County Commission - Regular Meeting

You know what? If they're going to sit here, [clears throat] leave my chair alone. Yeah. put a screw in it like I did at work.

At work, I put a screw in mine so you can't move it [laughter] through and through. It's kind of funny how you can sit down So round up must be Thursday, Friday, Wednesday, Thursday. Yeah. What is it?

Where's he from? Virginia. Hey, this is something you can mention. It's easy one. That's an easy one. Can't get in trouble for that one. [clears throat] [laughter]

[snorts]

They got three. [clears throat] Oh yeah. [clears throat] Sorry.

Morning everybody. We'll call the Ramsey County Commission meeting to order. Start off the pledge, please. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under ahead of myself. Oh the first thing we have is approval of minutes. Second. So this is Jeff. Is this where you wanted to change those motions? No. Okay, [clears throat] we got a motion. We got a second. All those in favor of saying I.

I. I. Pose. Same sign. Motion carries. Approval of bills. Move to approve the bills. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. And a motion. I have a second. Call on that one. Roll call, please.

Yes. Second. His hi closer hi Brown. Hi [snorts] Willy. Hi Fulk. Hi. Bills are paid. [cough and clears throat] God bless you. Next item. Approval of financial reports. He's working on them. You said yeah. We'll come back to the approval bus. But first, let's move on to approval of treasurer tracks. Please move to approve. Second.

We have a motion. We have a second. All those in favor say I. I. Post same signs. Motion passes. We'll come back to the financials. Guys, approval of the agenda. Is there anything anyone wants to add to the agenda? Move to approve. Second. We have a motion. We have a second to approve the agenda. All those in favor say I. I.

I. All oppose. Same sign. Agenda is approved. First year of business, I believe. [clears throat] You can see in front we got the first year of motions there, right? That's what we're working on. Candy. Yeah. We just go. Yep.

So the first item is [snorts] the county officer authorized to pay regular bills such as monthly salaries, lights, heat, water, and telephone. uh bills with discounts on like human services zone and indirect cost bills when received. All I guess we're looking for a motion. So move second. We have a motion. We have a second. All those in favor are saying I

post same sign. Motion carries. Second one on here. County officials or employees shall order equipment supplies and services amounting to $2500 or more without permission from the county commission except for emergency supplies that [snorts] the department supervisor would deem necessary to authorize. Move to approve. Second. We have a motion. We have a second. All in favor of saying I.

I post same sign. Motion carries. Um, next one here, the first United old National Rivera and Western State Bank of Devil's Egg, North Dakota be designated dispositories for Ramsey County. Look for a motion. Move to approve. Second. Have a motion. And we have a second. All in favor by saying I.

I. Post the same sign. Motion carries. Next item. Ramsey County Treasurer be authorized to invite to excuse me to invest county funds as soon as available and to cash in investments when necessary and provide quarterly or as requested detailed reports to the county commission. So move second. Have a motion. We have a second. All those in favor say I. I.

All oppose same sign. Motion carries. The amount of 5,000 for the county fixed assets. So move second. We have a motion. We have a second. All in favor of saying I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. That takes care of the first. Yep. Can we move back to the financials or she put that together?

Jason, please. [snorts]

Uh good morning. Morning. Um, so we'll [clears throat] start with uh receives the DOT invoices for the local share on those CR projects from 2022. Um, there's quite a quite a list there. Um, you guys want me to run through each one? I would probably touch on them anyway.

Okay. So, however you guys want to do it. The first one, the so these are our our share that we need to pay. This is a This was 2025 budget. So the C project 3627 the construction costs were $34,745.93 and the engineering cost is $1,17.84. See our project 3633. The first line there is construction for 28,27217 and engineering for 317844. CR project 3614 had actually received three invoices for that from the DOT. Construction was 12,72962. Uh engineering was $839.97. And then again the next line was engineering only on that invoice for$,58097. And then CR project 3606 was 379749 for construction and 26.80 for engineering. Now, I believe these are um finals or close to finals because we're trying to get it done rapid by the middle of this month for 2022. So, I don't know

or yeah, no, this is 2022's emergency disaster that we're working with. But I am paying this this was budgeted money from last year that we we didn't reserve the invoices in time to get them to you guys to get them approved to be paid. So, [clears throat] they're just basically trying to do a close out, huh?

