Board of County Commissioners Meeting

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[0:03] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
[0:08] and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God,
[0:13] indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
[0:20] Welcome, everyone.
[0:23] First order of business is approving the meeting agenda
[0:26] with the following Amendment.
[0:28] The removal of the item under report of County administrator
[0:31] regarding data, practices, compliance officials.
[0:36] Would someone like to make that motion.
[0:41] That motion, Mr. Chair.
[0:42] Motion made by Commissioner casa.
[0:43] Is there a second.
[0:44] I'll second.
[0:45] Second by Commissioner Severson.
[0:47] Any discussion.
[0:50] Hearing none.
[0:51] All those in favor, signify by saying Aye.
[0:54] Aye Opposed.
[0:55] Same sign.
[0:56] The meeting agenda has passed.
[0:59] Looking for a resolution to approve the consent agenda
[1:02] with the following approval of minutes from the July
[1:05] 21, 2026 board meeting.
[1:08] Approval of regular full time status, employees and acceptance
[1:11] of resignations and retirements.
[1:14] Approval of drainage, ditch repairs and approval of claims.
[1:19] Looking for a resolution.
[1:21] I'll enter that resolution.
[1:22] Entered by Commissioner Severson.
[1:24] Is there a second.
[1:25] I'll second.
[1:26] Second by Commissioner Eckstrom.
[1:27] Any discussion.
[1:29] Hearing none.
[1:30] Will the clerk please call the roll.
[1:32] Commissioner?
[1:33] yes.
[1:34] Yes, yes Mr. Shaw.
[1:36] Yes That is passed.
[1:40] Moving on.
[1:40] Report of board committees, Commissioner Severson.
[1:43] Yes I had the shared Resources Committee
[1:45] with the city of Albert Lea, joint County
[1:48] ditch 8 with city of Waseca.
[1:50] Waseca County and rural Minnesota Energy Board meeting.
[1:55] Thank you, Commissioner casa.
[1:57] Sir yes.
[1:58] I attended the poweron meeting with Martin,
[2:02] Faribault and freeborn County.
[2:04] They had an attorney there.
[2:05] She was very interesting.
[2:08] I don't think a lot came out of it other than just information,
[2:13] but it was interesting.
[2:16] And then we've had two rounds of AFSCME negotiations.
[2:20] I think they're going well.
[2:23] Now we're just working on the language in it.
[2:27] We've assessed the stuff from the state was sick and safe
[2:32] or whatever it is that we have to include.
[2:35] So far it's going OK.
[2:37] And I attended the planning and zoning meeting last night,
[2:40] and I very much appreciate commissioner
[2:43] Ekstrom's preparation and study that she does for that.
[2:46] She comes very well prepared with facts.
[2:49] Thank you.
[2:50] All right, Commissioner Schaaf.
[2:52] None at this time, Commissioner Ekstrom.
[2:56] I also was part of the ditch eight
[2:58] meeting with Waseca County.
[2:59] I had a River Watershed meeting and there is some money from.
[3:06] So it goes in two year increments.
[3:08] And freeborn lake is one of the lakes in that area
[3:11] considered an impaired lake.
[3:13] So I would encourage the city of freeborn
[3:16] maybe to be looking into ways of improving that area.
[3:23] Planning commission meeting last night, of course,
[3:25] and I'll comment on that I guess after under item number 5,
[3:30] had a freeborn County Trail Association meeting and a law
[3:35] library meeting that only meets about one to two times a year.
[3:39] But we will be adding another meeting because they're trying
[3:41] to decide if the law library, instead of using the judge's law
[3:47] clerks that deal with the materials in the law library,
[3:49] if that will fall under the County attorney's office.
[3:52] So there's going to be another meeting scheduled
[3:54] here pretty soon for that.
[3:56] And then a number of concerned calls about the situation
[4:01] in Twin Lakes.
[4:03] And so yeah.
[4:06] So that's enough for that.
[4:07] All right.
[4:08] Thank you.
[4:10] I've sat through two rounds of union negotiations.
[4:14] The negotiations are just starting
[4:16] and they'll be going through the end of the year.
[4:19] We have seven unions that we have to work through contract
[4:23] negotiations with.
[4:24] I2 was part of the shared Resource Committee
[4:27] with the city of Albert Lea, and also sat on the joint ditch
[4:33] eight hearing with Waseca County,
[4:37] went sat through interviews for probation department director,
[4:43] had a meeting with Albert Lea, HRA their housing
[4:47] and redevelopment.
[4:49] Also went over to Faribault County.
[4:52] Visited with Faribault County, Martin
[4:54] County, and freeborn County on the transmission lines.
[4:57] That has a potential of going through our County.
[5:00] Met with the administration on two different occasions
[5:04] and also sat through.
[5:06] We have a gentleman from the AAMC that came down
[5:08] to talk to each one of us board members, and at some point
[5:13] we'll all be gathering together on how we can work together
[5:17] as a whole board to better.
[5:20] Freeborn County, and that's what I've been up to.
[5:24] So with that said, we'll move on to miscellaneous business.
[5:30] And first on that agenda is the planning commission report,
[5:33] if there's anything there.
