The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1932-09-29
County Attorney

IOruey are not always properly
itemized nor supported by sub
vouchers.
Engineer
Equipment Costs-Proper record
is not kept Of the cost of operating
county owned equipment. It is
recommended that each piece of
county equipment be identified BY
unit number and that the total
cost of operating and maintaining
such equipment, such as gas, oil
repairs, tires, etc., be charged di-
rectly to the piece of equipment af-
fected.
, Daily reports of gasoline and oil
should be checked with purchases.
Judge of Probate
Clerk Hire-Clerk hire in the Of
flee of the judge of probate has
been overpaid $500 during 1880
and 1881
Proceedings of the county board
show an allowance of $2,5OOO0 dur
ing 1880 and $4,000 in 1881 and
1882. Chapter 4O2, Laws of 1927 fixes
the maximum allowance in this
county at 100000.
Payment lis being made to the
juvenile court clerk at the rate of
81 10000 a year, this being the ov-
erpayment above referred to. There
is no authority for payment of
clerk hire other than as allowed
pursuant to the provisions of Chap
ter 4O2. Laws of 1927. The law
placing jurisdiction of the juvenile
court in the office of the probate
court does not authorize or pro-
vide for the payment of a juvenile
court clerk.
County Aid Roads
Records of engineer should be
kept so as to show cost of county
aid roads according to construc-
ton, maintenance, engineering,
equipment, etc.
Township Work
When invoicing towns for road
work, it is recommended that all
bills be made in triplicate, one copy
being retained by the engineer and
the other copy filed in the office
of the auditor.
Court Commissioner
Reports of fees and emoluments
have not been filed for the years
1880 and 1881.
Coroner
Reports of fees and emoluments
have not been filed for the years
1880 and 1881.
Commissioners
Commissioners continue to draw
their salaries and per diem and
mileage under the provisions of
Chapter 1O1, Laws 1919. Chapter
1O1, Laws 1919 applies to counties
having a population of between As,
900 and 10000 and inasmuch as
the population of Stearns county IS
now 62,121. this law no longer ap-
plies and the commissioners are
entitled to salary and expenses as
provided by Chapter 487, Laws of
1919. 49,
Bridge Contracts
The following payments have
been made for bridge construction:
Date 12-18-29, Warrant 1911,
Plymouth Construction Co., Job %
:
Date 7-17-30 Warrant 2393O, Ply
mouth Construction, Co., Job Crow
River, amount $7,708.59.
Date 9-17-3O, Warrant 25237, Ply
mouth Construction Co., jobs SOLO,
5017, amount $3,181.32. u
Date S-17-3O, Warrant 25237, Ply
mouth Construction Co., job SOFT,
amount $3,10s.41. .:
Date 7-14-31, Warrant 31317, THIS
odore Jensen, job 3101, amount $A-
961. 49,, .a. ---.-. ~- ,r.i-f
Date s2-31, Warrant 32471, Thee
dore Jensen, job 5-31, amount ST.
O72.9O. ~..-.
Date 1851, warrant 31963, Theo-
dore Jensen. Job County Aid Is;
amount $5,535.O0. :. =
All of the foregoing jobs were
let on a cost plus basis, the Ply
mouth Construction Company be-
ing paid rs percent of all costs, in
Guiding freight, insurance, labor
and materials, Theodore Jensen
was paid 10 per cent of costs for
use of equipment and Is percent
for his services.
The Encouragement has held
that contracts cannot be let on "a
cost plus basis. Attached is copy Of
opinion.
The proceedings CT the board do
not show that bids were called for.
The foregoing contracts and pay
ments thereon are therefore illegal.
Per Diem and Mileage .
Numerous claims are presented
by the commissioners for per diem
and mileage for committee work.
Each commissioner apparently
acts as a committee of one in his
own district, looking over and in
specting such roads as he thinks
necessary and for such services re-
ceives per diem and mileage.
No authority exists for this.
Chapter 101, Laws 1919 provides
that commissioners may receive
per diem and mileage when acting
as committee under the direction
of the county board. The appoint
ment of committees at the begin
ming of each year is not sufficient.
In order to be entitled to per diem
and mileage, it is necessary that a
committee be appointed for a
specific purpose. Such appoint
ment should appear of record in
the proceedings of the board and
report of the findings of such COM
mittee should also be embodied
therein. >. -
. Supervision of road work and
general inspection of roads is the
duty of the engineer and not the
commissioners.
The following payments have
been made for per diem and mile
age for trip to Minneapolis to in
spect machinery:
Date 1891 Warrant 28967, VIM.
Ernst to Minneapolis, Per Diem
$500, Mileage $500. 81
VIM. Ernst to Saltwater, Per
Diem $500, Mileage $3.50. ri
Date 5-6-31, Warrant 29599, Chas.