County Commission - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon, everybody. Call the Ramsey County meeting to order. Start off the pledge, please.

Pledge 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 on the agenda is approval of minutes. We got a motion, we got a second. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, same sign. Motion carries. Approval of the agenda that we have presented.

I have a couple of things I'd like to add just for discussion. The FDACO conference, And then the chamber gala, Ms. Kenner, that I would bring that up.

What was the first item, Jeff?

NDACO conference at the chamber gala. With that, I would approve the agenda as amended.

Second. So we got a motion and a second to approve the agenda as amended. All those in favor by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, same sign. Motion carries. Brenda?

Hi.

Good afternoon. Want to push the so it turns green?

Right on the bottom there. Yep.

It's all yours.

All right. Well, I'm here about the budget and the requesting some funds for the shelter for the coming year. So I sent a letter.

Yep, we got your letter. Okay. We did our preliminary.

OK, any questions?

We haven't discussed anything as far as preliminary, which was a preliminary that was put forward. But as far as funding and all that, we haven't discussed what we're doing. Anybody have anything to add to that?

I don't recall if we, did we reduce the request?

No.

Right now, it's currently in our preliminary budget, Brenda, for next year.

Okay.

Good.

Good.

And whether or not that gets moved forward, well,

Okay. Because we, of course, I've written some grants and they were all, everything's on hold. The HUD, the federal government isn't bringing anything back to the state right now. So I had also forwarded that notice so that you guys were aware of that. So we'll be running on a really tight, tight budget. But I think we can move forward and still provide those services. And they're much needed. And of course, you know, like I said before, it's It's a lot cheaper to fund that and have some people staying there and receiving services than if they decide to do some petty crimes to stay in jail so they have a place to sleep and eat.

Could you give us a brief synopsis of the shelter and remind us of it? what you guys do and what you serve and how many beds you have.

So we're approved for 12 beds. We're usually full. And we do provide the services where we're helping them find permanent housing, employment, and counseling or other services that they need. We are a sober-free facility, so we do do drug tests and breathalyzers. So we also help them with that too. So we want people to be the best that they can be and to receive those services so that they can do that and move forward.

And working to try to get them out of that situation.

Yes, that's the main goal is so that they have a job because they have to have a job to pay rent. And so, you know, that's kind of the first step is that and then to move forward with housing. So, and I know there's... You know, there's always going to be a homeless population, but the ones that are staying at the shelter right now, we've had some great success stories. In fact, one was on the Minot News because he went to a conference there and spoke about how he would not be in the situation he's in now, being sober, having visitation back with his kids. He had just moved into his own apartment if he went to have the support of Lake Region Community Shelter. So I don't know if you guys, you probably don't get Minot News here, but it was on the Minot News.

And where does your funding come from now?

We have none right now.

None?

None. So just the carryover from, you know, what we received from.

Where have you received it in the past?

So in the past, so for 2026, it was from the county and also from the grant from the state, which that grant is not available now because of the HUD freeze. So, yeah. Okay. So that is where we're at. But we also work on, you know, other things like sitting down, creating budgets, doing mock budgets so that they understand, you know, some people don't understand that when you get your check, the first thing you got to pay is your rent so that you remain housed and take care of your essentials. And then you can go buy some new shoes. So we do work on those things as well. So.

Thank you.

You're welcome. Let me know.

Anybody else have any questions for Brenda? Hearing none. Thanks, Brenda.

All right. Thank you.

Yep. Have a good night.

Yep.

Jason?

Good evening. First thing we'll start with there is we got our Local share payback to the North Dakota DOT for bridge inspections, load rating. That is $3,433.17. I'm asking for a motion to pay the invoice.

Second.

We got a motion, we got a second.

You want that to be paid? Yep. Roll call, please.

Otis?

Aye.

Frith? Aye. Brown? Aye. Wilhelmy?

Aye.

Wolk? Aye.

Okay, the next thing there is, along with the bridge inspections, they sent a letter for signature of the certification of local match for the bridge inspections. I would ask for a motion that the chairman and the auditor would sign that, please. So moved.

Second. We've got a motion. We have a second. For the signatures, all those in favor by saying aye. Aye. All opposed, same sign. Motion carries.

Next there, we received a request from Rick Schwab to build an approach on the west side of Walleye Drive. It would be an approach south of the one that's currently passing his property there. He had dropped off a letter of. Meeting minutes from. 2000 and. 2. 5 or something from the developer, I don't know, I don't. I got this map, but I didn't bring the minutes, I guess. What year does that say? Mr Brown there?

I think it's 2004.

Yeah, 2002, 11-05, November, 2002, stating that when he, it doesn't really state when he bought the property. It says that when Alfredig was the developer and he was planning to build a proposed subdivision, that he was allowed two approaches and they only put in one, what this letter says. So... And that was something I think I sent to you guys. So you got a chance to look at that. I guess I have no. I don't really know what direction to go with that with that letter from 24 years ago. That's why I brought it to you guys.

Where's the approach on the other side case?

