[00:00:05] THERE'S MEETING TOGETHER FOR [1. Pledge of Allegiance] AUGUST 11TH, 2026 PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME IN THE FLAG 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 RIGHT WELCOME EVERYONE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS TO SILENCE CELL PHONES SO PLEASE MANAGE THAT FOR US NEXT ITEM IS APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA THE AGENDA WAS [3. Approval of Agenda] PROVIDED IN ADVANCE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS OKAY ALRIGHT DO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE I MOVE TO APPROVE SECOND SECOND ALL IN FAVOR AYE AYE AYE MOTION CARRIES NEXT ITEM IS APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA THOSE ITEMS [4. Approval of Consent Agenda] WERE ALSO PROVIDED FOR IN ADVANCE ANYONE WANT TO PULL ANYTHING OFF MISTER CHAIR I'M NOT WANTING TO PULL IT OUT BUT JUST GIVE ME A LITTLE TIME ON ITEM C THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S CONTRACT AGREEMENT IS THAT MAYBE JIM CAN ANSWER THIS IS THIS FOR AUTOPSIES RIGHT AND SO HOW OFTEN DO WE USE THAT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS DO YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION OR COULD YOU GET THAT TO US TRYING TO THINK OF WHAT THE CHARGE IS FOR THAT FOR AN AUTOPSY I THINK IT'S USUALLY UP AT HENNEPIN COUNTY DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT RAMSEY OH RAMSEY DOESN'T MAYBE IF YOU COULD HAVE YOUR OFFICE PROVIDE THAT JUST AS A BACKGROUND INFORMATION MR CHAIR THAT'S THE ONLY THING I WAS WANTING TO BE REFRESHED ON I CLICK ALL RIGHT ALL RIGHT DO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA I'LL MOVE THAT I'LL SECOND IT ALL IN FAVOR AYE AYE PUBLIC APPEARANCES WE HAVE A [5. Public Appearances] LARGE CROWD HERE TODAY I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT WE WILL NOW MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE AGENDA THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON MATTERS OF INTEREST OR CONCERN WE ASK THAT SPEAKERS STATE THEIR NAME FOR THE RECORD LIMIT REMARKS TO THREE MINUTES AND DIRECT COMMENTS TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE THE BOARD WILL NOT TAKE ANY ACTION ON REQUESTS RECEIVED DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION BUT WILL DIRECT COUNTY STAFF TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY TO ISSUES RAISED BY THE CITIZENS SO AT THIS TIME IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD PLEASE STEP FORWARD GIVE YOUR NAME GOOD MORNING NICOLLET COUNTY COMMISSIONERS NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS I'M MARY BARRENS A RETIRED TEACHER RESIDENT OF SAINT PETER AND LIFELONG MINNESOTAN I COME TO SHARE SOME WORDS AND IDEAS IN A CRITICAL MOMENT AS THE FIRST SPEAKER IT'S MY TASK TO SORT OF GROUND US IN WHAT SURROUNDS US OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED US SCAPEGOATING IS THEIR GAME A YOUNG YOUTUBER CAME WITH A CAMERA TO A MINNEAPOLIS CHILD CARE CENTER OWNED BY A SOMALI FAMILY HE ASKED TO SEE THE CHILDREN AND FOR GOOD REASON LIKE PROTECTING CHILDREN WAS DENIED ACCESS FROM THIS GREW STORIES OF FRAUD CAPTURING THE ATTENTION OF CASH PATEL AND JD VANCE THIS ADMINISTRATION SPREADS LIES YOU CAN'T OUTRUN THEY SILENCE ANYONE WHO SPEAKS UP LIKE THE RECENT RAID ON THE OHIO ORGANIZING COLLABORATION A GROUP THAT HAS REGISTERED THOUSANDS OF BLACK VOTERS AND NO DOUBT LABELING THEIR VOLUNTEERS AS DOMESTIC TERRORISTS I MIGHT BE ONE TOO FOR SIMILAR SUBVERSION LIKE SERVING FOOD ON MONDAY NIGHTS AT TRINITY TO PEOPLE WHO NEED A MEAL OR USING MY RIGHT TO SPEAK TODAY THEY USE VIOLENCE TO KEEP CONTROL AS WE SAW IN MINNEAPOLIS LAST WINTER WITH THE MURDERS OF RENEE GOOD AND ALEX PRETTY AND WITH MANY VIOLENT ENCOUNTERS WITH ICE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY AND NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO RIG THE ELECTION SO THEY CAN'T LOSE IF WE LOOK BACK OVER OUR HISTORY WE CAN SEE THAT OUR DEMOCRACY WAS NEVER GUARANTEED WE KNOW THAT THE PROMISE OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL WAS ONLY REAL FOR WEALTHY WHITE MEN STILL IT SERVED A NEW COUNTRY FOR NEARLY A CENTURY UNTIL THE CIVIL WAR RIPPED IT APART THE RECONSTRUCTION THAT FOLLOWED WAS SUPPOSED TO REBUILD A NATION BUT GAVE RISE TO JIM CROW LAWS AND GROUPS LIKE THE KKK THIS WAS NOT DEMOCRACY THE LANDMARK CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 BANNED DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE [00:05:04] COLOR RELIGION SEX OR NATIONAL ORIGIN MAKING US FINALLY A REAL DEMOCRACY WE KEPT IT UNTIL TRP'S RECENT RECENT MARCH EXECUTIVE ORDER ELIMINATING VOTING RIGHTS IN ORDER TO CONTROL WHO GETS TO VOTE THIS REMAINS UNFINISHED BUSINESS AS IS THE FEARED SAFE ACT STILL THREATENING TO DISENFRANCHISE MILLIONS OF WOMEN GUILTY OF CHANGING THEIR NAMES UPON MARRIAGE THIS NOVEMBER IS OUR CHANCE FOR A FOURTH FOUNDING OF A MULTIRACIAL AND MULTI GENDER DEMOCRACY AND MAYBE OUR LAST CHANCE WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO ACCEPT FAILURE WE ARE THIRSTY FOR JUSTICE THIS REGIME WILL REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF THE MIDTERM ELECTION WHEN THEY LOSE AND THEY WILL LOSE THEY WILL LIE CHEAT AND STEAL TO HOLD ON TO