[0:00] The commissioners open forum for today and we will open the Board of Commissioners August

[0:07] 11th, 2026 regular meeting. First off, we will do the Pledge of Allegiance.

[0:12] The Pledge of Allegiance to the Plague of the United States of America and to the Republic

[0:19] for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

[0:25] As

[0:31] the County Board proceeds with today's agenda,

[0:33] we will provide an opportunity for public comment

[0:37] regarding agenda items following each presentation

[0:39] and prior to County Board action.

[0:42] Additional comments will not be heard for items

[0:45] that have already completed a public hearing process.

[0:48] We ask that you fill out a public comment card in advance

[0:51] and submit it to Susie, please,

[0:54] so that we can address each person in turn.

[0:57] If you have a question that arises

[0:59] is during a presentation, please complete the card and submit it to Susie as soon as you

[1:04] are able.

[1:05] If you are participating online, indicate your desire to provide public comment in the chat

[1:10] box along with identifying information for the record.

[1:14] Okay, first off is roll call.

[1:17] Alka?

[1:18] Yes.

[1:19] Poisonton?

[1:20] Here.

[1:20] Eaters?

[1:21] Here.

[1:21] Or first?

[1:22] Here.

[1:23] Ponderdoll?

[1:23] Here.

[1:25] approval of the agenda are there any changes or additions to the agenda motion

[1:30] to approve the agenda second motion by Commissioner Malica second by

[1:36] Commissioner Underdall for approval of the agenda any discussion seeing none all

[1:41] those in favor say aye aye opposed same sign approval of the minutes from the

[1:47] July 28th, 2026 meeting.

[1:50] Motion to approve.

[1:51] Second.

[1:53] The motion by Commissioner Purfus,

[1:54] second by Commissioner Hoisington

[1:56] for approval of the July 28th minutes.

[1:59] Any discussion?

[2:01] Seeing none, all those approves, aye.

[2:04] Aye.

[2:05] Motion passes.

[2:07] Outside agencies, Julie Fox

[2:10] with the Fairbilt area hospice.

[2:14] Welcome.

[2:15] Thank you, good morning.

[2:16] morning. You all received a flyer from Sarah. With me today is Mary Mark Carter is also

[2:24] on the board of directors for Verbal Area Hospice Foundation. Excuse me, the hospice

[2:29] foundation has been around for 41 years. We have a traditional tree lighting that's called

[2:33] light up a life and that's what your flyer explains. We've had it for 40 years at

[2:40] the cancer center on the line of campus. We're proposing to you that we would like to use

[2:48] on the west side of the courthouse three of those four evergreens. What's happening up

[2:55] at Alina, we used to have three trees, now two are gone and one needs a lot more help

[3:01] than we can provide it, we'll put it that way. And we just are looking for more publicity

[3:07] for the organization. We feel that'd be great. People coming down fourth, light it up, and

[3:13] we have a lighting ceremony, a very short ceremony, 15, 20 minutes. So it's the first

[3:18] Monday of the month, and we'll have, afterwards, we have, like, Bolshan Choir's things. We

[3:26] usually have 50, 60 people. I mean, we hope to get more people to come. It's a short

[3:30] put. What we do, it's called Light Up a Life. Our reasons are, it's our major

[3:35] fundraiser. We raise about $10,000 a year for that. And all of our money and even private

[3:42] donations go to grants. We give to hospice participants. As an example, it's kind of

[3:48] like a make-a-wish. We've had a lot of variety of different ones. And so it's a great organization.

[3:55] I've been involved 25 years. I'm not sure, Mary, how long you've been around?

[3:57] since 1993. Okay and so we are wondering if we could use three the trees on the

[4:09] west side of the corridor and we would have a local vendor put lights up and

[4:15] that we'd have to work with Sarah or Chris or whoever in regards to a lot of

[4:19] logistic things and we just have it there we light it up the 7th the first

[4:25] Monday of December which is the 7th of December and we light it up that night

[4:29] we light it from dark until like midnight every night until first of the

[4:33] year we're open to any questions you have questions comments do we need to make

[4:41] a motion here to do this I think it's a great idea I think be a lot more

[4:45] visible and I'll make that motion now seconded we have a motion by

[4:52] Commissioner Purfus, second by Commissioner Hoisington to approve the

[4:57] hospice using our trees by the courthouse any other discussion. I just

[5:06] have a comment more than I just want to thank you gals for the work that you

[5:11] do. I have seen firsthand the difference you make in people's lives as

[5:17] they're passing. And the respect and the dignity that you show each of those people is just

[5:26] it's inspiring me, inspiring. And I just, I can't thank you enough for the work that you

[5:33] do.

