[0:00] MALE SPEAKER: Tomorrow is a national holiday, Constitution

[0:04] Day, and I lived a good portion of my life

[0:10] without even realizing that.

[0:12] But I'm going to start and just read the preamble

[0:15] of the US Constitution.

[0:18] And it states, "We, the people of the United States,

[0:22] in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice,

[0:27] ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense,

[0:33] promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty

[0:37] to ourselves and to our prosperity,

[0:44] do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United

[0:47] States of America."

[0:48] So with that in mind, and with all of the discourse that we've

[0:56] had over the last several weeks, I just

[1:00] want to remind everybody that we do

[1:03] live in a truly remarkable republic

[1:06] and we are truly blessed.

[1:09] And I pray that we can find common unity,

[1:16] discuss our differences in a fair, open, and non-violent way.

[1:22]

[1:26] Regardless of where we're at on the political side--

[1:29] left, right, conservative, liberal--

[1:33] I think we all agree that violence is not the answer

[1:38] and it just leads to our broken country.

[1:41] So with that in mind, I would like to just

[1:44] do a moment of silence to pray for our country,

[1:48] Pray for Charlie Burke's widow, his family,

[1:52] and pray for healing.

[1:55] So let's just take one moment of silence

[1:58] and say a prayer for our country.

[2:00]

[2:13] Thank you.

[2:14] We'll start with the Pledge.

[2:16]

[2:20] ALL: I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the United States

[2:24] of America, and to the Republic for which

[2:26] it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty

[2:31] and justice for all.

[2:32]

[2:38] MALE SPEAKER: At each committee of the whole work session,

[2:40] the floor will be open to solicit

[2:42] public comments on items on the agenda

[2:45] after they have been presented.

[2:47] A comment card will need to be filled out prior to speaking.

[2:50] Public comments will be limited to three minutes for each person

[2:55] upon the discretion of the county board chairperson.

[2:59] And we will start with roll call, I guess.

[3:05] FEMALE SPEAKER: Mallika?

[3:06] MALE SPEAKER: Yes.

[3:07] FEMALE SPEAKER: Peters?

[3:07] MALE SPEAKER: Here.

[3:08] FEMALE SPEAKER: Hoisington?

[3:09] MALE SPEAKER: Here.

[3:10] FEMALE SPEAKER: Perfeerst?

[3:10] MALE SPEAKER: Here.

[3:11] FEMALE SPEAKER: Underdahl.

[3:12] MALE SPEAKER: Here.

[3:13] MALE SPEAKER: First on our agenda

[3:15] is property tax and elections.

[3:18] But Denise is not going to speak.

[3:19] I believe Dean is on Circle Lake, Rice County.

[3:22]

[3:32] DEAN: Good morning, gentlemen.

[3:33] MALE SPEAKER: Good morning.

[3:34] MALE SPEAKER: Morning.

[3:35] DEAN: This is your update for the Circle Lake

[3:37] Improvement District for 2025.

[3:40] I do have Cheryl Bonsen.

[3:42] She's our treasurer here with me today,

[3:44] and Bill Houston, he's our vice chair to back me up today

[3:49] on today's presentation.

[3:52] We'll go to the next slide.

[3:54] And it's just a reminder of what the Circle Lake Improvement

[3:59] District is trying to do, and that's

[4:01] to improve the water quality of the lake

[4:04] to the point where we can get off the and

[4:07] MPCA's impaired waters list.

[4:10] We go to the next slide, just to remind you

[4:14] our four critical impairments.

[4:18] And then the next slide, those four critical impairments

[4:22] are what causes or contributes to the cyanobacteria

[4:25] or blue-green algae and foul odor

[4:28] that we have out on the lake through the summer season

[4:31] occasionally.

[4:33] We can move to the next slide.

[4:35] Our solution is a three pronged approach.

[4:37] I've talked to you about this before through the years,

[4:42] as we've tried to identify the problems

[4:44] and try to figure out what exactly we can do

[4:48] to resolve them, we've come up with this three

[4:50] pronged approach.

[4:52] We need to get air, dissolved oxygen into the lake.

[4:57] So we need to aerate the lake.

[4:59] There are products that will sequester the phosphorus or make

[5:02] the phosphorus that is in the lake-- and we have way too

[5:06] much phosphorus in this lake--

[5:07] sequester that.

[5:09] And then there are biological agents

[5:11] that we can add to the lake to help digest that muck that's

[5:15] in the bottom of the lake.

[5:17] So before I move on to the next slide,

[5:20] the phosphorus sequestration effort

[5:23] was something that we had in front

[5:24] of you, actually, this year.

[5:26] We had a company present a proposal to us

[5:30] for adding a phosphorus sequestration agent to the lake.

[5:36] It was far, far too expensive for us to fund on our own.

[5:39] So they were helping us get a grant proposal in front

[5:44] of Congresswoman Jenny Craig.

[5:48] We asked for letters of support for us

[5:52] and for that grant application.

[5:55] We want to make sure that you know

[5:57] how much we appreciate the letter that you

[5:59] had Sarah draft on our behalf.

[6:03] We had almost 30 residents and businesses

[6:06] around the lake that wrote letters of support

[6:08] for this effort.

[6:10] Clean Water Partners wrote a letter of support

[6:13] for this effort, and also the Sheriff's Department weighed in.

[6:18] So all of those letters of support

[6:20] went in with this grant application to Jenny Craig,

[6:24] to Congresswoman Craig to help us get that funded.

[6:30] But unfortunately, we didn't make the cut.

[6:34] We didn't make it.

[6:37] So we'll move on to the next slide

[6:39] to talk about the three pronged approach, I mentioned before.

[6:45] We've tried to fund it as a whole package.

[6:48] It's been way too expensive, so we've had to break

[6:51] it into individual segments.

[6:54] So the first segment that we've started to focus on this year

[6:56] is aeration.

[6:57] We can move on to the next slide.

[7:00] And then it looks like this this year-- onto the next slide.

[7:05] It's a combination of a surface aerator.

[7:08] And I've labeled this incorrectly, the nano bubbler.

[7:11] It's actually a small bubble diffuser and nanobubbler

[7:15] or small bubble diffuser.

[7:16] It just talks to the size of the bubbles

[7:18] that these units are producing.

[7:22] That fine bubble diffuser is a little bit bigger bubble

[7:24] than the nanobubbler, so that was

[7:26] my mistake when I labeled that.

[7:28] But between these two units, they

[7:30] create a large bubble of aerated water

[7:39] that is then moved throughout the lake

[7:42] as the water flows throughout the lake.

[7:46] This will ultimately, and going into 2026,

[7:51] will actually be three of these fine bubble diffusers that

[7:53] will circle a surface aerator.

[7:57] And we're going to deploy them in three different spots.

[8:01] So we'll go on to the next slide.

[8:04] This is currently where the aerator is located.

[8:07] The DO recorder is taking dissolved oxygen readings

[8:13] at three different levels in the lake,

[8:14] and we're seeing results from this, just this first unit--

[8:18] this kind of prototype unit--

[8:20] We're seeing results of this aeration moving out at 400 feet

[8:25] away from the unit right now.

[8:26] We've measured it at 200 feet.

[8:28] We've measured it at 400 feet.

[8:30] And we'll continue moving the DO recorders out until we

[8:35] find the limit as to what this oxygen plume,

[8:39] this bubble of dissolved oxygen in the water, how far it moves.

[8:43] And it's moving from the surface all the way

[8:46] down to the bottom of the lake.

[8:47] So we're really excited about the success

[8:50] that we're having with this.

[8:52] If we'll go up to the next slide,

[8:56] the white arrows are the maps.

[8:58] This is how the water flows through Circle Lake.

[9:02] So the red dot is where the aerator is currently located.

[9:07] The blue dot down here on the bottom on the right,

[9:10] if you move that dot to the right a little bit,

[9:13] or to the east, that's where the next unit will go for 2026.

[9:17] And again, it will be a single surface

[9:19] aerator surrounded by three small bubble diffusers.

[9:23] And then up at the top, that blue dot

[9:27] is where we will locate another unit, same as the others.

[9:31] And then, as we watch this project develop,

[9:37] there are a couple other locations where

[9:39] we might add a total of five.

[9:41] We're just figuring out how effective this is

[9:44] and how far this dissolved oxygen moves out.

[9:48] And we have to have this dissolved oxygen in the lake

[9:51] for the lake to be healthy, so that it can continue to support

[9:54] not only the wildlife in there in the lake,

[9:57] but the bacteria that's in the lake

[10:00] that helps dissolve the muck.

[10:03] And also, the fact that when the oxygen in the lake

[10:09] goes to 0 at the bottom, that's how that phosphorus gets

[10:12] released.

[10:13] That phosphorus is what the algae uses to grow and bloom.

[10:17] And then the cycle of foul odor and foul water continues.

[10:22] So that's our plan, as far as the three pronged approach.

[10:26] We may-- depending on how this works out,

[10:30] there are some biological agents where we might have some test

[10:34] spots where we add some of that just to see how effective

[10:37] these different products work as far as digesting the muck

[10:40] in the bottom of the lake.

[10:42] And that's something that we're looking at as well.

[10:44] So that's what we've worked at on the aeration

[10:48] aspect of our three pronged approach for 2025.

[10:53] Moving on to the next slide, we're

[10:54] talking about weeds for 2025.

[10:57] The next slide is the areas that we treated for weeds.

[11:01] It's curly leaf pondweed that is our major invasive species.

[11:05] We have a little bit of milfoil, but it's basically

[11:08] mostly curly pondweed.

[11:10] The area in green hash there is where we treated,

[11:13] came to about 93 acres this year, and it was very effective.

[11:18] And beyond that initial flush of weeds that we took care

[11:22] of with the herbicide treatment, our weeds this year

[11:24] have been very, very minimal.

[11:26] And so that's worked out really, really well.

[11:31] That weed project was funded by a $5,000 grant

[11:35] that came through Rice County.

[11:37] And then the Circle Lake Association gave us $12,000

[11:42] to put towards weed control.

[11:44] We did not get a grant from the DNR this year for weeds.

[11:47] We didn't get one last year.

[11:49] We didn't get one this year, same thing.

[11:51] It's a lottery and we just didn't get picked.

[11:54] So that's how that works.

[11:57] The hazard buoys, hazard to navigation buoys are out there.

[12:04] We want to make sure that the Sheriff's

[12:08] Department, Nathan Bodine--

[12:10] if you can, Joe, let them know how much we appreciate it--

[12:14] if we go to the next slide--

[12:15] appreciate them.

[12:17] They put the buoys out for us in the spring

[12:19] and they retrieve them in the fall.

[12:23] We'll be setting that up here pretty soon.

[12:25] So, Joe, if you let the Sheriff's Office

[12:26] know how much we appreciate that-- the water patrol--

[12:29] thank you.

[12:30] We move on to the next slide, and I

[12:32] wanted to let you know that the Circle Lake Improvement District

[12:35] now has a quarterly newsletter.

[12:38] Bill Houston is our editor on that.

[12:41] He does a really great job.

[12:42] That was included in your meeting packet.

[12:45] What you see here is just kind of half of the front page,

[12:47] but it's in your meeting packet if you'd care to look at that.

[12:50] It's a great educational tool and vehicle that we

[12:55] get out to the community.

[12:56] It's available to them all the time through our website,

[12:59] and so we're real happy that Bill is doing this and getting

[13:04] that information out there.

[13:06] So we'll move to the next slide.

[13:10] For 2026, this is what we're looking at to do.

[13:13]

[13:17] The one thing I haven't spoken about is any watershed projects.

[13:20] We are looking at into watershed projects

[13:23] as they come to our attention.

[13:25] And then the next slide is our financial.

[13:30] So I'll stop right here and ask, is there any questions

[13:32] about what I've covered so far, what we've done for 2025

[13:35] and what we're looking like we're going to do for '26?

[13:38] No?

[13:39] MALE SPEAKER: Go ahead.

[13:40] MALE SPEAKER: Mr. Chair, thank you.

[13:42] Dean, my question is, treating for this muck,

[13:46] what happens to it?

[13:48] DEAN: It just biodegrades, but it can't do it without oxygen.

[13:52] MALE SPEAKER: But what is in the muck?

[13:53] Sand and just dirt?

[13:55] DEAN: Dirt and sand and biological material from--

[13:59] the algae grows, it dies, it sinks to the bottom of the lake.

[14:02] The weeds grow, they die.

[14:04] They sink to the bottom of the lake.

[14:05] So it's organic material that is just resting in the bottom

[14:09] of the lake, trying to decay.

[14:11] But when it does, it uses up all the oxygen.

[14:15] And then the phosphorus that's in the soil

[14:17] in the bottom of the lake starts getting released.

[14:19] And the whole cycle starts all over again.

[14:22] MALE SPEAKER: So this just dispenses throughout

[14:24] the whole lake, then?

[14:25] DEAN: Yes, sir.

[14:26] MALE SPEAKER: Thank you.

[14:28] MALE SPEAKER: Anybody else?

[14:29] So, Dean, how are you powering these aerators?

[14:34] DEAN: It's electric.

[14:35] They're electric powered.

[14:36] MALE SPEAKER: Electric?

[14:36] So is that coming off somebody's power in someone's home?

[14:39] DEAN: In the particular site we have right now,

[14:44] there's actually a power pole down there that is--

[14:48] I believe it was installed quite a number of years

[14:50] ago when the Tri-Lakes Sportsman's

[14:52] Club was aerating that part of the lake in the winter time.

[14:56] So there's a transformer and a power pole

[14:58] down there on one of our member's properties.

[15:01] We have a lease agreement with him to access that site,

[15:04] and we're powering this particular unit

[15:07] off of that power pole.

[15:08] So we have our own meter and that's how that's going to go.

[15:12] On the other two sites, that will

[15:13] be power that will be provided by the resident,

[15:16] and we'll figure out a way to compensate them.

[15:19] I don't know how that's going to go.

[15:21] And you reminded me, as just a side note,

[15:25] is that Benjamin Berry area where we have the aerator right

[15:28] now will be an area that we will aerate throughout the winter

[15:32] to support the fish and also continue trying to get oxygen

[15:35] into the lake water as well.

[15:38] That will look like that surface aerator

[15:41] that I showed you plus two more.

[15:43] There'll be three of them.

[15:44] We won't use the bottom diffusers,

[15:46] but we'll put three of the surface aerators

[15:48] out there to keep an open section of water

[15:51] throughout the winter.

[15:53] MALE SPEAKER: Well, good.

[15:54] Well, I appreciate what you're doing.

[15:56] It's incremental.

[15:57] It's an uphill battle.

[15:59] But I'm glad that you're addressing

[16:02] it the best way you can.

[16:03] DEAN: And the thing we're really excited about, like I

[16:05] said, is we're seeing results and we've

[16:07] got something that's modular.

[16:09] It's transferable.

[16:10] If we can really get it dialed in, we can use it.

[16:14] You can use it on other lakes, and it's affordable.

[16:16] It's not like these multi-million dollar projects

[16:19] that I've been talking to you about in previous years.

[16:21] This is something that we can afford,

[16:24] that we can pay for ourselves-- not that we're not looking

[16:26] for grants and the like to expand these things,

[16:30] but this is something that's wet.

[16:32] It's in the water, it's being tested.

[16:33] And we're real excited.

[16:34] MALE SPEAKER: You're doing what you can.

[16:36] DEAN: We're doing what we can.

[16:36] Exactly, sir.

[16:37] Thank you.

[16:39] So we'll go over our financials real quick.

[16:43] Year to date income, we've brought in about $58,000.

[16:48] The two points I want to make on this slide,

[16:50] I mentioned the $12,000 from the Circle

[16:52] Lake Association for weeds.

[16:54] They also gave us a $15,000 to go towards the aeration project.

[16:59] Next slide, please.

[17:03] We've spent about $75,000.

[17:08] The big number there is the projects

[17:10] which will be broken out in the next slide,

[17:14] if we can move to that.

[17:15] So we've spent a little over $27,000 on the lake restoration

[17:21] project or the aeration project, and a little

[17:26] over $40,000 for weeds.

[17:28] We'll go to the next slide.

[17:31] This is the estimated income and expenses

[17:34] for the rest of the year.

[17:36] The top number is the second half of the assessment

[17:39] that will come in.

[17:41] This is really great, guys.

[17:44] The second number is $22,000.

[17:46] We had a member get up at our annual meeting in August that

[17:49] challenged the group, challenged the membership

[17:51] to match a $1,000 donation that he was

[17:55] going to make to the district.

[18:00] That challenge generated $22,000 in donations from the district.

[18:08] So we're really excited about that

[18:09] and we certainly appreciate that kind of support.

[18:13] It shows you the involvement and the dedication

[18:16] that our members have towards getting this lake cleaned up.

[18:21]

[18:24] So you see the number for the estimated expenses

[18:27] for the remainder of the year.

[18:29] We might be a little bit low on that number

[18:30] because we didn't know we were going to have

[18:32] that windfall of $22,000.

[18:35] We may find that we spend a little bit more

[18:37] on the aeration project, just because if we buy something now,

[18:43] it might be cheaper than waiting for it next year.

[18:46] I don't think we'll spend the $4,800 for weeds.

[18:49] There's just no weeds in the lake right now,

[18:50] but there was about $5,000 left over in the budget

[18:53] for weeds if we had a milfoil problem,

[18:55] and we don't at this point.

[18:58] We're looking at somewhere just north

[19:01] of $98,000 in the bank at the end of the year,

[19:05] if this kind of pans out.

[19:07] So we'll go to the next slide.

[19:10] And this is the vote.

[19:13] You can go to the next slide.

[19:14] We had 42 parcels vote at our annual meeting,

[19:18] and there are the results of that.

[19:21] They approved, and then we can go on to the next slide.

[19:27] This is the budget that was sent out to our membership.

[19:30] This is the budget that they approved.

[19:32] I've broken it down into the income and expense

[19:35] side for the next slides.

[19:36] So if we can go up one more, on the income side

[19:40] of the approved budget for 2026, for this budget,

[19:46] we carried over $70,000.

[19:49] The membership approved a $400 per parcel assessment.

[19:54] That's going to generate us around $66,800.

[19:57] The grants, I put this grant DNR weed in here

[20:03] just because we just don't think we're

[20:05] going to get any money from the state.

[20:06] We've always had budgeted $10,000 from the DNR,

[20:11] but I don't think that's going to happen this year.

[20:13] I'm not sure that they're going to have any money for weeds

[20:15] at all.

[20:16] But certainly, if they do, we'll apply for it,

[20:19] but we're not counting on it.

[20:21] As far as we know, the $5,000 that comes through the County

[20:24] for weeds will be there.

[20:25] And then hopefully, we've got $12,500 budgeted from

[20:32] other grant sources, the Circle Lake

[20:34] Association being one of them.

[20:36] Up to the next slide, estimated expenses.

[20:39] That top group of numbers just kind of keeps the lights on.

[20:42] This is the budget for the lake restoration project

[20:45] and weeds management project.

[20:48] Both of those projects are over $5,000, so our membership

[20:51] has to vote on those.

[20:52] They've approved those as well.

[20:54] So if we do, in fact, spend all this money,

[20:58] that'll pretty much tap us out for 2026.

[21:01] I think we'll carry in a little bit more than

[21:03] the $70,000 but it gives you a rough

[21:05] idea of what we're looking at.

[21:07] And this is what the membership approved.

[21:09] So we'll go to the next slide.

[21:11] For questions on the budget?

[21:13]

[21:17] MALE SPEAKER: Go ahead.

[21:18] DEAN: Well then, I thank you very much for your time.

[21:20] I hope that when it comes time for you

[21:21] to vote on our budget and our items, that you approve it.

[21:27] And certainly, if you have any questions,

[21:29] you know how to get a hold of me and I appreciate your support.

[21:36] MALE SPEAKER: Go ahead.

