okay. Thank you.
>> And I do have road and bridge on there
[1:04:18] also. Um and Health and Human Services.
Health and [laughter] Human Services,
[1:04:22] you'll notice, is um low and under. Part
of that is because they are in the
[1:04:28] middle of their building project. Um it
is a $6 million project, $4 million
[1:04:35] coming out of their fund balance, $2
million to be repaid by the state
[1:04:39] bonding on that. But at the moment, um,
that is where they are sitting at at the
[1:04:44] end of 2025, holding the additional $2
million for the remainder of the
[1:04:48] project.
[1:04:51] » So, Mr. Chair,
>> yes, Commissioner Leisa,
[1:04:54] » they're showing below the 40% only until
that 2 million is paid back.
[1:04:58] » Yes.
>> And that'll be added to what they have.
[1:05:00] » The 2 million when we get that bonding,
that will be in. So, 2026 then it will
[1:05:04] kind of flush out because well, the
project will be finalized. will have the
[1:05:08] 2 million bonding but we will also be
spending which we have held the 2
[1:05:12] million that that they have held and the
2 million that the general fund has held
[1:05:16] for that.
>> Okay. Thanks.
[1:05:20] » So
where is the
[1:05:24] 2 million that's being held in the
general fund or
[1:05:28] » so? Health and human services has $2
million and the general fund has $2
[1:05:33] million reserve. We both do because it
was a total of $4 million out of fund
[1:05:38] balance overall.
>> Okay.
[1:05:41] » And Mr. Chair
>> and Kathleen, those do not show up on
[1:05:46] this chart because those are assigned
versus unassigned, right?
[1:05:50] » Correct. Yes.
[1:05:57] Um then this is a general fund
expenditure comparison is on the next
[1:06:02] slide just to go through the different
categories in the general fund. Um you
[1:06:07] will notice that the general government
um expenditures increased from 8.72
[1:06:14] million to 10.1 million. Public safety
um went down from 9.47 million to 9.41
[1:06:22] million.
The other areas um sanitation is four
[1:06:28] went up um slightly. Culture, recreation
is actually the library, historical
[1:06:34] society, airport, tourism and parks.
That's went down just a little bit. Um
[1:06:39] and then
we have conservation, natural resources,
[1:06:45] that's our egg society, our soil water
conservation district, and our
[1:06:49] extension.
um that went down slightly and then
[1:06:53] economic development um went up a little
bit. Just to explain the difference
[1:06:58] between general government and public
safety, why that shifted, we are
[1:07:02] shifting some of the ways that we budget
and pay expenditures. We're centralizing
[1:07:07] some items. One is insurance, one is our
facility maintenance, our utilities. So
[1:07:13] those expenditures are shifting out of
public safety and into general
[1:07:17] government just because they're shifting
into the central services area. So
[1:07:22] general government is paying for all
departments out of revenue fund is out
[1:07:27] of one line item so we can track that
better not splitting it all over. So
[1:07:32] that's the biggest change between those
two. It's not necessarily a really
[1:07:36] downturn in expenditures or anything.
basically just in the courthouse
[1:07:42] area
>> kind of yeah that's what you can see the
[1:07:45] revenue fund
>> roadenbridgeidge it's just
[1:07:47] » well the sheriff's department so jail
jail jail facility maintenance is
[1:07:51] shifted to the central
>> central services our general government
[1:07:56] okay
>> so that's why some of those expenditures
[1:07:58] are going down in public safety is
because those centralized expenditures
[1:08:01] are going into central services out of
the general fund public safety is part
[1:08:07] of the general revenue fund Yep.
>> But some of those expenditures are
[1:08:11] shifting to a different
centralized department area. Insurance
[1:08:16] is a big one. MCIT, that's a large
expenditures that we're pulling in
[1:08:20] centralizing. Workman's comp, it went up
32%
[1:08:24] this year. So that was a large increase
in insurance.
[1:08:28] Okay.
>> On the MCIT, kind of a peripheral
[1:08:31] question, Kathleen. Um is that
[clears throat] based on uh overall
[1:08:38] usage or
>> individual?
[1:08:42] » It's a based on usage. So each um
employee category,
[1:08:48] you know, um we have different employee
categories, ratings based on their
[1:08:53] positions and their jobs, which are
throughout the county. So, it's based on
[1:08:57] experience and usage, but it's also
based on payroll and expenditures and
[1:09:02] overall budget. So, it's kind of a
formula that they use.
[1:09:05] » Okay. Thanks for that clarification.
[1:09:11] » Um, so just so you know, insurance is
$214,511.
[1:09:16] Utilities is 150,000. So, those are some
of those expenditures that were
[1:09:21] centralized into general government.
Um, in revenue, just a note, revenue
[1:09:29] went down quite a bit. One of that is
because interest income was reduced by
[1:09:33] $200,000 from 2026.
And then also um are we have no in
[1:09:41] previous years we budgeted a payroll
contingency revenue offset in general
[1:09:48] central services general government. We
did not do that revenue offset this
[1:09:52] year. what we did to kind of have more
transparency and kind of show a
[1:09:58] reduction in um salary budget like John
does we did revenue fund we did salaries
[1:10:06] at 98%
instead of 100%. So we lowered salary
[1:10:11] expenditure line instead of doing a
revenue offset to really more clearly
[1:10:16] show that. So you're going to see that
in expenditures versus a revenue offset.
[1:10:21] So you're going to
revenues went down because of that
[1:10:26] if that makes sense.
>> Yep.
[1:10:29] » But I think and David and I spoke about
this. I think it's a better clearer
[1:10:33] representation of
>> that expenditure budget is that actually
[1:10:39] » budgeting a lower expenditure versus
having a revenue offset. Y
[1:10:47] » um so changes when I first came and did
the general fund um budget presentation
[1:10:51] to you. Here's some changes that have
come through. Um total revenue went down
[1:10:57] 720,263
of that was the levy reduction of
[1:11:02] $665,000.
Expenditures went down 665,000.
[1:11:09] um and the f general fund deficit
increased 54,000.
[1:11:14] Some of the changes in that in those
changes um included MCIT. We have
[1:11:19] property and casualty is increasing
6.94%
[1:11:24] overall for the county. Workers
compensation is increasing 30.96%
[1:11:30] overall for the county.
salaries. Um, again, I just spoke about
[1:11:36] that is we're budgeting those line items
at 98%.
[1:11:40] Um, I did budget commissioner salaries
at a 3% increase versus the 7% increase
[1:11:47] as far as what other um employees are
being paid and we'll discuss that
[1:11:53] further
in a little bit in the future.
[1:11:57] And then um overall just salary view
review and adjustments. We went through
[1:12:02] and made sure that everything was um
entered correctly and we did have some
[1:12:06] adjustments between regular time and
overtime and stuff that shifted some of
[1:12:10] those expenditures.
