[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6035875,"mediaKeyId","5082913-a5a3f80a64f7ed539d0c27ec1d914238","parentId",5082913,"title","Board considers countywide mobility study and grant strategy for Southwest Transit expansion","audioSeconds",7790,"startMs",7800000,"endMs",9736,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5082913-a5a3f80a64f7ed539d0c27ec1d914238&start=7800&end=9","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5082913-a5a3f80a64f7ed539d0c27ec1d914238/thumbnail_7800000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6035875/Carver-County/Minnesota/Board-considers-countywide-mobility-study-and-grant-strategy-for-Southwest-Transit-expansion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6035875-66e8455ba79946464458210992873d0b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775218414&Signature=L2aaBYMzKCiuS-JDfBIZbDfFj4q2zmd3HVGPCWmJHx2V8pKMqoaDXKw~UA4-JYDjRfcOwg5G9FyZzlzxabk-G73hqS2IQ93DGjUiBgWH0vzktV8JiVfF0YSKl82rULPc3CueD0~to~Z2xKJ1-yzsgxfAW4CeD6jq2m21tcbJ8PvzZhYbm9xR3uJ9E2FaTAK2j7BoDMPodYvavsRJomwrGEdhPGQbrv1WTidatRG6FZ1hAv~ddG~pLka1rH-U9Cx3RsG2XrJNiXgKAg6~~c~N9ot43esm7nMLjNg1G5BXaF6p8uNr8eti23BCWf0vVUG~T7lZasFgURTodrHzKIkCLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","MN / Carver County","date","2025-04-23T04:57:20Z","article","County staff and Southwest Transit presented options for expanding transit service in Carver County, recommended a mobility study and urged a grant-driven approach to maximize local funds.

What was presented: Southwest Transit CEO Eric Hansen reviewed the agency’s current service footprint and said the county’s portion of the new regional sales-tax fund could be put toward transit, greenhouse-gas mitigation or complete-streets projects. Staff and the transit working group asked Southwest Transit to revisit a 2024 proposal (initially focused on on-demand service in Waconia) and instead to evaluate countywide needs, service tiers and how to leverage regional grants.

Why staff favors a study first: Southwest Transit and county staff told the board a mobility study would: gather community and stakeholder input, identify service levels and use cases (for example, medical trips, workforce transit, college connections and access to grocery/medical centers), examine feasibility and prepare a competitive regional solicitation (TAB) grant application. Southwest Transit said a successful TAB application could leverage local funds (e.g., the county’s share of the sale-tax pool) to secure significantly more project dollars and expand service more quickly and effectively than ad-hoc pilots.

Service concepts and operations: Southwest Transit described on-demand service (Southwest Prime), fixed-route connections to park-and-rides and larger regional routes that link to job centers and the airport. Southwest Transit reported recent service expansions (including weekend and evening runs and a new Route 686 to the airport) and said special-event service (state fair, concerts) is a growing portion of its ridership. Staff noted geographic differences across the county—denser eastern towns versus more rural western areas—make a connected plan more effective than piecemeal pilots.

Board feedback and next steps: Commissioners supported proceeding with a mobility study, community engagement and exploring a regional grant application (TAB/regional solicitation) to maximize available funds. Staff will scope the study, may use third-party or in-house planning resources and return with a recommended schedule and budget so the county can be ready for 2026 grant cycles and potential 2027 service starts.

