Confusion remains over how much money new Pulaski County Highway Department employees are supposed to make. Highway Superintendent Terry Ruff brought the question to the county council Monday. “We hired two new guys,” he explained. “What’s the deal on their pay? What do I tell them they’re getting paid right now? I don’t know if it’s $13.77. Is it for six months, a year? What are we doing?”
Council Member Scott Hinkle said the probationary pay period lasts for a full year, but he said that rate is set to increase from $13.77 an hour to $14.30, starting January 1. There seemed to be some confusion as to where that $14.30 figure came from, since employees were only expected to get a one-percent pay raise in the 2019 budget.
“How can you hire somebody when you don’t even know what they’re going to make, is what I’m getting at,” Ruff said.
“Because we do know what they’re going to make,” Council Member Ken Boswell responded.
“Okay, $13.77 ’til when?” Ruff asked.
“‘Til it’s changed,” Boswell replied.
Council Vice-President Mike Tiede said, “‘Til January 1. You get a raise of one percent, right?”
“Well, that would be 14 cents.” Ruff responded. “13.77 times one is roughly 14 cents.”
Hinkle said, “The one I have says $14.30.” Auditor Laura Wheeler agreed to provide Ruff with the correct figures.
Going forward, Hinkle said he wants to do away with the lower pay level for first-year employees. He said he didn’t think the current rate was enough to attract CDL drivers that have taken Class A CDL Training Classes to the department. “I did some research, and we’re okay on our pay for the one-to-five-year, but starting out, we are way off,” Hinkle explained. “I’ve talked to six different highway departments, and they range from five-percent to 10-percent less. Most of them start them out the same wage they’re going to make, just they don’t get any benefits for a probationary period, and I think that’s what we need to do at the Highway.”
Meanwhile, Ruff said he still has two openings to fill.
