Cook County commissioners tabled a discussion about setting their 2020 salary and compensation rates at the December 3 meeting.
This year the board chair received $23,894, the vice chair $22,894, and other board members $22,394. Commissioners received a per diem of $100 for all approved meetings and activities.
Auditor/Treasurer Braidy Powers came before commissioners with a request for the board to pass a resolution concerning their 2020 compensation.
Powers said the Minnesota auditor’s office requested counties to send that information to them before the start of the new year, especially if there were any changes.
Ginny Storlie, board chair, opened the topic up for discussion.
Commissioner Dave Mills said he thought the current rate of pay restricted “who is able to serve as a county commissioner.”
Based on the rate of pay and time commitments expected of commissioners, Mills said retired people and business owners were now the most likely to have the time and money to serve as commissioners. He felt that as the system was now set up, there was a gap in the people who could run for election and serve on the board of commissioners.
Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk said the board had this discussion every year, but because of public perceptions, the board hadn’t voted to raise its pay for many years. She said the board had asked the budget committee to look at commissioner’s compensation over the last year, but board chair Ginny Storlie said the budget committee hadn’t spent much time discussing the subject.
When asked when the last time commissioners received a pay raise Powers said it was the year 2000 or 2002. At that time the annual rate climbed from $14,000 or $15,000 to its current rate. Eight years ago commissioners raised the meeting rate from $75 to $100 per meeting, he said.
After much discussion commissioners agreed to get some more information about how other counties paid commissioners, agreeing to bring that back for the board’s December 10 meeting for discussion and then vote on their 2020 compensation.
County emergency operation plan
Cook County commissioners approved the 2019 Cook County Emergency Operations Plan at the board’s Tuesday, December 3 meeting.
Mike Keyport, Cook County Emergency Management director, submitted the Emergency Operations Plan.
The State of Minnesota requires the document to be reviewed and approved by resolution and signed by the Cook County Board of Commissioners every four years.
New case management system
The Cook County attorneys office will get a new case management system. Commissioners approved a contract for Prosecutor By Karpel, who will configure, install, and implement a new case management system for the county attorney office, or $40,573. The system is scheduled to “go live” in April 2020.
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