Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find information that might help you understand how to find things or learn about information you might need to know about your city or town.
Sheriff's Department
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Sheriff's Department
Any individual or entity whose image or voice is on the video is considered a data subject.
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Sheriff's Department
Peace officers that have a legitimate, law enforcement-related reason can view the video. If there is a legitimate, specified law enforcement need, Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office can share BWC video data with another law enforcement agency.
Generally, most BWC video data is “not public” data. The video data is presumptively private and can only be accessible to a person that is on the video.
If the video is part of an active criminal investigation, the data may not be public data.
If the video contains several people, permission needs to be granted by all involved people before the data is released. If an involved person does not consent to the release, they can be ‘redacted’ from the video by having their face blurred and their voice distorted.Most Corrections BWC video data is considered private or confidential.
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Sheriff's Department
Redaction is the process of concealing the identity of people on the video by blurring their faces and distorting their voices.
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Sheriff's Department
When a peace officer discharges a firearm in the course of duty, except during training and for the purposes of killing injured or sick animals.
When use of force by a peace officer results in substantial bodily harm. When the data subject (person on the video) requests that the video be released to the public. If the video contains people that do not consent to the release or if it contains an undercover police officer, those individuals will be redacted by having their face blurred and voice distorted.
If a peace officer is disciplined, the related BWC video data is part of the personnel data, which is public.
If made public by a court order.
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Sheriff's Department
Yes, per Minnesota statute (13.82, subd. 15), a law enforcement agency can release nonpublic, private, or confidential video if it will aid in the law enforcement process, promote public safety, or dispel widespread rumor or unrest.
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Sheriff's Department
No. The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act limits disclosure of information about certain individuals
- Victims and alleged victims of criminal sexual conduct and sex trafficking
- Victims of child abuse or neglect
- Vulnerable adults who are victims of maltreatment
- Undercover officers
- Informants
- When the video is clearly offensive to common sensitivities
- Victims of and witnesses to crimes, if the victim or witness has requested not to be identified publicly
- Individuals who called 911, and services subscribers whose lines were used to place a call to the 911 system
- Mandated reporters
- Juvenile witnesses, if the nature of the event or activity justifies protecting the identity of the witness
- Juveniles who are or may be delinquent or engaged in criminal acts. Individuals who make complaints about violations with respect to the use of real property. (Code violations, real- estate ethics violations, tax law violations, etc.)
- Deputies and employees who are the subject of a complaint related to the events captured on video
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Sheriff's Department
Per Minnesota statute (13.825, subd. 2(5)(b) a law enforcement agency may redact or withhold access to portions of data that are public when the data is “clearly offensive to common sensibilities.”
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Sheriff's Department
Deputies will record any police-citizen encounter if there is reason to believe the recording will have evidentiary value or if the encounter may result in use of force. Deputies will use their cameras to take recorded statements from victims, witnesses, and suspects. Deputies have discretion to record general citizen contacts.
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Sheriff's Department
When deputies determine that there is not a law enforcement need for recording, they will deactivate their body-worn cameras. In medical emergencies where criminal activity is not suspected, cameras will not be activated.
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Sheriff's Department
No, but if someone asks if they are being recorded, Deputies and Correctional Officers will tell them if it is safe and practical.
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Sheriff's Department
It will depend on the situation. If there is not a law enforcement need or if the situation is not adversarial, a deputy will have discretion to turn off the camera or keep it on.
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Sheriff's Department
The data is very safe and is subject to very strict rules and regulations set forth by the FBI. The data is encrypted and stored off-site from Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
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Sheriff's Department
State statute requires the Sheriff’s Office to retain all video for at least 90 days. Video that documents the discharge of a firearm by a deputy in the course of duty, use of force by a deputy that results in substantial body harm, and formal complaints made against a deputy related to the incident need to be retained for 1 year. The Sheriff’s Office has the option to retain video longer if they wish and will do so in certain circumstances, such as investigations involving death or serious injury.
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Sheriff's Department
Deputies are expected to activate their body cameras if it is safe and practical to do so. However, it is recognized that Deputies must also attend to other primary duties and the safety of all concerned, sometimes in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving. Any time a Deputy fails to activate their recorder, they will need to articulate the reason why. A Deputy that fails to activate their body camera without a justified reason may face discipline.
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Sheriff's Department
Yes. Deputies can use video to further assist in preparing a police report, giving a statement, or providing testimony in court. An example would be reviewing video of a DUI case would be permissible.
