Would you please rise and join us in the pledge of >> allegiance? I pledge algiance 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. [clears throat] >> Thank you. Thank you for that. All right, public comments time. If anybody in the audience who doesn't have a item on the agenda would like to say something to all of America on that microphone, I see nobody jumping at that opportunity. So, let's move on to the agenda review and adoption. >> Move approval, Mr. Chair. >> Second. >> I have a motion by Lynch and a second by Anderson to approve the agenda. Hearing no other discussion, all those in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed. >> Motion passes. I have a motion by Uterman and a second by Fee to approve the November 4th, 2025 minutes. Any discussion on that? >> Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed. Motion passes. Community announcements. >> Well, Mr. Chair, I'll go first. >> Excellent. >> Uh, it dawned on me that um, one of my mentors told me, he says, you always got to keep as a leader a foot in today, in the urgent, in the now, and a foot in the future. And uh that future when people are in roles like ours sometimes looks out 20 or 30 or 50 years plus and I know we see a lot of those things in the agenda today. But I was reminded of of one of those people that is part of the fabric of of Carver County has has been that leader. Um and I had a chance to attend um his honor service this past weekend. That person is none other than Joel Johnson. Um some know him as Pastor Joel or senior pastor Joel Johnson at uh at Westwood Community Church, but he's he's way more than that. And um I wanted to say a few words about him, but if anybody wanted to see this at any time in the future, I'm happy to share it. They produced a nice little brochure about him and then they also recaped um 30 years of his service, his wife's service um to the community. I say that first. And then to Westwood Community Church. And what dawned on me in that service um in the in the pages of this book were not the meetings that he attended and and the people that he knew, but the results and the impact that he had on the community. And I just wanted to name off a few of those things where he leaned into where it was um was not convenient. It was not easy. Um it took a lot of time and effort and he achieved a great result in partnership. One of those was he was one of the founding members and the church was a founding member of Love in the Name of Christ, Love Inc. as we know it casually now. Um huge impact uh impacting 5, six, 7, 800 uh households annually. Another thing he's been instrumental at with a lot of uh push back from local community members even recently uh was the building and the expansion of the Hope House. And the Hope House uh serves the need uh of particularly youth that are in transition. They don't have a safe place to go during the course of an of a night. Uh and so they converted a house that was on the a campus of the church and uh they broke around a couple weeks ago on phase two of that. Um so they'll be able to serve more people. And then the last one was somewhat controversial even in faith communities. Um but he leaned into it anyway u post George Floyd and other things he leaned into something called racial reconciliation recognizing that the future of Carver County and the future of our state um doesn't look like a whole lot of the people that sit up in front of you today. It looks like u people that are brownskinned and black skinned and otherwise. And so Joel leaned into that and he just got excoriated. But I think he did it for the right reasons. And so I elevate Joel uh in his 30 years of service. Him and Carrie if you get a chance he's going to be um the founder ammeritus. I think that's what the the title is. He'll be there officially until uh January. Uh well wishes and all those things. Um but the book they put together was just just beautiful to encapsulate the things that he's done. Oh, one last thing. He was also instrumental in uh seating in founding um a thousand additional churches across uh the the world. Um so congratulations Joel and your family. Um oh one more thing uh Leath Anderson uh presented at that as well. Leaf was the founding member of Wooddale Church and in 2011 for those that care, President Barack Obama named Anderson to the White House advisory on the faith base and you and neighborhood partnerships. So I don't say that in a partisan way because sometimes Christians get painted one way or the other. [clears throat] Next, uh I had a chance to visit two new restaurants or two new buildings within Carver County. One was the Chesca Thai restaurant. Uh definitely recommend it if you get a chance to. It's in the former um uh uh Tommy's Malt Shop downtown Chesa. And the other one was uh outside the district, but the kids loved it nevertheless. It's called the jump start. It shares the building of um the place where um the hunt place is at. What's Help me with it, Tom. The um >> Marshike. >> No, the um shooting range on five. >> Stock and barrel. >> Stock and barrel. Yes, stock and barrel. And so it's uh it's a family a couple families from Utah. They decided to invest in this sizable space. It includes uh rock climbing walls, um ropes, course, uh um trampoline parks, all you can imagine. And to get my kids to be focused and um running kind non-stop for two hours takes something and that was achieved. And so they are now open. I got a chance to talk to the owners uh and congratulated them on their opening. Next thing I wanted to call out, I'm not typically a fan of or do I read regularly the Star Tribune, but I was coming into the office yesterday and I saw this laying there. I picked it up on my way out. Um the two headlines on yesterday's head uh start to be in the one row. Property taxes take bigger bites and I also know NPR covered uh the same topic. Um it's predicted that close to a billion dollars of incremental levy will be levied upon householders across the state uh next year. Um we're part of that and there's a good amount of quotes in there that give some details. And then just below there there was another [clears throat] article said some data center projects are bowing out of Minnesota. And I particularly key into the last sentence on the first paragraph. It says they were doing so saying the state would take too long to permit backup generation. And I share that I know there's a couple business owners that are in the audience today. I recognize how hard it is to operate a business in Minnesota and I think there's some things that we as part of talking about the comp plan can do to make it easier and alleviate some of the um the pain of of taxpayers of both households and otherwise. Um let's see. Northern Lights. We all had a chance to see those in Carver County. Some said it's the most vibrant they've ever been. and others have said it'll take 15 years for us to see anything like it again. Um, but what I saw is it brought the community together. We ran out in our in our in our socks because I know those things can come and go very quickly. And uh there was probably dozens of community members and neighbors that were out looking at the same thing. And I looked at social media and nobody was complaining. Nobody was pointing at somebody's picture being horrible uh or throwing uh darts one way or another. They were just saying, "Wow, how majestic they were." And I thought what a community building moment to see the Northern Lights in a in a moment that we probably need need that. Um about this time of year, I like to recognize the coaches that are putting in time to invest in the future. Um my kids play youth sports and very grateful for the coaches that are putting in the time. Talking to one of the dads and uh he recounted all the time that he puts in. I know a lot of people on this board have done the same thing over the years. How much time on preparation on the court after the court fielding phone calls and other things. And so a heartfelt thank you to the parents and and supporters that are doing that right now. Couple more things. Um roads 82nd Street is now open. I had a chance to go through that. Um Commissioner Workman had circulated a couple videos of other roads he had visited over the weekend. Um the massive amount of projects I see Darren just walked in. A massive amount of projects that have gone on through our county historic in the last two or three years. They will continue. 212 541 and then the other other ones. and the hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of phone calls and emails and conversations that are had to educate and share and make them even better. So, thank you Darren, your team, Lyndon as well um to get that open. Um and that frees up the the the way for Highway 5. Um many of the people up on this uh board will be uh at the F FRC opening today. Uh a lot of work was put on the back side of of those things. It go opens officially at the Morivian Church, so congratulations to that. And then lastly, um, Commissioner Anderson and myself have had a chance to be part of a leadership program offered by AMC, Association of Minnesota Counties, way heavier lift than I thought it was going to be. The preparation and the time that is put into [clears throat] that. We meet, um, collectively as a full group once a week and then we meet as breakouts another time and then we have, I don't know, is it about an hour, hour and a half worth of prep work in between. And so there's a lot of good nuggets to be had there. But a couple of those nuggets were in the form of quotes that I'm going to share now and then I'll be done. This one came from Max Depri. He's the CEO of Herman Miller and a celebrated offer author. It says, "In the end, it's important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are." And then [snorts] uh this guy named Abraham Lincoln um said this, "The probability that we may fail in this struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just." And so, thank you. Those are my comments. >> Thank you, Commissioner Anderson. >> All right. Uh so, a couple things. Um, I had the opportunity a couple weeks back. I was invited by um, Chaska Mayor Taylor Hubard and to join her and Representative Lucy Ree um, talking with the community members of Brandenale. Um, that's a mobile home park and um, they have a new owner there who who hasn't um, um, treated his his residents very well there. And so, um, I appreciate it's a slippery slope there. I know my role and and the county is is not housing, but I was grateful to be able to, uh, interact with these residents as that is part of district 1 and listen to them and um, just kind of hear hear what's happening in in their world. And it was especially nice to um spend some time with Mayor Hubard and and Representative Ree in um and and learning more about um their perspectives in this area. Uh also I had an opportunity to attend the open house at Baylor Park. I I um Commissioner Fehee and I crossed paths on that. So, it was really nice to hear what the residents thought about some of those proposals and um what they wanted and what was really important to them and and so I I again like the opportunity to be able to interact with with our residents. And finally, um, Commissioner Workman, Commissioner Udman and I participated, not participated, um, were able to attend, uh, the Chesa Middle School West Veterans Day event, uh, a week ago today. And, um, as a military mom and a mom of a veteran, it's always meaningful to me um, that our veterans are honored. But what what comes to mind um so much about Veterans Day is those loved ones who are back home, who are keeping the fires lit. Um the moms who have to explain to their child multiple times a day why their dad isn't going to be there for their birthday. And um the women who had children who had birth babies without their loved ones. um those those people really deserve our respect and honor as well. So um so with that I'm going to be done. So thank you. Um oh >> thank you military mom. We appreciate it. >> Commissioner Fee, >> thank you Mr. Chair. Just wanted to wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Please spend the time with your families. Also, little update on Highway 212. Continuing uh lane shifts. They're trying to get the last of the paving done, but please slow down in that construction area. Also, as a member of the Carver County Snow Runners, the snowmobile club, I was out yesterday with a group of guys putting trails in. So, we do want us we do want it to snow. So, pray for snow, please. Also, I had the opportunity to attend the a uh NYA city council uh their meeting last week and the council approved a preliminary design of a BAF waste water treatment facility. So, that's great news. And they also approved the plot of 77 new homes, which would be part of the Meadows 2, their second edition. And then it's never too early to talk about Christmas trees. The NYA Lions fresh Christmas trees. It's the best value of a fresh of a fresh cut tree in Western Carver County. And we'll begin those sales as a line member myself on the Friday after Thanksgiving. So if you're looking for an economic Christmas tree, there's your opportunity. That's it, Mr. Chair. Thank you, sir. Commissioner Lynch, >> I I too hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving. And uh if you like your freedom, thank a veteran. Uh I'd like to congratulate the Mayor Lutheran volleyball team for their state champs for the second year in a row. They did a wonderful job. They had a slow start, but then they came right back and uh won it uh convincingly. Uh the construction season is coming to an end. And um it's kind of interesting. We got the new turbo roundabouts and I'm really surprised how people have taken to them and it's all about the education. When we first started bring putting them in how many years ago I see Darren and his staff, Lyn and his staff, they always done a great job with the education with it. You can go on the website and see how you they work and uh traffic really flows with them with the that they used to be bound up. They are not anymore. They're flowing very well. [snorts] And um and I also want to say that uh I don't know about you, but that whole praying for snow thing, that's going to be way down the list. [clears throat] You're getting old. We don't pray for snow. That's why we don't buy snowmobiles. Well, I uh just have a couple of things. The Chanhassen Storm are in the state championship football. Spring Lake Park, I didn't know they had a good team, but they do. and they're going to be disappointed about h 6:00 on Saturday night. Game at 4:00 down at uh down at US Bank and uh hopefully I can get down there. Like I said, I can tell you about my career in football and it'll take just 30 seconds. [clears throat] So, uh, County Road 11 looks like it's wrapping up, uh, the lost highway of the whole season for all of us. That has caused not a ton of people a lot of pain and agony. But the few people that needed to be on it, it did. Where's Is Darren looking at me? Where is he? and [clears throat] uh [laughter] uh not a not a good deal for anybody out there with uh with the soils and uh you're building trying to rebuild a road through what is a swamp pretty much. And so uh but I did drive the length of it. The south end is still quite a quite a fun site with the Victoria project going on there too. uh that all that transportation stuff is going to just move next year. Uh and nearby me 5 and 41 intersection is going to get going. They're already tooling around in that intersection and getting utilities and things ready. Um it's going to be an on andoff north south closure thing. I don't hold me to it, but it's going to be kind of a mess. And that is in preparation for closure of highway 5 in 2027 and the big the big daddy uh highway 5 uh from the arboratum to Victoria. On our agenda today is approval of a temporary stoplight in front of Minnotonka Middle School West up by Highway 7. And even a temporary light is uh being uh heralded as a pretty good thing. Um the roundabout that was kind of planned for that was [clears throat] delayed. I think the word is delay, not cancel. Uh I'm going to find out more. I've been in contact with the engineer Charles at Chanhasson about what is the future of the roundabout in front of that school. Uh my point today is a temporary light is going to be coming in the spring. If you recall, we had a temporary one on Highway 5 at Minawashta, the intersection that has been the bane of my political career, and we finally got a temporary light. And and uh it is now going to be a permanent light. And so now people are yelling because they don't want that light. Uh which explains politics pretty well. Um, if you really want a good deal on a Christmas tree, my Lions Club in Chanhass set up this weekend [laughter] >> at uh you could drive 82 miles uh you know out to Norwood >> um uh right just as we always are right by Cub Foods Christmas trees. They go fast since co they go fast. It's a five to six day pow. So >> and then you can then you can buy a Christmas tree from the Boy Scouts at Chaza. >> That's right. [laughter] Uh, and other than that, happy Thanksgiving. Always a great time of the year. My whole family's coming over. Can't wait. Okay, the consent agenda. And we have an amendment to item 2.2. >> Move to approve as presented with the amendment. >> Second. >> Okay. Got a motion by Fehee and a second. Second by >> Sorry to interrupt. You actually have a few different amendments to the consent. You have a little packet in front of you. We had an amendment to agenda item 22 and a correction to that and then and an amendment to item 29. There's corrections and uh clarifications. >> I'll amend my motion, Mr. Chair, to approve all the amendments >> to the consent agenda as presented. >> Okay. Commissioner Rutderman, do you accept? >> Second. I I saw the first one. I thought it was all one. So, just give me a quick second. >> Item 29, just to clarify, that was simply we had uh in the original version said there was a a resolution and and in fact there wasn't. So, it's just removal of that wording. >> I'll [snorts] second that. >> Okay. Got a motion and a second on the consent agenda as amended. Hearing no more discussion. All those in favor say I. >> Those opposed? Motion passes. Item 3.1, public hearing of ordinance 87-2026, Carver County fee schedule and adoption of ordinance 87-2026 and fee schedule. >> Don't know if I need this by me, but just in case. Um, good morning, Mr. Chair and commissioners. I'm Mary K. Wall, assistant finance director, and I'm here today to present the proposed 2026 uh fee for service schedule as well as the ordinance 87 20226 for your >> K. Will you hold for one second? I think we do need a motion to open the public hearing. >> So moved. >> Second. Thank you to Vice Chairman Lynch for that. Who who made the motion? >> Uman and the second by Pe. >> Sure. Okay. [laughter] Motion by Uterman, second by Lynch, uh to open the public hearing. Okay, any discussion on that hearing? None. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed? Motion passes. All right. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Sorry for jumping the gun. Know if I should talk first or [clears throat] >> neither do we, apparently. >> Okay. >> Um All right. Well, thank you. Uh, I did want to say included in your packet is the draft 2026 fee schedule which reflects um updates submitted by divisions to departments across the county. These updates include both statutory driven fees as well as cost recovery based fees um in accordance to with Minnesota statute 373.41 which allows us to do that. Starting on page 84 of your packet, just so you kind of have placeholders of where they are, 84 of your packet is the change form and then pa uh starting on page 95 of your packet is um the draft fee schedule. Um [clears throat] as required, as we opened up here, um we are required to have a public hearing for any fees that are not explicitly set by statute. Um notice of the hearing was put in the Wonia Patriot back on October 30th. Uh, I'd also like to note that staff from the reflective respective divisions are also present today and available to answer any questions regarding the proposed changes. Um, I do want to highlight one thing as you're kind of getting acclimated to where all this stuff is in the packet. On page 109 of the packet of your board packet, you'll see a fee highlighted. It's underneath the other types of land management permits underneath the combination permit, administrative permit, and um the WO permit. That uh fee was 350 and then went to 500, which is reflected correctly in your fee schedule. It's just not on the change form. So, what changed here was the fee went from 350 to 500 in the two spots highlighted in yellow, as well as some language changes with that. Um, and it's anticipated additional roughly like $750. So, I just want to reflect, it's not in the change form, but it will be and is being requested to be included in the fee schedule. So, just something to note there if you were looking at those fees. Um, as outlined in the request for board action, there's no major revenue generating changes this year, but to highlight a few that was in the um, packet is hazardous waste facility short-term transfer fee station fee was added this year. Um, park fee adjustments to reflect new amenities as well as operational changes are included this year. Um, and introduction of digital passport photo fees. So having your passport photos um digitally is now available. And then program delivery also had some updates that are generating about um anticipated to generate about 24K in revenue to help offset service charges in those areas in the program delivery public works area. So after that kind of brief highlight, I welcome any questions from the board or public. >> Commissioner Woodman, >> Heather, I see you're in the back of the room. Uh [clears throat] there was a move from something in foster care licensing from 600 to 2300. It was significant. I'm guessing that's not an apples to apples shift. I'm guessing there's a change. Can you can you explain explain that? >> What page What page are you on? >> Oh gosh darn. [snorts] >> I know. >> I don't know what page it was. There was many pages. I will find >> 85. >> 185. [snorts] >> Good morning board chair commissioners. Heather Goodwin, director of health and human services and your question around um corporate foster care um corporate foster home licensing fee um on page 85 just clarifying that's the one you're asking about commissioner u moved from 500 to 2100 and that is a fee that's reimbursed by the state and the state uh made that change and increase and we're just following suit with uh what's required by the state to increase that fee. Again, that's a fee that's uh reimbursed by the state to us to the county. >> Yep. Thanks for the answer. I just underscore that because it's another example where we have to do the work of the state. We collect it, then we give it back and we make nothing of it. And I want people to know that a lot of these things I think the same thing with the DMV. I'll ask the same question. I don't know if Dave Freshman's in the audience. I think I know the answer, but I'll ask it anyway. Well, we see the fees have changed or or or whatnot. We know 50 to 60% of the people that use our DMVs are not county residents. We do not have the ability to offer a search charge um for people that are non-residents. Is that right, Dave? when it comes to the DMV fees. >> Yeah. So, there's no fee and there's no search charge. You don't need to stand up. That's I'm I don't have any questions for you anymore. Um but I I just bring that into to uh focus because in the next 10 years, I predict that we'll lose $15 million out of our DMVs and that and half of that will be most all that will be borne by half half the users, which are our residents. Um there's a couple other things I wanted to call out. Park fees, thank you for being responsible. It looks like we're trying to generate revenue for user-based services. Um, I'd imagine that we'll be in conversation with Three Rivers as that conversation continues to evolve and compare notes. And then, um, uh, was curious if we compared notes. Um, uh, let me see here. Park fees, foster care, digital passports. Yeah, if we compared those with um other peers as it relates to um restricting growth and and uh uh naturally occurring housing um it doesn't need to be for today, but as we look in the future, I know a lot of people point to the affordability challenges uh coming to fees and I don't know if there's any within our county. We don't have to do it today, but as we look at it in the future, um if there's any restrictive fees that we have anything to do about at the county um that that we may we may revisit to make it easier for people to live and afford to be here. So those are some things that I called out there. Everything else looks like pretty routine and Mary Kay as always you're you're buttoned up with all the changes and I don't see anything that changed all that materially. So thank you. >> I was uh wondering on that one on the uh foster if it was us who don't like foster children or the state. It turns out it's the state [clears throat] that does not >> like foster children. The state is going to get picked on a lot. They're trying to slide a lot of stuff down to your property taxes, ladies and gentlemen. And we are not going to let it just go unspoken this year. In fact, this is going to be an easy year of them sliding to us. 27's budget is going to be horrible and beyond. And so, uh, stand by. Anybody else? I know I see our environmental person in the room. If he can maybe give us a quick explanation on a hazardous waste facility, short-term transfer station fee added because I know what all those words mean on their own, but not in one sentence. >> What page is that, Commissioner? Well, 83 is the face of it >> is the change. >> Right. >> Good morning, Mr. Chair, commissioners. Brad Hansel, environmental services manager. Um, so [clears throat] that fee is for uh there's a sharps um vendor that's going to be coming into Chaska. Uh so that fee is to permit that facility um and then in do inspections, ongoing inspections to cover our fees um for for that facility. [clears throat] So, what they're doing is they're storing hazardous waste materials there on a short-term basis, a 10day um storage facility before they ship it out. So, basically, it's to cover our time spent on the permitting and inspections of that facility. >> Uh, where is that? >> Um, it's located in Chast. I'm not for sure exactly what where the location is. It's it's um still in the process of being permitted. >> Okay. And now I can't find out where what the money was. I did highlight it, but this is a long doc document. But >> 47 >> page 84. [clears throat] >> And this is a fee that's similar. Uh other counties charge 1350. >> Okay. All right. Thanks, Brad. All right. Does anybody else have a comment? Does the public have a comment? It's taken a long time over the years to get used to all the rising fees. We do justify it by those who use the system should pay for what it costs to use the system, but just like taxes and and other things, they go up as the price of stuff goes up. It's not a fun, this isn't our funnest day uh on the county board. >> I'll make a motion to close a public hearing, Mr. Chair. >> Second. Okay. Got a motion by Fehee and a second by UT to close the public hearing. Any discussion hearing? None. All those in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed. >> Public hearing is closed. >> I'll make a motion, Mr. Chair, to approve the ordinance 87-2026 and the adoption of that same ordinance and the fee schedule. I would second. >> Okay. I got a motion by Fehee and a second by Lynch. I'm not going to repeat his motion. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. >> Those opposed. Motion passes. >> Thanks, Mr. Chair. >> Thank you, Mary Kay. Thank you for your work, Mary Kate. >> All right. 3.2 Health Incentive Program Update and Recommendations. [clears throat] Thank you, Colin. Good morning, Mr. Chair and commissioners. I'm Danielle Griezmer, the county's occupational health and safety manager in employee relations, and I'm here to talk with you today about the county's health incentive program. The county adopted the health incentive program in 2012, which is a voluntary wellness program that promotes preventive care, knowing your biometric measures such as blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and having a relationship with a primary healthcare provider. The health incentive program is an important initiative that supports and aligns with the county's overall total worker health and healthy workforce goals. Healthy workforce goals and health incentive program goals as highlighted on this slide include establishing or maintaining primary health care and dental provider relationships, completing preventive screenings, supporting personal health status, prioritizing and supporting [clears throat] workforce mental and emotional well-being, encouraging healthy lifestyle behaviors, reducing health insurance cost increases based on group experience, and reducing costs associated with absent antism or reduced performance. By providing information and resources and sponsoring wellness promoting activities that support employee health and wellness, we aim to advance the overall well-being of workers um improve health outcomes to strengthen our workforce and decrease illness related absences and costs. So, our current components of the health [clears throat] the health incentive program include receiving a preventive medical screening and any additional medical recommended screenings, at least one dental exam and cleaning annually, completing a biometric screening either on-site or with the health care provider, and completing an online health risk assessment through a contracted wellness vendor. By completing these four preventive health components, employees can receive an annual $100 health incentive. Over the last five years, the number of employees who have completed all the required components of the health incentive program has been around 100 to 125 employees, which amounts to a relatively low percentage of the employee part the employee population as a whole. However, we do see higher numbers of employees participating in at least one component of the health incentive program, such as completing a biometric screening only. Um, so we do know that people more people are interested in the program than the number that actually end up turning in their reimbursement form. For example, in 2025 so far, 166 people have participated in a biometric screening, 147 of those on-site at our on-site offerings, and 19 people with their healthcare provider. in consideration of low employee participation um overall as well as employee feedback regarding the $100 incentive being too small to make participation worth it. Employee relations has reviewed the program components and structure and I have some recommended changes to share with you today which could position the county to increase participation by a goal of at least 50% in 2026 compared to last year's participation level. Before I do this, I'll share some brief historical information that may be helpful for today's discussion. When the county began administering the health incentive program in 2012, we were utilizing a comprehensive online wellness portal which included features and tracking capabilities for very complicated wellness programs. While the wellness portal offered some nice bells and whistles, it was more complicated than what we needed and therefore more expensive um and than other similar v wellness vendor options. So because of this, employee relations explored other wellness vendors and began tra contracting with a new wellness vendor in 2020 and then updating our vendor again in 2025, saving a significant annual dollar amount in wellness pro program administrative costs while still offering employees health risk assessment and healthpromoting resources of a sim similar quality as prior to 2020. Now having lower wellness administrative costs largely due to contracting with a wellness portal vendor with a more favorable and cost-effective pricing structure. Um we have identified available wellness funds that could be could contribute to restructuring our current program. In consideration of this, we have identified a way to make a meaningful increase in the health incentive program incentive payment for 2026 participants with the goal of incentivizing increased participation in support of county workforce health priorities by doubling the current incentive from $100 to $200 per [clears throat] participant and to do this using existing budget. The recommended redesign 2026 health incentive program would focus on core components we believe provide the greatest potential for return on investment and positive impact on employee overall health, reflect core offerings, and maintain a focus on preventive strategies that are valued by employees. To successfully complete requirements of the 2026 redesigned health incentive program, employees would complete one whole health educational module in NEOGVLearn, the county's existing learning management system instead of completing a health risk assessment. The health risk assessment has associated costs and is a program component that employees have reported being cumbersome and having little value. The other components of the health incentive program would remain the same and would include completing a biometric screening either via on-site offerings or with their healthcare provider. Completing a preventive medical screening and any other recommended preventive screenings and completing at least one dental exam and cleaning in the year. To cover the projected costs of increasing the incentive to $200, employee relations worked with finance to develop a plan that would allocate the full existing health incentive program budget, reallocate newly captured existing wellness budget savings based on adjustments in programming and elimination of program technology costs, including eliminating the health risk assessment component and redesigning the program to no longer require separate technology for tracking and program administration and then cover the remaining cost with 2026 budget savings from dental plan savings and Minnesota paid leave savings due to selecting a more cost-effective private plan. These