The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously gave the green light for the county to explore changing auditor-treasurer and recorder positions to appointed seats.

Freeborn County Administrator Thomas Jensen expressed support for having the positions appointed.

“My biggest concern is you are operating under a system that was affected in 1858, and the reason was because the job was originally appointed, but the people appointed were appointed because of favors, because it had to do with land,” he said.

Jensen noted candidates for the positions only need to pay $50 and be Freeborn County residents. He said the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office handles $180 million in income and receipts per year.

“It’s not in the county’s best interest not to have someone with substantial training, education, experience handling that kind of money,” he said. 

The Minnesota Legislature needs to allow counties to take action before the positions could be appointed, Jensen said.

Chairman Chris Shoff, who has served on the Association of Minnesota Counties Board of Directors, noted transitioning the two positions to appointed seats has been a top priority for the organization in the last three years.

Jensen said the county has been fortunate that Recorder Kelly Callahan and Auditor/Treasurer Pat Martinson have been proficient in their positions.

A Feb. 19 public hearing is planned.

In other action, the board:

Adopted the Sheriff’s Office body camera policy.

Transferred $2,263 from the Sheriff’s Office’s defunct explorer post that aimed for children involvement with community events into a contingency fund. The post ended as fewer children participated.

Ratified agreements with union licensed detectives and jail programmers. Jensen said the agreements are similar to recent union agreements.

The board approved contracts with patrol deputies and patrol sergeants in December, who all received 4 percent cost-of-living adjustments in 2019 as part of three-year contracts.

As part of the contracts, the three groups — three patrol sergeants, six transport deputies and approximately 13 patrol deputies — received a 0.5 percent increase in 2020, followed by a 2 percent rise in pay in 2021.

Designated $70,000 for placement every year into a segregated Freeborn County Information Technology equipment fund.

Provided $5,000 to Southeast Minnesota Regional EMS this year for first responder and deputy training in the wake of decreased seat belt fines.   

Adopted the Board of Commissioner agenda request form. The resolution states there needs to be a three-day notice for agenda requests.

Supported the National Association of Counties initiative to promote investment in children and families from prenatal to 3 years old.

Approved selling a trailer used to measure vehicle speed on Minn Bid and depositing the funds into a contingency fund.