ALBERT LEA -- Freeborn County Attorney Craig Nelson has received a 14 percent raise after a dispute with his bosses about fair pay.
The county board had initially increased Nelson's salary by 3 percent for 2003, but Nelson disagreed and used the law to earn a bigger raise.
State law requires commissioners to examine the duties and responsibilities involved in the position when determining raises.
The board gave 3 percent raises to all re-elected officials.
Mower County Judge Donald Rysavy ruled the board erred and ordered the county to raise Nelson's salary in line with those of other county attorneys where the demographic, budgetary and criminal caseloads closely mirrored Freeborn County.
