County to amend wage policy

MARENGO — Iowa County Sheriff Rob Rotter asked county supervisors to amend the county’s policy dealing with wages for jail and dispatch employees.

Rotter said the county’s current version says that part-time employee pay will be dependent on experience and left to the discretion of the employer. Rotter said he’d like to see the word “part-time’ struck from the policy.

“’It’s hard for us to recruit people with experience when the only people that might get a little bump in pay are the people that are part-time,” said Rotter

“We don’t often see people transferring from another county, but it would be nice to know that if someone’s coming from another county they’re not starting off like a trainee,” said Rotter.

“I really hate to see someone who’s got … 10 years experience somewhere starting off … maybe $8 less than someone else.” Rotter said.

“We do have a part-time person that is just getting hired now,” said Rotter. The employee has 2 ½ years experience and is going to need a lot of training in the office, Rotter said. He’d like to start her off at the six-month pay rater rather than the base rate, he said.

County policy says that a full-time communications operator or jailer will receive bumps in pay after six months, eight months, one year and two years. “Part time employees pay will be dependent on experience and left to the discretion of the Employer.”

“It’s just odd that we only talk about part-time employees there,” said Rotter.

He suggested changing it to “new employees.” He’s not requesting a change for current employees.

Rotter is going to have one or two job openings, he said. “It’s just really tough … when we’re advertising that low rate, for full-time, not part-time. It’s just an inconsistency.”

“Probationary dispatcher starts out at around $21.50, and a two-year dispatcher is just under $29,” said Rotter. That’s quite a difference, he said, especially when he’s trying to recruit someone who has experience.

“I think we need to have something that also says it has to be on the [pay] schedule,” said Iowa County Supervisor Abby Maas.

Rotter agreed. Without that language, a sheriff could make up any number when hiring.

Maas asked if the county needed to make other changes to the policy as well.

Rotter said the policy was created to replace the outgoing Teamster’s contract. The union contract supersedes county policy, but it seems odd that the county has two schemes going on, he said.

“So it probably could use an overhaul. It’s not a terribly, terribly long document,” said Rotter. It’s barely 12 pages. Amending it now would be a good idea because Rotter is hiring right now, he said.

Supervisors said they’d address exact language for an amendment this week. Iowa County Supervisors meet each Friday at the East Annex, 970 Court Ave. in Marengo at 9 a.m.