By Jim Magdefrau
VINTON – Pay increases for elected and other county officials for next fiscal year were approved by the Benton County Board of Supervisors at their meeting Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the Benton County Service Center, Vinton.
For elected officials, the board went with the 3 percent increase recommended by the Benton County Compensation Board. The supervisors declined a pay increase for next year for themselves, as well as the $5,000 stipend that used to go to the supervisors’ chairman.
Supervisor Tracy Seeman opened discussion on this by saying he was looking at less than 3 percent, but others are getting more than 3 percent, such as the unions that represent secondary roads and the sheriff’s department. So he was leaning towards the compensation board’s recommendation.
Supervisor Chairman Richard Primmer observed, “It would be very nice if everyone was on the same page, so to speak.” He said one department has fluctuated everywhere from 3 to 11 percent for their employees. He added that both unions are at 4 percent. Three percent almost seems like a bargain, Primmer said. “I’ll probably get chastised for saying that it’s a bargain, but you know, what the heck? It seems like if I show up I get chastised.”
Supervisor Gary Bierschenk also said he’d stay with the recommendation. It could come back to bite them if they went with 2 or 2.5 percent. “We’re not going to keep everybody here happy anyway, especially if we start cutting stuff.”
Primmer said the cost of living was up about 10 percent two years ago, and about 7 percent last year. This year it is around 3 percent. “At least we’d be staying with the cost of living,” Primmer said. “And that’s not all bad.”
“I think this is a good place to work for the most part,” Bierschenk said. He pointed out the county attorney’s office is having hard time finding anybody.
Primmer replied it is that way in many offices. He stressed he is an advocate for treating everybody fair and equally.
This was approved unanimously.
All the rest
The board then acted on salaries for non-union, non-elected, non-commissioned and non-contracted employees. Most will get an increase of 3.5 percent. Others were singled out for higher pay increases, as requested by respective department heads.
The attorney’s office would use money from the collections department incentive funds to supplement raises in the department. The transportation director requested to have his increase go to his assistant. A higher increase of 4 percent was also approved for Deb Cummings, office manager of secondary roads, since this is what secondary roads union employees are getting.
The motion read: To approve a 3 1/2 % increase to all non-elected, non-commissioned, non-contracted employees with noting that the following individuals have a different rate:
Deb Cummings, office manager, secondary roads – 6%
Jessica Meyer – 6%, noting that the director of transportation will not take any increase
Myron Parizek, engineer – 4%
Randy Sherwood, Secondary roads maintenance superintendent- 4%
Karen Uthoff, civil office manager at the sheriff’s office – 4%
Deb Fleming, collections office – 3% original with $5,000 out of the Attorney’s Collection Fund
Lori Siela – 3% with an additional 3% to come out of the Attorney’s Collection Fund
Kelsey Robbins – 3% with an additional 3% to come out of the Attorney’s Collection Fund
Allaina Casali – 3% with an additional $2,120 to come out of the Attorney’s Collection Fund
Angie Becker – 3% with an additional 3% to come out of the Attorney’s Collection Fund
Joyce Bane – 3% with an additional 3% to come out of the Attorney’s Collection Fund
All three board members voting aye thereon. Motion carried.
Other business
The supervisors went with the low bid for a new truck in secondary roads. A Detroit from Truck Center was approved for $152,915.
Election officials’ pay was set by the supervisors, as recommended by Auditor Hayley Rippel. They approved $375 to precinct chairman and $250 for all other election workers, along with the $25 training rate and mileage at the current federal rate effective July 1, 2024.
Human Resources Sue Wilber and Rippel discussed where original documents are supposed to go from supervisors’ meetings. Rippel said that according to open records law, the hard copy original resolutions and contracts with signatures are to go to the auditor’s office, instead of the copies.
Seeman reported a problem with a load-bearing wall and floor at the sheriff’s office and emergency management agency. He said the floor in one of the rooms is sinking.
Rippel explained the impact of legislation on the budget.
The board approved having Elana Janss, medical examiner investigator, attend a conference in St. Louis.
Jim Magdefrau 