Apr 14, 2026 Board of Commissioners

[Call Board of Commissioners Meeting to Order ]

[00:00:10]

NICOLLET COUNTY. COMMISSIONERS. 2026.

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.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

TWO OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE OUT OF STATE TODAY.

AND SO BY VIRTUE OF. LONGEVITY, THEY'VE ASKED ME TO BE THE CHAIR OF THIS MEETING, AND COMMISSIONER DRANTTEL WILL BE THE VICE CHAIR.

CHAIR WOULD SEEK APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.

[Approval of Agenda]

MOTION. AND SECOND, EVERYTHING IS OKAY ON THE AGENDA.

NO ADDITIONS. CORRECTIONS.

THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE AGENDA. MR. CHAIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? IT CARRIES.

IS THERE APPROVAL FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA?

[Approval of Consent Agenda]

I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT.

SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? IT CARRIES.

PUBLIC APPEARANCES. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC APPEARANCES BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TODAY TO ADDRESS THE COUNTY BOARD? SEEING NONE IN THE AUDIENCE, WE NOW MOVE TO PUBLIC SERVICES.

[Public Services ]

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

SO TODAY I HAVE A RESOLUTION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO ESTABLISH ABSENTEE BALLOT BOARDS AND COUNTY UOCAVA BALLOT BOARDS.

SO MINNESOTA ELECTION LAW DIRECTS THE GOVERNING BODY, THE COUNTY, MUNICIPAL OR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCEPTING AND REJECTING ABSENTEE BALLOT BOARDS TO ESTABLISH AN ABSENTEE BALLOT BOARD.

THE BALLOT BOARD COMPLETES IMPORTANT WORK ASSOCIATED WITH REVIEWING, ACCEPTING AND REJECTING ABSENTEE BALLOTS SUBMITTED BY VOTERS.

THE BALLOT BOARD CAN BE COMPRISED OF TRAINED ELECTION JUDGES AND TRAINED DEPUTY COUNTY AUDITORS. SIMILARLY, MINNESOTA ELECTION LAW DIRECTS THE COUNTY AUDITOR AS THE COUNTY ELECTION OFFICIAL TO ESTABLISH A COUNTY UOCAVA, AND THAT IS UNIFORMED AND OVERSEAS CITIZENS ABSENTEE VOTING ACT BALLOT BOARD TO COMPLETE IMPORTANT WORK ASSOCIATED WITH THE REVIEW.

THE ACCEPTANCE THE REJECTION OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS SUBMITTED BY VOTERS WHO LIVE OVERSEAS OR ARE IN THE ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY STATUS.

THE BALLOT BOARD CAN BE COMPRISED OF TRAINED ELECTION JUDGES AND TRAINED DEPUTY COUNTY AUDITORS. PUBLIC SERVICES WORKS WITHIN THE ELECTION LAW TO APPROPRIATELY STAFF THESE BALLOT BOARDS AND WITH TRAINED, QUALIFIED AND IMPARTIAL BALLOT BOARD MEMBERS TO COMPLETE THE WORK OF THE BALLOT BOARD.

I'M REQUESTING THAT THE BOARD ACCEPT THE RESOLUTION ATTACHED, ESTABLISHING A BALLOT BOARD FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND A COUNTY BALLOT BOARD FOR UOCAVA BALLOTS, AND AUTHORIZE MYSELF AS THE PSD DIRECTOR TO IMPLEMENT THE BOARD'S.

AS PROVIDED IN MINNESOTA ELECTION LAW, AND THE RESOLUTION IS ATTACHED.

YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION.

IS THERE A MOTION OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR THE READING FIRST? I THINK WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE.

I WOULD MOVE THE RESOLUTION, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? AS I THINK COMMISSIONER DRANTTEL MENTIONED, WE'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE.

THIS IS A TYPICAL RESOLUTION THAT WE DO EVERY ELECTION YEAR.

CORRECT. SO ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? OH, YOU NEED TO VOTE ON THAT.

I'M SORRY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

COMMISSIONER. DRANTTEL. YES.

COMMISSIONER. HELGET. YES.

COMMISSIONER. KOLARS. YES.

CARRIES THREE ZERO. THANK YOU.

ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ADD TODAY? I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING ELSE AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU. JACKIE. PUBLIC WORKS.

[Public Works]

SEVERAL ITEMS FROM PUBLIC WORKS TODAY.

[00:05:01]

WE RECEIVED THREE QUOTES ON APRIL 2ND AND OPEN THOSE UP.

RESULTS OF THOSE QUOTES RECEIVED ARE CONTAINED IN YOUR PACKET.

FLINT HILLS RESOURCES WAS THE LOW QUOTA FOR ALL THREE MATERIALS, THE CRS TWO. THE DILUTED CSS ONE H, AND WE HAD AN ALTERNATE MATERIAL IN THERE.

THE CRS £0.02. SO THE CRS TWO IS THE OIL THAT WE FIRST INITIALLY PLACE ON OUR BITUMINOUS ROADS AND THEN PUT THE ROCK CHIPS OVER IT.

THERE'S ANOTHER PRODUCT, THE CRS £0.02 THAT'S A POLYMERIZED OIL.

IT TYPICALLY HAS A LITTLE BETTER BINDING CHARACTERISTICS AND HOLDS THAT ROCK BETTER, BUT IT DOES COME WITH A LITTLE BIT OF AN INCREASED PRICE.

SO WE ALWAYS QUOTE THAT OUT AS AN ALTERNATIVE.

AND SO SINCE FLINT HILLS WAS LOW ON ALL THREE OF THOSE ITEMS, I'M ASKING BOARD TO AWARD THE BITUMINOUS MATERIALS SUPPLY CONTRACT TO FLINT HILLS RESOURCES FOR THE LOW QUOTE UNIT PRICES FOR THE CRS TWO DILUTED CSS ONE H AND THE CRS £0.02 ALTERNATE. ALL RIGHT.

YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION.

ARE THERE QUESTIONS FOR THE HIGHWAY DIRECTOR? ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE AMOUNT OF BIDS THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING ON THIS BITUMINOUS THIS YEAR? YES. WE TYPICALLY RECEIVE 2 TO 3 QUOTES FROM THESE SUPPLIERS EVERY YEAR AND HAPPY WITH WHAT THE BID RESULTS WERE.

GIVEN THE STATE OF OIL PRICES.

GOOD TO HEAR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE.

I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT.

SECOND. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SETH.

I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT AT OUR TOWNSHIP MEETING YOU AND YOUR TEAM WERE CALLED OUT AS JUST BEING EXTRAORDINARY TO WORK WITH.

AND THERE WERE A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR GRAVEL ROADS IN THIS COUNTY.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU.

AND EVERYBODY UP THERE FOR THAT WORK.

THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK. IT WAS NICE THAT IT WAS SAID PUBLICLY IN FRONT OF ALL OF THE TOWNSHIP OFFICERS WHO WERE THERE THAT NIGHT TOO.

SO I THOUGHT SO TOO. VERY GOOD.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED CARRY.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER HELGET FOR MENTIONING THAT. MY NEXT ITEM FOR THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION IS TO CONSIDER.

AWARD OF THE 2026 HIGHWAY STRIPING EPOXY CONTRACT.

SO THE 2026 HIGHWAY STRIPING EPOXY PROJECT WILL RESTRIPE A PORTION OF OUR CONCRETE SURFACE ROADS. WE RECEIVED THREE BIDS ON APRIL 6TH AND THE RESULTS ARE AS FOLLOWS.