OK, so it's. It's the where the other one where they did for the for the town or the shop condos. Can you roll that down a little bit candy? other way i mean take the screen up sorry thank you keep going so his approach i have a map here of his approach that he wants is below the section line there but the one that they just built is down right where the fence line is of course nothing is back on the right side yeah on the other side of the road yeah so they're not straight across from each other Now, if she can move that screen up again, we'll keep going south, Candy. Other way, please. I can show you where the shop condos are going. There you go. So you should be able to see on the section line there, there's something out in that field on the east side there. So that's where Rick's going to build on the west side. And then the other side of the road over there. And then south a little bit more, down a little more. Yeah, right in that area is where they built the other one.

And we put a culvert in right at that line there?

They did, yeah, when they built their approach. I'm just trying to visualize it. Yeah. I can't tell on this image here because on Google Earth it shows their job van out there. But ours doesn't have that. Isn't this current of a photo maybe? But on his proposed one, so the approach that is there that Candy was on originally, you can keep bringing that down, Candy, now. So from the approach that's there, right there, 800 feet south. So wherever 800 feet measures down to is where he wants to put it.

And then from down there to go to that shop condo is how many feet, do you know?

I don't know, but that's on the opposite side. So they'd be, I would assume they're probably another five to 700 feet there. Their original request was for two as well, but then I told them that we would do the one and then readdress the second one because they haven't developed anything over there yet. Slowly. Slowly. Yeah.

We did. I do have one question. I'm going to share if you could come up to the podium. I got a question. What do you think? I know we allowed to put the approach in for the shop condo. What is your thoughts on the safety of putting one here? I get the roads only 45 mile an hour, right?

Correct me if I'm wrong. Yes.

Yes. But I don't know what the traffic is there. I don't know if there's been a traffic count done or what. But what are your being in the law enforcement? What has been your visions of this road? You know, you're you know what? The traffic flow is probably more than any of us.

Well, it's actually a business.

Because it's allowing everybody coming from those two, Lakewood and then you have the, what, straight south of that? I can't think of it right now.

Yeah, going straight up into Quiet Acres. Quiet Acres. Yep. Would be probably the two main ones. Very busy in the morning, for sure. The biggest difference between this one and the one on Ramsey County 1, obviously, is at this point there's no frontage road on his property where there is on that other one that when you guys looked at it, didn't I add? So I don't know. And I don't know if that, like I said, I don't know if you guys looked at those meetings. You've got to look at those to know if they mean anything.

That's my question is, so this stretch of road, was it? mile, two miles? Just over a mile. Is this something that's needed? I see the campground there. Is it something needed in the future? Is there going to be a need for frontage road on there? You know what I'm saying? Are we here to approve something where in the future we should have had frontage road before we cause a whole bunch of safety hazards? That's my concern.

They have, they do have, he's already got, if this was a Google image, Google Earth image, there's already RVs in that area.

Yep, I know.

So he is developing it already. So as far as a need. There's like two more roads. Right. So as far as a need, there very well may be a need, I don't know, for a frontage road at some point. You're supposed to have to access, or I'll say go through the capital. Right. Okay. Well, right. So I'm saying that might be the option for him, for the developers to go with the frontage road. And that's why I'm asking the sheriff.

No. No.

So what you're saying is adding the approach or not adding? It would make the approach that he currently has.

If you add the frontage road, I think you could add the approach.

Yeah.

But if you don't add the frontage road, you're creating a lot of congestion, right? The possibility.

It depends on how much he gets developed. You know, he's getting two more rows. Campers.

And that's why I asked, Jason, that's why I asked how far down the other side was.

We should be able to see here. She went to Google. You know, because is it something where you'd want to keep moving south? I'll see that job man there. I think that's closer to Mr. LaFleur's develop, isn't it? Yeah, it's. Yeah, it's going up north. Yeah, pull it down. You'll see the job shack there, Ken. You keep going. You'll see a semi-trailer and pull it down the other way. Yeah, right there. You see that white thing on the shoulder? That's where they put their approach in that area.

So we got approach right in that area. So we got two approaches on there for that development right now already? One for the development and one for the previous one. The one north of that is for going into where the landing is, correct?

That one is, yeah. Oh, you share that approach. That's how they access their property is off the... I see that. Off that one, yep, correct. And then here now on this picture, you can see where there's home or RVs being placed in that property where he's looking to place that approach. Now you can move that up if you would, please. He's trying to come straight out. Straight south, 800 feet from that approach the county's got right there, 800 feet straight south. Yep. So... And I did share with him when he stopped in the situation on Ramsey County, one that we had in the last meeting. And I invited him to come here and visit with you guys.

And he said he would have, but he was out of town tonight.

So I told him to feel free to.

So he owns all that property all the way up to, I'm assuming he must. And I imagine he has it.

So it'd be. Yes. So it'd be, it looks like. Oh yeah. So it's 130 feet to the property line to the court line. And he owns the stuff to the south of that as well.

I wish Rick was here too. Well, we can revisit it.

I would like to know if his plan is to put frontage road in there, right?

Yeah, I don't know. I asked him.

