Bemidji, MN (12/15/25) Last week, Minnesota’s Office of Management and Budget released its November forecast. The short-term news looks stable, but the long-term trends show real warning signs. State spending continues to grow faster than revenue, and unless we address this, Minnesota is headed toward a significant deficit in the years ahead.
Here is the statement I shared with the press:
“The new forecast paints a very clear picture. Yes, we are seeing a short-term surplus of $2.5 billion, but that does not mean our finances are healthy. The long-term outlook shows Minnesota is heading toward another multi-billion-dollar deficit in 2028 and 2029, and if the current surplus is spent instead of saved, that deficit could reach $5.4 billion. That is the consequence of decisions made when Democrats controlled every lever of power at the Capitol. Spending increased by 40 percent, the entire $18 billion surplus was used up, and taxes were raised by another $10 billion, yet we are still not bringing in enough revenue to keep up with what they committed to spend. That is not responsible budgeting.
We also cannot afford to ignore what has been happening across our state agencies. Minnesota has allowed fraud to get out of control, and taxpayers are left footing the bill every time money goes to criminals instead of helping the people who truly need it. We owe it to every family, every worker, and every small business to change course now. Minnesota’s financial future depends on leadership that understands the importance of living within our means”.
Breaking Down the Numbers
While the current budget balances, state spending is projected to outpace revenue for years to come if nothing changes. Here is what MMB projects going forward:
- FY 2026–27:Minnesota will spend $2.2 billion more than it brings in
- FY 2028–29:That gap grows to $4.5 billion
We are seeing an increase in revenue for the short term, but even higher spending driven by the rapid growth in government programs and their costs.
This is not a one-year issue. It is a structural deficit, meaning Minnesota is on a path where spending continues rising faster than the revenue needed to pay for it.
Takeaways from the Forecast
- Minnesota has a $2.465 billion surplus in the current biennium.
- The projected shortfall in the planning years has now grown to $2.960 billion.
- Revenue growth slows significantly after FY 2025 due to weaker economic conditions.
- Health care program costs continue to climb and are the biggest driver of increased spending.
- The budget reserve has increased to $3.422 billion, which adds important stability but does not solve the structural deficit.
What Is Driving These Costs?
Government programs within Health and Human Services account for a majority of the new spending. Enrollment and program use continue to rise, and without strong oversight, fraud and mismanagement are draining resources away from the vulnerable Minnesotans these programs are meant to support.
Public Opinion is Clear
When I’m visiting with folks across our district, one thing is always clear. People expect their government to be responsible with their money. Families, small businesses, and local governments all have to live within their means. The state should be held to the same standard. Minnesotans do not want excuses or finger pointing. They want honest leadership that understands the value of a dollar and treats taxpayer money with respect.
People also want a government that focuses on what actually matters. That means protecting vulnerable Minnesotans, supporting safe communities, and making sure our schools and local services have the resources they need. What they do not want is a system that grows so fast it cannot be managed, where fraud is allowed to continue and no one is held accountable. That kind of approach breaks trust, and once trust is lost, it is hard to earn back.
2026 Legislative Session
We will receive another forecast in February, and that update will shape the supplemental budget work next session. My priority will be restoring accountability and ensuring taxpayer dollars are protected. That means demanding stronger oversight from state agencies, focusing our resources on the things Minnesotans rely on every day like classrooms and public safety, and slowing the unsustainable spending growth that is driving the state toward future deficits.
Working Together Means Change
Thank you for taking the time to stay informed. If you ever have questions, concerns, or ideas, please reach out to my office at the contact info below. I encourage you to call, email, or schedule a meeting so we can discuss in person.
Be on the lookout for upcoming emails. In the weeks ahead, I will be sharing information on Minnesota’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave program that takes effect in January, along with an update on what we have learned about the extent of fraud occurring in our state.
