Supervisors approve five percent wage hikes for elected officials

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

Henry County elected officials will have quite a few more coins in their pockets beginning July 1.

That?s because county supervisors at their regular meeting Thursday, accepted the compensation board?s recommendation of five percent salary increases for the eight elected officials.

Salaries for county-elected officials for fiscal year 2017 (July 1, 2016-June 30, 2017) will be as follows: auditor, recorder and treasurer, $57,097; attorney, $91,278; sheriff, $75,410; and supervisors, $33,599.

?Our budget went together pretty well and we had a good (budget) carry-over,? remarked Supervisor Chairman Gary See after the board unanimously passed the resolution accepting the recommendation.

During Thursday?s meeting, it was pointed out, the county ranks 35th among the state?s 99 counties in population. Elected officials salaries, though, do not correspond with that ranking.

Henry County?s supervisors? compensation ranks 39th; the county attorney is 43rd; county auditor 49th; county recorder 46th; county sheriff 41st; and county treasurer 48th. The salary comparison is based on fiscal 2016 salaries.

?When we looked at the state rankings, we thought the (county) officials had to receive additional compensation,? Supervisor Marc Lindeen said. ?We had to bring elected officials more in line with the state averages in consideration of the amount of work they do,? agreed Supervisor Greg Moeller.

Other county employees, supervisors said, will receive a two percent salary increase in fiscal 2017. That salary increase does not affect workers covered by a union contract.

Members of the Henry County Historic Preservation Commission gave their annual report to the supervisors. Caroline Lehman, chairman of the commission, said the group achieved a large goal this year with the release of its third book, ?History of Transportation, Henry County.?

?We are thrilled that the transportation book is finished?It took us 10 years to complete it and we are proud of our book,? she said.

The 273-page book covers water, road, railroad and aviation transportation in the county. The book sells for $29 and is available for purchase at all the county museums, the auditor?s office and other locations throughout the county.

She also noted that the group was pleased that four more properties have been added to the National Register of Historic Places. That brings the total to 17 properties the commission has placed on the register.

The commission also is in the midst of a reconnaissance (historical and archaeological) survey of Wayland and Jefferson townships.

In the past, the commission has received $11,000 annually in funding from the county.

Lindeen had the only supervisor subcommittee report. He said he attended the Henry County Emergency Management board meeting last night and is impressed by the work of Walt Jackson, county emergency management coordinator.

?Walt deserves a lot of credit,? Lindeen began. ?He is doing many things that no other emergency management coordinator has done in my time (as a supervisor). He is really involved.?

County supervisors will meet again in regular session on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 9 a.m., at the Henry County Courthouse.