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Clay County adopts resolutions seeking state funding for non‑secure juvenile center and flood mitigation; prioritizes diversion project
Summary
The board approved two resolutions to seek Minnesota Management and Budget funding — one for a non‑secure juvenile residential facility and one for flood‑mitigation work tied to the Fargo‑Moorhead diversion — and voted to prioritize the diversion funding request as the county's top ask while leaving amounts adjustable through October.
The Clay County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved two resolutions to pursue state funding through the Office of Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB): one requesting bond funds for a non‑secure juvenile residential facility and another seeking funds for flood mitigation and land acquisition related to the Fargo‑Moorhead diversion project.
County staff said the MMB application requires a prioritized list of requests by June 13, but applicants may revise submissions through Oct. 17. The board voted to send both funding requests and to designate the diversion‑related flood mitigation request as the county’s top priority.
County staff presented the resolutions as Resolution 2025‑15 (non‑secure juvenile facility) and Resolution 2025‑16 (flood mitigation for Clay County). Commissioners approved Resolution 2025‑15 and Resolution 2025‑16 by voice votes. The board then moved and approved a motion indicating a $44,400,000 state funding commitment for diversion‑related improvements and land acquisition as the county’s priority; the motion carried on a 4–0 vote with one commissioner recorded as abstaining.
Staff explained the juvenile facility request builds on prior-year project estimates: last year the county sought $25,737,000 in bonds and a $27,050,000 total project request, and staff said construction‑cost inflation would raise the figure for the current application; staff indicated they would supply updated soft‑cost figures before the application deadline. County staff recommended including a dollar amount in each application and said numbers can be adjusted before the October revision deadline.
Commissioners debated whether to rank the two requests now. Several commissioners urged submitting both without prioritizing, arguing different state departments would process those requests; others said the diversion projects are time‑sensitive because portions of the diversion are nearing operational readiness and that work north of the county remains unfinished. After discussion, the board chose to prioritize the diversion appropriation but preserved the option to revise submissions later in October.
The meeting also recorded a notice that the MMB training advised counties to adopt a resolution supporting the projects and to provide prioritization. County staff will finalize application materials and submit them to MMB by the June 13 deadline, with ability to revise through Oct. 17.
