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The Koochiching County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. in the County Board Room at the Koochiching County Courthouse. All five commissioners — Sjoblom, Roche, McIntyre, Hell, and Erickson — were present.
In the most significant action of the meeting, the board unanimously adopted a resolution supporting further study and exploration of a regional water system in Koochiching County (Motion 2026/02-20, moved by McIntyre, seconded by Hell).
The resolution cites challenges facing Minnesota communities, including aging water infrastructure, workforce shortages, regulatory compliance, and long-term supply planning. It states that regional approaches to water supply and treatment could increase efficiency, improve resiliency, reduce duplication of infrastructure, and achieve economies of scale.
The county affirmed its full support for all applications and requests to state and federal agencies seeking funding assistance for the planning, development, and completion of a regional water project.
Commissioners approved submitting an application for federal funding of up to $750,000 for an emergency services garage and training facility (Motion 2026/02-21, moved by Sjoblom, seconded by McIntyre). The motion passed unanimously.
The board approved the following financial items:
The board awarded Falls CDJR a contract for a 2026 Ram 1500 4×4 Tradesman Quad Cab pickup truck at a cost of $40,739, with a $3,000 trade-in allowance for a 2014 Ram 1500 4×4 (Motion 2026/02-26, moved by Erickson, seconded by Hell).
Land Commissioner Nathan Heibel reported on the Jan. 28 timber auction: all 17 tracts sold, totaling 24,774 cords for a total auction sale value of $768,217.50. The average Aspen price was $36.74 per cord and the average price for all species was $31.00 per cord.
Commissioners set aside $40,000 for park reserves and $150,000 for timber and resource development reserves from the 2025 Trust Fund income (Motion 2026/02-27, moved by Erickson, seconded by McIntyre). Promotional funds of $10 per capita from the Trust Fund will be split with 43% going to cities within the county (46% of that to International Falls, the rest split equally among smaller cities) and 57% to the Koochiching County Development Authority for tourism, agriculture, and industrial promotion.
The board authorized the Highway Department to advertise and seek bids for project SAP 036-636-009, a full-depth reclamation and resurfacing of approximately 10 miles of CSAH 36 in Mizpah (Motion 2026/02-28, moved by Erickson, seconded by Hell).
Two conditional use permits were approved:
Board Chair Roche asked for public comment. No public comments were heard.
The meeting adjourned at 4:49 p.m. (Motion 2026/02-32, moved by Sjoblom, seconded by Hell).
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
