Ramsey County Board of Commissioners Meeting – November 4, 2025

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners met on November 4, 2025, at 9:02 a.m. in Council Chambers, Courthouse Room 300. The meeting included a proclamation, a public hearing on a bond ordinance, several administrative appointments, an amended salary for the Sheriff, and an informational item on emergency food and infant nutrition support due to the ongoing federal shutdown. All seven commissioners were present.

Proclamation: Native American Heritage Month

• Commissioner Miller presented the proclamation declaring November 2025 as Native American Heritage Month. The proclamation recognized the enduring strength, sovereignty, and contributions of Indigenous peoples, including the Dakota, Ojibwe, and Ho-Chunk nations, and acknowledged the historical displacement and ongoing partnership with the American Indian community.
• Several community leaders and members spoke in support of the proclamation, including John Trepart (activist), Sherry Reimers (co‑chair of St. Paul Indians in Action), Kristen Kinney (executive director of the American Indian Family Center), and others. They expressed gratitude for the county’s partnership, highlighted the creation of the American Indian Community Coordinator role in 2024, and emphasized the importance of continued engagement.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda of November 4, 2025 – Approved unanimously.
• Minutes from October 21, 2025 – Approved unanimously.
• Appointment to Ramsey‑Washington Metro Watershed District (Mark C. Gernes and Benjamin M. Karp, incumbents) – Approved unanimously.
• Appointment to Rice Creek Watershed District (Marcie Weinandt, incumbent) – Approved unanimously. Commissioner Jebens‑Singh thanked all appointees for their service, and Commissioner Moran encouraged community members to apply for future vacancies.
• Appointment to Valley Branch Watershed District Board of Managers (Rick Gelbmann, incumbent) – Approved unanimously.
• Appointment to Ramsey County Extension Committee (Heidi Miller and Nancy Kasseth) – Approved unanimously.
• Rename Metro Square to Ramsey County Government Center – Approved unanimously.

Ordinance Procedures: 2026 Capital Improvement Program Bond Ordinance

• Chair Ortega opened the public hearing at 9:20 a.m. No members of the public signed up to testify. The chair called three times for additional comments and closed the hearing at 9:25 a.m.
• The board then voted to waive the second reading and approve the ordinance (Resolution B2025‑199).

Discussion Items

• 2026 Salary Rate for the Ramsey County Sheriff – The original recommendation set the salary at $203,510. Commissioner Xiong moved to amend the recommendation to $196,041, following discussions with the Sheriff. The amendment passed unanimously (7‑0). The board then approved the amended salary package, including the salary of $196,041 effective January 1, 2026, continued deferred compensation, and a uniform/clothing allowance of $1,375. Commissioners noted the Sheriff had taken no increases for several years and that the salary is among the lowest in the metro area. They also expressed a preference for future salary adjustments to be part of the regular budget process.
• Food and Infant Nutrition Support in Response to Federal Shutdown – County Manager Ling Becker reported that the federal shutdown (day 35, tying the longest in U.S. history) is disrupting SNAP, MFIP, and WIC programs. In Ramsey County, approximately 35,000 households (70,000 individuals) receive SNAP, 3,500 households (10,000 individuals) rely on MFIP, and nearly 18,000 residents use WIC. The county is allocating $450,000 from its Strategic Priority Funds: $380,000 for local food shelves and $70,000 for infant and medicated formula to address potential WIC disruptions. Commissioners Miller, McMurtrey, Xiong, Jebens‑Singh, and McGuire expressed strong support, emphasized that this is a temporary, unsustainable intervention, and noted the county is working with community partners, the St. Paul Area Chamber, and the philanthropic sector. Chair Ortega stressed that the shutdown is just the beginning of federal budget challenges and that permanent federal resolution is needed.

Key Outcomes

• Proclamation unanimously adopted recognizing November 2025 as Native American Heritage Month.
• 2026 Capital Improvement Program Bond Ordinance approved (Resolution B2025‑199) after a public hearing with no testimony.
• Sheriff salary set at $196,041 for 2026, with continued deferred compensation and uniform allowance – approved unanimously after amendment (Resolution B2025‑205).
• Emergency food and infant formula funding of $450,000 approved as an informational item; no formal vote required, but board consensus supported the allocation.
• Consent items and appointments all approved unanimously.
• Meeting adjourned at 10:28 a.m., followed by a Legislative Committee of the Whole and two budget workshops.