Steele County commissioners opened prime construction bids for the courthouse Sept. 15 and voted to accept all bids for detailed review, with final decisions to return to the board at the Oct. 6 meeting.

The Steele County Water Resource District requested $105,000 in ARPA funds to cover the local share of a $1.4 million FEMA mitigation project for Drain 1. Commissioners discussed timing and precedent and agreed to consider amendment paperwork and bids at a Sept. 15 special meeting.

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At a June 2 Steele County tax equalization meeting, staff reported increases to replacement costs and submitted county assessment ratios to the state; the board approved 2026 valuations and a policy that adds $300,000 in building valuation for farm-exemption applicants who miss a June 30 filing deadline.

After a condition assessment presented by Bartlett West, the Steele County Commission voted to have the full courthouse restoration and a set of alternates put out for competitive bids and to pursue phased work and available funding, citing masonry, accessibility and drainage concerns.

County staff were authorized to advertise the county’s 2021 graveling plan; commissioners accepted a 50% lighting grant award and approved awarding the courthouse lighting work to the low bidder; generator quotes and a possible FEMA/DES grant were discussed but no purchase decision was made pending grant clarification.

County officials discussed a misordered culvert for Westfield Township, responded to a $82,322 claim from contractor Knife River, and approved a $2,259,137.11 pay estimate for Central Specialties; the county attorney will draft a response to the Knife River claim.

The commission approved plans to bid paving of County Road 23 (and part of County Road 5) but raised quality concerns about earlier work on County Road 23 after an engineering review found sections failed ride-quality standards; Knife River was asked for a written correction plan.

The board approved a letter supporting a JDA community center grant and authorized support letters for a Sanford Foundation‑led CAD dispatch grant application, while noting the project could cost roughly $150,000–$250,000 and may involve recurring county costs if funded.