All right, I'd like to call the January 6, 20 26 county board meeting to order. Please stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance. >> 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 and good morning everyone. It's my pleasure to start this meeting by asking for nominations of the county board chair for 2026. Are there any nominations? >> Mr. Chair, I'd nominate Tom Workman to be our board chair next year. >> I would second. >> Are there any other nominations? Any other nominations? Any other nominations? Hearing none. There's a motion by Commissioner Udman and a second by Commissioner Lynch to nominate Commissioner Workman as a 2026 chair. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Those opposed? Nay. >> Motion passes. And Mr. Chair, if you want to nominate the vice chair, then we will uh maybe take a break and get your signs posted here. >> Okay. I would uh move uh the nomination for vice chair. Commissioner Lynch. I second. >> Are you still in charge? >> No, you are. >> Give him. >> I get I get 10 seconds. Thank you. >> He needs his gamble. >> And a great 10 seconds. You got >> our first pregnant pause. >> Uh, okay. So, uh, Commissioner Lynch has been nominated for vice chair. Do I hear any other nominations? Twice. Any other nominations? Thrice. Any other nominations? Hearing? None. Uh, we will close the nominations for vice chair. And now we need a motion on that. Need a vote. >> A vote. >> Just a vote. Okay. So, all those in favor of Commissioner Lynch as vice chair say I. I. >> I. Those opposed. >> Motion passes. Public comments. >> Mr. Chair, u before we start, we could put up your your signs here. >> Oh, you had taken them down. >> Yeah. >> Shall we take a two minute? >> Yeah. Two minute recess. >> We're going to take a two-minute recess. >> And again, I'm not We're good. >> All right. Are we uh back at it? All right. We're back at it. Uh there's a reason why this is the organizational meeting. We're trying to get organized a new here. So, but anyway, so for the public comments, uh this is uh make you can make public comments or we encourage you to make public comments that relate to an item uh not on the the agenda today. So, and please limit your public comments to five minutes or less, please. And we're going to start with Hillary. Is it Pats? Chair Workman and Commissioners, my name is Hillilary Patz and I have been a Carver County resident for 22 years. I am here today to urge you not to enter into a contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement or at a minimum to pause the decision until its full financial, legal, and community impacts can be independently evaluated. The current federal administration repeatedly claims that ICE is focused on deporting the worst of the worst, people who have committed serious violent crimes. The data does not support that claim. According to 2025 data compiled by the KO Institute and Syracuse University's Track Project, approximately 73% of people detained by ICE have no criminal record at all and only 5 to 8% have violent criminal convictions. That means nearly 3/4ers of detainees are ordinary people, parents, workers, neighbors living their lives and contributing to their communities. ICE's own 2025 fiscal reporting shows that the average in custody length of stay ranges from 55 to 63 days. That is nearly two months of detention. Two months during which taxpayers pay for housing, food, security, and medical care for individuals who in most cases pose no public threat. It's prolonged detention, often while individuals wait for hearings, frequently without meaningful access to counsel, and with wellocumented due process concerns. From a purely fiscal standpoint, this makes little sense. Immigrants in Minnesota are net contributors, not drains. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, immigrant communities contributed 222 million in state and local taxes in Minnesota in 2022 alone. These residents pay sales tax, property tax directly or indirectly through rent and income taxes. Yet, many are explicitly excluded from the very benefits their taxes support, including SNAP, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. So, we are faced with a stark contradiction. People who already contribute to our tax base are being removed from the workforce and placed into detention at public expense instead of being allowed to continue working, paying taxes, and supporting their families. That is not fiscal responsibility. That is waste. The economic impact does not stop there. Immigrants own local businesses, staff construction sites, work in food processing, child care, elder care, hospitality, and agriculture. When workers are detained, or when entire communities are driven underground by fear, businesses close, projects stall, and labor shortages worsen. The ripple effects damage our local economy, not just immigrant families. Since May, some may argue that ICE will conduct raids and detentions regardless, so Carver County might as well benefit financially. I strongly reject that logic. Carver County should not be complicit in practices that are unjust, unaccountable, and often legally questionable. As a county, you have made explicit commitments to transparency and public trust. Carver County Sheriff's deputies identify themselves during public interactions. This board approved bodywn cameras in 2021 to ensure accountability and professionalism. ICE does not operate under comparable standards. Its agents frequently refuse to identify themselves, lack consistent body camera policies, and operate with minimal local oversight. Contracting with with ICE would directly undermine the values this county has embraced. You may not be able to stop ICE nationwide, but you can decide whether Carver County participates. I ask you to live up to your strategic initiatives of taxpayer value and customer service. Do not commit county resources, facilities, or credibility to a program that drains public funds, erodess trust, and harms our local economy. Please reject this contract or at the very least table it until an independent auditor can assess the true long-term financial, legal, and reputational risks to Carver County. Thank you for your time and consideration. >> Thank you, >> Brian Lang. Brian in the room. No, Brian. Okay. Sally Brown, >> Chair Workman, commissioners, good morning. I am Sally Brown. I'm a resident of Chanhassen and I recognize this is your meeting and so I really do appreciate that you give an opportunity for the citizens to address you. I think that is important and I appreciate it. I am here to formally present a copy of a petition signed by more than 500 residents of Carver County. And the petition reads to Sheriff Camrode, "We, the citizens of Carver County, do not want our county jail to be used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE to detain anyone, nor do we want any ICE facilities in Carver County." So, this petition bearing the original signatures was presented directly to Sheriff Camero during a face-to-face meeting with community members on December 22nd. These signatures were gathered in a relatively short period of time through in-person conversations with neighbors, friends, and fellow residents across the county. Based on this experience, we are confident that given more time, many more citizens would add their names and voices to this request. We recognize that this board must weigh many perspectives, responsibilities, and data points as you consider issues that affect Carver County as a whole. With that understanding, the community members and organizations taking a stand against county involvement with ICE have engaged in extensive study of the legal, fiscal, public safety, and human impacts involved. We've also gathered personal impact statements, many of which you have already heard, including from individuals who have spoken in this very boardroom and perhaps more that you will hear yet today. We offer this petition not only as a collection of signatures, but as a reflection of deep community engagement and thoughtful concern, and we ask that it be given serious consideration as you continue your deliberations. We thank you for your attention and your service to Carver County. >> Thank you very much. >> I got Ellie next. Ellie K. Uh, Chairman Workman, Commissioners, uh, my name is Ellie Krug. I'm a resident of Victoria. Um, some of you may know I'm also an elected official, but I am here speaking personally and not on behalf of uh, the Carver County uh, school district u, Eastern Carver County School District. I want to talk with you about three things this morning. vision, compassion, and risk, all related to the potential possible contract with ICE. Vision first. Um, every once in a while, um, we come to a reflection point, a place where, however we decide, reflects on and decides how we will be viewed by the world at large. I would submit that this contract, this decision on whether whether to contract with ICE to house detainees is one of those reflection points. Um it is not uh a question about bringing in revenue because obviously uh that's something uh that's involved but it's really more a question about how do you want Carver County to be perceived because you go with this contract we will be the closest county to downtown Minneapolis downtown St. hall. And what that means is that we will have ICE uh representatives uh I'd actually like to use a stronger word out here more frequently because they can come out here to Carver County. They can place somebody in the in the jail and stay out at Carver County for a longer period of time. But what will that make other people think about Carver County? Because it will not make us look like a welcoming place. In fact, it will make us look like an intolerant place. A place that um is unwilling to allow those who lack voices, those who lack power, unwilling to protect them and instead to allow people who um uh run a muck with the law to take them away. Second item, compassion. Gandhi said that the measure of society is how it treats its weakest members. We are talking about people here who have no power. Sheriff Camero has said that uh potentially going into this contract was about compassion because people would be housed locally. The reality is that ICE could arrest No, that's not the right word. detain somebody at 3:00 Wednesday, have them at the jail by 3:30, and then on Thursday morning, come and take them away to god knows where, Louisiana, Texas, or whatever. There's no compassion involved with that. The third item is risk. I uh was a 30-year civil trial attorney with more than a hundred trials to my credit. uh many of those tried to jury verdict. In the course of my uh legal experience, I represented actually legal entities like Carver County. I actually um invol I actually protected legal entities like yours from section 1983 pre police brutal brutality uh police um excessive force cases. I counseledled many many clients, institutional clients about risk. And that's really what this is about because the thing to understand is that while you control the Carver County Sheriff's Department and in conjunction with Sheriff Camero, you do not control ICE. And you will have ICE out in this county roaming around. That is the right phrase for it. And and the the risk that we have is I used to tell my clients, it's not what you think, it's not what I think is your lawyer. It's not what the plaintiff thinks. It's not what the plaintist lawyer thinks. It's what a jury will think. And can you imagine a video on the internet of ICE pulling somebody a a 45year-old woman out of her car, pummeling her to the ground on Chaza Boulevard as she has two children in the car. And can you imagine what that will say about our county? But more importantly, can you imagine the risk it will take? Because not only will ICE get sued, the county will get sued. And you don't control ICE unlike the sheriffs. ICE operates as thugs. So I would urge you not to go forward with that contract. Thank you so very much. OKAY, MONIQUE. MONIQUE, are you ready? Monique. Board chair, commissioners, thank you for the opportunity to share public comments at this meeting. I always appreciate it. My name is Mon'nique Lacroy. I live in Chaza District 4. Commissioner Lynch, thank you for our meeting over the phone. I appreciate that. Today, I'm not going to use my voice. I'm going to use my voice to share a story of the voice of someone who was too afraid to be here in a public space. These are her words, our story. We came to this country for the same reason others did. Safety, opportunity, and hope. We work hard and follow the rules. But today, being noticed feels dangerous. When we hear sirens, our hearts race. When someone knocks unexpectedly, time seems to stop. What hurts the most is knowing we are more than a label. We are not just an immigrant or illegal. We are students, workers, parents, friends, and people contributing to our communities. Even when the system feels against us, we dream of a future where we don't have to fear being separated from the people we love. I came to this country young 18 under 18 undocumented but determined to build a life through hard work. I followed the rules and laws as best I could. I should say undocumented then. I followed the rules and laws as best I could and paid taxes years year after year knowing we would never receive the b same benefits as others. I built a small business from nothing, pouring our time, money, and hope into it. But now, because of what is happening today, fear has changed everything. Our sales have dropped by nearly 80%. We are afraid to go out, not because we've done anything wrong, but because of how we look and how easily we could be judged or targeted. Families are torn apart. Kids come home to empty houses. Lives are changed in an instant. We've seen neighbors protest through the cold Minnesota winter. Standing together to protect each other. Even high school students have walked out of class to support immigrant families. We have heard stories of people carrying passports every day, even US citizens, out of fear of being wrongly stopped or detained. Still, we keep going. We keep believing. We keep