Getting close working with the dees. Um, but we still they had to get their local shares figured and with the timing of how the projects got completed November, late October, November. This is where we're at with the billing process. So, um, the So, I'm asking for a motion to pay these nine invoices. um five, four for construction, five for construction engineering for the local share amounts. And with that, I also say the final inspection was done with all these sites on um December 22nd. Everything looks pretty good. The only thing we don't know is if the grass is going to grow yet, obviously, but all the everything else is completed. So, okay. Looking for a motion for the nine total invoices. Move to approve.

Second. We have a motion and we have a second. Roll call, please. Otis. Hi. F. Hi. Brown. Hi. Will me. Hi. Folk. Hi. Motion carries.

All right. The um next item I had there is we've replaced one Vplow um with a new one. We're looking to replace the next worst one um out of our equipment money that we budgeted. Uh this would be for the Stark weather district. His is the next worst condition. These are the new um lower profile Vplows like we have in the Devil's Lake motor graater if anyone's seen that. Uh they're called an 890 FS. I took two quotes for the Vplow. They they I I think I attached them. I don't know. Hopefully you guys got them. Um RDO was the low quote at 157 15,700 with freight and Butler came in at 17,500 with their delivery. Um Iron High did not offer anything like this for a motor drainer. So that was the only two quotes that I obtained.

I have a question for you on that. Yeah. So, with our blades, some of them coming up, is this going to be able to work on any? Yep. It's the same hookup. There's no hydraulics on these. It's just these are just up down. I just want to make sure that we don't purchase something that able to use it in the future.

And the reason why we're going to go to Starkweather next is um the county line up there. We continually every time we need this, we need the Vplow. He needs VLOOW year year round up there pretty much. But, I mean, all winter it's bad. So, we're trying to replace the worst and then work our way. Um, I do have a plan possibly in the works for getting a couple more. We have a case payloader we haven't used in a couple seasons sitting down there. I'm putting together maybe trying to work a trade towards a couple. And if that would work out or something like that later, I'll bring that to you guys. But as of right now, I just want to purchase would like to purchase the one and replace the worst one we have. Is there trade in on the old one or is this one just going to sit until the future?

Well, we'll probably Yeah, we'll do that again and hopefully get something for it. They brought about $500 last year, which was better than scrap race, but not a lot. But the three we got rid of already. We bought them all new oneways. Kevin did when he got with the new motor graders. Um, the oneways are nice as long as there's not a heavy amount of snow, but they want to throw you, you know, because you got that angle. But the V plows are for the bad cuts. So, you're looking for a motion or you're looking Yeah, looking for a motion to purchase

just to accept the quote and then I don't know, delivery is probably going to be April. I don't I don't know. They they said hopefully within the next couple months, but it's one of those things that we would have looked at purchasing it last year, but I had to wait till we had the money back in the equipment budget. So, second. We have a motion. We have a second to do a purchase low quote from RDO. I would low quote. Yep. So, be RDO. They're the same exact um people, same numbers, same everything. So they got them on hand. They claim we can get it quickly. So we'll see what quickly is.

So basically we have a motion to RDO with freight for falls vow 890 FS quote at 15,700. So we have a motion and we have a second for that. All in favor by saying I. I. All oppose same sign. Motion carries.

Uh this next one was just kind of kind of a little FYI. had kept the commissioner, the portfolio holders a little bit up to date on this. I don't know where I've left it with them, but um 127 on 126, the wing truck and the big old sander truck were both down over the Christmas break, which gave us a little bit of heartburn with all the fog, frost, and drizzle, and snow, but we worked through it. Um 127 now has the new turbo in place and on. Um, we did receive the bill for that, but we'll talk about that at the next meeting because there's a credit coming [snorts] for that core. Uh, 126 is a 2015 International with the wing. They called us, said it was ready for pickup yesterday. It was going to be they quoted us between $3500 and $4,000 to fix it. We went to get it and it's got the same exact problem as we hauled it there with. It won't come off idle. It's in drate mode. So, that is still in East Grand Forks at Nelson International. not fixed.

