Stearns County Board of Commissioners
Back, L-R: Vince Schaefer, DeWayne Mareck, Mark Sakry
Front, L-R: Leigh Lenzmeier, Don Otte
See a map of the Commissioner Districts
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DEWAYNE MARECK (FIRST DISTRICT) |
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Representing a portion of the City of St. Cloud (Ward 1, Precincts 4, 5 and 6; Ward 2, Precinct 9; Ward 3, Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9; Ward 4, Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5).
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MARK SAKRY (SECOND DISTRICT) |
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Representing the Townships of Le Sauk, St. Joseph and St. Wendel; Precinct 2 of the Township of Collegeville; the Cities of St. Joseph, Sartell and Waite Park.
| VINCE SCHAEFER (THIRD DISTRICT) Vice Chair P.O. Box 66 Rockville, MN 56369 (h) (320) 253-1499 Term of office expires: 1/1/11 E-mail: vince.schaefer@co.stearns.mn.us Board/Committee Appointments |
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Representing the Townships of Avon, Brockway, Precinct 1 of Collegeville, Eden Lake, Holding, Luxemburg, Maine Prairie, Munson, and Wakefield; the Cities of Avon, Cold Spring, Eden Valley, Holdingford, Kimball, Richmond, Rockville, and St. Stephen.
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LEIGH LENZMEIER (FOURTH DISTRICT) |
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Representing the Townships of Fair Haven and Lynden; the City of St. Augusta, and a portion of the City of St. Cloud (Ward 1, Precincts 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8; Ward 4, Precincts 6, 7, 8 and 9).
| DON OTTE (FIFTH DISTRICT) 39298 County Road 185 Sauk Centre, MN 56378 (320)352-1868 Term of office expires: 1/1/11 Toll free: 1-877-Don-Otte (366-6883) E-mail: don.otte@co.stearns.mn.us Board/Committee Appointments |
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Representing the Townships of Albany, Ashley, Crow Lake, Crow River, Farming, Getty, Grove, Krain, Lake George, Lake Henry, Melrose, Millwood, North Fork, Oak, Paynesville, Raymond, St. Martin, Sauk Centre, Spring Hill, and Zion; the Cities of Albany, Belgrade, Brooten, Elrosa, Freeport, Greenwald, Lake Henry, Meire Grove, Melrose, New Munich, Paynesville, Roscoe, St. Anthony, St. Martin, St. Rosa, Sauk Centre and Spring Hill.
Stearns County has the most popular form of county government--the commission form. Serving a population of approximately 138,000 people, Stearns County’s Board of Commissioners has five members, with residents from each of the five districts electing one member of the Board to serve a 4-year term. The Board of Commissioners is the policy-making body; adopting rules and policies, setting a budget and levy, approving a capital improvement plan, making land-use decisions and ensuring citizen concerns are met.
The Board of Commissioners appoints a County Administrator to oversee policy implementation, Department Directors and daily operations of the County. In addition, Commissioners appoint the Human Services Director, County Assessor, Environmental Services Director, Highway Engineer, Parks Director and Veterans Service Officer. The Board also selects representatives to serve on other County boards and committees, such as the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment and the Dairy Advisory Committee.
In addition to regular County Board meetings three Tuesdays a month, Commissioners serve on county-related boards and sub-committees, of which there are nearly 80. They also bring the County’s concerns before state and federal lawmakers and interact with other local boards, such as city councils and township boards.
Major responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
- Establishing a budget and levying taxes to finance County services.
- Providing assistance to constituents as their elected representative.
- Appointing members to County Board committees (with the exception of elected officials).
- Serving on the Board of Health as well as several other committees and boards.
- Managing county roads, buildings, and property.
- Planning land use within the county
- Authorizing expenditures.
- Serving as employer for County personnel.
The Board functions as the legislative and administrative head of Stearns County. The powers of the Board are outlined in Minnesota Statutes. The management and control of County property and the transaction of business affairs of the County are vested in the Board.