[Call Board of Commissioners Meeting to Order: Chair Dranttel]
[00:00:21]
>> THANK YOU. PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES.
NEXT IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
WE'RE GOING TO ADD IT TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IT IS THE HAVA GRANT FOR THE ELECTION SECURITY.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE ADDITIONAL ITEM.
[Consent Agenda]
>> THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
>> NEXT IS PUBLIC APPEARANCES.
[Public Apperances]
WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AT THIS POINT?>> PLEASE COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME.
WE GENERALLY LIMIT OUR PUBLIC APPEARANCES TO THREE MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, [INAUDIBLE] GEORGE.
I'M HERE A MONTH LATER TO INQUIRE ABOUT ANY INFORMATION YOU MAY HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY REGARDING THE LAND ON SWAN LAKE THAT INTERESTS ME.
IF YOU'LL RECALL, A MONTH AGO I MADE A PITCH FOR THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER PUTTING SOME LAND UP FOR BID, AND I HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY RESPONSE OR FOUND ANY MORE INFORMATION THAN I HAD A MONTH AGO, SO I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANY.
>> MADAM CHAIR, MR. GEORGE WAS INDICATED BY COUNTY STAFF PREVIOUSLY THAT THE COUNTY DOES NOT OWN THE LAND.
I CAN CERTAINLY SEND HIM A LETTER CONFIRMING THAT, BUT THAT INFORMATION HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PROVIDED TO HIM, BUT WE CAN SEND HIM A LETTER INDICATING THAT.
>> ANY ADDITIONAL PUBLIC APPEARANCES? SEEING NONE.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO SHERIFF LANGE AND THE ARMOR RADIO UPGRADES UNDER THE RPA FUNDING.
[Sheriff ]
>> MORNING MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THIS IS, I GUESS A CONTINUATION OF THE BOARD WORKSHOP THAT WE HAD LAST WEEK WHERE I ADVISED I WAS PUTTING A PROPOSAL TOGETHER TO REPLACE 159 RADIOS IN THE COUNTY THAT ARE AT END OF LIFE FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PUBLIC WORKS, AND THEN THE THREE GIRL FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE ONE AMBULANCE SERVICE.
THE TOTAL FOR THAT REPLACEMENT OF ALL THOSE RADIOS IS $736,623.
MY INTENT WAS TO SUBMIT THAT IN THE PROCESS FOR THE RPA FUNDING.
I THINK I WAS JUST ADVISED TO BRING IT IN FRONT OF THE BOARD HERE FOR YOUR BLESSING TO SUBMIT THAT APPLICATION, WHICH ALREADY HAS TAKEN PLACE.
>> I'LL SECOND. I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR THE SHERRIFF.
>> ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER COLLIN, ASK YOUR QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU, DAVE, FOR BEING HERE.
YOU AND I WERE BOTH THERE WHEN ARMOR STARTED BACK 12,13 YEARS AGO.
>> REMIND US HOW IS IT FUNDED IN THE FIRST PLACE?
>> THE FIRST PLACE IT WAS FUNDED, A LOT OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS GOT FIREFIGHTER GRANTS FOR I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS 50 PERCENT OF THEIRS AND THEN THE COUNTY COVERED THE REMAINING OF THE COST FOR ALL THE ENTITIES IN THE COUNTY, WHICH INCLUDED AT THAT TIME, THE CITIES OF NORTH DAKOTA, SAINT PETER, THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS INTO US AND POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO GUS DAVIS.
>> I THINK TERRY, YOU MIGHT'VE BEEN AT THE LEGISLATURE AT THAT TIME.
THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THESE TOOLS?
>> MOTOROLA HAS A 10-YEAR EXPECTANCY ON THESE.
I MEAN, THEY'LL LAST LONGER THAT, BUT THEY'RE NOT SUPPORTED BY MOTOROLA ANYMORE, SO IF ANY OF THE CURRENT RADIOS BREAKDOWN OR AREN'T FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, MOTOROLA DOES NOT SUPPORT THEM ANYMORE.
THEN ANOTHER PIECE OF THAT IS THERE'S A MANDATE BEING DISCUSSED BETWEEN THE FBI AND BCA TO REQUIRE ALL CGS INFORMATION TO BE ENCRYPTED, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY RADIOS, DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO DO THAT.
[00:05:01]
THESE NEW RADIOS WOULD MEET THAT STANDARD AS WELL.>> MADAM CHAIR, IF I MAY, WHAT THAT MEANS IS PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO LISTEN TO RADIO TRAFFIC WON'T BE ABLE TO DECIPHER WHAT IS BEING SAID OR WILL JUST NOT BE THERE BECAUSE IT'S BEING ENCRYPTED.
>> FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
>> FOR THE SAFETY OF THE USERS AND THE INFORMATION THAT IS TRANSMITTED IS SOME OF IT IS PRIVATE INFORMATION ACCORDING TO THE FBI STANDARDS.
>> WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE.
I HAVE AN ABILITY TO THINK WELL, THAT COULD GET CREDITED.
>> I HAVEN'T HEARD WHERE THAT CURRENT BILL IS AT THE LEGISLATORS.
I KNOW THAT THEY ARE PROPOSING A 250 MILLION FUNDING FOR ARMOR UPGRADES STATEWIDE.
THAT'S A STATEWIDE EVEN IF 250 MILLION IS APPROVED IN THAT BILL.
OBVIOUSLY, IT WOULD ONLY COVER A PORTION OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
>> THE PRICE INCREASES COMING THAT'S THE [OVERLAPPING] AGENCY?
>> THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
>> NOT A QUESTION, BUT JUST A COMMENT.
I THINK THAT MAYBE, I DON'T REMEMBER WHO BROUGHT IT ABOUT FOR FUTURE BUDGETING, AND WE KNOW THAT THESE THINGS HAVE A 10 OR SO YEAR LIFE CYCLE.
THE WISDOM OF I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A PLACEHOLDER, WHATEVER YOU CALL THAT EACH YEAR, SO WE DON'T GET HIT IN 10 YEARS WITH ANOTHER. [OVERLAPPING]
>> RIGHT. PRIOR TO COMMISSIONER COMPASSING, WE DISCUSSED SEVERAL BUDGET CYCLES THAT WE NEED TO START STICKING SOME MONEY AWAY OR KNOWING THAT WHEN THESE RADIOS DIE, WE'RE GOING TO END UP HAVING TO SPEND FIVE.
THERE ARE ABOUT FOUR TO $5,000 A PIECE.
SO TO HAVE A DOLLAR FIGURE SET ASIDE TO EVENTUALLY REPLACE THEM DOWN THE ROAD.
THEN IF MOTOROLA IN 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, NO LONGER SUPPORTS THE ONES THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY GOING TO REPLACE, THEN WE SHOULD HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE DOWN THE ROAD TO UPGRADE AS WELL.
>> IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, IS INTEROPERABILITY, I THINK WAS THE WORD I KEPT HEARING IN 2010, 2011.
HAS THAT BEEN A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT?
>> IT HAS. WE'RE, FOR THE MOST PART ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH HAUL VERSUS ROUNDING PARTNERS.
NOW WHEN I HAVE SOMEBODY ON A TRANSPORT TO NORTHERN MINNESOTA, THEY CAN STILL TALK BACK TO MY DISPATCH CENTER, WHICH PRIOR TO THE ARMOR SYSTEM BEING IN PLACE, WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT CAPABILITY.
WHEN ANOTHER SURROUNDING AGENCY CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE WE'RE ABLE TO GO OVER THERE AND THEY CAN PATCH THE TWO CHANNELS TOGETHER.
IT DEFINITELY HAS BENEFITED INTEROPERABILITY AMONGST ALL THE RESPONDERS.
>> IN ADDITION, MADAM CHAIR, TO WHAT COMMISSIONER MORROW WAS TALKING ABOUT, I REMEMBER TOO THERE BEING SOME SILO EFFECT IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS OR OTHER WE'RE ALWAYS COULDN'T COMMUNICATE WITH THE FOLKS INSIDE.
HOW HAS THAT BEEN ADDRESSED OVER THE YEARS?
>> THOSE CERTAIN STRUCTURES THAT THE RECEPTION IS POOR HAVE, FOR THE MOST PART BEEN ADDRESS.
THEY'VE PUT IN PUSHERS IN A LOT OF THOSE FACILITIES.
THE SCHOOLS AND NICOLLET COUNTY ACTUALLY ALL HAVE AN ARMOR RADIO AS WELL, SO THEY HAVE THAT DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH MY DISPATCH AS WELL.
>> ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS
[Public Works]
PUBLIC WORKS AND THE ANNUAL AGRICULTURAL INSPECTOR'S REPORT.WE'D SAID SOME OTHER THINGS, CORRECT?
GOOD MORNING, IN YOUR PACK, YOU SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF THE 2021 ANNUAL REPORT AND THE WORK PLAN SUMMARY FOR 2022.
THIS IS THE ANNUAL REPORT, I SUBMIT EVERY SPRING, LATE WINTER, AS A RECAP OF WHAT WAS DONE LAST YEAR AS WELL AS WHAT'S PLANNED FOR THIS YEAR.
A LOT OF THE DUTIES, OF COURSE, STAY THE SAME AND THE HOURS AND OBLIGATIONS FOR THE MOST PART, THE SAME SOMETIME CHANGES HERE AND THERE SEED INSPECTION AMOUNT CHANGES, OF COURSE, DURING COVID IT WAS A BIT LOWER JUST BECAUSE CO-OPS AND FACILITIES WEREN'T ALLOWING VISITORS, SO THAT IMPACTED SOME OF THE ACTIVITY THERE, BUT AS FAR AS WE'D INSPECTION ENFORCEMENT HAS REMAINED PRETTY CONSTANT OVER THE YEARS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE HOURS SPENT ON CERTAIN ACTIVITIES, I'LL ANSWER THEM, OTHERWISE ONE PARTICULAR THING PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IS THE LAST PAGE,
[00:10:03]
WHAT THE COUNTY HAS SPENT A NOXIOUS WEED ENFORCEMENT, A SNAP CHART OF TIME, EQUIPMENT, LABOR, MATERIALS.THE MATERIALS MAINLY AS I SUPPOSE, PARTS FOR THE EQUIPMENT, BUT IT'S MAINLY COMPRISED OF HERBICIDE FOR SPRAYING NOXIOUS WEEDS.