[21:37] MALE SPEAKER: Just a thank you to you and everybody

[21:40] on the board and the residents for stepping

[21:43] up and doing what you're doing to make

[21:45] improvements to the lake.

[21:46] DEAN: You're welcome.

[21:47] I'll let them know.

[21:49] MALE SPEAKER: I also have a comment.

[21:50] MALE SPEAKER: Go ahead.

[21:52] MALE SPEAKER: The Circle Lake island,

[21:53] you're all aware of the land trust,

[21:56] purchasing it and going to hopefully

[21:58] switch it over to the DNR, so that's going to be a good thing.

[22:02] And then, I have had several comments.

[22:04] I live real close to the lake, of course, of how good

[22:08] it was this year, the weeds and stuff.

[22:10] So you must be doing something right, so thank you.

[22:15] DEAN: You're welcome.

[22:16]

[22:19] MALE SPEAKER: Thank you, Dean.

[22:20] Appreciate it.

[22:20] DEAN: Thank you.

[22:23] MALE SPEAKER: Next, we have our assessor's

[22:24] office with Josh Schoen.

[22:26]

[22:30] JOSH SCHOEN: Good morning, commissioners.

[22:31] MALE SPEAKER: Good morning.

[22:32] MALE SPEAKER: Morning.

[22:32] JOSH SCHOEN: Thanks for letting me do an update this morning.

[22:35] I'm going to start just by showing

[22:38] the organization of my office.

[22:39] So I have 13 full staff in my office, including myself.

[22:44] Our most recent hire was in the end of May,

[22:47] so we've been fully staffed since the end

[22:48] of May, which is the longest stretch

[22:50] we've had since before COVID.

[22:52] So I'm thankful for that.

[22:54] Hopefully, that continues.

[22:56] But we have six appraisers, three, I guess, office staff,

[23:01] and then two GIS people besides myself

[23:04] and the assistant county assessor, Carolyn.

[23:08] Next slide.

[23:10] I showed this slide when I gave the presentation

[23:13] at the County Board of Appeal and Equalization.

[23:15] So you can kind of see where the market value has gone

[23:18] over the more recent years.

[23:21] Our sales ratio study analyzes sales,

[23:25] so for the '26 assessed values, we

[23:28] started with sales starting October 1 of '24

[23:32] and will go through the end of September 30 of 2025.

[23:36] So we're getting close to the end of that time study.

[23:40] From what I'm seeing before the sales ratio season's over,

[23:46] is that we'll see similar increases as a year ago,

[23:50] that kind of all property types, our assessed value compared to

[23:54] the sale prices have been low.

[23:57] So I'm expecting to see increases

[23:59] across all the property types.

[24:01] MALE SPEAKER: I have a question about that.

[24:03] JOSH SCHOEN: Go ahead.

[24:05] MALE SPEAKER: At what point--

[24:06] and I know this is not you-- but at what point are

[24:09] the Department of Revenue-- because that's who

[24:11] you answer to, right--

[24:12] I mean, they make the rules.

[24:14] At what point are they going to say, gosh,

[24:19] we've made the assessors raise the value on everything

[24:23] from commercial to residential, to apartments to farmland,

[24:27] that it's not sustainable?

[24:28] Because that's the point we're approaching.

[24:31] You can deliver that message to whoever from the Department

[24:34] of Revenue, but I will as well.

[24:36] But it's becoming the point where people can't, because it's

[24:39] part of the tax process of the value

[24:42] and what they pay for taxes on their homes.

[24:45] It's getting to the point where it's not sustainable for people

[24:49] to be able to live in their homes anymore

[24:51] because the values have been rising so dramatically

[24:54] that we're going to have a mess on our hands

[24:58] here coming up soon.

[24:59] JOSH SCHOEN: Yeah, and one of the big things

[25:02] to make sure understand too, is remember,

[25:05] the values are just how the levies are distributed.

[25:07] So I mean, if levies stayed the same and values doubled,

[25:11] the taxes would stay the same in a more simple tax system.

[25:15] So it is how it's distributed statutorily.

[25:20] Assessors must value at market value.

[25:24] I know other states have done a little bit different things.

[25:28] In Minnesota, they use net tax capacity.

[25:30] So not every classification pays the same amount of taxes

[25:34] because there's a multiplier that changes,

[25:37] that percentage that they pay.

[25:39] That's how Minnesota's chosen to do that.

[25:43] I know Iowa, like on their farmland,

[25:45] they value it like a small percentage of the value.

[25:48] So it's always just how do you shake that out, I guess.

[25:54] But what we are seeing is, the good thing about when

[25:58] we see all property types--

[26:00] so residential and commercial apartments-- when they all go up

[26:04] rather opposed to one goes up, one goes

[26:06] down, that creates a tax shift.

[26:09] So that's a good thing about when all of them go up together,

[26:12] at least there's not this big tax shift

[26:15] that you could see because then, there's

[26:16] kind of unexpected tax bills.

[26:19] So that's the positive of that, I guess.

[26:23] Also, just having a healthy market

[26:26] is usually a better economical sign too.

[26:30] So hopefully, that exists as well.

[26:35] I guess we can move on to the next slide.

[26:37] This just shows the residential and seasonal rec sales.

[26:43] I always kind of show this from year to year,

[26:45] what the average county-wide and average

[26:47] and Faribault, Northfield.

[26:49] Last year's study for the 2025 assessment,

[26:53] the average county-wide sale price was $350,000.

[26:57] And preliminary, through the first week in September,

[27:00] it was $370,000.

[27:03] And then you can see in Northfield,

[27:06] I think it went from 365 to 378, and then in Faribault, from

[27:11] 285 to just about $300,000.

[27:14] So you can see those increases in the average sale price.

[27:18]

[27:22] Last year, when I gave an update,

[27:23] I had several slides on legislative changes,

[27:27] and a lot of them really created some tax shifts.

[27:30] We saw a really active bill a year ago with the tax bill

[27:34] this year.

[27:35] There was a lot discussed in the tax bill,

[27:37] but nothing really made it through.

[27:40] Some of the big changes a year ago

[27:42] was that they redid the formula for the Homestead

[27:45] market value exclusion.

[27:46] That probably had the biggest impact on tax shifts.

[27:50] Also, you can see in this chart, from '23 to '24,

[27:55] the Ag Homestead tier went from just over $2.1 million

[27:59] to $3.5 million.

[28:01] That created some shift.

[28:02] There was a low income rental classification

[28:05] that really had a reduced rate from essentially 0.75% to 0.25%.

[28:12] The legislature doesn't always pass bills

[28:15] on the Homestead tier limit.

[28:16] Usually, the Department of Revenue

[28:18] just determines that based on the value increases

[28:21] that are on the state.

[28:22] There was that big change a year ago

[28:24] because legislators didn't think the Department

[28:27] of Revenue kept up with the changes of ag value.

[28:30] But this year, there was a $300,000 increase in that limit,

[28:34] which is percentage-wise, pretty similar

[28:37] to the tillable increase that we saw a year ago with our ag land.

[28:42] So that's probably the one big change

[28:46] for this coming assessment.

[28:49] MALE SPEAKER: So, Josh, can I ask just a question here?

[28:51] JOSH SCHOEN: Yeah.

[28:52] MALE SPEAKER: How do you determine

[28:54] agricultural homestead?

[28:56] I mean, what's the criteria for that?

[28:58] JOSH SCHOEN: Yeah, so the most basic way is

[29:01] if you own and occupy the farm.

[29:04] So you live on the farm.

[29:06] Once you establish ag homestead-- so that usually

[29:09] means at least 10 contiguous productive acres in production--

[29:13] then, once you establish that, you can link

[29:15] farmland within four townships.

[29:18] There's different ways.

[29:20] That's one thing that's added to the complexity of ag homesteads

[29:24] that we have--

[29:25] a lot of our administration in our offices

[29:27] just follow this stuff, but there's relative ag homesteads.

[29:33] There's the special ag homesteads

[29:34] because the farming community has changed where there's

[29:37] more entity-owned properties.

[29:40] Maybe they're moving off the farm,

[29:43] but they still continue to farm but live in town.

[29:46] There's some ways that they can qualify if they're the farmer

[29:49] or a relative is a farmer.

[29:52] They've really kind of expanded the ways

[29:54] that that's changed as farming operations

[29:56] have changed over the years.

[29:59] So it is something we have, in general,

[30:03] our homestead applications, once people file, they continue

[30:06] to get that homestead credit.

[30:08] But like the special egg, we require applications every year.

[30:11] Any kind of relative homestead, we've been on every other year

[30:14] cycle just to make sure they continue to live

[30:17] there and meet that criteria.

[30:19] So it is a little more complex than a simple answer

[30:24] on that, but that's changed over the years.

[30:25] And every year-- well, not every year, but it

[30:27] seems like there's a little different rules

[30:31] periodically within.

[30:33] MALE SPEAKER: And then the valuation

[30:34] limit would be that's the maximum

[30:36] that they can be valued at?

[30:37] Is that what you're getting at?

[30:38] JOSH SCHOEN: Yeah.

[30:38] Once all the farmland and outbuildings reach that--

[30:44] let's say, it'll be 3.8 next year.

[30:47] Once they hit that limit, then they're

[30:49] taxed at the non-homestead rate, which is twice as much

[30:52] as the homestead rate.

[30:53] So your taxes double on that part.

[30:55] So we've had over the years, like a truth and taxation time.

[30:58] We'll have some farmers come in and say my taxes

[31:03] doubled on this parcel.

[31:04] This can't be right.

[31:05] And what happens a lot of times is

[31:06] that parcel was getting homestead

[31:08] and then it doesn't get homestead.

[31:09] Maybe it's at the end of that tier.

[31:11] It is one thing, legislation addressed that homestead tier

[31:14] a year ago because there wasn't a lot of change in there

[31:18] and we were having some pretty big

[31:19] value increases in especially the southern part of the state.

[31:23] So we saw a lot of that.

[31:25] And then it's such a big difference between homestead

[31:28] and non-homestead with ag land and outbuildings,

[31:31] that you notice that.

[31:32] Because really, the biggest difference is the rate doubles.

[31:35] And there's also an ag homestead credit

[31:37] that farmers get that's up to $490

[31:41] based on the value of the property.

[31:45] MALE SPEAKER: Well, thank you for that clarification.

[31:48] You guys deal with that more than I do.

[31:51] But you understand that completely?

[31:53] MALE SPEAKER: Yeah.

[31:54] I've been to his office several times.

[31:57] JOSH SCHOEN: Yeah, no, Minnesota has the most complex

[32:01] property tax laws in the entire country,

[32:04] and it's not even close.

[32:06] I know the last time I heard, it was like Minnesota had something

[32:08] like 67 property tax classifications,

[32:11] and the next highest state was Iowa with 11.

[32:14] It was that big a disparity.

[32:16] And there are credits for different things.

[32:21] One thing that's changed over the more recent years

[32:23] is there's a school building bond credit that became

[32:28] established as a lot of old state schools

[32:30] failed to pass referendums because it

[32:34] would impact the farmers so much and they'd vote against it.

[32:37] Now when there's a school building bond, 70% of that

[32:42] comes back as a credit to farmland.

[32:45] So they're only paying on 30% of it, where historically,

[32:49] they've paid 100%.

[32:50]

[32:53] Next slide?

[32:54] MALE SPEAKER: Thank you for that clarification.

[32:55] I think it's important and you helped me

[32:57] understand it a little better.

[32:58] JOSH SCHOEN: Yeah.

[32:59]

[33:01] Every year, the Department of Revenue

[33:03] does a State Board of Equalization.

[33:05] So whenever there's six or more sales within a property type

[33:09] in a jurisdiction, our median value or median sale,

[33:15] we have to be within 90% to 105%.

[33:18] So if I don't get that value there,

[33:22] the state steps in and issues state orders

[33:25] that brings the whole jurisdiction kind

[33:27] of up to that close to 100%.

[33:31] And then anyone that appeals in that jurisdiction

[33:34] would lose their appeal.

[33:36] So it's something that we want to avoid.

[33:39] And then also, they look at different measures too.

[33:42] Like, there's certain jurisdictions,

[33:43] like especially some of our smaller townships

[33:45] that don't get six sales.

[33:47] So they look at how those sales have occurred

[33:51] over the five year period to see if we're

[33:53] making the changes necessary.

[33:55] So just because there's not sales

[33:57] there doesn't mean we can't just let the values be flat,

[34:02] and that's something we've been keeping up with the market.

[34:04] We haven't had any issues with that.

[34:07] And it's good too, just from a fairness, equity

[34:10] with other taxpayers and to make sure we're addressing

[34:13] those areas where we don't have sales as we can see what

[34:17] the market indicates in other areas of the County

[34:19] and other areas of the state.

[34:23] And then, one of the big things we're working on right now--

[34:27] we're kind of wrapping it up-- is our appraisers

[34:29] do quintile inspections.

[34:31] So we're required statutorily to visit each property at least

[34:35] once every five year period.

[34:37] So every year, I guess since last four or five years,

[34:42] we send out postcards of the properties

[34:44] that we're going to visit.

[34:45] People have the opportunity to line up appointments

[34:48] and we start going out and visiting properties.

[34:52] And it's really, a lot of times, I

[34:53] think people are a little worried that we're going out

[34:55] there or we're going to value the property

[34:57] and we're seeing this-- we value properties every year.

[34:59] We're keeping up with the market.

[35:01] It's really just to verify whether the information we have

[35:04] is correct.

[35:05] Sometimes, we'll be at properties

[35:07] and maybe the conditions improved or there's something

[35:09] there that we didn't realize.

[35:10] But also, there's times that they're having issues that might

[35:14] bring the value down or buildings that have been

[35:16] raised that we didn't realize.

[35:18] So there's both ways on that.

[35:22] And we're really trying to be as efficient as we can.

[35:27] We really utilize the air photos that we've been getting a lot

[35:32] to make it more efficient, that historically, like the director

[35:36] of the Department of Revenue, was to go out

[35:38] and measure every single building at every property

[35:41] that we're at.

[35:43] And that's just not realistic with all the farms that we have.

[35:45] And we do all that on air photos.

[35:48] We usually only measure if we have some discrepancy

[35:51] that we see on the air photos.

[35:55] And then, you can see, through the end of August, we've visited

[36:00] almost 5,800 properties.

[36:03] About 6,000 would be 1/5 of our parcels,

[36:06] so we're getting close to wrapping up our quintile

[36:09] inspections, and then our appraisers

[36:10] move to checking permits for new construction for the year.

[36:16] On the next slide, we currently have 13 active tax

[36:22] petitions in the County.

[36:24] One in payable '24, which we have a motion hearing next week

[36:29] to try to get dismissed, and then

[36:31] 12 for the payable '25 year.

[36:33] I think we started with 17 and payable '25,

[36:37] and we've either had five of them dismissed or settled.

[36:40]

[36:44] Next slide.

[36:45] So the Beacon website, so this is kind of a website that really

[36:51] shows taxpayers a lot of the information

[36:53] that we have on their properties,

[36:54] shows property lines, maps.

[36:57] Last year, we had over 390,000 visitors, over 1,000 a day.

[37:03] With that, I think there was over 5 million views

[37:06] of different sites on there.

[37:10] This year, we're quite a bit ahead of that pace.

[37:12] We're on pace for over 500,000 visits.

[37:17] And it's been a really good tool as an assessor

[37:22] that we have transparency with the taxpayers,

[37:24] that we can talk with taxpayers.

[37:26] And we hear when stuff's wrong, whether it's

[37:29] their property lines or information

[37:30] that we have on their property.

[37:33] I think it's been a good tool.

[37:34] We have tax statements out there.

[37:36] People can see a copy of their subdivision or plat.

[37:41] We have corner certificates out there.

[37:44] Mike is working on linking our sales

[37:47] to their LandShark TriMin sites so that they

[37:51] can link to those documents.

[37:54] So it's been a really good tool for us.

[37:57] We get a lot of compliments from people

[37:58] on how usable our website is.

[38:02] MALE SPEAKER: So I have one question on that.

[38:04] JOSH SCHOEN: Sure.

[38:05] MALE SPEAKER: The accuracy of the Beacon sites, I mean,

[38:09] how much or how accurate is it compared

[38:12] to actual surveyed stakes?

[38:15] And can people look at that with a confidence of this

[38:19] is what it is?

[38:20] JOSH SCHOEN: No.

[38:21] I would say it's definitely not survey grade.

[38:23] I think it'll be very difficult to get it there,

[38:27] but it's the best information that we have.

[38:29] We've gotten a lot better over the years

[38:32] through efforts of our GIS, and of course,

[38:35] Mike, the county surveyor.

[38:36] We've really cleaned up a lot of information.

[38:41] It's tough.

[38:42] And even with the air photos, the way they line up

[38:44] isn't always exactly perfect.

[38:47] So there's always some error built in there.

[38:50] But you'll see they're pretty good,

[38:52] and I like that we have it out there.

[38:54] We hear from taxpayers that we really

[38:56] research some legal descriptions and we

[38:59] make some improvements on those parcel lines based on that too.

[39:03] But I would say it's gotten drastically

[39:06] better the last 10 years.

[39:09] And it continues to be a work in progress.

[39:11] I don't think it'll ever be survey grade,

[39:14] but it continues to get better.

[39:17] And we hope to hear from people when there is something--

[39:22] MALE SPEAKER: Discrepancy?

[39:22] JOSH SCHOEN: --yeah, some discrepancy because that's

[39:24] when we look into it.

[39:27] It gives us an opportunity to relook at things.

[39:30] MALE SPEAKER: Well, good.

[39:30] I think it's good for everybody to know that because some people

[39:34] make the presumption that what's shown on Beacons,

[39:38] your fence is on my property or whatever.

[39:40] JOSH SCHOEN: Yeah, I know we do get a lot of questions,

[39:42] we're thinking about putting a fence up.

[39:43] Get a survey or here's-- the nice thing is we can pull

[39:47] the plat right up and say, these corners are located right here.

[39:50] You need to find those to put up a fence, but it's not perfect,

[39:56] but it's a good representation, I guess.

[39:59] MALE SPEAKER: Thank you.

[40:02] JOSH SCHOEN: The final slide that I

[40:03] have is the air photo flight.

[40:06] We were on the first of a three year contract over six years.

[40:11] So this spring, we flew air photo flight by eagle view.

[40:17] It was purchased with the compliance fund,

[40:18] and it's been a really good tool.

[40:20] We put the ortho image out on our Beacon website.

[40:23] And there's actually a tool that you

[40:26] can look at some oblique imagery,

[40:28] but it's really a tool that we use internally a lot.

[40:31] Our office, the assessor's office, dominates the use of it

[40:34] but other departments around the County have it

[40:36] and we provide it to the cities as well.

[40:40] In 2024, we had over 55,000 image views.

[40:44] And this year, we're on pace for more than that.

[40:47] So we have over 43,000 image views.

[40:50] It's really, really allowed us to do our job differently,

[40:55] to be more efficient in the field.

[40:56] It's really amazing how far this technology has come.

[40:59] And we're not purchasing the best product that they have.

[41:05] This year, we by default, got a better product.

[41:09] We got three inch resolution, which

[41:11] means each pixel in the photo is 3 inches by 3 inches, which I

[41:15] say without human error, you can measure within three

[41:19] inches on each side, so you can measure within 6 inches

[41:22] before kind of human error, I guess.

[41:25] They have a 1 inch product.

[41:27] Traditionally, we've gotten some three and some six,

[41:30] or it used to be a 12 inch product

[41:33] that we got when they first kind of came out,

[41:35] so it's gotten better.

[41:37] And just having different angles of things has really helped

[41:41] us do our job efficiently.

[41:44]

[41:47] And I guess, with that, are there any other questions

[41:50] that you have for me today?

[41:51]

[41:55] MALE SPEAKER: I don't believe so.

[41:56]

[41:59] JOSH SCHOEN: Well, thank you.

[42:00] MALE SPEAKER: Thank you Josh, appreciate it.