[5:34] Thank you.

[5:34] Thank you. We have a good organization. We really believe in what we do.

[5:39] Any other comments?

[5:41] Yeah, it's, you know, same here. Thank you for what you do and touching many facets of

[5:49] life. You know, not only the person that's in hospice, but their family members. And

[5:55] so, you know, thank you for doing that. I don't think we'll be around for that lighting

[6:00] ceremony because our AMC conference is probably that same week. So unfortunately, but good

[6:09] good luck and thank you thank you thank you very much thank you you guys should be

[6:15] asking for your five dollars for a light here oh don't worry we'll be standing

[6:23] outside some meat after some meeting I can sell sometimes she might be on your

[6:31] doors you hosted a delegation here yesterday while she's gonna just show

[6:35] of your farm so that would be all right she's welcome you bet we'll get we do get a lot of

[6:41] donations which is greatly you know it's not only people that have been impacted but it's other

[6:46] that's why we want to put it out more into the community not on just the east side of Faribault

[6:52] from the standpoint that so many people you want to say it's almost too late that they got into

[6:57] hospice because they realize what hospice can do for the loved one that's dying but also for

[7:03] them as a family. It's not a bad thing to get into hospice. So hopefully none of us

[7:09] have to deal with it, but we do. It's life. So, but I appreciate all your guys'

[7:15] Yeah, and the visibility of these trees is, as Julie was saying, coming through town.

[7:21] We want this to, people to understand it's not just a hospital service. It's not

[7:25] that way anymore. There's so many hospices that serve our area, but we want it to

[7:31] be a community service. So this will really help that stand out. Okay, thank

[7:39] you. We have a motion on the table for using the trees by the courthouse. All

[7:45] those in favor say aye. Aye. Oh same sign. Motion passes. Thank you. Thank you. We

[7:51] appreciate your time. Next we have a veteran services Tracy.

[8:03] Good morning.

[8:04] Good morning.

[8:05] I'm here again this year to request the Board to accept the 2027 grant agreement with the

[8:09] Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.

[8:11] The amount is $12,500.

[8:15] Use this money to provide outreach to veterans, to collaborate with local agencies, and to

[8:20] enhance the operation of our office.

[8:23] I will be using some of the money this year for advertising.

[8:28] In a portion of the money for star markers and flags, the state does not provide those

[8:32] to the counties anymore so there are a benefit that veterans are eligible for so

[8:38] I'll be using a good portion of the money because they're not cheap motion to

[8:43] approve second if a motion by Commissioner Mallica second by

[8:49] Commissioner Hoisington any discussion I think it's great that they keep giving

[8:55] you this grand amount yeah I I have just one comment Tracy the I'm a big

[9:01] fan of your billboard I'm 35 you know to see that and to just to be out there

[9:07] letting the veterans know you're there to help I think that's that's what it's

[9:11] all about so now that was back up it's not up there anymore oh it's not up

[9:16] there no maybe you got 12,000 bucks you get her back up there I think that's

[9:22] something that I've taken notice of every time I'm driving down that was

[9:27] that was well done. Okay any other comments? Yeah just a comment you know

[9:33] thanks for what you do thanks for going over to Norfield every week and thanks

[9:40] for working with the VFW and the Legion guys they love you so I get to hear how

[9:44] much they appreciate you and so thank you for your outreach over in the

[9:50] northern part of the County thank you the other okay we have a motion on the

[10:01] table to accept the grant of twelve thousand five hundred dollars all those

[10:05] in favor say aye aye all the same sign motion accepted right thank you thank

[10:13] you. Thanks, JC. Child and family Chris.

[10:25] Good morning. Good morning. We have three items for

[10:28] you this morning. The first is acceptance of donations to the Child and Family Services Division.