>> MOST OF THAT IS IN ROAD DITCHES? [NOISE]
>> THESE NUMBERS ARE DIRECTLY FROM THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT WITH THEIR OWN SPRAY UNIT FROM SPRING ROAD RIGHT AWAY.
>> MY SPRING IS JUST THE DITCHES FOR BRUSH AND TREES, SO THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN HERE I DON'T GO OUT AND SPRAY WEEDS AT ALL.
>> DOES THAT GO BACK TO THE LANDLORD OR THE TECH?
>> YEAH, THAT GETS ASSESSED TO THE DITCH SYSTEMS.
>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REPORT.
>> NADER EXCEPT TO THANK ME FOR ALL HIS HARD WORK.
>> ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> I JUST HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL COMMENT OR UPDATE HERE, LAST 4 NOVEMBER, YOU MIGHT HAVE READ ABOUT IN THE FREE PRESS OR MAYBE KYC DID ARTICLE ON IT, EMERALD ASH BORER WAS FOUND IN NICOLLET COUNTY IN LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP, SO NICOLLET COUNTY HAS BEEN PUT ON A QUARANTINE, WHICH ESSENTIALLY MEANS, YOU JUST CAN'T MOVE FIREWOOD OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY WITHOUT IT BEING TREATED, AND IF YOU WERE TO EVER BUY A GAS STATION OR SOMETHING, YOU'D SEE IT'S MDA APPROVED WHERE IT'S BEEN HEATED TO A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE TO KILL ANY POTENTIAL LARVA ARE BUGS THAT WOULD BE IN IT, SO THAT'S WHAT THAT MEANS AND NOW WE'RE PART OF THAT AND A LITTLE BIT MORE ON EAB, IT CAME INTO THE US, I BELIEVE IN AROUND 2009 THROUGH PORT DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
IT WAS FROM ASIA AND IT CAME IN THROUGH SOME WOOD PACKING MATERIAL.
SINCE 2009, IT'S BEEN SLOWLY SPREADING TO THE SOUTH AND EAST THROUGH IN NATURAL BUG MOVEMENT AND TRANSPORTATION OF WOODEN AND HARDWOOD MATERIAL, SO NOW IT'S HERE, IN NICOLLET COUNTY.
IT'S IN 31 OTHER COUNTIES IN MINNESOTA.
THE ONLY REAL WAY TO GET AHEAD OF IT AND STOP IT, IS TO CUT DOWN THE ASH TREES, WHICH A LOT OF CITIES HAVE THEM PLANTED IN THE BOULEVARDS, SO IT'S A BIG JOB TO CUT THEM DOWN YOU CAN TREAT THEM, BUT TO TREAT THE TREE REPETITIVELY, YEAR AFTER YEAR GETS COSTLY, AND JUST NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS CUTTING THE TREE DOWN AND PLANT IN SOMETHING ELSE.
>> MATTER JARED. [NOISE] IS THIS INTEREST IN THE AREA CLOSE TO THE WALL, OR IT'S ALL WE REALLY KNOW WHERE THAT.
>> YEAH, IT'S OFF OF ACTUALLY JUST NORTH OF THE RIVER BY STATE HIGHWAY 15.
>> THAT'S WHERE IT'S BEEN FOUND.
IT'S VERY LIKELY IT'S OTHER PLACES.
WHAT HAPPENS IS THE BUG WILL LAY EGGS IN THE TREE AND THAT LARVAE WILL THEN BURROW THROUGH THE CAMBIUM LAYER OF BARK, ESSENTIALLY KILLING THE TREE THAT'S WHERE IT TRANSPORTS ALL ITS NUTRIENTS.
A GOOD WAY TO LOOK FOR IT IS FIND A DEAD ASH TRAY, AND IF IT'S GOT A WOODPECKER DAMAGE, THEY'RE IN THERE WORKING FOR SOMEONE.
THAT'S WHERE IT'S BEEN CONFIRMED IT'S HIGHLY LIKELY THAT IT'S OTHER PLACES BUT.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF CONTIGUOUS FORESTS.
>> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
>> NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS PUBLIC SERVICES [NOISE]
[Public Services ]
FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE NICOLLET COUNTY REDISTRICTING PLAN. JACKIE.>> MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AS YOU KNOW, NICOLLET COUNTIES IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLETING THE REDISTRICTING PLAN AS A RESULT OF THE 2020 CENSUS.
THE COUNTY BOARD IS REQUIRED BY MINNESOTA STATE STATUTE 375.025 TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE ACTING ON THE PLAN TO REDISTRICTING.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS HEARING IS TO CONSIDER THE PLAN FOR REDISTRICTING OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICTS.
ADOPTING THE NICOLLET COUNTY COMMISSIONER REDISTRICTING PLAN REQUIRES A THREE WEEK NOTICE, BEFORE ACTION CAN BE TAKEN AT A PUBLIC MEETING.
I AM RECOMMENDING THAT THE COUNTY BOARDS SET THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PLAN FOR REDISTRICTING FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR APRIL 19TH AT 9 O'CLOCK.
THIS WOULD BE A SPECIAL MEETING, FOR THAT DAY.
THEN SET THE SAME TIME TO CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF THE NICOLLET COUNTY COMMISSIONER REED DISTRICT THEY CAN PLAN AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING.
TODAY I'D BE LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DATE OF THAT PUBLIC HEARING ON APRIL 19TH AT 9 O'CLOCK AT A SPECIAL MEETING.
>> THANK YOU. FURTHER DISCUSSION.
>> SOUNDS LIKE IT'S ALL ROLLING AS IT SHOULD.
>> THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR [OVERLAPPING].
>> THEN I DO HAVE ONE OTHER COMMENT ON THAT,
[00:15:01]
THAT WE ARE PLANNING AN OPEN HOUSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND [NOISE] INFECTION OF THE PLANS THAT ARE PRESENTED FROM OUR OFFICE ON APRIL 4TH FROM FOUR TO SIX HERE IN THE BOARD ROOM.WE WILL BE GETTING THAT PLAN OUT AND THEN DOING SOME ADVERTISING FOR THAT.
>> [NOISE] ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.
[Administration]
ADMINISTRATION PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING NATIONAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT MONTH, APRIL OF 2022.>> GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD [NOISE].
EACH YEAR, THE MONTH OF APRIL, IS RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT MONTH.
EACH DAY, THE NATION'S 3,069 COUNTIES PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO MORE THAN 300 MILLION PEOPLE.
SINCE 1991, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, OR NICOLLET, HAS ENCOURAGED COUNTIES US NATIONAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT AS A TIME TO ELEVATE AWARENESS OF COUNTY RESPONSIBILITIES, PROGRAMS, AND SERVICES, AND IF I MEAN MADAN CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO READ THE PROCLAMATION.
>> NATIONAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT MONTH, APRIL 2022 COUNTIES THRIVE.
WHEREAS THE NATION'S 3,069 COUNTIES, PARISHES AND BURROUGHS SURVEY, MORE THAN 315 MILLION AMERICANS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO CREATE HEALTHY, SAFE, AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS COUNTIES PROVIDE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, ADMINISTERED JUSTICE, KEEP COMMUNITIES SAFE, FOSTER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, AND MUCH MORE.
WHEREAS NICOLLET COUNTY AND ALL COUNTIES TAKE PRIDE IN OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING, AND SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS IN EFFICIENT AND COST EFFECTIVE WAYS.
WHEREAS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES PRESIDENT LARRY JOHNSON, NICOLE IS DEMONSTRATING HOW COUNTIES THRIVE, ESPECIALLY IN SUPPORTING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES DURING THE CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC.
WHEREAS EACH YEAR SINCE 1991, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES HAS ENCOURAGED COUNTIES ACROSS [NOISE] THE COUNTRY TO ELEVATE AWARENESS OF COUNTY RESPONSIBILITIES, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
WHEREAS COUNTIES THRIVE THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, WORKFORCE READINESS, STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE, QUERYING FOR OUR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AND SUSTAINING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.
WHEREAS THE NECCO COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND NECCO COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE COUNTY'S MISSION STATEMENT, PROVIDE AN EFFICIENT SERVICES WITH INNOVATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT TO THE NECCO COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 2022 AS NATIONAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT MONTH, AND ENCOURAGE ALL COUNTY OFFICIALS, EMPLOYEES, SCHOOLS, AND RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT CELEBRATION ACTIVITIES, DATED THIS 22ND DAY OF MARCH 2022. THANK YOU.
>> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? [INAUDIBLE] PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> SORRY TO INTERRUPT. YES. [LAUGHTER].
>> IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING THEM ARE PLANNING FOR SOME ACTIVITIES EACH WEEK, TO HIGHLIGHT ALL THE DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES, AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION WITH OUR RESIDENTS, SO EACH YEAR WE HOPE TO BUILD OFF OF THIS, BUT REALLY THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE AND SHARE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT THE COUNTY IS DOING IN THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.
AS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH A PANDEMIC, IT'S BEEN A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT TO INTERACT WITH SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS SO WE REALLY WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND RESIDENTS THAT WE HAVE THESE SERVICES AVAILABLE, AND THEN ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT OUR STAFF HAS DONE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND CONTINUE TO DO.
NEXT IN OUR AGENDA IS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WITH THE PROCLAMATION FOR WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.
[County Attorney]
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. EACH YEAR, THE WOMEN CELEBRATING WOMEN COMMITTEE COMES BEFORE THE BOARD AND ASK THE BOARD TO PROCLAIM MARCH AS WOMEN HISTORY MONTH.
