Commissioners discuss pay raise
By Brandy Nance
Originally published 10:20 a.m., January 7, 2009
Updated 10:36 a.m., January 7, 2009
Reader poll
Do you approve the Lyon County commissioners giving themselves a $2,500 pay increase?
- Yes
- No
- Undecided
1102 total votes.
In their first meeting of the year, Lyon County commissioners discussed their own pay for the next year.
Outgoing Lyon County Commissioner Bob Davis suggested giving commissioners a $2,500 raise across the board, which would put them at $18,495 and the chairman at $19,493.60.
“I don’t think it’s something that should be left to the new commission,” Davis said. “I don’t think it’s their job. I think it’s our job.”
Lyon County Commission Chairman Scott Briggs commented.
“It’s an awkward position to set up here,” Briggs said. “To be honest, we all pretty much know it’s community service.”
Briggs said Lyon County commissioners are paid far below other counties in Kansas.
Lyon County Attorney/County Counselor Marc Goodman said there’s a lot of work involved in being a county commissioner.
“I don’t think I understood even split off among the three of you the number of meetings,” Goodman said. “The people expect you to be at meetings. You can’t ignore the meetings. I can feel that way just as a county attorney. That’s all I do and I don’t have to have a separate job for my income to provide for my family.”
Goodman said being a county commissioner requires a broad knowledge of topics.
“I could walk in here in this council and you make the simple statement like what should you do about the county hospital. That could sound really simple but it requires you to have osme base knowledge of hospital administration,” Goodman said.
Commissioners will discuss the pay raise issue during Thursday’s action session.
Lyon County could pay off more of its courthouse bonds early with surplus sales tax this spring following a discussion by commissioners.
Lyon County Controller Dan Slater recommended to commissioners that the county pay off and additional $500,000 on courthouse bonds in March. The money comes from surplus sales tax from the county’s 1/2 percent sales tax being used to pay off the Lyon County Courthouse. That amount would still leave the county with $150,000 in surplus sales tax.
In other business, commissioners also discussed improvements to Highway 50 and Road F in front of PrairieLand Partners dealership for acceleration and deceleration lanes on the west side of the highway. Lyon County Engineer Chip Woods said Kansas Department of Transportation wants to push the project forward and let it as soon as possible. Lyon County was first told it was responsible for design, inspection and letting. However, KDOT has decided it wants to be in charge of the letting process. Lyon County will need to draw up additional plans to meet KDOT’s letting standards.
Woods said KDOT wants to start letting in May, but he doesn’t see that happening.
“I guess they want to get it let as soon as possible but I don’t see how they can get it let in May,” Woods said.
In other matters:
• Rick Frevert, of Lyon County Emergency Management, asked for commission signature on a grant for haz mat training. The grant is about $39,000 and will help offset Emporia Fire Department’s training and the cost of going to other counties to help with their training. The grant is driven by the Local Emergency Planning Committee. It’s a matching grant and matching funds will be paid by the Emporia Fire Department.
offc_grl76 (anonymous) says...
WHAT A GREAT IDEA, LETTING COMMISSIONER'S VOTE FOR THEIR OWN RAISES. WHAT A GREAT JOB TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOURSELF SUCH A RAISE. Our County Commissioners can't pass a cost of living raise for their county employees or if they do then it is a 10 cent an hour raise instead of $2,500 more a year for a part time job. Our economic times are tough and we have numerous people without jobs right now thanks to Tyson layoffs and one of our nursing homes shutting down but as long as our county commissioners have money in their pockets then it is OK.
I hope next year when we go to the polls to vote we give serious consideration to who we vote for and how they are more interested in giving themselves raises instead of taking care of their employees who are out there everyday doing blue collar work.
January 7, 2009 at 11:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
offc_grl
I agree 100% with you, but I see a conundrum here. The kind of person who will even run for this kind of job already has to have a lucrative job that doesn't require all of their time or a willingness to abandon their family to do this job and their primary one. Already, you can guarantee that this person has little in common--especially perspective--with the regular working Emporian. On top of that, there is the intimidation of having to have "a broad knowledge of topics." That makes it seem like it is a job "above" the average "worker bee." It's no wonder that almost every one that is elected thinks they need to make decisions for the peons because the peons aren't educated or wealthy enough to make their own. I honestly don't know what to do with these positions at the polls because I don't believe any of the candidates knows how to represent an average Emporia family.
