MASON CITY – The Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday and acknowledged appointments to the Compensation Board.
The board recognized the appointment of Tom Jolas (appointed by county attorney) and Richard Finstad (appointed by the sheriff), who were already members but whose terms were expiring. The board is made up of seven appointed persons made by elected officials. The board does not make public policy, but simply makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for any annual wage increase it feels is warranted.
Jolas, a former Mason City Mayor, also belongs to two other county boards: Compensation Commission in eminent domain proceedings and the North Iowa Corridor EDC board. Finstad is not on any other boards.
County Personnel Director Tom Drzycimski explained today that the Board of Supervisors does not “approve” the appointments to the board; they simply acknowledge the appointments at meetings. Supervisors do, however, appoint two members to the compensation board to represent themselves.
Drzycimski elaborated Tuesday that a compensation board seat listed as “vacant” on the Cerro Gordo county website is actually held by Marybeth Greenan, who was appointed to the board by County Auditor Ken Kline. Drzycimski said that the supervisors have never acknowledged the appointment publicly. He said Ken Kline simply informed the supervisors’ secretary of his appointment. Drzycimski said Greenan is sent all correspondence related to the compensation board. Greenan has not attended an annual compensation board public meeting in the last two years where the board comes to a consensus on what, if any, wage increase it recommends for the elected officials. Greenan said Tuesday evening that she has submitted letters each year that outlined her recommendations. Work conflicts have prevented her from attending, she said.
A report released this year by the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University and Friends of the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women indicated that county compensation boards must be gender balanced. The report claims that county compensation boards cannot be made up of one gender as more than half the members, plus one. The Cerro Gordo County Compensation Board is made up of 6 men and 1 woman.
However, Drzycimski, looking at Iowa state code, indicated that the laws are ambiguous and do not apply to this particular board, as it does not make public policy and each member is independently appointed by an elected official. Iowa code explaining county compensation boards can be found here and the gender balance law can be found here.
The Board of Supervisors also approved a wage increase today that affects their pay and that of elected officials – which was set by the compensation board at a meeting last December – of 2.25%.
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The Cerro Gordo County website lists the following persons as members of the compensation board:
Tim LaPointe, appointed by the Board of Supervisors Four Year Term, Expires June 30, 2015
Dave Theiss, appointed by the Board of Supervisors Four Year Term, Expires June 30, 2015
John Stone, appointed by the County Treasurer Four Year Term, Expires June 30, 2015
Richard Finstad, appointed by the County Sheriff Four Year Term, Expires June 30, 2013
VACANT, appointed by the County Auditor Four Year Term
Tom Jolas, Chairman, appointed by the County Attorney Four Year Term, Expires June 30, 2013
Scott Brown, appointed by the County Recorder Four Year Term, Expires June 30, 2013
Jolas was easily the most crooked mayor we have had in my opinion. He did more to take down this city than everyone other than Kew who destroyed the downtown with Jolas’s help. I can’t believe he is allowed to take part in our government. It shows just how slimy our county government is.
Hasn’t Jolas in the past couple of years had major issues with the IRS, as well as the feds? Cant remember the details but I know he had charges against him. Now he is on the compensation board how interesting.
Matt can you give me the background on his issues, with the federal government.
You don’t need a gun to steal money and this proves it.
As they said in the movie The Sting….”The Fix Is In!”
License to steal at its finest. Appoint your buddy to suggest your raise. This way most people won’t question what is going on.