THEIR POWER JUST AS AT OTHER CRITICAL MOMENTS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN REGULAR PEOPLE WE THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY DEMANDING THAT THE PROMISE OF DEMOCRACY BE MADE REAL HERE IN OUR HOME NICOLLET COUNTY MINNESOTA WE MUST BE ASSURED THAT DETAILED PLANS ARE READY FOR A SAFE FAIR AND FREE ELECTION THIS NOVEMBER SO THAT THE VOICES OF ALL THE PEOPLE ARE HEARD THANK YOU GOOD MORNING MY NAME IS TED KUNZE K U N Z E I'M A RETIRED PASTOR AND I'VE LIVED IN SAINT PETER FOR ABOUT 9 YEARS NOW I'M ALSO A GUSTY GRAD AND AT GUSTAVUS I WAS A HISTORY MAJOR MY STUDY OF HISTORY I'VE LEARNED THAT WE HAVE A GREAT COUNTRY BUT ONE THAT'S FAR FROM PERFECT AS MARY MENTIONED THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES WE'VE STRAYED FROM OUR IDEALS OUR COUNTRY HAS OFTEN MISTREATED PEOPLE OF VARIOUS ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS A PROBLEM THAT CONTINUES TODAY THERE WAS OF COURSE A CIVIL WAR FOUGHT OVER THE ISSUE OF IS IT RIGHT FOR ONE PERSON TO OWN ANOTHER THE ISSUE OF SLAVERY AS WELL AS OTHER ISSUES IN THE SO CALLED GILDED AGE PEOPLE THAT CAME TO BE KNOWN AS ROBBER BARONS BECAME FABULOUSLY WEALTHY AS THEY EXPLOITED THE POOR AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE 1920S THE TEAPOT DOME SCANDAL THE WARREN G HARDING ADMINISTRATION REVEALED THAT CABINET OFFICIALS WERE MAKING MONEY FOR THEMSELVES BY SELLING LEASES TO GOVERNMENT LANDS IN THE 1950S A CHARISMATIC SENATOR JOSEPH MCCARTHY RUINED THE LIVES AND CAREERS OF MANY PEOPLE AS HE ACCUSED THEM OFTEN WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF BEING COMMUNISTS AND MOST OF US CAN REMEMBER THE WATERGATE SCANDAL THE 1970S AS PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON'S CRONIES TRIED TO GUARANTEE HIS REELECTION BY BREAKING INTO THE WATERGATE THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE HEADQUARTERS AND COMMITTEE OTHER COMMITTING OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES SO HOW DID OUR COUNTRY REBOUND FROM THESE FAILURES OF THEIR IDEALS I THINK TWO THINGS ARE KEY ONE IS THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH GUARANTEED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION WHICH ENABLED PEOPLE TO POINT OUT OUR COUNTRY'S FAILURES ENCOURAGING REFORM AND THE SECOND THING THAT I THINK IS HAS BEEN SO BASIC IS A PROVISION IN THE CONSTITUTION FOR FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS WHICH GIVES THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE DIFFERENT LEADERS BETTER LEADERS I THINK OUR COUNTRY IS AT ANOTHER TIME WHEN WE'VE STRAYED FROM OUR IDEALS IT IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR COUNTRY TO USE OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH THE HONEST EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERY LEGAL VOTER TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR ELECTIONS I'M HERE TO ASK YOU AS A NICOLLET COUNTY BOARD TO RESIST ANY ATTEMPT TO INTERFERE WITH THE ELECTIONS SCHEDULED IN OUR COUNTY AND I SAID TO DO ALL YOU CAN TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION BY EVERY VOTER AND WORK TO ENSURE THE FAIR ADMINISTRATION OF OUR ELECTION THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME GOOD MORNING MY NAME [00:10:05] IS BILL NELSON N E L S E N IT'S THE DANISH EXTRACTION AND I'M SPEAKING AS A CITIZEN OF NICOLLET COUNTY A FORMER POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR A PASTOR AND A CO FOUNDER AS SOME OF YOU KNOW OF GOOD NEIGHBOR DIVERSITY COUNCIL I'M HERE TO SPEAK OF THE IMPORTANCE AS OTHERS ARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF FAIR AND FREE ELECTIONS ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME IN OUR HISTORY AND IN THIS PARTICULAR COUNTY PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF WHAT SO MANY PEOPLE WENT THROUGH WHEN THEY EXPERIENCED FEAR NOT BEING ABLE TO GO TO WORK NOT BEING ABLE TO GO OUT AND GO GROCERY SHOPPING AND OTHER THINGS BECAUSE OF FEAR THERE WERE MANY OF US WHO STEPPED FORWARD TO TRY TO HELP THEM AND WE DID THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF LOTS OF LOTS OF PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY BUT I ALSO HAVE BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE I'VE SEEN FEAR OPERATE TOO MUCH INCLUDING IN RELATION TO VOTING I HAD THE PRIVILEGE BECAUSE I'M OLD ENOUGH OF HAVING PARTICIPATED IN 1965 IN TRYING TO GET THE VOTING RIGHTS PASSED I WAS JUST A FOOT SOLDIER A COMMON FOOT SOLDIER WORKING UNDER MARTIN LUTHER KING AND THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE I WENT TO ALABAMA I WAS THERE AND SAW THE FEAR THAT WAS SO EXTANT IN THOSE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE SERVED TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE OUT TO VOTE AND EVENTUALLY GET THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT PASSED AND IT DID PASS WITH GREAT SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE OF ALL PARTIES AND BACKGROUNDS OR NO PARTIES AND DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS AS WELL AND WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN NOW TO GUARANTEE THAT THE BASIC VISION OF THAT ACT BACK IN 65 IS MAINTAINED BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN IT BEEN CUT INTO BY THE SUPREME COURT AND BY OTHER METHODS AROUND THIS COUNTRY PROBABLY BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE TRUE NATURE OF VOTING FREEDOM AND THE TRUE NATURE OF HAN BEINGS WANT TO HAVE POWER AND TO KEEP POWER SO I ASK ALL OF YOU AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU AND I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN SERVICE TO THIS COUNTY AND TO ALL ITS PEOPLE DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO SPREAD THE WORD THAT IT'S GONNA BE WITHOUT FEAR THAT PEOPLE CAN COME AND EXERCISE THEIR GREAT CITIZENSHIP RIGHT TO VOTE THANK YOU THANK YOU GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK MY NAME IS BETH WINTERFELD I AM A RESIDENT OF SAINT PETER AND A SOCIAL WORKER THROUGH MY WORK AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT I COLLABORATE WITH CULTURAL LEADERS AND LIAISONS AND WITH PEOPLE WHO FACE BARRIERS MANY OF US MAY NEVER HAVE TO THINK ABOUT I AM NOT HERE TO SPEAK FOR THESE COMMUNITIES BUT TO SHARE A BIT OF WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM THEM AND FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE ACCESS MATTERS AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY ATTENTION WHO MAY TO WHO MAY BE LEFT OUT TODAY I AM ASKING YOU TO DO EVERYTHING WITHIN YOUR AUTHORITY TO SUPPORT SAFE ACCESS TO FAIR AND SECURE ELECTIONS THROUGHOUT NICOLLET COUNTY A FEW YEARS AGO I CAME RIGHT HERE TO THE COURTHOUSE TO VOTE EARLY I CAREFULLY COMPLETED MY BALLOT READ THE INSTRUCTIONS SEVERAL TIMES AND ASKED A WORKER TO CHECK MY WORK SHE ASSURED ME EVERYTHING WAS COMPLETE AND I LEFT BELIEVING I HAD VOTED SEVERAL WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED A LETTER SAYING MY BALLOT WAS INVALID BECAUSE OF A MISSING SIGNATURE AND HAD NOT BEEN COUNTED I WAS HORRIFIED AND EMBARRASSED HOW COULD I WITH ALL THE EDUCATION AND ABILITY TO NAVIGATE SYSTEMS THAT I HAVE LET THIS HAPPEN I REALIZED TOO LATE THAT I HAD MISSED A CALL FROM THE COUNTY ASKING ME TO COME BACK AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM IF VOTING CAN FAIL FOR ME WHEN I'M DELIBERATELY TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING RIGHT IMAGINE THE BARRIERS FOR SOMEONE WITH FEWER RESOURCES LET ALONE CONCERNS FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY AS A SOCIAL WORKER I SEE THOSE BARRIERS PLAY OUT DAILY I ONCE WORKED WITH A YOUNG ADULT HERE IN THIS COUNTY WHO LIVED LESS THAN A MILE FROM HER POLLING PLACE IN TOWN FOR MANY OF US THIS SOUNDS ACCESSIBLE FOR HER WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION EXTRA MONEY FOR THE BUS AND VALID SAFETY CONCERNS VOTING FELT AS IMPOSSIBLE TO HER AS CLIMBING MOUNT EVEREST ONE ADDITIONAL BARRIER CAN BECOME THE BARRIER THAT KEEPS SOMEONE FROM VOTING ACCESS IS ALSO ABOUT TRUST AND SAFETY FOR [00:15:01] PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEGITIMATE REASONS TO FEAR INTERACTIONS WITH GOVERNMENTS ENTERING A POLLING PLACE MAY NOT FEEL AS SIMPLE OR SAFE AS IT DOES TO OTHERS AMID NATIONAL DISPUTES OVER VOTING RIGHTS ELIGIBILITY ELECTION ADMIN ADMINISTRATION AND VOTER FRAUD PEOPLE NEED CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN ALL SAFELY PARTICIPATE AND THAT OUR VOTES WILL BE COUNTED WHATEVER OUR POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS I KNOW WE CAN AGREE ELIGIBLE VOTERS MUST BE ABLE TO VOTE WITHOUT UNNECESSARY BARRIERS INTIMIDATION OR FEAR AND THEIR LAWFUL VOTES MUST BE COUNTED PLEASE SUPPORT OUR COUNTY ELECTION WORKERS AND THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO ADMINISTER FAIR SECURE AND ACCESSIBLE ELECTIONS AND PLEASE RESIST EFFORTS THAT UNNECESSARILY MAKE IT HARDER FOR ELIGIBLE PEOPLE TO VOTE THE STRENGTH OF OUR DEMOCRACY IS MEASURED BY WHETHER EVERY ELIGIBLE VOTER HAS A MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE COMMISSIONERS THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER THANK YOU GOOD MORNING MY NAME IS ELIZABETH HOCKINSON FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO NICOLLET COUNTY AND FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE OF OUR ELECTIONS ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR ONE ISSUE THAT HAS SURFACED MULTIPLE TIMES AS I HAVE TALKED WITH PEOPLE MY NEIGHBORS HERE IN SAINT PETER I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT FOR FOUR YEARS IS RELATED TO THE US POSTAL SERVICE SO THERE'S BEEN TALK ABOUT CHANGES ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE POSTAL SERVICE AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE RAISED THIS CONCERN ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAS COME UP IS HOW CAN THE COUNTY BOARD FACILITATE AND THAT IS HELP ASSURE THAT MAIL IN BALLOTS WILL GET FROM THE POST OFFICE TO THE COUNTING BALLOT COUNTING MACHINES ONE PERSON TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD HEARD COMMENTS EVEN FROM POSTAL AGENTS ABOUT HOW MAIL GETS LOST WHEN IT GOES FROM SAINT PETER TO MANKATO TO MINNEAPOLIS AND THEN BACK TO OUR LOCAL AREA SO PEOPLE ARE WONDERING HOW CAN YOU TRACK A BALLOT WAIT NO THIS IS SORRY MY YOU CAN TRACK A BALLOT BUT WHAT CAN BE DONE IF IT DOESN'T ARRIVE WHAT CAN BE DONE IF IT DOESN'T ARRIVE IN TIME SO I WOULD ASK THAT THE