So, keep you guys up to date on that. But that's just an information for you guys. So, if people are curious, um, another thing I was going to tell you guys is back in December, we had a township concerned about us using trucks on the township roads, we had people gone. We didn't have enough operators for the motor graders. I went out myself and ran motor grader for a day or two. Um, one of the townships was very upset about the truck being in there. So I told him our next option is to just leave it until we get enough operators next time and that wasn't a popular answer either. But was our really our only choice was to put trucks in there. We don't like to put trucks in townships. So you guys know that we do not that is not a practice we like to do. It's tough on the trucks. We were just trying to cover everybody with the manpower and the equipment we had. So that's just another FYI for you guys. You hear there's a truck in their township and they're upset about it. We don't like it either. It breaks windshields and tears cutting edges off and all those things. But we do it to get everybody open. Um, [clears throat] one of the other things I had was uh we worked out the motion I believe with the sheriff and I on the vehicle swapping. We have one title transferred. He has to do a damage closure for the other one. So, I'm asking for a motion to give the sheriff department any monies that we're able to collect from the surplus plus sale this spring in the summer of 2026 off the 2015 Expedition and the 2004 F-150 the highway department will be selling as surplus. This money collected will be the payment for the two Dodge pickups, the 2018 and 2019 Dodge Rams that we have received from the sheriff department to use as shop pickups. So I'd like a motion to accept that offer.

So a motion to what he just read. Does that make if that if that is correct, Daniel, does that make it's all in front of us. That way we can just take that. All right. So move because we wanted to clarify it. I just want to make sure it's Nope. [laughter] We're good. Okay. Good. So we have a we have a motion. We have a second. Second. We have a motion. We have a second. All those in favor by saying I. I. All those opposed, same sign. Motion carries.

Thank you for that. Then lastly, I sent the culvert quote. That's just for um yard inventory. Uh, of course, the invoice will be coming later, but just asking to order the culverts that are needed for stockpile in the yard for the spring season. And that total was $49,132.80. 80 cents to Johnston Culbert. So moved. Second. We have a motion. We have a second to replace the yard inventory for Culvers. All in favor say I. I. I. All oppose. Same sign. Motion carries.

And then U. 96th Avenue is coming up. They're discussing it over there again. We have that low water crossing that we've been working on. And there's another crossing on that system that they're talking about. They've had another request to look at that one. Um, as that stuff unfolds more, we'll bring that to you guys. But I did go shoot it after in the November after the November water board meeting. I went out with the laser level and we shot the elevations and the water was moving equally on both sides of the crossing they're discussing today. So, I don't know. That tells us there's not water being held back on either side. [clears throat] So, we'll see what they come up with, but there's two crossings on 96th Avenue that the local residents up there want work done on. So, we are working on that with the water board as well. You guys have anything

any questions for Jason? Can you grab the water for me?

Sure. Thank you, [clears throat] Jason. Yes, sir.

Good morning.

Quick update. We are going to meet with Nelson County Water Board in February hopefully to take and discuss a snag and clear on the lot and and the cler Bartlett to see if there's work that can be done to alleviate some pressure on the lot going all the way over to dry lake. We'll have to see what they have to say. There's a possibility that just by clearing or cleaning some stuff, we may be able to bring water straight to Stump Lake and keep it away from people on the west side. So, that's coming up in the future. We are also we have one water complaint we have not dealt with that we'll be dealing with shortly here. And there was a question about posting channel A property that the water bank has. We have not discussed that. We will be discussing that here after a bit, but other than that should be a fairly short meeting today. Any questions for me?

Anybody have any questions? Not here. All right. Well, thank you much. Yep. Thanks for the update, Beth. [clears throat]

Good morning.