Ending: The board asked staff and Southwest Transit to proceed with study scoping and stakeholder engagement, keeping an eye on eligible uses for the county’s sales-tax funding bucket and on opportunities to match regional grants.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Carver County Board of Commissioners Work Session April 22nd, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Southwest Transit and county staff recommended a countywide mobility study and stakeholder outreach to build a grant-ready plan for transit expansion rather than starting ad hoc pilots.","taxTitle","Carver County, Minnesota","taxId",64163,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6035886,"Carver County medical examiner reports fewer overdoses, describes patterns in accidental and natural deaths",1057,3432000,4489000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5082913-a5a3f80a64f7ed539d0c27ec1d914238&start=3432&end=4489","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5082913-a5a3f80a64f7ed539d0c27ec1d914238/thumbnail_3432000.jpg","/articles/6035886/Carver-County/Minnesota/Carver-County-medical-examiner-reports-fewer-overdoses-describes-patterns-in-accidental-and-natural-deaths","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6035886-73befc5855100581c8e9f6aa1d440aa8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775218414&Signature=JCs20Y0y~uVFN0gA7Rb8Ovvw4i-9IBoNwiG68TLrdlRJXN2giGxgjmJwTQcsTojkhEmumsQEEx6~F5eX3KYujT0ViKQ3c~rGpbmUewuYGTu85Bd2WENJogDGBfBVsO74RcdQWhQ-F6wC7hDqQjHWHV0MAo35mOQ7V1bOs~-dmGxoqRFr1FwVRbUwaNJmDSY9SNqC-qc2FMmLfB8-c1ehGIuUPJM1pPYwRVxRvi1geTMJX9xBtEWfBJo~yj8wz5gLXkZNkNNES9uDlsFipi-vVj7-eNysFg5bzgOl0IbI6yCgLrVMy6AWmnqAhpYZPgD0xtRYUAVx9clHheSMzZHK7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Piper presented the Carver County Medical Examiner’s 2024 annual report and reviewed the county’s death classifications, toxicology findings and trends.

The report and why it matters: The office recorded 449 of the 592 total deaths in Carver County as reported to the medical examiner; 73 required autopsy or direct medical-examiner certification. The office classified one death as homicide, 34 as accidental (including eight where substance use contributed), 15 as suicide and the remainder as natural causes that did not require examiner autopsy.

Toxicology and trends: Dr. Piper said fentanyl was present in seven Carver County decedents in 2024 and methamphetamine in nine; cocaine was flagged in two cases. The medical examiner’s jurisdiction-wide data (including contracted Wisconsin counties) showed a higher absolute count, but Carver’s in-county totals for fentanyl were seven. Xylazine (an adulterant sometimes reported elsewhere) was not detected in any Carver County decedent in 2024. Dr. Piper and staff noted that opioid deaths statewide have trended down in recent reporting periods and that the availability of naloxone (Narcan) is one contributing hypothesis for reduced fatal overdoses.

Suicide and age patterns: The office reported 15 suicides in 2024 and described multiyear variability—some years register higher counts than others—without a single explanatory factor in the county data. The medical examiner noted an increase in substance-related deaths among older adults and continued prevalence of blunt-force accidental deaths (falls) in elderly residents.

Office accreditation and outreach: Dr. Piper and staff said the office is completing an international accrediting process (International Association of Coroners & Medical Examiners) in addition to National Association accreditation and described outreach improvements, including new grief-resource links on the office website and counseling support resources for families.

Commissioner and staff remarks: County staff and the county attorney praised the office’s availability for investigations and family support; county leaders said they value the office’s independence when it provides medicolegal findings that underpin criminal prosecutions or public-health responses.

Ending: Commissioners thanked the medical examiner and staff and discussed bringing the office to future orientation tours for new commissioners and staff.","Dr. Piper, Carver County’s medical examiner, told the board the office handled 449 reported deaths in 2024, performing 73 autopsies or examinations and reporting one homicide, 34 accidental deaths and 15 suicides.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6035891,"Carver County officials begin early review of 2026 budget, warn of state cost shifts that could raise levy",3258,155000,3413000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5082913-a5a3f80a64f7ed539d0c27ec1d914238&start=155&end=3413","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5082913-a5a3f80a64f7ed539d0c27ec1d914238/thumbnail_155000.jpg","/articles/6035891/Carver-County/Minnesota/Carver-County-officials-begin-early-review-of-2026-budget-warn-of-state-cost-shifts-that-could-raise-levy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6035891-ab05a730c8f4f274e331d4ea3958ada9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775218414&Signature=PqLjz7uxkFXg2zUnE26lWeTkwO1uLFGXL2zCmOhLhwdNsTkgq2hFL4beyadsXhyz9GTTTx0PSBEqWYl2TNRcUvxaU7FdlMTAlsHAkHVC1zO4vueCZoIO2r-R0n6Wu3o2h6~5jhbisyUAdA8yXV2n0QpxeS6JYV0NlDThu2Dzi2cFmDejLycKvql5Q~Qh09p7Vm6FL-j6L3Ro3F3nFVp1i1sj4UKHh9tUwksnv4XU-cLY2e9o6b7SmSkJu8xV5RqHgcXG4q6~mpVcbgYhfAhyngoii3KHDlrbY3LnZ55I2p5KWoV-~78zxZBl3mBko-3xu6K22Ek26fYrxv2~ivZ1Mw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carver County Board Chair Tom Workman and County Administrator Hemsey opened an early workshop on the county’s 2026 budget on the county’s service-delivery and levy (property-tax) choices, saying uncertainty from recent state budget proposals makes planning difficult.

