Tim Quincer was the sole speaker during the open forum, addressing his concerns about Crow Wing County’s cooperation with ICE. Quincer stated he had attempted to contact a county commissioner and the county attorney without receiving any response. He expressed concerns about ICE’s adherence to constitutional rights, specifically around detentions without legal justification. Quincer referenced a newspaper article describing a district judge’s actions against ICE for allegedly ignoring court orders related to the release of detainees. He argued that assurances from the sheriff about not arresting individuals were contradicted by recent news reports. Quincer questioned the legality of detentions without disclosing detainee names and urged the board to evaluate the county’s compliance with federal law, particularly regarding the 287g program, which allows local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws. He recommended the board seek a legal opinion from the county attorney about potential liabilities and consider discussing the program further.

The board also covered the operations and future plans for the Crow Wing County landfill. Discussions included the overview of leachate management, involving the collection and treatment of water that comes into contact with waste. Plans for the upcoming years propose the final closure of cells three and four, which entails installing a final cover to prevent stormwater contact with waste, thereby reducing expensive leachate production. The board also addressed the construction and bidding process for cell six, which involves the installation of a clay liner and leach collection pipes. The projected timeline for filling this cell is 2027 or 2028, depending on waste volume. Financially, the board emphasized the budget of approximately $4.9 million allocated for these projects, with the current engineer’s estimate at $4.6 million.

A commissioner inquired whether counties are mandated to maintain a landfill. It was clarified that while counties must have a solid waste management plan approved every ten years by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, owning a landfill is not required. The benefits of having a landfill were highlighted, noting that it operates as an enterprise fund, covering its costs through tipping fees rather than taxpayer dollars. This system enables Crow Wing County to manage waste locally, reducing liabilities associated with transferring waste to other counties. A comparison of tipping fees showed that Crow Wing County’s fees are lower than some neighboring counties.

Another major topic was the board’s adoption of the hazard mitigation plan, a requirement under the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. The act mandates counties to update their plans every five years to remain eligible for FEMA’s hazard mitigation assistance grants. The plan update involved collaboration with the University of Minnesota’s Duluth campus to gather data from local municipalities on identified hazards, such as severe weather, stormwater management, and increasing defensible spaces in high-risk wildfire areas. Public input was emphasized in the planning process, and one member acknowledged the professional contributions of the emergency management director and his team. The importance of these efforts was underscored in helping local communities apply for funding to address storm damage recovery.

The meeting also included a report on the senior management team, detailing discussions on continuous improvement programs and employee engagement surveys. The team is working on 18 ongoing projects and exploring online training for leadership positions. An update was provided on a project aimed at cleaning out the county’s main server, transitioning towards secure cloud-based systems to alleviate storage issues. The employee engagement survey revealed improvements in various areas, with ongoing strategies to address remaining challenges. The board reviewed lead worker positions and their standardization, as well as the upcoming cohort for the lead program, focusing on developing high-potential employees.

Additionally, the board cast a vote for Commissioner Barrows for reelection to the Sourcewell Board of Directors. At the county level, one organizational vote is cast based on a majority decision from the board members. The board members voted unanimously in favor of Barrows, acknowledging his contributions and the benefits generated from Sourcewell’s investment in the five-county area.