Traill County - ND

05/01/2026

Official ballots have been received. Absentee voting requests are scheduled for distribution next week, so please monitor your mail for them.

04/14/2026

Citizen FAQ Sheet
Traill County Home Rule Charter – Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Home Rule Charter?
Home Rule Charter is a local governing document that gives a county additional authority to manage its own affairs within the limits of state law.
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Does Home Rule remove state oversight?
No. Counties must still follow:
• The North Dakota Constitution
• North Dakota Century Code
• State tax and financial regulations
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Would this allow the county to raise taxes?
The charter allows the county to propose certain local taxes, but any new tax must be approved by voters.
Examples could include:
• Sales tax
• Lodging tax
• Restaurant tax
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Can property taxes increase under Home Rule?
Property taxes cannot exceed state limits without voter approval.
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Will township government change?
No. The charter specifically states the county cannot diminish township authority or change township structure.
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Can citizens challenge county decisions?
Yes. Residents retain the right to:
• Referendum petitions
• Citizen initiatives
• Voting in county elections
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Could county offices change?
Pursuant to the charter, the county commission may change elected positions to appointed (with the exception of the Sheriff, who must remain an elected official) and or reorganize certain county offices.
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How can the charter be changed later?
The charter can be amended or repealed by a vote of the people.
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Why does the County want employees as appointed?
Appointing staff rather than electing them allows the Commission to hold department heads directly accountable while ensuring that hiring decisions are based on qualifications and expertise rather than electoral popularity.
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What other Counties are Home Rule?
• Walsh County
• Richland County
• Cass County
• Stutsman County
• Ward County
• Steele County
• Hettinger County
• Morton County
• Sargent County
• Towner County
• Burleigh County
• Grand Forks County
• Williams County

04/07/2026

03/12/2026

WATCH YOUR MAIL….

02/06/2026

East Central Regional Water District Customers
The State of North Dakota and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are working to get the lead out of drinking water pipes. Every water system in the United States is required to provide an updated pipe inventory to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as required under the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI).
To meet this requirement, we need to know what your water service line entering your house is made of AND a photo for proof. If you select “Unknown” as material type OR do NOT submit a photo we will have to visit your house to verify. Please help the water district save time and money by following the link below and completing the survey.
ECRWD has hired AE2S to go door to door starting in the middle of February to collect the information from anyone that has done one of the following:
• Has not completed the survey
• Selected “Unknown” as a material type in the survey
• Did NOT submit a photo in the survey
If you have any questions or need help submitting your information, please call our office Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM @ (701) 599-2963.

East Central RWD LCRI Public Survey

12/18/2025

THE TRAIL COUNTY COURTHOUSE WILL BE CLOSED TODAY, DECEMBER 18TH 2025 DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS. THERE IS ALSO NO TRAVEL ADVISED IN PLACE UNTILL 1:00PM.

12/17/2025

HOLIDAY HOURS:

12/24/25 (Christmas Eve) – closed at noon
12/25/25 (Christmas Day) – closed all day
12/26/25 – closed all day
1/1/26 (New Years Day) – closed all day
1/2/26 – closed all day
1/19/26 (Martin Luther King Jr Day) – closed all day
2/16/26 (Presidents Day) - closed all day

12/17/2025

Tax statements will be mailing out today 12/17/2025.

12/09/2025

Due to weather coming, the Traill County Courthouse will be closed today.

12/08/2025

Traill County Holiday Hours:
December 24th, 2025 - Closed at Noon
December 25th, 2025 - Closed all day
December 26th, 2025 - Closed all day
January 1st, 2026 - Closed all day
January 2nd, 2026 - Closed all day
February 16th, 2026 - Closed all day

12/05/2025

Please stop by the beautiful Traill County Courthouse and see the holiday decorations, 3 floors of wonderful lights and displays.