cost savings were not included [clears throat] in the September 2nd county administrator annual budget recommendation. And then if participation in the res redesigned health incentive program exceeds particip or anticipated part participation, any additional costs would be covered in 2026 by drawing on one-time funds from the remaining health partners credit budget. Ongoing funding would need to be incorporated into future budgets if higher participation levels continue. So here you can see a side-by-side comparison of current and proposed program components which are very similar. In in addition to eliminating the health risk assessment, we have also modified documentation requirements for the first three components to make them easier overall to complete. And then I would just like to note that in addition to and separate from the health incentive program, beginning in 2026, the county's medical insurance provider health partners will be offering a voluntary wellness rewards program where employees can receive up to $245 for completing certain preventive care activities. And the county's supplemental insurance provider, Sigma, offers wellness benefits to those on the county's group accident, critical illness, and hospital insurance plans for completing certain preventive care services. Employee relations will be heavily promoting these benefits in 2026 as well. um ensuring that employees know that by completing a variety of wellness and healthpromoting activities, not only could they make meaningful improvements to their health, they may be eligible for over $500 worth of take-home monetary benefits. Health can really pay off. So, I am now open for questions and discussion. >> Commissioner Uterman. >> Well, Dave, thank you for taking this on because we've been talking about it and it's a it's a big step in the right direction. just to, you know, bookmark it. Um I think we looked at it last year, but budget prevented us from doing it. So, thanks for finding the room for that in the budget. Thanks to you and your um car's team for for tackling this because I know all the it's easy to look at the high level. There's a lot of details that go into it and a lot of opinions and it still has to go through um 11 is it 10 or 11 collective bargaining units to get approved or is this something we can do ourselves? Um I believe it will be something that MOAS um would be in entered into with the with the bargaining >> and then and then Dave and Mary Kay thanks for the finance work on it. Um I just want to ground it by saying there's one reason we do this is it's what's best for the employees. But underneath that goal is we want them to be healthier and underneath that goal is can we bring the health care costs down and under that goal is can we be self-insured so we can pass on even bigger savings to the staff. And so I think sometimes those [clears throat] get lost with um go, you know, go to your physical and go get your dental checkup and all that other stuff. And so you've made it way less cumbersome. Is there a way for somebody to check the three boxes or four boxes digitally from their phone or is this still a paperwork thing? >> We will be creating an option for electronic form. Um just so people because you're absolutely right, Commissioner. Um getting rid of paper and doing more electronic is definitely something that our division is working on. Um we'll be creating a form. I don't I can't say for certain if the NEO gov form that we're creating is available via a mobile app. However, it will be available in NEOGV and people will be able to have the option to check the boxes on that form if they choose to. We'll still offer the paper form just because people are used to that and some people prefer that. Um, but we'll have both options available >> and I know that there's sometimes concern [clears throat] by employees are like, I don't want you to have my data and that's real in a lot of ways. We don't use that data other than to just verify the dollar amounts. Um, I've brought it up in the past. I'll I'll bring it up again. Uh, what percentage of people participated in the program last year that are insured? That's important. That are insured. And what percentage do you think we'll anticipate we'll use this if we move it from 100 to 200? >> Thank you for the question, Commissioner. I have not broken down our employees who are on our health insurance plan versus not. I can say that our overall participation was in the probably like 16 to 20% range. Um it's a low percentage overall of our of our entire employee population. Um our hope would be that by increasing the incentive and again less making the program less cumbersome changing the documentation requirements we are we are striving for the goal of making that participation increasing that from about 50% of last year's participation. So of the 109 employees who participated last year, our hope would be that these changes could change could improve and increase participation to 164 100 up to 170 people for this first year. Um looking at what percentage that would be of people insured versus not. Um I can't say that off the top of my head. I could look into that for you if you're interested in that number. Um but the hope would be an increased participation. um and looking at get capturing more of the number of people actually interested in the program and currently participating in in some program components. So again with biometric screenings having 166 people having done that already this year our hope would be that these higher incentive more um just less cumbersome program components that will get those people at least who are already interested in the program to kind of take that final step and make sure they are going into their healthcare provider and getting their dental screening um and taking those steps to really improve their health. So, in the past, we did the [clears throat] math. I did the math, and over half the people that are on county insurance are um are not employees. They're family members or spouses or significant others. Um and so essentially, the pool of people that can participate is half. You start off as 50% of the people can't even participate. So, a 15 to 20% number, let's just say it's 25% overall participation number, means half of our eligible pool um can get us there. That only gives us a 25% participation. said differently, if we have a hundred people, half of them can't participate and only half of them participate, we're left with a quarter or less that actually are moving the needle, if you will, if we believe in this program, they're moving the needle. And so, um, I support a program, um, or incentives that get us to everybody that's on our insurance that impacts our premiums, >> um, should be able to participate. And I don't know what that does today. Um, it certainly would potentially cost us more money. Um, but if we're going to try and the move the needle, I think we need to do to do it within the masses. I also think um that we should have a goal and a pot [clears throat] of money that if we if we do something collectively, and I've talked to peers in other counties and other municipalities and insurance folks that say this is what moves the needle. Um, I've spoken to them and and they've said um if we make it easier, which you did, if [clears throat] we make it available to all folks, which we did, if we have a team goal, all these are individual. If Matt does it, I get the money, but we don't have a collective goal. So, I'd suggest, and I'm just going to pick an arbitrary dollar amount, if there was $10,000 put aside, that if we collectively reached 80% that we distributed by by paycheck, an incentive for us to do this collectively as a team. That helps me say, "Hey, Mark, why don't you go do your stuff?" And Mark can push back on me and say, "Go do your stuff." And I can push back on my peers. So, collectively, we are now invested in ultimately bringing down the insurance rates for our for our enterprise. And so I I'm not a big fan of just moving from 100 to 200 knowing that half the pool can't even qualify. And so I'd offer that as a suggestion. Um and I also want to say this that in our jobs up here as commissioners, it's kind of like a tube of toothpaste. There's finite amount of money we can put forth whether we put it into wage or we put it into benefits or we put it into anything else. This is one of those benefits. And so my hope is is that if we have a healthier group, if we have lower uh uh contribution to health care that we can increase that in pay and I know on consent um we we approved uh the 7% last year for employees, the 7% this year. Fun little side note, you know, when I proposed a 6% 6% 6% it was laughed at, we ended up with a seven and seven and I fully support uh significantly mirroring that in the next three years ahead of us. But what we save in health care costs is a direct shift that we can push over to employee from a wage standpoint. So this isn't just a hundred or $200 to me. This is significant of last year we had a 0% increase. This year we have a 12% increase an average of about 6% on healthcare. This can actually bring those dollars down and you read the the media and all those things associated with it. So for me I would like there to be a uh incentive for the a team goal and I'd like it to be 80% or more. Um, and for me, I'd like everybody to be able to participate in it. And for me, I'd like to find a way that we can articulate it. This isn't just a $100 more. This is the potential of 10, 15, 20% savings on your healthcare cost, which is the bigger number and the bigger impact for employees. So, I welcome anything that my peers want to share or affirm with what I just said. Thanks. >> Okay. Anybody else? >> I I do have some questions. >> Commissioner Anderson, [clears throat] >> you talked a lot about the budget. >> What is the budget? What is the cost of this program? >> So, the the health incentive um the payout that we've paid um it's a $100 a year that >> but what's the total costal cost? What is this costing taxpayers? >> Um I would have to look at exactly like what we're including here. But our health incentive program budget is currently $18,000. >> That's what I want you. >> Um that's the payout amount. Um, in addition, we do have the wellness contracts that we bring in wellness vendors to do the biometric screenings. Up until what we're proposing for next year, we had the program technology costs. Um, that was about a $15,000 contract. Okay. >> So, if you include um the the cost of the wellness contract plus the health incentive program payout, um the budget is do that math. 18,000 plus about a $15,000 wellness contract. Um we have, as I mentioned before, we have these dollars that we have seen with our lower costs of the health the wellness vendor. So um that's where we're do making up the difference in this potential um more cost-effective wellness vendor. [clears throat] >> Yeah. I I think what would be helpful for me, what I what I'm struggling with is um I mean I'm I'm a big wellness person and I think wellness is is so important for um health. It's upstream. It helps mental health all about it. Um I I'm trying to understand the ROI. Um, so if do we have I mean how are we measuring impact? Do we have baseline um absenteeism right now? I help help me understand um how we're measuring the impact this is having on our employee population. I would say that it's hard at this point because we have such low participation to really make any meaningful assumptions or really look at the program and how it is really impacting employees. I can say we when we've met with our health insurance provider, we do have a pretty consistently high preventive benefit utilization um which we've heard from health partners for the last many years. Um but to actually look at how is this impacting absenteeism, how is it impacting health care costs, those are really hard um they're just hard measures to make at this point with that low participation level. Now the hope would be if we could increase participation and we can start to see higher levels of people that are actually completing [clears throat] this and participating then there may be more ability to take some of that comparison as like a before and after or looking at how it might really be impacting people's health. Well, and and I also think that there is um you know, you can do biometric. I I I've I've I've done that myself in in the health club. Um and sometimes there's a disconnect between knowledge >> and action. Um so so just by having this incentive just by doing this how do we know that people are taking that next step into using that knowledge to improve their health their health? >> Yeah and that would be something that we hope for that I mean we do a fair amount of wellness activities throughout the year. We're really trying to promote [clears throat] messages, send out communications, really bring people's focus back to why it's important and the importance of the actions in followup to knowing those numbers. Um, that might be something to consider along those along the lines of your question is how else can we we offer you the biometric and other than doing employee surveys [snorts] and we ask people are is this something of interest to you? Looking at sheer participation numbers, I can say that biometric screenings is something that more people participate in than any other wellness activity that we do. Um we do walking challenges and different types of challenges and we have um participation but not like in biometric screening u times we have a lot of participation in that. So um we have anecdotal feedback. We have people who express interest. Um, but the question of do you actually take the numbers that you learned from this and what do you do with that? That also gets into we have to just be careful about privacy and we don't want to be asking questions that get too much into people's medical followup. >> Um, this program is completely voluntary. So, people are voluntarily participating. It's not by any means a requirement and there's there's no adverse action taken if people choose not to participate. Um, but I guess I would say that we'll continue to try to bring the focus back to here's the biometric screening opportunity and then here are here's all the measures that you're we're looking at or you're looking at and and we encourage you to bring those back to your healthcare provider, talk about your health and kind of just develop that relationship. Um, and we'll continue to promote that as part of this program, too, and really get people to kind of think about the larger picture of if you're healthier. I mean, an ultimate goal is to decrease health insurance related costs. Um, >> but but absenteeism is a huge piece, too, >> right? So, so really understanding that baseline absenteeism number and and >> um for me what I'm struggling with is really understanding the return on investment of this program. >> Um I get it from a theoretical standpoint. I I 100% get it. I understand um how it can be beneficial. >> It's just um this is discretionary funds we're using. this is taxpayer dollars, >> right? >> So, I'm I'm just struggling to really understand um what what the return on investment is. And and not that I don't support it um in theory, I I just personally need more information on where the dollars are spent and what does that return. So Danielle, if if the payout number is 18,000 and we're doubling, does that mean it goes to 36,000? >> Well, so so there's a couple different numbers here. So the health incentive program current budget is $18,000. We have our professional services [clears throat] wellness, like our contract, wellness contracts. Um there's additional dollars there that are being considered that we're not using on wellness program technology costs. Um, so there's potentially about $9,000 there that we would maybe tap into depending on participation levels. Again, this is um depending on how many people participate. If we have increased participation, we would have the full health incentive program budget, which we've been spending less than, even though it's 18, we've been spending around 12,000 um just because we don't have those higher participation levels. We have the additional funds in some of our other wellness accounts that we've but by using a a more cost-effective vendor, we have additional wellness dollars there. And then we also have that savings with our dental and Minnesota paid leave plans that are in in potentially being tapped into. Um, and then if participation really kind of goes above and beyond and and we have a lot of participation, then we do have that one-time health partners credit fund that we could tap into, too. So, there's a couple different accounts and line items of funds that we would be using um to potentially cover the difference. >> Commissioner Workman, I I >> Mr. Anderson, >> thank you. I I for me I I need to better understand the dollars and the budgeting around this. >> Mr. Chair, [snorts] >> Commissioner Urman, >> this is one of those that the more you do, the more it costs you, right? [laughter] And so we have so many examples like that. If we do it really well, then people come and it's a it's it's a loss. Environmental services is a good