Pay raises for mayor and city council win approval

Decorah's mayor and seven city council members would be getting pay raises under a proposal which won approval on Tuesday night.

The pay for city council members would increase on January 1st of 2018 from $40 per meeting to $50 per meeting.  The mayor's salary increase from $350 a month to $400 a month.

The proposal passed 4-3, with council members Bellrichard, Carlson, Rustad and Johnson voting in favor and Schissel, Luse and Lore voting against.  Schissel had proposed keeping the pay at $40 per city council meeting, but paying $20 per  meeting of outside boards which have a city council representative.  Luse proposed scheduling work sessions of city council members at a regular schedule and keeping pay at $40 per meeting.  Both proposals would have the effect of being the same amount as a $50 per month salary, but neither proposal gathered traction.