Nelson County, ND

09/01/2026

08/31/2026

Drought is impacting our area, and we NEED your help documenting it, TODAY (if possible! But also every week).

The drought map is only as accurate as the information being reported from the people actually experiencing the conditions. The Extension office is NOT the only one who can submit drought impact reports. Anyone can submit one - farmers, ranchers, landowners, homeowners, community members, anyone seeing drought impacts firsthand.

If drought is affecting you, please, PLEASE submit a report. These reports help provide a clearer picture of what is actually happening on the ground and can support changes to the drought map. When you submit a report, give us impact data whenever you can. It does not have to be an exact number. Estimates are still extremely helpful!

For example:
- “We normally put up around 4000 bales and this year we only got 1000.”
- “We usually get 2–3 hay cuttings, but this year we only got one.”
- “We have been hauling water to pasture since early June, and we have never had to haul water to this pasture before or we had to add additional water sources.”
- “Our crop is yielding approximately 40 bushels/acre less than normal.”
- “The stock dam that normally lasts all summer went dry in early July.”
- “We had to reduce livestock numbers because of limited forage.”
- "Supplement hay is costing our production $100,000."
- “Pasture production is approximately 80% of normal.”
- And of course, PICTURES help too!

Anything with numbers, dates, comparisons to a normal year, or specific examples makes your report much more useful. It helps turn “it’s dry” into actual impact data that can be documented.

And importantly, reports can be submitted anonymously. Your name, farm, or ranch does not have to be publicly listed. If drought is affecting your operation, pasture, crops, livestock, water supply, garden, trees, or property, please take a few minutes and report what you are seeing.

Your report MATTERS! Your information can help make sure conditions in our area are accurately represented.

🔗 Submit a report through the CMOR dashboard:
https://droughtimpacts.unl.edu/

🔗 More information on reporting drought impacts in North Dakota:
https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/ag-topics/disasters/drought

08/29/2026

Notice of Meetings
Tuesday September 1st 2026

08/14/2026

Notice of Regular Meetings
Tuesday August 18th 2026

08/06/2026

Nelson County Commission
Regular Commission Meeting
July 21st 2026 – 9:00 A.M.

The meeting was called to order 9:30 a.m. by Chairman Cody Johnson with the following Commissioners also present: Doug Flaagan, Mike Haugland, Cameron Swenson and Aaron Mork. Nathan Parks, Auditor, and Josh Frey, States Attorney were also present. The Commission and visitors recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Moved by Commissioner Mork and seconded by Commissioner Swenson to approve the minutes from the July 7th & 14th. All members voted “Yes”. Motion carried.

Additions to Agenda: Motor Graders & Water Board Discussion

Moved by Commissioner Swenson and seconded by Commissioner Haugland to approve the agenda as amended. All members voted “Yes”. Motion carried.

Public Comments: None

Curt Loe, Highway Superintendent, joined the meeting to discuss Road & Bridge business and the 2027 Preliminary Budget for the Highway Department.

Bids for motor graders from Butler Machinery and RDO Equipment were revisited.

Moved by Commissioner Mork and seconded by Commissioner Swenson to accept the low bid from Butler Machinery for a 2027 motor grader in the amounts of $310,000.00 with trade in. On a roll call vote all members voted “Yes”. Motion carried.

Paul Bjornson, KLJ Engineering, joined the meeting to provide an update on engineering business.

Moved by Commissioner Swenson and seconded by Commissioner Mork set the next Nelson County Federal Aid project as a mill and overlay of Nelson County 4, 11 miles from Highway 35 to the Grand Forks County Line. On a roll call vote all members voted “Yes”. Motion carried.

Anna Halvorson, Director of the Nelson County Job Development Authority, Dawn Mandt, Executive Director of the Red River Regional Council, and Amie Vasichek, Board Member of the Red River Regional Council joined the meeting to discuss the 2027 Job Development Budget and the 2027 Red River Regional Council Budget.

Nathan Parks, Auditor, presented the 2027 Preliminary Budget for discussion.

Josh Frey, States Attorney, discussed the 2027 Preliminary Budget for the States Attorney’s Office.

