Meeting Minutes
NDCCA Annual Business Meeting
October 27, 2025
Bismarck Event Center – Upper Level Prairie Rose Room 105
President Hollekim called the business meeting to order at 3:30 PM, thanking the commissioners for their attendance and then appointed NDACo Executive Director Aaron Birst as Parliamentarian for the meeting.
The President directed the members’ attention to the Regional Caucus Materials forwarded to all commissioners. She noted the minutes of the previous meeting have been reviewed and approved by the Convention Minutes Committee. The minutes are available in the convention app. She noted that there would be no Constitution and Bylaws report since no amendments are being recommended.
Treasurer Glenda Collier (Eddy) delivered the Treasurers Report. She focused on the ending fund balance, budget, and dues, noting that all counties had paid their dues in 2025. She reminded the members that the Association operates on a two-year budget and generally considers changes to the dues amount only on odd-numbered years. The Association is in solid financial shape and because of the newly-implemented caps, the Board is not recommending any changes to the dues for 2026/2027 and they would remain at $320 per commissioner. It was noted that a line item for the Commissioners Summit has been added. Expenses came in under budget for the biennium. NACo participation was under budget as only three commissioners applied for the NACo conference scholarship. Meeting expenses are significantly lower than budget due to the use of technology and Teams for meetings. Dustin Laufer (Adams) moved and Scott Ouradnik (Slope) seconded to approve the Treasurers Report with the proposed budget and dues. The motion was passed on a voice vote.
The President requested that the regional caucus chairs deliver their reports.
Region I: Howdy Lawlar (McKenzie) reported that his region met via Teams and that he was elected as the regional representative on the NDACo Board for Region I. Region I discussed the proposed resolutions which were voted on and approved.
Region II: Trudy Ruland (Mountrail) reported that Region II met via Teams during a commission meeting and that Jarret Van Berkom (Burke) was elected to be the regional representative on the NDACo Board for Region II as she moves into the Past President position. Region II discussed the proposed resolutions which were voted on and approved as well as the 3% property tax cap. Ruland encouraged commissioners to fill out the online survey related to HB1176 and the cap if they have not already done so.
Region III: Nick Moser (Cavalier) reported that his region met in person in Devils Lake and that he was re-elected as the regional representative. Region III discussed the proposed resolutions which were voted on and approved.
Region IV: Aaron Mork (Nelson) reported that Region IV met via Teams. Region IV discussed the proposed resolutions which were voted on and approved.
Region V: Jason Arth (Sargent) reported that Region V met in Fargo and that Tony Grindberg was re-elected as the regional representative. Region V discussed the proposed resolutions which were voted on and approved.
Region VI: Becky Hagel (Foster) reported that they met via Teams. Region VI discussed the proposed resolutions which were voted on and approved as well as audits performed by the State Auditor’s Office.
Region VII: Jamee Folk (Mercer) reported Region VII met via Teams and that she was re-elected the Region VII representative. Region VII discussed the proposed resolutions which were voted on and approved.
Region VIII: Scott Ouradnik (Slope) reported that Region VIII held their meeting in New England on September 18. Region VIII discussed the proposed resolutions, 3% cap, jail issues, and state funding. The proposed resolutions were voted on and approved.
The President called for the standing committee reports.
Audit Committee: Audit Committee Chair Kathy Skarda (McKenzie) gave the Audit Committee Report. She reported that the committee reviewed the books at the convention and found them to be correct for year ending September 30, 2025. Skarda moved the acceptance of the report; the motion was seconded by Tracey Dolezal (Dunn) and passed on a voice vote.
Nominating Committee: Nominating Committee Chair Stanley Dick (Cavalier) delivered the Nominating Committee report stating that based on the Constitution and By-Laws, all NDCCA Board positions have two-year terms; with half of the Board of Directors elected each year and the positions of President, Vice President, and Treasurer elected on odd-numbered years.