hoping. We still believe in this country, even when it doesn't believe in us. We believe that one day compassion will be louder than hate and understanding will replace fear. We believe this country will see us not as a threat, but as we truly are, people who belong. In my words, please do not allow this contract to go through. >> Rebecca Veron, >> good morning. >> Good morning. My name is Becky Veron and I have lived in Carver County for almost 50 years. I am currently a resident of Chanhassen. Thank you for the opportunity to make a brief comment. Chair Workman, commissioners, I ask you, keep Carver County decisions in Carver County. Don't hand the keys of the local jail to federal bureaucrats. Bringing ICE into our local jail is an invitation for federal oversight, federal mandates, and federal lawyers to dictate how we run our county facilities. Managing a federal detention program is a massive administration administrative distraction that pulls resources away from the essential infrastructure our residents rely on. Keep the focus on roads, drainage, and local safety. More importantly, let's keep honoring the civil rights of all of our residents. We want all community members to feel safe. The sheriff has agreed that ICE will operate regardless of our help. That may be true, but according to the Carver County Jail, but approve but by approving the Carver County Jail as an operational base for ICE, you are effectively turning our local deputies into federal agents in the eyes of the community. This destroys the social infrastructure you are trying to build. You cannot ask residents to trust the sheriff for local help on Monday if they fear that he is deporting their family on Tuesday. Do not sacrifice long-term trust for a shortterm federal contract. I urge you to oppose this measure and keep our sheriff's office focused on Carver County. I am here for all of the immigrants who are afraid to leave their homes, to work, to buy groceries, to send their children to school, to worship. They are afraid to do any of these things because of the color of their skin or their accent. I am a member of Crown of Glory Lutheran Church in Chaza. We have two Hispanic congregations who worship in our building. One of those um congregations did not set foot in the building. the whole month of December, which is a holy time for them to worship. Why? Because they've seen other community members disappear and be taken. They're afraid. They're afraid to come and worship. Commissioners, I want to ask you what what brought you here? What brings you here to Carver County? Um how is it that that you live here in this county? I can tell you how I came. My my ancestors came down the Minnesota River on a steamboat and the steamboat stopped and they got off. They were in the town of Carver. Um my um my mother's relatives, the Zelgurts, settled in on a farm between Chaza and Chanhassen. Um my father's relatives, the Lavines, settled on a farm between Chaza and Carver. They you can check it out. Um my great greatgrandfather Gotautle Zelgurt is buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Um you'll find Henry Zelgurt on the the um the monument out in front of this building, the military monument. Now when they come came to this country, did they speak English? No. They spoke German. Um were they were they citizens of this country? No. they had to to be here for several years before they could apply for citizenship. So in the 1890s um if ICE were present in Carver County, would they have taken them away and thrown them in the county jail? Yes, they would have. Um so um I'm asking you how how did your how did you get here? How did your ancestors get here in this county? Um, and I have one more question for you. When did we learn to hate immigrants? When did we learn so much hate toward immigrants? I stand here to raise my voice for all immigrants. I stand here to raise my voice for liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Margaret Margaret Caldwell. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> I'm very nervous. I hardly ever speak in front of this group of people. Usually I speak in front of children. >> Chair Workman and commissioners. My name is Margaret Caldwell and I have been a resident of Carver County for 30 years. I am a licensed teacher in early childhood family education. I teach preschool and parent education. I've spent a great deal of my career working in the school readiness program, which is the first introduction for new families in our community coming into our schools. That program is based on trust and relationships. It is often the first thing, the first opportunity parents get to see what our schools are really like. This is what I'm hearing from the parents I've worked with. I did not take my child to their speech appointment or their doctor appointment even though they're sick. I've not been buying groceries or diapers. I have to depend on my oldest child to do that. Thank goodness for the neighbors who have stepped up to help us. My children are afraid to go to school and school events. I believe schools are one of the backbones of our community. Schools provide a rich environment for children and families to learn and thrive and they build a better community for all of us to live in. I'm asking you to oppose the ICE contract in our community jail. In my professional opinion, having ICE here is not good for our students or our schools. It does not communicate trust and it does not build relationships with our community people. The increased presence of ICE agents in our community creates fear. There have been so many documented examples of brutality by ICE agents. This is having a profound effect on our immigrant community. Many of which who have legal status. They pay their taxes and they're building a better community for all of us to live in. When fear and stress occur, learning stops. We know this. In my experience, when a student is frequently absent from school, they fall behind. Their parents stop engaging with the teachers. They stop utilizing all the critical resources we have to help students be successful and the mental health of everybody, including our staff, deteriorates. The teacher is under a tremendous amount of pressure to pull that student back into the fold and get them up to speed. The natural cycle of engaging, reflecting, and applying what they have learned is broken and it's interrupted and it can't be restarted easily. The state and federal dollars that follow that child through school are lost and that's less resources for us. Having a detention center run by ICE will not be good for kids and families and will reflect poorly on who we are as a community. I ask you to oppose this contract with the county jail and I thank you for your time and listening. >> Thank you. Uh, this name was written quickly as a Ken >> Reeba. >> Related to Todd? >> You're not related. Are you related to Todd Reeba? >> Uh, no. >> You don't want to admit it? >> Well, I don't know of any other. >> That was a test. He's a good Todd Reeba. You're a good guy wherever you are out there. Good chasa boy. >> As far as as far as I know, there are no other reebies in >> Oh, it's Reebi. Okay. >> It's a Norwegian name. >> I thought it was Reebop. Okay. >> Yeah. Well, in the old country of Reeba. Yeah. >> Oh, >> even better. >> Anyways, uh, Chair Workman and commissioners, thank you for the opportunity to speak today. My name is Ken Hari and I'm a retired Presbyterian pastor and I've lived in uh Chanhasson for the last five years. I am reading a letter from someone who was afraid to come today. I am a single father and like many parents in our community, I rely on flexible work to support my family. Delivery platforms have given me the ability to earn additional income during hours when my children are at practice or involved in other activities. Over for over a year, this work has helped me keep food on the table and meet my family's basic needs. In the past few weeks, however, that stability has been shaken. Increased ICE activity in the area and reports of racial profiling have made it unsafe for me to do my job. I now avoid certain neighborhoods, reduce my service area, and constantly watch for unmarked vehicles. There have been days when I have had to cancel delivery orders uh mid route because ICE agents were near were present nearby. When that happens, I lose income from that shift, but I cannot risk being detained and unable to return home to my children. This fear is not hypothetical. It reflects my daily decisions. My ability to work, my ability to provide for my family, the possibility of being re uh taken away for an unknown amount of time is something that no parent should have to weigh against earning a paycheck. If Carver County were to enter into an ICE contract, the situation would become even more difficult. My job requires me to drive throughout the county delivering groceries, meals, and sometimes even medical uh medication to people who cannot leave their homes. Many of the individuals who rely on these services are elderly, disabled, or living on fixed incomes. If drivers like me feel unsafe operating in the county, fewer of us will be a will be available. And when there are fewer drivers, the cost of deliveries goes up. That means in most v that means the most vulnerable members of our community will pay the price. Literally, this is not just about me. It's about the ripple effect on families, on workers, and residents who depend on affordable delivery services for their basic needs. When people are afraid to move freely in their own community, the entire system becomes strained. I ask you to consider the broader consequences of an ICE contract would have on the health, safety, and economic well-being of our county. Policies that create fear do do not just affect individuals being targeted. they affect every person who relies on this the services that we provide. Thank you for your time and for considering the impact this decision will have on families like mine and on the vulnerable community members who depend on us. Thank you for listening. Thank you Leslie Ericson. Leslie and Leslie is the last person on the list. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, Chair Workman. Commissioners, my name is Leslie Ericson. I live in Chanhassen. I'm reading this statement for someone who is too afraid to appear in a public space. I own a local landscaping and snow removal company that services county roads and commercial properties. I'm represented here because recent ICE enforcement activity in the Chanhassen area and the increased presence of ICE agents has created a serious disruption in our ability to provide essential safety services. Over the past month, many of our employees, most of whom are Hispanic, have stopped coming to work. This is not about immigration status. These are individuals who fear being targeted because of their appearance. Some have experienced or witnessed racial profiling, harassment, or aggressive encounters. Understandably, they no longer feel safe leaving their homes, even to perform critical work. Our crews are the people who clear snow, salt roads, and keep sidewalks and commercial properties safe during winter storms. When they cannot report to work, we cannot meet our contractual obligations. That means slower snow removal, delaying salting, and increased risk for drivers, pedestrians, and businesses across the county. We have tried to hire additional workers, but very few people are willing to take on overnight physically demanding work in freezing conditions. Migrant workers have long filled these essential roles. Their absence has created a labor shortage that is already driving up operational costs, not just for my business, but for others like mine throughout the region. Migrant workers are a vital part of our local workforce. They contribute to the functioning of our county every single day, often without recognition. When they are afraid to move freely in their own community, the consequences extend far beyond individual families. And this is not just a business issue. It is a community issue. When workers feel unsafe, essential services break down. When these services break down, the entire county feels the impact economically and in terms of public safety. I respectfully ask the board to consider the magnitude of effects that having an ICE contract will create on our workforce, our businesses, and our ability to maintain safe winter conditions. Ensuring that all residents feel safe is not only a matter of dignity. It is essential to keeping our county running. Thank you for your time and for your commitment to the well-being of our community. And on a personal note, I would also ask that you not enter into a contract with ICE. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. Anybody Anybody else not on the list? Seeing none, we will move on the rest with the rest of our agenda. Community announcements. >> Commissioner Anderson. I have no announcements other than I enjoyed a couple weeks with my kids and um that's all all I got. >> Mr. Rderman, >> Mr. Chair, if there's people going to clear the room, maybe we should take a minute to pause. Um, if there's people going to stay, we'll continue. >> Thank you. >> Got it. Commissioner Lynch, you wanna Sure. unbelievably slippery. Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas holiday season um the holiday season and I hope everyone has a very uh wonderful new year. So, and wish everyone help health and happiness. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. >> Commissioner Feahhee. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. um had a opportunity to do a lot of giving and a lot to be thankful for over the holidays. I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with my family. So, just happy new year to all the staff at Carver County. Um last night I had the opportunity to attend the city of Carver their council meeting and we discussed the counties and the city's legislative priorities. Was very informative. Um and these priorities can be viewed on the respective websites for both the city and also the county. And last Saturday, uh Baylor Park and Lake Minowashta, they kicked off the cross country skiing and snowshoe season. Uh I think the rain is probably doing some damage, but for $5 for two hours, you can rent skis and also poles and or snowshoes. So definitely get outside and explore. Also check out the new mobile sauna at Baylor Park uh starting on January 10th through March 1st. It's a private 30 minute session. It's $20 per session for up to six people and go to the Carver County Parks website to reserve your spot today. That's all I have. Mr. Chair. >> Okay, Commissioner Hudterman. >> Well, Mr. Chair, I uh uh I think last time we we met I said sometimes we're remiss at expressing gratitude and I know that there's some people from the CDA here, but I saw on social the other day and I was affirmed other ways. Greg Anderson, after a long run, I don't know if you're here to are you here to say a few words about that. >> Okay, got it. All right. So, I'll push pause on that, but wanted to offer gratitude for those that have served on our our committees and our commissions, uh lays ends or otherwise. Um and so I'll pause so you guys can have that next time. Um, also, uh, it is slick in the parking lot, but the, um, sidewalks leading up to here are not slick. So, thank you to Angela, Gary, Joe, and our facilities team. Uh, well salted. Um, good entry, especially having the 40 or so people in the boardroom today. Um, I had an opportunity to Commissioner Fehees Point to be out at Baylor over the holidays. I hadn't been out there. I hadn't I hadn't even admittedly done the trails yet. And so, it's a great place to be out there with kids or otherwise. Um, and then in light of uh the number of people that have been in our boardroom the last couple of weeks uh for open comment um there's complexities of these issues. So I welcome anybody's emails, comments or or meetings. Um I've been given a number of books and um things to read. And I will tell you that I didn't know a whole lot about the topic. Um and I'm becoming educated. So if anybody wants to aid in that education, so be it. Um and then there was a note flight floating around about some things at the state level that do impact us. Um and we're in pretty tight budget times. not just this current year but as we planned for 27 28 and 29 I think there was an effort by an individual up north um to collect some signatures um I had a chance to talk to him as well uh to find out what the sentiment is across the state and so as we make decisions leading into this new year um I just want to impress upon our team our staff our community um that we we should watch our pennies um we should be smart and strategic about some of our decisions so thank you >> okay I would also like to say happy new year. Hope everybody had a great Christmas. I know I did. It seemed like a little over a two week break from just about everything I do do and it uh I frittered it away. I wasn't productive. I didn't do a whole lot. I didn't pour through CDA bylaws or anything fun like that. Uh yes, we'll say goodbye to Greg Anderson next week. Uh a solid workman pick, I must must say. Um and uh thank you for uh trusting me to be your chairman again for the best best county in the state of Minnesota, probably the Midwest. >> Well, >> keep going. >> Certainly certainly Illinois. I could name states. Iowa. >> Um, so but anyway, uh, good to be here. I, uh, did get through about 500 pages of biography on Mark Twain. I think it's going to not help my sassiness uh, a a bit. >> That's too bad. I did I did read a a a great quote because uh he was making fun of uh precisely England and Europeans and the the monarchies and everybody. The the Brits didn't particularly appreciate it, but he did say irreverence is the champion of liberty and its only sure defense. So, a little little uh sarcasm, a little irreverence once in a while uh gets the point across. All right. Agenda review and adoption. Do I have a motion? >> Some moved. >> Second. >> All right. I got a motion by Anderson and a second by Fehee to approve the agenda. Uh all those in favor say I. I. >> I. Those opposed. Motion passes. >> 2026 board operating rules. I was going to note, Mr. Chair, you had an amendment. Did that get in there? >> There was a couple of additional applications that came in late. >> You consider that as a friendly amendment to >> to the agenda. >> Does that change the agenda? >> Yep. Well, it's additional names that would be included. >> Okay. So, should we go back and change the agenda to um >> if you could just consider that a friendly amendment? >> Yes. I will second that, Mr. Chair. All right. So, Anderson, >> I I made Yeah, I moved to uh include the friendly amendments >> and they were unfriendly. Would we still move? Anyway, >> and Fehee seconded the friendly amendment. Yes. >> Hearing any other discussion on that? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Those opposed. Motion passes. >> All right. The operating rules. Mr. Hempy. >> Thank you. Happy 2026 to the board members. Uh as you do each year, I'm asking that you adopt your operating rules for 2026. Uh just a few changes that uh I have proposed in your rules that are listed in your packet. uh in particular on section 10 C which is the public participation section. If you flip to page 16 of your packet, you'll see those. First of all, uh authorizing the county board chair to reserve the right to allow Carver County residents to speak before non-residents. I had heard that as a suggestion along the way. Uh and secondly to uh to add to section five the disruptive behavior uh a adding that that there should not be clapping and cheering as you've as you saw today that could be a little disruptive too and I understand why it's being done of course but but that would be added to the list of disruptive behavior in an effort to help the board chair guide a good professional meeting. Uh the third item, uh thanks to Commissioner Udman for pointing this out. I took a swing and a miss on this one. I should have added our new goals to section three, so I apologize for that, but so I would add that to the list of changes. >> What page is that on, Dave? >> Uh page six. >> Page six. >> Starting out item number three. At the bottom of page six, you can see our current our old goals are there. And of course, you adopted these new goals. So, this these are that's an easy one to insert those. I just I flat out just missed it. Sorry about that. So, I I think and then Commissioner Rudman had some other he and I talked on the phone yesterday. He had some other suggested changes. I think the best way to do it would be to get get these changes I I proposed uh on the table as a motion and a second and then I think Mr. man, if you still have some some thoughts on amending additional items that would that could be proposed by Commissioner Woodman. Okay. So, so the goals and Mr. Chair, if I could um port operating rules, would this be a good time to discuss whether IT staff can uh help individual commissioners or is that a different time? >> Uh this would be the time I would suggest similar to uh thoughts that Commissioner Orderman has. I would perhaps carve that out as an amendment. So, what I'm looking for is to get on the table here that the the the changes to public participation and then the the addition of the goals. we get that in the table and then bring up these other items which I think should be have a little bit more focused debate. >> Okay. >> Amendment. >> Would you summarize those three? >> So again, uh allowing under public participation allowing the the the chair the discretion to have county residents speak first and then secondly to add some language under disruptive behavior, no cheering from the audience to provide some additional guidance to the the board chair. And then the other item would be to add the the updated goals to section three uh three. >> So if we're looking for a motion for those three things um so moved. >> Second. Uh but uh the clapping, cheering, etc. It's it would seem we should have pretty precise language on that. >> That's on page 16. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Uh I didn't really define I suppose it's by its nature defined right. >> Oh I see there. Okay. >> Yeah there is language on the in the paragraph to the right. >> Okay. >> Page 16 about twothirds down. >> So just from experience I think one thing that we did on the Eastern Carver County School Board is state that in advance that there'll be no clapping and cheering after um pieces. So just so that the you know people know what those operating rules are um prior to and um and also if if we want to keep it to just cover county residents only all of those would need to be defined in advance of public comment but I mean that's >> well Mr. Chair, if I clarification, the change proposed was Carver County residents first at the board chair's discretion. Others could speak too. >> Yes. >> At the board chair's discretion >> and and and and I understand that motion. >> And yes, we could uh we could put uh clarification language. You notice today we maybe you didn't see it, but there's a signup sheet. >> We could put that at the top of the signup sheet or even in the >> agenda packet for clarification purposes. But all this is in an effort to have a good, professional, respectful, correct, well-run meeting. >> U, Mr. Chair, if I could, uh, Mr. Hemsy, should we add booing in there, or is that covered because it says clapping, cheering, or such other comments or conduct that disrupts or disturbs? >> I I think that'd be a a change, Mr. Chair. >> I think we could we could I think I think we could add a lot of adjectives. >> We could really get into the weeds. That's what I'm asking. >> Is it is it verbs and caterwalling? Is that a verb? >> Um, you know, I think that could go on. So, what's what would be a general >> Yeah. >> terminology? I will say this as all of us have been to many many graduations. They always say, "Please save your applause for the end for >> 800 graduates." Yeah. And >> of course, >> the clapping and the whistling and gets louder. And it it's never failed to uh to keep that from happening. I thought I thought the group in the room today was uh uh a little more polite with their clapping >> for sure. >> And I didn't hear the >> Yep. >> the hooting and booing or whatever else going on from the last one. um which I don't think helps anybody's cause but I can leave that up to them but um I mean it it's it's up to you the difference between a graduation and a meeting in the public is you know graduation is a celebration and um uh this is a business meeting >> and um So from my perspective, it it and I and again I do I also appreciate the polite and respectful nature of the group today. Um it's just hard to have it's a slippery slope if if we're offering that. But that's just one opinion I can go with. Um whatever the board >> we could add the word booing. >> Mr. Sure, I brought it up and it's um and as such comments or conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of any board meeting. I think that I think it's covered and I think that if we get into the weeds, we could be here for all day. And I think they added that savior applause to the end because at at Watertown anyway because after I graduated, no one applauded. >> Understandable. >> Um okay. Okay. So I think then then I think those three rule wording changes are pretty clear then I think to the board. Correct. >> Correct. >> Call it the Hemsy amendment. >> And do we have a motion? Is that a motion? >> I did make Sanderson and Fee. >> Yep. >> Mr. Chair again. So you have a motion in a second. I I would open it up for discussion and then amendments, additional amendments because I know Commissioner Woodman has some. >> Okay. So, we're not going to vote on these three. >> I wouldn't I would suggest you don't and have have Commissioner Rudman propos. >> Okay. So, now we're going to go to amendments further amendments. >> Okay. >> I don't think they're formal amendments, but anyway. >> Okay. Uh other changes. >> Well, if I may, Mr. Chair, um >> good. >> Yep. Um, we we're growing as a county and I think some of the rules need to reflect that we're growing as a county. We're not a sleepy county anymore and some of those things push against each other. Um, you know, you use the word residents and I get the sentiment of it like let's have our residents go first because they pay the taxes and I don't think that our chair is going to restrict anybody that wants to speak if they're a business owner or they're somebody that's been tied to the community for 30 years and they, you know, bought a place in Florida so they're not a resident. And so the the heart of what we're trying to to accomplish might get stuck in the minutia of it. Um some of the other things that I wanted to suggest for consideration. Um I also don't want to get stuck in the minutia of it, but the spirit in the heart of it is is as I'm about to share. Um item number two, compensation for county board members. Um I've always held that I think we should have a standard formula and at the end of the day, we decide what the dollar amount is. Um we have to do that. But I would really like to depart from the what's everybody else doing and let's do the same. Um we as a board gave uh 7% raise which reflects what our staff does. And I would like us to adopt a formula that looks more like less than what our staff gets because we are public servants and and we should take this role not for our own self- benefit but to help the community. So I'm proposing the following language for the end of that. Any annual increase for the county board should uh not exceed the prior year standard staff wage increase. And I think that's been a tradition that we've had. We've never Well, before I came in, there was a sizable raise given to commissioners to the tune of 13 and a half%. And I thought that was appalling. Um, and I stood up against that. And I I don't think that's happened since, and I don't think it will happen since, but this language gives us a chance to kind of put that in there. Um, I think most of the board feels the same way. So, I'll just read it again. Any increase should not exceed the prior year standard staff wage