Anoka County board approves contracts, grants, hires and compensation measures; one compensation resolution passes 6–1

The Anoka County Board approved a series of routine and substantive items during its meeting, including contracts, grant agreements, personnel actions and compensation resolutions.

Votes at a glance - Accepted regular claims and purchase-card claims for period ending 11/28/2025 (unanimous). - Approved minutes from 12/01/2025 and 12/02/2025 (unanimous). - Approved county grant policy (voice vote, unanimous). - Human Services: renewed contract C0012059 with Anoka County Community Action Program for coordinated transportation services, $108,055.62 for 01/01/2026–12/31/2026 (roll call unanimous); approved a child support cooperative agreement required by federal law providing reimbursements to the county attorney ($2,309,169.35 in 2026; $2,378,444.43 in 2027) and sheriff ($32,413.07 in 2026; $33,385.46 in 2027) (unanimous). - Public Safety: approved law enforcement contract C0012048 with the City of Bethel for $66,633 (01/01/2026–12/31/2026) and a violent-crime enforcement teams grant contract C0012060 for $577,928 (01/01/2026–12/31/2027); adopted resolution 2025-PS-18 and associated contract C0012052 (all unanimous). - Transportation: approved contract C0012043 with Ty Zack Concrete for $3,968,373.51 to replace and revise traffic control signals and pedestrian ramps in Anoka and Andover; approved the 2026–27 Transit Coordination Assistance Project (TCAP) federal grant for $118,600 with a 20% local match of $29,650 (unanimous). - Parks: adopted three park resolutions including land registration for Anoka County Riverfront Regional Park (Fridley), an aquatic invasive species prevention resolution with a 2026 award of $129,900, and authorization for temporary easements for road reconstruction in Lynnwood Township (unanimous). - Management committee: approved two new EAP/mental health positions (1.0 FTE manager mental health, grade 38; 1.0 FTE mental health professional, grade 36) and approved contract C0012073 for cyber liability insurance (vendor: Cowbell and Coalition Inc.) (unanimous). - Appointments: approved employment agreement and appointment of Kevin McNellen as Assistant Director for Emergency Communications effective 01/12/2026 (unanimous); approved multiple committee reappointments and appointments (unanimous). - Compensation: adopted resolution 2025-136 establishing compensation and expense amounts for unclassified employees, appointed chief officers and department heads for 2026 (unanimous). A separate resolution 2025-137 establishing compensation for the county attorney and sheriff passed 6–1; Commissioner Reinert voted no, citing concern about "aggressive" and "double-digit" increases.

Several items discussed in committee were described as informational only or will receive follow-up (for example, public safety will gather more information on potential state hunting/firearms changes). The board also acknowledged receipt of a City of Fridley tax-increment financing (TIF) filing for the River Edge Business Center redevelopment (project summary: a proposed ~250,000-square-foot warehouse/distribution building; county staff said materials meet basic criteria).