[0:17] Good afternoon everyone. And could you please stand for the pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands one nation under god, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> all right.

[0:47] well, in their >> spirit, gentlemen, did everybody get a chance to look at the agenda? I will vote thank you >> again. All in favor? I button for approval of the minutes from our september 15th meeting. Motion to approve mr. Chair support. Thank you. All in favor? I oppose. All right.

[1:21] consent >> agenda approve memorandum of understanding between our task tony and ask me local 1626 and authorize or authorize necessary signature hours approve the transfer of funds in the amount of 1.5 million from the unorganized township road and bridge attached to the county road and bridge fund and road maintenance costs and unorganized townships.

[1:54] approve of final payment for srp 031-030-005- 2026 pay the marking and authorize county county board chair and clerk to the county board to sign the certificate of final payment. That was just a few >> of them gentlemen, any questions about the consent agenda? >> motion for consent second. All right. Any more discussion, gentlemen? All right. Seeing none all in favor please say I. I oppose, so >> all righty. Moving along, mr. Scales.

[2:21] employer recognition. Thank you, mr. Chair. Congratulations to kristy jacobs who has transferred positions in health and human services department. I'm a social worker to social worker, home and community based services effective september 16th.

[2:41] congratulations to james polio who was transferred from his position as a highway maintenance worker to mechanic welder transportation department effective august >> 30th. Welcome shannon anderson who has joined a task county as a child support officer health and human services department effective september 14th. And welcome nicole edwards as joint public health desk at county and health animal services department effective september 14th. >> thank you mr. Scales and good luck to all you all and welcome. Thank you.

[3:02] all >> right, commissioner lawrence gail, please. >> good afternoon, chair and members of the board commissioner warrants to be paid on wednesday, september 23rd total 507 $791,000.75. Looking to see if you have any questions >> and for approval. >> any questions for gail on this gentleman? No, I'm >> ocean blue orange, mr. Chair. Second. All right.

[3:32] roll call, mr. Hopkins. Yes, mr. Johnson. Yes. Mr. Venmo? Yes. And the border? Yes. Truth or charity as to thank you gail >> crissy >> often human resource awards >> the >> september. Warrants for health and human services total $1,038,050.35. You can see the breakdown between our departments and then the supplemental information. All >> right.

[4:17] any questions on any of this gentleman? Mr. Chair, you go ahead. I'm sure >> is we're getting to that time of the year where we start to see anomalies with billing and things like that or do you anticipate any of that coming up? I'm >> not that I anticipate right now. I can say that the.

[4:36] kadri house number two on the third page it is two months they >> missed the cut off last month so >> no, they're not typically in that top grouping for the last. All right. As a motion support. All right. Roll >> call on this two gentlemen. Mr. Hopkins. Yes. Mr. Johnson. Yes. Mr. Brown.

[5:08] yes or chairs a thank you so much. All right. John johnson >> job posting approval. Thank you, mr. Chair. This week mr. Chair, the only thing we're discussing is one corrections deputy spot that is a gender specific hiring which is necessary as part of. Of mandates relative to staffing as well as overtime control.

[5:48] this is individual will fill a very necessary spot to ensure that the sheriff has the opportunity to manage overtime relative to his requirements that he faces with ensuring that both genders >> are represented on each staff and shift. So for that reason I recommend that we fill those positions.

[6:12] I'll agree with you as well, john, as I sit on that committee I mean it hasn't reared its ugly head yet with the overtime but you know if we don't get somebody in here pretty soon is going to rear its ugly head. So with that I do agree with your.

[6:32] in the in our committees >> assessment on this one she >> motion to approve mr. Chair second all right any more questions about this one gentleman all right. With that all in favor I posed perfect. >> thank you. March 20th, 27. Proposed levy mr. Owens >> good afternoon, chair and members of the board. Today we are here to ask you to approve >> your budget for 2027.

[7:03] this is a process that started for all of us early on in the summer. We've had many meetings over that time and so just a little background if I may before we get to the.

[7:24] requested action starting starting in early july we started having meetings after staring down nearly a $12 million increase in that $12 million increase was a direct result of yes costs going up wages, things of that nature but also a direct result from the state and fed cuts to. To funding and in money that would otherwise needs to be offset by taxes.

[7:50] so to do that we were staring at a little over $12 million increase and I give that as a background not to say that we should be happy with where we're at but that we certainly put in the effort to try to get to where we're at today. Those cuts included.

[8:11] over nine positions salary reductions, equipment that will not be purchased in 2027 along with many other things including $2 million from reserves. So with that information I'm asking you to adopt a proposed tax levy for 2027 of $49,000,831 thousand $941 representing an 8.79% increase over 2026. Along with that well I'm also asking to adopt the proposed unorganized fire levy as 4.