[42:01]

[42:04] Next, we have Adult Services with Megan Thomas.

[42:06]

[42:16] MEGAN THOMAS: Good morning, commissioners.

[42:17] MALE SPEAKER: Good morning.

[42:18] MALE SPEAKER: Morning.

[42:19] MEGAN THOMAS: I have quite a packed agenda here,

[42:22] so I'm going to try to really just hit some highlights

[42:25] and take any questions that you might have,

[42:28] given today's agenda in general.

[42:30] So I just started off with some acronyms.

[42:33] We use them quite frequently downstairs.

[42:35] So when I say some of these things, you might be like, well,

[42:39] what does that mean?

[42:39] I kind of just laid it out for you in the beginning.

[42:43] So next slide, please.

[42:46] Continued, you can go to the next one as well, Sarah.

[42:49] Thank you.

[42:49] So we're just going to start off with CADI, Community Alternative

[42:52] for Disability Inclusion.

[42:54] So right now in 2025, we currently have 8 case managers

[42:59] and we're serving 423 cases with 25 in the hopper.

[43:04] And what that just means is that we're

[43:05] waiting for people's medical assistance to be approved

[43:09] or their certification of disability, which

[43:12] is one of the two eligibility requirements

[43:15] to open to a CADI waiver.

[43:17] So in combination of one or two, or both,

[43:21] that's where the number 25 comes in.

[43:24] Next slide.

[43:26] In MnCHOICES, we added a new lead position in 2025.

[43:31] The MnCHOICES team consists of four assessors at this time,

[43:35] including a lead who also does assessments.

[43:38] They complete all waiver PCA initials, annual MnCHOICES

[43:43] for PCA, or what is now rolling out to be CFSS, So Community

[43:49] First Services and Supports.

[43:51] The second version, or MnCHOICES 2.0, launched in October 2024.

[43:56] And I know that I've previously shared with you there

[43:58] were a lot of reservations.

[44:00] There's been a lot of bumps along the way.

[44:02] There continues to be a lot of concerns and bumps

[44:06] along the way using this new platform for us.

[44:09] And with that, CFSS rolled out at the same time, which has

[44:13] also been quite problematic.

[44:16] There hasn't been enough providers in the state on board

[44:19] to provide the CFSS portion.

[44:23] And so how that differs from straight PCA

[44:25] is the CFSS model allows a person

[44:29] to have a monetary budget, and so it

[44:32] allows a person and their family or caregivers

[44:35] to determine how those needs are going

[44:37] to be met with a budget model.

[44:39] And providers haven't really gotten on board

[44:44] with being able to be the fiscal supervisor of those things

[44:48] as well as providing the service.

[44:49] So we've had a long wait for families to open to CFSS.

[44:54] However, their PCA does stay in place,

[44:57] so they're not losing services.

[44:59] There's no gap in services.

[45:01] The state is just struggling with trying

[45:04] to lift that and bring it to what I think

[45:06] their fruition was meant to be.

[45:10] MnCHOICE assessors are case managing all of their own CFSS

[45:14] PCA individuals, which is nothing new,

[45:17] but an average caseload for an assessor is 77 to 120.

[45:21] And with the new MnCHOICES 2.0, it certainly

[45:27] has increased our number of appeals

[45:29] that we're facing downstairs.

[45:31] So we've had 15 appeals so far, which

[45:33] is actually quite high for us.

[45:36] And what that means, or where that comes from,

[45:38] really, is that the new platform is determining people's number

[45:43] of hours of care per day to either be lower,

[45:47] or the new budget model is less than what it used to be.

[45:53] And so people are appealing that, which they certainly

[45:55] have the right to do that.

[45:57] So we've spent a lot of time in 15 cases determining appeals.

[46:02] We have won a majority of those.

[46:05] And when I say majority, some recommendations

[46:08] from the appellate court or the DHS Human Services judge

[46:11] will make recommendations for us to reconsider something.

[46:15] So they haven't reversed our decisions or determinations,

[46:19] they've upheld most of ours.

[46:22] And then we have just a number--

[46:23] I think we have one that's still floating

[46:25] out there since February that we're

[46:26] still waiting to hear back on.

[46:28] So it's taking quite a lot longer

[46:31] to get those determinations back as well.

[46:35] Next slide.

[46:37] Developmental disabilities.

[46:39] We have seven case managers.

[46:40] We're currently serving 400 individuals.

[46:43] The average caseload size is 57, which is quite high for DD,

[46:49] so it's definitely creeping up there.

[46:51] We have two that are designated to children and families,

[46:55] so that's that CDCS consumer directed support model.

[47:00] And so it's mostly kids living with parents, guardians,

[47:03] that sort of caseload.

[47:05] So we have two case managers that are delegated to that.

[47:08] And so their caseloads are actually a little bit higher.

[47:11] But when you average the team out,

[47:13] it looks to be that they're all sitting on an average of 57.

[47:18] Next slide.

[47:19]

[47:22] Adult protection mental health intake and nursing.

[47:24] So in 2024, one of our nurses retired, Lisa Benson.

[47:29] These positions are mostly grant funded,

[47:33] so we made a choice looking at the caseload of two nurses.

[47:37] We had two, one retired, and decided not to fill back

[47:41] that position and use the grant dollars

[47:43] to hire another adult mental health case manager.

[47:46] And that's really where our need was.

[47:49] So in a nursing perspective, our current nurse

[47:51] is serving 17 individuals, which includes medication management,

[47:56] monitoring of side effects, education, communicating

[48:00] with doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists,

[48:03] things of that nature.

[48:04] And so far, it's been really good.

[48:06] We feel that we really made the right decision

[48:09] with that because our case management numbers were growing.

[48:13] And we'll talk a little bit about the complexity of that.

[48:16] Next slide, please.

[48:17] MALE SPEAKER: Mr. Chair, if I could?

[48:18] MEGAN THOMAS: Yes,

[48:19] MALE SPEAKER: Yes.

[48:19] Go ahead.

[48:20] MALE SPEAKER: Why are we not using the Public

[48:21] Health or the nursing department we

[48:23] have without duplicating here?

[48:26] MEGAN THOMAS: So it was determined a long time ago--

[48:29] and Deb and I have spent some time talking about this,

[48:31] and we just recently talked about

[48:33] it when Lisa retired as well--

[48:35] that before, long before my time,

[48:39] it was determined through SCCBI and/or AMHI and CSP grant

[48:43] dollars, that we could have specialized nursing funded

[48:47] by those grant dollars embedded in our AMH AP units

[48:53] that maybe would have more of, one could argue,

[48:57] nursing expertise or mental health expertise,

[49:00] meeting those people that were serving under AMH

[49:04] or at Friendship House.

[49:06] So that decision was made a long time ago.

[49:08] I did reevaluate that.

[49:11] And I think-- not I think.

[49:13] I made the determination not to jump back to Public Health

[49:17] just because we weren't going to fill back a second nurse.

[49:21] So now we're down to one, and this nurse is working so closely

[49:25] with AMH case managers, adult mental health case managers--

[49:29] because it's their clients that they're serving--

[49:31] that to be within the unit for those quick questions-- like,

[49:35] hey, did we get a prescription for this?

[49:38] Did their medication go up?

[49:39] When's their next psych-- just that communication and being

[49:42] embedded in the world that really that they're

[49:45] living and serving.

[49:46] So we do get support from Public Health with some

[49:51] of our injectables when necessary,

[49:53] and we're very thankful for that.

[49:55] But really, from my understanding

[49:58] of the whole picture, it just lies

[50:00] back to this is how we could use those grant

[50:02] dollars to fund this.

[50:06] MALE SPEAKER: Thank you for the explanation.

[50:08] MEGAN THOMAS: Might not be perfect, but it's working,

[50:12] and I think someday, our current nurse isn't

[50:15] going to be there forever.

[50:17] And I presume if Deb is still here,

[50:22] I would entertain more conversations

[50:24] and continue to see how we can partner in that.

[50:27] I don't know that we'll always stay funded.

[50:29] We're the only county in the region that uses grant dollars

[50:33] to fund nursing positions.

[50:34] So we're the exception to the rule,

[50:37] but right now it's working so don't rock the boat,

[50:41] is kind of how I feel.

[50:43] MALE SPEAKER: Thank you.

[50:46] MEGAN THOMAS: Adult protection.

[50:47] So in 2025, we added a new adult protection social worker.

[50:52] So we went from 2 to 3 on a team.

[50:55] We've opened 261 cases and we've received 371 adult protection

[51:02] reports so far.

[51:04] As far as civil commitments, we've

[51:06] had 14 and 36 pre-petition screenings

[51:10] that have been completed.

[51:11] So really, what that just tells us is that the complexity

[51:17] and acuity of people we're serving, which you all know

[51:20] is a lot greater, we're serving more criminally

[51:23] involved individuals as well.

[51:25] So we anticipate to see those numbers

[51:28] continue to increase over time.

[51:32] Case management-wise, they're serving 150 people.

[51:35] So we have six case managers.

[51:37] So the average caseload size is sitting at about 25.

[51:42] 30 is the average norm per case manager when talking about AMH.

[51:47] It's targeted case management, so these

[51:49] aren't meant to be long term case managing, like DD and CADI.

[51:54] So we really do look at our caseloads

[51:57] and we look at when it's appropriate to close

[52:01] when successes happen.

[52:02] What does success look like for people.

[52:05] We know that that's different.

[52:07] And then, as far as intakes go in 2025,

[52:11] again, up until completing this packet a couple weeks ago,

[52:15] we've completed 44.

[52:17] So our intake position works with people

[52:21] to open to adult mental health case management.

[52:24] It works with children's mental health

[52:27] to open to case management there,

[52:29] as well as our therapy providers and working to get

[52:33] people connected to therapy.

[52:36] MALE SPEAKER: Mr. Chair, if I could?

[52:38] MALE SPEAKER: Yes, please.

[52:39] I'm sorry.

[52:39] MEGAN THOMAS: No, it's OK.

[52:40] MALE SPEAKER: My question is, do we have any responsibility,

[52:44] are we working up at the state prison?

[52:47] MEGAN THOMAS: No.

[52:48] MALE SPEAKER: We've nothing to do with--

[52:50] MEGAN THOMAS: We do not have any input or anything in the state

[52:54] prison system for that.

[52:57] As far as MnCHOICES choices go, we MnCHOICE a lot

[53:01] of people at the state prison.

[53:02] We get a lot of referrals from there,

[53:05] and so we'll go in and complete the assessment

[53:08] before they're released.

[53:10] And then our information then goes to the county in which

[53:14] they're returning to after release so they

[53:18] can connect them to services.

[53:19] So it kind of starts there, but not from an intake

[53:22] per se perspective.

[53:25] Next slide.

[53:26] Thank you, Rick.

[53:28] Again, just a snippet of Friendship House.

[53:30] We've had six new members join so far in 2025,

[53:34] and then there's just a little picture

[53:39] of how many participants--

[53:42] I tried to blow this up, you guys.

[53:44] I couldn't get it any bigger on the slide--

[53:48] who participated in what.

[53:49] And so what we've seen, not only with new members,

[53:52] is majority of our members are actually

[53:55] participating in most things.

[53:57] And so our participation numbers have certainly increased.

[54:01] And as you all know, Linda and Dana

[54:03] do such an amazing job there, so we're really happy

[54:08] and our members are happy.

[54:10] So next slide is just a little picture

[54:14] of our most recent additions.

[54:15] So our lovely new garbage can that fits in there.

[54:18] And in the back, I didn't have along pictures,

[54:22] but in the background, you see two hydrangea

[54:24] bushes and one in the middle.

[54:26] Those are our most recent grant-funded additions

[54:29] to our landscaping, so continues to grow.

[54:34] Guardianship.

[54:36] Key pieces here.

[54:37] So we're currently serving 109 individuals.

[54:40] Five of those are contracted with Scott County.

[54:43] We have worked to assist six individuals successfully

[54:47] restoring their rights or moving to a lesser

[54:49] restrictive alternative, which is supported decision making.

[54:53] If you remember from previous board discussions,

[54:57] we launched supported decision making under a grant in 2024.

[55:03] We've had some staff fluctuation with that,

[55:06] but one staff has stayed consistent,

[55:09] so we're currently serving 26 individuals.

[55:12] We have four in a waiting list.

[55:15] We've closed 31 cases so far, and we've

[55:19] provided 30 trainings in our community of supported decision

[55:23] making and how that is really a benefit to individuals,

[55:27] and could be a lesser restrictive alternative as well.

[55:32] What we've learned along the way is that it really

[55:34] keeps the ability of people to experience autonomy

[55:38] and independence, and it really has proven

[55:41] to be cost effective for us in counties if they

[55:44] were to decide to do this.

[55:46] So of all the individuals referred to us,

[55:49] we've either screened them for guardianship

[55:51] and referred them to SDM because they

[55:53] didn't meet that quite level of vulnerable adult

[55:56] or incapacitated.

[55:58] We also have a screening team with our courts

[56:01] and our judicial system, which we review all cases filed

[56:05] under in forma pauperis, which then, we bear

[56:08] the financial burdens of that.

[56:10] So we screen those cases that are filed with the courts,

[56:13] and we've been able to recommend supported

[56:15] decision making to the judges for those cases as well.

[56:20] So next slide, Rick.

[56:24] Oh, sorry, go back.

[56:26] I thought there was another one.

[56:28] So as far as that goes, we continue

[56:30] to evaluate our current guardianship caseload

[56:34] for restoring rights, supported decision making,

[56:38] those step down processes as well.

[56:41] And right now, our grant is still funded and in place

[56:44] until June 30 of 2026.

[56:47] And I know this legislative session, we're going to go back

[56:51] and we're just going to keep lobbying for this.

[56:55] We have a lot of support at the legislative platform

[57:01] for this type of service, really looking at guardianship

[57:04] and trying to keep it on civil commitment, like as needed.

[57:11] I mean, you're really, truly are taking a person's rights away.

[57:14] And we know that there's a place for it,

[57:17] but we've seen a lot of petitions

[57:19] where guardianship is just simply not necessary,

[57:23] and so part of it's education as well.

[57:26] So we meet with a lot of families

[57:27] talking about that stuff too.

[57:29] Now next slide.

[57:32] Housing support.

[57:33] So again, I think an email was shared with you.

[57:36] And if it wasn't, I mean, we can.

[57:39] But again, just reminding that housing support

[57:41] is not the same as housing stabilization.

[57:44] What we've seen all over the news with fraud,

[57:46] that is not what we administer to downstairs.

[57:49] We have 106 housing support providers

[57:53] with five new providers that we've worked with

[57:55] and approved in the last year.

[57:57] Housing support does require a lot of time and dedication.

[58:01] It's operated by a financial supervisor as well as our CADI

[58:06] supervisor manages this role.

[58:09] It really could be its own FTE.

[58:12] We did apply for a grant this year to fund a position for this

[58:16] because of the amount of work that it entails,

[58:19] and unfortunately, we weren't picked.

[58:22] In fact, DHS shared with us that there was $9 million

[58:27] in requests above and beyond what the legislative

[58:30] had approved for this.

[58:31] So they obviously see that the need is out there as well.

[58:36] Next slide.

[58:39] Legislative updates.

[58:40] So I'm just going to get into some legislative stuff that

[58:43] really impacts my division, and this is where you may

[58:46] or may not have more questions.

[58:48] So from a MnCHOICES perspective, our timelines change.

[58:52] So we went from 20 calendar days to 20 business days

[58:56] from the time of a request.

[58:58] So when somebody requests a MnCHOICES

[59:00] and we complete an intake with them,

[59:02] we have 20 business days to complete that MnCHOICES

[59:05] assessment with them now.

[59:06] Sometimes, it's phone tag and scheduling conflicts,

[59:11] and you might get outside those 20 business days.

[59:14] But I mean, that's kind of natural

[59:16] when you're dealing with people and trying

[59:18] to get things scheduled.

[59:20] Assessors may provide up to four remote reassessments

[59:24] consecutively, but the fifth one must be in person,

[59:27] so that's something new.

[59:29] We can now receive a verbal attestation

[59:32] to replace assessment signatures,

[59:34] but we make it our practice downstairs to always try and get

[59:38] a physical signature for whether it's consent for services

[59:42] or the consent for MnCHOICES release

[59:44] of information, things like that.

[59:47] But we now know that if we have it in email

[59:50] or if we have a verbal attestation, we document that

[59:53] and that can replace the physical signatures.

[59:56] And then now, individuals can attest

[59:59] to unchanged needs for two consecutive reassessments.

[1:00:02] So what that just means is that if I have an assessment

[1:00:04] this month and next year comes around,

[1:00:07] and I say absolutely nothing's changed,

[1:00:09] all the things are same, the assessor

[1:00:11] can continue with the previous year's assessment

[1:00:14] results and information.

[1:00:15] You can do that twice until someone

[1:00:18] technically has to really sit down and complete

[1:00:21] an assessment with you.

[1:00:23] So I would love to say that lightens the MnCHOICE assessor's

[1:00:28] caseload and responsibilities, but it doesn't because CFSS

[1:00:32] has actually quadrupled the work for them in that regard.

[1:00:36] So, next slide.

[1:00:38]

[1:00:41] DHS is working on a dashboard of agencies assessment data.

[1:00:46] We're really looking forward to that.

[1:00:48] MnCHOICES is never really, by platform,

[1:00:51] been able to provide us concrete data or numbers.

[1:00:54] We've had to collect that on our own.

[1:00:56] They're now valid for 365 days, which is huge,

[1:01:00] so we're not going out and having to redo assessments

[1:01:03] while we're waiting.

[1:01:04] If someone's MA took so long to approve,

[1:01:07] or if their determination of certification of disability

[1:01:13] has taken longer, we would have to go out and redo assessments

[1:01:16] for those timelines.

[1:01:17] Now they're good for 365.

[1:01:20] This is probably the biggest impact.

[1:01:23] So starting in January of 2027, MnCHOICES will no longer

[1:01:27] be reimbursed by a time study.

[1:01:29] It's going to have a flat rate reimbursement

[1:01:32] for assessments completed.

[1:01:34] And so they're going to be utilizing the later portion

[1:01:39] of '25 here this fall and all of '26 to, I guess,

[1:01:43] determine what that flat rate is going to look like for counties

[1:01:47] for the reimbursement phase.

[1:01:48] So it will be a lot less than what

[1:01:52] we're getting through the time study, so stay tuned.

[1:01:57] Next slide.

[1:01:59]

[1:02:01] As most of you know-- and thank you so much for your advocation

[1:02:05] and your platforms-- but the replacement

[1:02:07] and modernization of SSIS was huge,

[1:02:11] in the amount of $35 million.

[1:02:13] Priority admissions, again, I'm sure you heard

[1:02:16] many, many conversations-- not just for me, but from others--

[1:02:20] about the 48 hour rule, the bed capacity shortage,

[1:02:25] things of that nature.

[1:02:26] So $34 million was directed to the Miller building

[1:02:30] for bed expansion, with an additional $20 million

[1:02:33] for future administrative work.

[1:02:36] And then, last legislative session,

[1:02:39] there was a reprieve to counties for mentally ill and dangerous

[1:02:43] that were awaiting placement from one

[1:02:45] state facility to another.

[1:02:46] That has now sunsetted and counties don't get that.

[1:02:50] We never had a scenario where we were able to reap

[1:02:55] the benefits of that reprieve.

[1:02:56] We didn't have anybody in that situation.

[1:02:59] MALE SPEAKER: So, excuse me, Megan?

[1:03:00] Could you just explain for all of us

[1:03:03] the 48 hour rule, what exactly that is, so people understand

[1:03:08] that a little better?

[1:03:08] MEGAN THOMAS: Well, I encourage Brian to chime in.

[1:03:10] But basically, in a nutshell, the 48 hour rule

[1:03:13] was that if we had somebody that was brought into jail

[1:03:16] who was mentally ill--

[1:03:18] because that's not the place for them,

[1:03:20] it's not appropriate that they should a new placement,

[1:03:24] and they should be released to a more

[1:03:26] appropriate placement treatment facility, whatever,

[1:03:29] within 48 hours.