example. Is it the right thing to do? Yeah. >> But the more people that recycle and do it, the more it costs us, right? So if you look at the math, just easy math that I have, 750 employees. If we get to 20% utilization, which is the high end of your range, at 200 bucks a piece, that's 30 grand. If we get to 100% utilization, it's 150 grand. Well, let's not do it because it's going to cost us $120,000 more. That's not the mentality, right? Like we want it to be cost us 150. We want everybody to participate. I'm a big ROI person and when I came in, you know, as a new commissioner, I asked the same thing. You were here, you received the question, a lot of education for Matt Udman in the process. And it's a really hard one to get an ROI to, but there's some places that you can point to. Uh higher participation equals higher results. >> Uh you can point to some ROI type based things that I think Gallup did something that said uh just by the nature of doing something and promoting it and doing it regularly and having a incentive that people take serious and $50 isn't it. Maybe 200 is, maybe it's 500, maybe it's a thousand. I don't know what the dollar amount is. You you you a professional. You've done the research. You've talked to your peers. This is what you landed on. But just by giving it to employees, they've said over and over and over, not just our organization, but organizations, "We see you. We hear you. Thank you for doing that, having that program." And so moving it from 100 to 200, there's an ROI right there. You know, the look and feel and all that other stuff. And so simple math, 30 grand. I mean, we just passed millions of dollars of things on consent without even talking about them. This is super important, but we're talking about 30 grand, right? We should really be talking about why don't we have $150,000 to plan for 100% utilization. That's what the conversation should be. And so again, I come back to, you know, not just go back and do more work, but here's some solutions that I bring and have brought for the last few years. Let's build a pile of money so that if we get 80% across our organization, I' I'd propose that to our board. Let's get behind this. If 80% or more um get behind this program, we've got a we've got a bogey out there. And what's 10 grand over uh 750 employees? >> Is it 100? Is that Do the math. >> Not much, right? Yeah. Right. It's not much, but it's, you know, and maybe that that that that builds, right? Um I'd propose that we open it up for um employees and their uh the dependents that are that are covered so that we can get the max amount of impact. I I share um Commissioner Anderson's question of how do we get to an ROI? And I think we'd find some of that from our peers. But I I do think that the logic of doing nothing isn't an answer. Doing something is an answer. Doing something better, what you're proposing is the answer. making it simpler for employees is the answer. And maybe when we talk to negotiations, maybe the best answer in the ROI is to talk about the collect to the collective bargaining, which we'll be we're six months away from having those conversations and say what works for you because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what we think. It matters what our 750 employees think. And so again, I would propose that to the board that we have a kicker if we get to 80% plus. I would propose that we fully fund it at 150,000 um for 100% participation and then have extra if we need to to carry over the future years because there's no reason to do a program if we're not going to budget for it, right? And so those are my thoughts. Those are those are addressing the ROI concerns. Those are budget budgetary things. And in the broad spectrum of things, again, we we just approved through consent with no discussion, you know, millions and millions and millions of dollars of stuff. We're talking about a fraction of a fraction of a percent for the well-being of our organization. And I think this is the right time to do so. It will get better. It has in two years. You've gone from 100 to 200. You've gone from deeply paperbased to not. You better better at communications. We're digitizing. You're bringing your insurance friends along to pay for some of it. Those are huge wins. And so, let's not slow it down. Let's accelerate it. And let's encourage more people to participate. >> Commissioner, I'm not sure we needed a sales pitch on it. I think we're sold uh on this. Um, however, uh, I think a little bit more to Commissioner Anderson's [clears throat] concern, some numbers about exactly what it is. And Commissioner Man, you're talking about a whole bunch of stuff that we're not approving today. So maybe we are next year or another time, but maybe we need to to delay this until we don't have much time left in the year. uh but to take a harder look at what exact I think I think the 200 is if we want to go in this direction further [snorts] incentives are going to be needed and I think that's where we're heading but I don't know that we see it on black and white um and so um maybe Mr. Hemsy can jump in and >> and and Commissioner Workman, I I think for me it's it's not that I don't support it. It's just that I do not have enough data to make a decision today. >> That's all I'm saying >> because I don't see the overall budget impact and um of and essentially that is our job >> is to understand the budget impact that it has on this organization because these are discretionary dollars. >> [snorts] >> And I, you know, I know that we there's there's employees we cannot incent enough uh to do this. I was uh watching a little football over the weekend as I do. Uh and I forget the team. I forget the name of the player. Maybe you saw this. Uh the NFL has random mandatory drug testing. And this superstar player had to take the test. He took the test, found out he had testicular cancer >> because of a random test, saved his life. Now, that kind of story has no impact on a lot of people. I I'd like to go to the doctor and find out what's going on. Um, but I'm wondering if we should set this aside, Mr. Hamzy, to to figure out where it fits in the budget. >> Yeah, Mr. chair. Uh certainly I think we could go to December 2nd. I would hate to see the whole thing collapse and we'd have nothing next year. It sounds we certainly don't want to do that. But my general direction to Carrie and her team was [snorts] to uh make it work within your existing budget and try try and increase the incentives to get get increased participation. Generally that was the high level direction. At one point, uh, Carrie had submitted and we worked together on a a much bigger number, a few hundred thousand dollars, if I recall, and it just to me wasn't budget feasible. >> But I do think uh, you know, we're talking a lot about ROI. I think it's really difficult to measure. But what we hear from our from our professionals, Gallagher and others, is that you have to have a big enough amount to incentivize folks into the program. And it just seemed like that 100 just wasn't getting the participation we wanted. And on top of that, one of my own pet peeves, and Carrie knows this, it was too damn complicated. And by the time I figured out the software and then, oh, then wait a minute, you have to go back and do your your biometrics and then have to go back into the software three months later. It's just way too complicated for 100 bucks. But that those were the general uh general conversations. So I think it's definitely on track. uh you know if you want to do bigger uh bigger incentives we have to come up with the money and that that's where it it didn't work for me you know doing other cuts etc. uh that doesn't say it wouldn't turn out turn out to be a good investment, right? But so difficult to measure that again, right? >> So I would suggest bring it let's bring it back on December 2nd. Uh it wasn't my oversight to we should have had the uh the bottom line numbers in the uh the RBA or in the presentation so we can package those up. But but again it's not this wasn't a net increase. this was let's make it work within within what you have including some good adjustments that were made through uh through health partners their credit budget etc. So I think we're definitely on the right track here. Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water here. >> Yeah, I don't think we are. I again if it doesn't sound like we're from this year to next year we're really going outside the budget but I'm not sure what that number really is. >> Is it 50,000 or 40,000? Um, so if we can just delay it, I think we got I don't know that any baby is going to be in any bath water. >> Maybe that's a bad nail. >> Yeah, I Yeah, >> we're talking about healthy >> clean thing. >> Um, but if we can do that, Danielle, thank you for your uh what's the motion? I do I need a motion to table or lay over or >> uh and and I can do that. I I I move to table this for a future conversation so we can have a better look at the budget and the return on investment. >> Sounds great. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. chair and commissioners. >> Do we need a second for that? >> I got a motion and a second from Fehee [clears throat] uh to table this item until Did you say December 2nd? >> Uh Edward. >> Okay. Any other discussion? >> Yes, Mr. Chair, if I could, I would I'll [clears throat] support this to table it, but I would have approved it today. I think you gave a perfect example about why we should have to get better participation. if the $200 does it, uh, if you caught that testicular cancer early and then you treat it, it saves a lot of money down the road. So, I was ready to support this. So, anyway, um, I will support this at the table just we're bringing it back in December. Commissioner Fe >> and Mr. Chair, thanks for the opportunity for the discussion. I would have supported it also at the $200 incentive to to double that incentive to see if we can increase the participation if we can get it from 110 to 250 to 300. Um I think that might be the carrot. Um but just some overall questions is do health incentive programs make people healthier? >> That's a good question. In our heart, we want to say that it does, but in the corporate world, I've been involved in a lot of these types of programs. And unfortunately, you don't see the end result. It's a personal choice of that individual if they want to become healthier. And we can't force it upon them to participate in the group walk. Everyone has to go walk two miles during lunch. >> We can't do those types of programs, although they make you feel good. and how many employees have to participate to make the whole Carver County employee pool healthier. That's something that we're probably never going to be able to measure. >> And then I personally did try it yesterday to try to get the $100 incentive >> by December 1st and it did not work out. and the time and effort that I spent because not only do you have to go to your personal >> provider to get the records and that is very cumbersome. I had [clears throat] to go through one of the local clinics to sign up for the app to get in the pool to go there personally and fill out a piece of paper and sign it in front of someone to get access to the portal and blah blah blah. So, I gave up. And if I may, Commissioner, thank you for sharing that feedback. Um, our requirement for the healthcare provider visit is very simple. You check the box and you put the date. Um, we used to require a signature of your healthcare provider and your dental provider. We no longer require that. That was our first step to try to make the program a little more simple. Um, we really at the end of the day, I mean, this the spirit and the intent of the program is if you're in int if you're trying to participate, if you have that relationship with your healthcare provider, you can put the you can check the box and you can put the date in that you've been in. Um, we don't require additional documentation. So, for what that's worth, if you would like to take a look at it again, um, we would be happy to support you in participating. >> Yeah, maybe I'll have to have a one-on-one call with [laughter] >> Sure. I almost called Kristen. So, >> she's happy to help. She can I [clears throat] mean, she has helped others with their their password to the the portal. It is very cumbersome. Um, and we've recognized that and that really is kind of the reason for why we are looking to do away with the health assessment even though that could be valuable for some. Um, just the the cumbersome nature of it is just too much to to to face when people are in the midst of the holiday season. It's the deadline on December 1st. Um, and it is a lot to to deal with a different password and a different login. And so hopefully with the changes we're making, we'll we'll really streamline that and make it easier. So, >> okay, >> that'll be a part of the promotion, too, just getting the word out of exactly what the requirements are and are not. So, >> okay, Commissioner Orderman. >> Uh, well, we might jump the gun um because it sounds like there's the support of three to push just ahead today. Um, and so I I'm not going to support the motion that's on the table currently to delay this. I think that it doesn't provide any value and it delays you another three weeks from doing the work you need to do. Um and so I'm not going to support the um the motion that's on the table and it does appear as though we have support for a different motion to pass it today. So um if the if the motion goes I will not be supporting it. Um and if it doesn't go I will be happy to support u moving it ahead today. >> Okay. Any further discussion? We do have a motion on the table to table this item until another couple of weeks. Seeing no further discussion, all those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Those opposed. >> I. >> Okay. Four to one. >> Uh Dave, if you wouldn't mind going back to see if there was a second on that one, I appreciate it. Thank you. I think Commissioner Fehee >> I thank you. >> It was more of a >> Thank you a verb or a visual second. It was >> right. >> Mr. Chair, I make the motion to recess as the county board and convene as the county ditch authority. >> Second. >> All right. Commissioner Lynch has moved and Commissioner Fehee has seconded to recess as the county board and convene as the county ditch authority. Hearing no other discussion. Those in favor say I. I. Those opposed. >> Motion passes. We are the ditch authority. Morning Mr. Chair and um ditch authority members. Uh Dave Freshman uh property and finance director and also county ditch administrator. Uh just a reminder that all uh activities and projects and costs associated with the drainage systems are all paid for by the benefiting um property owners within each of the ditch systems. So each year at this time uh I come forward and make a recommendation on excuse [clears throat] me um assessments for the next year uh for each of the drainage systems. And you can see this year um we had a number of recommended a number of assessments that are related to our joint ditches where our uh neighboring counties did projects um in 2024 and they sent us a bill for our portion in 2025 which we paid and now we're asking the um the benefiting property owners to pay um the county back [clears throat] um with these ditch assessments. So, you can see I'm recommending um the these would be one-year drainage uh drainage authority assessments at 0%. Um and uh you can see the list there. Uh I would would point out that the JD joint ditch 3A uh the 17,000 is actually is a two-year assessment. It was a $35,000 um project um from the in the past and then we did it we uh collected that assessment over two years. So, uh, we did the 2025 assessment last year and this would be the second year of a two-year assessment, uh, for 2026. Uh, so with that, um, ask for any, uh, questions or, um, seek a motion to approve the recommended, uh, drainage authority assessments for 2026. Dave, I see on your list, uh, JD33, and I don't have that ditch on our commissioner committee appointments master list. Well, um, who are the mystery members? >> Oh, >> that might be a question for another day, but it is on our on our action item today. >> Does anybody want to see the list? >> Yeah, I'd have to go back. >> You did. Yeah, that's going to be a question from the day. >> We have up to 28. So I just want to clarify the uh the action today is actually uh for the five uh board members. You you guys are assessing uh the the assessment for the county property tax the taxpayers within uh Carver County. So this ditch authority as a whole can can assess um the the requested um amounts for the for the portion of the property owners that are within each of the joint uh joint ditches. We're not required to have a separate joint ditch authority meeting for each one and do that. They we can collectively do that. We can't do that for when we do a redetermination of benefits and the public hearings. That's where we actually met as joint ditches and we had the uh participating members from the other counties and we had separate uh meetings. But at this meeting, we're able to just have the board um [clears throat] approve all the assessments. >> This Dave is a vote