[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,75,87,98,110],{"_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",6271207,"mediaKeyId","3029374-f32e3e6053ad3c238a06a060cdd78a3f","parentId",3029374,"title","Veterans Memorial Forest dedication moved to Jack E. Berger Memorial Park for April 26 ceremony","audioSeconds",470,"startMs",1340000,"endMs",1810000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3029374-f32e3e6053ad3c238a06a060cdd78a3f&start=1340&end=1810","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3029374-f32e3e6053ad3c238a06a060cdd78a3f/thumbnail_1340000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6271207/Pine-County/Minnesota/Veterans-Memorial-Forest-dedication-moved-to-Jack-E-Berger-Memorial-Park-for-April-26-ceremony","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271207-491fc03171a03501dd26a28011b7e83b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169464&Signature=KxkOCeWkQ4qZaZ~6i~eapw9NPiBh4lID9kVDarYAnpW8yHulkXAvxpzXb0hErfY-PphtEwXZTenQTHX32xSIZIOYOcebRlIknqrN1ZG2iwHJ4YMkEfwZCc83UK7hJrDeOKCEItmJ6~eqglUUM4yUGuUo4uGr0RF99Otk~X0RZltk6IeREaYgTWqMo~ofLpKcBWOFz1CP-uHS75p-0iLjyALEzDy~-s-LSJ711pU6Zfm4qUsT3Drp2lK8stxBxjXfRQEfSzKtA9gw38fYDxoA8l50CZPZQWfFREwfF3FIaEvl250Synd2a1~r4BV-D4SEp1LorVpu-ZQgw-dpYqBg-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pine County, MN","date","2025-04-17T01:03:06.307Z","article","Pine County Forester Greg Beck told commissioners that the Veterans Memorial Forest dedication ceremony has been relocated to Jack E. Berger Memorial Park in Duquette because spring road conditions made the original forest site inaccessible for the expected crowd. The board had dedicated more than 36,200 acres of county forest lands as Memorial Forest lands in prior resolutions; last November the county dedicated those lands to military veterans.

Beck said the April 26 ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will include the American Legion presenting the colors, music from the East Central Eagles band, and a series of short remarks. He said commissioners Josh and Steve would make a small presentation related to a sign that will be installed across the county’s Memorial Forest lands; two Air Force veterans, Brad Jensen and Reese Robertson, will also take part in presentations.

Beck described the message planned for the sign: it will identify the lands as Pine County public land, designate them as Memorial Forest in honor of military veterans and invite visitors to reflect on service and sacrifice. He thanked Duquette Township for allowing use of Jack E. Berger Memorial Park for the ceremony and said signs and front signage would be posted for the event.

Why it matters: The relocation ensures the ceremony remains accessible and visible to attendees and preserves the county’s intent to publicly mark and remember veterans on county forest lands.

No board vote was required for the location change; Beck provided the notice and logistics update to commissioners.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pine County Board Meeting - April 15th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Pine County forester Greg Beck updated the board on the Veterans Memorial Forest dedication, announcing a location change to Jack E. Berger Memorial Park in Duquette and confirmed event details, including music and speakers.","taxTitle","Pine County, Minnesota","taxId",51038,"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},6271212,"County administrator briefs Pine County board on first-quarter finances and possible legislative cost shifts",559,2212000,2771000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3029374-f32e3e6053ad3c238a06a060cdd78a3f&start=2212&end=2771","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3029374-f32e3e6053ad3c238a06a060cdd78a3f/thumbnail_2212000.jpg","/articles/6271212/Pine-County/Minnesota/County-administrator-briefs-Pine-County-board-on-first-quarter-finances-and-possible-legislative-cost-shifts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271212-fd3185042b919804b4c472603c2ef417/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169464&Signature=NbQYYoWPX021YbGU08HbVJs-6P2uVCiU8WNGAvwLmPtNm~n8XgZ1CJRw0TkdxBQnzcVBKDTKZk5TbkgBxO4KwJXEkgH8eg5GGOa0wvXxAs3HTwUIKqZ2Z3Up~i5jE1Qn50tWK-5iXGfJLytinRImCsOxAJ5di9Xj6hizeYzSY9ikW5Lh-9LL-u-XfK-X5FX2KHCEzehyEWbkEbz~iCr0GiZe9n~yClyNZrZw2DQ8RkBE0bvNTa4rYUc7kQS-M6muJ5248m2yuGO3~hYIUoeREfP35NSZtR2ijk1XA4tR~ZC2~qBEP8QY9pcPCKegjh7rddinkkGaLB1ZIa9XRPtQ4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County Administrator Dave Mankie delivered the Pine County first-quarter budget update and a legislative outlook to the board, outlining routine early-year spending patterns and potential state-level budget changes that could shift costs to counties.