[1:03:31] That's pretty much it in a nutshell.

[1:03:33] Would you add anything?

[1:03:36] MALE SPEAKER: No, that's what it is at its basic level.

[1:03:38] MEGAN THOMAS: Yeah.

[1:03:39] MALE SPEAKER: So you have 48 hours

[1:03:41] to deal with this individual?

[1:03:42] MEGAN THOMAS: That was the intent of the statute.

[1:03:45] It has since then been paused and relooked at because there's

[1:03:50] nowhere to put them.

[1:03:51] I mean, bed capacity was, like, next to none.

[1:03:54] So they languished in jails.

[1:03:57] We did have an individual that unfortunately spent 92 days

[1:04:01] in our jail before he was able to get into St. Peter

[1:04:05] and be appropriately treated.

[1:04:07] So we were all fighting the same fight.

[1:04:10] We know that jail is not where people with mental health

[1:04:14] needs and symptoms should be.

[1:04:16] They should be treated as humans and seek the treatment

[1:04:19] that they deserve.

[1:04:21] MALE SPEAKER: So right now, in your opinion, is this working?

[1:04:24] I mean, are we able to accomplish that in 48 hours?

[1:04:26] MEGAN THOMAS: Oh, no.

[1:04:27] No, we're far from it.

[1:04:28] And I think until, like, this Miller building expansion

[1:04:33] and until we start lifting places

[1:04:36] in more capacity for people to go

[1:04:39] to have the treatment that they need,

[1:04:42] we'll never meet the 48 hour rule, no.

[1:04:46] MALE SPEAKER: So we have a rule that we can't achieve,

[1:04:48] basically?

[1:04:48] MEGAN THOMAS: Yep, pretty much.

[1:04:50] MALE SPEAKER: OK, thank you.

[1:04:52] MEGAN THOMAS: Next slide.

[1:04:53]

[1:04:55] Competency attainment.

[1:04:57] So that was something that was lifted where counties are going

[1:05:00] to have to contribute to the cost of examination or

[1:05:03] competency attainment programs.

[1:05:05] This really hasn't lifted-lifted per se,

[1:05:09] so we don't know what this is going to look like.

[1:05:13] As we get further into budget discussions and our 2026 budget,

[1:05:18] we did put a line item in our budget for this

[1:05:21] because we have to, and we're going to bear responsibility

[1:05:24] for this at some point.

[1:05:26] The state is just still working on getting this out there,

[1:05:31] as a better word, maybe, to say.

[1:05:35] Other legislative things, so there's

[1:05:38] a task force that's been lifted in waiver, reimagine,

[1:05:41] and long term services and supports,

[1:05:43] just looking at how to reduce cost in long term services

[1:05:47] and supports building greater efficiencies.

[1:05:49] They limited rate exceptions.

[1:05:51] So really, what this means is that providers could request

[1:05:55] a rate exception for people that had needs above and beyond maybe

[1:06:05] the norm, might be the best word to use,

[1:06:08] and so they would make that request to the counties.

[1:06:11] We would look at the assessment and all of the needs

[1:06:15] that the person reflects that they have,

[1:06:17] and then really pass it on to DHS.

[1:06:20] So we're not approving or denying the rate exceptions

[1:06:23] for these providers, DHS is.

[1:06:26] So they really have reined that back in.

[1:06:29] I don't think they knew when they lifted this what

[1:06:32] a pandemonium it was going to be because really,

[1:06:37] right now, as it stands, they very rarely get denied.

[1:06:41] So we just have to make sure the request from the provider

[1:06:44] is valid.

[1:06:46] If it's not, we work with the provider

[1:06:49] to revise the request so it's actually

[1:06:55] accurate and appropriate.

[1:06:56] We won't send it to DHS if it's not accurate.

[1:07:00] So that's basically our role in it from a county standpoint.

[1:07:05] Next slide.

[1:07:06]

[1:07:09] This is huge.

[1:07:10] There's been significant provider fees and licensing

[1:07:14] requirements changes that are going

[1:07:16] to come January 1 here in 2026.

[1:07:18] So anyone who is adult foster care,

[1:07:21] child foster care, a community residential setting--

[1:07:25] so a group home--

[1:07:26] or family adult day services, will

[1:07:29] now be expected to pay an annual licensing fee of $2,100.

[1:07:35] Previously, it was $500 upon licensing

[1:07:39] and then every two years after that.

[1:07:43] So it's not just the AFC annual licensing fee,

[1:07:46] so a provider could have that.

[1:07:48] And they could have a 245d license with Department of Human

[1:07:52] Services, and they will also have

[1:07:54] to pay $2,100 a year for that.

[1:07:57] So they could take a $4,200 hit to maintain

[1:08:02] both their licenses on an annual basis, and that's per site.

[1:08:06] So when you have providers like LSS

[1:08:11] Kennedy, which is now Harry Meyering Center,

[1:08:14] that have multiple sites--

[1:08:16] 13, 14 group homes, nine--

[1:08:19] that's per site, that's a huge hit

[1:08:21] to our foster care providers.

[1:08:23] That is going to be devastating.

[1:08:26] We have one provider-- so let me rephrase.

[1:08:28] We have 76 providers in Rice County that are licensed

[1:08:31] in one capacity or another.

[1:08:33] We're still getting information from DHS

[1:08:36] on this whole payment thing.

[1:08:38] But we out of the 76 providers that are going to take a hit

[1:08:42] of $2,100 a year or $4,200 annually per site that they

[1:08:47] have, we have one family adult foster care provider that

[1:08:52] doesn't take any waiver funding for the two

[1:08:55] individuals that she serves.

[1:08:57] So she's funded through housing supports and some other means.

[1:09:01] So for a provider like that, it's pretty gigantic.

[1:09:06] I'm nervous.

[1:09:08] I'm worried about-- we've lost providers and bed capacity

[1:09:12] within our residential settings already

[1:09:14] the last few years just due to staffing complications.

[1:09:19] I'm afraid to see what these fees happen.

[1:09:23] So as far as the fees go, DHS will be collecting all the fees

[1:09:27] from the providers on an annual basis,

[1:09:29] and then 50% of those fees are going to be

[1:09:32] kicked back to the county.

[1:09:34] So we could, in more detail, really look at our provider

[1:09:39] lists and figure it out and really

[1:09:41] grind the numbers out to see what that looks like for us.

[1:09:44] But with so much information kind

[1:09:47] of still coming out statutorily about these,

[1:09:49] I haven't done that.

[1:09:50] I haven't done that yet.

[1:09:51] So I will soon when I feel comfortable that this

[1:09:55] is set in stone.

[1:09:57] Any questions on that?

[1:10:00] MALE SPEAKER: So, Megan-- yeah, I do.

[1:10:01] Megan, if you're going to hit these providers

[1:10:04] with this big fee, this annual fee,

[1:10:08] they're going to want to recap that money

[1:10:10] somehow with their services that they're providing, right?

[1:10:13] Or how is that--

[1:10:15] MEGAN THOMAS: There's no way that we can offset that.

[1:10:18] We've already looked at it.

[1:10:20] It's impossible, and we can't--

[1:10:23] there's some actually statutory language I just

[1:10:26] looked at this morning that--

[1:10:28] because I thought, OK.

[1:10:29] Well, if we get 50%, can a portion of that

[1:10:33] be offset back to the provider?

[1:10:35] We can't even do that.

[1:10:36] I mean, there's language in there that suggests

[1:10:38] that can't even happen.

[1:10:39] MALE SPEAKER: Well, it seems to me

[1:10:40] it's going to be obvious that we're

[1:10:42] going to lose some providers.

[1:10:43] MEGAN THOMAS: I think we will.

[1:10:44] I think it's very possible.

[1:10:45] We have some really dedicated people in our community--

[1:10:48] and I'm thankful for that-- that truly just

[1:10:51] believe in caring for people.

[1:10:54] But there are people that maybe just

[1:10:56] can't financially sustain this and there's no way to fix it.

[1:10:59]

[1:11:03] MALE SPEAKER: So if you're a provider, if you have one

[1:11:07] resident, or if you have 10, you're

[1:11:09] still considered a provider?

[1:11:11] Is that how it works?

[1:11:12] MEGAN THOMAS: Yeah, it's how many they're licensed for.

[1:11:16] So this particular provider that doesn't take waiver funding,

[1:11:20] she has two people living in her home, so she's licensed for two,

[1:11:24] where most of our corporate sites are licensed for four.

[1:11:29] It's not based on the number of people, it's based on the site.

[1:11:33] So if you're a single family foster care provider,

[1:11:38] that's your site.

[1:11:39] That's your home.

[1:11:40] You have one.

[1:11:42] Like I said, some of these bigger agencies

[1:11:44] that have multiple corporate sites throughout our community,

[1:11:48] it's per site.

[1:11:49]

[1:11:52] MALE SPEAKER: Well, it'd be interesting to see what happens.

[1:11:55] MEGAN THOMAS: Yeah.

[1:11:57] Anything else?

[1:11:58] Nope?

[1:12:01] So I've already shared that.

[1:12:03] You can skip to the next slide.

[1:12:07] It is?

[1:12:07] Oh, see?

[1:12:09] Great.

[1:12:09] Perfect.

[1:12:10] I tried really hard to just get through that.

[1:12:13] I know it's a lot.

[1:12:15] Any other questions, then?

[1:12:19] No?

[1:12:20] MALE SPEAKER: Well, Megan, thank you

[1:12:21] for giving us a little insight into your world

[1:12:24] and what you're doing, so appreciate your efforts.

[1:12:27] MEGAN THOMAS: All right, thank you.

[1:12:28]

[1:12:31] MALE SPEAKER: Commissioners, you all doing good?

[1:12:34] Very good.

[1:12:35] We have Public Health and nursing with Deb Purfeerst.

[1:12:39] I don't see-- oh, there's Deb.

[1:12:40]

[1:12:43] DEB PURFEERST: Good morning.

[1:12:44] MALE SPEAKER: Good morning.

[1:12:45] DEB PURFEERST: You guys need to stand up and stretch,

[1:12:47] or you're all good?

[1:12:49] MALE SPEAKER: I just asked these guys.

[1:12:50] DEB PURFEERST: You're good.

[1:12:52] There's going to be two updates today from Public Health.

[1:12:56] The first is on our safe roads coalition and TCD work.

[1:13:01] So the Minnesota Department of Public Safety

[1:13:04] provides funding for traffic safety coalitions

[1:13:07] to address and prevent traffic deaths and serious injuries.

[1:13:11] Public Health serves as the fiscal host

[1:13:14] and the grant manager for the Rice

[1:13:16] County Safe Roads Coalition.

[1:13:19] The coalition began in 2006 with Kathy Cooper

[1:13:24] serving as the coordinator.

[1:13:27] The mission of the coalition is to move Rice County towards zero

[1:13:31] deaths and serious injury.

[1:13:33] So with me today, I have Jessica Schleck.

[1:13:37] Jessica is our regional safe roads coalition coordinator.

[1:13:42] She'll start the presentation and talk about some

[1:13:45] of the state and regional work being done.

[1:13:48] And then we have Kathy Cooper here.

[1:13:50] Kathy is our Rice County coordinator,

[1:13:53] so she'll be sharing with you some of the data

[1:13:56] and local work being done.

[1:13:58] So I will turn it over to my partners.

[1:14:01] JESSICA SCHLECK: Thank you.

[1:14:03] I talk fast, so we should get you right back on track.

[1:14:06] So as she said, my name is Jessica Schleck.

[1:14:08] I am the Southeast TCD Regional Coordinator.

[1:14:11] I have had the privilege of working with Kathy for 17 years,

[1:14:14] I think, or something, so lucky.

[1:14:16] But the statewide TCD program was launched in 2003

[1:14:19] when we were seeing a big uptick in traffic-related fatalities.

[1:14:22] So 655 people died on our roads that year.

[1:14:25] So it was a program that was created by the Minnesota

[1:14:27] Department of Public Safety, Transportation and Health

[1:14:30] as a deliberate, interdisciplinary

[1:14:32] approach to traffic safety.

[1:14:33] Basically, they just realized we needed to not only work

[1:14:36] with the state stuff, we needed to pull in local organizations

[1:14:39] to help.

[1:14:39] So the magic of this program is we are 20 plus years in

[1:14:42] and we have so many partners across the state.

[1:14:46] So TCD's vision.

[1:14:48] Hopefully, you've heard this before,

[1:14:49] but to reduce fatalities and serious injuries

[1:14:52] on Minnesota roads to get to zero.

[1:14:55] You can go to the next.

[1:14:56] And the mission explains just how we do that.

[1:14:59] You can go to the next one.

[1:15:01] It's by collaborating.

[1:15:03] So the TCD program focuses on those four strategic areas

[1:15:06] to reduce crashes, enforcement, education, engineering, EMS,

[1:15:10] and of course that fifth E, which

[1:15:11] is everyone, because everyone shares our roads.

[1:15:14] So, next one.

[1:15:16] So over the years, TCD regional partnerships

[1:15:18] have been established in eight geographical areas

[1:15:20] throughout the state.

[1:15:21] They're led by a regional TCD coordinators such as myself.

[1:15:24] Each has a local steering committee

[1:15:26] made up of traffic safety stakeholders from that region.

[1:15:29] These are led by MnDOT district engineer

[1:15:31] and a State Patrol captain.

[1:15:33] Also included on the map are two state program TCD coordinators.

[1:15:37] We just recently added a communications leader,

[1:15:41] so hopefully, that will help us push out our messaging.

[1:15:44] There's also four law enforcement liaisons

[1:15:46] who work with all levels of law enforcement agencies

[1:15:48] across the state, and three child passenger safety

[1:15:51] liaisons who make sure our kiddos

[1:15:53] are in those right car seats.

[1:15:56] Let's go to the next one.

[1:15:57] So right now, there are currently

[1:15:59] six funded and one unfunded active

[1:16:01] TCD safe roads coalitions in our region.

[1:16:04] So our educational efforts only improve

[1:16:06] as more of these coalitions are established.

[1:16:08] But as Kathy may talk about, they have to apply for a grant.

[1:16:11] And if they don't receive the grant,

[1:16:13] they don't get to do the work or aren't able to do the work.

[1:16:17] So, next slide.

[1:16:19] So each of these coalitions bring together community members

[1:16:22] from the five E's to address areas of concern

[1:16:25] for their specific county or community.

[1:16:27] So crash data is reviewed and counties develop a plan

[1:16:30] for addressing these crashes.

[1:16:32] They also implement activities and best practices

[1:16:35] to make the greatest impact on reducing those serious and fatal

[1:16:38] injury crashes.

[1:16:39] So the coalitions also assist law

[1:16:41] enforcement during the enforcement periods

[1:16:43] with educational efforts.

[1:16:45] So they really are boots on the ground doing all

[1:16:48] the work, very important work.

[1:16:50] Next slide.

[1:16:52] So these are just a few of the focus areas that we work on.

[1:16:55] Kathy will talk more about Rice County efforts

[1:16:57] when she steps up.

[1:16:58] But if you have any questions about those,

[1:17:00] you can feel free to let me know.

[1:17:03] So, next one.

[1:17:04] So this is just a quick glance at some

[1:17:06] of the regional successes over the past year.

[1:17:08] I'm not going to read them to you,

[1:17:09] don't worry, but you should have those on your own screen.

[1:17:13] If you have any questions, let me know.

[1:17:14] But I just want to point out there's

[1:17:15] a bunch that really started in Rice County,

[1:17:18] like Joyride, for instance.

[1:17:19] Joyride Rice County was the first county

[1:17:22] to implement Joyride.

[1:17:23] They were the first County to work on the driver's

[1:17:25] license for all programs.

[1:17:27] You can add to this if you want, but there's so many things

[1:17:30] that Rice County has really implemented and kicked

[1:17:32] off for the whole state.

[1:17:33] So, next one.

[1:17:37] So since TCD started, together, we have saved more than 4,700

[1:17:41] lives, which is 220 per year.

[1:17:43] So that is a great work, but--

[1:17:45] next slide-- but there's a lot of work to be done.

[1:17:49] So as of September 12, last Friday, there

[1:17:52] were 253 fatalities on Minnesota roads,

[1:17:55] compared to 310 at this time last year.

[1:17:56] Well, that number, I just got it right as I walked up,

[1:17:59] and it is 261.

[1:18:03] So that means that-- how many people is that died

[1:18:06] from Friday until today?

[1:18:08] So that's a big number for our weekend.

[1:18:11] So there's a lot of work to be done to date in Rice County--

[1:18:15] or, I'll just let you go.

[1:18:19] KATHY COOPER: Thank you, Jessica.

[1:18:22] I'm going to talk a little bit about our Rice

[1:18:25] County crash facts.

[1:18:27] One of the requirements of the grant,

[1:18:29] the TCD grant that we receive, is

[1:18:31] that we have a fatal and serious injury review committee,

[1:18:35] and we are required to meet quarterly.

[1:18:38] So we track crashes in Rice County with the help of our law

[1:18:44] enforcement and other partners, and then we

[1:18:47] meet quarterly to review them.

[1:18:49] We're not reviewing them to assign blame or anything,

[1:18:53] but what we're looking at is why did that crash happen.

[1:18:57] What are the trends?

[1:18:58] What can we do to prevent that crash, that type of crash

[1:19:03] from happening again?

[1:19:05] So the crash facts report that I have in this presentation

[1:19:13] is incomplete.

[1:19:14] We're still working on it, waiting for some data

[1:19:19] to complete it, but it's a report from 2020 to 2024.

[1:19:24] And you'll see that there was 120 total serious and fatal

[1:19:31] injury crashes in Rice County.

[1:19:34] We average about 750 crashes in Rice County every year, so two

[1:19:42] a day--

[1:19:43] two a day.

[1:19:45] And that's been pretty consistent throughout the years.

[1:19:50] In 2025, we know that we have already had--

[1:19:56] question?

[1:19:57] MALE SPEAKER: Yeah, go ahead.

[1:19:58] MALE SPEAKER: Are you including--

[1:19:59] is this outside the cities, county-based?

[1:20:02] Or is this including some of the city?

[1:20:05] KATHY COOPER: It includes the cities, the counties.

[1:20:07] So Northfield, Faribault, Lonsdale, and then countywide.

[1:20:14] MALE SPEAKER: So the cities are included?

[1:20:16] KATHY COOPER: Yes, the cities are included, yes.

[1:20:19] But it's all broken out, so the reports that we do

[1:20:23] are by city and then by the county, and then a total.

[1:20:31] MALE SPEAKER: My other question is,

[1:20:32] do you guys track the location of these accidents

[1:20:36] for interception?

[1:20:37] KATHY COOPER: Yep, yep.

[1:20:39] Dennis Luebbe with Rice County Highway Department,

[1:20:42] he's one of the members on the fatal review committee.

[1:20:47] And he'll look at those trends and the locations.

[1:20:55] And a lot of times, he goes right out to the site

[1:20:58] and to see, do we have proper signage there?

[1:21:02] What's going on here?

[1:21:04] He's a very important part of our fatal review committee

[1:21:07] because he can provide that perspective

[1:21:10] and he can get things done.

[1:21:12] If a motorcycle is going off of a curve on a certain road,

[1:21:19] he'll go out and check that curve.

[1:21:21] And do we have signage to alert the motorcycle rider

[1:21:26] that there's a curve coming up?

[1:21:29] And curves are hard for motorcycles.

[1:21:33] We've got data that shows that as well.

[1:21:36] So any more questions on the '20 to '24

[1:21:40] or the fatal review committee?

[1:21:44] In 2025, already to date, we've had four

[1:21:51] fatal crashes in Rice County.

[1:21:53] And the one thing that we have noticed already

[1:21:57] and have recorded is that all four of the fatalities

[1:22:01] were over 65.

