Norman County

Special Election Notice: ISD #2215 Norman County East Norman County East School

• Absentee voting begins March 29, 2024 (Fri).
• Location will be open 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Mon-Fri)
• Location will be closed March 29-April 1^st.
• Location will also be open 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. on May 11 (Sat).
• Location will also be open until 5:00 p.m. on May 13 (Mon).
• Location will also be open 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. on election day, May 14^th (Tue)
• Absentee location will be closed on public holidays.

Location:
408 Main Ave W., PO Box 420
Twin Valley, MN 56584

Absentee by mail:
Sign and return an absentee ballot request form as soon as you can to ensure you receive your ballot timely and your vote is counted on Election Day. Fill out the ballot application and return to the district office.
Absentee Ballot Application

Your ballot will be sent via US Postal Service during the absentee voting period, which starts 46 days prior to Election Day. You may send your ballot back to us via mail or drop it off in person at the absentee voting office (408 Main Ave W., PO Box 420, Twin Valley, MN 56584).

Absentee in-person:
Vote in person at the Norman County East District Office (408 Main Ave W., Twin Valley, MN 56584). Absentee applications are available at the office. In person voting is open Mon-Fri starting 46 days prior to an election. (See above for closure dates.)

The Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting on August 15, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in the County Commissioner Board Room for the purpose of discussing 2024 budget proposals and preliminary levy proposal.  Click here for the Budget Meeting Schedule.

Norman County Canvassing Board has been postponed due to potential inclement weather.

The Norman County Canvassing Board will be held at 10:30 a.m. on November 10, 2022 in the County Board Room to review the vote totals, certify the results, and declare the winners. 

Official Notice

LOCAL OPTION TRANSPORTATION SALES & USE TAX

Beginning July 1, 2022, Norman County will impose a 0.5 percent local option transportation sales and use tax on retail sales and uses taxable according to M.S. 297A.993. The tax will be administered by the MN Dept. of Revenue and the funds gained through the local option transportation sales tax will be used toward the payment of the general obligation bonds for the capital cost of constructing a new highway maintenance facility. 
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General Notice - Sales & Use Tax
For more information visit Minnesota Department of Revenue

Norman-Mahnomen Public Health currently offers COVID-19 vaccinations for those 12 years of age and older.  

If you have questions, please contact Sandy at 218-935-2527 or NMPH@co.norman.mn.us

Norman County will host three public meetings on the dates and locations listed below. 

The main county highway shop in Ada is too small to accommodate modern highway equipment and is in an advanced state of deterioration.  In recent years the County Commission has explored a variety of options to address the facility deficiencies.   

The purpose of the meetings is to provide information to citizens regarding a proposed new shop.  The County Engineer will give a brief presentation, as shown here. Following the presentation there will be an opportunity for attendees to view drawings and ask questions.  Residents are encouraged to provide comments. 

Submit questions or comments to Keith Berndt, County Engineer at:  keith.berndt@co.norman.mn.us or 218-784-5443.

Join us for National Night Out on Tuesday,  August 3rd!

National Night Out to be held in Ada on Tuesday, August 3rd at the Coliseum in the Norman County Fairgrounds.  This event is America’s night out and Norman County’s night out against crime.  This event helps citizens to be aware of the importance of crime prevention programs and the impact that their participation can have on reducing crime, drugs and violence in Norman County.   It is a unique, nationwide crime, drug and violence prevention program.

The event will run from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Get to know the officers, emergency services employees and other important organizations that protect and serve you!  On site will be law enforcement vehicles, ambulance, fire trucks, Jaws of Life, thermal imaging and a lot more!

The Ada Area Chamber of Commerce will have a fundraiser meal featuring a pork tenderloin supper from 5:30 -7:00 p.m. in the coliseum with a free will donation.  Monies from this fundraiser will go to the Ada Civic Improvement Fund, community events including Fun in the Flatlands, Old Fashioned Christmas Festival and other local events. 

Ongoing displays and demonstrations will be at the fairgrounds in front of the Coliseum throughout the evening.  Sponsors are needed to help pay for the cost of the children games and for the Red River Petting Zoo.   If you would like to help sponsor one of these events with a donation, please contact Lee Ann Hall at 784-3542 or email her at leeannko@loretel.net.