At 11:55 a.m. a recess was taken for lunch. The meeting reconvened at 1:00 p.m.

Kurt Schwind, Sheriff, joined the meeting to discuss the 2027 Preliminary Budget for the Sheriff’s Department. Discussion was tabled.

The County Commission discussed its 2027 Preliminary Budget for Commissioners.

Lisa Paintner, Clerk of Court & Recorder, joined the meeting to discuss her 2027 Preliminary Budget.

Michelle Linstad, Tax Director, joined the meeting to discuss her 2027 Preliminary Budget.

Angela Herda, Emergency Manager and 911 Coordinator, joined the meeting to discuss her 2027 Preliminary Budget.

Traci Trostad, County Agent, joined the meeting to discuss her 2027 Preliminary Budget.

Nathan Parks, Auditor, discussed the 2027 Preliminary Budget for the General Fund and Special Funds.

At 4:11 p.m. a recess was taken for the evening. The meeting was reconvened at 8:30 a.m. the next day, Wednesday July 22nd 2026.

Discussion was had on the Sheriff’s Department’s budget as presented. Kurt Schwind, Sheriff, rejoined the meeting to discuss the 2027 Preliminary Budget for the Sheriff’s Department.

Review of the 2027 Preliminary Budget was had.

Moved by Commissioner Mork and seconded by Commissioner Haugland to approve the 2027 Preliminary Budget for Nelson County. On a roll call vote all members voted “Yes”. Motion carried.

The Commissioners gave updates on their portfolios.

Moved by Commissioner Mork and seconded by Commissioner Flaagan to approve the bills as presented. On a roll call vote all members voted “Yes”. Motion carried.

There being no further business, moved by Commissioner Mork and seconded by Commissioner Haugland to adjourn the meeting at 11:33 a.m. All members voted “Yes”. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned.


Nathan Parks
Nelson County Auditor

Cody Johnson, Chairman
Nelson County Commissioners

08/06/2026

Nelson County Park Board
Special Meeting Minutes
July 21st 2026 – 8:00 A.M.

The meeting was called to order at 8:00 by Chairman Cody Johnson with the following Park Board members also present: Dennis Fahey, Doug Flaagan, Mike Haugland, Harley Eidsness, Cameron Swenson and Aaron Mork. Also present was Nathan Parks, Auditor and Josh Frey States Attorney.

Moved by Park Board member Mork and seconded by Park Board member Fahey to approve the agenda as presented. All members voted “Yes”. Motion carried.

Dan Gaustad, Pearson Christensen PLLP, joined the meeting. Josh Frey, States Attorney, discussed the process of executive session under NDCC 44-04-19.1(2) for attorney consultation.

Moved by Park Board member Mork and seconded by Park Board member Fahey to move into executive session at 8:02am. On a roll call vote all members voted “Yes”. Motion carried.

Executive Session was adjourned at 8:44am with no action taken.

There being no further business, moved by Park Board member Swenson and seconded by Park Board member Mork to adjourn the meeting at 8:45. All members voted “Yes”.

Meeting adjourned.

Nathan Parks, Secretary

Cody Johnson, Chairman

08/06/2026

Nelson County Commission
Special Commission Meeting
July 14th 2026 – 9:00 A.M.

The Nelson County Commission attended a meeting in Grafton with the Nelson County Water Board, Walsh County Water Board and the Walsh County Commission. A quorum was not met so no official business was had. Nelson County Commissioners present: Cody Johnson and Aaron Mork. Also present: Nathan Parks, Auditor.

No action was taken

Meeting adjourned.

Nathan Parks
Nelson County Auditor

Cody Johnson, Chairman
Nelson County Commissioners

08/06/2026

Nelson County Commission
Regular Commission Meeting
July 7th 2026 – 9:00 A.M.

The meeting was called to order 9:03 a.m. by Chairman Cody Johnson with the following Commissioners also present: Doug Flaagan, Mike Haugland, Cameron Swenson and Aaron Mork. Nathan Parks, Auditor, was also present. The Commission and visitors recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Moved by Commissioner Mork and seconded by Commissioner Flaagan to approve the minutes from the June 16th & 29th meetings. All members voted “Yes”. Motion carried.

