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[music]

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Good morning. Welcome to the board of

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commissioners meeting of August 25th,

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2026.

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Please stand and join us at the pledge

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of in the pledge of

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>> Abel.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

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United States of America and to the

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republic for which it stands, one nation

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under God, indivisible, with liberty and

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justice for all.

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Thank you.

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>> All right. Agenda review. Josh.

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>> Uh, Madame Chair, um, I have one item to

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add to the agenda. Right after our close

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session, pursuant to Minnesota Statute

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13 DO5, I would ask that we add to the

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agenda um, action for an approved

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settlement agreement after that close

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session.

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>> All right. Thanks, Josh.

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>> Move with the change.

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>> Second.

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>> I have a motion and a second. Any

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discussion?

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All in favor?

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>> I

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>> opposed. Motion carries. Thank you,

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Josh.

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[clears throat]

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>> All right. County ditch 56 acceptance

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hearing.

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» Good morning, Jordan.

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>> Morning.

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>> All right. So, here we go. Good morning,

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everyone, and welcome to the county

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ditch 56

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contract acceptance hearing. The first

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item is an agenda review.

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Um, no changes to the agenda, Madam

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Chair. Move

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>> the agenda.

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>> Second.

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>> I have a motion and a second for the

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agenda. Any discussion?

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>> All in favor?

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>> I oppose? Carries. [clears throat]

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» So, the purpose of today's hearing is to

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determine whether the contractor for the

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petition repairs affecting portions of

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branch 3 of County Ditch 56 has

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completed their contract in accordance

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with the plans and specifications.

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The order of business for this hearing

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is as follows. Staff will review the

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jurisdictional documents. We will hear

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from the appointed engineer and then we

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will open the hearing for public

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comments. So I'll now ask Blicker County

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drainage staff Jordan Williamson to

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review the jurisdictional documents.

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Um, notice was posted for this hearing

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outside the Blue Earth County Historic

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Courthouse located at 204 South 5th

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Street, Mano, Minnesota 560001.

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Hearing notice was mailed on August 7th,

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2026. Notice of public hearing was

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published in the Mano Free Press on

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August 11th, 2026. And I have a memo to

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read here.

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The Blue Earth County Ditch 56, CD56 is

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located in Garden City and Lincoln

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Townships. The Blue Earth County

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Drainage Authority approved public bids

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for CD56 branch 3 repairs awarding the

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repair contract to Sy Excavating

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Incorporated on May 27th, 2025. Drainage

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management staff received the

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[clears throat] engineers acceptance of

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contract report for the county ditch 56

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branch 3 repairs on July 9th, 2026.

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All contractual work has been completed

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um by signed findings and orders today.

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Acceptance of contract hearing was set

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on July 28th, 2026.

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Today, we are respectfully asking the

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county ditch 56 drainage authority

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accept the drafted findings in order

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approving the engineers acceptance of

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contract report for the county ditch 56

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petitioned repairs and issue the release

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of any final payments due to the

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contractor and [clears throat] to pay

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damages as shown in the acceptance of

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contract report. That's all I have.

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>> Thank you, Jordan.

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I need a motion to accept

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>> accept the jurisdictional documents.

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>> Second.

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>> Motion in a second. Any discussion?

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>> All in favor?

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>> I

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>> oppose. Motion carries.

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We will now hear from our appointed

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engineer. Good morning.

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>> Good morning.

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>> Morning.

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» Um much like Jordan said, uh we're here

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today for the first of two final

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acceptance hearings. uh this one being

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Leworth County diction number 56 branch

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three and the repair efforts that took

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place on it. Uh this first picture we're

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looking at here is is generally the

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beginning of the uh of the project. Um

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and you can generally see the the course

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um of the repairs being branches three

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and lateral age. Um before I get too far

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into this, I guess I should introduce

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myself. I'm Jacob Mueller with ISG. Um

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I'm an engineer on the project. Um what

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we're looking at here is the watershed

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for Blue Earth County Ditch 56. It's

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comprised of a long stretch of open

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ditch and many subsurface tile branches,

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laterals, sublaterals. Uh the specific

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portion that we're looking at today is

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the branch three portion. Um kind of

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over here on the eastern extents just

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south of the city. A little bit of a

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closer look. Uh kind of shows some of

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the work that we've done. This this

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these repair efforts were looked at for

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quite a while. Um it's a very unique

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area in that there's been a lot of um US

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Fish and Wildlife grounds purchased in

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this area. Um kind of altering the

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utility of the uh subsurface tile lines.

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Many of the tile lines are are now under

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uh wetlands, no longer farmed areas.

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They route through those areas which are

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very very expensive to maintain um and

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difficult to maintain in perpetuity just

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with root intrusion. that the initial

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designs uh predominantly looked at

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reroutes and that was the design that

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land owners eventually selected.

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Um a bit on the construction timeline.

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This was bid in May of 20125. Um Sy

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excavating was the lowest responsible

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bidder on in that bid pool. Um and it

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was awarded to him at that date. Uh

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contracts were executed on in July of

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2025. uh for that specific contract

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substantial completion was on November

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30th of 2025 with that final completion

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being January 30th of 2026.

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Um the actual construction timeline uh

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went from July 21st of 2025 to October

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3rd of 2025. So well within that

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substantial completion window. Um they

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did have some final punch list items

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that went slightly um beyond final

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completion. Um, but they kind of needed

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the weather to agree a little bit more

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to finish some of that finalized work

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and not disturb the fields as much as

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being in there in January would have.

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Here's some photos from the from the

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site. Uh, you can see a lot of this work

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was occurring in the summer just by some

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of the area. They had to use a trench

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box. Um, there's a fairly large waterhed

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that comes to the system. They dealt

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with a lot of water, had to use a lot of

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rock. Um here on the bottom right you

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can see one of the several road

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crossings that had to be open, cut and

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restored. Um all of those are in a a

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functional condition now. Um road road

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rightways have been receded. Uh areas

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were ripped and plowed after the fact um

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in the egg fields.

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Here's a couple more photos just

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detailing some of that site

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construction. This is kind of more

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during the active phase prior to um any

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of the restoration efforts just being

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repulling the black material on top of that tile alignment and and rip

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plowing all of that um to minimize

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damage.

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Um a bit on construction costs. Um so

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the engineer's initial repair estimate

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um at the time of the repair hearing was

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uh $717,952.

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The awarded contract was $640,945.75.

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So approximately $80,000 less than

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estimated. Um the total costs at the end

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of the project were $683,2305.

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Um this was a result of um approximately

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a $50,000 uh increase in cost and

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exchange order when the tile was

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discovered to be about 2 ft lower in

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certain locations. Um similarly with

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that there was a net reduction in

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installed quantities um uh totaling

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about $16,000.

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Um to date uh the contractor has been

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paid $649,6855

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leaving an amount due of $34,61.50.

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Damages were tabulated uh for each

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individual parcel through the duration

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of construction. um our construction

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observers on site um use GPS uh to um

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tabulate and and measure specifically

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all those areas that were damaged. So

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the land owners might be paid uh for

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those those have been delivered to

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drainage staff. Um here's a map

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depicting those areas. Um as you can see

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we we distinguish between different crop

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sites. areas in brown are beans, uh,

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such as on the Sant property or on the

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Miller property. Um, and other areas

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being kind of this yellow gold color

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that was corn, such as on the Sorenson

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property and or on the Williier

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property.

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Um, as build documents were generated uh

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by the engineer to detail uh where

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everything was installed, how deep was

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it was installed, where connections were

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made. Um, this can be used for the

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future legal record for the CD56 system

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as well as be a benefit to its land

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owners to determine where the private

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tile was connected and understand how

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they might tile in the future or best

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utilize their system.

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Um, we've also provided an abandoned ma

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abandonment map as portion of the

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closeout documents. Uh, we do have the

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revised map here detailing all those

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areas proposed to be abandoned.

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Essentially, everything in the area to

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be abandoned or in the area of repair

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has been abandoned that was um

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reinstalled with the exception of uh

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several tile lines on this property

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right here which were not touched. Um

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this landowner was given a new outlet

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repaired to what he was um essentially

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agreed to at the time. Um and just kind

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of minimizing work in that area.

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So finally, it's the engineer's opinion

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that the contractor Sy excavating has

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satisfactorily completed the contract in

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accordance with the plan specifications.

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Sy has provided the required submitts

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for final payment being that signed

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final pay request, his three-year

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warranty bond for the installed tile and

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those I and that IC134 forms for his

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subcontractors. Ultimately, ISG

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recommends accepting the work and

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approval of final payment to the

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contractor and paying damages to all

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affected land owners. Thank you.

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>> Thank you for the report.

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Excuse [clears throat] me. So, at this

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time, we'll open the public comment

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portion of the hearing. If you would

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like to make a comment, please come to

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the podium. State your name and address

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for the record. Comments from the public

277
00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:39,600
are expected to be civil and respectful.

278
00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:41,200
Please note this meeting is being

279
00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:44,000
recorded. There is a 5minute time limit.

280
00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:45,760
The county administrator will give you a

281
00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:47,120
one- minute warning and let you know

282
00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:49,839
when you've used your allotted time. In

283
00:12:49,839 --> 00:12:51,600
addition, the board may restrict or

284
00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:53,279
limit the time allotted to a person

285
00:12:53,279 --> 00:12:55,440
whose remarks are repetitive or not

286
00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:56,880
relevant to the matter under

287
00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:59,360
consideration by the board. Is there

288
00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:00,768
anyone wishing to make comments

289
00:13:00,768 --> 00:13:02,399
[clears throat]

290
00:13:02,399 --> 00:13:06,629
on ditch 56?

291
00:13:06,639 --> 00:13:09,120
Anyone wishing to make comments to

292
00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:12,079
county ditch 56 petitioned repairs for

293
00:13:12,079 --> 00:13:16,949
portions of branch three.

294
00:13:16,959 --> 00:13:19,040
And last time, anyone wishing to make

295
00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:23,430
comments for County Ditch 56?

296
00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:25,120
» Hearing no comments, I will close the

297
00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:27,920
public comment portion of the hearing.

298
00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,079
Anything from the board.

299
00:13:30,079 --> 00:13:32,320
>> No questions. I would so move.

300
00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:32,800
>> Second.

301
00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:35,519
>> I have a motion and a second. Any

302
00:13:35,519 --> 00:13:37,040
discussion?

303
00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:39,120
All in favor? I

304
00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:41,920
>> oppose. Motion carries.

305
00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:44,480
>> And that will conclude the county ditch

306
00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:47,680
56 acceptance hearing.

307
00:13:47,680 --> 00:13:49,200
All right, Jordan. Then we're going to

308
00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:51,040
move on to

309
00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:53,920
County Ditch 73. Good morning everyone

310
00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,000
and welcome to the County Ditch 73

311
00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,720
acceptance hearing. First item is an

312
00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:00,399
agenda review.

313
00:14:00,399 --> 00:14:03,680
>> Madam Chair, no additions or changes?

314
00:14:03,680 --> 00:14:05,360
>> Move to approve.

315
00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:05,839
>> Second.

316
00:14:05,839 --> 00:14:07,279
>> I have a motion and a second for the

317
00:14:07,279 --> 00:14:11,040
agenda. Any discussion? All in favor?

318
00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:12,880
>> I opposed. [clears throat]

319
00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,360
>> Carries. The purpose of today's hearing

320
00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:17,199
is to determine whether the contractor

321
00:14:17,199 --> 00:14:18,959
for the previously approved repairs

322
00:14:18,959 --> 00:14:21,760
affecting portions of county dish 73 has

323
00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:23,839
been completed has completed their

324
00:14:23,839 --> 00:14:25,519
contract in accordance with the plans

325
00:14:25,519 --> 00:14:27,519
and specifications.

326
00:14:27,519 --> 00:14:29,279
The order of business for this hearing

327
00:14:29,279 --> 00:14:31,680
is as follows. Staff will review the

328
00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:33,680
jurisdictional documents. We will hear

329
00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:36,240
from the appointed engineer and we will

330
00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:38,959
open the hearing for public comments. So

331
00:14:38,959 --> 00:14:41,199
now we'll have Jordan Williamson review

332
00:14:41,199 --> 00:14:44,800
the jurisdictional documents. Jordan,

333
00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:46,720
>> notice posted for this hearing outside

334
00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:48,160
of the Blue Earth County Historic

335
00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,399
Courthouse located at 204 South Fifth

336
00:14:50,399 --> 00:14:53,040
Street, Mano, Minnesota. Hearing notice

337
00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:56,320
mailed on August 7th, 2026. Notice of

338
00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:58,399
public hearing was published in the Mano

339
00:14:58,399 --> 00:15:01,120
Free Press on August 11th, 2026. I have

340
00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:04,480
a short memo to read here.

341
00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:05,600
Blue [clears throat] Earth County Ditch

342
00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:08,320
73 is located in Lyra Township. The Blue

343
00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:09,920
Earth County Drainage Authority approved

344
00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,639
a quote for repairs awarding a repair

345
00:15:12,639 --> 00:15:14,639
contract to Leland Excavating and

346
00:15:14,639 --> 00:15:17,519
Drainage on September 9th, 2025. The

347
00:15:17,519 --> 00:15:19,120
property environmental resources

348
00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:21,040
department drainage staff received the

349
00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:23,120
engineers acceptance of contract report

350
00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:25,360
for the approved county ditch 73 repairs

351
00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:28,720
on July 9th, 2026. All contractable work

352
00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:31,120
has been completed by the contractor on

353
00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:34,079
July 28th, 2026. by signed findings and

354
00:15:34,079 --> 00:15:35,680
order. Today's acceptance of contract

355
00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:38,240
hearing was set. Today, we are

356
00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:39,839
respectfully asking that the county

357
00:15:39,839 --> 00:15:42,000
ditch 73 drainage authority accept the

358
00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,079
drafted findings in order approving the

359
00:15:44,079 --> 00:15:46,079
engineers acceptance of contract report

360
00:15:46,079 --> 00:15:48,880
for the county dish 73 repairs and issue

361
00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:51,040
the release of any final payments due to

362
00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:52,959
the contractor and to pay damages as

363
00:15:52,959 --> 00:15:54,560
shown in the acceptance of contract

364
00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:57,199
report. That's all I have, Madam Chair.

365
00:15:57,199 --> 00:15:59,040
>> Thank you.

366
00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:00,480
Do I have a motion to accept the

367
00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:03,279
jurisdictional documents? So moved

368
00:16:03,279 --> 00:16:06,320
>> second and a second. Any discussion? All

369
00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:07,279
in favor?

370
00:16:07,279 --> 00:16:10,639
>> I opposed. Motion carries. Now we'll

371
00:16:10,639 --> 00:16:14,160
hear from our engineer from ISG.

372
00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:15,199
>> Thank you.

373
00:16:15,199 --> 00:16:17,680
>> Uh once again, um Jacob Mueller from

374
00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:22,560
ISG. Um the engineer on the project. Um

375
00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:23,920
again, we're here to talk about the

376
00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:25,759
second of two final acceptance hearings.

377
00:16:25,759 --> 00:16:27,680
This one being for the repairs on Blue

378
00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:31,120
Earth County ditch number 73.

379
00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:32,480
Um just a bit of a view at the

380
00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:34,880
watershed. Um here we can see some of

381
00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:37,440
the the tile infrastructure as compared

382
00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:40,959
to lower CD56 which we just discussed.

383
00:16:40,959 --> 00:16:42,639
This one is relatively smaller. It's

384
00:16:42,639 --> 00:16:46,480
comprised entirely of tile. Um and so

385
00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:49,680
were all of the repairs. Um

386
00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,639
the the work proposed involved um

387
00:16:52,639 --> 00:16:55,040
instead of large swaths of repairing an

388
00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:58,560
entire line um as we see in some cases

389
00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:00,399
uh there was individual spot repairs

390
00:17:00,399 --> 00:17:02,399
only in those areas which were uh deemed

391
00:17:02,399 --> 00:17:04,720
to be in an immediate state of failure

392
00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:07,199
to restore that as constructed

393
00:17:07,199 --> 00:17:08,319
condition. So there's some work on

394
00:17:08,319 --> 00:17:11,760
branches seven six branch two lateral A

395
00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:15,199
branch two and the main line

396
00:17:15,199 --> 00:17:17,039
a bit on the construction timeline. This

397
00:17:17,039 --> 00:17:19,919
was bid in August, late August of 2025.

398
00:17:19,919 --> 00:17:22,160
The lowest responsible bidder was uh

399
00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:26,079
Leland Drainage and Excavating. Um that

400
00:17:26,079 --> 00:17:28,240
contract was executed on September 15th

401
00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:30,080
of 2025.

402
00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:32,559
Contract dates uh final completion for

403
00:17:32,559 --> 00:17:35,039
this work was April 15th of 2026 and

404
00:17:35,039 --> 00:17:37,039
construction ran between February, early

405
00:17:37,039 --> 00:17:41,200
February of 2026 to late March of 2026.

406
00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:42,799
Some of the construction photos you see

407
00:17:42,799 --> 00:17:45,440
here um involve uh many of the same

408
00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:46,880
things we see on on many drainage

409
00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:48,880
projects. Um there was a couple areas

410
00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:50,720
where roads were opened up and the tile

411
00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:52,559
was reinstalled beneath. Those areas

412
00:17:52,559 --> 00:17:54,320
have been subsequently receded and

413
00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:56,960
established. Um the remaining photos on

414
00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:58,880
the top and left that you see involve

415
00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:02,320
tile installation. Um one nuance of spot

416
00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:04,160
repairs is that generally this work

417
00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:07,280
occurs in the historic trench of the old

418
00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:09,919
tile. um generally a less suitable place

419
00:18:09,919 --> 00:18:12,240
for new tile installation. Soils have

420
00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:14,400
been mixed. Um in those cases, you can

421
00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:16,880
kind of see what what uh we proposed at

422
00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:18,480
what we pursued as a design being

423
00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:19,840
encasing that pipe and rock for

424
00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:23,039
longevity. Um

425
00:18:23,039 --> 00:18:24,720
bit on construction cost and final

426
00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:28,960
payment. Um at the at the time our of of

427
00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:30,720
finalization, our estimate for the

428
00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:34,400
repair work was $99,66.

429
00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:39,190
The awarded contract was $122,535.

430
00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:42,320
Um the total costs uh incurred on the

431
00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:43,600
project for the construction were

432
00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:46,789
$114,415.

433
00:18:46,799 --> 00:18:49,200
Um essentially less rock and connections

434
00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,440
were installed as compared. Some of

435
00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:53,120
those things are front-end estimates as

436
00:18:53,120 --> 00:18:56,000
these are unit price contracts. Um, to

437
00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:58,000
date, uh, the contractor has been paid

438
00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:01,510
$105,8425,

439
00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:06,549
yielding an amount due of $9,330.75.

440
00:19:06,559 --> 00:19:09,120
Um, similar to to other projects that

441
00:19:09,120 --> 00:19:10,880
we've discussed, damages were recorded

442
00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:12,799
in all areas where construction occurred

443
00:19:12,799 --> 00:19:15,520
and and property was damaged. Um, that

444
00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:17,679
has been tabulated and shared with the

445
00:19:17,679 --> 00:19:20,960
um, county drainage staff. Um similarly

446
00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:23,039
asbuilts have been generated for this

447
00:19:23,039 --> 00:19:26,240
work. Um they yield just plan views due

448
00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:28,240
to the small nature or the small scope

449
00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:30,400
of work detailing where these repairs

450
00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:33,520
have occurred um exactly what went in

451
00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:34,559
the ground and where everything was

452
00:19:34,559 --> 00:19:38,080
connected uh for future use. Finally uh

453
00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:39,360
it's the engineer's opinion that the

454
00:19:39,360 --> 00:19:41,440
contractor Leland direct Leland drainage

455
00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:43,200
and excavating has satisfactorily

456
00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:44,640
completed the contract in accordance

457
00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:46,880
with the plans and specifications. He's

458
00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:48,799
provided the the required submitts for

459
00:19:48,799 --> 00:19:50,320
final payment being that signed final

460
00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:52,720
pay request and is IC134 for

461
00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:55,440
subcontractors. Um ultimately IG

462
00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:56,799
recommends accepting the work and

463
00:19:56,799 --> 00:19:58,080
approval of final payment to the

464
00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:00,000
contractor and paying damages to all

465
00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,480
affected land owners. Thank you.

466
00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:05,360
>> Thank you for that acceptance report. At

467
00:20:05,360 --> 00:20:06,960
this time we'll open the public comment

468
00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:08,640
period of the hearing. If you would like

469
00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:10,160
to make a comment, please come to the

470
00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:11,760
podium. State your name and address for

471
00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:13,679
the record. Comments from the public are

472
00:20:13,679 --> 00:20:15,919
expected to be civil and respectful. Is

473
00:20:15,919 --> 00:20:20,470
there anyone wishing to make comment?

474
00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:22,240
Anyone wishing to make comments on the

475
00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:27,750
county ditch 73 repairs?

476
00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:29,919
And last time, anyone wishing to make

477
00:20:29,919 --> 00:20:35,029
comments for county ditch 73 repair.

478
00:20:35,039 --> 00:20:37,200
Seeing no further comments, I will close

479
00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:38,960
the public comment portion of the

480
00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:44,080
hearing. Anything from the county board?

481
00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:45,280
I don't any questions.

482
00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:48,640
>> All right. So, I need a motion.

483
00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:49,679
>> I move approval.

484
00:20:49,679 --> 00:20:50,159
>> Second.

485
00:20:50,159 --> 00:20:51,760
>> I have a motion and a second. Any

486
00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:53,360
discussion?

487
00:20:53,360 --> 00:20:54,720
>> All in favor?

488
00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:55,679
>> I

489
00:20:55,679 --> 00:21:01,190
>> oppose. Motion carries.

490
00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:03,120
Okay. No further comment. Here we go.

491
00:21:03,120 --> 00:21:06,880
Let's move on to

492
00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:10,000
Jordan. We're going into ditch 23. Is

493
00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:10,400
that right?

494
00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:12,480
>> Yes. Repair.

495
00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,679
Um the Blueorth County Judicial Dish 23

496
00:21:15,679 --> 00:21:17,919
wershed is approximately 1,200 acres in

497
00:21:17,919 --> 00:21:19,919
size and located in Sterling and Shelby

498
00:21:19,919 --> 00:21:22,640
Townships. Based on inspections of

499
00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:24,720
Judicial [snorts] Ditch 23 subsurface

500
00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:26,960
tile, a report a repair report was

501
00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:28,960
developed. Leworth County drainage staff

502
00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:30,960
consulted with ISG engineers to develop

503
00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:34,000
a repair report. The repair report was

504
00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:35,919
developed using drainage staff input as

505
00:21:35,919 --> 00:21:37,200
well as engineering survey

506
00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:39,440
recommendations. A copy of the draft

507
00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:41,120
engineers repair report was submitted to

508
00:21:41,120 --> 00:21:42,880
Blorth County drainage management staff

509
00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:45,200
on June 11, 2026.

510
00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:46,880
Informational landowner meetings were

511
00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:50,400
held on December 17, 2025 and June 11th,

512
00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:52,880
2026 to discuss the proposed repair

513
00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:56,000
report, including costs and plans. At

514
00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:57,600
today's meeting, we are respectfully

515
00:21:57,600 --> 00:21:59,440
asking the drainage authority to approve

516
00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:01,600
the draft findings in order, setting a

517
00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:03,760
repair hearing date for September 15,

518
00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:06,240
2026. That's all I have, Madam Chair.

519
00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:09,120
>> Thank you.

520
00:22:09,120 --> 00:22:09,679
So,

521
00:22:09,679 --> 00:22:10,960
>> I'll move approval.

522
00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:12,080
>> Second.

523
00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:13,679
>> I have a motion and a second. Any

524
00:22:13,679 --> 00:22:15,360
discussion?

525
00:22:15,360 --> 00:22:16,480
All in favor?

526
00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:20,799
>> I oppose. Motion carries. Thank you.

527
00:22:20,799 --> 00:22:23,360
>> And last

528
00:22:23,360 --> 00:22:27,360
journey judicial ditch 33.

529
00:22:27,360 --> 00:22:29,919
>> I've got uh joint county ditch 83

530
00:22:29,919 --> 00:22:32,720
improvement bid awarding. Um so public

531
00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:34,880
bids were solicited for judicial ditch

532
00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,039
33 approved in

533
00:22:37,039 --> 00:22:39,760
Judicial ditch 33 approved improvement

534
00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:42,400
construction plans. A total of six bids

535
00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:44,400
were submitted and opened on August 3rd,

536
00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,120
2026. These six bids received are

537
00:22:47,120 --> 00:22:48,640
provided in the table below with the

538
00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:50,400
lowest bid submitted from the Leland

539
00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:52,960
Drainage Excavating LLC with a bid price

540
00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:57,510
of 378,85255

541
00:22:57,520 --> 00:22:59,520
and the highest bid received from Holt

542
00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:01,679
Meyer Construction Incorporated with a

543
00:23:01,679 --> 00:23:07,270
bid price of 522,510.

544
00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:09,200
Leworth County and ISG have worked with

545
00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:11,440
Leland Drainage on past repairs and

546
00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:13,919
projects with positive results. Based on

547
00:23:13,919 --> 00:23:16,480
the submitted low bid price and past

548
00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:18,080
work experience, we recommended the

549
00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:20,000
improvement work be awarded to Leland

550
00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:23,200
Drainage and Excavating LLC. Today we

551
00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:25,760
request the judicial ditch 33 drainage

552
00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:27,760
authority to award a contract for

553
00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:29,600
approved improvement plans for

554
00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:31,919
construction to Leland drainage and

555
00:23:31,919 --> 00:23:34,720
excavating LLC for a bid amount of

556
00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:38,950
$378,85255

557
00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:41,840
affecting portions of judicial ditch 33.

558
00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:43,679
That's all I have. Madam chair,

559
00:23:43,679 --> 00:23:48,390
>> thank you.

560
00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:49,039
» Second.

