County Commission - Regular Meeting

they decided yeah

Good.

Yep.

It's 5.30. Call the meeting of the Ramsey County Commission to order. Please rise for the pledge.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

First item, approval of the minutes. Move to approve. Second.

A first and a second. Any discussion?

Hearing none, all in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, say nay. Motion carries. Approval of the agenda.

I think there'd be one item to add. Payment to the Delaware schools under probably new business.

Do we have a motion to approve the amended agenda? Aye. So moved. Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, say nay. The motion carries. Roger. Got to come up.

Okay.

Up front. There you go. Perfect.

I think most of you guys know the 15, 16, 17th of July, there is no court. So we're going to try and have Bergstrom's do their electrical switchover then. And I guess I just brought Darren up here. So if you guys have any questions of him, he can probably explain how they intend to do it.

Darren? Questions?

So the existing service is coming in from the transformer out there. If you've looked downstairs, we have moved in the new main disconnect. and that is sitting there. So we'll have to intercept the main feeds coming in from the transformer and bring them into that new disconnect switch. Then we have to disconnect the generator transfer switch that's existing down there, that's brand new that we just put in. We're gonna relocate that over next to the new disconnect and then that will feed the transfer switch and then the transfer switch will feed the new section of switch gear we have down there. And then from that new switch gear, we're gonna backfeed the old gear and get that back online. So then we'll slowly cut that over. So we don't have two real long outages. We'll just have some briefer interruptions when we start cutting over those other panels. Yeah, so that's the plan right now. When you're talking brief interruptions, those will be more like an evening. Okay. You know, when you guys aren't here. So we could conduct business normally. Correct. That's the ultimate goal. Okay.

And do you think with three days, that's enough time?

Yes. Or it's not being in session.

Right.

And that should give us enough time to make sure things don't know get rushed and things missed and things like that correctly the first time instead of having to get another outage okay interrupts business. But yeah, that was the main goal was to try and get the new stuff down there in place. We got it sitting down there right now, but we don't have anything bolted down because if you ever looked at the size of those pipes and the wire, we want a little bit of freedom to move that stuff, to tweak it a little bit so it's not set in stone right now. Okay.

Okay.

So just to make sure I'm following, are we talking the 15th through the 17th for closing the building too? No?

I don't think so. That wasn't the plan, was it? Well, you won't have power. Oh, we won't have power. So there is a three-day stretch where there will be no...

Right. Okay. Three-day is the worst-case scenario. Maybe it would be better to look at it on a Thursday through Friday and we get everything lined up that Wednesday. We're really limited on the amount of noise we can make with courts in session. And that was one of the other things. So maybe if we're passing things down and getting things laid out and then kill power that Thursday and Friday,

Because you won't have elevators, you won't have lights, you won't be able to function.

Yeah, that would probably be the best.

So is that something we need to do officially here today or is that something we want to bring to motion? or do we do it at the first minute? Just in case something changes between here and there.

Are all the pieces in place, do you know? We have one site, yes.

Okay.

They're all moved into the basement.

Okay.

So is there possibilities of all of a sudden something comes up and that doesn't work?

Other than you guys changing the schedule, that's going to be, we can set that as our schedule for sure. We planned it far enough in advance to where that's, that'll be up as a stone.

And is there anybody else in the court else we should probably okay this with, or the courts or anything?

The courts, the court is aware.

Roger had already kind of looked into this as far as making There are court hearings scheduled for Wednesday morning, which sounds like the power won't even be shut off on Wednesday. Those hearings can also be rescheduled. That's what I've been told by the court. If the power does need to be off Wednesday morning, if that is the plan, they can be moved. And so if power is going to be cut to the building starting Wednesday morning or Tuesday evening, then those hearings can't be rescheduled. We just need to know when the power will be cut.

I would say we should try and shoot for a Wednesday afternoon. One of our biggest players is always getting on our tail to turn us back on. And sometimes after hours or weekends, it's not the easiest. so that's why we're trying to schedule the way we are and then also we have our supply houses available too if something critical comes up we can get parts in motion right away whenever we could get it closed i'm gonna say well this is something that we anticipated coming

when we did the electrical engineering stuff through Jason and got that information. And so we knew that this was coming sometime this year or so. And it's just a matter of letting Public Health and Extension know and the other entities within the building. But I was worried about public health.

Okay.

Yeah, their fridges will be down,

armory will still have power, just this wing.

So they'd have to move the medications, refrigerated medications over that way. Okay. That would probably be the best.

Yeah. So as long as everybody's aware. Should be ample time to make everyone aware.

I think if you made a decision now, it would give everyone enough notice, public, everyone, then you guys could move forward with, you know, this is concrete, this is, you know.

Do you think it motioned in order? Yeah. Second.

For when?

So that Wednesday at noon, the 15th?

Yeah. Do you think that'll work, Darren?

Okay.

All right, we have a motion and we have a second. Further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. Motion carries. Thanks, Roger. Thank you.

Roger, you want to stick around for this next discussion, please?

Chris?