[10:35] We've again been fortunate to receive unsolicited donations from community groups to be distributed

[10:40] to children, families, and foster families being served by our division. Social services has an

[10:47] accounting policy that requires all donated gifts, gift cards, be inventoryed and receipts

[10:53] collected as they are given out. Social Services Accounting Unit audits these gift cards on

[10:59] a regular basis to ensure they are distributed as intended and a protocol is followed for

[11:05] tracking them. Eligibility for the donations requires an open workgroup with child and

[11:11] Family Services and are given out as needs arise to avoid duplication and until the donations

[11:18] are gone.

[11:20] So earlier this year the agency received $2,590 in gift cards from our Saviors Lutheran Church

[11:28] and Most Holy Trinity Church of Wesley.

[11:31] This summer the Twins Baseball Organization gave us 70 game tickets for foster youth

[11:36] and their caregivers to attend a game, valued at approximately $700.

[11:42] We've received 2,500 and gift cards from Hosanna Lutheran in Northfield, and for the

[11:48] foster care appreciation picnic, Hart donated a number of toys, games, and household items

[11:54] for prizes, value estimated at about $500.

[11:59] The Faribault City Pool donated free admission for the picnic attendees valued at about

[12:04] about $300 and post of Northfield donated meal kits and cereal estimated at $600.

[12:12] So on behalf of the families and children who will benefit from this generosity, we thank

[12:18] the community and donors for these gifts.

[12:21] There's no fiscal impact to the department for accepting and distributing donations.

[12:27] Donations are given out through regular contact with our clients and events.

[12:32] the current donations are estimated at approximately $7,190. So I ask the board

[12:40] to accept these donations. A motion by Commissioner Underdahl, second by

[12:50] Commissioner Purfitts for approval of the donations of approximately $7,190.

[12:56] dollars. Any comments? Discussion? Go ahead commissioner Underdahl. Well just

[13:01] obviously a great deal of thanks to these organizations that do contribute to

[13:07] this and it's unsolicited. So and it's certainly serving a great purpose for

[13:13] people that wouldn't otherwise be able to have some opportunities outside of

[13:19] our normal sources of funding that just take care of basic needs.

[13:28] Discussion?

[13:29] Okay, we have a motion and a second on the floor

[13:32] for accepting this donation.

[13:34] All those in favor say aye.

[13:36] Aye.

[13:37] Both same sign, accepted.

[13:41] Thank you.

[13:43] The second item is the annual renewal

[13:45] of our foster care transportation agreements.

[13:48] In 2015, every Student Succeeds Act in the Minnesota Statute 123b.92 require that youth

[13:57] placed in foster care remain enrolled in their school district of origin unless a determination

[14:03] is made that it's not in their best interest.

[14:06] Public school districts and some receiving state public school districts and some others

[14:12] receive state program funding and are required to collaborate with a local

[14:17] child welfare agency to develop and implement procedures for how

[14:21] transportation for youth and foster care will be arranged, provided, and funded.

[14:27] These agreements outline these requirements and are on are to be

[14:31] renewed annually at the start of the school year. Funding for these

[14:35] agreements come from a combination of state and federal dollars earmarked

[14:39] for education services by the school districts

[14:42] and out-of-home placement funding to the county.

[14:45] These agreements stipulate what portion

[14:47] of the school districts pay

[14:48] and what remaining portion comes to the county.

[14:51] In 2025, Rice County did not have any costs

[14:55] from these agreements.

[14:57] Currently agreements are being made with

[14:59] Faribault.

[15:00] Northfield, Nirstrand, Discovery, Serrat Academy, Tri-City United, and Waterville

[15:07] Elysian Morristown Schools. If a student is placed from a district other than these,

[15:12] an additional agreement will be brought to the board for approval.

[15:16] So requesting approval of the annual renewal of foster care transportation agreements.

[15:22] Move to approve.

[15:23] Second.

[15:24] They have a motion by commissioner under it all a second by commissioner

[15:28] Heusington and this will be approving all the contracts any discussion do you

[15:35] have anybody enrolled for the 20 fall of 26 yet that will do this or no not that

[15:42] we've been notified that there'll be any okay yeah Chris one thing it said

[15:52] But in 2025, Rice County did not have any costs that came from these agreements.

[15:57] So does that, is that telling us that we haven't been transporting anybody?

[16:01] No.