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Sheriff's Department
Yes. When a Grant County Sheriff’s Deputy activates their body camera, it will capture the previous 1 minute of video, but not audio.
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Sheriff's Department
The body camera policy is posted on Grant County Sheriff’s Office website.
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Sheriff's Department
We are deploying Axon body-worn cameras. The body-worn cameras are smaller than a cell phone and will be affixed to the Deputy’s upper chest.
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Sheriff's Department
Assessor's
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Good maintenance will help retain the market value of your property. Generally, your Estimated Market Value will not be increased for individual minor repairs such as those that follow. However, a combination of several of these items could result in an increase in your Estimated Market Value. •Repairing a roof •Repairing porches or steps •Repairing original siding •Painting/decorating •Replacing plumbing or electrical fixturesAssessor's
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It is your right to decline an interior inspection. The assessor will then make reasonable estimations regarding the property's interior finish and quality. If you disagree with the resulting valuation the local board of review is not allowed to make any changes in your favor until you allow the assessor to inspect the property.Assessor's
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You are encouraged to first contact your Assessor's Office and discuss the assessment with the appraiser for your property. You have the right to appeal the estimated market value. The methods of appeal are detailed on the back page of your estimated market valuation notice also known as your Valuation and Classification notice that is mailed to all property owners around March. The times to appeal are limited generally to the "Boards of Appeal" in April.Assessor's
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Property values are based on the typical sales prices which fluctuate with general market conditions such as the general economy, property locations, supply and demand, demographic changes, and changes in tax laws. Per Minnesota state laws, as property values change in the market place, those changes must be reflected in the assessor's Estimated Market Values.Assessor's
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Property owners may contact a surveyor by checking the local phone listings. Once a property is surveyed, it is strongly encouraged that the property owner provide a copy of the survey to the Assessor's office. A survey provides the best possible method to ensure an accurate assessment of your property. The county maintains a GIS map that is generally very accurate but it is not a survey.Assessor's
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Assessors estimate property market value and classify them according to their use for property tax purposes. Each year the assessor reviews the market valuation of your property to determine if changes in the real estate market require a change in the estimated market value. Minnesota law requires that assessors actually view each parcel of real estate every five years to appraise its market value. In addition, each year the appraiser inspects parcels with new construction, alterations or improvements.Assessor's
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No, it does not. There are differences between individual properties and between neighborhoods. In one area the sales may indicate a large increase in value in a given year. In another neighborhood there may be very little or no change in value. Different types of property within the same neighborhood may show different value changes. There are numerous factors to be considered in each property, which will cause value changes to differ. Some of the factors that can affect value are location, condition, size, quality of construction, the number of baths, basement finish, garages, and many others.Assessor's
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Please submit an e-mail to assessor@co.grant.mn.us an include your name, address, phone number, property address and parcel identification number. Include in the subject line " Review of my Property"Assessor's
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Taxing jurisdictions such as the county, schools, cities, and townships, adopt their levy after public hearings. The levies are certified to the County Auditor who then calculates the tax rates. The taxes you pay are proportionate to your estimated market value and use classification on your property as observed by the Assessor's Office.Assessor's
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State statute requires the assessor to physically review 20% of all property each year. This results in the assessor visiting your neighborhood every five years. The assessor is verifying that the currently existing information is accurate, and checking for any changes that may have been made to the property. Having accurate property information is critical when valuing and classifying property and contributes to a fair and equitable assessment for everybody.Assessor's
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Generally speaking, improvements that increase the market value of a property will increase the assessor's Estimated Market Value.Assessor's
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The assessor visits your property to record the existence and character of improvements that contribute to its market value. The assessor collects sales information on all types of property, and studies characteristics such as location, size of the parcel, improvements and amenities that affect what buyers would pay for your property. Local sales will impact local values. The assessor uses actual sales of similar properties to estimate what buyers would pay for your property. (A single sale does not make a market.)Assessor's
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To qualify for the homestead classification, you must: •occupy the property as your primary residence •be one of the owners of the property or a relative •be a Minnesota resident - items that must reflect the address of the homestead are voter registration, driver's licenses, income tax forms, and vehicle registration.Assessor's
