[1:15] Good morning everyone. I'm going to call
the July 21st, 2026
[1:21] Mloud County Board of Commissioners
meeting to order. We'll start with the
[1:24] pledge of allegiance.
[1:28] I aliance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the republic
[1:33] for it stands. One nation under God,
indivisible with liberty and justice for
[1:40] all.
[1:47] » Okay. Good morning everyone.
Consideration of agenda items.
[1:50] » Mr. Chair, I have an addition.
>> Go ahead. I'm going to request to add
[1:54] item 7D
which will not require a vote but to
[1:59] update on environmental services
elevator project
[2:03] » and Joe Morgan will give us an update
from facilities.
[2:08] » Did you say 7D
>> 7
[2:12] E I apologize. Thank you.
[2:17] » So it' be the last item on the agenda.
[2:22] Entertain a motion with the addition to
the agenda items.
[2:28] » Motion made by Commissioner
>> Dah, excuse me. One of them mornings.
[2:37] And is there a second?
>> Second.
[2:40] » Second by Commissioner Wright.
Any discussion?
[2:45] Hearing none. All in favor say I. I.
Opposed. Motion carries.
[2:50] Consent agenda. No changes, Mr. Chair.
[2:56] » Motion made by Commissioner Wright.
Is there a second?
[3:01] Seconded by Commissioner Chesca.
Discussion hearing. None. All in favor
[3:06] say I. I. Motion carries. Environmental
services. Mark. Good morning.
[3:12] » Morning everyone.
I have one item for your consideration
[3:16] this morning and that is a conditional
use permit JP 2614 as requested by
[3:21] Theodore and Kelly Calstrom for
Australian alteration. They would like
[3:25] to remove vegetation, clear trees, grade
and fill more than 50 cubic yards of
[3:28] material for a private watercraft
landing and this work has already been
[3:32] done. So this is an after the fact.
[clears throat]
[3:35] The address is 1 19928 Sou Hills Road,
Hutchinson, Minnesota. The parcel was
[3:40] replatted in September of 2013. The
applicant says stated, "I've installed a
[3:45] private watercraft landing on the north
side of this property." And they did
[3:48] that due to some bad information that
they received from neighboring property
[3:52] owners. So, with that being said, this
lot has a natural soil drainage area
[3:56] between the lot to the north. The
applicant provided a screening plan
[3:59] intending to improve the current
situation. Rob Cole, who is the Aoma
[4:02] Township board represent representative
to the Hutchinson Area Joint Planning
[4:07] Board, um stated that Akoma Township
does approve of this request as they
[4:10] feel it will be an improvement. The
Hutchinson Area Joint Planning Board
[4:14] approved this request on Wednesday, July
15th with the following conditions.
[4:19] Number one, accept the screening plan
prairie restoration and trees as
[4:22] provided by the applicant. It was
submitted with the packet. Number two,
[4:26] remove two inches of the Bitcon and
replace with suitable top soil to
[4:29] support vegetative growth and that is
over the private watercraft landing
[4:34] area. And then number three, the
restoration project shall be completed
[4:38] by November 15, 2026. the screening
plan, restoration plan um was put
[4:43] together by the applicant um and Kelly
Guest as she is here and our soil and
[4:48] water office. So um looking at the plan
myself, I do feel it is a very good
[4:53] plan. Um there's a couple trees out
there that are dying that I believe will
[4:57] need to be removed. They're green,
they're ash trees, so with the emerald
[5:00] ashbor, um the plan calls for um native
mix of prairie grass. They have a lot of
[5:06] buckthorn on the property which I
believe will help clean that up because
[5:09] it's an invasive species and it would be
a net plus seven trees out there added
[5:14] to this property when completed.
So the applicants have agreed to the
[5:19] conditions that are stated from joint
plans. So I I I do support this request
[5:26] wishes of the board. I mean I I I've
heard about this for a number of years
[5:33] actually different things that are going
on out there. So I don't Is the DNR
[5:36] involved? Have they signed off to this?
>> They are. So the DNR they handle
[5:42] everything below the ordinary water
level the OW and they are not supporting
[5:46] the the landing area below the OW and
they are making um they have made
[5:52] comments and they are requiring some
restoration work. This request is
[5:55] strictly everything that's landward uh
above the OW. So that is the county's
[6:00] authority. We do have to administer
Minnesota rule 6120 which is the
[6:04] shoreline management standards um which
talks about screening and vegetative
[6:10] cover that type of thing to minimize any
impact erosions back to the basin
[6:15] and and this plan does definitely
>> we have nothing to do with the water
[6:18] level.
>> We do not have anything below the OW
[6:22] » good or bad. Go ahead. Sorry. Um I'm I'm
going through a similar process of
[6:27] removing ash trees and you do know that
you can't you're not supposed to remove
[6:32] them before October 1st because that's
the prime flying season before that. Um
[6:39] so just
>> you're welcome.
[6:47] » Go ahead.
>> Yeah, there was quite a bit of
[6:49] discussion at the joint planning board
on this uh but the restoration is in
[6:53] place and it meets all the requirements.
So, um there was a little bit of last
[6:57] minute information from the DNR that uh
seems to you know still work within
[7:01] within the plan and it is that needs to
take place. So, I'll make a motion to
[7:06] approve.
>> Motion made by Commissioner Right to
[7:08] approve. Is there a second?
>> I'll second.
[7:11] » Seconded by Commissioner Chazka
discussion
[7:15] » just just for clarity. I just want to
make sure Mark that we're following.
[7:21] So, there is a permit for that driveway.
