Jun 27, 2023 Board of Commissioners

[INAUDIBLE]. 2023 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING TO ORDER WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

[Call Board of Commissioners Meeting to Order: Chair]

[00:00:09]

GOOD MORNING, FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, MEMBERS OF OUR ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF AND GUESTS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA, PLEASE.

[Approval of Agenda]

DEAN AND MORROW ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED CARRIED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[Approval of Consent Agenda]

SO MOVED. MOTION.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR. SAY AYE.

AYE. CARRIES. THANK YOU.

PUBLIC APPEARANCES.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC APPEARANCES BEFORE THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD THIS MORNING? ANY PUBLIC APPEARANCES.

SEEING NONE IF WE COULD MOVE ON TO HUMAN RESOURCES.

[Human Resources]

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. TODAY I HAVE FOR YOU THE UPDATED INTEREST AND COMPENSATION PLAN DOCUMENT.

WE REVIEWED THIS DOCUMENT TOGETHER AT THE BOARD WORKSHOP LAST WEEK.

BUT I WILL SUMMARIZE THE CHANGES FOR YOU TODAY.

THIS DOCUMENT, WHICH ORIGINATED IN 1995 AND HAS BEEN UPDATED SEVERAL TIMES.

REQUIRED UPDATING FOLLOWING THE 2022 CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION STUDY.

SECTION ONE WAS UPDATED TO REFLECT THE PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS IN THE 2022 STUDY AND MODIFIED TO MORE ACCURATELY DESCRIBE THE DECISION BAND METHOD, WHICH IS THE SYSTEM THAT OUR CONSULTANT GALLAGHER BENEFITS CONSULTING USES WHEN EVALUATING.

AND CLASSIFYING JOBS.

OTHER SECTIONS WERE MODIFIED TO REFLECT CURRENT PRACTICES SUCH AS HOUSING POSITION RECLASSIFICATION AND PAY INCREASE.

A PROCESS FOR EMPLOYEES TO USE TO APPEAL THEIR PERFORMANCE WAS ADDED.

SO TODAY I'M ASKING FOR THE BOARD TO APPROVE AND ADOPT THIS POLICY.

THANK YOU, CHRISTY.

EVERYBODY HEAR HER OKAY? VERY GOOD. WE HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS AT OUR LAST WORKSHOP.

IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR WANTS TO BRING MORE CLARITY, PLEASE DO SO AT THIS TIME.

OTHERWISE, THE CHAIR WOULD WELCOME A MOTION TO APPROVE.

MR. CHAIR, I WOULD MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE CURRENT UPGRADES TO OUR.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER DRANTTEL.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND COMMISSIONER.

MORROW. ANY DISCUSSION ITEMS ON THIS ON THIS TOPIC? NONE. I THINK IT'S WELL DOCUMENTED AND WE APPRECIATE THE WORK, CHRISTY, THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO THIS.

SARAH, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? IT CARRIES. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR US THIS MORNING? NO, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

[Health and Human Services]

GOOD MORNING, CASSIE.

GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR. AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

ON. MY FIRST ITEM THIS MORNING IS A REQUEST TO APPROVE A HUMAN PACKSTONE DETERMINATION.

I GOT, SAY SERVICES WITH DISABILITIES PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAMING AND AGE APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO MEET, ASSESS HEALTH AND SOCIAL NEEDS OUTSIDE OF RESIDENCE WITH SUPERVISION, CARE, MEALS, SNACKS AND ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A CAREGIVER AT HOME.

THESE SERVICES ALSO PROVIDE US WITH LEAD AGENCIES SUCH AS COUNTIES MUST COMPLETE A NEEDS APPLICATION WHEN PROVIDERS WANT TO DEVELOP NEW PROGRAM SERVICES.

ACUMEN. HEARTHSTONE IS REQUESTING TO DEVELOP A NEW FACILITY BASED SERVICES PROGRAM HERE IN SAINT PETER.

THEY COULD SERVE UP TO 24 CLIENTS AGES 55 AND OVER.

WE DO BELIEVE THAT THIS PROGRAM WILL FILL A GAP FOR OUR COUNTY, ALLOWING NICOLLET COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO ARE TRAVELING TO MANKATO TO ATTEND HERE.

WE DO HAVE FOUR PEOPLE CURRENTLY ATTENDING SERVICES IN MANKATO, SO IT WILL BE NICE TO HAVE A LOCAL OPTION.

