All right. Will you join me in the pledge of allegiance? I >> alian 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. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you for that and for joining us on this short meeting and we will be going into budget hearings after that. All right. Public comments. I don't see anybody in the room for that. Unless a deputy wants to say a few words. >> Uh agenda review and adoption. Can I get a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> I got a motion by Anderson and a second by Fehee. Mr. >> Chair, >> I don't think I Do I add the amendment now? >> We need to add the amendment. >> Okay. Do uh do both of you guys accept that amendment? 2.12 amendment to consent agenda? >> Yes, I make the motion with the amendment. And I believe Commissioner Fehee does also. >> Yes. >> Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Those opposed. Motion passes. Can I get a motion to approve the July 7th, 2026 minutes? >> Second. >> Have a motion by Uterman and a second by Anderson to approve the July 7th meeting minutes. Any discussion on that motion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. [clears throat] >> Motion passes. Committee announcements. >> I'll go ahead and start. >> Commissioner Anderson. >> Excellent. Thank you, uh, Commissioner Workman. Uh so a couple things that I wanted to um talk about is um as you know our family resource center is um up and running and thanks so much to our Carver County staff who's put so much into this. We have a couple events coming up that I wanted to share. So, the Carver County Family Resource Center is partnering with parents helping parents to host a special event and we're excited to join the comm community community members to join us at the family resource center which is at the Movarian Church 115 East 4th Street in Chaza. The event would take place on Tuesday, August 4th from 10 to 12 and is designed specifically for families with children's ages 4 to 12. This session will offer family family centered activities including a parent education session that runs alongside engaging children's program. So families will have an opportunity to connect and learn together in a supportive environment and the F FRC team and our partners will be presenting the animals and evolution course for children featuring activities that encourage kids to think about animals physical and behavioral adaption adop adaption. So come to that. And then the other announcement is also for the F FRC and that is back to school health and wellness event is um happening on August 13th. It's hard to believe we're already talking about back to school, but here we are. So Thursday, August 13th from 4:30 to 6, and that is an afternoon dedicated to supporting families as we gear up for the new school year. This is sponsored by Medicica and Bluec Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. The event will offer a variety of resources to help students and families thrive. Um, attendees can pick up essential school supplies, sign up for vaccines, receive health insurance assistance, and find support for mental health and wellness. So, staff from Carver County Health and Human Services along with a host of community partners will be on site to provide valuable information and resources. So, those are um my announcements um for today. That's all I have. >> Thank you very much, Commissioner Hunter. >> Mr. Chair, a couple announcements. Uh annually, I go on a ride along with our sheriff's deputies, and last night was my night. I thought Monday night would be a slow night. It was not. Um and we saw almost immediately the variety of uh calls from um there was an arrest for drugs, mental illness, drunk driving, uh traffic stops, um and then ebikes as well. So, those are a lot of the conversations and a lot of insights when you're in the front lines, uh, talking to the, um, the guys that are in the car, guys and gals. And, uh, life looks a little different than it did 20 years ago, right? Carver Countyy's on the growth trajectory. Um, and even the complexities of hiring in in the generation that we are right now. I think I heard uh, in the past, maybe 20 years ago, there was um, one job for every 300 applicants. And now, um, if you've got through post and um, there's maybe five or six, seven agencies that are competing for you. So, a lot of frontline stuff there. Um, thank you for the comments about the F FRC that has been long coming um 15 plus 20 years of vision uh from the community and I I think it's great that the county's come alongside our not forprofits and civic organizations, faith organizations um to get that off the ground and and um make some of those things happen. Budget hearings. Uh I think we have a different format this year for those that are watching. Um so we'll be in budget hearings immediately after this meeting and then beyond multiple days. Um I think it's work session. So I don't know is that is it is it taped today or is it not taped? >> No, is it not? >> Okay. Um >> and that and it's not a work session. [cough and clears throat] >> Uh uh Commissioner Workman and myself have quarterly meetings with the city of Victoria and our meeting was last week. We ran the gamut on a lot of different topics. One of the topics was ebikes, e- motors. Another topic was that um gap in downtown Victoria from what we're doing on Highway 5 to where it connects to the roundabout um west. Um, Commissioner Workman and I are on the Southwest uh, transportation corridor. There'll be a contingent going on to DC in the next week or two uh, to try and seek funding for that um, that gap. Aware of it and a lot of partnership um, and focus and trying to get that done. Jumped on my pedal bike uh, not I don't have the happy button for the ebikes, but a pedal bike went to the soft Victoria Lions Park was hosting a softball slow pitch tournament. So, it's good to see the Lions active on that. see a couple games. Um and then the amount of people that came to town and um stayed in town to show support the local businesses. So big fan of youth sports and adult sports. Um