By Robert Williams

Editor

Otter Tail County Commissioners set a public hearing date for a Subordinate Service District (SSD) in the Pelican Rapids Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Primary Service Area for Monday, Oct. 12, at 6:30 p.m., at the Pelican Rapids High School. The Service Area includes a large portion of the Vergas area.

The purpose of the SSD is to maintain emergency medical services in the Pelican Rapids Primary Service Area after Ringdahl Ambulance announced in late June it would not renew its license expiring in 2027 due to financial shortfalls.

At the time, CDH-Vergas Fire & Rescue Chief Jeff Zitzow stated this was a big concern as Ringdahl covers approximately half of the Vergas service area.

“It will affect us,” Zitzow said. “We just don’t know how, for sure yet. We’re hoping lines get redrawn a bit and Perham will cover more and St. Mary’s in Detroit Lakes. We’re still waiting to hear more on it.”

Frazee Rescue Chief Matthew Johnson also commented on the issue stating while his department does not need more work, the vicinity of Hobart Township makes potentially assisting a sensible request from his department. 

Currently, Frazee Rescue is limited by the county line, despite it being one mile from downtown Frazee. Johnson offered an idea similar to an agreement with Carsonville creating a mutual page zone.

Johnson also said he has an open door policy for his rescue colleagues in Vergas.

“If they need us to respond to anything there, just page us and we’ll show up,” he said. “It gives the people double the chance of people responding plus it gives them the chance of availability in general, and a quicker response time.”

In other EMS news, the county and State of Minnesota, acting through its Director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services, agreed to an amendment to the grant contract agreement with regards to the Sprint Medic Program.

The Sprint Medic program is a state-funded pilot initiative that stations roving, fully equipped advanced life support (ALS) paramedics in pickup trucks and SUVs to reach rural medical emergencies faster than traditional ambulances.

The program is in its final fiscal year, according to Emergency Manager Patrick Waletzko.

The amendment allocates the remaining dollars for fiscal year 2027, which ends June 30.

The program operated under budget in 2025 and 2026. There are two options after June of 2027 to make recommendations on if, as a pilot program, is it recommended as a viable statewide program? Other conversations have centered on seeking legislative approval to extend the pilot. Potentially, extra funds could be used, and the program extended, but not without legislative approval as the initial grant was for a specific period.

Data Centers

The board approved a letter of support for the filing of an application to a NACo Data Centers December peer education opportunity in South Carolina for 15-20 spots for a data center retreat to learn more about data centers onsite. The program is designed to support counties in adopting best practices and learn lessons in areas such as economic development, resource usage and community benefits of data center development. Travel and the retreat are paid for by NACo.

Commissioner Kurt Mortenson spoke in support of NACo training from past experience and feedback.

Vice Chair Dan Bucholz brought up the discussion on the county’s official stance on data centers, noting a landowner in a township in his district has expressed interest in building a data center. 

“We discussed that we would take them as they came before us, individually,” Commissioner Sean Sullivan said. “We also talked about a potential addition to our renewable energies ordinance, specifically for data centers, but we never made a decision.”

Commissioner Wayne D. Johnson noted if it’s outside lakeshore, the board has no say.

“Unless we do some kind of a moratorium, then we would have to develop an ordinance,” said Johnson. “It’s landowner rights, basically. If they want to sell it and develop it and the township doesn’t have any say in it, it’s game on for the data center.”

Sullivan noted that due to state policies, Minnesota is not a hotbed for data centers, but encouraged the board to be prepared and educated.

Deputy County Administrator Nick Leonard, who would be attending the NACo retreat, if the application was accepted by NACO, echoed those sentiments stating the retreat would be beneficial in determining such best practices.

“That’s the purpose of the request,” Leonard said. 

Appointments

Perham Living and Perham Health Chief Continuum Officer Tracy Hendrickx appointment to the county’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) board was approved. The appointment is for a five-year term. Hendrickx replaces Jeff Ackerson whose term expired.

Courthouse

Citing a lack of controlled access to the jail’s public lobby, Chief Deputy Sheriff Reed Reinbold was approved to reapply for a grant to provide courthouse security. Reinbold also noted an unsecured egress door at the back of the lobby with no alarm.

