[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6483686,"mediaKeyId","5600784-1957cf6991cb2d838e3343c2a137f52f","parentId",5600784,"title","Walsh County approves Option 2 health‑insurance renewal after insurer raises rates by about 7.6%","audioSeconds",1326,"startMs",5514000,"endMs",6840000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5600784-1957cf6991cb2d838e3343c2a137f52f&start=5514&end=6840","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5600784-1957cf6991cb2d838e3343c2a137f52f/thumbnail_5514000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6483686/Walsh-County/North-Dakota/Walsh-County-approves-Option-2-healthinsurance-renewal-after-insurer-raises-rates-by-about-76","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483686-75c78fee209fab64a53a8bcb0913ca01/orig.mp4?Expires=1773674419&Signature=du7AuQjwyoIdKutePyCcpks5OOZ-18pVzeOvDHngUOBUW~wTy6jLkXdOamVDSqUNMFchT6SHqDb8vO43mmdLe7BN9cgynAlDUlk7OCQqoXuDGYMBS42wF5nzkmWDIztBg0BjOehPvSiN24ZXBxWodU928AM5HLN9Rh5sVUXiIckjR8zPz3aXL62JP40tVlPPkMXZc7LjejebmevZwXzu2FMvCxIS5DU~STF5j7TwVvZNmDpfK6R9jyuXVJjNfRPjxxZLlRC1R3hMYWFcHQkY82gHUpnnw-d59cW~xZJdsbVAydSNm6dklnavykxQMpniijVrGnefLdBr1~PS9u0gBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Walsh County, KS","date","2025-08-19T15:07:36Z","article","Christina, county staff responsible for benefits, presented the county’s 2026 health‑insurance renewal options after the plan’s carrier proposed a rate increase of about 7.6 percent (the county had budgeted 7.26 percent). The insurance committee reviewed several options and recommended Option 2: a $250 deductible with an 80/20 coinsurance structure and defined copays.

Christina said the committee judged Option 2 to deliver premium savings relative to other choices while acknowledging that introducing copays and changing deductibles can increase out‑of‑pocket costs for employees who use services frequently. She said state/IRS limits will raise some out‑of‑pocket maximums in 2026 and that the committee considered but did not select higher‑deductible HSA‑compatible plans because projected premium savings would be small under the current rates.

Christina provided two comparative figures for the county: she said the county would incur an additional approximately $18,000 under Option 2 compared with an unspecified baseline, and that an alternative (leaving the plan “as is”) would have cost the county about $67,000 more than the chosen option. (All numbers were presented as staff estimates for planning; the commission asked for follow‑up verification and for continued committee review of plan structure.)

Commissioners discussed tradeoffs between premium savings and new copays and the difficulty of making a different decision on short notice because the county must submit its renewal choice by the insurer’s deadline. Commissioner Danny voted no; other commissioners voted yes. The roll call produced a 4–1 outcome in favor of Option 2.

Motion and vote: A motion to approve the insurance committee recommendation (Option 2, $250 deductible, 80/20 coinsurance and copays) was moved and seconded and passed on a roll call: Amy yes; Paul yes; Danny no; Ernie yes; Chair yes.