[8:43] 5% of net tax capacity in a proposed unorganized road and bridge levy as 10% of net tax capacity and also schedule your public meeting for truth and taxation on tuesday, december 1st, 2026 at 6 p.m. Here in the county boardroom in which the public will be allowed to speak on the budget and the levy would be discussed there. And I'm certainly happy to take any questions.

[9:03] >> you know I'll start on here us >> and it's I appreciate your laying out like you did there we did have a very large number and many many many contributing factors you know again it's it we're not alone in this other counties are at the mercy of certain things from the states as well >> you know I just say

[9:28] that am I happy with that number? Of course I'm not. My taxes go up just like everybody else's. It >> really is a something that needs to get started getting control of at the state level and and I hope that we continue to push them and we get some movement there.

[9:50] there was >> a lot of tough decisions, some responsible cuts >> and you know, it's it's where we ended up. As for right now we are working on a few other things and we'll see if how it all shakes out. But that is you know, the number that that we have to send out right now.

[10:14] like always the number can go go down. It can't go up >> just to reiterate that to people. So I think your team and I thank my fellow board members for the hard work going into this and but definitely appreciate your team and your office for constantly keeping us up to date on all the numbers and you know our budget to actuals

[10:37] for this year and some of the. The numbers that we could you know base our decisions off of so I appreciate that all of that so >> go ahead there are >> that total dollar figure. What was the percentage starting out? >> 26.62% was our original levy 26.79, correct.

[11:01] we're down about 18 ish. Yeah. >> yeah. If you want to look at it about 18% of where 18% of that was cut through through the process of of the meetings since july.

[11:30] that be correct and that does represent about $8 million it's $8,166,486 was cut from from the budget to get to where we are today >> and I would just like to follow up with corey's comment on. Between now and december when we have work truth and taxation I would like us to continue to >> work on that number and I mean we did it last year. We found a few more places where we could cut some more so and that hurts.

[11:58] I mean I understand it you know we had an increase last year and we're going to probably have another increase again this year obviously. So. But I would just like us >> to be diligent in continuing to look in and see where we can come up with.

[12:14] so certainly yes, I think that's all your your work on your entire team did a great job. So >> yeah, it's an important distinction that this is a proposed levy and it's it's kind of a communication to the public. Here's where we're at in an opportunity for.

[12:32] for them to to talk with you and everybody to to say you know what can we do so it's certainly into into corey's point that you can only go down from here. Oh, I would like to add one more thing last year truth and taxation night we had this room full and a lot of people got up and >> shared their opinions and their frustrations which we completely understand and this

[12:53] year I know myself and several commissioners. Invited people to an open meeting. We had two and a half months worth of budget meetings and I don't believe we had one constituent show up to a budget meeting to listen in to see what's going on, to stand formed and that's disappointing and disheartening because come

[13:17] december 10th or december 1st this room may be packed again and it sure >> would have been nice to have some of those folks here along the way to. To understand what we've been doing, the work we've been doing, the sacrifices that some of the departments have made, most of the departments have made and >> you know

[13:40] we're going to hear about this all of us and but I just. Next year I would >> really love for more people to come to the budget >> meetings and see the things that are done to to make this happen so >> appreciate your comments on that, larry.

[14:02] and I will point out to as is often done, you know, some of these these unfunded mandates we saw in the eyes and we're not the only one the city rep it's every town has got to face them as well. But you know, I'll just let you know.

[14:18] little tidbit here what we have an unfunded mandates over at health and human resources is with the folks that have to implement them and do the paperwork and do the intake on all this is 30 plus million dollars. I mean it's not you're not going to argue with any of us up here that it's not sustainable.

[14:38] it's not but these are the things we are face so. But >> with that gentlemen we do have to set are proposed anybody else have any other comments? All right . So like I'll make the motion so 8.79. All right. We have a motion >> I will support. All right. All those in favor I oppose, I.

[15:08] all right, >> uh, with >> that often I thank you and I think I just want to be clear that motion also included the unorganized fire and yes. Yup. Just to approve the yep. Thank you. Yep. All of it. So thank you. All ready sara henderson I am here. Good afternoon.

[15:37] so included in your packet there's a 70 plus page report on accessible city of services and provider availability and network adequacy so I'm going to give a brief overview and then if you have any questions I can answer those so I am care.

[16:03] assures that providers in our network are geographically accessible as well as ensuring that our network has an adequate number of providers with appointment access available we have to follow all minnesota statutes. Minnesota rules the court of federal regulations and then our contracts with dhs and cms. That's kind of what dictates our process and what we review.

