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NEW ULM -- On April 27, Brown County commissioners tabled the issue of changing the auditor-treasurer (A-T) position from elected to appointed, but are likely to revisit it soon.
The question came to light earlier this year when Brown County Auditor-Treasurer Jean Prochniak, who has 40 years of experience in the A-T office, said she planned to retire June 30, 2021.
After 30 minutes of public testimony and discussion, commissioners Scott Windschitl, Tony Berg, and Dean Simonsen said they favored appointing the position.
Commissioner Dave Borchert favored continuing to elect the position.
Commissioner Jeff Veerkamp said he was undecided but said most people he talked to in western Brown County favor keeping the job an elected position.
Prochniak said as the A-T position stands now, the only qualifications to file for election for the job are being at least age 18 and paying a $50 filing fee. She asked commissioners to change the job to an appointed position.
"Originally, Minnesota counties had multiple elected officials," Prochniak wrote in an email to The Journal. "Today, only four offices remain elected. Two of those offices require qualifications. The offices of auditor-treasurer and recorder do not."
“In the current environment of county government, it does not seem appropriate to entrust the day-to-day leadership to the elected process. Responsibilities have evolved and the workload is very diverse," wrote Prochniak.
"Now is the time to make the change. The county board has the decision-making power granted them by the people they represent. We should not make decisions based on a few, but consider the silent majority, and more importantly, the future of the office, and the people we serve," she added.
Prochniak said she asked a number of business people about the appointing or electing the A-T position and said just about all of them favored appointing it. She said she did not find anyone willing to risk losing their job every four years (with elections).
In addition, Prochniak said Sunday that there have rarely been more than one candidate running for the A-T position in recent years.
Commissioner Windschitl said 35 of 87 Minnesota counties∑ have appointed auditor-treasurers and the list is growing. He said in one county, a disc jockey ran for the job and 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," Windschitl said. "We have a ditch system that is more than 100 years old and tax forfeitures on two major properties (the former Marktplatz Mall and George's Ballroom).
Commissioner Borchert said appointing the position would reduce voter choice and control and that an elected position is a check and balance.
Several commissioners thanked Prochniak for her service in the auditor-treasurer's office.
"I like Jeannie (Prochiak). She's really good," said Prairieville Township Clerk and former supervisor Tom Hirsch.
He favors electing an auditor-treasurer.
"I certainly think we should let the people decide, not the board of commissioners," said Hirsch. "I like elections. I'm not afraid of them. I'm proud of the process. If you don't like something and want to change it, file, run, and do something about it."
If county commissioners approve appointing the position, bringing the subject to a referendum vote requires filing a petition with signatures from at least 10% of county registered voters. Brown County had 16,369 registered voters as of May 1, 2021.
In the 2018 election, Paul Wesselmann challenged Prochniak for the A-T job. His credentials included five years in the Brown County maintenance office, assisting with a $500,000 annual budget plus internal and external billing, and serving six years on a church finance committee.
Wesselmann, who received 4,955 votes to 6,034 for Prochniak, said he felt private sector experience is an asset for the (A-T) job.
Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.