The Sherburne County Board Tuesday approved an agreement with Marco to provide additional safety-related countywide phone and communication services.
The current countywide VoIP phone system, which enables calling over the internet, was implemented 2024. Since the system went live, the current cloud-based service provider has struggled to deliver the level of reliability required for mission-critical communications.
For a 24/7 law enforcement, corrections and emergency services agency, dependable phone service is essential to maintaining operational readiness and ensuring public safety. But over the past year, Sheriff Dept. staff have consistently reported a wide range of telephone issues, including phones continuing to ring after being answered, calls failing to connect, incorrect caller ID information, dropped calls and an inability to place calls outside the county or reach certain internal extensions. In some cases, users have encountered a complete lack of a dial tone.
The ongoing problems significantly disrupt daily operations and hinder the agency’s ability to communicate effectively.
Staff has recommended contracting with Marco to implement necessary system improvements and add additional countywide intercom communication capabilities.
The total project cost is $183,382. One half of the expenses are contained within IT’s budgeted departmental professional services and previously approved ARPA project funds ($90,000 total). The additional costs will be covered by the Sheriff’s Office’s Commissary funds ($93,400).
Labor Law Agreement
The board approved a professional services agreement with Wiley Reber Law Office for labor and employment law services from March 1, 2026 - Feb. 28, 2029. The agreement provides for an increase from $6,290/month to $6,500/month, plus expenses. The Wiley Reber Law Office will receive a 3% increase on Jan. 1 of each year of the agreement.
Staff Position
The board approved a request for one Lead Public Service Specialist in the Sheriff’s Dept.
The Lead Public Service Specialist (Grade 9) provides a vital daily service in the ability for the office to perform all processes of court ordered protection orders, restraining orders, and all other legal service filed through the Sheriff’s Office.
Increases in the volume of court orders and legal services over the past five years has left the office vulnerable when this position is on leave for any period of time.
Partial funding of the added position would be covered by the increased civil process fees, which were adopted by the county board in September 2025. In addition, the Sheriff’s Office would eliminate an Administrative Specialist position (Grade 6) in another division through attrition.
The job rate difference between a Grade 6 and a Grade 9 totals $14,714.14 per year.
Canvassing Board
The board appointed Commissioners Andrew Hulse and Brad Schumacher to serve on the county canvassing board to review and approve the results of the Primary Election (Aug. 11) and the General Election (Nov. 3). Canvassing dates are Aug. 14 and Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. in the Maple Room of the Sherburne County Govt. Center.
The Elections Canvassing Board will consist of two County Commissioners, County Auditor/Treasurer, Court Administrator or appointee, and the Mayor or Board Chair of the City of Elk River.
Ballot Board
The board passed a resolution to establish an Absentee Ballot Board and UOCAVA (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Voting Act) Absentee Ballot Board for the 2026 Election Year.
The ballot board will bring uniformity in processing, accepting or rejecting returned absentee ballots in Sherburne County.
Veterans Summit
The board approved out of state travel for the County Veterans Services Officer (CVSO) to attend the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO) Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. March 22-26, 2026.
The primary focus at the summit will be legislation to protect veterans and family members from fraud. Predatory actors, aka “claim sharks,” target veterans with fraudulent promises of guaranteed benefits, violate federal and Minnesota law, and act without oversight by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which results in an illegal, unregulated, disingenuous, profit-motivated business model that separates a disproportionate amount of benefits from veterans.
Other Business
In other actions the board:
• Approved the renewal of a multi-year agreement with Palo Alto Networks for firewall licensing and support through Jan. 2031 at a cost of $316,519.46;
• Approved the donation of the remaining obsolete Sheriff’s Office radios to Hand in Hand Logistics. Emergency Management has a supply of 73 XTL radios that are approximately 12-15 years old. The radios are no longer physically or electronically supported and have not been utilized by the Sheriff’s Office or county staff for several years.
Hand in Hand Logistics is a Minnesota based 501(c)(3) organization established to facilitate delivery of humanitarian aid internationally;
• Approved the Preliminary and Final Simple Plats of “Creekside Woods” and “Creekwoods Two,”consisting of two lots on 71.8 acres in the Agricultural District and the Transition River District of the St. Francis River at Co. Rd. 3 and Co. Rd. 11 in Santiago Twp.
