Cass County to consider terminating Fargo inmate-housing contract amid disputes over property, rate and ITV court duties

Cass County commissioners on Aug. 13 voted to direct staff to prepare for a Sept. 2 commission consideration of whether to exercise the 90-day termination provision in the county’s existing jail inmate-housing contract with the City of Fargo.

Robert Wilson, a county staff member who presented a memorandum tracking two years of communications with Fargo and West Fargo, told commissioners the discussion is separate from a new contract the commission approved June 16. “I do have a memo here that has a list of various communications and contacts and actions at various points between 06/19/2023 and today,” Wilson said while summarizing emails, draft redlines and attorney-to-attorney exchanges.

The memorandum and testimony from Sheriff Johnner framed three recurring sticking points: (1) the scope and storage of inmate property the county would accept under the contract, (2) the daily per-inmate rate Fargo sought versus Cass County’s cost estimates, and (3) responsibility for interactive video (ITV) courtroom services for municipal cases.

State’s Attorney Hegvig told the commission the county’s approach to inmate property storage follows legal guidance. “I do. And we have had multiple conversations with the attorney general's office. They have given us direction. It is very much in line with what the sheriff's policy has been and will continue to be,” Hegvig said when asked whether the county’s…