Several personnel and pay issues for 2021 were approved by the Becker County Board last week.
The County Board gave itself a 1% raise, putting commissioner salaries at $25,910 a year. The board chair position, which has traditionally rotated every year, was set at $27,174.
Commissioners will receive lump sum per diem payments for qualifying meetings they attend (other than County Board meetings) of $61 per meeting, which increases to $87 for meetings that last longer than four hours.
The board also ratified annual salaries for four elected officials, who received the same 2.75% increase as county employees received. The sheriff also received a one-time adjustment of $2,500 in an effort to get that salary up to the market rate for the region, said County Administrator Mike Brethorst:
- Auditor-Treasurer Mary Hendrickson: $92,094.
- County Recorder Patty Swenson: $76,564.
- Sheriff Todd Glander: $114,099.
- County Attorney Brian McDonald: $118,503.
The salaries were set after review and discussion with each of the elected officials regarding their duties, education, qualifications and experience.
The board also authorized the County Attorney’s Office to establish a “First Assistant County Attorney” position, which will provide direction and guidance to the other assistant county attorneys, but will not have full supervisory duties.
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Depending on the salary of the person chosen for the position, the promotion includes a yearly pay increase ranging from $678 to $1,047.
In other news, County Administrator Mike Brethorst reported that the county received $207,000 from townships in unused federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funds.
That money will be used to cover the county’s COVID-19 personnel costs in the Public Safety Department, which includes the sheriff’s office and county jail, Brethorst said.