like our WMO vote. >> Yep. More like that. Yeah. you're covering all the joint ditches, county ditches. We don't have we didn't happen to have any county uh ditch uh recommendations, but you guys would cover those here as well. Um because this is just for the property taxpayers of uh within Carver County. But do we have a glitch with our appointment and assignment list when we're charging out 175,000 to a ditch that we maybe are unaware of? Well, I I would say you guys are aware of it. I would say that this board can assess um the uh the joint ditch 33 because it's collectively um it's the it's the county's taxpayers. This is your portion of joint ditch 33 which this body has the ability to to approve that assessment. It's not any one or any of these guys individually for the your collectively as a whole. the ditch authority is acting on behalf of all of the ditches uh both county ditches and joint ditches uh and making these assessments. Um so the the the fact that we don't have one of them listed and appointed is really not not um not gerine to the um to to the issue. If we were asking for a project, if we were coming forward with the project and saying we want this project approved, that's when who it represents um that joint ditch 33 from Carver County versus the other counties, then we'd have to have that group together and have the right people here at the right time. But because this is uh you guys are acting on behalf of all of the uh ditches in the count and the joint ditches and the benefiting property owners, um this board can make that approval. >> And I think, Mr. chair could be by default that Commissioner Fehee would probably be on. [laughter] >> It looks like it >> 33. So I'm willing to be on that committee. >> I thought Commissioner Workman was lobbying for it. >> Salesmanship, [laughter] >> Mr. Chair, I think we could follow up on that and either add that in January before then if needed. It it's probably never met as a joint ditch. Well, if I if I go back to to Dave's >> Fishman's logic, then we can approve that joint 33. It tells me that a ditch board of some sort approved the work and the cost. >> That's correct. >> Now, it's here. >> Yeah. And it's must be a a ditch that's in Carver County but not approved by >> Colin's doing some work back there. >> Anybody in Carver County? >> This thing's creeping in from Mloud County. >> Mike is an extension. >> Yeah. Actually, here's our [laughter] big screen >> on the ground map expert what all these where all these ditches are located. >> Yeah. So, Mr. Chair, members of the ditch board, joint ditch 33 physical ditch is down in Sibi County. We have a portion of the watershed in Hancock Township that drains down into Sibi County. We don't have any of the physically ditch located in Carver County. I believe a couple years ago is when Sibi County did redetermination of benefits found that this Carver County land drains down into the ditch system. So then it formed a joint ditch number 33. If I remember right, I do believe Mr. Fehee was involved in that discussion. It probably just was an oversight that JD33 didn't get listed on the committees. Um, but the physical ditch is located in Cib County. >> Okay. But it does it it >> we do get a we do get Commissioner Fehee on that board, >> I believe. So, yes. >> We just want to make sure that that taxpayer who's uh getting their ditch cleaned up knows who [laughter] to call. I've already got a few calls. >> All right. So, it's a it's a glitch. All right. [clears throat] Um, any other discussion on these totals? >> And do we have a motion? >> So, moved. Second. >> Okay. Got a motion by Anderson, a second by Udman, I believe. >> Yes. >> Uh to approve the following recommended 2026 one-year drainage authority assessments at 0%. And I heard earlier that one of these is a two-year assessment. >> It It's the second of a two-year. We did the first year in 2025. That's great. >> Okay, we got a motion, a second. Any other discussion? Hearing none. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed. >> Motion passes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll make a motion to adjurnn as the county ditch authority and reconvene as the county board. >> Second. Okay, Commissioner Lynch has made a motion and Commissioner Udman a second to adjourn adjourn as the county ditch authority and reconvene as the county board. Any discussion hearing? None. >> Yeah, just one last comment, Mr. Chair. I just think the excitement that ditches bring to this board is >> definitely worth talking about. >> I agree. >> They are very exciting. if you want to come to a ditch meeting. >> I think [laughter] I think a ditch board is even a lower closer uh piece of government than a township uh to the to the voter. And I think Commissioner Fee is well aware of uh that >> the excitement that they just got. >> All right, we have a motion to be the county board. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed? Motion passes. We are now the county board county administrator report. >> Yes, sir. Mr. Chair, 11:30. Southwest Metro Mayor lunchon. I plan on attending as a few of you do. Looks like we're doing okay on the time. >> Yes. >> Despite a little zigzagging to get here, but we'll have to watch your clock, Mr. Chair, if you could. Uh, and then 1:30 the family resource center as was already mentioned. And the other thing I wanted to double check, November 25th, 6 p.m. used to call it the truth and taxation meeting, but we changed that to the levy and budget hearing. Uh, I need to make sure we have a quorum. >> I will not. >> Mr. Anderson's not going to be there. >> I'll be attending. >> Everybody else going to be here. Okay. >> I'll be here. >> Okay. >> Is that the night before Thanksgiving or something? >> Uh, it's Tuesday. Couple nights. >> Yeah, that's seems like a >> Tuesday night. >> That that one we do not video cast or cable cast. >> Okay. >> So, you could change that rule, but historically we have it. Is the timing of that meeting is that statuto like why why is that two days before Thanksgiving? >> Uh yeah, there's some timing elements. Uh Dave Fersman would have the details, but we have to fit it in the calendar. We're talking about the budget hearing statutory requirements for a certain timing. >> Yeah. >> Then there's also I know the AMC conference gets in the mix. >> We squeezed it in there. >> True. Okay. >> Yeah, we used to have it on >> Well, enjoy enjoy that. Um, you know, I'm spending Thanksgiving in Texas, so >> you could zoom in. >> Um, I there's no >> I don't think we we don't >> I don't think we can. I'm zooming in for the meeting earlier that day. I'm zooming in. >> Well, if you're going to miss uh the possibility of a spontaneous ditch uh discussion breaking out, then uh that's >> I I I know I am I have serious FOMO about it, [laughter] guys. Um not going to lie. >> And previously we're talking about MA, right? Make America. Okay. >> We're I think we're getting sidetracked. Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a move. >> I think uh did the county administrator finish. >> We're good. >> Okay. >> To adjourn our regular session. >> Second. >> Okay. I got a motion by Lynch and a second by Uterman to adjourn our regular county board session. All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed. Motion passes. We are now going to go into a work session and that will also be videotaped. We are going to try to take a little break here uh on the 2050 comprehensive plan process and the Anderson I'm sorry Andrew Peterson Farm. >> What? >> So we'll see you in a bit. we're doing, what the process is, and again get some initial feedback. Um, so today I'll I'll provide some of the background on why we're doing this, the planning process, and and really looking for initial input on the ongoing themes of the these comprehensive plans that are um part of the county history, the new requirements from the Metropolitan Council, what we're look thinking about for stakeholder groups, and some initial look at our community outreach and engagement methods. So why are we doing this right now? Well, the main purpose and the driver of this are the uh requirements coming out of Minnesota statute which require the Met Council to guide planning in the metro area. And that started the Met Council started uh 23 24 um with this process and they put together this imagine 2050 document which replaced the Thrive 2040 document. And these are the the planning guides for the metropolitan 7count area. With that, the local planning handbook and what are called system statements were sent out to local communities in September. And that marks the sort of official kickoff from the metropolitan council and on on all the plans that the cities and townships and counties have to do in the metro area. Everyone's required to do this. Uh it's approximately a three-year process with the deadline we have to submit and get a fully approved plan by the Metropolan Metropolitan Council by the end of 2028. Other than the requirements, there's the there's a lot of reasons why we do this kind of planning um for the county. And I'll just kind of hit some highlights of this. It's cost effective. as you look at all the cities um within Carver County and um the county itself, planning ahead does uh save some money in the end. Um planning for the infrastructure, particularly roads, sewers, and making sure that we're coordinating with the cities and townships um in in some sort of collective fashion does end up being a cost effective way to spend money. Uh it meets local needs. We're a fastly growing county. We have a lot of needs that we, you know, we currently identify. We can forecast those needs looking forward. That collaboration, like I mentioned, can meet some of the larger goals that um a lot of the cities and townships can agree on. And again, that those growth pressures we're seeing that have been here for a while and aren't going away, uh we can look at efficient ways to um manage that growth. Little overview of the process here. We've been doing this as a county for quite a while. Uh the first comprehensive plan was adopted in 1970. So we're we're going on 50 plus years here of planning. The um 1974 was a a big marker for the county when the the board at that time adopted a one per 40 policy for agricultural areas which has been in place since that time. >> What year was that Paul? >> 74. >> 74. Yep. >> Thank you. It's been kind of the backbone of the process the counties looked at in terms of planning for the townships and pushing that growth to cities where those cities can plan and accommodate the the growth that's we've been seeing in the county. Uh there's been subsequent plans adopted um 2020 um there was a comprehensive plan that was the 2020 comprehensive plan was adopted in 2000. The 2030 plan was adopted in 2010. Our current plan, which is the 2040 comprehensive plan, was adopted in 2020. So, we're on this path again to get our 2050 plan updated. And uh you know, I think it just it's worth pointing this out that uh this is something we've we've been doing and we are intending to sort of build on these previous plans as we move forward. I won't tell you how long I've been involved in this. [laughter] Uh so the county role here uh really the county is responsible for land use planning in the townships. The townships gave the county that authority uh back in the 70s and 80s. So one of the big pieces of the comprehensive plan is how's that land use guided in the townships. There are the other portions of the plan are countywide. Um those include transportation which uh looks at sort of the regional parts of the county system um county and state roads. It also includes transit which there's a current transit study which is in the works right now and that'll be folded into this process. Regional parks and trails. So you hear a lot about the park system and those are the the regional components that tie into the metro area and not the local city parks. uh water resource element which is lakes, streams, wetlands that uh is handled by uh the WO and other watershed districts but there is a requirement in the comprehensive plan to talk about surface water and groundwater. Uh and then there's a lot of things that that the cities also have to do. They have their own comprehensive plans. Each city has to have their own. Uh but one of the things that is is required to be included in our comprehensive plan is housing. there's a housing element. Um, we do refer a lot of those requirements and the process for getting those requirements done to city growth and what the cities are planning, but that is a requirement in our plan as well. Kind of a reminder here of what that um is in our current plan for 2040 land use policy areas. Again, those gray areas are the cities. they have to do their own planning. All the townships are um are based on the land use policy of one per 40, but there are additional residential density options that the townships can pick and each one has a little different mix of some of those uh higher density options. And then there's a transition area which is planning for the growth that's coming. So in this graphic here, the yellow areas are what the cities wanted identified as transition areas around their communities into the townships to accommodate and plan for the future growth and all the infrastructure needs to come with that sewer, water, roads, etc. Kind of reminder where we're at in the population forecasts. um the redone forecast as part of the 2050 imagine uh document the metropolitan council did lower our forecast moving forward. So you can see um the original 2040 forecast was about 161,000. The Met Coun council has lowered that to 138 with the most recent forecast. We are at 114,000 plus right now. That's a 2024 number. Um, we did submit comments about this uh, I think over a year ago trying to encourage the council to look at look a little closer at trends here. Um, some of the they did not change a lot. Uh, city of Carver did submit some comments and it this does seem like the Met Council is going to change some of their forecast based on what the city of Carver sent in some of their data. So, we know these are going to fluctuate, but we need to as of now build the plan off of these forecasts unless we have uh data moving forward. We want to challenge that. >> Mr. Chair, um it seems like a dramatic pullback and I know that the predictions are never going to be spot on, but that's that's a decade delayed from what the projection was supposed to be. Did they give any reasons why? >> There the reason we got was you know they they have a lot of modeling. software and a lot of data that they put into that. And the the kind of answer we got was that you know there's a lot of growth in the region. You think of it like a balloon and and that growth is going to happen on all the edges and as that balloon gets bigger uh the growth is going to get scattered a lot more around the region. And part of that's part of the answer. The other part of the answer is I think inherently the Met Council is trying to um encourage more growth in the in the maybe not the inner core but the the surrounding core. So keeping some of those numbers forecasted high or even raising those um has an impact on on how they model this as well. We have seen these change over the years. the initial 2030 plan, the numbers were, you know, we were going to be at 160,000 by now. That didn't happen. Um, when I looked at the 2020 figures, um, surprisingly, they were spot on that were made back in 1999. So, uh, those fluctuations do happen over time. And we know that, you know, are we going to be at, you know, 157,000 by 2050? I don't know. It'd be interesting when the that council joins us for these conversations because my understanding is there's two key drivers. One was the cost to live here which um we haven't addressed in a while and then the second one is the capacity including water and sewer. So as these conversations happen in their normal lanes, those will be things I'll be interested in too. But it's a dramat I mean look at it. It's a dramatic pullback from I think that 161 trend put us at 200 plus thousand population by 2050. So they're off 25%. Yeah, >> that's not small. And we've already put the in initial investment in I'll call it the road to gold. We'll probably see it in on all these 212 $300 million worth of taxpayer dollars to to to not realize it for now 20 30 40 years um potentially. So thank you. >> Well [clears throat] with exception to uh Mr. Molen and our staff um look at Mr. Molen and the Met Council, not the Met Council as an investment advisor, a life insurance advisor, and they put a form about what's going to happen in the future in front of you. It's 100% wrong. >> 100% not accurate. I'll tell the story again. Many Lynch has heard this. He can write a book. Um, in 1988 when I ran for city council in Chanhasson, the M council had said that Chanhassen would be at 10,000 people by the year 2000. 