GRANITE FALLS -- Yellow Medicine County attorney Thomas Kramer is resigning his post effective May 31 after 27 years of service in the role.
The Yellow Medicine County board of commissioners deferred action on the resignation at their meeting on Tuesday.
Kramer said his decision to resign from the elected position is due to the board's recent decision to increase the county attorney position from half time to full time. While doubling the commitment required, the board only increased the compensation by eight percent, he said.
The full-time position would offer an annual salary of $80,000.
Kramer, who also has a private law practice in Granite Falls, said he will now devote himself full time to his practice. He said he has greatly enjoyed his role as county attorney and feels sad about saying goodbye to it.
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He originally served as assistant county attorney under attorney Allan Swen Anderson when he first began practicing law in Granite Falls in 1976. He was elected county attorney in 1979, and has held the position ever since.
He recommended that the board appoint Keith Helgeson to succeed him as county attorney. Helgeson is currently one of two assistant county attorneys in the county attorney's office.