Morning. I'm here today to provide an update on what we need to consider for the upcoming 2026 agricultural land values for Ramsey County. Last week, I received the agricultural land value per acre assessment from the state of North Dakota. It is my understanding that this information may have arrived slightly later than usual due to the government shutdown which affected the reporting of some of the data used in the valuation formula. As you will see from the information I provided, all counties in North Dakota, including Ramsey County, experienced a decrease in agricultural land values. For Ramsey County, the 2025 eggland assessment per acre was $7520. For 2026, that value is $686.40, which represents approximately a 3 or 4% decrease. I also spoke with surrounding counties to compare trends. Benson County is seeing a similar decrease and is considering a reduction of about 4%. While Nelson County indicated they are in the same range as Ramsey County. To better understand the reason for the statewide decrease, which is something I've not seen before during my time as tax director, I contacted Ronald Hogan with the NBSU Department of Agra Business and Applied Economics. Mr. Hogan compiles this data for the state. He has graciously offered to set aside time this Thursday at approximately 9:45 a.m. to meet with anyone who would like to attend and to answer questions regarding the ALAN valuation process in North Dakota. This will be held here at the Ramsey County Courthouse. Due to the meeting rooms being filled from roundup, I'm hoping we could meet here in the commission room. A couple factors that may have influenced this decrease include the capitalization rate increasing to 4.74%. Additionally, the cost of production index continues to increase and this index does not currently have a cap. Mr. Hogan expressed some concerns about this index and a few other components of the formula, noting that changes to these items would require legislative action, which has not yet occurred. Due to

recent legislative changes affecting how valuation notices must be sent for all parcels this spring from our office, the commission's decision on the percentage change will need to be made earlier than past years. Your direction will likely need to be indicated by the first meeting in February in order for our GIS coordinator and Sidwell to adjust values so they can be reflected accurately on the notices. Historically, the commission had until the county tax equalization meeting in June to make adjustments. So this represents a significant shift in timing. At this point, no action is required today, but direction will be needed in the coming weeks. I wanted to ensure the commission has the information necessary to make an informed decision, and I'm happy to answer any questions now or as they come up in the future.

Any questions for Beth? Beth, what was the date for the meeting with Ron? um this Thursday is actually the 8th I believe he is actually um teaching or having a seminar at 9 to 9:30 so he can just come over here as soon as he can get away from everybody there Beth just for clarification u what is the exact need to have this decision in early February as opposed to the normal time um the main thing was a legislative change that is um requiring our office to send a notice to every parcel from their 25 value to their 26 value showing if there's any change. Okay.

And the ALAND values would be part of that. And when is when do those have to go out? Um the we will probably send them the first week of April. Okay. Because our meetings are typically because we do it most of the county at the end of April and you need those new numbers in order to to put them on to make sure everything's correct. Yeah. Okay. as [laughter] um you know our GIS coordinator is one that will really put those together and I I'm not exactly sure how long being it first time for our whole county using said well her first time doing this the sooner we can get yeah and my first time doing it this early so a lot of first but from here on out it will always be this

always until somebody changes the right it's just a change that they change y and then everybody on Yeah. First time what people Yeah. Anybody have any questions for that? I guess everybody has it in front of you. Pardon me. I said everybody has this in front of you. Research it. I guess we'll have to make a decision. We'll put it on the agenda for February. Everybody good for that? Yeah, that would be perfect for me, I think, to have it taken care of. Basically, give them

be interesting to hear what Mr. Hobbit has to say on Thursday. I definitely want to welcome anybody in the state that is interested to come and listen to him. It's interesting. Yeah. Wealth of information. So, you don't have anything else, Beth? I guess there's no questions of us. I guess whoever wants to come and listen to Ron. Yep. 9:45 right here. Sounds great. Hope to see you. Thank you. Thank you. [clears throat]

Okay, moving on. No one finished. New business approve of mileage increase was in our packets. I think it's going 70 cents to 72 and a half think is what the move to approve. Second. We have a motion. We have a second. Any other discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I.

I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Moving on to the next item. The board appointment. So on the list here, just go down the list, Candy. Well, Bill, you're on the till 20 26. We're good there. The first one, water district, those are all good. Housing's good. I mean unless she gonna We don't have to worry about that. That's not

weed board. We're good. Planning condition the [clears throat] planning. Mhm. [clears throat] Okay. Is there any interest for Ramsey Holling Planning Commission to replace Lee? It's a fun time.

How often do you guys meet for this? We have not met since probably late October, but we're going to So, we approved the uh the new comprehensive plan and we are to the point where we need to start reviewing all the ordinances that go along with it. So, I'm hoping to get that going again, you know, now that we got past the holidays. So once maybe twice a month until they have it in place. Yeah. Once everything's in place then probably looking a quarter

probably. We have any interest anybody

I'm pretty busy wanting. Yeah. Wow. Yep. They want two. Yep. You got from the city. Pearson. Pierce and Rob Couch. Both on there. Once once every six months or what? Once a year.

