The Grand Forks County Commission voted 4-1 to establish the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program as a new county department, contingent on receipt of the federal notice of award from the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services and final review by the county's state's attorney. The county set an effective date of Oct. 1 for the transition.

Administrator Ford told the commission the WIC program would be "100% federally funded program" and that WIC employees and the WIC director would become county employees while the funding would be provided by the federal grant. He said the county would not use the general fund for the program and that the WIC office would remain at the Grand Cities Mall.

Administrator Ford said the county is awaiting the FY26 notice of award and asked the commission to approve creating a county department for WIC "contingent on the final notice of grant award from North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, and final review from Miss Wamstad, state's attorney's office, and make that effective October 1." He also thanked county human resources, finance and tax, the state's attorney's office, IT and the state WIC office for help preparing the request.

Commissioner Ross asked whether federal funding could be cut; Administrator Ford replied there was no concern from state Health and Human Services staff that the program would be defunded and described the pending document as a bureaucratic step. Ford noted the commission recently approved a policy allowing reductions in force if a department loses program funding.

Administrator Ford said the county would receive a modest administrative reimbursement for processing the grant and related billing, roughly $6,000 a year, to offset staff time. He described the county role as ensuring continued local access to nutrition services and said the program serves Larimore, Grand Forks and Grand Forks Air Force Base.

Commissioner Cindy moved to approve the county taking on the WIC program effective Oct. 1; a motion to condition the approval on receipt of the federal grant award and legal review was accepted during the discussion. One commissioner said during discussion that they would not vote in favor because they did not run to grow government and preferred seeking another nonprofit; that commissioner voted no. The motion passed 4-1.

Carolyn Stanislowski, identified in the meeting as the WIC program director, and Tess Wolf, identified as the public health director, were present for questions. Tammy Knutson was also listed as attending.