A recent COVID-19 outbreak at Heart of America Correctional and Treatment Center has left one corrections officer dead, according to information presented to Pierce County Commissioners at their regular meeting on Feb. 3.

Jail Administrator Mike Graner told the board of commissioners Officer Tony Anderson, 55, had died Jan. 26 after contracting the illness. Graner asked the board to approve the donation of 171 hours of sick leave to Anderson’s family. The board approved the request with a unanimous vote.

Graner added the outbreak, which began Jan. 4, caused staff to use about 434 hours of total sick leave.

In other jail-related business, Graner told the board the inmate count at the facility for January was 61. During the outbreak, the facility had asked other jails to house inmates who normally would be booked at HACTC. Graner said 77 inmates were housed at the facility as of Feb. 1. The high count for inmates during January was 81, with 24 bookings and 23 releases. The jail saw a deficit of $20,994.95 for December. Graner reported 21 of 24 officer positions were filled at the jail, with one resignation and one candidate being interviewed.

Graner also attended a discussion by commissioners about the use of funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to address COVID’s impact on the county. Commissioners decided to discuss the topic at their March regular meeting.

Graner asked the board to consider purchasing a medical-grade air purification system for the jail from H.A. Thompson and Sons, a maintenance service the facility already uses. The board approved a regular maintenance agreement with the firm for $6,780. Graner also asked the board to consider upgrading 18 cellblock cameras in the facility at a cost of $18,332. Graner gave the board an update on work being done on a fire control panel at the jail and the purchase of a new transport vehicle.

In other business, the board voted to reduce the value of Pierce County agricultural land by 1.4% on the recommendation of Kelsey Siegler, county tax director. Siegler added she had received new information from the USDA about soil types in the Pierce County townships of Hurricane Lake, Rush Lake, Wolford and Union. The soil types determine the taxable value of agricultural land, according to Siegler.

The board approved one of two tax abatement applications submitted by Pierce County residents.

The board also approved financial reports for December and January. Commissioners approved the transfers of $4,000 from the county general fund to the community service fund and $100,000 from highway distribution funds to the county road and bridge fund.

After approving expenses and financials for January, commissioners reviewed information from Don Wolf, finance director to the North Dakota Supreme Court. The board voted unanimously to continue an agreement to receive a reimbursement of 0.57% to provide clerk of district court services in the 2023-25 legislative biennium.

The board also voted to raise the assessment for blading and snow removal services to Pierce County Townships from $205 per certified mile to $215 per certified mile.

The Pierce County Board of Commissioners hold regular meetings on the first Tuesday of each month. Its scheduled Feb. 1 meeting had been postponed to Feb. 3 due to a snowstorm. The board’s next regular is scheduled for March 1 at 8 a.m. in the Pierce County Courthouse.