Rice County Commissioners Meeting
Although ten different Rice County departments appeared before the Commissioners on Tuesday, with their requests for approval of various projects and/or contracts, much of the time was spent on two less ordinary matters. One was the public hearing on the matter of imposing a gravel tax. This tax ordinance "imposes a production tax on the removal of aggregate from pits, quarries, or deposits located within Rice County." This proposed tax was recently brought to the commissioners for discussion, by Dennis Luebbe, Highway Dept. head. The income from a gravel tax could be used to help finance the on-going care of roads and bridges in the county. Some of that money would go to the townships for help in keeping up their roads. Several audience members, as well as the commissioners, had questions about how the tax would work, but after discussion, the Commissioners voted in favor of the resolution establishing the gravel tax. 4-1. Plaisance voted no.
Since we are nearing the end of the year, it follows that the budget and tax levy are on everyone's mind. The next, end-of-year, business, included the elected officials' salary requests. These presentations included the official's duties, qualifications, performance, and a comparison of their salary compared to those holding the same position in nearby counties with populations near that of Rice County. There were presentations by: Marsha DeGroot, County Recorder; Paul Beaumaster, County Attorney; Richard Cook, Sheriff; and Fran Windschitl, Auditor/Treasurer. The Commissioners did not try to reach decisions on the salaries; that will be done in December. But they did discuss the budget and tax levy in light of the budget requests they had heard.Hard decisions are ahead.
LWV Observer - Georgiana Campbell
