Board takes no action on AMC proposal

Resolution asks state to repeal mandates to

counties

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- It wasn't that County Commissioner Charlie Guggisberg couldn't see where they were coming from; he just had questions about the potential risks of supporting a resolution asking the state to repeal its mandates to counties and start all over again.

The four other commissioners agreed with him, and voted unanimously to take no action on the resolution Tuesday morning. They said the issues surrounding the resolution needed a closer investigation although they agreed with many of the proposed actions.

The issue before the board was a resolution supporting the Minnesota Counties Restructure Act of 2003, an idea that could reshape the relationship between Minnesota's 87 counties and state government.

It asks the state government to repeal all requirements for counties and to reconsider the role counties play within the state. Currently, state law makes about 5,500 different references to counties and about 1,200 references to cities and towns that affect counties.

The Association of Minnesota Counties, which lobbies for counties at the Legislature, plans to put together resolutions from the counties that passed them and comments from all others in the next few weeks. A decision on whether or not to pursue the legislation could come on Jan. 16.

County representatives from all over the state met and talked about the proposal on Jan. 3.

They decided that the request is bold, increases a county's accountability for its decisions, allows the state less micromanagement, protects from lawsuits when non-required services aren't provided and puts the burden on legislators to determine which services are most important.

The group also realized that such a request could create a patchwork of such services from county to county and could give legislators an excuse to cut county aid. Furthermore, it decided that interest groups could attack counties for taking away services.

Guggisberg said he was disappointed that the idea ever came up.

"It's a dramatic change for lots of things and I'm opposed to adopting it. AMC needs long-range planning," he said.

Commissioner James Berg said he wasn't against state-mandated services "just as long as we've got money to go with it. We should certainly keep this on the back burner just as a concept."

Chairman Donald Wellner said he wants to take a "wait-and-see" approach and Guggisberg suggested that the group's many policy committees research it further.

"I think it's fine to reorganize, just not in this manner," said Commissioner Andrew Lochner.

County Administrator Chuck Enter suggested a motion for no action.

Guggisberg said, "It's not a bad idea, but we should study it more. I'll move to take no action."

Wellner seconded the motion. The commissioners passed it unanimously.

Commissioners also approved Brown County Heartland Express' 2003 contract with Nicollet County and Lafayette for service to that town and the western end of that county. The contract will bring $6,114 into county coffers.

The board voted later in the day to set Sheriff Tim Brennan's 2003 salary at $63,000, despite objections from Brennan. He told the board he feels the issue needs more study because several new sheriffs are taking office, have less experience but earn more. He said the board's offer was not acceptable and he plans to appeal it.