County Commission - Regular Meeting

something about the get the information. [clears throat] [snorts] There's cameras. I know there's shar.

Where is everybody? Hear it. You're the star of the show.

So, are we ready? Are we live? Good afternoon. We'll call the county commission meeting over. To the flag of the United States of America to the reps nationis andice for all.

Good evening everybody. Um Ed, congratulations. So Paul and I know everybody Bill and Jeff. So, just like the Daniel just introduced myself. Yep. So, we're good there. We'll move on to Mr. Chairman. Yes. Ed, you should turn your mic on right in front. There you go. Thank you. So, we'll move on. First thing on the agenda is approval of minutes. Move to approve. Second. We have a motion. We have a second. All those in favor say I.

I. I. Those opposed. Same sign. Motion carries. Approve year end bills. Anybody see anything on the year end bills? [clears throat] additional four can. Yes, sir. So, there's an additional four bills. One for Vanguard at 550 for a backup.

What's that, Jeff? It's for a backup. Okay. And Beth had come in and ask me about that for her system. Yep. I see that backup license service fee. Uh the issue is 99969 and that is for HP and the book 600 the laptop. The next item is [snorts] 4,60. This is a crime fighter case file system. Is that for in here?

It's the sheriff's department. Okay. Sheriff's department. And the last one is 3,640. And that is for ARM processor LCD display ant. This is also for the sheriff department also. concept stock radar. Yeah, it must be previous.

Oh yeah, this is something that he brought to our attention previous meeting. This is something that we're obviously paying for. We had voted on [snorts] [clears throat] with that those additions. Is there any Other questions for approvals? I'll move to approve. [clears throat] Second. We have a motion. We have a second or we need roll call for this. Yep. Roll [clears throat] call, please. Hodis. Hi.

Fred. Hi, Brown. Hi. Wilhelm me. Hi. Hulk. Hi. Motion carries. Approval of agenda. Is there anything you want to move to approve? Second. Got a personal second on approval agendas. All those in favor saying I.

I. I. Say and sign.

Approval agenda passes. Lisa, you're up. Okay. Um Lane asked me to come in and um I tell you about the where our money is being held and what's going on and that kind of stuff. So I'm going to start out with um you know we have we do a sweep at um Bremer. It's Old National right now and we have in there $6,484,000. They sweep it at night. We get a better interest rate. We're averaging about um uh 3.9. Um talking decade, we used to get a little bit better than that. Um let's see what we can do. Um they usually were doing about 4.05, but when we're talking that um amount of money, we need to, you know, see if he's negotiable on that. Um, we also have some money left in the COVID. I don't know, Candy, if we've Is that our money interest? Is it We still have about $319,000 in CO money, but I don't know where that stands with if we have spent out of there or not, but that's what I have on the sheet. Okay. And um let me see at the Western State Bank Treasury, we have a little over a million dollar. So that kind of takes care. We also have the FEMA account which is Jason's. We have about 45,000 in there. So I don't know [clears throat] where you're sitting with all of that. Okay. And then

we get into the Edmore dissolusion. We have to keep an account for 2 years which is sitting at 9,12159. We also have Edmore payout. They had $400,000 come back to me about two months ago and then another 79,000 give or take a few odd dollars in there. So, we have uh $479,000 sitting in there, which we will have to pay out to the taxpayers. Um there was a couple different ways to do it, but with our new system, I knew I couldn't get it done by taking the value off, so we're going to pay it out. Um Daniel's aware of I have to ask for permission from the commissioners, right? um when I'm going to pay that out to so we run it on the 2023 base.

Mhm.

But we pay it out to the new owner. So in 2023, if you were the land owner and you bought it, you're going to get the money. So that's kind of how this all works. Um let me see. And Blaine, I just want to let you know too that I know coffee time we're running behind on getting the statements out, but if anybody wants to come in and pay, they're more than welcome. We've got them any I'm up and running. So, if they want to come in and pay, they're getting close to that deadline. if you want to make that announcement. So, because I know there's a lot of people that are anxious to pay, especially some of our farmers that are probably preparing for next year. Any questions?

The western one, that's where we operate. Correct. [clears throat]

The western um the treasury market, the um what I do is I kind of keep everything separate. I keep for old national and that we keep all the federal money there and the suite the first United bank we keep more of the direct depositing we get all the money from um recorders office or direct depositing from the state and then in the treasury or the western we do all our scanning of our checks paying our payroll and paying direct deposit to our townships and our cities and our schools and so forth. So, I kind of keep it all separate so that it's not all coming into one bucket and then you have to straighten it out.

