Anoka County Board approves consent agenda of grants, road projects, union contracts and Memorial Day appropriations

The Anoka County Board of Commissioners on March 25 approved a package of consent items that included grants and contract awards, four three-year law enforcement union agreements, transportation project authorizations and appropriations for Memorial Day observances.

The unanimous vote covered items presented by multiple committee chairs and department directors, including a proposed Everbridge emergency notification contract for county 9-1-1 systems, state and federal grant amendments for human services and emergency management, procurement of aerial imagery and professional engineering services for road and bridge work, and routine committee appointments.

Why it matters: the votes authorize near-term spending, set the county’s contractual relationships for infrastructure and public-safety systems, and extend multi-year labor agreements that county officials said will stabilize staffing in law enforcement.

Most significant approvals

- Emergency notification system: The board approved contract C0011334 with Everbridge for a staged implementation of a county emergency notification system and internal mass communication capabilities for the 9-1-1 dispatch office. The contract maximum stated in committee was $277,056.28 and the board approved the phased implementation plan. The public-safety committee said the system will be introduced in four phases and is intended for primary and secondary emergency communications.

- Human services and housing grants: The board approved accepting a DEED Youth at Work Competitive Grant (contract C0011455) not to exceed $294,300 if awarded, with a contract period to support state fiscal years 2026–2027. It also approved an amendment to the State of Minnesota Emergency Services Program contract (C009814) for homelessness and housing supports to extend terms through 06/30/2027 and increase the contract maximum to $1,860,000 (an added $465,000 for SFY 2026 and $465,000 for SFY 2027).

- Facilities and accessibility funding: Commissioners approved acceptance of $400,000 awarded to Achieve Services for accessibility upgrades to leased space in the county-owned Blaine Human Services building; according to the presentation, state law requires a direct payment to Anoka County. The board also approved a professional services/maintenance contract for annual parking-lot pavement work presented by Facilities Management.

- Aerial imagery and engineering contracts: Property Records and Taxation put forward contract C001146 with Nearmap US for aerial imagery and licensing for 2025–2026 in the amount of $131,610. Transportation staff presented a professional-services contract with Bolton & Menk (listed in the packet as Bolton and Mank) for preliminary engineering, environmental documentation and final design for intersection improvements (contract C0011460) with a noted amount of $249,963.22. The board also awarded contract C0011476 to Park Construction Company for signal reconstruction and pedestrian ramp improvements for $1,381,604.16.

- Public-safety grants and donations: The board accepted a 2023 Emergency Management Performance Grant (contract C0011359) from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for $141,481 (term 01/01/2023–06/30/2025). The board also accepted dedicated donations supporting sheriff’s office programs, including $4,000 from the Anoka County Crime Prevention Coalition for the Sheriff's Office explorer program and donated ballistics/ammunition and a canine jacket mentioned by the committee (donor-valued amounts not specified in the meeting).

- Union contracts: The board approved four three-year law enforcement bargaining-unit agreements (resolutions 2025-M4, 2025-M5, 2025-M7 and 2025-M8) covering licensed detention supervisors, licensed deputies, sergeants and detention deputies, spanning 2025–2027. County leaders said negotiating multi-year contracts improves stability and helped the county remain competitive in recruitment.

- Memorial Day appropriations and veterans support: Under Minnesota Statutes 375.35 and 375.34, the board appropriated $200 to each in-county veterans post that submits a written request by Dec. 31, 2025; authorized reimbursements up to $200 per out-of-county post holding services in Anoka County not to exceed $1,000 total (with timely written statement); and authorized up to $2,500 to the Anoka County Veterans Council to aid Memorial Day observances.

Other routine approvals and informational items

- Transportation authorizations included two resolutions (TR10 and TR11) to prepare plats and acquire right-of-way and easements for reconstruction of Sunset Avenue between Main Street and Ninth/Apollo Drive in Blaine, plus agreements with MnDOT and the city of Fridley for the BNSF-bridge pedestrian trail project.

- Committee appointments: The board confirmed several appointments and reappointments to advisory committees, including reappointment of Ben Thomas (hospitals and clinics) to the Emergency Services Council, appointment of Asante Rabi to the Adult Mental Health Advisory Committee, and appointment of Zechariah Isaac to the Community Health Advisory Committee; votes on appointments were unanimous.

- Settlement authorization: The county attorney’s office and risk management were authorized to enter into a settlement agreement for claim number 24-081 as discussed by staff; the approved motion did not specify a settlement dollar amount in the public record at the meeting.

- Informational updates: The public-safety committee reported the county is near completion of its new 9-1-1 center and expected to open in April. Transportation staff announced public open houses for the BNSF railway bridge project (March 25 at Fridley City Hall) and the Highway 65/Bunker Lake Boulevard intersection improvements (March 27, 5–7 p.m., at Church of St. Paul). Commissioner comments noted local outreach and design concerns for the Sunset Avenue project and promised updated designs in about a month.

Votes at a glance

All items presented in the consent or committee slates were approved by roll-call vote with unanimous "aye" votes from the commissioners present: Commissioner Heinrich, Commissioner Brasstead, Commissioner Reinert, Commissioner Gamache, Commissioner Schulte, Commissioner Jepsen and Commissioner Meissner. Individual motions were moved and seconded by the commissioners as recorded in the meeting minutes.

What the board did not decide: The meeting recorded informational presentations (for example, a public-assistance programs briefing and a deficit reduction act update) but no formal action was required on those items during this session.

The board adjourned after confirming the approvals and informational updates; several commissioners thanked the county administrator for a favorable six-month performance review and reiterated plans for annual reviews going forward.