The Leighton Township Board Thursday evening agreed to pay an assistant assessor $18 per hour and raise each of the other assistants pay by $1 an hour hour effective June 1.
The board made the move at the request of Assessor Laura Stob. If the assistant Stob recommends rejects the offer, the rate will be decreased to $16 an hour.
The assistant assessor will make more hourly than the assistant clerk ($15), assistant treasurer ($15.50), administrative assistant ($14.50) and assistant supervisor ($16) before the raises kick in.
Supervisor Steve Deer said, “Wages in Leighton have not risen very far or very fast. But I consider part of my job to be public service.”
Clerk Mary Lou Niewenhuis said, “I enjoy my job because I love my community.”
Deer added, however, “We’re getting similar surrounding townships (in pay). We don’t want to keep wages low so that no one wants the job.”
Library Board Member Faith Miedema said she believes the Township Board does a terrific job at a low cost, especially when compared to the salaries of officials of neighboring Byron Township.
In other business Thursday, the board:
• Approved a play amendment to permit splitting of Lots 20 and 21 at 4610 Hilltop Drive. Zoning Enforcement Administrator Kirk Scharphorn Jr. of Professional Code Inspections said it makes better sense to split the pacels to allow two houses on two lots.
• Noted that the number of parcels out of zoning compliance in the township have been reduced from about 500 to just 16. Deer told Scharphorn to visit the residences one last time before issuing a citation.
• Adopted a resolution for a special weed assessment district for Round Lake after a public hearing at which their was no opposition. Another resolution approved 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, at the date and time of the second hearing for those who do not wish to be included in the project.
• Reported that work on the recent master plan surveys continues, with strong interest in a trail system. A Survey Monkey application will appear on the township web site in late June.