[{"_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",6527005,"mediaKeyId","3659445-cfbb4a5a418c8f156029236bb33d07a1","parentId",3659445,"title","Stevens County approves liquor-license renewal, contracts, and multiple personnel actions","audioSeconds",3244,"startMs",308000,"endMs",3552000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3659445-cfbb4a5a418c8f156029236bb33d07a1&start=308&end=3552","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3659445-cfbb4a5a418c8f156029236bb33d07a1/thumbnail_308000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6527005/Stevens-County/Minnesota/Stevens-County-approves-liquor-license-renewal-contracts-and-multiple-personnel-actions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527005-d0acc60812af18df24f39733456496f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1773742702&Signature=dM4T99FV-WXHqy~pIwhIbWiQpXJFzgnV6lEwdUW3e~YdXJ7EGMVEG1RsbfK8xcPACJZL57aovvA~WsZ2JUutLnnB6wTTCL8S2WY9uDsc7fOkv0MRsZ2kjiLvR-f4ow8Yn-ttegyXF8wtmoZSFBPymAFwtxHJpJ6S4h5KLqD-5fGxT8KOT4o~JSdSjv2950y1Joi6oPV5iNe2r2O5dB47CuzD6ASQ48oRnOsY~hSsq8PUqq88sWrvmAkEotilBgIRuvMtaCQU-2vJdpK4U~hscMc3kSZ3oQoFB9QUGDJXZKg72jjR3aqBPtpEcv6-dh1HEXsZyxnxUecCKFyxHQV0pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Stevens County","date","2025-06-04T21:15:03Z","article","At its regular meeting, the Stevens County Board approved routine consent items and several personnel and contract actions, including renewal of a liquor license, approval of human-services contracts, and authorization to fill vacant positions.

Key votes and approvals:
- Palm Beach Terrace Golf Club: commissioners approved the renewal of the county liquor license after verifying certificates of workers’ compensation and liability insurance.
- Child support officer contract: the board approved contracting with an interim child support officer from another county to fill a current vacancy on a temporary basis.
- Two human-services training/service contracts: the board approved two related contracts to provide training and reflective supervision for human services supervisors and lead workers for an estimated combined cost of about $24,000 over 18 months; county staff said the 2025 budget can absorb the cost or reserves will be used.
- Personnel actions: the board accepted the resignations of two county employees (Regina Lighthall, and Jenny Rose) and approved backfilling the child support officer vacancy and the human services supervisor position; the board also approved other routine hires presented at the meeting.

Why it matters: the actions maintain continuity of county services (child support and human services), fund capacity-building training for staff supervision and ensure compliance with insurance and licensing requirements for county-issued liquor licenses.

Votes were taken by voice; the motions carried as presented.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Stevens County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting 06/03/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners approved a liquor-license renewal, several professional service contracts for human services, and motions to accept resignations and authorize backfills for multiple positions.","taxTitle","Stevens County, Minnesota","taxId",71450,"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},6527009,"Stevens County approves parcel fabric upgrade and server refresh to modernize tax parcel viewer",477,3038000,3515000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3659445-cfbb4a5a418c8f156029236bb33d07a1&start=3038&end=3515","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3659445-cfbb4a5a418c8f156029236bb33d07a1/thumbnail_3038000.jpg","/articles/6527009/Stevens-County/Minnesota/Stevens-County-approves-parcel-fabric-upgrade-and-server-refresh-to-modernize-tax-parcel-viewer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527009-e0c3a9e56d7e344911a7a15161f9cdd0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773742702&Signature=FI1On~Plrt8Hj2wyJ3F8Y17D78Y5sThdDxvC9ux1h2wnAWB9x8yJu5qfs1k7H4doUscMK3jCNrpK-mNKI3ThoDuviIanbsx4cIjI7QH28Esew1l-S7wDbBu03yZ1e3lBgVdlFJnZmHQ1lsUXEqR4Xhwi0zqW1xFHKffkFdw9uAEvIPi61lXMTapJ88WWwXm3iXSrYPRvgYwswQxYbz-oX80dq4ur~coNfh5h8mLw6q3aaAxHO6L0eZYsGHb8cEAuXwjJR8fBRcy8Pnav3ohF5rf8RwUQ8YJ3pwKc6ycUrxpV94XyS3PNHPLBP9rREqRWJ4NQYiGDHp29hCZzjOYn1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Stevens County approved a one-time upgrade of the county’s parcel fabric and server environment to modernize the tax-parcel viewer and improve parcel editing.

Presenter Caitlin (county GIS staff) explained the current parcel viewer is built on Esri’s Web AppBuilder, a product Esri is phasing out. The county intends to migrate to ArcGIS Web Experience Builder and implement parcel fabric, which supports metes-and-bounds calls, distances, document tracking and historical lineage for splits and subdivisions. The parcel fabric will streamline edits — “move corners all at once” — and better support forthcoming corner re-monumentation work.

