Pulaski County will soon have written guidelines, when it comes to the county’s pay structure. County Attorney Kevin Tankersley presented an 11-page draft document to the county council Monday. It was based on recommendations from the council’s salary matrix committee.
Among other clarifications, the document would officially set the pay rate for part-time employees at $14 per hour. “We had a range of $13 to $15, and there wasn’t any description of what a part-time employee would be paid between that range, and when they might get a raise or what it would be based on,” Tankersley explained. “There was no longevity formula. I think the department heads came and asked to bump people up, and you did it on a case-by-case basis.” Anyone currently making more than $14 per hour would not see a pay cut, though.
Tankersley added that there would be a more formal process to amend the pay structure going forward, to help reduce confusion. “You can’t make oral motions anymore to change these rules,” he said. “If a department head comes to you, and they have an issue about pay or whatever and you agree with them as a board and you want to make a change, you have to put it in writing and modify these rules. And you should look at them once a year when you’re doing your budgeting and say, ‘Is there something we want to change about these?’ and we’ll adopt a new version every year.”
But there are still a few issues that need to be clarified, including how to calculate longevity for a full-time employee who drops down to part-time status and then wants to return to full-time. Another issue was how to calculate employee pay levels, if a department head’s pay level is out of the county’s control.
The proposed guidelines will now be sent to each of the county’s department heads. They’ll have an opportunity to offer input. The county council is expected to give its final approval next month.
However, Highway Superintendent Terry Ruff asked council members Monday what he’s supposed to pay his employees in the meantime. “I’ve got a part-time person,” he said. “What do they make? He’s working right now.”
Meanwhile, Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston complained that during a previous meeting, council members appeared to agree that part-time employees should move from $13 an hour up to $15 after working for 630 hours, but that standard hasn’t been applied consistently. “At that time, two of my three part-time people went up in pay at the 630-hour mark like they were supposed to,” he explained. “When I put in my third person to go to that rate, it was denied by the Auditor’s Office, and I’d like to know why.”
Council President Jay Sullivan felt the issue stemmed from differing interpretations of the county’s employee handbook by Johnston and Auditor Laura Wheeler. Sullivan suggested that Johnston discuss the issue with Wheeler and County Attorney Tankersley, if he felt one of his employees is being treated unfairly.
County Commissioner Kenny Becker called for council members to change the part-time rate to $14 an hour, effective immediately, but they stuck with their decision not to take any action until next month. Until then, part-time employees will presumably remain at their current pay levels.