Ending: Commissioners directed staff to continue evaluating benefit designs and to consider engaging an independent benefits consultant in future cycles; they noted budget pressures and the need to balance cost containment with maintaining a competitive benefit for retention.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","August 19, 2025 Commissioners Meeting 2nd Half","oneSentenceSummary","The county’s insurance committee recommended and the commission approved an Option 2 renewal with a $250 deductible, 80/20 coinsurance and new copays after the carrier presented a ~7.6% rate increase; the measure passed on a 4–1 roll call.","taxTitle","Walsh County, North Dakota","taxId",73643,"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},6483691,"Commission allows contract negotiations with Energy Systems Group for county facilities assessment",782,4434000,5216000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5600784-1957cf6991cb2d838e3343c2a137f52f&start=4434&end=5216","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5600784-1957cf6991cb2d838e3343c2a137f52f/thumbnail_4434000.jpg","/articles/6483691/Walsh-County/North-Dakota/Commission-allows-contract-negotiations-with-Energy-Systems-Group-for-county-facilities-assessment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483691-22d6abd0cb47ef3c77aa9ac85676cd53/orig.mp4?Expires=1773674419&Signature=LzGLwj5EucDCTAhEIfd8eoqkJJ9a1dmnsR0i3aLlRc4K60AGUtjHoMPHELFW4BX~fKHhaWnpRUx9cYommVhIb~yiGy5b7iYnkkSkw1eA06Uoja11~xdLf91dGgSNxNqaguKfgIBdsHGdSJQ910OUOu6P0Y2IIchEgKHf84h6~f8SlNGiIFPKm2~22dMEQLtaERpAKaYN8PiyNbLbRWVEj9OE51ibpYLodyiT~YXD5WEEs46hWJjyYBg8lK1ygYx77Tvx779SQv~7fcPtfw5jTT9aK~PYO-Y21Zy2E4NEJfJUN3pC4-SqJNOjVenE4TVlO1uw~kZfu19DqJQxG0Ygmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gavin Benson, a representative of Energy Systems Group, presented an overview of the firm’s approach to facility energy assessments and financing options and recommended a project development agreement to scope county building needs, prioritize capital work and identify financing, including North Dakota’s guaranteed energy savings statute.

Benson described the firm as a program manager for public‑sector energy projects and said it has worked on roughly $4.5 billion of projects nationwide. He outlined a process of facility assessments, prioritization and financing that can use the guaranteed energy savings statute (North Dakota Century Code §48‑05‑09 through §48‑05‑13) and cooperative procurement through Sourcewell. Benson said the statute lets jurisdictions use projected utility and operational savings to fund energy investments without raising taxes.

Commissioners discussed the county’s aging mechanical systems (including courthouse boilers and rooftop units), the jail project overlap and timing for prioritizing work. Benson said the firm typically wraps assessment costs into later construction financing if the county proceeds to a project; if the county does not proceed, the firm’s development fee is typically billed as an assessment cost. He gave a planning estimate for the development/assessment phase of roughly $0.10–$0.15 per square foot (a rough range equating to about $10,000–$20,000 for typical county building footprints) and noted grant and federal funding windows that can affect timing.

Commissioner discussion focused on timing (to avoid duplicating a planned jail HVAC replacement) and procurement advantages offered by Sourcewell. Commissioners asked staff to authorize negotiation of a project development agreement rather than approve final construction. The commission then voted to authorize staff to negotiate and develop the agreement and to return with the contract for final review.

Motion and vote: A motion to proceed with negotiation of a project development agreement for facility assessments and project development was made, seconded and approved on a roll call; commissioners voted in favor, with the clerk recording unanimous yes votes during the roll call.

Ending: Staff will receive a draft project development agreement and return the proposed agreement to the commission for approval before construction procurement.","Walsh County commissioners authorized staff to negotiate a project development agreement with Energy Systems Group to assess county building systems and identify energy‑savings projects using North Dakota’s guaranteed energy‑savings statute and cooperative procurement options.",{"_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},6483696,"Walsh County debates moving dispatch to state radio; officials plan stakeholder meeting",713,1733000,2446000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5600784-1957cf6991cb2d838e3343c2a137f52f&start=1733&end=2446","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5600784-1957cf6991cb2d838e3343c2a137f52f/thumbnail_1733000.jpg","/articles/6483696/Walsh-County/North-Dakota/Walsh-County-debates-moving-dispatch-to-state-radio-officials-plan-stakeholder-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483696-f50af6fb03df1080903f5fc890061c1e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773674419&Signature=X9gSN8wrVsvv4CWarBHWtuQPvzR71029TnPcq21SDs89XDuOWsH4BurTJmNoGSOVf~u~wWRTFOhyShLtbFsIZmtrqymiuBqjCH5mSqw29yQVvJ9Aehz213LaXeefOcouGSbXio180K3WI3N-PTzvCu14t0V2eQ6h1Fjx8m9~AJl7VlbzcBv40HfwuBRVYVqM1WWCA-X7VnDsA5Hbv6EzuMe4MuvzlPec1KKUaiicQKigVBtAZAu71cHytBwjkWlMlmhpC4EM2ohPhQjk3H-XJKt3EWDSvYrXWkQdM-V92cXbFrfx~4MIXfSQfQYY-c9AacPi0z38j5hL68OY7jUH5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County dispatch manager Crystal presented a set of 2026 budget scenarios and cost estimates for the county’s dispatch center and for shifting to the state radio system, saying the county’s 2026 dispatch budget (including benefits and a vacant position) would be roughly $587,695 to $617,005 depending on benefit elections and whether a seventh dispatcher is filled.

