Wright County welcomes new attorney, advances body camera policy
The Wright County Board of Commissioners welcomed a new county attorney and moved forward with implementing body cameras for the Sheriff's Office during their April 1 meeting.
County Attorney Brian Loots introduced Reena Field as the newest addition to his civil division. Field, who has eight years of legal experience, previously worked as a public defender and most recently served as a prosecutor with the St. Cloud City Attorney's Office. She will primarily handle CHIPS cases for Wright County and began her duties this week.
The board held a required public hearing on the Sheriff's Office body camera policy, receiving no public comments either in person or in writing. Sheriff's Office staff indicated they would make minor edits to the policy based on feedback from the county attorney's office, including terminology clarifications and removing redundant paragraphs. The hearing fulfilled statutory requirements for the body camera implementation process.
Commissioners also approved a corrected resolution for a State Park road variance with Karina Township, adding the previously omitted words "vertical curve" to the document. The project has been delayed for two years while awaiting proper authorization.
Other business included declaring April 7-13 as Public Health Week in Wright County and approving a gambling permit for the Rockford Masonic Lodge through the consent agenda.
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Areas of Interest (5)
- Concerns over transparency in meeting minutes documentation.
- Potential tensions regarding 'poaching' employees from St. Cloud City Hall.
- Sudden termination of COVID-19 community grant contracts without adequate lead time.
- Lack of public engagement during the mandatory public hearing for body camera policy.
- Critical importance of precise legal language in board resolutions (road variance error).
Votes (7)
Approval of March 18th minutes
Moved by Commissioner Sheen · Seconded by Commissioner Mina
Approval of the agenda
Moved by Commissioner Mina · Seconded by Commissioner Shane
Approval of consent agenda
Moved by Commissioner Dietrich · Seconded by Commissioner Mo
Approve oath for Reena Field
Moved by Commissioner Shane · Seconded by Commissioner Dietrich
Approval of HHS consent agenda
Moved by Commissioner Shane · Seconded by Commissioner Moina
Declare April 7-13 as Public Health Week
Moved by Commissioner Shane · Seconded by Commissioner Dietrich
Approval of variance for State Park road account
Moved by Commissioner Dietrich · Seconded by Commissioner Moina
Notable Quotes (2)
I'm just going to say I would like the minutes to be more robust so that we have more transparency and accountability.
I believe we got the email on the 25th, ending it on the 24th.
People (7)
Commissioner SheenCommissionerVoted against minutes approval citing transparency needs.
Voted against minutes approval citing transparency needs.
Commissioner MinaCommissionerSeconded the motion to approve minutes; moved to approve the agenda.
Seconded the motion to approve minutes; moved to approve the agenda.
Mr. LootsCounty AttorneyIntroduced new attorney Reena Field to the board.
Introduced new attorney Reena Field to the board.
Reena FieldAttorneyNew civil division attorney specializing in CHIPS cases.
New civil division attorney specializing in CHIPS cases.
JamieHealth & Human Services StaffPresented National Public Health Week recognition and discussed grant funding.
Presented National Public Health Week recognition and discussed grant funding.
SarahPublic Health Department StaffInvited commissioners to the annual Public Health Week salad bar.
Invited commissioners to the annual Public Health Week salad bar.
Mark MatiseStaffRequested a re-vote on a state park road resolution due to missing text.
Requested a re-vote on a state park road resolution due to missing text.
Places Mentioned
Events & Meetings (4)
- March 18th (Previous board meeting)
- April 1st (County Board meeting date)
- April 7th-13th (Public Health Week)
- April 1st 9:30 AM (Public hearing for body cam policy)
Ordinances & Resolutions (2)
Declaration of April 7th through 13th as Public Health Week in Ray County.
Variance regarding vertical curve specifications for Karina Township road account.
Source document
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Other Topics from This Document
Approval of March 18th meeting minutes
Rockford Masonic Lodge gambling permit
Introduction of new attorney Reena Field
National Public Health Week recognition
Resolution for State Park road account variance
Wright County Sheriff's Office draft body camera policy
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