County board tables AT position issue

NEW ULM — After 30 minutes of public testimony and brief discussion, Brown County commissioners tabled changing the auditor-treasurer position from elected to appointed Tuesday.

Commissioners Scott Windschitl, Tony Berg and Dean Simonsen said they favored appointing the position. Commissioner Dave Borchert favored election and Commissioner Jeff Veerkamp said he was undecided, but said most of the people he talked to in western Brown County favor keeping the job an elected position.

Commissioners agreed to act on the issue in the near future.

Six people gave public testimony and were divided on the subject that came up with the pending retirement of auditor-treasurer Jean Prochniak.

She said qualifications for running for Brown County auditor-treasurer are being at least 18 years old and paying a $50 fee.

“I ask if the County can really afford to put this in the hands of an official without pre-requisites,” said Prochniak. “Change my position to an appointed position.”

“I think it’s great we have people so interested in government here,” said Commissioner Windschitl. “Thirty-five of 87 (Minnesota) counties have appointed auditor-treasurers and the list is growing.”

“Saying someone not qualified would not run for office? I wish that were true but it isn’t,” Windschitl said. “In one county, a disc jockey ran for the job, was elected, “blind-sided” by the job but admitted he survived with a great staff.

Windschitl said if the job was appointed, a committee would interview candidates.

“We want to look at somebody we know is qualified coming into the job. This will strengthen the position,” said Windschitl. “We have a ditch system that is more than 100 years told and tax forfeitures on two major properties (Marktplatz Mall and George’s Ballroom).

“It boils down to qualifications. We could get somebody like Commissioner Windschitl says, a disc jockey,” said Commissioner Tony Berg.

“The position is complex. Being accountable to voters is important,” said Commissioner Dean Simonsen.

“If we appoint the position, we reduce voter choice and control. An elected position is a check and balance,” said Commissioner Borchert. “I’ve talked to people. Most say it (A-T position) should be elected.”

Prairieville Township Clerk Tom Hirsch called an appointed position “another erosion of government. He said its easier to get rid of somebody by voting them out than if they are appointed and that checks and balances are always nice to have.

Home Township Chairman Joe Mangen thanked Prochniak for the very good job she’s done.

“I favor an auditor-treasurer that you know and can get along with,” Mangen said.

Rural New Ulm resident Randy Wiltscheck said electing officials “keeps them on their toes.”

Retired Brown County Auditor-Treasurer Marlin Helget said the auditor-treasurer answers to the public, it’s important to keep that in place and the election process works.

“It’s significantly more technical than in the past. It’s a big job and it needs to be appointed,” said former Brown County Commissioner Dick Seeboth.

Andrea Boettger supported keeping the job an elected position, there are enough qualified candidates and there is not a good reason to change it.

Commissioners unanimously approved:

• Recognizing employees including meeting five-year benchmarks in years of service with Brown County in 2020.

• Awarding 2020 Safety Awards to Probation Office Support Specialists Jamie Windhorn and Terese Gruber for their work making face masks.

• Distinguished Service Awards to Public Health Supervisor Susan Klossner and Crime Victim Specialist Bernie Epper.

• Commissioner Awards to Emergency Manager Shawn Stoermann and Public Health Dept. employees Karen Moritz, Ann Gieseke, Jacqueline Krehbiel, Jaimee Brand, Julie Friesner, Laurie Tauer, Lisa Compton, Marggi Thordson, Melissa Dallenbach, Melissa Hoffmann, Michelle Steinbeisser, Nicholas Taralson, Rachel Lang, Rebecca O’Neill, Stacy Gilb, Susan Klossner, Tara Fausch, Teresa Severson, Vanessa Mack, Abigail Walter, Danielle Hubert, Diane Hauth, Erin Krohn-Schwab, and Kristine Leshovsky.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the employee recognition banquet was cancelled. The employee recognition planning committee recommended having the event the week of April 26-30 to recognize staff with box lunches, and award presentations.

In addition, 2020 retirees Robbi Koons, Nancy Smith, Ron Bentz, and Tammy Johnson will be recognized.

• Purchasing and installing eight security cameras outside the Brown County Community Services building for $12,729 from UHL, Maple Grove, motion by Veerkamp, seconded by Simonsen.

Three building windows were damaged by a BB gun or rock the past couple months.

UHL, the same vendor for security cameras recently placed at the courthouse, proposed to install four Panasonic 4K 360 cameras, three with pendant corner mounts, one with a pendant pole mount plus four Panasonic full HD compact dome cameras.

• Approving the sheriff to sign a memorandum of understanding between the Brown County and Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Offices for temporary dispatch services due to a staffing shortage.

• Purchasing a Brown County Sanitary Landfill scale from North Star Scale Inc. for $104,860, motion by Veerkamp, seconded by Simonsen. Other bids were Kennedy Scale $111,632; and Lake County Scale Works $153,567.66.

• Approve New Ulm Furniture Company’s $1,529 quote to replace the Brown County Law Enforcement Center (LEC) lobby flooring, motion by Windschitl, seconded by Berg.

Carpet tile will be used consistent with other areas. Other bids were received from Miesen’s Color Center Co., Inc., Springfield, $1,560; and Design Home Center Inc., New Ulm, $2,464.59.

• Approve Miesen’s Color Center $18,347.60 quote to replace LEC second-floor reception area and hallways using carpet tile, motion by Veerkamp, seconded by Windschitl. Other bids were New Ulm Furniture $19,551; and Design Home of New Ulm, $22,5667.89.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.

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