Lincoln County Commissioners address tax deed sale, pay increases

The Lincoln County Commissioners met Tuesday, November 12 in the Lincoln County boardroom. Commissioners heard agenda items including tax deed properties, elected official compensation increases, and re-titling of positions. 

Auditor Sheri Lund was present at the meeting to request board discussion with possible action to follow to accept a submitted offer for tax deed property 250.48.01.028. 

“We did do a public surplus auction for it, we did not receive a bid that we could accept, so I sent a letter out to the properties that were contiguous to it to see if they had any interest in it before we tried to put it back out for public bid or anything else. I did receive one offer from a neighboring property to it from Julie and Travis Larson, they would like to purchase the property for $500,” Lund said. 

Motion to accept the Larson’s offer made by Tiffani Landeen, seconded by Jim Schmidt, motion carried.

Lund next requested board discussion and action to approve the 2025 Pay Matrix. 

“During the budget preparation, the human resources department recommended a cost-of-living adjustment (cola) of three percent, informed the commissioners of the comparison, approved the budget for non-bargaining unit employees was three percent cola adjustment with a two and a half percent increase. The approved budget includes a five percent cola adjustment for the non-fop certified officers to align their wages with the Union 9 staff to prevent wage compression,” she said. 

Motion to approve by Landeen, seconded by Schmidt, motion carried.

Lund requested board discussion and action to formally approve Elected Officials’ 2025 Compensation. 

“A five and a half percent increase that is what we have been doing the last couple years and we’ve been given the elected officials the same cola step that employees are getting. In the budget, we did budget five percent, but the difference between what Tracy has calculated and what we had budgeted was about $3,000, so if you went with the five percent it would be $3,045.67 over what was budgeted,” she said.  

Chairman Jim Jibben asked if it was the same percentage raise as everyone else. 

“Yes, what the request is, is for the five and a half percent increase, keeping in mind we budgeted five percent, through all the times I’ve changed it, I didn’t change the five and a half percent for the elected officials,” Lund said. 

Motion for approval made by Schmidt, seconded by Landeen, motion carried.

Chief Civil Deputy State’s Attorney, Drew DeGroot met with the commission for board discussion and action to re-title the Assistant Commission Administrative Officer to Commission Administrative Assistant. 

“I’m presenting what has been a team effort, as Sheri indicated, the commission administrative officer has been vacant, and what this board action would do is in effect combine the commission administrative office assistant into one position that would take over some of the roles and responsibilities that the commission administrative officer had,” he said. 

Motion by Schmidt, seconded by Landeen to approve the position, motion carried. 

Veteran Services Officer, David Ekle was present to give recognition of Lincoln County’s participation in Operation Green Light. 

“If you happened to notice this past week, the courthouse was illuminated with green lights, that’s in support of Operation Green Light for veterans, it’s a nationwide effort by counties, the National Association of Counties, and the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers and last year a resolution was made commemorating the Operation Green Light for veterans. It’s for all County buildings and landmarks across the country, we’re illuminating green to show support for veterans and raise awareness around the resources available at the county, state, and federal levels to assist veterans and their families,” he said.