AS AS FOLLOWS. SIR LANCELOT WAS OUR LOW BIDDER AT $421,190.93.

IN PAST YEARS, WE'VE ONLY RECEIVED ONE BID FROM SIR LEON'S LOT.

AND IF YOU RECALL, LAST YEAR, OUR BID FROM SIR LEON'S LOT WAS QUITE HIGH AND GREATLY EXCEEDED OUR ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE FOR DOING THIS EPOXY WORK ON OUR CONCRETE SURFACE ROAD. SO WE REJECTED THOSE BIDS AND DELAYED THAT WORK UNTIL THIS YEAR.

WE BID THIS WORK OUT A BIT EARLIER THIS YEAR.

AND SO I THINK THAT HELPED GETTING US MORE BIDDERS.

PLUS THERE'S, I BELIEVE AN ADDITIONAL BIDDER IN HERE, SAFETY SIGNS THAT ARE STARTING TO GET INTO THE HIGHWAY STRIPING BUSINESS BECAUSE OVER THE PAST YEARS, WE HAD MULTIPLE HIGHWAY HIGHWAY STRIPERS OUT THERE, BUT THEY SOLD OUT OF THEIR BUSINESSES AND WE WERE GETTING DOWN TO JUST 1 OR 2 IN THE ENTIRE STATE. SO COMPETITION IS STARTING TO COME BACK.

OUR ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT OVER $493,000.

WE WERE VERY HAPPY WITH THE LOW BID THAT WE RECEIVED.

SO ASKING THE BOARD TODAY TO AWARD THE 2026 HIGHWAY STRIPING EPOXY PROJECT TO SIR LANCELOT FOR THE LOW BID AMOUNT OF $421,190.93.

YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT SECOND BEST CORPORATE NAME EVER, SIR. LINES A LOT. YES.

I'VE BEEN SAYING THAT FOR YEARS. IT'S TRUE. ONE OTHER QUESTION.

I MIGHT HAVE JUST TO REMIND ME.

YOU SAY A PORTION OF THE CONCRETE SURFACE ROADS.

IS IT A THIRD? A HALF, A FOURTH? OH, COMMISSIONER. I DON'T HAVE THAT EXACT BREAKDOWN FOR YOU.

[00:10:04]

IT NOT ONLY INCLUDES THE STRIPING, BUT THE STRIPING, HATCHING AND THE PAVEMENT ARROWS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING ALL OF COUNTY ROAD 41 COUNTY ROAD 15.

OKAY. AS PART OF THAT.

AND HOW LONG DOES THE STRIPING LAST? STRIPING LASTS A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN THE LATEX STRIPING WE USE ON OUR BITUMINOUS ROADS. DEPENDS ON TRAFFIC VOLUMES.

DEPENDS ON HOW BAD EVERY WINTER IS AND HOW MUCH PLOWING.

NICE THING ABOUT OUR CONCRETE PAVEMENTS IS THAT WE GRIND IN AND RECESS THE.

WHERE THE PAVEMENT. THE STRIPING GOES, SO THAT GETS IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT BELOW FROM WHERE THE PLOW EDGES ARE.

ARE WORKING ON THAT. AND SO WE'LL GET 7 TO 10 YEARS PROBABLY OUT OF THAT STRIPING.

AND FOR EXAMPLE, COUNTY ROAD FIVE, THE STRIPING LOOKED PRETTY GOOD OUT THERE, BUT WE'VE LOST ALL THE RETRO REFLECTIVITY ON THE GLASS BEADS THAT IS INCORPORATED IN THE PAINT. THAT HELPS MAKE THAT LINE KIND OF POP.

DURING DURING NIGHT TIME OR, OR WET WEATHER CONDITIONS.

AND SO ONCE WE LOSE THAT, THAT'S PART OF THE THING THAT WE, WE ALWAYS WANT IS THAT RETRO REFLECTIVITY THERE.

IN, IN, IN OUR STRIPING.

SO. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

FACTORS THAT GO INTO JUST HOW LONG IT LASTS.

WELL, I WILL SHARE WITH MEMBERS.

I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN THERE WEREN'T WHITE LINES ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, JUST THE DOTTED LINES IN THE MIDDLE.

AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO A FOUR HOUR MEETING IN FARIBAULT, AND OUR LEADER SAID, ISN'T THAT NICE THAT THEY PUT THAT THERE SO WE DON'T RUN OFF THE ROAD? I ALWAYS REMEMBERED THAT.

SO STRIPING IS IMPORTANT FOR SAFETY AS WELL.

IF YOU TECHNICALLY WANT TO GET DOWN IN THE DETAILS, THE MASTER, WE CALL IT THE MUTCD.

IT'S THE MASTER MANUAL ON SIGNS AND STRIPING AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.

IT'S A FEDERAL IT'S A FEDERAL MANUAL THAT ALL THE STATES HAVE TO ADOPT.

THEY CAN REQUEST, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN STATE SPECIFIC EDITIONS, BUT A FAIR AMOUNT OF OUR PAVED MILEAGE IS AT A TRAFFIC LEVEL, LOW ENOUGH THAT ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL, YOU YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO STRETCH.

OH. THE FOG LINE ALONG OUR ROADS.

BUT STRIPING THE FOG LINE IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY BENEFIT.

AND THE NEWER TECHNOLOGY IN CARS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S CAMERAS IN THERE THAT CAN SENSE AND READ AND SEE THOSE LINES THAT HELP PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR LANES OF TRAFFIC.

SO THE MANUAL MIGHT NOT SAY IT'S REQUIRED, BUT THERE'S A DEFINITE SAFETY BENEFIT TO IT.

AND THAT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE.

I'M GLAD IT'S THERE. I THINK IT'S A SAFETY FACTOR.

SO ANY OTHER COMMENTS? QUESTIONS TO THE MOTION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. IT CARRIES. THANK YOU.

MY LAST ITEM IS TO CONSIDER FINAL PAYMENT FOR PROJECT S P 52 621 031.

IF YOU RECALL, THIS PROJECT INVOLVED THE SLOPE RECONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION ALONG COUNTY ROAD 21 FROM COUNTY ROAD 14 TO ABOUT 2000FT TO THE EAST.

THIS IS THE LAST OF OUR FEDERAL HIGHWAY DISASTER PROJECTS.

SO THIS SEGMENT OF COUNTY ROAD 21 WAS DAMAGED BY THE MINNESOTA RIVER FLOODED IN 2020.

CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED IN 2025 AND THE CONTRACTOR HAS MET ALL CONTRACT OBLIGATIONS.

FINAL CONTRACT VALUE IS $3,795,913.82.

AND SO I'M ASKING THE BOARD TODAY TO ACCEPT THE PROJECT AS COMPLETE AND AUTHORIZE FINAL PAYMENT TO MATHIOWITZ CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR THE AMOUNT OF $54,912.89.

YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? I MAKE A MOTION. SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION.

IT'S NICE TO SEE THE PROJECT COMPLETE.

A LOT OF WORK. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SAY AYE.

AYE. IT CARRIES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE TODAY? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. ADMINISTRATION.

[Administration ]

[00:15:02]

EACH YEAR, THE MONTH OF APRIL IS RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT MONTH.

EACH DAY, THE NATION'S 3069 COUNTIES PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO MORE THAN 330 MILLION PEOPLE SINCE 1991. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, OR NACO, HAS ENCOURAGED COUNTIES TO USE NATIONAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT MONTH AS A TIME TO ELEVATE AWARENESS OF COUNTY RESPONSIBILITIES, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

A THEME WAS NOT IDENTIFIED THIS YEAR.

