Aug 25, 2026 Board of Commissioners

[00:00:01]

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED

[Call Board of Commissioners Meeting to Order]

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, WELCOME.

FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE SILENCE OF CELL PHONES.

NEXT ITEM IS THE APPROVAL

[Approval of Agenda]

THE AGENDA WAS PROVIDED FOR IN ADVANCE.

I HAVE A MOTION.

SECOND.

MOTION SECOND. ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

OKAY. NEXT ITEM IS APPROVAL

[Approval of Consent Agenda]

THOSE ITEMS WERE ALSO PROVIDED FOR IN ADVANCE.

I'LL MOVE IT, MR. CHAIR.

SECONDED.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

OKAY.

[Public Appearances]

WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE 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 THE SPEAKERS TO 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 ACTION ON REQUESTS RECEIVED DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, BUT WILL DIRECT COUNTY STAFF TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY TO ISSUES THAT ARE RAISED BY CITIZENS.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE'S HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE COUNTY BOARD OR IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE DITCH AUTHORITY.

YES, SIR.

I HAVE TWO MINUTES.

BOARD AND MEMBERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS IN PUBLIC.

PUBLIC COMMENTS? THANK YOU.

I'M TIM GIESECKE.

I LIVE IN BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP.

AND I'M HERE SPEAKING ON FORMALLY MAYBE BEHALF ON 32 LANDOWNERS THAT HAVE INTEREST IN DITCH 86A.

AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, SEVERAL WEEKS AGO WE HAD A MEETING, OR MAYBE A MONTH AGO, WE HAD A MEETING HERE ABOUT DISCUSSING THE DITCH 86A.

AFTERWARDS, THE LANDOWNERS CONVENED TO DISCUSS ON WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS, WHAT INFORMATION WE NEEDED, AND SO FORTH.

IN THAT PROCESS, WE SENT A REQUEST TO VERIFY SEVERAL THINGS ON THE PROJECT, JUST BASIC INFORMATION, COST, WARRANTIES, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

JUST TO SHOW THE INTEREST THERE, 32 LANDOWNERS DID SIGN THAT REQUEST, JUST SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE INTEREST THERE.

I DID NOT REACH ALL THE LANDOWNERS, BUT THE 32 THAT I DID REACH, ALL OF THEM SIGNED.

SO THERE WAS 100% OF THE PEOPLE I THOUGHT WHO HAD AN INTEREST IN THAT.

WHICH SOMETIMES IS RARE AT THE INDITCH SYSTEMS, RIGHT? AND THEN TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, TO GET INFORMATION, WE SENT INFORMATION DATA REQUESTS TO JACI KOPET.

IT WAS A LENGTHY LIST.

SHE SORTED OUT THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

WE PAIRED IT DOWN.

I BELIEVE IT WAS AROUND $1,800 FOR US TO RECEIVE COST INFORMATION, OTHER THINGS.

SO WE LOOKED TO A DIFFERENT AVENUE.

AND THEN JACKIE, UNFORTUNATELY, GAVE ME A CALL INSTEAD OF EXCHANGING EMAILS.

AND THEN WE KIND OF SET THAT LONG LIST ASIDE AND KIND OF FIND OUT WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO HER.

SO SHE ISN'T BURDENED ON IT, AND WHAT I CAN DO MAYBE TO COME DOWN HERE AND LOOK AT FILES ACCORDING TO THE ALLOWABLE STATUTE THERE.

SO ANYWAY, SO THAT PROCESS IS IT.

WE DID TALK ABOUT THE DATA PORTAL, AND THAT ISN'T FULLY IN PLACE YET.

SO UNDERSTAND THAT.

SO HOW CAN WE, THE LANDOWNERS, MOST EFFICIENTLY GET THE INFORMATION, BASIC INFORMATION ON COSTS.

LAST THURSDAY, I DID ATTEND THE FARM BUREAU ANNUAL MEETING.

THEY PASSED A RESOLUTION RELATIVE TO A PROCESS FOR LANDOWNERS TO GET ENGAGED IN DITCH SYSTEMS. IT WAS BASED ON THE RED RIVER VALLEY PROCESS.

THIRTY YEARS AGO, THEY HAD A LOT OF CONTENTIOUS DITCH SYSTEMS. THEY DECIDED TO CREATE THIS PROJECT TEAM IDEA THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE A CHANGE OF STATUTE.

AND BASICALLY, IT ALLOWS FARMERS TO CONVENE OR ACTUALLY ANYONE TO CONVENE THE PROJECT TEAM THAT HAS AN INTEREST.

AND THAT RESOLUTION PASSED.

THERE WAS GOOD DISCUSSION AFTER THAT.

THERE WAS A SENSE THAT SOME OF THESE DRAINAGE PROJECTS ARE FARMERS ARE LOSING A LITTLE CONTROL ON THEM OR DON'T HAVE INFORMATION.

DITCH 86K IS NOT UNIQUE.

IT MAY BE UNIQUE IN SEVERAL WAYS, BUT IT'S NOT UNIQUE IN THAT STATE.

IT MAY BE AN EXTREME LIMIT.

[00:05:03]

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AT THIS TIME? ANYONE ELSE WANT TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION AT THIS TIME? OKAY. IF NOT,

[Presentation]

OUR NEXT ITEM IS A PRESENTATION FROM THE ST. PETER AREA FOOD SHELF.

GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS CINDY FAVRE.

I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE ST.

PETER AREA FOOD SHELF, AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME TO GIVE YOU SOME UPDATES OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING AT OUR FOOD SHELF.

BEFORE I DO THAT, I WANT TO AGAIN THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF US LAST FALL WHEN WE WERE FACING SOME REAL CHALLENGES.

YOUR SUPPORT WAS VERY HELPFUL AT THAT POINT, AND THEN IN THE WINTER IT WAS HELPFUL IN WAYS THAT WE WEREN'T EXPECTING AT ALL, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

THE SHORT STORY OF THE PICTURE THAT WE'RE SEEING AT OUR FOOD SHELF RIGHT NOW IS MORE NEIGHBORS ARE COMING TO US FOR FOOD, AND THEY ARE TAKING MORE FOOD WHEN THEY COME.

ANTIDOTALLY, I CAN TELL YOU WE ARE NOW SEEING NEIGHBORS WHO WALK IN AND THEY SAY, I'VE NEVER BEEN AT A FOOD SHELF BEFORE. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WORKS. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS.

WE ARE ALSO SEEING FOLKS THAT HAD BEEN AT OUR FOOD SHELF, BUT THAT WAS MAYBE TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO.

A CONCERN I HAVE IS THAT IN JULY WE WERE SEEING SO MANY FOLKS COMING TO US THAT WE RAN VERY LOW ON FOOD AND HAD TO UNWELCOME NEIGHBORS ON CERTAIN DAYS.

WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO SUPPLY THEM FOR THEIR MONTHLY VISIT.

SO MORE PEOPLE COMING TO US MEANS MORE PHONE CALLS, MORE OPERATIONAL COSTS, MORE FOOD COSTS, MORE STAFF TIME, AND THE NEED FOR MORE VOLUNTEERS.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT IN JULY, NORMALLY WE RUN AT ABOUT 60 TO 65 PERCENT OF OUR APPOINTMENTS BEING FILLED.

IN JULY, WE ENDED WITH I THINK JUST OVER 80 PERCENT FILLED, BUT THAT INCLUDED DAYS WHEN WE HAD NOBODY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD.

AS FAR AS I CAN SEE IN THE RECORDS OF THE ORGANIZATION, WE HAD OVER 300 UNIQUE FAMILIES COMING TO US, AND THOSE FAMILIES HAD 01, 089 PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT'S THE HIGHEST NUMBER THAT OUR FOOD SHELF HAS EVER SEEN COMPARED TO LAST JULY, WHICH WAS THE HIGH FOR 2025 WHEN WE HAD 270 UNIQUE HOUSEHOLDS.