[16:26] we >> annually have to report this information to dhs via and attestation and then it's also audited by the department of health on a regular cycle. So to meet accessibility >> standards we must ensure access to primary care providers specialty care providers, behavioral health providers and then the ancillary chiropractic dentist optometry providers. By identifying any gaps in our network this information is collected via a provider survey which is sent out by email.

[16:51] if we don't get any response then we follow up with a phone call to the facility to ensure that we get a response from each network provider. Each provider type >> has a standard that must be met for each visit type including preventive visits, initial routine visits, urgent and emergent visits.

[17:09] they all have different time frames to ensure that members can get in as urgently as their health condition requests. So we >> met goals for accessibility measurements and provider types other than routine dental and routine optometry. Overall we maintained an adequate network as it relates to provider accessibility and we're confident that we continue to do that moving forward to determine geographic accessibility.

[17:33] we work in conjunction with the itasca county department of surveying and mapping. They conduct and create geo access maps for us those maps include an analysis of travel distance versus time to network providers.

[17:55] it has been determined that due to the very rural nature of our county that travel distance is the lesser of the two and therefore that's the method that is utilized and we collect and perform an analysis of the data against the performance measurement standards as indicated by all those federal and state laws statutes contracts to analyze the data and make sure that it's meeting the standards for the geographic available city and appointment wait times.

[18:22] so the outcomes of all that we meet the primary care access ratio standards but we do not meet the geographic availability. So primary care access analysis indicates that >> primary care providers >> have to be available within 30 miles of enrollee residence.

[18:44] however, there are 17 households in the northwest area of the county that are not within 30 miles of a primary care physician with admitting privileges there were 17 households must travel approximately 40 miles to get to the nearest hospital. This group of enrollees accounts for less than 1% of the total time care enrollment.

[19:05] I am care does contract with all hospitals within itasca county and through our now analysis there are no identified hospitals in the surrounding counties that would be any closer to access for those households. It's just simply due to the very >> rural nature of those households that there are no hospitals, no primary care provider offices that are within those standards.

[19:27] so we do meet the established mental health and study access ratio standards for both service and geographic availability. We meet the access ratio standards for pediatric primary care but again we don't meet for the >> geographic availability due to that same issue that we just talked about about those 17 households being >> in a very rural rural area by task county we meet >> the established chiropractic

[19:50] pharmacy and dental ratios access and geographic availability standards and those providers treat both pediatric and adult enrollees . So I am care allows enrollees to see all network and outreach specialty providers in our service area without a referral or prior authorization and then in addition we allow enrollees to see specialty care at the nearest out of network

[20:13] tertiary care center without a referral or prior authorization which is the essential ascension duluth where they have a lot more specialties than we have in >> our county. We did analyze enrollee grievances and we did not receive any grievances related to accessibility or availability of providers within our area during this 2026 study period.

[20:38] so >> effective one one 2027 I am care is going to be required to utilize mdh adopted time and distance standards >> some which are more stringent than we've had to adopt in the past.

[20:58] so to meet these changes the expectation is that we use telehealth as an additional option to ensure that member needs are met. >> so that is a summary of a very long report. So does anybody have any questions about that or just just once or what what I mean obviously I know I had a fill in the fill out and it took a very long time to get into it and I've had some people reach

[21:19] out to me that are on I am care you know about both the dental and it's it's not because we're not trying to get them and it's just it's just like everybody else kind of what I'm reading through the report here is that >> just like everybody who takes time to get in and is that

[21:37] kind of just the nature of the beast type of deal in that industry right now or >> yeah, there is a statewide if not nationwide dental shortage. It's not just dentists that are in shortage, it's high dentists and dental assistants and so it's kind of the whole gamut of we do have an eye test oconee dental

[21:58] collaborative where we're working to improve access. We work with a dentist's office, we work with united way. The educational >> facilities are involved minnesota north and then the school districts to kind of work towards what we can do to increase capacity and and more >> access essentially >> more providers to create more access.

[22:23] I'm one thing that we have done it I am care that's different than is statewide as we do have an on call emergency dental program and so if a member calls us we do have an on call dentist every day for emergency >> only and then the >> that the purpose of that is to prevent those type of

[22:43] patients from having to go to the e.r. So they can get in with a dental provider. And then we do encourage all the members who are calling us to get on a dental waiting list, you know, that type of thing so that they can establish care and have a primary dentist moving forward.

[22:59] >> yeah, and I see the numbers you know I know especially on their routine has gotten a lot better this year so that that's good to see in here so that's really all that but any thing else for sure >> not at this time. Thank you as always. Thank you all the information.

