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 2024
    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 2024
    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 2024
    PO Box 43
    Spring Lake, MN 56680
  • Clinton Cook, Board Chair- (218) 244-8201
    Bigfork Township
    Term expires 2024
    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 2024
    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 in-person with the option to attend via Microsoft Teams.

Date: Tuesday, September 30th, 2025

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Location: Board Room, Bigfork Valley

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

Board Meeting Agenda 09.30.2025

  • Community Comments (3 minutes/speaker)
  • Approval of Consent Agenda
    • Agenda
    • Regular Board Meeting Minutes 8/26/2025
    • Medical Staff Meeting Minutes 6/25/2025
    • Credentialing
  • Information, Discussion, and/or Action
    • Finance Committee Report
      • Financials
      • Accounts Payable
    • Financial Audit Firm
    • CEO Report
      • Security/Law Enforcement Update
      • EMS Services Update
      • Flag Poles Update
      • EMR Update
    • MN DOT 5310 Board Resolution
    • BoardEffect
    • Legislative Education Committee Report
    • Employee Appreciation
    • Department Introduction: EP/Safety
    • 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 more 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, September 23, 2025

Time: 3:00 p.m.

Location: Board Room, Bigfork Valley

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

Finance Committee Agenda 09.23.2025

  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Minutes (8/19/2025)
  • Questions Submitted by Board/Community Members
  • Financials
  • Accounts Payable
  • Financial Audit Firm
  • 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.

The meeting will take place in the Board Room at Bigfork Valley and is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

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

Governance Committee Agenda 08.19.2025

  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Minutes (6/17/2025)
  • Review Draft Board Governance Policy
  • Review Board Expectations
  • Sample Board Self-Assessment Surveys
  • Review Hospital District Bylaws
  • Open Discussion

If you are interested in attending the meeting remotely, please contact Renee Tower at 218-743-1772 for more 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: Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Location: Board Room, Bigfork Valley

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

Legislative Education Committee Agenda

  • Approval of Agenda
  • Approval of Minutes (9/23/2025)
  • Develop Priorities
  • Open Discussion

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

 

Official Notices

Notices and meeting changes are posted to this web-page.  If you have questions regarding meetings or meeting minutes, contact us at (218) 743-1772.

The Bigfork Valley Board utilizes the Scenic Range News Forum for its official newspaper.

 

Board Meeting Minutes

September 2025