[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.

McLeod County Board Meeting July 21, 2026

Transcript