Commissioner justifies pay raises for select few
Staff reporter
Marion County Commissioner Dan Holub said Monday that he had received telephone calls regarding the commission approving pay increases and want people to understand that those who received pay increases were justified.
The county's pay plan sets a median or average rate of pay for each employee. The pay rate is based on similar jobs with pay information from 11 other entities that include other counties, cities, and private businesses.
If a person was paid 100 percent of the median rate that would mean that person would be paid the highest amount for that job of those entities surveyed.
The county's pay increases brought Michele Abbott-Becker, Beverly Cooper, Tom Holub, Dennis Maggard, and Gary Williams to 88 percent of the median, Holub said. That means they are being paid 88 percent of the highest salary paid to other people in same or similar positions.
Holub said those employees were being paid only 70 percent of the median.
"Shelley (Abbott-Becker) has brought grant money to the county and her duties have expanded since her salary was set," Holub said.
Commission chairman Randy Dallke said a goal of the commission was to get all county employees to 88 percent of the median income level.
In other business:
— Diedre Serene presented the proposed budget for 2008 for the health department. An increase of $2,520 was requested.
Changes in the budget included the addition of a full-time secretary that used to be shared with the planning and zoning department.
A laptop also was in the budget which could be used for the clinic and when personnel go to other locations.
Serene explained that fees are set for various services but the health department cannot deny services to anyone because of the inability to pay.
— Sunflower Business Solutions had the low bid of $2,745 for 100 cases of copy paper.
Baker Brothers of Hillsboro had a bid of $2,902, and Navrat's of Emporia, $3,040.
— County clerk Carol Maggard told the commission that the same company that was to restore the windows at the courthouse also was available to do tuck and point on the exterior stone walls at the health department.
— Dallke requested and received a 10-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Monday at the courthouse.