Fraud and government greed leads to deficit
Fosston, MN (12/15/25) Minnesota continues to barrel towards a budget deficit. It’s not surprising to anyone paying attention. The Democrat Trifecta spent two years engaging in runaway spending. Where has it gotten us? Staring at a looming $5.4 billion deficit. This is not new news, though. A few years ago, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) first brought the deficit to light. Republicans have brought it up numerous times, trying to get the Walz Administration to act. But Democrat leadership has failed to do so. Instead of addressing the problem, they’ve doubled down. We’ve seen higher taxes and fraud happening in multiple agencies. Wasteful spending at every opportunity. Our spending continues to outpace our revenue as well. All of this makes for little-to-no economic growth and worsens our financial outlook.
MMB did note that we will have a short-term surplus in 2026-2027, totaling $2.465 billion, before the deficit hits in 2028-2029. Democrats will try to twist this as a good thing… Don’t fall for it. Their spending has gotten us to this position. We would have to not spend a cent of that surplus in order to start dealing with our deficit. I don’t see that happening. Remember, we had a historic surplus just a few years ago – it was near-$19 billion before accounting for inflation and would’ve been a much higher number if we accounted for it. Where did all that money go? Spent away by the trifecta on pet projects and propping up new state agencies. They did all that alongside passing $10 billion in tax hikes. That did little to help. Those tax hikes may have given us a small surplus for the next few years, but it won’t hold up. Democrats will likely continue calling for higher taxes to cover financial losses. Our state can’t afford that. I’ve talked to a lot of families in my district – not even one has said they want higher taxes… Everyone wants tax relief.
Fraud is obviously also hurting us. So far, there’s been over $1 billion uncovered. I believe there’s more to come. This is something we’ve been talking about in our state for years, even though it’s just now making national headlines. We’ve seen it with Feeding Our Future, the Housing Stability Services program, childcare providers, autism providers, commercial driver’s licenses, and so much more. It’s endless. The more we spend on programs like that while failing to provide basic oversight, the more money we’re throwing away to fraud. We’ve spent so much money on healthcare services, only to find a bunch of programs under scrutiny due to fraud allegations. Every dollar going to fraudsters gaming these programs is a dollar taken out of our budget and away from taxpayers. It also means people who truly need help and access to these services cannot access them. Every single person in our state should be upset by this.
Economic growth has also practically stagnated here, and we’re all feeling it. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce recently released its Business Benchmarks Report, ranking Minnesota 38th with 1% GDP per capita annual growth, 40th for labor force growth, and 41st in net domestic migration. Our state is falling behind on every metric that counts. Having a massive deficit, increasing spending, and raising your taxes year after year doesn’t help things either. Who would want to move their family here if this is the climate they’re facing? What business owner would want to do business here if they’re being taxed endlessly? We’re already seeing families and businesses looking elsewhere for a more favorable living climate. It will only get worse. If this isn’t proof that Minnesota’s in a bad spot, I don’t know what is.
I’m concerned about this – I think we’re worse off than many are realizing. Between our failing budget and our state being overrun with fraud, we’re in a bad spot. And unfortunately, in the middle of all of this, Democrats have repeatedly tried to blame higher property taxes on Trump. I want to remind everyone that the Walz Administration suggested saving the state government money by shifting taxes onto the counties. The trifecta also passed numerous unfunded mandates affecting local schools and communities. Of course, many areas have considered higher property taxes – it has everything to do with state policies. Remember, when the state government shifts costs to counties, it saves YOU nothing.
Minnesota families asked for relief, and those requests have been ignored by the same people allowing fraud and higher taxes to freely occur. And who foots the bill? We do. It’s time for change. Uncovering this fraud and getting our budget under control will be two of my biggest priorities in the upcoming legislative session. We owe it to Minnesota families.
Washington, DC (12/15/25) What a week! The House, fresh off Thanksgiving, passed several bills to address rising costs and social security issues for American families and seniors. We passed both the Claiming Age Clarity Act and the Social Security Child Protection Act, recognizing the need to bring clarity to the Social Security Administration and to protect children from identity fraud.