Good evening, everyone. I'm just here discussing the opening of the courthouse for the tornado sheltering, severe weather sheltering. I know it was asked upon me a long time ago to be the guy to open the building. Uh, it's not really working out and just the ask alone. I'm a one man show. It's really tough for me to be out storm spotting and also opening the building. So we're trying to figure out some new avenues. I know Roger did it for a lot of years, but, um, I was really hoping it would be some law enforcement guys because they're on duty. They could open it up, but it seems to be a little bit of conflict of getting the officers involved. So kind of reached out for another person and kind of going the automated route. So I got a lot of work to do yet, but getting some of the stuff in motion, I reached out to Craig from Lakeside Lock and Key, and he said, We're going to do some work around with the elevator and the doors because right now it's a secure building. Everything is shut down and locked. So we're going to do some work with the current program. When they open the front doors, it actually unlocks the elevator to go down to the basement for the sheltering. There's going to be basically an admin login for an outside use or even a phone use. So basically someone could have a program with the right credentials could log in and actually open the doors for the storm sheltering. It is some items that have to get worked out on how this process works. I just want to keep you guys informed of how this is working.

So Chris had come to talk to me about it. And we, you know, obviously having a first responder that's on duty would be ideal. One of the things that would be the key fob system and we put out a lock box in front of the building to allow that. They have indications that they may be on duty. or other implications that could prevent them from opening in a timely manner. Chris is our eyes and ears up there spotting, weather impending. So he's the one that's going to notify dispatch that, hey, it's on the way. kind of thing. So he's one of the trained spotters. Sheriff is, you know, depending on the time of day and night, they may not have patrol officers in the community. They may be out patrolling in a rural area. And they also are some of our eyes and ears as spotters. Hey, and so in the meantime, we need to find somebody that would be willing to open the building if we have these disasters come up or these emergencies where people are seeking shelters within the community. We are designated as one of the shelters for emergency situations such as storms. Hey, and I don't know if, Roger, if that's something that you would be willing to do. the middle of the night you did for 27 years prior to and but i would leave that up to up to you and and because we're going to have to have backup plans between now and the time that we get an automated system in place or praise quotes for all that um and i don't think summer weather takes a uh for those type of situations. So we need to have something in place. And I don't know if Dispatch 911 has any suggestions or Sheriff Lang, if you'd have any suggestions about how we can best handle the response to opening the building. you know and it's something that we need to work through and you know we don't want to put it like you said a one-man show we don't want to put it all on roger either no um i don't think that would be fair to him um so obviously it needs to be somebody from the building that would have access to it you know be able to let people in and operate the elevator because the elevator currently is unlocked

It should be noted that it's locked down for everybody. I can't get up the elevator after a certain time as well, so we wouldn't even be able to use the elevator with the keys that are out front. We can program them differently. Sure. That's another layer currently. We can still use the stairs, but I just wanted to point that out.

So just prior to this meeting, Craig called back. There's a plan out there that would... It's currently a one-time fee, and that would give us the access in July. It'll be a monthly fee. So he gave a price about $3,000 roughly to get the doors, and... A new new operational board. And a new communication link between the doors and the elevator. I know I lightly talked to candy about. Budgetary item, I know we can probably figure out some money. I got some money in my budget that I'd be willing to part with. And work with candy on. On the rest, I guess, but. kind of looking at if I can maybe get a motion to go forward with getting that stuff in the works, and then I'll get working on the plans as well to actually formulate a plan. So this is a $3,000 one-time, one-and-done? Yes. That's the way it sounds as of right now. July 1 is the story. Subscription-based monthly. Craig's will, and I'll get this email out to you guys as soon as I get it. Craig's really trying really hard this week to get all that in place and get me a good solid bid, you know, like in black and white. So I can get that up to you guys as fast as I get it.

Also, get this order, get it started.

I'd second that. I think that's good. One of the best plans that we've had thus far. Yeah.

Bless you.

We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?

I just have a quick question for clarification. We've had discussions with the courthouse security committee about having greater control over these doors. Would this also solve some of the issues?

Yes, that was part of the work forward with Craig. I said we were looking at possibly adding more doors. So looking at the forward picture, not just today's picture, looking towards the future. Something we can grow on. I have one question. Yes, sir.

How does this work if remotely unlocking the doors to allow access? Is someone eventually going to show up here to make sure nothing nefarious is going on in the building?

I would hope that everyone's in good spirits, but... We're going to work through it, whether I have a law enforcement officer come through and give it the all clear, and they basically would clear the building at that point, because it's only just going to take minutes at that moment. And most of this stuff is very short-lived period of time, just seeking the shelter, making sure that they're safe. But yeah, I think it'd be a quick transition, whether it's the sheriff's office here or the police department, if we can come to an agreement. But yeah, great question. Great question. We've got a lot of behind the scenes. We're going to do a responder meeting, too, to kind of work out some of that.

And theoretically, you'd be able to limit, you know, the stairs up wouldn't be unlocked. It wouldn't be able to go up. It would just be able to go down. And all of the offices lock their doors at the end of the day anyway. So theoretically, they're not getting into the offices either.

Correct.

So we'll be able to.

Up from the basement to the first floor.

Yeah, everything can come up to the first floor. It's just right now it locks out on the main level because everything floods up to the main level. But I know there was some questions for Craig because of our age of our building, our age of our elevator, that some of that might not be 100% tweakable, but some more stuff to work through. Thoughts? Off the top of my head, I don't believe so. I think it's just a lot of generalized because you can rather hold the what if thing, but I think it's generalized for the most part. Great question.