561
00:23:49,039 --> 00:23:50,640
>> I have a motion and a second. Any

562
00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:53,280
discussion? All in favor?

563
00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:54,000
>> I

564
00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:56,880
>> oppose. Motion [clears throat] carries.

565
00:23:56,880 --> 00:23:57,760
>> Thank you, Jordan.

566
00:23:57,760 --> 00:23:58,640
>> Thank you.

567
00:23:58,640 --> 00:23:59,039
>> Thanks.

568
00:23:59,039 --> 00:24:00,159
>> Thank you, Jacob.

569
00:24:00,159 --> 00:24:02,000
>> Thank you.

570
00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:07,350
>> So, moving on to

571
00:24:07,360 --> 00:24:09,520
the county

572
00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:12,720
sheriff, Jeff Worcel.

573
00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:13,840
>> Morning, Sheriff.

574
00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:14,400
>> Sheriff.

575
00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:15,120
>> Good morning.

576
00:24:15,120 --> 00:24:18,240
>> How are you,

577
00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:19,679
>> Madam Chair? Good morning.

578
00:24:19,679 --> 00:24:22,240
>> Good morning. Um, our current contract

579
00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:24,000
that we have with River Valley Forensic

580
00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:25,919
Services, who performs our autopsies and

581
00:24:25,919 --> 00:24:28,320
forensic examinations at Ramsey County,

582
00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:30,480
set to expire at the end of the year.

583
00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:33,200
Uh, they prepared a new 2-year contract

584
00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:36,159
um with the duration ending 123128 with

585
00:24:36,159 --> 00:24:37,840
no change in the current cost that we're

586
00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:40,320
paying now. I think they're doing this

587
00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:41,600
early because there's a lot of other

588
00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:43,600
counties that want to um use their

589
00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:44,720
services and they want to know how many

590
00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:45,760
are going to stay on board with them.

591
00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:47,440
And I recommend that we stay on board

592
00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:50,799
with them. I'll move approval. Second

593
00:24:50,799 --> 00:24:53,360
>> motion and a second. Any discussion?

594
00:24:53,360 --> 00:24:55,360
>> It's nice they kept the price the same.

595
00:24:55,360 --> 00:24:56,000
>> Yeah.

596
00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:58,400
>> All in favor for now. [laughter]

597
00:24:58,400 --> 00:24:59,679
>> All in favor?

598
00:24:59,679 --> 00:25:01,440
>> I opposed.

599
00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:02,480
>> Motion carries.

600
00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:02,880
>> Thank you.

601
00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:06,240
>> Thanks for that.

602
00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:13,269
>> All right. Planning and zoning.

603
00:25:13,279 --> 00:25:14,720
» Good morning.

604
00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:16,799
>> So the next item on the agenda is

605
00:25:16,799 --> 00:25:18,799
planning and zoning. Planning and zoning

606
00:25:18,799 --> 00:25:20,799
staff are here to present their action

607
00:25:20,799 --> 00:25:23,200
items. There is a public hearing and

608
00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:24,960
public comment will be allowed in just a

609
00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:27,760
moment. As previously stated, comment

610
00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:29,520
should be civil and respectful. If you

611
00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:32,000
haven't already done so, please sign the

612
00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:34,960
clipboard at the back of the room.

613
00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:37,039
And I'll ask the planning and zoning

614
00:25:37,039 --> 00:25:38,640
staff to introduce themselves for the

615
00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:40,640
record and introduce the first item

616
00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:43,279
before the board.

617
00:25:43,279 --> 00:25:45,120
>> Yes. Good morning. Scott Salbury, land

618
00:25:45,120 --> 00:25:45,919
use planner.

619
00:25:45,919 --> 00:25:48,000
>> Thank you. Jenny Mochel Johnson, land

620
00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:49,200
use planner.

621
00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:51,360
>> Erikson Schaefer, land use planner.

622
00:25:51,360 --> 00:25:54,320
>> Thank you.

623
00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:55,840
>> All right, go ahead.

624
00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:57,919
>> All right, the first item we have for

625
00:25:57,919 --> 00:25:59,919
you is planning commission item number

626
00:25:59,919 --> 00:26:02,159
11-26.

627
00:26:02,159 --> 00:26:04,159
This is a request for review and

628
00:26:04,159 --> 00:26:06,159
approval of an interimm ordinance

629
00:26:06,159 --> 00:26:09,039
establishing up to a one-year moratorum

630
00:26:09,039 --> 00:26:11,120
on the permitting of data centers within

631
00:26:11,120 --> 00:26:13,200
the unincorporated areas of Blueworth

632
00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:15,840
County under the zoning authority of

633
00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:18,240
Blue Earth County. This moratorum will

634
00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:19,878
allow county staff to conduct

635
00:26:19,878 --> 00:26:21,039
[cough and clears throat] an evaluation

636
00:26:21,039 --> 00:26:22,960
and develop the appropriate performance

637
00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:24,960
standards and zoning ordinance

638
00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:27,440
amendment. At the planning commission

639
00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:29,440
meeting, staff presented a staff report

640
00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:31,279
and submitted comments from two

641
00:26:31,279 --> 00:26:33,200
residents that were both in support of

642
00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:35,679
the moratorum. Four members of the

643
00:26:35,679 --> 00:26:37,600
public provided comments in support of

644
00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:40,320
the moratorum as well. Public comments

645
00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:42,159
highlighted several key themes,

646
00:26:42,159 --> 00:26:43,760
including the need to understand

647
00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:46,240
long-term environmental impacts, the

648
00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:48,159
importance of public officials avoiding

649
00:26:48,159 --> 00:26:50,320
non-disclosure agreements, the

650
00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:52,000
recommendation for the county to use

651
00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:54,400
broad regulatory language since data

652
00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:56,400
centers may be labeled as technology

653
00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:59,760
parks or or large consumers, and the

654
00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:01,679
significance of reflecting the will of

655
00:27:01,679 --> 00:27:04,080
the community. Following the discussion,

656
00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:05,279
the planning commission voted

657
00:27:05,279 --> 00:27:07,840
unanimously to forward a recommendation

658
00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:10,400
of approval to the county board based on

659
00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:16,320
the findings prepared by staff. So the request in front of you today, we

660
00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:18,880
are requesting a board action passage of

661
00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:20,240
the ordinance based on the

662
00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:21,679
recommendations of the planning

663
00:27:21,679 --> 00:27:24,159
commission. There any questions for

664
00:27:24,159 --> 00:27:26,159
staff?

665
00:27:26,159 --> 00:27:28,880
>> I don't have any at this point.

666
00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:30,159
>> I would move to approve.

667
00:27:30,159 --> 00:27:32,960
>> Well, we have public comment to I'm

668
00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:33,360
sorry.

669
00:27:33,360 --> 00:27:34,000
>> That's all right.

670
00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:35,360
>> I really got to do that.

671
00:27:35,360 --> 00:27:37,360
>> Yeah, sometimes we have public comment.

672
00:27:37,360 --> 00:27:38,880
At this time, we'll open the public

673
00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:40,480
comment portion of the hearing. If you

674
00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:42,240
would like to make a comment regarding

675
00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:44,799
PC1 11-26,

676
00:27:44,799 --> 00:27:46,559
please come to the podium. State your

677
00:27:46,559 --> 00:27:49,600
name and address for the record.

678
00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:52,720
Is there anyone wishing to speak to PC

679
00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:55,039
11-26?

680
00:27:55,039 --> 00:27:55,919
Good morning.

681
00:27:55,919 --> 00:27:59,360
>> Good morning. I have a handout. I made

682
00:27:59,360 --> 00:28:02,480
10 copies. It's not enough for everybody

683
00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:06,720
here, but it's an updated version of the

684
00:28:06,720 --> 00:28:08,640
number of counties and cities in the

685
00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:11,120
state of Minnesota that have passed a

686
00:28:11,120 --> 00:28:13,120
moratorium on data centers.

687
00:28:13,120 --> 00:28:14,720
>> If you could state your name and address

688
00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:15,440
for the record,

689
00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:18,240
>> Schwarzoff. I'm a resident of Mano and

690
00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:19,840
also Blue Earth County.

691
00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,159
>> Thank you. and I'm here to speak in

692
00:28:22,159 --> 00:28:24,720
support of a moratorum on the permitting

693
00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:26,880
of data centers in Blue Earth County

694
00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:29,440
while the county studies what a hypers

695
00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:33,200
scale data center here would entail.

696
00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:37,360
If you approve PC 1126,

697
00:28:37,360 --> 00:28:39,840
the interim ordinance, Bler County will

698
00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:43,440
join 26 other cities and counties in

699
00:28:43,440 --> 00:28:45,760
Minnesota that have already approved a

700
00:28:45,760 --> 00:28:49,039
moratorum. and those 26 cities and

701
00:28:49,039 --> 00:28:52,640
counties are listed on the handout.

702
00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:56,480
Uh I also want to commend county staff

703
00:28:56,480 --> 00:28:58,480
for their excellent work on the

704
00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:01,520
background and statement of general need

705
00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:04,480
in your packet. Just really well done

706
00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:08,480
and alum illuminates the issues.

707
00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:11,520
It just makes sense to study the issue

708
00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:15,279
carefully before a developer comes

709
00:29:15,279 --> 00:29:17,360
because of the massive scale and

710
00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:20,399
resource requirements of a hypers scale

711
00:29:20,399 --> 00:29:22,320
data center.

712
00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:24,960
is a large

713
00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:28,559
facility. It can can have a footprint of

714
00:29:28,559 --> 00:29:30,880
millions of square feet.

715
00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:32,960
Uh the proposed data center in North

716
00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:35,919
Mano, which is no longer a thing because

717
00:29:35,919 --> 00:29:38,640
the developer withdrew had a footprint

718
00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:42,080
of 4 million square ft.

719
00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:44,880
It uses a lot of electricity and it can

720
00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:47,679
use a lot of water. There are also

721
00:29:47,679 --> 00:29:51,440
issues with the waste water produced. Uh

722
00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:53,679
how do you take care of that and noise

723
00:29:53,679 --> 00:29:57,600
pollution and light pollution?

724
00:29:57,600 --> 00:30:00,000
It's also important to determine

725
00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,880
appropriate sighting for a data center

726
00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:05,919
near the resources it needs and away

727
00:30:05,919 --> 00:30:08,880
from residential neighborhoods because

728
00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:12,000
of the noise and light pollution.

729
00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:14,080
Uh furthermore, it's important to get

730
00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:16,880
public input by having open houses,

731
00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:18,960
listening sessions, and the like as

732
00:30:18,960 --> 00:30:20,265
described in the background

733
00:30:20,265 --> 00:30:20,960
[clears throat]

734
00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:23,520
and statement of general need in your

735
00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:25,840
packet. This is the way it should be

736
00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:29,039
done. And I commend the board of

737
00:30:29,039 --> 00:30:31,440
commissioners for bringing it to a vote

738
00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:34,950
today.

739
00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:37,919
But the cautionary

740
00:30:37,919 --> 00:30:42,960
uh tale if a data center is uh is coming

741
00:30:42,960 --> 00:30:46,159
and comes to see a county commissioner

742
00:30:46,159 --> 00:30:51,039
do not sign a non-disclosure agreement.

743
00:30:51,039 --> 00:30:54,159
That's what happened in North Mano,

744
00:30:54,159 --> 00:30:59,360
Hermantown, Pine Island, and Farmington.

745
00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:01,600
uh in Hermantown, which is the case I

746
00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:04,000
know the best because I know one of the

747
00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:07,679
residents there. The developer came in,

748
00:31:07,679 --> 00:31:09,440
got city officials to sign a

749
00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:12,480
non-disclosure agreement, consulted with

750
00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:14,559
Minnesota Power about a favorable

751
00:31:14,559 --> 00:31:17,360
location, and then bought a plot of land

752
00:31:17,360 --> 00:31:20,880
in a rural part of the town, zoned rural

753
00:31:20,880 --> 00:31:22,799
residential.

754
00:31:22,799 --> 00:31:25,200
There were homes on that land and homes

755
00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:27,840
close by. The developer started buying

756
00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:30,000
out the homeowners on the land one by

757
00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:33,440
one and required the homeowners to sign

758
00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:35,840
a non-disclosure agreement as a

759
00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:38,880
condition of the buyout.

760
00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:41,200
This went on for months until word

761
00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:44,240
leaked out about what was happening.

762
00:31:44,240 --> 00:31:47,039
Residents were rightly outraged. The

763
00:31:47,039 --> 00:31:49,760
trust they had in their city leaders was

764
00:31:49,760 --> 00:31:52,559
just destroyed. They're still fighting

765
00:31:52,559 --> 00:31:55,519
the developer. So this this is not the

766
00:31:55,519 --> 00:31:58,000
way to do it. The way it's being done in

767
00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:01,519
Pworth County, I applaud. So to

768
00:32:01,519 --> 00:32:05,120
conclude, I'm respectfully asking you

769
00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:07,360
today to pass the data center moratorum

770
00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:10,320
and study and to keep the process open

771
00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:13,760
and transparent and don't sign the

772
00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:16,320
non-disclosure agreement if asked by a

773
00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:18,640
developer. Thanks for your time.

774
00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:19,039
>> Thank you.

775
00:32:19,039 --> 00:32:22,240
Thank you.

776
00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:24,159
Is there anyone else wishing to make

777
00:32:24,159 --> 00:32:29,669
comment on PC11-26?

778
00:32:29,679 --> 00:32:31,519
>> Good morning.

779
00:32:31,519 --> 00:32:33,840
>> Um, my name is Mariah Celler. I live and

780
00:32:33,840 --> 00:32:36,640
work in St. Peter. I'm here to also

781
00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:39,360
support the data center moratorum. The

782
00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:41,200
scale of these uh which were mentioned

783
00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:42,960
in the previous comment. I also agree

784
00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:44,399
with what he stated in the previous

785
00:32:44,399 --> 00:32:46,799
comment. The scale of these is uh

786
00:32:46,799 --> 00:32:48,960
difficult to understand and this affects

787
00:32:48,960 --> 00:32:50,880
not only this county but surrounding

788
00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:54,799
counties in the electricity use um you

789
00:32:54,799 --> 00:32:56,559
know the transformers and equipment that

790
00:32:56,559 --> 00:32:59,200
would go into supporting such a center

791
00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:00,960
and also the water use although of

792
00:33:00,960 --> 00:33:02,480
course I know the state is responsible

793
00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:07,360
for water use. Um, I just want to

794
00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:10,640
express the [clears throat] concern, you

795
00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:14,320
know, as a local citizen, I have for

796
00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:16,960
private companies coming in and maybe

797
00:33:16,960 --> 00:33:19,679
making it sound like a good deal for

798
00:33:19,679 --> 00:33:22,720
communities. Um, and then these private

799
00:33:22,720 --> 00:33:24,880
companies not being held accountable or

800
00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:27,360
they're not being protections for the

801
00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:30,399
communities as they stand. Um, and I

802
00:33:30,399 --> 00:33:32,320
feel there's a present danger in

803
00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:34,720
Minnesota because we don't have a state

804
00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:38,480
that has a strong framework for what is

805
00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:41,039
happening. And we need to make sure, you

806
00:33:41,039 --> 00:33:44,399
know, our local leaders as well are um

807
00:33:44,399 --> 00:33:46,559
listening and and there's collaboration

808
00:33:46,559 --> 00:33:48,720
uh between all levels of government and

809
00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:50,480
all the different utility commissions

810
00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:53,200
and um whatnot. And I really appreciate

811
00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:56,960
um the planning and uh zoning

812
00:33:56,960 --> 00:33:59,600
um workers for bringing this to to

813
00:33:59,600 --> 00:34:01,200
attention and all the hard work they're

814
00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:03,440
putting into making sure we have all the

815
00:34:03,440 --> 00:34:05,519
information we need. So, thank you.

816
00:34:05,519 --> 00:34:08,320
>> Thank you.

817
00:34:08,320 --> 00:34:10,079
Is there anyone else wishing to make

818
00:34:10,079 --> 00:34:12,800
comment on PC1-26?

819
00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:13,919
Good morning.

820
00:34:13,919 --> 00:34:18,320
>> Hi, I'm Ava. I uh live in Mano and I had

821
00:34:18,320 --> 00:34:18,960
uh made a

822
00:34:18,960 --> 00:34:20,320
>> Could you give your full name, ma'am?

823
00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:22,079
Uh, Ava Corey Greenness.

824
00:34:22,079 --> 00:34:22,720
>> Thank you.

825
00:34:22,720 --> 00:34:25,599
>> Uh, and I had made a comment in support

826
00:34:25,599 --> 00:34:27,679
of the moratorum at the planning

827
00:34:27,679 --> 00:34:29,919
commission meeting. So, I'll be pretty

828
00:34:29,919 --> 00:34:32,000
brief. I just wanted to point out a

829
00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:35,119
couple of, uh, language things that I

830
00:34:35,119 --> 00:34:38,720
noticed. Um, on at the bottom of page

831
00:34:38,720 --> 00:34:42,639
106 of today's meeting packet, uh,

832
00:34:42,639 --> 00:34:45,760
there's a line that says evaluation of

833
00:34:45,760 --> 00:34:49,040
existing impacts due to. Uh, and I'm

834
00:34:49,040 --> 00:34:50,639
thinking that that's probably meant to

835
00:34:50,639 --> 00:34:53,520
say evaluation of potential impacts that

836
00:34:53,520 --> 00:34:57,920
might result from uh data centers. Um,

837
00:34:57,920 --> 00:35:01,264
and then on page 109, or at least

838
00:35:01,264 --> 00:35:02,320
[snorts] that's what it's showing up as

839
00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:04,079
for me. Um I [clears throat] would

840
00:35:04,079 --> 00:35:06,800
suggest that the evaluation or study

841
00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:09,520
also specifically include public health

842
00:35:09,520 --> 00:35:12,480
impacts uh locally and to communities

843
00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:14,320
outside of the US from production and

844
00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:16,480
disposal of materials and then also

845
00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:18,720
ecosystem or biodiversity impacts which

846
00:35:18,720 --> 00:35:20,400
could be included under environmental

847
00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:22,800
impacts. It would just be good to

848
00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:25,200
explicitly include that and then also uh

849
00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:26,960
like carbon sequestration and climate

850
00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:30,640
impacts. Um and then also probably an

851
00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:32,720
overview of findings on public opinion

852
00:35:32,720 --> 00:35:35,599
from the public engagement efforts uh

853
00:35:35,599 --> 00:35:40,079
described. But um those are pretty minor

854
00:35:40,079 --> 00:35:42,480
details and overall I really appreciate

855
00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:45,520
um staff's work on the moratorum. So

856
00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:46,240
thank you.

857
00:35:46,240 --> 00:35:50,000
>> Thank you for your comments. Anyone

858
00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:54,480
else wishing to make comment on PC

859
00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:58,390
11-26?

860
00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:02,230
Anyone else?

861
00:36:02,240 --> 00:36:06,079
All right, last time

862
00:36:06,079 --> 00:36:08,240
I will close the public comment portion

863
00:36:08,240 --> 00:36:10,160
of the hearing. Are there any comments

864
00:36:10,160 --> 00:36:12,320
by the board?

865
00:36:12,320 --> 00:36:14,800
>> I will now move to approve.

866
00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:16,000
>> Thank you. [laughter]

867
00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:18,160
I need a second.

868
00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:19,599
>> Second.

869
00:36:19,599 --> 00:36:22,400
>> Any discussion?

870
00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:26,560
>> The um meetings that I've gone to on

871
00:36:26,560 --> 00:36:30,480
data centers, both on both sides,

872
00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:32,000
um

873
00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:34,880
it's it only makes sense to sit and wait

874
00:36:34,880 --> 00:36:38,960
a year and have have very good

875
00:36:38,960 --> 00:36:41,119
discussions on how this affects the

876
00:36:41,119 --> 00:36:43,119
community and affects the surrounding

877
00:36:43,119 --> 00:36:48,079
area. Um surprisingly uh even the data

878
00:36:48,079 --> 00:36:51,599
centers now are talking about um pushing

879
00:36:51,599 --> 00:36:54,320
for transparency. They're understanding

880
00:36:54,320 --> 00:36:58,640
that non-disclosure issues just create

881
00:36:58,640 --> 00:37:01,599
uh a lot of questions and and people

882
00:37:01,599 --> 00:37:05,200
being concerned. uh for our sake here in

883
00:37:05,200 --> 00:37:08,320
the county, uh we probably won't have

884
00:37:08,320 --> 00:37:11,359
any issues just because it's going to be

885
00:37:11,359 --> 00:37:14,640
a local city issue. It's going to have

886
00:37:14,640 --> 00:37:16,800
to be connected to the water supply some

887
00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:19,280
way and that'll have to come from some

888
00:37:19,280 --> 00:37:22,000
city. But I think it's it's just smart

889
00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:26,160
for us as a county to

890
00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:29,839
sit down and and investigate uh get some

891
00:37:29,839 --> 00:37:31,440
information what's good for the

892
00:37:31,440 --> 00:37:35,440
community and uh find out how it can

893
00:37:35,440 --> 00:37:39,440
help or or not help us and and we have a

894
00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:42,400
year to work that out.

895
00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:46,326
>> Thank you, Vance. Anyone else?

896
00:37:46,326 --> 00:37:46,960
[clears throat]

897
00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:49,040
>> All in favor? I

898
00:37:49,040 --> 00:37:52,720
>> opposed. Motion carries.

899
00:37:52,720 --> 00:37:54,800
>> All right.

900
00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:58,640
Now we'll move on to PC15-26.

901
00:37:58,640 --> 00:38:02,800
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh PC15-26,

902
00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:05,680
uh Bradley and Wendy Caldwell. Request

903
00:38:05,680 --> 00:38:07,119
for review and approval of the

904
00:38:07,119 --> 00:38:10,880
preliminary plat of Helicopter Land LLC.

905
00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:13,119
Uh subdivision plat consisting of two

906
00:38:13,119 --> 00:38:16,160
lots. Uh, one lot has an existing house

907
00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:18,960
and the other lot has the existing KO

908
00:38:18,960 --> 00:38:21,440
aviation business. Uh, the property is

909
00:38:21,440 --> 00:38:23,440
zoned light industry and is in the

910
00:38:23,440 --> 00:38:25,200
southwest quarter of the southeast

911
00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:28,400
quarter of section 4 in Buford Township.

912
00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:30,000
Uh, at the planning commission meeting,

913
00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:31,920
staff presented the staff report. Uh,

914
00:38:31,920 --> 00:38:33,599
the applicant's representatives was

915
00:38:33,599 --> 00:38:35,280
present and uh, confirmed the

916
00:38:35,280 --> 00:38:37,520
information present in the staff report.

917
00:38:37,520 --> 00:38:39,599
Uh, there was no comment provided by the

918
00:38:39,599 --> 00:38:42,720
public. Uh the following discussion uh

919
00:38:42,720 --> 00:38:44,000
the planning commission voted

920
00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:46,400
unanimously to forward a recommendation

921
00:38:46,400 --> 00:38:48,560
of approval to the county board uh based

922
00:38:48,560 --> 00:38:50,560
on the findings and conditions prepared

923
00:38:50,560 --> 00:38:53,920
by staff. Uh we request the board action

924
00:38:53,920 --> 00:38:56,079
for passage of the resolution based on

925
00:38:56,079 --> 00:38:57,839
the recommendation of the planning

926
00:38:57,839 --> 00:38:59,200
commission.

927
00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:00,079
>> Thank you manager.

928
00:39:00,079 --> 00:39:02,320
>> Thank you. At this time we'll open the

929
00:39:02,320 --> 00:39:03,920
public comment portion of the hearing.

930
00:39:03,920 --> 00:39:05,359
If you would like to make a comment

931
00:39:05,359 --> 00:39:08,240
regarding PC15-26,

932
00:39:08,240 --> 00:39:09,920
please come to the podium. State your

933
00:39:09,920 --> 00:39:15,109
name and address for the record.

934
00:39:15,119 --> 00:39:16,880
Is there anyone wishing to speak to

935
00:39:16,880 --> 00:39:21,829
PC15-26

936
00:39:21,839 --> 00:39:24,240
for the third time? Anyone wishing to

937
00:39:24,240 --> 00:39:28,950
speak to PC5-26.

938
00:39:28,960 --> 00:39:30,240
All right, we're going to close the

939
00:39:30,240 --> 00:39:33,920
public comment portion of the meeting.

940
00:39:33,920 --> 00:39:36,240
Any comments from the board?

941
00:39:36,240 --> 00:39:37,520
>> I don't have any comments, Madam Chair,

942
00:39:37,520 --> 00:39:40,160
but I'll move approval. Second.

943
00:39:40,160 --> 00:39:41,760
>> I have a motion and a second. Any

944
00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:43,359
discussion?

945
00:39:43,359 --> 00:39:44,640
All in favor?

946
00:39:44,640 --> 00:39:45,280
>> I

947
00:39:45,280 --> 00:39:47,119
>> opposed. [clears throat]

948
00:39:47,119 --> 00:39:48,720
>> Motion carries.

949
00:39:48,720 --> 00:39:50,720
>> And we'll go ahead and introduce the

950
00:39:50,720 --> 00:39:52,640
next item.

951
00:39:52,640 --> 00:39:55,359
Great. The next item is planning

952
00:39:55,359 --> 00:39:58,800
commission number 16-26.

953
00:39:58,800 --> 00:40:00,720
This is a request for an after the fact

954
00:40:00,720 --> 00:40:02,800
interim use permit to allow for the

955
00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:05,187
cumulative movement of more than 50

956
00:40:05,187 --> 00:40:07,200
[clears throat] cubic yards of material.

957
00:40:07,200 --> 00:40:09,760
The property is zoned agriculture and is

958
00:40:09,760 --> 00:40:11,520
within the Shorland district of an

959
00:40:11,520 --> 00:40:14,079
unnamed stream. The project is located

960
00:40:14,079 --> 00:40:15,920
in the southeast quarter of the

961
00:40:15,920 --> 00:40:18,560
northeast quarter of section 21

962
00:40:18,560 --> 00:40:20,800
Jamestown Township. At the planning

963
00:40:20,800 --> 00:40:23,040
commission meeting, staff presented the

964
00:40:23,040 --> 00:40:25,440
staff report. The applicant was present

965
00:40:25,440 --> 00:40:27,280
and confirmed the information presented

966
00:40:27,280 --> 00:40:29,599
within the staff report. There were no

967
00:40:29,599 --> 00:40:31,760
comments provided by the public.