[5:35] Sure So we had a planning commission meeting last evening
[5:39] and we continue to work on our energy storage,
[5:43] the energy storage ordinance.
[5:46] It's been a long road and working on that.
[5:50] But we want to get it as nice as possible, or as clear
[5:53] cut language as we possibly can.
[5:56] Thank you for putting the table of contents up there.
[5:58] Ulan brothers wanting a gravel pit.
[6:01] And so that got tabled so we could get a little bit
[6:04] more information on that, dealing with road
[6:06] usage and a safer route.
[6:10] The possibility of a safer route.
[6:12] The steel application was approved and that's about it.
[6:18] So all right.
[6:20] Thank you.
[6:21] Any other items under miscellaneous business
[6:25] then we'll move on.
[6:26] Are there any persons present wishing
[6:28] to address the board concerning matters pertaining
[6:30] to this agenda, as well as any other matters of County concern.
[6:35] If so, please step forward.
[6:39] Seeing none, we'll move on.
[6:41] Report of various departments beginning with the report
[6:43] of Environmental Services.
[6:51] Good morning, Mr. Chair.
[6:53] Good morning, commissioners.
[6:54] The first item I have for you this morning
[6:56] is to set a public hearing date to extend
[6:58] our interim zoning ordinance pertaining to data centers.
[7:02] The planning commission is just turning the corner.
[7:04] As commissioner Ekstrom just said,
[7:05] we're just turning the corner on our energy storage ordinance.
[7:08] Once that's buttoned up, we'll move right into data centers,
[7:11] extending this zoning, this interim zoning ordinance
[7:14] gives the County an additional year to do that.
[7:18] And I would recommend that we hold
[7:20] that hearing at the next board meeting, the August 18.
[7:23] I would allow me to get the notice in the paper today
[7:26] for a publication on Saturday, and that would provide us
[7:28] the correct timeline to be able to hold that hearing and adopt
[7:31] that language on the 18th.
[7:35] Would someone like to enter a motion
[7:37] setting that public hearing for the 18th of August, 2026?
[7:43] I'll make the motion.
[7:44] Motion made by Commissioner Ekstrom.
[7:46] Is there a second.
[7:47] I'll second.
[7:48] Second made by Commissioner Severson.
[7:50] Any discussion.
[7:53] Hearing none.
[7:54] All those in favor, signify by saying, I opposed.
[7:58] Same sign.
[7:59] That motion has passed.
[8:01] That hearing date is set for August 18, 2026,
[8:04] right here in this room.
[8:06] Thank you.
[8:06] I appreciate that.
[8:08] The second item I have for you this morning
[8:10] is kind of a two-fold request.
[8:12] The first request is a motion to pick
[8:14] up the Amendment to chapter 42, Section 4259 off of the table.
[8:19] As this item was tabled at the last board meeting,
[8:22] someone like to make a motion to bring that resolution back
[8:27] to the floor.
[8:29] I'll enter that motion, Mr. Chair.
[8:31] Motion made by Commissioner casa.
[8:32] Is there a second.
[8:33] I'll second.
[8:34] Second by Commissioner Ekstrom.
[8:36] Any discussion.
[8:38] Sure I have a question.
[8:40] Just an existing survey.
[8:44] Would they just have to get that updated with their plans.
[8:48] Yeah, I don't know.
[8:50] We're kind of getting into the business side of it.
[8:53] But I'm sure.
[8:55] An old survey, it has the data at the surveyor's office
[8:58] say it's Jones and Smith that has the old survey.
[9:02] I would imagine that would alleviate some of their labor
[9:04] on their end to get that survey produced.
[9:06] And then adding in the setback that we'd
[9:09] be looking for the structure that's proposed.
[9:14] So the motion on the floor is to bring
[9:17] this item back to the floor.
[9:20] There's a first and a second.
[9:22] Any other discussion.
[9:24] Hearing none.
[9:25] All those in favor, signify by saying Aye.
[9:29] Aye Opposed.
[9:30] Same sign.
[9:31] Now we'll move on to the actual resolution itself.
[9:34] And that was an Amendment to a current zoning ordinance.
[9:41] Is there someone that wishes to enter that resolution Mr. Chair,
[9:45] I'll enter the resolution.
[9:46] And then if it gets seconded, then I
[9:51] can offer some explanation.
[9:52] OK entered by Commissioner Eckstrom.
[9:55] Is there a second, Mr. Chair.
[9:57] Yes wasn't that already entered and seconded at the last meeting
[10:02] before it was tabled?
[10:09] I know.
[10:14] I think I requested we table it till commissioner Eckstrom was
[10:18] back before there was a motion.
[10:21] I think that was the only motion, wasn't it.
[10:24] I don't know.
[10:24] Seems we're getting into the weeds a little bit here.
[10:26] We're just trying to get this worked through.
[10:32] So is there a second.
[10:34] I'll second.
[10:35] Second by Commissioner Severson.
[10:37] Any discussion.
[10:38] Yes so I maybe should let commissioner Eckstrom go first.
[10:46] But, Trevor.
[10:51] We already have things in place.
[10:54] Kind of.
[10:54] Correct I was told by a gentleman
[10:57] from the Board of adjustments.
