Morning and welcome to the Inoka County Board meeting for March 10th, 2026. Would you please rise and join me in the pledge of allegiance to the flag to the flag of the United States? >> Will the clerk call the role, please? >> Commissioner Hinrich, >> here. >> Commissioner Brastead >> here. Commissioner Reiner, >> I am here. >> Commissioner Schulty >> here. >> Commissioner Gamash >> here. >> Commissioner Jeepson >> here. >> Commissioner Meiser >> here. >> And we are all present and accounted for. First, we'll consider accepting the regular card claims paid over $500 and purchase card claims paid for the period ending January 23rd, 2026, February 6th, 2026, and February 20th, 2026. Is there a motion to approve? >> So moved. of a motion by Commissioner Brassstead. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by Commissioner Jeepson. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, this is a roll call vote. >> Commissioner Brastad. >> I. >> Commissioner Reiner. >> I. >> Commissioner Schulty. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Gamash. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Jeepson. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Meisner. >> I. >> Commissioner Heinrich. >> I. >> And that passes unanimously. Next. Next, let's approve the minutes from our February 17th, 2026 county board meeting. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. >> A motion by Commissioner Jeepson. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by Commissioner Meisner. Any corrections, additions, deletions? Seeing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. Anyone opposed? Those minutes are adopted unanimously. We have two items under chair's remarks today. The first of which is to consider forformational purposes an update on Havens for Heroes. I'm going to ask Commissioner Hinrich, a Marine Corps veteran, to start our conversation today. Commissioner Hinrich. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. To provide some background, the nonprofit known as Haven for Heroes originally operated as Eagle's Healing Nest in 2017. It transitioned to Haven for Heroes in 2018 and serves as a substance and alcohol-free board and lodging facility offering recovery and transitional housing for veterans. This safe, restorative environment is located at the Anoka State Hospital buildings properties owned by Anoka County, leased to the city of Anoka, and subleasased to Haven for Heroes. These cottages provide housing for veterans and families experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, addiction, and other transitional hardships. The restored cottages at Haven for Heroes have housed dozens of veterans, men, women, and families, offering stable shelter, peer support, trauma-informed care, and a stepping stone back into society. Haven for Heroes is a community where every veteran knows they are not alone. To provide an update about what's been happening at the campus, we'd like to invite Haven for Heroes co-director Bart Ward to say a few words. Welcome, Bart, and welcome Ellen. Thank you for being here today. >> Thank you very much, Commissioner. To the chair of the board, all the county commissioners, uh, assistant county attorney, county administrator. I see we have some elected officials back here, mayor of the city of Anoka, and of course, the good sheriff. I think all of you commissioners and the sheriff have been to Haven for Heroes. You've had a tour at one time or another. I see that Andrew Dyster is here and I can tell you assure you that we do not do anything big up there without Andrew's approval and help, his guidance and also uh some of the folks that uh work underneath him. Um uh also Dialin, is it Workington? Am I pronouncing that right? Dial of course is in charge of that campus. Julie Jeepson, uh, Commissioner Jeepson has helped us, uh, when we first took over the operations of this and I appreciate all that you've done. This is a really neat partnership. And for those of you who might not know, either in the audience or or up here, this is a uh a relationship between the county, the city of Anoka, and Haven for Heroes. County leases these four buildings, the three housing buildings and a historic auditorium to the city of Anoka for nothing. The city of Anoka leases it to Haven for Heroes for Nothing. And our job is to um fix those buildings up and put veterans. To that end, cottage 2 was completed uh near the end of 2017. Uh that cottage was in the best shape. The county had put almost 1.2 million into that building over the years. there was a half a million of county money that was put into cottage 4. Uh so then we moved on to that building because that was the next one which would uh have been uh the easiest to do. Uh and the third building which was a total mess is cottage 3. Um being invaded by water. A water mane broke many years ago. So not only did we have asbestous abatement in that building, but we had mold abatement as well. Um, so cottage 4 is for women and children. The most women we've had in that building are seven women and seven children. 14. We can hold 25. Uh, but we are not putting men in that building. We have that is a is a women's building. Most of the women unfortunately that we serve have had some type of sexual trauma in or out of the military or both. Uh we have had women as far away as from uh Tulsa. Uh no, I'm sorry. Uh from uh southern Arizona that have found their way to the uh VA in Minneapolis. Uh this woman was on the run from a guy that worked in a police department in Arizona. Had resources. He wasn't a sworn officer, but he had resources to track her down. And when she got to Haven for Heroes, uh she had uh a good deal of uh animinity. We don't let anybody know unless we have their permission. We don't let other people know uh who is staying at Haven for Heroes. I'm really here to talk more about facilities. And um I've handed out a piece that ECM Printers uh printed us. This is what we give to construction companies, to individual um small uh contractors. We've had people from Mortonson Construction, Ryan Construction, MGAF Construction to people who own their own little electric company or uh plumbing company or carpentry uh come and help us. We've had over 1,200 volunteers that have been on site and I just want to point out some of these people because uh I know that this county particular particularly Andrew deals with a lot of these people and um and so I think some of these folks are really worth mentioning. You can help us by thanking these people if you see them in the field. Um, and so, uh, I'm just going to highlight a few of these folks. Um, one of the city of Anoka's, uh, longtime employees who retired a few weeks ago, uh, or I'm should say a few days ago, uh, Mark Anderson happened to be with Mortonson Construction one day, talked about this project, and Mortonson jumped in this thing big time, especially for cottage 4. We had Abler was really the the guy who got Cottage 2 up and going along with many companies that came and helped. But Mortensson really took charge uh uh as generals Cottage 4 and they brought Gapart Electric and Harris Mechanical. Gapart and Harris has been back there twice. They've done hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of work. Mortonson did probably two to30,000 in cottage 4 and when they walked out the door they left left us with a $50,000 check from the family foundation. So [snorts] those are are two really three really big companies. Um Harris Mechanical has just done a ton of great work for us. Um when these guys leave their work is done. They don't leave until it's done. Um, I want to uh pay attention to Home Depot, uh, Keller Williams. They send 50 60 people a year to our