Board of County Commissioners Meeting

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Agenda

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[0:00] Commissioners meeting to order.
[0:02] All, please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.
[0:06] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,
[0:11] and to the Republic for which it stands.
[0:14] One nation under God, indivisible,
[0:18] with liberty and justice for all.
[0:25] Welcome, everyone.
[0:28] We'll start by looking for a motion
[0:29] to approve the meeting agenda.
[0:33] I'll make that motion.
[0:34] Motion made by Commissioner Severson.
[0:37] Is there a second.
[0:38] I'll second it.
[0:39] Second by Commissioner casa.
[0:41] Any discussion.
[0:44] Hearing none.
[0:45] All those in favor, signify by saying Aye.
[0:47] Aye Opposed.
[0:49] Same sign.
[0:50] Meeting agenda has been approved.
[0:54] Looking for a resolution approving the consent agenda
[0:57] with the following approval of minutes from the August
[1:00] 18, 2026 board meeting.
[1:03] Approval of minutes and finding and order
[1:05] from the August 18, 2026 County ditch 55 public hearing.
[1:11] Approval of claims.
[1:13] Someone wished to make that resolution
[1:16] all into the resolution entered by Commissioner Eckstrom.
[1:19] Is there a second.
[1:20] I'll second it.
[1:21] Second by Commissioner Shaw.
[1:23] Any discussion.
[1:25] Hearing none.
[1:25] Will the clerk please call the roll Mr. Stevenson.
[1:28] Yes Yes commissioner.
[1:31] Shaw? yes, Commissioner.
[1:32] Edwin yes, that is passed.
[1:36] Moving on.
[1:37] Report of board committees, Commissioner Severson.
[1:40] Yes I had the convention and Visitors Bureau meeting,
[1:43] and that was more informative.
[1:44] They didn't reach a quorum.
[1:46] So that is all I have.
[1:48] Thank you, Commissioner casa.
[1:51] I attended the board training that we had.
[1:53] I really enjoyed that.
[1:54] I thought it was very helpful.
[1:57] Also had contract negotiations and had
[2:01] a meeting with our administrator and our extension agent.
[2:06] And then I had the meeting yesterday.
[2:09] That's all.
[2:10] Thank you.
[2:11] Commissioner schoff.
[2:12] Yes I attended the training session
[2:15] and I thought Dave did a good job.
[2:17] I've known him for years.
[2:20] Thank you, Commissioner Eckstrom.
[2:23] Yep same thing.
[2:24] Was able to partake in the training
[2:25] session, which I always enjoyed spending time with all of you.
[2:28] And I attended that AMC lunch and learn.
[2:31] Just kind of a refresher on how AMC comes up
[2:33] with their policy platforms, considering we
[2:36] have the conference coming up.
[2:37] So thank you.
[2:40] And I too attended the AMC board training,
[2:44] also met with the weekly.
[2:45] Our weekly meetings with the administration,
[2:49] sat through some union negotiations,
[2:53] and also had a meeting with the Albert Lea housing authority
[2:58] and they're moving forward.
[3:00] Quite doing a good job moving forward.
[3:04] Trying to get more housing in Albert Lea.
[3:08] So moving on.
[3:09] Are there any persons wishing to address the board concerning
[3:12] matters pertaining to this agenda,
[3:14] as well as any other matters of County concern.
[3:18] If so, please come forward at this time.
[3:23] Seeing none, we'll move on.
[3:25] Report of various departments.
[3:27] Beginning with report of probation.
[3:42] Good morning commissioners.
[3:44] Good morning.
[3:44] Good morning.
[3:45] So I've got a few resolutions for you to consider today.
[3:49] The first is to consider a resolution to accept the grant
[3:53] for decision points for $1,500.
[3:59] Would someone like to enter that resolution.
[4:02] I'll enter the resolution entered by Commissioner Ekstrom.
[4:05] Is there a second.
[4:06] I'll second it.
[4:07] Second by Commissioner casa.
[4:09] Any discussion.
[4:10] Yes, Mr. Chair, I had a number of questions.
[4:12] I had submitted them yesterday just to give you the heads
[4:14] up about some of this.
[4:16] So just the decisions points program, is that a new program
[4:20] or is it something that you guys have been doing for a while.
[4:24] This is a program we have offered in the past.
[4:27] For adults.
[4:28] This would be a new program for juveniles.