Additions to Agenda: Water Board Discussion

Moved by Commissioner Mork and seconded by Commissioner Haugland to approve the agenda as amended. All members voted “Yes”. Motion carried.

Public Comments: None

Curt Loe, Highway Superintendent, joined the meeting to discuss Road & Bridge business.

Moved by Commissioner Mork and seconded by Commissioner Haugland to increase the limit on the County Credit Card with the Highway Department to $10,000. All members voted “Yes” motion carried.

At 9:30 am there were bid openings for the purchase of a motor grader. Bids from RDO Equipment and Butler Machinery where reviewed. Discussion on the bids was tabled for the next regular meeting for budget discussion.

Discussion was had on declaring the excess cars at the county shop in Lakota as surplus and have them sold.

Moved by Commissioner Flaagan and seconded by Commissioner Swenson to declare the seized vehicles at the county shop in Lakota surplus and to get them sold. On a roll call vote all members voted “Yes”. Motion carried.

Nathan Parks, Auditor, presented the first 19 pages of an updated Employee Policy Manual that the County’s contract HR provider has been working on. Discussion was tabled for further review until the next regular meeting.

Cody Johnson, Chairman, gave an update on a meeting being held in Grafton on the 14th of July between the Walsh County Commission, the Nelson County Commission, Walsh County Water Board and the Nelson County Water Board to discuss shared water issues.

The Commissioners gave updates on their portfolios.

Moved by Commissioner Haugland and seconded by Commissioner Mork to approve the bills as presented. On a roll call vote all members voted “Yes”. Motion carried.

There being no further business, moved by Commissioner Mork and seconded by Commissioner Haugland to adjourn the meeting at 10:54 a.m. All members voted “Yes”. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned.


Nathan Parks
Nelson County Auditor

Cody Johnson, Chairman
Nelson County Commissioners

08/06/2026

Nelson County Park Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
July 7th 2026 – 8:30 A.M.

The meeting was called to order at 8:31 by Chairman Cody Johnson with the following Park Board members also present: Doug Flaagan, Mike Haugland, Harley Eidsness, Cameron Swenson and Aaron Mork. Also present was Nathan Parks, Auditor.

Moved by Park Board member Mork and seconded by Park Board member Haugland to approve the minutes for the June 16th meeting. All members voted “Yes”. Motion carried.

Agenda additions: None

Moved by Park Board member Swenson and seconded by Park Board member Mork to approve the agenda as presented. All members voted “Yes”. Motion carried.

Public Comments: None

Donna Rickford, Campground Manager, joined the meeting to discuss campground and bar & cafe business.

Bud Pittenger, Maintenance Manager, joined the meeting to discuss campground business.

Discussion was had on an ice cream chest freezer that is going out and should be replaced.

Moved by Park Board member Eidsness and seconded by Park Board member Flaagan to approve the purchase of an ice cream chest freezer in the amounts of $629.00. On a roll call vote all members voted “Yes”. Motion carried.

Moved by Park Board member Mork and seconded by Park Board member Flaagan to pay the bills as presented: Donna Rickford - $4,300.00; Big John Manufacturing - $1,110.00; Boote Septic Solutions - $1,100.00; Farmers Union Lumberyard - $950.34; Lakota American - $88.14; Lakota Hardware - $434.41; ND Telephone Co - $464.10; Northland Fire Protection - $679.50; Tri-County Water - $1,401.70; Farmers & Merchants Bank - $1313.96; Sign Solutions - $2,942.82; Butler Machinery - $80.89; Nodak Electric - $3,887.00; Tolna Plumbing - $569.20; Veseris - $476.00; Nathan Parks - $17.40. On a roll call vote all members voted “Yes”. Motion carried.

There being no further business, moved by Park Board member Haugland and seconded by Park Board member Mork to adjourn the meeting at 9:01. All members voted “Yes”.

Meeting adjourned.

Nathan Parks, Secretary

Cody Johnson, Chairman