By Robert Williams

Editor

Residents from Lake Park to rural Menahga spoke strongly in favor of Becker County keeping the auditor-treasurer position an elected one rather than changing it to being an appointed position at a public hearing Tuesday, March 17.

“This has been brought to the county before; this was discussed a dozen years ago,” Commissioner Barry Nelson said. “At that point you needed special legislation to move forward. We were discussing that at the time and we were asking for that legislation and we had a group of people here, kind of the same as we had today, saying we want to keep it elected. At that time, we did not move any farther ahead at that time because the community spoke to us.”

In the end, it was the voice of the people that made the biggest difference and even swayed votes of commissioners who were pondering the switch to appointing the future replacement for Mary Hendrickson, who has not specified her last day, only stating it will be before the end of her term on Jan. 5, 2027.

Hendrickson has been vocal that the board should hold the public hearing and gather important feedback from the public.

“I think it’s fair that every time when you have opportunities in front of you, you consider the options that are available to you,” Nelson said. “With Mary’s indication she’s not running I think it’s appropriate for us to look at the options and now it’s up to the board to determine what the public wants and I think that’s where we’re at now.”

Commissioners needed a super majority for the resolution to pass, meaning four out of five votes. The vote ended up being unanimous to remain an elected position to applause from those in attendance.

“I have spoken to many, many people and in full transparency, going into this I really did believe, given the size of our budget of $70 million that this really does need to be an appointed position,” said Board Chair Erica Jepson. “This is why it is important for people to reach out to their elected officials, as we talked this morning, because I have been swayed. I think people’s voices are important and we need to hear them.”

The auditor-treasurer role requires expertise in government accounting, property tax systems, election law, public investments and state financial reporting.

Commissioner Phil Hansen discussed the money side of the issue and specifically, the county’s budget. 

“There’s a financial component to every decision we make,” he said. “$77 million runs through this county annually. Your levy amount is $30 and a half million. I didn’t know that before I got elected but I found that out. Both of those numbers are a lot of money. You’re entrusting me to look over that. I hear what everybody is saying today. We want to have a choice to elect this position. With that comes some responsibility. There’s the responsibility to the auditor-treasurer; there’s also the responsibility to us. I think that’s kind of where the crux is a little bit. We want the electors to decide. There’s responsibility with that. When something goes wrong, I don’t know how many calls Mary gets. I get calls when people see things in the paper.”

Hansen also reported that in Minnesota 55 of 87 auditor-treasurer positions are currently appointed.

Commissioner David Meyer addressed the residents in the room directly.

“I trust your decision,” said Meyer. “I don’t want any of you to feel like we don’t trust your decisions because we work for you.”

Commissioner Richard Vareberg made the biggest case for the position to be appointed and asked others that supported that decision to attend Tuesday’s meeting. They did not show up and that made Vareberg reconsider his position. 

“I believe government should be run like business,” Vareberg said. “You would never find a business that has a $75 million budget picking the most popular person to be in charge of that budget. I’m not saying I’ve made up my mind. You people do matter to me; all of you matter to me; all of your opinions do matter to me. I spent a good part of Thursday and all day Friday calling people because I know what I felt. I want strong leadership in this position because it’s so important. I want an accounting degree. This budget is so confusing. There’s so much money coming from so many different places and there are so many restrictions on it. This is why and I hate to say this, we know more about this than you do because we’re here.”

Vareberg stated he called eight different township supervisors in regards to a township association letter saying they were representing the townships.

“None of those supervisors had seen the letter and were able to weigh in on it,” said Vareberg. “After talking to those supervisors, seven out of the eight agreed with me that it should be appointed, because there are so many things that go into it.”

The letter, signed by the Becker County Township Association Board of Directors, gave the following principles behind their strong support of an elected position:

• Transparency and Public Accountability — An elected Auditor-Treasurer answers to the citizens, not to a single appointing authority. This ensures decisions about taxation, financial management, and election administration remain visible and accountable to the public.

• Protection from Political Consolidation — Separating fiscal oversight from administrative or executive appointment helps preserve checks and balances within county government and prevents the concentration of authority.

• Public Trust in Elections and Financial Stewardship — Residents expect impartiality and independence in the administration of elections, property tax calculations, and county financial reporting. Direct election reinforces public confidence in these core functions.

• Community Connection and Local Presence — Keeping the office elected ensures the Auditor-Treasurer is a member of our community, not someone living or working in another county or state. Local residency strengthens understanding of Becker County’s needs, maintains accessibility for township officials and residents, and preserves the long-standing expectation that this officer is rooted in the community they serve.

Becker County has long benefited from an elected Auditor-Treasurer. Township officials and residents value the continuity, accessibility, and responsiveness that come from electing this position.

Vareberg stated openly that he had been persuaded by the people who showed up to speak Tuesday. He was also swayed by those who did not.

“As much as I disagree, doesn’t mean that I’m not going to go along with you,” he said. “In fact, I’m being persuaded to go along with you. What troubles me is I talked to a lot of people who agreed with me and asked them to come today and show their side. None of them came. That was very disappointing to me that nobody came to speak to the other side of this.”

Toad Lake Township Supervisors Randy Wurst, James Yliniemi and Peter Levijoki also sent a signed letter of support for the position to remain elected, as did the township officers of Walworth Township signed by Robert Klemetson, Clerk.

A questionnaire was also circulated to county residents and there were only five out of 41 written responses in favor of the position being appointed.

Public comments in support of the position remaining elected came in all varieties.

“When stuff like this comes up it makes me feel like I’ve been pecked to death by a chicken,” said Roger Boyce of rural Wolf Lake.

Dr. Bill Henke of Detroit Lakes urged commissioners to trust the process.

“By doing so, it probably sends a message to the citizens of Becker County that we really do value participation and it also makes it imperative that we keep our citizenry informed, educated, engaged so that we can make wise decisions,” Henke said. “I trust the process that we will elect qualified individuals.”

Others were far less congenial, but equally as emphatic in their message and tone.

“I am confused and questioning the motives of this even being a discussion, to be honest,” Nicole LeDoux of rural Detroit Lakes said. “I’m highly opposed to changing this position to be appointed. I don’t think that the state—I don’t want Gov. Walz to appoint our next auditor, or a secretary of state. I believe that this position is responsible for managing the resources that we have earned for this county. The voters should have a right to who is in that position.”

Others were far less trusting in what would happen in the future to an elected office the people gave away.

“If we lose the elected position, we’ll never get it back. We’ll never get it back,” Roger Winter of Callaway said.

Also speaking in favor of retaining the county auditor/treasurer position as an elected position were: Dave Knopf; Jerry Schram; Sue Sonnenberg; Lowell Deede; Sandy Gunderson; Marty Solmon; Perry Bertek; Tom Bergren; Joe Knopf and James Jirava via written letter.