[4:30] And then is it a mandated program or just something
[4:35] that is being added on.
[4:38] This is well this is there's different levels of mandated.
[4:44] So the program itself is not mandated.
[4:47] However, we are mandated to provide cognitive skills
[4:52] trainings or programs.
[4:54] So this would be mandated through that.
[4:56] And so we would be able to serve clients.
[4:59] And so then so if this segment is a newer program,
[5:04] was it part then of the 2026 budget or a line item
[5:08] in the 2026 budget, or is it part of a different line
[5:11] item in the budget.
[5:12] I guess the reason I'm asking, and I'm
[5:15] sorry to put you, Sarah, on the hot spot
[5:17] on the first time presenting to us as a board.
[5:20] So that's why I keep.
[5:21] That's OK.
[5:21] We'll jump right in.
[5:22] I'm looking at Steve to try to take some
[5:24] of that pressure off of you.
[5:25] I appreciate that.
[5:27] And so I guess what I'm getting at
[5:29] is at a time when we're looking at significant budget challenges
[5:36] to add something.
[5:37] And even though I'm so thrilled with the generosity
[5:41] of freeborn County Community foundation,
[5:43] but at the same time, if that grant isn't going
[5:47] to cover the entire amount and we're adding
[5:49] something that those are.
[5:51] So that's where I was kind of looking
[5:52] for more information into that.
[5:55] Mr. Chair, if I may.
[5:57] Sure so we have or the probation department does
[6:01] have budgeted line items for training
[6:04] and then for programmatic costs.
[6:07] And so Sarah said, cognitive skills is a program
[6:11] that we've budgeted for.
[6:15] And so the ongoing cost for this program
[6:20] pretty much would just be staff time.
[6:22] And so we already have the majority of the materials
[6:26] that are needed.
[6:27] Before I transitioned upstairs, I
[6:29] was working with the agent that was
[6:32] kind of spearheading this on.
[6:34] Are there ways that we can laminate some of the materials
[6:38] so it can be reused and making sure that we're being
[6:41] as cost effective as possible.
[6:44] This is one of the programs.
[6:46] Like Sarah said, there's different levels
[6:48] of mandates in probation.
[6:50] There's stuff that's specifically outlined in statute
[6:53] that we have to do different reports
[6:56] for the court and different type of supervision
[6:58] that we have to provide.
[6:59] There's other things that are mandated through the 401
[7:06] statute talks about.
[7:08] It empowers the CSAC committee to set policy
[7:11] at a statewide level that all probation
[7:13] agencies have to follow.
[7:15] And so they have rolled out policy in case planning
[7:20] as part of the case planning policy.
[7:22] They talk about agencies have to provide
[7:25] cognitive behavioral intervention programming
[7:28] for individuals on supervision, including juveniles
[7:32] and including juveniles.
[7:34] And so that would be, everybody adult juvenile.
[7:40] And then we also there's certain mandates
[7:42] that come from court orders.
[7:44] So if we're court ordered to do certain things,
[7:47] then that becomes something we have to abide by.
[7:49] And so there are individuals that
[7:51] are court ordered to cognitive skills programming.
[7:55] One of the primary goals for this,
[7:58] and if you recall from different work sessions
[8:01] since I've been here, I've talked about or workshops.
[8:05] I've talked about the need to transition
[8:07] from out-of-home placement for juveniles in particular
[8:10] being our primary focus or of our first point
[8:14] of response with the kid to being kind of a last resort.
[8:18] And so making sure that we're utilizing all services
[8:21] available in the community before we're
[8:23] sending a kid out of home.
[8:26] Part of that, there's a lot of reasons.
[8:28] And talking about the long term impacts of sending a kid out
[8:33] of home can have significant impacts on their ultimate
[8:37] recidivism down the road as an adult.
[8:40] But if you look at it solely from a numbers point,
[8:44] an out-of-home placement you're looking
[8:46] at could be over $12,000 a month to have a kid out of the home.
[8:50] Or we can Institute a program.
[8:54] That's relatively cheap to hopefully avoid
[8:57] those out-of-home placement costs.
[8:59] And so the whole premise of cognitive behavioral
[9:01] interventions is that you're getting
[9:03] the individual to think about how their thoughts
[9:06] impact their behaviors.
[9:07] And so if we can change their thoughts,
[9:09] the hope is that we can change behavior.