I'll call it a driveway. Is there a
[7:27] permit from the township for that access
down to that lake? Because that would be
[7:32] a separate thing, not us.
>> So, they applied for that access permit,
[7:37] but I have no knowledge of whether the
township granted the authority for that
[7:42] to connect to that road.
>> Okay. And then we would take once there
[7:47] is a road then we would take that next
piece down to the water level. Then
[7:52] that's this conditional use permit.
>> So in essence this request is going to
[7:57] remove what you see as the road as the
public access or the private excuse me
[8:02] private access.
>> So in theory I'm not sure if there would
[8:05] be a connectivity to the road once the
restoration is complete.
[8:09] » Okay.
>> It would be vegetative cover. it it
[8:12] would have infiltration so water could
absorb into that area without shedding
[8:17] directly to the basin. So after this
project is done if you went out there I
[8:21] don't believe you would know that there
is a a hard surface for them to
[8:26] potentially access the lake.
>> Okay. And then obviously once it hits
[8:31] the water line that's the DNR. So
there's three different possibly three
[8:36] different pieces to this puzzle.
>> That is correct. So,
[8:40] having been on the Tacoma Township, this
definitely needs to be cleaned up. So,
[8:46] no further comments on that.
>> And I'm the reason I'm asking questions
[8:51] or like to hear this because I just want
to make sure there's no
[8:57] fall back to our permitting process here
that that's clean. I I I I know there's
[9:01] some other issues there and I when it
comes to the ash trees I they changed
[9:05] that and there there could very well be
because of
[9:09] the ash ashbor that uh there's
conditions on getting rid of ash trees
[9:15] and I think that's localized to some
extent but that and and as long as we're
[9:20] not responsible
for DNR water levels because that's been
[9:24] an issue out there for a number of
years.
[9:26] » So so to comment on that Mr. Chair, the
Minnesota Rule 6120 is our section 13 of
[9:32] the Mloud County zoning ordinance,
section 9 of the Hutch joint planning
[9:35] ordinance, and there are exemptions in
there to dead and disease dying trees
[9:39] that can be removed upon consultation of
our office.
[9:43] » So, we work with land owners on that. We
haven't really been through, you know,
[9:46] Dutch Elma is probably the last one that
we experienced in this area to the
[9:50] extent where we're seeing a lot of these
ash trees that are dying now and
[9:54] [clears throat] they need to be removed.
From the DNR's perspective and the rule,
[9:57] it's all about trying to stabilize that
that lake shore so that we don't create
[10:01] any potential erosion issues.
>> Um, the land owners have been very
[10:06] receptive to this. I have zero negative
comments in regards to their willingness
[10:10] to work with us and I'm appreciative of
their willingness to accept this plan
[10:14] and move forward because I definitely do
believe it'll be an improvement.
[10:18] » Thank you. Any other discussion? Hearing
none. All in favor say I.
[10:23] » I oppos. Motion carries.
>> Thank you,
[10:28] » public Gors. John,
[10:32] » good morning.
>> John,
[10:34] » consider approving the agreement between
Mloud County and the Upper Midwest AC
[10:38] Club for continued use of the building
located at the fairgrounds until July
[10:42] 31st, 2027. As discussed at the July
7th, 2026 workshop, the agreement ends
[10:48] on July 31st, 2026. staff and members of
the club have met discuss the terms of
[10:53] the agreement extension that's included
in the packet.
[10:57] » Just just to be clear in case anybody
doesn't know is Alice Jones
[11:03] club.
>> Mr. Chair, go ahead.
[11:05] » Perhaps for the benefit of of those that
might be watching video of the meeting
[11:09] at some point. Uh many years ago, an
agreement was struck between the Al
[11:13] Jmers Club and uh and the county to
allow them to build a 50 by 100 foot
[11:19] building in the northwest corner of the
fairgrounds so they had a place to store
[11:22] tractors and equipment that'd be used
during the Orange Spectacular show. Uh
[11:26] that was a 12-year agreement and we're
now to the end of that. Um and at the
[11:30] end of at the end of that 12 years, uh
the building the use of the building
[11:35] would then be transferred over to um
over to the county or for fairgrounds.
[11:39] um benefits from that point going
forward. At this point, um
[11:45] the the fair commission, the county um
is not uh sure what our plans are for
[11:50] that building and they are still looking
for space. And so it seemed like the
[11:54] best option is to extend that agreement
for one year. Uh while we continue to
[11:59] figure out how to repurpose that
building uh as well as uh those
[12:03] individuals storing uh their orange
painted tractors and equipment in there,
[12:08] I look for options to um put them
somewhere else at this point. So there's
[12:12] a lot of value in this agreement. I
think it's the best uh best for both
[12:16] worlds involved. I'll make a motion to
approve.
[12:18] » Motion made by Commissioner Wright to
approve. Is there a second? I'll second
[12:22] it. Uh discussion,
Commissioner D. You know, I just want to
[12:27] be very clear about this. So,
back in the day when that building was
[12:33] built,
there was an estimate of what the value
[12:37] of that was. So, you've got a building
that was put up and used for the for a
[12:42] certain amount of time, I'll say it that
way, on the fairground property. So, the
[12:48] building is owned or being used by
somebody but on somebody else's land. So
[12:53] when this ends
and I understand the extension part of
[12:58] it, I'm I can I'll voice my opinion that
I'm not happy about the dollar amount of
[13:03] the rent because originally as you go
through time, there was a certain dollar
[13:08] amount that was placed on that every
year and now we have lowered that. So
[13:13] I'll go along with the one year, but I
don't think I would go along with
[13:17] anything longer than that.
