County leadership reports on legislative visit, strategizes on making spending decisions amidst federal and state changes

In their first meeting back from the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) conference, the Cook County Board of Commissioners reported on their legislative visit, touched on concerns over future funding uncertainties, and discussed an upcoming change in leadership for the sheriff’s department. Following the March 10 meeting, Administrator Kristen Trebil-Halbersma gave WTIP an update on the county.

Association of Minnesota Counties conference

Trebil-Halbersma, along with several of the commissioners and other county department leaders, attended the AMC conference and paid legislators a visit at the Capitol. She said not only were members of the Cook County delegation able to connect with Arrowhead legislators, but with the assistance of the lobbyist the county has been working with, they were able to make the case for the county’s legislative priorities to legislators from across the state.

“It was really energizing to have those conversations,” Trebil-Halbersma said. She added that they heard positive responses to the county’s top priority, securing funding for a major paving project at the end of the Gunflint Trail.  She said, “Overall, I think everyone was very supportive when we talked to them about the project, and very interested in what we had to say.”

The county continues to encourage legislators to support the Gunflint Trail project, along with a wastewater treatment facility project and a host of other priorities. Trebil-Halbersma said that the public can also play a role in advocating for the area. She said she hopes community members will also reach out to their representatives to talk about the importance of these projects for the county.

Planning for the future amidst more uncertainty

The Cook County board has already begun preliminary talks about the 2027 budget. Though they are not yet discussing specifics from county departments, they are examining the overall approach they typically take to budgeting. For the second year in a row, the commissioners have expressed concern about how to navigate changes to federal and state funding programs, and the uncertainty that comes along with that.

This year the county budget conversation is beginning earlier than in previous years. Trebil-Halbersma said the board will also be taking a close look at programs that fall under the non-mandated spending category.

Cook County funds more non-mandated services than other counties, according to Trebil-Halbersma. She said this comes, in part, from the county’s location, far from many services located in metro areas. While non-mandated spending is unlikely to be ended completely, the board will consider how it fits in alongside providing core services for county residents.

As counties across the state wait to hear on questions like federal funding for nutrition programs, there are also items currently before the state legislature that could impact county decisions. One such item is the proposed modernization of human services technology. The proposed changes could add significant initial costs to county operations, and there is disagreement in the legislature about how to approach managing and making changes within the Department of Human Services. At this time it is unclear what changes could look like and what they might cost counties.

The board will continue to discuss the balance of obligatory funding and non-mandated spending at an upcoming work session in April.

Upcoming leadership changes in the sheriff’s office

The March 10 meeting included naming Chief Deputy Ben Hallberg the interim sheriff, effective when Sheriff Pat Eliasen steps down in May. The board is obligated by state statute to appoint an interim sheriff to serve until an election is held, and they discussed only briefly before selecting Hallberg.

In addition to a second-in-command often being tapped to fill in when a leader is unable to serve, Eliasen also suggested Hallberg for the interim role, and Trebil-Halbersma said “It’s a typical process that you would appoint whoever the outgoing recommends.”

WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski spoke with Administrator Kristen Trebil-Halbersma live on Daybreak. Audio of that interview is below.

Kirsten Wisniewski March 11, 2026