“It’s very uncontrolled and because the jail is attached to the courthouse, it applies for this grant,” he said.

The legislature allocated $4 million for this grant program. Should Otter Tail County’s application be accepted, funds would be used for a doorbell camera on the jail public lobby for people to buzz in and be directed to main court security screening during business hours and to jail control during non-business hours. A delayed alarm will be installed on the egress door.

Elections

Deputy Administrator Liz Mickelson presented an absentee and mail ballot board resolution, establishing the boards, made up of certified election judges, for the upcoming election that was approved unanimously.

Engineering

The board approved entering into an agreement with Widseth for design services for the replacement of the Parkers Prairie Highway shop at a cost not to exceed $182,900 plus miscellaneous reimbursable expenses.

Commissioner Dan Bucholz voted against the agreement in a 4-1 approval. Bucholz cited the lack of other competing bids as a reason. There were two official bids. County Engineer Jodi Teich responded by stating the feedback she heard was that many other firms were not going to be able to compete with the expected cost range and subsequent low bid as a reason for not applying.

HR

Commissioners approved a request from Assistant Human Resources Director Stephanie Retzlaf to convert a vacant MnCHOICES Assessor position to a Lead Worker for Adult Protection Services & MNCHOICES in Health and Human Services.

MnCHOICES is a computer application used by counties, tribal nations and managed care organizations to support their assessment and support planning work for Minnesotans who need long-term services and supports (LTSS), regardless of age, type of disability or service needs.

An increased workload in the department is the reason for the addition. According to Retzlaf, their workload increased from 774 MnCHOICES assessments completed compared to 1,108 in 2025.

Legislation was also passed requiring face-to-face assessments within a 24-hour period for emergency protection referrals. 

Land Resources

Commissioners adopted the Leaf Wing Redeye River Watershed Based Implementation base funding proposal, as presented by Assistant Land Resources Director Kyle Westergard.

The Leaf Wing Redeye River Watershed Policy Committee has reviewed and approved the budget and workplan and the distribution of the Watershed Implementation funds to partnering Local Government Units (LGUs). The East Otter Tail Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) will distribute grant funds to the LGUs.

Funding is used to assist qualified landowners to replace non-compliant septic systems.

“It’s a program that is very useful to us and we wish to continue it,” said Westergard.

The EOT SWCD is the fiscal agent of the $40,000 for EOT and $20,000 for Red Eye in grant funding.

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), commonly referred to phonetically as “BOWSER,” administers Watershed Based Implementation Funding (WBIF). This program provides steady, non-competitive funding to collaborative partnerships with state-approved watershed management plans, moving away from traditional project-by-project competitive grants.

Public Health

Public Health Director Jody Lien and Health Educator Reese Ellison presented on why September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

The duo discussed programs and initiatives and the approach the department takes on substance abuse and suicide prevention while building community capacity.

A Community Health Assessment (CHA) is completed every five years by Public Health.

In 2019, data showed mental health was a metric that was raised as a community concern and Public Health increased its outreach.

OTC received a four-year prevention grant in 2023 to continue the work and create the OTC Partners for Suicide Prevention group. 

In the 2025 CHA, mental health continued to rise as a public concern, according to Lien. 

Ellison discussed the vision, mission and core values of the OTC Partners for Suicide Prevention efforts, along with community conversation results on the two most prevelant groups, youth and middle-aged males.

She also discussed community initiatives for youth in Parkers Prairie and NY Mills and Pelican Rapids, with plans to expand to Underwood this year. 

As a part of the grant, Lake Region Healthcare is a mandated Zero Suicide Framework partner.

New efforts coming up include utilizing Agricultural Mental Health Specialist Monica McConkey and partnering with 4-H and Minnesota Extension on ag-specific mental health and outreach.

Rural Development

Commissioners approved a certificate of support of a Rural Development Community Facilities application filed by Lake Region Healthcare Corporation for financial assistance from the USDA—Rural Development. The specific purpose of this application is to provide financing for construction, renovation, and modernization of their Fergus Falls Campus which includes the construction of a Central Utility Plant (CUP) that will support the continued operation of Lake Region Healthcare’s campus and healthcare services.

All local government units within the proposed project service area are being contacted to provide a certificate of support.