County attorney resigns; officials mull appointment

With the unexpected resignation of Steele County Attorney Dan McIntosh, officials will soon look at appointing his successor.

County Administrator Scott Golberg said he received McIntosh’s letter of resignation late Friday. Commissioners have yet to discuss how to handle his replacement, but state law governs the process, he said.

In the letter, McIntosh noted that “pursuant to Minn. Stat. §375.08, Chief Deputy County Attorney Julia Forbes will assume the duties of the office of County Attorney upon my resignation until the County Board appoints a County Attorney to serve the balance of the current term.”

He also “strongly recommended” that Forbes be appointed to serve out the term “because she has the knowledge, experience, judgment, and institutional familiarity to seamlessly assume leadership of the office and serve the people of Steele County.”

First appointed in 2010, McIntosh has run unopposed in every election since then. He has been with the county attorney’s office since 2001.

Before winning another term last November, McIntosh asked county commissioners to change a 2015 pay agreement, because he had reached the top of a mutually agreed upon pay scale. At the time he said his salary would be “frozen indefinitely… That’s not sustainable for me.”

Officials took no action on the request.

McIntosh plans to join a private practice based in Rochester.