HOWEVER, COUNTIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO REFLECT ON THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE POSITIVE IMPACTS COUNTIES HAVE ON RESIDENTS LIVES.

AS WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT MONTH, MR. CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE PROCLAMATION INTO THE RECORD. YES, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. TITLE PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT MONTH, APRIL 2026. WHEREAS, THE NATION'S 3069 COUNTIES SERVING MORE THAN 330 MILLION AMERICANS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO CREATE HEALTHY, SAFE AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS, COUNTIES FULFILL A VAST RANGE OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND DELIVER SERVICES THAT TOUCH NEARLY EVERY ASPECT OF OUR RESIDENTS LIVES.

AND WHEREAS COUNTIES AS INTERGOVERNMENTAL PARTNERS ENACT LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ALL RESIDENTS.

AND WHEREAS NICOLLET COUNTY AND ALL COUNTIES TAKE PRIDE IN OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS IN EFFICIENT AND COST EFFECTIVE WAYS.

AND WHEREAS THE NATION IS CELEBRATING 250 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE THIS YEAR, AND COUNTIES HAVE A LONG AND RICH HISTORY OF SERVING RESIDENTS.

AND WHEREAS EACH YEAR SINCE 1991, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES HAS ENCOURAGED COUNTIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ELEVATE AWARENESS OF COUNTY RESPONSIBILITIES, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

AND WHEREAS, THROUGH THEIR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE, NICOLLET COUNTY EMPLOYEES DEDICATE THEIR TIME, SKILLS AND EXPERTISE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR NEIGHBORS, PROMOTING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES, FOSTERING CONDITIONS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, STRENGTHENING INFRASTRUCTURE, COORDINATING EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SERVICES, MANAGING CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEMS WITH AN OVERALL GOAL OF IMPROVING RESIDENTS QUALITY OF LIFE.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS THAT APRIL 2026 AS NATIONAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT MONTH DATED THIS 14TH DAY OF APRIL 2026.

MISTER CHAIR, I'M REQUESTING THE BOARD CONSIDER THE PROCLAMATION OF APRIL 2026 AS NATIONAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT MODEL. YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION.

IS THERE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT.

SO MOVED. SECONDED. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

EVERY MONTH. EVERY MONTH WE THINK ABOUT THIS IN APRIL.

BUT THERE ARE SO MANY, SO MANY LIFE CHANGING DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL. AND WE ARE ALL HERE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

SO ALL IN FAVOR OF THE PROCLAMATION, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED IT CARRIES.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR US THIS MORNING? NO, I DO NOT. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MADAM ATTORNEY.

[County Attorney ]

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WE ARE.

MISS PETERSON AND MYSELF ARE BEFORE YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK, WHICH IS NEXT WEEK.

IT IS DURING THIS WEEK AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE RIGHTS OF VICTIMS WHEN THEY ARE BROUGHT UNWILLINGLY INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

CRIME VICTIMS ARE OUR FRIENDS, FAMILIES, AND COWORKERS WHO FIND THEMSELVES PLACED IN THE CATEGORY OF CRIME VICTIMS THROUGH NO FAULT OR CHOICE OF THEIR OWN.

WHEN PRESIDENT REAGAN DESIGNATED THIS WEEK, IT RECOGNIZED THAT THE RIGHTS OF CRIME VICTIMS WERE NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN OR UNHEARD.

NOW WE HAVE VICTIM RIGHTS STATUTES IN MINNESOTA THAT REQUIRES INFORMATION TO BE GIVEN TO VICTIMS AND ENSURES THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THAT PROCESS.

THEIR STATUTORY RIGHTS HAVE BEEN EXPANDED OVER THE YEARS, SOLIDIFYING THAT THEIR VOICE HAS A PLACE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

HOPEFULLY, THAT ROLE WILL HELP THEM IN THEIR RECOVERY FROM THEIR CRIME VICTIMIZATION.

WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE HERE IN NICOLLET COUNTY TO HAVE A CRIME VICTIM COORDINATOR, MISS PETERSON HAVE SERVED IN THAT ROLE SINCE WE HAD THIS VERY SPECIFIC DESIGNATION.

WE'VE ALWAYS HAD SOMEBODY DOING THAT WORK IN OUR OFFICE, BUT ONLY ON A LIMITED BASIS.

AND THEN MISS PETERSON STARTED DOING THAT FULL TIME.

WHEN WE APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED A GRANT, HER POSITION HAS BEEN FUNDED IN PART THROUGH A GRANT THROUGH OJP, THE OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS WITH VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT FUNDING.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE FUNDING FOR CRIME VICTIM SERVICES AS A WHOLE HAS STEADILY DECREASED AND THIS YEAR, A COMPETITIVE GRANT CYCLE.

THE FUNDS ARE 20% LESS THAN WHAT WE'VE HAD BEFORE.

[00:20:02]

SO WE'LL BE APPLYING FOR THAT GRANT AGAIN THIS YEAR.

BUT IT WILL BE WITH LESS FUNDS AVAILABLE TO BE AWARDED.

AS I INDICATED BONNIE HAS FULFILLED THIS ROLE FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND HAS DEVELOPED RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT SHE IS WORKING WITH AND REALLY HELPS THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS. AND NOT ONLY IS IT HELPING THEM, BUT IT'S ALSO HELPING MY ATTORNEYS IN THE OFFICE DO THEIR WORK BECAUSE SHE SERVES AS THAT CRITICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THEM AND THE VICTIMS. SO WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I'D LIKE BONNIE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER WORK AND THEN END BY READING THE PROCLAMATION THAT WE'RE ASKING THE BOARD TO ADOPT TO RECOGNIZE NEXT WEEK AS NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK.

THANK YOU. I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW HOW I INTERACT WITH VICTIMS. MY CONTACT WITH VICTIMS GENERALLY START WHEN CHARGES ARE FILED.

FOR INSTANCE, WHEN AN OFFENDER IS IN CUSTODY, I CONTACT THE VICTIMS ONCE CHARGES ARE FILED.

WHEN THE HEARING TIME AND DATE IS OF THE HEARING WILL NOT BE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY.

I GENERALLY EXPLAIN WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE BAIL HEARING EXPLAINING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN UNCONDITIONAL AND CONDITIONAL BAIL AND COMMON RELEASE TERMS. I EXPLAINED THEIR RIGHT TO ATTEND THE HEARING.

AND I OFTEN ASK IF THEY WANT ANY CONTACT WITH THE OFFENDER OR IF THEY WANT TO DANCO.

IF THEY DO NOT WANT A DANCO, I DO EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT THE PROSECUTOR MAY STILL ASK FOR A DANCO OR DOMESTIC ABUSE NO CONTACT ORDER, AND THAT WOULD BE UP TO THE JUDGE WHETHER ONE WAS ORDERED.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, I WOULD PASS WHATEVER INFORMATION THAT I HAD RECEIVED ONTO THE PROSECUTOR SO THAT THEY KNEW THAT FOR, FOR THE HEARING AND AFTER THE BAIL HEARING, I CONTACTED THE VICTIM AGAIN.

WHETHER OR NOT THEY ATTENDED THE HEARING, IF THEY DID NOT ATTEND THE HEARING, I EXPLAINED TO THEM WHAT HAPPENED AND THE NEXT HEARING DATE AND TIME.

IF I DID ATTEND THE HEARING, I FOLLOW UP WITH THEM JUST TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT THE HEARING OR WHAT THE NEXT STEPS IN THE CASE ARE GOING TO BE. ALL VICTIMS ALSO GET A LETTER EXPLAINING THE CHARGES.