12 years down the road. In 1988, we were at 10,000. Way off. So, um, that's how they that's how they trained a young politician to look at the numbers and none of this is really So, they're trying they're they're they're trying to socially do the mech council is socially trying to do what they want to do. That doesn't necessarily fit in with what we want to do. And but um so take I would take these charts with a grain of salt I guess. >> Yep. >> Agreed. [laughter] >> I agree. some of the themes that uh you know sort of guide this plan that we will be addressing and need to address. Um residential density is a big one and again we've had a pretty consistent policy for 50 plus years on how the township land use is guided. That has changed um as we update our plans and update our zoning ordinance. We've allowed for uh more residential density options that certain townships can choose, certain land owners can take advantage of if they wish to. And that goes to uh some of the things you might have heard about, wooded lots, high amenity lots, conservation incentive. That'll get um some additional growth in the townships if they choose that up to four per 40. And we go in waves on those. Sometimes we get a lot of applications for those. Some years go by and we see very little and that really is is based on what the townships and land owners want. So that'll be a decision point in this process. Along with that is a preservation of agricultural land which those two go hand in hand. Um trying to keep the agricultural land productive, viable, keep large out there and again encouraging and directing the growth pressures that are coming to the cities where they can handle the infrastructure and they can plan for that growth um as it as the pressures and economic development pushes pushes them. >> Where's 4 for40 happening Paul? where >> um so lot some of the townships >> I saw the map I didn't >> Yep. So all those townships that have these other options, >> option three, four, so Lake Town, Dogrren, San Francisco, Wakonia, Watertown, >> um those are the big ones. Camden has a little bit, but so it does it is scattered around. There's a few townships that are strict one per 40. Benton, Hancock, Hollywood, and and that's this will be something that townships will choose as they go through this process and they can change those at any time, but this comprehensive plan point is a is good point to just sort of bring up those discussions. Um, some other things on here, housing and infrastructure to support growth. Again, it's a required element, but it is something we talk to the cities about and make sure we're following those requirements. Transit and transportation planning is a is a large component of this that um we need to focus on. Regional parks and trails and the preservation management of water resources. Again, these are are some of the themes that we need to address. Couple considerations here I want to point out. Um, so we are starting off with the 2040 plan as our base. We know that there's going to be other issues that come up, other topics, but we are starting at that point. You know, what does our 2040 plan say? What do we want to change? What do we want to build on in that document? So, we're not starting from scratch here. The other thing I wanted to point out was sort of the new requirements from the Metropolitan Council. There is a new regional climate adaptation requirement which comes from Minnesota statute and the Met Council is providing us guidance for how to address this. And um the best way I can say this is that they are providing a model that gives an inventory of what all the sources of greenhouse gas emissions are in the county. We need to uh recognize that it's an element We need to document what this model is saying. We also need to adopt strategies which address this which has been a point of confusion and contention I think not just us from a lot of cities and other [clears throat and cough] counties around the metro area. What does this mean? What do we have to put in this document? And we are still working through that with the council. Um we do need to provide these strategies. They are still working on their model. They're going to have an update in January. So, we want to wait and see what that says. I think with that and kind of digging into this and looking at it, we're already doing a lot of what would uh sort of be recognized as a strategy. Um hazard mitigation plan addresses flooding, addresses impacts of of climate change. So, that hazard mitigation plan is being developed self for public review right now. um has a lot of these things that we're already doing. We we are planning for flooding. We are protecting our infrastructure. So those are strategies we we can recognize in this plan that we're already doing. Um when they talk about efficient land use, you know, from our perspective, we've been doing that for quite a while. We are directing the growth to the cities and I we want to take uh we want to take credit and get credit in our plan for having done that for a long time. So, I think I'm not as nervous about this as I was maybe a year ago with some of the the nebulous guidance here. Um, I think we'll be able to look at the things we're already doing, planning for um increased partic pre precipitation, heat, things like that that um probably don't have to change a whole lot in this plan, but stay tuned on this one. uh just some general overview how this plan will be put together. We do have broad goals and I'll give the example the one per 40. The broad goal would be preserving agricultural land and uh um moving growth to the cities. The policy would be um the one per 40 policy. You know that that is the way the policy is written in the plan. And then the strategy for that example would be the uh putting it into action with our zoning ordinance. That's just one example of how the plan will be put together all these goals and policies and strategies. So we are building the plan this way. We do have to have metrics that that look at outcomes of how we're going to meet this and those will be in the plan as well. Uh several chapters in here. I've talked about a lot of these, but this is how the plan will be organized. Um I did put together some sort of guiding principles for our process. Um one of the big ones is collaboration with stakeholders. We want a strong input gathering process. We [clears throat] want to build off our current plan as I mentioned. Want a concise vision here. So I think when we look at some of these goals, we want them to be fairly fairly key and and concise about what the board wants. Um we also want to make our document a little more concise. If you look at the current documents, >> fairly large, hard to get through. What can we do to make this a a smaller document? wanted to be focused on the requirements because that's what we have to do. Um, and then use sound planning processes as we go through the next couple years here. Stakeholders, we're looking at residents and land owners, big one. That's what this plan ultimately is for. township boards, city partners, which would include uh those decision makers at the cities, elected leaders, planning commission members, staff, business and community leaders, uh the county board and advisory committees, uh largely the the WO advisory committee and the planning commission, um county divisions and departments. So the big ones here are are planning and water land management [clears throat] Jason's area public works which has a key component in here with the transportation and parks planning and um CDA as well. We'll be partnering with them on the housing piece and then uh regional state partners as well. Communication methods there going to be more to come on this but just kind of give you a taste of it. um social media for sure. We we were planning on doing a survey, some mapbased feedback tool, which we did uh last planning process, public meetings, open houses, pop-up booths, and this is one area we might be looking at some uh professional service help with the um community outreach and engagement, collecting that quick timeline. So again looking at 2028 working backwards a lot of our input will be gathered next year 2026 we are looking at starting you know putting together the draft document towards the end of the year with a goal of having that done by the end of 27. A lot of the city township meetings will happen next year, public input and um we save sort of 2028 for review of the draft um required community review and looking at a a final due uh by the end of 2028 or earlier. So the next steps here uh keep continue collecting analyzing background data. Uh I think on your consent agenda today was uh some of those steps with the transportation planning that's already happening. We're going to report back to the board uh early next year in quarter 1. We'll we'll provide a little more detail on a township city meeting schedule and really this will be sort of the kickoff as we get into 2026 or the official kickoff. uh looking at, you know, potentially some professional service um expenditures we'll have, getting the website pulled together, drafting some survey questions and and so some of what we would be putting together, collecting input is going to be based on what what [clears throat] the board wants to know. So the question for the board today is just any input on the timeline stakeholder outreach approach that have just kind of given a broad summary here and the scope of the plan. And if there's input you have now we can take that. If you uh have some things that pop up in the next few months certainly reach out to me. Uh Kristen Larson is here as well. She's a planner in our area and she's going to be doing a lot of the line share of the work in terms of putting the plan together and a lot of this outreach components and then we'll be back in front of the board uh probably I would say around February and I can take questions too. Can I just take any questions? >> So, we just started connecting with public works. Drew here um and certainly Darren and Lyndon will be talking with about how we do that transportation planning process as well. >> What in God's green earth is going to be left to do in transportation out there? Uh is a [laughter] good question. Uh >> they'll find a way, >> bud. maybe five, four lanes to Waconia with a nice bike trail [clears throat] is out there somewhere. Maybe all the way to 82 miles away down in Norwood. Uh and I say that before >> Norwood's getting closer every day. Um >> it is, >> but um boy, it seems like after the arborum area on I maybe we should get rid of our public works department. Good. You're doing a good job. You >> guys are >> You're doing a good job. >> Tongue and cheek, I'm assuming. Mr. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Yes. Commissioner, were you gonna >> Sure. I can start. I think this is super important. I think we get a shot at it one out of every 10 years. Um I think we have the choice to do something significant or meaningful and and recognize that we now have a new road of road of gold. I'll keep talking about 212 [clears throat] being that way. $300 million worth of investment. We can unlock that. And if we don't do something, we can choose that as well. And chances are if you look out 10 years, nobody on this board will be here. That's the reality. So we can either put our fingerprint on it and do it or or we don't have to. And so those are harsh realities, but they're true. I am hearing from a growing number of people. And I'm that's why I asked the question about 40 to1 uh of people particularly sizable land owners that are saying 1 to 40 is antiquated. So I'm happy to hear the 40 to1 uh although 4 to 40 although it's not all that well known. uh I know people on specific land ownerships and then most of the growth that's happening on 212 because that investment is still stuck in a 1 to 40 and so I think that will be a significant conversation. Um I know through legislative priorities and other things we've talked about at least seven areas across our county that are experiencing water and sewer challenges. So I know we'll address that particularly with the Met Council and what they have to say. Some of them are more near than others. Um but I can point to Cologne. They've been on the list for a while to get funding from the state. They haven't gotten it yet but they're coming through. I know that Commissioner Grunhagen or Senator Grunhagen had mentioned two areas in the western side of the county and I know we're experiencing challenges with finite amount of stuff. Um whether Blue uh what's it called? Um Blue Lake Blue Lake capacity is is very near or near or going to be near. There will be capacity issues there too. And I know last time I had a chance to talk with Met Council including De Barber, she said, "Yeah, it's real. Um we need to site a place for additional capacity whether that's on the county side, Carver County side, the Scott County side, etc." And so I look into that. Uh I also think that it's within our purvey to qualify when the timing is right. Darren, this would kind of be maybe in your belly wick and others um to treat 212 as a corridor commerce. And I don't know if we're officially in that designation or not, but I think we should have that conversation as that reaches um completion. And then I'm hearing from uh more and more land owners, they're like, why am why am I restricted from how I can use my land? um particularly knowing that 212 was built, particularly knowing that was promised with economic development and particularly knowing we're in the midst of a 2050 comp plan. And so I've held some back um but some of the conversations that I've initiated over the last five years have been in preparation for this moment. And then I guess the last thing I'd probably want to share, well, two things. One is um imagine a company the size of Amazon that comes in with a lot of money and they need to build somewhere in the metro and they choose to be here. if they want to go four miles down the road on a county road in a township, a $300,000 township budget's not going to stop them. Um they're going to do what they want to do. Um contrary to that, if we spot zone down 212 and guided commercial and industrial and housing, etc., whether that's in partnership with orderly annex the cities, if they wanted to orderly annex all the way down with townships or otherwise, um it seems more prudent to plan that versus have a hodgepodge of things that could happen if we don't. And so most of this should be Most of this should be um uh visionary. It should be leadership based. It should be strategic. Some of it should be defensive. Um but I hope that we lean in in a strategic way to address some of those challenges that we can do um in the next decade. Housing is a piece of that equation too if we're going to attract a healthy business and commercial industrial business mix. Um, I know that as we grow, the cities that are growing the fastest are not the likes of Aaska and Chanhasten, which have traditionally had 20 25% of their tax base be non-residential. So as we are right now with these trajections projections, our households will exceed our growth of our businesses and business tax base. Um and then uh we will put more burden on our tax taxpayers that own houses um um particularly knowing that we're still the highest tax and the highest median house income and and affordability challenges like the next generation. So I'm happy you're here because you've seen four of them now. Um chances are you won't be here for [snorts] the next one, 2060. Um but but there's a lot of wisdom to be had there. And then the new new side of the equation, I have never been through one of these before. And so I think those are that's a good mix of what we can deliver for the taxpayers. >> I think Molen's going to be here. I don't know what you're talking about, but uh >> make no predictions. >> You know, this is uh this is this is the we get to dream time. you know, the uh Target Center. Uh boy, I mean, it's 5 years old down in Minneapolis, and so you got to get a new Target Center, and I don't know how that's going to work down in Minneapolis. Uh maybe we want to maybe we want to go after Target Center uh out here. We got some space and probably cheaper than whatever they're going to do downtown. But this is the time to think about it. And uh this isn't my first comp plan. Uh I mentioned I was elected in 1988. That would have been the start of Chanhassen's part of their comp plan. Look at how beautiful that turned out and still happening. Uh so what 88 9808 this is my fifth at least. So um and I I think we're doing pretty good there. So Commissioner Fehee. Yeah, this will be my fourth that I've been involved in and it's definitely in an exciting process. had the opportunity with Jason [clears throat] and Kristen, we went out to San Francisco Township Advisory Committee last week and it was Thursday night and sat down with them and they just wanted to talk to us and Kristen and Jason came very well prepared with the current plan because it I think it's very important to people understand what they have currently. versus starting off with something that what is an amenity lot? What is a wooded lot? Well, look in your current plan and they're all defined in there and that helps people in general understand that and how did it come to be in for example um if you want to pull up that township map uh for example San Francisco Township a lot of people had no idea what a conservation incentive was and it was just great to have staff there and to educate those