00:00:05,467	S1:
For this December 1st, 2025. Uh,

00:00:11,067	S1:
if I can get, uh, roll call, please. Commissioner Schwab. Here, Commissioner Woodcock. Here. Commissioner Munson. Here. Commissioner Bitner. Here. Chairman Botkin. Here. Uh. Approval of the agenda. Motion to approve. Second motion and second. Further discussion. Hearing none. Call the roll, please. Commissioner Woodcock. Yes. Commissioner Munson. Yes. Commissioner Botkin. Yes. Commissioner. Commissioner Bittner. Yes. Commissioner. Schwab. Yes. Chairman. Bacon.

00:00:42,501	S2:
Failed to vote.

00:00:43,868	S1:
Uh. Next item up is consideration of the July 7th, 2025 Wheat Board minutes.

00:00:51,567	S2:
Move. We approve.

00:00:53,701	S1:
Second motion and second. Further discussion. Hearing none. Call the roll, please. Commissioner Munson. Yes. Commissioner Bittner. Yes. Commissioner Schwab. Yes. Commissioner Woodcock. Yes. Chairman. Botkin. Yes. Motion carried. Uh, this is public comment for the, uh, December 1st. Wheat Board at 4 p.m. today. There. I got it in for you. Um, public comment restricted to Burleigh County residents and landowners. This is public comment. First call for public comment. Second call for public comment. Third and final call for public comment. Public comment is now closed. Moving on to our next item, County weed officer Darren Johnson. Uh, the 2025 Annual Spring Update and discussion. Darren. Uh, yeah, I pull that mic down. I got your packet right now.

00:01:47,767	S3:
Can you hear me? Yes, sir. All right. Um, in your packet that I provided for you guys today, um, just, uh, a summary is basically what the first part is here on how the year went. Um, it went really well, but, uh, we can start out with the chemical sales purchases and a chemical application. Um, I'll basically read it back to you. Or, you know, if you haven't read it, um, just kind of run through it here. Our chemical sales on the private landowners, uh, we had 64 sales there. Um, in the contracted applications for the application on private land was 52 applications there. Uh, the chemical applied on the road and the gravel pits was high noon toward, on and with, uh, liberate the surfactant. Um, we had really good, really good spraying this year. Um, there's one properties, uh, owned by Burleigh County, that we did allocate the milestone and free lakes combination with, uh, liberate. Um, that was on our county section. It's up by wing. Off of two 14th Avenue. Up there. It had been getting grazed. Um, it had been grazed. So we felt that we best not go in there with the high noon. We went in there with the milestone of Felix. Um, it was mainly wormwood infestation in there. Um. Very good kill on it. Um, a lot of younger stuff when we were there. So it it it was very good. Um, that way. And we're going to be going up there and doing the North end. The, uh, grazing was down a little bit on that particular on the south end of that property. That's why we use the milestone. But, uh, um, this next year, like I said, we'll go up on the North end, more up on the foothill area and, and meander up there and see what we what we have there. We don't have as much wormwood in that area. Um, mainly I think is because of the traffic coming in. That's where we do stock the highway department or Burleigh County highway stores there, rock piles there. So there's a little bit of, you know, there's some seeds coming in that way. And that's why I think we had that, that infestation there. Um, I did purchase, uh, uh, chemical um, this fall here. Now, we got everything we're going to need except for maybe a little free next year. Um, but, uh, I purchased the torch on the high noon, uh, milestone and liberate. Um, if you look at the deal there, you can see that the Toren was up a dollar per gallon. High noon was down and milestone was down, because that's basically, uh, they throw that sale in the fall so that they don't have to carry it over themselves. So, uh, and then the liberate was up at buck 30 a gallon there, but it's still overall a $3 and 20 cent savings for the county. Yet by purchasing in in the year before. Um, and then, uh, let's see here. Yeah. And then like I said, maybe this next spring. Here we'll look at what the free prices are running, because I'm talking with Bill Walker, the rep from Nutrien. He didn't think there was going to be much of a fluctuation. So I'm gambling on just getting it next spring instead of having that on our overhead in the storage area, or just at the distribution center over winter. Um, and then there's, uh, I have here that's, uh, as far as purchasing some roundup, I have an idea that to run past you guys, after a little bit here, I'll mention that a little later. Um, is there any questions up to this point?

00:05:29,467	S1:
Yeah. Um, Darren, what percentage of our yearly totals for chemicals are we able to to get ahead on? How much can you store?

00:05:41,267	S3:
So right now it's full. I mean, I what I have for area now is it's full.

00:05:50,400	S1:
Okay. So how much of that is we'll go through all that. How much more would you have to buy? So are we at 40%? 60% for what our summer usage is right now?

00:06:04,767	S3:
Um, from what we use this year on all the, the roads, the MnDOT stuff, we we should have that amount already with this purchase. That's what my, you know, because I figured out and we went through I went through everything that we used this year and we should be right there. Um, providing, you know, well, the new area with the MnDOT, we weren't able to do that nine mile stretch along the interstate there because of the new construction, but because that ground is disturbed will be I mean, we'll have some weeds there. We have to control this year, of course, but hopefully we start looking at a percentage of less chemical Because of a good a job well done. So. But yes, the purchase, the purchasing of the chemical this year should take care of everything we're going to need for next year. Okay.

00:06:59,167	S2:
Mr. Chairman, where do we store our chemicals at? And second question, what's the shelf life on those? How long can you hold them?

00:07:07,868	S3:
Well, the chemicals fine. As far as shelf life, I mean, it can it can be years, you know, three, four, three, 4 or 5 years, whatever. Um, right now we're up at the old, uh, the county East Sheriff's department. Oh, okay. That's where we're at in that blue building up on top there? Yep.

00:07:26,000	S3:
Any others?

00:07:32,167	S3:
No. All right, we'll move on to number six here. Um, just the spring season. Um, we did have some complaints, which was suspected to have, um, most were just, um, in the bordering the city limits, including the lots that hadn't been built on and acreage that have the animals next to each other. You know, 40 acres, 20 acres or whatever. And that's mainly what the complaints were on. A lot of it was just the wormwood and thistle infestation, um, around the border of the city limits. Our contractors are, you know, they store their dirt, you know, their dirt piles just off to the side of where they're developing at the time. Well, there you that's they get a lot of weeds in that area. But, um, speaking with the several different contractors, I know, most all of them, um, from my background with construction, all were nice to work with, got in there, took care of stuff and and the people around them areas were really happy to see it. The dirt piles themselves that I mean, if you got cash on them, what you do, I mean, It's got such a resistance handling that is very difficult to get a kill, a 100% kill on it because there's so much resistance. But, um, the one in particular, there's a lady that has built there, and she was one of the first. She was the first house in that area. So she had a lot of complaint about it. But after I explained it to her, the situation with it and the contractor, we were able to just get everything smoothed out there. So things are good there. Um, the ones that are, you know, evidently going to be harder to get or get Ahold of in a sense, or get a response back from, ah, the people that are out of state and or live out of town. They're just a little more difficult. But I only had two that I wasn't able to complete or whatever this year. But, uh, they're they're definitely ones that I'm going to be going looking at for this next year. The 2026 season. We had a complaint where we had a little bit of drift spray, drift concern, uh, Greenhead spring and I, we, I well, I got Ahold of South Dakota State Lab and, uh, with Chris, uh, we went up there and we took samples of the plants for which they felt were chemically, uh, damaged by, uh, we sent them in. It did come back that there was traces of chemical that we were spraying. And, uh, so we worked that all out, panned it all out. The landowners happy, everybody's happy. It worked out really good. Um, that way. Um, then number three here, uh, we got sensitive areas, of course, with the r o w s um, we're marking them out with our spray sync Android systems, so we're we're taking care of those just fine. I'm working with the, um. Certain. A couple of the landowners, they're really into, um. One, they really want to cover their area by themselves spraying them. Rose. I'm okay with that. So they're doing that. But I'm also going up and checking to make darn sure that the applications are doing are fine. You know, that that they are getting, uh, weed control. Um, then landowners uh, this year with the, the contracted spraying had a lot of good feedback there because they know their property, they know their weeds, they know where they have their infestations and stuff of these noxious weeds. So they really like that. The spurge end of it was really good. Um, in the sense that you go in and you spray your adult plants and you get your young plants, but you always have some, some percentage of regrowth in the fall. I had a few guys, not as many as I'd like to have seen, but they came and had a second. Application in the fall. And that was that made a big world of difference, actually. Um, and then, uh, we have the guys, uh, the, the self applicators. Um, move them. Some of them I moved, uh, or were able to move from milestone into the high noon and, uh, they're happy. Happy with that. And plus they're, um, I ordered in one gallon jugs of liberate surfactant people. 90% of them didn't even know what a surfactant was. They didn't had no idea. So they're buying these gallons at our cost. They're not saving anything on it, but at least they're getting it. And there's been a really good, uh, feedback on that. Um, and then, uh, see where I'll hear, uh, Burleigh County here, uh, the wheat weed board here, or Chris and us, um, we allocated for the, uh, MnDOT highways. Their budget was 30,000 and the final billing was 30,493 94. And I had called in prior, when we were getting up close to that 30,000 and had the okay to go over the 30. So, um, they're all happy with what we got done on the interstate. Um, we did have an area where, uh, with the highway construction on I-94, they're moving some stuff down closer to highway ten. A lot of weed infestation on them area. So I called and went in there, and we sprayed that to control that. That. And that was part of their, uh, that was included with their, uh, their final billing. So, uh, we'll see where that goes with that pile yet. And then just, uh, uh, with the North Dakota extension, um, I've been I was asked a couple, three times to show up there and do a presentation at their Recertification chemical certifications at the for each building. So that was kind of neat. It was interesting to meet some guys there and get some input on and stuff like that from some other people. And then, uh, is there any questions pertaining to that section? Yes.

00:13:52,000	S4:
I got vetoed on this by Barron. No. Excuse me, I got vetoed by Darren for this year on the on the dot right aways. And I'm thinking they should be paying a little bit for our services.

00:14:13,367	S4:
You know, like 4% or something like that because we're using our GPS. His man hours. So do you think it's a good idea or not? Yeah.

00:14:28,667	S1:
Darren are the man hours. Not so. The $30,000, is it just for chemical?

00:14:33,767	S3:
No, that's that's that's the chemical. And Chris. Chris is. Yeah. That's him by the by the truck and along the interstate. There's two people in that in that particular pickup when they're out spraying because you need one to drive. Run the sprayer one for eyes especially pulling up in and out of the interstate sections and stuff like that. So yeah, it's just the chemical and the the application.

00:14:59,868	S1:
So are our costs for that. We're not taking a loss or.

00:15:03,167	S3:
We're not taking a loss because they're paying the chemical and that right now. But I mean, do I go out and I inspect them areas, you know, certain areas along there? Yes. But it's kind of like on the roundabout if I'm down in like Christina, you know, town township or something on the way back, I'll take and stop, go down, look at, you know, the areas where you can definitely see where we've hit with and see the application on it. But I mean, do I put some time into it? Yes, but I guess it's up to the board. If we were to add a percentage to it or.

00:15:40,167	S1:
In line with other counties on the dot side contracts.

00:15:46,367	S3:
I mean, some of them do it, some of them don't. I mean, it's kind of a mismatched deal. I mean.

00:15:53,167	S1:
I'm just kind of curious what the process looks like. If they have a $30,000 budget, then, you know, how do you manage that budget so that we're we're made whole.

00:16:04,701	S3:
Well, that's that's what the recording, the spreadsheet spreadsheets it we we and with the androids, we know what we're putting down for chemical, you know, per per day. Say yes. That's all. That's all recorded with there. Yes. Because we have to have your, you know, the wind. Everything else all on the spreadsheets are not yet.

00:16:27,367	S1:
Commissioner Ritter.

00:16:29,200	S5:
Thank you.

00:16:29,501	S3:
I think it makes sense.

00:16:31,300	S5:
I'm not sure about that veto part, but it makes sense for us to cover the time. I don't that's not an unreasonable ask.

00:16:39,100	S4:
I'm not, I'm not.

00:16:40,167	S5:
State of North Dakota doesn't send inspectors out to job sites and whatnot without getting covered. Right.

00:16:45,667	S4:
And I'm not saying a lot of money, but to cover his time and, you know, he spends time on the GPS in his office throwing all this data together.

00:16:55,000	S5:
So I think that's fair, I think. Hopefully you have a bit of an idea of the time you spent doing it, and you can explain that to him.

00:17:03,300	S3:
Yeah. Going into this next year. Absolutely. When, when was brought up, it were already coming into that spring season. They already had their budget figured out what they had for their spring and everything. So I didn't veto it. I basically just didn't know how to go about telling them that right at this time or at that time. And, you know, pull that out from under, you know, rug out from underneath them at that time.

00:17:25,868	S5:
To work out something fair with them.

00:17:28,467	S3:
Right?

00:17:29,067	S5:
You know.

00:17:29,467	S2:
Mr. Chairman, Commissioner, do we have a contract with them at all?

00:17:32,467	S3:
Yes.

00:17:33,801	S2:
Is there anything in there about that?

00:17:35,868	S3:
No, not that I'm aware of or that I've read.

00:17:38,267	S4:
No there isn't.

00:17:39,467	S2:
There isn't. Let's drag out that contract and look at it and see what we can do. Because I think we should be charging them.

00:17:44,667	S3:
That's something I can. I can look at your time.

00:17:46,868	S2:
Your time is very valuable. What do you take away to do their stuff? You can't do the the other stuff. So.

00:17:52,467	S3:
Yeah.

00:17:53,167	S1:
Um, and if some of the other counties are doing it that way, then reach out to them and see how.

00:17:57,167	S3:
Yeah, I'll do that. I'll, I'll check in whether it's a little more.

00:18:01,000	S5:
Just to be fair.

00:18:01,868	S3:
Yeah. I mean, Ward County, Williams County, Stutsman County, all of them. I I've never brought that up to them or it never dawned on me to ask any of those questions when I do visit with these guys and, and kind of pick their brains on certain things, but.

00:18:15,801	S5:
Visit with them ahead of time, give them a chance to adjust the contract accordingly.

00:18:19,567	S3:
Yeah, well, see where it's all at. You know, I'm sure there's going to be some differentiation in that. But if whatever it is, I can bring it to you to the board later and we'll figure something there.

00:18:29,868	S4:
Do we?

00:18:33,200	S4:
Do we let Darren just go and negotiate something and come back?

00:18:38,601	S3:
Sure.

00:18:39,100	S5:
I think so, yes. He's the guy that knows.

00:18:42,167	S4:
You know who? You know how to speak to you? Yeah. Try not to break the state.

00:18:45,968	S1:
As long as we're in line with these other counties that are doing it that way, then we're gonna. We'll be fine.

00:18:51,801	S3:
Okay.

00:18:52,667	S2:
Mr. chairman. Yes, sir. Um, I know I had a call from somebody at the Hawk tree in that development out there. Do we do do we do that development? And if we do, do we charge them, or do we just send them to somebody else or what?

00:19:05,567	S3:
Oh. Hawk tree. Okay.

00:19:08,100	S2:
I'm not picking on that one.

00:19:09,367	S3:
You're on with with housing developments. There are certain ones that do have their own stipulations, their own, you know, their HOAs, stuff like that. I've had a lot.

00:19:21,968	S1:
Of.

00:19:22,100	S3:
Calls from Hawk Tree, which I understand their concern for noxious weeds. But where it comes in is they're only allowed to mow down so far. And then you have your down at the bottom of your drawers. That is called the conservation area, right? According to their HOA it says no spraying, no mowing, no nothing. That's right in their contract. So we don't do anything up there. Nothing at all up there. The roadways, you know, like 804 or whatever. Yes. That area we do do that. So. Yes, sir.

00:19:52,767	S5:
Did you just say they have a homeowner's association that specifies no spraying.

00:20:00,100	S3:
Mhm. Yeah. In those, in those drainages there's no green area conservation or conservation area.

00:20:06,467	S5:
Well I don't I don't need to be the one to point it out to you. But state law requires control of noxious weeds.

00:20:12,200	S3:
Correct. And that's that's why I mentioned to them. And I pointed, pointed that they go to their HOA and work it out amongst themselves to how they want to take care of that. Down in them areas. Because for us to go in there. And then the other tricky part up there is that some of them have an HOA. Then there's like a street with five houses that don't have that. They're not part of the HOA. When the when the second like second realm of building went on. So I mean and and most of which was because of like the the golf course down there, they had infestation of different noxious weeds down there. And I worked with Eric was the gentleman that I don't know if he's there. And I tried calling him a couple of times this year and he never got a hold of him, but I went down and helped him, um, work out a spring system and whatnot so he could do more coverage for himself down in that area. He did do it. They actually mowed some of it down and let the regrowth come. And he did spray that. So I mean it. I worked with him on that too. But it's also a private entity. So I'm kind of, you know, I can give them what I have for information and help them out and whatnot. But that's kind of where them, the, the, the noxious weeds are going up in there because it just drifts up, you know, up and into them. Right. Uh, cult centers.

00:21:40,801	S4:
Yeah.

00:21:41,701	S5:
I just want to reiterate, though, you have, uh, you have an enforcement responsibility also. And I don't think that we should just say if they have a homeowner's association with a conservation easement, that they don't have to control noxious weeds because that's not consistent with state law. So I, I know that neighbors always have a problem with weeds coming off of somebody else's property. Nobody appreciates that. Right? I would like to see you just make sure that you're enforcing the control. You know.

