Cuts in federal funding could have an impact on library services throughout Minnesota.
That was part of the discussion last Tuesday as Great River Regional Library (GRRL) Director Karen Pundsack addressed the Sherburne County Board.
She said because of federal disruptions, a program called Minitex could be affected. Minitex is a service where library patrons can request a book from any source, even if it is not in the GRRL system.
“It’s a service we use to do inter-library loans across the state,” she said. “Inter-library loan means you can get a book from places like University of St. Thomas, University of Minnesota, St. John’s, St. Ben’s or Thief River Falls Public Library within a couple of days. It’s one of those services that runs behind the scenes.”
Pundsack said in the State of Minnesota, federal library funding goes to the state library and then it’s sub-granted to Minitex, which is the agency that handles inter-library loan and the electronic library of Minnesota, which is a huge number of databases that are available publicly to any resident. The Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library is also impacted by federal funding at the state library.
Pundsack said Minitex is used widely. About 16% of items requested so far in 2025 have been inter-library loaned.
“That’s about 960 items. Multiply that by $25 and that’s roughly the dollars we would have spent out of local funds,” she said, “and that’s one small snippet of what they’re offering.”
Pundsack said there are two bills at the state level to support Minitex operational funding. She asked that the board consider passing a resolution for support of the program
Administrator Bruce Messelt said they would work on language for a resolution and have it ready for board consideration at a meeting in May.
Cannabis Enforcement
The board approved joint powers agreements with Blue Hill Twp., Palmer Twp. and Orrock Twp. for the enforcement and regulation of cannabis retail business registration. Any fees or penalties collected for retail registration and enforcement will remain entirely with the county.
Parcel Donation
The board accepted the donation of a small parcel from William and Annette McGowen. The parcel is a small clean-up of highway right-of-way from a 2003 project on Co. Rd. 45. The county’s cost to accept the donation will be the filing fee.
Clothing Donations
The board approved and authorized Community Corrections to continue to accept ongoing clothing donations from Community Corrections and Judicial Branch staff for clients and their families. The clothing closet allows juvenile and adult clients to obtain clothing for themselves or their family, free of cost, for job interviews, work/school obligations, winter weather and other occasions.
Labor Agreement
The board approved a Collective Bargaining Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding with Teamsters Health & Human Services General Unit for the period of Jan.1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2026. The agreement includes a 5% range adjustment in 2025 and 3% in 2026, plus a 3% general adjustment both years. County contributions for health insurance premiums for 2025 are as follows: Single ($1,021.12), single plus children ($1,748.38), single plus spouse ($1,821.50), family ($2,187.10).
Corrections Appointments
The board approved the appointment of the following individuals to the 2025 Sherburne County Community Corrections Advisory Board: Rebecca Tveten, citizen: Anne Felber, citizen; Andrew Hulse, Sherburne County Commissioner; Willie Swanson, DOC Field Services Program Director; Corey Mabis-Rowe, Sherburne County Community Corrections Director; Katie Beckman, Sherburne County Community Corrections Career Probation Officer; Nicole Stottlemyre, ISD 728 Coordinator of Prevention and Safety; Honorable Judge Walter Kaminsky, 10th Judicial District Judge (Chair);
Joel Brott, Sherburne County Sheriff; Steve Doran, Sherburne County Chief Deputy (Alternate); Elisabeth Spilde, Sherburne County Lead Assistant County Attorney (Vice Chair); Jordan Krogstad, Sherburne County Chief Managing Attorney - Public Defense; Amanda Larson, Sherburne County Health & Human Services Director; Jodi Heurung-Dick, Sherburne County Health & Human Services Planner (Alternate); Hannah-Ruth Patterson, Rivers of Hope Executive Director.
Park Restoration
The board approved a professional services contract with Natural Resource Services, Inc. for habitat restoration and enhancement work at Two Inlets at Bdé Heḣáka - Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans Regional Park and Island View Park at a cost of $274,238.24, which will be reimbursed to the county from Clean Water Land and Legacy Funding.
Other Business
In other actions the board:
• Proclaimed the week of April 13-19, 2025 as Public Safety Telecommunications Week in Sherburne County;
• Approved reimbursement for Commissioner Felber for expenses totalling $855.08 incurred while attending the March 2025 NACo Legislative Conference;
• Approved the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership, JUUL Amendment between the MN Dept. of Health and Sherburne Co. in the amount of $10,000 to continue work on commercial tobacco-free strategies ;
• Approved a one-year contract renewal with Lutheran Social Services for the Keeping Families Together Program for a cost not to exceed $95,444.
The program will continue to provide intensive case management and family preservation services with the focus on permanent supportive housing with families currently involved in the child welfare system.