All right.

Any other further discussion on the matter? Hearing none, all in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, say nay. Motion carries. Thanks, everybody. Appreciate it. Thanks, Chris. Thank you.

We're sticking around. We're sticking around. Thank you.

Jason.

Well, good evening, everyone. We'll hop right into my agenda. I added a couple of things at the end there, but I'm asking for a motion to move forward with the mag watering, letting the residents that are in that program, but this will be the last year that'll be offered. like we discussed at the last few meetings. We'll take that off our budget in 2027. That cost would be roughly $15,000 for 2026. So again, I'd like a motion to schedule that and get that taken care of.

Second. We have a motion and we have a second to schedule the bag water for 2026. at a cost of $15,000. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. Motion carries.

I'm asking for a motion to order two 72 inch by 40 foot culverts for Overland Sullivan. This comes, the recommendation came actually from KLJ. Paul did the watershed crossing for sizing, et cetera. Then we took the two recommended choices to the water board and the water board came back saying we could basically do either. This is what the talking to the township, they're the ones gonna do the install part of this. This would be the option they'd like to go on that crossing. I just need the motion to order these culverts. I did reach out twice to True North Steel in the last week. She told me to go by the, that she'd have it by today, and I do not have the actual price of this, but I could get that. As soon as I get that, I can forward that to you guys. But we just ordered a bunch of 72-inch. I'm assuming it's going to be the same, about $7,500 per run now. but I do not have the actual paperwork from her for this crossing.

What's in there? It's shot there.

Yeah, too small and rusted out.

So moved. Second.

We have a motion and a second to order two 72-inch by 40-foot culverts for Oberlin Sullivan.

Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye.

All opposed say nay.

The next thing I had on the agenda is tri-state paving. Got out and took a look at our overlay patches. We have 13 spots between Ramsey County four and Ramsey County eight. This year that are in need, we had a lot of breakups on four. So anyway, long story short, the quote came in at 139,000. So I'm asking if we could move forward and accept the quote so they can schedule us.

So Jason, let me ask you, when they do this overlay, do they dig that out and try to prevent that? blowout from happening again.

Yes, on the blowouts they'll dig out. On Ramsey County 8, it's actually two of those are the culvert sites that we did in the past years have settled. Four is the culvert site we did. Well, I guess that one will be done by Knife River, but yes, they're digouts. I think I attached the estimates for you guys on that. I did have those in time to get them to you.

So moved.

Second. Motion to second to move forward with the estimate from tri-state payment for $139,350. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. Motion carries.

That being said, to just touch on that too, that's something we budget for every year in our annual budget is overlay patches. That is a budget line thing that we do every year. Next, while I had them here, in the meantime, when we were trying to get someone to look at our breakups, Sheriff Lang had touched base with me about the north side of the LEC building where the Sheriff's Department uses their entrance over there. every year we're in there digging that out and relaying that we got salvage base in there big potholes and truck holes and everything so i um took it upon myself to ask tri-state to come down to the lac and go through the parking lot and to put together a patch the parking lot project i attached that um estimate as well there that came in at forty eight thousand four hundred and thirty dollars that's uh there's 25 pothole spot patches that'll be tacked there's i didn't bring the copy you guys have them there but there are several digouts and removals of the mud and broken asphalt One was five, the sheriff's side, the north side, that all has to be dug out and laid five inches thick, and then they're going to relay two inches over the top of that, so that would get that seven-inch lift of asphalt through there. It's already to the curb height, so they have to take it out anyway. So I did obviously then send these figures to Sheriff Lang. I met with Star Clements here this morning, gave her... The information I found gave her these quotes and her maintenance, Mr. Shanks. They're going to talk to their board and see what they have for money. So as of right now, this is kind of just growing legs. And I'm hopeful to maybe we can help as a county highway department if needed with some funds. But I just wanted to get this out here that I don't know if you've been down there lately, but the LAC parking lot needs a lot of work. I've been here for 30 years. I don't think it's ever been done. 29. So if we get these patches in place, I budgeted in my preliminary budget, I budgeted next year to chip seal it. Hopefully they can maybe fund that, but I put $15,000 aside for helping them with the chip seal. So these are just things that we don't have to do as a highway department. If you guys aren't comfortable doing them as a highway department, but it's around the county facility, around the county building, and I would like to help if they need the help. I think it's a,

Well, it's not a Ramsey County facility. It's a law enforcement center facility.

Okay. Well, thanks for clarifying.

Yeah. So we can take that up with the board, the law enforcement center board and see where they'd like to go with it.

I don't know what they have for a budget. I mean, I don't, we don't have to put any highway dollars into this thing. That's your guys' decision. I'm just trying to help them get it patched together and fixed up. And if we could, I would like to, but if not, if they need it.

Yeah, we can take that board to the board tomorrow and see, you know, obviously that's something that's been in our long-term planning process for quite some time over there. It just hasn't crossed the hurdle, but it's good that we have a board now.

Right. Something to work off of, so.

Yeah, anything, what were you gonna say? Something I think would be useful is how, if this was done according to the quote, how long would this work last?