00:22:17,801	S3:
Great. I am. I'm doing that.

00:22:19,567	S5:
Okay.

00:22:21,167	S3:
So give me a second here. Me?

00:22:40,067	S3:
Get my notes down so I don't forget. Is there. Are there any more questions in that area or in that section? Um, section number six.

00:22:49,367	S5:
Yeah. Sure. Not necessarily relative to any particular thing there. But one of the things that happened around my area this year is that apparently we sprayed in my area probably first, and then a lot of the weeds, in particular the Canada thistle, um, didn't get sprayed because they weren't visible yet. And then by the time you came around in the fall. It was too late. They were seeding out and blowing all around the area. So I would like to know if you've thought about that and what you can do differently to address that.

00:23:26,267	S3:
Well, with that situation, um, whether we're in the northeast corner, the northwest corner and start, we're going to have that to a certain extent this year instead of what we require is two spray trucks and a backup. We actually ran around with three trucks this year to get ahead of everything. To get a better application down on our androids, we were able to mark areas of concern are more concerned, like if there's an infestation, a heavy infestation, we can put waypoints down and we go back to do those. We did do that this year. If they missed the spot there or if it wasn't there, there was no way of really knowing. But right around town is where we always start. You know, at least get one truck to get around here because of the number of people that do see the weeds. And then that's a lot of calls. So we always what I've been doing is we start out with one truck or two trucks, depending on time of year, wind and everything. We try to take care of it right around the city limits, and then we move ourselves out. Um, and getting back to, to these areas, starting out, like you said, you're, you know, that particular weed, whether it's thistle or what if it's not up at that time, there was no way to mark it. So but we did come back and still drive the roads around here. If it was missed, it was missed. But you know, we're doing what we can with what we got, you know, in the time frame. You know, I would I wish we could add another week, a week and a half at least this year to, to do a little bit more of the fall application. But you know, you're going to have that stuff anyway. I guess my point.

00:25:05,567	S5:
Is, by the time you came around the second time, it was too late.

00:25:08,400	S3:
Right?

00:25:09,000	S5:
You know, and, um, and there's a really big area that was reseeded. Yeah.

00:25:16,567	S3:
Yeah. Well, this is our first year out there. Keep that in mind. It'll it'll get better.

00:25:22,701	S1:
So would the solution for that be another truck earlier or because.

00:25:26,167	S3:
Well, you can't hit it too early. And I mean with Thistle it don't come in until July. Right. So we're already out there. Like this year, we started the I think it was the first first week right in there or right before the second week of May. We got out there because we had that warmer weather in April, that two weeks of hot or warmer weather. The spurge came on really hard and and the grass was still low. So we got a real good. I mean, we it was easy to identify the spurge. So we got out there and that's what we tried, you know, getting after right away before it went to seed. So I mean the fall application, if you know, I'm sure yours isn't the only spot that was, was missed or overlooked or whatever. Come the on the onto the fall spring. But I mean instead of two trucks out there, we do have three out there. And that's what we're operating with so we can get stuff covered. How they did it with two trucks before and did I have no idea because with three is it's it's a lot of work right now. And because it hadn't been you know, the applications hadn't been what I mean in prior years, like last couple of years or whatever to end those. Oh, well, now we're trying to catch up on that stuff and, and we can, you know, we'll get on to it. We'll get her.

00:26:45,100	S6:
Anything else?

00:26:47,968	S6:
Okay.

00:26:49,000	S1:
Item seven.

00:26:51,367	S3:
Okay. Item seven. Um, this summer, I attend. I got a quick click on that thing. Um, this summer, I attended a beetle collection out at Lake Ida at south of Gwendolyn. For those that don't know. Um, it was put on by the NDA and WCA organizations. I brought back several bags of beetles which were brought in blacks, mainly there, and distributed them in areas in Bergen County with a lot of spurge area or larger spurge areas, and then also through NDA. Uh, they they went out and collected some redheaded beetles out in Montana, and I was able to get six containers of those and I put them on some certain areas, also on some private landowners with permission, and actually have one that says, man, I hope these things take off on this because it might be a future collection site because like out at Glen Ellen, um, for the number of years that it's been a collection site, the spurge is gone. You know, it's it's getting less and less. So we're there now with John. We're trying to look at a newer a new site for for collecting these things. And yeah, it's the landowners are, you know, we're interested in them. And that was a good thing there. And everything's, um, GPS through John Mortensen, through NDA. So he has all the on the skew, uh, take pictures on the phone, skew close to him. He's got everything he needs for the disbursement of the of these beetles there. So is there any questions as far as the biochemical?

00:28:27,767	S4:
Yes. Okay. When you release these little bugs, I assume you cannot, uh, spray them areas, then? No. Okay. No.

00:28:40,467	S3:
They're mainly put in the areas where there's a lot of trees, um, like, uh, up at Hog Island, up in that neck of the woods. There's some up there. Um, there's two landowners that are north of there, down in the cottonwoods and stuff down the river bottoms there that, excuse me, that have them. And then also on the other side of 1804, um, there's the hogback going up in there. It's pretty rough up in there. It's hard to get anything up there to spray. And that's the landowner I reached out to, and that's where I dispersed. Mostly the red headed beetles so that, you know, there's no, you know, accidents up in in their stuff.

00:29:15,400	S2:
So do they survive the winter to go to winter?

00:29:19,367	S3:
Um, it depends a lot on the soil with the, with the brown and black beetles because they, they eat on the root systems. Okay. And depending on how porous or non-porous the ground is will determine on their. Yeah. The rate of, of success of growth.

00:29:43,200	S3:
Any other questions on number seven.

00:29:45,000	S4:
Yeah. If these survivors come out what's the gas station period.

00:29:51,567	S3:
You'd have to ask them. Yes I just I have no idea.

00:29:56,868	S4:
Oh okay. Well I didn't I didn't think you did, but I didn't need her.

00:30:01,968	S2:
I always want. You always want to learn something at these meetings? Yes, that's for darn sure.

00:30:07,000	S3:
It's when they're. When there's more of them that's wrong that time. Okay.

00:30:14,000	S3:
Any other questions on number seven? Biochemical.

00:30:17,701	S1:
All right. Item number eight.

00:30:20,200	S3:
Gravel pits. Uh, rules and regulations. Um, we have we we allocated on all the county pits, um, that were hauled out of and or were not touched this year. Um, we had a couple that needed some fall application. Um, that's, uh, due to whatever reason, we applied the second application. Um, the NWC, um, has formed a committee, um, to look at changing or not changing so much, but organizing a rules and regulations for the pits and rock piles and whatnot statewide, because as of now, each county has their own. And it's very hard for especially for the contractors that are coming in to take over an older pit or go back into a pit. There's from county to county that they don't know where they're going with these regulations because they, you know, there's so, so many different ones. So what we're trying to do with the NWC is to get a statewide run so that weed officers are on board. We know everything's out there. And these these other guys, the contractors coming into these pits and um, I guess, well, I went I went out to Manning because most of the uh, candidates for, for um, this new rule and regulation thing, they're mainly from out in the Ward County area, Stutsman County and Williams County. Because with the fracking or the oil rigs out there and stuff like that, they have a lot of stuff to go over there. But I was asked to be a part of that, to kind of represent or whatever to the east side. So what I did there is, um, Bill walkers is also on this committee. Um, I took the they asked for what our regulations were and stuff, and so I gave a copy to that. Everybody did what they had. So we kind of conformed that to make what we have. But, um, now in January here, we're going to at the convention. Excuse me. That's when uh, we'll, we'll bring it to all the people that are showing up there, all the weed officers and whatnot, and just get some input and stuff before we move forward with anything else on that.

00:32:49,767	S1:
That'll be here in Bismarck this year.

00:32:51,367	S3:
Uh, yes. Yep. Same thing. Um.

00:32:53,501	S6:
January 1st.

00:32:56,300	S3:
Yeah, it's the first week of summer. Yeah. So, um, any questions pertaining to that one?

00:33:11,868	S1:
2026?

00:33:14,767	S3:
Okay. Uh, with the topics for this here, um, we had excuse me. We had some problems with the coin dispenser up at the wing. Uh, real fire department up there. It is an older, uh, mechanism up there. I did call Vern Manufacturing, who installed that back whenever it was. Um, the reason for the problem we're having is that there's a tube that the coins go down into the trigger. The the machine, that tube dispenser is old and the newer coins get lodged in there, and they've tried to tweak it and everything else. But speaking with the gentleman from Vernon Manufacturing, they still have those coin slots and everything. This guy. He's an elderly guy. He told me how old I wouldn't. I don't remember, but he actually remembers coming up here with his dad and doing that particular installation. And he's out of gypsum, Kansas. But I spoke with Mayor Julie Wing, Mayor Julie Heim about it, and I just we're using it up and stuff. Can they afford to do it? Probably or whatever, but I'm just making a proposal that, you know, for a $70 deal if, if we board can just purchase it or so and then I'll be part of the installation of it anyway.

00:34:44,868	S4:
Um, just just do it.

00:34:47,167	S1:
Okay.

00:34:47,601	S3:
Well, I mean, I'm not going to spend it. You know, go up there and spin. I would, I would just, you know.

00:34:53,100	S5:
In a case like that, I would just talk that over with the commissioner that's on your portfolio, and I would just do it.

00:34:57,767	S3:
Well, I knew his answer, but I got a yes this time.

00:35:00,400	S7:
So anyway.

00:35:02,000	S1:
So so is that new coin tube gonna facilitate newer coins? So. Yeah.

00:35:07,567	S3:
Yes. Yeah. It would. It's long overdue because there's guys that get the coin in there and then they try putting a stick down in there. Then the stick breaks off and then we're really in a mess. And then to find the, the the maintenance guy down the road, they're about 100 yards. Can't find him usually. And so it turns into kind of chaotic. And then if they can't find them then they go. They have to drive, you know, to Wilton or whatever to get water in their tanks because there's nothing around there. So and so okay, that's a go. I'm going to purchase that because I got an overall well, just about it. Anonymous. Yes. Yeah. Um, item number two here. The southeast portion of Burleigh County. Meaning from sterling. Basically. East southeast. Down in there, we're find ourselves, um, coming back an awful long way to get water for our tanks to refill. Um, I've talked to I've discussed this a few, you know, with a few people out that way, but, um, I checked with rural water even or the central water to see because they have their sites or their transition shacks basically out there to whether we could fill there to make it a lot easier. And they do not want to or don't think it's feasible enough to go in and put a bunch of different, um, gauges in and ball valves and all that stuff to align it up to for us to fill what my proposal is on that is, um, If we could purchase a thousand gallon tank or twin five hundreds and have it at the Stirling shop. That'll save a lot of time back and forth. And it's there, you know. I mean, we can if we the gates are locked on the weekend or whatever. If we could get keys, we'll work with that so we can go in and fill there. Um, speaking with, uh, Nicole, I talked to her about that as far as how we would manage the, the use, the water usage and whatever. And and she's like, well, we can go off of, you know, last year's buildings or whatever, or put a separate, uh, meter in so we can regulate the water usage. And then the Wheat Board would pay the highway department for that water usage.

00:37:34,367	S1:
So would you be looking for new or use tanks for that? And the racking that it would have to go with that?

00:37:41,467	S3:
The well, it wouldn't even be racking Um, for them because you I can we can we can buy two, five hundreds or a thousand. I'm I'm not purchasing new. My my goal is to save money and and do it efficiently as we can. So used is where I'd really point towards there. Um, and then you can buy in-line electric pumps. So I mean we can have them just sitting on the ground and, and and run it, run water in that way.

00:38:13,667	S1:
Um, well depending on the location though, then.

00:38:16,100	S3:
Well, it'll be closer to the shop. More than likely, but my.

00:38:19,300	S1:
Thing would be electrical there then.

00:38:20,767	S3:
Yes, absolutely. Electrical is fine. It's just mainly the measuring of the water usage is is what would be the main thing, I guess. Um, and then uh, with that too, I mean, having them sitting on the ground not knowing what or, you know, the guys, the, the highway department guys out there, personnel out there, If you know, if the tanks are set there and it's like, yeah, that'll be fine. Then all of a sudden it's well, no it's not. So, you know, because we got to do this or that. I do have a trailer of my own that I would just put the tanks on. It can sit down there and then when we're done using drain everything and we can just park it off in the trees for the winter, if that. If, if it works out to, to be something that way.

00:39:08,000	S4:
I don't think you can use your equipment for county business. They got trailers up at the at the shop up there.

00:39:18,000	S3:
Yeah. But I mean I don't want that's the highway department stuff as far as the Wheat Board. I like to keep that, you know, separate in a sense myself. And I mean, the trailer I have has got new tires on it and it's just sitting down there. Haven't moved it for three years. But like I said, we can just set them right on the ground also and put an electric pump on.

00:39:37,167	S4:
What happens if somebody steals your trailer.

00:39:40,167	S3:
Good riddance.

00:39:44,968	S3:
I want my dang tanks back. So, um. But, yeah, that's that's something that, you know, that working into the spring over and, uh, um, something for you to think about.

00:39:58,400	S6:
Do it, do it.

00:40:01,100	S4:
I can see why they need water out there. I didn't.

00:40:06,267	S4:
You got tanks lined up.

00:40:09,601	S3:
I'm watching. I I've did a couple inquiries already.

00:40:14,000	S6:
Yeah.

00:40:14,567	S4:
So what do you figure to eight? Cause.

00:40:18,000	S3:
You know, it all depends. Um, the main thing is, is purchasing used is how far you got to go to get em. That's the bugger. I mean, you can get out of town quite a ways to to find them. I like auction sales. That's my. That's my goal. If I didn't know, if I'd have had this idea, I could have purchased them both this year already, but.

00:40:39,901	S5:
I've got a pretty big tank in the shed out at my place. Owner.

00:40:43,267	S4:
What about those tanks and the aluminum frames?

00:40:47,701	S5:
Totes.

00:40:48,601	S4:
How much do they hold in the.

00:40:52,000	S3:
What?

00:40:52,400	S4:
In those aluminum frames?

00:40:54,601	S3:
Oh, they're two 5250.

00:40:57,000	S4:
Yeah. Okay.

00:40:58,267	S3:
Yeah.

00:40:59,501	S5:
Um, so how do you. So the tanks are going to sit there and then, uh, you're going to fill them from the, the shop, correct. With the hose or with an automatic fill or what's going to keep them.

00:41:12,968	S3:
Yeah. Well, what the what the goal is there is we're just going to have a flotation device to shut them off. Done with that, you know. And then at least if they're full, I mean, if you had 1000 gallons, we normally have two trucks in that area at any given time. So at least in the evening, if one of the highway personnel shuts it off or they're full and they can shut them off, but they can, at least they'll have them on the water they need in the morning to mix up their 800 gallons of.

00:41:42,067	S5:
It just occurred to me there's some cheapy inline fluid counters, you know.

00:41:48,300	S3:
Right. Yeah. That's right. Yeah. There's if we could get it in line. Yeah. Meter. That would you know, that's something else that we could look at.

00:41:55,300	S5:
Real reasonable price.

00:41:56,701	S3:
Yeah.

00:41:57,300	S5:
Meters you.

00:41:57,868	S3:
Know. Yeah. I mean then that would save a lot of back and forth, whether it was from last year's bills to this year's or whatnot. So yeah they do have those.

00:42:12,667	S4:
May as well go for it. Okay.

00:42:16,367	S3:
Got that going on. Um.

00:42:19,067	S1:
Just figure out if you're better off with 1000 or 2 500 for if you're filling two trucks at once or.

00:42:25,467	S3:
Right. Well, if it's an auction deal, whatever comes up and reasonable, you know, that's the way I'm going to. That's the way I'm going to shop. That's I'm going to do my wife's Christmas shopping this year.

00:42:37,501	S5:
So you better.

00:42:38,667	S3:
Don't tell her that you don't watch this on TV. She likes that stuff.

00:42:44,100	S1:
Mr. chair.

00:42:45,000	S3:
Yes, sir. You know, just real quick looking online. I mean, that thousand gallon tank is at 15, 1600 bucks. Brand new, right? You know, so if you use.

00:42:52,200	S5:
That as your top end budget, I think you're good. Okay.

00:42:57,901	S3:
Good. That's what I'll do. Um, okay. And then number four here. Three over on three. Oh, um, androids, we have, um, two for the vehicles right now because they're required to have two trucks. So I bought the two androids, or the two androids had been purchased before I came aboard. I purchased one for my truck so I could take and see what they're doing out there where they're spraying. Go back. And, you know, you can see where they had been on mine. But because we are running three trucks, I would. I'm going to. I'd like to purchase one more so that we do cover everything. Because if you. You look at the map that I provided there, um, all the way from the north to the south. But down in, when we got down into with that third pickup down in Boyd, Logan, Taft, Thelma Driscoll, Clear Lake, all them down in this area to Morton and them. We did not have the android down in that area. So it didn't make this map complete. But I know it's a little it's small scaled or whatever, but you can see, um, the spot spraying on here, the boom spray, there's the solid green lines and whatnot.

00:44:12,267	S1:
Do you have it in the budget?

00:44:13,801	S3:
Yes.

00:44:14,868	S1:
And do.

00:44:15,400	S5:
It. Do it.

00:44:16,267	S4:
How much is an android?

