[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6603230,"mediaKeyId","3000568-48220005a78ebcdf474349a302d795c5","parentId",3000568,"title","Grand Forks County hears broad public appeals as commissioners outline budget trimming process","audioSeconds",2153,"startMs",292000,"endMs",2445000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000568-48220005a78ebcdf474349a302d795c5&start=292&end=2445","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000568-48220005a78ebcdf474349a302d795c5/thumbnail_292000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6603230/Grand-Forks-County/North-Dakota/Grand-Forks-County-hears-broad-public-appeals-as-commissioners-outline-budget-trimming-process","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603230-a95030eb98688edab83b71264365819d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775486206&Signature=j2MXaRP03QEze-C0S-kfrO29vka~APmD12tLMlxxPD4fVQVgpP6Koluh5R18BY3MEZL0ZPJ0GTCsnul21hqrtHs2v-MtUOhXw9VVJSvFgpwSapc882FtwhINezEG~r-w0Nx71LhOuBAJQnuj2maCtfoaMNP9gDvLur9L73cRwxhHfCdQPfptUqm0AQLzItk73kZfqXYKVgeHYm0pysRhUbGa2tOvL1ylz1PRRQL46DM9Vowf~UHY8dTdvDEadH374Beg208xQUDKHnkE3bPO8gYaAJwsKcpFs-RaMBG2f3e99zrdCsYn64aZK2fACK3lTHUZJflDf2zWLpZIyBwnFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Grand Forks County, KS","date","2025-04-15T23:53:23.183Z","article","Grand Forks County commissioners opened a prolonged discussion of 2026 budget goals and priorities after a series of public comments urging the board to reconsider proposed reductions to community programs.

Speakers from the Grand Forks Public Library, NDSU Extension (Grand Forks County), Safe Kids Grand Forks, Red River Children’s Advocacy Center, Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals, Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation, the Veterans Office and local 4‑H leaders described services they provide and warned that proposed cuts would reduce or eliminate vital programs.

Wendy Brent, director of the Grand Forks Public Library, told the commission the library ‘‘is a lifeline’’ that offers free technology access, job help, early-learning support and other services; she said a proposed 13% county reduction would ‘‘force us to reduce staff’’ and likely end seven‑day service. Other speakers described Extension programs (agriculture training, Master Gardener volunteer efforts, 4‑H youth programming), the Red River Children’s Advocacy Center’s forensic interview program and Safe Kids’ injury‑prevention classes and community events.

Commissioners treated the public comments as part of budget planning rather than final decisions. Multiple commissioners emphasized the materials circulating among the public reflect a single commissioner’s proposal and not the board as a whole. The board directed departments and outside entities that receive county funding to review their FY2026 budgets and identify possible savings. The most-discussed guidance was for departments to quantify reductions in a range from 0% to 3% (excluding salary lines), with the expectation that any department unable to find those reductions would return to the board to explain why.

Commissioner Ruston (commission roster name in meeting) said the county faces a ‘‘very bleak’’ fiscal forecast and that, absent changes, the county will need to consider annual tax increases in future years to remain solvent. Other commissioners repeatedly stressed exhausting non‑personnel line items before reducing staff or benefits; county staff echoed that personnel make up roughly 70–80% of many departments’ budgets and urged caution before cutting pay or positions.

Several department leaders and staff answered commissioners’ procedural questions during the meeting. Finance and administration staff said they are reviewing payroll/time‑and‑attendance options and existing financial controls, and they recommended a deadline for departments to submit proposed reductions so the commission can review consolidated options during the formal budget season. A county official offered an across‑the‑board scenario showing the dollar impacts of 0–3% reductions to help departments and the public conceptualize choices.

The board did not adopt any final cuts at this meeting. Instead, it agreed to ask departments and partner organizations to return with budget reduction proposals within the requested ranges and to hold targeted follow‑up discussions during upcoming budget sessions. Commissioners repeatedly said they want transparency and supporting documentation for any proposed cuts and urged department heads to bring specific plans and questions to the March/April budget review schedule.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4/15/25 Grand Forks County Board of Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Grand Forks County commissioners opened a prolonged discussion of 2026 budget goals and priorities after a series of public comments urging the board to reconsider proposed reductions to community programs.","taxTitle","Grand Forks County, North Dakota","taxId",3814,"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},6603235,"Grand Forks County commissioners approve two-lot plat near County Roads 10 and 15",122,121000,243000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000568-48220005a78ebcdf474349a302d795c5&start=121&end=243","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000568-48220005a78ebcdf474349a302d795c5/thumbnail_121000.jpg","/articles/6603235/Grand-Forks-County/North-Dakota/Grand-Forks-County-commissioners-approve-two-lot-plat-near-County-Roads-10-and-15","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603235-9c421b973092054beb01edd3967f6e30/orig.mp4?Expires=1775486206&Signature=L1A7jurXjI9O6oZBZjTW2YTNiRZufaBZABhGx0NdlEkeUoqmAUtYWvu7bxNaOEqswJHGZhIxFkXWvUJLmM-DQADPBM7n9UDte40mN7d1o-VWEmhlK9-Dbn0txAMCmhFMlbe-yoreKx8Ne04HBjRiJ-w3KKe3b12gdnElrpp9X5ajhFN52xNiiEXaDns0da9BdmGtkPGTkcNT1YGBFeHShjy5b8iWzbcNbShGgOeQZzyMlBVz-o39htiGoj5wL8pwUIwZ9vXcEOu0RCuyL2Sb3KFXlUZrW-wDPb1LKrIJatO2auCsFrGxyecrgalKFXcndPZnAighl54dIZ1fpA0Uqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Grand Forks County commissioners on an undisclosed April date voted unanimously to approve a two-lot plat dubbed the Patrick Hider Farmstead addition, a staff presentation said.