[10:59] Kind of already have something where
[11:01] if somebody comes in and fills out an application and you
[11:06] and the neighbor comes in, you'll go out, you'll check,
[11:08] you'll pull the application if they have violated something.
[11:12] Correct yeah.
[11:13] We kind of at this point in time, we rely on a site plan.
[11:17] So the application has to come with the site plan.
[11:20] The issue there though, is there's not
[11:22] really good language describing what that site
[11:24] plan is supposed to be.
[11:26] I've pulled files from back in the day that are construction
[11:30] paper with things glued to it, which as the language
[11:34] sits now that satisfies that requirement.
[11:38] And if we do see an issue, we can always leverage a survey
[11:41] on a certain project, especially if we have complaints coming in,
[11:45] but we don't really have the teeth to require
[11:48] that if someone puts up a fight on requiring a survey,
[11:51] I don't know.
[11:52] I don't know how that plays out with us
[11:54] requiring that for the permit.
[11:57] Well, because Ross has had how many permits that 9,000,
[12:04] you said.
[12:05] Yeah, 9,000 plus.
[12:07] Yeah and this has happened a handful of times.
[12:11] Yeah so I'm concerned with us punishing
[12:15] the entire public because a couple
[12:17] neighbors can't get along.
[12:18] The other thing that would concern me
[12:21] is they come in, they tell you they don't need a survey
[12:24] because they're 10 feet away, and you go out with your wheel
[12:27] and say, nope, you're five.
[12:29] So you have to have a survey.
[12:32] Then the survey comes back.
[12:34] They've spent $2,000 on their survey, and they were right.
[12:38] They shouldn't have had to do it all of a sudden.
[12:40] Is that going to open us up for somebody suing us because they
[12:45] were forced to spend $2,000.
[12:47] They didn't need to.
[12:48] I just I'm a little concerned with some of these things.
[12:52] So yeah Mr. Chair, Commissioner casa,
[12:55] it's really tough in land use to come up with a perfect rule.
[12:59] And those are certainly potentialities
[13:02] and probably some unintended consequences
[13:05] with the survey situation.
[13:07] I can't really speak to how that would play out
[13:09] with regards to liability and requiring surveys
[13:13] and then turning out, turning around at the end of the project
[13:16] and finding out they really didn't need one.
[13:19] Yeah, I don't know how to speak to the liability
[13:21] side of requiring a survey, but I can tell you it's
[13:25] hard to strike a perfect rule.
[13:28] There's probably going to be situations that we didn't see,
[13:32] as we try to use this language and move
[13:35] forward if it's approved.
[13:37] But I mean, so are we doubling up here.
[13:40] Like, do we already have some things
[13:42] in place that handle something that
[13:45] doesn't happen all that often.
[13:47] Yeah in our office, we're unique as a County
[13:51] because we are code delegated County.
[13:53] So we have checks and balances.
[13:56] First process is zoning with me.
[13:58] They turn in their site plan and I look at the structure
[14:01] and where it's at.
[14:02] I look at the use of the land and then if that's OK,
[14:05] it goes to Ross.
[14:06] And Ross is actually the boots on the ground,
[14:09] doing building inspections.
[14:11] Excuse me.
[14:12] So if he sees something as he's doing his plan review,
[14:16] usually that's where we catch, in discrepancies in a site plan
[14:20] between us there has been, a handful of situations where
[14:24] workloads a lot or someone turned in an application
[14:27] in a goofy way, and we might miss one.
[14:31] But I would say we do have a process right now to catch
[14:35] encroachments at this point, but the language
[14:40] in the ordinance allowing for that is pretty vague.
[14:44] So if it really did come to push and shove,
[14:46] I don't know how that would play out other than just issuing
[14:50] an Nov and going through the enforcement process,
[14:53] which is long and cumbersome.
[14:56] Any other discussion.
[14:59] Sure, Mr. Chair.
[15:00] So this came up after several incidences just
[15:04] with me being on the planning commission.
[15:05] Actually, even before I was on the planning commission,
[15:07] learning about residents that end up
[15:09] fighting their neighbors over encroachment
[15:12] onto their property line.
[15:13] So it was just kind of trying to thinking of a way
[15:16] of how can we make an ordinance better to prevent that.
[15:20] I guess trying to make government work better on behalf
[15:22] of the peoples is the goal.
[15:25] I agree, I don't want unintended consequences, however.
[15:29] So in environmental services, the building inspector,
[15:32] he is not a surveyor.
[15:33] So in one incident we have a landowner coming back
[15:39] blaming environmental services for an issue
[15:41] and saying that their fault and so forth.
[15:45] This does take the guesswork out of it.
[15:48] People that know where their property line is.
[15:50] Definitely my understanding after the workshop
[15:52] is that for the board, some concern was
[15:55] added expense onto landowners.
[15:58] I guess the way the planning commission had discussed
[16:01] it was if you can afford to build a brand
[16:04] new garage or a big shed, because again, smaller
[16:07] units are exempt from this.
[16:10] If you can afford to do that could probably afford
[16:13] several hundred dollars to make sure
[16:15] you are building where you're supposed to be building.
[16:19] And then also, if you have that survey giving a little bit
[16:23] more teeth than in the event that person
[16:26] goes ahead and builds where they're
[16:28] not supposed to build as well.
