2. Salary/COLA recommendation - Laserfiche WebLink

Department Head Minutes-May 30, 2007 1 DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETING MAY 30,2007 1. MEETING TO ORDER Terry Schmaltz called a meeting of Cass County department heads to order on Wednesday, May 30,2007, at 8:35 AM in the Sheriff's Department conference room, Cass County Courthouse. The following were present: Dave Rogness, Paul Laney, Jewel Spies, Keith Berndt, Mike Montplaisir, Kathy Hogan, Stan Wolf, and Terry Schmaltz. Birch Burdick arrived later in the meeting. Brad Cogdill, Bonnie Johnson, John Waller, Frank Klein, Charlotte Sandvik, and Jim Brent were absent. 2. MINUTES APPROVED MOTION, passed Mr. Laney moved and Mrs. Hogan seconded to approve the minutes of the April 25, 2007, meeting as presented. Motion carried. 3. BUILDING SECURITY UPDATE Sheriff Laney said after the evacuation of the Courthouse last month due to a suspicious package found in one of the offices, he formed a building security committee to update the standard operating procedures (SOP) regarding security at the Courthouse and Annex. The committee has met once and includes county employees, department heads, district court representatives, one commissioner and one at-large citizen. He said a list of prohibited items will be considered and once the updated SOP is in place, he will forward them to department heads for their review and hopes they will endorse the plan. 4. COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT (COLA) FOR BUDGET PURPOSES Mr. Montplaisir said the Midwest regional consumer price index (CPI) through April 2007 is 2.3%. The compensation cost for state and local government wages and salaries, including benefits, is 4.6%. In the past, the department head group has used the regional figure when recommending a COLA to the county commission. MOTION, passed Mrs. Hogan moved and Mr. Wolf seconded to suggest a COLA increase for county employees of 2.3% for 2008 based upon the Department of Labor consumer price index (CPI) for the Midwest region. Discussion: Mr. Rogness questioned whether 2.3% is sufficient with increases in fuel prices and cost of living. Mrs. Hogan said the county has consistently used the regional figures and when salary surveys are done by Fox Lawson, they have shown the county salaries to be comparable. Mr. Laney feels the increase may be too low but feels it is responsible management to use the regional CPl. Motion carried. 5. STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR NDACO, Discussed Mrs. Hogan will be attending a North Dakota Association of Counties five-year strategic planning session on June 10th through June 1 ih in Bismarck. The structure of county government will be discussed as well as consolidation of counties and work