Posted: 6/26/02

FL council, mayor get pay hike

Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

The Forest Lake City Council Monday night gave themselves a raise.

The raise, which has been in discussion for several meetings, had to be set prior to the election due to statute. The raise will go into effect January 1, 2003.

The council, on a 3-2 vote, approve a $1000 yearly increase for the city council and a $1500 yearly increase for the mayor. This is the first pay increase in four years.

The council discussed other possibilities for compensation including a stipend for meetings above and beyond regular city council meetings.

Councilman Bruce Carlson suggested $70 per meeting would be appropriate while Councilman Tom Lynch thought $55 was a better number though he did prefer straight salary.

ìIn all fairness we should have stipends for any thing over regular council meetings,î Carlson said.

Councilwoman Judy Bull, who made the motion for the approved increase, said it was difficult to find an appropriate number.

ìWith two meetings a month and committees, weíre going in lots of directions we didnít go before,î she said.

ìI think we should look at salaries more often,î Bull added.

Councilman Terry Smith said he was against stipends for meetings, but did favor an increase.

ìI donít really favor a stipend at all,î he said. ìSeventy dollars a meetingóthat blows me away to even hear that.î

He added stipends could make for ìtouchy situationsî in volunteering for committees. He also pondered the accounting nightmare of keeping track of meetings.

Park position

The council approved the hiring of Stacy L. Pearson for the new park board assistant/coordinator position. Pearson, who has experience with the Lindstrom Park Department, replaces Carole Nelson, who resigned.

Voting

The Memorial Day weekend fire at Hosanna Lutheran Church left the city short a polling place.

Due to the fire, voters in precinct 4 will vote at Forest Hills United Methodist Church, 1790 SE 11th St.

Meetings

The Forest Lake City Council regularly meets at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month in the city council chambers.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 8.

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