by April Scheinoha
Reporter

The Pennington County Board set its preliminary 2022 combined property tax levy at a special meeting Tuesday, Sept. 28.

Commissioners adopted a preliminary property tax levy of $11,159,820. That’s about a 2.8% increase over 2021. It is expected to raise an additional $303,959. The majority of the increase was from salaries, benefits and health insurance.

County Board Chairperson Neil Peterson commended county department leaders, Herzberg and other county employees for their work on the budget. Earlier in September, commissioners learned that the preliminary property tax levy may have increased by nearly 4%. However, commissioners then asked department leaders to try to shave additional funds off of their budgets. In particular, Peterson thanked the Highway Department, which removed $120,000 from its budget.

County Board is expected to consider the final county budget at a December meeting. Prior to that time, commissioners may lower the preliminary property tax levy; however, they are unable to increase it.

County Board approved paying $32,128.04 to Frontier Precision for a robotic total station. County Engineer Mike Flaagan explained the equipment will enable the Highway Department to determine the volume of gravel pits without staff having to climb atop the gravel pits. It will also enable staff to take precise readings related to bridge and road construction.

Cynthia Pic, representing Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, requested $2,500 for Tri-Valley Heartland Express (THE) Bus. The board took the request under advisement; however, the request had been included as a line-item in the 2022 county budget.

“We do about 7,000 to 8,000 rides per month in Pennington County,” Pic said.

THE Bus provides four rural routes on a biweekly basis in Pennington County. Those routes transport riders to Thief River Falls. Transportation is also provided to Grand Forks, Crookston and Fargo.

In Thief River Falls, THE Bus offers four daily routes Monday through Friday, an evening route until 8 p.m. each day, a Saturday route from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a Sunday route from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It also offers a summer fun bus, which provided 823 rides this summer to kids who needed a ride to summer activities.

In addition, THE Bus provides transportation for Northland Community and Technical College students who are commuting between the NCTC campuses in Thief River Falls and East Grand Forks.

Pic indicated that Tri-Valley has ordered six buses, which are expected to be here in February. However, it has been informed that the buses may arrive as late as July due to COVID-19-related issues. Eighty percent of the cost of each bus is covered by state or federal money while 20% is covered by local resources.

County Board scheduled a meeting for the Joint Ditch Authority to consider cleaning about half-a-mile of JD 13. The meeting, which will include three Pennington County commissioners and two Marshall County commissioners, will be held Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 8 a.m. at the Justice Center.

The next County Board meeting is scheduled Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. at the Justice Center.