I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT WE OPERATE THE SUMMER PRODUCE DISTRIBUTION ONCE A MONTH, THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH DURING JUNE THROUGH OCTOBER.

THIS YEAR, OUR NUMBERS JUMPED.

IN JUNE, WE GAVE FOOD TO 413 HOUSEHOLDS.

IN 2025, THAT SAME MONTH, WE GAVE TO 231.

JULY THIS YEAR, WE DISTRIBUTED TO 473 COMPARED TO 311 LAST YEAR.

AND IN AUGUST, IT WAS 411 COMPARED TO 408 LAST YEAR, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY RAN OUT OF FOOD.

SO WE HAD MORE HOUSEHOLDS THERE, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO DISTRIBUTE.

SO SOME WAYS THAT WE'RE RESPONDING TO THAT IS WE HAVE SHIFTED TO NOW RECEIVING WEEKLY FOOD DELIVERY TRUCKS FROM SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND RATHER THAN EVERY OTHER WEEK.

WE'VE ADDED TWO HOURS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION EVERY WEEK, AND WE ARE WORKING TO HIRE AN ADDITIONAL PAID PART-TIME STAFF PERSON TO HELP US.

WE HAVE UPPED OUR FOOD, OUR RETAIL RESCUE SITES.

WE'VE ADDED THE FOOD CO-OP HERE IN ST. PETER.

WE'VE ADDED ADDITIONAL PICK-UP DAYS AT QUICK TRIP NORTH.

WE'VE TRAINED VOLUNTEERS TO PICK UP AT SOUTH CENTRAL FOOD RECOVERY.

AND WE'VE INITIATED, THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH IN THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING FOOD CUPBOARDS, NO BARRIER ACCESS, FOOD CUPBOARDS AT THE LIBRARY IN TRINITY LUTHERAN.

WE SUPPORT THREE IN-HOUSE FOOD CUPBOARDS.

THOSE WOULD BE FOR RESIDENTS OF THESE LOCATIONS AT UNION

[00:10:01]

WE'VE MADE EMERGENCY FOOD BOXES AVAILABLE TO NICOLLET COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES TO DISTRIBUTE AS THEY NEED.

AND WE'VE EXPANDED OUR RELATIONSHIP IN RECEIVING FOOD FROM REGION 9 FOOD RESCUE.

SO WE ARE WATCHING THE SNAP NUMBERS HERE IN NICOLLET COUNTY.

LOOKS LIKE IN OCTOBER OF 2025, WE HAD 985 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVING SNAP BENEFITS.

AND IN JULY, THAT NUMBER IS NOW 908 HOUSEHOLDS.

SO WE'RE SEEING A BIT OF A DROP THERE.

WE ARE ALSO WATCHING THE IMPACT ON OUR NONPROFIT.

WE PARTNER WITH A LOT OF NONPROFITS.

AND SO WE'RE WATCHING THE SHIFT IN THE DROP IN DONATIONS AND CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES.

SOME EXAMPLES ARE SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND.

OUR FOOD BANK HAS ENDED THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KITCHEN HERE IN ST. PETER.

THEY DO A PREPARED WEEKLY MEAL AT TRINITY LUTHERAN.

DUE TO THE COST CONSTRAINTS, SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND HAS ENDED THAT PARTNERSHIP.

AND ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS WE ARE LOCATED IN THE FRIENDS BUILDING, WHICH IF THEIR FUNDING ISN'T STABLE, THEN THE FOOD SHELF WOULD LOOK AT POSSIBLY NEEDING TO RELOCATE.

AND RETAIL RESCUE IS DOWN SYSTEM-WIDE, I AM TOLD.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR, AS WE GET MORE TRUCKS AND MORE SERVICE HOURS, WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR MORE VOLUNTEERS.

AND SO THOSE ARE JUST SORT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH THE FOOD SHELF.

I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT WE ARE A CERTIFIED SUPER SHELF.

WE'RE CERTIFIED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION TO PRIORITIZE SELF-SELECTION OF FOOD PRODUCTS, MAKING HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES AVAILABLE, AND TO BE CULTURALLY INCLUSIVE.

WE ARE, AS FAR AS I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY, WE'RE THE ONLY FOOD SHELF IN SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA WITH A HALAL FREEZER.

AND WE NOW DO ONCE A MONTH VISITS TO OUR FOOD SHELF ONLY.

IN THE PAST WE WOULD ADD EXTRA ONES, BUT WE DON'T DO THAT RIGHT NOW.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEING MANY OF OUR LOCAL GROWERS BRINGING US WONDERFUL PRODUCE.

WE CONTINUE TO APPRECIATE THE REGION 9 FOOD RESCUE FOODS THAT ARE POURING INTO US.

AND WE CONTINUE TO PREPARE TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF COMMUNITY AS CIRCUMSTANCES CONTINUE TO CHANGE.

THE ST. PETER AREA FOOD SHELF IS PROUD OF THE COMMITMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY TO ENSURE A STEADY STREAM OF FOOD, SO THAT NO ONE IN NICOLLET COUNTY NEEDS TO BE HUNGRY.

DO YOU ALL ASK QUESTIONS IN THIS OR NOT? I WANT TO THANK YOU, CINDY, FOR COMING AND FOR THE AMAZING WORK YOU AND JODY DO DOWN AT THE FOOD SHELF.

I, YOU KNOW, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO POP IN THERE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE AND JUST THE SETUP, LIKE YOU CAN JUST SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND CAN SHOP WITH DIGNITY.

I'M SORRY THAT SO MUCH PRESSURE IS ON YOU AT THIS TIME, BUT I'M NOT SURPRISED.

YOU'RE FILLING A HOLE, YOU KNOW, IN OUR SERVICES HERE, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT WORK.

IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE FOR US TO DO SO.

I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I AM WORKING WITH SOME OTHER ENTITIES.

I'M WORKING WITH SHIP IN REGION 9, TRYING TO LOOK AT, IF YOU'VE BEEN IN MANKATO AT THEIR CLINICS, THEY HAVE REFRIGERATORS AND FREEZERS WHERE PEOPLE CAN TAKE FOOD.

SO I'M WORKING WITH THEM TO SEE IF WE CAN INSTALL SOME OF THOSE IN ST. PETER.

I WORRY WHEN WE'RE DOING ONCE A MONTH THAT PEOPLE MIGHT RUN SHORT BEFORE THEIR NEXT MONTH, AND SO I'M LOOKING FOR WAYS TO FILL THAT.

THAT'S WHY THE CUPBOARDS, THAT'S WHY THE KITCHEN, AND WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON SOME OTHER SOLUTIONS SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE SOME OTHER OPTIONS BEFORE THEIR NEXT VISIT.

THANK YOU FOR APPEARING BEFORE US TODAY, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

HOW ARE YOU FOLKS DOING IN TERMS OF ATTRACTING CHARITABLE DONATIONS, CASH DONATIONS, TO HELP YOU BUY? YEAH, I ACTUALLY WROTE SOME NOTES ON THAT.

SO IN JUNE OF 2025, WE BROUGHT IN ALMOST $26, 000 IN DONATIONS.

THIS YEAR IN JUNE, WE BROUGHT IN $6, 000.

IT LEVELED OFF A LITTLE BIT IN JULY.

[00:15:01]

AND SO I'M NOT THROUGH AUGUST YET, SO WE'LL SEE.

SO SUMMER IS NOT THE BEST TIME FOR DONATIONS.

