Kanabec County Board votes to make auditor-treasurer appointed position

The Kanabec County Board voted to adopt a resolution changing the auditor-treasurer position from an elected to an appointed role at Tuesday's meeting.

Denise Snyder, who has served in the auditor-treasurer position since 1999, said she intends to retire next summer.

Commissioner Tom Roeschlein expressed that he'd like to see county residents have an opportunity to vote on the change.

"I would like to see this thing voted on or something of that nature, instead of just us five making that action," Roeschlein said.

Board chair Rickey Mattson pointed out that it wouldn't come up for election until fall of 2026.

Snyder explained that the job of auditor-treasurer has grown significantly since she began her tenure.

"The job has grown so much, as far as what you have to know. The laws that take into effect, all that kind of stuff," Snyder said. "And I really, truly, honestly feel that by putting it back on the ballot, you could get somebody in here that wouldn't have a clue."

Snyder added that there are no statutory requirements for candidates to run for the auditor-treasurer position.

"If you get somebody in there who cannot do the job, you can't fire them. They're elected," she said. "It could take a short period of time on the finance side of it where you wouldn't have the reporting that we need, and could really put the county in dire straits."

Snyder told the board that they can be more selective when it comes to appointing the role.

"You could hire somebody who's got the experience. You're going to hire somebody who might have the education, if that's what you're looking for," Snyder said. "But the thing is, you're going to be able to be more selective to find out what their background is, as opposed to taking somebody off the ballot and finding out they have no clue what it is."

Commissioner Todd Sjoberg added that appointing the auditor-treasurer role also helps the county with retainment.

"If you want somebody to run that position that knows what they need to know, that person can get a better job someplace else if they're only running for four years," Sjoberg said. "If you want a career person in there, you're going to have to appoint it, because you're not going to get that quality of a person that we need for that position by election."