operation. The local 539 pipe fitters, uh, the sprinkler fitters, local 417, uh, and Summit Supply. Summit really is the company that has come in there and sprinkled these buildings. None of these buildings were sprinkled and they have been back. They there was a day when I went up there just after Thanksgiving in 2017. They had eight of their trucks out there. It was unbelievable the amount of work that they were doing. And yesterday in front of the Anoka H, I was reminded by the chair of the board that one of the unique aspects of this early on was the ability, and I'm going to I'm going to put this one on Abler because I don't think anybody else could have got it done, of getting small nonUN companies to work with union companies. We that was a that was contentious at the beginning um for a lot of reasons for legal reasons for non-legal reasons for territorial reasons and and we were able to get these small independent companies working right alongside of union officials union companies and I just think that was really really good and I'm glad I was reminded of that because we often often forget about that. Um, Camas Hydronics is out of Canada. They've given us a 1.2 million BTU boiler, a half a million BTU boiler, and a 750,000 BTU boiler. They have just been absolutely wonderful. GAF Materials donated the roof for Cottage 3. It is the best roof system that they make. They call it slate. It's asphalt. It's warrantied for 50 years, both labor and materials. Um, and I I'll tell you, I cannot say enough about McGath construction. One of the biggest problems that both the county and we have had is water penetration into the foundations of those buildings. We can be going along really well, everything's working fine, we think we got 100% sealed, and the next thing you know, we got leaks in those buildings. To that end, McGgoth has sent envelope people out to us. I didn't even know there was such a thing, Andrew, as envelope people, but they got this guy that specializes in telling you how to keep your building from having water come into it. To that end, over 60 yards of concrete have been donated to Haven for Heroes from three of the concrete companies that you see on these sheets. These companies have come in there repeatedly with concrete. Our people form it up. And so what we've been doing is skirting the foundations with concrete. Uh last year we we took on a little bit different project and that was we excavated away from the building uh in cottage 2 and then we went down with drain tile uh p rock uh some of the same things we did at the history center when we got into the history center in 1998 we did that to that foundation we put dry wells in actually these buildings I don't know if you know Andrew but there are dry wells next to some of those buildings. Um, and I think what the problem is, and we've had some people tell us that it's possible that those drywalls could be reinvigorated, that probably what feeds the drywall has been plugged up over the years. But in any case, we did take a little different path last year uh to working on this and uh you know, now we're in the auditorium. Cottage 3 is almost done. Uh we still have some issues with Cottage 3 that that we can't that we have to solve, but uh Marvin Windows has been just wonderful to us. They gave us $250,000 worth of windows for Cottage Street. We had to put new windows in that building. We put new glass and two and four and they just gave us well a year ago and now it's installed $750,000 worth of windows for the auditorium. McGgoth Construction came out and they uh measured all those windows. Uh Marvin delivered them from northern Minnesota in a big semi and construction helped us get those windows in. All the windows in the lower level are tempered in all of these buildings. Uh the windows above are are not. Uh we've secured the roof in cottage uh I'm sorry in the auditorium. We had to tear off the roof that it sits above the stage. That roof goes actually up higher and put a new roof there. Uh thanks to ATM Construction, our roofing company. They came through for us again, helped us with a flat roof company get in there. That flat roof company has come back and donated time and material to us five or six times. And we think we have a pretty good roof on that auditorium that can last probably seven or eight years before we really have to think about doing what we did over at the history center back in 2002, and that is um tear the whole roof off and start all over. If we do that, we'd like to do it in asphalt. We know it's expensive, but what the city of Anoka has told me, what they're doing with their buildings, uh we think asphalt's the way to go. That's what we did over at the history center. Um and and so uh I think that's that's what where we'd like to go. We are not slowing down on this project. Uh it's been 9 10 years. It's going well. We're taking care of people. Our board is comprised of Ellen and myself. Uh Doug Hookham, the former commander of the American Legion in Anoka, and uh Jim and Barbler. And I will tell you, this is a working board. This is not a board who comes to a meeting, raises their hand and votes on it and goes home and does nothing. This board is working to make sure that we are staying on track strategically, strategically, and making sure that tactically we get the things done. Last group I'd like to talk about, and Ellen might want to say something about that. We have a a a volunteer maintenance group that has been there since 2017, headed by a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force, Charlene Wade. And I can tell you that sometimes we get 50, 60 people that show up to volunteer. and Charlene and Bob Hammond have to organize those crews and break them down so that when they come and show up and they're going to volunteer for one day, two days or a week that these people are not standing around looking at at these buildings trying to figure out what to do. These people are are are organized by Charlene. And I say this all the time to people who come new. Whatever you do, don't get the good Lieutenant Colonel mad. I need her. She's serious about what she's does. She has high expectations. Whether you're a MGAF or a Mortonson or you're just a volunteer who's come in and wants to help out for a couple of days. She is really good at what she does. And and her group started out with four people and now she has eight or nine people working underneath. And I don't see these people slowing down much at all either. >> So I have >> um Bart talked about the facility and he also has a saying and it's true. Not only are we saving old buildings, but we're saving lives. And I have vets come and tell us this all the time. And um we have right now the best crew that we have ever had as far as the people at our residence. We're really getting good at um interviewing people and knowing what is going to work and what's not going to work. And the only problem that I have with our volunteers is if somebody wants to take a vacation, they fight over who gets to take their place for that day. They really love being there. And I work a lot with the county and with corrections and they send um we call them mandatory volunteers and they have hours that they have to do and very often when they're done with the hours that they're court ordered to do um they come back and work for us. It's really a congenial place and you become a part of it and it's really um it's really a good safe home for people. >> Commissioner Riner. >> Yeah, I'd just like to comment um truly inspiring really what you're doing over there. Uh I had the uh honor of going over and checking out what you were doing a little after I was elected about six years ago and met with Bart and he gave me a tour and uh just seeing the good that work that you're doing and the people that you're helping like I said truly inspiring and uh you know it wouldn't have happened without you guys. nothing. Those uh buildings would more than likely be deteriorating and it's because of your efforts and your passion that uh good things are happening and um yeah, keep it going. I fully support what you guys are doing and um am in awe of the work that you're doing and the tenacity you have to keep going. Uh keep it going. >> Thank you, Commissioner Heinrich. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um Barton Ellen, God bless your work. Thank you. Um, your passion is very motivating. Your passion for helping veterans and, uh, Bart, you're not very good about giving yourself credit a lot of the time. You're you're excellent at giving everybody else uh, credit, but I just want to say that you deserve a lot. You, too, Ellen. Um, thank you for your work. >> Thank you, Commissioner. I'd like to thank you um because the driveway that you put in um on the side of the building is just you can't believe how much mud it saved um [laughter] our cottage from having it in it. >> Well, you also gave a uh Eagle Scout group a opportunity to build a basketball uh setup there. So, we've had three We've had five Eagle Scout projects that have built sheds and horse. You guys want to play horseshoes one day, go on up there. We got really good horseshoes built by Eagle Scouts. >> Well, thank you, Barton, Ellen, and and in abstentia. I would like to thank Senator Abler and Barb. They've uh they not only put forth a lot of mental effort, uh political effort, but a lot of back labor. I remember them in those buildings regularly working. So, I'd like to thank them publicly as well. Um, what you do is really important and necessary and I think it uh it helps our veterans who are struggling to get back on their feet and make better of their lives. You make that happen. We appreciate your work and and I'd also like to express my gratitude to those who have served and continue to serve, including our own Commissioner Heinrich. So, thank you again. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Our second item today is to consider forformational purposes recognition of a NOA County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant James Schilling for receiving the Minnesota Sheriff's Association's Supervisor of the Year award. going to ask Commissioner Brastead who serves as the lead commissioner on public safety to lead our conversation. Commissioner Brastead. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, this award recognizes Lieutenant Schilling's exceptional leadership during the joint investigation into the disappearance of Jordan Manny Collins Jr., a 16-year-old resident of Columbia Heights who went missing last May. This is definitely a case that none of us will forget. It was just so overwhelming, so sad, and affected so many people right here in Anoka County. The search for Manny represented the largest search in Anoka County law enforcement history. The investigation sadly ended with law enforcement at law enforcement staff at the waste management landfill in the city of Elk River in search of evidence and human remains. [snorts] As part of this case, Lieutenant Schilling managed the nearly 500 different search personnel across more than 40 agencies who helped at the site where Manny's remains were ultimately found. Lieutenant Schilling coordinated the assembly, the operation, the maintenance, and final disassembly of the command post and campsite. [snorts] Without all the assistance on this case and Lieutenant Schilling's effective leadership, Manny's family may have still been waiting for answers. At this time, I invite Sheriff Weise to say a few words. >> Thank you, Commissioner Brastead, Chair, rest of the commissioners. Um, thank you so much for taking time to acknowledge [snorts] the work of Lieutenant uh Jim Schilling. And I'll speak on his behalf. Um, he's standing here feeling awkward. >> Um, mostly in the sense that he, the person, is being acknowledged for his work. Meanwhile, it was truly a a very wide collaboration of a number of law enforcement agencies. So, the way I explained it to him to try to get him to come to this was please um understand that it's important for the organization to see that the county commissioners notice this kind of work that's getting done. It makes an enormous difference to our residents. Um because like the words that you had just said, Commissioner Brassad, is that I'm in my 32nd year in law enforcement here in Inoka County. By far this is the biggest or was the biggest and most complex investigation I've ever been a part of. Um it had sort of a bittersweet outcome. Um but that said is that we prevented a mother from having to grieve her son at a landfill. Uh and I don't know what more honor could be for our work than to give her the peace and serenity of knowing where her son is rather than unknown aspect of it all. So, um, with that, if you don't mind, I thought it would be best if I read the, um, letter, the nomination letter that went to the Minnesota Sheriff's Association. Lieutenant Schilling was, um, recognized as supervisor of the year for, uh, 2025 at the December conference of the sheriff's, Minnesota Sheriff's. So, with that, uh, the nomination letter reads, "On May 16th, 2025, a 16-year-old boy was reported missing from his father's apartment in Columbia Heights. The In Noa County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division Major Crimes Team joined the Columbia Heights Police Department in the investigation when early indications pointed to homicide. The joint investigation led law enforcement to the Waste Management Landfill in the city of Elk River in search of human remains. Lieutenant Schilling was in overall operational command of the joint operation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He worked with over over 40 different public safety agencies to staff the search operations. The search began on June 6th and continued through July 18th. On June 28th, incomplete remains of the missing boy were located in the landfill. Um, mind you, we can searching for every bit of evidence could possibly search represent history. Lieutenant Schilling managed nearly 500 different search personnel across more than 40 agencies that help at the site. He also coordinated the assembly, operation, maintenance, and finally disassembly of the sp sprawling command post and campsite um located at the top of the hill within the landfill. The command post and search teams face constant environmental challenges, high winds, severe weather, extreme heat, unstable ground, and hazardous materials. And I'll jump out of the letter to say I know a number of county commissioners were able to make it to the site and had a very uh clear appreciation for the level of work that was being done there and thank you for for those of you that were able to make time [snorts] to do that. While this was a joint effort from many agencies, Lieutenant Schilling went above and beyond and gave self of himself during the search. He worked on the site for hundreds of hours, many of which were uncompensated. His ability to manage people, equipment, and overall operations was exceptional. His ability to stay focused and optimistic each day for those coming to help was also inspirational in nearly every aspect of the search. Lieutenant Schilling went well beyond what was expected of him in this role. The success of this operation is largely due to his leadership, composure, optimism in the face of long odds and difficult uh conditions. And um and again I'll say I can't speak to the importance or highly