Aug 08, 2023 Board of Commissioners

[00:00:06]

WE'LL CALL THE AUGUST 8TH NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING TO ORDER.

[Call Board of Commissioners Meeting to Order: Chair]

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO ALL IN OUR COUNTY FAIR WEEK HERE IN NICOLLET COUNTY AND CELEBRATING THE FIRST OF NOT ENOUGH RAIN IN THIS PAST WEEK TO.

CHAIR WOULD CALL FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, PLEASE.

[Approval of Agenda]

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? SAY AYE? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? IT CARRIES.

CHAIR WOULD SEEK A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA UNLESS SOMEONE WANTS TO PULL ANY OF THOSE ITEMS OFF.

[Approval of Consent Agenda]

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. AYE. THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC APPEARANCES? ANYONE HERE FOR A PUBLIC APPEARANCE.

SEEING NONE INFORMATIONAL ITEMS REGION NINE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION PRESENTATION.

[Informational Items]

GOOD MORNING. YOU WANT ME TO STAND OR DO PEOPLE SIT? SIT. OKAY. EVERY COUNTY IS DIFFERENT.

SO. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.

AS STATED, MY NAME IS NICOLE BRUNSWICK AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF REGION NINE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FOR THE PAST 11.5 YEARS.

AND SO I'M JUST HERE TODAY TO KIND OF GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERVIEW AND KIND OF WHAT WE'RE UP TO AND BUT ESSENTIALLY JUST BE AVAILABLE FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO.

SO FOR A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT, I'LL BACK UP A LITTLE BIT.

IN CASE YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH US.

REGION NINE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WAS CREATED BY STATE STATUTE IN 1969 WITH THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACT.

AND SO OUR BOUNDARIES WERE VERY SPECIFIC FOR THE NINE COUNTIES, OUR DESIGNATED AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE AS WELL AS AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE ARE DESIGNATED FOR THE NINE COUNTY AREA AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

SO WE ARE FEDERALLY DESIGNATED FOR THE REGION TO DO ALL THINGS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

AND AT THAT IN THAT REGARD, WE WORK WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION.

SO WHEN WE SAY EDA, WE'RE ALMOST ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE FEDERAL EDA.

JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.

AND THEN AS FAR AS STATE FUNDS, WE WE HAVE AN ANNUAL PLANNING GRANT AS WELL WITH MINT.

AND SO THOSE ARE THE STATE FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVE THAT WE THEN ARE ABLE TO MATCH, JUST LIKE WE MATCH OUR FEDERAL PLANNING GRANT WITH LOCAL TAX LEVY DOLLARS.

AND SO WE DO RECEIVE ABOUT $650,000 WITH PROPERTY TAXES FROM THE NINE COUNTY AREA TO BE ABLE TO BE IN EXISTENCE.

AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO USE THOSE LOCAL DOLLARS AS STATED TO THEN MATCH STATE AND OR OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT HELP KIND OF STRENGTHEN THE REGION.

WE CURRENTLY ARE A STAFF OF 11 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES WITH TWO PART TIME EMPLOYEES, AND WE ALSO WORK WITH SOME CONSULTANTS.

BUT REALLY WE WORK WITH A LOT OF PARTNERS THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE NINE COUNTIES.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE WE ALWAYS ARE DOING REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S WITH, AGAIN, THE FEDERAL EDA AND SAINT PETER.

YOU HAVE A LONG HISTORY WORKING WITH THE WITH REGION NINE MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO WHEN THE TORNADO HIT IN 98, THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND OTHER PROJECTS LIKE THAT, THE FEDERAL EDA HAD PLAYED A LARGE ROLE.

BUT SINCE THAT TIME, YOU KNOW ABOUT HIGHWAY 169 BEING RAISED, THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE DOT HAD WORKED WITH A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO RECEIVE FUNDS OF $9.8 MILLION TO RAISE THE ROAD OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN.

AND BACK THEN, THAT WAS ONE OF MY EARLIER PROJECTS IN MY TENURE.

WE WERE ABLE TO TELL THAT THAT WAS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISASTER BECAUSE AT THAT TIME THE ONLY DOLLARS THEY HAD AVAILABLE WERE A DISASTER DOLLARS.

AND SO THAT'S REALLY A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT REGION NINE CAN DO IS TO REALLY WE WORK WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT REALLY KIND OF HELP TELL WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE REGION.

SO PART OF THAT IS WE CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY THAT'S CALLED THE SEDS AND THAT'S PART OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO WITH THE FEDERAL EDA.

AND ESSENTIALLY THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE GOING OUT TO THE REGION AND SAYING, HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES, WHAT ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES, THE WHOLE SWAT PROCESS.

SO ALL THINGS FROM HOUSING TO BROADBAND, CHILD CARE, CLEAN ENERGY, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES, WHATEVER WE'RE HEARING, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CAPTURING.

AND SO THE SEDS DOCUMENT IS REALLY KIND OF LIKE A ROADMAP.

IT'S NOT A TO DO LIST FOR REGION NINE, BUT IT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HEAR FROM OUR PARTNERS AND CONSTITUENTS THROUGHOUT THE NINE COUNTIES.

SO THAT DOCUMENT HELPS GUIDE OUR WORK.

AND WE DO AN ANNUAL UPDATE CALLED THE ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT.

THAT'S PART OF OUR ANNUAL PLANNING GRANT.

AND SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING THAT RIGHT NOW AGAIN, SO REEVALUATING WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE AND WHAT ARE SOME SAME ISSUES.

[00:05:04]

I BRIEFLY MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS WITH THE FEDERAL EDA.

ONE GREAT EXAMPLE OR A SWEET EXAMPLE, EXCUSE THE CHEESY PUN, IS A DIAMOND DUST BAKERY HERE IN TOWN IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE LOANS THAT WE HAD A FEW YEARS AGO. SO WE ARE ABLE TO HELP FOR PROFIT ENTITIES, NOT AGRICULTURE, BECAUSE USDA, WE DON'T COMPETE WITH USDA.

BUT WHEN WE SAY NOT AGRICULTURE, AG MEANS A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, SO A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

SO ESSENTIALLY OUR LOANS CAN BE TO HELP FOR PROFIT BUSINESSES EXPAND AND OR DURING TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES, RETAIN EMPLOYEES.

SO OVERALL, THE CONCEPT IS TO CREATE AND OR RETAIN JOBS THROUGHOUT THE AREA.

PAUSING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS THUS FAR.

ALL RIGHT. MOVING RIGHT ALONG HOW WE ARE GOVERNED.

WE ARE GOVERNED WITH ONE COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

THIS IS ALL LAID OUT BY OUR BYLAWS WITH CREATED WITH STATE STATUTE.

SO WE HAVE ONE COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR EACH OF OUR NINE COUNTIES AND I SHOULD BACK UP AND SAY REGION NINE, WHEN THEY CREATED US IN 1969, THEY WENT ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE.

WE ENDED UP BEING NUMBER NINE WITH THE WAY THEY LOOKED AT THE MAP.

AND WE CHOSE TO THEN KEEP THE NAME AND WE JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE NINE COUNTIES.

THAT'S JUST A LITTLE COINKYDINK SO FUN FACT FOR YOU THERE.

LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT HERE NOW.

SO WE ALSO DO TRANSPORTATION PLANNING.

I TALKED ABOUT THAT REVOLVING LOAN FUNDS AND ALSO WITH THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING WE WORK CLOSELY WITH, OBVIOUSLY WITH DISTRICT SEVEN HERE IN MANKATO TO LOOK AT ALL THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AND PRIORITIES AND SO HOW OUR COMMISSIONERS, THAT'S WHERE I WAS GOING.

