Stearns County Board elects new chair, approves consent items and grants

At its organizational meeting the Stearns County Board elected Commissioner Notch as Chair and Commissioner Persky as Vice Chair by voice vote.

The board approved most items on the consent agenda after adding three appointments as G15; commissioners pulled G2, G4 and G9 for separate discussion. After discussion the board approved G4 (rezoning in Rockville) and G9 (an Emergency Management performance grant).

Erin Hughes from Emergency Management told the board the grant uses a 36-month performance period and, because of federal and state timing, funds will be credited to 2024 and 2025 rather than moved into 2026. Hughes said staff positions in Emergency Management were hired independent of this grant and that, if the grant were not available in a future year, other funds or levy transfers could be used. She also said this grant is the department’s only grant requiring a 50/50 match. Commissioners approved the Emergency Management grant by voice vote.

Commissioner Persky drew attention to constituent questions about fraud and audit work and staff said an internal control/audit position is being recruited and an internal audit committee will be more active. Commissioners asked staff to provide updated committee appointment lists online and in print and voiced thanks and condolences for several recently deceased county staff.

The meeting adjourned to a work session upstairs.