We'll wait for the recording >> as soon as the light comes on. >> All right, [clears throat] there we go. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you very much. Uh at this point of the meeting, we have uh public comments section if anybody wants to make a comment. >> [clears throat] >> Good morning. >> Good morning. Um, my name is Sandy Crosby and I live in Brandonale Estates here in Chaza. I'm here with some of the other residents that own one of the nearly 500 homes in our community. Some of us will explain to you the problem we are facing and then the last speaker will conclude with a proposal and there will be seven of us in a row speaking. For many years when homeowners in our uh county's manufactured home parks had problems with health and safety issues, we had nobody to call. everyone we would call would [clears throat] say, quote, "Sorry, we're not responsible for that." This includes the Minnesota Department of Health that is supposed to inspect our parks for exactly these things and then issue the park owner. In all of the years that Haven Park Communities has owned Brandonale, the Minnesota Department of Health has somehow failed to notice these things. 24 broken street lights that never got repaired. This the sewage that flows onto the grass near the main playground and burns a huge portion of grass with the urine. and the storm shelters that we have that are full of storage and locked up because they are unusable. These and other glaring obvious glaringly obvious items that are supposed to they are supposed to inspect to ensure the safety and health standards are being met were overlooked year after year after year. We will email you the MDH inspection report from 2022 through 2025 that show zero citations of note. Each year the MDH either did not show up to do the inspections or they willfully ignored their duties. Each year they issued the park owner a new license. >> Thank you. water being turned on. Uh, at least now they're notifying us by text. Before that, they wouldn't even notify us at all. I mean, you you'd be washing your hair in the middle of washing your hair, the water would go off. So, at least them getting a text is an improvement, but um, sadly, um, there's a lot of senior citizens, and I mean really senior because I'm a senior, and I mean a lot older than me, um, do not have cell phones. they only have a landline. So, of course, they are not receiving this text at all. Um, but anyway, um, it's been shut off last year total of 12 times in a single year. And that's at the very least it's an inconvenience. And of course, at the very worst, it could be a a health concern. Um, for one thing, uh, well, we all know when our water is off, you get you get one flush. [clears throat] And uh so what people have been doing is bringing in um uh gallons of water to you know to take care of that and also to have drinking water in the event that the water is turned off. But that's a nuisance and it and it also can be a very inconvenience because apparently there's uh senior citizens that um um have have care workers in it and if that happen to happen on a day where they're in to get their bath, you know, they can't that can't happen. It also um has a problem with if you have an electric water heater and your water shut off um unless you know enough, which I don't um to go and turn that off, that can burn out the coil unit of it. So that we've had that happen for a few few residents as well. Um and then uh also uh it's it's actually it's actually dangerous for all the people who are disabled or chronically ill. And I'm just would like to ask you if that's something you folks would like to live in. That's kind of conditions we live in. We don't think it's right. Um the over the years the water pressure has been getting worse. I know in particular my house when I start out I turn the water on and the flow goes straight out as it should be from your water nozzle. And then after about a minute, the noise starts changes to a little different level. And all of a sudden, instead of going like this, it's going like this, and it's going down. And by the time I'm done, I I don't have much of a water flow at all. And it's been getting progressively worse. Uh, a couple years ago, I had a new um shower enclosure put in, and I had all new pipes put in, and I that did improve the the flow somewhat, but it's still not good. So, I know it's not they can't blame it on on my pipes or the individual pipes. It's coming from outside and that's just something that needs to be addressed. So, uh once again, I would just like to ask that um you know, you address this because we don't like living this way and I don't think you'd like living this way and I don't think you'd like grandma and grandpa living this way. So, thank you for your for your um listening. >> Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> Hello, my name is Kelly Riddle and I also live in Brandale. [clears throat] Residents have identified three different places in Brandale at which the sewer frequently backs up onto the ground. There are certainly there are certainly could be more of these places given the size of the park, but the three we identified were reported to the Minnesota Department of Health health. We sent photos of all three clearly showing the sewage on the surface, but MDH said the only one of these sites was actively putting sewage on the ground. On that day, they came to look. [clears throat] So, they only ask the park to address that one, which is by a park. Uh, these sites back up sewage multiple times a year. It is ridiculous that even the even with photo evidence MDH would take no action on two of them. One is sewage that backs up right into a resident's backyard. It smells so bad they both they and both of their neighbors cannot open their windows. Having an inspection program run by the state is a way ineffective in meeting the very health standards they look for. If the only time they can require the park to address a chronic problem is when it is active on one day they inspect, then issues like this persist. And I live across the street from a backed up sewage. >> Two of my neighbors have beautiful houses. The the sewer is in the middle and I can smell it in my yard. And it it is, you know, of all the issues that we have in Branddale, I believe this is the worst just because it's it's a biohazard. I mean, you got children running around. The one that they did fix was right by a park. And um it's just um it makes me angry, you know, that we have to live like this. So, um, you know, thank you for letting us speak to you about this and hopefully we can work together and get something done. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. Um, my name is Josh Powell. I also live in Brandonale. I live at one of the residents where this um sewage issue's been happening, the backing up. Uh it's happened more than once. Um we've called um and it's there's been pretty slow uh response for them to come out. So, I mean, it's it's a large manhole right behind the garage [clears throat] and uh in the yard. And what happens is the water starts coming up around the edges and it fills [snorts] a a good section maybe you know 100 square feet or more and then in between the garage and the the mobile home skirting there's it kind of pulls it right there. Um and they had come out. So after we had called um their maintenance line or whatever, they had come out to uh a maintenance person came out and did a temporary fix of um bolt more than one occasion and somehow cleared a blockage away down in the pipe or something. So this maintenance person does this um you know and my understanding is that's very toxic. Um, it's it happened once when I lived in Jonathan and a crew showed up with hazmat suits on and they they uh cleaned it up. So, nobody cleaned this up. It just absorbed into the ground. Um, and yeah, the smell is bad and um I really want them to do something about it. Maybe even test the soil. I don't know. Uh, I have emailed um the MDH guy that that um does the inspections and I mean I know it's not leaking right at this moment. Um but I I feel that a good response would be safe for us to have a better response. So, and what I'm saying is that we could have someone come out and inspect it maybe after the maintenance man or before the maintenance man to have so we just feel good about it more secure like this is safe um or maybe it not happen anymore would be the absolute safest but um just some a better response that we could get besides just a maintenance man something um on a more safe level. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Good morning. >> Morning. Hello. I'm Richard Robinson. I live in Brandonale. I'm going to kind of speak a bit about the street light situation in the park. There's 88 street lights in Brandenale, 24 of which are out. Despite pointing this out to the park over over again, not one of them have been fixed. And then this has been ongoing for quite a while. The park keeps saying they're going to fix them, but they never do. There's a in in the entrance to the park, there's an island that had a street light at the beginning and one at the end. It's they're considerably distance apart, but one got hit, knocked down, and rather than fix it, they took the street light out. Took the street light out at the end of the island and moved it to the center. Might get some adequate light from it, but we'll never know because they never turned it on. >> So, when you come into the [clears throat] park, you cross the bridge, it's pretty dang dark. And that's where the playground is down there. And it there are areas where it gets so dark, and I know this from experience because when you're coming up to an intersection and turning, if there's somebody walking on the street, you're not going to see them at all. If you're walking your dog or whatever, you're going to be jumping off the road. And it's happened. It's the the park is no different than any of the subdivisions, newer subdivisions in Chaska. There's little to no sidewalks, so you're walking on the street. Now, we reached out to MDH because they're supposed to inspect, and typical from what we've seen. We We hear nothing. We finally got a response this year. MDH said that they had given Haven Park until the end of August to fix all of the lights. So far, there hasn't been any action, but you know, might be able to do 24 of them by the end of the month. It really shouldn't take that long. Actually, the last five years, it's it it's it's been hit and miss with basically everything and anything. We could go on with a list of stuff, but the lights are a serious problem. That's that's all I've got to say about it. It it it's gotten real bad and with winter coming up and darkness coming earlier, it's it's real rough that it's it's a nice community. It's a very nice community. I moved in there hoping to get situated for retirement. It there's a lot of seniors. It's it's almost a retirement community. If you want to keep lowcost housing, you've got a low hanging fruit right there. >> Fix the situation. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. [clears throat] >> Good morning. >> Good morning. My name is Natasha Adams and I again live in Brandonale. Um those street lights he's mentioning, those 24 street lights, they've been out since 2021. Y so year after year after year with inspections, they have not been fixed. Um so today, my neighbors have elaborated on the habitability issues that MDH is supposed to hold Haven Park accountable for. As we've illustrated, MDH has been negligent in their inspection duties for years. Every single NBH inspection report from 2022 to 2025 has stated no violations and no new orders. Even the 2025 report, that report acknowledged the 12 to 20 water shut offs and the 8 to 10 electrical shut offs we experience every year. The report simply noted, quote, "The park has been working with the city with with recent water service interruptions and some electrical interruptions as well." No violation or order to actually do something, just a note. And of course, our water shut offs have continued at the usual rates since that 2025 summer inspection. What the note doesn't say is that the city had expressed concern when they learned about how often the water is shut off in Brandale. Fire trucks responding to a fire expect there to be water at the hydrants, they said. So, the city asked Brandale to notify them every time there was a water shut off. Branddale's park owner, a private equity investment company called Haven Park Communities, neglects not only the problems we have mentioned, but others because private equity owners [clears throat] maximize profits uh and minimize upkeep expenses. They don't care about the massive holes in our garage roofs, hundreds of dead trees that damage our homes weekly when with falling branches, or the snowy and icy streets that um they leave unplowed and impassible in the winter. No agency holds them accountable for these issues and neither does free market capitalism. You might ask, why not sell your home and leave the park. Private equity owners have rigged the economics, bypassing standard market forces of supply and demand. We cannot move or sell easily. Manufactured homes are not mobile homes. From structural damage to cost to having really no place to move our house to picking up and moving one of our houses is just not feasible. Haven Park is brazen in their manner of ownership. In park after park in Minnesota, including Brandale, they've created illegal price traps that make selling the houses we own nearly impossible to sell for a market value we could expect in parks that don't use this mechanism. Those who have managed to sell did so for a quarter of their homes value. So, most choose to stick it out like us. But the cost we pay to rent the dirt our houses sit on doubles every six years. Could you hold on to your home if your mortgage doubled that fast? Most people couldn't. When we can no longer afford these skyrocketing rates and face eviction as a final indignity, Minnesota courts hand ownership of our houses over to the park. I'll say that again. By law, the courts simply hand over our homes that we've paid for to the park. We have lost track of the exact number of houses the park has taken from our ownership in Brandonale, but we estimate the number is more than 40. If we could remove ourselves from this health and safety nightmare and retain the equity we have invested in our homes houses, we would leave. But since that's not an option, we're here today to ask for Carver County to save to solve this problem in in the same way other counties have. Many counties in Minnesota have already arrived at a solution to MDH's negligence. 