Questions remain about future of county treasurer’s position

The McLeod County Board continues to weigh options for the replacement of County Treasurer Linda Radtke, who is retiring Dec. 31.

Radtke’s position is an elected office and her term would have ended January 2011. Commissioners Tuesday discussed, but did not approve, a draft resolution combining the auditor and treasurer position and appointing current County Auditor Cindy Schultz to the post effective Jan. 1, 2010.

Commissioner Sheldon Nies was eager to pass the resolution and made a motion supporting it. It failed for lack of a second.

“I really think we need to know what kind of cost is going to be involved here,” said Commissioner Bev Wangerin.

Wangerin wanted to know if combining the positions would lead to the county having to hire additional staff, including a possible chief financial officer. Commissioner Ray Bayerl noted about 40 of Minnesota’s 87 counties have combined elected auditor/treasurer positions and wanted to learn more about how they handled the transition.

For more on this story, see the Leader’s Nov. 5 print edition.

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)