I THINK WE USUALLY SEE A PICKUP AT THE END OF THE YEAR WHERE PEOPLE ARE KIND OF AT THAT POINT MAKING MORE DONATIONS.

THE THING THAT I'M DOING IS I'M TRYING TO DO MORE WITH GRANT WRITING AND REACHING OUT, AND WE'VE BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT. FINDING ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PARTICULARLY GRANTING TO FOOD INSECURITY.

AND I DON'T KNOW, I'D HAVE TO DO A COMPARISON OF WHAT I WOULD CALL THE SMALLER DONORS.

THERE'S ONE THING WHEN YOU HAVE LARGE ORGANIZATIONS DOING GRANTS.

BUT WITH THAT SAID, EVERY DAY PEOPLE ARE BRINGING IN FOOD, BRINGING IN PRODUCE.

IT'S VERY SWEET. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WE'LL GET A $1 BILL PUT IN OUR MAILBOX.

AND WE DO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE DONATING TO US EVERY MONTH.

IT'S PART OF THEIR PROCESS, IS THAT EVERY MONTH WE GET A CHECK OR EVERY MONTH AN ONLINE PAYMENT.

SO WE'RE FEELING OKAY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GETTING.

LAST YEAR TAUGHT US THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, SO WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO POSITION OURSELVES TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO WHAT COMES NEXT.

THANK YOU.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR COMING.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM ON THE

[Facilities Maintenance]

YOU'RE UP.

GOOD MORNING, SIR.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

I'M GOING TO PUT THIS UP BEFORE YOU.

BACK IN MAY OF 2026, I BROUGHT UP A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE AUTOMATION SYSTEM.

NOW OBVIOUSLY WE'RE USING PARTS THAT EXIST RIGHT.

WE HAVE NOW REACHED BASICALLY THE END GAME OF THAT.

SO TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP, I'M REQUESTING THAT YOU TAKE A LOOK AT MY PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE OUR SYSTEM TO WHERE YOU CAN UPGRADE OUR LICENSING AND TO PUT IN A NEW SYSTEM ACROSS THE BOARD.

AS YOU'VE SEEN THE PROPOSAL OVER THERE, THIS WILL BRING US UP TO DATE.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO LINK IN ALSO WITH OUR AUTOMATION AND ALSO WITH OUR TARDAC SYSTEM.

THEY'RE THE SAME SYSTEM, SO THEY'RE BOTH TIED IN.

THAT PART WILL BE ON LATER ADDITION FOR TARDAC AS WELL.

WITH THIS PROPOSAL HERE, WE'LL BE UPDATING THE AUTOMATION SOFTWARE LICENSING AND FOR NOT ONLY EVERYTHING, BUT ALSO FOR THE APK SYSTEM.

AND IT'S ALSO BEING EXTENDED INTO ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS FOR US TO HELP WITH THOSE PROPOSALS.

THE TOTAL COST ROUGHLY IS ABOUT $95, 000, $360 RIGHT NOW, WHICH MAY BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT COMPARED TO THE PRICE CHANGE WE'RE EXPECTING...

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

I'LL SECOND IT.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

SO WHAT WILL THE DURATION OF THIS SERVICE PROVIDE US IN TERMS OF MONTHS, YEARS, ETC.? THE LICENSE IS UPDATED YEARLY, BUT THIS IS THE CURRENT PLATFORM THAT SNYDER ELECTRIC IS PUTTING OUT.

THIS PLATFORM IS EXPECTED TO LAST FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS.

IT UPGRADES AND ALSO UPDATES THE SOFTWARE PLATFORM AS PART OF IT.

SO IT CAN BE EXPANDED AND ALSO USED DIFFERENTLY.

IT HAS MORE FEATURES THAT WE CAN ALSO EXPAND ON FOR OTHER ASPECTS OF THE AUTOMATION.

WILL THERE BE ANNUAL FEES? IT'S A LICENSE, A SOFTWARE FEE.

A SOFTWARE FEE? BEYOND THAT, NOTHING ELSE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

JUST AS A COUNTER TO THAT, PHIL, HOW LONG HAS THE EXISTING SYSTEM BEEN IN PLACE? CURRENTLY WHAT WE HAVE NOW? THAT'S BEFORE MY TIME, BUT IT'S ORIGINALLY INSTALLED FROM THE ORIGINAL AUTOMATION SYSTEM.

SO I CAN TELL YOU IT'S AT LEAST 15 YEARS OLD.

[00:20:03]

IT'S NOT THE SOFTWARE THAT GOES BAD.

IT'S THE AUTOMATION HARDWARE SYSTEMS THAT ACTUALLY BECOME OBSOLETE BECAUSE OF PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE.

ANY COMMENTS? I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

THANKS, PHIL.

ALL RIGHT.

[Administration]

GOOD MORNING, MANDY.

GOOD MORNING.

FIRST ITEM IS CONSIDER SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE DATE FOR THE FEE SCHEDULE AMENDMENT.

SO ACCORDING TO MINNESOTA STATUTE 373.41, CALLING BOARDS MAY ESTABLISH A FEE SCHEDULE FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY.

EACH YEAR, DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE ASKED TO EVALUATE THEIR DEPARTMENT FEE SCHEDULE AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS THEN HELD IN TYPICALLY DECEMBER OF THE CURRENT YEAR FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR.

MR. CHAIR, I'M REQUESTING THE BOARD CONSIDER DECEMBER 15, 2026 AT 9.30 A.M.

FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS TO RECEIVE COMMENTS CONCERNING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE FEE SCHEDULE, WHICH WILL BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? IS THERE A PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED.

I HAVE A SECOND.

SECONDED.

OKAY.

MOTION SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

OKAY.

MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT ITEM IS CONSIDER SAFE AND SECURE COURTHOUSE INITIATIVE GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION.

THE MINNESOTA JUDICIAL BRANCH IS NOW ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS TO HELP COUNTIES IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF COURTHOUSES AND OTHER COURTS ACROSS THE STATE.

FOUR MILLION DOLLARS WAS APPROPRIATED BY THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE DURING THE 2020S DISCUSSION.

THE SAFE AND SECURE COURTHOUSE INITIATIVE GRANTS MAY BE USED FOR SECURITY EQUIPMENT, ASSESSMENTS, TRAINING, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, CONSTRUCTION, AND OTHER PROJECTS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE COURTHOUSE SAFETY.

COUNTIES AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING COURT FACILITIES ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.

APPLICANTS MUST PROVIDE A 50% FINANCIAL OR IN-KIND MANAGEMENT FROM NON-STATE SOURCES.

APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED THROUGH TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH OF 2026.

AND ADVISORY PANEL JUDGES, COURT STAFF, COUNTY OFFICIALS, AND STATEWIDE JUSTICE PARTNERS WILL REVIEW APPLICATIONS BASED ON ESTABLISHED GRANT CRITERIA WITH A FINAL AWARD DECISION NOVEMBER 26TH.

DURING THE AUGUST 18TH, 2026 BOARD WORKSHOP, THIS GRANT OPPORTUNITY WAS DISCUSSED INCLUDING EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS THAT WOULD QUALIFY UNDER THE GRANT TO ENHANCE COURTHOUSE SAFETY HERE.

THE ESTIMATED TOTAL WAS APPROXIMATELY $316,000 AND LOOKING AT OUR PROJECTS.

MR. CHAIR, I'M REQUESTING AN APPROVAL TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE SAFE AND SECURE COURTHOUSE INITIATIVE GRANT PROGRAM TO ENHANCE ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

SECONDED.

THIS WAS DISCUSSED AT THE WORKSHOP.

I THINK WE HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR MAYBE AT THE START.

IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

MOTION CARRIES.

