Karen Newman
jokarmid@gmail.com

Clay County Commissioner Grant Weyland concluded his commission leadership year with the State of the County Address on Tuesday, January 7 at the Clay County Commissioner Meeting Room. In his introduction, Weyland declared, “As one of the fastest growing counties in the state of Minnesota, Clay County has experienced another busy year with numerous accomplishments.”
The changing face of the Clay County Government’s campus was noted as the impending completion of phase 2 of the Adult Correctional Facility draws near. The facility will provide rehabilitative services for inmates, teaching skills which can be utilized while working toward the goal of declining recidivism rates upon release. Weyland reported that the remodeled and expanded Juvenile Center responds more effectively to the needs of the most at-risk youth from the county and the region.
In 2020, a strategic planning study of the county government’s campus needs for the next 10-15 years will be presented to the commission. Commissioner Weyland explained that the strategic planning study was necessitated by the county’s population growth combined with state hiring mandates and increased demands for services which has led to insufficient space in existing buildings.
The Planning and Zoning Department hired Matt Jacobson as Clay County’s Planning and Zoning director. His mission is to work with businesses and individuals as Clay County continues to grow. In 2019, the Planning and Zoning Department:
granted 140 building permits
granted 11 conditional use permits
granted 20 variances
worked with 30 minor subdivisions
worked with 1 major subdivision

The Clay County Recorder’s Office continues digitizing and updating land records for customer convenience. They observed a rise in vital records requests due to citizens needing documentation to obtain Real IDs. The Recorder’s Office cooperated with tech services to incorporate apps to facilitate mapping and accessibility for future 911 needs. The Clay County website receives 44,000 visits monthly. For citizen convenience, Clay County Commission meetings are livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook with meeting agendas available online in advance.
Staying competitive in the current job market continued as a focus of Human Service Department work in 2019. The department’s mission is to meet the needs of Clay County’s 579 full-time, part-time. variable and seasonal employees. Citing job availability as a key factor in county growth, Weyland noted, “While we are pleased that low unemployment can provide our citizens with multiple employment options, it has also created many challenges in recruiting and retaining a quality work force.” The Human Resource Department, with the support of the County Commissioners, conducted a wage classification study to ensure that Clay county wages will remain competitive with surrounding areas at present levels and into the future. Lauding the cooperation of the Human Resource Department, the Clay County Commissioners and the county’s insurance committee, Weyland stated, “The county was able to provide increased benefits to employees while projecting thousands of dollars in future savings to taxpayers.”
Clay County Social Services Department reported increasing demands for service. In addition to meeting local needs, the department has a duty to act on behalf of the state and federal governments in matters defined by law and statute. Clay County Social Services’ notable 2019 statistics include:
completion of 5,500 intakes for services
served for 245 children in out-of-home placements
provided 322 child protection assessments
provided 122 adult protection assessments
served 900 elderly and disabled individuals who require support to remain in their home communities
licensed or certified 400 homes for day care, child foster care and adult foster care
screened 150 individuals for mental and/or chemical health civil commitments
conducted 400 chemical health assessments
cooperated with area agencies to provide support and assistance with homelessness, transportation, truancy, sex trafficking, child care, affordable housing and cultural responsiveness
The Clay County Cooperative Extension Services provides agricultural and horticultural educational services for Clay County citizens. They serve 390 children in the county’s 14 4-H clubs, present programming in every school district in Clay County and participate in school districts’ after-school and summer programs providing educational opportunities for 433 youth.
In 2019, the Clay County Sheriff’s Department received 25,733 calls for service which marks a 30% increase over the past five years. They transported 795 individuals and logged 93,080 miles as they performed their duties.
The Clay County Veteran’s Office provides support for 3746 identified county residents in addition to conducting outreach workshops and working closely with the Veterans’ Court.
Maintaining 1,600 miles of county roads in addition to servicing most township roads, the county highway department found 2019 to be the most challenging year in recent memory. Commissioner Weyland reported, “Working with legislators to create sustainable funding for transportation continues to be one of Clay County’s top priorities.” He also reported that permanent flood protection for Clay County remains a goal.
Weyland complimented his fellow commissioners for their hard work in meeting community needs, for their participation on county and local committees, for their commitment to enabling all the citizens of Clay County to have a better life in thriving communities, and for their work to encourage prospective residents to settle within the county borders.