[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6091870,"mediaKeyId","2857889-0447ef44dab9ae975e103ea54a292ec0","parentId",2857889,"title","Votes at a glance: Becker County board approves construction contracts, service agreements and personnel changes; tables surveyor contract","audioSeconds",281,"startMs",2746000,"endMs",3027000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2857889-0447ef44dab9ae975e103ea54a292ec0&start=2746&end=3027","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2857889-0447ef44dab9ae975e103ea54a292ec0/thumbnail_2746000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6091870/Becker-County/Minnesota/Votes-at-a-glance-Becker-County-board-approves-construction-contracts-service-agreements-and-personnel-changes-tables-surveyor-contract","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091870-b9195a76841d12bf39a2f5853144263f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770587408&Signature=Bzeeh5z2BxwWH0eBR4IoQjvv3yFMuVXGb~zJn9zEE~Umihu2tpDMMDSmonZy1h8iusMzAEfTFOfDBsKyglaT8udt1ohHO7RZPCYz4TLevkdqEf516W9NOCMg3KNTIQvCBQ2Mx-wsQwY8ZifLmWg0XH7bs5B0DRTP5H6fXvTjaub0~~9~Cv2bbaTC5R6WndMcH92pvsu~fO-MX1w0hBhx0C0AnpCoDYDl0yHPO9-uqcq9dCAX1HBjpmmcPscKfBEIBnhiY2wWz5vMrG5NxEtZZPSQLvnivyzc2ts7LaFf9yB7RRE5e6kE88t6VW4iRqyjwi20qNO-oiRgxViHFO71Bg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Becker County, MN","date","2025-04-03T05:21:22.217Z","article","The Becker County Board of Commissioners voted on a slate of routine procurement, personnel and resolution items. Below are the actions the board approved or otherwise decided during the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Construction contract (grade widening) — County Road 7 & County Road 16: Board awarded the construction contract to low bidder Dennis Drews (Frazee) for the grade widening project. Motion carried (voice vote). Engineer’s estimate: contractors’ bids were below estimate by ~6.5 percent.

- Countywide weed/spring spraying: Awarded to L & M Road Services (low quote). Motion carried.

- Countywide mowing contract: Awarded to L & M Road Services (low quote). Motion carried.

- Gravel-road blading and plowing (seven maintenance areas): Awards made to a suite of contractors (Growth Gravel, Hendricks Road Maintenance, Projects Unlimited, Thielen Excavating, Gussner Construction in specified areas). Motion carried.

- Construction inspection and surveying contract for Lake Park project: Board authorized Moore Engineering to perform construction field inspection and surveying for the Lake Park sidewalk/road project (estimated professional fee shown in packet). Motion carried.

- Potty-shack (porta-potty) service agreement: Board authorized a countywide service contract for portable restrooms (including year-round units at Mountain View Recreation Area and Pine Grove). Motion carried.

- Personnel and staffing: Board approved a change to solid-waste staffing approach (addressed seasonal vs. permanent part-time coverage) after committee review; motion carried.

- Chief deputy benefits resolution (resolution listed in packet): Board approved formalizing benefits for the sheriff’s chief deputy (item noted as consistent with existing benefits). Motion carried.

- Letter of support for Empowerment Swings: Board approved sending a letter supporting a grant application for sensory/‘empowerment’ swings used in recovery and therapy settings. Motion carried.

- Land donation acceptance (80-acre parcel in Osage Township): Board approved accepting an 80-acre donation from a land trust (pending closing). Motion carried. The county will pay 2025 taxes on the parcel and closing costs (estimated; exact closing-cost estimate not specified in packet).

- County surveyor service agreement: Motion to table the proposed agreement for redrafting and legal review (data-ownership and compensation language) — motion carried.