968
00:40:31,760 --> 00:40:33,440
Following the discussion, the planning

969
00:40:33,440 --> 00:40:35,839
commission voted unanimously to forward

970
00:40:35,839 --> 00:40:37,760
a recommendation of approval to the

971
00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:40,160
county board based on the findings and

972
00:40:40,160 --> 00:40:43,839
conditions presented by staff. The

973
00:40:43,839 --> 00:40:46,240
request for board action is passage of

974
00:40:46,240 --> 00:40:47,760
the resolution based on the

975
00:40:47,760 --> 00:40:49,040
recommendation of the planning

976
00:40:49,040 --> 00:40:51,040
commission.

977
00:40:51,040 --> 00:40:53,440
Thank you.

978
00:40:53,440 --> 00:40:55,839
So, at this time, we'll open the public

979
00:40:55,839 --> 00:40:58,079
comment portion of the hearing. If you

980
00:40:58,079 --> 00:41:00,480
would like to make a comment regarding

981
00:41:00,480 --> 00:41:03,280
PC16-26,

982
00:41:03,280 --> 00:41:04,880
please come to the podium. State your

983
00:41:04,880 --> 00:41:09,510
name and address for the record.

984
00:41:09,520 --> 00:41:15,990
Anyone wishing to speak to PC16-26?

985
00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:19,839
Anyone wishing to comment?

986
00:41:19,839 --> 00:41:21,280
All right, we will close the public

987
00:41:21,280 --> 00:41:24,800
comment portion of the hearing.

988
00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:27,200
And can I get a motion?

989
00:41:27,200 --> 00:41:28,960
>> I will move approval.

990
00:41:28,960 --> 00:41:29,440
>> Second.

991
00:41:29,440 --> 00:41:31,359
>> I have a motion and a second to approve

992
00:41:31,359 --> 00:41:34,319
the resolution for PC16-26.

993
00:41:34,319 --> 00:41:36,160
Any discussion?

994
00:41:36,160 --> 00:41:37,280
All in favor?

995
00:41:37,280 --> 00:41:38,240
>> I

996
00:41:38,240 --> 00:41:41,119
>> oppose. Motion carries. And we'll move

997
00:41:41,119 --> 00:41:43,440
on to our final item.

998
00:41:43,440 --> 00:41:46,640
>> Thank you, Madam Chair. PC17-26

999
00:41:46,640 --> 00:41:48,560
is the last planning and zoning item,

1000
00:41:48,560 --> 00:41:49,920
the applicants Blueorth County, and it's

1001
00:41:49,920 --> 00:41:51,680
a request for review and approval of an

1002
00:41:51,680 --> 00:41:53,599
ordinance amendment to chapter 14, which

1003
00:41:53,599 --> 00:41:55,599
is the shoreland chapter of the um

1004
00:41:55,599 --> 00:41:58,000
county code, and chapter 24, the zoning

1005
00:41:58,000 --> 00:41:59,680
chapter of the county code to allow

1006
00:41:59,680 --> 00:42:02,319
seasonal produce or farm stands and

1007
00:42:02,319 --> 00:42:04,880
commercial outdoor recreation areas in

1008
00:42:04,880 --> 00:42:06,240
shoreland districts. The ordinance

1009
00:42:06,240 --> 00:42:08,640
amends the definition of both uses and

1010
00:42:08,640 --> 00:42:10,400
updates the associated standards for

1011
00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:12,400
these uses in the county code. At the

1012
00:42:12,400 --> 00:42:13,599
planning commission meeting, staff

1013
00:42:13,599 --> 00:42:15,280
presented the report. There was one

1014
00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:17,520
member from the public uh who provided

1015
00:42:17,520 --> 00:42:18,960
comment in support of the ordinance

1016
00:42:18,960 --> 00:42:20,560
amendment. The individual discussed her

1017
00:42:20,560 --> 00:42:22,400
agra business and the importance of a

1018
00:42:22,400 --> 00:42:24,560
tourism in the county. Following the

1019
00:42:24,560 --> 00:42:25,599
discussion, the planning commission

1020
00:42:25,599 --> 00:42:27,200
voted unanimously to forward a

1021
00:42:27,200 --> 00:42:28,640
recommendation for approval to the

1022
00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:30,079
county board based on the findings

1023
00:42:30,079 --> 00:42:32,079
prepared by staff. In the board action

1024
00:42:32,079 --> 00:42:33,920
is passage of the ordinance based on the

1025
00:42:33,920 --> 00:42:35,280
recommendation of the planning

1026
00:42:35,280 --> 00:42:37,760
commission.

1027
00:42:37,760 --> 00:42:41,119
>> Okay. Thank you.

1028
00:42:41,119 --> 00:42:43,040
So, at this time, we'll open the public

1029
00:42:43,040 --> 00:42:44,880
comment portion of the hearing. If you

1030
00:42:44,880 --> 00:42:46,480
would like to make a comment regarding

1031
00:42:46,480 --> 00:42:48,800
PC17-26,

1032
00:42:48,800 --> 00:42:50,560
please come to the podium, state your

1033
00:42:50,560 --> 00:42:54,950
name and address for the record.

1034
00:42:54,960 --> 00:43:00,230
Anyone wishing to speak to PC17-26?

1035
00:43:00,240 --> 00:43:03,920
Anyone wishing to make comment?

1036
00:43:03,920 --> 00:43:05,119
All right, we're going to close the

1037
00:43:05,119 --> 00:43:09,829
public comment portion of the hearing.

1038
00:43:09,839 --> 00:43:11,839
Any discussion?

1039
00:43:11,839 --> 00:43:12,960
>> Can I get a motion?

1040
00:43:12,960 --> 00:43:14,000
>> Move to approve.

1041
00:43:14,000 --> 00:43:14,720
>> Second.

1042
00:43:14,720 --> 00:43:18,400
>> Motion in a second. Now, any discussion?

1043
00:43:18,400 --> 00:43:19,920
>> All in favor?

1044
00:43:19,920 --> 00:43:20,720
>> I

1045
00:43:20,720 --> 00:43:23,680
>> oppose. Motion carries. This will

1046
00:43:23,680 --> 00:43:26,160
conclude the planning and zoning items

1047
00:43:26,160 --> 00:43:28,640
and closing the public hearing. Thank

1048
00:43:28,640 --> 00:43:29,200
you.

1049
00:43:29,200 --> 00:43:34,790
>> Thank you.

1050
00:43:34,800 --> 00:43:37,440
» Madame Chair. We are definitely ahead of

1051
00:43:37,440 --> 00:43:39,920
schedule, much faster than what we

1052
00:43:39,920 --> 00:43:42,640
anticipated. I think one thing we could

1053
00:43:42,640 --> 00:43:44,800
do is we could go through the

1054
00:43:44,800 --> 00:43:46,880
administrative items at this point in

1055
00:43:46,880 --> 00:43:48,640
time. And I think we'll still have a

1056
00:43:48,640 --> 00:43:49,839
little bit of time, but then at that

1057
00:43:49,839 --> 00:43:52,079
point, we could take a a break until we

1058
00:43:52,079 --> 00:43:54,480
and we go into our next 1010 agenda item

1059
00:43:54,480 --> 00:43:56,000
for the close session.

1060
00:43:56,000 --> 00:43:57,119
>> Everybody okay with that?

1061
00:43:57,119 --> 00:43:58,079
>> I'm okay with that.

1062
00:43:58,079 --> 00:43:59,280
>> Okay, let's do it.

1063
00:43:59,280 --> 00:44:01,200
>> All right, the first item we have is the

1064
00:44:01,200 --> 00:44:06,550
approval of the August 11th uh minutes.

1065
00:44:06,560 --> 00:44:07,520
So moved.

1066
00:44:07,520 --> 00:44:08,000
>> Second.

1067
00:44:08,000 --> 00:44:09,760
>> I have a motion and a second for the

1068
00:44:09,760 --> 00:44:13,435
minutes. All in favor? Any discussion?

1069
00:44:13,435 --> 00:44:13,839
[laughter]

1070
00:44:13,839 --> 00:44:15,119
>> All in favor? [cough]

1071
00:44:15,119 --> 00:44:18,319
>> I oppose. Motion carries.

1072
00:44:18,319 --> 00:44:20,400
>> Right. Next we have the bills for the

1073
00:44:20,400 --> 00:44:22,400
two weeks.

1074
00:44:22,400 --> 00:44:23,599
>> I move the bills.

1075
00:44:23,599 --> 00:44:24,319
>> Second.

1076
00:44:24,319 --> 00:44:26,240
>> Motion a second for the bills. Any

1077
00:44:26,240 --> 00:44:28,800
discussion? All in favor?

1078
00:44:28,800 --> 00:44:32,240
>> I opposed. Motion carries.

1079
00:44:32,240 --> 00:44:34,160
Next, uh, we have the human resources

1080
00:44:34,160 --> 00:44:37,920
agenda. We do have one action item as a

1081
00:44:37,920 --> 00:44:40,000
result of some some turnover in our

1082
00:44:40,000 --> 00:44:41,920
human resources department. We took this

1083
00:44:41,920 --> 00:44:44,000
opportunity to look at doing a I would

1084
00:44:44,000 --> 00:44:47,920
say a slight reorganization to just um I

1085
00:44:47,920 --> 00:44:49,920
think make us um be a little bit more

1086
00:44:49,920 --> 00:44:51,920
responsive to our department's needs and

1087
00:44:51,920 --> 00:44:54,240
what they have. And so what we're doing

1088
00:44:54,240 --> 00:44:56,240
with that is we're looking at um

1089
00:44:56,240 --> 00:44:58,079
changing it that we'll have actually two

1090
00:44:58,079 --> 00:45:00,880
coordinators within the human resources

1091
00:45:00,880 --> 00:45:02,720
department. One really on the employee

1092
00:45:02,720 --> 00:45:04,560
benefit side and the other on the

1093
00:45:04,560 --> 00:45:06,319
employee relations compliance and with

1094
00:45:06,319 --> 00:45:07,839
the compliance is doing everything with

1095
00:45:07,839 --> 00:45:12,160
our aa FMLA that type of training. So

1096
00:45:12,160 --> 00:45:13,680
what I would respectfully ask of the

1097
00:45:13,680 --> 00:45:15,440
board is authorization to initiate

1098
00:45:15,440 --> 00:45:17,119
recruitment for the human resources

1099
00:45:17,119 --> 00:45:19,040
coordinator employee relations and

1100
00:45:19,040 --> 00:45:22,079
compliance position.

1101
00:45:22,079 --> 00:45:24,160
Move to approve.

1102
00:45:24,160 --> 00:45:24,880
>> Second.

1103
00:45:24,880 --> 00:45:26,560
>> I have a motion in a second. Any

1104
00:45:26,560 --> 00:45:28,960
discussion?

1105
00:45:28,960 --> 00:45:31,839
>> HR is only getting harder.

1106
00:45:31,839 --> 00:45:33,920
It has continued to be challenging and I

1107
00:45:33,920 --> 00:45:35,280
would say one of the things that I I do

1108
00:45:35,280 --> 00:45:38,000
worry in the future still are um taking

1109
00:45:38,000 --> 00:45:40,079
care of paid medical leave with the the

1110
00:45:40,079 --> 00:45:42,240
new state law has has definitely proven

1111
00:45:42,240 --> 00:45:44,560
to be challenging not only for us but

1112
00:45:44,560 --> 00:45:46,240
talking with area um county

1113
00:45:46,240 --> 00:45:48,240
administrators this last week there's a

1114
00:45:48,240 --> 00:45:49,760
lot of time energy and effort of trying

1115
00:45:49,760 --> 00:45:51,920
to go to to really coordinate that

1116
00:45:51,920 --> 00:45:54,880
program.

1117
00:45:54,880 --> 00:45:56,160
>> All in favor?

1118
00:45:56,160 --> 00:45:59,440
>> I oppose. Motion carries.

1119
00:45:59,440 --> 00:46:01,280
>> All right. Next we have theformational

1120
00:46:01,280 --> 00:46:03,520
items. We have the resignation of human

1121
00:46:03,520 --> 00:46:06,480
resources specialist and then we do have

1122
00:46:06,480 --> 00:46:08,960
a employment of an account clerk within

1123
00:46:08,960 --> 00:46:12,240
human resources. Um an employment of a

1124
00:46:12,240 --> 00:46:15,040
correctional officer. Um have a

1125
00:46:15,040 --> 00:46:17,040
resignation of our public works

1126
00:46:17,040 --> 00:46:19,280
accountant and then recruitment is initi

1127
00:46:19,280 --> 00:46:21,200
initiated for our public works

1128
00:46:21,200 --> 00:46:24,160
accountant. And then finally we have

1129
00:46:24,160 --> 00:46:26,560
employment of a land use planner for

1130
00:46:26,560 --> 00:46:28,880
feed lots. That would conclude

1131
00:46:28,880 --> 00:46:30,400
theformational. If there's any question,

1132
00:46:30,400 --> 00:46:33,200
I'd be happy to answer those.

1133
00:46:33,200 --> 00:46:36,000
>> Looks good.

1134
00:46:36,000 --> 00:46:37,760
>> All right. Um, last item under

1135
00:46:37,760 --> 00:46:40,800
administrative items is a gambling

1136
00:46:40,800 --> 00:46:43,040
permit. Um, this is a gambling permit

1137
00:46:43,040 --> 00:46:45,440
that's coming out from the Wasika Hockey

1138
00:46:45,440 --> 00:46:48,079
Association. And this is for at the

1139
00:46:48,079 --> 00:46:50,960
Indian Island Winery. Um, this is

1140
00:46:50,960 --> 00:46:52,720
something that we've addressed the the

1141
00:46:52,720 --> 00:46:54,480
gambling at the Indian Island Winery

1142
00:46:54,480 --> 00:46:56,640
recently. And this is adding an

1143
00:46:56,640 --> 00:46:59,599
additional organization. This was res um

1144
00:46:59,599 --> 00:47:01,520
reviewed by planning and zoning to make

1145
00:47:01,520 --> 00:47:02,960
sure this complies and everything

1146
00:47:02,960 --> 00:47:05,200
checked out. So I would request approval

1147
00:47:05,200 --> 00:47:07,920
of this uh new gambling permit.

1148
00:47:07,920 --> 00:47:08,800
>> So moved.

1149
00:47:08,800 --> 00:47:09,839
>> Second.

1150
00:47:09,839 --> 00:47:12,400
>> Motion in a second. Any discussion?

1151
00:47:12,400 --> 00:47:13,599
>> All in favor?

1152
00:47:13,599 --> 00:47:23,270
>> I oppose. Motion carries.

1153
00:47:23,280 --> 00:47:25,920
So, we should go to a break.

1154
00:47:25,920 --> 00:47:27,520
>> I think we could, you know, at this

1155
00:47:27,520 --> 00:47:29,359
point,

1156
00:47:29,359 --> 00:47:30,880
>> you know what? I think we'd have time.

1157
00:47:30,880 --> 00:47:32,240
That's what I was Thank you,

1158
00:47:32,240 --> 00:47:33,440
Commissioner Pap. I think we'd have time

1159
00:47:33,440 --> 00:47:35,280
to do the committees as well.

1160
00:47:35,280 --> 00:47:37,040
>> Go ahead, Commissioner Pap.

1161
00:47:37,040 --> 00:47:39,200
>> All right. Since our August 11th uh

1162
00:47:39,200 --> 00:47:41,920
meeting, board meeting, um then we all

1163
00:47:41,920 --> 00:47:43,520
attended the Nicola County joint

1164
00:47:43,520 --> 00:47:46,880
meeting. August 13th uh participated in

1165
00:47:46,880 --> 00:47:49,520
the University of Minnesota drainage

1166
00:47:49,520 --> 00:47:51,920
conference as well as a drainage work

1167
00:47:51,920 --> 00:47:54,880
group. And later that day uh

1168
00:47:54,880 --> 00:47:57,359
participated with the chair and

1169
00:47:57,359 --> 00:48:01,119
congressman Finstead uh Congresswoman

1170
00:48:01,119 --> 00:48:03,599
Fishbach and GT [clears throat] Thompson

1171
00:48:03,599 --> 00:48:05,680
the chairman of the house a committee

1172
00:48:05,680 --> 00:48:07,273
round table where we talked about

1173
00:48:07,273 --> 00:48:07,928
[cough]

1174
00:48:07,928 --> 00:48:09,599
[clears throat] specifically the SNAP

1175
00:48:09,599 --> 00:48:12,160
shifts and the costs that we'll added on

1176
00:48:12,160 --> 00:48:15,280
the property taxes. had an opportunity

1177
00:48:15,280 --> 00:48:18,480
on the 14th to attend an egg lunchon

1178
00:48:18,480 --> 00:48:21,200
with the congressman and the house egg

1179
00:48:21,200 --> 00:48:24,079
uh chairman to uh reiterate those snap

1180
00:48:24,079 --> 00:48:28,160
cuts as well as a JD36 meeting. On the

1181
00:48:28,160 --> 00:48:30,800
17th was the Blue County Farm Bureau

1182
00:48:30,800 --> 00:48:34,240
annual meeting. August 18th work session

1183
00:48:34,240 --> 00:48:37,839
and JD36 meeting and then August 20th

1184
00:48:37,839 --> 00:48:40,880
through 21st I participated in AMC

1185
00:48:40,880 --> 00:48:44,079
strategic planning and board meeting.

1186
00:48:44,079 --> 00:48:45,920
That completes my report.

1187
00:48:45,920 --> 00:48:48,400
>> Thank you.

1188
00:48:48,400 --> 00:48:50,240
>> All right. After our last meeting, I

1189
00:48:50,240 --> 00:48:52,000
also was at the joint meeting with

1190
00:48:52,000 --> 00:48:53,520
Nicollet County. That was a good

1191
00:48:53,520 --> 00:48:55,200
discussion over there with our

1192
00:48:55,200 --> 00:48:58,480
colleagues. Uh had a Micah call last

1193
00:48:58,480 --> 00:49:00,240
month. They are not doing anything in

1194
00:49:00,240 --> 00:49:02,160
person. Uh, and we will also see them

1195
00:49:02,160 --> 00:49:04,400
later today, my understanding. So,

1196
00:49:04,400 --> 00:49:05,760
you'll be able to get an update from

1197
00:49:05,760 --> 00:49:08,000
them. Uh, was also at the University of

1198
00:49:08,000 --> 00:49:10,240
Minnesota's

1199
00:49:10,240 --> 00:49:12,400
drainage. Did you report that, Kevin?

1200
00:49:12,400 --> 00:49:15,920
Oh, I think drainage drainage day. Uh,

1201
00:49:15,920 --> 00:49:17,920
and then a couple dis inspections after

1202
00:49:17,920 --> 00:49:22,480
that, the JD36 benefits discussion with

1203
00:49:22,480 --> 00:49:25,760
some staff, the Farm Bureau meeting,

1204
00:49:25,760 --> 00:49:27,760
which uh I thought was very informative.

1205
00:49:27,760 --> 00:49:30,079
They always do a nice job there. the

1206
00:49:30,079 --> 00:49:32,240
work session, uh, some more discussion

1207
00:49:32,240 --> 00:49:36,079
on JD36, and then earlier this week, I

1208
00:49:36,079 --> 00:49:38,880
had some discussion with staff on county

1209
00:49:38,880 --> 00:49:41,359
ditch 88 and 93. So, a lot of ditch

1210
00:49:41,359 --> 00:49:42,319
stuff always.

1211
00:49:42,319 --> 00:49:43,200
>> Thank you, Madam Chair.

1212
00:49:43,200 --> 00:49:47,520
>> You're welcome. Thank you, Vince.

1213
00:49:47,520 --> 00:49:51,920
>> All right. Uh, let's see. So, I also

1214
00:49:51,920 --> 00:49:55,440
went, uh, and visited Nicollet County.

1215
00:49:55,440 --> 00:49:59,359
That was a a nice visit over there. Um

1216
00:49:59,359 --> 00:50:03,440
on the 12th I had an MRCI day services

1217
00:50:03,440 --> 00:50:07,359
summer picnic over in St. Peter. On the

1218
00:50:07,359 --> 00:50:11,760
13th um myself and Commissioner People

1219
00:50:11,760 --> 00:50:15,520
had a Canvas meeting um to make sure all

1220
00:50:15,520 --> 00:50:19,200
your elections went well.

1221
00:50:19,200 --> 00:50:20,720
Um,

1222
00:50:20,720 --> 00:50:23,280
on the 17th I had a Minnesota

1223
00:50:23,280 --> 00:50:26,720
Transportation Alliance Legislative uh

1224
00:50:26,720 --> 00:50:29,520
meeting and that evening we had our Farm

1225
00:50:29,520 --> 00:50:32,400
Bureau meeting where four of us showed

1226
00:50:32,400 --> 00:50:36,640
up. Um, let's see, we had a work session

1227
00:50:36,640 --> 00:50:40,960
on Tuesday the 18th

1228
00:50:40,960 --> 00:50:44,240
and let's see here.

1229
00:50:44,240 --> 00:50:47,440
Um yesterday uh there was an AMC

1230
00:50:47,440 --> 00:50:49,520
legislative platform and priorities

1231
00:50:49,520 --> 00:50:51,200
process

1232
00:50:51,200 --> 00:50:55,440
and uh that I zoomed in on and that's

1233
00:50:55,440 --> 00:50:56,720
the end [clears throat] of mine.

1234
00:50:56,720 --> 00:50:58,480
>> Great Mark.

1235
00:50:58,480 --> 00:51:00,480
>> Okay. Yep. Let's see. Well, then we did

1236
00:51:00,480 --> 00:51:02,880
have a joint meeting uh with Nick

1237
00:51:02,880 --> 00:51:07,359
Lacone. Uh then like Vance had the with

1238
00:51:07,359 --> 00:51:14,079
our uh

1239
00:51:14,079 --> 00:51:16,640
We had our uh let's see what you want to

1240
00:51:16,640 --> 00:51:19,599
call it. Um

1241
00:51:19,599 --> 00:51:23,760
yeah, with oh with the uh

1242
00:51:23,760 --> 00:51:25,760
we had the work session then on August

1243
00:51:25,760 --> 00:51:29,200
18th and then the uh

1244
00:51:29,200 --> 00:51:31,520
>> what was that advance? What did you

1245
00:51:31,520 --> 00:51:32,960
>> had that one joint?

1246
00:51:32,960 --> 00:51:35,040
>> Yeah, we had the uh

1247
00:51:35,040 --> 00:51:37,040
>> the canvasing board.

1248
00:51:37,040 --> 00:51:40,720
>> Yes, canvas canvas canvas board is what

1249
00:51:40,720 --> 00:51:43,200
it was. Excuse me. Yep. I was trying to

1250
00:51:43,200 --> 00:51:46,700
conclude my Yep. Read my writing.

1251
00:51:46,700 --> 00:51:47,920
[laughter]

1252
00:51:47,920 --> 00:51:50,000
>> Happens to us all.

1253
00:51:50,000 --> 00:51:51,760
>> All right. Tai two went to the Nicollet

1254
00:51:51,760 --> 00:51:53,760
County meeting on the 11th. On the 12th,

1255
00:51:53,760 --> 00:51:56,960
I had region 9. On the 13th, uh the

1256
00:51:56,960 --> 00:51:59,920
community liaison meeting with St. Peter

1257
00:51:59,920 --> 00:52:03,040
Forensic Services and in the afternoon

1258
00:52:03,040 --> 00:52:05,200
with the round table with Congressman

1259
00:52:05,200 --> 00:52:06,880
Finstead.

1260
00:52:06,880 --> 00:52:10,640
the 17th Farm Bureau, 18th work session,

1261
00:52:10,640 --> 00:52:14,160
the 20th I had TDS, and the 21st I had

1262
00:52:14,160 --> 00:52:16,960
my FICA meeting with my new chair, Todd

1263
00:52:16,960 --> 00:52:21,040
Patzer. And that ends my report.

1264
00:52:21,040 --> 00:52:22,319
Right, Madam Chair, I think what we

1265
00:52:22,319 --> 00:52:24,160
could do is go into the the closed

1266
00:52:24,160 --> 00:52:26,079
meeting and give time to set up

1267
00:52:26,079 --> 00:52:28,960
technology, um, use the restroom, take a

1268
00:52:28,960 --> 00:52:30,319
small break, and then meet over across

1269
00:52:30,319 --> 00:52:32,800
the hall to continue that meeting.

1270
00:52:32,800 --> 00:52:35,040
>> Sounds like a plan. So the next agenda

1271
00:52:35,040 --> 00:52:37,280
item is to close the meeting persu

1272
00:52:37,280 --> 00:52:40,559
persuant to Minnesota statute section

1273
00:52:40,559 --> 00:52:42,960
13D.05

1274
00:52:42,960 --> 00:52:47,280
subdivision 3B to receive legal analysis

1275
00:52:47,280 --> 00:52:49,839
and advice regarding a pending civil

1276
00:52:49,839 --> 00:52:52,079
legal action from Blur County Attorney's

1277
00:52:52,079 --> 00:52:55,599
Office and outside council. The board

1278
00:52:55,599 --> 00:52:57,520
and its attorneys will discuss legal

1279
00:52:57,520 --> 00:53:00,160
strategy and settlement discussion. It

1280
00:53:00,160 --> 00:53:01,920
would be detrimental to the county's

1281
00:53:01,920 --> 00:53:03,760
interest for the board to hold a public

1282
00:53:03,760 --> 00:53:06,160
discussion about these matters. At this

1283
00:53:06,160 --> 00:53:08,160
time, I would entertain a motion that

1284
00:53:08,160 --> 00:53:11,200
this meeting be closed persuant to the

1285
00:53:11,200 --> 00:53:15,760
county attorney priv the attorney client

1286
00:53:15,760 --> 00:53:16,880
privilege.