[16:32] I guess I don't see it as punishing people.
[16:34] I see it as knowing exactly where your property line is
[16:39] and in essence, protecting yourself,
[16:41] protecting your neighbor.
[16:44] And so.
[16:47] Trying to think of other things on here.
[16:49] Let me just look at my notes here for a second.
[16:51] But as far as if you already have an existing survey,
[16:57] if there's a way, we could always send it back
[17:00] to the planning commission to tweak some of the wording
[17:03] in the ordinance to say, if you have an existing survey
[17:06] within the last 20 years or something
[17:08] like that maybe it just needs to be updated
[17:12] or maybe that is still good.
[17:15] I'd have again, we'd have to contact actual surveyors,
[17:19] I guess, to find out how that would work.
[17:23] So yeah, I guess it just kind of takes that guesswork out of it.
[17:28] Takes the burden off environmental services
[17:31] and then possibly the County attorney's office.
[17:34] If things start getting really contentious
[17:39] between two property owners Mr. Chair, any other discussion,
[17:45] Mr. Chair.
[17:45] Yes I guess I'm looking at personal responsibility
[17:53] of people.
[17:54] And they should want a survey.
[17:56] We shouldn't have to tell them.
[17:58] They should get one.
[17:59] Every property I've purchased.
[18:01] The first phone call I make is Jones, Holland Smith.
[18:04] So that's just something they should do if they don't.
[18:11] And I mean, I feel like we're babysitting them.
[18:14] I'm not sure this is necessary.
[18:20] I just think we have enough in place to handle it.
[18:24] And I don't think it happens that often.
[18:28] And I'm looking at if you like you
[18:30] said, if you want to take it back and do more language to it.
[18:36] Because if they had a survey 10 years ago, well,
[18:39] pins can end up being removed or dirt shift ground, whatever
[18:44] is excavating or whatever.
[18:49] I just think it comes down to they should have they
[18:53] should want to do it right.
[18:55] And I don't think we should have to have another level.
[19:00] But I like if this is protecting you.
[19:03] I don't know how your office and you all feel about it.
[19:07] If you're neutral, if you're.
[19:09] Either way.
[19:10] Yeah Mr. chair.
[19:11] Commissioner casa, we have concerns with the expense.
[19:16] Just because it's a whole new procedure.
[19:20] But we're all willing to implement this language.
[19:24] And if it's passed, we'll go forward with what we have to.
[19:28] But I know there is some concern with how
[19:31] applicants will handle that.
[19:34] And I'm wondering if it's going to make
[19:35] more work for you because now you have to then less.
[19:41] Yeah I mean, as far as workload goes,
[19:44] I don't think it would change much
[19:46] just because we're going to require that
[19:47] at the time of application.
[19:49] So they should be coming into our office with that done
[19:52] and ready to go.
[19:53] And we most likely wouldn't accept the application
[19:56] or start the timeline until we have that survey in hand.
[20:01] And in Nikki's comment or Commissioner Ekstrom's comment
[20:05] that if they can afford a shed, they can't
[20:07] afford not maybe necessarily.
[20:09] The shed might be financed and extras sometimes aren't included
[20:15] in that financing packet.
[20:17] So good point.
[20:19] I'm just.
[20:23] My concerns are this doesn't come up very often where there's
[20:27] an issue with a property line.
[20:29] And I feel it's a civil matter.
[20:32] It should be handled by the property owners
[20:35] and not us getting involved in something like that.
[20:39] I do feel that it's going to put an additional financial pressure
[20:45] on individuals in the County when they do want to put up
[20:48] a building or add to and up to thousands of dollars
[20:54] to get something like this done.
[20:57] I agree with what Commissioner casa said.
[21:00] People finance this thing, something that they want
[21:02] to add value to their property with,
[21:05] and they might have saved for years
[21:08] to be able to put up this structure that they'd like.
[21:12] And what I'm hearing is whether it be a front,
[21:15] back or side property line, the setback is a determined footage.
[21:19] We'll use 8 foot.
[21:21] What I'm hearing is we don't really know where that 8 foot
[21:24] setback is, but we do know when we go out,
[21:27] we're 5 foot is from that 8 foot setback.
[21:30] That doesn't make any sense to me at all.
[21:32] Yeah it's again to speak to that previous statement I made.
[21:36] It's really hard to strike a perfect rule.
[21:39] I think if anything, this is a good backdrop.
[21:42] If we do find a discrepancy, we have the legal description
[21:46] in the survey in hand.
[21:48] But I understand our office.
[21:50] We're not surveyors.
[21:52] So it gets a little tricky there.
[21:54] And that's why I'm kind of hesitant
[21:55] sometimes when people ask me to come stake
[21:58] and we'll a structure.
[21:59] I've been advised from the AAMC and McPizza lawyers
[22:04] that that's kind of tricky business,
[22:07] because if it does go to court now,
[22:08] you're the expert witness that wheeled off that distance,
[22:11] and you have to prove you know where
[22:13] you started that point from.
[22:15] So again, right there, I'm concerned
[22:17] that putting this into place, he said, this is a civil matter.
[22:22] This is between neighbors.
