[00:00:04] WELCOME TO THE DECEMBER 16TH, 2025 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING. [Call Board of Commissioners Meeting to Order ] PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO 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 THE LAST BOARD MEETING OF 2025. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. [Approval of Agenda] DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS? MANDY? THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE AGENDA, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. OUR AGENDA IS TO SILENCE THE CELL PHONE. JACK. YES, MADAM. CHAIR. DO YOU HAVE THAT UNDER CONTROL? I DO, THANK YOU. NEXT IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. AGENDA? WE HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS ON THERE. WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO PULL ANY ITEM OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA? COULD WE GET A MOTION FOR ACCEPTING THE AGENDA? I'LL MOVE IT SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE CELL PHONE ISSUE. NEXT IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. [Approval of Consent Agenda] SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING AND SEEING? NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. NUMBER FIVE. PUBLIC APPEARANCES. HEARING AND SEEING. NONE. NUMBER SIX. SHERIFF'S OFFICE. [Sheriff's Office] CONSIDERATION OF THE OPIOID OPIOID FUNDS REQUEST. YOU LEFT THAT MIC MAKE UP, PLEASE. GREEN LIGHT. GREEN LIGHT. THERE IT IS. GREEN. MORNING. I DIDN'T HAVE MY PAPERWORK WITH ME, SO I'M WAITING FOR IT TO BE FOUND HERE. BUT AS WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE BOARD WORKSHOP, THE DRUG TASK FORCE IS REQUESTING ASSISTANCE WITH PAYING FOR A PROGRAM THAT THEY USE TO ANALYZE CELL PHONES, SPECIFICALLY IN OVERDOSE DEATHS. AND OUR SHARE, OUR QUARTER OF THAT WOULD BE $4,500. SO WE WOULD BE REQUESTING THAT WE COULD GET $4,500 FROM THE OPIOID FUNDS TO HELP COVER THAT COST. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED. SECONDED. DISCUSSION. I WOULD JUST NOTE THAT WE DID DISCUSS THIS AT LENGTH AT THE BOARD WORKSHOP. AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE REASONABLE USE FOR THOSE OR AN APPROPRIATE USE FOR THOSE FUNDS. I AGREE. IF YOU HAVE JUST A SECOND THOUGH, OFFICER, COULD YOU BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHY IT'S IMPORTANT IN SOME CASES THAT YOU HAVE CELL PHONES AND ACCESS TO THE CELL PHONES? YEAH. SO THIS TOOL HELPS UNLOCK LOCKED CELL PHONES, WHICH WOULD THEN GAIN ACCESS TO WHATEVER INFORMATION IS INSIDE. SO IT HELPS THE DRUG TASK FORCE IDENTIFY WHO'S SUPPLYING THE, THE DRUGS INTO THE AREA WHERE, WHERE THE DECEASED MAY HAVE GOTTEN THEIR, THEIR NARCOTICS FROM. AND THAT'S HOW THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY AND SLOW AT LEAST THE FLOW OF NARCOTICS INTO OUR AREA. THANKS. YEAH. AND ALONG WITH BENEFITING YOUR DEPARTMENT, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT KIND OF EVIDENCE WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS WELL. MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I WOULD SUPPORT THIS FUNDING REQUEST BECAUSE THE. IN MOST OF OUR DRUG INVESTIGATIONS THAT. ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC DATA IS CRITICAL IN ESTABLISHING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CRIME THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND STEMMING THAT FLOW OF DRUGS INTO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? THOUGHTS? HEARING AND SEEING. NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CONSIDERATION OF 2026. [Health and Human Services] PURCHASE OF SERVICE AGREEMENT FOR THE BROWN COUNTY EVALUATION CENTER. GOOD MORNING KASEY. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. SOME BACKGROUND ON THIS PURCHASE OF SERVICE REQUEST. COUNTIES ARE LEGALLY MANDATED TO PROVIDE DETOXIFICATION SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNABLE TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES DUE TO SUBSTANCE USE. NICOLLET COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CONTINUES TO RELY ON THE BROWN COUNTY EVALUATION CENTER AS OUR PRIMARY PROVIDER FOR THESE SERVICES. THE 2026 COUNTY PURCHASE OF SERVICE AGREEMENT FROM THE BROWN COUNTY EVALUATION CENTER [00:05:03] INCLUDES A 5.26% INCREASE IN THE DAILY RATE FOR DETOXIFICATION SERVICES AS REQUIRED. NICOLLET COUNTY WILL COVER THESE COSTS AND WILL CONTINUE EFFORTS TO RECOVER EXPENSES THROUGH OUR INTERNAL COLLECTIONS PROCESS. I DID REACH OUT AND ASK FOR FEEDBACK ON THE INCREASE, AND THE FEEDBACK WAS THAT THE RATE INCREASE IS DRIVEN BY RISING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH LABOR AND MEDICATIONS AND FOOD. THE FACILITY HAS ALSO SEEN AN INCREASE IN MEDICALLY COMPLEX PATIENTS CONTRIBUTING TO HIGHER OVERALL OPERATIONAL EXPENSES. THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OBTAINING WITHDRAWAL MANAGEMENT LICENSURE IN 2026, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR THEM TO BILL MORE COST TO INSURANCE PROVIDERS. SO THIS MORNING I AM REQUESTING APPROVAL OF THE PURCHASE OF SERVICE AGREEMENT. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? I'LL MOVE IT, MADAM CHAIR. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. DISCUSSION POINTS. HOW FREQUENTLY DO WE USE THEIR SERVICES? PRETTY ROUTINELY. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 140 CASES OPEN IN WHICH WE ARE ACTIVELY COLLECTING, BUT THAT IS A ROLLING COUNT THAT ADDS YEAR TO YEAR. SO WHEN WE CAME INTO 2025, WE HAD 101. OKAY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. COMMISSIONER KOLARS IS IT MEETING THE NEEDS OR ARE WE FAR AWAY FROM THAT? FOR THE MOST PART. THIS DOES MEET LOCAL NEEDS. THERE ARE OCCASIONS WHERE WE ARE LOOKING AROUND THE STATE TO TRY TO FIND OTHER AVAILABLE OPTIONS, BUT THEY THEY DO THINGS REALLY WELL AND HAVE BEEN A GOOD PARTNER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AT. 915 SO SHOULD WE SKIP AHEAD AND DO HUMAN RESOURCES? [Human Resources] WE CAN ALWAYS START THE PUBLIC HEARING LATE BUT NOT START IT EARLY. CORRECT. I PAY ATTENTION. GOOD MORNING BRIDGET. GOOD MORNING. OKAY. HERE WE WANT TO CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT TO THE EARNED SAFE AND SICK TIME POLICY. THE AND THE ADOPTION OF THE MINNESOTA PAID LEAVE POLICY THAT BEGINS ON JANUARY 1ST, 2026. AND UNDER THIS NEW LAW, WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT A POLICY. THIS CAN BE USED BY EMPLOYEES AND THEIR MEDICAL FOR MEDICAL LEAVE FOR THEMSELVES OR THEIR FAMILY SITUATIONS AND BONDING TIME AND OR BONDING TIME. WITH THE BOARD'S APPROVAL, THE MPL POLICY WILL THEN GO INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1ST, 2026. THE EARNED SICK AND SAFE TIME LAW HAS BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE JANUARY 1ST OF 2024. HOWEVER, EARLY IN 2025, THE STATE MADE A CHANGE BY IMPLEMENTING BEREAVEMENT LEAVE INTO THE POLICY WITH THE ABILITY TO USE THE S T HOURS AND IN ADDITION, THE FOLLOWING TWO SENTENCES WERE REMOVED. THE COUNTY WILL DESIGNATE THE FIRST 48 HOURS OF VACATION AND SICK LEAVE COMBINED AS EARNED SICK AND SAFE TIME. IF FEWER THAN 48 HOURS OF VACATION AND SICK TIME ARE TAKEN IN A YEAR. THE REMAINING HOURS WILL ROLL OVER TO THE NEXT YEAR. SO WITH THE BOARD'S APPROVAL, THE POLICY WILL BE IN EFFECT AFTER TODAY OR UPON TODAY. THESE HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY THE COUNTY RELATIONS ATTORNEY LABOR RELATIONS ATTORNEY AS WELL. ANY QUESTIONS? ARE WE GOING TO HANDLE THESE AS TWO SEPARATE MOTIONS OR ONE GIGANTIC. IT MIGHT BE EASIER JUST TO DO THEM ONE BECAUSE ONE IS A NEW POLICY AND ONE IS AN AMENDMENT TO OUR