My biggest fear is if you develop this like we have had in the past, developed a lot of stuff and we get a whole bunch of stuff in here. If this road is already busy, how much busier to get it? Granted, I get it's a campground on this side, but what's going to go in on the other side? Pretty soon it's super compressed with traffic, and I know that road's busy. I know it is because I used to take that road to go to my work, and I just avoided it because it's so busy.

Yeah, the last comments we had on it was about 600 cars a day. You know, so that's something.

I think Rick should come in and explain his whole thing before we make a decision. And he has some other plans, to be fair to him.

What Commissioner Frist said, if the quarter line is 130 feet away, maybe that works, or he can get it on that quarter line. Then that might work. You know what I'm saying? So I'll get a hold of him and have him come in next meeting. And see if that works for him.

Because if we told the other gentleman that we want to have it on the quarter line, And if he's 130 feet here and he owns the property and we put it on the quarter line, then we're being fair all the way across. We're not telling one guy he can do it and the next guy can't.

As far as where...

I doubt century code says anything specific. I can certainly look, but. I mean, it's really more of a county preference as far as my understanding goes, which I mean. It's better to be consistent across the board than it is to make a new rule every time you come across a new situation. So I think everybody's heading in the right direction. It's better to figure out more information. A 24-year-old resolution by the commission, still valid, not saying it isn't, but that was made at a different time with different people, different traffic loads. So it's worth taking a look at. Yeah.

I mean, I would like to, my personal opinion, I like the table. And so Rick can come and talk his piece on this and talk about that. Like Jeff said, another 130 feet to put it on the section.

Okay.

I'll let them know. We have a motion. We have a second. Any other discussions? Hearing none, all those in favor by saying aye. All opposed, same sign. Motion carries to the table. Thanks, Jason.

Yep, thank you, guys. Next, I actually ended up with two of these. There'll be probably one or two more we had from the washouts. during the flood event, they're right at $2,500. So I just wanted to go over them. I got two hydraulic reports that he's gotten done for us, Fisher Land Service. They're right at $2,500. So I'm asking to pay those. I only had one on here, but I got another one today. So I might as well get them both paid. So we'd be paying the two at 2,500?

Yeah. So it'd be 5,000.

5,000, yes.

Second. We have a motion. We have a second. Roll call, please.

Otis. Aye. Frith.

Yes.

Brown. Aye. Wilhelmy.

Aye. Volk.

Aye.

And to further that a little bit, they both went to the water board now. I got them, sent them to the water board, waiting for recommendations before we do anything with that. So they have those now. Next thing, I need a motion to pay for the two VPLOs that we ordered this spring that we traded the case loader in for. The difference of that was $18,267.92. So moved.

We have a motion. We have a second. Any other discussion? Hearing none, roll call, please.

Otis?

Aye.

Prith? Yes. Brown? Aye. Wilhelmy?

Aye.

Bull?

Aye. Motion carries to pay that.

Next one is we're not paying anything, but we got quote for salt. 31 ton load is $4,205.77. So we figure we're going to need two of those. So which comes out to be $8,411.54. And if we order them after today, there is no tariff charge on salt. So of course we're here to get permission to order first. How much did you carry over last year?

About a half a load out of the two loads we got.

So I'm thinking that should be, we got a mix yet. So we don't have any salt sand at all right now, hardly stock, but we do have salt to use to get started with.

Second. We got a motion, we got a second to approve the order. All those in favor by saying aye. Aye. All opposed, same sign. Motion carries.

We have a invoice, invoice number 2739 for $9,946.73 from KLJ. So I'm asking for a motion to pay that. That is for the ThinLift overlay projects we did this summer. So moved.

We have a motion and a second to pay the overlay of 9,946.73.

Roll call, please.

Prith.

Yes. Brown? Aye. Hodes?

Aye.

Wilhelmy?

Aye. Volk? Aye. Motion carries.

The next one was a water study that was done by Prospect Township. They did two crossings. The Fisher Land Survey did that, presented to the Water Board. The Water Board accepted the upgrade, the stream crossings. The study indicated that it needs two 48-inch, 40-foot culverts at each site. So I got a quote for those for $13,363.20. So I'm asking... That's for both of them? That's for those four. So I'm asking for a motion to order the culverts.

What was it, Mayor?

One of them has a 36 and a 24, and the other one has two 36s. And like geographically, it's west of Ryan Brecke farm and north up to number nine, where we put the bigger culverts in, in the foot. That's where one of these, there's going to be two more of these studies coming through one from the township and one of them that we're paying for on four. There's they're all four of those crossings are ended up being upgraded because of what we did on the FEMA project on nine. It increased, it got everybody to look at the increased folder.

Looking for a motion.

Move to approve. Second.

We got a motion, we have a second. All in favor by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. Motion carries.

I'm asking for a motion to pay close the 6875 for the spot ground on Ramsey County 4 and Ramsey County 9.

Second. We got a motion and we got a second to pay close for the 68-75. Roll call, please.

Wilhelmi.

Aye.

Otis.

Aye.

Frith.

Yes.

Brown. Aye. Volk.