Reducing Red Tape for Small Businesses
In a major win for small businesses, the House passed the Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act and the DUMP Red Tape Act. Small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and it is crucial that we eliminate burdensome regulations. Here are a few ways these bills help to reduce red tape and drive down costs:
- Prevents the SBA from issuing regulations that will increase costs for businesses
- Creates a dedicated hotline for small business owners to report overly burdensome federal regulations, empowering small businesses to hold federal agencies accountable
Protecting Our Children
As a mother and grandmother, protecting children is a top priority, which is why I voted for the Combating the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act, the PROTECT Our Kids Act, and the Transparency in Reporting of Adversarial Contributions to Education Act. These bills safeguard our education system from foreign adversaries and solidify a parent’s right to know what influences may be impacting their child’s classroom.
Long-Term Care Facility Staffing Mandates Repealed
Earlier this year, I introduced legislation that would repeal provisions that required a federal minimum staffing standard for long-term care facilities. These provisions were devastating to healthcare workers and seniors, especially in rural communities. Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that it will be moving forward with these repeals. This is a major victory for care facilities in Western Minnesota and across the country.
Thank you for reading!
As always, my office is open and ready to serve constituents of Minnesota’s Seventh Congressional District! Please do not hesitate to get in touch if there is anything I can do to help. Have a great week!
Officer involved shooting in Bagley
Bagley, MN (11/19/25) – Last evening the BCA issued the following press release.
The University of North Dakota Forensic Pathology Center has identified the man who died during a Nov. 13 use-of-force incident in Clearwater County as Dennis Hoie, 75, of Bagley.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has identified the deputy who used force during this incident.
- Clearwater County Deputy Noah Hallman fired his department-issued firearm. He has three years of law enforcement experience. He has been placed on critical incident leave by the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the BCA’s preliminary investigation, just after 12 p.m. on Nov. 13, a deputy recognized Hoie at a gas station on Central Street West in Bagley and attempted to arrest him on outstanding felony warrants. Hoie resisted, fled in his pickup truck, and was pursued by deputies and a Bagley police officer.
Hoie drove onto U.S. Highway 2 and later northbound on McDougal Avenue Northwest, where a Bagley police officer performed a pursuit intervention technique (PIT) maneuver, causing Hoie’s vehicle to spin out and stop in a residential driveway.
Deputies and the Bagley officer approached the vehicle on foot and attempted to get Hoie to exit. During the attempt to get Hoie to exit the vehicle, Deputy Hallman broke the glass of the passenger side window of the pickup truck as Hoie pulled a flare gun and fired it toward the deputies on the driver’s side of the vehicle. Deputy Hallman fired his handgun through the passenger side window striking Hoie. Medical aid was rendered to Hoie, but he was pronounced deceased on the scene.
A deputy on the driver’s side of Hoie’s vehicle sustained a graze injury to his head that did not require medical attention.
BCA crime scene personnel recovered one orange-colored flare gun. Deputy Hallman’s body camera was on and recording during this incident.
The Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office requested the BCA investigate the use of force. Once the investigation is complete, the BCA will present its findings without recommendation on charges to the Clearwater County Attorney’s Office for review.
Bagley, MN (11/13/25) 4:30 pm – An update from the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Department.
“On November 13, 2025, at approximately 12:12 p.m. a deputy with the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office was on patrol in the area of the Cenex Convenience store on the 1300 block of Central Street West. The deputy recognized an adult male at the Cenex store gas pumps and was aware that he had a felony warrant for his arrest.
The deputy approached the male with the intent to take him into custody for the warrant and a physical altercation took place. During the altercation the male was able to get into his vehicle and flee the scene. The deputy pursued the male in his vehicle as it drove east on U.S. Highway 2. Other deputies with the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office and officers with the Bagley Police Department joined the pursuit as the male at times drove his vehicle into the westbound lanes of the highway. Attempts were made to block the vehicle but were unsuccessful and the male continued to drive east. As the pursuit continued, the male drove his vehicle through a yard of a residence and north onto McDougal Avenue NW before driving into another yard of a residence where law enforcement units were able to get the vehicle stopped.