Yeah, it should be, on those spots, the idea is 20 years, because that's your ideal life out of asphalt, generally speaking, correct, Paul? 20 years, 15 to 20, but yeah, but your wage patching that might be different but the big digouts and the overlays and the seven inch lifts those should last for quite some time just and there's going to be more maintenance added you know obviously they're going to be more potable show up to the areas we don't fix but just with the conversations about a new law enforcement center sinking that much money into something for long term and that's part of the consideration that the lec will And with that too, they can, and I understand that. But I just figured with the, I wouldn't drive a car through there. I'm just stating that obvious.

It's in bad shape.

And we do a lot of work over there now, patching with gravel and things like that. So we see how bad it is. So that's the reason why I took this upon myself to do this. And like I said, it has to go nowhere. I just wanted to try to help. The next thing we have going on is Johnson excavating. He finished that temporary relief ditch on Fox Lake. So I'm asking for a motion to pay him the $37,000 for the ditch cleaning. He also had to install 80 feet of 24 inch culvert, two different sections there. And then we needed 36 feet of 36 inch culvert in the township road. to the north. So this was that emergency fund we talked about earlier, but now that we have the total, I'd like the motion to actually pay him.

So moved. Second. We have a motion and a second to pay Johnson Excavating $37,000 out of the emergency fund. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye.

Do you have a voucher?

I do. Okay. Brent has it. He'll set it up with you. He was getting it ready today. Okay. So we need a roll call.

Yeah, we need a roll call for that.

It might even be with Miley.

Okay. Okay. Otis.

Aye.

Frith. Aye. Brown. Aye. And Wilhelmy.

Aye. All right, the next one is the culvert on four. You got that done as well earlier this month for trying to get that done ahead of the paving. That was $4,500 quote price, and that stayed the same. So I'm asking for a motion to pay that one as well. So moved. Second.

Motion to second to pay Johnson excavating $4,500 for culvert on Ramson 24. Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call, please.

The next thing we have is Sheriff Lang is now the proud owner of a heated garage stall down there in that blue utilities building. My only comment on that is do we continue to pay the utilities out of the highway department or does that now something that we have to get switched to the sheriff's department, or do we do that at budget time at the start of the year, or how should we handle that?

Is it got a separate meter?

It does, yeah.

So it'll just be a matter of transferring.

Is that what we do, or does it matter since we're all, again, sheriff, you are county, right? I got to check.

I don't want to be wrong. Right.

Exactly. It's just, I didn't know since I did have equipment in there and I no longer have equipment in there and we won't be in there if they wanted me to continue paying it or not. I don't care. I just want to make sure I do it the right way. I mean,

The building isn't transferring ownership or anything under the county umbrella. There's nothing wrong with it staying under the highway department, especially since it's on your grounds and all that. I don't see any reason for it to change other than if you or the sheriff wanted to make sure that all of your responsibilities were on your budget line items. But that's just more of a preference for what the commission would want.

Right. That's what I was looking to see. Yeah. So I think we're good there then. I did visit with Ms. Kenner a couple of different times with the deal chamber there, but the highway department, we do in fact pay for the utilities, the Otter Tail at the fish cleaning station in Lakewood. We do also insure the liquid cleaning station in Six Mile Bay, a visitor with Candy. She said she did check out that insurance and I believe that was proper, she said. So Ms. Kenner said that we could invoice her for the reimbursement for the utilities and the insurance out of the Lake Access Foundation. That was something we wanted to go into further. I could look into that or... Again, these are budgetary items that we've had in our expenses figured in for years, so at least now we know what the agreements were.

Do you recall, Candy, what we contributed to the Lake Access Committee?

I believe it's $15,000.

So there again, realizing now that we're part of like access committee after visiting with her and we're doing all that, do we really want to build back the money we contributed for our utility? You know what I mean?

And I think when all of that started, that's why everything was set up the way it was. Exactly. They were barely like, I mean, they were scraping bottom.

Right.

I mean, I think some years they were even in the red. to you know that's why we agreed to pay what we paid for to get them on their feet to get things going. You know, that's, I mean, I don't really think that it's going to break the county to continue to.

No, and a lot of these things, I just, I don't know. So I just bring them because when you find something like that, it's like, and then no one had an answer because nobody knew. But when like access started, the city took a couple of those as well. The county took a couple of those as well to get them going, the insurance and electricity. And I'm okay with that now that we as a department head, but I just want to make sure the board's still okay with it.

Yeah.

In order to avoid this same confusion in 20 years, I would recommend that that be a part of. Identified as a part of what is contributed to the lake access committee, whether that's averages or however, that would be calculated just so that. when we are identifying how much we are contributing as a county to the Lake Access Foundation, that these things are included as part of that consideration.

So she submits a budget every year, just like the different entities.

Sure. Yep. And so I would recommend that she include that as part of her budget. Yeah. And I have no idea what that dollar amount is.

Yeah. And I think everything is, you know, all that is listed in there because it's... I think there's like mowing and...

Well, these utilities wouldn't be because she's not paying these, but what he's saying, make sure she listens. But ours, the electricity runs anywhere from like 40 to 90 in the winter is less, summer is more when it's being used more. And then whatever the insurance is, I don't even know.

But I know, did she do like a whole grant? Did she do like a whole grant thing to get new fish cleanings? Yeah.

Yeah. Yep.

