Clearwater County, Minnesota

Meeting

The Board of Commissioners approved several personnel hires and temporary staffing changes. They authorized payments for highway department bills and specific fund invoices totaling over $250,000. The board also set the hourly rate for court-appointed attorneys.

• Approved $110.00 per hour for court-appointed attorney fees
• Approved payment of Clearwater County Highway Department bills
• Hired Steven Thompson as Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO-12 step 1)
• Authorized advertising for an Engineering Clerk
• Approved 16 additional temporary weekly hours for Paul Toriseva (July 20 to Sept 20, 2026)
• Hired Michael Smith as Part Time Veteran Service Office driver
• Approved $222,707.07 payment from the County Revenue Fund
• Approved $28,265.69 payment from the Public Health Fund

Meeting

The county board is conducting a work session to meet with various department heads. The meeting consists of scheduled updates from county offices.

• Land & Forestry update
• Veteran Services update
• Extension Office update with Kara Waldvogel
• Highway Dept. update with Darren Laesch

Meeting

The Clearwater County Board of Equalization met to provide a forum for property owners to appeal valuations or tax classifications. The board reviewed statistical measures of assessment uniformity and recent home sales trends.

• Accepted a value decrease from $313,200 to $301,800 for Parcel # 04.011.0400 due to a change in tillable acres

The Board of Commissioners approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from June 9, 2026. The Board authorized the County Auditor to pay invoices from the County Revenue and Public Health funds.

• Approved the meeting agenda
• Approved June 9, 2026, Board Minutes
• Authorized payment of $53,479.76 from the County Revenue Fund
• Authorized payment of $23,534.60 from the Public Health Fund

Meeting

The Board approved an engineering services contract for SAP 015-635-010 and updated the definition of proper immunization in the Animal Regulation Ordinance. Other actions included purchasing software for the Recorder's Office and authorizing jail rec room improvements. The Board also approved several payment invoices and personnel actions.

• Awarded Engineering Services Contract for SAP 015-635-010 to Apex Engineering Group for $84,610.55
• Amended Animal Regulation Ordinance to define 'proper immunizations' as rabies inoculation by a licensed Veterinarian
• Approved purchase of TriMin’s Land notification software for $11,000 installation and $1,500 annual maintenance
• Authorized $8,448.68 for acoustic foam from Grainger and $1,200 for installation by Bearded Brothers Electric LLC using jail inmate canteen funds
• Authorized payment of $185,973.84 from County Revenue Fund and $48,096.05 from Public Health Fund
• Hired Charlie Kaiser to a Part-time Seasonal position at Range 8, Step 1
• Approved Education Identity and Access Management Board Resolution
• Approved Resolution for Standardized Probation Supervision Policy and Fee Schedule

Meeting

The county will hold a work session featuring meetings with Glenn Chiodo, the Recorder, and the Assessor. The agenda is primarily procedural.

• Meeting with Glenn Chiodo
• Meeting with Recorder
• Meeting with Assessor

Meeting

The Board of Commissioners approved an amended AWAIR policy based on legal recommendations and authorized payments for submitted invoices. A motion to accept amended bylaws for Clearwater County First Responders was tabled.

• Approved amended AWAIR policy
• Authorized $54,656.49 payment from County Revenue Fund
• Authorized $4,618.44 payment from Public Health Fund
• Tabled motion to accept Clearwater County First Responders amended bylaws
• Approved May 12, 2026, Board Minutes

Meeting

The Board appointed a new County Engineer and hired several staff members for extension and park services. The Board also approved various maintenance contracts and accepted a $10,000 donation for the Emergency Operations Center.

• Appointed Darren Laesch as County Engineer with a $150,000 salary
• Accepted $10,000 donation from Flint Hills Resources for Emergency Operations Center overhaul
• Approved $234,489.81 from County Revenue Fund and $45,349.65 from Public Health Fund for invoices
• Hired Donna Rae Carlson as Part Time Extension Secretary
• Hired Micah Tramm and Alisa VanDyke for Long Lake Park summer work
• Approved $1,396.13 contract with Vern’s Carpet for Environmental Services Office
• Approved $2,950 contract with Bearded Brothers Electric LLC for Jail Rec Room lighting
• Approved $3,750 contract with Larry Perry for janitorial and painting labor

Meeting

The county board is conducting a work session featuring updates from various department heads. The meeting includes discussions with the Trailblazer President and DNR Parks/Trails representatives.

• Meeting with Gail Friborg and Trailblazer President David Cole
• Discussion with DNR Parks/Trails representative David Schotzko
• Departmental updates from the Sheriff, Attorney, and Engineer
• Reports from Emergency Management/Safety Coordinator, Maintenance, and Environmental Service

Meeting

The Board of Commissioners approved several infrastructure projects, including a bridge replacement agreement with White Earth Reservation. They also authorized payments for county invoices and the purchase of a recycling container.

• Awarded bid for SAP 015-612-003 to Johnson Construction of Bemidji for $283,968.97
• Approved Cooperative Engineering and Construction Agreement with White Earth Reservation to replace Bridge 15501 on CSAH 35
• Authorized final payment to RJ Zavoral & Sons, Inc. for 2025 bituminous surfacing projects
• Accepted Resolution for the Local Bridge Replacement Program Grant Agreement
• Approved $3,158 purchase of a 20’ gray container from Minn-Dak Containers
• Authorized payment of $28,482.36 from Revenue Fund and $12,288.74 from Public Health Fund
• Passed Resolution for Clearwater Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club 2026-2027 grant-in-aid application

Meeting

The Board approved several equipment purchases, including a motor grader and a pickup truck. They also authorized landfill monitoring services, approved budgets for the Forfeited Tax Sale Fund for 2025 and 2026, and designated polling places for the 2026 election cycle.