The other things included in this is a
[1:12:16] zero increase for um so appropriations
overall a zero increase so no increase
[1:12:22] in appropriations excluding the MCIT
coverage
[1:12:27] um not funding support within reach
because it's not legally allowed and no
[1:12:32] new funding available for angels. So
those are some of the considerations in
[1:12:37] those changes that are noted up above.
So, Kathleen, I have a question about
[1:12:42] the workers compensation, why it
[clears throat] went up so high. Is that
[1:12:45] because of usage?
>> It's a combination of usage, but it's
[1:12:49] also because of salary increases and
expenditure increases because they base
[1:12:54] that that amount based on our our
payroll budget
[1:12:58] » because if something happened, that's
what you would have they would have to
[1:13:00] pay out.
>> Yep. So, it's part of their formula that
[1:13:03] they cover. So when we get a um
hopefully we'll get a dividend back or a
[1:13:10] repay back if things come in lower next
year. But they always you know bill us
[1:13:14] for the projection and then as actuals
come out and they balance out then later
[1:13:19] in the year in 2027 then they'll
determine if we have any funds that will
[1:13:23] come back to us.
>> So do they consider like that new FMLA
[1:13:28] charge that we get? They don't consider
that that they these few folks can use
[1:13:32] that if they had to because because it's
work comp.
[1:13:35] » Not as not as far as I'm aware. I have
not heard that.
[1:13:38] » Well, I mean we have to just pay and pay
and pay all this insurance and what's
[1:13:43] the return? Zero. I mean, well, it's not
zero, but
[1:13:49] I [clears throat] just asking.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I'm not sure. I have not
[1:13:52] heard that from MCIT. Okay.
>> It's what I've heard is their formulas,
[1:13:56] budget, payroll expenditures, and then
usage.
[1:13:59] » Yeah. And Mr. Chair, just for clarity,
so the workers comp is intended to
[1:14:03] compensate people who are injured on the
job.
[1:14:06] » On the job, correct?
>> And then the paid leave is to allow time
[1:14:11] off for a variety of eligible uses,
illness, injury, care for others. And so
[1:14:17] they're two separate programs.
>> Yep. And I and I get that. I'm just
[1:14:21] wondering if there's
>> the expense to pay.
[1:14:24] » There's a there's a common payer.
>> Yeah, absolutely.
[1:14:29] the taxpayers.
>> So, I have some levy increase scenarios.
[1:14:34] Um, again, we're currently at 8.09%.
That's where we're currently sitting
[1:14:39] with the adjustments that have been
made. I just wanted to put some numbers
[1:14:43] in front of you so you can have an idea
of of what other adjustments would be
[1:14:49] needed. So, if if the board would wanted
to go with a 7% um preliminary increase,
[1:14:56] we would need to reduce another 206,000
out of the budget. If we wanted to try
[1:15:02] to go with a 5% increase, we'd have to
reduce another 585,000,
[1:15:07] almost 586,000.
And if we wanted to go with a 3% that
[1:15:13] that would we'd be looking at almost
966,000
[1:15:16] in reduction in dollars in order to get
those levy increase percentages.
[1:15:22] [snorts]
So do we know any forecast about some of
[1:15:28] the expenses that we're going to have
for [clears throat] 2027? I mean, do we
[1:15:32] know any 2027 numbers through Health and
Human Services or the new huge costs
[1:15:37] they're talking about with the
>> So, Carly and Sarah have I believe those
[1:15:42] figured into their budget, which is in
this and I know Sarah says um and what
[1:15:47] I've heard Sarah state is 2027 they're
managing 2028 is making her nervous.
[1:15:54] » Yeah. So, and I'm I don't think they
really know what that projection looks
[1:15:59] like yet because it's still a moving
floor.
[1:16:02] » That's what you get when you kick the
can down the road.
[1:16:06] » That's right. [laughter]
>> And just to follow up on the health and
[1:16:11] human services discussion, we know there
is more work required by those staff.
[1:16:18] Sarah did not request any additional
staff in her 2027 budget. And so, um,
[1:16:24] it's still just, you know, pointing that
out. There are many counties that you're
[1:16:28] aware of that have added or are planning
to add staff in 2027 to help for that
[1:16:33] additional work. We have chosen not to
do that because the levy already is, you
[1:16:38] know, projected to be extremely high,
>> but that's why it's going to get worse
[1:16:42] in 28 29. I mean, so
>> is that really a good idea? I mean,
[1:16:48] should we not
>> plan ahead? plan ahead and get one or
[1:16:52] two more people now. I mean, I don't
know. I mean,
[1:16:57] » we also have I mean,
>> you know, we have major elections coming
[1:17:01] up, both federal and state, and we still
have a year of
[1:17:04] » of
policy that can be shifted one way or
[1:17:08] the other.
>> So,
[1:17:10] » a lot of unknowns.
Well, I'm just saying,
[1:17:15] » Kathleen.
>> So, I'm gonna I'm gonna finish up my two
[1:17:20] last slides and then I'm going to
discuss what I'm looking for from the
[1:17:23] board. Okay.
>> So, the budget committee's
[1:17:26] recommendations for the 2027 preliminary
levy.
[1:17:31] So, our key recommendations are to
maintain the appropriations at the 2026
[1:17:36] funding levels. This would mean there is
zero increase excluding the MCIT
[1:17:43] increase because we do fund insurance
for the egg society and for the
[1:17:47] historical society. Not funding support
within reach. It's not elig eligible for
[1:17:52] county funding under court current
statute.
[1:17:56] No capacity for additional funding for
angels.
[1:18:01] um limiting the commissioner salary
increase to 3%
[1:18:06] which would then with those
recommendations the resulting
[1:18:09] preliminary levy is 8.09
um in 8.09% 09% increase. Um, now that
[1:18:18] may go down. Again, we're still looking
at things and reviewing things, but we
[1:18:23] can increase it. Some things I wanted to
just have in your mind before we have
[1:18:28] final discussions for future
considerations
[1:18:32] is um, you know, other areas that we
have to be continuing to review. Um, DJ
[1:18:40] presented the con just a little bit
earlier before this meeting. There is
[1:18:44] concern um currently con does fund half
of the survey department.
[1:18:50] Um if the fund balance in con does get
too low and is not able to fund that
[1:18:56] survey or half a survey department that
may need to be brought on to um levy if
[1:19:03] there's not another funding source. Um
that half a survey is about I think
[1:19:09] $27,000
that comes out of Conan. 28,000. So I
[1:19:15] just just
>> And that's for that department only.
[1:19:17] » Yes.
>> And how many employees are in that
[1:19:20] department?
>> Three.
[1:19:21] » Three. Okay.