And that's one thing we should probably check and make sure that since they updated, I know they updated the one at Six Mile Bay, that that has enough coverage because I think that was a pretty expensive grinder that went in there. So if we're insuring that, we should make sure we have it insured to the right value. Yeah. And maybe they did when they checked it, when you talked with them.

Mm-hmm.

So we'll just leave that as a loan. And like Daniel said, to get that added to what we contribute. And I think I'm good with that, as you guys are good with that. It's your decision, but I'm okay, I guess, as the department head, so. Government service gave us a quote for $15,650 to do the paint striping for the 14 miles of chip seal. They're the ones who did our chip seal stuff last year. So asking for a motion to accept the quote.

Isn't it 14,650?

Or 14,650, I'm sorry, I read it wrong.

Yep, not a problem.

Got a motion and a second. And to accept the quote from Dalton Servicing for $14,650 for striking.

Any further discussion?

Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. All opposed, say nay. Motion carries.

KLJ has submitted a bill for the engineering of our thin lift, preliminary engineering and construction engineering of the thin lift overlay projects that started. This total for this invoice was $27,670.32. So I'm asking for a motion to pay this estimate. So moved.

The motion is second to pay $27,670.32 to KLJ for engineering. All in favor roll call, please.

Otis?

Aye.

Frith?

Aye.

Brown? Aye. Wilhelmi?

Aye. All right, speaking of that, the courier road has been completed on that. So that thin lift overlay is done. We did, like Paul said, we did some milling off in some areas and that turned out nice. KLJ has also, has the preliminary engineering contract ready for the Ramsey County Pathway bike path project. That contract amount is $40,000 for the preliminary engineering. I'm asking for a motion to accept that contract and to have the chairman sign the contract as well.

Second. Paul, did we go through with that appliance or was there a grant for that project? Yeah.

Okay, there you go.

Construction on that is scheduled for next summer. And I think the grant was, we just looked at it earlier, it was 300 and something like that, 386,000 towards that. So what's this?

You said this was a bill we got to pay?

Nope. This is their contract to get started on the preliminary engineering. Okay.

So we have a motion and a second to accept the contract for engineering for the bike path project. All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, say nay. Motion carries.

THE LAST THING I HAVE IS ASKING FOR THE CHAIRMAN AND THE AUDITOR TO SIGN THE BRIDGE INSPECTION AGREEMENT WHERE THE COUNTY HAS TO PAY THE 19.7% OF THE LOCAL SHARE. WE JUST GOT ONE IN THAT'S LIKE $400 SOME DOLLARS ALREADY. BUT I NEED THEM TO SIGN SAYING THAT WE AGREE TO PAY THE LOCAL SHARES FOR THE BRIDGE INSPECTIONS. MOVE TO APPROVE.

SECOND. THE MOTION IS SECOND TO SIGN.

No.

Bridge inspection paperwork? All in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed, say aye. Motion carries. Paul, did you have anything before I?

Anything else?

Commissioner Frith is praying for rain on that, so we don't want to talk about that right now.

Our last thing I handed off when I got here,

I did some preliminary budget work. I tried to work on a little bit last week. I got some stuff done and then I messed up that a little bit more today. I put a little rundown of what I did there and then I gave you guys comparisons from last year to this year. If we were to do everything on this proposed budget, the Highway Department would see an increase of $28,000. from last year to this year in spending, which is definitely below the 3% cap, which we actually can see an increase of 148,000. There's quite a few things on here that are up in the air yet, but this gives you guys an idea of what we are looking at and the options I'm looking into. Three new motor graders, and I budgeted around $900,000 for that in this preliminary proposed budget. Looks like they may be higher than $300,000 per machine with our trade-in difference. So I have started to talk leasing to see where we come up on for numbers on that and what kind of programs are up there.

We haven't looked at that for a while again.

Or, you know, there's always the maybe we purchase two and maybe buy some extended warranty for one and then try to work two, two, and two instead of three and skip a year and three and then five years, three. to try to get more balanced rotation so those numbers can come down. That's one of the things I did look at. That was with raises at a 3% raise and a step for the entire department. That was with two new shops, one being in Starkweather and Curry. That's a rough estimate from the lumber yard, but a 30 by 50 with a concrete floor insulated. Basic needs we would need would be around 200,000 a piece roughly to 225. I had, with that being said, I've talked to Starkweather Royal Fire. I've had a couple phone conversations and meetings. There are some options there. They're looking to build a building on the same property we were looking at. So they'd like to maybe partner up, maybe add a stall to that building. Maybe we could lease that or, because they would definitely want the ownership. And I said, I can understand that because they said, if you guys were, fire department's never going to leave services, but maybe the county stops building townships or something and relocates a motor grader type thing. So they would want the ownership, would rather lease if we went into that agreement with them. So those are things we could, but that's up for talks. So that would maybe eliminate a building. Some of the other things I visited with Paul, we put together the local share numbers for the bike path project for next, since that's next year, threw that in there. Fuel and gas expenses, I threw 30,000 on that. I mean, it's pretty self-explanatory, just stuff for you guys to look at. It's a start, but it's a pretty good start. There is some depth to it, so I did put some time on it. There's always room for cuts and improvements.

Thank you. Thanks, Jason.

See you guys.

Moving on to unfinished business, the Church's Ferry property.

