No. >> Wait. What? >> I know. >> You know, >> 859. >> My Good morning. We are going to convene the November 4th, 2025 Scott County Board of Commissioners meeting. Please join me in the pledge. >> Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you very much. Okay, moving on to item number two, amendments to the agenda. I did not see any. One last look to make sure there wasn't any last minute. There are [clears throat] none, so they will stand as distributed. Uh item number three, approving the minutes of the October 21st, 2025 board meeting minutes, which also we've had distributed previously in our packets. Are there any changes or what is your pleasure? >> Mr. Chair, I will move approval of those minutes. >> Second. motion and and a couple seconds. Uh any further discussion? Otherwise, all in favor say I. I. I. >> All right. Minutes are approved. Item number four, new employee. Welcome. Why don't you guys make your way to the podium? Uh introduce yourself. We had a we met previously uh before the board meeting just to have a little chitchat. So, just give us your name, where you're working, not currently here in the county, what area, maybe where you came from, and an fun fact or interesting fact that is up to you. Uh, I'm Neva. I work for the libraries as a library associates um at New Prague and Elco. And I have a great Pyrenees as my fun fact. 100 pounds. >> Wow. Yeah. Good. Welcome. >> I'm Amanda. I'm a 911 dispatcher. I born and raised in Scott County. And my fun fact is I have a 14-year-old dog. >> Wow. Nice. Nice. We had a couple dispatchers and I said, "I hope I never talked to you." >> I'm Kai Fridge. I work for Environmental Services. Been here about 2 months now. Uh fun fact is I played rugby with Mano Marauders. They're out of Mano. Yeah. >> Played for about nine years and been in 11 states and played. So, >> we're going to go talk to the capital. We might uh bring you with us. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> My name is Jessica. I'm a dispatcher. I just moved up here from Iowa 6 months ago. I live in Shakapino and fun fact I have nine brothers and sisters. >> Oh, nice. Nice. And we had a few dispatchers and I also said very nice people. I hope I never talk to you >> on the phone anyway. Right. >> Uh my name is Cindy. I'm also a dispatcher with the sheriff's office. Um I live in Lakeville and then my fun fact is I go kayaking a lot and I'm been trying to hit a new lake which is kind of hard to do in this state but I'm getting there. It's a long list. It's a long list. Keep us keep us uh up to date with how that list is going. Welcome. >> I'm Abby. I'm with Scott County Community Corrections. I'm an assistant probation officer. Um my fun fact is we adopted my husband and I adopted a puppy a month ago. Lab German Shepherd. >> Wow. >> Sure. Yeah, it's a lot. [laughter] >> Welcome. >> Hello, my name is Brooke and I work in employee relations as an HR business partner. And my fun-filled fact is my husband and I have a very hefty goal of hitting all the national parks at some point in our lifetime and as well as all the state parks in Minnesota. >> Oh boy. >> Doing the passport [laughter] spirits right there. I don't know how many stickers are on the I don't see the water bottle over there, but >> she's she's hit everyone's except Alaska, right? >> Oh, well, >> have you >> Here we go. Um, everyone >> Yeah. So, we've we've hit all the state parks twice and then the Passport and Hiking Club and then the lower 48 Hawaii and we've hit five out of eight in Alaska, >> but you have to remember Samoa and the Virgin Islands. So, they're a little tougher to get to. They're a retirement project. >> Wow. [clears throat] That that is that is impressive. But welcome to all of our new hires. [applause] Again, thank you for choosing public service and uh really appreciate you as being the hands and feet of county Scott County government. So, I don't know. I'm looking at Jen in the back through the back window. I think you are now going to your uh these the new new hires, new employees are uh going on your bus tour. So, um thank you again and >> take your agenda out there. >> Yes. Yes. She looks nervous. She looks nervous. Uh okay. Now, we're going to move on to item number five. One of my favorite spots on the agenda. recognition of interested citizens where anybody can come talk to the board about anything uh that is not on the agenda for up to 5 minutes. So, is there anyone that would like to welcome? Come on up. Give us your name and address for the record. Welcome. Uh my name is Jeff Bolt, 1401 here in court. We just give a like to give a little update on a proposed road the county is looking at going through our property connecting Wet Acres and Wooduct Trails. Um still want to remind you all that we're very much opposed to that and to date we have 180 signatures from the neighborhoods of Timber Trails Oed Acres and Valley Cross Valley Creek Crossing 2 um all opposed to it. Uh we don't want the road through our property. They don't want their neighborhoods disrupted with more traffic and we don't want taxpayer money to go towards us. Can I leave this with somebody for the record? >> Yep. Absolutely. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you for uh taking advantage of this opportunity. So, thank you. Anyone else for interested citizen? >> Oh, yeah. Cara, come on [laughter] up. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. Um, I'm Cara Madson, the volunteer coordinator here at Scott County, and I'm here for kind of a quarterly update on the volunteer program recruitment. And there are two areas right now that uh I am heavily recruiting for. First is our advisory boards and commissions. So, as you know, we'll be meeting um later in the month to look at that list. We've got 11 applications at this point for some open seats. So, that is good. We've still got um applications coming in. Last night I had three come in. So that's good. Exciting to see. So that information will be on your desk this week. So you can start reviewing applications and you'll know where there are open seats. The other area that we are looking for volunteers at, as we've all been discussing here, the issues with SNAP with the government, um we do have a call out to our volunteers currently. anybody who's interested in helping at any of the food shelves. Also, anybody who is interested at helping any at any of the food distribution programs that are out there. And then, as you know, Scott County has a site that they are working with liftup.com. So, they are also um looking for volunteers. So, we're kind of working together to share those that are interested and we will hopefully get a good group of volunteers to help out in areas that we need for this situation. >> That's all I have for you today. >> Great. Thank you very much. Question. >> I have a question, Cara. >> Oh, yeah. Look at We're reeling you back in. Reeling you back in. >> Yes. >> Um I was asked about the libraries [clears throat] and what um volunteer opportunities are there. Um, and somebody was looking for a list of what um are the needs at the library system and um if they can find that someplace um other than just filling out the application. So, we don't currently have a [clears throat] list. I mean, we have two um specific um job descriptions for library assistant or library computer texts. Those are two areas that we're always looking for individuals in. We are working um I am working currently with the libraries. We're looking at starting a um tutoring program in some of the libraries. So we've got some ideas um where we want people to be able to help. I will tell you in the world of volunteering or at least here that is the number one request I get is people want to help in the libraries. As soon as they retire I get all sorts of applications. We just don't have all the openings available. So, we're really trying to find out and be very strategic in our placement of those volunteers. So, if that um individual wants to reach out to me directly, I can get a little more information from them, see maybe they have a specialty that we're not thinking about that we could go ahead and see if we can do a placement in one of the libraries. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> You're very welcome. >> All right. >> Any other questions? Um All right. Any other interested citizens? [clears throat] Seeing none, we're going to move on to the uh uh item number six. Six, consent agenda. Uh these are the uh uh nine options or nine uh items that will pass in one motion. Uh item 6.1, adopt resolution number 2025-196, certifying final approved appraised values and authorizing acquisition by eminent domain proceedings for the county highway 17 trail south of County Highway 16. 6.2 2. Adopt resolution number 2025-235 approving the final plat of Red Rock Industrial Park, Demcon Companies LLC applicant and Demcon Properties LLC and Demcon Landfill LLC property owners. 6.3 adopt resolution number 2025-243 authorizing entering an amendment to the Women Infants and Children Nutritional Program Contract, the WIC. 6.4 4. Adopt resolution number 2025-245 authorizing final payment to safety signs for the 2025 county highway sign replacement project. 