MARIE HAS BEEN OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPRESENTING YOUR LOVELY COUNTY SINCE I HAVE BEEN AT REGION NINE AND SHE'S DONE A FANTASTIC JOB REPRESENTING YOUR COUNTY.

AND SHE ALSO SERVES ON THE REVOLVING LOAN FUND COMMITTEE.

AND SO HOPEFULLY YOU'RE GETTING REGION NINE UPDATES FROM COMMISSIONER DRANTTEL.

BUT OTHERWISE, WHO ELSE SERVES FOR YOUR COUNTY? WE HAVE ONE TOWNSHIP REP FOR EACH OF THE NINE COUNTIES, AND MARY MILBRATH RECENTLY JOINED THE LAST FEW MONTHS TO REPRESENT ALL OF THE TOWNSHIPS AND NICOLLET COUNTY FOR ANY CITY OVER 10,000 IN SIZE, WHICH WE HAVE FIVE IN OUR REGION, WHICH MAKES OUR COMMISSION, OUR GOVERNING BODY, THE LARGEST OF ALL OF THEM IN MINNESOTA.

LUCKY ME. AND SO ANY CITY OVER 10,000 IN SIZE GETS ITS OWN SEAT ON THE COMMISSION.

AND SO FOR THE CITY OF SAINT PETER SHANNON, AS THE MAYOR SERVES IN THAT ROLE, WE ALSO HAVE A SMALL CITIES REPRESENTATIVE SEAT THAT IS CURRENTLY VACANT.

PAM RODEWALD FROM CITY OF CORTLAND HAD HELD THAT POSITION FOR A LONG TIME.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY COLLEAGUES THAT ARE A MAYOR OR A COUNCIL MEMBER FOR ANY OF OUR SMALL TOWNS.

BERNADETTE ET CETERA.

LAFAYETTE YOU LET THEM KNOW, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION FOR OVERALL GOVERNANCE.

OTHERWISE, THAT TOTALS ABOUT 39 REGIONAL LEADERS.

AND SO ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS, WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS PER STATE STATUTE, WE HAVE A MINORITY POPULATIONS COMMISSIONER, AND THAT HAS BEEN ILHAN OMAR, ONE OF YOUR RESIDENTS HERE IN SAINT PETER. AND SHE ALSO DOES A FABULOUS JOB AND HAS A FINANCE BACKGROUND.

SO THAT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL FOR OUR BUDGET PERSONNEL COMMITTEE, WHICH SHE IS A LEADER ON.

AND SO THAT IS ONE PUBLIC INTEREST COMMISSIONER AND OTHERWISE WE HAVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND AND OTHERWISE YOUTH.

WE BOTH HAVE YOUTH COMMISSIONER SEATS.

ONE IS OF HIGH SCHOOL AGE AND ONE IS OF COLLEGE AGE.

AND RIGHT NOW THOSE POSITIONS ARE BOTH VACANT.

AND SO PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO IS POTENTIALLY INTERESTED IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

THEY GET PAID $40 PER MEETING AND OUR COMMISSION MEETS QUARTERLY THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH TO OVERSIMPLIFY OCTOBER, JANUARY, APRIL AND THEN IN JUNE, EVERY JUNE WE DO AN ANNUAL BUS TOUR.

AND SO I'D LIKE TO EXTEND THAT INVITATION TO ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS.

PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS INVITED TO JOIN US FOR OUR REGIONAL BUS TOUR AS THAT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO GET ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OUR PARTNERS ON THE BUS OUT OF MANKATO SHOWING THEM WHAT ARE WE WORKING ON AND WITH WHOM, TO REALLY KIND OF HELP EXPLAIN OUR IMPACT IN THE REGION.

A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT WERE A LITTLE BIT NEWER THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IS THE LAST FEW YEARS WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DIVE INTO MORE CLIMATE CLEAN ENERGY WORK.

WE KNOW THAT'S ONE AREA THAT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A HUGE NEED, BUT TRYING TO FOCUS ON HOW TO HELP SUPPORT OUR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AS WELL AS WE KNOW, MANUFACTURING AND AG ARE OUR BIG INDUSTRIES.

AND SO HOW DO WE HELP SUPPORT THEM WHILE ALSO OFFERING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO OUR SMALLER TOWNS IN DOING AND PURSUING, FOR INSTANCE, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND MPCA GRANTS? ONE GREAT EXAMPLE IS ON FRIDAY I'LL BE BACK IN TOWN FOR A PRESS EVENT WITH THE MPCA'S COMMISSIONER AND OTHER FOLKS TALKING ABOUT CLIMATE RESILIENCY PLANS.

AND SO SAINT PETER HAS RECEIVED A CLIMATE RESILIENCY PLAN AND THEN OUR TEAM WILL BE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE COMMUNITY OF COMFREY.

THE MAYOR SERVES ON OUR FULL COMMISSION AND HE HAD JOINED US.

HE WAS ONE OF 20 MEMBERS.

WE ACTUALLY TOOK IN DECEMBER ON A LEARNING EXCHANGE TO NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA, A GERMAN STATE WHERE DUSSELDORF AND MÜNSTER ARE, AND WE ARE

[00:10:10]

AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO SO WITH A BUSH FOUNDATION GRANT.

SO A PRIVATE FOUNDATION.

IT WAS NOT TAXPAYER DOLLAR FUNDED, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE GARY RICHTER AS AN EXAMPLE OF A COMMISSIONER WHO HAS BEEN REALLY INTERESTED IN CLIMATE CLEAN ENERGY FOR YEARS.

AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO WHEN THERE'S DIFFERENT ISSUES OR TOPICS.

THINGS GOING ON IN THE REGION IS WE SOMETIMES KIND OF HOLD DIFFERENT TOURS AND EVENTS.

AND ONE TOUR THAT WE HAD DONE A FEW YEARS AGO WAS TO LE TO SEE THEIR ANAEROBIC BIODIGESTER.

AND THAT'S ONE AREA THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO KIND OF ZERO IN ON AS SEEING WHAT COULD BE HELPFUL FOR CLEAN ENERGY AND OVERALL RESILIENCY FOR OUR REGION, BUT ALSO SUPPORTING THE AG INDUSTRY.

AND SO WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS.

AND PERHAPS YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD OF A COMPANY CALLED NATURE ENERGY IS A GREAT EXAMPLE, A DANISH COMPANY.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON DOING A LOT MORE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS AND REALLY TRYING TO ATTRACT FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT AND SO THIS WOULD BE A COMPANY THAT WOULD BE LOOKING TO DO 10 TO 20 DIFFERENT ANAEROBIC BIODIGESTERS IN MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN IN THE NEXT DECADE.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO REALLY SHOW THEM WHAT OUR REGION HAS THAT WE VERY MUCH HAVE DIFFERENT BIOMASS AND ET-CETERA.

THIS COMPANY IS FOCUSED ON DAIRIES RIGHT NOW, BUT THEIR TECHNOLOGY WILL BE EXPANDED TO THE HOGS.

AND SO OBVIOUSLY FOR OUR REGION, THAT'S WHEN WE REALLY WOULD HAVE A LOT OF POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS TO PREVENT MYSELF FROM DOING ANY MANURE PUNS.

SO THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE.

BUT I WANT TO KIND OF PAUSE AND JUST SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS SO FAR, REALLY, BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR TIME.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS A UNIT OF GOVERNMENT, I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO COME BACK AND TO DIVE INTO ANY OTHER TOPIC A LITTLE BIT DEEPER IF THE COMMISSIONERS EVER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. ONE PROJECT THAT WE HAD RECENTLY THAT JUST SUNSETTED WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A FEW YEARS WAS A MANUFACTURING RESOURCE PLAN.

