Court officials are considering a study of public administrators who act as guardians for needy people.

The state court administrative council, which includes seven presiding judges, recommended the study at a meeting Friday, said Sally Holewa, the state court administrator. The recommendation goes to Chief Supreme Court Justice Gerald VandeWalle, she said.

The administrator jobs are county responsibilities but the court can assess the statewide impact, Holewa said. North Dakota's growing elderly population is drawing more attention to the issue, she said.

"In general, it's an issue the courts have been concerned with for a long time," she said. "The legislation itself is not particularly clear as to who pays and how much."

The recommendation follows questions raised by Ward County commissioners about the public administrator job after the administrator in that county asked for a pay raise.

Mark Westereng, who was paid $400 per month, said his workload had increased dramatically over the past four years. County board members at first refused a pay increase and asked whether the job should be the county's responsibility.

Northwest District Judge William McLees then made Ward County Social Services Director Dan Richter temporarily responsible for the administrator's duties, a move that alarmed Richter because of the new demands on his staff.

The county commissioners met Thursday with McLees, who told them the county is responsible for its most vulnerable citizens.

"I'm not here to negotiate," McLees said. "I issued an order and I intend to stand by it."

The judge said the public administrator is "the person of last resort" for needy people. Although the state may be better suited to handle such jobs, the law puts that responsibility on the counties, he said.

"It likely calls for a legislative solution," the judge said.

Ward County State's Attorney John Van Grinsven III told commissioners they could be held in contempt of court or face prosecution if they ignored the judge's order.

County commissioners offered Westereng a four-year contract with a salary review after one year, at $950 per month. Westereng asked for $1,000 per month, saying he would have to hire some help. The board approved his proposal on a 3-1 vote.

Commissioner John Fjeldahl, who voted no, said some people who got help from Westereng are not residents of Ward County, placing an unfair burden on county taxpayers. Westereng said such cases might involve people hospitalized in Minot.

"That would be another important point of a legislative solution," he said.