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January 27, 2009

Commissioners stand pat on compensation

By Kelly Young

kyoung@jacksonvilleprogress.com

Experience doesn’t count for much.

Cherokee County Commissioners Court met Monday and authorized Tax Assessor-Collector Linda Little to hire an additional part-time employee. However, while commissioners did not dispute the tax office’s need for a new staffer, they did deny Little’s request that her new worker earn more than the established part-time employee starting wage of $8.09 per hour.

Little said the woman she hopes to hire has 27 years of experience in the field, and she had hoped to be able to offer her a little more money for her proficiency. She was requesting the commissioners allow her to offer the woman $10 an hour.

“She is very knowledgeable, and I am going to need her expertise. If we hire her she will be able to hit the floor running,” Little said. “I had hoped to pay her more than the minimum because of her experience. I just don’t think it is fair to ask a 27-year veteran to come in at $8.09 per hour.”

While they said they understood Little’s argument, Commissioners Kevin Pierce (Precinct 2) and Byron Underwood (Precinct 4) said it wouldn’t be fair to the county’s other part-timers — all of whom started at the same minimum — to offer the new person more.

“I can see both sides of the issue. It is a tough situation for the court members because we have a policy in place — a policy that, as far as I know of, we don’t deviate from. It is going to set a precedent if we change our policy for this person, and I don’t think it is right to do this for one employee and not the next,” Pierce said.

The commissioners voted unanimously to allow the tax office to fill a part-time position, but at the starting pay of $8.09.

Little said she would abide by the decision of the court, but she implored them to develop a graduated step program which would take into consideration an employee’s experience when determining salary. It seemed to be the consensus of the court that such a system was needed.

“I am very much in favor of utilizing a step program here; in a county of this size it is almost imperative that something like that is done. A person who has experience performing a certain task should not be paid the same as an entry-level employee,” said Precinct 3 Commissioner Katherine Pinotti. “Hiring a new person would require more time in training, and would cost the county more money. It would be a wild assertion to say that we will have something ready by the next budget year, but we are working on proposals for a step program right now.”

The court also met in executive session for more than a hour to discuss the county’s precinct foreman salary structure. Pinotti had expressed the desire to give her foreman a raise of about $1,200 a year.

Following the closed session, action was taken to keep foreman salaries where they are for the time being. According to Pinotti, the other commissioners were able to help her see their reasoning for not wanting an increase to occur.

“They were able to help me see their side of the issue, and I agree that now is not a good time to be making a change like that. We just needed to get together and talk it all out, and as commissioners the only opportunity we have to do that is here,” she said.

Service awards were presented during the meeting to numerous employees whose tenure with the county has reached a new five-year milestone. Gina Upshaw, Debra White, Melvin Doss, Joseph Evans, Vera Foreman, Robin Parsons, Irumimba Brown and Gregg Gregory all received pins and certificates in recognition of five years of county service.

Carolyn Boyd received a 10-year pin, Patsy Lassiter earned a 15-year pin and Jonna Wilson was awarded a 25-year pin. Carl Phillips, of the adult probation office, beat out all the others with his 35 years of service to Cherokee County. He was hired by the county on Jan. 1, 1974.

In other business the court approved:

• laying utility lines on County Road 2631;

• the monthly report from Clint Goff, airport coordinator;

• the reappointment of Barry Hughes to the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority’s board of directors;

• the completion of public records training by Commissioner Kelly Traylor and Tax Assessor-Collector Linda Little;

• Precinct 3 to obtain bids to purchase used vehicles;

• Precinct 4 to purchase a maw tractor and a mower through BuyBoard; and

• paying the bills.

The Cherokee County Commissioner’s Court regularly meets at 10 a.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month, at the county courthouse. The public is invited to attend all meetings.

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