The Polk County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday morning inside the Polk County Government Center. It was a short meeting as the only three people on the agenda were Polk County Sheriff James Tadman, Jacob Snyder of Planning and Zoning, and Kurt Ellefson of the Polk County Veteran’s Office.
SHERIFF TADMAN
Sheriff James Tadman came before the board with a motion to approve the posting and hiring of an open deputy position. The board approved the request. Tadman’s second item asked the board to consider retaining Fosston contract deputies and placing them on the Sheriff’s Office schedule starting January 1, 2022. The Sheriff’s Office will utilize the positions for night coverage. The item would be a part of the county’s budget in 2022, so the board will take no action until more discussion can be had.
Tadman talked about the value of potentially retaining the contracts for his department. “For the last twenty years, Polk County has had a two-person contract with the City of Fosston for forty hours a week of coverage,” said Tadman. “The city of Fosston, beginning in 2022, is going to be using their own police department. So it used to be great having someone out in the East part of the county to assist us with calls when we needed it. The closest officers near the Fosston area, believe it or not, are in Crookston. All of our part-time agencies have also gone away, so I would like to absorb two deputies from Fosston to help us with backup on calls and night coverage. It would make things safer for the communities.”
Tadman also discussed the monthly report and Sheriff numbers for October, and they are steady with the previous months. The biggest item for Sheriff Tadman was seeking approval and setting up travel arrangements to go to Orlando, Florida, to pick up their federally funded Air Boat. The board approved the request, and Tadman discussed what would be accomplished on the trip and when the Sheriff’s Office would take possession of the boat. “The boat is scheduled to be completed around November 29,” said Tadman. “For us to take possession of this, we need to inspect it and then find a way to bring it back to Minnesota. We looked at potentially putting it on a trailer to bring it back, but the option we decided to go with is flying two guys down there and then bringing it back on a trailer with a truck and driving back to Minnesota.”
The Air Boat can also be used by the Crookston Fire Department in emergencies, saving the city and Fire Department money for their budgets.
PLANNING AND ZONING
Jacob Snyder of Polk County Environmental Services sought approval of a resolution to terminate the existing campground in Section 20 and 29 of Knute Township. The request was made on behalf of Nancy Gunderson, Chris Sorvig, and Tracy Sorvig, as they are equal property owners. Snyder talked more about the request. “In 2016, we issued this conditional use permit to operate a four-unit campground on Lake Sarah. Our rules have changed so that the parcels need to be bigger to operate campgrounds, and this one no longer applies,” said Snyder. “At their request, they no longer want to operate the campground because they want to build a home at some point on that piece of property. So everyone was compliant with this, and it worked out well for everyone.”
The board approved the request unanimously.
KURT ELLEFSON
Due to a retirement, Kurt Ellefson of the Polk County Veteran’s Office requested a motion be made by the Polk County Board of Commissioners for approval to fill the current Veterans Service Office Administrative Assistant II position with an Assistant County Veterans Service Officer position. The board also approved this request unanimously.
Gerald Jacobson was absent from the meeting, and Joan Lee filled in as the chair. Polk County Administrator Chuck Whiting was also absent, so there was no discussion or update given on the 2022 budget.
