Houghton County board offers administrator post to Chelsea Rheault with $91,303 starting salary

The Houghton County Board of Commissioners voted Oct. 21 to offer Chelsea Rheault the county administrator position, with a starting MP-13, 2nd-year salary of $91,303 and a planned promotion to the MP-13, 3rd-year rate of $95,914 after she obtains her CPA. The special meeting was called to order by Chairman Tom Tikkanen at 10:30 a.m. in the 5th Floor Conference Room of the Houghton County Courthouse.

Commissioner Roy Britz, reporting on a Personnel Committee meeting with Rheault, presented the compensation plan and appointment terms. "An offer of MP-13, 2nd year rate of $91,303.00 with a promotion to the 3rd year rate of $95,914.00 after she receives her CPA" was placed before the board, which then considered a motion to offer Rheault the administrator position effective Oct. 25, 2024. Commissioner Joel Keranen moved the motion and Commissioner Gretchen Janssen seconded it; the motion carried 4–0 (Commissioners Keranen, Janssen, Tikkanen and Britz voting yes; Commissioner Glenn Anderson absent).

No members of the public spoke on the agenda item. After the vote, Commissioner Joel Keranen congratulated Rheault on her new position. The board adjourned at 10:40 a.m. following a motion to end the meeting that carried by voice vote with four ayes and no nays; the record shows Commissioner Anderson as absent for the session.

The record does not specify funding sources, start-up or transition tasks associated with the administrator’s office, or whether the promotion on receipt of a CPA will require separate board approval; those details were not provided in the meeting minutes.