POLICY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I MOVE TO APPROVE. SECONDED. QUESTIONS FOR BRIDGETTE. MADAM CHAIR, WHAT'S THE INVESTMENT FOR US AT NICOLLET COUNTY? FOR TO MAKE THE TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE, THE SSD OR THE MPL? YES. OKAY. FOR SSD. IT'S. THE EMPLOYEES GET THERE EIGHT HOURS A MONTH. LEAVE ACCRUAL SICK LEAVE ACCRUAL, WHICH IS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE ACTUAL LAW STATES TO GIVE THEM. SO WE'RE WAY AHEAD OF THAT GAME. FOR MPL THERE IS A COST TO THE EMPLOYEES AND TO THE EMPLOYER. WE SPLIT THE COST AND IT, THERE IS A CALCULATOR OUT THERE FOR EMPLOYEES TO GO TO TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEIR COST PER CHECK WILL BE. I HAVEN'T AVERAGED IT OUT, BUT IT'S LIKE 44.44. YOU KNOW, PER, PER TIME. SO IT PROBABLY AROUND $30, 20 TO $30 DEPENDING ON THEIR PAY. [00:10:05] SO THERE'S A COST TO BOTH PARTIES. I THINK WE ALL GOT THE INFORMATION FROM WHITNEY TO SIGN OFF YESTERDAY, SO WE NEED TO TURN THAT INTO HER. SURE. I THINK ON A $40,000 SALARY, IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE $161. OKAY. SHARED SHARED 80 PER COUNTY WITH 80 AND THE INDIVIDUAL WILL BE 80. AND THEN PER PAYCHECK, IT'S, YOU KNOW, DIVIDED THEN. RIGHT? RIGHT. I DO BELIEVE COMMISSIONER KOLARS WE BUDGETED $95,000 FOR THE EMPLOYEE PORTION OF PAID FAMILY LEAVE. OKAY. FOR THE COUNTY'S PORTION. OKAY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SIGNIFICANT. YOU HAVE A MOTION? YES. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. THANK YOU. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA WOULD BE PUBLIC WORKS, SINCE WE GOT FIVE MINUTES FOR THAT. OH, JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION. THAT MOTION WAS TO ADOPT THE MINNESOTA PAID LEAVE AND AMEND THE SST. CORRECT. THANK YOU. MORNING, SETH. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBER OF THE BOARD AND STAFF. [Public Works] AN ITEM FROM PUBLIC WORKS TODAY IS CONSIDERED PROJECT ACCEPTANCE AND FINAL PAYMENT FOR PROJECT SAP 52 615 ZERO 25. SO THIS PROJECT INVOLVED THE RECONSTRUCTION OF COUNTY ROAD 15 FROM SHOULD BE TRUNK HIGHWAY 111 TO COUNTY ROAD 51. ALL WORK ON THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE AND WE'VE RECEIVED ALL OUR NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION FROM THE CONTRACTOR. SO AT THIS POINT, PROJECT ACCEPTANCE AND FINAL PAYMENT TO MATHIOWITZ CONSTRUCTION CAN BE CONSIDERED FINAL CONTRACT VALUE WAS $20,337,609.80. THE REMAINING FINAL PAYMENT TO MATHIOWITZ WOULD BE $209,266.60, WHICH ESSENTIALLY IS PAYING OUT THE 1% RETAINAGE THAT WE STILL RETAIN. SO I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO ACCEPT THIS PROJECT AS COMPLETE AND IMPROVE THE FINAL PAYMENT TO MATHIOWITZ CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN THE CERTIFICATE OF FINAL ACCEPTANCE. I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PROJECT? I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PROJECT. SECOND. QUESTIONS FOR SETH. HEARING AND SEEING. NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. AND, MADAM CHAIR, IF I COULD HAVE JUST A MINUTE OR TWO. YOU GOT AN UPDATE ON ANOTHER PROJECT? SO I'VE BEEN BEFORE THE BOARD TO TALK ABOUT THE COUNTY ROAD 37 BRIDGE AND THE EROSION THAT WE HAVE OCCURRING AROUND A COUPLE OF THE PIERS WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THE CITY OF NEW ULM SINCE WE BASICALLY SHARE RESPONSIBILITY ON THAT BRIDGE. CITY OF NEW ULM IS THE LEAD AGENCY WITH THIS EROSION REPAIR PROJECT. THE CITY HAD ADVERTISED FOR BIDS IN NOVEMBER AND OPENED THOSE UP. WE ONLY RECEIVED ONE BID, AND IT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE BY ABOUT HIGHER THAN THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE BY ABOUT HALF $1 MILLION. SO IN CONCURRENCE WITH THE THE CITY ENGINEER WITH THE CITY OF NEW ULM WE, WE AGREED THAT BEST COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO REJECT THOSE BIDS AND RE-ADVERTISE. WE MADE A FEW SMALL MINOR CHANGES INTO PROJECT DURATION AND TIMING. AND REBID. THAT PROJECT CITY NEW ULM JUST REOPENED THOSE BIDS ON DECEMBER 10TH. WE RECEIVED THREE BIDS THIS TIME. THE LOW BID WAS AROUND 340,000 WHICH WAS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE. BUT WHENEVER YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE RIVER, THERE'S A FAIR AMOUNT OF RISK TO THE CONTRACTOR. YOU'RE NOT QUITE SURE HOW THEY WILL BID THAT, BUT WE RECEIVED THREE BIDS. WE DRASTICALLY REDUCED FROM THE FIRST GO ROUND OF ADVERTISING THAT, THAT VALUE. SO THE CITY NEW ULM WILL BE MOVING FORWARD TO AWARD A PROJECT. AND I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY RIGHT NOW WHEN CONSTRUCTION WILL START. GROUND'S FROZEN PRETTY HARD, SO ANTICIPATING THAT THIS CONTRACT WILL PROBABLY COME IN IF RIVER LEVELS ARE LOW IN THE SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER, AND IT'LL BE A NEXT YEAR TYPE OF PROJECT. [00:15:02] SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE THE BOARD AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT ONE. THANK YOU. THAT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. IT IS 915 AND TIME FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARING IN FINANCE. [Finance] GOOD MORNING HEATHER. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. ALL RIGHT. WE CAN OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR OUR 2026 TO 2030 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. ALL RIGHT. SHOULD I TAKE SOME TIME TO GO THROUGH IT? ALL RIGHT. SO I WILL PRESENT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN TODAY, AS WE DO ANNUALLY EACH YEAR. THE AGENDA ITEM IS TO PRESENT THIS FIVE YEAR PLAN AND HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING. DURING THE PRESENTATION, I WILL REFER TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AS CIP. FOLLOWING MINNESOTA STATUTE 373 .40 NICOLLET COUNTY WILL CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING OF THEIR FIVE YEAR CIP PLAN. PURPOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING IS TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS AND APPROVE THE PROPOSED 2026 THROUGH 2030 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR NICOLLET COUNTY. THE PLAN IDENTIFIES ESTIMATED CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND FUNDING SOURCES FOR THIS FIVE YEAR PERIOD. HAVING A CIP WILL ALLOW THE COUNTY BOARD, ADMINISTRATION AND DEPARTMENT HEADS MAKE BETTER FINANCIAL DECISIONS ON THE COUNTY'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT NEEDS. FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC HEARING, MY REQUEST IS THE APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION AND THE ADOPTION OF THE FIVE YEAR PLAN. SO IN THE PACKET WE'LL GO THROUGH SUMMARY OF IT. SO THE INTRO WILL BEGINNING OF THE PACKET WILL HAVE THE MISSION, VISION AND CORE VALUES OF NICOLLET COUNTY AS WELL AS THE AS THE ORCHESTRA ORG CHART FOR REFERENCE. AND OBVIOUSLY THE TABLE OF CONTENTS WILL GIVE YOU A REFERENCE POINT OF SUBJECT AREAS IN THE APPENDIXES. SO YOU CAN GO TO AREAS WHERE YOU ARE INTERESTED IN REVIEWING SOME HIGHLIGHTS. PAGES ONE THROUGH FOUR OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROVIDE THE GENERAL AND REQUIRED INFORMATION REGARDING THE CIP AND FOLLOWING THAT MINNESOTA STATUTE, A CIP MUST SET FORTH THE ESTIMATED SCHEDULE. TIMING AND DETAILS OF SPECIFIC CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS MUST ALSO HAVE ESTIMATED COSTS OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IDENTIFIED, THE NEED FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS AND THE SOURCES OF REVENUES NEEDED TO PAY FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS AND GENERAL. I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT THIS FIVE YEAR CIP IS A PLAN. IT IS NOT APPROVAL TO COMPLETE PROJECTS OR TO ISSUE DEBT. IT IS A PLAN. DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, THE FIRST YEAR OF THE CIP 2026 IS DISCUSSED IN DETAIL AND APPROVED VIA THAT PROCESS. THE ONE AREA ONGOING FOR APPROVALS WOULD BE ROAD AND BRIDGE PROJECTS WITHIN THE SECTION. I WOULD ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE NICOLLET COUNTY CURRENT DEBT PAYMENTS. THE COUNTY HAS ANNUAL DEBT PAYMENTS OF $1,047,430. THIS RECENTLY DROPPED BY ABOUT $1 MILLION. THE DEBT ANNUAL PAYMENT LIMIT IS BASED ON MARKET VALUE OF THE PROPERTY IN NICOLLET COUNTY, AND THAT IS ABOUT $9 MILLION, SO WE ARE WELL UNDER THAT LIMIT. THE NEXT SECTION WOULD BE APPENDIX A. APPENDIX A WILL PROVIDE A SNAPSHOT OF THE FIVE YEARS SHOWING PROJECT AND PURCHASE TYPE ON THE TOP BY YEAR AND ALSO THE FUNDING SOURCE BY YEAR. THE TOTAL YEAR WILL FLUCTUATE AND THE LARGE SWINGS WILL USUALLY OCCUR FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS AND BUILDING PROJECTS. THE DECISIONS ON BONDING FOR THOSE DECISIONS, THE COUNTY'S GOAL WOULD BE TO KEEP THAT BONDING FLAT YEAR TO YEAR. KEEPING IN MIND THE TAXPAYERS THAT THEY DON'T SEE LARGE SWINGS WHILE KEEPING IN MIND TO INVEST IN NICOLLET COUNTY FACILITIES AND ROADS. PROJECTED NEW DEBT ON THE SCHEDULE INCLUDES A PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY AND COUNTY ROAD 16 ROAD PROJECT. TO NOTE WHEN PUBLIC WORKS COMPLETES THEIR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. THE THE PLAN YEAR IS THE YEAR THAT THE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS. THE NEXT APPENDIX WOULD BE APPENDIX B, PAGES SIX AND SEVEN, APPENDIX B1 WILL START A TWO PAGE SUMMARY SHOWING THE FIVE YEARS OF THE PROJECTS BY DEPARTMENT. THIS WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION BEHIND THAT APPENDIX A THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT. AS NOTED, THE FIRST YEAR OF THE CIP IS DISCUSSED IN DETAIL DURING THAT BUDGET PROCESS. ROAD AND BRIDGE PROJECTS ARE HANDLED AS THEY PROGRESS AND AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, PUBLIC WORKS WILL BRING PROJECTS BEFORE THE BOARD. [00:20:04] BEHIND APPENDIX B1 IS APPENDIX B2, AND THIS WILL PROVIDE ALL PROJECT FORMS THAT ARE SUBMITTED BY THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, AND THOSE ARE ON PAGES EIGHT THROUGH 35. GOING TO APPENDIX C, THIS WOULD BE THE ROAD AND BRIDGE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND INVENTORY EQUIPMENT INVENTORY COSTS. THIS SECTION WILL PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION PLANS FOR THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD AND ALSO A MAP. AND AS WELL AS SHOWING THE EQUIPMENT PLAN INVESTMENTS. THEN IF YOU GO TO PAGE 45, THIS WILL SHOW THE. FIND MY NOTES HERE. THE BOND TAX LEVY. THIS WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION OF THE YEAR OF THE LEVY, THE YEAR OF THE COLLECTION, AND THE YEAR OF THE PAYMENT. THE COUNTY WILL USE THIS AS A GUIDE AS TIMING OF PROJECTS IS PLANNED. AS DEBT IS COMPLETE. THE COUNTY IS ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT NEEDED CAPITAL INVESTMENT WHILE KEEPING IN MIND THE TAXPAYER. THE NEXT APPENDIX IS APPENDIX E. THIS IS THE NICOLLET COUNTY UNRESTRICTED FUND BALANCE SUMMARY. THE SCHEDULE WILL SHOW THE COUNTY'S UNRESTRICTED FUND BALANCE FOR THE LAST COMPLETED AUDIT, AND IT WILL ALSO SHOW THE METRICS FOR THE STATE AUDITOR RECOMMENDED THRESHOLDS. IT ALSO INCLUDES RESTRICTED FUND BALANCES RELATED TO SALES AND VILLAGE TAX. FOR REFERENCE, IN 2024, SIGNIFICANT FUNDS WERE OF AROUND 11 MILLION WERE USED ON THE COUNTY ROAD 15 PROJECT, WHICH SETH HAD JUST MENTIONED THIS MORNING. SO THEREFORE WE BROUGHT THOSE BALANCES DOWN QUITE A BIT IN 2024. THEN WE GO TO APPENDIX F AND THIS WOULD BE THE 20 YEAR ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT LIST ALONG WITH THE MAP. AND THIS WAS APPROVED. AND THIS, THIS WILL SHOW THE, THE ROAD PROJECTS THAT THE SALES TAX CAN BE USED ON. AND THAT COMPLETES THE SUMMARY OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. AND I WOULD BE READY FOR, TO OPEN FOR PUBLIC HEARING. ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME WE CAN OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK REGARDING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN? IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? HEARING AND SEEING NONE, WE CAN CLOSE THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY PORTION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING. MOVE ON TO THE RESOLUTION WHICH IS ON PAGE 50. FINAL PAGE. YES. PAGE 50 INCLUDES THE RESOLUTION. I'LL BE LOOKING FOR APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. THANK YOU. I MOVE THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO THE RESOLUTION. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? I'LL JUST THANK THE DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR HELPING ME UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WORKS AND RECEIVING INFORMATION ABOUT HOW CAREFULLY YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN TO BRING THESE PROJECTS TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL. AND JUST NOTING THAT ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE ALWAYS KEEPING THE PROPERTY TAXPAYER FRONT OF MIND. SO I APPRECIATE IT. AND AS HEATHER SAID, IT'S A ROADMAP, NOT A BIBLE. HEARING AND SEEING. NO FURTHER COMMENTS, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? SUSAN COMMISSIONER DEHEN. YES. COMMISSIONER. KOLARS. YES. COMMISSIONER. ZINS. YES. COMMISSIONER. HELGET. YES. COMMISSIONER. DRANTTEL. YES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'VE GOT FIVE MINUTES TILL OUR NEXT PUBLIC HEARING SO WE CAN PROBABLY GET [Administration] STARTED WITH ADMIN. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY BEGINNING ON PAGE 224 OF YOUR BOARD PACKET. THE FIRST ITEM I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IS TO CONSIDER THE SHERIFF APPOINTMENT RESOLUTION ON OCTOBER 28TH, 2025. THE BOARD ACCEPTED AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE RETIREMENT OF SHERIFF DAVE WANG, EFFECTIVE ON DECEMBER 31ST OF 2025. THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION IS FOR CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTING CHIEF DEPUTY AARON PETERSON AS THE NICOLLET COUNTY SHERIFF, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 31ST, [00:25:02] 2025 AT 12:01 P.M. TO FILL THE REMAINDER OF THE CURRENT TERM. MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE RESOLUTION FOR THE RECORD LOCATED ON PAGE 224 OF YOUR PACKET. THANK YOU. WHEREAS DAVE LANG WAS SWORN IN AS THE NICOLLET COUNTY SHERIFF ON JANUARY 7TH, 2003, AND WHEREAS SHERIFF LANG HAS SERVED THE CITIZENS OF NICOLLET COUNTY IN A FAITHFUL AND MERITORIOUS MANNER FOR SIX TERMS, AND WHEREAS SHERIFF LANG HAS ANNOUNCED HIS PLANS TO RETIRE FROM THE ELECTED OFFICE OF SHERIFF ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2025. AND WHEREAS AARON PETERSON HAS SERVED THE CITIZENS OF NICOLLET COUNTY WITHIN THE OFFICE OF THE NICOLLET COUNTY SHERIFF SINCE 2004. AND HE HAS BEEN A LICENSED PEACE OFFICER SINCE 2006. AARON PETERSON HAS SERVED IN THE POSITIONS OF JAILER, DISPATCHER, DEPUTY INVESTIGATOR AND CHIEF DEPUTY. HE IS DULY QUALIFIED TO HOLD THE POSITION OF SHERIFF. WHEREAS, THE BOARD DESIRES TO APPOINT AARON PETERSON TO SERVE AS SHERIFF UPON THE RETIREMENT OF SHERIFF LANG, AS PERMITTED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTE 375 .08 SUBDIVISION A. WHEREAS, IT IS DESIROUS FOR AARON PETERSON TO TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2025. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE AND ACCEPT THE RETIREMENT OF NICOLLET COUNTY SHERIFF DAVE LANG, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 31ST, 2025 AT 12 P.M.. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY APPOINT AARON PETERSON ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2025 AT 12:01 P.M. TO SERVE AS THE NICOLLET COUNTY SHERIFF FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CURRENT TERM UNTIL A SUCCESSOR QUALIFIES. DATED THE 16TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2025. MADAM CHAIR, I'M REQUESTING THE BOARD CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION APPOINTING AARON PETERSON AS THE SHERIFF, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 31ST, 2025 AT 12:01 P.M.. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RESOLUTION? I'LL MOVE IT, MADAM CHAIR. SECOND. QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? JUST ONE QUESTION. MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE NEW SHERIFF WILL BE SWORN IN IN THIS OFFICE BY ONE OF OUR JUDGES. CORRECT. OKAY. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? HEARING AND SEEING. NONE. WILL SUSAN PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? I WILL DO THAT FOR HER. COMMISSIONER. KOLARS. YES. COMMISSIONER. DEHEN. YES. COMMISSIONER. ZINS. YES. COMMISSIONER. HELGET. YES. COMMISSIONER. DRANTTEL. YES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE THREE, TWO MINUTES TO OUR PUBLIC HEARING. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO EXPLAIN THE INFORMATION BEHIND THE FEE SCHEDULE OR MOVE ON TO ANOTHER ITEM? GO AHEAD AND EXPLAIN THE INFO BEHIND IT. IT'S GOING TO BE QUICK. OKAY. SO MINNESOTA STATUTE 373 .41 COUNTY BOARDS MAY CHARGE FOR SERVICES PROVIDED COUNTY OFFICES EACH YEAR. DEPARTMENT HEADS REVIEW THE EXISTING FEE SCHEDULE AND SUGGEST CHANGES AS DEEMED APPROPRIATE. THESE CHANGES ARE PRESENT AT A PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS SET FOR TODAY AT 9:30 A.M. TO GATHER PUBLIC COMMENT. WITHIN YOUR PACKET, THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS HAVE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE FEE SCHEDULES. THIS INCLUDES CHANGES FROM THE COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. PROPERTY ASSESSMENT. PROPERTY. SERVICES. PUBLIC SERVICES. CORONER'S OFFICE AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. ALL CHANGES ARE IDENTIFIED IN RED FONT COLOR AND HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW. CHANGES INCLUDE THE INCREASE, DECREASE, ADDITION AND OR REMOVAL FEES AND OR RENAMING OF SERVICES. FEES TO BE REMOVED ARE REPRESENTED WITH A STRIKE THROUGH THE FAR RIGHT COLUMN. MAY CONTAIN ADDITIONAL COMMENTS CONCERNING THE PROPOSED CHANGE. A MAJORITY OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE HEALTH AND HUMAN EXCUSE ME, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING. THERE ARE AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF CHANGES THIS YEAR. HOWEVER, AS I SAID, THEY ARE RELATED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION WITHIN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND THEN JUST OTHER GENERAL MAINTENANCE WITHIN THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MANDY REGARDING ANY SPECIFIC FEE CHANGES? EVIDENTLY WE'RE AN EASY BUNCH TODAY. I DID NOTICE ONE THAT SEEMED KIND OF O LARGE. [00:30:02] I CAN'T GET IT ON MY SCREEN NOW. IN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THE APPLICATION FEE FOR DAYCARE WENT TO 2100 BUCKS FROM 500. IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, THAT WAS A FEE INCREASE BY THE STATE. OKAY. SEEMS SIGNIFICANT. NOT DAYCARE, BUT THE LICENSED HOMES. LICENSED HOMES. OKAY. GOTCHA. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. IT IS NOW 930, SO WE CAN OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY REGARDING OUR FEE SCHEDULE. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO COMMENT REGARDING OUR FEE SCHEDULE FROM THE PUBLIC? ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? AND LASTLY, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE I CLOSE THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY. WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BRING THE RESOLUTION FORWARD. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ IT IN FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. RESOLUTION FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE 2026 NICOLLET COUNTY FEE SCHEDULE. WHEREAS, PURSUANT TO MINNESOTA STATUTE 373 .41, THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MAY CHARGE FEES FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY ANY COUNTY OFFICE, OFFICIAL, DEPARTMENT, COURT OR EMPLOYEE. AND WHEREAS THE NICOLLET COUNTY DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE REVIEWED THE DEPARTMENT FEES AND THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES WERE REPRESENTED ALONG WITH THE COMPLETE PROPOSED FEE SCHEDULE IN A PUBLIC HEARING ON DECEMBER 16TH, 2025. AND WHEREAS THE NICOLLET COUNTY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REVIEWED THE PROPOSED FEE, SCHEDULE AND AMENDMENTS. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS THAT THE 2026 NICOLLET COUNTY FEE SCHEDULE AS PRESENTED HAS BEEN APPROVED AND ADOPTED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2026, DATED THE 16TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2025. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT OR ADOPT THE RESOLUTION? SECONDED. FURTHER QUESTIONS AND OR COMMENTS? MANDY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? COMMISSIONER. ZINS. YES. COMMISSIONER. HELGET. YES. COMMISSIONER. DEHEN. YES. COMMISSIONER. KOLARS. YES. COMMISSIONER. DRANTTEL. YES. THANK YOU. ACCORDING TO MINNESOTA STATUTE, 275 .065 COUNTIES MUST ADOPT AND CERTIFY THE PRELIMINARY LEVY ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30TH OF THE CURRENT YEAR. IN ADDITION, THE SETTING OF THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT MEETING DURING THE SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2025 BOARD MEETING, THE BOARD VOTED TO APPROVE THE SETTING OF THE PRELIMINARY LEVY OF 2026 AT 9.7%. THIS IS A PROPOSED TAX LEVY AMOUNT OF $29,988,069, OR A TOTAL BUDGET OF $1,768,248. ON DECEMBER 4TH, 2025, THE BUDGET AND LEVY MEETING, OR AS IT IS MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE TRUTH IN TAXATION OR TNT MEETING, WAS HELD TO ALLOW CITIZENS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE UPCOMING BUDGET AND TAX LEVY AND ASK QUESTIONS. THREE RESIDENTS DID ATTEND IN PERSON AND PROVIDED COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE INCREASE IN TAXES. AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT WAS RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING DAY FROM ANOTHER RESIDENT WITH SIMILAR CONCERNS OF THE INCREASE IN TAXES. THIS MEETING WAS AVAILABLE TO VIEW LIVE ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE AND WAS RECORDED FOR FUTURE VIEWING. A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR THE BUDGET IS THE INVESTMENT AND STAFF. THE OBLIGATION TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED SERVICES HAS BEEN CHALLENGING. NICOLLET COUNTY CONTINUES TO COMPETE WITH ALL LAYERS OF GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR QUALIFIED CANDIDATES, CREATING UNIQUE CHALLENGES TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN INDIVIDUALS TO PROVIDE SERVICES MANDATED BY THE STATE. THE COST OF WORKFORCE TURNOVER IMPACTS MORE THAN JUST COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE HIRING