Elected officials’ pay resolution was an agenda item at the White County Board meeting on Wednesday night. Only three county members are covered under the raise, which is paid for by the State of Illinois: Kayci Heil, County Clerk; Mike Baxley, County Treasurer; and Gary Baxley, Supervisor of Assessments.
Bellwether representative Dustin Harmon was on hand to answer questions and go over the pay: a 3% raise.
“The difference between the ordinance that’s in front of you versus what happened four years ago was that the County Clerk and the County Treasurer are eligible for a $6,500 stipend. But the Supervisor of Assessment is not eligible for that stipend.”
According to the state, the Supervisor of Assessments can instead receive a $3,000 stipend, provided a specified assessment amount is reached within the year.
“Four years ago, the County board recognized that it was unlikely that the Supervisor of Assessment was going to receive a stipend. So they increased the base pay for the Supervisor of Assessment by $6,500 for each year to equalize that pay to the Treasurer’s office and the County Clerk’s office.”
All in all, the board can either approve the pay as agreed four years ago, paying everyone the same rate, or pay Gary Baxley a bit less and see if he meets the benchmark to receive the state issued stipend that would make it pay equal to the County Clerk and County Treasurer.
After a lengthy discussion with as much time spent trying to understand statutes as deliberating on what the board wanted to do, Harmon laid out the options.
If you pay them flat out just like everybody else with no stipend, it’s $61,062.04 with a 3% increase. If they get the full stipend paid as if they weren’t going to qualify for the stipend and you wanted to pay them the full amount, we would be at $61,062.04 plus the $6,500 so $67,562.04. The other option would be assuming he [Supervisor of Assessments Gary Baxley] has an opportunity to perform in a way that would qualify him for the $3,000, you’d reduce the $6,500 by the $3,000 and you give him an additional $3,500 and you say perform within the state parameters to qualify for the extra $3,000.
In the end, David South would make the motion to force the Supervisor of Assessments to perform in order to receive the same matching pay increase (including state issued stipend) as the County Clerk and County Treasurer. Ken Usery seconded and then Board Chair Cassie Pigg threw a monkey wrench into the situation by contradicting the motion suggesting, “so keep it as it is” and the board unanimously voted yes. WROY/WRUL News clarified with Clerk Kayci Heil Friday morning that the minutes reflect the board moving forward with South’s motion.
Transitioning to a new topic, County Board member David South brought to the board’s attention that he has received several nuisance complaints at two locations just south of Enfield.
South explained that 1475 and 1473 U.S. Highway 45 are safety hazards and doesn’t want to see anyone who is taking shelter in those homes hurt.
He described the residences at 1475 and 1473 as burnt houses at risk of collapse, with debris and trash in the yards.
A nuisance form was completed for both properties, and the board unanimously approved the complaint. Now, it will go to the Sheriff’s Department, where they will investigate and determine whether violations are occurring.
In the Administrator’s Report, an ordinance is being drafted to set rules for virtual board meeting attendance.
Treasurer Mike Baxley shared that the tax sale went well. Circuit Clerk Kelly Fulkerson noted that each county received a fixed $50,000 technology grant, but her department will exceed its budget because of earlier assumptions about additional funds. County Clerk Kayci Heil reported that early voting has started, with 109 ballots cast. EMA Director Alan Wurst reminded everyone of a storm information class on February 21 at 5:00 PM at the Lions’ Club.
The next White County Board meeting will be on March 19 at 7 PM.