Stearns County Attorney’s Office to Hire Additional Staff

ST. CLOUD -- The Stearns County Attorney's Office is hiring two additional staff members to help handle an increasing caseload.

County Attorney Janelle Kendall asked the county board for an additional trial lawyer and legal secretary. She says her current staff are overworked and they need some help.

"You're getting 6,000 extra hours out of my criminal division last year alone. Three FTE's out of that criminal division just to keep this going," says Kendall.

Commissioners approved of the new hires today (Tuesday) on condition Kendall agree to a staffing study for her office.

Normally, elected department heads aren't required to allow staffing studies, but Kendall says she is open to it.