Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Well, everyone, thanks for coming today. Nice crisp. Hopefully spring comes soon. I guess at this time I'd like to call the order to meet. I'll call the meeting to order. Approve the agenda. Len, please. Any questions or corrections? I need to Mr. Chair, there is no changes on the agenda. We are starting with resolution 2634 today. I'll make that motion. I'll second. Thanks, Jerry. Thanks, Tim. Anybody else? Any discussion? Len, please. Rap, yes. Weey, yes. Meyer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Helina, yes. Motion carries.

Any uh uh motion to approve the minutes? Sorry. Make a motion to approve the minutes the March 17th meeting. Mr. Chair, second. Thanks, Charlie. Thanks, Jeff. Any additions or corrections? Len, please. We Yes. Meyer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rap, yes. Motion carries. Thank you. At this time, uh, Lee is going to come up on behalf of Troy Wilson to talk about some sheriff department donations.

Donations. Thanks. Thank you, Mr. Chair, commissioners. Yeah, I've got uh three generous donations here. I'm presenting on behalf of Sheriff Troy Wolverson. And um so I've got three resolutions for you to approve. And the first one is a $300 donation from the Golden K Quantis Club of Alexandria. That is to the Sheriff's Office DARE program. I'll make a motion to approve resolution 2634, contribution of $300 from the Alexandria Golden K. Kiwanas Club in support of the DARE program. I'll second that. Thanks, Tim. Thanks, Jerry. My name, please. Meer, yes.

Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rap. Yes. We motion carries. Thank you. The next resolution is another generous donation of $250 from Dwayne Bick to be used for the Douglas County Sheriff's Honor Guard. Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion to accept the basic donation for the honor guard of $250 resolution 26-35. I'll second it. Any discussion? Len, please. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rap, yes. Weey, yes. Meyer, yes. Motion carries.

Thank you. And the last one is a gener uh donation of $500 from the St. Nicholas Catholic Church to be used for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. I make a motion to approve resolution 2636 to accept the donation of $500 from St. Nicholas uh Catholic Church. I'll second that. Thanks Jeff. Thanks Jerry. Any discussion? Len, please. Kina, yes. Rap. Yes. We Yes. Meer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Motion carries. Thank you. Thanks. Tim, you're up next. public works director.

Good morning. Morning.

I've got three items on the agenda for your consideration. Uh first one is to award bids for SAP 021614019. That's our grading on County Road 14. Uh we opened bids last Wednesday. They came in pretty good. Um, so as you guys can see there quite a bit under our engineers estimate that's all in five items. Um, and it's all the the dirt work items. Um, that's the fun part of a unit price contract. Um, so as we looked through everything that it actually turned out it's balanced like it like it should be. We think they can do this for what they have it. So we're going to make that recommendation that we award uh to Central Specialties. I'll make a motion to award bid SAP021-614-019 to Central Specialties County State Aid 14.

I'll second that. Thanks, Tim. Thanks, Jerry. Any further discussion? Yeah, maybe we should talk about the engineers estimate. I knew that was coming, too. So, why I was smiling at you. I I knew that's exactly why you were smiling at me. you we maybe got to adjust that. Do you uh adjust that math a little bit? How how into this can I go? I can I can explain all this too. Yeah, we can do it at public works update deal. There you go. That is Thanks, Tim. Deal. Not a place for it. Yeah, it is. That's great though. Any discussion? No, I'll shut up. Len, please. Rap. Yes. We Yes. Meer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Motion carries. Very good.

Thank you. We were looking forward to getting that one going. Um, next item that I have for you is a resolution to approve a final payment for SAP 0216140118. So, that was the centerline culverts that we put in last summer on County Road 14. Uh, Midwest Contracting had that job. They did a they did actually a very good job. They came in a little bit under what our contract was, 2.17%. Um, with all of that, I would make that recommendation that we accept the completed project and authorize final payment in the amount of $120,33420. I'll make that motion. I'll second.

Oh, resolution 26 37. Correct. Right, Len, we're on that one. Correct. All right. Thanks, Jerry. Thanks, Tim. Len, please. Weey, yes. Meyer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rap, yes. Motion carries.

Thank you. And then the last item that we have is a drainage repair request on county ditch 21. Um, we brought Shane in here to kind of give you a little more of the background, but you do have every you you got the details in your packet. Um, you want to explain this one a little bit more? Yeah. So, there's just a request to uh repair 600 feet of 12-in dual wall tile with an inlet on County ditch 21. Essentially, continuation of a repair that we did in 2024. I got a question on that. That repair done in 2024 that went all the way from County Road 7, didn't it? I think it either went to seven or it went may have gone all the way to the main branch of the ditch. So it might have been the other side of seven too.

