Crow Wing County commissioners received a total of $26,032.83 in per diems and travel expenses in 2011, beyond their annual wage.

Commissioners receive a base salary of $28,051 and may claim a $50 per diem, or pay, for meeting attendance, along with travel expenses. Per diems and expenses payments ranged from zero for Commissioner Doug Houge to $12,105 for Commissioner Paul Thiede.

Expense breakdown by district:

• Commissioner Rosemary Franzen, District 4: per diem, $4,750; travel expense, $2,188.09; total, $6,938.09.

• Commissioner Rachel Reabe Nystrom, District 3: per diem, $3,900; travel expense, $2,089.45; total, $5,989.45.

• Commissioner Paul Thiede, District 2: per diem, $5,250; travel expenses, $6,855.29; total, $12,105.29.

• Commissioner Phil Trusty, District 1: per diem, $1,000; travel expenses, $0; total, $1,000.

• Commissioner Doug Houge, District 5: per diem, $0; travel expenses, $0.

Houge does not claim per diems or submit vouchers for expense reimbursement. Houge said the salary covers the job and his view was not to take additional reimbursement.

Thiede said he expected 2011’s per diem and expenses to be higher than previous years and there were two contributing factors, including his year as board chairman and his campaign for second vice president with the Association of Minnesota Counties. As chairman, Thiede traveled to the Transportation Alliance annual Washington Fly-In in the nation’s capital. In his campaign, Thiede said he traveled to 10 different district meetings from Caledonia to Hibbing.

Thiede said he believes there is a benefit from the travel to the Washington Fly-In by raising the Congressional delegation’s awareness of Crow Wing County. And Thiede said his campaign for AMC office, which was unsuccessful by nine votes, increased visibility for the county’s name and was part of his appointment to a rule review committee for jail standards. Crow Wing County previously expressed an interest in putting a detox facility in an unused jail pod but ran into resistance. Thiede said if the county isn’t involved in AMC, it could miss out on finding ideas that worked elsewhere or be unable to share what is working here with others.

Thiede said he doesn’t base his participation on how it will be reported.

“My measurement is whether or not I believe it’s worthwhile to my constituents, my district and the county,” he said. “If I feel it’s worthwhile, I do it without compulsion.”

In 2010, the commissioners received a total of $22,967.61. In 2010, Thiede had per diems of $3,800 and expenses of $4,131.37. Franzen had per diems of $5,600 and expenses of $1,940.24. Nystrom had per diems of $4,000 and expenses of $911.66. Trusty had per diems of $1,300 and expenses of $1,284.34.

In 2009, total per diem and expenses by commissioners came to $23,876.72 with $7,440.47 for Franzen; zero for Houge; $5,383.22 for Nystrom; $9,874.75 for Thiede; $1,178.28 for Trusty.

Two years ago, the state auditor’s office received complaints about the county’s per diem payments and the state auditor suggested the county consider changes to its policy for board members. Now, commissioners provide at least a verbal report to the board after attending various meetings.

RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at 855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com.