1287
00:53:16,880 --> 00:53:18,480
>> So moved.

1288
00:53:18,480 --> 00:53:19,920
>> All right. I have a motion

1289
00:53:19,920 --> 00:53:20,319
>> second

1290
00:53:20,319 --> 00:53:23,119
>> and a second. All those in favor?

1291
00:53:23,119 --> 00:53:23,920
>> I

1292
00:53:23,920 --> 00:53:26,480
>> oppose. The motion carries. The board

1293
00:53:26,480 --> 00:53:28,160
will now close this meeting under the

1294
00:53:28,160 --> 00:53:31,040
Minnesota statute section 13D.05

1295
00:53:31,040 --> 00:53:33,280
subdivision 3B for a meeting with the

1296
00:53:33,280 --> 00:53:35,359
Blue Earth County Attorney's Office and

1297
00:53:35,359 --> 01:39:56,390
outside council. Thank you.

1298
01:39:56,400 --> 01:39:58,000
All right, we will call this meeting

1299
01:39:58,000 --> 01:39:59,869
back to order. Thank you everyone

1300
01:39:59,869 --> 01:40:02,639
[clears throat] for your patience.

1301
01:40:02,639 --> 01:40:06,159
Um, I need a motion

1302
01:40:06,159 --> 01:40:09,119
to accept the settlement agreement and

1303
01:40:09,119 --> 01:40:11,199
release of all claims.

1304
01:40:11,199 --> 01:40:12,320
>> So move

1305
01:40:12,320 --> 01:40:13,280
>> I have a motion

1306
01:40:13,280 --> 01:40:13,679
>> second

1307
01:40:13,679 --> 01:40:16,800
>> and a second. Any discussion?

1308
01:40:16,800 --> 01:40:18,320
All in favor?

1309
01:40:18,320 --> 01:40:19,119
>> I

1310
01:40:19,119 --> 01:40:23,520
>> opposed. Motion carries. Thank you all.

1311
01:40:23,520 --> 01:40:25,600
>> All right. Are we moving into human

1312
01:40:25,600 --> 01:40:30,390
services then? Right.

1313
01:40:30,400 --> 01:40:31,600
» Come on up. Good morning.

1314
01:40:31,600 --> 01:40:32,719
>> Come on up.

1315
01:40:32,719 --> 01:40:34,639
>> My agenda is all messed up, so I don't

1316
01:40:34,639 --> 01:40:35,679
know where I am.

1317
01:40:35,679 --> 01:40:37,360
>> Yes. [laughter]

1318
01:40:37,360 --> 01:40:38,639
>> You're good.

1319
01:40:38,639 --> 01:40:42,950
>> All right.

1320
01:40:42,960 --> 01:40:44,239
» Well, welcome.

1321
01:40:44,239 --> 01:40:45,840
>> Thank you much. It's good to see you

1322
01:40:45,840 --> 01:40:47,760
all.

1323
01:40:47,760 --> 01:40:50,320
Thanks for hearing us today. I um have

1324
01:40:50,320 --> 01:40:52,960
just one action item, Madam Chair, for

1325
01:40:52,960 --> 01:40:55,280
the board today to look at and that is

1326
01:40:55,280 --> 01:40:58,800
an appointment for advisory committee

1327
01:40:58,800 --> 01:41:02,480
and it's um Josh Birkinpass

1328
01:41:02,480 --> 01:41:04,560
and he is a resident of commissioner

1329
01:41:04,560 --> 01:41:06,960
district 4, professor of political

1330
01:41:06,960 --> 01:41:09,280
science at MSU

1331
01:41:09,280 --> 01:41:12,800
and um Josh has previously served as a

1332
01:41:12,800 --> 01:41:15,119
member of our committee. So we welcome

1333
01:41:15,119 --> 01:41:17,760
him back. But that is it for my actions.

1334
01:41:17,760 --> 01:41:18,880
>> So moved.

1335
01:41:18,880 --> 01:41:19,840
>> I have a motion.

1336
01:41:19,840 --> 01:41:20,239
>> Second

1337
01:41:20,239 --> 01:41:22,560
>> and a second. Any discussion?

1338
01:41:22,560 --> 01:41:24,560
>> All in favor?

1339
01:41:24,560 --> 01:41:28,950
>> Opposed? Motion carries.

1340
01:41:28,960 --> 01:41:30,560
» Thank you, Matt. Yeah, madam chair. A

1341
01:41:30,560 --> 01:41:32,400
couple offormational discussion items.

1342
01:41:32,400 --> 01:41:35,440
Um I'm very pleased to have both Sarah

1343
01:41:35,440 --> 01:41:37,840
Johnson and Lynette with me to talk

1344
01:41:37,840 --> 01:41:39,840
about adult foster care licensing first

1345
01:41:39,840 --> 01:41:42,080
and then adult protection. I think it's

1346
01:41:42,080 --> 01:41:45,119
always so great to have the people that

1347
01:41:45,119 --> 01:41:47,760
are in the trench tell our story. And so

1348
01:41:47,760 --> 01:41:49,920
I'll just turn it right over to Sarah to

1349
01:41:49,920 --> 01:41:52,320
begin with and talk about um adult

1350
01:41:52,320 --> 01:41:54,880
foster care licensing. And I guess our

1351
01:41:54,880 --> 01:41:57,040
whole picture of foster care is in the

1352
01:41:57,040 --> 01:41:57,840
packet. So

1353
01:41:57,840 --> 01:41:59,840
>> is Oh, perfect. Okay. So yes, our

1354
01:41:59,840 --> 01:42:01,920
picture of our adult foster care and our

1355
01:42:01,920 --> 01:42:04,080
CRS. So that's our our residential

1356
01:42:04,080 --> 01:42:07,920
foster homes. Um just for this uh month

1357
01:42:07,920 --> 01:42:09,679
we just are talking about just the adult

1358
01:42:09,679 --> 01:42:11,600
foster care homes and the CRS homes. So

1359
01:42:11,600 --> 01:42:13,360
we do other kinds of licensing as you

1360
01:42:13,360 --> 01:42:15,040
all [clears throat] know. Um as you can

1361
01:42:15,040 --> 01:42:18,800
tell we have our adult foster homes have

1362
01:42:18,800 --> 01:42:22,080
gone down quite significantly um gone

1363
01:42:22,080 --> 01:42:24,239
actually almost split in half since

1364
01:42:24,239 --> 01:42:27,440
2021. Part of that reason is the state

1365
01:42:27,440 --> 01:42:31,280
has upped um the fees that those

1366
01:42:31,280 --> 01:42:34,159
families have to pay to be licensed and

1367
01:42:34,159 --> 01:42:36,159
because of that um a lot of those

1368
01:42:36,159 --> 01:42:38,400
families just said they cannot afford to

1369
01:42:38,400 --> 01:42:41,119
pay the fee and stay licensed. Um but

1370
01:42:41,119 --> 01:42:42,880
the other homes have gone up. They

1371
01:42:42,880 --> 01:42:44,719
continue to rise and they're bigger

1372
01:42:44,719 --> 01:42:46,639
their facilities. People don't live at

1373
01:42:46,639 --> 01:42:48,400
those homes. They're usually have staff

1374
01:42:48,400 --> 01:42:50,800
that provide those services for them. So

1375
01:42:50,800 --> 01:42:52,880
those those homes can afford those those

1376
01:42:52,880 --> 01:42:56,000
fees and so those continue to rise. Um

1377
01:42:56,000 --> 01:42:59,840
and [snorts] we do work a lot with um my

1378
01:42:59,840 --> 01:43:01,920
licenser in this area does work a lot

1379
01:43:01,920 --> 01:43:05,280
with actually the other DD supervisor

1380
01:43:05,280 --> 01:43:08,080
Lindsay about if they we need to um

1381
01:43:08,080 --> 01:43:09,440
build more homes and what that looks

1382
01:43:09,440 --> 01:43:11,040
like for our community and we are

1383
01:43:11,040 --> 01:43:13,280
focused on serving our residents of this

1384
01:43:13,280 --> 01:43:14,960
community and not residents outside of

1385
01:43:14,960 --> 01:43:19,040
our agency or our county. Um, other than

1386
01:43:19,040 --> 01:43:21,520
that, I hope you have questions.

1387
01:43:21,520 --> 01:43:23,600
>> Can you walk us through just the number,

1388
01:43:23,600 --> 01:43:25,040
Sarah, because I think it's kind of a

1389
01:43:25,040 --> 01:43:27,760
striking number of beds as far as the

1390
01:43:27,760 --> 01:43:31,119
um, you know, corporate foster care

1391
01:43:31,119 --> 01:43:32,560
and then just how that kind of compares

1392
01:43:32,560 --> 01:43:34,560
to the region. If you have any comment.

1393
01:43:34,560 --> 01:43:37,040
>> Yes. So, we, as you all know, we're the

1394
01:43:37,040 --> 01:43:39,199
hub of this region. So, most people do

1395
01:43:39,199 --> 01:43:42,239
come to Mano um, to build their homes.

1396
01:43:42,239 --> 01:43:44,639
We have a few homes outside of Mano, but

1397
01:43:44,639 --> 01:43:46,320
I think as you can see above, I think we

1398
01:43:46,320 --> 01:43:48,320
have like the majority of our homes are

1399
01:43:48,320 --> 01:43:50,159
Mano homes. I mean, we have one in

1400
01:43:50,159 --> 01:43:53,040
Mapleton, two in Lake Crystal,

1401
01:43:53,040 --> 01:43:54,800
um nine in Eagle Lake, and I think

1402
01:43:54,800 --> 01:43:56,719
that's cuz Eagle Lake is close to Mano,

1403
01:43:56,719 --> 01:43:58,800
so there's more availability for people

1404
01:43:58,800 --> 01:44:03,520
to go there. Um, also the homes may have

1405
01:44:03,520 --> 01:44:05,360
like two, like they might have one

1406
01:44:05,360 --> 01:44:06,800
person living in the home, they could

1407
01:44:06,800 --> 01:44:08,800
have up to like four to five, six people

1408
01:44:08,800 --> 01:44:10,320
living in the home. So that's why the

1409
01:44:10,320 --> 01:44:13,199
homes and the number of beds differ. Um

1410
01:44:13,199 --> 01:44:15,360
so and then they might have staff in the

1411
01:44:15,360 --> 01:44:17,920
homes where they might have to hire

1412
01:44:17,920 --> 01:44:20,080
employee staff for like a onetoone for a

1413
01:44:20,080 --> 01:44:24,000
person. Some staff you can have um like

1414
01:44:24,000 --> 01:44:26,239
one staff could help a couple different

1415
01:44:26,239 --> 01:44:27,920
people in that home. So that kind of

1416
01:44:27,920 --> 01:44:31,280
depends on they they look for um the

1417
01:44:31,280 --> 01:44:33,679
needs of that person in that home and

1418
01:44:33,679 --> 01:44:36,880
know the dangers or if there's any like

1419
01:44:36,880 --> 01:44:39,040
higher medical needs or higher like

1420
01:44:39,040 --> 01:44:41,520
supervision levels that would determine

1421
01:44:41,520 --> 01:44:43,520
how many people are in that home. They

1422
01:44:43,520 --> 01:44:46,239
also look at if you know one person

1423
01:44:46,239 --> 01:44:47,840
might not be able to live should be

1424
01:44:47,840 --> 01:44:49,280
living alone and should not be living

1425
01:44:49,280 --> 01:44:50,639
with other people. So they'll look at

1426
01:44:50,639 --> 01:44:52,719
that um and they can develop those homes

1427
01:44:52,719 --> 01:44:54,560
but people need to come into our agency.

1428
01:44:54,560 --> 01:44:56,560
They need to request licensing. they

1429
01:44:56,560 --> 01:44:58,719
need to become licensed. Um, and then

1430
01:44:58,719 --> 01:45:01,040
everything goes up to DCUF to approve

1431
01:45:01,040 --> 01:45:03,040
the licensing before we would put anyone

1432
01:45:03,040 --> 01:45:04,960
in any of those homes.

1433
01:45:04,960 --> 01:45:06,960
>> Is that helpful?

1434
01:45:06,960 --> 01:45:12,470
>> Any other questions?

1435
01:45:12,480 --> 01:45:14,639
» It's too bad that they got priced out. I

1436
01:45:14,639 --> 01:45:15,360
mean,

1437
01:45:15,360 --> 01:45:18,857
>> yeah. Um, and Madam Chair and Sarah,

1438
01:45:18,857 --> 01:45:21,600
[laughter] um, I was curious just on the

1439
01:45:21,600 --> 01:45:24,080
family foster care part. So, that priced

1440
01:45:24,080 --> 01:45:27,760
out piece. Um, do those are those mostly

1441
01:45:27,760 --> 01:45:29,760
family members or is that not so so

1442
01:45:29,760 --> 01:45:30,480
much?

1443
01:45:30,480 --> 01:45:32,000
>> No, it doesn't necessarily need to be a

1444
01:45:32,000 --> 01:45:34,080
family member. Um, we had a a couple

1445
01:45:34,080 --> 01:45:36,000
homes in our county for a long time that

1446
01:45:36,000 --> 01:45:38,239
did adult foster care and they weren't

1447
01:45:38,239 --> 01:45:40,000
always having someone at their home, but

1448
01:45:40,000 --> 01:45:41,920
they were always open and available for

1449
01:45:41,920 --> 01:45:44,320
people, but then I believe the fee is

1450
01:45:44,320 --> 01:45:47,360
like 2500 or something. And that doesn't

1451
01:45:47,360 --> 01:45:49,199
matter if people are in your home or not

1452
01:45:49,199 --> 01:45:51,440
in your home, you still pay that fee.

1453
01:45:51,440 --> 01:45:54,000
And a lot of those smaller places, we're

1454
01:45:54,000 --> 01:45:55,760
like, we we can't afford that. I mean,

1455
01:45:55,760 --> 01:45:57,280
we're not in the business of we're not

1456
01:45:57,280 --> 01:45:58,880
making any money, right? And that's not

1457
01:45:58,880 --> 01:46:01,360
our business and but we can't afford

1458
01:46:01,360 --> 01:46:03,600
$2,500 because it's, you know, our home.

1459
01:46:03,600 --> 01:46:05,600
We're these bigger residential settings.

1460
01:46:05,600 --> 01:46:07,199
You know, their facilities,

1461
01:46:07,199 --> 01:46:08,800
>> they bring in a lot more income.

1462
01:46:08,800 --> 01:46:10,800
>> It's such a great mission for a family

1463
01:46:10,800 --> 01:46:12,639
to be willing to open their home and the

1464
01:46:12,639 --> 01:46:14,800
corporate side too. And then I the only

1465
01:46:14,800 --> 01:46:16,560
other comment I add Sarah is that the

1466
01:46:16,560 --> 01:46:18,480
combination like you say sometimes the

1467
01:46:18,480 --> 01:46:20,080
people who are serving have behaviors

1468
01:46:20,080 --> 01:46:21,920
and who their roommates are. So it's no

1469
01:46:21,920 --> 01:46:23,760
different than college. You say who are

1470
01:46:23,760 --> 01:46:25,360
you going to be roommates with and how

1471
01:46:25,360 --> 01:46:27,679
does that go? And that that is part of

1472
01:46:27,679 --> 01:46:31,760
what we try to manage throughout with our providers in town. So it's it's

1473
01:46:31,760 --> 01:46:33,760
a big part of our community and

1474
01:46:33,760 --> 01:46:35,040
>> yeah really really

1475
01:46:35,040 --> 01:46:37,040
>> and I should say most all of these

1476
01:46:37,040 --> 01:46:38,320
people that are living in this homes

1477
01:46:38,320 --> 01:46:40,480
also have a a case worker with them. So,

1478
01:46:40,480 --> 01:46:43,119
it's not just the licenser overseeing

1479
01:46:43,119 --> 01:46:44,639
the what's going on the home, but they

1480
01:46:44,639 --> 01:46:47,440
do oversee to make sure everybody is um

1481
01:46:47,440 --> 01:46:49,360
in compliance with their license, but

1482
01:46:49,360 --> 01:46:50,800
usually their social workers also

1483
01:46:50,800 --> 01:46:51,679
involved.

1484
01:46:51,679 --> 01:46:53,679
>> And that's what the $2,500 is for, just

1485
01:46:53,679 --> 01:46:55,199
to be make sure they're in compliance

1486
01:46:55,199 --> 01:46:56,159
with the license.

1487
01:46:56,159 --> 01:46:58,400
>> Well, it doesn't go to us, it goes to

1488
01:46:58,400 --> 01:46:59,440
the state.

1489
01:46:59,440 --> 01:47:01,119
>> So, what are they doing for their

1490
01:47:01,119 --> 01:47:02,960
$2,500? Do we know?

1491
01:47:02,960 --> 01:47:05,040
>> I don't think we know.

1492
01:47:05,040 --> 01:47:07,440
So they're

1493
01:47:07,440 --> 01:47:09,280
>> privileged to do the work, but

1494
01:47:09,280 --> 01:47:11,119
>> you're you're you're making someone pay

1495
01:47:11,119 --> 01:47:12,719
to be a volunteer

1496
01:47:12,719 --> 01:47:14,239
>> almost.

1497
01:47:14,239 --> 01:47:15,199
Yes.

1498
01:47:15,199 --> 01:47:16,480
>> And then on top of that, you're not even

1499
01:47:16,480 --> 01:47:18,560
providing a service

1500
01:47:18,560 --> 01:47:21,119
>> of why you're charging me the $2,500,

1501
01:47:21,119 --> 01:47:24,719
but then it puts a burden on our

1502
01:47:24,719 --> 01:47:27,440
taxpayers because we have to take care

1503
01:47:27,440 --> 01:47:28,400
of that

1504
01:47:28,400 --> 01:47:31,600
>> cost somewhere if people aren't doing it

1505
01:47:31,600 --> 01:47:33,600
>> right. I think we're just we're losing

1506
01:47:33,600 --> 01:47:35,360
that second that ability to have

1507
01:47:35,360 --> 01:47:37,360
somebody live in a family setting

1508
01:47:37,360 --> 01:47:39,360
because that's where the the family

1509
01:47:39,360 --> 01:47:40,880
rooms are a family setting. You know,

1510
01:47:40,880 --> 01:47:42,400
you have your bedroom, you have

1511
01:47:42,400 --> 01:47:44,080
>> your own space, and you know, it's like

1512
01:47:44,080 --> 01:47:47,920
you're living with a family. When the residential settings that

1513
01:47:47,920 --> 01:47:50,080
>> they are still in homes, but they're

1514
01:47:50,080 --> 01:47:51,679
much more structur structured. They're

1515
01:47:51,679 --> 01:47:53,119
much more um

1516
01:47:53,119 --> 01:47:54,400
>> you know, you can only be in the kitchen

1517
01:47:54,400 --> 01:47:56,159
for this amount of time or you know, you

1518
01:47:56,159 --> 01:47:58,000
can only like this is your food. You

1519
01:47:58,000 --> 01:47:59,600
know, it is kind of like Phil said, it's

1520
01:47:59,600 --> 01:48:01,760
college kind of setting area. staff

1521
01:48:01,760 --> 01:48:03,520
working shifts and they come and go and

1522
01:48:03,520 --> 01:48:05,840
so it just has a different

1523
01:48:05,840 --> 01:48:07,840
>> that's just it's just frustrating that

1524
01:48:07,840 --> 01:48:08,480
it is

1525
01:48:08,480 --> 01:48:10,400
>> that they're charging us more.

1526
01:48:10,400 --> 01:48:12,239
>> I would say chair and commissioner that

1527
01:48:12,239 --> 01:48:14,000
this issue it's like one that I think

1528
01:48:14,000 --> 01:48:15,520
we're very passionate about. I mean you

1529
01:48:15,520 --> 01:48:17,679
heard Lynette say too is that we see

1530
01:48:17,679 --> 01:48:20,159
this as a mission. I don't think anybody

1531
01:48:20,159 --> 01:48:23,199
does it for the money. And um if we

1532
01:48:23,199 --> 01:48:25,760
could think, you know, forward looking,

1533
01:48:25,760 --> 01:48:28,000
could we help this at all? Not

1534
01:48:28,000 --> 01:48:29,920
necessarily locally, but try to get the

1535
01:48:29,920 --> 01:48:32,400
state to pull that back to something

1536
01:48:32,400 --> 01:48:35,199
that's at least reasonable. Um yeah, I

1537
01:48:35,199 --> 01:48:36,560
mean, I I'm sure the argument would be

1538
01:48:36,560 --> 01:48:38,400
that those fees help to pay the state to

1539
01:48:38,400 --> 01:48:40,320
do their work, us to do our work. Well,

1540
01:48:40,320 --> 01:48:43,199
we don't get it. But, um I I I just

1541
01:48:43,199 --> 01:48:44,639
think we have to have a heart for the

1542
01:48:44,639 --> 01:48:45,600
people that are willing to put

1543
01:48:45,600 --> 01:48:47,840
themselves in that spot and open their

1544
01:48:47,840 --> 01:48:50,080
homes up. It's a pretty big give. Yeah.

1545
01:48:50,080 --> 01:48:51,760
>> You know, when I grew up, there was like

1546
01:48:51,760 --> 01:48:53,360
one home on every block.

1547
01:48:53,360 --> 01:48:55,520
>> Yeah. Yeah. Right. That's right. And it

1548
01:48:55,520 --> 01:48:56,800
was really cool. I always encouraged

1549
01:48:56,800 --> 01:48:58,719
people to do it. Now, it's hard to

1550
01:48:58,719 --> 01:49:00,239
encourage people to do it. Say, "Oh, by

1551
01:49:00,239 --> 01:49:01,840
the way, there's big upfront fee that

1552
01:49:01,840 --> 01:49:02,639
you have to pay."

1553
01:49:02,639 --> 01:49:03,360
>> Right.

1554
01:49:03,360 --> 01:49:05,280
>> Well, [cough and clears throat] I'm

1555
01:49:05,280 --> 01:49:07,440
sorry. Along with like the trainings and

1556
01:49:07,440 --> 01:49:09,040
everything else they have to stay to

1557
01:49:09,040 --> 01:49:10,800
stay up to date and compliance in

1558
01:49:10,800 --> 01:49:12,560
compliance with their license. I mean,

1559
01:49:12,560 --> 01:49:14,639
it would be helpful if even the

1560
01:49:14,639 --> 01:49:17,119
legislature or the state could say we'll

1561
01:49:17,119 --> 01:49:18,880
have this fee for like these bigger

1562
01:49:18,880 --> 01:49:21,520
facilities that can afford this, but

1563
01:49:21,520 --> 01:49:23,920
maybe we'll [cough] we'll lower it to

1564
01:49:23,920 --> 01:49:26,080
whatever for these family foster homes,

1565
01:49:26,080 --> 01:49:26,800
>> right?

1566
01:49:26,800 --> 01:49:28,639
>> Should be some sort of scale on it. But

1567
01:49:28,639 --> 01:49:31,199
I don't know if I would uh I certainly

1568
01:49:31,199 --> 01:49:32,800
would like to go after the state, try to

1569
01:49:32,800 --> 01:49:35,520
get them to go, but I think I would also

1570
01:49:35,520 --> 01:49:36,880
>> encourage you to,

1571
01:49:36,880 --> 01:49:38,960
>> you know, look at inside of our system.

1572
01:49:38,960 --> 01:49:40,320
Would it would it be in our best

1573
01:49:40,320 --> 01:49:41,360
interest

1574
01:49:41,360 --> 01:49:43,440
>> to pay the fee? And can we and is there

1575
01:49:43,440 --> 01:49:45,199
a way to I, you know, I don't think I

1576
01:49:45,199 --> 01:49:47,280
would shut that out because if we could

1577
01:49:47,280 --> 01:49:48,159
save

1578
01:49:48,159 --> 01:49:49,440
>> money

1579
01:49:49,440 --> 01:49:51,199
>> 10 times the money over here.

1580
01:49:51,199 --> 01:49:52,000
>> Totally agree.

1581
01:49:52,000 --> 01:49:53,679
>> Can we give a grant or can we give a,

1582
01:49:53,679 --> 01:49:55,520
you know, for these people that are and

1583
01:49:55,520 --> 01:49:57,360
I can understand their frustrations. I

1584
01:49:57,360 --> 01:49:59,920
mean, $2,500 is a lot of money when

1585
01:49:59,920 --> 01:50:01,520
you're trying to help somebody and

1586
01:50:01,520 --> 01:50:02,719
you're already,

1587
01:50:02,719 --> 01:50:04,719
>> you know, and I would imagine they get

1588
01:50:04,719 --> 01:50:06,639
paid some sort of PDM, but it ain't

1589
01:50:06,639 --> 01:50:07,600
enough to cover.

1590
01:50:07,600 --> 01:50:08,239
>> They do, but

1591
01:50:08,239 --> 01:50:11,920
>> the extra cost and insurance, it's your house,

1592
01:50:11,920 --> 01:50:13,760
>> wear and tear in your house,

1593
01:50:13,760 --> 01:50:15,440
>> you know, food. It's all those other

1594
01:50:15,440 --> 01:50:16,719
things when you have extra people living

1595
01:50:16,719 --> 01:50:18,800
in your home. I I certainly would not be

1596
01:50:18,800 --> 01:50:20,560
I think your staff should and I'm sure

1597
01:50:20,560 --> 01:50:22,320
you would without me suggesting it, but

1598
01:50:22,320 --> 01:50:24,639
I would just say let's tell the state

1599
01:50:24,639 --> 01:50:26,960
not to if we if we hit that roadblock.

1600
01:50:26,960 --> 01:50:27,280
>> Sure.

1601
01:50:27,280 --> 01:50:29,119
>> And it is truly a roadblock and they

1602
01:50:29,119 --> 01:50:30,080
ain't going to help us.

1603
01:50:30,080 --> 01:50:30,480
>> Yes.

