County Bd. questions salary hike

Christy Kallevig of the University of Minnesota Extension Service explains the new salary and benefits package to the Faribault County Commissioners during their meeting last Tuesday morning.

A proposal by the University of Minnesota Extension to increase the cost of the total employment package by 24 percent for the County Extension Educator/4-H Youth Development director was met with resistance by the Faribault County Commissioners at their board meeting on Tuesday, July 16.

Christy Kallevig of the U of M Extension Service was at the meeting to present the proposal.

“Faribault County is in the final year of their three-year agreement with the Extension Service for their Extension Educator,” Kallevig explained. “The new agreement is the same for all 87 Minnesota counties.”

Kallevig told the board that in 2024 the cost of having a full-time equivalent (FTE) Extension director was $80,648 while the summer intern was paid $5,917 for 440 hours of work.

“The new contract increases the value of the director’s package to $100,000 which includes salary, health insurance, travel costs, sick leave and professional development costs,” Kallevig said. “The summer intern cost would increase to $8,930. The total cost for 2025 would be $108,930 compared to $86,565 for 2024. There would also be a three percent increase in both 2026 and 2027.”

Commissioner Bruce Anderson, who serves on the Extension Committee, relayed that the proposal was heavily discussed at the committee’s last meeting.

“There was some talk on going back to a .75 FTE,” Anderson said. “At one time, before I was on the County Board, that is what the county did.”

Board member Tom Loveall expressed his concerns over the amount of the increase.

“A 24 percent increase is a big increase, where does it go?” Loveall questioned. “Does the state get any of it?”

“The salary increase goes back to the employees,” Kallevig answered.

Commissioner Greg Young, who also is on the Extension Committee, questioned why it was a state-wide contract that was the same for all employees.

“I can tell you that a brick layer in Minneapolis makes more than a bricklayer in Mankato and the one in Mankato makes more than one in Springfield,” Young said.

Loveall shared he agreed with Young.

“One rate for all 87 counties does not make sense,” Loveall commented. “My concern is that the outstate counties subsidize the counties in the metro.”

“The market has shifted,” Kallevig responded. “I will share your concerns with State Extension. The board does not need to make a decision today and nobody at the local Extension office has been promised an increase. We can negotiate the level of service you agree to provide.”

“I do not think the same price for every county works,” board member John Roper noted.

“I agree,” board chairman Bill Groskreutz concluded. “This is a case where one size fits all does not work.”

The board took no action on the proposal.

Public works director/county engineer April Wellman was at the meeting to provide the board with the latest construction updates.

“The water levels remain high and that is delaying work on the bridges on County Road 1 and County Road 2,” Wellman told the board. “However, the road construction on County Roads 11, 17, 23 and 51 is complete and all that remains is to complete the paperwork on those projects.”

Wellman also reported she had a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with the city of Wells that was ready for the County Board’s approval. The JPA is for the CR 60 (Broadway Avenue) reconstruction project from Franklin Avenue to CR 62 (Second Street Northwest).

“Bolton and Menk completed their survey and we received the hydraulics report from the state,” Wellman said. “The JPA breaks down which costs the city is responsible for and what expenses the county is responsible for.”

“Who will be responsible for the cost of maintaining the road once it is complete?” commissioner Greg Young asked.

“That will be the responsibility of the city,” Wellman replied. “They are responsible for the maintenance of the completed water main, sanitary sewer and storm sewer. They are also required to maintain the pavement and perform necessary curb repairs, snow plowing and sweeping. Traffic signs, maintenance of sidewalks, crosswalks and pavers, including snow removal, shall be the sole responsibility of the city.”

The board voted to approve the JPA with the city of Wells.

In other business, the board:

• Approved the training requests of Isabella Nelson of the county assessors office to attend a conference on basic appraisal procedures.

• Approved the request of Lori Mehrof of the county assessors office to attend the Minnesota Association of Assessment Personnel Workshop.

• Voted to approve the request of Extension employee Megan Cook to attend the 2024 All Extension Conference.

• Held a public hearing on the establishment of a Local Housing Trust Fund. There was no public comment on the matter.

• Recognized dispatch jailer Emily Langford of the Sheriff’s Department for 10 years of service.