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meeting. Uh I will call it to order. Uh

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welcome and thanks everyone for coming.

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Uh roll call will indicate all five

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commissioners are present. Uh please

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rise for a moment of silence and the

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pledge of allegiance.

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I aliance to the flag of the United

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States of America and to the republic

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for which it stands. One nation under

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God, indivisible, with liberty and

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justice for all.

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» [snorts]

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>> Okay, our first item is the agenda.

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» Okay, our first item is the agenda.

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There is one addition. We'll call it M3

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and put it under administration. Does

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that work, Mike?

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>> Sure.

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» Sure.

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>> Okay. Uh with that, if there are no more

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» Okay. Uh with that, if there are no more

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additions or

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uh corrections to the agenda, I'm

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looking for a motion.

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>> So moved.

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» So moved.

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>> Thank you, Commissioner Clark.

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» Thank you, Commissioner Clark.

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>> Thank you, Commissioner Johnson. Any

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» Thank you, Commissioner Johnson. Any

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further discussion? Seeing none, all

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those in favor signify by saying I.

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>> I.

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» I.

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>> With your microphones on.

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» With your microphones on.

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Motion carried. Uh, next up is a consent

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agenda item. You can see there is 13 of

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those. Uh, is there anybody wishing to

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pull anything or have a discussion on

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any of those 13 items?

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>> I'll move the consent agenda, Mr.

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» I'll move the consent agenda, Mr.

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Chairman.

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>> Okay. Thank you, Commissioner Bertram.

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» Okay. Thank you, Commissioner Bertram.

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>> With one quick question. Okay.

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» With one quick question. Okay.

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>> Second.

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» Second.

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>> Thank you, Commissioner Clark. Uh,

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» Thank you, Commissioner Clark. Uh,

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question to you, Commissioner Bertram.

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>> E1. Uh, what district is Scott from on

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» E1. Uh, what district is Scott from on

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the dairy advisory committee?

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>> He would be in yours.

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» He would be in yours.

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>> Okay. Wasn't sure it wasn't identified,

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» Okay. Wasn't sure it wasn't identified,

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so I didn't.

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>> Yeah, he lives uh northeast of Eden

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» Yeah, he lives uh northeast of Eden

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Valley.

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>> Got it. Thank [snorts] you.

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» Got it. Thank [snorts] you.

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>> Okay.

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» Okay.

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Any other discussion on the consent

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agenda?

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Seeing none, all those in favor signify

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by saying I. I.

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>> I. Opposed.

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» I. Opposed.

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>> Motion carried.

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» Motion carried.

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Just to uh for the general public, this

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past pay period, there was what $85

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million that the county had put out. So,

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I mean, it's there's a lot. You know, we

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get a we get to view the

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uh payments that are made. uh they send

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out a list to us and and most of it was

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the property tax the settlements on the

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first half.

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All right. So the first item on our

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agenda is public works.

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» Good morning commissioners.

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>> Morning Chris. So item F1 in the agenda

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» Morning Chris. So item F1 in the agenda

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starting on page 130 in your packet is

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to award a construction contract to

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Design Electric. This project

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SP073070-032

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is our rural intersection lighting

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project. There are 10 intersections

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throughout the county that have

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identified uh having a need to be lit

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for uh increased safety at those

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intersections. Um we received two bids.

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Design Electric was the low bid, but

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they're significantly over our estimate.

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That's why I wanted to take some time

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today to talk about this a little bit.

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Uh we had estimated it to cost about

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$230,000. The low bid was $44,317.

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So that's a 75% almost 76% over our

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estimate. So what's happening here? Um a

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couple things. One thing, our estimate

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might have been uh a bit low. This is a

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type of project that we do not construct

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every year. In fact, the last time we

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did a similar project was four years ago

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in 2022. And to put that in perspective,

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back then um the bids came out to be

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about $27,000

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per intersection for very similar

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things. You put up two poles kind of

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diagonal from each other on the

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intersection. Now we're looking at

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$40,000 per intersection uh for this

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type of lighting. So that's a 50%

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increase in just four years of costs.

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Before putting on the agenda, we did

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reach out to the low bidder to get some

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kind of insight on why uh these costs

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were what they are. And basically the

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response was everything's higher. Labor

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[snorts] is higher. Copper is almost

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twice the price it was per foot four

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years ago. Steel is more. the [snorts]

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grass seed is more expensive. The

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controller cabinets where all the

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electrical circuitry is, uh, he said

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those are specifically are three times

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the cost that they were [snorts] when

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this was a similar project was last bid

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in Sterns County. Um, so, uh, that tells

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us that it was a fair bid. It just

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that's what it is. U, the next lowest

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bid was over $500,000, which would have

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been 117%

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increase over our estimate.

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This project is receiving um federal

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funds. Um it's receiving um about 80%

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well based on our estimate about 80%

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federal funds.

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And we had set aside about $27,000 or so

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of local money levy dollars to go to

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this. But based on this low bid, we

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would need an additional $144,317

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of levy uh to to fund this project if we

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award it. [snorts] The good news is we

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have other levy funded projects that we

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already awarded construction costs or

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construction contracts to this year that

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have come under what we are budgeting.

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One project in particular, County Road

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161, was part of our countywide

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resurfacing project. We had budgeted

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that to be $850,000

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and the bids came in at $613,000.

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So that right there that had a pro uh

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that right there saved us $236,664

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of levy. So we have additional levy that

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was budgeted for construction this year

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that uh savings from other projects that

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could cover the overage on this project.

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>> [snorts]

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» [snorts]

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>> With that being said, it is still my

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» With that being said, it is still my

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county highway engineer recommendation

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is go ahead and award a construction

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contract to design electric for this

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rural intersection lighting project.

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>> Thanks for that update, Chris. Uh wishes

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» Thanks for that update, Chris. Uh wishes

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of the board,

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[clears throat]

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Mr. Chairman,

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>> Commissioner Bertram.

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» Commissioner Bertram.

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>> Uh Chris, you know, obviously that I

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» Uh Chris, you know, obviously that I

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think that caught all of our eyes uh

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when it comes in over uh over uh the bid

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comes in that much higher. Have we done

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anything to recruit other potential

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biders? I mean, typically if something

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comes in that much higher, we rebid it.

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Um, I would assume there's been a

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discussion on that or a thought about

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that.

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>> Yeah, that is always something that we

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» Yeah, that is always something that we

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consider. Um, you know, our bidding

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process is a sealed bid process. We

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advertise it um on the county website.

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We have an online bidding. We had a n

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number of plan holders. Some of them

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were material suppliers and stuff. uh

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and so yeah we received two bids. So we

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always consider when it comes to

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overestimate should we rebid it. In this

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case the volatility in the market uh

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especially steel supplies even though

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it's required to be domestic foreign

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steel is going up as well foreign metals

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which drives the cost of domestic

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materials up as well. We felt like there

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was probably a greater risk or even if

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we rebid it again in the future by the

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time we rebid it we're not going to see

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any reduction in price. Uh, one other

216
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alternative to rebid it is do we cut

217
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something from the project? And when we

218
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look at the 10 intersections, it's

219
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really it was really difficult to

220
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determine which intersection was more

221
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important than the other to sacrifice

222
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one to get a lower bid price. So, yeah,

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that's always a consideration, but all

224
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things considered, uh, um, I'm still

225
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recommending we should probably go

226
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forward with this at this time.

227
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>> And, Mr. Chairman, just maybe we should

228
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» And, Mr. Chairman, just maybe we should

229
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think about like recruiting in the

230
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future when we do this a year from now

231
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to see if there's other folks that might

232
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be interested in getting involved in

233
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this because that certainly probably

234
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would help to some degree.

235
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>> Yeah, we we and to these type of

236
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» Yeah, we we and to these type of

237
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projects, traffic signal, electric

238
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lighting, the biders are a lot less than

239
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we see on typical other road

240
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construction projects. So, if we could

241
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find other biders out there, we could

242
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benefit from that in the future.

243
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Okay.

244
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Commissioner Clark,

245
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>> I'm going to make a motion to approve. I

246
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» I'm going to make a motion to approve. I

247
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certainly share uh I think we all

248
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probably share the concerns uh the

249
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Commissioner Bertram brought up, but

250
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also, you know, in talking to you, I

251
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mean, it doesn't seem like this is going

252
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to go down and there is only so many

253
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potential biders at this point anyways.

254
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So, clearly safety is paramount.

255
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» Okay, we have a motion. Do we have a

256
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second?

257
00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:24,870
>> Second. Thank you, Commissioner Johnson.

258
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» Second. Thank you, Commissioner Johnson.

259
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Any further discussion?

260
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Seeing none, all those in favor signify

261
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by saying I.

262
00:12:30,959 --> 00:12:31,350
>> I.

263
00:12:31,350 --> 00:12:31,360
» I.

264
00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:32,470
>> I.

265
00:12:32,470 --> 00:12:32,480
» I.

266
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>> Opposed. Motion carried.

267
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» Opposed. Motion carried.

268
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>> All right. Thank you.

269
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» All right. Thank you.

270
00:12:35,279 --> 00:12:36,710
>> That's all I had for the agenda unless

271
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» That's all I had for the agenda unless

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there was any questions. I'll step aside

273
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then.

274
00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:40,949
>> Okay. Any questions for Chris?

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» Okay. Any questions for Chris?

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Otherwise, thank you.

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[snorts]

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>> Okay. With that, uh, we will recess our

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» Okay. With that, uh, we will recess our

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regular meeting and open the human

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services board meeting. Morning,

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Melissa.

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All right. Good morning, uh, Mr. Chair,

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Commissioners, Melissa Huberty. I'm the

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human services administrator. There's

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only one item on the human services uh,

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00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:05,200
regular agenda today, and it's H1 on

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page 133. Um, so what we're going to do

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00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:11,120
is present today that we've had the

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largest transformation in Minnesota's

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child welfare system in [music] decades.

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That's happening right now. So, this is

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exciting that we're all living through

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this right now. Um the good news is is

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that it's not only a focus on prevention

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but a requirement of prevention

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00:13:26,399 --> 00:13:28,480
activities. Um so we're going to go

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through that as well as the impacts of

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00:13:30,959 --> 00:13:34,240
some of major uh systemic and legal

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changes, legislative changes in the

301
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Minnesota child welfare. It's the

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Minnesota African-American

303
00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:43,360
Family Preservation and Child Welfare

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Disproportionality Act, which we've been

305
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calling the act to shorten it, as well

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as the changes in age of delinquency and

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some other changes at the federal level

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that we felt we should do information

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00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:55,440
sharing now because these changes are

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going to significantly impact uh

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services at the county level as well as

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county budgets. Um, so I have with me

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today um, one of our six human services

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directors, Nick Henderson, and I'll let

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00:14:06,399 --> 00:14:08,880
him um, introduce his team and take it

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00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:11,279
from there.

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>> Good morning, Commissioner or Good

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00:14:12,949 --> 00:14:12,959
» Good morning, Commissioner or Good

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00:14:12,959 --> 00:14:14,959
morning, Mr. Chair, commissioners. Um,

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00:14:14,959 --> 00:14:16,639
Nick Henderson, human services director

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00:14:16,639 --> 00:14:18,160
of the family and children's division.

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Um, as Melissa stated, we are here to do

323
00:14:19,839 --> 00:14:22,240
a presentation. I will ask my supervisor

324
00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,160
team who has joined me, three of our

325
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seven supervisors in family and

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00:14:25,519 --> 00:14:26,880
children's to introduce themselves, and

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00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:30,480
then we'll go ahead and get going.

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00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:31,839
Good morning, Mr. Chair. Good morning,

329
00:14:31,839 --> 00:14:33,680
commissioners. My name is Jenna Laterno.

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I supervise our children's mental health

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00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:37,360
team.

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00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:38,470
>> Good morning, Mr. Chair and

333
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» Good morning, Mr. Chair and

334
00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:39,839
commissioners. I'm Michael Hein and I

335
00:14:39,839 --> 00:14:42,399
supervise the child protection unit D,

336
00:14:42,399 --> 00:14:44,880
which is the intake, after hours, and

337
00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:46,480
rapid response.

338
00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:48,069
>> Good morning, Mr. Chair, commissioners.

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00:14:48,069 --> 00:14:48,079
» Good morning, Mr. Chair, commissioners.

340
00:14:48,079 --> 00:14:49,440
My name is Shannon Ericson, and I

341
00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:52,720
oversee the prevention unit.

342
00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:54,069
>> All right. Well, Mr. Chair and

343
00:14:54,069 --> 00:14:54,079
» All right. Well, Mr. Chair and

344
00:14:54,079 --> 00:14:55,440
commissioners, we appreciate this

345
00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:57,120
opportunity to discuss these important

346
00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,600
changes with you this morning. Um, there

347
00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:01,360
are several significant child welfare

348
00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:03,120
reforms that will impact Sterns County,

349
00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:04,880
the state of Minnesota, and potentially

350
00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:07,600
the entire United States. When most

351
00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:08,959
people think of public safety, they

352
00:15:08,959 --> 00:15:10,720
think of law enforcement, emergency

353
00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:12,959
public safety systems,

354
00:15:12,959 --> 00:15:14,720
community corrections, and emergency

355
00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:16,639
response. However, the child welfare

356
00:15:16,639 --> 00:15:18,880
welfare system is a critical component

357
00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:21,600
of our public safety system. Every day,

358
00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:23,360
child protection workers make difficult

359
00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:25,600
decisions involving the safety of

360
00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:27,279
vulnerable children, the rights of

361
00:15:27,279 --> 00:15:30,320
parents, and the stability of families.

362
00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:32,560
The work we do helps prevent abuse,

363
00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:34,399
neglect, and reduce future involvement

364
00:15:34,399 --> 00:15:36,160
in the juvenile and criminal justice

365
00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:39,440
systems, and strengthen families and

366
00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:41,120
strengthen families before a crisis

367
00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:43,839
arises. Unlike many other public

368
00:15:43,839 --> 00:15:45,920
systems, child welfare carries a unique

369
00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:48,240
level of accountability. Our workers are

370
00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:49,680
expected not only to make the best

371
00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:51,279
decisions possible with the information

372
00:15:51,279 --> 00:15:53,680
available at the time, but also

373
00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:55,519
demonstrate they have made sufficient

374
00:15:55,519 --> 00:15:57,440
efforts to prevent harm, preserve

375
00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:00,240
families, and achieve positive outcomes.

376
00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:03,839
These expectations are evaluated hours,

377
00:16:03,839 --> 00:16:06,320
days, weeks, months, and even years

378
00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:08,079
later against the standards that

379
00:16:08,079 --> 00:16:10,399
continue to evolve. It's also important

380
00:16:10,399 --> 00:16:12,160
to acknowledge the increasing complexity

381
00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:14,880
of the families we serve,

382
00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:16,720
including higher rates of mental health,

383
00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:18,399
substance use disorder, trauma

384
00:16:18,399 --> 00:16:21,600
histories, housing instability, poverty,

385
00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:23,600
and poverty related stressors. At the

386
00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:24,959
same time, we continue to face

387
00:16:24,959 --> 00:16:27,199
challenges related to limited or delayed

388
00:16:27,199 --> 00:16:29,360
access to appropriate services,

389
00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:31,120
workforce shortages, and gaps in

390
00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:33,279
community- based resources. In addition,

391
00:16:33,279 --> 00:16:35,040
system outcomes are influenced by the

392
00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:38,000
values, beliefs, biases and practices

393
00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:39,920
and approaches of multiple system

394
00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:41,440
partners, including schools, law

395
00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:43,759
enforcement, courts, attorneys, guardian

396
00:16:43,759 --> 00:16:46,160
at items, and our service providers.

397
00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:47,920
Each of which plays an important role in

398
00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:49,839
how our families experience the system

399
00:16:49,839 --> 00:16:51,839
and the timeliness and consistency of

400
00:16:51,839 --> 00:16:53,920
supports that they receive. Today,

401
00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:55,440
Minnesota is undertaking the most

402
00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:57,600
significant child welfare reforms we

403
00:16:57,600 --> 00:16:59,600
have seen in decades. These include the

404
00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:01,759
age of delinquency change, the Minnesota

405
00:17:01,759 --> 00:17:03,519
African-American family preservation and

406
00:17:03,519 --> 00:17:05,760
child welfare disproportionality act,

407
00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:07,600
the federal family first prevention

408
00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:10,079
services act, and finally the federal

409
00:17:10,079 --> 00:17:12,319
the newest federal initiative known as a

410
00:17:12,319 --> 00:17:14,319
home for every child. Each of these

411
00:17:14,319 --> 00:17:16,799
reforms is re rooted in one common goal.

412
00:17:16,799 --> 00:17:18,319
improving outcomes for children and

413
00:17:18,319 --> 00:17:19,760
families by preventing system

414
00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:21,839
involvement whenever possible,

415
00:17:21,839 --> 00:17:23,520
strengthening family preservation

416
00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:25,760
efforts, reducing disparities, and

417
00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:27,600
ensuring children have a safe, stable,

418
00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:29,919
and permanent home. These changes will

419
00:17:29,919 --> 00:17:32,000
require significant adjustments to our

420
00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,559
practices, staffing, service delivery,

421
00:17:34,559 --> 00:17:36,400
technology, community partnership, and

422
00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:38,720
the resources we utilize. Our goal today

423
00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:40,080
is to provide an overview of these

424
00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,880
changes, discuss the opportunities, and

425
00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:44,799
they present and help you understand the

426
00:17:44,799 --> 00:17:46,400
impacts they'll have on our county and

427
00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:48,080
our ability to continue to protect the

428
00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:50,880
children and families in our community.

429
00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:52,640
So, a little bit of an overview for

430
00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:55,280
today. Um, we will go over give a broad

431
00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:56,880
overview of the family first prevention

432
00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:59,280
services act, talk about the act, uh,

433
00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:01,039
the Minnesota age of delinquency change

434
00:18:01,039 --> 00:18:03,280
which goes into effect August 1st. the

435
00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:04,960
newest initiative which Minnesota signed

436
00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:06,640
on to at the end of June, I believe it

437
00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:09,440
was June 28th, a home for every child.

438
00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:11,679
And then finally, understanding the uh

439
00:18:11,679 --> 00:18:13,760
impacts and budget implications. One of

440
00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:15,120
the things that I think is important to

441
00:18:15,120 --> 00:18:17,440
note as we talk about this is child

442
00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:19,280
welfare reform has really been something

443
00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:21,120
that has been happening for five decades

444
00:18:21,120 --> 00:18:22,960
at the federal legislature and it has

445
00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:24,720
been a bipartisan. When I went back and

446
00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:26,960
looked at all of the different uh law

447
00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:28,720
changes that have occurred over the

448
00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,120
years, um it has been bipartisan. It was

449
00:18:31,120 --> 00:18:33,600
about 50/50. 50% Democrats, 50%

450
00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:36,320
Republicans that uh were involved in uh

451
00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:38,160
child welfare reform starting back in

452
00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:40,880
1978 with the Indian Child Welfare Act

453
00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:43,919
and then moving forward uh to 2018 with

454
00:18:43,919 --> 00:18:46,480
the Family First um family or the Family

455
00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:49,360
First Preservation Services Act. So, I'm

456
00:18:49,360 --> 00:18:52,160
going to turn it over to General who

457
00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:54,320
will begin um talking about Family

458
00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:57,360
First, which began in 2018.

459
00:18:57,360 --> 00:19:00,150
>> Good morning again. Uh, Families First

460
00:19:00,150 --> 00:19:00,160
» Good morning again. Uh, Families First

461
00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,039
was a or is a federal child welfare

462
00:19:03,039 --> 00:19:06,559
reform that came into um play in 2018.

463
00:19:06,559 --> 00:19:08,640
Minnesota did not implement this until

464
00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:11,840
September 30th of 2021.

465
00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:15,039
The family's first um preservation

466
00:19:15,039 --> 00:19:16,720
services act represents one of the most

467
00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:18,480
significant changes to child welfare

468
00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:21,440
funding um that we've had in decades.

469
00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:22,960
Historically, federal funding was

470
00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:24,799
primarily available after a child

471
00:19:24,799 --> 00:19:27,520
entered into foster care. And now

472
00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:29,679
counties and states are able to capture

473
00:19:29,679 --> 00:19:32,080
some of those monies um before the child

474
00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:34,559
enters into care.

475
00:19:34,559 --> 00:19:36,960
Legislation or this legislation reflects

476
00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:38,640
a national shift towards strengthening

477
00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:40,480
families and preventing child

478
00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:42,240
maltreatment whenever it's safe to do

479
00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:45,120
so. Some key things are not all states

480
00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:46,799
are able to draw down these prevention

481
00:19:46,799 --> 00:19:49,039
funds um as it requires approval of

482
00:19:49,039 --> 00:19:51,440
their prevention plan. Um Minnesota does

483
00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:54,559
have an approved plan. However, um there

484
00:19:54,559 --> 00:19:56,320
are limitations with that. As of right

485
00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:57,679
now, parents as teachers and

486
00:19:57,679 --> 00:19:59,280
motivational interviewing are the two

487
00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:01,039
approved programs that we are able to

488
00:20:01,039 --> 00:20:02,880
use.

489
00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:04,880
Title 4 E prevention funds in Stern

490
00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:07,600
County. We have two um motivational

491
00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:10,160
interview trained trainers within our

492
00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:12,799
family and children's division. Um and a

493
00:20:12,799 --> 00:20:14,640
majority of our staff are trained in

494
00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:16,640
motivational interviewing. Uh the

495
00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:18,799
exception to that would be our new hires

496
00:20:18,799 --> 00:20:20,960
who have been here six months or less um

497
00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:23,600
as they're doing other training. Um

498
00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:25,200
overall Minnesota's having some

499
00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:26,880
difficulty in drawing down some of these

500
00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:30,240
funds because the um only people who can

501
00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:32,240
um draw those funds are the child

502
00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:34,480
protection case managers and that is our

503
00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:36,240
area of highest turnover across the

504
00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:39,600
state. Um so not it's proving

505
00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:41,360
challenging to draw those those funds

506
00:20:41,360 --> 00:20:42,880
down.

507
00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:44,799
Um underneath families first, kinship

508
00:20:44,799 --> 00:20:46,480
care is prioritized because children

509
00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:48,240
generally experience better outcomes

510
00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:50,480
when they can remain connected to the

511
00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:52,880
family and community. Uh residential and

512
00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:55,360
congre um placements have more

513
00:20:55,360 --> 00:20:56,880
restrictions, require additional

514
00:20:56,880 --> 00:20:59,360
justification and oversight.

515
00:20:59,360 --> 00:21:01,360
Uh research consistently shows that

516
00:21:01,360 --> 00:21:02,960
children do better when they can safely

517
00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:04,880
remain with their families. Early

518
00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:06,720
intervention often prevents crises from

519
00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:08,480
escalating to the point of removal and

520
00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:10,320
families first provides an opportunity

521
00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:12,640
for more of those family based services

522
00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:16,880
and those long-term um outcomes. Um the

523
00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:18,720
law reflects a broader movement that

524
00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:20,000
you'll hear us talking about today

525
00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:25,270
towards prevention and similar changes.

526
00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:27,840
This leads us into the act which is the

527
00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:29,600
Minnesota African-American Family

528
00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:31,120
Preservation and Child Welfare

529
00:21:31,120 --> 00:21:33,280
Disproportionality Act. we've shortened

530
00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:36,159
it to just the act. Um, this will be

531
00:21:36,159 --> 00:21:38,640
going into effect on January 1st of

532
00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:40,720
2027.

533
00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:42,480
This legislation is representing a

534
00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:44,159
significant practice shift for all

535
00:21:44,159 --> 00:21:46,880
Minnesota counties. The law is intended

536
00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:48,559
to address the disproportionate

537
00:21:48,559 --> 00:21:50,559
involvement of African-American children

538
00:21:50,559 --> 00:21:52,159
and other over representative

539
00:21:52,159 --> 00:21:55,679
populations in the child welfare system.

540
00:21:55,679 --> 00:21:57,760
Counties are increasing

541
00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:00,240
increased service demands, staff

542
00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:02,640
workload, documentation requirements,

543
00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:05,039
costs associated with meeting the active

544
00:22:05,039 --> 00:22:07,520
effort standards.

545
00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:09,600
Active efforts will require agencies to

546
00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:11,760
do more than just offer services.

547
00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:13,679
Counties must actively assist families

548
00:22:13,679 --> 00:22:16,799
in accessing and engaging services.

549
00:22:16,799 --> 00:22:19,280
Um while the implementation details

550
00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:21,280
continue to develop, the counties are

551
00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:23,919
preparing for substantial financial um

552
00:22:23,919 --> 00:22:27,669
costs with this.

553
00:22:27,679 --> 00:22:30,400
Some key requirements of the act. We

554
00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:32,640
must provide active efforts including

555
00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:34,799
safety plans to keep children safely at

556
00:22:34,799 --> 00:22:37,200
home. Support reunification when removal

557
00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:39,520
occurs.

558
00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:41,360
Emergency removals, foster care

559
00:22:41,360 --> 00:22:43,039
placements, and termination of parental

560
00:22:43,039 --> 00:22:44,559
rights are limited to prevent

561
00:22:44,559 --> 00:22:47,760
unnecessary family separation.

562
00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:49,360
There will be mandatory cultural

563
00:22:49,360 --> 00:22:51,039
competency training for all child

564
00:22:51,039 --> 00:22:53,360
welfare professionals and this includes

565
00:22:53,360 --> 00:22:56,080
our case workers, supervisors, judges,

566
00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:59,360
guardian at item attorneys. And lastly,

567
00:22:59,360 --> 00:23:01,200
there will be an annual review of the

568
00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:03,360
child welfare data to identify over

569
00:23:03,360 --> 00:23:05,600
representation across race, culture,

570
00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:12,710
ethnicity, income, and disability.

571
00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:15,280
All child protection cases going forward

572
00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:18,720
or when the act goes into play um will

573
00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:20,320
have to take rigorous sustained action

574
00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:21,840
to keep children safely with their

575
00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:23,440
families and avoid out of home

576
00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:25,280
placements.

577
00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:27,440
We will build trusted network chosen by

578
00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:29,200
the family to help create and carry out

579
00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:32,159
safety plans. Ensure the plan directly

580
00:23:32,159 --> 00:23:34,320
addresses the allegation and includes

581
00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:36,320
needed economic supports when neglect is

582
00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:37,840
involved.

583
00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:40,080
We will involve families with

584
00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:42,480
continuously uh planning decisions,

585
00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:45,280
selecting services and their providers.

586
00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:47,039
We will also inform families how they

587
00:23:47,039 --> 00:23:49,280
can report their concerns to DCYF for

588
00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:54,149
any non-compliance with the act.

589
00:23:54,159 --> 00:23:56,960
right now um the initial guidance from

590
00:23:56,960 --> 00:24:01,600
the state um is that the

591
00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:03,636
we're only going to implement implement

592
00:24:03,636 --> 00:24:04,960
[clears throat] the race and ethnicity

593
00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:07,520
portion um of this this for the first

594
00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:09,360
two years and then the state is going to

595
00:24:09,360 --> 00:24:12,640
do some studies and determine um other

596
00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,360
areas of disproportionality.

597
00:24:15,360 --> 00:24:18,320
Um so that is where we are right now. Um

598
00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:19,830
>> Mr. Chair commissioners, before we move

599
00:24:19,830 --> 00:24:19,840
» Mr. Chair commissioners, before we move

600
00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:21,840
forward, I think it is important to note

601
00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:23,120
um we have been hearing a lot of

602
00:24:23,120 --> 00:24:24,559
different conversations from the parent

603
00:24:24,559 --> 00:24:26,320
attorneys around the state. So, the law

604
00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:28,559
was written to implement that uh

605
00:24:28,559 --> 00:24:30,159
disproportionately represented children

606
00:24:30,159 --> 00:24:32,159
or race, culture, ethnicity, disability

607
00:24:32,159 --> 00:24:34,240
status, and low-income socioeconomic

608
00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:36,720
status. Um when the state gave their

609
00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:38,240
guidance, they did indicate that they're

610
00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:39,919
going to do a two-year study on the

611
00:24:39,919 --> 00:24:41,679
disability status and low-income

612
00:24:41,679 --> 00:24:43,760
socioeconomic status to determine

613
00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:45,679
disproportionality or what factors

614
00:24:45,679 --> 00:24:47,840
determine disproportionality. One of the

615
00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:49,039
things that we saw with the early

616
00:24:49,039 --> 00:24:51,840
implementation of the act uh in Henipin

617
00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:53,760
and Ramsey County as they were the early

618
00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:55,760
implementers of this law is that there

619
00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:57,600
was some legal challenges that did come

620
00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:00,559
forth. We do um anticipate because the

621
00:25:00,559 --> 00:25:03,279
law is written in the way that it um

622
00:25:03,279 --> 00:25:04,960
enacts the disability status and

623
00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:07,360
low-income status that the delay that

624
00:25:07,360 --> 00:25:09,360
the state is proposing through their

625
00:25:09,360 --> 00:25:11,679
guidance uh to all of the counties will

626
00:25:11,679 --> 00:25:13,840
be a legal challenge um that we will

627
00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:15,360
anticipate. We have even heard some of

628
00:25:15,360 --> 00:25:20,390
those rumblings here in our county.

629
00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:21,840
» I'd like to take an opportunity to

630
00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:23,440
explain in greater detail the difference

631
00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:25,120
between reasonable efforts and active

632
00:25:25,120 --> 00:25:26,799
efforts. For many years, child

633
00:25:26,799 --> 00:25:28,240
protection agencies have been required

634
00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:29,600
to make what's been considered

635
00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:31,200
reasonable efforts to prevent out of

636
00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:33,360
home placement and reunify families.

637
00:25:33,360 --> 00:25:35,120
Under the law with the act, the standard

638
00:25:35,120 --> 00:25:36,799
shifts to active efforts beginning

639
00:25:36,799 --> 00:25:40,000
January 1st of 2027. Active efforts will

640
00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:41,760
require a higher level of engagement by

641
00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:43,760
our social workers and our agency.

642
00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:45,760
Rather than simply providing a referral,

643
00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:47,120
a worker will need to assist with

644
00:25:47,120 --> 00:25:48,640
scheduling an appointment, coordinating

645
00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:50,400
services, addressing barriers such as

646
00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:52,400
transportation or child care, and

647
00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:54,240
maintain ongoing contact with families

648
00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:56,559
and providers. This approach is intended

649
00:25:56,559 --> 00:25:58,720
to increase family engagement, improve

650
00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:00,960
service participation, and reduce

651
00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:03,039
disparities in child welfare outcomes.

652
00:26:03,039 --> 00:26:04,960
While the goals are positive, active

653
00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:06,720
efforts will require a significant

654
00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:09,120
amount of additional staff time,

655
00:26:09,120 --> 00:26:11,039
increased service availability, enhanced

656
00:26:11,039 --> 00:26:12,880
documentation, and potentially

657
00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:14,640
significant financial investments by

658
00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:16,640
counties. Counties are still awaiting

659
00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:17,840
additional guidance from the state

660
00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:19,520
regarding the implementation

661
00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:22,320
expectations, definition, and compliance

662
00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:24,480
requirements. We anticipate the

663
00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:26,480
estimated cost increase per family could

664
00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:29,360
increase between 30% to 100% and could

665
00:26:29,360 --> 00:26:32,559
double our staff um time spent on each

666
00:26:32,559 --> 00:26:34,320
family. So, I'd like to provide a a

667
00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:36,640
caveat or a short story to help really

668
00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:38,240
kind of paint the picture of what this

669
00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:40,000
might look like. If we're working with a

670
00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:42,000
family who has a housing um issue,

671
00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:43,840
they're homeless or their current

672
00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:45,440
housing arrangement is not working out

673
00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:47,440
for them. In a reasonable effort, we

674
00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:48,960
would provide the family a list of

675
00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:51,039
housing resources, check in with the

676
00:26:51,039 --> 00:26:52,559
family a couple of weeks later, see if

677
00:26:52,559 --> 00:26:54,320
they were able to find an apartment on

678
00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:56,799
said list. They might say, "We're having

679
00:26:56,799 --> 00:26:58,960
a difficult time with a damage deposit."

680
00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:01,440
And then we'd work to potentially um

681
00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:03,120
help them with the damage deposit. That

682
00:27:03,120 --> 00:27:04,799
would be a reasonable effort. In an

683
00:27:04,799 --> 00:27:07,039
active effort situation, we would we

684
00:27:07,039 --> 00:27:08,960
would follow up with the family. Um we

685
00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:10,400
would make those phone calls with that

686
00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:12,159
family. We would call the landlords. We

687
00:27:12,159 --> 00:27:13,760
would call the companies with them.

688
00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:15,120
Let's say they found three apartments

689
00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:16,480
that had openings that fit their

690
00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:18,240
family's needs. We would drive them to

691
00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:20,080
see those apartments. We would help them

692
00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:21,840
fill out the apartment application. We

693
00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:24,640
might pay the the the $30 application

694
00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:27,200
fee. We might look for resources to

695
00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:29,039
furnish the apartment. We might

696
00:27:29,039 --> 00:27:30,640
transport them to the food shelf to get

697
00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:33,200
their first groceries um opportunity. Um

698
00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:34,799
and we also may assist with a damage

699
00:27:34,799 --> 00:27:36,480
deposit. So, as you can see, it's a

700
00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:38,159
significant difference between

701
00:27:38,159 --> 00:27:39,760
reasonable efforts and active efforts

702
00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:41,120
and what our staff are going to be

703
00:27:41,120 --> 00:27:44,080
required to do um come January 1st.

704
00:27:44,080 --> 00:27:45,590
>> Mr. Chair, commissioners, just to be

705
00:27:45,590 --> 00:27:45,600
» Mr. Chair, commissioners, just to be

706
00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:48,159
clear, this is required starting January

707
00:27:48,159 --> 00:27:51,039
1st. And so, it will um the first year

708
00:27:51,039 --> 00:27:53,440
it'll be at least half of our cases and

709
00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:55,520
I believe the second year nearly all of

710
00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:56,960
them.

711
00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,669
>> And and this for clarification and this

712
00:27:59,669 --> 00:27:59,679
» And and this for clarification and this

713
00:27:59,679 --> 00:28:02,159
this isn't just the ethnicity race part.

714
00:28:02,159 --> 00:28:04,880
This is everybody. anybody who fits into

715
00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:07,200
the category of disproportionality. And

716
00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:09,120
let's face it, child welfare is a

717
00:28:09,120 --> 00:28:11,840
poverty situation largely. And there are

718
00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:13,600
many disproportionate groups and they're

719
00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:15,760
not just race and ethnicity, but for the

720
00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:17,919
first year starting January 1, they're

721
00:28:17,919 --> 00:28:19,840
going to zero in on race and ethnicity.

722
00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:21,679
And thereafter, it'll be all the other

723
00:28:21,679 --> 00:28:23,360
groups as far as we know, which will

724
00:28:23,360 --> 00:28:26,559
cover all of our cases. So the the the

725
00:28:26,559 --> 00:28:29,200
active efforts that um she's describing

726
00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:31,520
we will have to do basically on at least

727
00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:33,200
half the cases maybe a little more than

728
00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:35,279
half starting January one and then the

729
00:28:35,279 --> 00:28:36,880
next year on all of them.

730
00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:39,350
>> Wow. It's basically handholding.

731
00:28:39,350 --> 00:28:39,360
» Wow. It's basically handholding.

732
00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:42,470
>> Yes. Yes. Significant um support

733
00:28:42,470 --> 00:28:42,480
» Yes. Yes. Significant um support

734
00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:45,039
wraparound services with families. Yes.

735
00:28:45,039 --> 00:28:47,350
>> Okay. Thanks. One of the important

736
00:28:47,350 --> 00:28:47,360
» Okay. Thanks. One of the important

737
00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:48,880
pieces, Mr. chair and commissioners that

738
00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:50,399
I'd like to highlight with that is the

739
00:28:50,399 --> 00:28:52,480
ultimate goal is to keep the children

740
00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:54,000
connected to their families, the

741
00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:55,520
children connected to their communities,

742
00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:56,960
which will hopefully reduce some of the

743
00:28:56,960 --> 00:28:58,720
traumas and reduce some of our auto home

744
00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:03,590
placement impacts.

745
00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:06,159
So, the act is going to be a large shift

746
00:29:06,159 --> 00:29:08,880
for us. Um the the other large shift

747
00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:11,840
which starts August 1st is the law

748
00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:13,760
regarding the age of delinquency which

749
00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:16,960
has been raised from 10 years old to 13

750
00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:19,919
years old. The goal of the legislation

751
00:29:19,919 --> 00:29:22,159
is to ensure younger children receive

752
00:29:22,159 --> 00:29:23,840
developmentally appropriate

753
00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:26,080
interventions rather than juvenile

754
00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:28,320
justice involvement.

755
00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:30,399
Counties expect increased demand for

756
00:29:30,399 --> 00:29:32,799
family services, children's mental

757
00:29:32,799 --> 00:29:35,840
health services, school partnerships,

758
00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:38,399
and community supports.

759
00:29:38,399 --> 00:29:40,480
The change shifts responsibility from

760
00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:43,360
the juvenile justice system toward child

761
00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:46,000
serving systems and prevention focused

762
00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:47,679
interventions.

763
00:29:47,679 --> 00:29:49,520
Additional resources and service

764
00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:51,919
capacity will be necessary to

765
00:29:51,919 --> 00:29:53,760
effectively respond to the needs of

766
00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:56,320
youth and families impacted by this

767
00:29:56,320 --> 00:29:58,000
change.

768
00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:00,240
Currently, our local partners have been

769
00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:02,480
meeting for the last few months uh

770
00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:04,399
looking at the impacts of this law and

771
00:30:04,399 --> 00:30:06,960
how we will respond as community

772
00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:09,360
partners and that has included county

773
00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:12,159
attorney's office, human services, law

774
00:30:12,159 --> 00:30:14,960
enforcement, our medical community and

775
00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:16,720
therapeutic community among others

776
00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:19,760
including judges and guardian at items.

777
00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:22,159
This approach to address this change

778
00:30:22,159 --> 00:30:25,039
will take a multiple dis disciplinary

779
00:30:25,039 --> 00:30:28,880
approach and while we will be working

780
00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:31,840
together on these cases we do expect

781
00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:33,919
there will be some strained situations

782
00:30:33,919 --> 00:30:37,279
that will impact this process. Currently

783
00:30:37,279 --> 00:30:40,159
uh children that engage in serious uh

784
00:30:40,159 --> 00:30:44,000
crimes um have the option of going to

785
00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:46,720
secured detention for a period of time.

786
00:30:46,720 --> 00:30:49,039
that option will no longer exist for

787
00:30:49,039 --> 00:30:52,640
children between the ages of 10 and 13.

788
00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:55,039
Some uh examples that we've experienced

789
00:30:55,039 --> 00:30:57,039
here in Sterns County that will no

790
00:30:57,039 --> 00:31:00,720
longer uh be eligible for delinquency or

791
00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:04,159
detention are uh three examples. One, a

792
00:31:04,159 --> 00:31:05,919
12-year-old child who brings a gun to

793
00:31:05,919 --> 00:31:08,480
school that law enforcement will

794
00:31:08,480 --> 00:31:10,880
respond, but that will be a large human

795
00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:13,279
services child welfare approach. uh

796
00:31:13,279 --> 00:31:14,960
working with partners to figure out how

797
00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:16,720
to keep that child in the community

798
00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:19,840
safe. Another example, 11-year-old child

799
00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:22,320
who sexually assaults a peer at school.

800
00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:23,919
Um so we'll be working together again

801
00:31:23,919 --> 00:31:25,840
with community partners to figure out

802
00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:27,520
how to keep that child in the community

803
00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:31,520
safe. We see a lot of situations with uh

804
00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:34,000
assaults in the within the family system

805
00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:35,919
and we anticipate situations with a

806
00:31:35,919 --> 00:31:38,240
younger child who perhaps assaults a

807
00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:40,799
sibling or uh stabs a parent with a

808
00:31:40,799 --> 00:31:43,200
knife. Uh these are situations that have

809
00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:46,480
happened. So we anticipate additional

810
00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:48,960
time with our after hours staff working

811
00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:51,440
with law enforcement, safety planning,

812
00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:53,279
trying to connect with that family,

813
00:31:53,279 --> 00:31:55,840
friends, neighbors to identify places

814
00:31:55,840 --> 00:31:58,640
for children to be safely um as we look

815
00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:00,640
at implementing those additional

816
00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:03,440
community- based services for children.

817
00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:05,120
Mr. Chair and commissioners, just a few

818
00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:06,880
things on this. Um we looked at the last

819
00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:10,159
5 years data in regards to information

820
00:32:10,159 --> 00:32:11,760
or referrals that the county attorney's

821
00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:13,760
office had received and each year the

822
00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:16,000
children that were between the age of 10

823
00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:20,960
years and uh 12 years and 364 days of

824
00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:24,399
life um were were between 40 and 65

825
00:32:24,399 --> 00:32:26,240
children per year that were estimated to

826
00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:29,760
be in there. and there was over 25 uh on

827
00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:31,760
an annual basis that were estimated to

828
00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:33,760
be of the felony level of offenses that

829
00:32:33,760 --> 00:32:35,860
were served in that capacity. Um,

830
00:32:35,860 --> 00:32:37,440
[snorts] you know, from our officer's

831
00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:39,760
standpoint, it does leave um some angst

832
00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:42,159
and anxiety in regards to if we get a

833
00:32:42,159 --> 00:32:44,320
12-year-old who brings that firearm to

834
00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:46,640
school, how will we ensure that the

835
00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:48,399
community is safe without some of the

836
00:32:48,399 --> 00:32:50,320
restrictive opport or restrictive

837
00:32:50,320 --> 00:32:52,159
resources that we're utilizing the other

838
00:32:52,159 --> 00:32:54,880
systems? And to be clear, those more

839
00:32:54,880 --> 00:32:56,480
severe crimes, we did go to the

840
00:32:56,480 --> 00:32:58,399
legislature this year, made a good uh

841
00:32:58,399 --> 00:33:00,320
case for trying to carve out the most

842
00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:02,720
egregious crimes for the 10 to 13 year

843
00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:04,880
olds. We weren't successful this year,

844
00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:06,480
but I do believe there's momentum for

845
00:33:06,480 --> 00:33:08,399
making change in the next legislative

846
00:33:08,399 --> 00:33:11,200
cycle. So, we do agree with this largely

847
00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:13,039
with the misdemeanor crimes and the

848
00:33:13,039 --> 00:33:14,480
lower crimes, but with those very

849
00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:16,240
serious crimes, what will happen now is

850
00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:17,760
when something very very serious

851
00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:19,120
happens, it's mostly with the

852
00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:21,200
12-year-olds, but let's say something

853
00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:23,919
very, very serious happens, murder, um,

854
00:33:23,919 --> 00:33:26,720
a very big assault or something like

855
00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:29,760
that. Now, Nick's group in child welfare

856
00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:31,679
and social workers will need to do that

857
00:33:31,679 --> 00:33:33,840
instead of Becky's community corrections

858
00:33:33,840 --> 00:33:35,679
area being able to do anything about it.

859
00:33:35,679 --> 00:33:38,000
and um community corrections has more

860
00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:40,720
levers um in terms of securing

861
00:33:40,720 --> 00:33:42,640
juveniles, then Nick will have none of

862
00:33:42,640 --> 00:33:47,750
those resources.

863
00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:49,440
All right, the next piece that we're

864
00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:51,519
going to talk about is the a home for

865
00:33:51,519 --> 00:33:53,360
every child and that's putting the PIP

866
00:33:53,360 --> 00:33:56,480
on a PIP. So um every year u the states

867
00:33:56,480 --> 00:33:58,399
across the United States go through a

868
00:33:58,399 --> 00:34:01,919
child and family um review process um

869
00:34:01,919 --> 00:34:03,760
that is conducted by the feds who come

870
00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:06,720
on site um in all of the states and I

871
00:34:06,720 --> 00:34:08,480
can tell you that for the last 20 plus

872
00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:10,320
years no state in the United States of

873
00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:13,040
America has passed the child and family

874
00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:15,520
services review. Um, so this was our

875
00:34:15,520 --> 00:34:17,280
opportunity where our federal partners

876
00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:19,119
at the Administration of Children and

877
00:34:19,119 --> 00:34:21,599
Family Services have said there's got to

878
00:34:21,599 --> 00:34:23,040
be something wrong with this process and

879
00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:25,919
we need to do something different. Um,

880
00:34:25,919 --> 00:34:27,679
so they started rolling out basically

881
00:34:27,679 --> 00:34:29,919
the opportunity for counties to or

882
00:34:29,919 --> 00:34:33,200
states to elect into a new initiative

883
00:34:33,200 --> 00:34:34,480
that is being put on by the

884
00:34:34,480 --> 00:34:36,320
Administration of Children and Families.