I'M BEFORE YOU TODAY ASKING FOR THAT PROCLAMATION, WOULD THE CHAIR PREFER THAT I READ IT ALOUD?
>> THANK YOU. PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, WE CELEBRATE THE MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE WOMEN OF NICOLLET COUNTY.
WHEREAS THE THEME FOR THE 2022 WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION IS WOMEN PROVIDING HEALING, PROMOTING HOPE, AND WHEREAS THE APRIL FIFTH, 2022 WOMEN CELEBRATING WOMEN EVENT RECOGNIZE A LOCAL WOMAN, WHO HAS PERSISTED IN BEING A CHAMPION OF PROVIDING HEALING AND PROMOTING HOPE.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MONTH OF MARCH BE DESIGNATED TO CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF ALL WOMEN.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PROCLAIMS MARCH 2022 AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH IN NICOLLET COUNTY, DATED MARCH 22ND, 2022.
>> THANK YOU. I'LL SECOND [OVERLAPPING] .
>> I'M OBJECT. I APOLOGIZE I WASN'T THINKING.
>> THANK YOU, MICHELLE, AND THE WOMEN CELEBRATING WOMEN EVENT IS APRIL 5TH, AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A TABLE THERE COUNTY GOVERNMENT DOES SOAPS.
[00:20:04]
>> IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, THE TICKETS ARE GOING FAST AND SO EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND.
>> SARAH, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> ALL RIGHT. MOVING RIGHT ALONG. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY UPDATE.
[County Attorney Update]
I WAS EXCITED LAST WEEK TO HAVE TWO COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS AFTER A LONG SPELL OF NOT BEING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF COVID TO BE DOING AS MANY PRESENTATIONS.
THERE WAS A FRAUD PRESENTATION THAT THE SHERIFF, MYSELF, AND BONNIE PETERSON OUR VICTIM WITNESS COORDINATOR PRESENTED IN CORTLAND, AND COMMISSIONER LOKE WAS THERE AS WELL.
I THINK THERE WAS 35 OR 38 PEOPLE THERE [OVERLAPPING] SO IT WAS A GREAT DISCUSSION ABOUT WAYS OF PREVENTING FRAUD.
HAD ANOTHER COMMUNITY PRESENTATION ON THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT WAS TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING BECAUSE IT WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED IN MARCH OF 2020.
IT WAS FINALLY HELD LAST WEEK.
WE'RE WRAPPING UP THE FOOD DRIVE AND HOPE TO ANNOUNCE THIS WEEK THE DEPARTMENT THAT BROUGHT IN THE MOST FOOD AND CASH DONATIONS FOR THE ST. PETER FOOD SHELF.
I HIRED AND SHE STARTED ROXANNE KLIEN, A NEW ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY IN MY OFFICE.
THAT IS ALL THE UPDATES I HAVE AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER COMMITTEE REPORTS, COMMISSIONER LOKE.
[Commissioner Committee Reports]
>> SAT IN INFRASTRUCTURE ZOOM MEETING, WHICH WAS QUITE INTERESTING.
THE COUNTRY IS REALLY GOING TO PLAN ACCORDING TO THEM.
WE NEED 53 TRILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES.
WORKED AT THE FARM SHOW WHICH INCLUDED THE LEGISLATIVE FORUM.
WORKSHOP WITH THE REST OF YOU, HAD A CONCERNED CITIZEN ON THE BOTTOM ROAD THAT PETE WAS VERY HELPFUL WITH, IT'S ACTUALLY MICHELLE'S PROGRAM AND STRONGLY RECOMMEND IT, AND BONNIE AND DAVE.
THERE'S SOME A DITCH CONCERNS AND NATE HAS BEEN HELPFUL WITH THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MORROW.
>> LET'S SEE, FOOD ACCESS NETWORK, AQUA, AN EMPLOYEE OF EVALUATION, JOINT POWERS BOARD FOR MVAC.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER KOLARS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR OF THE AREA TRANSPORTATION PARTNERSHIP, WHICH COVERS ALL OF THE DISTRICTS, SOUTHERN METAL.
WE DISCUSSED CERTAINLY THE START OF THE HIGHWAY 14 PROJECT.
THERE WILL BE AN OPEN HOUSE TONIGHT IN CORTLAND AT 6:00 PM FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING TO SEE THAT.
OUR CHS PERSONNEL COMMITTEE, TERRY AND I WERE BOTH ON THAT.
WORKSHOP TO THE COUNTY BOARD, TREVOR'S TO SUE ALLEY ACTION COUNCIL BOARD LAST NIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> REGION 9 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING VIA ZOOM CONNECTING NICOLLET COUNTY PANEL ON THE BASEMENT.
[NOISE] WHO PUTS IT ON MY CALENDAR, DOESN'T SPELL WELL, A REGION AND REVOLVING LOAN COMMITTEE, WE HAVE SOME FUNDS WE NEED TO GET OUT QUITE QUICKLY OR THEY HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE FEDERAL EDA, THERE'S SOME CURES DOLLARS.
ATTENDED THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE FROM MY FRONT PORCH [LAUGHTER] AND HAD PLANNING AND ZONING LAST NIGHT.
[NOISE] UPCOMING COMMISSIONER MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES.
[Commissioners Meetings & Conferences]
>> NEXT WEEK IS THE AMC LEADERSHIP SUMMIT, WHICH IS MARCH 30TH THROUGH APRIL 1ST UP IN THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA WITH THAT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I BELIEVE JACK YOU WERE ORIGINALLY REGISTERED FOR IT AND UNABLE TO ATTEND, CORRECT?
>> I REGISTERED AND UNREGISTERED BECAUSE OF SOME CONFLICTS. THANK YOU.
>> WE DO STILL HAVE SOME DEPARTMENT HEADS ATTENDING THE TRAINING.
>> APPROVAL OF PRODUCERS AND EXPENSES.
[Approve Per Diems and Expenses]
>> ADJOURNMENT OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING.
WE NEED TO REOPEN AND COME BACK FOR DRAINAGE AUTHORITY BY 10 O'CLOCK.
>> THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> WE'RE ADJOURNED. MARCH 22ND OF 2022.
[Call Drainage Authority Meeting to Order]
FIRST ON THE AGENDA IS TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.[00:25:01]
>> FIRST ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA FROM, AND THE ONLY THING IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 8TH, 2022 DRAINAGE OF 30 MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
TODAY WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR COUNTY DITCH 48A.
THIS IS A POTENTIAL REPAIR PROJECT PENDING.
IF YOU RECALL, BACK IN 2020, WE DID A REESTABLISHMENT OF RECORDS ON THIS DITCH.
WE HAD HOUSTON ENGINEERING DO THE REESTABLISHMENT OF RECORDS ON THIS DITCH AND THEN AT THAT FINAL HEARING, THERE IS ALSO DIRECTED BY THE BOARD FOR THEM TO GO AHEAD WITH A REPAIR REPORT TO CONSIDER THE DRAINAGE INTO SWAN LAKE.
THE FIELD SURVEY AND INSPECTION OF THE CHANNEL THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE OUTLET FOR AGRICULTURAL AREA HAS DIMINISHED.
[NOISE] THUS, IT WAS THE ROLE THAT THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITIES ASKED HOUSTON ENGINEERING TO PREPARE A DRAINAGE REPAIR REPORT AND THEY HAVE COMPLETED THAT REPAIR REPORT.
CHRIS OTTERNES FROM HOUSTON ENGINEERING IS HERE TO PRESENT HIS REPAIR REPORT AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE CAN OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
THEN I WILL COME BACK UP TO THE PODIUM TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE WANT TO GO WITH THIS AND WHAT YOUR CHOICES AND OPTIONS ARE FROM THERE.
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WELCOME CHRIS PRESENT HIS FINDINGS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT YOU IN PERSON, LAST TIME I WAS IN FRONT OF YOU, IT WAS VIRTUAL FOR THAT HEARING ON THE REESTABLISHMENT ON RECORD SO IT'S REALLY GOOD TO BE ABLE TO SIT HERE IN FRONT OF YOU AND CHAT WITH YOU ABOUT THIS EFFORT THAT WE COMPLETED.
WHEN WE COMPLETE A REPAIR REPORT JANUARY, WE'RE LOOKING AT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
ONE IS TRYING TO DETERMINE LEVEL AND SCOPE OF THE DISREPAIR IN THE DITCH AND THEN THE TYPE OF SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD BE NEEDED IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THAT REPAIR.
THEN WE'D LOVE TO LOOK AT THE COST OF THAT REPAIR AND DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE SOLUTION IS ACTUALLY FEASIBLE.
THEN FROM THERE, IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO YOU AS THE BOARD TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE REPAIR THAT WE HAVE PRESENTED HERE IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE LANDOWNERS, AND I'LL GET INTO THAT IN SOME OF MY FINAL SLIDES HERE, SO WE CAN GO THROUGH NEXT SLIDE HERE.
AS I MENTIONED, WE ANALYZE ALTERNATIVES FOR THE DITCH REPAIR AND IN THIS CASE, WE LOOKED AT TWO DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE INTENDED TO DO THE SAME FUNCTION JUST USING DIFFERENT MEANS.
ALSO, LOOK AT THE CULVERT SIZING AND CONDITION.
IN THIS CASE, WE ONLY REALLY HAVE ONE CULVERT THAT WE NEEDED TO ANALYZE HERE.
THEN AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION FOR REPAIR AND THE INTENT IS TO RESTORE THE FUNCTION OF THE DITCH.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE AT THE ORIGINAL ELEVATION OF THE DITCH BOTTOM, BUT THE INTENT IS TO TRY TO RESTORE THAT FUNCTION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THAT AS CONSTRUCTED CONDITIONS.
[NOISE] AS A REMINDER OF WHERE THIS COUNTY DITCH IS, CD 48A, IT'S GENERALLY NORTH OF DUCK LAKE.