No. [laughter] probably looking at once a month for sure for a little while, maybe not twice a month till we get all these ordinances gone through.

Can you think about I mean, we have no other interest. Do we also have to uh get members of the public? I see uh Paul Becker and Dean Horston positions both expired at the end of the year. You said we still haven't replaced John. So, we need three from the public to Lee was on here. Yeah,

we don't need a motion for Okay. Okay, we'll put you down in there. Thank you. Meetings last minutes or Sure. [laughter] Um, let's see the next one. Lake Region Health Board. There any interest on the Lake Region Health? You know, is you still planning on I believe she is. If not, I will I could let you know. And your term is up was up at the end of the year.

Yes. You still like to be on that? If no one else would like to do it, I can do it.

Okay. Guess Mr. Vul is on now. Excellent. [snorts] Don't have to worry this is 2026 senior males Mr. What is I don't do that again. Okay. Taken care of central plan. Yeah, that's not till 2020. Oh, that's Yep. Sorry, you're good with that one. Keep that one.

Okay. Special Assessment Commission. Jeff, you're on that. We don't law enforcement. We're good there through 2027. Ramsey County fault board. Lee was on that. Is there any takers for the Ramsey County board? I think I've been on it. I believe Ed's been on it before. I've been on it. Anybody would like to tackle that? You'll take it.

No. What' you say? It don't matter. Okay. Go ahead. Okay. Okay. Thanks, Ed. Okay. That one's good. Three runners annex board. Swan Tech, you must have sent something out to them. Nothing back yet. Some of these guys might have to give a phone call. I know your busy schedule or have some

forward Devil's Lake. So why did he say 23? Yeah, this is was Kevin ever on? Jason, congratulations. I think you're going to be on forward leg. Awesome. You know, let me reach out to

Okay, she'll reach out, but if not, I would appreciate if you could fill in where Kevin was there. I never saw Kevin or two years. Can't remember how long I've been on that one. Yeah, two years. And you're good to Yeah, I'm good to stay on that one. Plug those guys in.

Yeah. Call and ask library. Lee was on. Is there any takers for the library? [clears throat] I guess I could ask Daniel at the same time because it's right around the corner in April. So that was actually last April. Uh my the the board, the library board accepted my application or interest to continue on. So we have a twoterm limit for library board members. So, I'm on my last term from that 2025 date.

Would be 2028. Yeah. Uh, and Shauna Middleton, the new library director, should have those that information for Candy if she wants everybody's end dates for that. Um, so I'm still on it for the time being, but we do need a commissioner representative. How often do they meet?

Once a month. uh second Thursday 5:00 pm. Uh that seems to work best with the teachers and [snorts] college administrators in my schedule as well. Um it's fairly consistent. It's hour, hour and a half, maybe two if something is really out of whack or there's a large agenda, but uh we generally keep it to an hour. And I think Lee used to say that it was one of the easiest boards to be on because we're fairly focused on getting the work done but also not uh being pretty straightforward.

Yes, it is fairly straightforward. It's supporting the community, building a library and s doing as much as we can to expand and get more services out there. So interested in doing that. Say that's the third Thursday. Second Thursday. Second Thursday.

Yeah,

basically. Yeah, it would be to fill the remainder of the term and then we decide again after that. I should be able to Bill. Thanks, Bill. And then we'll reook at that. Thank you. Perimeter the chamber. Jeff, you're on that one, right? Yeah. There's no dates on these. Okay. Still good with that, Jeff.

Yeah. Agreion there. Okay. It's just Paul. We're good with that one. Yeah. actions is Jeff. I'm going to keep going on unless someone has access yet. I'm on that still do that. They meet at such a weird time. That's okay. Uh O and M committee. What is that? Operation and maintenance. I think it's for the dyke. Okay. Jeff's on that and Lee was on that. Do we need more than one on that?

I don't know if we've ever met. So, it's a good one to be on. [laughter] So, long as you don't have a hole in the dyke, we're all right. Yeah. I honestly I think one is fine unless crap hit the fan. outlet advisory bill that's been a okay that has been eliminated that committee okay legislatively something you can take off of there

North Plains bill has that still good with that bill human resource Paul you're on that one. I think that was supposed to go to the end of the year term, right? That should be 2027. That's when he went on there. Yeah, probably. Okay. You're still good with that. Yeah. Feels good. That should be all of those. I guess to make this easy, I'll do a motion for all these in one. If I can get a motion. So move. Second.