ProWiz was recommended after RFP review; the total one-time cost presented to the board was $23,274.11, which includes server setup, SQL licensing and ProWiz configuration hours. County staff proposed using $6,500 in credit-card reward points and the county buffer fund (fund 706) to cover the remainder. The board approved the project and funding by voice vote.

Why it matters: the upgrade modernizes county parcel management, improves accuracy and historical tracking for property records, and replaces aging virtual servers that host the GIS database.

Implementation: staff estimated an approximate nine-week completion timeline for the parcel fabric implementation. The project will begin server work and software configuration immediately following procurement.","County GIS staff and vendor ProWiz will upgrade the parcel fabric, migrate to current Esri web tools and install new servers; board approved a one-time cost of $23,274.11 to be covered with credit-card reward points and county buffer funds.",{"_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},6527015,"Commission approves Fish and Wildlife habitat easement after board drops prior condition",2337,5576000,7913000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3659445-cfbb4a5a418c8f156029236bb33d07a1&start=5576&end=7913","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3659445-cfbb4a5a418c8f156029236bb33d07a1/thumbnail_5576000.jpg","/articles/6527015/Stevens-County/Minnesota/Commission-approves-Fish-and-Wildlife-habitat-easement-after-board-drops-prior-condition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527015-ee190f1be9b71e1de8c40f3309fa0342/orig.mp4?Expires=1773742702&Signature=lJ8iqpJcQq4~k4LgvIBMBFqo1xNGkwLR4viAJ3YOcU6W2Rxb8qLgz8HmTE90yVIprf~sJdRRdpUwOAOOFrjI9fO1ybhIBtewt3cW-Mr0Bk9vjIFiM4RmQ7uc5GTyGcFBHwmiyJJAJbmtK453honjA07L-f7r1uyFcqDn0kCZ350mJE84LBIqPJ6f4h08tj3OVPN2wxCgft7YgWjBsfV4cdHA-o3mv8tl9ArlP~syURN~hp~Enr4TGw9zwB7LE2AL6QR3fOC1dv8-lTezlUJVssHBYyptEXowOQZg5IR~Cay8oIzqAhdvydVB5YdG2N6UA~T-SaEocBEciZApB9KUZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Stevens County commissioners voted to certify a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) perpetual habitat easement on private land after lengthy public discussion over drainage, culverts and future maintenance.

The easement — described in the USFWS presentation and shown on maps in the packet — would protect the land as wildlife habitat in perpetuity while the land remains privately owned. The applicant, Michael (USFWS/Bigname representative), said the easement would be recorded in property deeds and the land would remain taxable. The board had previously attached a condition requiring a private drainage/maintenance agreement to precede certification; at this meeting Fish and Wildlife requested removal of that precondition and the board approved certification without the preexisting drainage agreement.

Commissioners and landowners discussed concerns about an 18-inch culvert and how future vegetation (cattails, willows) could impede water flow. USFWS and DNR staff said future maintenance actions to restore or clear the outlet could be authorized through a Fish and Wildlife special use permit, and the DNR noted that a public-waters permitting process is also available to address drainage or culvert issues without altering the DNR-mandated water-elevation restoration level (e.g., 1160.4 elevation cited in staff notes).

Why it matters: the easement converts private land into protected wildlife habitat in perpetuity under a federal program while keeping ownership private and maintaining property taxes. Neighbors had sought a prior maintenance/drainage agreement to ensure they could clear the outlet; Fish and Wildlife and DNR staff explained special-use permits and public-waters permitting as mechanisms to address future maintenance while protecting the restored wetland elevation.

How the vote went: the board approved certification after a motion to remove the earlier condition. One commissioner recorded a vote against the motion, but the motion passed by majority vote.","After extended discussion about drainage and future maintenance, Stevens County commissioners approved certification for a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service perpetual habitat easement on private land; board removed an earlier condition requiring a preexisting private drainage agreement.",{"_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},6527019,"Board schedules follow-up public hearing after county and pilots clash over MET tower lighting",1215,1793000,3008000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3659445-cfbb4a5a418c8f156029236bb33d07a1&start=1793&end=3008","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3659445-cfbb4a5a418c8f156029236bb33d07a1/thumbnail_1793000.jpg","/articles/6527019/Stevens-County/Minnesota/Board-schedules-follow-up-public-hearing-after-county-and-pilots-clash-over-MET-tower-lighting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527019-e0b952f758b47060951f69b876cad89c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773742702&Signature=m54G5jbrkAYYQaLNFY4-RChs6aOJrrsvR4Dg8IK5K7IYueS54sW7910ymlJWgE9cUWQH1YnMEUQzMpGaWCUNSfNMYdjdzbcUnPnyYhdOyk2jzPPOohDES68Vy1JpuDantD--EqtX5x16akpVHPwVbjVhSKdNUZtlipc-J0YKnol81all2NBi6IPyVm0~q7l~I-PHqEw04JtDOAkbS5iOA7bWc3Bcx4e1LF7jUUllF4W6auUBMoy3zp9xzP829K58OjueeNo~mKAvVnJ0VkEOnv4fz7BJayy1p-Yc1TAz1itb8iplt0CX5EBbrAM0dpLcUcmgJzWbt~HZlXQbzkSlXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Stevens County commissioners heard more than an hour of public comment and technical briefing about the marking and lighting of a proposed temporary meteorological (MET) tower, and set a follow-up public hearing to consider amending permit language that had required additional daytime lighting.

