Ramsey County Board of Commissioners Meeting – January 20, 2026

The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners met in regular session at 9:02 a.m. on January 20, 2026. The meeting included approval of previous minutes, an employee achievement award, reaffirmation of the county’s vision, mission, and goals, and a prolonged debate on the allocation of state grant funds for youth healing and treatment homes – which was ultimately tabled. The board also received updates on bond ratings, court partnerships, and federal immigration enforcement responses.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda Approval (Item 1): Approved unanimously (7‑0) after a motion by Moran, seconded by Jebens‑Singh.
• Minutes Approval (Item 2): Approved unanimously after a motion by Miller, seconded by Moran. One commissioner asked for clarification on the ordering of items in the minutes, which was explained as intentional.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No formal public comment period was held. However, Chair Ortega acknowledged a gathering of approximately 70–100 community members outside the council chambers before the meeting. He thanked them for their advocacy and stated that employees are allowed and welcome to engage in lawful community or union activities during work hours.

Discussion Items

• Presentation: Employee Achievement Award (Item 3): Commissioner McMurtrey presented Shannon Stewart, a naturalist at Tamarack Nature Center, with the Ramsey County Employee Achievement Award for excellent job performance. Noelle Roden, manager of the nature center, read a poem and highlighted Stewart’s 30 years of service and contributions, including building a new sugar shack and bringing a sheep to visit preschoolers. Stewart expressed gratitude. The item was for information only; no vote was taken.

• Reaffirmation of Ramsey County’s Vision, Mission, and Goals (Item 4): Commissioner Moran pulled the item to read the vision, mission, and four goals aloud for the benefit of residents. County Manager Ling Becker emphasized that these statements have remained unchanged, providing stability and guiding budget and policy decisions. The board unanimously passed Resolution B2026‑016 reaffirming them.

• Allocation of Grant Funds for Youth Healing and Treatment Homes (Item 5): This item requested approval to allocate $1,950,000 in Minnesota Department of Public Safety grant funds for the acquisition of youth healing and treatment homes, and to authorize the County Manager to enter into loan/agreements. A long discussion ensued covering:

  • The history of the project (originating from the 2019 closure of Boys Totem Town) and the need for local placement options.
  • The intended population: youth with judicial orders for placement, often currently sent out of county or state.
  • Two providers identified through a competitive RFP; service contracts are near completion.
  • Financial structure: a 10‑year forgivable mortgage after which the home would transfer to the vendor; a per diem system ($450–$900/day) for sustainability; and a parallel $5 million wraparound services component already being executed.
  • Concerns raised by Commissioners McMurtrey, Xiong, and others about the 10‑year term, long‑term commitment, and the risk of the vendor leaving the service after a decade. County Manager Becker noted that staff and attorneys recommended the 10‑year term and that adding a first‑right‑of‑refusal clause might be possible but could complicate negotiations.
  • County Attorney John Choi spoke in support, emphasizing the urgent need to avoid losing the funds and the importance of offering treatment alternatives.
  • Commissioner Moran argued for moving forward given the long journey, but supported a one‑week delay to allow staff to explore additional contract protections.

• County Connections: County Manager Becker reported that Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s bond rating agencies were visiting to evaluate the county’s financial health, which is critical for maintaining low borrowing costs. She also announced a new cross‑agency work group with the Second Judicial District to coordinate funding and staffing impacts. Finally, she reiterated that Ramsey County remains open for business despite federal immigration enforcement actions and invited residents to call for assistance (651‑266‑8500).

• County Attorney Update: John Choi described ongoing efforts to establish protocols for investigating federal officer‑involved shootings and responding to immigration enforcement incidents. He noted that he and Sheriff Fletcher are working with all local police chiefs to ensure independent investigations, cooperation with the BCA, and that victims and witnesses feel safe participating in the justice system. Chair Ortega thanked Choi for moving quickly on these initiatives.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda and Minutes approved unanimously.
• Vision, Mission, and Goals reaffirmed unanimously via Resolution B2026‑016.
• Youth Healing and Treatment Homes grant allocation (Item 5) was tabled on a motion by Commissioner McMurtrey, seconded by Commissioner Xiong. The vote was 4 ayes (Jebens‑Singh, McMurtrey, Ortega, Xiong) and 3 nays (McGuire, Miller, Moran). Staff were asked to return at the next meeting (January 27, 2026) with additional information on the 10‑year mortgage term and the possibility of a first‑right‑of‑refusal clause.
• Closed meetings were held after adjournment (at 10:44 a.m.) to discuss federal operations and the Randle matter; these were closed to the public under Minnesota Statutes § 13D.05.

The meeting adjourned at 10:44 a.m.