If James Longmire were in charge of the county budget, county commissioners could forego their mileage reimbursements.

“Everyone of y’all could give it up and give (the money) to employees. Y’all could sit at home and watch cowboy movies.”

Longmire, a foreman in the county road department, made the suggestion in a sometimes-contentious county commission workshop meeting Thursday called to review proposed changes to the employee handbook.

There were two sticking points in the proposed revisions.

At present, the handbook reads that the county commission shall serve as the appointing authority for department head level positions, and the department head or elected official shall make all hiring and firing decisions for those who report to them.

A proposed revision establishes the commission as the appointing authority for all positions within the county except for elected officials or other persons who have the power by law to hire, employ, discipline or dismiss employees. The policy states the commission may delegate the authority or any portion thereof.

Commission Chairman Bill Godwin, who previously served on the county school board, said under the proposed plan, he would envision the commission acting as the board of education does.

“The principal cannot hire or fire,” he said. “The county school board cannot hire or fire without a recommendation from the superintendent.”

Under the proposed plan, he said, “the commission as a whole may not agree with a department head’s recommendation, or they may. But they can’t substitute someone else.”

Godwin added that county attorney Stephanie Cotton has researched the issues and advised that the commissioners should ratify hirings each month.

But the proposal didn’t sit well with department heads who perceived the measure would lessen their authority.

“I’m there at the probate office,” Probate Judge Stacy Brooks said. “I know what those women do. I know who calls in sick once a week. I need to have to have the say who works in that office.

“This reads like you want the decision who works in that office and y’all aren’t there to know what goes on,” Brooks said.

In the current budget, not all employees received a pay increase, but money was allocated for some raises, which were to be awarded at the discretion of department heads. The county also absorbed a 7 percent increase in health care premiums.

And department heads aren’t happy about that, either.

EMA director Susan Harris said that puts department heads in a bad place.

“If everybody does their job like they should, everybody should get a raise,” she said.

Godwin said there isn’t enough money to provide across-the-board raises.

“We give you a lump sum to use for that,” he said.

Maintenance director Kevin Kennedy said, “We used to get cost of living raises. This kinda brought bad morale. If you give us money for some merit raises, we’re stuck with making a decision. If everybody is doing a decent job, and one an exception job, it’s hard to manage.”

Sheriff Dennis Meeks also took issue with cost of living raises that don’t include elected officials.

“Don’t say elected officials are not gonna take a raise,” he said. “I’m full time. This is my livelihood. If you don’t want to take a raise, opt out. Y’all want to make yourselves look good, then opt out. But don’t take it from Chuck (Patterson), Stacy (Brooks) and don’t take it from me.”

Godwin replied that Meeks’ salary is set by the legislature. “What is it?”

Meeks replied that his salary is $68,000, but that he works full time while commissioners work part time.

“Don’t go there, Dennis,” Godwin replied. “Commissioners make $22,000.”

Commissioner Harold Elmore chimed in, “If you don’t like what you’re getting paid, you don’t have to run.”

Commissioner Joe Barton said the county has to be careful with across-the-board raises because they affect all future budgets.

When Longmire questioned commissioners getting mileage, Elmore replied, “Do you carry a (county) vehicle home with you? I don’t carry a truck home.”

Godwin added that county pay includes benefits, which employees sometimes fail to consider part of their compensation.

“Yea, you’re making $12 an hour. But individual insurance coverage is $4,000, which equals another $2 per hour. Plus retirement.”

Longmire replied, “Ain’t none of that putting groceries on the table.”

Commissioner Kenneth Northey said the current commission has worked to up the pay of its employees who receive the least pay. Godwin added that in the past four years, the commission has raised the bottom-level pay from $7.50 an hour to $9.10 hour, a 20 percent increase.

Harris said, “And the reason those people are making what they’re making is because of responsibility, stress and headaches. I wouldn’t have the sheriff’s job,” she said. “But some of us have to carry radios 24-7. The way you’re presenting this rubs me raw. It really does.”

Barton said, “It’s not a fair world. We’ve got people who can’t take their families to some of events; or can’t take them out to eat. They’s a lot of ‘em I see that live really, really close.

“I can cut my lifestyle back,” he said. “But some of those are payday to payday; those are the ones I feel for.”

Godwin said, “I don’t know else how to say this. If this is what the county can afford to pay, and if you think you can’t afford to take this, then I suggest you go and take another job. You are free to come and go as you please.”

 

home with you? I don’t carry a truck home.”

Godwin added that county pay includes benefits, which employees sometimes fail to consider part of their compensation.

“Yea, you’re making $12 an hour. But individual insurance coverage is $4,000, which equals another $2 per hour. Plus retirement.”

Longmire replied, “Ain’t none of that putting groceries on the table.”

Commissioner Kenneth Northey said the current commission has worked to up the pay of its employees who receive the least pay. Godwin added that in the past four years, the commission has raised the bottom-level pay from $7.50 an hour to $9.10 hour, a 20 percent increase.

Harris said, “And the reason those people are making what they’re making is because of responsibility, stress and headaches. I wouldn’t have the sheriff’s job,” she said. “But some of us have to carry radios 24-7. The way you’re presenting this rubs me raw. It really does.”

Barton said, “It’s not a fair world. We’ve got people who can’t take their families to some of the events we have here, or can’t take them out to eat. They’s a lot of ‘em I see that live really, really close.

“I can cut my lifestyle back,” he said. “But some of those are payday to payday; those are the ones I feel for.”

Godwin said, “I don’t know else how to say this. If this is what the county can afford to pay, and if you think you can’t afford to take this, then I suggest you go and take another job. You are free to come and go as you please.”

No actions were taken on the proposed changes. Commissioners said the proposed changes will be further revised before they consider adopting them.