By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

A motion by County Commissioner Wayne Johnson of Pelican Rapids and seconded by Commissioner Dan Bucholz of Perham was unanimously carried to approve an agreement Jan. 13 between Otter Tail County and Wilkin County for the new Prairie Lakes Community Health Board. 

The agreement includes data practices, records management, clerical updates, program development, administration and data and resource sharing. The Prairie Lakes Community Health Board will work in cooperation with employees and county commissioners of both Otter Tail and Wilkin Counties.

Corrections director

agreement reached

Otter Tail County Probation Director Michael Schommer informed the county board of commissioners that the Todd-Wadena Community Corrections organization has a desire to contract for services from Otter Tail County. This is the result of a community corrections director vacancy in the Todd-Wadena agency. 

Otter Tail County commissioners thus approved a motion to execute an intergovernmental agreement between Otter Tail County and the counties of Todd and Wadena to fulfill statutory functions of a Community Corrections Director. This will be effective from Jan. 13, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2026.

Community development

A motion by County Commissioner Kurt Mortenson of rural Underwood and seconded by Commissioner Dan Bucholz of rural Perham was approved by county commissioners to execute an agreement between Otter Tail County and the Community Development Agency of Otter Tail County,

The agreement calls for the advancement of economic, commercial, housing, and/or industrial development and redevelopment within Otter Tail County.

Family resource

center planning

A motion by County Commissioner Sean Sullivan of Fergus Falls and seconded by Commissioner Kurt Mortenson of rural Underwood received county board approval for a service agreement with Perham-based Widseth building consultants. The agreement is for architectural services related to Family Resource Centers in New York Mills and Pelican Rapids.

These resource centers throughout Minnesota help families access social services, food, housing and health care to improve family stability and well-being. The centers are often school-linked while providing what counselors refer to as “strength-based support” to families.

Landfill improvement

payment finalized

County commissioners approved final payment, in the amount of $138,487, to North Central, Inc. for the construction of a partial final cover on the Henning Construction and Demolition Landfill as presented by Solid Waste Director Chris McConn.

Minnesota statute requires industrial solid waste to be compacted as densely as possibly and covered after each day of operation. The law requires a layer of at least six inches of suitable cover material.