IT'S SHOWN ON THE MAP IN THAT YELLOW LINE HERE.
IT FLOWS FROM NORTH TO SOUTH INTO DUCK LAKE AND THEN THROUGH DUCK LAKE AND THROUGH A CHANNEL INTO MIDDLE LAKE.
ONE IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW ABOUT THIS SYSTEM IS THAT THE ELEVATION OF THE WATER IN MIDDLE LAKE IS CONTROLLED BY A DOWNSTREAM WHERE WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT DURING THAT HISTORIC REVIEW PRESENTATION OR THREE ESTABLISHMENT OR RECORDS.
THE ELEVATION OF THAT WEIR IS GOING TO CONTROL THE ELEVATION OF THE WATER IN THE DITCH FOR WAYS UPSTREAM ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH DUCK LAKE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT A REPAIR ISN'T FEASIBLE IN THIS AREA, JUST MEANS THAT WE NEED TO SET EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT THE BENEFIT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE FROM OUR REPAIR GIVEN THAT WE DO HAVE THE ELEVATION THAT CONTROLLING WEIR STRUCTURE.
I'LL SHOW THAT IN ANOTHER FOLLOW-UP SLIDE WHERE THAT RELATIVE ELEVATION IS.
BECAUSE I MENTIONED THAT THE DITCH IT RUNS THROUGH A COUPLE OR A SMALL LAKE HERE, DUCK LAKE AND INTO MIDDLE LAKE, FLOWS THROUGH A COUPLE OF WETLANDS AND DUE TO THOSE WET CONDITIONS OUT ON-SITE THERE USING TRADITIONAL EXCAVATION EQUIPMENT IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA IS GOING TO BE VERY CHALLENGING.
WE LOOKED AT OPTIONS FOR AMPHIBIOUS TYPE EQUIPMENT,
[00:30:04]
STUFF THAT CAN GENERALLY FLOAT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WORK, AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT HERE.WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THAT REESTABLISHING THE RECORD PROCESS, WE DID A SURVEY UP AND ON THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN CLEANED OUT PRETTY NEAR TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ORIGINAL DITCH BOTTOM THAT AS CONSTRUCTED SUBSEQUENTLY IMPROVED CONDITION.
WE HAVE THAT ACRONYM WE USE FREQUENTLY THE ACSIC.
THIS GRAPHIC THAT WE HAVE HERE IS SHOWN IN THAT CHANNEL BETWEEN DUCK AND MIDDLE LAKE, I'LL NOTE A COUPLE OF THINGS ON THAT GRAPHIC.
THE LOWEST DARK LINE ON THERE THAT I HAVE LABELED AS THE ORIGINAL CHANNEL BOTTOM GRADE, THAT'S WHAT WE DETERMINED FROM THAT RECORD REESTABLISHMENT PROCESS.
ABOVE THAT THERE IS A DASHED LINE IN THERE.
THAT IS THE EXISTING CHANNEL BOTTOM.
WHEN WE COMPLETED A SURVEY OUT THERE, WE HIT THE TOP OF THE LOOSE SEDIMENT THAT WAS OUT THERE.
IN GENERAL, THERE'S ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1-2.5 FEET OF LOOSE SEDIMENT IN THAT AREA OF THE CHANNEL.
BUT BESIDES THAT SEDIMENT, THERE'S A LOT OF CATTAILS, OTHER VEGETATION AS REALLY SLOWING THAT WATER DOWN BETWEEN THE DUCK AND MIDDLE LAKE CHANNELS.
THEN WHAT I HAVE SHOWN HERE IN THE PURPLE LINE, IS THE ELEVATION OF PERMANENT POOL FROM THAT WEIR, THAT IS DOWNSTREAM ON MIDDLE LAKE.
AS FAR AS SETTING EXPECTATIONS FOR HOW MUCH WATER IS GOING TO BE OUT THERE, THAT IS GOING TO BE THE BARE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF WATER THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE CHANNEL EVEN IF WE CLEAN THAT CHANNEL ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THAT AS CONSTRUCTED CONDITION.
AFTER REVIEWING THE ELEVATIONS OUT THERE ON SITE, WE DO HAVE A RECOMMENDED REPAIR WHICH SHOULD INCLUDE REMOVING THE ACCUMULATED SEDIMENT WHERE WE HAVE IDENTIFIED IT IN THE DRAINAGE DITCH AND PLACE THAT SEDIMENT AT THE TOP OF BANK.
ALL THE WAY ALONG THE DITCH, THE SEDIMENT WAS SETTLED AROUND THE TOP OF BANK WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED.
THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY [NOISE] DOESN'T HAVE THE ABILITY AND RIGHT TO PLACE SOME MATERIAL BACK ON THERE.
THERE IS A CULVERT BETWEEN THE DUCK AND MIDDLE LAKES AND RIGHT NOW THAT CULVERT IS SEVERAL FEET HIGHER THAN THE ORIGINAL CHANNEL BOTTOM.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT CULVERT'S IN RELATIVELY POOR CONDITION, SO WE DO RECOMMEND REPLACING THAT CULVERT WITH A 54 INCH CULVERT THAT WOULD BE PLACED AT THAT ORIGINAL CHANNEL BOTTOM BETWEEN THE TWO LAKES.
HAVING THAT LOAD IN THERE WILL HELP A LITTLE BIT WITH NOT ONLY FLOWS GOING THROUGH THERE BUT ALSO BEING ABLE TO HAVE SOME CLEANSING VELOCITY THROUGH THERE.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE THE CULVERT PERCHED IN THERE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERMANENT WATER MIGHT BE NEAR THE BOTTOM, THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH CROSS-SECTION THERE TO ALLOW WATER TO FLOW THROUGH THERE AT A GOOD VELOCITY THERE WHEN YOU'RE HAVING LOWER WATER CONDITIONS.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF LOCATIONS OF BANKS SLOUGHING THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT WE RECOMMEND BEING REPAIRED.
THEN THERE ARE SOME OF THE FLOATING BOGS THAT ARE RIGHT AT THE OUTLET INTO MIDDLE LAKE THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND MOVING IF POSSIBLE THROUGH THERE.
AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT IS USED IN THE PROJECT.
IT'S VERY WELL POSSIBLE THAT THOSE BOGS COULD RE-GROW AND COME BACK OVER THE DITCH AGAIN, SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WILL HAVE TO BE MONITORED.
NOW THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME WATER THAT FLOWS UNDERNEATH THOSE BOGS ALREADY, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT TENDS TO ENCOURAGE THE RE-GROWTH OF CATTAILS IN THE CHANNEL WHICH HELP KEEP A CONSISTENT FLOW MOVING THROUGH THERE.
IF WE COMPLETE THESE REPAIRS THAT WE'VE RECOMMENDED, IT WILL HELP WITH IMPROVED, OR I SHOULD SAY BETTER FLOW THROUGH THE SYSTEM, A RESTORED FLOW ON THE SYSTEM.
AS I'VE NOTED BEFORE THEN, MIDDLE LAKE WEIR IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THAT WATER ELEVATION HIGHER THAN AT ORIGINAL DITCH BOTTOM.
BUT JUST BECAUSE THAT WATER IS HIGHER DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN'T DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE WATER FLOW.
RIGHT NOW THE WATER ELEVATION, SAY IN DUCK LAKE AND FURTHER UPSTREAM IS SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THAN WHAT THE ELEVATION OF THE WATER IS OR THE ULTIMATE OUTFLOW OF THAT MIDDLE LAKE WEIR.
BASED ON OUR FIELD SURVEY, WE BELIEVE THAT THAT WATER ELEVATION COULD LOWER WATER ELEVATIONS UNDER AND I GUESS LOW TO MODERATE FLOWS BY UP TO ONE FOOT.
[00:35:02]
THAT'S ABOUT THE ELEVATION THAT WE FOUND IN A STANDING WATER [NOISE] ELEVATION WHEN THAT OUR SURVEY IS ABOUT ONE FOOT FROM OLD FORT ROAD DOWN TO WHAT THAT ELEVATION TO BE IN THE MIDDLE LAKE.THAT'S WHAT YOU CAN REALLY GAIN OUT OF THIS.
THAT AGAIN WAS IN LOW-FLOW PERIODS, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO HAVE EVEN MORE RESTORATION FOR FLOWS WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE HIGHER WATER PERIODS AS WELL.
AS I'VE INDICATED BEFORE, THOSE FLOATING BOGS THAT ARE AT THE MIDDLE LAKE OUTLET, IF WE REMOVE THAT IT MIGHT HELP WITH SOME OF THAT STACKING OF THE WATER FLOWS THAT'S OCCURRING THERE, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE MORE SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL EVENT.
WE LOOKED AT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR DOING THE WORKOUT HERE ON THIS DRAINAGE SYSTEM FOR THE REPAIRS.
THESE ARE A COUPLE THAT WE KNOW OF THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO RESTORE THE ELEVATIONS.
FIRST OF WHICH IS A FLOATING EXCAVATOR.
WE HAVE A PICTURE OF THIS THAT WAS USED ON A PROJECT THAT WE DID JUST A YEAR AGO NORTH OF THE METRO ON A DRAINAGE SYSTEM UP THERE.
ESSENTIALLY IS A STANDARD EXCAVATOR THAT THEY MOUNT ON THESE VERY LARGE PONTOON TYPE TRACKS AND ALLOWS THEM TO BE ABLE TO GO ON AREAS THAT YOU OTHERWISE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GO INTO A STANDARD EXCAVATION EQUIPMENT.
THEN AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS HERE, THEY MONITOR LONG REACH IN [NOISE] ORDER TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT FURTHER INTO THE CHANNEL.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PLUSES AND MINUSES OUT OF THAT FLOATING EXCAVATOR.
IT'S NOT INTENDED TO GO OVER OPEN WATER AREAS.
MAYBE GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE THERE.
THAT EXCAVATOR IS NOT INTENDED TO GO OVER NECESSARILY OPEN WATER BUT IN AREAS WHERE YOU HAVE MORE VEGETATION AND SUPPORTING MATERIAL.