00:44:18,868	S3:
Oh, the the android itself is around seven, about 700. And then that's, that'll be with the cards and stuff. That'll take up to Tom Schrader or. Yeah. Schrader. And put them cards and everything. I'd say that's between 6 and 700 bucks. Something like that.

00:44:38,267	S5:
Mhm.

00:44:41,367	S3:
Okay.

00:44:45,767	S3:
Yeah. Jim Hansen's the one that I sent the Android stuff to. And he made up these maps. And I actually have a bigger map that's up at the highway department now back pinned on to my cubicle. So keep those rolling. Year to year. Show the benefits of them. Uh, let's see here. And then, uh, number four, this is just something to throw at you guys. Um, there's a convention in Loveland, Colorado. It'll be from April. It's April 20th through the 23rd. Um, it's through the NWC. Um, they put 12 $1,250 towards the trip. Um, it's not for sure that it's something I Want to go to. But whether I should, you know, is kind of up in the air. I'd like to, in a sense also, but it's through an application and then, you know, however many they get, they do the choosing and, and of who they'd like to send down there to represent the North Dakota Weed Control Association. So I'm just asking if that's something that the board would, um, consider if I was to put an application in for and I'd be gone at that, you know, for over that time. And then the 1250 will cover so much of it, um, you know, not knowing what the expense would be, um, you know, would come out of education fund or whatever through the weed board. Just.

00:46:17,868	S3:
Do it if it's worth my time to put in. I mean.

00:46:20,567	S5:
I.

00:46:22,400	S1:
Went online, so yeah, I, I think it would be beneficial.

00:46:25,767	S5:
Yeah. I'd say going if it's going to be beneficial, that's good. And you can make that determination then whether you'd ever go again. Okay.

00:46:32,300	S3:
Okay. Sounds good. Thank you.

00:46:37,901	S3:
I'm not that great at winning, uh, raffle tickets and stuff, so I probably wouldn't get it anyway.

00:46:46,267	S2:
Talk with your wife first, dude.

00:46:50,100	S3:
All right. And then number five here. Um, the distribution center. This is something, uh, Steven, Steve Schwab and I had talked about a couple of times. Um, the distribution center that's over on 52nd over there. I mean, it's a fine enough facility for what we're doing as of now with the smaller chemicals, the number of, you know, five gallon boxes and stuff like that. Um, but we have a they're moving up nutrient Nutrien and I don't. Van Dietz is kind of entering into what I believe, but nutrient is getting to where they're getting bigger. Totes like the two 50s. You can pick that up, or you can buy or you can purchase, um, five gallon pails and or 15 and 30 gallon colored kegs of chemical that's, um, already pre-mixed. So it's just a matter if you're putting 20oz on or whatever it calls for, you can measure it out in instead of high noon. Tore it on liberate. It's it. And it'll give us a I mean, a little, little advantages to having another setup of chemical, another mixture of chemical in that sense without all the hassle. Um, and with that, having the facility to have a storage area for that, um, just in the future down the road, whatever. Because, um, I've heard that with that building up there that maybe tore down in time or whatever because of its settling, um, purchasing or being able to start possibly working with Marcus Hall a little bit on possibly having a facility set up right out at the Burleigh County Highway Department location. I don't more than likely to the east east side of the property. Um, I mean, it's just it's it's just words for thought and ideas for thought, you know? I mean, um.

00:49:03,200	S3:
Looking at something that down the road.

00:49:07,100	S4:
Uh, Dan.

00:49:11,100	S4:
I would talk to Marcus about this, and they're short of building up there. They're actually one a building and divided off. Now, this is in the future, like he says. Is. So I wouldn't have a problem if if they're working on this and looking forward on.

00:49:27,200	S1:
The shared.

00:49:27,601	S4:
Space. Yes, it'd be it.

00:49:31,167	S3:
Okay. What, um, what Mark were talking about? We'd have the Wheat Board end of it, where we could house our own vehicles, our own chemicals and whatnot, and we wouldn't have a floor drain in that area because. Or we can have one, but it's plugged. Make make sure it's all up to code. But then we'd have that framed off and have a separate area, whether it has two overhead doors or three overhead doors, depending on, you know, the project size or whatnot. And that would be a heated area if need be, but mainly a cold storage area to to keep some of their vehicles in. Um, I mean, it's just a lot of vehicles that are sitting out and it would benefit the, you know, in a sense of just the wear and tear basically on the vehicles from the weather and whatnot. So.

00:50:23,267	S8:
Good evening, chair and commissioners. Um, I know when we built the the current highway department building, there was a master plan to have some sort of a cold storage building on the east side, kind of next to our salt sand building. Uh, I don't foresee any sort of reason we couldn't work with the Wheat Board in the future to try to come up with some sort of a joint building that would incorporate some sort of a cold storage that would meet our needs, and a warm storage that would meet the needs of the, of the, uh, the chemical storage part of that as well. So, um, obviously a few years down the road, we don't have any money set aside for anything in the immediate future for something like that, but definitely could work with the weed department and things like that to make that happen.

00:51:09,801	S5:
I'd start out right away with the with heated. I wouldn't even consider a cold storage building anymore. Um, I've been down that road quite a bit myself and.

00:51:20,667	S4:
I was thinking the same thing. Yeah, they're not going to eat it. You don't want to build it.

00:51:25,100	S8:
Yeah.

00:51:25,467	S1:
And do the right ones.

00:51:27,367	S8:
Like likely out in that particular location. We'd be looking at some sort of a propane heating system out there. Or maybe natural gas will be out there at that point. Um, right now we're running geothermal on part of the building, and we still have some radiant propane heat on the other parts of the building. So, um, I would see tying into that probably wouldn't be the end of the world. The other thing we'd have to look at is, uh, fire suppression, things like that. I know when we built the main building, that was a big factor into that main building, because there is no fire flow out there and things like that. And I'm not sure what we would have to have for, uh, a chemical storage building so.

00:52:07,467	S1:
Derrick could find you a tank. Yeah.

00:52:09,767	S8:
That's what we'll.

00:52:10,300	S1:
Do. I'll bring them up.

00:52:12,567	S8:
So.

00:52:13,367	S1:
Yeah, I'd start working off that master plan and coming up with what you need.

00:52:17,167	S8:
Okay. Um, I'll. We'll work close with Darren here and kind of come up with a a plan, and we'll bring it forth back to the board. Okay.

00:52:26,868	S5:
Okay.

00:52:27,467	S1:
Thanks. Item six.

00:52:30,267	S3:
All right. Pushing for time. Um, this is just something I've pondered on because I'm just there, and I always think I'll just stuff, but on some of our roadways. Um, the highway department, you know, you get your grass growing in, and we're spraying for noxious weeds. Well, we have areas. Um, not all of them, but some of the areas the grass is starting to grow in. It tends to grow in onto the roadways. You know, a couple couple feet, three feet at a time in some areas, which is narrowing up the roads. I would I'd like to see us try it because, um, just spray some roundup on them areas because that'll kill that grass back because the live grass, when they go, if they want to bring that all up and put that shoulder back up on the road, that is going to contaminate the gravel for which is on the on the road already, where if we kill it back and the and the grass has died down, it doesn't have near the effect on the conditions which the live live vegetation would have on the right aways or on the roadways.

00:53:38,067	S1:
Tested this out or are you or do you have a site identified? Uh.

00:53:42,901	S3:
It'd be. I mean, it's it's something that I try. I mean, I talked with Chris about it too, and it's and he figures it would be two because once that once that, um, vegetation gets up on the road like that, then I find that the highway department comes in and they have to dis the edge of the road up, down so much and then bring that up on there. It's it's kind of a trial thing, is what I'd like to try. You know, something I'd like to try to see what the highway department finds. If it's if it's it's beneficial through the operators blade operators and and or the department themselves, whatever they see. Um, it's not a deal where it's going to be, you know, 1887 miles of spraying. It's just certain areas on, on like the lesser traveled roads. It seems like it's it's where it's growing in more. So it's just something I thought up and it's it'd be something to try.

00:54:34,501	S1:
To find a couple spots to test this out and work with the highway department.

00:54:38,000	S3:
And I mean, we're not talking a lot of money here. It's not going to affect the, um, spring end that deeply. I mean, I'm talking like, if we mix up a couple of tanks and we go out and we we hit these areas just to experiment for this next season coming up. That's that's a topic for the 2026 season. So um, and that would be a that there we would apply before the, the noxious weed control would start because we already be able to see the green grass getting near the them. The edge of the road growing already. So. And with that, they're the. Final thing here so far now is this fall I've been working with the highway department, helping out back with Taylor and then guys back there and when they need me, and then taking part in the weed convention and then every other test that's asked me, that's what I've been doing and what I'll be doing the rest of the year for this fall winter. Are there any questions?

00:55:37,567	S4:
Yes, I have one question. Do you have any continuing education classes coming up this year?

00:55:43,567	S3:
Well, that's part of that Loveland thing that's going to be on council.

00:55:46,968	S1:
Is that correct? That's out of council. Is that right?

00:55:49,067	S3:
Yeah, that'd be an educational part. Deal. Um, also I was I visited with Tyler the other day and there's a couple of things coming up in the near future that I'll be checking with him to get them dates and everything and probably be going to them also.

00:56:03,100	S4:
I don't know, does he need commission to go to continuing Ed? No, I wouldn't think so.

00:56:09,767	S1:
No, that's required by the States. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:56:12,701	S3:
Just to carry on and keep going with it.

00:56:14,501	S1:
You want to just keep us in the loop on that? But that's something you need to check the boxes with the state. So. Right. As needed to satisfy those credits. Okay. I would say just go ahead and do that. So.

00:56:24,901	S2:
Um, Mr. Chairman.

00:56:26,767	S1:
Commissioner.

00:56:28,000	S2:
Um, I've been here a long time, but I've never seen an annual report from the Wheat Board. Has anybody have we ever had my compliments?

00:56:42,400	S3:
Thank you.

00:56:43,267	S2:
Outstanding.

00:56:45,300	S1:
Wheat board's going in the right direction, so thank you.

00:56:47,567	S3:
Well, you'll get one in the spring before we fire up again, too, so.

00:56:51,000	S4:
Don't let it go to your head.

00:56:52,267	S3:
Sit tight. Watch out.

00:56:54,567	S1:
All right. Anything else? Darren?

00:56:56,400	S3:
Uh, no. That's all I have, gentlemen.

00:56:57,801	S1:
Any other questions for Darren? Uh, any other business with that? This Wheat Board is closed.

00:57:07,868	S3:
Thank you. Gentlemen.

00:57:08,801	S1:
Thank you.

00:57:12,100	S1:
Two minutes. Go to the bathroom.

00:57:19,801	S9:
We will say the pledge together.

00:57:24,000	S9:
Heavenly father, we just thank you for this evening. We thank you for getting us through this first snow, especially out in the far reaches of the county. Uh, God. Continue to, uh, just be with all of our first responders that are out there. And, and as they, uh, and even the ones that are clearing the roads, protect them from people that are not aware of what they're doing. And we thank you for these county commissioners. We thank you for what they do. We pray, God, we just continue to move forward in the direction we need to. And we do this all in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. 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.

00:58:10,667	S5:
Thank you.

00:58:21,167	S5:
We'll call the December 1st, 2025 meeting of the Berkeley County Commission to order. First item is roll call.

00:58:28,000	S2:
Commissioner.

00:58:28,467	S3:
Ban here.

00:58:29,901	S1:
Commissioner Herman. Here. Commissioner Woodcock. Commissioner Munson. Here. Commissioner bacon. Here. Commissioner Schwab. Here. Chairman.

00:58:37,267	S5:
Bitner here. Clarification. December 1st. County park board meeting.

00:58:45,667	S5:
Next item is the approval of the agenda.

00:58:47,467	S9:
Commissioners move.

00:58:48,467	S1:
To approve.

00:58:49,100	S5:
Second motion. And second to approve any further discussion. Call the roll.

00:58:52,868	S1:
Commissioner Herman. Yes. Commissioner Woodcock. Yes. Commissioner Munson. Yes. Commissioner. Baskin. Yes, Commissioner. Schwab. Yes. Commissioner. Boehm. Yes. Chairman. Bittner.

00:59:01,801	S5:
Yes. Motion carries. Next is consideration of October 6th, 2025. Meeting minutes. Commissioners move to.

00:59:09,868	S1:
Approve second.

00:59:11,000	S5:
Motion and second to approve any further discussion. Call the roll.

00:59:14,501	S1:
Commissioner Woodcock. Yes, Commissioner. Munson. Yes, Commissioner. Bakken. Yes, Commissioner. Schwab. Yes, Commissioner. Boehm. Yes, Commissioner. Herman. Yes. Chairman. Bittner.

00:59:23,367	S5:
Yes. Motion carries. Next is public comment. Is there anybody from the public that wishes to make a comment? Of course. This is restricted to Burleigh County residents and landowners. Anybody wish to speak? This is a public comment, period. Anybody wish to speak? Third and final call is a public comment. Period. Anybody wish to speak? Seeing none, I'll close the public comment period and move on to agreement with Bismarck Parks and RECs. Mr. chair, if you will.

00:59:55,267	S1:
Um, at the.

00:59:57,267	S3:
The last.

00:59:58,000	S1:
Uh.

00:59:58,267	S3:
Park board meeting on November 20th, the Bismarck Pork Board chose not to renew the management agreement with Burleigh County. Um, and so therefore their agreement will end with us on December 31st. Uh, the first thing I want to do is publicly, um.

01:00:17,901	S9:
Ask for.

01:00:19,100	S3:
A, um, apology from the Tribune, who on Saturday stated that we paid them $100 million last year for services as opposed to the $100,000 that we sent. We we paid for it. So.

01:00:36,267	S10:
Yeah, that was my.

01:00:37,100	S9:
Okay. Thank you.

01:00:39,601	S10:
Today we're running a correction tomorrow. So yeah, that's something.

01:00:42,868	S3:
You know, the comma was in the wrong spot and a couple extra periods or zeros were in there. And so I've had a lot of phone calls over that.

01:00:50,300	S5:
Um, figured that right away.

01:00:54,200	S3:
So really our, um, A I wanted to let the park board know that that is what's happening. Uh, really? Items that I need to take care of short term, and then some long term, uh, short term. I will ask, uh, in an email or however Commissioner Schwab would like, uh, I would I'm going to ask for their assistance in some snow removal at the ramps this winter, uh, at the boat ramps, uh, and if and if you can't, I will start going out to, uh, some private companies to see if we can keep the snow removal. At least keep the ramps open so people have access.

01:01:39,000	S5:
For what?

01:01:40,868	S3:
Well, typically, the boat ramps are kept open of snow so that people can get to and from the ramps or through the parking lots of our ramps. Um, so they can move.

01:01:51,100	S5:
Water is frozen, though, in the winter. Yes. Or ice fishing or whatever.

01:01:56,200	S3:
Typically, we keep them open so that the residents have access to them. Um, the second part of that, there's a garbage service, you know, that I will work with the auditor. Um, the park district has given me the name of the service that we have used over the last several years, and the auditor and I will go through that and get that, um, contract to review it and try to get that extended as well. Um, moving forward. And this is where I need your opinions. Um, and on average over the last ten years, we've spent $106,000 a year, uh, for that service to take care of the lawns, the the ramps, the docks, garbage, all of that. Um, I need to figure out how to work within that budget for 26 to keep our facilities open and accessible to the public. Um, there are some items that I could lean on. Commissioner Schwab's group, if possible. Uh, there is the option of hiring, uh, lawn services to take care of the grass. Um, again, we talked about the garbage. We can take care of that.

01:03:12,000	S8:
Yes.

01:03:13,167	S4:
Before you go too far. Um, is a snow removal and the mowing and upkeep on the extension building. We have to take care of that now.

01:03:25,567	S3:
Not around the extension building. Parks and rec owns and leases the very specific area around that building. That's up to. That's theirs. Uh, the road that would run through Missouri Valley Fairground would be ours that we would need to. And the road that goes up to, uh, a buck stop junction would be something we would need to add to our list of things to take care of.

01:03:48,467	S4:
Those are city roads, aren't they?

01:03:51,467	S1:
Mhm.

01:03:53,467	S5:
No, I don't think so.

01:03:55,868	S3:
We've taken care of them in the past. Daniel.

01:04:02,267	S4:
Dan.

01:04:02,767	S3:
Dan.

01:04:07,167	S8:
Good evening commissioners. Are you referring to the frontage road that goes around the Missouri Valley Fairgrounds? I believe that is a private road and it's considered as such. And we have removed snow on it for the Missouri Valley complex in the past. So, um, we can certainly do that on as call basis as we've done in the past.

01:04:25,501	S3:
Yeah.

01:04:27,767	S1:
Robert, you belong to user groups, right? Right.

01:04:30,767	S3:
And I know in the past years, it's been in my budget to pay the county to take care of those roads. So, um, so, again, those are short term things that we have to take care of long term. We have to figure out what we want to do for, for the rest of 26, and then start planning for 27. Um, how we want to to do that. Um, if the highway department is has some time and is available, I would really love to. Uh, and again, I'll work with Commissioner Schwab on that after the meeting or tomorrow. Um, I don't know. Um, Commissioner Bittner, if the county building and ground staff has any time available, I know you're short on staff as well for mowing grass. I think it'd be easier for us to reach out to a lawn care service and subcontract that out.

