[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6516465,"mediaKeyId","5666725-805bfe8ed33e6526861ae9efd438dad6","parentId",5666725,"title","Community Health Board ratifies $800,000 state public health infrastructure grant, approves LOI for cannabis/substance-use funding","audioSeconds",135,"startMs",3120000,"endMs",3255000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5666725-805bfe8ed33e6526861ae9efd438dad6&start=3120&end=3255","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5666725-805bfe8ed33e6526861ae9efd438dad6/thumbnail_3120000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6516465/Benton-County/Minnesota/Community-Health-Board-ratifies-800000-state-public-health-infrastructure-grant-approves-LOI-for-cannabissubstance-use-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6516465-9a51908186bd2fb82d76c3b42c3a18f9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775114609&Signature=O~s~4il-ComSZTX190PwIPe3z7LslYHHydLYwmuCmXdZEdwSub~AI42ekK1nPDc19OiyTRE3N3Dhs63he3Ihu17t3XpmBuNoJ9sfnB~4SgeoDb2Bh5lw8shQoW7xXwFiolwC-iZpgDeEo2-A62amGA2tfBup4qFJP6wgyYygPUE66S~ruoJVt9l6xRDaYvoeIUds6kg7eiKjMncHZNpJzicKXDi0PJWptVnZNIRycovVGQLSR5Iabl42a7hyUch64dLIn6uyIdT7~QgWUemz7mfXVt6VvbrYBg1eKEMJwdedeDyxaTG1u79C0bjYM8d49r-MyVAy77IhFhvRy0UhOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Benton County MN","date","2025-07-01T00:00:00Z","article","The Benton County Community Health Board ratified a Minnesota public health state infrastructure grant award that the board said will provide $800,000 total (noted as $400,000 per year) for work with the Central Minnesota Alliance and partner agencies to strengthen regional community health assessment and community health improvement planning.

Board members said the funding will be used initially to formalize the Central Minnesota Alliance governance (working with the county attorney
nd partners) and later to support hiring a program manager and a data analyst for regional public-health work. The state selected the county
pplication in part because the county works collaboratively with local health systems (CentraCare) and other regional partners.

Separately, the Community Health Board authorized submission of a letter of intent by July 15 to indicate the county's intent to renew participation in state cannabis and substance-use prevention funding. The county's current award for that program was stated in the meeting as approximately $106,076; the state will determine final amounts and whether annual intent submissions are required for multi-year funding.

Why it matters

The infrastructure grant provides funding to formalize a regional governance approach and to pay for staff and data support to carry out the federally and state-required community health assessment and resulting improvement plan. Renewal of the cannabis and substance-use prevention funding will let Benton County continue local prevention programming under state grant rules.

Board action and next steps

The board ratified the infrastructure contract and approved the LOI for the cannabis/substance-use funding. Staff will work with the county attorney and regional partners to develop formal agreements (memorandum of understanding or other structures) and will proceed to recruit or contract for program and data positions once governance agreements are in place.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 1, 2025 Benton County, Minnesota Board Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The county's Community Health Board ratified an $800,000 Minnesota public health infrastructure grant (two-year disbursement of $400,000 annually) to support regional community health assessment and improvement planning and authorized a letter of intent to renew state cannabis and substance-use prevention funding.","taxTitle","Benton County, Minnesota","taxId",73140,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6516469,"County to seek new ancillary benefits broker, approves follow-up employee engagement survey",533,1709000,2242000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5666725-805bfe8ed33e6526861ae9efd438dad6&start=1709&end=2242","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5666725-805bfe8ed33e6526861ae9efd438dad6/thumbnail_1709000.jpg","/articles/6516469/Benton-County/Minnesota/County-to-seek-new-ancillary-benefits-broker-approves-follow-up-employee-engagement-survey","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6516469-418c0a5f6f1abf074f532cff9d89d36f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775114609&Signature=OKuBqi~KcfMiL9fecQID4lMuy2dr8d1lRkn-YAz1MV6s4fBaUczdcWqF3MnUJfTAf0xI-qdKudOFFzkUBX~kGoy~p787VKEKduvLufdafgbRsWD3W1a2cvtXp91RDD6UUHWnuFwAqVorhadKLQy0n898BBhg8JaVUtYzlc5JaagragqUAuBvNXGMVLX8EOJzsgb2ALhWy2krRmUeZjdLy9HqdHOkZsPxiLdL2WfvsAl0tsgSVKm2UGzk5VeGLWnv7~XnVAqvU4yMZTYDpakblyvmJUQTBXuh4j~VWGOZIVxGH01MUeRB7OlgoMBGnjxpU32nOxn0AKn0bNB5EY4IsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Benton County benefits advisory committee (BAC) and the county culture team recommended that the county pursue Integrity Employee Benefits as a broker for ancillary insurance (life and long-term disability and voluntary ancillary lines). The board approved a motion to bring a contract to the board at a future date for consideration.

