Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee
Houston County Commissioners thanked fellow Commissioner Teresa Walter for her 25 years of service and dedication to the county, at the December 27 commission meeting.
At the last commission meeting of each year, commissioners recognize employees for their years of service to the county. Carolyn J. Olson was presented with a certificate for 40 years, and 30-year awards were presented to Mary A. Zaffke, Sharen K. Lapham, and Cynthia E. Melbostad. Matthew Q. Papenfuss, Nancy A. Welsh, and Mary B. Betz each received 20-year certificates; Janet A. Becker was recognized for 15 years, and 10-year awards were presented to Jason B. Quandahl, Nathan P. Smith, Jacquelyn M Snodgrass, Tammy M. Petersen, Heather A. Berger, Heidi L. Harms, and Lisa K. Arneson.
All commissioners attended the meeting; Chairman Myhre, Teresa Walter (virtually), Robert (Bob) Burns, Eric Johnson, and Dewey Severson.
The board unanimously approved the December 27 agenda, the minutes from the December 19 special meeting, and the December 20 regularly scheduled meeting.
The last time the commissioners received a raise was in 2014. Their salary over the past nine years has been $19,016.34. The commissioners approved 3-2, with Burns and Severson voting no, to set the 2023 Board of Commissioners annual salary at $19,586.83, a 3% increase. Johnson explained, “We are talking $500. It’s been since 2014. We need to think about the future of the people who want to run for this office. If we don’t keep ahead a little bit here, who’s going to want to do it? I’m fine with it the way it is. I’m just thinking down the road. It’s only 3%. We do a lot of work. We don’t have an administrator.”
Resolution No. 22-62 and No. 22-63 to maintain the shoulder along CSAH 21 were approved, as were the Agreement for Sponsoring Agency of Paved Shoulders along CSAH 21 and Resolution No. 22-63 Agreement to Maintain Shoulders along CSAH 21.
County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski will move forward with the west courthouse parking lot project. Pogodzinski noted that documents are almost complete and ready for the next step, going out for bid.
In other end-of-year business, the board:
• Accepted the recommendation to approve the 2023 recorder’s annual salary at $76,273.60 and the sheriff’s annual salary at $113,042.50;
• Approved a $13,132,459.00 tax levy for 2023. An increase of 2%;
• Adopted the 2023 operating budget with a deficit of $208,991.00;
• Approved the final transfer of $110,644.72 from the highway fund to the capital projects fund;
• Identified the major funds for 2023 as general, road & bridge, and human services, with debt service identified as a minor fund;
• Approved the 2022 budget amendments to the general fund, road & bridge fund, recorder’s technical equipment fund, and compliance fund.
After the commissioners’ reports, Walter made her last motion as commissioner to adjourn the December 27 Houston County Commission meeting at 9:47 a.m.
The next regularly scheduled Houston County Commission meeting is Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 9 a.m. in the County Commission Board Room 222, located on the second floor in the historic county courthouse, Caledonia, or via the county conference call line (312) 626-6700 enter ID: 994-7297-7175 and password 368422. Public attendees are requested to mute their line until addressed.
Leave a Reply