The other side of seven. It it might have been the whole thing cuz Tom would have been in charge of that. Tom would have been in charge of that. Correct. Mr. Chair, I have one question. Are we looking at this spring then of changing the levy at all? Because I see the two land owners are paying 77%. I get it. But the rest drops it up to 40,000 and they're only collecting 12,000 a year. We haven't talked about that at all yet. Okay. No, I think we have them. Well, there you go. We've got it at 200% already. Yeah. No, I know.

Okay. Make a motion to approve. I will. Okay. Got a second. Did I'm sorry. Who had the second, Mr. Chair? We don't.

Oh, sorry. I asked for a second. Guess it dies due to no second. Mr. Chair. Yeah. Yeah. Go ahead.

I got an issue with this because it's going to tack on a lot of another 40,000 onto the already 70,000 that's owed on there. And there's just with a 200% levy. I don't see where this is feasible for the other people on the ditch system. It's not benefiting anybody but two land owners. My uh thoughts on this is that the county should just abandon that ditch from the end of where where we ended up in 2024 and let the land owners take care of it because it doesn't benefit anybody else. That would be my motion. That'd be a motion

that we abandon the ditch at the end of the 2024 repair and let the land owners take care of the rest of it because I I just can't see wasting all that money on something that's a swamp. Correct. I agree with you. I will second that. So, we have a motion from Tim, a second from Jerry. Any further discussion? Uh, just to go ahead. I'd like to add to this that we should seek legal counsel to have this drawn up so we do it in the proper what manner as far as the county abandoning it. So you're going to add that to your motion? I'll add that to the motion. Jerry, you're good with the second on that?

I'm good. I'm good. And I just want to ask Tim, is there anything we um since you have that to talk to the legal council and we do have Rinky Nunan on retainer. Um, that's where our first call is going to end up being is we'll chat with them and we'll make sure that we get that process together and we'll make certain that the the drainage authority can um can remove a ditch system like this.

Mr. Chair, that's my question with this 110 year old ditch laws. I don't know if we can for sure, but if that's, you know, they requested and we did this two years ago and this was part of it a little bit was coming, you know, and now we're going to and don't get me wrong, I understand. But most ditches go through the swamp someplace. That's the reason they did ditching. the reason they did it. But this to me, this is uh a waste of money. Not gaining anything. They're not gaining anything. That that is never going to be crop land. Maybe a meadow for you.

Well, dry years, they'll get some hay off of it. Yeah, I get it. And that's why I just feel that it's it shouldn't be put on the rest of the ditch system just for two land owners. couple of months from now, we'll be giving them a permit to go to the wildlife group. Okay. Any further discussion? Len, please. Meer, no. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rap, yes. We Yes. Motion carries. Thank you. We will uh do a little bit of research. We'll bring anything back to the board before it's ready to go.

All right. Thank you. Have a good day, Tabitha. County Human Services Director. Good morning, commissioners. Good morning.

I have before you uh three requests for approvals of three resolutions, all of which will uh serve as sponsorships for the upcoming Triad Senior Expo, which is scheduled for June 17th at St. Mary's. Um the resol the first resolution is a $300 donation from the Douglas County Veteran Services Office. It's my understanding that each of these have to be approved independently um when I consulted with Lenny. So I'll just go through each of them individually if you want to process through them. I'll make a motion to accept resolution 2638 on the donation from Douglas County Veterans.

Second. Oh, Charlie got it. I'll give it to All right. Thanks. Any further discussion? Len, please. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rep. Yeah. We Yes. Meer, yes. Motion carries. The second is the donation of $300 from St. Croy Hospice. Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion to accept resolution 2639 from St. Croy Hospice for the Cry event. A second. Thanks, Charlie. Thanks, Jeff. Any discussion? Late, please. Kina, yes. Rap. Yes. We Meer, yes. Schmidt,

yes. Motion carries. And the final is a resolution to accept a $300 donation from Vista Prairie Windmill Ponds. I'll make a motion to accept resolution 2640 donation in the amount of $300 by Prair Vista Prairie Windmill Ponds to be used for sponsorship of the Triad event. Thanks Tim. I'll second that. Lane, please. Rap. Yes. Weey, yes. Meer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Motion carries. Thank you very much.

Morning. Morning. Good morning, Rebecca. You're filling in for David? I am. All right. Thank you. The first thing on the agenda are licenses. I'll make a motion to approve the excavator landscaper licenses. I see that's all we have. Okay, second. Thanks, Tim. Thanks, Jerry. Any discussion? Lay, please. Weey, yes. Meyer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rap, yes.

Motion carries. Second item is a final plaid for Peterson edition Lake Mary Township. I'll make a motion to approve final plat for Michael and Mary Peterson edition. Second. Thanks Tim. Thanks Jerry. Any discussion? The name, please. Meer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rap, yes. Weey, yes. Motion carries.

