The County Board of Commissioners serves as the governing body of Freeborn County. It has specified financial, legislative, and administrative control over the personnel and functions of county government defined primarily in chapter 375 of the Minnesota Statutes.

 

The Board has those powers granted under Minnesota law by the legislature and the constitution. For example, it has responsibility for levying taxes and budgeting for all county operations, enacting ordinances and policies regulating issues subject to the county’s control, the supervision of roads and bridges, purchase of labor, material, equipment and it must insure that the county is operated in a practically and fiscally responsible manner. The Board of Commissioners fixes the salaries of county officers and employees, except those fixed by law and the majority of County employees are subject to its control. It appoints members to certain boards, committees, and offices. It has the duty to provide adequate facilities and resources to operate the county departments.

 

The County is divided into five Commissioner Districts, and each district elects a member to the County Board for a four-year term.

 

Constituents are encouraged to contact their commissioner on matters of concern by calling them or writing them directly or through the office of the County Administrator at 411 S. Broadway, P.O. Box 1147, Albert Lea, MN 56007-1147.

 

The Board does not maintain separate offices for its members but does meet on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 8:30 a.m. in the Boardroom located on the 2nd floor of the Historic 1887 Building, Freeborn County Government Center. The public is encouraged to attend those meetings.