Proulx elected chair as Carlton County board sets 2026 agenda, meeting schedule and committee assignments

The Carlton County Board of Commissioners unanimously elected Commissioner Thomas R. Proulx to serve as chair for 2026 after Auditor/Treasurer Kevin DeVriendt called the annual session to order at 8:30 a.m. Commissioner Reed was confirmed as vice-chair in the same unanimous vote.

The board approved its Annual Agenda and adopted a 2026 meeting schedule that designates regular meetings at 8:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month and adjourned meetings at 4:00 p.m. on the fourth Monday, with posted exceptions. The resolution (26-011) also schedules the Truth in Taxation hearing for Dec. 10, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., and notes commissioners may participate via interactive technology consistent with 2025 changes to Minn. Stat. 13D. The motion to approve the Annual Agenda passed on a motion by Bodie and second by Zmyslony, carried by all yea votes.

The board also approved an extensive list of committee and commission appointments for 2026 (Resolution 26-013), naming commissioner representatives to regional bodies such as Arrowhead Regional Corrections, Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, Arrowhead Library System and multiple AMC committees. The board established Committee of the Whole meeting dates for monthly discussion of road and bridge, public safety, and other matters and confirmed that department heads and certain external representatives (e.g., Transportation Matters representative Rick Norrgard) will be non-commissioner appointees. Per diem plus necessary expenses will be paid for committee meetings.