Aye. Motion. Four does, yeah. They're up there up north. I can come back up when we get into the later part of the agenda there so we can get to the next part here. The one thing I was going to say, as Jeff touched on, and I don't want to forget, our conference, Paul scheduled us at the NADCO conference, is at 4 p.m. on the 12th. So that way, if anybody, any of the commissioners are available and want to come and sit in on the federal aid, federal highway funding program, which we've kind of borrowed out ahead for a few years to do what we did this year. But anyway, we'll still get a better understanding.

I've sat on, or I've sat on them. It's a whole lot to comprehend.

It is, yeah. But it's good if you're there. I don't know if anyone's coming or not, but feel free to look me up. Or if we don't see each other throughout the day, 4 o'clock, they have signs up for the meeting. Thanks, Jason.

But if you guys want me to come back up for that.

Yeah, we will.

so i guess six o'clock we have our 2026 budget hearing which that brings us into if there's any buddy here that would like to talk as far as the hearing for our budget see there's a couple people in the audience rick could you please come up to the mic please I know you like it.

Testing testing. No, I, I am actually just here to observe. I, you know, uh, promise that I get more involved in understanding the challenges to the budget and your challenges. And, you know, I don't like, you know, sitting in the stands eating popcorn and complaining. I just thought it'd be kind of good to see what all is going on, try to figure it out. That's why I came, incidentally, not for anything else. Appreciate to hear that. yeah it's i know how hard it is you know and the only thing i will say is this it's getting harder and harder for business too you know and at some point you know that that balance of the shift is going to be concentrated on business and whatever business is left it's good to have as much business as possible to support that not fewer and it's been fewer i mean not that it's our problem here it's just it's a national issue and it's uh you know it doesn't matter what it is i mean there's consolidations all over the country there's all kinds of bigger and fewer you know and we know that i mean you take a look at uh you know all the city doubles lakes in the county so look at downtown devil's lake i mean we're challenged with, you know, a great deal of infrastructure that, you know, what are we going to do if there are no roofs on them and things like that? I mean, it doesn't take long for things to go south. So that'll be a big, big problem that, you know, I don't know that we're really thinking about, you know, what kind of a challenge that's going to be, you know. So anyway, I appreciate that you guys are taking the time to, you know, to do what you're doing because it has to be done. And, you know, it's a responsibility that, you know, a lot of people don't understand or don't take time to, you know, check in. So thanks. Thank you. I have no input other than to understand what's going on.

Thank you. Appreciate it. I see we have a couple other people here. I don't know your name, sir.

I'm Kirk Bates. Just have a business in the county. I'm here simply the same thing. I'll let go of that. Just to educate myself on the process, how it goes, just to learn more about it.

Thank you. Ma'am?

I'm not sure if this is the right format or not, but I've gotten a letter in the mail regarding property in these meetings. And we had a recent association meeting with Dakota Shores. And I know there was a township meeting a few days ago for that district, but just an overall concern about how our area was taxed. I know this isn't a taxation meeting, but with the new development that's going to be going out there, I feel like I got my tax evaluation resolved. But after I went to the association meeting, it sounded like a lot of others were in the same ballpark as me, where our area had actually been assessed according to Scooby's point, which is nothing like what our development is, where we have limited square footage. um holding tanks and things but um when we had our association meeting on saturday i learned that others kind of experienced what i had and so i my lot that i had purchased with less than 30 000 i had gotten assessment for over 90 000 on a lot that i had not improved in any way and in calling to the county i did get a lot of that resolved and learned that the assessor had never even been out to our development But I just have concerns now that there's going to be a second development out there, how Dakota Shores is looked at with the county.

Thank you. Anybody else here tonight that would like to speak at this hearing?

I just had a question. These numbers that are in the proposed budget, as has been presented, does this identify the cost of living for salaries for the upcoming year, or what do these numbers correspond to? I know that there were several different potential cost of living increases for salaries, and I may have missed it that a decision was made at a prior commission meeting, but that would make a huge difference from a 2.25% to a 4% increase for my office and I think a lot of other offices across the county as well. So I don't know if there was a decision on that and if that's incorporated into the budgets at this point.

It was my understanding that we went with the 4% cost of living increase.

Okay.

And then we would go down from there.

Okay. So. That was the vote. Okay. It was a 4%, no step. Just so everybody.

And then on the final decision, it will.

The final decision will be where we fall on.

My misunderstanding. That's how it was presented.

And I think that's what HR presented us was three different options. The four and three.

And then we had a motion for the four and moved on from there. Yes, for the preliminary. That answers your question.

With that, is there anybody else here that...

wants to hear or has questions on budget stuff anything from the commissioner is that well if the numbers play out lower than

WHICH IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING. PART OF THAT'S THE VALUE OF A MILL WENT DOWN ALSO, CORRECT? WELL, I THINK PART OF THAT'S GOING TO REFLECT IN THE NUMBER OF MILLS OVERALL.

OVERALL.

YEAH. BUT I THINK AS FAR AS OUR NUMBERS, AS FAR AS THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT WE WENT FROM, WHAT WAS IT? 13.

