This meeting is being recorded. Good morning everyone. It is Tuesday, February 17th. We'll call the Wright County Board of Commissioners to order. We'll begin with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [clears throat] >> It's great to see that we are filling up threequarters of the chairs in the room today. uh must be some exciting uh something exciting happening today or uh somebody very very popular may be retiring. So first item on the agenda here after the pledge of allegiance is the minutes from the board meeting on February 3rd. I'll stand for corrections or modifications to those minutes. Any motions otherwise to approve the minutes as presented. Second >> motion by Commissioner Holland. Second by Commissioner Shane. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor say I. I. >> I. >> Post. Same sign. All right. Minutes are approved. Unanimous. Uh today's agenda. Would anyone like to uh make any corrections to today's agenda? >> Mr. Chair, I do have an item I'd like to petition on. Under items for consideration administration number four. It'll be resolution 2617, a resolution authorizing submitt of a fiscal year 2026 um build grant uh application for the I94 to US 10 regional Mississippi River crossing project. >> I'll make a motion to approve the agenda with that correction. Second. >> All right. Motion by Commissioner Holland, second by Commissioner Shane to approve today's agenda with the addition of administration items for consideration for for the build grant application and resolution. All right. Uh any other discussion? Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppos. Same sign. >> All right. Agenda's approved unanimous. Today's consent agenda. Would anyone like to remove anything from today's consent agenda for further discussion? I'll stand for a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Otherwise, >> moved. >> Second. >> All right. Motion by Commissioner Moa, second by Commissioner Shane. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Same sign. Consent agenda approved unanimous. And we are moving along quite swiftly here. Uh first the timed agenda item. We have Jamie here or is uh it looks like Michelle's going to take her spot here. Uh first item we have on there is some recognition of services. >> Good morning board. Uh we have a couple of retirees today. So that is why the full we have the full house um in recognition and appreciation for their time served. Um this is Jessica Nelson. She's one of our social service supervisors and she's going to um tell us a little bit about Terry. Terry's not here. She's actually uh she took a week of vacation and she shies away from the public spotlight a bit. So even if she were here, she might not be in the room, but um we still want to recognize her because she's fantastic. Thank you. Um, so I just wanted to share and honor Terry Arvig um by sharing a little bit about her journey with Wright County. Terry started at Wright County in 2004 and brings with her great knowledge and experience that will be missed. She has worked with a vast array of programs including licensing, financial services, chemical dependency services, mental health services, and now she's currently working in coordinated access which encompies encompasses all of those service areas. and sometimes all at once. Terry started her career with HHS as a office support staff in the licensing area. In this role, Terry opened cases for colloccated workers and completed tasks related to licensed daycare homes. She moved into the case aid position with licensing and then conducted safety checks in daycare homes while also working with the volunteer driver program. Terry worked closely with this team for 12 years of her time at Wright County. A reorganization happened around 2017 and Terry moved to the mental and chemical health team. While in that team, Terry provided support for chemical dependency assessments and determine financial eligibility for clients needing a rule 25. A few years ago, HHS continued to review agency needs and determined that Terry's position would move to financial services where she continued to process applications for behavioral health funds and assisted with integrated services. Last but not least, she has been a part of the coordinated access team since 2024. When Terry started, all files were paper. She worked through the various adaptations and changes to programs. She was also part of HHS becoming paperless. She recalls the work and processes evolving significantly through her throughout her 21 years with Wright County. In her retirement, she will enjoy spending time with her children and grandchildren. She hopes to do some traveling as well. Over the years, many co-workers enjoyed hearing about Terry's children growing up right along with her career as she worked at Wright County. Thank you to Terry for your years of dedication to Wright County. [applause] And Terry, if you're listening somewhere or watching this at a later date, we greatly appreciate the many years of service that you have dedicated to the citizens of the county. and I applaud all of you showing up here today. It shows what great of a relationship that you have as co-workers and how much she meant to this organization. Uh so I I hope when you move on to your next stage in life that it brings you great joy and you had