11:50 a.m. - Who's left minding the store? This might be the questions most North Dakotans are asking early next week as county officials gather in Bismarck for the annual North Dakota Association of Counties conference and expo.

The conference kicks off Sunday evening and runs through Tuesday.

For the past four years the conference has been held in Bismarck at the Ramkota and the state's 53 counties have been well represented, with attendance ranging between 400 to 500. You'll find county commissioners, auditors, engineers, treasurers, just about every department represented.

"It's action packed. There is something for everybody," says Claus Lembke, Burleigh County commissioner and past president of the Association of County Commissioners, which meets concurrently. "There are workshops for auditors, clerks, highway superintendents, recorders - every office has its own separate discussions."

Lembke says the get together is important. "From what I've learned there are always counties that have confronted issues your county is dealing with and solved them. You learn from them. It's also a chance to contribute to issues other counties are dealing with," he says.

The conference looks at a number of the issues important to counties, according to NDACo director Mark Johnson.

"Those issues that either have state legislative implications or federal responses," Johnson says. "For example, we'll be taking up eminent domain, which has been a hot issue lately."

Since roads and highways are high on the list of county responsibilities, North Dakota Department of Transportation Director Dave Sprynczynatyk will be the keynote speaker at Monday's luncheon. On Tuesday, Gov. John Hoeven takes center stage at noon. Johnson adds that Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., are expected to address the group.

Another important topic, according to Johnson, will be addressed in a workshop on open meetings and open records.

"This is an important issue with commissions," Johnson says. "Inadvertently, every year, we'll find two or three counties in violation of these laws. It's easy to step over the line without meaning to, and commissioners want to know the law."

The conference attracts a long list of vendors, Johnson says. It's popular among engineering firms and construction machinery companies.

The conference was first established in 1917, according to Johnson. The NDACo organized in 1974 and held its first conference in 1975.

Lembke says he's particularly interested in one meeting that's been called by Emmons County. Emmons has invited all the counties along the Missouri River to discuss having the Army Corps of Engineers return properties that it holds jurisdiction over but isn't using to the counties.

"The counties want ownership," Lembke says. "Why should the corps keep it if it doesn't need it. So we're going to push the corps to give it back."

The conference concludes with a formal banquet starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, with the Excellence in County Government Award being presented.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.com)