[23:18] yes, you're welcome. Thank you. Take care. All right. National four week for each week. Courtney johnson. Oh, just jumped about. I jumped. >> I think you're merging them. Oh, my paperwork's a little bit out of whack here. Yes, eric so kevin lee and antoine.

[23:42] yes, kevin and rob are here from >> north memorial and we met a couple of weeks ago to put together this is their first report to the board. We wanted to do these regularly so as you guys hear >> the information from them, if you're looking for anything additional or different, let me know so we can incorporate that into the next meeting. Thank >> you mr. Chair.

[24:04] commissioners, this is the same report format that we use with our other taxing districts so like eric said, if there's something else that you want added or if you want something changed we can certainly do that.

[24:24] and this is for the second quarter of 2026 >> as far as staffing goes we have two emts working there every day 24 seven we also have a part time or what's called a part time als license in nashua.

[24:42] and what that allows us to do is if if an emt calls in sick and we can't find an emt to fill that spot, we can put a paramedic in there and then they can do all their advanced skills as well. So that's what that part time als license allows us to do in terms of the volumes year to date we be able to build 238 patients and we were budgeted to bill 189 so we were a little bit busier than we thought we would be in terms >> of the finances and again

[25:05] this is year to date through the second quarter our revenues were favorable by 34,000 due to the increase in the volumes our expenses were unfavorable by 39,000 due to increased supply expense purchase service expense. The rental we have for the the temporary housing that we're using there now and then also depreciation expenses.

[25:32] but the overall margin was favorable to budget at 26 or excuse me 21.6 and our goal is 10% and the full financial report is attached to your packet there as well.

[26:00] as far as response times we list those in ten minute, 20 minute and 30 minute intervals and we've listed both the first and second quarter response times on here but I'll just read through the second quarter ones. So what this report means is that in the second quarter and this is just looking at itasca county we arrived in less than ten minutes 60% of the time less we arrived in less than 20 minutes 95% of the time and we arrived in less than 30

[26:25] minutes 100% of the time. >> and as you're well aware that the district goes quite a ways up north. >> yes. We also include community involvement in our reports and here in itasca county we participate in the itasca county ems meetings with eric.

[26:53] we also attend the itasca county fire chiefs meetings and the itasca county tct meetings. And then on a wider level we participate in the arrowhead ems managers meetings as well. We do patient satisfaction surveys with our patients. We don't survey every single one of them. A certain percentage get surveyed in all of the areas that we serve and our goal is 89.

[27:21] 7% for the score and during the first quarter our overall score was 97.73 and we didn't receive any comments during the first quarter and as time goes on as we get comments will include those in on your packet. The second quarter our overall score was 82.

[27:44] 5 so down just a little bit and we didn't get any comments during the second quarter as well. >> then we list the destination hospitals. So in the second quarter as you can imagine the most common destination was fairview hibbing that was at 83 and grand itasca was at 51 and then the other hospital destinations are listed on here as well and I don't have it on the agenda but if you

[28:12] don't mind mr. Chair, do you mind if I give an update on the sanford merger to sure. Because people might jump might ask you questions about it as well. Exactly.

[28:32] so >> we merged with sanford on september 1st but we're not in terms of the ambulance and air care, we're not going to change any of the areas that we're serving. We're not going to be making any big changes within our ambulance division. Our ambulance division is actually quite a bit larger than sanford's. So I think that >> it'll be fine. You'll >> continue to get good service, will continue to serve the same communities that we have been serving.

[29:00] yeah. And if anything that was the one question that has been answered for us at least to me over my way and I said service is not going to change so >> yeah exact and to be perfectly honest it's you know I'm sure you've read some of the stories in the news but it's it's really financially

[29:23] stabilized our organization the merger because of the work that the work and finances that sanford will be investing in our hospitals and in the cities which affects our whole organization. It's >> great news as far as I'm concerned. So yes. Do you have does anybody have any questions about anything and go ahead. All right.

[29:51] I appreciate all the detail of your report. I'm wondering if we could possibly going forward get a breakdown >> of how many times your care is launched on those on those more extended >> response times. I think it would be beneficial for the public to know how reliable here care is in the the continuum of emergency services.

[30:13] yeah and that's my fault. I should have mentioned that we do include air care at the bottom of that hospital destination report so we use them once in the first quarter and once in the second quarter perfect >> in other areas in itasca county we might use them more or up north of of nashua but the

[30:34] hospital in hibbing is pretty close so >> quick is kevin as far as like >> going north like you say in the berryville you're also going >> south to goodland.

[30:59] are you covered in goodland out of marsh rock >> or do you got rapids helping you with good lender? How is that working? >> well if I'm >> a little bit geographically challenged but we try to send the closest truck. >> okay. Yeah and you know you can well, thank you gentlemen for the report. Appreciate >> it. Appreciate it. Thank you. Yes . Oh, >> josh and jennifer, come on down review a proposal for new telecoms solution. Yes. Afternoon, commissioners. Good afternoon.