[1:22:03] So that's telling us right there,

[1:22:07] we need to focus on our older drivers.

[1:22:10] And so we wrote some things into our 2026 grant application

[1:22:18] with that in mind.

[1:22:20] One of the things that we did this past year

[1:22:23] is called Car Fit.

[1:22:24] And we had a Car Fit clinic in Northfield in May.

[1:22:28] We're trying to bring it to Faribault. We're hoping

[1:22:30] that the senior centers will take it up and do it

[1:22:34] as a regular clinic, but that's to help older people fit

[1:22:39] in their cars so that they're driving more safely, that they

[1:22:45] can see out of their mirrors on the side, their rear view,

[1:22:49] that they're at the right height and the right distance

[1:22:52] from the steering wheel.

[1:22:54] So lots of work to do there.

[1:22:58] And then there's been 15 serious injury crashes already in 2025.

[1:23:05] And four of those were with older drivers.

[1:23:08] So we'll be meeting for our fourth quarter

[1:23:12] fatal review committee at the end of the month, September 29.

[1:23:17] And we'll finish up this crash facts report,

[1:23:20] and then we'll get it out to you so that you have the data.

[1:23:25] What else, here?

[1:23:26] Oh, TCD work in Rice County.

[1:23:29] So every year, we have to apply for the grant around again,

[1:23:34] and we do that with Public Health.

[1:23:36] Deb helps write that grant, and there's

[1:23:40] two grants that are awarded.

[1:23:42] One is the education grant through Public Health,

[1:23:47] and then local law enforcement also writes a grant

[1:23:51] for extra enforcement help.

[1:23:57] And that kind of rotates through the law

[1:23:59] enforcement and Rice County.

[1:24:01] So in this year, 2025, Northfield

[1:24:05] has been the coordinator for the enforcement grant.

[1:24:08] Lonsdale wrote it for 2026.

[1:24:10] We're still waiting to hear about that

[1:24:13] and hoping that we get that grant.

[1:24:16] The next slide, please.

[1:24:19] Our Safe Roads Coalition members has been pretty

[1:24:23] steady over the past years.

[1:24:26] They are wonderful members.

[1:24:29] I can't tell you how much support that they

[1:24:32] provide to the coalition.

[1:24:34] Anything I ask of them, they step right up.

[1:24:38] They may not always be at our meetings, but I can call on them

[1:24:43] and they provide for traffic safety

[1:24:49] activities in Rice County.

[1:24:51] Next slide, please.

[1:24:54] Some of the local efforts this grant period,

[1:24:59] we sponsor or provide a Thanksgiving Eve DWI kickoff

[1:25:04] this past fall Thanksgiving.

[1:25:08] It was held at the Northfield police

[1:25:09] department on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

[1:25:14] All law enforcement are invited.

[1:25:17] The county attorney comes.

[1:25:19] Media is there.

[1:25:21] Minnesotans For Safe Driving and myself are there.

[1:25:26] We also recognize the law enforcement

[1:25:30] officer in the county that has the most DWI citations.

[1:25:35] So last year, there were two officers that tied

[1:25:39] and they're given a certificate of appreciation.

[1:25:44] Nancy Johnson with Minnesotans For Safe Driving and I

[1:25:48] provide pizza for the officers.

[1:25:51] And sometimes, there's an impact speaker.

[1:25:56] The County attorney will speak.

[1:25:59] It's a great time to get together

[1:26:01] and thank them for their work.

[1:26:05] They're going out on Thanksgiving Eve,

[1:26:09] when they would probably rather be home with their families,

[1:26:13] helping to stuff that turkey and make pies for the next day,

[1:26:17] but they're out on the road to help ensure our safety.

[1:26:20] So that's a huge event for us.

[1:26:23] This last year in Northfield too,

[1:26:26] we always try and do a poster and some media coverage, a PSA.

[1:26:33] And Kevin Tussing was able to bring in the Jesse James Gang

[1:26:41] to help us do that.

[1:26:42] And we had Sam Temple from the City of Northfield

[1:26:48] communications department, and Susie Rook.

[1:26:52] They were both there taking photos of the James gang.

[1:26:56] All our law enforcement were in red cowboy hats,

[1:27:00] Santa hats, cowboy Santa hats.

[1:27:02] And Susie did a fabulous poster, and then Sam Temple

[1:27:07] did a PSA that we were able to put on the city

[1:27:10] web pages and Facebook.

[1:27:12] So we really try and get it out there.

[1:27:15] We try not to be all doom and gloom about it,

[1:27:20] but raise awareness.

[1:27:22] This is important.

[1:27:24] This is serious.

[1:27:24] This is life and death matters, so huge event.

[1:27:29] And then the Car Fit safety clinic, I spoke about.

[1:27:34] We partnered with Faribault's Double

[1:27:36] Impact for a traffic safety week at Bethlehem Academy.

[1:27:40] Double Impact led the charge and it was a great event

[1:27:47] at Bethlehem Academy.

[1:27:48] It was for the sophomore and senior students.

[1:27:51] They brought in the drunk carts with the fatal vision goggles,

[1:27:55] and we've actually had those for the county board in the past,

[1:27:59] and a little course out in the parking lot

[1:28:02] where you've had to put the goggles on and drive through it.

[1:28:06] So they brought that into the high school.

[1:28:08] It was very successful.

[1:28:10] And then on Wednesday, there was a mini mock crash there.

[1:28:14] Again, law enforcement and Double Impact, fire department,

[1:28:19] they handled that.

[1:28:20] They brought in a helicopter, landed.

[1:28:23] So that was another huge event.

[1:28:25] They had an assembly at the high school,

[1:28:28] and we brought in a crash car that was

[1:28:31] posted on campus before prom.

[1:28:35] We also partnered or participated,

[1:28:40] I guess, at the Safe Summer Kickoff in Faribault

[1:28:43] on the last day of school.

[1:28:45] We brought in the seat belt convincer

[1:28:47] and we also had a crash car there as well.

[1:28:50] The belt convincer was a lot of fun.

[1:28:53] We get a lot of teens that take a ride on the seat belt

[1:28:59] convincer, and then they can put their name in a drawing

[1:29:02] for a Kwik Trip card.

[1:29:04] A lot of little kids want to ride it,

[1:29:08] but we set an age limit.

[1:29:09] You have to be 14, but the little kids watch and we always

[1:29:14] ask their parents to take a ride since their child can't

[1:29:19] show them what it's all about, so

[1:29:22] another great education piece.

[1:29:25] And then, Joyride was provided at the Defeat

[1:29:30] of Jesse James Days.

[1:29:32] Again, many, many, many, many thanks

[1:29:35] to the committee and the Northfield police department who

[1:29:38] provided the funding for the epic shuttle and driver.

[1:29:43] It ran all three nights.

[1:29:47] She was extremely busy on Saturday night, which is usual.

[1:29:52] But the thing that struck me this year was the riders

[1:29:56] were so appreciative.

[1:29:58] On and on, and on, thank you so much.

[1:30:02] Northfield is wonderful to provide this kind of service.

[1:30:06] I wasn't going to comment until I saw this.

[1:30:09] So that was really, really exciting to hear that.

[1:30:13] And I didn't see any public intoxication,

[1:30:19] and that was really good too.

[1:30:21] People were having fun and being responsible.

[1:30:24] So I think Joyride, even though the rider numbers aren't huge,

[1:30:31] it provides a lot of education and awareness

[1:30:34] on don't drink and drive in our community during this event.

[1:30:39] There still was a few DWIs, but there were

[1:30:43] no crashes, so that was good.

[1:30:46] And then, I mentioned the quarterly fatal and serious

[1:30:50] injury committee reviews that we do.

[1:30:52]

[1:30:55] We also have presentations at driver's ed classes

[1:31:00] related to alcohol and drugs.

[1:31:02] I'm a speaker.

[1:31:05] Public Health also has a speaker that does cannabis education

[1:31:10] at driver's ed and in the health classes

[1:31:14] at the public high school, so that's really good.

[1:31:21] And then we always support the enforcement calendar with media

[1:31:25] releases and Facebook posts.

[1:31:27] And that's thanks to Susie Rook here

[1:31:31] at Rice County Communications.

[1:31:33] She's a great partner and she does a lot of work for us

[1:31:37] on that, so we appreciate it.

[1:31:39] And then, next slide, please.

[1:31:43] You'll see just some photos.

[1:31:45] The Car Fit clinic.

[1:31:46] There's the Jesse James Gang poster that we put out.

[1:31:51] The PSA can be found on the City of Northfield website.

[1:31:55] I think it's also posted with Rice County.

[1:31:59] There's the crash car that we had at Bethlehem Academy

[1:32:03] and at Safe Summer Kickoff.

[1:32:06] And then, I forgot to thank College

[1:32:09] City Beverage for the banners.

[1:32:12] They print all the banners and posters for the Joyride event,

[1:32:18] and they really did a fabulous job this year too.

[1:32:22] I went in the entertainment tent and they

[1:32:24] had banners on the outside.

[1:32:26] They had banners on the inside.

[1:32:27] They had posters all over.

[1:32:30] For the first time, I had riders coming to the pick

[1:32:36] up location with tickets filled out.

[1:32:40] Every year, I print 500 tickets and

[1:32:43] distribute them to the local bars

[1:32:45] and in the entertainment tent.

[1:32:47] And I've never had anybody come to the pick

[1:32:50] up location with their ticket, so I always have a handful.

[1:32:54] They have to put their address on the ticket.

[1:32:57] That's the only reason that they need a ticket, is so that we can

[1:33:01] have their address for the driver,

[1:33:03] so the driver knows where to take them.

[1:33:05] So anyhow, that was an improvement.

[1:33:10] So there, again, you'll see our Rice County Safe

[1:33:15] Roads Coalition mission, to move Rice County toward zero deaths.

[1:33:20] We've been close.

[1:33:22] We've had some years with only two fatalities,

[1:33:25] and that's encouraging.

[1:33:27] And we're going to get there, I know it.

[1:33:30] And then, if you want to get involved,

[1:33:35] come to the Safe Roads Coalition meetings or support us.

[1:33:40] We also attend the Southeast TCD Steering Committee.

[1:33:45] And then, attend the state conference this year.

[1:33:50] It's in Prior Lake, October 21 to 22,

[1:33:54] and we have had county board commissioners

[1:33:57] attend in the past.

[1:33:59] We've had the county attorney and law enforcement,

[1:34:02] lots of good folks.

[1:34:04] And it's a great event, a lot of workshops to choose from.

[1:34:09] And then, you'll see on the last page, our regional posters.

[1:34:16] So every year, the region, Jessica,

[1:34:20] will organize a photo shoot of all law enforcement

[1:34:25] and first responders for a photo shoot

[1:34:29] that we can distribute for seat belt awareness

[1:34:34] prior to seat belt campaign.

[1:34:36] And so it moves throughout the county, the 11 counties.

[1:34:40] We did it in 2012 at Northfield Hospital.

[1:34:44] And this year, we did it at the new Public Safety Center

[1:34:49] in Faribault. So there's the poster.

[1:34:52] The poster was printed by Neuger Communications.

[1:34:58] They did 500 large posters for $40.

[1:35:03] So they were a great partner too, and we thank them for that.

[1:35:07] So thank you very much.

[1:35:08] Any questions, anybody?

[1:35:10]

[1:35:12] Thank you.

[1:35:13] MALE SPEAKER: Not necessarily--

[1:35:14] KATHY COOPER: Oh, I'm sorry.

[1:35:15] MALE SPEAKER: No, it's OK.

[1:35:16] Not necessarily a question, but a statement.

[1:35:18] Thank you for what you do.

[1:35:20] You've been doing this for how many years now?

[1:35:22] KATHY COOPER: 18.

[1:35:23] MALE SPEAKER: 18.

[1:35:24] And we appreciate it.

[1:35:27] MALE SPEAKER: Well, thank you.

[1:35:28] KATHY COOPER: There's so many different factors,

[1:35:30] from seat belts, to drinking, to inattentive

[1:35:34] driving, to these things.

[1:35:36] And we have an aging society, so when you have training for 65

[1:35:43] plus, it's a lot of factors that come

[1:35:47] into just driving a vehicle.

[1:35:48] KATHY COOPER: Right.

[1:35:49] And now, thanks to our legislature passing

[1:35:54] legalized recreational marijuana, that's

[1:35:57] going to be another issue.

[1:35:59] I mean, it's already an issue, but it's probably

[1:36:01] going to be a greater issue.

[1:36:03] So, thank you.

[1:36:05] DEB PURFEERST: And I just want to keep Kathy up here a second

[1:36:07] and point out that Kathy has served

[1:36:10] in a very long time in Rice County

[1:36:13] to promote traffic safety.

[1:36:15] So we're really grateful for her work and her dedication.

[1:36:19] In 2024, Kathy was the recipient of the Kathy Swanson Outstanding

[1:36:24] Service Award for Exceptional Leadership in her efforts

[1:36:27] to improve traffic safety in Minnesota,

[1:36:31] and it was because of Kathy's work.

[1:36:34] Unfortunately, her daughter was killed in a traffic crash

[1:36:39] a number of years ago, but she led the efforts

[1:36:42] to improve the laws for the primary seat belt law,

[1:36:46] and it was because of Kathy's dedicated work

[1:36:49] that that happened.

[1:36:50] So we really appreciate all the work that she

[1:36:54] has done in Rice County.

[1:36:55] I would also like to shout out to some of the Rice County staff

[1:37:00] who are very helpful with our coalition.

[1:37:04] We have the county attorney's office, law enforcement, highway

[1:37:08] department and communications, and they are all very active

[1:37:13] partners on our coalition, so we couldn't

[1:37:16] get the work done without them.

[1:37:17] So, thank you.

[1:37:18] Again, thank you.

[1:37:20] Any other questions about Safe Roads Coalition?

[1:37:23] MALE SPEAKER: Well, I'd like to give it up

[1:37:24] for Kathy and your whole staff.

[1:37:26] So let's--

[1:37:27] DEB PURFEERST: Yeah, thank you Kathy.

[1:37:28] [APPLAUSE]

[1:37:30]

[1:37:31] KATHY COOPER: So we have a We Care card because we do care.

[1:37:35] Law enforcement is not out there just giving citations.

[1:37:40] They're trying to educate the driving public.

[1:37:43] We care.

[1:37:44] We care.

[1:37:45] DEB PURFEERST: Kathy did bring the fatal vision goggles,

[1:37:49] but I don't think we're going to take time to do that.

[1:37:51] But later, if any of you want to put them on and see what it

[1:37:55] would be like if you are using cannabis products,

[1:37:59] it gives you a good indication of what that is

[1:38:01] and how that might affect your driving.

[1:38:05] So that concludes includes our safe roads presentation.

[1:38:09] I'm going to move over to the second thing

[1:38:12] that Public Health is going to present about.

[1:38:15] So we're going to give you an update on our community

[1:38:18] health assessment process.

[1:38:20] So as a reminder, all Minnesota Community Health boards

[1:38:24] are mandated to participate in assessment and planning

[1:38:28] and to determine local public health priorities

[1:38:31] and focus local resources on the greatest community

[1:38:35] and organizational needs.

[1:38:37] So we did have a community health assessment and planning

[1:38:40] meeting in March of this year to prioritize some of the issues.

[1:38:45] I have Sarah Coulter here.

[1:38:47] She is our clinic and community supervisor,

[1:38:50] and she's going to give a brief update about some

[1:38:54] of the work that was done in March,

[1:38:56] as well as some of the next steps moving forward.

[1:38:59] So, thank you, Sarah.

[1:39:01] SARAH COULTER: Thank you.

[1:39:02] So good morning, everyone.

[1:39:05] I'm Sarah Coulter.

[1:39:06] I am the clinic and community supervisor, as Deb indicated,

[1:39:10] and I have been in this role since 2013.

[1:39:13] So that actually means this is my fourth go

[1:39:15] around with this process.

[1:39:17] So we keep doing things a little bit

[1:39:19] differently, improving, learning some new skills.

[1:39:21] And I want to acknowledge that the things that have been talked

[1:39:24] about today, I've heard at least 15 different points that you're

[1:39:27] going to hear a little bit about in this presentation as well.

[1:39:31] Health is in all policies.

[1:39:33] So just hearing some of these things,

[1:39:35] I'm going to try and point out where they connect to our work

[1:39:37] as well.

[1:39:38] So in the world of public health, this process,

[1:39:42] this community health assessment and improvement planning--

[1:39:45] you can go to the next slide--

[1:39:46] is required by the Local Public Health Act of 1976.

[1:39:51] So I'm going to take you a little bit through this wheel

[1:39:54] here.

[1:39:54] Our goals are to increase your understanding of the health

[1:39:57] of the people of Rice County, to walk through this process of how

[1:40:01] we identified our top three health-related needs

[1:40:05] in the county, and then to lay out our next steps, which

[1:40:08] get to the heart of strategizing with the community

[1:40:12] and our partners to address those needs.

[1:40:16] So, go ahead.

[1:40:17] We do this process through a variety of methods.

[1:40:20] This assessment piece, that first part of our wheel.

[1:40:23] The first part is really data that we

[1:40:27] gather from national, local and state sources.

[1:40:30] It's me going clickety-click, click, click in my office

[1:40:33] pulling data from the census, from the Minnesota student

[1:40:36] survey, et cetera, putting it into tables, charts, and graphs,

[1:40:39] and trying to understand that data.

[1:40:41] We also do a mailed survey.

[1:40:43] So if you go to the next slide, you'll

[1:40:45] see that we do hire a survey company to format the survey

[1:40:49] and to handle the distribution of that survey.

[1:40:53] In this last round of surveying, it was 57 questions long.

[1:41:01] We're working to shorten that.

[1:41:03] That's a lot of questions for the public.

[1:41:05] We did have a 27% response rate, which is still pretty good.

[1:41:12] But in 2021, we had a 38% response rate.

[1:41:16] So we are making efforts to shorten that survey, for sure.

[1:41:21] The survey results are actually weighted

[1:41:23] to ensure that the results more accurately reflect

[1:41:26] our population.

[1:41:27] For example, we don't survey students,

[1:41:29] so this is not representative of college students at all.

[1:41:33] And the number of respondents who participate in a written

[1:41:37] survey like that, they're typically older

[1:41:39] and they're typically white women.

[1:41:42] So the results are weighted to be more

[1:41:44] reflective of our population and we

[1:41:46] can't use this data at all to represent our people of color

[1:41:50] in Rice County.

[1:41:52] So all of these results were compiled into a report, which

[1:41:56] is available on our website.

[1:41:58] And I am going to go through the results of that survey

[1:42:01] and the data gathering in a little bit,

[1:42:03] but I did want to show you the next part of the wheel.

[1:42:07] So the report and the survey are building our assessment,

[1:42:13] and then we have to do this prioritization piece.

[1:42:18] So to move into that, we actually asked for help.

[1:42:22] We don't do that easily downstairs,

[1:42:24] but we did ask for help from the Minnesota

[1:42:26] Department of Health, their data and technical assistance team.

[1:42:30] I'm really grateful that we did do

[1:42:31] that because they-- go ahead--

[1:42:33] they helped us prepare for this meeting

[1:42:36] that we hosted with the community.

[1:42:38] We did gain some new skills and it did push

[1:42:43] us to try different new things.

[1:42:45] So that meeting was held on March 18.

[1:42:49] And if you would please raise your hand

[1:42:52] if you were able to attend that meeting,

[1:42:55] or you can just raise your hand if you wish

[1:42:58] you had attended that meeting.

[1:42:59] And I really hope everyone's hand goes up because I'm

[1:43:02] going to give you this.

[1:43:03] Oh, sorry.

[1:43:04] I can't reach that.

[1:43:05] That's all right.

[1:43:05] MALE SPEAKER: I think we all did.

[1:43:06] SARAH COULTER: Just hold on to this.

[1:43:08] Don't do anything with it right now, just hold on to it.