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Yes. The assessor keeps records on the physical characteristics of each property in the County. Even though the assessor may have been unable to go through your property, the Estimated Market Value will still be reviewed annually based on the existing records and/or sales of similar property.Assessor's
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The first two numbers indicate the jurisdiction (city or township) your property is located in. Following is the key: 01-Delaware Township 02-Elbow lake township 03-Elk Lake Township 04-Erdahl Township 05-Gorton Township 06-Land Township 07-Lawrence Township 08-Lien Township 09-Logan Township 10-Macsville Township 11-North Ottawa Township 12-Pelican Lake Township 13-Pomme De Terre Township 14-Roseville Township 15-Sanford Township 16-Stony Brook Township 17-Ashby City 18-Barrett City 19-Elbow Lake City 20-Herman City 21-Hoffman City 22-Norcross City 23-Wendell CityAssessor's
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It is the most probable price, as of a specified date, in cash, or in terms equivalent to cash, or in other precisely revealed terms, for which the specified property rights should sell after a reasonable exposure in a competitive market under all conditions requisite to fair sale, with the buyer and seller each acting prudently, knowledgeably, and for all self-interest, and assuming that neither is under undue duress. In summary, market value is the price that would tend to prevail under typical, normal, competitive open market conditions.Assessor's
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It is a unique number assigned to each piece of real estate. The PIN, also knows as Parcel Number or Parcel Identification Number, is printed on the Property Tax Statement, the Valuation Notice, Proposed Tax Statement, and various other documents related to real estate taxation or assessment.Assessor's
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Yes, however depending on the extent of the damage and when it is repaired, you may or may not see a value/tax change. (Remember, the assessment is based "as of January 2" of each year.)Assessor's
Land Management
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Contact the MN Department of Health by clicking on the link to the right, Grant County does not do well certifications.Land Management
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Burn permits are issued through the Grant County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office can be reached by calling 218-685-8280.Land Management
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Contact the Grant County Coordinator’s Office for local approval as well as the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for a Permit by Rule to bury your building.Land Management
Treasurer
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Treasurer
Real Estate and Personal Property tax statements are mailed in March each year. The statutory deadline is March 31. Mobile Home tax statements are mailed in July each year. The statutory deadline is July 15.
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The Grant County Treasurer's Office accepts payments of more or less than the exact amount of tax installment due for the current year. If the accepted payment is less than the amount due, it is applied first to the penalty accrued for the year that the payment is made (M.S. 277.01; 279.01, SUBD. 1)Treasurer
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If you pay your tax after the due dates, a penalty will be added to your tax (M.S. 277.01). The later you pay, the greater the penalty you must pay. For details, check the back of your property tax statement.Treasurer
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Tax forfeiture is the process by which the state takes ownership of a property if property taxes are not paid. In Minnesota all properties with delinquent taxes for 3 years and have the 4th year to redeem.Treasurer
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Property taxes not paid in the year they are due are delinquent on the first business day of the following year.Treasurer
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Past due taxes are taxes that are unpaid in the current year. Delinquent taxes are taxes that are unpaid on the first business day of the following year. If it is your 1st year of delinquent taxes a $40.00 fee will be assessed for publication in the newspaper if full payment has not been received by February 28.Treasurer
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Contact the Treasurers' Office for details.Treasurer
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The redemption period is 3 years effective 2013. Delinquent taxes prior to 2013 have a redemption period based on statute changes in 2013 legislative session. Contact the county treasurer's office to verify the redemption period. At any time during the redemption period the owner may pay the delinquent taxes to prevent forfeiture. Before the period of redemption expires, the homeowner receives a "Notice of Expiration of Redemption" and the county auditor is required to mail one last warning to the homeowner. A property forfeits to the state when the redemption period expires or 60 days after the final warning is sent, whichever is later. Contact the treasurers' office for more information.Treasurer
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The homeowner is eligible to pay all delinquent taxes and fees or enter into a payment agreement by "confessing" judgment. Full payment or the confession of judgment can be done any time after the taxes become delinquent and up until the redemption period ends. By confessing judgment the homeowner agrees to pay the entire judgment and gives up any right to contest the delinquent amount. To enter into a "confession of judgment", the homeowner must pay one-tenth of the delinquent taxes, penalties and fees and full payment of current year tax and penalty. This payment plan replaces the redemption period and must be paid in a 10-year installment plan.Treasurer
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If there is an overpayment of your current year taxes, you may be contacted with the option of a refund, having it applied to a different parcel or the following years taxes. Refunds will be sent to the party who made the payment.Treasurer
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Yes for the following reasons: The proposed tax notice does not include special assessments. Referendums passed could result in increasing the tax amounts. Property owners who occupy their property by December 1 can file for homestead classification for the following year.Treasurer
