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decision of the watershed district board. The court said its determination should be made after <br />considering some relevant factors: "(1) The nature of the decision being made; (2) the nature of the <br />pecuniary interest; (3) the number of officials making the decision who are interested; (4) the need, <br />if any, to have interested persons make the decision; and (5) the other means available, if any, such <br />as the opportunity for review, that serve to insure that the officials will not act arbitrarily to further <br />their selfish interests." Lenz v. Coon Creek Watershed District, 278 Minn. 1, 153 N.W.2d 209, 219 <br />(1967). The court's analysis of the relevant factors showed there was no justification for a per se rule <br />disqualifying the county officials from acting. However, the court noted that its decision not to <br />establish a per se disqualification rule did "not bar a consideration of the interest of such officials as <br />a relevant factor in determining whether their actions were arbitrary, nor a determination that certain <br />proceedings are void because they acted pursuant to this interest? Lenz, 278 Minn. 1, 153 N.W.2d at <br />220 (emphasis added). <br />45. "Any individual who signs and certifies to be true a [conflict of interest] report or statement <br />knowing it contains false information or who knowingly omits required information is guilty of a gross <br />misdemeanor." Minn. Stat. § 10A.10 (1990). Cf. City of Minneapolis v. Canterbury, 122 Minn. 301, <br />142 N.W. 812 (1913) (the city fire department chief who participated as a member of a subcommittee <br />responsible for reviewing and recommending property sites suitable for city acquisition was required <br />to pay the city excess profits derived from a city purchase in which the fire chief had an indirect <br />financial interest). <br />46. Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 471 prohibits "public officers" from having certain financial <br />interests in public contracts and prescribes penalties for violations of the statute. <br />Minn. Stat. § 471.87 (1990). <br />Except as [otherwise authorized by statute], a public officer <br />who is authorized to take part in any manner in making any sale, <br />lease, or contract in official capacity shall not voluntarily have a <br />personal financial interest in that sale, lease, or contract or personally <br />benefit financially therefrom. Every public officer who violates this <br />provision is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. <br />47. Minnesota Statutes, section 471.87 does not expressly identify Council members, Council <br />advisory committee members, or Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission members as "public <br />officers." However, the section has been interpreted broadly to include all public officers. See, e.g., <br />Op. Att'y Gen. No. 90 -A (Dec. 26, 1956) (village funds could not be deposited in a bank whose <br />officers included the appointed village treasurer; section 471.87 "appl[ies] to all public officials and <br />not merely to elected officials "); Op. Att'y Gen. No. 90 -A (Aug. 14, 1957) (section 471.87 applied to <br />a contract proposed by a member of a municipal hospital board); Op. Att'y Gen. No. 416 -B (June <br />30, 1954) (the state department of administration was permitted to lease state property but the <br />conflict provisions of section 471.87 were to be considered). <br />48. See Minn. Stat. § 473.122 (1990). <br />