[1:43:11] All right, so there you go.

[1:43:14] So since everyone did raise their hand

[1:43:16] and was hoping that they could either have been there

[1:43:19] or that they were there, at this meeting,

[1:43:23] 45 people from the community were in attendance.

[1:43:26] And we did try some new tools.

[1:43:27] If anybody's ever worked with Padlet,

[1:43:29] you'll see it in a little bit.

[1:43:30] And we use these data sheets that the data

[1:43:32] and technical assistance team helped us develop.

[1:43:35] So before we get into the-- go ahead.

[1:43:38] Before we get into the results of this data

[1:43:41] and what the health of the people of Rice County

[1:43:43] looks like, I want to just give you a quick overview.

[1:43:46] We've got about 68,000 people in Rice County.

[1:43:49] We are increasingly diverse, and about 11% of our population

[1:43:54] lives in poverty.

[1:43:57] So as we do this, do you guys have your cell phones with you?

[1:44:02] MALE SPEAKER: Yes.

[1:44:03] SARAH COULTER: If you would please play along with me,

[1:44:05] I'd like to try something new with you guys,

[1:44:07] because we're constantly trying to innovate and keep people's

[1:44:09] attention and try new things.

[1:44:11] So if you would please go to menti.com on your cell phone.

[1:44:17] And then at the top, you're going to see

[1:44:18] a spot to plug in a code.

[1:44:20] And that code is there.

[1:44:22] It's going to stay on the next few slides.

[1:44:24] So if it takes you a bit to get there,

[1:44:28] your connectivity is slow, you will get there.

[1:44:30] We're going to go on to the next slide.

[1:44:32] But all you're going to do at this point is go to the website

[1:44:35] and plug in the access code, and then you can

[1:44:39] put your phone down for a bit.

[1:44:41] So once I am done reviewing the health topics,

[1:44:44] I do want you to vote.

[1:44:46] So Menti is a voting tool that I want

[1:44:48] you to try out with me today.

[1:44:50] Anyone is welcome to vote.

[1:44:51] So if members of the public at home, they want to try voting,

[1:44:55] again, the information is on the slides.

[1:44:57] People in the room, you're welcome to vote.

[1:44:59] This is just to help us understand

[1:45:03] and stay tuned into the data.

[1:45:04] We will be looking at the results at the end of this.

[1:45:07] So again, on this slide and the next several,

[1:45:10] that Menti information is on there.

[1:45:13] All right, let's go on.

[1:45:15] So the first data slide that we're going to look at

[1:45:17] is around health care access.

[1:45:19] And you can see, this is how we oriented the public.

[1:45:21] So the exclamation points are where we emphasized items that

[1:45:26] were particularly noteworthy.

[1:45:29] I am limiting myself to one data point on each of these slides

[1:45:33] and I'm sheepish to tell you that I did miss one slide,

[1:45:37] so I'll just verbally talk through that one.

[1:45:40] So in no particular order, we're starting

[1:45:42] off with health care access.

[1:45:44] Rice County has more people per provider

[1:45:47] than the state average for dental, mental health,

[1:45:50] and physical primary care.

[1:45:52] So more patients per provider than the state average.

[1:45:57] I just want you to think about how that impacts a person's

[1:46:00] ability to manage their chronic disease,

[1:46:02] or to get in for an appointment.

[1:46:04] Next slide, we've got on the bottom right, only 45%

[1:46:09] of our children and teens who are enrolled

[1:46:11] in medical assistance-- so our low income

[1:46:14] families-- have completed their well-child exam.

[1:46:18] But parents know that these exams are an important part

[1:46:22] of catching their child's development

[1:46:25] or physical care needs early on so that they can be addressed.

[1:46:29] The sooner that we detect something, the more likely

[1:46:32] we are to have a successful health outcome of whatever

[1:46:35] is identified.

[1:46:37] So that's preventative screenings.

[1:46:39] Physical health.

[1:46:40] So this sheet really captures our leading causes of death.

[1:46:46] And those are labeled in Rice County by one, two, skip a few,

[1:46:50] and then 4, 5, 6.

[1:46:54] The one I want to point about out here

[1:46:56] is in your top right quadrant.

[1:46:58] We've got 38% of our population has high blood pressure.

[1:47:03] High blood pressure is a modifiable health risk.

[1:47:07] So that is something you can actually do something about.

[1:47:11] That number has also been increasing.

[1:47:15] All right.

[1:47:15] Next slide, we've got our childhood immunizations.

[1:47:18] And I'd like to point out that we have decreasing vaccination

[1:47:23] uptake here in Rice County.

[1:47:25] So there's four data points on here and all four of them

[1:47:28] are asterisked, so I'm just going

[1:47:30] to summarize it by saying we have decreasing

[1:47:32] vaccinations in Rice County.

[1:47:34] And there was a pertussis outbreak in Minnesota in 2024.

[1:47:39] Next slide.

[1:47:40] I lumped the youth and the adults

[1:47:42] together when it comes to weight status.

[1:47:44] Our adults are actually-- if we look at overweight and obese

[1:47:48] together, 75% of our Rice County residents

[1:47:52] are overweight or obese.

[1:47:54] And being in those weight categories

[1:47:56] has an impact on our chronic disease, which

[1:47:58] just two slides ago, I told you was one

[1:48:01] of our leading causes of death.

[1:48:03] So I also wanted to point out-- so I'm cheating

[1:48:06] and I'm doing two on this one-- that as our screen

[1:48:09] time increases, oh, it's actually-- no, it's right here.

[1:48:13] So as our screen time increases, so sedentary time,

[1:48:17] so does our experience with anxiety and depression.

[1:48:20] You're going to see that here coming up soon too.

[1:48:24] So on this slide, we've got our youth

[1:48:26] and our adult substance abuse.

[1:48:28] And I just want to say that our children reflect

[1:48:31] the behaviors of the adults.

[1:48:32] So we've got increasing amounts of cannabis.

[1:48:37] Tobacco is actually going down a little bit.

[1:48:39] And tobacco is actually higher in southern Rice County.

[1:48:42] So if you're a commissioner in southern Rice County,

[1:48:45] take a look at that top right area,

[1:48:48] looking at Southern Rice County split by northern Rice County.

[1:48:52] Pause here, Sarah, because this is where I forgot

[1:48:54] the slide on mental health.

[1:48:57] Sorry about that, it's actually a really important one.

[1:49:00] And one in three adults have either anxiety

[1:49:03] or depression in Rice County.

[1:49:06] It's the same for our children.

[1:49:08] It's also interesting that when you look at loneliness,

[1:49:10] one in three of our adults experience loneliness.

[1:49:14] So that number has increased very significantly since 2016.

[1:49:22] We're going to go on.

[1:49:23] The next slide is around maternal health.

[1:49:26] As you know, I do work with our WIC services as well.

[1:49:30] And I want to point out that this

[1:49:31] is an area WIC is going to be focusing

[1:49:33] on in the next two years.

[1:49:35] 37% of our WIC moms have a low hemoglobin.

[1:49:39] Hemoglobin is like the iron in your blood,

[1:49:41] and it's what carries oxygen. A woman is building another human

[1:49:45] at this time, and that human needs blood volume,

[1:49:47] and so does mom.

[1:49:48] So in their third trimester, we have 37% of our WIC moms

[1:49:52] with low hemoglobin.

[1:49:54] That is actually higher when you look at it by race.

[1:49:57] So our white moms experience lower levels of low hemoglobin,

[1:50:01] and our Black and our Hispanic moms

[1:50:03] experience greater levels of low hemoglobin.

[1:50:06] So low hemoglobin in pregnancy increases

[1:50:09] risk of premature babies, so babies born before 37 weeks.

[1:50:13] I'm guessing some of you guys have

[1:50:14] had experiences with premature babies in your lives.

[1:50:18] Those babies are also at risk of low birth weight

[1:50:21] and at risk of infection or the mother

[1:50:24] bleeding out during birth.

[1:50:25] So 37% of our moms are experiencing this.

[1:50:30] All right, our housing slide.

[1:50:33] We've got nearly half of our renters

[1:50:35] in Rice County are paying 30% or more of their income on rent.

[1:50:42] You already knew that, I'm thinking,

[1:50:43] but that is really, really significant.

[1:50:46] Motor vehicle safety.

[1:50:48] Shout out to Kathy who, I don't know if she's still in the room,

[1:50:51] but two in five of our students report distracted driving.

[1:50:57] Commissioner Mallika pointed out all the distractions

[1:50:59] that are available to us when we're driving,

[1:51:03] and so just a nod to Kathy on that part of her work.

[1:51:07] Violence, abuse, and neglect.

[1:51:10] One in 10 of our students report emotional or physical abuse.

[1:51:14] There's also some information from Megan Thomas's unit

[1:51:17] or department on this slide as well,

[1:51:20] regarding the number of children in out-of-home foster care.

[1:51:25] All right, that is what I would like to call a turn

[1:51:28] and burn on the data related to Rice County.

[1:51:32] And this is where we're going to pause so that you guys can vote.

[1:51:35] So if you would again pull up your Menti, what I want you

[1:51:38] to do is choose three categories where

[1:51:40] you think it's the outstanding or one of the top three

[1:51:44] of those categories.

[1:51:46] Just select them, and then Sarah,

[1:51:49] if you would go to our website so we can start

[1:51:51] seeing how you guys voted.

[1:51:53]

[1:51:58] MALE SPEAKER: So you just told us we're going to get depressed

[1:52:01] if we're on the screen time and now you

[1:52:03] got us playing on our phones.

[1:52:05] SARAH COULTER: Yeah, yep.

[1:52:06] You're absolutely right, I do.

[1:52:08] But after this, please feel free to turn it off.

[1:52:12] All right, so what you can see, we've got--

[1:52:14] oh, good.

[1:52:15] You're still voting.

[1:52:16] I'm going to let it settle for a bit.

[1:52:19] MALE SPEAKER: I was paying attention.

[1:52:21] SARAH COULTER: And dang, we're going

[1:52:22] to need some tiebreakers here.

[1:52:24] So if somebody else wants to vote,

[1:52:26] you can see that the number one issue here is housing,

[1:52:29] and then we've got a whole lot.

[1:52:31] And I'm not too surprised.

[1:52:32] All of these things is a pressing health need.

[1:52:36] We're only able to focus on the top three,

[1:52:39] and now we've got three.

[1:52:40] So let's just go with this.

[1:52:42] We've got physical health, substance use, and housing.

[1:52:45] So just in this kind of--

[1:52:46] I'm sorry, I'm pretty informal about some of this

[1:52:49] and this spitball method.

[1:52:50] This is what we came up with, those

[1:52:52] being the top three-- housing, physical health,

[1:52:55] and substance use.

[1:52:56] Let's take a look, Sarah, if you would go back to the top three

[1:52:59] that the community identified.

[1:53:01] When the community went through this process which, granted,

[1:53:05] they got a whole lot more meat on the bones

[1:53:07] in this presentation.

[1:53:08] We really took some time to digest it with our partners.

[1:53:11] And these are the top three that they came up with.

[1:53:14] Housing, mental health, and health care access.

[1:53:18] So we can go to the next slide because this is the tool Padlet.

[1:53:23] Super, super messy, but it worked brilliantly.

[1:53:26] You're getting the summary, but we spent the rest of our meeting

[1:53:31] after we identified the top three, really diving

[1:53:34] deep on those three topics of housing,

[1:53:37] mental health, and health care.

[1:53:38] And we talked about what is helping

[1:53:42] on this issue of mental health, housing, and health care,

[1:53:47] and what is contributing, what's making it worse.

[1:53:50] And everybody just kept dumping their ideas and information

[1:53:53] into this tool, Padlet.

[1:53:56] And now what we've done--

[1:53:59] well, then, we stopped the meeting.

[1:54:02] Well, no, I guess not.

[1:54:04] We closed the meeting by asking who

[1:54:06] wants to be involved in the next steps of this process.

[1:54:10] So we can go to the next slide, because I've

[1:54:12] taken you all the way around to number three here.

[1:54:15] We are currently strategizing.

[1:54:17] So we're taking these top three health issues

[1:54:20] and we're meeting with work groups, which are going to begin

[1:54:24] meeting later on this month.

[1:54:26] And then we're going to be setting

[1:54:27] some goals, some strategies, and objectives.

[1:54:30] And we're going to develop measurement

[1:54:34] in order to be able to see whether or not

[1:54:35] we're having an impact.

[1:54:37] So the population measure is something we just measure

[1:54:42] periodically, not regularly.

[1:54:45] So when we look at the fact that one in three of our adults

[1:54:48] is experiencing anxiety or depression,

[1:54:50] if I measure that every week, I'm

[1:54:52] not going to see much change.

[1:54:54] But if I measure the efforts that the community is having

[1:54:57] around, like, raising awareness about mental health needs,

[1:55:01] increasing the number of providers,

[1:55:02] those things change more regularly.

[1:55:04] And then we pull our population measure again

[1:55:07] in about three years and see if we've had a positive impact

[1:55:11] on that outcome.

[1:55:14] So since our technology worked, I don't actually

[1:55:17] need you to use your red packets in the way

[1:55:20] that I thought I might need you to use them

[1:55:22] if our technology didn't work.

[1:55:24] But in recognition that one of our top health needs

[1:55:26] is mental health, when you open up

[1:55:28] your packet, what you're going to find in

[1:55:30] there is three wooden hearts.

[1:55:32] And again, since our technology worked and mental health

[1:55:35] is a top health need in Rice County,

[1:55:37] you can feel free to take those three wooden hearts

[1:55:40] and distribute them to three people.

[1:55:43] I'm going to ask you to find three people that you want

[1:55:46] to appreciate, or just send a message of kindness

[1:55:49] to, and give those little hearts of kindness away.

[1:55:51] So thank you for your time today.

[1:55:54] What questions may I help with?

[1:55:56]

[1:55:59] MALE SPEAKER: Well, Sarah, I enjoy your energy

[1:56:01] and your presentations.

[1:56:04] SARAH COULTER: Love working here.

[1:56:05] We've got some good stuff going on.

[1:56:08] MALE SPEAKER: Yes.

[1:56:08] Any other comments?

[1:56:11] Thank you, Sarah.

[1:56:12] That was very good.

[1:56:13] SARAH COULTER: Thank you.

[1:56:16] MALE SPEAKER: Commissioners, are you doing good?

[1:56:19] Stay with it?

[1:56:20]

[1:56:22] We got the honorable Dennis Luebbe coming up.

[1:56:25]

[1:56:32] DENNIS LUEBBE: Good morning.

[1:56:33] MALE SPEAKER: Good morning.

[1:56:34] MALE SPEAKER: Good morning.

[1:56:35] DENNIS LUEBBE: So I'll keep some updates brief.

[1:56:37] It's been a long morning.

[1:56:38] I know Paula wanted to know how long I was going to talk

[1:56:41] because she's ready to go.

[1:56:45] Just some updates from highways.

[1:56:46] I'll focus on construction, mostly.

[1:56:49] A couple projects, well, all projects are moving along fine.

[1:56:53] I think in the next couple of weeks,

[1:56:54] we'll be really close to wrapping up several of them.

[1:56:59] I do want to point out that on our County Road 50, that's

[1:57:02] that reconstruction project, we ran

[1:57:03] into two pockets of silty material

[1:57:06] that required us to put in a little extra cement

[1:57:09] stabilization.

[1:57:11] So we'll probably have a little cost

[1:57:13] overrun in at least that line item on that contract.

[1:57:17] But at this point, I don't think it's anything excessive.

[1:57:22] Let's see, on our County Road 78 culvert up by Sechler Park

[1:57:27] in Northfield, we ran into bedrock,

[1:57:29] and that will cost a few extra dollars again

[1:57:32] to have that excavated out, especially

[1:57:34] for the knee walls or the toe walls of that culvert.

[1:57:39] Again, I don't think it's excessive,

[1:57:40] but probably some unplanned cost on that job.

[1:57:48] Let's see, we did receive some additional funding

[1:57:52] so we can advance the Richland Township Bridge

[1:57:55] Hall Avenue Commissioner.

[1:57:57] I'll be talking to them in November on that,

[1:58:00] get that squared away for next year.

[1:58:03] I will have next week, for your action or consideration,

[1:58:07] a proposal to start a design for another Northfield Township

[1:58:12] Bridge on Carroll Trail.

[1:58:14] I got a proposal from a consultant,

[1:58:16] so that'll be on the agenda for next week's action item,

[1:58:20] as well as an update on County Road 11, our slope failure

[1:58:24] due to the flooding last year.

[1:58:26] We did open some bids.

[1:58:28] The bids came in extremely high.

[1:58:31] And we will be reassessing our options,

[1:58:35] and I'll share more details with you next week on that.

[1:58:38] It doesn't look like we'll get that project

[1:58:40] done this year due to the costs we saw on that bid opening.

[1:58:45] And then the other County Road 20 project

[1:58:50] we're designing for 2027 from Trunk Highway 3 by Menard's

[1:58:55] and Dundas to back up towards Faribault about three

[1:58:58] miles, that project, in the design phase right now,

[1:59:02] we're probably looking at a few challenges there.

[1:59:05] We've talked to Great River Energy, which

[1:59:07] is the transmission line through Rice County, or at least one

[1:59:11] of them.

[1:59:12] We're going to have to move one of their poles

[1:59:14] so our alignment can best fit the contours and the other needs

[1:59:20] of the project.

[1:59:21] That may not be cheap.

[1:59:24] We've just started the process with them to investigate

[1:59:28] the cost to do that.

[1:59:30] And then, in that same area, to make the road improvements

[1:59:35] and design a safe road to serve the public

[1:59:38] for the next 50 years, we're going to move the alignment.

[1:59:42] Moving that alignment pushes us into some wetland

[1:59:45] and some poor soils.

[1:59:46] So we're just beginning to learn how much over-excavation.

[1:59:50] We're going to get into that.

[1:59:52] So when we talk about the cost of that project,

[1:59:56] I think it's creeping upwards, but we'll know more

[2:00:00] as we get further into design.

[2:00:03] We do hope to have maybe some exhibits in a public open house

[2:00:09] on that part of County Road 20, I think in October

[2:00:12] now, maybe later in October.

[2:00:16] And let's see, well, I think I'll stop there.

[2:00:20] I could talk a little bit about parks

[2:00:21] if you're interested in what we've been able to do in parks.

[2:00:26] We've got a project going on at Shaker Park,

[2:00:28] right west of town off of Trunk Highway 60

[2:00:30] for some ADA improvements through Deb and Public Health

[2:00:35] funding some of that, and then the action

[2:00:37] you took last week to free up some of those dollars

[2:00:39] in our park dedication fee.

[2:00:42] Randy Tim's crew is going to get in there, I think, next week

[2:00:44] and start making those improvements.

[2:00:47] We have some trailhead signs that were also funded

[2:00:50] through Public Health and SHIP.

[2:00:52] Those should be going up next week at three different parks

[2:00:57] to give folks a better sense of the park amenities

[2:01:01] and some of the history of the parks.

[2:01:03] And Susie's been very helpful to help that,

[2:01:06] along with other staff in Public Health

[2:01:08] and in the assessor's office--

[2:01:10] good teamwork on that.

[2:01:12] Our MnDOT crew, I think, should be placing signs along our Trunk

[2:01:16] Highway system in Rice County that

[2:01:18] identify those parks as well.

[2:01:20] I need to follow up and see where they're at with that.

[2:01:24] That was also funded through Public Health.

[2:01:27] And then our regional park application,

[2:01:31] we were able to go to the Defeat of Jesse James

[2:01:35] Day on a Saturday morning.

[2:01:36] We had an opportunity for a survey,

[2:01:39] try to capture some folks' interest and knowledge

[2:01:42] of Cannon River Wilderness Park, what amenities

[2:01:46] they would like to see.

[2:01:48] And some folks didn't even know where it was, but that's fine.

[2:01:52] So we're building awareness for that.

