Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

I'm going to use the hammer for the last time here. Anyway, uh we'll bring the meeting to order and uh we'll start out with a uh public hearing proposed revisions to the Douglas County fee schedule. At this time, there will be a public hearing and uh to the proposed revisions to the Douglas County fee schedule. [snorts] And uh Lee, uh will you want to give them a summary or legal? Sure. Regarding the uh public hearing on the fee schedules, so this is to follow Minnesota statute 373.41 and it refers to that the county may charge a fee to record, file, certify, provide copies of documents and uh etc. And um part of the requirement is that the the county may after a public hearing establish the amounts of the fees to be charged for the services unless um some fees are connected to a statute. Okay. So I ask the public is any comments on the county fee schedule? Any comments on the county fee schedule? Any comments on the county fee schedule? If there are none, uh then we will be closing the public hearing and uh move on. So we'll move to Lee uh uh as far as the Douglas County fee schedule action.

Thank you, Commissioner Chair Board. So [clears throat] the um fee schedule was something that came uh from our auditor treasur uh an idea that maybe we should kind of summarize all of our fees and I think uh that got the we have a monthly department head meeting also and so that um hit a hit a note with those people those leaders as well. So, we worked on getting these fees collected from across the county, all the different various departments and units. And um that brings me to Janice here and those all end up coming to Janice for her to kind of assemble and organize. And so I think you know the department heads Vicky Doling and and Janice for their extra work on this. Um but what it's allowed us to do is kind of see if we had repetitive fees in various departments. maybe they were mismatched. Uh, and the goal was really just to simplify the experience for the public when they want to have uh something uh taken care of by the county and there's a fee associated that it's not difficult to find that it's front-facing on the public on the on the website and quick quicker to find. And so that was the goal of this. It's our first time doing this, so it may change in time to come, but as part of this year's organizational meeting, we thought it'd be a great time to uh bring it forth and get it approved by the board. All righty. U board, you got any questions? I don't have any questions. So, I guess uh is is there any further or is that basically everything?

You've received a copy of it. Janice brought a copy of in case you have questions. Um there's quite a few on there, you know, 300 and some lines of fees. Um but they were all reviewed and looked at and um adjusted as needed and so no, I don't think we have any other needs than just to get the board's approval on this. Okay. Janice, did you have anything? All right. Well, I think with that uh we need a motion. [clears throat] I'll make a motion to adopt the new Douglas County fee schedule. Thank you, Tim. I second. Thank you, Jeff. Any other questions on that? Any? If not, Len, please. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes.

Rap. Yes. We Yes. Meer, yes. Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, just a second. Now, we're going to be going on to this maintenance. So, you're going to be coming up here, Lee. Sure. I'm sorry. And uh so anyway, we've got uh uh it looks like three bids here, Mr. Chair. There's two bids for vehicle maintenance on top there. I got it. And then one for the first. Okay. So, uh, Lee, if you want to come up here and grab these.

I didn't open it. I forgot. All right. All right.

[snorts]

Yep, that's it. You bet. And Mr. Chair, we can move on to number three. Lee will bring copies back and uh the vehicle mid bid and um legal bid will be voted on later on in the meeting. All righty. So, we'll move to number three. Nomination for chairperson. And that's an action item. Mr. Chair, I'd nominate change mment. Thank you, Charlie.

I will second. Thank you, Tim. Any other questions? Len, please. Meer, yes. We Yes. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rap, yes. Motion carries. Thank you. All righty. Next is nomination for vice chair person and that's action. I'll make a motion to nominate Jeff we thank you Tim. I'll second. Thank you Charlie. Any other questions? Len, please. Meer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rap, yes. We Yes. Motion carries.

