Commission approves sheriff policy manual, chip-seal engineering contract and related county business

Mercer County commissioners handled a series of routine but consequential county-business items including the adoption of a sheriff’s office policy manual, approval of engineering services for a 30.7-mile federal-aid chip-seal project, and direction on repairs to a storm-damaged county building.

The commission voted to adopt the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office policy and procedure manual, which staff said complies with relevant North Dakota jail and corrections standards. Commissioners then approved an amendment to the county’s construction-engineering task order for the 2026 chip-seal project; the engineering amendment was reported as $115,000 in design and construction engineering costs for three separate routes totaling about 30.7 miles in work.

Following staff reports about significant water and roof damage to the BA building, the commission authorized continued work by Arrow Restoration to finish mitigation and demolition as needed while the county awaits adjuster findings and Enderf review. Commissioners emphasized the need to coordinate with the insurer and to avoid paying for work that later would be disallowed by the insurance settlement; staff said the immediate plan is to remove wet attic insulation and dry the structure while mitigation continues.

Commissioners also reviewed and voted to accept a memorandum of understanding with the Bureau of Land Management; staff reported the agreement is standard and would preserve the county’s eligibility for certain federal matching funds for wildlife and land management programs. The commission carried multiple routine motions (agenda approval, minutes, liquor license) in the meeting’s earlier procedural business.

The board recessed and scheduled follow-up reviews and hearings for pending ordinances and planning topics.