COEUR d’ALENE — Lake City Development Corp. agreed to increase

compensation for its executive director by 3 percent on

Wednesday.

The

urban renewal board agreed to allow Tony Berns, director since

2001, to decide whether that increase will go toward his salary,

the 401k payment program, or divided between the two.

“We

all agree Tony has done an excellent job with the urban renewal

agency,” said board member Rod Colwell. “He’s basically done a

one-person show. We haven’t had to hire any additional help.”

The

decision was made following the position’s annual review on the

five-year contract.

The

board did not raise Berns’ base salary of $120,840 in the last two

years, saying in each instance that the timing for a raise wouldn’t

be appropriate given the economic condition. Both years it did

increase the 401k package by roughly 3 percent. Last year that bump

was by $3,817 to $18,792.

This year it gave Berns a choice where to put the 3 percent.

Berns said following the meeting he wasn’t sure how he would divide

it, but thanked the board for its show of support.

“I

would commend the board for all the work and dedication they give

to the community,” Berns said. “They’re all volunteers and I’m paid

staff, so I truly appreciate their acknowledgment. But I don’t

think they receive near enough acknowledgment for what they do for

the community. It’s a great board to work for.”

Berns is the lone paid staff for LCDC. It used to fund one third of

the salary for an online communications coordinator shared between

the agency, the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce and the Coeur

d’Alene Visitors Bureau, before chamber officials terminated the

position June. 10.