increase. So, that's the first thing that I propose. Um, Commissioner Man, I'm not I'm not tracking it. So, would it put it would you explain it in so >> I don't know how >> how would it have happened in December compared to 24? >> So, the last two years um by contract I think we have 10 11 collective bargaining units. The um raise that we gave was 7% last year and 7% this year which is a tidy sum. I think people are celebrating that. Um, this would language would give us the ability to give ourselves up to 7% but not more. I'm just adding language to say that the B County board shouldn't get a raise that exceeds that of the staff. And I think that's a prudent addition. >> Um, if if I may, >> we sure is. >> Well, I I I appreciate um that sentiment. Um, I think that's a conversation we should have had a month ago when we talked about this. Um, and uh, and and would have loved to have this conversation at at that time. Um, I'm not sure that belongs in operating rules. Um, so I would I I think it I think it belongs um when we had a very quiet conversation about compensation um, last month. And so, um, I'm I I I would I would encourage you, Commissioner Workman, or Commissioner Udman, to to to bring it up at that time. >> So, Mr. Chair, if I may, um, we get the chance to look at, uh, operating rules once a year, and I know you were fresh, uh, Commissioner Anderson. Um, a year ago, but that same conversation was had a year ago and a year before that, and a year before that, and a year before that. I've been on the board for five years now, and we've had it every single year. Um, I believe that we need to put this in writing and this is the appropriate time to do so. >> Thank you. >> So, I um maybe I missed part of what you said. So, I'm I'm not sure that I ever remember. Maybe Commissioner Lynch can help me out here when we took a pay raise above the rest of our employees contracts. In fact, we took a pay cut uh in a bad year. that would have been probably following the 2008 mess. Um, so I I think the formula is is probably handled the way Commissioner Anderson is stating it in December after we're done and when we're done and the contracts are all done. And we do look at what are other counties doing, which is why a county board uh some years ago, maybe 10, took a really big pay raise vote. Commissioner Lynch and I did not vote for it. >> Correct. >> Unanimous. >> Um and so it it it gets uh it sort of gets out of control. All of us are not going to ever be on this board and the board can change its rules and do future boards can do whatever they want um and and embarrass themselves or do whatever. But I I feel the the formula is is those those two items. one, how are we treating our employees and how is uh how how are the rest of the metro counties doing things? It's it's information, but we we can have that debate every December when we have to. So I I I guess what I'm saying, Commissioner Man, is we already have the policy that we we can give ourselves raises that match the rest of our employees or less. Does that make sense? But did do did we ever Oh, that one year we we uh we did more than what our employees got. >> Yeah. >> Right. I mean, I'm in favor I'm in favor of of your language. I just I just don't know if it belongs here. So, I mean, I'm in I'm in favor of the sentiment. I just think it needs to happen. Um, and I would encourage you to to make a motion um when we talk about it in December. >> If I could, Mr. Chair, I think tracking the matrix of what we do with the other commissioners is a really good thing. We do it with county attorneys. We do it with county administrators. we do with everyone else, too. So, we should track it with ourselves, too. And again, like you mentioned it, there was a a raise and it was approved in a 3 to2 vote with you and I voting against it. Um, vote your conscience. I have always said the most uncomfortable thing we do is set our pay. >> Yeah. Thank you so much. >> And um tying this matrix and I I just don't see how it works. >> And Mr. Chair, just my comments going back to I made the similar comments in our December meeting when we were talking about setting our salaries and uh Commissioner Lynch made reference to that matrix and on average Carver County Commissioners are paid less in the metro area. And we talked about and it was recommended about from the county staff to get that average up. And we're going to continue to be and I made the comment from Garrison Keeler that either everyone should be average or inspired to be above average and we'll just continue to be below average for our compensation in the seven metro area. as we approve that 7% increase. And then there's the other county boards are giving themselves this same increase. We don't know what the amount is, but yet we continue to be under the average. So I would not be in favor of the language that is presented by Commissioner Udman. But I but I do want to be clear that I I am I would look forward to having a robust conversation about compensation when that comes up in December. >> Okay. Commissioner Rutderman, I believe that would be a motion you've made and then I would ask for a second. >> Technically, we're still in a motion for the other so I don't know how. >> Well, a motion for the amendment, right? >> Got it. >> Mr. chair. This would be an amendment to the original motion >> which needs to be a motion >> which needs a a motion and a second. >> Right. >> Okay. Any second? >> I don't think we're going to get a second for that. >> Mr. Chair, the second item that I had proposed in for conversation with our administrator and I've shared in the past is um and I'll just put it in the context of again this year's a tight budget year. Next year, the year after uh and and there's a lot of uncertainty. Um, I think I've used this in the boardroom before, but the pace of the leader is the pace of the team. And I'm sure we've all heard the adage, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. And so we uh as part of our compensation, we always get a expense account. I think that was uh was determined well before I joined the board that instead of having to individually itemize stuff, we get a flat amount. Um, and there's some things that are included in that and there's some things that are not included in that. In years past, we added that um, home broadband would no longer be covered. And that does two things for us. one, that makes uh us commissioners not be any better or worse than staff. Two, it limits our exposure from having to pay for that for other folks. Um, and so that was adopted, I think it was last year, the year before. I'm asking that we expand that so that our monthly expense allowance um also be exclusively includes a home printer and print cartridge expenses. And it's been my estimate that over the course of the last two years that there's been close to $10,000 of printer cartridge and um and home printer expense. And I just don't think that that's necessary. And I think as our role as leaders, I think that um because we already get an expense account. If you want to come to the government center to print stuff off, we have printers. If you want to look at your board packet on your tablet that's provided by the county, you can do so. But I think this is one of those areas that we can give indication to the to the staff um and to our general population that we wouldn't be enriched more so than our staff is. And I think this is an area for albeit minimal cost savings. Um it's a token um gesture. And so my language proposed on a 3G monthly expense allowance would read home broadband, home printer, and print cartridge expenses are not allowable expenses. Thank you, Commissioner Udman. I'm confused because I have two personal printers at home and desperately wanted to use not have a third printer in my home office and um was was told that that um from a from a security standpoint I needed to have a separate printer. Um, and I've I still haven't used a cartridge. Um, and um, and and I buy paper by the bulk for my business. So, I'm confused. Um, I'm confused by this. I thought I had to have a printer in order to um, print the documents for my board meetings. >> Well, Mr. Chair, I know it all goes through the board chair, but I've been >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Tom. I've been on the I've been on the board for five years and I haven't expensed a single print cartridge. I haven't uh expensed a single ream of paper. And if I want to print anything, I come to the government center when I'm here or when I'm not and I use the services that are here. If I had a home printer and I wanted to print something at home, albeit minimal, I believe that that could easily be covered into the um generous allowance that we get on a monthly basis. So if there's any more clarity needed, I'm simply saying that if you want printer at home, if you want a cartridge at home, feel free to do so using the expense that you're already allowed. >> Well, uh, if I can just add in here, um, you indicated that it would be about doing the same for our employees. and I could query administrator Hemsy and any staff that's in the room and find out if they and the staff that works from home if they have a county printer and cartridges and um if we don't outfit our employees who work from home with essential items Um, I do not consider this room back here my office either. >> The office is at my house. >> Same. >> Um, I I try to get in the way down here as little as possible and there are a lot of people that are not here anyway because they're at home in their home office and hopefully they're more efficient there. But my office is definitely at home. I know Commissioner Lynch shows me the postmark from his packet that's sent to him. He's not two miles from this place. He's 200 miles from this place. And um what was the number? 30 bucks. So I brought it today. $11. >> 11 bucks. Um, so, um, I've got frustration with it because our county systems tie up my iPad and phone so much I can't figure out how most of the time to print my agenda and I have to tell Christa to put one on my desk. I read it read it online which is fine and but I like to write on an agenda. So um again th this room single room I know that many other counties have individual offices in the building for their county commissioners and then they get a staff member and I can't imagine we're going anywhere near that uh in the next decades. Um but uh so yeah, I I I'm not coming down here every day to print this or that or this or that. So I I guess I would I'm speaking against against the amendment. So >> Mr. Chair, you asked a good question and it'd be a good one to have answered. We have 738 employees. I think when I came in, we had 750 employees. I don't know any of them are expensing it. Maybe there's a handful, but I can't imagine a world where 738 people are not only expensing print cartridges and paper and getting support at home for their for their computers. Um, I can't I can't imagine that that's the case. And I know that our 600 building is uh likely going to be replaced and more people will be working from home. Uh I I can't imagine that we're we want to go down a path of, you know, $1,000 an employee. That's a sizable amount of expense if we're going to allow them to do so. Um, when I host meetings, uh, if they're proper meetings, I host them here. I don't host them at my home. Um, and and I hope others don't as well. I think on the door over there, it says commissioner's office. It is our office. It's where people can come meet with us. I don't know too many people would be safe having a meeting at any one of our commissioner's houses. Um, and so again, I restate we are moving into a digital era where we all have tablets and computers. And if you don't like that, grab a handful of pieces of paper, um, some pens. uh if you need to print something off, by all means, come to be here. But I think it's ridiculous the amount of money that we're spending on here, especially while we're looking at all these shifts and cuts and and passing along an 8% increase in taxes last year and probably even more this year to our consumers. So, if people are not wanting to look for pennies and dimes and thousands of dollars on these simple things, I can only imagine if there's harder conversations where we might need to uh to find savings. And I when I when I was elected, I promised constituents that I would manage to a lower tax rate. We are taxing our residents more than their house values are growing and the growth of the county. Your tax rate will go up this year. And if we don't have hard conversations and hard decisions like these simple ones, um I can only imagine what next year is going to look like. So I uh will continue to uh to press in uh on issues like this to find ways that we can find uh savings for the taxpayers that don't enrich ourselves. Uh the last item that I had on here was one that was already covered um administrator Hemsy, which was public participation. Um I did have a conversation with the administrator of Sherburn County for a number of reasons when we were at AMC. That conversation led to them being a growing community. Um they have a number of increased number of people that come into their boardroom. One of the best practices that they use in their boardroom is each speaker is allowed three minutes uh for a total of 30 minutes of public comment. I thought it was an interesting one to bring before the board. Not to restrict anybody, but I also recognize that on some days we have upwards of 15 or 20 staff in the boardroom. uh and if they have to wait 22 hours or three hours for public comment, it's just a practical reality that our staff time is valuable as well. And so, um they allow anybody that has any other comments that aren't received within that first 30 minutes to do so before the um um end of the the meeting. So, I just raise it for consideration. Um I'll just read off what the language was that was given to me. Each regular meeting will allow for public comment. The public will sign in with their name and address prior to the start of the meeting. Priority of speaker will be given to uh county taxpayers first. Each speaker will be