14 Minnesota counties have what are called delegation agreements whereby they share the power of park lensure with the state. A county does uh the one or two on-site days of inspection every year for each manufactured home park and then recommends relicensure to the state when all the correction orders have been satisfied by the park owner. Other counties have dozens of manufactured home parks to inspect. Carver County has just two. >> Brandale Estates and Riverview Terrace. Delegation agreements for manufactured housing inspections are a natural fit for counties because counties already have the means to take on this role. Carver County employs people who already have the knowledge and skills to inspect sewer, water, and electrical infrastructure. Our county engineers and operations crews could step into this inspection role for the one or two days each year, thus transitioning uh this transitioning a tiny percentage of their yearly work hours to this task. This is a small undertaking for Carver County and a really big deal to Branddale and River Riverview residents. So, uh, please look to your emails for followup later today. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> [cough and clears throat] >> Hello, I'm Terry Quaznik and been there for 18 years in Brandonale. And the problem is with the when they shut the water off, they don't tell us when they're going to when it comes back on. And when it comes back on with such a force, it blows out our water heaters and it blows off the the hoses for the um our water softeners. And we came home one day and water was just running all over inside our house because of the water softener blew the hoses right off cuz nobody opens up your valves a little bit to let the air out. So then when you go there, when they turn it on, it just blows out everything. And um and it cost us money out of our pockets. They replace the water heaters and the water softeners. Sometimes it blows off the bottoms of the toilet tank where the hoses hook on to, you know, they're they're like fittings and it blows them up. You may get water damage in our house. And I don't think it's fair, you know. Um, it it's and I'm I'm on disability and my brother's working, mom passed away, and we've been at 18 years. And they're they're raising the rent up so high that we can't really afford it anymore. And I don't want to have to sell cuz where are we going to go, you know? So, I just wish something could be done about it so it be fusible for everybody to live there. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody else? >> Seeing none, thank you uh for those comments and I'm sure staff and uh your county board are listening. This is something of a new comment. If uh Natasha you have a list of the 14 counties that are doing something like this, I'm sure we'd like to see that. >> Please do. >> Um and speaking as the uh Brandenale's first paper boy, I will say that's right. Um uh it was a retirement community back then. [clears throat] Started out I was a Sandy Acres boy down there below uh there. I was a paper boy there. So, naturally, I'd be the paper boy in Brandale. So, I've I've uh known about this piece of land since before it was Brandonale. So, uh nice place. So, okay. Any You want to make a comment, Commissioner? I >> I would I would I first of all, um I'm so sorry things haven't improved there. [clears throat and cough] You have been on my mind, Natasha, and I I've been meaning to reach out, so apologies for that. Um and um but thank you for coming and thank you for bringing this attention. I know our director of health and human services was back there making all sorts of notes. Um she over um sees our um Carver County Health. Um but really I just want to thank you for coming but being so respectful and addressing your concerns because you are living in a in a very difficult situation. Um, and [clears throat] I was hoping um that there'd be some improvements and clearly there's not. And you've always been so solutionoriented. So, um, I look forward to sitting down and having a deeper conversation on on how to move things forward. So, thanks. >> All right. Thank you. That said, can I get a motion for the agenda review and adoption? >> So, move, Mr. Chair. >> Second. I have a motion by Lynch and a second by Fehee for the agenda review and adoption. Any questions about that, comments? Hearing none, all those in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed. Motion passes. >> Approval of the July 2126 2026 minutes. Can I get a motion? >> Move approval, Mr. Chair. >> I got a motion by Lynch. Second. >> Second by Udman to approve the July 21, 2026 minutes. Hearing any discussion on that. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. Motion passes. Community announcements. >> Commissioner Udman. >> Commissioner. >> Uh Mr. Chair. Uh for the last couple years I've gotten turnover numbers in the quarterly and so I got those this week and it looks very favorable to last year. Um, so I think that we're moving in the right direction when it comes to that. Tonight, uh, I think it's the sixth year in a row. Um, I'll be joining our chief deputy for National Night Out to Unite. Uh, a lot of neighborhoods will be out and about, um, sharing neighborly things and, uh, whatnot. And, uh, it's always good to get out in the community. I'm sure everybody else will be out there as well. Uh, had a chance to take the kids out to Lake Wakonia Beach. Um, also stopped by Mac and Tunes and the new uh candy, ice cream, and dirty soda shop, conies, if you haven't had a chance to do so. It's getting a lot of um pub, but it was uh it was great to have that in our community in Waconia. Um, recovery fest is coming up on 88 in Cologne. I think this is their fourth year in doing it. This is for individuals in our community and surrounding communities um that have um experienced addiction and are are navigating that um within community. And so compliments for the teams that pull that together. Uh the Victoria Vicks and the Chesa Cubs starting tomorrow are in a fivegame playoff