Per diem pay adds to pay of officials

Current Crow Wing County commissioners received $23,876.72 in per diem allowances and expenses for 2009.

Those reimbursements added to an annual base salary of $28,500 in 2009. Expenses provide repayment for such items as mileage. Per diem of $50 per day is allowed for commissioners to attend meetings.

By the numbers

Commissioner, per diem, expenses, total per diem/mileage for 2009

Rosemary Franzen, District 4, $5,750, $1,690.47, $7,440.47.

Doug Houge, District 5, $0.

Rachel Nystrom, District 3, $3,950, $1,433.22, $5,383.22.

Paul Thiede, District 2, $4,950, $4,924.75, $9,874.75.

Phil Trusty, District 1, $950, $228.28, $1,178.28.

Source: Crow Wing County.

Commissioner Rosemary Franzen received the most per diem payments last year. Franzen said she works hard, has the most committees to attend and she goes to the meetings in order to be informed on the issues.

Franzen said she feels the people who elected her expect her to be informed.

"I do go to more meetings than some people," Franzen said. "I do believe a majority of people want commissioners informed and you get your information at those meetings."

Commissioner Doug Houge did not take any per diem payment and didn't claim any expenses for 2009 and doesn't plan to in 2010. For part of that time, Houge was unemployed after he was laid off in June and before he found a new job at the end of December.

Houge said his view is to try to save money and even a few dollars makes a difference, as he noted the recent request at the county board for $500 to help pay the mileage for volunteer drivers who transport people to medical appointments.

"We've got to save any amount of money we can," Houge said. "We are paid a salary for a reason and part of that should include getting to and from our job."

Commissioner Paul Thiede had the highest overall expenses. Thiede, Pequot Lakes, said he hopes people recognize he lives the farthest from Brainerd. Thiede said he doesn't take mileage to attend regular county board meetings but he will if he has a second meeting later in the day he returns to attend. In addition, some of Thiede's committee appointments mean traveling to Owatonna, Alexandria or Walker regarding sessions such as the South Country Health Alliance, regional radio discussions and Mississippi Headwaters Board.

"I believe I make responsible choices on what meetings to attend," Thiede said.

Both Franzen and Thiede said they didn't take per diems for all the meetings they go to.

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