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Commissioners debate shifting public-health arrangement with county; ask county for written plan
Summary
The commission discussed the city's contract-for-services arrangement with Burleigh County (sometimes termed a joint powers agreement in prior years), debated whether to continue a contract approach for 2026 or to establish a true joint powers agreement with a board of health, and directed city administration to send a formal written request to the county for its 2027 intentions.
City public-health leadership and commissioners reviewed the existing intergovernmental arrangement with Burleigh County. Commissioners noted that under state law a true joint powers agreement would create a separate board of health; the city's current structure operates with the city commission acting as the Board of Health while the county contracts for services.
Commissioner Cleary suggested 2026 be used as a buffer year in which the city would operate with a contract-for-services model while the county determines whether to stand up its own public-health unit; that approach would let the county use existing budgeted funds (roughly $600,000 in the county's 2026 budget as cited in discussion) either to directly build its own capacity or to contract line-item services with the city while the transition occurs.
Public Health Director Renee (city staff) clarified that the city department is a city unit and that staff report to city administration. She said a shift to a separate joint powers board would change operations and governance and that the city could continue to offer specified services on a month-to-month or line-item basis while the county builds capacity.
Commissioners asked the county to memorialize its intentions in writing and directed administration to prepare a formal letter to the Burleigh County Commission asking for clarity about 2027 plans by an agreed date so budgeting and service continuity can be planned. There was no immediate vote to terminate services; commissioners emphasized continuity of critical services (home health, rural school nursing, sheriff's department services) during any transition.
Next steps: City administration will draft a formal written request for the county's plan and timing for standing up its own public-health unit; staff will continue to model fiscal impacts and service arrangements for 2026 as a contract-for-services year if the county does not provide a firm plan.