6.5 adopt resolution number 2025-246 authorizing final payment to go for State Seal Coat, Inc. for the 2025 Trail Preventive Maintenance Project. 6.6 Adopt resolution number 2025-249 authorizing the purchase of property at 17981 Marshall Road in Spring Lake Township. 6.7 adopt resolution number 2025-252 authorizing application for a grant to prepare for the re-entry demonstration waiver and if awarded accepting the grant and entering into an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Services. 6.8 8. Adopt resolution number 2025-259 submitting comments on the lower Minnesota River wershed district's finding and and order authorizing construction sale of project bonds for capital improvement project area number three Minnesota Riverbank stabilization project 6.9 approved payroll processing of personnel actions. Those are the nine items on consent this morning. Members, what is your I see two greens. >> I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Second. We have a motion in a second. Any further discussion? I have one comment I want to make, but is there any further discussion before [snorts] I >> can I make a comment? I want to thank um the board for hopefully I guess we haven't voted yet, but the support of the 6.8, 8 which is the comments to the lower Minnesota River wershed district um in the bonding um public hearing that they're holding tomorrow. So thank you. >> Nice. Thanks for representing. I just wanted to make a a comment on 6.1. You know, everyone knows my feelings on eminent domain even though it's constitutional. In in the packet for the request for board action, it kind of calls out the why. There's two parcels on 17 across from the hospital. Just note at the bottom one owner uh owner of one parcel has verbally agreed to voluntarily sell the property in its entirety. Uh the second uh owner the lower part of that on the second parcel the owner has indicated interest in a voluntary sale of the entire property but there's a conflict of interest between the owner and the county. So it precludes us from direct negotiations. I just want to bring that up because it's 17 and eminent domain and we just had interested citizens on that to make sure that everyone knows the what, where and why and that's that's the reason. So >> just to add to that, Mr. Chair, um those are the two parcels that like 10 or 11 years ago when we updated that intersection, we decided to leave those because they weren't interested in selling. We have seen more and more conflicts um of folks wanting to use that trail. And so it was to move the trail forward, but we've also kept funding in there to acquire those in the tip every year annually since then. Um, and so when they became willing sellers, it was a it's a good thing. We can now move that trail forward and we can work with the city on that excess property eventually. So, it'll be a positive for access on County Highway 17. >> And had this conflict not existed, it likely would have just been a willing participant and >> correct. They're a willing seller, but we have to do it per Y requirements. >> Yep. >> Any other discussion on consent agenda? Uh, otherwise, all in favor say I. I. >> I. All right. Uh, consent passes. Moving on to item number 7 7.1. Adopt resolution number 2025-255 recognizing uh, November 4th to the 11th, 2025 is Operation Greenlight to shine a light of hope and support for our veterans. You probably noticed our building is lit and green. Um, Derek, come on up. Good morning. You got a you got a busy morning. Thanks for taking some time to come talk to us. Oh, >> it's my pleasure. And yes, it is a busy day here. So, um I am here to read uh resolution 2025-225 recognizing November 4th through 11th, 2025 as operation green light to shine a light of hope and support for veterans. Whereas the residents of Scott County have great respect, admiration, and the utmost gratitude for all the men and women who have selflessly served our country and this community in the armed forces. And whereas the contributions and sacrifices of those who served in the armed forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and the way of life enjoyed by our citizens. And whereas Scott County seeks to honor individuals who have made countless sacrifices for freedom by placing themselves in harm's way for the good of all. And whereas veterans continue to serve our community in the American Legion, VFWs, uh, other [clears throat] veterans organizations, religious groups, civil service, and by functioning as county veteran service officers in 29 states to help fellow and uh, sorry, fellow former service members access more than 52 billion in federal health, disability, and compensation benefits each year. And whereas approximately 200,000 service members transition to civilian communities annually. And whereas an estimated 20% increase of service members will transition to civilian life in the near future. And whereas studies indicate that 44 to 72% of service members experience high levels of stress during the transition from military to civilian life. And whereas active military service members transitioning from military service are at a high risk of suicide during their first year after military service. And whereas the National Association of Counties encourages all counties, parishes, and burrows to recognize Operation Greenlight for veterans. And whereas Scott County appreciates the sacrifices of our United States military personnel and believes specific recognition should be granted. Now therefore be it resolved by the board of commissioners in and for the county of Scott, Minnesota with designation as a green light for Veterans County. Scott County hereby declares November 4th through Veterans Day, November 11th, 2025, a time to salute and honor the services uh service and sacrifices of our men and women in uniform transitioning from active service. Be it further resolved in observance of operation green light, Scott County encourages its citizens in patriotic tradition to recognize the importance of honoring all those who made immeasurable sacrifices to preserve freedom by displaying green lights in a window of their home or place of business during the week of Veterans Day. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. It's a good reminder um for all kinds of things for I'm glad we're not a country that forgets our veterans and it's a reminder for me to make sure I get my Wi-Fi bulbs back to green. So um members, any comments? Any for Derek or we will entertain this uh resolution. >> Mr. Chair, I'd uh move to adopt resolution number 2025-255. And thank you Derek for your service and for bringing this forward. >> Second. >> We have a motion and and a second. Any further discussion? >> Otherwise, all in favor say I. >> I. >> I. All right. Approve. Now, now, where are you going to be running off to? Give us a little uh update on the most nerve-wracking part of the day is next. I have to go put a three valon gat of gravy or vat of gravy in my car and drive as slowly and motionlessly as possible the 10, 12 blocks, whatever it is, to get back here. So, um if I can go the whole day without three gallons of gravy in my car, I will be happy. [laughter] >> Nice. If there's no gravy at lunch, then you know what happens. [laughter] >> Yeah, we don't want to have that happen. >> Uh I've been told we need to take a [clears throat] minor hopefully minor short recess cuz the live stream is having some issues. Um is that right? >> Yeah. >> So um we're going to take a brief recess. >> I'm not sure when that went down, [snorts] but it didn't start. I got a text from a guy >> Chris Costic from Credit River. Shoot. Maybe not coming Thursday morning. >> I We'll see. We'll see. You're that drug problem. You drug me to all those meetings. >> But >> we're good. >> Okay, we are back on live. All right. Thank you for that brief recess for a little technology reset. Uh we had completed item 7.1, operation green light. I don't know how much was caught on live stream. So, we're going to move on to item number 8.1 to receive a financial update for Q3 2025. Steve Jones, welcome. >> Good morning, chair. Good morning, commissioners. I'm here today to go through the third quarter financial results. >> Oh, are we looking for a screen still? Working on a screen. Just bring us some good news. That's what we want. We want some good news. [laughter] The slides. We'll get the slides. too much money >> need some good news. >> So I can I'll start with after our at this time we do project year-end results for Scott County for the operations to have a favorable favorable variance of roughly $3.2 million. I'll go through some of the the main drivers within these v or for this variance. Starting with the countywide impacts, we're showing a favorable variance of just over 2.1 million. Biggest driver there are our investment earnings. Investment rates, interest rates are still higher than what they've been in past years. We've we've left our budget at a lower level. So we do it we do project to exceed our investments by over $2 million. The next favorable variance would be our health and human services area. It shows a favorable variance of just under 500,000 there. This in all of these projections there's a lot of assumptions that take place especially within health and human services. We have the federal shutdown that as of