AND SO THIS MORNING I'M REQUESTING APPROVAL OF THE DETERMINATION OF NEEDS APPLICATION FOR ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE AND SUBMISSION.

THANK YOU. YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION FROM MS..

[00:05:01]

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND COMMISSIONER.

DRANTTEL. ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS FOR MS. SASSENBERG? IT'S GOING TO BE NICE TO HAVE SOME RESPITE AVAILABLE RESPITE TYPE DAY SERVICES.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT LOCALLY.

WE DON'T. AND WITHOUT THE ABILITY FOR COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT INTERESTED IN COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT, THERE ARE VERY FEW OPTIONS FOR DAY SERVICES AVAILABLE. ANY REASON WE WOULDN'T APPROVE THIS? NO. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR MS. SASSENBERG? AFTER WE PASS THIS.

I'M SUPPOSED TO DOCUSIGN IT? YES. THIS ONE REQUIRES A COMMENT SECTION AND THEN AN APPROVAL ELECTRONICALLY.

MAYBE WE SHOULD VISIT AFTER THE MEETING.

JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.

SIR, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THIS ITEM? IT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU. YOU HAVE ANOTHER ITEM FOR US? I HAVE A COUPLE MORE THIS MORNING.

MY SECOND ITEM IS THE FRAUD PREVENTION INVESTIGATION.

GRANT RENEWAL.

SO WE'RE REQUESTING APPROVAL OF OUR STATE OF MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES GRANT CONTRACT, WHICH WILL RENEW OUR FRAUD PREVENTION INVESTIGATION GRANT AGREEMENT FROM JULY 1ST, 2023 THROUGH JUNE 30TH OF 2025.

THE GRANT AMOUNT WILL REMAIN THE SAME AS IN PRIOR GRANT AGREEMENTS, WHICH IS THE $80,000 EACH FISCAL YEAR.

NICOLLET COUNTY CURRENTLY USES THESE FUNDS TO FUND THE POSITION OF THE FRAUD INVESTIGATOR HIRED THROUGH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BUT EMBEDDED IN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO THIS CONTRACT IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR US TO SUBMIT QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORTS TO THE STATE.

THESE PROGRESS REPORTS WILL SUMMARIZE ACTIVITIES, OUTCOMES, CHALLENGES, LESSONS LEARNED AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES HAS ALSO NOTIFIED US THAT THEY ARE MOVING TO A DATA DRIVEN FUNDING FORMULA BEGINNING IN 2025, AND THAT WILL NOW BE BASED ON OUR INITIAL ALLOTMENTS CASES WORKED AND THE AVERAGE BENEFIT ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS.

SO WHILE WE DON'T SEE A CHANGE IN THE DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THIS GRANT CYCLE, IT IS LIKELY THAT WE WILL IN THE NEXT GRANT CYCLE.

ATTACHED IS A DRAFT CONTRACT DHS IS USING FOR THIS GRANT CYCLE.

THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE A PDF VERSION OF IT WITH THE INDIVIDUAL COUNTY INFORMATION BECAUSE IT WAS SENT AS AN ORIGINAL THROUGH DOCUSIGN.

SO THAT IS THE CONTRACT, WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE WITH THE COUNTY NAME AND THEN THE $80,000 BEING ENTERED INTO IT.

SO THIS MORNING I'M REQUESTING APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT FOR THE FRAUD PREVENTION INVESTIGATION GRANT PROGRAM.

YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION FROM OUR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.

IS THERE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? I'LL MAKE IT A MOTION. SECOND.

SANDS AND DAN DISCUSSION.

THIS IS A FAVORITE TOPIC OF MINE.

LET ME ASK THE QUESTION.

WHAT DO OUR FRAUD INVESTIGATORS TYPICALLY FIND? IN TERMS OF VIOLATIONS IN ANTICIPATION OF THAT QUESTION.

IT'S AN ANNUAL QUESTION.

YES, IT REALLY IS A MIX OF THINGS.

IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION.

WE HAVE FOUND SEVERAL THAT HAVE BEEN RELATED ERRORS IN REPORTING PEOPLE WHO ARE FILLING OUT APPLICATIONS INCORRECTLY.