885
00:34:36,320 --> 00:34:39,119
On on June 28th, the state of Minnesota

886
00:34:39,119 --> 00:34:42,079
signed on to a home for every child, uh,

887
00:34:42,079 --> 00:34:44,320
which is the new initiative. Um this

888
00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:46,399
action responds to the state's child and

889
00:34:46,399 --> 00:34:47,919
family services review performance

890
00:34:47,919 --> 00:34:50,000
improvement plan um that the state has

891
00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:52,480
been on for 20 plus years. It was

892
00:34:52,480 --> 00:34:54,560
another it's another unfunded mandate

893
00:34:54,560 --> 00:34:56,079
that pushes early intervention and

894
00:34:56,079 --> 00:34:57,839
prevention. One of the things that we do

895
00:34:57,839 --> 00:35:00,640
hope um I had an opportunity recently um

896
00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:01,920
to meet with some of our federal

897
00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:04,560
partners and part of the shift will also

898
00:35:04,560 --> 00:35:06,480
be an ability hopefully for us to

899
00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:08,160
continue to expand our prevention

900
00:35:08,160 --> 00:35:10,240
services and draw down those title 4E

901
00:35:10,240 --> 00:35:13,440
prevention services um through the um

902
00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:16,560
child welfare um gateway which they have

903
00:35:16,560 --> 00:35:18,560
the list of approved services. So

904
00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:20,800
they're really pushing for states to

905
00:35:20,800 --> 00:35:23,680
take on more um buy in more and invest

906
00:35:23,680 --> 00:35:25,440
more in those prevention services in a

907
00:35:25,440 --> 00:35:26,800
hope that they can draw down more of

908
00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:28,960
those prevention funds. So as stated

909
00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:30,640
earlier, we receive a lot of that title

910
00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:32,800
4E federal funding when children go into

911
00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:34,720
auto home placement for reimbursement

912
00:35:34,720 --> 00:35:36,079
and the goal will be that we actually

913
00:35:36,079 --> 00:35:37,680
will be able to seek reimbursement for

914
00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:39,359
some of the services on the front end.

915
00:35:39,359 --> 00:35:41,200
And I think as we all know and the

916
00:35:41,200 --> 00:35:43,680
University of Chapen Hall um has

917
00:35:43,680 --> 00:35:44,880
demonstrated through some of their

918
00:35:44,880 --> 00:35:47,200
research investment on the front end I

919
00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:48,880
believe their study is that it's three

920
00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:50,880
times cheaper to invest on the front end

921
00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:53,200
than it is for the deep end services. So

922
00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:55,119
oftentimes if we're engaging with a

923
00:35:55,119 --> 00:35:57,440
family that is receiving uh therapeutic

924
00:35:57,440 --> 00:35:59,520
services oftentimes covered by insurance

925
00:35:59,520 --> 00:36:01,440
if not covered by insurance is about

926
00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:04,079
$200 per hour. and out of home placement

927
00:36:04,079 --> 00:36:07,440
costs uh can range anywhere between $440

928
00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:10,160
per day all the way up to $2,300 per day

929
00:36:10,160 --> 00:36:13,520
per child in the family.

930
00:36:13,520 --> 00:36:15,839
Um there are four goals um with this

931
00:36:15,839 --> 00:36:17,760
that the state has identified and so the

932
00:36:17,760 --> 00:36:19,040
state of Minnesota works with the

933
00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:20,800
federal partners and then they'll um

934
00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:22,640
because we're state administered uh

935
00:36:22,640 --> 00:36:25,105
county delivered or county administer or

936
00:36:25,105 --> 00:36:26,800
[snorts] state state run county

937
00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:29,520
administered if I can say it right um

938
00:36:29,520 --> 00:36:31,440
system here in Minnesota um the state

939
00:36:31,440 --> 00:36:32,800
will work with the feds and then we'll

940
00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:34,560
pass it down to the counties but there

941
00:36:34,560 --> 00:36:36,480
are four goals with it and one is to

942
00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:38,079
continue to improve casework practice

943
00:36:38,079 --> 00:36:39,760
and accountability enhance family

944
00:36:39,760 --> 00:36:41,440
engagement relationships and shared

945
00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:43,680
decision-m ensuring that the families

946
00:36:43,680 --> 00:36:46,160
ultimately have a voice and that is not

947
00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:47,760
the system partners who are telling them

948
00:36:47,760 --> 00:36:49,599
what they need uh because I think our

949
00:36:49,599 --> 00:36:51,599
families know what's best improve

950
00:36:51,599 --> 00:36:53,359
permanency planning and placement

951
00:36:53,359 --> 00:36:55,359
stability and then finally advance an

952
00:36:55,359 --> 00:36:56,880
equitable prevention focused and

953
00:36:56,880 --> 00:36:59,920
culturally responsive system

954
00:36:59,920 --> 00:37:01,359
real quick just to continue moving

955
00:37:01,359 --> 00:37:03,839
through here a home for every child is

956
00:37:03,839 --> 00:37:05,599
there is a bulletin through the

957
00:37:05,599 --> 00:37:06,880
administration of children and families

958
00:37:06,880 --> 00:37:08,880
it's technical bulletin 14 which gives

959
00:37:08,880 --> 00:37:10,400
the new guidance in regards to the

960
00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:12,480
initiative it talks about the priority

961
00:37:12,480 --> 00:37:14,079
areas is from the federal government.

962
00:37:14,079 --> 00:37:15,839
And then the key expectations, their key

963
00:37:15,839 --> 00:37:17,520
expectations is that we have one foster

964
00:37:17,520 --> 00:37:19,440
home available for every child in care.

965
00:37:19,440 --> 00:37:21,040
Right now, the estimated national

966
00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:24,480
average is uh there's 59 children uh for

967
00:37:24,480 --> 00:37:26,640
every foster home that is available in

968
00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:27,920
the United States. So, one of the goals

969
00:37:27,920 --> 00:37:30,079
is expanding that service. And one of

970
00:37:30,079 --> 00:37:31,359
the greatest ways that we can expand

971
00:37:31,359 --> 00:37:33,760
that is by uh placing children with

972
00:37:33,760 --> 00:37:35,440
their relatives and with kin and being

973
00:37:35,440 --> 00:37:37,839
able to license them. And then finally,

974
00:37:37,839 --> 00:37:39,440
the counties must expand prevention

975
00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:41,359
efforts and our foster care capacity,

976
00:37:41,359 --> 00:37:42,960
which we have been focusing on for

977
00:37:42,960 --> 00:37:47,109
several years.

978
00:37:47,119 --> 00:37:50,240
This next slide shows a snapshot of the

979
00:37:50,240 --> 00:37:52,480
numbers from 2025 for the family and

980
00:37:52,480 --> 00:37:55,200
children services division. Uh I wanted

981
00:37:55,200 --> 00:37:57,520
to point uh the last bullet there, the

982
00:37:57,520 --> 00:37:59,839
total number of individuals served. So

983
00:37:59,839 --> 00:38:01,760
that shows the number of families that

984
00:38:01,760 --> 00:38:03,520
we are working with uh throughout the

985
00:38:03,520 --> 00:38:05,440
year. You can see the different [snorts]

986
00:38:05,440 --> 00:38:07,040
levels of service there from child

987
00:38:07,040 --> 00:38:08,800
protection, children's mental health,

988
00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:11,119
our licensing of child and foster care

989
00:38:11,119 --> 00:38:14,640
families, um as well as uh children who

990
00:38:14,640 --> 00:38:18,079
are in the 18 to 21 year range receiving

991
00:38:18,079 --> 00:38:19,520
services to help them in early

992
00:38:19,520 --> 00:38:22,320
adulthood. And uh we also have a few

993
00:38:22,320 --> 00:38:25,119
other very um creative initiatives with

994
00:38:25,119 --> 00:38:27,520
the uh juveninal community action team,

995
00:38:27,520 --> 00:38:30,480
parent support outreach, rapid response.

996
00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:34,000
So within this um the percentages as we

997
00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:35,680
talked earlier about the act and the

998
00:38:35,680 --> 00:38:38,400
focus on reducing uh disparities for uh

999
00:38:38,400 --> 00:38:40,400
people of color in the system currently

1000
00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:42,720
based on the 2025 numbers in the child

1001
00:38:42,720 --> 00:38:46,160
protection and child welfare cases 53%

1002
00:38:46,160 --> 00:38:48,240
of the individuals identify as people of

1003
00:38:48,240 --> 00:38:53,680
color 17% identified as black and 23%

1004
00:38:53,680 --> 00:38:56,880
identified as two or more races. Now the

1005
00:38:56,880 --> 00:38:59,040
goal of the act is to reduce disparities

1006
00:38:59,040 --> 00:39:01,440
as well as prevent uh unnecessary

1007
00:39:01,440 --> 00:39:04,079
placement of children out of the home.

1008
00:39:04,079 --> 00:39:07,599
We have seen a steady decline 7% per

1009
00:39:07,599 --> 00:39:10,000
year less children experiencing out of

1010
00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:12,640
home care on pace for a larger decline

1011
00:39:12,640 --> 00:39:16,079
in 2026. We've seen a trend of less

1012
00:39:16,079 --> 00:39:18,027
children entering care than exiting

1013
00:39:18,027 --> 00:39:20,560
[clears throat] care. So we are making

1014
00:39:20,560 --> 00:39:23,040
progress toward that goal but uh a lot

1015
00:39:23,040 --> 00:39:26,160
of work yet to be done.

1016
00:39:26,160 --> 00:39:28,000
As Michael had previously stated, we do

1017
00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:30,000
have a number of creative um in

1018
00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:31,839
innovative services that we are working

1019
00:39:31,839 --> 00:39:33,599
to implement. Um a number of those

1020
00:39:33,599 --> 00:39:35,760
services um are spread amongst our

1021
00:39:35,760 --> 00:39:38,640
individual units and are also um across

1022
00:39:38,640 --> 00:39:41,119
multiple divisions. Um I would like to

1023
00:39:41,119 --> 00:39:42,960
highlight our internships. So that is an

1024
00:39:42,960 --> 00:39:45,520
incredible recruitment tool for us. Um

1025
00:39:45,520 --> 00:39:46,960
we will have three that will start in

1026
00:39:46,960 --> 00:39:49,280
the fall. Uh SCSU, St. Kates, and

1027
00:39:49,280 --> 00:39:51,599
Morehead. So, um, continue to be an

1028
00:39:51,599 --> 00:39:54,000
internship, uh, place of choice for for

1029
00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:55,440
a lot of these young students, which is

1030
00:39:55,440 --> 00:39:57,280
really cool, um, to be able to train

1031
00:39:57,280 --> 00:39:59,839
them and and grow. Um, goodness knows

1032
00:39:59,839 --> 00:40:01,440
it's very difficult work and sometimes

1033
00:40:01,440 --> 00:40:03,839
very difficult for, um, us to attract,

1034
00:40:03,839 --> 00:40:05,280
um, individuals that that want to do

1035
00:40:05,280 --> 00:40:07,200
this great work. So, um, we feel really

1036
00:40:07,200 --> 00:40:08,880
excited about the internships that we've

1037
00:40:08,880 --> 00:40:11,200
been able to have um, because I do think

1038
00:40:11,200 --> 00:40:16,390
it's it's helped a great deal.

1039
00:40:16,400 --> 00:40:17,760
the implementation of all of the

1040
00:40:17,760 --> 00:40:19,119
requirements that you've heard about

1041
00:40:19,119 --> 00:40:21,359
will increase demands on staff uh

1042
00:40:21,359 --> 00:40:23,040
resources and our child welfare system

1043
00:40:23,040 --> 00:40:24,960
in general. Um the state required

1044
00:40:24,960 --> 00:40:27,280
training now exceeds 121 hours per

1045
00:40:27,280 --> 00:40:29,119
employee. To put that into perspective,

1046
00:40:29,119 --> 00:40:31,520
that's like a semester of college um for

1047
00:40:31,520 --> 00:40:33,520
these uh individuals when they come to

1048
00:40:33,520 --> 00:40:34,880
work for us. That's an extensive

1049
00:40:34,880 --> 00:40:36,800
training um protocol that they're

1050
00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:38,800
required by the state um to ensure that

1051
00:40:38,800 --> 00:40:40,560
they've had that type of training. And

1052
00:40:40,560 --> 00:40:42,320
I'll just add also the training that's

1053
00:40:42,320 --> 00:40:43,520
currently available, unless it's

1054
00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:44,800
changed, you can correct me if I'm

1055
00:40:44,800 --> 00:40:46,480
wrong, Shannon, but um it is not

1056
00:40:46,480 --> 00:40:48,640
currently offered in central Minnesota.

1057
00:40:48,640 --> 00:40:50,480
So that means we also have to pay for

1058
00:40:50,480 --> 00:40:52,560
our staff to go far away, spend the

1059
00:40:52,560 --> 00:40:54,800
nights, several nights at like very

1060
00:40:54,800 --> 00:40:56,720
frequently to pass their college level

1061
00:40:56,720 --> 00:40:59,119
course over months. It is not offered in

1062
00:40:59,119 --> 00:41:01,599
our area. So it's very expensive

1063
00:41:01,599 --> 00:41:02,710
>> and it's required.

1064
00:41:02,710 --> 00:41:02,720
» and it's required.

1065
00:41:02,720 --> 00:41:03,990
>> Mr. Chair, commissioners, just to

1066
00:41:03,990 --> 00:41:04,000
» Mr. Chair, commissioners, just to

1067
00:41:04,000 --> 00:41:05,599
explain where those locations are. They

1068
00:41:05,599 --> 00:41:07,920
are the Twin Cities, Duth, Detroit

1069
00:41:07,920 --> 00:41:10,640
Lakes, and Marshall, Minnesota.

1070
00:41:10,640 --> 00:41:12,480
And it's several days at a time each

1071
00:41:12,480 --> 00:41:16,400
month. So it's sending staff mileage,

1072
00:41:16,400 --> 00:41:18,319
hotels

1073
00:41:18,319 --> 00:41:20,800
gone. They're out of the workforce also.

1074
00:41:20,800 --> 00:41:23,839
So wait, go ahead. Sorry. Thank you.

1075
00:41:23,839 --> 00:41:25,670
>> Yeah, it is extensive training um that

1076
00:41:25,670 --> 00:41:25,680
» Yeah, it is extensive training um that

1077
00:41:25,680 --> 00:41:28,000
staff are required to do. Um the complex

1078
00:41:28,000 --> 00:41:29,760
cases frequently require coordination

1079
00:41:29,760 --> 00:41:31,599
among multiple workers across a variety

1080
00:41:31,599 --> 00:41:33,520
of units and divisions, increasing time

1081
00:41:33,520 --> 00:41:35,520
and resources needed to achieve um

1082
00:41:35,520 --> 00:41:37,599
positive outcomes. At the same time,

1083
00:41:37,599 --> 00:41:39,280
statutory changes prohibit secure

1084
00:41:39,280 --> 00:41:40,880
detention for youth under age 12 in

1085
00:41:40,880 --> 00:43:05,750
these cases, limiting placement.

1086
00:43:05,760 --> 00:43:07,839
must address the needs of the entire

1087
00:43:07,839 --> 00:43:09,520
family. Not just the child who came to

1088
00:43:09,520 --> 00:43:11,359
our attention. It is of the entire

1089
00:43:11,359 --> 00:43:13,680
family. So includes mom, dad, brother,

1090
00:43:13,680 --> 00:43:15,760
sister and at times if relatives are

1091
00:43:15,760 --> 00:43:17,599
caring for them, aunt, uncles,

1092
00:43:17,599 --> 00:43:20,960
grandparents and fictive kin. Some of

1093
00:43:20,960 --> 00:43:22,400
the things that I think are important to

1094
00:43:22,400 --> 00:43:25,040
note is that oftentimes if a family is

1095
00:43:25,040 --> 00:43:26,640
coming through the family and children's

1096
00:43:26,640 --> 00:43:29,040
door versus the delinquency system per

1097
00:43:29,040 --> 00:43:32,240
se, um security detention costs $440 per

1098
00:43:32,240 --> 00:43:34,079
day and for us to find a crisis

1099
00:43:34,079 --> 00:43:35,760
placement, not have that child enter

1100
00:43:35,760 --> 00:43:37,280
through the doors and be cared for here

1101
00:43:37,280 --> 00:43:39,119
in the county administration building.

1102
00:43:39,119 --> 00:43:41,200
Uh previously referred to as Nick's

1103
00:43:41,200 --> 00:43:44,000
Pretty Good Daycare, um the cost for

1104
00:43:44,000 --> 00:43:45,280
those crisis services are anywhere

1105
00:43:45,280 --> 00:43:48,000
between $800 and $1,300 per day to serve

1106
00:43:48,000 --> 00:43:50,079
those children. Active efforts, as we've

1107
00:43:50,079 --> 00:43:51,920
stated before, will be required in all

1108
00:43:51,920 --> 00:43:53,680
of these cases. And then those children

1109
00:43:53,680 --> 00:43:55,599
who are under the age of 13 who enter

1110
00:43:55,599 --> 00:43:57,920
our system, active efforts will apply to

1111
00:43:57,920 --> 00:44:00,240
them uh if they are a disproportionately

1112
00:44:00,240 --> 00:44:02,480
impacted youth beginning January 1st,

1113
00:44:02,480 --> 00:44:04,960
2027. There will be increased funding

1114
00:44:04,960 --> 00:44:06,720
for community- based services, increased

1115
00:44:06,720 --> 00:44:08,400
funding for group homes and non-secure

1116
00:44:08,400 --> 00:44:10,240
placements because we cannot utilize

1117
00:44:10,240 --> 00:44:12,480
secure placements. Additional staffing

1118
00:44:12,480 --> 00:44:14,640
capacities may be of consideration, and

1119
00:44:14,640 --> 00:44:16,480
then new technology to hopefully help us

1120
00:44:16,480 --> 00:44:18,160
close a service gap and communication

1121
00:44:18,160 --> 00:44:20,000
gap. I think everybody is well aware of

1122
00:44:20,000 --> 00:44:21,920
the blue screen presentations that have

1123
00:44:21,920 --> 00:44:23,760
happened in different areas and our

1124
00:44:23,760 --> 00:44:26,560
state antiquated systems which lead to

1125
00:44:26,560 --> 00:44:28,560
as we have increased documentation

1126
00:44:28,560 --> 00:44:30,319
efforts and requirements with all of our

1127
00:44:30,319 --> 00:44:32,240
system partners will be an additional

1128
00:44:32,240 --> 00:44:33,920
burden. I just want to give a quick

1129
00:44:33,920 --> 00:44:35,440
story on this. The other day Melissa

1130
00:44:35,440 --> 00:44:37,119
called me asking me a quick question

1131
00:44:37,119 --> 00:44:38,960
about a family. I said Melissa let me

1132
00:44:38,960 --> 00:44:40,640
share my screen with you and show you

1133
00:44:40,640 --> 00:44:42,480
how long this takes. I had to navigate

1134
00:44:42,480 --> 00:44:44,000
three screens which would be three

1135
00:44:44,000 --> 00:44:45,599
panes. So if you were on the internet

1136
00:44:45,599 --> 00:44:47,040
basically three clicks through the

1137
00:44:47,040 --> 00:44:49,359
internet. It took me 17 minutes just to

1138
00:44:49,359 --> 00:44:50,720
figure out the address of where this

1139
00:44:50,720 --> 00:44:55,589
individual lived.

1140
00:44:55,599 --> 00:44:58,319
And with that, uh, we appreciate your

1141
00:44:58,319 --> 00:45:00,880
time today, commissioners, and we will

1142
00:45:00,880 --> 00:45:02,720
be open to any questions that you may

1143
00:45:02,720 --> 00:45:03,280
have.

1144
00:45:03,280 --> 00:45:05,270
>> Okay. Well, thanks for the presentation.

1145
00:45:05,270 --> 00:45:05,280
» Okay. Well, thanks for the presentation.

1146
00:45:05,280 --> 00:45:07,920
Um, I have kind of have one off the

1147
00:45:07,920 --> 00:45:10,720
get-go here. You know, this is great,

1148
00:45:10,720 --> 00:45:13,680
but this seems like the second half.

1149
00:45:13,680 --> 00:45:16,160
Who's is there another group that's

1150
00:45:16,160 --> 00:45:17,760
dealing with the first half which to me

1151
00:45:17,760 --> 00:45:21,280
would be helping the parents either find

1152
00:45:21,280 --> 00:45:24,640
employment uh you know raise themselves

1153
00:45:24,640 --> 00:45:28,800
up to maybe prevent some of this?

1154
00:45:28,800 --> 00:45:31,430
>> Um Mr. Chair, I think that's a great

1155
00:45:31,430 --> 00:45:31,440
» Um Mr. Chair, I think that's a great

1156
00:45:31,440 --> 00:45:33,280
question. Um you know that's where the

1157
00:45:33,280 --> 00:45:34,640
prevention efforts come in where

1158
00:45:34,640 --> 00:45:36,000
hopefully we can utilize some of those

1159
00:45:36,000 --> 00:45:37,760
resources on the front end. There are a

1160
00:45:37,760 --> 00:45:39,359
lot of community based services who are

1161
00:45:39,359 --> 00:45:41,200
out there working with these families.

1162
00:45:41,200 --> 00:45:42,800
And then also when they do come to the

1163
00:45:42,800 --> 00:45:44,480
attention of our office, even if we

1164
00:45:44,480 --> 00:45:46,240
don't screen them in, that is one of our

1165
00:45:46,240 --> 00:45:48,000
goals is that we would be referring them

1166
00:45:48,000 --> 00:45:49,680
to the services to hopefully support

1167
00:45:49,680 --> 00:45:51,119
them before they would fully enter

1168
00:45:51,119 --> 00:45:52,160
through the system.

1169
00:45:52,160 --> 00:45:54,790
>> Okay. Thanks, Commissioner Johnson.

1170
00:45:54,790 --> 00:45:54,800
» Okay. Thanks, Commissioner Johnson.

1171
00:45:54,800 --> 00:45:57,030
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair.

1172
00:45:57,030 --> 00:45:57,040
» Thank you, Mr. Chair.

1173
00:45:57,040 --> 00:46:00,960
Um, I think the whole community deserves

1174
00:46:00,960 --> 00:46:03,040
to offer you a big thanks for the work

1175
00:46:03,040 --> 00:46:05,280
that you do, you and your staff. This is

1176
00:46:05,280 --> 00:46:08,000
a heavy lift and most people aren't

1177
00:46:08,000 --> 00:46:10,400
thinking about it on a regular basis.

1178
00:46:10,400 --> 00:46:13,280
It's hugely important. Um, a couple of

1179
00:46:13,280 --> 00:46:16,480
specific questions. One is, um, on page

1180
00:46:16,480 --> 00:46:18,720
139 mentions case review. I know there

1181
00:46:18,720 --> 00:46:20,160
was discussion about whether or not the

1182
00:46:20,160 --> 00:46:21,920
state would do that or or the county

1183
00:46:21,920 --> 00:46:23,440
would do it. What's the decision on

1184
00:46:23,440 --> 00:46:25,200
that?

1185
00:46:25,200 --> 00:46:26,950
>> Go ahead,

1186
00:46:26,950 --> 00:46:26,960
» Go ahead,

1187
00:46:26,960 --> 00:46:29,030
>> Mr. Chair, Commissioner Johnson. That

1188
00:46:29,030 --> 00:46:29,040
» Mr. Chair, Commissioner Johnson. That

1189
00:46:29,040 --> 00:46:31,040
decision has not been finalized yet and

1190
00:46:31,040 --> 00:46:32,640
actually will come out in the final

1191
00:46:32,640 --> 00:46:34,240
guidance from the state. there is still

1192
00:46:34,240 --> 00:46:36,400
a strong legislative position that the

1193
00:46:36,400 --> 00:46:38,480
state will conduct those reviews in

1194
00:46:38,480 --> 00:46:40,240
conjunction with the county so that we

1195
00:46:40,240 --> 00:46:41,520
would assist them with any information

1196
00:46:41,520 --> 00:46:44,000
that is missing. Um the state is the one

1197
00:46:44,000 --> 00:46:46,319
who does have the systems to and the

1198
00:46:46,319 --> 00:46:48,480
technology to be able to conduct those

1199
00:46:48,480 --> 00:46:50,240
case reviews as they do in many other

1200
00:46:50,240 --> 00:46:52,800
areas and so the hopeful ultimate

1201
00:46:52,800 --> 00:46:54,319
outcome is that the state will take that

1202
00:46:54,319 --> 00:46:54,800
on.

1203
00:46:54,800 --> 00:46:56,950
>> Yes. And that would save us a little bit

1204
00:46:56,950 --> 00:46:56,960
» Yes. And that would save us a little bit

1205
00:46:56,960 --> 00:46:59,599
of time and effort. Um, you talked about

1206
00:46:59,599 --> 00:47:01,117
expanding

1207
00:47:01,117 --> 00:47:06,160
[snorts] um, foster care um,

1208
00:47:06,160 --> 00:47:10,287
victim uh, kin or relatives?

1209
00:47:10,287 --> 00:47:12,319
[clears throat] This may be silly, but

1210
00:47:12,319 --> 00:47:15,599
is is there a way to recruit is there a

1211
00:47:15,599 --> 00:47:18,000
way to vet more and more people and get

1212
00:47:18,000 --> 00:47:19,680
people in the community interested in

1213
00:47:19,680 --> 00:47:22,319
doing this kind of work?

1214
00:47:22,319 --> 00:47:24,000
Mr. Chair, Commissioner Johnson, we're

1215
00:47:24,000 --> 00:47:25,760
actually in the middle of a very strong

1216
00:47:25,760 --> 00:47:27,680
recruitment effort right now. We are

1217
00:47:27,680 --> 00:47:29,440
working with Town Square Media as well

1218
00:47:29,440 --> 00:47:31,119
to get the information out there, tell

1219
00:47:31,119 --> 00:47:33,040
the story of our foster parents and

1220
00:47:33,040 --> 00:47:34,800
recruiting. We actually, it has been

1221
00:47:34,800 --> 00:47:36,800
kind of a successful adventure over the

1222
00:47:36,800 --> 00:47:38,480
past several months with our licensing

1223
00:47:38,480 --> 00:47:40,960
department. Uh we have licensed seven

1224
00:47:40,960 --> 00:47:42,560
new foster homes, which is a huge

1225
00:47:42,560 --> 00:47:44,800
increase for us here in Sterns County.

1226
00:47:44,800 --> 00:47:46,960
Um over the past several months, we also

1227
00:47:46,960 --> 00:47:48,480
have worked with our communities of

1228
00:47:48,480 --> 00:47:50,240
color. Um and one of the important

1229
00:47:50,240 --> 00:47:52,480
pieces of that being is that we do have

1230
00:47:52,480 --> 00:47:54,880
the um requirement from the state with

1231
00:47:54,880 --> 00:47:56,720
the act to have culturally responsive,

1232
00:47:56,720 --> 00:47:58,800
culturally available homes uh to the

1233
00:47:58,800 --> 00:48:00,240
children that we serve. So we did work

1234
00:48:00,240 --> 00:48:02,319
with uh local organizations in the

1235
00:48:02,319 --> 00:48:04,319
community um to also recruit foster

1236
00:48:04,319 --> 00:48:07,200
parents there. Um and those uh were also

1237
00:48:07,200 --> 00:48:08,960
very successful events. Um, one of the

1238
00:48:08,960 --> 00:48:11,280
areas that we don't have, um, you know,

1239
00:48:11,280 --> 00:48:13,440
we don't have a lot of foster providers

1240
00:48:13,440 --> 00:48:15,760
of color and, um, we actually were able

1241
00:48:15,760 --> 00:48:18,319
to recruit, um, three foster providers

1242
00:48:18,319 --> 00:48:20,079
of color recently, which was a huge

1243
00:48:20,079 --> 00:48:22,000
success for us and, um, they have been a

1244
00:48:22,000 --> 00:48:23,520
great asset to joining our team and

1245
00:48:23,520 --> 00:48:24,559
being a resource.

1246
00:48:24,559 --> 00:48:27,990
>> Yeah, congratulations. That's great. Um,

1247
00:48:27,990 --> 00:48:28,000
» Yeah, congratulations. That's great. Um,

1248
00:48:28,000 --> 00:48:31,920
in terms of all this staff education,

1249
00:48:31,920 --> 00:48:34,240
other agencies like the technical

1250
00:48:34,240 --> 00:48:38,160
college and SCSU are struggling to

1251
00:48:38,160 --> 00:48:40,079
increase their strength and presence in

1252
00:48:40,079 --> 00:48:42,880
the community. Is it possible to work

1253
00:48:42,880 --> 00:48:45,520
with with colleges and universities

1254
00:48:45,520 --> 00:48:47,040
locally

1255
00:48:47,040 --> 00:48:51,359
to establish curricula that would would

1256
00:48:51,359 --> 00:48:53,760
cover the needs of your staff relative

1257
00:48:53,760 --> 00:48:55,680
this to the state requirements? Does

1258
00:48:55,680 --> 00:48:58,720
that make any sense?

1259
00:48:58,720 --> 00:49:00,470
>> Commissioner Johnson or Mr. Chair,

1260
00:49:00,470 --> 00:49:00,480
» Commissioner Johnson or Mr. Chair,

1261
00:49:00,480 --> 00:49:02,640
Commissioner Johnson, um I think that's

1262
00:49:02,640 --> 00:49:04,960
a a wonderful idea. The Child Welfare

1263
00:49:04,960 --> 00:49:07,359
Training Academy is the um group who

1264
00:49:07,359 --> 00:49:08,720
puts on our training and that is

1265
00:49:08,720 --> 00:49:10,160
associated with the University of

1266
00:49:10,160 --> 00:49:11,839
Minnesota. I think that you make a very

1267
00:49:11,839 --> 00:49:14,079
valuable point though of how could we

1268
00:49:14,079 --> 00:49:16,000
connect to bring those resources here.

1269
00:49:16,000 --> 00:49:17,839
We have St. Cloud State University, we

1270
00:49:17,839 --> 00:49:20,000
have the technical college, we have St.

1271
00:49:20,000 --> 00:49:23,680
Ben, St. John's. Um and u so we have

1272
00:49:23,680 --> 00:49:26,160
many resources here locally Rasmmanson

1273
00:49:26,160 --> 00:49:28,079
um many resources here locally where I

1274
00:49:28,079 --> 00:49:29,359
think that that could be a good

1275
00:49:29,359 --> 00:49:30,480
partnership and that's certainly

1276
00:49:30,480 --> 00:49:32,400
something that we could carry forward uh

1277
00:49:32,400 --> 00:49:33,280
to the state.

1278
00:49:33,280 --> 00:49:35,109
>> I think the community would be willing

1279
00:49:35,109 --> 00:49:35,119
» I think the community would be willing

1280
00:49:35,119 --> 00:49:37,119
to help you with that whether it's

1281
00:49:37,119 --> 00:49:39,359
center care or greater St. Cloud some

1282
00:49:39,359 --> 00:49:41,200
other agencies throughout the community

1283
00:49:41,200 --> 00:49:43,359
because I think it'd be really important

1284
00:49:43,359 --> 00:49:45,440
to cut the costs to make it more

1285
00:49:45,440 --> 00:49:48,240
efficient and to have the program be

1286
00:49:48,240 --> 00:49:50,319
local you know that would be really

1287
00:49:50,319 --> 00:49:54,640
helpful. Um, you guys presented a lot of

1288
00:49:54,640 --> 00:49:57,839
information. Um, and I missed this. I

1289
00:49:57,839 --> 00:50:00,240
think Jenna, you talked about um,

1290
00:50:00,240 --> 00:50:02,640
drawing down funds and a relationship

1291
00:50:02,640 --> 00:50:05,440
between that and staff turnover and I

1292
00:50:05,440 --> 00:50:10,150
didn't quite understand that.

1293
00:50:10,160 --> 00:50:12,079
» I'll I'll try to do a short and sweet

1294
00:50:12,079 --> 00:50:12,720
version.

1295
00:50:12,720 --> 00:50:16,309
>> Okay. Thanks. Um, so we're able to

1296
00:50:16,309 --> 00:50:16,319
» Okay. Thanks. Um, so we're able to

1297
00:50:16,319 --> 00:50:18,079
receive some funding for the work that

1298
00:50:18,079 --> 00:50:20,240
we do through Title 4 E prevention

1299
00:50:20,240 --> 00:50:22,559
funds, but that requires that they've

1300
00:50:22,559 --> 00:50:24,400
meet they've met some standards that go

1301
00:50:24,400 --> 00:50:26,640
with that, some training standards. Y

1302
00:50:26,640 --> 00:50:30,230
>> um, and right now the only workers when

1303
00:50:30,230 --> 00:50:30,240
» um, and right now the only workers when

1304
00:50:30,240 --> 00:50:32,960
they're fully trained and fully eligible

1305
00:50:32,960 --> 00:50:35,440
to click the button to get us some

1306
00:50:35,440 --> 00:50:37,920
funding are the child protection case

1307
00:50:37,920 --> 00:50:40,400
managers. So, our licensing workers, our

1308
00:50:40,400 --> 00:50:42,720
children's mental health workers, um

1309
00:50:42,720 --> 00:50:45,119
they're not eligible to draw down those

1310
00:50:45,119 --> 00:50:46,880
funds even though they're doing some

1311
00:50:46,880 --> 00:50:48,480
tremendous work with the families as

1312
00:50:48,480 --> 00:50:50,800
well. We're hoping that will change in

1313
00:50:50,800 --> 00:50:53,119
the future. Um but right now that is the

1314
00:50:53,119 --> 00:50:54,319
Minnesota standard

1315
00:50:54,319 --> 00:50:58,069
>> and what would cause it to change?

1316
00:50:58,069 --> 00:50:58,079
» and what would cause it to change?

1317
00:50:58,079 --> 00:50:59,750
>> I'm not entirely sure. I know that

1318
00:50:59,750 --> 00:50:59,760
» I'm not entirely sure. I know that

1319
00:50:59,760 --> 00:51:01,599
there's talks. I believe Nick, you might

1320
00:51:01,599 --> 00:51:04,400
have more information, but uh uh Mr.

1321
00:51:04,400 --> 00:51:06,079
Chair, Commissioner Johnson, in in

1322
00:51:06,079 --> 00:51:07,520
regards to the changes that are

1323
00:51:07,520 --> 00:51:09,440
occurring. Um, that has been one of our

1324
00:51:09,440 --> 00:51:11,280
biggest advocacies to the Department of

1325
00:51:11,280 --> 00:51:13,359
Children, Youth, and Family Services is

1326
00:51:13,359 --> 00:51:15,440
that prevention work doesn't ultimately

1327
00:51:15,440 --> 00:51:17,280
begin with our case managers. Case

1328
00:51:17,280 --> 00:51:18,720
manager means that we have identified

1329
00:51:18,720 --> 00:51:20,240
the point that the family needs case

1330
00:51:20,240 --> 00:51:22,400
management, longerterm services being

1331
00:51:22,400 --> 00:51:24,559
offered by our offices. And so, the

1332
00:51:24,559 --> 00:51:26,400
state right now is looking at refining

1333
00:51:26,400 --> 00:51:28,000
their plan. And so, that plan has to

1334
00:51:28,000 --> 00:51:30,160
then be resubmitted to the federal

1335
00:51:30,160 --> 00:51:31,839
government. Um I think there's some

1336
00:51:31,839 --> 00:51:33,599
clarification perhaps that could also

1337
00:51:33,599 --> 00:51:35,200
occur between the state of Minnesota and

1338
00:51:35,200 --> 00:51:37,200
the federal government on that I think

1339
00:51:37,200 --> 00:51:39,680
that it could apply um to the other

1340
00:51:39,680 --> 00:51:41,599
areas. So one of the largest areas for

1341
00:51:41,599 --> 00:51:43,119
us that we come into contact with

1342
00:51:43,119 --> 00:51:44,640
families initially is at the

1343
00:51:44,640 --> 00:51:46,480
investigation or assessment stage. So

1344
00:51:46,480 --> 00:51:48,720
that's when Michael Heinen's unit

1345
00:51:48,720 --> 00:51:50,720
receives that initial call of a child

1346
00:51:50,720 --> 00:51:52,480
protection report and we're going out to

1347
00:51:52,480 --> 00:51:54,079
assess the family. That's really where

1348
00:51:54,079 --> 00:51:55,680
those services are needed. That's where

1349
00:51:55,680 --> 00:51:58,960
the um heavy lift begins for our agency.

1350
00:51:58,960 --> 00:52:00,640
And so we are advocating that to the

1351
00:52:00,640 --> 00:52:02,800
state of Minnesota right now. And uh in

1352
00:52:02,800 --> 00:52:04,480
my last conversation with them actually

1353
00:52:04,480 --> 00:52:06,720
last week there is a strong momentum for

1354
00:52:06,720 --> 00:52:08,400
that plan to be changed so that we can

1355
00:52:08,400 --> 00:52:10,079
draw those funds down earlier. One of

1356
00:52:10,079 --> 00:52:11,599
the things I really want to give a kudos

1357
00:52:11,599 --> 00:52:14,319
to our department on uh in the entire

1358
00:52:14,319 --> 00:52:17,359
state of Minnesota. We are the only

1359
00:52:17,359 --> 00:52:19,680
agency with all of our staff who have

1360
00:52:19,680 --> 00:52:22,240
been here 6 months or more to have them

1361
00:52:22,240 --> 00:52:23,760
fully trained in motivational

1362
00:52:23,760 --> 00:52:26,880
interviewing. Um Henipin County, Ramsey

1363
00:52:26,880 --> 00:52:28,960
County have done a great job. um in

1364
00:52:28,960 --> 00:52:30,480
their amount of staff and it's actually

1365
00:52:30,480 --> 00:52:31,920
one of those things where the state is

1366
00:52:31,920 --> 00:52:33,359
looking to us to say how did you guys

1367
00:52:33,359 --> 00:52:35,200
get the buy in from your staff to be

1368
00:52:35,200 --> 00:52:36,480
successful with this

1369
00:52:36,480 --> 00:52:37,910
>> and that's one of those programs in

1370
00:52:37,910 --> 00:52:37,920
» and that's one of those programs in

1371
00:52:37,920 --> 00:52:40,800
which is required in order to draw down

1372
00:52:40,800 --> 00:52:42,000
the federal funding you have to have

1373
00:52:42,000 --> 00:52:44,960
them trained on that so it's hard to um

1374
00:52:44,960 --> 00:52:47,839
get providers also generally I'll say

1375
00:52:47,839 --> 00:52:50,160
generally to fit the federal guidelines

1376
00:52:50,160 --> 00:52:51,920
so that we can use their services and we

1377
00:52:51,920 --> 00:52:53,680
can draw down the federal funds it is

1378
00:52:53,680 --> 00:52:56,000
never simple in human services in terms

1379
00:52:56,000 --> 00:52:57,760
of financing so

1380
00:52:57,760 --> 00:52:59,910
>> thank for answering the questions and

1381
00:52:59,910 --> 00:52:59,920
» thank for answering the questions and

1382
00:52:59,920 --> 00:53:01,599
thank you for the work. I mean, I can't

1383
00:53:01,599 --> 00:53:03,680
say that enough. Thanks,

1384
00:53:03,680 --> 00:53:06,601
>> Commissioner Clark.

1385
00:53:06,601 --> 00:53:06,611
» Commissioner Clark.

1386
00:53:06,611 --> 00:53:06,640
[clears throat]

1387
00:53:06,640 --> 00:53:08,309
>> Thank you. Actually, building off of

1388
00:53:08,309 --> 00:53:08,319
» Thank you. Actually, building off of

1389
00:53:08,319 --> 00:53:09,839
what Commissioner Johnson was just

1390
00:53:09,839 --> 00:53:11,200
talking about, I've been thinking

1391
00:53:11,200 --> 00:53:13,280
something similar. I mean, besides the

1392
00:53:13,280 --> 00:53:14,880
fact that it's kind of crazy that the

1393
00:53:14,880 --> 00:53:16,480
state isn't offering any of the training

1394
00:53:16,480 --> 00:53:18,240
locally given all the places you just

1395
00:53:18,240 --> 00:53:23,520
brought up, right? Um but uh SCTCC and

1396
00:53:23,520 --> 00:53:27,760
SCSU have really embarked on a new array

1397
00:53:27,760 --> 00:53:30,800
of pathways and thinking about what

1398
00:53:30,800 --> 00:53:33,839
potentially could be a next cohort. Um

1399
00:53:33,839 --> 00:53:36,319
whether it is providing credentials that

1400
00:53:36,319 --> 00:53:38,319
could be stackable working on

1401
00:53:38,319 --> 00:53:40,000
technology. I was thinking about all the

1402
00:53:40,000 --> 00:53:42,559
changes right the motivational

1403
00:53:42,559 --> 00:53:44,960
interviewing talk about what's happening

1404
00:53:44,960 --> 00:53:46,800
with your internships. there could be a

1405
00:53:46,800 --> 00:53:47,760
great way

1406
00:53:47,760 --> 00:53:50,630
>> to be expanding recognizing how hard it

1407
00:53:50,630 --> 00:53:50,640
» to be expanding recognizing how hard it

1408
00:53:50,640 --> 00:53:52,880
can be to make sure that the demand is

1409
00:53:52,880 --> 00:53:56,800
such uh that they can have um steady

1410
00:53:56,800 --> 00:53:58,400
class sizes. But there's some cool

1411
00:53:58,400 --> 00:54:01,119
opportunities within customization. And

1412
00:54:01,119 --> 00:54:02,400
part of the reason why I was bringing up

1413
00:54:02,400 --> 00:54:04,319
the public ones is it gives the

1414
00:54:04,319 --> 00:54:06,400
legislature yet another reason to

1415
00:54:06,400 --> 00:54:09,040
actually be, you know, working and

1416
00:54:09,040 --> 00:54:12,079
providing those those funds. But we we

1417
00:54:12,079 --> 00:54:14,240
do have a lot of blessings with higher

1418
00:54:14,240 --> 00:54:16,319
ed around us. And we have trainers,

1419
00:54:16,319 --> 00:54:18,319
right? We have people who already know

1420
00:54:18,319 --> 00:54:20,480
how to do all of this. And let's face

1421
00:54:20,480 --> 00:54:22,480
it, once we finally get past the green

1422
00:54:22,480 --> 00:54:24,720
or the blue screens, there's a whole lot

1423
00:54:24,720 --> 00:54:26,400
more training there that's going to need

1424
00:54:26,400 --> 00:54:29,920
to be done. Uh so just wanted to at

1425
00:54:29,920 --> 00:54:34,400
least uh reinforce that piece of it. uh

1426
00:54:34,400 --> 00:54:37,119
as well as what you all do is just

1427
00:54:37,119 --> 00:54:39,280
amazing and our turnover is less than

1428
00:54:39,280 --> 00:54:42,640
some places but the stress, the burnout,

1429
00:54:42,640 --> 00:54:45,200
the challenges. You did such a great job

1430
00:54:45,200 --> 00:54:48,880
talking about um reasonable and active

1431
00:54:48,880 --> 00:54:51,520
efforts. One of the things to me as you

1432
00:54:51,520 --> 00:54:52,960
were talking and been thinking about

1433
00:54:52,960 --> 00:54:54,800
this a bunch is we got a bunch of areas

1434
00:54:54,800 --> 00:54:56,640
where there isn't housing, where there

1435
00:54:56,640 --> 00:54:58,640
isn't other opportunities. So you can be

1436
00:54:58,640 --> 00:55:00,720
being as active as you want. You may or

1437
00:55:00,720 --> 00:55:03,839
may not be able to help a family find

1438
00:55:03,839 --> 00:55:06,079
find it. So getting the resources that

1439
00:55:06,079 --> 00:55:08,720
we need, getting the legislature to be

1440
00:55:08,720 --> 00:55:11,680
uh more reasonable and what expectations

1441
00:55:11,680 --> 00:55:14,800
are and speeding up SSIS and the new

1442
00:55:14,800 --> 00:55:16,640
version is going to be key to all this

1443
00:55:16,640 --> 00:55:18,480
happening. So please thank your

1444
00:55:18,480 --> 00:55:20,800
colleagues, too. I mean, it's just it's

1445
00:55:20,800 --> 00:55:23,520
pivotal. So thank you.

1446
00:55:23,520 --> 00:55:25,430
>> Mr. Chair, Commissioner Clark, if I can

1447
00:55:25,430 --> 00:55:25,440
» Mr. Chair, Commissioner Clark, if I can

1448
00:55:25,440 --> 00:55:27,760
add one thing real briefly. Um, you had

1449
00:55:27,760 --> 00:55:29,359
mentioned staff turnover and that is a

1450
00:55:29,359 --> 00:55:30,640
highlight that I'd like to highlight

1451
00:55:30,640 --> 00:55:32,480
here in Sterns County. While the number

1452
00:55:32,480 --> 00:55:35,200
may seem high, the national average for

1453
00:55:35,200 --> 00:55:36,800
turnover in particular with child

1454
00:55:36,800 --> 00:55:38,319
protection case managers is anywhere

1455
00:55:38,319 --> 00:55:40,880
between 20 and 40% depending on the

1456
00:55:40,880 --> 00:55:42,400
agency and the jurisdiction that has

1457
00:55:42,400 --> 00:55:44,319
served in Sterns County and the Family

1458
00:55:44,319 --> 00:55:45,839
and Children's Division. Our turnover as

1459
00:55:45,839 --> 00:55:47,760
a whole, um, last time that we had

1460
00:55:47,760 --> 00:55:52,069
received the numbers was 11%.

1461
00:55:52,079 --> 00:55:53,680
» Mr. chair. That's that is certainly

1462
00:55:53,680 --> 00:55:54,948
something to celebrate and

1463
00:55:54,948 --> 00:55:55,839
[clears throat] it's just going to get

1464
00:55:55,839 --> 00:55:59,750
harder for people.

1465
00:55:59,760 --> 00:56:02,480
» Any other comments? I one quick question

1466
00:56:02,480 --> 00:56:06,400
on guardian at lightum. Does the county

1467
00:56:06,400 --> 00:56:08,640
license them or who license?

