Supervisors approve salary increase, safety goals

VINTON — Salary, safety, and a dump rock trailer were on the agenda for the Benton County Board of Supervisors Dec. 3 in Vinton.

Nancy Jorgensen, from the auditor’s office, explained that the federal government is increasing the minimum salary for an exempt employee effective Jan. 1.

The first increase was in July, but it didn’t affect anyone with the county, said Jorgensen.

Benton County has an employee that falls below the salary of $58,656. Jorgensen said that after looking at the numbers, it would be to the county’s advantage to increase that salary, rather than to allow the employee to earn comp or be paid overtime.

The county would pay $696 to bring this employee up to the minimum, said Jorgensen. This individual is putting in an average 88 1/2 hours per pay period. Overtime takes effect after 80 hours.

The board approved the new plan to meet federal regulations on exempt employees for the transportation director.

The board accepted a bid of $61,040 from Iowa Trailer Manufacturing for a belly dump rock trailer for secondary roads.

The board signed and approved the Benton County pledge supporting strategies outlined in the safety action plan. The county will focus on road projects that will reduce accidents to reach the ultimate goal of eliminating fatalities, according to Engineer Myron Parizek.

Supervisor Chairman Richard Primmer wondered if the action would be seen as hypocritical since the county is looking at removing rumble strips at the Van Horne corner.

With all safety measures, you run into conflicts at times, Parizek said. There are many ways to reduce accidents at those intersections.

Parizek said he received a verbal quote from the Rural Electric Cooperative on a light for that intersection. The county is considering putting in taller light poles for that intersection on both sides.

The board also met Dec. 2 for employee performance evaluations.