Latest news with #BobRost
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NDPERS board OK's steps to allow former public employees to serve on elected boards
May 13—GRAND FORKS — The board of directors that oversees the state's retirement system on Tuesday voted to establish two new policies that will allow former public employees to continue to hold their elected positions and still collect their pension. The decision was announced late Tuesday morning in a release distributed by the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System, generally known as NDPERS. The decision comes after it was announced last month that some former public employees who have since retired and taken paid positions on elected county boards must forfeit their pension. An IRS audit uncovered the issue and prompted the NDPERS decision. Among those affected was Bob Rost, a former Grand Forks County sheriff who is in his second term as a paid Grand Forks County Commission member. Rost initially said he would resign from the commission but later rescinded his resignation, pending a decision from NDPERS. Rost said he feels relieved. He said the Legislature "will have to deal with this in the future, because there's a sunset clause of August 1, 2027, with the action they took today." In the meantime, he's happy to remain on the commission. "I'm just glad I can finish out my term as a Grand Forks County commissioner, just to be able to deal with the issues that are coming up with budgeting and all this other stuff," he said. According to the NDPERS release, two policies were approved Tuesday. The first "allows elected county officials who are eligible for normal retirement to return to employment with their previous employer after retirement while continuing to collect their NDPERS pension." It's retroactive to Jan. 1, 2007, to resolve any previous conflicts of law and to ensure NDPERS plan compliance with federal law, according to the release. The second policy is intended to resolve the conflict between federal and state law related to cash or deferred arrangements (CODA) and their administration. "Specifically, it requires NDPERS to require participation in the NDPERS retirement plan if a newly elected county official meets mandatory participation requirements. If not, then the elected official will be considered an optional participant and would be given participation options as such," the statement said. Rost said he had been hoping for this path, which allows him and others like him to continue to collect their pension and still hold their roles on elected boards in their home counties. "It came down to common sense. It came down to the fact that it affects so many people in county government," he said, saying that pushing knowledgeable county officials away from public service could be devastating to county governments. "I'm glad common sense prevailed."
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Grand Forks' Northern Valley Law Enforcement Memorial vandalized; police seeking information
Apr. 18—GRAND FORKS — The bronze statue in Grand Forks' Northern Valley Law Enforcement Memorial was recently vandalized, and it's unclear who is responsible, according to the Grand Forks Police Department. Dedicated during a May 2023 ceremony, the piece is located in Optimist Park at 4601 Cherry St. More than $415,000 was raised for the memorial, which honors fallen law enforcement from northeast North Dakota, northwest Minnesota and Manitoba, Canada. There is a large crack in the bronze rose that the statue man is holding. Grand Forks County Commissioner Bob Rost told the Herald that it appears as though someone kicked the rose, attempting to break it apart from the statue. The act of vandalism was reported Sunday, April 15, but it is unclear when it occurred, according to GFPD Lt. Andrew Stein. No suspects have been identified, and no witnesses have come forward as of Thursday afternoon, April 17, Stein said. Anyone who may have witnessed the act, or has any other relevant information, can contact the police department either by phone at (701) 787-8000 or by submitting a tip on the agency's Facebook page, website or via the Tip411 app.
