Beltrami County Celebrates 160th Anniversary; Board Receives Proclamation, County History Leaders Reflect

Lakeland PBS reported March 4 that the Beltrami County Board received a proclamation recognizing the county’s 160th anniversary, marking a milestone the county observed in early March 2026. The broadcast account noted county history leaders reflected on the anniversary, though names and direct quotes were not included in the material available to this newsroom.

County business and public comment in Beltrami County are conducted in the County Board Room at the County Administration Building in Bemidji. Official board transcripts for earlier years record the standard procedural opening: “CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE,” followed by, repeatedly, “Chair Reed Olson, called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.” The April 6, 2021 transcript shows “Commissioners Richard Anderson, Tim Sumner and Craig Gaasvig were present. Commissioner Jim Lucachick was absent.” The February 16 and March 2, 2021 transcripts list Reed Olson and Commissioners Richard Anderson, Jim Lucachick, Tim Sumner and Craig Gaasvig as present.

Public records from 2021 also document sustained citizen engagement with county government. Tony Bellino, identified as a resident of Northern Township, addressed the Board multiple times and raised concerns about law enforcement and the county attorney’s office. The February 16, 2021 transcript records that “Tony Bellino, resident in Northern Township, address the Board via Zoom, regarding his ongoing issues with County Law Enforcement and the County Attorney’s office. Mr. Bellino asked the Board to address the horrible culture in the Sheriff’s Office and the [...]” The March 2, 2021 transcript records that “Tony Bellino, resident in Northern Township, address the Board via Zoom, regarding his ongoing issues with County Law Enforcement and the County Attorney’s Office. Mr. Bellino stated that the investigation concerning his complaint was NOT an investigation into the actions and conduct of Sheriff’s staff, but an investigation on him and his cousin. Mr. Bellino” The April 6, 2021 transcript records that “Tony Bellino, resident in Northern Township addressed the Board. Mr. Bellino again stated his frustration with the Sheriff’s Office, Attorney’s Office and County Board. He did however, mention some positive results from his efforts and is hoping for further consideration and changes.”

The April 6, 2021 minutes also record a separate public comment: “Nancy Beauleau, resident in Sugar Bush Township, addressed the Board regarding Treaty Rights, [...]” That item is truncated in the available transcript excerpt and contains no full text of Ms. Beauleau’s remarks.

Available material shows the county’s 160th anniversary recognition in early March 2026 reported by Lakeland PBS, but it does not include the full text of the proclamation, the identity of who presented or accepted the proclamation at the county board, or the names and quoted reflections of the “county history leaders” mentioned in the broadcast summary. County transcripts from 2021 confirm recurring citizen concerns and the presence of Chair Reed Olson and Commissioners Richard Anderson, Jim Lucachick, Tim Sumner and Craig Gaasvig during those sessions. Until the text of the proclamation and the full Lakeland PBS account are publicly posted or released by county administration, the March 4 broadcast remains the primary public record noting the board received a proclamation recognizing Beltrami County’s 160th anniversary.