The county framed the session as an educational first step focused on the general levy—property taxes that fund county services—and on separating mandated services from discretionary, levy-funded programs. Administrator Hemsey said the “keyword here will be uncertainty” and told commissioners the county will follow a multi-step calendar for public hearings and staff recommendations before any levy decision.

Why it matters: County staff told commissioners the board faces a possible combination of state actions that could increase costs borne by the county and therefore the levy. Heather, a county staff member who briefed the board on legislative developments, said proposals under consideration at the state level could shift costs for services for persons with disabilities and for placements at the Anoka Regional Treatment Center onto counties. Depending on how proposals and negotiations roll together, she said the county could face a cost shift from roughly $750,000 up to about $1.6 million for one set of waiver and fee changes, and an estimated $835,000 annually if the June 30 relief for Anoka placements is not extended.

Details and process: Finance Director Dave Frishman reminded commissioners that the county’s total 2025 budget was about $254 million and that roughly $75 million of that is covered by the county levy; operations, health-and-human-services and roads take the largest shares. Staff said they will separate mandated services (those required by law), operations/overhead, and non-mandated services (discretionary programs funded by levy) and present estimates of how different cuts or choices would affect services and overhead.

Hemsey and Frishman outlined a calendar: staff will return with additional financial detail in weeks, hold additional work sessions in June and August, and present the administrator’s recommended preliminary levy and budget in September. Hemsey emphasized the board would set a preliminary levy in September that can be lowered but not raised later in the process.

Policy and legislative risks: Heather told the board the governor’s budget includes proposed cost shifts—one example being a proposed 5% county cost share for certain residential supports for persons with disabilities (the Senate proposal is smaller, the House proposes a different approach tied to rate exceptions). Heather said, depending on the final mix of bills, the county’s exposure for that single area ranges from about $750,000 to $1.6 million. She also said earlier legislative relief for placements at Anoka Regional Treatment Center is scheduled to end June 30 unless the legislature acts; if not extended, the county’s estimated annual cost for two persons would be about $835,000 (about $2,320 per day per person).

Commissioner feedback and context: Commissioners thanked staff for early work and emphasized the need for a transparent public process. Commissioners raised trade-offs—public safety and prosecution, parks, libraries and road projects were repeatedly cited as high priorities that would be difficult to cut. Several commissioners urged the board to consider multi-year efficiency and revenue strategies in addition to one-time asset sales. Commissioners also noted the political sensitivity of cost shifts: many services that would be shifted to county property taxpayers may not generate visible constituent outcry because the services for residents would continue unchanged while property-tax bills rise.

Next steps: Staff will return with more detailed calculations of levy impact per percentage point (staff noted 1% of the 2025 levy equals roughly $1.5 million), estimated impacts on the average home, and proposed public engagement steps. The board directed staff to proceed with the planned calendar and to provide more detail on service definitions and overhead allocation before the board considers prioritization or cuts.

