2007 Minnesota Statutes

375A.02 ELECTED EXECUTIVE PLAN.
    Subdivision 1. County executive. In a county adopting the elected executive plan, the chief
executive officer shall be known as county executive. The first county executive shall be elected
at the county general election following the adoption of the elected executive plan and every four
years thereafter. The county executive shall hold office for a term of four years commencing on
the first Monday of January following election. Only a voter of a county shall be eligible for
election as county executive. The county executive shall be nominated and elected by all the
voters of the county in the manner provided by law for the election of county officers. In case the
office of county executive is or becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation or removal, it shall
be filled by the board of county commissioners for the unexpired term.
    Subd. 2. Salary. The salary of the county executive for the first year of the term shall be set
by the county board not less than 30 days before the first day candidates may file for the office;
thereafter, the salary of the county executive shall be set annually by the county board at the
January meeting of the board; provided that the salary of the county executive shall not be less
than 150 percent of the salary of the highest paid member of the board of county commissioners.
A minimum salary for such subsequent term of the county executive shall be fixed by the county
board not less than 30 days before the first day candidates may file for the office in an amount not
less than the minimum provided in this section.
    Subd. 3. Numbered duties; may be department head. (a) The county executive shall be
the administrative head of the county and shall have all the powers and shall perform all the
duties of an administrative or executive nature vested in or imposed upon the board of county
commissioners by law or by agreement with any municipality or other subdivision of government
and such additional powers as are granted or imposed by the board.
(b) The county executive shall be responsible for the proper administration of the affairs of
the county placed in the county executive's charge.
(c) By resolution of the county board the county executive may serve as the head of any
county department created by law or established by the board provided the county executive has
the qualifications required by law.
(d) Responsibilities of the county executive shall include, but are not limited to, the
following duties:
(1) appoint an administrative assistant who shall be qualified by education and training in
governmental or business administration and who will be responsible to the executive for the
orderly and efficient operation and coordination of the various departments of county government;
(2) appoint and hire qualified staff to assist the executive;
(3) provide for the execution of all ordinances and resolutions of the board and all laws of
the state subject to enforcement by the county executive or by officers who are under the county
executive's direction and supervision;
(4) exercise all authority of the board of county commissioners to appoint, suspend, and
remove all county personnel whose appointment, suspension, or removal was a function of the
county board under general law, make such nominations and appointments to additional offices as
the county board may determine and make appointments to such advisory boards and committees
as the executive may create;
(5) provide for all county purchases including purchases of services pursuant to purchasing
regulations established by the county board, but county purchasing services may be made
available for use by other counties and governmental subdivisions;
(6) prepare and submit, if directed by the board to do so, an administrative code incorporating
the details of administrative procedure for the operation of the county and from time to time
suggest amendments to such code;
(7) attend any meetings of the board of county commissioners with the right to take part
in any discussion, but not to vote; and may recommend to the board such action as the county
executive deems advisable; and
(8) prepare and submit to the county board an annual budget and a long-range capital
expenditure program covering a period not less than the five ensuing years each of which shall
include detailed estimates of revenue and expenditures and enforce the provisions of the budget
when adopted by the county board.
    Subd. 4. Veto power. The county executive shall have the power to veto any ordinance or
resolution adopted by the board of county commissioners. A veto by the county executive may
apply to all or any items of an ordinance or resolution appropriating money. Certification of a
veto must be made by the executive within ten days of the adoption of the ordinance or resolution
by the county board and the county board may override the veto by a two-thirds vote of all
its members. An ordinance or resolution shall become effective upon approval by the county
executive, the expiration of ten days after the adoption of the ordinance or resolution without
approval or veto, or the overriding of a veto.
    Subd. 5. Chair elected by the board. The county board shall elect from its numbers a chair
of the board who shall preside at all meetings of the board.
History: 1973 c 542 s 2; 1986 c 444