Lots of discussion took place at yesterday’s Houghton County Board of Commissioners meeting and the hot topic was a wage increase. Judges from the family, district and circuit courts wanted the three court administrators to be paid the same and asked for two-pay-grade increase. The board declined the request and directed the judges to take their grievances to the wage committee, which was put in place to deal with these kinds of issues. Board Chair Scott Ala says among other things, the board does not want to set any kind of precedent with this decision and the judges must go through the system that is in place.
The board also approved a resolution to establish a new water level at Rice Lake and agreed to begin union negotiations with the Houghton County Sheriff’s Department.