County Commission - Regular Meeting

You have it live. Good afternoon. Like to call the Ramsey County Commission meeting to order. Start off with the pledge, please. To the flag of the United States of America and to the stands one indivisible and justice for all. Good afternoon everybody. Got [clears throat] few folks here tonight. We'll start off um with an approval of minutes.

Second. We have a motion and we have a second to approve the minutes. All those in favor by saying I. I. I.

Those opposed, same sign. Motion carries. Approval of the agenda. I have one thing to add. Right before Jason, we got the state VS VSO Brian Waters. He'd like to just give us some information about the VSO position just so that we're all under the same page. If we could add him right before Jason there. I would also like to add under new uh start of the 27 budget. Anybody else on finish? Let's uh talk about the law enforcement center since we discussed that at our last meeting. We could

Okay. Anybody else? I would move to approve the amended agenda. I would second. We have a motion and a second to approve the amended amended agenda as talked about. All those in favor by saying I oppose same sign. Motion carries. We'll start off with BSO. All right. His name is Brian Waters.

Okay. Now see how it goes. Okay. Try it now. Can uh can everybody mostly hear me? That is better. That is better. Go ahead.

And and Okay. Uh my name is Brian Waters. As uh as as the chairman said, I work for the North Dakota Department of Veteran Affairs. Uh, I appreciate uh you giving me some time to talk about your position. Um, I have kind of a report and summary, but unfortunately I didn't get it done in time to get it to Candy for you all, but I will be emailing it directly to all of you. And I am available at any time for any questions that may arise from that or or if you got any questions at all. Um uh I was really sorry to see Bryce leave because he is an excellent CBSO, he has served you guys very well. Um one of the things I want to talk about was uh I know that for as busy as as he was, he was burning out towards the end. Um, and I just wanted to make you guys aware of that that when you've got your when when you're able to find your new BSO uh that uh if possible and I'm going to talk about the numbers here in a second. if uh a part-time help for the Ramsy BSO uh would be honestly I think it's necessary. Uh Bryce had done a lot of work of of increasing uh and going out and getting the veterans and and increasing their benefits. But uh any new person, there's going to be a a a learning curve and a dip in that. But I just wanted to use for an example um the last year that we

have the full accounting from the VA uh the VSO office in Ramsey um is responsible for 10 uh million $310,931 in expenditures. And that's total expenditures on veterans in your county. So, uh, what we do here for all the counties is we'll do a return on investment based on the budget, uh, that a CV CBSO office has. And, um, the budget just for Ramsey County, this is separate from Benson and Nelson as well. [clears throat] $101 for every dollar that you spent in 2024 on on H Bryce's budget. Uh you got a return to the county. And while I understand this is not uh county um it's not it doesn't get paid directly to the county, the county economy got $101 and that's health care, education, compensation and pension, the disability claims and things. That's that's the total amount for all of the veterans. It's what the VA spent in 2024 on every veteran with an address within Ramsey County for compensation and pension. The total this year or in 2024 was 4.979 million.

So about 5 million of that 10 million were cash payments to veterans with an address in Ramsey County. Uh along the same lines, the Benson um for all Benson veterans, which you all take care of, 4.3 million and one and a half of one and a half million uh is just cash payments for compensation. Same thing. while it doesn't go straight to Benson County, but the it does go into that Benson uh economy where they're paying for gas and rent and whatnot. Nelson 4 million in 2024, $4 million worth of the total VA expenditures and 1.892, 892. So about $1.9 million in cash payments that went to Nelson County veterans. Now the return on investment for every dollar that y'all spent on the Ramsey County office, you got $101 back in benefits, total benefits for your veterans. Um, I'm just going to talk about just the CSP, the compensation and pension. That is the cash payments. And for every dollar that was spent in 2024, uh, the Ramsy economy got $49 back. in Benson, based on the amount of money that they're paying you or that they're reporting that they're paying you, uh, they got $69. For every dollar they pay you, they're getting $69 back. And

Nelson, for every dollar that they send you, they are getting back $134 as a return on investment of cash coming into their county. Now, I just I I kind of want to put that in perspective for y'all because I know that a lot of times when it comes down to budgets, the nobody knows what a BSO does. Uh, and I'm and and how it affects the veterans in your in your county. Um, so what he's Oh, and the other there's a there's another piece of data that the VA estimates that within those three counties, there are,434 veterans. And within our database, the database that Bryce used uh to track claims, uh he has 133 veteran files. Uh that's about a 79% engagement and uh nationally I think the average I just saw was around 50%. So, uh, Bryce has done a good job in getting engagement with the veterans compared nationally to other VSOs as well. Um, a lot of the North Dakota VSOs are higher uh, just because we focus on it. Um, we help whenever we can. the uh the one thing while the the total money uh and total benefits that the veterans of Ramsey County were getting has increased and I've got them broken out by year. Uh expenditures have increased. The population has gone down a bit. We're

losing veterans. Um and we're not making them as fast as we were when we had the uh uh war on terror going on. But even though the number of veterans have gone down, uh the total expenditures still gone up every year. Um the other thing that I will send on that email is a VSO job description so that you you can see in writing uh kind of things that are expected of a VSO and what they should be doing. Um, and like I said, I know that uh uh Bryce because I talked to him several times uh well several times a month uh he was really burning out at the end. Um but being one person spread across those three offices. Um, you know, uh, I was putting out these these numbers cuz one because one thing that I might recommend is to go back to Benson and Nelson and see uh, you know, talk to them about raising uh, raising the amount that you're charging them for the Ramsey County that uh, that perhaps and I know budgets are budgets. Uh perhaps you could find enough money to uh to hire a part-time assistant uh for your CBSO once you replace them. I want to again I will send any information or all the information that I've talked about. I'll be sending you each in an email and if you have any questions please get back to me. Do you have any questions for me now? Um we when we had talked on the phone, you said that you guys may be able to come out once a week just to help us out

till we get someone hired. Yes, that's right. I've got uh um I just need to figure out which days to do it and uh I haven't I haven't gotten a hold of Bryce yet uh to talk to him. I'd like I'd like to meet with him on like the first day that maybe I go up there and then I will uh myself or one of my uh state service officers uh will be able to get up there once a week. We're I've put the request in and my administrators looking at our budget and our travel budget to make sure that we can do it, but I don't see why we couldn't.

And you guys cover that cost, right? for this. Yes, that that's not Yeah, that would be As long as we got it in the budget, then I will be up there to do it. Um the only reason I would ask for reimbursement is if we don't, but I I have it. So, okay. I don't think it'll be a problem. I mean, is there any other questions from Yes, I got one. Brian, can you hear me, Brian? Yes, sir. Yes. Thank you for the presentation. It's very informative to me. I'm an accident. Uh I'd like you to put this presentation on Benson and Nelson County also their commissions if okay

be good coming from you for us to this information. Yes sir. I will reach out to them this evening before I leave. Thank you. Given the figures and everything. Brian, I have one last question for you. Um, and maybe there's more, but um, when you do decide to come up and when you come up, can we make that notice to the public and so you can have a line of veterans out the door for you? Absolutely. I will uh I I will reach out to Candy and uh and the chairman

when I have the date. Well, I think that'd be great, you know. So, u make most beneficial use of your time. Absolutely. And make sure that we can take care of you and the Ramsay veterans. Absolutely. Thank you. Yes, sir. Thank you. Thank you. Have a good night. Unless anyone Yep. Thanks a lot. Yep.

