Stevens County approves language‑learning contract, raises capital‑asset threshold and awards routine road contracts

Stevens County commissioners approved several routine but operationally significant items, including a staff language‑learning contract, an update to the county’s capital asset policy and road maintenance contracts.

Human Services presented a contract with Livett Immersion Center to provide targeted Spanish instruction for frontline employees in small groups. The program, proposed to run as voluntary online sessions (Microsoft Teams), would start with five weeks at two one‑hour sessions per week and group lessons billed at $36 per hour; the board voted to approve the contract.

Earlier in the meeting the board approved an update to the county’s capital asset policy that raises the capitalization threshold from $5,000 to $10,000 for equipment, building improvements, land improvements and depreciable software; land and construction in progress will continue to be recorded at cost.

The board also approved the 2026 dust control contract (contractor based in London, Minnesota) at a per‑gallon rate presented during the bid discussion, and authorized advertising for a seal‑coat SAP project (075‑601‑1036) as part of the county’s pavement maintenance program. Commissioners confirmed that contractors performing private jobs under the contract must maintain liability insurance and that staff will verify insurance during bid qualification.

What’s next: Staff will finalize the immersion contract arrangements, update policy language reflecting the new $10,000 threshold, and proceed with bid award and project advertising for highway maintenance items.