Moody County employees will get an extra 1 percent pay increase after county commissioners found that insurance costs would not increase as much as expected.
The bump in pay will be 3 percent next year, instead of the planned two percent. They county is saving about $37,000 from what it budgeted for a jump in insurance premiums and will use $20,000 of that for the additional pay increase, said Auditor Kristina Krull.
Along with the wage increases, the commission changed Director of Equalization DeAnna Berke’s pay to the same pay as that of elected officials such as auditor, treasurer and register of deeds. Those positions will earn $51,860 next year, including the 3 percent increase. Berke had been paid $48,900.
County commissioners voted to not take any pay increase for 2018 and will earn the same as this year, $12,631.

Commission Chairman Jerry Doyle said that providing better wages helps the county keep staff. “We’ve found if we pay people better, turnover is way down,” he said.
In other county business,
•Commissioners want to hire a paramedic. The county had advertised for an ambulance supervisor but didn’t get much interest so won’t be filling that position and instead will advertise for a paramedic.
•County employees will get Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 off as holidays, following the state schedule to provide those days as holidays.
•The county has taken at least one complaint about its elevator, but during a discussion commissioners were assured that staff helps people who are unable to use stairs by serving them on the main floor. Voting was set up in the Farmers Room at the courthouse so that people unable to go up steps were able to vote, for example.
•The town of Ward will increase its policing services from two hours to four hours a month. The commission authorized the Sheriff’s Department to contract for that service.