County attorney, sheriff get hefty pay increases

The Carlton County board approved a 2025 budget of $84.9 million on Dec. 23, but not before lengthy discussions on pay increases for the elected county sheriff and attorney.

Sheriff Kelly Lake, in her 19th year in elected office, was approved for a nearly $20,000 pay increase, from $142,937 in 2024 to $161,387 in 2025. Twice-elected county attorney Lauri Ketola was increased from $152,734 to $163,800.

“I do think it matters that you have people in positions who really care about what they do and commit themselves to doing really good work,” said Ketola, who reminded the board that in 2019 it set a goal to catch up salaries of elected department heads to be more competitive.

Until recently, the positions hadn’t been on the county wage scale, but were instead negotiated by the elected officials themselves.

The board agreed in 2023 to move the leaders of those elected offices onto the wage scale.

“My wage had never been placed on the scale prior to that,” Lake told the board.

Officials noted Lake had refused several years of potential increases, labeling her “unselfish” as she deferred her own raises in favor of increases for those around her.

“We’re not supposed to advocate for them,” county coordinator Dennis Genereau said of the sheriff and attorney. “But, there’s a certain standard that needs to be applied.”

Despite being reelected repeatedly this century and being one of the longest-serving county employees at 35 total years, Lake was the lowest-paid department head who was at the top of her wage scale.

“The sheriff has been working here for 35 years,” commissioner Gary Peterson said. “We have to take that into consideration.”

“I am by far one of the longest-serving sheriffs in the state,” Lake said, citing research she conducted. “Several have higher salaries than I have or [what] I’m asking for.”

The commissioners also approved a 3.75-percent increase for their positions, bringing an annual commissioner’s salary to $27,383 — up from $26,393 in 2024. The 3.75-percent increase matched pay increases approved for staffers following contract negotiations throughout 2024.

District 3 commissioner Tom Proulx, representing most of Cloquet, was the dissenting vote in the twin 3-1 tallies to increase pay for both the sheriff and county attorney. Proulx set forth failed motions that would have raised those positions’ salaries by 3.75 percent — equal to the 2025 staff and commissioner increases.

When discussing his position, Proulx cited December’s Truth in Taxation hearing, where a few citizens complained about tax increases and appealed to the board to keep costs under control.

“Giving a $20,000 increase to one person in one year? I have a hard time doing that,” Proulx said about the sheriff’s salary increase.

In the end, the board seemed to follow through with its intentions to use its wage scale, which was also reapproved for 2025. The wage scale features grades from 100 to 260, going up in 10-unit increments between the endpoints. Employees can increase their pay through longevity and by rising within their grade, and also by jumping up in grade by adding new roles, skills and responsibilities.

Chair Susan Zmyslony and vice chair Marv Bodie joined Peterson in approving the salary increases.

“I’m just trying to be fair and think of the taxpayers in this situation,” Peterson said of the back and forth. “It’s nothing personal or anything like that.”

Battling health issues, commissioner Dick Brenner was not in attendance. Brenner has missed several meetings to end the year as he closed out 32 years representing District 1, which spans rural Cloquet, Scanlon and Sawyer. Genereau said he’d talked to the Brenner family and learned that the commissioner was “on the mend.” Genereau hoped Brenner could make a ceremonial appearance before the board in January.

With approval of the budget, the board set the property tax levy increase at 3 percent over 2024, to $34.4 million total. Property taxes typically make up roughly 40 percent of the budget for any given year, with county fees/charges and state and federal grants making up the lion’s share of additional revenues.

The budget was approved without discussion.

Peterson farewell

Outgoing District 5 commissioner Gary Peterson, representing Cromwell, Wright, Moose Lake and Kettle River, delivered a short farewell to the board on Dec. 23. Afterward, he handed out honey as gifts to fellow commissioners. Peterson keeps bees on his property.

“I can’t believe 12 years have gone by so quickly,” he said.

A retired teacher and high school referee, Peterson served three terms on the county board. He was elected in November to the board of the Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District, representing District 4.

Peterson said he’s learned a lot and developed friendships with his fellow commissioners and staffers throughout the county.

“We can have a little humor and laugh at things,” said Peterson, who was prone to lightening the mood. “Life is so short and goes by so quickly … I’ll treasure your friendship for the rest of our lives.”