COUNTY HAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT IS THE ROLE WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE US POSTAL SERVICE'S ROLE IN THE ELECTION AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE GOOD MORNING MY NAME IS ALAN GRAY UNFORTUNATELY FOR YOU I'M THE THIRD PASTOR TO SPEAK IN YOUR PRESENCE I APOLOGIZE I'VE LIVED IN SAINT PETER FOR 26 YEARS AND THOUGH NATIVES OF THIS COUNTY WOULD STILL COUNT ME AS AN OUTSIDER I LOVE THIS PLACE I LOVE MY HOME HERE IN THE COUNTY I'VE SERVED AS AN ELECTION JUDGE AND I'M CURRENTLY ON THE SAINT PETER LIBRARY BOARD SO THERE IS A BIT OF ME THAT REALLY APPRECIATES WHAT WE DO AS IN THE CIVIC COMMUNITY I'M HERE THIS MORNING SIMPLY TO COMMEND NICOLLET COUNTY AND MINNESOTA FOR THEIR EXCELLENT TRACK RECORD WITH REGARD TO ELECTION INTEGRITY ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY SAINT THOMAS UNIVERSITY BETWEEN THE YEARS 2015 AND 2024 OUT OF OVER 13 MILLION VOTES THAT WERE CAST IN ONLY THREE INSTANCES WERE VOTES CAST BY A NON CITIZEN OUR SYSTEM WORKS AND THAT'S SOMETHING WORTH BRAGGING ABOUT I HAVE OTHER THINGS HERE THAT I WOULD SAY BUT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY SAID THEM SO I'LL GO TO THE END OF MY LITTLE SPEECH HERE I WISH ONCE AGAIN TO COMMEND YOU FOLKS FOR THE WORK YOU DO ON BEHALF OF THIS COUNTY THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU SPEND THE WILLINGNESS TO PUT YOUR LIVES AND NAMES ON THE LINE MATTERS SO THANK YOU FOR THAT THANK YOU FOR OPPOSING ANY EFFORTS TO BLOCK INACCURATE COUNTING BALLOTS IN OUR COUNTY THANK YOU FOR ENSURING THE SAFETY OF OUR ELECTION JUDGES AND ADMINISTRATORS THANK YOU FOR [00:20:03] TRUSTING US YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AS WE CAST OUR BALLOTS BLESSINGS TO EACH OF YOU THANKS A BUNCH THANK YOU GOOD MORNING I'LL BE SPEAKING QUICKLY BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT TO SAY AND I ONLY HAVE 3 MINUTES HI I'M PAT ORNE O R N E I LIVE IN NORTH MANKATO I'VE VOTED FOR OVER 50 YEARS IN RAMSEY BROWN WASECA BLUE EARTH AND NICOLLET COUNTIES ALL HAVE BEEN CALM FRIENDLY SETTINGS OFTEN STAFFED BY MY NEIGHBORS AND OTHER LOCAL FOLKS I KNOW I DIDN'T BRING FEAR OR ANXIETY TO THE POLLS JUST MY VOTING DECISIONS I PEACEFULLY STEPPED INTO A PRIVATE SPACE TO MARK MY CHOICES SLIPPED MY BALLOT INTO THE BOX THEN LEFT QUIETLY PROUD TO WEAR MY I VOTED STICKER AFTERWARDS IN CONTRAST THE 24 7 NEWS CYCLE ALMOST DAILY REPORTS POTENTIAL THREATS ABOUT THIS YEAR'S VOTE AS MINNESOTANS WE'VE EXPERIENCED HAVING A TARGET ON OUR COLLECTIVE BACKS SO THERE'S EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT ELECTIONS IN LOCAL JURISDICTIONS COULD BE CURRENTLY UNDER SCRUTINY BY BAD ACTORS AND SUDDENLY COME UNDER DIRECT ATTACK GIVEN ALL THAT I DON'T WANT THERE TO BE A FAILURE OF IMAGINATION OR PREPARATION AMONG ANY OF OUR LEADERS AS THE ELECTION DRAWS NEAR I WANT REASSURANCE THE LAST FEW MONTHS I'VE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL LOCAL OFFICIALS AND CHECKED MANY COUNTY STATE AND NATIONAL WEBSITES DOZENS OF PAGES OF PROCEDURES AND LAWS GOVERNING ELECTIONS AND ELECTION OFFICIALS STILL I HAVE QUESTIONS I WONDER HAVE THE ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA COUNTIES OR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES SENT GUIDELINES TO YOU OUR HIGHEST RANKING ELECTED OFFICIALS TO GAME OUT YOUR ROLE OF VIGILANT PROACTIVE IN OVERSIGHT HAVE YOU DISCUSSED THOSE GUIDELINES AMONG YOURSELVES HAVE YOU MADE THEM PUBLIC I KNOW STATE AND COUNTY OFFICIALS AND ELECTION JUDGES HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN AND TABLETOP VARIETY OF SCENARIOS HAVE YOU OR WILL YOU DO THE SAME THREATS AND WARNINGS HAVE BEEN MADE IN PUBLIC FOR ALL TO HEAR WILL YOU AS COMMISSIONERS MAKE YOUR STAND PUBLIC AS WELL WILL YOU SEND A LETTER TO CONSTITUENTS OR SET AN AGENDA ITEM AT A FUTURE MEETING TO OUTLINE YOUR BOARD'S PLANS OF ACTION FOR ITSELF AND ITS REASSURANCE TO CONSTITUENTS ABOUT SECURE ELECTION PROCEDURES FREE AND FAIR HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE BYWORD FOR OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS AND I REALLY DO EXPECT THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSE WHAT IS COMMUNICATED AND IMPLEMENTED IN THIS FALL'S ELECTION AT EVERY LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP WILL SET A FOUNDATION AND EXPECTATIONS FOR ELECTIONS OF THE FUTURE THE GOALS OF ANY ACTION WOULD BE TO STRENGTHEN THE PROCESS AND REASSURE CONSTITUENTS THAT ALL THAT CAN BE DONE IS BEING DONE AS A JOURNALIST FOR 16 YEARS I SAW FIRST HAND HOW COUNTY BOARDS CAREFULLY GUARD AND CONSIDER THEIR POLICIES AND ACTIONS SO NO PRECEDENTS WILL BE SET THAT THEY OR A FUTURE BOARD WILL REGRET LATER I BELIEVE THAT ANY LEADERSHIP AND TRANSPARENCY STEPS TAKEN BY ALL OF YOU NOW TO DEFINE THE COUNTY BOARD'S ROLE IN OVERSEEING AND SAFEGUARDING VOTING BALLOTS AND CITIZENS WILL ENDURE THE TEST OF TIME AND BENEFIT NIAGARA COUNTY AND ALL OF US INTO THE FUTURE THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ALL OUR VOICES AND CONCERNS TODAY WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU AND WE'LL BE WATCHING FOR YOUR PUBLIC ACTIONS AS A RESPONSE TO WHAT YOU'VE HEARD GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS I'M AFRAID YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THE LAST OF A PASTOR THERE HAVE BEEN A LINE OF US MY NAME IS SCOTT KERSHNER I SERVE TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH HERE IN SAINT PETER TRINITY IS MY CONGREGATION SAINT PETER IS MY PARISH AND I COME AS A CITIZEN AND A PASTOR WHO SEEKS TO SERVE THE COMMON GOOD IN ALL I DO AND CALL ALL OF US TO DO THE SAME AND I KNOW THAT'S A CONVICTION THAT WE SHARE I SIMPLY WANNA SPEAK TO THE FACT THAT THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN IN BILL NELSON'S COMMENTS THAT THE DEMOCRACY THAT IS ONE THAT WE THINK OF AS THE ONE WE LIVE UNDER AND SERVE IS BARELY 60 YEARS OLD THAT IS BEGAN REALLY WITH THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT IN THE MID 60S AND [00:25:02] THAT WAS A LONG A LONG JOURNEY TO GET TO THE VISION OF A BROADLY PARTICIPATORY MULTIRACIAL DEMOCRACY THAT WE CELEBRATE AS AS AMERICANS AND WE THINK OF AS THE HALLMARK OF OUR CIVILIZATION AND A LIGHT IN THE WORLD AND AND SO I I WILL COMMEND YOU IN YOUR EFFORTS TO RESIST ANY INITIATIVE TO TO UNDERMINE WHAT IS A CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR AMERICAN STORY AND AND THAT OUR OWN IDEALS AND OUR OWN VIRTUE AS CITIZENS IS REVEALED WHEN THERE WHEN THOSE WHEN THOSE IDEALS ARE CHALLENGED AND SO I COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND ASK YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO OUR CARRYING FORWARD OUR DEMOCRATIC IDEALS AS A COUNTRY THANK YOU THANK YOU ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ALRIGHT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS WE APPRECIATE IT WE DO TAKE OUR RESPONSIBILITY IN THE ELECTIONS VERY SERIOUSLY AND OUR STAFF IS DEDICATED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO HAVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS WE FOLLOW ALL THE REGULATIONS AND STIPULATIONS THAT ARE SET UPON US AND THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ADMINISTER SO I LOOK FORWARD TO A GOOD OUTCOME OF THE PRIMARY AND A FORWARD TO A GOOD ELECTION WHEN IT COMES TIME IN NOVEMBER THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME AND COMING DOWN AND DISCUSSING THOSE COMMENTS WITH US WE TAKE ALL YOUR COMMENTS TO HEART I'M GONNA APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT TO COME DOWN AND SPEAK WITH US SO HAVE A GOOD DAY GOOD LUCK ON THE ELECTION AND WE'LL SEE HOW THINGS TURN OUT TONIGHT SO THANK YOU ALRIGHT AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC APPEARANCE PORTION WE'LL MOVE ON [6. Property Services] TO PROPERTY SERVICES JOHN GOOD MORNING CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SO TODAY WE HAVE WE HAVE PLN 26 DASH 8 WHICH IS THE REQUEST OF WARREN KRON TO CONSTRUCT A DRIVEWAY IN THE SHORE IMPACT ZONE SO THIS IS A PROPERTY THAT IS LOCATED IN GRANDVIEW TOWNSHIP IT'S EAST OF STATE HIGHWAY 1 11 AND THEN ON THE WESTERN SHORE OF MIDDLE LAKE IN OUR EVERYTHING IN ALONG THE LAKE IS IN OUR SHORELAND ZONING DISTRICT ABOUT A THOUSAND FEET OUT FROM BASICALLY THE BOUNDARY OF PUBLIC WATER FOR THE LAKE AND SO IN THAT AREA THERE IS A 100 FOOT BUFFER KNOWN AS THE SHORE IMPACT ZONE AND OUR SHORELAND ORDINANCE YOU KNOW REQUIRES THAT WHEN EARTH IS MOVED EVEN FOR A DRIVEWAY CONSTRUCTION THAT IS CONSIDERED A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IF IT'S HAPPENING IN THE SHORE IMPACT ZONE SO WE DID HAVE A WE HAD A SPECIAL PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION LAST TUESDAY AND YOU KNOW THERE WERE JUST SOME THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT THIS IS PART OF A THE DRIVEWAY ITSELF IS WHAT THIS C U P RELATES TO THE DRIVEWAY IS BEING PROPOSED TO HELP SUPPORT A FUTURE WETLAND BANK PROJECT THAT THE LANDOWNER WARREN CRONIN IS PROPOSING FOR THE PROPERTY THAT IS JUST TO THE WEST OF THIS THE ADJACENT PARCEL YOU KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE GOVERNED BY STATE REGULATIONS SO THAT IS YOU KNOW NOT DIRECTLY WHAT THIS APPLICATION IS ABOUT BUT THIS IS JUST FOR THE DRIVEWAY TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT THERE IS A AN EXISTING FIELD APPROACH TO THAT ADJACENT PARCEL SO THAT IS BEING MOVED TO ALIGN WITH THE NEW DRIVEWAY SO THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT ABOUT THE NEW ACCESS POINT AND THE FACT THAT A NEW CULVERT IS HAS BEEN MOVED IN TO SERVE THIS ACCESS THERE IS A BASICALLY A PRIVATE DITCH THAT RUNS ALONG THE TOWNSHIP ROAD IN THIS AREA AND IN THIS CASE WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE TOWNSHIP THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE NEW THE NEW CULVERT OR THE NEW ACCESS THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH GRANBY TOWNSHIP ON THIS ON THIS PROJECT YOU KNOW SINCE LAST YEAR AND THE PLANS THERE WAS ALSO A QUESTION ABOUT HOW THIS WILL AFFECT WATER DRAINAGE THE PLANS FOR THE WETLAND BANK AND SO THE DRIVEWAY ARE YOU KNOW THE DRIVEWAY IS PART OF THESE PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN DRAFTED BY THE ENGINEERING FIRM ISG AND THE NEW CULVERT IS BASICALLY IT'S TWICE AS BIG IN DIAMETER SO IT'S 36 INCHES RATHER THAN 18 INCHES AND SO THE PLAN AND THE WE HAVE [00:30:01] MEASURED THE CULVERT AND IT IS AS DEPICTED IN THE PLANS AND THE OLDER