great memories here in Wright County. So thank you. >> So I'm uh Jill Per and I'm here board excuse me uh to present another retirement. We have Leanne Fel who has been with our agency for over 38 years. I believe you started as an adult mental health social worker and has been the supervisor of our waiver and community services supports uh for how many years now >> has it been that you've been the supervisor? Do you remember? >> 23. >> 23. So today board I have the privilege of recognizing someone whose presence has shaped this organization for over 38 years. That kind of dedication is rare, but what's even more rare is how she brought her spirit to work with her every single day. She has been a true content expert, someone colleagues turned to, not only for answers, but clarity, perspective, and wisdom. Her kind and patient demeanor made even the most challenging days feel manageable. And when she stepped up to present or speak publicly, she did it with humor, warmth, and made people lean in, listen, and laugh. Her support of her staff and others across the agency and organization has been unwavering. She has shown up consistently, quietly, and wholeheartedly. And of course, many of us will never forget the tradition of her baking to celebrate her staff's birthdays and other celebrations. Her treats weren't just desserts. They are gestures of care, community, and celebration. Perhaps what stands out the most to me is how deeply she has loved her job. That love has been visible in her work, her relationships, and her legacy that she will leave behind. On behalf of Ray County, we extend our sincere gratitude for your extraordinary service, and our warmest congratulations. As you step into retirement, your impact will continue to be felt, and you will always be part of the story we have here. And as you can see with the full room, Leanne has touched not only her own own team's spirit and souls, but those across the agencies. And if you've ever been to Second Flor, she has her candy dish out there and always the smile. And so I want um she said she didn't want a plaque, but we couldn't resist getting her something anyway. And I have to give Diane and Nessa credit for some of the work. And I think you should open it now just to see her smile. She will love it. [laughter] >> [applause] [applause] [applause] [laughter] >> And that would be why someone asked me what color my dog was. [laughter] And it is amazing that that is indeed what my dog looks like. [laughter] like um [clears throat] I appreciate the piles, [laughter] the the piles of paper. Yes, I am a paper person. When I started here, that's what we had. Um, I I was here when literally we got the first computer, the first the one computer and we signed it out and we rolled it down the aisle when it was your turn and your two hours or whatever to use the computer and and had one of those printers on the bottom with the rolls of paper and the punched holes on the side. It was great. [laughter] I still like paper, but but yeah, these are kind of the things they put the things I love. Candy dish, though. This is way nicer than the one I have at the desk. [laughter] Um the always present diet Dr. Pepper. >> I I think I should own Skak. [laughter] I would have retired a long time ago. [clears throat] H and and my if my husband was here, he would like can't believe she said that. But my lovely goose poop green Subaru in the corner. [laughter] It really has a nice name like autumn something or other, but it's goose poop green. [laughter] So, thank you >> very much. And I I want to say thank you to the board to Wright County [clears throat] for putting up with me for 38 years. [laughter] Um and and Joe made the statement. I loved my job. Whichever job I had, I loved it. I loved working with the people, our our constituents, the folks that needed our help and being able to make their lives just a little bit easier. Um, I enjoyed being a supervisor, [clears throat] though there were days. [laughter] So, thank you. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, LEANNE. [applause] >> [laughter] >> 38 YEARS. That is amazing. >> That is amazing. >> Thank you for all the dedication that you have uh given to this organization and to the people. Can't thank you enough. >> I enjoyed 95% of it. [laughter] There were some of those days in paper. Well, that's >> it was sharing that old computer, right? [laughter] >> And now moving along here, we're already on to items for consideration. Uh first item for consideration is adopt resolution 2614 uh rejecting the hearing officer's recommendations uh for the H&H sports. Uh at this time, I'll stand for a motion. >> Mr. Mr. Chair, if I could before the motion, um I would just note that there is a typographical error in the first paragraph. It's referring to the city of Albertville when it should refer to the city of Maple Lake. Thank you, Administrator Kryser. So, we'll make that correction on the back side. All right. So, I'll stand for a motion for resolution 2614. >> So, moved. >> Motion by Commissioner Shane. >> I'll second. >> Second by Commissioner Holland. Any discussion >> here? I just the only thing that I I would say and I said it before and we talked about this is I think that we do need to have some sort of communication with them even if they don't respond or you know do anything in regards