MASON — Ohio's second-fastest-growing city also has one of the better-paid managers among cities of similar size.

        Scot Lahrmer's base salary grew this week when City Council approved a 5 percent raise, boosting his pay to $93,450 from $89,000. The raise matches the 5 percent pay increase authorized this year for salaried employees, and is part of a two-year contract retroactive to July 1.

        Mr. Lahrmer's salary has more than doubled since he took over the city manager's job in 1989. His first year as city manager, he earned $40,000.

        According to the Washington, D.C.-based International City/County Management Association, the national average of salaries for city managers is about $79,000. In the east-north central region — which includes Ohio and Indiana — the average city manager's salary is about $84,000 for cities with a population between 10,000 and 24,999.

        City leaders say Mr. Lahrmer, 43, who also received a $1,000 merit bonus, is deserving partly because he has steered the enormous growth Mason has experienced. This once-sleepy farm town's population has almost doubled since 1990 to 22,016.

        “Scot's done a great job. We wanted to certainly compensate him accordingly,” Vice Mayor Jim Fox said. “You try to reign in expenditures when inflation is down ... but it's hard to deny the job that he's done. I think it's well-deserved.”

        Besides overseeing Mason's $54 million annual budget, Mr. Lahrmer manages a full-time staff of about 135 employees. Factors that help determine the salaries of city managers include experience, size of the city's budget and responsibilities.

        Mr. Lahrmer, who has served longer than any Mason city manager, said among his challenges have been managing the city's growth and maintaining its “small-town” feel.

        “Basically, a city manager is responsible for every function in local government,” said Sara Hendricker, director of research for the Ohio Municipal League. “It's not a simple job of just knowing where the water and sewer lines are. It's being able to lead the community. The city manager works for the council, but that person's expected to carry out very, very multifaceted policy.”

        John Harris, president of the Mason Landen Kings Chamber of Commerce, said he admires Mr. Lahrmer's attention to detail, professionalism and ability to maintain a poker face during council meetings — even when he's being criticized by residents.

        Mr. Lahrmer isn't without critics.

        Bob Sies, spokesman for the Coalition of Mason Taxpayers, for example, said Mr. Lahrmer misled residents about the qualifications of ex-Fire Chief H. Michael Drumm. Mr. Drumm resigned in May after Mr. Lahrmer told him he was not a “good fit” for the department.

        Mr. Lahrmer denied misleading anyone when he hired Mr. Drumm.

        “This is not a personal attack on the city manager. It just comes down to the fact that the man openly deceived,” Mr. Sies said. “And now we're giving him a raise?”

Indiana riverboats paying off
Argosy wants weekday gamblers
College freshmen lack basic skills
Board of Regents report highlights
Sporty's in the spotlight
Anderson acquiring acreage
Council has four plans to clean streets
Leis eyes airborne transport
School closings seen
Taft fixed on biotech, Hyundai
Tristate A.M. Report
Waagner extradited to Ill.
XU, UC alumni fan 'shootout' flame from afar
HOWARD: Some Good News
PULFER: Toxic waste
Cambodian expected to plead guilty in killing
Ex-councilman: Duning forced out
Hamilton OKs 2002 budget
Jury says student unharmed
Mason manager gets a raise
Nix joins council a few weeks early
Poster parents owe money
Sheriff Ariss heads state lawmen group
Talawanda educators weighing facilities plans
Economic woes far-reaching
Ohio fun parks charging more
Portman won't seek GOP post
Two GOP leaders fight for Orient
Barking dog case could resonate
Eyebrows, questions raised
Four more Ky. Guard units about to get call
Garage to honor crossing guard
Kentucky News Briefs
Shelters' property dispute may displace potbellied pigs
State workers to join Teamsters