Um PRC went on pretty good. We had about 2,200 PRC's. So, that will come back to us. Uh when does that come back? June. I think June we get the money back. So, that's quite a fair amount. You know, not everybody gets 1,600 because maybe their taxes are only 800, but it is up to 1,600. So, you said the statements that are coming out are a little late. They're a little late because I just got off with Tyler today. We've been on hours and hours. Well, they'll be getting a statement. They'll get a statement.

Yeah. But if they want to come in and pay, they're more than welcome to do. Want to make sure I'm tracking correct. And you're also going to get a statement if it's zero. Everybody's going to get a statement. So, it will come out and hopefully we'll leave here by Monday. Anybody else have any questions for Lisa? Miss, did you say, excuse me, um, what the balance in First United was? First United in the CO. Is that just

It's co dollars in First United. Yeah. 319. Um, right now we're running like we're down to the bare minimum of it's under 20,000 in the savings there. Because we've been paying some huge bills. Um, and then you know, you'll see on the check register where we have to transfer funding. That's because we've had to cover some bills. [laughter] Any other questions for Lisa? Well, thank you very much.

Yep. You're welcome. And um, got some time. Stop in and see my new help, Miley Severson. She's working out quite well. Learning, processing. Yeah. still tomorrow. Thank you very much. Yep. You're welcome.

Jason, you're next. Hello. Well, to [clears throat] touch on one thing she was talking about when she mentioned FEMA money there, that's the 2022 disaster I'm assuming she's talking about. And those numbers are pretty similar to what I have. We should be coming out okay on that. We're still paying for the stuff on the cove road right now that [snorts] was done, the boring and all that. We're trying to get that figured out. So, those bills are still trickling in. And then we had one township not do any work yet for about 12,500, but I'm trying to get them an extension. Maybe they can do that in the spring. I've been working with Justin Messenger on that at the dees. So, that's where we stand with that account. Um, I'm going to skip the first one on the update on 96th Avenue. I just got this stuff from Paul today. I reached out with the water commission. We're doing some conversations on that. There's more conversations to be had there. So, we're really not locking that down tonight yet. That'll be after the first of the year. Um, as water commission and all water board, I'm sorry.

Yeah, I'll clarify that. Thank you. Um, asphalt surfacing technologies chip sealed the Grams Island Road with Benson County. Our half of that cost is $123,13923. I'm asking for a motion to pay for that invoice. I would so move to pay the 1231 13923. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. We have a motion. We have a second. Is that the um project that [snorts] they went ahead without? That's the problem.

Benson County, they brought it to Kevin basically right before he retired in May. Said, "Oh yeah, by the way, we're chip sealing the the road. You got to pay for half." Because we do have an agreement that we pay for half, but there was no We have a fiveyear road plan. No, they didn't know it. We didn't know it. They didn't know it. They claim I don't know. I don't know. That was all That was something that wasn't in our budget. Great. So, you being just as surprised, we were just as surprised. So luckily when Kevin had figured our chip seals for this year, he had

overestimated and there was enough money left in the chip seal budget to pay this 123,000 because you have no idea what oil cost or fuel cost. I mean went down as far as to ask Grams if they could give someone that state park state park and Daniel and I no well nobody had budgeted for it because no one budgeted. How do you you know [snorts] um somehow or another Benson County got some money from somewhere and they decided they were going to do this is what I understand. I think is that what it was? I don't know. Is that what you said? But but either way, we should have been notified. Exactly. Was blindside.

And that's why we met once and I got to get back with Daniel again. It's been hectic for everybody, but we got to get back. We got We're working on the We've met once and gone over these county border agreements. So, we need to continue on that. Let me ask this question, Jason. Did you think it needed it? Yeah, I mean, it definitely needed to be done. Yeah. But it would be nice to be able to put and that's what our that's what our new agreement will state that we can't we're not going to make these see we have a we have a county border agreement with them but we have nothing that's never been signed there's nothing laid out in the agreements so that's what Daniel and I are going to get together to get it so we can budget for these things for

yeah we can 123,000 no that just you don't just pull that out of the air a lot of the times you know so just worked out that we had it or could have been a whole another set of problems. So, any other discussion? So, we have a motion and a second to pay 1231 13923. Uh, roll call, please. Otis. Hi, Fred. Yeah. Yep. Oh, he caught me off guard. [laughter] Brown. Hi, Will Helme. Hi, Bulk. Hi.