[16:02] What it means is that those kids who are in foster care and require additional transportation,

[16:08] the school district has been able to draw down state and funding, federal funding that's

[16:14] earmarked for these costs.

[16:15] The agreements stipulate that if that funding were to run out, then we would be implementing

[16:22] an agreement on how those costs would be covered between the schools.

[16:26] Okay, and do we have roughly, do you have any idea how many students are

[16:30] crisscrossing districts for this or? I'm sorry, I don't have that.

[16:34] Okay. All right. Any other comments, discussion?

[16:39] Okay, we have a motion and a second on the floor

[16:42] for the renewal of the foster care transportation agreements.

[16:46] All those in favor say aye. Aye.

[16:48] Okay, same sign, ocean passes.

[16:53] Thank you.

[16:54] The third item, I have a small power point for you

[16:57] because it involves a lot of jargon and acronyms,

[17:01] so I'll do my best to explain this as easily as I can.

[17:07] It

[17:11] appears I printed the wrong line, but that's okay.

[17:15] So SCCBI is our self-central community-based initiative.

[17:20] It is a regional agreement between 10 different counties in Region 9, Rice County being one

[17:29] of them.

[17:30] We kind of write the line between our regions.

[17:33] And it was developed about 10 years ago for adult mental health initiatives.

[17:39] These mental health initiatives are funded through state and federal funding and they

[17:45] They are designed to enhance and expand mental health services to adults.

[17:53] Recently there was a grant opportunity through the Rural Health Transformation Program, which

[18:00] was developed by HR1 federally, and Minnesota received money through this transformation

[18:09] program and has developed a number of different granting opportunities.

[18:13] opportunities. One of the granting opportunities is for lifting up children's mental health

[18:19] initiatives. And I believe they wanted an easier acronym, so they said child and adolescent

[18:26] mental health initiatives, so it says CAMI. We applied for the CAMI grant looking at

[18:34] the needs of the children's mental health system. We know that there are gaps in

[18:38] our current system because SCCBI, which is our adult initiative, did a gaps analysis a

[18:47] couple of years ago with their own programming dollars and have identified areas where the

[18:54] children's services have some gaps in them.

[18:58] With this information, we applied for the grant, Minnesota Department of Health holds

[19:04] these grants, they received about $193 million in year one for the rural health care initiatives

[19:11] across the state. We applied for one and we're awarded. So the CAME grant that has been allocated

[19:22] allocated for our region is in the total amount of $295,820.

[19:44] This grant will serve the entire region of the SCCBI organization and will be stipulated

[19:52] out for staff reimbursement for the grant deliverables. Contracted services.

[19:58] Currently we are working on a crisis stabilization services for children. We

[20:04] didn't have funding figured out yet for being able to complete that project. So

[20:10] this funding will allow us to do that. Also we are looking at training and

[20:15] many grants to the regional counties. So Rice County will be able to tap

[20:20] into this for about $10,000 for some staff training and an additional mini-grant opportunity

[20:26] if there's another area or item that we see necessary for enhancing our children's mental

[20:32] health services.

[20:34] There also will be local advisory council outreach and training.

[20:39] We're looking at trying to bring some advocacy training and marketing to pull in more voices

[20:45] of lived experience to those planning commissions.

[20:50] And Rice County will be the fiscal host for this grant, so we will be responsible for the

[20:56] granting administration and be able to pull down a maximum of 6%, which would be approximately

[21:01] $16,745.

[21:07] The following slide kind of lays that out again on what the opportunities are that we're

[21:12] looking to focus on with this.

[21:14] And

[21:17] I'm asking for acceptance of this grant on behalf of SCCBI, Rice County being

[21:23] the fiscal host. Motion to approve.

[21:29] Motion by Commissioner Malica, seconded by

[21:31] Commissioner Underdall for approval of accepting this grant of $295,820.

[21:39] Comments or questions? Commissioner Underdall. Chris, on training, I think that's kind of

[21:46] like staff training, but what would be the outcome of that training is curious.

[21:51] Our hope would be to expand our staff's skills with client-focused specific type skills for

[21:59] engaging clients and meeting the needs of individual families rather than our typical

[22:08] state training is just very foundational, so we're hoping to enhance some of that.