For most motions the board approved by voice vote and the clerk recorded that motions carried; explicit yes/no tallies were not provided in the public discussion. Several items had brief technical discussion (e.g., bid differences, contractor qualifications, project scope) prior to votes.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 1, 2025 Becker County Board of Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At the meeting the board approved multiple construction and maintenance contracts, accepted a donated 80-acre parcel, authorized service agreements including porta-potty services, approved chief deputy benefits and a letter of support, and tabled the county surveyor contract pending legal review.","taxTitle","Becker County, Minnesota","taxId",56037,"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},6091875,"Becker County tables surveyor contract after commissioners seek clearer language on data ownership and compensation",566,3303000,3869000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2857889-0447ef44dab9ae975e103ea54a292ec0&start=3303&end=3869","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2857889-0447ef44dab9ae975e103ea54a292ec0/thumbnail_3303000.jpg","/articles/6091875/Becker-County/Minnesota/Becker-County-tables-surveyor-contract-after-commissioners-seek-clearer-language-on-data-ownership-and-compensation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091875-8a0285f8da3a47475f650899d6e34af1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770587408&Signature=R18pyaLkZnqBpMDATRFuRqWzvyiyBQqSmfo7e1JSpeoq9G1DltgM-AMyZBaxsOnzeV3~FowKxasCTwiqGOdvL--Gp-DLMmGb5Y-xra81Njl7S-E4V0gVL~1dtncQLubMBOmIIErZRXy7vK~Ztvq~STbCrXWdqN6-ZadNJDiNSIuQ9R2i5mFf2N8nSchbINt2oJiumSnNrHuw7danVxs4hQD47D4~EfFllN-S04T73auIh-Vlezo2tqHRkAQImw5rN3b6FczPKQspo2D94wzkZ0Uu3FImQ-rjBLoahQWJN2BnEmVeu4UcIC29128CwUktmkTk94fHkzj897B-CkeIew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Commissioners voted to table a proposed service agreement with the county surveyor to clarify contract language on data ownership, compensation and automatic fee adjustments.

The contract under discussion would formalize services such as public land survey corner maintenance, preparation of bid documents and limited field work. Commissioners and the contracting surveyor, identified as Josh, discussed multiple specific items: whether the county or the private surveyor owns survey notes and raw field data; how the county will compensate the surveyor for attending meetings requested by the county (hourly, mileage, or other); language about the contract automatically renewing on a year-to-year basis after 12/31/2028 and a referenced annual adjustment (the draft used a 10 percent figure that some commissioners said was unclear and too high if applied annually); and billing and pre-authorization requirements for work.

County Administrator Carrie told the board that MCIT had confirmed the county’s liability insurance would cover an appointed official and that language addressing errors-and-omissions coverage would be restored to the final contract prior to signature. Commissioners asked the county attorney (Brian) to review ownership language and some word choices in the draft before bringing the item back to the board.

The board made a motion to table the agreement for revised wording and a legal review; the motion passed by voice vote.

","Commissioners voted to table a proposed county surveyor service agreement to clarify who will own survey records, compensation for meeting attendance, and annual fee adjustments; staff said MCIT confirmed errors-and-omissions coverage for an appointed official.",{"_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},6091878,"Becker County officials describe tight rental stock, voucher waitlist and maintenance plans for owned housing",331,2000,333000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2857889-0447ef44dab9ae975e103ea54a292ec0&start=2&end=333","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2857889-0447ef44dab9ae975e103ea54a292ec0/thumbnail_2000.jpg","/articles/6091878/Becker-County/Minnesota/Becker-County-officials-describe-tight-rental-stock-voucher-waitlist-and-maintenance-plans-for-owned-housing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091878-0b4f07596772d1c7647048df837e9e59/orig.mp4?Expires=1770587408&Signature=TQWTzdTqzpbdd6tS551KoZWn1qlQ9LXNzZX65gkEBvUrn44Zm88UmD-7l9t5hiEJkspaYyhwnOnLWrsxPrNHgl2rGR-jYszgg1Db~QnA8L~wC2-xTpSc9bzZYC~CHw2-YUonjMi0bckKWkzAKWPlNM4T5ErFbL8Cgw9JW8gnrvLwgSXE2wa298EzIcI5tHgh~8qygzjmR9zrQVXv-V5PyCh3sDF0UCIgCRmhqW5LcBUt38NQwpGIGX0E086tibQ5gNX8y8-uGinXfU5Aw1WS3QV1nCLilwGre9Ax~oEfGsfq8Hjmr0M6lXnXKBBjo7BI5Rj~oeHxcUbtBkAakH6U~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff provided an update on the county’s housing inventory and voucher allocations during the meeting.

