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Krill resigns as Central Services director

Amy Sathoff is announced as the new county auditor/treasurer

By Kevin Mertens - Staff Writer | Sep 24, 2023

Kaley Hernandez, left, and Stephanie Schmitz, right, attended the Faribault County Board meeting to update the commissioners on the opioid settlement and what steps need to be taken next.

Add Pam Krill to the list of Faribault County employees who have resigned in recent months.

The County Board accepted Krill’s resignation as Central Services director at their meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 19, although commissioner Greg Young tried to talk her into staying.

However, Krill, who offered no explanation as to her future plans, told the board she was sticking with her decision.

Krill’s resignation took effect on Sept. 21.

One of Krill’s last duties at a County Board meeting was to present the name of Amy Sathoff for approval as the new county auditor/treasurer.

The auditor/treasurer position has been vacant for a little over a month since Jessica Blair resigned from the position after being temporarily appointed to replace Darren Esser, who resigned effective June 23.

Sathoff is not a stranger to county government and has several years of experience in the auditor’s office working with elections and working with the County Board.

The board approved the hiring and Sathoff’s effective start date is Oct. 16.

Kaley Hernandez and Stephanie Schmitz, representing the Stronger Together Coalition, attended the board meeting to provide the commissioners with an update on the opioid settlement and inform them what needs to be done next as part of the terms of the settlement agreement.

Hernandez, who is a coordinator with the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership which serves Faribault and Martin counties, explained the next steps the county needs to take.

“The coalition recommends the County Board approve the proposal to complete an assessment for which to make decisions on how to best utilize the opioid settlement funds over the next 18 years, which is how long the payout will last,” Hernandez said. “If you recall, this payment was the result of a class action lawsuit. The county will receive a higher amount of funding the first year.”

Hernandez told the board that Human Services of Faribault and Martin Counties (HSFMC) will oversee the assessment process as the Chief Health Strategist.

“What we are asking for is funding, in the amount of $9,500, be transferred to HSFMC to fund the assessment process,” she said. “This amount should come out of money the county has already banked from the settlement.”

Schmitz continued by telling the board more about the assessment.

“It is done not only to understand the existing impacts from opioid use,” Schmitz commented. “It is also used to determine prevention and treatment strategies that would be most effective for our communities from a list of over 120 options.”

The board voted to release the money to fund the study.

In other business:

• The commissioners approved a gambling permit for Minn-Iowa Golf Club to conduct a raffle on Nov. 18.

• Approval was given by the board to hire Chelsea Hall and Kevin White as part-time jail dispatchers.

• The board voted to approve hiring Eric Olson as a full-time deputy for the Faribault County Sheriff’s Department.

• A motion to shift the Drainage Project manager to a part-time position was approved. This was done at the request of Dustin Anderson, the current Drainage Project manager.

• The board approved the request of county assessor Gertrude Paschke to attend the Minnesota Association of Assessing Officers Annual Conference.

• The commissioners voted to grant the request of Emily Bonin of the Faribault County Sheriff’s Department to attend the Minnesota Fraud Investigator Association Fall Training.