Have a motion, a second for the replacement of the positions on here and to create a updated list. Yeah. Create an updated list and please contact the ones that are out there. All in favor saying I. I. All those oppos same sign. Thank you. Commissioner Brown, you'll have the recorder treasur super superintendent of schools. Just write it here.

Okay, good with that. Put those out. So that that's what he had before. Moving on to Well, can I get a motion for that, please? So moved. Second. Have a motion. We have a second. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Approve of leases. I had that here.

[snorts]

So basically these leases are one of them is the basin board office space in Ramsey County Courthouse. The rental the rental shall be 2280 per year. a re a review of said rent annually. That's the first one. If we're looking for a motion to or any disc, we can do motion. Okay, that's the first item. You guys see that? You're all okay with that? Any discussion on that? Hearing none, move on to the next agreement which is the gymnasium memorial building. It says here the leasey shall agree to pay a monthly fee for the use of the building $400 per month for my five months with a review set fee annually. This is for the public school. They were still good with that. Anybody have any questions on that one?

Who leases it? Parkour. The school. School. [clears throat]

Okay. [snorts] Lease agreement for activities or events for school functions. That must be a yearly invoice. Oh, I see for five months. Okay. Sorry. Then here's the one for the parkour. 3,000 per year from January 1 to December 31st. Any questions for that? There's our invoice. I'm going to keep moving on. Any questions? Stop me. The historical state historical society feels like historic privilege commission sheriff's house. That has that will be stayed the same. Unless there's any questions, concerns. Veteran service officer joint powers agreement.

[clears throat] I don't know if you guys hear Tuesday I think is gone. I don't know if you guys looked at the sheriff. Can you go see these? Couple questions. That booklet that he handed out last time, did you guys look at that and see the breakdowns? Yeah. That's a homicious amount of um money that he's providing to the our county price as a VA representative. The amount of VA dollars that he's bringing into the community.

Yeah. It's [snorts] crazy amount of really seven8 million was it? Yeah. Yeah. And I think we had asked him before if he could do a break. No. because he was doing a lot of Towner counties and I believe Towner County has hired a part-time personnel. He's just worked on Ramsey and some Ramsey Nelson and Ben. So, we have a a three-way agreement with um Benson and Nelson County and the breakdown is 60 22 16 22 and 18. So

60% of the time is in Ramsey County and that's 22. We've always had that agreement, haven't we? We've had it for a long time. I was just going to have him go over what he has done for the community and u what's in the future outlook. I know there's a future outlook to bring up EA [laughter] like a permanent I mean not that it's not permanent now but to be on their own and it looks like that's closing in on two years. So the afternoon, Tuesday afternoon, yeah,

I'll talk to him, get them on the agenda. Is there any other questions concerning these agreements? As far as the agreement goes for veteran service officer, are you looking to revisit some of these details or were you just looking to get some information from Bryce about his position generally? Um, I would say look to my what I would like to see is look to see where we're at. Um, because I know at one point he was saying that he's quite overwhelmed. [clears throat]

You know, to revisit to see if the I would like to see if there's some kind of money out there, if it's a grant or something with VA. I know right now a lot of stuff is on hold. And I think was the biggest thing was Toner Coney didn't have anybody and he was taking on that, but they have now hired someone. Okay. So, and I was just going to get some clarification on that.

Okay. So, are is the commission wanting to hold off on approving this JPA as written at the moment and just let things go on as they have been or is a commission looking to just approve this and revisit for next year? I would say approve this and revisit next year. Okay. I just wanted to be sure. Nope. There was good question. Any other questions? Hearing none. Looking for a motion for these agreements. So move. Second. We have a motion. We have a second for the agreements provided in front of us. All those in favor say I. I.

I. All those opposed, same sign. Motion carries. Thank you. Review of a liquor license applications. Wallally's badass bar and famous food. So yesterday I contacted the um township and they were they felt that they weren't they approved their end of it because whatever is going on in the facility they think that should be taken care of by your office if there's public health if there was some concern they're not on that all they were concerned about is the individual had come to them as liquor license and they don't want to keep any establishment out of Ramsey County but because they said they're not tying up to what the building codes and all that stuff. That's not what they were asked to do. And today it's presented to us as a review of the liquor license for our application. So then I contacted the township and I contacted Mr. Denton just to see if there has been any um update on this because in the future there was a sewer issue out there. Correct.