enough was the the importance of keeping the morale up for the people that were searching. It was very easy to get discouraged when day after day literally for weeks we were unsuccessful in finding what we were looking for and it was easy to get discouraged and uh Jim and the team keeping people's morale up was exceptionally important. So, of course, as a result of this, uh, Jordan Collins, Senior, the father, was arrested and is currently charged with seconddegree murder. His trial is pending. The trial date has been set. Um, it's coming up here in the near future. Um, but with that, we are um honored that that our office was able to bring closure for the family um for the mother who's uh understandably distraught over this whole situation. Um, but again, thank you once again to the board of commissioners for acknowledging uh Jim Schilling. He's a good man. >> Well, thank you, Sheriff Wise, and Lieutenant Schilling. We thank you for your commitment and unwavering dedication to this case. While this was not the outcome the community was hoping for, we're thankful for your leadership that helped to bring closure. We sincerely thank you and congratulate you on your award. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> Mr. Meiser. >> Oh, yeah. Thank Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I I just also wanted to uh personally echo those sentiments. Um Manny was in Columbia Heights. I was down at that site for one day and the physical conditions, the there was just so much involved in that project. And um Sheriff Weiss, you you mentioned the the optimism. I mean, I've never felt such com camaraderie and purpose for something like that. Uh and I I don't know, we had people volunteers from different counties um who every last free second would come and volunteer at that landfill [clears throat] over and over again. And I was there for one day and I I don't know how you guys did it. And also the whole team. So you had the the people that were looking in the landfill, you had a whole other team that were feeding the volunteers that were around the clock. Again, just so much teamwork and coordination. Um absolutely amazing and for such an an important an important outcome as you said. So thank you so much. It was um an incredible undertaking and I I took the opportunity to work alongside the sheriff for an entire day when it was I think almost 100° >> inside those Tyvic suits. And what was overwhelming to me was the semnity of everybody there. Everybody, you know, although there were friends gathering together, groups that didn't know each other that became friends, everybody remained completely solemn. It was such a tough event. It was emotionally tough for everybody, but people handled it so well. And I I I give that to the leadership, the sheriff and Lieutenant Schilling. Um they almost demanded that type of reaction. And I thank them. I thank you for your work. And I thank everybody who volunteered the 500 volunteers who spent time there. It was uh [snorts] well, we've said it enough times. It was definitely closure for for a mother. And what could be more more important than that? Uh, with that, that brings us to the close of chair's remarks and we will go back to our agenda for committee reports and we'll start with the management committee. Commissioner Meiser. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. The committee of the whole for management, we met on February 17th um, at 8:15 a.m. in this building. There were no public comments and I did not receive any via email either, but anyone may make their comments to mandy. Meisnermn.gov. So on our consent agenda today, we have just one action item. This is renewing the workday human resources management system model. Um, and this would be under a master services agreement, uh, contract SC26-0000205 in the amount of 4,355,294. This is over a 7-year period through March 22nd, uh, 2033. And so um this is coming before us because uh basically workday was with our human services and then is also now being integrated as a master's contract with finance. So with uh that I will move that item. >> There's a motion before us. Is there a second? >> Second. >> I have a motion by Commissioner Meisner and a second by Commissioner Heinrich. Is there further discussion on the contract? >> Seeing none, this is a roll call vote. Commissioner Reinert. >> Hi, >> Commissioner Sulty. >> Hi, >> Commissioner Gomesh. Hi, >> Commissioner Jeepson. Hi, >> Commissioner Meisner. I >> Commissioner Hinrich, >> hi. >> Commissioner Brastead, I >> And that passes unanimously. On to yourformational items. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. As you know, I do always like to share informationational for the public. So, one of the items was uh to consider an employment agreement. This was for Lisa >> Gets >> Gatskow. Thank you very much. um and appointing her as a department of director for the job training center. So this actually already happened. This was voted on and ratified at our last board meeting and she started February 20th. The otherformational item was a presentation about our employee engagement survey and this was the third that was done. These are conducted by third parties. We had a 52% participation rate. So this was uh very high when it comes to surveys. I do want to thank everyone who participated in that and made your comments. It is truly helpful to guide us about how to make improvements. Um [clears throat] and then the lastformational item was the human resources uh year in review. And so we went through some of the improvements um that went on in year 2025. So with that, that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Commissioner Meiser. We will then move on to our transportation committee, the whole report and parks. And we'll start with Commissioner Hinrich. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Before you start, Commissioner Hinrich, I will ask if any board members would like to remove anything off the consent agenda to be voted on individually. >> Seeing none, please continue. Commissioner Hinrich. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh so the committee the whole of transportation and parks was held on March 3rd at 1:00 at the transportation division facility and we had I don't want to steal your thunder commissioner Riner we did have a parks update uh but I'll go into the consent agenda for now Mr. Chair for the uh transportation or highway. Uh so the first thing we have on our item is on our agenda here is consider recommending the award of contract SC26-000000930 in the amount of 767,82.75 to JL Ty Inc. uh for the replacement of traffic control systems at the intersection of uh 85th Avenue, County Road J and Lexington Avenue in the cities of Glaine and Shore View. Um I think there was five nine bidders and JL Ty came in uh low bid lowest responsible bid. Uh the second item is contract um SC26-0000895. Uh this is a professional services contract with TKDA for construction administration services uh for the reconstruction of 40th Avenue and Main Street to the for to trunk highway 47. agenda is contract SC00000000896 [snorts] and this is uh also a professional services contract with TKDA for construction administrative services for uh reconstruction at Mississippi Street and East River Road uh to trunk highway 47 in the city of Fidley. And we are Mr. Mr. Chair, the reason we're hiring TKDA for some professional services here uh um we are looking more and uh we have a few uh people in our highway department. So uh we need some help with some of these projects. Uh with that, Mr. Chair, that's the consent agenda. >> Thank you for your motion. Discussion on agenda. >> Seeing none, this is a roll call vote. >> Commissioner Schulty, I >> Commissioner Gamash. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Jepson. Hi. >> Commissioner Meisner. >> I Commissioner Heinrich. I, >> Commissioner Bastad. >> I, Commissioner Reiner. >> I, >> and that passes unanimously. Back to you for an action item, Commissioner Rin. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have one action item. It's resolution number 2026-TR05. It's a resolution authorizing acquisition of Van Beern Street for the Ina County Jail Project. >> I'll offer the resolution. Is there discussion on the resolution? >> Commissioner Reiner. >> Yeah, I will not be supporting this. Um, I've talked often about the um oversizing of the jail project that uh we've been working on since I've gotten here 6 years ago. And um yeah, we're still not anywhere farther. We're vacating a a street, but we don't have a plan of what the jail is even going to look like. So, it it really doesn't make sense for us to uh vacate this uh street until we at least know know what it's going to look like and how many uh cells it's going to have and but we don't have any of the information. It's very much cart before the horse. So, I will not be supporting this. >> Thank you, Commissioner Riner. Commissioner Hinrich. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I also will not be supporting this. I'm not in favor of crossing Van Beerren. >> Thank you, Commissioner Henrik. Commissioner Meiser. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. I I will be supporting this out of nec necessity. Um but I did just want to acknowledge the um mayor in the in the audience today uh mayor uh Scoquist and others attending. So I appreciate your time. Um thank you. >> Thank you. Seeing [clears throat] no further comments, we'll move to a roll call vote. >> Commissioner Gamash. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Jeepson. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Meisner. >> I. >> Commissioner Heinrich. >> No. >> Commissioner Brastad. I >> Commissioner Reiner. >> No. >> Commissioner Schulty. >> I And that item passes and moves forward uh to information. Commissioner Hinrich or Commissioner Reiner. >> Uh I'll go first. Mr. Chair, just real quick. It was uh a pleasure and an honor to be invited by the highway department for this year's Polar Plunge, which supports uh Special Olympics. And um Joe McFersonson, I see him in the audience here, head of transportation, chief engineer at Enoka County. Um I will be doing it next year, but it hurt. Thank you for the picture. I know you can't see that, but um it's a good event. It was in Blaine and there was hundreds of people there uh rooting everybody on and hundreds of people uh jumping in all for a good cause. And I want to point out Commissioner Schulty was not there this year, but for many years uh Chair Schulty was uh jumping in in that exact suit or one like it. Um and this year we wore uh safety yellow. So appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you, Commissioner Hinrich. Commissioner Reinard. >> Okay. I do have a couple of things. Um in parks, uh we don't have any action items. Um but I would would like to comment on the polar plunge, too. Um, when the opportunity arose, I said that I was going to do it and then I kind of talked you into it actually. Uh, and then I didn't show cuz I had a scheduling conflict, but I'll be there next year. Um, parks. We got a few things here. Uh, we'd like to honor the retirement of Julie Tesy after 28 years of service. Like to mention that the Bunker Beach Water Park is off to a great start. We are 31% ahead in um selling season passes over last year. Uh last year at this moment we had 473 uh p passes sold and this year we have 690. So um lots of excitement about the wake pool this this year. Um Bunker Hills Boardwalk that is located uh south of Bunker Lake Road I think by Golden Rod. Uh if you can see the construction that's going on there. Uh local residents are excited about that and the completion for that um boardwalk will be June of 26. So this spring uh recruiting season is underway for seasonal hiring for 350 to 400 summer positions in our parks department. Uh we're looking for 180 staff members for Bunker Beach Water Park, a fun place to work in the summer. 40 to 50 people uh to staff um Shaman Golf Course and 80 to 100 uh staff members for parks in general. So contact our parks department for more information and uh work for Anoka County. And that concludes my comments for today. >> Thank you, Commissioner Reiner. And that does conclude our committee of the whole reports for today. We'll move back to our regular agenda and item eight where we'll consider approving the ina county board of commissioners operating procedures and guidelines. You have a draft in front of you, a recent one that was updated as of this morning. I will go ahead and move this item to get it on the table. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by Commissioner Meisner. It is now before us and we'll accept comments. Commissioner Reiner, >> a couple comments. I will not be supporting this. Um, to me, a very uh political and uh silly document. Um it's redundant in many ways uh from uh things we have in place that we already follow and it's um determination of a lot of the text in this 14page document are very arbitrary and if you con construed one way or another I think this is uh very volatile and ripe for abuse. Um, I look at this and a lot of portions of this as a censorship uh document to suppress um comments by board members uh with a board that is very political and sometimes dysfunctional. We need more dialogue, not less. And I believe this document will not inspire more conversation between us. Um I don't think this is going to pass with uh anywhere near um majority support and I think just that in itself um shows the political nature of this document. What we do follow uh today is Robert's rules of order. Uh there's state code 43A375 which uh is an over which is a code of ethical conduct that's uh passed at the state level. We've got this little document called freedom of speech which guides a lot of what we can and cannot say. And when we u became commissioners, we took an oath of office. We are guided by so much language out there and now a few on this board want to add 14 more pages of what is really just political nonsense. >> Thank you, Commissioner Reiner. Commissioner Meisner and Commissioner Gomesh. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I I just want to I know we have thoroughly discussed this uh several times um in this most recent cycle, but again I want to reiterate my appreciation for coming up with this document. We had very in-depth debate, healthy good debate discussions. This was not the original document that we're seeing before us. Um, Commissioner Gash and I for many years had a rotating practice in terms of u bringing that forward and that is in here. Um, I disagree with Commissioner Reiner's many of his comments. This is in fact taking out politics as much as possible. For example, having that rotating chair practice which is new and this is something that we have had division with every single year since I've been on a board. this puts something in place. Uh it is true that a lot of these things I I don't want to say that they're redundant, but these are practices that we we we do, but to have them in writing is a is a good thing. Um so this is a best p a best practice and it puts accountability not only for each individual but us as a board. Personally, I think it really fosters working as a board together. Everything in here still has to go by a majority vote. So there's nothing that is out of the ordinary in terms of policy or practice. If there is anything that we don't like, then we as a board as a majority can change that. Um so I will be supporting this and again I have sincere gratitude. We have been talking about this actually particularly rotating chair for years and so only with this particular cycle and I will give it to Commissioner Schulty. He has committed to bringing this across the finish line. We have got to keep this moving because we've been talking about it for for much too long. And I just also want to reiterate what the actual title of this document is. It is the operating procedures and guidelines. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Commissioner Meiser. Commissioner Gomesh. >> Thank you, Chair Schulty. Um, first of all, there's only nine pages on this document. So, um, >> only nine. >> Only nine. >> It was 14 at one point in time. I was at the, uh, uh, um, state house yesterday for a couple different meetings for Ways and Means Committee and the transportation committee. And, um, you can say what you want about the state legislature. Um but the decorum that they have in their meetings uh very um direct. They they they don't really um while they might have comments back and forth to each other um that could be seen as partisan or or whatever. Um they're always very it's always very cordial. Those meetings run very smoothly. Um, and I think that's just something that maybe by having this document for um, new commissioners that come to the office uh, will be helpful to them because it's all right here. Exactly. Um, all of the things that we go by, all of the rules that we follow. Um and and one of the things that I wanted just to point out very quickly is that um one of the statements in here under general meeting guidelines and expectations is that a county board member desiring to speak uh for shelf first address the chair and not proceed until being recognized. That's something you find it very um uh you find at the at the state house on on all of those things. And then it goes on, the county board member once recognized shall not be interrupted when speaking unless it is to call a member to order for some reason. Um but the you have the ability to speak um once you ask uh the chairs and that's always helpful um that the chair can make sure everybody gets the opportunity and everybody has the opportunity without being interrupted uh during arguments during debates back and forth. uh those debates are very good and that's all a part of um what is followed in every type of county board legislature on here and that's what we're going to follow for meetings um that in for of how they and I think this document um thanks [clears throat] to staff I appreciate their uh their work on this but I also appreciate the work of the board as [snorts] we discussed many different things um drilling this down from 14 to nine pages um it it gives us an opportunity and we're going to follow basically the Minnesota statutes that are out there and um and and some other policies that we have individually, but it doesn't enha it doesn't hamper or hurt anybody's uh freedom of speech. Uh you can make your comments and discuss them and um move on from there and we'll get our work done. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you, Commissioner Gamash. I'll go to Commissioner Jeffson next. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh yes, I will be supporting this document today. I think um you know I think having all of these different opportunities of process and procedure in one document with a new commissioner when I came on as a new commissioner I was given no um onboarding I was given no documents on procedure on I mean basically given a Robert's rules um addition uh that I had already had. So I think procedures, documentation, um guidelines, I think it's a great document to have if not but for a new commissioner to to understand how this board functions. Um I do appreciate uh Mr. Chair some of the comments that that you made earlier this morning. You know, we've been talking about this, you two have been talking about this for years. We've been looking at this document or var versions of this document for months and months and months. And so to come wanting to maybe delay it or make changes to it, our decisions are probably pretty much made up. I don't know what is going to happen to sway those who are yes to no, no to yes. Um but but it's as an example this morning there were some concerns about some of the words being used and so I said great let's get rid of them. And then there was another concern. Great let's change that. Another concern. So um I think we are at a point where the document is a good start. Nothing is ever going to be perfect. We can compromise and compromise until there's only one word on the sheet of paper and then um then the robustness of it, the purpose of it just totally goes away. Um so again I will be supporting this but I also want to comment that every year it's also written in here. Every year this is reviewed. every year it's voted on and I don't think any of us would it if there's something terribly wrong in here that we later discover I don't think any of us would say nope we're not going to look at it until January. So um it's a working document. It's an imperfect document but it's something that uh we can look look to. Thank you. >> Thank you Commissioner Jeepson. And I do want to defend our staff just a little bit. You you were onboarded just not with a good document that really spelled out procedures. >> Correct. Thank you. But there was an onboarding process, >> not not a strong one. And I I agree. It's something that the county should continue to work on because when you become a commissioner, it's a completely different animal than any other public office you've ever served in. And our county is the fourth largest in the state. We have a lot of stuff we need to be in charge of and responsible for. And I remember my onboarding as well. It was similar to yours, I'm sure. >> Yes. >> Just never feel like you know enough. I'm in my 14th year and I'm starting to get a just a little handle on part of it. >> Oh, great. >> Further comments. Commissioner Breasted. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, so this morning and we have discussed this for a while. Um, I will not be supporting this uh for the reasons um for one, it's a uninforcable non-binding uh procedures and guidelines. To me, we're trying to take two separate issues. Um, one being procedures, how the calling out how the board operates, passes resolutions. I can be on board. I can support that. the behavioral guidelines, the suggestions um for elected officials. I I have some issues with with how things are worded. They did um after this morning's meeting make a couple of the changes I suggested. I appreciate that. We got this draft at 9:26. 9:26. Our meetings start at 9:30. So, not only hasn't the public had an opportunity to look at the changes we're talking about, I haven't even got to read through the nine pages to see if the changes I requested were actually um made in there. I did appreciate Commissioner Gamash this morning at the meeting saying that he would approve tableabling this and looking at dividing it into two documents. So I would still propose that we do that this morning. Um I think it would be great if we could have more than four people in support of something that is supposed to carry a lot of weight. that's almost not passing. So, um, again, I'll ask my colleagues, uh, can we divide this out? There's there's no deadline on this. We don't have to look at a new chair situation until January of 2027. Um, I just can't support it this way, but I think there's a path to supporting the operating procedure end of it. um not only for me but for others. >> Thank you, Commissioner Brastead. Commissioner Meiser. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um yeah, and and so just in response to some of Commissioner Brastead's comments, uh the this document before us, you you mentioned that you just got it at 9:26 and in fact the the the changes that you actually that you had suggested that I supported because I knew that it really bothered you during that conversation in committee, which is you didn't like the word ethical in this document. Um, I disagree with that, but that's okay. I There's four times that the word ethical was was struck out as described today of the changes that are before us today. And in terms of separating them out, that was a suggestion that you made, I I don't see uh the purpose in that. And in fact, again, I'm repeating myself, but when I had a one-on-one discussion with you about this because I really truly wanted your buyin, one of your preferences was in fact to tie in some kind of behavioral with a rotating chair, which I also agree with, and that was put in the document. But I'm very surprised now to hear that you don't like any reference to that whatsoever, and you want it separated out. But I think that is actually one of the more powerful things in this document is to state that if we are not behaving professionally as by a majority excuse me supermajority decision that you know that person would be out of the rotating cycle as as chair again as preferred by you per our discussion. Um so I disagree this should not be separated out. it it in fact needs to be partnered together for the for that purpose which I agree with you on and um I I think because we've been talking about it for years and we've been doing this document for months as commissioner Jeffson stated we just need to move move forward so if it's not going to pass like anything with this black but it needs to happen been talking about this way too long. Thank you Mr. Chair. Thank you. Commissioner Meiser, Commissioner Hinrich. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, boy, yeah, we've been talking about this for a while and, uh, appreciate the fact that we've made a lot of changes. Uh, it got better. Um, a lot of this I just look at, we kind of made a mountain out of a molehill. Uh, Commissioner Damash kept saying, "This is what this does. It does this. It does this." Actually, it doesn't do anything. Four members of the board can still vote however they want it. at any time. I think this should be looked at more as a administrative. Maybe uh maybe our administrator Dickinson can keep this on file and if a new commissioner comes on board, we can provide him with a little more paperwork to help him kind of understand the way the board operates. So, I just kind of see it as unnecessary. It's not binding. It doesn't do anything. Um it's, you know, kind of I I vision I don't mean to throw other commissioners under the bus. I know we're all kind of passionate about it, but to me, I don't like taking votes that I I feel are more kind of political grandstanding or or just virtue signaling. This is kind of just uh a lot of stuff that we already do. We're governed by Robert's rules. Yes, we should respect each other. We should be ethical. By writing it down again here doesn't make anybody more respectful or make the meetings go smoother. Um, so that's kind of my frustration. I I'm thinking I might just I I like to vote yes or no on stuff, but I might abstain on this because I I don't really have so much of an issue with it. I just don't see it's super necessary. There are some subjective terms in here. I think that's why Commissioner Bradstead brought up anybody's idea. Maybe four members of the board thought one uh thing was un unethical where the other three think that it was fine. We're not talking about obvious things, but sometimes there's heated discussion in a committee meeting and um one member of the board could offend another member and and so I'm a little concerned about how something could be subjective. Uh but again, it's not binding in any way. Um it doesn't really do anything except serve as maybe orientation reading material. Uh so that's all I have, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you, Commissioner Hinrich. I will say it does add a few things that are not redundant. It u it brings in the rotation of the chair which is something we currently don't do and this is a recommended procedure that we would move forward with. >> Mr. Chair, >> Commissioner Henrik. >> Well, thank you just um on that point, but correct me if I'm wrong. It it talks about that, but if four members out of seven decide to vote for whoever they want for chair, they can still do that. Is that correct? That's correct. That's why this is a guideline. Okay. >> These are procedures and guidelines. It also uh changes our board meeting a little bit by adding another forum for county board members to react to what's happening in their district uh as it affects the county. Uh so there are a few things added in here. Um Commissioner Reinard had a comment. I believe you had your hand up. Yeah, I mean I guess you know the meeting that we had before this a lot of people were talking about you know comments that they wanted this changed or that changed and uh I've got many many notes and yeah we've met on this a few times but the fact that there are hands going up and talking about changes and disagreement shows that this document if it was going to be voted on looks like it's going to be today and maybe even passer which I think is just ridiculous but uh it shows it's not ready for prime time And a lot of the problems that people have on in here is just the arbitrary nature of it. I mean, I think it's laughable that this document says that once you start talking, you can't be interrupted. My god, I am interrupted constantly by fellow uh commissioners because they don't like the content of what I'm talking about. And I don't really care if you like what I'm talking about. I'm representing 55,000 people and um I get to speak. I get to represent them. So, the fact this document now is going to stop people from interrupting me, I doubt that. >> Thank you, Commissioner Riner. Commissioner Meiser. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I I I I won't keep belaboring. I mean, we all know our positions. Uh the the one thing that Commissioner Heinrich, though, you know, it's so on one hand, you say this is unnecessary, doesn't do anything, yet you're very hesitant to support something like that. The the reason that the reason that there's four votes for the rotating chair is because you know you want to find that balance whether it's this board or future boards as we've discussed that whoever that ch that chair is they they still need the support of the board in that year. Um so and and you you are correct. We've never done a rotating chair practice before. We've been debating that for several years. It's a best practice. And I'm just going to leave it with what is in this document and the meaningful changes and suggestions. I think you said it really well, Commissioner Schulty. These are recommendations. So, we all have an understanding, but it's it's not, you know, written in stone in the fact that the majority of the board, if we disagree with it, can, you know, change that. This is a best practice and this is us walking the walk. We talk all the time about striving for excellence. It's part of our mission that we strive for excellence. But yet when we are given an opportunity, we should be embracing that to show that in action. And for me, that is absolutely what this document represents is a best pra practice and striving for excellence for the best that this board can be. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you, Commissioner Meisner. I I would suggest though to get this into administrator Dickinson's file cabinet, we have to approve it first. You can't just slide this in there and present it. So, it is something we we need to do. There is a motion and a second on the floor. And seeing no further discussion, this will be a roll call vote. >> Commissioner Jeepson, >> I. >> Commissioner Meisner, >> I. >> Commissioner Heinrich, >> I'm saying. >> Commissioner Brad, >> no. >> Commissioner Reiner, >> no. >> Commissioner Schulty, >> I. Commissioner Gamash >> I. >> And that item passes. That will come before us every year in January at our organizational meeting for adoption, modification, deletions, whatever we see fit. Uh thank you uh and thank you staff for the recent three months of really hard work and prior to that other renditions of the same thing. But thank you. Uh we'll now move on to item nine where we'll consider this is nine A and B and we'll take those together where we consider approving the following relating to appropriations for the 2026 Memorial Day and Veterans Day observances. Pursuant to Minnesota statute section 375.35, Anoka County appropriates $250 to each post of a recognized military service persons organization or society organized holding charter from Congress or incorporated in this state for the purpose of deferring Memorial Day and Veterans Day exercise expenses held within an NOA County provided a written request is submitted to county administration by December 31st of 2026. six. And item B is appropriating, pursuant to Minnesota statute section 375.34, up to $3,500 to the Inoka County Veterans Council to aid in the observance of Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Is there a motion to approve 9A and B? >> So moved. >> Motion by Commissioner Hinrich. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Second by Commissioner Brasted. Is there discussion? I just under discussion. This is uh pursuant to a statute. I assume the $250 is called out in statute. Uh if it's not, >> check it's not called out. It is something I think we should look at before too long. It's been 250 since I started on the board. And it sure seems to me like their costs have gone up for doing these type of events. And at some point, uh, given budget restraints, it may not be immediate, but I think it's something we should look at to perhaps changing that monetary value to something a little bit higher to help out these veterans organizations who do so much for our community. Uh, with that, there is a motion and a second on the floor. Uh, Brian, did you have an answer or >> Yeah, I don't know how to work these mics, but yeah. Um there's no dollar amount outlined in the statute. So if the board's prerogative was to raise that in future years, I think that that would be an option and we can always look into that for next year um if that's if that's desired. >> That that is an item that it's it's how it was budgeted, but uh the point of the matter is is uh when we discuss uh budget for appropriations, it could certainly be looked at. >> Thank you. Thank you for your work, Brian. Commissioner Riner, >> and I guess I would recommend an increase for next year. we can discuss what that amount is, but if it hasn't changed since you've been here, and that's about 15 years, especially with 22% increase in um in inflation over the last 5 years. Um I think that the the post could use a little increase. >> Yeah. And again, it's uh budget. We have to be concerned about our budget on every vote we take and everything we talk about. But uh I'll go to Commissioner Jeffson next and then to Corey. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I would before we put a number out there, I would like to get some feedback from the posts on what is needed uh prior to just calling out a number. >> Understood. Corey. >> Yeah. Um, Mr. Chair, members of the council, my name is Corey Camp. I'm the chief financial officer for Noa County. Um, this was based on the appropriations that were adopted within the budget. Um, back I guess you know, this had been set up years and years ago. Um the law used to limit each post to $200. We are at $250. Now the law does not limit it, but these are re fairly recent changes. And then we also increase by $1,000 the the council too. So and that was all done through our budget process. going into the next year's budget process if through discovery we find maybe you would like to appropriate more I don't see that as being something you couldn't have a discussion on you know so but you know my question would be this is where our budget is right now so that is why it is set the way it is so >> thank you for your input director camp >> commissioner gamash >> thank you Cy before you get too far um so the the 3500 you said the first part Well, it used to be $200 for um each organization, but the Anoka County Veterans Council is different than an organization because it's our body or it's something under our >> Right. Yeah. It's a body that we've supported always since. It's just it's like a body that that kind of in involves all of every all of the vets across the county. Okay. >> So, it's a little more guess globalized from the county's perspective. >> Okay. And so, yeah. Any more discussions on item 9A and B? Seeing none, this is a roll call vote. >> Commissioner Meisner, >> I. Commissioner Heinrich, >> I. >> Commissioner Brastto, >> I. >> Commissioner Reiner, >> I. >> Commissioner Schulty. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Kamash. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Jepson. >> Hi. >> And that will pass unanimously. That moves us to item 10 where we'll consider appointing Dale Stays representing district 3. The library advisory board as recommended by Commissioner Reinard for a three-year term expiring January of 2029. Is there a motion to appoint? >> Yeah, Mr. Chair, I'd move uh the board to appoint Dale Stays uh to represent district three on the library board. >> And I have a second from Commissioner Jeepson. >> Is there further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. Anyone opposed? That passes. With nothing else to come before the county board. Commissioner Meiser. >> Oh, thank you, Mr. Chair. No, I'm sorry. Since we passed that document, I just wasn't sure if uh this was the meeting that you wanted to implement the commissioner's reports from the districts. >> Well, I will turn to administrator Dickinson. What is the effective date of the uh item we passed earlier? probably >> well you could do it immediate if you so desire so >> we will >> usually it's after the approval of the minutes so >> but that's okay this is informal enough I will turn to each commissioner if you have anything happening in your district that relates to an oaka county business now would be a good time to share it'll start to my far left with commissioner Meisner >> uh you know I don't have anything to report at this moment I would >> thank you >> yes >> JSON >> I'm good thank you >> thank you not prepared [laughter] Understood. And I will move to Commissioner Reiner next. >> Well, I know the American Legion in the great city of Lina Lakes has an upcoming uh bunny breakfast. I believe it's on Palm Sunday. And I'll be in their kitchen cooking. I think it's $12 for adults, $6 for kids, under five free. Stop on by. >> So, it's a bunny breakfast. They're not serving rabbit, though. >> Well, we're doing uh No, everything. [laughter] >> Thank you, Commissioner Brastead. >> Nothing today. Thanks. >> Thank you, Commissioner Hinrich. >> I think at this time, Mr. chair. Thank you. >> Excellent. With that, we are adjourned and we will have open mic in a minute or so.