[13:21] » Any other discussion?
I I mean I I just
[13:26] technically in my mind it's a growing
pain. It's not bad. I mean we can take
[13:32] look at it however we want to. I I think
both the fairs fairgrounds and uh are
[13:37] are we're growing
um and need to do some work there. And
[13:44] it's just um I'm I'm going to try to
stay positive as well. I mean it's a
[13:49] year we got close on time anyway.
wouldn't be convenient to do anything
[13:54] anymore this year or ended up that way.
So I again I will I I'll uh be approving
[14:01] the motion.
Any other discussion?
[14:05] Call the question. All in favor say I.
>> I opposed. Motion carries. And then I I
[14:11] did just want to mention that this last
Saturday um we had an event out at
[14:15] Stalls Lake Park um in cooperation with
the Veteran Services Office where we had
[14:20] uh the president of the Minnesota
Micological Society come out and teach.
[14:25] Um we kind of did a little education
session and then went out in the woods
[14:28] and looked for mushrooms. Um, and we had
about eight eight veterans come out and
[14:33] the event was scheduled for a couple
hours and it ended up going a little
[14:36] over three hours because everybody is
having so much fun and asking questions
[14:39] and um, we actually found a a big basket
full of mushrooms and about 75% of them
[14:44] were edible. So, everybody got to take
some home and and try them out. But, um,
[14:48] we hope to do at least an annual event
like this where we get um, veterans out
[14:52] in the park. Um, hopefully we can do do
it more often, but it was a good first
[14:56] event. Um, I would say, you know, a
smaller one, but good to just kind of
[15:00] test it out and see how it works. But,
uh, everybody really enjoyed it.
[15:04] » Appreciate the update, John.
>> Yep.
[15:06] » Thank you.
[15:10] » Employee relations, Hannah. Good
morning, Hannah.
[15:16] » Good to see you. I have a couple of
items this morning. Um, item A is
[15:20] consider approving the 202627 Minnesota
Public Employees Association or MINPIA
[15:25] General Collective Bargaining Agreement.
This is um, we're getting really close
[15:29] to the end of seeing these at board
meetings for now.
[15:36] Wishes of the board.
[15:42] Commissioner Smalls is not here this
morning. Uh, so I'll uh make the motion
[15:48] to approve.
[15:51] » Second.
>> Seconded by Commissioner Wright. Um, any
[15:56] discussion?
>> Mr. D.
[15:58] » Mr. Chairman, I can only assume that
there was one of the commissioners that
[16:02] sat down and with this and looked at it.
So if that with that you're nodding your
[16:09] head in approval that yes, that
happened.
[16:11] » Yeah. So, we have um on our on our
negotiations committee, we have two
[16:14] board members who are on the committee.
Um and that is Commissioner Schmalls and
[16:19] Commissioner Krueger right now who are
sitting and on those processes. So,
[16:22] we've been we started this um 26 27
negotiations process last spring and
[16:28] just getting to the kind of last line
items, but we're we have um eight uh of
[16:33] our nine have been approved and we're
just kind of getting those last details
[16:37] into contracts and here to the board.
>> So, thanks Thanks for that update.
[16:42] » Yeah.
>> Any other discussion or questions?
[16:47] Hearing none. All in favor say I.
>> I.
[16:50] » Oppose. Motion carries.
>> Thank you. Um item B. So this is at the
[16:55] bottom of this item, but just as a
reminder, we're going to be talking
[16:57] about some personnel policy updates.
These are some small changes. Um we did
[17:01] re discuss these as a full board at the
workshop on March 17, 2026. Just
[17:05] bringing these back for final approval.
Um, so consider approving the updated
[17:10] Mloud County personnel policy. Sections
that were affected by the proposed
[17:13] changes include a slight change in pay
history, which is on page 11. Um, rest
[17:18] periods on page 25, termination
entitlements on page 48, termination of
[17:24] employee update, employment updates on
page 63, and insurance benefits on page
[17:29] 50. In the board work in the packet, I
did have just a simple like two page
[17:33] just went through each of those small
items. Um, we do have a a personnel
[17:37] policy review committee that um this
went in front of as well which
[17:41] Commissioner Chachka and Commissioner
Wright are on and we will see slight
[17:45] updates to policies annually and of
course we'll bring those to the board if
[17:48] there's something that has to happen um
in more of a timely manner too.
[17:55] » Any comments from
Commissioner Ryder or Tutka
[18:01] on there? I mean some of these things
get molded through
[18:04] our vision of changes and some get
moved through uh negotiations. So
[18:12] » and I'll just mention too sorry um
chairs also some of this is like statute
[18:16] requirements too some of as noted in the
followup or the packet information
[18:21] » Mr. Chair just to go through the details
I mean like as mentioned some of them
[18:27] are statute related some clarification
and are always going to require tweaking
[18:32] by rules and regulations set that are
above us. So move to approve.
[18:38] » I'll second.
>> Motion made by Commissioner Right and
[18:41] seconded by Commissioner Chesca to
approve. Is there any more any
[18:44] discussion?
>> I'll just make a comment
[18:47] » if I may. Um
yeah, this was a new new committee for
[18:52] me, but I kind of enjoyed it and I I
it's always changing and it's like,
[18:56] okay, so you brought this to us now and
I'll guarantee in three months you're
[18:59] going to have something else. is going
to need to be updated. So, I appreciate
[19:02] you making sure that you get to it and
it's done in a timely manner for for
[19:06] everybody that it's affecting. So, thank
you. Thank you.
