NDACo Annual Conference

1:00-2:15 Workshop Block (3 Concurrent Sessions)

- When Disaster Strikes...ND Counties Respond  (Prairie Rose Room 101-102) 

When_Distaster_Strikes_All_Presentations 

This workshop will focus on two recent disasters in North Dakota with wildfires and tornados that claimed lives and destroyed an immense amount of property. Hear about the response efforts and lessons learned. 

Jesse Jahner, Cass County Sheriff  

Karolin Jappe, McKenzie County Emergency Manager  

Chauncy Schultz, National Weather Service 

- PERS Retirement Plan Updates (Prairie Rose Room 103-104)

NDPERS representatives will give an overview of legislation passed during the 2025 legislative session that impacted the Public Safety Plan.  A brief update regarding the elected county officials conflict will also be discussed, along with an update on the resolution.

Marcy Aldinger

MaryJo Anderson

Rebecca Fricke

Michaela Huntington

Robin Mistelski

- NACo Research and Advocacy: Counties Preparing for Federal Funding Changes (Prairie Rose Room 105)  The Big Shift

Attendees will learn how federal budget changes are affecting county budgets and what to expect next.

Barbara Frydenlund, Nurse Administrator-Rolette County 

Jonathan Harris, Associate Director of Research, Counties Futures Lab-NACo  

Zeke Lee, Legislative Director, Public Lands and Western Interstate Region-NACo

9:00-10:15 Workshop Block (3 Concurrent Sessions) Prairie Rose Rooms

Tentatively working on:

- Policy Strategies to Support Energy Growth (Prairie Rose Room 101-102)

Join in this panel discussion to hear how counties have developed policies to support new energy interests like data centers and battery storage facilities. 

Alan Claus Anderson, Chair of Polsinelli’s National Energy Practice Group 

Randy Christmann, ND PSC Commissioner Christmann 

Don Flaherty, Dickey County Tax Director & Ellendale Mayor 

Melissa Vachal, Mountrail County Planning & Zoning

- Infrastructure Funding – The What, When and How (Prairie Rose Room 103-104)

Infrastructure Funding Office of Treasurer

There were many changes to transportation funding approved by the 69th Legislature.  Join the NDDOT and Office of the State Treasurer representatives as they navigate through the funding sources, like Prairie Dog, Flex Funds and grant opportunities for infrastructure projects for counties and townships. The experts will be in the room, so bring your questions.

Brandon Beise, PE-NDDOT Local Government Division 

Nicole Krivoruchka, Director of Finance-Office of State Treasurer  

- AI in County Government: Dos, Don'ts and How-Tos (Prairie Rose Room 105)

AI_in_Action

Gain a clear understanding of what artificial intelligence actually is (and is not). Learn from NDIT's journey from policy creation to the implementation of AI-based productivity tools in non-technical terms and see how Cass County is employing AI. This session willl help you “wade into the waters” of using AI to make your county more efficient.  

Bob Henderson, Director of Technology-Cass County

Skyler Lunsford NDIT Enterprise Copilot Administrator 

Jason Anderson NDIT Data Insights & AI Manager  

10:30-11:45 Workshop Block (3 Concurrent Sessions)

Tentatively working on:

- Survival Stories of Budgeting in the New “Cap” Environment (Prairie Rose Room 101-102)

Survival_Stories_of_Budgeting

Attend this fueled conversation to learn how counties navigated their first budget cycle with the restrictive 3% cap. Hear the issues discovered, challenges in meeting local needs and results from panelists sharing their experiences.

Nathan Berseth, Richland County Commissioner

Marisa Haman, Ward County Auditor/Treasurer

Ellen Roundy, Foster County Auditor/Treasurer

Linda Svihovec, NDACo Research Analyst

- GIS Use Cases and Importance of Public Data (Prairie Rose Room 103-104) 

GIS Presentation

NDACo GIS Program and NDIT Geospatial Program work together toward a common goal of sharing importance of GIS and answering the question of “Where does the data come from and why should it be public?” 

Kaitlyn Bakken, NDACo GIS Coordinator

Bob Nutsch, NDIT Geospatial Program Manager 

- Effective Talent Acquisition in a Competitive Market (Prairie Rose Room 105)

The session will focus on better understanding the current talent market, understanding tools organizations should implement to create effective talent acquisition and employee retention program; increase candidate pools in a complex and challenging environment; improve your position as an organization of choice for current and potential employees.

Jason Sutheimer, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CWP, HR Business Partner-ND Adjutant General