County Approves 3% Raises

SIGOURNEY – During the Dec. 26 meeting of the Keokuk County Board of Supervisors, the board approved a 3% raise across the board for elected officials, one-fourth of what was requested by the compensation board. The board also approved creating an administrative assistant position, to be paid $3,500 per year. Chairman Micheal Hadley stated that, although he is normally optimistic about the budget, he is pessimistic this year due to last year’s changes to state tax law, which limit the county’s growth to 3% per year. Vice Chairman Derek Woods stated that he had heard conflicting reports about whether the legislature was planning a rollback on the tax changes. Woods noted that other counties had begun offering early retirement to older employees, allowing them to receive insurance without salary, and closing their offices. There are currently no plans to do this in Keokuk County. County Treasurer Christine Edmundson Long, who was in attendance, stated that she had been asked several times about what next year’s taxes would be like and left unable to answer.

Also at the Monday meeting, the supervisors met with County Attorney Amber Thompson and Veterans Affairs Administrator Michelle Herman, who are in the process of moving offices. The Attorney's office will be moved to the former Public Health office, while the VA will take over the Attorney's office. Thompson reported that Garcia Carpet in North English gave her a price of $6,973.95 to replace the carpet in her new office, which will be easier to do before the furniture is moved in. She noted that it will cost $3,488 to relocate the security door or $7,784 to move it, as well as $25 monthly to own the door. Herman stated that the VA does not have space in the budget for the door cost and would prefer if the door was just moved.