By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
Geary County Commissioners have set the annual salary for the new sheriff Nate Boeckman at $129,604.80, the amount recommended by a consultant.
There was some difficult discussion on this topic after Commissioner Kathy Tremont expressed interest in putting the salary at the beginning of a specific range for the sheriff, which was lower. She did not at that point support the $129,604.80 amount.
After a presentation by Boeckman on his experience and qualifications, input from staff to follow the consultant's recommended amount, support from a member of the general public in attendance for the higher salary, and comparisons with some other counties showing the pay in Geary County was lower, Commissioner Trish Giordano moved to put the salary at the $129,604.80 level. It died for lack of a second.
More discussion ensued with Tremont then eventually moving in favor of $129, 604.80. Commissioners Keith Ascher and Trish Giordano also voted yes.
The governing body also set the annual salary for Kathy Tremont at $41,624.00, which is the equivalent of the salaries paid to the other two commissioners.