Nelson County to put question of appointing State's Attorney on November ballot

Nelson County commissioners voted unanimously Aug. 6 to refer a proposed change to the office of State's Attorney to the General Election ballot.

At an 11:00 a.m. public hearing, Auditor Nathan Parks read a preliminary resolution and plan to change the office from an elected position to an appointed one. State's Attorney Jayme Tenneson was present and spoke about the future plan for the office. Following the hearing, Commissioner Aaron Mork moved and Commissioner Cameron Swenson seconded a motion "to put the question of the appointment of the States Attorney on the General Election ballot." On a roll call vote all members voted "Yes."

The referral means county voters will decide whether to change how the State's Attorney is selected. The commission did not adopt a final ordinance or implementation timetable at the meeting; the action was to place the question on the ballot. The auditor presented the preliminary resolution and plan during the hearing; the transcript records discussion but does not specify draft text of the final ballot language or implementation dates.

Next procedural steps will follow the county election timetable: if the referendum is certified for the ballot, voters will consider it at the November General Election. The commission did not take additional formal actions on the office's operations at this meeting.