BEMIDJI — Several important topics were discussed during Tuesday’s Beltrami County Board of Commissioners meeting, including a proposed $180,000 grant to assist veterans through a mobile claims unit, a brief update on the ongoing jail project and a presentation on the 2025 county budget.

In addition, the board considered the possibility of civil marriages and declared a state of emergency in response to the damage caused by the July 31 storm.

Beltrami County is seeking a $180,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs to fund a mobile claims unit aimed at providing services to veterans in rural and tribal areas.

The unit consists of a four-wheel-drive truck and a year-round trailer and allows the county to assist veterans with claims, benefits and social services without having to travel to Bemidji.

“We will be seeking this grant with the approval of the board… we are requesting $180,000 for a mobile claims unit,” said Shane Gustafson, veterans services commissioner. “This will allow us to go out there and help veterans in our underserved communities and also in our tribal areas to reach our veterans who just can’t make it to Bemidji.”

Gustafson emphasized that 289 veterans in the county are still not enrolled in VA medical services. The mobile unit will provide education in places like Red Lake, Kelliher and Blackduck and provide additional support at local events and in emergencies.

“The main goal is to reach our veterans who are simply underserved and cannot come to Bemidji,” Gustafson said.

The grant would cover two years of operating costs, including the vehicle, trailer and necessary equipment. The county expects to submit the grant application by August 30.

County Administrator Tom Barry provided an update on the prison project, adding that the design has been completed and submitted to both the state and city for review.

He explained that the state review is expected to take five to six months, which will delay the groundbreaking.

“The fee for this review will be several hundred thousand, so we are making preparations accordingly,” Barry added.

The contractor pre-qualification package has been compiled and publicly advertised. The aim is to ensure that all bidders meet key qualifications, including “fiduciary responsibility, experience with projects of similar nature, size and scope, and project management skills”.

Once the pre-qualification is completed, the district initiates the formal tendering process.

“We hope to reach the guaranteed maximum price here shortly,” said Barry, referring to the final cost of the project.

He also stressed the need to set prices for key materials with long lead times, such as cells and heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment.

Barry also briefly summarized the 2025 county budget.

“We are in the process of finalizing the budget and it still fluctuates a little here and there as we get refinements and last-minute updates from some of our suppliers, like insurance providers and the like,” he said.

He also explained that the first presentation will be made at the September 3 meeting to give the board time to review the plan and propose adjustments.

The goal is to have the preliminary budget and levies finalized by the end of September. Barry stressed that if more time is needed, “we can call a special session.”

Leala Roth, director of the License Center, presented the idea of ​​offering civil marriage ceremonies in Beltrami County to the board.

She explained that a civil marriage is a simple, legal process performed by a government official and focuses only on the legal requirements of marriage. It is usually short, with few guests and no religious or cultural elements.

In contrast, a traditional wedding often involves religious or cultural rituals, is more elaborate and often includes a larger celebration with family and friends.

“It’s a relatively new service offered by many counties across the state,” Roth said.

She added that new legislation now allows district employees over the age of 21 to register as clergy and perform ceremonies.

“Hennepin County just started in April of this year and in the first two months they performed 242 weddings,” Roth said.

Beltrami County, which sells about 250 marriage licenses annually, could meet the growing demand from couples looking for an easy, affordable option.

“Several couples have asked us after getting their license, ‘Do you perform these ceremonies here? What’s my next step? Where can I go? I don’t have a big wedding. What can I do?'” Roth said.

This would provide an additional option for these couples, especially if they cannot immediately get an appointment with a judge or court administrator.

The service will be by appointment, will last approximately 10 to 20 minutes in total, and up to six guests may attend. The county will employ staff who are registered as clergy to conduct the ceremony to ensure an efficient process.

“You can get your license, have your ceremony and get a certified copy of your marriage certificate – all in one office,” she said.

Roth noted that before launching the service, the county would need to establish a fee structure and guidelines for clergy registration and guest attendance.

“It is a source of income for our district,” she explained.

In a quick decision during the meeting, the board also declared a state of emergency in response to the July 31 storm that struck southern Beltrami County, including the city of Bemidji.

The statement came as part of the county’s efforts to obtain possible disaster compensation from the state.

“It’s up to us to declare an emergency, do the preliminary damage assessment and see if we get an emergency and possibly get a 75% reimbursement,” said Chris Muller, Beltrami County Emergency Management Director.

The county is near the $106,324 damage threshold needed to require a PDA; current estimates are $99,655.

Eligible entities, including the county, city of Bemidji, highway department and Beltrami Electric Co-op, may receive a 75% reimbursement from the state’s Emergency Disaster Assistance Account.

However, federal aid is not to be expected.

“This would essentially be a refund to the county, the highway department and the city, as well as the Beltrami Electric Co-op,” Muller added.

The declaration and upcoming assessments aim to reduce the financial burden on local entities affected by the storm.

The entire meeting and work session can be viewed on the Beltrami County YouTube channel.