Crow Wing County organizational meeting: board elects officers, approves routine resolutions and appointments

The Crow Wing County Board of Commissioners held its annual organizational meeting and completed officer elections, routine annual resolutions and numerous appointments.

Elections and leadership: Commissioners unanimously elected Commissioner Steve Barrows as board chair for 2025 and Commissioner Franzen as vice chair. Chair Barrows then conducted the remainder of the meeting.

Routine annual resolutions: The board approved a resolution designating reasons for closed meetings (including labor negotiation strategy, personnel evaluations and attorney–client protected conferences) and approved the county’s per-meeting rates and meeting expenses for appointed citizen members (including $75 per meeting for most citizen advisers and $150 per meeting and site visit for planning commission/board of adjustment members). Both resolutions passed on motions and voice votes.

Official newspaper and printing/publishing bids: The board accepted the combined printing and publishing bid and designated the Brainerd Dispatch as the official county newspaper for 2025. Because two bidders submitted the same price for the second publication of the financial statement, the board moved and approved awarding the second publication to the News Hopper.

Other annual actions and delegations: The board appointed voting delegates and policy-committee representatives to the Association of Minnesota Counties, confirmed committee assignments and made a chair appointment of two senior managers as additional AMC voting delegates. The board also approved a slate of citizen committee reappointments and new appointments across multiple local advisory boards.

Appointments requiring board action: The board appointed Katie Hepner to the Crow Wing County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (district 3) for a term expiring 12/31/2029 and authorized a certificate of appreciation for the departing member Zach Tabith. The chair appointed Neil Bratney to the Brainerd Crow Wing Regional Airport Commission after reviewing five applicants.

Votes at a glance: - Elect Steve Barrows, County Board Chair for 2025 — Motion to cast unanimous ballot; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Elect Commissioner Franzen, Vice Chair for 2025 — Motion to cast unanimous ballot; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve agenda and consent agenda — Motions approved (voice votes). - Sponsor Pequot Lake School District Transportation Alternatives grant application (fiscal agent role) — Motion approved (voice vote). - Accept combined printing/publishing bid and designate Brainerd Dispatch as official county newspaper for 2025 — Motion approved (voice vote). - Award second publication of the financial statement to the News Hopper — Motion approved (voice vote). - Approve annual closed meetings resolution — Motion approved (voice vote). - Approve per-meeting rates and meeting expenses for citizen appointees — Motion approved (voice vote). - Appoint Katie Hepner to Crow Wing County HRA (term to 12/31/2029) and prepare certificate for Zach Tabith — Motion approved (voice vote). - Appoint Neil Bratney to Brainerd Crow Wing Regional Airport Commission — Chair appointment approved.

Context and process notes: Several routine items were handled without extended debate; where committee appointments require further confirmation by outside districts or councils (for example, Baxter’s city council considering a supportive resolution on the RAISE application at a later meeting), the board noted those pending steps. The board also announced a separate legislative delegation meeting scheduled for 10 a.m.

The meeting closed with brief remarks by newly seated Commissioner Lee and outgoing comments from other commissioners before adjourning.