Board of Directors

Bigfork Valley is owned and governed by the Northern Itasca Hospital District, an entity formed under Minnesota statute in 1975. Today the district includes the cities of Bigfork, Effie and Big Falls, 6 organized townships and 6 unorganized townships in Itasca County, and unorganized territory in Koochiching County along Highway 6. Voters of the district are represented by 13 board members, including 2 at-large positions.

The board meets monthly in a public meeting, currently the last Tuesday of the month at 9:00 a.m. in the board room at Bigfork Valley.

Board Members

Tom LaMont- (218) 244-1163
City of Effie
Term expires 2028
105 Hwy 1 E
Effie, MN 56639
Dan (Casey) Sursely- (218) 324-1655
City of Big Falls
Term expires 2026
1412 1st Street E
Big Falls, MN 56627
Kurt Fredrickson, Treasurer– (612) 889-9090
Stokes Township
Term expires 2028
PO Box 231
Bigfork, MN 56628
Dan Heinecke- (218) 743-3799
City of Bigfork
Term expires 2026
PO Box 434
Bigfork, MN 56628
Sally Sedgwick, Secretary– (218) 659-2779
Wirt Township
Term expires 2028
PO Box 43
Spring Lake, MN 56680
Clinton Cook, Board Chair- (218) 244-8201
Bigfork Township
Term expires 2028
35367 County Road 237
Bigfork, MN 56628
Greg Anselmo- (218) 244-4648
Unorganized Townships –Itasca County
Term expires 2028
51355 S Antler Lake RD
Bigfork, MN 56628
Carol Gilbertson, Vice Chair– (218) 244-5326
Itasca County At-Large
Term expires 2026
35994 Burns Lake Road
Marcell, MN 56657
Greg Cook- (218) 244-8044
Unorganized Townships
–Koochiching County
Term expires 2028
11786 County Road 5
Effie, MN 56639
Teresa Kittridge- (952) 454-7211
Marcell Township
Term expires 2026
PO Box 245
Marcell, MN 56657
Heidi Watson- (218) 244-2186
At Large–Koochiching County
Term expires 2026
P.O Box 262
Big Falls, MN 56627
Larry Salmela- (218) 780-9712
Carpenter Township
Term expires 2026
22838 Rollercoaster Road
Effie, MN 56639
Gordon Rahier- (218) 244-7288
Pomroy Township
Term Expires 2026
54655 County Road 31
Northome, MN 56661

Recurring Meetings:

If you are interested in attending a meeting via Microsoft Teams, please contact us at (218) 743-1772 for information.

Regular Board Meetings

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Regular Board Meeting of the Northern Itasca Hospital District will be held in person, with the option to attend via Microsoft Teams.

Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Location: Board Room, Bigfork Valley

Please find the agenda attached, which includes the following items:

Board Meeting Agenda

- Community Comments (3 minutes/speaker)
- Approval of Consent Agenda
  - Agenda
  - Regular Board Meeting Minutes 1/27/2026
- Information, Discussion, and/or Action
  - Finance Committee Report
    - Financials
    - Accounts Payable
  - Line of Credit
  - Update Bank Resolutions
  - Quarterly Strategic Action Plan Update
  - CEO Report
  - Ad Hoc Committee to Plan Annual Meeting
  - Governance Committee Report
  - Legislative Education Committee Report
  - Executive Evaluation & Compensation Committee Report
  - QAPI Committee Report
  - Employee Appreciation
  - Board Meeting Agenda Topics for Next Month
  - Open Discussion .

If you are interested in attending the meeting remotely, please contact Renee Tower at (218) 743-1772 for access information.

Finance Committee Meetings

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Finance Committee Meeting of the Northern Itasca Hospital District will be held in person, with the option to attend via Microsoft Teams.

Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Time: 3:00 p.m.

Location: Board Room, Bigfork Valley

Please find the agenda attached, which includes the following items:

Finance Committee Agenda 03.24.2026

Approval of Agenda
Approval of Minutes (2/17/2026)
Questions Submitted by Board/Community Members
Financials
Accounts Payable
Line of Credit Update
Open Discussion

If you are interested in attending the meeting remotely, please contact Renee Tower at 218-743-1772 for access information.

Governance Committee Meetings

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Governance Committee Meeting of the Northern Itasca Hospital District will be held in person, with the option to attend via Microsoft Teams.

Date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026

Time: 12:30 p.m.

Location: Board Room, Bigfork Valley

Please find the agenda attached, which includes the following items:

Governance Committee Agenda 03.24.2026

Approval of Agenda
Approval of Minutes (2/17/2026)
Executive Succession & Transition Policy
Active Governance Policies
Hospital District Bylaws
Board Member Conflict of Interest Abatement Plan
Open Discussion

If you are interested in attending the meeting remotely, please contact Renee Tower at 218-743-1772 for access information.

Special Meetings:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Legislative Education Committee Meeting of the Northern Itasca Hospital District will be held in person, with the option to attend via Microsoft Teams.

Date: Tuesday, Mar. 24, 2026

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Location: Board Room, Bigfork Valley

Please find the agenda attached, which includes the following items:

Legislative Education Committee Agenda 03.24.2026

Approval of Agenda
Approval of Minutes (2/17/2026)
Rural Health Transformation Program Update
Review Other Bills
Discuss Action Plans
Open Discussion

If you are interested in attending the meeting remotely, please contact Renee Tower at (218) 743-1772 for access information.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Executive Evaluation and Compensation Committee of the Northern Itasca Hospital District will meet in person.

Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Location: Board Room, Bigfork Valley

In accordance with Minnesota Statute 13D.05, Subdivision 3, the meeting may be closed for the purpose of evaluating the performance of an individual subject to its authority.

Please find the agenda attached, which includes the following items:

Executive Evaluation and Compensation Committee Agenda 03.25.2026