[{"_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",6468053,"mediaKeyId","5782838-2bed699b5aa4313975df60877f51addd","parentId",5782838,"title","Mercer County approves amended minutes, discusses 2026 budget items and approves bills; wage bumps and landfill transfer noted","audioSeconds",4590,"startMs",338000,"endMs",4928000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5782838-2bed699b5aa4313975df60877f51addd&start=338&end=4928","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5782838-2bed699b5aa4313975df60877f51addd/thumbnail_338000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6468053/Mercer-County/North-Dakota/Mercer-County-approves-amended-minutes-discusses-2026-budget-items-and-approves-bills-wage-bumps-and-landfill-transfer-noted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6468053-95284c0fe2802aff41850f1e81706f20/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145731&Signature=Fhv6dMes4QrQdQQnEVTU4P5dc4a4p99HwJDBWRsbs9K00HcRZVXKoGxftAtqyrixUJiw4mEPa0gkNZC4OKFn41FucWnhHJsDyBPRVKK2udJSWUEoB1VHlCV1rvAxRVthW0VORcpxLNd2MLRMEnnmOdI14TfAJwsEqMihFjXF0MieJ9GI42rmiJVqJ3n27faDtBByZyEO~TDwhIRJsYKGavd9ns67fct02rp5bDJtFZNEq9XF71Hf3KPpKHIBEl7OpZvCf4EflWlwCMJouBHm0V1wRBhd~JJ9EVwRKMPz5K8rJ4Usy6bN-hw6FsEF0eJIFYuU8p-VLTxdY7qyqrvP0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mercer County, KS","date","2025-09-17T17:45:17Z","article","Mercer County commissioners on Tuesday approved amended minutes, reviewed multiple 2026 budget lines, agreed to preliminary wage adjustments for several positions and approved payment of county bills.

Minutes and prior spending: commissioners approved amended minutes that clarified a previously approved $7,500 for road fog-seal work (broken down in the minutes to $2,500 for material and $5,000 for labor). The commission voted to approve those minutes as amended.

Budget items and transfers: in budget discussion for fiscal 2026, staff reported the county had originally put $100,000 in the landfill budget for a loader but that some of those funds can be used as an insurance transfer to cover personnel costs; commissioners agreed to leave the $100,000 in the preliminary budget pending finalization. County staff said they will update revenues received year-to-date and present revised numbers at the next budget meeting.

Wages and personnel: the commission discussed a series of preliminary wage adjustments: two employees were proposed for a $0.50 hourly bump (examples discussed in the transcript included a specific individual, Rachel), road deputies were discussed for a $1.50-per-hour bump, and other targeted increases were mentioned for truck drivers and deputies. Commissioners asked staff to run the numbers and return final budget figures at a special budget meeting and at the commission’s next meeting.

Bills and vouchers: a motion to approve county bills passed by voice vote. The transcript records motion and second for approval and voice votes in favor (Casey and Jamie recorded as saying “Aye” during the vote); staff were instructed to have the appropriate signatures executed on the vouchers.

Why it matters: decisions about the budget, wage increases and transfers affect county payroll, operations at the landfill and road maintenance. Commissioners emphasized the need to finalize figures in time for the upcoming special budget session and to provide staff and departments clarity on the adopted levels.

Next steps: staff will update revenue numbers through the current date, finalize payroll line calculations and present updated budget figures at a special meeting the commission scheduled for late September/early October before finalizing the 2026 budget.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mercer County Commission Meeting 09/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners approved amended minutes that clarified a $7,500 road fog-seal expense, discussed 2026 budget line items including a $100,000 landfill transfer for insurance/salaries, agreed preliminary wage increases and asked staff to finalize numbers for a special budget meeting; the commission also moved and approved payment of county bills.","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},6468058,"Commissioners amend August resolution on Coyote Creek Road, set compensation at $1,000 per acre pending signatures",771,1267000,2038000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5782838-2bed699b5aa4313975df60877f51addd&start=1267&end=2038","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5782838-2bed699b5aa4313975df60877f51addd/thumbnail_1267000.jpg","/articles/6468058/Mercer-County/North-Dakota/Commissioners-amend-August-resolution-on-Coyote-Creek-Road-set-compensation-at-1000-per-acre-pending-signatures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6468058-e6f6c83222e18d0bb328635a698b303a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145731&Signature=k8RIo62nyuayQTW7HDucBKRwQMyIWU9qbv4dJQvI43RTmw0nRUwWCyr534UEnaZpdkoTaiVHQl7X2Ys1IeGnIDTBEulcWvuBmqrnuAHqynSZARzsKaFTYFoSPminqpTCzh4FvhM-dhuvnAIW~4s1HtqQdOq6WhAP743a7K2oq0Rm1bZ2sJndnWksG1nusalqJJpHnxfJebMlRIDdDF4AbyKgc9I0yb8w-G2CxQcG~5zDhOLMCpPVUct-aAl3fqER-qgouNhjZv7yVIE9zFUI-Ryus0tkHU7l-cMoO7ASsDvhDS~GodtNzGZvnLhGWF6LwyHcajxHz7Ib6Eestzr6XA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mercer County commissioners amended a prior August 20 motion regarding a road through the Voigt family property, changing compensation to $1,000 per acre for a total of 10.29 acres and directing that the finalized easements be attached to county minutes and filed with the recorder’s office.

