July 28, 2026 Packet

Board of Commissioners Meeting · 2026-07-28 · agenda_packet

[807 11th Street North, Moorhead, Minnesota 56560] Clay County Board of Commissioners approved the refill of a Case Aide position within the Child and Family Services Division. The position became vacant due to resignation and is critical for supporting the Child Protection program. The refill is effective immediately upon approval, with the new hire anticipated to start at a lower pay step, resulting in an estimated net savings of $12,184 for the remainder of the 2026 budget year. The position provides support for coordinating and supervising family visits, transporting children, and assisting social workers with case management and administrative responsibilities, including the coordination of Discovery and processing of credit reports and invoices. [PO Box 280, Moorhead, MN 56560 (for application submission)] Clay County Board of Commissioners will interview candidates for two appointments/reappointments to the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District Board for three-year terms expiring August 31, 2029. The appointments are for managers to the board. Curt Stubstad, currently a Treasurer on the board and owner of Midwest Construction Specialties, expressed interest in reappointment, highlighting his experience in agriculture and construction supply. Amos Baer, CEO of Baers Poultry Co. and former Township Officer and Planning Commission member, also expressed interest. Clay County Board of Commissioners is requested to approve a five-year modernization agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for the Sheriff's Office public safety camera systems. This includes replacing aging body-worn cameras and in-car camera systems with the latest Axon technology and digital evidence management services for both Law Enforcement and Corrections Divisions. The total five-year agreement cost is $726,905.40, with $143,610.79 from the Internal Service Fund balance applied, leaving a net cost of $583,294.61 to be budgeted over five years. Implementation for the Sheriff's Office is November 1, 2026, with billing starting January 1, 2027. Corrections Division implementation is June 1, 2027. Clay County Board of Commissioners approved the refill of a full-time LPN position due to a status change. The approval was made by consent. Clay County Board of Commissioners approved the refill of a Child Protection Specialist position. The approval was made by consent. Clay County Board of Commissioners approved the refill of a vacant Legal Assistant position due to resignation. The approval was made by consent. Clay County Board of Commissioners approved the replacement of two jail transport vehicles (a 2017 transport van and a 2019 Ford Explorer) with two Chrysler Pacifica transport vans through Enterprise Fleet Leasing. The monthly lease cost is $1,639.20 total. Additionally, Code 4 Services was authorized to install prisoner transport partitions and related equipment at an estimated cost of $4,994.42. The current vehicles are experiencing increasing maintenance and reliability concerns. Clay County Board of Commissioners approved the implementation of the Clay County Public Health Emergency Preparedness All-Hazards Plan. The plan addresses key hazards, notification levels, response priorities, and emergency partnerships. Clay County Board of Commissioners approved Clay County Public Health to enter into a contract with Medica to provide Special Needs Basic Care Coordination Services (SNBC) effective October 1, 2026. The contract is part of a transition where Medica acquires certain UCare contracts. The reimbursement rate will be $135 per member, per month for engaged members only, which reduces the county's responsibility for unengaged members and creates a more manageable model. Commissioner Ebinger inquired if this would lead to more individuals seeking engaged status, to which Ms. Mickelson confirmed that is the goal. Clay County Board of Commissioners approved the amendment to the contract between the University of Minnesota Extension and Clay County to fund the Extension Educator Youth Development (4-H) position at 0.8 FTE. This decision was made after discussions regarding challenging upcoming budgets and the potential reduction from 1.0 FTE. Commissioner Mongeau expressed frustration with cutting locally wanted programs due to state mandates. The vote was 4-1 in favor. Clay County Board of Commissioners approved the rehiring of the Auditor/Treasurer position due to retirement and to include an overlap period for transition. They also approved the Draft PDQ for the Auditor/Treasurer position through the current Clay County Grid at Grade 28. The current Auditor-Treasurer, Lori Johnson, is retiring on December 18, 2026, with her last working day on November 25, 2026. The overlap period is intended for knowledge transfer and year-end responsibilities. Commissioner Baer inquired about when the position transitioned from elected to appointed, and Assistant County Administrator Darren Brooke stated he would provide that information later. Commissioner Ebinger asked about the hiring process, and Mr. Larson confirmed Clay County Human Resources will handle applications, with normal state and local advertisements planned. This document details several agenda items for a county board meeting on July 28, 2026, primarily concerning personnel and budget presentations for the Withdrawal Management/Detox and West Central Regional Juvenile Center departments. A key item is the request to refill the Detox/WM Director position due to retirement and a potential reorganization of oversight responsibilities. Salary calculations and cost impacts for various staffing and restructuring scenarios are provided. No new construction or development projects are mentioned.