[19:10] » Any other questions or discussion?
Hearing none. All in favor say I. I.
[19:15] Oppos. Motion carries.
>> Thank you.
[19:17] » Thank you. County administration
start with our calendars.
[19:24] Um
since the last week I or since our last
[19:29] meeting um I've had um a meeting on the
ETH uh
[19:36] with Mloud County and uh TCNW
uh in relationship to our CD12
[19:45] ditch. Um I I feel we're making we are
making some headway. So I'm I'm happy of
[19:51] that. U on the 9th
Fairgrounds Commission. Um again, I'm
[19:58] somewhat new to that, so I'll u defer to
Commissioner Wright in his report. Um I
[20:04] mean, if things are I'm happy to be
there. There's always things to do. Uh
[20:09] and our we got one of the best fairs in
the state, so it's kind of easy that
[20:14] way, but we have our challenges.
Um I had the drainage work group also on
[20:21] the 9th. Um,
and I uh,
[20:27] again, I I think I have a saying that I
don't like getting on merry grounds and
[20:32] sitting on there is is a lot like riding
a merry ground. I I've been around long
[20:36] enough that we after you ride one round,
you go back over it again and uh, you
[20:41] look for a different outcome. But um,
but we are I mean it's kind of a
[20:45] necessary issue. We have a number of
good um
[20:51] delegates, representatives on the
committee. Um and again, it u it's an
[20:58] advisory group to the legislature, but
when it comes to water, uh just like
[21:04] some of our earlier conversations, uh
it's a 5050 battle.
[21:10] So, it's always it's always difficult
that way. And then I sat in on a um AMC
[21:16] the lunch Zoom meeting on the 13th um in
relationship to state or
[21:25] relationship to rural and city u needs
for employees and um and how it takes
[21:33] shape. Again, uh
a lot of information, but then it uh
[21:40] it takes a lot of work besides talk. So,
but it it is beneficial to know what's
[21:45] going on with that. Brings us to today.
Commissioner Ray,
[21:50] » thank you. [clears throat] Cover fair
commission a little bit. Commissioner
[21:52] Krueger brought that up. Um, a lot of it
at this point for this summer is just
[21:57] some simple repairs, especially
preparing for county fair to take place.
[22:01] There's some uh small areas of concrete
being poured, just basically safety
[22:05] precautions and to uh clean up a couple
corners in case there's some rain that
[22:10] tend to get a little bit muddy. Uh we
continue uh well we had talked earlier
[22:14] in the meeting about the uh the
agreement. So we continued with the uh
[22:18] with the building on the northwest
corner of the property. So we continued
[22:22] discussion on on some of our our plans
for that and how to move forward. Um
[22:26] then we get into the uh fair board met
on the 13th and uh that was just kind of
[22:32] a final prep meeting and it's really
interesting and and great to see how uh
[22:37] dozens of volunteers can get together to
uh uh make that uh that 4 day such an
[22:42] impactful and I think Commissioner
Krueger said one of the best in the
[22:46] state. I'll go a little further than
that and say one of the best in the
[22:48] Midwest if not beyond uh with the Mloud
County Fair. Uh and uh um all the wheels
[22:54] that constantly have to turn and they
actually start uh planning for the next
[22:57] fair literally within the day after uh
this next one happens. Uh so it's a very
[23:03] hardworking group of individuals that
continue to to keep that going. um and
[23:07] the demand uh for people to come in and
become vendors. I mean, they've already
[23:12] they filled the uh you know, that center
courtyard, center mall area with food
[23:17] vendors. Uh that's been full for quite
some time. Um and so, uh there's a lot
[23:23] of fairs that fight to find somebody to
come in in there and we're actually
[23:26] turning them away. So, a lot of
attention there um for those four days.
[23:31] Uh let me see would be after that. Um
we were actually able to attend the
[23:39] Hutchinson my wife and I attend the the
the city council meeting at at Hutch to
[23:44] present a donation check in the amount
of $6,800 from our breakfast on the farm
[23:49] event that went to the fire department
to purchase uh green bin and farm safety
[23:54] equipment. And that was just a little
bit more than what the goal was. And so
[23:58] again, that's kind of a great way to
close off our event that we had um and
[24:03] uh purchase equipment that I hope only
gets to gets only needs to be used for
[24:08] practice and not in reality, but at
least it's at least it's there. Um so we
[24:13] went from that meeting to an event that
the uh Mloud County Corn and Soybeans
[24:18] held at the fairgrounds uh which is a
joint effort between all the area fire
[24:22] departments where Hutch Co-op talked
about electrical safety. They brought in
[24:26] a crew that again talked about um grain
bin safety and uh and they also talked a
[24:33] lot about a foam that is made from
soybeans uh to help put out fires. And
[24:39] if you're familiar with with the foam
that has been used um historically it is
[24:45] full of forever chemicals that has been
documented as being carcinogenic and and
[24:49] uh it is uh um actually some pretty
nasty stuff to use. Uh
[24:54] If you know the names of uh Bryce
Lindamman or Bob Lindamman, they farm in
[24:58] Pen Township. Uh they are very active on
the soybean promotion board all the way
[25:02] from the county to the state and their
their uh history of being firemen helped
[25:08] uh push the success of this locally to
bring the uh the soybean alternative
[25:12] into local fire departments. The soy
foam not only has the benefit of using
[25:17] locally grown soybeans um but it uh it
is free of the forever chemicals and The
[25:24] typical foam that's out there takes
several months to begin to break down.