That's me. So specifically, this unfinished item is in regards to Mr. Paul Christensen requesting that the county commission sell directly to him. three specific parcels of property out in Church's Ferry or former Church's Ferry that is now in county possession due to the city of Church's Ferry dissolving and via that process five or six years ago. My recommendation is that the county commission not make a direct sale to Mr. Christensen. As stated at the last couple of commission meetings, there is a function of statute that allows for the commission to sell to a private individual if the commission determines that the property is worth less than $1,000. In conversations with the tax assessor, Beth Black, and in review of other similar sales of inundated land, the price per acre of land that's inundated here in Devil's Lake is all over the place from $200 up to $990 per acre. And frankly, I don't think anybody can really guess what any piece of property next to the lake is worth to anybody. And so I recommend that the commission not make a sale of the property to Mr. Christensen. If the county commission wants to sell the property, it should be done at public sale so that the county can be sure that the property is being sold for the highest price possible so that that money can go towards other county costs that are not easy to cover these days. Further, unless anybody has any questions about that specifically, I guess I would ask the Commission to make a determination on that recommendation at this time, because I do have more, but it is on a slightly related but different matter. And please, if you have any questions,

I would go ahead and follow Mr. Holmes' recommendation of not selling that property at this time.

That was your motion?

That was the motion, yeah.

We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed, say nay. Motion carries.

Thank you. And then on a slightly related note, as it relates to Church's ferried property, It has come to my attention that Mr. Christensen has been enforcing the authority that the county commission conveyed to him last fall in what I would say is a concerning manner. Copies of letters or emails that have been sent to me expressing concern with Mr. Christiansen's enforcement of the county's authority to post on that land and to essentially steward or his stewardship over that land. I believe has the potential for exposing the county to lawsuits, other such things that are of great concern to me and certainly paints the county in a poor light. especially in consideration of Mr. Christensen's own behavior in county commission meetings over the last several months. I don't believe that he's a good representative of the county, and to continue to let him be the authority over property in what is former Church's Ferry, I think is not a good course of action. Last fall, when the commission made that decision, Mr. Christensen was asking for authority to essentially make sure that the property is being administered appropriately and that people aren't trespassing on that land. And the commission granted him that authority pursuant to century code. And among other things, I specifically went out there personally earlier this month and observed that there is a barrier to Third Street, which is still a valid roadway. And that barrier prevents the general public from accessing that road, which goes out to Old Highway 2 and provides access to the lake. that is specifically against century code uh obstructing a roadway is it's a b misdemeanor uh not saying that mr christiansen has committed any crimes as he has well that hasn't been investigated by law enforcement and the unfortunate situation is that he is theoretically acting under the commission's authority that was granted to him last fall um Mr. Christensen's behavior, the fact that he's blocking off roadways, and the way that he is portraying Ramsey County to... visitors to our county here. I recommend that the Commission rescind the authority granted to Mr. Christensen last fall, effective at the Commission's discretion. I recommend doing that immediately. However, I understand that this is a little bit of late notice to the Commission as far as making a determination today. If the Commission does make that decision in any motions, I would recommend that the Commission give Mr. Christensen some time to remove the notices of trespass that have been posted, or if the Commission wants those to remain, they can remain. And just want to make sure that it's clear what the directive of the Commission is. And I have had conversations with Mr. Kraft with the highway department. He said that he would, the highway department would be willing to remove those obstructions of the roadway so that there is open access to a valid road here in Ramsey County. So we would not even have to wait on Mr. Christensen to move those. Or if they were not placed there by him to begin with, then they can be removed. But those things, that specifically does need to be addressed. And otherwise, I leave it to the commission to make a decision based on my recommendation today.

Thoughts of the Commission?

I've had similar complaints that Mr. Hall has had from probably the same individuals. And that doesn't shed the Commission in a positive light. It doesn't represent who we are. And I would certainly stand by it. and Mr. Hall's recommendation. I would like to hear from the sheriff. Have you been out there? Oh, it's been a while since I've been out there. Okay.

I spoke with the sheriff briefly before the meeting. He has not had any further interactions with Mr. Christensen or Church's Ferry since the county commission gave Mr. Christensen that authority last fall. And I don't know what the reason for that might be, but there have been no further reports or calls to law enforcement since that time regarding this matter.

The no trespassing signs say by authorization of the Ramsey County Commission, correct?

They do.

And that's why I don't know if anybody else received that call. I received a call asking for permission to. To grant that, and I didn't feel as an individual commissioner, I have that authority to do so. We all act as, together as a board and make decisions individually.

I've also been told, and I do not have anything other than statements from individuals in the community that some people are being allowed onto that property to use it for fishing purposes while others are being prohibited from being on the property for fishing and hunting purposes, which further complicates and concerns me as far as equal application. As a county government, we can't treat people differently. for any reason. There are provisions under the law that allow counties and governments to differentiate between groups for valid reasons, but as far as I can tell, there is no valid reason to restrict some people from fishing on land than others. So, again, I'm not accusing Mr. Christensen of anything here. It's purely a I don't know that there's any benefit to the county to allowing Mr. Christiansen to continue to have stewardship over this land and the potential for fallout and certainly the optics for the county and him being a representative of this commission's authority. I don't believe it's in the commission or the county's best interest to let that continue.

I do have to say thank you. And we originally talked about this safety.

That was certainly a part of the conversation last fall.

