By Jim Magdefrau

VINTON – Salary recommendations for Benton County’s elected officials were given by the Benton County Compensation Board in a brief meeting held Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, at the Benton County Service Center, Vinton.

Mark Zahradnik of the compensation board read a statement at the start of the meeting. “If I offend somebody, I really don’t care. Because last year it turned into something that I wasn’t real pleased with what I saw.”

Zahradnik came onto the board to replace his wife, Jennifer Zahradnik, who resigned. He represents the supervisors on this board.

He said that his wife Jennifer last year put forth a common sense compensation plan that was agreed to by everyone. 

He continued, “One state employee was not happy with the results and threw a tantrum. Jennifer resigned from the board and the first results were then thrown out. A second meeting was called where every one decided to abandon the person they represented and join the complainer in asking for 8 percent raises across the board. That being said, if the advocates are going to follow the highest percentage, then I say we lock all of the employees together, vote once and be done. Let the supervisors decide where it falls. I don’t need to sit here and listen to everybody’s bios if it isn’t going to matter.”

He added that the board president said that compensation had nothing to do with performance. An 8 percent inflation rate was used to determine the rate last year. He further said, “This year inflation is 3 percent, therefore we used that across the board and be done with it.”

The supervisors approved an increase of 7 percent in January for this year’s budget, after the compensation board recommended 8.3 percent.

Compensation board members agreed with the increase of 3 percent across the board, with no one opposed. The recommendation goes to the Benton County Board of Supervisors.

John Yundt was chosen as board chairman. Mike Barnes was named vice chair. The secretary is Melinda Schoettmer, Benton County Treasurer.