AND SO THAT WAS TALKING TO ALL OF OUR MANUFACTURERS AND HAVING A LOT OF ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS.

PART OF THAT WAS EVEN DURING COVID, TALKING TO THE INDUSTRIES AND TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THEIR FUTURE NEEDS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR WORKFORCE, AND THEN WORKING WITH OUR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS TO THEN HAVE THE CONVERSATION OF HOW DOES THIS CORRELATE WITH THE CURRICULUM AND WHAT THEIR FUTURE NEEDS ARE.

SO WE'RE WE'RE IN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS BEHIND THE SCENES LIKE THAT, REALLY TRYING TO DIG IN TO HELP THE INDUSTRY.

SO WHETHER IT'S FOR WORKFORCE AND OTHER ISSUES LIKE THAT.

SO HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS ARE VERY CLOSE PARTNERS WITH US.

DAVIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WE DON'T ONLY LOOK TO THEM FOR TALENT TO JOIN OUR TEAM, BUT WE ALSO LOOK TO THEM TO PARTNER.

AND ONE AREA THAT WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THEM AND WITH MSU AND IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS IS WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN IMMIGRATION TASK FORCE AND WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP RETAIN THE TALENT OF WE HAVE A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE REGION, AND WHAT DO WE DO TO KIND OF HELP RETAIN THEM? AND SO AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GO OUT OF OUR WAY, IF YOU WILL, TO BE ABLE TO TAP INTO THAT TALENT.

BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN FOR AN ORGANIZATION OUR SIZE, IT IS QUITE CUMBERSOME TO BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH KIND OF THAT PAPERWORK AND THAT WHOLE PROCESS.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO GET ALL OF KIND OF THE RIGHT HEADS TOGETHER IN A ROOM TO LOOK AT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO TO IMPROVE THAT AND WHAT OTHER KIND OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED. SO WITH THAT, WE'VE BEEN NOW HAVING AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY GO TO SOME OF THE CAREER FAIRS AND THERE'S BEEN OTHER PROGRAMS. NOW, EVEN WITH THE AG, SOME AGRICULTURAL COMPANIES CAN GET A $1,000 AND THEN $2,000 WORKING WITH GREEN SIEMENS, SOME OTHER PARTNERS ON BEING ABLE TO GET TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS TO KIND OF HAVE THAT HAND-HOLDING THROUGH THAT PROCESS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT COULD THAT LOOK LIKE.

SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE KIND OF A VARIETY OF CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE A PART OF, WE'RE DOING A TON WITH TO PIVOT.

WE'RE DOING A LOT WITH LOCAL FOODS.

WE HAD JUST HELPED CELEBRATE LOCAL FOODS WEEK A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND PARTNERING WITH DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS AND LOCAL GROWERS AND PRODUCERS.

AND SABRI ON OUR TEAM HELPS RUN A GROWERS NETWORK.

AND SO THAT'S JUST A GROUP WE GET TOGETHER AND THEY KIND OF SOMETIMES IT'S KIND OF A COMMISERATING AND TALKING ABOUT STRUGGLES, BUT A LOT OF TIMES IT'S THEM KIND OF BRAINSTORMING TOGETHER.

AND SO ONE EXAMPLE WAS SOMEONE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW THE THEY WANTED A NEED TO GET A HIGH TUNNEL AND SOMEONE AT THE TABLE WAS LIKE, WELL, I'M GOING TO BE RETIRING.

I DON'T NEED MY HIGH TUNNEL, YOU KNOW? AND SO JUST BEING ABLE TO CREATE A SPACE FOR CONVERSATIONS LIKE THAT TO NATURALLY HAPPEN IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS ANOTHER STRENGTH OF REGION NINE, THAT OUR TAGLINE IS YOUR PARTNER FOR PROGRESS. AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY KIND OF APT BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WE'RE KIND OF LIKE A CONNECTOR.

ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE AS FAR AS BEING A CONNECTOR IS EVEN THE CONVERSATION WITH NATURE ENERGY ABOUT ANAEROBIC BIODIGESTERS.

WASECA COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WAS IN THAT MEETING AND HE HAD KIND OF FOLLOWED UP AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR ISSUE THAT CONAGRA IS HAVING WITH THEIR ACCESS WATER AND KIND OF WHAT TO DO WITH THE DIFFERENT PROCESSING, ETCETERA.

[00:15:02]

AND SO AGAIN, THAT'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF CONVERSATIONS OF TRYING TO HELP KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE REGION, HAVE A GOOD PULSE, BUT THEN BEING ABLE TO KNOW HOW TO BE STRATEGIC AND TO REALLY PIVOT AND TO GO AFTER DIFFERENT DOLLARS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON CLIMATE CLEAN ENERGY, NOT BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT MORE SO BECAUSE THERE'S ONCE IN A LIFETIME FUNDING AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT RURAL IS NOT LEFT OUT.

AND A LOT OF TIMES WITH FEDERAL FUNDS, IT COMES DOWN SO FAST AND SO FURIOUS.

AND THAT'S ALSO HAPPENING NOW AT THE STATE LEVEL.

THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND OTHER PARTNERS ARE CREATING THE STATE COMPETITIVENESS FUND, YOU KNOW, MILLION DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE TO MATCH FEDERAL FUNDING.

AND WE WERE ACTUALLY WRITTEN IN AS DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS, AS ELIGIBLE ENTITIES TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO GO AFTER SOME OF THOSE FUNDS TO HELP OUR SMALL COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE THERE IS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR SMALL TOWNS, THE CITY CLERK IS ALREADY DOING EIGHT DIFFERENT JOBS.

HOW DO WE GO AFTER CLIMATE RESILIENCY PLANS AND OR OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING DOWN THROUGH THE IRA AND THE AIR? SO THAT'S ONE AREA THAT I THINK WE REALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A STRONG ADVOCATE, ADVOCATE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND DESPITE WHATEVER THE POLITICAL LEANINGS ARE OF OUR GOVERNING BODY, WE'VE ALWAYS I'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY UPFRONT THAT BEING AGAINST A PROGRAM, IF YOU WILL, BUT ONCE THE MONEY IS THERE, I'VE ALWAYS VIEWED IT AS MY JOB TO THEN BRING IT TO THE REGION OR TRY OUR HARDEST.

SO THAT'S A FUN AREA THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BE COMPETITIVE IN IN THAT REGARD.

I'LL PAUSE TOO. SO NICOLE, YOU YOU'RE TERRIFIC IN DESCRIBING WHAT REGION NINE IS DOING.

AND I THINK WE LOOKED AT IT AS A PARTNERSHIP.

MARIA, AS OUR REPRESENTATIVE GIVES US UPDATES.

ONE THING I'D LIKE TO ASK, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IF I JUST CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IS THE BUDGET OF REGION NINE PRESENTLY? OUR BUDGET IS ABOUT $1.3 MILLION.

OKAY. AND THAT'S TAX LEVY.

THE TAX LEVY IS ABOUT $650,000.

OKAY. I WANTED TO POINT OUT IT'S BEEN MY GOOD FORTUNE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW WORKING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN MANKATO WHO USED WHO GOT THEIR START WORKING WITH REGION NINE.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE YOU GET GOOD PEOPLE AND THEY MOVE TO OTHER PLACES.

TELL ME HOW THAT WORKS.

WELL, WE ARE NOT STATE EMPLOYEES.