January 7, 2009 at 1:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
If they had meetings etc in the evenings then regular Joes and Janes could run for commission posts. But they conduct business during working hours which a) keeps most of us working stiffs from attending and b) excludes the average person from taking a position on the commission. I think that's the way they want it so business owners make up the majority of the commissioners. Yes, they should be compensated for their time but I've never had a part time job that paid that well! With the state of the economy, they should put that money elsewhere than their pockets.
January 7, 2009 at 1:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weltha (anonymous) says...
Heck thats only around $7000 less then I make working full time.
January 7, 2009 at 1:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Happiness09 (anonymous) says...
I think it's a good idea. Heck....I say we all vote to give ourselves a raise. With that surplus sales tax money that they've got maybe we could do something besides pad our own pockets with it. You think?
January 7, 2009 at 3 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
offc_grl76 (anonymous) says...
Wish I knew of a part time job that I could work that paid 18,000 a year. A lot of families and single parents are lucky if they make that working full time.
If they really want to ask for a raise they need to let the people of Lyon County vote on whether or not they deserve a raise, after all aren't we essentially their bosses, they represent US and we should have the right to determine if they deserve the raise or not.
I can think of a lot of good things our community could use that extra money for, let's concentrate on our making our community better not padding the pockets of wealthy businessmen.
January 7, 2009 at 4:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
Let the citizens vote? What a novel idea!!! Oh, wait, no, that'll never work. It seems that commissions are for the very purpose of preventing us from voting. I don't think that was their original function, but that's what they seem to have become.
"...after all aren't we essentially their bosses.......?" This is a concept that seems to have eluded our local city and county commissions. In fact, the pattern seems to be that they now think they are somehow our bosses and that the way we conduct ourselves should represent them.
I like the way you think ofc_grl, but I don't think they will. Maybe if enough citizens felt the way we do, we could set them straight somehow.
January 7, 2009 at 4:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dale011 (anonymous) says...
When most folks are happy to have a job and raises are 1 or 2 % if at all, voting a 15% pay raise is absolutely wrong. Thanks goodness we have new leadership coming in - it is exactly this type of thought that has Lyon County in the condition it is in.
January 7, 2009 at 5:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Has anyone figured out how much an hour that kind of wage is, since the Commissioners meet, what, twice a week !
I believe I smell a tax increase in the air ! And I can tell you all that this stinks to high heaven.
I also smell another possible public vote petition in the air.
This is another perfect example of why I have and still advocate a change in out City Government and have advocated a change for quite some time now.
Gee! I'll bet the County Commissioners will be the next to give themselves a raise.
January 7, 2009 at 5:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
15% is just too dang much! I'm with dale011, most regular people are satisfied with one or two percent. On top of that, when is the last time county workers got a decent cost of living raise? Social Security only received 5.8% COLA. Are these commissioners considering the kind of economy we are trying to battle right now or how much Lyon County is in debt? This takes guts or just plain bad taste at a time like this!!!
So what if they have to go to meetings and be informed, Goodman. Isn't that what they signed up for?
January 7, 2009 at 5:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wyse_guy (anonymous) says...
Maybe they should do thier jobs before they worry about a raise. Get in office and screw everybody over that sounds like EMPORIA. Give yourself a raise thats a good one. How about we decide what your all actually worth then thats what your pay will be? Because it looks like you think your worth more than most of us do. A part time job making $18,000 to attend 2 meetings a week, we all need one of those jobs. Im sure some suck ups will be on here saying you deserve it let them pay it. Just one question whos job is it to keep the road cleaned up going to the city dump? You dont have to ask where the dump is just follow the limbs and trash from prarie street to the dump what a nice view.
January 7, 2009 at 6:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
Just a clarification...I read this was the county commissioners...not the city commissioners. Why are you bashing the city?
January 7, 2009 at 7:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LifeGoesOn (anonymous) says...
wyse_guy, I think to answer your question, It is your responsiblity/job and everybody elses who takes trash and limbs to the dump, Cover the load, tie down the limbs, pick up the crap that blows off your truck, The trash wouldnt be there. Then on top of that, you get all the a holes who think the metal scrap yard is for thier trash and furniture, stuffed animals,glass, etc, Because they are to damn cheap to pay for someone else to haul thier crap.