A BROCHURE EXPLAINING THEIR RIGHTS AS A VICTIM.

INFORMATION ABOUT RESTITUTION AND DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION, REFERRALS TO THE CRIME VICTIMS REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM.

AND MAYBE INFORMATION ON HOW TO OBTAIN AN ORDER FOR PROTECTION OR HARASSMENT.

RESTRAINING ORDER VICTIMS RECEIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE CASE THROUGH PHONE CALLS, EMAILS, AND LETTERS. WHETHER IT IS JUST THAT A HEARING WAS CONTINUED TO ANOTHER DATE AND TIME, WHETHER A PLEA OFFER WAS MADE AND THE DETAILS OF THE PLEA OFFER.

IF A TRIAL IS SET WHEN A SENTENCING HEARING IS SCHEDULED, THEIR RIGHTS TO TO ATTEND THESE HEARINGS AND THE OUTCOME OF THE SENTENCING HEARING.

VICTIMS ALSO RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS IF APPEALS ARE FILED WHEN EXPUNGEMENTS ARE REQUESTED.

IF SENTENCES ARE AMENDED AND IF THEY REQUESTED SPECIFICALLY WHEN PROBATION VIOLATIONS ARE FILED. I ALSO ASSIST VICTIMS WITH AFFIDAVITS, AFFIDAVITS FOR RESTITUTION, VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENTS AND APPLICATIONS TO THE CRIME VICTIMS REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM.

I SIT IN ON CONVERSATIONS ATTORNEYS HAVE WITH THE VICTIMS DURING PLEA DISCUSSIONS, TRIAL PREPARATION SESSIONS AND I ATTEND TRIALS THAT INVOLVE VICTIMS. ADDITIONALLY, THE MINNESOTA STATE LEGISLATURE HAS PASSED THE MINNESOTA REHABILITATION AND REINVESTMENT ACT FOR ANY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SENT TO PRISON.

INITIALLY, WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE SENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, THEY SERVE TWO THIRDS OF THEIR TIME IN PRISON AND ONE THIRD OF THEIR TIME IS SERVED ON SUPERVISED RELEASE THROUGH THE MINNESOTA REHABILITATION AND REINVESTMENT ACT.

INDIVIDUALS CAN EARN UP TO AN ADDITIONAL 17% REDUCTION ON THEIR INCARCERATED TIME, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY MAY ONLY SERVE ONE HALF OF THEIR PRISON SENTENCE.

FOR EXAMPLE, 30 MONTHS WOULD BE WOULD BECOME 15 MONTHS IF AN INDIVIDUAL SUCCESSFULLY COMPLIES WITH ALL OF THEIR REQUIREMENTS UNDER THEIR PLAN.

ADDITIONALLY, WHEN THEY ARE RELEASED FROM PRISON, THEY CAN EARN TIME OFF OF THEIR SUPERVISION TIME AS WELL, CALLED SUPERVISION ABATEMENT.

WE ARE NEEDING TO EXPLAIN THIS TO VICTIMS AND THE PLEA NEGOTIATION PROCESS BEFORE SENTENCING AT SENTENCING AND POST-CONVICTION.

THE ONLY THE ONLY WAY VICTIMS WILL RECEIVE NOTIFICATION IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM IS IF THEY REGISTER WITH THE MINNESOTA HAVEN PROGRAM,

[00:25:05]

I GIVE VICTIMS RETURN ADDRESS ENVELOPES TO SEND THE FORM BACK TO ME, TO SUBMIT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THEIR CORRECTIONS ON THEIR BEHALF.

AND THAT WAY I CAN BE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THAT THEY HAVE REGISTERED FOR THE SYSTEM.

AND ALSO I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH VICTIMS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO DO. IF I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THAT REGISTRATION FORM FROM THEM, I ALSO SIGN UP FOR REGISTRATION WITH THE MINNESOTA HAVEN SYSTEM ON MY OWN TO BE ABLE TO KEEP TRACK OF INDIVIDUALS.

WHEN I GET NOTIFIED THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE COMING UP ON THEIR RELEASE DATE, I WILL NOTIFY VICTIMS OF THIS AND LET THEM KNOW OF THEIR RIGHT TO PROVIDE INPUT INTO THE OFFENDER'S RELEASE PLANNING PROCESS, IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

WHILE I OFTEN TELL VICTIMS I'M SAD TO HAVE HAD TO MEET THEM THROUGH MY PHYSICIAN, I HAVE BUILT. I HAVE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH VICTIMS OVER THE YEARS, WHERE THEY CONTINUE TO CONTACT ME AFTER A CASE IS DONE.

FOR ASSISTANCE WITH VARIOUS ITEMS. FOR INSTANCE, A VICTIM WHO WAS BRUTALLY ASSAULTED IN 20 IN 2016 WAS RECEIVING BENEFITS FROM THE CRIME VICTIMS REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR ONGOING DENTAL DENTAL EXPENSES HE WAS INCURRING AS A RESULT OF HIS ASSAULT.

HE WOULD COME INTO THE OFFICE WITH BILLS FOR REIMBURSEMENT THAT I WOULD SUBMIT ON HIS BEHALF, OR HE WOULD NEED TO GET PREAUTHORIZATION FROM THE BOARD, FROM FROM THE PROGRAM TO PAY FOR ADDITIONAL WORK HE NEEDED DONE.

IN THAT INSTANCE, I WOULD WORK WITH HIM AND THE CRIME VICTIMS REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT THE PROGRAM NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THE DENTAL WORK THAT WAS NEEDED. JUST THIS PAST YEAR, HE INDICATED THAT HE WAS ON HIS LAST SURGERY.

I ALSO DO COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

I DO THIS THROUGH DIFFERENT TABLING EVENTS AT THE NICOLLET COUNTY FAIR JUST LAST WEEK.

MISS ZEHNDER FISCHER AND I WERE AT THE GUSTAVOS TAKE BACK THE NIGHT EVENT.

WE SHARED A TABLE WITH KIDA FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH.

WE HAVE TABLES AT THE SAINT PETER EXPO PROJECT COMMUNITY CONNECT EVENTS IN MANKATO AND SAINT PETER. NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENTS AND THE SAINT PETER BEGINNING OF SUMMER CELEBRATION. OR AT THESE TABLES, WE HAVE INFORMATION FOR CRIME VICTIMS. JUST WHAT, WHAT THEY WOULD NEED TO KNOW IF THEY EVER DO BECOME A VICTIM OF A CRIME.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE INFORMATION ON DIFFERENT SCAMS AND AND FRAUD TO WATCH OUT FOR INTERNET SAFETY FOR CHILDREN AND INTERNET SAFETY FOR PARENTS AND HOW TO TALK TO THEIR CHILDREN ON INTERNET SAFETY THINGS AND THE THINGS LIKE THAT.

I ALSO GIVE PRESENTATIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT REPRESENTATIVES TO LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS ABOUT SCAMS. WHAT TO DO IF THEY BECOME VICTIM OF A SCAM OR FRAUD.

AND HELPING THEM TO RECOGNIZE DIFFERENT SCAMS. AT A MOST RECENT EVENT THE WHERE WE PRESENTED WITH A MEMBER FROM THE SAINT PETER POLICE DEPARTMENT. THAT LED TO AN INDIVIDUAL MAKING A REPORT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AS A RESULT OF A SCAM THAT SHE HAD BEEN BECOME A VICTIM OF.

I ALSO PREPARE ARTICLES IN THE SAINT PETER HERALD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR DIFFERENT ISSUES INVOLVING VICTIMS NOTABLY CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK, CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH, SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH NATIONAL STALKING MONTH IN JANUARY, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH AND ALSO IN DECEMBER, I HAVE DONE ARTICLES IN THE PAST JUST ABOUT THE NEEDING TO MAKE SURE YOU FIND SOBER WAYS HOME. BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT CHRISTMAS TIME, THE HOLIDAY TIME IS A, CAN BE A, A LARGE FULL OF HOLIDAY PARTIES AND THE LIKE. I ALSO WORK WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH ANGIE WINJE FOR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS FOR ISSUES AFFECTING VICTIMS OF CRIME TO POST ON THE COUNTY'S SOCIAL MEDIA SITES.

AND WE HAVE INFORMATION AT THE SAINT PETER AND NORTH MANKATO PUBLIC LIBRARY'S NICOLLET COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BUILDINGS IN BOTH SAINT PETER AND NORTH MANKATO, AND IN THE GOVERNMENT CENTER ATRIUM DURING APRIL FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH,

[00:30:01]

SO SINCE I STARTED MY ROLE IN FULL TIME IN 2018 FOR THE FIRST, I WOULD SAY FOUR YEARS, OUR NUMBERS FIRST 4 OR 5 YEARS, OUR NUMBERS HAVE HELD FAIRLY STEADY.

BUT SINCE 2021, WE HAVE SEEN DRASTIC INCREASES IN OUR THE AMOUNT OF VICTIMS THAT ARE SERVED EVERY YEAR.

I WOULD NOTE IN 2021 424 VICTIMS WERE SERVED IN 2022.

461 VICTIMS WERE SERVED IN 2023.

516 VICTIMS WERE SERVED.

AND IN 2024, 603 VICTIMS WERE SERVED.

AND JUST LAST YEAR, THE NUMBER DID GO DOWN SLIGHTLY TO 578 VICTIMS SERVED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND THOSE NUMBERS NOW THAT IS THEY MAY NOT BE NEW NUMBERS.

EVERY, EVERY, EVERY YEAR.

I DO NEED TO START OVER WITH MY COUNT.

SO WHERE CASES MAY CARRY OVER FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT EVERY YEAR STARTS, WE JUST START OVER OUR RECORD KEEPING AGAIN, TO BE ABLE TO KEEP TRACK OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SERVED.

AND NOW, MR. CHAIR IF SHE COULD READ THE PROCLAMATION AND THEN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE FOR US.

WELL, BEFORE YOU DO THAT, BONNIE, THE IMPACT THAT YOU'VE HAD IS TREMENDOUS. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU SHARING WITH US TODAY THE PEOPLE YOU'VE COMMUNICATED AND WORKED WITH. SO THANK YOU.

WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE PROCLAMATION? YES. WHEREAS CRIME IN AMERICA HAS A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS, AND IT AFFECTS THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

AND WHEREAS NO VICTIM OR SURVIVOR SHOULD HAVE TO NAVIGATE THE EFFECTS OF VICTIMIZATION, INCLUDING PHYSICAL, FINANCIAL, EMOTIONAL, SPIRITUAL AND SOCIAL ALONE.

AND WHEREAS THE COMMUNITY OF CRIME VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS, ALONG WITH THOSE WHO SERVE THEM AND MANY DEDICATED PARTNERS WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT VICTIMS NEEDS ARE IDENTIFIED AND MET WITH, MET WITH THOROUGH, COORDINATED, HIGH QUALITY SERVICES.

AND WHEREAS MORE THAN 12,000 VICTIM SERVICES PROGRAMS ACROSS THE NATION ASSIST CRIME SURVIVORS AND CONTRIBUTE TO COMMUNITY SAFETY.

AND OVER 32,000 LAWS DEFINE AND PROTECT VICTIMS RIGHTS.

AND WHEREAS 2026 IS THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK, FIRST PROCLAIMED BY PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN IN 1981.

AND WHEREAS THIS ANNUAL OBSERVANCE BRINGS TOGETHER ALL WHO ARE COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS, RECOGNIZING BOTH THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE AND THE RESILIENCE THEY DEMONSTRATE.

AND WHEREAS DURING 2026 NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK, APRIL 19TH TO 25TH, WE REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING THE NETWORK OF INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT AND SERVE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF CRIME.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS THAT THE WEEK OF APRIL 19TH TO 25TH, 2026 IS CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK IN NICOLLET COUNTY, MINNESOTA, AND AFFIRMING OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT CRIME, VICTIMS RIGHTS AND SERVICES ARE UPHELD EACH DAY.

THANK YOU. YOU'VE REVIEWED THE PROCLAMATION.

IS THERE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT FROM BOARD MEMBERS? I'LL MAKE A MOTION SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS ABOUT THE WORK THAT OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND BONNIE DO? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

BONNIE. I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, IF THAT'S OKAY. I JUST WANT TO COMPLIMENT AND EXPRESS MY EXTREME GRATITUDE FOR THE EMOTIONAL LOAD THAT YOU CARRY WHICH IS BACKED UP BY ACTION BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW MORE THAN ANYBODY, IT ISN'T ENOUGH JUST TO FEEL SORRY.

OR TO HAVE COMPASSION.

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

I AM SO SORRY TO HEAR THAT FUNDING FOR ROLES LIKE YOURS ARE BEING REDUCED.

ESPECIALLY SINCE WE KNOW THAT THESE CYCLES OF VIOLENCE ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.

THEY'RE NOT JUST WRONG.

THEY'RE NOT JUST EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY WRONG.

THEY COST CITIES, COUNTIES, STATES A LOT OF MONEY.

AND SO ONE OF MY QUESTIONS, IF YOU CAN ANSWER IT,

[00:35:01]

I WOULD SAY WELL OVER 95%.

I THINK IF YOU BREAK DOWN THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VICTIMS, THAT OF CRIMES, THAT CRIMES WE WORK WITH I THINK THE PERCENTAGE IS REALLY HIGH IN SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES. OBVIOUSLY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES, IT'S MORE IN THE BURGLARY AND THEFT CASES OR IDENTITY THEFT WHERE WE SEE IT REVERSED, WHERE IT'S A SMALLER PERCENTAGE THAT THE VICTIMS KNOW THEY'RE OFFENDERS.

THANK YOU. IT'S SOMETHING ELSE YOU SAID REALLY PIQUED MY EAR.

THAT THIS NEW IS IT LEGISLATION THAT IS, THAT IS GOING TO FURTHER REDUCE AN OFFENDER'S COMMITMENT. AND SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT ONCE THAT PERSON IS RELEASED, IT'S GOING TO BE THE ONUS OF THE VICTIM TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO KEEP TRACK OF WHERE THE OFFENDER MAY OR MAY NOT BE OR WHAT THAT PERSON MAY BE DOING.

YES, THEY DO NEED TO REGISTER THROUGH MINNESOTA HAVEN TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THOSE NOTIFICATIONS. AND I AM REALLY TRYING TO, I ENCOURAGE EVERY VICTIM TO SIGN UP FOR THESE NOTIFICATIONS. WE HAVE NOT HAD AN OFFENDER YET COME UP FOR RELEASE OR TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE MINNESOTA REHABILITATION AND REINVESTMENT ACT.

BUT WHEN WE DO, I WILL BE REACHING OUT TO THAT VICTIM AGAIN AND LETTING THEM KNOW ABOUT THIS AND IF THAT THEY DO NEED TO SIGN UP TO BE KEPT.