1468
00:56:08,640 --> 00:56:10,549
>> Mr. Chair, um the guardian at lightems

1469
00:56:10,549 --> 00:56:10,559
» Mr. Chair, um the guardian at lightems

1470
00:56:10,559 --> 00:56:12,480
is a state-run program. So the state is

1471
00:56:12,480 --> 00:56:14,880
the one who oversees the program. And

1472
00:56:14,880 --> 00:56:18,319
then are they um how do they come about

1473
00:56:18,319 --> 00:56:20,960
as far as being part of the Sterns

1474
00:56:20,960 --> 00:56:23,040
County,

1475
00:56:23,040 --> 00:56:25,430
>> Mr. Chair? Um the guardian items are

1476
00:56:25,430 --> 00:56:25,440
» Mr. Chair? Um the guardian items are

1477
00:56:25,440 --> 00:56:27,440
appointed in the child protection cases.

1478
00:56:27,440 --> 00:56:29,200
So anytime that a child is removed from

1479
00:56:29,200 --> 00:56:31,359
the home or the family becomes court

1480
00:56:31,359 --> 00:56:33,520
involved um they are automatically uh

1481
00:56:33,520 --> 00:56:34,880
appointed a guardian at item. They can

1482
00:56:34,880 --> 00:56:37,119
also be appointed in other matters. Uh

1483
00:56:37,119 --> 00:56:39,040
so if a family is going through a

1484
00:56:39,040 --> 00:56:40,960
divorce or custody case, a guardian item

1485
00:56:40,960 --> 00:56:42,400
can also be appointed by the court in

1486
00:56:42,400 --> 00:56:43,920
those matters. Good and several other

1487
00:56:43,920 --> 00:56:44,640
opportunities.

1488
00:56:44,640 --> 00:56:47,589
>> All right. Thanks. Any

1489
00:56:47,589 --> 00:56:47,599
» All right. Thanks. Any

1490
00:56:47,599 --> 00:56:48,640
Commissioner Perski?

1491
00:56:48,640 --> 00:56:51,190
>> Mr. Chair, uh first of all, thank you

1492
00:56:51,190 --> 00:56:51,200
» Mr. Chair, uh first of all, thank you

1493
00:56:51,200 --> 00:56:53,680
folks for your work. Thank your staff.

1494
00:56:53,680 --> 00:56:56,160
Uh there's a lot of faces out there

1495
00:56:56,160 --> 00:56:58,240
we're not seeing that are out there on

1496
00:56:58,240 --> 00:57:00,480
the battlefield doing these things. This

1497
00:57:00,480 --> 00:57:04,240
is not pretty business. Uh I've got page

1498
00:57:04,240 --> 00:57:07,280
and a half of things I've written down.

1499
00:57:07,280 --> 00:57:11,750
Uh but

1500
00:57:11,760 --> 00:57:14,000
you know, we're not the immediate

1501
00:57:14,000 --> 00:57:16,960
solution to this. The the problem we

1502
00:57:16,960 --> 00:57:18,960
have is across the nation. The problem

1503
00:57:18,960 --> 00:57:21,599
is across the world. It's poverty, it's

1504
00:57:21,599 --> 00:57:23,760
affordability, it's housing, its wages,

1505
00:57:23,760 --> 00:57:26,480
its nutritional needs, its violence, its

1506
00:57:26,480 --> 00:57:29,200
abuse. And we're not just going to make

1507
00:57:29,200 --> 00:57:31,520
that go away by putting people out there

1508
00:57:31,520 --> 00:57:34,079
and trying to face it. It's it's

1509
00:57:34,079 --> 00:57:37,599
something in the system and

1510
00:57:37,599 --> 00:57:39,520
across the board things have got to

1511
00:57:39,520 --> 00:57:41,599
change to make things better for these

1512
00:57:41,599 --> 00:57:43,280
families so that they can afford a place

1513
00:57:43,280 --> 00:57:46,079
to live that they can put afford to put

1514
00:57:46,079 --> 00:57:48,400
uh food on the table and they can keep

1515
00:57:48,400 --> 00:57:51,040
their kids in school and they have a

1516
00:57:51,040 --> 00:57:55,839
safe place to live. Okay. Uh on January

1517
00:57:55,839 --> 00:57:58,480
1, the light switch isn't going to just

1518
00:57:58,480 --> 00:57:59,920
come on and we're going to be able to

1519
00:57:59,920 --> 00:58:02,160
solve these problems. It's going to

1520
00:58:02,160 --> 00:58:04,559
take, you know, a lot of work and it's

1521
00:58:04,559 --> 00:58:06,240
going to take some time to get these

1522
00:58:06,240 --> 00:58:11,040
things realized. Um I it's it's

1523
00:58:11,040 --> 00:58:13,200
overwhelming, but we're going to have to

1524
00:58:13,200 --> 00:58:17,920
face it. Um what I'm concerned is,

1525
00:58:17,920 --> 00:58:20,079
are we going about it the right way? Are

1526
00:58:20,079 --> 00:58:22,640
we just putting a band-aid on it? We we

1527
00:58:22,640 --> 00:58:24,319
know we talk about wishful thinking.

1528
00:58:24,319 --> 00:58:25,600
Yeah, we don't we want to keep

1529
00:58:25,600 --> 00:58:27,440
[clears throat] the child in the home,

1530
00:58:27,440 --> 00:58:30,079
but if the child's threatened by one of

1531
00:58:30,079 --> 00:58:31,440
the parents or the other parents or

1532
00:58:31,440 --> 00:58:33,280
another sibling, how do we make that

1533
00:58:33,280 --> 00:58:35,680
safe for them? How do you do that? You

1534
00:58:35,680 --> 00:58:37,119
You're talking out of both sides your

1535
00:58:37,119 --> 00:58:38,799
mouth about wanting to keep them in that

1536
00:58:38,799 --> 00:58:41,119
environment, but that environment is not

1537
00:58:41,119 --> 00:58:43,839
what's best for that child.

1538
00:58:43,839 --> 00:58:46,400
I'm not giving us an a solution. I'm

1539
00:58:46,400 --> 00:58:49,839
just talking about the problem. And I I

1540
00:58:49,839 --> 00:58:52,960
wish I had better answers, but we we've

1541
00:58:52,960 --> 00:58:56,079
got to do more. And and maybe across the

1542
00:58:56,079 --> 00:58:58,640
departments though, too, we can do more.

1543
00:58:58,640 --> 00:59:00,240
That it's just not your burden. You

1544
00:59:00,240 --> 00:59:01,920
know, we in the criminal justice system,

1545
00:59:01,920 --> 00:59:04,160
we can do more. Maybe in affordable

1546
00:59:04,160 --> 00:59:07,119
housing, we can do more. Uh

1547
00:59:07,119 --> 00:59:08,640
finding these folks, some working with

1548
00:59:08,640 --> 00:59:11,119
the school districts, we can do more.

1549
00:59:11,119 --> 00:59:14,720
But, uh I I I I it's it's overwhelming.

1550
00:59:14,720 --> 00:59:16,880
And again, starting January 1, we're not

1551
00:59:16,880 --> 00:59:18,720
going to be able to turn on on a switch

1552
00:59:18,720 --> 00:59:20,319
and be able to address these problems

1553
00:59:20,319 --> 00:59:22,319
and have all the answer. Maybe we need

1554
00:59:22,319 --> 00:59:24,319
to take a look also as as how we're

1555
00:59:24,319 --> 00:59:26,799
doing it and and and how effective we

1556
00:59:26,799 --> 00:59:28,799
can be with the people that we have. And

1557
00:59:28,799 --> 00:59:30,880
these again, the people that are on the

1558
00:59:30,880 --> 00:59:32,559
front line, you can very much understand

1559
00:59:32,559 --> 00:59:34,880
their burnout because of the things that

1560
00:59:34,880 --> 00:59:36,480
they face when they go into a home or

1561
00:59:36,480 --> 00:59:39,119
what when they talk to a a belligerent

1562
00:59:39,119 --> 00:59:42,079
parent or uh one of the clients that's

1563
00:59:42,079 --> 00:59:43,920
dropping the fbomb every other word on

1564
00:59:43,920 --> 00:59:45,839
them and maybe being violent with them.

1565
00:59:45,839 --> 00:59:48,720
That's tough stuff to see. But again,

1566
00:59:48,720 --> 00:59:51,280
hope hopefully amongst ourselves, the

1567
00:59:51,280 --> 00:59:53,200
school districts, the county, city, we

1568
00:59:53,200 --> 00:59:55,119
can maybe make some improvements. I'm

1569
00:59:55,119 --> 00:59:56,640
I'm sorry, that's all I got to say.

1570
00:59:56,640 --> 00:59:58,470
>> Mr. Chair, Commissioner Persky, if I can

1571
00:59:58,470 --> 00:59:58,480
» Mr. Chair, Commissioner Persky, if I can

1572
00:59:58,480 --> 01:00:00,079
just add one thing. One, I really

1573
01:00:00,079 --> 01:00:02,160
appreciate your comments and to your

1574
01:00:02,160 --> 01:00:03,280
comments that you've alluded. I think

1575
01:00:03,280 --> 01:00:05,680
we're very very fortunate here in Sterns

1576
01:00:05,680 --> 01:00:07,119
County and central Minnesota with all of

1577
01:00:07,119 --> 01:00:09,359
our partnerships. We have I I believe

1578
01:00:09,359 --> 01:00:10,960
from the family and children's end, we

1579
01:00:10,960 --> 01:00:12,640
greatly appreciate our partnerships with

1580
01:00:12,640 --> 01:00:15,280
law enforcement, uh with Centricare,

1581
01:00:15,280 --> 01:00:16,799
with the Central Minnesota Mental Health

1582
01:00:16,799 --> 01:00:18,799
Center, with all of our local uh

1583
01:00:18,799 --> 01:00:20,640
providers who are here locally.

1584
01:00:20,640 --> 01:00:22,720
Everybody comes together and responds.

1585
01:00:22,720 --> 01:00:23,920
And when we think about the age of

1586
01:00:23,920 --> 01:00:25,599
delinquency and we pulled together our

1587
01:00:25,599 --> 01:00:27,040
first meeting with all of our system

1588
01:00:27,040 --> 01:00:29,839
partners, we met in room 499, had a big

1589
01:00:29,839 --> 01:00:32,240
square up set up in that room and we had

1590
01:00:32,240 --> 01:00:34,799
to pull more chairs in. So the community

1591
01:00:34,799 --> 01:00:36,319
did did come together and I think from

1592
01:00:36,319 --> 01:00:38,240
the family and children's end um

1593
01:00:38,240 --> 01:00:40,480
gratitude to all of our system partners

1594
01:00:40,480 --> 01:00:42,160
who come together when we make that

1595
01:00:42,160 --> 01:00:44,319
difficult call to say we have a child

1596
01:00:44,319 --> 01:00:46,319
that doesn't have a home right now. Can

1597
01:00:46,319 --> 01:00:48,240
you help us out? There's always somebody

1598
01:00:48,240 --> 01:00:50,319
who's willing to step up. When we have

1599
01:00:50,319 --> 01:00:52,000
children that are acting out that are

1600
01:00:52,000 --> 01:00:54,400
physically aggressive and um you know

1601
01:00:54,400 --> 01:00:55,920
are being separated from their parents,

1602
01:00:55,920 --> 01:00:58,640
our law enforcement partners come to the

1603
01:00:58,640 --> 01:01:01,280
call. locally here recently. Uh the

1604
01:01:01,280 --> 01:01:02,640
Sterns County Sheriff's Department

1605
01:01:02,640 --> 01:01:05,119
assisted us in a in a critical situation

1606
01:01:05,119 --> 01:01:06,880
and actually provided transportation

1607
01:01:06,880 --> 01:01:08,400
assistance. They didn't transport the

1608
01:01:08,400 --> 01:01:10,160
child, but they followed us all the way

1609
01:01:10,160 --> 01:01:11,839
to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota to ensure

1610
01:01:11,839 --> 01:01:13,280
the safety of our staff and those

1611
01:01:13,280 --> 01:01:15,839
children were um you know, made it to

1612
01:01:15,839 --> 01:01:17,440
their destination when there was a lot

1613
01:01:17,440 --> 01:01:19,280
of risk with it. So, I think you make

1614
01:01:19,280 --> 01:01:20,799
some very valid points and I appreciate

1615
01:01:20,799 --> 01:01:24,160
you bringing those forward.

1616
01:01:24,160 --> 01:01:26,549
>> Mr. Chairman, um it's too depressing to

1617
01:01:26,549 --> 01:01:26,559
» Mr. Chairman, um it's too depressing to

1618
01:01:26,559 --> 01:01:28,400
talk much about it. I I wrote down a lot

1619
01:01:28,400 --> 01:01:29,920
of questions. I'll share some of those.

1620
01:01:29,920 --> 01:01:32,319
But it's so unfortunate that this is all

1621
01:01:32,319 --> 01:01:35,920
societal driven. I mean, this is not 50

1622
01:01:35,920 --> 01:01:38,559
years ago this didn't exist. I mean, and

1623
01:01:38,559 --> 01:01:40,640
people have a hard time if you haven't

1624
01:01:40,640 --> 01:01:43,599
been exposed to it or you haven't uh

1625
01:01:43,599 --> 01:01:45,200
either directly or indirectly have a

1626
01:01:45,200 --> 01:01:46,480
hard time getting their arms around

1627
01:01:46,480 --> 01:01:48,640
this. But when we say that a fourth of

1628
01:01:48,640 --> 01:01:50,400
our residents are on some kind of

1629
01:01:50,400 --> 01:01:52,960
assistance, people find that hard to

1630
01:01:52,960 --> 01:01:55,857
believe. Um, and you know,

1631
01:01:55,857 --> 01:01:57,200
[clears throat] uh, when you talk,

1632
01:01:57,200 --> 01:01:58,799
Commissioner Perski, you know, who's

1633
01:01:58,799 --> 01:02:00,480
going to solve this? Government's not

1634
01:02:00,480 --> 01:02:01,599
going to solve it. This is

1635
01:02:01,599 --> 01:02:03,280
communitydriven,

1636
01:02:03,280 --> 01:02:06,992
family driven, societal, and, um, yeah,

1637
01:02:06,992 --> 01:02:08,480
[snorts] it's overwhelming. It's

1638
01:02:08,480 --> 01:02:10,880
depressing. Uh, when I hear that there's

1639
01:02:10,880 --> 01:02:12,640
800 kids in the St. Thought School

1640
01:02:12,640 --> 01:02:14,160
District that are homeless, it's hard

1641
01:02:14,160 --> 01:02:16,720
for me to comprehend that. I believe it

1642
01:02:16,720 --> 01:02:18,720
because that's the information we're

1643
01:02:18,720 --> 01:02:21,040
given, but I just can't believe it

1644
01:02:21,040 --> 01:02:23,440
because I don't see it. and and I do

1645
01:02:23,440 --> 01:02:26,880
believe it, but how unfortunate. Um, and

1646
01:02:26,880 --> 01:02:29,119
it just makes me count my blessings that

1647
01:02:29,119 --> 01:02:32,240
I grew up in a family structure the way

1648
01:02:32,240 --> 01:02:35,200
uh I did and a lot of us did, but that's

1649
01:02:35,200 --> 01:02:38,000
not always the case. And some of this is

1650
01:02:38,000 --> 01:02:40,880
been a evolution of spiraling down of

1651
01:02:40,880 --> 01:02:42,240
people not being involved in the

1652
01:02:42,240 --> 01:02:43,680
community, not knowing their neighbor,

1653
01:02:43,680 --> 01:02:46,960
not going to church. um all those things

1654
01:02:46,960 --> 01:02:49,200
start tearing apart the family structure

1655
01:02:49,200 --> 01:02:53,359
and um falls on our doorsteps and I I

1656
01:02:53,359 --> 01:02:55,119
I'm a little shocked that all this

1657
01:02:55,119 --> 01:02:58,160
happens with are such uh active

1658
01:02:58,160 --> 01:03:01,040
participation with AMC and NO and all

1659
01:03:01,040 --> 01:03:03,200
those things and you know that we we do

1660
01:03:03,200 --> 01:03:04,480
have the ears of a lot of the

1661
01:03:04,480 --> 01:03:06,000
legislators and federal and state

1662
01:03:06,000 --> 01:03:08,400
legislators with the county uh

1663
01:03:08,400 --> 01:03:11,839
involvement that you know people then

1664
01:03:11,839 --> 01:03:13,359
sit down and say okay how's this going

1665
01:03:13,359 --> 01:03:15,280
to work out what is you You said

1666
01:03:15,280 --> 01:03:16,960
something about reasonable versus

1667
01:03:16,960 --> 01:03:20,319
active. Uh again, what's reason? We

1668
01:03:20,319 --> 01:03:21,839
aren't going to solve this. You know,

1669
01:03:21,839 --> 01:03:23,599
getting to Commissioner Persky's point

1670
01:03:23,599 --> 01:03:25,119
again, we're not going to solve this. I

1671
01:03:25,119 --> 01:03:27,520
mean, we're it is a band-aid, but and of

1672
01:03:27,520 --> 01:03:29,599
course, as you all know, the system does

1673
01:03:29,599 --> 01:03:34,000
get used by people who are in a in a

1674
01:03:34,000 --> 01:03:35,599
divorce situation where they're going to

1675
01:03:35,599 --> 01:03:38,480
pit one parent again. Some of it is very

1676
01:03:38,480 --> 01:03:40,720
legitimate, very unfortunate. Some of

1677
01:03:40,720 --> 01:03:42,960
it's being manipulative as far as trying

1678
01:03:42,960 --> 01:03:44,720
to make accusations to do and you got

1679
01:03:44,720 --> 01:03:47,039
that widespread of how many cases did

1680
01:03:47,039 --> 01:03:49,440
did you identify how many cases you

1681
01:03:49,440 --> 01:03:51,680
have? If you did, I missed it. I'm

1682
01:03:51,680 --> 01:03:52,319
sorry,

1683
01:03:52,319 --> 01:03:53,829
>> Commissioner Bertram. Depending on the

1684
01:03:53,829 --> 01:03:53,839
» Commissioner Bertram. Depending on the

1685
01:03:53,839 --> 01:03:56,160
case numbers um specifically, we did

1686
01:03:56,160 --> 01:03:59,920
serve just over 3,200 individuals. Um I

1687
01:03:59,920 --> 01:04:01,839
just looked at the numbers um and and

1688
01:04:01,839 --> 01:04:03,680
don't hold me to when I say this number

1689
01:04:03,680 --> 01:04:05,680
and I can certainly provide it to you.

1690
01:04:05,680 --> 01:04:09,760
Um but we had over 600 um active um case

1691
01:04:09,760 --> 01:04:11,200
management cases and those are just case

1692
01:04:11,200 --> 01:04:12,640
management cases because our numbers

1693
01:04:12,640 --> 01:04:14,720
come in in in different ways. Uh they

1694
01:04:14,720 --> 01:04:16,720
come in through intake and assessment.

1695
01:04:16,720 --> 01:04:18,319
Uh so that's where we conduct an

1696
01:04:18,319 --> 01:04:19,760
assessment investigation. So we

1697
01:04:19,760 --> 01:04:21,359
determine does it meet the criteria of

1698
01:04:21,359 --> 01:04:24,079
our uh 106 pages I believe of our child

1699
01:04:24,079 --> 01:04:25,599
protection screening guidelines that we

1700
01:04:25,599 --> 01:04:27,520
have to memorize. Uh if they meet that

1701
01:04:27,520 --> 01:04:29,039
criteria that we screen them in, we

1702
01:04:29,039 --> 01:04:30,799
investigate them. Uh meet with the

1703
01:04:30,799 --> 01:04:32,720
families, determine what are their uh

1704
01:04:32,720 --> 01:04:34,160
risk needs. So we kind of do a risk

1705
01:04:34,160 --> 01:04:36,400
needs assessment and then um ultimately

1706
01:04:36,400 --> 01:04:38,720
if they have a need for longerterm case

1707
01:04:38,720 --> 01:04:40,000
management that's where we get into the

1708
01:04:40,000 --> 01:04:42,240
cases and that's 600 cases. Now the

1709
01:04:42,240 --> 01:04:44,319
cases don't identify exactly the number

1710
01:04:44,319 --> 01:04:46,400
of individuals because they're all based

1711
01:04:46,400 --> 01:04:48,079
on family size. We have family sizes

1712
01:04:48,079 --> 01:04:50,079
that raise from you know from a mother

1713
01:04:50,079 --> 01:04:52,880
and f or a mother or father and a child

1714
01:04:52,880 --> 01:04:54,400
um all the way up to I think the largest

1715
01:04:54,400 --> 01:04:56,079
family system that I've seen so far in

1716
01:04:56,079 --> 01:04:59,440
my time is 12 children. Uh I believe two

1717
01:04:59,440 --> 01:05:01,839
mothers and three fathers in that family

1718
01:05:01,839 --> 01:05:04,960
system. So

1719
01:05:04,960 --> 01:05:07,765
>> talk about societal. [snorts]

1720
01:05:07,765 --> 01:05:07,775
» talk about societal. [snorts]

1721
01:05:07,775 --> 01:05:08,160
[sighs]

1722
01:05:08,160 --> 01:05:10,069
>> So that was a lot of information that we

1723
01:05:10,069 --> 01:05:10,079
» So that was a lot of information that we

1724
01:05:10,079 --> 01:05:11,839
presented today. We'll be back on August

1725
01:05:11,839 --> 01:05:14,400
4th for a work sessions. So questions

1726
01:05:14,400 --> 01:05:16,079
that you have, you can think about this

1727
01:05:16,079 --> 01:05:18,000
and we'll be back to answer those

1728
01:05:18,000 --> 01:05:19,440
questions or talk more about this

1729
01:05:19,440 --> 01:05:21,680
situation specific to the budget process

1730
01:05:21,680 --> 01:05:24,000
as well the next board meeting.

1731
01:05:24,000 --> 01:05:24,630
>> All right.

1732
01:05:24,630 --> 01:05:24,640
» All right.

1733
01:05:24,640 --> 01:05:25,910
>> Thank you, Chairman. I did have I've

1734
01:05:25,910 --> 01:05:25,920
» Thank you, Chairman. I did have I've

1735
01:05:25,920 --> 01:05:28,240
just thought of it. Uh, so was this was

1736
01:05:28,240 --> 01:05:30,480
this one I know and we've heard about

1737
01:05:30,480 --> 01:05:32,480
this for so long because we've been told

1738
01:05:32,480 --> 01:05:34,480
to contact lead. Was it like one

1739
01:05:34,480 --> 01:05:36,640
straight up vote for it or against it?

1740
01:05:36,640 --> 01:05:39,119
What was how

1741
01:05:39,119 --> 01:05:40,880
who voted for it? Who voted against it?

1742
01:05:40,880 --> 01:05:43,440
I'd like to see that. Uh, if it was a

1743
01:05:43,440 --> 01:05:44,799
straight up

1744
01:05:44,799 --> 01:05:47,270
>> one issue, one bill kind of a vote.

1745
01:05:47,270 --> 01:05:47,280
» one issue, one bill kind of a vote.

1746
01:05:47,280 --> 01:05:49,510
>> Uh, Mr. Chair um and Commissioner

1747
01:05:49,510 --> 01:05:49,520
» Uh, Mr. Chair um and Commissioner

1748
01:05:49,520 --> 01:05:52,880
Bertram, I believe it was,

1749
01:05:52,880 --> 01:05:56,079
um not a straightup vote. [laughter]

1750
01:05:56,079 --> 01:05:58,640
Um I believe the chairs of the committee

1751
01:05:58,640 --> 01:06:00,559
though were very strong and held a lot

1752
01:06:00,559 --> 01:06:02,480
of power if I'm not mistaken and were

1753
01:06:02,480 --> 01:06:04,319
unmovable on this. So, it didn't matter

1754
01:06:04,319 --> 01:06:06,079
that there was a lot of and I even think

1755
01:06:06,079 --> 01:06:08,720
bipartisan concern. This was not a one

1756
01:06:08,720 --> 01:06:10,000
side party or the other side of the

1757
01:06:10,000 --> 01:06:12,559
party. It was an all-out battle and I

1758
01:06:12,559 --> 01:06:14,799
believe the chairs of the the the

1759
01:06:14,799 --> 01:06:16,960
committee held strong no matter what the

1760
01:06:16,960 --> 01:06:18,799
feedback was and some of you were

1761
01:06:18,799 --> 01:06:21,280
involved in that. I think um so correct

1762
01:06:21,280 --> 01:06:23,280
me if you have more information but it

1763
01:06:23,280 --> 01:06:25,720
was not a straight up vote. Oh no.

1764
01:06:25,720 --> 01:06:25,920
[laughter]

1765
01:06:25,920 --> 01:06:27,430
>> And when I say straight Mr. Chairman

1766
01:06:27,430 --> 01:06:27,440
» And when I say straight Mr. Chairman

1767
01:06:27,440 --> 01:06:29,520
when I say who voted for it who voted

1768
01:06:29,520 --> 01:06:31,760
against it and again some of this stuff

1769
01:06:31,760 --> 01:06:35,119
are are issues in some areas and less of

1770
01:06:35,119 --> 01:06:37,520
issues in other areas. And of course,

1771
01:06:37,520 --> 01:06:39,359
it's always that attitude of we're going

1772
01:06:39,359 --> 01:06:41,680
to fix this statewide, not understanding

1773
01:06:41,680 --> 01:06:43,839
that the regions of the state are very

1774
01:06:43,839 --> 01:06:46,000
different. And you know, at what point

1775
01:06:46,000 --> 01:06:48,400
do we say that's enough or yes,

1776
01:06:48,400 --> 01:06:50,630
>> you know, whatever. But that that's what

1777
01:06:50,630 --> 01:06:50,640
» you know, whatever. But that that's what

1778
01:06:50,640 --> 01:06:53,200
I'm trying to get at. But uh there there

1779
01:06:53,200 --> 01:06:55,599
had to be uh and again I didn't follow

1780
01:06:55,599 --> 01:06:57,280
it and maybe Matt can help with that.

1781
01:06:57,280 --> 01:07:00,079
But what actual was was the vote that

1782
01:07:00,079 --> 01:07:01,680
kicked this all in and who voted for it

1783
01:07:01,680 --> 01:07:03,039
and who because again that

1784
01:07:03,039 --> 01:07:04,400
accountability

1785
01:07:04,400 --> 01:07:06,710
>> does need to again if I'm going to try

1786
01:07:06,710 --> 01:07:06,720
» does need to again if I'm going to try

1787
01:07:06,720 --> 01:07:08,799
to fix something in this area. I'm not

1788
01:07:08,799 --> 01:07:10,000
just going to

1789
01:07:10,000 --> 01:07:12,470
>> uh go to somebody on the street and say

1790
01:07:12,470 --> 01:07:12,480
» uh go to somebody on the street and say

1791
01:07:12,480 --> 01:07:13,680
let's have a cup of coffee and let's

1792
01:07:13,680 --> 01:07:14,880
come up with something. I'm gonna sit

1793
01:07:14,880 --> 01:07:16,960
down with folks like you and saying and

1794
01:07:16,960 --> 01:07:19,839
certainly you guys Nick and Melissa, but

1795
01:07:19,839 --> 01:07:21,839
you guys who really really are dealing

1796
01:07:21,839 --> 01:07:23,359
with that's where I'm going to go and

1797
01:07:23,359 --> 01:07:25,200
say, "Okay, how do we fix this? What do

1798
01:07:25,200 --> 01:07:26,160
we do?"

1799
01:07:26,160 --> 01:07:26,470
>> Yeah.

1800
01:07:26,470 --> 01:07:26,480
» Yeah.

1801
01:07:26,480 --> 01:07:29,029
>> And of course, that obviously didn't

1802
01:07:29,029 --> 01:07:29,039
» And of course, that obviously didn't

1803
01:07:29,039 --> 01:07:32,000
happen here. May have happened in Ramsay

1804
01:07:32,000 --> 01:07:35,119
or Henipin. Didn't happen here to the

1805
01:07:35,119 --> 01:07:36,240
degree that it should have. Otherwise,

1806
01:07:36,240 --> 01:07:38,160
we wouldn't be dealing with this.

1807
01:07:38,160 --> 01:07:39,599
Generally, I would say most people

1808
01:07:39,599 --> 01:07:41,760
agreed with the value of the law, but

1809
01:07:41,760 --> 01:07:43,440
not how it was going to be implemented

1810
01:07:43,440 --> 01:07:45,119
and certainly not how it was resourced.

1811
01:07:45,119 --> 01:07:47,039
So, the big battle was over. We all I

1812
01:07:47,039 --> 01:07:48,559
think generally people agreed to do

1813
01:07:48,559 --> 01:07:50,000
this. We all agree we should do

1814
01:07:50,000 --> 01:07:52,319
prevention, but people did not agree on

1815
01:07:52,319 --> 01:07:54,240
that. They didn't resource it. We don't

1816
01:07:54,240 --> 01:07:56,000
have the providers. The reality on the

1817
01:07:56,000 --> 01:07:57,200
street is we don't even have the

1818
01:07:57,200 --> 01:07:58,880
providers to provide these services that

1819
01:07:58,880 --> 01:08:00,240
we're now being required to have

1820
01:08:00,240 --> 01:08:02,319
involved in cases. So, it was more

1821
01:08:02,319 --> 01:08:03,920
around those arguments, not around the

1822
01:08:03,920 --> 01:08:06,079
value of the law. So agreement around

1823
01:08:06,079 --> 01:08:07,839
value, not around resourcing it.

1824
01:08:07,839 --> 01:08:09,190
>> And I would say, Mr. Chairman, that

1825
01:08:09,190 --> 01:08:09,200
» And I would say, Mr. Chairman, that

1826
01:08:09,200 --> 01:08:11,280
easily 98% of the people in insurance

1827
01:08:11,280 --> 01:08:12,960
county don't know this is going on,

1828
01:08:12,960 --> 01:08:15,280
don't understand this. [snorts] You

1829
01:08:15,280 --> 01:08:16,640
know, even if they're part of the

1830
01:08:16,640 --> 01:08:18,319
system,

1831
01:08:18,319 --> 01:08:21,040
they may not care that it's costing what

1832
01:08:21,040 --> 01:08:23,520
it's costing to do this and uh you know,

1833
01:08:23,520 --> 01:08:25,839
because they see themselves as victims

1834
01:08:25,839 --> 01:08:27,920
or whatever. And of course, in the

1835
01:08:27,920 --> 01:08:31,839
societal numbers that don't need by the

1836
01:08:31,839 --> 01:08:33,440
grace of God these services and never

1837
01:08:33,440 --> 01:08:36,400
will, you know. So, it's it's just a

1838
01:08:36,400 --> 01:08:38,000
cesspool of

1839
01:08:38,000 --> 01:08:41,189
>> issues.

1840
01:08:41,199 --> 01:08:42,400
» Okay. [laughter]

1841
01:08:42,400 --> 01:08:43,829
>> Well, thanks thanks for the

1842
01:08:43,829 --> 01:08:43,839
» Well, thanks thanks for the

1843
01:08:43,839 --> 01:08:45,600
presentation. Uh, it's greatly

1844
01:08:45,600 --> 01:08:47,679
appreciated and we appreciate the staff

1845
01:08:47,679 --> 01:08:51,120
and the time and effort you put into um

1846
01:08:51,120 --> 01:08:54,560
helping the individuals that basically

1847
01:08:54,560 --> 01:08:56,880
fall underneath your

1848
01:08:56,880 --> 01:08:59,279
headings to take care of. You know,

1849
01:08:59,279 --> 01:09:01,679
hopefully something comes about at the

1850
01:09:01,679 --> 01:09:03,520
next session to kind of clear some of

1851
01:09:03,520 --> 01:09:05,839
the mud up in the air. So,

1852
01:09:05,839 --> 01:09:08,070
>> and make the load a little lighter to to

1853
01:09:08,070 --> 01:09:08,080
» and make the load a little lighter to to

1854
01:09:08,080 --> 01:09:08,719
lift.

1855
01:09:08,719 --> 01:09:09,430
>> Yeah. Thank you.

1856
01:09:09,430 --> 01:09:09,440
» Yeah. Thank you.

1857
01:09:09,440 --> 01:09:12,470
>> All right. Thank you. Thank you.

1858
01:09:12,470 --> 01:09:12,480
» All right. Thank you. Thank you.

1859
01:09:12,480 --> 01:09:14,309
>> Okay. With that, we'll close the human

1860
01:09:14,309 --> 01:09:14,319
» Okay. With that, we'll close the human

1861
01:09:14,319 --> 01:09:16,319
services board and reconvene the regular

1862
01:09:16,319 --> 01:09:18,560
county board. Is everybody okay if we

1863
01:09:18,560 --> 01:09:20,080
run the public hearing before we take a

1864
01:09:20,080 --> 01:09:21,279
break?

1865
01:09:21,279 --> 01:09:21,590
>> Yep.

1866
01:09:21,590 --> 01:09:21,600
» Yep.

1867
01:09:21,600 --> 01:09:22,149
>> Okay.

1868
01:09:22,149 --> 01:09:22,159
» Okay.

1869
01:09:22,159 --> 01:09:25,430
>> Okay. So, we do have a a short um

1870
01:09:25,430 --> 01:09:25,440
» Okay. So, we do have a a short um

1871
01:09:25,440 --> 01:09:27,759
PowerPoint that Sarah and Jeff will go

1872
01:09:27,759 --> 01:09:29,920
over and then of course open the public

1873
01:09:29,920 --> 01:09:35,008
hearing and go from there.

1874
01:09:35,018 --> 01:09:36,960
[clears throat]

1875
01:09:36,960 --> 01:09:38,630
>> Good morning, Commissioner. Sarah O,

1876
01:09:38,630 --> 01:09:38,640
» Good morning, Commissioner. Sarah O,

1877
01:09:38,640 --> 01:09:39,920
finance director in the auditor

1878
01:09:39,920 --> 01:09:41,679
treasures office.

1879
01:09:41,679 --> 01:09:42,950
>> I'm Jeff Swson, the accounting

1880
01:09:42,950 --> 01:09:42,960
» I'm Jeff Swson, the accounting

1881
01:09:42,960 --> 01:09:44,319
supervisor in the auditor's treasures

1882
01:09:44,319 --> 01:09:45,520
office. And

1883
01:09:45,520 --> 01:09:46,950
>> we should have a presentation that's

1884
01:09:46,950 --> 01:09:46,960
» we should have a presentation that's

1885
01:09:46,960 --> 01:09:48,799
coming up about the fee schedule changes

1886
01:09:48,799 --> 01:09:50,319
that we'd like to talk about this

1887
01:09:50,319 --> 01:09:51,759
morning. So, we have a short

1888
01:09:51,759 --> 01:09:54,000
presentation where Jeff will go over the

1889
01:09:54,000 --> 01:09:56,480
uh proposed changes that the department

1890
01:09:56,480 --> 01:09:58,400
and the auditor treasures office and the

1891
01:09:58,400 --> 01:10:00,719
budget committee have all seen. Uh we

1892
01:10:00,719 --> 01:10:02,159
will go through those changes briefly

1893
01:10:02,159 --> 01:10:03,840
and then we'll request that you open the

1894
01:10:03,840 --> 01:10:05,840
public hearing and uh take public

1895
01:10:05,840 --> 01:10:08,400
comment on that.

1896
01:10:08,400 --> 01:10:10,960
So, just to uh remind each of you, we go

1897
01:10:10,960 --> 01:10:12,800
through this process every year and each

1898
01:10:12,800 --> 01:10:14,960
year we we pick a quarter of the county

1899
01:10:14,960 --> 01:10:17,760
departments to review their fees. This

1900
01:10:17,760 --> 01:10:20,000
year the review was done in depth on the

1901
01:10:20,000 --> 01:10:22,080
attorney's office, human services and

1902
01:10:22,080 --> 01:10:25,120
parks, but we also allow all departments

1903
01:10:25,120 --> 01:10:27,040
to come forward if they have fee changes

1904
01:10:27,040 --> 01:10:30,000
that they feel are um reasonable or

1905
01:10:30,000 --> 01:10:32,080
needed within their areas. And we had

1906
01:10:32,080 --> 01:10:34,640
some of those come forward as well. So

1907
01:10:34,640 --> 01:10:36,640
Jeff gets all that information from the

1908
01:10:36,640 --> 01:10:38,880
departments. He looks at the average

1909
01:10:38,880 --> 01:10:40,960
cost to provide the service and then we

1910
01:10:40,960 --> 01:10:43,199
weigh that with the public private

1911
01:10:43,199 --> 01:10:45,920
benefit of the service and uh kind of

1912
01:10:45,920 --> 01:10:47,520
look at some comparable counties and

1913
01:10:47,520 --> 01:10:49,760
such to see what's reasonable. So I will

1914
01:10:49,760 --> 01:10:51,600
turn it over to Jeff to talk through

1915
01:10:51,600 --> 01:10:54,640
those proposed changes.

1916
01:10:54,640 --> 01:10:56,790
>> Good morning Mr. Chair commissioners. Um

1917
01:10:56,790 --> 01:10:56,800
» Good morning Mr. Chair commissioners. Um

1918
01:10:56,800 --> 01:10:59,440
well I'll go through each slide here to

1919
01:10:59,440 --> 01:11:01,840
talk about the changes. Um environmental

1920
01:11:01,840 --> 01:11:03,280
services had one little change or just

1921
01:11:03,280 --> 01:11:05,600
changing the name of a fee. Um the next

1922
01:11:05,600 --> 01:11:07,440
one extension is they're removing the

1923
01:11:07,440 --> 01:11:09,120
pressure gauge testing. We got a notice

1924
01:11:09,120 --> 01:11:10,239
from the University of Minnesota

1925
01:11:10,239 --> 01:11:11,920
extension recommending that we remove

1926
01:11:11,920 --> 01:11:14,080
that feed due to liability concerns.

1927
01:11:14,080 --> 01:11:15,270
>> So that's why we're

1928
01:11:15,270 --> 01:11:15,280
» So that's why we're

1929
01:11:15,280 --> 01:11:16,390
>> Good. Good thing that one's getting

1930
01:11:16,390 --> 01:11:16,400
» Good. Good thing that one's getting

1931
01:11:16,400 --> 01:11:19,199
removed because gauge couldn't quite fit

1932
01:11:19,199 --> 01:11:21,784
the gauge spelling.

1933
01:11:21,784 --> 01:11:22,719
[laughter]

1934
01:11:22,719 --> 01:11:25,990
>> Oh yeah.

1935
01:11:26,000 --> 01:11:27,840
» The next one is we'll talk about the

1936
01:11:27,840 --> 01:11:29,120
sheriff's department. The sheriff's

1937
01:11:29,120 --> 01:11:30,560
department is proposing to increase many

1938
01:11:30,560 --> 01:11:32,320
of the civil fees by $10 to be

1939
01:11:32,320 --> 01:11:34,000
comparable with other counties. We

1940
01:11:34,000 --> 01:11:35,199
surveyed other counties and they're

1941
01:11:35,199 --> 01:11:37,679
charging $95 to $120 for the same civil

1942
01:11:37,679 --> 01:11:40,239
process fees. The county was set at 70.

1943
01:11:40,239 --> 01:11:42,159
We're proposing to increase to 80. Those

1944
01:11:42,159 --> 01:11:43,920
increases are anticipated increase

1945
01:11:43,920 --> 01:11:47,040
revenue revenues by about $55,000. We're

1946
01:11:47,040 --> 01:11:49,040
also increasing the hourly wage wage

1947
01:11:49,040 --> 01:11:51,120
rate for deputy services to increase

1948
01:11:51,120 --> 01:11:53,280
with that increased cost or staffing

1949
01:11:53,280 --> 01:11:56,480
costs. And then this is the proposed

1950
01:11:56,480 --> 01:11:58,000
list of changes for the sheriff's

1951
01:11:58,000 --> 01:12:00,159
office. So those are all the civil

1952
01:12:00,159 --> 01:12:02,320
process fees that are going from 70 to

1953
01:12:02,320 --> 01:12:09,510
80.

1954
01:12:09,520 --> 01:12:11,120
Um the next one we'll talk about is

1955
01:12:11,120 --> 01:12:13,120
human services family and children.

1956
01:12:13,120 --> 01:12:15,120
They're removing two foster care license

1957
01:12:15,120 --> 01:12:16,800
fees and they're reducing the adoption

1958
01:12:16,800 --> 01:12:19,520
study fee. Um the footnote here is

1959
01:12:19,520 --> 01:12:22,239
starting April 1st, 2026, the state of

1960
01:12:22,239 --> 01:12:23,760
Minnesota took over corporate foster

1961
01:12:23,760 --> 01:12:25,120
care licensing and collection of the

1962
01:12:25,120 --> 01:12:27,920
fees. The state charges $2,50 per

1963
01:12:27,920 --> 01:12:30,159
corporate foster care facility and share

1964
01:12:30,159 --> 01:12:32,400
50% of that fee with the counties. So

1965
01:12:32,400 --> 01:12:34,719
the county should collect 1,025 for each

1966
01:12:34,719 --> 01:12:36,400
license renewal going forward. It's

1967
01:12:36,400 --> 01:12:37,760
anticipated the county will collect more

1968
01:12:37,760 --> 01:12:39,679
in foster care licensing fees than in

1969
01:12:39,679 --> 01:12:45,270
previous years due to this change.

1970
01:12:45,280 --> 01:12:46,880
And the next one is public health.

1971
01:12:46,880 --> 01:12:50,000
They're proposing to increase two fees

1972
01:12:50,000 --> 01:12:53,120
and remove six fees. Um the fees being

1973
01:12:53,120 --> 01:12:54,480
removed were not being charged

1974
01:12:54,480 --> 01:12:55,840
individual clients that were already

1975
01:12:55,840 --> 01:12:57,440
receiving public assistance, which is

1976
01:12:57,440 --> 01:12:58,719
the majority of the public health

1977
01:12:58,719 --> 01:13:00,800
clients. Many of the clients that were

1978
01:13:00,800 --> 01:13:02,239
charged did not pay in collection

1979
01:13:02,239 --> 01:13:04,080
efforts were timeconuming and generally

1980
01:13:04,080 --> 01:13:06,159
unsuccessful. Therefore, human services

1981
01:13:06,159 --> 01:13:07,679
recommends removing the fees from the

1982
01:13:07,679 --> 01:13:10,080
schedule.

1983
01:13:10,080 --> 01:13:12,070
>> Mr. Chairman, that doesn't eliminate the

1984
01:13:12,070 --> 01:13:12,080
» Mr. Chairman, that doesn't eliminate the

1985
01:13:12,080 --> 01:13:13,920
cost of the service.

1986
01:13:13,920 --> 01:13:14,790
>> Correct.

1987
01:13:14,790 --> 01:13:14,800
» Correct.

1988
01:13:14,800 --> 01:13:17,350
>> Uh and again, kind of a step spiral. So,

1989
01:13:17,350 --> 01:13:17,360
» Uh and again, kind of a step spiral. So,

1990
01:13:17,360 --> 01:13:20,080
there's a cost to the service I can't

1991
01:13:20,080 --> 01:13:22,960
pay or won't pay. So, then we remove it,

1992
01:13:22,960 --> 01:13:24,880
which is fine. Then you got the flip

1993
01:13:24,880 --> 01:13:26,560
side of that where people are paying

1994
01:13:26,560 --> 01:13:28,880
what the fee is. And again, it's a

1995
01:13:28,880 --> 01:13:30,719
societal

1996
01:13:30,719 --> 01:13:31,679
spiral. [snorts]

1997
01:13:31,679 --> 01:13:34,310
>> Correct.

1998
01:13:34,310 --> 01:13:34,320
» Correct.

1999
01:13:34,320 --> 01:13:36,159
Um, the next department we'll talk about

2000
01:13:36,159 --> 01:13:38,159
is parks. Parks is proposing to increase

2001
01:13:38,159 --> 01:13:41,840
12 12 fees, remove four four fees. Um,

2002
01:13:41,840 --> 01:13:43,840
they're updating it facility reservation

2003
01:13:43,840 --> 01:13:45,199
fees to address the increasing

2004
01:13:45,199 --> 01:13:46,960
maintenance costs. Um, they're removing

2005
01:13:46,960 --> 01:13:49,440
some wedding related search charges. Um,

2006
01:13:49,440 --> 01:13:51,120
they're removing the firewood. We no

2007
01:13:51,120 --> 01:13:52,880
longer sell it. They're increasing the

2008
01:13:52,880 --> 01:13:54,960
fine for failing to purchase a vehicle

2009
01:13:54,960 --> 01:13:57,280
permit at Corey Park. And calculating

2010
01:13:57,280 --> 01:13:59,520
fees with the parks is challenging

2011
01:13:59,520 --> 01:14:00,960
because the direct cost for park land

2012
01:14:00,960 --> 01:14:02,880
and shelters cannot be easily measured.

2013
01:14:02,880 --> 01:14:04,960
We know [clears throat]

2014
01:14:04,960 --> 01:14:07,040
um here is the list of the park fees

2015
01:14:07,040 --> 01:14:08,239
that are changing. They're changing the

2016
01:14:08,239 --> 01:14:11,440
shelter permits from 60 to $75 per day

2017
01:14:11,440 --> 01:14:17,350
at the various county parks.

2018
01:14:17,360 --> 01:14:21,920
And then this is the the second section.

2019
01:14:21,920 --> 01:14:22,640
Mr. Chair,

2020
01:14:22,640 --> 01:14:23,270
>> Perski.