Volunteers are needed to help serve food on Tuesday, August 3rd.   If you can help please call Lee Ann Hall at 784-3542 or email her at leeannko@loretel.net .     We need help on the following shifts:

     5:20 – 6:20 p.m. – Serve Food

     6:20 – 7:15 p.m. – Serve Food

     7:30 p.m. until done – Clean up

 Don’t miss this great event!

• SNAP (food support)
• WIC
• Free / Reduced School Meals
• DWP / MFIP

Norman County Board Meetings have been changed to begin at 9:00 a.m. beginning with the June 8th meeting and will be held in the County Board Room. 

In response to the economic hardships experienced by small businesses and nonprofit organizations resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minnesota State Legislature recently provided additional state funding to Minnesota counties for allocation to small businesses and nonprofit organizations in an effort to retain jobs and stabilize the business community. As a result, Norman County has received approximately $250,000.00 from the State of Minnesota, and has established a Business Assistance Grant Program in order to get this money allocated as soon as possible. This program is designed to provide emergency funding for businesses/organizations located in Norman County that have lost revenue as a result of the various executive orders issued by Governor Walz.

In order to be considered for program funding, each business/organization must complete the required application form and mail it to the
Norman County EDA, P.O. Box 3, Ada, MN 56510, or email to auditor@co.norman.mn.us.
Completed applications must be postmarked or received via email by February 18, 2021.

EDA Small Business Grant Application

COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution

We are encouraged by the level of interest in our community related to COVID-19 vaccine and would like to clarify a number of questions we continue to receive:

• As an enrolled provider for COVID-19 vaccine, we are expected to, and will follow, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommendations and guidance related to distribution of the vaccine. We are working with our community partners to strategically vaccinate our community in an ethical and efficient manner.
• Currently, COVID-19 vaccine is being administered to priority groups included in Phase 1A, which includes healthcare workers and long-term care residents. We are hopeful vaccine will become more readily available, making additional priority groups eligible to receive vaccine.
• A timeline for when all Minnesotans will have access to the vaccine is unknown. In the meantime, you can act now by getting your flu shot if you haven’t already, be patient as priority groups are vaccinated, and continue to practice preventative habits such as wearing a mask, staying 6 feet from others, washing your hands often and staying home if sick.

As additional priority groups become eligible for vaccination, we will share those details with our community through local media, our social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and our website: www.co.norman.mn.us/COVID19

We greatly appreciate the communities' patience and support as we work through this process!

Visit the Minnesota Department of Health website for information about the Covid-19 Vaccination Plan, including Phase 1A priorities: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/vaccine.html

Tax Forfeiture Sale to be held on courthouse lawn at 10:00 a.m. sharp!

ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR NORMAN COUNTY BUSINESS ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE COVID -19
The Norman County Economic Development Authority has  received additional CARES funding to help businesses with recovery from COVID-19.  We will be accepting new applications until November 13, 2020.   Those that previously applied do not need to submit an application and will be considered for the new funding. Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grants are for businesses that have suffered a loss due to COVID-19.  This program provides grants to businesses for the recovery, stabilization and mitigation related to the COVID - 19 emergency. New applicants must complete the application and send it to the NC EDA, PO Box 3, Ada, MN 56510.  Applications must be postmarked by November 13, 2020.

Update from Public Health Director, Sarah Kjono:
Norman County is seeing a recent surge of COVID-19 cases.

• 80% of cases report symptoms
• The majority of Norman county cases have been in people in their 50's.
• Community spread is in all parts of the county.
• Travel related exposures include people who have been to ND.
• The 14 day case rate is projected to be a 66 for next week's report. As a reminder, the 14 day case rate is just one piece of data the schools use to determine their learning model.
• If there is unknown data in the graphs, it is because the case investigations haven't been completed or the individual refused.

NORMAN COUNTY BUSINESS ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE COVID -19
Norman County has received CARES funding to help businesses with recovery from COVID-19.  The Norman County EDA will be offering Small Businesses COVID-19 Relief Grants to businesses that have suffered a loss due to COVID-19.  This program provides grants to businesses for the recovery, stabilization and mitigation related to the COVID - 19 emergency.  

Norman County CARES Small Business Grant Application 
If you are interested in applying, you need to complete the application and mail it to the Norman County EDA at PO Box 3, Ada, MN 56510.  It must be postmarked no later than September 30, 2020.  The guidelines and instructions are listed in the attached document.  If you don’t have a printer, you can call the Norman-Mahnomen Public Health office at 218-784-5425 to request a copy to be mailed to you.