OKAY.

THIRD ITEM IS CONSIDER PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY STUDY AND MASTER PLANNING PHASE AGREEMENTS.

ON JUNE 10TH OF 2025, THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS APPROVED ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH FRONTON ARCHITECTS TO PROVIDE MASTER PLANNING SERVICES FOLLOWING THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OF THE RFP PROCESS.

DURING THE MARCH 17TH, 2026 BOARD WORKSHOP, FRONTON ARCHITECTS SUMMARIZED THE PUBLIC WORKS SITE ASSESSMENT AND MASTER PLANNING REPORT.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH BRIAN RUSHY, THE RTC'S, THE COUNTY'S OWN REPRESENTATIVE, PAUL VALERIA FROM C&M CONSTRUCTION AUDIT AND FRONTON ARCHITECTS TO DRAFT AND REVIEW DOCUMENTS TO CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THE LOCATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY.

DISCUSSION HAS ALSO TAKEN PLACE AT THE BUILDING COMMITTEE CONCERNING THE NEXT STEPS.

THE DOCUMENTS CONTAIN FEE LANGUAGE FOR SERVICES, NOT TO EXCEED, AS WELL AS LANGUAGE FOR EARLY TERMINATION...

I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT APPROVAL TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF A FACILITY.

THIS IS THE CONTINUED INVESTIGATION PROCESS.

THE DOCUMENTS ARE TO COMPLETE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER TO ASSIST WITH THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN PROCESS, WHICH INCLUDES THE PERFORMANCE OF LAND ACQUISITION, SUCH AS SOIL CORNING.

THIS PROCESS IS KEY TO DETERMINING A BUDGET FOR THE PROJECT PROCESS.

DOCUMENTS ESTABLISH THE LEGAL AND OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR MOVING FORWARD.

THE DOCUMENTS ALSO IDENTIFY RESPONSIBILITIES, EXPECTATIONS, DELIVERABLES, TIMELINES, AND OTHER KEY TERMS, ENSURING THAT EVERYONE IS ALIGNED BEFORE THE NEXT STEP BEGINS.

MR. CHAIR, I'M REQUESTING THE CONSIDERATION OF THE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS OF THE AIA DOCUMENT B133-2019 AND ATTACHMENTS A3E, FRONTON ARCHITECTS, AND PMCC PROPOSAL FOR PRE-CONSTRUCTION AUDITS.

MR. CHAIR, COMMISSIONER ZINS AND I SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE, AND WE'VE BEEN BRIEFED

[00:25:01]

SECOND.

MOTION TO SECOND DISCUSSION.

WE'VE BEEN REVIEWING THIS FOR SOME TIME, SO IF NO FURTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION, I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION, OR I'LL ASK FOR A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

MOTION APPROVED. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

[County Attorney Update]

THANK YOU, CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY YESTERDAY TO ATTEND THE FIFTH ANNUAL FENTANYL POISONING AND OVERDOSE AWARENESS PREVENTION DAY, SPONSORED AND ORGANIZED BY THE FAMILY OF TRAVIS GUSTAFSON.

AS YOU RECALL, THEY WERE HERE AND SPOKE LAST FALL, I BELIEVE, ON THE TOPIC, AND IT'S ALWAYS A VERY SOBERING EVENT TO SEE ALL OF THE FACES OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE OVERDOSED AS A RESULT OF FENTANYL, AND ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO KEEP IT TO THE FOREFRONT OF THOSE RISKS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SHERIFF AND I WERE THERE, ALONG WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, SPEAKING WITH THE INDIVIDUALS THERE, AND I SPOKE BRIEFLY AT THE PRESENTATION AS WELL.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WITH RESPECT TO DRUG TRENDS, ALWAYS REACH OUT AND ASK, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING WITH RESPECT TO DRUG TRENDS, BOTH FROM A THC AS WELL AS OTHER DRUGS, METHAMPHETAMINE, AND COCAINE.

WE ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE FAIR, AND WE HAVE SOME VERY TALENTED CLOVER BUDS IN OUR COUNTY, AND IT WAS FUN SEEING ALL OF THE 4-H EXHIBITS, BUT THE CLOVER BUD AREA WAS VERY INTRIGUING AND INTERESTING TO TAKE A PEEK AT.

AND THE FRIENDS OF LEARNING DISTRIBUTION FOR BACKPACKS BEGINS TOMORROW AND THURSDAY, AND SO IF YOU HAVE A FEW HOURS AND WANT TO COME ON DOWN AND VOLUNTEER, I KNOW COMMISSIONER GRANTEL IS SIGNED UP.

I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO HAVE EXTRA HELP FOR THAT EVENT, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

THANK YOU.

BRING YOUR RUNNING SHOES.

EXACTLY. I GET ALL MY STEPS IN IN TWO HOURS.

MADAM ATTORNEY, DO YOU ACCEPT CASH DONATIONS FOR THAT? WE DO.

OKAY.

AND THERE WAS A COMMENT EARLIER REGARDING THE FOOD SHELF, AND I WOULD SAY THAT I THINK OUR COMMUNITY DONATIONS ARE DOWN AS WELL FOR FRIENDS OF LEARNING.

SO YES, WE ACCEPT CASH DONATIONS. THANK YOU.

COULD I SEE YOU AFTER THE MEETING? ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

[Commissioner Committee Reports, Meetings & Conferences]

WE ALSO HAD A PUBLIC WORKS FACILITIES BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING.

A COUPLE OF BUDGET MEETINGS, SOLID WASTE MEETING.

THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT.

KOLARS? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS.

JOINT LEWIS COUNTY MEETING, PUBLIC WORKS, THE COUNTY FAIR, WHICH AGAIN IS JUST A TERRIFIC TIME TO SEE THE FARM FAMILIES THAT ARE HONORED AFTER THE LUNCH THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE TOGETHER.

THE WORKSHOP, I ATTENDED AN AMC ZOOM YESTERDAY ON POLICY AND PLATFORM AS ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA COUNTIES GETS READY FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

THANK YOU.

I ALSO HAVE THE JOINT MEETING WITH COUNTY.

I HAD A REGION NINE BOARD MEETING.

I REMOTELY ATTENDED THE MSOP QUARTERLY MEETING TWICE TO THE FAIR.

THE DEPARTMENT HAD A PERSONNEL TRI-COUNTY SOLID WASTE LIAISON MEETING WITH THE CITY OF ST.

PETER AND A TRAVERSE TO SIOUX LIBRARY SYSTEM BOARD MEETING.

AND BACK WITH THIS AFTERNOON'S JOINT PITCHES AND MORE REGION NINE AND BACK TO BUDGET TOMORROW.

MR. HELGET? I HAD A COUPLE OF MEETINGS WITH LANDOWNERS ON 86A AND WITH THE FOOD SHELF.

I JUST WANT TO THANK AGAIN ALL OF THOSE FOLKS FOR CONTINUING TO FIND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO COMPLEX PROBLEMS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR SHOWING UP FOR EACH OTHER AND ENGAGING.

I JUDGED THE NICOLLET COUNTY FAIR.

I JUDGED AGRONOMY AND HORTICULTURE, YOU'RE WELCOME.

THE KIDS ARE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

WE'RE STILL SO LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH A ROBUST 4-H PROGRAM IN THIS COUNTY.

I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK KELSEY BRANDT, OUR EXTENSION EDUCATOR, FOR ALL

[00:30:01]

I ATTENDED THE COMMISSIONER'S PICNIC WHILE AT THE FAIR WHERE WE GOT TO CELEBRATE DON AND RHONDA HERMANSON, THIS FARM FAMILY OF THE YEAR, AND SANDY FRANCIS AND DAVE JOHNSON AS OUR OUTSTANDING SENIORS OF THE YEAR.

