Dave Tollefson will be sworn in as the new chairman of the Mower County Board of Commissioners Tuesday.

Tollefson, 5th District county commissioner, will take over the chairman’s duties from Richard P. Cummings, whose term ended Dec. 31.

Cummings, the “dean” of county commissioners with eight four-year terms, did not seek re-election.

Tollefson was elected 5th District county commissioner in 2006, when he upset incumbent Garry Ellingson for the seat on the county board.

Also Tuesday, all other elected county officials will be sworn in to their offices.

The latter includes Tim Gabrielson, who defeated Dan Vermilyea in the November 2008 election for the 1st District seat on the county board.

Tollefson’s first official actions will be to select a vice chairman of the county board and to make committee assignments to the five commissioners.

There are other annual meeting formalities for the commissioners to decide.

General revenue fund appropriations must be made, delegates to the Association of Minnesota Counties named and liquor license fees set for 2009.

The list of annual meeting formalities also includes authorizing Mower County Auditor/Treasurer Doug Groh to pay incidental expenses and setting dangerous dog certificate and fireworks display permits fees.

The commissioners must also appoint the county’s legal publisher for 2009.

In addition, the commissioners will set the mileage reimbursement fee for the new year, establish burning permit fees and set the tobacco license fee.

One year-beginning formality has taken on larger significance in recent years: Setting the date for the annual Mower County Board of Equalization meeting.

The meeting is the only opportunity property owners have to attend and appeal valuations and taxes.

Mower County veterans service clubs are waiting to learn if the commissioners will appropriate monies for their units to render honors to American’s veterans on Memorial Day.

The building committee is expected to make recommendations on accepting quotes for the removal of asbestos in the Robbins Furniture and Design Gallery building and to set a date for the demolition of the Robbins building to make way for a new geothermal well field and parking lot.

The meeting begins at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the commissioners’ meeting room in the lower level of the Mower County government center and courthouse in downtown Austin.