>> So that's Dan GIS and then Randy and
[1:19:27] David.
[1:19:30] » Um our Long Lake deficit.
We've had many discussions on that, but
[1:19:36] that's something to consider in the
future is ho how, you know, we're going
[1:19:40] to manage that deficit in Long Lake.
[snorts]
[1:19:43] Um, parks deficit, the parks fund is
currently in a deficit. We are getting
[1:19:47] some grant dollars in, but there's been
expenditures out of the parks department
[1:19:52] that has not been fully funded by grants
and the parks um fund is currently in a
[1:19:57] deficit also.
And then ongoing um facilities and
[1:20:01] maintenance. You know, the thought of
like John is budgeting extra funds just
[1:20:06] to be [snorts] prepared for future
maintenance and facilities. We're
[1:20:10] [clears throat] budgeting to have that
capital kind of coming out of fund
[1:20:13] balance. But I think we need to be aware
that um we will have future facility
[1:20:19] needs too that we'll want to think about
in the future. So just to have those
[1:20:23] pieces on mind.
So, what I'm looking for today is three
[1:20:30] things.
I'm hoping for a,
[1:20:35] you know, direction on where you'd want
the preliminary levy increase to be,
[1:20:40] what that percentage look like looks
like or dollar amount. I would like a
[1:20:44] decision on appropriations, how we're
going to handle those. We had a
[1:20:48] discussion on those a couple um weeks
ago. And like I say, we have a budget
[1:20:52] committee recommendation that's part of
this levy increase that I'm presenting
[1:20:56] today. And then also a decision on how
we want to move forward with the
[1:21:00] commissioner salaries.
>> Kathleen, regarding the commissioner
[1:21:05] salaries.
>> Yes. Historically,
[1:21:08] um the initial under the preliminary
levy has been a number commensurate with
[1:21:15] that of the adjustments and increases to
staff. Uh that's always been reduced.
[1:21:22] Under the dire circumstances of this
year, again for direction,
[1:21:29] I would propose that uh the
commissioners take a 0%
[1:21:34] increase.
>> Support I support.
[1:21:40] » We need to lead by example.
>> We do.
[1:21:43] » But it doesn't work that way. You have
unions.
[1:21:45] » Mhm.
>> And if our insurance goes up, I mean,
[1:21:49] I'm just saying I
you know, retirement is right around the
[1:21:53] corner for me. So, it could happen any
day.
[1:21:56] » I just I I feel that
[1:22:01] » I think we need to set an example. Well,
I totally understand.
[1:22:06] » We have we have set examples our whole
time and it doesn't matter. You have
[1:22:10] unions, they have contracts. We don't
have a choice in that.
[1:22:15] I mean, we really don't.
So, I mean, if we did a three-year
[1:22:19] contract, you know, the first year was
5% for them, then it was 7%. I mean, it
[1:22:24] was 7% for a lot of people this this
round, and we can't change that.
[1:22:30] So, we have to pay that. Where that
leading by example comes in for me is
[1:22:34] when when we're sitting here saying that
>> some of the other things that we
[1:22:38] typically do allocate funding for
>> and and seeing what what's coming in the
[1:22:43] future. I think it's just setting a
precedent that
[1:22:47] » we're taking the hit along with
everybody tighten up on
[1:22:53] » maybe but we have we have I mean the
land department is not a levy. I mean,
[1:22:58] we don't even have to have a land
department, but we need that and I
[1:23:01] understand that. But it's just I don't
know. I I'm fine with whatever you guys
[1:23:08] want to do. I just I'm saying that
>> we do set examples.
[1:23:15] You know,
>> your point is very boldly.
[1:23:20] » I don't want to be too bold and say that
some departments don't. I mean, because
[1:23:25] they can't. It's unionized. You know, we
have too many unions in this county for
[1:23:30] one thing. I believe I probably
shouldn't say that out loud, right?
[1:23:33] [laughter] Dave's like, "Oh, no."
>> Well, I think Kathleen's [clears throat]
[1:23:36] looking for direction.
>> I'm I'm fine with that. Zero's fine.
[1:23:40] » Like I said, that's my recommendation.
>> But when my health insurance Yes. What
[1:23:44] would HR do? Thank you.
>> And I'll bring a resolution for you guys
[1:23:48] to vote on. I just like to have
direction ahead of time so we I'll have
[1:23:52] a prepared resolution.
>> If there's changes to that, we can. But
[1:23:56] that kind of gives us direction as far
as a future or additional additional
[1:24:01] budget adjustments too going.
>> But in terms of the direction you're
[1:24:04] seeking,
>> it appears we have a consensus of a 0%.
[1:24:10] » And again, uh the official resolution is
not talked in terms of percent,
[1:24:16] » but bottom line
>> for the preliminary levy, it's a
[1:24:19] preliminary, it's a dollar a, but it's
based on a
[1:24:22] » right. Yeah. I mean, everything equates
to a percent, but
[1:24:26] » yeah,
>> we like I'd like to bring one item up,
[1:24:29] too. Out of state travel. Um, due to the
situations that we're looking at, I
[1:24:35] would request that out of state travel
for the next year, uh, be there be no
[1:24:42] out of state travel
>> for commissioners.
[1:24:43] » For commissioners,
>> correct? Yeah, I'd be with that as well.
[1:24:46] » Yep. I agree.
>> I know it's not a lot, but
[1:24:52] » it helps. $,000. You look at that per
$30,000 saving.
[1:24:58] » And there's also that matter of
principle involved.
[1:25:00] » Absolutely.
>> I can review that with Dave. I don't
[1:25:05] David I don't remember what's in the
budget, but we can look at it.
[1:25:08] » Yeah.
>> We want to make sure you have all the
[1:25:10] information that we've been thinking in
our heads of how we can cut back. Also,
[1:25:15] » I appreciate that. Thank you.
Um the next piece is appropriations.
[1:25:21] Like I say, budget committee's
recommendation is to hold zeros on all
[1:25:26] appropriation requests. That does
include um no funding for support within
[1:25:32] reach. It is not um allowed under our
current statute. So that was reduced to
[1:25:37] zero. That savings in the budget offsets
the increase in MCI in MCIT insurance
[1:25:44] for the egg society and the historical
society. um their overall
[1:25:50] non-inurance
requests were held at a 0%
[1:25:56] » also um
um not angels. So angels would not be
[1:26:00] funded also. Their request was new this
year. They were at a z6
[1:26:07] and then um
care would be held at the $55,000
[1:26:15] that they were at for 2026. So, those
are some of the preliminary um
[1:26:21] discussions that we've had a previous
meeting. Again, the budget committee
[1:26:25] recommended
holding as I just stated.
[1:26:29] » Uh uh, Commissioner Carney,
>> are we going to have another discussion
[1:26:33] on appropriations before we make a
decision?