Correct. They had given a temporary fix 2019. Correct me if I'm wrong. 2019 2019. But since the establishment has closed since, I feel that the me being on that board if I'm speaking out of turn fix it. Um, it needs to be up to code before we allow a new business to come in there because I would hate for the public to get sick. And it's not to not say I want to give anybody a liquor license, but anybody that would be coming to town needs to have a facility that sewer is a countywide. Can you come up here?

So right now the sewer system, the septic system out there, it's not county sewer. So it's not rural sewer, just an independent

independent septic system, but the septic system had failed and as it was an active business at the time. This is under Alccay back in 18. Um they allowed them to put in a holding tank only which is a rare thing. It's just they didn't want to shut the business down and they were supposed to come back to the board by the end of 2019 with a plan an engineered plan to put a septic system back in there and that to my knowledge that has not been done. So that was my question when I had heard that he was since the business closed and now we're trying to bring a business back into there. I would like to see the business up to to code before and food and is our contingency on he meets all the requirements to get this. I'm not against approving a license, but I think that we need to food and lodging. Back in 1718, they did say there was actual sewage being pumped on the ground behind the building, which we can't have that

the on correct. And that [snorts] would be my recommendation is to hold off until the commission has more information. state health, the environmental director, I'm sure, is very interested in what's going on at this location, right? Um, I would recommend tableabling this application for the moment uh to give time to get that information to the commission and to state health because the environmental director's busy and she's going around. But I assume well how long do you have any idea of how long it would take for her to get in or for district health to get in and do a review of the location?

She could go in there and look at it pretty easily, but I do know that. So there's a lot of disturbed soil behind there and I from what I've heard through the rumblings of the communities that he had dug up stuff last year as well behind the building. So it would have to be an engineered system. So, it's a matter of him, you know, contacting an engineering firm and then having them design a septic system, which is doable. And I think the argument that he had at one point was that it was contract for deed to some gal or couple people

and they probably didn't follow through with it. But him as the deed holder, he was aware of all of it. So, I think six, seven years, he should he should be able to come up with a plan to and get it fixed. I don't think we need another band-aid. it needs to be fixed as far as the health unit's concerned.

So I guess what I presented for you guys and Mr. What is there any other discussion on this or would we like to table it or I get a motion to table it table it you're going to have it every month I mean it's got to be sewer system acceptable you know public safety so until that's done I guess but I have nothing to act on I I don't know if that pertains necessarily to the liquor license itself. Right.

And that's why I recommend tableabling it instead of denying it based on the uh sewer system and other health concerns. Uh, I I I understand what Commissioner Vulk is saying that we want to make sure that it's a reputable place of business that isn't going to make our general public sick, but that I I'm not quite sure what the underlying ordinances are for these liquor license applications. I need to dig into that with Candy. She has those ordinances in her office. Even if we were Sorry.

No. Well, and and so the point is is I don't know that we can under our ordinances use these concerns to deny this application. So, uh just to give the commission more time to address these concerns, I would recommend tableabling it for a couple of weeks to the next meeting or next month to look to give state health time to look into that to give me time to give a recommendation based on our own internal ordinances here at the county. So, basically, Ed, we're not denying We're just looking for information. Second.

We have a motion and a second to table this um liquor license applications until next meeting with further followup. You guys could do that for us please. All in favor say I. I [snorts] post same sign. Motion carried. That brings us back to financial.

Thanks, Dad. Grab those, please.

I guess while we're waiting here, the Lake Region Roundup is tomorrow and Thursday, correct? Okay. Thank you very much.

You talked to Roger and all that about it. Yeah. Okay. So with that, if there's any employees listening, if you're here before that time, please, we're gonna come at six. Yeah. So they can park out front or something until you guys are done. Thank you. Thank you, Jason.

