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County reports damage to downtown campus and transfer station; generators kept critical services running
Summary
Facilities staff reported moderate to significant structural and equipment damage across multiple county buildings, including broken windows, roof and flashing damage downtown and an estimated $1 million in damage to the transfer station. Backup generators maintained critical services such as the jail and IT during outages.
Beltrami County facilities staff reported moderate to substantial damage to county-owned buildings and infrastructure after the June 20–21 storm, and said backup generators and contractor support kept essential services operating while repairs proceed.
Steve Schad, facilities manager, said the downtown campus sustained broken windows, damaged exterior flashing and air-conditioning units tipped by intense winds. Generators maintained power to the jail and IT systems until utility power was restored, Schad said. “All the critical infrastructure for downtown campus was maintained throughout the storm,” Schad told the board.
At the transfer station, Brian (Solid Waste staff) reported that all four buildings at the transfer station were damaged: the main office blew a hole in a wall with resulting water damage, a recently replaced roof suffered damage and the transfer building had a pressure-related opening on the opposite side. Brian provided a preliminary damage estimate of about $1,000,000 to address immediate repairs and water mitigation.
Other county buildings — including remote highway cold-storage buildings and sheriff garages — experienced roofing, soffit and door damage; the county’s radio tower also sustained damage. Facilities staff have begun emergency repairs to stop leaks and protect equipment; some buildings remain under assessment for longer-term repairs.
Why this matters: Damage to county infrastructure creates immediate repair costs and may interrupt services if temporary measures (generators, rentals) are not maintained. Staff said they are documenting losses for insurance and for state or federal public assistance where eligible.
What’s next: Facilities will continue emergency mitigation, complete damage estimates and coordinate with the county’s insurance provider. Staff expect to return with formal repair estimates and potential contract awards for larger repairs.