[25:28] Uh this begins it breakdown process
within a few weeks and it's gone. And so
[25:33] uh um hopefully they did have some free
product there to give to give to the
[25:38] local fire departments that were
attending the training and uh there is
[25:42] actually some household kits that are
available um of of that product that you
[25:46] can get from the company that's making
this. And uh hopefully it makes an
[25:50] impact. Again, it's not only about using
that's locally uh impactful. Uh but it's
[25:57] its ability to help put the fire without
some of those uh nasty fber chemicals
[26:01] lingering is is very substantial as
well. And then the joint planning
[26:06] meeting which is an item that we started
out with today. That's it for me.
[26:11] » Thank you, Commissioner D.
[26:15] Uh July 7th I attended the workshop
obviously and then July 9th I was at the
[26:20] economic development meeting very
interesting. It was a annual report that
[26:25] was given there. I did not send my
commissioners my usual report because as
[26:31] soon as I got home I had the minutes and
been sent out. So very impressive. Um
[26:38] and she really did a good job covered a
lot of things. Um July 15th was that the
[26:44] Mloud Sibly Insurance Claims Review and
reviewed those items. Um,
[26:51] that's the official stuff. On the
unofficial stuff, there's things that I
[26:55] I look at, you know, and I I mentioned
this before, you know, that serving
[26:59] serving in our in our county or serving
others is an important thing to me. But
[27:03] I so I I just jotted down some things
that I went I've noticed this and this
[27:08] has to do with our employees and what
they're doing out there. So, somebody
[27:13] that may sing in an event,
you know, or chaperone field trips or
[27:19] does a few extra things at the house so
that the the husband can go out and
[27:25] coach a baseball team, you know. So,
there's some things happening that our
[27:30] employees do that really make my heart
sing. I I'm like to see that. I'm
[27:35] impressed with it. On July 10th, I was
at the Tim Worth. I did uh Gwen and I
[27:40] sponsored
uh ice cream truck that came from the
[27:44] right farm and was out there and um that
was very encouraging. My wife uh said
[27:50] that it needed to be a servant event and
we recruited two grandchildren to help
[27:54] us. So, we learned a lot about our
grandchildren serving ice cream to at an
[28:01] event that was a fundraiser. So, that
was a lot of fun. On the 11th, I uh
[28:06] attended a uh Mloud County vet 90th
birthday party, and that was that was a
[28:12] real treat for me. Um and on July 12th,
uh I took a wife down and some supplies
[28:19] down to our uh down to a vet veteran's
hospital to visit a friend. And on July
[28:26] 17th, I got to bring one of our Mlen
County vets home from the hospital.
[28:33] That's if you have ever been asked to do
that, it's very enlightening.
[28:38] » Yeah, it's very good. So, other than
that, I did point out to to Paul and we
[28:44] had a little teaser here. I don't know
what's going on down in his district,
[28:48] but I saw some things happen that Jill
Young and and the Hutchinson Public
[28:52] School both received the Cream of the
Crop award. They're both in our county,
[28:57] and that's that has to do with uh
farm-totable food, and they're state
[29:01] awards. and I thought we should have
mentioned that because that's really
[29:05] really good
um
[29:09] practices that are happening in our
county. So really want to recognize them
[29:14] people for that. So that's all I have.
Thank you.
[29:20] » Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh the last
meeting after the [clears throat]
[29:23] workshop, I was able to go back to Brout
and get a few things done, get our
[29:27] meeting done there, and attend the town
ball, which I believe they had over, I
[29:31] think 700 people. They had talked about.
We had a little bit of rain in there,
[29:35] but um it it turned out to be a great
night. The next morning, uh Nathan and I
[29:41] both attended the CHB workshop, uh the
Mloud Maker Mloud Sibly Community Health
[29:48] Services Board. Um we're trying to
define lines in that group as far as um
[29:57] who's responsible. So they want to
rewrite the joint powers agreement and
[30:01] the delegate agreement, but they wanted
to start from the very beginning. So we
[30:04] had a workshop and we went over what our
expectations were and who we thought
[30:08] should make decisions here there. And um
it it was a great workshop. It was two
[30:12] and a half hours and it I felt it was
very beneficial. And I see I got an
[30:16] email now asking my thoughts on that
workshop. So, I will definitely get back
[30:20] to that. Um, on Thursday
the 9th, I was at the economic
[30:27] development committee meeting
um with Tom. I thought it was really
[30:32] good. Liz went over um the 2025 report,
which was packed with information, but
[30:39] it was lots of good information as far
as what she's been up to, what the
[30:42] committee's been up to, what the
county's been up to. Um, and I applaud
[30:47] Liz on the great job she's doing at
trying to make connections and the
[30:51] connections that she's made up until
this point. Um,
[30:57] as most of you know, on Tuesday, July
14th at 8 a.m. the P or the the
[31:03] applications,
they're starting to accept the
[31:06] applications for the cities and
townships. So, I'm putting a little plug
[31:10] out there for the townships and the and
the cities to get out and get your
[31:15] application in for either mayor or
supervisor or whatever the the positions
[31:19] may be. Um, you know, it's always hard
to find people to run for positions. So,
[31:25] if you know, if you know of anybody you
think would be great, tell them to go um
[31:29] and apply. Along that line, the past two
weeks, I have done eight hours of
[31:34] election training for the city of
Brmpton. And yesterday when I came here,
[31:40] of course, we were the last ones to
leave.
[31:43] And I believe
Janet Bettzinger had said at that point,
[31:46] "Oh, it was only an 11-hour day today.
