COMMISSION GIVES RAISES TO CORONER AND ATTORNEY

    The Marshall County Commission met Wednesday, Jan. 21, to address a variety of county business, including coroner compensation, ambulance service activity, personnel matters and several resolutions.
    Marshall County Coroner Dan Neiber and Deputy Coroner Lori Amerman met with commissioners to discuss compensation for coroner calls and autopsies. Neiber said the paperwork and investigative work required for each case is extensive and noted that coroner pay has not been increased for several years. Amerman added that investigations often require reviewing years of records, which can take many hours. Following discussion, the commission approved increasing coroner pay to $400 per run, with an additional $400 if an autopsy is required. The previous rate was $225 per run. Deputy coroner pay will remain $100 when acting as deputy, but will increase to $400 when acting as coroner.
    Amerman, Primary Marshall County Ambulance Advisor, and Pam Bard, secondary advisor, presented a 2025 report for the Ambulance Service. The volunteer crew included one paramedic, one EMT-I, five EMT-Bs, three EVOC drivers and two EMT ride-along trainees. Volunteers logged a total of 18,111 hours of call time during the year, responding to 319 ambulance runs and 69 additional “other” runs. Commissioners also recognized Laurel Behnke for his many years of service as an EMT and wished him well in his retirement.
    Welfare Director Linda Haaland presented a welfare claim, and the board approved a $500 utility assistance payment to the City of Langford.
    The commission approved the county’s Hazardous Mitigation Plan and passed a Wildland Fire Designee resolution allowing the Marshall County Emergency Management Office to request fire suppression assistance from the state wildland fire coordinator. Commissioners also approved Marshall County’s participation in the state aid program for salaries of county veteran service officers.
    State’s Attorney Victor Rapkoch met with commissioners to discuss the county health insurance stipend. Rapkoch noted he had not requested an increase in several years. As a part-time state’s attorney under state law, he is entitled to prorated benefits. The commission approved an increase in Rapkoch’s annual salary to $58,156.66, effective Dec. 28, reflecting a $250-per-month increase to account for the additional stipend.
    Commissioners authorized the chair to sign a letter of agreement with the First District Association of Local Governments for county GIS 911 data maintenance. Equalization Director Katrina Johnson also informed the board that her office will transition to a web-based GIS system, ArcPro, at an annual cost of approximately $2,000, slightly less than the county’s current GIS program.
    The board accepted the resignation of Alecia Pearson, community building janitor, effective Feb. 4.
    A brief executive session was held at the end of the meeting for contract negotiations. The next Marshall County Commission meeting is scheduled for Feb. 3.