Crystal told commissioners that state radio circuit and service costs have been estimated at about $218,000 (one cited figure) and that, after counting offsets such as toll‑fee reimbursements and continued department costs, the county’s total state‑radio cost range might be higher (she cited an adjusted range later in the presentation). She also said estimated one‑time costs to replace building panic/alarm buttons with a monitored third‑party system were roughly $22,900 for installation and an annual monitoring fee on the order of $1,200; those figures came from a vendor quote and are presented as planning estimates.

Commissioners discussed the projected savings from moving to the state system and the operational impacts. Crystal said a rough estimate of total savings from discontinuing the local dispatch center could be in the $350,000–$356,000 range, but she cautioned savings depend on personnel decisions (for example, whether admin positions are retained) and on continuing miscellaneous platform costs such as recorders, CAD, and circuit/call‑handling fees. Crystal also noted some recorder and radio‑recorder equipment may still be needed or replaced if the county keeps local dispatch.

Several commissioners and county staff said they want more input from emergency responders. Commissioner Bernie and others asked that local fire and ambulance services be invited to a discussion; Commissioner Kenny (speaking as a commissioner) and committee members said first responders they had contacted were largely opposed to moving to state radio, while others said people who work under both systems described neutral experiences. Sheriff Ron’s staff and deputies were cited as stakeholders to consult.

Commissioners discussed operational tradeoffs including 24/7 monitoring, who would answer administrative lines at night, and how existing admin calls would be handled if the county discontinues local dispatch. County staff proposed possible staffing configurations if the county moved away from a 24/7 staffed dispatch center — for example, reassigning some calls to administrator staff who would not necessarily be on site 24/7 — and said these choices would affect net savings.

The commission directed staff to arrange a special evening meeting in mid‑ to late October (after harvest and local events) to bring in first responders and representatives from state radio or counties that have made the transition. Commissioners said they want both sides in the room (local responders and state radio representatives) and to receive more detailed, itemized cost breakdowns before making a final decision.