1604
01:50:30,480 --> 01:50:33,040
>> And you guys can find some other way to

1605
01:50:33,040 --> 01:50:35,040
>> think of a way to deal with that to keep

1606
01:50:35,040 --> 01:50:36,719
these people helping us out. I think

1607
01:50:36,719 --> 01:50:38,400
that would be money well spent in my

1608
01:50:38,400 --> 01:50:39,920
opinion. We have to get board support

1609
01:50:39,920 --> 01:50:41,360
>> and if the Yeah. if the board's okay

1610
01:50:41,360 --> 01:50:43,840
with us just informally to have Sarah

1611
01:50:43,840 --> 01:50:45,920
bring that back to her group, her

1612
01:50:45,920 --> 01:50:47,760
supervisor group and then try to get it

1613
01:50:47,760 --> 01:50:50,000
to the state and just see what is there

1614
01:50:50,000 --> 01:50:51,840
any movement there that we could get and

1615
01:50:51,840 --> 01:50:53,520
if not I think we could bring it back

1616
01:50:53,520 --> 01:50:55,199
here and say I don't think they're doing

1617
01:50:55,199 --> 01:50:57,600
anything and so it's up to us if we want

1618
01:50:57,600 --> 01:50:57,920
to do

1619
01:50:57,920 --> 01:51:00,400
>> I just think we have to leave that open

1620
01:51:00,400 --> 01:51:02,239
that important system.

1621
01:51:02,239 --> 01:51:02,719
>> Thank you.

1622
01:51:02,719 --> 01:51:03,920
>> Yeah, thank you very much.

1623
01:51:03,920 --> 01:51:05,679
>> Thank you.

1624
01:51:05,679 --> 01:51:08,639
Well, Madam Chair, the uh next one is uh

1625
01:51:08,639 --> 01:51:10,880
adult protection and there is some

1626
01:51:10,880 --> 01:51:13,280
crossover here. So, people in a group

1627
01:51:13,280 --> 01:51:16,480
home that might have some concerns about

1628
01:51:16,480 --> 01:51:17,440
come [cough and clears throat] into play

1629
01:51:17,440 --> 01:51:20,159
here and then obviously extended family

1630
01:51:20,159 --> 01:51:21,840
comes into adult protection as well. So,

1631
01:51:21,840 --> 01:51:23,040
Lynette will kind of walk us through

1632
01:51:23,040 --> 01:51:25,040
that. And yeah, any questions? I just

1633
01:51:25,040 --> 01:51:27,520
really appreciate the chance to drill

1634
01:51:27,520 --> 01:51:30,080
into some of these specific program

1635
01:51:30,080 --> 01:51:32,159
areas. They're they're smaller than some

1636
01:51:32,159 --> 01:51:34,080
of the other things we talk about, but

1637
01:51:34,080 --> 01:51:35,920
they're really important and there's a

1638
01:51:35,920 --> 01:51:37,520
lot of work that's being done by staff

1639
01:51:37,520 --> 01:51:39,440
and I just it's so nice to be able to

1640
01:51:39,440 --> 01:51:40,960
kind of tell our stories.

1641
01:51:40,960 --> 01:51:43,440
>> Yeah. Thank you for having us today. Um

1642
01:51:43,440 --> 01:51:45,280
I'd like to start out just um with

1643
01:51:45,280 --> 01:51:46,719
letting you all know some background

1644
01:51:46,719 --> 01:51:49,599
information about what's going on with

1645
01:51:49,599 --> 01:51:52,239
adult protection at the state. They have

1646
01:51:52,239 --> 01:51:55,520
required us the last two years to set a

1647
01:51:55,520 --> 01:51:57,840
goal for how many reports are we

1648
01:51:57,840 --> 01:52:00,480
screening in? They would like to see us

1649
01:52:00,480 --> 01:52:04,239
hit to hit the mark of 30%.

1650
01:52:04,239 --> 01:52:09,119
Um I set a goal at 28 actually 31% they

1651
01:52:09,119 --> 01:52:12,000
would like us to hit the target um of

1652
01:52:12,000 --> 01:52:16,800
screening in um I set a goal for 28% uh

1653
01:52:16,800 --> 01:52:21,440
presently in 2026 we are at 26%

1654
01:52:21,440 --> 01:52:23,440
of screening in the reports that come

1655
01:52:23,440 --> 01:52:26,639
in. On this first slide that um is up on

1656
01:52:26,639 --> 01:52:29,760
the screen, it shows the overall reports

1657
01:52:29,760 --> 01:52:33,760
that have come in um from year 2022 to

1658
01:52:33,760 --> 01:52:35,280
2025.

1659
01:52:35,280 --> 01:52:39,440
If you take a look at 2022, we had a um

1660
01:52:39,440 --> 01:52:42,960
the reports that were um reported to

1661
01:52:42,960 --> 01:52:44,960
Mark, our Minnesota adult abuse

1662
01:52:44,960 --> 01:52:46,880
reporting center, because we no longer

1663
01:52:46,880 --> 01:52:48,880
take the calls at Blue Earth County.

1664
01:52:48,880 --> 01:52:50,719
Child protection still takes the calls

1665
01:52:50,719 --> 01:52:52,639
of I want to make a child protection

1666
01:52:52,639 --> 01:52:55,119
report for adult protection. It all goes

1667
01:52:55,119 --> 01:52:57,840
to the state reporting system which is a

1668
01:52:57,840 --> 01:52:58,880
call center.

1669
01:52:58,880 --> 01:52:59,599
>> Okay.

1670
01:52:59,599 --> 01:53:02,239
>> So the reports go there. They figure out

1671
01:53:02,239 --> 01:53:04,560
okay this is awith county report. They

1672
01:53:04,560 --> 01:53:07,440
send it through SSIS

1673
01:53:07,440 --> 01:53:10,400
which is our um social services

1674
01:53:10,400 --> 01:53:13,119
reporting system. Um they send it there.

1675
01:53:13,119 --> 01:53:14,960
We get the reports and then we screen

1676
01:53:14,960 --> 01:53:18,080
them based on that. So if you see the

1677
01:53:18,080 --> 01:53:21,760
agency reports are quite a bit lower for

1678
01:53:21,760 --> 01:53:24,080
every year allegations are higher that's

1679
01:53:24,080 --> 01:53:26,560
because most reports come in with more

1680
01:53:26,560 --> 01:53:29,920
than one allegation. So it might be care

1681
01:53:29,920 --> 01:53:33,920
never caregiver neglect and physical

1682
01:53:33,920 --> 01:53:38,320
abuse or it might be emotional abuse and

1683
01:53:38,320 --> 01:53:40,320
self- neglect or whatever. So most

1684
01:53:40,320 --> 01:53:44,159
reports come in with more than one um

1685
01:53:44,159 --> 01:53:47,040
neglect listed. So that's but as you see

1686
01:53:47,040 --> 01:53:51,920
we had quite a jump from five uh 620 uh

1687
01:53:51,920 --> 01:53:56,719
actually 522 and 24 to 624 reports in

1688
01:53:56,719 --> 01:53:58,560
2025.

1689
01:53:58,560 --> 01:54:03,520
Another thing I'd like to mention about our reports that come in uh the

1690
01:54:03,520 --> 01:54:06,080
state of Minnesota allows us to develop

1691
01:54:06,080 --> 01:54:09,360
what's called prioritization guidelines.

1692
01:54:09,360 --> 01:54:11,760
And um one of our prioritization

1693
01:54:11,760 --> 01:54:14,080
guidelines is if we get a report for

1694
01:54:14,080 --> 01:54:17,199
self- neglect and that person has a case

1695
01:54:17,199 --> 01:54:18,800
manager,

1696
01:54:18,800 --> 01:54:22,880
we refer that back to that case manager.

1697
01:54:22,880 --> 01:54:25,199
And as we get into the data about how

1698
01:54:25,199 --> 01:54:27,599
many reports on self- neglect we've had.

1699
01:54:27,599 --> 01:54:29,679
Um you can see our reports are really

1700
01:54:29,679 --> 01:54:33,040
high. And you know, our argument behind

1701
01:54:33,040 --> 01:54:35,520
that prioritization guideline that we

1702
01:54:35,520 --> 01:54:38,400
use is that if there is already somebody

1703
01:54:38,400 --> 01:54:40,960
connected to them and they have a

1704
01:54:40,960 --> 01:54:43,360
relationship within Blue Earth County,

1705
01:54:43,360 --> 01:54:46,080
it makes the most sense for that person

1706
01:54:46,080 --> 01:54:48,000
who already has a relationship with

1707
01:54:48,000 --> 01:54:50,639
them, who's built rapport with them to

1708
01:54:50,639 --> 01:54:53,679
go out and really work at offering

1709
01:54:53,679 --> 01:54:56,800
suggestions and options and ways to

1710
01:54:56,800 --> 01:55:01,430
reduce that self- neglect.

1711
01:55:01,440 --> 01:55:04,400
Uh then moving on to

1712
01:55:04,400 --> 01:55:05,920
the

1713
01:55:05,920 --> 01:55:09,360
allegations by type. What's up there?

1714
01:55:09,360 --> 01:55:11,119
>> Allegations by type.

1715
01:55:11,119 --> 01:55:11,840
>> Yep.

1716
01:55:11,840 --> 01:55:17,040
>> Um so you can see that in 2025, which is

1717
01:55:17,040 --> 01:55:21,199
the blue, we had 348

1718
01:55:21,199 --> 01:55:24,960
reports of self- neglect. I will tell

1719
01:55:24,960 --> 01:55:26,639
you that the majority of those reports

1720
01:55:26,639 --> 01:55:29,599
that come in for self- neglect are

1721
01:55:29,599 --> 01:55:31,920
mostly because people have significant

1722
01:55:31,920 --> 01:55:35,679
mental health issues and or and I say

1723
01:55:35,679 --> 01:55:38,960
and or because typically those issues

1724
01:55:38,960 --> 01:55:42,000
come along with an addiction or they

1725
01:55:42,000 --> 01:55:45,599
come along with um physical disabilities

1726
01:55:45,599 --> 01:55:47,679
just based upon all the years that they

1727
01:55:47,679 --> 01:55:50,560
haven't taken care of themselves.

1728
01:55:50,560 --> 01:55:53,760
So our reports in self- neglect have

1729
01:55:53,760 --> 01:55:57,440
become very complex and very very time

1730
01:55:57,440 --> 01:56:00,320
consuming. And then on top of that for

1731
01:56:00,320 --> 01:56:02,800
self- neglect the state has changed how

1732
01:56:02,800 --> 01:56:04,960
we substantiate.

1733
01:56:04,960 --> 01:56:08,000
So for specifically for self- neglect

1734
01:56:08,000 --> 01:56:11,360
they um have gone from um before we

1735
01:56:11,360 --> 01:56:13,280
could substantiate yes you have self-

1736
01:56:13,280 --> 01:56:16,560
neglected to now we can't substantiate

1737
01:56:16,560 --> 01:56:19,040
but we can say they need adult

1738
01:56:19,040 --> 01:56:21,440
protection services or the person

1739
01:56:21,440 --> 01:56:24,159
doesn't need adult protection services.

1740
01:56:24,159 --> 01:56:26,639
So really it's a matter of our workers

1741
01:56:26,639 --> 01:56:29,440
going out and determining you know do

1742
01:56:29,440 --> 01:56:33,040
these people have um competence. Do they

1743
01:56:33,040 --> 01:56:35,360
understand the consequences

1744
01:56:35,360 --> 01:56:37,920
of their actions that okay if I don't

1745
01:56:37,920 --> 01:56:40,960
take my medications and go to the doctor

1746
01:56:40,960 --> 01:56:43,840
you know I could have a blood clot

1747
01:56:43,840 --> 01:56:45,920
thrown because I have heart arrhythmia

1748
01:56:45,920 --> 01:56:48,239
and um you know I need those medications

1749
01:56:48,239 --> 01:56:51,280
and that consistent medical care. So,

1750
01:56:51,280 --> 01:56:54,480
it's really about determining does that

1751
01:56:54,480 --> 01:56:58,159
person have competence and also if

1752
01:56:58,159 --> 01:56:59,920
they're willing because you can go out

1753
01:56:59,920 --> 01:57:02,239
and if a person has competence to make

1754
01:57:02,239 --> 01:57:05,280
poor decisions and poor choices,

1755
01:57:05,280 --> 01:57:07,199
they can unless [clears throat]

1756
01:57:07,199 --> 01:57:10,560
we have enough information and we have

1757
01:57:10,560 --> 01:57:12,320
maybe some neurossychological

1758
01:57:12,320 --> 01:57:15,040
assessments completed or we have a

1759
01:57:15,040 --> 01:57:18,239
physician that says, um, yeah, we would

1760
01:57:18,239 --> 01:57:19,840
be willing to fill out a physician

1761
01:57:19,840 --> 01:57:21,840
statement for conservatorship because

1762
01:57:21,840 --> 01:57:24,480
this person can no longer manage their

1763
01:57:24,480 --> 01:57:26,560
money for whatever reason and or for

1764
01:57:26,560 --> 01:57:28,159
guardianship.

1765
01:57:28,159 --> 01:57:30,080
So I think just really the main thing

1766
01:57:30,080 --> 01:57:31,920
that I wanted to touch on on this slide

1767
01:57:31,920 --> 01:57:33,920
is just that our self- neglect has gone

1768
01:57:33,920 --> 01:57:36,400
up so high and how things have changed a

1769
01:57:36,400 --> 01:57:38,880
little bit in our system as far as

1770
01:57:38,880 --> 01:57:42,639
substantiations and and decisions made.

1771
01:57:42,639 --> 01:57:45,840
And can I just say a little too about

1772
01:57:45,840 --> 01:57:49,920
that status of self- neglect because

1773
01:57:49,920 --> 01:57:52,080
um you look at that and a family member

1774
01:57:52,080 --> 01:57:54,480
will say to us with the motion this

1775
01:57:54,480 --> 01:57:56,320
person is not doing well and we would

1776
01:57:56,320 --> 01:57:59,920
agree but can we then based on the legal

1777
01:57:59,920 --> 01:58:01,920
parts and Pat's office you know do we

1778
01:58:01,920 --> 01:58:04,480
have a case to bring commitment and and

1779
01:58:04,480 --> 01:58:06,880
we we I think we are very quick to do

1780
01:58:06,880 --> 01:58:08,719
that if we feel we do have a case and

1781
01:58:08,719 --> 01:58:10,000
certainly feel a lot of support from the

1782
01:58:10,000 --> 01:58:12,320
county attorney's office in that regard.

1783
01:58:12,320 --> 01:58:15,280
But there's a whole bunch of cases where

1784
01:58:15,280 --> 01:58:17,360
they are competent to make their own

1785
01:58:17,360 --> 01:58:19,119
decisions. They just choose some

1786
01:58:19,119 --> 01:58:22,560
unhealthy decisions. And we are legally

1787
01:58:22,560 --> 01:58:24,639
and practically powerless over some of

1788
01:58:24,639 --> 01:58:26,719
that is just the truth. I'm not always

1789
01:58:26,719 --> 01:58:29,119
comfortable with this discussion, but

1790
01:58:29,119 --> 01:58:31,199
you you got to draw the line, you know,

1791
01:58:31,199 --> 01:58:33,040
somewhere. And then I think Lynette and

1792
01:58:33,040 --> 01:58:35,679
our staff actually we get you know a lot

1793
01:58:35,679 --> 01:58:37,760
of angry people telling us that we

1794
01:58:37,760 --> 01:58:39,920
should do something but stepping in and

1795
01:58:39,920 --> 01:58:41,679
you've heard about the whole MAPA thing

1796
01:58:41,679 --> 01:58:43,199
with child protection. It's the same

1797
01:58:43,199 --> 01:58:46,159
dynamic is how where is that line where

1798
01:58:46,159 --> 01:58:47,760
people are pretty assertive about the

1799
01:58:47,760 --> 01:58:50,320
county should step in and fix this.

1800
01:58:50,320 --> 01:58:52,320
>> And there's times where we literally

1801
01:58:52,320 --> 01:58:54,159
can't and there's times where it's just

1802
01:58:54,159 --> 01:58:56,480
practically impossible if somebody is

1803
01:58:56,480 --> 01:58:59,199
competent and they don't want help. So I

1804
01:58:59,199 --> 01:59:01,599
just I emphasize that just from my chair

1805
01:59:01,599 --> 01:59:03,360
because you guys are just you roll with

1806
01:59:03,360 --> 01:59:05,840
it and staff don't get weighed by that.

1807
01:59:05,840 --> 01:59:08,159
But it's a heavy burden when you know

1808
01:59:08,159 --> 01:59:09,840
things aren't great and it might not be

1809
01:59:09,840 --> 01:59:11,840
the way we would live or want our our

1810
01:59:11,840 --> 01:59:13,679
family members to live either but

1811
01:59:13,679 --> 01:59:16,880
there's limits to what we can do.

1812
01:59:16,880 --> 01:59:18,800
And you know, our our adult protection

1813
01:59:18,800 --> 01:59:21,760
manual too says like we want to take

1814
01:59:21,760 --> 01:59:25,040
what that person is saying and be person

1815
01:59:25,040 --> 01:59:28,639
centered and and work with them and

1816
01:59:28,639 --> 01:59:30,880
instead of right away, you know, jumping

1817
01:59:30,880 --> 01:59:33,440
to the most restrictive things that we

1818
01:59:33,440 --> 01:59:35,920
can do.

1819
01:59:35,920 --> 01:59:39,040
>> All right. And then our next slide is on

1820
01:59:39,040 --> 01:59:43,920
the SSIS determinations um by type. So

1821
01:59:43,920 --> 01:59:46,560
this was you know if we can substantiate

1822
01:59:46,560 --> 01:59:49,840
which means the allegation is true and

1823
01:59:49,840 --> 01:59:52,719
you know we had very few substantiations

1824
01:59:52,719 --> 01:59:54,639
in 2025

1825
01:59:54,639 --> 01:59:57,599
but I I really don't want that. I think

1826
01:59:57,599 --> 01:59:59,440
we had a couple of reasons for that. we

1827
01:59:59,440 --> 02:00:01,679
had a staff changeover

1828
02:00:01,679 --> 02:00:04,719
um where somebody resigned and it it

1829
02:00:04,719 --> 02:00:07,360
wasn't going real well with them and um

1830
02:00:07,360 --> 02:00:10,239
they did end up resigning and I think in

1831
02:00:10,239 --> 02:00:12,239
the end looking back over everything

1832
02:00:12,239 --> 02:00:13,679
there was probably things that could

1833
02:00:13,679 --> 02:00:15,760
have been substantiated that weren't. So

1834
02:00:15,760 --> 02:00:18,800
I I think that's the first part and then

1835
02:00:18,800 --> 02:00:22,239
I think the other part is because of the

1836
02:00:22,239 --> 02:00:25,599
cases that we are screening in take so

1837
02:00:25,599 --> 02:00:27,840
much time to kind of work through. It's

1838
02:00:27,840 --> 02:00:30,639
that acuity piece it takes a lot more

1839
02:00:30,639 --> 02:00:32,320
time. So just because it wasn't

1840
02:00:32,320 --> 02:00:34,880
substantiated doesn't mean that a lot of

1841
02:00:34,880 --> 02:00:37,679
work didn't go into that. hours of time

1842
02:00:37,679 --> 02:00:40,719
went in assessing the situation,

1843
02:00:40,719 --> 02:00:43,040
meeting, you know, multiple times with

1844
02:00:43,040 --> 02:00:45,360
the person to try to figure out, you

1845
02:00:45,360 --> 02:00:46,960
know, where they're at, how they're

1846
02:00:46,960 --> 02:00:49,280
doing, their competency level, those

1847
02:00:49,280 --> 02:00:51,520
kinds of things.

1848
02:00:51,520 --> 02:00:55,920
So, um really the the self- neglect was

1849
02:00:55,920 --> 02:00:58,000
um the highest and then we get into that

1850
02:00:58,000 --> 02:01:01,440
no determination APS needed or no

1851
02:01:01,440 --> 02:01:05,040
determination not a vulnerable adult or

1852
02:01:05,040 --> 02:01:07,199
sometimes we get that no determination

1853
02:01:07,199 --> 02:01:09,280
investigation not possible if the person

1854
02:01:09,280 --> 02:01:11,040
doesn't let us into their home and we go

1855
02:01:11,040 --> 02:01:13,520
out and we we take law enforcement with

1856
02:01:13,520 --> 02:01:15,920
us to see if that'll help get us in and

1857
02:01:15,920 --> 02:01:20,560
that person just says through the door I don't need you. I don't want you. I'm

1858
02:01:20,560 --> 02:01:27,199
doing fine on my own and that's it. So, that's that one. And then our last

1859
02:01:27,199 --> 02:01:30,080
one

1860
02:01:30,080 --> 02:01:34,960
um which I alluded to that um I sent a I

1861
02:01:34,960 --> 02:01:39,199
set a goal of 26% actually um we have

1862
02:01:39,199 --> 02:01:41,760
screened in 27%.

1863
02:01:41,760 --> 02:01:45,440
The state county average is at 30%.

1864
02:01:45,440 --> 02:01:50,310
The state would like us to be at 31%.

1865
02:01:50,320 --> 02:01:52,960
So that's the information I have to

1866
02:01:52,960 --> 02:01:56,070
share.

1867
02:01:56,080 --> 02:01:58,639
» I have a question for you.

1868
02:01:58,639 --> 02:02:00,800
Why does the state want you to be at a

1869
02:02:00,800 --> 02:02:02,560
certain percent? What is what's there?

1870
02:02:02,560 --> 02:02:04,719
>> Well, the national average of screen in

1871
02:02:04,719 --> 02:02:06,880
is like 50%.

1872
02:02:06,880 --> 02:02:10,800
>> But each state has its own like some

1873
02:02:10,800 --> 02:02:12,719
states say if you're 60 years old,

1874
02:02:12,719 --> 02:02:14,480
you're a you just automatically a

1875
02:02:14,480 --> 02:02:16,639
vulnerable adult.

1876
02:02:16,639 --> 02:02:20,014
>> So because the I take offense to that

1877
02:02:20,014 --> 02:02:22,000
[laughter]

1878
02:02:22,000 --> 02:02:25,040
>> in the club. Yes.

1879
02:02:25,040 --> 02:02:25,440
>> So,

1880
02:02:25,440 --> 02:02:27,440
>> and we we laugh about that, but that's

1881
02:02:27,440 --> 02:02:29,679
my struggle when your staff was in here

1882
02:02:29,679 --> 02:02:31,920
talking about the act

1883
02:02:31,920 --> 02:02:33,440
>> and how we have to come in and we have

1884
02:02:33,440 --> 02:02:35,440
to do everything for that person. If I'm

1885
02:02:35,440 --> 02:02:37,760
a family that wants to try to take care

1886
02:02:37,760 --> 02:02:39,119
of myself, but I just need this little

1887
02:02:39,119 --> 02:02:39,679
bit

1888
02:02:39,679 --> 02:02:41,440
>> and you come in and throw everything at

1889
02:02:41,440 --> 02:02:42,239
me,

1890
02:02:42,239 --> 02:02:44,000
>> I'd be crabby and I wouldn't deal with

1891
02:02:44,000 --> 02:02:46,080
it very well. I can tell you that from

1892
02:02:46,080 --> 02:02:48,239
my perspective. And so I just, you know,

1893
02:02:48,239 --> 02:02:50,000
we laugh about that, but that isn't

1894
02:02:50,000 --> 02:02:52,000
that's not the way it should be, right?

1895
02:02:52,000 --> 02:02:54,719
>> And and I'm sure you get very frustrated

1896
02:02:54,719 --> 02:02:56,560
with the people that don't let you in,

1897
02:02:56,560 --> 02:02:57,599
don't want their help. But you know

1898
02:02:57,599 --> 02:02:59,599
what? If that's what they want,

1899
02:02:59,599 --> 02:03:00,000
>> right?

1900
02:03:00,000 --> 02:03:01,360
>> If the family members can't deal with

1901
02:03:01,360 --> 02:03:03,199
it, you can't expect the county to deal

1902
02:03:03,199 --> 02:03:03,599
with it.

1903
02:03:03,599 --> 02:03:06,000
>> Yeah. It it's terrible. But

1904
02:03:06,000 --> 02:03:10,000
>> that's what that person wants. Um that's

1905
02:03:10,000 --> 02:03:11,040
what that person wants.

1906
02:03:11,040 --> 02:03:13,679
>> And and truth be told, adult protection

1907
02:03:13,679 --> 02:03:16,960
is reactive. We are not proactive. We

1908
02:03:16,960 --> 02:03:19,599
wait until something is, you know, bad

1909
02:03:19,599 --> 02:03:22,000
enough that it allow the the tool that

1910
02:03:22,000 --> 02:03:25,040
we use allows us to screen it in. We

1911
02:03:25,040 --> 02:03:26,800
don't go out going, "Oh, things might

1912
02:03:26,800 --> 02:03:28,400
get bad. They're going to trip and fall

1913
02:03:28,400 --> 02:03:31,040
in their house because it's hoarded."

1914
02:03:31,040 --> 02:03:32,719
You know, we wait until something

1915
02:03:32,719 --> 02:03:35,360
happens where EMS is called and they

1916
02:03:35,360 --> 02:03:37,119
can't get into the home because of the

1917
02:03:37,119 --> 02:03:41,679
hoorde. Then then we can. But it it is

1918
02:03:41,679 --> 02:03:44,000
the way. And it's hard for people to

1919
02:03:44,000 --> 02:03:47,360
understand that we're not react or we're

1920
02:03:47,360 --> 02:03:50,639
not proactive, we're reactive.

1921
02:03:50,639 --> 02:03:53,520
>> Yeah. And I I feel like that I I don't

1922
02:03:53,520 --> 02:03:55,520
want to be flippant either in my remark

1923
02:03:55,520 --> 02:03:57,920
here, but we get a lot of pressure from

1924
02:03:57,920 --> 02:04:00,080
families to say we should do more. And

1925
02:04:00,080 --> 02:04:02,080
we get not an equal number, but when

1926
02:04:02,080 --> 02:04:03,679
we're serving somebody, they say, "Stay

1927
02:04:03,679 --> 02:04:05,599
out of my house. Stay out of my life.

