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 Non-Union county employee raises for 2014-15
As part of the creation of the 2015 fiscal year budget that begins
Dec. 1, 2014, a motion was made out of the Finance Committee to
provide a three-percent increase to the non-union salary line items
in the offices under the county. These raises cannot be mandated for
individuals by the County Board, but are to be distributed by the
office holders to their employees; the board can only increase the
line item specifically, while the office holders decide how the
money is spent. In total, this would cost $52,400. The motion passed
unanimously.
This three percent raise to the line item follows a four-percent
raise last year, and one percent raises the year before. Chuck Ruben
said four years ago, the county was unable to give any raises at
all.
It was also noted that the budget is still in an early draft form
and subject to change.
In addition, the County Board voted unanimously to transfer $70,000
from the County Farm account to the Buildings and Grounds account
under the current budget. The measure is to help pay for urgent
county building repairs.
The County Board also unanimously approved an increase in the rent
paid by the city of Lincoln for use of the Safety Complex; the
increase brought the lease to $35,000 annually.
Board member resigns
Board member Andy Meister announced his resignation from the county
board. Meister will be moving out of his district in Mt. Pulaski,
which is why he is resigning. Chairman Robert Farmer presented
Meister with a plaque, and the board members thanked Meister for his
time and dedication to the board and applauded Meister as he
received his recognition. Meister joined the county board in 2010.
“I wanted to thank everybody, especially the people on the board
prior to me, for guiding me and welcoming me on the board. It was an
interesting experience, something that is nice when you’re fresh out
of college, when I ran. You really get to feel like you have a
say-so, and like you’re bettering the community,” said Meister.
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Meister added that he will be staying on the Tourism Bureau
Board, which he first entered as a county liaison. By
recommendation of board chairman Bob Farmer, and by approval of the
board, Andy Anderson will replace Meister on the Road and Bridge and
on Airport and Farm Committees. For Road and Bridge he will serve as
chairman, which gives him a seat on the county board’s
Executive/Economic Development Committee.
David Blankenship was recommended and approved to replace Meister on
the Finance Committee.
Finally, Emily Davenport was appointed to the Regional Planning
Commission.
Courthouse elevator repairs
In recent months, the Buildings and Grounds Committee discovered
that the elevator at the courthouse needs a series of upgrades in
order to meet regulations. Jan Schumacher, on behalf of the
Buildings and Grounds Committee, brought forward a motion to accept
a bid from KONE Elevator Services to repair and upgrade the elevator
for a cost of $131,072. The bid was approved unanimously.
In addition, Schumacher added that another company will need to come
in to continue work on the elevator system, which will require
another approval from the board.
Eleven board members were present at the meeting: David Hepler, Rick
Aylesworth, Chuck Ruben, Gene Rohlfs, Robert Farmer, Jan Schumacher,
David Blankenship, Pat O’Neill, Andy Anderson, Andy Meister and
Emily Davenport. Kevin Bateman was absent in order to attend an Up
in Smoke meeting.
[By Derek Hurley]
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