The Starke County Council last night approved two amendments to the salary ordinance to reflect changing job duties. The county highway bookkeeper/clerk will work eight hours per day instead of seven. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler says the first and last hours of the work day are the busiest, and this will ensure efficient work flow. He adds the department administrator has taken on more responsibilities due to internal restructuring and needs the additional hour to get everything done.
Ritzler says money for the extra salary can be transferred from other line items in his budget thanks to permanent savings realized by tighter budget controls. The council unanimously approved the change after noting it applies only to the highway department.
They also approved the establishment of a county director of maintenance position and set a salary for that job of $39,750. The maintenance director will oversee upkeep of the courthouse, annex building and old jail and will also handle backup maintenance duties at the new justice center east of town. Custodian Jim Coad will be promoted to director of maintenance and will get a $2,000 pay raise. The restructuring was prompted by the retirement of longtime courthouse custodian Carl Goodrich. He’s worked for the county for more than 41 years. The commissioners have proclaimed Thursday, June 4 “Carl Goodrich Day” and are hosting a reception in his honor from 2 until 5 p.m. at the annex. The public is invited.
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