Joyce Sizer wants the Mower County Board of Commissioners to hire another prosecutor.

Sizer also wants the county to hire another staff person to address victims' issues.

"The public deserves no less," Sizer said.

The long-time victim's advocate made her feelings known at Tuesday's county board meeting.

Sizer, a veteran conservator and guardian ad litem, made her request in writing to the county commissioners.

Mower County Attorney Patrick A. Oman, who is on vacation, was not immediately available for comment.

Sizer noted, "The general opinion is that our law enforcement people do a very fine job. Then, on to the County Attorney's office.

"It is there that criminal activity must be fully and thoroughly addressed with the appropriate number of attorneys and office staff."

Sizer said the Mower County Attorney's caseload has increased by 105 percent since 1997

"Does this increase not qualify for additional staff?" Sizer asked.

Earlier this year, the city of Austin assigned the prosecution of its criminal cases to the Austin law firm of Baudler, Baudler, Maus & Blahnik.

This came after the Mower County Attorney's office was able to convince the county board they did not have enough personnel to successfully keep up with the growing caseload of the city.

Currently, Oman has three prosecutors assisting him, plus two support staff.

The county board confirmed Tuesday, the state ombudsman has issued a report to Mower County concerning the handling of criminal cases.

The report, which contains victims' personal complaints, has not been made pubic.

Three years ago, local law enforcement, including the Mower County Sheriff's Department and Austin Police Department, as well as Minnesota State Patrol and other agencies, took their complaints about the alleged lack of aggressive prosecution of criminal cases to Oman and then-assistant county attorney Glen Jacobsen.

The complaints were apparently resolved by the two groups.

Jacobsen resigned from his job and was replaced by Patrick Flanagan.

On Tuesday, the commissioners acknowledged the history of dissatisfaction with the local criminal justice system.

Len Miller, 4th District, and Garry E. Ellingson, 5th District, said the Mower County Attorney's caseload continues to increase with felony and gross misdemeanor cases. He said the decision to relieve the office's caseload by allowing the city's cases to be handled by a private law firm had not impacted on the county attorney's office.

"We've had some homicide cases and others that take a lot of time to prosecute with continuances and all," added Ellingson.

Sizer's letter was taken under advisement by the county commissioners.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com