Once stopped, deputies and officers attempted to get the male out of the vehicle. The male discharged a weapon at them that fired a flare type projectile. A deputy fired their weapon striking the male. Life saving measures were performed on the male with the assistance of the Bagley Sanford Ambulance, but the male died at the scene.
One deputy did sustain a minor injury in this incident. Body cameras were worn and activated during this incident.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) was called in to investigate. No names are being released at this time. Any additional information about this incident will come from the BCA.”
(11/13/15 – Original post) – The photo above shows the law enforcement presence behind the Family Dollar store in Bagley today at 1 pm. The Clearwater County Sheriff’s Department, Bagley Police Department, State Highway Patrol and White Earth Tribal Police were all on scene.
The Clearwater County Sheriff’s Department has not released any information regarding the investigation. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is expected on the scene shortly.
Early reports are that a sheriff’s deputy responded to an incident at a local gas station, with the suspect fleeing in a vehicle. After the vehicle was stopped, shots were fired. There has been no confirmation whether anyone was injured. The area has been cordoned off as law enforcement investigates.
An update from the BCA isn’t expected until tomorrow.
Future of Bagley Police Department discussed during city council meeting
(From the November 19 issue of the Farmers Independent)
By Darin Steindl
During the Bagley City Council meeting held on November 12, a discussion was held regarding the proposal to develop a contract with Clearwater County for law enforcement services.
Mayor Duane Lewis gave a recap of the Public Hearing that was held on October 29 (Nov. 5 issue of the Farmers Independent). Lewis explained that the majority of residents at the meeting were in favor of keeping the police department but were also interested in finding out how much money would be saved if a contract with the county was developed. During the hearing, some people had asked how much money it would cost to have a fourth police officer added to the department. Lewis explained that the police department budget would need to increase to $530,000 per year.
Councilman John Sutherland was the first person to state his opinion and that was “I haven’t changed my mind” meaning that he was not in favor is contracting services out to the county.
Councilman Chad Bonik stated that his understanding was that the majority of residents at the public hearing were in favor of keeping the police department but some wanted to know what a contract with the county would cost. He went on to say that some residents were concerned about the long-term costs with the county. After an initial 2- or 3-year contract, would the cost rise?
Lewis asked if they were ready to vote on whether to proceed or not. Councilman Dennis Merschman asked if the next step would be to meet again with the County Board of Commissioners. Lewis replied that the next step would be to have the city attorney attend a closed meeting to discuss a potential contract. Councilman Merschman stated, “I know, but we don’t need a fine detailed contract. We just need estimated numbers.” Lewis replied that it was recommended that they develop hard numbers.
Councilman Sutherland noted that residents want a fourth officer, so when comparing numbers, a contract with the county should include the same level of staffing to make it an apples-to-apples comparison.
Councilman Bonik noted that the police department has operated with three officers for many years, with the exception being a few years when they had a grant for a fourth officer. He went on to say that situation didn’t work well because of turnover and it took 7 or 8 years to fulfill the requirements of the grant. Bonik stated that he thought it has been working well with three officers and the county is obligated to cover the city when Bagley PD officers are not on duty.
One of the residents in attendance noted that coverage by the county is not the same, noting a recent incident that a deputy sheriff responded to the incident and stated that “it was out of the counties jurisdiction” and the incident would need to be handled by the city. The resident went on to say that her daughter needed assistance in Bagley recently and that it took 38 minutes for a deputy sheriff to arrive. She stated that a White Earth officer responded to the call before the deputy sheriff arrived.
