Polk County Board of Commissioners on May 20 approved a series of staffing actions, facility upgrades, contracts and a new county investment policy while setting dates on the 2026 budget calendar.

The board approved hiring and refill requests for the sheriff’s office and public‑health and solid‑waste departments, awarded contracts and authorized facility work in McIntosh and the Crookston transfer station, and adopted an updated investment policy intended to guide how county funds are invested going forward.

The votes collectively give county leaders authority to fill multiple positions, move forward with a remodel and security work at a McIntosh leased office, accept a contract amendment clarifying operational costs under a Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) agreement, proceed with ditch redetermination work for a first group of systems and name the county’s official newspaper for the remainder of 2025.

What the board approved
- Personnel: The board authorized filling a part‑time community service officer position in the sheriff’s office, approved posting to replace a deputy who resigned (control position), and approved backfilling a mechanical maintenance position at Solid Waste. It also approved authority to fill a 0.8 full‑time‑equivalent wellness coordinator position in public health after the incumbent resigned.

- Facilities and equipment: The board approved a remodel and security upgrades to create two offices for social services in a McIntosh rental space, including electrical work, two interior card‑swipe doors and electronic latches. The board discussed concerns about ongoing problems at the Fosten office (odor and flies) and the need for an East End space for deputy interviews. The board also approved purchase of 21 blackout window coverings for the Crookston Transfer Station at $11,025, to reduce glare and improve the workspace.

- Contracts and program amendments: The board approved a contract amendment with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to clarify language and outline operational costs of $10,756 related to the county’s provision of office support for the Visionary Work Program and Minnesota Family Investment Program; the total DEED contract amount remains $577,772 for 2025. The board also authorized signing an agreement for group 1 ditch redeterminations with HQ Overviewers (per the prior March approval) and named the 13 Towns as the county’s official newspaper for June 1–Dec. 31, 2025, at the Macintosh Times rate of $2.50 per column inch.

- Land use: The board granted an interim use permit to Rebecca and Richard Krueger to operate a small home‑based bakery using a 10×16 accessory building on property in Keystone Township, subject to standard ordinance conditions (setbacks, signage, health department compliance and nontransferability of the interim use permit).

- Solid Waste personnel and pay: The board approved licensure premium pay rates for seven certification levels for two non‑represented Solid Waste positions (assistant facility operations manager and maintenance supervisor), retroactive to April 22, 2025, to align with earlier action for represented employees. The board also approved filling an open mechanical maintenance position at Solid Waste.

- Investment policy and budget calendar: The board adopted a new county investment policy that narrows allowed instruments (removing certain higher‑risk categories such as commercial paper and banker's acceptances from allowable investments) and directs that investment decisions be made using written quotations and the assistance of a professional investment adviser. Commissioners and staff said the finance director and county administrator will oversee compliance and the finance committee will help with next steps. The board also approved an amended budget‑calendar with public hearings to follow the normal process.

Board discussion and context
Commissioners and staff discussed practical details and constraints rather than debating policy direction. On the McIntosh office remodel, commissioners questioned the cost of electronic latches and card‑swipe hardware; staff said the largest single line item was electronic security latches (quoted at $3,790) and that additional furnishings could raise the total toward an estimated upper range (discussed in the meeting) but that some office equipment could be reused from other county locations.

Sheriff Jim (Sheriff) summarized operational figures for April and noted the continuing high volume of federal transports: "federal transports continues to stay high," and listed transport categories and dispatch call volumes as part of his monthly report.

On the investment policy, Jean McGann of ABDO, the county’s consultant, described edits made since a May 6 draft, saying, "we just wanted to make certain that all language within the policy is very, very transparent," and explaining the recommendation to remove commercial paper and bankers acceptances from the county’s allowable investments because they are comparatively risky. McGann and commissioners said the county will engage a professional investment adviser, who will sign a broker‑certification acknowledging the county policy and help prepare a cash‑flow analysis and reports to the board.