1928
02:04:05,599 --> 02:04:07,599
Stay out." And I get that and both are

1929
02:04:07,599 --> 02:04:09,040
valid, but that's how we find the

1930
02:04:09,040 --> 02:04:10,719
middle. And it's it's a little brutal

1931
02:04:10,719 --> 02:04:12,639
sometimes because you can't please

1932
02:04:12,639 --> 02:04:14,480
anybody any of the time. You know, it's

1933
02:04:14,480 --> 02:04:15,520
the people right in the middle that

1934
02:04:15,520 --> 02:04:17,119
might want a little bit that we come

1935
02:04:17,119 --> 02:04:18,880
alongside. But that's where your

1936
02:04:18,880 --> 02:04:21,040
comments about the social worker that

1937
02:04:21,040 --> 02:04:23,440
has a relationship with them. It's not

1938
02:04:23,440 --> 02:04:24,719
like we say, "Oh, you didn't meet

1939
02:04:24,719 --> 02:04:26,560
criteria and so we won't help you." It's

1940
02:04:26,560 --> 02:04:28,159
like we can come alongside you and still

1941
02:04:28,159 --> 02:04:31,280
help you with one or two things. What are those things? And that's

1942
02:04:31,280 --> 02:04:33,679
probably the best middle intervention,

1943
02:04:33,679 --> 02:04:36,719
right? um not commitments or just saying

1944
02:04:36,719 --> 02:04:38,639
we can't help you at all or having a

1945
02:04:38,639 --> 02:04:42,560
door slammed in her face which happens.

1946
02:04:42,560 --> 02:04:43,760
>> Tough job.

1947
02:04:43,760 --> 02:04:44,880
>> Thank you for your service.

1948
02:04:44,880 --> 02:04:46,159
>> Yeah, no doubt.

1949
02:04:46,159 --> 02:04:47,199
>> Thanks you guys.

1950
02:04:47,199 --> 02:04:48,880
>> Thank you. Thanks for your time.

1951
02:04:48,880 --> 02:04:49,520
Appreciate it.

1952
02:04:49,520 --> 02:04:50,400
>> Good seeing you guys.

1953
02:04:50,400 --> 02:04:55,270
>> See you.

1954
02:04:55,280 --> 02:05:01,830
» All right.

1955
02:05:01,840 --> 02:05:04,480
Our friends from Micah are here.

1956
02:05:04,480 --> 02:05:08,870
>> All right.

1957
02:05:08,880 --> 02:05:09,760
» They didn't have to wait.

1958
02:05:09,760 --> 02:05:11,119
>> Come up. Come up front.

1959
02:05:11,119 --> 02:05:18,470
>> They didn't have to wait too long.

1960
02:05:18,480 --> 02:05:23,669
» Start off with Amber and

1961
02:05:23,679 --> 02:05:26,036
» Sounds like you got a plan. Nathan,

1962
02:05:26,036 --> 02:05:27,440
[laughter] that's Nathan. He's always

1963
02:05:27,440 --> 02:05:30,239
prepared.

1964
02:05:30,239 --> 02:05:32,159
>> Good morning. [snorts] Good morning.

1965
02:05:32,159 --> 02:05:33,520
>> Good morning.

1966
02:05:33,520 --> 02:05:35,599
>> Thank you so much for uh having us today

1967
02:05:35,599 --> 02:05:37,119
and giving us the chance to talk with

1968
02:05:37,119 --> 02:05:38,880
you all. Uh my name is Nathan Jessen.

1969
02:05:38,880 --> 02:05:40,080
I'm the executive director of the

1970
02:05:40,080 --> 02:05:42,719
Minnesota Inner County Association.

1971
02:05:42,719 --> 02:05:45,280
Um can we just go to the if am I to just

1972
02:05:45,280 --> 02:05:47,440
run through the slides right one by one?

1973
02:05:47,440 --> 02:05:49,440
Great. Um so you all know we're a

1974
02:05:49,440 --> 02:05:51,440
voluntary member organization 17

1975
02:05:51,440 --> 02:05:52,800
counties statewide. The suburban

1976
02:05:52,800 --> 02:05:54,159
counties and regional centers throughout

1977
02:05:54,159 --> 02:05:55,599
the state essentially the largest

1978
02:05:55,599 --> 02:05:58,719
counties outside. uh Henipin and Ramsey,

1979
02:05:58,719 --> 02:06:00,000
I'll have the team just kind of

1980
02:06:00,000 --> 02:06:01,679
introduce themselves as as they go

1981
02:06:01,679 --> 02:06:02,880
through. So, you can go to the next

1982
02:06:02,880 --> 02:06:04,400
slide.

1983
02:06:04,400 --> 02:06:05,840
Um I did want to talk a little bit about

1984
02:06:05,840 --> 02:06:07,119
our work. Of course, during the

1985
02:06:07,119 --> 02:06:08,480
legislative session, we're at the

1986
02:06:08,480 --> 02:06:09,840
capital. We're in committee meetings.

1987
02:06:09,840 --> 02:06:10,960
We're we're in meetings with

1988
02:06:10,960 --> 02:06:12,639
legislators, but during the interim,

1989
02:06:12,639 --> 02:06:14,080
we're working just as hard making sure

1990
02:06:14,080 --> 02:06:16,560
we're um connecting staff with one

1991
02:06:16,560 --> 02:06:18,159
another throughout the state and also

1992
02:06:18,159 --> 02:06:20,639
keeping um tabs on task forces or

1993
02:06:20,639 --> 02:06:22,080
meeting with legislators in the interim

1994
02:06:22,080 --> 02:06:23,440
to try and make sure we're setting the

1995
02:06:23,440 --> 02:06:26,000
priorities and hearing from counties uh

1996
02:06:26,000 --> 02:06:28,159
for 2027.

1997
02:06:28,159 --> 02:06:29,920
Um we also try to make sure we provide

1998
02:06:29,920 --> 02:06:32,960
an analytical lens to our work. Um and

1999
02:06:32,960 --> 02:06:34,560
that's a good transition to the next

2000
02:06:34,560 --> 02:06:36,239
slide I have here.

2001
02:06:36,239 --> 02:06:38,719
I want to provide just some data on

2002
02:06:38,719 --> 02:06:41,280
property taxes um and blue earth county

2003
02:06:41,280 --> 02:06:43,199
and provide some comparisons to both the

2004
02:06:43,199 --> 02:06:45,840
state and the non-metro micica counties.

2005
02:06:45,840 --> 02:06:47,760
So the non-metro micica counties are the

2006
02:06:47,760 --> 02:06:49,040
other regional centers throughout the

2007
02:06:49,040 --> 02:06:50,719
state. I want to say one thing about

2008
02:06:50,719 --> 02:06:52,880
this data to begin with. This is

2009
02:06:52,880 --> 02:06:57,119
assessment year 2025 taxes payable 2026

2010
02:06:57,119 --> 02:06:59,440
data. I know that uh I believe you all

2011
02:06:59,440 --> 02:07:01,599
had a presentation um earlier this

2012
02:07:01,599 --> 02:07:03,520
summer from the county assessor that was

2013
02:07:03,520 --> 02:07:05,280
talking about some preliminary

2014
02:07:05,280 --> 02:07:09,040
assessment year 2026 data. So that's if

2015
02:07:09,040 --> 02:07:11,199
it doesn't totally match up, that's why

2016
02:07:11,199 --> 02:07:13,199
uh this is the the best data we have for

2017
02:07:13,199 --> 02:07:16,079
these kind of statewide comparisons. Um

2018
02:07:16,079 --> 02:07:17,679
so when we're looking at net tax

2019
02:07:17,679 --> 02:07:19,599
capacity share, this is essentially what

2020
02:07:19,599 --> 02:07:21,840
you're taxing with your levy. I would

2021
02:07:21,840 --> 02:07:23,679
say that historically Blue Earth County

2022
02:07:23,679 --> 02:07:26,960
has always had um a strong commercial uh

2023
02:07:26,960 --> 02:07:29,440
and indust uh commercial uh property

2024
02:07:29,440 --> 02:07:31,280
share in particular and you can see

2025
02:07:31,280 --> 02:07:33,119
that's true there when you compare Blue

2026
02:07:33,119 --> 02:07:35,440
Earth to both the state or other

2027
02:07:35,440 --> 02:07:37,599
non-metro micica counties. Oh, I should

2028
02:07:37,599 --> 02:07:39,440
pause and say if you ever want to stop

2029
02:07:39,440 --> 02:07:42,000
and interrupt me, just go right ahead.

2030
02:07:42,000 --> 02:07:44,000
Um we don't need to wait for any

2031
02:07:44,000 --> 02:07:49,760
stopping point, but um and and that's shown here. Um and again Blue

2032
02:07:49,760 --> 02:07:52,639
Earth also heavier um a larger

2033
02:07:52,639 --> 02:07:55,280
percentage of a land property and that

2034
02:07:55,280 --> 02:07:57,920
uh that's both a homestead non homestead

2035
02:07:57,920 --> 02:07:59,920
and uh the house garage and 1acre kind

2036
02:07:59,920 --> 02:08:03,199
of rolled into one right there. Um so

2037
02:08:03,199 --> 02:08:04,639
that that's how Blue Earth County

2038
02:08:04,639 --> 02:08:06,880
compares. If you go to the next slide,

2039
02:08:06,880 --> 02:08:08,880
you'll kind of see what the assessment

2040
02:08:08,880 --> 02:08:13,520
year 2025 change was in comparison. This

2041
02:08:13,520 --> 02:08:16,719
is a one-year snapshot to be clear. Um,

2042
02:08:16,719 --> 02:08:19,119
and I think that uh and how compared and

2043
02:08:19,119 --> 02:08:20,560
how Blue Earth compares with the state

2044
02:08:20,560 --> 02:08:23,760
and non-metro uh Micah counties. I'd say

2045
02:08:23,760 --> 02:08:25,679
just kind of at the outset again a

2046
02:08:25,679 --> 02:08:27,360
one-year snapshot isn't going to give

2047
02:08:27,360 --> 02:08:30,079
you a great holistic picture, but it is

2048
02:08:30,079 --> 02:08:31,840
good data to have. I'm going to call out

2049
02:08:31,840 --> 02:08:34,639
the AL land value here in particular

2050
02:08:34,639 --> 02:08:36,320
just because it's obviously the number

2051
02:08:36,320 --> 02:08:38,880
that jumps out the most. a land values

2052
02:08:38,880 --> 02:08:42,320
are kind of uh notoriously volatile and

2053
02:08:42,320 --> 02:08:45,040
if you look at this uh data for based on

2054
02:08:45,040 --> 02:08:46,719
what you all saw earlier this summer for

2055
02:08:46,719 --> 02:08:49,760
assessment year 2026 well a landl values

2056
02:08:49,760 --> 02:08:51,760
are up 6.2%.

2057
02:08:51,760 --> 02:08:55,599
So um especially for the a landl values

2058
02:08:55,599 --> 02:08:57,440
that are more volatile that's going to

2059
02:08:57,440 --> 02:08:59,760
there is going to be some change from

2060
02:08:59,760 --> 02:09:02,320
year to year on that front. Um I do

2061
02:09:02,320 --> 02:09:04,159
think that if you look at the data here

2062
02:09:04,159 --> 02:09:05,920
non-metro mega counties in blue earth

2063
02:09:05,920 --> 02:09:08,880
county um in as well are much stronger

2064
02:09:08,880 --> 02:09:10,239
apartment value growth than the

2065
02:09:10,239 --> 02:09:12,880
statewide average. Um that kind of makes

2066
02:09:12,880 --> 02:09:16,560
sense. the uh apartment property values

2067
02:09:16,560 --> 02:09:17,679
increase and there was a lot of new

2068
02:09:17,679 --> 02:09:20,560
construction in the metro. I'd say 2018

2069
02:09:20,560 --> 02:09:22,719
to 2023 that's starting to level off,

2070
02:09:22,719 --> 02:09:25,119
but since 2023 we're starting to see

2071
02:09:25,119 --> 02:09:28,079
kind of stronger apartment value growth

2072
02:09:28,079 --> 02:09:31,199
statewide in particular in the regional

2073
02:09:31,199 --> 02:09:33,679
centers. Um you can go to the next

2074
02:09:33,679 --> 02:09:35,679
slide.

2075
02:09:35,679 --> 02:09:39,040
Um and so this is the last snapshot was

2076
02:09:39,040 --> 02:09:41,119
just a one-year snapshot. This is your

2077
02:09:41,119 --> 02:09:44,000
growth since 2021. Average annualized

2078
02:09:44,000 --> 02:09:47,119
growth in an estimated market value. Um,

2079
02:09:47,119 --> 02:09:49,760
a few things jump out here. Um, these

2080
02:09:49,760 --> 02:09:52,239
numbers are bigger. They include that

2081
02:09:52,239 --> 02:09:54,800
really large jump in values that we had

2082
02:09:54,800 --> 02:09:57,520
in 2023 when values increased about on

2083
02:09:57,520 --> 02:10:00,560
average statewide 17%.

2084
02:10:00,560 --> 02:10:02,320
Um, and I think again what stands out

2085
02:10:02,320 --> 02:10:04,000
here is really strong apartment value

2086
02:10:04,000 --> 02:10:07,119
growth. Um and for for Blue Earth

2087
02:10:07,119 --> 02:10:09,280
County, you can also see that um and the

2088
02:10:09,280 --> 02:10:11,360
non-metro micica counties commercial

2089
02:10:11,360 --> 02:10:13,920
values um and Blue Earth and statewide

2090
02:10:13,920 --> 02:10:16,079
are are growing a lot more slowly and

2091
02:10:16,079 --> 02:10:17,520
there have been years where they've been

2092
02:10:17,520 --> 02:10:20,135
completely stagnant or even negative.

2093
02:10:20,135 --> 02:10:22,639
[laughter] Um I should say this data is

2094
02:10:22,639 --> 02:10:25,199
inclusive of new construction. Um and of

2095
02:10:25,199 --> 02:10:27,280
course there hasn't been as much new

2096
02:10:27,280 --> 02:10:29,599
commercial construction statewide. Um

2097
02:10:29,599 --> 02:10:31,119
there has been some more on the

2098
02:10:31,119 --> 02:10:33,360
industrial side. You can see that in

2099
02:10:33,360 --> 02:10:35,840
some of these numbers. Um, but that's

2100
02:10:35,840 --> 02:10:37,165
kind of the picture of uh

2101
02:10:37,165 --> 02:10:40,079
[clears throat] the last five years. Um,

2102
02:10:40,079 --> 02:10:42,159
you know, Blue Earth, uh, some

2103
02:10:42,159 --> 02:10:44,560
difference between, uh, it non-metro

2104
02:10:44,560 --> 02:10:46,320
mega counties, particularly around

2105
02:10:46,320 --> 02:10:48,560
apartment value growth, but nothing, um,

2106
02:10:48,560 --> 02:10:50,960
that really jumps out, um, outside of

2107
02:10:50,960 --> 02:10:54,480
that. You can go to the next slide.

2108
02:10:54,480 --> 02:10:56,960
I did want to sometimes if you're just

2109
02:10:56,960 --> 02:10:59,599
looking at one year of change or five

2110
02:10:59,599 --> 02:11:02,239
years of change, it's a lot more

2111
02:11:02,239 --> 02:11:04,400
difficult to see how things change

2112
02:11:04,400 --> 02:11:06,639
slowly over time, but that change can

2113
02:11:06,639 --> 02:11:09,360
really accumulate. So I show what what

2114
02:11:09,360 --> 02:11:11,520
I'm showing here is the net pro property

2115
02:11:11,520 --> 02:11:13,760
taxes paid across these different

2116
02:11:13,760 --> 02:11:15,920
property types across all jurisdictions.

2117
02:11:15,920 --> 02:11:19,360
Um so this is for counties, cities, uh

2118
02:11:19,360 --> 02:11:21,040
you know, special taxing districts,

2119
02:11:21,040 --> 02:11:25,040
towns, um for uh the the overall trend.

2120
02:11:25,040 --> 02:11:27,199
So what jumps out in this data that's

2121
02:11:27,199 --> 02:11:29,679
true statewide and it's true in Blue

2122
02:11:29,679 --> 02:11:32,480
Earth County is the uh residential

2123
02:11:32,480 --> 02:11:35,199
property um is picking up a larger share

2124
02:11:35,199 --> 02:11:37,520
of the overall property tax burden than

2125
02:11:37,520 --> 02:11:39,520
it has before. This has been a really

2126
02:11:39,520 --> 02:11:41,760
consistent trend. Now, you don't really

2127
02:11:41,760 --> 02:11:43,599
see it when it's jumped when it's just

2128
02:11:43,599 --> 02:11:44,960
one year of difference, but I think

2129
02:11:44,960 --> 02:11:46,800
showing the data like this really shows

2130
02:11:46,800 --> 02:11:48,400
you how significant [clears throat] that

2131
02:11:48,400 --> 02:11:51,119
jump has been over the last 12 years. I

2132
02:11:51,119 --> 02:11:54,480
picked 2014 because that's the last time

2133
02:11:54,480 --> 02:11:56,639
there was a concentrated effort to try

2134
02:11:56,639 --> 02:11:59,199
to address rising property taxes at the

2135
02:11:59,199 --> 02:12:03,040
state level. you know, from 2015 to 2019

2136
02:12:03,040 --> 02:12:05,840
on average, property tax levies, I mean,

2137
02:12:05,840 --> 02:12:07,360
they were increasing on average every

2138
02:12:07,360 --> 02:12:09,280
year, but not to the extent that we've

2139
02:12:09,280 --> 02:12:12,239
seen them increase since 2023.

2140
02:12:12,239 --> 02:12:15,119
Um, and uh, property taxes at the

2141
02:12:15,119 --> 02:12:18,719
capital from really from 2015 to 2021,

2142
02:12:18,719 --> 02:12:20,960
while they were there was a property tax

2143
02:12:20,960 --> 02:12:22,400
committee, there are always discussions

2144
02:12:22,400 --> 02:12:24,159
around it. Nobody's ever like thrilled

2145
02:12:24,159 --> 02:12:26,400
with their property tax bill, right? It

2146
02:12:26,400 --> 02:12:28,880
was not a front and center issue the way

2147
02:12:28,880 --> 02:12:31,280
that I would say that it is um quickly

2148
02:12:31,280 --> 02:12:34,000
becoming at the capital now especially

2149
02:12:34,000 --> 02:12:38,880
post 2020 uh three and four. Um

2150
02:12:38,880 --> 02:12:40,960
and I think just that this this data

2151
02:12:40,960 --> 02:12:43,360
shows that um you know Blue Earth again

2152
02:12:43,360 --> 02:12:45,599
a strong commercial property share but

2153
02:12:45,599 --> 02:12:47,360
is seeing the same kind of trends that

2154
02:12:47,360 --> 02:12:49,599
are happening statewide. Um it's it's

2155
02:12:49,599 --> 02:12:52,000
not a unique issue. Of course, as uh

2156
02:12:52,000 --> 02:12:53,920
more retail has shifted from brick

2157
02:12:53,920 --> 02:12:56,880
andmortar to online, this kind of change

2158
02:12:56,880 --> 02:13:02,800
is inevitable. Um and uh that's that's an issue that we're we're having

2159
02:13:02,800 --> 02:13:04,239
to face because, you know, we're going

2160
02:13:04,239 --> 02:13:06,239
to talk a lot about a few issues that

2161
02:13:06,239 --> 02:13:08,480
are driving up property taxes, right?

2162
02:13:08,480 --> 02:13:10,159
This isn't the one issue that's

2163
02:13:10,159 --> 02:13:13,199
increasing homestead property taxes, but

2164
02:13:13,199 --> 02:13:15,840
as homesteads are picking up a bigger

2165
02:13:15,840 --> 02:13:18,320
share of the overall pie. All these

2166
02:13:18,320 --> 02:13:19,840
other things that are driving up

2167
02:13:19,840 --> 02:13:22,560
property taxes are going to be felt a

2168
02:13:22,560 --> 02:13:24,800
lot more acutely by homeowners than they

2169
02:13:24,800 --> 02:13:27,599
would have been even 10 or 15 years ago.

2170
02:13:27,599 --> 02:13:31,360
And I do think that's um notable.

2171
02:13:31,360 --> 02:13:34,800
Uh can you go to the next slide?

2172
02:13:34,800 --> 02:13:37,520
I did want to talk about a few things

2173
02:13:37,520 --> 02:13:40,000
that are going on this summer. I'm gonna

2174
02:13:40,000 --> 02:13:41,679
actually start with the property tax

2175
02:13:41,679 --> 02:13:44,639
task force or working group uh just

2176
02:13:44,639 --> 02:13:46,000
because it's related to what I was just

2177
02:13:46,000 --> 02:13:48,719
talking about. We were pushing for a

2178
02:13:48,719 --> 02:13:51,040
bill that would kind of look at what's

2179
02:13:51,040 --> 02:13:53,440
driving increases in property taxes and

2180
02:13:53,440 --> 02:13:56,000
what are some of this and take a look

2181
02:13:56,000 --> 02:13:57,760
into this data to show how much more

2182
02:13:57,760 --> 02:14:00,000
homeowners are paying than they were 12

2183
02:14:00,000 --> 02:14:02,880
years ago. that uh bill did get positive

2184
02:14:02,880 --> 02:14:05,040
action in both the House and Senate,

2185
02:14:05,040 --> 02:14:06,639
which means, of course, it did not end

2186
02:14:06,639 --> 02:14:10,079
up becoming law. Um [laughter]

2187
02:14:10,079 --> 02:14:12,400
uh but uh the Commissioner of Revenue,

2188
02:14:12,400 --> 02:14:13,840
Paul Markwart, decided, okay, well,

2189
02:14:13,840 --> 02:14:15,360
we're going to take a look at the system

2190
02:14:15,360 --> 02:14:18,320
and still see what we can do and and

2191
02:14:18,320 --> 02:14:20,079
start holding meetings. So, those

2192
02:14:20,079 --> 02:14:23,679
started about two weeks ago. Um it's

2193
02:14:23,679 --> 02:14:25,440
really trying to talk about a lot of

2194
02:14:25,440 --> 02:14:27,040
these same issues. were really pressing

2195
02:14:27,040 --> 02:14:29,360
them to consider the data that I I've

2196
02:14:29,360 --> 02:14:31,040
shared with you and also kind of what's

2197
02:14:31,040 --> 02:14:32,800
driving property tax increases

2198
02:14:32,800 --> 02:14:34,159
particularly when we're talking about

2199
02:14:34,159 --> 02:14:36,400
unfunded mandates from the federal and

2200
02:14:36,400 --> 02:14:40,400
state government. um you know it is uh

2201
02:14:40,400 --> 02:14:43,440
because there's no legislative mandate

2202
02:14:43,440 --> 02:14:46,639
it's kind of uh ambiguous where they're

2203
02:14:46,639 --> 02:14:49,280
going or what's kind of the purpose of

2204
02:14:49,280 --> 02:14:50,960
these discussions a lot of the time I

2205
02:14:50,960 --> 02:14:53,360
was meeting with the commissioner and he

2206
02:14:53,360 --> 02:14:55,520
said publicly that well we're not going

2207
02:14:55,520 --> 02:14:57,760
to talk about property tax shifts or

2208
02:14:57,760 --> 02:14:59,679
recommending any property tax shifts

2209
02:14:59,679 --> 02:15:02,000
because those are really controversial

2210
02:15:02,000 --> 02:15:03,760
and we all know there's not money in the

2211
02:15:03,760 --> 02:15:06,000
state budget to you know pour a lot of

2212
02:15:06,000 --> 02:15:08,000
money into the property taxes system,

2213
02:15:08,000 --> 02:15:09,440
which you know, I raised the point,

2214
02:15:09,440 --> 02:15:11,199
well, if you're not talking about

2215
02:15:11,199 --> 02:15:13,440
shifting property taxes or putting money

2216
02:15:13,440 --> 02:15:15,520
into the system, it's kind of difficult

2217
02:15:15,520 --> 02:15:17,840
to make changes to the property tax

2218
02:15:17,840 --> 02:15:20,719
system. If you're thinking about that,

2219
02:15:20,719 --> 02:15:23,119
um I would say that right now, um he's

2220
02:15:23,119 --> 02:15:25,440
been really focused on well, what can we

2221
02:15:25,440 --> 02:15:28,000
do to increase citizen involvement and

2222
02:15:28,000 --> 02:15:30,960
the property tax process? Um, we already

2223
02:15:30,960 --> 02:15:33,360
do have a pretty robust system when

2224
02:15:33,360 --> 02:15:35,119
you're comparing Minnesota to other

2225
02:15:35,119 --> 02:15:36,560
states when it comes to citizen

2226
02:15:36,560 --> 02:15:39,040
involvement and I know you all have your

2227
02:15:39,040 --> 02:15:41,440
own uh process and you know citizens can

2228
02:15:41,440 --> 02:15:43,520
come and talk to the county board and

2229
02:15:43,520 --> 02:15:45,360
the budget setting process is not just

2230
02:15:45,360 --> 02:15:48,480
one meeting. Um, so we are continuing to

2231
02:15:48,480 --> 02:15:50,719
talk with him about that. When he was in

2232
02:15:50,719 --> 02:15:52,719
the legislature he had a lot of bills

2233
02:15:52,719 --> 02:15:55,520
that he introduced in this area. Um, so

2234
02:15:55,520 --> 02:15:56,960
it is something that I think is a

2235
02:15:56,960 --> 02:16:00,639
long-standing interest of his. Um but

2236
02:16:00,639 --> 02:16:03,360
that the recommendations are planned to

2237
02:16:03,360 --> 02:16:05,119
come out in December, but we'll keep you

2238
02:16:05,119 --> 02:16:07,599
all posted on that. Uh the modernization

2239
02:16:07,599 --> 02:16:10,880
group, of course, we uh had 201 votes

2240
02:16:10,880 --> 02:16:13,920
for a modernization bill back in May. Um

2241
02:16:13,920 --> 02:16:16,880
so as part of that bill we created this

2242
02:16:16,880 --> 02:16:19,040
modernization advisory group with both

2243
02:16:19,040 --> 02:16:20,960
state agency appointees and county

2244
02:16:20,960 --> 02:16:23,520
appointees uh with equal representation

2245
02:16:23,520 --> 02:16:25,920
to oversee the use of those funds so

2246
02:16:25,920 --> 02:16:28,320
that we make sure we have a role in the

2247
02:16:28,320 --> 02:16:30,320
priority priority setting process for

2248
02:16:30,320 --> 02:16:32,319
what types of projects get approved and

2249
02:16:32,319 --> 02:16:35,040
what doesn't. Um that group is scheduled

2250
02:16:35,040 --> 02:16:36,719
to meet for the first time before

2251
02:16:36,719 --> 02:16:39,359
September 15th. We're also working with

2252
02:16:39,359 --> 02:16:41,359
the Association of Minnesota Counties on

2253
02:16:41,359 --> 02:16:44,319
a broader kind of modernization steering

2254
02:16:44,319 --> 02:16:46,319
committee so that the four

2255
02:16:46,319 --> 02:16:48,319
representatives um county

2256
02:16:48,319 --> 02:16:50,399
representatives to that group are

2257
02:16:50,399 --> 02:16:53,280
informed by the state um county

2258
02:16:53,280 --> 02:16:56,559
perspective as a whole. Um there's not

2259
02:16:56,559 --> 02:17:00,240
uh again they're planning to meet um

2260
02:17:00,240 --> 02:17:02,000
before September 15th. We'll have more

2261
02:17:02,000 --> 02:17:04,319
for you then. But there have been kind

2262
02:17:04,319 --> 02:17:06,240
of these broader county discussions that

2263
02:17:06,240 --> 02:17:08,479
we've been having and setting trying to

2264
02:17:08,479 --> 02:17:10,319
figure out, okay, well, where do we rank

2265
02:17:10,319 --> 02:17:13,840
our own priorities amongst one another?

