Commission approves Pioneer Room AV upgrades, signs Project Ultra contract modification and clears several administrative items

Grand Forks County commissioners approved several administrative and capital items during the meeting, including audio‑visual upgrades for the Pioneer Room, a modification to a Department of Defense contract for Project Ultra, a lease for a partner agency, position fills, a construction firewall expense, and the sale of two delinquent parcels.

Audio‑visual upgrade: Staff recommended focusing upgrades on the Pioneer Room only to improve live streaming and audio quality. The recommended package, presented by county IT/contract staff, included push‑to‑speak microphones, three cameras for streaming, and a user‑friendly control system. The cost presented was $121,294.10. Commissioners approved the recommendation and directed the county administrator and finance staff to identify funding sources.

Project Ultra contract modification: Staff summarized Project Ultra as a government‑to‑government Department of Defense contract under which Grand Forks County serves as the government partner and conduit for research and testing of small and medium unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The county completed task order 1 (about $2.5 million) and was executing task order 2 (about $3.5 million). For task order 2 the federal government asked to use a Navy‑contracted drone rather than purchase new equipment; the Office of the Secretary of Defense therefore de‑obligated $650,000 the county had been authorized to spend for purchase and will instead compensate the Navy. Commissioners approved a contract modification that de‑obligates the $650,000; staff emphasized this is federal RDT&E money and not county general fund dollars. The overall IDIQ ceiling was described as $15 million.

Partner lease and staffing: The commission approved a draft office lease for CDIC (partner agency) negotiated by county staff; staff said rent is comparable to other tenants and that CVIC (another partner) retains a right of first refusal on their floor. The commission also authorized filling a vacant property tax technician position and approved a request to fill a newly vacated assistant state attorney position after the state's attorney explained the office's caseload could not be absorbed by remaining staff.

Construction contingency: Commissioners authorized spending $48,292 from owner contingency to construct a required firewall (Area E) in a health department remodel at the old correctional center; staff said the outlay would put owner contingency approximately $28,652.36 in deficit unless snow‑removal budget savings or other recoveries are identified.

Delinquent parcels: The commission approved canceling taxes and waiving special assessments to sell two parcels that did not sell at the delinquent tax sale to the city of Angster for $25 each.

Each of these motions passed by voice vote; staff will return with funding sources, contract documents and implementation plans where applicable.