[31:38] in preparing for this presentation I went back and listened to the budget meeting recording from 2025 and in that meeting >> what we proposed or what we discussed was the potential the mitel system needs to be replaced continuing to fail it's very expensive to replace.

[32:02] in that meeting we said there is a traditional type telephone system we could use that would be very expensive and that was 377,000 is what the high worst case scenario was if we were to replace it with a team solution at that time and we said we didn't put phones on desks it would be much less >> at the end of that budget cycle.

[32:23] I had requested 377,000 325,000 was removed from that line item which left 51,000 roughly. So since that budget meeting we've continued to work with our vendors, we've continued to look at the resources and one of the things that was discussed in that meeting was the potential for a hybrid system.

[32:46] and paul bunyan is now able to >> provide a hybrid system that would allow to use a phone on a desk, an app or a teen solution. So looking at what paul bunyan has proposed compared to if we did the straight team solution ourself, our recommendation to the board is that we pursue the paul bunyan solution.

[33:08] if you look at the current proposal page two of what I sent to you guys >> the one time charges for paul bunyan are 28,560. The approximate annual net increase in telecom costs is $19,698. Paul bunyan we changed. We no longer need to purchase any phones.

[33:32] that was over $100,000 when we looked at this in june of 2025. We were able to pick up some phones from another county so we saved in that regard. They also have changed some of their licensing. They've sharpened their pencil and they've had some new options roll out in their system in the last 18 months.

[33:51] if we look at the team solution, the one time charges are actually >> greater than the paul bunyan charges of 65,600 and the approximate annual net increase >> is 37,000. So what we're asking of the board today is that you approve us to pursue the paul bunyan solution get locked down numbers for licenses and seats and how we want to propose it and if it is close

[34:12] to the numbers we've done here then we would submit it on a consent agenda in the coming weeks. Questions >> for jennifer on this or just go ahead >> and more of a statement to the question. Mr. Chair, in this consideration I think we have to have a timeline. Mr. Chair.

[34:39] we feel historically we've heard a lot about the things we could do and >> the deliverability of these of these ideas seems to be vague or >> undoable frankly.

[35:05] so I think if we contractually don't have an absolute delivery on this project I know I won't support it because a wish list is nothing more than that and there's no savings in wishing when we submit the consent agenda item it would have a proposed contract that would require signature and that would have start dates and finish dates provided by paul bunyan >> and penalties if delivered late.

[35:22] >> we can work with them to see if we can incorporate that >> if they want our business they'll do that. >> jennifer on the back of this page right here. Yes sir. Is that just some of these add ons or is this what the it's the breakdown of the charges. It >> looks like the spreadsheet. Yep. Yep. Yes, that is so the the top part is the different licensing. Okay.

[35:44] and so based on what solution each individual chooses because there will be some individual choices would base the licensing per month. So that's the top part. The bottom part is one time charges with paul bunyan and then there's a under the one time charges there's another heading called paul bunyan offsetting costs >> issue because if we don't

[36:05] do a change we have to continue our annual maintenance on the aging motel and we also pay long distance costs >> with changing to the paul bunyan managed voice which is a sapient solution we would forgo the annual maintenance on the motel and we would not pay long distance on any calls and longer.

[36:25] okay so that offsets the total annual cost. The >> other thing that I'd like to make sure is very clear is that because it's a hybrid solution where you could have a phone on the desk, you could use teams or you could use the application, it will look like very different systems.

[36:45] it is one system and each user can use it differently and there's costs associated with each way we use it. Anybody with a county issued phone can just use their phone. That is the least cost solution for a license. Hmm.

[37:03] somebody who needs a phone on their desk is going to it's going to operate different for them it's still the same system. It's still the same features and functions. It's just how you interface it will be different. Sure.

[37:19] >> one of the things that adds a lot to the button solution and the support that we do get from them for the years that I've been here and we've had paul bunyan they've been great to work with, they've been responsive and that definitely adds to that solution for me at least. Sure. One more question on that. Yep, go ahead. >> are there any other vendors that could provide same or similar service? Because in the interest of transparency this is a pretty heavy and steep investment.

[37:45] so is there anyone else or any other vendors that could potentially bid same or similar similar services to itasca county that we should be considering as compared to this? So we did have two vendors involved one bid the tim solution one build the build the manage voice. There are lots of other managed voice solutions out there.

[38:05] when we did the price comparison they weren't close to what paul bunyan has been able to bring back to us after we've worked with them for 1518 months. So if you want us to get another quote we can and we'll just continue to delay it.

