August 25, 2026, Wells Co Special Meeting Part 6 of 6

Wells County Special Meeting

August 25, 2026

Budget

Part 1 is Flash Back to the Past:  Oliver Bromke’s Interview and Commissioners McHenry Motion Passed.

Part 2 through 6

Bromke, States Attorney, for both McHenry County and Wells County discussion:  Wells County is paying same salary plus Health & Dental insurance.  McHenry refused to help with cost of Heath & Dental which comes to $36,000.00 annually paid by Wells County; A formal letter to be sent to McHenry from the auditor, Dan Stutlein, signed by the Wells County Commissioners due to Bromke spends more time in McHenry County; He is paid the same from both Counties.

Reservation on State meeting not full disclosure

Think about what Stutlein is saying about saving the county money by him absorbing positions.  Did we really pay out the amounts stated?

Health insurance cost discussion: Single, family and no insurance gap; there is a 3% cap by State regulations.

Additional increase in cost: Water Board, health, soil conservation, Historical Society and extension Services; Everyone is getting a tax increase due to vote.

Road Department: increase revenue on ballot vote; has 9 Blades; money from general fund can end now; counties highest expenses; problem finding workers; capital projects is part of the road department funds; Townships need to fix roads for the county to maintain. 

Longevity Plan:  Pay policy; declining value of increase as the years of service increase; Bromke & Stutlein have max pay even though they don’t have longevity; (Dan has not been there long and has max pay?); Lautt want to study the longevity plan before putting into practice.  The rest of the room told Lautt they have a salary schedule in place; therefore, request denied.

Savings on employee salaries by positions share: Auditor office=1 employee, Recorders office =1 employee; 10% increase for recorder’s office; pay increases & mileage discussion.

Sheriff: Federal fund discussion; proposed reduction to Sheriff salary by 20% due to lack of communication (??) (States Attorney not there; Why Sheriff?); pre-budgeted level; complaints by ambulance services & fire departments.

Road Department:  Budget will be increased because of roads; Brent has not completed his budgets; Communication on future cost issues; bills sent without prior notice.

Next Meeting: September 8, 2026, Commissioner’s meeting held in courtroom.

Six County Topic: Sept. 10th, 2026, Ashley, ND; NDSU Extension; shared employees between counties; Shared in county employees; (how can another county represent another county without knowing the people’s needs and wants of the county.