Colby council explores wage increase
The Colby city council discussed the idea of a possible wage increase for its public servants during its monthly board meeting on Tuesday.
The discussion was initiated by alderman Jason Lindeman as an option that might spur more Colby citizens to consider running for public office.
“Jason asked to have that put on the agenda,” Colby mayor James Schmidt explained. “Part of the reason for that was it’s getting harder and harder to find people who want to volunteer.”
Lindeman noted that the council has struggled in recent years to find people willing to run for the office of alderman, and noted that several current members of the board, such as Steve Kolden, will not be running for re-election.
Lindeman also noted that eventually, there will be a new mayor, and he wondered if increasing the wages for public office will help spur more candidates to file paperwork and run for office.
He also wondered what the wages are compared to other municipalities, and if that was a deterrent to finding candidates.
“Where are the wages compared to others?” Lindeman asked. “Are we higher or lower?”
Gurtner said that according to the regulations a wage increase has to be approved before an election, and that an increase could not increase by more than twenty percent.
“You can’t vote for your own wages. You have to wait until you’re re-elected next before you begin to make that new wage,” Gurtner said. “You can vote on it, but I believe you have to wait for your next term before you see the increase.”
In other words, an alderman could vote for the wage increase, but would have to serve the remainder of their current term and then win re-election before the wage increase would go into effect for their next term before any alderperson who voted for a wage increase.
Gurtner said she could not recall the last time the council increased wages for public office, but said she would research the legality of the topic and have that information available at the next monthly board meeting.
“I don’t think anyone is doing this for the money,” alderman Dan Hederer said.
Lindeman agreed, but raised the objection that the council needs to do something in order to get more citizens involved in running for public office.
“We have to try something to get more people to run. We need to get people to volunteer. If we have give them some sort of incentive, maybe we’ll see more people run.”
Other business
The board approved a permit for a fireworks stand in the city, and set the fee for $250.
The permit will follow city ordinances, which states that the fireworks stand must be at least 500 feet away from any dwelling within the city, or any source of gasoline.
The fireworks vendor must follow zoning rules, and must have a safe and secure way of storing any fireworks.