2266
02:17:13,840 --> 02:17:16,800
The last one I wanted to touch on is

2267
02:17:16,800 --> 02:17:19,920
this uh duty disability working group.

2268
02:17:19,920 --> 02:17:22,319
So in 2023,

2269
02:17:22,319 --> 02:17:24,880
the legislature appropriated $105

2270
02:17:24,880 --> 02:17:28,960
million one time to address the rising

2271
02:17:28,960 --> 02:17:30,960
cost of duty disability. So, these

2272
02:17:30,960 --> 02:17:33,840
aren't folks uh that are have a total

2273
02:17:33,840 --> 02:17:35,760
impermanent disability, but if a public

2274
02:17:35,760 --> 02:17:37,280
safety officer is no longer able to

2275
02:17:37,280 --> 02:17:40,240
perform their job um and is ruled that

2276
02:17:40,240 --> 02:17:44,240
way um and given that benefit from PAR,

2277
02:17:44,240 --> 02:17:46,240
um they can claim duty disability and

2278
02:17:46,240 --> 02:17:49,599
seek cover work. Uh this fund of $105

2279
02:17:49,599 --> 02:17:51,679
million is projected to run out in

2280
02:17:51,679 --> 02:17:55,679
fiscal year 2028. Once it does, this

2281
02:17:55,679 --> 02:17:57,359
shifts from a funded mandate to an

2282
02:17:57,359 --> 02:18:00,399
unfunded mandate. Um, and to be clear,

2283
02:18:00,399 --> 02:18:02,399
most public safety officers, uh, this is

2284
02:18:02,399 --> 02:18:05,359
a larger, if we're talking percentage of

2285
02:18:05,359 --> 02:18:07,679
the pie, it's a larger city budget issue

2286
02:18:07,679 --> 02:18:09,359
than is a county budget issue, but it is

2287
02:18:09,359 --> 02:18:12,080
a significant county budget issue, too.

2288
02:18:12,080 --> 02:18:14,319
Um, so this group has been meeting at

2289
02:18:14,319 --> 02:18:17,280
least weekly since June. Um, has

2290
02:18:17,280 --> 02:18:18,719
legislators serving on it.

2291
02:18:18,719 --> 02:18:21,439
Representative Terry Steer is the chair.

2292
02:18:21,439 --> 02:18:24,319
Um and we've essentially been um

2293
02:18:24,319 --> 02:18:26,479
reviewing what other states are doing in

2294
02:18:26,479 --> 02:18:28,319
this area. How do they treat duty

2295
02:18:28,319 --> 02:18:31,760
disability? Is Minnesota unique in this

2296
02:18:31,760 --> 02:18:34,160
significant spike we've seen in these

2297
02:18:34,160 --> 02:18:38,160
cases particularly um post 2020? Um and

2298
02:18:38,160 --> 02:18:41,040
the answer is yes. Minnesota is unique.

2299
02:18:41,040 --> 02:18:43,040
Um most other states are not

2300
02:18:43,040 --> 02:18:46,319
experiencing this spike. Um serving on

2301
02:18:46,319 --> 02:18:48,399
this group are both public employers and

2302
02:18:48,399 --> 02:18:50,719
public employees. public employees are I

2303
02:18:50,719 --> 02:18:52,479
think interest interested in addressing

2304
02:18:52,479 --> 02:18:54,719
this issue because this is really

2305
02:18:54,719 --> 02:18:56,800
weighing down the health of their own

2306
02:18:56,800 --> 02:18:58,319
pension fund. the police and fire

2307
02:18:58,319 --> 02:19:01,519
pension fund just has a fixed 1% colon

2308
02:19:01,519 --> 02:19:04,399
right um so I think there is some mutual

2309
02:19:04,399 --> 02:19:07,439
interest um and resolving the issue it's

2310
02:19:07,439 --> 02:19:09,599
the how of it that becomes extremely

2311
02:19:09,599 --> 02:19:12,160
challenging because um the state budget

2312
02:19:12,160 --> 02:19:13,439
situation which I'll talk a little bit

2313
02:19:13,439 --> 02:19:17,040
more uh once we wrap up um is what it is

2314
02:19:17,040 --> 02:19:19,599
um there's not $105 million that we can

2315
02:19:19,599 --> 02:19:23,200
pour into this um every four years um

2316
02:19:23,200 --> 02:19:25,359
representative Terry Steer has said that

2317
02:19:25,359 --> 02:19:27,679
acknowledge that okay Minnesota has a

2318
02:19:27,679 --> 02:19:30,080
more generous benefit. He's more focused

2319
02:19:30,080 --> 02:19:32,559
on trying to tighten eligibility. It's

2320
02:19:32,559 --> 02:19:34,319
fairly

2321
02:19:34,319 --> 02:19:37,120
um simple for uh folks that decide that

2322
02:19:37,120 --> 02:19:38,399
they want to try to get beauty

2323
02:19:38,399 --> 02:19:40,639
disability um to achieve that benefit.

2324
02:19:40,639 --> 02:19:42,080
Though they do have to go through a

2325
02:19:42,080 --> 02:19:45,840
24-week treatment process to do that. Um

2326
02:19:45,840 --> 02:19:47,679
so this is kind of another ongoing

2327
02:19:47,679 --> 02:19:49,520
budget issue for talking about potential

2328
02:19:49,520 --> 02:19:51,280
unfunded mandates that we're keeping an

2329
02:19:51,280 --> 02:19:54,080
eye on going into the 2027 legislative

2330
02:19:54,080 --> 02:19:57,840
session. Um, I am just going to pause

2331
02:19:57,840 --> 02:20:01,120
there. I just threw a lot at you. Um,

2332
02:20:01,120 --> 02:20:02,640
I'm going to hand it off to Amber in a

2333
02:20:02,640 --> 02:20:05,120
second. We'll come back um to close us

2334
02:20:05,120 --> 02:20:06,080
out, talk [clears throat] about the

2335
02:20:06,080 --> 02:20:07,439
state budget, but did just want to see

2336
02:20:07,439 --> 02:20:14,309
if folks had any questions so far.

2337
02:20:14,319 --> 02:20:15,280
» It's a lot.

2338
02:20:15,280 --> 02:20:16,800
>> Well,

2339
02:20:16,800 --> 02:20:18,399
great. Thank you, uh, Madam Chair and

2340
02:20:18,399 --> 02:20:19,840
commissioners. Amber Back has covered

2341
02:20:19,840 --> 02:20:22,080
the transportation and bonding issues

2342
02:20:22,080 --> 02:20:24,160
for Micah at the capital. Um so just

2343
02:20:24,160 --> 02:20:25,280
wanted to bring a couple different

2344
02:20:25,280 --> 02:20:27,680
things to your attention. Um one is we

2345
02:20:27,680 --> 02:20:29,439
were very pleased to see the legislature

2346
02:20:29,439 --> 02:20:32,319
pass a $1.2 billion bonding bill this

2347
02:20:32,319 --> 02:20:34,800
last session. Uh transportation was a

2348
02:20:34,800 --> 02:20:36,560
beneficiary of that which with almost

2349
02:20:36,560 --> 02:20:38,640
15% of the funds going to different

2350
02:20:38,640 --> 02:20:41,040
transportation projects and we were glad

2351
02:20:41,040 --> 02:20:43,680
to see the LRIP as uh funded again as

2352
02:20:43,680 --> 02:20:46,080
part of that. um wanted to make you

2353
02:20:46,080 --> 02:20:48,720
aware that um MDOT is going to start

2354
02:20:48,720 --> 02:20:51,760
taking applications if you have eligible

2355
02:20:51,760 --> 02:20:54,319
um county roads that could qualify for

2356
02:20:54,319 --> 02:20:56,319
these programs. The application um

2357
02:20:56,319 --> 02:20:58,160
process opened September 1st and is

2358
02:20:58,160 --> 02:21:00,160
through November 25th, but considering

2359
02:21:00,160 --> 02:21:02,640
you got a big $ 1.5 million this past

2360
02:21:02,640 --> 02:21:04,160
cycle. [laughter] I don't know if you'll

2361
02:21:04,160 --> 02:21:05,120
have something else again, but

2362
02:21:05,120 --> 02:21:07,359
congratulations on that this last time.

2363
02:21:07,359 --> 02:21:09,040
Um, the one thing I wanted to update on

2364
02:21:09,040 --> 02:21:11,520
this slide is just last week, uh, Mindad

2365
02:21:11,520 --> 02:21:13,520
did decide what the split of the

2366
02:21:13,520 --> 02:21:16,000
revenues between county municipal state

2367
02:21:16,000 --> 02:21:18,479
aid roads and non-state aid roads would

2368
02:21:18,479 --> 02:21:20,479
be. Um, and they're keeping the same

2369
02:21:20,479 --> 02:21:22,720
split they've had in the past with 35%

2370
02:21:22,720 --> 02:21:26,160
of the, um, funds for counties, 30% for

2371
02:21:26,160 --> 02:21:28,399
MSA roads, and 35% for other local

2372
02:21:28,399 --> 02:21:30,880
entities. And as far as the metro

2373
02:21:30,880 --> 02:21:33,680
greater Minnesota splits, um that 35%

2374
02:21:33,680 --> 02:21:35,840
for the counties and it's they're going

2375
02:21:35,840 --> 02:21:39,359
to try to get to 1/8 to each um mind

2376
02:21:39,359 --> 02:21:41,920
district. So it would be spread u around

2377
02:21:41,920 --> 02:21:46,560
the state. Um next slide, please.

2378
02:21:46,560 --> 02:21:48,960
And then wanted to flag some issues um

2379
02:21:48,960 --> 02:21:53,040
that we are watching going into the 2027

2380
02:21:53,040 --> 02:21:55,359
legislative session.

2381
02:21:55,359 --> 02:21:57,120
Um, first of all, we're kind of

2382
02:21:57,120 --> 02:21:59,280
concerned that um, there could be

2383
02:21:59,280 --> 02:22:01,680
attempts to take transportation funds,

2384
02:22:01,680 --> 02:22:03,200
especially those that are statutoily

2385
02:22:03,200 --> 02:22:05,439
dedicated, and keep them in the general

2386
02:22:05,439 --> 02:22:07,359
fund, especially since the state is

2387
02:22:07,359 --> 02:22:09,120
going to be facing a structural deficit,

2388
02:22:09,120 --> 02:22:11,359
which Nathan will tell you more about.

2389
02:22:11,359 --> 02:22:14,479
Um, but if you recall in 2023, um, the

2390
02:22:14,479 --> 02:22:17,359
legislature statutoily dedicated all of

2391
02:22:17,359 --> 02:22:19,840
the revenues from the, um, sales tax on

2392
02:22:19,840 --> 02:22:22,000
auto parts to transportation, and that

2393
02:22:22,000 --> 02:22:24,080
was going to be phased in overtime. Um

2394
02:22:24,080 --> 02:22:25,920
but then in 2025 they slowed in that

2395
02:22:25,920 --> 02:22:27,680
phase in because of potential budget

2396
02:22:27,680 --> 02:22:29,280
deficits and we're concerned that could

2397
02:22:29,280 --> 02:22:31,520
continue to happen next year. So um

2398
02:22:31,520 --> 02:22:33,840
we'll keep watching that very closely.

2399
02:22:33,840 --> 02:22:35,520
And I also think with affordability

2400
02:22:35,520 --> 02:22:37,680
being a big issue these days and people

2401
02:22:37,680 --> 02:22:39,600
complaining about their license tab

2402
02:22:39,600 --> 02:22:42,479
fees, some sort of permanent reduction

2403
02:22:42,479 --> 02:22:44,399
in the tab fee increase that was passed

2404
02:22:44,399 --> 02:22:47,200
in 2023 could be on the table next year.

2405
02:22:47,200 --> 02:22:49,280
I've heard transportation members in

2406
02:22:49,280 --> 02:22:50,640
both the House and the Senate, Democrats

2407
02:22:50,640 --> 02:22:52,479
and Republicans saying that is something

2408
02:22:52,479 --> 02:22:54,880
they want to revisit. Um, and you know,

2409
02:22:54,880 --> 02:22:56,640
it was very popular this past year to do

2410
02:22:56,640 --> 02:22:59,359
a onetime cut of $250 million um to

2411
02:22:59,359 --> 02:23:00,479
that. Fortunately, there was general

2412
02:23:00,479 --> 02:23:02,080
fund money to backfill that so the

2413
02:23:02,080 --> 02:23:03,600
transportation funds don't take a loss,

2414
02:23:03,600 --> 02:23:05,359
but going forward, we're concerned with

2415
02:23:05,359 --> 02:23:07,040
how they would backfill any of those

2416
02:23:07,040 --> 02:23:08,720
cuts.

2417
02:23:08,720 --> 02:23:11,600
Um, another issue that has been ongoing

2418
02:23:11,600 --> 02:23:14,240
and unresolved and kind of plaguing us

2419
02:23:14,240 --> 02:23:17,520
is um, a law that was passed in 2023 and

2420
02:23:17,520 --> 02:23:20,319
tweaked in 2024 to require highway

2421
02:23:20,319 --> 02:23:21,840
expansion projects where you're adding

2422
02:23:21,840 --> 02:23:25,040
new lane miles or building a separated

2423
02:23:25,040 --> 02:23:28,479
grade interchange um, to have to um,

2424
02:23:28,479 --> 02:23:30,880
figure out the increased greenhouse gas

2425
02:23:30,880 --> 02:23:32,960
emissions of that project and then

2426
02:23:32,960 --> 02:23:35,314
mitigate them. Um, Mindot

2427
02:23:35,314 --> 02:23:36,720
[clears throat] has a technical advisory

2428
02:23:36,720 --> 02:23:38,640
committee that's been meeting um,

2429
02:23:38,640 --> 02:23:40,800
regularly for the past few years and

2430
02:23:40,800 --> 02:23:43,359
they've come up with how to assess the

2431
02:23:43,359 --> 02:23:45,120
amount of greenhouse gas emissions, but

2432
02:23:45,120 --> 02:23:46,880
they still don't have a great plan for

2433
02:23:46,880 --> 02:23:50,080
helping project sponsors um, offset

2434
02:23:50,080 --> 02:23:52,640
them. And a lot of the mitigations fall

2435
02:23:52,640 --> 02:23:54,720
outside the realm of transportation,

2436
02:23:54,720 --> 02:23:56,399
making it very difficult to figure out

2437
02:23:56,399 --> 02:23:58,240
how these are going to work. For

2438
02:23:58,240 --> 02:23:59,600
example, one of the things that you get

2439
02:23:59,600 --> 02:24:01,040
the most bang on the buck for are

2440
02:24:01,040 --> 02:24:03,200
changes in land use and greater density.

2441
02:24:03,200 --> 02:24:05,040
But neither Mandot nor counties have the

2442
02:24:05,040 --> 02:24:07,120
ability to compel cities to change their

2443
02:24:07,120 --> 02:24:09,120
zoning to to achieve that. So that's a

2444
02:24:09,120 --> 02:24:12,640
concern. Um and there haven't been any

2445
02:24:12,640 --> 02:24:14,560
projects that have gone through this

2446
02:24:14,560 --> 02:24:16,560
process until just now. Washington

2447
02:24:16,560 --> 02:24:19,280
County is trying to figure out offsets

2448
02:24:19,280 --> 02:24:21,680
for an interchange project and it's very

2449
02:24:21,680 --> 02:24:23,760
complicated and is even raising more

2450
02:24:23,760 --> 02:24:25,200
concerns. So we're kind of keeping tabs

2451
02:24:25,200 --> 02:24:26,880
on that to see how this is going to pan

2452
02:24:26,880 --> 02:24:28,800
out. But we do do really believe there

2453
02:24:28,800 --> 02:24:30,800
need to be some changes to the o over

2454
02:24:30,800 --> 02:24:32,300
overarching framework here in terms

2455
02:24:32,300 --> 02:24:33,439
[clears throat] of governance of how you

2456
02:24:33,439 --> 02:24:35,120
do this mitigation as well as just

2457
02:24:35,120 --> 02:24:36,640
providing funds because all these

2458
02:24:36,640 --> 02:24:38,319
mitigations are expected to increase the

2459
02:24:38,319 --> 02:24:39,760
cost of transportation project

2460
02:24:39,760 --> 02:24:41,680
significantly.

2461
02:24:41,680 --> 02:24:44,000
And then along these lines um especially

2462
02:24:44,000 --> 02:24:46,560
if there is a Democrat trifecta again at

2463
02:24:46,560 --> 02:24:48,960
the legislature, we expect to see some

2464
02:24:48,960 --> 02:24:50,479
other pieces of legislation that would

2465
02:24:50,479 --> 02:24:52,640
put additional conditions on building

2466
02:24:52,640 --> 02:24:54,800
new highway projects. Um there were

2467
02:24:54,800 --> 02:24:56,240
several bills out there last year that

2468
02:24:56,240 --> 02:24:58,319
we expect to come back. Um one would

2469
02:24:58,319 --> 02:25:00,640
halt pro highway expansion unless you

2470
02:25:00,640 --> 02:25:02,960
have a 60-year maintenance plan with a

2471
02:25:02,960 --> 02:25:05,439
source of funding identified and nobody

2472
02:25:05,439 --> 02:25:07,040
comes up with 60-year maintenance plans

2473
02:25:07,040 --> 02:25:09,040
for roads. Bridges, yes, but roads, no.

2474
02:25:09,040 --> 02:25:10,720
I mean, MDOT doesn't have the budget for

2475
02:25:10,720 --> 02:25:13,120
this. Um some of the other proposals

2476
02:25:13,120 --> 02:25:14,640
would require more emphasis on

2477
02:25:14,640 --> 02:25:17,040
alternatives to highway expansion, which

2478
02:25:17,040 --> 02:25:18,800
might make sense in the metro area, but

2479
02:25:18,800 --> 02:25:20,640
not necessarily in other locations of

2480
02:25:20,640 --> 02:25:23,120
the state, including Blue Earth County.

2481
02:25:23,120 --> 02:25:24,880
um as well as having to come up with new

2482
02:25:24,880 --> 02:25:26,479
statements of need and reasonableness to

2483
02:25:26,479 --> 02:25:28,160
demonstrate why you are doing any sort

2484
02:25:28,160 --> 02:25:31,520
of highway expansion project. So um

2485
02:25:31,520 --> 02:25:33,040
we'll be keeping tabs on those and

2486
02:25:33,040 --> 02:25:34,560
keeping you updated, but I'd be happy to

2487
02:25:34,560 --> 02:25:36,240
pause there and answer any questions if

2488
02:25:36,240 --> 02:25:40,150
you have them.

2489
02:25:40,160 --> 02:25:41,760
» So much fun

2490
02:25:41,760 --> 02:25:43,840
>> that it is. [laughter]

2491
02:25:43,840 --> 02:25:45,600
Well, thank you. Oh, and I do want

2492
02:25:45,600 --> 02:25:47,200
quickly want to give a shout out to your

2493
02:25:47,200 --> 02:25:48,720
um engineer Ryan Tes. has been an

2494
02:25:48,720 --> 02:25:50,479
incredible resource, very active in our

2495
02:25:50,479 --> 02:25:51,920
engineers group and really appreciate

2496
02:25:51,920 --> 02:25:53,520
his council as we're dealing with some

2497
02:25:53,520 --> 02:25:56,560
of these issues at the capital. So,

2498
02:25:56,560 --> 02:26:00,230
>> thanks.

2499
02:26:00,240 --> 02:26:02,479
» I guess I'm up. Um, Madam Chair, good

2500
02:26:02,479 --> 02:26:03,760
morning, Madam Chair and Commissioners.

2501
02:26:03,760 --> 02:26:05,520
Nancy Celeleski and I handle both public

2502
02:26:05,520 --> 02:26:07,520
health and human services for Micah and

2503
02:26:07,520 --> 02:26:09,760
it's great being here this morning.

2504
02:26:09,760 --> 02:26:12,080
>> Uh, going into the 2026 session, all of

2505
02:26:12,080 --> 02:26:14,479
the county organizations had three of

2506
02:26:14,479 --> 02:26:17,439
the um same priorities. Nathan did talk

2507
02:26:17,439 --> 02:26:19,600
about technology modernization and I

2508
02:26:19,600 --> 02:26:22,080
just want to call out and thank all of

2509
02:26:22,080 --> 02:26:23,600
you and staff for showing up at the

2510
02:26:23,600 --> 02:26:25,120
capital because certainly all of the

2511
02:26:25,120 --> 02:26:27,920
legislators heard from us and it was it

2512
02:26:27,920 --> 02:26:30,479
was so much a hand all hands- on deck

2513
02:26:30,479 --> 02:26:33,439
issue. The other two issues progress was

2514
02:26:33,439 --> 02:26:36,720
made um on both SNAP and the act or the

2515
02:26:36,720 --> 02:26:39,920
math but CD CWDA.

2516
02:26:39,920 --> 02:26:41,439
However, because the legislature

2517
02:26:41,439 --> 02:26:43,760
appropriated only one-time money, we're

2518
02:26:43,760 --> 02:26:45,760
going to have to go back in 2027 and

2519
02:26:45,760 --> 02:26:48,000
seek ongoing funding.

2520
02:26:48,000 --> 02:26:50,160
So, starting with SNAP, uh counties will

2521
02:26:50,160 --> 02:26:51,920
be paying an increase share due to

2522
02:26:51,920 --> 02:26:55,439
recent federal uh action. Terms of the

2523
02:26:55,439 --> 02:26:57,359
administrative costs, Minnesota's one of

2524
02:26:57,359 --> 02:26:59,840
only three counties where um we're

2525
02:26:59,840 --> 02:27:02,560
responsible for the administration of of

2526
02:27:02,560 --> 02:27:04,479
that program or a portion of

2527
02:27:04,479 --> 02:27:06,720
administrative costs. The legislature

2528
02:27:06,720 --> 02:27:09,200
did appropriate $10.7 million, but

2529
02:27:09,200 --> 02:27:11,760
again, in one-time funding. It will be

2530
02:27:11,760 --> 02:27:13,439
allocated to counties based on their

2531
02:27:13,439 --> 02:27:16,640
proportional share of admin costs. Um,

2532
02:27:16,640 --> 02:27:18,560
effective October 1st of this year,

2533
02:27:18,560 --> 02:27:20,800
2026, our county share is being

2534
02:27:20,800 --> 02:27:23,920
increased from 50 to 75%.

2535
02:27:23,920 --> 02:27:26,160
And that is estimated to cost around $35

2536
02:27:26,160 --> 02:27:28,080
million annually. So, again, I want to

2537
02:27:28,080 --> 02:27:30,399
point out we received 10.7. So, we're

2538
02:27:30,399 --> 02:27:32,160
going to need need additional funding

2539
02:27:32,160 --> 02:27:35,040
here. Also, uh there's a new cost share

2540
02:27:35,040 --> 02:27:36,720
and it relates to the benefit, the

2541
02:27:36,720 --> 02:27:38,880
actual benefit that's effective next

2542
02:27:38,880 --> 02:27:41,600
year, July 1 of 2027,

2543
02:27:41,600 --> 02:27:42,800
uh when the government, federal

2544
02:27:42,800 --> 02:27:44,319
government is requiring us to pick up a

2545
02:27:44,319 --> 02:27:46,720
percentage of the benefit. And it's

2546
02:27:46,720 --> 02:27:49,680
based on our payment error rate. And I

2547
02:27:49,680 --> 02:27:51,600
just want to remind everyone that error

2548
02:27:51,600 --> 02:27:52,960
rates can be as simple as a

2549
02:27:52,960 --> 02:27:55,120
typographical error, a client not

2550
02:27:55,120 --> 02:27:58,800
returning um needed paperwork, outdated

2551
02:27:58,800 --> 02:28:00,479
technology, and while we've made

2552
02:28:00,479 --> 02:28:01,760
progress on that, it's going to take

2553
02:28:01,760 --> 02:28:04,240
some time of course for that to be um

2554
02:28:04,240 --> 02:28:07,439
upgraded. So the estimated cost for uh

2555
02:28:07,439 --> 02:28:09,840
counties based on the current air rate

2556
02:28:09,840 --> 02:28:12,800
is $138 million annually. So again,

2557
02:28:12,800 --> 02:28:13,920
we're going to have to [clears throat]

2558
02:28:13,920 --> 02:28:17,120
revisit that issue as well.