So, with that, we'll move on to Jason. Uh, good evening. I think we'll do it the same way. Um, going to jump around here quick, but we'll start with um Brian uh C from the North Dakota Game and Fish. I had him in my agenda here. He was going to come in and answer some of the questions we had about the Fster Slooh um boat landing situation. So, I'd like to invite him up here for for that. [clears throat]

Thanks for having me. Um, I know there's a couple questions on kind of parking, some garbage, and then uh drain as well. Um, I guess I just hit those three first if you guys want to or if you want to ask other ones too. Uh well, at what point does it constitute a lake? Because it always was a slooh. Yep. And now it's identified on Game and Fish's website as a lake. Um what makes that determination?

For us to manage a lake, um there has to be public access. So whether that's a section line road, an easement through private land owner or public land. Um, for Fster's case, it's Old Highway 2 and then is at County Road Four on the the west side there. Um, which is how anglers can access the lake uh legally. Okay.

And so then also, I mean, as long as there's depth and all the habitat stuff needed for a fishery, that's kind of the requirements for us. Well, uh was did Game and Fish stock the uh the lake um prior to lake access being available or was there always lake access available or Slooh access?

That I would have to look into. Um I'm not sure. The first time we stocked it, it's been a fishery for quite a long time now. Um I'm not sure there's a lot of lakes throughout the state that you know were slooh and when the water came up you know during the last wet cycle they [clears throat] became lakes as or at least lakes that we can manage. Okay. I guess the questions that we had last time with this was one of the biggest things was parking. Yep. Because the county 4 gets used a lot by big equipment. Yep. And we don't want to have where we have to have the sheriff out there every day,

right? Removing someone or towing because now we can't get the equipment down the road,

right? No, that's a great point. And um so Fster does isn't doesn't get much use. Um it's mostly just a couple locals, mostly a winter fishery. Um, so I think this print of access would pro this just a little dirt work would allow the one or two or maybe a couple people that actually go and fish there uh be able to get their boat in the summertime. Um, I'd be shocked if I drove by there and there was more than two uh trucks and trailers there. I don't think it's going to get a whole lot of a lot of use, but this is going to allow those few people, mostly locals, that want to go out and fish that to be able to get out there and enjoy it. Um, and allow us to get in there easier to do our our management work like surveys so we can provide information to the public on what uh size fish that are out there, things like that. But I think there's enough room for a couple uh trucks and trailers kind of just in that approach and then it should still allow farmers to, you know, get into the field there. So I don't think it would be an issue on on parking.

How deep is 20 feet? It's about 20 20 according to their website. Yeah, I mean fish has a website that listed as the lake with the death charts, right? No, it's actually a pretty good pike and uh lake. There's also perch out there, too. Um for our smaller lakes, it's probably one of our better pike fisheries in terms of of size. So, and are you aware of the um local land owners, townships trying to remove water from?

Yep. I heard that was a a permit being requested. I game of fish doesn't have any kind of say in that. We just before you invest a lot of infrastructure, right, fisheries,

right? And this would probably be a load or two of gravel. It wouldn't be a whole lot. Um it couple man hours on a bobcat. I don't think it would cost us too much. If the lake did go down some from a drain, it still allow uh winter access for to drive out on the ice. It's just it's starting to get a little uh cut bank there where just from the waves in the where the road was for the last multiple meters. So, so a couple questions I have then on that would be so we're not talking any primitive but just to clarify no docks, no concrete landings, no nothing of the sort. just some some dirt uh for a dock to be put in. I mean, we'd have to get a request from the public and then we'd have to have uh like a public entity that or a wildlife club or someone that wants to take on that role of putting it in. Now, we don't have the the manpower to put in and maintain all the docks throughout the state. So, we kind of leave those up to like a wildlife club or something.

I was just curious because as you drive around and Yeah. you know, what used to be a dyke, now there's a fishing dock and a park and all these things. And it, you know, it starts out as a couple loads of gravel and then, you know, now we got a parking lot, now we got a picnic area, right? You know. Yeah. So, I just wanted to clarify that for anybody [clears throat] who's wondering. Yeah. If we did do something like that, we'd probably have to get it with a local landowner. Um, for just a section road, you know, you don't have that much room to work with. So, correct. If we wanted to expand on if it did get more use, then we would have to look into a a private easement the land owner on the lake.

Um, so the I think it would be your relatives there. Um, [clears throat] my dad's on the north side, my cousin Rick is on the south. Yeah. Yeah. So, and my greatgrandfather farmed all that stuff back in the starting in 1910. It was dry.

I did speak with the uh township when when Brian first reached out to me there and uh they said as far as going off of the road, as long as it stayed on that township where it used to be the township road there off that apron, they were fine with that. if it if you guys are fine with it. But they're not opposed to whatever you guys decide is basically how they however get settled here, they'll be okay. Yeah, I talked to Todd who lives right there and I figured because not only fishing, once there's water access, there's going to be hunting and there's going to be boat duck boats and things like that moving around in there. And that's when you're going to see it the busiest to be honest. I don't think you're going to see it for the fishing, but the duck hunters now have an access to put their duck boats in there and I think that's when we're going to see the increase in use. That's probably

that's my my and I think duckers can probably get in there right now.

I think they can they have the smaller boats that allow them to get in. Um but that could be a few more but it's Yeah, it's hard to say that. I would think everybody that lives there too high. [snorts] You can't call I never call it what you do that's well fish that's not we just manage the the fishery. So the water that would be like the department of water resources and all that. So game and fish can provide recommendations if they ask us on what do you like fish population but yeah that's not our our jurisdiction.

Commissioner Brown, you were on the commission when that lake started coming up and had to do the road repairs there. Yeah.

An awful lot of dollars spent on that. county at the bottom and it was underwater and everybody had come all the way down in people. That's a the intersection [clears throat] stop the flash [laughter] should put the distance from four to the water last that's on the water 85. Yeah, that was last fall. I have measured it this year cuz I had looked at permanently barricading it again like we had it, but then stops the access. So, something that have to be decided here, too. Can I ask how this came to game and fish's attention? Like was this a request by a fisher? Was this something that Game and Fish just identified? Is you were surveying the area?

Um, so I'm guessing back in the day look at when fish first started. I'm guessing it's after the lake came up. Sure. um sampled it and saw that there was either fish in there or they sampled it and saw that they could sustain fish and then after that put some fish in there. So this has just been under radar. It's been on the radar for a long time and when we go out every couple years and survey the lake we kind of just notice it's getting harder to get in there. Um, and then just knowing that, you know, locals do go there frequently, especially in the winter, we wanted to improve it for the people that are out there, at least for access. Sure.

That's why we looked at it last year. There's quite quite a drop off from not the water's so high, the wave actions into that road, the old road shoulder, but it's mainly on the north. Um, yeah. So that's well on the township road is where the where they access it. They go right across onto that approach and then they go right to the northwest corner and that's where the fishermen try to go and that's where they want to put some loads in there just to make it a smoother transition into there.

I don't want rip more could be Yeah. Some of the water doesn't if we don't Yeah. kind of

It's a fair question though. It's a fair [laughter] question. I was thinking the same thing. Great. without having a lot more room. It's tough. Right. Right. Well, there is zero parking.

And that's what I'm saying. If there was an area where you could have a parking lot, it would be different. But they're backing off the road to get in there in the first place. Oh, there's traffic there. That's my concern. It's It's more of a safety thing, right? I mean, I'm going to have a fisherman, but on the other hand, I don't want to make it so someone gets killed either. Back.