OTHER THING I'LL NOTE IS THAT, IT'S NOT CHEAP TO MOBILIZE A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT LIKE THAT.
THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF EQUIPMENT CAME OUT OF NORTHEAST WISCONSIN.
WHAT WE DID WAS, WE WORKED WITH TWO DIFFERENT DRAINAGE AUTHORITIES TO COORDINATE EFFORTS THAT THEY NEEDED IN ORDER TO GET A MACHINE LIKE THAT OUT THERE.
THEY SPLIT THE COST OF THE MOBILIZATION THAT CAME OUT THERE AND THAT WAS A ONE WAY WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE A COUPLE OF AS AUTHORITIES WORKING TOGETHER TO DECREASE THE COSTS FOR THOSE BENEFITING LANDOWNERS.
NEXT SLIDE. THIS ONE IS A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT'S REFERRED TO AS A COOKIE CUTTER.
ESSENTIALLY IT HAS THESE FLAIRS THAT ARE IN THE FRONT, YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT-HAND PICTURE THAT STIR THE MATERIAL ON.
I BELIEVE THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT ACTUALLY WAS AUTUMN ONE OF YOUR DITCHES EARLIER LAST SUMMER, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY.
THE IDEA BEHIND THAT IS, IT CHOPS THE MATERIAL UP AND IT SPRAYS IT OUT TO THE [NOISE] SIDES ON EITHER SIDE.
WHEN WE WERE TALKING WITH THE DNR ABOUT THIS PROJECT, ONE OF THE DNR STAFF PEOPLE ACTUALLY IT WAS THE ONE THAT SUGGESTED MAYBE THIS MIGHT BE AN OPTION FOR THIS AREA.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE THINK IT'D BE WORTH PURSUING, GETTING A COST TOGETHER FOR THIS.
WE DID TALK TO THE OWNER OF THIS ONE PARTICULAR PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, HE'S IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA AND HE WAS THE ONE THAT PROVIDED US A COST ESTIMATE FOR THIS WORK, FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
NEXT SLIDE. I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COSTS AND THESE ARE ALL IN OUR REPAIR PART.
WE ESTIMATE THE COST FOR BRINGING THAT FLOATING EXCAVATOR IN AT ABOUT $108,000.
THAT DOES INCLUDE SOME ENGINEERING AND LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS THAT WE INCLUDED IN HERE.
THE ENGINEERING AND LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, THEY'RE JUST A ROUGH ESTIMATES BASED ON THE CONSTRUCTION COST AND THE LEVEL OF EFFORT WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY NEED IN ORDER TO GET REGULATORY APPROVALS FROM THE DNR FOR THIS WORK BECAUSE THIS IS A PUBLIC WATER.
BUT THIS AT LEAST GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE MAGNITUDE COSTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE. NEXT SLIDE.
FOR THE COOKIE CUTTER, WE ESTIMATE ACTUALLY A LITTLE MORE COSTING AND THIS WAS BASED ON THOSE ESTIMATES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY THAT CONTRACTOR UP IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.
CERTAINLY, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THOSE COSTS COULD BE REDUCED IF YOU ARE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT ON MULTIPLE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS WITHIN YOUR COLONY OR IN PARTNERING WITH ANOTHER ADJACENT DRAINAGE AUTHORITY TO BRING THAT EQUIPMENT DOWN TO UTILIZE IT WITH ANY WORK THAT THEY MIGHT BE GOING ON.
WITH EITHER ONE OF THESE OPTIONS, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND EXPLORING WAYS TO PIGGYBACK ON THIS WORK WITH OTHER PROJECTS YOU
[00:40:05]
HAVE OR OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES SO THAT THOSE MOBILIZATION COST CAN BE SPREAD OUT.THEN IF YOU GO BACK TO THIS SLIDE REAL QUICKLY, ONE THING I'LL NOTE IS THAT THE COST WE HAD IN HERE INCLUDED A HARVESTER.
HE HAS A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT GOES ATTACHES ON THERE THAT CAN HARVEST THOSE WEEDS THAT GETS SPRAYED OUT THERE AND THAT MATERIAL AND BE ABLE TO MOVE IT OFF THE SITE OR IN THE ADJACENT BANKS.
THERE WOULD BE A COST-SAVINGS IF THAT ISN'T USED AND IF THAT'S NOT REQUIRED, THAT'D BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE BORN ALL THROUGH THE REGULATORY PROCESS OF THE DNR AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY AND REQUIRED CELL.
BUT WE INCLUDED IT IN NEAR FOR RIGHT NOW AS A ESTIMATE JUST TO [NOISE] NOT BE A LITTLE MORE CONSERVATIVE WITH OUR COST ESTIMATE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WERE YOU SURPRISED WITH MOBILIZATION COST WAS THE SAME FOR THE TWO OPTIONS?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THE MOBILIZATION COSTS WAS NECESSARILY THE SAME, BUT THE OVERALL COSTS BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM WITH SIMILAR.
I GUESS I DIDN'T BREAK DOWN [OVERLAPPING]-
>> WHAT IS IN OUR REPORT, WE HAD BROKEN ON IT.
>> THE TRANSIT FOR MOBILIZATION UNDER BOTH OPTIONS IS $15,000.
>> [NOISE] BUT THERE'S THIS IS EXCAVATION FOR THE COOKIE CUTTER IS 60,000 AND EXCAVATION FOR THE FLOATING OPTION WAS 41.
THAT SEEMS TO BE THE DIFFERENCE, THE EXCAVATION ITSELF WAS SO MUCH DIFFERENT.
>> YES. SO THAT WAS BASED ON ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE HAD GOTTEN FROM [NOISE] THOSE DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE HAD WORKED ON WITH THE EXCAVATOR OUT OF WISCONSIN ON THAT AND THE DREDGE NUMBER.
I THOUGHT THAT THE COOKIE CUTTER WAS GOING TO BE COMING IN A LITTLE LESS.
GIVEN THE VOLATILITY OF CONSTRUCTION COSTS OTHER THAN OCCURRING OUT THERE AND WHAT CONTRACTORS HAVE BEEN PUTTING ON THEIR WORK, ESPECIALLY WITH HOW MUCH WORK IS OUT THERE, THESE COSTS THAT I HAVE ON HERE COULD SWING QUITE A WAYS IN EITHER DIRECTION.
I WOULD PERSONALLY RECOMMEND EXPLORING BOTH OF THOSE OPTIONS IN GREATER DETAIL IF YOU DECIDED TO ORDER THIS UP HERE SO THAT YOU CAN COMPARE THOSE COSTS AND FIND THE MOST ECONOMICAL SOLUTION OUT OF THE TWO.
LIKE I SAID, THOSE COSTS MAY COME IN A LITTLE LOWER OR A LITTLE HIGHER TOO DEPENDING ON IF YOU CAN WRAP THAT UP INTO OTHER WORK.
I GUESS I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE WE GOT THOSE NUMBERS.
AGAIN, WE'RE JUST ESTIMATING COSTS.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT IS GUARANTEED IN THOSE COSTS.
CERTAINLY, THE BENEFITTING LANDOWNER OF COSTS WOULD BE CHARGED THOSE LANDOWNERS WOULD BE BASED ON INCURRED COSTS.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THOSE LAND ORDERS TO KNOW THAT WHAT THEY SEE ON HERE THEIR INDIVIDUAL PRICE TAG IT'S GOING TO BE PEN ON WHAT IS ACTUALLY INCURRED BY THE CONTRACTOR AND IF THE CONTRACTOR COSTS COME IN LOWER THAN THEY WON'T BE CHARGED THAT AMOUNT OR IF IT COMES IN HIGHER, THEY WILL BE CHARGED A LITTLE MORE.
I TALKED ALREADY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THOSE OTHER FLUCTUATIONS THAT WE MIGHT SEE FROM THOSE COSTS THAT WE HAD.
SO FOR TIME FRAME, WE'RE HAVING THE HEARING ON THIS NOW.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, THEN SOMETIME IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO HERE, WE DO FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH BIDS IN LATE SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER, POTENTIALLY, WE'LL WORK ON THIS EFFORT MAYBE LATE SUMMER OR EARLY FALL, THAT PROBABLY BE THE MOST FEASIBLE FOR CONSTRUCTION.
ESPECIALLY, IN ORDER TO GIVE FLEXIBILITY FOR COMPLETING THE WORK.
TYPICALLY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE AMPHIBIOUS EXCAVATOR, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE MOST PRACTICAL AND EASIEST TO DO THIS WORK IN THAT LATE SUMMER, EARLY FALL PERIOD WHEN WE CAN HAVE THE LOWEST WATER LEVELS OUT THERE.
FOR THE COOKIE-CUTTER PROBABLY [NOISE] WON'T MATTER QUITE SO MUCH.
THEN FINALLY, WE'RE GETTING TO WHERE THE BOARD CAN CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT THE REPAIR IS NECESSARY AND THERE'S A FEW ITEMS WITH THAT.
IS THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN NEED OF REPAIR? ARE THESE RECOMMENDER PAIRS NECESSARY TO
[00:45:01]
RESTORE THAT FUNCTION AND BENEFITS TO THOSE LANDOWNERS, AND GIVEN THESE LIMITATIONS THAT WE HAVE, CAN WE ACHIEVE THE OUTCOMES THAT THE LANDOWNERS ARE SEEKING OUT THERE.SOME OF THIS WE'VE COVERED IN OUR REPAIR REPORT AND ALL THIS IS A LITTLE MORE OF A JUDGMENT COLUMN AND MAYBE BASED ON SOME INPUT, YOU'LL SEE FROM THE BENEFITING LANDOWNERS AS WELL.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY AND CERTAINLY, I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] SO THE CULVERT WAS SEVERAL FEET HIGHER THAN WHERE IT WAS ORIGINALLY PLACED?
>> I BELIEVE THE CULVERT IS ABOUT TWO FEET OFF THAT ORIGINAL CHANNEL BOTTOM.