• Authorized purchase of John Deer 670P motor grader for $325,000.00
• Approved purchase of 2026 Ford F350 pickup for $49,685 plus tax and licensing
• Hired Kathryn Lien as Part Time Assessor Clerk
• Approved $6,790 annual groundwater monitoring contract with Baun Intertec for 2026-2027
• Approved approximately $11,000 annual engineering services contract with Widseth for 2026-2027
• Approved Forfeited Tax Sale Fund Budgets for fiscal years 2025 and 2026
• Designated County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office as polling place for South Clearwater 143-36 and Red Lake Reservation precincts
• Authorized $1,286.94 from County Attorney forfeiture fund for chairs and mats

Meeting

The Board of Commissioners approved several infrastructure contracts and equipment purchases. They also authorized the repurchase of a land parcel and hired a new legal secretary.

• Awarded $2,683,053.62 contract for multiple SAP and CP projects to Hawkinson Construction
• Awarded $80,483.40 pavement markings contract to KAMCO Inc
• Awarded $453,103.00 aggregate crushing and surfacing contract to Mark Sand and Gravel Co.
• Approved $43,812.84 purchase of a Schulte XH1000 Series 5 Rotary Cutter
• Approved repurchase of parcel 24.313.0045 by James and Karen Dukek for $5,375.52 (4-1)
• Approved purchase of 2025 Polaris Voyageur snowmobile for $4,169.33
• Hired Courtney Hallman as legal secretary at $24.35/hour
• Authorized payment of invoices totaling $76,363.38 (Revenue Fund) and $6,968.17 (Public Health Fund)

Meeting

The Board approved several personnel updates, including the appointment of an IT Specialist and the resignation of the County Engineer. They also authorized payments from the Revenue and Public Health funds and approved aquatic invasive species (AIS) contracts. Bids were opened for several highway and pavement projects.

• Approved DNR AIS Prevention Inspection Delegation Agreement 2026-2028
• Approved 2026 Always There Staffing Contract for AIS season
• Authorized payment of $129,377.71 from Revenue Fund and $19,677.58 from Public Health Fund
• Approved wording change to Personnel policy section 10.2.3
• Approved Ethics Section 23.2.1 addition prohibiting use of public funds for employee gifts
• Accepted resignation of County Engineer Dan Suave effective June 2, 2026
• Approved appointment of Riley Borgen as Information Technology Specialist
• Approved moving Jenifer Bockness from part-time to full-time

Meeting

The Board authorized payments from the county Revenue and Public Health funds and accepted a $3,000 donation for the Sheriff's Office. A proposal to use E911 funds for employee gifts was denied.

• Accepted $3,000 donation from TEAM Foundation for handheld thermal imagers
• Approved $61,469.53 payment from Revenue Fund (carried)
• Approved $4,273.79 payment from Public Health Fund (carried)
• Denied payment of employee gift tokens from E911 funds (0-4)

Meeting

The Board approved payments for highway bills, generator repairs, and a $3,000 skid-steer attachment. They authorized the hiring of a casual School Health Paraprofessional and approved fund payments totaling $143,420.81.

• Approved Clearwater County Highway Department bills
• Approved $3,000 purchase of pallet fork grapple skid-steer attachment from JAG Body Shop
• Approved $2,250.41 payment to Ziegler Companies for generator fuel line repairs
• Approved hiring Teri Danielson, LPN, as a casual School Health Paraprofessional
• Authorized $125,968.76 payment from the county Revenue Fund
• Authorized $17,452.05 payment from the Public Health Fund

Meeting

The county board is conducting a work session featuring reports and updates from various department heads and external partners. The meeting consists of scheduled time slots for departmental reviews.

• Public Health update with Marissa Hetland
• Trailblazers update with Gail Friborg
• Prime West update with Matt Magnuson
• Environmental Services review
• Reports from Sheriff, Maintenance, and Assessor

Meeting

The Board authorized several highway department projects, including pavement markings and aggregate crushing. They approved the 2026 Ditch Fund Budget and disbursed $13,000 in opioid settlement funds to the Northern Minnesota Addiction Wellness Center.

• Approved $397,9630.55 from County Revenue Fund and $68,334.93 from Public Health Fund for invoices
• Authorized advertising for project CP 26-100: Pavement Markings
• Authorized advertising for project CP 26-200: Aggregate Crushing and Surfacing
• Authorized advertising for projects SAP 015-637-005, SAP015-639-007, SAP003-637xxx & CP 26-42: Bituminous Overlay & Bituminous Milling
• Approved $13,000.00 in Opioid Settlement funds for Northern Minnesota Addiction Wellness Center
• Approved 2026 Ditch Fund Budget
• Approved 2026 Tobacco License for Galen’s Inc.
• Authorized $2,595.57 for IT Server Room A/C repairs from Westerman’s Repair

Meeting

The meeting consists of a department head meeting and a scheduled session with the Auditor. No specific decision items or proposals are listed on the agenda.

Meeting