Pine County board approves labor agreement, multiple personnel actions and appointments; grants coordinator reclassification approved over one dissent

The Pine County Board of Commissioners approved a package of personnel actions, a union labor agreement and several intergovernmental appointments during Thursday’s meeting, with one recorded dissent on the grant/programs coordinator reclassification.

Key votes included approval of the 2025–26 labor agreement with corrections officers and dispatchers, acceptance of multiple resignations and authorization to backfill positions across Health & Human Services and the Sheriff’s Office, redesignation and recruitment authorization for a grant and programs coordinator position, and board appointments to a joint drainage authority and the Northern Counties Land Use Coordinating Board.

County Administrator Dave Menke told the board the corrections and dispatchers’ contract had been negotiated earlier, went to mediation and was later ratified by union members. "The union did vote in favor of it," Menke said. Chair Moore said he was disappointed in the union voter turnout but noted the contract was ratified and the county was implementing the mediated agreement.

The board approved the labor agreement on a recorded vote. The board also approved multiple routine backfills after several resignations in Health & Human Services and the Sheriff’s Office; several new corrections officers were recently onboarded, reducing the net staffing concern raised during discussion.

On the grant and programs coordinator item, the board approved redesignating a vacant Health & Human Services accounting technician position as a grant and programs coordinator and authorizing recruitment. Menke said the cost of the position will be split between Health & Human Services and the General Fund and that the 2025 budget had already shifted levy capacity to accommodate the change. Commissioner Waldham recorded the lone opposition on that vote.

The board designated Chair Moore as Pine County’s representative to a proposed joint drainage authority for Judicial Ditch Number 6 pending a formal resolution at a future meeting. The board also agreed to a one-year trial membership in the Northern Counties Land Use Coordinating Board (free for the first year) and appointed Commissioner Nelson as Pine County’s representative with Commissioner Waldham as alternate.

Motions were generally moved and seconded from the dais; roll-call votes were recorded. The board approved the meeting minutes and the consent agenda earlier in the session.

Votes at a glance

- Labor agreement with corrections officers and dispatchers (2025–26): Motion to approve (mover: Chair Moore; second: Commissioner Holland). Outcome: approved. Union ratified prior to board action; meeting record notes low turnout of membership for the ratification.

- Grant and programs coordinator (reclassification and recruitment): Motion to approve redesignation of vacant HHS accounting technician to grant and programs coordinator and recruit (mover: Chair Moore; second: Commissioner Holland). Outcome: approved (Commissioner Waldham opposed). Funding split HHS/General Fund; described as no net levy impact after 2025 budget adjustments.

- Personnel backfills and resignations: Multiple motions on consent agenda to acknowledge resignations (examples: Andrea Anderson effective Jan. 24, 2025; Angela Ripley effective Jan. 17, 2025; corrections and dispatch separations as recorded) and authorize backfills and subsequent internal vacancy actions. Outcome: approved as part of consent agenda.

- Joint drainage authority (Judicial Ditch No. 6): Motion to designate Chair Moore as Pine County’s representative pending formal resolution. Outcome: approved.

- Northern Counties Land Use Coordinating Board membership: Motion to join on a one-year trial basis and appoint Commissioner Nelson as representative and Commissioner Waldham as alternate (mover: Commissioner Holland; second: Commissioner Waldham). Outcome: approved.

Board materials indicated some items were placed on the consent agenda with additional information provided at the meeting (for example, the hiring of the Planning & Zoning Office Manager was added to the consent agenda; additional material was provided for the tentative agreement with corrections officers and dispatchers). Several items discussed on the regular agenda were redesignations rather than net new positions.

Formal motion text, movers/second and recorded votes for each item are captured in the article actions field below for clarity and auditability.