Legalectric

Special County Board meeting TOMORROW, 9 a.m.

We now have an official vacancy for District 1 on the Goodhue County Board that will need to be filled via a special election. Scott Safe took over when Ron Allen took a leave of absence for treatment for leukemia. Ron Allen died recently, creating a statutory vacancy and now Scott Safe is no longer in that position.

Safe stepping in for Allen during cancer treatment

Obituary – Ronald C. Allen

TOMORROW at 9 a.m., the County Board will meet to determine whether to appoint someone in the interim (again) or leave it vacant until the special election.

Special elections are only allowed on specific dates, the first possible one in August (May 14 is apparently too close to schedule), August 13th, 2019.

If they want to appoint someone to fill the vacancy until the special election, there are some rules… including:

Before making an appointment to fill a vacancy under subdivision 4, the county board must hold a public hearing not more than 30 days after the vacancy occurs with public notice given in the same manner as for a special meeting of the county board. At the public hearing the board must invite public testimony from persons residing in the district in which the vacancy occurs relating to the qualifications of prospective appointees to fill the vacancy. Minn. Stat. 375.01, Subd 5 (in part).

I don’t recall the circumstances, yes, I wasn’t paying attention, and I should have, this is my county district! I do recall being surprised someone was appointed, and having no say in that appointment. But there is a problem: The statute puts a 90 day limit on an appointment where Board member is unable to serve (Minn. Stat. 375.01, Subd. 3), and in this case, it began December 1, 2018, and would have ended March 1, 2019. That didn’t happen.

Goodhue, we have a problem.

Tomorrow’s morning should give us a clue as to what will happen.

I vote for the temporary appointment and to have the election in August. That and $0.50…