allowed up to three minutes up to 30 total minutes of public comment. The board chair may allow any remaining comments to be made prior to the conclusion of the regular meeting. Um I just thought it was an interesting one to bring to the table to see if there's efficiencies or balancing our staff and then and then um people the public sharing their comments. >> Mr. chair if I could. >> Mr. Lynch, >> we work for uh the people who addressing us and I I like how we're going to do it. Priority has uh the residents and I'd leave it totally up to the uh the chair's discretion if you want to have five people speak or 10 people speak from if we have a uh say a crick. You mentioned Mark Twain. I always use one of his quotes whiskies for drinking, water's for fighting over ex at every ditch meeting. So anyway, at that time point, if uh you think it's going to be too much, I would have the chair, you or anyone else limit the five people and then that they can draw their five and that's only at your discretion. But right now, I just leave it up to the people to and we can sit here for a little extra time because I don't want to limit the um opinions of the people. >> Well, uh this is a tough one. I know many many organizations limit the comments to three minutes. Some people don't even leave the runway before 3 minutes um with with what they want to say. So, it's a tough one. Um you know, we went back to Commissioner Lynch. I we went through this um we've had some pretty angry people uh at the podium who get awfully personal and we've had some of that at the end of last year. Threats uh lady made a slight threat, winked at us. Um uh but we resisted. We were going to the the board, rest of the board was going to put the the public comments on before the pledge of allegiance before we even started vid vid video v videoing >> video >> turn the video on. >> Yeah. >> And so uh we resisted that and but it but it was very very personal. Commissioner Lynch, you remember that. And um so uh I'm a little up in the air. I thought I thought it went well today. Um um but three minutes it really is probably the standard. >> Yeah. um as to limiting it to only five people or so. I I don't know if that's >> and again I wouldn't put that in I that would be at the chair's discretion but I understand you can say a lot in three minutes if you don't u believe yeah I agree wholeheartedly. >> Mr. Sure, if I could clarify, if you turn to page 16 of your packet, the language related to the this discussion is included under item C and it so you currently do have the five minute issue in there. It does give the board chair some discretion to to go to provide additional time or even to limit further. That would be the first the the paragraph on the in the left column in the middle that outlines the five minutes. It also states it again on the top of the second column. And then item number three under C states if there are a number of individuals present to speak on the same topic, all persons must sign in and designate a spokesperson or two. The the intent of that is to not have repetitious comments, >> which is tough to control because that's just what happened to some degree. Although you could argue everybody has their a little bit of a different angle. But I think at the heart of this would be if the board wanted to limit from five to three, you certainly have the the discretion to do that. So I would uh you know again ask that a specific amendment be proposed so it's clear in what you want to do. >> Chair Workman, I I just want to um first of all, thank you uh Commissioner Udman. I I think it was a year ago when we uh put in the five-minute rule and we we put in the clock and um I think at that time we were thinking oh well we really need this and and and I think it is helpful. I think it's helpful both for us and for the people speaking to you know to to realize you have that amount of time. Um when I was on the school board we did 45 minutes at 3 minutes um and not everyone got through that. I'm um I agree with Commissioner Lynch um that people want to come here and and speak to us and share that. I mean this is freedom of speech is our first amendment. Um so while I I appreciate and understand the direction because it does make our meetings last longer. Um, but I think listening to the community and just kind of I'd like to keep it for where it is at this moment, especially at this moment when we do have more public comments. I think changing operating rules um I'm just not sure this is a good time to do that. >> Well played >> at this time. >> And Mr. Chair, if you would um we limit u the residents to five minutes. Maybe we should limit our community announcements to five minutes also. So, it's good for us. It's good for the community. >> Goose in the gander. >> We might have a comment from the public right now. If she could say it in under five minutes, >> welcome. >> Be quick. Hi, I'm Barbara Brooks. I live in Monia, Minnesota. I'm very concerned about point number three here where um you designate a spokesperson or two. The impact of issues example of the ICE issue is not going to be felt with two speakers as as vocal and articulate as they might be. I I hope that you will really consider um eliminating.3 or make it a much more reasonable number. Two is not sufficient. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Mets. >> Mr. Chair and commissioners, the board operating rules state specifically that any time throughout the year, the county board may amend or suspend the operating rules by an affirmative vote of the members. Changes shall be effective immediately upon passage. So, at the next board meeting, you could change your operating rules or things change and and you're going two hours with public speaking and it's ineffective, inefficient for the government, you could change this at any time, too. That's a good point. I mean, I do like the idea of limiting it um to an hour. Um but I u you're right because um but it just doesn't feel like now is the right time to do that. So, thank you for bringing that up that we can do that at another time. >> Yeah. I mean, that could be that could be open for abuse. I mean, you know, um, we could, you know, if our room was fully packed, um, and we decide on the spot to limit everybody. I don't know if that's that's a good crowdleaser. Um, which is why if it was put in now, but >> Right. So the issue is three or five minutes correct and am I going to assume and commissioner utterman you also had the total of 30 minute so that would limit it to 10 people is that what you're saying I I just was bringing forward that we're growing county you want everybody to speak how do you balance that with getting your business done um there's a lot of resource in this room that may be just here for a consent item right I'm looking in the back at some very um highly compensated ated director level people and if they're here for two hours waiting for public comment for something that doesn't isn't relevant to them. I think we have to balance those things and so I went out looking for a place that does it and I think Sherburn does it well um and and I think that as we grow as a county we have to have some of these conversations. So um can most things get said in 30 minutes? I was watching the clock. I think it was 31 minutes and everybody was heard in the room today. Um and so you know put it against what works and what doesn't work. Um, maybe a good place to start is cap it at an hour and if anybody goes past an hour, they're more than welcome to stick around till the end of the meeting. >> They will be heard. It just won't be the the first two hours. >> So, >> okay. Need a motion. >> And I also think I'm sorry, one more thing is when I was listening to comments today, most of the meat was delivered in three minutes. >> And so, I think that it's it's I think it works for everybody. It's respectful to all. >> All right. Do you have a motion? Well, if if you want me to give you the actual language, uh that would reflect three up to three minutes per person and a maximum of an hour. And anybody that um exceeds that hour, we could at the board chair's discretion, they can uh say their fees at the end. >> Okay. Three minutes, total of an hour. Is there a second? >> Um could we limit that to committee announcements with the motion maker? Well, three minutes times five is 15 minutes. >> See that? >> We call it the udman rule because I'm probably the only one that's exceeded two minutes and I don't know that I've ever gone more than five. So, if if we want to make it the utterman rule, go for go for it. I'll limit my comments. I think that when you're a elected official and you've got the goings on of more than a single topic, limiting somebody to three minutes is not apples to apples compare, but I'm happy to keep my comments to the same amount if that makes people happy. >> Okay. I do not hear a second. >> I I would Oh, I'll let you come. >> Do I hear a second? >> Okay. No second. All right. >> I guess I I I like the idea of limiting it to an hour. I'd like to stay at five minutes. um at this time. >> Okay. Commissioner Unerman. >> Sure. >> Anything else? >> Nope. >> Okay. Anybody else have anything else? >> Clarification, Mr. Chair. Was that was that a proposed amendment or >> Um so I would propose we stick to five minutes since that's something new that we're just doing this year. Um, and I and I think that the public has been very respectful about the five minutes. Um, and um, and typically today was 33 minutes. You had 31 minutes. I had 33. I might be wrong. Um, and in the past was just over an hour. So I think uh, an hour gives people ample amount of time. >> Mr. Chair, if I could for clarification, the it's been five minutes for quite some time. The only thing we did is put the timer in. >> Oh, really? >> Huh? Good to know. And I think if we do go ahead with the one hour limit, if we set those ground rules in the beginning and you know have that on your packet and when you make that comment for public comment, I think the expectations then are set for the group on how much time they have and knowing that we have an hour here to get our message across because I think somewhere down the road we're going to have some people um come into the meeting that are probably in support of our ICE contract. So, we're going to have to manage all those if the first 50 people that sign up, for example, are opposed. >> Well, then how are we going to let >> the ones that are in favor no matter what the issue is? So, we got to be careful. Do we want to just table do we want to just table this until another time? >> Well, >> I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt you. >> Well, no. It would in a procon situation to be 30 minutes pro, 30 minutes con. So, 10 speakers each or >> six >> 36. Yeah. >> Mr. Chair, I would submit there are number of logistical challenges in doing that. Remember, you have public comments up front that may may encompass a variety of topics, not just one. So is 60 total. >> But you also have public comments during an agenda item. So is that another 60 minutes? I think it'd be very difficult to separate pros and cons since there may be some mixtures in there, right? So I think uh I would suggest if you really want to do that we should I would go out and try and create some language and talk to others about how they've done that because uh maybe you didn't catch it but Commissioner Rutderman mentioned at Sherburn they say okay we're going to limit to to 30 minutes I think it was or 60 whatever it is but at the end of the meeting we'll take more >> right and I think it to me it's always dangerous to to sort of limit and suppress that >> y >> that conversation. But that again, that's up to the board. I'm more more concerned about the logistics of exactly how that would work. If we're proposing this on the fly, I would do it I suggest we do that later. >> Okay. >> Want to limit it. >> Commissioner Workman, um, for the sake of being all over the place because I didn't know this was happening, I I rescend my my motion to limit it to an hour. I I go back to >> So, we should think a little harder about the logistics of this. So let's keep working >> yes >> on this way we can be open to the public but not have a filibuster occur. >> Yes. >> Okay. Commissioner Winterman. Anything else where we does anybody else have an addition to this? >> I do if I could, Mr. Chair. Um printing at home I think is the wave of the future. I have a 64page um pamphlet that was our packet that was mailed by Christa. She puts them together. She mails them. This is a priority mailed and it cost I showed this before. $11 to mail to me. I received it yesterday. It was ripped. I already reviewed it obviously on uh my laptop, but whether the county pays for the printing here or if I get a cartridge and pay pay for it at home means I think it's a wash. Um, and we save $11 in postage. So, what I propose is that we actually we have support at home. Now, I'm going to bring my laptop in. I'm going to bring my printer in, and we're going to hook it all up. And then it's going to be easy. And then Colin's going to laugh at me when I get it home and I can't get it to work. So, he's going to come and and hook for five minutes and then get it to work. Uh, and I agree wholeheartedly with your comments that your office is at home. It's it's definitely not here. It's uh 25. By the way, I've never invited a constituent to meet me in my home. I do use my monthly expense account to buy them coffee or lunch or other. >> Same >> at a at a public place. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> So, if I could have two things. Um um that's mine. I'd like to have this support at home and whether someone actually gets the we're printing using the ink anyway. whether we use it there. Actually, we're using a double because after here, there's there's ones here that are printed up and uh again, I received this yesterday and it's sent priority mail. It's tracked and insured and it came and the top as you can see is ripped. Uh so I'd like to do that and I also like to limit uh you mentioned what's goose good for the goose is good for the ganner. Let's limit our community announcements to five minutes if we limit our residents to that. Mr. Chair, if I could, >> Commissioner Behey, >> I would comment on the same aspect of Commissioner Lynch with the use of the home printer and the cartridge. Unfortunately, maybe it has to do with some of the gray hair that appears on my head, but I'm still a paper guy and I like to print stuff out and allows me, excuse me, allows me to write notes on the border and I'll I'll guess I'll never change. And um people laugh at me. I'm still a daytimer guy and I live and die by my daytimer and keep track of all the various meetings and um I do use my iPad as much as I can. Um but to Commissioner Lynch's um point about getting the packet mailed to us. If you remember some of the challenges, we weren't getting the packets until Tuesday >> after we came home after the meeting. And so I no longer get packets mailed to me. I just print mine out at home and uh just really think that's a good use of my time when we talk about coming down here. Um my commute is 17 miles one way and this morning it took longer than 17 minutes to get here. And if I'm going to drive all the way down here to print out an article that I feel I want to write some notes in the sidelines to it, I just I don't think that's a good use of my time either. And then ultimately you got to drive back home. So the printer and and that expense. Um I I would like to see the numbers that Commissioner Udman talked about that there's this $10,000 expense in cartridges um for commissioners. And I I just think it's probably a lot less than that and a minimal expense for the time that I personally am saving versus driving down here to print out a document. And somebody made the decision to not give me a color printer. So this kind of thing is an impossibility on my printer, >> right? and who made him still looking for the person. Um, >> yep. >> But Christa does a great job of printing that out for me and that's why I have color here. We don't say enough about Christa. We'll have Christa day sometime. But um um so what what are the what Okay, so let's go back to the motion. Is it a motion by Lynch that that uh those of us who office at home may have IT staff assist us with tech issues. I think that would be it used to be like that then I think we changed that not too long ago. And um I think it makes a lot of sense. It saves you ink and it saves you this $11 of postage. Um, and I just makes you more efficient. Like, um, Commissioner Fee said, you can print it right there. And I think it was I think it was attorney Mets who want insisted you didn't get a color printer. >> Oh, it's him. Okay. >> Packers. >> Mr. Chair, if I could point you to the language that relates to this discussion. On page eight, >> bottom of the first >> column says any off-site home technical support requires separate board approval. that last sense. Uh I would suggest to match Commissioner Lynch's desire here. I would just say offsite for home technical support is allowed to clarify that if that's acceptable to the motion, the amendment motion maker. >> I would accept that. I would point out too that uh this is the county cell. I do county cell work on this. This is my personal cell. I use personal uh information on that. I keep everything separate and I I will guarantee that I'll only print county related things at home. >> Did you have a second half to that? Did you mean to limit? >> Yes. I also like to limit our community announcements to five minutes. If uh uh we ask the public to limit themselves to five minutes, I think it's okay for us to limit ourselves to five minutes. >> Okay, that's a motion. >> Yes. >> Is there a second? >> Second. Okay, I've got a motion, a second, a motion by Lynch, a second by Fee. Any further discussion? >> Is that on a per topic basis? Because I think when people come up and speak, they speak on, for instance, today was ICE for five minutes. If we're talking about community announcements, we're giving multiple. We're we're covering a span of not only the meetings that we go go to, but maybe some of the accomplishments we've had, maybe some of the points of view that have been shared, maybe some of the announcements that uh that people need to know about things coming up. It's a it's quite an expanse that we cover, at least I cover with my announcements. Are you suggesting that that's per topic, Tim, or is that >> uh No, not per topic. Total totality. I think that uh it's somehow evolved into we used to talk about uh different events going on what we did and you can say that a lot in five minutes but somehow became into a stump speech and uh I think we need to limit that. Okay. Further discussion hearing no other. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed? >> I I >> Okay. Can you clarify is that three to two? >> Yep. >> Yep. >> I think Mr. Chair, you need to go back to the main motion now, which was the three items that I had originally proposed. >> Okay. So, it's the main motion with everything else that we amended into it. >> Yeah. Well, plus that last amendment that was approved, too. Yes. >> Is that the only thing we put in otherwise? I >> think so. >> Okay. So, I think Anderson moved that and Fehee seconded the original motion that has been amended. Further discussion hearing none. >> What's included in this one? >> Just the hemsy. Well, it's the three that I had suggested plus the amendment uh for commissioner announcements >> and printer >> and and home technical support. >> Okay. Hearing no other discussion, all those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed I. >> I. >> Three to two. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Okay, we're off the board operating rules. Adopt schedule of regular board meetings for the year 2026. >> Mr. Chair, if I could, we have them right in front of us. I have a blue one that we all have one here. And as Mr. Mets said before stated before, we can have emergency meetings, we can move meetings, we can uh not have a meeting if there is some issue. So, um it's a fluid issue. So, I'd make the motion that we just adopt what's here and then uh obviously we can change anything if we need to in the future. >> Okay. Is that a motion? >> Yes, absolutely. It's a motion, sir. >> 2026 schedule. >> I'll second that, Mr. Chair. >> Okay. I got a motion by Lynch and a second by Fehee on the calendar for 2026. Further discussion hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Those opposed. >> Motion passes. >> Mr. Chairman, >> Mr. Mets. >> Thank you. >> So, the initial motion that was made for the board operating rules, I believe Commissioner Fehee made the motion. I believe Commissioner Anderson second reversed. It's the other way. Reverse. Yeah. Either way, >> but I believe what I heard is Commissioner Anderson voted nay to that. >> Oh, yeah. >> So, that needs to be addressed. Yeah, because I made the motion. I made the motion and then voted against it. >> That's certainly what happens at the state capital all the time. People make >> Well, there was a lot of discussion and change in that, so I understand. But >> so that that should be um clarified if she wants to withdraw her motion um and then start over on that, have a new motion, a second in discussion. >> So you can't motion and vote against it. I thought you could. >> No, you probably couldn't. I mean, and I didn't I didn't know what the um what what I ended up voting against that because of the because of the change. >> Um >> well, like I said, that's what happens at the state capital. People bring up something, it gets >> So, how do we want to I guess for me, the reason I voted against and while I do agree that community announcements do tend to get a little long, um I do struggle with with limiting um that. Um so so that was my and I should have I should have said that and voiced that but um so so I do struggle with limiting that um up here at the board. Most of us are well under that five minutes. >> So attorneys it was there a Robert's rules? >> Well I haven't studied the Robert's rules. I just want to be careful in terms of the procedure and that I haven't looked at that whether you can make a motion and then vote against because it was still three to two >> right. It still passed. >> It still passed. So I I if you want to take a quick break or we can readress that I can do a quick research to see >> or or somebody else can make the motion in the second >> or that could be another option to with to withdraw her initial motion. >> I I will withdraw I will withdraw my initial >> well done. >> I think somebody only in the affirmative can bring something back up. So, >> so whoever voted no, go take a break. We'll No, >> I do need to use the restroom. So, that might be helpful. >> Um, then >> everyone needs to know that. >> Why don't we uh why don't we take a fivem minute break? >> Yeah. >> Colin back there and somewhere between Robert's rules that I am getting. So, we will uh we're going to break for five minutes. And uh we had a little technical difficulty on a motion and a second and a vote. So we're going to have attorney Mets kind of explain. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and board members. Thanks for taking a break because this hasn't come up before. We want to make sure we're obviously accurate with the voting. And the answer is under Robert's rules of order, yes. The maker of a motion can vote against their own motion. They're not allowed to speak against it during debate. So, under these circumstances, there was a robust discussion about amendments that I'm assuming the original maker possibly didn't agree with. And so, that's maybe why they vote against it. And so, it vote the vote was 3 to2. that is um allowed under Robert's rules of order. So, you don't have to make any changes at this point, but thank you for allowing us to at least take a break to make sure we're right about that. >> We we appreciate you being here, Mr. Mets. Okay. So, with that, we're moving on to item 1.10, committee appointments and assignments. So we have a list of uh commissioner committee appointments and assignments that we all partake in throughout the year with various organizations and fair boards and ditch ditch boards >> ditch boards >> and so we try to quickly go through uh them one by one quickly. So let's start with the Association of Minnesota County's board of directors. Um do you >> Yeah, Mr. chair. I've been u attending those meetings and also the various conferences uh due diligently and um Commissioner Anderson has chatted with me and has voiced an opinion that she would like to participate uh more on the the AMC board of directors. And then also just for that clarification, I know we represent district X or District 10. Um, but there also are additional District 10 meetings that are held during the year that are different from the county board of directors. And I know Christie, you and I chatted, yet it broken down on one of your other spreadsheets, but in the packet, it's all included as one. Uh so I would make a an a recommendation uh Mr. Chair to uh make Commissioner Anderson uh the 2026 appointee to Association of Minnesota County Board of Directors and also the appointee to the District 10 uh committee and I would uh offer to be the alternate. Thank you. >> Okay. Um maybe back to Mr. Mets. Are we going to kind of write these down in agreement and then have to make a motion or not? >> That's up to you if you want to take a motion on each one. Um or just do them all at once. I'm trying to think back in the past. >> I think Mr. Chair, you've done them as a slate. >> Yes. But if there is some disagreement that becomes a little bit problematic, >> but that's up to the board. >> Mr. Chair, if I if if there's a problem with that, someone could voice their decision now and then we'll do it as a slate later. Um, but I'm personally okay with um Commissioner Anderson and Fehee being the alternate. If you're okay with being the alternate, not being the alternate >> and and just to help, Mr. Chair, I'll make the motion to exclude that uh Lynch stays on the policy, Udman on the pol uh government policy, Anderson on health and human services, Fehee on public safety, and then workman on transportation policy and then all of us continue as voting delegates. >> Is that a motion? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, Association of Minnesota Counties, uh, various positions, policy committees. >> Yep. >> Okay. I got a motion. >> I'll second it. >> Okay. Got a motion by Fehee and a second by Lynch. So, now Anderson will need a printer >> for sure. >> Hearing no more discussion. All those in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed. Motion passes. CAP agency board of directors. >> I can stand that. We're hearing al Okay. Carver County Arts Committee. Who's dying to get on the arts committee? We haven't met in a while, but I'll stay on there. >> Yep. >> Okay. Trevor County CDA. Uh Mr. Chair, uh, Commissioner Anderson has attended some of the CDA meetings as the liaison. >> Yep. >> Yeah. As a as an alternate as um in my absence as I ran across various conflicts for the CDA meeting. And so I would uh I would recommend that Commissioner Anderson become the liaison and I will remain the alternate. >> I Mr. Chair I agree that maybe a change is needed. Um maybe I think you've served for what 20 years 15 20 years Commissioner Fehee uh >> not on the CDA >> either as a me member as a lison. No. >> Um, >> not as not for 20 years. No, >> you've been there a long time, right? As a either as a as a non-elected representative or elected representative. Um, I I think it's general tradition that the alternate moves up. Um, I'd like to stay on his alternate or even take the CDA spot. Um, I think that there's a lot going on and there's a lot more to be done and I think uh Allison's done a nice job. >> I I'm more than willing to. um I was able to attend five of the meetings and um kind of gotten involved. So, um I'd like to to be the liaison. And I do think um or I appreciate uh Commissioner Erman's um willingness, I I I do think that it would be nice for me at least to have uh Commissioner Lynch um be the alternate so that we have a little bit of consistency as as a new leaison >> for the CDA >> for the CDA. >> Commissioner Lynch, >> I'm sorry. Commissioner Fay, >> thank you. >> We look different. Um >> I get you two confused all >> he's a little smaller than I am. >> So if this >> Commissioner Fehee >> if the second alternate's been given the opportunity to attend five meetings in Commissioner Fehee's absence perhaps it's time that Commissioner Anderson becomes our our leison and perhaps uh Commissioner Fehee moves to the alternate. >> That was the motion commissioner and >> I'd be happy to move to second alternate. This is a This is one of those odd committees where there's two alternates. Do we Is that law? >> It is not. >> No. >> Cuz I was hoping to be the third alternative. >> It's a very popular committee. So to Commissioner Anderson's point, um does the motion include um >> Commissioner Anderson as the liaison and Fehee as the alternate period with no need for a second alternate. >> I don't know if we needed one this year. >> So here's where Mr. Mets were running into trouble. So, we did the CAP agency in Carver County Arts, and so we didn't have motions for those yet, but now we're running into a possible motion situation. >> Um, well, Mr. Chairman, and you can break them out now and take them individually and go back if you want, or you could break this one out and vote on this and then take all the other ones that are not controversial. There's a lot of options. >> Let's do that. >> I propose that, Mr. Chair. We'll just if there's an issue on anyone, we can just vote on that one individually. But the other ones where there's no issue, we can just have a general one at the very end. >> Okay. So, is there a motion on the CDA? >> So, I I move to um have Anderson as the alternate and fee. >> Anderson as the leazison. >> Anderson. Oh my god. You make the motion. I can't speak. >> All right. I'll make a motion, Mr. chair that Commissioner an Anderson serves as the liaison to the >> Carver County CDA with one alternate uh as fee as the alternate. >> Okay. >> Second. >> We got a motion and a second on that. Further discussion >> hearing none. All those in favor of the motion say I. I >> I >> those opposed >> I >> motion passes. Community leaders >> um >> Eastern >> actually >> Eastern >> community leaders >> isn't family resource center on here. >> Uh I did see that in an email as a side note. Um she made this >> there's a box >> pardon me >> on my sheet there's a >> packet independent sorry >> yeah we should add that also Mr. Sure. >> Can we do community leaders first? >> Yes, we can. >> I think there's been an indication that >> they didn't need all of us there, which is why I've sort of fallen off. Um, it sounds like maybe one of us is enough. I think that uh Commissioner Udman has a passion to be um serving on this. If if they do want to have um we'll allow two commissioners, I'd be happy to accompany him on that. >> I'm happy to take it. I I I I think this is one that everybody should be welcome to come to because how the origins of this were that this was uh uh not they're similar to what scale does, Scott County does, scale where they have city officials, county officials, and and school district officials. This is this is the one area where we all come together and so I'm happy to to to be the lead on it and represent, but I think everybody should be welcome to come to that meeting. >> Um I don't disagree. I I enjoyed hearing from the may other mayors. there isn't a lot of opportunity. I don't uh but I I mean I do meet fairly regularly with Chan Assassin and Victoria, but um I think it's sort of their wish. So if we can keep it to Udman and certainly it's a public meeting. Any of us can walk in maybe depending on the topic and >> and again if if if they would allow two commissioners happy to go. Um, I do have a conflict on these. These are usually Friday mornings, but um I do kind of have a standing conflict Friday mornings, but I can uh work around that when needed. So, we can kind of go back to that organization and see where they're at. >> Okay. Um, so, Commissioner Unman, that is your baby. Courts committee, I'd stay on that. I would too, Mr. Chair. >> I'm the alternate. I'm fine. I >> county strategic n national stockpile workman Hemsy Richard Scott. I think that usually goes to the chair fair board. >> I'd like to continue. >> That will continue as the alternate >> Henipin Carver Workforce Development Board. Uman liaison alternate Anderson. >> I'm happy to flip that. Um, I've had increased conflicts on that one and I don't know that that um essentially I'd like to I'd like to go to alternate on that one. >> Well, and unfortunately um I have multiple conflicts on that one as well. So, I was really hoping that you would stay as the lead for that um as um as as that board is has been difficult for me to attend as well. >> Cool. push pause on that one. Maybe revisit it. >> We can. >> Okay. >> Historical society. >> It's another one I have a hard time making on a Thursday uh just because of personal commitments. So, I'd be happy to move to alternate on the historic society. >> Mr. Fehee, what say you? >> Um I had been the appointee on that before and I know you have been also. I mean, are you interested? >> Sure. >> All right. >> So, does that make you the al alternate and me the >> No, you would be the liaison and Matt is the alternate. >> What? Say that again. >> You would be the liaison and Matt would be the alternate. >> Oh, okay. Okay. >> That's what you had stated, correct? >> Yep. Right. Commissioner would works for me. I think they're having a little holiday party here next week, the historical society. So, you're you're no longer welcome. Health insurance, LMC, utterman, and workmen. >> I'll stay there. We've been a heck of a team. >> Got a lot done. Got a lot done. >> Joint ditches. Is anybody have ditch envy for another ditch? Seeing none, let's move on from there. >> I think that Commissioner Fehee is pretty dedicated to >> Yes, Commissioner Fe. He loves his ditches. >> The water issues within Carver County. >> Good heavens. I'm only on one now. two li law library Anderson >> I'll stay on that >> legislative committee >> I'll stay >> actually I was I would wanted to propose a change to the legislative committee I was thinking maybe our both our chair and our vice chair could be our legislative committee um this year um understanding that all of us need to step up and and be part of this um for this year but that that was My proposal is having that moved to our chair and vice chair. >> I would second that motion, Commissioner Anderson, if I could remain as the alternate. >> It's pretty reasonable. >> So, it's a motion workman Lynch alternate fee. >> Any discussion? >> Well, Mr. Mr. Chair, I think we've done amazing work in the last two years. I just point out I don't believe that housing or mental health has made it to our legislative priorities committee in the last decade and it is now. I think that uh there was at one point that we saved off a potential 20% increase uh on county tax increase and uh and and reduced that significantly through uh not only your leadership, Tom, having spent 10 years at the legislation, but also some creative marketing and other things behind the scenes. Um I I think I think the uh the county would be more well served continuing with what works and not just uh attending meetings to put it on somebody's uh resume. So I don't support uh the change that's being proposed. >> Okay. Further discussion >> if uh I'm honored to be on that uh committee. I have a good relationship with all our legislators and I would be honored to be on there. >> Okay. Further discussion hearing none. >> Workman Lynch alternate fee. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Those opposed >> I. >> Library board Anderson alternate utterman. >> I'll stay on the library board. We've um lot going on in the library. Um >> Matt, uh Commissioner Rutderman, stay the alternate. >> That's fine. >> Okay. >> Lower Minnesota River wershed. >> I Commissioner Udman, I didn't realize you were on this because I I attend most of these meetings. >> Um Okay. I just didn't realize um we were both on that. I think you both border it, correct? >> Yeah. I mean, I attend all the meetings and have appointments. >> Fehey probably borders it too, right? >> So, do we have to because all the the people who are on that Got it. Okay, >> I'm good. >> Okay. >> Yeah, Fee should be on that too then because it's part of Carver. >> I'm happy to move to an alternate. >> I think it was just that um we needed two liaison. >> Oh, is that the deal? Okay. If >> I remember correctly, and I had been on that in the past. I'm okay just keeping it with the two liaison. >> No. And that's fine. >> You guys are trying to work yourself out of that job. >> I'd like to work myself. >> Point of clarification. You're not on the board. >> No, it's a liaison. It's a liazison. Lord knows I don't know. >> I think I'll move to alternate on that one. Tom lower Minnesota. >> Is it It's not a requirement that we have two liaison. >> I don't know. check. >> So Anderson would be the liaison and Wterman would be the alternate. >> We could come back to if for some reason they required that >> they did >> if for if they do. I I don't know. I'd have to check. >> Well, should we go up the alternate forman now and then >> change it later? So that's how it'll sit. Okay. >> MCIT voting delegates. This group of people made us the best county in the state of Minnesota. >> Yes, they did. >> You're welcome. and our insurance. Thank you, Hemsy. But Sonia, thank you, Sonia. >> Sonia, >> Mela, >> I think that's something I'd like to take. I think when we talked a year ago when I took on libraries, I wasn't quite ready to take on this commitment, but I've uh attended meetings in person and online and um and I think it makes sense with me staying on libraries for me to um be on them also. >> I think it's working fine the way it is. And I'll just say if we're talking about results, it's different than if we're just talking about being on a board. But, um, in the time we've been on Melsa, uh, record number dollars have come back to the county, um, we've achieved record, uh, youth subscriptions. Um, we've changed legislation in one session in less than three months, uh, allowing more people and more applicants. Um, and, uh, I, believe it or not, represent diversity on that board. The entirety of that board is made up of female members. And so I think for those reasons that um either it's a discussion or I'd like to remain on Mela for now. >> Um and and I agree with you. I think it is good to have diversity on that board. I have talked to Julie Jeepson who is taking over and Lorie Halverson and there will be um diversity on that board going forward as as there will be two gentlemen um from other counties that will be representing that. And I think it makes sense again um usually library board goes handinhand with Mela. So >> that has historically been the way it is. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So maybe we don't have agreement there. We ought to have a motion and a second. >> Well, I I I move to um be on be appointed as the primary liaison or board member for the MELA board. So are we is does the motion mean Anderson is the board member and Udman as the alternate and does Udman want to do that? >> Uh no >> I will make a motion then Mr. Chair to make Anderson the liaison and I'll be the alternate to Mela. >> Okay I'd second. >> Okay got a motion a second. Further discussion hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Those opposed. Motion passes. Mental health advisory committee. >> I'll stay on that. >> Anderson alternate utterman. It's fine. >> Metro E MSB board beehe um commissioner or chair workman that I have been the chair of that board this year and I I think in an earlier conversation you had mentioned you might have an interest. Were we in a were we in a public house? >> Uh when do those meetings occur? >> The second Wednesday at 10:00 of every two months. >> Every other month. >> And then every the executive committee meets every month. So basically you have one meeting a month. >> I'm also I'm also >> a voting member. Yes. >> Um you know anybody else interested? Okay. Uh I can I can do that. Are you going to remain the alternate then? >> I will be chair. Okay. Me TC Metro Emergency Services Radio. We're going to stay right there. Likewise with the 911 technical operations, Metropolitan Solid Waste Planning Group doesn't meet hasn't met in a long time. I'll stay there. Micah Beahe and Workman. >> I will stay on that. >> I'll stay on it. Mr. >> Chair, >> Minihaha Creek Watershed District. Uh I don't know that it makes a difference. If Udman wants to be the big shot, I can be the alternate or either. >> It's good how it is. >> Okay. Extension committee. Uman and Lynch. >> I would like to stay. Mr. Chair Commissioner Udman >> probably move me to alternate. I don't know that we need two people being the lays on that one. >> Actually on the extension we have both have to be they're both voting members >> unless someone else would like to take it. That's one of the few that were not liaison. We're actually voting members. >> I can move to alternate. I think it is probably better served elsewhere for now. So, we have an opening on extension. When do they meet? >> Um, uh, usually Thursdays. I think we have one meeting this Thursday. >> When the, uh, >> it's usually at 3:00 or 4 in the afternoon. >> Shall we keep that one open? >> Yep. >> Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority. I will continue to serve on that. >> Okay. >> Mr. Chair, >> and I will be the alternate. >> I enjoy the drives to Redwood Falls >> periodically. But >> are we doing good there? Still doing good work. >> I got for Zoom. Yeah, we are doing very good. >> Smart link board. >> I will remain on that, sir. >> Mosquito control district executive board. Um, Commissioner Anderson has been going to a couple of these. >> I have. >> And she loves mosquitoes more than anybody else. >> I do because they love me. There's one mosquito in the world that would find me. >> You want to be the executive? Is that you want to be? >> Uh, if