WE'RE NOT COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

THE REALITY IS THAT BEING A MINDAT EMPLOYEE TO YOUR STATE EMPLOYEE AND THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFITS TO BEING A STATE EMPLOYEE THAT AS A REGIONAL GOVERNMENT ENTITY, IT CAN BE A STRUGGLE FOR US TO BE COMPETITIVE.

HOWEVER, WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH MINDAT AND TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE HAVE NOT RAISED THE ANNUAL PLANNING GRANT.

THE AMOUNT OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT HAS NOT INCREASED IN THE LAST DECADE, BUT THEIR LIST OF EXPECTATIONS AND WHAT THEY WANT FROM US HAS INCREASED AS WELL AS THE COST OF LIVING AND JUST THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS.

AND SO WE'RE IN HOPES OF POTENTIALLY INCREASING THAT ANNUAL PLANNING GRANT AMOUNT BECAUSE SO WE CAN TRULY HAVE ONE EMPLOYEE DO ALL OF THAT WORK THAT IS KIND OF LAID OUT IN OUR ANNUAL PLANNING GRANT, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, OTHERWISE TO BE COMPETITIVE, THAT DOES NOT COVER ONE FULL TIME INDIVIDUAL.

AND REMINDING MINDAT THAT THEY'VE NOW TAKEN FOUR OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

AND SO WE'RE BEING MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE AND TRYING TO BE MUCH MORE STRATEGIC IN THAT REGARD.

AND WHEN WE POSTED FOR THAT POSITION, WE'VE EVEN CALLED IT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANNER WITH THE TRANSPORTATION EMPHASIS TO SOMEWHAT HOLD OFF THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN REALLY DIGGING INTO DEEP DIVING INTO TRANSPORTATION TRAFFIC STUDIES.

AND THINGS ARE GETTING REALLY, REALLY INTO THE WEEDS.

THAT'S NOT TOTALLY WHERE WE ARE AT.

SO TRYING TO BE MORE UP FRONT WITH POTENTIAL JOB SEEKERS THAT BUT WORKING FOR THE REGION GAVE THOSE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE.

ABSOLUTELY. AND GOOD TRAINING.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS? COMMISSIONER MORROW.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. JUST A QUICK NOTE.

AMONG THE PRIORITIES YOU ALL HAVE SET, WE'VE TAKEN A NUMBER OF STEPS ALREADY ON BROADBAND, BUT COULD YOU SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CHILD CARE? BECAUSE I KNOW FOR ALL OF US WE'RE CONCERNED.

WHAT'S REGION NINE DOING? ABSOLUTELY. RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANY ACTIVE PLANS WITH CHILD CARE.

HOWEVER, I WOULD SAY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WE'VE HAD A LOT MORE CONVERSATIONS AND WE'VE ACTUALLY SOME OF OUR LOANS HAVE GONE TO CHILD CARE ENTITIES.

AND SO THAT'S BEEN ONE ONE SMALL WAY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ASSIST SOME OF THE CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.

WE'VE ALSO HAD KIND OF HOSTED DIFFERENT KIND OF FORUMS AND BROUGHT TOGETHER SOME SPECIALISTS.

AND WHENEVER THERE IS GRANT FUNDING, WE TRY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALWAYS PUSHING THAT INFORMATION OUT.

SO A LOT OF IT, AGAIN, IS KIND OF MORE CONNECTING A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL WITH ALL OF GREATER MINNESOTA.

SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE DONE EVEN MORE SPECIFICALLY DOING CASE STUDIES THROUGHOUT THEIR REGION ON DIFFERENT CHILD CARE FACILITIES.

AND SO WE'VE SHARED THOSE CASE STUDIES AND TRIED TO KIND OF DIVE IN A LITTLE BIT MORE AS WELL AS WORKING WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

[00:20:01]

AND SO A LOT OF TIMES WE KIND OF HAVE TO KIND OF TAKE A LEAD TO BE KIND OF A CATALYST TO GET SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS GOING.

BUT THEN ONCE KIND OF THE BAD AT SPORTS METAPHORS.

BUT ONCE PEOPLE PICK UP THE BALL AND RUN WITH IT, THEN, YOU KNOW, WE CAN KIND OF SEE WHAT'S KIND OF GOING.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE I WOULD SAY IS WITH WELCOMING COMMUNITIES, WE ARE ONE OF THE LEADERS, KIND OF LIKE CHILD CARE, ONE OF THE LEADERS IN CREATING WELCOMING COMMUNITY INITIATIVES WHEN THERE WAS NO KIND OF BEST PRACTICES FOR RURAL.

AND SO NOW SINCE WE'VE WE'VE DONE THAT, THAT'S BEEN A HANDFUL OF YEARS.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON INITIATIVES LIKE THAT AND HELD AN EQUITY SUMMIT HERE IN TOWN AND HAD A SECOND ONE.

NOW, A LOT OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE IN THAT SPACE.

THANK YOU. I WOULD THINK REVOLVING LOAN FUND IS PROBABLY DID 5 TO 6 CHILD CARE LOANS, WHETHER SMALL, $10,000 TO $150,000 LOANS FOR CHILD CARE FACILITIES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.

GREAT. GREAT. WE HEARD FROM THE INITIATIVE FOUNDATION AS WELL ABOUT TALKING ABOUT CHILD CARE AND OTHER BARRIERS, INCLUDING REGULATORY COMPLIANCE, THE PAPERWORK INVOLVED, THAT TYPE OF THING. ABSOLUTELY.

AND I SHOULD MENTION, TOO, TIM PENNY, AS A AS A COLLEAGUE, I WORK WITH HIM ALL THE TIME.

AND SO WE WORK REALLY, AS HE SAYS, HAND IN GLOVE WITH INITIATIVE FOUNDATION.

SO THEY'VE BEEN A FABULOUS PARTNER.

DO YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING REMARKS FOR US TODAY? JUST IT'S FANTASTIC TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE GETTING REPORTS AND REALLY APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER DRANTTEL INVOLVEMENT WITH REGION NINE AND WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY TO COME BACK AND JUST LET US KNOW HOW REGION NINE CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE TO YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, NICOLE.

ADMINISTRATION, PLEASE.

[Administration]

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

I DO HAVE THE ONE ITEM FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION BEGINNING ON PAGE 30 OF YOUR PACKET.

JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THIS PROJECT.

IT WAS A PROJECT IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN OF THE 2023 2027 NICOLLET COUNTY CIP WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $600,000 AND IT WOULD BE PAID BY RESERVE FUNDS.

DURING THE APRIL 11TH, 2023 BOARD MEETING, THE BOARD APPROVED THE AIA DOCUMENT BE 132 2019 WITH FEDOR JOHNSON ARCHITECTS FOR ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES RELATED TO THE REROOFING OF THE EXISTING NICOLLET COUNTY JAIL.

ON JUNE 27TH, A PRE-BID MEETING WAS HELD TO EXPLAIN THE PROJECT, DETAILS, ANSWER QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ROOF FOR INTERESTED CONTRACTORS ON JULY 13TH. THE BID OPENING MEETING WAS HELD.

ONE BID WAS SUBMITTED BY GREG GAG SHEET METAL IN THE AMOUNT OF $436,650, WHICH YOU RECEIVE THE BID TAB THIS MORNING FOR YOUR REVIEW, INCLUDING THE TRADE CONTRACTOR ITEMS. THE TOTAL INCREASES TO $539,107.78.