series. First game tomorrow 7:30, Friday at 7:30, Sunday at uh 6 p.m. It's a best of five series, so it might have to go go into games four and five. But it's good those are the two cities that um sit under the district that I represent. um proud that I uh am able to attend quarterly meetings with both the cities that sit in our um the district that I represent. Commissioner Workman and myself had a chance to be with Victoria. A couple weeks ago, a lot of the conversations around Highway 5 with Chesa um this past week and coincidentally enough, one of the conversations that came up was Brandale and so a lot of information uh shared on that. Um couple of pieces of information, the park was built in, I think 1970, is that right, Tom? 493 units. So roughly 1500 people live in that area. Um they do have about 40 or 50 acres that it's buildable. Um and uh and they are an investment firm. So they try and make it happen. I didn't realize that the electricity that comes in there is single line and then it floats out to all the other residents. So they're not metered separately. And I think water might be similar to to that as well. A little bit surprised um that there was no mention of their interaction with the city or with the state when it comes to um the department of health um or the city. So, it'll be interesting to see this thing unfold as it relates to the county. Um, one more thing, uh, popped through my feed that, uh, California is now offering extended renewal renewal license, license renewal online as part of their DMV modernization law and I looked into it. It looks like one similar law was proposed last session um, at uh, in Minnesota. Um, I think they're reporting u 40% um, lower weights and 90% more efficiency. And so it might be something for us to keep our eyes on as we advocate for modernization in other areas as well. So thank you. >> Okay, Commissioner Pe. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, Carver County Fair starts next week, Wednesday the 12th through Sunday the 16th. Just in my personal opinion, it's probably the greatest Carver County Fair in Minnesota. So get out and uh visit the fair and you will not be disappointed. Also, every August it's National Wellness Month and to celebrate to elevate self-care awareness to encourage individuals to make self-care a priority, building healthy routines and support their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Whether you are focusing on hydration, movement, mindfulness, or simply slowing down, this month is your reminder to put yourself first. Also, if you're interested with Camping with the Stars, it's returning once again to Baylor Park the 14th to the 16th at the Eagle Lake Observatory. So, if you'd like to get out and visit, uh, go to the Carver County Parks and Wreck website. Uh, a lot of the utility campsites are already fully booked, but if you wanted to primitive campsites, the ball field campsites, and also the group campsite is still available. And that was as of about a week ago. So, if you're interested, um, please get out and visit Baylor Park and observe the stars. Also, there's an experience to overnight at Coney Island. Uh there's a camp out from August 7th to the 8th at the Lake Wakonia Regional Park if you're interested in that. You can also spend a night on Coney Island. You can paddle to the island, set up camp, cook over a campfire, explore the island, and enjoy the night under the stars before paddling back the next morning. And there again, go to the county website to view that. And then the last thing, Mr. chair. It's sweet corn season. Stop by and buy a dozen years of corn from a local vendor or more importantly maybe a family roadside stand. And the sweet corn in Carver County is delicious. I've had my first dozen, Mr. Chair, and probably another dozen coming on the way. Thank you. >> I didn't have a large breakfast, so thank you for that. uh making me hungry a little bit there. Uh Commissioner Anderson, >> sure, I'll go. Um I too will um be participating in National Night Out. Uh thank you for the neighborhoods who reached out and invited me into their um into their celebration. I look forward to joining them. Um I also wanted to uh congratulate all of those who have filed to run for election to public office. Um, thank you for wanting to uh be in the re arena, as Teddy Roosevelt would say, and and serve our community. Uh, this community has always been blessed with strong, passionate leaders, and it appears that tradition will continue. Um, as someone who has served this community for going on 16 years now. Um, I'd like to share some of the lessons um, for serving. One is do your research. um view the meetings, read minutes, review budgets, understand your role. You can understand your role using um the various association websites, Minnesota Schoolboard Association, League of Cities Association, Mininnesota Counties. These do a really nice job of clarifying what the role is of the of the organization in which you want to serve on. Um, understand the role the federal and the state government plays in what you can and cannot do and know the different roles in your community. Um, we all have our lane and it's best to understand that lane. So, this research will kind of go a long ways in preparing. Also, understand what motivates you. Wanting to be in an elected role and serving an elected role are two very different things. So, um, understand the work that's required. Um, there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes and in preparation. So again, having a a great understanding um of that will go a long ways. And finally, something that I have said to nearly every person who has approached me about running for office is once you're elected, the only influence you have is with uh the people with which whom you serve, whether you're on a board or whether you're on a council. So think about that as you run. um be the the people who are um an opponent right now may be an ally in the future. And while it's always important to have healthy debate and constructive conflict, at the end of the day, um having a team approach to a governing body that works well together um is how the community will win. So that's all I have. >> Okay. Thank you, Commissioner Lynch. >> It's very nice that people actually invite you. It was nice. >> They always say they always say there's a meeting Lynch, but you don't have to show up. [laughter] You don't have to show up. >> Um I would like to say that the not in the state of Minnesota, but in the nation, the Carver County Fair is the uh best in the nation. Uh come see Johnny Holm on Wednesday to kick it off for JP. How many years in a row now? >> Johnny Home. >> 32. >> Yep. [clears throat] >> Really? >> 32. He's been doing it for 32 years and it'll be absolutely packed on Wednesday to see him. >> I was 14. since you're aging yourself. Uh uh with that, I'd like to say I missed a meeting uh was because of the death of my father-in-law, Harlon Wiggy, is a great guy, hard worker, and uh Godspeed. Thank you, Commissioner Lynch. Okay, I don't have anything to say, but I too uh am a fan of the county fair and uh all the food. I'm dieting now. Um not going to eat until well maybe tomorrow night. [laughter] Uh lots to eat and do there and so I hope to get out there and my grandkids get my grandkids out there. So good fun. Always fun. Uh melancholic time of the year for uh summer ending. It's another signal uh that summer's ending. Uh corn on the cob is fine, but it's another signal that uh it's time to uh maybe it's getting time to snow. So, but uh >> Lord, it's only August. >> Yeah, sure. Sure it is. [laughter] Um okay, that's all we've got. Uh can I get a motion for the consent agenda? >> So move, Mr. Chair. >> Second. I got a motion by Fee and a second by Anderson to approve the consent agenda. Any discussion on that hearing? None. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. >> Motion passes. Regular session. Our one item we have before we go into budget hearings is the government center project construction manager. >> Uh good morning, Mr. Chair and commissioners. I'm pleased to be in front of you today to talk about the government center project uh with a focus on the construction manager at risk services. What do you >> So before I talk about construction management, just want to give a quick uh project overview. Uh so as a reminder uh before COVID, we completed a master space plan uh at Carver County and that called for Health and Human Services to move off this campus uh and to create a second campus uh here in Chaska. uh following COVID uh or during COVID we put a pause on uh on that master space plan and coming out of COVID we realized that we work differently and that has a big impact to our space. Uh so with that we updated the plan to recognize our hybrid work environment. Uh and in this uh updated plan updated master space plan we called for three phases. Phase one being the government center project. uh phase two uh their first street center and phase three uh work on public works in the office uh portion. Again, the master space plan was focused on countyowned office space. So, not oper like public works operations, not the library is just focused on our office space. In October of 2024, the county board uh passed a motion to approve moving forward with phase one, which is again the government center project uh including the schedule, next steps, establishing committees uh establishing the project budget of $82 million and appointing Commissioner Fehee uh to serve on the executive committee. Uh then we came back in November of 2025 and Leo Dailyaly presented uh the pre-esigned work uh to the county board. Very high level schedule here. Uh just as a reminder. So uh this summer and leading to spring of next year, we'll be focused on uh the building design and phasing. Uh then we're looking at uh summer of 2027 moving into demo uh and then fall of 2027 uh getting into construction. We're probably looking at around a 20month uh construction period. So hopefully uh early spring of 2029 we'll have a ribbon cutting if everything goes smooth. >> [clears throat] >> Just as a reminder, here is a highle view of the site plan. So you can see the uh red dash lines. Those are the two existing buildings that will be demoed as part of this project. Then we'll construct a new threetory building uh in that general footprint. Uh things could change of course as we get into design. We're looking at that general footprint. Uh and then the 602 building that we're the building we're in right now uh will be heavily remodeled as part of this project. Uh one of the overall project goals is to uh not have employees working on lower level and then the basement areas. So with that uh we'll be moving uh it and a few other employees out of the lower level of 604 as part of this project. So we'll have to do back filling there. But it's pretty minor uh the work that'll happen in that building. So right now uh we are moving from what I'm calling the planning phase to the project implementation phase. Uh with that uh one of the most important parts of this transition is to make sure we have the right team on board. Uh in June uh we awarded uh Leo A. Dailyaly the agreement for architect and engineer and professional services for this project. Uh and today I am asking uh to award the construction manager at risk. Um in addition right now we are starting to gather some of the base data. So the site survey we're determining where we need to conduct soil borings that'll help us advise or help advise us as we move into the next phase of uh the demolition drawings and the phasing analysis. I also want to mention on June 3rd we did hold an open house for uh old county staff uh which was very well attended where they could learn more about the project and we also sought input from employees at that event. So with the construction manager, you know, I mentioned the team uh on the last slide. Uh really it's like a three-legged stool uh with the county uh being I think the most important leg of that stool uh as the owner and then we will have two contracts. One with the architect which will be focused on the design uh and engineering and then the second with the construction management firm. the construction management firm uh in the construction management at risk model will hold the agreements or the contracts with uh all the subs and the contractors actually constructing the building. So again we will hold two um two contracts uh in this project for the construction manager we are splitting into two phases. One being the preconstruction services. So that is when we're going through the design process with the architect. We want the construction manager at the table to help advise us on constructibility reviews, value engineering, uh how this might play out in the bid process. Uh, I always, um, think about, you know, when I'm working on a vehicle or working on something and you think to yourself, an engineer designed this, uh, not the person actually, you know, fixing it. Uh, here we're getting the person that will be building it at the table to help advise us on the project. Then from there, we will um really the construction manager will take this from start to finish of the construction. They'll be responsible. They'll be on site every day. anytime there's work going on here, they'll be managing the contractors. They'll be in charge of site safety, fencing, um bidding, uh awarding. Uh they'll really be taking this from start to finish. So, to select the construction manager, we issued a request uh for qualifications, an RFQ, uh and we issued that on May 22nd, and that closed on June 18th. We had eight firms respond. So we had a really good showing, a lot of interest in this project. Uh we reviewed all of the proposals and selected or invited three of them uh for interviews. I