Houston County Commissioners approved a 3% increase for themselves with meeting stipends staying the same at the December 19 regularly scheduled commission meeting. The vote was two to three in favor of increasing their annual compensation. Finance Officer Carol Lapham confirmed that a 3% increase is included in the 2024 budget.
Commissioners Eric Johnson and Greg Myhre both wondered out loud who will take their jobs when their terms expire if they don’t receive an increase.
Houston County Commissioner Chairman Dewey Severson called the meeting of the Houston County Commission to order at 9 a.m., and led his fellow colleagues and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
All board members were present: Chairman Dewey Severson, Eric Johnson, Bob Burns, Bob Schuldt and Greg Myhre.
Commissioners unanimously approved the amended meeting agenda and the minutes from the December 12 board meeting as written.
Two items, number three and four, from the consent agenda were moved to action items, number eight and nine, before the board unanimously approved the consent agenda as amended. The revised consent agenda included routine business items: Re-appoint Bonnie Giesler to the County Extension Committee. Her term will run from January 1, 2024, through December 3, 2026; Hire Jenna Nelson as a full-time deputy auditor/treasurer, effective January 2, 2024; Nicole Lemke’s start date as child support officer is January 3, 2024, instead of January 2, 2024; Initiate a competitive search for a full-time deputy recorder; Change the employment status of Deputy Sheriff, Calvin Nagle, from probationary to regular, effective January 3, 2024.
County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski explained that the county received one bid from Nick Hoscheit at $205 per acre, for a total of $1,166.45 annually to lease the cropland surround the new taxi lanes at the Houston County airport. Pogodzinski recommended entering into a two-year lease with Hoscheit, which was unanimously approved by the board.
Motion by Commissioner Burns and seconded by Commissioner Myhre to use ARPA funds to purchase three used vehicles for Public Health and Human Services with the stipulation that each vehicle comes with a 30-day warranty. Two Chevy Equinoxes will be purchased from Sleepy Hollow in Caledonia and a Dodge Journey will be purchased from Tri-State Auto in Hokah. All three vehicles are hatchbacks and all-wheel drive. Motion carried.
County Attorney Jandt’s 2024 annual salary was set at $132,641.60, which is a 6.5% increase as compared to the 10% increased asked for by Jandt. Lapham confirmed that a 3% increase is budgeted for, with Commissioner Johnson stressing that a 6.5% increase is “going to add to our budget deficit.”
Houston County Sheriff Brian Swedberg appeared before the board to ask for a salary increase of 7.4%, which would bring his salary from $116,433.78 to $125,000 for 2024. Commissioners approved a 6.5% increase to the sheriff’s salary.
After a lengthy discussion, Commissioner Burns made a motion to deny the recommendation from Personnel Director Tess Kruger and Houston County Engineer Brian Pogodzinski to hire Eric Boldt as a full-time highway maintenance specialist at a step six. Kruger informed the board, “We will go back to the candidate.”
In other business, the board:
• Approved the extension to the current Southeast Regional Crisis Center Governance agreement.
• Approved the recommendation from Human Resources to hire Lori Ollendieck as a 0.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) Environmental Services Clerk as of January 2, 2024.
• Approved the 2023 budget amendments.
• Adjourned the meeting at 11:10 a.m.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Houston County Commission is Tuesday, December 26, 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.
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