The Polk County Commissioners held their first meeting of the new year on Tuesday, selecting a new chair and vice-chair. Gary Willhite, who was the vice-chair in 2019 and is the former Mayor of Crookston, will serve as the chair and represents the third district. First District Commissioner Gerald Jacobson will serve as vice-chair.
Willhite said he thinks the direction of the county and its priorities are pretty well established. “Crookston will be well represented, Gerry, of course, represents the (south) side of Crookston here,” said Willhite. “It will be business as normal. We have the same five commissioners, have established a budget, and certainly have a direction as far as what our priorities are.”
The commissioners also sit on more than 60 other committees within the county and a few state committees as part of their duties. The commissioners were satisfied with continuing the same committee assignments said, Willhite. “Status remains the same,” said Willhite. “We were all satisfied with the committees that were assigned. If some adjustments need to be made in the calendar year, we’ll deal with those as they come up.”
The commissioners are also responsible for appointing citizens to various boards, committees, and commissions throughout the county. Willhite said that most of those groups would not have appointments made in 2020. However, the commissioners did make one appointment Tuesday. “Most of those we were able to deal with last year,” said Willhite. “We had an appointment we extended on the extension committee that we handled today. Other than that, I think we’re pretty well set for 2020.”
Brad Grunhovd will serve his first three-year term on the extension committee after completing the term formerly held by Paul Aakre. The commissioners also received an update from Polk County Public Health on the response for Hepatitis A, the high rate of syphilis in Minnesota, public health screenings. Public Health is also working with Norman and Mahnomen counties on a Community Health Improvement Plan and a Strategic Plan.
The board also selected the official newspaper and the publication for the delinquent tax list. The official newspaper will be the McIntosh Times at a rate of $2.50 per column inch. The delinquent tax list, published twice per year, was awarded to The Exponent at a rate of $3.99 per column inch. The other four newspapers in the county, Crookston Times, Fertile Journal, The Thirteen Towns, and Erskine Echo, did not submit bids.
