JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Stutsman County Commission heard a request from Stutsman County Sheriff Chad Kaiser on the need for assistance with forfeitures for the county.

Sheriff Kaiser pointed out that forfeitures need to be filed on a timely basis. With how busy Stutsman County State’s Attorney Fritz Fremgen has been, Kaiser stated that he has been in contact with Jamestown City Attorney Leo Ryan to complete the necessary paperwork.

Kaiser says missing out on forfeitures would not be good for the county as they would miss out on potential funds or equipment that could benefit them.

Commission Chairman Mark Klose pointed out the importance of the forfeitures, explaining that some of the money seized in a large drug bust in the county may ultimately come back to be used for something needed. Sheriff Kaiser agreed.

State’s Attorney Fremgen says Attorney Ryan and his office have agreed to do the forfeiture work for an hourly fee to the county.

The contract was approved.

The conversation later led into Fremgen’s request for additional staff to be added to the State’s Attorney’s office in 2019. Fremgen told the commission that in 2017, he had worked an extra 725 hours or 4 months more in total over the year. With a record 275 felonies recorded in the county in 2017, Fremgen says he sees this trend continuing.

Fremgen says he wants to get his and his attorney’s in the office from 60 to 70 hours a week, down to at least 45 hours a week.

Commissioner Dave Schwartz stated that finding more personnel would be tough with current cuts and a tight preliminary budget as it is.

Fremgen stated that he knew the job needed to be done and he enjoyed doing it. He pointed out that the request was just part of his duties in the position.

Stutsman County Auditor Nicole Meland stated that she would include the request as a supplement to their preliminary budget for the council to decide at a later date. No other decisions were made concerning the issue.