By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

County collections is an ongoing process that includes recouping money related to public assistance, long-term care medical assistance and other cases related to various county-assessed fees such as jail and detox. 

Otter Tail County employees, in 2025, recovered $1.78 million. A year earlier, in 2024, a total of $970,012 was recouped and in 2023 the total dollars recovered amounted to $807,622. “This included fraud and over payments due to human error,” said County Attorney Michelle Eldien to county commissioners on March 10.

County commissioners, in late 2025, expressed thanks to county department heads and employees who have adhered to fraud prevention efforts for many years. This is a hot topic right now in light of fraud charges in the state of Minnesota.

“We in Otter Tail County have processes in keeping fraud in check,” Eldien said. “These include staff training, prevention protocols, referrals to the county attorney’s office, criminal charges and financial recoupment.”

County employees follow up when something seems strange or out of place. “Most of the people we work with have no desire to commit fraud, and oftentimes we catch human errors when mistakes take place,” said County Human Services Director Deb Sjostrom.  

But when there is blatant fraud, the county gets right to work in holding people accountable.

“County employee training is key to recognizing what could possibly result in fraud,” said County Attorney Eldien. “We work closely with our fraud investigator and our fraud and collections specialist.”

Eldien, as county attorney, is working with state Sen. Jordan Rasmusson of Fergus Falls on how to streamline dollars that come from the state to county government. Making good and ethical use of public resources is the bottom line.