County Compensation Board Hears Salary Requests From Elected Officials
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County elected officials met with the county Compensation Board Thursday afternoon to make their requests in terms of salary increases.
Before any of the county elected officials addressed the board, Compensation Board chairman Larry Petersen asked for a moment of silence in honor of John Koley, who had been a former board member. Koley was found dead at his home on
Wednesday afternoon. Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo was the first to address the compensation board. Van Otterloo is in his 27th year as the sheriff. He informed the compensation board that he was quite satisfied with his current salary, and told the compensation board that he ranks 15th in terms of salaries for sheriff’s in Iowa, and that Plymouth County ranks as the 25th largest county. Van Otterloo indicated this may be his last term as the county’s
sheriff. Van Otterloo informed the board he is more interested in acquiring another deputy, as opposed to receiving much of a salary increase. The compensation board does not have the authority to designate funds for another deputy, but they indicated they understood Van Otterloo’s position. The long-
time sheriff did make a request of a two percent increase to his salary.
Plymouth County Sheriff, Mike Van Otterloo addresses the Plymouth County Compensation Board regarding salary requests.
County Attorney, Darren Raymond was the next to speak. He told of how his office has seen an increase in its work load. He also discussed how Plymouth County was one of the first counties within the state that conducts all of it filing electronically. Raymond has been the county attorney for the past 24 years, and he requested a five percent salary increase.
Recorder JoLynn Goodchild, Treasurer Shelly Sitzmann, and Auditor Stacy Feldman, who all have the same salary, were the next to address the board. Each of them described their duties for the county and made comparisons to other similar size
counties. Goodchild, Sitzmann and Feldman all asked for a four percent salary increase.
The Board of Supervisors were next on the agenda. Craig Anderson and Don Kass spoke on behalf of the county governing board. Both had indicated the supervisors were pleased with their current salaries, and the supervisors were not interested in receiving a salary increase. Anderson and Kass were
complimenting the other elected officials saying they make the work for supervisors easier. Anderson and Kass echoed the sentiments of the group by saying each of the county elected officials work well together, and because of that fact, Plymouth County is one of the best operating counties. The supervisors informed the compensation board that the governing board has been able to build up the county’s financial reserves.
Following the discussion, County Compensation Board member Bruce Brock made the motion to recommend a two percent salary increase for Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo, a three percent salary increase for the county attorney position, recorder,
treasurer, and auditor. Brock followed up by suggesting a two percent increase in salary for the county supervisors. Compensation Board member Pam Floy suggested she would favor a four percent increase for the attorney, treasurer, recorder, and auditor’s position. Brock amended his motion to instead include a four percent increase for the mentioned county positions. The compensation board voted to approve Brock’s suggestion. The compensation board will offer its salary recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. The supervisors will then consider the recommendation when they work on the county budget.
Current Annual Salaries of County Elected Officials:
Sheriff — $93,126.75
Attorney – $111,007.52
Auditor – $66,171.00
Recorder – $66,171.00
Treasurer – $66,171.00
Supervisors – $32,853.30
Jury Finds Mother Guilty Of Daughter’s Death
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A jury has convicted an Iowa woman of murder in the starvation death of her 16-year-old daughter.
Jurors reached their decision Thursday afternoon, finding 43-year-old Nicole Finn guilty of first-degree murder, kidnapping and child endangerment in the October 2016 death of Natalie Finn. The West Des Moines teen weighed only 85 pounds when she died. Jurors began deliberating Wednesday.
In final arguments, the prosecution said Nicole Finn sought to kill and torment three of her children, including Natalie. The defense claimed Nicole Finn was detached from reality.
She will be sentenced Jan. 26.
Nicole Finn’s ex-husband, Joe Finn, has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, neglect or abandonment and child endangerment. He wasn’t living with the rest of the family when Natalie died. His trial begins Jan. 8.
Quimby Man Sentenced For Vehicular Homicide
CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) – A northwestern Iowa man has agreed to serve a 10-year prison sentence in pleading guilty to causing a fatal crash last year.
23-year-old Casey Herron, of Quimby, Iowa, pleaded guilty Tuesday to vehicular homicide and operating while intoxicated shortly after his trial in Cherokee County District Court began.
As part of the deal, Herron agreed to a 10-year prison term when he’s sentenced on Feb. 2.
Prosecutors say Herron was drunk when he crashed a pickup truck July 30, 2016, in rural Cherokee County, killing one of his passengers, 21-year-old Vitali Zhylka. Herron and two others in the truck were injured.
—
Muscatine Resident Able To Join Class Action Lawsuit
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Hundreds of Muscatine residents who settled lawsuits against a local polluter will be given the chance to void the deals and rejoin a class-action lawsuit.
District Judge Tom Reidel says he has “significant doubt” that residents who opted out of the class had a full understanding of deals they signed with Grain Processing Corp.
He says attorneys didn’t disclose important terms, including that they’d take one-third of the payments. He called GPC’s timing in negotiating settlements “highly suspect.”
The settlements compensated residents based on a formula, including a maximum $22,000 after attorneys’ fees. They also required residents to grant GPC easements on their land and give up other legal rights.
The court is sending notices to 2,000 residents who opted out to decide whether to rejoin the class. The lawsuit alleges the company spewed pollution over their neighborhoods for decades. Trial’s scheduled for next year.