[9:11] The other piece is probation departments
[9:14] are required every four years to submit a comprehensive plan
[9:18] to the state.
[9:20] And then we have to do two year updates for that.
[9:23] And so a big part of those Comp plans
[9:25] is to report on outcome measures and data.
[9:29] One of the data points that the state looks specifically at
[9:32] is what cognitive behavioral interventions are
[9:35] each probation agency employing, and what are
[9:38] some of the outcomes for that.
[9:39] And so not abiding by and not offering anything locally
[9:45] puts the subsidy at risk.
[9:47] And so there is the cost of staff time.
[9:52] And that could be group programming where
[9:55] we have groups of juveniles meeting together
[9:57] going through the program.
[9:59] But then there's also the ability
[10:01] for agents to implement this in their one
[10:04] on one meetings with the clients and do it individually, and so
[10:07] that staff time would already be devoted to spending time
[10:10] with that kid.
[10:11] And so it's making that more effective
[10:14] and more useful in the time that they have with them.
[10:17] OK thank you I appreciate it.
[10:19] So to a certain extent, we're already doing some of this.
[10:25] A lot of this.
[10:25] And this allows us to get $1,500.
[10:29] Correct OK.
[10:31] Any other discussion.
[10:35] Hearing none.
[10:36] Will the clerk call the roll.
[10:38] Yes Yes, Commissioner.
[10:42] Yes, that is passed.
[10:46] I would like you to consider the resolution
[10:49] to accept grants for coffee connections
[10:51] in the amount of $1,000.
[10:54] Would someone like to enter that resolution.
[10:57] I like that.
[10:58] Entered by Commissioner schoff.
[10:59] Is there a second.
[11:01] I'll second.
[11:02] Second by Commissioner Severson.
[11:03] Any discussion.
[11:07] Hearing none.
[11:08] Will the clerk please call the roll.
[11:10] Yes Yes.
[11:14] Commissioner Edwin.
[11:15] Yes that is passed.
[11:18] Thank you.
[11:19] Next, I ask that you consider resolution
[11:22] to backfill the position of adult probation agent.
[11:27] Someone wish to enter that resolution.
[11:32] I'll enter this resolution entered
[11:33] by Commissioner Severson.
[11:35] Is there a second.
[11:36] I'll second it.
[11:36] Second by Commissioner schoff.
[11:38] Any discussion.
[11:41] Hearing none.
[11:42] Will the clerk call the roll Mr. yes Mr. yes.
[11:47] Yes, that is passed.
[11:50] Thank you.
[11:51] And finally, I ask that you consider the resolution
[11:54] to appoint the director of probation me
[11:57] to the freeborn County Family service and children's
[12:01] mental Health Collaborative.
[12:04] Someone like to enter that resolution.
[12:07] I'll enter that resolution, Mr. Chair.
[12:08] Entered by Commissioner casa.
[12:10] Is there a second.
[12:11] I'll second.
[12:12] Second by Commissioner Ekstrom.
[12:14] Any discussion.
[12:17] Hearing none.
[12:18] Will the clerk please call the roll.
[12:20] Yes Mr. eckstrom?
[12:22] Yes Mr. Shaw.
[12:24] Yes commissioner Evans.
[12:25] Yes that is passed.
[12:27] OK thank you.
[12:28] Thank you.
[12:29] Report of public health.
[12:39] Good morning.
[12:39] Commissioners, I have one item for your consideration
[12:41] this morning.
[12:44] So I'd like to ask you to consider a resolution to approve
[12:47] the Medica MCO, MSI plus.
[12:51] Care coordination and/or participation agreement.
[12:56] We currently are serving clients through ucare, which
[13:00] is one of our medical assistants programs,
[13:05] and ucare is going to be going out of business
[13:08] and Medica is taking over that portion.
[13:11] And so these are existing clients
[13:13] that we're currently seeing.
[13:14] So it's not a new program, it's just a replacement of a program.
[13:20] I've negotiated a fee with them.
[13:22] It's not as much as what ucare pays,
[13:25] but we feel that it's going to be pretty cost effective to be
[13:30] able to continue the program effectively and cover
[13:33] our administration costs.
[13:36] If we do this is not a mandated program, but it's that we do.
[13:43] But it's a mandated program that is provided to the clients.
[13:46] And so if we don't do this program,
[13:48] they will contract with another organization that will not
[13:51] be a local organization, and our clients will
[13:54] likely not appreciate that.
