[{"_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",6478159,"mediaKeyId","5710189-f8f7baefd5bccfe2462d03cc07bea2c0","parentId",5710189,"title","County sheriff’s office outlines UAS budget, mutual‑aid concerns; commissioners ask for MOU and fee review","audioSeconds",290,"startMs",2294000,"endMs",2584000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5710189-f8f7baefd5bccfe2462d03cc07bea2c0&start=2294&end=2584","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5710189-f8f7baefd5bccfe2462d03cc07bea2c0/thumbnail_2294000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6478159/Ramsey-County/North-Dakota/County-sheriffs-office-outlines-UAS-budget-mutualaid-concerns-commissioners-ask-for-MOU-and-fee-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478159-7551a0f27b63662bc32044ccd43d81ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1775401258&Signature=QLuLGFoqfOOoZoVr5oG9Jt-1lfwKHLKBc8kAXroPa8W-41VGqn8ouy-Sf6AO-n-Bu4jCKc92iP5QublxpZvKUq8SM0bg6E6IerLjVb8Kl5uY5BjLdV-DoRYeZsBmbmeuB4Kffqy7hOEQACwSSH1XXITGaw029Zhw05ZFfvyZUwmOVsXuhpKoI-z8G2mvwYJffKynnecskum0l6Oj2m9tzv-HuYtcDcf70Zz7Uy9x2g~Emh4H1Fsjnk-eIL6gCVVxtdbtN~lpJ-Pui1OQkOEL9pgCYl8DlA51woqv-TE~jE8W2pi8gl9dc8ycg7qUXlPvhvyja9S9rb4BLBw5iphdSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ramsey County, KS","date","2025-09-02T15:39:28Z","article","Chris Jaeger briefed commissioners on the county’s UAS (drone) team and its roughly $30,000 budget allocation for Ramsey County’s portion. He said the UAS team has lost promised contributions from Benson County and from the city and that other entities have stopped providing funding. Commissioners and staff discussed that mutual‑aid agreements currently cover an initial short response window but some entities charge fees for service beyond that period.

Jaeger described the UAS program as a regional asset used for law enforcement searches (missing persons) and other incidents; he said usage by neighboring jurisdictions is frequent and that the county has at times been asked to provide UAS services with little or no reimbursement. Commissioners asked whether formal MOUs exist with neighboring counties and townships; Jaeger said mutual‑aid agreements exist for fire, law enforcement and EMS but that written MOUs and fee structures will be reviewed and updated. He said the county will be redoing MOUs tied to radio/911 upgrades and will begin reviewing other MOUs for UAS and related services.

Discussion highlights: Commissioners and Jaeger discussed options such as charging an annual subscription fee for outside jurisdictions, creating a per‑incident billing structure for extended deployments (beyond an initial mutual‑aid window) and re‑opening conversations with Benson County to secure promised funds. Jaeger said batteries and operating costs create out‑of‑pocket costs for volunteer pilots and that a modest contribution model could help replace consumables.

Outcome: No formal vote was taken. Commissioners asked staff to research other counties’ approaches to mutual‑aid billing for UAS assets, to draft standard MOUs and to return with a cost‑recovery proposal.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ramsey County Commission","oneSentenceSummary","The county’s UAS (drone) team budget and funding shortfalls from neighboring jurisdictions were discussed; commissioners asked staff to examine mutual‑aid MOUs, cost recovery and potential annual subscription models after Benson County and the city failed to provide previously promised contributions.","taxTitle","Ramsey County, North Dakota","taxId",73636,"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},6478165,"Commission approves opioid‑settlement funds for prevention training and materials for school program",1075,3540000,4615000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5710189-f8f7baefd5bccfe2462d03cc07bea2c0&start=3540&end=4615","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5710189-f8f7baefd5bccfe2462d03cc07bea2c0/thumbnail_3540000.jpg","/articles/6478165/Ramsey-County/North-Dakota/Commission-approves-opioidsettlement-funds-for-prevention-training-and-materials-for-school-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478165-15a5db3f73e3d0054898ca284fea3846/orig.mp4?Expires=1775401258&Signature=A23ESQs6iHhJiXjnrpGkzYAibD76hp~fbardVvwbj0KfBr-ql1w84SqFO1YJ7HahoHfRdhwMBHQcUPDDIK03HLNofuaO7HjwfrWKfdWPCKaIhH1HRrb4SfSAQesI3qhYZxLzcsqTgsyPgbpogZ4D8946KOEVPATpsthq7~voREUb3mnHv9RNMoBibpYm~m5LmBP5UeEeWRn~7Z98Nwo4HxEQIABTezUXauKDzNoRTpEanRt8lFdYiEiWQjWtmGadgqlxzmi1K1DOMlo6Ps4kBYAH2IWUE3qlk38607gpCxjxTJ7Q07Cy~PrM0lMLLscRL9xFrlhAs6g5rbBB6-RNBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ramsey County Commissioners voted to spend opioid‑settlement money to support a prevention training and purchase youth workbooks to pilot a school‑based prevention curriculum.

Cindy, the county’s tobacco‑prevention coordinator (who said she is also managing three grants), presented the proposal and asked the commission to approve tuition for two people to take a designated prevention trainer course and to authorize purchasing an initial batch of youth workbooks for in‑school‑suspension (ISS) use. She described the training as a two‑lesson program suitable for ISS and said she had superintendent approval for a prevention mentor to attend the training and assist with targeted delivery to students in ISS.

Commission action: A commissioner moved to approve using opioid‑settlement funds to buy 200 workbooks and to pay tuition for two people to attend the training; the motion was seconded and carried with an aye vote.

Why it matters: The program is designed to provide prevention education to middle‑ and high‑school students who enter ISS or are identified as needing targeted supports. Cindy said the materials and training would be used initially in ISS and could expand if the pilot is successful. She emphasized that parents and schools have shown some resistance to broad rollouts, so the pilot is targeted and limited in scope.

Costs and procurement: Cindy described per‑unit workbook pricing tiers (she quoted a $22 per‑book price for a 200‑unit purchase and lower per‑unit prices for larger orders) and estimated the combined cost of training and materials at roughly $6,300–$6,500; she asked that the county fund the initial purchase and two training slots from the opioid‑settlement fund. The motion approved the purchase and tuition from that fund. Cindy and county staff said they will return with an implementation plan describing distribution and evaluation.

Next steps: Staff and Cindy will coordinate with school officials and the prevention mentor to deliver training and to pilot the program in ISS before wider distribution; commissioners requested a follow‑up report on costs, distribution and results.","Commissioners approved use of opioid‑settlement funds to pay tuition for two staff to take a prevention training and to purchase classroom/workbook materials to pilot a prevention curriculum in the school in‑school‑suspension program.",{"_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},6478170,"Ramsey County hears Blue Cross estimate: stop-loss premiums to rise about 7% for next plan year",1204,934000,2138000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5710189-f8f7baefd5bccfe2462d03cc07bea2c0&start=934&end=2138","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5710189-f8f7baefd5bccfe2462d03cc07bea2c0/thumbnail_934000.jpg","/articles/6478170/Ramsey-County/North-Dakota/Ramsey-County-hears-Blue-Cross-estimate-stop-loss-premiums-to-rise-about-7-for-next-plan-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478170-3c4a7f92a35ebd3a08320efe9dfa142f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775401258&Signature=TnquWXl8sN~jBMhIB04OKHVthQeziuk3htis2RwnZsohDueBrCf4DiO0jW8kEwdqIlz9EKjIAyqeONfVhCIWY1bXG0f7m3USNf6YQVhaq57kUWPap2tqI6C2uA-sH5Fja3a4D~DsFhA5d~2gmsjHBFdkvMZMeShH1beG~x5VNu5xRaB-6FWVk158WR7qsjxsTmWMkAXr~~V5rLZUMHup3TC4OlC9CKTHGnGqebzd1LJ9jPhAFX25cCwlEVKy61g4HY6zb946yfQtxkVvqwxUQYAIvfT-XhvFX--W7gNqsmo5qGGddvSiQnPY1-uWVzIlbFReIp8IRsc~DPzQNeX8Ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ramsey County Commissioners heard a presentation from a Blue Cross representative reviewing the county’s employee health‑insurance renewal and stop‑loss options. The presenter said if the county keeps its existing $20,000 stop‑loss level and stays on its grandfathered Classic Blue plan, the annual stop‑loss premium would increase by about 7 percent.

The county was shown three main choices: remain on the grandfathered Classic Blue plan; move to a comparable non‑grandfathered plan labeled “Your Blue” (which raises the deductible modestly but combines medical and prescription out‑of‑pocket limits); or change stop‑loss attachment levels (examples quoted at $30,000 and $50,000) to reduce monthly stop‑loss premiums while shifting more risk to the employer. The presenter said administrative fees had been reduced in the quotes from 9.9 percent to 8.9 percent.

Why it matters: commissioners must set coverage and funding choices before the insurer’s deadline to keep the quoted rates. Moving off a grandfathered plan would add preventive‑care benefits (for example, coverage of routine mammograms, PAPs and preventive colonoscopies) but could modestly increase employer funding needs and raise employees' initial deductible by roughly $250 on the quoted plan.

Supporting details and numbers presented: Blue Cross quoted a roughly 7 percent increase in the $20,000 stop‑loss premium under current plan designs. If the county chooses to “fund” stop‑loss at the suggested level rather than pay only the premium, the presenter gave illustrative funding increases in the 9.8–10.4 percent range depending on options and funding level. The presenter estimated eight county plan members would be affected by changes under the proposed closed formulary, with an annual estimated savings to the group of about $13,000 if nonformulary 50% coinsurance sanctions are reduced by moving to a “net results” formulary design.

Commissioners asked about timing and next steps; the presenter said the county would need to decide by Oct. 31 to preserve the quoted pricing and avoid potential free‑rating. Commissioners and staff discussed tradeoffs between preserving the grandfathered plan (no immediate change for members) and shifting to a non‑grandfathered plan to capture added preventive benefits at somewhat higher employer cost. No formal vote was taken at the meeting on plan selection.

The presentation also noted that the quotes did not include GLP‑1 medications for weight loss (diabetes GLP‑1 coverage could be handled separately) and that adding GLP‑1 coverage would materially raise costs. The representative described a recent state requirement affecting drug cost allocation to out‑of‑pocket limits and said the proposed “net results” formulary change aims to reduce employer exposure on nonformulary claims.

The presenter offered to provide follow‑up materials and attend additional meetings, and commissioners requested the additional information needed to finalize the county’s choices before the insurer’s deadline.","County staff and a Blue Cross representative reviewed health-plan renewal options, including retaining a $20,000 stop‑loss, moving to non‑grandfathered plans and the effects of a closed prescription formulary; commissioners were given an October 31 deadline to lock rates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County sheriff’s office outlines UAS budget, mutual‑aid concerns; commissioners ask for MOU and fee review

Commission approves opioid‑settlement funds for prevention training and materials for school program

Ramsey County hears Blue Cross estimate: stop-loss premiums to rise about 7% for next plan year