Paul McDonald

Commissioner McDonald (center) along with his wife Tracy and outgoing AMC President Neal Gaalswyk just after receiving the award.

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REGIONAL— Fourth District County Commissioner Paul McDonald, of Ely, is this year’s recipient of the prestigious President’s Award from the Association of Minnesota Counties, or AMC.
Every year in December, the outgoing president of that organization honors an individual for exemplary leadership in public service.  This year’s 2024 president, Cass County Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk, said he picked McDonald for his years of dedicated service and his exemplary leadership in county government.
Impressive service
Commissioner McDonald has served on numerous AMC committees and task forces, including the National Association of Counties Public Lands Steering Committee, where he served as the Outdoor Recreation Subcommittee vice chair. He was recently selected to participate in the latter organization’s “Reaching Rural Initiative,” which is focused on substance abuse and opioid use prevention strategies in rural areas.
Last year, McDonald co-chaired AMC’s workgroup on Tax Forfeiture and was a constant presence at the Capitol working to garner support for legislation that brought Minnesota’s law into compliance with the Supreme Court’s Tyler v. Hennepin County verdict. Most importantly, he was instrumental in setting aside $109 million to ensure that Minnesota counties did not bear the cost of the lawsuits spawned by the ruling.
“Paul is a strategic thinker, moving through his role as commissioner with a game plan and a thorough knowledge of important rules and regulations,” Gaalswyk said. “It’s likely something he learned as a renowned athlete, coach, and official and we’re lucky to have him gracing our membership with his skills and attention, making us stronger together as a team.”
Reaction
The recipients of this award are kept secret, but the AMC notifies the recipient’s family ahead of time to give them the opportunity to be on hand to surprise the recipient at the awards ceremony. It is certain that McDonald was surprised.
“I was sitting at the awards luncheon,” McDonald told the Timberjay, “and I was shocked when I realized (Gaalswyk) was talking about me. (I am) the first ever from St. Louis County to receive this award.  We have a great board and it is very enjoyable to help the residents of the best county in Minnesota … I am truly humbled to receive this prestigious award.”
The Association of Minnesota Counties is a voluntary statewide organization that assists the state’s 87 counties in providing effective county governance to the people of Minnesota.