Covid-19 Food Assistance Program is having a drive through protein box distribution at the Norman County Fairgrounds on Monday, July 20, starting 8:30 AM until supply is gone.
Protein box will be 11 pounds of meat for each person in your household, limit 5 per household.
No paperwork, no income limits.

You will be given instructions as you enter the fairgrounds, hold up finger for number in your household, volunteers will load in your trunk, no contact.

This is sponsored by the Valley food Shelf made possible the North Country Food Bank and the USDA with volunteers from Norman County Salvation Army and Norman-Mahnomen Public Health.

The regularly scheduled Norman County Board of Commissioners meeting for Tuesday June 2, 2020, has been postponed until Friday, June 5, 2020, out of respect for Commissioner Nathan Redland and the Holte families. 

 The meeting will be held in the Norman County Court Room beginning at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2020, following the agenda for the June 2^nd meeting. 

Press Release

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in Norman County. The individual in their 20’s without history of travel. The individual is isolated at home and being monitored by MDH.

For the complete Press Release: Health Officials Confirm First Case of COVID-19 in Norman County

Coronavirus Disease (COVID 19)

Don’t miss the annual Old Fashioned Family Christmas Festival scheduled for December 5-8, 2019!   Saturday, December 7th will be a big celebration with Santa Claus, Free Family Movie, Old Time Snowmobile Show, craft & vendor show, play, Festival of Trees and a lot more! 

A huge craft & vendor show will be held at the Ada-Borup School on Saturday, December 7^th.  Space is still available and can be reserved with Angie Nelson at angiecokley@gmail.com.

The Ada Vintage Snowmobile Club will hold their 20^th Annual Vintage Snowmobile Show at the Main Street Bar and Ada Event Center from 11 am until 2:30 pm.  Follow the event on facebook at Norman County Vintage Snowmobile Club or contact Jake Kappes at 784-8082 or Jacob Kroshus at 218-368-6582.

Sponsors are needed for the following events to be held on Saturday, December 7^th:

If you would like to sponsor or co-sponsor any of these events, please contact Lee Ann Hall at 218-784-3542 or email her at leeannko@loretel.net. 

If you would like to add an event to the poster and be a part of our advertising of the festival,  please contact Lee Ann Hall with the  information at leeannko@loretel.net or call 784-3542 by November 15^th!  There is no charge to add your event.

County ranks #1 state for overall living, #6 for small business owners
By Karie Kirschbaum
Norman County EDA

The verdict is in! If you don’t live in Norman County, you should. According to the U.S. Census, in 1980 the county population was 9379, in 2010 it was 6852. The Norman County Economic Development Authority contracted with the U of M Extension to examine what could be done to turn this trend around.

 The project, Making it Home (Brain Gain), took five months and included five volunteer study groups which met around the county to discuss strengths and opportunities in their areas. In April they completed the U of M Making it Home, “Brain Gain” project and a final public presentation and workgroup sessions. study groups and residents in attendance agreed that Norman County has a variety of positives to offer. They include extensive recreation, strong schools, active community groups, a good cost of living and an overall desirable quality of life.

Click for the rest of the article.

Covid-19 Food Assistance Program is having a drive through protein box distribution at the Norman County Fairgrounds on Monday, July 20, starting 8:30 AM until supply is gone.
Protein box will be 11 pounds of meat for each person in your household, limit 5 per household.
No paperwork, no income limits.

You will be given instructions as you enter the fairgrounds, hold up finger for number in your household, volunteers will load in your trunk, no contact.

This is sponsored by the Valley food Shelf made possible the North Country Food Bank and the USDA with volunteers from Norman County Salvation Army and Norman-Mahnomen Public Health.

Norman County is seeing a recent surge of COVID-19 cases.

• 80% of cases report symptoms
• The majority of Norman county cases have been in people in their 50's.
• Community spread is in all parts of the county.
• Travel related exposures include people who have been to ND.
• The 14 day case rate is projected to be a 66 for next week's report. As a reminder, the 14 day case rate is just one piece of data the schools use to determine their learning model.
• If there is unknown data in the graphs, it is because the case investigations haven't been completed or the individual refused.