[1:26:38] » This is just for clarification for me.
>> Well, in terms of the appropriation, if
[1:26:42] I may.
>> Sure. Um,
[1:26:45] what Kathleen is seeking is that bottom
line
[1:26:49] » so we can still make changes.
>> You can split it. I I would like to see
[1:26:54] it split 50/50 between Angels and Care.
When you look at both their packets,
[1:26:59] they
[1:27:03] Angels has been doing it for years just
off their fundraising.
[1:27:08] And I would like to see when I look at
the charges
[1:27:14] that that
be split 5050.
[1:27:20] I should probably remind Brett that
Angels has quite a few employees that we
[1:27:25] hire. We don't have a lot of volunteers.
We have some. We're also have we have a
[1:27:32] a a traveling unit for, you
[clears throat] know, non-emergency. Um,
[1:27:37] and it's all over the place.
>> I get that. But I also look at the
[1:27:42] charges that still goes back to the
people and the taxpayers
[1:27:48] and
care still makes money off of that.
[1:27:53] Angels don't.
So, as a just my recommendation,
[1:27:59] » as a point of clarification, Dave, chime
in, too. What Kathleen needs for
[1:28:04] direction is that bottom line.
>> Um
[1:28:07] » so we will have a discussion later on
then
[1:28:10] » in terms of if you want to
>> but for budgeting purposes for the
[1:28:15] preliminary what's the bottom line
expenditure Dave?
[1:28:19] » Yeah and and thank you. So, I just want
to back up a little bit.
[1:28:24] A moment ago, I think you said angels
when you meant care. And most people
[1:28:29] probably heard care because they they
know that was your intent, but I just
[1:28:33] wanted to make sure that everyone was
understanding your intentions.
[1:28:37] » That's what I thank you for that
official clarification. And then with
[1:28:41] regard to yes leaving the meeting today
most helpful for Kathleen and me is to
[1:28:48] have the bottom line number that you're
comfortable with and then I would rely
[1:28:53] on you to decide how you would like to
have further conversation.
[1:28:58] » Thank you. We would structure that
however you would want.
[1:29:01] » Thank you. Well, like every other thing
that we recommend, I would go with the
[1:29:06] recommendation of the of the budget
committee. That's how it was set. That's
[1:29:11] how it's written in my pack,
>> which again to reiterate is% zero
[1:29:16] change.
>> Zero change
[1:29:17] » in [clears throat] appropriations.
>> Yes.
[1:29:19] » Okay. I should note that zero I didn't
point that out. Also, the other item
[1:29:24] that we had discussion on in
appropriations, which would have been an
[1:29:28] increase but is not an increase, is the
$30,000
[1:29:32] um for soil and water conference or
50,000. Sorry, my eyes are now.
[1:29:37] » Did you include that or did not include?
>> Did not include it. So, they were held
[1:29:40] at a zero increase also.
>> Yeah. And so they're they're
[1:29:44] » $50,000. They had requested a $50,000
increase, right? They were held at zero
[1:29:49] also. and leaving their amount at that
$81,549.
[1:29:54] » Right. Okay.
>> Okay. Thank you. I appreciate that. And
[1:29:59] then um we can look at having further
discussions um on how that wants to move
[1:30:05] forward with appropriations.
>> Thank you.
[1:30:08] » Um so with that then the third decision
is the the levy amount. Currently that
[1:30:13] dollar amount is TW 20,516,030.
[1:30:18] Again, that represents a 8.09%
increase. Um, just looking for some
[1:30:24] direction as far as what you guys would
like to see when I come back to the next
[1:30:29] board meeting to set that amount.
>> M Mr. Chair,
[1:30:33] » uh, Commissioner Sample,
>> if we went to 45%.
[1:30:40] » In our general fund,
splitting the difference,
[1:30:45] what would that set our levy at?
Well, I mean, I'm just saying if we're
[1:30:52] looking at setting a preliminary, we
can't go above,
[1:30:56] » right? But in very simplistic terms, 1%
is $200,000.
[1:31:05] So, for every $200,000,
it's 1%.
[1:31:11] roughly
[1:31:16] if we're looking at a 20 million
proposed levy.
[1:31:24] » I'm looking at something here.
[laughter]
[1:31:26] » Yeah. So, I mean, I guess the the if I
understand Commissioner Sample's
[1:31:30] question or his his direction is he's
proposing and asking for some
[1:31:36] calculations of spending more fund
reserves to fund the operating. And so,
[1:31:42] right now the levy
>> to lower the levy.
[1:31:44] » Levy. Yep. And so, right now, we have
structured it so that we're using
[1:31:49] » reserves to pay for one-time capital
expenses, not operations. knowing that
[1:31:56] some capital expenses you end up having
to repurchase or update, right? Um and
[1:32:02] so we could do that if that's the
direction of the board. I think the
[1:32:07] caveat with that is um Kathleen had a
slide that talked about some of the
[1:32:13] future budget considerations,
>> right? We have the park and Long Lake
[1:32:21] that both have significant deficits that
we just want to be very thoughtful of
[1:32:30] spending more of our reserves and
spending it more quickly in a way that's
[1:32:35] unsustainable.
Right? So, if we're if we're concerned
[1:32:39] about 2028, and I know you've heard from
um Sarah in particular about being
[1:32:45] concerned about 2028,
more spending of reserves in 2027 is
[1:32:51] going to make 2028 that much harder.
Right,
[1:32:54] » Mr. Chair? Commissioner Leisa,
>> kind of going along with what David
[1:32:58] said, I'd be
real hesitant about spending more fund
[1:33:03] balance on operations because in our
tenure here, we've gotten away from
[1:33:07] that,
>> which in conversations with former
[1:33:10] commissioner Nimi was the direction the
board was pushing towards was getting
[1:33:13] away from getting using fund balance for
operations. Now, we've achieved that
[1:33:17] with work from previous boards. We've
we've gotten there. So, I would hate to
[1:33:22] go back to to funding operations because
again that goes back to kicking the can
[1:33:27] down the road as you say,
>> but in a couple years you're gonna have
[1:33:30] a double digit increase.
>> I get it. But I think the discussions
[1:33:33] need to be had Long Lake Parks
Department. How are we going to bring
[1:33:40] them
where they're not coming to the board
[1:33:45] with big deficits? You know, when we
first came on the board, they three
[1:33:50] years ago,
they had a big deficit that we made up
[1:33:56] and they and and we we we've kicked the
can down the road for a long time with
[1:34:02] Long Lake because nobody wants to have
the discussion on hurting kids. That's
[1:34:09] the first thing and that's the last
thing. But the residents of Aken County
[1:34:15] are not responsible
for the education of everybody. We have
[1:34:22] they have to come under control. The
parks department since we've been on
[1:34:27] this board, we've raised camping fees
twice
[1:34:32] » and we'll do again.