2021
01:14:23,270 --> 01:14:23,280
» Perski.

2022
01:14:23,280 --> 01:14:25,750
>> Yeah. Say and then on the on that chart,

2023
01:14:25,750 --> 01:14:25,760
» Yeah. Say and then on the on that chart,

2024
01:14:25,760 --> 01:14:28,640
can we just change that one on the uh on

2025
01:14:28,640 --> 01:14:31,440
the sticker fee? Can you go back next?

2026
01:14:31,440 --> 01:14:33,110
>> You know, see it says, you know, failure

2027
01:14:33,110 --> 01:14:33,120
» You know, see it says, you know, failure

2028
01:14:33,120 --> 01:14:34,960
for parking permit

2029
01:14:34,960 --> 01:14:37,510
>> and it's got one at $10, one at 15. Now

2030
01:14:37,510 --> 01:14:37,520
» and it's got one at $10, one at 15. Now

2031
01:14:37,520 --> 01:14:38,880
they both go to 20. Y

2032
01:14:38,880 --> 01:14:40,470
>> can that just be failure to

2033
01:14:40,470 --> 01:14:40,480
» can that just be failure to

2034
01:14:40,480 --> 01:14:41,030
>> Yeah.

2035
01:14:41,030 --> 01:14:41,040
» Yeah.

2036
01:14:41,040 --> 01:14:41,910
>> on a permit?

2037
01:14:41,910 --> 01:14:41,920
» on a permit?

2038
01:14:41,920 --> 01:14:48,950
>> Yep. I can combine them. Yep.

2039
01:14:48,960 --> 01:14:50,560
Um, if you have any specific questions,

2040
01:14:50,560 --> 01:14:52,159
the departments are here. Department

2041
01:14:52,159 --> 01:14:53,520
directors are here if you have any spec

2042
01:14:53,520 --> 01:14:55,199
specific questions on these fees that

2043
01:14:55,199 --> 01:14:58,800
are being changed. Um,

2044
01:14:58,800 --> 01:15:00,640
and then we need to hold a public

2045
01:15:00,640 --> 01:15:02,800
hearing and then we'd like the board to

2046
01:15:02,800 --> 01:15:04,320
take action and the fees would be

2047
01:15:04,320 --> 01:15:07,120
effective January 1. These fees are

2048
01:15:07,120 --> 01:15:08,960
reflected in the budget.

2049
01:15:08,960 --> 01:15:11,830
>> Okay. Uh with that after that

2050
01:15:11,830 --> 01:15:11,840
» Okay. Uh with that after that

2051
01:15:11,840 --> 01:15:13,760
presentation I will open the public

2052
01:15:13,760 --> 01:15:15,520
hearing.

2053
01:15:15,520 --> 01:15:18,400
Is there anyone here wishing to uh

2054
01:15:18,400 --> 01:15:20,480
address the board in regards to the fee

2055
01:15:20,480 --> 01:15:24,080
changes for the public hearing?

2056
01:15:24,080 --> 01:15:26,880
Anyone here wishing to

2057
01:15:26,880 --> 01:15:28,800
come up to the podium and speak at the

2058
01:15:28,800 --> 01:15:31,840
public hearing?

2059
01:15:31,840 --> 01:15:34,239
Again, anyone here wishing to speak on

2060
01:15:34,239 --> 01:15:37,440
behalf of these changes? Seeing no one,

2061
01:15:37,440 --> 01:15:42,229
I'll close the public hearing.

2062
01:15:42,239 --> 01:15:45,040
discussion board or a motion.

2063
01:15:45,040 --> 01:15:47,110
>> Mr. Chairman, again, uh, nobody knows

2064
01:15:47,110 --> 01:15:47,120
» Mr. Chairman, again, uh, nobody knows

2065
01:15:47,120 --> 01:15:48,560
about this and they're not going to know

2066
01:15:48,560 --> 01:15:50,000
about this unless they have to do one of

2067
01:15:50,000 --> 01:15:52,000
the permits, but it's obviously we have

2068
01:15:52,000 --> 01:15:53,920
to keep up with what our costs are and

2069
01:15:53,920 --> 01:15:57,120
there's nobody can argue that, but uh,

2070
01:15:57,120 --> 01:15:59,360
uh, nobody is aware of this. Uh, and

2071
01:15:59,360 --> 01:16:00,800
that's why we have the public hearing,

2072
01:16:00,800 --> 01:16:02,400
everything. I'm not surprised nobody's

2073
01:16:02,400 --> 01:16:04,480
here. They're they're not affected until

2074
01:16:04,480 --> 01:16:06,080
they go in to buy something and then

2075
01:16:06,080 --> 01:16:08,400
they'll see that it is. And but again,

2076
01:16:08,400 --> 01:16:11,600
we need to do what we need to do.

2077
01:16:11,600 --> 01:16:14,870
>> Maybe a question. Are most of these um

2078
01:16:14,870 --> 01:16:14,880
» Maybe a question. Are most of these um

2079
01:16:14,880 --> 01:16:16,640
the fees like you go to Quarry Park, is

2080
01:16:16,640 --> 01:16:19,199
it posted like when you come in the

2081
01:16:19,199 --> 01:16:22,320
parking fee or is Okay, I see Ben's

2082
01:16:22,320 --> 01:16:24,400
nodding his head. Does that apply too to

2083
01:16:24,400 --> 01:16:28,960
like Two Rivers County Park or

2084
01:16:28,960 --> 01:16:30,948
Sorry, Ben.

2085
01:16:30,948 --> 01:16:31,350
>> [sighs and gasps]

2086
01:16:31,350 --> 01:16:31,360
» [sighs and gasps]

2087
01:16:31,360 --> 01:16:33,990
>> I'm just curious if there was a QR thing

2088
01:16:33,990 --> 01:16:34,000
» I'm just curious if there was a QR thing

2089
01:16:34,000 --> 01:16:35,679
they scan when they come if they didn't

2090
01:16:35,679 --> 01:16:37,040
pay in advance.

2091
01:16:37,040 --> 01:16:38,630
>> Yeah. No. So, Corey Park is the only

2092
01:16:38,630 --> 01:16:38,640
» Yeah. No. So, Corey Park is the only

2093
01:16:38,640 --> 01:16:40,239
park where we have a parking pass that

2094
01:16:40,239 --> 01:16:42,320
is required. Anybody can walk in, bike

2095
01:16:42,320 --> 01:16:43,760
in for free. We have a partnership with

2096
01:16:43,760 --> 01:16:45,440
the Great River Regional Library that

2097
01:16:45,440 --> 01:16:46,880
people can actually check out free

2098
01:16:46,880 --> 01:16:49,440
passes to go to Corey Park. But yes, it

2099
01:16:49,440 --> 01:16:51,199
is posted online. It's posted when

2100
01:16:51,199 --> 01:16:53,199
people come into Corey Park. All of our

2101
01:16:53,199 --> 01:16:54,960
reservation fees for our shelters are

2102
01:16:54,960 --> 01:16:56,960
posted online. Those reservations have

2103
01:16:56,960 --> 01:16:59,520
to be made online or they need to call

2104
01:16:59,520 --> 01:17:02,480
the park office. So,

2105
01:17:02,480 --> 01:17:04,709
>> okay. All right.

2106
01:17:04,709 --> 01:17:04,719
» okay. All right.

2107
01:17:04,719 --> 01:17:06,630
>> Yes, Mr. Chair. Yeah, that's true. And

2108
01:17:06,630 --> 01:17:06,640
» Yes, Mr. Chair. Yeah, that's true. And

2109
01:17:06,640 --> 01:17:08,640
and so we have no other fees within our

2110
01:17:08,640 --> 01:17:10,320
parks. They're open to the public to be

2111
01:17:10,320 --> 01:17:12,239
used. This is just a parking fee that we

2112
01:17:12,239 --> 01:17:13,679
have at Corey Park.

2113
01:17:13,679 --> 01:17:15,110
>> And the other ones are shelter if

2114
01:17:15,110 --> 01:17:15,120
» And the other ones are shelter if

2115
01:17:15,120 --> 01:17:15,520
they're going to have

2116
01:17:15,520 --> 01:17:16,310
>> if they have a shelter,

2117
01:17:16,310 --> 01:17:16,320
» if they have a shelter,

2118
01:17:16,320 --> 01:17:18,229
>> birthday party or something.

2119
01:17:18,229 --> 01:17:18,239
» birthday party or something.

2120
01:17:18,239 --> 01:17:18,950
>> Correct.

2121
01:17:18,950 --> 01:17:18,960
» Correct.

2122
01:17:18,960 --> 01:17:20,550
>> Shelters are free to use. It's just if

2123
01:17:20,550 --> 01:17:20,560
» Shelters are free to use. It's just if

2124
01:17:20,560 --> 01:17:22,159
they want it reserved for them, then

2125
01:17:22,159 --> 01:17:23,760
they we ask they pay the fee. Otherwise,

2126
01:17:23,760 --> 01:17:25,520
if somebody shows up and nobody's in it,

2127
01:17:25,520 --> 01:17:26,880
people can use it. So,

2128
01:17:26,880 --> 01:17:28,550
>> okay.

2129
01:17:28,550 --> 01:17:28,560
» okay.

2130
01:17:28,560 --> 01:17:31,669
>> Okay. Uh, which is Well, I I do have one

2131
01:17:31,669 --> 01:17:31,679
» Okay. Uh, which is Well, I I do have one

2132
01:17:31,679 --> 01:17:34,640
other question. What What percent of the

2133
01:17:34,640 --> 01:17:37,280
sheriff deputies cost is being actually

2134
01:17:37,280 --> 01:17:42,070
recovered at the $80? [snorts]

2135
01:17:42,080 --> 01:17:44,800
» I mean, if you don't know it now, that's

2136
01:17:44,800 --> 01:17:47,199
just the sheriff's office. We didn't I

2137
01:17:47,199 --> 01:17:49,120
didn't analyze their fees this year. I

2138
01:17:49,120 --> 01:17:51,360
mean, dig down with it with their fees,

2139
01:17:51,360 --> 01:17:53,360
but it's probably around, if I had to

2140
01:17:53,360 --> 01:17:56,560
guess, it's 70 80% recovering, but I

2141
01:17:56,560 --> 01:17:57,920
don't know for sure. So,

2142
01:17:57,920 --> 01:18:00,070
>> okay, that just popped into my head when

2143
01:18:00,070 --> 01:18:00,080
» okay, that just popped into my head when

2144
01:18:00,080 --> 01:18:02,080
you were going through them before.

2145
01:18:02,080 --> 01:18:05,600
Okay. Wishes of the board.

2146
01:18:05,600 --> 01:18:07,840
So I'll just remind the board is of

2147
01:18:07,840 --> 01:18:09,600
course fees are one of those things we

2148
01:18:09,600 --> 01:18:12,480
don't necessarily like to do but it is

2149
01:18:12,480 --> 01:18:14,480
uh the person receiving the service or

2150
01:18:14,480 --> 01:18:17,360
the goods is paying for a big portion of

2151
01:18:17,360 --> 01:18:19,199
that and this prevents it from going on

2152
01:18:19,199 --> 01:18:22,640
to the levy. Right. So

2153
01:18:22,640 --> 01:18:23,510
>> Commissioner Clark

2154
01:18:23,510 --> 01:18:23,520
» Commissioner Clark

2155
01:18:23,520 --> 01:18:26,709
>> and Mr. Chair to that for that reason I

2156
01:18:26,709 --> 01:18:26,719
» and Mr. Chair to that for that reason I

2157
01:18:26,719 --> 01:18:29,520
will move approval of the fe these as

2158
01:18:29,520 --> 01:18:30,159
proposed.

2159
01:18:30,159 --> 01:18:32,070
>> Okay we have a motion. Thank you

2160
01:18:32,070 --> 01:18:32,080
» Okay we have a motion. Thank you

2161
01:18:32,080 --> 01:18:33,920
commissioner Johnson for the second.

2162
01:18:33,920 --> 01:18:36,640
Further discussion? Seeing none. Oh,

2163
01:18:36,640 --> 01:18:38,080
Commissioner Johnson.

2164
01:18:38,080 --> 01:18:40,950
>> Um, I just have a comment. I I think the

2165
01:18:40,950 --> 01:18:40,960
» Um, I just have a comment. I I think the

2166
01:18:40,960 --> 01:18:43,920
increases are modest.

2167
01:18:43,920 --> 01:18:46,229
>> Um, if you compare shelter fees for the

2168
01:18:46,229 --> 01:18:46,239
» Um, if you compare shelter fees for the

2169
01:18:46,239 --> 01:18:48,960
county relative to some cities, they're

2170
01:18:48,960 --> 01:18:53,120
quite a bit less. And uh so I think

2171
01:18:53,120 --> 01:18:57,920
we're we're doing well by the the

2172
01:18:57,920 --> 01:19:00,560
members of our community to to be

2173
01:19:00,560 --> 01:19:03,360
moderate in our approach and and

2174
01:19:03,360 --> 01:19:04,960
hopefully you know covering as much of

2175
01:19:04,960 --> 01:19:07,679
the cost as we can in each situation.

2176
01:19:07,679 --> 01:19:10,080
But

2177
01:19:10,080 --> 01:19:13,120
okay, any further discussion?

2178
01:19:13,120 --> 01:19:15,120
If not, all those in favor signify by

2179
01:19:15,120 --> 01:19:16,080
saying I

2180
01:19:16,080 --> 01:19:16,790
>> I

2181
01:19:16,790 --> 01:19:16,800
» I

2182
01:19:16,800 --> 01:19:20,709
>> opposed. Motion carried. Thank you.

2183
01:19:20,709 --> 01:19:20,719
» opposed. Motion carried. Thank you.

2184
01:19:20,719 --> 01:19:23,510
>> Thank you. Uh with that, we'll take a

2185
01:19:23,510 --> 01:19:23,520
» Thank you. Uh with that, we'll take a

2186
01:19:23,520 --> 01:28:12,709
short five minute break.

2187
01:28:12,719 --> 01:28:15,280
All right, we'll call the board meeting

2188
01:28:15,280 --> 01:28:17,679
back in session. Uh, next item is

2189
01:28:17,679 --> 01:28:18,960
administration.

2190
01:28:18,960 --> 01:28:20,950
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair.

2191
01:28:20,950 --> 01:28:20,960
» Thank you, Mr. Chair.

2192
01:28:20,960 --> 01:28:22,709
>> You have the performance measures first.

2193
01:28:22,709 --> 01:28:22,719
» You have the performance measures first.

2194
01:28:22,719 --> 01:28:26,239
You satisfied the requirements with the

2195
01:28:26,239 --> 01:28:28,800
little state program last time by

2196
01:28:28,800 --> 01:28:31,600
passing that resolution. Um, so we

2197
01:28:31,600 --> 01:28:33,679
entered into the state program, get a

2198
01:28:33,679 --> 01:28:35,386
little dollars back for doing that. Um,

2199
01:28:35,386 --> 01:28:36,400
[snorts] but we didn't do the

2200
01:28:36,400 --> 01:28:39,920
fullfledged presentation of uh our

2201
01:28:39,920 --> 01:28:41,760
annual performance measures which are

2202
01:28:41,760 --> 01:28:44,560
many more than what the what the state

2203
01:28:44,560 --> 01:28:47,600
requires. So going to turn it over to

2204
01:28:47,600 --> 01:28:50,000
deputy administrator Jill and you can

2205
01:28:50,000 --> 01:28:51,360
take it from here. [snorts]

2206
01:28:51,360 --> 01:28:53,830
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair, board members. Um,

2207
01:28:53,830 --> 01:28:53,840
» Thank you, Mr. Chair, board members. Um,

2208
01:28:53,840 --> 01:28:57,760
so as Mike said, this was um uh for on

2209
01:28:57,760 --> 01:29:00,880
last uh month's agenda, but moved to

2210
01:29:00,880 --> 01:29:03,120
this one, but we did get that um

2211
01:29:03,120 --> 01:29:06,239
paperwork in time for the um state for

2212
01:29:06,239 --> 01:29:08,480
the OSA office. So, they'll be sending

2213
01:29:08,480 --> 01:29:12,239
us a check here. Um in addition to that,

2214
01:29:12,239 --> 01:29:15,840
we do get levy limit protections if the

2215
01:29:15,840 --> 01:29:17,520
state legislature decides to do levy

2216
01:29:17,520 --> 01:29:19,520
limits. Doing that program prevents us

2217
01:29:19,520 --> 01:29:22,800
from um having to do a levy limit. So

2218
01:29:22,800 --> 01:29:25,679
good thing for us to do. Um so the

2219
01:29:25,679 --> 01:29:27,440
performance measure system has been

2220
01:29:27,440 --> 01:29:28,639
something we've been doing for a number

2221
01:29:28,639 --> 01:29:31,280
of years. It's on our strategic plan um

2222
01:29:31,280 --> 01:29:33,520
to evaluate what measures we're

2223
01:29:33,520 --> 01:29:36,159
collecting. So um in the future this

2224
01:29:36,159 --> 01:29:37,679
presentation might be looking a little

2225
01:29:37,679 --> 01:29:40,320
bit different, but in the board packet

2226
01:29:40,320 --> 01:29:44,239
you had um many dozens of different

2227
01:29:44,239 --> 01:29:47,280
performance measures. This presentation

2228
01:29:47,280 --> 01:29:49,600
um focuses kind of on services to the

2229
01:29:49,600 --> 01:29:53,679
community measures. Um in addition, the

2230
01:29:53,679 --> 01:29:57,600
state program has 24 different measures

2231
01:29:57,600 --> 01:30:01,120
um for which you can submit 10 of those

2232
01:30:01,120 --> 01:30:04,560
24. Um and so we kind of subbed in some

2233
01:30:04,560 --> 01:30:06,560
different measures this year due to what

2234
01:30:06,560 --> 01:30:10,239
data that we could collect.

2235
01:30:10,239 --> 01:30:11,679
All right. [snorts]

2236
01:30:11,679 --> 01:30:13,360
So we're going to start off first with

2237
01:30:13,360 --> 01:30:15,840
the county attorney's office and Mike is

2238
01:30:15,840 --> 01:30:18,800
here to to pitch hit for attorney

2239
01:30:18,800 --> 01:30:21,040
Kendall.

2240
01:30:21,040 --> 01:30:24,480
Oops. Got the little chair. [laughter]

2241
01:30:24,480 --> 01:30:27,520
I gotta feel like I'm a big boy. Good

2242
01:30:27,520 --> 01:30:30,800
morning. Um, Michael Lee, chief deputy

2243
01:30:30,800 --> 01:30:33,679
county attorney. Janelle sends her um

2244
01:30:33,679 --> 01:30:35,600
regrets. She is enjoying her summer

2245
01:30:35,600 --> 01:30:38,880
vacation. Um, in choosing uh our

2246
01:30:38,880 --> 01:30:40,800
performance measures, the the county

2247
01:30:40,800 --> 01:30:43,040
attorney's office uh is focused on

2248
01:30:43,040 --> 01:30:44,880
measuring how we use the significant

2249
01:30:44,880 --> 01:30:47,360
resources allotted to us to meet the

2250
01:30:47,360 --> 01:30:49,760
county's mission, particularly assuring

2251
01:30:49,760 --> 01:30:52,639
a safe community for all. As you might

2252
01:30:52,639 --> 01:30:54,719
imagine, with the public law firm, uh

2253
01:30:54,719 --> 01:30:56,960
the resources given to us consist mainly

2254
01:30:56,960 --> 01:30:59,760
of personnel uh or attorneys who do the

2255
01:30:59,760 --> 01:31:01,600
work of the office. We do not have

2256
01:31:01,600 --> 01:31:04,080
things, we have people. understanding

2257
01:31:04,080 --> 01:31:05,360
what is taking up their time is

2258
01:31:05,360 --> 01:31:08,080
necessary to ensure uh the resources we

2259
01:31:08,080 --> 01:31:09,920
have are properly directed to meet the

2260
01:31:09,920 --> 01:31:12,159
county's mission. So the measures we've

2261
01:31:12,159 --> 01:31:14,159
chosen provide a glimpse of the work in

2262
01:31:14,159 --> 01:31:17,120
each of our three divisions uh criminal,

2263
01:31:17,120 --> 01:31:18,800
juvenile, and civil. And they kind of

2264
01:31:18,800 --> 01:31:20,639
give an overall snapshot of how we are

2265
01:31:20,639 --> 01:31:22,960
using those resources. Uh the first

2266
01:31:22,960 --> 01:31:24,320
slides that you see come from our

2267
01:31:24,320 --> 01:31:26,320
criminal division who's primarily

2268
01:31:26,320 --> 01:31:28,239
responsible for prosecuting our criminal

2269
01:31:28,239 --> 01:31:33,040
offenses. uh and the most um resource

2270
01:31:33,040 --> 01:31:35,440
intensive activity within that division

2271
01:31:35,440 --> 01:31:37,679
uh is our trial work and you see the two

2272
01:31:37,679 --> 01:31:40,000
slides before you. One shows the number

2273
01:31:40,000 --> 01:31:41,920
of cases that are scheduled or set for

2274
01:31:41,920 --> 01:31:43,840
trial and the number of cases on the

2275
01:31:43,840 --> 01:31:46,159
right that actually do try. As you can

2276
01:31:46,159 --> 01:31:48,239
see the number of cases set for trial

2277
01:31:48,239 --> 01:31:50,719
has returned to basically a precoid

2278
01:31:50,719 --> 01:31:52,960
level. Uh but the percentage of trials

2279
01:31:52,960 --> 01:31:55,840
actually held uh has increased. The

2280
01:31:55,840 --> 01:31:58,000
cases we are trying also look different.

2281
01:31:58,000 --> 01:32:00,480
Law enforcement has new tools, body

2282
01:32:00,480 --> 01:32:03,760
camera, phone searches, uh vehicle

2283
01:32:03,760 --> 01:32:05,600
trackers, and other types of electronic

2284
01:32:05,600 --> 01:32:07,440
data that we just never had access to

2285
01:32:07,440 --> 01:32:10,400
for to before. Uh but with that comes

2286
01:32:10,400 --> 01:32:12,800
additional work. Uh our prosecutors and

2287
01:32:12,800 --> 01:32:15,600
our staff have to review um all of that

2288
01:32:15,600 --> 01:32:19,520
information um before we get set uh and

2289
01:32:19,520 --> 01:32:24,400
uh and are prepared for trial. So, um,

2290
01:32:24,400 --> 01:32:26,400
and that's not a bad thing, uh, because

2291
01:32:26,400 --> 01:32:28,719
as prosecutors, we like all the evidence

2292
01:32:28,719 --> 01:32:31,199
that we can get. More evidence usually,

2293
01:32:31,199 --> 01:32:33,760
uh, is a good thing. But the simple, uh,

2294
01:32:33,760 --> 01:32:36,159
matter is that trying a case today takes

2295
01:32:36,159 --> 01:32:38,560
more time and resources than it did, uh,

2296
01:32:38,560 --> 01:32:41,120
even five years ago. Uh, and there's

2297
01:32:41,120 --> 01:32:43,280
also just one little, uh, snippet on the

2298
01:32:43,280 --> 01:32:46,080
bottom there. Um, kind of something

2299
01:32:46,080 --> 01:32:48,239
that's happened uh, a lot more

2300
01:32:48,239 --> 01:32:49,600
frequently in the last couple of years.

2301
01:32:49,600 --> 01:32:51,280
We've had cases settle on the day of

2302
01:32:51,280 --> 01:32:52,960
trial, which sounds like a good thing,

2303
01:32:52,960 --> 01:32:55,360
but the reality is all the time and

2304
01:32:55,360 --> 01:32:58,159
effort to prepare that case uh still had

2305
01:32:58,159 --> 01:33:00,560
to be uh invested. So, it takes almost

2306
01:33:00,560 --> 01:33:03,280
as much time to prepare those cases uh

2307
01:33:03,280 --> 01:33:05,360
for trial as it does to actually try the

2308
01:33:05,360 --> 01:33:07,440
case.

2309
01:33:07,440 --> 01:33:10,159
Um and with some of those new tools, the

2310
01:33:10,159 --> 01:33:12,719
chart on your left, uh those new tools

2311
01:33:12,719 --> 01:33:15,120
that law enforcement has available, uh

2312
01:33:15,120 --> 01:33:17,520
require additional work on our part. Um

2313
01:33:17,520 --> 01:33:19,760
particularly uh some of those tools

2314
01:33:19,760 --> 01:33:21,920
require additional search warrants. Um

2315
01:33:21,920 --> 01:33:25,840
and we provide 247 uh on call coverage

2316
01:33:25,840 --> 01:33:27,600
uh for law enforcement to call when they

2317
01:33:27,600 --> 01:33:29,840
have legal questions and need to have a

2318
01:33:29,840 --> 01:33:32,000
warrant review because we do review each

2319
01:33:32,000 --> 01:33:34,239
and every warrant that is uh submitted

2320
01:33:34,239 --> 01:33:36,560
to the court before the court gets it.

2321
01:33:36,560 --> 01:33:38,960
Um so you can see from this chart we

2322
01:33:38,960 --> 01:33:40,960
started and we recognize this additional

2323
01:33:40,960 --> 01:33:42,639
work [clears throat] and started

2324
01:33:42,639 --> 01:33:45,920
tracking it in 2024. Uh and you can see

2325
01:33:45,920 --> 01:33:49,360
just based on our pace um for 2026,

2326
01:33:49,360 --> 01:33:50,560
we're going to double the number of

2327
01:33:50,560 --> 01:33:53,600
search warrants that we uh review from

2328
01:33:53,600 --> 01:33:57,520
uh from 2025 to 2026.

2329
01:33:57,520 --> 01:33:59,600
The middle chart um deals with our

2330
01:33:59,600 --> 01:34:01,360
juvenile division and our juvenile

2331
01:34:01,360 --> 01:34:02,800
division handles child protection

2332
01:34:02,800 --> 01:34:05,440
matters and delinquency prosecution.

2333
01:34:05,440 --> 01:34:07,040
uh as the legal adviser to human

2334
01:34:07,040 --> 01:34:08,960
services and child protection cases in

2335
01:34:08,960 --> 01:34:12,320
particular. Uh a lot of our work is uh

2336
01:34:12,320 --> 01:34:14,159
consulting with social workers to assist

2337
01:34:14,159 --> 01:34:16,800
them uh in determining whether to file a

2338
01:34:16,800 --> 01:34:19,199
child protection matter uh or ensuring

2339
01:34:19,199 --> 01:34:21,520
other legal legal requirements are met.

2340
01:34:21,520 --> 01:34:23,120
I think you heard Mr. Henderson talk

2341
01:34:23,120 --> 01:34:26,400
about the 106 page guide that the social

2342
01:34:26,400 --> 01:34:29,360
workers have to fi uh have to uh review

2343
01:34:29,360 --> 01:34:31,520
and be familiar with. we assist them in

2344
01:34:31,520 --> 01:34:33,840
kind of working through um those

2345
01:34:33,840 --> 01:34:36,480
particular cases. Uh and as you can see

2346
01:34:36,480 --> 01:34:39,840
since COVID or 2020, the consults we've

2347
01:34:39,840 --> 01:34:43,760
had uh have nearly doubled. Uh and I

2348
01:34:43,760 --> 01:34:45,920
think as you also heard from uh the

2349
01:34:45,920 --> 01:34:47,440
human services folks with the

2350
01:34:47,440 --> 01:34:49,520
legislative changes, that's only going

2351
01:34:49,520 --> 01:34:52,159
to increase. uh and as they get

2352
01:34:52,159 --> 01:34:53,840
additional if or when they get

2353
01:34:53,840 --> 01:34:56,880
additional staffing those additional um

2354
01:34:56,880 --> 01:34:59,120
uh legislative requirements will require

2355
01:34:59,120 --> 01:35:01,760
them to consult with us more often. So,

2356
01:35:01,760 --> 01:35:04,480
uh it won't be as big a hu uh resource

2357
01:35:04,480 --> 01:35:06,400
drain on us as it is obviously on human

2358
01:35:06,400 --> 01:35:08,719
services. Um but when their work goes

2359
01:35:08,719 --> 01:35:11,840
up, our work goes up as well. And the

2360
01:35:11,840 --> 01:35:14,159
final chart you have there uh is from

2361
01:35:14,159 --> 01:35:16,320
our civil division. Uh they provide

2362
01:35:16,320 --> 01:35:18,400
legal advice to county departments. uh

2363
01:35:18,400 --> 01:35:20,080
they handle civil commitments, child

2364
01:35:20,080 --> 01:35:24,080
support uh amongst other uh duties. Uh

2365
01:35:24,080 --> 01:35:25,760
but the one area that we do pride

2366
01:35:25,760 --> 01:35:27,920
ourselves on is answering requests for

2367
01:35:27,920 --> 01:35:30,080
legal opinions from the departments uh

2368
01:35:30,080 --> 01:35:32,639
and others in the county. Uh we continue

2369
01:35:32,639 --> 01:35:34,480
to encourage departments to ask for

2370
01:35:34,480 --> 01:35:36,960
legal opinions to help guide decisions

2371
01:35:36,960 --> 01:35:38,239
uh that may affect the county's

2372
01:35:38,239 --> 01:35:40,400
liability or simply to understand what

2373
01:35:40,400 --> 01:35:42,239
is or what isn't permitted under a

2374
01:35:42,239 --> 01:35:44,480
certain statutory uh scheme or

2375
01:35:44,480 --> 01:35:46,639
otherwise. uh the number of legal

2376
01:35:46,639 --> 01:35:49,520
opinions requested has doubled uh since

2377
01:35:49,520 --> 01:35:51,920
before COVID and again that's not a bad

2378
01:35:51,920 --> 01:35:53,760
thing. Uh we think it reflects a

2379
01:35:53,760 --> 01:35:55,360
positive movement where departments are

2380
01:35:55,360 --> 01:35:59,360
asking uh for our advice uh or opinion

2381
01:35:59,360 --> 01:36:01,440
to help guide their action. Uh and as

2382
01:36:01,440 --> 01:36:03,360
lawyers we always prefer to be asked on

2383
01:36:03,360 --> 01:36:05,920
the front end before the lawsuit uh

2384
01:36:05,920 --> 01:36:08,639
comes in.

2385
01:36:08,639 --> 01:36:11,990
>> Any questions?

2386
01:36:12,000 --> 01:36:12,480
» Thank you.

2387
01:36:12,480 --> 01:36:15,590
>> Don't see any. Thanks Mike. Right. Next

2388
01:36:15,590 --> 01:36:15,600
» Don't see any. Thanks Mike. Right. Next

2389
01:36:15,600 --> 01:36:17,280
we have the auditor treasures office and

2390
01:36:17,280 --> 01:36:20,560
Ry's going to take those.

2391
01:36:20,560 --> 01:36:24,310
>> So the first one is the uh payment plans

2392
01:36:24,310 --> 01:36:24,320
» So the first one is the uh payment plans

2393
01:36:24,320 --> 01:36:28,080
um quarterly and 10 months and these are

2394
01:36:28,080 --> 01:36:30,400
for current taxes and we continue to see

2395
01:36:30,400 --> 01:36:33,120
a steady increase in those electronic

2396
01:36:33,120 --> 01:36:35,840
tax statements um people getting their

2397
01:36:35,840 --> 01:36:39,920
TNT tax statement and valuation notices

2398
01:36:39,920 --> 01:36:42,080
online and that continues to increase.

2399
01:36:42,080 --> 01:36:43,840
So that makes it more convenient for

2400
01:36:43,840 --> 01:36:46,560
them and also saves us time and money on

2401
01:36:46,560 --> 01:36:50,080
postage and such.

2402
01:36:50,080 --> 01:36:51,840
Um [clears throat]

2403
01:36:51,840 --> 01:36:54,159
so the virtual services is a virtual

2404
01:36:54,159 --> 01:36:56,639
license center. Um we continue to see a

2405
01:36:56,639 --> 01:36:58,880
steady increase in that. We have all the

2406
01:36:58,880 --> 01:37:00,880
services that we can provide online

2407
01:37:00,880 --> 01:37:04,480
online in the virtual license center and

2408
01:37:04,480 --> 01:37:06,400
um we probably have one of the most

2409
01:37:06,400 --> 01:37:10,320
robust websites on that in the state.

2410
01:37:10,320 --> 01:37:12,639
um number assess special assessment

2411
01:37:12,639 --> 01:37:15,520
projects uh continue to go up. So this

2412
01:37:15,520 --> 01:37:18,239
does not include uh the solid waste but

2413
01:37:18,239 --> 01:37:19,760
everything else that comes from

2414
01:37:19,760 --> 01:37:24,159
primarily cities and watersheds. Um so a

2415
01:37:24,159 --> 01:37:25,920
lot of special assessment and a lot of

2416
01:37:25,920 --> 01:37:30,550
dollars there.

2417
01:37:30,560 --> 01:37:32,080
Don't know if we have any more. Thank

2418
01:37:32,080 --> 01:37:33,440
you.

2419
01:37:33,440 --> 01:37:36,149
>> Commissioner Commissioner Johnson,

2420
01:37:36,149 --> 01:37:36,159
» Commissioner Commissioner Johnson,

2421
01:37:36,159 --> 01:37:38,390
>> I can speak on

2422
01:37:38,390 --> 01:37:38,400
» I can speak on

2423
01:37:38,400 --> 01:37:40,550
>> Okay.

2424
01:37:40,550 --> 01:37:40,560
» Okay.

2425
01:37:40,560 --> 01:37:41,920
Commissioner Johnson, go ahead.

2426
01:37:41,920 --> 01:37:44,550
>> Okay, Mr. Chair, thank you. Um Randy, in

2427
01:37:44,550 --> 01:37:44,560
» Okay, Mr. Chair, thank you. Um Randy, in

2428
01:37:44,560 --> 01:37:47,600
terms of quarterly and 10-month tax um

2429
01:37:47,600 --> 01:37:50,320
payment plans,

2430
01:37:50,320 --> 01:37:53,030
>> what is the incidence of delinquency and

2431
01:37:53,030 --> 01:37:53,040
» what is the incidence of delinquency and

2432
01:37:53,040 --> 01:37:57,040
and how much money might that involve?

2433
01:37:57,040 --> 01:37:59,840
So the ones that uh are on those often

2434
01:37:59,840 --> 01:38:02,639
have been doing a escrow and then now

2435
01:38:02,639 --> 01:38:04,719
their mortgage is paid off and so they

2436
01:38:04,719 --> 01:38:06,880
can sign up for that and we take the

2437
01:38:06,880 --> 01:38:08,639
money directly out of their bank account

2438
01:38:08,639 --> 01:38:10,480
so they don't have to do anything. They

2439
01:38:10,480 --> 01:38:13,119
sign up for that automatically and that

2440
01:38:13,119 --> 01:38:15,440
that success rate is very high. We

2441
01:38:15,440 --> 01:38:20,239
rarely see um any sort of mispayment or

2442
01:38:20,239 --> 01:38:23,840
or or in that area. The delinquency I

2443
01:38:23,840 --> 01:38:26,080
can get you some numbers on that. you're

2444
01:38:26,080 --> 01:38:27,520
seeing a little bit of a tick up in

2445
01:38:27,520 --> 01:38:28,320
that.

2446
01:38:28,320 --> 01:38:30,310
>> When it comes to forfeite though, that

2447
01:38:30,310 --> 01:38:30,320
» When it comes to forfeite though, that

2448
01:38:30,320 --> 01:38:33,199
number remains pretty low, less than 10

2449
01:38:33,199 --> 01:38:34,000
a year.

2450
01:38:34,000 --> 01:38:35,830
>> Yeah. In this economy, I was just sort

2451
01:38:35,830 --> 01:38:35,840
» Yeah. In this economy, I was just sort

2452
01:38:35,840 --> 01:38:37,199
of imagining that

2453
01:38:37,199 --> 01:38:41,350
>> delinquency might be increasing and um

2454
01:38:41,350 --> 01:38:41,360
» delinquency might be increasing and um

2455
01:38:41,360 --> 01:38:43,360
you know, think things like Yep.

2456
01:38:43,360 --> 01:38:45,510
>> even taxes are hard on people.

2457
01:38:45,510 --> 01:38:45,520
» even taxes are hard on people.

2458
01:38:45,520 --> 01:38:47,669
>> Yep.

2459
01:38:47,669 --> 01:38:47,679
» Yep.

2460
01:38:47,679 --> 01:38:49,990
>> Randy, was

2461
01:38:49,990 --> 01:38:50,000
» Randy, was

2462
01:38:50,000 --> 01:38:51,600
your presentation different than the one

2463
01:38:51,600 --> 01:38:52,560
that's in the packet?

2464
01:38:52,560 --> 01:38:53,030
>> It is.

2465
01:38:53,030 --> 01:38:53,040
» It is.

2466
01:38:53,040 --> 01:38:53,430
>> Okay.

2467
01:38:53,430 --> 01:38:53,440
» Okay.

2468
01:38:53,440 --> 01:38:54,709
>> Yes. I would say there's [laughter]

2469
01:38:54,709 --> 01:38:54,719
» Yes. I would say there's [laughter]

2470
01:38:54,719 --> 01:38:57,360
there's a lot more pages in here than uh

2471
01:38:57,360 --> 01:38:59,608
what you just went through over there.

2472
01:38:59,608 --> 01:39:00,960
[gasps]

2473
01:39:00,960 --> 01:39:03,990
>> Yeah, Mr. Chair, the um PowerPoint is

2474
01:39:03,990 --> 01:39:04,000
» Yeah, Mr. Chair, the um PowerPoint is

2475
01:39:04,000 --> 01:39:06,159
just a subset of all the different ones

2476
01:39:06,159 --> 01:39:07,840
that are in the packet. We didn't want

2477
01:39:07,840 --> 01:39:11,199
to do um all all the measures. It would

2478
01:39:11,199 --> 01:39:12,239
take a while. [laughter]

2479
01:39:12,239 --> 01:39:13,030
>> Too many.

2480
01:39:13,030 --> 01:39:13,040
» Too many.

2481
01:39:13,040 --> 01:39:14,390
>> Certainly, if the questions on any of

2482
01:39:14,390 --> 01:39:14,400
» Certainly, if the questions on any of

2483
01:39:14,400 --> 01:39:16,320
those, I'm always available. So,

2484
01:39:16,320 --> 01:39:18,950
>> okay. Thank you,

2485
01:39:18,950 --> 01:39:18,960
» okay. Thank you,

2486
01:39:18,960 --> 01:39:20,080
Shelley. Good morning.

2487
01:39:20,080 --> 01:39:21,270
>> Good morning. Shelley Benson,

2488
01:39:21,270 --> 01:39:21,280
» Good morning. Shelley Benson,

2489
01:39:21,280 --> 01:39:23,920
environmental services director. um your

2490
01:39:23,920 --> 01:39:27,679
favorite topic right issuing permits. So

2491
01:39:27,679 --> 01:39:29,600
one of the things I think is is always

2492
01:39:29,600 --> 01:39:31,280
interesting is how long does it take us

2493
01:39:31,280 --> 01:39:33,040
to issue those permits and so we have

2494
01:39:33,040 --> 01:39:36,239
started uh looking at that data and in

2495
01:39:36,239 --> 01:39:39,360
the commercial industrial uh sphere what

2496
01:39:39,360 --> 01:39:43,040
we're seeing is that the complexity and

2497
01:39:43,040 --> 01:39:45,679
the time it takes has gone up uh for

2498
01:39:45,679 --> 01:39:48,639
those days to issue. So, we're at even

2499
01:39:48,639 --> 01:39:51,199
though we only had 19 last year, we had

2500
01:39:51,199 --> 01:39:54,239
it took us 53 days on average to issue

2501
01:39:54,239 --> 01:39:55,440
those. And that's because of the

2502
01:39:55,440 --> 01:39:57,679
conditional use permit process because

2503
01:39:57,679 --> 01:40:00,719
that we include that time um as well in

2504
01:40:00,719 --> 01:40:02,719
there. Um the good news is the

2505
01:40:02,719 --> 01:40:05,440
residential permits have gone down. So,

2506
01:40:05,440 --> 01:40:08,000
even though during our peak time of the

2507
01:40:08,000 --> 01:40:10,880
year, like now it's approximately 21

2508
01:40:10,880 --> 01:40:14,560
days to issue a permit, on average, uh

2509
01:40:14,560 --> 01:40:18,880
last year it was seven. So peak times is

2510
01:40:18,880 --> 01:40:21,600
a little different than than our average

2511
01:40:21,600 --> 01:40:23,520
uh over the [snorts] course of the year.

2512
01:40:23,520 --> 01:40:25,600
Um and then permitting compliance.

2513
01:40:25,600 --> 01:40:27,750
>> Shel, can I just ask on that the

2514
01:40:27,750 --> 01:40:27,760
» Shel, can I just ask on that the

2515
01:40:27,760 --> 01:40:31,119
residential one that that's just where

2516
01:40:31,119 --> 01:40:34,470
>> the county is in charge, correct? If a

2517
01:40:34,470 --> 01:40:34,480
» the county is in charge, correct? If a

2518
01:40:34,480 --> 01:40:35,840
township has their own planning and

2519
01:40:35,840 --> 01:40:37,280
zoning, that's a different

2520
01:40:37,280 --> 01:40:39,590
>> right. Anything with a T any township

2521
01:40:39,590 --> 01:40:39,600
» right. Anything with a T any township

2522
01:40:39,600 --> 01:40:41,040
permits, [snorts] those are we don't

2523
01:40:41,040 --> 01:40:43,440
track their days. We just get them and

2524
01:40:43,440 --> 01:40:46,239
and uh record them so that they're all

2525
01:40:46,239 --> 01:40:48,159
in the system so that if you go to the

2526
01:40:48,159 --> 01:40:50,719
land services page, you can look it up

2527
01:40:50,719 --> 01:40:52,639
online to see a township permit or a

2528
01:40:52,639 --> 01:40:54,800
county permit. Uh but we don't track

2529
01:40:54,800 --> 01:40:56,719
those days uh to issue.

2530
01:40:56,719 --> 01:40:58,709
>> Thank you.

2531
01:40:58,709 --> 01:40:58,719
» Thank you.

2532
01:40:58,719 --> 01:41:01,109
>> And then permitting compliance. Um so

2533
01:41:01,109 --> 01:41:01,119
» And then permitting compliance. Um so

2534
01:41:01,119 --> 01:41:03,119
anything that falls within the scope of

2535
01:41:03,119 --> 01:41:05,920
land use uh requires us to look at the

2536
01:41:05,920 --> 01:41:08,880
statute. We have 60 days to issue a

2537
01:41:08,880 --> 01:41:12,480
permit. We don't use those 60 days. Um

2538
01:41:12,480 --> 01:41:15,360
very very rarely do we do that.

2539
01:41:15,360 --> 01:41:17,600
Occasionally on certain conditional uses

2540
01:41:17,600 --> 01:41:21,199
or um interim uses we'll have to extend

2541
01:41:21,199 --> 01:41:24,239
those time frames to that 120 days, but

2542
01:41:24,239 --> 01:41:26,320
most of the time we're we're getting um

2543
01:41:26,320 --> 01:41:28,400
permits issued. But this is about

2544
01:41:28,400 --> 01:41:31,040
compliance with that law, the 1099 and

2545
01:41:31,040 --> 01:41:32,639
making sure we're doing things within

2546
01:41:32,639 --> 01:41:36,159
that time frame. Um not just permits

2547
01:41:36,159 --> 01:41:39,360
fall within that uh wetland compliance.

2548
01:41:39,360 --> 01:41:41,360
So getting out to a site, making sure

2549
01:41:41,360 --> 01:41:43,920
all those rules are met, uh feed lot

2550
01:41:43,920 --> 01:41:46,320
compliance. So again, there's a lot of

2551
01:41:46,320 --> 01:41:49,840
things that fall within the uh 1599

2552
01:41:49,840 --> 01:41:52,159
requirements. And so this is the number

2553
01:41:52,159 --> 01:41:54,960
of activities we had last year um was

2554
01:41:54,960 --> 01:41:56,719
down a little bit, but the good news is

2555
01:41:56,719 --> 01:41:58,560
we had compliance with everything that

2556
01:41:58,560 --> 01:42:01,600
included variances and cups and the you

2557
01:42:01,600 --> 01:42:04,239
know the processing of all of those uh

2558
01:42:04,239 --> 01:42:07,840
permits and applications.

2559
01:42:07,840 --> 01:42:10,310
>> Mr. Chair Shel. Then also with that

2560
01:42:10,310 --> 01:42:10,320
» Mr. Chair Shel. Then also with that

2561
01:42:10,320 --> 01:42:12,639
60-day notice, often times it's it's not

2562
01:42:12,639 --> 01:42:15,520
our issue. Often times it's the person

2563
01:42:15,520 --> 01:42:17,760
that wants an extension and we grant

2564
01:42:17,760 --> 01:42:19,199
them the extension because they're not

2565
01:42:19,199 --> 01:42:20,960
prepared to move it forward. So,

2566
01:42:20,960 --> 01:42:23,830
>> right. Yeah. So, our first um we make

2567
01:42:23,830 --> 01:42:23,840
» right. Yeah. So, our first um we make

2568
01:42:23,840 --> 01:42:25,920
sure the an application's complete in

2569
01:42:25,920 --> 01:42:28,239
the first 10 days and then we have 60

2570
01:42:28,239 --> 01:42:30,080
days once it's complete to issue that

2571
01:42:30,080 --> 01:42:34,400
permit. We can extend it that 120 days

2572
01:42:34,400 --> 01:42:36,719
for our own purposes, but often it is an

2573
01:42:36,719 --> 01:42:39,040
extension uh request of a land owner

2574
01:42:39,040 --> 01:42:41,040
because they haven't completed some part

2575
01:42:41,040 --> 01:42:44,080
of a process, gotten the proper um storm

2576
01:42:44,080 --> 01:42:45,840
water management is one of those areas

2577
01:42:45,840 --> 01:42:47,760
where it sometimes it takes longer.