today is tied for the longest length of a government shutdown. This projection takes into account that the federal shutdown will end sometime soon. If it doesn't, we could have other financial results. But listen, >> Steve, I have a question. How does that take into account the standalone county issue that we have? Is that balanced in there somehow that our revenues aren't going to be what we had expected? >> I'll have to look to to Barb. >> Yeah. So that does include a million dollars that we project that we'll be not receiving from the state for the home and community care min choices work. we will become a standalone county beginning in uh January 1st of next year. They actually have that programmed so we'll be set to go. So right now we have enough we believe again I appreciate uh Steve's assumptions here because we actually only have payments in through second quarter. We won't receive third quarter payments until mid November. So um this is just projections but does include that deficit. So it does include that deficit and then I'm assuming it's reductions in vacancies and all those things have kind of built some of that up then to cover that, >> right? Reductions in vacancies and I think the CCBHC revenue right now does seem to be coming in um on par if not um slightly above what we'd expected. So >> thank you. Next area outside of health and human services is our planning and resource management area projecting a favorable variance of 425,000. Largest driver in this area is the set aside of funds for the regional household hazardous waste facility of roughly 400,000 to go towards that construction. Moving on from planning and resource management, we have uh the transportation transformation enterprise services with a favorable variance of 150,000. This as we've see in a lot of different areas, vacancies are playing a big role this year as we are holding vacancies. That is one of the big areas within tees is that we do have two vacancies that are being held from transportation transformation enterprise services. We'll go to the county attorney's office. We have a negative variance of 140,000. This is primarily related to some of the revenues that come from the state through the city that we are behind in comparison to our budget at this time. So we are projecting that to be under budget at year end. From from the county attorney's office we have community services a favorable variance of 115,000. largest driver in this area is our land records documents are over our coming in over budget on their revenues. So that will help our fund balance at the end of the year. And then the last one I'll touch on is our sheriff's office. We have a unfavorable variance of 105,000. From the actual operations of the sheriff's office, they are projecting a favorable variance. However, one of the things that has happened with the sheriff's office is historically the sheriff's office has had vacancies and they've had over complement positions to help offset some of those vacancies. A good thing is that the sheriff's office has been able to staff better this year. They haven't had as much turnover. So some of the over comps that or over complemented positions they have are actually exceeding the budget since they do have full-time employees and this is causing an unfavorable variance. But across the county we are looking at a favorable operations of three just under 3.2 million. Are there any questions looking at the third quarter results? Members, any questions for Steve? >> Next, the next item I'll go through are our third quarter investment review. So, with the interest rates the way they are, short-term rates are still roughly equivalent to what long-term rates are. So, Scott County continues to have their investments in the shortest maturities. So at this time 88 roughly 88% of our investments are in a term of 0 to two years with both the 3 to five and greater than five years being around 6% of the investments. We are seeing investment the interest rates on the shorter term investments going down. So we are getting to that point in time where longer term investment or interest earnings are exceeding the short term. So, we're having a little bit of a movement there into our longer term investments, but at this time it hasn't been substantial in any way. Looking on the right hand side, we still have the majority of our investments in money markets. So, 55% of our overall investments are in that short-term money market uh category. Now looking at the yield curve, what this is what this is showing is the black line is what the investment rates were as of September 30th. The gray line is the investment rates of June 30th, the quarter prior. And then the blue line represents the investment rates or interest rates back in 2015, so 10 years ago. So what's occurred since the last quarter is there was a 30 to 40 basis point reduction in interest rates for that 3mon to oneyear term. All of the other terms just have a slight decrease. So just just that 3/4 of a year term that's really come down. But that is kind of our sweet spot of where we invest currently. The uh next two graphs show the six-month US Treasury and then I'll be showing the 10-year. Looking at the six-month Treasury, you can see to the right side of the screen how we have gone down that 30 to 40 basis points since second quarter to third quarter. And looking at the 10-year US Treasuries for this year, it's been a little volatile, but it's all it's been staying in that same investment area. The interest rates have hovered around, but they're staying just north of 4%. From there, are there any questions at all? investments or financial results >> questions. All right. Thank you so much. Appreciate the update. Keep the good news rolling, please. Okay. Uh we are going to go on to um item number 9.1 looking at adopting resolution number 2025-260 authorizing a budget amendment of up to $100,000 for Scott County area food shelves due to the federal shutdown and delayed issuance of federal SNAP uh supplemental nutrition assistance program SNAP payments for November. >> Mr. Chair, commissioners, good morning. Uh before we get into the approval of that, we wanted to be able to provide you a little bit of a background on what's been happening. >> Um so for you today, we want to talk about the um two programs that we operate on behalf of the federal and state government that are most impacted. One is a supplemental nutrition assistance program or SNAP and the other is the women infant and children's or wick program. Um you'll hear a little bit from uh Jake Grusing on the community response in regards to that. And then we do have two action items for you. One in regards to the $100,000 for food shelves and another is um two letters actually. One to our Scott County federal and the other to our state delegation. So, in terms of SNAP, for people that are less familiar with this, uh this is a benefit that is given to individuals that qualify that apply and qualify due to being low income. Uh we have approximately 5,700 people in Scott County that receive SNAP. That is about 6,200 a month. And we point that out just because [clears throat] there is kind of a a natural cycle. People apply, they get jobs, they come off. There is um kind of a a pattern of people that move in and out. it's not a stagnant group. Um there about 7 or 2700 households and off to the left you can see how that works out by city. It is a little proportional due to our population on those that receive it. So it does really kind of cut across our entire county. When looking at the characteristics of those that receive SNAP, we have 42% that are children, 19 that are elderly, 13% that are disabled, and so really 74% are um either children, elderly, or disabled individuals. So really some of our most vulnerable lowincome individuals that live within Scott County. When looking at WICK, um, we [clears throat] actually just received information, it first came out yesterday from the National WICK Association that there was an additional 450 million that was found um from at the federal level that was going to be issued to states. We just received information that u Minnesota is going to receive 3.47 million for food and 1.9 million for administration of the wick program. So we believe that will get us at least until mid December, maybe late December, but I think we can say mid December for both services to uh recipients and also for the administration of our programming. Uh that is about 2,000 individuals that utilize the wick program and that is about 405 infants. And I I we highlight the infants because that was of most concern as we looked at having this shut down um and not having to have funding there. just looking at how to um support formula and diapers and and things that we know are really costly but um really critical to families. Again, when looking at the the fiscal [clears throat] impact, we can look at it from an individual county and statewide level. So um individually for WIC you people can get anywhere about 87 to $230. It really depends on the age of their child. We know infants get more. We know that they're more expensive. Um and then to um you know as their children get a little older that that benefit amount decreases. We have the maximum amount per household