It is in the plots. So, if hunters want to come, at least the north half is anyway. Yeah. So any any other questions for Brian? Appreciate you coming out. I It's a decision we'll have to make and we'll go from there and let you know. Thanks for your time. Thank you. Thanks. Thanks, [clears throat] Mr. Steve. We might as well um jump with him too. That's our next he can speak on his uh what he was here.

Good evening. Yeah. Yeah. My name is Steve Ivy. Um my wife and I live on a farm near Churches Fairy and we farm around Church's Ferry. Uh we have for the last 20 years. Um, we understand that you guys are considering taking a grant from the state to take a bridge out south of Church's Ferry and uh I'm here to ask you guys not to to move forward with that. Um, that bridge is very could be vital for us in the future. Right now, it's not usable. It's underwater. Um, but as far back as 2021, it came out of the water and that road was perfect. you guys, the commissioners at the time allowed, I think it was about four loads of gravel. They bladed the road and it turned out that road was in great shape and we used it all fall. Um, yeah, now it's underwater so we can use it, but we're hoping that when the water goes down that we can get back in using it again for just a small amount of cost where a few loads of gravel again and blade it again and we can use it. So that's what I'm asking for. And I also understand that the bridge is in very good condition.

Yeah. So as it gets inspected every two years or so, Correct. That's a township road, right? That's the county line. It's our road. Oh, it is our road. So, what I had suggested last time was we got visiting about it and commissioner. One of the suggestions I had was to do the transfer of power on that other part of road the county that put money go around it. If we go forward bridge is a solution bridge. I talked to Steve he said that that other road isn't bad. The only thing that's got a problem going on that way is the entrance come into the highway on a curve.

So my issue with that is when we're coming um going north and we're trying to get on to Highway two and we're going to go to the to the west with loaded trucks takes a lot of time. You need a lot of time from the highway, from traffic to get on there. And there's a curve right there. And basically, you you look, there's nobody coming. Once you go, you're pretty much committed. And if there's a car coming around right at a second after you take off, you're you're going to meet them almost at the same time on Highway 2. So, it's dangerous uh for us to use that intersection. We do it because it's the only option we have right now. Um because most of our our grain goes north, just north of Church's Ferry. But this road right here, when that came out of water, we didn't use that one to the east at all. Everything went ac across this bridge. Oh, I like that.

I would love one. Yeah. This affects me a lot. Sure. And I think Y so down here in this area we have I think there's six bridges across Muli. There's only one of the six that are open right now. Um which means we constantly are putting extra miles on to go to go a half a mile. We're putting 15 to 20 miles on to to get around. We have no roads. Um I don't want to lose one that possibly could be good in the future. So, and I understand you guys are spending was 3,000 every two years. Yeah. Right. For inspections,000.

And I get that. But I know that if we take this bridge out, we're never going to get it back and this road will just be abandoned. And I I don't want that. I did bring a few pictures of what the road look like in 2021 if anybody's interested in looking at that. They're off my phone, so they're not great quality, but Oh, those phones take great pictures. Well, apparently this one didn't that day. It's a little I only have two copies. Well, um, that same year was the year the south of the where the other water spot is. That came over the water as well,

and we went out and ded all that up and we were prepared to grow that the next spring. We already had lead bids on it, but then water took it again, right? So, yeah, hopefully we can get this water down and keep it down to a manageable level, whatever that is. But absolutely, my So yeah, that's all I have, but uh would appreciate it if you please [clears throat] consider that leaving that bridge there for us. So

appreciate your time and they have we've had conversation update on that too as well. Yeah, we haven't made a decision. So Sure. Yeah. And I'm not the only one that would use this. Um fact, my neighbor, he called me. He's the one that informed me that you guys were considering taking this out. There's other people in the area that don't think they can make it tonight, but it's not just one person that we're that it would uh So, my address is the trip address. However, I'm on the west side of the highway. So, I'm Benson County. Yes. I have not about this because you guys are in control of this.

The other ones are Yes. Yeah, I look up pictures of all the bridges following the trail. If you follow the what is six, right? I think there's six total. Yep. This is the one that's closest to coming. Yes. This one and the one that was on the old um 281. And I'm working with Benson to try and get that one opened up again. But this [laughter] approved well they apply for grants as well bridges. I don't know if they approve not much but I I don't think it was for this one.

No other part of the county we're in we're run this bridge. They're talking the other bridges

other bridges. Yep. The ones that are in Benson County. The thing is when the the bridge removal program came out um if there the the thought behind the whole reason it started was there is another alternate road within a mile there and we can improve that alternate road and abandon this road al together whether that's changing access so that comes into the highway for them or straightening out those currents but the county would have to take control of that alternate road that's that's a big ass to throw on a township like, hey, we're going to do this road and then we're just going to ask you to improve your township roads.

Well, I don't think that issue that Mr. Bbeby brings up that curve on Highway 2 going away if we took that that intersection out, you know, it's still going to have that issue with trucks entering and going west off Highway two and come people coming around that curve at 70 75 miles an hour. Not expecting to see a semi there. Yeah, we could ask. [clears throat] Well, they should they should probably do that now anyway, right? While this is underwater, right? I mean, nothing even to deal with this bridge just for the safety of the people that should be out. Yep. Because [clears throat] it's a risk.

It is. Yep. And everybody that drives from we go over this this particular spot, we got to be super careful. Um, with vehicles a snow issue, but with motor trucks, that's where I I have problems. Yes. What I would like to see is instead of the state spending money to take that bridge out is do something to raise it and so we can use it, spend the money for that instead of removing those. Yeah. But okay, that's all I have. Thanks for your time.

Thank you, Steve. So to follow up with he with what he shared there on the agenda, I did talk to Tracy Slept about the bridge removal grant and if we did want to decline the grant to remove the bridge at this stage if it was even possible or if we were locked in. It is possible. I just have to write a letter aka Daniel and uh give them the [laughter] and we send that to the state and they we could deny the grant. We can still do that at this point. So, is that something you guys want to do today? You guys can think about this, talk about it again. I just it doesn't matter to me. I just want

When's your deadline? I'd like to have it at the next meeting for sure because they want to spend the money in this construction season if possible and there are projects waiting so it's not like they'll that won't take long to reallocate their money. So we can do it at the next meeting. Jason, do you have what the elevation of that bridge deck is? I can't seem to find it on that. I I don't um I actually um just took those pictures this week and I did not think to looking. Paul, do you know off top of your head? Do you have that information? I didn't bring any bridge information. Sorry.

Must be close to 50 because we're at 49 and 21.

No, it's from last week actually of the That's what I would think. I I think that sticks in my head too, Jeff, is 50, but I don't have it on me. I didn't bring it.

And then the road to the south, it's deeper. It's probably that's probably closer to like 48. There's probably two feet of water down on the south end there because what was it in 21? Uh 49. Then it must be right at that 49. 49 36 is where we got to

because we put fill in there and clay gravel in under there just enough to get to the bridge. The north side of the road stays pretty good because we blade that. We have been blading that down to the bridge, but that's the current condition where of last week that was the current condition of the bridge and the road. Before we get away with from it, I just had a couple questions, Jason. So, there's no more for Commissioner F. Jason, there's no like environmental impacts of this bridge being underwater. It's not having any effect on the water or anything. Correct.