All right. The next thing I have is the KJ invoice for 7160, $7,160. That's the thin lift overlay for engineering for the 2026 projects we've been talking about. Wood rotten Ramsey County 7 that mile and a quarter, mile and a half of the Curry Road, and then Ramsey County 8 from 4 to 17. I see I put a dollar sign there, but that's supposed to be a four. So asking for a motion to pay that invoice. So this 7160. Yes. That's just part of it or was that the No, that's just part of it. That's what I thought. Feels like that's pretty cheap. Yeah, that's just part of it. Okay. So moved. Second.

We got a motion. We got a second to pay 7160. Roll call, please. His hi. Brett. Hi. [clears throat] Brown. Hi. Will Hel me. Hi. Bulk. Hi. Motion carries. Next item. The next item. I wouldn't have put this in the dollar amount, but it is that grant money. So, this is the way we have to do that. So, uh 89th Avenue South Menowan Township KJ invoice for $198.36. Again, that's 100% reimburseed from North. [laughter] So, I need the motion saying that you guys are willing to pay that. So, moved.

Second. Motion a second. Roll call, please. [clears throat] [laughter] Hodis. Hi. Brit. Hi. Brown. Hi, Wilhelm. Hi, Bulk. I motion passes. Uh, next item.

Okay. The next item is the Iron Hide uh snow pusher. It was delivered. Um, everything was acceptable the way they had uh proposed the order. Had the rubber cutting edge. It had all that stuff. It had the mount right for the loader. So, it's not a bucket mount. It goes right onto the Peton hookup on the roller mount on the loaders. It'll fit both of our payloaders. So, I am asking for the $12,400 to pay the invoice for the snow pusher. Question. It's It is 12,400. 4,600 on. We were going to go with a 16 foot at the time till we measured out here and down at the shop and we decided the 14T would be a better fit. That 16T gets a little

make sure that Yep. Nope. That's the right amount. Yep. 12,400. [clears throat] Looking for a motion. Second. Have a motion. We have a second. Roll call, please. Hodus. Hi. Brit. Yes. Brown. Yes. Wilhelm. Hi, Fulk. Hi. Motion carries.

Um, the next one is something that was in place again before I took over as superintendent. We needed to purchase rightaway for the two of the four CER projects. Those are those county emergency relief projects from 2022 that we fixed this year. One of them on Ramsey County 9, there was a temporary rightaway cost of $300 to Bruce and Dorothy Johnson. And then the land value assessment is $600 for the permanent rightway that we have to purchase there for that work to be completed. So, we will be making a payment for $900 to Bruce Dorothy Johnson for that. So,

you're looking for one motion. We can do one for that one and then the other one. Um, with that, I was just going to share before I ask for the motion that that paperwork is all at my office and I will be taking that in from KJ to the bev at the recorder's office once we get this payment done and then that land will become legally deed to Ramsey County and that right away. So, we will get that done. Yeah. Okay, that's fine. Do you want to do it for nine or do you want me to ask for 300 and 600? No, we can do it for now.

Okay. So, I'm asking for the motion to pay Dorothy and Bruce Johnson 900 to cover the temporary rightaway cost and the permanent rightaway costs. [clears throat] Second. We have a motion. We have a second. Roll call, please. Otis. Hi. Oops. Fris. Yes. Brown. Yes. Will Helme. Hi. Bulk. Hi. Motion carries.

And the next to go along with that is um Mitch and Jessica Olsen. Let's see. They emitted their last name, but on the Cra um there's a $300 payment due for a temporary rightaway for completion of that project. So, I'm asking for a motion to pay that $300 temporary rightaway to Mitch and Jessica Olsen. So, move second. We have a motion. We have a second. Roll call, please. [snorts] Cotus. Hi. Ruth, yes. Brown. Hi, Will Helme. Hi, Fulk. Hi. Motion carries.

Uh, the next thing is an FYI, I worked with um Nicole and kept Candy in the loop on this. We got this done. We have Eric DeWalt, the retired Webster blade operator from a few years back. [snorts] He is going to fill in for us temporarily as needed. We have oh one of our foremen Jacob Aslau is going undergoing a surgery on his shoulder tomorrow. He's going to be gone for so extended period of time. Um we still have a driver that doesn't have a CDL. We have new operators. So Eric will work as an on call basis in a matter of snow events as needed if needed. If not needed then we will not call Eric. So no benefits, no pers, just an hourly rate.

Basically, we got lucky to have someone come on that has experience.

