PINE CITY
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015 VOL. 130 NO. 52 www.pinecitymn.com $1.00
CHRISTMAS WISHES: Pine City students share their favorite things about Christmas. P5
County approves $16 million tax levy BY HENRY FISCHER NEWS@PINECITYMN.COM
The Pine County Board last week approved a final property tax levy of $15,942,799 for 2016, up 4.89 percent from this year. Property taxes represent about 44 percent of the county’s $36 million budget next year. Commissioners also approved a 1.5 percent cost-of-living increase plus a
1.5 percent market adjustment for nonunion employees and approved a nonunion pay scale effective Jan. 1, 2016 that allows for performance pay increases up to six percent for non-union employees who are not at the top of their pay range; increases above six percent or above the pay range maximum require approval of the county’s personnel committee and county board. Salaries for Pine County elected officials in 2016 are: County Auditor/Trea-
surer, $87,000; County Sheriff, $92,000; and County Attorney, $95,500. Commissioner salaries were set at $21,844 plus $100 per diem for attending meetings, plus mileage reimbursement to follow the federal IRS rate. Commissioners also approved new multi-year labor agreements with three of its 10 employee bargaining units. New two-year contracts were signed with the road and bridge supervisors and AFSCME highway technicians that reflect
a 1.5 percent cost-of-living increase in both 2016 and 2017, plus a three percent market adjustment in 2016 and a 1.5 percent market adjustment in 2017. A new three-year agreement was reached with the sheriff’s deputies, represented by the Teamsters, that provide for 1.5 percent cost-of-living increases in 2016, 2017 and 2018, plus two percent annual market adjustments in each of SEE LEVY, PAGE 14
Fire hits hard in county, city BY MIKE GAINOR • PART 1 OF 2 EDITOR@PINECITYMN.COM
Though Minnesota’s fire deaths are at the highest level since 2011, there have yet been no deaths caused by fire in Pine County in 2015. However, a recent report shows that the county – and the Pine City area – have been struck particularly hard by fire in recent years. PAST FIRE DEATHS IN PINE COUNTY The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s “2014 Fire In Minnesota” report shows there were 19 civilian fire deaths between 1990-2014, putting Pine County 14th out of the 87 counties in the state for this tragic statistic. Hennepin County had the
highest number of deaths with 210, while three counties had zero civilian fire deaths. In Minnesota overall there were 1,266 civilian fire deaths during the 19902014 period.
COUNTY, CITY ECONOMY HIT HARD BY FIRE Fortunately, there were no deaths by fire in Pine County in 2014. However, local residents did suffer economically. According to the report, with a Pine County population of 28,116, there were 148 fire runs and 415 other runs in the county in 2014 – coming to one fire for every 370 people. In 2014, the Pine City Fire Department SEE FIRE, PAGE 14
Pine, Kanabec may break up public health collaboration
he characterized as the Pine County Board’s failure to provide strong leadership to the county’s health and human services staff and acknowledged that both counties have differing views on vision and staffing. “We’ve always enjoyed a cooperative agreement with Kanabec County since 1991,” Pine County Commissioner Steve Chaffee added, but pointed out that “They [Kanabec County] are not looking at this the same way we are. They want to combine the whole thing,” he said, but Pine County would like its employees to remain Pine County employees.” “The dynamics of personnel is the biggest game-changer,” Hallan said. “The
BY HENRY FISCHER NEWS@PINECITYMN.COM
PHOTO PROVIDED
Leos help ring in the season Members of the Pine City Leos Club lent a hand for the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign at Chris’ Food Center in Pine City, with funds going to local causes.
Pine County’s enhanced collaboration with Kanabec County on public health may come to an end a year from now. The Pine County Board passed a resolution notifying Kanabec County and the Minnesota Department of Health that Pine County plans to withdraw from the Kanabec/Pine Community Health Board effective Jan. 1, 2017. Action came on a 4-1 vote with Board Chair Steve Hallan voting no. Hallan, who on numerous occasions pointed out that Pine County wishes to operate its public health program with its own staff, ultimately said he is not in favor of withdrawing. He apologized for what
SEE PUBLIC HEALTH, PAGE 14
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