CULVERT WILL BE REMOVED AS WELL AND SO THAT WAS KIND OF WHAT WE HAD WITH REGARD TO STRANGE CONCERNS BECAUSE THIS IS A PRIVATE DITCH AND IT'S A TOWNSHIP ROAD THIS ISN'T REALLY SOMETHING THAT AS FAR AS THE CULVERT ISN'T REALLY SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE INSPECTED BY ANYONE FROM NICOLLET COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS AND SO THE BOARD DID RECOMMEND THE THE DRIVEWAY FILL FOR APPROVAL JUST WITH SOME ADDED CONDITIONS AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF AND SOME OF THE NOTABLE CONDITIONS OF THIS WERE THAT THE DRIVEWAY'S DRIVABLE SURFACE WOULD BE AT LEAST 14 FEET WIDE AND THAT COMES FROM OUR ZONING ORDINANCE STANDARDS ABOUT ACCESS DRIVEWAYS ANY SLOPES ALONG THE DRIVEWAY WITH A GRADE STEEPER THAN 3 HORIZONTAL TO 1 FOOT VERTICAL SHALL NOT REMAIN EXPOSED THAT COMES FROM OUR LAND PRESERVATION ORDINANCE ADDITIONALLY THAT THE APPLICANT SHALL EITHER OBTAIN APPROVAL FOR A WETLAND REPLACEMENT PLAN FROM THE LOCAL TECHNICAL EVALUATION PANEL OR CLAIM AN AGRICULTURAL EXEMPTION USING HIS NRCS CERTIFIED WETLAND DETERMINATION AND SO BASICALLY THAT MEANS THAT YOU KNOW WITH MINNESOTA'S WETLAND CONSERVATION ACT IF YOU HAVE YOU KNOW AN IMPACT TO THE WETLAND YOU NEED TO PURCHASE CREDITS TO REPLACE THE WETLAND BUT IN THIS CASE BY BEING ABLE TO CLAIM THE EXEMPTION THAT WOULD MEAN AS LONG AS THIS DRIVEWAY SERVES AN AGRICULTURAL PURPOSE FOR 10 YEARS THAT THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE CREDITS REQUIRED AS LONG AS THE LAND USE REMAINS THE SAME AS ONE OF THE OPTIONS THE WETLANDS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED THAT ARE JUST TO THE WEST OF THE PROPOSED DRIVEWAY THEY'RE PRIOR CONVERTED WETLANDS AND SO THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY SERVING AS WETLANDS THEY WERE WETLANDS AT ONE TIME BUT THEY'RE CURRENTLY ROW CROPS AND THAT'S WHY THERE IS THE AGRICULTURAL EXEMPTION THAT AS LONG AS EVERYTHING REMAINS AGRICULTURAL FOR THE TIME BEING THAT SHOULD NOT BE A THAT SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM ADDITIONALLY THE APPLICANT SHALL NOT CUT OR PLACE MATERIAL WITHIN THE ORDINARY HIGH WATER LEVEL OF MIDDLE LAKE WE DID HAVE EL GLIZNER OUT FROM THE DNR HE TOOK MEASUREMENTS AND BASICALLY THAT'S THE ELEVATION THAT IS SORT OF THE HIGHEST LEVEL THAT HAS FEATURES ASSOCIATED WITH LAKES IN TERMS OF SOILS AND VEGETATION AND THAT'S THE BOUNDARY THAT IF YOU'RE ABOVE THAT ELEVATION IT IS THE PRIVATE LAND THAT'S BEING GOVERNED BY THE NICOLLET COUNTY ORDINANCES AND IF YOU'RE BELOW THAT THAT'S CONSIDERED TO BE PUBLIC WATER WITH STATE JURISDICTION SO WITH THE DRIVEWAY THE APPLICANT JUST NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT NO SOIL IMPACTS THAT AREA AND THEN FINALLY THE APPLICANT SHALL REMOVE THE EXISTING FIELD ACCESS AND CULVERT AFTER THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE AND THAT THAT IS PART OF THE PLAN SUBMITTED WITH THIS APPLICATION SO TODAY WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE COUNTY BOARD TO APPROVE THE DRIVEWAY PROJECT WITH THE RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS AND APPROVE THE FINDINGS OF FACT FROM THE FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION HERE LAST WEEK ALRIGHT DO I HAVE A MOTION SO MOVED 2ND DISCUSSION THANK YOU JOHN FOR BEING HERE AND FOR THIS DILIGENT WORK ON THIS PROJECT AS YOU KNOW WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS A FEW TIMES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS I'VE HAD A NBER OF TEXT MESSAGES AND EMAILS FROM PARTIES ADJACENT TO THIS PROJECT AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE A COUPLE OF THE CONCERNS ONE MORE TIME I THINK I HEARD YOU MENTION ALMOST ALL OF THEM I DID GET SOME FEEDBACK RELATED TO THE SIZE AND PLACEMENT OF THE CULVERT SOME CONCERNS RELATED TO THAT THERE WERE SOME ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND THEN ONE THAT I HADN'T HEARD BEFORE WHICH WAS ABOUT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTEREST IN THIS AREA AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU DID ANY RESEARCH ON THAT AT ALL YOU KNOW THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE DISCUSSED WITH OUR ATTORNEY TAYLOR NELSON AS FAR AS WHETHER SHE THOUGHT ANYTHING NEEDED TO BE ADDED AS FAR AS THAT YOU KNOW IT'S SORT OF THE PRIVATE CEMETERIES STATUTE FOR MINNESOTA IS WHAT GOVERNS THAT IT BASICALLY SAYS THAT YOU AREN'T ALLOWED TO DISTURB SOMETHING THAT IS A KNOWN BURIAL GROUND BUT IT'S REALLY THE OBLIGATION OF THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER TO KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING HAPPENING FOR THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITUATION SO OUR ATTORNEY DID NOT HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR ASPECT AND THEN ADDITIONALLY AS FAR AS ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW THIS PROJECT WOULD NOT BE ONE OF THE PROJECT TYPES THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHEET OR ANY KIND OF FURTHER REVIEW AT THE STATE LEVEL OTHER THAN WHAT OUR ORDINANCE IS ALREADY DOING THANK YOU MISTER CHAIR IF WE APPROVE THIS DOES THIS CAUSE ANY CONCERN FOR FUTURE PROJECTS IN THE COUNTY IN THE FUTURE I'M [00:35:03] ASKING BECAUSE I