Next item is a conditional use for a temporary second dwelling for Todd and Nicole Distad. I'll make a motion to approve the conditional use for permit for second dwelling to Todd A and Nicole A dist. I'll second it. Any discussion? Yeah, Mr. Chair, did so then in the 18 months one of you goes out there to make sure they've got the other removed. Yeah. Okay. Thank you.

Thanks, Len. Please. Schmidt. Yes. Kina, yes. Rap, yes. Weey, yes. Meer, yes. Motion carries. Next item is a conditional use for outdoor display for storage related to a retail business with two roof signs for DA investments. Carlos Township I'll make a motion to approve the conditional use permit for DA Investments LLC with conditions.

Second. Thanks, Tim. Thanks, Jerry. Next is the county health feed up program annual report. Hold on. Hold on a second. Go ahead. I got to get a vote first. Oh, go ahead. It's okay. Any discussion? Len, please. Kina, yes. Rap, yes. Weey, yes. Meer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Motion carries. Now we got Mark. Yep. Now Mark can go.

All right. Good morning, everyone. Here to present uh the annual report from 2025 and get approval for that. Um it's a long packet, but basically what it says is we did all all the work and we did it correctly and and uh they scored us at 100%. Um so, uh aside from that, some highlights. We had um one interim permit that was issued and there was uh one other one that was not an interimm permit. An interimm permit is for a facility that is currently non-compliant and they want to do a project. Often times it's a barn or something like that, maybe manure storage area. Um so we had one of each of those and hopefully there's a couple more here this year. Hopefully I find out this week if they got funded or not. So, um, those were some of the big projects from last year. We did four manure pit closures, maybe four and a half. A little bit of stuff you have to do on this spring with it. So, we'll say four and a half, but officially four that we are getting paid for. And then, uh, one spill response and one emergency response uh, on behalf of MPCA. So, we get some credits for those as well. Um uh as far as the financial side, uh the money will go back down this year. Um it was a a two-year basically 50% increase and that was for uh 24 and 25 and so now this year it'll go back down to what it was for the previous 12 13 years or so. Um we will get some performance credits for some of that additional work. Um but it's not going to make up for all of that. But um that's where the state is at fiscally. So, I think everyone understands that part. Um, uh, as far as our feed lot numbers, I pulled them last week. We are going to be funded for 216 sites, which is down, uh, 31 from, uh, 2021, 2022 numbers. So, which is about

on par. Um, looking at other counties, some of them are down 5 to 10%, some are down 15 to 20. So, um, we're kind of right in the middle with what other counties are seeing as well. Um, we do have 202 additional smaller sites that we don't get funded for. We get funded for sites that are 10 animal units or larger in Shorland, and if they're outside of Shorland, it's 50 animal units or more. So, we have a lot of facilities that are um in Shorland or in residential areas that choose to register because that's their easiest way to document it. um their existing legal non-conformity. So, so almost half of our sites are below that threshold. Um but total animal-wise, uh our dairy is continuing to be down. We're right at about 20, probably under 20. Um but our our beef numbers are holding fairly steady. So, haven't seen a lot of guys quitting that. So, um but other than that, uh I'll entertain any any questions you may have,

Mr. Mr. Chair, how about uh like anybody like for uh say turkey growers or what is what do you do with that? Thank you. So uh turkey wise it has been the same since I've been here for almost 10 years now. We've got the three barns over, you know, Nelson Oasis area and one out by Kensington. Um nothing has changed. They rebuilt the two by Nelson a few years ago. You recall that? But otherwise, no additions. Nobody's talked to me about building new barns. So, um, they're just holding where they've been for a decade or more. The turkey, Mr. Chair, the turkey processing over by

Ashby. No. Yeah, they're over by Brandon or Garfielding boys that they're just bringing them in. They're not raising people. Yeah. Yeah. He's in Ash. That's in Ashby. That part's all in Ashby. None of it's here. Yeah. Live here. Okay. Right. Yep. Correct. The CPT meeting you go to quarterly. What is that with the technology? No. So, uh CPT what that is?

Yep. So, CPT is county programs team. So, it's basically a 50-50 mix of folks like myself and then my equivalent counterparts on MPCA staff, the pollution control agency. Um what we do is essentially develop and and modify our grant agreements that we all go into with the state that says here's what we're going to do and if there's changes to rules or how they want us to do things we essentially negotiate that with them and then update it all on these reports.

And are we all together? Every county is in Minnesota or is there a lake country portion or anything like that? Yeah. So there's essentially five or six county folks that are on that team cuz you can't have 50 people be on the team obviously you get nothing done. Correct. So so there's generally five or six of us and yeah we try to spread out. We have districts around the state and so we try to have one on each of those teams. So we have a guy on Lake of the Woods County that's on that team. Okay. I am we got Sterns County and we got someone from Rock County and somewhere southeast as well. So you try to get everybody. Oh, you do? Okay. I thought maybe you would do more like with Crow or Hubard or more.