[22:24] They should figure it out.
[22:26] My neighbor and I figured it out.
[22:28] They didn't realize they'd built too close.
[22:31] No big deal.
[22:32] We are polite and figured it out.
[22:36] All of a sudden, we have something.
[22:38] Is that going to suck us in to something.
[22:40] That should be a civil matter.
[22:44] I'm being the devil's advocate here or trying.
[22:49] Worst case scenario.
[22:51] I don't know.
[22:53] We're here.
[22:54] Yes Nikki.
[22:57] Could you Trevor, elaborate.
[22:58] Do we know other counties.
[22:59] Have they adopted something similar here in Minnesota.
[23:03] I don't know planning Minnesota very well.
[23:05] So what is a standard.
[23:07] Yeah commissioner.
[23:08] Board Chair, administrator.
[23:11] I don't know the exact numbers.
[23:13] I know it's not common practice to require
[23:16] surveys on the County level.
[23:17] Many municipalities do.
[23:19] But I think that's the nature of the smaller lots.
[23:22] Higher density housing I could certainly do some research
[23:27] and try to find those numbers.
[23:29] This language was just kind of built
[23:32] from the ground up without much input from counterparts.
[23:37] Mostly because the counties I think the philosophy is
[23:43] that most of these situations should be handled civilly
[23:46] in the counties roll a lot of times is to make them aware
[23:50] and tell them this needs to be resolved.
[23:53] So yeah, I guess I don't have that exact that exact
[23:56] number of how many counties in the state use surveys for site
[23:59] plans.
[24:01] I don't have that answer either.
[24:03] So just I wasn't looking for an exact number,
[24:06] but if it is a general practice, I was looking more for that.
[24:11] Any other discussion.
[24:13] I do understand the I guess, the purpose of it.
[24:16] I can see the scenario where we expect people to act
[24:20] in good faith and it could maybe not happen in a scenario
[24:24] where perhaps the neighbor doesn't have enough money
[24:27] to go get a survey to push back against the construction
[24:31] their neighbor is doing or hire a lawyer.
[24:36] That part of it where it can really protect maybe
[24:38] the neighbor who's not building up.
[24:40] I do have some of the same concerns as Brad and Dawn.
[24:44] And also kind of construction timelines.
[24:47] Like, I know sometimes it can be difficult to get
[24:50] a survey scheduled, especially in the middle
[24:52] of summer construction season.
[24:55] So I do have pushback there as well.
[25:01] And yeah, some of those same concerns.
[25:03] You guys have any more discussion Mr. Chair.
[25:07] Yes so the planning commission took this up in June
[25:10] and it passed unanimously at that point.
[25:13] What was any discussion or prior to that
[25:17] or what were their views.
[25:19] Yeah Mr. Chair.
[25:21] Commissioner Schaaf.
[25:22] We started out the language a little aggressive, I think.
[25:26] I think it was at 50 feet from the property line.
[25:29] We were discussing requiring a survey.
[25:32] Our office wasn't a big fan of that
[25:34] number just because it didn't.
[25:36] It wasn't pertaining to the actual setback line
[25:39] that we're concerned about.
[25:40] And sometimes you run into narrower lots, older lots where
[25:43] that no matter where they go on the property,
[25:46] they're going to require survey.
[25:48] So then it was brought back to be revised.
[25:51] And that's where we came up with the 5 foot
[25:52] from the setback line.
[25:55] A lot of the discussion I mean, we
[25:58] had similar discussion to what we're having right here.
[26:02] A lot talk about the expense of the survey.
[26:05] But I feel like the planning commission,
[26:07] they're very objective and trying to meet and reach
[26:10] a goal that we're discussing.
[26:11] So in the end, it was unanimously
[26:14] voted to approve or recommend approval, I think,
[26:16] because we had kind of achieved what we set out to do.
[26:23] Yeah, there wasn't a whole lot other than what
[26:26] we've discussed here today.
[26:29] But in the end, they did all vote to recommend approval.
[26:34] Any other discussion, Mr. Chair.
[26:37] With that being said, should it be something that goes back
[26:39] to the planning commission to talk further on or because
[26:43] of the concerns raised today.
[26:46] Yeah, that's certainly an option on the table,
[26:48] is to send it back with a list of the concerns we've discussed
[26:52] at the board level could maybe even address how many counties
[26:56] in the state utilize surveys.
[26:58] And it may give me an option to sit down with some legal counsel
[27:02] and try to flush out some of those unintended consequences.
[27:06] We've been discussing.
[27:07] Well, at this time, the resolution on the floor
[27:09] is to adopt this Amendment to the current zoning ordinance.
[27:14] So we would be voting on that.
[27:15] And then if it's approved, there would be
[27:18] no reason for further action.
[27:20] If it's not approved, then if the planning and zoning board
[27:25] wish to come up with some other idea
[27:28] that they have that opportunity, I guess.
[27:32] Agreed any other discussion.
[27:36] Hearing none.
[27:36] Will the clerk please call the roll
[27:38] Mr. Chair, just a quick question then.
[27:40] So if the resolution fails, is it the wish
[27:43] of the board for the planning commission to rehab,
[27:49] to look at some of these key points
[27:52] because the planning commission will take direction
[27:54] from the County Board.