Integrity Employee Benefits presented its public-entity specialty and said it charges no direct consulting fee; instead, it is paid as a percentage of premiums and its work typically is reflected in the premiums quoted by carriers. Integrity representatives said their approach emphasizes full-market RFPs, hands-on service and education to increase participation in voluntary benefits.

Employee engagement follow-up survey

County administration proposed a one-year follow-up employee engagement survey through Employee Strategies to measure progress since the county\fonducted an initial engagement survey about a year earlier. The board approved the follow-up survey; the one-time cost is $16,500 and will be funded from the administrator's budget given a continuing vacancy in the county HR director position. The survey process will include an online survey, focus groups and targeted one-on-one interviews, and will result in a management briefing with recommended next steps.

Culture team update

Mallory, the culture team chair, briefed the board on internal initiatives (intranet culture pages, \"department of the month,\" onboarding/training SharePoint work and benefits-committee outreach including PERA presentations). The benefits committee said it had worked to bring education and optional local discounts to employees and reported turnout figures for recent PERA sessions.

Why it matters

A broker change for ancillary benefits could alter plan options and employee education; the follow-up survey is intended to measure cultural progress after previous engagement work and to guide next steps in recruitment, training and benefits outreach.

","Benton County\u000benefits advisory committee recommended switching brokers for ancillary benefits to Integrity Employee Benefits; the board approved a motion to bring a contract back for signature and approved a $16,500 follow-up employee engagement survey funded from the administrator's budget.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6516475,"Benton County awards multiple road contracts, hears contractor request for extra days on Gilman project",492,3534000,4026000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5666725-805bfe8ed33e6526861ae9efd438dad6&start=3534&end=4026","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5666725-805bfe8ed33e6526861ae9efd438dad6/thumbnail_3534000.jpg","/articles/6516475/Benton-County/Minnesota/Benton-County-awards-multiple-road-contracts-hears-contractor-request-for-extra-days-on-Gilman-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6516475-15468a3136c76788d1597dc5e7e3c1e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775114609&Signature=WqKyJK5~LRjYy1QTda8DDZTXjSQWrV2WXLAym-VU5GK-M-E10oKNyP1kUVUWHPK9iYVi5rFKgAuUGyZXSOYCikx0~ZvdZx7mf3plN9WHIgz5zCyjwkYdvR2hCMVwpsK-obZHClZOFFzwJFfFdOHnCWCMyTPocT7LeU~Min78wbFoZAc1Qjs8NJ7uauglYSlvD2nMsYsnvEDmNQWPTZMBIPN0CnDcEjuZW7S~5m3gHrGpyzs5RuDTCYl4zt8dUwpwEa9usFjI-EhNn7SE1bsPoqGC~8nke~QDE9cCE3nbo54ZQKMwStJv773MWXGM~RK007095jlkch2GwTNa6zNs7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Benton County commissioners approved several public-works actions during the meeting: a federally funded pavement-marking contract, a county-city reconstruction contract contingent on the City of Gilman\foncurrence, an administrative cost-sharing agreement with Sauk Rapids and a special-road-use permit for Gilman Days. Separately, a prime contractor for the Conroe (Highway) project requested additional contract days because saturated soils and repeated rain have limited production.