Right. Well, those county the the counties you got more in common with them. Right. So those and the I should say there's what 87 counties in the state and 49 or 50 of them are delegated. The ones you just stated are not delegated counties. So they don't have someone like myself. So they will not be involved in this. Oh, they don't. Yeah. They don't have a feed lot officer. I'll be Nope. They're just selling fish. Okay. Mr. Chair, uh what about I mean you're dealing strictly with feed lots, not pasture,

correct? Yeah, unless there's something like in residential that's not grandfathered in that you guys occasionally see come through like through planning commission. Um but that that's just county zoning. But yeah, as far as this work, yes. Good. All right. Thanks. Any more questions? I just got one question. Has a number of feed lots decreased? Yeah. Um, so the number for us went from 247 that we were funded for in 2022. Uh, it'll be at 216 or 217. Okay. Quite a That's quite a bit. So down there. What's the largest one? That's 30. The largest is is that uh the one by Millerville?

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Wagner would be the largest. Yeah. We don't we don't have another one that's over a thousand animal units. And that one is permitted for 6,800. So yeah, the rest are all under a thousand. We have a couple in that 850 range. Okay. Any more questions? Nope. Thanks, Mark. Thank you. Thanks, Rebecca. Do you need a motion or anything? Anything else? You need a motion for that to approve the annual report. Oh, it does say action on there. I'll make the motion. I'll make the motion to approve the annual feed lot report. I'll second it. Any further discussion? Len, please. Rap. Yes. Weey, yes. Meyer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Kina,

yes. Motion carries. Have a good day. Thank you. At this time, we're going to ask up Allison Ray to give us an update on the Excel Energy Project.

Hi, good morning. My name is Allison Ray. I'm subbing in for Randy Fordis who's with our uh public engagement office. I'm from sighting and land rights and I thought the last presentation was really compelling. I'm from uh 13 generations of dairy farmers in Connecticut. Live in Minnesota now work for Excel and I'm a bugs and bunnies gal for Excel so can't answer hard engineering questions or other things. I'll have to defer to other folks. We have a short presentation for you all. Uh I'll say that you were the only county and actually uh any municipality to respond to our letter saying that we have a project proposed. Um so I thank you for taking the time uh to learn about the project and I'm happy to answer as many questions as I can about about it. So uh the project is proposed uh to basically enhance regional electric reliability. Um uh as we know storms get fiercer uh we like to enhance the transmission backbone across the Midwest. Um this project is proposed on its own but it is part of a suite of projects that are in the Dakotas Minnesota uh and Wisconsin that are all um uh needed according to the Midwest in independent system operator to uh enhance reliability across the region. Uh everything is connected from the Dakotas on down. Um so this project's uh the bulk of it is in Minnesota. You can go to the next slide. So uh you all know the existing project out there. Um uh when we built the capex 2020 project, we left an open position on the other side of the of the structures. And so this project will add another circuit on the other side. circuits made up of uh three

individual lines and then um where there are turns and angles we'll add a second pole to make the turn. Um and so the project consists of using the existing corridor, existing right ofway, existing system and just adding that conductor and then in some places an additional structure. Next slide. And so just a overview of the project starts up in Fargo at the Bison substation and uh goes all the way down to here and finishes at the Alexandria substation. Uh we already filed there are two uh approvals that are needed from the public utilities commission. The first is a certificate of need. We filed uh that application in uh January and um so the commission is reviewing that application now. The next filing is a route permit amendment it's called. It's not a full route permit application because it's not a green field transmission line. Uh and the route permit amendment evaluates the environmental and human uh impacts of the project because we're just hanging the second circuit. Then it's a pretty short application as far as environmental applications go because uh we intend to build most of the line with a helicopter. So hang the circuit on the outside and um where we will need ground accesses just to uh install those structures. Uh the last slide said but we intend to start construction if we receive all the approvals in 2028. So we're talking to you really early and uh uh construction would would take a couple of years. The MYSO said that we should get it installed by 2032. So, we have a long timeline to to talk about to talk about the project if there are any concerns and to get all the approvals. We'll need approvals from um uh uh the federal authorities as well. So, the certificate of need um describes the transmission line and basically an

