Proposed transit salaries in question
Official says full-time administrator needed
Comments (...)DIXON – Some Lee County Board members are questioning the proposed salaries for the top officials in the Lee-Ogle Transportation System.
Kathy Lalley, the acting administrator, is proposing the new administrator get $60,000 to $80,000 a year and the deputy administrator receive $50,000 to $55,000 a year.
At a committee meeting last month, County Board member Ed Fritts, R-Dixon, suggested adding the transit administrator’s duties to a new county administrator’s position. Lee County doesn’t have an administrator now.
Lalley questions whether federal money for the transportation service can go toward a county administrator’s position.
Last month, the Finance Committee asked State’s Attorney Henry Dixon to look into whether that legally could be done, officials said.
Half of Lalley’s salary comes from the treasurer’s office, where she works as the investment officer, and the other half from the federal grants for the transportation service, also known by its initials LOTS.
Lalley said she hasn’t decided whether she would apply for the permanent transit administrator’s position.
She now makes $20,500 as the part-time acting administrator.
She was sick last month when the Finance Committee questioned the salary projections. She said she would make sure to be at next week’s meeting to defend her numbers.
“We have a bi-county system. There is no protocol within the state of Illinois for a bi-county transit director. For someone with an MBA, $60,000 to $80,000 is not out of the realm. Call me logical; that’s how I arrived at $80,000,” Lalley said.
The administrator’s position needs to be full time, she said.
“I have five grants that are due between now and March 15. It’s impossible for someone to do that part time,” she said. “You’re not doing your due diligence as the administrator if you’re not trying to get funding at every turn.”
Lalley said she is managing to keep up because she is doing a lot of the work off the clock and getting help from current transportation providers.
“I feel like I’m not giving due service to either entity [treasurer or LOTS] because I’m split down the middle,” she said.
County Board member Dave Chandler, R-Dixon, who is a liaison between the board and LOTS, said he wanted an opinion from the state’s attorney before making a decision on how to handle the administrative positions.
But he agreed with Lalley that the federal money must be used for transit purposes.
The proposed salaries would take effect once the transportation service opens its new facility, which could be later this year.
The new building will be in the industrial park at Interstate 88 and state Route 26 in Dixon. The service is expected to expand with the facility, Lalley said.
The agency provided 106,000 rides last year and is on track to give well over 120,000 this year, she said.
A formal groundbreaking ceremony was held in mid-November, but actual construction isn’t expected to start until April or May.
The agency is waiting for state approval to begin the bidding process, Lalley said. If all goes as planned, the new building could be ready by November, she said.
“That could be backed up if we don’t get concurrence from the state right away.”
To attend
The Lee County Board’s Finance Committee will meet at 9 a.m. Feb. 16 on the third floor of the Old County Courthouse, 112 E. Second St., in Dixon.
The committee may discuss proposed salaries for top officials in the Lee-Ogle Transportation Service.
Go to www.countyoflee.org or call 815-288-5676 for more information.
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They don't even have a building yet and are already getting carried away with outlandish salary and personnel proposals. I hope David will delve deeper into this. I have a lot of questions. |
