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Supervisors debate township trustee, clerk pay rules; county attorney to draft new resolution
Summary
The board discussed state code requirements and options for compensating township trustees and clerks, including setting an hourly rate and a minimum per-meeting payment; no final resolution was adopted and the county attorney will draft language.
The Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors discussed changes to township trustee and clerk compensation requirements after direction from the board to have the county attorney review the existing resolution and applicable code.
County Attorney Dave told the board that the relevant code sections require the county to establish an hourly rate for trustees ‘‘while engaged in official business’’ and said the board may also establish a minimum per-meeting daily rate. "You have to set an hourly rate period, end of story," Dave said, and he recommended the board also set a minimum meeting rate for scheduled meetings so short meetings are handled consistently.
Board members debated specific figures and mechanics. Options discussed included a minimum meeting payment of $50 and an hourly rate of $15, with other supervisors expressing concern about the budgeting implications if trustees billed many hours. One supervisor suggested setting a lower hourly rate and keeping the meeting minimum to limit exposure if trustees reported many outside hours.
The board did not adopt a new resolution at the meeting; instead members asked the county attorney to draft a new resolution that sets an hourly rate and an optional minimum daily/meeting rate and return it for board consideration at a future meeting. Supervisors also discussed administrative details such as how trustees would document attendance and bill for hours and the distinction between compensation for regular township business versus separately compensated fence-viewer and trespass-animal work, which is paid from different funding sources.
Next steps: County Attorney Dave will draft a resolution for the board that (a) establishes an hourly rate for township trustees and clerks performing official township business; (b) offers the option to set a minimum per-meeting daily rate; and (c) clarifies which activities are excluded (fence viewers and trespass-animal matters). The draft will return to the board for formal action.
