GRANITE FALLS -- Renville County Attorney David Torgelson has agreed to serve as special assistant county attorney to handle any criminal action that may result from a state investigation into allegations that two organizations in Granite Falls operated Viking football boards.
The Yellow Medicine County Board of Commissioners appointed Torgelson to serve as a special county attorney at its meeting on Tuesday, according to draft minutes of the meeting provided by County Administrator John Chattin.
Former County Attorney Thomas Kramer and current County Attorney Keith Helgeson had both previously requested that a special attorney be appointed due to conflicts of interest. The commissioners initially appointed Cottonwood County Attorney L. Douglas Storey to serve as special attorney.
Helgeson told the commissioners on Tuesday that Storey was unable to continue his role. He recommended that Torgelson be appointed in his place.
The alcohol and gambling enforcement division of the Minnesota Department of Revenue has completed an investigation into allegations that members of the Granite Falls Fire Department and a group known as the Granite Falls Fishing Organization offered football boards, an illegal form of gambling.