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A Special Assessment is an improvement (such as streets, etc.) which directly benefits the property. It is shown as a separate amount on the property tax statement. The amount is based on how much the property benefits from the improvement and the cost of doing the project. It is not based on the value of the property.Treasurer
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When a property is sold the buyer is responsible to request the tax statement from the seller. In the process of buying and selling, taxes are generally prorated based on days of ownership and agreed upon by the buyer and seller.Treasurer
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When a property is purchased and the deed is filed after December 31st the first notification you will receive from the county indicating the change in ownership will be the proposed tax statement issued in November for the upcoming year.Treasurer
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Taxes must be postmarked on or before the deadline printed on the statement. If you are taking your tax payment to the post office on the deadline request a "round stamp" of the current date. The round stamp date insures the Treasurers' Office that the payment was received by the post office on or before the deadline.Treasurer
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It is a unique number assigned to each piece of real estate. The PIN, also known as Parcel Number or Parcel Identification Number, is printed on the Property Tax Statement, the Valuation Notice, Proposed Tax Statement, and various other documents related to real estate taxation or assessment.Treasurer
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The first two numbers indicate the jurisdiction (city or township) your property is located in. Following is the key: 01-Delaware Township 02-Elbow lake township 03-Elk Lake Township 04-Erdahl Township 05-Gorton Township 06-Land Township 07-Lawrence Township 08-Lien Township 09-Logan Township 10-Macsville Township 11-North Ottawa Township 12-Pelican Lake Township 13-Pomme De Terre Township 14-Roseville Township 15-Sanford Township 16-Stony Brook Township 17-Ashby City 18-Barrett City 19-Elbow Lake City 20-Herman City 21-Hoffman City 22-Norcross City 23-Wendell CityTreasurer
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If taxes are $100.00 or less Minnesota Statute requires full payment on the first deadline.Treasurer
County Office Building
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Grant County Sheriff's Office, Social Services, Veteran's Service, Public Health and Human Resources.County Office Building
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The short answer is limited office and storage space along with safety and security concerns. For a longer overview of these issues. click on the link.County Office Building
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In 2013, the County Board had an office space needs assessment of multiple county agencies conducted by Leo A. Daly Architecture(Mpls). As part of this, Daly looked at the old hospital building and assessed what type of space and amount of space needed to fit the meeting room and office space needs of the proposed county offices. Daly also looked at the hospital building in terms of codes needs, asbestos removal, conversion needs and condition of the building. There was a strong desire by the Board not to consider building if we could renovate something within the community. Unfortunately, based upon these professionally conducted assessments, it became apparent that it would be cost prohibitive to utilize the old hospital building. (See Facility Planning History Chart-Options A thru E) This decision was also reinforced by the fact that Prairie Ridge built new rather than renovate the old Hospital.County Office Building
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The vacated Social Services building would become the future home for Bargain Bazaar, which will lose it's present location if the new Office building is built. The vacated Land Management/Public Health building would be up for public sale.County Office Building
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There is money set aside within the Pre-Construction Costs of the Project Budget for land acquisition and demolition.County Office Building
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There is no need to remodel the existing Sheriff’s office to accommodate the Grant County Land Management office staff that would possibly move into the existing Sheriff’s office space contingent on the bond referendum passage. The Grant County Courthouse is on the national register of historic places and any architectural renovations would have to be approved by the State Historic Preservation Office before going forward. We believe the existing floor plan can easily accommodate any future tenants, as is, without any expensive remodeling or renovations.County Office Building
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The cost of the highway addition is being funded 63% state gas tax funds from our annual state aid construction allotment and 37% from a combination of road and bridge fund balance reserves which a few milder winters have helped with and from the prioritizing of this addition in our budget over equipment purchases. There will be no tax increase resulting from this project.County Office Building
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The tax impact of this project on an average home with an assessed value of $50,000 is between 50 cents and 75 cents per month or $6 to $8 per year. Even if agricultural land prices declined to the point that the tax impact of this project were to shift from agricultural land to residential property years into the future, thereby causing the tax impact of this project on residential homes to double, the residential property tax impact would increase by an additional 50 to 75 cents per month for a total residential property tax impact for this project of $1 to $1.50 per month. The tax impact of this project on agricultural homestead property valued at $2.5 million(County Average) is between $278 and $382 per year based on a 30 and 20 year bond respectively. The tax impact of this project on agricultural non-homestead property valued at $2.5 million(County Average) is between $480 and $658 per year based on a 30 and 20 year bond respectively. To find how out how it affects your taxes, please go to the link below or go to the County Brochure and look at Tax Impact Chart.County Office Building