Nicollet

County

Board settles

for smaller

pay increase

Raise goes

from $17,800 to $21,500; down from $25,000

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

ST. PETER -- After lively public comments and discussion Tuesday, Nicollet County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to give themselves smaller-than-expected pay raises next year.

A 2005 non-union employee pay package resolution would have boosted commissioners base salaries from $17,776.93 to $25,000, with an additional $2,000 annually for the board chairperson, compared to a current $1,000 annual raise.

Commissioner Jack Kolars' amended resolution boosted commissioners' annual base pay to $21,500 with 3 percent annual COLA adjustments over 11 years. The board chair would get another $1,500 per year. Daily per diem rates will climb 33 per diem, as originally set, from $45 to $60.

The $20,000 and change saved by raising base salaries less than originally budgeted will be placed in the county general contingency fund.

Earlier in the meeting, an motion to reduce annual commissioner base salaries to $21,000 and give the chairperson a $1,200 raise failed by a 3-2 vote. Commissioners Judy Hanson and and James Stenson voted "yes" and Kolars, David Dehen and Paul Engel voted against the resolution.

"Nobody thinks elected officials should get a pay raise," Kolars said before the vote. He originated the raise to $25,000 per year and said he was proud of it.

Kolars thanked county residents Terry Genelin and Claude Seigler for their comments on the 2005 non-union salary package.

Siegler said he didn't think commissioners should raise their base pay to $25,000.

"It seems people are always looking for more committees to be on. Stay home and take care of business," Siegler said.

Genelin called the 26 per cent base pay hike "egregious."

Commissioners countered that the pay raise was warranted because their wages had not risen much over the previous 11 years.

Nicollet County Board Chairman David Dehen opened the discussion by saying he felt commissioners were underpaid compared to neighboring counties and deserved raises.

"We all paid our dues to run for the position," Dehen said. "Our salaries are so out of whack with areas around us, regardless of what the media has printed. You want competent, honest people handling money, not graft and corruption."

Dehen said being a county commissioner is a full-time job that requires attendance at many sub-committee meetings dealing with "real" issues.

(Fritz Busch can be reached at fbusch@nujournal.com).