That's not bad." So, I want you guys to
[31:51] know how hard she's got. I think this
entire building of people working
[31:57] towards that election. It's not
something that just happens out of
[32:00] nowhere. They test and retest and
retest. We test, they test our stuff, we
[32:06] test it again. I mean, it's crazy how
much goes into this election and how
[32:10] much time they actually put into that.
So kudos to Janet and the entire team
[32:16] because I know it's just not a couple
people. There's there's people in the
[32:19] background that we don't even see when
we come in here for that. Um
[32:24] then on the 15th, Andrew stopped by and
picked me up in Bronton and we went out
[32:28] to look at the roundabout out there. Um
that's kind of a an impressive site to
[32:33] see though. It's just a bunch of dirt
and piles of dirt, but it was they've
[32:37] got the storm sewers in and I didn't
even know they put storm sewers in the
[32:42] middle of a highway. But it was it was
really nice to go out there. [snorts] Um
[32:45] it sounds like they're right around that
schedule, give or take a little bit. Um
[32:50] but we're over halfway done and there's
been no catastrophic things that's gone
[32:56] on. Um a little bit of rain, but we
can't complain about that. So I thank
[33:00] Andrew for bringing me out there. I said
I was going to take my golf cart out,
[33:04] but I didn't think they'd want an old
lady on a golf cart driving around the
[33:06] construction site. So, he said, "I'll
bring you." So, um uh that brings us to
[33:13] today.
>> Thank you. Uh attorney's office.
[33:18] » Thank you. My office did have another
felony jury trial last week. We've had
[33:22] several this year. I'm pleased to
announce there were a guilty verdict on
[33:26] several counts, including the felony
controlled substance crime, which is
[33:30] obviously one of the common offenses
we're dealing with as well as a driving
[33:34] while impaired.
And then um had several meetings and
[33:38] conversations with some of the
stakeholders about um our first
[33:42] traditional veterans court program. I'll
be discussing that a little bit more at
[33:46] the workshop. Um but you looking forward
to keeping that rolling. So been talking
[33:52] to several folks about that in
preparation for presenting to the board
[33:56] both at the workshop today and at a at a
future meeting. Um and then just On a
[34:01] positive note to follow up on that tend
community involvement or or public
[34:06] service on on that Fox 9 town ball tour,
the the Bruins Association was able to
[34:11] donate $18,000 to local family whose
child has leukemia, a three-year-old boy
[34:16] with leukemia. Um, and that's through
just fundraising here locally with local
[34:21] um businesses as supporters. um
individuals that participate in a golf
[34:25] tournament and a silent auction and and
others that that donate both time and
[34:30] money. And uh I mean it's remarkable
what an organization can do for a
[34:33] family. And then last night, the Brown
Cubs, a softball organization, um they
[34:39] also have a fundraiser at for raising
money for families in need and and this
[34:44] year was a was a different family with a
child um with a chronic illness as well.
[34:47] And they do a 5K run and a meal and I
think a silent auction and and they were
[34:52] able to present a $10,000 check uh to
that family yesterday. So um yeah, just
[34:57] some some really awesome things going on
in the community if you look at it and
[35:00] not just the crimes that I I typically
report on. So, thank you.
[35:07] » Thank you, Attorney Hench. Um,
administration.
[35:12] » Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll just note
that Commissioner Smalls had a planned
[35:16] absence, so he will be back with us at
the next meeting. Um, item A,
[35:21] notification of an electronic transfer
of funds in the amount of $1.2 2 million
[35:28] from the core trust bank savings account
to the core trust bank checking account
[35:32] made on July 8th, 2026.
Item B, notification of electronic
[35:39] transfer of funds in the amount of $4
million from the Minnesota Association
[35:43] of Government's Investing for Counties
account to the core trust bank checking
[35:47] account made on July 13, 2026.
Item C, notification of board workshop
[35:54] following the board meeting on Tuesday,
August 4, 2026 at the Mloud County
[35:59] Government Center, 520 Chandler Avenue
North, Gleno, Minnesota.
[36:04] Item D, notification of changes to the
publication schedule for the official
[36:09] Mloud County newspaper, the Mloud County
Chronicle. Uh we received notice from
[36:15] the Chronicle that beginning in July and
going forward it will only publish two
[36:19] print issues per month. The print issues
will be published on the first and third
[36:23] Friday of each month. They did know that
that will meet the needs of our public
[36:28] notice requirements. However, if there
is anything that we need to address, um
[36:33] we will post that as we have in the past
on the front doors of a facility that's
[36:38] relevant. and Commissioner Krueger and I
spoke about just having a a designated
[36:42] area um being established when we need
to do those things just in the case that
[36:48] something of concern comes about. But we
don't anticipate that.
[36:53] » We'll just go back to highlighting what
we used to do many years ago. I mean
[36:56] there's as I'm very concerned I've
talked to legislators
[37:01] and our senator about we have no county
newspaper anymore that if they go
[37:05] digital uh I I
in my opinion um and it's been on the
[37:11] legislator's do legislators dockets but
um we should be able to be legal posting
[37:19] it ourselves on our county website. I
mean to me a website's a website if
[37:23] you're going to if you're going to look
on county stuff why not go right
[37:27] straight to the county. But at any rate
right now it bothers me if if we happen
[37:31] to hit a week
when there is no printed newspaper.
[37:36] » So
>> sorry but Mr. I just want to know it
[37:38] says new online issues of the chronicle
still be published weekly. So
[37:43] » but online is not the way the statute is
written.