>> WOULD THAT BEEN FROST OR JUST?
>> IT COULD BE ANY NUMBER OF THINGS.
WE FIND THAT VERY FREQUENTLY THAT CULVERTS ARE PLACED ABOVE THAT ORIGINAL CHANNEL BOTTOM BECAUSE IF THE CHANNELS AND DISAPPEARING HAS ANY SEDIMENT IN IT, WHOEVER IS INSTALLING A CULVERT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF INCENTIVE TO BURY THE CULVERT INTO THE SEDIMENT IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEING REMOVED.
WE'VE SEEN EVEN ON COUNTY HIGHWAY CULVERTS, ADMIN DOT CULVERTS WHERE THESE CULVERTS END UP GETTING PERCHED.
IN FACT, WE'VE HAD MANY OF THESE REESTABLISHMENT OR RECORDS THAT WE'VE COMPLETED.
WE'VE SEEN OVER HALF OF THE CULVERTS ON A PARTICULAR DRAINAGE SYSTEM BE OVER A FOOT HIGHER THAN THAT ORIGINAL CHANNEL BOTTOM.
THAT'S PRETTY COMMON. BUT AGAIN, GIVEN WHAT THE HISTORY HAVE AND HOW LONG THAT CULVERT HAS BEEN, WE'RE NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THE RATIONALE WAS.
>> SECOND QUESTION IS THE OUTLET ON LITTLE LAKE, IS THAT PRETTY GOOD SIZE THAT WE AREN'T GOING TO FLOOD ANYBODY IF WE IMPROVE THIS?
>> NAKED PROBABLY SPEAK TO THE WIDTH OF IT, BUT IT'S A FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL WIDE WEIRD.
IT KEEPS A [OVERLAPPING] CONSISTENT LEVEL.
THE ONLY THING THAT IT WOULD BE AFFECTING THAT SUBSTANTIALLY IS THE FLOW OF WATER GOING INTO THAT WHERE THERE IS A COUPLE OF AREAS WHERE THE LAKE CHANNELIZE ITSELF DOWN INTO BOGGY AREAS AND IF THOSE BOGGY AREAS GET OVERGROWN THAT CAN POTENTIALLY HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE LEVEL SETS.
ALSO SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO WATCH ALONG THERE.
NOW, THE ONLY THING ABOUT THAT IS THAT THAT'S DOWNSTREAM OF THIS DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE WEIRD SELF IS LOCATED ON COUNTY DITCH 4 AND I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW FAR NORTH COUNTY THIS FAR EXTENDS, BUT THAT'S SOMEWHAT THE LIMIT OF WHERE THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY HAS.
IT'D BE ABLE TO DO THE CLEANING OUT SHORT OF GETTING PERMISSION FROM THE DNR.
>> MY THIRD QUESTION IS PROBABLY NOT SO MUCH TO YOU, BUT LANDOWNER WISHES.
WE DON'T HAVE A REALLY GOOD TURNOUT OF LANDOWNERS HERE.
THAT'S GOT AN OPEN QUESTION, I GUESS. THANK YOU.
>> MY QUESTION, IS IT BETTER TO USE THE EXCAVATOR OR IS IT BETTER TO USE THE COOKIE CUTTER IN THE LONG TERM?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT IF THE CONTRACTOR THAT WOULD BE COMING OUT WITH THE EXCAVATOR, IF THEY'RE VERY CONFIDENT IN THEIR ABILITY TO GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND BE ABLE TO GET ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE OUTLET INTO THE LAKE.
I THINK THAT IT MIGHT PROVIDE YOU A LITTLE MORE SURE SOLUTION GIVEN THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY REACHING DOWN AND DREDGING THE MATERIAL OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE DITCH.
THE COOKIE CUTTER, IT'S REALLY LIMITED IN ITS DEPTH BY WHATEVER ELEVATION AT ITS FLOATING AT.
IF IT'S FLOATING UP ABOVE THE BOTTOM WHERE THE ORIGINAL DITCH BOTTOM, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET ALL OF THE MATERIAL.
IT'S GOING TO BE TARGETED MORE TOWARD GETTING THE CAT TAILS AND THAT THING, WHICH IS THE BIGGEST PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT VEGETATION.
BUT THE MORE SEDIMENT ON THE BOTTOM THAT CAN CONTINUE TO PROMOTE FUTURE GROWTH IN THERE.
ONE OTHER THING TO CONSIDER IN THE FUTURE TOO, IS THAT YOU MAY CONSIDER SPRING REGIMEN TO KEEP SOME OF THAT STUFF FROM COMING BACK IN.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE DNR IN OTHER LOCATIONS WHERE THEY'VE USED AN AQUATIC HERBICIDE IN THESE CHANNELS.
THROUGH THESE PUBLIC WATERS TO HELP KEEP SOME OF THAT GROWTH DOWN, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DNR AS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH REGULATORY PROCESS ON THIS TO GET THEIR TAKE ON THE FEASIBILITY OF DOING THAT AND WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR PERMITTING.
YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT FROM THE FORT RODE INTO DUCT LAKE DOWN TO THE MIDDLE LAKE AREA WAS A FOOT DIFFERENCE IN ELEVATION DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY?
[00:50:04]
>> YEAH, IT WAS A FOOT DIFFERENCE IN WATER ELEVATION WHEN WE DID OUR SURVEY OUT THERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
>> THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF DUCK INTO THE NORTHERN ENTRANCE OF MIDDLE WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? IS THAT JUST ALL FLAT.
IS THAT ALL THE SAME LEVEL OF ELEVATION WHERE THIS COVERED YARDS?
>> I DON'T THINK THAT WE NECESSARILY DID TOOK WATER RELATIONS RIGHT ON EITHER SIDE OF THAT CULVERT SIDE I DON'T THINKING, I KNOW SPECIFICALLY HOW MUCH OF A DROP OR DECREASE THERE WAS OVER THAT CULVERT ITSELF.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT'LL HELP WITH LOWERING THAT CULVERT.
AGAIN, ONE, IT CREATES A LITTLE BIT OF THAT GREATER OPEN AREA IN THERE AND THAT IS GOING TO BE FOR ANY PARTICULAR FLOW GOING THROUGH, THEY'RE BOTH TWO.
ONCE YOU GET IT LOWER THAN THEY EVEN UNDER LOW FLOWS, THERE'S GOING TO BE A GREATER CROSS-SECTION FOR IT TO GO THROUGH.
LIKE IF YOU HAVE A LOW FLOW RIGHT NOW, THERE'S ONLY GOING TO BE MAYBE A COUPLE OF INCHES AND THE VERY BOTTOM OF THAT WHERE YOU CAN GET THE WATER COMING THROUGH THERE AND IT SLOWS VELOCITY DOWN IN THE CHANNEL AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO KEEP THE CHANNEL AS CLEAN WITH THAT COVERED AS HIGH AS IT IS.
>> BEFORE WE'VE STARTED DIGGING DITCHES, CHRIS, DID DUCK ALWAYS DUMP IN THE MIDDLE OR WERE THEY JUST A CONTINUOUS BODY?
I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT ANY AERIAL PHOTOS FROM WAY BACK AND I WOULD GUESS THAT I DON'T THINK THERE'S PROBABLY AN AREA OF PHOTOS AVAILABLE BEFORE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DITCH, BUT I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT IT DID GO FROM DUCK TO MIDDLE BEFORE THE DITCH WAS CONSTRUCTED.
>> WE GOT SOME HISTORY ON THIS DITCH IN THAT CROSSING AND THE FILE IS USED TO THE REMAINING PART OF THE ORIGINAL TEMPO BRIDGE THEY USED TO GO THERE ACROSS FROM THIS OLD CHANNEL.
PART OF I THINK THAT LAND SALE TO THE DNR IS THEY WANTED TO DO COLOR IN THERE SO THEY CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DITCH, THIS OFF PLAN.
HISTORICALLY, THERE HAS BEEN SOME TYPE OF STRUCTURE OR A CROSS.
>> INTERESTING. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD FOR CHRIS BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISH TO SPEAK? JERRY? [LAUGHTER] IT'S YOUR SHOW.
>> I'M LEARNING A LOT ABOVE THIS THAT I DIDN'T KNOW [LAUGHTER].
>> JERRY, YOU NEED TO COME UP TO THE MIC SO THE RECORDING CAN PICK YOU UP.
>> HIS VOICE QUITE PICK UP EVERYWHERE.
>> JUST LOOK AT CORNER DOWN OVER MIDDLE AND DUCT COMES TOGETHER.
I WAS JUST GOING TO GO DOWN IN THAT CORNER OF OUR FARM, WHICH IF YOU GO RIGHT STRAIGHT DOWN, THE DNR GOT A LITTLE STRIP ALONG DUCK LAKE THERE AND WE'VE GOT THE LAND TO THE EAST.
BUT THERE'S A WOOD DUCK HOUSE AND I WAS GOING TO GO DOWN THERE AND PUT FRESH BEDDING IN THAT.
BUT I'M GOING TO WALK OUT THERE AND SEE WHERE THE CULVERT IS NOW, I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS THAT CLOSE.
NOW TO SEE IT ON A MAP LIKE THIS.
BUT WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IT CAN GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT AND THAT WHERE WE WENT THROUGH THAT MANY YEARS AGO DOWN THERE WITH A DNR, THEY WANTED TO RAISE THAT EVEN MORE THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW.
I CAN STILL HEAR GARY WHEREVER SAYING JAY'S MY PASTURE IS FLOATED, NOW WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO BE WHEN ALL THAT TUNNEL IS LOSING MORE GROUND EVERY YEAR? THAT'S GOING TO GO BACK LONGER THAN THAT.
BUT ANYWAY, YOU COULD GO THROUGH ALL THIS WE'RE SITTING WHERE IT'S AT.
IT'S STILL GOING TO BE HIGH WATER ALL OVER BACKING UP IN OUR FIELDS.
