From setting salaries for elected officials and funding requests for certain agencies and nonprofits, to hearing a concern about enforcement of vacation rentals, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners August 19 meeting was long and busy.
Dave Forst, a resident on Lake Cowdry, requested and was granted time on the agenda to address how to better enforce the rules on vacation rental properties. Forst told commissioners about his two-year-long issue with the owner of the vacation rental home next to him that he said routinely violates the rules on number of guests which creates excessive noise and traffic. Commissioners said they want to ensure the county ordinance is being enforced and are considering hiring a compliance officer. Forst said he hoped that could be accomplished by next May.
The Central Lakes Trail is an extremely popular trail for bike riding and it’s in need of some repair. Douglas County Commissioners approved the low bid from Precision Asphalt to seal the cracks in the trail from Alexandria to Osakis.
The Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Douglas County helps ensure housing is available to residents with severe financial limitations. Each year the director presents a budget and asks the board to approve the budget and a special benefit tax to pay the costs associated with this housing. Emajean Hanson-Ford asked for and was granted a $975,000 special benefit tax. She shared with commissioners that the HRA has had a good year. She said, for example, the rehabilitation program was more successful than ever, helping residents stay in their homes and the remodeling work at the Belmont building in Alexandria is progressing very nicely. In October, Hanson-Ford plans to release information from a detailed housing study to guide decisions in the coming years.
Requests for Funding
Commissioners made clear budgets are going to be tight in 2026. Below is a partial list of funding actions.
Shelli-Kae Foster, Executive Director of the Alexandria Senior Center, elaborated on the many benefits of the center which serves seniors across the county. Meals on Wheels are prepared there and delivered and the twelve hundred or so people who visit the center each month enjoy educational sessions, recreation and services like foot care. Foster pointed out volunteers work 12,000 hours a year to make this center possible. She asked for and was given $20,000 for 2026.
Wendy Roiland, with Central MN Elder Network, shared how her organization provides social connections and respite care services to area residents 55 and older to help with the challenges associated with aging. The Companion Visiting Program provided 1300 visits last year, she said. She requested $14,000 in funding in anticipation of cuts at the federal level. Commissioners voted to provide $12,000.
Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging asked for and received $9,534.00 to continue its important work with Senior Linkage Line, nutrition programs and other services.
Brad Brejcha, Douglas County Ag Association and Fair Board, recapped a very successful fair and asked for an increase of $5,000 over last year. Commissioners decided to keep the amount the same as 2025, which is $25,000.
Brittany Johnson, from the Douglas County Historical Society, requested $50,000 for 2026. All but $5,000 of that, was for what she called a once in a lifetime event to support the country’s semi quincentennial program. Commissioners cut the request to $25,000.
The Osakis Economic Development Authority (EDA) was one of the few increases approved by the board. City Clerk-Treasurer Angela Jacobson explained the purpose of the EDA is to support business development through loans including ones for start-up businesses. She also shared funds are now being used to clean up blighted and underused or neglected properties so that land can be used for housing. Commissioners agreed on a $1,000 increase over last year bringing the amount for 2026 to $7,000.
Other funding requests included:
- Alexandria Area Chamber of Commerce $4,000
- Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission $57,750
- Lakes Area Humane Society $16,000
- Douglas County Water Quality Legacy Fund $25,000
- West Central Initiative $11,040
- Douglas Soil and Water Conservation District $311,681
- Viking Library System $146,769
- Chippewa Watershed $4,200
Commissioners set elected officials’ salaries as follows:
- Sheriff Troy Wolbersen $175,000
- County Attorney Chad Larson $160,000
- Auditor/Treasurer Vicki Doehling $110,200
- Recorder Mary Skillings $86,000
Commissioners set their 2026 salaries to the same percentage non-union county employees will receive and they kept their per diem to $100.