highlighted. Um we do take their income into consideration when evaluating what their monthly benefits are. So the maximum amount for an individual is almost $300 a month and then that goes up by household size. Uh for a county, as you can see within this graph here, uh we are running at almost about a million dollars a month with SNAP and WIC that is paid um from the state to participants for the benefits that they receive. And so it's about $70 million a month the state of Minnesota runs just for the SNAP program. I don't have that number for the WICK program. Um but as you can see, it's a pretty big gap to fill when there is a a pause in funding. So, where do we sit today? I think we had originally gotten this communication on October 14th that potentially November payments were going to be in jeopardy. Uh, that was confirmed on communication from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families from the USDA on October 24th, that all benefits would be suspended until further notice. They also said that uh they would not be reimbursing states to supply SNAP benefits um or use their own state money to supply SNAP benefits in the short term. So that I I believe is the why uh we haven't seen the state of Minnesota move in that direction. If there was any benefits that were remaining on cards, people could continue to use those and we as the county are still um being told that we can process applications. Last Monday, the Walls administration did allocate $4 million. Uh it was actually money that was from our family's first programming that was reallocated and moved towards food. Um and then on Friday, the federal judge did say that uh SNAP was an essential service and that they could use emergency funding. There's about $5 million in a SNAP emergency fund. Uh and we received a notification from DCYF late yesterday saying that um DCYF did communicate to the state that those funds would be utilized and we believe that it covers about half the normal benefits. And so what we don't know is when that will be issued, but it won't be the full amount for individuals, but we do expect further communication today um on when that might might be. >> Just a question. Good. I read some articles that relate to that um that it would be have and that it might be slow with being released that apparently some recalibration of the technology you know you're going to get half you know does your technology support how to divide the half up or so apparently there was some tweaking of stuff that needs to be done in relationship is that do you are you aware of that kind of dynamic or >> yeah not that specific piece, but that doesn't surprise me. So, even when we received the initial communication that on October 5 14th, um they had to try to reprogram our state systems to um allow us to still process but not issue. And it's not I think as we've talked about, our state systems aren't necessarily nimble um and agile. And so, um, I I think it doesn't surprise me that there's a challenge in trying to figure out how to, um, recalibrate as you had stated. So, yeah, it won't be it's not as easy as push a button and send money out the door. >> Are there other program questions? >> Barb, sometimes you see questions around who's eligible for SNAP versus WIC. who is eligible to receive SNAP. What are the thresholds and those types of things that are required? >> Yeah, it it is based off of income and it is and I I I should brought that number up here. I want to say it's 165% of poverty um for the SNAP program, but can um double check that and and let you know. In addition to that, um you do have to be in the US legally in order to um receive benefits, but SNAP is an entitlement. So if you qualify based off of um being able to establish residency and also income levels then you would qualify for that similar to like Medicare or Medicaid um where if you meet certain certain certain thresholds you um as a US citizen would get that benefit. One more. I also read sorry that new applica applicants might not be able to be applying this limited half receiving half scenario. Is that [clears throat] did you hear something like that or >> we haven't heard that instruction yet? Um we have been told that people can continue to apply. Um so if that changes though we could get commun we would definitely want to get communication out on our website regarding that. >> Okay. Mr. Chairman, I think the resolution actually talks about or the the RBA that we've been directed to continue to take applications for SNAP, correct? From the state and the federal government, >> right? Correct. >> So, yeah. So, if there was something different within um a contingency from the USDA, then we would want to look at that. And now with this new wrinkle, um, how do we look to I mean the $100,000 are we how is that going to be uh dispersed with partial funding maybe coming, maybe not? Timelines might that look like? >> So, Mr. chairman, we decided not to go the same route as like Washington County who dedicated so much to certain um food shelves based on and Jake's going to talk about what we learned last week. But we decided to wait and have requests come in as documented needs were there and then to have that reviewed and put small contracts together stipulating what those dollars could be used on. Good. And so we're still recommending that we move forward with that, but again, it would be on a request needed. It wouldn't automatically go out. >> Good. And this, you know, as always, you know, we're we're coming here to do a board meeting, but so many of these things have been workshop. We talked about this a week or so ago or whatever it was. But, you know, it's ever changing. Um, not only this, but all all kinds of other things. So, I'm just curious how that was going to be looked at as as new news came in because it's also important that you know it goes to the people that need it the most. >> Um, which you you know with the snap and wick they're coming to you. They have to meet certain criteria and not that people in need are not in need at food shelves. That's obviously not the case, but how do you discern the most needy when you have such limited funds? So, that's that's good to hear that. >> And before I turn it over to Jake, I just want to um first of all want to thank our staff. I think within um health and human services and especially within um economic assistance, they've been really receiving daily updates and um really a lot of interested like what's going to happen to me now questions and so appreciate them trying to just kind of hold and be the boots on the ground to try to figure this out. In addition to that, I will thank Jake and his team um for trying to and he'll talk a little bit about the community response with this. I think we're very fortunate to have um community and um internally be able to work together and in the spirit of that uh I think between um tees and health and human services um and Tony Winnicki and also Scott Hos we're meeting every other day at 7:30 in the morning just to do a status update on this. We haven't um initiated a full incident command. Some counties have but we thought uh we already have a tight network of communication and we'll utilize that at this point. So >> great. [snorts] Thank you for that. Yeah. I'm I'm hoping that this money would be used in a >> permanently. Um Okay. I'm hoping that this money be used in a targeted fashion with the food shelves. I obviously we're aware of the fact that there are certain categories that they're maybe always short of like formula or they might have abundance of canned goods but no formula stuff like that. that I'm hoping will target what is the the big gaps that they usually run out of. >> Yeah. No, I think that's a really good point and that might be a good time to hand it over to Jake and he can tell you a little bit about um those conversations we've been having. >> Good morning. >> Morning Mr. Chair, commissioners, Jake Gusing, transformation enterprise services director. So, in addition to the Monday, Wednesday, Friday sort of pre-inccident command structure Barb mentioned, we have a weekly check-in with our food shelves, the five food shelves in Scott County. We had our first one at 7:30 this morning. Um, and that was that was on top of mind for the food shelves was what is the right place to target the resources we have collectively, the resources we may receive from the community and potentially from the county board. and um a special focus and interest on the the families that may be impacted by wick benefits. If we could stretch this out into December and folks do need formula, they do need baby food. Um that was a priority for the five food shelves at this point. Um I I think this it's fair to to say to summarize for the three that were represented on the call, Jordan Food Shelf, uh Food Shelf and New Prague and the CAP agency that they saw a little uptick over the weekend, but they didn't they didn't categorize it as crazy or outside the norm. And they really feel like they they're not going to have a sense of what this will look like for another week or two. They'll keep monitoring the the flow and the calls they're getting. Um, but all three of them wanted to prioritize uh making sure infants had had the resources they need and parents had the resources to take care of them going forward. >> Good. That's good. >> I will uh just reiterate what Barb just closed her section with uh gratitude to our our staff and health and human services transformation enterprise services. So last Wednesday we hosted a community roundt with faith partners, [snorts] nonprofits, uh, school districts, townships, really opened it to anybody who was willing to take the time to show up on a Wednesday afternoon at 3:00. Um, so gratitude to our staff for pulling it together. Um, we had representatives, 43 external organizations represented. Some of them, most of them really cold called either on Friday afternoon, Monday, Tuesday afternoon, 24 hours before the event. We're still trying to get in touch with people. And I'm going to I'll I'll promise to do it quickly, but I think it's I think it's worth having on the record the Scott County organizations that uh made time to show up for that. So, some not even in Scott County. 