>> And we'll do again. And I mean, I'm just
[1:34:35] saying that I bring this up because I
want the serious discussion of
[1:34:43] What do we do? We talk about, well, we
got deficits from Long Lake coming. We
[1:34:47] have deficits from the park department
coming. How long do we go before we say,
[1:34:53] "Hang on, the taxpayer out here. They
got to watch their their budget." And I
[1:35:00] mean, I'm bringing it up because I think
this is the conversations that we get
[1:35:05] paid to have.
>> So, that's my comment.
[1:35:09] Very [snorts] good point, Commissioner.
Uh Dave Kathleen, with regard to law and
[1:35:17] the uh deficit
in layman's terms, how does that affect
[1:35:23] our general cash flow? How does that
affect the levy, the fund balance
[1:35:31] » for 2027
for the budget that you have been
[1:35:35] discussing? it would have no impact
because there is not general levy money
[1:35:41] going either to Long Lake or with the
exception of the $15,000 to parks to
[1:35:47] parks. Okay?
>> And so you could solve those solve both
[1:35:51] of those funds. I don't know how you do
it, but for for fun, let's say you solve
[1:35:57] them,
>> you'd still be at an 8.09%
[1:36:00] levy increase
unless you do something with the
[1:36:04] operating budget.
Notwithstanding the long lake
[1:36:08] conversation.
>> Yeah. So, a 100 100% agreement with
[1:36:11] Commissioner Sample that yes, that's
what you guys get paid the the big bucks
[1:36:15] for, even though there might not be an
increase next year. Um, that's a that's
[1:36:20] a hard that that's a discussion that
isn't going to help you come up with a
[1:36:25] preliminary levy that that we're hopeful
we'll get some direction on for the next
[1:36:29] county board meeting.
>> And Commissioner Sample, I'm glad you
[1:36:33] brought that up. It's very bold
bold conversation and this again is part
[1:36:40] of the longer range plan. Um if you
recall [snorts] our um long range plan
[1:36:46] that we had the uh Bill Brendell, is
that his name?
[1:36:50] » Y
>> strategic plan. This we had a meeting of
[1:36:54] and by itself self uh addressing Long
Lake Conervation Center and it needs to
[1:37:01] be addressed. Our
citizens are getting older. Our schools
[1:37:08] are failing.
I mean, it's like we got to sit up here
[1:37:14] and we got to make tough decisions.
>> I I would support with 8.9 setting that
[1:37:22] as long as we can have the serious talks
[snorts]
[1:37:25] of getting it down. And I think that's
what the goal is here today is to set
[1:37:31] the preliminary in supporting the budget
committee at 8 8.09. And it wouldn't we
[1:37:38] wouldn't actually be setting it today.
You're just kind of giving me
[1:37:40] directions. I'm going to prepare all the
official documents for the next board
[1:37:44] meeting, but I want to have those ready
so they're ready for you guys to
[1:37:48] actually vote on at the next meeting.
>> Before I call in Commissioner Carney,
[1:37:53] that 8.0976
[1:37:57] Does that include the decreases albeit
not that much?
[1:38:02] » So yeah, it would not include the
commissioners because current currently
[1:38:06] the commissioners are budgeted at uh 3%.
So that would be an additional
[1:38:10] reduction. We do have some information
from health and human services they have
[1:38:15] about 25,000 that would be reduced. Um
however there might be a little bit of
[1:38:21] increases. There's been some salary
changes adjustments in some departments
[1:38:25] that would have to be figured in, but
those are the biggest things that
[1:38:30] haven't been included.
>> Okay. And Commissioner Carney,
[1:38:33] » yeah, one last question. I'm still
concerned about the insurance that we
[1:38:37] don't know what the increase may be.
We're you're projecting 15%. Right now,
[1:38:42] correct me if I'm wrong. We were hit
last over the last couple years with
[1:38:46] insurance issues that could drive it
even higher than that 15%.
[1:38:52] Are we is that 8.9
increase going to be able to cover if we
[1:38:59] set it at that and we come back with a
20% increase from insurance? You you see
[1:39:04] what I'm saying?
>> Very valid point. So, do we want to set
[1:39:08] your your levy at 9%. Or whatever to
maybe p cover that increase because if
[1:39:15] it doesn't come in, then of course we
can lower. But I'm concerned with
[1:39:19] because because I know we were hit twice
twice or three times with insurance,
[1:39:23] right?
>> Actually, just once
[1:39:25] » because we did have a we actually had a
reduction.
[1:39:28] » Um we do have some funds in reserves. Um
even after 2026 there should be some
[1:39:35] funds res remaining in in reserves that
would be able to offset that which is
[1:39:42] not
>> is separate from the unassigned
[1:39:45] » right. So it wouldn't come out of
general
[1:39:50] until we use that up.
>> I just want to make sure in case
[1:39:54] something you bet.
>> Yeah. No, it's a good point. But in my
[1:39:57] mind, I think we still do have some of
the funding that we set aside
[1:40:01] specifically for insurance reasons.
>> That's not part of the general fund when
[1:40:05] we talk about general fund.
>> Okay.
[1:40:08] » I'm I'm just wondering if we should just
stick with the 8.9% until you've figured
[1:40:15] out all of our salaries and all the
other, you know, maybe put 20% insurance
[1:40:20] in that instead of 15.
>> Kathy, roughly what what would that be?
[1:40:25] What is the insurance? 300,000
[laughter]
[1:40:28] roughly roughly roughly
>> you know what I don't have that
[1:40:33] » more than that
>> about it was just a question it was a
[1:40:36] thought that I had
>> but I I think the bottom line what uh
[1:40:40] Lori said
would that 8.09 09 accommodate a 20%
[1:40:47] increase in in insurance.
>> And how much do we have set aside?
[1:40:54] » Um we have about 200,000 set aside. We
have a planned use of about half of that
[1:40:59] for 2026.
>> Yeah.
[1:41:01] » Um
>> you have 100,000.
[1:41:02] » So approximately 100,000
>> which is
[1:41:05] » which should cover a 20% if we
>> half a% we're hit.
[1:41:09] » That's what it would be. Yeah.
What's your thoughts on that?
[1:41:19] [snorts]
[1:41:22] » It's hard.
>> I would I would not be uncomfortable
[1:41:30] not speculating higher than the 15% or
let me let me put that in the positive.
[1:41:35] I would be comfortable just speculating
at the 15%. Right.
[1:41:39] » Okay. I'll make the motion that we
>> really aren't in order today.
[1:41:44] » Okay. But but we got to agree on the
preliminary budget, right?
[1:41:48] » A consensus.
