Letter to the Editor: $18,000 pay raise to City Administrator is "like handing out candy"

--Marcia Hardy of Decorah sends this Letter to the Editor in response to our previous news story (http://www.decorahnews.com/news-stories/2016/04/13423.html) about the Decorah City Council awarding an $18,000 pay raise to City Administrator Chad Bird:

"Typical government just hand out money like candy.  This is taxpayer money and I am sure there are people in Decorah who just make $18,000 a year.  What exactly did Mr. Bird do to deserve such a raise?  Take some classes that the taxpayers paid for?  Has he really improved the quality of life in Decorah? (Streets, etc.)  Does this equal the percentage that the city employees received? Does this have anything to do with the fact that Mr. Bird is looking for a new job?  The county supervisors did not even take the full raises that were suggested for them.  When do we do what is right for the taxpayer?