Cavalier County approves clerk funding pact, directs 2025 budget salary and insurance assumptions

At its May 7 meeting, the Cavalier County Board of Commissioners approved a funding agreement for Clerk of Court services with the state, set budget assumptions for 2025 salary and health insurance increases, and approved several administrative items including courthouse water-fountain replacements and a plan to have Public Health certified to perform employee drug and alcohol testing.

Anita Beauchamp, Clerk of Court, joined the meeting to review the proposed Funding Agreement covering July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. Austin Lafrenz moved to approve the Funding Agreement; the motion was seconded by Stanley Dick and carried.

Commissioners discussed salary guidance for the 2025 preliminary budgets and directed departments to budget for 4% salary increases and to assume a 10% health insurance increase for six months.

Lisa Gellner, Auditor, proposed replacing two courthouse water fountains with bottle-filler units, to be paid from Motor Vehicle funds. Nick Moser moved to approve the request, seconded by Greg Goodman; the motion carried. Gellner also reported that Global Safety Network will no longer be coming on-site to do employee drug and alcohol testing; after discussing options, the commissioners agreed to pay Public Health to become certified to perform testing for county employees.

Jill Denault, representing NVHSZ, requested an office closure for zone employees on July 5; commissioners indicated they were agreeable provided the zone board approved. The board also reviewed and approved the audit of claims; the claims list spans multiple funds and vendors (selected entries include ND Public Employees Retirement, $119,730.08 for health insurance; Farmers & Merchants State Bank, $51,486.93; Honeywell International Inc., $33,253.00). The meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.

The actions recorded were routine administrative approvals and budget direction; the transcript shows no formal dissent recorded on these items.