YOU OFTEN SEE ALL OF THOSE FOLKS OUT AND ABOUT CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR NEIGHBORS IN WONDERFUL WAYS.

I WAS REAPPOINTED TO NACO'S RURAL ACTION CAUCUS AND FRESHLY APPOINTED TO THEIR ARTS AND CULTURE CAUCUS.

AND THEN LASTLY, CHAIR DEHEN AND I PARTICIPATED IN THE ELECTION CANVASSING BOARD AFTER THE ELECTION.

AND THANK YOU TO JACKIE AND HER TEAM FOR RUNNING A SAFE, SECURE, FREE AND FAIR ELECTION AGAIN IN THIS COUNTY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

I ALSO HAD OUR WORKSHOP.

WE HAD OUR BLUE EARTH COUNTY LUNCHEON.

I ATTENDED THE AUDIT CLOSEOUT MEETING.

I ATTENDED A HEALTH CARE ROUNDTABLE UP AT MSU WITH A CANDIDATE FOR FIRST DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE.

WE HAD THE FARM BUREAU ANNUAL MEETING.

AND THEY HAD NOT ONLY THE FARM FAMILY OF THE YEAR, BUT THEY ALSO HAD A SESQUICENTENNIAL FARM AND A CENTURY FARM AWARDED THAT NIGHT AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS.

WE HAD BUDGET MEETINGS, HAD LUNCH WITH THE COMMISSIONERS AT THE FAIR, DID THE CANVASSING, AND HAD AN MRCI LUNCHEON AS WELL.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

[Approve Per Diems and Expenses]

ANY MOTION? I WILL MAKE A MOTION.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR?

[Adjourn Board of Commissioners Meeting]

ALL RIGHT.

I ACCEPT A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE COMMISSION MEETING.

MOVED.

MOVED.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ALL RIGHT.

[Call Drainage Authority Meeting to Order: Chair]

I THINK OUR GENTLEMAN IS OUT THERE WITH A BIG BOX OF STUFF.

HE WAS OUT THERE.

OKAY.

OKAY. LET'S TAKE A BREAK.

WE'LL TAKE A BREAK.

ALL RIGHT.

FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA THAT THOSE ITEMS WERE PROVIDED FOR IN ADVANCE.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

SECONDED.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ALL RIGHT.

NEXT ITEM IS APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT CONTAINS THE AUGUST 11TH DRAINAGE AUTHORITY MINUTES.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

OKAY.

MOTION SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ALL RIGHT.

NEXT ITEM IS PUBLIC APPEARANCES.

OKAY.

DOES ANYONE ADDRESS THE COMMISSION OR THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY ON ANY ITEMS THAT AREN'T ON THE AGENDA? OKAY.

IF NOT, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC APPEARANCES.

MOVE ON TO PUBLIC SERVICES, JACKIE.

OH, WE'RE LETTING NATE IN CHARGE.

OKAY.

MORNING, NATE.

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

TWO DITCH CLEANING REQUESTS THIS MORNING TO DISCUSS.

WE CAN START WITH DITCH NINE IF YOU'D LIKE FIRST, OR WHATEVER YOUR PREFERENCE IS.

NINE SOUNDS WONDERFUL.

OKAY.

COUNTY DITCH 9A WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1949.

IT'S APPROXIMATELY NINE MILES LONG.

IT IS THE RECEIVING DITCH, OR TRADITIONAL DITCH, FOR TMS DITCH AS WELL.

THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE IN SIBLEY COUNTY, DUMPS INTO COUNTY DITCH 9, DRAINS OUT TO THE RIVER.

IN APRIL, LANDOWNERS HAVE REQUESTED TO CLEAN A PORTION OF COUNTY DITCH 9 AS WELL AS...

AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF COUNTY DITCH 9 AND TALKING WITH ADDITIONAL LANDOWNERS, THEY HAVE REQUESTED THE ENTIRE DITCH SYSTEM TO BE CLEAN, SO.

THE LAST TIME THIS DITCH WAS CLEAN WAS 17 YEARS AGO, IN 2009.

OKAY, DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

SECONDED.

DISCUSSION? OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

MOTION CARRIES.

LET'S MOVE TO 38A THEN.

[00:35:04]

AND I WILL NOTE THAT I HANDED OUT A PACKET BEFORE THE MEETING THIS MORNING.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR TWO REASONS.

IT SHOWS THE MAP THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED TO BE CLEANED IN APRIL.

WHEN THE NOTICE WAS SENT OUT TO THE LANDOWNERS, THEY ALL RECEIVED A COPY OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

AND THERE WAS A SECOND REQUEST IN THERE THAT WAS TURNED IN YESTERDAY TO ME.

SO SEVERAL LANDOWNERS HAD SIGNED THAT.

AND BECAUSE OF THE TIMING COMING INTO THE LATE, I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE A MAP IN TIME FOR THE MEETING TODAY.

SO I JUST INCLUDED A BLANK DITCH MAP OF WHERE THEY ARE REQUESTING THE REMAINING SECTION OF THE DITCH TO BE CLEANED.

SO ESSENTIALLY THE ENTIRE DITCH 38A IS WHAT IS BEING DISCUSSED HERE TODAY.

THIS IS A BIT UNIQUE WITH TWO REQUESTS.

BUT LANDOWNERS HAVE SEVERAL SIGNATURES ON HERE SUPPORTING THE PROJECT.

THIS PROJECT OR THIS DITCH WAS LAST SEEN IN 2016.

WHICH CARRIED OVER AND WASN'T ALL ABLE TO BE COMPLETED IN ONE FALL.

A COUPLE INTERESTING PIECES ON THIS DITCH SYSTEM.

THERE'S A VERY DEEP SECTION OF THE DITCH THAT RUNS ADJACENT TO THE TOWNSHIP ROAD.

THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE DITCH IS VERY DEEP AND CANNOT BE REACHED BY EXCAVATORS.

SO A PORTION OF THIS MATERIAL WILL HAVE TO BE HAULED AWAY IN SIDE DUMP TRUCKS.

AND I'LL POINT OUT THAT IT WAS NOT LONG AGO THAT THIS SYSTEM WAS CLEANED.

BUT THIS SYSTEM ALONG WITH DITCH 9 AND MANY OTHER DITCHES, THE WEATHER EVENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING, THE DROUGHT CAUSED THE DITCHES TO DRY UP AND THE GRASS GROWS IN THE BOTTOM.

AND THE SEDIMENT FALLS OUT IN THE GRASS AND THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO FLUSH OUT THE CLEAN OUT.

SO IT'S NOT COMMON TO CLEAN THEM EVERY TEN YEARS.

IT'S NOT COMMON TO CLEAN EVERY TEN YEARS.

BUT THE PAST FEW YEARS WE'RE SEEING CLEANINGS OCCUR MORE OFTEN JUST BECAUSE OF THAT.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

SECONDED.

DISCUSSION? SO EVEN THOUGH THIS ONE WAS DONE TEN YEARS AGO, IT DOES WARRANT AN ADDITIONAL CLEANING OUT? YES.

ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.

NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE PUBLIC HEARING.

WELL, THAT'S NOT UNTIL TEN O'CLOCK.

DO WE HAVE OTHER BUSINESS THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE? ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM C.

CONSIDER ACCEPTANCE AND APPOINTMENT OF ENGINEER FOR CD61 BRANCH IMPROVEMENT.

GOOD MORNING, JACKIE.

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

GO AHEAD, JACKIE.

ALL RIGHT.

SO PROPERTY AND PUBLIC SERVICES HAS RECEIVED A PETITION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF COUNTY DITCH 61 TO IMPROVE PORTIONS OF THE DITCH SYSTEM BRANCHES.

