[00:00:05] >> GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER 23RD TO 2025 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING. [Call Board of Commissioners Meeting to Order] AS USUAL, WE WILL START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> 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. >>THANK YOU AND WELCOME. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE ALWAYS PRESENT SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES. JACK, THAT WOULD BE YOU [LAUGHTER]. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. [Approval of Agenda] MANDY, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD OR SUBTRACT? >> THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE AGENDA, MADAM CHAIR. >> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED? >> SO MOVED. >> SECONDED. FURTHER DISCUSSION. HEARING AND SEEING. NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> AYE. >> NEXT IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. [Approval of Consent Agenda] WOULD ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD LIKE TO PULL ANYTHING OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> MADAM CHAIR, I WOULDN'T WANT TO PULL IT OFF, BUT JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT. IF YOU COULD DIAL THAT BACK AGAIN, PLEASE. ON THE CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN TASK FORCE. IS OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY INVOLVED IN THAT? >> WE WOULD BE INVOLVED IF THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION THAT WOULD LEAD TO CONSIDERATION FOR CHARGES OR TO ASSIST WITH ANY INVESTIGATION. THIS IS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE PART OF THAT GROUP SPECIFICALLY AND HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR RESOURCES. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. DAVE, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE ANY MORE TO ADD TO THAT, WOULD YOU? >> WELL, IT'S AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA SO THAT IN CERTAIN CASES WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST WAS NEEDED MORE. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? MOVED. >> SECONDED. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING AND SEEING. NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS PUBLIC APPEARANCES. WE SEE NO PUBLIC. ADMINISTRATION FIRST PRESENTATION. [Administration] MANDY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THE INTRODUCTIONS? >> MY SCREEN IS CHANGING. >> YOU LOST. SHE'LL TURN ON THE MICROPHONE AND HE'LL INTRODUCE HIMSELF. THIS IS OUR ANNUAL PRESENTATION ABOUT THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN. IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR WHAT GOD IS PLANNING TO DO AS WELL AS CONGREGATION. THANK YOU. >> WELL THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. WE DO APPRECIATE BEING HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS GREG OLSEN. I'M THE DISTRICT ENGINEER, AND WITH ME TODAY IS SAM PARKER. HE'S OUR PLANNING DIRECTOR. DORIS DEGENSTEIN IS OUR PUBLIC AFFAIRS COORDINATOR. WILLIE RABENBERG IS OUR STATED ENGINEER. FIRST, I WANT TO, MAKE SURE THAT I GIVE A TREMENDOUS THANK YOU TO SETH AND HIS STAFF FOR THE COOPERATION AND WORKING TOGETHER. IN THIS LAST YEAR, WE'VE HAD, WITH OUR WORK ON 22 AND OUR WORK ON, I GUESS WE CALL IT 22, BIG AND SMALL. FOR ALL THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE AREA AND WORKING TOGETHER, WE TRULY APPRECIATE THAT. TODAY, AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST, WE LIKE TO COVER, WITH YOU WHERE WE'RE AT IN TERMS OF THE STATE STATEWIDE UPDATES, WHERE WE ARE AT DISTRICT SEVEN. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, WHAT'S COMING INTO OUR RADAR WHEN WE'RE LOOKING OUT IN THAT 10 YEAR HORIZON, AND THEN SPECIFICALLY NICOLLET COUNTY AND ADJACENT COUNTIES FOR YOUR AWARENESS. WE CAN GIVE YOU SOME UPDATES ON THAT WORK. ALSO, AS, WE'VE SHOWN IN THE PAST, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE DOLLARS THAT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA RECEIVES, THE, OVER THAT 20 YEAR TIME HORIZON, IT DOES. IT'S $36.7 BILLION. HOWEVER, IT'S STILL YOURSELVES. IT WE ALL WISH THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AHEAD AT WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU AND THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE TO DO. BUT WHAT THE WORK, THE MONIES THAT WE DO RECEIVE, WE TRY TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN, WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, TAKING CARE OF THOSE ROADS AND USING THOSE FUNDS WISELY. THEY'LL SEE IN THERE THAT STILL A MAJORITY OF THOSE FUNDS ARE PAVEMENT CONDITION. AT 36%. BRIDGE AT 16% AND ROADSIDE INFRASTRUCTURE AT 7.6%. [00:05:01] WE'RE COMING OUT OF THE IIJA ERA HERE. THIS NEXT YEAR, WE'LL BE GOING INTO A NEW FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION BILL. THAT'S ALWAYS AN INTERESTING TIME TO TRANSITION FROM WHERE WE'RE AT, TO BE RECALLED IN IIJA. THERE WAS A LOT OF INDIVIDUAL, BUCKETS OF MONEY THAT YOU WOULD APPLY FOR IN TERMS OF GRANTS. IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF IT REVERTS BACK TO MORE FORMULA FUNDS, OR IF THERE WILL BE, PROJECTS OF EMPHASIS, THAT THE, FEDERAL PARTNERS WOULD LIKE TO SEE US ACCOMPLISH. SO IT'LL BE, IT'LL BE A TRANSITIONAL YEAR FOR US ALL TO SEE WHAT THE NEXT BILL WILL ENTAIL. JUST AS A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE DISTRICT SEVEN SYSTEM. 3200 LANE MILES, 475 BRIDGES, 9700 CULVERTS AND 290,000 POPULATION. WHAT THAT REALLY EQUATES TO FOR US IS ABOUT BETWEEN, NINE AND 10% OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN BETWEEN ROADS AND BRIDGES AND THEN 5% IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL, OUR 13 COUNTY AREA OF THE POPULATION REPRESENTS 5% OF THE STATE AS A WHOLE. THE FORMULA THAT IS, WE WENT TO A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE POPULATION WAS A LARGER, PORTION OF THAT FORMULA. WE'RE STILL WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH THAT. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR FUNDING? BUT THAT WAS A MAJOR SHIFT FOR US. IT ACTUALLY SAW A LITTLE BIT OF A DECLINE. WE WENT FROM A PERFORMANCE BASED SYSTEM, THE CONDITION OF THE PAVEMENTS TO MORE OF, A PERFORMANCE AND A POPULATION. THE POPULATION IS ALSO INTENDED TO OFFSET, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE TRAVEL LING PUBLIC GOING. WITH THAT BEING SAID, HERE FROM 26 TO 35, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE THAT'S WHAT OUR FUNDING TARGETS ARE IN THE 26 TO 29 AREAS, OUR CURRENT STIP AND THE BLUE BARS, THAT'S DISTRICT FORMULA FUNDS. THAT'S KIND OF A WHERE WE CAME FROM. IN TERMS OF OUR, OUR FUNDING ALLOCATION. YOU CAN SEE OVER TIME HERE WE ARE ANTICIPATING AN INCREASE. HOWEVER, I'M GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THE NOVEMBER FORECAST HAS TO SAY. WE DID SEE A SLIGHT REDUCTION, AND THE FEBRUARY FORECAST LAST YEAR WHERE WE'RE DOWN LIKE $49 MILLION, WHICH IN IT JUST IS AN INDICATOR. WHERE ARE WE AT? WHERE ARE WE GOING? WHAT WILL WE SEE HERE IN NOVEMBER? WILL IT GO UP? WILL IT STAY THE SAME. WILL IT CONTINUE TO GO DOWN? THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO REACT TO. WE ALL WILL BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE ALL RECEIVE OUR OUR OUR STATEWIDE FUNDING, THE SOURCE OF THAT FUNDING. WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHERE THAT COMES. THE GREEN, ON THIS CHART IS SOME OF THAT MONEYS THAT WE, PUT IN AN APPLICATION FOR THEIR GRANT DOLLARS. THE BIGGER ONES IS, WORTHINGTON $15 MILLION IN WORTHINGTON. IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THOSE MONIES WILL BE RETRACTED FROM THAT PROJECT. THAT MIGHT MAKE A THAT WILL IF THAT HAPPENS, IT'S GOING TO CAUSE US TO MAKE SOME CHANGES IN THE, IN THE STIP YEARS, WHICH WE TRY NOT TO DO, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO REACT TO THAT IF THAT BECOMES THE SITUATION. TYPICALLY IN THE PAST, YOUR FORMULAS AND YOUR DOLLARS THAT WERE COMING AT YOU OR RELATIVELY, THEY DIDN'T CHANGE MUCH. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND LOOKING FORWARD. WE'LL JUST HAVE TO REACT AND RESPOND TO THE DOLLARS AND, AND EITHER THE DOLLARS COMING IN OR HOW IT'S GOING TO BE DISTRIBUTED OFF INTO THE FUTURE. SOME OF THOSE, POTS OF MONIES THAT WE STILL, IN THAT GREEN, AREA THERE, WE DID RECEIVE $24 MILLION FOR, I-90. BUT THAT IS A STATEWIDE POT. THERE'LL BE FEDERAL POTS AND THERE'S STATEWIDE POTS, WHICH YOU ALL MANAGE YOURSELVES. BUT THAT'S WHAT GETS HARDER TO ARTICULATE TO THE PUBLIC IN TERMS OF HOW YOU'RE MANAGING THESE DOLLARS. WE DID RECEIVE AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THOSE, ROUNDABOUTS AT 99 AND 13, 111 AND FORT ROAD AND THEN 15 AND FORT ROAD OVER, TO THE WEST. THOSE PROJECTS ARE ALL COMING ALONG NICELY. LET'S SEE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE WORK WE'RE DOING, [00:10:01] WE'RE SEEING THE PROJECTS COME IN. SAM HERE WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. WHAT WE'RE SEEING COMING IN ON THAT 10 YEAR HORIZON. WE START TO SHAPE THE, THE SCOPE OF THOSE PROJECTS AND THEN WHAT WE HAVE FOR DELIVERY. WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO SAM. ALL RIGHT. >> I WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH SOME OF THE SPECIFIC PROJECTS TODAY AND SOME UPDATES AS TO WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON IN THE DISTRICT. OBVIOUSLY, WE WE PLUG THOSE FUNDING TARGETS. GREG, WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT IN AND AND DEVELOP OUR, FOUR YEAR PROGRAM, THE STATE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT, UM, PROGRAM AND THEN. >> THE CAPITAL HIGHWAY INVESTMENT PLAN. THAT'S THE LAST SIX YEARS OF A TEN YEAR PLAN STARTING OFF WITH CONSTRUCTION. >> OBVIOUSLY WE'RE SITTING HERE IN MID SEPTEMBER, MOST OF THIS IS GOING TO BE PRETTY OLD NEWS TO YOU ALL. BUT IN YOUR FOLDERS THERE ARE THREE MAPS AND ONE ON THE SCREEN IS GOING TO BE THE SAME. THERE'S TWO COLORS ON THIS MAP. ORANGE IS GOING TO BE THE CAPITAL PROJECTS OR PLACES WHERE WE'RE PUTTING DOWN, NEW RESURFACED PAVEMENTS. THEN THE YELLOW IS OUR SEALCOAT PROGRAM THAT WE WERE GETTING TO THIS YEAR. OBVIOUSLY, WE GOT QUITE A BIT OF WORK GOING ON IN THE NICOLLET COUNTY AREA THIS SUMMER. HIGHWAY 22 TO THE SOUTH, WE HAVE HIGHWAY 22 FROM COUNTY ROAD 20 OVER TO 111, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT, UM, HERE WITH AN UPDATE AND SOME [INAUDIBLE] WORK ON 14 AND 99. THERE'S A DOT OVER BY LAFAYETTE.THAT IS A LIVING SNOW FENCE PROJECT. WE HAVE SOME HIGH PRIORITY AREAS WHERE WE KNOW WE HAVE BLOWING SNOW ISSUES THAT CAUSES BLOW ICE, BLOWING SNOW GETS ON THE ROAD AND CAUSES THAT ICE IN THE WINTER THOSE WEEKS FOLLOWING THE SNOW EVENTS. WE WORK WITH WILLING LANDOWNERS IN THESE HIGH PRIORITY AREAS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO DELIVER A PROJECT OVER BY LAFAYETTE. A CURVE ON HIGHWAY 15, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO GET THIS, ESTABLISHED. IT'S BEEN PLANTED, BUT STILL WORKING ON IT, BUT HOPEFULLY IMPROVE SAFETY ON THAT HIGHWAY DURING THOSE, SNOW AND ICE CONDITIONS, AS WELL AS REDUCE SOME OF OUR MAINTENANCE LOAD IN THE AREA. SPECIFIC TO HIGHWAY 22 WEST OF SAINT PETER. WE'RE REPLACING SIX MAINLINE CULVERTS WITH THIS PROJECT. DOING SOME OTHER CULVERT LINING WORK, THROUGH HERE AND AT ROGERS CREEK ALSO, DOING SOME ADDITIONAL RIPRAP. WE'RE WORK. IS THAT THE WORD? WE'RE. WE BEGAN MAINLINE PAVING LAST WEEK, AND THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THIS WRAPPED UP, BY OCTOBER 10TH. THE UIHLEIN BROTHERS. IS THE CONTRACT, THE PRIME ON THIS ONE? IT'S ABOUT A $4 MILLION PROJECT. TO THE SOUTH, OBVIOUSLY NOT IN NICOLLET COUNTY, BUT RELEVANT TO MANY OF YOU. UH, IS THIS HIGHWAY 22 PROJECT FROM MANKATO TO SAINT PETER? IT'S BEING BUILT IN BASICALLY THREE SORT OF SECTIONS. WE'RE WORKING ON THE SOUTH END, THIS AND THE NORTH END. WE WILL OPEN THE ROAD HOPEFULLY, EARLY DECEMBER AND THEN COME BACK IN APRIL, CLOSE THE ROAD, TAKE CARE OF THAT MIDDLE PORTION ON THE SCREEN HERE IS THAT TOWARDS THE SOUTH END? THIS IS THE SEWER BLUE EARTH COUNTY LINE. COUNTY ROAD TWO WITH THE REALIGNMENT. THIS IS AN AERIAL FROM AUGUST 26TH. WE DO DRONE FLIGHTS, THESE CORRIDORS MONTHLY, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE THE SEPTEMBER ONES IN YET. BUT YOU CAN SEE, MOST OF THE GRADING WORK'S BEEN DONE, AND THEY INTEND TO GET TO PAVING HERE IN IN OCTOBER. COSER TO KASOTA. HERE'S, I FORGET THE NAME OF THE STREET OFF TOP. MY HEAD. PEARL STREET, WITH WINERY OVER TO THE RIGHT. YOU CAN SEE THE CULVERT WAS PLACED LAST MONTH, AND SOME OF THAT GRADING WORK WAS UNDERWAY. THIS IS A PEDESTRIAN CULVERT FOR THE FUTURE MINNESOTA STATE MINNESOTA RIVER STATE TRAIL THAT WILL GO THROUGH THE AREA. TO THE NORTH YOU CAN SEE AND WE'LL HAVE IT ON THE NEXT SLIDE TO SOME OF THAT CONCRETE MEDIAN WORK, BEING INSTALLED. SLIGHTLY TO THE NORTH IS THE COUNTY ROAD 21 ROUNDABOUT, WHICH WILL BE A GREAT SAFETY IMPROVEMENT ON THIS CORRIDOR. YOU SEE THAT CONCRETE WORK HAS BEEN DONE. AUGUST 26TH, THAT FIRST LIFT OF BITUMINOUS WAS BEING INSTALLED IN THERE. THIS IS A $37 MILLION PROJECT THAT IS SPANNING THREE FISCAL YEARS JUST TO THE NORTH, STILL NOT IN NICOLLET COUNTY, BUT TO THE NORTH OF HIGHWAY 93 GRADE RAISE. THIS IS ABOUT A $30 MILLION PROJECT, THAT WE ANTICIPATE HAVING DONE AT THE END OF NEXT CONSTRUCTION SEASON. THE DIRT'S BEEN BEEN PLACED. [00:15:01] THE RUSH RIVER BRIDGE HAS BEEN PAVED, THE DECKS READY TO GO. STILL WORKING ON THE OVERFLOW BRIDGE AND BEGINNING WORK TOWARDS THE HENDERSON SIDE. LEVEE AND AND SOME OF THAT, ROAD CONNECTION UP THERE AS WELL. >> THAT'S A RUNDOWN OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS HAPPENING THIS SUMMER. ANY QUESTIONS? >> JACK. >> MADAM CHAIR, THE RISE IN THAT HENDERSON IS THAT 8, 10, 12 FEET? I CAN'T REMEMBER. >> IT'S AT LEAST AN EIGHT FOOT GRADE RAISE. >> THAT'LL KEEP THE FLOOD WATERS AWAY, I WOULD HOPE. >> NEVER SAY NEVER. [LAUGHTER] BUT IT'S ONE FOOT ABOVE THE LAST RECORDED HIGH WATER MARK. THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE ABOUT OUR FOOT OF FREE-BOARD THERE. >> THANK YOU. >> TRANSITIONING TO OUR FUTURE PROJECTS IN YOUR PACKET, THERE ARE TWO MAPS. ONE IS THE STIP PROGRAM MAP AND THE OTHER IS THE CHIP WITH THE LAST SIX YEARS. ON THE SCREEN, IT'S A SIMPLIFIED VERSION OF THAT, WITH JUST THE BLUE PROJECTS BEING THE PROGRAMMED AND THE GREEN BEING THOSE PLANNED PROJECTS. THIS TIES BACK TO WHAT GREG WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH FUNDING. WE IDENTIFY PROJECTS WE BELIEVE WILL FIT THOSE FUNDING TARGETS. OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY BEYOND THOSE FIRST FOUR YEARS. LOCAL AGENCIES, THE STIP IS REALLY OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO AFFORD IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, AND AND SO WE DO DIFFERENTIATE THOSE PROJECTS. THE BIG ONE COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM IS THE FORT ROAD ROUNDABOUTS. WE HAVE THE, THE ROUNDABOUT INSTALLATION IN CLOSTER ON FORT ROAD [INAUDIBLE], AS WELL [INAUDIBLE] AND 111. HERE'S THE LAYOUTS FOR THOSE PROJECTS. WE'RE GOING TO TURN THOSE IN IN DECEMBER, THEY'RE TO BE LET IN MARCH. THE PLAN IS TO HAVE THE SAME PRIME ON BOTH OF THESE AND HAVE ONE COMPLETED BEFORE GOING TO THE OTHER. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ON THE CLOSTER ONE FIRST SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE'RE OUT OF THE ELEVATOR'S WAY COME LATE SUMMER AND FALL NEXT YEAR. WE ALSO HAVE A PROGRAM PROJECT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF ST. PETER. THIS PROJECT'S BEEN IN DEVELOPMENT FOR SOME TIME. WE DO HAVE A WEBSITE FOR THE FORT ROAD ROUNDABOUTS AS AS WELL AS THIS. BUT HERE'S A CLIP OF WHAT WE ARE THINKING TO DATE. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY ON THIS ONE, AND REALLY, AS WE RECONSTRUCT THIS, THE CITY INTENDS TO REPLACE UNDERGROUND UTILITIES AS WELL TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE IT DOES IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN WITH THE MEDIANS. SOME MORE RIGHT IN RIGHT OUTS, CONCENTRATE THOSE LEFT TURNING MOVEMENTS TO MAKE THE ROAD SAFER. THE LAST THING, IF WE WERE TO GO BACK, I DIDN'T MENTION IT, WE DID A CORRIDOR STUDY IN SAINT PETER FOR HIGHWAY 22 A FEW YEARS AGO. REALLY LOOKING AT CORRIDOR FROM 169 UP TO COUNTY ROAD 20 BECAUSE ORIGINALLY WE HAD THIS PAVEMENT PROJECT FROM 111 ALL THE WAY TO 169, AND WE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY THAT SAID, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, MAKE SURE THAT THIS ROAD IS MEETING THE NEEDS FOR FOR OUR FUTURE, AS WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT TO THE NORTH SINCE THAT ROAD WAS INITIALLY CONSTRUCTED. WE DO HAVE A SAINT PETER PROJECT WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH ROUNDABOUTS IN THE 2030S. BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A FEW FUNDING ITEMS TOO. IT'S IN THE EARLY 2030S NOW. OTHER NICOLLET COUNTY ITEMS MENTIONED. LAFAYETTE SNOW FENCE. WE HAD A SOME PAVEMENT WORK WE'RE GOING TO DO ON THE CONCRETE OVER NICOLLET. THIS THIS SUMMER YET. IT'S DONE? ALL RIGHT. [LAUGHTER]. I HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE MEAT MARKET IN A WHILE, [LAUGHTER] SO THAT'S GREAT. CHECK THAT BOX. HIGHWAY 99 TRAIL IN SAINT PETER FROM 169 NICOLLET AVENUE. THE CITY APPLIED TO THE LOCAL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH IS MEAN.FUNDS THAT LOCALS CAN TAP INTO, AND SO THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT TRAIL, I BELIEVE. [NOISE] IT'S GOING WELL, FOR CONSTRUCTION NEXT YEAR. I DON'T KNOW IF WILLIE HAS ANYTHING TO ADD. >> [INAUDIBLE]. [00:20:13] >> THEN LASTLY WE'VE WORKED THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS WITH THE MPO DOWN IN THE MANKATO AREA, AND WE DO INTEND TO STUDY HIGHWAY 14 FROM LOOKOUT DRIVE TO [INAUDIBLE] 12 IN BLUE EARTH COUNTY, NEXT TO THE WALMART DISTRIBUTION CENTER. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF BRIDGE REPLACEMENTS ON THAT CORRIDOR THAT WE NEED TO DO IN THE MID 2030S. THIS THIS CORRIDOR STUDY IS REALLY TO SIT DOWN AND FIGURE OUT HOW THIS, THIS HIGHWAY SHOULD LOOK FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. A BIG PART OF THAT'S GOING TO BE THE 169 INTERCHANGE. HOW IS THAT FUNCTIONING? IS THERE SOME OPTIONS? ARE THERE SOME OPTIONS TO IMPROVE IT THAT ARE REALISTIC? THAT TIE IN WITH THE MINNESOTA RIVER BRIDGE, WHICH ALSO NEEDS SOME WORK IN THE 2030S. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT STUDY THAT WILL BE UNDERWAY PROBABLY IN THE FIRST HALF OF NEXT YEAR, PROBABLY A TWO YEAR STUDY. WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS WITH WITH SOME THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON IN THE AREA? >> JACK. >> AS YOU KNOW, MADAM CHAIR, IT'S MY GOOD FORTUNE TO SERVE ON THE ATP WITH THESE FINE PEOPLE FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE HERE, I BELIEVE WITH NICOLLET COUNTY IN THE STATE IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR COUNTY. IT'S PROVIDED THE HIGHWAY 14 COMPLETION, WHICH WAS AN ENORMOUS PROJECT. NICOLLET COUNTY CONTRIBUTED $3 MILLION TO THE INTERSECTION BY CORTLAND, AND SO SO WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH VERY MANY PROJECTS, VARIOUS PROJECTS, AND I APPRECIATE THAT PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE STATE. CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT MESS WITH US. I DO HAVE A QUESTION, THOUGH, AND MAYBE GREG, YOU CAN ANSWER. I KNOW MATHIOWETZ CONSTRUCTION AND OTHER CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES HAVE GROWN IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, WITH SOUTHERN MINNESOTA CONSTRUCTION GOING THIS WAY AND OTHERS NOT IN THE BUSINESS ANYMORE. WHAT WILL THE AVAILABILITY OF CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES BE? HOW DO YOU SEE THEIR FUTURE AS WE MOVE INTO THIS NEW PLANNING STAGE, THIS NEW GENERATION? >> WE HAD A FEW CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS BETWEEN OURSELVES AND OUR COUNTY ENGINEER PARTNERS, FOR US TO FIND PEOPLE THAT LIKE TO DO THE WORK THAT WE DO. ON THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE, YOU'RE TYPICALLY WORKING 12 PLUS HOURS A DAY, FIVE PLUS DAYS A WEEK, AND IT'S GETTING MORE CHALLENGING TO FIND PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THOSE PROJECTS FOR BOTH THE CONTRACTORS AND THEMSELVES. IT'S NOT JUST THE FUNDING SIDE OF THE HOUSE OF DOLLARS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND THEIR GROWTH, IT'S ALSO ON THE ON THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AVAILABLE. THE SAME FOR OURSELVES. WE DO A LOT OF WORK WITH SCC AND MSU, AND ACTUALLY ANYWHERE FROM PRESCHOOL ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL CAREER FAIR, TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE INTERESTED IN WHAT WE DO FOR BOTH OURSELVES AND FOR OUR LOCAL PARTNERS. TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THINKING ABOUT CONSTRUCTION AS AN OPTION. THE SANDBOXES AT HOME ARE GONE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE. BUT WE TRY TO RELATE TO THEM, AND WHEN THEY LIKE TO PLAY WITH LEGOS AND WE SHOW UP WITH A VIRTUAL SANDBOX NOW, AND KIDS WILL PLAY WITH THAT FOR HOURS. IT'S TRYING TO KEEP THAT IN FRONT OF THEM. IT'S A COMBINATION OF THE TWO. THE DOLLARS THAT COULD BE AVAILABLE AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE. RIGHT NOW, I WOULD SAY THE CONTRACTING WORLD IS STRUGGLING MORE WITH HAVING EMPLOYEES THAN THERE ARE WORK THAT'S AVAILABLE [INAUDIBLE]. >> THE REASON I ASK, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES HAVE EVAPORATED. THERE'S NOT AS MANY AS THERE USED TO BE. >> RIGHT. THAT'S MY TAKE ON THAT IS IT'S JUST BEEN MORE AND MORE CHALLENGING TO TRY TO KEEP STAFF, SO PUT THAT IN MIND. BECAUSE WE ALSO SEE WITHIN THE WORK THAT WE DO AND, AND I THINK THE WORK THAT YOU DO, THE COMPANIES ARE COMING FROM FURTHER AWAY. >> THANK YOU. >> I'M TRYING TO MANAGE THAT. MY LAST NOTE TO YOU ALL IS I WAS ALSO GOING TO THANK YOU, JACK, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND HIS ADVOCACY FOR STATEWIDE AND LOCAL FUNDING ON THE ATP. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY YEARS, JACK, [LAUGHTER] BUT WE DO APPRECIATE. >> THANK YOU. >> FOR YOUR TIME, AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO TO THE ATP, [00:25:01] AND NICOLLET COUNTY. THANK YOU. >> NICOLE, YOU HAD A QUESTION? > NO. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION. THE ROUNDABOUTS IN KLOSSNER. ON 111. ARE WE GOING TO SHUT ROADS DOWN WHILE WE CONSTRUCT THOSE OR WHAT'S THE PLAN THERE? >> YEAH. WE'LL HAVE TO DETOUR THOSE ROUTES. I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THE CONVERSATIONS ARE RIGHT NOW, BUT WE CAN WORK WITH SETH, AND I'M SURE SETH MIGHT EVEN BE ABLE TO TELL US WHERE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE. >> WE'RE GETTING QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS OUT THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT SPRING AND FALL AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS. THE DETOURS FOR THE CITY OF ST. PETER, I WOULD IMAGINE ARE PROBABLY UP ON THE WEBSITE NOW. >> YES THEY ARE. >> THAT'S GOING TO BE MASSIVE. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. HEARING AND SEEING NONE. THANK YOU. ALWAYS ENTERTAINING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> CHALLENGES CONTINUE. MANDY. >> GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I HAVE TWO ITEMS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, BEGINNING ON PAGE 16 OF YOUR BOARD PACKET. THE FIRST ONE IS CONSIDERATION OF THE TRANSFORMING TOMORROW TOGETHER 2040 REGIONAL PLAN RESOLUTION. DURING THE SEPTEMBER 16TH BOARD WORKSHOP, DELLA SCHMIDT, GREATER MANKATO GROWTH CEO AND PRESIDENT SHARED AN UPDATE OF THE CURRENT ACTIVITIES GMG IS COORDINATING AND PARTICIPATING IN, INCLUDING THE TRANSFORMING TOMORROW TOGETHER 2040 REGIONAL PLAN. THE INITIATIVE IS A ROBUST AND FORWARD LOOKING REGIONAL COMMUNITY PLANNING PROCESS. IT AIMS TO EXPLORE THE FUTURE STRATEGIC POSITIONING OF THE REGION AND TO CREATE A VISION AND ROADMAP FOR THE FUTURE. THE VISION AND STRATEGIC PILLAR FRAMEWORK WERE DEVELOPED THROUGH THE PROCESS OF STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THE FRAMEWORK HELPS FOCUS THINKING ON THE VISION AND TO ORGANIZE IDEAS AND CRITICAL ACTION AREAS. PARTNERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT THE REGIONAL PLAN THROUGH ACTION, AS WELL AS A LETTER OF SUPPORT OR ADOPTING A RESOLUTION. MADAM CHAIR, I'M REQUESTING THE BOARD CONSIDER THE ATTACHED TRANSFORMING TOMORROW TOGETHER 2040 REGIONAL PLAN RESOLUTION. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ IT IN FOR THE RECORD? >> I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO. >> OKAY. >> YOUR WISHES TO THE BOARD, IT'S QUITE LENGTHY AND PRETTY DIRECT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION? >> SO MOVED. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECONDED. >> DISCUSSION. MADAM CHAIR, I WAS INVOLVED WITH THE PROCESS OF CREATING THIS PLAN. THE MANKATO, NORTH MANKATO BLUE EARTH COUNTIES HAVE LONG DONE REGIONAL PLANNING STARTED WITH APP 2000 IN THE 80S, AND THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY ENVISION 2020 IN THE 2000. THIS IS THE NEXT VERSION OF THAT. AS THE AREA HAS GROWN AND BECOME A REGIONAL CENTER, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE THAT PROGRESS, AND WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE INVOLVEMENT OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE REGIONAL CENTER WITH MANKATO RECEIVING AS A RETAIL HUB FOR ABOUT 100 MILES, SURROUNDING AREA. THIS IS A STEP IN THAT TRYING TO FOCUS SOME ATTENTION ON THAT. GMG IS SERVING AS THE CONVENER AND THE CHEERLEADER, AND THIS IS JUST OUTLINING THAT PLAN AND THEN ALLOWING LOCAL PARTNERS, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TO FIND THEIR PLACE IN THE PLAN AND WHERE THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP US, SO I'M IN FAVOR OF GOING FORWARD WITH THIS. >> THANK YOU. YOU WANT TO TURN YOUR MIC ON? MY QUESTION WAS DOES ANYBODY PARTICIPATE IN THE PLANNING, AND EVIDENTLY YOU DID. YOU DID. OKAY, COOL. FURTHER COMMENTS. QUESTIONS. >> I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT WORKFLOW TIMELINE. MY UNDERSTANDING NOW IS THAT THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO A NUMBER OF OTHER STRATEGIC PLANS THAT HAVE EXISTED IN THE PAST. HOW IS THIS ENTITY BUILDING OFF OF THAT AND THEN EXPANDING FROM IT? BECAUSE DELLA DID A NICE JOB WHEN SHE CAME HERE EXPLAINING THE ABSTRACT VISION OF WHAT THEY'RE HOPING THIS ENTITY IS GOING TO BE. BUT I'M NOT SURE I GOT A REAL SENSE OF WHAT SPECIFICALLY THIS GROUP IS TRYING TO DO THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN, [00:30:04] SAY, LIKE OUR OWN COUNTY STRATEGIC PLAN OR BLUE EARTH COUNTY OR CITY STRATEGIC PLAN. >> SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT AS THEY TALK ABOUT THE EGG INDUSTRY WITHIN OUR REGIONAL AREA, REALLY FOCUSING ON WHAT GREENSEAM CAN PROVIDE TO OUR FARMERS, AS WELL AS OUR PRODUCERS WITHIN THE AREA AND REALLY EXPANDING THEIR OPPORTUNITIES AND CONNECTING WITH MAYBE ENTITIES OUTSIDE OF MINNESOTA AS WELL AS WORLD GLOBALLY. THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SEVERAL OTHER THINGS OF HOW THEY CAN GET THE MESSAGE OUT AND LOOKING AT OUR WORKFORCE. SPECIFICALLY, DELLA SHARED THE EXAMPLE OF THE INNER CITY LEADERSHIP TEAM AND THAT TRIP THAT IS PLANNED FOR EARLY NOVEMBER OF CONNECTING WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES OF SIMILAR SIZE, TYPICALLY LARGER THAN THE MANKATO AREA. BUT HOW DID THEY GROW AND HOW WERE THEY ABLE TO PROSPER AND KEEP THEIR TALENT HUB LOCALLY WITH IT AND LEARNING FROM THOSE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES? >> I WOULD ADD THAT THIS IS A 20 YEAR PLAN. AGAIN, BY CALLING OUT THE PILLARS AND IDENTIFYING THE PERCEIVED NEEDS OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS, IT ALLOWS DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT FOCUS AREAS TO BE ABLE TO FIT INTO THAT PLAN AND THEN COLLABORATE TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. IT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND VISION 2020 BROUGHT THINGS LIKE THE DOWNTOWN ART WALK, WHICH HAS BEEN A GREAT DEAL, CAME UP WITH A LOT OF THE MOMENTUM BEHIND THE BIKE TRAILS AND THAT STUFF FOR BIKE TOURISM THAT HAS INVADED THE AREA AND REDEVELOPMENT OF THE DOWNTOWNS, YOU'VE SEEN THAT. THAT'S ALL PART OF THIS PLAN. AGAIN, TO MANDY'S POINT, OUR BIGGEST COMPETITION IS WORKFORCE. WE HAVE FIVE UNIVERSITIES AND HIGHER EDUCATION ELEMENTS IN THE AREA. BUT HOW DO WE MAINTAIN THOSE STUDENTS THAT ARE COMING? HOW DO WE KEEP THEM IN OUR AREA TO WORK IN OUR NEEDS? ESPECIALLY IN THE EGG INDUSTRY, WHICH INCLUDES MORE THAN JUST THE ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND THE FARMING, BUT ACTUALLY EGG ACCOUNTING, EGG MANUFACTURE, ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE RELATED TO THAT AND THEY FIGURE THAT'S A $900 MILLION A YEAR INDUSTRY IN OUR AREA. IT'S HOW DO WE ATTAIN THAT FOCUS ON THAT AND USE GREENSEAM TO BECOME THE SILICON VALLEY OF THE CENTRAL MIDWEST? >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE SPECIFICS TOO. THANKS. >> FURTHER COMMENTS. HEARING AND SEEING NONE. WHITNEY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER DEHEN? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER HELGET? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER KOLARS? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER ZINS? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER DRANTTEL? >> YES. >> THANK YOU. RESOLUTION PASSES. >> THE NEXT ITEM I HAVE FOR YOU IS FOR THE RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2026 PRELIMINARY TAX LEVY AND SETTING OF THE BUDGET AND LEVY MEETING ON PAGE 19 OF YOUR PACKET. ACCORDING TO MINNESOTA STATUTE 275.065, COUNTIES MUST ADOPT AND CERTIFY THE PRELIMINARY LEVY ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30TH OF THE CURRENT YEAR, AS WELL AS SETTING OF THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING. IN TODAY'S BOARD PACKET, THERE IS A TABLE WITH THE LEVY BREAKDOWN BY THE COUNTY FUND AND A RESOLUTION FOR THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION. EARLIER TODAY, YOU ALSO RECEIVED TWO ADDITIONAL HANDOUTS CONCERNING THE AGENDA ITEM. AN EXPLANATION OF THE IMPACT OF PROPERTY TAXES, WHICH LOOKS LIKE THIS DOCUMENT AND THEN A PIE GRAPH WHICH LOOKS LIKE THIS, WHICH YOU WILL RECEIVE BOTH COPIES OF. THE PROPOSED 2026 LEVY AMOUNT IS $29,988,069, OR 9.7%. THIS IS AN INCREASE OF $2,652,775 FROM THE 2025 LEVY. THE PROPOSED TOTAL BUDGET FOR 2026 IS $61,768,248. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, THE 1% LEVY EQUALS $273,353. JUST LIKE TO COMMENT ON SOME OF THE CONTEXT OF THOSE HANDOUTS THAT WERE SHARED WITH YOU AND WHAT AREAS WERE INCREASED COMPARED TO THE 2025 BUDGET, THE LEVY INCREASE IS MOSTLY RELATED TO WAGES AND BENEFITS. THE COUNTY IS HEAVY IN CAPITAL SINCE IT IS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PROVIDES SERVICES MANDATED BY THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS WITH MINIMAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT AT TIMES. THERE IS ALSO INCREASED EXPENSES RELATED TO THE SERVICES PROVIDED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICE AREAS, PROPERTY AND PUBLIC SERVICES DUE TO THE ELECTION NEXT YEAR AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FUND AREA. THE PROPOSED PRELIMINARY LEVY DOES REFLECT A SLIGHT DECREASE IN COMMUNITY SPORT APPROPRIATIONS AREA. MOST OFTEN IS THE IMPACT TO WHAT IT MEANS TO OUR TAXPAYERS. I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHTED BOX IN [00:35:01] THE CENTER OF THIS HANDOUT EXCLUDES THE SPECIAL LIBRARY LEVY, WHICH IS WHY THAT NUMBER IS LOWER THAN THE NUMBER I QUOTED A LITTLE BIT AGO. IF YOU ADD THE SPECIAL LIBRARY LEVY TO THE HIGHLIGHTED BOX, YOU WILL GET THE $29,988,069 OR THE 9.7% INCREASE. A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU REGARDING WHAT THE ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL IMPACT COULD BE FOR TAXPAYERS TO HOMES. A HOME LOCATED WITHIN ST. PETER, WITH AN ESTIMATED MARKET VALUE OF 405,000, WITH NO INCREASE IN VALUE FROM 2025-2026, COULD ANTICIPATE AN INCREASE IN TAXES OF APPROXIMATELY $190, OR 10.15%. A COMMERCIAL PIECE OF PROPERTY IN ST. PETER WITH A VALUE OF 715,000 AND NO CHANGE IN VALUE COULD SEE AN INCREASE IN TAXES OF APPROXIMATELY 654% OR ALSO 10.15%. A COMMERCIAL PIECE OF PROPERTY IN NORTH MANKATO WITH A VALUE OF $500,000, BASED ON A 5% DECREASE IN VALUE COULD SEE AN INCREASE IN TAXES OF $200 OR 4.75%. A FARM HOME SITE, WHICH WOULD BE THE HOUSE GARAGE AND ONE ACRE WITH A VALUE OF ABOUT 255,000, WITH A DECREASE IN VALUE FROM 25-26 NUMBERS OF 3.32% AND THE ESTIMATED MARKET VALUE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR COULD SEE AN INCREASE OF $71, OR 6.44%. LASTLY, A GLAND. THIS IS A 70 ACRE PIECE WITH A VALUE OF 1.14 MILLION, WITH A DECREASE IN VALUE OF 6.13%. AN ESTIMATED MARKET FROM 25-26 COULD SEE AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY $116, OR 4.27%. LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE PIE GRAPH. THIS DOCUMENT WHICH SHOWS THE LEVY, HOW IT'S SPREAD ACROSS THE VARIOUS TAX CLASSIFICATIONS, GENERALLY COMPARING 25-26. A DECREASED FROM 39%-37.69% AND I'M GOING TO QUOTE THE NUMBERS BECAUSE IT IS QUITE SMALL ON THE HANDLE THAT YOU RECEIVED. RESIDENTIAL INCREASED FROM 38%-38.88% AND THAT'S WHERE THAT SHIFT IS STARTING TO HAPPEN AND CONTINUE TO HAPPEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL INCREASED FROM 13%-14.31%, NON-HOMESTEAD RENTALS INCREASED FROM 8%-9.12% AND UTILITIES ROUGHLY STAYED THE SAME AT 2% HISTORICALLY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE BOARD CAN SET THE PRELIMINARY LEVY AT 9.7% TODAY, WITH THE OPTION TO REDUCE IT PRIOR TO THE DECEMBER 16TH BOARD MEETING IN WHICH THE FINAL LEVY AND BUDGET ARE ADOPTED. IF THE PRELIMINARY LEVY IS REDUCED AFTER THE SETTING OF TODAY, INFORMATION PRINTED ON THE TRUTH AND TAXATION NOTICES WOULD BE BASED ON TODAY'S PRELIMINARY LEVY PERCENTAGE, NOT THE REDUCED AMOUNT THAT WOULD BE DISCUSSED AT THE DECEMBER 4TH AND 16TH MEETINGS. MADAM CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO READ THE RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD. >> THANK YOU. PLEASE DO SO. >> RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2026 PRELIMINARY PROPERTY TAX LEVY AND SETTING THE BUDGET AND LEVY PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING FOR NICOLLET COUNTY. WHEREAS THE NICOLLET COUNTY BUDGET COMMITTEE MET ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO REVIEW THE 2026 NICOLLET COUNTY PRELIMINARY PROPERTY TAX LEVY AND BUDGET. WHEREAS, PURSUANT TO MINNESOTA STATUTE 375A.06, THE 2026 NICOLLET COUNTY PRELIMINARY PROPERTY TAX LEVY AND BUDGET WAS PREPARED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND FINANCE DIRECTOR, WITH INPUT OF ALL NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS AND NICOLLET COUNTY DEPARTMENT HEADS. WHEREAS, TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH MINNESOTA STATUTE 275.065, THE 2026 PRELIMINARY LEVY MUST BE ADOPTED AND CERTIFIED ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2025. WHEREAS, IN FURTHER ACCORDANCE WITH MINNESOTA STATUTE 275.065, TAXING AUTHORITIES MUST PROVIDE THE COUNTY AUDITOR ON OR BEFORE THE TIME IT CERTIFIES ITS PRELIMINARY LEVY WITH A TIME AND PLACE OF A MEETING IN WHICH THE LEVY AND BUDGET WILL BE DISCUSSED AND PUBLIC INPUT ALLOWED. WHEREAS, SAID MEETING MUST OCCUR AFTER NOVEMBER 24TH, MUST NOT BE HELD BEFORE 6:00 PM AND MUST OCCUR BEFORE THE FINAL 2026 LEVY AND BUDGET ARE APPROVED. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY ADOPT THE 2026 INITIAL PROPERTY TAX LEVY FOR NICOLLET COUNTY AND THE AMOUNT OF $29,988,069, OR 9.7% INCREASE. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY ESTABLISH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4TH, 2025 AT 6:30 PM, IN THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD ROOM, NICOLLET COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER, ST. PETER, MINNESOTA, AS THE DESIGNATED MEETING TO DISCUSS THE 2026 PROPOSED COUNTY LEVY AND BUDGET AND TO ALLOW PUBLIC INPUT REGARDING THESE ITEMS. [00:40:01] THE 2026 FINAL COUNTY LEVY AND BUDGET WILL BE ADOPTED AT THE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH, 2025 REGULAR COUNTY BOARD MEETING DATED THIS 23RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2025. MADAM CHAIR, BASED ON THIS INFORMATION THAT I HAVE SHARED TODAY, I'M REQUESTING THE CONSIDERATION OF THE SETTING OF THE PRELIMINARY LEVY FOR THE 2026 NICOLLET COUNTY BUDGET OF 9.7% AND TO SET THE PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING FOR DECEMBER 4TH, 2025 AT 6:30 PM AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION? >> MOVED. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECONDED. >> DISCUSSION. >> MADAM CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO ASK THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, AS WE ALL TOOK PART IN THE BUDGET PLANNING WHAT YOUR ORIGINAL THOUGHTS WERE GOING INTO THIS YEAR, AS THESE NUMBERS ARE HIGHER THAN WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. MAYBE EITHER YOU, MADAM CHAIR OR COMMISSIONER DEHEN, COULD AT LEAST GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF HOW THE DEPARTMENT HEADS CAME IN AND HOW YOU SAW THIS SHAPING UP. >> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, JACK. DEPARTMENT HEADS PRESENTED THEIR INITIAL BUDGETS EARLY ON AND THEN WE MET AS A FULL GROUP AFTER THAT. THIS BUDGET IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY EMPLOYEE COST FROM OUR COMPENSATION STUDY, RISING INSURANCE COSTS AND COST OF LIVING INCREASES TO EMPLOYEES. IF WE LEFT ALL OF THAT FLAT, WE'D HAVE A FLAT BUDGET. BUT AS MANDY SAID, WE INVEST IN HUMAN CAPITAL AND THAT'S OUR MOST EXPENSIVE OUTLAY. WE DID REDUCE THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE BUILDING FUND FOR FUTURE BUILDING PROJECTS AND WE ARE USING SOME RESERVES TO PAY DOWN SOME OF THAT HEALTH INSURANCE. THE EFFECT OF THE COMPENSATION STUDY AND INSURANCE IS PROBABLY THREE, 3.5% OF THIS 9.7% INCREASE. IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT, WE'D BE CONSISTENT WITH PRIOR YEARS. >> ONE SECOND, MARK. THANK YOU. WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY IS, THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE EMPLOYED AT NICOLLET COUNTY, 280 PEOPLE ARE THE MAIN COST OF DELIVERING SERVICES TO OUR 35,000 RESIDENTS IN NICOLLET COUNTY. >> FOR 2026, YES AND PRIOR HISTORY. >> COMMISSIONER DEHEN. >> I WOULD ALSO ADD THERE ARE A COUPLE ADDITIONS LATER IN THE YEAR OF EMPLOYEES IN ANTICIPATION OF SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED BY THE STATE AND BY THE FED ON THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING BUSINESSES, PARTICULARLY IN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND DELIVERING THOSE SERVICES TO THOSE SAME 35,000 RESIDENTS. WE'RE TRYING TO BE ANTICIPATORY OF THAT AND BE PREPARED TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THOSE REQUIREMENTS AS OF JANUARY 1 OF 2027. >> BARRING ANY LEGISLATIVE CHANGES? >> YES. >> WE'RE DEALING WITH A LOT OF UNKNOWNS FOR 2027. WE JUST DON'T HAVE DETAIL ON WHAT THOSE MANDATED SERVICES ARE GOING TO BE AND WHAT THOSE REIMBURSEMENTS MAY OR MAY NOT BE. FOR 2026, IT'S FAIRLY FLAT. IT'S DRIVEN BY EMPLOYEE COSTS. >> IF I MAY, THE RESERVES THAT WE HOLD HERE AT NICOLLET COUNTY, SOME OF THEM ARE BEING USED TO HELP IN THIS BUDGET, BUT WE'RE NOT DIGGING DEEP INTO THE RESERVES, ARE WE, MANDY, TO CUT THE LEVY FURTHER? >> NO. THERE WERE SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO APPROPRIATELY USE RESERVES, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO USE THAT AS ALWAYS, THE WAY TO COVER COSTS. RESERVES ARE USED, A LOT OF RESERVES ARE TYPICALLY USED WITH OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WITH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. TO MAINTAIN OUR FACILITIES, RESERVES ARE TYPICALLY USED, AS COMMISSIONER DEHEN DID SAY. WE ALSO LOOKED AT HOW TO USE RESERVES WHERE THEN IT CAME TO SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEE WAGES AND BENEFITS COSTS AS WELL TO DRIVE DOWN THAT COST. >> WHAT I'M HEARING OUR ADMINISTRATOR SAYING IS WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR RESERVES FOR THE FUTURE BECAUSE 27 AND 28 MAY NOT BE ANY PRETTIER THAN THIS. >> HOPEFULLY NOT. BUT YEAH, WITH THE UNKNOWNS. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS REGARDING OUR BUDGET OR THOUGHTS? >> MAY I JUST ADD AN OBSERVATION? IN THE MEETINGS, I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS TO THE PUBLIC WHAT A GREAT JOB OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS DID, AND HOW HARD THEY'VE BEEN WORKING TO SAVE MONEY, [00:45:01] AND ANOTHER DETAIL THAT REALLY WAS IMPRESSED UPON ME WAS HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS TO HAVE SO MUCH STAFF TURNOVER, AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE GOTTEN TO A PLACE OF STAFF STABILITY, AND IT'S, UM, IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN IT, BECAUSE HAVING THOSE SEATS VACANT OR HAVING TO RETRAIN, HAS THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF BEING EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. >> VERY EXPENSIVE. >> CALL THE QUESTION. >> THANK YOU. WHITNEY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER DEHEN? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER HELGET. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER COLE? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER ZINS. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER [INAUDIBLE]. >> YES. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. GOOD MORNING CASSIE. >> GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY FIRST ITEM THIS MORNING IS CONSIDERATION OF HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS. JUST SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION. IN MAY OF 2024, THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS [Health and Human Services] APPROVED A LOCAL HOUSING TRUST FUND ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A TRUST FUND USING STATEWIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AID TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IN JULY OF 2024, THE BOARD ADOPTED THE HOUSING ADVISORIES RECOMMENDED FUNDING PRIORITIES, ALLOCATING 10% OF FUNDS TO SHORT TERM HOUSING NEEDS AND 90% TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IN FEBRUARY OF 2025, THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE RELEASE OF A ROLLING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO IDENTIFY QUALIFYING HOUSING PROJECTS IN NICOLLET COUNTY FOR THE DURATION OF THE FUNDS AVAILABILITY. ON AUGUST 27TH, 2025, THE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONVENED TO REVIEW SUBMITTED PROPOSALS, AND THIS TIME WE REVIEWED A $50,000 REQUEST FROM HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO HELP COVER THE GAP BETWEEN THE SALES PRICE AT FAIR MARKET VALUE AND THE HOME BUYERS ELIGIBILITY FOR A HOME IN NICOLLET COUNTY. THIS MORNING, I'M REQUESTING APPROVAL OF THE HOUSING ADVISORY'S RECOMMENDATION TO FUND THIS PROPOSAL AND AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE THE GRANT AGREEMENT. >> THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE THE GRANT REQUEST? >> I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> SO THIS IS FOR ONE HOME. >> CORRECT. >> OKAY. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? >> MADAM CHAIR, I'LL MAKE A COMMENT THAT BOTH COMMISSIONER COLER AND I ARE SITTING ON THIS HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD. THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT THE THE APPROPRIATION OF THE $50,000 TOWARD THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, AND WE WANTED TO THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THIS MONEY DIDN'T JUST ACTUALLY GET ALLOCATED AND HELP FOR THE LACK OF A BETTER EXPLANATION, HELP THE PROSPECTIVE BUYERS MAINTAIN AN EQUITY POSITION IN THEIR HOUSE THAT THEY COULD SOMEHOW CASH OUT AND THIS MONEY WOULD ACTUALLY BE, SO TO SPEAK, WASTED, AND WE WERE ASSURED BY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY THAT THEY HAVE MECHANISMS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE FUNDS STAY WITHIN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, AND WE FELT THAT IT WAS A GOOD USE OF THESE FUNDS. IT DOES HELP PUT NEW PEOPLE INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WE THOUGHT WAS ACTUALLY A GOOD THING, THAT WITH THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, IT'S ACTUALLY A LOWER COST SINGLE FAMILY HOME THAT GETS BUILT RATHER THAN THE CONTINUATION OF THESE LARGE PROJECT BUILDINGS THAT JUST ARE LOW COST APARTMENT BUILDINGS. WE FELT GOOD ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY GOING TOWARD A HOME, AND THAT THE AND THAT THE MONEY WOULD BE WELL SPENT IN THIS APPLICATION. >> THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NUMBER 2. >> IF I COULD ADD TO ITEM NUMBER 1, I HAVE ONE INFORMATIONAL UPDATE RELATED TO THE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MAY OF 2027. THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS APPROVED A $120,000 GRANT REQUEST FROM SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA HOUSING PARTNERSHIP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN APARTMENT COMPLEX WITHIN NICOLLET COUNTY. THEY HAVE SINCE RESCINDED THEIR REQUEST FOR THESE FUNDS, AS IT RELATES TO THE LACK OF OTHER STATE FUNDING AND LOCAL HOUSING VOUCHERS. THEY ASK THAT I PASS ALONG THEIR GRATITUDE FOR THE ORIGINAL AWARD. OUR NEXT REVIEW OF RESPONSES FOR ROLLING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WILL OCCUR IN NOVEMBER. >> THANK YOU. >> MY SECOND ITEM IS CONSIDERATION OF A PURCHASE OF SERVICE WITH TEPCO. I HAVE SOME LENGTHY BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR YOU ABOUT THE WORK THAT THIS WOULD ADDRESS. OUR INCOME MAINTENANCE TEAM MANAGES SNAP, TANF, CASH PROGRAMS AND MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY. THEIR WORK IS HIGH IN VOLUME AND COMPLEX. THEY MANAGE THOUSANDS OF CASES REQUIRING CAREFUL DOCUMENTATION, CROSS CHECKS, AND RENEWALS. FREQUENT STATE AND FEDERAL POLICY CHANGES MEAN THAT OUR STAFF [00:50:02] ARE CONSTANTLY ADAPTING TO CHANGES IN PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS. WITH ANY STAFF TURNOVER, STEEP LEARNING CURVES MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SUSTAIN TIMELY, ACCURATE SERVICE AND MANAGEABLE CASELOADS. OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, OUR INCOME MAINTENANCE TEAM HAS SHIFTED HOW IT ORGANIZES PROGRAMS AND AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION TO BEST SUPPORT TEAM MEMBERS AND CLIENT NEEDS. RECENTLY, WE BACKFILLED AN ELIGIBILITY WORKER POSITION WITH A CASE AID POSITION TO PROVIDE INCREASED ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT ACROSS THE TEAM AND FOR CLIENTS IN THE LOBBY. ADDITIONALLY, NICOLLET COUNTY HAS BEEN AUTHORIZING OVERTIME TO COMPLETE REQUIRED MANDATED WORK. ELIGIBILITY. WORKERS ARE FREQUENTLY CAUGHT IN A CYCLE IN WHICH HIGH AMOUNTS OF APPLICATIONS, RENEWALS, AND PAPERWORK TO PROCESS LEAD TO A HIGH VOLUME OF PHONE CALLS, WHICH IN TURN LEADS TO LESS TIME TO PROCESS APPLICATIONS, RENEWALS AND PAPERWORK. WHEN WE WERE EXPLORING THE USE OF, OH, I THINK I JUST LOST MY PLACE HERE. NOPE. WHEN WE WERE EXPLORING THE USE OF THE TOOL, WHICH I'LL DESCRIBE HERE IN A MINUTE, WE GRABBED A SNAPSHOT OF PAPERWORK IN JULY OF WHAT WAS IN NEED OF PROCESSING. OUR METS TEAM HAD 533 DOCUMENTS TO PROCESS ON JULY 3RD THAT INCLUDED 78 NEW APPLICATIONS AND 35 RENEWALS, WHICH MEANT 177 DOCUMENTS PER FULL TIME WORKER. I'M SITTING IN THEIR CURRENT BOX, BALANCED WITH PHONE CALLS AND ADDITIONAL ITEMS COMING IN. BEGINNING IN 2026, FEDERAL CHANGES WILL PLACE ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON STATE AND COUNTY AGENCIES. THE 2025 FEDERAL RECONCILIATION BILL RESHAPED SNAP ADMINISTRATION BY EXPANDING THE WORK REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, HOLDING STATES FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE WHEN PAYMENT ERROR RATES EXCEED FEDERAL THRESHOLDS AND INCREASING ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. AT THE END OF 2026, SIMILAR CHANGES WILL AFFECT MEDICAID, INCLUDING NEW WORK REQUIREMENTS, MORE FREQUENT ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS, AND REVISED RULES FOR EXEMPTIONS FROM FEDERAL PENALTIES, POTENTIALLY INCREASING THE STATE'S FINANCIAL EXPOSURE FOR MEDICAID ERRORS. THESE CHANGES MEAN COUNTIES FACE HIGHER WORKLOADS, GREATER COMPLIANCE RISK, AND INCREASED FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES FOR ERRORS. TO ADDRESS THESE PRESSURES, WE'VE BEEN EXPLORING TEPCO'S EMPLOYEE VIRTUAL ASSISTANT, WHICH YOU'LL HEAR REFERRED TO AS EVA, AS A SOLUTION OUTSIDE OF HIRING TO MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE, IMPROVE EFFICIENCY, AND CONTINUE TO REINFORCE CUSTOMER SERVICE. I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU JUST A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW THAT EVA CAN DO. EVA CAN ASSIST IN TIMELY TASK COMPLETION AND FREE UP WORKER TIME, INCREASING TIME FOR PROCESSING THOSE DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDING CUSTOMER SERVICE. SOME EXAMPLES ARE THAT EVA CAN DELIVER REAL TIME GUIDANCE AND UP TO DATE ANSWERS ON THESE COMPLEX RULES THAT I WAS REFERENCING. THAT CAN REDUCE ERRORS AND THE TIME SPENT SEARCHING IN MANUALS. RIGHT NOW, OUR ELIGIBILITY WORKERS SPEND TIME REVIEWING SIX SEPARATE MANUALS, BULLETINS AND MEMOS TO DETERMINE ANSWERS FOR COMPLEX QUESTIONS. WHEREAS EVA WILL HAVE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION WITHIN THE SYSTEM AND BE ABLE TO PICK AND CHOOSE FROM THE MOST CURRENT GUIDANCE AND PROVIDE A QUICK ANSWER. EVA CAN REDUCE MANUAL DATA ENTRY AND HELP TRACK DOCUMENTATION AND SERVE AS A RESOURCE FOR NEW WORKERS, SHORTENING, ONBOARDING, AND EASING SUPERVISOR OR TEAM LEAD DEMAND FOR DAY TO DAY NEEDS. EVA WILL ALSO REDUCE WAIT TIMES, EASE PHONE CALL PRESSURE AND ALLOW WORKERS TIME TO PROCESS APPLICATIONS, RENEWALS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. EVA CAN ANSWER 1000 PLUS PHONE CALLS AT ANY ONE TIME. EVA CAN CONNECT CLIENTS TO COUNTY PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES SUCH AS FOOD SHELVES OR HOUSING SUPPORT. EVA SUPPORTS RESIDENTS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, REDUCING BARRIERS AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WITHOUT THE NEED AND COST OF THE LANGUAGE LINE. EVA PROVIDES STATUS UPDATES, READS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, WHICH IS 12 MINUTES PER PHONE CALL WHEN THAT'S NEEDED, AND PROVIDES AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE AND GATHERS CONSENT INFORMATION FROM CLIENTS AS WELL. EVA ALSO PROVIDES CONSISTENT AND THOROUGH INFORMATION ABOUT PROGRAMS LIKE SNAP FOR EVERY PHONE CALL, WHICH IS REQUIRED AND MONITORED BY OUR MANAGEMENT. EVALUATION AUDITS. EVA, IN COMPARISON WITH HIRING, IS A COST EFFECTIVE STRATEGY TO ASSIST US IN CONTINUING TO IMPROVE IN EFFICIENCY, SUPPORT STAFF, MAINTAIN PROGRAM COMPLIANCE, AND REINFORCE OUR