01:05:24,000	S5:
Yeah, that's what we did in the past. You know, prior to the city doing this, we had, um, the guy and his wife that that's what they did is they'd go around and they'd mow and they'd deal with trash and stuff. And then, um, um, we had a that a seasonal park ranger. Mhm. Um, it seemed to work out really well at the time. Of course, when he passed away, that's when we made the move. But I wouldn't be opposed to us considering something like that again. Sure. You know. Sure. Seasonal. In his case, he was already retired, so it worked out real well. He had retired as chief of enforcement for North Dakota Game and Fish. So he was kind of, um, well versed in park related stuff, you know.

01:06:06,567	S3:
And then I think about the growth of the Missouri Valley complex, um, you know, two, three, four years down the line. My mind goes to having more of a full time person that is facilitating that property, um, with a myriad of different projects or jobs.

01:06:25,067	S1:
Well, I think, uh, county wide, with the boat ramps and everything that that's going to encompass, that is going to be a position that we're probably going to grow into.

01:06:34,567	S3:
But paying Parks and Rec $100,000 for, you know, a year doesn't really get me a full time employee in that situation. So for the first year, obviously we're going to need to to lean on each other and and see what we can do, but then start planning from there. So.

01:06:52,267	S1:
Well, I look at it this way too. Is that complex? And the opportunities out there grow and start generating revenue. And that's going to have an opportunity to to take that off the backs of other departments. And we're going to be able to grow into that position because I that's one thing I think we're going to wind up needing in Berkeley County is a very robust, uh, county Parks Department to, to manage some of these affairs.

01:07:16,467	S3:
So I know there were some questions.

01:07:20,701	S2:
Mr. chairman, um, is this a time we should be having this discussion as to whether or not what are we going to do in the future? Because the way it's going now, all of a sudden, we went to contract with the city, and now we're on our own, and we're talking about hiring a ranger and equipment and buildings and lawnmowers and imagine what we will have to do. But I don't know what our alternatives are. I mean, are we on our own now? Are we going to start a whole new district? I'm. I'm not in favor of adding any more employees to the county registry than we have to. And here we're adding 3 or 4, probably, maybe even more. So I think we should have that discussion before we get too far, too far down the road.

01:08:00,801	S3:
Yeah. Today was more of a notification of this is what happened, and this is what we have to do to take care of our parks moving forward. Uh, I'm just throwing out ideas that are short term and long term. Uh, no decisions need to be made or should be made today. Um, I will work with Commissioner Schwab to see what time he has available. His staff does. Uh, from there, I will move forward and find, uh, subcontractors that can handle that to fit within the budget that I currently have. Uh, and then this is down the road. Future conversations with regards with regards to how many employees and whatnot. Really my only consideration was like a part time seasonal guy. At this point, I'm not seeing no 3 or 4.

01:08:48,868	S2:
Know what the employee we have out at McDowell dam who's employee is. Is he is it the city's or is that ours?

01:08:57,467	S3:
Park district? Yep.

01:08:59,701	S2:
It's ours.

01:09:00,567	S3:
No.

01:09:01,300	S2:
It's the city.

01:09:02,701	S3:
Park.

01:09:04,100	S1:
Um, so there's a there's.

01:09:05,667	S2:
There's one more thing we have to consider. What do we do with with him?

01:09:09,167	S3:
No, no, that's not that's not part of our management agreement. Separate entity. Separate. That's operated by the water resource district. And that's the whole contract with the water board.

01:09:19,267	S1:
Yep. And in, uh, respect to all the paperwork concerning our property and the management agreements, including the grants, all the communications done on the behalf of Burley from parks. When does that transfer over? When do we have institutional knowledge getting transferred, because I know there's some grants that are out there and. Yeah.

01:09:46,067	S3:
So, so Dave and I have been talking via email the last week about putting together a very detailed plan of each park, what's being taken care of at each park. All of and as you said, the paperwork, the grants, the only grants I can think of right now that we've talked about are for, uh, Kimball Bottoms. And that is all being handled through, uh, Houston Engineering as part of their contract to put together the, the project.

01:10:14,701	S1:
But as far as going forward with potential grant opportunities, it's something.

01:10:19,801	S3:
That'll all be on our shoulders.

01:10:21,200	S1:
Okay.

01:10:22,300	S2:
Mr. chairman, I think Mr. Woodcock, Dave is here and he is shaking his head this way, and she said this way. And so can we get some clarification on what your concerns are? Input.

01:10:38,601	S11:
Good evening, Chairman Bittner. And commissioners, um, I guess concerns, uh, Commissioner Munson and I have been going back and forth and trying to make a list of everything that is necessary for transfer of information. Um, we have originally, when the agreement was was created with the with the county and the Bismarck Park district, there was a work plan that was attached as exhibit B, I believe in the agreement. Uh, we're going through and re verifying everything on that. We have we updated that just recently. Um, so I'm asking our staff to just verify those things to make sure everything is correct and current, you know, and they talk about, you know, when do we check garbage? When do we check on on visitors? When do we check check on the boat dock and all the things that happen in each one of the different locations. So we're going to go through and verify that. And then I plan to sit down with Commissioner Munson and go through everything at each location. Uh, also have a list of contracts that we've had in the past with tree removal services or the garbage or, you know, septic pumping. You know, for vault toilets and, and that kind of thing makes sure all those phone numbers, all that information is handed over. The one long term contract that we did do a while back, I'd say probably eight years ago, we shifted to quoting out to the mowing services, and we've had a longer quoting process and believe we've had we did that agreement kind of looking at you, Commissioner, Chairman Bittner. We went from I think we went from a two year agreement with a one year extension to like a three year agreement with a one year extension with the contractor that we've had been successful with. There's been a consistent contractor. That's one that that quote, every time we've put that out, I believe that one. The last one year extension was just for 2025. So it would need to go up again in 2026. Make sure you have all that information. The agreement that we have with them won't leave you in the lurch at all. That's not the plan. I'll make sure we transfer all the information over. Um, yeah, there's there's, uh. I've got it all in my head. I've got half of it written down. Um, so we're we're working on it right now. Perfect.

01:12:48,501	S3:
Okay. Thanks. We appreciate.

01:12:49,601	S11:
That. Thank you.

01:12:51,000	S8:
Thank you.

01:12:53,100	S3:
So, more more work to come, you know? Yeah, more work to come. But I just wanted since it happened recently at the park board meeting, I wanted to bring the official notice to you and, uh, let you know I've got more work on my plate. Yeah, but we've certainly been handled that in the past. I don't think that's any great, real big problem. And if there's anything that the maintenance staff and whatnot, I can have a conversation with those guys and see if there's any place where they would fit in. But that's it's not really, um, I mean, periodically things like, you know, maybe maintaining a fish cleaning station or. Right. That's not really maintenance stuff, right? You know, and as Dave mentioned, you know, there is a service that we're already hiring for lawn. It'll just be a matter of the auditor and I working together to put out that bid request to bring that back in front of the commission. So, yeah. Yeah. Okay. Any other business for the county park board? Well. Thank you. Commissioners will adjourn the Burleigh County Park Board, and I'll call the December 1st, 2025 meeting of the Burley County Commission to order. Um, first item is roll call members.

01:14:08,267	S1:
Commissioner Woodcock.

01:14:10,067	S2:
Here.

01:14:10,467	S1:
Commissioner Munson here. Commissioner Schwab.

01:14:13,267	S4:
Here.

01:14:14,367	S1:
Uh, Commissioner Botkin here. Chairman Bitner.

01:14:17,167	S3:
Here. Next item is approval of the agenda.

01:14:23,667	S1:
Item number seven. Uh.

01:14:26,300	S3:
Yeah.

01:14:27,000	S1:
They're not available to be here this evening, so we'll move that back to the next commission meeting.

01:14:33,501	S3:
Okay, so put that on the agenda for the next meeting. Okay. Any other changes or concerns? Second.

01:14:47,267	S3:
That was a motion, right?

01:14:48,267	S1:
Yes.

01:14:48,767	S3:
Okay. Motion a second. Any further discussion? Call the roll.

01:14:51,701	S1:
Commissioner Munson. Yes. Commissioner Bakken. Yes. Commissioner Schwab. Yes. Commissioner Woodcock. Yes. Chairman. Bittner.

01:14:57,567	S3:
Yes. Motion carries. Consideration of the November 17th, 2025 meeting. Minutes and bills. Commissioners, I had an opportunity to review the bills and found them in order and ask for a motion to approve the minutes and the bills to approve. Second motion and a second to approve the meeting. Minutes and bills. Any further discussion? Call the roll.

01:15:15,300	S1:
Commissioner. Baskin. Yes, Commissioner. Schwab. Yes, Commissioner. Woodcock. Yes. Commissioner. Munson. Yes. Chairman. Bender.

01:15:21,467	S3:
Yes. Motion carries. Number five. Public comment. Anybody wish to speak on any particular item? That's not an agenda item and it is restricted to county residents and landowners. This is a public comment, period. Does anybody wish to speak? Once again, this is public comment period. Does anybody wish to speak? Last call. Anybody wish to speak? I'm going to close the public comment period. Move on to the consent agenda. Commissioners in front of you, you have abatements, special event permits, second access permit requests and tax sale waiver. I want to pull any of those off for discussion. I have to.

01:15:59,100	S1:
Approve second.

01:16:00,067	S3:
Motion and second to approve the consent agenda. Any further discussion? Call the roll.

01:16:04,467	S1:
Commissioner Schwab. Yes, Commissioner. Woodcock. Yes, Commissioner. Munson. Yes, Commissioner. Bakken. Yes, chairman. Bitner.

01:16:10,667	S3:
Yes. Motion carries. Next is review of ETA agreement. Um, page 19 through 28. I had a chance to review it, and I don't have any particular questions. I didn't see any changes. Is, um, from what we had discussed at previous meetings. Commissioners. Your thoughts?

01:16:34,601	S2:
Mr. chairman, I did the same thing, and I see nothing that we can change or need to change anyway.

01:16:41,000	S3:
I do know that there's one person in the audience that had asked that the city, um, asked the city's consideration on getting his land out of the Oeta. And apparently the city has determined that they don't want to do that. So, Wayne, I don't know what more we can do on that.

01:17:09,667	S2:
Thank you. Commissioner Bitner is there. What's their excuse not.

01:17:13,801	S12:
To remove it?

01:17:15,667	S3:
Um. What? I read kind of an email. I don't think it was in the packet, but it's basically is that they already have a plan for the water and sewer going through that area.

01:17:28,267	S12:
That will never happen 50 years from now.

01:17:30,467	S3:
I have no doubt you're right about that way. But that was.

01:17:34,367	S12:
Who was in charge of that foolish plan anyway? Who are the people involved? I want to know.

01:17:40,567	S3:
Um, you know, about. All I can tell you is it starts with the mayor and commissioners of the city. I don't know.

01:17:47,567	S12:
What are they doing sticking their nose in rural property, farmland especially. They have no business out there.

01:17:54,100	S3:
I agree with you. So I want.

01:17:56,767	S12:
To keep as much as I can. They might get tired of seeing me at all the meetings, but I'm going to keep pursuing it.

01:18:03,100	S3:
Okay. I'll help you in any way I can.

01:18:04,767	S1:
Yeah, okay.

01:18:05,801	S2:
You're talking to problems, and that's.

01:18:08,067	S12:
Yeah, that's that's a bad thing. That's a bad thing to have. They never called me to even put it on. They just wouldn't put it on back in oh six. They know a thing about it.

01:18:19,400	S3:
So that's the same thing that happened to me.

01:18:21,000	S12:
That's like using eminent domain. That's what it's like. Yeah, well, I'm going to keep pursuing it. And I don't know whose toes I'm going to step on, but I'll step on somebody.

01:18:30,567	S3:
So I'll help you any way I can.

01:18:32,167	S12:
I know you will. Thank you.

01:18:33,901	S3:
Thank you. Um, I guess the idea would be to approve the, uh, ETA agreement.

01:18:41,167	S1:
Um, chairman.

01:18:42,501	S3:
Commissioner Bachman.

01:18:43,501	S1:
The city is here. If they have anything to add prior to.

01:18:48,167	S3:
Oh, I didn't see you folks. Um, wait. That's who you talk to. Those are the guys. You guys have any city have anything to add to that?

01:18:58,167	S13:
Unless you have questions for me? Okay.

01:19:00,167	S1:
Does anybody have questions for me?

01:19:01,367	S3:
I don't have any particular questions. No.

01:19:04,167	S1:
Okay. I would move to approve the ETA.

01:19:08,300	S4:
Agreed.

01:19:08,701	S3:
Second motion and a second to approve the ETA agreement for the discussion. Call the roll.

01:19:14,501	S1:
Commissioner Wilcox. Yes. Commissioner Munson. No. Commissioner bacon. Yes. Commissioner. Schwab. Yes. Chairman. Bittner.

01:19:21,167	S3:
No. Motion carries.

01:19:25,667	S3:
No. The only reason I did that is because not 100% of the citizens in the ETA are out from under the ETA.

01:19:34,367	S1:
I, I agree with you.

01:19:35,868	S3:
You know I approve. I approve of the ETA agreement. I just don't approve of leaving anybody behind.

01:19:42,300	S1:
Yeah. I my no vote literally comes from our motion.

01:19:46,567	S9:
Had three requests.

01:19:48,067	S4:
And two.

01:19:49,000	S9:
Of the three were granted, which I appreciate, but one was not. Wasn't even talked about after that. We just get a.

01:19:55,567	S1:
Letter.

01:19:55,868	S9:
Stating no. And so at that point I, I, I saw it on Wayne's side. I think it should have been allowed to stay in our agreement. And so therefore that's.

01:20:08,100	S8:
Why I voted.

01:20:09,467	S3:
That's that's fair.

01:20:10,968	S9:
But again I agree with ETA. I'm glad we're able to do it.

01:20:14,100	S3:
Yeah helping some is great. Absolutely. Um, I guess we need to keep working on on the rest. Okay. Number nine, public health contract services, page 30 to 36. Um.

01:20:29,400	S1:
What's the one to let Wayne vote?

01:20:35,300	S3:
Did you have did you have some comments in regard to that? Um, yes and no. Um, so my understanding from visiting with the state administrator to, uh, this.

01:20:52,467	S1:
Burleigh.

01:20:52,868	S3:
County has put X amount of dollars in our budget.

01:20:55,667	S1:
For.

01:20:56,000	S3:
Public health.

01:20:57,367	S1:
Uh.

01:20:58,100	S3:
My understanding is the city agreed with that. However, at one of their latest commission meetings, um, they wanted to put this letter in front of us because they have not offered us a contract. So we currently do not have a contract for public health services. Um, and so they're coming to us with three, three questions realistically or three options. Option number one is to continue to continue the contract for service agreement with the City of Bismarck for public health services in 2026. Maintaining the current level of service at the amount approved by Burleigh County. Uh, number two, pursue a joint powers agreement for public health services. Forming a Joint Board of Health under North Dakota Century Code 23 to through 35, or allow the current contract for service agreement to expire on December 31st, 2025, with Bergen County assuming the responsibility for meeting all public health service requirements. The County Commission is concerned with primarily my statements through budgeting, uh, of trying to prepare Burleigh County to have their own public health and trying to budget accordingly. And so their, their real biggest question is number you know. Number one, are we going to work with them at the contract that we all budgeted for. Or do we want to pursue our own public health in 26, 27, 28? What's our plan for the future?

01:22:40,968	S3:
And I thought Jason was.

01:22:42,667	S1:
Going to.

01:22:43,100	S3:
Be here.

01:22:43,601	S1:
Yes he is. Yes.

01:22:44,567	S3:
He's hiding. Jason, any anything other than what I've stated that you would like to add?

01:22:53,868	S14:
Good evening, Mr. Chairman. Commissioners. No, I'm here just to answer questions. Uh, we, uh, provided, uh, some attachments to your agenda packet with a draft of the 2026 contract for provision services and then a Q&A summary. And then, as you noted, Commissioner Munson. The three options in the cover memo or three? Three questions are for your consideration.

01:23:19,601	S1:
Okay. Commissioner Bachman, um, so, Jason, I can ask you, since you're here, if we were going to go down the road of a joint powers agreement, um, and or set up the the Board of Health, um, what would the representation of that look like in your estimation?

01:23:42,167	S14:
Mr. chairman, commissioners. Commissioner Barkan, thinking back to when this conversation was had earlier, I believe a Joint Board of Health is a five person commission with representation from would be two from the city, two from the county.

01:24:01,300	S14:
I'm looking at Commissioner Cleary. This is Commissioner Cleary's portfolio. I think she's got it.

01:24:08,000	S1:
I'm trying to remember.

01:24:08,868	S3:
It from the medical.

01:24:09,467	S14:
Community. I think that's what it was. Yeah. It was one medical representative.

01:24:13,501	S13:
For sure.