[37:46] » No just yeah it's it's difficult because
we have as you know by statute we have
[37:51] to the board. We make a recommendation
then the board chooses their their
[37:56] official newspaper official newspaper
every year and it's it's just become
[38:02] increasingly difficult. And so, um,
later this week, I'll be in a meeting
[38:07] trying to determine our legislative
priorities for 2027
[38:11] and like Commissioner, um, Krueger said,
that's been on there. I mean, I've been
[38:15] here nine years and it's been on there
every year and it needs to move up.
[38:20] » Well, now it's come to the point where
the papers there is no papers in the
[38:23] county. So, we're we're going to need to
>> they're going to have to do something or
[38:27] allow us to do,
>> right? So I I mean me and Sheila did
[38:31] talk um and um just make sure our
postings are up just like they used to
[38:37] be put put them on
>> and and they still are.
[38:40] » Um Janet's office, Janet Betsinger's
office deals with a lot of that and so
[38:45] does Mark Tlesky's office. There's
>> the public notice is real fun, right?
[38:49] But if there is any confusion, if there
are any questions, reach out to us so we
[38:53] can bring those questions forth and if
you two would like to comment, that'd be
[38:57] great.
>> Yeah. Thank you. So Jen and I were just
[39:00] talking about this a little bit and it's
something we've taken up with McBiza,
[39:03] our association, an affiliate of AMC and
statutoily through 394 notification does
[39:09] not differentiate between print or
online publication. So our position and
[39:16] I've spoken on this before we have
lobbyed on behalf of MCPA to allow for
[39:22] us to post on our website as official
notice. That statute has not been
[39:27] changed yet. So it would require an
amendment. Um and I would ask for our
[39:32] attorney to chime in and add anything to
this. So um where we left this with
[39:37] recent discussion was that online
publication for a uh online edition of
[39:42] our official newspaper still does count
as notice. It because it does not
[39:47] differentiate in statute whether an
official control notice for a
[39:50] conditional use permit variance platt
has to be print edition. It can still
[39:55] serve as an online edition. It's noted
as published. Correct.
[39:59] » It's just that's correct. It's just
notice it's just noted as your official
[40:03] paper doesn't say differentiate and that
notice has to be given so many days
[40:07] prior to the hearing.
>> And Mark, my concern is and I know I'm
[40:12] splitting hairs, but that's what the
government does. And I mean because
[40:16] we've never been told or we've been told
that a online
[40:22] publica or printing of
our notifications on our website does
[40:28] not count and I I beg to differ that
what's the difference
[40:32] » because it's not published. We're not
we're not official.
[40:36] » I'm certainly not arguing with anybody.
I think that what was discussed to try
[40:40] to get some traction with our
legislators to get this across
[40:45] » it needs to be I I'm I'm and I'm just,
you know, FYI, I it's just not there's
[40:51] nothing we're going to decide here
today, but the main thing is that we're
[40:54] doing everything in our power to get the
notifications out there. That's that's
[40:58] what I like to hear anyway.
>> Yeah. And I just wanted to bring it up
[41:01] because our notification requirements by
the time we take an application, we
[41:04] aren't able to meet that first print
edition. So, we are going to have to
[41:08] have that into an online version.
>> And having said that, you send out mail
[41:12] notifications. I mean, there's there's
tons of information out there, but I've
[41:16] had people show up at meetings saying
they weren't notified with their
[41:19] envelope and their letter in their hand.
So, I mean, it's just you have to pay
[41:22] attention.
>> So, I will meet with Matt Hillgart this
[41:26] week, who is our lobbyist from
Association of Minnesota Counties. Um,
[41:31] we have the Minnesota Association of
County Administrators. I'm not going to
[41:36] use acronyms because my gosh, but if you
see it written, that's what it is. And
[41:40] I'm going to ask that Mloud County's
interest is to make sure that that is
[41:44] prioritized this year. It's been on the
list every year, but it needs to be
[41:49] taken more seriously. And if it is just
saying published and changing statute,
[41:53] so we can meet the requirements, so be
it. Um,
[41:58] but we're going to ask for it.
>> Yes. And we do
[42:03] year we have to qual have a qualified
newspaper which we do currently the
[42:07] chronicle in a published edition. It
does not say digital. It does not say um
[42:12] print only. Our organization has also
put this forward as we have some
[42:16] counties that do not have a newspaper no
longer in their county and are having to
[42:20] go to neighboring counties or the
tribune currently to meet those
[42:24] qualifications. We also do post on the
front door quite frequently in our
[42:29] office as well as publish on our website
as well which currently is just above
[42:35] and beyond but maybe the future.
>> Thank you.
[42:39] » Thank you.
>> Again the main point is that we're doing
[42:41] everything we can to be notifying I mean
I hear every now and then that we don't
[42:48] get notifications. We're doing
everything humanly possible to get it
[42:51] done. So
>> Mr. Chair, I just want to note that on
[42:54] August 10th, um, for our staff, our AMC
is holding a a virtual meeting for
[43:00] platform and priorities development
process. So, if you're interested in
[43:04] attending, you should be able to find
that on their website. And then
[43:09] any other questions about that, about
the newspaper? I'll move on to the added
[43:15] item E7E
and that's an updated update on our
[43:19] environmental services elevator project
with Joel Morgan from facilities.
[43:24] » Good morning. Uh last time we had spoke
we were talking about a beam. It was a
[43:28] little addition that uh had to take
place there. Um I'm pleased to say that
[43:34] uh the opening to the second floor is uh
has been cut. The beam was put in place.