All righty. Congratulations, guys. All righty. and establish meetings and dates and times for 2026. Is there anything you need to say there? Uh, Len? Uh, no, Mr. Chair. I believe the board has reviewed the schedule. Uh, so you're just adopting what's in front of you here for our regular meeting dates for 2026. Any questions, sir? No, I'll make a motion to approve the meeting dates. Thank you, Shane. And I second. Thank you, Jeff. Any other questions? Uh, one one thing we should add in here is that we're [snorts] going to have a Thursday or Tuesday, March 3rd meeting. Oh, she already put it on.

Oh, you already put it on. Oh, I was looking at my sheet here and it's not on there. I did update that. I looked here. She's quick. Yeah, it all right. We We were covered. All right, Len, please. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rap, yes. We Meyer, yes. Motion carries. Thank you. All right. Number six, approve 2026 commissioner committee assignments. Make a motion to approve the assignments. Thank you, Charlie. I'll second. Thank you, Shane. Any other questions? Len, please. Kina, yes. Rap, yes. We Yes. Meer, yes. Schmidt, yes.

Motion carries. Thank you. Number seven, uh, appoint AMC delegates.

They look good to me. Uh, I'll make that motion. I'll second it. We're basically keeping it the same as last year. Right. Right. And Tim. So, thank you, Tim. Uh, any other questions? Len, please. Rap, yes. Weey, yes. Meyer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Motion carries. Thank you. All righty. Number eight, approve memberships to professional associations.

Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the membership to the professional associations. Thank you, Shane. Al. Oh, Jeff got it. Thank you, Jeff. Any other questions? Len, please. Weey, yes. Meyer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rap, yes. Motion carries. All right. Number nine, approve 2026 AMC dues, Minnesota statute 375 163. Board's wishes. I know. Yeah.

What do you do? Are you saying they know how to charge? [snorts] Is how much is it up from last year? Uh, Mr. Chair, it's about another 10% increase over last year, which was the same increase we had for 2025. We did reach out. They had given us a heads up that there was going to be this phased increase beginning in 2025 to support AMC staff salary adjustments that were needed. Um they are hoping that next year the increase will be closer to 5% because they will have caught up hopefully. Okay, with that I'll make a motion to approve. Thank you Tim.

[snorts] I second. Thank you, Jeff. Any other questions? Went up 10 and 25. It's going up 10 and 26. I I mean, [snorts] I guess maybe we'll have Julie out here for a meeting sometime. Think I think a good idea. Yeah, we have to talk to her at our down in the cities here in couple weeks or Yeah, we got a meeting coming up. Yeah, I think it's uh they're plenty. Uh well, it's one thing you get 10% for every county. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Any other questions on that? No. Len, please. Meer,

yes. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rap. Yes. We Yes. Motion carries. We need it. All righty. Number 10, appoint planning commission members. Uh Minnesota statute 394.30.

Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the planning commission members. All righty. Thank you, Shane. I second. Thank you, Jeff. Are there any other questions? Mr. Mr. Chair, is everybody spoken as far as to your represent? Oh, I I talked to Brian yesterday. I I got a hold of Jeff this morning. I'm good. Okay, good. Should be good. Uh, Len, please. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rap, yes. We, yes. Meer, yes. Motion carries.

Thank you. All righty. Then we'll move to uh Dave Rush. Land. Oh. Oh, yeah. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. We We uh got the bids here. Uh Mr. Chair, you can move on to Mr. Rush and we will uh after the break award the vehicle maintenance bids and legal publication. Very well. Very well. Morning gentlemen. Morning.

Thank you. The planning commissioners uh enjoy what they do and appreciate being part of that. So thank you for reappointing them. Uh the item I have before you is uh last year the county established a uh cannabis uh use and retail sales registration ordinance. Um in that ordinance it indicates that annually the county will set the number of registrations for cannabis adult use cannabis retail businesses. Uh last year we did that in April. The ordinance suggests that it's done at the beginning of the year. Um, my assumption based on what we did last year was that we would set the minimum number as required by the state. That would be one registration for every 12,500 residents. Based on the census, the county would be required to have four retail sales registrations. So, uh, with that, I have a resolution that I provided you. Uh, it does look like it's 2601. Uh, which would establish the limit, the cap of cannabis retail business registrations not to exceed four. And again, just for clarity, this is adult use cannabis, not low potency hemp retail sales. So, that is a different animal. So Dave, I have to ask the question. Are are we were forced to do this?