evaluation of why it's needed. And then there's a little bit of environmental information at the back. there's a public process for opportunity if you want to discuss the project or or provide comments to the public utilities commission as they review it. And so uh the docket number is listed up there for you all. And the route permit amendment um like I said before goes goes into the environmental uh potential environmental impacts and as well as mitigation. And then I'll I'll I'll note that that includes some plans for use during construction and during operation of the line. And so, uh, one of those is a vegetation management plan and, uh, that discusses invasive species as well as the maintenance of the corridor itself. And there's also an agricultural impact mitigation plan that's reviewed via the MDA. And, uh, uh, those are in the back of the of route permit amendment. And we did hold open houses back in September for the project. We'll probably do uh, more public outreach as needed. um nothing planned at this time and then because the line goes into North Dakota then they will review the line as well. So they they uh they will provide app approvals for the project too. And uh we did I uh notice the project for the certificate of need as well as for the route permit amendment. And th that went to a pretty large notice area, but basically the entirety of the um the line received an an a letter notification and a postcard notification that we were submitting the applications. And there is a project website. We call it Fargo to Alexandria because Bison is hard to remember. And we have a phone number up there as well as an email address. Any questions I can answer for you?

Got a question. So the power is going to come from the Dakotas and hook up with the substation here and then travel on towards the cities. I told you I wasn't an engineer, but essenti.

So I'll do my I'll do I'll do do my best to answer. It's not really a unidirectional uh flow. It's it can go in whatever direction the 345 KV voltage is needed. 345 KV is pretty high voltage and so it does step down to the lower voltages like your your feed lots would use 115 KV or lower and so where there's a substation or a switching station it feeds off a as as needed. Um and then it the the direction of the flow does depend on where the generation is coming from but uh it it can change depending on where the where the need is.

So Mr. Chair, can you back feed that then? Can I can Oh, you don't know that one. I can't answer. I'm not really sure, but I could take that back if that's a concern. My other question was, do uh you rely on wind or solar at all for any of this? It depends on what generation's being used. Uh but you don't rely on it. No, not rely on it. No, it it depends on what what generation is being used. Mr. Chair, so this is is the project started by the Missouri River Basin? Ye.

Yes. this this part of the project. And I I should note that you all probably know that there's another project under construction that's kind of the eastern half of the original capex 2020 project. So this is somewhat of a continuation of that. It was split into two projects for a number of reasons, but the other one which we call um Alex to Big Oaks or Alexandria to Big Oaks that that does have a bit of a green field component. the route uh makes it makes a little jog over by the Mississippi River and so uh the pro the projects were split up

but because of that so we should be able to or otter and ALP can all gain power. Yes. Yeah. Being it's coming to our substation anyway. That's the main one coming to our community. Yes. Yes. And I'll know it should help us boost what we need. And yeah. Yeah. Uh that's the I mean it isn't like what I know I know what Mr. Kino was talking about, but if we're just being used for skip station until they can get it routed out of here, that's not then we're not so excited about the project. I understand. Yeah. Yes. Because it's all our infrastructure out there,

right? you should be able to reap the benefits of that too because we're members of the Missouri River Basin and stuff with with it. I understand local power company. Okay.

Yeah. As the Bugs and Bunnies gal, I'd say that the that the big benefit of a project as proposed, you know, other folks have decided that that is it is needed and the fact that it is using the existing infrastructure really minimizes the impact on the ground to folks. Uh, like I said, that egg impact mitigation plan is pretty important because it helps dictate how how we treat farmers on the grounds, which is pretty important to me. Um, me personally, as well as to us as a company. I'll note that I'm here on behalf of Excel, but the project is proposed by all of the utilities listed up there. So, Great River Energy, Ottertale, Missouri River, Minnesota Power, and Excel are all proposing together. And uh so we work in conjunction to uh reduce the impacts and and provide benefits to the folks on the ground.

And if they're going to use our infrastructure, we certainly should give advantage. I agree. Extra juice. Okay. So Mr. Chair, I got a question on now the great the big stone to ALEC. That'll hook into the same same. Yes. Yep. Proposing. Yes. And that's a different project that I can't speak to the folks. I know that. Yeah. But that's that's through great river, isn't it? Uh yes. Yeah. Uh and Ottertale as well. Yeah. Yeah. The utilities are all working together on all those projects. They're Bigstone is a generating plant, so they'll be bringing power this way. Yes. Jeff, you got a question?

Nope, I don't. I do. at your um public um meetings, did you get any push back? Was there anybody there? How'd them go?

Uh no. We h we have a fair number of uh land agents that that work with land owners. The easements that we have uh ask for reasonable access to the right of way, but that doesn't mean we we just charge on out there. We we've checked with folks prior to construction. So generally the the questions are about what road are you going to use and and then uh what the project schedule is construction schedule is in relation to um harvest schedules and the like and then uh sometimes about cleanup afterwards. We use a fair amount of uh timber matting. You probably have seen that as you're driving around um to protect wetlands and and crop lands from compaction. And so uh they break as they're being pulled out. I'd say the number one thing that we hear about is, "Hey, can can you come back and clean up before I run my combine out there?"