[13:55] To have someone that does not know our local resources
[13:58] and doesn't have our faces that they already we
[14:06] have 117 clients that are going to be transferring over,
[14:11] and it would be effective October 1.
[14:15] Again, they are all current clients.
[14:18] 19 of them are nursing home residents and members.
[14:22] 32 of them are elderly waiver participants and 66 of them
[14:29] are community well members.
[14:33] There is two staff working in this program area,
[14:35] and so if we didn't continue with this,
[14:38] we would likely lose those two staff.
[14:44] This is not.
[14:45] And I got these questions from Nikki Eckstrom.
[14:47] She was great to send them to me.
[14:49] So I'm addressing them now.
[14:50] And if I miss any questions, please, please
[14:52] make sure and ask me.
[14:54] As far as we state, and federal regulations
[14:57] won't be affecting any of the changes that
[15:00] won't be affecting this at all.
[15:02] So for this, I asked for you to consider
[15:06] approving this participation agreement with Medica.
[15:11] Would someone like to enter that resolution.
[15:15] I'll enter that.
[15:16] Entered by Commissioner Severson.
[15:17] Is there a second.
[15:19] I'll second.
[15:20] Second by Commissioner schoff.
[15:22] Any discussion.
[15:23] Just I appreciate sue again.
[15:25] I tried to give her questions ahead of time.
[15:26] So because I had a lot of them.
[15:28] So thanks thank you for rattling all those off
[15:30] and I appreciate it.
[15:32] Appreciate that.
[15:33] Any other discussion.
[15:36] Will the clerk please call the roll Mr. Stevenson.
[15:38] Yes Mr. Yes Mr. Shaw? yes.
[15:42] Commissioner yes, that is past.
[15:44] Thank you very much.
[15:45] Have a great week.
[15:47] Report of auditor.
[15:49] Treasurer good morning, commissioners administration.
[15:56] I have two items for you.
[15:58] The first one is a mouthful.
[16:01] It is a resolution approving the cancellation
[16:04] and setting aside of an erroneous certificate
[16:06] of forfeiture.
[16:08] So there was a vacant land parcel that went
[16:12] up for tax forfeiture in 2026.
[16:15] And in doing our history, our fact finding, our due diligence,
[16:18] we found a deed from 1978 that was not properly transferred.
[16:25] And this parcel should have gone to the state of Minnesota.
[16:29] So it should never have had any taxes on it.
[16:33] So this resolution removes the forfeiture
[16:37] and also removes the taxes that should never have been
[16:40] on there in the first place.
[16:43] Would someone like to enter that resolution.
[16:47] I'll enter the resolution entered by Commissioner Ekstrom.
[16:50] Is there a second.
[16:53] I'll second it.
[16:53] Second by Commissioner casa.
[16:55] Any discussion.
[16:57] I have questions about this.
[16:59] So 1978.
[17:01] Yeah so has somebody if it was supposed
[17:04] to have gone to the state who was paying the taxes from 1978
[17:08] up until the last five years when it triggered.
[17:13] It was exempt up until 22.
[17:16] And for reasons we don't understand.
[17:18] Then there were taxes put on the exempt,
[17:20] I think somebody because we have so many parcels.
[17:23] A lot of times we don't look at them
[17:24] until they come across our desk and somehow or other, this one
[17:27] came across someone's desk.
[17:28] They realized it was in a individual's name
[17:32] and there was no reason for it to be exempt.
[17:34] They took the exempt status off of it.
[17:36] So then it started accruing taxes.
[17:41] I have no idea.
[17:42] It was 1978.
[17:45] OK yeah.
[17:46] All we can do is fix it going forward.
[17:47] OK And I did.
[17:49] Look, I mean, so for anybody who hears us, it was like $5.
[17:53] Yeah, it wasn't a lot. $5 and $6.
[17:54] It's a random strip that is like the left side of a ditch.
[17:58] Yeah yep.
[17:59] It's maybe $20 max.
[18:02] Yeah it was just the fact, though,
[18:04] that I was just curious to know if somebody
[18:05] had been paying taxes since 1978 and shouldn't have been so.
[18:09] Nope no taxes at all until somebody
[18:11] realized, hey, that shouldn't be exempt and fixed it.
[18:15] OK thank you.
[18:18] Any other discussion.
