PRESTON, Minn. – The Fillmore County Board decided against joining next-door Houston County’s opposition to a new state flag and seal. The chair of the Fillmore Board, Duane Bakke, said he did his homework and learned that state law doesn’t require a costly switch to the new seal and flag that is being considered by the state Legislature. State Statute 1.135, Bakke said, is specific: “Expendable material to which the seal in effect prior to May 11, 2024, or any impression, scene, or likeness of that seal is currently affixed may be used until the supply is exhausted or until January 1, 2025, whichever occurs first.” And that applies only to state agencies – not counties. In Houston County in January, Sheriff Brian Swedberg had gone to his board with a $32,000 estimate on changing stationery, uniforms. badges and squad-car car decals. Unaware of Statute 1,135, the Houston County Board went along with Sheriff Swedberg and filed objections to the changing the seal an flag. So too had Crow Wing County in northern Minnesota.
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Bakke. From Lanesboro. Elected to Fillmore County Board in 1998.
Verbatim
Bakke to KTTC: “The only mandate is state buildings and in our courtroom. Costs of the county are nothing if we don’t want to spend any money to do anything. We don’t have to. There is no mandate that we have to have any of the the flags or the seals anywhere.”