DOWN HERE AND THAT THE VERY SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THIS MAP.
I GO DOWN THERE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE A DEER STAND IS AND THERE'S ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW, 3-4 ACRES OF MEANDERED LAND DOWN THERE.
WE'RE ALWAYS GOING DOWN THERE AND FEEDING THE PHEASANTS AND CHECKING.
[00:55:01]
THAT WATER IS COMING IN MORE EVEN THOUGH IT'S DRY, IT'S SEEPING IN MORE.BUT THAT'S ON MIDDLE LAKE AND IF THAT'S HOLDING UP AND COMING IN THERE, I DON'T KNOW.
[LAUGHTER] THIS CLEANING WITHOUT CHECKING AND CHANGING THAT LEVEL THAT WE'RE, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH A WHOLE LOT.
THAT WHAT I CAN SEE RIGHT NOW UNTIL AN EXPERT CAN TELL ME [LAUGHTER] DIFFERENT.
>> THANK YOU. AT THIS POINT, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.
>> I DO HAVE A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS TO BEFORE WE GO ON PROCEDURALLY WHERE WE'RE AT.
WAS THERE ANY DNR PERMITTING NEEDED TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS?
>> YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO HAVE SOME REGULATORY COORDINATION WITH THE DNR.
I THINK THAT IT LIKELY WOULD REQUIRE AT THE MINIMUM A LETTER PERMISSION FROM THE DNR.
WE HAVEN'T MOVED FORWARD WITH THAT UNTIL WE KNOW WHICH WAY THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO GO WITH THIS.
CERTAINLY THERE WILL BE NEED TO BE THAT REGULATORY COORDINATION EITHER IN FORM OF THAT LETTER PERMISSION OR A PERMIT. MOST LIKELY.
>> OKAY. MY QUESTION THEN IS PROCEDURALLY FOR THE BOARD, IF THEY ARE TO ORDER A REPAIR, WOULD IT BE CONDITIONAL OF THE LETTER OF PERMISSION FROM THE DNR? WOULD WE DO THAT FIRST BEFORE THEY ORDER?
>> I THINK THAT YOU PROBABLY WOULD MAKE THAT CONDITIONAL ON THE ORDER ITSELF.
I GUESS YOUR COUNTY ATTORNEY COULD WEIGH IN ON THAT AS WELL, BUT I THINK THAT YOU PROBABLY WOULD WANT TO HAVE SOME SORT OF DECISION BY THE BOARD THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT THIS REPAIR WE STILL NEED TO GET IT THROUGH THAT PHASE FROM THE DNR BEFORE WE CAN ACTUALLY EXECUTE THE WORK.
>> OKAY. MY NEXT QUESTION BEFORE THE BOARD'S DECISION IS THE OPTIONS 1 AND OPTIONS 2 AT THIS TIME.
IF AN ORDER IS DONE TODAY, WHAT OPTION BECAUSE YOU WERE SAYING THAT THERE COULD BE SOME THOUGHT ABOUT MAYBE USING THAT MACHINE FOR OTHER PROJECTS THAT COULD POSSIBLY LOWER THIS PROJECT? SO WOULD THE BOARD DECIDE ON ONE OPTION OR OPTION 1 OR OPTION 2 TODAY?
>> YEAH. I ACTUALLY PROBABLY WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, THAT THEY NOT SPECIFY A MEANS, BUT RATHER IN ORDER STAFF FAN OR THE ENGINEER TO WEIGH MULTIPLE OPTIONS AND COME BACK WITH A COST AFTER A BIDDING PROCESS.
>> MY FINAL QUESTION FOR CHRIS RIGHT NOW IS TO TALK ABOUT POSSIBLY ENTERING A CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT.
IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN HOW THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD.
>> SURE. WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROCESS WITH YOU WE ENGAGED IN A CONTRACT WITH YOU TO DO TWO THINGS.
ONE WAS TO COMPLETE THE WORK NECESSARY TO RE-ESTABLISH [INAUDIBLE] SYSTEM RECORD, AND THEN TWO COMPLETE A REPAIR APART AND ATTEND THIS PUBLIC HEARING WITH YOU.
SO MY CONTRACT WILL BE COMPLETE WITH YOU AFTER TODAY AND HOW WE WOULD WORK WITH YOU FOLLOWING UP ON THIS IF YOU CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD, IS THAT WE CAN ENGAGE AGAIN WITH YOU ON A FOLLOW-UP CONTRACT THAT WOULD INCLUDE A FEW DIFFERENT IDEAS.
ONE WOULD BE ASSISTING WITH GETTING THOSE QUOTES FOR THIS WORK THAT WOULD BE COMPLETED.
WE COULD ASSIST WITH CONSTRUCTION OBSERVATION AND WE COULD DO A REGULATORY COORDINATION ON YOUR BEHALF WITH THE DNR.
NOW, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE CAN GUARANTEE ON OUR COSTS, LIKE DEVELOPING A FINAL SPEC AND QUOTE PACKAGE AND BIDDING IN OUT.
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN'T
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NECESSARILY PROVIDE A GUARANTEED COST-FREE LIKE THE REGULATORY, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU'RE COORDINATING WITH THE DNR OR OTHER REGULATING AUTHORITY, WHAT I GUESS INFORMATION THEY'RE GOING TO REQUIRE FOR YOU OR HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH ON THAT, BUT WE CAN GIVE YOU AN ESTIMATE ON THAT.ONE THING I'LL LET YOU KNOW IS THAT FROM THIS PROCESS WE'VE ALREADY COMPLETED WITH YOU IN OUR CONTRACT, WE DID HOLD TWO OF THAT CONTRACT AMOUNT THAT WE PROVIDED TO YOU.
WE ACTUALLY INCURRED QUITE A BIT MORE COSTS AND EFFORT THAN WHAT WE HAD IN OUR CONTRACT BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME THINGS WITH THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THAT WOULD BE OCCURRING BUT SINCE WE CONTRACTED WITH YOU WE'RE GOING TO HOLD THAT, WE AREN'T GOING TO KEEP ON BILLING YOU.
THAT IS ONE THING THAT WE DO WITH OUR CONTRACTING IS THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE YOU A NUMBER LIKE THAT, THAT SAY, NOT TO EXCEED, WE WON'T EXCEED FOR THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.
IT'S JUST THOSE ITEMS LIKE THE REGULATORY, [NOISE] WHICH ARE TOO NEBULOUS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE AN ESTIMATE, BUT CAN'T PROVIDE A FIXED COST FOR THAT PART.
>> [INAUDIBLE]. I'M ASKING A QUESTION.
>> THE COOKIE CUTTER, IF YOU DO NOT HARVEST IT, WHICH HARVESTING MEAN JUST THROWING IT OVER OUT TO THE SHORE, DOESN'T THAT JUST MULTIPLY THAT BOG PROBLEM DOWNSTREAM? THAT CHOPPED UP VEGETATION GOING TO FIND IT'S WAY DOWN THERE?
>> YEAH, I THINK THAT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WILL HAVE TO HAVE ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION WITH THE DNR AND THE OPERATOR THAT COOKIE CUTTER ON HOW THEY'VE SEEN THESE PROJECTS WORK.
BUT I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE CERTAINLY A BIGGER CONCERN IF YOU WERE DOING PART OF A MUCH LONGER CHANNEL, BUT GIVEN THAT THE MATERIAL WOULD BE GOING OUT INTO MIDDLE LAKE WHICH IS A LITTLE LARGER OF A WATER BODY.
PRESUMABLY THAT'S GOING TO END UP ON ONE OF THE WIND BLOWING SHORES OVER THERE.
CERTAINLY THAT IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AND THAT'S ONE REASON WHY WE DID INCLUDE THAT PART OF IT IN OUR COST.
>> NOW IF YOU WOULD DO THIS TODAY YOU WOULD RECOMMEND THE EXCAVATOR OR NOT?
>> IF BOTH COSTS WERE EVEN, I WOULD SAY DOING THE EXCAVATOR BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU NEVER KNOW IF ONE OR THE OTHER OF THOSE COMPANIES, OR CERTAINLY THERE'S GOING TO BE MAYBE SOME OTHER COMPANIES THAT DO THIS THING.
THE AVAILABILITY MIGHT NOT BE THERE AND I RECOMMEND KEEPING YOUR OPTIONS OPEN ON THIS.
>> COULD YOU USE A NORMAL EXCAVATOR IF YOU DID IT IN JANUARY?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I WOULD SAY FOR IN THIS INSTANCE, PROBABLY NOT.
WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF CONTRACTORS THAT DO A LITTLE MORE IFFY WORK WITH AN EXCAVATOR IN JANUARY, BUT I BELIEVE WE WOULD BE CHALLENGED TO FIND ANYBODY THAT WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS CASE JUST BECAUSE OF HOW WET IT IS.
>> YEAH. THE EXCAVATOR HAS TO BE REMOVED AND STORED [NOISE] SOME PLACE FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS OR DOES IT REMAIN THERE?
>> PRESUMABLY IF YOU HIRED A CONTRACTOR TO COME OVER, THEY WOULD COMPLETE THE WORK ON YOUR PROJECT AND BE ABLE TO DEMOBILIZE IMMEDIATELY.
NOW WHETHER THAT WOULD BE DEMOBILIZING TO ANOTHER SITE YOU MIGHT BE WORKING ON OR ONE OF YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS, THAT WOULD DEPEND ON HOW THAT ALL GETS CONTRACTED AND HOW MUCH WORK THEY HAVE IN THE AREA.
I WOULD GUESS THAT EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T WORK WITH ANOTHER DRAINAGE AUTHORITY OR ON ANY OF THE OTHER SYSTEMS, THEY PROBABLY WOULD BE MAYBE SEEKING OUT OR MARKETING TO OTHERS IN THE AREA FOR THOSE SERVICES.
>> WE'RE RENTING THE EXCAVATOR?
>> YOU'RE HIRING THEM OUT AND THEY WOULD IN TURN BRING THEIR EQUIPMENT DOWN.