Dick then presented the following slate of candidates for consideration:
For President – 2-year term (1 Positions)
Neal Messer (Stark)
For Vice President – 2-year term (1 Position)
Tracey Dolezal (Dunn)
For Treasurer – 2-year term (1 Position)
Glenda Collier (Eddy)
For NDCCA Director – 2-year term (2 Positions)
Cory Hanson (Williams)
Jim Kapitan (Cass)
For NDCCA Director – 2-year term (1 Position)
- Wayne Munson (Burleigh)
- Scott Johnson (Sargent)
- Miranda Schuler (Ward)
Western Interstate Region Board – 2-year term (1 Position)
Scott Ouradnik (Slope)
Hollekim called for nominations from the floor. There being no nominations from the floor, Hollekim called for nominations to cease and a motion to accept the nominations as presented. Stan Dick (Cavalier) moved and Howdy Lawlar (McKenzie) seconded to cease nominations and accept the slate of candidates as presented. The motion passed on a voice vote.
President Hollekim invited candidates Wayne Munson, Scott Johnson and Miranda Schuler to speak.
Candidate for 2-year term on the NDCCA Board of Directors
Scott Johnson (Sargent), Wayne Munson (Burleigh), and Miranda Schuler (Ward) addressed the attendees and provided their background and requested support.
Because there was a contested race, attendees were directed to cast their votes using ballots that were handed out to the members. Paper ballots were collected by staff for the tally.
Resolutions Committee: Neal Messer (Stark), Co-chair of the Resolutions Committee, presented the Resolutions Committee report. Messer informed the members that he was going to read the titles of all the printed resolutions recommended for adoption and then ask for requests to separate specific resolutions for individual debate or amendment. He would then move the adoption of all those not separated in one motion. He read the following:
2025 Proposed Resolutions:
2025-01 Local Government Budget Restrictions
2025-02 Cooperative Services
2025-03 Local Correctional Funding
2025-04 Public Employees Retirement System
2025-05 Engineering and Architectural Costs
2025-06 Commercial Driver’s License for County Road Workers
2025-07 911 Services
2025-08 Child Welfare Workers
2025-09 Social Services Redesign
2025-10 Auditing Plans
2025-11 Wetland Mitigation
2025-12 Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention
Messer asked for requests to pull resolutions for separate discussion and Resolutions 1 and 6 were pulled for separate discussion.
President Hollekim called for a motion to accept Resolutions 1 thru 12 except 2025-01 and 2025-06 which were requested to be pulled for separate discussion. Amy Suda (Walsh) moved and Trudy Ruland (Mountrail) seconded to approve the proposed resolutions other than 2025-01 and 2025-06. The motion passed on a voice vote.
Messer read Resolution 2025-01: Local Government Budget Restrictions. An amendment was moved by John Fjeldahl (Ward) and seconded by Jim Kapitan (Cass) to remove the words “or modify” from the resolution. The amendment and amended resolution passed by voice vote.
Amended Resolution
2025-01. Local Government Budget Restrictions. Recently the Legislature capped the property tax dollars that can be spent on local services. One size fits all solutions are rarely effective or fair. Local ELECTED officials know their communities’ needs better than anyone and should be left with the most flexibility in financial decisions. This Association supports efforts to remove or modify the 3% caps enacted in 2025 to better suit the local communities.
Messer read Resolution 2025-06: Commercial Driver’s License for County Road Workers An amendment to remove the words “or reduce” was moved by Vicky Lovell (Barnes) and seconded by Jackie Buckley (Morton). Discussion that recruiting and hiring CDL drivers has been a challenge for counties. A voice vote to approve the amendment resulted in a tie so a hand-raise vote was taken. Results of the hand-raise vote were Yes: 38 and No: 49. The proposed amendment to Resolution 2025-06 failed. The original proposed Resolution 2025-06 was passed by voice vote.
The President then called for election results for the contested position and announced the following:
- For NDCCA Director – 2-year term: Miranda Schuler (Ward)
The President called for any other business to discuss; there was none.
President Hollekim next invited President-Elect Neal Messer to the podium and formally passed him the gavel. Messer then presented an appreciation plaque and gift to outgoing President Joan Hollekim (Mountrail) thanking her for her leadership and service.
Presentations: Tyler Spomer, Department of Water Resources, presented on changes to floodplain management resulting from SB2027 passed in the 69th Legislative Session. Representatives from Moore Engineering and AE2S presented information on the county grant program, and NDACo’s Patrick Englehart and Michael Casey presented on the CEG Program.
President Neal Messer adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m.
Approved by Board Resolution: _____________________________
Aaron Birst, Secretary
Date: ____________________________________