Local Government Chapter Seven
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Local Government Chapter Seven Chapter Seven Local Government Counties ....................................................................................................... 386 Metropolitan Council ................................................................................... 430 Regional Development Commissions .......................................................... 430 Cities ............................................................................................................ 431 Townships .................................................................................................... 442 School Districts ............................................................................................ 442 Local Government Chapter Seven Image provided by the Minnesota Historical Society Arch honoring black Civil War troops erected by St. Paul’s African-American community, 1896. The monument was at Summit Avenue and Sixth Street in St. Paul along the parade route for the Grand Army of the Republic gathering. Chapter Seven Local Government COUNTIES IN MINNESOTA When Minnesota officially became a territory in 1849, it followed the lead of other territories to the east and adopted county and township forms of government. This system of local governance was originally derived from England. In October of 1849 the first five counties of the state were established: Benton, Itasca, Ramsey, Wabasha, and Washington. The State of Minnesota has grown from five counties in 1849 to 87 counties today. Ramsey County is the smallest in land area, en com pass ing less than 170 square miles. St. Louis County has the largest land area with over 6,000 square miles. County populations vary from over 1,150,000 in Hennepin County to 3,500 in Traverse County. Law provides: Counties are governed by an elected board of commissioners and administrative officers who serve four-year terms. Alternate forms of government may be adopted, chiefly to allow for an elected executive, a manager or administrator, or appointed admin is tra tive officers. (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 375A) Functions: Counties are responsible for property tax assessment, tax administration, elections, record keeping, transportation, planning and zoning, solid waste management, environment, parks and water management, law enforcement, courts and health and human services. Additional information about Minnesota’s counties is available from the Association of Minnesota Counties, 125 Charles Ave., St. Paul 55103-2108, (651) 224-3344, www.mncounties.org. Links to county websites can be found at www.sos.state.mn.us Kirk Peysar Lori Grams AITKIN COUNTY (1) Courthouse: 209 2nd St. NW, Aitkin 56431 Phone: (218) 927-7354 Local Government Website: www.co.aitkin.mn.us Chapter Seven Established May 23, 1857 2010 Population 16,202 2011 Estimated Population 16,220 Judicial District 9 Congressional District 8 Legislative District 10B Land Area 1,828 sq. miles *Board meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday (subject to change) Office Name Post Office Term Expires Attorney James Ratz Aitkin 2015 Auditor Kirk Peysar Aitkin 2015 Commissioner District 1 Mark Wedel Aitkin 2015 Commissioner District 2 Laurie Westerlund Aitkin 2017 Commissioner District 3 Donald Niemi Aitkin 2015 Commissioner District 4 Brian Napstad McGregor 2017 Commissioner District 5 Anne M. Marcotte Hill City 2015 Engineer John Welle Aitkin A Recorder Diane Lafferty Aitkin 2015 Sheriff Scott Turner Aitkin 2015 Treasurer Lori Grams Aitkin 2015 Veteran Service Officer Penny Harms Aitkin A *Board = County Board 386 A = Appointed Local Government Chapter Seven ANOKA COUNTY (2) Government Center: 2100 3rd Ave., Anoka 55303 Phone: (763) 421-4760 Website: www.co.anoka.mn.us Established May 23, 1857 2010 Population 330,884 2011 Estimated Population 334,053 Judicial District 10 Congressional Districts 3, 5, 6 Legislative Districts 31A, 31B, 35A, 35B, 36A, 36B Land Area 440 sq. miles Board meets 2nd, 4th Tuesday 37A, 37B, 38A, 41A, 41B Office Name Post Office Term Expires Attorney Tony Palumbo Anoka 2015 Commissioner District 1 Matt Look Anoka 2017 Commissioner District 2 Julie Braastad Ham Lake 2017 Commissioner District 3 Robin West Blaine 2017 Commissioner District 4 James A. Kordiak Columbia Heights 2017 Commissioner District 5 Carol LeDoux Andover 2015 Commissioner District 6 Rhonda Sivarajah Anoka 2017 Commissioner District 7 Scott Schulte Coon Rapids 2015 Engineer Doug Fischer Anoka A Sheriff James Stuart Anoka 2015 Veteran Service Officer John Kriesel Anoka A Michael Fritz Ryan Tangen Darlene Maneval BECKER COUNTY (3) Courthouse: 915 Lake Ave., Detroit Lakes 56501 Local Government Phone: (218) 846-7311 Website: www.co.becker.mn.us Chapter Seven