Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Naming Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Beltrami County bans honorary naming of county-owned property
Summary
The Beltrami County Board approved Proposal 2, which prohibits naming county-owned property after individuals or organizations and instead encourages recognition through programs such as adopt-a-highway; the vote passed on roll call.
The Beltrami County Board voted to adopt Proposal 2 of the public infrastructure naming and memorial designation policy, which bars honorary naming of county-owned property and directs other recognition methods such as an 'adopt a highway' program. Commissioner (S7) moved for adoption, arguing the policy creates a consistent, equitable standard and protects future boards from contentious comparisons of individuals or organizations.
"Proposal 2 which prohibits honorary naming protects future county boards from the difficult task of comparing the merits of individuals or organizations and ensures that our requests are treated equally," Commissioner (S7) said. Commissioner (S5) opposed the motion and urged the board to retain Proposal 1, saying the county could honor citizens with named buildings or bridges. After discussion, the board conducted a roll-call vote: Mister Carlson voted yes, Mister Gould voted no, Commissioner Gosvig voted yes, Mister Sumner voted no, and the chair voted yes; the motion carried.
The policy change removes the county's ability to approve names for county-owned facilities or infrastructure, directing recognition toward non-naming options. Commissioners said the measure is intended to reduce controversy and provide a clear, uniform approach for future requests. Staff will update policy documentation to reflect the board's vote and place the final policy in county records.
