After a 10-minute discussion during its second meeting of 2019, the Wright County Board of commissioners voted unanimously to replace the position of county coordinator with a county administrator.

 

There had been ongoing discussions concerning how the change would affect the authority of the commissioners.

 

Commissioner Darek Vetsch said at first he was hesitant about making the change. But after discussions with Coordinator Lee Kelly, he felt the commissioners would still be involved in the decision-making process.

 

“We’re not really diluting our decision making as much as we’re basically allowing him to manage staff on behalf of us,” he said.

 

Commissioner Charles Borrell said he still had concerns about it.

 

“I’m not going to stand in opposition of it... But I like what we have now,” he said. “I think it works. I’ve yet to see where it’s going to benefit us.” 

 

He said he talked with commissioners from other counties who went from a coordinator to an administrator and weren’t happy with the results.

“They said if they could get three votes it would be back to coordinator,” he said.

 

Commissioner Christine Husom said the board wouldn’t lose its authority.

 

“I don’t believe the system we have in place right now is going to change significantly. What I believe is going to happen is, it’s going to streamline operations on a day by day basis,” she said. “We still have oversight over what happens in this county... we’re just going to have a more efficient system going forward. We still give directions to our administrator.”

 

She said the complete board is present every day to make decisions that have to be made. 

 

Vetsch agreed it wouldn’t undermine the board’s authority.

 

“We haven’t changed any policies in terms of procurement or personnel items that would allow him to have any more decisions than he has now,” he said.

 

Borrell said things could change with future board members and future administrators.

 

“I just think the natural gravitation for an administrator is to accumulate more and more power,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to happen tomorrow - but 20 years from now?”         He said his feelings on the issue were nothing personal against Coordinator Lee Kelly.

 

“Lee is one of the hardest workers in our county and I really respect him for that,” he said. “It’s not a personal thing. It’s more the institutional part of it I’m thinking about.”

 

Commissioner Michael Potter said the board was still the decision maker.

 

“Whether it’s a coordinator or administrator, it’s still the burden upon the commissioners to be involved on behalf of their constituents. The advantage of an administrator is, you have a clear chain of command on how to implement the policies that this board sets,” he said.     

      

 “Instead of the coordinator being equal to the department heads, now you have a clear chain of command and there is no ambiguity on what a policy means. You have somebody there as the first line of defense to defend the policies we set.”

 

The board passed three resolutions on the issue: rescinding the office of county coordinator; establishing the office of county administrator and appointing Lee Kelly to the position.