WE ALSO DO FIND UNREPORTED ASSETS, MAYBE UNREPORTED INCOME, HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION, NOT BEING ACCURATE OR RESIDENCY, NOT BEING ACCURATE, OR SOME OF THOSE TOP ITEMS. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I THINK ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE BEEN THROUGH IN THE LAST MONTH OR SO, THE IDEA THAT YOU HAD FOLKS IN YOUR DEPARTMENT HAVE US APPLY FOR SERVICES.

AND OUR MY PERSONAL ONE TOOK TWO HOURS AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WERE DONE YET.

AND I'M SURE THAT FOLKS ON THIS BOARD LEARNED A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE STRUGGLES OF GETTING QUALIFIED FOR ANY KIND OF ASSISTANCE.

AND SO WE APPRECIATE HAVING THAT HANDS ON APPROACH.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE WANTED TO VOLUNTEER ANY OF THEIR EXPERIENCES IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH.

I WOULD AGREE IT'S PRETTY TIME CONSUMING TO GET QUALIFIED FOR SOME OF THE PROGRAMS. BUT I GUESS I WOULD COMMENT THAT I APPRECIATE THAT THE FRAUD INVESTIGATION IS HAPPENING BECAUSE I FEEL THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT.

[00:10:03]

SO I'M GLAD WE'RE DOING IT.

I'M GLAD WE CONTINUE TO DO IT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? HEARING AND SEEING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL . IT CARRIES. AND I TAKE IT THIS IS ANOTHER DOCUSIGN? YES, THIS ONE IS OFFICIALLY A DOCUSIGN.

AND YOU HAVE ANOTHER TOPIC FOR US TODAY.

ONE LAST TOPIC.

YES. I'M ALSO REQUESTING APPROVAL OF THE 2023 CONTRACT WITH BLUE EARTH COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER.

NICOLLET COUNTY CONTRACTS WITH THE BLUE EARTH COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER TO FULFILL OUR STATUTORY REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED RESIDENTS OF NICOLLET COUNTY.

OUR MOST UTILIZED SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE BLUE EARTH COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER INCLUDES PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION MANAGEMENT AND PSYCHIATRIC URGENT CARE APPOINTMENTS.

ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CONTRACT INCLUDE THE LANGUAGE FOR THE STATUTE UNDER WHICH BLUE EARTH COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER IS LICENSED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND UPDATED FIGURES CONTAINED IN THE APPENDIX.

THIS IS A CONTRACT THAT WE ENTERED INTO BEGINNING IN 2019.

DURING COVID, THERE WAS SOME DELAY IN ANNUAL CONTRACTS, SO WE ARE RESUMING THAT WITH 2023.

YOU'VE HEARD THE REPORT FROM THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED. SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY COMMENTS? QUESTIONS FOR MS. SASSENBERG ABOUT THIS ITEM? HEARING NONE. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

IT CARRIES. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR US THIS MORNING? I DON'T. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR GOOD WORK.

MOVING ALONG ON THE AGENDA.

[County Attorney Update]

GOOD MORNING, MICHELLE.

GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIR.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I LIMIT MY UPDATE TO INDICATING THAT THE OFFICE IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING ALL OF THE NEW LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THIS PAST SESSION AND DETERMINING HOW IT WILL IMPACT FUTURE OPERATIONS AND DECIPHERING THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS UTILIZED AND APPLYING IT TO OUR PRACTICES MOVING FORWARD.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT WE'VE BEEN BUSY WITH CRIMINAL CASES, MENTAL HEALTH CASES AND MEETING WITH OUR COUNTY PARTNERS TO ADDRESS ISSUES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY? THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT AND YOUR WORK.

COMMISSIONER ZINS.

[Commissioner Committee Reports, Meetings & Conferences]

JUST OBVIOUSLY ATTENDED THE OWNERS REPRESENTATIVE DISCUSSION WITH YOU ALL AND OUR COUNTY BOARD WORKSHOP.

OTHER THAN THAT, I HAD NOTHING.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER DEAN.

I ATTENDED THOSE AS WELL.

AND THEN I ALSO WAS AT THE SAC STATE COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR TRAINING ON WEDNESDAY AND THEN THEIR ANNUAL MEETING ON THURSDAY.