01:24:14,167	S15:
Um, so when we discussed it previously, it was like a board of either 5 or 7, um, commissioners from each portfolio. So it would be myself and Commissioner Munson as of right now. But whoever holds the portfolio and then the other seats are filled, similar to planning and zoning, I would say, where you're pulling them from the, um, population. Um, but in a lot of the boards of health that we see elsewhere, they list specific criteria that you're looking for within those citizens. Like, we're wanting them to be part of the medical community in some capacity. Um, whether it's environmental health or, you know, a doctor of any kind, you know, like any someone that works in the schools, that kind of stuff, it all, it all works. But then there would be representation amongst that, like split to where it's like at least one of them has to be county. At least one of them has to be city, um, sort of thing. I think that is the way we had it laid out previously. Um, neither board decided to move forward with that at that point. So that's where we left it. Um, I guess I view the three options as option one is probably the closest to what we currently have. I think that our question with it is there's been a lot of conversations as far as you guys are, with the hopes of moving into your own public health department. And so we just want to be able to plan for that because it affects our budget, too. And so Joint Powers Agreement would be like taking a step in the other direction, or we're reinforcing the collaboration by having a true joint powers agreement. One Board of Health, that sort of thing probably means more than a one year contract, because we'd be asking people to sit on this board, um, for terms, um, that sort of thing. And then obviously option three is if you guys are ready to take that step the other direction and doing your own board of health. Um, I think there probably would be some wiggle room within those options where it's like, if you guys are wanting to take 2026 as a way to go and try to put this together yourselves, but you know that you don't want to leave people. That's our big concern. We don't want to leave rural or city residents. We don't want to leave anybody in the cracks of not getting services. We don't want to. All of a sudden you guys are going to go do this, do your own public health department. We'll have ours, but that we don't want there to be a period of 90 days where you guys are getting something set up, and then rural people don't have services. That's not what we want. So if there's a scenario where you are wanting to do your own public health department in 2026, but you're needing assistance on a month to month basis, that we just want to know more, a little bit more of a plan, I guess would be.

01:27:07,667	S3:
Well, I think a little bit more like provident building. You know, we've talked to the city about renting here through a period because we are working on the Provident and eventually will move. Same with IT services. You know, we're they're prepared for us to exit at a certain time. If it is Burley County's thought process other than my own, uh, to move into our own health department. Um, they're just looking for a time frame. They're looking for a date. And what can they plan for? How do they handle their staff? So on and so forth.

01:27:42,267	S15:
I do believe two in in option one in the contract for services. It's still going to have that clause where you can be out before the year is up, as long as you give the 60 day notice or something like that. So it's not like it. It's not like you have to be in for the whole year if you guys, you know, take the spring to kind of figure out how your department is going to lay out how, you know, I mean, obviously, but the more information we have, the better, because then we can plan as well.

01:28:08,667	S3:
Well, okay. My opinion on the whole thing is, is that, um, we should engage in the 2026 contract for provision of public health services because we're not going to have even if we go down that road. Right. And this is a real recent conversation. I think what we're talking June budget kind of start to talk about it in budget. Yeah. We're we're nowhere near. If the county wants to go down that road. We're two years out. Absolutely. Yeah. I don't I don't see anything happening. I'd be surprised if we made the decision to do our own today. I doubt whether we'd be ready to stand it up in a in a year. Right. Anyway.

01:28:48,968	S1:
So and.

01:28:49,467	S3:
I don't I don't.

01:28:50,267	S1:
Ready to do that undertaking without the completion of the Providence building. Let's get one project done before we start looking at other projects.

01:28:57,467	S3:
Because that would inform whether we had space to do it or whether we like to look at other space or whatever. I think it's totally premature, really, to be making a plan for eliminating that contract. And that's what the city is, just wanting to make sure that as we move forward, that we are their partner for 2026. And we'll have the conversation again in June when we start doing budget for 27.

01:29:20,167	S1:
I would move that. We continue on with the contract for 2026. Option number one as per packet.

01:29:25,667	S3:
Second motion and second to continue the 2026 contract. Any further discussion, Commissioner Woodcock?

01:29:32,100	S2:
Does that contract have a one year with another option to for another two years?

01:29:37,567	S15:
In the past, it's just been a classic one year contract. It does have a like 60 day notice if you're wanting to end the contract prematurely. Otherwise it is designed just to end at the end of the calendar year, just like the classic contract for services basically. So it'll like as far as services go and budget goes, everything remains fairly similar. We just were looking for more of a like an update or a plan, and it sounds like you guys are working on that. But for 2026, we just want to make sure everybody has the services they need to.

01:30:09,100	S13:
So yeah. Perfect.

01:30:10,767	S15:
Okay, great.

01:30:11,367	S3:
Thank you. Clarify that for you. You're good with okay.

01:30:15,767	S1:
Another like Commissioner Munson said we'll have a conversation then come budget time. So but I there is no way I foresee through anything earlier than through the end of 26.

01:30:28,067	S3:
No, no, I don't see probably 2027.

01:30:31,100	S1:
Yeah.

01:30:31,367	S3:
If he's if you know, Commissioner Wilcox.

01:30:34,267	S2:
I know we're the Board of health for Bernie County. The five of us, the city commission is the board of health for the city. Is there going to be any changes made in that group of ten?

01:30:45,067	S15:
So actually there I can clarify that a little bit, too, because when Renee and I and Jason were going through the Century Code, that sort of thing, it also kind of came to our realization that we call this contract a joint powers agreement. But when you read the Sentry Code, it's really not a joint powers agreement. It's a contract for services. So and in the Sentry Code, the city commission is the Board of Health and how it operates as of right now. Certainly Renee can continue to bring Board of Health like health updates to you guys because you are an active partner and we are providing services via that contract. So certainly we would like to give you updates on them. But from the legal standpoint, the City Commission acts as the Board of Health until until otherwise changed. Yeah.

01:31:34,000	S13:
Thank you. Yep.

01:31:38,367	S3:
Any other discussion? Call the roll.

01:31:41,167	S1:
Commissioner Munson. Yes, Commissioner. Bacon. Yes, Commissioner. Schwab. Yes, Commissioner. Woodcock.

01:31:46,100	S2:
Yes.

01:31:46,467	S1:
Chairman. Bittner.

01:31:47,100	S3:
Yes. Motion carries.

01:31:51,367	S3:
County planning director Flanagan, we got special use permit. Scheduling. Special use permit. Ghaly. Final subdivision. Zoning change and spray. Membership renewal. Welcome, Mitch.

01:32:04,067	S16:
Good evening, commissioners. Mr. chair. First up on the on. This is the one special use permit. Brian Wentz came to us in October to wanting to build an accessory building prior to the principal structure or the house. There's no house on it. He just wants to build a shop there on his property. They're an island in the States. He is going over the well. Article six basically states, if you want to build the accessory building before the primary structure, you're restricted to 1200 square feet. And he wants to build a 2608 square foot building, which is 4000 or 4000ft² more. So, um, he we had the special use permit hearing. The recommendation was a vote of 4 to 3. We sent out 67 letters of notice to the neighboring properties. We received two in opposition and those as part of the sup. There will be no on site sales. On site retail sales? Um, there were comments by the HOA after the approval process had gone through. Uh, they were asking Brian to go through compliance on their HOA agreements, and they I did receive an email from, uh, Mr. Schneider on the 25th stating that he they were in compliance with the island estates. Well, it's a different it's a hog island that's a different subdivision where Brian is. But he still went through their covenants to meet them, and he got the, uh, the number of people to agree with it.

01:33:44,601	S3:
Commissioner.

01:33:45,667	S1:
Uh, is his intent to put a home on there as well down the road, or is.

01:33:51,367	S16:
He lives across the street. Mr. chair. Commissioner Barkan, he lives across the street. And his son also owns property right there. They own three lots in a row. And then he lives right across the street. I don't know if he plans on building. Um, they they do the landscaping there.

01:34:07,767	S1:
So the resident adjacent, though.

01:34:09,667	S16:
He's right next to it. Yeah. It is restricted. No retail sales, no commercial sales on the property, no employees, that sort of thing. If you wanted to do that or expand it as a home occupancy, then you'd have to come back to this board.

01:34:27,367	S2:
Mr. chairman, Commissioner Woodcock, so if he's not going to do any business, they're not going to sell anything. He's not going to he's going to he can be running a landscape business out of that building, apparently. Is that incompatible with our zoning in that area.

01:34:41,968	S16:
As a home occupancy? There are numerous home occupancies in Burley County. You can't have onsite sales. Yeah. Or where people show up and you take more of their money and they leave. You can do it on online and they transact over that, and they come over and pick up the product or that sort of thing. It's not it's not to be a commercial activity. They're designed to be.

01:35:06,167	S1:
But as of right now, if he wanted to store equipment on his private property, he could just park equipment there. So I'm going to extrapolate that him putting up the building, he's probably going to get that equipment out of eyesight, more than likely investing in the equipment. You're going to want to put it indoors. So.

01:35:31,100	S1:
Yeah he could just park equipment on the on his property. Right.

01:35:36,701	S16:
Right. His intention of building this all altogether was put the equipment inside.

01:35:42,167	S3:
We mentioned that there was, what, two, um, two neighbors that were opposed to it.

01:35:47,868	S16:
Yeah, they were out of 67 letters to two came back. I'm not not supportive. They didn't say why this is not supported this. But he has been in contact multiple times. Multiple emails back and forth with the HOA out there with with Stacy Schneider and Lyle. Um, I can't think of his last name. We've been in contact about this whole thing that, um, it is a non-transferable document. The sup if somebody if he was to sell this property and somebody else came in, they'd have to come back to this board. And so it's that's that's part is non-transferable and it is restricted to, to uh the equipment inside. No, no retail sales. And it's written on the Sup too. So if he were to expand that then we could come back and ask him to come to the table again.

01:36:40,567	S1:
Okay.

01:36:47,767	S3:
Is the applicant here?

01:37:02,367	S3:
If you wouldn't mind, state your name for the record.

01:37:04,267	S17:
Joe Wentz. Um, I'm pretty much I run the tree farm there. It's pretty much just a straight up storage building to get our equipment out of the winter. And the elements? Um, all of our sales are wholesale work with landscapers around Bismarck and Mandan, and they put in an order with us. We dig their trees taken to them. They can come out and say, we want these ones. And then they leave and we dig them when the season is appropriate.

01:37:35,100	S2:
So no Christmas tree lot.

01:37:37,501	S17:
Um, it's I've had a lot of calls and but nope, haven't ventured down that route yet. I don't know that I ever will.

01:37:46,467	S3:
But did I see someplace where there was. Where you. When you needed to go around with a petition and see if the neighbors were tired?

01:37:55,501	S17:
So we, um, we went through our Hog Island estates, which is all the neighbors, um, south of our section line that runs out along our property. And all of those neighbors had no issue. So I think there was 12 or 11 of them. Okay.

01:38:13,167	S3:
And I haven't heard of any issue. That's why I'm asking if, you know, nobody's contacted me about.

01:38:18,367	S17:
And we we try to keep the area looking good. You know, nothing's overgrown. Keep the weeds down, mow. And then this building will just help keep everything looking a lot cleaner, because we won't have tree spades and other equipment parked out in the lot.

01:38:32,667	S3:
And, well, I support that. So I like that people being able to keep their stuff inside preserves the investment. Okay. Any other There are questions. Thank you. Commissioners, what are your wishes?

01:38:46,167	S1:
Is there anybody opposed to this? That is here.

01:38:49,200	S3:
I don't know. Is there anybody here that's opposed to this? Once again, anybody that's opposed.

01:38:58,601	S1:
Then I would move to approve.

01:39:00,667	S3:
Second motion and second to approve any further discussion. Call the roll.

01:39:05,667	S1:
Commissioner Botkin. Yes. Commissioner Schwab.

01:39:07,767	S4:
Yes.

01:39:08,067	S13:
Commissioner Woodcock.

01:39:09,000	S1:
Yes. Commissioner Munson. Yes. Chairman. Bittner.

01:39:11,100	S3:
Yes. Motion carries.

01:39:12,868	S16:
Mr. chair. Next up on is the item for Kettering special use permit. Keith Kettering came to us last month or October to, uh, to build a, uh, indoor winter riding arena, but 64 by 120ft², approximately 7300. Excuse me. Um, his building would be 7680ft²

01:39:39,467	S16:
Again. But this is his house is on this. We're dealing strictly with the 4% lot coverage. He owns 4.2 on acres and which is approximately 7335ft. That is allowed. He currently has a existing 1600 square foot pole barn with the proposed building and the pole barn. He will be over over that 4% allowance by 1944ft².

01:40:08,701	S16:
At the public hearing, it was recommended to be approved by a 5 to 2 vote. Again on this, the scope of the Sup is there's no public use allowed. This is for a private arena only. In your packet is a site plan, then location map as well as the draft. Sup? Sup? Excuse me.

01:40:36,801	S4:
I have a question.

01:40:38,100	S3:
For Commissioner Schwab.

01:40:40,100	S4:
Would you consider that putting that out at the fairground?

01:40:45,300	S4:
Get something done out there.

01:40:48,567	S13:
Um.

01:40:54,467	S16:
It is a large building. It could fit out there.

01:40:57,300	S4:
He sure could.

01:41:02,567	S3:
I guess the question is, did they go around with the petition like the other one? And and the neighbors have any issues with it?

01:41:09,767	S16:
We didn't hear any any, um, anybody in opposition to it?

01:41:15,467	S13:
Good.

01:41:16,567	S3:
Neighbors are okay with it.

01:41:18,100	S13:
Yes.

01:41:21,667	S13:
Yes. We had no opposition. Okay.

01:41:26,968	S13:
The majority we have spoken to are very supportive of the idea. Okay.

01:41:33,467	S3:
I move.

01:41:33,868	S1:
To approve second.

01:41:35,100	S3:
Motion, second to approve any further discussion. Call the roll.

01:41:38,467	S1:
Commissioner Schwab.

01:41:39,467	S4:
Yes.

01:41:39,767	S1:
Commissioner Woodcock. Yes, Commissioner. Munson. Yes, Commissioner. Botkin. Yes. Chairman. Bittner.

01:41:43,901	S3:
Yes. Motion carries.

01:41:45,367	S16:
Next up is the gully. Final subdivision. In August this year, staff met with Swenson Hagen to discuss planning the ten acres out of a 40 acre parcel. Um. The staff also recommended the petitioner apply for a zoning change from agriculture to R-1 single family. Because a lot will be less than ten acres. Uh, the lot size is 9.83 acres. Uh, the paving waiver was not required. Stormwater management application was waived. Gibbs Township was notified of the plat and zone change, but has not replied. Um, six revisions to the plat were made to reach article 33 at the November 10th meeting. It was approved. Recommend approved 7 to 0.

01:42:37,601	S13:
Commissioners move to approve second.

01:42:40,767	S3:
Motion and second to approve any further discussion. Call the roll.

01:42:45,601	S1:
Commissioner Woodcock.

01:42:46,667	S13:
Yes.

01:42:47,000	S1:
Commissioner Munson. Yes. Commissioner. Baskin. Yes. Commissioner. Schwab. Yes. Karen. Bitner.

01:42:51,200	S3:
Yes. Motion carries.

01:42:52,701	S16:
Last step, commissioners, is to renew the Bismarck or Big Sky Passenger rail Authority. As you recall, last year we we signed a GPP or Governor's partner Program agreement with them for one year. This is a renewal of that. The fee of $180 is same as last year. It would allow us access to support services provided by the big Sky passenger rail.

01:43:19,367	S4:
Moved to approve.

01:43:20,100	S1:
Second.

01:43:21,868	S3:
Motion and second. To approve. Any further discussion? Call the.

01:43:26,300	S1:
Roll. Commissioner Munson. Yes, Commissioner. Bakken. Yes, Commissioner. Schwab. Yes. Commissioner Woodcock. No Chairman Bittner.

01:43:33,000	S3:
No motion.

01:43:34,000	S13:
Carries.

01:43:34,400	S2:
Thank you sir.

01:43:36,100	S16:
Thank you Commissioner.

01:43:37,467	S3:
That's kind of what I was thinking. All right. Anything else?

01:43:41,467	S1:
Okay.

01:43:42,167	S3:
Um, County HR director binder.

01:43:46,000	S2:
Never mind.

01:43:48,200	S3:
Follow up on, uh, auditor salary analysis, approval of the holidays. Facilities. Director. Appointment. Treasurer. Finance department's appointment of an interim treasurer. Follow up discussion regarding consultant employee clarification and county engineer retirement. Did you bring lunch to present all this?

01:44:07,167	S18:
Or you should have ordered pizza? I don't know.

01:44:09,267	S13:
Okay.

01:44:09,767	S18:
Chairman. Commissioners. Thanks. Um, the first item is just follow up from the auditor salary that we've been talking about the last few meetings. Um, and what I came to is to have that salary. Not in the pay grade structure. Um, to have the minimum salary at 500 have the average salary as the annual auditor's salary, the market at 54,004 35 and the maximum at 95,435.

01:44:41,467	S18:
Knowing that whoever's going to run and be elected, they would provide their resume. And the the commission, along with myself, would negotiate. I do not agree with putting a dollar value to an associate's degree, to a bachelor's degree, to a master's degree, because we do not do that with any of our other positions. And I don't want to open that can of worms. Um, I don't. They will have to negotiate what they bring to the table.

01:45:11,767	S13:
Sure.

01:45:12,200	S1:
Okay. The caveat with this, though, is it's an elected position. So what is the best pathway for an elected position to meet benchmarks, or should we look at something else?

01:45:26,167	S18:
Well, I would assume that if they have elections experience because we are we are basing it off of the the approved auditors job description as it is now. And that election is the main thing. So if they have a prior election experience that gives them a standing.

01:45:42,200	S1:
Candidate like that are minimal, minimal. So that is something that needs to be learned with the job through the Secretary of State's Office and Association of Counties.

