Stevens County commissioners approve routine items: licenses, warrants, contracts and appointments

The Stevens County Board of Commissioners completed a series of routine actions during its Dec. 16 meeting.

Key approvals included the amended meeting agenda and corrections to prior minutes; tobacco licenses for 11 businesses for 2026 (fee noted in the packet as $100); authorization to pay year-end warrants (scheduled for Dec. 30, 2025); approval of warrants reported at $155,906.27; acceptance of a $250 donation from the Fraternal Order of Police, Glacial Lakes Lodge No. 23 for the county’s Shop with the Cop shirts; and approval of a solid-waste hauling license for Engelbrecht following review of insurance and vehicle inspection documentation.

The board approved four remaining 2026 contracts, including local-level contract conversions and a 2.5% rate increase for Lutheran Social Services' in‑home services described in the packet. Commissioners also approved city and township contracts for 2026 and a 3% increase to the flat city/township rate, plus an added 'without contract' rate roughly 30% higher than contracted hourly (AR) rates to cover non-contracted work.

The Local Advisory Council (LAC) delivered a quarterly update; the board thanked outgoing Jeff Burrows, welcomed Alyssa Evenson’s leadership, and approved the appointment of West Mesa Nelson to the LAC. The meeting closed with standard procedural items, a retirement open house announcement for maintenance employee Dave Gillen, and adjournment.

All listed motions in this roundup were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote during the meeting as recorded in the transcript.