>> A consensus. I would support eight the
[1:41:52] 8.09
>> commissioners.
[1:41:55] » Yep. Good with that. Yes.
>> Uh based on the administrator's input
[1:41:59] here and Kathleen's direction,
>> I I would agree.
[1:42:03] » Okay.
>> So the 8.09 with the the couple
[1:42:05] reductions and we vote that next.
>> There'll be some minute And that's what
[1:42:09] commissioner currently talking about
cutting the uh and commissioner the
[1:42:15] Vista supporting the no travel
>> for one year out of state.
[1:42:19] » Y
[1:42:22] » well thank you I appreciate that. So
>> you got what you need Kathy?
[1:42:25] » Yeah I'll make some adjustments and then
be back. David,
[1:42:29] » before we end the conversation, we need
to know if you want more discussion
[1:42:35] about the appropriations and what format
you want that in.
[1:42:39] » No, I
>> commissioners
[1:42:41] » get to death.
>> I would like to see more discussion on
[1:42:46] the appropriations
>> in terms of splitting.
[1:42:49] » It wouldn't be discussion on increasing.
It would be a discussion on
[1:42:53] » structure. Structure. There you go. So
at the next board meeting, I'm going to
[1:42:57] bring the
>> preliminary levy
[1:43:00] » current what they are.
>> Sure.
[1:43:02] » And then the board can have discussions
as far as
[1:43:06] » the appropriate
>> how they want to handle that for the
[1:43:09] » and and I would even say that given that
the bottom line has a consensus that
[1:43:16] discussion could probably wait until
>> the final final
[1:43:19] » later. We we wouldn't have
>> not final
[1:43:23] » like maybe November.
>> We don't we don't need to convolute it
[1:43:26] with the preliminary levy, right?
>> We we could but there isn't an urgency
[1:43:30] as long as there's a consensus on the
bottom line total appropriation. Then
[1:43:35] then we can do all the budget
calculating necessary.
[1:43:38] » Okay. But I just want to be sure that
everybody is comfortable with how you
[1:43:42] want to proceed with discussing or
considering or not considering how you
[1:43:47] would make any splits within that total.
>> Yeah, I suppose you want it done before
[1:43:53] the final.
>> It just makes it easier to have some of
[1:43:56] that stuff set before we get to the
final final.
[1:43:59] » So that could be the first meeting in
October.
[1:44:08] Thank you.
>> I appreciate it. Thank you.
[1:44:10] » Good job, Kathleen. Thank you,
>> Kathleen.
[1:44:12] » And thank you for your leadership on the
budget committee, too.
[1:44:16] » You're welcome.
[1:44:22] » On to County Administrator
Dave Mickey.
[1:44:26] » Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the
board. We ha we are members of the Aken
[1:44:33] Itasa Cuching Community Health Board.
and Commissioner Westerland is our
[1:44:39] commissioner representative and Lynn
[clears throat] Jacobs is our citizen
[1:44:43] representative. That board has a little
bit of a nuance on their quorum. So like
[1:44:49] most boards, 50% plus one is a quorum.
So four of seven members. They also have
[1:44:56] a requirement that there be a
representative from each county. So they
[1:45:00] could have a quorum based on four of
seven and without any Aken County
[1:45:06] representative not be able to conduct
any business. And so that is going to be
[1:45:09] the case on Thursday when they meet. And
so we are requesting for the appointment
[1:45:14] of an alternate which is allowed under
the joint powers and commissioner Carney
[1:45:19] has volunteered uh to to accept that
appointment if offered and so I would
[1:45:24] present that for your consideration
>> commissioners and thank you for
[1:45:28] volunteering. Commissioner Carney, I
would support that.
[1:45:31] » I'll second.
>> Okay. Motion on the floor to set effect.
[1:45:34] Commissioner Sample supported
Commissioner Westerland.
[1:45:38] » Any Michael?
>> Yes. Thanks very much.
[1:45:41] » Any further discussion?
>> Not. All in favor say I.
[1:45:45] » I.
>> Oppose. Same. Sign. That motion carries.
[1:45:52] » All right. If I may continue.
>> Yes, sir. Um, so despite the fact that
[1:45:57] you're not getting paid more, we're
still asking you to do more. And so at
[1:46:02] the last county board meeting, the uh
Arrowhead Trans there was some
[1:46:05] conversation with Arrowhead Transit and
a desire to have a meeting with them.
[1:46:09] And so uh I did follow up with them and
Mark Jeffers and after a conversation
[1:46:15] with them, they proposed we have a
community meeting and get some
[1:46:18] stakeholders together. And so as part of
that stakeholder group, we would like at
[1:46:23] least one or perhaps two commissioners.
And commissioners uh Westerland and
[1:46:28] Carney have indicated to me that they'd
be interested in that.
[1:46:31] » I'm also interested in that.
>> Then I'll step back.
[1:46:38] » Mr. Sample and Westerland.
>> That's fine.
[1:46:42] » And again, you're just seeking direction
here.
[1:46:45] » Yep.
>> So is everybody comfortable? Do you want
[1:46:48] to be an alternate, Michael? [laughter]
>> Good call.
[1:46:52] » Well, I'm just saying
October is kind of a
[1:46:56] » Well, how that can't harm anything.
>> Yeah. No. And if you want if you wanted
[1:46:59] to to express it as a motion, that
certainly is fine that there be uh
[1:47:04] Commissioner Sample and Westerland as a
primary and Commissioner Carney as the
[1:47:08] alternate.
>> I think a motion would probably be
[1:47:10] appropriate.
>> Yeah, because I mean I'm on planning and
[1:47:13] zoning and I'm on
>> the EAW.
[1:47:17] I don't even know if I'm supposed to do
that because I don't Okay, but anyway.
[1:47:20] Yeah,
>> make that motion then. Commissioner
[1:47:22] Sample and Westerland as members of the
meeting with Commissioner Carney as an
[1:47:26] alternate.
>> Okay, good clarification. Motion on the
[1:47:29] floor to set effect by Commissioner
Levisa.
[1:47:31] » I'll support.
>> And that motion is supported by
[1:47:34] Commissioner Carney. Any further
comments, questions, discussion?
[1:47:39] » Could I put a plug in for the AMC
District One meeting?
[1:47:43] » We got to vote for this first.
>> Yeah. No plugs yet.
[1:47:47] » Further discussion.
>> If not, all in favor say I. I.
[1:47:52] » Oppose. Same sign. The motion prevails.
[1:47:57] » Okay, Dave. All right. Never assume an
outcome.
[1:48:01] » That's why you get paid to big buddy,
brother.
[1:48:04] » Aken County is the host for the AMC
District 1 meeting. The District 1
[1:48:09] meeting is October 15th and that will be
held at the Minnesota National Golf
[1:48:14] Club. There is a pre-event
the night before. We are planning dinner
[1:48:20] at the fireside out in McGregor at 6 PM.