01:45:54,767	S18:
And that's why we negotiate the training plan at that point. It depends. We don't know who the candidate is going to be who's going to be elected. So we really can't do a training plan or a path forward until we know who's elected. And then we can come together and negotiate their training plan for the elections, because we know that the Secretary of State's office has extensive training for elections. Also, the North Dakota Association of Counties has the ILG training for Are auditors on board as board secretaries. So there is the training out there and we just put targets in place. Based on that training, the attainment of the training.

01:46:38,868	S3:
Seems fair to me. I mean, you you know what the start is with no qualifications. I think, um, if you were, if you happen to be a high school student or a high school graduate with no additional experience, chances are you won't be at $95,000 a year. But at some point we would be able to, I think, offer a fair and reasonable salary, as long as it's above that minimum. Commissioner Woodcock.

01:47:12,100	S2:
Could we put a different minimum on besides that 25,000, whatever it was 28,500. Okay. Could we put a different minimum on it? I'm talking about doing it in advance of the election, so people know that at least there's a minimum there and it's not 20,000. It's not realistic in our market at all.

01:47:30,267	S18:
Well, 2520 8500 is realistic in some of those positions. It depends on what they bring. If they bring if we get a former auditor from a different county, they're more in that market. They're in the $54,000 range easily. But if we get somebody that's right out of high school and this is their first job, 28 five is pretty good.

01:47:55,667	S2:
I don't know that I agree with that because I've been in business a long time, and I don't think anybody was paid less or more than, no less than 20,000 in just normal starting positions.

01:48:08,467	S18:
So if you want to.

01:48:10,667	S2:
Raise.

01:48:11,667	S18:
To 30, that's.

01:48:12,767	S2:
I was going to raise it to 50. But that's just based on my thoughts.

01:48:17,400	S3:
Based on what the commissioner. What what?

01:48:19,300	S2:
Because I want to get a good candidate to run or a good pair of or three that will run. I want to get. I don't want to end up with another four year term of having problems.

01:48:29,267	S3:
Well, that doesn't guarantee that a qualified candidate runs.

01:48:32,601	S2:
No, but it's a better guarantee than a $20,000 minimum, I think.

01:48:38,901	S1:
Well, that brings up.

01:48:39,901	S3:
Still rewarding inexperience.

01:48:42,801	S1:
That still brings up the fact it's it's an elected position. And why are you running in the first place? You know, with what we make I didn't do this because of the salary. Well, no. So it is an elected position. So where are you drawing the line? Is the electorate.

01:48:59,868	S2:
Raise ours up, then we can equal the. The one.

01:49:04,467	S2:
Just kidding, I don't care, I just I just want to have qualified candidates. That's what I want. That's my main concern.

01:49:11,100	S3:
Commissioner Munson.

01:49:12,400	S4:
And what's the minimum.

01:49:13,501	S3:
Wage for an hourly paid.

01:49:14,868	S13:
Employee?

01:49:17,067	S18:
What is it? It's got a minimum is $7. Dollars. And is it $0.25 an hour? There's nobody that pays the minimum wage.

01:49:25,267	S13:
This is double. That is where I was going.

01:49:27,868	S18:
Yeah, this is double.

01:49:29,000	S13:
But I.

01:49:29,467	S4:
Wouldn't get an employee to apply.

01:49:31,167	S3:
It. My business for under 20. And we're asking someone to in defense of what Jerry is saying here, we're asking someone to actually run for an election. And then if they're if they win that election, then they're negotiating with this board for a salary.

01:49:49,467	S1:
I.

01:49:50,367	S3:
I think we need to have a higher minimum. I agree with what the chair is saying. I mean.

01:49:58,367	S13:
Well, the.

01:49:58,601	S1:
Other.

01:49:58,801	S13:
The qualifications for auditor by.

01:50:00,567	S3:
The state central code is.

01:50:01,968	S13:
This.

01:50:02,367	S3:
High school or a high school graduate and a resident of the county.

01:50:05,767	S1:
And so we've all run for office. We know the cost incurred of running for office. And see, that's where I have a problem here. You're asking somebody, I did it. We've all done this. But you're asking somebody to work for less than what it costs them to get into the office. That's the other side of this. So that brings up the question why are you running in the first place? And we want quality candidates to be able to run for elected office. Just like all of we have. And coming up in June, we'll have people doing the same thing. So I'm a little torn on why are you running? But we're we need somebody to run who's qualified for a position. And, and it's not a slight on the position in any way, shape or form. That's just what we're saddled with with the century code, right?

01:51:07,000	S18:
You can vote and set the salary, the starting salary of whatever you guys want to set because you guys are negotiating, setting the salary. It's not in our pay grade system, though.

01:51:19,567	S2:
Commissioner Woodcock, I move that we establish a minimum of $45,000 a year for that elected position and negotiate it up, depending upon our negotiations.

01:51:35,267	S1:
I will second, for argument's sake and then.

01:51:38,501	S13:
Say the same thing.

01:51:39,667	S3:
You have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?

01:51:42,100	S13:
Now we can argue, Commissioner box. Lots of.

01:51:44,100	S1:
It.

01:51:44,767	S13:
Um, Pam.

01:51:47,367	S1:
The requirements for that position, realistically, is it's about $45,000 a year when the requirement for that position is eight hours a month.

01:51:57,300	S18:
Eight hours a month.

01:51:58,567	S1:
Yeah. So what does that equate out to an hourly or hourly salary. Because that's the other side of this too. It's like realistically you only have to be there eight hours a month. You should be there more during election time, but with the responsibilities not during the election then.

01:52:15,567	S2:
That's why we want to.

01:52:16,367	S13:
Get a.

01:52:16,567	S2:
Qualified candidate. That's why we want to get qualified people.

01:52:24,367	S3:
That doesn't guarantee that.

01:52:26,367	S13:
There's nothing guarantees of anything doesn't guarantee.

01:52:28,267	S1:
Nothing guarantees that.

01:52:29,367	S13:
No.

01:52:30,901	S1:
You know.

01:52:35,167	S4:
Because I think we ought to.

01:52:36,667	S1:
Have a position right now where somebody has to learn the job every time they get elected. And so what's the value of somebody who's been learning the job versus somebody who gets elected cold? This is we're in a gray area here and there's no solution because of the way the century code is written, that there's no easy solution provided.

01:53:00,868	S3:
Commissioner Schwab.

01:53:01,667	S4:
I said way back that I thought that a good starting wage would be 36,000. And I'm going to stick to it, I think. Can't lowball it, but, you know, if they can advance rapidly. But I in the 20,000, it's not enough to attract anybody, I don't think.

01:53:28,667	S3:
Anybody else?

01:53:30,300	S1:
Yeah. I have one other question. Um, because ultimately we have to comply to some sort of county standards. Pam. Where? Uh, 4536 I mean, I know it's arbitrary, but you're the HR professional, and I would defer to your knowledge.

01:53:56,701	S18:
The median salary for the elected auditors for the central counties is the 54,000. The new ones start anywhere from 42. There's one that's part time in Macintosh that's working for 24,000. I think the Carter County auditor is 42,000. She has been there. I'd say eight years at least. Um, Evans County. She is just been bumped up to right around 87,000. She's been there a long time. And that just happened recently, in the last few years.

01:54:33,267	S3:
It's all over.

01:54:33,767	S18:
The. It's all over the place, chairman.

01:54:36,000	S2:
But we have to we have to compare the big four, big four cities. That's where we're at. That's what we're looking at. We're not looking at smaller counties. We really aren't. We've got to look at we've got a this is a prestige position in my opinion, and we want it to be that. We want it to be that ten years from now. And we're not going to get it at at 20,000 a year. That's for sure. We'll be the laughing stock of.

01:54:59,868	S3:
Commissioner Munson.

01:55:00,567	S2:
Upper Midwest. I went beyond North Dakota.

01:55:05,400	S3:
Uh, thank you, Mister chair. I'd like to ask state's attorney. lawyer. What are we getting ourselves into here? Sorry.

01:55:14,467	S15:
It's kind of a loaded question.

01:55:15,667	S3:
I know when we're. When we're working at. This is an elected position for X amount of dollars starting. And once they're elected, this body then determines a salary. What lawsuits are we looking at happening having afterwards.

01:55:32,000	S19:
That's what you do for all of the elected officials. Although the position is generally put in our pay grade and step structure, and then a salary is negotiated within that range, um, for each person, depending on their experience. That's how we've always done that.

01:55:49,367	S3:
That's how you earn Sheriffs, correct are correct.

01:55:53,000	S19:
And the recorder as well. And the auditor prior to this. Um.

01:56:02,200	S19:
That's what I can tell you. This is the only one we're not putting in the pay structure.

01:56:06,367	S3:
So we have precedent because that's how it currently is for U3.

01:56:10,701	S19:
Correct. It's, uh, we're in the pay grade and step structure based on what our job descriptions are and.

01:56:19,767	S18:
What your requirements are.

01:56:21,367	S19:
Correct.

01:56:24,601	S1:
So how does that correlate to the fact that we do have an election coordinator with that salary, and where that position has responsibility over that elections coordinator.

01:56:39,100	S18:
Elections coordinator is at a grade nine currently. Um, the auditor as the position stands right now with the job description that you guys approved. It comes in at eight when we rank it. So the elections coordinator, who's the full time coordinator for the elections and and assists with the board. Secretary of the board is a great hire.

01:57:08,868	S1:
For a full time position.

01:57:10,000	S18:
For full time versus the eight hour a.

01:57:12,467	S1:
Month.

01:57:13,267	S2:
Mr. chairman.

01:57:14,467	S3:
Commissioner Woodcock.

01:57:15,467	S2:
Um, when we consider this motion we've had with 45,000, is that plus benefits plus health insurance plus.

01:57:23,300	S18:
Yes.

01:57:24,000	S2:
Okay. It's not really 45,000. It's like 60 or.

01:57:28,667	S18:
Add another 35 to 40 on to that. Okay. Depending on.

01:57:32,767	S8:
What.

01:57:33,067	S18:
They choose for family.

01:57:34,167	S2:
In the 75,000 range. So that's certainly adequate to to attract qualified candidates. I would think.

01:57:42,901	S1:
So where does that equate for the pay scale at a grade eight versus a grade nine?

01:57:52,300	S18:
Uh, what is grade eight? I didn't bring that with.

01:57:56,300	S1:
Um, ballpark.

01:57:59,067	S18:
I believe it would be like 6% under the pay grades. are 6%, so

01:58:06,868	S18:
from grade 8 to 9 it goes up 6%. And then the steps go across the arc okay.

01:58:17,901	S3:
So repeat the motion.

01:58:22,367	S2:
My motion was to establish a minimum salary at $45,000 a year for the elected position of auditor.

01:58:32,701	S3:
Okay. Further discussion. Call the roll. Commissioner Bakken.

01:58:40,200	S1:
Yes. Commissioner Schwab.

01:58:41,767	S3:
No.

01:58:42,267	S1:
Commissioner Woodcock.

01:58:43,267	S2:
Yes.

01:58:43,667	S1:
Commissioner. Munson.

01:58:44,601	S3:
Yes.

01:58:45,100	S1:
Chairman. Bittner.

01:58:45,801	S3:
No. Motion carries. Okay.

01:58:50,367	S18:
Then the next thing we have is.

01:58:56,200	S18:
Page two. Commissioner. Approval of holidays. So every year we have the commission approved the next year's holidays. Um, I would recommend that the commission approve the holidays the same as they were this year for 2026. So as they are listed on the on my memo.

01:59:13,567	S1:
Move to approve.

01:59:14,767	S2:
Second.

01:59:15,267	S3:
Motion and second to approve. Any further discussion? Call the roll.

01:59:19,100	S1:
Commissioner Schwab. Yes. Commissioner. Woodcock. Yes. Commissioner Munson. Yes. Commissioner Botkin. Yes. Chairman. Bittner.

01:59:24,667	S3:
Yes. Motion carries.

01:59:27,667	S18:
The third is facilities director appointment. I'm not sure if he's here. I see him. Um, Jacob Altenberg is our new facilities director. Today was his first day. Uh, hopefully he comes back tomorrow.

01:59:42,267	S8:
Um.

01:59:44,367	S18:
He he seemed very excited about the position this morning when I talked to him. Um, but we do need a formal appointment because he is a department head. So I'm asking for the commission to formally appoint Jacob.

01:59:56,300	S1:
Move to appoint second motion.

01:59:59,400	S3:
Second to appoint Jacob as a facilities director. Any further discussion, Mr. Chairman?

02:00:03,467	S2:
Commissioner would. What step does that? What is it? What step does he move into?

02:00:09,968	S18:
I think we did a we did an exception for him because he's coming with a what is it, 1820 years experience. Um, so I think we put him into the upper range. I think it might be an eight or 9 or 7, 8 or 9.

02:00:26,400	S2:
Okay.

02:00:27,100	S8:
Thank you.

02:00:27,968	S1:
Should I make that motion pending? He does come back tomorrow. Yeah.

02:00:32,567	S3:
Um, he'll be back. Okay. Any further discussion? Call the roll.

02:00:37,000	S1:
Commissioner Woodcock. Yes, Commissioner. Munson. Yes, Commissioner. Bacon. Yes, Commissioner. Schwab. Yes. Chairman. Bittner.

02:00:42,601	S3:
Yes. Motion carries. Welcome aboard. Jacob.

02:00:47,267	S18:
Um. And the next is. Before we get into the treasurer stuff, I'm going to go to G on my list, because that's an easier one. Um, County Engineer Hall announced his retirement. And I think each of you got his retirement letter. Effect of November 18th was a retirement letter. His last day will be January 2nd. We are requesting permission to post the county engineer position and post for 30 days because it's a director level position and internal external. Unless other wishes from the commissioner portfolio holder.

02:01:26,100	S1:
Move to approve.

02:01:26,868	S3:
Second motion and second to approve question would be.

02:01:31,000	S1:
Posting.

02:01:32,100	S3:
Internal and external.

02:01:33,267	S1:
Internal and external for 30 days.

02:01:35,367	S3:
Okay. All right. Any further discussion? Call the roll.

02:01:38,567	S1:
Commissioner Munson. Yes, Commissioner. Bakken. Yes, Commissioner. Schwab. Yes, Commissioner. Woodcock. Yes. Chairman. Bittner.

02:01:43,868	S3:
Yes.

02:01:44,167	S1:
Motion carries one question.

02:01:45,767	S3:
Uh, Commissioner.

02:01:49,300	S1:
Post for 30 days. Any issue, or do we have to do an interim for? Because I'm guessing it's probably going to be a month, three weeks to a month before somebody comes in. Do we have to address an interim at that time, or should we worry about it after it closes at that first commission meeting?

02:02:11,767	S18:
I think we should see what we get because I think we have some strong internal. We also have two senior county engineers, assistant county engineers that would probably serve as the interim.

02:02:24,300	S1:
Perfect. Thank you.

02:02:26,100	S3:
So how long does it normally take? From the time we close the the applications, then we go through the interviews and then we're going to do a background check and then we're going to how long. How long does that process normally take.

02:02:43,601	S18:
It depends on the position. If we're talking law enforcement it takes longer. If we're talking department heads, it takes longer because we have to do credit checks and we do more in-depth background checks. But your average position, once we close it, depending if we can get people on the panel and also get the interviews, we can usually turn it around maybe within three weeks. Three weeks is is, uh, is a good time frame?

02:03:16,567	S3:
Okay. Thank you.

02:03:19,901	S3:
Okay. Next.

02:03:21,968	S18:
Um, now we're going to go to the treasurer finance department items. Um, and there's a long list here. Um, both the treasurer and the finance director positions have been posted for 30 days. Um, those postings will be up at 12 noon on Monday, December 22nd. Um, there was a delay in posting because we are moving from our HR system, recruitment and selection system to our velocity recruitment and selection system. And these just happen to be right in the middle of that so that there was a delay. But we have been getting applications for applicants for both positions, so we'll see what we get. The finance director and treasurer have the signing authority, um, for the Burley County financial accounts. We do need authorized signers right now. Former finance Director Jacobs is still on the accounts. We need to get him off. In order to do that, we need to appoint an interim treasurer because he was the interim treasurer. Um, so for an interim treasurer, I was suggesting the deputy finance director, Taylor Schmidt, as the interim and possibly having another signer authorised signer on there, the accountant, who is an exempt level position. So that would be that Britain to have them have signing authority over the accounts commissioners.

02:04:44,000	S3:
I would agree with that.

02:04:45,200	S4:
We'll approve.

02:04:46,100	S3:
Second motion. And second to the point. Taylor is the interim and to add Britain as as another signer. And then I take it Taylor would be the one doing the removing of the signatures for.

02:05:00,567	S18:
Yes. And I actually have a resolution that Taylor gave to me. It's it's pretty simple, but it does need to be signed by the auditor, auditor and the chairman so that they can take it to the bank.

02:05:14,667	S3:
Okay. Well, just have that available after the meeting. Okay. Any further discussion? Yes, Commissioner.

02:05:20,467	S1:
Buck. And then you did talk to both of those individuals, and they're good with that position change or in the signer.

02:05:27,567	S18:
Yes.

02:05:28,767	S1:
Okay. Yeah.

02:05:29,567	S3:
Good. Call the roll.

02:05:30,868	S1:
Commissioner bacon. Yes. Commissioner Schwab. Yes. Commissioner Woodcock. Yes. Commissioner Munson. Yes. Chairman. Bittner.

