With the retirement in mid-April of Meeker County Court Administrator Linda Jagush and Swift County Court Administrator Carol Jenson, a single court administrator is now serving the three counties of Meeker, Swift and Kandiyohi.

In a letter addressed to the Meeker County Board, presented at last week's board meeting, Tim Ostby, judicial district administrator, said Theresa Fredrickson, the Kandiyohi County court administrator, will serve the three counties from her office in Willmar.

Ostby noted that the five district court judges chambered in the three counties have served two or more counties in most of their work.

This is the first time, Ostby said, that one court administrator has been appointed to serve three counties. Several court administrators in the state serve two counties.

Ostby said budget shortfalls require these types of decisions to be made when opportunities occur and where appropriate.

The current staff will be maintained at the court administrator’s office, County Administrator Paul Virnig personnel there have been employees of the state and not of the county, Virnig said.