Ending: Commissioners committed to scheduling follow‑up meetings with first responders and to return with more detailed, itemized budget comparisons and vendor quotes before taking any final action on dispatch consolidation.","County staff presented cost comparisons for keeping local dispatch versus moving to state radio; commissioners asked for first‑responder input and set a follow-up meeting for October to gather more feedback before any final decision.",{"_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},6483701,"Carnegie Regional Library reduces 2026 county request, urges continued Walsh County support",788,265000,1053000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5600784-1957cf6991cb2d838e3343c2a137f52f&start=265&end=1053","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5600784-1957cf6991cb2d838e3343c2a137f52f/thumbnail_265000.jpg","/articles/6483701/Walsh-County/North-Dakota/Carnegie-Regional-Library-reduces-2026-county-request-urges-continued-Walsh-County-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6483701-d99ca46bbac28a238d4e35cbfd78ac2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773674419&Signature=l1UR86z8P1ZJ2vqlMHAp2w6bsdL8LxE3laDTemwkAOX04Se9U5bBYuZo~g8oKHAerEb3Z7zDWZHbaIjle6WXyvjoHCXrJmthOCkwev~GF-kPRnVFAcMhL62kLwtenkVmZWGt8WQZPrXnELj9ft5n4PGFIyVybHgBWjpCCDbKL216KJC0sZQl49Z2AARyL2yz1mvKb7mLq--v7IzLSdRL3Pm7q0i7HZzQqqZvt1njdiaw-ftvxit7T~CArm7Rhpn7hw6KLmLFa1FwbsuovNtBAEDCHfnt7x0PlIuR-Q~bCISPrVKYTzfdH6y2K0GnzYVtteriSt-vn7iCYs2D7XRRbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gaye Riske, a member of the Carnegie Regional Library board, told the Walsh County Commission that the library reduced its 2026 funding request to Walsh County and is using reserve funds to cover part of next year’s operating costs so as not to increase pressure on the county budget.

Riske said the reduced request “is a proactive gesture of goodwill not an indication of reduced need” and emphasized the library’s regional role serving rural residents, schools and seniors in Walsh County. She told commissioners the city of Grafton provides the library building rent-free.

The briefing was intended to explain why the library board trimmed its request and to ask the commission to continue funding the countywide service. “Walsh County’s continued investment will ensure the Carnegie Regional Library remains a strong, accessible, and vital resource for all residents,” Riske said.

Board and staff described outreach services to small towns and rural areas as a core part of the library’s mission. Katrina (library staff) said the library historically ran a staffed mini-library in Adams located in the First United Bank basement; it currently operates on an honor system after the part‑time staff person retired. Katrina said the mini-library and other partnerships reached rural residents but that “the rural outreach has been less at the moment” while staff changes are addressed.

Commissioners asked for more detail about outreach, board membership and usage. Katrina said the Carnegie Regional Library board has six members—three representing Grafton and three representing Walsh County—and she listed the county members as herself, Gaye Riske and Tina Anderson; city members she named included Lark, Hoyhose, Susan Sloop and Heather McMillan. She told the commission that meeting minutes and membership lists are kept at the library and that the board intends to post more information on the library website.

Commissioners also discussed an annual $25 library-card fee that county officials had heard was charged to out‑of‑county patrons. Katrina said the $25 fee predated current staff, is often waived as a judgment call, and that some out‑of‑county patrons (for example from Pembina County) do pay it; she said copying/printing fees and some fines bring in about $300 a year. Katrina said state aid and grant funding are also part of the library’s revenue mix; she estimated state aid at about $12,000 annually.

Several commissioners expressed support for fully funding the library’s request. Commissioner Paul said he wanted to “support the full request of the library board” and described county support for public services as a civic responsibility. No formal vote on the library appropriation was taken during this session; commissioners asked staff to accept an itemized follow-up request and to include the library in budget discussions at the September budget meeting.

The library representatives offered to send the commission the board’s strategic plan and an itemized list of funding requests and services.

If the county reduces or cuts funding, Riske warned of potential impacts including reduced hours, fewer staff to assist patrons, loss of outreach to underserved communities and fewer programs for children, teens and seniors. She said the library uses reserved funds to limit the 2026 county request while continuing services.

Ending: The commission requested an itemized follow-up from the library and said the reduced request would be considered during upcoming budget discussions.","The Carnegie Regional Library told Walsh County commissioners it shortened its 2026 funding request to ease county budget pressure but said ongoing county funding is essential to preserve services and rural outreach, including a mini library in Adams and school programming.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Walsh County approves Option 2 health‑insurance renewal after insurer raises rates by about 7.6%

Commission allows contract negotiations with Energy Systems Group for county facilities assessment

Walsh County debates moving dispatch to state radio; officials plan stakeholder meeting

Carnegie Regional Library reduces 2026 county request, urges continued Walsh County support