KNOW COMMISSIONER GRANT WAS AT THAT MEETING NO NO I DON'T THINK SO IT'S FAIRLY NORMAL NO I APPRECIATE THAT SO THAT FITS WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND REPORTING TO US TODAY OH YES YEAH AND THE YOU KNOW THE AREA IT'S ON A THE ACCESS YOU KNOW THE EAST WEST ROAD THERE IS A IS A TOWNSHIP ROAD ONE OF GRANDVIEW TOWNSHIP ROADS AND THE DITCH IS A PRIVATE DITCH AND SO YEAH IT'S NOT REALLY ANYTHING THAT FALLS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF NICOLLET COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS IN IN TERMS OF A FUTURE ROAD PROJECT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT OH I JUST A CLARIFICATION TO YOU THE ONLY REASON THAT ANY OF THIS IN TERMS OF THE COP FALLS UNDER OUR JURISDICTIONS IS BECAUSE IT FALLS WITHIN THAT WETLAND DISTRICT CORRECT I MEAN THAT WITHIN THAT HUNDRED OR THOUSAND FEET OF THE LAKE OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE NO NO JURISDICTION UNDER THIS UNDER THE COP AT ALL SPECIFICALLY THAT FEATURE AND THE MOVING OF MORE THAN 10 YARDS OF DIRT IS THAT INTO THE SHORE IMPACT ZONE YEP SO IT'S THAT CASE THAT WE'VE GOT MIDDLE LAKE THERE THAT MEANS WE HAVE THE SHORELINE ZONING DISTRICT AT A THOUSAND FEET AND JUST WITHIN THAT WE HAVE THE 100 FOOT BUFFER ALONG THE LAKE OF THE SHORE IMPACT ZONE YEAH IT'S WHEN YOU WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AREA YOU KNOW IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT WOULD BE PUBLIC WATER IT IS A BRANCH OF MIDDLE LAKE IT LOOKS LIKE A MORE TYPICAL WETLAND WHICH YOU KNOW HAS WETLAND PROTECTIONS BUT NOT NECESSARILY THAT PUBLIC WATER BUFFER BUT BASED ON ELEVATION MEASUREMENTS IT ONCE OF BEING COUNTED AS PART OF MIDDLE LAKE AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THAT SHORT IMPACT ZONE THERE I JUST A QUESTION JUST TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT IS THE REASON THE LIMITATIONS ON THE AMOUNT OF DIRT BEING MOVED PART OF THE COP BECAUSE OF BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION OR WOULD THAT BE A REQUIREMENT FOR A CONDITION OF USE PERMIT ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY IT'S NO ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY YEAH WE HAVE A A DIFFERENT CUT OFF ABOUT EARTH MOVING AND NORMALLY A DRIVEWAY WOULD BE EXEMPT NORMALLY NORMALLY A DRIVEWAY WOULD BE THE KIND OF USE WHERE EARTH MOVING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT WOULDN'T NEED A PERMIT IT'S IT'S JUST FROM BEING LOCATED IN THE SHORE IMPACT ZONE HERE IT COMES ALRIGHT I HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND ALL IN FAVOR HI HI HI ALL CLOSED OK MOTION CARRIES THANK YOU JOHN THANK YOU FOR ALL DOING THIS IN A TIMELY FASHION OH YEAH I THINK THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ALRIGHT NEXT ITEM [7. Health and Human Services] IS HEALTH AND HAN SERVICES MORNING CASSIE GOOD MORNING MR CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD THIS MORNING I HAVE A REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY HEALTH HAN AND VETERAN SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS YOU KNOW THIS COMMITTEE WAS ESTABLISHED AND BEGAN MEETING IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR FOLLOWING THE BEGINNING OF THE COMMITTEE WE HAD TWO MEMBERS UNEXPECTEDLY UNABLE TO FULFILL THEIR APPOINTMENTS WE REVIEWED THE INITIAL POOL OF APPLICANTS AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING APPOINTMENT OF DAVID JOHNSON AND CINDY FAVOR TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MOTION I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION SECOND EXCELLENT CANDIDATES AND I'M PLEASED TO SEE THEM JOINING US ALRIGHT IF NOT ALL THE FAVOR ALRIGHT THANKS KATHY ALRIGHT NEXT WE HAVE PUBLIC WORKS [8. Public Works] MORNING SIR GOOD MORNING MR CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND STAFF ONE ITEM ON THE PUBLIC WORKS TODAY IS TO CONSIDER AWARD A BID FOR CP 1026 WHICH IS OUR A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THIS PROJECT THIS WORK WILL OCCUR FROM KIND OF ROAD 15 UP TO KIND OF ROAD ONE AND IT'LL INVOLVE A REPAIR OF THREE LARGE DITCH SYSTEM CULVERTS THAT CROSS HIGH ROAD 10 6 INCH CULVERTS AND 72 INCH CULVERTS THESE CULVERTS WERE ORIGINALLY INSTALLED WHEN THE ROAD WAS RECONSTRUCTED IN 1964 AND TYPICAL OF THAT PERIOD OF CONSTRUCTION 40S 50S 60S SEVENTIES CULVERTS WERE WERE LAID AND THEY WEREN'T TIED WITH THE THOUGHT WAS THAT FILL MATERIAL AROUND THE HOLE BUT AS WE FOUND OUT OVER TIME SOMEHOW THOSE FOLDERS WERE GOOD ENOUGH THAT THOSE JOINTS WIDENED OUT AND THEN WHAT THEY [00:40:02] START DOING IS RIDING SURFACE SO THIS PROJECT WILL INVOLVE TIMES OF JOINTS SO THEY CAN'T MOVE FURTHER FILLING THE JOINTS AND THEN WE INJECT SPANISH DROUGHT SO WE SOLICITED FOR BIDS AND YOU SEE FOUR OF THEM WE OPENED THEM ON JULY 29TH AND PCI ROADS LLC WAS LOW BIDDER AT $262,700 OUR ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE WAS $389,500 RESULTS THERE SO I'M ASKING THE BOARD TODAY TO AWARD COUNTY PROJECT 1026 COLBERT JOINT REPAIR PROJECT PCI ROADS LOW BID AMOUNT OF $262,700 MOTION I WILL MOVE IT ALL SECOND MOTION SECOND DISCUSSION HAVE WE WORKED WITH THIS COMPANY BEFORE SETH YES WE'VE WORKED WITH PCI ON MULTIPLE DIFFERENT PROJECTS THEY ACTUALLY