360 communities, ALOS, Bellplane Food Shelf, Bethesda Church, Calvary Church, CAP Agency, Carver County Public Health Church of St. Wentz City of Prior Lake Community Resource Center Fish Frerieden's Evangelical Lutheran Church Friendship Church Hart Hosanna Church HY Savage Jordan Food Shelf Just Serve Lift Up Mikasa Minister Ray De Rees Minnesota House of Representatives New Creation Lutheran Church New Spirit United Church of Christa Church Peace Center New Prague Prior Lake News Compass Prior Lake Savage Optimists Prior Lake Chamber Resonate Community Church, River Valley Church, San Creek Baptist Church, San Creek Township, Shakabi School, Shepherd of the Lake Church, Shaki Midwakton Sue Community, St. Francis Alina, St. John the Baptist, St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the food group in addition to Scott County staff. >> Nice. Um, so I I don't think we can extend enough gratitude to them and most of them have been in communication with Michael Bergstrom, our community engagement manager, since the round table wanting the most up-to-date information, wanting to know where they can direct their donations. Um, and one theme, we heard it, Barb and I heard it this morning from the food shelves, um, that sort of called back a theme from Wednesday's round table, which was, uh, a lot of us experience abundance here in Scott County. We we have more than we need. There are a lot of people in our communities who don't have enough, and if the shutdown continues, that population will grow. um where can where can I direct my personal or my organizational abundance um so that it goes to the right place. Even this morning from the food shelves, we had CAP and Jordan and New Prague going back and forth on, well, we have some extra of this. Could we deliver that to CAP, so you guys to distribute it? CAP saying, "We have a little bit extra. Could we push that out to the other food shelves?" So, this this shared resources to reduce the scarcity that people may be experiencing and so that those gifts can keep moving through the community. Um, >> I think for a lot of us who are uh engaged in this, it's it's why this is part of why we're engaged in it. Mhm. Um, [clears throat] >> so inspiring work from the community. Uh, so we have the weekly check-in. I hit that. Michael and I are in the process of standing up a weekly meeting with the faith partners as well. We're aiming to have the first one on Thursday morning at 7:30. So 5 days a week, we'll have regular check-ins with the food shelves, the faith partners, and then our county staff here. And a special call out to to Lift Lift Up and Just Serve. Um, two nonprofit organizations. uh lift up in particular uh Shane Oorc a Jordan resident grew up in Prior Lake. He attended the round table and came over at the end of the conversation about 5:00 and said, "Hey, I could if if this helps, I can stand up a website that's sort of a central location for donations to the five food shelves. I can have that done in 24 hours." He and his team had it done in 24 hours. It was our it was sort of me slowing down the process, making sure we wanted to get the language right that delayed it to I think about 36 hours after the round table. We communicated that back to the attendees that they could share the link to that site, share that information through their networks and their congregations on Sunday. Uh this morning, there have been over $1,200 donated through that site alone. We know that folks continue to donate directly to the five food shelves or through give Minnesota. So, and we heard from uh from Jeff Hansen at the CAP agency this morning that um people are giving abundantly right now. So, the community is really stepping up to to try to fill the gap for people. >> All right. I can't take it anymore. Like, I love this. This is awesome. This is awesome. I mean, this is um I mean, I feel like this county really I think it's always have had a heritage and has really sharpened this idea of like bringing the community together. It's almost like the first old thing is the next new thing. The public, the entities, faith, business, individuals working together to be that social net. Um, it's just a great opportunity. I think this is these are great opportunities. And I got to tell you, my heart was like slightly divided. I could not be there on that Wednesday. I had a once-in-a-lifetime family event take place. Um, and I was still slightly divided. Not much because it was my daughter and it was kind of a big deal. Um, but I am so excited for this. Uh, so proud of our people that like get it. Like it's not a, hey, what can government do? Not that government's bad, but too much government's a little not so great, but trying to bring about real solutions in kind of the old-fashioned way of sorts, people helping people, and we're kind of that that convenor and trying to bring those things together and just it's just it's not governmenty. I maybe Webster will put that new word in. I don't know. Um, and so I'm super excited, super proud of, uh, our role in this and whatever gas we get thrown on that fire, um, the better. So, yes, >> I I do want to add just a couple things, Commissioner. Um, Barb addressed our staff and TES and HHS, but I also want to acknowledge Barb herself. Anybody that was at district um, what are we 10 yesterday? It was Barb's everywhere. Um Barb's leadership in this has just been phenomenal, but so has the rest of your um leadership team. At the uh cabinet meeting last Friday following this, you had or the week before you had different directors stepping up where how could we come up with $100,000 to $200,000 that didn't impact what Steve just showed you. What were things we could do? So we have some creative ideas there. Um, you know, you saw the 3.1 million, but 2.1 of that is is interest, right? And so the other million dollars is coming from staff and vacancies and things they're doing to save dollars to help for next year because we know this isn't going to get any um um easier. And so I I just want to say thank you to them. But um Barb and Jake were Jake I'm sure worked most of Wednesday night on this uh website with Lift Up. and Barb and Jake were working with me Saturday morning um to get these letters right because it's hard to find letters that fit all five of you who have different ideas that maybe get the right tone to a state and a federal delegation. Um and so their leadership has just been outstanding and so um I love where we're going. It meets one of our major value statements about collaboration. Um I hit on what you talk about there. Um but also their leadership has been really good. The $100,000 really becomes a backs stop, right? That's what it is. It's a back stop if this continues on that we could be support, but the community is stepping up and that is really really a good thing. >> It's amazing. >> It's amazing. >> Yeah, Mr. Chair, thank you. Yeah, I I just want to um echo what Leslie said because I think I think sometimes folks forget even folks in the community forget that that you too and and many of your staff already had packed full already have packed full jobs. You have things to do every minute of every day and into the evening. These these really are extra unforeseen things. So, and this is one of many going on right now. So, thank you. That doesn't go unnoticed. Um and and we need to make sure that that uh you don't drop over during all this and that you get to sleep and eat sometimes. Um so thank you sometimes. Yeah. Sometimes >> and and Mr. Chair, I fully agree government doesn't need to do anything but I think this is a perfect example what government needed to do here which was convene [clears throat] that a lot of times our community organizations, our faith communities, >> they don't have the capacity or the ability to do that type of thing. So this is in my my view at least a very perfect role of government to convene and and get all these people talking and and working together. So it um it's unfortunate we have to go there but yes I'm glad it's working. I I was on CAP finance committee call yesterday and and did hear about some significant donations coming in, but also, you know, also a need that because of other funding, they're they're, you know, I don't want to say laying off people, but reorganizing and and making sure