Mayor Lewis explained that the county responds if they know there is not a Bagley PD officer on duty. But sometimes they don’t know the Bagley PD schedule in advance (when someone is sick for example). Police Chief Gunderson then stated that even when the county knows that Bagley PD doesn’t have someone scheduled for a shift, the county is not putting on extra deputies to cover the city during that time. The Sheriff’s Department has been short-staffed at times. The resident then asked if the county is short-staffed, how can the city (with a contract) be ensured that enough staff will be on duty to cover both the city and county?
Another resident stated that response time is always going to be critical.
Mayor Lewis then explained that a vote tonight is only about starting the process to get numbers that can then be reviewed before a final decision is made. The council could vote tonight to proceed so that numbers can be determined or they could vote to not proceed and go on with discussion about police department staffing.
There was some confusion about getting the numbers. One resident asked, “can’t you just get some ballpark numbers?” Mayor Lewis explained that ballpark numbers are not enough to make a decision.
Mayor Lewis went on to explain that he feels there has been a disconnect between the city and county and that a county with only 7 or 8 thousand residents should be able to have coordinated law enforcement coverage.
Another resident stated that until this is resolved, it is going to be hard to attract applicants because they don’t know if the department is going to continue.
Another resident explained that he has had two thefts occur at his business recently and that he feels they need the police department.
Councilman Merschman and Bonik asked, “how much is it going to cost to get the numbers.” Lewis said the cost would be determined at a meeting with the city attorney.
Councilman Merschman then commented that this discussion was started in order to save money. The initial idea was to have the county add two deputies to their staff and the city would reduce their number of staff. They are looking for ways to maintain law enforcement service and save money at the same time.
Mayor Lewis again explained that a vote tonight to proceed is only to get some accurate budget figures. Once they have determined what the costs will be, then another meeting will be held to share the cost options. Lewis went on to say that there is a 90% chance that a contract will not be agreed to. The city may determine that a contract is not cost effective. The county could decide that they don’t want to add to their budget. As city council members it is their responsibility to the taxpayers to spend tax dollars appropriately.
After some additional discussion, Councilman Aaron Kaiser made a motion to start researching the cost to contract with the county, seconded by Merschman. Councilman Bonik then said, “I think we have to do that for the taxpayers.” The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned.
Bagley City Council hears feedback from residents
(From the November 5 issue of the Farmers Independent)
By Darin Steindl
On Wednesday, October 29, the Bagley City Council held a public hearing at the Bagley Library for residents to ask questions and provide feedback regarding the City of Bagley forming a contract with Clearwater County to provide law enforcement services.
There were approximately 75 residents from Bagley and Clearwater County in attendance, with only a few seats in the front row empty.
Mayor Duane Lewis called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm and conducted a roll call of city councilmen. In attendance were Lewis, John Sutherland and Dennis Merschman. Absent were Chad Bonik and Aaron Kaiser.
Lewis read a statement explaining how the meeting would be conducted and reminded residents to state their name and address the mayor with any questions and comments.
There were about 25 people that made comments or asked questions during the meeting. A summary is as follows:
Jane Merschman (Bagley resident) – Stated that she has lived in the county for many years and recently moved into the city of Bagley. She felt that the Sheriff’s Dept. had done an excellent job and would serve Bagley well.
Carol Anderson (former city dispatcher) – She had served as city dispatcher for nine years and said there is much more going on in the city that most people are not aware of. She felt that the Sheriff’s Dept. wouldn’t be able to handle the extra workload. She asked the question – how much savings would there be in contracting with the county? Mayor Lewis stated “right now, we are not in negotiations at all. There is a process. This is one of the first steps to get to that process. The city council has not approved contract talks yet.” The mayor couldn’t give an estimate of how much the savings would be. Anderson went on to say ask if the Sheriff’s Dept. would be able to handle the shoplifting, drugs and other things going on in Bagley. She stated that Fosston had done this a few years ago and it didn’t work for them and they have now gone back to having a police department. She was not in favor of contracting with the county.
Jill (works in Bagley) was concerned about the response time by the Sheriff’s Dept. to incidents in town. She wanted to know what the reason was for going in this direction. Mayor Lewis responded by saying that other 35 other cities since 2016 have done this to save money. With rising costs and the difficulty in hiring officers, the council is concerned about how much taxes residents are willing to pay.
