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 an option to attend via Microsoft Teams. Some members may participate in the meeting by interactive technology.

Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Location: Board Room, Bigfork Valley

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

Board Meeting Agenda 07.28.2026

• Community Comments (3 minutes/speaker)     
• Approval of Consent Agenda                                                                                    

• • Agenda
  • Regular Board Meeting Minutes (June 30, 2026)
• Information, Discussion, and/or Action

1. 1. Rep. Roger Skraba
   2. Finance Committee Report
      1. Financials
      2. Accounts Payable
   3. Line of Credit Update
   4. Baird Investments
   5. 2027 Tax Levy
   6. Quarterly CEO Goals Progress Update
   7. CEO Report
   8. Governance Committee Report
      1. Executive Limitations Policy
      2. Board Governance Processes Policy
   9. Employee Appreciation
   10. Board Meeting Agenda Topics for Next Month
   11. 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 an option to attend via Microsoft Teams. Some members may participate in the meeting by interactive technology.

Date: Friday, July 24, 2026

Time: 12:00 p.m.

Location: Board Room, Bigfork Valley

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

Finance Committee Agenda 07.24.2026

1. Approval of Agenda
2. Approval of Minutes (May 21, 2026)
3. Questions Submitted by Board/Community Members
4. Financials
5. Accounts Payable
6. Line of Credit Update
7. 2027 Tax Levy
8. 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

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Governance Committee Meeting of the Northern Itasca Hospital District will be held in person, with an option to attend via Microsoft Teams. Some members may participate in the meeting by interactive technology.

Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Location: Board Room, Bigfork Valley

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

Governance Committee Agenda 07.21.2026

1. Approval of Agenda
2. Approval of Minutes (March 24, 2026)
3. Executive Limitations Policy
4. Active Governance Policies
5. 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 Annual Meeting Committee Meeting of the Northern Itasca Hospital District will be held in person, with an option to attend via Microsoft Teams. Some members may participate in the meeting by interactive technology.

Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Location: Board Room, Bigfork Valley

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

Annual Meeting Committee Agenda 06.02.2026

1. Approval of Agenda
2. Approval of Minutes
3. Event Layout & Flow
4. Program Agenda
5. Food & Serving Arrangements
6. Outreach Materials
7. Marketing & Promotion
8. Budget
9. Other Business

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.

Filing is open for the following positions:

• Carpenter Township – 4-year term
  • City of Big Falls – 4-year term
  • City of Bigfork – 4-year term
  • Itasca County At-Large – 4-year term
  • Koochiching County At-Large – 4-year term
  • Marcell Township – 4-year term
  • Pomroy Township – 4-year term

The filing period opens on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, and closes at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.

Filing Notice 2026

Interested individuals must file an Affidavit of Candidacy with the city or township clerk of their residence. Individuals residing in unorganized territory must file with the appropriate county auditor.

The election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Questions regarding candidacy or Board service may be directed to Renee Tower, Executive Administrative Assistant, at (218) 743-1772 or rtower@bigforkvalley.org.

 

Board Meeting Minutes

May 2026