02:05:36,868	S3:
Yes. Motion carries.

02:05:38,601	S18:
Okay. And the second included in your packet was an email from Taylor Schmidt, deputy finance director. Interim treasurer. Requesting stipends for members of his staff. Diane Burger, the administrative assistant. Hayley Wilder, the accounts payable technician. Accounting technician. Um. Britton rehab, the, uh, the accountant. And I also think that we should give Taylor a statement as well for interim treasurer. Um, he requests back pay. I don't agree. I think we need to go forward because two of these positions are hourly, and we would have to apply hours to back stipends, and I don't want to do that. Um, it's not been our practice. So I'm bringing forward Taylor's request on his behalf for stipends.

02:06:31,000	S8:
Okay.

02:06:33,167	S3:
You said you don't agree with doing that. And I understand.

02:06:36,267	S18:
Retroactively.

02:06:37,167	S8:
Retro.

02:06:37,467	S3:
Retro, right? Okay, so basically, what's the difference between a stipend and then just giving them a raise because I what I'm concerned with is we started this with a couple of other and it just seems to continue growing. And you know, like apparently nobody gets paid enough around here. Um.

02:07:00,868	S2:
Is that a motion?

02:07:01,901	S3:
No, I'm a chair. I can't make a motion. But no, I just think that, you know, when it when I go to work, I mean, I work. I don't, you know, I just, I don't know, I'm struggling a little bit with it. Commissioner Bakken, did you have something to say?

02:07:17,367	S1:
Um, do you have a range for, uh, stipend amount that.

02:07:24,901	S18:
We will do what we've done in the past?

02:07:27,000	S1:
Okay.

02:07:28,601	S18:
Which is that right around the 10% with the hourly will have to do kind of what we did with our buildings and grounds techs because they're hourly. So we'll kind of figure in the raise, the temporary increase that way.

02:07:40,501	S3:
And so that's a temporary thing, right?

02:07:42,267	S18:
Yes it is.

02:07:43,467	S3:
Okay. So now, um, that ceased with the building and the grounds guys, or are we still.

02:07:49,868	S18:
It will. I think we have, like, is it 30 or 60 days after after the facilities director comes on board for training?

02:08:00,100	S3:
Okay, that sounds fair.

02:08:01,167	S18:
And then it will cease.

02:08:03,767	S3:
Okay. Commissioner Munson. So, Pam, the the department is how many employees short. And that's part of the reason you're doing a stipend. Because everybody's picking up additional work until we fill positions.

02:08:17,467	S4:
Is that.

02:08:18,367	S18:
We have two positions. Two positions in that department. The deputy auditor. Treasurer position was rolled into the treasurer position because you guys didn't want to add any positions. So the two we have open is the finance director in the treasurer. Those are the top two, unfortunately. So everybody's having to pick up some of the other ones so that more of the top stuff can be done.

02:08:47,267	S3:
I would move to approve second. To approve.

02:08:51,267	S2:
What?

02:08:51,667	S3:
The stipend. Until moving forward. Not looking back? Correct. Yeah. Only looking forward because, as Pam said, to go back to the hourly would be would not be a good thing. So just moving forward until we fill the two positions.

02:09:05,868	S4:
Of.

02:09:07,100	S3:
Finance director and treasurer. Okay. I understand what you're saying. Second motion and second. Any further discussion? Call the roll.

02:09:16,501	S1:
Commissioner Schwab. Yes. Commissioner Woodcock.

02:09:18,901	S2:
Yes.

02:09:19,100	S1:
Commissioner Munson. Yes. Commissioner bacon. Yes. Chairman. Bittner.

02:09:22,267	S3:
Yes. Motion carries.

02:09:24,167	S18:
Okay. And the last thing is, I need clarification on the November 17th meeting for the temporary. What was it? Temporary contract employee. Temporary consultant employee is what was approved, but that's two different things. Yeah. And so I defined the three levels. You know, the the consultant is a consultant at 1099 arrangement. The temporary employee is just a really only defined time period. And full time is full time.

02:09:56,667	S3:
Yep. Um, she she discussed this with me, and, um, and then I also had a discussion with the candidate that we were talking about. Um, and he would be okay with the temporary employee. Originally, he had said he was interested in the insurance and the vacation and that sort of stuff if it was going to be a longer term thing. But if it's a short term and we get some candidates, whether he applies or not for either the positions is kind of irrelevant. He has a current part time gig anyway, but he's retired and so he would be okay with the temporary without the benefits. And I think that would make everything a lot easier if he was just a came on as a temporary.

02:10:43,667	S18:
But I still need the scope. What what's the title and what are we going to have him do?

02:10:49,200	S3:
Well, I think with his qualification qualifications and that explain that to him, that we've already been down the road of, of of having a finance director that did not have a CPA. And since this is only a temporary thing as kind of an under fill with his high level of experience, I believe that he would fit in as a temporary finance director.

02:11:15,167	S1:
Without the CPA. Can we do that in the job description, Pam?

02:11:21,267	S3:
Well, we did that. We two that.

02:11:22,968	S18:
We.

02:11:23,167	S3:
Can.

02:11:23,868	S18:
And as long as it's temporary and there's an end to it.

02:11:28,000	S1:
Okay. Um, Julie, did you have any concerns with that language?

02:11:36,167	S19:
No. I think one of the things you should consider, though, if you're putting him in that position, because that's a supervisor of that department. And as a temporary person, do you want him in charge of hiring and firing and things like that too? So you might want to limit some of those things and just, you know, talk about that too.

02:11:50,868	S3:
Okay. I would suggest that we do exactly that and limit that authority to that. That has to go through both HR and a portfolio holder. Um, right off the bat. I don't think you, I, you know, I don't think he's coming in here looking to fire people. You know, the goal is, is the management side of the office to make sure that, um, someone with that, that degree of experience is just providing some oversight for the short term.

02:12:21,367	S1:
And insight.

02:12:22,400	S3:
Insight? Yeah. What can we improve on? These guys have been doing a great job. Don't get don't don't don't let me make any, um, false illusions here. They're doing a great job. However, they're they're relatively new to the business. And we've got somebody that's been in the business forever, the financial business.

02:12:40,501	S1:
And so it's more to make recommendations to the portfolio holder.

02:12:44,801	S3:
And the board. I mean, yeah, yeah, yeah. But I don't think there there shouldn't be any hiring and firing um.

02:12:53,000	S1:
Directly from that.

02:12:54,200	S3:
Yeah. And the position reports to the portfolio holder, whoever. That might be irrelevant.

02:13:03,767	S8:
So do you.

02:13:06,601	S1:
Need that motion or.

02:13:10,567	S3:
There hasn't been a motion yet?

02:13:11,868	S1:
No. So I would make the motion to move forward with the temporary position with those constraints on condition of employment. Okay. Does that work for you, Pam?

02:13:24,701	S18:
That will.

02:13:25,100	S1:
Work. Okay.

02:13:26,567	S3:
You're comfortable? Okay. A motion and a second. Any further discussion. Call the roll.

02:13:34,300	S1:
Commissioner Schwab. Yes, Commissioner. Woodcock. Yes, Commissioner. Munson. Yes, Commissioner. Bakken. Yes. Chairman. Bittner.

02:13:41,467	S3:
Yes. Motion carries.

02:13:43,100	S18:
Thank you.

02:13:43,767	S3:
Thank you. Pam.

02:13:46,901	S3:
Thanks for all that hard work, too, Pam.

02:13:51,467	S3:
Okay. County elections coordinator Larson, 2026 precincts and polling locations. Welcome, Tom.

02:14:03,868	S20:
Good evening, chair Bittner and commissioners. This evening, I'm requesting the approval of the precincts and the polling locations for the 2026 elections. Century code requires the county commission to set precincts by December 31st, the year preceding an election, and polling locations are required to be set by the 64th day before the election. Uh Burley County traditionally has set both at the same time. Uh, we have no changes to our precincts, and we have one polling location change to improve accessibility for voters. We are moving the polling location held at the Hillside Aquatic Center to Bismarck Baptist Church. There is a list of the polling locations and precinct descriptions, as well as a proposed resolution in the packet, and I recommend approval.

02:14:49,267	S4:
So moved. Second.

02:14:51,567	S3:
Motion and second to approve. Um, I remember at one time there was a discussion, um, with concerning a change to whether it was a polling location or something that involved either the city or the individual parties. I don't remember which it was. Do you know anything about.

02:15:11,167	S20:
That, what you're looking at? I know that in terms of polling locations within the city limits, typically the city does determine or have a say in that because of our JPA with the city, we are able to do that.

02:15:25,767	S3:
Sure. That, and I would hope that's what had happened. I was just trying to make sure that if there was somebody else that needed to be in on that decision, that they were already in on it.

02:15:33,501	S20:
I do know that Mark did speak with some of the legislators that were in that district, just to make sure that that move was okay and got the blessing from that. Hillside aquatic had some problems. The handicapped parking was quite a bit away. Yeah. And it's on the second floor. Yeah, sure.

02:15:52,400	S3:
Okay. Okay. Any further discussion? Call the roll.

02:15:56,000	S1:
Commissioner Woodcock. Yes. Commissioner Munson. Yes. Commissioner Botkin. Yes. Commissioner Schwab. Yes. Karen. Bittner.

02:16:01,601	S3:
Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Tom.

02:16:05,601	S3:
Um. Okay. You got a commission, continued items. Got a garrison diversion letter, page 73 to 76. Commissioner Schwab, do you want to jump on that?

02:16:18,200	S4:
Yeah, I've been jumping on it for a long time. Um, I would like two things added to this letter.

02:16:29,667	S4:
The fact that the county can't give out grants, and by giving them money they can grant any way they please. And it's kind of a runaround of the legality of us giving grants. Do I make? Am I making that clear?

02:16:56,868	S19:
No.

02:16:57,767	S4:
Obviously.

02:17:05,467	S4:
You do have grants in there.

02:17:09,000	S19:
And that's regarding it looks like what we've received through the diversion project.

02:17:14,868	S4:
Yeah, but last at the last meeting, that's why I asked you if Burley County can give out grants. And you said no. All, but they're forcing us to break the law by putting out giving them the money. They can they can, uh, go around the barn here.

02:17:35,167	S19:
But they can.

02:17:36,767	S3:
Okay, so which of the which of these? There's a letter with a petition, but then there's a resolution. How come is there to separate?

02:17:45,601	S19:
Because there has to be a resolution from the county commission to ask to be withdrawn. And that resolution has to be certified and sent with the petition requesting that we withdraw. Okay. And so they the law requires both of them.

02:17:59,100	S3:
Okay, good. Because in the resolution it specifies, um, that question about the grants. It says whereas the district has awarded grants that are outside the scope of the original intent of the district. Are you looking to elaborate on that? Yes. Okay, I get it.

02:18:17,501	S4:
Now that we're not allowed to give money for grants. It's okay. We're going around the barn to.

02:18:24,167	S3:
Get there, turning around, doing what we what we can't legally do. Right.

02:18:27,901	S4:
Yep. So we let them do it for us.

02:18:31,467	S19:
Well, they can do it. That's the thing.

02:18:33,767	S4:
But the thing about it is we. If we're aware of it, we shouldn't be giving them money.

02:18:42,000	S3:
Well, how can they do it if we can't?

02:18:44,367	S19:
Because they're authorized to do that. And just because they're getting their money from the county doesn't mean they're limited to the spending like the county. Otherwise, we would have to dictate to them how they're spending the money. Like when you take money in and you're going to spend it out, you you, the county commission sets how the county's money is going to be spent. Um, we're collecting money for them. It's not it's not our money. They levy their own taxes. They have their own laws that apply to them. So it's county taxpayer money that's going to them. It's not coming from our budget. It's coming from their budget, and we collect it for them. And so it's not our money that they're dispersing, it's taxpayer money that they're dispersing. And they're allowed to do that through their provisions.

02:19:28,367	S1:
Just like we collect for the.

02:19:29,367	S3:
City. Somebody was pretty slick when they set that up, huh?

02:19:34,000	S1:
Just like we collect for.

02:19:34,868	S3:
The city and.

02:19:35,467	S1:
The park district and other political subdivisions that we have no say in how they spend.

02:19:39,701	S3:
Money. Oh, I get that part.

02:19:41,767	S1:
And we're not. We're just collecting it for them. We're not levying those taxes ourselves. Right.

02:19:49,000	S3:
Yeah, I get that. Just doesn't make it right.

02:19:51,367	S2:
Mr. chairman, Commissioner, clarification. What did we do with these two? What have we done with the resolution and the petition? We postponed it. Is that correct? Waiting for more information from Garrison Diversity. Yes. That's right. Is that where we're at from?

02:20:07,868	S1:
Yeah.

02:20:08,267	S2:
Okay.

02:20:08,868	S1:
Commissioner Buckner and they've been in contact. Um, they want to meet. So they're having the regional water, uh, meetings, I believe the ninth through the 11th. Um, so around that, they want to meet with us. And, uh, as per conversation, uh, Commissioner Munson wants to be part of those conversations as well. So, um, they're going to forward me some prospective times to meet with them, and I'll coordinate with Commissioner Munson to do just that.

02:20:42,567	S3:
So what's the goal of that meeting?

02:20:47,367	S1:
Well, I think, uh, they want to make their case, uh, on the financial side, which, um. I'm good either way. Uh, with what we do, either we can table that resolution for the next meeting until after we have that meeting, or we can move it forward because the the process by which they get to vote on whether or not, uh, they're inclined to release us from the agreement for them anyway, so it really doesn't make a difference one way or another. It's just.

02:21:21,868	S3:
Not going to change.

02:21:22,467	S1:
Anything. It's not going to change anything. We're just going to have some more information from their perspective upon our our future meeting next week.

02:21:30,400	S2:
It was it was an.

02:21:31,167	S8:
Opportunity for us to learn.

02:21:32,567	S1:
A little.

02:21:32,868	S8:
Bit.

02:21:33,167	S1:
More. It's more a learning session, but but, uh, Mr. Bacon.

02:21:38,267	S8:
Is correct. I don't.

02:21:39,000	S4:
Think.

02:21:39,167	S8:
It's going.

02:21:39,467	S1:
To.

02:21:39,667	S8:
Change.

02:21:40,367	S1:
They make the decision.

02:21:41,267	S4:
They make the.

02:21:41,667	S1:
Decision, and then we make the decision on whether we want to litigate right on or not, depending on what that decision is. Yeah. So.

02:21:51,200	S3:
Well, I'd like to see the petition and whatnot just move forward. And then you guys can get more information from them and see, because I don't think they're going to I don't think they both let us out of the thing anyway.

02:22:02,267	S1:
Probably not.

02:22:03,167	S2:
But oh.

02:22:04,267	S3:
And I think that you see, what really, really bothered me about the whole thing is that we sent them some 700 and some thousand dollars a year, and we've only gotten like with what max of.

02:22:16,767	S1:
Maybe.

02:22:17,267	S3:
All.

02:22:17,567	S8:
Of those in.

02:22:18,000	S3:
The years. Yeah.

02:22:18,667	S21:
Maybe between all the entities in Berlin County. 800,000.

02:22:22,868	S3:
Between all of the entities in Berlin County. Whether it's the city, the city parks or anybody else. 800, $808.

02:22:29,968	S1:
Million projects paid for.

02:22:31,667	S2:
Commissioner Bernie Water. Got a lot of money back.

02:22:34,567	S3:
Had nothing to do with them.

02:22:36,567	S2:
What do you mean? It's Bergen County water. Use it. Bergen County, rural water.

02:22:40,767	S3:
Did you read this? The information here is that that information that that funding was from the federal government. The garrison diversion was just a pass.

02:22:50,667	S2:
Through the federal government.

02:22:51,601	S3:
That was just a pass through. It's still they didn't they didn't get the money for them.

02:22:56,200	S1:
Yeah. We're paying for their administrative costs to go lobby for money coming to the state of North Dakota. Correct. Is what it equates to. And like I said last meeting, there's a lot of value in it. But why are our taxpayers shouldering the load for benefiting the entire state of North Dakota. It needs to be a better program.

02:23:15,868	S3:
I really appreciated your opinion. Last meeting where.

02:23:18,801	S20:
It should be.

02:23:19,300	S8:
A.

02:23:19,400	S20:
Statewide.

02:23:20,167	S1:
Should be?

02:23:21,000	S3:
Yeah, clearly it should be.

02:23:22,567	S1:
There's different congressional congressional legislation that precludes or. It's part of the way it's set up. But I think the value that it brings into the state, it should be reworked to be a state program. I mean, not that I would like it any better, but if everybody participated equally and had an outcome equally, then I do see value there. But I've talked to some other counties that are in garrison that aren't really happy the way that the the funding process works either. So, um, and they're watching very closely what we wind up doing.

02:24:01,400	S3:
So then when you guys have this meeting, I would like for you to get clarification, because during the meeting when when the Conservancy district was making a presentation, they told us that they're currently irrigating 1400 acres in Burleigh County. And then I got an email like the next day or two or something later that had information from them in print. You know, their their brochure that said that they're irrigating 54 acres in Burley County. So somehow or another, the information in print versus what we were told was certainly not the same.

02:24:37,067	S1:
I think the difference is what's eligible versus what's being used utilized.