[27:56] So, I mean, the planning commission could add things
[27:59] on its own to the agenda, but it would be curious to know what
[28:03] the direction of the County Board is if the County Board,
[28:07] if my personal thoughts that if this doesn't if this fails,
[28:11] that it's done.
[28:13] I don't know that we should be traveling down this road
[28:15] anyway, to be honest with you.
[28:17] That's my thoughts.
[28:18] I don't know if anybody else wants to share theirs
[28:20] or would be happy to have an opinion from our attorney.
[28:29] Are you talking about.
[28:30] Yeah do you have an opinion on this, Mr. Walker.
[28:33] No no.
[28:34] OK OK.
[28:36] Anybody else wanted to share.
[28:39] Anything else before we call the roll.
[28:43] All right.
[28:44] Please call the roll Mr. Stevenson.
[28:47] No commissioner.
[28:48] Commissioner? yes, Commissioner.
[28:51] Yes, Commissioner.
[28:52] Edwin no.
[28:53] Resolution has failed.
[28:56] Moving on.
[28:57] Report of Human Services.
[29:11] Good morning, Mr. Chair.
[29:12] Good morning, commissioners administrator,
[29:14] I have one item for your consideration this morning.
[29:17] The mental health center is required
[29:20] to maintain some maintain client files
[29:22] in accordance with Minnesota statute 245 0.09.
[29:27] The electronic health record that we use is called Care logic
[29:30] and qualify as the vendor of that electronic health record.
[29:35] If that contract were to auto renew,
[29:37] we would have seen a 6% increase for the coming year.
[29:41] So we were able to negotiate a new contract,
[29:45] which resulted in a 4% increase rather than the six.
[29:49] That's the easy part.
[29:50] The more complicated piece of this
[29:52] is the telehealth platform that's been used
[29:56] has previously been provided and paid
[29:58] for by the CBI, which is our 10 County Mental Health Initiative.
[30:03] And that was started during COVID.
[30:06] Because all of a sudden everybody had to do telehealth.
[30:10] So since then, laws have changed on the federal level
[30:13] and the state level that allow more accessible telehealth,
[30:16] which is a pretty regular practice across the board,
[30:18] across the country, actually.
[30:20] Also, since then, the other counties in our initiative
[30:26] have gone to other options like adopting teams, another platform
[30:33] such as CoreLogic.
[30:35] So our mental health center is the only entity
[30:39] still utilizing those Zoom licenses
[30:41] paid for by the initiative.
[30:44] Now, the type of Zoom license that's required
[30:47] is an enterprise license because of its integration
[30:50] with the electronic health record, it's HIPAA compliance.
[30:53] All of the rules that have to be done with telehealth,
[30:57] and the minimum license purchase for that level of Zoom
[31:02] is 100 licenses.
[31:04] It doesn't make sense for the initiative or for us,
[31:06] frankly, to purchase 100 licenses
[31:09] to do telehealth when we need a very
[31:11] small number of those licenses.
[31:13] So the contract with qualify for CoreLogic
[31:18] includes a telehealth platform that's integrated
[31:20] into each client's file.
[31:24] And it also integrates a.
[31:27] If you'll recall, a few months ago,
[31:30] I brought a contract for the text reminders and things
[31:35] like that for clients.
[31:36] You have an appointment, come in and you
[31:39] get when you go to the doctor, you get those reminders.
[31:42] So this platform also integrates that.
[31:45] So this contract would bring in the telehealth platform,
[31:50] that other platform and our current electronic health
[31:53] record.
[31:56] All of those things would be streamlined.
[31:58] The billing invoicing documentation
[32:02] would all be done much more efficiently, much more quickly
[32:05] and with more accuracy.
[32:07] By going this direction, if we were needing to purchase
[32:10] those other pieces separately.
[32:13] We would see over $25,000 increase in the amount that we
[32:17] would be required to maintain their services
[32:20] as we're providing them now.
[32:22] And this option is seeing a $6,300
[32:26] increase rather than 25,000.
[32:29] So that is the contract that is presented in the Board packet
[32:34] today.
[32:36] So that would be my request is for to consider resolution
[32:40] approving this current this contract
[32:42] with qualify for the electronic health record
[32:45] with the added telehealth platform in the client
[32:49] portal, which includes the integration of all
[32:51] of those services that we're already providing.
[32:55] So I would like to enter that resolution.
[32:57] I'll enter that resolution, Mr. Chair.
[32:59] Entered by Commissioner casa.
[33:00] Is there a second.
[33:01] I'll second.
[33:02] Second by Commissioner schoff.
[33:04] Any discussion Mr. Chair, just thank you for that explanation,
[33:08] because that was a lot more information than what I could
[33:10] just get off the paperwork.
[33:12] So thank you.
[33:13] Any other discussion.
[33:15] Board Chair.
[33:15] Yes Did you run that through with it.
[33:18] Is it maybe state system pulling data separate from our data.
[33:23] Or is there any integration that we need to worry about.
[33:26] There's no integration with any state system.
[33:29] It's the software we're already using
[33:32] and have been for 16 years.
[33:34] So thank you Susie.
[33:37] Any other comments, concerns questions.