Got it. Do you got to get permits for airspace? Uh, we do uh h have to do an evaluation with the FAA um uh when we have the final design of the project because these structures are are pretty short, then um then it's not generally a concern. But we do verify with the FAA as a matter of course. We and then they usually write back it's a nothing burger. Um so no no no and and um yeah so not a concern at this time.

And I got one last followup. Um you said you were going to do it by helicopter. You have people riding in the basket. Jerry's pretty good at riding in those writing that Jerry would like ride. Um, he got his phone.

Uh, yeah, the the uh the helicopter construction, the wire stringing for that LR that for the Alex big oaks project should start in the next month or so. So, uh, folks may be seeing that in the in the air. Um, and, uh, we're going to do our big pre-construction safety meeting in a couple weeks because the helicopter is fun to watch, but uh, you got to stay away from it. All right. Thank you. Anybody? Any more questions? I was just going to mention something. This one's a little easier than the one to Big Stone because the land's already acquired and the poll's already there, right? True. Yeah, I'll send somebody else to answer those questions. How about that? That started in about 2015. So, Mhm. takes a little time.

Yeah. Well, thanks for the update. Thank you very much for your time. am I right? Good morning. Good morning. Okay, just need one motion to pay the bills in the amount of 2,2,182.90.

Motion to pay the bills. I'll second. Thanks, Jeff. Thanks, Tim. Any discussion? Leanne, please. Meyer. Yes. Schmidt. Yes. Helina. Yes. Rap. Yes. Weey. Yes. Motion carries. Thank you. Thanks. Well, now we get to go into some board stuff we got here. So, we're looking for someone to fill the West Central Initiative Economic Development District Board. And I think the discussion was that Charlie was going to step up and take that. Yeah. Through process. process elimination afternoon. Thanks.

Yeah, I will. I would I was on this once before, so it's been So, I'll make a motion to approve Charlie to fill that position. I'll second it. And Jerry, thank you. Len, please. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rat, yes. We abstain.

Motion carries. Also, at this time, um, as the board chair, we're going to make a statement about the hunting zone, um, rifle shotgun. So, at this time, the board will provide an update for our residents, our property owners, and visitors who come to Douglas County to hunt whitetailed deer. As you recall, effective January 1, 2026, Minnesota law repeals the statewide shotgun only zones for deer hunting. That means hunters may use any legal firearm during the deer hunting season unless a county adopts an ordinance restricting firearm types. Douglas County at this time will follow the state guidelines. That means hunters may use any legal firearm during the deer hunting season. We asked for and received a lot of input on this subject. We held a held a public forum on February 18th. Nearly 100 people attended. The Douglas County Association of Townships also surveyed its members townships for input and shared those results with us. We thank everyone who provided valuable research and input on this important subject. Thank you. Okay, we're going to move into agenda items for our next joint city county meeting on April 21st. Um, has anybody got anything you want to add to the agenda so that we can meet with this city and have it prepared before the meeting?

Yeah. I mean, we should put I guess just the cannabis deal back on the questionnaire, get an update. Yeah. Okay. Len, you're writing these down, Mr. Chair. Yes, I am. Thank you. Um the other thing I wanted to see on there too is talk about um dogs being off leash in Alec and in county parks

and then uh update on what they're doing with the Alexandria Farmers Market with the drainage get the water uh away from the area so that the vendors and Uh customers can walk in dry ground.

Tim, were you going to be here and talk about that roundabout on Pioneer Road? I will be here to talk about whatever you guys want to talk. All right. We probably should touch on that a little bit.

Mr. Chair, then Mr. Ericson can have the I know we've already started on McKay and 46 up there. Um, I think we should have a discussion too about how many and what we're all doing at least to let them know. I mean, so they understand what the county is actually doing for the city and and the school district and all that up there. Not a bad plan. And you can do that. I know very well. I've seen the cars guys running around getting things cleared away. You had any phone calls? Surprisingly, no. Not where the hell is Bon? That is a He must be gone. Otherwise, there'd have been a few calls.

Also, it wouldn't be bad to have on there the Highway 29 uh South reconstruction from 8th to 50th Avenue. I know they're having a meeting Monday night, Tim, isn't it this Monday, the 13th? Yeah. If anybody wants to attend at city council. Yeah. One more thing, Mr. Sure. Is that that uh that bridge that uh might get replaced on 29 29? Tim can talk about that too. Go ahead. Have you visited with um Carl and Eddie from Alamir at all about that 8th to 50th about the hospital? That that's a very the intersection out there and the way they want to change some of that is quite a concern.

That is a good point. Um that's a good point. We're going to talk about that too at the LGC on tomorrow. I know that. But and I I mean and they're going to make some decisions soon and and when the original was to get rid of that stoplight on 17 and move it to 18 and I think people leaving the hospital have and cannot go south off of 17, right? They'll have to go to Hawthorne and jump on. That's what they're talking. You're right. Yeah. So I I don't know. Maybe we can.