BE KEPT NOTIFIED OF WHERE THEY'RE AT IN THE PROCESS.

THANK YOU. IT IS JUST EXTRAORDINARY THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY STILL FALLS UPON THE VICTIM AND THE SURVIVOR. AND WE KNOW THAT EVERY SINGLE STEP IN THESE LEGAL PROCEDURES CONTRIBUTES TO THEIR TRAUMA.

BUT I'M GLAD THEY HAVE YOU.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING HERE IN NICOLLET COUNTY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR OF THE DO WE DON'T NEED A ROLL CALL.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE PROCLAMATION, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? IT CARRIES. AGAIN, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU, MICHELLE, FOR MAKING SURE THAT BONNIE IS HERE TO WORK WITH THOSE VICTIMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAN.

YOU CAN STAY SEATED? RIGHT.

[County Attorney Update]

AND I'D LIKE TO ASK THE APPOINTED SHERIFF TO BE READY TO ANSWER A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STORM AFTER. MICHELLE HAS DONE THANK YOU.

APRIL IS A BUSY MONTH BECAUSE WE IT'S FITTING THAT CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK FALLS INTO APRIL WHEN WE ALSO RECOGNIZE SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.

THESE ARE OBVIOUSLY TWO CRIMES THAT HAVE A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND SO AS MISS PETERSON REFERENCED, WE PARTICIPATED IN TAKE BACK THE NIGHT AT GUSTAVUS LAST WEEK.

IN RECOGNITION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT MONTH AND WE STARTED SOMETHING NEW.

WE'VE IN THE PAST PUT BLUE PINWHEELS OUT AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS TO RECOGNIZE THE CHILDHOOD THAT CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE AND TO BRING AWARENESS OF EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO INDIVIDUALLY, BECAUSE EVERYBODY CAN TAKE A ROLE IN PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE.

THIS YEAR, WE THOUGHT SOME INCREASED ENGAGEMENT IN THOSE EFFORTS WOULD BE TO HAND OUT PINWHEELS TO SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, OUR SCHOOLS SOME OF THE SERVICE PROVIDERS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO PLANT A PINWHEEL GARDEN AND SEND IN PICTURES OF THOSE GARDENS.

AND WE'LL POST SOME OF THOSE ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO WE HANDED THOSE OUT LAST WEEK.

AND SO HOPEFULLY YOU'LL START SEEING AROUND NICOLLET COUNTY SOME BLUE PINWHEELS, RECOGNIZING WHAT WE CAN DO TO AVOID CHILD ABUSE IN OUR FAMILIES.

AND AS COMMISSIONER HELGET INDICATED, IT HAS A DEVASTATING IMPACT.

CHILD ABUSE DOES BECAUSE IT BECOMES GENERATIONAL OR IT CAN BECOME GENERATIONAL IF THERE ISN'T INTERVENTION.

AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO PREVENT IT AND THEN INTERVENE WHEN IT IS IN FACT HAPPENING. THERE'LL BE BLUE PINWHEELS OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT CENTER HERE.

WE THOUGHT ABOUT PUTTING THEM UP YESTERDAY, BUT DECIDED WITH THE STORMS COMING,

[00:40:02]

SO YOU WILL SEE THOSE OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT CENTER.

MISS PETERSON AND I WILL BE AT THE SENIOR EXPO THIS THURSDAY.

AND THEN BONNIE PETERSON WILL BE AT THE PROJECT COMMUNITY CONNECT NEXT TUESDAY IN MANKATO TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON VICTIMS RIGHTS.

AND FINALLY, I DID SIGN A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT FOR OPIOID FUNDS AS PART OF IT, THE FUND OR THE, THE LITIGATION IS CALLED SIX REMNANT DEFENDANTS IS THE NAME OF THE GROUP ON THE BOARD HAD AUTHORIZED ME SIGNING THOSE TYPES OF AGREEMENTS AND THEN JUST NOTIFYING THE BOARD OF THOSE SIGNATURES.

THIS PROCESS WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THE OTHERS BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE STATE WASN'T DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THIS LITIGATION.

SO THERE WASN'T NORMALLY WE GET SOME TYPE OF PERCENTAGE OR SOME TYPE OF DOLLAR VALUE THAT WE NICOLLET COUNTY MIGHT BE RECEIVING AS A RESULT OF THE SETTLEMENT.

WE DID NOT RECEIVE THAT INFORMATION THIS TIME.

SO THAT INFORMATION WILL BE FORTHCOMING ONCE I THINK THEY DETERMINE HOW MANY POTENTIAL CLAIMANTS WILL BE SIGNING OFF ON IT.

AND THAT I BELIEVE IS MY UPDATE FOR.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AARON, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME FORWARD BEFORE WE HEAR

[Chair’s Report ]

AND THAT CAME AT ABOUT 838, 45 IN THE MORNING.

WAS THAT FROM JUSTIN BLOCH'S OFFICE, OR IS THAT HOW YOU DISTRIBUTE THAT? YES, IT DOES COME FROM THE EMERGENCY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

RIGHT. SO THOSE ARE VERY USEFUL AND I HOPE MEMBERS OF OUR COUNTY FAMILY ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT THOSE AND SAY, IT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

AARON. GOOD MORNING. WE HAD HAIL IN OUR COUNTY AND I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER DAMAGE.

I WAS JUST GETTING A MESSAGE FROM SOMEONE I KNOW IN INSURANCE BUSINESS IN MANKATO.

AS OF 9:00, THE MOST CLAIMS FILED IN ONE HOUR IN THAT PARTICULAR OFFICE'S HISTORY.

SO THERE WAS A BUNCH OF DAMAGE IN OUR AREA.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US? I CAN'T TELL YOU A LOT.

I THINK MOST OF THE HAIL DAMAGE WAS AROUND THE SAINT PETER AREA.

I HAVEN'T HAD REPORTS OF ANYTHING A LOT FARTHER WEST THAN THE, THE COUPLE MILES AROUND SAINT PETER.

SO IT GATHERED QUICKLY AND JUST STUCK AROUND HERE, APPARENTLY. OH, SURE. YEAH, YEAH.

YEP. I, I HAVE SOME SQUAD DAMAGE THAT WAS PARKED OUT BY OSHAWA.

SO. SO THERE'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE SOME SOME HAIL CLAIMS COMING IN, BUT. SURE. I DON'T THINK I THINK WE ESCAPED THE HIGH WINDS.

ALL THE TORNADOES WERE SOUTH OF US.

YOU KNOW REPORTS. WELL THAT'S, THAT IS GOOD TO KNOW AND THANK YOU AND THANK AARON FOR SHARING THAT INFORMATION WITH MANDY.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN BE ON THAT LIST.

ARE YOU SEPARATELY ON THAT LIST OR DOES THAT COME STRAIGHT FROM MANDY? JUSTIN'S INFORMATION. IT COMES I'M ON A MAILING LIST THAT THE COUNTY HAS CREATED BASED ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.

AND THAT'S WHERE THEN I SHARE IT ON TO THE COMMISSIONERS. WELL, I'M GLAD YOU SHARE IT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF I GET THAT MANDY DIRECTLY.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S EXACTLY TO THE COMMISSIONERS. IT'S IMPORTANT, ERIN, THAT INFORMATION LIKE THAT IS SHARED.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU FOLKS DURING STORMS ARE OUT THERE WATCHING AND CHASING AND SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING. BECAUSE AS WE ALL REMEMBER, WE'VE HAD OUR EXPERIENCE HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND TO OUR WEST.

THAT WAS DEVASTATING. AND HERE WE GO AGAIN WITH ANOTHER STORM SEASON.

