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Supervisors weigh hourly pay, $50 meeting stipend for township trustees and clerks
Summary
The board discussed replacing or supplementing the $50-per-meeting stipend for township trustees and clerks with an hourly rate to cover prep time; staff said state law requires an hourly rate be available and recommended an honor-system claim process; board asked county attorney to draft a resolution.
Chickasaw County supervisors debated March 10 how to compensate township trustees and clerks for work beyond scheduled meetings and how to document that work.
The current practice of a $50 stipend per scheduled meeting was discussed alongside a proposed hourly rate to cover research, preparation and unscheduled duties. Board members said some clerks told them they attend multiple meetings or respond to emergency calls and suggested a combination of a fixed meeting stipend plus hourly pay for additional documented hours.
A staff member told supervisors the relevant state law requires counties to provide for hourly compensation if the board elects to pay more than a meeting stipend; the staff member said that, in practice, the county would pay claims submitted by trustees and the board would evaluate unusual claims.
“One trustee said, ‘I’m working 30 hours a week on trustee issues and I’m all paid,’ and my guess is you guys are bringing them in here and say, ‘help us understand,’” a staff member said, describing how the board would handle excessive claims. The staff member characterized the system as an honor system that the board would review.
Why it matters: Supervisors noted trustees and clerks sometimes handle wildfire calls or emergency business outside scheduled meetings, and the board must balance fair compensation with fiscal oversight and documentation requirements.
Board direction: Supervisors asked the county attorney to draft a replacement resolution that preserves the $50 minimum per scheduled meeting and sets an hourly rate for additional work. Board members discussed a nominal hourly rate (examples mentioned included $1 or the state minimum-wage floor) while recognizing the need to set an administratively workable amount and a claim process.
No final vote was taken; the item will return as a drafted resolution for board approval.
Ending: Staff said they would prepare a draft resolution and circulate it to supervisors for review ahead of a subsequent meeting.