people and they listened and they said, "Well, how can we get involved, John?" Well, the 2050 comp plan is starting and there's going to be meetings in your township next year and if you as a township citizen want to make some changes, well, then get your voice heard. And so the opportunity is there for people to really reach out. And then uh the planning by the cities um that's very important and I agree with you chair workman on what Chanhassan and Chaza have done with their development and the industrial development that has taken place has just been tremendous. And look at Fleet Farm. Fleet Farm would have never been there if 212 wasn't developed from Mean Prairie. That's the reason Fleet Farm came there and the city of Carver had it in their plan and their future development to allow that type of business to come in. And as we look at 212 with the economic development that's happening, but the investment that the city of Norbert Young America has put into their new industrial park, they are just hoping and planning with this economic development to come to NYA because of Highway 212 is going to be safer. It's going to be faster to get to Norwood Young America. Does the city of Nor Young America want that business to stop in Benton Township or Dalgrin Township somewhere along Highway 212? Absolutely not. The city of Nor Young America has infrastructure and they've invested in that infrastructure and they want those businesses to come that way. And the one per 40 in my district, I constantly hear John keep it at one per 40. With the Carver County f farmland is producing, the yields continually to go up and constantly we're going to need food to feed people. And those farmers continue to get more and more productive. The yields get greater and greater. and they don't want to see the development come out into their township. They want to see Nor Young America grow. They want to see Cologne grow. They want to see New Germany grow, etc. And so, as we gather all this feedback and being through this process all these times, it just it's fun for me and I love to go to these township meetings and I love to hear people and get their opinions. For example, there's golf or townships that don't allow golf courses. Well, why don't we put a golf course in every township? Well, they don't want it because they think that's a waste of land. And so, those are just some scenarios. And yeah, I I'm on board, Paul, with the with the timeline and definitely here to help. and we'll continue to give the input back to you and the staff and also the board on on what I hear uh what's happening in the townships and the smaller cities that I represent. >> Okay. Anybody else? >> I've always said that uh uh the best form of government is the one closest to the people. So >> ditch board >> ditch board is very important. Township boards and city councils are also very important. and they're better able to plan. It's one per 40 is not antiquated. You look and the townships can change that if they want, but four townships are represented by the one per 40. And I'm also not interested in um somehow somehow over lapping the cities. I look at 212 along Carver Cologne and Norwood Young America as just stated and uh they have the infrastructure to do it and we've always ex uh the one per 40 forces uh the cities to expand outward and keeps country country and if the township wants to change that they can. You can look at the other townships that have high amenity wooded lots or conservation incentive. Uh but the be again the best form of government is the one closest to the people that thank you Mr. Chair and look forward to the timeline. Timeline looks awesome. >> Commission Anderson. >> Well, this is my first comp plan. Um [clears throat] and and I'm very much looking forward to it and um and I'm I'm inspired by my fellow commissioner com comments. Um, I I think this is what's most important to me is really getting that input from the people who are closest to it. >> And and I 100% agree. This is what the c that this country is founded on a representative government and um the people who are closest to that should be represented and heard. So looking forward to participating and thanks for your leadership. >> Thank you. >> [snorts] >> Thank you, Paul. I think we good. All right. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. >> Right. >> We'll be back. >> All righty. And Paul, I did kind of quick do a quick scan of that uh regional climate statute. I didn't really grasp what they're trying to get at there, but if we can maybe get a little more detail on that, >> Mr. Chair, commissioners, my hope is that when we come back, you know, targeting around February is we'll have a little more detail on maybe what that means. Um, again, a lot of what they're saying is we just have to recognize that it's there, that state is mandating this and that we need to do this inventory and document ways we're addressing it. I I do believe about 90% of it we're already doing, but that's what we need to to pay a little more attention to here. >> Well, I know the state has greenhouse gas laws. We had a teams meeting with one of our legislators a couple of weeks ago and who supported that legislation. And I continue to bring up the expansion of and improvement of a cross town highway between Eden Prairie and Edina and and uh none of that is possible with those greenhouse gas laws uh in effect. So, how does that affect going the other way? So, we'll be watching. >> One thing we can take another piece of credit for is that we're doing this transit study that if we're going to do some implementation of transit, we can definitely take credit for that. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Historical Society Andrew Peterson. >> Isn't it give to the max day uh this week? >> Thursday. How much you giving there, Tom? >> What do you need? >> Yeah. [laughter] All right. So, I'm actually glad I was I came in uh on time and uh I thought I was told by Nick bring my computer along and I could work over here except you change you put a door in there and I don't have access to that door over there. So, but you know um being here and listening to everybody I think has been very good for me. Um, we also are working on updating [snorts] our long ring comprehensive plan for the Peterson Farm, uh, of which I emailed everybody a copy of. I hope everybody took a a little bit of a look at it, um, because you'll be able to see a little bit further about, um, what we're going to be doing and where we're going with all of this. So, um, the historic Peterson Farm and how do I push forward here? There we go. So, I'm the last one on the docket. So, the reason I have this little link here is because KSTP came out and did a piece on us, an interview me, and it was on channel 5. And that little piece talked about uh little museums in the state of Minnesota you can't miss. And so, that was kind of a fun piece. Um, it's also something I showed when we had our fundraiser out there. So, the focus of what we're going to be talking about, of course, is the things that we have done and why we need a bathroom out there. which should be kind of self-explanatory, but I do want to back up and talk a little bit about who we are, what we do, and how we connect with the Carver County mission. This is the Carver County mission statement that was approved this June, July of 2025, which of course, uh, the last two sentences really connect with us. Um, planning for the county's growth to preserve its uniqueness and encourage rural and urban compatibility and protect our history while planning for a dynamic future. That's us. We are the county's designated archival repository and archaeological repository both which means we have those documents that um are very important that may have been um thrown out at one time. Um an example of that is uh we saved actually one of our volunteers showed up probably about 10 years ago with the back of his truck full of documents that were being thrown out from one of the townships. Uh we went through all them, saved the ones we thought we should save, and it's a good thing that we did because one of those documents showed that um the county had taken care of what is now County Road 11 north of Victoria and we could prove that it was uh taken care of 80 years ago, which saved the county a heck of a lot of money. Um the attorney's office sent a gal over there. she was looking through things and it's only because I remembered that book was there um that we were able to prove it and we had the information and the resources in order to u make copies and digital copies of everything which then we applied to the attorney's office sent over there for their future use and without that particular book it would have been a whole different picture and it would have cost you a heck of a lot more money >> how much Wendy how much you think >> so that is one of the things that we it's that's an archival repository That is something we do not have inventoried yet and it's something that I remembered that we had and that is an important resource but we are working toward inventorying those documents. Uh we received a recent grant um just about a month ago and that is the first step in inventoring those documents. Those documents will be available in our proficio uh website which the county has access to. So you will be able to access all those documents in the future. >> How much did that save the county on estimate? >> That's probably maybe a question for >> thousand. >> I think it's a bigger number than that, but I was never told the number, but you guys would have been working on that highway instead of the state. >> Thank you. >> Yep. So, I'm also your 106 certified person, which means if there's a historic property in the road, such as the church on in Victoria, um, I am the person to come and talk to because we can work through that because I'm certified in that. These are just a couple of the things that we do and we do work with the county on in many different things. Uh just this last week the parks contacted us and they were looking to do a wood carving for the park in Waconia and they were looking for maps of uh the Lake Wakonia island and how it was designed and of course we have those um and these are all things just small pieces but they do add up not to mention the school kids that we have um and the people who visit us which are runs usually right in the neighborhood of about 10,000 people a year. So it adds up. So our mission statement is to collect, preserve, and interpret the history of Carver County. Basic statement, very basic, but I'm going to give a very basic history lesson about the historic Andrew Peterson Farmstead. And this document, which everybody I emailed to about a month or so ago, and this is the comprehensive document we will be updating. So the long ring comprehensive plan was written by me uh with the help of an intern in 2017 and published in 2018. The first thing we did is develop a mission statement for the historic Andrew Peterson farmstead which included the vision statement. The first setting is our our mission statement. Second set you can look at it as a vision statement. This is what we want to do out of the farm. To interpret our rich immigrant and indigenous agriculture history is the key mission of the Carver County Historical Society. This is the only slide I will read to you because it's very important. >> Through the Andrew Peterson Farm and the historically significant diaries, the CCHS encourages visitors of all ages to discover our diverse cultural heritage and understand how the past shapes the present. And here's the key words and the future. So, this was based on a long range approved plan by the CCHS board. And this also meant going out to many, many, many different places around Harvard County to get feedback. Our problem, if you want to call it that, in developing this property, we have to respond to probably about five different agencies, uh, including the Minnesota Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office if we're doing any permitting, the permits. Um, yes, the county, the board, and of course our members and many others. Um, so and the National Park Service because the National Park Service has the ultimate say in what we can and cannot do. Very briefly, this is the table of contents and we're going to be focusing on phases one, two, and three in this document. These are the sections that we are updating because we have hit our goals in a couple of these sections and uh they will be updated hopefully by the end of this year. Um, as most of you know, I plan to retire in 2027. So, it is important this thing gets updated. So the the development plan starts on page 45 of the book. It has three phases. Phase one basically we looked at the property and we saw buildings that were falling down and needed work. And um you can't have a product unless you have a product. Can I put it that way? So if somebody wants to have a tour and there's no buildings there or you can't go in the buildings, you can't charge for it, can you? You can't have any programs if the buildings aren't there. So the first part of it was raising the funds that we needed as you well know through the Jeffus Foundation and we raised the funds for those. That was part of that capital campaign and part of the donation from the county went toward that and we have re rehabilitated the north barn, the um smokehouse um the house and the grainery. You may have heard my phone ring. That was the contractor who is wanting to have the final um inspection of the grainery. Um this week phase two in this uh document uh meant updating the National Register of Nominations, the National Register of Historic Places nomination, which actually cannot be done because we cannot the property that we own. The nomination that is on the National Register goes farther north into the property to the north. We also know that Andrew Peterson's original cabin was to the west of us and we have been in contact with the property owner there about potentially acquiring that property and I think that'll probably happen at some time in the future. Um a house can't be built on that property. A driveway can't be built on that property. So we're about the only people who can do that. um construction of a new driveway and parking lot and part of this has to do with a cultural landscape report which we are currently in the process for. Grant was written for that in the amount of about 80,000 [clears throat] and will be completed by the end of the year. I'll show you a map for that momentarily. Um and review and update the plan. Phase three, which was meant for 10 years out through 15, is as you see it. Um determine anything that needs to be rebuilt. um farm structures and how they should be interpreted and of course the a farm plant that incorporates the data. So this is a group from Trinity Lutheran Church and I'll go back more into the long range plant in a minute but I want to show what we have done. [clears throat and cough] So this is a group from Trinity Lutheran Church um their youth group. They come out every spring and help us clean up the farm. This group came out this spring and they had their pictures taken. You can see that they and I didn't tell them to go up on the top. They did that on their own and their supervisors right is the one on the >> in the orange on the left hand side. So he allowed them that's a dumpster and they filled that dumpster with with stuff and uh cleaned up the place. Um part of the process today is asking um for the rest of the funds that was a um pointed toward us several years ago for bathrooms. um take a look at this group and tell me they don't need a bathroom after being out there for half a day. We need a [snorts] bathroom. >> So any public property needs a bathroom. >> Um and so these guys were out there and of course we were very pleased and they come out every year. So this is before and after of the north barn. Um that's what the north barn looked like when we started and what it looked like afterwards. So, that was completed with all grant money. Um, and before we even started on the house, this >> was I on that roof. >> Pardon? >> Was I on that roof? >> You were on that roof. Yes, you were. If we go back there, you see that blue tarp? Uh, Commissioner was work commissioner Workman was on top of that building putting down that blue tarp at one time. >> Obviously ineffectual. [laughter] >> He always said he was a workman that day. Yes, he was. Uh, and hats off to Mr. Pat Minger, Minger Construction, who passed away too young and early, about my age, I think, >> uh, who helped and provided the lift. >> Yes, >> he did. We had some really good people. Ward was still there at the time. By the way, if you were asking, those of you who know some of the background on this, um, we switched properties from the north side of the property to the south side. And, uh, the relationship between us and them have gotten much better. And in fact, we had stopped by when we had our fundraiser and donated some money because and he made a very specific point of stating how happy he was with what we have done out there. >> So, um I think that's kind of important. It really touched me that day when he did that. >> So, this is what the house