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 board also adopted resolution 2025‑13 authorizing Clay County to act as legal sponsor for Minnesota DNR snowmobile trail funding managed by the Clay County Trail Alliance; county staff said the legal‑sponsor role is longstanding and is required by the DNR’s grant and audit process.

Across motions the board recorded voice votes with no roll‑call tallies in the transcript; minutes identify the motions, seconds and unanimous “aye” outcomes but do not provide a numbered roll call. Commissioners and staff who presented the items are recorded in the meeting minutes and the public hearing record.

Votes at a glance

- Rezoning petition (Red River Valley Co‑op Power / Rural Electric Supply Cooperative; landowner Barry Oberg): Approved (motion included Planning Commission findings). The rezoning applies only to the lots shown on the cooperative energy subdivision plat and would allow a 40,000–60,000 sq. ft. distribution warehouse (15 acres) and a 5‑acre service center. City of Dilworth prelim plat approved; final plat expected to be considered by Dilworth after county action.

- Sheriff’s office overfill (temporary deputy to cover military deployment): Approved. Request described as an overfill hire for an investigative position because the deployed deputy’s assignment requires a Minnesota‑badge task force placement; PIC recommended approval. The board directed inclusion of the position in the 2026 budget.

- Annual highway supply bids (gravel, bituminous mix, culverts, equipment rentals): Approved to advertise (letting April 30); bids run separately for townships and allow townships to join county bids.

- SAP project (Mill and overlay on CSAH 45, Dilworth; SAP 014‑606‑450‑002): Approved to advertise (letting May 6, 2025).

- West Central Regional Water District congressional funding resubmission: Approved. County staff submitted a request for $5,566,888 (resubmittal to Senator Klobuchar’s office); staff said it was filed to meet a tight deadline and the board ratified the resubmittal.

- Resolution 2025‑13 (Clay County as legal sponsor for DNR snowmobile trail funding managed by Clay County Trail Alliance): Approved. County staff will continue to sign grant documents on the board’s behalf and the Trail Alliance will maintain documentation required by the DNR.

Where public input occurred

A public hearing was held on the rezoning request. Planning staff said public concerns raised at the Planning Commission focused on new development extending into rural areas; staff told commissioners those concerns were largely alleviated once plans were shown and that no township objections were recorded. The board closed the hearing and approved the rezoning with the Planning Commission’s findings.

What stayed the same and what to watch

County staff flagged potential budget uncertainty for 2026 and told the board that some hires approved as overfills will be included in the 2026 budget. The water district funding request and the DNR snowmobile‑funding sponsorship are tied to external grant timelines and the board authorized staff to sign related documents to meet deadlines.

Speakers (selected, as recorded in the meeting transcript)

- Matt (county planning staff), presenter of the rezoning petition; affiliation: government. - Red River Valley Co‑op Power (applicant); affiliation: business/utility. - Rural Electric Supply Cooperative (co‑applicant); affiliation: business/utility. - Barry Oberg (landowner); affiliation: citizen/landowner. - Sheriff (unnamed in transcript), presenter of sheriff’s office request; affiliation: government. - Chief Deputy Martin; affiliation: government. - Justin (Highway Department staff), presenter of highway bid items; affiliation: government. - Steve (county staff), presenter for the West Central Regional Water District funding item; affiliation: government. - Commissioners (as identified in the transcript): Commissioner Musil; Commissioner Bauer; Commissioner Eppinger; Commissioner Ebinger; Commissioner Mosheaux (or Mosche as transcribed); Commissioner Grabnoff/Crabbinoff (as transcribed); Commissioner Bair; others listed by title in the transcript; affiliation: government.

Authorities referenced (as stated in the meeting)

- City of Dilworth subdivision jurisdiction and preliminary plat approval; referenced_by:["Matt (county planning staff)"] - Personnel Issues Committee recommendation (PIC); referenced_by:["Sheriff (unnamed)","Chief Deputy Martin"] - Minnesota DNR grant requirements for snowmobile trails (legal‑sponsor role); referenced_by:["Steve (county staff)"]

Actions (structured)

[ {"kind":"land_use","motion":"Approve recommendation to rezone the subject portion of the Barry Oberg property shown in the cooperative energy subdivision from Agricultural General/Urban Expansion District Tier 2 to Highway Commercial, including Planning Commission findings of fact","mover":"Commissioner Musil","second":"Commissioner Bauer","vote_record":[],"outcome":"approved","notes":"Planning Commission recommended unanimous approval; City of Dilworth prelim plat approved; rezoning applies only to the lots shown on the plat"},{"kind":"other","motion":"Approve sheriff’s request to overfill a deputy position due to military deployment through Dec. 9; include position in 2026 budget planning","mover":"Commissioner Eppinger","second":"not specified","vote_record":[],"outcome":"approved","notes":"Personnel Issues Committee recommended approval; position intended to maintain investigative capacity and Minnesota‑badge task force participation"},{"kind":"other","motion":"Approve advertising for yearly supply bids (gravel, bituminous mixtures, culverts, equipment rentals) with letting date April 30","mover":"Commissioner Mosheaux","second":"Commissioner Grabnoff","vote_record":[],"outcome":"approved","notes":"Bids are let individually; townships may join county bids"},{"kind":"other","motion":"Approve advertising for SAP 014‑606‑450‑002 (Mill and overlay on CSAH 45 in Dilworth) with letting date May 6, 2025","mover":"Commissioner Crabbinoff","second":"Commissioner Ebinger","vote_record":[],"outcome":"approved","notes":"Project on 5‑year plan; city resolution of support obtained"},{"kind":"other","motion":"Approve submitting (ratify resubmittal) congressional directed funding application for West Central Regional Water District project (request amount $5,566,888)","mover":"Commissioner Bair","second":"Commissioner Mogile","vote_record":[],"outcome":"approved","notes":"Staff submitted resubmittal to meet deadline; minimum ask listed at $3.3M; project estimate approx. $6M"},{"kind":"other","motion":"Adopt resolution 2025‑13 authorizing Clay County to act as legal sponsor for DNR snowmobile trail funding managed by Clay County Trail Alliance","mover":"Commissioner Ebinger","second":"Commissioner Mogile","vote_record":[],"outcome":"approved","notes":"Longstanding agreement; county signs grant documents and Trail Alliance maintains landowner permissions for DNR audit"} ]