And the uh clerk will note that all are present. And we will look first on the agenda for approval of the minutes from August 12th, 2025. >> I have a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> And a second. Any further discussion on the minutes? Seeing none, all in favor, please say I. I. >> Anyone opposed? Seeing none, the minutes are adopted. I have no chair's remarks for you. Uh, next we'll consider resolution 2025-4, adoption of the final tax levy and final operating budget for program year 2026. Uh, first we'll go to D and just get a quick explanation on what the budget and levy is. Uh, we know the levy is zero. Um, and there's a question as to what the what the use of reserves are for. >> D, >> thank you, executive director. So, this year reflects almost exactly what we did last year, which is uh 1.815680. So, we're a little bit uh I think off by a few um thousands uh difference. And really what that payment is is that is our debt service payment. Um we have been paying that for quite a few years and actually we are coming up to the end of it which will be February of 2027. That will be our last payment. Um after that um we will have about 4.8 million left in our reserve account in regional rail. Um and what that can be used for um is very prescriptive. Um it can be used for um public safety. um not really roads but trails, overpasses, bridges that help the safety for rail transportation basically. Um I did reach out to Joel McFersonson um department director of transportation and we are talking through what's in our five-year plan because it needs to be in our transportation five-year plan um projected projects that it could be used for. And so we're looking at that to see how we can maybe tie in maybe some pedestrian overpasses um maybe in Rapids or some other areas where we could tie up that kind of last mile. I do think it'd be nice if we took a step back and now that we're going back to um bus transportation from some of the rails, making sure that we have trails, paths, you know, um guideways in order for people to get to the bus. um and making sure that we have they're not walking on the side of the road or not doing something like that. So, kind of that last mile to make sure that they can get to a safe space for the bus. Um but we do have some time um just because uh the last payment is 2027 and I I I would caution us about zeroing out that account before the last levy payment um does come. Um but otherwise, we are looking in good shape. Um and it is a a change to uh the future. Commissioner Riner. >> So it was described as final payment. So we have one more after this. >> Yes. Yep. 2027. >> And then so after this payment we have 4.8. So we're going to end up with three. >> Nope. We'll have 4.8 after the payment is done. >> So we have 5.6 now. >> Uh yes, but there's interest as we go along. But yes. And so it's you said it's uh very prescriptive what it can be used for, but also you know if we did a like you said a transportation project or some other project where we can use it um then we can lower the budget somewhere else too. We don't have to just spend it. Right. >> Correct. Correct. Um we can do that. A lot of the projects you know we used to get funding from the transportation tax that kind of filled our coffers. So it's kind of giving back to the highway department and and using on that. But I think I think we can easily find a project to use this money on for good. >> Well, there's lots of projects. >> Yeah. >> But this this money is specific to railroad, >> right? >> So, it has to be used on a railroad project, whether it's an overpass, a safety project related to railroad roads over the railroad, >> right? But if it was something that was we were going to do anyway. >> Correct. >> We could save those dollars, pay for it this way. >> Yeah. Correct. If I can, as an example, when I was talking to Joe actually last night, we had some time. Um, and one of the items that they're looking at is Rapids is requesting a pedestrian overpass over by the Crooked Lake Library on Rapids or Crooked Lake Boulevard. Um, because there's a lot of people who are crossing over there to get up to the train station or the bus. Now, it's be the bus station. So that would be a place that there's not an up and over um built for the road, but it' be a way of getting pedestrians over that kind of has a double for us um gain and that it does go to the library and that is a very wellused library. Um so that would help with you know kids coming from the high school, coming from that pool area getting there. So that's just one of the ideas that we're looking at but nothing's really firm yet. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Very good. And and when D refers to this payment that we're making, that is for the capital for Northstar, that's defeasing the payments for the train. So, we're still paying for the train that's not going to be running and we will for another year. So, it's the proverbial paying for the dead horse, but it's what we do. Uh, so do I have an offer of the resolution to adopt the final tax levy and final operating budget for program year 2026? So move. >> I have an adoption. I have a offer of the resolution. Uh and we will do this as a roll call vote. >> Commissioner >> I commissioner >> I >> Commissioner >> I >> Commissioner Jeffson >> I >> Commissioner >> I. >> And that passes unanimously. Is there anything else anyone wants to talk to about the railroad authority? Seeing none, we are adjourned. Thank you de >> Thank you. >> Thank you everybody else. >> We will have uh the um H in 7 what? 72 I believe and we'll be there by >> 72 it says >> be there by 11.