Minnesota Session Laws - 1991, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1991 

                         CHAPTER 51-H.F.No. 983 
           An act relating to Ramsey county; changing Ramsey 
          county special laws to make them consistent with the 
          county home rule charter; amending Minnesota Statutes 
          1990, sections 383A.06, subdivision 2; 383A.16, 
          subdivision 4; 383A.20, subdivision 10; 383A.32, 
          subdivision 1; and 383A.50, subdivision 4; repealing 
          Minnesota Statutes 1990, sections 383A.04; 383A.06, 
          subdivision 3; 383A.07, subdivisions 6, 15, and 20; 
          383A.16, subdivision 5; 383A.20, subdivisions 1, 6 to 
          9, and 11; 383A.23, subdivision 1; 383A.24; 383A.25; 
          383A.45; 383A.46; 383A.48; 383A.49; and 383A.50, 
          subdivisions 1 and 3. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1990, section 383A.06, 
subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 2.  [BORROWING.] (a) [AUTHORITY.] Ramsey county is 
granted authority to borrow funds and pledge the credit of the 
county for repayment of the funds for the support of the poor; 
the governing body of Ramsey county may issue bonds or other 
evidences of indebtedness to pay therefor when authorized to do 
so as provided in this subdivision or the charter.  If the board 
of commissioners of Ramsey county decides to issue bonds for the 
relief of the poor, the board shall first submit the question of 
the issuance of the bonds to a referendum of the voters of the 
county at a special election called for that purpose, or at a 
general election.  No bonds of this type may be issued unless a 
majority voting on the question at the election vote in favor 
thereof. 
    (b) [BONDS.] All bonds issued pursuant to this subdivision 
are to be sold in the manner prescribed by chapter 475, and 
mature serially, the first installment of which becoming due in 
not more than three years and the last of which becoming due and 
payable in not more than ten years from the date of issue.  
These bonds shall bear interest at an annual rate of not to 
exceed six percent, payable semiannually, and the governing body 
of Ramsey county shall provide for the payment thereof in the 
manner prescribed by chapter 475, and the governing body of 
Ramsey county shall negotiate and sell the bonds, from time to 
time, in the amounts that the board of county commissioners sees 
fit.  
    While any of these bonds are outstanding and unpaid, there 
shall be annually levied and collected a tax upon all real and 
personal property in Ramsey county, sufficient to pay the 
principal and interest of these bonds as they respectively 
become due and payable. 
    (c) [EMERGENCY BORROWING.] The provisions of this 
subdivision requiring the submission of the question of issuing 
bonds for the relief of the poor to a vote of the people does 
not supersede any law of the state, or charter provision, 
permitting, in cases of emergency, the issuance of bonds or the 
borrowing of funds for the relief of the poor without obtaining 
such a vote.  
    Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1990, section 383A.16, 
subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 4.  (a) In Ramsey county, the governing body of a 
city, village or town therein may authorize the county to 
construct and maintain any or all of its highways without 
advertising for bids. 
    (b) The construction that is referred to in paragraph (a) 
is only to be performed as part of a maintenance job, and, the 
cost of the construction shall not exceed $2,500 for a project.  
    Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1990, section 383A.20, 
subdivision 10, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 10.  [AUTOMOBILE MILEAGE.] (a) [GENERALLY.] Ramsey 
county may provide for the payment of an automobile allowance to 
a county officer or employee, except a county commissioner, who 
officially uses a personal automobile in the performance of 
public duties.  The authorization shall include any limitations 
as to amount and persons qualified for the automobile allowance, 
the formula to be used for the allowance, and other limitations 
or safeguards that the county considers to be expedient in the 
public interest.  A county commissioner may receive actual and 
necessary expenses as provided in the charter. 
    (b) [DEFINITION.] Automobile allowance is defined as the 
payment of compensation or reimbursement made by the county, 
through the use of a formula decided upon by the county, to an 
officer or employee for the use of a personal automobile in the 
performance of public duty.  
    (c) [LIMITATIONS.] Ramsey county shall have full authority 
and control, free from other limitations except as provided in 
this subdivision, to provide the method of payment, the formula 
for payment and the amount of the automobile allowance to be 
paid.  This subdivision, insofar as the county of Ramsey is 
concerned, is paramount to any other statute of the state of 
Minnesota now existing.  
    Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1990, section 383A.32, 
subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
    Subdivision 1.  [JOINT CITY-COUNTY PURCHASING.] (a) [ JOINT 
PROGRAM.] Notwithstanding a charter provision, city ordinance, 
or prior law to the contrary pertaining to buying by the city of 
Saint Paul or the county of Ramsey, and to promote competitive 
bidding, effect economies in volume buying, and provide better 
service, the city of Saint Paul and the county of Ramsey shall 
establish a joint buying program.  
    (b) [SAINT PAUL PURCHASING DEPARTMENT TO BE USED.] The 
county of Ramsey shall buy, or contract for, the supplies, 
materials, equipment and contractual services required by each 
department or agency of the county government through the 
facilities of the city of Saint Paul purchasing department and, 
for this service, shall pay to the city the cost incurred in 
providing the service.  The cost is determined through an 
analysis and evaluation of all purchases processed through 
December 31, 1959, and thereafter through each succeeding year.  
The manner and method of computing this cost is the joint 
responsibility of the county and the city.  
    (c) [SAINT PAUL CITY CHARTER PROVISIONS RESERVED.] All of 
the charter provisions of the city of Saint Paul pertaining to 
the procedures, rules, and regulations in the field of buying 
goods, wares, and merchandise are in their entirety reserved in 
full.  
    (d) [STANDARDIZATION COMMITTEE.] A permanent committee on 
standardization of purchases for the city of Saint Paul and the 
county of Ramsey is established, to be composed, on an equal 
basis, of representatives of the city of Saint Paul, the county 
of Ramsey, and other governmental units permitted to buy through 
the city purchasing department.  The city council shall choose 
the members of the committee on standardization for the city, 
and the board of county commissioners, for the county.  The 
committee shall agree on single specifications for each item 
commonly used in each of the governmental units to combine their 
purchasing power.  
    (e) [CENTRAL STOCK ROOM.] As soon as practical after the 
establishment of the central purchasing program, the city of 
Saint Paul and the county of Ramsey shall establish a central 
office supply stock room.  The permanent committee on 
standardization of purchases shall provide for inventory control 
procedures and the method and manner of distribution of supplies 
and materials from the central stock room.  Each of the 
governmental units participating in the central buying program 
shall contribute the amount that is jointly agreed upon into a 
revolving fund established for the operation of the central 
stock room, and shall pay, from time to time, into the revolving 
fund the money required to cover overhead, in addition to the 
cost of materials and supplies obtained therefrom.  The city of 
Saint Paul and its purchasing department shall administer and 
account for the revolving fund.  
    (f) [WAREHOUSE.] The city of Saint Paul and the county of 
Ramsey shall provide adequate warehouse and storage space for 
each item that is practical to store and the buying of which, in 
quantities greater than current needs, will secure a distinct 
financial advantage to these governmental subdivisions.  
    (g) [COUNTY PURCHASING.] If the county elects to have its 
own purchasing officer as provided in the charter, this 
subdivision shall not apply to the county. 
    Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1990, section 383A.50, 
subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 4.  [ILLEGAL EXPENDITURE; GROSS MISDEMEANOR.] A 
county commissioner who knowingly authorizes or makes a payment 
or incurs an obligation in violation of the provisions of 
sections 383A.45 to 383A.50 this section is guilty of a gross 
misdemeanor.  
    Sec. 6.  [REPEALER.] 
    Minnesota Statutes 1990, sections 383A.04; 383A.06, 
subdivision 3; 383A.07, subdivisions 6, 15, and 20; 383A.16, 
subdivision 5; 383A.20, subdivisions 1, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11; 
383A.23, subdivision 1; 383A.24; 383A.25; 383A.45; 383A.46; 
383A.48; 383A.49; and 383A.50, subdivisions 1 and 3, are 
repealed. 
    Sec. 7.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
    Sections 1 to 6 shall not be effective until the Ramsey 
county board complies with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, 
subdivision 3.  The effective date of sections 1 to 6 shall be 
the day after compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 
645.021, subdivision 3, or November 6, 1992, whichever is later. 
    Presented to the governor May 2, 1991 
    Signed by the governor May 6, 1991, 11:15 a.m.