Commission approves 2024 budget adjustments, equipment purchases and contract actions

Stark County commissioners on Tuesday approved multiple year-end budget adjustments and authorizations to settle outstanding contracts and bring planned equipment purchases into the county’s books.

The actions, taken during a special meeting that began at 9 a.m. on Jan. 14, included consolidating several road accounts into a single County Road Fund, amending the jail capital projects budget, moving two transfers from the general fund into special funds, bringing a radio tower lease current, authorizing purchase and payment for a weed-board truck, and approving a code-review contract for the county livestock building bid package.

Auditor Karen Richard said the largest single motion was consolidating road-related accounts into a new County Road Fund. The board approved transfers totaling $6,515,665.63 into that fund to produce a combined starting balance for 2025 of $8,512,919.03.

The commission also approved a $36,917.69 increase to the jail capital projects line, amending that budget to $2,497,417.69, after the auditor reported prisoner-related expenses exceeded original estimates.

Two transfers from the general fund were approved: $47,500 to Weed Control and $10,000 to Stark County Victim Witness, both described by the auditor as budgeted 2024 transfers. The board voted to authorize those payments by roll call.

Commissioners approved bringing a county radio-tower lease current with a combined payment of $1,200 to property owner David Bauer to cover missed payments through the lease term; county emergency management staff said both the county and the lessor had overlooked annual payments in prior years.

The Weed Board received authorization to pay an accounts-payable claim for a new pickup truck the board purchased. Department head Travis Jepsen told commissioners the truck purchase was budgeted at $40,000; the total purchase price was reported as $54,705.59 and the department expects a $7,500 state TAG grant to reimburse part of that cost. The commission authorized payment and reimbursement procedures.

The commission also approved a contract authorization of up to $7,500 for a code review tied to the livestock building bid package; the county architect estimated a 6–8 week review period, and commissioners agreed to begin the review now so a successful February bid would not be delayed.

Votes at a glance

- Consolidate road accounts into County Road Fund (transfer of $6,515,665.63; starting balance for 2025 listed as $8,512,919.03) — approved by roll call (5–0). - Amend jail capital projects budget by $36,917.69 to $2,497,417.69 — approved by roll call (5–0). - Transfer $47,500 from general fund to Weed Control and $10,000 from general fund to Stark County Victim Witness — approved by roll call (5–0). - Pay radio-tower lease arrears to David Bauer, combined payment $1,200 — approved by roll call (5–0). - Authorize weed-board truck accounts payable ($54,705.59 total purchase price; $7,500 expected TAG grant reimbursement) — approved by roll call (5–0). - Authorize immediate code-review contract for the livestock building, budget up to $7,500 — approved by roll call (5–0). - Appoint Dean Francik (Francik spelled several ways in the record) as the Stark County representative to the Roughrider North Zone Social Service Board — approved by voice vote. - Designate a voting delegate for the North Dakota Association of Counties (NDACO): Commissioner Franciuk (named by motion) — approved by voice vote.

The meeting record shows these items were handled sequentially at the start of the special meeting; staff confirmed funding sources and reimbursement steps for purchases and grants. No items in this package were tabled or postponed.

Ending

The auditor indicated she would finish final ARPA and CARES documentation and file reimbursements where applicable after the payments. Commissioners closed the docketed budget items before moving on to portfolio and personnel topics.