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County employees will get pay increase
Adjustment for officials, nonunion workers will start in 2009
Published Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Despite vote after vote from one commissioner for the opposite, a majority of the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday for salary adjustments in 2009 for the county’s elected officials and nonunion employees.
This means, Freeborn County Attorney Craig Nelson will see an increase in salary from $90,000 in 2008 to $92,500 in 2009; Freeborn County Recorder Kelly Callahan will see an increase in salary from $50,500 to $54,000; Freeborn County Auditor-Treasurer Dennis Distad will see an increase from $75,500 to $77,500; and Freeborn County Sheriff Mark Harig will see an increase from $80,000 to $82,500.
Dennis Distad
Nonunion employees will see a 2.5 percent salary adjustment.
The only 2009 salaries the board voted not to increase were their own. This vote was unanimous.
“We’re in a recession, headed for a depression,” District 2 Commissioner Dan Belshan said, as the board began to go through each position, one by one. “With projected county budget shortfalls it is our job to make the hard decisions to be fiscally responsible. We can’t keep raising taxes to fund spending beyond our means in order to increase wages; therefore, I propose a freeze on salaries and hiring.”
As each elected position came to the board, Belshan voted against an increase, while commissioners Mark Behrends, Jim Nelson and Christopher Shoff voted in favor of one. The same was true for the salary adjustments for nonunion employees.
First District Commissioner Glen Mathiason was not in attendance.
Freeborn County elected official salaries
2008 2009
Attorney $90,00 $92,500
Recorder $50,500 $54,000
Auditor-Treasurer $75,500 $77,500
Sheriff $80,000 $82,500
Commissioners $22,450 $22,450
Belshan asked about giving a fixed amount for all the nonunion employees, if anything, instead of a percent increase.
Freeborn County Administrator John Kluever said to do something like this would require more advance notice.
Craig Nelson
The commissioners also voted 3-1 to increase the hourly pay rate of the county ditch inspector from $18 an hour to $20.
Belshan pointed out that this position had gone from $16 to $18 in 2008, and now it was going up another $2 an hour. That equals a 25 percent increase in that salary during the last two years, he said.
That is an improper increase, and it should have been more gradual, he said.
The board also voted 3-1 to accept an agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees for a 2.5 percent increase for the employees under this union.
The votes came after several months of talks about the county budget and salaries. In earlier workshops, similar views were expressed.
Mark Harig
The 2009 budget will be voted on at the next board meeting.
In other action, the commissioners:
Unanimously approved the 2009 drainage system assessments.
Unanimously approved a grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Health related to childhood immunization.
Specifically, the grant is between the state Department of Health and the Freeborn County Public Health for the perinatal Hepatitis B and immunization practices improvement initiatives for Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2009.
This agreement is the same as previous agreements with the state Department of Health regarding these initiatives.
Voted 3-1 to re-appoint Lindsey C. Thomas M.D. as the county’s medical examiner from Jan. 1, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2010.
In an earlier motion, Belshan asked to table the item until Dec. 16 so that another letter could be sent out to the local community to see if a local doctor wanted to contract for the position.
Heard a presentation by Albert Lea Senior Center Director Paula Juveland.
Kelly Callahan
Juveland asked the commissioners for help in light of the fact that funds have been cut to them from the city of Albert Lea.
Commissioners tabled voting on the matter.
Comments
Posted by mrthunder (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wow time to vote them out
Posted by chip (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 2:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
o gosh
Posted by wingo (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where is our RAISES???????????????????????????
Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Glad atleast one of them is stepping down.
Posted by taxpayer (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
$20 BUCKS AN HOUR TO INSPECT DITCHES!!! WHERE DO I SIGN UP?????
Posted by badjuju (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
$2.500 raise for Craig Nelson, well the people of Freeborn county get screwed again. Sounds like only one county commissioner has the guts to say no.
Posted by outoftowner (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 5:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They should take that discretionary money they want to give to the Pelican Breeze, museum, YMCA, etc., and pay for this.
Posted by SRO (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 11:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sure, why not give Nelson a raise, since he has brought so much negative attention to Albert Lea and this paper! He should be ashamed, now we have more sickos adding nasty comments on Good Sam case. IMO he needs to resign and find a new career!
Posted by SRO (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 11:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know it wasn't just Nelson who brought this negative attention to Albert Lea, but his comments sure haven't helped any...
Posted by taxpayer (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This makes absolutely NO sense to me whatsoever. The economy is in turmoil and these mansion living, esclade driving cry babies have the audacity to ask for a raise while there are people in the very community that they are PAID to serve literally starving and freezing to death!! I hope you all can sleep easy on your down filled pillows at night knowing that there are people out there sleeping under bridges because of you all.
Posted by Truth (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Time to vote these guys out. They are elected officals so we can vote them out. I think most people will forget about this in 2 years. Funny they did not do this before the last election.
Posted by shiplady (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How many of you have or know of someone that has lost their jobs or hours have been cut because of the economy? I know of a man that his hours were cut 10 hours per week. And they think they should get a raise. How many of you will be getting a raise?