[18:21] Will the clerk please call the roll Mr. Stevenson.
[18:23] Yes Mr. Yes Mr. Yes Mr. Shaw yes Mr. Edwards.
[18:28] Yes that is passed.
[18:29] Thank you very much.
[18:30] The next one, nice and easy.
[18:32] It is the latest rendition of banks doing business, which
[18:36] is the resolution that authorizes certain people
[18:40] to sign on to bank accounts.
[18:41] We are adding Mr. Steven Rick, our new CFO,
[18:46] to the bank accounts, as he should be.
[18:49] Anyway, so I would like to enter that resolution.
[18:52] I'll enter that resolution, Mr. Chair.
[18:54] Entered by Commissioner casa.
[18:56] Is there a second.
[18:58] I'll second.
[18:58] Second by Commissioner Severson.
[19:00] Any discussion.
[19:03] Hearing none.
[19:04] Will the clerk call the roll Mr. Stevenson.
[19:06] Yes Yes but abstaining for Arcadian bank,
[19:12] Commissioner Shaw.
[19:13] Yes Mr. Edwards.
[19:14] Yes, that is passed.
[19:16] Thank you.
[19:17] Thank you.
[19:18] Report of Public Works.
[19:28] Good morning, Mr. Chair.
[19:29] Good morning.
[19:29] Commissioners I have two items for your consideration
[19:31] this morning, each involving final payments
[19:33] and close out on construction contracts.
[19:36] The first is a resolution to approve final payment
[19:39] for County project.
[19:40] 026002 that involve the maintenance
[19:44] of traffic markings on various roads in freeborn County.
[19:47] Sir Lancelot LLC of Edina, Minnesota,
[19:50] completed the project at a total project cost of $180,139.73.
[19:58] The resolution authorizes final payment
[19:59] in the amount of $169,580.38.
[20:06] I would like to enter that resolution.
[20:07] I'll enter that entered by Commissioner Severson.
[20:10] Is there a second by Commissioner schoff any
[20:14] discussion Mr. Chair, it was 180,000, and it
[20:19] says it was a budgeted project.
[20:20] So did we go over budget on this.
[20:23] It says 180.
[20:24] Was the total cost budgeted project 169.
[20:28] No So our total budget for pavement
[20:31] striping this year was 240,000.
[20:34] I think that item is labeled as impact to budget or something.
[20:40] So this actual item is a budgeted expense of that amount,
[20:45] but it is under the total budgeted amount for the work.
[20:48] I do also want to point out this contract was smaller this year
[20:54] than it typically is because we participated in a district six
[20:59] federal striping job that allowed a 90/10 split federal
[21:04] money 90% our money 10% for, I'm going
[21:08] to say approximately 30 miles of freeborn County Road striping.
[21:11] And that saved us some money on this contract this year.
[21:15] Next year it'll revert to the normal amount,
[21:18] but a smaller overall budgeted amount for pavement marking.
[21:22] So thank you.
[21:23] Yep any other discussion.
[21:27] Will the clerk call the roll.
[21:29] Yes Yes, Mr. Yes Mr. Edward.
[21:34] Yes that is passed.
[21:35] Best and the second resolution is to approve final payment
[21:38] for County project 026004 that involved
[21:42] the furnishing and application of magnesium chloride
[21:45] for base stabilization.
[21:47] Freeborn County co-op oil of Albert Lea,
[21:49] Minnesota, completed the project at a total
[21:51] project cost of $125,388.75.
[21:56] The resolution authorizes final payment
[21:58] in the amount of $13,130.81.
[22:03] So I would like to enter that resolution.
[22:05] I'll enter that resolution Mr. Chair,
[22:07] entered by Commissioner casa.
[22:08] Is there a second.
[22:09] I'll second.
[22:10] Second by Commissioner Severson.
[22:12] Any discussion.
[22:14] Will the clerk please call the roll.
[22:16] Commissioner?
[22:17] yes, Commissioner.
[22:17] Casa yes Mr. yes Mr. yes Mr. Edwards.
[22:21] Yes And while I have you up here.
[22:24] Yes I'm somewhat in the but can you give an update on bridge.
[22:29] We kind reached a point where it doesn't
[22:31] seem to be nearing completion.
[22:34] Yeah, sure.
[22:35] So the bridge Avenue project, Mr. Chair,
[22:39] that you're referencing was a sealcoat project involving
[22:42] the application of bituminous material,
[22:46] rocks or chips over the top of that, and then a fog seal.
