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The Koochiching County Board of Commissioners took a significant step toward securing long-term emergency medical services for the region at its January 13, 2026 regular meeting, voting unanimously to schedule a public hearing on the establishment of an ambulance subordinate service district.
The meeting convened at 9:30 a.m. in the County Board Room at the Koochiching County Courthouse in International Falls and adjourned at 10:04 a.m.
Four of the five commissioners were present: Sjoblom, Roche, McIntyre, and Erickson. Commissioner Hell was absent. Also in attendance were Caryn Mackey, Nathan Heibel, Trent Nicholson, Joan Nelson, Margaret Higham, and Darcy Sullivan.
Motion 2026/01-21, moved by Erickson and seconded by Sjoblom, set a public hearing for February 24, 2026 on the establishment of an ambulance subordinate service district. The hearing will begin at 5:30 p.m., following a rescheduled regular county board meeting at 3:30 p.m. that same evening. All four commissioners voted in favor.
The topic carried through into committee reports as well. Board Chair Roche noted ongoing work with the City of International Falls on ambulance service planning, and Commissioner Sjoblom listed ambulance funding as a key area of focus in current intergovernmental discussions.
Motion 2026/01-18, moved by Sjoblom and seconded by McIntyre, approved courthouse claims totaling $450,977.11. All four commissioners voted in favor.
The board also authorized the county’s annual audit engagement. Motion 2026/01-19, moved by Erickson and seconded by McIntyre, approved a signature on the 2025 Audit Engagement Letter. Vote: unanimous.
An appointment to a regional corrections board was added to the agenda at the start of the meeting. Motion 2026/01-20, moved by Sjoblom and seconded by McIntyre, approved recommending Willi Kostiuk to represent the county on the Arrowhead Regional Corrections Advisory Board. All four commissioners voted yes.
The board acted on several items from the Land Department:
Motion 2026/01-24, moved by McIntyre and seconded by Erickson, approved renewal of the Joint Powers Agreement with the Minnesota DNR for the Rainy River Boat Landing. All four commissioners voted in favor.
Motion 2026/01-26, moved by Sjoblom and seconded by Erickson, authorized the Highway Engineer to seek bids for a sweeper attachment for front-end loaders. The vote was unanimous.
Commissioners shared updates from their regional committee work:
No public comments were heard.
Motion 2026/01-16, moved by Erickson and seconded by Sjoblom, approved the meeting agenda with the addition of the Arrowhead Regional Corrections Advisory Board appointment item and no deletions. Motion 2026/01-17, moved by McIntyre and seconded by Sjoblom, approved the minutes from the January 6, 2026 regular meeting with no corrections.
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
