A significant portion of the meeting focused on housing issues, particularly the need for contracts with the Economic Development Authority (EDA). Discussions revealed concerns about the lack of a housing contract as the year progressed. The EDA reviewed employee time allocation for housing and addressed the necessity of lead paint testing for 13 public housing units, a requirement from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The testing, previously varianced, was now being pursued with an initial quote of approximately $53,000. Although funds were available for this testing, the board acknowledged that other planned projects might face delays. This highlights the complex balancing act the county faces in addressing housing needs while managing financial constraints.

Nuisance properties presented another focal point, with discussions on the complexities of what constitutes a nuisance or blighted property. The board recognized the subjective nature of such assessments, acknowledging that “one person’s blight is another person’s treasure.” A proposal for a smaller committee, including mental health representatives, aimed to explore criteria for escalating nuisance situations. The committee’s objective would be to evaluate properties based on health, safety, environmental concerns, and visibility issues. The consensus leaned towards providing assistance rather than imposing strict regulations, recognizing that some individuals might lack resources or mental capacity to address property issues independently. Suggestions included offering help through waste removal services rather than enforcing laws that could displace individuals from their homes.

Technological upgrades were discussed, specifically regarding server replacements and air conditioning for the data room. The estimated cost for server replacements had decreased from $100,000 to $84,128, with a lifespan of approximately six years for the new servers. The board approved the expenditure to ensure the county’s software systems remain operational. Additionally, previous air conditioning failures had resulted in overheating and system shutdowns, prompting a proposal to install a second air conditioning unit for redundancy. The cost was estimated at $14,966, and the board approved the funding, considering the potential productivity losses from earlier failures.

The meeting also addressed financial matters related to the county’s library system, revealing that Becker County was overpaying by approximately $30,000 based on usage metrics. Discrepancies in financial contributions from other counties were noted, with neighboring Klay County underpaying. A future budget meeting was anticipated to rectify this financial imbalance.

In matters concerning the local environment and community facilities, the board decided to reject all bids for a building in the Pelican Watershed. Instead of paying for demolition, they planned to retain the building and submit a grant request to pave an access road for parking and potential winter storage. The building’s future utility and the need for space for various activities were discussed.

Furthermore, the meeting covered the implications of changes in state statutes on juvenile secure placements, noting a downward trend in placements due to the increased delinquency age from ten to twelve. This prompted discussions on the potential impact on child protection workloads and the handling of older youths in secure placements.

The board recognized the high timeliness certification achieved by the income maintenance unit in human services, though they expressed concerns about the potential impacts on local food shelves if a government shutdown continued into November, affecting SNAP funding.

A public health donation was also acknowledged, involving a private donation of $10,000 to the Becker County food pantry, confirmed to be non-taxpayer money. This was part of a broader effort to address community needs without relying on public funds.