Rice County Attorney Requests Salary Increase

John Fossum, Rice County Attorney, requested a pay increase during the Committee of the Whole Work Session of the County Board of Commissioners. After lengthy discussion it appeared they agreed to award the request.

I say appeared because the Committee of the Whole does not take any votes and can not officially make any decisions. The proposal will be brought before the County Board during their final meeting of the year next Tuesday.

Fossum told Commissioners after some calculations he determined county employees received a two-step increase in their salaries on the county pay scale. Fossum calculated that to be a 8.66 percent increase. He used that number saying he simply wanted his salary to be increased at the same rate and was open to compromise.

The Rice County Attorney told the Commissioners they had to set the salaries of elected officials for next year in a public meeting prompting this conversation with Commissioner Galen Malecha...

Commissioner Jim Purfeerst asked where Fossum was on the county pay scale...

Commissioner Dave Miller offered a proposal to increase the county attorney pay from $72.55 an hour to $77.50 in 2022. Commissioner Jeff Docken asked Fossum what would happen theoretically speaking if he didn't agree with their proposal...

Three Commissioners said they could agree to the proposed number which will be placed in a resolution to be voted on next week.

Also at the Committee of the Whole Work Session County Highway Engineer Dennis Luebbe said he did not have great news about the proposed I-35/Highway 19 six-legged roundabout...

Luebbe stated the extra time will give them an opportunity to locate more funds with 75 percent of the funding coming from MnDot (Minnesota Department of Transportation)...