13, 6, 6, 4, 5, 4, 2, 56. If I'm reading this correct.

Yeah.

Down to 12, 7. 12, 7, 0, 1, 37, 94. I'm just reading off what I got in front of me. I got 100% of that.

And you always have to remember that it's an off year for the highway department for doing

The big yes, because I. I looked into that project, right? So next year's budget will look way different.

The 28th. We can I can give you give you my copy, but we could share it. Can you just share your screen? Oh, there's a couple more pages here. I missed.

I can go late.

No, they're all one copy. So all the . Yeah, I don't have her password on the screen. Yeah.

Yeah. I could go make you copies. Do you want the mill levy one?

I think that the... Let me see here.

Nope.

It's public, Rick. That's why we're here.

It's not no hidden. Nothing hidden out there. Basically the one through run this across. Hey, my doors are locked so.

And then next year is also enough here for elections so. That line item was reduced.

Just. correct me about brown county so we're looking at general highway special revenue than the trust then the totals gets where we're at right yeah that's your different basically one funding one through 56. so when you guys get the copies you'll see one through 56 2026 year and then 2027 where it's going

No, we're close.

Like it's 963,504 lower. But a lot of, like Candy was saying, you'd see on the state side, or not the state, the highway department, Mixed up, not state, highway department. On the off year, it costs less because it's on a plan to cycle it. And that's so I'm not like Jason. He can explain it better on his.

There's a higher loan.

Because you'll have costs for instance, graders, you know, there's a year, I think it's every third year. So you have that cost when we try to keep that on an off year of when you're doing overlays and things like that. Otherwise, it would all be on one. And then it would be crazy high and low. Trying to balance it. And then you get 13 inches of rain. They want more money and people don't want to give money. That's a huge thing that has really affected Ramsey County is how much money we've spent over the years on the water.

You know, it seems like we build up and then it wrecks it and then we build up and then it wrecks it.

and i know it's super frustrating for the community because it seems like we keep doing it over and over and you know like we can't fix nature on that aspect of it but we get a lot of frustrated people a lot of times um we were not being on the board for five years that's probably been one of the hottest topics probably every other meeting louise

I have a question. Well, well, the numbers be on the website, on your website.

There is a publication that that will be printed. Yep.

And correct me if I'm wrong. Yes, yes.

It's everybody's money in the county. So it's everybody's.

Is it printed in the paper?

Well, to do, to look at it. Like between now.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Okay. Just check.

Yep.

And I know.

Nope. I can. Okay.

That's available online. Yeah. Okay. So basically. Yeah.

Well, and our biggest fear, and the other commissions, correct me if I'm wrong, our biggest fear is when they put a cap at the 3%. And the way things have been going, everything's going up a lot higher than 3%. I mean, Jason, obviously, his department is the largest deficit that we get. And to be able to keep things operating smoothly as far as roads, probably one of the biggest thing that we spend money on. But if you don't have infrastructure, like you had said earlier, we have all this infrastructure. How are we going to move ahead to keep it? It all costs money and you have a budget. How are you going to do with the budget without breaking the people?

Don't you think that, well, every county is trying to work this together, but now we have some problems with all the chaos. And I'm thinking that that's going to get addressed at some point. Something has to, there has to be a more consistent growth. We have to, we can only match up I think, you know, we sit here and talk about this, Rick.

I think something that probably is saving communities, small communities right now, is the tax break that they gave to the housing. But my biggest fear is sitting on this board, if that goes away, We're in trouble.

Well, that's the problem. You see, you know, basically what you're trying to cover here.

When Jason comes back in here, I'll give you an example. The prairie dog money. Are you familiar with prairie dog money? If that bucket doesn't fill, and now I know they've changed it, and if you don't qualify for that, like for instance, I'll just throw a number out there, Ramsey County. In 2025, it was $1,103,710. And in 2026, it's $1,170,000. Imagine if we, like you're saying, imagine if that goes away. Imagine you take that million dollars away. You take, what is it?

correct me, $1,200 for the tax revenue or whatever that, or 16.

Imagine if that goes away, how that affects our taxpayers. This would be all on Jason. So this would be revenue. But the thing of it is, is we don't, years ago, we didn't get it all the time. And that's why I want him to talk to that piece. Well, and these bigger counties and all these bigger counties get more money, right? So that was a really frustrating piece for Outlast because they're producing the money and then they're dishing it out. Look at Fargo, right? So...

so i think that's a little kind of a lot of appealing

Jason, the question was this prairie dog money. What would you have to say as far as a percentage in your budget if you weren't to get it would affect you?

That's why I wanted him to talk it.

Highway tax. So highway taxes.

So we didn't get it, like I was saying, we didn't get it every year. Now they're trying to give more out. Correct me if I'm wrong. So that you get it more over time. So we get it more over time versus just getting it once every three years.

Well, it's every biennium if it continues in the next session. But they did make it permanent in the last session. So as long as they don't change anything coming up here this winter, then it'll come around again as is. But they'll probably make some tweaks again.

The point I was trying to say, Rick, there, because I know it's one of the biggest things that helps everybody.

Yeah, of course.