Maybe you can do one of those adopt a roadway programs, get yourself and some friends to go pick up the trash, The city did not put it there and the county did not put it there, Emporia Citizens put it there, maybe they should pick it up.
January 7, 2009 at 8:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LifeGoesOn (anonymous) says...
as for the pay raise, they put in about two 5 hour days a week and maybe another 5 hours a week with other duties.
15 hr per week, 52 weeks a year, thats 780 hours a year.
18495 by 780 hr/year = 23.71 per hour. Sounds like a pretty good wage for sitting in the air conditioning in a $300 chair, How many of the fulltime employees make 23 bucks an hour?
They should get No More of a raise than they have given thier employees, if its a 2% cost of living, then thats what they should get, if its 6%, same thing, and so on
January 7, 2009 at 8:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wyse_guy (anonymous) says...
Well just for your facts I said I had a question Im not bashing anybody so get off my back.
Just one question whos job is it to keep the road cleaned up going to the city dump? You dont have to ask where the dump is just follow the limbs and trash from prarie street to the dump what a nice view.
some call it the city dump/ county landfill/ transfer station. It cant be that confusing emporia has 1 "dump".
January 7, 2009 at 8:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sociallyconsious (anonymous) says...
I believe they should receive it not as a pay increase but as a lump sum bonus. They deserve it as combat pay because they have to put themselves in the spotlight and put up with every person who has an opinion or computer telling them how to do their job. A job which we gave them buy electing them.
January 7, 2009 at 9:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
This has nothing to do with the city commissioners. Quoting Methusla "This is another perfect example of why I have and still advocate a change in out City Government and have advocated a change for quite some time now.
Gee! I'll bet the County Commissioners will be the next to give themselves a raise" Never even referenced you wyse_guy...stop being so sensitive or self-centered.
January 7, 2009 at 9:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
County commission should vote themselves a pay CUT as should all the USD teachers, state employees, non profits to help taxpayers. But to H&^% with taxpayers. We (public sector) deserve it...BS!
January 7, 2009 at 10:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
Sociallyconsious: Was that last sentence in your post above a CAE Freudian slip, or a pro-ban social commentary? You said: "A job which we gave them BUY electing them." Ha! Talk about reading between the lines!
January 7, 2009 at 10:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
justthefacts-Your right it is the County Commissioners who are thinking of giving themselves a raise, I just had the Commissions turned around, but that makes no difference whether its City or County. I still say one will follow the lead of the other and none of them are worth what they are getting paid. And I still say that a shake up and change of both City and County Government is in order.
There are those who say that these poor Commissioners put up with a lot. Thats a real hoot ! And as far as the people telling them to do their job, they don't listen to the people anyway. Oh, maybe the people who have money and influence, but not the ordinary person. Besides someone needs to tell them how to do their job.
January 7, 2009 at 11:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sociallyconsious (anonymous) says...
Bjnemp it was no CAE Freudian slip, or pro-ban social commentary just an everyday trying to do too many things at one time typing error.
January 8, 2009 at 2:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wirewatt (Ken Bazil) says...
They wouldn't be spending near the time working if they had hired a county manager. They need to do their job and let the department head so their jobs. There is way to much micro managing going on by the County Com.. They could replace two or three jobs with one manager and a clerk, and be paying less. The raise is not needed,they knew what it paid when they ran for office. How can they take a raise and not raise the pay of all the employees the same amount?
January 8, 2009 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
If we are to give huge pay raises to civil servants who have to maybe dodge some verbal abuses I think we should give huge pay raises to the civil servants who may have to dodge bullets, fires, pitbulls and the like.
Those who say that the commissioners jobs are so perilous don't know what peril is. Would you be in favor of a 15% raise or bonus for police, fire and sheriff? What about soldiers dodging and catching literal bullets and flack? None of these have ever got a 15% raise. Before you drown in tears for people in business casual outfits sitting in offices think about those that put on a uniform everyday and actually risk their lives. It might just change your perspective on this.
January 8, 2009 at 10:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OutsiderJ (anonymous) says...
I think its interesting that this article didn't include anything about the health insurance benefits commisioners receive. If they want a raise maybe they could give up some bennies.