It's just purely an aesthetic choice to have it removed or what what is the reason for removal? Well, as far as a maintenance side of it for me is I know in 2021, which was four years ago now, four summers ago, as we're coming into the 26 season, it was good. And they checked it. That's the year it was checked and said it was good. But if we start throwing 100,000 lb loads over that day after day during a harvest and the thing starts shifting and moving and shaking as the semis and stuff are blowing over it, if the water comes off of it, is it still good? you know, so we're going to have to do an inspection on it before we ever open it

and see where we're at. So, and that's an underwater inspection again that we'd have to request through the state because the state pays 85% of those inspections, we just pay the local share. That's why our share is down there. So, I think as much as it's a we look at as a maintenance issue that if we have to replace or do something with this bridge later, we are not going to have the funds. So right now we have funds to remove it and then possibly put culverts do something box culverts you know I don't know at that if it were ever to come out of the water and the other side of it since the state is you can figure the math back if we're spending $3,000 and they're paying 85% we're paying 15 it's a much bigger cost for the state to be maintaining a bridge that has no access to it.

Sure. But the state isn't pushing you to do anything. Not at this point. They're just it was one of the ones that was eligible and so we applied and then they went through a series of there's two or three rounds Paul that we went through. Yeah. Because we first apply and then we got into the semi-final round and then ultimately was selected for funding. So So right now we have this road closed off. Yeah. Well, we tried to but we're going to permanently we're ordering um jersey barriers to put out there or put a load of gravel on each side. Well, I was going to do that, but that come with a lot of opposition. Well, so

my thing is if you put a load of gravel on each side, the water goes down, you're going to need gravel push on top, right? But they can just go up and over a load of gravel with a four-wheeler. They can't climb over jersey barriers is what I was Okay, informed. So, those jersey barriers, people people are going to go down there if they want to go down there. Whether we put, you know, I could build a wall down there. But anyway, we're going we got it coming. Yep. And there's nothing preventing us if we decide to decline the grant now, we can reapply at a later date for the same bridge. We can I'm assuming they may not be happy about it, but but if it's starting to show deterioration, that's going to make a big difference in that. You know what I mean? As well.

Okay. Right. Thank you. Yep. So, we'll come back for this period of time. What's the rest of that road like? Well,

when you Yeah, when you from there from where you can see it out of the water again to the south, it's actually not too bad. It's rough because it needs to be, you know, would have to be maintained blade and holes filled in. But then you go two miles to the south and then there is no more road again. The lake's taking that whole road out two miles south of there again. So, by fixing by leaving this and fixing this spot, you're only gaining that three miles back, which I understand to them that's a lot, but they can still access that two miles by going around that alternate route. So, really, you that mile there gets you to two miles further and then you can't go any further anyway. Then you have to go around to the big alternate route that the county built through FEMA to get down to the toen home. So, it's a road that as of right now just leads to more water. And that's another thing to consider before turning the ground away is it really leads as of right now it's leading to nowhere. Well, it depends on what they I would like to know what the plan is for the other bridges because if they're removing all the other bridges, then we're having a road to really go nowhere because there's no hope for them to ever fix those. You know that it's it's a like this. You don't know.

I know. Yep.

Yep. [snorts] And here we got a, like I say, this is just from the maintenance side. We got a 40-year-old structure that sat in water for at least 20 years. It's still showing good, but for how long? We all know what concrete and stuff does when it sits in the water. Anyway, [clears throat] you guys, that's a tough decision. [snorts] Um, moving on with the agenda. We'll get started at the top there. Um, we got some, we asked for quotes, asked a couple contractors. I got one back from Johnson for the 54inch cover on Ramsey County 4. He quoted $4,500. I'd like to accept the quote so we can line them up to install that before the thin lift overlay project.

Move to approve. Second. Have a motion, a second to accept it, right? Yeah, just the quote for now. Yeah, accept the quote for $4,500. All those in favor by saying I. I. Those opposed. Same sign. Motion carries. Um I gave Candy the county line agreements. If there was nothing changed on there, I'd like to ask for a motion to be to accept and and uh get those signed. Get those signed back to Daniel and I and then we can get them to the other counties. We should send them off to the other counties first. Unsigned. Okay. Candy has them a copy of them all. just so that they can review because I mean we can sign

but I can't imagine that they're not going to want to make some addition or subtraction. Okay, that's fair. Um and then we would just be signing again at a later date. Uh once they're they're in approval, we can all sign the next meeting just so that it's done all at once. going back and forth on signatures after changes just gets So would I you want me to send them off or uh if you can send them off to the highway department superintendent superintendent and the other counties because those are the opinions that matter most. I I'll send them off to the state's attorneys just so Okay. But I I don't know how much the other states attorneys in the area work with their highway department.

Okay, that's fair. Um, if you'll make sure they get it, I'll I'll send it off to states attorneys and let you know. That's a good idea. I never thought of that. Make sure they don't want to make changes just because that's what we drafted.

Okay. All right. So, then the last one on there from last stuff I had were the culvert um policy. There is currently a culvert policy in place for Ramsey County describing sizes and who pays for which coverts um along the roadway. So, I decided to change that name to the Ramsey County Culvert Purchasing Policy. And that was laid out, I think, a little better that we're just it's something that we're doing for changing how we're billing and that kind of stuff and not installations or sizing of all routs along the roadway. So, if those two are okay, I would like to get those motion to get those on the website and adopted. I don't know what we have to do for that, Daniel, but

really I I think that's within your purview as a superintendent to make these policies and set them as you see fit. I think it's good to present them to the board. Uh and if the board wants to just approve it for posting, that's a good thing. But if you need to make additions or subtractions or quick changes, you're in control of your own internal policies. Okay. For things like this, I mean, right, I understand. Yeah. The county roads. Yeah. and other such things. But but yeah, I I think the policy is good. It addresses important issue that you have identified and so it's in a good spot. Okay. So I guess I'm asking for a motion to approve posting on the website the two policies that we drafted in within the highway department.

Second. Got a motion. We got a second for the two policies to be posted. All those in favor by saying I I um all same sign. Motion carries. Go ahead. I'm sorry. No, you're I'm just trying to get a baseball on the brain here. Um Hammer Township has arrested 48 by 48 well 48 inch by 44T covert. I quoted the price on the culvert. It's 359808. I'll be ordering that. I just want to make sure that that's something you guys are aware of. Get a motion to accept that quote. Second. Got a motion, a second to accept that quote. All those in favor by saying I.

I. And they'll be having that. Those opposed, same sign. Go ahead. Well, I was just going to say before you vote, but I guess it doesn't matter, but they they're going to have it installed. All those opposed, same sign. Motion carries.

Um, the next thing we'll get into is the building. We came across some snags while we were cleaning the building out. I called a couple contractors, had them come and look. I had the lumber yard come over. We got to do some roof repair. It needs a new ridge cap. Um, not realizing it's 26 years old because it looks good yet. It's in good shape, but there's just holes along the ridge cap and it was a vented ridge cap and that's got to go. That's been broken in a few places. So, pricing on that, the only prices I got were uh from the lumber yard. They said it'd be $300 to $3,500 for repairs for the material. I talked to um two contractors, the one working in the building currently and the one that was low on the floor bid, TJB contracting, um that was 12 days ago. TJB was going to get back to me with the price. He he hasn't done that as of yet to repair the roof. So, we'll be, however we decide this goes tonight, we we possibly be looking for someone to do some roof repair. Um, leading into that, we had four bidters for the floor, the the floor drain and the heat tubing. This isn't the boiler or anything. This is just the floor and getting the floor prepped with the foam and all those things. They're listed there. TJB was low at 86,450. Gleon came in at 93,950. Lindstöm Construction was at $102,899.76. and doc construction out of May not [clears throat] came in at 188,400. So, I um after the bid openings, we just tabled it till the meeting. I did receive a letter on April 14th addressing the roof from Lindstöm Construction, like I say,

who's currently doing the insulation, and he's offered to do the repairs of uh his estimate was 8,600. Mine was 3500 for for the for the things I thought we needed. He came up with 8,600. And uh then he talked about a manifold there. I also attached that letter. So he came up with $11,786. He said that he would wave those charges if he was awarded the floor so he could do the entire project. So I don't know if you want to handle these separately or how we handle these. So, the way I understand the letter, that would fix the roof, take care of the floor, and when I went took those numbers and minus it off of his quote, basically, right?