An official reading of the amendment stated: “Amend the August 20 motion regarding the road through the Voigt family property so that compensation shall be $1,000 per acre, and the road will be as established in the attached easements. Once this is signed by the Boyd family, commissioner can sign. This gets attached to the minutes.” The commission also discussed specifying acreage breakdowns in the amendment (the easement documents list parcels of approximately 9.08 and 1.21 acres, totaling 10.29 acres).

Signatures and effect: commissioners made clear the amended approval is contingent on the required parties signing the easements. One commissioner said the action is nullified if the easements are not signed. The board directed staff to collect signatures and to file the attached easements with the county recorder so the state review can proceed.

Why it matters: the easement and road route affect county access, adjacent landowners and state-owned school sections crossed by the proposed route. Commissioners discussed ensuring the legal descriptions are clear and that the county’s paperwork will prevent future disputes.

Next steps: county staff were asked to finalize the amendment language in writing, obtain the signatures of landowners (the Boyd/Voigt family and others named in the easements) and file the instruments with the recorder so the county can present the route to the state for approval. The commission discussed using a per-acre figure to reduce ambiguity and to align with state review expectations.

Formal action: the commission read the amendment and moved it into the record; the transcript records the motion’s reading, instructions for signatures and filing, and next steps. The meeting did not record a numeric roll-call vote tied to the amendment in the transcript; the board proceeded to obtain signatures and to treat the amendment as adopted once the easements are signed and recorded.","The board amended an August 20 approval for a road through the Voigt family property so compensation is $1,000 per acre for a total of 10.29 acres and directed that the easements be attached and filed; the amendment’s effect is contingent on the easements being signed and recorded.",{"_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},6468063,"Mercer County commissioners press outside firm for ordinance-draft timeline before approving extension",809,406000,1215000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5782838-2bed699b5aa4313975df60877f51addd&start=406&end=1215","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5782838-2bed699b5aa4313975df60877f51addd/thumbnail_406000.jpg","/articles/6468063/Mercer-County/North-Dakota/Mercer-County-commissioners-press-outside-firm-for-ordinance-draft-timeline-before-approving-extension","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6468063-dc73590fa50ee041d4f9d477a0fc660d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145731&Signature=OXYcXNVxzIcukV58vHlNjE8t-UHDa4qooTClhqj1wdLlzeryMv9RtTu5kyb1-DG68ZvGJsnFPK-OeYMm8tQ3zzDqP~i~OtQXG5Rv9VfQvc1I2NRS5SjAOysZimpbKyACM~0g4SFLgtl6VCGiZ8Wf7t7hU-wye8nyktx~S5IriMfzxXnU~SQ19rjbrjh32Bn8MZuK4z4xQVyOCLdd-Ow70wYNYOBN22Ftbx4yc2QrsNjnLmidHyN0NBa5PmRdtNUm55d3yjepBbq7VROiHGO2ByEQNRAgGw8TLkG5t3uoVzJs0RXxYE72vfIvSoQJXZtLzx0x0nYy1IxGrVYfP89tQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mercer County commissioners on Tuesday pressed the county’s contract consultants for a clear deliverable schedule on a comprehensive planning-and-zoning rewrite and agreed to return the item to the agenda after the firm provides a draft. Commissioners said they expected to see draft ordinance language before approving any contract extension or additional funds.

The concern focused on pace and scope. An unnamed commissioner said, “I just believe it's disingenuous to come back for an extension and more money when you have not produced anything,” and asked why the county had not yet received a draft product. A representative of the consultant firm said the rewrite had grown into a more comprehensive package than originally envisioned and that some tasks (flow charts, fee schedules, maps and coordination with a land-use plan) were outside the original scope.

Why it matters: the rewrite would replace decades-old zoning rules and is intended to provide a set of ordinances, checklists and flowcharts to guide development decisions. Commissioners said they need a draft they can review and share with the planning-and-zoning board before approving additional spending.

Key details and direction: commissioners requested that the firm provide a draft of the proposed ordinances by Oct. 1 and that the item be placed back on the agenda for a fuller review at the commission meeting mid-October (commissioners mentioned Oct. 15 as the meeting to discuss a draft and Oct. 17 as a target for follow-up). The consultant acknowledged the need for better status reports and agreed to provide regular progress updates to both the commission and the planning-and-zoning office.

Staff context: commissioners said part of the reason the work was contracted out was the county’s limited internal capacity. Commissioners asked that staff — including the county land-use administrator — receive more frequent updates so they are not “left in the dark.” The consultant said some draft elements could change depending on the final comprehensive land-use plan but that preliminary drafts could be produced sooner if the commission prefers incremental review instead of a single finished package.

Next steps and timeline: commissioners agreed to leave the item on the agenda for the next regular cycle and requested a written draft by Oct. 1 so the commission and planning-and-zoning board can review before deciding on any amendment or money. No additional appropriation or formal vote to amend the contract amount was recorded during the meeting; commissioners discussed tabling a contract amendment until they review draft materials.","County commissioners questioned the progress and scope of a comprehensive planning-and-zoning rewrite prepared by an outside consultant and directed staff and the firm to deliver a draft by Oct. 1 and put the item back on the agenda for further action in mid-October.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mercer County approves amended minutes, discusses 2026 budget items and approves bills; wage bumps and landfill transfer noted

Commissioners amend August resolution on Coyote Creek Road, set compensation at $1,000 per acre pending signatures

Mercer County commissioners press outside firm for ordinance-draft timeline before approving extension