By Charlene Sims, info@linncountyjournal.com
MOUND CITY – The Linn County Commission meeting was canceled due to a lack of quorum on Monday, Sept. 16. Commission Chair Danny McCullough and Commissioner Jim Johnson notified County Clerk David Lamb that they were unable to attend.
One of the concerns is whether bills are paid when commissioners don’t hold a one of their otherwise weekly meetings. According to Lamb, bills would have to be paid to avoid late fees. He also said that payroll is actually paid on Friday and approved by the commission after the fact, so there was no concern about employees not being paid.
In April, commissioners approved Policy Letter 2024-01, which allows the county commission, members of the county planning and zoning commission, and other county committee members to attend meetings remotely by Zoom or conference call.
Some commissioners had been attending meetings by conference call when they had other obligations out of town before this resolution was approved. McCullough and Commissioner Jason Hightower have both attended a meeting by Zoom since the policy was adopted.
According to Lamb, for the Monday, Sept. 16, meeting, McCullough did not ask to attend the meeting remotely. Johnson, who was absent on both Sept. 9 and Sept. 16, had told Lamb that he was probably going to be in an area that would not have good service, but if it was necessary to reach him about something to try and call him.
Per the resolution, 2024-01 Salary Schedule, the Linn County Commissioners receive $28,136 a year or about $546 per week. Since this is paid as a salary, they receive pay even when they do not attend meetings. They also are eligible for the county benefits.
In addition to attending regularly schedule commission meetings, which last from three to five hours and sometimes longer, they also field phone calls and other communications during the week as well as meeting with department heads.
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