2578
01:42:47,760 --> 01:42:50,960
Engineering of any sort or survey work.

2579
01:42:50,960 --> 01:42:53,920
So those are things that often um

2580
01:42:53,920 --> 01:42:56,239
instead of us denying something, they

2581
01:42:56,239 --> 01:42:58,480
they put an extension or wave their

2582
01:42:58,480 --> 01:43:01,199
their time frame. So we have that as

2583
01:43:01,199 --> 01:43:04,310
well.

2584
01:43:04,320 --> 01:43:05,040
» Mr. Chair,

2585
01:43:05,040 --> 01:43:06,870
>> Commissioner Johnson.

2586
01:43:06,870 --> 01:43:06,880
» Commissioner Johnson.

2587
01:43:06,880 --> 01:43:08,870
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Shelley, on the

2588
01:43:08,870 --> 01:43:08,880
» Thank you, Mr. Chair. Shelley, on the

2589
01:43:08,880 --> 01:43:11,280
the 53 days for the number of commercial

2590
01:43:11,280 --> 01:43:13,600
industrial permits, you said it was

2591
01:43:13,600 --> 01:43:16,800
pretty much a function of the the cup

2592
01:43:16,800 --> 01:43:18,320
process.

2593
01:43:18,320 --> 01:43:20,560
What What is it about that process that

2594
01:43:20,560 --> 01:43:23,280
causes the the increase in length of

2595
01:43:23,280 --> 01:43:25,280
time to get the permit? We are required

2596
01:43:25,280 --> 01:43:28,800
to have Commissioner Johnson um

2597
01:43:28,800 --> 01:43:31,679
public hearings. So we have to notice in

2598
01:43:31,679 --> 01:43:34,320
the newspaper the newspaper is a day uh

2599
01:43:34,320 --> 01:43:36,639
not a daily but a weekly. So we have to

2600
01:43:36,639 --> 01:43:39,600
publish a week almost a week in advance

2601
01:43:39,600 --> 01:43:41,679
for the paper. Then we have to have the

2602
01:43:41,679 --> 01:43:43,280
two weeks. So it's almost three weeks of

2603
01:43:43,280 --> 01:43:46,159
notice that add to the time and then the

2604
01:43:46,159 --> 01:43:47,920
application goes in front of the

2605
01:43:47,920 --> 01:43:49,040
planning commission. They do their

2606
01:43:49,040 --> 01:43:51,040
hearing and then it comes to the board.

2607
01:43:51,040 --> 01:43:52,880
and there's typically 12 days between

2608
01:43:52,880 --> 01:43:54,800
our planning commission and our county

2609
01:43:54,800 --> 01:43:57,679
board. So, it's all the timing for the

2610
01:43:57,679 --> 01:43:59,520
process. Um, [snorts]

2611
01:43:59,520 --> 01:44:01,280
by statute, we're required to hold

2612
01:44:01,280 --> 01:44:02,800
public hearings on certain types of

2613
01:44:02,800 --> 01:44:05,360
applications. So, that's what that

2614
01:44:05,360 --> 01:44:08,239
that's what those times are.

2615
01:44:08,239 --> 01:44:10,960
Um, I understand what you just said, but

2616
01:44:10,960 --> 01:44:15,520
but if I look at previous years, um, the

2617
01:44:15,520 --> 01:44:17,600
numbers significantly different, and

2618
01:44:17,600 --> 01:44:19,040
that's kind of where I was going. Has

2619
01:44:19,040 --> 01:44:20,800
something changed?

2620
01:44:20,800 --> 01:44:25,119
more recently besides calendaring things

2621
01:44:25,119 --> 01:44:25,920
and

2622
01:44:25,920 --> 01:44:27,910
>> the good the interesting part about that

2623
01:44:27,910 --> 01:44:27,920
» the good the interesting part about that

2624
01:44:27,920 --> 01:44:29,119
some of those were things that were

2625
01:44:29,119 --> 01:44:31,840
actually occurring a commercial property

2626
01:44:31,840 --> 01:44:33,840
right so a commercial uh construction

2627
01:44:33,840 --> 01:44:36,159
permit on a commercial property doesn't

2628
01:44:36,159 --> 01:44:41,760
require a cup or a you know an IUP so if

2629
01:44:41,760 --> 01:44:45,040
if it's just a zoning question I have a

2630
01:44:45,040 --> 01:44:46,400
commercial property and I want to build

2631
01:44:46,400 --> 01:44:48,960
a building I just come in the door I ask

2632
01:44:48,960 --> 01:44:50,719
for it I don't have to go through the

2633
01:44:50,719 --> 01:44:52,960
the longer process and we had more of

2634
01:44:52,960 --> 01:44:55,679
those actually in 2023.

2635
01:44:55,679 --> 01:44:57,360
Um quite a few.

2636
01:44:57,360 --> 01:44:59,350
>> So it's the type of permit that people

2637
01:44:59,350 --> 01:44:59,360
» So it's the type of permit that people

2638
01:44:59,360 --> 01:45:00,080
are applying for.

2639
01:45:00,080 --> 01:45:01,750
>> So the zoning district and the permit

2640
01:45:01,750 --> 01:45:01,760
» So the zoning district and the permit

2641
01:45:01,760 --> 01:45:02,320
type.

2642
01:45:02,320 --> 01:45:02,629
>> Thank you.

2643
01:45:02,629 --> 01:45:02,639
» Thank you.

2644
01:45:02,639 --> 01:45:04,070
>> But if they're in the agricultural

2645
01:45:04,070 --> 01:45:04,080
» But if they're in the agricultural

2646
01:45:04,080 --> 01:45:06,239
district, most of those are commercial

2647
01:45:06,239 --> 01:45:08,239
or not commercial. So that they are uh

2648
01:45:08,239 --> 01:45:10,239
require conditional use or an interim

2649
01:45:10,239 --> 01:45:11,040
use permit.

2650
01:45:11,040 --> 01:45:11,510
>> Sure.

2651
01:45:11,510 --> 01:45:11,520
» Sure.

2652
01:45:11,520 --> 01:45:11,990
>> So

2653
01:45:11,990 --> 01:45:12,000
» So

2654
01:45:12,000 --> 01:45:12,470
>> thanks.

2655
01:45:12,470 --> 01:45:12,480
» thanks.

2656
01:45:12,480 --> 01:45:13,669
>> That's the difference. Yeah.

2657
01:45:13,669 --> 01:45:13,679
» That's the difference. Yeah.

2658
01:45:13,679 --> 01:45:16,470
>> Thank you.

2659
01:45:16,470 --> 01:45:16,480
» Thank you.

2660
01:45:16,480 --> 01:45:18,629
>> Thank you, Shelley.

2661
01:45:18,629 --> 01:45:18,639
» Thank you, Shelley.

2662
01:45:18,639 --> 01:45:20,560
Okay. So, next we have Highway with

2663
01:45:20,560 --> 01:45:22,400
Engineer Bird.

2664
01:45:22,400 --> 01:45:24,550
>> All right. Exciting. Does anybody love

2665
01:45:24,550 --> 01:45:24,560
» All right. Exciting. Does anybody love

2666
01:45:24,560 --> 01:45:26,800
graphs as much as I do? [laughter]

2667
01:45:26,800 --> 01:45:29,510
>> Uh, so there's a lot of things I can

2668
01:45:29,510 --> 01:45:29,520
» Uh, so there's a lot of things I can

2669
01:45:29,520 --> 01:45:31,040
tell you about these graphs. So,

2670
01:45:31,040 --> 01:45:32,960
starting off there on the left, bridge

2671
01:45:32,960 --> 01:45:35,360
ratings. So, this last uh inspection

2672
01:45:35,360 --> 01:45:37,920
cycle, we identified more bridges that

2673
01:45:37,920 --> 01:45:41,040
meet that threshold uh of below 60 for

2674
01:45:41,040 --> 01:45:42,480
the local planning index. That's what

2675
01:45:42,480 --> 01:45:45,280
LPI stands for. Why that is significant

2676
01:45:45,280 --> 01:45:48,800
is for state funding. uh state funding

2677
01:45:48,800 --> 01:45:51,119
requires your bridge structure to have

2678
01:45:51,119 --> 01:45:54,480
an LPI below 60 to become eligible for

2679
01:45:54,480 --> 01:45:56,480
bridge funding. So, we've seen a big

2680
01:45:56,480 --> 01:46:00,159
jump uh from 3 to 8. Don't be surprised

2681
01:46:00,159 --> 01:46:02,239
if this stays on there for a while

2682
01:46:02,239 --> 01:46:05,280
because funding usually lags three,

2683
01:46:05,280 --> 01:46:07,840
four, sometimes five years to identify

2684
01:46:07,840 --> 01:46:11,440
for uh structures to get replaced. So,

2685
01:46:11,440 --> 01:46:13,360
we'll do our best to try to schedule

2686
01:46:13,360 --> 01:46:16,080
into our our road program, but we always

2687
01:46:16,080 --> 01:46:18,239
like to seek outside funding for these

2688
01:46:18,239 --> 01:46:20,719
structures to replace them. And a common

2689
01:46:20,719 --> 01:46:23,280
source of funding is the the state

2690
01:46:23,280 --> 01:46:26,159
bridge bonding effort. So, each year

2691
01:46:26,159 --> 01:46:28,080
we're we're big advocates for a state

2692
01:46:28,080 --> 01:46:30,560
bonding bill and because that funds a

2693
01:46:30,560 --> 01:46:32,639
lot of bridges across the state. to put

2694
01:46:32,639 --> 01:46:34,800
in perspective, eight structures, that's

2695
01:46:34,800 --> 01:46:37,840
about 3 and a half% of our total number

2696
01:46:37,840 --> 01:46:40,400
of grid structures that we inspect in

2697
01:46:40,400 --> 01:46:44,000
the county. So statewide, it's about 4

2698
01:46:44,000 --> 01:46:47,040
and a.5% of the structures statewide. So

2699
01:46:47,040 --> 01:46:48,560
we're doing a little bit better than

2700
01:46:48,560 --> 01:46:50,880
statewide average on structures, but

2701
01:46:50,880 --> 01:46:52,080
something that we're going to we're

2702
01:46:52,080 --> 01:46:53,440
going to have to work hard to to get

2703
01:46:53,440 --> 01:46:56,560
that number back down to our target. Uh

2704
01:46:56,560 --> 01:46:58,239
the middle chart, very interesting as

2705
01:46:58,239 --> 01:47:00,159
well, our pavement ratings. So that

2706
01:47:00,159 --> 01:47:02,000
yellow bar is our goal. We want to make

2707
01:47:02,000 --> 01:47:04,719
that as high as possible. And the darker

2708
01:47:04,719 --> 01:47:08,080
blue bars uh to be as short as possible.

2709
01:47:08,080 --> 01:47:10,880
So the darkest there on the left bar,

2710
01:47:10,880 --> 01:47:14,000
that's our poor poor pavements. So we're

2711
01:47:14,000 --> 01:47:16,320
we're meeting our our targets for the

2712
01:47:16,320 --> 01:47:17,840
number of miles of road that are poor

2713
01:47:17,840 --> 01:47:19,520
and fair and and exceeding what we want

2714
01:47:19,520 --> 01:47:21,679
to be good and excellent. What's

2715
01:47:21,679 --> 01:47:25,280
interesting is that poor column to get

2716
01:47:25,280 --> 01:47:27,679
those miles of road back to a good or

2717
01:47:27,679 --> 01:47:30,480
excellent would cost more than the roads

2718
01:47:30,480 --> 01:47:32,480
in fair condition and quite a bit more

2719
01:47:32,480 --> 01:47:34,320
than the good and excellent. That's just

2720
01:47:34,320 --> 01:47:37,360
the way road is. The the worse condition

2721
01:47:37,360 --> 01:47:39,280
it is, the more expensive it is to get

2722
01:47:39,280 --> 01:47:41,520
it back to a good good condition. So,

2723
01:47:41,520 --> 01:47:43,600
it's something that we we always work

2724
01:47:43,600 --> 01:47:46,159
hard uh to try to schedule the correct

2725
01:47:46,159 --> 01:47:48,320
action at the right time of the project

2726
01:47:48,320 --> 01:47:51,520
to maximize public funding. So, um, it's

2727
01:47:51,520 --> 01:47:53,280
always a trade-off. Can we afford to do

2728
01:47:53,280 --> 01:47:55,679
a a smaller action this year or do we

2729
01:47:55,679 --> 01:47:57,520
need to delay the project and prepare to

2730
01:47:57,520 --> 01:47:59,760
have a more extensive project that's

2731
01:47:59,760 --> 01:48:01,360
going to cost more sometime in the

2732
01:48:01,360 --> 01:48:03,520
future? So,

2733
01:48:03,520 --> 01:48:04,790
>> Commissioner Bertram,

2734
01:48:04,790 --> 01:48:04,800
» Commissioner Bertram,

2735
01:48:04,800 --> 01:48:06,070
>> can you turn your mic on?

2736
01:48:06,070 --> 01:48:06,080
» can you turn your mic on?

2737
01:48:06,080 --> 01:48:06,790
>> Oh, I'm sorry.

2738
01:48:06,790 --> 01:48:06,800
» Oh, I'm sorry.

2739
01:48:06,800 --> 01:48:07,189
>> Thanks.

2740
01:48:07,189 --> 01:48:07,199
» Thanks.

2741
01:48:07,199 --> 01:48:10,070
>> Uh, do we still have to test our um all

2742
01:48:10,070 --> 01:48:10,080
» Uh, do we still have to test our um all

2743
01:48:10,080 --> 01:48:12,719
the bridges, even the federal like the

2744
01:48:12,719 --> 01:48:16,159
freeway bridges? Do my memory is that we

2745
01:48:16,159 --> 01:48:18,639
have to review all those. Is that

2746
01:48:18,639 --> 01:48:19,440
accurate?

2747
01:48:19,440 --> 01:48:22,310
>> Yes. So there's um depending on the type

2748
01:48:22,310 --> 01:48:22,320
» Yes. So there's um depending on the type

2749
01:48:22,320 --> 01:48:23,840
of structure, not all of them get

2750
01:48:23,840 --> 01:48:27,040
inspected every year. Um some a lot of

2751
01:48:27,040 --> 01:48:29,840
them now in in Minnesota a bridge

2752
01:48:29,840 --> 01:48:31,440
structure is anything that has a span of

2753
01:48:31,440 --> 01:48:34,320
10 ft or greater. So that could be if

2754
01:48:34,320 --> 01:48:37,119
you have two six foot diameter culverts

2755
01:48:37,119 --> 01:48:39,199
next to each other. We inspect those as

2756
01:48:39,199 --> 01:48:41,199
like a bridge structure, but that may be

2757
01:48:41,199 --> 01:48:44,080
on a a longer inspection cycle up to

2758
01:48:44,080 --> 01:48:46,960
maybe four years sometimes. Um and then

2759
01:48:46,960 --> 01:48:48,800
as the life of that structure progresses

2760
01:48:48,800 --> 01:48:51,040
and the condition decreases you may have

2761
01:48:51,040 --> 01:48:53,440
to inspect it more frequently. So we

2762
01:48:53,440 --> 01:48:56,880
inspect uh uh anything well I shouldn't

2763
01:48:56,880 --> 01:48:59,280
say that

2764
01:48:59,280 --> 01:49:01,520
there there are some criteria for

2765
01:49:01,520 --> 01:49:03,840
example a county road over the

2766
01:49:03,840 --> 01:49:06,800
interstate we don't inspect that because

2767
01:49:06,800 --> 01:49:09,040
most often mindot owns that structure

2768
01:49:09,040 --> 01:49:11,040
and then they're inspecting that even

2769
01:49:11,040 --> 01:49:14,080
though it carries a county roadway. But

2770
01:49:14,080 --> 01:49:17,040
um for most intents and purposes, if

2771
01:49:17,040 --> 01:49:19,040
it's carrying a county road over a

2772
01:49:19,040 --> 01:49:22,159
stream, um we're inspecting that. We're

2773
01:49:22,159 --> 01:49:24,400
also responsible for inspecting township

2774
01:49:24,400 --> 01:49:26,960
bridges. Um although we're not

2775
01:49:26,960 --> 01:49:27,780
responsible for the maintenance,

2776
01:49:27,780 --> 01:49:28,480
[clears throat]

2777
01:49:28,480 --> 01:49:30,320
in statute, it says the county highway

2778
01:49:30,320 --> 01:49:31,600
engineer is responsible for the

2779
01:49:31,600 --> 01:49:33,280
inspection. And then we have an

2780
01:49:33,280 --> 01:49:34,965
obligation to share that inspection

2781
01:49:34,965 --> 01:49:37,600
[snorts] report with the townships um

2782
01:49:37,600 --> 01:49:39,360
each year with the of the structures

2783
01:49:39,360 --> 01:49:41,199
with recommended maintenance actions if

2784
01:49:41,199 --> 01:49:44,639
anything's identified needing to repair.

2785
01:49:44,639 --> 01:49:45,830
>> Does that answer your question?

2786
01:49:45,830 --> 01:49:45,840
» Does that answer your question?

2787
01:49:45,840 --> 01:49:47,189
>> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

2788
01:49:47,189 --> 01:49:47,199
» Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

2789
01:49:47,199 --> 01:49:49,270
>> Okay.

2790
01:49:49,270 --> 01:49:49,280
» Okay.

2791
01:49:49,280 --> 01:49:52,000
Um and then uh the far right uh table

2792
01:49:52,000 --> 01:49:55,199
there uh cost per mile, you'll see a

2793
01:49:55,199 --> 01:49:57,600
steady increase and then COVID happened

2794
01:49:57,600 --> 01:50:00,800
in 22. We seemed uh we seen postcoid

2795
01:50:00,800 --> 01:50:02,639
material prices take a big jump whether

2796
01:50:02,639 --> 01:50:05,199
that was supply chain issues or

2797
01:50:05,199 --> 01:50:07,040
everything. It just seemed materials is

2798
01:50:07,040 --> 01:50:09,440
what c led to the increase in cost per

2799
01:50:09,440 --> 01:50:13,840
mile those years with a slow decrease uh

2800
01:50:13,840 --> 01:50:16,719
over the next subsequent years. Uh last

2801
01:50:16,719 --> 01:50:21,199
year we were about $9,600

2802
01:50:21,199 --> 01:50:23,520
per mile for maintenance. So that's not

2803
01:50:23,520 --> 01:50:26,239
down to below precoid cost per mile.

2804
01:50:26,239 --> 01:50:29,360
Precoid we were about $8,900 per mile of

2805
01:50:29,360 --> 01:50:32,080
maintenance. So will we ever see precoid

2806
01:50:32,080 --> 01:50:35,520
prices? I don't know. But um I maybe

2807
01:50:35,520 --> 01:50:37,360
we'll see it to level out over the next

2808
01:50:37,360 --> 01:50:39,280
uh couple years there.

2809
01:50:39,280 --> 01:50:41,669
>> Joe advance slides.

2810
01:50:41,669 --> 01:50:41,679
» Joe advance slides.

2811
01:50:41,679 --> 01:50:42,229
>> Mr. Chair,

2812
01:50:42,229 --> 01:50:42,239
» Mr. Chair,

2813
01:50:42,239 --> 01:50:44,229
>> Mr. Chair.

2814
01:50:44,229 --> 01:50:44,239
» Mr. Chair.

2815
01:50:44,239 --> 01:50:46,480
Okay. Yeah. Chris, does um that

2816
01:50:46,480 --> 01:50:48,239
maintenance cost does that in involve

2817
01:50:48,239 --> 01:50:50,560
snow removal? So is that seasonal as

2818
01:50:50,560 --> 01:50:51,199
well then?

2819
01:50:51,199 --> 01:50:52,790
>> Yeah. So that any kind of maintenance

2820
01:50:52,790 --> 01:50:52,800
» Yeah. So that any kind of maintenance

2821
01:50:52,800 --> 01:50:54,560
activity, snow removal, mowing of

2822
01:50:54,560 --> 01:50:56,480
roadside ditches, pothole patching,

2823
01:50:56,480 --> 01:51:00,239
striping, um, uh, resurfacing less than

2824
01:51:00,239 --> 01:51:02,080
two inches, uh, those kind of things.

2825
01:51:02,080 --> 01:51:05,119
So, uh, spraying for weeds within our

2826
01:51:05,119 --> 01:51:06,400
rideway. So, any kind of maintenance

2827
01:51:06,400 --> 01:51:08,400
activity, it doesn't include

2828
01:51:08,400 --> 01:51:09,760
construction projects.

2829
01:51:09,760 --> 01:51:11,669
>> Okay. So, I mean, that would be

2830
01:51:11,669 --> 01:51:11,679
» Okay. So, I mean, that would be

2831
01:51:11,679 --> 01:51:14,719
significant depending upon sanding, ice,

2832
01:51:14,719 --> 01:51:16,000
or salt.

2833
01:51:16,000 --> 01:51:16,310
>> Yeah.

2834
01:51:16,310 --> 01:51:16,320
» Yeah.

2835
01:51:16,320 --> 01:51:18,470
>> And then obviously fuel and overtime as

2836
01:51:18,470 --> 01:51:18,480
» And then obviously fuel and overtime as

2837
01:51:18,480 --> 01:51:19,360
well. So,

2838
01:51:19,360 --> 01:51:21,990
>> that's correct. You know, my experience

2839
01:51:21,990 --> 01:51:22,000
» that's correct. You know, my experience

2840
01:51:22,000 --> 01:51:23,280
has kind of showed sometimes when we

2841
01:51:23,280 --> 01:51:25,280
have a mild winter, there's this big

2842
01:51:25,280 --> 01:51:26,880
belief that, oh, we must be saving a lot

2843
01:51:26,880 --> 01:51:28,960
of money because we're not throwing out

2844
01:51:28,960 --> 01:51:30,480
salt and sand on the roads. We're not

2845
01:51:30,480 --> 01:51:32,880
burning as much diesel, which is true,

2846
01:51:32,880 --> 01:51:35,040
but the reality of it is there's other

2847
01:51:35,040 --> 01:51:36,480
maintenance activities that end up

2848
01:51:36,480 --> 01:51:38,480
taking up. What I've seen is sometimes

2849
01:51:38,480 --> 01:51:40,159
those years we ended up having more

2850
01:51:40,159 --> 01:51:42,560
pothole patching than we did in a

2851
01:51:42,560 --> 01:51:44,800
winter, more of a typical winter, or

2852
01:51:44,800 --> 01:51:46,480
maybe we're doing more crack filling.

2853
01:51:46,480 --> 01:51:49,599
Um, so maybe we save some, but it's

2854
01:51:49,599 --> 01:51:51,360
maybe not as much as we would anticipate

2855
01:51:51,360 --> 01:51:54,000
by not having to plow snow all winter.

2856
01:51:54,000 --> 01:51:55,040
There's something interesting in the

2857
01:51:55,040 --> 01:51:55,760
highway world.

2858
01:51:55,760 --> 01:51:56,709
>> Commissioner Johnson.

2859
01:51:56,709 --> 01:51:56,719
» Commissioner Johnson.

2860
01:51:56,719 --> 01:51:59,589
>> Uh, Mr. Chair, thank you.

2861
01:51:59,589 --> 01:51:59,599
» Uh, Mr. Chair, thank you.

2862
01:51:59,599 --> 01:52:02,159
Um Chris,

2863
01:52:02,159 --> 01:52:05,040
given the volatility of the price of oil

2864
01:52:05,040 --> 01:52:07,599
in 26 now,

2865
01:52:07,599 --> 01:52:09,669
>> are are we seeing increases in

2866
01:52:09,669 --> 01:52:09,679
» are are we seeing increases in

2867
01:52:09,679 --> 01:52:11,760
maintenance costs and will we be

2868
01:52:11,760 --> 01:52:14,320
projecting increases

2869
01:52:14,320 --> 01:52:17,599
into 20 into the 27 budget?

2870
01:52:17,599 --> 01:52:20,709
>> Um yeah, good question. We have seen

2871
01:52:20,709 --> 01:52:20,719
» Um yeah, good question. We have seen

2872
01:52:20,719 --> 01:52:25,360
fuel prices increase um uh but we've

2873
01:52:25,360 --> 01:52:27,599
seen fuel consumption not be as high as

2874
01:52:27,599 --> 01:52:29,679
we have in previous years.

2875
01:52:29,679 --> 01:52:33,127
For us, it gets really difficult because

2876
01:52:33,127 --> 01:52:34,639
[clears throat] we have like two snow

2877
01:52:34,639 --> 01:52:36,800
seasons in a calendar year. So, we had

2878
01:52:36,800 --> 01:52:38,960
the first half of this year be

2879
01:52:38,960 --> 01:52:41,199
relatively mild and fuel consumption was

2880
01:52:41,199 --> 01:52:44,320
probably lower than average. But, we

2881
01:52:44,320 --> 01:52:46,800
need to remember we could start be

2882
01:52:46,800 --> 01:52:48,560
plowing snow in November. What does

2883
01:52:48,560 --> 01:52:49,840
November and December going to look

2884
01:52:49,840 --> 01:52:52,159
like? Uh, it's really difficult this

2885
01:52:52,159 --> 01:52:54,080
time to kind of predict where our fuel

2886
01:52:54,080 --> 01:52:55,840
consumption is going to be and where

2887
01:52:55,840 --> 01:52:58,000
those prices are going to be right now.

2888
01:52:58,000 --> 01:53:00,719
So, we did see a slight increase in salt

2889
01:53:00,719 --> 01:53:02,400
prices. That's something that's

2890
01:53:02,400 --> 01:53:05,520
interesting. Um, you know, April May

2891
01:53:05,520 --> 01:53:07,679
year, we're putting in a quota to the

2892
01:53:07,679 --> 01:53:09,360
salt suppliers of what we're going to

2893
01:53:09,360 --> 01:53:11,679
purchase and we lock in a price per ton

2894
01:53:11,679 --> 01:53:13,520
and we've seen a slight increase in

2895
01:53:13,520 --> 01:53:16,239
price per ton at that time of year

2896
01:53:16,239 --> 01:53:20,070
>> um for the previous year. So, we have a

2897
01:53:20,070 --> 01:53:20,080
» um for the previous year. So, we have a

2898
01:53:20,080 --> 01:53:22,960
and we we put a quote of like we I don't

2899
01:53:22,960 --> 01:53:24,080
remember off the top of my head the

2900
01:53:24,080 --> 01:53:25,760
number of tons, but we say we're going

2901
01:53:25,760 --> 01:53:27,760
to commit to purchasing this many tons

2902
01:53:27,760 --> 01:53:29,599
and we're obligated to purchase at least

2903
01:53:29,599 --> 01:53:33,360
80% of that uh before next end of next

2904
01:53:33,360 --> 01:53:36,480
April of 27. So, that's where we have

2905
01:53:36,480 --> 01:53:38,719
some leeway after the first of the year.

2906
01:53:38,719 --> 01:53:42,080
Um if budgets are tight or we're over

2907
01:53:42,080 --> 01:53:45,040
and we don't purchase much salt, but

2908
01:53:45,040 --> 01:53:46,560
we'll just have to evaluate that at that

2909
01:53:46,560 --> 01:53:47,679
time.

2910
01:53:47,679 --> 01:53:48,480
Thank you,

2911
01:53:48,480 --> 01:53:49,350
>> Commissioner Perski.

2912
01:53:49,350 --> 01:53:49,360
» Commissioner Perski.

2913
01:53:49,360 --> 01:53:50,709
>> Mr. Chair, yeah, Chris, since we're

2914
01:53:50,709 --> 01:53:50,719
» Mr. Chair, yeah, Chris, since we're

2915
01:53:50,719 --> 01:53:52,480
talking about snow removal and winter

2916
01:53:52,480 --> 01:53:54,880
maintenance, uh, back when I was on the

2917
01:53:54,880 --> 01:53:57,199
council and in Mayor in Sartell, we

2918
01:53:57,199 --> 01:54:01,040
always had a snow event was5 to $8,000

2919
01:54:01,040 --> 01:54:04,560
for the city. Do you have the estimate

2920
01:54:04,560 --> 01:54:06,159
general rule of thumb for the county

2921
01:54:06,159 --> 01:54:09,440
what a snow event usually is? Um well,

2922
01:54:09,440 --> 01:54:12,480
okay, if you allow me to b uh borrow

2923
01:54:12,480 --> 01:54:14,719
from my previous experience, uh in

2924
01:54:14,719 --> 01:54:17,679
neighboring county, it was about uh

2925
01:54:17,679 --> 01:54:20,719
25,000 per snow event. In this county is

2926
01:54:20,719 --> 01:54:23,280
about four times as large. So,

2927
01:54:23,280 --> 01:54:23,669
>> okay.

2928
01:54:23,669 --> 01:54:23,679
» okay.

2929
01:54:23,679 --> 01:54:25,589
>> Uh I don't know if that that holds too

2930
01:54:25,589 --> 01:54:25,599
» Uh I don't know if that that holds too

2931
01:54:25,599 --> 01:54:27,099
or if we have gained some efficiency,

2932
01:54:27,099 --> 01:54:27,840
[snorts]

2933
01:54:27,840 --> 01:54:30,719
economy of scale there. So, when you

2934
01:54:30,719 --> 01:54:32,800
talk about labor, fuel prices, the

2935
01:54:32,800 --> 01:54:34,320
cutting edge is iron, the materials that

2936
01:54:34,320 --> 01:54:36,320
you're throwing out, it adds up rather

2937
01:54:36,320 --> 01:54:37,840
quickly. And if the snow is on the

2938
01:54:37,840 --> 01:54:39,840
weekend, we're paying overtime.

2939
01:54:39,840 --> 01:54:41,109
>> Yes. Correct. Yeah.

2940
01:54:41,109 --> 01:54:41,119
» Yes. Correct. Yeah.

2941
01:54:41,119 --> 01:54:42,629
>> Okay. Which

2942
01:54:42,629 --> 01:54:42,639
» Okay. Which

2943
01:54:42,639 --> 01:54:44,229
>> it's not going to happen the next couple

2944
01:54:44,229 --> 01:54:44,239
» it's not going to happen the next couple

2945
01:54:44,239 --> 01:54:45,119
of days.

2946
01:54:45,119 --> 01:54:47,394
>> We got to plan our snow snow events.

2947
01:54:47,394 --> 01:54:47,404
» We got to plan our snow snow events.

2948
01:54:47,404 --> 01:54:51,989
[laughter] Yeah. Um Yeah. And and

2949
01:54:51,989 --> 01:54:52,880
[snorts]

2950
01:54:52,880 --> 01:54:55,199
you can't always look back at the number

2951
01:54:55,199 --> 01:54:57,440
of days he had precipitation. Um even

2952
01:54:57,440 --> 01:54:59,040
though we didn't have precipitation, was

2953
01:54:59,040 --> 01:55:00,719
wind a factor? Did we send have to send

2954
01:55:00,719 --> 01:55:02,800
trucks back out? even though we didn't

2955
01:55:02,800 --> 01:55:04,719
have precipitation, did we have drifting

2956
01:55:04,719 --> 01:55:06,399
and we had to go clear roads again.

2957
01:55:06,399 --> 01:55:09,199
[snorts] So, um it's not always a direct

2958
01:55:09,199 --> 01:55:10,800
correlation between the number of days

2959
01:55:10,800 --> 01:55:12,719
of precipitation to what our snow

2960
01:55:12,719 --> 01:55:14,080
removal costs are.

2961
01:55:14,080 --> 01:55:17,430
>> Yeah.

2962
01:55:17,440 --> 01:55:19,280
» Um well, since we're talking about that

2963
01:55:19,280 --> 01:55:20,960
on the right side of this slide, uh snow

2964
01:55:20,960 --> 01:55:22,480
and ice removal times, there's our

2965
01:55:22,480 --> 01:55:25,360
targets for um our roads. We kind of

2966
01:55:25,360 --> 01:55:26,480
break them down to three different

2967
01:55:26,480 --> 01:55:29,679
categories based on traffic volumes. And

2968
01:55:29,679 --> 01:55:32,239
this is something that we strive on. You

2969
01:55:32,239 --> 01:55:34,159
look at the time there and obviously

2970
01:55:34,159 --> 01:55:35,920
we're prioritizing the higher volume

2971
01:55:35,920 --> 01:55:39,280
roads and try to uh put more uh trucks

2972
01:55:39,280 --> 01:55:41,440
and equipment to those and get those

2973
01:55:41,440 --> 01:55:43,920
cleared sooner than some of our lower

2974
01:55:43,920 --> 01:55:46,400
volume roads. As we try to gain

2975
01:55:46,400 --> 01:55:48,480
efficiencies, there is a point of

2976
01:55:48,480 --> 01:55:52,639
diminishing returns as roads get more

2977
01:55:52,639 --> 01:55:54,960
and more traffic on them. You know, our

2978
01:55:54,960 --> 01:55:57,599
plow trucks will get clogged up in that

2979
01:55:57,599 --> 01:55:59,440
traffic. So there, I just wanted to

2980
01:55:59,440 --> 01:56:00,960
preface it. There gets to be a point

2981
01:56:00,960 --> 01:56:02,960
where we're not going to gain any more

2982
01:56:02,960 --> 01:56:05,199
efficiencies as the road becomes higher

2983
01:56:05,199 --> 01:56:06,639
higher volume traffic because we're

2984
01:56:06,639 --> 01:56:08,320
stuck in the same traffic that everybody

2985
01:56:08,320 --> 01:56:10,880
else is driving in. So as we continue to

2986
01:56:10,880 --> 01:56:12,639
try to be more efficient and get those

2987
01:56:12,639 --> 01:56:15,679
times down, um there's only so much that

2988
01:56:15,679 --> 01:56:16,960
we can do with the traffic that we're

2989
01:56:16,960 --> 01:56:19,840
on. Jumping to the left side of this

2990
01:56:19,840 --> 01:56:22,400
slide, uh our road program, and this is

2991
01:56:22,400 --> 01:56:24,000
something I'll admit, I'm going to just

2992
01:56:24,000 --> 01:56:26,719
take this on the chin. this year um did

2993
01:56:26,719 --> 01:56:28,560
not get a new 5-year road program

2994
01:56:28,560 --> 01:56:31,920
adopted by July 1st and and that's just

2995
01:56:31,920 --> 01:56:34,639
a big reason for me being new. Um we

2996
01:56:34,639 --> 01:56:36,480
look at a lot of data to determine what

2997
01:56:36,480 --> 01:56:39,920
roads need to be uh reconstructed or

2998
01:56:39,920 --> 01:56:43,119
resurfaced or or what have you and

2999
01:56:43,119 --> 01:56:44,719
scheduling that like I mentioned earlier

3000
01:56:44,719 --> 01:56:46,480
trying to do the right action at the

3001
01:56:46,480 --> 01:56:49,040
right time of the roadway. and I just

3002
01:56:49,040 --> 01:56:50,960
needed time to look at that data and

3003
01:56:50,960 --> 01:56:53,360
kind of pick which roads need to be done

3004
01:56:53,360 --> 01:56:56,080
um in the fifth year. Another thing we

3005
01:56:56,080 --> 01:56:57,760
try to strive for too is having all of

3006
01:56:57,760 --> 01:56:59,679
our large projects have the bid openings

3007
01:56:59,679 --> 01:57:02,320
by June 15th. There's one rather large

3008
01:57:02,320 --> 01:57:04,239
project that's programmed for this

3009
01:57:04,239 --> 01:57:05,920
current year and that's the traffic

3010
01:57:05,920 --> 01:57:09,440
signal upgrades on Cass 75 through St.

3011
01:57:09,440 --> 01:57:13,360
Joe uh and Way Park St. Cloud. That's a

3012
01:57:13,360 --> 01:57:15,679
that's about a $5 million project and

3013
01:57:15,679 --> 01:57:17,840
we're receiving about $3.9 million of

3014
01:57:17,840 --> 01:57:20,080
federal funding. Um once again due to

3015
01:57:20,080 --> 01:57:22,320
the vacancies and me coming on board uh

3016
01:57:22,320 --> 01:57:24,320
that design schedule just not did not

3017
01:57:24,320 --> 01:57:27,360
progress as it should have and we have

3018
01:57:27,360 --> 01:57:29,040
final plans now that have been submitted

3019
01:57:29,040 --> 01:57:31,040
to the state for review. We're hoping

3020
01:57:31,040 --> 01:57:33,360
for a September bid opening on that

3021
01:57:33,360 --> 01:57:35,679
project that will allow the contractor

3022
01:57:35,679 --> 01:57:38,560
to order materials over the winter and

3023
01:57:38,560 --> 01:57:41,040
start uh constructing those new signals

3024
01:57:41,040 --> 01:57:44,719
uh next spring along 75. Um

3025
01:57:44,719 --> 01:57:46,550
>> and Mr. Chair, we we'll be talking about

3026
01:57:46,550 --> 01:57:46,560
» and Mr. Chair, we we'll be talking about

3027
01:57:46,560 --> 01:57:48,719
the 5-year program at the August meeting

3028
01:57:48,719 --> 01:57:50,159
when we have a work session on the

3029
01:57:50,159 --> 01:57:51,199
highway budget.

3030
01:57:51,199 --> 01:57:54,870
>> Yeah. So, that's where we're at on that.

3031
01:57:54,870 --> 01:57:54,880
» Yeah. So, that's where we're at on that.

3032
01:57:54,880 --> 01:57:58,400
One one quick question side note. Um,

3033
01:57:58,400 --> 01:58:01,440
has has the county ended up hiring you a

3034
01:58:01,440 --> 01:58:04,320
weed inspector yet or egg inspector?

3035
01:58:04,320 --> 01:58:05,189
>> Uh, [laughter]

3036
01:58:05,189 --> 01:58:05,199
» Uh, [laughter]

3037
01:58:05,199 --> 01:58:07,760
no. Um, and um, it was interesting. We

3038
01:58:07,760 --> 01:58:09,440
were warned that if we didn't hire

3039
01:58:09,440 --> 01:58:11,199
somebody by June, our phones would be

3040
01:58:11,199 --> 01:58:12,800
ringing off the hook. And sure enough,

3041
01:58:12,800 --> 01:58:14,400
that happened. So,

3042
01:58:14,400 --> 01:58:14,790
>> okay.

3043
01:58:14,790 --> 01:58:14,800
» okay.

3044
01:58:14,800 --> 01:58:15,270
>> Um,

3045
01:58:15,270 --> 01:58:15,280
» Um,

3046
01:58:15,280 --> 01:58:16,070
>> all right.

3047
01:58:16,070 --> 01:58:16,080
» all right.

3048
01:58:16,080 --> 01:58:19,270
>> So, we're that position got re-evaluated

3049
01:58:19,270 --> 01:58:19,280
» So, we're that position got re-evaluated

3050
01:58:19,280 --> 01:58:21,760
u after the vacancy and and that's where

3051
01:58:21,760 --> 01:58:23,280
it is right now. We're we're hoping to

3052
01:58:23,280 --> 01:58:25,119
get that advertised here pretty soon.

3053
01:58:25,119 --> 01:58:27,040
Um, I've learned that our weed

3054
01:58:27,040 --> 01:58:29,040
inspector, uh, Mr. Dunning, did a lot

3055
01:58:29,040 --> 01:58:31,440
for this county and a lot for our

3056
01:58:31,440 --> 01:58:33,360
partners in the county that it's going

3057
01:58:33,360 --> 01:58:35,599
to be tough to fill, but um, we'll be

3058
01:58:35,599 --> 01:58:37,040
optimistic and hopefully we have that

3059
01:58:37,040 --> 01:58:39,199
filled by by the fall.

3060
01:58:39,199 --> 01:58:39,750
>> Okay,

3061
01:58:39,750 --> 01:58:39,760
» Okay,

3062
01:58:39,760 --> 01:58:42,310
>> Mr. Chair, usually in in cities it

3063
01:58:42,310 --> 01:58:42,320
» Mr. Chair, usually in in cities it

3064
01:58:42,320 --> 01:58:44,080
defaults to the mayor. So, I'm just

3065
01:58:44,080 --> 01:58:46,482
wondering if it defaults to you.

3066
01:58:46,482 --> 01:58:47,199
[laughter]

3067
01:58:47,199 --> 01:58:48,310
>> I could do it. I did it for the

3068
01:58:48,310 --> 01:58:48,320
» I could do it. I did it for the

3069
01:58:48,320 --> 01:58:50,320
township.

3070
01:58:50,320 --> 01:58:52,560
One thing uh Bob Dunning was good about

3071
01:58:52,560 --> 01:58:55,199
was getting grants for you know noxious

3072
01:58:55,199 --> 01:58:57,599
weed eradication. What's interesting is

3073
01:58:57,599 --> 01:58:59,199
June is also the time frame of when

3074
01:58:59,199 --> 01:59:01,920
those grant applications were due. So me

3075
01:59:01,920 --> 01:59:04,480
and with the help of our environmental

3076
01:59:04,480 --> 01:59:07,760
uh technician we muddled our way through

3077
01:59:07,760 --> 01:59:09,599
a grant application. So hopefully we get

3078
01:59:09,599 --> 01:59:11,840
some funding to do that continue that

3079
01:59:11,840 --> 01:59:13,920
work. Um it just didn't seem like

3080
01:59:13,920 --> 01:59:14,960
something we couldn't wait for that

3081
01:59:14,960 --> 01:59:17,920
position to get filled. Uh, and I don't

3082
01:59:17,920 --> 01:59:19,119
know how good of an application it was

3083
01:59:19,119 --> 01:59:20,480
compared to what we submitted

3084
01:59:20,480 --> 01:59:22,320
previously. We'll see.

3085
01:59:22,320 --> 01:59:24,390
>> That's all right. I just I I just knew I

3086
01:59:24,390 --> 01:59:24,400
» That's all right. I just I I just knew I

3087
01:59:24,400 --> 01:59:26,400
had asked you that once before. So,

3088
01:59:26,400 --> 01:59:28,310
>> yeah. All right. Thanks.

3089
01:59:28,310 --> 01:59:28,320
» yeah. All right. Thanks.

3090
01:59:28,320 --> 01:59:32,310
>> What about the uh your uh financial

3091
01:59:32,310 --> 01:59:32,320
» What about the uh your uh financial

3092
01:59:32,320 --> 01:59:33,350
>> uh position?

3093
01:59:33,350 --> 01:59:33,360
» uh position?

3094
01:59:33,360 --> 01:59:35,589
>> Yeah. Uh we're still still working on

3095
01:59:35,589 --> 01:59:35,599
» Yeah. Uh we're still still working on

3096
01:59:35,599 --> 01:59:37,440
recruiting that. That's been challenging

3097
01:59:37,440 --> 01:59:39,440
and frustrating. There's been applicants

3098
01:59:39,440 --> 01:59:41,119
that we've interviewed, brought in

3099
01:59:41,119 --> 01:59:44,480
second view interviews, liked, and we go

3100
01:59:44,480 --> 01:59:45,920
to the next step with them only to find

3101
01:59:45,920 --> 01:59:47,360
out they've been offered employment

3102
01:59:47,360 --> 01:59:50,719
elsewhere and choose that. So, um, in

3103
01:59:50,719 --> 01:59:53,119
many regards, I feel like we're moving

3104
01:59:53,119 --> 01:59:54,960
faster than what counties normally do on

3105
01:59:54,960 --> 01:59:58,000
these these applicants, but, um, it's

3106
01:59:58,000 --> 01:59:59,920
still been a challenge to to fill that

3107
01:59:59,920 --> 02:00:02,320
position. um those are highly

3108
02:00:02,320 --> 02:00:04,239
soughtafter positions and we're

3109
02:00:04,239 --> 02:00:06,159
competing against private companies for

3110
02:00:06,159 --> 02:00:08,358
for that level of expertise and

3111
02:00:08,358 --> 02:00:10,960
[clears throat] I just um haven't got

3112
02:00:10,960 --> 02:00:12,239
that filled yet. So

3113
02:00:12,239 --> 02:00:14,390
>> okay,

3114
02:00:14,390 --> 02:00:14,400
» okay,

3115
02:00:14,400 --> 02:00:15,589
>> thank you.

3116
02:00:15,589 --> 02:00:15,599
» thank you.

3117
02:00:15,599 --> 02:00:19,030
>> Is it me? All right,

3118
02:00:19,030 --> 02:00:19,040
» Is it me? All right,

3119
02:00:19,040 --> 02:00:20,639
Mr. Chair, we have Melissa Huberty with

3120
02:00:20,639 --> 02:00:24,470
human services.

3121
02:00:24,480 --> 02:00:25,920
» All right, Melissa Huberty, human

3122
02:00:25,920 --> 02:00:27,679
services administrator. The first two

3123
02:00:27,679 --> 02:00:30,080
items um fit in the category of

3124
02:00:30,080 --> 02:00:32,080
notmandated services. So I've been asked

3125
02:00:32,080 --> 02:00:34,400
about that before. Almost all of human

3126
02:00:34,400 --> 02:00:36,400
services is mandated. These first two

3127
02:00:36,400 --> 02:00:37,840
items we're going to go through are the

3128
02:00:37,840 --> 02:00:39,440
community action team and the juvenile

3129
02:00:39,440 --> 02:00:41,280
community action team. They are not

3130
02:00:41,280 --> 02:00:42,960
mandated services, but they're very

3131
02:00:42,960 --> 02:00:44,960
smart because they help pre they're all

3132
02:00:44,960 --> 02:00:47,520
about prevention and they prevent us

3133
02:00:47,520 --> 02:00:49,679
having to move to the deep end services.