do want uh give a big thanks to the review team. We spent uh a number of uh meetings on teams and down in Oaklake conference room uh reviewing all these proposals, conducting interviews along the way. So, thank you to Commissioner Fehee. Uh, also, uh, Dave Freshman really dove into the numbers and did a deep dive there. Uh, thanks to Heather as well. Um, Brent, the facilities manager. Uh, Paul Molen, deputy director, public services. And then we also had Isaac and Cindy from Leo A. Daily. they weren't a voting member, but uh they were very helpful in helping to helping us navigate this process and making sure we're asking the right questions and and gathering the right information. Uh we conducted the review uh based on these five elements that are highlighted here. So their responsiveness to the written proposal, their capability to complete the project, uh the services that they will provide, their references and experience and their costs and fees. And that's what we considered as we reviewed um first the eight and then when we interviewed the three uh based on that uh the committee all recommended that we move forward with canutes and construction uh as the construction manager at risk. Uh Leo A. daily after the process also did provide us with uh their letter of recommendation and they also recommend canutes and construction for our project. They seem like they were the best fit and the best value as we review those five items. So the scope that we are looking at right now is to contract within construction to provide construction management at risk services for the government center project. At this time, we're looking to approve uh $75,000 uh for the preconstruction services um after pre-construction and through establishing the guaranteed maximum price, the GMP, uh which will likely happen right around bidding time. Uh at that point we want to dive in and negotiate the final uh cost for construction phase services including general conditions insurance uh in construction management fee. We uh did extensive review of that and at this point it's uh too early in the process to really nail down especially the general uh condition numbers. At this point, we don't know if this will be a 18-month construction process or 24. And that can really impact how, you know, how long we need to rent the fence and, you know, construction trailer, have staff here. Uh, so there'll definitely be an impact and we'll know more of that as we get through the pre-construction services and getting into bidding as far as uh what exactly we'll need for the general conditions. Uh with that we did um have the vendors provide uh an estimate based on the current information that we have and they provided the estimate of about 4.7 million. Uh so with that Mr. Chair, I'm seeking a motion to enter into contract with Canutes [snorts] and Construction for construction management at risk services for the government center project pending finalization of the contract review process and approved $75,000 for preconstruction services. That's stand for any questions. >> Thanks, Nick. Okay, any questions? Uh, Commissioner Enterman. >> Sure. Uh, 75,000 seems light compared to the big process. Maybe you could connect the dots on that. And then I just did a quick Google because I'm not all that well versed in the terminology of construction and it looked like a construction manager at risk is a project delivery method where a construction manager commits to deliver a project under a maximum guaranteed maximum price. Is that I'd imagine we're too too early to figure out what that price is and is that apply does that apply here where there would be a maximum that they'd have to bring the project under? So right around bidding time we will the um construction manager will establish a guaranteed maximum price and that's the price to deliver the project. Now there can be outside factors that could impact the price. So while it says guarantee, it's like mostly guarantee. You know, you know, if it's a COVID hits or um you know, a war or something like that um you know, that could impact the price, but they they will establish a guaranteed maximum price and deliver the project um to that price right around uh a bidding time is is when that will be established. So I I think I'm missing part >> and the first half the question was 75,000 on a project of 82 million feels thin. Why that number for pre-construction? >> So um really the preconstruction uh is mostly architect heavy with some advisement from the construction manager. Once we turn into building then it it it swaps where uh really the constructor managers in the driver's seat and the architects in the passenger seat. Uh so they will be doing some work as far as reviewing constructibility, you know, providing input on value engineering along the way. Really the first phase uh the architects in the driver's seat. >> Okay. Um it dawned on me that the price of the building, there's a lot of furnishings and auxiliary services and whatever, but the price of the building is roughly what we pay annually in um wage for our staff, our collective staff. So if you look at it for like for like what we what we pay in wage and benefits for one year is equivalent to about the cost of this building. And then when you pricricked my ears when you said we're about 12 months away from putting shovel in the ground. Um candidly I'm a little bit nervous uh because it seems like we have to find a place for people to go find like we don't we haven't seen final design of the building. We don't know what amenities are going to be there the flow etc. Do you have a Gant chart or uh what happens this month this month this month to to give us some some asurances? It's a major expense for taxpayers. Um, is there a Gant chart available to see what steps are supposed to happen when and if we're if we're making our gates or we're not? >> Yeah, Mr. Chair and Commissioner, um, there is one, but it needs to be updated. So, uh, we had an executive committee meeting yesterday and the architects be working on uh, updating that. I do think we're a little aggressive. Uh I I I still want to push uh and keep this timeline, but uh I do think we're a little aggressive in uh in this uh in the timeline we're putting forward. Um so it might, you know, adjust a little bit along the way here, but um I'd like to continue to push and really, you know, both the architect um or, you know, the architects really told us now things once we get the contracts in place, the team in place, that's when things will really start moving uh quickly here. I know a couple of months ago it was probably close to 100% confidence that this timeline would be what we want, right? And you get closer you honed it in a little bit. May maybe as we hit our gates we could apply maybe a confidence level. Do you think we're 90% confident that we'll put grow shovel in the ground in a year 70% or otherwise? >> I think I would