The Stearns County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 7 reviewed a draft request for proposals (RFP) for federal lobbying services but chose not to issue the RFP immediately, asking staff to provide a clearer record of how the county has used lobbying services and what needs might arise.

Assistant County Administrator Jill Shermyer presented the draft RFP and told the board that professionals typically recommend contracting a federal lobbyist when a county has a specific federal project or funding target. Shermyer said packet materials included suggested priority areas for any firm the county would hire, noting human services and transportation infrastructure as focus areas.

Board members raised several points: the county already participates in national and state associations (National Association of Counties, Association of Minnesota Counties) that perform advocacy; commissioners and department heads maintain direct relationships with federal officials; and the county's current contract is month-to-month at about $2,000 per month (roughly $24,000 annually). Commissioners asked staff to identify concrete examples of when the county has used contracted lobbying services and to produce a list of available advocacy resources and partners.

Rather than moving forward with the RFP, the board asked staff to compile information on prior uses of outside lobbying, potential upcoming needs, and the resources available through associations so the board can weigh whether to pursue a full RFP later. The county's current federal lobbying contractor remains available on a month-to-month basis.

Ending: Staff will return in the coming weeks with a summary of past uses of lobbying services, potential future needs, and partner resources to help the board decide whether to proceed with an RFP.