Mhm. That would leave it at 91, 11357, which would be difference of the low bid by $4,66357. But that would leave us with one contractor. And looking at these bids, I do not see these other contractors having this manifold in $3,100. So if you would have to add that $3,100 to low bid and if you minus that off the 4661, you're down to like $1,000, like $1,300 to have one contractor then or to have this plus hiring the lumber yard,

right? And then John's also gonna have to tack on his bid to fix [snorts] our assets. John or whoever we would select is going to be a bill to do to fix the ridge cap. Correct. So we would buy the material from the ridge cap if we go with someone else and then we'd have to hire someone to to fix that. What I'm asking in the long run, looking at all the bids, are we better off to go with the one and only having a $1,300 difference, or do we want to go with what we have in front of us and then have to add on what Jason is talking about. Yeah. I mean,

and then have three different contractors in there. Right. Right. Yeah. I'm just making sure that I'm track these guys are up to three different Yeah. If John were to be low on the roof, then we'd have two. Yeah. Or vice versa. But it could become a big mess, right? I mean, could it I'm just Well, throwing it out there. It could be a mess.

Well, I'm glad you took the time to run the numbers because I've ran the numbers and that's what I came up with, too, after the after his quote came back. The thing with the with his quote is he's he's you know, like I said, he is the only contractor on the property right now. So, he knows more what he has to do because he is working on the walls. So, he knows more what there is for repair. And Travis was going to get me a price, but that was like I say, that's could be two weeks on Thursday for TJB. And I never don't have any. No, with deadlines and stuff, you got to make a decision,

right? because contractors are going to start they're getting busy. Pretty soon we won't have a contractor at all. So I think with the 11,000 that he's giving us, but that letter you got to remember now that came in after the bid, but with that con that deduction he's giving us, yes, I think that it's very fair price if that's what you're asking me. Yeah. But the letter came in on the 14th with his estimate of what he was going to do because they found the roof. Right. Exactly. As they started on the walls. Then we That's how the roof came. This is an intentional addition.

No, this is something that they found because it rained the one day while they were working your attention. Right. And then we went out there and it when it was raining and it's leaking along and then we got on the lift and we went up there and they put too big a ridge cap on the building when it was built. Well, we did. And it's not screwed through the wood like it should be. It's actually screwed metal to metal. So, it's left holes everywhere. And all the screws have vibrated out and we got holes everywhere on the roof. So, take it back. They are in the ballpark. And what's going on?

Okay. So, he was low on the floor and I asked him to come and give me a price the day we opened the bids that afternoon on the ceiling and he hasn't given me any price two weeks ago. So, that's his bid for the floor. That's just that's only for the all these bids that are just for the floor. Only for the floor. They were sealed bids. We open them here. And then Lindstöm said that he would take care of what we need done and wave that estimate if he got the whole project. The way I read the letter he's looking at. So it's one contract. One contractor, not one contract. One contractor.

So what do you think, Daniel? We should ask. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. What do you think? So, I'm going to be honest with you guys. I don't even think we should have brought this to Bids. Well, we don't we can quote up to 250,000. I know. And when we had this in front of us last time or the time before, we created this problem that we're in right now because we just didn't accept what we had. And you and I have talked that we learned about the lesson. Well, when it was incomplete, we should have just moved it off to the side and Right. But the problem is we already accepted the walls be done.

That'll be the fourth time we've asked people for prices.

I would recommend I agree what I'm sorry. Oh, sorry. I I would agree with what Commissioner Vulk said in that having three different contractors theoretically in the same space can be chaotic, but because we've had so many issues with getting this contract put together and the bidding the fourth round of asking for bids in this situation. Um I think it would be prudent to accept the bids as they've been presented. um and then seek to have something else either bid out the additional projects that have been been identified or or I can sit down and Jason and I can figure out what exactly needs to be done. Feels like it's blowing out. Sorry. Um if this needs to be bidded, if the additional construction needs to be bidded from here, we'll do that. If it doesn't need to be bidded, then we can send out contracts, have people submit what, you know, set out send out a call for for bids essentially, but not going through the formal process. Uh, but I think at this point we need to make a decision on the bids that are in front of us or in front of you. And if it's a denial and not accepting any bids and starting the process over, that's that's proper. But I agree that if this doesn't get put in place now, we may not have any contractors for the rest of the summer. So, I mean, I don't think there's anything wrong with denying them and restarting the process, but but I think that it would not be improper at this point to accept a bid and then follow up on the windows and the roof and everything at a later date. If we want

to talk to the same construction company that's in there, I think it should go out to all the construction companies just to give them a shot. But I think it's below the bidding threshold. Um, I just need to make sure that I'm digging in and making sure that that's correct. We already have one contractor in there doing the wall and the and the ceiling, right? Yeah. Oh, yeah. The ceiling for insulation. He can't do anything with the ceiling and the insulation because the roof is Yeah, we got to get those screws holes filled and new ridge cap on.

And so I don't know what the law says about pivoting when there's unknown situations coming up in the middle of a bidding project. I can look into that and see if the Century Code has anything about if we can expand a prior bid, but I mean there are emergency exceptions. There's all sorts of of exceptions to the bidding process. So, um I will certainly sit down with Jason one way or the other to make sure that we know what the cut off for is and what all that process needs to be in the future. Well, I put a July 15th deadline in there for the floor being done because I didn't want if it was a separate contractor, I don't want it to be a hold up finishing the the interior of the building because the floor has to go in before he can basically he can put all the insulation in, but before they can steal it because we have to have the make sure the sheets are all to size. when you ordered sheets or else cut them all.

Well, I think we can change order on the roof work. That's what I was going to suggest to Daniel after the meeting that we, you know, state uses it. A lot of contractors use change order for the roof.

So, we can probably just do a change order on the roof and, you know, get that aborted out so he can finish that up so he can continue with his walls and insulation. I think that's fair. And as far as the bids on the on the floor, um we'll work with whoever however it's decided, I guess, to get that done. As far as the highway department goes and just to be clear, you said July 15th is the deadline. So the commission doesn't need to make to does not need to accept a bid today and so we can

you could look into some more review a little bit make sure that we're on the same page before a final decision. Yeah because with um with any of it as long as we can we can eliminate the roof work I do believe with a change order. We'll have to look into that but I do believe that is correct Paul and then that can we can continue working on the building while we're deciding how to work out this floor thing. The thing is if we do that though that's then that nullifies what he's suggesting for an offer. So we'll talk before we do anything there. Absolutely. Okay. More to come. Is that what you guys want to do? That's up to you guys. Table this.