[33:42] Hearing none.
[33:42] Will the clerk call the roll.
[33:45] Yes, Commissioner.
[33:46] Yes Mr. Yes Mr. Yes Mr. Edwin yes.
[33:50] It is passed.
[33:51] Thank you.
[33:52] Thank you.
[33:54] Report of Public Works.
[34:02] Good morning, Mr. Chair.
[34:03] Good morning commissioners.
[34:04] I have one item for your consideration this morning.
[34:07] It is a resolution approving MnDOT detour maintenance
[34:10] agreement number 1063524.
[34:14] This item involves a detour off of US Highway 218,
[34:18] in mower County for culvert repairs
[34:20] by the state puke The drive in will use freeborn County
[34:23] state-aid highway 36 on the mower County freeborn County
[34:27] line, and freeborn County will be
[34:30] compensated for the road life consumed
[34:32] as a result of this traffic.
[34:34] We've used this agreement numerous times in the past
[34:36] and I request your approval.
[34:39] Someone would like to enter that resolution.
[34:42] I'll enter that entered by Commissioner Severson.
[34:44] Is there a second.
[34:46] I'll second.
[34:47] Second by Commissioner Eckstrom.
[34:48] Any discussion.
[34:50] Just a quick question.
[34:51] What are the dates of the detour.
[34:52] Do you know.
[34:54] That is a fantastic question.
[34:57] I don't think it's for this construction season.
[34:59] I think it's for next construction season.
[35:02] I will follow up on that and share that information with you.
[35:05] Sure thank you.
[35:05] Yep any other discussion.
[35:09] Hearing none.
[35:10] Will the clerk please call the roll Mr. Stevenson.
[35:12] Yes Mr. Yes Mr. Yes commissioner.
[35:16] Yes Mr. Yes that is passed.
[35:18] Thank you all.
[35:20] Report of the Sheriff's Office.
[35:29] Good morning.
[35:30] Commissioners there are two resolutions in front of you.
[35:33] The first one is to fill a vacant patrol deputy position.
[35:37] About two weeks ago, we had one of our deputies
[35:40] that was in training decided to step down.
[35:42] And he's taken a different position with the County.
[35:44] So we need to backfill his position now.
[35:48] So we'd like to do that.
[35:50] Someone would like to enter that resolution.
[35:53] I'll enter that resolution Mr. Chair,
[35:54] entered by Commissioner casa.
[35:56] Is there a second.
[35:58] I'll second.
[35:59] Second by Commissioner Shaw.
[36:00] Any discussion.
[36:04] Will the clerk please call the roll.
[36:06] Yes Yes commissioner Shaw.
[36:10] Yes Mr. Edwin.
[36:11] Yes that is passed.
[36:13] Thank you.
[36:14] The second resolution is for the sale
[36:16] of one of our old squad cars.
[36:18] It's a Durango with a little over 100,000 miles on it.
[36:22] So it's served its purpose with us.
[36:24] And it's time to sell it.
[36:25] And it gets sold on the auction site.
[36:28] So someone like to enter that resolution.
[36:32] I'll enter this entered by Commissioner Severson.
[36:34] Is there a second.
[36:37] I'll second.
[36:38] Second by Commissioner Eckstrom.
[36:39] Any discussion.
[36:43] Is it the norm to sell a vehicle that's used
[36:45] for patrol at 100,000 or.
[36:48] Yeah so we sell them more on time frame
[36:52] than we do on mileage.
[36:54] So typically, we are replacing five or six vehicles a year.
[36:59] We have 28, give or take, depending upon what
[37:03] time of the year it is.
[37:05] And so that's kind of our so some of the vehicles
[37:08] are replaced at about six years.
[37:10] Most of the patrol vehicles are replaced at about four years.
[37:14] And they're putting roughly 20,000
[37:15] to 25,000 miles a year on.
[37:17] So it's somewhere between 75 and 105
[37:22] is where they're getting replaced.
[37:24] In the past we've tried to do five years before.
[37:29] And once you get over that 100,000 mile mark,
[37:31] the vehicles really start to nickel and dime you.
[37:34] And it's better just to be rid of them.
[37:37] Any other discussion.
[37:40] Hearing none.
[37:41] Will the clerk please call the roll.
[37:43] Yes Yes, Commissioner.
[37:47] Yes, Commissioner.
[37:47] Edwin? yes, that is passed.
[37:49] Thank you.
[37:50] And don't forget, today starts the first
[37:53] of the six best days of summer.
[37:58] All right, moving on then.
[38:01] Any other items necessary at this time.
[38:06] We'll move on.
[38:07] County Commissioner items.
[38:08] Commissioner Severson.
[38:10] Nothing from me.
[38:11] Thank you, Commissioner casa.
[38:13] Just same as Sheriff Shay.
[38:15] Reminder, six best days of summer are here.
[38:18] All right.
[38:19] Thank you, Commissioner shauf.
[38:21] Nothing at this time.
[38:22] Thank you, Commissioner Ekstrom.
[38:24] Just a couple of things.
[38:26] If anybody from our smaller cities
[38:28] is listening, which I always hope they are.
[38:31] There are DNR grants available dealing with emerald ash borer.
