Grand Forks, County Officials Outline Property‑swap, MOU and Records‑system Plans as Part of Closer Cooperation

City and county officials told the Grand Forks City Council they are working on a set of coordinated agreements this summer to reduce duplicated costs and improve shared services.

In an informational report, Todd Phelan said county commissioners want to eliminate piecemeal cost‑sharing between taxing entities and favor more seamless arrangements, including swapping property in place of ongoing rent or utility payments. “What he’d like to work on beyond that is … we would grant them or swap that lot for them,” Phelan said, referring to a downtown Kitson lot that the county values at about $180,000.

The issue matters because the county occupies several city‑used spaces — municipal court and public health offices — and wants a long‑term understanding rather than annual rent or utility…