There are several Switzerland County residents who currently have been elected to serve on boards, commissions, and councils.
In that service, those board members earn a salary, along with some getting other benefits.
Here’s a rundown of different boards and what those members earn:
VEVAY TOWN COUNCIL
There are three members of the Vevay Town Council: Jamie Hayes, Keith Smith, and Josh South. Vevay Town Clerk-Treasurer said that each town councilman earns $4,326 per year. This is an annual salary, and council members do not receive any further compensation for additional meetings that they may have to call or hold during the year.
The Vevay Town Council meets two times each month, so with no additional meetings, each member earns $180.25 per meeting.
Members of the Vevay Town Council are not included in the town’s group health insurance plan, and are not eligible to participate in it.
PATRIOT TOWN COUNCIL
Members of the Patriot Town Council also serve as the board of the Patriot Water Utility, and each town council meeting is also a water utility board meeting.
There are three members of the Patriot Town Council: Robert L. Robinson, Mike Thomas, and Wayne Turner, Jr. Patriot Clerk-Treasurer Linda Fisk said that the council meets one time per month, and each councilman earns $35 per meeting from the town as a town councilman; and $60 from Patriot Water Company for their role as the water board.
The $95 per month is the only compensation that the town councilmen receive. Like Vevay, there is no additional pay should the board need to hold another meeting during the month. They also are not included in the town’s group health insurance plans, and are not eligible to participate in it.
Overall, each member of the Patriot Town Council earns $1,140 per year.
SWITZERLAND COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
There are three members of the Switzerland County Commissioners, one representing each of three districts in the county. The commissioners are: Mark Lohide, John Haskell, and Steve Lyons.
Switzerland County Auditor Gayle Rayles said that there are two commissioners meetings each month, but because of the nature of their positions being over the county highway department, commissioners are ‘on duty’ 24 hours per day, seven days per week. She also noted that there are a few joint meetings with the county council, as well as a wrap up meeting at the end of the year.
Overall, she estimated that the Commissioners hold around 28 meetings per year.
Each Commissioner earns $13,730.85 per year; and there is no extra compensation if the Commissioners have to attend additional meetings.
Based on 28 meetings per year, each Commissioner earns $490.38 per meeting. Each County Commissioner also has access to being a part of the county’s group health insurance plan. If a Commissioner would want to participate, they must pay the same fees and rates as any county employee who is participating in the plan.
SWITZERLAND COUNTY
COUNCIL
The Switzerland County Council consists of seven members. Four of those members represent specific districts in the county; while the other three are ‘at large’ members, meaning that they can reside anywhere in the county.
The seven members of the Switzerland County Council are: Tom Conroy, Mike Jones, Glenn Scott, Jeff Darling, Terry Hall, Rachel Schuler, and Steve Crabtree.
County Auditor Gayle Rayles said that each County Councilman earns $7,558.17 per year; and that along with one monthly meeting, the council also participates in joint meetings with the county commissioners as well as an end of the year wrap up meeting.
She estimates that the County Council holds about 15 meetings per year, which would be an average salary of $503.87 per meeting. There is no additional pay if the County Council needs to hold an additional meeting during the year.
Each County Councilman also has access to being a part of the county’s group health insurance plan. If a Commissioner would want to participate, they must pay the same fees and rates as any county employee who is participating in the plan.
SWITZERLAND COUNTY
SCHOOL BOARD
The Switzerland County School Board of Trustees consists of seven members: one member representing each of the county’s six townships, and one member representing the Town of Vevay.
The seven members of the Switzerland County School Board are: Nancy Peters, Bill Roberts, Andy Truitt, Wayne Daugherty, Josh Deck, Tammy Hayes, and Vern Waltz.
According to School Corporation Treasurer Wilma Swango, each school board member earns $112 for each regular or special meeting of the board. The school board is scheduled to hold one meeting per month.
Each school board member also earns an additional $62 for each committee meeting that they may be a part of; and each board member earns a $2,000 per year salary in addition to the per meeting compensation.
Each School Board member also has access to being a part of the school corporation’s group health insurance plan. If a school board would want to participate, they must pay the same fees and rates as a school administrator.