St. Louis County elects Harla chair, Djukovich vice chair and adopts 2025 meeting schedule; dozens of committee appointments approved

Commissioner Harla was elected chair of the St. Louis County Board and Commissioner Djukovich was elected vice chair at the county’s organizational meeting, where the board also adopted its 2025 meeting and workshop schedules and approved a large slate of committee and external-board appointments.

The moves set leadership and committee rosters for the year. Auditor Nancy Nielsen opened nominations for chair and handled the election process; after nominations closed the board voted by voice to elect Harla as chair and Djukovich as vice chair.

The nut of the session was routine organizational business that determines who represents the county on regional boards and which commissioners will chair standing committees. Administrator Gray told the board the organizational packet follows the auditor’s office filing for appointments and that many of the committee assignments are continuations of prior practice.

Most appointments were approved by voice vote. Commissioners accepted committee chairs for the year: Commissioner Boyle for Health and Human Services; Commissioner Mussoff for Public Works and Transportation; Commissioner Nelson for Finance and Budget; Commissioner McDonald for Central Management and Intergovernmental; Commissioner Grimm for Public Safety and Corrections; and Commissioner Djukovich for Environment and Natural Resources. The board also confirmed continuing membership on a number of regional bodies including the Arrowhead Counties Association, Arrowhead Regional Development Commission panels, the Association of Minnesota Counties' district committee representation, and multiple other local and regional boards listed in the organizational packet.

The board voted to keep the opioid remediation group intact and move it into a standing committee for future years, and agreed to create a Tribal and County Government Relations Committee (referred to in the meeting as transitioning from a chair’s committee into a standing committee of the full seven-member board). Commissioners discussed adding an alternate seat to that committee to help cover scheduling conflicts; Commissioner Nelson offered to serve as an alternate.

Other organizational items the board adopted included resolutions to set the County Board and Committee of the Whole meeting schedule for 2025, the County Board workshop schedule, and a discussion item about the date for the 2026 legislative session delegation meeting. Administrator Gray and other staff noted supporting resolutions and paperwork accompany each agenda item in the packet.

Votes at a glance - Elect Commissioner Harla as Board Chair — nominations closed; voice vote; outcome: approved. - Elect Commissioner Djukovich as Vice Chair — nominations closed; voice vote; outcome: approved. - Adopt 2025 County Board and Committee of the Whole meeting schedule — moved by Commissioner McDonald, supported by Commissioner Mussoff; voice vote; outcome: approved. - Adopt 2025 County Board workshop schedule — moved by Commissioner Grimm and supported; voice vote; outcome: approved. - Creation/transition of Tribal and County Government Relations Committee — motion and vote to adopt committee as standing; outcome: approved. - Move opioid remediation group into a standing committee for future years — outcome: approved. - Numerous appointments to external boards and committees (Arrowhead entities, AMC District committees, regional planning, public health advisory, jail/regional corrections, ATVs/trails committees, and many others listed in the meeting packet) — each motion moved and supported on the floor; voice votes; outcomes: approved. - HRA leadership slate (elected separately for the Housing and Redevelopment Authority at the same session): Commissioner Keith Nelson as HRA Chair; Commissioner Djukovich as Vice Chair; Commissioner Paul McDonald as Secretary — nominations closed and the slate approved by voice vote. - Official/publication bids and legal notices (see separate votes) — approved (details below).

What board leaders said "I appreciate the honor and privilege to have the opportunity to serve as your chair this year," Commissioner Harla told colleagues after the vote, expressing thanks to family and board members. Administrator Gray briefed the board that the organizational packet and associated resolutions follow auditor office procedures for filing and committee appointments.

Why this matters The organizational meeting formalizes who will set committee agendas, represent the county on regional boards and joint powers entities, and steer priorities for the year. Committee chairs and external representatives shape how St. Louis County interacts with regional infrastructure projects, public health and human services, public safety, and intergovernmental relations.

Ending note The board completed the organizational agenda with voice votes on the slate of appointments and scheduled follow-up items; several commissioners noted ongoing priorities and asked staff to continue coordination with tribal partners and regional entities.