Ending: Chair Workman and administrators framed the exercise as a chance for organizational learning and public education as the board prepares more detailed fiscal choices later in 2025.","Carver County Board Chair Tom Workman and County Administrator Hemsey opened an early workshop on the county’s 2026 budget, saying uncertainty in state proposals could shift significant costs to the county and influence next year’s property-tax levy.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6035881,"Carver County reviews ditch redetermination, inspectors warn two systems need major work",2501,4739000,7240000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5082913-a5a3f80a64f7ed539d0c27ec1d914238&start=4739&end=7240","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5082913-a5a3f80a64f7ed539d0c27ec1d914238/thumbnail_4739000.jpg","/articles/6035881/Carver-County/Minnesota/Carver-County-reviews-ditch-redetermination-inspectors-warn-two-systems-need-major-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6035881-524b8c824990ec6bf895b8bf8125faa0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775218414&Signature=oTkqXmGrUNe0YdA2DuVuhZNbGbpfoG7XAG9tpxBWsswiuX3zySPhTnKOQplJArLBvViWgkCkAfsCEn-GaOLhZTaQ9zsg53eWL3ik~OtE36PQs6395VkYOZQp8V6c9fY3GGDBW93b8CudkLmay4KoOd1ZoiQmT4YXD5DafDCSHYlso1wVcy~WW~Ay8no~kHpgAw8UOAgS5-oL4QIaBdKXDbpC1cYgltQ7ctBhVZhAZsNLJI17TusN8rv5K6fd~Gx0aIPywQ-WynfKzeUnAknfooXaO3iwFtTU8RZ1l6FR62PYLHccGOOiMRGk2mAAntF48bMrp7X5~kf0iqkfq~SMUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carver County public-works staff and the ditch attorney presented a program update on redetermination of benefits for county ditches, routine inspection plans and recommended next steps for repairs, maintenance and financing.

Key takeaway: The county has 17 drainage systems on its inventory. Staff said nine systems have completed redetermination of benefits and that most systems have positive cash balances. Two systems—County Ditch 23 (Carver Creek) and Joint Ditch 1—remain in poor condition and would require extensive engineering and construction work to restore them to “as-constructed” capacity; staff said rehabilitation could run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars or more once engineering and mitigation are included.

Legal and operational context: Ditch attorney John Kolb told commissioners that the drainage code creates mandatory inspection and maintenance obligations for a drainage authority but also gives the authority discretion about the scope of repairs. Courts have upheld a drainage authority’s discretion to alter repair scope where justified by environmental, economic or practical constraints; county officials were therefore advised to document inspections and the reasoning behind repair choices. Kolb recommended a five-year inspection cycle (inspect one-fifth of systems each year), document inspections, budget inspections and avoid a complaint-only inspection model.

Condition categories and next steps: Ditch inspector Mike Wanas summarized conditions: five ditches in good condition (regular maintenance expected), seven in “okay” condition (targeted engineering or sediment/tree removal may be needed), and two in poor condition (County Ditch 23 and Joint Ditch 1). County Ditch 23 functions in many places like a natural creek with heavy tree cover and an historic benefit schedule (benefits on the books dated to 1904 and listed at about $15,800); proposed new benefit allocations would reassign roughly $14 million in benefits under modern assessment. Staff recommended regular, responsive maintenance for County Ditch 23 rather than an immediate, expensive full reconstruction given its character as a creek and floodplain considerations. For Joint Ditch 1, staff recommended pursuing engineering quotes and coordinated work with McLeod County because the majority of benefits for that ditch are in McLeod.

Financing and assessment process: Finance Director Frishman explained the county has been funding engineering, viewers and attorney work for redeterminations from county funds and will assess those costs back to benefiting properties after the redeterminations are complete. He said the county maintains separate books for each ditch and brings recommended assessments to the ditch authority in the fall; staff generally bring project expenditures above $10,000 back to the ditch authority for explicit approval.

Ending: Commissioners asked clarifying questions about where county jurisdiction ends and DNR-managed waters begin (for example, Carver Creek outlets) and staff agreed to formalize a scheduled inspection cadence, evaluate cost/benefit before major repairs, and pursue engineering for Joint Ditch 1 where appropriate.","Public works and drainage staff updated the board on a multi-year program to redetermine ditch benefits and on a planned five-year inspection cycle. Ditch attorney John Kolb outlined legal duties; ditch inspector Mike Wanas and Finance Director Dave Frishman said nine systems have been redetermined and two county ditches are in poor condition and ","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board considers countywide mobility study and grant strategy for Southwest Transit expansion

Carver County medical examiner reports fewer overdoses, describes patterns in accidental and natural deaths

Carver County officials begin early review of 2026 budget, warn of state cost shifts that could raise levy

Carver County reviews ditch redetermination, inspectors warn two systems need major work