I want to make sure... I think I understood your question a little differently, Rick. Were you asking if the county operates within its budget each year? Like, are we operating on a deficit year after year, or are we operating on a surplus?

Well, yeah. I mean, you know, I... So when you come in and do that, it's a question of, you know, that's the thing. And how does that account for the... Well, I mean, let's just...

Five years.

I was a gondola.

I would have to say we're maintaining well that's good I don't think we're seeing it go like this or go like this it's more of a maintain because when she does her financial when Lisa's here and does her report we're not rich right so but we're not breaking the bank yeah yeah yeah You know, we've been, especially like I said, when we have, we've been lucky when we've had disasters to get money so that it doesn't break our bank. Because that's always been one of our concerns. It's been one of my concerns.

If you don't mind me asking, do you know what your reserve is off the top of your head? What is your total reserve based on your budget?

Six million, I believe.

Six million?

Okay.

And what's your total budget?

Last year was $13,664,000.

The whole process.

The whole process. So over the years that I've been sitting on this, I've had a lot of people say, well, why don't you spend that money? And I've commented that things that I've read say that you were actually short. The things that I've read you should have, what your budget is, is what you should have in the bank one year. We don't.

Yeah, I'm not familiar.

And not to say that that's the correct thing. That's just things that I've read. What happens if you don't get prairie dog funds? What happens if you don't get a grant somewhere? What happens if a disaster happens and you don't get money? Now you're falling back to your checklist. Can you operate without that? Would $6 million be sufficient? I don't know if I have that answer. I don't know if there's anybody on the board to have that answer. I mean, we'd be short. We would definitely be short if that's all we had.

Yeah.

I think we have years that we have grown, and then we have years where it just maintains, depending on interest that we can get from banks.

I'm not saying it's a bad policy, but I'm just trying to get a handle on how this life plays out.

We definitely haven't been going in the red.

Yeah, good. I mean, I'm looking at the valley right now, They've got some big challenges, and they don't, you know, they're going to come to some tough decisions.

You know, not that our decisions aren't tough. I mean, I think that, you know, how do you put it on the media?

You have to, it takes work, but they're solvable, right? But when you don't have a solution anymore, there's only one. Well, that's enough for me. I'm just trying to get a sense in my mind how to provide. When somebody asks me a question, what do I know about it?

And you've got numbers right in front of you. You can look at that just like us. We're trying to keep the numbers as close as possible with the way the economy's been going. It's hard. I mean, I think it's hard in every household. I don't think it's just hard here at the county. I think every household across the country is nervous.

Well, one thing, you know, and I think we have a tendency not to look at what we have. We look at what the problems are. We all love the... the load that you try to carry. But, you know, we've got some amazing resources here. We really do. And we always have that. So if you look at that, I mean, there's been major changes in the community over the course of 100 years. How would you like to benefit the 20s when they shut down the roundhouse and the car plants and all of that? There's a lot of nail-biting going on. Did the place end up going away? That was a huge impact.

Overcome and over adapt, I guess. So just to give you, I was able to pull up from 2024 year end. The total budget was like $23,375,887.05. So I mean, we're yeah, 23 million. And we spent 21 million, 445, 707. So we spent like just about 92% of that budget. So yep, about 1.9 was was left yep that year it was yeah um no because this jason we should we should talk about those flood

Because they had revenue that would come from FEMA.

$600,000.

So then you're going to have when you don't have that. Yeah. And I feel the public a lot of times doesn't understand that. They just see the overhaul now. And I just think that all the money is coming from taxes. It is essentially, but not from this, not from Ramsey County. We've got some from federal.

Well, every budget cycle for the highway department is over half funded off of state dollars every single year. from the highway tax fund, that's my biggest revenue taking fund. And that's basically the gas and whatever taxes, but that brings in at least $1.5 million on a five-year average. So of my $4.5 million, Did I have budget or 4.8, not 4.9? I don't know those numbers, but anyway, I don't want to be quoted on holding, held on a quote here without them in front of me. But of that Ramsey County tax money is $1,400,000 into that budget. Miller. Mill every dollars. Yes, correct. The rest of that money comes from outside sources or, like you say, Mr. Lafleur, your checkbook. Because the highway department is a little different animal than the general fund, the highway department is able to carry fund balances forward. And that's how we're able to do some of our bigger paving projects and that. We have to save for... It's been every couple of years, but now as things have slowed down, it's going to be more like three or four years just because things are so expensive. We just don't have the cash flow off the local dollar to continue to do that every couple of years.

And to build on that.

You don't want to have this one, right?

And that $23 million includes all of our different sources of revenue. So like our human service zones are primarily funded by the state at this point, but I believe that's all factored into that overall money. But what we're talking about today is just how much is on Ramsey County residents to pay for on how the county operates. 2020?

It happened in 2020.

If the state wouldn't have taken it over, we probably wouldn't. I wouldn't be on this board.

Their budget alone is between $5 and $6 million.

Yeah, for four counties.