AND YOU WILL NOTICE THERE ARE TWO ADDITIONAL ALTERNATIVES FOR AREA A, WHICH IS IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,150 AND AREA B, WHICH IS IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,250. THOSE ARE OPPORTUNITIES SINCE THE PROJECT IS UNDER TO ADDRESS ANY, TO WASH AND CLEAN THE DECORATIVE CORNICES AND FASCIA WITHIN THE ROOF.

SINCE THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING WORK UP THERE, IT MAKES SENSE TO ALSO DO THOSE TYPE OF ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES.

THIS WOULD BRING THE PROJECT GRAND TOTAL TO $548,507.78.

JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS OF WHY THERE IS ONLY POTENTIALLY ONE BID RECEIVED FROM THE CONTRACTOR.

IT'S JUST UNSURE IF IT WAS TIMING OF THE PROJECT WITHIN THE FALL WHERE THEY HAVE MANY OTHER PROJECTS GOING ON.

IF THEY'RE AGAIN TIED UP WITH MULTIPLE PROJECTS IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE STATE, WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO HAVE CREWS COME TO SAINT PETER BECAUSE OF THE MULTIPLE PROJECTS.

IF THEY HAD BONDING ISSUES AND THEY COULDN'T GET ENOUGH BONDING TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT.

THERE WERE A COUPLE OF BIDS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ARE CONSIDERED INVALID AND COULD NOT BE CONSIDERED BASED ON THE REVIEW OF THE BID TAB AND THE AWARENESS OF THE CURRENT INDUSTRY STANDARDS.

THE BID TAB IS CONSIDERED SOLID AND INCLUDES THE COMPONENTS TO ADDRESS ALL THE CONCERNS OF THE JAIL ROOF.

I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE CODY JOHNSON, THE COUNTY FACILITIES MAINTENANCE DIRECTOR, TYLER JOHNSON FROM JETTER JOHNSON, VETTER ARCHITECTS, AND ALSO TRAVIS, THE PROJECT MANAGER FROM INTEGRITY GROUP.

IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CONSTRUCTION OR THE PRACTICES THAT WILL BE INVOLVED WITH THIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, MR. CHAIR, I AM REQUESTING THE BOARD APPROVE THE BID TAB FOR THE REROOF PROJECT OF THE NICOLLET COUNTY JAIL TO GAUGE SHEET METAL AS PRESENTED THIS MORNING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT, MADAM ADMINISTRATOR.

WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION ON THE GOG SHEET METAL INC.

BID. IS THERE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? SOME OF. OCEAN BY DAN, IS THERE A SECOND?

[00:25:01]

THIS IS UNDER THE BUDGETS THAT WE HAD SET ASIDE.

CORRECT. CORRECT. CORRECT.

YEP. THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, IT WAS LISTED AS $600,000.

AND WITH THE ADDITIONAL ALTERNATIVE AREA A AND B, IT IS STILL BELOW THE $600,000.

RIGHT. I'M A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THE ONE BID.

I ASSUME THE REST OF THE GROUP IS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE HOPE THIS IS NOT A TREND WITH IT.

BUT WE DO HAVE TRAVIS, IF HE COULD SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT BASED ON HIS INDUSTRY STANDARD KNOWLEDGE.

MR. CHAIR, AS TRAVIS HAS COME UP, IF I COULD JUST ASK.

SHOULD WE CALL IT ONE BIT? WE GOT BIDS LATE. LATE? YEAH. WHICH IS A DIFFERENT QUESTION TO ME.

YEAH. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER TRAVIS HERE WITH CONTAINER GROUP.

BETTER KNOWN, HELPING YOU GUYS WITH A FEW PROJECTS OVER TIME.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S A IT'S A CONCERN WE ALWAYS HAVE.

YOU KNOW, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME CALLING, REACHING OUT, ADVERTISING THE PROJECTS TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO GET AS MUCH EXPOSURE AS WE CAN FOR THE COUNTY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF OUR PRIORITY CONCERN DURING THE BID TIME FRAME, TIMING, AS MANNY SAID, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A TRICKY PIECE.

YOU KNOW, BIDDING MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER WAS A LITTLE LATER THAN WE'D LIKE TO SEE.

SO A LITTLE BIT OF A RAISE.

THE HAIR ON YOUR NECK, KIND OF LIKE.

IS THAT ABOUT RIGHT? BUT IT'S STILL KIND OF HIT RIGHT ON OUR ESTIMATE NUMBERS.

AND THEN SEEING A COUPLE OF THESE QUOTES SHOW UP, AS MARIE SAID AFTER THE FACT, VALIDATED THAT NUMBER, THAT, OKAY, EVERYBODY WAS STILL SEEING IT ABOUT THE SAME WAY.

IT'S JUST TRADES ARE BUSY.

AND SO GETTING TRADES TO ACTUALLY KIND OF LEAD THEM TO WATER BUT MAKING THEM DRINK IN THE MIDDLE OF A SUMMER WHEN IT'S IT'S THEIR BUSY TIME AND THEN TRYING TO STILL SQUEEZE THAT IN FOR THE FALL RUSH A LITTLE BIT WAS WAS A LIMITING FACTOR.

SO KIND OF TAKING THAT ALL IN.

THE OTHER THOUGHT THAT I KIND OF SHARED WITH CODY AND MANDY WAS DO YOU PAUSE AND THEN BID IT THIS FALL AGAIN FOR, YOU KNOW, A SPRING START WOULD BE KIND OF THE NEXT QUESTION.

YOU GUYS WOULD BE KIND OF PONDERING AND ROLLING AROUND IN YOUR MIND AND NOT NOT BAD.

BUT I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME OF THE SAME NUMBERS COME RIGHT BACK AND THEN ALSO BE COMPETING WITH INFLATION.

AGAIN, CONSTRUCTION INFLATION HAS BEEN A LITTLE ERRATIC.

IT'S DEFINITELY CALMED DOWN.

THE ROOFING SECTOR'S BEEN PROBABLY THE MOST VOLATILE FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO I THINK YOU HAVE A GOOD NUMBERS.

IT'S PROBABLY STILL THE RIGHT TIME.

GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE IT IS A LITTLE BIT YOU KNOW, USUALLY WE'RE PRESENTING, HEY, WE GOT 4 OR 5 BIDS THAT WE'RE COMPARING TO.

MR. CHAIR, HOW MANY BIDS CAME IN LATE? I DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE NUMBER.

THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS TO TWO BIDS.

CAME IN AFTER THE FACT.

AND SAME THING, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE KIND OF QUOTES THEN AT THAT POINT.

BUT SINCE YOU HAVE A VALID LEGAL BID THAT YOU KNOW WE CAN THESE GUYS QUICK SHARED THE NUMBERS WE DON'T OPEN THEM THERE'S NOTHING WE DO WITH THEM.

BUT YOU KNOW VERBALLY THESE ARE GUYS WE'VE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST AND THEY SAID, WELL, HERE'S ROUGHLY WHERE I WAS AT.

SO LIKE MANAGE STRESS ARE NOT A BINDING OF ANY SUBSTANCE.

I'M THINKING MORE ABOUT OUR PROCESS AND.

CORRECT. IS IT ODD TO GET BIDS AFTER THE OR.

NO, NO, NOT NOT UNCOMMON.

WE SEE I HATE TO SAY IT, YOU SEE BIDS ALL THE TIME KIND OF ROLLING IN LATE.

WEIRDLY ENOUGH, AS OF LATE, MAIL'S BEEN A BIT OF A WILD CARD.

SO IF SOMEONE'S THROWING IN THE MAIL AND THEY'RE GUARANTEED A DELIVERY BY X, Y, Z DATE, YOU ALMOST NEED TO HAND DELIVER THESE THINGS WHEN YOU'RE WHEN YOU'RE GETTING INTO SOME OF THESE ITEMS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR TYLER OR FOR MS. SLAM CAMERA? GOG IS OUT OF NEW ULM.