And if you still let people in to do what they do, doesn't that violate the safety part of that?

It certainly degrades his point about not being a safe place for people to be if he's allowing some people to go out there and others not.

Have you been there, Bill? You ever been out there? Yeah, OK. I am so that's why I'm asking questions. It's calling property.

We gotta treat it as.

Would someone like to make a motion addressing this in one direction or another?

I'll make a motion. Okay, let me ask this question. Was there a motion on this one?

There was. The commission moved to have Mr. Christensen essentially appointed as a representative of the commission to steward that property pursuant to subsection 40 53.107 of the century code um he essentially is managing that property pursuant to commission directive and that motion i don't have the specific date on which that motion was uh passed by the commission but that was done last fall okay i'll make the motion second that

We have a motion and a second to rescind the authority given to Paul Christensen in the former city of Church's Ferry.

And per Mr. Holland's recommendation, do we want to set a date on that or do we want on it?

Those no trespassing signs can remain up if the County Commission wants them to. We can restrict people from accessing land that is not open to the public as long as it's not open to the public. I don't see why the Commission would want to restrict access to it, but that's certainly a possibility. Frankly, Anybody could go out and just pull those stakes up. And the larger issue is moving the barriers. I think two or three guys could go out and do that themselves. I don't know if that would be equipment or anything like that. Go ahead.

Before we vote, the barriers, you say that they connected another good road. So it's like two roads connected by. Third Street is not, I think.

Safe for travel with motor vehicles, but it is certainly safe for foot traffic.

So just like maybe an old motor vehicle sign or something like that. Once we look at it. Yeah. That's why I was curious. Absolutely. Because I'll be honest with everything going on and all the meetings. I have not been out there myself personally. Absolutely. In the last two weeks, probably three weeks, four weeks, months.

Frankly, no directive needs to be given to Mr. Christensen. The commission can order that those no trespass signs be removed and any county employee can go out and do that. Commissioner could go out and do that. I could go out and do that. That's not something that needs to be delayed. And I, if the commission wants me to, I will also draft a letter to Mr. Christiansen with my letterhead or the commission's letterhead, whichever you prefer. Just letting him know the commission's determination and just kind of the reasoning behind that.

Okay.

Do we still need to come up with an effective date? This is effective immediately. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DANIEL. Was this in our stuffed candy or no? It was in the last.

Yeah.

Oh, okay. We're just going off the last. Okay. Yeah. Oh, yeah, that's right. Yeah.

So I included... January through May for the different attachments so that we knew where things stood.

What I noticed was the flood damages reports and I thought we had combined those funds or at one point. I think it'd be on like page nine. Starts with the fund, what is it?

Yeah. Like, yeah. And that's, that's where I said, I've got to like, I've got to get with them to like, help me figure out like why those are, because we've already transferred that money and why those are still showing up. So if like, if there's another box that I need to check, that I'm not checking. And it's pulling those numbers still. And I'm thinking that that's why it's showing up on here. Yeah.

It's kind of really the only thing that jumped out going through all

Yeah, and I, I did catch that as well. I just, you know, you know, because it's and there shouldn't be. Yeah, because it's the same numbers going, you know, from the left to the right. Yeah. And there shouldn't be. But now that, you know, my life has kind of calmed down and, you know, election is, you know, quiet for a little while. I can get on the phone and I can ask questions. I can ask more questions of like, you know. Do I need to click another box? Do I need to click this one and click this one? It took a long time just to get this. And there's still some where I have to put in like, you know, it's just the inputting of like the 2026 like budget number, you know. There's a few of those that have to be input yet too. Because of course, I know none of that carried over from the old to the new.

I've looked at it quite a few times. It's just so different than what we were that we're trying to soak it in.

I mean, it's still kind of the same. I mean, the same format as the other report as far as the different line items like i said i just i think that i need to ask if i'm not checking or if i need to check more boxes that is on the screen when you go to do yeah there's Trust me, if you don't do a screenshot, you're never gonna get the same report, so. Learning, it's always learning. You know, but even with some of the stuff of like the, where it says like the health tracks grant like there's no there's nothing in there. All that's been or that county human service or the emergency poor like all that's been transferred. So I just think there's a few extra steps that

So what do we want to do? Do we want to approve what's in front of us or table this again?

I mean, you can table until I, you know, I mean, I'll get with Tyler again and, you know, get with the same person that I worked with on this and make progress, like keep asking questions until I get. Until I get it figured out. Yeah. 2nd, the money is there. I just need it to. Come out right on the paper.

We have a motion the 2nd to table financials, financials. All in favor say aye. All opposed say nay. Motion carries. Approval of the Coward County liquor licenses.

Were those in our packets?

We didn't get a list. Okay. Oh, yeah, because we were trying to last minute people. So we have the buckhorn. We have the checkered flag, also known as Devil's Lake Speedway. We have Del's Lake Park Board doing businesses, Creole Bay Golf Course, Ed's Bar and Bait Shop, J.D. 's Bar and Grill, Military Service Club at Camp Grafton, Patriot Fuels, Pop's Good Time Bar, and Pro's Lakeside at the Cove. And they have all submitted applications and all taxes have been paid. We're good to go and we're good to go. 5 o'clock today.

Just a quick question pops is.