We have the room reserved. So, if you're
[1:48:26] able to make dinner at 6 pm, you're
welcome to join that. And then after the
[1:48:32] district meeting on the 15th, uh,
Commissioner Sample has invited everyone
[1:48:38] over to the Forgotten Heroes Range and,
um, resort to have a tour, learn what
[1:48:45] they do, and then also have for those
interested an opportunity to shoot. And
[1:48:50] so, uh, I would encourage everyone to
attend that if they're able.
[1:48:54] » Great. And thanks, Commissioner Sample.
>> So, fireside is the evening of the 14th
[1:48:58] or the 15th.
>> 14th. I'd just like to make one
[1:49:02] » [clears throat]
>> uh correction, not resort, retreat,
[1:49:05] » retreat,
[1:49:08] » dinner, [clears throat]
>> and one coming out on the website
[1:49:13] because I had Paul from St. Louis County
and
[1:49:17] » a few people.
>> Yep. I'll I'll follow up with AMC to see
[1:49:20] when they're gonna
>> to get it out because it's it's a month.
[1:49:23] So, and then where's everybody staying?
That's what he was mostly. There are a
[1:49:28] room block at the Motel in McGregor.
>> That nicely refurbished one or redone
[1:49:35] one that looks nice. I haven't been in
there, but it looks nice.
[1:49:37] » Nice. McGregor's getting
>> How many does it
[1:49:41] » hold? How many does it hold?
>> It's a full size.
[1:49:45] » Yeah, it's
>> so like
[1:49:47] » two, three stories.
>> 60.
[1:49:49] » Yeah, probably at least 60 rooms.
>> Yeah, [snorts]
[1:49:51] » that Yeah, I knew I knew it was It's
been a long time since I've been there.
[1:49:55] And that's not really the peak of their
season either. So,
[1:49:58] » right.
>> No,
[1:50:00] » if you've got blocked rooms for they
should be good.
[1:50:06] » Thank you.
>> Anything else, David? Again, happy
[1:50:09] anniversary. Many more
[1:50:14] on to board of commissioners committee
updates. Uh, go clockwise today if
[1:50:19] that's all right. To start with
Commissioner Carney.
[1:50:23] Not too much to update. Um,
[1:50:28] I do have a funeral to go tomorrow. I
don't know if you guys know him or aware
[1:50:33] of him. Dick Brener passed away. Uh,
he's Carlton County longtime
[1:50:38] commissioner, retired two years. Uh, I
was had the privilege of working with
[1:50:42] him for two years on the ACA board. What
a wonderful gentleman. But I will go to
[1:50:46] the funeral tomorrow uh, evening for
that. Um, the rest of my meetings are uh
[1:50:53] next the next week, [snorts] but I will
be at the fall policy conference on the
[1:50:58] 15th. I will be traveling Sunday,
Monday, and Tuesday into DC for my work
[1:51:02] stuff. Um, but if anything comes up, I'm
I'm available by phone. That's all I
[1:51:07] have.
>> Thanks, Commissioner. Mr. Zample
[1:51:11] » had a uh conference call with the core
of engineers
[1:51:18] and the president of the Big Sandy Lake
Association.
[1:51:23] And the core will be doing the majority
of their correspondence in the future
[1:51:29] through emails.
And I've requested that Congressman
[1:51:34] Stabber's district director be included
in them. And
[1:51:41] you know, I didn't think our
administrator had enough on his plate.
[1:51:45] So I requested that too, only cuz I love
you, Dave. Happy anniversary.
[1:51:51] And uh that's kind of been the big
extent of my meeting. Wild race days
[1:51:58] went great. I would like to mention that
one of our oldest
[1:52:04] and most decorated veterans
in uh the county, let alone McGregor
[1:52:12] Johnny Kak
um had a bad fall and he's in critical
[1:52:19] condition.
So, uh, I as a commissioner would like
[1:52:23] to send my prayers out to the family.
And that's a tough generation. 93 years
[1:52:30] old, Korean War vet,
>> highly decorated.
[1:52:33] » Yep.
>> And that's the extent of mine. Thank
[1:52:38] you.
The one I would have had, we didn't
[1:52:42] have. So,
>> you're good.
[1:52:46] Um, ATV committee I had uh you heard
DJ's update. Not much more on that.
[1:52:53] People are very excited and I try not to
say anything because they are going out
[1:52:59] there and it's like it's not open yet
people. You'd have to wait till next
[1:53:03] year.
>> No way. We're going on it. We paid for
[1:53:06] this. Blah blah blah.
Um, and then I had uh Northern Counties,
[1:53:12] um, is it coalition? Is that what it is?
>> I won't be there for that.
[1:53:18] » I'm just an HR nightmare. Um, John Agar
was there and he kind of went through
[1:53:24] who's running with who and
uh on our maps of people uh, senators,
[1:53:33] representatives,
uh, nothing federal. Um,
[1:53:39] we also talked about a priority on these
landfills and what I don't know there's
[1:53:45] some new rules coming out and there's
new
[1:53:49] uh liner issues and I mean it's just a
mess. So, we're going to I think we're
[1:53:54] going to work on that. And also Paul
McDonald from
[1:53:58] uh Duth uh well not Duth but St. Louis
County and Lake County.
[1:54:05] We were still talking about the extra
lakeshore property taxes that we really
[1:54:11] need to fight for the pilt. Um yeah, for
the pilt we need um you know I'm sure
[1:54:17] Aken County is not
uh
[1:54:20] » it' be a great resource for Aken County.
>> I know it and Clarissa was there from
[1:54:26] the DNR which was great to see. We
hadn't seen anybody from the DNR for
[1:54:30] quite a while. Um, yeah. I mean, it was
just kind of a We haven't had a meeting
[1:54:36] for a while, so we're trying to catch up
and get stuff going on. If you look at
[1:54:41] the We have a new logo now. I should
have sent it out. I
[1:54:45] It's It's actually really nice. Um,
otherwise, I think that's all I had and
[1:54:52] I have way too much going on. So,
>> is what it is.
[1:54:56] » Thank you, Lori.
>> Yeah. Um we had the uh Aken Municipal
[1:55:01] Airport Commission meeting. Uh the
highlight of that was the u awarding of
[1:55:07] the bids for the uh new terminal
building
[1:55:11] » and uh we had each health and human
service advisory committee.
[1:55:15] » It was a very interesting meeting. Uh
David Minky was there and commissioner
[1:55:20] Carney. Um, it was basically all on food
food shelves, the necessity of it. Um, a
[1:55:29] dissection, the breakdown of who does
what. We had about four different four
[1:55:35] or five different uh presenters
um regarding um food shelves
[1:55:42] uh loaves and fishes. The community meal
which was uh terminated but now uh
[1:55:51] Pastor Sarah is leading this um will be
resumed.