[22:13] Also motivational interviewing was a training tool that was given to our children's

[22:18] or I'm sorry our child welfare staff through this through the state but

[22:23] there wasn't funding for that for our children's mental health staff so we

[22:26] would be looking to expand some of those skill sets as well. And I would assume

[22:31] that probably still a gap in this is that there's really not enough funding

[22:36] out there to get the true help treatment everything that a lot of these

[22:42] youth need. Thank you yes this is year one of this grant and it's to start

[22:47] lifting up these children's mental health initiatives and now that we have been approved for year one

[22:56] we will be eligible to apply for funding years two through five the rural health transformation

[23:02] program is a five-year program from the federal government so we will be eligible to apply for

[23:08] ongoing funds.

[23:11] Commissioner Malica. So happy you guys applied, happy we got it.

[23:18] You know we need every resource and dollar we can get to apply towards mental

[23:25] health overall within the county but especially youth and adolescents. Very

[23:30] important to help youth and adolescents to try and get things figured out

[23:36] earlier than later in life. And so I'm so happy we're getting this. And yeah, stop

[23:45] gap, right? I mean, there's bits and pieces coming and you've heard me say

[23:50] this before that the state, you know, this is federal, but the state and federal

[23:54] government both do not provide enough money for mental health funding for, you

[24:04] you know, adolescents and youth adolescents and adults.

[24:08] So every little bit helps and hope to see you again next year with a follow-up on this

[24:18] with some statistics.

[24:20] That's good.

[24:21] Thank you.

[24:22] You're welcome.

[24:23] Yeah, thank you.

[24:25] So Chris, I lost my turn of thought when listening to Galen a little bit, but so this

[24:32] This grant money that you have is just going to complement what you're already doing or

[24:37] you're trying to implement something new or what's happening with that?

[24:41] So the Joint Powers Board will ultimately be in charge of the grant deliverables and

[24:47] how they're using it.

[24:49] There probably will be some areas that we enhance.

[24:52] Currently, we're not doing marketing for the local advisory councils.

[24:55] That's one area that we'll be able to lift up through this.

[25:00] expanding our program for looking at if we can get a provider for crisis stabilization

[25:06] services in the region is something that otherwise we wouldn't have been able to do.

[25:11] So there's a few parts of this that are innovation and the staff training is, again, complementing

[25:18] areas that we haven't been able to do otherwise.

[25:21] Okay.

[25:22] And then are you – is this requiring additional staff from your department?

[25:26] There is an area of the grant that allows for up to 20 hours a week of coordination for this.

[25:34] The Joint Powers Board hasn't decided yet how they're going to look to lift that.

[25:39] If Rice County were to provide that, I would be looking at trying to talk with some of our part-time staff

[25:47] to see if they would be interested in adding on hours

[25:50] and pulling down the money for those additional hours through the grant.

[25:53] At this point, we are not looking at hiring another coordinator.

[25:58] Okay.

[25:59] Yeah, I agree with what Galen said.

[26:02] The need for the mental health is just growing.

[26:07] The one thing that I always get concerned about is the one-time funding.

[26:13] You know, so if we're going to start adding staff with one-time funding with the hopes of getting money again,

[26:19] I think we have to be very careful with that.

[26:21] yeah

[26:25] I'd like to concur what everybody has said this sounds I'm glad that you've

[26:30] applied for the grants and received them and yes if we can keep it in house

[26:34] without hiring more people that would be great any other comments okay we have

[26:41] a motion second on the table to accept the mental health initiative grant for

[26:47] 295 thousand eight hundred twenty dollars all those in favor say aye aye most same

[26:53] sign motion accepted thank you thank you next we have highway with Dennis good

[27:13] morning cold okay a couple items for your consideration this morning first one

[27:23] award of contract 2678 that we opened bids there on the 30th this is two

[27:32] different projects about half mile apart on County 16 North and West of

[27:39] Morristown so we bundled them together we got bridge bonding for both structures

[27:45] and we have a number of bids there the lowest one being from Minowa for

[27:50] $691,519.60. I would recommend you

[27:55] award that contract to them. Motion to

[27:58] approve. Second. Motion by Commissioner

[28:02] Malica. Second by Commissioner Purfas

[28:04] for approval of contract 2678. Any

[28:09] discussion? Questions? Seeing none all

[28:14] those in favor say aye. Aye. All those

[28:16] same sign ocean passes thank you that contract was set up for construction

[28:22] next year but minnow was a very aggressive company if they could find the

[28:27] box culvert sections to be precast and manufactured they might do it this year

[28:33] yet that's a better yep all right next up we have a small contract to award for

[28:41] some asphalt paving at our lawn sale shop in the budget we put together the

[28:45] new salt facility there this is related to that the paving of the apron around

[28:52] that so the men and staff can mix and move material around we got two quotes

[29:00] BMI submitted a quote here for forty one thousand five hundred fifty four

[29:04] dollars and then the lower quote was from M&W block topping for thirty one

[29:08] thousand five hundred five dollars I'd seek board approval to award that job

[29:13] to M&W black topping. Move to approve.

[29:18] Second. Okay we have a motion by

[29:20] Commissioner Underdall second by Commissioner Hoisington. Any discussion

[29:25] or comments? I'd like to say that shed turned out nice and with this apron it

[29:30] will be make a lot of people happy over there. That's been that was in the

[29:35] state of disrepair both the shed and the surface so yeah time has come. Yes

[29:41] Commissioner Underdall.

[29:43] Yeah, it's just a question.

[29:44] When we do this pletumus, are we designing it to continue to run off?

[29:51] Absolutely.

[29:52] That whole site was kind of regraded

[29:54] to make sure any water leaving our well, the water will be sloped.

[30:00] Towards the storage unit and then re-routed out and down through our property where we have

[30:08] a little containment system. We did that in Dundas ten years ago and we did that. So yeah,

[30:14] we're not, we're trying to keep it all on site.

[30:17] I figured you were. I just wanted to ask a question.

[30:20] Any other comments? Okay, we have a motion and a second on the table for the two-minute

[30:27] paving contract all those in favor say aye aye both same sign motion passes thank

[30:34] you next up is a final payment on contract 2672 total amount to close that

[30:41] job out is nine thousand two hundred dollars and sixty-six cents that was

[30:47] for the Minnewall construction went down to Richland Township built that

[30:52] culbert earlier this year got in and out of there really quickly so ready to

[30:58] close that out and I'd recommend we do that motion to approve second motion by

[31:05] commissioner purpose second by commissioner mallica for final payment

[31:09] of contract 2672 any discussion seeing none all those in favor say aye all same

[31:18] sign motion passes next up is another contract minnow while what is awarded

[31:23] earlier this year again for a township bridge replacement this one in Northfield

[31:28] Township just on the west of 246 there a little bit Jenkins Trail bigger project

[31:35] a little more challenging but they they did that one first actually and we're

[31:41] ready to close that out for a final payment of $3,463.81.

[31:47] Motion to approve.

[31:49] Second.

[31:50] The motion by Commissioner Purfitt,

[31:52] second by Commissioner Underdall for approval

[31:55] of the final payment of contract 2671.

[31:59] Any discussion, comments?

[32:03] Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

[32:05] Aye.

[32:06] All those same side, motion passes.

[32:09] Lastly, last year we awarded the contract to resurface Lindale Avenue and do the signal

[32:14] work and do some turn lanes and safety improvements in Faribault.

[32:18] We did some final work this year, I think mostly with that signal, but we're ready

[32:23] to close that out.

[32:24] That was contract 2574 with Crane Creek asphalt.

[32:29] their due the last portion of that payment is $26,392.42 and I think folks

[32:39] are mostly happy with that project as well. So looking for your approval to

[32:43] close that out. Motion to approve. Second. Motion by Commissioner Heisington.