have to give that more thought I think to uh to put a number there. But >> I just know that there's a good amount of conversations when you get closer, right? I think it was, you know, after 15 some years of looking at this and tipping our toes in it, um, seeing the, uh, number of people that showed up to the open house with energy >> and a little bit of trepidation like, is this really going to happen? You know, as you get a little bit closer, it becomes [clears throat] real and those real conversations become where am I where am I going to be sitting in August? All right. And I I hear the same conversations as we talk about work session that's coming up about parks. Where am I personally going to be? what's the impact to my family? Where where am I going to be? And I know we don't have all those answers yet. And I think the communication is getting better. But as we get closer to that reality, it becomes reverberations more about what does it mean for me as a personal and the staff and and that's not lost on me. And I know we're getting close, but if we can have those, we saw a timeline initially. If we can get that updated timeline, that would be great. And then I I like the um the honesty of, you know, that it's not 100% confidence level. We'll put the shovel in ground in 12 months. So, thank you for the answers. Okay. Anybody else? Commissioner Fehee. >> Mr. Chair, thank you. Um, I would like to go ahead and make the motion to enter into the contract with Canudson for the construction management, risk services, etc. And to approve the 75,000 for preconstruction services. And then I just have a couple of comments after the motion if I can. I would second, Mr. Chair. Okay, I >> got a motion by Fay and a second by Lynch for the A4 mentioned motion by Commissioner Fehey. Discussion Commissioner Fehee. >> Yeah, I want to thank uh Nick and definitely the team that I was part of. Uh we did do our due diligence. It was maybe a dozen some meetings. We had maybe 20. Uh so it really was a process. It was a learning experience for me also uh to go through this whole process and just to have the different team members there from different departments with different feedback that they provided. It was really enlightening and we definitely I feel uh we did our homework and Nick was definitely driving the bus per se and getting us ultimately to the goal. Uh we did get a letter of recommendation for Canudson from Leo Daly. Uh so they're our architect if you can remember we hired them. So that's the first step. So they're definitely on on board. And the latest project that Canudson completed was the Excel Energy Service Center in Chanhassen. And I know some of us have toured that facility uh through the Southwest Metro. So that's an example of their work. That was a $50 million project that they completed in 2025. So if you're looking for something for reference, if you want to go look at a site, that's definitely very close by. So, thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Commissioner Fee, I appreciate the importance you put on the bus driving that Nick is doing. Personally, it's very important. Uh, who else? >> Mr. Chair, >> Mr. Hensey, >> I definitely support the model that that the group is uh proposing. It's been a long time, but I've I was in Nick's role quite a while ago, managed managed projects under both uh general contractor model and the construction manager model. And especially for big projects, you'll get your money, not all this money back, but you'll you'll save some money >> or we will save some money definitely through value engineering and other >> administrative tasks that the construction manager would perform. But I want I want to be clear though that 75,000 is just to get started. There's a $4.75 million number in your budget. Ultimately, that that would be the in the ballpark of the contract that's proposed with Kudson. And it's not just one individual helping us. This is a team of individuals. It's uh some general conditions in there to to apply. In some cases, they they'll pick up some tasks that that they think they could do cheaper. all sorts of pieces to this that are smart moves, I think. Um, but I also would say I'm with Commissioner Odman and I'm nervous about the what are we going to do in the meantime. Believe me, Nick hears about every week at least once. Uh, so so one of the ironies there is the timing. Uh, looking for lease property, you can't go too early, but you definitely want don't want to go too late. We still haven't found a great one fit one size fit spot. Uh our latest pursuit was Lake View Clinic uh on the one on uh by Dairy Queen there on 41 which looked attractive until we saw the number and it's like three times the market rate for some reason >> but but the options are really limited. So we're we're likely heading down the path of splitting this up which is not ideal but but we have to find an alternative, right? We can't can't manage the staff on site here. we have to find someplace to put them and it's likely then to have that sort of option B of taking groups of staff and moving them out and being very cognizant of the challenges legit logistical challenges and certainly the the customer service client facing challenges that would be be presented. So So anyway, we're working on that. We'll we'll figure it out one way or another, but it's likely unless there's something pops open. Maybe maybe yesterday. When did we last talk? Last week. Maybe. Maybe. It's only Tuesday. Yesterday. Did you find >> Monday? >> I almost bug him every day about it because it is a huge issue that but but again, not not to overly alarm you. We do know of spots where we can, you know, put you know, a quarter of the staff here, a quart maybe three or four spots and we have the problem solved. Again, that's it not only adds to logistics, but it probably adds to the cost dependent upon uh the other alternative. But if uh we hopefully we can find that one one spot and then do the cost analysis. But I don't know Nick if you have anything else to add on that because that is one of the one of the bigger obstacles at least in the foreseeable next steps. >> Yeah, definitely Mr. Chair and uh administrator. Uh that's probably the question I get the most uh from staff uh is that that interim period of time and um once we get the construction manager on board here, the first or one of the first things we're going to be tackling is the phasing plan. So, you know, one of the big questions out there is what's the cost benefit of keeping this building intact during construction uh versus rolling it in [snorts] and doing it all as one project. there's potentially some cost savings, but it's going to disrupt a lot more staff and services. You know, what's the cost of leasing more space or the challenges of moving staff out uh versus the benefit of the cost savings of uh shortening the construction period of time and mobilizing contractors