and we have those same. I think that's what what the general public doesn't know. We're really working to make sure that our residents um can survive and get the help they need, but we're also taking some hits to budget because a lot of that federal money that paid us to administer the federal program is not coming in. And these are real employees and real jobs that we and other organizations have and it does affect our our budget and our organization and management. But that's true for some of the nonprofits also. They're we're all dealing with that because of the uncertainty. So, thank you. Well, I mean there's right chaos, but in the midst of this chaos, there's opportunity and it feels like we are working with our community partners, our community to try to, you know, maximize that. And it's and hopefully this is something that because we're about this. We're about hope and transformation, right? What's what's your first word in your >> right transformation. >> Transformation. We want to bring about as best we can a lead the horse to water type of thing about hope and transformation in everything we do. And this is just one of those areas that um highlights that area. So it's it's I'm very excited about this. Yes. >> Um I was had the opportunity to sit at the round table with HY Savage >> um and those private organizations or businesses that are stepping up like Shak People >> um that are that they don't need us, you know, they they know what to do and they're they're um uh >> doing what they can to support. I think it's just great. So, >> a lot of businesses, a lot of people, I mean, there's a lot of people stepping up to get this thing done. And I just, you know, unfortunately, it takes these kind of moments of chaos that bring that not not bring it out, but heighten it. But hopefully these are opportunities that we can um, you know, move forward with with more community engagement and partners that we work with to do the work that need the hands and feet, do the work that needs doing. >> Great. Thank you so much. I believe Barb is We have two letters. So Barb is going to read the first one. >> All right, we're moving on to 9.2. Looking at adopting resolution. >> Still 91 on the for the letters. >> The resolution. >> Okay, got it. Got it. Yep. Perfect. >> Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion to adopt resolution number 2025-260. >> Second. >> I got so excited I was moving on to the letters. All right, we have a motion, a second. Uh, any further discussion on that? >> Otherwise, all in favor say I. >> I. >> I. All right. Now, the letters. The letters. You, me, who? You, you, her, you. >> Would you like me to read in the resolution? All right. This is uh an action asking you to adopt resolution number 2025-266 approving the submission of a letter to the Scott County federal and state delegations urging action to minimize impacts of a federal government shutdown on counties and residents, including the continuation of SNAP benefits and payments for administrative processing. Whereas the United States federal government shut down on October 1st, 2025 after lawmakers failed to appropriate funding for fiscal year 2026 or pass a continuing resolution. And whereas the US Department of Agriculture, USDA, Food and Nutrition Services, notified the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, DCYF, that if the federal government shutdown continued into November, there would be insufficient funds to pay November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP Benefits. And whereas the USDA has directed states to hold the issuance files and delay transmission to state electronic benefit transfer EBT vendors until further notice. And whereas in Minnesota, [clears throat] county governments acting as an administrative agent to the state and federal governments accept and process SNAP applications and determine eligibility. And whereas county workers have been directed by the USDA and DCYF to continue to process and determine eligibility for new and existing recipients to ensure benefits will be available as soon as the federal government issues the funds. And whereas SNAP helps more than 440,000 individuals in Minnesota, including roughly 5,700 individuals who reside in Scott County. And whereas SNAP benefits provide roughly $850,000 in monthly food assistance to eligible Scott County households. And whereas food shelves in Scott County and throughout Minnesota are already strained and are anticipating even higher demand if SNAP benefits are not paid to households starting on November 4th, 2025. And whereas the Scott County Board of Commissioners on November 4th, 2025 authorized the emergency use of $100,000 for Scott County food shelves. And whereas the failure of the federal government to maintain essential services during a shutdown places the burden of emergency response on state and local governments, straining already limited resources. And whereas local counties should not need to use local funds to step in to solve state and federal funding shortfalls. And whereas Scott County strongly believes that providing food assistance to eligible county residents is the responsibility of the federal government which is administered by the states. And whereas due to Minnesota state statutes, those costs are then passed on to the 87 counties and local property tax. And whereas we encourage an immediate resolution to the shutdown and the payment of SNAP and other federal benefits be reinstated as reflected in the attached letters. And whereas Scott County expects that the federal government will reimburse the county for the county's administrative costs for accepting applications and determining eligibility for all work that is done during the federal government shutdown. And whereas counties across Minnesota, including Scott County, are on the front lines of administering human services programs and will bear the operational and financial burden of any disruptions in federal funding or program continuity. And whereas the Scott County Board of Commissioners believes it is imperative to communicate [clears throat] the urgent need for federal and state leaders to take action to prevent or mitigate the impacts. And whereas the state of Minnesota needs to acknowledge its role in meeting these basic needs if the federal shutdown continues. Now therefore be it resolved the Scott County Board of Commissioners hereby approves the submission of a letter to the Minnesota congressional delegation and state legislative delegation for Scott County urging swift action to ensure the continuation of SNAP benefits and to minimize the impacts of a federal government shutdown on counties and their residents. Be it further resolved that the board chair is authorized to sign and transmit the letters on behalf of the county board. >> Great. Thank you. >> Mr. Chair, I'll move approval of 2025-266. >> Motion, >> second. >> And a second. Any further discussion? I will say, um, this is one of those things where many of the systems we deal with, they're not perfect systems and we also have people in need. So, it's time to get this thing figured out. So, um, so I think the letters capture that essence. So, motion, second. Any further discussion? Otherwise, all in favor say I. I. >> I. All right. Uh, resolution passes. Thank you so much. Thank you very much. All right. We're going to move on to item number 10, committee reports and commissioner updates. As always, look down to my right. Commissioner Wetman Brekie. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, we had our last board meeting was October 21st. We had workshops after that board meeting. on October 22nd, Jake Grusin and I met with Shane Oor of Lifup, which turned out to be a good meeting because then we were able to involve him and some other things. So October 22nd also had the state community supervision advisory council meeting and that day also had a virtual meeting with representative um representatives Kelberg and Hansen and Lisa Freeze and her team to talk about the Highway 13 project um legislative asked for this year. Uh on October 23rd I attended AMC District 8 meeting in Nobles County. Um very interesting after the meeting we toured um they have uh a part it it's some a facility actually connected to their jail and county buildings that was used for other purposes. They've built out some mental health beds um that are just opening now to serve several of those counties down there. I just not many like five or six beds but there's nothing like that down there. So, it was good to see how they're they're able to work together and do that because we know there's a need. [snorts] Um, also on the 23rd had the county state long-term services and support subcommittee. 