Clay County approves rezoning, temporary sheriff hire, road bids and regional funding requests

Clay County commissioners on April 1 approved a series of motions that the board and staff described as necessary to support county services, road work and regional infrastructure projects.

The board unanimously approved a rezoning petition that will reclassify a portion of an agricultural parcel in the City of Dilworth extra‑territorial area to Highway Commercial for a two‑lot cooperative energy subdivision. Planning staff said the requested change applies only to the portion shown on the plat; one 15‑acre lot would host a 40,000–60,000 square‑foot distribution warehouse and the second 5‑acre lot would be a Red River Valley Co‑op Power service center. Planning staff told commissioners the City of Dilworth has approved the preliminary plat and recommended utility easements and development agreements. The Planning Commission recommended the rezoning unanimously, and the board’s motion approving the recommendation included the Planning Commission’s findings of fact.

The board also voted to allow the sheriff’s office to overfill a deputy position while an incumbent is deployed on military service through Dec. 9. County staff and the Personnel Issues Committee told commissioners that the deployed deputy serves on a task force that requires a Minnesota badge and that investigator staffing could not be covered reliably with overtime. The board approved moving forward with a hire at patrol level, with the expectation an existing deputy can later move into the investigations assignment; staff said they plan to include the position in the 2026 budget.

Road and highway actions included approval to advertise for the county’s yearly supply bids (gravel, bituminous mixtures, culverts and equipment rentals) with a letting date of April 30, and approval to advertise a mill‑and‑overlay project on County State Aid Highway 45 (letting date May 6, 2025). Highway staff said the annual bids are typically let separately for townships and that townships may join the county bid. Both motions passed.

On regional infrastructure and grants, the board approved a resubmittal of a congressional directed funding application for the West Central Regional Water District project asking for $5,566,888, with staff noting a minimum ask of about $3.3 million and that the total project is estimated near $6 million. The…