Lafayette County Board of Supervisors
By Kayla Barnes
The Lafayette County Board of Supervisors approved wage increases for the Lafayette County Sheriff, Corner and Clerk of Courts until the year 2030 at their meeting on Tuesday, March 24.
In Resolution 61-25, the elected positions of Sheriff, Clerk of Courts, and Corner were to see differencing increases during the years of 2027- 2030.
The sheriff’s current salary is $91,164.74. In 2027, that position will see a $10,000 increase to $101,164.74 and another $10,000 in 2028 to $111,164.74. Then in 2029, there will be a five percent increase to $116,722.98 and another five percent increase in 2030 to $122,559.13.
The clerk of courts salary is $71,978.70. That position will see a 15 percent increase in 2027 to $82,774.78. There will be an eight percent increase in 2028 to $89,396.76, then a four percent increase in 2029 to $92,976.63 and another four percent increase in 2030 to $96,691.54.
The corner’s salary is at $12,400.50. That will increase four percent over 2027-2030, with the final four percent increase taking the salary to $14,506.84.
The reason for these increases was to keep the salaries more in line with other counties and with other positions in the county. County Board Chairman Jack Sauer stated it has taken many years to get everyone’s positions even.
District #5 Supervisor Luke McGuire understands that everyone wants to have good employees but he is consistently being asked where this money is coming from.
“Then I consistently come in this room and people don’t care where the money comes from. I don’t want to give away money we don’t have,” McGuire stated.
He wanted to remind the other supervisors that Lafayette County can’t compare themselves to other counties because they don’t have the same health insurance. He also questioned giving the sheriff’s position a raise when the county doesn’t even know who the new sheriff will be, since current Sheriff Reg Gill announced he won’t be running for another term.
“When I was younger, you had to prove your worth before you ever got your raise,” McGuire contested.
District #8 Supervisor Jed Gant explained that there was no incentive to be sheriff of the county when there are police chief’s in other communities that are getting more money than the sheriff. This increase was intended to have the sheriff be the highest paid law enforcement employee in the county. District #15 Supervisor Scott Pedley added that the chief deputy sheriff was going to make more than the current sheriff this year.
“We were at the bottom of the ladder in all counties we surveyed. We looked at a lot of counties and debated and came up with this,” Pedley said.
Sauer stated that the county held off on an increase when Sheriff Gill took office 12 years ago due to a tight budget but when they held back on the increase, other area positions increased. The current sheriff’s salary is the lowest salary in the area for sheriffs.
Gant added that the county wants a sheriff that is competent and someone that cares about the county. The salary might not be the most desirable but it is the best they can do.
District #9 Supervisor Joe Schutte made the motion to approve the corner’s increase with District #7 Bob Boyle seconding. District #6 Superivsor Jeff Berget made the motion to approve the clerk of courts’ increase with District #2 Mark Pinch seconding and District #1 Larry Ludlum made the motion to approve the sheriff’s increase with District #15 Scott Pedley seconding. All motions passed unanimously.
Resolution 60-25
Resolution 6-25 was adding an additional $120,000 to the 2026 capital improvement projects for funding the Manor Alarm System Upgrade. The project was not included in the budget. Funds will be borrowed at the end of the year and repayment will be included in the 2027 budget.
The current system is original to the building and is extremely fragile. The county can’t find any electrician to work on it due to the brittle wires. The new system is portable so if they do plan on leaving the current Manor building, it can go with them.
Ludlum urged the need for this system, because without it, they would have to go back to a bell system for residents to call for nursing staff. Pedley added that it is an unfortunate spending but necessary.
The motion passed 15-1 with Pinch against.
Action items
The board also approved: – Resolution 57-25, amendments of Chapter 6-1 Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.
– Resolution 58-25, land use change by Brad Lancaster in the town of Lamont.
– Resolution 59-25, land use change by Keith P. Rielly and Kimberly K. Rielly in the town of Wiota.
– Resolution 62-25, pay differential of $2/hour for hours worked on weekends for Courthouse Maintenance Staff.