24th I was at AMC District 6 meeting in Granite Falls. Um, the 27th had human services budget and federal changes steering committee and AMC finance committee workshop. um at least three or four of these groups that you'll hear in my report are all have all been stood up for state and federal budget changes and and the work that needs to be done. So, um October 28th, we had board workshop, also had a long-term um services and supports advisory subgroup meeting that day. On the [snorts] 29th, um the administrator Leslie Vermillion and I met with the mayor and city administrator of New Prague. Um, as you know, there's been a change in the mayor position there in New Prague. And so, it was good to to um to meet up again with the old mayor, new mayor, Chuck Nicole, and um hear from him. And his goal really in this in this um interim type position is to keep things sailing smoothly. And and uh he already has served with these council members, so it just does seem to be going smoothly and and good. >> Good. the 29th had together we can steering committee. Also a meeting with um our CDA executive director and the district 1 CDA commissioner about the um vacancy in district 1. Deian Crowit has served district 1 on the CDA for a long time and [clears throat] served very well and so really just we hadn't had applications yet. O doing some brainstorming about folks that they could reach out to um to make sure we we get somebody who really cares about housing um from district 1. Um October 30th um met with Mark Paul from Demcon. Just kind of a touchbased meeting about things going on in Louisville Township. Um October 30th also had the county court communications and policy committee meeting, a long-term services and supports advisory council meeting. Um on October the 31st had a planning meeting. Uh Leslie and I are making a very quick trip to Seattle. I think 36 hours in November for the National Congress of American Indians joining um we're asked by Administrator Red Nikki to join him. Um Mayor Briggs uh to put on a workshop about about scale and and um interactions between the tribe and county. [snorts] Uh, November 3rd had CAP finance committee meeting, District 10 meeting, also the Transportation Alliance annual meeting, and then last night was Blakeley Township meeting. Thanks to Brad Davis and County Engineer Tony Winnicky for attending that meeting. We talked a lot about County Road 51. Talked about um just planning zoning issues. They were very interested in what's going on with um the federal budget and the state and the impacts. Um, so it yeah, I think we we chatted with them for a good 45 minutes um during their township meeting. So, >> and Mr. Chair, that's the end of my report. >> All right. Thank you very much, Commissioner Wolf. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. On the 22nd, we had uh MMCD, Metropolitan Mosquito Control District. They had a really nice uh presentation on mosquitoes and what they're doing to limit their effects on us. Uh then uh we had uh that night I was at Red Oak uh Elementary in Shakipi. There's a little road over there and it looks like everything will be pretty good there. On the 23rd we were over at the Burnsville Water Plan for a bonding tour to um hope to get some funds for the uh Highway 13. Uh that night Elco New Market had their city city council meeting. Everything's uh pretty good there. On the 24th went to Lisa Freeze retirement. Um, it's funny cuz I can't see her here today for the first [snorts] time in >> I know you [laughter] know what, three years or something. Anyhow, then on the 27th had a a uh meeting uh on the phone with uh No, talked a lot about the uh SNAP and Wick and um and also the green light uh program. Um on the 28th the workshop. Uh on the 29th uh um community roundt uh and then on the 3rd yesterday AMC had uh that little meeting that Barb discussed there but a few issues. Um and last night Credit River and Cedar Lake uh had their monthly meetings. That's my report. >> Great. Thank you very much Commissioner Brennan. >> Thank you. Um October [clears throat] 22nd I sat in on the MBTA board meeting. Um October 22nd I attended the open house for County Road 21 in Southbridge in the new um um proposed turn lanes on um County Road 21. Um October 23rd I attended the housing bonding tour uh for County Road or not County Road I guess it's Highway 13. Um so it was great to see um our house um delegation there and um showing them showing the things that have to happen on um Highway 13. Um October 24th was the Dakota Scott Workforce Board. Um I think we got into a conversation about um the federal um um shutdown and the federal conflicts. Um, and we als I think we also need to really focus on and I'll bring it up at our next meeting, but but jobs for people that are being affected by um the new regulations or proposed regulations for SNAP and WIC. Mhm. >> Um October 27th was I had a meeting with um Spuck manager Greg Drent and we talk about talked about nuclear energy and what nuclear energy would mean in uh Shockp or Scott County. Um October 27th was um the Scott County WPC board meeting. October 28th was our workshop. October 29th was the food round table. October 30th was a meeting with the courts and judges. Um, on November 3rd was the AMC district 10 time meeting. >> Thank you very much, Commissioner Albert. >> Okay. On the 22nd, I attended the fish board meeting. We're working on budget. Uh, later that same day, the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority Board meeting. Uh, 23rd, the House bonding tour. I was particularly pleased with Jess Hansen and her speaking strongly for the Highway 13 project. I think she did a nice job there. Uh M 24th MVTA finance committee and then later that day, Lisa Freeze Retirement Celebration. 27th, the transportation um active working group for TAB. um they have this u category called community engagement that's going to have a real key role in active transportation projects and the regional solicitation active transportation is um bike pad and roll. So it's it's walking, biking and wheelchair projects. And the the measure in community engagement that's troubling, if you kind of win the three measures under that category, if you win the get high in each one of those categories, you're guaranteed a project, which makes all the other measures irrelevant. Uh, which is ridiculous. Um, you know, I said, um, well, how about if we, you know, why don't we just say if you if you win the two major criteria under safety, why aren't you guaranteed a project there? I mean, the TAB has been most concerned about deaths on, you know, whether it's pedestrian or highway or biking or what, you know, the amount of deaths in the state. Why don't we give that the wild card for safety? I said, I don't support that either. I think the projects all ought to score well in all the categories. Don't make one category a guaranteed wild card, which is, you know, so I'm I'm really against that. So I think they're going to maybe look more deeply at that, but they're going to follow each other. So if they're going to make it in the regional solicitation, they'll make it in the active transportation category as well, which is a state program. Okay. 28th county board workshop, another finance committee for MBT on the 29th, the faith committee roundt, which I thought was fabulous to get all those people in the room >> the same day with very short notice. >> Um that was great and and and um to and then convey the problem, the nature of the problem, the nature of the need, all that. The one thing that I I went away with like, well, [clears throat] we didn't really have strategic initiatives that, okay, the faith community could do these or these here's a grab bag or or a dashboard of options for strategic initiatives in the faith community or there was a grocery store there. Um, you know, what would be what could grocery stores do? Or there was a school district there. What could school districts do? You know, I heard from Ben Bakeford that they're doing great things in their school district. Are all the school districts doing that? I mean, it would, you know, I'm just want wondering if we and I was glad to hear also that you're having ongoing conversations, ongoing meetings. Maybe that's all occurring. Um, but I'm just wondering if there would be any need to get subgroups together for strategic initiatives. For example, uh, I know one church, larger church and boy scout troops do the same thing. I just learned this morning is they have a plastic bag, you know, with the message of the need and what what the deal is, and they put it on a door and say, "A few days later, we're going to come back and pick up whatever you would like to donate to the food shelf." Well, that's that's like a strategic thing that, you know, if all the faith communities wanted to do that or all the youth groups wanted to do that, I don't know. I just maybe we'd have a dashboard with with initiatives that could be put into practice. Um, but anyhow, so it was great. I'm just um and I it's probably unreal realistic to expect on short notice what I'm suggesting you know you know so I get that but anyhow but I I have no criticism it's fabulous what has been done already um and I thank you for that uh the third another MBTA management committee um one thing that's going to be happening with uh the service provider you know Schmidies and Sun are the contracted provider. You know, they drive the buses and they're they're >> subcontracted to carry out the work of >> transporting people. There's going to be a new RFP um you know, every number of years, whether it's three or five years, it's good to get a new RFP and and be seek competitive bids on that. So, they're going to be going through a competitive bid process. I asked the question, you know, well, Schmidies is a local company. are