SO, SO AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO GET THIS EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM IN PLACE.

YES. FIGURED OUT. SEVERE WEATHER SEASON IS HERE, AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FINALIZE A CONTRACT SO WE CAN GET THAT IN PLACE AND WE CAN BETTER ALERT OUR CITIZENS. WELL, I DO KNOW THAT BLUE EARTH AND NICOLLET COUNTY WORK TOGETHER WHEN THERE'S A TORNADO IN AMBOY, WHICH IS A FAR SOUTHERN PART OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY AND HEADING EAST.

SIRENS RING IN MY TOWN.

THEY RING IN SAINT PETER, TOO, RIGHT? NO THEY DON'T. NICOLLET COUNTY HAS THE BENEFIT OF BEING ABLE TO SET OFF OUR SIRENS SEPARATELY SO NICOLLET CORTLAND.

WE CAN. WE CAN JUST SET OFF SIRENS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IN THE AFFECTED AREAS IN THE AFFECTED AREA. COUNTY RUNS NORTH MANKATO SIRENS.

JUST BECAUSE BACK IN THE DAY WHEN WE USED TO DISPATCH FOR NORTH MANKATO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

RIGHT. AND BLUE EARTH COUNTY DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO SET OFF JUST LOCALIZED SIRENS. SO WHEN A SIREN GOES OFF ANYWHERE IN BLUE EARTH COUNTY,

[00:45:02]

YEAH. AND I'M GLAD THAT IT DOES BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THOSE OLD STORM CHASERS FROM MY RADIO DAYS YEARS AGO. AND TO SEE THAT, I MEAN, PEOPLE CAN BE CRYING WOLF TOO, IF SOMETHING IS HAPPENING IN MAPLETON AND NEVER REACHES MANKATO.

BUT IT'S GOOD TO KNOW AND BE AWARE.

SO ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ADD ABOUT THE STORM? NO, I DON'T THINK SO. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER COMMITTEE REPORTS, PLEASE.

[Commissioner Committee Reports, Meetings & Conferences ]

A LOT OF HOUSING, A LOT OF PERSONNEL, A LOT OF WORK.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

YES. ROOF, GARAGE, DOORS AND WINDOWS IN MY OFFICE.

OH, COMMISSIONER HELGET.

I HAD A NICOLE E E L U WORKSHOP YESTERDAY ON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, WE HAD THE EDUCATION FOR OR THE STAKEHOLDERS FOR EDUCATION SUCCESS.

THIS MORNING WE HAD OUR TOWNSHIP MEETING.

GOSH, WAS IT LAST WEEK? AND I VOLUNTEERED TO JUDGE AT THE NICOLLET PUBLIC SCHOOL SCIENCE FAIR LAST WEEK.

AND I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT FIRSTLY TO JORDAN ELIAS, THEIR, THEIR SCIENCE TEACHER WHO RESURRECTED THE SCIENCE FAIR THIS YEAR AFTER I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS OF DORMANCY.

IT WAS PHENOMENAL. ALL OF THOSE KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR ADULTS AND THEIR TEACHERS SHOULD BE REALLY PROUD OF THEMSELVES.

NEXT YEAR, I HOPE PUBLIC WORKS TAKES A SWING THROUGH THE SCIENCE FAIR WITH SOME OF THE KIDS LOOK TO HAVE SOME INTEREST IN IN SOME OF THE THINGS.

SETH AND HIS TEAM MIGHT BE DOING WITH BIG MACHINES AND WHEELS AND MAYBE GRAVEL.

GRAVEL. YEAH. SO IT WAS REALLY FUN.

AND JUST AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE KIDS AND TEACHERS AND PARENTS.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. I ATTENDED THE GOVERNOR'S AMC ZOOM BACK ON THE 24TH.

WE HAD DIVERSITY THAT SAME DAY, ATTENDED THE AMC LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE IN NISSWA WITH THREE OF OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT I SAW WERE THERE, AND A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I TOOK AWAY FROM THAT.

AND AND I HOPE THAT YOU FOLKS ENJOYED IT AS WELL.

WHAT ARE THE FUNDAMENTALS OF INFLUENCE WAS ONE OF THE TOPICS THAT THEY SHARED THERE AND THEY SAID, DON'T MAKE A DECISION BASED ON EMOTION, FACTS VERSUS FEELINGS IS BETTER.

YOU CAN'T REMOVE FEELINGS FROM DECISION MAKING, SO GO SLOW. THEY SAID TO GO FAST.

IF YOU'LL RECALL THAT PART OF THE OF THE EVENT.

SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND.

AND FOR THE OTHER THREE OF OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO WERE THERE AS WELL.

THANK YOU. AS COMMISSIONER HELGET MENTIONED, WE HAD THE TOWNSHIP'S LAST WEEK AND GOT GOOD REVIEWS FOR FROM THE FROM YOUR OFFICE, SETH AND THE GRAVEL PEOPLE.

I STOPPED AT THE REGIONAL AIRPORT OPEN HOUSE, WHICH. THAT PLACE IS GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER EVERY DAY OUT THERE.

MANKATO WHICH SERVES OUR REGION.

AMC ZOOM YESTERDAY ON EQUALIZATION, WHICH WE WILL BE DOING AGAIN COME JUNE AND MANDY, DO YOU RECALL WHEN THE LESSONS ARE.

OR MAYBE, JACKIE, WHEN BOARD MEMBERS CAN BECOME QUALIFIED, TAKE THE COURSES FOR EQUALIZATION.

DOES THAT HAPPEN ON AN ANNUAL BASIS? I KNOW, BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER, JACKIE, IF IT'S COMING UP AHEAD OF OUR EQUALIZATION MEETING. MAYBE YOU CAN REPORT TO THE BOARD AFTER THE MEETING.

YEAH. AND SO THAT WAS IT.

THANK YOU FOLKS FOR TAKING TIME TO SERVE OUR COUNTY AND OUR COUNTY RESIDENTS IN THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES THAT WE ALL SERVE ON.

THE BOARD WOULD CONSIDER NOW A REQUEST TO APPROVE PER DIEMS AND EXPENSES.

[Approve Per Diems and Expenses]

SECONDED. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED? IT CARRIES.

WE ARE ADJOURNED FROM THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING,

[Adjourn Board of Commissioners Meeting ]

[Call Drainage Authority Meeting to Order: Chair]

[00:50:02]

SO MOVED. SECONDED. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. IT CARRIES. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

MOTION WOULD BE IN ORDER.

SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND DISCUSSION.

HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. PUBLIC APPEARANCES.

DRAINAGE AUTHORITY IS NOW OPEN TO PUBLIC APPEARANCES FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

SEEING AND HEARING NONE, WE MOVE ALONG TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

PUBLIC WORKS CD 86 A GOOD MORNING.

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

JUST ONE ITEM FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY IS THE EXCUSE ME, THE GREAT CLEANING CONTRACT FOR THE PUMP STATION.

AS YOU RECALL, THERE IS A METAL BAR GRATE ON THE INTAKE OF THE PUMP STATION TO KEEP LARGE DEBRIS AND TRASH FROM ENTERING AND DAMAGING THE PUMPS.

OVER THE YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN MODIFICATIONS TO THIS GREAT TO ALLOW MORE GRASS AND DEBRIS TO FLOW THROUGH, BUT IT STILL COLLECTS ON THIS GREAT.

AND IT NEEDS ROUTINE CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE.