A COPY OF THE PETITION IS ATTACHED FOR YOUR REFERENCE IN THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT AREAS.

THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS REVIEWED THE PETITION AND DETERMINED THAT THE PETITION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT FOR COUNTY DITCH 61 MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF AN IMPROVEMENT PETITION UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTE 103E.215.

A COPY OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S LETTERS ATTACHED FOR YOUR REFERENCE.

ALSO, FOR THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY TO CONSIDER OUR PROPOSED PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND ORDER FOR APPOINTING AN ENGINEER.

SO IN REFERENCE, THIS IS A PETITION ON COUNTY DITCH 61 FOR THE BRANCHES.

SO IT'S A SECOND PETITION FOR IMPROVEMENT.

WE ALREADY HAVE AN IMPROVEMENT ON THE MAIN BRANCH.

SO JUST FOR CLARIFICATION ON THAT, THE PETITION WAS REVIEWED BY MICHELLE, OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY.

AND HER APPROVAL LETTER IS ATTACHED TOWARDS THE END OF THE PACKET.

AND I HAVE INCLUDED PROPOSED FINDINGS TO APPOINT HOUSTON ENGINEERING AND CHRYSODERNIS AS THE ENGINEER TO PROCEED WITH PRELIMINARY ENGINEER'S REPORT.

[00:40:02]

SO THAT WILL ALSO GO OUT TO HOUSTON ENGINEERING AND CHRYSODERNIS.

SO I'D BE LOOKING FOR APPROVAL OF THE ENCLOSED FINDINGS TO APPOINT HOUSTON ENGINEERING AND CHRYSODERNIS TO THE IMPROVEMENT POSITION.

WE HAVE A MOTION.

WE HAVE A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND IT.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPOINT CHRYSODERNIS FOR THE COUNTY DITCH 61 BRANCH IMPROVEMENT.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

WE STILL HAVE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES BEFORE WE CAN START THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANY OTHER DITCH RELATED INFORMATION? WE'LL RECESS FOR FIVE MINUTES UNTIL WE CAN CALL THE PUBLIC HEARING TO TAKE AN ORDER.

WE'RE DETERMINING FOR THE DETERMINATION OF REDETERMINATION OF BENEFITS FOR COUNTY DITCH 16A, COUNTY DITCH 80, COUNTY DITCH 85, COUNTY DITCH 92A, COUNTY DITCH 94, AND COUNTY DITCH 96.

JACKIE? ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

SO TODAY THE PUBLIC HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR 10 A.M. TO CONSIDER THE FINAL REDETERMINATION OF BENEFITS REPORTS PRESENTED BY THE VIEWERS.

MARK MERRENS AND WES DAHL ARE HERE AND WILL PRESENT THE VIEWERS FINAL REPORTS FOR EACH DITCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION BY THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY.

AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING WAS HELD EARLIER THIS SUMMER TO PROVIDE LANDOWNERS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE PROPOSED REDETERMINATION OF BENEFITS AND ASK QUESTIONS.

PRIOR TO THAT MEETING, ALL AFFECTED LANDOWNERS WERE MAILED COPIES OF THE REPORTS FOR THEIR REVIEW.

NOTICE FOR THIS MEETING WAS POSTED AND MAILED ON AUGUST 06, 2026, AND PUBLISHED IN ST.

PETER HERALD ON AUGUST 6, 13, AND 20TH.

DURING THE HEARING, THE BOARD WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EITHER ACCEPT, REJECT, OR TABLE EACH REDETERMINATION REPORT.

IF A REPORT IS ACCEPTED, THE FINAL, THE FINDING AND ORDER WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD AT THE NEXT DRAINAGE AUTHORITY MEETING.

SO FROM HERE, WE'LL START WITH OUR FIRST DITCH AND WE'LL DO THEM IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.

WE'LL START WITH COUNTY DITCH 16A, AND MARK MERRENS WILL PRESENT THE FIRST DITCH.

AND THEN I WOULD ASK THAT THE BOARD OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR EACH DITCH AS WE GO THROUGH THEM.

SO I'LL INVITE MARK UP.

I DREW THE SHORT STRAW THIS MORNING.

YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE MARK.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS WES DAHL.

ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME OKAY? OKAY.

MY NAME IS WES DAHL.

I'M ONE OF THE VIEWERS THAT WORKED ON THIS DITCH ALONG WITH MARK MERRENS AND A COUPLE OTHER INDIVIDUALS.

WE'RE FROM ALBERT LEE, MINNESOTA.

THERE'S FOUR OR FIVE TRAININGS A YEAR THAT A PERSON CAN GO TO TO BECOME ACCREDITED.

AND THERE'S ABOUT THREE OR FOUR OTHER GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT DO THIS VIEWING.

SO WHETHER IT'S OUR GROUP OR ANOTHER GROUP, THE PROCESS WOULD BE SIMILAR.

WITHIN THE REDETERMINATION PROCESS, THERE'S FIVE MAIN ITEMS THAT COME TOGETHER TO DETERMINE YOUR BENEFITS.

ONE, THE NUMBER OF ACRES YOU HAVE IN THE SYSTEM, YOUR SOIL TYPES, THE LOCATION RATE, HOW FAR YOUR PROPERTY IS PHYSICALLY AWAY FROM THE COUNTY OPEN DITCH OR COUNTY TILE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE COUNTY TILE ON YOUR PROPERTY, AND THEN ALSO THE EFFICIENCY OF THE SYSTEM.

THOSE FIVE ITEMS COME TOGETHER TO DETERMINE A BENEFIT VALUE.

WE ADD UP EVERYBODY'S BENEFIT VALUE. WE GET A TOTAL BENEFIT.

DIVIDE YOUR BENEFIT VALUE BY THE TOTAL TO GET A PERCENT OF TOTAL BENEFITS.

WHEN THERE'S REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE ON THE COUNTY SYSTEM, EACH PARCEL PAYS THEIR PERCENT OF TOTAL BENEFITS TIMES THE COST OF THE REPAIR.

AS JACKIE MENTIONED, WE HAD A MEETING WITH LANDOWNERS ON JUNE 22ND TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS.

THEY ALL RECEIVED OUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND WERE ABLE TO MEET WITH ANYBODY OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ANYBODY HAS.

WE BUILD A BOOK LIKE THIS WITH EVERYBODY'S INFORMATION ON IT THAT WE WILL HAPPILY SHOW ANYBODY HOW WE BROKE OUT THEIR PARCEL OR THEIR NEIGHBOR'S PARCEL.

IF WE ARE SHARED PRIVATE TILE MAPS, WE DO NOT SHARE PRIVATE TILE MAPS WITH ANYBODY.

THAT'S LANDOWNERS' INDIVIDUAL INFORMATION.

WE HAVE KIND OF A STANDARD WAY WE BREAK OUT EVERYBODY'S PARCELS, AND THEN WE ADJUST OUR NUMBERS UP OR DOWN BASED ON ANY INFORMATION WE LEARN FROM LANDOWNERS THAT MIGHT BE UNIQUE ABOUT THEIR PARCEL.

DRAINAGE LAW FROM 1977 STATES THAT WHEN A REDETERMINATION IS DONE, YOU NEED TO ESTABLISH A

[00:45:03]

THERE'S ALSO AN ACCESS EASEMENT THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THAT AT $400 AN ACRE, AND I'LL GO THROUGH THOSE NUMBERS ON EACH SYSTEM.

LOOKING AT COUNTY DITCH 16A, IT WAS ESTABLISHED BACK IN 1959.