Yeah, this is Kirk. I just have a question. When I look through the general fund, there's normal increases on everything, but there's this substantial increase on line eight. from a tech coordinator. Line 8 went from 167, 744 in 2026 to 321, 897, and 727. It's over a 90% increase. It's substantially more than all the rest. That's why I caught my attention. I just have a question on that.

That's the... But it's not anything that has been decided upon yet.

Yeah, my question was just, I saw a substantial more increase in that than everything else, so I just was curious.

No one's easy to pick out. My guess is with all of the Issues with. No internet then you're going to be spending more today. It's probably an item that's going to.

It's in the. And if you look at the news just in the last few weeks. It's it's crazy because they don't know what they're going to do with AI, right? And and I know that's we're kind of going with that, right?

Well, I mean, all of us have, you know, if AI does what it can do, you know, crack into everybody's computer and screw them. I actually was on a call. We have an issue on cash in our industry to make sure that What are you gonna do if there's financial charity?

Meaning shutting down all access to cash.

I mean, if it's all digital and all of a sudden somebody's got this thing locked up and you can't interchange, what are you gonna do if you don't have a $100 bill in your pocket or whatever it takes to do that? So even though it might represent small transactions, that's your insurance policy for making sure the economy doesn't go down. And if you look at what happened out in Ashland when that flood hit out there, they had no internet. They had no electricity. They had, you know, for three, four days. And people, by gas, you know, you're sitting there, you're talking about, my granddad won't work. What am I going to do? I don't have any cash. I mean, I can't believe it.

So, yeah, I mean, that's pretty important to them.

The future falls for my technology. All right, I'm going to shut up so you guys can get out of here. Is there anything else anybody would like to talk about?

The numbers are there.

We're happy that we basically had the budget hearing so that

People could come in, they can see it, they can whatever, let the public know we're here for you guys. We haven't made all the decisions of where we're going with the budget as far as, you know, we just did a preliminary. This isn't the final final. That's something we're going to have to decide if we're going to do it next meeting or have a special meeting. But I would like to thank everybody. unless there's any other questions for coming out and letting us speak and you guys speak and it wasn't a screaming match. I appreciate that.

It was a learning experience.

So if there's nothing else, I guess thank you all.

Yeah, thank you. Thank you. Is there anything else the commissioner would like to talk on that or

Nope, I guess we're good. Thanks, everyone.

Thank you.

With that, Jason, if you could come back up and finish your phone with you.

All right. Okay, I think we're... I was about wrapped up. I was going to touch on the prairie dog funding that will be coming, hopefully in October, the way it looks. And that's, I put $450,000 down on here because it's give or take. I think the estimate that Paul had received when he was doing our checking was closer to $465,000. And that's what the state website is showing. So we should be more around there. I think, I believe I sent that to Candy as well, so.

Hopefully it's more.

That's why I put it down as lower because then we're not disappointed. Yes. And as far as the rest of the FEMA goes, still no word on that. I did see that they accepted the one finally from the week before we had our event, the president. accepted that from the department of des and they funded that three million dollar disaster but i think ours is pretty quiet i talked to justin mezzanine he said he hasn't heard any more traction on that so he's going to get me a like a final review email type thing so i'll forward that to you guys when i get it thanks jason anything else to me anybody else have anything else for jason What's that? The original ones or that? Oh, OK, yes, I wanted to mention that told Commissioner Willoughby and Commissioner Hortus. I was very happy to get my. my reports, my, for my budget, all my financial reports. So, um, Candy said there's more work to do on some of it. She wants to get it more. I had asked for like a general ledger. I asked her for a few more things. Of course, I can just be content and happy with what I got, but, um, she said she'll work on that and get that stuff for us. But it was nice to see that things are in line matching up, you know, to what we're showing in our office. So, We were able to track some of that and can do some comparisons. So that was a good feeling. Get a look at that. Through the new system. And once we get this system in here dialed in, I've already been talking with Nicole. We'd like to get some things going on our end and I've mentioned it here a few times, but. We're not there yet. We want to make sure that they get set up a peer. Cause it'd be nice to try to work with the same company. If we can, we're doing vouchering and payroll and record timekeeping in and out time, things like that. But we'll see. We're going to have, we'll see. We'll reevaluate that when we get this figured out, we're not jumping in. Well, now when we're not jumping into anything that I don't want to go through anything like she went through, because I'll just be honest. I don't have the time or the patience for that. So. But other than that, I don't know. Do you guys want me to wait for the fenced or slew discussion?

I think we'll move right into I think it's just an unfinished business on the fenced or slew discussion. I think this is on here because it's unfinished and we're just waiting for the hearing.

Okay. All right. All right. Thanks. Unless any other commissioner has something.

All it is is just

there until we finish. Okay. I just saw it on there, so I didn't know what that was.