that's okay with Commissioner Fehee, >> it is. >> Okay. And then what about the regular board meetings? >> Then we'll stay. >> Yeah, we'll stay. Park Commission. >> I'll continue on with the park commission. Mr. Chair, >> Commissioner Udman >> love to stay on his alternate. >> Right. Planning Commission. >> I will stay, Mr. Chair, unless uh Commissioner Lynch wants to swap spots with me. >> I think it works out pretty well. Uh >> was that a sigh? >> I think I've had uh like three meetings out of the 12 that I filled in. I can we can continue on as uh as we're doing. >> Okay. >> Thanks for helping, Tim. >> You know, you guys could have a signed conversation about splitting splitting the two. >> Good. Six and six. >> Yeah. >> Regional hauler licensing board. Again, this is something that rarely meets. Uh but uh I'm I'll stay there >> and I can stay as the alternate sir. Uh, Riley, Purgatory, Bluff Creek, Watershed Workman will stay there. >> And and I didn't realize I was on this. So, um, that's awesome. I've done a great job on that. >> I definitely >> I've had my hands full of lower men. >> Right. Well, it's nearby. Southwest Quarter Transportation Coalition. I'm actually a board member of that. I would uh >> executive board >> like to become the alternate if commissioner Udman wants to move up a role because it's going to be a lot of discussion on Highway 5. I think it's probably appropriate for now. I'm happy to do that. >> Okay. >> State CHS advisory committee. I will remain on that, Mr. chair if unless someone else would like to meet. Richard Scott is the liaison who attends all of the meetings and then Richard and I um meet every other month for an hour and go over the agenda items and topics etc. >> TAB I'll stay on that. This is a big year. >> Yep. >> Big year coming up. >> I'd like to that's the transportation advisory board and I'd like to thank you for being on that. uh your uh expertise from being on the as a legislator helps immensely. >> Thank you. Fehey alternate. >> That's fine. >> Wo. Do we need some east side of the county blood on that? >> Simple. No. Would >> no I would uh I we'll continue on unless Mr. Fehee would like to take over the >> Okay. >> Alternate role is >> okay. I think the earlier planning commission discussion cemented it. >> All right, we uh we did it. >> No, actually we do we do have the family resource center. >> That's a new that's a new one. Carver County Family Resource Center. >> Information on that in your other packet when they're going to be meeting >> there. Um first meeting will be at the end of February, early March, then scheduled quarterly. I'd like to I'd like to serve on that. Is that a voting member or a liaison? >> I don't know. Is that a voting member or a liaison? >> No, it is a position. >> It's a liaison position. Love those liaison position. >> And so then the liaison with an alternate. >> I would be the alternate. >> Okay, sounds good. >> High hopes for that. Me too. >> Okay. >> So, we've completed that and I think then we just need an overall motion to approve the whole basket of those appointments. So, >> so move, Mr. Chair. >> Second. >> A motion by Lynch and a second by Fehee for our commissioner committee appointments and assignments. Any >> uh just point of clarification. So, you'd only be voting on the ones that you haven't >> voted on already. >> Yep. the remaining slate. >> Correct. >> Because we already voted on the other ones. >> Yes. Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> Any discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Those opposed. Motion passes. >> I apologize. I I didn't use this sheet that tells you when we meet and I didn't have to ask. >> All right. Appointments to advisory committees. Oh, >> this is uh our community appointments. >> Okay. All right. The arts committee, we have no applicants. Board of adjustment. Mr. Chair, I believe we have four openings and I um Carrie Pella did leave me a message saying she would like to withdraw her application. So I would nominate Steve Washbour, Jerry Bruner, Jeff Thompson, and Scott Sulcen. >> I would second that motion. >> Okay. Commissioner Lynch has moved and Commissioner Fehee has seconded these four appointments to the board of adjustment. Any discussion hearing? None. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Those opposed. Motion passes. CDA. I don't This is not an upgraded. Yeah, there was an earlier comment, Mr. Chair, about uh Greg Anderson, and we're going to have him in the board >> next week. >> Arita next week. and uh yeah, he's been the chair of the CDA. He's been very very very good and a lot of great leadership, but he has termed out. Okay. Well, this uh thank you. Uh I hope to uh do well again. Um, and so I would move Gretchen Op >> Oprite. >> Oprite v. Garcia >> to Commissioner District 2. >> Second. >> Okay, got a motion and a second on this appointment. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed? Motion passes. library board. >> Mr. Chair, we have uh uh a couple applicants in district three. I'm going to hold that one for uh a couple weeks um to see things shake out a little bit. I think there's a vacant position on the other one if anybody want I also have not done my due diligence on this. Uh let's just hold off on that one then I to make contact too. So, we're going to hold library on the library board mental health advisory committee mandated vacancy. Kayla Pasco has applied >> and Kayla has been the chair um of this. um she runs a heck of a meeting and um she she's also been really good about having really tangible recommendations to the board and um so I would recommend Kayla Pasco stay on the mental health advisory. >> I would second that. >> Okay, I have a motion and second for that appointment. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed? Motion passes. Minnesota Extension Committee, four vacancies and four applicants, although isn't one of them a non-resident? That's correct, Mr. Chair. And Nick Cave sent you a a brief note on that. There's no requirement that the individual is a resident with a policy choice on their behalf. I never did hear back from Nick. I I think perhaps there was a youth appointment that was a non-resident, but they went to school at Crown College. Is that your appointment? >> But up to you. Uh it's it seems a little strange to have a non-resident appointed to that committee. >> I do not disagree. >> Yeah. >> Tammy did reach out to extension and they have on there until 2026 yesterday. >> Okay. >> Okay. Should we approve the first three? I >> move all residents be approved. >> Robin, Ryan, and Patty. >> Yes. >> Second. >> Okay. I got a motion, a second for three appointments to Minnesota Extension Committee. Uh, further discussion. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed? Motion passes. Park Commission. I'd like to uh appoint make the motion for Wayne Trap. Is there any other everyone? There's done. I I don't know if I can make all all emotions, but there's three emotions. I'll I'll make the motion for Wayne Trap. I don't know if uh >> Well, it would be nice to have uh Jen Brewington from District 2 in there for my >> Okay. I would like to make the motion for Jen. She does a wonderful job. >> And I would recommend uh Reed Welch. >> So, that would be my motion for those three. >> I'll second that motion. >> Okay. Got a motion and second for the park commission. Any further discussion on that hearing? None. All those in favor say I. >> Those opposed? Motion passes. Personnel board of appeals. We have no applicants. >> H uh how often do they meet? >> H >> as needed. >> As needed. Planning commission. I'm losing Mr. Menddees. Is he He is out after three, right? >> Termed out. He'll be in next week hopefully. He's done a phenomenal job on the planning commission. >> I'm looking for a spot for him if he I'm in conversation with him about something else. Um, >> so do you have a recommendation for your district, Mr. >> I would uh I would uh select Joe Pollink >> for two. And I know uh Andy Steinhagen has been very active on the planning commission or I'd recommend him. >> And then the township representative that will be appointed uh this month or next month. I know uh Scott Hazy has voiced that he would like to be reappointed, but that's a township decision. >> Right. So you just do the two at this time. >> Okay. Is that Who made the motion there? >> You did. Did I make the motion? I move uh Joe Pollunk and Andrew Steinhagen for the planning commission appointments. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> I got a motion and a second. Further discussion hearing? None. All those in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed? Motion passes. water management organization. Um, Mr. Chair, Mr. Beckham, his term expires 22826, so it hasn't expired yet. Is it okay to uh uh nominate him? Um, Mr. Mets, if his term is not a or do we have to wait? >> Who? Jim Bacheder >> Betcher. >> Oh, I must be on. I was looking at >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Lower Minnesota. >> Oh, sorry. >> Um, Kayla Pasco is the only applicant. I mean, could we plop her in the Carver Creek? And we went through this before. Does she need to live in the Carver Creek wershed? Um, she lives in district five. I think Carver is in the part of it in the watershed. >> I think they are. >> Uh, she lives up by Quick Trip. >> Well, so is that a motion? >> That is a motion, Mr. Chair. >> Is there a second? >> I would second. >> Okay. A motion for Kayla Pasco for the WMO appointment. Hearing no other discussion. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. >> Motion passes. Lower Minnesota Watershed District. >> Okay. So, we just appointed someone here because uh uh Lauren Sano was was on this, but she had to step off off because she had a conflict of interest. And um we had a a gentleman step into that role. Um Kyle >> Aim. >> Yes. and we've had a good conversation with him and um Paul and I and their administrator had a had another good conversation. He's only been in one meeting, but uh I'd like to um have him continue on as our representative for Carbon on that lower min wershed. >> Is that a motion? >> Yes, that is a motion. I move I move Kyle Bacham Tmaine. >> Okay, I have a motion. Is there a second for the WO appointment? >> Second. >> Okay, got a motion and second. Further discussion hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed. Motion passes. Is that it? Are we >> Are we on the minutes? All right. I need a motion to approve the December 16th, 2025 minutes. I would move approval, Mr. Chair. >> Lynch has moved and Udman has seconded approval of the December 16th, 2025 minutes. Any discussion on that hearing? None. All those in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed? Motion passes. Consent agenda. Finally, we got there. Um, >> only two and a half hours. >> There's some pretty big money on there. Again, authorization to execute US Department of Transportation grant agreement for the Highway 5 project. That's big stuff. >> Yep. >> 100 million plus dollars on there. Is there a motion for the consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Anderson has moved and Lynch has seconded to approve the consent agenda. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed. Motion passes. Commissioner Lynch. >> Make the motion to recess at the county board and convene as the Carver County Regional Rail Authority. >> Commissioner Lynch has moved to recess as the county board and convene as Carver County Regional Rail Authority. And Commissioner Fehee has seconded that motion. Any discussion on the motion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. Motion passes. >> Mr. Chair, as usual, um, as we have done in the past, I would make the motion that you are the chair, I'm the vice chair, and the one sitting in the middle, Mr. Commissioner Fehee, is the secretary treasurer, unless someone else has a different way of doing it. It's a very important board. >> It is. >> I second that. >> Okay. Commissioner Lynch has moved and Commissioner Anderson has seconded appointment of Chair Workman, Vice Chair Lynch, and Secretary Treasurer Fehee for the Regional Rail Carver County Regional Rail Authority. Any discussion? >> Hearing none, all those in favor say I. I. Those opposed, motion passes. Commissioner Lynch. >> Mr. Chair, I'd like to make the motion to adjurnn as the Carver County Regional Rail Authority and reconvene as the county board. Uh, do we have a second? >> Second. >> We have a motion by Lynch and a second by Fehee to adjurnn as the Carver County Regional Rail Authority and reconvene as the county board. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Those opposed. Motion passes. County administrator report. >> Yes, sir. So, your calendar set. Uh, Christa will send out updates. Have to remove the tenatives. I don't think you changed anything. So, you should really have your schedule laid out for the next year. Uh, we do have this joint session with the with Scott County on the 27th at noon. Uh, I'll work with our board chair and their board chair and Leslie Vermillion, my colleague, to iron that out. But we were generally talking about a one-hour lunch, get to know each other, and maybe a couple hours with the uh with the topics, those being uh we're talking about lower Minnesota watershed commission favorite >> and uh transit. I'm not exactly sure which angle on transit. I I have Nick and some others working on that. I think it's a joint, you know, what can we do together on that? And then big one would be Heather's area, Heather's problems as I've identified them, working on some legislative issues, maybe strengthening our lobbying together. >> Yeah. >> And I I think I've pretty much consumed that two hours. >> So that's that's in the in the mixture right now. That's it. That's what I have, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you very much. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. Got a motion by Anderson, second, and a second by Lynch to adjourn our uh inaugural 2026 meeting. Any discussion on that? >> Great job, Mr. Chair. >> Oh, thank you. >> All those in favor say I. >> Those opposed? Motion passes.