[38:26] last >> year I we spent $20,000 in replacing my telephones and this year I've already spent 5400 so I don't we have a couple of spare phones on the shelf the longer we stretch this out >> more we'll end up putting in phones.

[38:41] but if you'd like us to get another quote from another managed voice we can do that as long as we can demonstrate to the public that we've done our due diligence and we're getting them the best bang for their tax dollar, we're fine. We have to be able to demonstrate that. Mr. Chairman, go ahead. Just to make a comment.

[39:03] jennifer kind of quickly went over the fact that she was able to secure not only just phones from another county, free phones from another county that really had implemented this solution. It was working great for them and for some internal reasons they decided to move away from it.

[39:17] so when the email came across her team say all right, we got some phones I'm pretty sure we had put the fire underneath >> her feet to get that done. So she she did save us probably six figures on this at least on this proposal.

[39:31] and in addition to that, we've actually taken those phones to paul bunyan and they've they've tested them for us because it's not a phone they offer but we took a to a condom, dropped it off and we picked them up and brought them back and they've tested them and are willing to say yes, they'll work with their solution. Sure. >> any other questions, gentlemen? What's what's what's your pleasure here? I'll make a motion to move forward.

[39:57] john, you were >> going to say something so I'll wait for a second. You're going to ask a question, okay. >> it's true. I will support. Okay. Well, everyone >> is this within the either the current 2026 budget or is it included in your 27 budget this funding is in there's roughly 47,000 in the telephone line item 6200 that would cover the installation of this. Correct. Thank you.

[40:25] any more discussion or questions for jennifer? All right. With a motion in a second. All in favor. All right. All right. And we'll see you next week, okay? >> all right. Now for courtney please come forward on forage week. All right. Good afternoon, board chair, members of board.

[40:58] it's my great pleasure to be with you today. It >> wasn't all that long ago that myself and colleague alison hanson were here to talk about four h and I task county yours and ours youth development program.

[41:18] we're here because we've got some exciting things happening specifically national for each week and a special request from the board for that but again courtney johnson and I've got some esteemed guests with me they're going to co present and I'd really like them to introduce themselves if they're ready and tastic. >> so if you'd say your name grade and maybe some projects or things you've done for each . My name is jack mosul.

[41:37] I am in seventh grade and I am a big I do a lot of things in the beef industry for forage. Thank you. My name >> is danica kaser. I'm a sophomore in college and now an alumni of the I task counting for each program and I was part of the chris mckinney program and I help run the children's barn at the fair.

[41:55] >> well, thank you both and both of them very humbled because they didn't mention it. Excellent youth representation and leadership in our forage food booth.

[42:11] so if you went to the fair and you had a yummy treat these two can be thanked as well >> as for the update and a lot of the things that we've done so they >> I saw them get shakes guys. All right so what we're here to do I've kind of mentioned national for each week is coming up and that will be october 4th through the 10th and some of the things that are going to be happening in the county really are going to be around celebrating for each youth

[42:31] development and I will not go over numbers what we've done I did that last time when we were together. So I just want to share how we're going to be celebrating itasca county forfeitures are going to be celebrating by working with their clubs or maybe programs to decorate yard displays, window displays.

[42:50] you should see all things forage during that week advertised really encouraging young people in itasca county to join or their families to consider >> getting interested and seeing what's going on. This is also the time we kick off the new year.

[43:08] october 1st is like the technical first day of the new for each year we started bringing in new members around the 16th of this month you're also going to see an onslaught in media of all the big state events that have been happening and how our young people have been doing. In fact, I think jack will be in the next media release for your time at state fair.

[43:26] bring in your rabbit that bun bun. What was your rabbit's name and the little latte >> vanilla lactamase I love it. So you'll be able to see some of those highlights and every single weekend and the month of september has a for each state event or a regional event.

[43:44] this upcoming one we have the state dog show where we have three young members attending there as well as the northeast livestock show that's held in morrison county. We have over 20 young people attending varying ages from grades three through that actually alumni almost.

[44:01] so that first year of college >> I think I should probably >> wrap up with just saying to keep an eye on our social media we're going to be doing some throwback thursdays highlights talking to alumni actually today this was a scripted but I had an alumni of our program stop by the office. She was also a club leader back in the day.

[44:18] I had a lovely conversation with her >> and she goes is a national for which we coming up she said yes it is just I wrote a little article if you want to use it talking about why I still think for each matters so I >> was perfectly timed.

[44:33] I couldn't have asked for anything better and I think with that I should turn it over to danica and jack to share a proclamation around for each week and I task a tony >> mr. Chair if I may. Yes, courtney I bet that gentleman right there would be interested in that article. Yeah, >> they'll talk later.

