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Morton County Commission reelects Boehm, approves abatements, grant and drone purchase
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Summary
At its Jan. 27 organizational meeting, the Morton County Commission reelected Nathan Boehm as chair, approved multiple property tax abatements, adopted 2026 burn restrictions tied to the North Dakota Rangeland Fire Index, accepted a $50,951.22 Back the Blue grant for the sheriff and authorized an $11,487.68 asset-forfeiture purchase of a drone.
The Morton County Commission on Jan. 27, 2026, held its annual reorganization, reelected Nathan Boehm as board chairman and named Commissioner Zachmeier vice-chairman, and approved a slate of routine and policy items.
Deputy Auditor Krance presided over the reorganization. Zachmeier nominated Nathan Boehm, and the board cast a unanimous ballot for Boehm. Boehm then nominated Zachmeier for vice-chair; the commission again cast a unanimous ballot.
The board approved minutes from a Dec. 12, 2025 special joint meeting with Burleigh County and the Dec. 30, 2025 regular meeting, and approved bills and payroll. Commissioners present were Nathan Boehm (chair), Zachmeier (vice-chair), Tokach and Morrell; Commissioner Buckley was absent.
During the portion of the meeting addressing taxation matters, Paul Millner asked the commission to consider an abatement for property in River Place 7th Subdivision. The commission denied abatement 7167 and approved abatements 7168–7170; it also approved farm residence abatement 7171, homestead abatements 7172–7173, and veteran’s abatements 7174–7177. The board authorized a committee of up to five members, appointed by the commission, to review farm modifier applications.
The commission approved the county’s 2026 burn restrictions, which ban open burning when the North Dakota Rangeland Fire Index is High, Very High, Extreme, or when a Red Flag Warning is issued; the approved language removed exceptions previously listed for smoking and outdoor welding/hot work.
On budgetary and intergovernmental items, the board approved reallocation of Prairie Dog Funds within the 2026 Road and Bridge budget, designated county depositories for 2026 (Dakota Community Bank—Hebron; First International Bank & Trust—Man Depository, Mandan; Multi Bank Securities—EConnect Direct; and Starion Bank—Mandan), and authorized the chairman to sign police agreements with Hebron, New Salem and Glen Ullin.
The commission authorized spending $11,487.68 from the asset forfeiture fund to purchase a drone and batteries for the Sheriff’s Department and accepted a Back the Blue Grant in the amount of $50,951.22 for the Sheriff’s Department to be used for retention bonuses. The board authorized the sheriff to distribute the grant funds in accordance with the grant agreement.
Commissioner Paul Tokach was appointed to the Morton County Housing Authority Board to fill the currently open seat; the commission designated that appointment as recurring for the portfolio holder. The board also approved out-of-state travel for Treasurer Hatzenbuhler to attend the NACCTFO conference in New Orleans July 11–16, 2026.
The commission welcomed Blaine Pagel as the new Buildings and Grounds Supervisor. A public-comment period opened at 7:01 p.m. with no speakers, and Chair Boehm adjourned the meeting at 7:02 p.m. The county reported total fund expenditures of $10,871,167.28 for the period Dec. 31, 2025, through Jan. 27, 2026; a detailed check list is available for public inspection at the Morton County Auditor’s Office.