No particular updates. Date has moved around a couple times. It is currently scheduled for November 23rd and 24th, right before Thanksgiving. Sorry, 24th and 25th. I guess I attended the Water Boards meeting a couple of weeks ago now and spoke with them, wanted to make sure that they were in the loop, had the opportunity to attend. I encourage every Ranger County resident that's interested to attend the hearing. It is going to be done in Bismarck at DWR's headquarters. But if there are any questions about that hearing, what that entails certainly for information about when the hearing is and if you want to attend please reach out to the water board stacy has that information the water board talked about them being at least the go-between on that kind of information if anybody has specific questions on what goes into the process i will do my best to be available to explain that but time is unfortunately very precious these days. So if needed, I can certainly speak with some individuals. And if it's enough interest, I can put something together just so that there's a short explanation as to what that hearing is about and what we hope to accomplish there.

Thanks.

Any other discussion? Did you get over there today, Ed, to look at the water? Is it flapping up on the road with the wind? Yeah. I figured I was going to, like I say, when I talk to you, I'm going to try to get out there. I just never made it this afternoon, but I'll go out there tomorrow and take a look. It's supposed to rain again, so chance of rain again. Slight chance, anyway, but. Seems like we just start to see a little bit of improvement, and then we get three or four inches of rain through that area again. I think that four inches last week, does that sound right, Commissioner Frith? When we had the 210, I think they got four lucky people. Yeah, that's about all I know.

Thanks. Okay, new business, conference, Jeff?

Yeah, the conference coming up. NDACO. conference is scheduled for the 12th through the 13th 11th 11th starts on sunday it's a registration sunday for the social um monday is the opening of conference, workshops, breakout sessions. Jason, I mentioned the federal A&M DOT meeting. Always some really good information when people have the opportunity to attend. Monday and Tuesday are the big days. It's done by about 2 o'clock. The final speaker of the day is Dale Lennon, former UND coach. Yeah. A little bit anyway.

He's still coaching. No, I think he's .

You know, heritage centers, things like that. Yeah, there you go. And then Susie had asked me if I could mention the chamber gala that's happening on the 9th. It's Friday at the Shores. And it's the 100th anniversary of the chamber and uh she would really appreciate a representative from the county showing our cooperation and partnership with the chamber and community so whether or not it's a commissioner or an elected official i think that would be I'll be out of town here.

I also will be out of town. I will check my schedule and see what I got going on.

I don't know yet.

If you could, if you could reach out to Susie.

Yeah. What do you mean?

Okay. What's this right here?

No, it's the October 19th. Is that all we have on that, Jeff? Yes. So, Jeff, you want to forward that to Candy?

Don't tell me if you can't.

Yeah, let Candy know and then Susie, if you could reach out. I'd appreciate that. No other new business, visitors and delegations. Anybody? Go ahead.

I can do a plug for the Rotary Club Spaghetti Feed on Thursday this week. It's $12 at the door, $10 tickets in advance for any Rotary member. It goes to fund our projects and other organizations in the community, like the Dolly Parton Imagination Library books that go to kids up through age five. So that'll be, starts at four o'clock on Thursday at the KC Hall.

Thank you.

Anybody else?

Announcements. I have one announcement for each week. Proclamation signing will be here Wednesday, September 2023 at 4 PM. I sent that to you candy and it'll be right here in the commission room. I agreed to come out and do it. So if anybody wants to join, you can. I don't have anything else. Does any other commission have anything that they would like to share as far as?

Law Enforcement Center meets tomorrow morning, 8 a.m. at the Law Enforcement Center. Anybody wants to attend?

Great times. We did not. I was going to bring that up. So looking at the budget, as commission, do we want to have a special meeting prior to, it would be October 6th. Now that we have had our hearing, If there's anything that anybody wants to talk over, I would prefer we could just do a special meeting. But it's up to you guys. I guess I think maybe we should just hash things out and make sure so that when we come to that meeting, it's not putting Kennedy in a tough spot and making a tough decision as far as hitting deadlines. That's the only reason I recommend it. Yeah. What would you guys like to see? Preferably if we could do it in a morning. Just so that I know I got kids in sports and I know that shouldn't matter, but I would like to attend.

If not, I will make it work. I'm out of town on the 23rd. This is the only thing that I have.

I can see.

What do you think of the week of the 28th through the 2nd or you think in the 21st through the 25th?

I think we have all the information that we need. I think it's just a discussion that we need to sit down. So I don't think either week would work unless you, I mean, I don't think we should drag it out.

Is there anything you need to do after it is voted on candy in order to get it prepared for submittal? Just go over numbers, right? I mean, if it's done the week prior, because they're due October 7th, correct? Right. And so the week prior, that doesn't put any time crunches on you if it gets approved at that time.

It's when they do the final approval, it's all per the minutes. Yeah. Okay. Yep.

Then next week would be the best for me.

So you're talking 21st through the 25th? Yeah.

For me.

Pick a day.

See if we can make it work.

What works? What's that? Jeff? 22nd. It's funny you say that because I actually have it written in here. I had a feeling. You're good, yeah. So Tuesday, 22nd. 8 AM. We all good with that? We can have a motion please. I would so move second. You got a motion. We got a second for special meeting on the 22nd. 8 AM. Also fair by saying I suppose same sign. Motion carries. Nothing out there that adjourns our meeting.

Thank you.

Chairman Vogt, what was the date of that proclamation?

When's the 4-H? 23rd at 4 p.m. right now.

23rd at 4 p.m.