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Grand Forks County to accept public applications to fill Bob Ross vacancy; commission votes to reimburse $20,086.98
Summary
Following Commissioner Bob Ross's resignation, the Grand Forks County Commission said it will publish a call for applications, accept submissions by May 1, hold public interviews and aim to appoint a successor at the next meeting; the commission also voted to reimburse Ross $20,086.98 after legal review.
The Grand Forks County Commission outlined a public process to fill the vacancy created by Commissioner Bob Ross’s resignation and voted to reimburse Ross $20,086.98 for repayment of retirement contributions identified after his election.
County staff said a call for applications will be published in The Herald and posted on the county website next Wednesday. Interested applicants must submit a letter or email to Karen Hagen explaining why they want to be considered, their availability, and how they would contribute. Staff said applications will be accepted through May 1; the commission will circulate applications to commissioners, hold a public special meeting to interview applicants, and aims to decide at the next regular commission meeting, mentioned by staff as the 20th.
Commissioners said all discussion of applicants must occur in a public meeting. Staff indicated the intent that every applicant receive an interview and that commissioners will use a publicly noticed special meeting to conduct interviews so the appointment process is open to the public.
Separately, a commissioner moved that the county make Commissioner Ross whole for a repayment requirement that staff said totaled $20,086.98. The meeting record shows the county's state's attorney advised the proposed reimbursement was legal. Commissioners discussed the matter before approving the motion; a commissioner stated they had a direct and substantial conflict and recused from the vote. The commission approved the reimbursement motion by voice vote.
During discussion multiple commissioners expressed frustration with the timing and administration of the retirement repayment demand; they mentioned NDPRS as the agency that raised the repayment requirement and commented that the county and Ross had received late notice. The commission did not identify in the meeting record any appeal or external review steps the county would pursue regarding the repayment demand.