Well, and as a reminder that the doors will be open because of that. So that's something that was requested back in I think August or from extension that we'd allow the doors to be open so people can enter and go through the stairwells kind of thing instead of just the elevator so that the memorial doors to the memorial building will be open as well so people can pass through. So just an FYI for employees that if they're [clears throat] see people wandering the halls, that's the reason why. [snorts]

And on that same note, the next few days, uh, we're going to have increased security on the third floor of the courthouse. Uh, some metal detectors, other things. Just info to the public that if you do come up to the third floor, don't be surprised by metal detectors and increased security for a trial that we have going on. reasonable. Thank you. So financial report will be put on the next meeting. There will be basically two of them put together for the next meeting. Busy right now. Um is there any other announcements? Anybody?

Uh home rule committee met last night. Um, and we continue to make progress on that and hopefully we'll have a draft uh for the commissioner radio uh coming up middle of February. I think it's something that's short and and uh to the point and hopefully it makes some progress this time around. Really good committee and really dedicated group of citizens that have come together to work on that. So,

thanks Jeff. Any other announcements? I guess I jumped the gun a little bit here. Visitors, delegations, anybody? Sure. If you have anything as far as your department

only touch we got a high pro profile case coming up this week along with the roundup. So we basically we're going to secure the third floor. You won't be able to access is through the hall or the stairs. The only way up is through the elevator. We put a plan into place. Uh I'm going to assign three deputies up there. One for in the courtroom, two to handle people coming in out. We've made a list. We'll have it posted what is going to be allowed upstairs and what'll be allowed in the courtroom. And going forward, I think we're going to have that posted permanently out here because later on we got another uh event coming up and we're going to do the security on the main floor and do a trial run on that. And so when we go back to have our courthouse security meetings, we can discuss how that works and if it would be feasible for us to man that every day and what it would take. So couple trial runs, it should be uh give us a good idea where we're going to go with that. So, just an FYI to you guys that yeah, there's going to be this week a little bit more presence of us up here and a little bit more security. And I want to thank Sheriff Lang for being proactively working with the clerk of court to get this put together because a as you all are aware security in the courthouse has been a rising concern and this is a really important step that I appreciate the sheriff making to see if we can't make this a permanent fixture for the future of the courthouse.

Southern app. That's all I got. Thank you. Anything else for the good of the order?

I guess just a couple announcements to follow up from our last meetings was law enforcement center. Um the city had asked us again to review and possibly consider public safety uh building within the western finance building the existing structure. So, uh, we had gotten together, uh, myself and Commissioner Bolt and Sheriff Lang and, uh, Star Clemenser, the administrator of the law enforcement center, met with the city. We're going to take a look at that facility and see if what their ideas and plans uh, if we could possibly work out some sort of arrangement with that. Um, and let's see, there was uh all the UPS closure that was mentioned at the city commission last night. So, UPS is looking at um relocating their facility out of Devil's Lake and um so what that could be to our community and and potentially the loss of employment where they you know the change of employment to those individuals that work out of the Devil's Lake office. they could be re uh reassigned to other locations whether it be Grand Forks, Jamestown or Rugby. Um this is something that kind of caught the the community by surprise and it was a corporate decision uh way up top with some bean counters at UPS. Apparently, they've been in the works of streamlining their facilities across the country for the past couple years, but we were just notified that we were part of that list last week. So, um I'm not sure if there's anything we as a commission or we as a community could do to change your mind, but um you know, they claimed that it won't affect services within Devil's Lake, but we all

saw how that worked out with post office decided to stop sorting mail locally and move those sorting facilities to other locations. It delays that process. So, um something to be concerned about. Thanks, Jeff. Any other announcements? Bond meeting. Uh, Mr. Wgner and Eritson. Erlson coming next meeting.

Yep. Give us an update on bonding. Um, the process involved with it and what we need to do as commission to move forward with that process. So, they'll be able to answer all the questions. Uh Mr. Erlandson is from Northland Securities, the bonding company that has worked with the county and the city and other uh governmental agencies in the past in the state of North Dakota. And then Scott Ray is the bonding attorney that they co-op with out of I think he's out of Bismar is their bonding company or bonding attorney that they utilize. They won't run through all the the ins and outs of setting up a bond for a potential new jail facility. So if you have any questions, jot them down and they'll be happy to answer them. They'll join us via teams at our next meeting.

Anything else? hearing. None. That concludes the commission meeting. [clears throat]