Established March 18, 1858 2010 Population 32,504 2011 Estimated Population 32,770 Judicial District 7 Congressional District 7 Legislative Districts 2B, 4B Land Area 1,297 sq. miles Board meets 2nd, 4th Tuesday Office Name Post Office Term Expires Attorney Michael Fritz Detroit Lakes 2015 Auditor/Treasurer Ryan Tangen Detroit Lakes 2015 Commissioner District 1 Larry A. Knutson Detroit Lakes 2015 Commissioner District 2 Ben Grimsley Detroit Lakes 2015 Commissioner District 3 John Okeson Detroit Lakes 2017 Commissioner District 4 Don Skarie Detroit Lakes 2017 Commissioner District 5 Barry Nelson Audubon 2017 Engineer vacant Detroit Lakes A Recorder Darlene Maneval Detroit Lakes 2015 Sheriff Kelly Shannon Detroit Lakes 2015 Veteran Service Officer Lauri Brooke Detroit Lakes A 387 Chapter Seven Local Government Tim Faver Charlene D. Sturk Phil Hodapp BELTRAMI COUNTY (4) Courthouse: 701 Minnesota Ave. NW, Bemidji 56601 Phone: (218) 333-8448 Website: www.co.beltrami.mn.us Established February 28, 1866 2010 Population 44,442 2012 Estimated Population 45,212 Judicial District 9 Congressional Districts 7, 8 Legislative Districts 2A, 5A Land Area 2,501 sq. miles Board meets 1st, 3rd Tuesday Office Name Post Office Term Expires Attorney Tim Faver Bemidji 2015 Auditor/Treasurer JoDee Treat Bemidji 2015 Commissioner District 1 Jack R. Frost Bemidji 2015 Commissioner District 2 Joe Vene Bemidji 2015 Commissioner District 3 Richard Anderson Bemidji 2015 Commissioner District 4 Tim Sumner Hines 2017 Commissioner District 5 Jim Lucachick Bemidji 2017 County Administrator Kay L. Mack Bemidji A Engineer Bruce Hasbargen Bemidji A Recorder Charlene D. Sturk Bemidji A Sheriff Phil Hodapp Bemidji 2015 Veteran Service Officer Campbell “Scotty” Allison Bemidji A Robert Raupp Karri Thorsten Marilyn J. Novak Brad Bennett BENTON COUNTY (5) Courthouse: 531 Dewey St., Box 129, Foley 56329 Phone: (320) 968-5000 Website: www.co.benton.mn.us Local Government Established October 27, 1849 2010 Population 38,451 Estimated 2011 Population 38,671 Judicial District 7 Congressional District 6 Legislative Districts 13B, 14B, 15B Chapter Seven Land Area 405 sq. miles Board meets 1st & 3rd Tuesdays Office Name Post Office Term Expires Attorney Robert Raupp Foley 2015 Auditor/Treasurer Karri Thorsten Foley 2015 Commissioner District 1 Warren Peschl Jr. Foley 2017 Commissioner District 2 Joseph Wollak Rice 2015 Commissioner District 3 Jim McMahon Sauk Rapids 2015 Commissioner District 4 Spencer Buerkle Sauk Rapids 2017 Commissioner District 5 Allen “Jake” Bauerly Sauk Rapids 2017 Engineer Chris Byrd Foley A Recorder Marilyn J. Novak Foley 2015 Sheriff Brad Bennett Foley 2015 Veteran Service Officer George L. Fiedler Foley A 388 Local Government Chapter Seven William Watson Michelle R. Knutson Elaine Martig Cindy Nelson BIG STONE COUNTY (6) Courthouse: 20 2nd St. SE, Ortonville 56278 Phone: (320) 839-6366 Website: www.bigstonecounty.org Established February 20, 1862 2010 Population 5,269 2011 Estimated Population 5,240 Judicial District 8 Congressional District 7 Legislative District 12A Land Area 490 sq. miles Board meets 1st, 3rd Tuesday Office Name Post Office Term Expires Attorney William Watson Ortonville 2015 Auditor Michelle R. Knutson Ortonville 2015 Commissioner District 1 Walter Wulff Chokio 2015 Commissioner District 2 Wade Athey Graceville 2017 Commissioner District 3 Brent Olson Ortonville 2017 Commissioner District 4 Roger Sandberg Ortonville 2015 Commissioner District 5 Joseph Berning Ortonville 2017 Engineer Nick Anderson Ortonville A Recorder Elaine Martig Ortonville 2015 Sheriff John Haukos Ortonville 2015 Treasurer Cindy Nelson Ortonville 2015 Veteran Service Officer Dan Meyer Ortonville A Ross Arneson Patty O’Connor Brad Peterson BLUE EARTH COUNTY (7) Courthouse: 204 S. 5th St., Box 8608, Mankato 56001 Phone: (507) 304-4100 Website: www.co.blue-earth.mn.us Local Government Established March 5, 1853 2010 Pop u la tion 64,013 2011 Estimated Population 64,384 Chapter Seven Judicial District 5 Congressional District 1 Legislative Districts 19A, 19B, 23A, 23B Land Area 737 sq. miles Board meets every other Tuesday Office Name Post Office Term Expires Attorney Ross Arneson Mankato 2015 Commissioner District 1 Drew Campbell Mankato 2015 Commissioner District 2 Vance Stuehrenberg Mankato 2015 Commissioner District 3 Mark Piepho Mankato 2017 Commissioner District 4 Will Purvis Vernon Center 2017 Commissioner District 5 Kip Bruender Eagle Lake 2017 Engineer Al Forsberg Mankato A Sheriff Brad Peterson Mankato 2015 Taxpayer Services Patty O’Connor Mankato A Veteran Service Officer Gary Evenson Mankato A 389 Chapter Seven Local Government Marlin Helget Betti Kamolz BROWN COUNTY (8) Courthouse: Courthouse Square, Box 248, New Ulm 56073 Phone: (507) 233-6600 Website: www.co.brown.mn.us Established February 20, 1855 2010