I DID TAKE A TOUR OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY WHERE THEY DO NEWBORN SCREENING, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARD DETECTION AND DISEASE DETECTION. AND THERE ARE NOW 61 DISEASES THAT THEY'RE SCREENING FOR.

AND THEN WHILE WE'RE AT THE MEETING, THEY HAD A NUMBER OF INFORMATIONAL UPDATES AND THEN THEY SPENT THE AFTERNOON DOING A STRATEGIC WORKSHOP TRYING TO LOOK AT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO REINVENT THE PROCESS SO IT WORKS MORE EFFECTIVELY FOR THE COUNTIES.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MORROW WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MEETING OVER IN MANKATO THE BOARD WORKSHOP, HIGHWAY 169 COALITION MEETING AND THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT LAST NIGHT.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER DRANTTEL THE USUAL OWNER REP BOARD WORKSHOP.

I HAD TWO REGION NINE MEETINGS.

BOTH WERE BUDGET RELATED AND LAST NIGHT'S WORKSHOP FOR PLANNING AND ZONING.

THANK YOU. I HAD THE BOARD MEETING.

[Chair’s Report]

OUR WORKSHOP HAD AN AMC RESEARCH COMMITTEE MEETING YESTERDAY WHERE INTERNS FOR AMC WERE STUDYING MANY

[00:15:05]

AND TODAY'S MEETING.

ANY INFORMATION ON COMMISSIONER COMMITTEE REPORTS, MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES.

MISS LANGHAMMER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US THIS MORNING? JUST A REMINDER OF AN UPCOMING THE JULY 12TH NICOLLET COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF TOWNSHIPS MEETING IN NICOLLET.

AND THEN ALSO WE HAVE A JULY 18TH MEETING WITH SIBLEY COUNTY HERE.

AND WHEN WE IN OCTOBER MEET WITH AMC DISTRICT SEVEN, YOU'RE STILL WORKING ON IT BECAUSE NICOLLET COUNTY WILL BE HOSTING THAT MEETING.

SO WE'RE STILL WORKING ON A VENUE AND SWAG AND THINGS TO HAND OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE TEN COUNTY AREA, CORRECT? CORRECT. I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH AMC TO GET THE SPECIFICS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, MR. CHAIR. HOW MANY PEOPLE DO THEY EXPECT TO ATTEND TO THAT? USUALLY ABOUT 50.

AND IT CAN BE MORE IF ADMINISTRATORS AND SUCH COME ALONG.

COMMISSIONER THANK YOU.

YEAH, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHOW OFF OUR COUNTY OR A PLACE IN OUR COUNTY.

WE'VE HELD IT AT ONCE.

WE HELD IT AT ONE OF THE DAIRIES, AS I RECALL YEARS AGO, SWEDEN DAIRY AND NEW SWEDEN.

AND ONCE WE WERE AT WHERE WE HAD HOLIDAY INN NO CONSERVATION CLUB CONSERVATION CLUB, WHICH SOME PEOPLE HAD TROUBLE FINDING DURING ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

IT'S TOUGH, RIGHT? SO WE MAY WANT TO ZERO IN ON SOMETHING IN SAINT PETER, MAYBE GUSTAVUS OR SOME.

IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE HAD A BUILDING LIKE MCLEOD COUNTY HAD.

MY GOODNESS.

BUT WE DON'T.

AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUILD ONE BEFORE OCTOBER SO.

BUT MANDY'S. WORKING ON THAT.

IF ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY IDEAS AS TO WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT BE HOSTED OR HELD, PLEASE SHARE THAT WITH MISS LAND CAMERA. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF PER DIEMS AND EXPENSES.

[Approve Per Diems and Expenses]

SO MOVED. COMMISSIONER DEAN HAS MOVED.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. COMMISSIONER MORROW.

I'M SORRY. ZENS, MOVE THAT.

MOVE YOUR LIPS. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED CARRIES.

THANK YOU. WE ARE NOW ADJOURNED FOR THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING.

AND WE'LL CALL THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY MEETING TO ORDER.

[Call Drainage Authority Meeting to Order: Chair]

MISSIONER, DRANTTEL AND MORROW.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED. IT CARRIES.

APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR DRAINAGE.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

MISSIONER MORROW COMMISSIONER ZENS.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED IT CARRIES.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC APPEARANCES FOR THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY? SEEING NONE, WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 9:19.

THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE].

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.