January 8, 2009 at 11:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
esugrad_03 (anonymous) says...
Please remember that we vote for our U.S. Representatives and Senators and they are also the ones who get to vote on their raises. Are there a lot of complaints on the Gazette's web-site when this happens? We all know that they get more than $2,500 in raises. Yes, times are rough right now, and yes, we would all like a $2,500 raise, but please remember that public officials, that we vote into office, get to vote on their own raises.
January 8, 2009 at 1:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
esugrad_03
What exactly is your point?
January 8, 2009 at 1:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
esugrad_03 (anonymous) says...
What is everyone's point about complaining?
We know when we vote people into office, they have the power to give them raises.
January 8, 2009 at 1:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Just knowing that "when we vote people into office, they have the power to give them raises" doesn't make it right. I think that in another time a pay raise wouldn't look so unnecessary but in case you haven't noticed this town, county, state, and country aren't doing so well financially.
I can't afford a new car right now and won't buy one because it would put me into more financial trouble. I would like to see elected officials use the same kind of thinking. If they acted as if tax dollars were their own maybe they would be a little more conservative with the spending. I really don't think a little common sense is too much to ask.
January 8, 2009 at 1:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
sociallyconsious & esu_grad;
You two sound like you are on board with the"let's represent our commissioners" way of thinking. Do you not think that they have any accountability to the voters after taking their places on the commission? If we gave them their jobs, then we are their bosses and we can gripe about their performances and tell them how to do their jobs all we want--WE are the BOSS!!! Have you ever told a boss of your own to quit telling you how to do your job or to quit griping when you aren't doing it right? I'm betting you haven't--you should try it some time and see how it works out for you. One of you sounds very unconsCious of how (American)society should work, and the other sounds very uneducated for being a university graduate.
seriously:
It depends on what you mean by "common sense." If you mean "sound logic" then I must be the bearer of bad news and tell you that that is no longer "common" sense. Unfortunately, rationalization of whatever seems right to a person has become the definition of "common sense." It's good to know that when you're being serious, I totally get where you're coming from. I try when you're clowning, but you lose me sometimes ;o).
January 8, 2009 at 3 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
esugrad_03 (anonymous) says...
Why are calling me uneducated? Please explain.
January 8, 2009 at 3:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
esugrad:
I didn't call you uneducated, I said you Sounded uneducated. My reasoning? You acknowledged only one element in the order of civic government and rebuked citizens for exercising their duties which is another element of civic government.
January 8, 2009 at 4:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
esugrad_03 (anonymous) says...
I sound uneducated because I acknowledged only one element in the order of civic government? That is interesting that I sound uneducated because of that reasoning. To me, it sounds as if it is a very picky reasoning. What I said is the truth, and yes, it does upset people. Uneducated people would not know that certain government officials get to decide on their own pay raises. If I sound uneducated, how then was I able to graduate among the top of my class as an undergrad student, maintain a 4.0 GPA as a grad student, and work in the education field? This is off topic, but you made the effort to spell unconsCious with a capitol c because of sociallyconsious' username, but it is ok for you to spell love-luv?
January 8, 2009 at 6:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
Good grief!!! You were coming down on posters for stating that there should be accountability for commissioners decisions, and now you're admitting that it was because you felt they are uneducated and don't know how this government thing works?
And speaking of picky, I gave TWO reasons that you sounded uneducated--see if you can find the second one. I'll give you a hint: it's the first half of the first sentence of this post. It was also what got to me--not the fact you stated. Yeah, we know they give themselves raises--give us a little credit. Just because they can, doesn't mean they should at certain times or that we should allow it. As to your other questions, you will have to answer those for yourself as a credentials competition is entirely off topic here.
January 8, 2009 at 7:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
esugrad_03 (anonymous) says...
Did I ever say that all of the posters are uneducated? I did say, "Uneducated people would not know that certain government officials get to decide on their own pay raises." I don't see how that is saying that all of the posters are uneducated?.?. When I posted my original post, I honestly did not read any of the previous posts; I only read the article.
I also find it interesting that it is ok for you to criticize my response(s) and sociallyconsious' spelling, but when I questioned you about your spelling of love, you told me to answer it myself.
January 8, 2009 at 8:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )