[{"_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",6477952,"mediaKeyId","5710198-d3af80da55c769f1a870ea1e0e6f27d1","parentId",5710198,"title","Commission agrees to $2 hourly across‑the‑board bump; department-specific raises considered","audioSeconds",765,"startMs",11640000,"endMs",12405000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5710198-d3af80da55c769f1a870ea1e0e6f27d1&start=11640&end=12405","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5710198-d3af80da55c769f1a870ea1e0e6f27d1/thumbnail_11640000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6477952/Mercer-County/North-Dakota/Commission-agrees-to-2-hourly-acrosstheboard-bump-department-specific-raises-considered","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477952-f52288a7aa64a6ed0540a231c239883b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776568671&Signature=G3DvdeybzBxMpdDRtxqCFi4HuXrgvYpWBAqvQ4yIWT6qnRBleGmkm7CRmEYofaSKAbv8uiyU~0O3ntyK1nmWn~mEaRRBa99DpUhLUFAD63kKMgu77XgdHP~c~tqzSsi4Sfd1LlokFw8klzR7LAA9KgOji0xQ2Ho9RyQhIdURcYWX1epE80XTMPq2RDhLb3hdr-~ZhPTkjOPo4FSlTxanmYO9GTcp-6Oa4usyYflqmE~2MNfvMvoJeqbRpNEaE1lN9DOq5N~FLpcmH5ZNPhZJRFAd9P26bIJDPGYQNjSX51u60BeIlQfFT-9oRuDNCFZSu4bfI25jagEFfBgEXf7WGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mercer County, KS","date","2025-09-03T19:57:06Z","article","The Mercer County Commission set a preliminary compensation direction on Wednesday, agreeing to a $2-per-hour across-the-board wage increase for county employees and discussing additional position-specific “bump-ups” for select job classifications.

Process and amounts: Commissioners debated whether to apply a flat hourly increase or percentage raises and settled on a $2-per-hour increase to be applied countywide. They also reviewed requested supplemental increases for specific positions submitted by human-resources staff: examples discussed included a salary adjustment for the county administrator-level position and specific recommended bump-ups for the sheriff’s department and assessor staff; commissioners asked staff to remove a requested $250 commission bump and to ensure any position-specific increases were justified by certification, responsibilities or market factors.

Overtime and budget clarity: Commissioners asked county staff to separate base salary and overtime budget lines on the salary spreadsheet for clarity; staff agreed to show each employee’s base pay and an overtime allocation so that totals are transparent and easier to compare. The auditor and department heads will produce updated spreadsheets and provide final dollar figures for formal adoption.

Other budget matters and housekeeping: The meeting covered several housekeeping items including review of employee benefit lines (unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation), where staff recommended modest adjustments based on recent payouts. Commissioners instructed staff to finalize the budget worksheets and circulate updated pages in advance of the next meeting.

Why it matters: The across-the-board raise affects all county payroll lines and will be incorporated into the 2026 budget planning. Commissioners emphasized balancing employee retention and market competitiveness with budget constraints.

Next steps: Staff will recirculate updated salary sheets with base pay and overtime separated, finalize the preliminary budget adjustments, and prepare the formal budget ordinance and adoption timeline for future meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mercer County Commission Meeting 09/03/2025","oneSentenceSummary","During budget deliberations commissioners agreed to a $2-per-hour across-the-board increase for county employees, reviewed department requests for additional position-specific bump-ups and instructed staff to separate base pay and overtime line items for clarity.","taxTitle","Mercer County, North Dakota","taxId",73543,"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},6477958,"Cabin Site 2 residents and engineers press commission on paving options, cost estimates and county participation",1727,6523000,8250000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5710198-d3af80da55c769f1a870ea1e0e6f27d1&start=6523&end=8250","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5710198-d3af80da55c769f1a870ea1e0e6f27d1/thumbnail_6523000.jpg","/articles/6477958/Mercer-County/North-Dakota/Cabin-Site-2-residents-and-engineers-press-commission-on-paving-options-cost-estimates-and-county-participation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477958-d9b988b077e4c42275d70df64b30269d/orig.mp4?Expires=1776568671&Signature=Z9YcEQ2YwFUmRiXVskwQBsZgGzghEwve6Mu-qZbQt1Ho30symUgCMAf5bFGkyPzFbRPqqMffRlwWGD24M2T7VqKg2zcNrrQFHwJ1F3i0xLOs2ltqajgj72eiaWGIF1SbMVzgK9DYRZBzabZ063Fyrc-TD~nTX9Hlwn7CZMK45UIWvBhvjaRLvypShBbvl9fwb16Lz~ZDOZfIp6GpATF3AvuRSnGke1siYbmRF~GmOAS-KDS7f0KDuiSQwZSovaRSZtqrqUTD5oBSN0LfZq9GjNyhxgOjBMuWtfwN40I9BBR~Gba37BUCK3quYKVwqhVdOw-72u7bl5oUJ2IZlB4xMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents, engineers and county staff spent a large portion of Wednesday’s meeting discussing a proposed paving project for Cabin Site 2 — a 1.9-mile section from the end of pavement to the loop — including whether the county should participate financially or help the neighborhood form a special-assessment district.

Background and scope: Representative Steve Schwann told the commission residents want to consider paving roughly 1.9 miles from the end of pavement through the loop and discussed two preliminary cost estimates: Moore Engineering’s estimate was higher (about $1.9–$2.0 million when including anticipated engineering and widening), while a Northern Improvement rough estimate was about $1.5–$1.6 million for the county-section work. Tom Weigel (Moore Engineering) said the estimates include widening and some dirt work where needed; he said where the existing gravel road is 21–25 feet wide, paving with a 5-inch overlay and a 24-foot finished top requires an additional two feet on each side in places.

Key issues: Commissioners and staff raised three primary questions before moving forward:
- Ownership and easements: The commission asked staff to confirm whether portions of the road are on county right-of-way, on Corps land or privately owned, because funding and authority depend on ownership and recorded easements.
- Cost breakdowns and engineering: County engineers and vendors emphasized the difference between preliminary estimates and formal bids; the commission requested a detailed preliminary estimate, including dirt work and culverts, to determine the financing gap.
- Funding and county participation: Commissioners discussed whether the county should offer a contribution (commissioners noted arguments that county-funded paving increases property values and tax base) or whether the project should be fully financed by a special-assessment district or Bank of North Dakota financing. Tom said the state’s “special road fund” may provide up to roughly $300,000 for recreation-area projects, and the commission asked staff to query DOT on eligibility.

Legal and liability considerations: County counsel Todd warned the commissioners that if the county helps fund or approve a nonstandard (narrower) road section, the county must secure waivers to limit future liability and ensure the road meets acceptable design standards for emergency access and equipment.

Next steps: Commissioners asked engineers to prepare more detailed, line-item estimates and directed staff to confirm property/ROW ownership and whether the Corps of Engineers (if involved) will require additional approvals. If residents want to proceed, the next formal step would be a sponsor petition for a special-assessment district; that petition must meet a 60% support threshold under county ordinance before the commission can act.

Ending: Commissioners said they were open to helping move the project forward but asked residents to gather clarifications and preliminary financing commitments. Tom and county staff will return with more precise engineering costs and funding options for consideration at a future meeting.","Residents and engineers discussed a 1.9-mile paving proposal for Cabin Site 2. Estimates ranged from roughly $1.5 million to $2 million; commissioners asked for clarified ownership, right-of-way status and potential county and state funding before proceeding to petition or sponsor a special-assessment district.",{"_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},6477962,"Commission approves sandbox tests: landfill loader demo trucking, mower purchase and fog seal for Sakakawea Estates",370,3098000,3468000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5710198-d3af80da55c769f1a870ea1e0e6f27d1&start=3098&end=3468","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5710198-d3af80da55c769f1a870ea1e0e6f27d1/thumbnail_3098000.jpg","/articles/6477962/Mercer-County/North-Dakota/Commission-approves-sandbox-tests-landfill-loader-demo-trucking-mower-purchase-and-fog-seal-for-Sakakawea-Estates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477962-dcfdf246156ff204a46d9151d7ca632b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776568671&Signature=AT9-Z59HF3wlPjTJfNG9P-glKHPzASb9grmlzteq1KJ6Dj3m9rnPS0Y0F83lXPifeaace3zzOkzirQuAlob~PUml1xRDZpi2r9FL5HzkuPbjLQBCCPSUt3FyfUar5XjTMMmYdXI41yIEQyo3nWGO-8uPkk~5skIGa06wkKCOU5Dm~yRsXKLJ8oZIFsorKi88eWWs0ESnCRLhZ8kKCzfmcuIoKgQYJKKHZ3mRUa8936aqPHEhKk8a~Hc-4jf7QiSm0LH2Wz1W1UpTIroP7NQ5inDm3780m9xjc~6eEyHIBmxjJODpJJ~yu-oj8-LQ~ZiK5rHqnRTaC1vLVanpUuO4yQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mercer County Commission voted to cover trucking for a demonstration landfill loader, approved purchase of a replacement mower and flex wing for highway operations and authorized a fog-seal surface treatment for portions of Sakakawea Estates.

At Wednesday’s meeting commissioners considered a vendor offer to bring a large loader to the county for equipment trials. County staff estimated trucking would cost “about $1,000–$1,500.” After discussion about which budget line should pay the expense, the commission voted to pay the trucking out of the miscellaneous fund. The motion was made and seconded during the meeting and carried unanimously.

Highway equipment purchases: Road supervisors presented quotes for a replacement ditch-mowing unit and a flex-wing mower attachment. The commission approved purchasing the McLean County quote for the mower and the flex wing (the county's records show the flex wing price at about $30,048 and one mower quote about $30,004; final invoices pending). Commissioners discussed whether the county must competitively bid equipment purchases; staff said statutory bid thresholds were not exceeded for these items and budgets are in place.

Fog seal for Sakakawea Estates: The commission approved a fog-seal treatment for a development identified as Sakakawea Estates after engineering provided a square-footage and materials estimate. The vendor’s material estimate for the area was roughly $5,000 (estimates vary by scope), and commissioners agreed the treatment would extend pavement life. The road department will manage scheduling and payment from the road budget/miscellaneous funds per prior practice.

Why it matters: The actions reflect routine capital and maintenance decisions. The loader demo gives staff a chance to evaluate heavy equipment before purchase; mower purchases refresh aging roadside-mowing equipment; and the fog seal is a preventive maintenance measure to prolong pavement life with relatively modest investment.

Votes and funding: The commission voted unanimously on the trucking-motion, the mower/flex-wing purchases and the fog-seal authorization. Commissioners instructed staff to track expenses against the miscellaneous and road budgets and report back during budget updates.

Ending: County staff said they will continue to evaluate haul/trucking options and will seek lower-cost transport if available; they also will present any final purchase orders for recordkeeping and auditing.","The Mercer County Commission approved paying trucking costs for a demo landfill loader from the miscellaneous fund, authorized purchase of a mower and flex wing, and approved a fog-seal treatment for Sakakawea Estates.",{"_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},6477966,"Insurance agent reviews Mercer County coverage; spotlights discounts, equipment schedules and property valuations",2995,1475000,4470000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5710198-d3af80da55c769f1a870ea1e0e6f27d1&start=1475&end=4470","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5710198-d3af80da55c769f1a870ea1e0e6f27d1/thumbnail_1475000.jpg","/articles/6477966/Mercer-County/North-Dakota/Insurance-agent-reviews-Mercer-County-coverage-spotlights-discounts-equipment-schedules-and-property-valuations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477966-437b769917e97f340c821e0af92e73fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1776568671&Signature=AVH-eW2aDysQipcJeXT07A1XR35Wfw082lgmF1jUO5S47uKHyvnZ9Auy4rmrUXcaTeAU86KKQEi1fjEXexQwe55p5UNQWP5Bw0Etw8dT3pnM6i8YUiiS0J206jGMtyMdH35Ccz70pjCgxSSbkM~~WBhnm6plRjNro-V28lBqjOA6kNw3livyEe7W8WM26RPVOAgvsgykgHu3bWVgYZbttmmfaCTz3HbRgJw-1NbkRropfipXrKx538IS7UZBXT75G0lSv954ADSBWKFonGBEhCu-SG6HpUqYMRsQUkfpJkE2YXl8TiZe4G2VCj2vEss3I1Ksr5LzwojyqP7CqbmXRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An insurance specialist recommended several changes to county insurance practices at Wednesday’s Mercer County Commission meeting, highlighting potential premium savings, coverage gaps for mobile equipment, and outdated property valuations that could trigger coinsurance penalties.

Scott Fenrich of Bravera Insurance gave the commission a structured review of the county’s coverages, focusing on general liability, inland marine for mobile equipment, and commercial property limits. He said the county’s expiring general-liability premium is about $26,000 and described a state-initiated cybersecurity initiative that could yield roughly a 4% premium credit if the county documents certain IT monitoring and scanning protocols.

Inland-marine and equipment coverage: Fenrich pointed out that the county maintains a scheduled list of equipment totaling roughly $5 million and said items not on the list may not be covered. He recommended a “blanket option” that groups equipment into categories (computer, contractors equipment, miscellaneous, emergency services) so replacements or newly acquired items are covered without updating serial-number lists each time.

Property valuations and coinsurance risk: Fenrich said several county building valuations on the property schedule have appraisal dates between 2000 and 2019 and that replacement-cost estimates have risen. Using the courthouse as an example, he said the county’s insured limit of about $13.3 million may be below NDRF’s suggested $16 million replacement estimate; that shortfall can expose the county to coinsurance penalties when settling partial losses. He recommended adopting a blanket statement of values that provides a 125% margin clause to partially offset inflation-driven reconstruction costs.

Optional coverages and deductible structure: Fenrich described optional coverages the county currently lacks — single-deductible wind/hail options that combine multiple-building deductibles, larger sewer-backup limits (from $10,000 to $25,000) and inexpensive debris-removal endorsements. He also suggested the county evaluate auto deductibles as a savings strategy if its claims history supports higher self-insurance.

Agent-of-record and next steps: Fenrich said Brevera would not charge Mercer County an additional fee to act as agent of record; rather, the agent is compensated through standard commissions embedded in premiums. He offered to prepare forms and work with county staff ahead of February renewals for property, liability and inland marine lines if the commission chooses to appoint a new agent.

Commission response: Commissioners discussed internal inventory practices and asked if the county’s fair board or other entities are covered under the county policy. Fenrich said some local entities (water resource district) appear to be covered by the county policy, but recommended the commission confirm the fair board’s legal status and whether it should be included or handled separately. Commissioners asked staff to verify scheduled serial numbers and property appraisal dates.

Ending: Fenrich left contact cards and offered further help; commissioners asked staff to inventory equipment schedules annually and to consider the recommended property valuation updates and coverage options ahead of renewals.
","An insurance adviser reviewed Mercer County’s general liability, inland marine and property coverage and suggested steps to claim cybersecurity discounts, adopt blanket equipment schedules and update building valuations to avoid coinsurance penalties.",{"_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},6477971,"Sacagawea Medical Center and Coal Country report staffing gains, new equipment and local service gaps",436,324000,760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5710198-d3af80da55c769f1a870ea1e0e6f27d1&start=324&end=760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5710198-d3af80da55c769f1a870ea1e0e6f27d1/thumbnail_324000.jpg","/articles/6477971/Mercer-County/North-Dakota/Sacagawea-Medical-Center-and-Coal-Country-report-staffing-gains-new-equipment-and-local-service-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477971-33f2a783a0c70b7cb5087de5673d20a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1776568671&Signature=ebkOcyKgZRp~kI2rjfTnXzzJc7~RJtd-~594eAQd8ne5PBvrkVcS-MHk8zPh71UxfYLPvVZ5g8k~ityQ5ovm9BrFK8Xqv9gbpz1JuPVMGJuZxmt17Xvlqqkvgv7yWtw~vOy1-qpvtN3NlGujuvRkWrEpZt7rqfZLFLAs4B4tvWsM3h-63ILudG0FQtWQxDBDZqq2sRoYZG3asatQBXINCDOXQ0lu9z3r5lWs3zulq-g8jKvd6JC-dPXCwDdFmcPntz6xlj~26VA-TT8d4MO9b9JZh~jjSOtplGAyiKl58AYkgkCZ4AU5MlbC~EffA~ef5FQHiCKWnZphIWNJ6xx7-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sacagawea Medical Center and Coal Country Community Health told the Mercer County Commission on Wednesday that both facilities have improved staffing and ended the recent reliance on traveling clinicians, while adding new equipment to expand local services.

The update came during the commission’s morning session when Kurt (presenter) summarized operational and financial results for the county’s two health providers. He said the hospital employs about 139 staff and Coal Country about 143, and reported turnover rates of roughly 18% and 22%, respectively.

Kurt told commissioners neither facility is currently using traveling nurses or locum clinicians, reversing a trend from three to four years ago. He also described preliminary, unaudited operating results: Sacagawea had about a $1.4 million positive margin and Coal Country roughly $52,000 positive, noting audits remain in progress.

Why it matters: Local leaders told the commission these changes affect access to care and county finances. Both facilities are critical access providers that coordinate with the ambulance service and nursing home and depend on local capacity to retain patients and keep services locally available.

Hospital improvements and service lines: Kurt said the hospitals completed a three-year community health needs assessment and identified four primary local concerns: (1) availability of specialists (noting long waits in Bismarck), (2) mental-health services at all ages, (3) insufficient affordable housing and (4) limited child daycare. To expand care locally, the hospital installed a new CT scanner with coronary calcium scoring and moved to 3-D mammography with contrast. The hospital also plans to install a new chemistry analyzer and a chemotherapy hood in the pharmacy to support future oncology services.

Behavioral health and assisted living: Kurt described existing mental-health counseling embedded in local clinics and schools (Hazen and Beulah) and said Coal Country has worked to “grow our own” behavioral-health clinicians by hiring and training staff who initially could not bill. He warned of ongoing shortages of inpatient psychiatric beds statewide and said local emergency departments sometimes must hold behavioral-health patients while placement is sought. Kurt also said the county nursing home board approved a study of assisted-living demand to assess whether a local assisted-living option should be added; he noted Medicaid currently pays for basic care but not for assisted living and that a state task force is exploring combined licensure and a single payer source.

Daycare and workforce support: Commissioners and hospital leaders discussed daycare affordability and staffing. Kurt said the hospital participates in a local daycare cooperative with Basin and Knife River and helps with maintenance and other supports. He and commissioners discussed possible public–private options and local partnerships to make childcare more affordable for employees.

Commission response and next steps: Commissioners thanked the presenters and asked that the hospitals return with an annual update. The hospitals said they will continue implementing the facility master plan and will return to the commission with status reports as projects (equipment installations, the assisted-living study) progress.

Ending: The presentation closed with the commission noting the hospitals’ capital investments and urging continued coordination on behavioral-health capacity and workforce supports.
","Hospital and community clinic officials told the Mercer County Commission they are financially stable, have fewer contract travelers, added imaging capacity and cite shortages of specialists, behavioral-health services, affordable housing and daycare in the county.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission agrees to $2 hourly across‑the‑board bump; department-specific raises considered

Cabin Site 2 residents and engineers press commission on paving options, cost estimates and county participation

Commission approves sandbox tests: landfill loader demo trucking, mower purchase and fog seal for Sakakawea Estates

Insurance agent reviews Mercer County coverage; spotlights discounts, equipment schedules and property valuations

Sacagawea Medical Center and Coal Country report staffing gains, new equipment and local service gaps