[22:50] There's two ways the project can fail.
[22:53] One is stripping, where if there's not enough oil applied
[22:56] to the road surface, the rocks don't have the glue
[22:59] they need to hold in place.
[23:01] Stripping is the worst case scenario.
[23:05] What we encountered is flushing, which is when the oil, the rocks
[23:09] all lay down completely flat.
[23:11] And instead of 70% embedment, they're 100% embedded.
[23:15] And that's what we encountered.
[23:17] It's the lesser of the two evils, but still undesirable.
[23:20] So what you see in the wheel paths is a smoother texture,
[23:24] because that oil is forming some of the surface
[23:27] instead of just the rocks.
[23:29] My concern is that in winter conditions,
[23:32] that smooth surface will be more slippery
[23:34] than the aggregate surface in the turn lanes
[23:36] and between the wheel paths.
[23:38] So I've ordered a friction test to be completed.
[23:43] Luckily, we are still seeing rock, so in those smooth areas,
[23:48] when you look down, you're seeing rock.
[23:51] The bituminous will weather away the bituminous extra oil
[23:54] and the rock that we need is there,
[23:57] but it provides a different visual appearance.
[24:00] So my goal is to compare the friction results
[24:03] from an ordinary road, a new road, a properly chipseal road,
[24:11] and then the failed portions.
[24:13] That work will hopefully be done by MnDOT
[24:15] in the next week or two.
[24:17] The last work on the project is to perform final pavement
[24:20] striping, and at this point I. I have yet
[24:25] to determine whether or not corrective work
[24:28] will fix the issue.
[24:31] The answer is not providing more oil in rock,
[24:34] it will probably make the issue worse.
[24:37] And so based on those friction results,
[24:39] that's the last data point that I need to make a decision.
[24:42] And then we will negotiate with the contractor
[24:44] on any final steps.
[24:47] Would there also be negotiation on payment.
[24:50] Then also the cost of the project because of some
[24:54] of the issues that are ongoing.
[24:56] Yeah, I've scoured the construction specification.
[25:00] We use the Minnesota Department of Transportation
[25:05] standard construction specifications
[25:07] on all our projects.
[25:08] There are monetary adjustments allowed
[25:11] for certain parameters of the materials being provided,
[25:14] being out of specification.
[25:17] That is not what led to this failure.
[25:19] So at this point, I don't know that there
[25:21] will be any financial.
[25:25] Deductions that we're contractually able to recoup,
[25:30] but that's only if I believe the project
[25:32] will function as it needs to suit our needs.
[25:36] So I'm still exploring that, but I
[25:37] have not found a provision that would
[25:39] allow us to withhold money.
[25:41] To date, no, no payment has been made
[25:44] on the bridge Avenue project, but that will come due soon.
[25:49] OK thank you.
[25:52] You're welcome.
[25:56] Other items as necessary at this time.
[26:00] Then we'll move on to County Commissioner items.
[26:02] Commissioner Severson.
[26:04] Nothing at this time.
[26:05] Thank you, Commissioner casa.
[26:07] I would just remind people that as we start school
[26:11] to drive slower look twice.
[26:15] Our children are more important than how fast you get somewhere.
[26:18] So bikes, buses, walking.
[26:23] Be careful.
[26:25] All right.
[26:25] Thank you, Commissioner Schaaf.
[26:28] There is an email that went out about the ditch hearing
[26:30] or potential ditch hearing going on,
[26:33] and I think I would request to have it at one
[26:38] of our County Board meetings.
[26:40] I think if it was something that people can't show up,
[26:46] there's always written comments.
[26:47] I mean, you pick a time during the day
[26:49] and there might be a time during the day
[26:51] that people won't be able to show up in the afternoon
[26:54] or at night or whatever, but I think
[26:58] the people that have been involved in this
[27:02] will show up no matter what time or date.
[27:04] Now, with the date being said, it was proposed mid October
[27:09] I think might want to consider that because of farm work.
[27:16] So we might want to put that later in the season
[27:20] because some people might be in the fields and that's it.
[27:26] All right.
[27:26] Thank you for that Commissioner Ekstrom.
[27:30] Yeah just the only comments I have there's a lot
[27:32] of press about proposed levies.
[27:35] Star Tribune has a lot of articles about the burdens
[27:40] that counties are facing.
