Sheriff encourages council to look at raises for sheriff’s office employees
Pulaski County Sheriff Jeff Richwine presented the idea of giving the employees of the sheriff’s office a pay raise and it might set a standard for other county departments.
During a regular Pulaski County Council meeting on Monday, Richwine said he wants to compensate the employees of the sheriff’s office for their longevity.
“I would like to see us get some longevity. I think we need some separation between the supervisors and our deputies. We need to do it in the jail. We need to do it in our dispatch center,” Richwine said.
He said there are several deputies who don’t have longevity, but some of the communication officers have been with the department for 15 years.
Richwine used the example of the difference between the pay of the deputies and the sergeant, and between the chief deputy and the sergeant is a minimal amount.
Richwine, Sgt. Fred Rogers and jail matron Carrie Aaron created a matrix that is based on percentages.
Richwine believes the raises will work with the transferring of funds and using current funding differently.
“I think it’s important. Every day in that building over there, there are people that are making decisions that if they make the wrong one — it’s not if we are going to pay but how much,” Richwine said. “I feel strongly for these people over there.”
He said he would speak with the county council and answer any questions or talk about any concerns they may have.
“I think that we have a good plan,” Richwine said. “I just don’t want it to be a lack of effort on my part that we didn’t get this done.”
Council president Jay Sullivan said his concern is not the first year of the raises but finding additional funding for future years. He said the county budget continues to get cut.
Councilwoman Linda Powers said the current compensation committee that was established to review and help resolve the EMS wage issues, has also heard several other departments want to address the longevity of employees.
“Other counties have done it and we think your idea is a good idea,” Powers said to Richwine. “We are kind of working off that because it kind of gelled with what we are working on.”
She said job descriptions and the idea of longevity raises will be reviewed while working on the 2016 budget.
In other business:
• Kyle McTeigue, representing Pulaski County EMS, requested a transfer of $6,200 to purchase four new narcotic boxes that would be installed in four of the ambulances. The new boxes are more secure. The request to transfer funds was approved.
• Pulaski County Highway Superintendent Terry Ruff requested an additional appropriation to cover the increase of workman’s compensation insurance. Council members approved to advertise an additional appropriation of $2,586 to cover the costs. Councilman Roger Querry suggested that the county contact the insurance company to estimate the increase for next year so that estimate can be added to the 2016 budget.
• A request to transfer $3 in the county highway fund from worker’s comp to schooling, seminars and meetings was approved.
• Pulaski County Sheriff Jeff Richwine requested to transfer $3,196 to purchase seven cameras for the jail. The request was approved.
• Richwine also requested to transfer $21,000 to cover the costs of group insurance. His request was approved.
• An additional appropriation that was previously advertised in the sum of $14,000 to cover the costs of attorney fees was approved.
• Two additional appropriation requests in the Cumulative Capital Development commissioners’ fund in the amounts of $60,000 for time and attendance software and $150,000 for new financial software was approved. Those appropriations were previously advertised.
• A request to outsource the printing of the assessor form 11 for a cost of about $7,000 was approved. Assessor Holly Van Der Aa said allowing the printing to be outsourced saves the county money. Budget funding is available for the printing. Van Der Aa requested permission to outsource the printing because it costs more than $500.
• A transfer of $800 for the coroner’s office was approved.
• A request to transfer about $5,000 in the commissioners’ fund to cover the costs of land surveys was approved.
• A request to transfer $1,900 in the commissioners’ fund to cover the costs of Internet services was approved.
• A request to transfer $500 in the recycling/transfer station fund from gas and oil to travel was tabled until further information can be obtained.
• A library appointment of Pat Bawcum was approved by the council.
• Auditor Shelia Garling questioned the county as to what to do with the change to the 630-hour rate for part-time employees. She said the almost $3 increase will use up a large sum of the part-time funds. There are about five employees who have worked more than 630 hours but have not received an increase in pay because she feels the council needs to make a decision in regards to the changes. Council members agreed that the five employees who have completed the 630 hours should be paid the increase. In regards to any new hires, the council has tabled the increase until they review the issue.
• Minutes from the joint sessions on July 8 and July 24, along with minutes from the regular meeting on June 8, were approved.