[43:40] Uh the the block has been set up um on
the second floor. So all the block work
[43:45] is completed and uh Aerolifty was out uh
last week did the on-site measuring um
[43:53] and they've taken that back and they've
now released the uh elevator to um begin
[44:00] being built at the factory. So, uh,
we're looking most likely late September
[44:07] and into October for, uh, shipment of
the actual elevator itself. So, um,
[44:16] uh, the storefront, uh, we should see
that, I would say within the next month,
[44:21] uh, get that put back in. Um during the
pre-walk through uh some flooring was
[44:28] identified um being the condition and
the age of it all and um so we'll be
[44:35] able to uh within the existing budget
here be able to get that flooring uh
[44:40] taken care of and uh completed and uh
ideally that'll be the last thing to to
[44:46] take take place. We don't obviously
don't want to put the new flooring down
[44:48] and then have contractors uh moving
through. So, um,
[44:56] and one quick one on the fairgrounds. I
know you guys were talking about that a
[45:00] little earlier, the electrical, uh,
that's scheduled, uh, for August 3rd
[45:05] through the 7th. So, um, we'll get the,
uh, new panels put in and the
[45:09] transformers set in place.
So, not sure about the lights. Uh, they
[45:16] haven't shipped yet. So, uh, we don't
want to we don't want to risk not having
[45:21] lights. So, um, but definitely we'll
have the, uh, transformers taken care
[45:25] of. So, any questions?
>> Did we get started on time on this
[45:30] project or was there some delays?
>> Yeah. So, uh, initially, um, we ran into
[45:37] a little trouble just getting the
building permit,
[45:40] um, based on some clarifications on the
actual elevator part of it. Uh so that
[45:46] took several months. So I would say that
no we we were not uh we did not start on
[45:51] time. Um I would say we started about
when it was supposed to be completed. Um
[45:58] and so that that was one of the biggest
delays. Uh we had like a three to four
[46:02] week delay probably with the uh with the
beam itself. Um
[46:07] » Mr. Chair,
>> um I just want to note to Commissioner
[46:09] D's question too though that that was
out of our control.
[46:13] » Correct.
>> Yeah.
[46:14] making sure people
>> making sure yeah there wasn't there
[46:16] wasn't a delay either from there was no
delay from our construction management
[46:21] company or from our staff. No. Yeah.
It's really just, you know, trying to
[46:26] provide that information. And in this
case, it was information that like the
[46:31] elevator company's like, "Nobody's ever
asked us for that before, right? They
[46:34] they're putting these in all over the
country." Um, but, you know, we were
[46:39] able, you know, they were able to
provide it. And
[46:41] » it's not your fault, Joe. And I and I'm
not saying that it's
[46:45] » it's in our control, but I was at all
the premeings. I was there. And it it
[46:49] actually upsets me that we go through
all this stuff and they promise you
[46:53] this, that, and another. And I mean,
this is more than late
[46:58] » in my opinion for I mean, thank God
you're not building a building,
[47:01] » right?
>> But I mean, it just it upsets me because
[47:03] we've dotted every eye. We did
everything we were supposed to do and it
[47:07] still ends up in in my opinion, you
know, the snow. It's the old saying in
[47:11] Minnesota, you start a project and the
snow will be flying before you get it
[47:14] done. And it that standing operating
procedure anymore and I don't like it.
[47:18] But
>> Mr. Chair, I just want to add too that
[47:21] we are actually pretty fortunate that
all the contractors involved were still
[47:25] able to keep us in their schedule with
it not being on time because that could
[47:28] have changed that it was a preferred
indoor, you know, indoor projects. They
[47:32] like to do those in the winter and so
they have really busy schedules in the
[47:35] summer and it's been one without a ton
of rain. So, thank you for communicating
[47:40] with them because it has kept continued
to flow.
[47:43] » So,
>> I appreciate that your glasses always
[47:45] have fall. [laughter]
I wouldn't say that, but we'll go with
[47:49] it.
>> Doug, I think if we put our two glasses
[47:53] together, we might be full.
[47:58] » All right.
>> All righty. Thank you.
[48:03] » Uh, I have no nothing else, Mr. Chair.
Thank you.
[48:08] » I haven't either other than um
from some of the board reports today,
[48:13] especially Commissioner Wright. Well,
all of you, but um Commissioner Wright
[48:17] especially, I did happen to see it
online that the check that was given to
[48:24] the fire department. Um I mean that was
surprising and your guys's in Brownton
[48:30] check surprises me as well. But I I
think that's a good thing that even if
[48:35] we have constituents that have ideas,
you know, convey them to us because we I
[48:40] think it's good to know what what we're
doing in the county. So, uh I I do I do
[48:46] appreciate that. Um and that's 100% to
the to the people that need it, not not
[48:54] 50 or 75.
>> So, I appreciate that. Any any other
[48:58] business to come before the board for
the county's good
[49:04] open form? Anybody wishing to address
the board?
[49:09] Press relations. Anything from the
press? Questions?
[49:13] With that, uh, the next meeting, the
next county board meeting will be at
[49:17] 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 4th, at the
Mloud County Government Center, 520
[49:22] Chandler Avenue North here in Gleno. Uh,
I'll entertain a meeting to rec or
[49:28] motion to recess.
>> So move.
[49:30] » Motion made by Commissioner Dah to
recess. Is there a second?
[49:34] » Second.
>> Second by Commissioner Wright. Uh, all
[49:37] in favor say I. I. Opposed. We're
recessed.
[49:44] Workshop will start here in about five
minutes.