[27:41] So we're not the only ones as we know.
[27:43] But before we approve our preliminary,
[27:48] just have a lot of communicating to do, I think,
[27:50] with our constituents.
[27:52] I appreciate our County administrator
[27:55] handling the data request.
[27:56] When we did the moratorium on the data centers renewed that.
[28:00] So I know the media had reached out to me.
[28:02] I'm assuming that they probably sent us all the exact same email
[28:05] or phone calls.
[28:06] So I appreciate Melanie grabbing the bull by the horns on that
[28:11] and issuing that data requests.
[28:16] Is this something.
[28:18] And I know I've brought this up in the past.
[28:20] Is that something where the County board can learn
[28:25] how many hours of staff time and just kind of a refresher on how
[28:30] many hours of staff time this is taking
[28:33] and a breakdown or these data requests,
[28:36] all primarily coming from one person,
[28:39] are the data requests coming primarily focusing on the jail
[28:42] or just so the board has an idea on the expense that
[28:47] is going into this.
[28:49] Because I think this also might be a talking point up at the AMC
[28:53] and then dealing with this one benefit of the new software
[28:56] that the County got.
[28:57] And so we're able to actually track not only the requests and
[29:00] where they're coming and the type of requests,
[29:02] but actually able to track the ones that are taking
[29:06] more staff time to compile.
[29:08] We are able to track that.
[29:09] And so we can see what is the impact to the County
[29:13] for all of these requests.
[29:15] And so we don't have a lot of data in there
[29:19] right now because it is a relatively new program.
[29:21] But, we do have a pretty decent sample
[29:25] size just from the short time that we have been using it.
[29:29] Because when did that software go into effect.
[29:32] Do when we started using that.
[29:35] That was this summer.
[29:36] Oh, so real recently.
[29:37] So it's relatively recent.
[29:39] Yeah OK.
[29:41] And then just two other quick items.
[29:46] We had expressed our interest in sharing a letter of support
[29:49] to get that blazing, blazing star trail done.
[29:52] And the city of Albert Lea.
[29:54] Cathy Malachowsky is working on that letter
[29:56] and has sent a few drafts.
[29:58] And so that will be coming before us at some point.
[30:02] And then the last thing I just want to express support
[30:06] for our County administrator who isn't here today, and Sue Yost,
[30:11] because I know it is miserable to be constantly bashed
[30:14] in the newspaper by a particular citizen,
[30:17] and especially when they take information and twist it
[30:24] and don't give the full story.
[30:25] And so I just want our staff to know that I do support you.
[30:30] I know you have a lot on your shoulders
[30:33] in dealing with your departments.
[30:35] And of course, the administrator is not here,
[30:38] but it's a lot of work to run a County.
[30:41] It's a lot of work to run a department,
[30:43] a lot of legal requirements.
[30:44] And so I just I appreciate what you do.
[30:47] And I am sorry that I mean, obviously I've been the target
[30:51] also in the newspaper, but our administrator
[30:55] and our public health director in particular constantly.
[30:58] And frankly, I find it despicable.
[31:01] And so I just want you to know that
[31:03] and I want all the public who listens
[31:04] to our meetings to know that.
[31:05] I think it is absolutely despicable
[31:08] how you are constantly called out in the newspaper.
[31:11] So anyway, that's it.
[31:13] I'll end on that.
[31:14] So thank you for what you do.
[31:15] All right.
[31:16] Just a couple things.
[31:17] I wasn't going to say a thing, but I'm
[31:18] going to take off on a couple things you said
[31:20] and that most recent article that
[31:23] was written by that individual.
[31:26] Some of the numbers in that were not factual.
[31:29] I don't know where they came from, but.
[31:34] They were not true at all.
[31:37] And then when it comes to data requests,
[31:40] I recently spoke to it, and the discussion had to do
[31:44] with email and data retention.
[31:47] And the positives of that would be twofold, because we have
[31:52] to continually increase our storage for all that everything
[31:56] is saved, but also when it comes to a data request,
[31:59] if it has been deleted and gone, it minimizes some of the work
[32:05] that's put into that also.
[32:07] So I think it and administration will be working on some policy
[32:12] or procedure as far as how long we should be hanging on
[32:15] to different things coming in the near future,
[32:18] and that is all I have.
[32:20] So with that, we are adjourned.
[32:22] Thank you.