Emmons County commission votes to create planning and zoning commission, approves $100 stipend for members

The Emmons County Board of Commissioners on the record approved a resolution to form a nine‑member planning and zoning commission and voted to pay appointees $100 per meeting as a recruitment incentive.

Commissioners discussed the resolution presented by county legal staff and the county’s attorney, which would establish a planning commission (referred to in state law as a planning commission or zoning board). The proposed structure calls for five at‑large members (one from each commission district) plus members from the county seat/city; terms would be staggered so some members serve shorter initial terms to create continuity. County staff said the board would appoint two members from Linton and recruit one representative from each district.

The board reviewed logistics including secretary duties and statutory requirements. A county attorney cited North Dakota Century Code §1133.05 (county auditor duties referenced in the transcript) indicating the auditor serves as the commission secretary by statute, though commissioners discussed delegating day‑to‑day administrative work to an administrator or staff designee.

A motion to adopt the resolution (listed in the meeting materials as Res. 25‑10‑01) passed on a roll‑call vote with the commissioners recorded as voting in the affirmative. Commissioners directed staff to circulate the final resolution text and return next month with recommended appointees and a recruitment plan.

Separately, commissioners debated compensation for planning commission members, with examples discussed ranging from $50 to $150 per meeting. The board approved a motion to set an initial stipend of $100 per meeting, with the understanding the new commission could later recommend adjustments in its bylaws. The board noted a preliminary budget estimate of roughly $10,000 a year if the stipend and membership size remained unchanged and suggested permit fees or the commission’s own budget could offset costs.

Next steps listed by commissioners included: staff drafting the final resolution for publication, each commissioner recruiting a candidate from their district, the county reaching out to the city of Linton to secure the city seats, and preparing staggered term lengths for initial appointments. Commissioners also discussed scheduling a public hearing later in the zoning‑update process and told staff to consider whether to pause acceptance or final approval of major permit applications while the county updates zoning procedures.

The resolution adoption was the principal formal action taken on the zoning matter; the board closed further discussion by asking staff to prepare materials for the next meeting.