Federal pavement-marking contract

County staff recommended and the board approved a construction contract with Century Traffic LLC to install permanent pavement markings, edge lines and a rumble strip; staff said the project turned from an anticipated 90 percent federal/10 percent local match to 100 percent federally funded. The contract amount awarded was $48,418. Commissioners recorded ayes to approve the award.

Gilman reconstruction contract (contingent)

Bids opened for a reconstruction project in the City of Gilman produced a low responsible bid from RL Larson Excavating LLC. County staff reported the total project low bid at $3,266,382.64 (county + city portions), which was considerably under engineer estimates; the county-only portion low bid was $2,687,885.80. The board voted to award the construction contract to RL Larson Excavating LLC contingent upon concurrence by the City of Gilman (the city scheduled a special council meeting to review the bids). The county noted the city portion of the project came in far below the city engineer\u000estimate and staff asked the city to review the quantities.

Administrative agreement with Sauk Rapids

The board approved an administrative agreement with the City of Sauk Rapids for a roundabout project at CSAH 29 and CSAH 1. The agreement clarifies that the city will reimburse the county for its water/sewer costs and for right-of-way costs inside city limits; the county will front payments to the contractor and the city will reimburse within 21 days.

Special-road-use permit for Gilman Days

The board approved a special-road-use permit for the City of Gilman to close county roads for the Gilman Days parade. County staff told the board the low bidder for the reconstruction project expected not to start work until after the parade (contractor said start likely the Monday following the event), but the permit gives the city flexibility; the county suggested the city coordinate with the contractor and make a decision by July 15 whether to hold the parade.

Conroe project: contractor request for extension

Representatives for Hellman Construction requested a time extension on a county road contract (the Conroe project). Katie Novak of Hellman and prime contractor representatives said high soil saturation and rain have reduced productive working days; Novak described an original allocation of 78 working days for a subcontractor (Briskie Excavating), and said the subcontractor had lost 25 days of production to moisture. Hellman requested a total of 35 additional days past the August 1 completion date (including a 10-day allowance to dry/farm clay) and noted they did not ask for more days than they could document. County staff said they are reviewing the revised schedules and production documentation and had not yet issued a formal written response; staff noted liquidated damages of $3,000 per day apply after the contract completion date.

Why it matters

The awarded contracts start formal procurement steps for multiple road and safety projects; the Gilman contract is contingent on the city\foncurrence and scheduling around community events. The contractor request highlights schedule risk from weather and the county\u000balance between holding contractors to completion dates and recognizing production loss from unusually wet conditions.

","The county approved federal- and local-funded road contracts, authorized a Gilman reconstruction contract contingent on city concurrence, approved an administrative agreement with Sauk Rapids and discussed a contractor\u000extension request tied to saturated soils on a county road project.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6516480,"Benton County approves Government Center construction contracts amid public objections over financing",1357,359000,1716000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5666725-805bfe8ed33e6526861ae9efd438dad6&start=359&end=1716","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5666725-805bfe8ed33e6526861ae9efd438dad6/thumbnail_359000.jpg","/articles/6516480/Benton-County/Minnesota/Benton-County-approves-Government-Center-construction-contracts-amid-public-objections-over-financing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6516480-2caad9cc031d91d2de0d09103ce7c1af/orig.mp4?Expires=1775114609&Signature=AHXfV9K-Um3VMHcoT-bfBUZXb31NJa8fDmX4ZurMP9A2nuSIgbM6Pebqcj9IV1HShCxKYSaBQSpwm8RH8FKuhFIPf6LMGL2HrCOas1i8rdyyR6foMGYf4RerIqyj7DATv7UFM7Cg4FPj-oT7adrMx6ViwBS60~MYJ02vCnKBu0Mrxx0dlhB8QKhkW~hXkRc5SEmmlxoylsmpQwTOIYPhJhQ9feogSxOH4WMyS2CzpJf07hu91OYcBV3bWRwaLNWUPtnDu9GxjVrKqTQno1-hlEqrDuEMyUMqfVM77qIBB5vonl04hHw9iWgxljW194grFBYS1Nv0m9XKJlfTqi28UQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Benton County commissioners voted to approve construction contracts for the Government Center project and to authorize the board chair to sign the agreements, a step county staff said preserves bid pricing. The board also accepted three alternates for the project: a snow-melt system, formed concrete foundation walls and security glazing on front counter windows.