DID A VERY SIMILAR COLBERT'S NIGHT REPAIR WORK ON TWO LARGE COLBERT'S ON HIGHWAY 15 SEVERAL YEARS AGO THEY DID A VERY GOOD JOB THEY ALSO DID THE CONCRETE PAVING ON HIGHWAY 15 FROM SAINT PIERRE HERE ON THE 1 11 VERY LARGE COMPANY LOTS OF EXPERIENCE THEY DO LIKE MAJOR TUNNEL RESTORATIONS AND REHABS IN LIKE MAJOR CITIES THIS IS A GREAT HI HI HI AND YOU POST WHAT SHE CARES THANK YOU SIR ON THE ATTORNEY UPDATE NO UPDATE NO UPDATE ALRIGHT [11. Commissioner Committee Reports, Meetings & Conferences] WE'LL MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER REPORTS SINCE WE LAST MET I'VE HAD SEVERAL PERSONAL MEETINGS AND LABOR NEGOTIATIONS MEETINGS AND THAT'S ABOUT IT I ALSO HAD PERSONAL IN THE LABOR NEGOTIATION MEETINGS BOTH LIVE AND ON ZOOM TOWNSHIP OFFICERS MEETING IN NICOLLET HHS BOARD WORKSHOP PLANNING AND ZONING LAST WEEK AND SIX DAYS OF HRA IN A ROW ALRIGHT TO BE ME MISTER COLORS THANK YOU MISTER CHAIR THE TOWNSHIPS MEETING WITH YOU FOLKS HHS WORKSHOP AND TODAY'S COUNTY BOARD MEETING I JUST LIKE TO MAKE A PERSONAL COMMENT TO APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED THIS MEETING TODAY I'VE SAT AT THIS BOARD FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS AND I HAVEN'T SEEN CROWDS LIKE THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENDANCE YOUR COMMENTS AND IT'S INTERESTING TO KNOW ON A PERSONAL LEVEL I'VE OBSERVED A LOT OF ELECTIONS AND NEVER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT ANY OF THEM ALL THAT CHANGED ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHY AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU FOLKS COMING FORWARD SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US THANK YOU CAN I SURE HELP YOU I ATTENDED NICOLLET COUNTY CONNECT THIS PAST WEEK WHICH WAS ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE ALL OF OUR NICOLLET COUNTY EMPLOYEES OUT THERE CONNECTING WITH THE PUBLIC IN THE MOST MEANINGFUL WAY FACE TO FACE HAND TO HAND IT'S JUST IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT THEY PUT INTO MAKING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS MATTER I ATTENDED THE HHS WORKSHOP LAST WEEK ALSO EXCELLENT WE GOT A REALLY CLOSE AND TIGHT VIEW OF THE STRUGGLES THAT OUR WORKERS FACE WHEN DEALING WITH SOFTWARE THAT IS LITERALLY FROM LIKE A DINOSAUR AGE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO UPDATING SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS IN THE FUTURE AND DOING WHATEVER WE CAN TO SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES THROUGH WHAT WILL BE SOME VERY [00:45:01] CHALLENGING TIMES COMING UP I HAD A MANKATO DIVERSITY COUNCIL MEETING AGAIN AND THEN I TOO WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS TODAY AND REITERATE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT PEOPLE THAT THE PUBLIC HOLD OUR INSTITUTIONS ACCOUNTABLE WE ARE YOU KNOW AN INSTITUTION THAT NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DISSEMINATING THESE ELECTIONS IN THE MOST SAFE SECURE FREE AND FAIR WAY THAT WE CAN AND I I THINK WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING SO AND AGAIN WE PROTECT US SO IT'S ALL OF US EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL MATTERS YOU ARE PART OF THE INSTITUTION OF THIS COMMUNITY AND OF THIS COUNTY AND SO YOUR INPUT AND INFLUENCE MATTERS AS WELL THANK YOU I HAD THE TRUE [10. Chair’s Report] TRANSIT MEETING I ATTENDED THE HIGHWAY 14 WORKSHOP FOR THEIR RECONSTRUCTION PLANS FOR PROBABLY 2030 THROUGH NORTH MANKATO WE HAD THE MCI FINANCE AND BOARD MEETING I HAD THE COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES MEETING AND THEN I ALSO PARTICIPATED IN NIGHT TO UNITE IN THE COMMUNITIES THE COMMUNITY PARTIES AROUND MY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT LAST WEEK I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING IT IS A PARTICIPATORY GOVERNMENT AND WE WANT YOU WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION AND YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT TO OUR CITIZENS TO DO SO AND YOU DID A NICE JOB REPRESENTING THEIR INTEREST SO THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY WITH THAT WE'LL MOVE ON TO [12. Approve Per Diems and Expenses] APPROVE THE PER DIEMS AND EXPENSES SHOW MORE MOTION TO A SECOND SECOND IT ALL IN FAVOR AYE ALL RIGHT AND THEN I TAKE MOTION TO ADJOURN SO MOVED SECOND SECONDED ALL RIGHT WE WILL ADJOURN THE COMMISSIONER'S MEETING WE'LL MOVE RIGHT INTO THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY MEETING THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OKAY YOU WANNA STAY FOR DITCHES I MEAN THEY'RE ALMOST EQUALLY AS EXCITING ALL RIGHT YOU HAVE THE AGENDA FOR THE DITCH IT'S ALREADY IN FRONT OF YOU DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE SO MOVED SECONDED ALL IN FAVOR I ALRIGHT WE HAVE AN APPROVAL OF A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WHICH IS JUST A MEETING MINUTES FROM LAST TIME MOVE IT SECONDED ALL IN FAVOR I ALRIGHT ANY PUBLIC APPEARANCES FOR THE DITCH AUTHORITY SINCE THE CROWD FLED I TAKE THAT AS A NO SO I'D ASK FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN OK SECONDED ON PAPER HI WE NEED TO ADJOURN THANK YOU EVERYONE * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.