Important SWCD Supervisors Election Option Information

Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors can be elected from the 2 options presented below:

Option 1 : Supervisors are elected at large - MN Stature 103C.311 subd. 1. This is the current method of election. Stearns County has 5 SWCD Board Supervisors whose areas are divided up by townships.

Option 2: Supervisors elected by districts - MN Statute 103C.311 subd. 2.
This would change the supervisor areas to a nominating district. This would require alignment with county commissioner districts.

The map below shows the current district boundaries (Area 1-5/Colored Areas) and the county commissioner districts (1st-5th District/Dark Red Boundaries).

The elections have always been at large within the district. In 1974 “supervisor nomination districts” were mandated for the purpose of ensuring some measure of geographic distribution of elected supervisors across each SWCD. The rationale for this is that the SWCD programs deal with land and water issues of geographic scope; thus, it was seen as good government to ensure geographic distribution of elected officials across the SWCD.

If you would like to voice you support for one of the options or have further questions please contact Dennis Fuchs or your Area Supervisor.