Councilman Merschman suggested that the Sheriff could explain how his department would handle the added coverage. Mayor Lewis explained that the Sheriff could comment on that, but nothing has been agreed to yet. The Sheriff’s comments would be his opinion on how it would be handled, but no contract has been created yet. The mayor has looked at what Moose Lake had proposed and has shared that with the County Commissioners as a possible starting point for discussions.
Sheriff Darin Halverson then addressed the audience. He stated that this has been discussed four or five times in the past but hasn’t been implemented. He explained that in his experience in law enforcement with the Bagley Police Dept. and Clearwater County Sheriff’s Dept. he feels that the city would be best served with four officers. If the county were to contract with the city, the Sheriff’s Dept. would need at least 2 additional deputies. They wouldn’t be able to have deputies dedicated to Bagley in the daytime and in the evenings, they would need to have 3 deputies on duty – one covering the southern part of the county, one covering the northern part of the county and one covering Bagley. Halverson summed up his comments by stating that the worst-case scenario would be if the City were to disband the police department and not contract with the county. The county would struggle to fund additional deputies without a contract with the city paying a portion of the increased costs.
Mayor Lewis shared some additional information about other cities and the amounts they pay for law enforcement coverage. Red Lake Falls is a county seat and has about the same population as Bagley. They contract for a specified about of time (service) which costs about $6,000 per month or approximately $72,000 a year, which is very low. Moose Lake has 4 full-time and one part-time officer and pays about $590,000 a year. Every town has different ideas and levels of service. In Polk County, Fosston started contracting with the county in 2020. In 2022, the city ended the contract because they wanted more to say regarding who was being hired and the amount of time officers dedicated to the city. The city went from spending $250,000 per year to the county and now are paying close to $500,000 per year for their own department. Polk County provides law enforcement coverage for 13 other communities in the county with no money being paid to the county from those communities. If we hire more officers, the budget will need to increase.
Councilman Merschman stated that the budget for law enforcement in 2026 is $445,000 for three officers. Merschman stated that he was comfortable with the budget for 2026 but was also not in agreement that by eliminating the police department and contracting with the county would result in reduced coverage. His reasoning was that at 3 officers, the police department is already stretched thin and that the Sheriff’s Department would be better able to juggle work schedules and provide more coverage. Mayor Lewis also stated that the county currently provides about 20-25% coverage right now.
Dan Ekre, City & County Animal Control Officer gave an example for consideration. He had recently been working on a situation in town and needed back up. There were no Bagley Police officers on duty, so he called dispatch to have a county deputy assist. Ekre said it took an hour and a half for a deputy to arrive. Sheriff Halverson clarified the response time after checking radio logs and said that it took 45 minutes for a deputy to arrive. (In the editor’s opinion, 45 minutes still seems to be a long time to wait for back up). Sheriff Halverson also explained that Ekre needed assistance in enforcing a city ordinance, which the county can’t enforce without a contract with the city.
Michael Kerr (county resident) asked how swapping manpower between the city and county can be cheaper?
Kari (EMS employee) stated that they can always count on the Bagley PD to assist with medical cases.
Ben (Clearbrook resident that works in Bagley) stated that it sounds like the logical idea would be to add a fourth officer to the police department, even though it would cost more.
Troy Jesness (Bagley resident and business owner) – How much more is that going to cost? What is the impact going to be on me? Councilman Merschman then stated that the city is looking at cutting 1/3 of their budget by contracting with the county. Jesness’ response was “but how does that affect me personally?” In his experience in working with Fire Department budgets, these are large dollar amounts but when it comes down to the individual taxpayer it is quite small. If his taxes were to go up slightly, he would be in favor of adding another police officer. If his taxes went up by $50 a year, he said “hire another cop!” He might reconsider if his taxes were to go up a lot.
