ABOVE: Martin County Recorder Michelle Duncan discusses her position and what is involved within it for Student Government Day, as students Cedar Bohlsen, John Henry, Caiden Etesch, Sidney York and Maeson Olson listen to her presentation on Tuesday.

FAIRMONT – Even though schools were postponed two hours, two students from Fairmont High School and 11 from Martin Luther High School still got to learn about the many facets of county government on Student Government Day on Tuesday.

The first 45 minutes were spent at the Law Enforcement Center (LEC), learning about Veterans Services, the County Assessor and Planning and Zoning, among others. A 50-minute session was then held in the Lower Court Room of the Martin County Courthouse, where participants learned about the court process, the role of a court administrator and Martin County Victim Services.

Next, the group bounced around from the LEC, Commissioners Board Room, Auditor’s Office, and a walk to the Martin County Library in Fairmont. In the middle of this stretch, they visited County Recorder Michelle Duncan. Duncan said she is an elected official who represents all of Martin County in their records needs.

“We keep all records, from deeds to your house to mortgages to surveys,” she said. “We have plats that we record, so we basically are the custodian of all the real estate records. If you ever need anything to do with your house, your parents’ house, this is where you would go to get the land record.”

A large amount of the records have been digitized, and all but a few vital records are publicly available. They even have some historic records with very notable names attached.

“Some of these are actually signed by the U.S. President,” Duncan said. “Some of these are signed by Ulysses Grant; there’s one here by Chester Arthur. They were actual presidents, actually signed these documents back when we were in other territories, things like that.”

In her discussion with the students, Duncan said her main focus was conveying the real estate aspect of her position.

“Our main focus is on real estate recording and keeping it so it’s sustainable through a lifetime, so people can always do that history, or people come in and do abstracting,” she said. “To keep that documentation of record and where they can search for it is very important.”

Duncan has been involved in this event for the past four years. She said this event is important because it gives students knowledge of every part of government.

“This is a very important piece, because we’re one of the center focuses of real estate, and what county government does when it comes to real estate and keeping those records available to the public,” Duncan said.

With the students attending having come despite poor road conditions and odd logistics due to a two-hour late start, Duncan said it showed willingness and initiative to learn about each department of county government.

That initiative continued even during lunchtime, as they listened to the American Legion and the Legion Auxiliary describe the organization’s purpose and what they do in Fairmont. Martin County Attorney Taylor McGowan also spoke at the Legion while the attendees ate.

He said his job is two-fold: he represents Martin County as its attorney if/when the county encounters legal issues, and he is the prosecutor for Martin County.

“I know a lot of you probably watch TV shows,” he said. “You hear about the District Attorney. In Minnesota, your county attorney is basically like your district attorney. I prosecute felonies, gross misdemeanors, misdemeanors and ordinance violations here. If you happen to have a vape in school, my office is going to prosecute that, get a speeding ticket, my office is going to prosecute that.”

In his career, McGowan said he has had to deal with hard cases, including criminal activity at a party where someone ended up dead. He said these cases become difficult as they work to do what’s right.

“When I resolve a case in a way that I see to be appropriate, it is very satisfying,” McGowan said. “I like taking drug dealers off the streets or holding people responsible for the long-term. At the same time, it is satisfying when you do give someone a break, and they end up holding their end of the bargain and succeed.”

By participating in this type of event, McGowan said it gives him a rare chance to communicate what his office does and how it works.

“Sometimes we are not out there too much,” he said. “My office doesn’t publicize a lot of what we do, just the nature of the things that we handle. Sometimes discretion is better than being out front. It is good to sometimes touch base with people in the community and let them know that my office is here and working.”

Jeremy Monahan of Prairie Lakes Transit wrapped up their Legion and Lunch section. The last two stops of the day were a trip to the County Highway Department, where students were shown the various implements used for major events like Sunday’s snowstorm, and a 50-minute tour of the Sheriff’s Office and the County Jail, led by Sheriff Deputy Corey Klanderud.

Organizer Doug Landsteiner said there had been conversations Monday about this event, and they decided to forge ahead. Overall, he said the students did a fabulous job.

“It’s a great bunch of students,” Landsteiner said. “They have curious minds, and I think they’re doing a good job learning. They wanted to be here, and they’re here. Their particular schools decided to delay school two hours, and what? What could they do? Anyway, it’s a success.”