City limits yes, and they can apply for a county. license to like do events like go to the events center like the ramsey county events yeah was a little confused on that thank you yep we have a motion a second to approve the liquor licenses

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed say nay. Motion carries. Devils Lake Schools payment.

So if everybody remembers that we didn't get the assessment correct for the Devils Lake School District for their bond that they bonded for school or school additions and the 2021 staff tax statements so our initial plan was we wanted to get adjusted tax statements out that's proven more We had a meeting with Candy and Lisa. They explained the process that they would have to, with all the different credits that are involved with PCRs and the veteran credits and the homestead credits and all those things that are already applied, that they'd have to do a lot of manual entering. And it would be four to five hours per day for the next four to eight weeks. So that would take us right up to about the time that next year's statements. So the proposal is to make the payment to the school and then recoup the funds. Yes, that would. work and talking with lisa we do have the funds available it's not something that we have to borrow for it's something that the school needs in order to make their bond payment um and so lisa wants to cut a check and get that to them by the end of this week i think yeah i believe they have to make their bond payment this month And Tyler is going to get us a price quote on additional training, both remote and in person, which we'll have to take a look at. I think that is something that would be very beneficial. It's been a major undertaking, and it hasn't gone exactly smooth. I think we're looking forward to the price quote come next meeting with Tyler and have some sort of timeline. And we both pressed them for a calendar deadline when they can come up and when they can do this because timing is of the essence, obviously, and the sooner the better. Candy, do you have an amount or We had a couple different figures. Yep.

It is 535,000. That's what the school has coming.

Yeah.

Yeah, let's see. Is Tyler going to apologize to us? No.

I'll move. They've said sorry to me a few times.

We have a motion and a second to pay Devils Lake Schools the $535,000. They are due. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor, are we doing a roll call on this?

Roll call, please. Hodes. Aye. Frith. Aye. Brown. Aye. Wilhelmi.

Aye.

Visitors and Delegations.

I just want to clarify a couple quick things on the Church's Ferry situation. Should I wait until the letter goes out to go out there to do anything? Remove any signs or anything? So he's aware?

That's probably appropriate. Just so that Mr. Christensen is not upset with the highway department. We'll plan to do it Monday maybe then or something like that. I'm going to get that letter out. I'm actually going to have the sheriff serve it upon him. That's all very

But you can just let me know then. And then the other thing is, if we remove the no trespassing signs, does that change any liability stuff we had going on out there? I mean, that's what I'm asking you because you're illegal. I mean... A sign is only as good as...

It's clearly not... land that is for people to use there's clearly mud and cement and everything else okay at a certain point the general public has to have some understanding that it's not being maintained and so you don't know what's underneath the reeds and what what's out there wet water all of those sorts of things well then those trespassing signs don't really help with any

liabilities anyway but nothing has changed since before last fall so right that there would be no change from now to them okay and then lastly we're in agreement i'll just put a no motor vehicles on that sign on that one road that third street one once you take a look at it i think that's worth just coming back to the next month and yeah sounds fair making sure that everybody's aware before you put up a new sign but we'll just get rid of the other stuff yes all right thank you

It's currently still a valid roadway. And the only point in putting up a no motor vehicle sign is that it is not fit for travel by the general public with motor vehicles. So that's more of a safety concern than it is a shutting down of the roadway itself. But again, once Jason goes out there, if he says that trees can be cut back and it is a roadway that can be used, that's a different conversation i just don't have the information to say one way or the other that we should maybe we should close that road and maybe jason gets out there and says yeah we need to close this road if somebody goes out there they're putting their lives at risk well yeah i think he should come back next meeting just to cover that before we make any final determinations because i am not an engineer by any stretch of the imagination

Anyone else have anything to say? Anyone have an answer? Any answers or info about the water department?

A lot of resources, but answers?

So our regulatory said today that they are working up their proposal. They're preparing a review for leadership. I know most of the leadership is going to be down in Fargo tomorrow for a legislative interim committee presented to that committee in Fargo. So DWR staff will be there. They're looking at probably early next week, hopefully. I know that doesn't answer a lot of questions and it doesn't meet a lot of timelines. Definition of emergency is different in some people's eyes, I think. coming up here and I don't know, we got three, maybe four inches of room before we don't have that. Hard to be anymore for part of the town. Yeah, and I know the state engineer Pekoske and staff was out and drove that area last week prior to the meeting. So they're aware of the situation. And so maybe seeing it firsthand will give them a better reflection of the urgency of that we're hoping for. Time will tell. So I told them not to keep asking.

There'll be a thorn in their side for some time.

Announcements?

A LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER MEETING IS TOMORROW MORNING, 8 O'CLOCK, LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER. START OFF WITH THE EMERGENCY 911 BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND FOLLOWED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS. CERTAINLY THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND ANYBODY IS WELCOME TO ATTEND.

JUNE 25TH, 8 A.M., THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS HOLDING A Public hearing for the proposed ordinances. So for everyone's awareness out there.

And the airport authority did meet yesterday, set another boarding record for the month of May. Looks like they'll set another one for June if all the projections hold true. So looking at, through five months of this year, we were just about 50% of what we did last year. So which is, we're a month ahead of schedule for last year's record boarding numbers, which is great news for the community and for the regional airport.

Anyone else have anything to add? Meeting adjourned.