The tower applicant and an advisor said the manufacturer’s pre-engineered tower cannot support a daytime strobe light and that the power system is designed to operate dusk-to-dawn; the applicant said the tower can meet FAA and MnDOT guidance by using marker sleeves and a dusk-to-dawn infrared-compatible light but cannot accommodate a daytime strobe without a custom-engineered solution.

Pilots and an agricultural aviation representative urged the board to require additional daytime lighting; they cited the FAA’s October 2024 advisory circular recommending voluntary marking for smaller MET towers and emphasizing safety for low-level flight operations. The aviation representative, Charity Carlson of Carlson Ag Aviation, said her company operates about 15 similar towers nationally and none have daytime running lights.

Planning staff and the applicant recommended “truing up” the IUP/permit language to reflect what the tower manufacturer can supply. Legal staff advised that any modification removing or materially changing conditions already attached to the interim use permit (IUP) would require a public hearing. The board directed staff to set a public hearing at the board’s next regular meeting (June 17 at 10:00 a.m.) to revisit the permit conditions.

Why it matters: Pilots and agricultural operators said daytime marking could affect low-altitude aviation safety. County staff must balance FAA and MnDOT guidance, engineering constraints from the tower manufacturer, and the public’s safety concerns while following county procedures for amending planning approvals.

What happened next: the board did not change the permit at the meeting; it scheduled a public hearing for the next regular meeting so the public and technical experts can be heard before any amendment is approved.","Stevens County commissioners heard extensive public comment and technical briefings about marking and lighting for a proposed meteorological (MET) tower; the board set a follow-up public hearing to consider amending permit conditions after staff reported the tower manufacturer cannot provide a daytime strobe light.",{"_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},6527022,"Stevens County declares state of emergency after June severe-weather event",116,89000,205000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3659445-cfbb4a5a418c8f156029236bb33d07a1&start=89&end=205","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3659445-cfbb4a5a418c8f156029236bb33d07a1/thumbnail_89000.jpg","/articles/6527022/Stevens-County/Minnesota/Stevens-County-declares-state-of-emergency-after-June-severe-weather-event","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6527022-542703162bc25c0ea27933502ac4b74f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773742702&Signature=kx6Lj10~qdJ5tR9pfVacCDL-xzSC7Zmk~0czo0Htwbtpyo8bVUcnNn0U3~jI1XKurqMaw3nZCKrJpX2xGLiyUeZbh4RnQhiO1GTQ0NcAiPXpQm2BHc5Js~faVjTHLrMYqpPOqBECTjQ0vK-yewmfyyB16hkGvcKlLHN0pw29PAUj7WB8FvpCabvmVlb5xCD0cV99CIKTi4BfpYSqq~KMXCWnG7nuJQEQwfCvGzK9XMJt6JciWpaDz72DhSz2zZuGPyJj-i02dUBu-aa1Yv4ExaQzpuhpMRNavEJUAjLuE8JrUATuEszuJK-lsQdQfeK0x9a62aq-tV4NGfkBJzoPVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Stevens County commissioners voted to declare a state of emergency after damage from a severe-weather event that began June 2, 2025.

The declaration, introduced by Donna Greiner and read into the record by Becky (staff member), states that the storm “has impacted the population of Stevens County and cities” and “has caused a significant amount of public property damage.” The resolution sets the county’s per-capita damage threshold in the county’s documentation and authorizes submission of the declaration to the state for possible state and federal assistance.

The board chair, Donnie Willers, signed the declaration on behalf of the county and the commission approved the resolution by voice vote. Commissioners said staff will use collected damage reports and photos to support threshold calculations for state and federal aid and possible reimbursement for utilities and other county costs.

Why it matters: declaring a state of emergency is the county’s first formal step to access state and federal recovery programs and reimbursement for eligible public works and utility costs. County staff explained that damage reporting — including the citizen-submitted photos and survey data collected through the county’s reporting app — helps establish the thresholds used by state and federal programs.

Commissioners and staff noted the following immediate next steps: collecting individual damage reports, mapping damage locations across the county, submitting the county declaration to the state emergency management office and tracking potential eligibility for state and federal public assistance programs.

The board approved the declaration at the meeting; staff said they will submit the declaration and supporting data to the state emergency management office to pursue available assistance.","Stevens County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution declaring a state of emergency for damage from severe weather beginning June 2, 2025, to enable state and federal assistance and damage documentation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Stevens County approves liquor-license renewal, contracts, and multiple personnel actions

Stevens County approves parcel fabric upgrade and server refresh to modernize tax parcel viewer

Commission approves Fish and Wildlife habitat easement after board drops prior condition

Board schedules follow-up public hearing after county and pilots clash over MET tower lighting

Stevens County declares state of emergency after June severe-weather event