So, as long as you brought that up, Charlie, what about the people that are coming uh on 29 going north? Are they going to be able to turn into like Pizza Ranch or Coffee Pot or any of those places? Well, that's up on Yes. that they're not losing their driveways. My understanding they are. They will not be able to cross. That's a problem. You got to go to an intersection and come back. That's what we need to talk about. But my understanding, all those approaches are leaving. They were going to put put an island in there. Yeah. It's going so well on Third Avenue that we're It's going to look like Third Avenue. Yeah, that's that's a discussion.

Okay. That would be another one for you, Tim, because when we talk about backing up on 82, okay, on Third Avenue, you know, and turning on Irving Street because you can't turn at Hawthorne or Jefferson, which used to be the old through streets. Now they're backing into the driving lane. There's there's only about six cars in that turn lane. all the fixing we've done and we've gone a little backwards. Okay. Well, that's that's what we're hoping to have for discussion. Was there any more items we need to add? That's enough. That'll that'll ruin most of the morning.

All right. Let's go into pdiums. We're going to start out with Tim Kina.

Okay. On the 3rd, we had our regular commissioner meeting. On the 13th, we had planning and zoning viewings. On the 16th, I was on KXR radio. 17th, we had our commissioner regular meeting again. And then in the afternoon, we had work session. And then I also had fair board meeting that evening. Then on the 18th, we had our association of townships meeting over at public works. 23rd, I had Lakeland mental health in Fergus Falls. And then on the 24th, we had our public works update. Jeff and I were there. And also on the 24th we had planning and zoning meeting in the evening. And then on the 25th, 26th and 27th we had the AMC leadership summit at Grand View Lodge in Nislah.

Thanks Tim Charlie.

And the third commissioner meeting and same day Shane and I had a meeting with the school board about the land lease. Um on the 9th Horizon Public Health and the 11th the LGC meeting here, the 12th Rainbow Rider out in Lowry. 17th we had our comm regular commission and meeting and then work session. 18th was the association of townships annual meeting out of public works. 19th solid waste 23rd um CPT our every other month meeting and we've started um the renovation maybe if I don't know if anybody remembers we bought the whole building here a couple years back we used to lease that from h the tech guy anyway Larson and um so were spending about 325,000 on a renovation on the inside. We had put a new roof on last fall. But anyway, CPT owns that building and we're getting it ready for fixed up to use the whole thing. Putting in a break room for the employees and so on and so forth, updating some things. 24th hospital executive meeting. 25th we had an armor meeting, resumed the radio meeting. 26th with the hospital finance meeting. 27th a hospital board meeting and on the 31st I had a meeting with the sheriff.

Thanks Charlie Jerry.

All righty. uh September or September uh February 26th uh I had a septic system uh meeting with Dave Rush and uh installers, designers, and pumpers. Uh 33 regular meeting 35 Prime West 39 Horizon 310 Carlos Township meeting 312 another septic system meeting with Dave Rush. 316 Dancing Sky 317 uh regular meeting 317 Sock River Wershed 318 uh county township meeting 319 uh Mary Skillings in the lands record committee 323 building committee 319 uh I went out to talk to a person uh concerning a bluff and sewer uh questions uh on Lake Nona 325 and 326 and 27 was the uh conference That does it. That's it. Thanks, Jerry. I'm up next. Um, on March 3rd, we had that school board meeting Charlie and I did. On the 3rd, we also had our county board meeting, our bimonthly. On the 5th was our Prime West monthly meeting. On the 10th, it was a PIO meeting, our agenda updates. On the 17th was county board and work session. Um on the 18th we had township meeting and their up updates and their concerns. On the 19th Pope Douglas solid waste their monthly meeting they pay Alamir Health executive meeting they pay and then on the 25th 26th 27th was AMC leadership conference and then on the 27th also I had a Alamir health monthly meeting. I'm not charging for that Jeff. Okay. Uh the 19th of February is the library meeting, the monthly meeting. Uh the 220 is the Chipoa watershed joint power

meeting, monthly meeting. The 24th is the West Central Community Action monthly meeting and they pay for mileage. Uh PIO number meeting on the 26th. And then uh the 3rd of March is the uh board meeting. The third of on the third is the MRC meeting held in conjunction with the AMC legislative conference and then uh the fourth to the 5th is the AMC legislative conference. The 7th is the uh Douglas County Historical Society. and they asked me to judge the hot dish bake off uh Douglas County on the 9th at Douglas County Thor and Water monthly meeting at 3:10 is the PIO and then 3:10 is the IDA township annual meeting and then Rainbow Rider board meeting monthly meeting. The 17th a board meeting and work session. The 317th is the Viking Land Library Board meeting held in Fergus and they pay for mileage. 318 the Douglas County Township annual meeting held at the public works. 3:18 the reason for mental health meeting held in El Lake and they pay for pedium and then the 19th of the library committee meeting monthly meeting.