That's up to you guys. So that it's going to be clear as mud when So we currently have somebody in there working on walls and ceiling. Walls and ceiling. And that would they be able to just continue working or would they we're hoping to with if we can see if we can change order of the the roof so that they can go and repair the roof. [cough] This is what happens when you remodel. [laughter]

Always does. to see if we can do the change order before we I think see if we can do the change order and get this thing done. I don't see any reason why we need to drag another contractor in just to fix something that was caught that was in need of repair, right? It was on it was the unknown. Yeah. So, we'll take we're going to do a change order to fix try to see if we can fix the roof table on here. No, just do it all.

Let's do it all. Okay, make a motion to accept.

Well, I think it would be the bid from Lindstöm Construction.

That a motion? It's a [laughter] motion. At the end of the day, they're saving us $11,000 off the correct if I'm reading that right. Let's read it. We have a motion. We have a second. I'll second. We have a motion. We have a second for Winston Construction. Well, do you want to do a roll call? No, we're not paying for anything. We're just accepting it. Right. Right. We're not paying for anything yet. All those in favor by saying I. I. I. All oppose. same side. Okay.

Motion carries. You have the nays and eyes. Okay. Thank you. We'll move on. What's that? Yes.

Um decision on the city blading contract. I've been working with the city quite a bit. I understand I caught them in a in a budget time. I've kept Mr. uh Commissioner Hodus and Commissioner Wilhelm and on that uh email chain with the city public works director there, Mr. grass guard. I think as the county would be fair this year since they're not willing or able or whatever their situation is to do their own blading this summer and they had a budget set aside that we offer them one contract for six bladings for this last year only and then um we if they want us to blade for them in the future they have to go like all the other cities in the county and go by the hour and that's if we want to offer the contract. I think that's how would be the best way to offer it.

I think that's fair just so that we don't hang them out to dry since I agree. And then next year they have to make a decision. I mean for this year, next year it gives them a whole summer. Hey, if you don't have a guy, you better figure it out. I should have got him in the loop sooner when we started talking changes. I guess I'd put them out of my mind, you know, not even in the equation. And I was thinking townships just because we do all the other city blading by the hour for the little towns of Brocket, Edmmore, lot. But the way I look at it right now, we're giving them a deal when they have blades. We were just giving we were doing them a favor when they didn't have enough people now that they have people. But I don't want to just throw it out there.

Right. That's how I feel too after like I you guys have seen the emails. I said I think that the best way to go this year, we'll give them the six time same contract as the as the townships. They get six if they want us to do any more. Yeah. And if they wanted to enter into that. So that's what we'll offer there. So that be for the remainder of 26. Yeah. Yes. So make sure they know and understand prior to their budget for 27. Yep. And we will do that. I agree. Thank you for that. I would have two. Make sure that is clear. Yes. And I think that and like I say after rounding around about this thing, I thought about this a lot. I mean, if if it was me caught in a budget and I had made a plan for a budget, Yeah. would, you know,

we're just trying to be fair, right? Yep. Exactly. Be a good neighbor. Um, couple quick updates. Uh, Ramsey County crew closed 14th Street north west out here for Creole Township this weekend. there. There's no uh flooding going on. They're worried about it getting soft. Um CHS has been notified to stay out of there. They were driving in there. There's been a lot of driving in there. Sheriff can go into that if you'd like, but um we've fenced both ends now. People are cutting the fence. They're cutting the ties. They're driving through. So, sheriff's involved. Um

this is it's even more reason to try to get a pave. [laughter] I'm not I mean, let's be realistic. It's we got to work with the city, the township. Yeah. They got to annex it somehow, whatever to get that fixed like they did out east of town. I think it would be a huge improvement for everybody that accesses that. I feel it's a safety thing. I mean, it's an exit. Yeah. For the town. and North Creel's Defense. Um, Paul did write a grant for base stabilization and fixing the water issues. Of course, unfortunately, it was denied this year. I think we need to put more into the grant. I'm not busting you up for more into the grant of

paving it. Paving it as far as safety. It's emergency route. If I think I don't write grants, but I think if some of that stuff was added in there, I believe they got that road to go. Um, what is it a mile stretch? Yeah. Not even just I don't think it's a full mile.

[clears throat] But if we got to check into that so that we got we got to do some local match to make it happen. I think it would definitely be good for our patrons. Yeah. It comes from the railroad from the north and then comes all the way around the Sunset Park property. Comes through the township road and then goes back through under the railroad. Yeah, it it appeared that

um well, we went up there, we did, the county did, and blew all the snow out of that ditch along both all that area. Yeah. So, the water came, it was able to go right through to down to the the big rail that's not open. That's sitting by the training tower, but it'll go up to the flats now. But, we blew the ditch all out before the thaw just to make sure we got all the snow out of there. [snorts] So yeah, it there's it's not holding water this year, but it's such a low area and so wet that it's just pumping up wi with that. If that culvert freezes up all the time when you were doing the the study or whatever, is it to put a bigger culvert in? Yeah, it is.

Okay. Because obviously if it's freezing up, we Yeah. I don't even I don't remember what the railroad, you know, being city down there. We and this being a township road, we don't have a ton of time, you know what I mean? I don't put a ton of time into this thing, but I do know from getting from the township road to that railroad, there's a covert that's way too high. A PVC covert that's in there that only runs at about a third capacity. That thing needs to be removed in a ditch cut or else Yeah. Just make a nice tapered ditch there and get rid of that.

That would make a huge difference on that. Just looking at it when you drive it, there's a lot of that could be done. Oh, yeah. And I think we could shed a lot of that water if the improvements were done. I agree.

So, um, the last thing I have, I have Well, I have one request. We got a a postpounder. We've been looking for postpounders. We actually came up with one through Runnings online for our new sign truck. The quote's just a little over what we're allowed to spend. So, it's 29.9 $2,999.99. Um, so this is just to order it. It isn't to pay for it, but I would like to ask for a motion for us to order that. We do have that money in our budget for the sign truck. Have a motion, a second to order the postpounder. Those in favor by saying I I posted same sign.

And then the last thing and then I'll be done is uh Ramsey County 8. We had couple concerned citizens call. There's some uh new covert that covert we we had put in last year as county covert. Uh there was a water study done there, water assessment or water stream crossing done there. Needed a new pipe, bigger pipe. Long story short, they reinstalled the pipe. Well, now there's um some excavating going on in this rightway about a 400t stretch there. So, I was notified. I went up and visited with the landowner. He was present at the time. Um they brought their excavator back and they moved a lot of dirt and it's very much improved from where it was a week ago. There's still some dirt and mud to move, but um I gave them a copy of the road standard and told them it's got to be a 3 to one back slope. It can't be straight up and down, 10 ft deep. So we are on top of it deal and straight up and down.