[38:36] So some of these small communities
[38:37] can be replacing their trees.
[38:40] But the money also helps get rid of the trees,
[38:42] which is very costly.
[38:43] And then also the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation,
[38:48] they have two grant cycles that are
[38:49] open right now for communities that are under 10,000 people.
[38:53] And I know a number of our small communities now,
[38:56] I feel like more than in the past
[38:58] are taking advantage of those small grants.
[39:01] And it's a great thing for these small communities.
[39:05] And then thank you for discussing priorities for AMC.
[39:10] And I'm curious to know right now if anybody is signed up
[39:14] to go to AMC, the policy conference in September,
[39:18] not to put anybody on the spot, but just
[39:20] for us to be thinking how we will divide up those messages
[39:24] based on our committees at AMC.
[39:27] So if not all five of us are going,
[39:29] and there are key things that fall under,
[39:33] for example, law enforcement or public works or environment
[39:36] and natural resources.
[39:37] We want to make sure we get those messages to AMC.
[39:41] So, so I said, I didn't mean to put anybody on the spot,
[39:44] but I just want to be thinking about,
[39:46] it's great that our department heads
[39:48] have put in the work of determining
[39:50] what some of our priorities are at the County level.
[39:53] We just want to make sure that message is getting to AMC.
[39:57] So it's in Bemidji this year.
[40:00] Correct it is.
[40:01] At some point, sooner versus later,
[40:04] we probably should have an affirmation
[40:05] of who all plans to attend.
[40:07] So just so that's on our radar because it's coming up quickly.
[40:11] And then the.
[40:15] Two things.
[40:16] One, I had a freeborn County Trail
[40:18] Association meeting last night.
[40:20] So this is in support of all trails.
[40:22] And the topic comes up over and over again
[40:25] with the blazing star trail.
[40:27] The fact that they have that approximately one
[40:29] mile that still is not hard surfaced yet.
[40:33] And we had the discussion, if perhaps the County, the city
[40:38] of Albert Lea, the city of Hayward
[40:40] would maybe want to do a joint letter in support,
[40:44] get it up to the DNR.
[40:46] The funds are there.
[40:48] The issue that is dragging this out
[40:51] is they want to repair a bigger segment
[40:55] of the trail, all in one shot.
[40:58] Now they have found that a big portion of the trail with, I'm
[41:01] sorry, a portion of the trail we're dealing with a big Hill
[41:04] is not ADA compliant.
[41:05] Now, the latest is they can't make
[41:08] it ADA compliant because that trail
[41:10] isn't possible to be rerouted.
[41:13] So it's just this crazy situation of a trail that
[41:17] never seems to be complete.
[41:18] When you have a city of Hayward that
[41:19] can greatly benefit from it.
[41:21] Freeborn County as a whole city of Albert Lea
[41:24] can benefit from getting this last little small segment
[41:28] asphalted.
[41:29] And so it just came up last night at the meeting,
[41:33] if that is something.
[41:34] So if it could be a five minute discussion at the workshop
[41:38] if we want to communicate with the city of Albert Lea,
[41:41] the city of Hayward, and just draft a letter, especially
[41:44] with us getting up when I go to AMC,
[41:48] I get updates from just dealing with my committees.
[41:51] I get updates from the DNR, although I was told the people
[41:55] that show up for my updates at AMC
[41:58] are not the right people to be communicating with.
[42:01] And so I do have some contacts at the DNR
[42:04] that I think would be receptive or who we would
[42:07] be sending that letter to.
[42:10] And then the last thing on my list
[42:13] is I had the privilege of volunteering out at the four H
[42:16] building yesterday, and it is amazing to see
[42:20] such a robust four-h program in freeborn County.
[42:24] They one of the trivia questions.
[42:26] They have approximately 400.
[42:27] Well, actually almost 500 kids, 496 kids in freeborn County
[42:31] signed up through four-h.
[42:32] And so I worked in the four-h building
[42:35] as kids were bringing in their projects,
[42:39] and then they were getting their fair passes.
[42:41] And then Amy wadding, one of the things
[42:43] that she implemented this year was to have the kids fill out
[42:46] a sheet of paper saying, in essence, like a life
[42:49] skill that they've learned through four-h
[42:51] that they can bring into adulthood.
[42:53] And it was phenomenal to see these kids.
[42:57] So many kids didn't even have to think twice.
[42:59] They were able to write down everything from speaking
[43:02] and communicating with adults, being able to keep appropriate
[43:06] records, leadership skills, working with youth,
[43:09] and just the fact that freeborn County
[43:12] and this board of Commissioners, we support the 4H program.
[43:16] I know fees have increased over the years
[43:18] through the extension service, but we do have a robust program
[43:23] and these are future leaders.
[43:25] And it was really neat to be part of that yesterday.
[43:27] So I just wanted to share that with you as a board.
[43:30] All right.
[43:31] Thank you.
[43:31] I have two quick items.
[43:33] The first being our next public meeting
[43:36] will be a workshop in the freeborn freeborn
[43:39] room on August 11, 2026.
[43:43] And our next board meeting right here in this room
[43:45] will be August 18.
[43:48] And that's all I have.
[43:50] And with that, we are adjourned.
[43:52] Thank you.