THERE IS A TOTAL OF 3, 064 ACRES WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 5.3 MILES OF OPEN DITCH AND 3.3 MILES OF COUNTY TILE.

THAT ONE-ROD GRASS STRIP THAT I TALKED ABOUT AT $8, 000 AN ACRE, THERE'S 18.56 ACRES OF THAT FOR A TOTAL OF $148, 480.

THERE'S ALSO AN $800 AN ACRE VALUE ON BUILDING SITES OR NON-BENEFITED ACRES, AND ABOUT .56 ACRES OF THOSE ACRES AT $448.

AND THE ACCESS AT $400 AN ACRE, THERE ARE 75.33 ACRES FOR A TOTAL OF $30, 132.

ALTOGETHER, THE GRASS STRIP AND ACCESS RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENT DAMAGES IS $179, 060.

WE DETERMINED OVER A 25-YEAR PERIOD THAT THERE IS $8, 453, 000 WORTH OF BENEFITS IN COUNTY DITCH 16A.

SO WE BASED OUR ESTIMATED ASSESSMENT OFF OF $185, 000.

I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, CORRECT? ANYONE WANT TO ADDRESS DITCH 16A? ALL RIGHT, SEEING NO ONE.

THEN I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REDETERMINATION OF BENEFITS FOR COUNTY DITCH 16A AS PRESENTED BY THE VIEWERS AND TO DIRECT THE PROPERTY AND PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR TO PREPARE FINDINGS IN ORDER TO BE SUBMITTED AT THE NEXT DITCH AUTHORITY MEETING.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT.

I'LL HAVE A SECOND.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO COUNTY DITCH 80.

COUNTY DITCH 80 WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1958.

THERE IS 2, 019 TOTAL ACRES IN COUNTY DITCH 80.

IT CONSISTS OF 5.2 MILES OF OPEN DITCH AND 3.3 MILES OF COUNTY TILE.

THE TILE RANGES IN SIZE FROM 7 TO 18 INCHES.

THE GRASS STRIP, THERE IS 17.65 ACRES FOR A TOTAL OF $141, 200.

THE $800 VALUE FOR EASEMENT THROUGH TREES AND BUILDING SITES IS 0.17 ACRES FOR $136.

AND THEN THE ACCESS EASEMENT AT $400 IS 59.61 ACRES FOR A TOTAL OF $23, 844.

THE TOTAL EASEMENT DAMAGES IS $165, 180.

WE DETERMINED THERE WAS $5,928,000 WORTH OF BENEFITS OVER THE 25-YEAR PERIOD, AND WE BASED OUR ESTIMATED ASSESSMENT OFF OF $172, 000.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ANYONE WANT TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING DITCH 80? IF NOT, I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RE-DETERMINATION OF BENEFITS FOR COUNTY DITCH 80 AS PRESENTED BY THE VIEWERS AND TO DIRECT THE PROPERTY AND PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR TO PREPARE FINDINGS IN ORDER TO BE SUBMITTED AT THE NEXT DRAINAGE AUTHORITY MEETING.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

I HAVE A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO COUNTY DITCH 85.

COUNTY DITCH 85 WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1963.

THERE'S 2, 683 TOTAL ACRES WITHIN THAT SYSTEM.

THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 6.5 MILES OF OPEN DITCH AND 3.1 MILES OF COUNTY TILE, WITH THE TILE RANGING IN SIZE FROM 8 TO 16 INCHES.

THE ONE-ROD GRASS STRIP AT $8, 000 AN ACRE, WE DETERMINED THERE WAS 23.18 ACRES AT $185, 440.

THERE IS .12 ACRES THROUGH BUILDING SITES OR TREES FOR $96.

THE ACCESS EASEMENT AT $400 AN ACRE, THERE WAS 87.56 ACRES, FOR A TOTAL OF $35, 024.

THE TOTAL EASEMENT DAMAGES ARE

[00:50:01]

AND OVER THE 25-YEAR PERIOD, WE DETERMINED THERE WAS $7, 963, 000 WORTH OF BENEFITS.

AND WE BASED OUR ESTIMATED ASSESSMENT OFF OF $227, 000.

THANK YOU.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? DOES ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS COUNTY DITCH 85? SEEING NO ONE.

I ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REDETERMINATION OF BENEFITS FOR COUNTY DITCH 85 AS PRESENTED BY THE VIEWERS AND TO DIRECT THE PROPERTY AND PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR TO PREPARE FINDINGS IN ORDER TO BE SUBMITTED AT THE NEXT DRAINAGE AUTHORITY MEETING.

I WILL MAKE A MOTION.

SECOND? SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

OKAY. MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT ITEM IS COUNTY DITCH 92A.

COUNTY DITCH 92A WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1969 AND WAS IMPROVED IN 1980.

THE BENEFITS IN 1980 WERE $16, 670 ON 207 ACRES.

THERE'S CURRENTLY 392.88 TOTAL ACRES WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

THERE IS NO OPEN DITCH.

THERE IS 5, 470 FEET OF COUNTY TILE.

WE BASED OUR ESTIMATED ASSESSMENT OFF OF $5, 000 JUST TO KIND OF COVER THE COST.

IT'S GOING TO BE VIEWING AND ENGINEERING COSTS.

AND OVER A 25-YEAR PERIOD, WE DETERMINED THERE WAS $892, 184 WORTH OF BENEFITS.

ALL RIGHT.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WANTED TO COMMENT ON COUNTY DITCH 92A? OKAY.

SEEING NO ONE.

I GOT A QUESTION.

STEP UP AND USE THE MIC, PLEASE.

THEY STILL HAVE A HOLE.

CAN YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU GET TO THE MIC, PLEASE, SO THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR YOU? AND THEN YOUR NAME, PLEASE.

GLENN BERENICK.

I GOT TO THE NORTH PARCEL.

OKAY.

THERE'S A HOLE THERE BY KATHLEEN BERG THAT HASN'T BEEN FIXED IN YEARS.

THEY FIXED IT, AND THEN IT BLEW OUT AGAIN, AND THEN THEY FIXED IT AGAIN.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY CAN'T DETERMINE WHY IT KEEPS BLOWING OUT.

THAT WOULD BE MY QUESTION.

I TALKED TO MY TILE GUY, BECAUSE WE PUT SOME TILE IN THIS YEAR.

HE SAID THERE'S, IT COMES OFF THAT HILL.

YOU CAN SEE THAT LITTLE SPOT, THAT LINE THAT COMES UP ON THE MASS THERE.

THAT'S WHERE THAT BLOWS OUT BECAUSE IT'S COMING DOWN THE HILL.

IT COMES INTO A T.

MY TILE GUY SAYS, WHY DON'T THEY JUST PUT A Y IN THERE SO IT'LL SLOW IT DOWN AND DOESN'T HAVE TO COME STRAIGHT DOWN, HIT THE T, AND BLOW IT OUT? I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FIXED RIGHT NOW, BUT THERE HAS BEEN A HOLE THERE A COUPLE YEARS.

THIS IS MY CONCERN.

THANK YOU.

STEP UP TO THE MIC, PLEASE.

I'M KATHLEEN BERG, AND I OWN THAT PROPERTY THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.

AND THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR YEARS, AND EVERY TIME IT BLOWS OUT, WE DO GET IT FIXED.

AND THE PROBLEM IS WHAT HE SAID, THERE'S TOO MUCH COMING AT THAT POINT, AND HOPEFULLY, SOMEHOW IT CAN BE REMEDIED AT SOME POINT IN TIME.

THANK YOU.

DO WE HAVE A COMMENT? THANK YOU.

THE TILE LOCATION IN QUESTION HERE IS A KNOWN QUICKSAND LOCATION.