[44:52] know any questions >> for these young people before I invite them to read the proclamation we have prepared for you? >> no, go ahead. Hey, jack, you have the floor. Okay. National forage week proclamation whereas this year's national forage week theme beyond ready reminds us that forage is building a ready generation of in a world of change and equips young people with skills for the future well meeting them where

[45:15] they are today whereas forage is america's largest youth development organization supporting 6 million youth across the country and. Whereas, forage programs are delivered by the cooperative extension system, a community of more than 100 public land grant colleges and universities across the nation that provides experiences for young people to learn by doing whereas forage in every city

[45:47] and every county in the united states and help 6 million youth be engaged, successful and independent and. Whereas forage connects young people and adults to their communities preparing them for work and life through experimental and inquiry based learning while providing emerging research for positive youth development. And.

[46:17] whereas, expanding from its strong agriculture roots forage helps young people explore the world around them and grow into productive adults. And. Whereas, supporting future leaders in science, agriculture, community leadership and is an important imperative for us department of agriculture national institute of food and agriculture forage program and now therefore it shall be proclaimed october 4th through the 10th 2026 as national for each week throughout itasca

[46:43] county and encourage all of our citizens to recognize forage for the significant impact it has made and continues to make by empowering youth within this group with the skills they need to lead for a lifetime.

[47:09] thank you both for that and courtney, thank you for all the work you do for extension and forage and I just >> always look forward to your presentations because they're always >> very mr. Chair >> I'd make a motion that we adopt before each week >> proclamation so again >> yes all in favor I thank you very much. Awesome >> great administrator >> updates mr.

[47:34] chair not to beat this one but with those funds that we got for free we also had a couple of our guests at the it's county jail cleaners and get those on a septic for us. So again a cooperative nature all the way around. That's all I have to do. Thank you, sir. All right. Committee reports mr.

[47:54] hopkins >> attended a risk >> management meeting last week and then also a grand village board meeting. >> all right, mr. Johnson. Thank you, mr. Chairs. As you know, I attended the fall policy conference on behalf of whitehouse cook county last week and administrator skiles joined me for parts of that.

[48:14] one of the key things that came out of that conference >> mr. Chair, I had the opportunity to have an in-depth conversation with a gentleman by the name of dylan ferguson and he runs the state emergency services office which used to be the ems rb but is now a state agency and I had a great discussion with him about the uniqueness of itasca county and the fact

[48:36] that we have every business model of a lot of ambulance services that are recognized in the state of minnesota. So we face somewhat of a unique challenge in the funding formulas as a result of that >> he and I agreed and he he graciously agreed to a follow up meeting with myself and any

[48:57] anyone else that might benefit from that conversation relative to where ems >> is going in minnesota. Some of the changes that are being explored in in other parts of the state one of the things which is on year two of a two year pilot project we've >> I've spoken about it before and that's the sprint

[49:18] paramedic >> pilot project which that was a two year pilot >> project for two locations. One location was in northern saint louis county, the other location was in southwestern minnesota and it's a slightly different approach.

[49:45] >> they've they've put a paramedic, they locate a paramedic in a region who has >> response authority in every psc >> that they can potentially reach in times of an >> emergency. So what it does is it reduces the time to for paramedic level treatment and care in an emergency significantly.

[50:11] the other thing that that individual does to remain productive in an engaged in communities is they also perform community paramedic work which is a whole nother class of of direct care to individuals and that's more of a preventative and proactive care service than is the sprint paramedic reactionary stuff and I'm super interested in that.

[50:34] we're coming to the end of year two of the pilot project he's agreed to come up and see a bunch of us and whomever we want to talk to us about that and whether or not that would be beneficial in northern itasca county and how it would be funded.

[50:54] that >> pilot project is currently funded by the state of course we I listened in on recent presentations on the challenges that health and human services face and the fall of the so many of the funding streams as you spoke of earlier are shifting funding is going away. Mandates are remaining how that's affecting counties. The obvious outcome to that, mr.

[51:19] chair, was our entire state is feeling that pressure and it's the position of the association of minnesota counties to address that at the state level. So that is is going to be discussed a tremendous amount of work in public safety and discussions in public safety of the world of public safety is changing it by definition and also practice.

[51:46] so with that the funding challenges become more prevalent and as we've seen in our own sheriff's office and all of the things that are that come along with that, there's a lot of challenges that are faced jails are one in particular. We have a unique >> opportunity. We have a unique element excuse me, mr.

