The search to temporarily replace Lyon County Sheriff Joel Dahl who will retire on Sept. 30 has started.
County administrator Loren Stomberg said ads have been posted in local newspapers, the Association of Minnesota Counties Web site and a law enforcement membership Web site.
The county will accept applications until Sept. 12, Stomberg said.
Dahl has been sheriff for six years and will have two years left on his second term when he retires.
State law requires the county to appoint a person to fill the elected sheriff's term.
Applicants do not have to live in the county to be the appointed sheriff for two years, Stomberg said. The appointed sheriff must live in the county if he decides to run for election.
The county board will review applicants.
"We will go through the applicants and see who to interview for the position, see who matches the qualifications," Stomberg said.
The county board will interview applicants and appoint a temporary sheriff, Stomberg said.
"It is an elected position and it's only proper the elected officials on the board do that," Stomberg said.
Stomberg wants the position filled by Dahl's retirement.
If the board does not make a decision before Dahl retires, the chief deputy, Mark Mather, would fill the temporary role until a sheriff is appointed, Stomberg said.
It's typical for counties to also appoint the chief deputy as the temporary sheriff when an elected term needs to be completed, Stomberg said.
"Usually, it's the chief deputy but that's not guaranteed," Stomberg said.
Dahl will retire after 31 years with Lyon County. He cited his concerns about possible changes in the county's health benefit package for retirees as one of the major reasons to retire.
County employees hired before 1997 with at least 25 years of experience have a lifetime health insurance package when they retire that could cost the county at least $12 million to fund, county officials said.