FOCUS ON PROVIDING QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE AS WE MOVE AHEAD. IN 2025, THE COST FOR A ONE TIME SET UP FEE AND PRORATED PURCHASE OF EVA PHONE, EVA INTERVIEW AND EVA COMPANION IS $35,909. [00:55:03] THIS PURCHASE IS ELIGIBLE FOR 47 TO 50% FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT. IN 2026, THE ANNUAL COST OF EVA PHONE, EVA INTERVIEW AND EVA COMPANION IS $62,730. THESE PURCHASES WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR 47 TO 50% FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT AT THE TIME OF THE 2026 PAYMENT. MISS ZEHNDER, FISHER AND I HAVE BEEN EVALUATING OUR PURCHASE OPTIONS, AND WE HOPE TO USE THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT DEVELOPED THROUGH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE PROCUREMENT OFFICIALS. THIS MORNING, I'M REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH TEPCO FOR THE PURCHASE AND SUPPORT OF EVA, CONTINGENT UPON REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE NICOLLET COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ENTERING OF THE CONTRACT FOR PURCHASE? >> SO MOVED. >> SECONDED. >> YOU FORGOT TO MENTION EVA WORKS 24/7. >> YOU'RE CORRECT. HOLIDAYS, WEEKENDS, NIGHTS. >> YES. THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT MENTION. >> INTERESTING STUFF. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS FOR CASSIE. >> EVA REALLY SOUNDS WONDERFUL, DOESN'T SHE? >> 24/7. >> 24/7. ARE OTHER COUNTIES USING THIS AS WELL THAT WE KNOW OF? >> STEARNS AND OLMSTED HAVE HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED AND SO WE WOULD BE WORKING TO LEARN FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE, AND THERE ARE A FEW OTHER COUNTIES IN MINNESOTA THAT ARE ALSO ONBOARDING RIGHT NOW. LARGELY TEPCO'S, PRIOR WORK IS ON THE EAST COAST. THEY DO HAVE MANY STATES AND COUNTIES THAT THEY'VE WORKED WITH. BUT THIS IS THE FIRST BATCH IN MINNESOTA. >> IT'S GOOD TO KNOW. >> WITH THE CHANGING STATUS OF MANY OF YOUR PROGRAMS IN THE FUTURE, TO JUST TO BE ABLE TO KEEP UP FROM A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE JUST A RESOURCE FOR EMPLOYEES IN ADDITION TO THE PUBLIC. >> YES, I THINK THE ONBOARDING PIECE AND THE COMPLEX DECISION MAKING IS SIGNIFICANT. THOSE MANUALS THAT PEOPLE LOOK THROUGH TRYING TO FIND THE MOST CURRENT VERSION OF THE INFORMATION IS SO TIME CONSUMING, AND HAVING THAT INFORMATION LIVING SOMEWHERE WHERE IT CAN HELP IDENTIFY IS GOING TO BE SUCH A TIME SAVER. >> IT'S OUR NEW WORLD, ISN'T IT? >> I JUST ALSO APPRECIATE THAT CLIENTS COULD GET SOME RESPONSE IMMEDIATELY INSTEAD OF JUST WAITING AND WAITING ON A WAIT LIST FOR ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO'S SO BOGGED DOWN WITH THESE APPLICATIONS AND CLIENT LISTS THAT THEY CAN BARELY BREATHE. I THINK THIS IS AWESOME AND I HOPE WE CAN GET IT DONE FOR YOU. >> MADAM CHAIR, I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FOR CASSIE ON THIS. DO YOU THINK OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AT SOME OF THE GLOOM AND DOOM THAT WE'VE JUST TALKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF OUR BUDGET AND OUR UPCOMING BUDGETS FOR FOLLOWING YEARS, AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ADD STAFF. IS THIS GOING TO HELP YOU WITH EITHER POSSIBLE REDUCTIONS IN STAFF AND/OR THE POSSIBILITY THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE MORE NEW STAFF EVEN AS MANDATED SERVICES COME ON. HOW WILL THIS PLAY A ROLE IN THAT? >> YEAH, I WOULD SAY WHEN WE'VE BEEN EXPLORING THIS, OUR ASSUMPTION IS THAT IT COULD REDUCE FUTURE HIRING. RIGHT NOW IN THE INCOME MAINTENANCE TEAM BY ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS AND PROVIDING UPDATES TO PEOPLE. I THINK ALSO SMALL THINGS OR THINGS THAT SEEM SMALL, LIKE THAT 12 MINUTE READING OF A CONSENT OR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. WHEN YOU THINK OF ALL OF THE PHONE CALLS WHERE SOMEBODY SPENDS THOSE MINUTES, LIKE IT REALLY DOES ADD UP. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IT WOULD REDUCE FUTURE INCOME MAINTENANCE NEEDS. I'LL BE CURIOUS TO SEE HOW IT AFFECTS OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AS WELL WHO ARE ANSWERING A LOT OF THOSE FIRST PHONE CALLS WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE NEEDED TO GROW IN THAT AREA IN THE FUTURE. I THINK THIS COULD ALSO REDUCE. ANOTHER INTERESTING THING WAS WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING WITH THEM, THEY ASKED US LIKE, IS INCOME MAINTENANCE WHERE YOU WANTED TO START? THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT WE'D REALLY HEARD THAT IT COULD DO SO FAR. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD EXPAND TO OTHER AREAS AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT IT. BUT IT IS A VERY TIME INTENSIVE PROCESS TO ONBOARD IT INTO ANY ONE AREA, BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE VERY METHODICAL AND TEST EVERY STEP ALONG THE WAY. I THINK ONCE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS WITHIN OUR INCOME MAINTENANCE TEAM, WE WOULD ACTUALLY START EXPLORING THE USE OF IT IN SOME OF OUR OTHER AREAS AS WELL. [County Attorney] >> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THANK YOU. [01:00:02] HAVE AT IT. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. TODAY, BEFORE YOU IS AUTHORIZATION TO ALLOW ME TO AUTHORIZE NICOLLET COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION IN A SETTLEMENT WITH EIGHT OPIOID SECONDARY MANUFACTURERS. THOSE MANUFACTURERS ARE LISTED IN THE BOARD AGENDA ITEM, AND I WON'T REPEAT THEM. THERE'S SOME INTERESTING NAMES THAT I DON'T THINK I WOULD PRONOUNCE CORRECTLY, BUT THEY'RE LISTED IN THE AGENDA. YOUR AUTHORIZATION TO ALLOW NICOLLET COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE SETTLEMENT WOULD RESULT IN NICOLLET COUNTY RECEIVING APPROXIMATELY 0.157% OF A $720 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH THESE MANUFACTURERS. THE BOARD HAS PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED NICOLLET COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION IN OTHER OPIOID SETTLEMENTS, MOST NOTABLY WITH PURDUE. THOSE MONIES HAVE BEEN FLOWING INTO THE COUNTY. I RECENTLY AUTHORIZED FURTHER SETTLEMENT OF THE PURDUE CONSISTENT WITH THIS BOARD'S PRIOR ACTION OF THE PURDUE ESTATE SETTLEMENT. NICOLLET COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION IN THESE NATIONAL RESOLUTIONS OF THESE OPIOID LITIGATIONS IS SOMETHING THIS BOARD HAS APPROVED IN THE PAST. I WOULD ASK AUTHORIZATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SETTLEMENT. BY WAY OF INFORMATION, ON OCTOBER 14TH, WE INTEND TO PRESENT TO THE BOARD A STORY FROM A FAMILY ABOUT WHOSE TRAGIC LOSS OF THEIR LOVED ONE HAS PROMPTED THEIR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT OVERDOSE DEATHS. MIKE DAVIS. WILL BE PRESENTING FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, HIS WORK ABOUT HOW WE ARE USING SOME OF THESE OPIOID SETTLEMENTS TO REDUCE FUTURE HARM. CASSIE SASSENBERG WILL ALSO BE PRESENTING ABOUT USE OF THESE FUNDS AND HOPEFULLY PRESENTING TO THE BOARD WHAT WE'VE RECEIVED SO FAR AND WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THOSE FUNDS MOVING FORWARD. I WOULD ASK FOR AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE THIS SETTLEMENT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE? >> SO MOVED. >> THANK YOU. >> SECONDED. >> FURTHER QUESTIONS AND OR COMMENTS. >> MADAM CHAIR, JUST LOOKING AT THE MATH ON THIS. IF IT'S 720 MILLION. MADAM ATTORNEY, TIMES 0.15%. IS THAT CORRECT? IS THAT 15% OR POINT? >> POINT. >> POINT. >> POINT. INSTEAD OF A MILLION, IT'S MORE LIKE $1000 OR $10,000 WE GET BACK. >> I DID NOT PERFORM ANY MATH EQUATIONS BECAUSE THERE'S OBVIOUSLY COSTS THAT WILL COME OFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS THAT WILL COME OFF OF THESE DOLLARS. I DIDN'T DO ANY OF THAT MATH. BUT I THINK YOU'LL FIND THAT WE'RE REALLY USING THE MONIES THAT WE DO RECEIVE VERY EFFICIENTLY FOR PREVENTION EFFORTS. >> I THANK YOU. I DIDN'T KNOW MATH WAS GOING TO BE REQUIRED, BUT I WAS LIKE, LOOKING AT THOSE THINGS. >> I THINK WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT PREDICTING THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF DOLLARS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT UNTIL WE ACTUALLY RECEIVE THE FUNDS. >> SURE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. >> ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? HEARING AND SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> MATH ON YOUR PHONE ISN'T LIKE MATH ON AN ADDING MACHINE, EITHER, JACK, SO [INAUDIBLE] >> I KNOW IT'S NOT $1 MILLION. >> NO. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE UPDATE FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. [County Attorney Update] >> THANK YOU, MADAM. CHAIR. I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL UPDATES BEYOND OUR NORMAL TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE PERFORM. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS COMMISSIONER COMMITTEE REPORTS, [Commissioner Committee Reports, Meetings & Conferences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pprove Per Diems and Expenses] >> AYE. >> WE CAN ADJOURN THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING AND DIVE INTO THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY MEETING. [Adjourn Board of Commissioners Meeting] WE'LL OPEN THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY MEETING WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. [Call Drainage Authority Meeting to Order: Chair] ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS? >> NO CHANGES TO THE AGENDA, MADAM CHAIR. >> THANK YOU. MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. >> SO MOVED. >> SECONDED. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? >> SO MOVED. >> SECONDED. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> PUBLIC APPEARANCES FOR DRAINAGE. HEARING AND SEEING NONE. WE WILL GO ON TO DITCH REPAIR REPORT. GOOD MORNING. NATHAN. >> GOOD MORNING. JUST ONE DITCH REPAIR FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THIS MORNING. DITCH REPAIR REPORT 25-032 IS FOR COUNTY DITCH 76A. THIS IS PERTAINING PARTICULARLY TO THE PUMP STATION, WHICH I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT A FEW TIMES HERE THIS YEAR. MOST RECENTLY, IN AUGUST, WE HAD A LARGE RAIN EVENT THAT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT EROSION AND STARTED TO SHOW A LOT OF THE WEAKNESSES OF THIS PUMP STATION THAT WAS INSTALLED IN 1975. THERE'S CURRENTLY TWO ELECTRIC PUMPS ON SITE. THEN DURING HIGH RAIN EVENTS, LANDOWNERS BRING OUT A PORTABLE 15-INCH TRACTOR PUMP. I BELIEVE I DO HAVE A PICTURE IF YOU SCROLL DOWN TO SHOW ON THE SCREEN THE CURRENT SITUATION AS HOW IT WAS FUNCTIONING HERE IN AUGUST. YOU'LL SEE THE TRACTOR PUMP THERE ON THE SIDE WITH THE TWO ELECTRIC PUMPS. IN PARTICULAR, THERE'S ALSO TWO OVERFLOW PIPES WHICH HAVE BEEN IN SINCE 1875. IT WOULD BE THE OVERFLOW PIPE CLOSEST TO THE TRACTOR. YOU'LL SEE THERE'S A A VOID ON EACH SIDE OF IT WHERE THE WATER HAS BEGUN TO ERODE THAT BERM AND FLOW FROM MIDDLE LAKE BACK INTO DITCH 76A, AS WELL AS THAT ONE PUMP WITH THE WHITE TUBE CONNECTED, YOU'LL SEE THERE'S A VOID ON THE SIDE OF THAT WHERE THAT PIPE HAS BEGUN TO RUST AND ERODE, ALLOWING WATER TO FLOW BACK INTO THE COUNTY DITCH. HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS OUT THERE. AS A RESULT OF THIS, LANDOWNERS HAD BEEN CALLING MYSELF AS WELL AS COMMISSIONER ZINS AND REQUESTING THAT SOME ACTION BE TAKEN. WE DID WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER AN EMERGENCY REPAIR AND SHORED UP SOME OF THAT EROSION FOR A SHORT-TERM FIX. BUT WE HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH CHRIS HODONICE AT HOUSTON ENGINEERING, WHO HAD CAME OUT TO VIEW THE SITE SHORTLY AFTER THIS HAD HAPPENED, AND WE HAD REPAIRED IT, AND HE HAD PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL IN OUR PACKETS HERE TO FORMALLY PUT TOGETHER A REPAIR REPORT WHERE HOUSTON ENGINEERING WILL DO A FULL ANALYSIS OF WHAT WHAT WE HAVE ON SITE RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE NEED. THEY WILL RECOMMEND REPAIR OPTIONS FOR THE DITCH SYSTEM. AS PART OF THAT PROPOSAL, [01:10:01] THEY'LL DELIVER FOUR DIFFERENT TASKS IN THEIR REPAIR REPORT. THE FIRST ONE, LIKE I MENTIONED, THEY'RE GOING TO IDENTIFY THE EXISTING SYSTEM CAPACITY AND ESTABLISH WHAT OUR CURRENT GALLONS PER MINUTE ARE. WHAT ARE WE ALLOWED TO PUMP? IS IT JUST THE TWO ELECTRIC PUMPS OR THEM PLUS THE TRACTOR? THEY'LL COME UP WITH THAT, COME UP WITH A COUPLE OPTIONS FOR US. REPAIR IT WITH ONE PUMP, TWO PUMPS, OR THREE, DEPENDING ON WHAT THAT VOLUME IS. THEY'LL RECOMMEND THAT TO THE BOARD. LIKE I MENTIONED A FORMAL FEASIBILITY REPORT AND THEY WILL PRESENT THAT AT A LANDOWNER INFORMATIONAL MEETING AS WELL. ONE THING I WILL ADD ALSO WITH THIS IS THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION FROM LANDOWNERS ON THE SYSTEM TO DO A DITCH IMPROVEMENT, WHICH I WAS REASSURED FROM CHRIS OTTERNESS THAT IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, THIS FEASIBILITY REPORT WOULD BE NEEDED REGARDLESS, SO OUR EFFORTS WOULD NOT BE WASTED INITIATING THIS RIGHT NOW. I SHOULD ADD THE TOTAL COST FOR HOUSTON ENGINEERING IN THIS INITIAL PHASE, I GUESS YOU'D CALL IT, WOULD BE $28,000. >> IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE DITCH REPAIR REPORT 25-032? >> I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION. >> I'LL SECOND. >> THANK YOU. FURTHER DISCUSSION. >> AS YOU MENTIONED, I WAS CALLED OUT THERE, AND I ALSO INVITED COMMISSIONER HELGET TO COME OUT THERE AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT I LOOKED AT. THERE'S DEFINITELY A NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING DONE ON THIS DITCH, SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. IT'S STARTING TO FAIL. >> AGREED WITHOUT QUESTION. >> ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. >> I JUST HAVE ONE COMMENT. I WOULD ASK THE BOARD, AUTHORIZE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO BE THE AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT. >> PART OF YOUR MOTION. >> PART OF YOUR MOTION? >> YES, THAT'S PART OF THE MOTION. >> THANK YOU. >> I'M SECOND IS AS. >> ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR NATE OR STAFF OR NATE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD TO US? >> THAT'S ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW. >> THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> OPPOSED? HEARING AND SEEING NONE. THE REPAIR REPORT IS APPROVED. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS. MY LAYOUT ISN'T THE SAME. CONFUSES ME. WE CAN ADJOURN THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY. >> BEFORE WE ADJOURN. AS LONG AS WE'VE GOT SETH HERE. CAN WE JUST GET A QUICK UPDATE IF ANYTHING? HAS THERE BEEN ANY MOVEMENT MADE ON ANY OF OUR PROJECT? REPAIRS AND BUILDING OUT AT 86. I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW IF WE'RE GETTING ANYWHERE ON THE BUILDING, OVER THE BUILDING, AND OR THE PROPOSED PROJECT CHANGES THAT WERE OR THE. >> JUST THE CONTRACTOR FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING OVER THE CONTROL BUILDING HAS BEEN ON SITE. HE WAS OUT THERE LAST WEEK AND COMPLETED WORK, AND THEY WERE BACK YESTERDAY PUTTING UP THE MAIN SUPPORTS ON FOUNDATION, AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE YET TODAY, BUT WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT THEY'RE BACK ON SITE. CONTINUING TO WORK ON THAT BUILDING. >> GOOD TO HEAR. >> GOOD NEWS. >> YES. THEN THE ACTUAL, THE OTHER CONTRACT FOR REPAIRS FOR THE ACTUAL PUMPING SYSTEM. THERE'S BEEN CORRESPONDENCE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN HOUSTON ENGINEERING, THE CONTRACTOR, AND THE SUPPLIER OF THE SLIDE GATE, GETTING THOSE PARAMETERS ALL FIGURED OUT. HOPEFULLY, PRODUCTION OF THAT SLIDE GATE IS GOING TO HAPPEN SOON, BUT UNSURE ON THE TIMELINE OF ACTUAL DELIVERY OF THE SLIDE GATE, AS IF YOU REMEMBER IN THAT PROPOSAL, WE HAD OFFERED UP AN INCENTIVE PAYMENT TO THE CONTRACTOR IF THEY COULD INSTALL THAT SLIDE GATE AND SHUT OFF THE WATER TO THE PUMP STRUCTURE BY. I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE, BUT IT WAS LATE THIS FALL. IF THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THAT, THEY WOULD GET AN INCENTIVE PAYMENT. IF NOT, WE WILL HAVE TO PULL THE PUMPS AGAIN FOR THIS WINTER, BECAUSE WE WON'T HAVE A WAY TO SHUT OFF THE WATER TO THAT. BUT THAT'S WHERE THAT PROJECT SITS AS OF RIGHT NOW. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? >> DID THE CULVERT GET BURIED AT THE 22 SITE THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS? >> I TOOK THE PICTURE WAS IN THE [INAUDIBLE] PACKET. [01:15:01] >> THAT WAS THE ONE. >> THE CULVERT HAS BEEN REINSTALLED AT THE ELEVATION [INAUDIBLE] DETERMINED, AND I BELIEVE THEY ALREADY HAVE ONE LAYER OF BITUMINOUS OVER THIS SEGMENT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> AT THIS POINT, WE'LL ADJOURN THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY MEETING. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.