[52:11] chair, to our jail we have an on staff mental health practitioner and itasca county and the folks that are familiar with that that particular programing >> just think that that's the way it's always done. It's not we have a fantastic resource in my town cook county which is actually receiving statewide attention with the programing that sheriff das savage has developed in support of mental health issues in our jail there are strong beliefs and

[52:35] positions that that's the wrong >> place for folks who are in need of mental health supports and that's true of based on our current circumstances we face that and I task a county is is supporting that that need far better than than others counties are able to >> so you'll hear me talking about

[52:55] that a lot going forward I also >> attended last night the minnesota power public hearing for the new transition >> transmission line referred to as the isc line and that's the itasca st louis county and arrowhead transmission line which is minnesota power's proposed improvement to the to the transmission that would leave the blackberry substation in east itasca

[53:24] county and transmit transmit energy back or forth all the way down to hermantown and then consequently into wisconsin. And that's where the arrowhead transmission company comes into play at sea. >> that's the northwest wisconsin service provider there.

[53:52] it was a public hearing held here in grand rapids widely publicized they received a and presided over by a judge administrative law judge and he took testimony from citizens who might be affected by the construction of that line like >> so many things in our society, mr. >> chair, I was very grateful for the folks that did show up.

[54:13] I would have been even more grateful if more folks had shown >> up and it was well publicized and well advertised. But at any rate it's a transparent opportunity for citizens to ensure that minnesota power and the minnesota public utilities commission are making informed decisions on on issues like this. So that was a good experience.

[54:38] I did take >> the opportunity to provide input to that and to the judge relative to the process itself as I have at this time. Mr. Chair, I appreciate you listening. Thank you. Mr.

[55:09] valma >> terry and I met with with corey cease and sara last week on some advancement and possibility some atv trails >> looking at some connections and and things that can go forward. I know those that well all right >> well I attended the logging expo this last friday >> a little cooler than I expected when I got there but but it was good it was a good turnout >> by the end of the day it was nice to catch up with a

[55:32] lot of local loggers in my district and their concerns and their outlook on how the logging industry is look and it was nice to see practically all of our representatives for itasca county showed up which I thought was very huge along with, you know, a couple of folks running for office as

[55:56] well. So it was very nice to see it because it's very important to you know, not only a task county but definitely my district. I mean I have a lot of loggers on my way so yeah, so that was great to see. So that's all I ask. But moving on commissioner comments mr.

[56:18] roberts nothing at this time. Mr. Johnson >> thank you mr. Chair. I'll just touch momentarily about about my position on our preliminary levy. I would like to again acknowledge publicly that it's my belief and opinion that I task the county's greatest asset is our employees and I firmly believe that investing in our employees and

[56:46] paying them for the work they do appropriately and commensurately for their skill sets is the most >> important part of our budget the other part being our operational expenses. Mr.

[57:13] chair, I think we have opportunity there and I hope that this board continues to focus on that focus on on surplus properties that the county may identify and we have the opportunity to liquidate and also consider those those smaller opportunities. >> I, I do believe that small opportunities and savings and small and reduced spending translate to huge reductions. So >> I hope that this board continues to focus on that and that's all I have. Mr.

[57:38] chair, appreciate that >> mr. Veneman. I just want to get out there for the people that have >> not gone into the chamber survey for our local area >> do that and then same thing speaking of trails and still a lot >> of people that have not done the trails survey which is a benefit to

[57:57] not only atv side by side and on both horseback bicycling walking >> of it's it's for our area and it's pretty critical and would help so to not piggyback >> off onto that to it is you know it's part of our enhanced trails study will which will also we're going to garner information from that

[58:21] >> in our case and use it for you know, type of tourism advertisement too. So it's very huge for us for that. >> so my comments real quick this friday and saturday the >> fly in order at the bowstring airport they want to come and see some cool plants that is place to be I'll be there I'm

[58:46] not sure what they but cooking breakfast so if you would like me to cook you breakfast make sure you get out to the bowstring airport this week and fall colors won't be in full bloom but it's looking pretty good out there so I really urge you if you haven't been out there to one

[59:04] of these four irons I really urging at all there's a lot of cool plants of fly under there that are pretty neat so with that we will move on to citizen input if you want >> the address. County board of commissioners encourages citizen input.

[59:23] each citizen will be allowed to address the county board one time or up to three minutes in length. Comments should be directed to the board as a body when addressing the board please state your name and address for the record. The board will take all information under advisement as part of the county board protocol.

[59:38] it's unacceptable for any speaker to slander or engage in character assassination at a county board meeting. In addition, no political grandstanding candidate endorsement or other attempts to influence the outcome of election shall be permitted any violation the above statement shall result in the loss of your remaining time. Thank you, mr. Scales. Anybody here for citizen input to the >> anybody seeing none. We are

Itasca County Board of Commissioners - 09-22-2026

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