PROCESS, COSTS TO PARTICIPATE IN AND TRAVEL TO JOB FAIRS, TIME SPENT BY HUMAN RESOURCES AND OR HIRING MANAGERS TO REVIEW APPLICATIONS AND DETERMINE WHO TO INTERVIEW. THEN TO CONDUCT THE INTERVIEWS. FINANCIAL IMPACTS ALSO INCLUDE POSTING AND EMPLOYMENT COSTS, AS WELL AS CONDUCTING REFERENCE CHECKS AND PRE-EMPLOYMENT TESTING. IN 2024, THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT ESTIMATED THE COST TO REPLACE AN EMPLOYEE WAS ABOUT $5,000. THIS AMOUNT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE IMPACT TO THE TEAM EXPERIENCED IN THE VACANCY. THE INDIVIDUAL REQUESTING THE SERVICE OR THE INABILITY TO APPLY FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR A SERVICE WHEN A VACANCY OCCURS IN JANUARY OF 2025. THE COUNTY ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH DAVID BROWN ASSOCIATES FOR A TOTAL COMPENSATION ASSESSMENT PROJECT TO REVIEW AND UPDATE THE COUNTY'S COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY AND STRATEGY, TO UPDATE ALL JOB DESCRIPTIONS TO ENSURE ACCURACY AND PROPER PLACEMENT IN [00:35:02] THE PAY SYSTEM, AND REVIEW AND RECALIBRATE THE PAY GRADE AMOUNTS AND STRUCTURE. THE INTENT OF THE PROJECT IS TO REACH, EXCUSE ME, RETAIN, ATTRACT AND MAINTAIN WORKFORCE COMPETITIVENESS IN THE AREA. THE LEVY INCREASE IS GENERALLY 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. APPROXIMATELY 34.8 MILLION, OR 56% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET, IS RELATED TO WAGES AND BENEFITS. THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOES INCLUDE FIVE FULL TIME POSITIONS WITH PHASED HIRE DATES. POSITIONS WITHIN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES INCLUDE A DISABILITY SERVICES ASSESSOR WITH A HIGHER DATE OF SEPTEMBER 1ST OF 2025, WITH THE FULL IMPACT OF THE SALARY TO TAKE PLACE IN 2026. A DISABILITY SERVICES CASE MANAGER TO BE HIRED IN FEBRUARY 1ST OF 2026. TWO CASE MANAGERS WITH PHASE DATES OF JULY 1ST AND NOVEMBER 1ST OF 2026, AND A FAMILY BASED SERVICES PROVIDER OF SEPTEMBER 1ST OF 26. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE POSITION FROM PUBLIC WORKS FOR A PROJECT DESIGN CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER, WHICH WAS INTENDED TO BE HIRED FOR JULY 1ST OF 2025. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FILL THIS POSITION. THE FULL IMPACT OF THE SALARY WOULD BE REFLECTED IN THE 2026 BUDGET. THE TWO CASE MANAGERS AND FAMILY BASED SERVICE PROVIDER POSITIONS ARE THE RESULT OF THE PROPOSED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MINNESOTA AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY PRESERVATION AND CHILD WELFARE DISPROPORTIONALITY ACT, ALSO KNOWN AS THE ACT. THERE ARE INCREASED EXPENSES RELATED TO THE SERVICES PROVIDED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES, PROPERTY AND PUBLIC SERVICES, AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FUND AREAS AS WELL. THE PROPOSED PRELIMINARY LEVY DOES REFLECT A SLIGHT DECREASE IN THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT APPROPRIATIONS AREA AFTER CAREFUL EVALUATION OF EXPENSES, INCOME PROJECTIONS AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS. ADDITIONAL AREAS WERE IDENTIFIED FOR COST SAVINGS AND WERE REMOVED FROM THE 2026 BUDGET AS A RESULT OF THESE REVISIONS. THE FINAL LEVY BEING PROPOSED IS RECOMMENDED TO DECREASE FROM 9.7% TO 7.1%, OR $367. REDUCING THE TOTAL BUDGET TO $61,062,546. IN GENERAL, THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS CONTINUES TO INCREASE. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CONTINUE TO FEEL THE FINANCIAL IMPACT RELATED TO BASIC OPERATIONS, TECHNOLOGY, EQUIPMENT, LEGAL AND DATA PRACTICES, AND COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE. THE NEED FOR PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL SERVICES AND ROAD AND BRIDGE PROJECTS. WHAT DOES A 7.1% TAX LEVY INCREASE MEAN FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER? THE NUMBER I WILL PROVIDE YOU TODAY IS COMPARISON OF THE 2025 TO 2026 IN THE PROPERTY CLASSIFICATION AREAS OF FIVE OF THEM WITHIN THE COUNTY, A DECREASED FROM 39% TO 37.69%. RESIDENTIAL INCREASED FROM 38% TO 38.88%. COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL INCREASED FROM 13% TO 14.31%. NON-HOMESTEAD AND RENTALS INCREASED FROM 8% TO 9.12% AND UTILITIES REMAINED AT 2% OF THE TAX CLASSIFICATION. I WILL SHARE WITH YOU THREE EXAMPLES OF TAX IMPACT. HOWEVER, SEVERAL FACTORS WITHIN AN IMMEDIATE AREA OR GEOGRAPHICAL OR MARKET AREA CAN ALSO IMPACT THE TAXES, AS WELL AS THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY WHICH HAS OCCURRED WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. A HOME LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF SAINT PETER, WITH AN ESTIMATED MARKET VALUE OF $404,500 WITH NO INCREASE IN VALUE, COULD EXPECT TO SEE AN INCREASE IN TAXES OF APPROXIMATELY $142, OR 7.77%. A FARM HOME SITE, WHICH WOULD BE CONSIDERED A HOUSE GARAGE IN ONE ACRE, EXCUSE ME, WITH A VALUE OF 265,000, WITH A DECREASE OF 3.3. ESTIMATED MARKET VALUE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR COULD SEE AN INCREASE OF $43, OR 3.97%, AND WITHIN A GLAND OF 70 ACRES, WITH A VALUE OF 1.1 MILLION, WITH A DECREASE OF 6.13. IN THE ESTIMATED MARKET VALUE FROM 2025 COULD SEE AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY $46, OR 1.74%. MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE TAX LEVY RESOLUTION FOR THE RECORD BEGINNING ON PAGE 236 OF YOUR PACKET. THIS RESOLUTION LISTS THE TAX LEVY PERCENTAGE, THE FIVE FUND AREAS, AND THE CORRESPONDING DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,277,367. IT'S TITLED 2026 NICOLLET COUNTY PROPERTY TAX LEVY RESOLUTION. WHEREAS, THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ANNUALLY ADOPTS A BUDGET. AND WHEREAS, PROPERTY TAX REVENUES ARE NEEDED TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. AND WHEREAS THE 2026 NICOLLET COUNTY BUDGET WAS PREPARED WITH INPUT FROM ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS AND NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS. [00:40:01] AND WHEREAS ON SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2025, THE COUNTY BOARD SET THE 2026 PRELIMINARY LEVY TAX LEVY OF $29,988,069, WHICH IS A 9.7% INCREASE IN THE OF THE 2025 PROPERTY TAX LEVY. AND WHEREAS A BUDGET MEETING WAS HELD ON DECEMBER 4TH, 2025, TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED 2026 BUDGET AND TAX LEVY. AND WHEREAS DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, RESIDENTS PROVIDED VALUABLE FEEDBACK REGARDING THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE LEVY AND WHEREAS BASED ON FURTHER ANALYSIS AND THE INPUT RECEIVED, THE BOARD IDENTIFIED OPPORTUNITIES TO ADJUST EXPENDITURES AND PRIORITIZE ESSENTIAL SERVICES WITHOUT COMPROMISING OPERATIONS. AND WHEREAS, AS A RESULT OF THIS ADDITIONAL REVIEW, THE BOARD REDUCED THE PRELIMINARY LEVY FROM ITS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED AMOUNT WHILE MAINTAINING THE COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE FISCAL MANAGEMENT. AND WHEREAS THE PROPOSED 2026 PRELIMINARY TAX LEVY OF AND $67, WHICH IS A 7.1% INCREASE OF THE 2025 PROPERTY TAX LEVY. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT ON DECEMBER 16TH, 2025, THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD HEREBY HEREBY APPROVES THE 2026 NET PROPERTY TAX LEVY FOR NICOLLET COUNTY AS FOLLOWS. AS I STATED, THERE ARE THE THE REVENUE FUND AREAS WITH IT IDENTIFIED WITH THE APPROPRIATE OR CORRESPONDING DOLLAR AMOUNTS, AND THEN THE RESOLUTION IS DATED THE 16TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2025. MADAM CHAIR, I'M TODAY I'M REQUESTING THE BOARD CONSIDER THE TAX LEVY RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED. AND IF YOU'D LIKE, I CAN GO DO AN EXPLANATION OF THE TOTAL BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT IT FLOWS TOGETHER. THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THE TOTAL BUDGET AT THIS POINT. WE'VE SEEN IT A LOT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RESOLUTION? I'LL MOVE IT SECOND. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY THANKS TO MY BUDGET COMMITTEE MEMBERS. HEATHER'S TEAM AND ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR BRINGING FORTH A FAIRLY FLAT BUDGET REQUEST. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF FLUFF IN THIS BUDGET, SO TO SPEAK. A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO IT AND A LOT OF MEETINGS. COMMISSIONER KOLARS MADAM CHAIR, THANK YOU. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE FOR DELVING INTO THIS SITUATION THAT WE HAVE AT NICOLLET COUNTY IN MOST COUNTIES IN AMERICA. THE DISINVESTMENT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THIS PAST YEAR HAS CAUSED A LOT OF HEADACHES. THE STATE IS HAVING ITS OWN ISSUES. AND SO THE COUNTY PROPERTY TAX OWNERS HAVE TO PICK UP THE PIECES AND DELIVER THE SERVICES THAT WERE MANDATED TO SERVICE BY THE FEDS AND BY THE STATE. AND SO HERE WE ARE, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING THAT WE'VE REDUCED FROM 9.7 TO 7.1. I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION ABOUT WHERE THAT $600,000 CAME FROM. THAT WAS IN OUR BUILDING BUDGET. WE HAD ORIGINALLY BUDGETED LEVY DOLLARS TO FUND FUTURE CONSTRUCTION OF A PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING TO THE TUNE OF $600,000. RIGHT. WE PULLED THAT OUT OF OUR CURRENT 2026 BUDGET TO. MAKE THE BURDEN A LITTLE BIT LESS ON OUR RESIDENTS, RIGHT. AND SO AS WE DO THAT, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS, WILL THAT AREA BE REPLENISHED IN THE FUTURE SO THAT WE MIGHT CONTINUE WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS CONVERSATION ON A BUILDING AND LAND? OR HOW DO WE SEE THAT WORKING IN 2728? WE MAY NOT REPLENISH IT, WHICH MIGHT MEAN WE WOULD HAVE TO BOND OR BORROW ADDITIONAL MONIES AT THAT TIME. AND TRULY, THE FEDERAL CUTBACKS THAT WE'VE SEEN REALLY HAVEN'T AFFECTED THIS BUDGET YET VERY MUCH. THAT'S REALLY NOT A FACTOR FOR 2026 NOT AS GREAT AS YOU MIGHT THINK IT IS. IT FEELS LIKE 2027 AND 2028, MAYBE WORSE THAN I HAVE DESCRIBED POTENTIALLY. BUT FOR 2026 THE EFFECT IS FAIRLY MINIMAL. OUR DRIVER IS AGAIN, INFLATION MORE SO THAN CUTS TO FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE. WELL, I APPRECIATE YOUR CLARIFICATION ON THAT. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? I'M SURE I'LL MAKE A COMMENT JUST TO KIND OF TO POINT OUT A LITTLE BIT THE THE POINTS ON THE BUDGET. ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THE PUBLIC MAYBE DOESN'T OUR, OUR INVESTMENT IN STAFF IN TERMS OF INCREASED WAGES AND THE COST OF THEIR BENEFITS AND INSURANCE WAS ROUGHLY AN INCREASE OF $3 MILLION, I BELIEVE. GIVE OR TAKE A FEW OF WHICH $2 MILLION IS WHAT HIT THE LEVY, [00:45:04] WHICH MEANS THAT WE'VE ESSENTIALLY USED $1 MILLION WORTH OF RESERVES TO COVER THOSE COSTS. THAT, IN FACT, DID GO UP. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, SO THOSE THOSE COSTS DID GO UP TO US IN THE COUNTY. WE JUST HADN'T PASSED THEM ALONG TO THE TAXPAYER. WE'RE USING TAX FUNDS THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN COLLECTED. BUT WE'LL HAVE TO BEAR IN MIND THOSE FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN COLLECTED WON'T BE THERE FOREVER IF WE CONTINUE TO USE THEM THAT WAY. CORRECT. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? COMMISSIONER. HELGET. YES. COMMISSIONER. KOLARS. YES. COMMISSIONER. ZINS. YES. COMMISSIONER. DEHEN. YES. COMMISSIONER. DRANTTEL. YES. THANK YOU. THE NEXT RESOLUTION I HAVE FOR THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION IS THE 2026 BUDGET RESOLUTION, BEGINNING ON PAGE 239 OF YOUR PACKET. THIS CONTAINS THE 2026 BUDGET REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES IN THE AMOUNT OF $61,062,546. MADAM CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO READ THE RESOLUTION FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU. 2026. NICOLLET COUNTY BUDGET RESOLUTION. WHEREAS, THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD ANNUALLY ADOPTS A BUDGET, AND WHEREAS THE 2026 NICOLLET COUNTY BUDGET WAS PREPARED WITH INPUT FROM ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS AND NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS. AND WHEREAS A BUDGET MEETING WAS HELD ON DECEMBER 4TH, 2025 TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED 2026 BUDGET AND TAX LEVY. AND WHEREAS DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, RESIDENTS PROVIDED VALUABLE FEEDBACK REGARDING THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE LEVY AND WHEREAS BASED ON FURTHER ANALYSIS AND INPUT RECEIVED, THE BOARD IDENTIFIED OPPORTUNITIES TO ADJUST EXPENDITURES AND PRIORITIZE ESSENTIAL SERVICES WITHOUT COMPROMISING OPERATIONS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT ON DECEMBER 16TH, 2025, THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD HEREBY APPROVES THE 2026 BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $61,062,546. THE RESOLUTION DOES INCLUDE A TABLE OF ALL THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES COMING INTO THE COUNTY FOR THE 2026 BUDGET, WITH THE TOTAL BUDGET OF THE $61,062,546 AND THE RESOLUTION IS DATED THE 16TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2025. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE BUDGET RESOLUTION? SO MOVED. SECONDED. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MANDY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? COMMISSIONER. DEHEN. YES. COMMISSIONER. HELGET. YES. COMMISSIONER. ZINS. YES. COMMISSIONER. DRANTTEL. YES. THE NEXT RESOLUTION I HAVE FOR THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION IS PER STATUTE. THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, BY RESOLUTION, SHALL SET THE SALARIES FOR THE COMING YEAR FOR THE SEVEN ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHICH INCLUDES THE FIVE COMMISSIONERS, THE SHERIFF AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. THE RESOLUTION ALSO INCLUDES THE PER DIEM RATE OF $70 PER DAY. MADAM CHAIR, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ THE RESOLUTION TO THE RECORD, PLEASE? 2026. NICOLLET COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS COMPENSATION AND PER DIEM RESOLUTION. WHEREAS, THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ANNUALLY ESTABLISHES COMPENSATION AND PER DIEMS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND WHEREAS, MINNESOTA STATUTE 375 .055 STATES THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND ALL COUNTIES EXCEPT HENNEPIN AND RAMSEY SHALL RECEIVE AS COMPENSATION FOR SERVICES RENDERED BY THEM FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTIES ANNUAL SALARIES AND IN ADDITION, MAY RECEIVE PER DIEM PAYMENTS AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR NECESSARY EXPENSES IN PERFORMING THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE AS SET BY RESOLUTION OF THE COUNTY BOARD WITH THE SALARY AND SCHEDULES OF PER DIEM PAYMENTS NOT BEING EFFECTIVE UNTIL JANUARY 1ST OF THE NEXT YEAR. AND WHEREAS MINNESOTA STATUTE 387 .20 AND STATUTE 388 .18 STATES THAT THE COUNTY BOARD ANNUALLY SHALL SET BY RESOLUTION THE SALARY OF THE COUNTY SHERIFF AND COUNTY ATTORNEY. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY ADOPT THE FOLLOWING FOR 2026. NUMBER ONE, THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SALARY IN 2026 WILL BE $41,733.95, WITH THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD RECEIVING AN ADDITIONAL $1,500 ANNUALLY FOR DUTIES RELATED TO THAT POSITION. NUMBER TWO, THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND LAYPERSONS SERVING ON COUNTY COMMITTEES, WHICH HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE COUNTY BOARD, ARE APPROVED TO RECEIVE PER DIEMS IN THE AMOUNT OF $70 PER DAY. NUMBER THREE, THE SALARY FOR THE NICOLLET COUNTY ATTORNEY IN 2026 IS SET AT $183,645. NUMBER FOUR SALARY FOR THE NICOLLET COUNTY SHERIFF IN 2026 IS SET AT 160,000, [00:50:02] AND THIS RESOLUTION IS DATED THE 16TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2025. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED. THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED. FURTHER DISCUSSION. I AGAIN JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE AND ADMINISTRATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES. EVERYBODY I, I'VE COME TO THINK ABOUT THIS PROCESS AS A COMBINATION OF BEST PRACTICES AND BUSINESS BUDGETING AND BEST PRACTICES IN HOUSEHOLD BUDGETING. AND SO AGAIN, JUST GREAT APPRECIATION FOR EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, MANDY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? COMMISSIONER. DEHEN. YES. COMMISSIONER. HELGET. YES. COMMISSIONER. ZINS. YES. COMMISSIONER. KOLARS. YES. COMMISSIONER. DRANTTEL. YES. THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIR, MAY I INTERRUPT FOR A SECOND? SURE. I HAD TO STEP OUT. I WOULD LIKE TO VOTE YES ON THE BUDGET. I DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN DO THAT BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T IN THE ROOM. YEAH, THE TIME HAS PASSED FOR THAT. I'M SORRY. THE TIME HAS PASSED FOR THAT. BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BEEN PASSED. OKAY. I'M SORRY I HAD TO PULL AWAY. YOUR APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET IS NOW NOTED. SO YOU'RE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT? THANK YOU. NOTED. I THINK THAT COULD BE REFLECTED IN THE MINUTES. SURE. THANK YOU. JACK AND MANDY, YOUR LAST ITEM. YOU MIGHT NEED A SLUG OF WATER THERE. IT'S GETTING CLOSE. YES. THE LAST ITEM FOR THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION IS WITHDRAWAL FROM THE RURAL MINNESOTA ENERGY BOARD JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT. OVER THE LAST YEAR, THE COUNTY HAS EXPERIENCED GROWING BUDGET PRESSURES RESULTING FROM RISING OPERATIONAL COSTS, INCREASED DEMANDS FOR SERVICES, COST SHIFTS FROM STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS, AND LIMITED GROWTH IN REVENUE. THESE COMBINED FACTORS HAVE CREATED A STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE THAT IMPACTS THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CURRENT SERVICE LEVELS AND MEET STRATEGIC PRIORITIES. ADDRESSING THESE BUDGET PRESSURES IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE LONG TERM FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY, PROTECT CORE FUNCTIONS AND CONTINUE DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY SERVICES TO NICOLLET COUNTY RESIDENTS. THEREFORE, I'M REQUESTING THE BOARD CONSIDER THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION WITHDRAWING FROM THE MINNESOTA RURAL MINNESOTA ENERGY BOARD. I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT FOLLOWING THE BUDGET WORKSHOP IN OCTOBER WITH JASON WALKER, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE RURAL MINNESOTA ENERGY BOARD. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS IS A SITUATION THAT THE BOARD HAS TO CONSIDER AS FAR AS THE OVERALL BUDGET, AND WOULD WELCOME THE BOARD CONSIDERING IT BEEN BETTER FINANCIAL TIMES TO PARTICIPATE AT A LATER DATE, BUT UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS. BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT BUDGET SITUATION MANY COUNTIES ARE FACING. THIS IS AN UNDERSTANDABLE REQUEST, SO I DO WANT TO SHARE THAT PART OF IT. MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE RESOLUTION FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU. RESOLUTION TO WITHDRAW FROM THE RURAL MINNESOTA ENERGY BOARD JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT. WHEREAS, NICOLLET COUNTY ENTERED INTO A JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT AT JPA WITH THE RURAL MINNESOTA ENERGY BOARD. R M E B ON MAY 14TH, 2019. AND WHEREAS THE GOAL OF THE R M E B IS TO PROVIDE POLICY GUIDANCE ON ISSUES SURROUNDING ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND RURAL MINNESOTA AND TO FOSTER THE DIVERSIFICATION OF THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE IN RURAL MINNESOTA. THE FOCUS OF THE R M E B INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, RENEWABLE ENERGY, WIND ENERGY, ENERGY TRANSMISSION LINES, HYDROGEN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, BIODIESEL AND ETHANOL USE. WASTE TO ENERGY, ENERGY CONSERVATION AND INITIATING COMMUNICATION WITH POWER COMPANIES. AND WHEREAS, THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HAS BEEN A MEMBER FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. AND WHEREAS OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE COUNTY HAS EXPERIENCED GROWING BUDGET PRESSURES RESULTING FROM RISING OPERATIONAL COSTS, INCREASED DEMAND FOR SERVICES, COST SHIFTS FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS, AND LIMITED GROWTH IN REVENUE. THESE COMBINED FACTORS HAVE CREATED A STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE THAT IMPACTS THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CURRENT SERVICE LEVELS AND MEET STRATEGIC PRIORITIES. ADDRESSING THESE BUDGET PRESSURES IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE LONG TERM FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY, PROTECT CORE FUNCTIONS AND CONTINUE DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY SERVICES TO NICOLLET COUNTY'S RESIDENTS. AND WHEREAS NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS INTENDS TO WITHDRAW FROM THE RMB AS OF JULY 1ST, 2026, WHEREAS A WITHDRAWING MEMBER OF THE RMB MUST GIVE NOTICE AT LEAST SIX MONTHS NOTICE IN WRITING BY CERTIFIED MAIL. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT NICOLLET COUNTY DOES HEREBY GIVE NOTICE TO THE RURAL MINNESOTA ENERGY BOARD THAT NICOLLET COUNTY IS WITHDRAWING FROM THE RURAL EXCUSE ME, RURAL MINNESOTA ENERGY BOARD JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT, EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2026. NICOLLET COUNTY DOES HEREBY GIVE NOTICE TO THE RURAL MINNESOTA ENERGY BOARD THROUGH [00:55:03] SERVICE OF THIS RESOLUTION BY CERTIFIED MAIL UPON THE COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES ON THE BOARD AND THE CLERK TO THE COUNTY BOARD OF THE COUNTY TO RECEIVE NOTICE THAT NICOLLET COUNTY IS WITHDRAWING FROM THE RURAL MINNESOTA ENERGY BOARD EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2026. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, STAFF SHALL WORK WITH THE R M E B TO EFFECT THE WITHDRAWAL AND FULFILLMENT OF ALL OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT DATED THE 16TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2025. THANK YOU. WE HAVE THE RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF US. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT? I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND IT. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER CONVERSATIONS? I'LL JUST MAKE A COMMENT. AS THE A COMMITTEE MEMBER THAT HAS BEEN ATTENDING THAT ALONG WITH COMMISSIONER KOLARS. ATTEND SOME OF THOSE RURAL ENERGY BOARD MEETINGS. IT IS GOOD INFORMATION THAT WE GLEAN FROM THAT COMMITTEE AND A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS OUT THERE IN THE WORLD OF ENERGY THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT I'VE LEARNED FROM THAT, FROM BEING ON THAT ON THAT PARTICULAR BOARD. UNFORTUNATELY, AGAIN, THAT WE CAN'T CONTINUE WITH IT AND IT JUST, YOU KNOW, THE INFORMATION IS GOOD. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE GOOD FINANCIAL SENSE FOR US TO CONTINUE AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. I WOULD AGREE WITH THE COMMISSIONER ZINS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, MANDY, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? COMMISSIONER. ZINS. YES. COMMISSIONER. KOLARS. YES. COMMISSIONER. DEHEN. YES. COMMISSIONER. HELGET. YES. COMMISSIONER. DRANTTEL. YES. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER 12 ON OUR AGENDA. [County Attorney Update] COUNTY ATTORNEY UPDATE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I AM THIS WEEK GOING TO BE KICKING OFF SOME STATEWIDE TRAINING. I'VE BEEN PART OF A COMMITTEE OF COUNTY ATTORNEYS WORKING TO PUT TOGETHER SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING ON REPORT WRITING AND INVESTIGATING CHILD ABUSE CASES. THE FIRST SERIES OF THAT WILL BE IN SAINT CLOUD THIS WEEK, AND THEN IT'LL ROLL OUT REGIONALLY FOR COUNTY ATTORNEYS IN EACH COUNTY TO OFFER IT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THEIR AREA. WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING THE TRAINING HERE IN OUR REGION IN PROBABLY MARCH OR APRIL OF THIS YEAR. SIMILARLY WORKING ON PUTTING TOGETHER A CONFERENCE FOR STAKEHOLDERS FOR EDUCATION SUCCESS. THAT CONFERENCE IS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH, I BELIEVE. WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE BCA COMING DOWN AND TALKING ABOUT INTERNET. IT'S WITH THE ADVENT OF AI NOW BEING MORE POPULAR AS WELL, NOW WE HAVE BOTH INTERNET SAFETY FOR CHILDREN AND RISK PRESENTED BY AI. DIFFERENT PLATFORMS WITH AI AND THE RISK TO CHILDREN. AND THEN FINALLY THIS WEEK, I HAVE AN ACTIVITY SCHEDULED AT THE LIGHTHOUSE TO WORK WITH CONSUMERS THERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS COMMITTEE COMMISSIONER COMMITTEE REPORTS [Commissioner Committee Reports, Meetings & Conferences] STARTING WITH COMMISSIONER. KOLARS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS FOR THEIR WORK THIS YEAR AND ESPECIALLY, MADAM CHAIR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP DURING THIS YEAR, WHICH HAS GIVEN US A LOT OF STRUGGLES. BUT WE'VE MADE IT THROUGH AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. 14 DAYS TO GO. BUILDING COMMITTEE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE WITH COMMISSIONER ZINS IN LATE NOVEMBER, WE HAD DIVERSITY TOWNSHIPS WITH MANY OF YOU, OUR COUNTY BUDGET AMC ANNUAL. I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER HELGET WAS THERE AS WELL. WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET TOGETHER, AND I DIDN'T EVEN GET A CHANCE TO SHARE ANY TIME WITH MANDY LANAKILA. BUT I KNOW YOU WERE THERE, SO YOU WEREN'T. YOU DIDN'T MAKE IT, OKAY? THAT'S WHY I COULDN'T FIND YOU. HAZARD MITIGATION WITH COMMISSIONER DRANTTEL AND COMMISSIONER HELGET. OUR DIVERSITY BOARD. CERTAINLY OUR WORKSHOP AND TODAY'S MEETING. AND AGAIN, THANKS FOR ALL THE THE TIME THAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR JOBS AS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. HELGET. YEAH, I TOO, JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY AGAIN. I'M JUST FILLING UP THE SPACE WITH GRATITUDE THIS MORNING I GUESS, BUT I REALLY MEAN IT. IT'S BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY 12 MONTHS ON THIS BOARD AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE WITH ME. I HAD NICO ARTS AND CULTURE MEETING. THEY MEET TWICE A YEAR. SO THIS WAS MY SECOND MEETING AND THAT WAS REALLY COOL AND VERY INSPIRING. AND OF COURSE, I CAME AWAY WITH ABOUT A THOUSAND IDEAS THAT I WILL TRY TO TEMPER BEFORE I BRING THEM FORWARD. I HAD A ANNAKOW E L U MEETING AS WELL. IT'S REALLY FOCUSED ON DATA CENTERS RIGHT NOW, SO I'M LEARNING A LOT IN THAT AREA. SHOULD THAT CONVERSATION COME BEFORE OUR COUNTY AGAIN, WHICH IT PROBABLY WILL GIVEN THE RISE OF AI? [01:00:01] I HAD THE HAZARD MITIGATION MEETING. I HAD THE EMC ANNUAL MEETING. OUTSTANDING INFORMATION IN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND OH PLACES TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES IN THE MIDST OF GREAT CHALLENGES FACING THOSE DEPARTMENTS. I HAD THE TOWNSHIP MEETING AND THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS AS WELL. AND THIS ISN'T ONE OF MY COMMITTEES, BUT I HAD TWO MEETINGS WITH THE GOOD NEIGHBOR PEOPLE IN SAINT PETER THAT WERE ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. DEHEN. I HAD A BUDGET MEETING. I HAD THE RITA ANNUAL MEETING. I ATTENDED THE HAZARD MITIGATION WORKSHOP. I ATTENDED THE COUNTY, THE COUNTY'S WORKSHOP ATTENDED SOME OF THE SHACK MEETING, VIRTUAL AFTER THAT, I THEN ATTENDED THE EXPLORE EXTENSION MEETING, HAD THE MRC FINANCE AND BOARD MEETING YESTERDAY. HAD THE TOWNSHIP MEETING MENTIONED EARLIER AND WILL BE PRESENTING AT CONNECTING NICOLLET COUNTY AFTER FOR LUNCH TODAY. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. ZINS. I TOO HAD THE BUILDING COMMITTEE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE WITH COMMISSIONER. KOLARS HAD A COUPLE COMMITTEE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE MEETINGS WITH COMMISSIONERS. DRANTTEL. ALSO SOIL AND WATER BOARD MEETING TOWNSHIP MEETING PLANNING AND ZONING ALSO ATTENDED THE HAZARD MITIGATION PLANNING MEETING VIA ZOOM AND THE BOARD WORKSHOP. THANK YOU. I'VE HAD SEVERAL HR MEETINGS. I HAD A REGION NINE MEETING. MULTIPLE PERSONNEL MEETINGS, HAZARD MITIGATION. THE ZOOM GIG BOARD WORKSHOP YESTERDAY. ONE WATER, ONE PLAN. GOT ACCEPTED BY THE POLICY COMMITTEE AND NOW GOES ON TO THE REGIONAL COMMITTEE AND BOWSER. SO IT IS UP ON THE WEBSITE I BELIEVE, TO CHECK OUT. I ALSO ATTENDED TRAVERSE TOWNSHIP MEETING. TODAY IS HRA, TOMORROW IS LIBRARY AND SOMEWHERE IN THERE IS A LIAISON COMMITTEE MEETING. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OR MEETING ANY MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES. ARE WE PRETTY GOOD TO ROLL HERE? THERE IS NOTHING REMAINING FOR 2025. HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE FIRST BOARD MEETING FOR JANUARY 2026 IS ON THE SIXTH. IT IS A TUESDAY. THE FIRST TUESDAY, FIRST TUESDAY. YEP. THANK YOU. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS TO APPROVE PER DIEMS AND EXPENSES. [Approve Per Diems and Expenses] IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. AND THAT'S A WRAP FOR 2025. [Adjourn Board of Commissioners Meeting] MOVING ON TO THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY. [Call Drainage Authority Meeting to Order: Chair] FIRST ON THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. IS THERE ANY CHANGES? THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE AGENDA. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? SO MOVED. SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. NEXT IS THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH ONLY HAS THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 25TH. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC APPEARANCES FOR DRAINAGE? HEARING AND SEEING? NONE, WE CAN ADJOURN THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY MEETING. THANK YOU. MERRY CHRISTMAS. YES! HAPPY HOLIDAYS. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.