Yeah, he was with us for about 10 years, so he's got a good experience and we'll get through this next little bump again. Um, some new business that you guys don't have on your agenda. I have two things. One thing, the first thing I want to ask you guys since I'm new to the position the last six months is I have a couple big purchases that were supposed to happen this year in 25 out of 25 money. They're not going to happen. The equipment isn't ready. One of them is the plow truck that Kevin had ordered with all the snow equipment. I know we carry the highway department money forward. It doesn't go back, so to speak, to like a general fund or anything, but how do we spend 25 money and 26 without blowing the budget off line? One of them is the tar kettle for like $56,000 or $58,000 that we ordered. And the truck is like $360,000 and they were budgeted to be bought this year. And this year's coming to a close and I've reached out to both of them and we're not getting the equipment and I don't want to pay for them since they're such obviously we've had a whole year to get the truck.

Well, especially the truck cuz then your warranty might start. What else are you dealing with on the truck? Uh Nelson International. Okay. We've dealt with them before, right? Yep. It's a Minnesota DOT a Minnesota DOT um order. So, it's in on that fleet order with their equipment. Did they give you any type of deadline? Well, it was supposed to be September and then it was supposed to be October and then November. Not coming out on the line.

Yeah, the truck may be built and delivered before the end of the year to to Berts, but it may not be. They're hoping to get it by December 31st. Um, I know there's, you know, obviously there's the option to pay for the equipment out of out of this money, but I just don't feel like what if we never get the truck or what if, right? You know, you're worried about not getting a truck. Well, well, I don't know. I don't think you'll be all right. I don't know. Is that what we do? Do we purchase it now? No, you're

so since it was budgeted for the money is still set aside for those two items. Correct. Kind of. Right, Kenny? Like your budget is unique. Yeah. Okay. So, like you had explained that your budget is basically its own pot of money. Okay. So even though it was budgeted in 2025 like that that money isn't going to go anywhere. I understand it's it's still going to be period in in that account.

It's just something that you have to keep in mind and that's what it's used for. Yeah. So you guys not going to, you know, be spent for other Well, I guess then I'm making you guys aware that what I proposed as a 400 and or 4 million whatever$100,000 budget is going to be $410,000 off because I'm buying equipment next year out of this year's money. No. Well, the expenditures are going to come through for it in 26. That doesn't matter though. Don't worry about that. Okay. No, we're good. Just keep her. As long as she's happy. That's why I'm asking here because I I don't want to I don't want to screw it up. Jason, it's nice to be informed on that because now we know we're still down truck.

Yeah, we know that you're going to and I just wanted to get it here. I mean, I could have went to Candy and talked about this, but I kind of wanted to come here because I want you everybody to kind of know I get to see you guys every couple times a month, you know? So, some of the stuff I think we get to have a round table on is nice. Yep. And it's good too just to like when it does come in just for your bookkeeping or your personal just to put in there that you know this was bought with 2025 thought of the yeah funds. Gotcha. Fair. That's good.

And then the last thing I have on here that I didn't get on there is I was uh brainstorming we need a vehicle and I I don't know. I looked over search and rescue and there's a couple of Dodge pickups sitting over there. So, I proceeded to talk to Bill. There are a couple sheriff pickups that they've taken out of service that they were going to sell that one of them needs a wheel bearing and the other one he said is um was ready to go. Well, then I met with Brian Lang this week and with the sheriff and he said that he would be interested in whatever you guys are interested in. If you would like me to buy them, that's fine. if he want to just repurpose them and let the highway department use them. I was looking for one after we had the one wrecked. But he's got two, so we could repurpose both of them. I mean, we could use them instead of throwing them to auction and getting whatever [clears throat] you get for them on a consignment auction.

So, this is we have a use for drive down the road every day. It's something.

No. Yep. Just the blade guys. Like right now, we're working on that 911 system. I want to get a pickup. I need to get a pickup to everybody's district so they can go around. All the 911 signs are shot. We need to get account so we can get together on that and figure that out and stuff like that. Just just filler pickups, just filler transportation. And we lost one. We really only need one. But if he's willing to do both, we would get the other one up and going as well. And then at some point, if we were to sell them or whatever, then of course that money could go to the sheriff's department or however all that works. But I'm not looking to get by without I mean, we just got a check also from North Dakota Insurance Reserve for the Expedition. We could split some of that money back for these pickups or however you guys want to do it. I don't I I'm open to anything, but I would like to get a hold of the pickups.