[1:55:57] » So it was a very very interesting
meeting. Commissioner Carney, anything
[1:56:01] you want to
>> No, that it was a great meeting. No,
[1:56:04] that's great.
>> And I mean, this is a revitalized
[1:56:08] committee.
>> We've got we've got full representation
[1:56:13] and a full house.
>> People are attending,
[1:56:17] » eager,
>> taking a very active interest. Um,
[1:56:21] that's about all I've got. I did get a
call from the new Aken superintendent
[1:56:26] uh Mary Mourin and her and I will be
meeting later this week. I think it's
[1:56:32] either tomorrow or I it's Thursday
sometime and uh she was very very uh
[1:56:39] receptive to just getting to know the
public and getting to know the
[1:56:43] community. So um other than that,
Commissioner Carney,
[1:56:49] » I do have one followup. I apologize. Um
the Elm Island site visit went very
[1:56:54] well.
>> Yeah, we um we three three of us were
[1:56:57] here with administrator. Thank you uh
Mr. Administrator for your guidance
[1:57:01] during that meeting. It did get a little
tense at at a certain couple times, but
[1:57:07] then also I attended the board of the
BOA um and the board of adjustment
[1:57:14] approved the variance.
This is going to be very contentious.
[1:57:20] So, at the planning commission, um,
>> when is that meeting?
[1:57:24] » We already know the planning commission
is on the 21st. Uh, at
[1:57:29] » at Huh?
>> Aren't you going to be gone?
[1:57:31] » No, I'm going to be here.
>> Oh.
[1:57:32] » Um,
representation.
[1:57:37] Um, we'll be in full force. Um, so there
there's going to be a lot of conditions
[1:57:46] with this. We're taking it. I want you
to understand the board, the planning
[1:57:51] commission board is taking this very
very um seriously. Oh yeah. Um because
[1:57:57] we have Commissioner Weston's district,
there's a lot of people that are against
[1:58:02] this just like they were the other ones
against of the uh the other when it came
[1:58:07] in. So um
>> and and yet them people come now and
[1:58:11] have coffee at Gun Lake.
>> Yes.
[1:58:14] » On the weekends. um just just have it in
your your windshield that this is coming
[1:58:19] down the pipe. Um so I think a good
decision and
[1:58:23] » I think it's important too that you guys
really really watch the wording,
[1:58:28] » you know, of your conditions because
>> I think that's getting to be
[1:58:34] » Yeah, I think I think that that
>> switch it around and
[1:58:39] » I don't I don't want to give how many,
but there's a lot of conditions that are
[1:58:43] going to be addressed. So, well, there's
a lot of conditions,
[1:58:45] » but the variance was approved. Um, so,
>> but I thought I'd give you guys a brief
[1:58:51] on that. Thank you.
>> That sounds good.
[1:58:53] » Mr. Chair, anything on AIS since Brian
is gone?
[1:58:59] » Uh, a good point. Brian Roulette, who
was uh uh kind of heading up the AIS
[1:59:07] from SWCD,
has u moved on. Uh he's no longer with
[1:59:13] the Aken County SWCD
and I have not heard I've got a call in
[1:59:19] uh who's going to
>> Is he the state guy?
[1:59:22] » No, he's a staff at S SWCD.
>> Oh,
[1:59:26] » but they always assign somebody to
spearhead the AIS.
[1:59:31] » That's the second one in the year.
>> Yes, that's right.
[1:59:37] What's going to happen? Actually, the
active season of AIS is over uh as of
[1:59:43] yesterday, actually. And uh I'll talk to
Janet to make sure that we have an
[1:59:49] upcoming meeting sometime just to get
see where the fund balances are.
[1:59:55] » Yeah,
>> we know that uh at least they're going
[1:59:57] to be cut in half uh for the coming
year. We've been getting roughly 270,000
[2:00:04] a year. That'll be [snorts] cut back to
what 135
[2:00:09] 130 in that uh
>> and I know 40,000 was coming out to the
[2:00:13] sheriff's budget for
>> Yeah.
[2:00:16] » to help with that and you know
>> to offset the sheriff's levy.
[2:00:20] » Yeah. So I just have concerns there.
>> Yeah.
[2:00:25] » Good point.
So that's uh kind of a work in progress,
[2:00:30] I guess. But thanks for bringing that
up.
[2:00:33] Um, other than that, I just again want
to remind everybody that uh, Friday is
[2:00:38] 911 that uh, we keep honoring and
remembering that
[2:00:43] » absolutely
>> those who lost their lives and the Aken
[2:00:47] Fire Department will have a display out
here that's uh,
[2:00:51] » well, I guess this is your year
anniversary, so you probably saw it last
[2:00:54] year. It's a quite an impressive uh,
display.
[2:01:00] So,
>> how about is anybody going to the
[2:01:02] apartment tour? Is that what that is?
>> I will be I'll be going to that.
[2:01:07] » And that's
>> have it on my schedule.
[2:01:08] » Wednesday or Thursday?
>> That's Wednesday.
[2:01:10] » Thursday.
>> Or Thursday, excuse me.
[2:01:12] » Thursday the 10th.
>> Okay.
[2:01:14] » Thursday the 10th. Yeah. [snorts] At
2:00.
[2:01:17] » And I have your public health 10 to 12.
>> Anything else?
[2:01:22] » Just Forgotten Heroes has come compete
with your elected officials. We get
[2:01:28] about 21. I think we had 21 last year.
State senators and reps. It's a good
[2:01:33] chance to come out and talk to them.
>> We need all the lobbying we can get.
[2:01:39] » The 19th.
>> The 19th. Okay.
[2:01:43] » When's the water When's the uh
daughter's wedding, Lori?
[2:01:46] » Saturday.
>> So, it's the following Saturday. If you
[2:01:50] need to come take some frustration out,
I welcome you to come on out. We got
[2:01:56] lots of
>> better than going to the nut house. So,
[2:01:59] because there is
>> for you, they've got a Thompson machine
[2:02:02] gun.
>> Yeah, they do.
[2:02:05] » Is there a motion to adjurnn?
>> Uh, salute.
[2:02:07] » Uh, motion in the floor to adjurnn.
Commissioner Carney
[2:02:10] » supported. Commissioner Westerland. All
in favor say I.
[2:02:13] » Oppose. Same sign. Motion's carried.
This meeting stands adjourned. Thank you
[2:02:17] everyone.
>> Thank you, Jean.
[2:02:19] » Thanks, Jean.
>> It's on China blue.
[2:02:21] » Okay. Russian
>> after this whole thing.
[2:02:28] » Have a take or take care of travel.