County auditor job to return to appointed status

With little public input, the Carlton County commissioners unanimously voted to change the Office of Auditor/Treasurer from an elected to an appointed position.

Cloquet’s Clarence Badger was the only person to address the board during the public hearing, and he opposed the change.

“It is not right to have just five people choose an important county leader,” Badger said. “Elected offices should not be taken away from the people’s right to choose.”

The hearing was held during the Aug. 12 regular board meeting of the county commissioners and closed within 15 minutes. One letter to chair Dick Bren...