Yeah, I think there's definitely more value to them to you than there is whatever we would get at an auction. Well, they're 2018s or 19s. He wasn't 100% sure because this was all happening really fast before the meeting. So, it was yesterday. Um, so and he was leaving today, so he couldn't be here. So he was going to quickly get a hold of his commissioner, which I believe he said was Commissioner Frith. So he got a hold of me and we talked about it. I think it's a great idea. Um, instead of putting those into a surplus or trying to get little or nothing on a trade in, I think it'd be good to repurpose them in within the county. So if the highway department can use them, I think that'd be a good use for them.

I I agree. And you know, we can we can get them in ourselves and fix the wheel bearing and strip the gear off them and take the stripes off them. And so there's no cost to the county that way either getting you know, not I mean maybe they were going to fix it. I don't know, but we'll take care of that in our shop. We have guys who can handle all that right there. So get the cages out and stuff like that. So um I told Brian we do all that. Don't worry about any of that part of it. So it was just a thought. Like I say, I see them over there. Uh, one of the pickups we use is a 2004 that is really wore out for these backup pickups and these are 18, 19 years. So, even if you have to do small things to them, at least that's something you feel like it's worth. Yep.

So, however you guys want me to move forward with that, we certainly will jump on that opportunity with him. I would say if you brought in these vehicles, one would be to replace the wreck one that we had and then the 2004 put that on. Right. Auction. Yep. And we could even if we're going to auction both of them, use that money and put it into the sheriff's budget. Basically, we're just doing a trade and what we would get for those would go to his budget. But that's something that we'd have to agree on. But that's a good idea. That way we're giving two for two, you know, to even swap and he's getting something back.

Yeah. So for sure the expedition and then we'll evaluate which is the worst one of the pickups and then we'll move that one and and we'll give him that funds at that time this spring or whatever that works with me. Yep. I'm good. Looking for a motion to do this or Yeah, I suppose we should get a motion just so because we'll have to get them I don't know insurance we don't want to get them in the highway department name get them and stuff. Yeah, you'll have to get them switched from the sheriff's department over to the highway department and titling and stuff which there's no fees to them that we'll have to get all that done maybe or are they all just county or I don't know we'll have to look at it our titles say Rams county so I think they're all county but what do you think Daniel

I'd prefer to wait until we have all these details sorted out it's yeah before the the motion is made and the resolution of the commission just because it sounds like there's a lot Okay. So, I think what I hear is we're in favor of repurposing our vehicles. Come back with details next meeting. And you can mo you can resolve for him to do that and move forward with this plan, but just it will have to be more detailed later on for all the property switching around. Okay. So, we can just table it until next. Yeah, absolutely. But we can go ahead and start working on them and get them over there and get them running. Okay, perfect. [clears throat] We'll just Sounds good. We'll just table that then. You guys all good with that? Yep.

And then the last order of business I had for you guys, we had a uh motorgrader operator on motor gator operator had a incident. He hit the corner of his building and Webster hit the shop. Um there was no structure damage. Ripped up the tin and the insulation pretty good. Um obviously he had a one-way plow on and he got a little closer than he thought. So we have since yesterday went up there, removed that bent steel, insulated the wall, and then put plywood and stuff over that damage for now. And then in the spring, we either we'll try the the metal's pretty faded, but we do have gray, light gray. So, we'll patch that steel in the spring, but it's one of those things that happened. We won't be doing any insurance claim or anything. It's something we can fix ourselves. So, just so everybody's aware, I'm sure Commissioner Will Hel me probably saw it on his drive by. It was right on the corner right by the field. It was pretty obvious to see from both directions.

Oh, so he didn't see it anyway. So, yeah. But anyway, nobody got got hurt. No, no, no equipment damage. Some cosmetics to the building. Was a pretty good rip, but we got it under control. I let the portfolio holders know and send them pictures so they were aware of the building damage. So, okay. Thank you. Anything else? Anybody got anything for me? Thank you. Yep. Thank you. [clears throat] Okay, moving on to unfinished business. Ramsey County Water Board appointments. There was two of them available, correct, Andy? Yes,

we have two people put in. Um, we had John Martinson and Dwayne Ash. So, I guess move to approve them both. Second. We got a motion, a second to approve the two applicants. Those in favor say I.

I. Those opposed. Same. Motion passes. Congrats. New business. Approve 2026 beer licenses. If you look, there would be Popcorn, Checker Flag, which is Devil's Lake Speedway, Devil's Lake Park Board, which is Creole Bay Golf Course, Heads Bar, Bait Shop, Katie's Bar Grill, Military Service Club, Patriot Fields, Pops Good Time Bar, and Crows Lakeside at the Co. Move to approve. Second. Got a motion, a second. Those in favor say I.