SO IN YOUR PACKET IS THE ANNUAL CONTRACT WITH MARY AND TIM WEIBEL, WHO HAVE AGREED TO PERFORM THE MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING OF THIS GREAT AGAIN THIS YEAR.

THEY DID THEY DID THE WORK LAST YEAR AND THEY DID A VERY GOOD JOB KEEPING IT CLEAN AND THE WATER FLOWING. AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO DO IT AGAIN THIS YEAR.

SO TOTAL AMOUNT WE PAID OUT LAST YEAR TO THE WEIBULL FAMILY WAS JUST UNDER $1,900 FOR CLEANING THE GRATE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE YEAR, WHICH IN MY OPINION IS A VERY GOOD DEAL.

THEY'RE OUT THERE MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY, CHECKING ON IT, CLEANING IT IN THE RAIN AT NIGHT, DURING STORM EVENTS.

SO WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A WILLING LANDOWNER NEARBY TO DO THIS.

OKAY. WELL, YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION.

IS THERE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? I'LL MAKE A MOTION. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM IN FRONT OF US? WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING THEY HAVE FOUND BESIDES GRASS AND TREES? ANYTHING WEIRD THAT YOU KNOW OF? SOME ANIMALS TEND TO FLOAT DOWN AND GET CAUGHT IN IT.

I WOULD ASSUME THAT, YES, BUT NO ROOFING MATERIALS LIKE OVER ON 60 TWO A NO. WELL, YEAH. YEAH, TARPS DO GET IN THERE.

PROBABLY THE MOST PROBLEMATIC TO THE PUMPS AND THE GRATE IS PLASTIC SILAGE BAGS AND DOG FOOD BAGS. OF COURSE, PLASTIC WOULD BE THE MOST DAMAGING THING TO THE PUMPS SHOULD THEY GET IN THERE, BUT THEY GET WRAPPED AROUND THOSE STEEL BARS AND THEY'RE TOUGH TO PULL OUT.

OKAY. JUST WONDERED. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BEFORE A VOTE? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE AYE. IT CARRIES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE FOR US, NATE? SPRING CLEANING IS UNDERWAY.

WE'LL HOPEFULLY WRAP THAT UP HERE.

BY MIDWEEK AND ROUTINE WORK IS PICKING UP.

THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AMONGST THE LANDOWNERS ANTICIPATING SPRING PLANTING.

SO KEEP YOUR EYE OUT FOR DITCH ASPARAGUS.

YOU GOT MY NUMBER? MUSHROOMS WILL BE COMING NOW, TOO. I'M NOT TELLING YOU IF I FIND THEM.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GRATEFUL FOR HAIL TODAY.

NOT TWO WEEKS FROM NOW OR THREE WEEKS FROM NOW.

I'VE BEEN WONDERING ABOUT THE OATS GERMINATING LAST WEEK.

GOOD MORNING JACKIE. GOOD MORNING AGAIN.

ALL RIGHT. AS YOU MAY RECALL, AS OF A RESULT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR FINAL ENGINEER'S REPORT COUNTY DITCH 61, A IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WAS APPROVED.

AND ON MONDAY, APRIL 6TH, 2026, NICOLLET COUNTY RECEIVED EIGHT BIDS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.

THE BIDS RANGED FROM $517,750.42 TO $707,920.

ANY TECH DRAINAGE WAS THE LOWEST BIDDER, WHICH IS LOWER THAN THE ENGINEER'S OPINION OF PROBABLE CONSTRUCTION COSTS.

AND THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED COMPETENCY.

FOR COMPLETING THE WORK, AS PER HOUSTON ENGINEERING, HOUSTON ENGINEERING RECOMMENDS AWARDING THE BID TO AG TECH DRAINAGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $517,750.42 FOR BOTH THE BASE BID AND THE BRANCH TO REPAIR.

ADDITIONALLY, HOUSTON ENGINEERING RECOMMENDS THAT AN ADDITIONAL 15% OF THE CONTRACT,

[00:55:03]

AND THEY INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE LOTS OF, OF EXPERIENCE ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS. SO WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY DO AT THIS POINT? I AM LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BID FOR AG TECH DRAINAGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $517,750.42, AND TO APPROVE THE ADDITIONAL 15% BUDGETED IN FOR POTENTIAL CHANGE ORDERS RESULTING FROM UNFORESEEN CONDITIONS OR OMISSIONS.

ALL RIGHT, MEMBERS, YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION FROM JACKIE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? SO MOVED. WE HAVE A MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

I HAVE QUESTIONS, HOWEVER.

WE'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM LANDOWNERS ABOUT THIS.

IS THIS THE SAME ONE? I HAVEN'T UNLESS THIS IS THE PUMP SYSTEM THAT WE VISITED IS NOT THE PUMP SYSTEM. THIS IS THE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ON THE MAIN TILE.

IT'S ALL TILE. WAS THAT ONE.

IT'S THE MAIN TILE. I GOT THE WRONG SYSTEM.

YEP. AND THEN ALONG THE WAY WE THEY ALSO REPAIR TO ONE OF THE BRANCHES BRANCH.

I GOT THE I GOT A DIFFERENT SYSTEM. OKAY.

CORRECT. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT ONE AS WELL.

NO, THIS IS JUST A TILE SYSTEM.

IT'S THE ONE WHERE THEY'RE REALIGNING PART OF IT TOWARDS.

YEAH. OKAY. YES. IT'S A SIMILAR NUMBER THOUGH ISN'T IT.

76 A IS OUR PUMP SYSTEM OKAY? I THINK IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO ASK BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN DOWN THAT ROAD BEFORE, I COULDN'T GET A COPY OF THE PACKET TO PULL UP ON ANY OF MY TECHNOLOGIES. YEAH, I'M A LITTLE BLIND HERE TODAY. SO AND IT MIGHT BE ME, NOT TECHNOLOGY. I'LL GO WITH THAT.

SO. OKAY. BEFORE WE. I'M SORRY.

YEAH. GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY.

I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS ASTONISHED ME THE MOST THIS PAST YEAR OR SO IS JUST LEARNING HOW MUCH WATER THIS COUNTRY MOVES EVERY YEAR. AND SO I AM, I'M RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.

I'M ALWAYS LIKE, OKAY, WHICH, WHICH DITCH SYSTEM IS THIS? I HAVE ONE QUESTION. SO THE 15% THAT YOU HOLD IN YOU KNOW, JUST IN CASE, SO THAT WE, WE BUDGET FOR THAT TODAY.

AND THEN IF WE DON'T USE IT, IT GOES BACK TO THAT DITCH SYSTEM, RIGHT? TECHNICALLY IT'S THE DITCH SYSTEM'S MONEY ANYWAY.

THE COUNTY FRONTS ANY MONEY TO THE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS. AND SO ADDITIONALLY, ALONG THE WAY THERE, WE COULD TYPICALLY GO OVER IN A BID PROCESS IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL CHANGE ORDERS.

OKAY. SO THIS ALLOWS THAT IT'S A MORE FORMALITY AND APPROVAL TO GO OVER.

TO BE ABLE TO NOT HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD FOR ANYTHING UP UNTIL THAT AMOUNT, IF IT WENT OVER THAT WE WOULD COME BACK TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL.

OKAY. OKAY. THANKS. SO WE HAVE A MOTION.

ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING TO US TODAY? YES. OKAY. NO RESOLUTION NEEDED HERE, MANDY.

JUST A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING I, I IT CARRIES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER BUSINESS, COME BEFORE THE NICOLLET COUNTY DRAINAGE AUTHORITY. HEARING. SEEING NONE, WE ARE ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.