Ramsey County board approves administrative items, schedules public hearing on bond ordinance; manager reports near-complete Windows 11 migration

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 14 approved routine administrative agenda items and set a public hearing for a capital improvement program bond ordinance on Nov. 4, 2025, at 9 a.m.

Commissioner McHenry moved the administrative agenda (items 4–9), which the board approved by roll call with all present members voting aye. The items listed by the mover included a donation from the Minnesota State Fair to the Social Services Department; certification of property assessed clean energy (PACE) charges for energy improvements; a Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) biannual service agreement for 2026–27; information technology project appropriations; implementation of Minnesota paid leave; and a settlement agreement in John and Amy Waters v. Ramsey County, court file no. 62‑CV‑234037. The motion was seconded and carried by unanimous roll call.

The board also considered item 102026, a 2026 capital improvement program bond ordinance. The board waived the first reading and scheduled a public hearing on Nov. 4, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. The motion to waive first reading and set the hearing was seconded and approved by roll call.

Vote record (as recorded in the meeting): Commissioners McMurtry, Miller, Moran, Jevon Singh, Maguire, McGuire and Ortega recorded "aye" on the roll calls during the motions described above; Commissioner Zhong was excused.

In a separate management update, the county manager told the board that Ramsey County’s information services department had upgraded 97% of county computers to Windows 11 following the end of Microsoft support for Windows 10. The manager described the upgrade as a security and cost‑avoidance measure that reduced the need to purchase extended support licenses.

The manager also highlighted Manufacturing Month activities and local statistics, saying manufacturing contributes about $57,000,000,000 to the Minnesota economy, represents roughly 12% of the state's gross domestic product, and that Ramsey County has more than 650 manufacturing firms and about 29,000 manufacturing jobs. The manager warned that the ongoing federal government shutdown — then entering its third week — was creating administrative slowdowns that could affect reimbursements and discretionary programs. The county said Minnesota WIC funding was sufficient to continue services through October but that contingency planning was underway if federal funds are delayed further.