I. Those opposed, same sign. Motion passes. Approve Ramsey County Weed Board appointment. I believe there was one and this has been this has been open for a while. Um [clears throat] we've had it out there for quite a while. Um replacing I believe Ken Pollson. Um Roger's been looking And we finally got a lucky applicant. Give you a good choice.

Chemical fertilizer going. So, okay. The name is Ty Tyra Calderwood. Calderwood. So, move to approve. Second. We got a motion, a second. All in favor say I. Motion passes. Congrats. Approve precinct polling locations 2026. Have you guys had time to look at that? Guess it it's not what you have put out, Candy, right?

Yep. Nothing. Not adding, not take I mean not taking away. We have one um still wanting to do vote by mail and then having one polling location on election day. Same way we've had them. Yeah. We're looking for a motion to have that. Yes. Yes. I'll move to approve the precinct locations. Second.

We have a motion. We have a second. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. All oppose, same sign. Motion carries. [clears throat] Um, approve for bait. There's a couple. Yes.

Um, yes. Yeah, they're both in the city. Any questions on their abatements?

Move to approve. Have a motion. We have a second.

Second. We have a motion. We have a second. Any other discussion hearing? None. Those in favor of saying I. I. Those opposed. Same sign. Motion carries. Um Candy sent out for you guys. Ramsey County Board appointments. If you guys can make sure you look at this. One more. Is there? I guess that was the intention of mine. Okay. We can you guys good with that? Yeah. Sorry about that. That's

so this Ramsey County Board appointment. You can see that this we'll be doing this next meeting. So take a look at that if there's any interest. There will have to be some interest so we all know we can see what's coming up and then get that taken care of. But that's why she sent that out so we can all be heads up before next meeting.

Well, I think there's a lot of vacancies on there that hasn't been updated for a while like the water there's two vacancies. We can fix that. Yeah. Um,

but just so you guys are aware, just want to make sure that as we're doing board appointments, um, I would ask that all departments take a look at their sections within the county website, make sure that there's no broken links or outdated information on there. Sorry, I I forgot about that. I should have added that to the agenda. Yeah, if you have something out on um our website, it's not up to date. Please go out there and correct it. Yeah,

there is a few things that are out there could be updated and it just makes it more user friendly. It just happens. Yeah, it's human nature. With that visitors, delegation, anybody hearing none,

I'm going to jump in just so that we don't get too far. Uh Paul Becker at our last meeting um [clears throat] had asked for a resolution from the commission uh and a letter of a letter stating no uh permit is required for uh the proposed project that he came and informed the commission about at the last meeting. Uh it would be it's called an IRT uh project. It is uh basically in a joint project with the local national guard for them to come out and help uh put in paved roads and parking lot at the new fairgrounds uh that was put together. Um so Paul was able to get a copy of the application to us and he was just asking for something from the commission. So I put together a resolution that should be in your packets. Uh it basically just lays out kind of how we got to where we are. Uh I can certainly leave that for the commission if that would be useful to you all. Um it's titled resolution in support of improvements to be made to the Ramsey County Fairgrounds whereas the Ramsey County Commission supports the Ramsey County Fair Board and its ongoing development of the Ramsey County Fairgrounds. Whereas the Ramsey County Commission recognizes the great improvements that have been made to the fairgrounds in addition and in the addition of the Western State Bank Event Center. Whereas Ramsey County Commission further recognizes that with the improvements made, additional development is needed to accommodate the incre increased use of of the event center and fairgrounds, specifically additional paved roadways and parking area. Whereas the Ramsey County Commission understands the fair board is seeking to partner with the North Dakota National Guard through an innovative readiness training civil military

partnership to construct the additional paved roadways and parking area. And whereas Ramsey County has no established permitting process for land use permits for construction projects. Now therefore be it resolved that the Ramsey County Commission supports the Innovative Readiness Training Civil Military Partnership to construct the additional paved roadways and parking area and identifies that no application or permit is needed for the construction pro projects signed this 16th day of December 2025. Um I I combined the two requests that Mr. Becker had. Uh I saw no reason for there to be a letter and resolution separated. um this resolution suffi should suffice for uh what the National Guard needs. Uh and Mr. Becker confirmed that he believes that it should suffice as well. Um I believe this encapsulates what the commission was seeking to um do uh for the fair grounds. And so I recommend passing the resolution and uh having the chairman sign it with uh

this is just so they can move on and if they get their help, we get the help. Yeah, that's just for the process so that they can continue. Ideally, the National Guard does come out and do it, but they need this in order to continue on with the process as it stands. [snorts] I guess we're looking for a motion to sign this. Yeah, motion. We have a second. Second. Have a motion. We have a second. [clears throat] Resolution support of improvements to be made to the Ramsey County Fairground. Say I. Those post same sign carries.