OKAY. I THINK THEY'VE GOT RELATIVES IN NORTH MANKATO TO DOG.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS TO THE MOTION IN FRONT OF THE BOARD? HEARING NONE. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

COMMISSIONER DEAN? YES. COMMISSIONER DRANTTEL.

YES. COMMISSIONER ZENS.

NO. COMMISSIONER MORROW.

YES. COMMISSIONER KOLARS.

YES. IT CARRIES. THANK YOU, MANDY, FOR YOUR TIME AND TYLER FOR BEING HERE AGAIN.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANKS.

[Commissioner Committee Reports, Meetings & Conferences]

I WOULD ASK THE COMMISSIONER COMMITTEE REPORTS TO BEGIN WITH COMMISSIONER ZENS.

I JUST ATTENDED THE NACO COMMISSIONERS MEETING WITH COMMISSIONER MANN HERE THIS PAST WEEK, SO I WILL ECHO THAT.

AND WE ARE MUCH SMARTER NOW FOR GOING TO COMMISSIONER 201.

I ALSO I ALSO ATTENDED SINCE THEN I ALSO ATTENDED WE HAD AN MR MEETING YESTERDAY.

THEY SEEM TO BE ON TRACK FOR WHERE THEY'RE AT BUDGET WISE.

AND SO THAT MEETING WAS GOING WELL.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER MORROW.

WE HAD A TRI COUNTY SOLID WASTE MEETING.

WE WERE IN TWO DAYS OF MEDIATION, CHP MEETING, AN HRA MEETING, AND ALSO HRA TRAINING.

[00:30:05]

AFTER OUR LAST BOARD MEETING, I HAD A JOINT DITCH MEETING UP IN GAYLORD AND HAD A MINI TOUR OF THE PROJECT AND A MINI TOUR OF COUNTY ROAD 15 WITH NATE AND JACKIE.

TRI COUNTY SOLID WASTE THE 60 TO A MEDIATION BROWN NICOLLET COMMUNITY HEALTH.

LAST FRIDAY, I WAS OUT IN LAKE PRAIRIE LOOKING AT SOMETHING PERSONNEL MEETING YESTERDAY, AND THEN A SUNDAY OR SO AGO I DROVE COUNTY ROAD 15 UNTIL I COULDN'T GET ANY FURTHER AND IT GOT A LITTLE ROUGH AND MY COPILOT TOLD ME I HAD TO TURN AROUND.

YOU ARE THE ADVENTURER, THAT'S FOR SURE.

YEAH. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

I HAD THE COUNTY FOUR-H TALENT SHOW IN NICOLLET OR BROWN NICOLLET CHB DIVERSITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE RAMPING UP.

GET MORE ON THAT LATER ON.

PERSONNEL. AND THAT IS THE EXTENT OF THE MEETINGS HERE.

BUT WE'RE MOVING INTO BUDGET TIME AND SO COMMISSIONER MORROW AND I ARE GOING TO BE BUSY OVER THESE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

CHAIR WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE PER DIEMS AND EXPENSES.

[Approve Per Diems and Expenses]

IS THERE A SECOND, PLEASE? SECOND. MOTION IN A SECOND.

ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS.

CONCERNS. HEARING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED TO CARRIES.

AND YOU FOLKS WERE ADVISED BY SARAH OF THE SEPTEMBER MEETING, THE AMC MEETING.

AND IF YOU HAVE PLANS TO ATTEND, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH HER.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL ADJOURN THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING AND CALL THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY MEETING TO ORDER A MOTION, PLEASE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA OF

[Adjourn Board of Commissioners Meeting]

[Call Drainage Authority Meeting to Order: Chair]

SO MOVED. MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. MOTION A SECOND CALL.

ALL IN FAVOR. SAY AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED. IT CARRIES APPROVAL OF CONSENT.

AGENDA, PLEASE.

SO MOVED. MOTION IS MADE.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR. SAY AYE.

PUBLIC APPEARANCES.

ARE THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC APPEARANCE ABOUT OUR DRAINAGE AUTHORITY TODAY? SEEING NONE.

THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IS NOW CLOSED TO DISCUSS LITIGATION INVOLVING COUNTY DITCH 60 TWO A PURSUANT TO MINNESOTA STATUTE NUMBER 130 IDENTIFY THEMSELVES, STARTING WITH MISTER JUSTIN AND MOVING AROUND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WERE HERE.

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. MY NAME IS ROGER JUSTIN FROM THE NOONAN LAW FIRM, AND I HAVE OUR FIRM HAS BEEN RETAINED BY NICOLLET COUNTY TO REPRESENT IT IN RELATION TO ADVICE AND THE LITIGATION FOR 62.

THANK YOU, MISTER. JUSTIN.

MAKE SURE TO HAVE YOUR MICROPHONES ON WHEN YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF.

JAMES DUNN, CHIEF DEPUTY NICOLLET COUNTY ATTORNEY.

KURT JONES COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT FIVE.

MARK DEAN COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

DISTRICT THREE. TERRY MORROW COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

DISTRICT TWO. MARIE DRANTTEL COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

DISTRICT ONE. JACK KOLARS COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIR.

MANDY LAMB. CAMERON COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

JACKIE KOPET PROPERTY AND PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR.

NATE HENRY NICOLLET COUNTY DRAIN INSPECTOR.

SETH GREENWOOD NICOLLET COUNTY ENGINEER AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.

ALL RIGHT. I WILL OPEN THE DISCUSSION TO THE FOLKS WHO WERE ON OUR MEDIATION COMMITTEE.

THAT WOULD INCLUDE COMMISSIONERS MORROW AND COMMISSIONER DRANTTEL.

MR. CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, IF I MAY.

PLEASE. I MOVE THAT NICOLLET COUNTY IN ITS CAPACITY AS THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY FOR DITCH 62 A THAT THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY AGREED TO A MEDIATED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE CONCERNING THIS DITCH PROJECT.

THIS AGREEMENT WOULD BE A PAYMENT TO THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY OF $1.5 MILLION AND RELEASE OF ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE DITCH AUTHORITY CONCERNING THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? I WOULD SECOND THAT, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER DRANTTEL DISCUSSION BY BOARD MEMBERS.

MR. CHAIR. COMMISSIONER DRANTTEL AND I WERE PART OF A MEDIATION PROCESS.

MR. JUSTIN REPRESENTED THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY IN THAT PROCESS.

I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE BEST AGREEMENT WE CAN COME TO CONCERNING THIS DITCH PROJECT IN ORDER TO CLOSE IT OUT AND TO SERVE THE LANDOWNERS.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM OUR BOARD STAFF? I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY OPEN THIS TO PUBLIC.

[00:35:04]

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

BLAKE WEBSTER.

I OBVIOUSLY LIVE ON 60 2AI GUESS I WOULD LIKE AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT DOES YOUR PROPOSAL DO? JUST RELEASES TO YOU GUYS AND THEN NOW IT ALL GOES TO US.

I'M GOING TO ALLOW MISTER JUSTIN TO PERHAPS FIRST ANSWER THAT, THEN I MAY FILL IN IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.

YOU'RE SAYING WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MONEY? YES. OKAY.

THE MONEY WILL BE PAID TO THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY.

IT WILL BE THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY'S DECISION TO DECIDE HOW TO USE THAT MONEY.

SO THIS PARTICULAR IT DOES NOT GO DIRECTLY TO THE LANDOWNERS IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, JUST LIKE THE REVENUES OR THEY COME INTO THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT.