there other potential RFPs that would also be considered local? And they said yes. And I the reason I asked that I I place a a value on being a local company, you know, that it's local jobs. It's a local, you know, so although even a non-local company would still have to hire all positions from the local community, but still I value that. Okay. Um later that day, the Scott Carver Mo Mobility Management Board, we received a report on uh May Mobility in Southwest Transit. And I I learned that uh Go Marty in Grand Rapids and May Mobility are the same. >> Um Go Marty is just the the branding name up there for the service. So it's the same exact program. Um and um you know up up in Itasca County when they did that pilot they it was quite a partnership of men you know um but the the county was engaged in the partnership too and the city cities were as well. I think there was 10 or 12 people that contributed to that pilot. And I'm just wondering in the future if you know with our transportation sales tax we've had a transit category small modest of that those dollars. I'm just wondering if someday in the future we might want to participate in uh autonomous vehicle pilot with Yeah. So it's a thought for the future. That's end of my report. >> Great. Thank you very much. Uh going back to 21st postboard workshop 22nd MMCD was talked about. We're still talking about mosquitoes. That particular um meeting also talked about ticks and the fact that we are still in a I hate to say the timeline of where ticks are still very active. It's like what in the world? Uh then after that rushed down to uh the fish board meeting back here in Shako. Then later that evening open house for 21 in Southbridge. Uh then next morning met council member Delaney for some local Turkish tea. uh in downtown Shako uh just getting to know each other based on that workshop we had a couple weeks before that and then that uh afternoon the house bonding tour I think stopped here and then went to 13 so I hosted them here and um tried to look them all in the eye and talk them talk to them about Miriam Junction and needs of the county and we want to be great partners which I think our body of work shows that um I I I did say I said I'm not singling anybody out here uh but I yeah I know sometimes we get labeled as the whiny counties we're coming and and and a certain Brad just a certain Brad was changing name looked at oh he's talking about me. Um so a thank you for both the blue and the red team that shows up and we can have these conversations and have good relationships so there can be some very serious conversations and some also some good naturatured ribbing along the way as well. Um so and then they sounds like they had a great uh stop at at 13. So house bonding tour, thank you for making a stop here and considering Scott County. Um, let's see here. Then 24th, Lisa Freeze. I know. I'm going to just look check the room. Is she she is she on one of these cameras up here? She's probably like long gone, right? She's on some park someplace. She's Northshore um retirement. It's It is It is odd. You have some of these retirements that I I've mentioned it before. It's kind of like a Sasquatch. You hear about it, but you never see them. And you hear about this retirement, you think it's never coming. And now she's not here. So, we already miss you, Lisa. Uh 27th, I had the uh community health improvement committee. That was a call. Then I popped out a little bit early to run over to the Vicky Carlson retirement. And if you know Vicky Carlson, it was a very spirited uh very upbeat um very energetic. I walked in when Judge Lennon was kind of doing a a little bit of a program or whatever. And it was it was a lot of fun. Um she's very excited and rightfully so. Uh so she's ready for the next chapter. And the next chapter is better look out, whatever that is. Better lookout. Uh TW uh 10:28 board workshop. um 1029. I'm I'm mentioning [clears throat] the faith round table. I missed it. Um it was only one thing that was going to keep me from that and it kept me from that. So, but I I do see this as an opportunity and this was an immediate need and we assembled these people because of the work that we've done before and the work that they want to do and I'm excited to see some of these next steps that I think will come out of this. You know, we've had a round table what I'm looking at Jake three years ago was the first one. Um this is technically the second. The first was a big lift with housing. Took a while to digest all of that. Um, and now these are these are big needs, but I don't want to say not a heavy lift, but not like housing. Um, so I'm really anxious to see how county is convenor, big believer in that. Um, again, the first old thing, community helping community becoming the next new thing and how we can foster that. I'm super excited about that. And then 11:3, uh, AMC District 10. Really excited. I I I've mentioned this, um, boy, I'm going to say this publicly. I mentioned this at at the AMC board meeting that I you know some of you may not some of you may know some of you may not know I I have a drug problem. I'm being drugged to the AMC meeting uh by my colleague. So let me be clear. I don't have like a pharmaceutical drug problem being drugged to AMC but >> drugged as dragged. >> Yes, drug isn't dragged. Thank you. um just in case, right? But it does seem like the temperatur going up in a good way of of enough people are starting to like go like enough is enough. Like I'm we're sick and tired of being sick and tired. We're like, yes, let's let's let's collectively push and get some of these things changed that need to change. This is we all know that the path that we're on is not sustainable. Um, and I do believe in 87 counties, all of those different counties, different administrators, different commissioners, different staff, and we all have our own, I mentioned it yesterday, we all have our own hobby horses. We all have our own ideologies. We all have our own personal opinions and viewpoints. But some of these things are seemingly bubbling to the surface and seemingly getting people's attention that we might be able to form a tip of a spear and actually do some really good work. not that good work isn't happening, but to make some real significant change of the state that impacts all of us in ways that lower the cost of government, get need to where it needs to be done in a way um that makes a lot of sense. So, thank you for dragging me. Um that is the the drug problem. So, that was that was yesterday. Um and then earlier this morning, we had a new employee welcome. So, with that, that ends my report. Look down on my left. County administrator. >> Yeah, Mr. Chairman. Um, just a couple quick updates. Tomorrow, the uh, Metro administrators [clears throat] do meet. I was nice to hear Ling and, uh, Heidi yesterday speak up on their concerns about some of this. Uh, they're in the number two and three largest counties in the state. So, that was encouraging. Um, but we do meet tomorrow and, um, we are meeting to talk about armor and some draft legislation on the, uh, safety uh, systems in the state of Minnesota. Um, Commissioner Fernando spoke about it yesterday. you've been a big pusher. The two of you coming together got this on our agenda. Uh Jill will be there from the MEESB. Jake and Scott H drafted some language um that then Jill edited and that's gone out to the counties um for review and for folks to take a look at as Representative Steer has asked for some draft language to bring forward for next session to start to take a look at this. And then um secondly um the Henipin County just a quick update on our LEGPS uh public safety information system update. Um we continue to work through the draft in the governance. I think we made some headway this last week when it went from Henipin and partner agencies to we're all partner agencies and then if Henipin provides something that should be called out as a cost share. That was a big step forward. Um we're still optimistic for second quarter of 2026. Um but getting uh central square uh to move forward has been a little bit difficult from a project management standpoint as well. So we continue to work through that. I'm optimistic um that that will move forward. At least two of us will be on the same system hopefully by the middle of year 2026. So I just I want to go back and revisit the MSB because are you saying that you know with Chair Fernando myself you that you can have birds of different feathers that can come together for common common good. >> Uh yeah I would say you're about 180 degrees apart on lots of things but when you uh take a look at how can we communicate better how can we be more efficient? What should be a state system versus a local system because the entire state of Minnesota uses it. I think you are perfectly aligned. So, you're saying there's a chance? All right. Uh, looking down to my right, county attorney. >> Mr. Chair, we do not need to meet. >> All right. Great. Awesome. Thank you so much. Uh, with that, I will look for a motion. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. Any further discussion? Otherwise, all in favor say I. >> I. >> I. We are adjourned. >> I forgot my normal workshop message. [clears throat] for anyone that cares. We