Officials said the county maintains public housing units in several properties. Staff reported that Maple Hills and the Frazee property are at capacity and that one of the county’s West River Townhomes had a recent vacancy but had an applicant in line to fill it. The county said 12 of the West River Townhomes’ units are tied to Housing Choice Vouchers and that West River Townhomes historically shows the most turnover among county-owned rental properties.

Staff reported an existing waiting list for the Housing Choice Voucher program and said about 45 people were on that list as of the meeting. Commissioners asked for an inventory showing specific addresses of county-owned single-family homes; staff said Montgomery County-managed MMC/MMCDC manages some units and that a county housing report will be provided to commissioners. Staff also said the county has 25 single-family public housing units under the county’s inventory and additional federally managed public housing units separate from that count.

The county said a request for proposals (RFP) will go out to replace siding, windows and decks on a county-owned apartment building in Frazee. Commissioners also discussed the possibility of adding air conditioning and other repairs to that building.

Commissioners pressed staff for a clear inventory of county-owned housing addresses and unit types. Staff said they would provide a housing report and that some multifamily units are designated to receive vouchers.

","County staff updated commissioners on public housing inventory and voucher allocations, noting full properties, a waiting list of about 45 Housing Choice Voucher applicants, an RFP for building repairs, and requests from commissioners for an address inventory.",{"_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},6091882,"Becker County officials warn state-level cuts could shave about $250,000 from county revenue",296,1952000,2248000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2857889-0447ef44dab9ae975e103ea54a292ec0&start=1952&end=2248","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2857889-0447ef44dab9ae975e103ea54a292ec0/thumbnail_1952000.jpg","/articles/6091882/Becker-County/Minnesota/Becker-County-officials-warn-state-level-cuts-could-shave-about-250000-from-county-revenue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091882-f736248e3aaefd5bb09b9f18130469b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770587408&Signature=dOIoAl4MZ3BaW7xbx0inu~UCzyuynrWqauiQy543o0d6LJQf4TU75bbRm3xfPyqIae-TEKPg1Ead2IeG0b1i9y5ID-S4ybCT-WeA9fJicFFJEx~CVrUcgxv0f7ufL6ImrjkGYdyY53n4cS7~MPDhYev8Zd~ejf3bjypcAuD8Jyj1yalhoBq~OaBxQi1V5PK-wIAKStd1LQJCx9c3C9X6FRqdbBXYK9BITunKsrJWed60TAmsufSugHi6vh7KNs1mwz4BkU6OLoc~ibcMimoh2A5ISe~197miJcSydSKUcDG2F9MipTgiqkYygPZsQlgqUYWWYjlD5fm650f8ypu8pA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Becker County officials told the board that proposed changes at the state level could reduce several revenue streams and increase county costs.

County Administrator Carrie said county staff have received preliminary information indicating potential reductions to payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PIL) funding; she reported a working estimate that a 35 percent cut to certain PIL payments could reduce the county’s revenue by roughly $250,000. County staff said the PIL programs referenced include some payments tied to state-managed forest or DNR-acquired lands but that details and formulas remain unclear pending legislative decisions.

The administrator and commissioners also listed other possible cuts and mandates raised in legislative proposals, including large reductions or elimination of some county-administered programs: a proposed 50 percent cut to EIS (reportedly), reductions to sentenced-to-serve programs, changes to Medicaid payments, and other program and mandate shifts. Commissioners said those changes could add new county expenses while shrinking revenue and that rural counties often bear the proportionally larger share of such budget impacts.

Carrie said the county is tracking proposed changes in collaboration with the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) and that staff will continue to quantify dollar impacts county-by-county. Commissioners stressed that some proposals — including modifications to how DNR-related PIL funds are calculated — have precedent in earlier funding rounds and that the county is seeking clarity on which program “pots” and formulas would be affected.

At the meeting, commissioners discussed the potential operational impacts on county services including public health, probation and corrections programs, and long-term care providers that contract with the county. County staff said they will continue to report updates and dollar estimates to the board as legislative proposals evolve.

