Wright County approves joint-powers agreement to bring Department of Corrections staff onto county payroll

The Wright County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a joint powers agreement with the Minnesota Department of Corrections that will allow the county to put certain DOC staff on its payroll and start reimbursement immediately.

The agreement was presented at the June 24 meeting by Mr. McMillan, a county staff member, who said the action supports the county’s transition to a new CCA operation that takes effect Oct. 13. “Before you today is a request to get approval for signature for a joint powers agreement with the Department of Corrections,” McMillan told the board.

County Administrator Mike Kreiser told the board he had received an electronic copy of the JPA and that it appeared ready for signature. County Attorney Brian Lutz said he worked with the DOC contracts contact and that one additional change had been forwarded and incorporated.

Commissioner Dietrich moved to approve the agreement; Commissioner Holland seconded. The board voted unanimously to adopt the JPA. Commissioners thanked staff for coordinating across agencies to speed the transition.

Board discussion noted there were already staff transfers and that the county had worked with DOC to hire at least one person identified in the meeting as Tom Fedema, an adult supervisor, as part of the transition. The county will begin reimbursements once the JPA is executed.

The board did not state additional implementation deadlines beyond the Oct. 13 CCA transition date discussed in the presentation, and no amendments to the JPA were recorded during the meeting.