The four Douglas County elected officials made their annual budget and salary requests to commissioners at the August 4 board meeting.
Elected Officials’ Budget and Salary Requests
Sheriff Troy Wolbersen, who is not seeking re-election, presented his final budget request. He emphasized that the largest increase is to cover the cost of squad and body cameras. However, Wolbersen said the cameras pay for themselves because they record exactly what took place. That can assist in any potential litigation.
County Attorney Chad Larson presented three budgets and recommended changing the name of the county Coroner’s Office to the Medical Examiner’s Office. The county contracts with Midwest Medical Examiner in Anoka County for autopsies and with Lind and Anderson Funeral Homes to transport bodies. Larson said he’s budgeting $75,000 because the county spent $36,000 on this office in the first half of 2026.
Larson also presented the budget for the county’s Law Library which is in Court Administration located at 720 Elm Street. Each county must have a law library, but Larson said use has decreased as technology has increased.
The County Attorney’s Office employs seven attorneys, six legal assistants and one investigator. Larson said his budget is basically the same as last year and he requested whatever salary increase percentage nonunion county employees receive for 2027.
Auditor Treasurer Vicki Doehling’s office oversees the elections, property tax statement mailings and collections, along with licenses, permits and much more. Doehling shared her budget and said it would be stable except she has to prepare for the possibility of a special U.S. Senate race. She requested a three percent salary increase for 2027.
Recorder Mary Skillings shared her office reached 100 percent compliance for its work processing 8,533 documents in 2025. Skillings office manages vital records for residents including marriage, birth and death. The office also offers passport services. She requested a salary of $90,000 which is less than what her counterparts make in Pope and Stevens County.
Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Troy Wolbersen asked the board to accept two donations. The first was from LaGrand Township for $1,000 to be used for the Search and Rescue Dive Team. The second was from Roy and Constance Medenwaldt for $1,400. That was in memory of their daughter Michelle Rhen who was a county employee for many years. That money will be used for safety vests.
Public Works
Public Works Director Tim Erickson presented a request from the Alexandria School Board and the city of Alexandria for a no parking zone on County State Aid Highway 46, also known as McKay Avenue, in front of Discovery Middle School. They are asking to restrict parking on the county road from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm on school days. Commissioners discussed this and shared concerns it could increase rather than decrease a congestion problem caused by parents waiting in long lines to drop off and pick up students who do not use the school bus transportation option. Commissioners approved a shortened no parking zone at each entrance point.
Commissioners accepted a $14,495.63 lawn mower from the Big Ole Bike Club. Park Superintendent Brad Bonk said this mower has saved so much time keeping the mountain bike trails in excellent condition, his staff has been able to repack with mud the course at Lake Brophy Park. That means it will be ready for this September’s big mountain bike competition.
Erickson’s final item was bridge inspections. The board approved moving forward with the 2026 routine inspection of 22 bridges at a cost of $21,695.00.
Transmission Line Project
Josh Humburg, a senior project manager with Otter Tail Power Company provided Douglas County commissioners with an update on an important transmission line project. It’s called the Big Stone South to Alexandria project. Residents in Holmes City, Lake Mary, and LaGrand townships will be impacted. Lake Mary Township will feel the biggest impact of the line which will involve the installation of poles between Lake Mary and Lake Andrew to carry the lines. Humburg said they are starting to acquire 150-foot land easements for those poles. The line will end at the substation off I-94 in LaGrand Township. Construction is expected to start early 2028.
The next county board meeting will be held August 18 in what’s commonly called the old boardroom in the Douglas County Courthouse at 305 8th Avenue W. Alexandria.