Thanks Jeff board got a few additions on here too. Well, I guess I'd make a comment on one that I had there and uh regarding the septic system, the talks that we've been having. All I know is I've spent a lot of time on that. So, I think it's valid and and I would I would make a motion that the ones in question are valid. All of them. Yep. Making a motion to approve with the additions.

Yes, I'll second that. Any further discussion? Len, please. We Yes. Meer, yes. Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rap, yes. Motion carries. Thank you. So, at this time, we open up the floor for items from the floor. Three minutes.

Three minutes. Anybody? Phillip. My name is Philip Craft with Cardboard Care is a local area green nonprofit. Uh on the upcoming April 16th Pope Douglas solid waste board agenda, the ash fines and leech hauling contract extension is up for discussion. I have serious safety concerns about continuing to use the current carrier. According to Pope Douglas scale records, since they took over two years ago, they have intentionally hauled hundreds of illegally overweight loads. This practice of hauling overweight for profit has dangerous public safety repercussions. The excessive weight leads to a dangerous potential for explosive decompression of tires or blowouts. This happened in 2020 in Alexandria when one of their trucks blew a steer tire while servicing an industrial waste contract for a local customer. Local resident Shelley Berga was killed in this tragic but preventable crash when their truck crashed into her vehicle. The current carrier has only stopped recently stopped overloading trucks for profit since I reported their safety violations to the Minnesota Highway Patrol last year in March. I feel that any public contract should consider public safety as a major factor when selecting a contractor. It would be irresponsible to allow the current carrier to continue to collect public funds while ignoring public safety. Their overweight issues are not the only issue. They continue to use unsafe substandard equipment on a daily basis. If you search their federal safety carrier records this carrier over the last 24 months, you can see their vehicle out of service percentage is over three times worse than that of the

national average. 83% of the roadside inspections have resulted in the vehicle being deemed unfit to be on the roads. Please consider these safety concerns as you discuss the future carrier for Pope Douglas solid waste. It is also worth noting that the current carrier only got this post because of a fraudulent bid that was submitted by the current executive director, Steve Verota. The carrier also continues to leak dangerous forever chemicals onto the local groundwater. These are the same chemicals that led the Minnesota DNR to warn the public against eating fish from the Mississippi River south of St. Paul. If these environmental and safety issues don't concern your humanity, perhaps they will concern your wallets. Imagine for a moment the impact a warning like this would have on the local tourism economy. County commissioners are responsible for the public safety and oversight of county finances. Over $50,000 of county funds have been squandered along with allowing these environmental and safety public issues to persist. This box is full of emails, bids, sworn statements, and scale reports that will prove all of my points in black and white. And if you have the will to listen, I can promise that I can convince you of these concerns. Thank you.

Thank you. Have a good day. Anyone else? Anyone else from the Here we go. Please state your name and address.

Jim Bergerson, 5100 Birwood Court Northwest, up county 11. I tell I tell people if you got to the gorilla you went too far. I have seen an enormous number of ATVs on public roads without licenses. When I asked a sheriff about it, he said, "Well, we leave that to the CO." There's one CO for a very large area and there's a quite a bit number larger number of deputies available. That's our roads. That's non-licensed. I don't know why that's not enforced. Secondly, on County Road 11, with summer coming up, speed is an issue. That road has become a bit of a raceway. My neighbor immediately behind me to the west is head of the jails, Lee Johnson. My neighbor across the street is Mark Walerson. Matt Rollerson Walers, not Mark. Isn't there something we can do about speed control on this road? Number one. And number two, can't we get these ATVs off the road without licenses? Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else want to bring something to the board from the floor? Anyone else? Any more comments from the floor? I guess I'll we're done. Look for a motion to adjurnn. So move. Mr. Chair, Mr. Mr. Chair, you're right. I forgot. We got to close. We got to move into a closed session. The meeting will be closed as permitted by section 13D.05 to discuss subject matters with attorney client privileges. So, thank everybody for coming.

Mr. Chair, could we get a motion to move into close session, please? I'll make a motion. Got Tim and Charlie. Okay. And then the open meeting law does require that I make a brief statement about why we need to close. So, um, okay. Just want to note that we have a threatened litigation matter involving a former employee, and that's what we're here to discuss today. And we need to be able to do that confidentially so that I can share advice with you. Mr. Chair, if we could take the vote for that last motion here. Uh, Schmidt, yes. Kina, yes. Rap, yes. We Meyer, yes. Motion carries.