Posted by wingo (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They seem to forget it's our taxes that pay their salaries and what do we get in return? NOTHING!!!!! Those that have get and the others, who cares according to them. I wonder how many families will go hungry in the coming months??? Maybe if they could see and live how some of the less fortunate have to live they would see the light. DOUBT IT!!!!!!!
Posted by NoDFL (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And we wonder why 41 states now have their hands out. It shows a huge disconnect by our government. We have all forgot that it is not their money it is ours. I don't know how many of you who have written about tax the rich, spread the wealth. This is what you get. Big government, higher taxes and the people who pay the bills are forgot about. If this is the change everyone talked about than I am very sad. When will I get my rasie? My bailout? Time for real cuts and freezes. Sorry but they could live without that extra. If it was so bad get a real job like the rest of us.
One small point did you notice how fast this gets moved from the main stories? Makes you think that we are a bunch of mushrooms. Keep us in the dark and feed us BS and we are happy.
Posted by shedaisy (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My property taxes is estimated to go up by 34% next year. Wonder if I'm paying for these raises.
Posted by outoftownlandlord (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is it only the people who have to live within their means? Why is it that elected officals find it so easy to spend other people's money? Why is it that the county does not have to produce anything or keep their customers happy. hummmmmm
I know it is because they have the power to take without any recourse for those who they take from. All tax increases city, county, state, and federal should be voted on. We should be allow to tell them no more money till you fix this. But remember the golden rule: He who has the gold makes the rules.......
The more things change the more they stay the same.
Posted by observer (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Dan for sticking up for what the constiuants want. My hats off to you, you are a man among boys and girls!!!
Posted by CFIKAR (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I for one think those raises are perfectly well deserved. They all do a great job, and deserve to be paid the wage that their dedication, education, and professional expertise warrant.
Thanks to all the hard working, often critisized, county employees and commissioners who do their best every day to make Albert Lea and Freeborn County a great place to live!
Posted by taxpayer (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CFIKAR.....blah blah blah
Posted by wingo (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CFIKAR,
You must have never had any dealings with Nelson, my family has. He said the same thing about the harasse to our family, he doesn't do his job!!!!! Believe me our family never voted for him and never will. He shouldn't even have this job as far as we are concerned.
Posted by Truth (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 6:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CFIKAR,
Which one of these guys are you? The sheriff? You must make a lot not to think this is a joke.
Posted by brokewhitegirl (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 11:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When I think about all of the money we all pay in taxes, I always wonder where it goes? Not to jobs, thats for sure, not to improve our roads, they all suck, not to nice, affordable housing, this whole town is turning into a slum, not into building new businesses, because they deny every company that wants to come here, (i.e. Cabellas, among others). Makes you wonder what they do all day AT WORK, and what they put our money towards.
Posted by allake (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 12:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Outoftownlandlord, here's an idea for you. Run for office. Easy to carp about stuff...do something.
Posted by outoftownlandlord (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Can't run don't live there just own property and pay taxes so because I do pay my bills I have a right to say these guys are crooks. Why do you stick up for them must be one of them.
Posted by wingo (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Do you really think Nelson deserved that raise??????????
NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Posted by demo1960 (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Raises may be deserved but not when there is a shortage of funds that the county has to depend on. How stupid do you have to be not to get that very simple math equation? Just a few months ago the commissioners declared a shortfall of funds to run county business. Thus, where is the money coming from for raises. Do you realize how many tax payers have consistently have had their property taxes increase while values decrease? Now the county wants all rural septic tank systems be brought up to more strigent codes than the State of MN currently maitains ( at a pretty big cost to the property owner). How many of our friends and neighbors have been laid off or had work hours cut and are collecting unemployement and have no affordable health care? These are the very people who pay for these wage increases. How absolutely ignorant are our county commissioners? Shame on all of you and shame on those, especially our esteemed sheriff and county attorney for even taking the increase. Neither one of you has proven that you are even worthy and I am sure I am not the only one with that opinion in Freeborn County. Pretty soon someone with a bit more money than I have will hire a lawyer and bring some of these cockamamie ideas under inspection. We need to have an election to fill Roger Bok's unofficial position as watchdog. Let's all remember this at election time. We need to start with a brand new slate.
Posted by Truth (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
demo1960,
That was great and well said. I had not heard about the septic but just goes to show you how fast we all are losing our basic rights to private property. It is time for these guys who think they rule over us to get a clue. We need them to wake up and give the power back to the people.
Posted by MNNURSE (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 6:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sorry Truth- but I'm afaid the loss of basic rights is just beginning.
Posted by brokewhitegirl (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 8:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All I have to say is I agree with the last 3 comments.
Posted by hipocryt (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 8:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where is the reall outrage?
Where were you people at the meeting?
There was a notice in the paper last week.
You should start a Recall petition to recall these 3-bums and send them packing.
Start with new officials that will CUT the FAT. Where is all this money going to come from?
Farm land Values will start dropping this year and when all these Farmers come to have thei values dropped the County will be in one BIG HURTING MESS.
The State just announce a 5.2 Billion Dollar Deficet. There will not be any State Funds (LGA) be passed out and you'll see many other programs CUT.
Start with the FAT CAT at the top 'Freeborn County Administrator John Kluever'.
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