So we are dealing with that currently, but they have been more than accommodating. there trying to get it sloped right. So that just so you guys are up to date on that in case you get called on that. Anything for me? It's been a quiet week at the county or two weeks at the county. You can tell. All right. Thanks. Thanks. So short story long. Next thing on the agenda, LEC Jeff, you want to

Yeah, I can I can touch on that a little bit. Law enforcement center. We met uh the way the month fell as we met last week. We discussed uh Eddie and Nelson County pulling out of the joint powers agreement and Star is going to be working up different uh budgets based on that. Um I don't think that it's going to affect it too drastically. I think we've got a a really good strong um inflow of DOCR inmates that should make up that difference,

but it's still going to be a a problem moving forward. Um so um we did meet with a contractor um to do a feasibility study on the proposed land that we're looking at west of town, west of the industrial park. They're going to do some soil surveys and site um work or not site work, but they're going to analyze the soils and making sure that the soils in the area that would be uh that we're looking at would be adequate. um and try to do a feasibility study for roads infrastructure improvements u power, sewer, water, things like that that we need would need to be done uh to make that site workable for that situation. And uh we gave them a budget and a timeline and they're going to work on that. So that's kind of what we have for uh that uh joint powers uh with Nelson and Eddie County. they're looking at um sticking around through the end of the year. We did bring up some uh questions regarding our uh software contracts or Central Square. Everybody remembers we uh went up with Central Square uh for CAD software and I think there's a ownership on that for each of the counties. um and they'll have to make and we're going to check into that and whether or not that um that software contract can be prrated for the number of months because I think the contract comes due in July or August. So, but that's the update on the law enforcement center. Um I think we've taken a a step back and move it full steam ahead with a new building. Um, we're going to try to make do with what we have as long as we

possibly can. Um, [snorts] and see what our needs will be in the future and work on the legislator and work on legislation to help fund a new facility um or contribute to um if that's something that they're going to put on strictly on the burdens of taxpayers of Ramsey County. I think that's incredibly uh injustice of them to do so. So, we're going to try all avenues we possibly can before we bring something to the vote of the people. Thanks, Jeff. Yep. Thank you.

Any questions the hearing? None. Let's move on to the letter of support that we have in front of us for Devil's Day outlet running. Um, you want me to read this from Mr. I can. I'm writing in I'll make sure I'm just the right one. I'm writing first to thank Governor Armstrong and Department of Water Resources for your past coop cooperation and operating Dub Lake outlets to help reduce the region's risk of further flooding. The Ramsey County Commission is strongly in support of the continued operation of the state-run West End and East End Outwoods in 2026. As you are aware, the elevation devil's lake stump lake and upper chain lakes remains alarming high. This situation has led to inundated of over 80,000 acres of productive agriculture land resulting in significant economic impacts for our region including loss revenue and job losses. The ongoing wet cycle in doubles like basins which we have been experiencing since 1993 shows that even in years when conditions seem to be drying extreme white years eventually return with substantial intensity. This unpredictability further emphasize biases the need for reliable water management solutions. Ramsey County Commission. This would be uh encourages Department of Water Resources to operate both the west and east end outlets at full capacity for the entire 2026 operation season. We believe that using these state run outlets to reduce excess water from Devil's Lake is essential for protecting our agricultural resources and fostering economic stability in our region. Thank you for the attention to this matter. We appreciate the support. Um [clears throat] Just because we go would go about signing this letter and everything

doesn't mean that we need to take this as they still control when the outlets are on and off. It's not in our control. Correct. But some people take that take the wrong thing that it would be us because we're if we were supporting this that we're the ones in control. We are still not the people in control. We're just supporting 4985.

About a about a quarter of a foot lower. Yeah. Right. Right in that same neighborhood. And we still probably have a foot and a half to go as far as inflows. Yeah. So we we'll hit that 51 50 and a half 51 um pretty easily this year. So, um,

oh, well, we've stayed pretty consistent over the last 20 years. We haven't hit the 46 elevation where the bottom of the the outlets can operate to since 2005. So we've been at this elevation or higher for 21 years and the lowest we've seen like 20 21 was the lowest we've seen in a long time, right?

Yeah. So 2021 our peak high was 49. Um you know and at the end of the summer we were probably at 47 and a half right in that neighborhood. Um it got to the point where the wrong leg intake was having struggled to uh operate. So they didn't operate at a very consistent elevation or consistent.

So that would shut the at 47 a little bit less than 47. Basically shuts that pump down. Well, no. They've they've done enhancements or you know, it's it was permanent to operate to a 45 elevation over on the west end, 46 on the east end. And so there was some obstructions over on the Rome Lake intake that have been identified and addressed. Um

Yeah. Yeah. [clears throat] So, how did it go?

It it went good. Representative Freigh did an outstanding job, I think, presenting that the impacts of inundated lands have had in the Devil's Lake Basin. Um, and the struggles that we have to identify the ownership and that some of the things that we've asked the attorney general to address through our office or our commission and states attorney's letters and the townships have addressed. Um, it hasn't been identified. I think there's they're still working through that process. Um whether or not any legislation comes out of that interim committee, I'm not sure. They have a couple meetings to go before they um put anything forward. They'll meet again in June in Fargo and then again final meeting prior to the session sometime in September or October. But at the meeting that was held here last week, um the department indicated that they their intention was to operate both outlets as capacities since would allow it.

Yep. I've heard that before. Um, I think they say that every year, but every year they run into constraints with the water quality downstream is where the issues come into play. Essentially, it's just maintaining the hold of where we're at. Yeah. Honestly, supporting this is just maintaining where we're at because we we go up in the spring, we go down. We we try to mitigate the damages of a of a significant inflow would have

and and that's how I always understood it. It was basically what they can get off is basically what's bringing in from the snowfall, right? And if evaporation takes more than that, then that's the act of God. That's my understanding.

Oh, and [clears throat] what they've done is they've estimated the devil's like water balances over the last 14 years from 2009 through 2025 um intake and and evaporate through evaporation and discharge. And you know our peak high was in 2011 at 1454.61 but we average about 30 inches of evaporation every year. Precipitation has averaged anywhere from you know a low of 15 in to a high of 31 and a half inches. And inflows have ranged from, you know, the peak of 595,000 acre feet to a low of 7,000 acre feet in 2021.

It's all based on precipitation. Yeah. I guess we're just looking for a motion to support that. I would so move a motion. I have a second. We have a motion and we have a second. All in favor of this um support signify saying by saying I I oppose same sign. Motion carries opioid litigation.

Yes. Um I wanted to take some time to just make sure there was nothing odd going on. These are the same opioid settlement agreements that have been entered into in the past. The first one I had looked at was last year. I just wanted to be sure that I wasn't missing something the second time around. So, I do recommend that the commission uh vote to have uh chairman Vulk sign the participation agreement and participate in the settlement from here. There's no guarantees. As I've said previously, this is a settlement agreement that they are still working through the details of to get finalized. Uh but once once it comes once it actually goes through the courts and is approved uh any of those monies will come into the county uh and be used for opioid uh I guess remediation efforts uh addiction efforts in the community supporting uh district health uh giving them funds to do things like that. I think recently we most recently Miss Schmidt with district health had come to talk about addiction um not training but uh education courses in schools and educating people to train people in the schools. So I I recommend uh Commissioner Bolt do sign this and Ramsey County participate.

I make a motion that so does second. Got a motion. We got a second. to sign opate litigation support settlement agreement or settlement agreement all the favor by saying I oppose same sign motion carried [laughter] honor national fallen firefighters week we just need a motion to honor them or this I think it's a is it a resolution of support okay just a resolution of support or just a motion of support we have a motion We have a second. All those in favor by saying I. I.

Those opposed, same sign. Discussion on VSO position. I know Bryce put in his resation and we never talked about getting it to HR to get it applied. I think listen, this is just me listening to the VSO Brian Waters. It would be great to have that information that he's going to send us as far as what the job duties are to be able to have our HR go off of them to advertise the job. Um, the question I have, are we advertising the job as was and then we look once budget time comes around if it just becomes Ramsey County or do we advertise it as Ramsey County only and Nelson County and um, Benson come up with their own avenue because the way I look at this, I believe code says the counties have to take on their own if we weren't to have them with us. How did that ever come to be?