to what we asked but if we don't at least send some sort of certified letter to them saying we're not going to uphold any of your you know judgments that you do within our county unless you follow our proper procedures then you know we're not going to work with you. At least then they've heard it and we've put that out there. But um I I think without that communication, we are going to create an issue down the road and it may not be for any of us. But uh there there may be an issue down the road if we don't just have that communication where we put it out there that you're not following what our ordinances are. So we're not going to enforce anything that you do unless you start following what we ask. >> Yeah. And just to clarify that that's pertaining to the FDA's compliance checks and the FDA, not the business themselves. Just if they're >> Yes. Yep. >> So, and I think that is uh that I think we all have uh the same sentiment as far as those compliance checks and whether we are going to honor the FDA's or not. It all pertains to how they want to conduct them. So, we'll see how that goes going forward. But, as it stands right now, if they haven't had any communication with us and they're not going to change their practices differently, then I don't know that we can honor them. So, and with that, is there any other discussion? Hearing none. Resolution vote. Commissioner Moina. >> I >> I >> I >> I >> I. >> Resolution passes 5-0. All right. Next would be adopting resolution 2616. Uh delegating abatement powers to the county treasurer auditor. And I'll make sure that they understand the abatement powers on this is not the abatement of uh economic development property. I I just know from the onset on a day wanting to underdo it is more from a tax assessment perspective. So I just want to make sure that that is that lanes are clear on that because I know somebody could read that and uh think that we're giving uh our auditor treasurer the an awful lot of uh power there but no that is not the case. So with that I'll stand for discussion or a motion. >> So moved. >> All right second that. [clears throat] We have a motion by Commissioner Shane, second by Commissioner Holland. Any further discussion hearing? None. Resolution vote. Commissioner Shane. >> I >> I >> I >> I. >> Resolution passes unanimous. All right. Next is the appointment and of an alternate to the central Minnesota I'm sorry, Emergency Services Board. Uh, Administrator Ker, do you have any pieces to this you want to talk about first? >> Yeah, Mr. Chair, we received a a message. I think it was from Commissioner Dedricch brought it up that we could appoint an alternate. Um, and in looking at our sheet when we appointed commissioners to various bodies, we removed all alternates from our listing and inadvertently added this one which actually does specifically allow for an alternate and their joint powers agreement. So, there's a form we can fill out. Um, the board can discuss who they'd like to have with an alternate there and we'll sign and submit it. [snorts] Don't all raise your hands at once. [laughter] >> I'm already on it. So, [clears throat] >> well, it leaves you down to four of us here, but uh >> whatever whatever is asked of me is fine. [laughter] >> All right, I'll make that motion to appoint uh Commissioner Moina to the Central Minnesota Emergency Service Board. >> I'll second that. All right, we have a motion by Commissioner Shane, second by Commissioner Holland, to appoint Commissioner Moa to the Central Minnesota Emergency Services Board. Uh, I'm not sure if that is an honor or a punishment, but I guess that's up for you to determine. [laughter] Is there anything >> for clarification? That was for the alternate position >> for the Oh, sorry. Good. Yes, for clarification. That is an alternate. Thank you. Do you want a rebuttal on it or [laughter] he's going to happily accept it? All right, we have a motion. We have a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. Uh, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. All right. You are now the alternate. Commissioner Moina. And now we're moving on to our committee minutes. >> Mr. Chair, actually the bill grant resolution. >> Yes. And letters of support. So this would be the resolution 2617. we are looking to adopt uh pertaining to the uh CMRP and the uh river crossing over the Mississippi. But I'll chat over to you, Chad. Yeah, this is kind of a short um notice, so I appreciate you petitioning it on for us. But yeah, for the uh as the well-known um build grant, which is the better utilization investments to leverage development is they have uh um applications due on the 24th, which we could do an after the fact resolution. It just this would be much cleaner if we can get this included. And um I I want to point out on the seventh whereas where it says right county will serve as the primary applicant and we'll be respond and funding and we'll cover any cost overruns. I mean that's standard language but obviously we have our agreement with Sherburn County that it'll be split 50/50. So but we didn't want to muddy the resolution with that. So I wanted to clarify if anybody caught that. Um yeah. So that's that's the main purpose. It will cover in addition to Sherburn County's deed grant that they got for a million dollars. So, it give us three million of non-local funds to continue the the work. >> So, >> that's great. >> Well, hopefully uh this application will go well and we'll get some additional funding uh because we do know that this uh tier one environmental will be uh quite costly. >> Yes. Yeah. >> Mr. Chair, I just want to commend um Chad for doing such a great job and putting this together so quickly. >> Thank you. Y All right. So, at this time, I'll look for a motion to approve resolution 2617 uh authorizing submitt of a for a build grant for the uh said project. >> So, moved. >> I'll second. >> Motion by Commissioner Shane, second by Commissioner Holland, and any discussion hearing? None. Resolution vote. I vote I >> I >> I >> I. >> Resolution passes unanimous. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> If you have 30 seconds, I could >> Yeah, for sure. >> update. I know um mentioned uh first warm day of spring or winter. It's still winter, but we always get started getting phone calls about weight restrictions and we've been working with John. Our map is updated. Typically, it's end of February, early March. Um we have a cold snap coming again. So, um we're getting close, but there are just so you just a little information, there are frost measuring devices in roadways on like 10 to 15 different parts of the state. And we look at like Minro Road is one and as the frost starts to work its way down and so that means the top is soft and the bottom is still frozen that's when we monitor those and then work with Mindot and when their restrictions go on we add ours. So usually it's another few weeks um and it lasts for 6 weeks and then we also send out the information to all our townships of here's our map and then we let them know when the restrictions go on too. So Mindad usually send out an email a weekend before. >> Okay. and then we like to get it out soon as we can because then people can get their loads moved before the restrictions go on whether it's heavy equipment for a new home or a construction project. So, but we've been getting some calls about it. So, if you get questions about it, it's it's we won't have much notice, but we have an updated map that we can get out um and then uh but it'll probably be a few more weeks. So, >> but all right, >> it all depends on what mother nature decides to do. I >> Yeah, we Yeah. and everybody starts thinking when it gets up to 50 and then but now next week it's down in the 20s and lows in the below 10. So we're not out of it yet but just want to give a quick little update. So thanks for the time. >> Thank you. >> All right. And now we are going on to our approval of the personnel committee minutes. Uh so the personnel committee met on February 2nd. Uh we had a few different requests there. The first one was the uh Oracle product owner. This would be a neutral or virtually neutral. It might have a small impact uh to the uh budgetary impact within department 100 but it is budgeted funds but uh it's based on a reclassification but there be moving an existing or an existing or I shouldn't say an existing creating a position that and removing a position within the organization I want to um better service uh our Oracle systems. So uh the it could be budgetary neutral but when creating the position we have to look at what the pointing is. It may go up a potent uh this new position may be a grade higher than the position that we uh would look at removing through attrition in a different department. So >> is that correct Mr. Chair? staff has continued to look at it um for pointing and of course we're we're always mindful of the budget for the board as your your leadership has taught us very well um and we'll continue to do that and um once the time comes we'll post the position and get it going again but um HR and administration are looking at it deeper to make sure it is revenue neutral >> and then there was a request by Mer County uh on wanting to look at a cooperative uh potential JPA with them for public health uh after analysis through it, uh there wouldn't be many uh upsides to it for Wright County. Uh so it was the uh personnel committee's recommendation to uh deny the request for a uh further exploration of a joint efforts of public health between uh Wright and Mer County. Mr. Chair, if I could just add on, yes, this came to us from Mer County. Um, sounds like they're I'm going to probably speak out of turn here and I'm looking at my public health director, but um, Mer County is looking to split off with their current group that they're with for public health and they approached right county to see if we could be of assistance. I I think the size and and geography of our two counties just aren't going to make it compatible. Um, but I'm always interested in trying to make government more efficient if that involves partnerships through JPA. But in this particular instance, I I think just given our geographic and where our population centers are and how our two counties are set up, it's just not going to work. But um I I'll convey the the message over to Maker County's administrator though after the meeting. >> Chairman B. Yes. >> I just have one question. You guys went through um all the uh negotiations for our contract and that Oracle was supposed to really help uh guide you through that. Did you feel that that was a big benefit to have that new software? >> That's going to