Um, one more thing. Uh, I did I missed that this wasn't on the agenda. Uh, but I would ask that a motion be made to amend the agenda at this point. I get that that's a little out of order and unorthodox, but uh I believe we need to begin having some in detail in-depth conversations on uh the bonding process for the new law enforcement center or new jail. Uh depending on how the commission wants to move forward. Uh I had prepared some documents and sent them out to the commissioners that I had. I don't have your email yet, Mr. Brown. Hopefully this made it to you, but I've got an email from Scott Wgner uh with um who is the identified uh bond attorney as have as motions have been made in the past. U I think it would behoove the commission to begin talking about this. we don't have to settle all of these concerns and questions at this time, but with the uh with having to get this on the ballot 64 days before the election in June, uh the sooner we start talking about these details and get them hammered out, the better we can actually inform uh Ramsey County citizens and the better the more likely uh well, the better informed citizens are, the better they can vote on it when time comes to vote, whether they are in favor of it or not. So, I would ask for a motion just to add the uh bonding uh conversation to the agenda so that appropriately be addressed

basically to new business. Yes. Well, I think it's unfinished business just because we've been Okay. with the bond uh issue. Move to approve the amended agenda. Second.

We have a motion and a second to add the bond issue to unfinished business of the agenda. All those in favor say I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. [cough] [clears throat]

So, um, what you have in front of you is my email to you all. Uh, that, um, basically I'm agreeing with what Mr. Wegner, the attorney, were the county is paying for the bond process. Um, so these are the emails and then the two documents that are attached are the resolution of the the proposed resolution of the board to continue on with the bonding process as has been laid out uh by Mr. Wgner. Um the major pieces of information that are missing from that that still need to be decided by the commission is the maximum amount of bond of bond money that would be issued as [clears throat] as a part of the initiative. Um the assessed valuation of Ramsey County property which is a number that we would have to get from I believe that either Candy or Beth. Um not quite sure about that specific detail, but that's not something you have to decide. That's something that's going to be provided. Um and then uh any other details that you want to add, but this resolution is dependent on how much the new jail is going to cost the county and how much the commission wants to expend out of bond money for that purpose. Um the email from Mr. Wgner kind of lays out what our maximums, what we could get out of a bond. Um, pursuant to his email and my understanding of Century Code is that uh the maximum amount of bond money that we

can uh pursue at this time is 5% of uh total valuation of Ramsey County uh property which would set us at about a 40 million 40 million

40 million uh for the bond uh maximum amount uh based on 20 uh 2025 numbers. Um [clears throat] he uses 2024 numbers, so it's technically 39,574,984. Um it'll be somewhere in that range. This isn't a final number as of today, but that's just the range of the the range of what we would be able to ask for uh as part of a bond initiative. [cough] [clears throat]

Uh the second document in front of you is the resolution calling for election. Again, these aren't overly complicated documents. Um it's really a lot of language and a lot of the same details, the total amount of bond monies that uh could be issued. Um, and then just specifically how much that would add uh to uh Ramsey County taxpayers taxes each year uh as part of the bond initiative. Th this is more of I I needed to get this to you and start the conversation uh field any questions we all may have at this time. Um but if we want to get this done at this election, as previously stated, we cannot do these elections uh bring up these issues in non-election years. These have to be brought at uh primaries and uh general elections. So if we want to get this done, we have to do it in 2026. Otherwise, we have to wait till 2028. As previously identified by Commissioner Frith and Commissioner Vulk, the LEC is still functioning. It's still a facility that serves our community well, but um at any time if the wrong thing happens, the facility could be shut down by the state.

Well, it's at or nearing its life expectancy. Much more concise way of putting it. Yep. Thank you. Um, so I don't think either one of these were ready to decide on tonight. No. In no way, shape, or form do I want, like you said,

it's to engage the conversation, start the conversation, and let people know in full transparency what um the LEC meets every third Wednesday of the month at 8 a.m. in the morning. Publicated to attend those meetings. Next one is tomorrow regarding all this because we haven't we haven't set a you know a a um building design yet. So we don't know the full price of that building yet. Um, and that's some of the some of the things that that LEC needs to to hammer out and [clears throat] really quickly

