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Commission Minutes—July 26, 2023 5751 <br />for body removals. She said 12 cases have come from other North Dakota Counties with the largest <br />number from Richland and Steele, 30 have come from Minnesota with 17 from Beltrami County, and <br />5 cases from South Dakota. She said accidents happen in other counties or states, are transported <br />to Cass County for medical treatment, and die in Cass County. She said it is then Cass County's <br />responsibility to do the autopsy or work with the related jurisdiction. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mr. Kapitan moved and Mr. Grindberg seconded to approve the 2024 <br />preliminary budget for the County Coroner as presented. On roll call vote, the <br />motion carried unanimously. <br />8. BREAK <br />The Commission took a break at 10:19 AM and reconvened at 10:33 AM. <br />Mr. Peterson said since the budget hearing schedule is behind and the hearings must be done by <br />11:30 AM today, the Road Department Budget will be moved to Friday morning. <br />9. STATE'S ATTORNEY <br />Kim Hegvik, County State's Attorney was present to review the 2024 State's Attorney budget. Ms. <br />Hegvik said the 2024 budget request is similar to prior year requests with the largest request being a <br />new Senior Attorney Position and remodeling of the third floor file room into two offices. She said the <br />Senior Attorney position is needed due to increase caseloads, the addition of two new judges <br />allocated by the State Legislature, and increased time needed by attorneys to review body camera <br />footage which are now worn by almost all local law enforcement. <br />Mrs. Scherling asked if the State's Attorney's Office has Junior Attorneys. Ms. Hegvik said Junior <br />Attorney's are hired if they have no experience and after one year they are promoted to Senior <br />Attorney. Mrs. Scherling asked when it is the responsibility of law enforcement to review evidence <br />versus the State's Attorney's Office. Ms. Hegvik said this is an age old issue, however, it is ultimately <br />the State's Attorney's Office who brings charges and follow through with the case to trail and a <br />conviction. She said the State's Attorney's job to make sure there is strong evidence to bring <br />charges. Mr. Peterson asked how many lawyers the State's Attorney's Office has and how many <br />hours they work per week. Ms. Hegvik said the State's Attorney's Office has 20 attorneys and they <br />work an estimated 45 to 50 hours per week. Mr. Peterson said based on this information he is not <br />supportive of an additional attorney position. He said he may be supportive of an additional position <br />if case loads significantly increase due to having two new judges. <br />Mr. Breitling moved and Mr. Kapitan seconded to approve the 2024 preliminary <br />budget for the State's Attorney as presented. On roll call vote, the motion <br />carried with Mrs. Scherling, Mr. Breitling, Mr. Grindberg, and Mr. Kapitan voting <br />yes" and Mr. Peterson voting "no". <br />Asset Forfeiture Fund and Civil Asset Forfeiture Fund <br />Ms. Hegvik said the 2020 legislative session changed the asset forfeiture process, funds are <br />approved through the courts, then through a committee, before being distributed to law enforcement <br />agencies. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mr. Breitling moved and Mr. Kaptan seconded to approve the 2024 preliminary <br />budget for the State's Attorney Civil Asset Forfeiture Fund as presented. On <br />roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mrs. Scherling moved and Mr. Breitling seconded to approve the 2024 <br />preliminary budget for the Civil Asset Forfeiture Fund as presented. On roll call <br />vote, the motion carried unanimously.