Mankie said the county’s first-quarter spending was in line with expectations, with bond and IT contract payments creating early-year budget bulges. He noted revenue timing — many interfund transfers and internal allocations — explained some first-quarter figures. Departments such as jail and court security showed higher-than-average expenditure rates for the quarter for operational reasons explained in the update.

Mankie then reviewed state budget proposals and possible impacts on counties. He summarized high-level differences among the governor’s, House, and Senate budget proposals, noting proposed reductions to county aids. He gave figures for a sample comparison in the 2026–27 biennium: the governor’s proposal included about $370 million in aid reductions; the House proposal about $392 million; the Senate proposal about $225 million. He warned these cuts and cost shifts — concentrated in health and human services programs — could place direct pressure on county property tax levies if mandate relief does not accompany shifting costs.

Mankie also flagged specific program areas under discussion at the state level: proposals affecting highway user tax distribution, aquatic invasive species aid (AIS), police training aid, and cost shifts related to waivered services. He noted the legislature’s constitutional deadline (May 19) for adjournment and said uncertainty remains until a state budget is finalized. Commissioners discussed the scale of potential impacts and the need to start budget-planning earlier than usual.

Why it matters: County budgets are sensitive to state aid changes; the county administrator urged commissioners to plan earlier for the 2026 budget cycle and to monitor the legislature closely because each proposal could materially change levy pressures and departmental operations.

Mankie recommended starting major local budget meetings in July and asked commissioners to press department heads to identify vacancy- and workload-management options.","County Administrator Dave Mankie presented the first-quarter budget update and warned commissioners that proposed state budget actions could shift significant costs to counties, noting proposed aid cuts and program changes that would affect Pine County budgeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":79,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6271216,"Pine County approves restructured grant administration position, splits funding between general and HHS funds",370,1842000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3029374-f32e3e6053ad3c238a06a060cdd78a3f&start=1842&end=2212","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3029374-f32e3e6053ad3c238a06a060cdd78a3f/thumbnail_1842000.jpg","/articles/6271216/Pine-County/Minnesota/Pine-County-approves-restructured-grant-administration-position-splits-funding-between-general-and-HHS-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271216-f5af764051048a3e117131afe4843fdc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169464&Signature=Bgij-jedsUIJuIbpSTOac4zaD5Y1H4YfyNADBM8MQJtfqvsA9vguu0bN30CjOUQsY76WeTwW9Z9k9D678BR3eE5t~cMj5-HHs3XofKh0sGsV~c9rznNUoyRh1ZZEbMQZqO1q1S7U2pFmme5m-63umenlvOwOnIaet4vCVLOyZQO~rX6VY9PyzxLnCDqZaoIGDpkJKGhWJefm87KutTD8IQzf~wKIttfydJ5EHUolShFyJsnFL9t2KZ2-l7dRCLVEcif5-nyZeINT-olkVJfaE0tCR~LF9jGUQL1MKR5kzhRlxL5W4MD22byiPD55ognt4Anlv9O-gGJbhFEJd1I26g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pine County commissioners approved a restructured position intended to help manage grants and special program reporting across county departments. County Auditor-Treasurer Kelly Schroeder described the vacancy, previously an account technician in Health and Human Services accounting, as restructured and regraded to focus on grants administration. The board approved the reclassification and hire during the regular meeting.