I think they were trying to make it a full-time position with all three counties. I saw on look at the description from was it 2014? It was a 30hour a week Yeah. position, but as as we see the information that we got tonight, it's no more a 30-hour position. No, it looks like it's an 80hour position. And can you put that position together? Oh boy, it's been a long time. You know, because there have been two or three of them before. I mean, what scares me is we advertise a position as is and if the burnout rate is where it's at. Yeah.

Yeah. It's been a long time. It's probably been a good 10 years. Yeah. I think longer than that. was your four. I bet you girl and then Stacy. No. No. Either either way it doesn't matter. 15 years of Yeah, I bet it's been Ken Hager was in there somewhere. Oh, yeah. Ken Hager was there before. Yeah. I guess I'm just looking on started it. What do we plan on doing? We definitely have to advertise it. We should let

Okay, I can keep in touch with Brian, see what he says, and get the position description at least to our HR so she can start. Either way, she's gonna have to put that in for this description. Whether it's Yeah, it's really a full-time position. It's just paid by different counties, right? And and

it it almost seems like Ramsey County in the work that Brian is or that Bryce has done that Ramsey County it might be its own full-time position based on how much he's increased. I'm curious, is it stylized as we have one VSO for all three counties, like a joint powers agreement almost, or is it a they're paying us for our Ramsey County VSO to go out and provide services? Well, I think it was almost Yeah. Okay. They they pay a percentage. Okay. And they paid a percentage. I think it was Yeah. 22. And

so basically, we hire the BSO as a full-time person and we're inviting them to come here. Right now, it looks like we need help more than just the one employee. I I think advertise it as a full-time position for Ramsey County and we will see what the other counties decide moving forward because I I think that it probably be a dime and a half or a position and a half if we have those other counties. Yeah. And if they decide to stay with us, well then they got to realize that they're going to have to pay for the right the half position, right? I think we

Yes. And I have I have been in contact with Nelson and Benson County auditors. Yeah. Kind of keeping them in the loop that you know there may be a possibility that right, you know. Well, and I I think once they hear these numbers from Bryant waters that they're gonna see the the impact that it's having plants. Yeah. I can call both Benson and Nelson County and talk with them tomorrow. I don't know that Bryce is going to reach out to them, but we need to know something soon.

We could have our HR put something together as a fulltime because no matter what, it's going to go out there the full time. It's just are we going to receive money from them for the full time or are we going to take it on ourselves? And if it needs to be posted prior to commitments from other commissions, uh, I would recommend having it only include what Ramsey County would be contributing to a salary on the salary range as the low end or or whatever the commission wants it to be on the low end with just Ramsey County contributing up to what the high end is because that has to be advertised. Or you could just say depending on experience and it's a range. But that does need to be a part of it.

That's going to be a question that I guess that once I talked to Nelson and that's fine. I just I knew that that was going to be a question that would come up. Should I call them? Okay. And I have kept HR in the loop like with his letter that he presented from the last meeting. Um I did forward that to her. Um, I did send you guys an email and I think I gave you a copy of what she had um, replied back as far as questions, but um, now with having that VSO representative um, we'll see what he brings

and I can let these guys know also that he's only going to come here to support us. If they need support, they need to reach out to them. I reached out for Ramsey County. I did not reach out for Nelson B when I reached out to him for him to come here one one day a week at least so we have something you know so we're just not up in the air while we're signed but I would say definitely by next meeting we have to have some kind of decision get this

and with that if Bryce is coming up here and we only have one day that this guy consider compens compensating price for ice if he can only do two hours a day or do we talk to him? How do we want to do that? That's something that we could think about and we do that the next meeting. Also, the presentation we had tonight,

he's been in here since he's left helping veterans. Yeah. So he hasn't left anybody high and dry. Well, that's not his future. No, it's not. I don't expect anyone to work for free. No. No. We I at least think about it and then next meeting we can decide and we can have Bryce come in and say, "Hey, kind of time we put in, give him some kind of what we could plan forward." And by that time he'll talk to Brian Waters also so that we can have a better plan. You guys okay with that? And Brian was gonna get us a job description, what VSO should have.

I'll reach out to him again to make sure, but that's what he said. That was information that he did tonight. And HR, he can add that to Nicole. Nicole had previously he already got your email addresses. Okay. So, basically, we're tableabling that until next. Should we should we not advertise that as a full-time position for ramping? I I recommend posting it immediately or as soon as possible once you get all the information, it should go up. It's a statutory requirement. There's no reason to wait. So once we get the information and I keep you guys in the loop, what I get from Brian, what I hear from Nelson and Beny Benson.

Yeah, it's cool with that. So, I guess we're looking for a motion to I just have to say out loud, you're not communicating with the whole board outside of commission. You're just out individually. It was said, I just have to clarify. That's not a practice that you engage in. Basically, HR. Yes. So, I'd make a motion that we post that as a full-time position

with salaries to be negotiated. Okay, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor by saying I. I. I. All oppose, same sign. Motion carries. Moving on to 2027 start of budget. Um, Mr. Hodus, what would you like to see here? Basically, I would like to see us to try to start bringing some stuff forward next month. We don't need to get a full discussion, but we need to get started rather than waiting until the September time frame that we

usually start. So, basically, department heads start bringing stuff thinking about what they where we're at. just just to start talking about it because the budget's over right now. But when's the budget due? Final budget.

Just so department heads start working their numbers. just to work on some ideas. It was going to be a tight year.

Yeah. And so to I I would recommend because I agree with Commissioner Hodis that the sooner we start talking about it, the sooner we can iron out a lot of what we went through last August. Um the sooner the better. Uh it's an election year. Candi's got a lot going on. So, if we can spread out the work so that it's not getting all on her plate at once, I would ask that uh Commissioner Hodis based on your I guess request today, I would ask that each of the portfolio holders meet with their uh department heads to start talking about those because I think that's the best place for that conversation to start so that they can express those concerns um so that we're not bombarding Candy with budget questions and concerns while we're going through an election at the same time.

I would agree with Mr. Hall and that we can always portfolios get started.

So this is nothing we need to motion. It's just so this will just stay on unfinished business. Yeah. Okay. Everybody agree with that? You're good with that? Yeah. Okay. Moving on. Visitors and delegations. Anybody in the audience? Hearing none. Anybody have any announcements? We did meet in Lakota last week, two weeks ago. just snag and clear and it was unanimous by all four boards, the two commissions of Nelson and Ramsey and the two water boards to move forward with that project.

Which one was that? Clear clear one that's been ongoing. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Matt didn't reset another boarding record for month March. We have some major projects going on this summer. I think $3 million worth of runaway improvements or something to that nature. So,

you guys have anything?

Uh, planning commission is going to meet on Thursday 8 a.m. Our first meeting back together since we've gotten the drafts of the proposed uh zoning and subdivision ordinances. Um, only thing I have is just so everybody's aware, Devil's Lake Public Health, we had a special meeting. Um, the administrator was put on two weeks of administrative leave paid. We have a meeting on the 28th and that is where we sit as far as that. Now, any other questions or any any other announcements? Commissioner should have got a uh survey for water management plan update. Devil's Lake Basin is doing a water management plan update. We hired a consultant to help us out with that and everybody should have gotten survey. Um so if you could fill that out at your leisure, also known as soon as possible.

Thank you. Anything else? No. Meeting adjourned commission Thursday about 10