Griggs County Commission votes to merge DES, 911 and prosecutor-deputy duties into full-time emergency manager
May 30, 2026 | Griggs County, North Dakota
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The Griggs County Commission voted May 29 to merge three county roles the county's DES manager, 911 responsibilities and the state's attorney deputy duties into a single full-time emergency manager position effective June 1.
The move, approved by voice vote, was presented by the meeting chair as a way to capture federal and state emergency-management grant money that the chair said would reimburse about 85% of the emergency manager's salary and benefits. "The grant will cover 85% of the emergency manager salary and benefits," the Chair said during a slide presentation outlining duties, training requirements and budget impacts.
Why it matters: The chair told commissioners that combining the positions would reduce duplicative pay lines and allow the county to draw down grant funds to offset salary costs. She presented 2026 budget figures showing $9,147.44 for the DES position, $7,892.71 for 911 and $38,033.18 for the state's attorney deputy, which she said total $55,073.33. The proposed single full-time salary was $42,009.19, and the chair said the net change would be about $12,154.23 per year with $7,089.95 available in the 2026 budget for reallocation.
The commission discussed training and operational implications. The chair described the grant program's conditions participating in a planning workshop, completing an IPP plan, a professional development series (minimum eight hours annually), conducting one exercise per year, submitting quarterly progress reports and quarterly reimbursement requests. A staff member noted that some training modules had been offline during a federal shutdown but had recently returned. The chair said Mackenzie, who currently works as the state's attorney deputy and was appointed to the DES post at a prior meeting, had agreed to take on grant-writing and training obligations and that other staff (Jamie and Wayne) supported the change.
Commissioners asked whether combining duties would create staffing or overtime problems. The chair said moving the role to a salaried position would avoid overtime accounting and better position the county to bill the grant. "It's a win it's a win all the way around," the Chair said. One commissioner said, "I don't have any problem with that," expressing support for trying the arrangement and revisiting compensation if needed.
The motion to "merge the 2 position or 3 positions together effective June 1" was moved by Scott and seconded by Rod. In a voice vote the commission recorded ayes from Rod, Scott, Lauren and Stephanie; the chair declared the motion carried.
The commission concluded the meeting and set its next session for June 8 at 9:30 a.m.
The move, approved by voice vote, was presented by the meeting chair as a way to capture federal and state emergency-management grant money that the chair said would reimburse about 85% of the emergency manager's salary and benefits. "The grant will cover 85% of the emergency manager salary and benefits," the Chair said during a slide presentation outlining duties, training requirements and budget impacts.
Why it matters: The chair told commissioners that combining the positions would reduce duplicative pay lines and allow the county to draw down grant funds to offset salary costs. She presented 2026 budget figures showing $9,147.44 for the DES position, $7,892.71 for 911 and $38,033.18 for the state's attorney deputy, which she said total $55,073.33. The proposed single full-time salary was $42,009.19, and the chair said the net change would be about $12,154.23 per year with $7,089.95 available in the 2026 budget for reallocation.
The commission discussed training and operational implications. The chair described the grant program's conditions participating in a planning workshop, completing an IPP plan, a professional development series (minimum eight hours annually), conducting one exercise per year, submitting quarterly progress reports and quarterly reimbursement requests. A staff member noted that some training modules had been offline during a federal shutdown but had recently returned. The chair said Mackenzie, who currently works as the state's attorney deputy and was appointed to the DES post at a prior meeting, had agreed to take on grant-writing and training obligations and that other staff (Jamie and Wayne) supported the change.
Commissioners asked whether combining duties would create staffing or overtime problems. The chair said moving the role to a salaried position would avoid overtime accounting and better position the county to bill the grant. "It's a win it's a win all the way around," the Chair said. One commissioner said, "I don't have any problem with that," expressing support for trying the arrangement and revisiting compensation if needed.
The motion to "merge the 2 position or 3 positions together effective June 1" was moved by Scott and seconded by Rod. In a voice vote the commission recorded ayes from Rod, Scott, Lauren and Stephanie; the chair declared the motion carried.
The commission concluded the meeting and set its next session for June 8 at 9:30 a.m.
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