IT'S BEEN FIXED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

I HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE THIS YEAR TO VIEW IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A HOLE THERE RIGHT NOW OR NOT, BUT IT'S BEEN FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE YEARS. AND TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS WE'LL GO AND REPLACE 20, 30 FEET UNTIL WE GET A FAIR OR A DECENT CONNECTION TO THE OLD TILE, AND THEN WE GET A BIG RAIN EVENT, AND THE FAILURE HAPPENS RIGHT WHERE THE NEW TILE ENDED AND THE OLD TILE BEGAN.

SO THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE.

IS THERE A DIFFERENT SOLUTION? POTENTIALLY A LARGER REPAIR OR IMPROVEMENT, IF THE LANDOWNERS HAVE INTEREST IN THAT.

THEY NEED TO MAKE A PETITION FOR THAT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MR. CHAIR, JUST TO REITERATE, THIS IS, I'M NOT SURE THAT, I MEAN, IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THESE COMMENTS, OBVIOUSLY, BUT THIS IS MORE ON, I WOULD SAY, MORE ON THE REPAIR AND OR IMPROVEMENT SIDE OF THE DISCUSSION, NOT NECESSARILY.

I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT REPAIR CHANGE WOULD CHANGE, OR COULD WE ASK, WILL THIS CHANGE THE BENEFIT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, ANYTHING WITH THIS BENEFIT VIEWING OR THE MATTER AT HAND?

[00:55:01]

I WOULD JUST, I GUESS I'D MAKE THAT COMMENT TO THE FOLKS.

MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR PETITION IN OR YOUR REPAIR REQUEST TO, YOU KNOW, NATE, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE THAT SOLVED.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON 92A? ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, I'LL ASK TO APPROVE THE REDETERMINATION OF BENEFITS FOR COMMUNE DITCH 92A, AS PRESENTED BY THE VIEWERS, AND TO DIRECT PROPERTY AND PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR PREPARE FINDINGS IN ORDER TO BE SUBMITTED AT THE NEXT DRAINAGE AUTHORITY.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

SECOND.

MOTION SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

WE'LL LOOK AT COMMUNE DITCH 94.

COMMUNE DITCH 94 WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1972.

THE COST OF THE CONSTRUCTION IN 1972 WAS APPROXIMATELY $33, 000. AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS $38, 000 WORTH OF BENEFITS AT THAT TIME.

AFTER THE ENGINEERS REDREW THE WATERSHED BOUNDARY, THERE WAS 839.04 TOTAL ACRES.

NO OPEN DITCH, AND THERE'S APPROXIMATELY THREE MILES OF COUNTY TILE, WITH SIZE RANGING FROM 8 INCHES TO 20 INCHES.

AND ONE THING, TOO, I KNOW THERE'S A COUPLE PARCELS ON THIS SYSTEM THAT THE LANDOWNERS MENTIONED THAT THEY WERE TILED IN OR OUT OF THE SYSTEM.

WE'RE DOING SOME OF THE NEIGHBORING SYSTEMS. SO THERE ARE SOME ACRES THAT ARE TILED INTO TWO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS, AND WE LOOKED AT THEIR BENEFITS. THEY'RE NOT OVERPAYING OR PAYING MORE.

THEY'RE JUST PAYING INTO TWO SYSTEMS SIMULTANEOUSLY ON THE AMOUNT OF WATER.

SO WE DID HAVE A FEW INSTANCES ON THIS SYSTEM THAT WE DID VIEW AND LOOK AT.

WE USED THE ESTIMATED ASSESSMENT BASED OFF OF $5,000, AND THE BENEFITS ARE $1,340, 000 WITH THE BENEFITS AGAIN OVER THE 25-YEAR PERIOD.

THANK YOU.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTARY ON COUNTY DITCH 94? SEEING NONE.

SO HE'S SAYING THAT IF WE PUT SOME TILE IN...

YOU NEED TO COME UP TO THE MIC AGAIN, PLEASE, SO THE PUBLIC CAN KEEP TRACK OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

HE'S JUST...

JUST WAIT TILL YOU SIT DOWN, PLEASE. IDENTIFY YOUR NAME AGAIN, PLEASE.

GLENN BERENICK.

I GOT PARTIAL QUITE A BIT GOING THROUGH THERE.

BUT WE PUT OUR OWN MAIN TILE IN ALONGSIDE THIS ONE, LIKE 04, 000 FEET OF IT, TO HELP OUR OWN GROUND, BECAUSE THAT COUNTY TILE HAS TAKEN IT AWAY, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH ADDED TO THE NORTH OF IT.

SO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE CREDIT THAT LAND PARKS, THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT? AT THE LANDOWNER MEETING ON JUNE 22ND, IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION, ALTMAN.

IS IT MARION ALTMAN? JORDAN MARION.

JORDAN, OKAY.

HE BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THEY WERE PUTTING A NEW PRIVATE MAIN IN PARALLEL TO THE COUNTY SYSTEM.

AND WE WENT OUT THERE, AND THE REDETERMINATION IS KIND OF A SNAPSHOT IN TIME.

AND SOME PEOPLE SAY THEY'RE GOING TO PUT SOME TILE IN EVENTUALLY, AND THEY NEVER REALLY DO.

THEY WERE ACTUALLY OUT THERE TILING, PUTTING IN THIS NEW MAIN.

SO WE TOOK THAT INTO EFFECT OR INTO CONSIDERATION ON THEY AREN'T USING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM, BUT THEY ARE STILL USING IT DOWN ON THE SOUTH SIDE BY THE ROAD AND USING A SHORTER AMOUNT.

SO WE DID REDUCE THOSE BENEFITS ON THOSE PARCELS.

THEY STILL HAVE SOME WATER THAT'S GOING TO GO INTO THE COUNTY MAIN, BUT A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THEIR WATER IS GOING TO JUST USE THE BOTTOM SOUTH LITTLE BIT OF THE SYSTEM.

SO WE DID FACTOR THAT IN.

THANK YOU.

GREAT. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS WITH REGARD TO COUNTY DITCH 94? ANY DISCUSSION? AGAIN, I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REDETERMINATION OF BENEFITS FOR COUNTY DITCH 94, AS PRESENTED BY THE VIEWERS, AND TO DIRECT THE POWER PRINTING AND PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR TO PREPARE FINDINGS IN ORDER TO BE SUBMITTED AT THE NEXT DRAINAGE AUTHORITY MEETING.

NO MOTION? SO MOVED.

SECOND? SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

LAST STITCH WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS COUNTY DITCH 96.

COUNTY DITCH 96 WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1975, AND IT WAS DETERMINED AT THAT TIME THERE WAS $62, 000 WORTH OF BENEFITS ON 727 ACRES.

CURRENTLY THERE'S 960 TOTAL ACRES. THERE IS NO OPEN DITCH.

THERE IS APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILES OF COUNTY TILE.

WE DETERMINED THERE WAS $1,901,431 WORTH OF BENEFITS OVER A 25-YEAR PERIOD, AND WE BASED OUR ESTIMATED ASSESSMENT OFF OF $5, 000.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTARY REGARDING COUNTY DITCH 96?

[01:00:05]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON GETTING THIS REDETERMINATION DONE, AND WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THE END OF OUR COUNTY DITCH REDETERMINATION. I THINK WE'RE WORKING ON THE LAST COUPLE OF JOINT DITCHES AT THE MOMENT. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. THANKS FOR DOING A BIG PROJECT. ALL RIGHT.

WITH NO OTHER BUSINESS, I'D ASK FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE DRAINAGE AUTHORITY MEETING.

MOVED. SECOND? SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL RIGHT.

MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENDANCE AND YOUR COMMENTS. WE'LL TAKE THOSE UP.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.