looked like in 1885. This is what it looked like when we got it. Uh the furnace was out, propane tank was empty, and 13 windows were broken. So, the first part of the step was just um doing um putting band-aids on. And that's what a lot of what we did the first couple of years, just putting band-aids on just to protect things. And that's what it looks like now. And we had a color analysis done and everything. So, it matches exactly the way it was. And that is Swedish red, not the color that they painted the North Barn, but that is Swedish red. And that comes from the pigment uh grinder as well from the ES brothers right here in Chaza back in 1885 which we have in our collection by the way. And there was a signature um on the Chesa brick uh near the right hand side which is still visible. That name is mentioned in 25 times in the diaries, Andrew Peterson's diaries. This is the greenery. Doesn't look so good. [clears throat and cough] There's the greenery today. It's actually much better because we have the windows in now. So, there will be window trim. The trim on that building um along the top and in the windows is white and that is that phone call that I got is that that final inspection will come. He's hoping for Thursday and that's where part of the money that you gave us went to to fixing that. That we believe is um the north part of that building is Andrew Peterson's first cabin. And as they restored that building, we found more and more proof of that. Will they ever be able to decide 100% whether or not it is? Probably not. But I can tell you that at least one person lived in that building because during the summertime and we have people come up the driveway all the time. There was a wedding at Parley Lake Winery and a truck came up the driveway and and his wife didn't want to get out, but he said his wife, she said his uncle lived in the north part of that building. So, we can definitely say it was a cabin. Whether it was Andrews, we don't know. So, [clears throat] construction drawings for the interpretive center. This is also something else that um we had uh put money aside from the money that you gave us for the drawings on the lower level of the interpretive center. Right there are the bathrooms, the drawings. So, if we look at the middle barn right now, you can walk through here and the door goes out toward the house over on this side. But we have a entrance onto the property that has been designed for right here. Um, this is the east side of the property which will be the main entrance. People come through here. Here's the reception area. Up here we have exhibit which is probably going to end up being more of a gift shop. U permanent dairy exhibit. Yes, a dairy exhibit because we're not far from the Grim property. Grim alalfa. Our artifix artifacts went to Germany last year because he's so important. And we want to keep a little bit of the gutter here so people understand what gutters are. Um that'll be lit up underneath. Classroom space, two classrooms. Um an office space. Uh this is a a kitchenet for staff. Um this is a lift that goes up to the upper level because we can't do ramps because it would take too much space, but not an elevator but a lift. And then steps to the upper level. Upper level is where um we can do all kinds of things from weddings to whatever we want, rental space, all of this. Um these things are needed. The bathrooms particularly are needed for any type of a event, program, wedding, anything we do out there. So these things are needed and I think John you mentioned infrastructure that's infrastructure that is needed for the growth and to do programming. Um the more we do with this, the better. An interesting side note as we talk about long range planning. Um I was at a development conference down in New took a session from the Minnesota Department of Transportation and they mentioned that they were looking for a wayside rest at some time in the future when five expands and I volunteered well maybe we should talk about the farm because they do look for um historic properties for some things as this and we will be putting in a parking lot so that could be a potential source of income in the future too. questions about this drawing? Anyone? Nope. Oh, wrong way. Landscape. Cultural landscape. I had written a $80,000 grant uh for a cultural landscape report. That does not mean landscaping. It's landscape design. This is the design that they have come up. It's at the 75% approval rate. It has to go before um the Minnesota Historical Society and the Shipo. Um right now it'll be either the December 2nd, 3rd, or the 4th. Um so you can see down in the corner here, the parking lot, entry off of Parley Lake Road. That's why when Paul left, I said I need to talk to him. Uh entry off of Parley Lake Road and from here a walking path up here. Now, before anybody says anything about handicapped accessibility, it will be handicapped accessible. And the thought is starting out from the parking lot walking through time from early indigenous time, early settlement before we even came here. And then by the time you get up to the barns, you'll be by 1885. So, you can see how plants in the whole community um Carver County, state of Minnesota even developed during that time period. and we have been working with two um indigenous uh Native American consultants in this um discussion. Um up on the upper corner over here, this is a walking path area that we'll be talking about um Native American plants and how they were used um naturally. And you can see the apple trees just south of the house or toward the bottom. Um and that I haven't seen the type of apples they've chosen yet. that's yet to be determined but um plots and other things but so this is like I said a draft but it is at the 75% complete stage um space um up here is where we would bring our um our baseball games that we have in August and those uh the baseball games uh vintage baseball games have been growing every year. This year we added a food truck. Um and uh they did they said they did more business in those couple of hours than they did in a couple of nights um at a brewery in Wakonia. Yes sir. >> A very brief correction. Highway 5 Auggie Mueller Memorial Highway not Angie. Ah >> Auggie being the legislator house member who would be credited with getting the four lanes in Cologne. uh originally on the plan to draw 212 out uh didn't happen that Auggie good guy met him many times. >> I will let them know. There are still other things to be worked out such as our neighbors to the north. It is a currently a shared driveway and we're trying to figure out a way of u making it still work for them. But, um, like I said, the conversations, uh, with them have been going quite well, and I'm sure we'll figure something out. But, Auggie Ber, I got it. Um, and the apple trees will be a little bit farther south because they put them a little bit too close to the house because there is a septic system there. And that septic system just south of the house is a very large mound system. And we can reuse it for the bathrooms in the barns. So, we don't have to put in another one. Um, so there will be a bit of a lift station just outside of the barn. um but you will not be able to see it and then it'll pump it over to the large tank. So that's a way of saving a little bit of money. Now back to the com keep going the right Okay, any questions on that? We can come back to the bathrooms. One thing to point out with the bathrooms that they will be individual, if I can call them rooms instead of men's room and a women's room because of the space, you will walk into a room that is individual shut the door top to bottom doors. And I've talked to a number of different people um and whether they felt this they were comfortable with that. And other than one lady who said that she won't even go into a Target bathroom when there's other people in there, um everybody felt they were. And when I was in uh South or South Carolina at Charleston um where they have the old train depot where people now take bus tours and whatnot, that's how they did it there. And it seems like it that's the trend. And so that's the direction we're going on that. Any other questions on that marketing study? So you want to know where we're going and where we've been. So we did a marketing study when we put together the long range pan. Now keep in mind this is 10 years old. So, even our costs have gone up substantially within this document. We show that our tours are $5. They're $10. Once we get an interpretive center and we actually are at full force, it'll be more like $20 per person because we'll actually be a real tour site. Right now, especially when we started out when we really didn't have anything to show, but we do now. Um, but back then it was $5. Um, we talked about school tour groups and we've let that slide a little bit to the side and I'll show you why. because we've only recently started taking larger school groups. But again, uh part of the hold back in that is because of the bathrooms. Um but this is what we had done 10 years ago. This also be updated for our new comp plan, but this is kind of what we looked at when we were looking at comparisons around the area. The closest area that has anything like this site would be the um Kelly farm, which is up by Elk River, run by the Minnesota Historical Society. and one of our school groups, we had one two large two large school groups and one of them told us they came to us instead of them because we were closer and of course uh the Kelly farms prices are going up and they couldn't afford it anymore. So this is very much a local thing but can definitely be outside of that and we've always held that we um because we get money from the county uh we try and keep prices down for school nonprofits which includes homeschoolers as much as possible. If they are outside of the county, we charge more. >> This should give you some idea where we're going with visitation. So, when we started out with visitation in 20 uh 21, the numbers were pretty small. And like I said, it was just tours, but since 2023, we started adding the vintage baseball game. We've added um the kids day on the farm. Um, and recently, just this year, and it says to 2025, but we're not done with this year yet, but we had two large school groups. One group from Watertown of 100 and one group from Norwood Young America of 60. Um, and both of those we put into four uh rotations, which is something that I did at the Kelly farm for 10 years in rotational groups. And, um, I added a couple of, um, surveys that we've been doing with schools. What do you want to see? What would you like to see out at the farm? This is Bay View Elementary survey. What they would like to see and we will be doing more of this with the schools and it's very important we look at these things as we decide what we're doing out there and how to interpret the buildings. This is an evaluation, one of the two schools that came out and we did the evaluation. We always do that when we do with schools. And this is the evaluation that they gave us about our school program out there. And as you can see, they were very happy with what they saw, which is something that we will continue to do. And they realize that every year we'll be doing more and um we'll be accessing it. Leave it on there just a little bit. But it's real interesting. They'd like to see more about um focus on immigration history, agriculture history, his life story. Um all of these things fit in with what is required for their schools. And uh then we have also uh a number of homeschoolers that come out there too. The financial trends. So this is something else we've talked quite heavily about. Obviously in the financial trends if you're looking at designated income, designated income is income that people donate to us or even from what you give to us. It's designated for a specific project. We can't spell and spend it for operations. that must be designated for that particular project. And the reason we have the designated income so high of course in 21 and 22 and 23 is because that's the years we were doing capital fundraising. Now operating income is different. It's not designated income but money that we have budgeted for the use out of the farm. The last couple years we've budgeted about $10,000 out of the farm. Now in 2022 you'll see more. Part of this has to do with the trees and emerald ash has hit every place and so we have had a lot of emerald ash. We've actually hired um um tree company to come out there for a full day last year and this year both because so many trees had to be cut down. That is also the years that we um put in um the Wi-Fi uh metronet in there and we wired both the house and the barn at the same time. the interpretive center. When I say the barn, the future interpretive center. So, it's already wired for when we do the development in that barn. We can just actually hook up the house is already wired so that we can go out there and use that as a workstation on the upper level, which allows us to do tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 to 1. It's just a standard that what we do is we're out there in the summer, uh, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 to 1. If somebody shows up, that's great. If they don't, we can work in the house. Not a problem. Any questions on this? And you can see that income and expenses are coming closer and closer together. The thing is is that in a very short period of time, the income will exceed the expenses. There's no question in my mind on that. Okay, here's our important project. This is an extra slide I put in so you can see the bathrooms a little bit closer. Uh, a couple of the changes that to keep the expenses down, they had um put the toilet so that they hooked into the wall. um we're going to do it to the floor. That'll save a large amount of money. And I really wanted a trough type uh sinks, but if we use individual sinks, it will also save us some money. So, that is another thing that we'll be changing. And on the upper part where it says A1 area, that is also being um plumbed for future bathroom u expansion. So, the toilets and such aren't being put in, but it is being plumbed for future expansion. Questions? You guys are real quiet. Wendy, we are uh we some of us supposed to be at a lunch at 11 minutes ago. So, [laughter] >> okay. Well, then we're down to the last pieces. So, what we're looking at here is an [clears throat] anticipated um start time of early in 2026. And the best I can get from people is that um I have three different biders coming out and we seem to be staying in them that um line between 140 150,000. And if you're asking where the other about a h 100,000 is coming from, we have been saving it. We've had donors that has designated it for the bathroom. So it is in an specifically a a specific designated account with Edward Jones is where the rest of the money is. >> So we have it. That's it. >> Whoa. Questions. >> No questions. >> Just comment. Thank you for being here. Thank you for showing us the update. It's um kind of inspiring. >> Good >> um to to see. I I did have one question. Um when you talk about the expenses and and and eventually um uh that it will sustain itself. Is that just for the farm or the entire historical society? >> Just for the farm. >> Just for the farm. Okay. >> To be quite honest, I can't ever see the historical society, the main building, um being self- sustaining. I it just doesn't bring in enough income. Um it just doesn't the farm on the other hand um because the expenses are so low. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And the thing is if if we were to do two weddings there now I we cannot be a main wedding venue every weekend because being a nonprofit it would endanger our nonprofit status. >> Right. Right. >> Right. But if we do a couple weddings out there and that money goes that would that would pay for the whole year worth of expenses right there. And then uh we could still continue and our focus is of course is school programming. But you know when we add those bathrooms in and then we get the other thing we're in we're going the right direction. Um I know everybody liked us to move faster but there's only so much we can do. We we simply cannot we do not borrow money. We raise the money and then we use it and we have never borrowed money and I hope we never do. >> No appreciate and I appreciate that philosophy. Thank you for being here Wendy. Well, [snorts] and I know that the uh 500,000 is 500,000, right? >> Well, I'm 54,000. >> Pardon me. >> It's just the last 54, >> right? But we >> Is that a request from us? >> It's money that's left from the 500. >> Oh, I see. >> And I know that it was controversial a little bit. Um, a lot of money, but uh we really super well >> super advanced this uh >> this wonderful property and it'll be forever. And uh so thank you very much and uh but uh >> balance is up there. >> I appreciate the numbers. >> Okay. >> And I assure you we do everything we can to stretch that money as much as possible. I think everybody is aware. >> Well aware. >> Yep. >> Appreciate that too. >> We're going to put you in charge of our health and wellness program. >> Okay. Seeing no other questions, this meeting is adjourned. Thank you, Wendy. >> Thank you, Wendy.