3134
02:00:49,679 --> 02:00:51,199
So with the first one, it's the

3135
02:00:51,199 --> 02:00:52,719
community action team. It's a

3136
02:00:52,719 --> 02:00:55,599
partnership with the emergency

3137
02:00:55,599 --> 02:00:57,440
department, centric care, law

3138
02:00:57,440 --> 02:00:59,440
enforcement,

3139
02:00:59,440 --> 02:01:01,360
um, central Minnesota mental health

3140
02:01:01,360 --> 02:01:04,159
center, um, our sheriff's office and

3141
02:01:04,159 --> 02:01:06,400
human services and we still meet

3142
02:01:06,400 --> 02:01:08,960
regularly and we take those very high

3143
02:01:08,960 --> 02:01:11,840
deepend cases that are rotating in and

3144
02:01:11,840 --> 02:01:14,239
out of the system in all of our areas.

3145
02:01:14,239 --> 02:01:16,800
We wrap a team around them and we

3146
02:01:16,800 --> 02:01:19,040
prevent a lot of those most expensive

3147
02:01:19,040 --> 02:01:21,040
services. And so in the first couple

3148
02:01:21,040 --> 02:01:23,840
years of this, we had sort of a control

3149
02:01:23,840 --> 02:01:26,400
group. We knew about with good g a good

3150
02:01:26,400 --> 02:01:28,239
estimate of how often people go to the

3151
02:01:28,239 --> 02:01:30,080
ER, how long they're hanging out in

3152
02:01:30,080 --> 02:01:34,000
jail. Um, and we put a monetary cost to

3153
02:01:34,000 --> 02:01:36,320
that. And so we continue to save quite a

3154
02:01:36,320 --> 02:01:38,880
bit of uh money in the system. And if

3155
02:01:38,880 --> 02:01:41,360
you were at CJCC, our criminal justice

3156
02:01:41,360 --> 02:01:43,360
coordinating committee this morning, uh

3157
02:01:43,360 --> 02:01:45,119
the sheriff's office mentioned the

3158
02:01:45,119 --> 02:01:47,920
community action team, and having a big

3159
02:01:47,920 --> 02:01:50,800
po uh play in terms of helping people

3160
02:01:50,800 --> 02:01:53,599
get out of their jail system a little

3161
02:01:53,599 --> 02:01:56,080
more quickly. So, um the next one is the

3162
02:01:56,080 --> 02:01:58,639
juvenile community action team um that

3163
02:01:58,639 --> 02:02:00,639
we referenced this morning uh when we

3164
02:02:00,639 --> 02:02:03,360
presented on our services. And for the

3165
02:02:03,360 --> 02:02:06,239
first time ever, this is a collaboration

3166
02:02:06,239 --> 02:02:09,040
um with school systems. And we're

3167
02:02:09,040 --> 02:02:10,719
finally getting out more into the rural

3168
02:02:10,719 --> 02:02:13,040
areas. And for the first time ever, we

3169
02:02:13,040 --> 02:02:15,360
have more kids exiting care than we have

3170
02:02:15,360 --> 02:02:17,679
kids entering care. So, we know we're

3171
02:02:17,679 --> 02:02:20,320
doing a good job. We're also no longer

3172
02:02:20,320 --> 02:02:22,400
needing to prioritize these families

3173
02:02:22,400 --> 02:02:24,639
with nine or 10 or 12 children. We can

3174
02:02:24,639 --> 02:02:26,560
get down to the one or two children as

3175
02:02:26,560 --> 02:02:29,520
well. So, having success there. Um

3176
02:02:29,520 --> 02:02:31,360
finally, community safety. This is in

3177
02:02:31,360 --> 02:02:34,000
our community corrections area. Um with

3178
02:02:34,000 --> 02:02:36,239
supervised release, that's parole. If

3179
02:02:36,239 --> 02:02:37,840
for folks who don't know the new

3180
02:02:37,840 --> 02:02:40,880
verbiage, um and probation, we have um

3181
02:02:40,880 --> 02:02:42,320
we're fitting both the guidelines right

3182
02:02:42,320 --> 02:02:46,400
now. It's a 65% at least or above or 85%

3183
02:02:46,400 --> 02:02:50,080
for um felony level no crime within 3

3184
02:02:50,080 --> 02:02:52,000
years. It's measured five years later

3185
02:02:52,000 --> 02:02:54,960
because it's um me the data is collected

3186
02:02:54,960 --> 02:02:57,360
three years after the case is closed and

3187
02:02:57,360 --> 02:02:59,199
then making sure all the court processes

3188
02:02:59,199 --> 02:03:04,790
are processed. So that's that.

3189
02:03:04,800 --> 02:03:07,599
Thank you, Melissa. Um, so next we have

3190
02:03:07,599 --> 02:03:10,159
uh property services. So state law

3191
02:03:10,159 --> 02:03:12,080
requires the review of each taxable

3192
02:03:12,080 --> 02:03:15,119
parcel every 5 years. And so we do a

3193
02:03:15,119 --> 02:03:17,679
fifth of those or 20% of those parcels

3194
02:03:17,679 --> 02:03:20,080
annually um evaluating those properties

3195
02:03:20,080 --> 02:03:23,520
for market value. Um so you can see here

3196
02:03:23,520 --> 02:03:25,520
that our county is ahead of the curve

3197
02:03:25,520 --> 02:03:28,480
when it comes to doing those assessments

3198
02:03:28,480 --> 02:03:31,440
um with almost 100% compliance um or

3199
02:03:31,440 --> 02:03:36,080
100% evaluation uh ongoing. And then the

3200
02:03:36,080 --> 02:03:37,760
next one from property services deals

3201
02:03:37,760 --> 02:03:40,960
with compliant recording practices. Uh

3202
02:03:40,960 --> 02:03:43,679
so the state requires that real estate

3203
02:03:43,679 --> 02:03:45,920
documents um and records are processed

3204
02:03:45,920 --> 02:03:47,679
within 10 days. You'll see that we

3205
02:03:47,679 --> 02:03:50,080
consistently hit that mark. COVID did

3206
02:03:50,080 --> 02:03:53,119
throw us for a a loop there, but um

3207
02:03:53,119 --> 02:03:58,550
we've recovered to 100% compliance.

3208
02:03:58,560 --> 02:04:01,520
And I'm also going to pitch it for parks

3209
02:04:01,520 --> 02:04:04,639
as well. So you'll see um the data point

3210
02:04:04,639 --> 02:04:06,560
we collect for them are visitors per

3211
02:04:06,560 --> 02:04:08,719
thousand. This is one of those uh

3212
02:04:08,719 --> 02:04:12,320
measures that the state has in their um

3213
02:04:12,320 --> 02:04:16,480
their program. Um, so that number equals

3214
02:04:16,480 --> 02:04:20,560
out to about 700 740,000 people visited

3215
02:04:20,560 --> 02:04:23,280
the parks within 2025. You're seeing a

3216
02:04:23,280 --> 02:04:26,080
significant jump there because we've

3217
02:04:26,080 --> 02:04:30,639
improved our counting. So, um, before we

3218
02:04:30,639 --> 02:04:32,719
had vehicle counters, park staff

3219
02:04:32,719 --> 02:04:34,239
observation,

3220
02:04:34,239 --> 02:04:36,480
um, and now in 2025, we have more

3221
02:04:36,480 --> 02:04:38,639
accurate data using cell phone data from

3222
02:04:38,639 --> 02:04:40,000
the regional parks and trails

3223
02:04:40,000 --> 02:04:42,719
commission. So, we'll probably see um

3224
02:04:42,719 --> 02:04:44,560
good data collection from that in the

3225
02:04:44,560 --> 02:04:48,149
years going forward.

3226
02:04:48,159 --> 02:04:49,760
All right. And now we have uh the

3227
02:04:49,760 --> 02:04:52,400
sheriff's office. And I'll note with um

3228
02:04:52,400 --> 02:04:55,920
the sheriff's data points that um he's

3229
02:04:55,920 --> 02:04:56,960
doing something a little bit different

3230
02:04:56,960 --> 02:04:58,960
this year. So, he's going to tell us

3231
02:04:58,960 --> 02:05:02,000
about his plans.

3232
02:05:02,000 --> 02:05:04,390
>> Uh hello. Yes, we have no information

3233
02:05:04,390 --> 02:05:04,400
» Uh hello. Yes, we have no information

3234
02:05:04,400 --> 02:05:07,119
basically. So, um [laughter] after uh

3235
02:05:07,119 --> 02:05:09,679
well, that's a good plan. So it can only

3236
02:05:09,679 --> 02:05:11,920
go up from there. Um [laughter]

3237
02:05:11,920 --> 02:05:13,520
yeah, after years of doing the kind of

3238
02:05:13,520 --> 02:05:15,840
the same uh performance measures, we

3239
02:05:15,840 --> 02:05:17,360
decided to take a look at different

3240
02:05:17,360 --> 02:05:18,800
things that we're doing in the sheriff's

3241
02:05:18,800 --> 02:05:21,040
office. So uh one uh we're going to

3242
02:05:21,040 --> 02:05:24,560
focus on the dispatch center. Um

3243
02:05:24,560 --> 02:05:26,400
with our new technology with Tyler

3244
02:05:26,400 --> 02:05:28,400
technology, we're able to look at the

3245
02:05:28,400 --> 02:05:30,719
the answering times and the how long

3246
02:05:30,719 --> 02:05:32,239
somebody might sit in a queue and wait

3247
02:05:32,239 --> 02:05:34,480
and those type of things. Uh and we want

3248
02:05:34,480 --> 02:05:37,119
to take a look at that presently. and

3249
02:05:37,119 --> 02:05:40,239
then um probably invoking some AI and

3250
02:05:40,239 --> 02:05:41,920
some technology. We're researching some

3251
02:05:41,920 --> 02:05:44,400
things to maybe bring into the uh uh

3252
02:05:44,400 --> 02:05:46,239
dispatch center next year and see how

3253
02:05:46,239 --> 02:05:48,080
that might improve our services and

3254
02:05:48,080 --> 02:05:50,480
customer service and uh get people to

3255
02:05:50,480 --> 02:05:52,320
the right resources and the right places

3256
02:05:52,320 --> 02:05:54,560
that they need to be um when they call

3257
02:05:54,560 --> 02:05:56,560
our dispatch center. The other uh thing,

3258
02:05:56,560 --> 02:05:58,719
as you know, uh jail programs has really

3259
02:05:58,719 --> 02:06:02,639
taken on a a large uh um footprint in

3260
02:06:02,639 --> 02:06:04,400
our in our jail. We've actually got a

3261
02:06:04,400 --> 02:06:06,639
full-time person now running uh just our

3262
02:06:06,639 --> 02:06:08,239
Ignite program through the National

3263
02:06:08,239 --> 02:06:11,920
Sheriff's Association. Uh I um was able

3264
02:06:11,920 --> 02:06:14,080
to happily report to uh Commissioner

3265
02:06:14,080 --> 02:06:16,880
Clark at our meeting um that we had our

3266
02:06:16,880 --> 02:06:21,199
first um uh person go through and uh and

3267
02:06:21,199 --> 02:06:23,360
uh from the civil commitment side of uh

3268
02:06:23,360 --> 02:06:25,119
we're a part of that uh program right

3269
02:06:25,119 --> 02:06:28,000
now with the grant uh pilot program if

3270
02:06:28,000 --> 02:06:30,800
you would uh to get people um back to

3271
02:06:30,800 --> 02:06:32,719
being able to go to court uh that are

3272
02:06:32,719 --> 02:06:34,480
coming in uh and we're able to do that

3273
02:06:34,480 --> 02:06:36,079
internally. So, we're just taking a look

3274
02:06:36,079 --> 02:06:37,920
at our jail programs and everything that

3275
02:06:37,920 --> 02:06:40,719
we offer. Uh, and as of like the other

3276
02:06:40,719 --> 02:06:43,280
day, I think we have 86%

3277
02:06:43,280 --> 02:06:45,199
uh attendance rate of our inmates

3278
02:06:45,199 --> 02:06:46,719
attending some type of programming,

3279
02:06:46,719 --> 02:06:50,880
whether it's education uh or AA or um

3280
02:06:50,880 --> 02:06:52,400
are trying to get some degrees or

3281
02:06:52,400 --> 02:06:55,280
certifications so that they're uh um you

3282
02:06:55,280 --> 02:06:56,880
know, employable when they get out and

3283
02:06:56,880 --> 02:06:58,239
have a better life when they get out and

3284
02:06:58,239 --> 02:07:00,320
they don't come back to our jail. So, uh

3285
02:07:00,320 --> 02:07:02,480
this is all brand new for us. So we will

3286
02:07:02,480 --> 02:07:05,520
have a basically starting at a a base

3287
02:07:05,520 --> 02:07:07,199
level and by next year when I come back

3288
02:07:07,199 --> 02:07:09,199
and report hopefully we have better

3289
02:07:09,199 --> 02:07:11,440
numbers uh better stats and all

3290
02:07:11,440 --> 02:07:15,040
positivity things.

3291
02:07:15,040 --> 02:07:16,149
>> Good. Thank you.

3292
02:07:16,149 --> 02:07:16,159
» Good. Thank you.

3293
02:07:16,159 --> 02:07:17,750
>> Commissioner Johnson, do you

3294
02:07:17,750 --> 02:07:17,760
» Commissioner Johnson, do you

3295
02:07:17,760 --> 02:07:20,709
>> I do have Steve I have a question for

3296
02:07:20,709 --> 02:07:20,719
» I do have Steve I have a question for

3297
02:07:20,719 --> 02:07:22,639
you and [snorts] it's related to more of

3298
02:07:22,639 --> 02:07:25,119
the detailed lists that I went through

3299
02:07:25,119 --> 02:07:27,520
ear well

3300
02:07:27,520 --> 02:07:30,079
a while back. Um

3301
02:07:30,079 --> 02:07:32,159
I noticed in terms of the programs there

3302
02:07:32,159 --> 02:07:34,639
are a number of uh religiously

3303
02:07:34,639 --> 02:07:36,719
associated ones, faith community

3304
02:07:36,719 --> 02:07:37,840
associated ones, excuse me.

3305
02:07:37,840 --> 02:07:38,629
>> Correct.

3306
02:07:38,629 --> 02:07:38,639
» Correct.

3307
02:07:38,639 --> 02:07:41,189
>> Um are those folks volunteering to do

3308
02:07:41,189 --> 02:07:41,199
» Um are those folks volunteering to do

3309
02:07:41,199 --> 02:07:43,199
those programs or are we soliciting

3310
02:07:43,199 --> 02:07:44,639
people to [snorts] do those programs?

3311
02:07:44,639 --> 02:07:47,109
>> The people coming in to do them or the

3312
02:07:47,109 --> 02:07:47,119
» The people coming in to do them or the

3313
02:07:47,119 --> 02:07:47,840
inmates

3314
02:07:47,840 --> 02:07:50,950
>> the the faith communities themselves

3315
02:07:50,950 --> 02:07:50,960
» the the faith communities themselves

3316
02:07:50,960 --> 02:07:53,920
coming in to do it. is that

3317
02:07:53,920 --> 02:07:56,229
>> so we have something on our website that

3318
02:07:56,229 --> 02:07:56,239
» so we have something on our website that

3319
02:07:56,239 --> 02:07:58,480
uh basically if you want to come in and

3320
02:07:58,480 --> 02:08:00,639
volunteer as an organization you can uh

3321
02:08:00,639 --> 02:08:03,040
when I came in as sheriff uh we had 23

3322
02:08:03,040 --> 02:08:04,800
programs and 20 of them were faith-based

3323
02:08:04,800 --> 02:08:06,400
of some kind or another which makes

3324
02:08:06,400 --> 02:08:08,560
sense because those are the the people

3325
02:08:08,560 --> 02:08:10,639
that will volunteer and will come in to

3326
02:08:10,639 --> 02:08:13,280
try and uh make things better um but we

3327
02:08:13,280 --> 02:08:15,280
had very little on the education side so

3328
02:08:15,280 --> 02:08:17,760
I was set about trying to change that

3329
02:08:17,760 --> 02:08:20,000
over the last few years to kind of equal

3330
02:08:20,000 --> 02:08:21,920
out the religious side of things along

3331
02:08:21,920 --> 02:08:23,920
with the uh educational side of things

3332
02:08:23,920 --> 02:08:25,840
and and since then we've had our some

3333
02:08:25,840 --> 02:08:27,920
GED graduates which we hadn't had in

3334
02:08:27,920 --> 02:08:30,719
about 15 years and uh and uh and

3335
02:08:30,719 --> 02:08:32,480
bringing in the virtual reality and the

3336
02:08:32,480 --> 02:08:34,400
education thing. But yes, the the

3337
02:08:34,400 --> 02:08:36,159
faith-based programs are the ones that

3338
02:08:36,159 --> 02:08:38,320
come in uh um that's where you're going

3339
02:08:38,320 --> 02:08:41,280
to see a lot of you know the volunteers

3340
02:08:41,280 --> 02:08:42,000
for that,

3341
02:08:42,000 --> 02:08:44,870
>> right? And and I appreciate the whole

3342
02:08:44,870 --> 02:08:44,880
» right? And and I appreciate the whole

3343
02:08:44,880 --> 02:08:46,560
list. I mean you're doing a lot of work

3344
02:08:46,560 --> 02:08:48,639
with these inmates through all these

3345
02:08:48,639 --> 02:08:50,159
these programs and I [snorts] appreciate

3346
02:08:50,159 --> 02:08:52,880
that very much. My my my real question

3347
02:08:52,880 --> 02:08:55,040
was is this something we're soliciting

3348
02:08:55,040 --> 02:08:57,199
or are people volunteering? And you said

3349
02:08:57,199 --> 02:08:58,800
they're volunteering to do the work.

3350
02:08:58,800 --> 02:09:00,629
>> Well, they're all voluntary. Uh we don't

3351
02:09:00,629 --> 02:09:00,639
» Well, they're all voluntary. Uh we don't

3352
02:09:00,639 --> 02:09:02,159
go out and go to find churches and say,

3353
02:09:02,159 --> 02:09:03,520
"Hey, do you want to come and do a

3354
02:09:03,520 --> 02:09:05,440
program in our jail, but if they have a

3355
02:09:05,440 --> 02:09:07,520
program or something that uh you know,

3356
02:09:07,520 --> 02:09:10,000
for instance um

3357
02:09:10,000 --> 02:09:11,840
is maybe it's not odd, but we have the

3358
02:09:11,840 --> 02:09:13,599
Menanites come in for a Christmas

3359
02:09:13,599 --> 02:09:16,719
concert um just in December, and they

3360
02:09:16,719 --> 02:09:18,800
offered to come and do that. We it it is

3361
02:09:18,800 --> 02:09:20,880
a little staff consuming just because we

3362
02:09:20,880 --> 02:09:22,719
have to secure everybody, search all

3363
02:09:22,719 --> 02:09:24,800
their stuff as they come in. But uh so

3364
02:09:24,800 --> 02:09:26,800
they they solicited us, I guess, if you

3365
02:09:26,800 --> 02:09:28,719
would. Yeah. Um and volunteered to come

3366
02:09:28,719 --> 02:09:30,400
in, but we're not actively going out.

3367
02:09:30,400 --> 02:09:32,079
But we'll certainly listen to anybody

3368
02:09:32,079 --> 02:09:34,000
that wants to come in. Uh it's just a

3369
02:09:34,000 --> 02:09:36,560
matter of um timing and and how much

3370
02:09:36,560 --> 02:09:38,560
time there is in a day to get programs

3371
02:09:38,560 --> 02:09:39,679
in and done.

3372
02:09:39,679 --> 02:09:41,510
>> Yeah. Thank you so much. Thanks.

3373
02:09:41,510 --> 02:09:41,520
» Yeah. Thank you so much. Thanks.

3374
02:09:41,520 --> 02:09:42,550
>> Yeah,

3375
02:09:42,550 --> 02:09:42,560
» Yeah,

3376
02:09:42,560 --> 02:09:43,510
>> Commissioner Perski.

3377
02:09:43,510 --> 02:09:43,520
» Commissioner Perski.

3378
02:09:43,520 --> 02:09:44,790
>> Yeah, Mr.

3379
02:09:44,790 --> 02:09:44,800
» Yeah, Mr.

3380
02:09:44,800 --> 02:09:47,040
Steve, that online learning has maybe

3381
02:09:47,040 --> 02:09:48,639
really evolved over the last few years.

3382
02:09:48,639 --> 02:09:50,480
I would imagine it gives us quite a few

3383
02:09:50,480 --> 02:09:52,639
opportunities for people.

3384
02:09:52,639 --> 02:09:54,950
>> Yes, we are definitely employing

3385
02:09:54,950 --> 02:09:54,960
» Yes, we are definitely employing

3386
02:09:54,960 --> 02:09:57,280
technology. Uh there's notebooks now in

3387
02:09:57,280 --> 02:10:00,320
the jail that uh the inmates uh you know

3388
02:10:00,320 --> 02:10:04,079
um can do GED all day long if they want.

3389
02:10:04,079 --> 02:10:05,360
For instance, if you want to get your

3390
02:10:05,360 --> 02:10:06,380
high school diploma, maybe

3391
02:10:06,380 --> 02:10:08,400
[clears throat] your night owl, you stay

3392
02:10:08,400 --> 02:10:10,960
up in your cell all night and you can

3393
02:10:10,960 --> 02:10:12,560
take all your courses, you know, right

3394
02:10:12,560 --> 02:10:15,040
in your cell at night. Uh so uh using

3395
02:10:15,040 --> 02:10:17,760
just technology and uh you know the the

3396
02:10:17,760 --> 02:10:20,000
notebooks have been a huge thing for us.

3397
02:10:20,000 --> 02:10:22,639
Uh the virtual reality headsets uh as

3398
02:10:22,639 --> 02:10:25,440
I've mentioned in the past uh um they

3399
02:10:25,440 --> 02:10:27,599
can put those on and manipulate [snorts]

3400
02:10:27,599 --> 02:10:30,719
um tools and uh and u you know get

3401
02:10:30,719 --> 02:10:32,800
certifications uh while it doesn't sound

3402
02:10:32,800 --> 02:10:34,560
like much. They can get certified to do

3403
02:10:34,560 --> 02:10:36,480
say like your basic oil changes and get

3404
02:10:36,480 --> 02:10:38,159
when they get out they're employable at

3405
02:10:38,159 --> 02:10:39,760
say a snappy lube or something like

3406
02:10:39,760 --> 02:10:42,159
that. Um, you know, welding is something

3407
02:10:42,159 --> 02:10:44,079
that we're looking at, uh, bringing in,

3408
02:10:44,079 --> 02:10:45,440
something where they can get a basic

3409
02:10:45,440 --> 02:10:47,520
welding certification. It's not a

3410
02:10:47,520 --> 02:10:49,119
college degree by any means, but it's

3411
02:10:49,119 --> 02:10:51,679
hopefully making them, um, much more

3412
02:10:51,679 --> 02:10:53,360
desirable and employable when they get

3413
02:10:53,360 --> 02:10:54,480
out.

3414
02:10:54,480 --> 02:10:57,189
>> So, yeah, education is uh, and obviously

3415
02:10:57,189 --> 02:10:57,199
» So, yeah, education is uh, and obviously

3416
02:10:57,199 --> 02:10:59,199
we have the the teacher in there and uh,

3417
02:10:59,199 --> 02:11:01,119
and for a long time, we were having

3418
02:11:01,119 --> 02:11:02,719
issues just trying to get them to be

3419
02:11:02,719 --> 02:11:05,040
able to be certified to get their GED.

3420
02:11:05,040 --> 02:11:06,639
We got that through the state in the

3421
02:11:06,639 --> 02:11:08,480
last couple years and we've had, like I

3422
02:11:08,480 --> 02:11:11,280
said, a couple graduates in the last um

3423
02:11:11,280 --> 02:11:12,960
year here that have gotten their GEDs

3424
02:11:12,960 --> 02:11:15,679
while in custody. So, uh, again, just

3425
02:11:15,679 --> 02:11:17,599
hopefully making their lives better and

3426
02:11:17,599 --> 02:11:19,085
being able to get out and be employable

3427
02:11:19,085 --> 02:11:20,960
[clears throat] and, uh, have a better

3428
02:11:20,960 --> 02:11:21,840
life.

3429
02:11:21,840 --> 02:11:23,910
>> Okay.

3430
02:11:23,910 --> 02:11:23,920
» Okay.

3431
02:11:23,920 --> 02:11:25,750
>> Thank you.

3432
02:11:25,750 --> 02:11:25,760
» Thank you.

3433
02:11:25,760 --> 02:11:26,936
>> I'm gonna make sure I can get up.

3434
02:11:26,936 --> 02:11:26,946
» I'm gonna make sure I can get up.

3435
02:11:26,946 --> 02:11:27,760
[laughter]

3436
02:11:27,760 --> 02:11:30,709
>> Oh, one more thing.

3437
02:11:30,709 --> 02:11:30,719
» Oh, one more thing.

3438
02:11:30,719 --> 02:11:33,360
Um, so as as I mentioned earlier, a lot

3439
02:11:33,360 --> 02:11:35,360
of the performance measures that we're

3440
02:11:35,360 --> 02:11:37,760
featuring are all about external ser

3441
02:11:37,760 --> 02:11:40,079
services that we do. Um, but I'll note

3442
02:11:40,079 --> 02:11:42,400
that it is also developing new

3443
02:11:42,400 --> 02:11:44,800
performance measures for this coming

3444
02:11:44,800 --> 02:11:46,560
year to start collecting. And so I think

3445
02:11:46,560 --> 02:11:48,639
next year you'll see some of our

3446
02:11:48,639 --> 02:11:51,760
internal operation performance measures.

3447
02:11:51,760 --> 02:11:53,760
So our last one for today though is

3448
02:11:53,760 --> 02:11:55,040
veteran services.

3449
02:11:55,040 --> 02:11:56,870
>> Good morning, Mr. Chair, commissioners.

3450
02:11:56,870 --> 02:11:56,880
» Good morning, Mr. Chair, commissioners.

3451
02:11:56,880 --> 02:11:59,360
Uh Corey Vasi, uh veteran service

3452
02:11:59,360 --> 02:12:02,239
officer for Sterns County. Uh just a

3453
02:12:02,239 --> 02:12:03,920
kind of brief summary, what what's

3454
02:12:03,920 --> 02:12:06,480
requested of the state or from us by the

3455
02:12:06,480 --> 02:12:08,400
state for this program is the VA

3456
02:12:08,400 --> 02:12:11,280
compensation and pension dollars. Uh

3457
02:12:11,280 --> 02:12:13,599
that [snorts] information comes from the

3458
02:12:13,599 --> 02:12:15,679
geographic distribution of expenditures.

3459
02:12:15,679 --> 02:12:18,800
It's a federal VA uh data point. Uh and

3460
02:12:18,800 --> 02:12:20,880
they changed at the end of last year the

3461
02:12:20,880 --> 02:12:22,639
the schedule of when they will release

3462
02:12:22,639 --> 02:12:24,719
that. So that won't isn't expected to

3463
02:12:24,719 --> 02:12:27,599
come out for 2025 until September of

3464
02:12:27,599 --> 02:12:31,136
this year. Uh but

3465
02:12:31,136 --> 02:12:32,480
[snorts] last year at this time we

3466
02:12:32,480 --> 02:12:34,400
didn't have the 2024 numbers. So now we

3467
02:12:34,400 --> 02:12:36,719
have those for you. Uh it shows $76

3468
02:12:36,719 --> 02:12:38,880
million uh in VA compensation and

3469
02:12:38,880 --> 02:12:41,760
pension dollars. What that includes is

3470
02:12:41,760 --> 02:12:44,159
VA disability compensation, non-service

3471
02:12:44,159 --> 02:12:45,920
connected pension, uh dependency and

3472
02:12:45,920 --> 02:12:48,239
identity compensation, and education

3473
02:12:48,239 --> 02:12:51,760
benefits, uh paid to veterans within the

3474
02:12:51,760 --> 02:12:54,079
Sterns County. Uh so that's money that

3475
02:12:54,079 --> 02:12:57,199
came into into Sterns County from the

3476
02:12:57,199 --> 02:12:59,840
federal VA. Um we've provided additional

3477
02:12:59,840 --> 02:13:01,599
information on here because I think it

3478
02:13:01,599 --> 02:13:03,440
does a better job of demonstrating kind

3479
02:13:03,440 --> 02:13:06,320
of what our office does and and volume.

3480
02:13:06,320 --> 02:13:10,800
Um so roughly 9,000 veterans in Sterns

3481
02:13:10,800 --> 02:13:13,280
County. Um that population does slowly

3482
02:13:13,280 --> 02:13:15,360
decrease each year. Still a large

3483
02:13:15,360 --> 02:13:17,520
portion of our veteran population is

3484
02:13:17,520 --> 02:13:23,119
Vietnam era. Although the OAF uh OEF uh

3485
02:13:23,119 --> 02:13:25,440
veterans, the Iraq Afghanistan veterans

3486
02:13:25,440 --> 02:13:27,599
and first Gulf War veterans are now the

3487
02:13:27,599 --> 02:13:29,520
predominant, you know, uh demographic

3488
02:13:29,520 --> 02:13:32,480
within the veteran community.

3489
02:13:32,480 --> 02:13:34,079
Um,

3490
02:13:34,079 --> 02:13:36,079
one thing I thought I would note, you

3491
02:13:36,079 --> 02:13:37,599
know, the number of unique clients that

3492
02:13:37,599 --> 02:13:39,040
we interact with has stayed pretty

3493
02:13:39,040 --> 02:13:42,159
stable uh, over the last few years. Um,

3494
02:13:42,159 --> 02:13:44,639
those changes uh, fluctuate a little

3495
02:13:44,639 --> 02:13:47,199
bit, probably more to do with just a a

3496
02:13:47,199 --> 02:13:49,040
capacity limit based on staff

3497
02:13:49,040 --> 02:13:52,560
availability um, but is still relatively

3498
02:13:52,560 --> 02:13:57,589
stable.

3499
02:13:57,599 --> 02:13:59,360
» Any questions, Corey?

3500
02:13:59,360 --> 02:14:00,870
>> Thank you. Right.

3501
02:14:00,870 --> 02:14:00,880
» Thank you. Right.

3502
02:14:00,880 --> 02:14:02,310
>> Well, those are our measures for this

3503
02:14:02,310 --> 02:14:02,320
» Well, those are our measures for this

3504
02:14:02,320 --> 02:14:04,800
year. We'll put them online for folks to

3505
02:14:04,800 --> 02:14:08,239
refer to. And with that, I'll pass it

3506
02:14:08,239 --> 02:14:10,800
back to chair.

3507
02:14:10,800 --> 02:14:15,189
>> Okay. Um, Mike, it looks like M2 is up.

3508
02:14:15,189 --> 02:14:15,199
» Okay. Um, Mike, it looks like M2 is up.

3509
02:14:15,199 --> 02:14:17,510
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes. Uh, this is u

3510
02:14:17,510 --> 02:14:17,520
» Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes. Uh, this is u

3511
02:14:17,520 --> 02:14:21,119
really your first look at the 2027

3512
02:14:21,119 --> 02:14:23,760
budget for this year. And hopefully we

3513
02:14:23,760 --> 02:14:26,880
have that PowerPoint coming up. I will

3514
02:14:26,880 --> 02:14:29,760
um note that the presentation that

3515
02:14:29,760 --> 02:14:33,760
you're going to see today is a little

3516
02:14:33,760 --> 02:14:36,000
is more brief than the first

3517
02:14:36,000 --> 02:14:38,079
presentation in previous years and for a

3518
02:14:38,079 --> 02:14:40,239
couple very practical reasons. One, the

3519
02:14:40,239 --> 02:14:42,079
the property tax data that we would

3520
02:14:42,079 --> 02:14:43,760
normally have is not available yet. We

3521
02:14:43,760 --> 02:14:45,040
don't have a total assessment. We don't

3522
02:14:45,040 --> 02:14:47,920
have the assessment of state of state

3523
02:14:47,920 --> 02:14:51,440
that the state um assesses and appraises

3524
02:14:51,440 --> 02:14:52,960
either. So you don't you won't see that

3525
02:14:52,960 --> 02:14:56,548
part until later in the process. Um

3526
02:14:56,548 --> 02:14:57,920
[clears throat]

3527
02:14:57,920 --> 02:15:00,560
you'll also see that uh that we've

3528
02:15:00,560 --> 02:15:03,599
scheduled some work sessions devoted to

3529
02:15:03,599 --> 02:15:05,119
uh the budget. So you'll have a chance

3530
02:15:05,119 --> 02:15:07,520
to get a little deeper into we've made

3531
02:15:07,520 --> 02:15:09,199
some suggestions for those topics and

3532
02:15:09,199 --> 02:15:12,639
then one meeting that uh that is that is

3533
02:15:12,639 --> 02:15:15,360
open for for your discussion. Um well,

3534
02:15:15,360 --> 02:15:17,920
they're all open, but um we've suggested

3535
02:15:17,920 --> 02:15:20,320
some topics and then hopefully uh the

3536
02:15:20,320 --> 02:15:22,480
executive summary that you see there um

3537
02:15:22,480 --> 02:15:25,679
is pretty thorough uh for this early

3538
02:15:25,679 --> 02:15:29,199
start as well. And um so [clears throat]

3539
02:15:29,199 --> 02:15:31,520
anyway, um we did start early and I want

3540
02:15:31,520 --> 02:15:33,520
to thank the leadership team. Um they

3541
02:15:33,520 --> 02:15:35,040
certainly responded to the changes in

3542
02:15:35,040 --> 02:15:37,440
the process, responded to the earlier

3543
02:15:37,440 --> 02:15:40,800
timeline. Um, and I really want to uh

3544
02:15:40,800 --> 02:15:43,040
give thanks to the budget committee,

3545
02:15:43,040 --> 02:15:46,800
Jill, Sarah, and Randy. Um, I wanted to

3546
02:15:46,800 --> 02:15:49,440
get this budget um, further along this

3547
02:15:49,440 --> 02:15:52,320
year to the point where it was complete.

3548
02:15:52,320 --> 02:15:54,079
And I don't mean ready for approval, but

3549
02:15:54,079 --> 02:15:56,000
I mean complete, pulled together. So you

3550
02:15:56,000 --> 02:15:58,079
have you you you're at a point where you

3551
02:15:58,079 --> 02:16:00,239
can start considering kind of the major

3552
02:16:00,239 --> 02:16:02,079
things that are making up the budget and

3553
02:16:02,079 --> 02:16:03,760
some of the changes that the budget

3554
02:16:03,760 --> 02:16:06,480
committee is recommending and and hence

3555
02:16:06,480 --> 02:16:07,840
some of the changes that you might want

3556
02:16:07,840 --> 02:16:10,320
to make um as the but in the budget as

3557
02:16:10,320 --> 02:16:12,639
well. And we fashioned this a little

3558
02:16:12,639 --> 02:16:15,040
different. Um you'll see the executive

3559
02:16:15,040 --> 02:16:16,239
summary was maybe a little different

3560
02:16:16,239 --> 02:16:18,079
than previous years is really tried to

3561
02:16:18,079 --> 02:16:22,079
focus on what the departments proposed

3562
02:16:22,079 --> 02:16:24,719
and then what and then clearly show what

3563
02:16:24,719 --> 02:16:26,400
changes the budget committee has made.

3564
02:16:26,400 --> 02:16:28,239
So hopefully that came through in that

3565
02:16:28,239 --> 02:16:31,760
executive summary as well. So with those

3566
02:16:31,760 --> 02:16:34,080
uh brief introductions, we'll get into

3567
02:16:34,080 --> 02:16:35,200
it a little bit. You can see the

3568
02:16:35,200 --> 02:16:38,880
timeline here. Um, and you can see that,

3569
02:16:38,880 --> 02:16:40,240
you know, today is your first look at

3570
02:16:40,240 --> 02:16:42,719
it. And then we we suggest that you have

3571
02:16:42,719 --> 02:16:44,719
a work session on August 4th, and that

3572
02:16:44,719 --> 02:16:47,439
would be devoted to the human services.

3573
02:16:47,439 --> 02:16:49,519
Um, because there's a lot of change

3574
02:16:49,519 --> 02:16:51,599
there. Same in the sheriff's office. And

3575
02:16:51,599 --> 02:16:53,439
then, uh, is that date wrong? August

3576
02:16:53,439 --> 02:16:57,599
25th? Should be 25th. On 25th, um, you

3577
02:16:57,599 --> 02:16:59,200
would see the highway 5-year plan, the

3578
02:16:59,200 --> 02:17:01,200
highway budget, and then, um, the

3579
02:17:01,200 --> 02:17:04,319
household hazardous weight waste budget

3580
02:17:04,319 --> 02:17:06,559
time for that. And then you have another

3581
02:17:06,559 --> 02:17:08,559
one on September 15th that if you want

3582
02:17:08,559 --> 02:17:10,960
to have a work session um just to kind

3583
02:17:10,960 --> 02:17:13,599
of wrap everything up before you do the

3584
02:17:13,599 --> 02:17:15,599
uh preliminary levy on at the end of

3585
02:17:15,599 --> 02:17:17,120
September, you could do that on the

3586
02:17:17,120 --> 02:17:19,359
September 15th. And then of course you

3587
02:17:19,359 --> 02:17:21,760
have a number of meetings before that um

3588
02:17:21,760 --> 02:17:23,840
that would be opportunities to discuss

3589
02:17:23,840 --> 02:17:25,599
the budget if you if you felt that was

3590
02:17:25,599 --> 02:17:28,559
necessary. December 1st, uh, you've

3591
02:17:28,559 --> 02:17:30,559
scheduled your truth and taxation

3592
02:17:30,559 --> 02:17:32,399
hearing and then your final meeting in

3593
02:17:32,399 --> 02:17:34,319
the year is December 15th, which of

3594
02:17:34,319 --> 02:17:36,960
course you would need to adopt the the

3595
02:17:36,960 --> 02:17:38,719
new budget.

3596
02:17:38,719 --> 02:17:41,280
So we at this point things are moved up.

3597
02:17:41,280 --> 02:17:43,920
Of course, those dates at the low at the

3598
02:17:43,920 --> 02:17:47,040
end of that is are are much the same as

3599
02:17:47,040 --> 02:17:48,719
previous years. [clears throat] So you

3600
02:17:48,719 --> 02:17:50,639
can um in the next slide you can see

3601
02:17:50,639 --> 02:17:53,760
where we are today. Um the proposed as

3602
02:17:53,760 --> 02:17:56,719
you as you saw in the in the memo um the

3603
02:17:56,719 --> 02:17:59,439
the budgets as proposed and entered into

3604
02:17:59,439 --> 02:18:02,160
the system um would have resulted in a

3605
02:18:02,160 --> 02:18:06,639
14.3% increase in the in the in the levy

3606
02:18:06,639 --> 02:18:08,880
and uh through the work that that the

3607
02:18:08,880 --> 02:18:11,040
four of us have done uh in the last

3608
02:18:11,040 --> 02:18:13,519
several weeks um we have this down to a

3609
02:18:13,519 --> 02:18:17,200
7.14%

3610
02:18:17,200 --> 02:18:19,679
uh increase which again I think is is a

3611
02:18:19,679 --> 02:18:21,840
pretty complete look at where we are. Of

3612
02:18:21,840 --> 02:18:23,679
course, there's changes that uh that

3613
02:18:23,679 --> 02:18:25,760
could be made and and we may learn some

3614
02:18:25,760 --> 02:18:27,519
things as the time goes on here, but I

3615
02:18:27,519 --> 02:18:29,200
think you you have a good look at

3616
02:18:29,200 --> 02:18:30,880
somewhere in the neighborhood of where

3617
02:18:30,880 --> 02:18:33,120
this budget is going to have to be uh by

3618
02:18:33,120 --> 02:18:35,599
the time you adop adopt it. And so

3619
02:18:35,599 --> 02:18:39,120
there's a number of drivers here and um

3620
02:18:39,120 --> 02:18:40,399
I don't think we need to go through

3621
02:18:40,399 --> 02:18:43,120
those necessarily line by line, but you

3622
02:18:43,120 --> 02:18:45,439
know that um we have contracts that are

3623
02:18:45,439 --> 02:18:49,840
5% increases um that that even if that

3624
02:18:49,840 --> 02:18:52,559
wasn't 5% it would be the bulk of your

3625
02:18:52,559 --> 02:18:54,399
of the increase in coming years if it

3626
02:18:54,399 --> 02:18:56,319
was a smaller number which assuredly

3627
02:18:56,319 --> 02:18:58,960
that will be uh in future years. And

3628
02:18:58,960 --> 02:19:00,719
then you see some of the the human

3629
02:19:00,719 --> 02:19:02,479
services items that you heard about

3630
02:19:02,479 --> 02:19:04,559
today, some of the human services items

3631
02:19:04,559 --> 02:19:06,080
that you're going to hear about at your

3632
02:19:06,080 --> 02:19:08,800
next meeting. Um, and then there's uh a

3633
02:19:08,800 --> 02:19:13,359
number of changes in um some changes in

3634
02:19:13,359 --> 02:19:16,000
revenues. Um, and then re remember we

3635
02:19:16,000 --> 02:19:19,120
levied an extra million dollars uh last

3636
02:19:19,120 --> 02:19:21,280
year and so that that is not, you know,

3637
02:19:21,280 --> 02:19:24,160
that's not included in this levy.

3638
02:19:24,160 --> 02:19:25,840
I'll talk a little bit about about all

3639
02:19:25,840 --> 02:19:28,399
that in a minute. Um and then we just

3640
02:19:28,399 --> 02:19:30,160
wanted to highlight a couple of of

3641
02:19:30,160 --> 02:19:32,639
things that may look a little different.

3642
02:19:32,639 --> 02:19:35,599
One is uh outside agencies. Uh what this

3643
02:19:35,599 --> 02:19:37,920
budget proposes is no change to any

3644
02:19:37,920 --> 02:19:41,200
outside agency funding um except for the

3645
02:19:41,200 --> 02:19:42,639
joint powers agreements which you're

3646
02:19:42,639 --> 02:19:45,679
really obligated by by agreement uh to

3647
02:19:45,679 --> 02:19:48,559
fund. So, you know, I'd point out that

3648
02:19:48,559 --> 02:19:52,160
we have typically um allowed increases

3649
02:19:52,160 --> 02:19:54,640
to uh you know, historical society and

3650
02:19:54,640 --> 02:19:56,160
and the soil and water conservation

3651
02:19:56,160 --> 02:19:58,640
district. It just felt that this year

3652
02:19:58,640 --> 02:20:01,520
with looking at this budget that um it

3653
02:20:01,520 --> 02:20:03,600
wasn't it wasn't a year to increase

3654
02:20:03,600 --> 02:20:07,200
those. Um so, we typically haven't shown

3655
02:20:07,200 --> 02:20:09,920
an increase in the top three there. um

3656
02:20:09,920 --> 02:20:12,960
actually the top four, maybe five, but I

3657
02:20:12,960 --> 02:20:14,880
would point out that it's a little

3658
02:20:14,880 --> 02:20:17,120
different for us to leave the historical

3659
02:20:17,120 --> 02:20:20,000
society and the conservation district um

3660
02:20:20,000 --> 02:20:24,240
at a at a at a level amount.

3661
02:20:24,240 --> 02:20:28,000
Um the next next page shows

3662
02:20:28,000 --> 02:20:31,359
um some areas that we actually are are

3663
02:20:31,359 --> 02:20:33,600
reductions in things we we have done in

3664
02:20:33,600 --> 02:20:35,840
the past. Um, so you know, we've had a

3665
02:20:35,840 --> 02:20:38,080
long discussion uh in this year about

3666
02:20:38,080 --> 02:20:40,560
the the federal lobbying. Um, I think

3667
02:20:40,560 --> 02:20:42,080
that remains to be seen where you want

3668
02:20:42,080 --> 02:20:43,680
to go with that. Um, the new

3669
02:20:43,680 --> 02:20:45,359
administration and you are planning to

3670
02:20:45,359 --> 02:20:48,080
have those discussions. Um, but what we

3671
02:20:48,080 --> 02:20:51,040
had in the proposed budget was $48,000

3672
02:20:51,040 --> 02:20:53,120
and we decided to pull that out. Well,

3673
02:20:53,120 --> 02:20:56,800
48,000 would have been um what we spent

3674
02:20:56,800 --> 02:20:58,640
in previous years. We also had a little

3675
02:20:58,640 --> 02:21:00,319
increase in the proposed budget that we

3676
02:21:00,319 --> 02:21:04,479
reduced in the in the 2026 budget. We

3677
02:21:04,479 --> 02:21:08,000
had u uh lease agreement money for the

3678
02:21:08,000 --> 02:21:10,800
Melrose Office for Veteran Services had

3679
02:21:10,800 --> 02:21:13,280
a had a trouble troubled time trying to

3680
02:21:13,280 --> 02:21:16,319
find a location for that. Um and again

3681
02:21:16,319 --> 02:21:19,040
since we hadn't started that

3682
02:21:19,040 --> 02:21:20,880
expansion in that service, we thought

3683
02:21:20,880 --> 02:21:25,200
this was a year to not fund that. Um our

3684
02:21:25,200 --> 02:21:26,880
newsletter is something that we've done

3685
02:21:26,880 --> 02:21:29,200
every year um for several years. We've

3686
02:21:29,200 --> 02:21:31,120
reduced it. I think we did four

3687
02:21:31,120 --> 02:21:33,439
newsletters in the first year we did it

3688
02:21:33,439 --> 02:21:35,200
and we reduced it to three and now we

3689
02:21:35,200 --> 02:21:37,520
reduced it to two because the cost uh

3690
02:21:37,520 --> 02:21:41,760
kept climbing and and so it was uh

3691
02:21:41,760 --> 02:21:44,880
getting to be a cost per issue that we

3692
02:21:44,880 --> 02:21:46,880
really wonder if it was worth worth the

3693
02:21:46,880 --> 02:21:49,040
cost and wor worth the staff time which

3694
02:21:49,040 --> 02:21:50,640
a lot of staff time goes into that

3695
02:21:50,640 --> 02:21:53,439
newsletter as well. Um the staff

3696
02:21:53,439 --> 02:21:55,120
reduction extension was already in the

3697
02:21:55,120 --> 02:21:56,800
proposed budget but thought it was

3698
02:21:56,800 --> 02:21:59,439
notable that it that is a reduction in

3699
02:21:59,439 --> 02:22:01,920
uh what we've spent last year. And then

3700
02:22:01,920 --> 02:22:03,840
the remote remote board meeting

3701
02:22:03,840 --> 02:22:05,920
broadcast equipment actually was in the

3702
02:22:05,920 --> 02:22:09,439
proposed um sorry about that but um this

3703
02:22:09,439 --> 02:22:11,840
was not funded in previous years but the

3704
02:22:11,840 --> 02:22:13,680
IT department proposed that they

3705
02:22:13,680 --> 02:22:15,280
purchased some equipment so when we hold

3706
02:22:15,280 --> 02:22:17,680
those remote remote board meetings even

3707
02:22:17,680 --> 02:22:19,840
if that local government wasn't capable

3708
02:22:19,840 --> 02:22:22,399
of broadcasting we could still broadcast

3709
02:22:22,399 --> 02:22:24,560
and we felt in this year that probably

3710
02:22:24,560 --> 02:22:26,160
we could be more mindful about where

3711
02:22:26,160 --> 02:22:29,200
we're going or we just need to be

3712
02:22:29,200 --> 02:22:30,800
accepting that we might have a meeting

3713
02:22:30,800 --> 02:22:32,800
every year that won't necessarily be

3714
02:22:32,800 --> 02:22:35,439
broadcast. So, those just some changes

3715
02:22:35,439 --> 02:22:37,280
that uh we felt we really needed to

3716
02:22:37,280 --> 02:22:40,000
note. Some of them, of course, are not

3717
02:22:40,000 --> 02:22:44,240
huge dollars, but again, notable.

3718
02:22:44,240 --> 02:22:48,160
A big uh area of of uh

3719
02:22:48,160 --> 02:22:49,760
that you heard about this morning is

3720
02:22:49,760 --> 02:22:51,600
some of the changes in human services.

3721
02:22:51,600 --> 02:22:53,040
And you see, we didn't talk about the

3722
02:22:53,040 --> 02:22:56,000
eligibility eligibility portion of that,

3723
02:22:56,000 --> 02:22:59,040
but uh you've heard about that. Um and

3724
02:22:59,040 --> 02:23:01,760
and there's eight people in in this

3725
02:23:01,760 --> 02:23:04,160
proposed budget for that. It'll really

3726
02:23:04,160 --> 02:23:05,680
needs to be a source of discussion in

3727
02:23:05,680 --> 02:23:07,040
the future. And then you see the social

3728
02:23:07,040 --> 02:23:10,319
workers which which we did talk somewhat

3729
02:23:10,319 --> 02:23:12,800
about this morning. Again, remember we

3730
02:23:12,800 --> 02:23:15,200
had a extra million dollars in this

3731
02:23:15,200 --> 02:23:17,840
year's levy. Um as you heard that all

3732
02:23:17,840 --> 02:23:20,240
these changes are occurring

3733
02:23:20,240 --> 02:23:21,840
the first of the year. So, if you wanted

3734
02:23:21,840 --> 02:23:25,040
to prepare for those changes, you would

3735
02:23:25,040 --> 02:23:26,880
be able to use that those contingency

3736
02:23:26,880 --> 02:23:28,560
funds and hire those people in advance

3737
02:23:28,560 --> 02:23:30,880
of January 1st because you also heard,

3738
02:23:30,880 --> 02:23:32,560
you know, how long it takes to train and

3739
02:23:32,560 --> 02:23:35,520
and and and be ready for that. So, um

3740
02:23:35,520 --> 02:23:37,200
that's all left to be decided whether or

3741
02:23:37,200 --> 02:23:38,800
not you would want to do that. The rest

3742
02:23:38,800 --> 02:23:41,439
of these are

3743
02:23:41,439 --> 02:23:45,200
um not on the levy. Um an oper

3744
02:23:45,200 --> 02:23:46,960
operations manager at household

3745
02:23:46,960 --> 02:23:48,479
hazardous waste, which would be through

3746
02:23:48,479 --> 02:23:50,640
the solid waste fund. And then you have

3747
02:23:50,640 --> 02:23:52,399
four positions in the sheriff's office

3748
02:23:52,399 --> 02:23:54,160
which are proposed to be public safety

3749
02:23:54,160 --> 02:23:57,120
aid. Um and we've been using public

3750
02:23:57,120 --> 02:23:59,120
safety aid particularly for dispatches

3751
02:23:59,120 --> 02:24:01,920
in the last couple of years. Um but this

3752
02:24:01,920 --> 02:24:05,439
will be a change to use um the public

3753
02:24:05,439 --> 02:24:07,680
safety aid for a couple of deputies as

3754
02:24:07,680 --> 02:24:09,840
well. And then you saw and you'll see I

3755
02:24:09,840 --> 02:24:13,040
think in a future slide here that uh the

3756
02:24:13,040 --> 02:24:15,359
sheriff's office proposed a number of

3757
02:24:15,359 --> 02:24:18,319
deputies and we really felt like and I

3758
02:24:18,319 --> 02:24:20,720
think and I think the sheriff agrees

3759
02:24:20,720 --> 02:24:22,240
that it might be time to update that

3760
02:24:22,240 --> 02:24:26,000
study that we did in 2017 with the MA

3761
02:24:26,000 --> 02:24:28,560
Center for Public Safety.

3762
02:24:28,560 --> 02:24:32,399
um just to so you so so you all can make

3763
02:24:32,399 --> 02:24:34,640
a plan for the future of where where you

3764
02:24:34,640 --> 02:24:38,240
want to go with um with patrol deputies

3765
02:24:38,240 --> 02:24:41,439
and dispatch as well. And then you have

3766
02:24:41,439 --> 02:24:44,640
uh the transition team u for the for the

3767
02:24:44,640 --> 02:24:48,720
jail. So there were a few more positions

3768
02:24:48,720 --> 02:24:51,200
requested. I can't recall the number but

3769
02:24:51,200 --> 02:24:52,880
uh we didn't fund everything. It was

3770
02:24:52,880 --> 02:24:56,560
yeah it was a small number. Um

3771
02:24:56,560 --> 02:24:58,160
so again the only the only ones that

3772
02:24:58,160 --> 02:25:01,120
would that are impacting the levy in

3773
02:25:01,120 --> 02:25:02,640
2027

3774
02:25:02,640 --> 02:25:04,800
would be those human services. Of course

3775
02:25:04,800 --> 02:25:08,000
there would be um

3776
02:25:08,000 --> 02:25:09,280
anything that's funded with public

3777
02:25:09,280 --> 02:25:10,720
safety aids. Someday that's going to

3778
02:25:10,720 --> 02:25:13,520
fall on the levy.

3779
02:25:13,520 --> 02:25:18,080
Um then there's a few large um IT

3780
02:25:18,080 --> 02:25:22,240
projects that are noted here. Um and in

3781
02:25:22,240 --> 02:25:24,880
in in and these are all funded with the

3782
02:25:24,880 --> 02:25:27,320
project fund. So we drew we took

3783
02:25:27,320 --> 02:25:28,630
[snorts] those out of the of

3784
02:25:28,630 --> 02:25:29,600
[clears throat] the levy and use the

3785
02:25:29,600 --> 02:25:32,640
project fund which has a 23 that's on

3786
02:25:32,640 --> 02:25:35,680
the next slide 26 million uh balance

3787
02:25:35,680 --> 02:25:37,920
which we transferred into was that last

3788
02:25:37,920 --> 02:25:40,240
year the year before anyway and grew

3789
02:25:40,240 --> 02:25:42,080
that grew that fund just for this

3790
02:25:42,080 --> 02:25:45,760
purpose. Um, and note, uh, there's a

3791
02:25:45,760 --> 02:25:49,040
there's consulting money. The $80,000,

3792
02:25:49,040 --> 02:25:50,800
um, you're going to need to get into an

3793
02:25:50,800 --> 02:25:54,560
analysis of space for for, uh, for

3794
02:25:54,560 --> 02:25:55,840
county employees and what we're going to

3795
02:25:55,840 --> 02:25:58,479
do with the downtown area. Um, and I

3796
02:25:58,479 --> 02:26:02,560
think that, um, I think that that using

3797
02:26:02,560 --> 02:26:06,560
a consultant and and the

3798
02:26:06,560 --> 02:26:08,880
additional capacity in the in in the

3799
02:26:08,880 --> 02:26:10,399
county administrator's office, I think

3800
02:26:10,399 --> 02:26:12,080
you can accomplish that. But I think you

3801
02:26:12,080 --> 02:26:15,280
should have uh some room for consulting

3802
02:26:15,280 --> 02:26:17,200
as you begin to make those important

3803
02:26:17,200 --> 02:26:19,200
decisions. And then I just talked about

3804
02:26:19,200 --> 02:26:22,080
the center for public safety study. We

3805
02:26:22,080 --> 02:26:24,479
had $55,000 put in here. We have a new

3806
02:26:24,479 --> 02:26:28,160
number there. Um just this morning um

3807
02:26:28,160 --> 02:26:31,040
heard from the sheriff um they they have

3808
02:26:31,040 --> 02:26:34,399
a proposal from CPM and it's more like

3809
02:26:34,399 --> 02:26:36,080
$70,000.

3810
02:26:36,080 --> 02:26:39,840
Um, so in this use of the project fund

3811
02:26:39,840 --> 02:26:42,399
is 890,000. If you do that study, you're

3812
02:26:42,399 --> 02:26:47,670
going to be more in the area of 95,000.

3813
02:26:47,680 --> 02:26:49,200
And then it's always important to look

3814
02:26:49,200 --> 02:26:51,359
at your fund balances, particularly this

3815
02:26:51,359 --> 02:26:53,359
year because we're showing in this

3816
02:26:53,359 --> 02:26:55,920
budget a two a use of the human services

3817
02:26:55,920 --> 02:26:59,040
fund balance of $2 million. And we've

3818
02:26:59,040 --> 02:27:02,080
proposed um a plan to reduce that over

3819
02:27:02,080 --> 02:27:05,359
time. So, what what we've suggested is

3820
02:27:05,359 --> 02:27:07,680
is that use $2 million of that strong

3821
02:27:07,680 --> 02:27:11,680
fund balance in 2027 and then drop that

3822
02:27:11,680 --> 02:27:16,240
use by $500,000 a year. And and in a

3823
02:27:16,240 --> 02:27:19,200
quick analysis, um I would suggest that

3824
02:27:19,200 --> 02:27:20,800
you're still going to be within your

3825
02:27:20,800 --> 02:27:23,840
policy of being at between 35 and 50%

3826
02:27:23,840 --> 02:27:25,840
with that fund balance even after you do

3827
02:27:25,840 --> 02:27:28,399
that. the human services fund balance

3828
02:27:28,399 --> 02:27:30,640
has has shown [snorts] a steady growth

3829
02:27:30,640 --> 02:27:35,120
and in that analysis I did um we uh I I

3830
02:27:35,120 --> 02:27:37,200
showed no growth. So I think you'll be

3831
02:27:37,200 --> 02:27:38,800
okay in doing that and if you're going

3832
02:27:38,800 --> 02:27:40,960
to use some fund balance

3833
02:27:40,960 --> 02:27:42,800
to me it makes sense to use it in this

3834
02:27:42,800 --> 02:27:45,040
2027 budget where you've got some pretty

3835
02:27:45,040 --> 02:27:48,160
extreme increases. Um and then the

3836
02:27:48,160 --> 02:27:49,760
project fund is the other one that's uh

3837
02:27:49,760 --> 02:27:52,319
the most significant use. And then of

3838
02:27:52,319 --> 02:27:56,160
note, um, we have in the solid waste

3839
02:27:56,160 --> 02:27:58,880
fund, um, we have [snorts] consulting

3840
02:27:58,880 --> 02:28:01,920
fees to take a look at

3841
02:28:01,920 --> 02:28:03,760
an expansion of the household hazardous

3842
02:28:03,760 --> 02:28:06,399
waste facility. We've looked at that for

3843
02:28:06,399 --> 02:28:10,160
several years. Um, and I think if you if

3844
02:28:10,160 --> 02:28:12,880
you hire a consultant, decide what kind

3845
02:28:12,880 --> 02:28:15,120
of space you need and get a cost

3846
02:28:15,120 --> 02:28:16,560
estimate, then you can really come to a

3847
02:28:16,560 --> 02:28:18,399
decision on what you want to do there.

3848
02:28:18,399 --> 02:28:20,720
And um I can't remember the number we

3849
02:28:20,720 --> 02:28:23,439
have in there, but any there's a number

3850
02:28:23,439 --> 02:28:26,240
in the budget for consulting fees um out

3851
02:28:26,240 --> 02:28:28,880
of the household hazardous waste fund.

3852
02:28:28,880 --> 02:28:30,880
You can see that with the $10 million

3853
02:28:30,880 --> 02:28:33,200
there you have funds that if you do want

3854
02:28:33,200 --> 02:28:35,280
to expand that facility, you would be

3855
02:28:35,280 --> 02:28:39,237
able to do that with existing funds. Now

3856
02:28:39,237 --> 02:28:39,760
[clears throat]

3857
02:28:39,760 --> 02:28:43,760
I guess that's enough on that. Yeah. Um

3858
02:28:43,760 --> 02:28:46,319
so even even with those use of fund

3859
02:28:46,319 --> 02:28:47,600
balance you can see you're going to

3860
02:28:47,600 --> 02:28:50,160
continue to have healthy fund balances.

3861
02:28:50,160 --> 02:28:52,000
Um [clears throat]

3862
02:28:52,000 --> 02:28:53,439
and the last slide I think we we've

3863
02:28:53,439 --> 02:28:56,240
already talked about um we've we're

3864
02:28:56,240 --> 02:28:58,560
suggesting you this be your schedule for

3865
02:28:58,560 --> 02:29:00,319
the next two meetings. You then you have

3866
02:29:00,319 --> 02:29:02,160
a meeting on September 15th. If you

3867
02:29:02,160 --> 02:29:03,760
wanted to have another work session you

3868
02:29:03,760 --> 02:29:06,160
could. Um

3869
02:29:06,160 --> 02:29:07,680
again you don't have the prop we don't

3870
02:29:07,680 --> 02:29:10,560
have the property tax data. Um we should

3871
02:29:10,560 --> 02:29:15,263
have that in August. Yeah. Soon. Um you

3872
02:29:15,263 --> 02:29:16,240
[clears throat] also don't have the

3873
02:29:16,240 --> 02:29:18,000
second year. We asked department

3874
02:29:18,000 --> 02:29:22,399
departments to look at the sec 2028.

3875
02:29:22,399 --> 02:29:23,920
Um [snorts] just given the time and

3876
02:29:23,920 --> 02:29:25,120
everything and where we wanted to get

3877
02:29:25,120 --> 02:29:27,520
this budget for your look today. Uh we

3878
02:29:27,520 --> 02:29:29,600
didn't have time to do that, but um the

3879
02:29:29,600 --> 02:29:30,960
budget committee and staff are going to

3880
02:29:30,960 --> 02:29:32,560
pull that together at some point in the

3881
02:29:32,560 --> 02:29:35,200
near future. So you can see um what this

3882
02:29:35,200 --> 02:29:38,160
budget and what we think they think at

3883
02:29:38,160 --> 02:29:41,439
that time. um that the 2028 budget is

3884
02:29:41,439 --> 02:29:43,840
going to look like.

3885
02:29:43,840 --> 02:29:46,160
Um

3886
02:29:46,160 --> 02:29:49,280
I know this is my last time presenting a

3887
02:29:49,280 --> 02:29:51,280
budget, but I can assure you I was

3888
02:29:51,280 --> 02:29:53,439
looking to the future as we did this. I

3889
02:29:53,439 --> 02:29:55,280
wasn't looking till Friday [laughter]

3890
02:29:55,280 --> 02:29:56,800
and I really think that the budget

3891
02:29:56,800 --> 02:29:58,640
committee did a a good job of getting

3892
02:29:58,640 --> 02:30:01,200
you where we are today.

3893
02:30:01,200 --> 02:30:02,950
>> Yeah. And I and I think you know by

3894
02:30:02,950 --> 02:30:02,960
» Yeah. And I and I think you know by

3895
02:30:02,960 --> 02:30:04,960
having these extra meetings you know

3896
02:30:04,960 --> 02:30:07,439
will give us time to ask the questions

3897
02:30:07,439 --> 02:30:09,439
you know related to sheriff and human

3898
02:30:09,439 --> 02:30:12,720
services also has you know we'll be able

3899
02:30:12,720 --> 02:30:17,439
to you know get more deep dive you know

3900
02:30:17,439 --> 02:30:19,120
that each of us have questions on

3901
02:30:19,120 --> 02:30:21,600
different things. So so yeah so this is

3902
02:30:21,600 --> 02:30:24,640
a nice early overview of you know what

3903
02:30:24,640 --> 02:30:29,030
you guys are looking at. So

3904
02:30:29,040 --> 02:30:29,840
» all right

3905
02:30:29,840 --> 02:30:31,270
>> Mr. Chairman, Commissioner Burch.

3906
02:30:31,270 --> 02:30:31,280
» Mr. Chairman, Commissioner Burch.

3907
02:30:31,280 --> 02:30:33,750
>> Um, couple things. First of all, uh, I

3908
02:30:33,750 --> 02:30:33,760
» Um, couple things. First of all, uh, I

3909
02:30:33,760 --> 02:30:36,080
got a call yesterday that said, uh, so

3910
02:30:36,080 --> 02:30:37,920
you're going to increase the, uh, the

3911
02:30:37,920 --> 02:30:40,960
property taxes by 7.14%. Well, I had no

3912
02:30:40,960 --> 02:30:42,720
idea what they were talking about. It

3913
02:30:42,720 --> 02:30:44,720
already hit the media before we even got

3914
02:30:44,720 --> 02:30:47,920
a piece of it. So, a little awkward

3915
02:30:47,920 --> 02:30:48,399
packet,

3916
02:30:48,399 --> 02:30:51,110
>> right? But, uh, we weren't given Mr.

3917
02:30:51,110 --> 02:30:51,120
» right? But, uh, we weren't given Mr.

3918
02:30:51,120 --> 02:30:53,040
Chairman, Commissioner Clark, I know

3919
02:30:53,040 --> 02:30:54,640
it's in here. I read the packet just

3920
02:30:54,640 --> 02:30:56,560
like you did. So, getting back, Mr.

3921
02:30:56,560 --> 02:31:00,160
Chairman, to the point. Um so anyway,

3922
02:31:00,160 --> 02:31:02,160
yes, this is a good start. It's still

3923
02:31:02,160 --> 02:31:05,920
high for me. Uh and the one thing that I

3924
02:31:05,920 --> 02:31:07,920
don't think that we've uh address as I

3925
02:31:07,920 --> 02:31:10,080
shared the the last meeting is we really

3926
02:31:10,080 --> 02:31:11,439
haven't looked asked department

3927
02:31:11,439 --> 02:31:14,080
directors what can you cut or move. So

3928
02:31:14,080 --> 02:31:16,640
we need staff and human services. Can we

3929
02:31:16,640 --> 02:31:18,640
be moving some staff from another

3930
02:31:18,640 --> 02:31:21,040
division over to We just automatically

3931
02:31:21,040 --> 02:31:23,200
assume that there needs to be increases

3932
02:31:23,200 --> 02:31:25,359
and we just automatically assume that

3933
02:31:25,359 --> 02:31:27,439
we'll build on

3934
02:31:27,439 --> 02:31:29,600
things. And this isn't a criticism. This

3935
02:31:29,600 --> 02:31:32,800
is a this is a, you know, a suggestion

3936
02:31:32,800 --> 02:31:35,760
that we, as I've shared, and I've done

3937
02:31:35,760 --> 02:31:37,920
this at the city of Payne's old $2.2

3938
02:31:37,920 --> 02:31:40,160
million budget over a three-year period,

3939
02:31:40,160 --> 02:31:44,240
we cut 200,000 10%. Nobody felt a thing.

3940
02:31:44,240 --> 02:31:46,399
Uh, we really zeroed in. We really said,

3941
02:31:46,399 --> 02:31:48,160
"Let's remind ourselves of why we're

3942
02:31:48,160 --> 02:31:50,560
here, what we need to do, water, sewer,

3943
02:31:50,560 --> 02:31:53,600
fire, please." And we did that and we

3944
02:31:53,600 --> 02:31:56,960
accomplished that. So, I do believe we

3945
02:31:56,960 --> 02:31:59,040
don't we haven't to my knowledge I

3946
02:31:59,040 --> 02:32:00,720
haven't seen it where we've asked

3947
02:32:00,720 --> 02:32:02,640
departments to say, "What could you

3948
02:32:02,640 --> 02:32:04,800
eliminate? What could you cut? What

3949
02:32:04,800 --> 02:32:06,960
could you move?" Because on top of

3950
02:32:06,960 --> 02:32:09,520
everything else uh of these things that

3951
02:32:09,520 --> 02:32:11,680
we can't control, what can we control?

3952
02:32:11,680 --> 02:32:14,080
you can't control uh the state federal

3953
02:32:14,080 --> 02:32:16,160
mandates that are coming on, but I do

3954
02:32:16,160 --> 02:32:18,399
believe that you can control we can

3955
02:32:18,399 --> 02:32:20,640
control some things uh that are within

3956
02:32:20,640 --> 02:32:22,640
our means. So that that's something I'd

3957
02:32:22,640 --> 02:32:24,560
like to see. And before we start talking

3958
02:32:24,560 --> 02:32:27,120
about hiring a consultant and everything

3959
02:32:27,120 --> 02:32:29,520
uh with the um hazardous waste, the

3960
02:32:29,520 --> 02:32:31,439
reason we have 10 million in there is

3961
02:32:31,439 --> 02:32:36,000
because the county's been taxing 10% to

3962
02:32:36,000 --> 02:32:37,520
commercial

3963
02:32:37,520 --> 02:32:42,399
uh garbage rates. Uh the board decreased

3964
02:32:42,399 --> 02:32:46,160
that to 8% a couple years ago. So um you

3965
02:32:46,160 --> 02:32:48,080
know just because the money's there that

3966
02:32:48,080 --> 02:32:50,560
is a tax and maybe we should be looking

3967
02:32:50,560 --> 02:32:53,920
at no other county except for Cany

3968
02:32:53,920 --> 02:32:56,080
County adds on to the commercial garbage

3969
02:32:56,080 --> 02:32:59,439
tax. The state tax is 17%. Counties have

3970
02:32:59,439 --> 02:33:01,120
the ability to add on to it which of

3971
02:33:01,120 --> 02:33:03,040
course we've done. No other county in

3972
02:33:03,040 --> 02:33:05,760
the immediate area has done that um

3973
02:33:05,760 --> 02:33:08,080
except for Canyu County. But uh so

3974
02:33:08,080 --> 02:33:10,000
that's something but some of the needs

3975
02:33:10,000 --> 02:33:13,040
that hazardous waste the mattress tires

3976
02:33:13,040 --> 02:33:14,800
you know those are things that before we

3977
02:33:14,800 --> 02:33:17,280
start building buildings we could easily

3978
02:33:17,280 --> 02:33:20,479
in my opinion put storage boxes where we

3979
02:33:20,479 --> 02:33:23,439
could put the products in and haul them

3980
02:33:23,439 --> 02:33:24,880
without having to handle them two or

3981
02:33:24,880 --> 02:33:26,160
three times. So some of those

3982
02:33:26,160 --> 02:33:27,760
conversations before we get too far

3983
02:33:27,760 --> 02:33:30,000
ahead of ourselves might be fruitful. So

3984
02:33:30,000 --> 02:33:32,000
maybe we have a conversation about what

3985
02:33:32,000 --> 02:33:34,000
exactly just because the money is there

3986
02:33:34,000 --> 02:33:35,600
it doesn't mean we need to spend it in

3987
02:33:35,600 --> 02:33:39,439
my opinion. So those are a couple of my

3988
02:33:39,439 --> 02:33:40,160
comments.

3989
02:33:40,160 --> 02:33:41,670
>> Commissioner Johnson.

3990
02:33:41,670 --> 02:33:41,680
» Commissioner Johnson.

3991
02:33:41,680 --> 02:33:44,309
>> Um thank you Mr. Chair. Um I'm

3992
02:33:44,309 --> 02:33:44,319
» Um thank you Mr. Chair. Um I'm

3993
02:33:44,319 --> 02:33:46,080
appreciative of the fact that on August

3994
02:33:46,080 --> 02:33:48,880
4th and August 25th we have an

3995
02:33:48,880 --> 02:33:50,399
opportunity to have the kinds of

3996
02:33:50,399 --> 02:33:52,479
discussions that Commissioner Bertram is

3997
02:33:52,479 --> 02:33:55,680
talking about. And I I support the idea

3998
02:33:55,680 --> 02:33:58,560
of people coming with ways to maximize

3999
02:33:58,560 --> 02:34:01,280
revenue, ways to decrease expenses, all

4000
02:34:01,280 --> 02:34:02,800
those typical things that one would do

4001
02:34:02,800 --> 02:34:05,920
when when we're tackling a budget. Um so

4002
02:34:05,920 --> 02:34:07,840
I' I'd encourage people to bring all

4003
02:34:07,840 --> 02:34:09,840
their best thinking to those meetings

4004
02:34:09,840 --> 02:34:11,680
and their best ideas so that we can

4005
02:34:11,680 --> 02:34:13,439
accomplish some of the goals that that

4006
02:34:13,439 --> 02:34:16,240
are being spoken of. And I think that's

4007
02:34:16,240 --> 02:34:17,760
kind of why we've set it up that way

4008
02:34:17,760 --> 02:34:21,040
this year is to have us be a little more

4009
02:34:21,040 --> 02:34:24,720
engaged in the process a little sooner.

4010
02:34:24,720 --> 02:34:27,190
>> Mr. Chair, and I'll respond to that as

4011
02:34:27,190 --> 02:34:27,200
» Mr. Chair, and I'll respond to that as

4012
02:34:27,200 --> 02:34:29,840
well. Uh because I don't want us to

4013
02:34:29,840 --> 02:34:31,680
think that because we've seen something

4014
02:34:31,680 --> 02:34:33,280
that's going to be our budget.

4015
02:34:33,280 --> 02:34:35,429
>> I would say that it it's not written in

4016
02:34:35,429 --> 02:34:35,439
» I would say that it it's not written in

4017
02:34:35,439 --> 02:34:39,040
ink necessarily or in stone. maybe in

4018
02:34:39,040 --> 02:34:42,319
pudding because I guess uh I I would

4019
02:34:42,319 --> 02:34:43,680
have a difficult time thinking, you

4020
02:34:43,680 --> 02:34:45,520
know, we're going to put 13 new people

4021
02:34:45,520 --> 02:34:48,479
in human services just rather than

4022
02:34:48,479 --> 02:34:50,640
rethink how we're doing something. Also,

4023
02:34:50,640 --> 02:34:52,880
I have a concern about fund balance and

4024
02:34:52,880 --> 02:34:56,000
spending fund balance. Uh because I and

4025
02:34:56,000 --> 02:34:57,680
Mike, I'm glad you brought up the idea

4026
02:34:57,680 --> 02:35:00,160
about looking at the 28 budget because

4027
02:35:00,160 --> 02:35:02,319
again, if we use that fund balance, what

4028
02:35:02,319 --> 02:35:05,600
does that do for 28? because those

4029
02:35:05,600 --> 02:35:08,080
uh expenditures just don't disappear.

4030
02:35:08,080 --> 02:35:10,240
And then one other comment uh and

4031
02:35:10,240 --> 02:35:12,160
Commissioner Johnson had mentioned about

4032
02:35:12,160 --> 02:35:14,240
planning for downtown. I guess I would

4033
02:35:14,240 --> 02:35:16,800
like to see our board be, you know,

4034
02:35:16,800 --> 02:35:19,040
proactive and and starting especially

4035
02:35:19,040 --> 02:35:20,800
the conversation with removal of the

4036
02:35:20,800 --> 02:35:22,960
buildings here or reuse of the buildings

4037
02:35:22,960 --> 02:35:25,520
down here. City of St. Cloud came out

4038
02:35:25,520 --> 02:35:28,000
with redevelopment plan. I knew nothing

4039
02:35:28,000 --> 02:35:30,560
about it and and I guess I I would think

4040
02:35:30,560 --> 02:35:32,319
that we should be involved with the

4041
02:35:32,319 --> 02:35:34,319
redevelopment plan, at least have an

4042
02:35:34,319 --> 02:35:35,600
idea what's going to happen with our

4043
02:35:35,600 --> 02:35:37,439
campus before the city would come out

4044
02:35:37,439 --> 02:35:38,800
with a plan about what they're doing

4045
02:35:38,800 --> 02:35:40,640
with our campus. So, we need to have

4046
02:35:40,640 --> 02:35:42,720
that conversation and obviously be

4047
02:35:42,720 --> 02:35:45,439
working cooperatively together. So,

4048
02:35:45,439 --> 02:35:47,590
>> Commissioner Clark,

4049
02:35:47,590 --> 02:35:47,600
» Commissioner Clark,

4050
02:35:47,600 --> 02:35:50,550
>> yeah, I too I'm glad for the additional

4051
02:35:50,550 --> 02:35:50,560
» yeah, I too I'm glad for the additional

4052
02:35:50,560 --> 02:35:52,160
time that we're going to have. I want to

4053
02:35:52,160 --> 02:35:54,640
thank the budget committee. You I know

4054
02:35:54,640 --> 02:35:56,640
we're not done. I'm glad we're not done.

4055
02:35:56,640 --> 02:35:58,000
We clearly don't have all the

4056
02:35:58,000 --> 02:35:59,600
information with regards to property

4057
02:35:59,600 --> 02:36:02,640
taxes among other things, but you have

4058
02:36:02,640 --> 02:36:06,080
brought an initial significant step down

4059
02:36:06,080 --> 02:36:08,160
from where I think many counties are

4060
02:36:08,160 --> 02:36:10,399
going to be. Um, and part of it really

4061
02:36:10,399 --> 02:36:12,240
is the federal and the state mandates

4062
02:36:12,240 --> 02:36:14,720
that we don't have a choice about.

4063
02:36:14,720 --> 02:36:17,200
Absolutely.

4064
02:36:17,200 --> 02:36:19,760
I I'm just trying to think of how to say

4065
02:36:19,760 --> 02:36:22,479
this. the amount of innovation,

4066
02:36:22,479 --> 02:36:25,600
creativity, forward thinking, the ways

4067
02:36:25,600 --> 02:36:28,160
to be reducing costs that our staff have

4068
02:36:28,160 --> 02:36:30,479
already done. Just want to applaud you

4069
02:36:30,479 --> 02:36:33,040
because it's significant and people have

4070
02:36:33,040 --> 02:36:36,240
been doing a lot of work. Like I'm

4071
02:36:36,240 --> 02:36:38,880
guessing everybody else, I would love to

4072
02:36:38,880 --> 02:36:42,000
see less human service positions being

4073
02:36:42,000 --> 02:36:44,720
asked for. I'm not sure how we would do

4074
02:36:44,720 --> 02:36:47,200
that just given what the demands of what

4075
02:36:47,200 --> 02:36:49,359
they're asking us to do. I would be

4076
02:36:49,359 --> 02:36:51,840
interested in hearing about a little bit

4077
02:36:51,840 --> 02:36:54,560
more um when we get to our August 4th

4078
02:36:54,560 --> 02:36:59,120
meeting about how you've utilized um

4079
02:36:59,120 --> 02:37:01,120
some of the partnership strategies,

4080
02:37:01,120 --> 02:37:03,120
technology and others to help us reduce

4081
02:37:03,120 --> 02:37:05,520
costs. And by all means, if you can find

4082
02:37:05,520 --> 02:37:09,040
other ways to be reducing budgets, yes,

4083
02:37:09,040 --> 02:37:10,880
please. And [snorts]

4084
02:37:10,880 --> 02:37:12,720
just for all of us, we just need to

4085
02:37:12,720 --> 02:37:14,960
remember how much of this is heavily

4086
02:37:14,960 --> 02:37:17,359
heavily mandated and we're not being

4087
02:37:17,359 --> 02:37:20,720
given a a lot of choice. So I the other

4088
02:37:20,720 --> 02:37:23,920
piece on uh uh uh Commissioner Perski,

4089
02:37:23,920 --> 02:37:26,000
your comments on the fund balance in

4090
02:37:26,000 --> 02:37:28,000
general, I would agree with that. We

4091
02:37:28,000 --> 02:37:30,319
have healthy fund balances right now.

4092
02:37:30,319 --> 02:37:33,200
There's so much uncertainty and both the

4093
02:37:33,200 --> 02:37:34,800
state and the feds, the state

4094
02:37:34,800 --> 02:37:37,040
legislature and even the departments

4095
02:37:37,040 --> 02:37:40,080
have at least acknowledged there's some

4096
02:37:40,080 --> 02:37:42,160
money that needs to be come brought to

4097
02:37:42,160 --> 02:37:44,560
us to be paying for some of the

4098
02:37:44,560 --> 02:37:47,280
mandates. Their budget is going to be a

4099
02:37:47,280 --> 02:37:50,240
mess. So, a real question is how much of

4100
02:37:50,240 --> 02:37:53,439
that's going to be realistic. Uh so for

4101
02:37:53,439 --> 02:37:57,920
me um I appreciate some conservative use

4102
02:37:57,920 --> 02:38:00,720
of those fund balances to help us at

4103
02:38:00,720 --> 02:38:05,280
least um perhaps buy a bit of time to be

4104
02:38:05,280 --> 02:38:06,960
making sure the re the state is

4105
02:38:06,960 --> 02:38:09,200
resourcing what they're requiring us to

4106
02:38:09,200 --> 02:38:13,120
do at a level we're not seeing. So I I I

4107
02:38:13,120 --> 02:38:15,200
would be very concerned if it was a

4108
02:38:15,200 --> 02:38:16,720
significant

4109
02:38:16,720 --> 02:38:18,880
um

4110
02:38:18,880 --> 02:38:21,120
bite of the apple as it were. But it

4111
02:38:21,120 --> 02:38:23,359
looks like you're trying to be prudent

4112
02:38:23,359 --> 02:38:26,399
and very much appreciate how much you're

4113
02:38:26,399 --> 02:38:29,359
thinking about our property taxpayers,

4114
02:38:29,359 --> 02:38:33,520
residential, commercial, apartments, our

4115
02:38:33,520 --> 02:38:36,399
egg, because the mandates that both the

4116
02:38:36,399 --> 02:38:39,760
feds and state are putting on us

4117
02:38:39,760 --> 02:38:42,720
is going to be so harmful to them. They

4118
02:38:42,720 --> 02:38:44,479
need to rethink about how they're paying

4119
02:38:44,479 --> 02:38:46,960
for these services and not go to these

4120
02:38:46,960 --> 02:38:50,080
really very regressive taxes. So look

4121
02:38:50,080 --> 02:38:51,920
forward to the deeper dive on all of

4122
02:38:51,920 --> 02:38:54,560
that. Um including um some of the

4123
02:38:54,560 --> 02:38:56,479
opportunities that I know most if not

4124
02:38:56,479 --> 02:38:59,040
all of us have had uh conversations with

4125
02:38:59,040 --> 02:39:01,920
regard to household hazardous waste and

4126
02:39:01,920 --> 02:39:04,240
where our highway may be going. So thank

4127
02:39:04,240 --> 02:39:06,160
you.

4128
02:39:06,160 --> 02:39:09,110
>> All right. Thank you.

4129
02:39:09,110 --> 02:39:09,120
» All right. Thank you.

4130
02:39:09,120 --> 02:39:13,040
Uh next we have the addition of M3, the

4131
02:39:13,040 --> 02:39:16,720
housing trust board.

4132
02:39:16,720 --> 02:39:19,670
>> Yes, Mr. Chair. um you have a vacancy on

4133
02:39:19,670 --> 02:39:19,680
» Yes, Mr. Chair. um you have a vacancy on

4134
02:39:19,680 --> 02:39:23,040
the housing trust fund board and you

4135
02:39:23,040 --> 02:39:24,720
have three applicants, applicant A, B,

4136
02:39:24,720 --> 02:39:28,319
and C. [snorts] And um in your rankings,

4137
02:39:28,319 --> 02:39:31,040
three of you ranked applicant A as your

4138
02:39:31,040 --> 02:39:35,840
first choice and um two of you

4139
02:39:35,840 --> 02:39:39,840
ranked applicant B as your first choice.

4140
02:39:39,840 --> 02:39:44,710
Um, [clears throat]

4141
02:39:44,720 --> 02:39:47,359
if you want to make an appointment, you

4142
02:39:47,359 --> 02:39:49,680
could do that now. Or if you don't, we

4143
02:39:49,680 --> 02:39:50,800
could.

4144
02:39:50,800 --> 02:39:52,870
>> Mr. Chairman, I'll move that we

4145
02:39:52,870 --> 02:39:52,880
» Mr. Chairman, I'll move that we

4146
02:39:52,880 --> 02:39:56,240
recommend applicant A based on the votes

4147
02:39:56,240 --> 02:40:00,230
um for that position.

4148
02:40:00,240 --> 02:40:01,600
» I'll second that.

4149
02:40:01,600 --> 02:40:03,990
>> Okay. We have a motion and a second to

4150
02:40:03,990 --> 02:40:04,000
» Okay. We have a motion and a second to

4151
02:40:04,000 --> 02:40:06,800
uh approve applicant A for the housing

4152
02:40:06,800 --> 02:40:08,720
trust fund board. Any further

4153
02:40:08,720 --> 02:40:11,280
discussion, Commissioner Johnson?

4154
02:40:11,280 --> 02:40:14,150
>> Um, yes.

4155
02:40:14,150 --> 02:40:14,160
» Um, yes.

4156
02:40:14,160 --> 02:40:17,760
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um,

4157
02:40:17,760 --> 02:40:20,720
we were ranking, not voting,

4158
02:40:20,720 --> 02:40:22,230
>> is what I thought.

4159
02:40:22,230 --> 02:40:22,240
» is what I thought.

4160
02:40:22,240 --> 02:40:22,630
>> Yeah.

4161
02:40:22,630 --> 02:40:22,640
» Yeah.

4162
02:40:22,640 --> 02:40:24,150
>> Correct.

4163
02:40:24,150 --> 02:40:24,160
» Correct.

4164
02:40:24,160 --> 02:40:27,520
Um I I want to comment that that

4165
02:40:27,520 --> 02:40:30,880
applicant A I think has a passion for

4166
02:40:30,880 --> 02:40:33,920
others particularly in the area of human

4167
02:40:33,920 --> 02:40:36,319
services working with folks with

4168
02:40:36,319 --> 02:40:38,399
disabilities, public health, social

4169
02:40:38,399 --> 02:40:41,439
services, those kinds of things.

4170
02:40:41,439 --> 02:40:43,760
Applicant A would would certainly be of

4171
02:40:43,760 --> 02:40:46,080
value to many of our county boards and

4172
02:40:46,080 --> 02:40:47,359
commissions. And I think we should

4173
02:40:47,359 --> 02:40:51,920
probably find a place for applicant A.

4174
02:40:51,920 --> 02:40:53,840
When I look at applicant B, what I see

4175
02:40:53,840 --> 02:40:56,800
is a person who has a degree focused in

4176
02:40:56,800 --> 02:40:59,840
business management.

4177
02:40:59,840 --> 02:41:02,720
This this candidate also has experience

4178
02:41:02,720 --> 02:41:05,600
in managing deed and Minnesota housing

4179
02:41:05,600 --> 02:41:08,080
grants, budgeting, grant writing,

4180
02:41:08,080 --> 02:41:10,160
program development,

4181
02:41:10,160 --> 02:41:12,479
has been through certification processes

4182
02:41:12,479 --> 02:41:14,319
in the area of project management

4183
02:41:14,319 --> 02:41:17,120
through the U of M, housing stability

4184
02:41:17,120 --> 02:41:19,040
compliance with Minnesota housing and

4185
02:41:19,040 --> 02:41:21,760
workforce development through DED.

4186
02:41:21,760 --> 02:41:25,760
Um, credentials are important

4187
02:41:25,760 --> 02:41:30,080
in housing work. Um, community outreach,

4188
02:41:30,080 --> 02:41:31,680
strategic planning, and housing

4189
02:41:31,680 --> 02:41:33,040
assistance are also some of the

4190
02:41:33,040 --> 02:41:36,880
attributes in candidate B.

4191
02:41:36,880 --> 02:41:39,600
I I personally believe that our county

4192
02:41:39,600 --> 02:41:42,399
workforce and our boards and commissions

4193
02:41:42,399 --> 02:41:45,359
need to begin to look like the larger

4194
02:41:45,359 --> 02:41:47,120
community.

4195
02:41:47,120 --> 02:41:51,120
That view allows for fuller

4196
02:41:51,120 --> 02:41:52,640
representation.

4197
02:41:52,640 --> 02:41:54,720
And I think this is sort of a two-way

4198
02:41:54,720 --> 02:41:56,160
street.

4199
02:41:56,160 --> 02:41:59,040
people apply, but then providing them

4200
02:41:59,040 --> 02:42:01,439
the opportunity for involvement in the

4201
02:42:01,439 --> 02:42:05,040
county requires us to reach out in a

4202
02:42:05,040 --> 02:42:08,800
trusting and welcoming manner.

4203
02:42:08,800 --> 02:42:13,520
When I make decisions, sometimes I ask

4204
02:42:13,520 --> 02:42:16,319
myself three questions.

4205
02:42:16,319 --> 02:42:19,760
What do I want? Why do I want it? And do

4206
02:42:19,760 --> 02:42:22,880
the answers to those questions work with

4207
02:42:22,880 --> 02:42:25,200
my values?

4208
02:42:25,200 --> 02:42:28,080
It's it's not always a perfect system,

4209
02:42:28,080 --> 02:42:30,399
but it helps me to extend my thinking

4210
02:42:30,399 --> 02:42:33,920
and to to try something new and

4211
02:42:33,920 --> 02:42:36,319
different. And it's been pretty good.

4212
02:42:36,319 --> 02:42:39,760
That's how I got here, actually.

4213
02:42:39,760 --> 02:42:45,760
So, I I strongly support candidate B and

4214
02:42:45,760 --> 02:42:50,479
would like us to consider um

4215
02:42:50,479 --> 02:42:52,960
consider that that uh person that

4216
02:42:52,960 --> 02:42:57,359
individual as our appointee. Thanks.

4217
02:42:57,359 --> 02:43:00,469
>> Okay. Uh further discussion.

4218
02:43:00,469 --> 02:43:00,479
» Okay. Uh further discussion.

4219
02:43:00,479 --> 02:43:01,840
Commissioner Perski.

4220
02:43:01,840 --> 02:43:04,630
>> Uh Mr. Chair, I I candidate B I think is

4221
02:43:04,630 --> 02:43:04,640
» Uh Mr. Chair, I I candidate B I think is

4222
02:43:04,640 --> 02:43:07,120
qualified for perhaps a number of other

4223
02:43:07,120 --> 02:43:09,200
positions again within the county and

4224
02:43:09,200 --> 02:43:12,240
those opportunities would be available

4225
02:43:12,240 --> 02:43:16,240
um to them. So I I and I agree uh

4226
02:43:16,240 --> 02:43:18,399
Commissioner Johnson with uh much of

4227
02:43:18,399 --> 02:43:20,479
what you said. So

4228
02:43:20,479 --> 02:43:21,750
>> Commissioner Clark,

4229
02:43:21,750 --> 02:43:21,760
» Commissioner Clark,

4230
02:43:21,760 --> 02:43:24,630
>> thank you. Um I'm not going to repeat

4231
02:43:24,630 --> 02:43:24,640
» thank you. Um I'm not going to repeat

4232
02:43:24,640 --> 02:43:26,640
all the things that Commissioner Johnson

4233
02:43:26,640 --> 02:43:28,479
just said. I agree with them. They are

4234
02:43:28,479 --> 02:43:31,520
part of what I planned on talking about.

4235
02:43:31,520 --> 02:43:34,800
Um, I have to say I'm I'm becoming more

4236
02:43:34,800 --> 02:43:38,319
concerned that we do not have people

4237
02:43:38,319 --> 02:43:40,560
providing us more information. I felt

4238
02:43:40,560 --> 02:43:44,080
like app uh applicant B was the only one

4239
02:43:44,080 --> 02:43:46,560
to give us significant information about

4240
02:43:46,560 --> 02:43:48,800
themselves. So, I hope that we can get

4241
02:43:48,800 --> 02:43:50,960
more people to give us a bit more about

4242
02:43:50,960 --> 02:43:52,319
their background and why they're

4243
02:43:52,319 --> 02:43:55,840
interested. That would be useful. Um,

4244
02:43:55,840 --> 02:43:59,200
two additional things, uh, I would say

4245
02:43:59,200 --> 02:44:02,560
is that the board already has

4246
02:44:02,560 --> 02:44:05,040
significant representation

4247
02:44:05,040 --> 02:44:08,000
from the non Staint Cloud Way Park

4248
02:44:08,000 --> 02:44:12,000
areas. Um, and we often are trying to

4249
02:44:12,000 --> 02:44:15,439
have some balance between all the areas.

4250
02:44:15,439 --> 02:44:17,840
It's a great group. They in general are

4251
02:44:17,840 --> 02:44:19,760
not looking at any one specific area.

4252
02:44:19,760 --> 02:44:21,520
They're really trying to figure out how

4253
02:44:21,520 --> 02:44:24,240
to do it well. So that is not a comment

4254
02:44:24,240 --> 02:44:27,120
about them. But in replacing um what was

4255
02:44:27,120 --> 02:44:29,600
then citizen Johnson uh with the new

4256
02:44:29,600 --> 02:44:32,080
citizen, I would say that we would be a

4257
02:44:32,080 --> 02:44:33,920
little out of balance or a little more

4258
02:44:33,920 --> 02:44:37,359
out of balance if uh we ended up uh

4259
02:44:37,359 --> 02:44:41,120
going with applicant um A. And then

4260
02:44:41,120 --> 02:44:43,120
lastly, I think that background fits

4261
02:44:43,120 --> 02:44:45,439
very well with supportive housing. I do

4262
02:44:45,439 --> 02:44:48,160
not know if the applicant knows that

4263
02:44:48,160 --> 02:44:51,120
that is not what this I'm a strong

4264
02:44:51,120 --> 02:44:52,720
supporter and advocate for supportive

4265
02:44:52,720 --> 02:44:54,319
housing, but that is not what our

4266
02:44:54,319 --> 02:44:57,279
housing trust fund does. And I would I

4267
02:44:57,279 --> 02:44:59,279
so I put that I needed more information

4268
02:44:59,279 --> 02:45:01,439
if we were going to go any further on

4269
02:45:01,439 --> 02:45:03,040
that. I just want to make sure that

4270
02:45:03,040 --> 02:45:05,279
there was a a deeper understanding about

4271
02:45:05,279 --> 02:45:06,880
what we're actually doing with that

4272
02:45:06,880 --> 02:45:09,200
board. Absolutely. see number of places

4273
02:45:09,200 --> 02:45:11,359
that it looks like uh they would be very

4274
02:45:11,359 --> 02:45:14,389
good.

4275
02:45:14,399 --> 02:45:19,269
» Okay, any further discussion?

4276
02:45:19,279 --> 02:45:23,760
» Not seeing any. Um all those in favor of

4277
02:45:23,760 --> 02:45:28,880
the appointment of I believe it was was

4278
02:45:28,880 --> 02:45:29,680
it

4279
02:45:29,680 --> 02:45:31,670
>> a

4280
02:45:31,670 --> 02:45:31,680
» a

4281
02:45:31,680 --> 02:45:33,680
uh signify by saying I

4282
02:45:33,680 --> 02:45:34,070
>> I

4283
02:45:34,070 --> 02:45:34,080
» I

4284
02:45:34,080 --> 02:45:34,710
>> I

4285
02:45:34,710 --> 02:45:34,720
» I

4286
02:45:34,720 --> 02:45:37,110
>> opposed. Nay.

4287
02:45:37,110 --> 02:45:37,120
» opposed. Nay.

4288
02:45:37,120 --> 02:45:38,469
>> Roll call. Randy.

4289
02:45:38,469 --> 02:45:38,479
» Roll call. Randy.

4290
02:45:38,479 --> 02:45:40,230
>> Commissioner Johnson.

4291
02:45:40,230 --> 02:45:40,240
» Commissioner Johnson.

4292
02:45:40,240 --> 02:45:41,349
>> Nay.

4293
02:45:41,349 --> 02:45:41,359
» Nay.

4294
02:45:41,359 --> 02:45:42,469
>> Commissioner Clark.

4295
02:45:42,469 --> 02:45:42,479
» Commissioner Clark.

4296
02:45:42,479 --> 02:45:43,030
>> Nay.

4297
02:45:43,030 --> 02:45:43,040
» Nay.

4298
02:45:43,040 --> 02:45:45,030
>> Commissioner Perski.

4299
02:45:45,030 --> 02:45:45,040
» Commissioner Perski.

4300
02:45:45,040 --> 02:45:45,670
>> I.

4301
02:45:45,670 --> 02:45:45,680
» I.

4302
02:45:45,680 --> 02:45:46,630
>> Mr. Bertrram.

4303
02:45:46,630 --> 02:45:46,640
» Mr. Bertrram.

4304
02:45:46,640 --> 02:45:47,110
>> Hi.

4305
02:45:47,110 --> 02:45:47,120
» Hi.

4306
02:45:47,120 --> 02:45:48,309
>> Mr. Notch.

4307
02:45:48,309 --> 02:45:48,319
» Mr. Notch.

4308
02:45:48,319 --> 02:45:49,429
>> I.

4309
02:45:49,429 --> 02:45:49,439
» I.

4310
02:45:49,439 --> 02:45:50,950
>> Passes 3 to two.

4311
02:45:50,950 --> 02:45:50,960
» Passes 3 to two.

4312
02:45:50,960 --> 02:45:55,429
>> Okay. Thank you. Passes 3 to two.

4313
02:45:55,429 --> 02:45:55,439
» Okay. Thank you. Passes 3 to two.

4314
02:45:55,439 --> 02:45:58,550
>> All right. Thank you for that. And yes,

4315
02:45:58,550 --> 02:45:58,560
» All right. Thank you for that. And yes,

4316
02:45:58,560 --> 02:46:01,680
I I would agree. Uh more information on

4317
02:46:01,680 --> 02:46:03,600
some of these applications would be

4318
02:46:03,600 --> 02:46:06,720
great. Um

4319
02:46:06,720 --> 02:46:08,640
again,

4320
02:46:08,640 --> 02:46:10,319
you know, for some I think they apply

4321
02:46:10,319 --> 02:46:12,800
because we ask them to. So they figure,

4322
02:46:12,800 --> 02:46:14,399
well, I'm being asked, so they just do

4323
02:46:14,399 --> 02:46:16,720
it quick and easy and simple and don't

4324
02:46:16,720 --> 02:46:18,560
necessarily fill it out much more than

4325
02:46:18,560 --> 02:46:19,920
that because a lot of times some of

4326
02:46:19,920 --> 02:46:22,080
these committees we can't find

4327
02:46:22,080 --> 02:46:24,640
applicants for. But uh yeah, hopefully

4328
02:46:24,640 --> 02:46:27,439
in the future maybe, you know, if they

4329
02:46:27,439 --> 02:46:29,760
call and talk to staff or email, you

4330
02:46:29,760 --> 02:46:33,200
know, we can just ask for more clarity,

4331
02:46:33,200 --> 02:46:35,520
which should help us on various

4332
02:46:35,520 --> 02:46:37,040
appointments because it's nice when they

4333
02:46:37,040 --> 02:46:38,800
put more than one committee that they'd

4334
02:46:38,800 --> 02:46:40,160
be interested in

4335
02:46:40,160 --> 02:46:42,230
>> because then we have the database to

4336
02:46:42,230 --> 02:46:42,240
» because then we have the database to

4337
02:46:42,240 --> 02:46:44,000
use.

4338
02:46:44,000 --> 02:46:47,750
>> Okay, with that being said, uh the next

4339
02:46:47,750 --> 02:46:47,760
» Okay, with that being said, uh the next

4340
02:46:47,760 --> 02:46:51,920
is uh items by commissioners. Uh,

4341
02:46:51,920 --> 02:46:53,520
Commissioner Bertram, would you care to

4342
02:46:53,520 --> 02:46:53,840
start?

4343
02:46:53,840 --> 02:46:55,990
>> Sure, Mr. Chairman. Uh, haven't seen

4344
02:46:55,990 --> 02:46:56,000
» Sure, Mr. Chairman. Uh, haven't seen

4345
02:46:56,000 --> 02:46:58,000
anything on the fair yet. So, if Bill or

4346
02:46:58,000 --> 02:47:00,640
somebody can get that to us on the We

4347
02:47:00,640 --> 02:47:02,880
can make sure that I hope the department

4348
02:47:02,880 --> 02:47:04,640
directors and everybody are filling it

4349
02:47:04,640 --> 02:47:06,960
out and then that we can kind of spread

4350
02:47:06,960 --> 02:47:08,960
ourselves out around that too. It would

4351
02:47:08,960 --> 02:47:10,880
be nice. A lot of community events

4352
02:47:10,880 --> 02:47:12,800
continue to happen. Really is the flavor

4353
02:47:12,800 --> 02:47:14,880
of Cern County to see all these things

4354
02:47:14,880 --> 02:47:17,120
happen throughout the county makes us

4355
02:47:17,120 --> 02:47:19,920
who we are. And um certainly want to

4356
02:47:19,920 --> 02:47:24,560
wish Mike uh well as his last meeting um

4357
02:47:24,560 --> 02:47:26,640
and thank him for everything he's done

4358
02:47:26,640 --> 02:47:29,359
uh for the county and wish him and Susan

4359
02:47:29,359 --> 02:47:32,720
all the best. Um

4360
02:47:32,720 --> 02:47:33,190
>> thank you

4361
02:47:33,190 --> 02:47:33,200
» thank you

4362
02:47:33,200 --> 02:47:35,910
>> as uh they move forward.

4363
02:47:35,910 --> 02:47:35,920
» as uh they move forward.

4364
02:47:35,920 --> 02:47:37,830
>> Thank you, Commissioner Perski.

4365
02:47:37,830 --> 02:47:37,840
» Thank you, Commissioner Perski.

4366
02:47:37,840 --> 02:47:40,150
>> Uh yeah, I had the fair on there as

4367
02:47:40,150 --> 02:47:40,160
» Uh yeah, I had the fair on there as

4368
02:47:40,160 --> 02:47:41,760
well. I'd like to see that sign up, too.

4369
02:47:41,760 --> 02:47:43,920
I want to uh make sure I get a time and

4370
02:47:43,920 --> 02:47:46,720
a date to to get on that. Uh, also,

4371
02:47:46,720 --> 02:47:48,479
Commissioner Clark and I are heading to

4372
02:47:48,479 --> 02:47:52,800
New Orleans. Uh, no is on this week. Uh,

4373
02:47:52,800 --> 02:47:55,680
we, uh, we may, well, we're not going to

4374
02:47:55,680 --> 02:47:57,359
be escaping the heat, but we get to add

4375
02:47:57,359 --> 02:47:59,439
the humidity down there. So, I'm sure

4376
02:47:59,439 --> 02:48:02,319
it's going to be interesting uh, time

4377
02:48:02,319 --> 02:48:04,960
down there, but we both have u

4378
02:48:04,960 --> 02:48:07,680
significant issues we're working on uh,

4379
02:48:07,680 --> 02:48:10,399
uh, with the NACO board. Uh, I got a

4380
02:48:10,399 --> 02:48:11,920
question for Randy. Randy, just

4381
02:48:11,920 --> 02:48:14,160
wondering I'm hoping that the primaries

4382
02:48:14,160 --> 02:48:16,960
are are is going okay as far as uh

4383
02:48:16,960 --> 02:48:18,479
elections are concerned and just

4384
02:48:18,479 --> 02:48:20,960
wondering too also as far as election

4385
02:48:20,960 --> 02:48:23,279
workers and judges uh for the fall. Are

4386
02:48:23,279 --> 02:48:25,520
we in need of folks that could sign up

4387
02:48:25,520 --> 02:48:28,240
or be available to some of the uh

4388
02:48:28,240 --> 02:48:29,680
polling places?

4389
02:48:29,680 --> 02:48:31,269
>> Um elections [clears throat] are going

4390
02:48:31,269 --> 02:48:31,279
» Um elections [clears throat] are going

4391
02:48:31,279 --> 02:48:33,920
fine. Ballots are there. People are

4392
02:48:33,920 --> 02:48:36,720
voting. Um, you know, it always starts

4393
02:48:36,720 --> 02:48:38,240
out with a bunch of people and then we

4394
02:48:38,240 --> 02:48:40,080
get into a little bit of a lull and then

4395
02:48:40,080 --> 02:48:42,399
closer to the election date, the last

4396
02:48:42,399 --> 02:48:44,960
week gets busy again. And yeah, various

4397
02:48:44,960 --> 02:48:46,560
jurisdictions are always looking for

4398
02:48:46,560 --> 02:48:49,600
people, so contact your city or township

4399
02:48:49,600 --> 02:48:50,800
that you live in.

4400
02:48:50,800 --> 02:48:51,190
>> Okay.

4401
02:48:51,190 --> 02:48:51,200
» Okay.

4402
02:48:51,200 --> 02:48:51,910
>> Yep.

4403
02:48:51,910 --> 02:48:51,920
» Yep.

4404
02:48:51,920 --> 02:48:54,070
>> All right. And we haven't pre uh seen

4405
02:48:54,070 --> 02:48:54,080
» All right. And we haven't pre uh seen

4406
02:48:54,080 --> 02:48:56,399
any potential issues or problems with

4407
02:48:56,399 --> 02:48:59,439
upcoming elections as far as you see. Uh

4408
02:48:59,439 --> 02:49:01,349
>> hopefully not. No, I don't see

4409
02:49:01,349 --> 02:49:01,359
» hopefully not. No, I don't see

4410
02:49:01,359 --> 02:49:03,279
necessarily

4411
02:49:03,279 --> 02:49:04,790
>> likely things yet.

4412
02:49:04,790 --> 02:49:04,800
» likely things yet.

4413
02:49:04,800 --> 02:49:07,349
>> Okay. Okay, that's good. And then uh

4414
02:49:07,349 --> 02:49:07,359
» Okay. Okay, that's good. And then uh

4415
02:49:07,359 --> 02:49:09,600
yeah, Mike, your your last meeting too.

4416
02:49:09,600 --> 02:49:12,479
Uh I just want to say thank you very

4417
02:49:12,479 --> 02:49:16,399
much uh for what you've done uh as a uh

4418
02:49:16,399 --> 02:49:18,160
administrator, city of St. Cloud

4419
02:49:18,160 --> 02:49:20,080
administrator here for the county and

4420
02:49:20,080 --> 02:49:21,840
that's impacted the area considerably

4421
02:49:21,840 --> 02:49:24,479
and and across the state. So, thank you

4422
02:49:24,479 --> 02:49:27,040
very much for what what you've done and

4423
02:49:27,040 --> 02:49:29,200
very appreciative of your approach of

4424
02:49:29,200 --> 02:49:30,960
how you've addressed issues throughout

4425
02:49:30,960 --> 02:49:31,600
the county.

4426
02:49:31,600 --> 02:49:34,070
>> Thank you,

4427
02:49:34,070 --> 02:49:34,080
» Thank you,

4428
02:49:34,080 --> 02:49:37,429
>> Commissioner Clark.

4429
02:49:37,429 --> 02:49:37,439
» Commissioner Clark.

4430
02:49:37,439 --> 02:49:40,870
>> Thank you. Um, so on the public service

4431
02:49:40,870 --> 02:49:40,880
» Thank you. Um, so on the public service

4432
02:49:40,880 --> 02:49:43,520
side of this, uh, you a couple of you

4433
02:49:43,520 --> 02:49:45,200
already brought up the fair. I want to

4434
02:49:45,200 --> 02:49:47,680
bring up specifically the milk run, our

4435
02:49:47,680 --> 02:49:50,640
second annual milk run, 5K walk run.

4436
02:49:50,640 --> 02:49:53,760
It'll be on Saturday, August 1st. Uh we

4437
02:49:53,760 --> 02:49:56,000
had 120 people last year on our

4438
02:49:56,000 --> 02:49:59,760
inaugural one of all ages and um uh

4439
02:49:59,760 --> 02:50:01,920
methods of being able to participate. So

4440
02:50:01,920 --> 02:50:04,560
I want to encourage people to uh take a

4441
02:50:04,560 --> 02:50:06,640
look and sign up for that. It's first

4442
02:50:06,640 --> 02:50:08,319
thing in the morning. You can beat the

4443
02:50:08,319 --> 02:50:10,800
heat and you don't actually have to

4444
02:50:10,800 --> 02:50:12,880
drink milk if it's too hot. But uh

4445
02:50:12,880 --> 02:50:14,800
really appreciate the work that the

4446
02:50:14,800 --> 02:50:18,240
dairy folks do on it. Um

4447
02:50:18,240 --> 02:50:19,840
uh when we were talking a little bit

4448
02:50:19,840 --> 02:50:22,080
about human services,

4449
02:50:22,080 --> 02:50:24,240
um some of us got chance to participate

4450
02:50:24,240 --> 02:50:27,359
in mock interviews yesterday with kids

4451
02:50:27,359 --> 02:50:29,600
going into high school or just barely in

4452
02:50:29,600 --> 02:50:32,240
high school. They were incredible. Um

4453
02:50:32,240 --> 02:50:33,840
the things that they were looking at

4454
02:50:33,840 --> 02:50:38,000
doing how they are trying to interrelate

4455
02:50:38,000 --> 02:50:40,160
um if we can figure out a way to partner

4456
02:50:40,160 --> 02:50:41,600
with some of our school districts on

4457
02:50:41,600 --> 02:50:43,600
even getting our pipeline maybe a little

4458
02:50:43,600 --> 02:50:45,920
earlier that would be pretty fabulous.

4459
02:50:45,920 --> 02:50:47,439
Um, but it's heartening thinking about

4460
02:50:47,439 --> 02:50:49,520
the next generation coming after all of

4461
02:50:49,520 --> 02:50:52,319
us. Um, again, thanks to the budget

4462
02:50:52,319 --> 02:50:53,760
committee and all the department heads

4463
02:50:53,760 --> 02:50:56,240
and staff for putting together this

4464
02:50:56,240 --> 02:50:59,680
really complete first look so early. And

4465
02:50:59,680 --> 02:51:02,399
then Mike, I think we could probably at

4466
02:51:02,399 --> 02:51:04,240
least I could spend a long time with

4467
02:51:04,240 --> 02:51:06,640
with thanks and [snorts] perhaps

4468
02:51:06,640 --> 02:51:10,160
beverages are in order uh to be toasting

4469
02:51:10,160 --> 02:51:13,359
you. Uh, when you came in the county was

4470
02:51:13,359 --> 02:51:15,439
in good shape. Our region was in really

4471
02:51:15,439 --> 02:51:17,680
good shape. A lot of wonderful things

4472
02:51:17,680 --> 02:51:19,600
have happened. We have a number of key

4473
02:51:19,600 --> 02:51:21,760
staff that are here from that time

4474
02:51:21,760 --> 02:51:23,840
frame. But you really helped us to move

4475
02:51:23,840 --> 02:51:26,160
to the next level. Obviously, we're a

4476
02:51:26,160 --> 02:51:28,160
complicated place. are really a

4477
02:51:28,160 --> 02:51:32,000
microcosm of the state and

4478
02:51:32,000 --> 02:51:34,319
between our budget and our number of

4479
02:51:34,319 --> 02:51:36,560
staff and all the people and all of the

4480
02:51:36,560 --> 02:51:37,920
different things in place, the

4481
02:51:37,920 --> 02:51:41,200
creativity and innovation that you've

4482
02:51:41,200 --> 02:51:43,200
empowered people and I can tell you feel

4483
02:51:43,200 --> 02:51:44,720
uncomfortable because you can't look at

4484
02:51:44,720 --> 02:51:48,640
me. [laughter] Um, as well as wanting

4485
02:51:48,640 --> 02:51:50,399
the details, right? We need people who

4486
02:51:50,399 --> 02:51:52,640
are the good detail people as well as

4487
02:51:52,640 --> 02:51:54,479
the people who are great at the

4488
02:51:54,479 --> 02:51:58,000
community partnerships. Um, you're gonna

4489
02:51:58,000 --> 02:52:01,200
be missed. I know I'm gonna miss you and

4490
02:52:01,200 --> 02:52:02,319
it's very [snorts] exciting thinking

4491
02:52:02,319 --> 02:52:03,920
about the next chapter for you. We're

4492
02:52:03,920 --> 02:52:06,080
going to be just fine because we've got

4493
02:52:06,080 --> 02:52:08,560
great people here um that'll help us to

4494
02:52:08,560 --> 02:52:10,319
even move to the next place in the

4495
02:52:10,319 --> 02:52:12,240
future. So, thank you.

4496
02:52:12,240 --> 02:52:15,590
>> Thank you, Commissioner Johnson.

4497
02:52:15,590 --> 02:52:15,600
» Thank you, Commissioner Johnson.

4498
02:52:15,600 --> 02:52:17,990
>> Um, I too was thinking about the

4499
02:52:17,990 --> 02:52:18,000
» Um, I too was thinking about the

4500
02:52:18,000 --> 02:52:21,920
election. I voted early. [snorts] Um,

4501
02:52:21,920 --> 02:52:24,160
from a slightly different perspective, I

4502
02:52:24,160 --> 02:52:26,160
was thinking about how we now live in a

4503
02:52:26,160 --> 02:52:29,279
society that is lacking in trust in a

4504
02:52:29,279 --> 02:52:33,920
lot of lot of areas. Um, is suspicious

4505
02:52:33,920 --> 02:52:37,120
in many areas. And as we begin this

4506
02:52:37,120 --> 02:52:39,359
season, I think we need to remind

4507
02:52:39,359 --> 02:52:41,920
people, and we may be doing this, Randy,

4508
02:52:41,920 --> 02:52:44,479
but we need to remind people of the

4509
02:52:44,479 --> 02:52:46,399
safeguards that we have in place,

4510
02:52:46,399 --> 02:52:48,640
whether it's through a little promotion

4511
02:52:48,640 --> 02:52:51,520
on the website or emails or a newspaper

4512
02:52:51,520 --> 02:52:54,479
ad, whatever the case may be. We know

4513
02:52:54,479 --> 02:52:57,920
that our elections are accurate and

4514
02:52:57,920 --> 02:53:00,560
secure here in Sterns County and in

4515
02:53:00,560 --> 02:53:01,760
Minnesota. [clears throat]

4516
02:53:01,760 --> 02:53:03,439
But I think we need to tell the people

4517
02:53:03,439 --> 02:53:05,600
that, and we need to tell them why. I

4518
02:53:05,600 --> 02:53:07,920
think we should talk a little bit about

4519
02:53:07,920 --> 02:53:10,000
voter registration and how the roles are

4520
02:53:10,000 --> 02:53:11,920
updated on a regular basis and where

4521
02:53:11,920 --> 02:53:14,720
that information comes from. [snorts] We

4522
02:53:14,720 --> 02:53:16,160
need to talk about identity

4523
02:53:16,160 --> 02:53:17,680
verification.

4524
02:53:17,680 --> 02:53:19,439
And we could take a few minutes to talk

4525
02:53:19,439 --> 02:53:21,680
about the public accuracy tests that

4526
02:53:21,680 --> 02:53:24,479
occur that that whether they're scanners

4527
02:53:24,479 --> 02:53:26,720
or voting machines or tabulators or

4528
02:53:26,720 --> 02:53:29,040
whatever the case may be that these

4529
02:53:29,040 --> 02:53:32,800
things are reviewed for accuracy. Um,

4530
02:53:32,800 --> 02:53:35,279
and I think it might be good if we just

4531
02:53:35,279 --> 02:53:37,680
kind of had a robust presentation early

4532
02:53:37,680 --> 02:53:40,640
on now and then maybe again in the fall

4533
02:53:40,640 --> 02:53:44,880
to remind people of those things.

4534
02:53:44,880 --> 02:53:46,960
We we we certainly can we we're going to

4535
02:53:46,960 --> 02:53:49,920
be on the radio spots starting next week

4536
02:53:49,920 --> 02:53:51,760
to talk about some of those various

4537
02:53:51,760 --> 02:53:54,479
things. Um, we do have a board

4538
02:53:54,479 --> 02:53:57,040
presentation I believe early September,

4539
02:53:57,040 --> 02:53:59,920
but I mean if you would like,

4540
02:53:59,920 --> 02:54:03,279
you know, primary is not too far away.

4541
02:54:03,279 --> 02:54:04,790
>> I guess that's up to you. We could look

4542
02:54:04,790 --> 02:54:04,800
» I guess that's up to you. We could look

4543
02:54:04,800 --> 02:54:05,040
at,

4544
02:54:05,040 --> 02:54:06,870
>> you know, I'm not requesting anything

4545
02:54:06,870 --> 02:54:06,880
» you know, I'm not requesting anything

4546
02:54:06,880 --> 02:54:08,399
particular, Randy. Okay.

4547
02:54:08,399 --> 02:54:10,230
>> If if we could put something on our

4548
02:54:10,230 --> 02:54:10,240
» If if we could put something on our

4549
02:54:10,240 --> 02:54:12,560
website and somehow communicate with

4550
02:54:12,560 --> 02:54:14,240
people across the county that this

4551
02:54:14,240 --> 02:54:16,000
information is available.

4552
02:54:16,000 --> 02:54:18,309
>> Yeah. Um and then whatever else we might

4553
02:54:18,309 --> 02:54:18,319
» Yeah. Um and then whatever else we might

4554
02:54:18,319 --> 02:54:20,640
do through the public relations people

4555
02:54:20,640 --> 02:54:23,920
or mention of it on the radio as as

4556
02:54:23,920 --> 02:54:25,680
various people are doing that

4557
02:54:25,680 --> 02:54:26,790
>> you know when you think about things

4558
02:54:26,790 --> 02:54:26,800
» you know when you think about things

4559
02:54:26,800 --> 02:54:29,439
like radio readership is about 4% of the

4560
02:54:29,439 --> 02:54:31,760
or listenership excuse me is about 4% of

4561
02:54:31,760 --> 02:54:34,319
the population it's it's not a lot.

4562
02:54:34,319 --> 02:54:34,710
>> Yeah.

4563
02:54:34,710 --> 02:54:34,720
» Yeah.

4564
02:54:34,720 --> 02:54:37,110
>> So we just need to find any way we can

4565
02:54:37,110 --> 02:54:37,120
» So we just need to find any way we can

4566
02:54:37,120 --> 02:54:39,520
to to help with that.

4567
02:54:39,520 --> 02:54:42,710
>> Um but thank you. The last thing I too

4568
02:54:42,710 --> 02:54:42,720
» Um but thank you. The last thing I too

4569
02:54:42,720 --> 02:54:44,319
want to comment about Mike and I'll make

4570
02:54:44,319 --> 02:54:48,319
this short. [clears throat] Um, I was on

4571
02:54:48,319 --> 02:54:50,880
the committee at the city level that

4572
02:54:50,880 --> 02:54:52,880
agreed to hire Mike to be the city

4573
02:54:52,880 --> 02:54:56,496
administrator when we were both boys.

4574
02:54:56,496 --> 02:54:58,160
[laughter]

4575
02:54:58,160 --> 02:55:00,880
It was quite a while ago. And I was very

4576
02:55:00,880 --> 02:55:03,200
excited when I saw him move to the

4577
02:55:03,200 --> 02:55:06,319
county. I was even more excited having

4578
02:55:06,319 --> 02:55:08,640
been elected and having Mike as the

4579
02:55:08,640 --> 02:55:11,279
county administrator.

4580
02:55:11,279 --> 02:55:14,181
So, I'm doubly sad that maybe I was

4581
02:55:14,181 --> 02:55:16,801
[clears throat] the reason he's leaving

4582
02:55:16,801 --> 02:55:18,240
[laughter]

4583
02:55:18,240 --> 02:55:21,040
because I've only met here a short time.

4584
02:55:21,040 --> 02:55:23,040
But, but Mike, I can't say enough about

4585
02:55:23,040 --> 02:55:24,560
you. I have great respect for you and

4586
02:55:24,560 --> 02:55:26,479
for your work, for your integrity, for

4587
02:55:26,479 --> 02:55:29,680
your enthusiasm and honesty that you put

4588
02:55:29,680 --> 02:55:31,840
into everything that you do. And I too

4589
02:55:31,840 --> 02:55:35,840
wish you and Susan uh the best in your

4590
02:55:35,840 --> 02:55:38,560
retirement. Thank you.

4591
02:55:38,560 --> 02:55:41,030
>> Okay. Um, I just have a couple of items.

4592
02:55:41,030 --> 02:55:41,040
» Okay. Um, I just have a couple of items.

4593
02:55:41,040 --> 02:55:43,760
Um, one of them is, uh, obviously

4594
02:55:43,760 --> 02:55:46,800
tomorrow we have interviews for the

4595
02:55:46,800 --> 02:55:49,840
three candidates to replace Mike. And

4596
02:55:49,840 --> 02:55:52,240
then also on Thursday we have the public

4597
02:55:52,240 --> 02:55:56,080
hearing on County Ditch 28. And my

4598
02:55:56,080 --> 02:55:57,680
understanding is that at least three of

4599
02:55:57,680 --> 02:55:59,840
us will be present.

4600
02:55:59,840 --> 02:56:03,600
Um, two will be remote, but there's a

4601
02:56:03,600 --> 02:56:06,399
chance because it wasn't noticed. Um,

4602
02:56:06,399 --> 02:56:09,279
you might not be able to

4603
02:56:09,279 --> 02:56:13,040
participate. I guess we Chad Kale from

4604
02:56:13,040 --> 02:56:15,279
Ricky and I had a conversation

4605
02:56:15,279 --> 02:56:16,800
yesterday. I don't know if Chad has

4606
02:56:16,800 --> 02:56:19,439
mentioned it, but uh Kayla was going to

4607
02:56:19,439 --> 02:56:22,000
research that part of it, but uh so I

4608
02:56:22,000 --> 02:56:24,319
just wanted to kind of put that out

4609
02:56:24,319 --> 02:56:27,600
there that but we have quorum in a room,

4610
02:56:27,600 --> 02:56:29,439
which was the main thing is we'd have

4611
02:56:29,439 --> 02:56:30,960
quorum.

4612
02:56:30,960 --> 02:56:35,840
So So that's uh on the agenda. That's

4613
02:56:35,840 --> 02:56:38,240
Thursday's meeting at 9:00. That's

4614
02:56:38,240 --> 02:56:39,760
strictly a public hearing on county

4615
02:56:39,760 --> 02:56:42,479
ditch 28.

4616
02:56:42,479 --> 02:56:43,830
>> You're actually meeting as the ditch

4617
02:56:43,830 --> 02:56:43,840
» You're actually meeting as the ditch

4618
02:56:43,840 --> 02:56:44,960
authority, not as the county. You're

4619
02:56:44,960 --> 02:56:46,560
meeting as a ditch authority, not the

4620
02:56:46,560 --> 02:56:48,080
county board. Correct.

4621
02:56:48,080 --> 02:56:52,070
>> Yeah. And then lastly, um, we have a

4622
02:56:52,070 --> 02:56:52,080
» Yeah. And then lastly, um, we have a

4623
02:56:52,080 --> 02:56:54,319
resolution

4624
02:56:54,319 --> 02:56:57,040
in regards to honoring Michael J.

4625
02:56:57,040 --> 02:56:59,600
Williams as Sterns County Administrator.

4626
02:56:59,600 --> 02:57:02,160
And I will read that. Whereas Michael

4627
02:57:02,160 --> 02:57:04,000
Williams has dedicated 40 years to

4628
02:57:04,000 --> 02:57:05,760
public service in local government,

4629
02:57:05,760 --> 02:57:07,600
including the past 10 years as Sterns

4630
02:57:07,600 --> 02:57:10,000
County Administrator. And whereas Sterns

4631
02:57:10,000 --> 02:57:11,680
County will continue to benefit from the

4632
02:57:11,680 --> 02:57:13,600
vision and leadership demonstrated by

4633
02:57:13,600 --> 02:57:16,560
Michael Williams for years to come. And

4634
02:57:16,560 --> 02:57:18,560
whereas Michael Williams worked with the

4635
02:57:18,560 --> 02:57:20,800
county's leadership team to establish

4636
02:57:20,800 --> 02:57:23,760
Sterns County's first mission and values

4637
02:57:23,760 --> 02:57:25,920
and implement a strategic planning

4638
02:57:25,920 --> 02:57:28,880
process that strengthens organizational

4639
02:57:28,880 --> 02:57:31,680
alignment and direction. And whereas

4640
02:57:31,680 --> 02:57:33,520
Michael Williams championed one of the

4641
02:57:33,520 --> 02:57:35,920
most transformative infrastructure

4642
02:57:35,920 --> 02:57:38,399
initiatives in county history, helping

4643
02:57:38,399 --> 02:57:41,040
secure more than 60 million in funding

4644
02:57:41,040 --> 02:57:43,680
to provide reliable broadband access to

4645
02:57:43,680 --> 02:57:46,160
nearly every home and business in the

4646
02:57:46,160 --> 02:57:47,760
county.

4647
02:57:47,760 --> 02:57:50,160
And whereas Michael Williams led the

4648
02:57:50,160 --> 02:57:51,680
planning, financing, and development of

4649
02:57:51,680 --> 02:57:54,240
the Sterns County Justice Center, the

4650
02:57:54,240 --> 02:57:56,240
largest capital project in county's

4651
02:57:56,240 --> 02:57:58,800
history. And whereas Michael Williams

4652
02:57:58,800 --> 02:58:01,120
provided sound financial leadership that

4653
02:58:01,120 --> 02:58:04,080
contributed to Sterns County's double A+

4654
02:58:04,080 --> 02:58:06,319
bond rating reflecting the county's

4655
02:58:06,319 --> 02:58:08,560
strong financial position and

4656
02:58:08,560 --> 02:58:10,479
responsible stewardship of public

4657
02:58:10,479 --> 02:58:12,160
resources.

4658
02:58:12,160 --> 02:58:14,800
And whereas Michael Williams modernized

4659
02:58:14,800 --> 02:58:17,040
county operations by establishing the

4660
02:58:17,040 --> 02:58:19,840
property services department through the

4661
02:58:19,840 --> 02:58:22,160
cons consolidation of the assessor's

4662
02:58:22,160 --> 02:58:24,880
office recorder office and land services

4663
02:58:24,880 --> 02:58:26,960
to improve service delivery

4664
02:58:26,960 --> 02:58:28,640
transitioning the county recorder

4665
02:58:28,640 --> 02:58:31,120
position from elected to appointed and

4666
02:58:31,120 --> 02:58:32,720
leading the expansion of the Sterns

4667
02:58:32,720 --> 02:58:34,560
County Service Center to improve access

4668
02:58:34,560 --> 02:58:37,120
to county services by bringing multiple

4669
02:58:37,120 --> 02:58:39,760
departments together under one roof. And

4670
02:58:39,760 --> 02:58:41,520
whereas Michael Williams led Sterns

4671
02:58:41,520 --> 02:58:43,200
County through the unprecedented

4672
02:58:43,200 --> 02:58:46,399
challenges of the CO 19 pandemic while

4673
02:58:46,399 --> 02:58:48,240
ensuring the continued delivery of

4674
02:58:48,240 --> 02:58:50,800
essential county services and expanded

4675
02:58:50,800 --> 02:58:52,399
public engagement through the creation

4676
02:58:52,399 --> 02:58:54,640
of the county newsletter and Sterns

4677
02:58:54,640 --> 02:58:57,760
County's first resident survey. And

4678
02:58:57,760 --> 02:58:59,439
whereas colleagues describe Michael

4679
02:58:59,439 --> 02:59:02,399
Williams as a thoughtful, respectful,

4680
02:59:02,399 --> 02:59:04,560
and effective leader who models

4681
02:59:04,560 --> 02:59:07,359
integrity and humility, promotes

4682
02:59:07,359 --> 02:59:09,520
innovation, and strengthens public

4683
02:59:09,520 --> 02:59:11,760
service through collaboration and

4684
02:59:11,760 --> 02:59:13,920
effective management.

4685
02:59:13,920 --> 02:59:15,840
And whereas Michael Williams is a mentor

4686
02:59:15,840 --> 02:59:17,439
to city and county administrators

4687
02:59:17,439 --> 02:59:19,120
throughout the state of Minnesota,

4688
02:59:19,120 --> 02:59:21,279
receiving the Joel Ree Excellence in

4689
02:59:21,279 --> 02:59:23,439
County Management Award, the Minnesota

4690
02:59:23,439 --> 02:59:25,600
Association of County Administrators

4691
02:59:25,600 --> 02:59:28,560
highest annual recognition for exemplary

4692
02:59:28,560 --> 02:59:30,000
service and leadership in county

4693
02:59:30,000 --> 02:59:32,160
government. And whereas the Sterns

4694
02:59:32,160 --> 02:59:34,399
County Board of Commissioners wishes to

4695
02:59:34,399 --> 02:59:36,000
acknowledge the lasting impact of

4696
02:59:36,000 --> 02:59:37,920
Michael Williams' leadership and his

4697
02:59:37,920 --> 02:59:39,840
decade of dedicated services to the

4698
02:59:39,840 --> 02:59:42,080
residents of Sterns County. Now

4699
02:59:42,080 --> 02:59:43,680
therefore, be it resolved the Sterns

4700
02:59:43,680 --> 02:59:45,279
County Board of Commissioners honors

4701
02:59:45,279 --> 02:59:47,439
Michael Williams for his exceptional

4702
02:59:47,439 --> 02:59:49,600
public service in assuring a safe,

4703
02:59:49,600 --> 02:59:53,040
healthy, vibrant county for all. Be it

4704
02:59:53,040 --> 02:59:54,960
further resolved the board expresses its

4705
02:59:54,960 --> 02:59:56,800
sincere gratitude for this his

4706
02:59:56,800 --> 02:59:58,960
outstanding contributions to the county

4707
02:59:58,960 --> 03:00:01,040
and leadership across the state and

4708
03:00:01,040 --> 03:00:03,359
extends its best wishes to him for a

4709
03:00:03,359 --> 03:00:07,200
fulfilling and well-earned retirement.

4710
03:00:07,200 --> 03:00:10,160
with that. Uh, I also got to say, you

4711
03:00:10,160 --> 03:00:11,760
know, it's kind of been a privilege. I

4712
03:00:11,760 --> 03:00:14,174
was in his chair when he was hired and

4713
03:00:14,174 --> 03:00:15,760
[laughter] I'm in the same chair now and

4714
03:00:15,760 --> 03:00:18,240
he's retiring. So, I don't know if if if

4715
03:00:18,240 --> 03:00:20,160
that's good or bad because then, you

4716
03:00:20,160 --> 03:00:22,319
know, I've been here longer than Mike

4717
03:00:22,319 --> 03:00:25,120
has. But, uh, congratulations again,

4718
03:00:25,120 --> 03:00:27,680
Mike. Uh, wish you and Susan the best.

4719
03:00:27,680 --> 03:00:28,399
And

4720
03:00:28,399 --> 03:00:31,030
>> we do have a few, uh, gifts here for you

4721
03:00:31,030 --> 03:00:31,040
» we do have a few, uh, gifts here for you

4722
03:00:31,040 --> 03:00:33,520
that we'd like to present to you.

4723
03:00:33,520 --> 03:00:35,429
>> Okay. Not sure if [laughter] you care to

4724
03:00:35,429 --> 03:00:35,439
» Okay. Not sure if [laughter] you care to

4725
03:00:35,439 --> 03:00:36,720
say anything first, but

4726
03:00:36,720 --> 03:00:38,309
>> you know, this is this is the part I'm

4727
03:00:38,309 --> 03:00:38,319
» you know, this is this is the part I'm

4728
03:00:38,319 --> 03:00:39,760
not good at. You know, can we go back to

4729
03:00:39,760 --> 03:00:41,760
talking about the budget or something,

4730
03:00:41,760 --> 03:00:43,840
but uh [laughter]

4731
03:00:43,840 --> 03:00:46,880
um you know, I I appreciate the the

4732
03:00:46,880 --> 03:00:50,720
words the two the words are too kind. Um

4733
03:00:50,720 --> 03:00:53,600
I I just do what you all do, what we all

4734
03:00:53,600 --> 03:00:55,359
do is we try to do our best for the

4735
03:00:55,359 --> 03:00:57,120
people of the county. In my case, I try

4736
03:00:57,120 --> 03:00:59,359
to do the best for the board leadership

4737
03:00:59,359 --> 03:01:01,920
team and the people of the county. And

4738
03:01:01,920 --> 03:01:04,000
um my work here in Sterns County, I

4739
03:01:04,000 --> 03:01:05,600
think as I said in my letter to the

4740
03:01:05,600 --> 03:01:08,800
board when I when I uh announced my

4741
03:01:08,800 --> 03:01:11,279
retirement is this has really been the

4742
03:01:11,279 --> 03:01:14,640
the highlight of my career here. So um

4743
03:01:14,640 --> 03:01:16,479
we did have a lot of challenge to work

4744
03:01:16,479 --> 03:01:18,080
through and I forgot some of those that

4745
03:01:18,080 --> 03:01:20,080
are in the resolution but with this

4746
03:01:20,080 --> 03:01:22,240
group we've always come through them you

4747
03:01:22,240 --> 03:01:25,040
know in shining success really. Uh it's

4748
03:01:25,040 --> 03:01:26,160
because of the board it's because of the

4749
03:01:26,160 --> 03:01:27,600
leadership team. It's because of the

4750
03:01:27,600 --> 03:01:30,160
fantastic people that work for the for

4751
03:01:30,160 --> 03:01:33,200
the county. Um,

4752
03:01:33,200 --> 03:01:35,520
and and you all do that. As someone I

4753
03:01:35,520 --> 03:01:37,279
heard today, I think it was the sheriff

4754
03:01:37,279 --> 03:01:38,319
said, you know, we're trying to make

4755
03:01:38,319 --> 03:01:40,000
people's lives better. And that's what

4756
03:01:40,000 --> 03:01:42,080
we're all trying to do. And that's what

4757
03:01:42,080 --> 03:01:46,530
I always said to every incoming um

4758
03:01:46,530 --> 03:01:47,359
[clears throat]

4759
03:01:47,359 --> 03:01:49,120
uh group of employees when they'd come

4760
03:01:49,120 --> 03:01:51,760
to come to orientation, I'd say, I boil

4761
03:01:51,760 --> 03:01:53,359
our mission down to we're trying to make

4762
03:01:53,359 --> 03:01:55,200
people's lives better. And so, thank you

4763
03:01:55,200 --> 03:01:56,640
all for that.

4764
03:01:56,640 --> 03:01:58,640
um you do you've done that as said with

4765
03:01:58,640 --> 03:02:00,800
innovation and with the highest of

4766
03:02:00,800 --> 03:02:03,600
professionalism and uh I'm just thankful

4767
03:02:03,600 --> 03:02:06,080
to have been a part of it and thank you

4768
03:02:06,080 --> 03:02:07,760
very much.

4769
03:02:07,760 --> 03:02:10,389
>> Good and we'd like to present you know

4770
03:02:10,389 --> 03:02:10,399
» Good and we'd like to present you know

4771
03:02:10,399 --> 03:02:13,200
with a small token here. It's public

4772
03:02:13,200 --> 03:02:15,680
service recognition Michael Williams in

4773
03:02:15,680 --> 03:02:17,359
appreciation for distinguished and

4774
03:02:17,359 --> 03:02:18,880
dedicated service to the county of

4775
03:02:18,880 --> 03:02:22,399
Sterns 2016 to 2026.

4776
03:02:22,399 --> 03:02:25,176
behalf of the board.

4777
03:02:25,176 --> 03:02:33,830
[applause]

4778
03:02:33,840 --> 03:02:36,080
» And Mike, we also have a few

4779
03:02:36,080 --> 03:02:37,110
>> Oh, the trivet,

4780
03:02:37,110 --> 03:02:37,120
» Oh, the trivet,

4781
03:02:37,120 --> 03:02:39,110
>> little trivet, [laughter]

4782
03:02:39,110 --> 03:02:39,120
» little trivet, [laughter]

4783
03:02:39,120 --> 03:02:41,920
your years of service. And would you and

4784
03:02:41,920 --> 03:02:46,136
we'll come down here and take a picture.

4785
03:02:46,136 --> 03:03:26,550
[clears throat]

4786
03:03:26,560 --> 03:03:29,520
Okay. And then uh be before I announce

4787
03:03:29,520 --> 03:03:31,439
the adjournment uh we are having a work

4788
03:03:31,439 --> 03:03:33,439
session right after the meeting today.

4789
03:03:33,439 --> 03:03:33,680
So

4790
03:03:33,680 --> 03:03:34,790
>> you are we're going to be in this room

4791
03:03:34,790 --> 03:03:34,800
» you are we're going to be in this room

4792
03:03:34,800 --> 03:03:36,479
but I think we're going to reset it.

4793
03:03:36,479 --> 03:03:39,030
>> Okay. All right. Thank you. And with

4794
03:03:39,030 --> 03:03:39,040
» Okay. All right. Thank you. And with

4795
03:03:39,040 --> 03:03:43,640
that uh we will adjourn the meeting.