>> OKAY. OUR NEXT OPTION IS TO EITHER ORDER THE REPAIR OR HAVE STAFF PREPARE THE ORDER FOR OUR NEXT MEETING OR DO IT NOW.
>> MADAM CHAIR YOU COULD MAKE THE FINDINGS VERBALLY AND THEN WE WOULD COME BACK WITH WRITTEN FINDINGS AT THE NEXT MEETING.
YOU'D ALSO HAVE TO NEED TO MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION ABOUT KEEPING YOUR OPTIONS OPEN OF USING ONE OF THE TWO OPTIONS PRESENTED, THE EXCAVATOR OR THE COOKIE CUTTER METHOD, I CERTAINLY WOULD RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD THAT YOU MAKE THE ORDER FOR REPAIR CONDITIONAL UPON OBTAINING THE NECESSARY REGULATORY APPROVAL BUT IN ORDER FOR YOU TO MOVE FORWARD, YOU WOULD HAVE TO CONCLUDE THEN AS OUTLINED IN THE PRESENTATION,
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THAT THE REPAIR WAS NECESSARY, THAT IT'S NECESSARY TO STORE THE FUNCTIONING OF THE SYSTEM, AND THAT THE REPAIR WILL ACCOMPLISH THE INTENDED OUTCOME THAT THE LANDOWNERS ARE SEEKING, WHICH IS TO HOPEFULLY IMPROVE [NOISE] THE FLOW OF THE SYSTEM ITSELF.>> MADAME CHAIR. CHAIR, COULD WE SAY AGAIN HOW DID WE GET TO THIS POINT THAT WE DID GOT THIS REPORT?
>> THERE WAS CONCERN FROM LANDOWNERS ABOUT THE LEVEL OF THAT CULVERT AND THE DRAINAGE INTO DUCK AND MIDDLE.
IT WAS INCONCLUSIVE ABOUT WHERE THAT REALLY WAS BECAUSE OUR RECORDS WERE INCOMPLETE.
AT THAT TIME IS WHEN THE BOARD ORDERED THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT HAD TO HAPPEN REGARDLESS.
NOW THAT THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT IS DONE, THE STEP TWO IS TO CONTINUE ON THAT PROCESS OF THE CULVERT AND THE DRAINAGE INTO THE TWO LAKES.
THEN THE BOARD DID ORDER TO DO A REPAIR REPORT AND SO HERE WE ARE WITH THAT.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
I'M NOT IN A POSITION TODAY TO MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHETHER WE SHOULD GO FORWARD WITH THE REPAIR.
IN THAT, I THINK THERE'S NEW INFORMATION IN TERMS OF THE TWO TYPES OF EXCAVATION OPTIONS.
WE HAVE THE COST NOW, A RANGE OF COSTS AND WE HEARD FROM ONE INDIVIDUAL JERRY SPOKE ABOUT.
WELL, I'M NOT SO SURE THAT THIS ACTUALLY FIXES OUR PROBLEM.
I WOULD FEEL BETTER IF LANDOWNERS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT WE LEARNED TODAY.
>> AND TO SEE WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST THEM.
>> MADAM CHAIR. I KNOW OF TWO ADDITIONAL LANDOWNERS THAT HAVE BEEN BOISTEROUS AND CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND IN FACT, THE PUSH FOR THE PROJECT.
NEITHER OF THOSE TWO LANDOWNERS ARE HERE TODAY.
IF IT'S AN OPTION TO CONTINUE THE HEARING TO THE NEXT MEETING AND MAYBE BRING IN THOSE ADDITIONAL LANDOWNERS TO THAT TO MAKE A BETTER DECISION ON WHAT THIS REALLY DOES AND WILL HIS FIX WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
BECAUSE THIS IS A LARGE REPAIR, 140 THOUSAND.
I THINK OUR TIMELINE WOULD STILL BE OKAY TO PUSH IT BECAUSE IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR A FALL.
BUT WE COULD MAYBE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT THE BOARD IS WANTING TO GET DURING THAT TIME, WE COULD PRESENT THAT AND WE COULD EVEN PUT TOGETHER PRELIMINARY FINDINGS ON THAT AS WELL.
ALTHOUGH THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE STILL APPROVED AT THE NEXT MEETING, IT'S HARD TO PUT FINDINGS TOGETHER AT THE EXACT SAME MEETING.
THAT WOULD BE AN OPTION THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND POSSIBLY ON THE COMFORT LEVEL OF THE BOARD.
>> MADAM CHAIR. DO YOU REMEMBER ROUGHLY HOW MANY ACRES ARE GOING TO BE BENEFITED BY THIS?
>> I DO HAVE THE NUMBER OF THE COST-BENEFIT.
THE BENEFITS FOR THAT SYSTEM IS 661 THOUSAND.
THAT WAS RECENTLY RE-DETERMINED IN 2021 SO THAT'S A PRETTY NEW NUMBER.
IT'S NOT A HUGE SYSTEM BECAUSE THE NUMBERS ARE SMALLER.
I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE THE ACREAGE IN HERE.
I DID NOT BRING MY RE-DETERMINATION FILE WITH ME, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY GET BACK TO YOU, COMMISSIONER LUEPKE.
>> YEAH, WE CAN REPORT THAT THEN.
>> BECAUSE THERE'S SOME PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GET BY FOR 300 BUCKS AN ACRE THAT WOUNDS UP BEING 2000 AN ACRE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADD TO IT.
>> THIS IS THE REPORT I'M LOOKING FOR.
>> A THOUSAND ACRES. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
>> IT WOULD BE NICE TO HEAR FROM LANDOWNERS.
>> YOU WANT A MOTION TO CONTINUE TO OUR NEXT MEETING?
>> MADAM CHAIR. WAS WRITTEN NOTICE GIVEN TO LANDOWNERS OF THIS HEARING TODAY?
>> DO WE KNOW WHY OTHER ADDITIONAL LANDOWNERS, AREN'T HERE? DO WE HAVE ANY SENSE OF THAT?
>> DO I KNOW WHY THEY ARE NOT HERE? I DO NOT.
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE BOARD WAS AWARE THAT THEY WERE ALL GIVEN WRITTEN NOTICE OF THIS HEARING.
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>> BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW THE COST ESTIMATE THEN. WHEN THAT LETTER WENT OUT.
>> WE DID. WE HAD THE REPAIR REPORT THAT WE DIDN'T DO THIS UNTIL AFTER THE REPAIR REPORT.
>> WHAT ARE THE WISHES OF THE BOARD?
>> I'M SORRY, DID THE LANDOWNERS GET THE REPAIR REPORT? WE KNEW ABOUT IT, DID THEY GET IT?
>> THE NOTICE DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT WE SEND THE ENTIRE LAND OR REPAIR REPORT IN THERE.
THERE IS A NUMBER TO CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS PRIOR TO THE MEETING OR THEY COME TO THE PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT IT.
BUT NO WE DON'T INCLUDE THE ENTIRE REPORT ON THAT.
>> WE NEED A MOTION TO CONTINUE IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE.
>> I'LL MOVE TO CONTINUE ON TO OUR NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING.
>> I BELIEVE THAT WOULD TAKE US TO APRIL 12TH.
>> REDISTRICTING? NO, IT'S LATER.
>> REDISTRICTING IS ON THE 19TH.
>> I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT I HAVE AN INVITE FOR.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT. WE WERE CONSIDERING REDISTRICTING ON THAT DAY AND IT'S ALSO ELECTION DAY, SO NOW, I THINK THAT DAY IS OPEN.
YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT DAY. AT 10:00 AM.
>> MADAM CHAIR, ON THE MOTION, I'M JUST PREPARED TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF MOVING FORWARD.
I'M UNCOMFORTABLE ON THE DOLLAR AMOUNT AND I'M UNCOMFORTABLE ON THE POINT THE JURY RAISED ABOUT IS IT A WEIR ON MIDDLE LAKE.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE WATER LEVEL? I KNOW MR. [INAUDIBLE] YOU DID SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE WATER BEING ABLE TO SPREAD OUT, I THINK A BIT.
BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO NECESSARILY LOWER THE WATER AMOUNT.
>> THE EFFECT OF THE REPAIR WOULD BE TO LOWER THE WATER LEVELS IN DUCK LAKE AND FURTHER UPSTREAM.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET SOME LOWERING OF WATER LEVELS, BUT NOT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE ORIGINAL CHANNEL BOTTOM.
AGAIN, THE SYSTEM REALLY IS SUBJECT TO THAT WEIR.
UNDER A REPAIR PROCEDURE, THERE'S NOTHING THAT THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY CAN DO ABOUT THAT WEIR.
>> MADAM CHAIR, IS THERE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THE BOARD WOULD WANT TO HAVE FURTHER PRESENTED FOR THAT NEXT HEARING? ARE THERE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS? I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE COVER THAT FOR THE NEXT HEARING.
>> I THINK WE'RE GOOD ON OUR INFORMATION, IT'S LOOKING FOR THAT LANDOWNER INPUT.
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL HEAR FROM THEM BETWEEN NOW AND THEN OR AT THAT MEETING.
>> MADAM CHAIR, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS THAT OUR OFFICE SEND OUT AN ADDITIONAL NOTICE. IT'S NOT REQUIRED.
THIS ISN'T A LARGE SYSTEM WITH LANDOWNERS, NOT A LARGE COST.
BUT TO SEND A NOTICE OUT LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE CONTINUED AT THE TIME THAT THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY SETS AND TO CONTACT OUR OFFICE AND POSSIBLY REACH OUT TO SOME OF THOSE KEY LANDOWNERS.
>> THANK YOU. THAT BEING SAID, THERE'S NOTHING ELSE IN FRONT OF THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY.
>> THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CONTINUED BUT THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY MAY NOT CONTINUE.
>> DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT?
>> NOW WE CAN CLOSE THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY MEETING.
>> THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> AYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.