be the EPM module for budgeting come out this next budget cycle that that's finishing up which is part of the reason why we are looking at the new position is to be able to have someone else to try to manage that EPM on a product management side to make sure the updates and um everything's going good on development. But I think it would still say that our current system uh when trying to run numbers through the negotiation through the the payroll system this was uh the existing what we do have was beneficial in being able to get us real numbers uh in a quickly and efficient fashion uh was much more beneficial than historically >> it was and and Mr. Chair our finance director and assistant finance directors the lift that they do for us during those negotiations is absolutely extraordinary and very helpful as well. Great. >> Good. Thanks. >> And the other one was a backfill of a budgeted position within finance for a staff accountant position. And then the other was a backfill of a budget analyst position that's been held open for an extended period of time within the finance uh department as well. Uh then the last one was uh to over comp the license center for a short period of time uh just cuz we have a number of positions open and they just uh and there's some expected ones that would could be potentially opening up here so that they can keep themselves close. I'm not even going to say that they're even going to make fully staffed, but closer to fully staffed, especially coming into the uh summer months when the uh vacation requests uh tick up and if we aren't able to honor the vacation requests for people, uh then we tend to get more turnovers and that doesn't do us any good. So, we want to make sure that we can keep ourselves close to fully staffed because uh I think fully staffed at times there is difficult if not near impossible. All right. And that would be the person personnel minutes and recommendations. I will uh stand for a motion. >> I'll make a motion to approve those recommendations. >> Second. >> Motion by Commissioner Holland. Second by Commissioner Shane. Any further discussion? >> Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppos? Same sign. [clears throat] All right. The minutes are approved unanimously. Next would be the uh committee the whole that took place on February 3rd. uh kind of a number of different items on there that was discussed from the opioid settlement bylaws to the uh affordable housing funds that were given from the state. Uh largely most of it is uhformational with just the minor tweaks to the bylaws to the opioid council so they can move forward. With that, I'll stand for discussion or motion. >> I'll go ahead and make that motion. >> I'll second. >> All right. We have a motion by Commissioner Shane, second by Commissioner Holland to approve the committee of the whole minutes from February 3rd. Any other discussion hearing? None. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppos. Same sign. All right. Motion passes unanimous. And now we have the operations committee that met on February 3rd. I will see if uh either uh Commissioner Mo or Commissioner Holland want to do any highlights from those. No. All right. So, looks like they were largely just informational and I think you guys are just kind of uh working on uh getting those KPIs put in place which I think is going to be great going forward. So, I appreciate your efforts on that. >> I want to thank Mark for all the hard work on that. >> And with that, I will stand for a motion to approve the uh operations uh committee meeting minutes. >> I'll make that motion. >> All right. Motion by Commissioner Holland. >> Second. >> Second by Commissioner Shane. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppos. Same sign. All right. Motion passes unanimous. And with that we have come to the end of today's agenda. Uh if there's any last parting comments if at all by anyone >> Mr. Chair, could you just give give us an update? You took a trip out to DC. Can can you share with us what what you guys were doing out there? >> So we we had a lot of great discussions with the FHWA. uh the discussions were largely around the river crossing and finding out uh what things we need to document to put us in uh I wouldn't say an advantage point but yes an advantage point in getting the funds here over I hate to say the next five 10 years because uh these type of projects aren't ones that we'll fund in a short period of time. Uh we also had some discussions with uh uh representatives in working on trying to get funding for additional funding for our partnership out there with the uh Wright County Sheriff's Office and the FBI. Uh as well as we were finishing up our uh in saying our gratitudes for the funding for the project on Highway 24, Minnesota Highway 24 and County Road 6 that we got $3.7 million in funding. Uh so that was great. Uh we also started working on an additional appropriation uh funding and getting uh that word out there an appropriation funding for a roundabout on County Road 19 and 18. Uh so that was fruitful in getting that and that application should be going in shortly. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to go. That's very beneficial. >> So with that, uh if there's no other business to attend to, we will adjourn today's county board meeting at 9:30 a.m. Thank you.