and there's a lot of good those five questions on there can help us. Yeah, I think we were definitely I feel we were definitely in need of some of that. No, there's it's a good conversation starter. I appreciate putting this together. We had engaged in that discussion and sign that um to hire Mr. or bonding attorney that that that was his fee that he had come up with or his hourly rate [clears throat] whatever and the LEC had agreed to pay that

that's right

the fee at their last meeting since it would be you know essentially the benefit of that entity and they're not you know just to be clear for I'm [clears throat] pretty sure the all the commissioners know, but for the general public that's listening, the law enforcement center is not a taxing entity. And that's why the county has to be the bonding agent for that facility, that partnership. And since counties are responsible for [clears throat] housing inmates or um entered into a contract with a an adjoining county or somebody else that has a jail um is something that's set upon us by Sentry Code. Um, [clears throat] additionally, and it's an uncomfortable conversation because our law enforcement center involves three other counties in one other political subdivision. Is that correct? I believe that's correct.

Yes. And so there's there's some concerns in what the cost of a jail at our to match the current capacity that we are at with the LEC that provides services for these five political subdivisions including us is going to cost more than this bond could cover. uh this bond measure with us being limited to 5% of our taxable value uh we wouldn't be able to build a facility to accommodate the same number of inmates. So without some additional buy in or some additional asurances from other uh members of the JPA uh that runs the LEC, we we won't be able to build that facility a new facility to um satisfy [clears throat] these needs. So, um, certainly we would like to continue on with relationship as far as I'm understanding it, but without some support from other neighboring counties, there's some real concerns about being able to continue on. Um, if we're going to build a new facility, there's a risk that Ramsey County may need to look out for itself in the future if there's not any support from the other members of the JPA for a new facility. Uh, and there's that conversation is more complicated than anybody could wrap their heads around without being involved in it as often as the members of that board are. Uh, so that's just one of the things that the general public needs to be aware of is we we've worked with these other

political subdivisions for decades at this point. And I believe at this point Ramsey County still wants to move forward with that good working relationship. But if there's no ability of us to build that new facility and with our old facility going out, there are some real concerns moving forward. And so that's part of the issue with

for the $40 million bonding. Uh we're going to have to make some hard decisions in how to move forward to provide jail space. and I'll leave it to the rest of you to discuss further. I have nothing else. Uh if you have any questions or comments for me or uh for the members of the LEC board,

anyone I think it's definitely something that Well, we're obviously going to take it to tomorrow's board meeting.

Sure. definitely have some discussion. Sometimes the the public needs to come to some of the meetings and seeing discussion that is being made there because it's not always easy. As you say, it's it's a very tough ask. But the public I feel needs to come out and check the jail out so you can see what we are working with. Until you have gone through that facility, you cannot understand the ask that we're asking for and just some of the safety concerns for that we have for our staff, [clears throat] you know, I think for for somebody from the outside looking in, it looks like a really good facility and until you get in there and go through the nooks and crannies of the facility and understand the operations and the requirements ments that DOCR and the Department of Corrections and the Federal Bureau of Prisons and all the other entities that are involved in dictating on how a jail runs and operates. Um, when you understand some of the intricacies of of how that is supposed to be operated and we we do a really good job of doing it. Uh, the staff does an outstanding job uh making sure that those all those things are maintained. Um but at some point that life expectancy of that building is going to expire and um we don't want to be on the the wrong side of that equation. So trying to get out in front of the the game a little bit and we're already got our backs up against wall a little bit. So, but without any state or federal assistance, I don't know how we do that. And something that the people have to

remember is that when that law enforcement center was built, it wasn't built to the the the size that it is currently was added on multiple times over the years. uh various entities um vacated and uh the premises whether it be um you know other departments or um that were once housed in there and then expanded to additional beds and accommodation that way. Um, you know, it certainly didn't start out at 105 bed capacity, but it's grown into that and that's what they're currently capable of, but they've outgrown their spaces. The offices have outgrown their spaces. The sheriff and the police department have outgrown their um spaces within there and uh it's time to certainly look at something different. Renovation is um an option, but it's an extremely expensive option. and then you still are out of compliance with state and federal regulations. So, we can put a lot of money into an old building that doesn't meet state or federal requirements and live on for a few more years, but I don't know if that's in the best interest of everybody involved. So, I appreciate the conversation and like I said, the the board meets every third Wednesday of the month at the law enforcement center down there and uh like any other public meeting, it's open to the public to attend. Any other discussion from anyone else [snorts] hearing? None. Um, Daniel, thanks. That concludes our meeting.

[clears throat]

Back to the office. No problem. Talk to you later.