Pine County will recess March meeting to meet Mille Lacs Band Ojibwe on April 15 to discuss housing, economic development and law enforcement

The Pine County Board agreed to recess its regular business and reconvene at 1 p.m. on April 15 for a joint meeting with representatives of the Mille Lacs Band Ojibwe to discuss shared priorities, including housing, economic development, legislative issues and the county-band law enforcement agreement.

County staff asked commissioners to submit topics they want included so staff can prepare a joint agenda. Commissioners noted that both parties have new leadership and that the meeting is an opportunity to refresh mutual priorities. A county staff member said the meeting would include a review of housing initiatives, economic development efforts and a discussion of the existing law enforcement agreement so participants who are unfamiliar with the details can better understand how it works.

Commissioners discussed logistics: the board will recess its regular meeting for lunch and reconvene at 1 p.m. to host the Mille Lacs Band representatives. The county staff member said the band is expected to try to attend in person but not all members may be able to travel.

A county staff member said staff will circulate the earlier joint statement of principles from about 2012 to refresh commissioners' background before the April meeting. No formal votes were taken on policy changes; the action recorded was scheduling the joint session and directing staff to solicit agenda topics.