The decision drew public comment from petition organizers and residents who said they collected signatures seeking a reverse referendum on the project and who asked the board to disclose financing comparisons and show the project as a separate line item on property tax notices.

Why it matters: The contract approvals move the county closer to construction after bids were awarded June 17; petitioners say they sought a public vote and say the county
dopted a financing method they oppose. The board
ction preserves bid prices while other procedural steps (planning/HRA/other approvals noted in the meeting) continue to move ahead.

Board action and immediate outcome

County staff said the construction manager (Contegrity) brought 27 individual contract packages to the board to preserve the awarded bid amounts. County staff recommended an omnibus approval to authorize the board chair to sign all contracts; the board approved the motion and recorded ayes from the commissioners present.

Public comments and petitioners\foncerns

At the public-comment portion, Darrell Watercutt of St. Cloud and other speakers said they collected signatures they described as certified and expected the petition to trigger a public vote. Watercutt asked the board to disclose the additional financing cost the county would pay if the project is financed through a Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) method rather than through the county\fapital improvement (CIP) bonding route, and to show the project costs separately on property tax statements.

Mary Kaye Nordman, who said she helped gather signatures, and other residents said they were surprised by the county
pproach and that they felt the petition process had been undermined. Tim Adelmann voiced support for the board\recision to proceed without a referendum, saying large road and capital projects are routinely approved by elected officials rather than by ballot.

What the county said

County staff (construction management and administration) told the board the contract step was largely procedural to preserve contractor pricing and that formal contractor agreements and additional steps (including bonding, insurance, and any required administrative approvals) remain to be completed before physical work would begin.

Details and context

- Contracts: 27 contract packages tied to the Government Center bids as awarded on June 17. The accepted alternates were a snow-melt system, formed concrete foundation walls and security glazing for front counter windows. County staff said the amounts shown in the attachment to the agenda match the previously awarded bid totals.
- Procurement steps: staff reported issuance of letters of intent and that final contracts are the point at which the county is bound; this motion preserves the bid numbers while later approvals and contract finalization proceed.
- Public interest: petition organizers said they gathered signatures described in the meeting as certified (petition-count language in public comment was described variously during remarks). Petitioners asked the county to compute and publish the financing cost differential between the CIP bond approach and the HRA financing path the county is using.

What was not decided

The board did not change the financing method on the floor of the meeting; no formal vote to shift finance instruments occurred during the session recorded in the transcript. Staff said additional administrative steps and approvals remain (planning/HRA processes and contractor contract finalization).

Looking ahead

County staff will proceed with finalizing the contracts and related administrative steps. Petitioners said they will continue to press for public disclosure of comparative financing costs and for a separate tax-line presentation for the project on property tax statements for transparency.

","Benton County commissioners authorized 27 construction contracts for a new Government Center and accepted three bid alternates, while members of the public criticized the board\u000for pursuing a non-referendum financing route after a petition drive.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Community Health Board ratifies $800,000 state public health infrastructure grant, approves LOI for cannabis/substance-use funding

County to seek new ancillary benefits broker, approves follow-up employee engagement survey

Benton County awards multiple road contracts, hears contractor request for extra days on Gilman project

Benton County approves Government Center construction contracts amid public objections over financing