Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Commission considers making county auditor, treasurer appointed positions
Eddy County Commissioners appear poised to begin the process of making the county’s auditor and treasurer positions appointed.
Currently, both positions are up for election every four years, but N.D. Century Code (NDCC) does allow county commissions to make them appointed and outlines the process for doing so.
At the commission’s regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 6, each commissioner appeared to support transitioning the positions from elected to appointed.
“Some people are not going to like it, but I think it’s the best thing [to do],” said Commission Chairperson Jamie Allmaras.
Eddy County State’s Attorney Ashley Lies then explained to commissioners how to make both offices appointed.
The process is set in motion with the adoption of a preliminary resolution, she explained, which then triggers a series of requirements spelled out in the NDCC before the move can be finalized.
For starters, the complete text of the proposed plan will be required to appear in the “New Rockford Transcript” within 30 days following the adoption of the preliminary resolution.
Then, time is given for residents to have their opinions on the matter heard by commissioners.
“The board of county commissioners shall hold public hearings and community forums or use other suitable means to disseminate information, receive suggestions and comments, and encourage public discussion of the purpose, conclusions, and recommendations of the plan,” states NDCC 11-10.2-02.
It’s not until a full two years after the preliminary resolution is adopted that commissioners can finalize it.
Even then, voters could still organize a petition that can force the decision to be placed on the ballot of a future election.
According to the NDCC, “The petition must be signed by ten percent or more of the total number of qualified electors of the county voting for governor at the most recent gubernatorial election, and filed with the county auditor, or functional equivalent of that office, before four p.m. on the thirtieth day after the final resolution is adopted.”
If enough qualified electors are verified, the final resolution would be suspended, and unless the plan is repealed completely by the commissioners, it would then appear on the ballot at the next regular election.
Commissioners did not adopt a preliminary resolution to transition the offices of Treasurer and Auditor from elected to appointed at their meeting on February 5, but they’re expected to consider the resolution at their next regular meeting.
Should they ultimately decide to proceed with a preliminary resolution, they’ll hardly be the first county commission in North Dakota to do so.
As of April 2022, 11 counties in the state of North Dakota have their auditors appointed, and 10 have their treasurers appointed. In neighboring Foster County, the auditor and treasurer positions were combined in August of last year, and commissioners passed a resolution to have the joint office appointed.
Also at Tuesday's meeting, county commissioners opened bids for the county shop to be built in Sheyenne.
Commissioners opened four bids in total. Local firm CK Construction had by far the lowest base bid, which totaled $350,000.
Forks Lath and Plaster Inc. submitted a bid for $648,348, and First Dakota Enterprises Inc. turned in a $657,146 bid.
Those three bids were for the full 50-by-60 foot Eddy County Shop, whereas Klemetsrud Plumbing and Heating of Devils Lake only bid on three items for the project – one of which was plumbing – which amounted to $47,548.
Mike May of Interstate Engineering was present for the bid opening, and he said the next step will be to verify each bid to ensure its accuracy.
A special meeting was scheduled for Friday, Feb. 9 to review the bid tabulations and reward a bid.
The commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 5 at 8:30 a.m. in the courthouse basement.
That will be the last county commission meeting to begin at 8:30 a.m. this year. Beginning in April, the county commission will start their meetings at 8 a.m., still on the first Tuesday of every month.
