by April Scheinoha
Reporter

Community Strong is receiving some county support. At its meeting Tuesday, Feb. 28, the Pennington County Board approved donating $5,000 to the mental health advocacy group in Pennington County.

Community Strong is comprised of people representing multiple disciplines, including county school districts, public health, human services, Sanford Health and faith-based groups. Sarah Lefebvre, representing Community Strong, said the organization is planning to take over the annual Be The Voice mental health and suicide awareness event.

Commissioner Bruce Lawrence complimented Community Strong’s recent mental health awareness event that coincided with a boys basketball game between Thief River Falls and Goodridge-Grygla.

Lefebvre said the organization may hold similar events in the future at other athletic contests.

County Coordinator Kevin Erickson provided an update on the remodeling project on the third floor of the Government Center. While exposing piping for the old jury room bathrooms, Schmitz Builders found the pipe was wrapped in asbestos. ACCT Inc. was called to return to the Government Center to abate the asbestos. Erickson said ACCT was able to wrap the pipe, cut it out and remove it from the building a day before the County Board meeting. ACCT provided an estimate of about $4,000 to $5,000 for its work.

Schmitz Builders is renovating the third floor to house the Pennington County Human Services Department. The project, estimated to cost $1,498,500, began in February.

The third floor will be gutted and remodeled. The remodeled third floor will feature a large space for cubicles as well as space for six offices, two meeting rooms, three interview rooms, a waiting room, a work room, a nursing room for staff, and storage areas. Bathrooms will also be renovated as part of the project. The project takes into account future space needs for PCHS.

With the exception of some time when first floor offices were being remodeled, the third floor of the Government Center has been vacant since court administration moved to the Justice Center. Currently, the Child Support Division works on the second floor of the Government Center and other PCHS employees work at the PCHS building along Knight Avenue.

In the past, commissioners have briefly discussed selling the Knight Avenue building once PCHS’ operations were consolidated at the Government Center.

County Board approved seeking bids for maintenance projects this summer. Assistant County Engineer Alex Bladow said the county plans to complete shoulder work on the west side of the county, striping on the east side of the county and crack sealing in the center of the county.

Commissioners approved overtime for Deputy Assessor/Appraiser Ashley Benson through Friday, May 19. Benson will be paid for a maximum of 120 hours of overtime.

County Assessor Carl Bruzek brought the request to commissioners at their last meeting. Commissioners then tabled the matter until the Budget Committee could consider it.

Erickson indicated that the Budget Committee recommended a maximum of 120 hours instead of 150 hours as requested by Bruzek to cope with additional work resulting from a staffing shortage in the County Assessor’s Office.

County Board approved hiring Sara Timm as a part-time corrections officer, effective March 1.
Sheriff Seth Vettleson told commissioners that the sheriff’s office continues to be short three corrections officers. After the application period ended for the recently-advertised corrections officer positions, Vettleson heard some individuals were interested in the positions. After Vettleson spoke of that interest, commissioners approved advertising again for corrections/dispatch positions.

Commissioners accepted the resignation of Trey Kjono, PCHS eligibility worker. In a separate, related motion, commissioners approved posting, interviewing and hiring for the vacant position.

County Board accepted the resignation of Katrina Fessler, PCHS family-based services worker. The position is a shared position with the Kittson County Human Services Department. Julie Sjostrand, PCHS director, requested that commissioners wait to consider refilling the position until the Kittson County Board can consider the matter.

Commissioners approved hiring Lucas Fornshell, effective Monday, March 13. Fornshell will work as the deputy auditor-accounting/payroll manager.

The next County Board meeting is scheduled Tuesday, March 14 at 10 a.m. at the Justice Center.