Kelly Schroeder said the position will be split equally between the general fund and the health and human services (HHS) fund (50/50) so that levy dollars follow the change; that shift will reduce the HHS levy allocation compared with prior years. Schroeder told the board the new hire will manage roughly 40 grants and special programs across departments and will coordinate reporting so departmental records align with the county’s financial system; the position is meant to ensure grant accounting and program reporting match in the event of an audit.

Board members asked whether the role would include grant-seeking responsibilities. Schroeder and other staff clarified the position is not a grant writer; rather, it will partner with departments that know program details to help construct budgets, ensure allowable indirect costs are included, and identify grants that fit departmental programs. Commissioners approved the restructured position by unanimous vote.

Why it matters: The county expects better alignment between departmental program reporting and central finance systems, improved audit readiness, and potentially higher recovered indirect costs by integrating grant budgeting earlier in the grant development process. County staff said capturing allowable indirect costs in grant budgets could help offset the position’s cost.","The board approved a restructured position to focus on grants administration in the auditor/treasurer’s office, paid 50/50 from the general fund and the health and human services (HHS) fund, and clarified the role will support departments but is not a stand-alone grant writer.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6271221,"Pine County board approves HR regrade, defers county attorney pay-scale decision for further review",1058,94000,1152000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3029374-f32e3e6053ad3c238a06a060cdd78a3f&start=94&end=1152","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3029374-f32e3e6053ad3c238a06a060cdd78a3f/thumbnail_94000.jpg","/articles/6271221/Pine-County/Minnesota/Pine-County-board-approves-HR-regrade-defers-county-attorney-pay-scale-decision-for-further-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271221-9a4b646521c8b2fefe02c983a1d01bf5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169464&Signature=IU-xG4XwVOMqTwZeef4PvEKBpDPJhLrSC9WICUBP1gWfCluBXY-2X4xt-UO~stIU9fVuCG4AFFTN2qtpS16drPfR58cCI95dORjnFVfCRb368H7kijKVOx9ExQuKVqROJMuQgtUbv57Ik0MrTUGNoQcLyXDuKbrFYXDbDTA1kOUc3M3PZGyjD~vhJXe0SkFzGoBNhALgFYDTzr45bQ~GgH9FQvedaatPl7wYX1EsqqMzuVcnlUbtZzX3qRBROpZF5Yy~SDTCdsOt~4oBC6g~YVdrymziPLKsla36oXYzIex3qBg7UlQV1tvqeoAG-RvwCVmcFhx~2mdC062bF5H-gg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pine County Board of Commissioners approved a regrade and updated job description for the human resources manager and voted to delay final action on a proposed county attorney salary scale so personnel staff could reexamine the pay bands.

During the board’s regular meeting, a staff member reminded commissioners that Minnesota Statute 375.07 requires an affirmative vote of all commissioners when only three commissioners are present; the reminder preceded a division of a multi-part personnel motion so each part could be voted on separately. The personnel committee had recommended two items: (1) an updated job description and regrade for the human resources manager from grade 14 to grade 15; and (2) establishment of a starting salary and a cap salary for county attorney positions (including chief deputy and assistant county attorneys).

The board voted to separate the two personnel items. The HR regrade and job-description update (item 1) was approved by the commissioners present. Commissioners then considered the attorney pay-scale item (item 2); after discussion about market pressures, recruitment difficulty for prosecutors and potential impacts across county departments, a motion was made and adopted to defer further action on the attorney pay-scale until the next meeting so the personnel committee could revisit the scale and consider possible adjustments.

Why it matters: The regrade clarifies classification for the human resources manager. The attorney pay-scale touches public-safety staffing and future recruitment; commissioners expressed concern about rapid salary growth in public defender salaries and asked staff to consider grandfathering or phased approaches before adopting a scale that could increase county payroll pressure.

Discussion included county staffing challenges: one participant said applications for prosecutor positions have fallen sharply and that local government must remain competitive to retain talent, while others said the board should analyze the scale again with more commissioners present. The board used a procedural separate vote to allow approval of the HR job regrade without committing to the attorney pay-scale on the same motion.