Mayor Lewis then stated that without talking to the county about a contract, it would be hard to determine what the costs would be. If they decided to start contract talks, they would make the cost details available for the public.
Some one then asked if the budget were reduced by 1/3, would taxes go down?
Melissa Kerr asked who would make the final decision? Mayor Lewis stated it would be a city council decision.
John Gerbracht (business owner) thanked both departments for their service and stated that with more drugs and crime in the city both need more staff.
Sid Michel (Bagley resident and former Mayor) stated that contracting with the county would be a quick Band-Aid, the costs will probably continue to cost more in the future. It would be cheaper to keep the police department than to change and then in the future switch back again.
Amanda Brustad (Bagley resident) would like to have a fourth officer and the city needs to offer competitive wages.
Garrett Bitzer (business owner) asked what would happen to revenue generated by citations and drug forfeitures? How much revenue would the city lose?
Councilman Sutherland commented with his background in law enforcement he is in favor of keeping the police department and that it is going to take a lot for him to change his mind to get rid of the department. (applause from the audience).
Heidi Moore (Librarian at the Public Library) said that she had witnessed many drug deals happening in the library parking lot and requested more coverage from the police department. She thanked the police for driving by more often and stated that drug deals are not happening anymore (at least while she is at work) and she feels much safer now. She asked, “what is the cost, in our safety, if we get rid of the police department?” (more applause).
Larry Johnson (former law enforcement officer) stated that Cass Lake did this a while back at a much lower rate at first, but it is much higher now. He also said that it is not easy to restart a police department.
Councilman Sutherland then asked how many city residents in attendance were in favor of proceeding with contract discussions with the county. There were no immediate raised hands.
Heather Galli (resident) asked how long the contract would be if it were approved? Mayor Lewis stated that these contracts are usually for 2 years (to match union contracts for personnel).
Dean Newland (county resident) asked how the other city council members would get information from this meeting. Mayor Lewis replied that there will be a discussion at the next city council meeting.
Tanner Pink (business owner) asked how much it would cost to restart the police department if it were disbanded?
Ryan Schipper (former Bagley Police officer, now working for Fosston PD and part-time with Bagley PD). Explained that he had been with Bagley PD for seven years and that he has sacrificed a lot to serve in Bagley. Officers make much less up here than in other parts of the state. He has researched how much it would cost to restart and it would be 2-3 million dollars with a lot of government hoops to jump through.
Tanner Pink if a vote could be taken tonight. Sutherland had asked this earlier in the meeting. Mayor Lewis thought he was asking if the city council would take a vote tonight, but Pink meant an informal vote of the audience. Most of the audience members raised their hands in support of keeping the police department.
The meeting was then adjourned at 6:20 pm.
The Farmers Independent will continue to provide coverage of City Council and County Commissioner meetings and will share details with the public as they become available.
City of Bagley representatives meet with County Commissioners to discuss law enforcement coverage contract
(From the October 1 issue of the Farmers Independent)
By Darin Steindl
On Tuesday, September 30, Bagley City Council members Duane Lewis and Dennis Merschman, met with the Clearwater County Commissioners during the regular Board of Commissioners meeting.
The purpose of the meeting was to determine the next steps in developing a contract which would have the City of Bagley paying the county to take over law enforcement services within the city. Lewis distributed a copy of a contract that the City of Moose Lake, MN has with Carlton County, which Lewis stated could be a guide and starting point to developing a contract here.
As part of a potential agreement, the City of Bagley would eliminate the police department and sell police department equipment to the county. The county, through the Sheriff’s Department, would hire two additional deputies to increase their manpower and ability to provide service to the City of Bagley. Note: As reported in the August 27 issue of the Farmers Independent, during the August 19 Board of Commissioners meeting Commissioner Stuart Dukek reported that the City of Bagley was planning to keep the Chief of Police position to patrol during the day and to enforce city ordinances.