[2:01:53] That was a pretty good turnout on that day

[2:01:55] until we got rained out, I think, about 2 o'clock.

[2:01:59] Nice event up there.

[2:02:02] With the attorney's office, we're working on the park rules.

[2:02:06] So as part of our signage, we're going to display--

[2:02:10] the board will be acting on that in the future

[2:02:13] here to develop some updated park rules, so that's underway.

[2:02:18] And I think we're going to hopefully wrap that

[2:02:20] up by the end of this year.

[2:02:23] And then it's funding time, so I'll

[2:02:26] be working with Sandy on a couple of different initiatives.

[2:02:28] And then also, our routine highway funding opportunities

[2:02:34] are starting to come to us, and there'll

[2:02:37] be some discussion possibly on what projects

[2:02:40] we would pursue funding on.

[2:02:42] And we're talking about projects that are probably in years

[2:02:44] 3, 4, and 5 in our program.

[2:02:47] So I'll keep it short.

[2:02:50] Any questions on that update?

[2:02:54] MALE SPEAKER: Go ahead, Galen.

[2:02:56] MALE SPEAKER: I don't think you mentioned County Road

[2:02:58] 46, Hazelwood Avenue.

[2:03:00] DENNIS LUEBBE: That project, I think,

[2:03:02] has one lift of asphalt to go.

[2:03:04] They finished that this week with the paving,

[2:03:07] and then of course, pavement markings, signage, shouldering,

[2:03:10] and I think some very minor ditch

[2:03:14] grading has to be done yet.

[2:03:16] Probably, I would say, middle of October,

[2:03:20] maybe a week earlier than that.

[2:03:24] County Road 48 right here in Faribault, it's

[2:03:27] an interesting paving approach there

[2:03:29] to deal with all of the different traffic lanes

[2:03:31] and the different depths of paving.

[2:03:33] That's moved along nicely, and the traffic

[2:03:36] signal work was done.

[2:03:38] And I think final paving is, again,

[2:03:41] probably five to 10 days out.

[2:03:44] That could wrap up.

[2:03:45] Our County Road 27 project, I think all the construction

[2:03:48] signs have been removed and so I think we're essentially done.

[2:03:51]

[2:03:54] Did mention County Road 50, and I did mention the culvert.

[2:03:57] So it's been a good, heavy month of work.

[2:04:03] MALE SPEAKER: Thank you.

[2:04:04] MALE SPEAKER: How about the fuel port?

[2:04:05] Is that going this year or is that going to get pushed in?

[2:04:07] DENNIS LUEBBE: I talked to our consultant just yesterday.

[2:04:10] We have not heard back from the low bid on their intention.

[2:04:13] I do believe it is planned for next year, Commissioner.

[2:04:16] I'm waiting for written confirmation on that

[2:04:19] and I wanted to mention that today,

[2:04:21] but I don't have it, so we should get that any day

[2:04:24] with a schedule for work commencing next spring.

[2:04:28]

[2:04:34] MALE SPEAKER: Thank you, Dennis.

[2:04:35] Is that it?

[2:04:35] DENNIS LUEBBE: Yep, yep.

[2:04:36] MALE SPEAKER: I appreciate it.

[2:04:37] Thank you much.

[2:04:39] Next, we have finance with Paula O'Connell.

[2:04:43] SARAH: And actually, I'll be taking it.

[2:04:46] MALE SPEAKER: Thank you, Sarah.

[2:04:47] SARAH: Yep.

[2:04:48] Our prelim budget-- and I'm going to stay here because I'm

[2:04:50] going to have multiple screens that I

[2:04:51] can pull up our information depending

[2:04:53] on where the questions land.

[2:04:56] Sometime later this morning as well,

[2:04:58] the budget packet will be updated for a new budget

[2:05:01] roll forward document.

[2:05:03] There was a section in there that

[2:05:05] had some data from outside agencies

[2:05:07] that needed to be updated, so that will be taken care of

[2:05:10] and re-uploaded.

[2:05:11] I do have an accurate copy that I can share on the screen

[2:05:14] when we get to that point.

[2:05:15] So let me move into a presentation here.

[2:05:19]

[2:05:29] I just have to try to get it over to the other screen.

[2:05:32]

[2:05:39] I'll try this instead.

[2:05:41]

[2:05:50] There we are.

[2:05:51] So I'm going to just go through the first couple of slides

[2:05:53] we have every year with our mission, vision,

[2:05:55] values, priorities, and the high level summary.

[2:05:59] So for next week, this number is actually going

[2:06:03] to go just a little bit lower.

[2:06:06] We got some information at the end of last week.

[2:06:08] As we talked about throughout the summer here

[2:06:09] in legislative session, we're going

[2:06:11] to be getting information on a rolling

[2:06:13] basis beyond preliminary levy.

[2:06:15] So towards the end of last week, we received some information.

[2:06:18] I know when Angela Brewer was here talking about some

[2:06:21] of their grants, we requested a one year extension.

[2:06:24] We didn't know the results of that yet,

[2:06:25] so we had that half time FTE on the levy instead of the grant,

[2:06:29] because as far as we knew, that grant was going to be done.

[2:06:31] We did get, towards the end of the week, notification

[2:06:34] that one year, no cost extension was granted,

[2:06:38] so that FTE will then shift from levy

[2:06:41] to grant funding for next year.

[2:06:43] That will take that down a little bit.

[2:06:45] And then we had another position that we reviewed,

[2:06:47] that instead of being full time, is going to be 0.75.

[2:06:50] So that will move some things around too.

[2:06:51] So for the purposes of today, these are the numbers.

[2:06:55] But next week, when you see the resolution,

[2:06:57] it will be a little bit lower than that.

[2:07:00] So the 2026 budget recommendation

[2:07:03] is $103,688,739 for all funds.

[2:07:08] The 2025 budget was a little over 116 million.

[2:07:12] You'll see this visually reflected later where you look

[2:07:14] at in particular, like transportation projects can make

[2:07:18] that swing, or when we have facility projects, things

[2:07:21] like that, that are not our general ongoing operations,

[2:07:25] where you'll see that number can shift what

[2:07:30] would be pretty significantly.

[2:07:32] So last year, we had more transportation projects.

[2:07:35] This year, you'll see how transportation is a smaller

[2:07:38] portion of the budget than it was

[2:07:39] last year, just because again, you guys see the 10 year plan.

[2:07:42] When we have larger, maybe federal or state funded projects

[2:07:45] that's not levy, that can make that number move quite a bit.

[2:07:48] So that's where we're sitting for this year.

[2:07:50] Our total levy increase is $3,532,540.

[2:07:56] If you think about all things equal, nothing changes.

[2:08:01] What are the staff, because of health

[2:08:03] care, bargaining agreement changes, things of that nature--

[2:08:07] our personnel costs, including all the taxes,

[2:08:11] and we have a new tax this year with the paid family leave tax

[2:08:15] that will be going into play.

[2:08:17] That's $3,157,000, so that leaves

[2:08:19] $374,870 for other things.

[2:08:23] The staffing is not a one-for-one

[2:08:25] because we do have some positions where

[2:08:27] a portion of their funding might be reimbursed

[2:08:31] through state or federal programs,

[2:08:32] or it might be a grant funded position.

[2:08:34] So again, that staffing number isn't a one-for-one,

[2:08:37] but that's what that increase in payroll is year over year.

[2:08:41] And next year, we actually have a slight overall decrease

[2:08:44] in FTE, so there's not going to be

[2:08:47] an increase in our FTE from last year to this year,

[2:08:50] or this year to next year.

[2:08:52] Our HRA levy increase is 0.

[2:08:55] We were able to stay flat based on funding they

[2:08:58] get from a variety of sources.

[2:09:00] And then the county and HRA combined levy is 8.87%,

[2:09:07] and then I'll have that breakdown a little more further.

[2:09:09] So the total 2026 property tax levy request is $43,354,666,

[2:09:17] but that will change for next week.

[2:09:19] Again, that will be a little bit lower than that.

[2:09:22] MALE SPEAKER: Sarah?

[2:09:23] SARAH: Yeah?

[2:09:24] MALE SPEAKER: Could you go back just for a moment?

[2:09:26] Our top line, our budget is $103,688,000.

[2:09:31] And then you got in parentheses, $116,538,000.

[2:09:34] SARAH: Yeah, that was this year's.

[2:09:36] So just so you could see what our budget was for this year

[2:09:39] for expenditures compared to what we're

[2:09:41] going to be spending next year.

[2:09:42] MALE SPEAKER: OK.

[2:09:43] SARAH: Yep.

[2:09:43] MALE SPEAKER: Thank you.

[2:09:44]

[2:09:49] SARAH: And this is, again, kind of dialing down

[2:09:51] a little bit, our levy by fund.

[2:09:54] So you can see the changes for general fund, libraries, road

[2:09:59] and bridge, human services, and compared

[2:10:02] to what we levied in 2025.

[2:10:08] So our total gross county levy is 7.6% increase.

[2:10:12] And then you take into consideration

[2:10:13] county program aid, which we're actually losing a bit.

[2:10:17] And that impact, even though it's only a loss of $143,393,

[2:10:23] it doesn't keep up with our cost of administering services.

[2:10:26] So that's what makes that net levy net out to the 8.92.

[2:10:30] So before the impact of county program aid, we're at 7.6,

[2:10:35] then we go up to 8.92.

[2:10:38] And we do have a slide that just talks about program aid,

[2:10:43] but as a reminder for people's knowledge

[2:10:46] here, we did have an infusion or the legislature

[2:10:52] provided more money a few years back for additional program aid.

[2:10:56] And that didn't change for this year, but what we get

[2:10:59] is based on formula for how our county is either performing

[2:11:03] or the demographics of our county compared

[2:11:05] to other counties in the state.

[2:11:06] So you have two parts to county program aid.

[2:11:09] You've got county need aid and county

[2:11:11] tax base equalization aid.

[2:11:13] So for the county need aid, our share

[2:11:15] is based on here's the money, here's

[2:11:17] what the legislature appropriates

[2:11:19] for each of those buckets.

[2:11:21] And then part of it's distributed based on percentage

[2:11:25] of our population that's 65 and older

[2:11:27] compared to other counties with what their 65

[2:11:31] and older population is.

[2:11:32] The next part of that is based on what portion of our county,

[2:11:37] how many residents receive SNAP benefits.

[2:11:39] And then the other part is based on state group A offenses,

[2:11:43] like part I crime data.

[2:11:45] So it's kind of that hard thing too, because you

[2:11:49] don't want crime committed.

[2:11:51] You want a good economy where we don't need some

[2:11:53] of those social safety nets.

[2:11:56] So as you improve in those areas,

[2:11:58] your aid goes down because then it

[2:12:00] seems like the economy of your county is doing better,

[2:12:03] and same thing on the tax base equalization aid.

[2:12:05] There were some changes to this maybe--

[2:12:08] I'm thinking 10 years ago, maybe a little longer,

[2:12:10] because it talks about--

[2:12:12] it's based on your county tax base.

[2:12:16] And so there was a period of time particularly, like,

[2:12:19] I was working in Southwest Minnesota, where

[2:12:22] ag land was rapidly rising.

[2:12:24] You had over $10,000 an acre, sometimes

[2:12:27] close to $15,000 an acre.

[2:12:29] The prices in the Minnesota River Valley

[2:12:30] were very significant.

[2:12:31] So those counties that were small and having

[2:12:34] these rapid rises of ag land values,

[2:12:39] their county program aid was decreasing pretty significantly.

[2:12:43] So they put in this little formula piece

[2:12:47] that is the greater of 0.27% of the statewide appropriation

[2:12:55] for the equalization aid, or 95% of your county's

[2:12:57] TBA for the previous year.

[2:12:59] So that reduced the instability and that fluctuation

[2:13:02] of that portion of aid, because again, that

[2:13:04] was pretty significant for some counties

[2:13:07] that had those large swings in the ag values.

[2:13:12] So that's where, again, if money doesn't get added to that pool,

[2:13:18] some counties will see a continual decline,

[2:13:20] while other counties will see a continual increase.

[2:13:22] So it's more of a policy thing when we get to legislature.

[2:13:26]

[2:13:29] MALE SPEAKER: Excuse me, did you commissioners understand that?

[2:13:33] SARAH: Sorry, it's complicated.

[2:13:34] MALE SPEAKER: I mean, that was a lot to digest for me.

[2:13:36] SARAH: I know.

[2:13:37] I'll repeat it again during final, but that is just,

[2:13:40] again, one of the complicated formulas that we deal with that

[2:13:42] does have an impact on what our net levy looks like every year,

[2:13:46] and it is a legislative point of discussion every year as well.

[2:13:50]

[2:13:53] So if we look at the county HRA only tax rate and levy history,

[2:14:01] over the past 10 years or so, our tax rate

[2:14:05] estimate for this coming year is 38.96%, our levy change, 8.87.

[2:14:11] I'm going to pull up another document here just

[2:14:14] to show you some more info.

[2:14:16] Let me see here.

[2:14:17]

[2:14:20] I think it's on here.

[2:14:21]

[2:14:24] And Josh was here earlier.

[2:14:26] He talked about the trends and what we're seeing.

[2:14:28] So these numbers in the bottom are

[2:14:31] very close to his presentation but not quite the same.

[2:14:33] These are a point in time number that we get when we're

[2:14:36] working on preparing stuff.

[2:14:37] So when you look at our taxable market value,

[2:14:42] our projection at the point in time we did this document was

[2:14:45] about that $10,817,000,000 mark, which was very close to what

[2:14:51] Josh had in his presentation.

[2:14:53] And our net tax capacity, which is what he was describing

[2:14:56] in that very complex, all the property classifications and all

[2:14:59] those classes are assigned at a tax rate,

[2:15:01] based on what the state tells us,

[2:15:03] each piece of parcel can be taxed

[2:15:06] at, our net tax capacity for the county is $111,267,925--

[2:15:13] again, an estimate at this point in time.

[2:15:16] We have a little over $93 million in new construction,

[2:15:21] so this isn't just values increasing

[2:15:23] because of different market factors,

[2:15:25] this is also new construction.

[2:15:27] And that gives us our tax rate of 38.96%.

[2:15:31] So basically, based on current tax capacity that the state

[2:15:36] allows through their statutes and rules,

[2:15:39] we're tapping into about 38% of that.

[2:15:42] So we can, under their rules, tax $111 million.

[2:15:47] We don't and are not going to.

[2:15:51] So that's kind of what shows.

[2:15:53] So we're looking at $43 million in property taxes.

[2:15:57] Our ceiling is 111, if that kind of makes sense.

[2:16:01] So our new estimated net tax capacity for new construction

[2:16:06] is $838 million.

[2:16:09] Our new construction tax revenue--

[2:16:11] so of this increase that we're asking for, we're estimating

[2:16:16] that $326,000 of that, maybe 3/4 of a percent-- a little more--

[2:16:21] is going to be paid for by new construction

[2:16:24] that we're experiencing.

[2:16:26] So it's always good to see growth in our tax base.

[2:16:30] That's what we're going for to help spread

[2:16:32] that out a little bit more.

[2:16:33]

[2:16:36] This is the document that's in the attachment,

[2:16:39] but the more current version where it goes through

[2:16:43] and talks about each department within the fund.

[2:16:46] So the total general fund is going up 9.27%.

[2:16:51] Some areas, we're kind of phasing out

[2:16:56] some one-time funding that we received

[2:16:58] and easing that off because that money is just about done.

[2:17:04] We had an increase in that payroll tax

[2:17:08] for the paid family leave, some things like that.

[2:17:11]

[2:17:14] Let's see here-- extension, I'll talk about that one a bit

[2:17:17] because that looks like a larger number,

[2:17:18] and that number will come down a little bit.

[2:17:20] But in the prior year-- so not this year in '24,

[2:17:24] I think towards the end of '23 maybe,

[2:17:26] a position was eliminated but it wasn't eliminated,

[2:17:30] was only on pause.

[2:17:32] But we took it off the levy and we

[2:17:33] provided for funds for a facilitator

[2:17:37] to determine what the needs were.

[2:17:39] So we had a position, didn't feel like it was meeting

[2:17:42] the needs we wanted to do.

[2:17:43] We're reevaluating that, and so now we've

[2:17:45] come up with some ideas so we can look at having the Extension

[2:17:49] Committee review some job descriptions, come

[2:17:51] to an agreement, and that was a 0.75 FTE.

[2:17:54] So now for '26, we're anticipating that that 0.75 FTE

[2:17:58] will be back in the budget when it's

[2:18:00] been left unfilled for a year while they try to work

[2:18:03] out the job descriptions.

[2:18:06] Those positions are State of Minnesota, extension University

[2:18:09] of Minnesota positions, so it's not like a job description

[2:18:12] that we can just craft and change.

[2:18:14] We have to work within what they have

[2:18:16] and their union, their wages, their job descriptions.

[2:18:19] So it's just a little bit different process to get

[2:18:21] to where we want to get to.

[2:18:22] But that'll be there, so that's why it looks like there's

[2:18:24] a larger increase in extension, is to accommodate

[2:18:27] for that position.

[2:18:30] And if anything changes with that before final,

[2:18:32] we'll make those changes.

[2:18:33]

[2:18:38] Again, we show we had these fund summaries on the other page.

[2:18:43] Human Services.

[2:18:45] So throughout this fall, we had departments

[2:18:47] come in that were going to be seeing more of an impact

[2:18:50] from legislative changes.

[2:18:52] So, like, we had Social Services presented a couple of times

[2:18:56] on some different areas.

[2:18:58] Community Corrections was in because there's

[2:19:00] a little bit larger swing in community corrections.

[2:19:02] So they came and talked twice to you all about the things

[2:19:05] impacting their budget and what the needs were.

[2:19:08] We had the 901 Center and some other smaller

[2:19:11] presentations on budgets, so you could get the detail in there.

[2:19:15] And when we do final budget, we'll

[2:19:16] link to all those online resources

[2:19:18] so people can go back and review the specific department

[2:19:21] presentations on that for more information as well.

[2:19:24] But in here, you'll see areas where, again, we might have

[2:19:28] a little bit higher swing because we have new things that

[2:19:30] are going in there, whether it's competency

[2:19:32] attainment like Megan discussed, or we have increased services.

[2:19:36] What you don't see in particular in Human Services,

[2:19:40] are things that changed in session this year,

[2:19:43] whether it's state or federal.

[2:19:44] But a lot of those have delayed implementation.

[2:19:47] So some things are end of fourth quarter next year, October,

[2:19:51] so we might have that in there.

[2:19:52] Some things are 2027 implementation,

[2:19:55] some things are 2028.

[2:19:56] And so departmental staff and myself

[2:19:59] have been attending any opportunity we can,

[2:20:01] federal and state online meetings and webinars

[2:20:05] that they're holding.

[2:20:06] And the message has pretty much been the same.

[2:20:08] Like, here's the change, here's maybe a broad sweep of what they

[2:20:12] think an impact would be, but the analysis is not complete as

[2:20:15] to what that means for us here.

[2:20:17] And so that information hopefully

[2:20:19] will continue to develop over towards the end of this year.

[2:20:23] Some of it we won't be getting maybe till next year.

[2:20:27] So that's why we talked significantly about impacts

[2:20:31] of changes and we've only seen an increase of 7.462%

[2:20:36] because a lot of those changes are not

[2:20:38] implemented quite yet next year, but they

[2:20:40] will be seen in future years.

[2:20:44] Debt service.

[2:20:44] I have a thing on debt service to show you guys,

[2:20:47] because we usually talk about this

[2:20:48] and this is good for thinking ahead.

[2:20:51] So all these numbers are our debt service chart

[2:20:57] that Paula and finance track.

[2:21:00] So I'm going to highlight because I

[2:21:01] know this is itty-bitty.

[2:21:02] But what it shows is how we structured our debt.

[2:21:05] So for '25, '26, '27, '28, our debt service number is flat,

[2:21:11] so we won't need to increase pending

[2:21:13] a decision made to do anything else with additional debt.

