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August1,2002 Board of County Commi ioners JohnMeyer Fargo~ iqorih Dakota Doana ~chlxeider Faro, North Dakota Robyn Scram Scott Wagner Fa~o~ No~ IDalz~ta West Fargo~ North Dalaxa Comr, i*,ion Sem~y 13ox 2806 211 Nia~ Sa'eet South Fargo, North Dalaxa 58108 701-241-5fi09 Fax 701-241-5728 Re: Bonnie Johnson Excellence in County Government Award 2002 Appointed County Official Bonnie Johnson has been a Cass County employee for 25 years. She started in the Child Support Enforcement Unit for Region 5 and served as the director for 13 years. She was appointed Cass County Coordinator in 1990 and has eerved in that capacity ever since. As county coordinator, she has the responsibility for the Personnel Department, County Buildings and Grounds, and the Commission portion of the budget, as well as being the eyes and ears of the part-time commission members. Ms. Johnson does not have any powers designated to the Commission, however, she does have the responsibility of advising each of the commissioners on any issue. Over the years, Ms. Johnson was active on many boards to facilitate county government projects. She also serves as risk manager, a very important part of employee safety and preventing expensive lawsuits against the county. Three projects that have been extreme[y important to Case County are listed as follows: First, the Cass County Annex construction project-Ms. Johnson worked with the architect, contractor, and department heads to insure that the annex addition was functional, was constructed properly, and that few expensive change orders were made. The result was a beautiful addition, on budget, and on time. It was necessary to work with State juvenile personnel, Social Service people, and Law Enforcement employees to make the building work the best to serve clients, as required by law and by social acceptance. Second, combined 911 dispatch-This project was staffed in 1989, was thought to be dead, and was revived about three years ago with Ms. Johnson serying on the committee representing the county. The joint dispatch facility is now a reality, not only between Fargo and Cass County, but it was a historic move to include Moorhead and Clay County in Minnesota. This is the first venture of its kind to cross State lines, and the project is now a reality. Third, and the largest project of all, is construction of the Cass County Jail- Using a ¼ cent sales tax for four years to pay for it, Ms. Johnson served as coordinator for the entire project, from adopting the plan, through the schooling, the funding, finding an architect, consultant and contractor, to the completion of a 244-bed facility, opening in September 2002. Again, the project came in on budget, and with only a few delays. The result is a great facility to serve its intended use. It has been paid for without an increase to local property taxes.