Correct. Under state statute 342, it says that uh jurisdictions uh must allow at least one retail sales registration for every 12,500 residents. Not to get too far into the weeds, but uh towards those registrations, we get to count any registration from another jurisdiction within the county limits. So if the city of Alexandria registers a adult cannabis retail sales business, that counts towards our four.

Okay. I I guess, you know, I think this is a crazy [clears throat] crazy uh law. [snorts] Uh but like I said, we're we're being uh in my opinion railroaded to do it and I guess that's where it's at. So, uh board, do you have any questions? Yeah, Mr. Chair, I have a question. So, all we get is a fee for registering them.

Yeah, that's changed, too. Uh I know when we started this process last year, we were supposed to receive uh tax revenue from retail sales and then the legislature clawed that back. So I don't believe we get anything other than the fees which the fees are capped by uh the state at this time. So there's a limit to what we can charge for those fees as well. So do we charge a fee on top of the city charging a fee? No. So, it whatever jurisdiction registers that business, they get to charge the fee the the uh

that I'm following. Yeah. We get to count that towards our number of registrations, but because we're not the entity that registered that business, it's not our fee. Mr. B time you put in, we get nothing. And the and the rules changed. Yeah, they did. We I was on that task force with Rush and the reason we were forced to do this by the state and we only reason we agreed to do it was that then we would share in the tax. Correct?

Because if we wouldn't then we would be eliminated from anything going forward at all for the entire county forever and all this kind of thing. So after they get everybody to go along, then the legislators change the rules on the revenue share. [snorts] I guess we should be used to that living in Minnesota. But my question a croc question comes back then. Why can't we do it ourselves? Put a fee or a tax or anything. They have absolutely taken control of the entire thing at the state level. Yeah. But if we go and say we want to we're going to put it on there, what are they going to do? cloud back from us too. I don't know. No, no, no, I don't know.

Because we got to send them the money on the other end of it that we collect for him. Maybe if we hang on to that. Mr. Chair, may I suggest that this is a great opportunity to use the Association of Minnesota Counties. Good point. point. You've you've paid for those services yearly. [laughter] That would be a great use of their time to lobby to ensure that it really is because their office is a block from the capital. So, you're [laughter] right. Sorry. Yeah. I'll make a motion to approve resolution 2601. Thank you, Shane. [laughter] I second. And thank you, Jeff. Any other questions? One name, please. Kina,

yes. Rap a reluctant yes. We Yes. Meer. Yeah. Schmidt. Yes. Motion carries. Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you. All righty. Then we move on to Vicky Doling, auditor treasure. [snorts] Good morning, Mr. Chair, members of the board. Good morning.

Got uh three items for you. The first being a resolution to delegate the authority to the Douglas County audited treasurer and finance director to have the authority to select depositories, make investments, um, designate brokers and the such for the finances of the county. All right, that's the resolution. I'll make a motion to approve resolution 26-02, delegation of authority to Douglas County auditor, treasurer, and finance director. Thank you, Tim. Second. Thank you, Charlie. Any other questions? Len, please. Rap. Yes. Weey, yes. Meer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Motion carries.

And now that you've granted us that authority, I bring before you the list of the deposiitories for July 26. The only change being that we removed uh Bremer Bank and replaced it with Old National Bank. The rest has remained the same. Thank you. Ward's wishes. That's just a regular action, isn't it? Oh, make a motion action to approve. Charlie, thank you. All right, I'll second. Thank you, Shane. Any [clears throat] other questions? Len, please. We Yes. Meer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rap, yes. Motion carries.