THE AUTHORITY WILL HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH THAT MONEY.

THAT'S NOT PART OF WHAT THE DECISION IS BEING MADE TODAY.

OKAY. MY NEXT OKAY, I'LL PUT BECAUSE THERE'S ISSUES, OBVIOUSLY ISSUES WITH THE PROJECT THAT WAS DONE AND IT'S INCOMPLETE. AND SO DOES THAT RELEASE THE CONTRACTORS SO THAT THERE'S.

OKAY, OKAY.

IT'S DONE. THEY'RE OUT OF THE PICTURE.

WE HAVE TO CONTEND WITH OUR OWN PROBLEMS. IN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, IS THE CONTRACTOR OUT OF IT? YES. FOR THAT PAYMENT, THEY ARE RELEASED FROM ANY FURTHER OBLIGATIONS.

SO IF THERE'S PROBLEMS, THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY WILL HAVE TO DECIDE HOW TO DEAL WITH THOSE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM LANDOWNERS? PLEASE COME FORWARD.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

KEVIN JOHNSON, 32 908 425TH AVENUE, LESUEUR, MINNESOTA.

THE ORIGINAL PROJECT COST WAS SOME, I BELIEVE, ABOUT $2 MILLION.

SURE, WHEN WE STARTED HERE AND WE BONDED FOR THAT.

I MEAN, YOU HAVE THAT MONEY SOMEPLACE OR SOME OF IT.

THIS SETTLEMENT THEN IS 1.5 MILLION.

OKAY. HOW MUCH MONEY DO WE HAVE LEFT OF THAT $2 MILLION THAT'S BEEN NOT BEING PAID OUT, BEING HELD SOMEWHERE? CAN I ASK THAT? YOU CAN ASK THAT QUESTION AND WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR LEVEL BEST.

WE HAVE THIS PART OF THE SITUATION WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE.

KEVIN, IS THAT MISTER JOHNSON EXCUSE ME, IS THAT STAFF ARE NOW SEEING THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS ARE WE GET A CHECK FOR 1.5 MILLION AND WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANY OUTSTANDING CLAIMS THAT CONTRACT OR ANYONE ELSE STILL HAD.

SO FOR STAFF, THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, OH, SO MONEY WE MAY HAVE BEEN HOLDING HERE OR HERE FOR PAYMENTS.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE THOSE PAYMENTS.

SO THEY'RE FIGURING OUT RIGHT NOW WHAT IS REALLY THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IN THE ACCOUNT GOING TO BE ASSUMING OR IF IN THE EVENT THIS AGREEMENT IS AGREED UPON? I DON'T WANT TO PUT STAFF ON THE SPOT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME.

MR.. JUSTIN MRS KOPET, WE'VE WE'VE REALLY BEEN COMPLETELY IN THE DARK.

I MEAN, WE'VE IT'S EVEN HARD TO EVEN THINK THIS QUICK AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS.

THE, THE HUNDRED DOLLAR ASSESSMENT PER ACRE THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS SYSTEM THAT WE APPROVED.

HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THAT? I MEAN ARE WILL SOME OF THIS MONEY BE SAVED FOR FUTURE REPAIRS, WHICH I BELIEVE ARE GOING TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE ON A SYSTEM DESIGNED LIKE THIS? AND AND JUST WE'RE NOT HEARING DOLLAR AND CENTS WISE WHERE WE'RE ENDING UP.

ARE WE ARE WE GOING TO BE BETTER OFF OR WORSE OFF? ARE WE FARTHER IN THE HOLE OR IS IT THE DITCH AUTHORITY THAT'S GOING TO I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THEY'LL HAVE THAT MONEY.

CAN THEY HOLD ON TO THAT FOREVER? AND THEN WHEN WE HAVE REPAIRS 20 YEARS FROM NOW, WILL IT BE THERE OR WHAT'S.

MR. JOHNSON MANY QUESTIONS, I THINK.

I KNOW. LET'S LET MISS KOPET I'LL JUST TELL YOU THIS.

I WAS NOT RETAINED FOR THE PURPOSE OF LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE LONG TERM.

[00:40:01]

OKAY. THAT'S WHAT THIS REPRESENTS.

AND I APOLOGIZE IF I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS FOR YOU, BUT WHAT I'M TELLING IS THAT I RECOMMEND THAT THIS SETTLEMENT BE TAKEN BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST POT I CAN GET FOR YOU.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR QUESTION.

AND I'M GOING TO DIRECT I'M GOING TO ASK JACKIE KOPET JUST TO GIVE HER REMEMBER, SHE'S JUST RECEIVING THIS INFORMATION AND WE HAVEN'T ACTED YET.

OKAY. WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN? YEAH. SO ALONG WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID ALREADY, THE WE DID BOND, BUT WE HAVE PAID OUT A LOT OF EXPENSES ALREADY.

SOME PLANNED, SOME NOT PLANNED ALONG THE WAY.

AND WE'VE ALREADY ASSESSED THE LANDOWNERS AS WELL.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS IN THIS.

AND SO WE HAVE ASSESSMENTS OUT THERE.

WE HAVE BOND PAYMENTS TO COME IN.

WE HAVE ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS NOW WE HAVE THIS MONEY.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF SHAKING OUT TO DO.

SO THIS IS BASICALLY KIND OF STEP ONE IN THIS PROCESS.

SO NOW THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE DETERMINING HOW THAT ALL WORKS.

BUT REMEMBER, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT MONEY COMING TO THE COUNTY FOR THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY, IT REALLY ISN'T THE COUNTY AND IT IS THE COUNTY AND THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY.

BUT COUNTY DITCH 60 TO A HAS THEIR OWN LITTLE CHECKBOOK.

AND SO THAT MONEY WILL GO INTO THAT CHECKBOOK TO PAY FOR EXPENSES THAT NEED TO BE REPAIRED OR WHATEVER THERE MAY BE. SO WE'LL HAVE TO SHAKE ALL THAT OUT.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS AND A LOT TO THINK ABOUT AFTER TODAY.

BUT I AGREE THIS IS A GOOD SETTLEMENT.

SO. WELL, AND I KNOW IT WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

THEY'VE BEEN PILING UP IN HERE FOR HOW MANY YEARS NOW WHERE I CAN'T ASK ANY AND NOBODY CAN TELL ME ANYTHING.

WAS ISG AT ALL ANY PART OF THIS SETTLEMENT? I MEAN, WERE THEY LIABLE IN ANY OF THIS, ANY OF THAT MONEY COME FROM THEM? I DON'T WANT TO SAY ANYONE WAS LIABLE.

AND LIKE ANY SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, NO MATTER.

HOW MUCH MONEY YOU PAY.

YOU SAY, I'M NOT LIABLE.

IT WASN'T MY FAULT. BUT HERE'S MONEY ANYHOW.

SO EVERYBODY SAID, I'M NOT LIABLE.

AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT EVERYBODY WHO SIGNED THE SETTLEMENT IS PAYING SOMETHING.

THE EXACT AMOUNTS, I HAVE NO IDEA.

BUT EVERYBODY'S PAYING SOMETHING.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

YOUR QUESTIONS ARE VERY GOOD.

YES, THEY ARE. THEY'RE VERY GOOD.

I DON'T MEAN TO PUT YOU OFF THE VERY GOOD TODAY.

MY RECOMMENDATION IS BEING THIS IS THE MOST MONEY I THINK WE CAN GET INTO THAT ACCOUNT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER.

I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER.

I KNOW THERE'S FUTURE REPAIRS.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE AND WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE.

THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME IMMEDIATE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE FIXED FROM THAT.

THAT MONEY.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT BECAUSE, AGAIN, STAFF DIDN'T KNOW EITHER.

REMEMBER, WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON THIS YET.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND AND WE'RE INVITING LANDOWNER TESTIMONY TO OUR QUESTIONS TO THE BOARD OR THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY.

IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? QUESTIONS BY FOLKS, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

HERE. BLAKE WEBSTER 36612 425TH.

OKAY. SIMPLE, SIMPLE CLARIFICATION.

THIS LITIGATION WILL BE DONE.

WE'LL GET THAT 1.4 MILLION.

IS THAT RIGHT? FIVE.

OKAY. AND SO THAT JUST THAT GOES INTO OUR LITTLE CHECKBOOK AND THEN ANY REPAIRS FROM THAT COMES OUT OF THAT.

SO WE WON'T BE ASSESSED, QUOTE, FOR ANOTHER 4 OR 5 YEARS AT LEAST.

ALL RIGHT. SO THAT THAT THAT'S IT.

SO THE HUNTINGTON'S DONE IS IS DONE.

ALL THOSE THINGS, ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE PUTTING MONEY INTO THIS LITTLE POT.

THAT'S THE IMPLICATION OF IT.

YEAH. I THINK WE WOULD SAY EXACTLY WHAT MR. JUSTIN SAID ABOUT THE PAYMENTS INTO THE THE AMOUNT WE KNOW IS 1.5 MILLION.

OKAY. AND SO THEN EVERYONE ELSE SAW THE PICTURE.

IT'S DOWN JUST TO 62 A AND OUR LITTLE CHECKBOOK IS WHERE THAT MONEY GETS PUT IF IT'S AGREED TO.

IS THAT IS THAT CORRECT.

SIMPLY, IF THE QUESTION IS WHO GETS TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH THAT MONEY? NO, I'M NOT. I JUST.

I JUST THIS THIS IS NONE OF THESE NONE OF THESE OTHER PARTIES HAVE ANY SAY IN HOW THAT MONEY GETS SPENT.

[00:45:01]

OKAY. SIMPLY PUT, WE'RE GETTING 1.5 MILLION INTO OUR LITTLE CHECKBOOK FOR REPAIRS TO 60 TO A AND ALL.

EVERYTHING ELSE.

EVERYBODY. ALL HORSES ARE THROUGH THE FISH.

THE. THIS IS THE FINISH LINE.

THERE'S GOING TO BE SO MUCH MONEY IN OUR.

OUR WATERSHED.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. MR. WEBSTER, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM LANDOWNERS HERE ON THE QUESTION THAT IS BEFORE THE BOARD.

WE WELCOME YOUR INPUT, YOUR IDEAS, YOUR PATIENCE.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS? ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ADD BEFORE WE CALL THE QUESTION? HEARING? NONE.

COULD YOU PLEASE REPEAT THE MOTION IN FRONT OF THE BOARD? MOVING THAT THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY NICOLLET COUNTY IN ITS CAPACITY AS THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY FOR 60 TO A APPROVE THE MEDIATED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT OF JULY 30TH, 2023, IN WHICH THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY WILL RECEIVE A PAYMENT OF $1.5 MILLION AND A RELEASE OF ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY.

THAT'S THE MOTION. AND WE DO HAVE A SECOND.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM STAFF? ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM LANDOWNERS? HEARING? NONE. WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE MOTION? COMMISSIONER. MORROW. YES.

COMMISSIONER. DRANTTEL.

YES. COMMISSIONER.

ZINS. YES.

COMMISSIONER DEAN.

YES. COMMISSIONER KOLARS.

YES. IT CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT PORTION OF OUR MEETING IS CLOSED TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL LITIGATION INVOLVING COUNTY DITCH 86 A PURSUANT TO MINNESOTA STATUTE NUMBER 13D 0.05 SUBDIVISION THREE B.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE TODAY.

WE ARE IN CLOSED SESSION.

MOTION FOR CLOSED SESSION, PLEASE.

SO MOVED. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND DEAN AND DRANTTEL ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE, IT CARRIES.

THANK YOU. THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THE MEETING TO ANNOUNCE THEIR ATTENDANCE, I WILL BEGIN.

JACK KOLARS COUNTY BOARD CHAIR.

MANDY. MANDY LANGHAMMER COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

JACKIE KOPET PROPERTY AND PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR.

NATE HENRY COUNTY DIRECTOR.

SETH GREENWOOD COUNTY ENGINEER AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.

ROGER JOHNSTON. ATTORNEY RETAINED BY THE COUNTY FOR ADVICE ON THIS MATTER.

AND I WOULD ALSO NOTE THAT CHRIS ORDONEZ OF HOUSTON ENGINEERING WAS PRESENT FOR A PORTION OF THE CLOSED MEETING.

THANK YOU. JAMES DUNN CHIEF DEPUTY NICOLLET COUNTY ATTORNEY.

OH, SORRY, COMMISSIONER.

DISTRICT FIVE. MARK DEAN COMMISSIONER DISTRICT THREE.

MARIE REYNOLDS COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT ONE.

AND I'LL MAKE A NOTE THAT THE COMMISSIONER MORROW WAS HERE FOR HALF THE MEETING, BUT HAD TO HAD TO LEAVE.

CHAIR WOULD INVITE A MOTION CONCERNING OUR DISCUSSION.

I WOULD MOVE THAT WE MOVE TO THE PUBLIC SERVICES UPDATE.

MORNING, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

UM, OUR OFFICE HAS RECEIVED THE FINAL ACCEPTANCE REPORT FROM ISG ENGINEERING ON JULY 25TH, 2023.

I WOULD LIKE TO SET THE FINAL HEARING DATE FOR SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023, AT 10 A.M..

AT THIS HEARING, WE WILL INCLUDE THE FINAL ACCEPTANCE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, AS WELL AS APPROVING THE TERMS AND LEVY TO LANDOWNERS.

SO I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE SETTING THE DATE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR COUNTY DITCH 77 LATERAL TO ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023 AT 10 A.M..

YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND DISCUSSION.

HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED. IT CARRIES.

THANK YOU, JACK. THANK YOU.

MOVE TO ADJOURN. WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY.

IS THERE A SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND.

DISCUSSION. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COMMISSIONER DEANE.

YES, COMMISSIONER DRANTTEL? YES. COMMISSIONER ZENS COMMISSIONER KOLARS.

YES, WE ARE ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

A GOOD DAY TO YOU. THANKS VERY.

[00:50:02]

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. UM, OUR OFFICE HAS RECEIVED THE FINAL ACCEPTANCE REPORT FROM ISG ENGINEERING ON JULY 25TH, 2023.

I WOULD LIKE TO SET THE FINAL HEARING DATE FOR SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023 AT 10 A.M..

AT THIS HEARING, WE WILL INCLUDE THE FINAL ACCEPTANCE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, AS WELL AS APPROVING THE TERMS AND LEVY TO LANDOWNERS.

SO I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE SETTING THE DATE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR COUNTY DITCH 77 LATERAL TO ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023 AT 10 A.M..

YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND DISCUSSION.

HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. WAS OPPOSED.

IT CARRIES. THANK YOU, JACK.

THANK YOU. MOVE TO ADJOURN.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY.

IS THERE A SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND DISCUSSION.

PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COMMISSIONER.

DAN? YES.

COMMISSIONER DRANTTEL? YES, COMMISSIONER ZENS COMMISSIONER KOLARS.

YES, WE ARE ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.