","County Administrator Carrie and commissioners outlined potential state budget changes — including a reported 35% cut to some payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PIL) funds — and described multiple program reductions that could affect county budgets and services.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6091887,"Becker County commissioners present $3,056 to county food pantry after growth in demand",736,2504000,3240000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2857889-0447ef44dab9ae975e103ea54a292ec0&start=2504&end=3240","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2857889-0447ef44dab9ae975e103ea54a292ec0/thumbnail_2504000.jpg","/articles/6091887/Becker-County/Minnesota/Becker-County-commissioners-present-3056-to-county-food-pantry-after-growth-in-demand","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091887-d41c8b095278ad85a32248934ba46632/orig.mp4?Expires=1770587408&Signature=Et6gAxyWWINa5ps6T6xxhHO3F0szRwnJ-pFXk6j2sbXdezJgR~dQX9f3NCMZH0s9UTL6t7Mo~n6UfICengQnQkr6o43fJim54hF6i~-aAEaCo1F9f5Pg96oZDtlwJcWlyy5i4YRFdOvTXw~aSiMlI2rf8Bz52IeuP9oqRqZZLiDRydG5AaAj-Mvu9r5tdVdTX0~s~0HJBoZMLlsWSFtOcAbKz-PkUuWWocAokes2yZpv7D5kvs9Mt9GPyB2nYJ0sg9jeNVps8JFgy~NuwG5PqDR0UcluVyzFkZFkk0UjH7LttOuqrxlu1~IYy7pt1dodei0Mh77-ZOCrbnHJeeKctQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Becker County commissioners received an update on the county food pantry’s operations and presented a $3,056 donation during the board meeting.

The pantry reported sustained, sharp increases in demand: client visits rose 128 percent over four years, the pantry served 20,728 people in 2024 and distributed about 592,000 pounds of food in 2024, and the pantry served 6,100 people in the first quarter of 2025. Pantry staff said they project serving about 24,000 people in 2025, roughly 4,000 more than the prior year.

Pantry leaders told the board that the organization relies heavily on rescued food from local retailers and federal programs, and that changes or cuts to those sources would reduce what the pantry can distribute. Pantry staff described TFAP (a federally funded emergency food program that supplies much of the pantry’s meat donations) and SNAP-related supports as critical inputs; if those supplies or funding are reduced, pantry leaders said they would need to cut distributions or find new funding sources.

County officials and pantry volunteers described the new pantry facility as more welcoming and more efficient for clients. Pantry staff said the self-shopping model used at the new site lets clients select what they need and gives staff better data on which items to restock. The pantry said clients may access the pantry once per month by policy; a limited supplemental program exists for households needing a partial additional supply between full visits.

Speakers at the meeting thanked volunteers and county employees for donations and fundraising that supported the new facility and current operations. The board and pantry representatives noted ongoing grant-seeking and outreach to local businesses to secure more reliable, sustained funding.

Pantry leaders asked commissioners to consider the pantry’s vulnerability to food-bank supply changes and to note that rising food prices and tariffs could further raise operating costs. The board presented a ceremonial (oversized) check and pledged continued support.

The pantry is operated locally with some smaller church-run pantries in the county; staff said their operation has been serving a larger area than those smaller pantries and that the new building’s certification as a “super shelf/super shelf layout” will aid future grant applications.

Looking ahead, pantry leaders said they will continue applying for grants, pursue sustained corporate donors, and adjust distribution if external food or funding sources are reduced.

","County commissioners and volunteers highlighted rapid growth at the Becker County food pantry and presented a $3,056 donation, while pantry leaders warned of increasing demand and vulnerability to federal and supply cuts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Becker County board approves construction contracts, service agreements and personnel changes; tables surveyor contract

Becker County tables surveyor contract after commissioners seek clearer language on data ownership and compensation

Becker County officials describe tight rental stock, voucher waitlist and maintenance plans for owned housing

Becker County officials warn state-level cuts could shave about $250,000 from county revenue

Becker County commissioners present $3,056 to county food pantry after growth in demand