Presidential primary cost estimate quadruples

Carlton County auditor/treasurer Kathy Korteum told the Carlton County board of commissioners that the estimated cost of the presidential primary has basically quadrupled.

“We must be prepared for the new presidential primary occurring in March,” the auditor said, explaining that the statewide cost of the primary was first estimated in 2016 to be around $3 million, but now the figure has risen to $12 million. Counties will be reimbursed by the state for any costs associated with the primary election.

This will be the first time in recent history that Minnesota has implemented a state-administered primary rather than the party-run caucus system to choose its presidential candidates. It will almost certainly mean higher voter turnouts.

In preparation for that election, Korteum received Carlton County board approval to hire a part-time election clerk to job shadow an auditor’s clerk who is due to retire. Approval was given for up to four months, but Korteum said that she expected it to take less time.

The position will cost $4,500 per month for wages and benefits. Korteum said the cost will be reimbursed by the state for almost all expenses.

Chair Dick Brenner isaid the Fond du Lac Band has had mail-in balloting in the past but is now asking if a polling site could be situated at the Sawyer Store.

“It appears that about 180 voters would be affected,” Brenner said. “No decision has been made, but some plan should be worked out by December.”

New attorney

County attorney Lauri Ketola got approval to designate a chief deputy attorney for the county attorney’s office. The position will be filled from within. She said it fits into the plan of organizing the county attorney’s office so the deputy attorney can make some decisions while the county attorney is not available. There will be some added cost, since it creates a position with more responsibility.

Other business

Also Tuesday, the board took the following actions:

• Federal disaster funding for the 2018 flooding will be accepted for fund reimbursement in the transportation department. The affected area was on the eastern part of CSAH 8. Some of the same road area was affected by the September 2019 flooding this fall.

• Eric Abrahamson was re-appointed to the Planning Commission. This is his last three-year term.

• John Manninen of Wright was re-appointed to the Board of Adjustment.

• The county board gave approval to sponsor the Wood City Riders Snowmobile Club and the Carlton County Riders ATV Club to maintain the new Caywood connector to St. Louis County between Cloquet and Saginaw, with a branch to the gas station on Highway 2 via the site of the old AlBrook school.

• The scheduled Dec. 10 regular board meeting conflicted with an Association of Minnesota Counties conference. The county board gave approval for a scheduled Committee of the Whole meeting Dec. 3 to be changed to the Regular Board meeting at 4 p.m. with the Truth in Taxation Hearing to follow at 6 p.m.

The county board has been invited to the Carlton County Association of Township Officers fall meeting Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Transportation Building.