By Sara Quam
Rock County Commissioners spent much of their time dealing with salaries during their Dec. 26 meeting.
The board finalized the elected county salaries at:
$47,528 (same as last year) for the auditor/treasurer, Margaret Cook;
$44,250 (increased from $42,924) for the recorder, Jere Ohme;
$54,000 (increased from $52,319) for the sheriff, Ron McClure;
$12,000 (same as last year) for commissioners, and
$65,000 (increased from $63,000) for the county attorney's office, which is shared among four attorneys.
Rock County salaries are less than Minnesota averages in most cases. Recorders in the state make an average of $47,923; treasurers make an average of $47,244; auditors earn an average of $57,000; and sheriffs take home $64,623 on average.
For a more local comparison, Pipestone County finalized its elected personnel salaries last week as well. Their salaries are: recorder, $43,500; treasurer, $48,500; auditor, $44,000, and sheriff, $59,400.
Other payroll issues were on the table when the board approved union contracts, which won't affect the budget thatÕs already been certified.
The union contracts from three bargaining units were approved on three-year contracts. The highway, deputies and dispatch unions will all receive the same cost-of-living pay increases: 2.75 percent in the first year, 2.5 percent in the second year and 2 percent in the third year of the contract.
In other business the commissioners:
Voted unanimously to advance the Southwest Regional Development Commission $18,000. The advance will be paid back when future tax levies come in and is intended to keep the organization afloat.
The board finally approved the advance because the SRDC put in writing that it won't again borrow money without the permission of the nine member counties. The board requested that statement because of the financial hardship the Prairie Expo project brought the SRDC.
Voted unanimously to ask local legislative representatives to carry a bill that would allow Rock County to appoint the auditor/treasurer and recorder rather than leave them as elected positions.
The state bill would allow the board to pass a resolution making the offices appointed. There is a system of checks and balances to keep the public in some position of control, though. Through petitions and ballots, the board's appointments could be discarded.
The board reasoned that the move toward appointments is appropriate because the positions have changed so much in recent years with advances in technology. As of now, anyone, without specific, minimal qualifications, can run for the offices.
The board said that when the current staff retires from their positions, they want to make sure someone qualified fills their shoes.
Technology and state requirements on counties are major reasons the board would like to have more control over who gets into the offices.