In its final meeting of the year, the Mower County Board set elected official pay levels, said thank you to a retiring employee and approved two contracts.

The top item on the board agenda was the retirement recognition of Kathleen Grant, senior office support specialist in the Recorder’s Office. She gave 11 years of service to the county.

The board also approved contracts for the sheriff’s deputies and jailers. The contracts are effective July 1, 2017, to June 20, 2020.

The County Board approved the salaries for elected officials as recommended by the Personnel Committee. According to the report given to the board, the committee reviewed job duties, changes in workload and job performance as well as salary data from counties comparable to Mower. The approved 2018 salaries, effective Jan. 1, are:

•$115,422.51 for the county attorney, up from $112,607.34;

•$105,188.15 for the sheriff, up from $102,622.59;

•$74,457.14 for the recorder, up from $70,274.46;

•$58,106.05 for the auditor-treasurer, maintaining the 2017 salary;

•$24,200 for the minimum county commissioner salary, the same as 2017; and

•$50 for the commissioner’s per diem payment for in-county meetings and $65 for out-of-county meetings, the same at 2017.

The County Board also approved increasing non-union wages by 2.5 percent to be consistent with what’s been negotiated for unions in 2018. Health insurance premiums are also consistent.

The county human resources director has board permission to fill vacancies as they occur in 2018, rather than waiting on board approval.

In other action the board

•Approved a budget amendment for the Sheriff’s Department in net amount of $48,625 to allow for the replacement of a wrecked vehicle. Because of the age of it, the county could not get full replacement from its insurance, County Coordinator Craig Oscarson said.

•Approved subordinating a sewer loan for Daniel and Katie Mallory for refinancing purposes.