[32:50] Second by Commissioner Malica for final payment of contract 2574. Any discussion

[32:57] comments? Just a comment. I think it's got to feel good on your end to get these things

[33:03] closed out. Put an end to it. Well, it's part of the administrative process. I know Michelle feels

[33:09] very good when we close out all these contracts. She's carrying a lot of paperwork on those and

[33:16] yeah you know I think we've been good at our work and the contractors have been well you

[33:21] know that they do extremely good work so we haven't really had a whole lot of

[33:25] issues with many of our contracts so I'm pretty proud of that and the staff has

[33:30] worked hard to make sure that we get a quality project designed get a good bid

[33:36] price and get it built without too much distress put her in the books yep

[33:42] move on to the next one or two or ten mr. Ronald Dennis for Conor of 48 the

[33:51] process wasn't you know in terms of construction wise did we pose some

[33:59] liquidated damages on this or I don't I'll have to check Commissioner I

[34:04] apologize I didn't I know we were running up against that I know there was

[34:07] some now now that now that I recall last year's construction they there was

[34:11] some delay with their work in the paving realm I can check for you and

[34:19] get back I apologize they don't have that right in front of me not sure it's

[34:23] on our final voucher there's

[34:31] a $12,281.79 dollar adjustment to the

[34:36] contract that may or may not be liquidated damages right there might be

[34:40] bid items that came in under but I will I will follow up because I know there

[34:47] was a lot of people were really you know just satisfied with the delivery on

[34:53] that side of things there and I'm struggling right now to remember what

[34:56] the root cause of that was other than maybe they were overextended I think

[35:01] that's what I thought I didn't mean to interrupt but no I I thought the

[35:08] contractor chose to go to a different project that's right thank you yeah so

[35:13] I would expect there were liquid dated damages applied to that because I don't

[35:17] recall thank you if we would want to wait to approve this until we know

[35:21] That or it just seems like if you're proving it. We don't know the answer. Yeah, it's getting the cart

[35:32] Yeah, I could certainly find out I mean I wouldn't take but a call to the office. I'm looking here in the details of

[35:38] the vouchers I

[35:42] Believe them one of the meetings last year you did talk about yep late penalties, so do

[35:49] and we have imposed those on other contracts if

[35:57] you would like to rescind

[35:58] your motions and somebody make a motion to table for two weeks

[36:03] here we go I have an answer and we have an answer chair the project was

[36:08] completed November 13th 2025 the original project completion date was

[36:13] October 3rd of 25 so they were a little over a month outside the contract

[36:19] completion date liquidated damages 41 calendar days per the specs and contract

[36:25] bid price total damages for project is 41 calendar days at $2,500 a day

[36:31] totaling $102,500 that's a big number yeah thank you for bringing that up thank

[36:38] you for the answer yeah yes now we don't have to rescind we do not yes I

[36:46] any other questions or comments on this contract good discussion so we have a

[36:54] motion in the second for final paper contract 2574 to Crane Creek all those

[36:59] in favor say aye aye both same sign motion passes thank you next consent

[37:08] agenda Sarah good morning our last item is the consent agenda with the extra

[37:13] time overtime report payment of bills and personnel appointments

[37:16] recommending approval. Move to approve.

[37:21] Second. A motion by Commissioner Underdall,

[37:24] second by Commissioner Malica for approval of the consent agenda. Any discussion or

[37:29] questions? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. All those saying sign,

[37:36] motion passes. So I will adjourn but not quite yet because I want to ask there are a few things.

[37:47] No, it's not. Don't be nervous, right? It's all good.

[37:53] I love surprises.

[37:54] Right? Yeah. So I'm seeing so Micah and AMC, we're going to be having our policy committee,

[38:03] legislative priorities being set. And I'm hoping that we can have a work session as commissioners

[38:12] When they're done with their, you know, I don't know if any of you guys are attending any of

[38:19] the policy committees or the MICA stuff, Jim and I are on MICA.

[38:27] Anyway, I think it would be good for us to be able to go through that at a work session.

[38:33] So, we can also relate, you know, and create our own localized legislative priority asks.

[38:44] And this would include, you know, public safety to be at this work session as well as the

[38:49] attorney's office because they set those items at MICA and AMC as well.

[38:58] but I think it would be good for us to engage on a local level for priority asks as we talk

[39:07] about we need more money for mental health and we need more things for social services

[39:11] and transportation and you know I asked for county road nine and other transportation

[39:18] projects I do think we need to get ourselves a little more involved locally I mean we

[39:25] have our legislatures come and so on and so on, but I want to take it a little bit

[39:29] further on our local asks for legislative priorities. From a timing

[39:36] perspective, I know AMC works on their development in September is when kind of

[39:40] it starts and through the fall and then in December is finalized. I believe

[39:43] Micah finalizes in January as well. Do you want to see if we can get some

[39:48] of the drafts prior to December and January because I feel like then we're

[39:51] getting a little yes yes because the legislative session starts in January I

[39:57] believe this year so I mean it's something we can start working on right

[40:02] and as we get more information from them we should be able to get the drafts after

[40:13] the legislative priority session up in Bemidji I believe that's where it's at

[40:19] for – or not for – for AMC this year. And I think it wouldn't take long for them

[40:24] to get it out before it goes to December's AMC conference. So, absolutely. And I want

[40:32] you all to chime in, too, on your thoughts on this, because it's just not me, right?

[40:39] So –

[40:41] Yeah, I think that would be a good idea. I think the conferences are all way up

[40:45] north, or they're not.

[40:46] Yeah.

[40:47] Bemidji is, Micah's just local, right?

[40:50] I mean, they sent out a survey last week,

[40:53] I think, on thoughts of legislative priorities.

[40:58] They haven't set their priorities on Micah yet,

[41:02] but that's coming up.

[41:03] That's just up in St. Paul

[41:05] at one of their regular Micah meetings.

[41:09] But AMC, yes, you're right, it's up in Bemidji.

[41:12] And that takes a half a day to go there, so.

[41:15] yep exactly yeah so but I think we have enough asks locally that I think that we

[41:23] should put our own priorities together yes I agree it's good idea and then do we

[41:34] can find out where we have alignment yes to where you know we can kind of

[41:39] double up on our efforts right now because I think there's going to be

[41:44] things that we have that maybe are not on you know AMC or Mike's agenda because

[41:50] it's only localized right so but and Dennis you know transportation in that

[41:56] as well and all the so you'll have to figure out the process and I'm thinking

[42:03] our fall AMC district meetings the end of October so maybe the committee may

[42:09] need prior to that meeting because that's where you also work on owning

[42:13] and priorities at that district meeting, so that might be a good get us through preliminary

[42:18] budget in September, have a committee meeting on this in October prior to our fall district

[42:24] meeting.

[42:24] Sure.

[42:25] And, you know, what departments you'll figure out, you know, public health, social services,

[42:32] like I said, attorneys, sheriff, transportation, whatever, environment, obviously, because

[42:37] we have landfill needs, and so I'll let you figure that all out.

[42:41] Just

[42:44] one more thing on your plate.

[42:46] No problem.

[42:46] We got it.

[42:48] Go ahead.

[42:49] As long as we're working Sarah over a little bit.

[42:53] No, I want to congratulate you on your appointment for NACO.

[42:58] Oh, thank you.

[42:59] And maybe you could just elaborate a little bit about what that's going to be for you

[43:05] and the time commitment and how you're going to balance everything.

[43:09] Well, so there's a lot of hours in the day.

[43:14] No, so already we have kind of monthly regular reoccurring meetings for the committee that

[43:20] I am a member on.

[43:21] So now I've been appointed as a vice chair of one of the subcommittees for economic development.

[43:26] So in regard to that, there'll be a little bit more prep, but otherwise I already have

[43:29] the monthly meetings and I already attend the annual and the legislative conference as

[43:34] I'm able.

[43:35] So it's not going to add anything there.

[43:36] So I think it's just exciting to be able to be a more active part in the development

[43:40] of the work that we do and the things we're trying to help counties across the

[43:44] nation accomplish so I'm really I'm looking forward to it I think it's good

[43:47] it's good for us to be on the front side of things to hear things first be

[43:52] able to help work there I think it benefits us here so I'm really again

[43:56] looking forward to that and then I sit as a member on a couple other committees

[43:59] which again is nice to get firsthand information to be able to be at

[44:02] meetings where federal agency leaders are at and ask some questions of

[44:06] things that are happening here so I think it's been really good

[44:08] engagement and I appreciate your support Matt. Yeah yeah I well I like the

[44:14] committee here on economic development and whatever we can do to help Bryce

[44:17] County is just gonna give a little relief to our tax burden for our local

[44:21] homeowners. Yeah good well congratulations.

[44:40] Anybody who wished to

[44:41] open for a motion to adjourn. Second. Motion by Commissioner Malica. Second by

[44:51] Commissioner Underdall for adjournment. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those

[44:56] same sign meeting adjourned.

Rice County Board of Commissioners Meeting

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