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Koochiching County commissioners gathered on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in the County Board Room at the Koochiching County Courthouse, moving through a full agenda that included new election equipment, recreational trail sponsorships, aquatic invasive species (AIS) inspection staffing, and several Environmental Services authorizations.
Present: Commissioners Sjoblom, Roche, and Erickson. Absent: Commissioners Hell and McIntyre. Also in attendance were Brian Johnson, Matt Gouin, Joan Nelson, Justin O’Bert, Tom Doroughty, Helen Tviet, Trent Nicholson, Adam Coe, and Darcy Sullivan. All motions passed by a unanimous vote of 3–0.
The board approved the meeting agenda with one deletion — item A.5, “Consider Fiscal Agent Request from Voyageur Country ATV Club Grant Application” — was removed from consideration (motion 2026/03-01). The minutes from the February 24, 2026 regular meeting were approved with no corrections (motion 2026/03-02).
The board approved the following payments and claims:
The board approved the purchase of five OmniBallot AVD units from SeaChange at a total cost of $19.7K (motion 2026/03-10). The purchase will be funded primarily from the current balance of restricted voter funds, with a general fund loan of $1,700 to cover the remainder — to be repaid using 2027 Voter funds.
The board approved the employment separation (retirement) of Nancy Heibel, Appraising Specialist, effective July 3, 2026, and authorized filling the vacant position (motion 2026/03-07).
Seven summer seasonal positions were also approved (motion 2026/03-08): five for the Highway Department and two for Environmental Services, per the county’s temporary/seasonal hire policy.
The board renewed its annual sponsorship of local recreational trail clubs through the MN Trails Assistance Grant-in-Aid Program for Fiscal Year 2026–2027 (motion 2026/03-11). The following clubs are included in the sponsorship:
Trails covered include the Blue Ox, Trans-Kooch, Caldwell Brook, Lundstrom, Hagerman, Voyageurs (entire trail system), Loman, and Tilson trails.
The board separately approved a letter of support for the Voyageur Country ATV Club’s FRTP grant application for trail maintenance equipment (motion 2026/03-09). During the roundtable, Commissioner Roche noted he was glad the board backed the club’s grant effort.
Two technology items were approved. The board authorized a one-year contract with Marco for eGoldFax, an electronic fax solution for the new Sheriff’s Office (motion 2026/03-12).
The board also approved the .GOV Domain Project through VC3 at a cost of $10.7K, funded from cybersecurity funds as required by MN Statute 471.3422 (motion 2026/03-13).
The board took five actions related to Environmental Services:
The board approved a letter of support — with Board Chair Roche authorized to sign — urging reinstatement of the ‘8 out of 10 Rule’ that was previously part of Minnesota Statute 103G.2241, subdivision 2 before being removed during the 2024 Legislative Session (motion 2026/03-19).
Board Chair Roche opened the floor for public comment. Helen Tviet, a county resident, asked whether the board planned to discuss the Ambulance District. Chair Roche informed her that the topic would be taken up during the Committee of the Whole meeting scheduled immediately following the regular board meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 10:15 a.m. (motion 2026/03-20).
Koochiching County is the second largest county in the state by land area, encompassing approximately 3,154 square miles!
Koochiching County has a government structure dedicated to meeting the needs of its rural communities. The county covers a vast area of nearly 3,100 square miles, making it one of the largest counties in the state. Its government provides essential services to residents, from public safety to land management, while also ensuring that the county’s natural beauty and resources are preserved.
Koochiching County is known for its vast forests, pristine lakes, and Rainy River. The county seat is International Falls, the “Icebox of the Nation”. Despite the cold, the area is a favorite... Read more
