County passes deputy pay hike

The Foster County Commission agreed to increase wages for sheriff's deputies at their last meeting in order to attract and retain officers.

During the meeting held on Tuesday, January 16, the board heard from Sheriff Justin Johnson, who attended the meeting to ask for an increase in wages for sergeant Nathan Kruse.

Johnson said Kruse has accepted a position with the NDDOT, but he is hoping to convince him to stay in his position with the sheriff's department with an incentive like a pay increase.

Johnson asked to increase Kruse's wages to $75,940.80 annually.

He explained that officer shortages are happening all over the state and the nation.

"Every county in the state is looking for deputies. They are stealing deputies from other counties," said Johnson.

"There are only three people scheduled to graduate from the Devils Lake Law Enforcement class," said Johnson.

"The competition for deputies affects every county. If Nathan leaves, I am the only one left."

In a previous meeting the board agreed to offer new deputies $65,000 annually.

Johnson also asked to increase wages for part-time deputies.

"Wells County is offering $50 per hour for part-time deputies," said Johnson.

The board agreed to increase part-time deputy wages to $44.60 per hour.

In other business:

• The board heard from Central Prairie Human Service Zone Director Julie St. Germaine, who attended the meeting with questions about relocating the social services offices during the remodel.

Chris Thompson of EAPC via telephone, explained to the board, St. Germaine and her employees that the current men's bathroom would become a temporary unisex single-use bathroom.

A phasing plan handed out to the board states that phase 1 of the remodel is expected to take four months.

St. Germaine explained that social services will require two phone lines and three internet connections for their office to function.

She said the state's attorney's office and the emergency manager's office both only have one internet connection and one phone line so those offices would need to have more lines installed to be of use.

She told the board that there would be contacts in Foster County three days per week with the days to be determined.

The board agreed to speak to Dakota Central about the lines.

St. Germaine also explained that by federal law their files must be double locked including files stored in a locked file cabinet or a locked computer and both kept behind a locked door.

She also said that they cannot share their office with anyone else under federal law because of privacy laws.

She told the board that there are boxes in the closets of both offices that will need to be removed as they have need to use the closets for storage.

A motion was passed to rent storage from Kelly Hagel at $400 per month to store social services records.

• St. Germaine also informed the board that she is taking a position with the North Star Human Service Zone located in Williston as she is from Williston.

• A discussion was brought up to put the road mill levy on the ballot.

The Farm to Market mill levy of 10 mills for roads was created in 2015 and was set for 10 years. It expired in 2025, hence the need to put it on the ballot this year.

The board asked what the current mill levy is.

Foster County Auditor/Treasurer Ellen Roundy reported the current mill levy is just over $31,000.

She handed a sheet to the board with 2023 road mill rates from North Dakota counties.

Roundy will confer with Foster County State's Attorney Kara Brinster about the matter.

• Finally, Roundy reported that Patty Zink, deputy clerk of court resigned her position. She was working two days per week as deputy clerk of court.