also had a chance to bike over to [clears throat] to Bavaria and I know I've I've gotten a number of phone calls about the connection from um 82nd Street LMAN all the way up to five. We are delayed with utilities and uh I got an education yesterday out of public works about some of the going on in the utilities and it's just it's it's a tough thing when the utilities have control of uh some of that right away and need to move stuff to make us be able to do our jobs. So uh the team's doing their best to move that along. Saw a number of people at Fire Nice in Chesa a couple weeks ago uh community celebration. Chaza does a really nice job of that bringing community together. Um had a chance to check out the new restaurant downtown Victoria Blue Agave. I would suggest everybody give a chance to do that too and maybe spend a little bit more time on the other uh restaurants that are down there. And then a number of people on our board were at the township association meetings last week. Um which was uh the the the conversations um went from data centers to thistles to planning and development particularly around 212. And so it was good to hear the perspectives of the western part of the county. So thank you >> Commissioner Behe. >> Thank you Commissioner Workman. Uh, town ball playoffs start next week. So, get out and go to a small town park and watch a little baseball. Also, Glad Days is this weekend in Cologne. It's just a ton of fun and activities. If you're interested to visit Cologne this weekend and also just for Commissioner Lynch, it's Rails to Trail celebration in Watertown this weekend also. Um yeah, the shout out as Commissioner Udman stated the semianual township meeting last week. Um three of us were there and yeah, it was great conversations regarding data centers and solar ordinances. So a shout out to Jason Milky who was very informative and then also Whitney Schrader for telling us the difference between mumble and rumble strips. uh that was educational. Also, I had the opportunity to attend the Midwest Regional Short Line Railroad Conference up in Brainard on Sunday and Monday. And just one of the takeaways after four years of rail recession, uh growth and increased capacity is now occurring. Uh they're doing a lot of double stacking. Uh they're a lot more efficient. And then as the rail they they continue to spend more funds and they're they're making more money. So that's a good thing for all of us. They're investing in the infrastructure and definitely an impact on local communities. Also I visited San Francisco and Hancock townships. Uh Hancock was last night to discuss the 2050 comp plan for individual townships. So, it's really encouraging and as we get more of their feedback during the 2050 comp plan, that's going to be very helpful as we move forward. And just a reminder, it's um Carver County Fair is right around the corner, August 12th through the 16th in Wakonia. Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you. Uh, I don't have anything real specific other than the depressing idea that I had some good sweet corn last night for the first time. Here comes the county fair. Here comes high school football. It's over. Stick a fork in it. Uh, buy your patio furniture. 50% off. Summer's over. Uh, World Cup's over. I don't know what do we got. So, uh, but look look forward. I don't like to look too forward to go for football and all that, but uh these months sure do seem like they fly by. All right. Can I get a motion for the consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Got a motion by Commissioner Fehee and a second by Commissioner Anderson to approve the consent agenda. Any discussion on that item? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed. Motion passes. >> All right. I need a motion to adjourn. >> I would like to um I >> to recess. >> I don't know if I can do this as well as Lynch, but um I would move that we recess as the county board and um re reopen um I know, don't look at me like that. Uh uh county attorney Mets and um reconvene as the county rail authority. Does that work? Is that good enough? >> Close enough. >> Okay. Dang. Okay. >> It sounds really good. And I'm gonna have the person who seconds it repeat what you said. [laughter] >> And I think that's Commissioner Udman. Thank you for that second, Commissioner Udman. >> To uh we are now going to stop briefly from being the county board and we're going to act as the regional rail authority. Any discussion on that motion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. >> Motion passes. Item 3.1, bid award to Pember Companies for a couple of bridges repair and replacement on Dakota Rail Regional Trail. We've been talking about this for a year or two, haven't we? >> And here we are. All right. Good morning, Mr. Chair and members. No presentation today. Uh should be pretty short order business for you. We do have two contracts are looking for authorization from you on related to that project. One is for continued consulting design and engineer services from Stone Brook. They've been the consultant on the project and then look to award the bid to Prem Companies to get this thing constructed. It's two bridges that are being uh that are in scope. One is a replacement to a box culvert. This is on the far east side, excuse me, far west side of the county uh about two miles west of New Germany, almost literally at the county line. The first one you come to go in that direction is to be replaced with a box culvert. The second one will remain a bridge. And so that's what Premier Companies will construct for us here this fall. We do not have a schedule at this point, but um in seeking authorization here today from you all, we would be looking to set up a precon meeting ASAP and get this thing on a schedule. >> Very good. >> Anybody have any discussion about that? I have a couple questions here >> on the bridge 630. Sam, they talk about the bridge deck being salvaged and that's going to be reused. >> Correct. >> Uh and then the box culvert. What's that going to be? Is that ultimately going to be paved then for