2559
02:28:17,120 --> 02:28:21,520
Next slide. um is MASPA CWDA.

2560
02:28:21,520 --> 02:28:24,080
Again, the 2026 legislature appropriated

2561
02:28:24,080 --> 02:28:26,560
15 million one time to address county

2562
02:28:26,560 --> 02:28:29,760
implementation costs. Based on that,

2563
02:28:29,760 --> 02:28:31,840
each county will receive a minimum of

2564
02:28:31,840 --> 02:28:34,640
$100,000 which is based on an existing

2565
02:28:34,640 --> 02:28:36,880
statutory formula and you can see that

2566
02:28:36,880 --> 02:28:39,040
formula on the slide. It's based on

2567
02:28:39,040 --> 02:28:41,280
child population in the county, the

2568
02:28:41,280 --> 02:28:43,040
number of screened in reports of child

2569
02:28:43,040 --> 02:28:45,120
maltreatment, as well as the number of

2570
02:28:45,120 --> 02:28:47,280
open child protection case management

2571
02:28:47,280 --> 02:28:48,880
cases.

2572
02:28:48,880 --> 02:28:52,640
In 2026, the agency DCYF did not receive

2573
02:28:52,640 --> 02:28:55,600
any funding for this and we as you are

2574
02:28:55,600 --> 02:28:57,520
well aware want them to do the case

2575
02:28:57,520 --> 02:29:00,160
review of these cases. So that was

2576
02:29:00,160 --> 02:29:03,600
delayed until July 1st of 2027.

2577
02:29:03,600 --> 02:29:06,240
And I would just remar or mention that

2578
02:29:06,240 --> 02:29:07,920
the working group does expire in

2579
02:29:07,920 --> 02:29:10,880
December 31st of 2026. And so really the

2580
02:29:10,880 --> 02:29:13,439
work has not been done. So I'm not sure

2581
02:29:13,439 --> 02:29:15,920
how that's going to work out um in terms

2582
02:29:15,920 --> 02:29:18,800
of the expiration of that group. The

2583
02:29:18,800 --> 02:29:20,720
last item I want to mention is long-term

2584
02:29:20,720 --> 02:29:23,600
services and supports or LTSS.

2585
02:29:23,600 --> 02:29:26,640
You recall in 2025 um in response to

2586
02:29:26,640 --> 02:29:28,720
massive cost shift proposals and this

2587
02:29:28,720 --> 02:29:30,399
came from everyone the Senate, the House

2588
02:29:30,399 --> 02:29:32,560
as well as the governor um the

2589
02:29:32,560 --> 02:29:34,399
legislature kind of punted it to the

2590
02:29:34,399 --> 02:29:37,600
next bianium and to to address that

2591
02:29:37,600 --> 02:29:40,240
counties and providers are charged with

2592
02:29:40,240 --> 02:29:43,359
finding $178 million in the system by

2593
02:29:43,359 --> 02:29:46,720
July 1st again of next year. A large

2594
02:29:46,720 --> 02:29:49,200
task force was put together um I think

2595
02:29:49,200 --> 02:29:51,680
it's over 30 people. We have six county

2596
02:29:51,680 --> 02:29:53,840
members on there, uh, two from Micah,

2597
02:29:53,840 --> 02:29:56,399
two from AMC, and two from MAXA along

2598
02:29:56,399 --> 02:29:58,319
with providers, consumers, and their

2599
02:29:58,319 --> 02:30:00,560
family members. They've started their

2600
02:30:00,560 --> 02:30:02,960
work and, um, actually found some

2601
02:30:02,960 --> 02:30:05,280
savings uh, this last year, which the

2602
02:30:05,280 --> 02:30:07,439
legislature did book those savings, but

2603
02:30:07,439 --> 02:30:10,319
did not account it toward the $178

2604
02:30:10,319 --> 02:30:12,240
million that we are responsible for

2605
02:30:12,240 --> 02:30:16,000
finding by next year. uh without the uh

2606
02:30:16,000 --> 02:30:17,920
the group continues to meet and they

2607
02:30:17,920 --> 02:30:21,200
have a number of of uh suggestions and

2608
02:30:21,200 --> 02:30:23,600
without um any action to book those

2609
02:30:23,600 --> 02:30:24,880
savings, counties are going to be

2610
02:30:24,880 --> 02:30:27,040
looking at another cost shift in July

2611
02:30:27,040 --> 02:30:29,439
one July of 2027. So, we're going to be

2612
02:30:29,439 --> 02:30:32,880
working hard on that issue as well.

2613
02:30:32,880 --> 02:30:35,439
>> Those are like the three our four top

2614
02:30:35,439 --> 02:30:37,600
issues I just want to mention and and

2615
02:30:37,600 --> 02:30:39,120
call out your staff as well. I've worked

2616
02:30:39,120 --> 02:30:41,120
with Phil Clawson for years and Eric

2617
02:30:41,120 --> 02:30:42,960
Slutton and they're both very much

2618
02:30:42,960 --> 02:30:45,040
active on on our committees and great

2619
02:30:45,040 --> 02:30:47,040
asset to not only you and Micah but

2620
02:30:47,040 --> 02:30:50,479
county statewide. Thanks. With that, I'd

2621
02:30:50,479 --> 02:30:52,560
answer any questions.

2622
02:30:52,560 --> 02:30:54,080
>> Questions?

2623
02:30:54,080 --> 02:30:55,359
I [clears throat] just wondering who the

2624
02:30:55,359 --> 02:30:58,960
other two um states where the counties

2625
02:30:58,960 --> 02:30:59,920
are responsible.

2626
02:30:59,920 --> 02:31:01,920
>> Oh, no. [laughter]

2627
02:31:01,920 --> 02:31:04,240
>> Just

2628
02:31:04,240 --> 02:31:06,000
I used to know this.

2629
02:31:06,000 --> 02:31:06,640
>> What's that?

2630
02:31:06,640 --> 02:31:08,800
>> I used to know this. Oh, [laughter]

2631
02:31:08,800 --> 02:31:10,399
>> let me look into that. I can't remember

2632
02:31:10,399 --> 02:31:12,240
which ones.

2633
02:31:12,240 --> 02:31:13,439
>> Maybe Colorado was

2634
02:31:13,439 --> 02:31:14,960
>> California or something. I don't know.

2635
02:31:14,960 --> 02:31:16,240
>> Yeah, sorry.

2636
02:31:16,240 --> 02:31:18,560
>> North Carolina was maybe one.

2637
02:31:18,560 --> 02:31:19,920
>> Yeah, I don't recall the other one.

2638
02:31:19,920 --> 02:31:21,359
>> Okay, I'm going to Google that.

2639
02:31:21,359 --> 02:31:22,720
>> I bet we'll have an answer. [laughter] I

2640
02:31:22,720 --> 02:31:23,920
bet we'll have an answer in a few

2641
02:31:23,920 --> 02:31:24,880
minutes.

2642
02:31:24,880 --> 02:31:28,309
>> We will.

2643
02:31:28,319 --> 02:31:29,920
Sorry.

2644
02:31:29,920 --> 02:31:31,760
>> All right. Um, if we can go to the next

2645
02:31:31,760 --> 02:31:33,680
slide, I can cover environment. Um,

2646
02:31:33,680 --> 02:31:35,040
madam chair, commissioners, my name is

2647
02:31:35,040 --> 02:31:37,280
John Paul Yates. um filling in for my

2648
02:31:37,280 --> 02:31:39,600
coworker Rachel Sis Noic who covers

2649
02:31:39,600 --> 02:31:41,680
environment issues for Micah. She's out

2650
02:31:41,680 --> 02:31:44,640
on maternity leave, so happy to fill in.

2651
02:31:44,640 --> 02:31:46,720
Um I'm going to cover three of these

2652
02:31:46,720 --> 02:31:48,960
items verbally on the list. The first is

2653
02:31:48,960 --> 02:31:52,160
around um defending waste to energy. Um

2654
02:31:52,160 --> 02:31:53,774
this spring the public utilities

2655
02:31:53,774 --> 02:31:54,399
[cough and clears throat] commission had

2656
02:31:54,399 --> 02:31:56,399
a docket related to the state's carbon-f

2657
02:31:56,399 --> 02:31:59,120
free standard um and issued a ruling

2658
02:31:59,120 --> 02:32:01,200
that allows for life cycle analysis to

2659
02:32:01,200 --> 02:32:03,439
be used to include the burning of solid

2660
02:32:03,439 --> 02:32:05,920
waste um under the state's carbon-f free

2661
02:32:05,920 --> 02:32:08,479
standard. And that ruling was [snorts]

2662
02:32:08,479 --> 02:32:10,319
um there was a petition by some

2663
02:32:10,319 --> 02:32:12,000
environmental groups to have that ruling

2664
02:32:12,000 --> 02:32:14,720
reconsidered um at the public utilities

2665
02:32:14,720 --> 02:32:18,240
commission's um July meeting um and so

2666
02:32:18,240 --> 02:32:19,920
they took up that petition but

2667
02:32:19,920 --> 02:32:22,080
unanimously rejected it. So the the

2668
02:32:22,080 --> 02:32:26,000
ruling will will stand there. Um the

2669
02:32:26,000 --> 02:32:27,520
second item under this bucket I wanted

2670
02:32:27,520 --> 02:32:30,960
to mention is related to um waste to

2671
02:32:30,960 --> 02:32:32,720
energy. There was legislation to

2672
02:32:32,720 --> 02:32:35,760
restrict um the Henipin energy re

2673
02:32:35,760 --> 02:32:38,080
recovery center, the herk um last

2674
02:32:38,080 --> 02:32:40,479
session. I think we'll continue to see

2675
02:32:40,479 --> 02:32:43,359
legislation introduced to to limit um

2676
02:32:43,359 --> 02:32:45,680
the burning of solid waste. Um and I

2677
02:32:45,680 --> 02:32:46,960
think depending on the outcome of the

2678
02:32:46,960 --> 02:32:49,280
election um that will kind of determine

2679
02:32:49,280 --> 02:32:52,960
how much legs those proposals have. Um

2680
02:32:52,960 --> 02:32:55,920
the second item is score grants. Um

2681
02:32:55,920 --> 02:32:59,760
these are um grants that help um

2682
02:32:59,760 --> 02:33:01,760
counties related to various hazardous

2683
02:33:01,760 --> 02:33:04,319
waste management programs. Um Michael

2684
02:33:04,319 --> 02:33:06,160
will reintroduce legislation that would

2685
02:33:06,160 --> 02:33:08,960
dedicate the remaining 27% of the solid

2686
02:33:08,960 --> 02:33:11,439
waste management tax collections that

2687
02:33:11,439 --> 02:33:13,520
are going to the general fund um to

2688
02:33:13,520 --> 02:33:15,439
increase funding for score grants. This

2689
02:33:15,439 --> 02:33:17,920
is an issue that's had broad bipartisan

2690
02:33:17,920 --> 02:33:21,760
support. Um expected to continue um to

2691
02:33:21,760 --> 02:33:24,800
be that way. Um and again just depending

2692
02:33:24,800 --> 02:33:28,000
on various election outcomes um be big

2693
02:33:28,000 --> 02:33:30,080
changes especially in the Senate tax

2694
02:33:30,080 --> 02:33:31,680
committee. So we'll just have to

2695
02:33:31,680 --> 02:33:35,840
navigate those on this issue. Lastly um

2696
02:33:35,840 --> 02:33:37,920
wanted to update related to product

2697
02:33:37,920 --> 02:33:39,920
stewardship programs. Broadly these just

2698
02:33:39,920 --> 02:33:43,200
try to um transition cost um and

2699
02:33:43,200 --> 02:33:47,520
management um for certain products from

2700
02:33:47,520 --> 02:33:50,720
um taxpayers to producers. Um there was

2701
02:33:50,720 --> 02:33:53,120
a battery bill that had been split off

2702
02:33:53,120 --> 02:33:56,640
previously from a larger e-waste bill.

2703
02:33:56,640 --> 02:33:58,880
Um that's gotten a lot of industry and

2704
02:33:58,880 --> 02:34:01,280
stakeholder negotiation over the last

2705
02:34:01,280 --> 02:34:03,760
year and is in pretty good shape to

2706
02:34:03,760 --> 02:34:06,399
potentially pass next year. Um so I

2707
02:34:06,399 --> 02:34:08,240
think it's very possible we'll see that

2708
02:34:08,240 --> 02:34:10,399
outcome. Additionally, what's left over

2709
02:34:10,399 --> 02:34:13,040
of that broader e-waste bill is likely

2710
02:34:13,040 --> 02:34:16,960
to also return. Um, but I think that one

2711
02:34:16,960 --> 02:34:18,479
still has a lot of stakeholder

2712
02:34:18,479 --> 02:34:21,520
engagement to go. Additionally, as the

2713
02:34:21,520 --> 02:34:23,840
paper and packaging products bill that

2714
02:34:23,840 --> 02:34:25,439
had passed a couple years ago is

2715
02:34:25,439 --> 02:34:26,800
implemented, we've seen kind of

2716
02:34:26,800 --> 02:34:29,439
reemergence of some of the opposition um

2717
02:34:29,439 --> 02:34:32,000
to work on that, but we'll continue to

2718
02:34:32,000 --> 02:34:34,960
monitor as that's implemented.

2719
02:34:34,960 --> 02:34:36,880
Happy to answer any questions if there

2720
02:34:36,880 --> 02:34:40,309
are any.

2721
02:34:40,319 --> 02:34:43,040
» Any questions?

2722
02:34:43,040 --> 02:34:45,439
All right, I will close this out here

2723
02:34:45,439 --> 02:34:47,760
over the next couple. Um, so what I've

2724
02:34:47,760 --> 02:34:50,160
got here in this table is basically the

2725
02:34:50,160 --> 02:34:53,680
current um fiscal picture of the state

2726
02:34:53,680 --> 02:34:56,880
general fund. This is post2026

2727
02:34:56,880 --> 02:34:58,960
legislative session. These dollars are

2728
02:34:58,960 --> 02:35:00,800
in millions. So you can and I should say

2729
02:35:00,800 --> 02:35:03,600
they don't factor in inflation. Um so

2730
02:35:03,600 --> 02:35:05,760
you can see basically that okay this

2731
02:35:05,760 --> 02:35:08,160
bianium general fund revenue billions

2732
02:35:08,160 --> 02:35:10,319
lower than general fund spending that

2733
02:35:10,319 --> 02:35:13,040
gap does shrink to about 2.2 billion in

2734
02:35:13,040 --> 02:35:16,319
fiscal 2829. The way that the state has

2735
02:35:16,319 --> 02:35:18,560
balanced its budgets um in the current

2736
02:35:18,560 --> 02:35:22,960
bianium since uh uh during this uh

2737
02:35:22,960 --> 02:35:25,200
legislative bium since 2025 session is

2738
02:35:25,200 --> 02:35:28,240
essentially by rolling over uh surplus

2739
02:35:28,240 --> 02:35:31,040
that they experienced during the 2324

2740
02:35:31,040 --> 02:35:33,040
session when we had that $18 billion

2741
02:35:33,040 --> 02:35:34,399
surplus, right? They didn't spend all of

2742
02:35:34,399 --> 02:35:37,439
it. They rolled a lot of it over. Um so

2743
02:35:37,439 --> 02:35:39,098
that's how they've been balancing the

2744
02:35:39,098 --> 02:35:40,960
[clears throat] budget. Um budget

2745
02:35:40,960 --> 02:35:43,760
reserve remains strong at 3.4 4 billion.

2746
02:35:43,760 --> 02:35:46,800
Um, since the last economic forecast, I

2747
02:35:46,800 --> 02:35:48,720
would say that the national economic

2748
02:35:48,720 --> 02:35:51,760
picture has weakened a little bit. Um so

2749
02:35:51,760 --> 02:35:54,000
when we get the next economic forecast

2750
02:35:54,000 --> 02:35:56,240
in December that means we're going to be

2751
02:35:56,240 --> 02:35:58,560
looking when we get those fiscal 30 and

2752
02:35:58,560 --> 02:36:01,200
31 look for the first time we're going

2753
02:36:01,200 --> 02:36:03,680
to the outbuing a lot of the time when

2754
02:36:03,680 --> 02:36:05,520
we're talking about revenue is really

2755
02:36:05,520 --> 02:36:07,359
dictated by the national economic

2756
02:36:07,359 --> 02:36:09,520
picture more so than what's going on in

2757
02:36:09,520 --> 02:36:12,080
Minnesota just because the predictive

2758
02:36:12,080 --> 02:36:15,120
nature of our economy is a little bit uh

2759
02:36:15,120 --> 02:36:17,040
the shorter time frames really when it's

2760
02:36:17,040 --> 02:36:19,120
the most helpful. So, what does this

2761
02:36:19,120 --> 02:36:20,720
mean at the capital? I mean, it means

2762
02:36:20,720 --> 02:36:22,000
that a lot of the challenges that we

2763
02:36:22,000 --> 02:36:23,760
were facing the last two years will

2764
02:36:23,760 --> 02:36:25,439
still be in place regardless of what

2765
02:36:25,439 --> 02:36:27,760
party is in the majority, right? Nancy

2766
02:36:27,760 --> 02:36:29,680
was talking about uh onetime money that

2767
02:36:29,680 --> 02:36:31,920
we did get to address, uh rising county

2768
02:36:31,920 --> 02:36:35,359
costs due to SNAP or the act. Um, you

2769
02:36:35,359 --> 02:36:36,720
know, but those were one time, right?

2770
02:36:36,720 --> 02:36:39,359
Those were band-aids. Um, you know, and

2771
02:36:39,359 --> 02:36:42,000
tax committee, uh, we're always looking

2772
02:36:42,000 --> 02:36:44,720
at ways that we can increase CPA or

2773
02:36:44,720 --> 02:36:46,160
other funds to make sure that counties

2774
02:36:46,160 --> 02:36:48,240
are offset for their costs. Of course,

2775
02:36:48,240 --> 02:36:50,560
when we're in a structural deficit,

2776
02:36:50,560 --> 02:36:52,720
that's more difficult. And when we're

2777
02:36:52,720 --> 02:36:55,040
not only is it more difficult at a time

2778
02:36:55,040 --> 02:36:56,880
when legislators are talking about

2779
02:36:56,880 --> 02:36:59,359
property taxes more, it means, okay, if

2780
02:36:59,359 --> 02:37:01,200
we can't solve it by increasing refunds

2781
02:37:01,200 --> 02:37:03,359
or increasing aid to counties, they

2782
02:37:03,359 --> 02:37:05,280
start looking in other areas, and that's

2783
02:37:05,280 --> 02:37:07,840
not always uh the most productive. um

2784
02:37:07,840 --> 02:37:09,040
because they're thinking about things

2785
02:37:09,040 --> 02:37:11,040
like levy limits or assessment caps that

2786
02:37:11,040 --> 02:37:13,359
it's particularly in um the environment

2787
02:37:13,359 --> 02:37:16,240
that we're in are I I mean they make

2788
02:37:16,240 --> 02:37:18,399
less sense than ever, right? Uh given

2789
02:37:18,399 --> 02:37:20,319
that the rising cost shifts um and

2790
02:37:20,319 --> 02:37:21,600
mandates that are coming onto the

2791
02:37:21,600 --> 02:37:24,399
counties. Um so that's a little bit of

2792
02:37:24,399 --> 02:37:27,200
the the picture. Um you can go to the

2793
02:37:27,200 --> 02:37:29,040
next slide

2794
02:37:29,040 --> 02:37:31,359
as far as Oh, I do want to just I I

2795
02:37:31,359 --> 02:37:32,800
forgot earlier. I do want to call out a

2796
02:37:32,800 --> 02:37:34,960
couple of your staff. Laura Alvak is the

2797
02:37:34,960 --> 02:37:37,280
chair of our Micah HR directors group.

2798
02:37:37,280 --> 02:37:39,200
She's extremely helpful on HR issues.

2799
02:37:39,200 --> 02:37:41,760
And of course, Michael Saulberger is an

2800
02:37:41,760 --> 02:37:43,600
asset on any number of issues, but I

2801
02:37:43,600 --> 02:37:45,439
really value his input, especially when

2802
02:37:45,439 --> 02:37:46,800
anytime we're talking about property

2803
02:37:46,800 --> 02:37:49,120
taxes or the property tax process.

2804
02:37:49,120 --> 02:37:51,200
There's a lot of knowledge there. Um,

2805
02:37:51,200 --> 02:37:53,840
but as far as what's next, um, right now

2806
02:37:53,840 --> 02:37:56,160
Micah is in the process of setting its

2807
02:37:56,160 --> 02:37:58,479
own priorities. Um, we've had some

2808
02:37:58,479 --> 02:38:00,160
conversations with our board already

2809
02:38:00,160 --> 02:38:02,399
about that and some informal things, but

2810
02:38:02,399 --> 02:38:04,319
I mean likely it's going to be some of

2811
02:38:04,319 --> 02:38:05,760
the stuff we've been talking about here

2812
02:38:05,760 --> 02:38:08,240
today, especially if it's something that

2813
02:38:08,240 --> 02:38:09,920
um or it's pushing back against cost

2814
02:38:09,920 --> 02:38:13,600
shifts um that that we'd be um looking

2815
02:38:13,600 --> 02:38:15,920
at in 2027. But the picture is going to

2816
02:38:15,920 --> 02:38:18,000
be different regardless of who ends up

2817
02:38:18,000 --> 02:38:19,520
in the majority. In the Senate in

2818
02:38:19,520 --> 02:38:20,880
particular, you've had a lot of

2819
02:38:20,880 --> 02:38:22,800
retirements on the DFL side. So some

2820
02:38:22,800 --> 02:38:25,840
significant chairs like Papis who chairs

2821
02:38:25,840 --> 02:38:28,080
uh bonding, Senator Rest who's been at

2822
02:38:28,080 --> 02:38:29,920
the capital for over 40 years is the

2823
02:38:29,920 --> 02:38:32,479
chair of taxes or Sandra Wickland was a

2824
02:38:32,479 --> 02:38:35,760
sen author of our HHS um modernization

2825
02:38:35,760 --> 02:38:38,479
bill. They're leaving and you know uh on

2826
02:38:38,479 --> 02:38:39,920
the House side, Representative Paul

2827
02:38:39,920 --> 02:38:42,479
Torlson is the party and that's I mean

2828
02:38:42,479 --> 02:38:43,600
you're talking about someone that's

2829
02:38:43,600 --> 02:38:45,600
really been an asset to counties who's

2830
02:38:45,600 --> 02:38:47,280
really a champion for our modernization

2831
02:38:47,280 --> 02:38:49,840
bill in the House. this uh JP mentioned

2832
02:38:49,840 --> 02:38:51,280
the Senate Tax Committee is going to

2833
02:38:51,280 --> 02:38:53,600
have all new GOP members because all of

2834
02:38:53,600 --> 02:38:55,439
their GOP members are retiring. They're

2835
02:38:55,439 --> 02:38:58,319
not running for reelection. Um so it is

2836
02:38:58,319 --> 02:39:00,319
difficult to forecast exactly kind of

2837
02:39:00,319 --> 02:39:02,640
who's going to be sitting in what chair.

2838
02:39:02,640 --> 02:39:04,640
Um but it is something that you know

2839
02:39:04,640 --> 02:39:06,640
regardless of what happens legislative

2840
02:39:06,640 --> 02:39:09,040
session comes back on January 12th.

2841
02:39:09,040 --> 02:39:11,200
We'll see um how everything shakes out.

2842
02:39:11,200 --> 02:39:12,720
Obviously all the constitutional offices

2843
02:39:12,720 --> 02:39:14,880
and all the legislative seats are up for

2844
02:39:14,880 --> 02:39:18,160
election. Um but our work is going to

2845
02:39:18,160 --> 02:39:20,080
you know uh what happens in November

2846
02:39:20,080 --> 02:39:23,359
will inform how um you know our strategy

2847
02:39:23,359 --> 02:39:29,359
to be sure. Um but the priorities are going to be the same, right? I I

2848
02:39:29,359 --> 02:39:30,880
mean they're they're the issues that are

2849
02:39:30,880 --> 02:39:32,560
facing counties across the state right

2850
02:39:32,560 --> 02:39:35,280
now. But I do just again wanted to close

2851
02:39:35,280 --> 02:39:37,760
by saying thank you so much. Um, we try

2852
02:39:37,760 --> 02:39:39,840
to make sure we're an asset to you, but

2853
02:39:39,840 --> 02:39:41,840
Blue Earth is also certainly an asset to

2854
02:39:41,840 --> 02:39:46,640
Micah and really informs our work and we really appreciate that. So, just want

2855
02:39:46,640 --> 02:39:48,880
to say thank you.

2856
02:39:48,880 --> 02:39:57,030
>> Thank you.

2857
02:39:57,040 --> 02:39:59,280
» All right.

2858
02:39:59,280 --> 02:40:00,880
I think that

2859
02:40:00,880 --> 02:40:02,479
>> is the end of our agenda.

2860
02:40:02,479 --> 02:40:03,840
>> Move to recess.

2861
02:40:03,840 --> 02:40:06,080
>> I have a motion to recess.

2862
02:40:06,080 --> 02:40:07,600
So move.

2863
02:40:07,600 --> 02:40:08,720
>> Do I have a second?

2864
02:40:08,720 --> 02:40:09,200
>> Second.

2865
02:40:09,200 --> 02:40:10,800
[laughter]

2866
02:40:10,800 --> 02:40:11,760
Second.

2867
02:40:11,760 --> 02:40:14,319
>> Any discussion? All in favor?

2868
02:40:14,319 --> 02:40:22,706
>> I opposed. We are in recess.

2869
02:40:22,716 --> 02:40:24,735
[music]