Mower County is one step closer to being able to appoint the county recorder position.

A Minnesota House of Representatives committee passed a bill to allow the Mower County Board of Commissioners to make the county recorder position an appointed role rather than elected job.

Mower County Coordinator Craig Oscarson described this as an important first step.

“There’s several hurdles,” Oscarson said. “It passed the first hurdle in the subcommittee.”

The bill is expected to go to another committee Wednesday. If it is approved, the bill could go to the house floor or it could be attached to another bill.

Rep. Jeanne Poppe submitted the bill on the county’s behalf. Oscarson spoke in support of the bill on Monday and planned to attend a committee hearing Wednesday.

State Sen. Dan Sparks also submitted the bill on the county’s behalf to the senate, but the bill hasn’t been discussed by a senate committee.