the bikers and the walkers on the surface over top of that? That's a great question, Commissioner P. I do not know that, but I can follow up with you on that. Okay. >> I believe it would be certainly. I mean that's a safety hazard transitioning from surface to surface. So yes should be specked as pavement but I can follow up with you on that. >> And the work is going to begin immediately. >> I would not say immediately but the contract has read that off the top of my head I believe they once they start they have I believe I think it's 90 days to complete. So the intent is tell us when you're ready to go when you're going to go our expectation is as you work to complete the project timeline. So we'll set up that precon and see what their schedule holds to to get this going. >> Okay. There will be an impact. I guess thinking especially for you commissioner he we do we do issue a permit to a speed walking marathon. I don't even know if you knew that was a thing but they use the Dakota rail for a very I'll say informal event not to rain on their prey but it's small. There will be impacts of that. So as that permit request came to us here a month ago. We did let them know that they're likely going to have to do something else with that course. They would otherwise go all the way to the county line turn come back and make their whole their whole distance work. They're going to have to probably reroute New Germany and do a lot of out and backs, a lot of lot of back and forth. So, anyways, heads up on that. >> And then also just a member of the Carver County Snow Runners. We're going to prefer if the bridge was done by snow season, >> prior to snow. Yes, that would be the intent. And we'll hope for snow for you. >> Thank you, Sam. >> Uh when I was in college track, speed walking was definitely an event. I thought, how hard could that be? And I tried tried that. Uh muscles you don't know you have. >> Try it. Okay. Any other discussion? I will make a motion sir to award award the contract to Pember Companies for the repair and replacement of bridge R0630 and the replacement of bridge R0631 for the bid amount of 600,42.15 contingent upon the successful completion of the contract review process. >> Second. >> Okay. Uh, we have a motion by Fay and a second by Uterman for a previously stated motion. Any other discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. Motion passes. >> Mr. Chair, just a quick second. Uh, we're used to seeing Marty in here, but thanks so much for bridging the gap. Um, you have to know a lot and learn a lot and thanks for bringing this forward. I mean, this is just another indication. It's not just parks, right? There's other things that go with it. So, thank you for your efforts on this stuff. Appreciate that. >> All right. Item 3.2, an amendment number one to professional services agreement with Stonebrook for engineering services for Dakota Regional Rail Bridges. >> Any more to add on that? >> I don't. They've been the design consultant on this. They're going to support the project in terms of inspection as well. So, they have a role going forward with moving into construction and completion. So, continue to leverage their services to get this over the finish line. >> Okay. Any discussion about that? Can I get a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion by Anderson, second by Fehee. Any discussion on item 3.2? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed. >> Motion passes. County administrator report. Thank you. >> I think you want to uh adjourn, Mr. Chair. >> Boy, do we miss Commissioner Lynch. >> Yeah. Boy, don't we though? I move to slap you in the back >> as the county rail authority and reconvene as the county board. >> Second. >> Well stated. Commissioner Anderson moves and Commissioner Udman seconds the previously stated motion by Commissioner Anderson. Any discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed. Motion passes. We are once again the county board county administrator report. >> Yes, Mr. Chair. It was already mentioned the budget hearings this morning a bit of a different format. So what we'll do is we'll we'll take a break and then have facilities come in. We wanted to uh make sure the meetings were relatively informal. So we we'll set up some tables down on the floor and then get going. I think we could do that now or as soon as facilities is available and then get going uh once once that's done and we can shuffle around if needed. For example, today we have uh property finance and county admin board on the on the list. So, we could go first if you want to get going. Perhaps finish a little earlier. >> Sure. >> That works for you. Uh there is a lunch planned if needed. Maybe if we do some of this, we won't won't even need that. Get them to go. >> That'd be awesome. >> Yeah. Me this afternoon, I've got like four or five hours prepared. >> Yes. >> I told him minutes, not hour. So, do you do you have staff coming in, Mark? Do you >> just me? >> Okay, then we could shuffle the county attorney around too if needed. >> I'm available whenever you want to plug me in. >> Yep. >> That's it. >> Excellent. Looking forward to it. >> Uh, so you would say that that budget hearing schedule isn't hard and fast and the public wouldn't be going, "Boy, I really want to be there at 1:45." >> Well, that's why we added there's a note there are tenative times. >> Okay. and they're, you know, immediately following the board meeting. That's one of the challenges with this different format. >> Oh, Krista mentioned the times are not necessarily published. This packet wasn't wasn't formally distributed. So, >> it isn't necessarily a work session. It's a more of a >> it's a hearing, >> quasi hearing meeting. >> Yep. >> It's public, but not like a board meeting or a session. >> Uh work session even. >> Okay. Okay, thank you very much. Can I get a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Second. >> A motion by Anderson, a second by FY to adjourn this meeting. Any discussion on that? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. Motion passes. >> Thank you.