02:24:42,567	S3:
Well, that sounds like a smokescreen to me. Yeah. Okay. If you can kind of clarify that certainly in this meeting, because I can tell you 700 and however many thousand, whatever one mill is, what's that? 705.

02:24:59,000	S21:
Around 740,000 this year.

02:25:01,467	S3:
$740,000.

02:25:03,367	S1:
We can dig a ditch for that.

02:25:05,100	S3:
Yeah. We could we could do a lot with that. Well, like you said, his project down here along the river. And it's just, you know, four years and got that paid for it, right?

02:25:13,000	S8:
Yeah.

02:25:14,300	S3:
Just that amount. So is there a motion in here somewhere?

02:25:19,267	S2:
It's on the table already. We haven't removed it from the table.

02:25:22,667	S1:
No, there.

02:25:23,100	S2:
Was.

02:25:23,767	S3:
No.

02:25:24,000	S1:
No no no, it was.

02:25:24,667	S2:
Just last meeting. We tabled it. That's why I asked the question. Where are we at? Right. And you said we had. We tabled it. So. So it's still on the table. Right. And we have to remove it from the table to discuss it. Really. But no big deal.

02:25:38,100	S3:
Does that take a motion then?

02:25:39,767	S2:
Yes it does.

02:25:42,601	S3:
Okay. So since we were discussing it and I guess.

02:25:46,868	S1:
Table.

02:25:47,200	S3:
It okay.

02:25:48,667	S2:
What, you moved to remove it from the table for discussion? Yes you.

02:25:51,901	S3:
Do. Okay. Motion. And second. Any further discussion? Call the roll.

02:25:55,801	S21:
Commissioner Woodcock. Yes, Commissioner. Munson. Yes, Commissioner. Botkin. Yes, Commissioner. Schwab. Yes. Chairman. Bittner.

02:26:02,067	S3:
Yes. Motion carries. Okay. Now, is there another motion concerning what we're going to do with it.

02:26:08,501	S4:
I move, we send a letter.

02:26:13,801	S8:
Around which.

02:26:15,100	S1:
You understood.

02:26:16,501	S3:
The resolution and the letter.

02:26:18,267	S4:
The resolution and the letter. Do the whole enchilada by certified mail. They sign for it. Okay.

02:26:29,467	S3:
Okay. I have a motion. Is there a second?

02:26:35,000	S3:
I have a motion. Is there a second?

02:26:38,267	S1:
I'll second for discussion. Further discussion.

02:26:40,300	S8:
Okay.

02:26:41,567	S3:
Motion. And a second. Further discussion. Do you want to go ahead? Go. Okay. Commissioner Woodcock, one thing.

02:26:48,467	S2:
We've been hanging our hat on for six months or two years. Whatever it might be, is the value we received from the the membership. And it's a membership. I think it's it's not a. Well, let me get it anyway. The amount of money we donate to the district. We're comparing that with what we receive monetarily. Well, we're considering I think that's the wrong attitude. We're considering a boat ramp repair or replacement of $2 million. What do we get in return for that? Monetarily, we get very little. I mean, so you're you've got to compare apples to apples.

02:27:26,801	S2:
Are we going to get any return from that $2 million? Are we going to get in return monetary return from the money we're putting in the fairgrounds? Are we going to get in return from the nursing service that we donate to? I shouldn't say donate, but we taxpayer paid to. Are we going to get a monetary return from that? It's kind of an unfair comparison, I think.

02:27:49,200	S3:
Well, well are we are we getting any return?

02:27:52,968	S2:
No, I don't think we are. We're not getting any. We're not getting any monetary return from a $2 million new part. Knew how many people use that. How much money comes in? No, we're not getting any. That's it. That's a lot of a lot of money that the government spends. You don't get in return monetarily. Well, any government, not just us.

02:28:10,200	S3:
I think you're not talking about the right thing there, Commissioner. His project that he's referring to has to do with reclaiming and re-establishing the riverbank and preventing erosion and whatnot. It has nothing to do with a boat ramp. So if we.

02:28:25,667	S2:
Were to boat ramp.

02:28:26,367	S3:
Well, there's.

02:28:26,868	S4:
A boat.

02:28:27,167	S3:
Ramp there, but it's got to be removed. See, it's not about putting one in.

02:28:31,400	S2:
So the the the specific project go to move.

02:28:35,100	S3:
Well you were you were Commissioner.

02:28:37,501	S2:
Department move to the health department. We're donating. What are we what do we pay there? 600,000. What monetary value do we get back from that? None.

02:28:46,601	S1:
We're required to have it.

02:28:48,100	S3:
We're required to have it. And has to do with the health of the public, I guess. So there's, you know.

02:28:53,367	S2:
There's justification for every project we get into. Otherwise we'd better not be getting into it. What are we getting value back from the 18 million we're spending on the Provident building. What are we getting back? No, we're not here. What else are we getting back monetarily? Well, there isn't any. You sit there and grin. There isn't any. I'm saying we're not comparing the right things.

02:29:20,868	S1:
Part of my issue is going back and comparing what the original mission of garrison was and what it's become, and I see a lot of value to garrison. But again, it's for the state of North Dakota, not for Burleigh County taxpayers. We're just not seeing that. We're not seeing a return on the investment. And while I don't have a problem with having a statewide state operated program for the benefit of all the counties in the state, I do have a problem with why are we paying for projects across the state that the whole state is not shouldering. Sure. And I understand the value of that garrison from a state perspective and what it brings on the federal level from a lobbying perspective and what it brings back to the state. But we're not getting it. And why should we pay for the benefit of the entire state? If you take a look at the project that's taking place right now in Cass County with the Fargo Diversion and.

02:30:25,868	S1:
Look at what's getting pumped into that federal dollars in state dollars. It facilitated in part by garrison diversion. But we're not getting any benefit for that. You know, I go back to the original mission, and I would think that the current Burleigh County Commission that asked to join that the original counties had that original intent or that original mission in mind when they signed up for that. And that's not the mission anymore. So I think it's incumbent upon this commission to review that and see what it looks like for Burleigh County residents, because that original intent, that original mission, isn't there anymore. So does the county want to be part of that without the opportunity for that original mission to be fulfilled?

02:31:13,100	S3:
That's that's I think that's a real good point, Commissioner, because had we had we created irrigation and and whatnot throughout Burleigh County. I think I mentioned that at the meeting, like they did over in Montana. They've got ditches and water's flowing all the time. And anybody that's along there can irrigate their crops and grow. And I believe that's probably what the commissioners at the time were looking at, because back in those days, well, even today, water is life. I mean, you know, if you can, if you can, if you can irrigate. I mean, that's something. But here we are. How many years later after starting this thing or being involved in this thing. And we got like, a road ditch up there by Wilton someplace.

02:31:58,601	S1:
Yeah, well.

02:31:59,167	S8:
It's.

02:31:59,667	S3:
Like 50.

02:32:00,267	S1:
Acre canals, which was part of the original mission. Never got finished.

02:32:05,367	S3:
Yeah. And so I'm thinking, well, at some point, somebody just decided to quit. They go, well, we got this money laundering thing going on and didn't need to dig a ditch or what? I don't know. So anyway, any other commissioner.

02:32:19,100	S8:
Crop.

02:32:20,801	S4:
Number one is the data that we got. The numbers don't lie. Numbers don't lie. We're not getting a return. And I, for one, will tell you that I cannot in good conscience penalize the people in this county and not try to get them out of this, this money drain.

02:32:50,167	S4:
It to me, I would be shirking my duty. I mean, you know, you you sit there. Pretty soon, it's going to be $1 million. Then it'll be 1.5 million. All that money could go into our economy and the people would get that money, not the county. It just gets wiped off their statement and they can spend it the way they please. I've had calls people that have 18, 19, $21 and they say, well, why are we paying this? Well.

02:33:27,868	S1:
Commissioner Buck, you know, Commissioner Schwab brings up a really good point. Look at what the value. Just go back from 22 to today, what the value of a mill is in, in Berkeley County. And it's sizable. And they're taking a full mill for yours and diversion. So when you take a look at what that value of a mill is, look where that mission started when Burleigh County first signed up to what that value of that mill is now, and that can't be overlooked as well. I mean that that is.

02:34:00,067	S3:
What that.

02:34:00,367	S1:
Is. It is a big burden on on taxpayers. It's gone up over $250,000 from what I went back and looked at. So when you're looking at that value of that mill, that's another thing to take into consideration when you start talking about how much money this is costing taxpayers for Burleigh County, because when it comes to budget time, we all sharpen the pencil and cut as much as we can. Even some stuff. I don't always agree with cutting, but we cut as much as we can. And for us not to look at this, I it we're not doing Burleigh County residents as good a service.

02:34:38,167	S3:
Mr. chair auditor, can you get us information on what the mill levy value was when that first started?

02:34:46,567	S21:
I'll have it in a few seconds.

02:34:49,367	S8:
Mister chair.

02:34:50,467	S3:
Commissioner Munson.

02:34:51,467	S8:
To.

02:34:51,701	S3:
To expound on a couple of things.

02:34:53,100	S8:
That.

02:34:53,767	S21:
Commissioner.

02:34:54,267	S8:
Bacon had said. Do they have to.

02:34:57,467	S4:
Have a mill in in.

02:35:00,100	S1:
The.

02:35:00,567	S4:
What.

02:35:00,901	S3:
We voted on or what.

02:35:01,968	S8:
What was approved was up.

02:35:03,868	S4:
To a mill.

02:35:05,000	S3:
And as Commissioner Bacon has said, we have done everything in our power to make sure we.

02:35:09,367	S8:
Reduce.

02:35:10,501	S3:
Our levy to our taxpayers. Every year we go around this table and work very hard to reduce that levy. What are they doing to reduce theirs? And do they have to have a full mill every year? What justification have they given to anybody within the Garrison Conservancy District that they need that full mill to make sure they have the money needed? I think Commissioner Schwab has said it to as well. They have reserve accounts.

02:35:40,267	S1:
We're paying their operating costs for their administration.

02:35:43,167	S3:
Exactly. I think their, their, their assets are, what, 90 some million. And their reserves was 18 or 19. 19 million.

02:35:50,667	S4:
You know, there's a what we should do. You know that they count that canal up there as an asset doesn't do anything. Give it to him and say we're out.

02:36:05,400	S1:
It's going busy.

02:36:06,467	S4:
We don't want it, do we?

02:36:07,767	S1:
When Bismarck and Berkeley County flooded, it would have been awfully advantageous to take some pop off of. Yeah. Open up the damn canal. And it would have taken some top off.

02:36:17,601	S3:
Yeah, I'm sure of it. What? What was that?

02:36:20,200	S21:
So the amount that was levied in 1989, which was the first full year that we levied for it, it was $58,200.

02:36:27,667	S1:
And that was a full mill.

02:36:28,701	S21:
That was the value of the mill. 5058 58,200.

02:36:33,100	S4:
In what.

02:36:33,467	S3:
Year?

02:36:34,100	S21:
1989?

02:36:39,000	S21:
The year previous to that 1988, it was 57,712. But I believe that it was three quarters of a mill. It was not a full year full mil the first year.

02:36:50,467	S3:
Okay, so we've gone in in this short amount of time, what, 45 years? 50, 47 years or something?

02:37:00,667	S3:
From 58,000 to.

02:37:04,567	S8:
750,125%.

02:37:07,300	S21:
Yeah.

02:37:08,501	S3:
Well, you guys are going to meet with them. Okay. Any other discussion on the motion? Call the roll.

02:37:15,100	S21:
Commissioner Munson. No. Commissioner bacon. Yes. Commissioner Schwab. Yes. Commissioner Woodcock. Yes. No. Chairman. Bittner.

02:37:21,667	S3:
Yes. Motion carries.

02:37:25,400	S3:
Okay. Item number 14. Uh, well, I think that's on there just because we have applications. Okay. And I think, um, the current terms of office expire at the end of December.

02:37:43,467	S21:
Correct for most of the position. The for most of the positions, their term ends at the end of December. So I was directed by the Commission at the last meeting to present all applications at every meeting as we go. Um, so these are the ones that I currently have. The commission doesn't have to appoint anybody at this time if they don't want to. You can wait till the the next meeting because I'll be on the 17th if you if you still wish.

02:38:05,200	S3:
My personal preference would be to wait and encourage additional. Unless you guys have any other, um, concerns. Um, I'm excited to see all the planning and zoning. I'm. I'm very happy about that. How many positions are coming open here on the planning, planning and zoning?

02:38:24,200	S21:
Uh, three, I believe.

02:38:25,601	S3:
Three? Yep.

02:38:26,868	S1:
Can you run.

02:38:27,367	S3:
Through.

02:38:27,667	S1:
Those positions and let people know how to apply?

02:38:31,167	S21:
Um, so, uh, off the top of my head, there's, uh, three a few positions open in the planning department. There's, uh, two positions open in the school redistricting. On board as well. And then there's also a member. 1 or 2 members in the water resource district, uh, board as well. And then there is, there was the one for the, uh, the human service zone. But the commission went ahead and voted to not fill that position. And then if anybody wants to see what positions are available that's available on the website, the county website, and if you look under auxiliary boards, there's an application, a PDF, fillable application right on our website.

02:39:12,901	S1:
Okay.

02:39:13,400	S8:
Thank you.

02:39:14,701	S3:
Okay. We'll put that on the agenda for the next county commission meeting. Commissioner.

02:39:19,501	S2:
There's a couple on here that I'm on the water board. A couple of applications are for reapplying for two members who were on there already and have not fulfilled their total number of years. Uh, Jim Landon Burger and, uh, Mike reap, the other one. I got them there someplace and I would like to have they're both professionals in the business. They know what they're doing, they're doing an excellent job. And I want to reappoint both of those.

02:39:47,000	S3:
You don't want to wait for more applicants.

02:39:49,601	S2:
We've had over a month for applicants, so.

02:39:53,167	S3:
Well, I still think it's not going to make any difference if we do it today or at the next meeting.

02:39:57,400	S8:
I don't want to lose them.

02:39:59,167	S3:
They're not going anywhere. Um, in regards to to those. How long? I thought I saw something where one of them's been under quite a while.

02:40:17,968	S3:
Yeah. James has been on since 17. I don't know what the max is.

02:40:23,868	S8:
12, 12 years.

02:40:29,501	S21:
So the commission. The commission.

02:40:31,167	S2:
I made a motion, so I'm waiting on it.

02:40:32,801	S3:
I'll second.

02:40:33,501	S2:
It. They're both excellent candidates. We won't get any better, I don't think. If you want to put it down, I don't care. I think it's foolish if we wait.

02:40:45,701	S3:
Give me a motion a second. Any further discussion? Call the roll.

02:40:49,467	S21:
Commissioner Bakken. Yes, Commissioner. Schwab. Yes, Commissioner. Woodcock. Yes, Commissioner. Munson. Yes, chairman. Bitner.

02:40:55,567	S3:
Yes. Motion carries.

02:40:57,667	S2:
Thank you.

02:41:02,000	S2:
Mr. chairman. Another one of my portfolios is the rural school district. And our Brandt Dick, our superintendent of schools. He goes out and recruits people to be on that redistricting or reassigning of school districts, whether they want to join Bismarck or not. But it's a tough position. He does a recruiting and I visit with him, and he's looking to find two candidates. So the applications are still available if somebody wants us, but we have none in here. But he usually does his own recruiting, so that's still in the middle.

02:41:38,100	S3:
Okay, good for you. Okay.

02:41:43,300	S3:
Anything else on that? Okay. Next. Any other business? For the good of Burleigh County. Commissioner bacon.

02:41:50,767	S1:
Commissioner Schwab, this should make you happy. I've given up on summit.

02:41:53,667	S4:
I was.

02:41:54,868	S21:
Wondering.

02:41:55,300	S1:
When you.

02:41:55,567	S8:
Were.

02:41:56,167	S1:
Here.

02:41:56,400	S2:
See, I think they were here.

02:41:57,300	S1:
They left, but they. Okay.

02:41:58,667	S4:
But I do have one thing to say about. I should have said it when we were discussing it in Garrison's version. I really have a struggle with government from the state pushing summit on to people in this county. I have a problem with garrison inversion hosing the county taxpayers. It's kind of sad that we're in a position as a county to clean up this mess, and we have to fight the state garrison de version and the federal government gets to it, gets to abandon the original intent and we can't. So, you know, there's there's a I really have a problem with that. And everybody thinks, well, you know, they're good guys and stuff. Well, that can be a good guy once in a while. And they're not going to get me a a mil to spend every year. So.

02:43:02,801	S4:
That's my any other business.

02:43:06,267	S1:
Yeah. Well I think just a dovetail on that is I think what we're in the process of doing is making sure that we're identifying mission creep. Yep. When it comes to these programs, and if you're not reviewing, even if something's working well for you, if you're not reviewing it on a regular basis, you're not going to guarantee that you're getting the best value for the taxpayers. So I think that's what we are in the position of doing. And I think we're most of the time doing a pretty good job of that. So.

02:43:38,367	S3:
All right. Well, I have to agree with you, Commissioner, because I don't think the existing thing with that garrison diversion is anything like what was sold to whoever the county commissioners were at the time, because that doesn't match with what I've seen around the countryside. Like we've talked, you know, there's I think everybody was thinking, hey, irrigation for the county. Good. Yeah. And all these years later and we're we're getting a few drops. It's just it's a failed mission. Not just mission creep. It's total change. Anything else? For the good of Burleigh County? We are adjourned. Thank you. John.