[2:21:18] $4,513,000 is our debt service through 2028.

[2:21:24] Then you'll see in 2029, some prior debt service issues

[2:21:28] are going to start to drop off.

[2:21:30] They're going to be paid.

[2:21:31] So we'll see a decrease of almost $700,000

[2:21:35] in 2029 for debt service.

[2:21:37] We'll see some little modifications

[2:21:41] in the next several years, and then again, you

[2:21:44] just see a continued drop off.

[2:21:47]

[2:21:50] Looks like 2039, we'll get about a million decrease.

[2:21:54] But this is what our schedule looks like

[2:21:56] and how our debt is structured.

[2:21:57] We try to do it so it remains as flat as possible.

[2:22:00] So even when you see some drop off,

[2:22:02] it might increase in another area,

[2:22:04] again, because we try to always structure

[2:22:06] our debt in a way that keeps it flat

[2:22:08] so we don't see those large swings.

[2:22:12] MALE SPEAKER: Sarah, our debt levy

[2:22:15] is mainly due to our new law enforcement center.

[2:22:18] Is that a big portion of that?

[2:22:19] SARAH: So, half?

[2:22:21] What do you think, Paula, about half?

[2:22:24] It's little, but you can see, we've got--

[2:22:28] let's see, that one comes off this year.

[2:22:30] So we had a 2018 equipment certificate

[2:22:32] that got paid off in '14.

[2:22:34] The 2019 debt service for the GSB, so in 2019,

[2:22:38] we had two issues because of the project and how we broke it up.

[2:22:42] So those are on there.

[2:22:44] Those are about-- let's see, between the two--

[2:22:50] about $700,000 for that payment that

[2:22:54] goes up to a little over eight in the last

[2:22:56] year of payment in 2033.

[2:22:59] And then the jail, the 2022 jail bonds are at 2.9.

[2:23:05] So of the 4.5, 2.9 right now is the jail bonds.

[2:23:12] And then there was a 2016 crossover refunding.

[2:23:16] So when you have other bonds that you might

[2:23:19] refund and restructure at any point in time,

[2:23:22] you got refunding bonds.

[2:23:23] So that is done in '28.

[2:23:24]

[2:23:28] So again, in 2029, we'll see a decrease in our bond payment.

[2:23:32] So the next couple of years, it'll be the same amount,

[2:23:36] and that'll help, with the levy in that year,

[2:23:39] offset that-- again, unless other decisions

[2:23:41] are made in the meantime that might

[2:23:42] change our debt service needs.

[2:23:44]

[2:23:50] Our capital projects fund, that's another one

[2:23:52] I'd just like to highlight.

[2:23:54] Last year, in order to get the levy where it was,

[2:23:57] we removed our annual contribution

[2:24:02] to the capital projects fund.

[2:24:04] So those are things for facility needs.

[2:24:06] When you have a more major structural capital

[2:24:09] type project with facilities, we use that fund.

[2:24:11] So in 2025, we used some of it and then

[2:24:17] we did not contribute to it.

[2:24:20] And then this year, we are doing it again.

[2:24:22] So we're going to be using $83,000

[2:24:26] for projects that we have, and we're going to be levying 100.

[2:24:32] Actually, we did levy for it last year.

[2:24:34] One year, we didn't but anyhow, sorry about that.

[2:24:37] We are going to be using 80-- so that's the use of fund balance,

[2:24:40] is about $83,000 in projects that are more capital in nature

[2:24:43] that we're going to be using from that fund,

[2:24:45] and then we'll have that net of the 100

[2:24:48] that we're going to be levying.

[2:24:51] You're going to be having some meetings coming up regarding

[2:24:54] environmental services in the landfill,

[2:24:56] some studies that's going to talk about rates and things

[2:24:58] like that.

[2:24:59] But that environmental services fund is a self-sustaining fund

[2:25:02] at this point.

[2:25:03] But again, you will be looking at studies, landfill needs,

[2:25:06] changes in legislation that might impact

[2:25:09] our expenses going forward.

[2:25:10] Those presentations will be forthcoming.

[2:25:13]

[2:25:20] Oops, sorry.

[2:25:20] MALE SPEAKER: Could you go back a page, Sarah?

[2:25:23] MALE SPEAKER: Yes, go ahead.

[2:25:24] MALE SPEAKER: Thank you.

[2:25:25] The tax rate proposed for '26 is 38.9%.

[2:25:29] What was it this last year, in '25 year?

[2:25:33] SARAH: 37.

[2:25:34] MALE SPEAKER: 37?

[2:25:36] SARAH: Yep.

[2:25:38] We've come down from, like, you see we were in the 40s.

[2:25:42] I mean, it's kind of just bouncing back and forth here

[2:25:44] depending on where we're at.

[2:25:49] MALE SPEAKER: And how does this look compared

[2:25:50] to surrounding counties?

[2:25:52] SARAH: Yep, and I can get the most recent.

[2:25:54] I don't have it on me, but we're typically in the lower

[2:25:57] of the tax rates in the state.

[2:26:00] But there is annually a report that comes out

[2:26:03] that shows that information, so we're in the better

[2:26:09] off of the tax rate counties.

[2:26:10] We're not the lowest.

[2:26:11] That's usually like a county to the north of us

[2:26:14] in particular that stays towards the bottom.

[2:26:16]

[2:26:19] Yeah, no, we sit really nice, but there

[2:26:20] are reports that come out annually

[2:26:21] and I can get that information.

[2:26:25] So part of our 2026 budget also includes the use

[2:26:28] of fund balance and reserves.

[2:26:30] So in most instances, it's from money that has been set aside

[2:26:37] for special purposes, one time money

[2:26:39] that we receive for special purposes,

[2:26:42] departments that have fund balances for specific projects

[2:26:45] like environmental services--

[2:26:47] again, one time state or federal funding.

[2:26:50] So our projected based on our use of $2 million for

[2:26:55] will still have the estimated fund

[2:26:58] balances that are shown above.

[2:27:01] So some things that we're using fund balances for

[2:27:04] is, we had some money set aside when we

[2:27:07] were going to go self-insured.

[2:27:09] And so as part of our health insurance agreements

[2:27:12] for the next three years, since we decided

[2:27:14] not to go self-insured, we're spending

[2:27:16] down that employer and employee portion of those funds.

[2:27:22] So those were funds that have been sitting in our reserve that

[2:27:24] have been dedicated for that purpose

[2:27:27] that we're now going to be spending down because we don't

[2:27:29] need to hold them anymore, because we're

[2:27:31] not going to go self-insured.

[2:27:32] So we're spending those down.

[2:27:34] Same thing with some public safety funds or highway funds

[2:27:38] or other, again, one time revenues

[2:27:41] that we received that we are intending to spend down.

[2:27:44]

[2:27:47] But again, at the end of the year,

[2:27:50] we should still have a healthy, appropriate fund balance.

[2:27:53]

[2:27:57] We discussed this the beginning of the month

[2:28:01] here, our board agency, the outside appropriation requests

[2:28:05] that you heard during August.

[2:28:08] And so we have our 2025 board approved,

[2:28:11] the 2026 requested, and the 2026 board recommends.

[2:28:14] So after discussion, we've kept the outside agency requests

[2:28:20] at their 2025 level and made adjustments for areas

[2:28:24] with the two, with the Historical Society

[2:28:26] and the Ag Society, where we pay for the insurance.

[2:28:30] And those rates went up, and that's kind of what it is.

[2:28:33] There's not an option there, and so those are

[2:28:37] the only modifications to that.

[2:28:39] So our level for outside agency funding

[2:28:42] goes from $856,256 to $868,661.

[2:28:47] And that change is just due to insurance changes,

[2:28:49] but all other things remained the same.

[2:28:52]

[2:28:57] This, we covered in detail, but here

[2:28:58] is the history of what our county program aid looked like.

[2:29:01] So you can see where the state made that infusion of funds,

[2:29:04] so we got a bump.

[2:29:05] And then now we're going back down a little bit,

[2:29:10] just based on our demographics of our county

[2:29:12] compared to others.

[2:29:13]

[2:29:16] Adjustment to fees.

[2:29:18] So when we go through and meet with departments on the budget,

[2:29:20] we talk about what are the fees for service

[2:29:23] that we have control over.

[2:29:24] Are they appropriate?

[2:29:25] Do they need to be changed?

[2:29:27] In December, you all review the fee schedule and approve that.

[2:29:31] So we made changes where we knew they were going to be made

[2:29:33] and then we'll present that fee schedule for discussion

[2:29:36] in detail in December.

[2:29:40] Here are some of the different visual things you can see.

[2:29:43] We are a service.

[2:29:45] We provide services, so bulk of our expenditures by type

[2:29:49] are personnel.

[2:29:50]

[2:29:53] And our revenue.

[2:29:54] This is where you're going to see a little bit of flipping

[2:29:57] from the prior year.

[2:29:58] So for 2026, 42% of our budget is property taxes

[2:30:03] and penalties and 37% intergovernmental.

[2:30:06] So that's like our federal, state,

[2:30:07] and other governmental revenues we get in.

[2:30:11] Last year, it was flipped where we had I think 34% of our budget

[2:30:18] was funded by property taxes and more was

[2:30:20] funded by intergovernmental.

[2:30:22] Some of it is due to decreasing, but also, we

[2:30:27] had that large transportation project too.

[2:30:31] So that kind of skews us more than normal.

[2:30:34] Because if we don't have that project,

[2:30:37] that doesn't count as funding.

[2:30:38] So again, take it a little bit with a grain of salt

[2:30:42] that those things can make these changes in something.

[2:30:46] One project could make those numbers go back and forth.

[2:30:48]

[2:30:51] Our expenditures by function.

[2:30:53] Again, this is where you can visually

[2:30:54] see that last year, road and bridge was higher

[2:30:58] than public safety and social services,

[2:31:01] again, because of the road program for that year.

[2:31:03] This year, the road program looks different.

[2:31:05] And so you'll see human services as being 25% of our expenditure

[2:31:11] by function, public safety at 20,

[2:31:13] and then road and bridge at 17, and general government at 14.

[2:31:18] So again, depending on what some of our programming

[2:31:21] is for any given year, what portion of the budget

[2:31:24] is larger changes from time to time.

[2:31:26]

[2:31:30] Joy was in and presented on her budget

[2:31:33] during one of her meetings earlier this month.

[2:31:37] So this just, again, talks about what our levy use is,

[2:31:40] but she went into detail with you guys on her budget.

[2:31:44]

[2:31:47] And special purpose funding for 2026

[2:31:50] that we're still administering, the opioid litigation funding.

[2:31:54] We approved an MOA a little earlier--

[2:31:58] I think it was actually still this month--

[2:32:01] for some services, with most to be able to continue

[2:32:04] that program, to provide some gap funding while they reassess

[2:32:09] opportunities for other state or federal sources

[2:32:11] to keep that going.

[2:32:12] The spending plan will be discussed in full in December.

[2:32:15] We have some community engagement activities

[2:32:17] between now and then, but just know that the opioid litigation

[2:32:20] funding, that number might change

[2:32:22] within the detail of the budget, but that's not Levy funds.

[2:32:26] There are eligible certain uses that we use and we discuss those

[2:32:29] with community members, and then the spending plan

[2:32:33] is presented in December when we have our final levy meeting.

[2:32:38] The local homeless prevention aid for fiscal year '25,

[2:32:43] again, they're kind of rolling years.

[2:32:44] So part of it's this year, part of it's next year,

[2:32:46] and same thing in '27.

[2:32:48] Goes up a little bit for fiscal year '26,

[2:32:51] so this is one that the funding is very specific to support

[2:32:54] new or existing family homeless prevention

[2:32:56] and assistance projects or programs.

[2:32:59] We work with other agencies to administer this funding.

[2:33:04] It's targeted towards families with children.

[2:33:06] So annually, we report on this.

[2:33:08] I usually give an update in December about some impact.

[2:33:11] Again, it's to stabilize households with children that

[2:33:16] are school age children in the homes that are either paying

[2:33:18] more than 50% of their income for rent, lacking

[2:33:21] fixed, regular or nighttime residence,

[2:33:23] living in overcrowded conditions,

[2:33:25] or facing eviction and things like that to help stabilize

[2:33:28] families and provide connects with organizations

[2:33:31] to provide wraparound services.

[2:33:32] So this has been a pretty successful program.

[2:33:36] And this was a legislative appropriation

[2:33:39] that's pretty specific.

[2:33:40] We also are in our final years of the statewide

[2:33:43] affordable housing aid.

[2:33:44] So these are for the purposes of construction acquisition, things

[2:33:48] that work towards providing and increasing affordable housing

[2:33:52] opportunities in the county.

[2:33:54] We've used our money so far to support the engineering

[2:33:56] and design on Twin Oaks.

[2:33:58] In the last year, we'll be able to look at other opportunities

[2:34:00] for how we use that affordable housing aid in the community

[2:34:04] for eligible activities.

[2:34:05]

[2:34:08] Looking at when we're going to have our public hearing

[2:34:11] on the proposed budget will be Thursday,

[2:34:13] December 11 at 6:00 PM.

[2:34:16] So kind of just a note, we will not have a regular board

[2:34:18] meeting that week because that aligns

[2:34:20] with our annual conference.

[2:34:21] But then that Thursday, we'll come together that night

[2:34:24] for a public hearing.

[2:34:25]

[2:34:29] So if you have any questions--

[2:34:34] MALE SPEAKER: I have a question.

[2:34:35] MALE SPEAKER: Yes, go ahead.

[2:34:36] MALE SPEAKER: Do we have built-in

[2:34:37] for a downtown maintenance building here?

[2:34:40] SARAH: No.

[2:34:42] So I have some meetings tomorrow to talk

[2:34:47] about some different things with other parties.

[2:34:51] I know that's very vague.

[2:34:53] We have some opportunities to talk about

[2:34:55] that I'll bring forward to you.

[2:34:56] This does not include a building there.

[2:34:58] That will be part of an ongoing discussion

[2:35:00] of how we meet those needs, but that is not in this budget.

[2:35:04]

[2:35:08] MALE SPEAKER: Any other questions, commissioners?

[2:35:10] MALE SPEAKER: Uh, yeah.

[2:35:12] SARAH: I know, it's a lot of information.

[2:35:14] And we'll keep working this through to the end of the year

[2:35:16] as we get more information, more clarity on changes.

[2:35:19] The prelim you set next week is the max.

[2:35:22] We can't go lower.

[2:35:24] Besides this grant that we heard back from, unless some funding

[2:35:29] opportunities return to us or loosen up a bit,

[2:35:32] I'm not going to say that I anticipate

[2:35:35] that it's going to get much lower than what it is.

[2:35:37] If anything, we're going to look a little worse

[2:35:39] and we'll have to accommodate in one area or another.

[2:35:42] But we can't go higher than what you set next week.

[2:35:44]

[2:35:47] MALE SPEAKER: Well, I appreciate the pie charts.

[2:35:50] I'm a visual guy and I can relate to that quite well.

[2:35:57] Yeah.

[2:35:58] MALE SPEAKER: I do have a question.

[2:35:59] MALE SPEAKER: Go ahead.

[2:36:00] MALE SPEAKER: What percent of this 8.9% or 8.8 levy

[2:36:06] is personnel, between health insurance?

[2:36:11] SARAH: Yep, one moment here.

[2:36:12] I'll get that for you.

[2:36:13]

[2:36:17] And some of that's a little--

[2:36:19] again, I talked about it's not a one-for-one on the levy

[2:36:21] because of all of that.

[2:36:22] But I can show you of our budget, so of the $106 million,

[2:36:30] 54% of that is personnel services.

[2:36:33] It's staff.

[2:36:34] So how that kind of proportionately shakes out just

[2:36:37] depends on what percentage of a position

[2:36:39] might be funded by another source-- grant,

[2:36:43] state, federal reimbursement.

[2:36:44] So it's easier to say of our budget,

[2:36:48] here's what personnel expenses are.

[2:36:50] I don't know, Paula, if you've got another--

[2:36:52]

[2:36:56] FEMALE SPEAKER: It's complicated, because I can say,

[2:36:58] let's say that we have funding sources in there for that,

[2:37:01] and that we do support that budget.

[2:37:02]

[2:37:05] But we can tell you what the total is.

[2:37:07] We can we tell you what the comparison is from last year

[2:37:11] to this year to break it down by types of benefits and overtime,

[2:37:16] and things like that.

[2:37:19] SARAH: Yep, and our personnel again increased a little

[2:37:21] over 3 million, but that doesn't one-for-one

[2:37:24] go on our levy increase, just because some of those positions

[2:37:27] are funded differently.

[2:37:30] MALE SPEAKER: I understand it's a hard number to hit.

[2:37:32] SARAH: Yeah.

[2:37:33] So if we look at last year, we were down, around 52,

[2:37:37] high $52 million for personnel.

[2:37:40] That includes health care, taxes, all those things.

[2:37:43]

[2:37:48] MALE SPEAKER: So Sarah, basically,

[2:37:50] just so people understand, I think transparency is the best

[2:37:54] thing we can be right now as far as what we're up against

[2:37:58] and what we're doing.

[2:37:58]

[2:38:02] Oh, gosh.

[2:38:02] I lost my train of thought.

[2:38:06] Well, one thing-- and Susie or Sarah,

[2:38:09] how available is the public to these pie charts,

[2:38:12] so they can see what we're doing and what we're up against?

[2:38:16] SARAH: Yeah, so once we're done with this presentation,

[2:38:17] we can upload it in the packet so people can see it.

[2:38:20] MALE SPEAKER: So that would be out on our website?

[2:38:23] SARAH: Yep.

[2:38:23] MALE SPEAKER: Yeah, OK.

[2:38:25] I think that's important.

[2:38:27] Yeah, I don't know.

[2:38:30] Did anybody else have anything?

[2:38:32] SARAH: I think Commissioner Peter stopped in a couple times

[2:38:36] for some of our department meetings

[2:38:38] to see our process behind the scenes and the work

[2:38:41] that we put in ahead of bringing it to you all.

[2:38:44] So I think this year, I'm very thankful to the departments

[2:38:46] for coming in, understanding the situation.

[2:38:49] We had a much lower initial request

[2:38:52] than we have in other years, because everyone

[2:38:54] knew this is not the year to ask for anything new.

[2:38:56] We need to figure out how to sustain

[2:38:58] or how to make changes to accommodate for any cuts, which

[2:39:01] was a good thing but it also made it a lot harder

[2:39:03] to find those areas where we could get it down from that

[2:39:07] 15% down to something under 10.

[2:39:09] It made the work a little harder.

[2:39:11] And social services in particular put a lot of work

[2:39:13] into evaluating things.

[2:39:15] One area I should have highlighted when we're talking

[2:39:17] about-- and I didn't.

[2:39:18] Let me pull it up here real quick again--

[2:39:21] that kind of helped us get that last little mile here,

[2:39:25] let me see if it's on.

[2:39:28] And it might not be.

[2:39:29] It's not going to be in this chart, I don't think.

[2:39:31]

[2:39:34] Oh, maybe.

[2:39:35] So this thing called contingency fund.

[2:39:37] What it is, is anticipated wage savings.

[2:39:41] And that's the number we work with a little bit at the end

[2:39:43] to try to get us down.

[2:39:45] So we look at what's our usual savings in a given

[2:39:50] year because of vacancies and time to fill,

[2:39:52] and things like that.

[2:39:53] And then in particular, like in social services,

[2:39:55] we looked at with some of the changes that are coming,

[2:39:59] do we have some positions that are going to have a leg

[2:40:01] and being filled?

[2:40:03] Because we're going to pivot what service

[2:40:05] we're needing to provide based on what we're mandated to do.

[2:40:09] And so we changed that number from that $1,044,000

[2:40:14] that we have as an offset of wage savings,

[2:40:16] to $1,283,000 based on--

Rice County Committee of the Whole Meeting

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