All right. And next is a resolution authorizing um auditor treasurer and finance director to uh you continue to use electronic funds transfers for wires and such and payments to vendors. All righty. And that's a resolution. Yes. I make a motion to approve resolution 26-03 authorizing electronic fund transfers in Doug County. Thank you, Jeff. I'll second. Thank you, Tim. Any other questions? Len, please. Meer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rap, yes. Weey, yes. Motion carries.

Thank you. And we will take a fivem minute break.

I'd say it should be

ready. That's a resolution. Okay, we're bringing her back. and uh board's uh wishes there then on the award the 2026 vehicle maintenance for 2026. Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion we go with Shutters Oil Low Bid. Thank you, Charlie. Mr. Chair, I'll second it, but I would like to make sure that when they are invoicing, they should be invoicing according to the bid. Okay. Uh Dave,

Mr. Chair, if I could just shutters oil changes for our vehicles for a number of years and I have no issues with the work that they do. I do and have for several years have significant issues with [snorts] invoicing for that work. That bid request that you send out to those businesses clearly states that the they provide us should include everything. So it's the filter, the labor, the oil, and if it says everything that also means shop supplies, hazardous waste disposal, whatever else is the cost. The cost is the cost that they are invoiced for oil changes on vehicles. That is not the way the invoice looks. The invoice things like oil and labor and always supplies and hazardous disposal which is fine but when you sit down and start those things up they don't always add up to the total amount it's many times more cents but we're going to through this process requests [snorts] and have awarding then the invoices we receive should not exceed that otherwise why bocess the other issue that I have along with that is is that we haveund and some vehicles we have several departments those department heads and staff have to go through those invoices and

checking because again we're concerned about what happens to taxpayer dollars in this county. You want your staff to be checking to make sure that those dollars are spent appropriately and according to the bids that you and we're going to do that then the invoices we receive should not take an extraordinary amount of time as well as the amount of time it takes us as partic [clears throat] correct or when the wrong invoice cannot keep track of which vehicle changed invoice My recommendation that I will continue to do my job, my staff will do their job to check it.

Thank you, Dave. Board.

Yeah. And I appreciate it, David. you know a lot you know we've been been in business a long time them too he needs to actually bill us and Jill knows that according to the bid and that's what we pay and without a doubt there is a considerable difference that's the only reason and we've had good luck with the work and that's gone on for years and we'll get better with that with the building because I I wasn't aware until just now or today about the problem with the building. But there's enough of a difference that we can talk to Mr. Shudder and and see how we're going. I do believe we have we have had great service with them. Not that we wouldn't with the other bidder. I think we would there too. That's not the point. It's about like you said, it is about the dollars and cents. So, let's not try to hide it by sneaking something different in. All right. enough said.

All right, we have a motion in a second. Uh, anything else? Len, please. Kina, yes. Rap, yes. Weey, yes. Meyer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Motion carries. All right, then we go to uh a resolution to the awarding of the 2026 legal publication. Have you got that information there, Charlie? What do you want to know, sir? You know what's on the screen here? Uh, yep. Any questions up front?

We have a representative from the paper here. She can tell us if there's any changes. But so Celeste or who's talking here? Okay, Maggie. Yeah. Any questions? I mean any input there? Okay. Thank you. All right. That's in the form of a resolution, isn't it? Yes, it is a resolution. Make a motion to approve resolution uh 2604 and accept the bid from the Echo Press. Thank you, Charlie. Publication. Thank you, Charlie. I'll second. Thank you, Tim. [snorts] Any other questions? Len, please. Rap, yes. Weey, yes.

Meyer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Motion carries. All righty. That does it uh for this one. And so we're looking for an adjournment. Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion to adjurnn. Thank you, Shane. I'll second. Thank you, Tim. Len way. Yes. Meer? Yes. Schmidt? Yes. Kina? Yes. Rap? Yes. Motion carries. All right, there will be a 5m minute