The plat splits a building site on a 13.22-acre parcel near the intersection of County Road 10 and County Road 15 into two lots (described in staff notes as about 6.34 acres and 8.88 acres). The planning staff told the board the land is in the county's agricultural preservation district and ‘‘conforms to the goals and policies of [the] land use plan’’ and to applicable zoning performance standards.

Staff and the planning commission recommended approval subject to two conditions: township recommendations must be received before the plat is recorded, and the plat must show a 75-foot county road right-of-way along County Road 10 consistent with current county commission policy, staff said. The applicant will continue to share existing access and ‘‘no additional accesses would be permitted to the road,’’ the staff presentation said.

A commissioner moved and a colleague seconded; the motion passed unanimously. The motion and approval included the conditions listed above. The record did not show individual roll-call votes.

The planning staff noted City of Niagara lies about nine miles southwest of the parcel for geographic reference. No other permits or applications were identified on the record during the discussion.

The action closes the county review step that the planning commission had recommended to the board. Any future building permits, driveway permits or other county approvals required for development on the new lots will be subject to applicable county regulations and review at the time of application.","The board unanimously approved a two-lot plat (Patrick Hider Farmstead addition) with conditioned placement of a 75-foot county road right-of-way and township recommendations to be received before recording.",{"_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},6603225,"Sheriff: operation grant approved; HomeWave contract amended; county to advertise jail captain position",395,5090000,5485000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3000568-48220005a78ebcdf474349a302d795c5&start=5090&end=5485","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3000568-48220005a78ebcdf474349a302d795c5/thumbnail_5090000.jpg","/articles/6603225/Grand-Forks-County/North-Dakota/Sheriff-operation-grant-approved-HomeWave-contract-amended-county-to-advertise-jail-captain-position","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603225-d01a911e26f5fa939f8912238cdfc331/orig.mp4?Expires=1775486206&Signature=Yn5bGB0tIfz3ouPpZkCPu9dIgaWabiP3dk3LetLdMj9HGkbcEgLQqS2dylyXJ6W4CSorNsWYn~nfGPUIwuo455zZVv~EXZE7m7QYVQOZ0pqUI7MAerW9cRSkwbjMd-vvWolK~qognPbCk-PmMedfwF-Q2Q7Pq~ydk5GJDTK1rEqcLhhV28M4ZocX-1mOu6ztaZOjlRwUjmc~O3aZFg5GT2ERshtA9iN5YhVGMyfcp0jmCfBZ9Sdd8MEkjVA2cfyzjvcL52s9luGC51k4xpiEmSvADmbGhYnQqoWaOSOW3zu-Efg60DS5dpGXZsccF8A8YW36ROj-OelDi6A5-GWrdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Grand Forks County commissioners approved three sheriff’s office requests and heard an extended jail operations update during the meeting.

The board unanimously authorized the sheriff to accept a $71,340 Operation Stone Garden grant to support overtime costs for border‑related assistance; the transcript notes the award carries no local match requirement. The sheriff asked the board to authorize his signature on the grant documents and the motion passed.

The sheriff also presented an amendment to the county’s contract with HomeWave to add eight additional kiosks for the correctional facility’s new housing pod (referred to as Pod 4 in discussion). The sheriff said he negotiated a shorter and more flexible opt‑out clause so the county would not be locked into a long-term technology agreement. The board approved the amendment and authorized signature; the sheriff and staff noted the county’s commission revenue from inmate communications is scheduled to be affected by an upcoming Federal Communications Commission ruling, but the amendment would not change the county’s immediate commission eligibility.

Finally, county leadership and the sheriff discussed jail staffing and organization. The sheriff reported an interim jail administrator had been assigned and that he planned to advertise a new jail captain position, noting that the role will carry higher pay than those the captain will supervise and that the position will report directly to him. The board voted to advertise the jail‑captain job; the hiring classification, grade and salary range will be set through the county’s human resources and budget process.

The sheriff described other operational steps intended to reduce costs and improve retention: pursuing former corrections officers who may return, conducting additional training, auditing food‑service invoices for overcharges, and addressing building‑systems repairs that should reduce utilities costs. The sheriff and county staff warned the board there will be additional expenses associated with the facility expansion and with housing inmates received from the Department of Corrections, including food, laundry and utilities; staff indicated revenues from housing other jurisdictions’ inmates typically flow to the general fund but that net fiscal impact depends on occupancy and operating costs.

No board member opposed authorizing the grant, the contract amendment signature, or the advertisement for the jail‑captain position; recorded votes were stated as unanimous during the meeting.","The board authorized the sheriff to accept a $71,340 Operation Stone Garden overtime grant, approved an amendment to the HomeWave inmate-communication contract for additional kiosks, and agreed to advertise a new jail captain position as part of an effort to stabilize staffing ahead of an expected July pod opening.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Grand Forks County hears broad public appeals as commissioners outline budget trimming process

Grand Forks County commissioners approve two-lot plat near County Roads 10 and 15

Sheriff: operation grant approved; HomeWave contract amended; county to advertise jail captain position