less. So, we'll have to, you know, tackle questions like that. And once we get that phasing plan, we'll get a better idea. you know, do we need 30,000 square feet to lease or is it 60,000 square feet to lease? Uh, and then we can really go out in the market and uh try to find space. Uh, but with that, we are, you know, I'm looking about once a week after Dave calls me uh at uh space that could be available or might be >> I'm hoping before I call him, he's looking >> right. >> Commissioner Anderson, >> quick question on timeline. Um, I also think uh a year is to put shovel in the ground is is a little optimistic. I'll just say optimistic. Um, at what point uh do we into the fall can we not put shovels in the ground and due to winter conditions because we take on extra cost if if we if we kind of go into the winter phases. So, do we have a feel for I can't it's been a long time. Um [cough and clears throat] but but I have a feeling like starting November then we're just better off waiting till April. Something like that. >> Mr. Chair Commissioner uh you know as we were interviewing the construction manager some of them did bring that up right >> about trying to hit that that window and you know can you get the concrete cured >> uh in time uh where you're not paying some of the more expensive winter conditions. >> Yeah. A significant cost. So yes. So, and um so that is that is one thing that that at at one point it's it's better off just to kind of to push it off. But that's why you hire uh professionals who know this work and um and yeah, it it is it is a it seems like a big number uh but it it'll save us time and headache in in the future. So, thank you. That's all I have. Okay. >> Oh, wait. One more thing. Uh to Commissioner Urman's point, people, like when we went to the open house, I was so surprised at how many staff members are like, "Wow, this seems like it's coming fast." And I'm like, "Shoot, I've only been on the board a year and a half and it feels like it's taken forever." So, um, so our people have a lot more patience. And and I appreciate that. So, it's all >> Commissioner. >> Well, Mr. care. Uh, one silver lining maybe two is when Dave and myself were with CHASCA there was some um, suggestions by them where there might be a point of partnership not to carry the whole boat where people could go, but there's some options and I'm sure you've talked about them and then also the advanced planning for 27 when you think out I mean I'm I like to think out a little bit further than that but elections potential in 27 and potential 28 and there's a willingness and those conversations are going on. And then the third piece is they have to provide occupancy or permit for it because we do sit in the jurisdiction of JHSA and that takes you're six months out on something like that. So we're creeping up on that deadline as well which you're probably juggling a lot of balls right now. But it seems like we have a willing participant and they've gone through these things before. So I think those are all good. Yeah, we've been definitely connected at the hip with JSA. All those talk to the mayor about >> Commissioner Lynch >> and Nick. I like I'd like to say that I've been dragged into this kicking and screaming and like I normally say, but till I took the tour. So, we have documented. We have taken pictures and um I get asked on the street, why you doing this? This seems like a perfectly good building to me till I took the tour. So, I just want to make sure that's documented so we can actually post that. And this is why we're doing it. Yes. And uh Ari is working with uh Brent right now on putting together a short video uh that we can put on their website as well about uh some of the current conditions of the building. >> Thank you. >> Well, uh to the taxpayer, this is starting to get serious. Uh $75,000 today doesn't sound like a huge pile of money. uh when compared to $82 million, I think I think it would behoove the county commissioners to keep their parachutes on in case we need to jump out of a burning airplane. Um Chanhassen is having a heck of a struggle with a similarly priced recreation center and hockey arenas. Um, I'm not positive where they are at right now, but they demanded it to be at 80 or so million and it is creeping away from them. So, um, maybe I'll get more exact details about that, but we are inching closer. If we're going to put a shovel in the ground in 12 months, we are getting close and on our way, and this is another step in that direction. So residents have a concern. I too uh believe that the current building needs to go. Good job on that, Nick. Um the rotten egg smell uh whatever whoever produced that that was effective. [laughter] Um >> that was awful. >> But uh but anyway, so yeah, we are heading down that path. Uh staff, Mr. Hemsy finance. Uh we've been squirreling away money. Uh we want this to not impact taxpayers the best we can and and I think we are making good headway there. So um there you go. So hearing no other discussion, we have a motion and a second. Motion by fee to uh I'm not going to read that again. Um, we all know the motion. Any other discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed. Motion passes. Thanks, Nick. >> Thank you. >> All right, Mr. Hemsy. >> Uh, Mr. Chair, board members Christa sent out a calendar invite for a trail uh opening in Wakone. I believe it it's pretty cryptic message from the mayor, but I I believe it's a city trail is what we've come to the conclusion on the west side of town. Tim, maybe you >> It's the one from Sterling Hills that goes up and hooks up with uh Wakonia Parkway on the east side and it's a county and city right on County Road 10. It's a wonderful trail. >> Okay. Uh well, I asked Shane Fenerin for more info on the location. Do they have a speaker? Is that I'm not sure why this is this was a late notice. Lynen, by the way. Uh, so given the late notice, we can only have two. We'll get you what information we can, but we can only have two board members. Tim, were you going to attend? >> Uh, yes, I'd like to attend that. >> Is there anybody else that wanted to? >> I was going to be able to make it. >> It's Thursday at 3:00. Sorry. >> So, Tim and JP. Okay. We'll we'll forward what information you can unless Lynon happens to have off top of his head or knowledge. Okay. We'll we'll nail down. I know they didn't even have the location of the event which you could probably track down but we'll we'll find we'll find it and get it to you. That's all I have, Mr. Chair. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Can I get a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Got a motion by Anderson, second by Uterman to adjourn this meeting. Any discussion on that? >> Only that we're going into budget hearings. >> And we are going into budget hearings. >> All right. Hearing no other discussion. All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed? Motion passes.