Date: June 16, 2026

Time: 5:00 PM

Attendance: Commissioners: Gillie, Younggren, Johnson, Swenson and Jones.

1. Call to Order 

The meeting was called to order by Chair Younggren.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

3. Approval of Agenda

Motion: To add agenda item 8b consider approval of quote to purchase shoulder machine repair parts.

Motion by: Commissioner Gillie

Second by: Commissioner Jones

Motion carried.

Motion: To approve the agenda with the addition.

Motion by: Commissioner Jones

Second by: Commissioner Johnson

Motion carried.

4. Public Comment

Chair Younggren asked for public comment. Hearing none.

5. Approval of Board Minutes

Motion: To approve June 2, 2026 minutes.

Motion by: Commissioner Gillie

Second by: Commissioner Swenson

Motion carried.

Motion: To approve the bills and meals.

Motion by: Commissioner Gillie

Second by: Commissioner Jones

Motion carried.

·       Commissioner’s                          $89,286.71

·       Auditor’s

§  June 1, 2026                   $79,401.95

§  June 3, 2026                   $59,937.76

§  June 4, 2026                   $51,019.77

§  June 4, 2026                   $1,048,360.75

§  June 10, 2026                 $130,111.21

o   Meal Reimbursements                              $10.14

7. Kittson County Sheriff Matt Vig

a.     Vig asked the Board for approval to hire part-time deputies.  Both employees are currently employed by the county.  One is a part-time dispatcher, the other a full-time dispatcher.   Administrator Sugden stated her concern for hiring the part-time dispatcher as there is no union agreement covering this position, so until there is a MOU in place the county would be at risk.  Commissioner Younggren’s concern was this is a temporary six month position, if two are hired and this temporary position is discontinued we’d have to let two people go.

Motion: To approve to hire Kayleen Kjelland as the part-time deputy at Grade 9, Step 1.

Motion by: Commissioner Johnson

Second by: Commissioner Gillie

Motion carried.

8. Kittson County Highway Engineer Arthur 

       a.   Kukowski presented for approval an estimate from the Highway Department for a culvert installation on County Road 56.  There has been a history of issues with this culvert and road for many years.  Multiple fixes have been performed with little success.  The cost of the project is $6,710.33.

Motion: To approve the estimate.

Motion by: Commissioner Gillie

Second by: Commissioner Swenson

Motion carried.

b.     Kukowski then asked for approval to purchase repair parts for the shouldering machine.  The machine is currently down.  The cost of the parts is $5,432.00.  The work will be done internally by Shop Foreman Jason Weleski.

Motion: To approve the purchase.

Motion by: Commissioner Swenson

Second by: Commissioner Johnson

Motion carried.

9. Kittson County CFO Shirley Swenson

       a.   Swenson presented Resolution #26-10

WHEREAS, Benefits to Kittson County for participation in the Minnesota Council on Local Results and Innovation’s comprehensive performance measurement program are outlined in MS 6.91 and include eligibility for a reimbursement as set by State statute; and

WHEREAS, Any city/county participating in the comprehensive performance measurement program is also exempt from levy limits for taxes, if levy limits are in effect; and

WHEREAS, The Kittson County Board has adopted and implemented at least 10 of the performance measures, as developed by the Council on Local Results and Innovation, and a system to use this information to help plan, budget, manage and evaluate programs and processes for optimal future outcomes; and

NOW THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED THAT, The Kittson County will continue to report the results of the performance measures to its citizenry by the end of the year through publication, direct mailing, posting on the county’s website, or through a public hearing at which the budget and levy will be discussed and public input allowed.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Kittson County will submit to the Office of the State Auditor the actual results of the performance measures adopted by the county.

Adopted by the Kittson County Board of Commissioners this 16th day of June 2026.

along with the 2025 Performance Measures Outcome Report.  The County entered into this program in 2025 and received $563.00.  The Outcome Report must be submitted annually to receive funding.

Motion: To approve Resolution #26-10 and the Performance Measures Outcome Report.

Motion by: Commissioner Gillie

Second by: Commissioner Swenson

Motion carried.

      b.   Swenson informed the Board that Marco was giving the County a complimentary upgrade to our current Managed Detection and Response service.  The County’s current MDR is Perch which will be upgraded to Arctic Wolf at no additional cost.

10. Kittson County Public Health Director Jeanna Kujava

a.     Kujava was unable to attend so Administrator Sugden presented for approval the Maternal Child Health Service Agreement between Pennington and Red Lake County Public Health & Home Care and Kittson County.  This agreement is to provide Maternal Child Health services to eligible individuals and families residing in Kittson County. The Provider Service PHN is $54.92 per hour with the Provider Service Admin at $65.00 per hour.

Motion: To approve the agreement.

Motion by: Commissioner Gillie

Second by: Commissioner Jones

Motion carried.

11. Kittson County Administrator Aimee Sugden

a.     Sugden presented to the board the 2027 budget timeline.  Budget info has been given to department heads.  Union negotiations will begin soon.

12. Other Business

a.     Commissioner Swenson brought up the need for an increase in the county’s beaver reimbursement.  The county currently pays $75.00 per beaver that is possessed in one of the county’s legal ditches.  With rising costs he asked the Board to consider raising the bounty to $100.00.

Motion: To approve setting the beaver bounty at $100.00.

Motion by: Commissioner Jones

Second by: Commissioner Johnson

Motion carried.

 

13. Committee Reports

Commissioner Gillie~AMC District 3, Northern Counties Coalition

Commissioner Younggren~NWRDC

Commissioner Jones~AMC District 3, Markit

Commissioner Johnson~None

Commissioner Swenson~SD 84, JD 31 with Two Rivers Watershed, Markit

14. Correspondence

Sugden received a report from the Middle Snake Tamarac on some potential changes.

15. Upcoming Meetings

Continued Ditch Hearing Tuesday, June 23, 2026 @ 9:00 am

Regular Board Tuesday, July 7 @ 9:00 am

Sugden reported the DMV is now open.  The courthouse will have no power beginning Thursday, June 18 for replacement of the electrical service.

15. Recess

Motion: To approve to recess at 5:45 pm  

Motion by: Commissioner Swenson

Second by: Commissioner Jones

Motion carried.

 

Loren Younggren, Chair                                  _________________________________
Kittson County Board of Commissioners

Shirley Swenson, Chief Financial Officer              _________________________________
Kittson County