Votes at a glance: Pine County board approves inmate-communications contracts, collective bargaining agreement and timber auction

The Pine County Board approved several administrative items and contracts at its April 6 meeting:

1) Reliance Systems inmate-communications agreements: The board approved two contracts for telephone/video calling and a secure texting/commissary platform. Staff explained the Federal Communications Commission's new incarcerated-person communications (TIPCS) rate cap effective April 6 eliminated commissions but allows a 2-cent-per-minute facility additive; Reliance also offers guaranteed monthly texting commissions and provides secure messaging, visitation, commissary ordering and monitoring tools the sheriff's office said will support safety and programming. The sheriff's office estimated revenue projections and said fund balance proceeds support inmate programs.

2) Building fund authorization: The board authorized up to $10,000 from the building fund for necessary security modifications (window and door readers) to improve courthouse entry security.

3) Collective bargaining: The board approved a tentative two-year agreement (2026'27) with Pine County Road & Bridge Supervisors; negotiators described the settlement as minimal changes aligned with prior settlements.

4) Timber auction: The board authorized sale of timber from tax-forfeited parcels. Commissioners requested post-sale accounting (administrative set-asides, and the statutory 40/40/20 split among county/school/township after set-asides) and parcel classification details prior to final distribution.

Votes on these routine but consequential administrative matters were recorded in the meeting; no formal roll-call vote lists were published in the transcript for all items. The board also approved the 2025 Community Emergency Operations Plan and accepted an annual juvenile-services placement report.