Commissioner Dukek asked Sheriff Darin Halverson if he thought his department could handle the extra workload. Sheriff Halverson stated that by having two additional deputies his department could handle the coverage without needing to use overtime. Halverson stated that in the evening, there are usually two deputies on duty in the county and if Bagley was to be included in that coverage, a third deputy would be added to the shift. In effect, there would be one deputy covering the southern part of the county, one deputy covering the northern part of the county and one deputy covering the city limits of Bagley.
Commissioner Mark Larson asked if there had been any public meetings to get input from the residents of Bagley. Lewis explained that they are in the early stages of discussion and hadn’t scheduled any public hearings yet. Commissioner Larson stated that he wasn’t prepared to make a decision until the residents had a chance to voice their opinions. Commissioner Titera agreed that a public hearing should be held before making any decisions.
Commissioner Larson then asked County Attorney Karin Hughes if there were any legal issues with the city contracting with the county to provide law enforcement coverage. Hughes replied that there would be no legal issues. Larson then said, “you seemed hesitant with your answer”. Hughes replied that she believes there would not be any legal issue with the county taking on a contract, but that she was concerned that the Chief of Police had been instructed by the city council that he could not attend this meeting, which she felt was a violation of the open meeting law. Lewis responded to that statement by saying that the city attorney had instructed them to tell the Chief of Police not to attend the meeting, since Lewis and Merschman were representing the city in this matter. There was then additional discussion about open meeting laws.
Commissioner Larson then stated that it seems that there are some issues the city needs to address before the commissioners would consider agreeing on a contract. The other commissioners were in agreement to pause discussions until after a public hearing was scheduled by the city. Lewis stated that he would work with the City Clerk to schedule a public hearing for Wednesday, October 22. Note: after the commissioner meeting, Lewis contacted the Farmers Independent to notify us that the public hearing would be scheduled for October 29, allowing the city to advertise in the paper two weeks prior to the meeting.
The commissioners then returned to other items on their agenda.
Click on the image to open the pdf file.
Clearbrook-Gonvick School Referendum to be on November ballots
During the Clearbrook City Council meeting on September 8, Ryan Grow, Clearbrook-Gonvick School Superintendent, made a presentation regarding the bond referendum that will be on the November ballot.
A fact sheet was distributed stating that the $34.9 million referendum is higher than the last request due to inflation and project updates. The plan includes additional classrooms for career and technical education, special education, elementary, small groups and physical education. It also includes creating a new, secure entrance, a new roof and renovated commons areas, restrooms and LED lighting.
If approved, the average homeowner (with a home value of $175,000) would pay $15 a month in additional property taxes ($178 per year).
Update – The results of the November 4 election were 54% No (473 votes) and 46% Yes (405 votes), with the referendum being rejected by the voters.
Fatal Crash in Bagley
The Clearwater County Sheriff’s Department issued the following news release.
On September 1, 2025, at approximately 7:40 a.m., the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting a motor vehicle accident on Tower Ave. SW in Bagley. A deputy from the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call. Upon arrival, the deputy saw a vehicle laying on its roof on the south side of Tower Ave. SW approximately ¼ mile south of US Hwy 2. The vehicle appeared to have lost control when it entered the curve and went off the road and rolled. The sole occupant of the vehicle, 18-year-old James Johnson of Bagley, had been ejected from the vehicle. The Bagley Sanford Ambulance arrived on scene and Johnson was transported to the Bagley Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. The Minnesota State Patrol assisted at the scene. Our condolences go out to the family and all those impacted by this tragedy.
Home destroyed by fire west of Bagley
On Wednesday, August 6 the Bagley Fire Department (assisted by the Shevlin Fire Department) responded to house fire approximately 5 miles northwest of Bagley on 141st Ave. The four residents (Jerry Kaupang, Treena Kaupang, Tara and Sean Ferguson) were able to leave the building with no injuries, but the house was a total loss. A relative of the occupants, Birgit Burroughs, has set up a GoFundMe account to help the family recover from this tragedy. If you would like to help the family, CLICK HERE.