Votes at a glance (motions and outcomes)
- Approve posted agenda — mover: Commissioner Joan (full name not specified in transcript), second: Commissioner Warren; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Approve consent items (4 items) — mover: Commissioner Gary, second: Commissioner Warren; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Approve filling part‑time community service officer (sheriff’s office) — mover: Commissioner Gary, second: Commissioner Warren; outcome: approved. (Sheriff requested authority to post and hire; commissioners voted aye.)
- Approve posting to fill a deputy/control position (Sheriff: Lee Tate resigning) — mover: Commissioner Warren, second: Commissioner Joan; outcome: approved.
- Approve McIntosh office remodel and security hardware (electrical, two interior walk‑in doors, card swipes and electronic latches; quoted line items discussed including $2,000 for outlet/card swipe electrical work and $3,790 for electronic latches) — mover: Commissioner Warren, second: Commissioner Joan; outcome: approved.
- Approve contract amendment with Minnesota DEED to clarify operational costs ($10,756) — mover: Commissioner Joan, second: Commissioner Warren; outcome: approved. Total contract remains $577,772 for 2025.
- Grant interim use permit (IUP) to Rebecca and Richard Krueger for a home‑based bakery in Keystone Township (Section 30, County Highway 19; IUP conditions include setbacks, signage limits, health department compliance and nontransferability) — mover: Commissioner Joan Moulds, second: Commissioner Warren; outcome: permit granted.
- Approve purchase of 21 blackout window coverings for Crookston Transfer Station, Crookston Paint and Glass, $11,025 (split between planning & zoning and solid‑waste budgets) — mover: Commissioner Joan, second: Commissioner Gary; outcome: approved.
- Approve licensure premium pay for seven certification levels for two non‑represented Solid Waste positions (assistant facility operations manager; maintenance supervisor), effective April 22 — mover: Commissioner Joan, second: Commissioner Gary; outcome: approved.
- Approve backfill of mechanical maintenance position at Solid Waste (budgeted) — mover: Commissioner Joan, second: Commissioner Gary; outcome: approved.
- Authorize chair signature on Group 1 redetermination contract (HQ Overviewers) — mover: Commissioner Joan, second: Commissioner Warren; outcome: approved.
- Name 13 Towns as Polk County official newspaper (June 1–Dec. 31, 2025) at Macintosh Times rate — mover: Commissioner Joan, second: Commissioner Warren; outcome: approved.
- Adopt county investment policy (revised draft removing certain higher‑risk instruments and requiring written quotations and adviser oversight) — mover: Commissioner Joan, second: Commissioner Gary; outcome: approved.
- Adopt amended 2025–2026 budget calendar (dates for department budget meetings, levy preliminaries and hearing) — mover: Commissioner Gary, second: Commissioner Joan; outcome: approved.
- Approve authority to fill 0.8 FTE wellness coordinator (public health) — mover: Commissioner Joan, second: Commissioner Warren; outcome: approved.

What the votes do not do
Several commissioners emphasized limitations: interim use permits for home‑based businesses are nontransferable and granted only to the applicant, the investment policy narrows allowed instruments but requires a separate adviser engagement and cash‑flow work before funds are moved, and approving design and hardware quotes does not authorize expenditures outside the approved budget lines (staff said available budgets cover the items discussed).

What’s next
Staff will finalize contracts and signatures (chair to sign the HQ Overviewers agreement), begin procurement for approved blinds and secure quotes/equipment for the McIntosh office work. The finance committee and newly arriving finance director will work with an investment adviser to develop the cash‑flow analysis and bring implementation recommendations back to the board. Public hearings for the 2026 levy and budget will follow the adopted calendar.

Ending
Commissioners closed the meeting after brief additional scheduling discussion and a request to reach out to the county’s state senator about ongoing budget negotiations affecting health and human services funding.