Lake of the Woods County Board Commissioners Meeting Proceedings

                                                               December 16, 2025

CALL TO ORDER Chair Jon Waibel called the meeting to order at 9:00a.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited with the following members present: Commissioners: Jon Waibel, Ed Arnesen, Cody Hasbargen, Joe Grund, and Buck Nordlof. Also present was Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the agenda with the following changes: Add: 2026 Sheriff Office Fees.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the official minutes of November 25,2025.

SOCIAL SERVICES Claims Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the following claims: Commissioners Warrants $8,770.09; Commissioners Warrants $7,711.32; Commissioners Warrants $13,125.00.

Lifecare Behavioral Health-Clinical Supervision Contract Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to approve the Lifecare Behavioral Health Clinical Supervision contract as presented and for Chair Jon Waibel and Social Services Director Amy Ballard to sign the same effective January 1, 2026.

Sanford Behavioral Health-Crisis Response Services Contract Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the Sanford Behavioral Health Crisis Response Services contract as presented by Social Services Director Amy Ballard effective January 1, 2026.

Meridian Services Contract Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the services contract between Lake of the Woods County and Meridian Services Inc, for waiver case management services as presented effective January 1, 2026.

Auditor/Treasurer Claims Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the claims against the County as follows: Revenue $121,626.30; Road & Bridge $25,259.96; County Development $275.00; Joint Ditch $770.41; Solid Waste $32,802.32; EDA $1,476.71.

2026 LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY BOARD MEETING DATES

Permission to bid for Legal Publishing Bids Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the request to advertise for Legal Publishing Bids.

CHS Joint Powers Agreement Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the CHS Joint Powers Agreement as presented and for Chair Jon Waibel and County Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson to sign the same.

Permission to Hire Administrative Specialist Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the request to hire Madison Kotnik as administrative specialist for the Sheriff’s office at Grade 13, Step 1, $26.96 per hour at 273 points effective January 5, 2026.

WHEREAS, the County of Lake of the Woods County currently contracts with the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Services (UND) for medical examiner services and has named Dr. Mary Ann Sens as medical examiner for the County; and WHEREAS, Dr. Mary Ann Sens has provided written notice to the County that effective January 1, 2026 she will no longer be employed by UND and further, the County was advised that Dr. Sens has been placed on administrative leave with pay, effective November 25, 2025; and WHEREAS, at the time that the County entered into the extant contract with UND, UND was accredited with the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME); and WHEREAS, the County has been advised that UND has lost its NAME Accreditation; and WHEREAS, due to the loss of the NAME Accreditation and the resignation of Dr. Sens, the County will be terminating its Contract with UND; and WHEREAS, the County intends to enter into a Contractual Agreement with the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office located in the City of Ramsey, County of Anoka, State of Minnesota for provision of medical examiner services as required by law and set forth in Minn. Stat. Chapter 390; and WHEREAS, Dr. Quinn Piper, of Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office is a doctor of medicine licensed in the State of Minnesota and is a forensic pathologist certified by the American Board of Pathology and therefore qualifies as a coroner or medical examiner pursuant to statute; and WHEREAS, Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office is presently NAME accredited; and WHEREAS, under the terms of said future Agreement, the County of Lake of the Woods must appoint a Medical Examiner per statute; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners hereby appoints Dr. Quinn Piper, as the Lake of the Woods County Medical Examiner, pending termination of the extant contract with UND and pending execution of an agreement with Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office of Anoka County. Minnesota.

Sheriff Cannabis Retail Application Approval Motion was made by Commissioner Jon Waibel, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously with Commissioner Ed Arnesen abstaining to approve the cannabis retail application from Lake of the Woods Cannabis Co. as presented by Sheriff Gary Fish.

Pine to Prairie Joint Powers Agreement Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the Pine to Prairie Joint Powers agreement and for Chair Jon Waibel, and County Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson to sign the same effective January 1, 2026.

Sheriff’s Office Fees Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously the Sheriff’s office fees as presented by Sheriff Gary Fish.

Tobin Fisheries County Attorney Michelle Moren, and County Engineer Anthony Pirkl reviewed the Right of Way Ordinance violation in regards to the Tobin Fisheries building.

Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the request to draft a resolution with corrective action that includes the building must be taken down or removed from the area within 60 days at the cost of the owner.

Public Works Add to Agenda Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to add solid waste walking floor purchase to the agenda.

Solid Waste Walking Floor Purchase Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to approve the purchase of a walking floor at the landfill in the amount of $128,000.00.

WHEREAS, the City of Baudette is applying to the Commissioner of Transportation for a grant from the Minnesota State Transportation Fund for Local Road Improvement for Project- Eighth Ave South East;

BE IT RESOLVED, that Lake of the Woods County agrees to act as the sponsoring agency for the project identified as Eighth Ave South East, seeking Local Road Improvement Program funding and has reviewed and approved the project as proposed. Sponsorship includes a willingness to secure and guarantee the local share of costs associated with this project and responsibility for seeing this project through to its completion, with compliance of applicable laws, rules and regulations; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Lake of the Woods County hereby authorizes County Engineer, Anthony Pirkl to act as agent on behalf of this sponsoring agency.

Set Public Hearing Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to set a public hearing for an amendment to the ATV Ordinance for January 13, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

Ditch Authority Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Joe Grund and carried unanimously to close the regular meeting and open the ditch authority.

Motion was made by Commissioner Ed Arnesen, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to close the ditch authority and open the regular meeting.

Recorder County Recorder Sue Ney reviewed the judicial private date security statute that allows the county to charge up to $75.00 per notice, request, and consent. 

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve Private Data Security fees as presented by County Recorder Sue Ney.

Motion was made by Commissioner Buck Nordlof, seconded by Commissioner Ed Arnesen and carried unanimously to approve the housing rehabilitation agreements packet as presented and for Chair Jon Waibel and County Auditor-Treasurer Lorene Hanson to sign the same.

IT Knowbe4 Contract Motion was made by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to approve the Knowbe4 Contract as presented by IT Director John Butenhoff.

Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Buck Nordlof and carried unanimously to close the public hearing and open the regular meeting at 6:25 p.m.

WHEREAS, the Proposed County Budget for the year 2026 has been reviewed by the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners; and  NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the following Proposed Budget and Tax Levy is hereby adopted for Lake of the Woods County for 2026:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following amounts be levied against the unorganized townships of Lake of the Woods County for 2026:

* $546,470 for Township Road & Bridge, includes $5,000 Blue Blades and $12,765 Admin of Township Roads (528,705+5,000+12,765=546,470)  

Adjourn Motion was made by Commissioner Joe Grund, seconded by Commissioner Cody Hasbargen and carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 6:35 p.m.