Regional meeting on Northern Valley Human Service Zone leaves hosting-fee questions unresolved

On Sept. 25 Cavalier County commissioners met at the Pembina County Courthouse with Pembina and Walsh county commissioners, State’s Attorneys, representatives of the Northern Valley Human Service Zone board and staff, and the North Dakota Department of Health & Human Services to review Abacus audits and allocations and to discuss the zone plan.

State staff explained the Abacus audits and the process for updating the zone plan. State’s Attorney Angelo Mondragon told the board that the updated zone plan needs to be signed by Cavalier County to be valid and raised concerns about liability and zone hosting fees; Mondragon said he would attend a forthcoming meeting in Cavalier with Pembina and Walsh counties and the state to address these items.

Cavalier County commissioners stated the county requires compensation beyond what Abacus allocations deliver if it is to continue hosting the Northern Valley Human Service Zone. The minutes record discussion but note that no decisions were made during the Sept. 25 meeting.