Elected county officials to get a 3 percent raise

Published 12:00 am Friday, December 28, 2001

The county board adopted a 2002 salary increase for elected officials and commissioners.

Friday, December 28, 2001

The county board adopted a 2002 salary increase for elected officials and commissioners.

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The resolution, endorsed by four commissioners, will increase the salaries by three percent. Commissioner Dan Belshan did not agree with the motion. The resolution also includes an option for the elected officials to add a deferred account matching up to $1,300.

Sheriff Don Nolander’s salary will increase by $2,100 from a current $69,964.51.

Nolander, being in the position for 19 years, explained to the board that his salary is moderate compared with a counterpart in Mower County who currently receives $75,579.

County Attorney Craig Nelson will get a $2,038 increase from $67,926.74. Being an incumbent for 10 years, he claimed only a few county attorneys in similar-sized counties are paid less than $68,000.

Auditor/Treasurer Dennis Distad’s salary will be raised by $1,867 from a current $62,239.54. He is also paid $8,792.16 for concurrent duties as an assessor. But the board did not agree to increase this portion of his pay.

Recorder Kelly Callahan’s current salary of $33,825 is the seventh-lowest in the state because he took office to replace a predecessor who resigned before finishing her term. The board approved an increase of $1,000 for a cost-of-living adjustment and added $2,000 for a one-time equity adjustment.

Belshan proposed to freeze the salary for the commissioners, but his motion failed to be seconded by the rest of the board members.

An approved $580 increase from $19,333.71 reflects the three percent increment principle for the elected officials.