The transcript references Minnesota Statute 375.07 during the procedural discussion; the county did not adopt any ordinance or statute change.","County commissioners approved a regrade and updated job description for the human resources manager and moved to defer final approval of a new county attorney salary scale until the next meeting, directing personnel to reexamine the attorney pay range.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6271226,"Pine County approves $1,000 contribution and letter of support for Mediacom broadband BEAD application",675,577000,1252000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3029374-f32e3e6053ad3c238a06a060cdd78a3f&start=577&end=1252","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3029374-f32e3e6053ad3c238a06a060cdd78a3f/thumbnail_577000.jpg","/articles/6271226/Pine-County/Minnesota/Pine-County-approves-1000-contribution-and-letter-of-support-for-Mediacom-broadband-BEAD-application","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271226-cc8b1768c1dc9170c83f419f6f359fe8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169464&Signature=T0IXr6DCJYOhDhy0WFQTZ-6Nm0-dq1rmpTmyjqT9xzJvsULHQ1FcbkvFVVkyRpnk-~dlas1r6Y~RtwltGrbLxw5ZjQSfJWEBKcGkek5Ouf7X3j844M7uZoMQTBF-D3stHQrffaZMbi34EaHF4LlwgyZlZLwpH0vutpe48dfRISBi4rAAOEmpwsM1cN735Jo3S39h-1k5rk5gWI7dTSAsGiRq2azNTOKVcDWL90325o-p2c1049x~d8~3QfVaVhrhyE-NS~ZX2t0rtsRUYv6Zjf8WDiJPARaeYU4zI9A3rcYoGZ7b2FpP7p6AEF9IVcmsc7vnpxvD6AF3ScV2t-PI-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pine County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to provide a letter of support and a $1,000 contribution to Mediacom’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment application. The vote took place during the county’s regular meeting, after Mediacom staff presented details of a proposed fiber build that would serve unserved and underserved locations in Carlton and Pine counties.

Mediacom representatives said the project would build about 357 total miles of fiber across the two counties and serve approximately 2,381 unserved or underserved residents. In Pine County specifically, the company said the project would install about 193 miles of fiber and could reach 1,104 unserved or underserved locations. Mediacom told the board the full build would take about three years if funded, with phased service launches; the company estimated a grant decision by fall 2025 and the start of build activity in mid-2026.

Leslie Satter, Pine County economic development coordinator, introduced Mediacom’s presentation. Jerry, a Mediacom representative, and Zachary, Mediacom’s Minnesota area director, answered commissioners’ questions about schedule and project phasing. The company asked the board both for a letter of support and for an optional local financial contribution to strengthen its application. A motion to approve the letter of support and a $1,000 contribution passed with all commissioners present voting yes.

Why it matters: BEAD and similar federal or state broadband programs score applications in part on demonstrated local partnership and financial commitment. A board letter and contribution are intended to increase the county’s competitiveness for funds that aim to expand broadband service to unserved and underserved households.

The company said, if funded on the proposed timeline, the earliest construction activity could begin in mid-2026 with phased activations of homes over subsequent quarters. The presentation emphasized phased service launches to deliver access as portions of the network are completed.

No contract or ordinance was approved during the motion; the board approved only the letter of support and the contribution. Details about follow-up agreements, easements, right-of-way work, or county oversight were not specified in the presentation or the motion.","The Pine County Board voted unanimously to provide a letter of support and a $1,000 financial contribution to Mediacom’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) application for a project serving parts of Carlton and Pine counties.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Veterans Memorial Forest dedication moved to Jack E. Berger Memorial Park for April 26 ceremony

County administrator briefs Pine County board on first-quarter finances and possible legislative cost shifts

Pine County approves restructured grant administration position, splits funding between general and HHS funds

Pine County board approves HR regrade, defers county attorney pay-scale decision for further review

Pine County approves $1,000 contribution and letter of support for Mediacom broadband BEAD application