Supervisors consider increased vacation benefit

VINTON — Benton County Supervisors discussed increasing vacation days for longtime employees during its July 16 meeting.

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Barb Greenlee of the sanitarian land use office asked about an extra week of vacation. She now has four weeks.

Greenlee also wants the benefit for other employees with 17 years of experience or more.

Sue Wilber, human resources, said the handbook committee would like to do a little more research on having 25 days of vacation. They are also reviewing sick leave. The committee hopes to have a recommendation in a few weeks.

Greenlee wanted that to be approved, feeling that 25 days after 17 years was the consensus of the committee.

Supervisor Chairman Richard Primmer said he’s feel more comfortable seeing how this is going to affect the budget. He is not opposed to rewarding long-term employees.

They hope to have something on the agenda later.

Sheriff Ron Tippett pointed out that since his employees are in a union, there would need to be a memorandum of understanding.

Someone noted that the issue was not on the agenda. However, action on the vacation request could fall under old business, since she made the request at the prior meeting for herself and any others with 17 years or more of experience.

She was told she’d have an answer by the July 16 meeting.

Primmer said he’d prefer action on vacation for all longtime employees.

Auditor Hayley Rippel said this may also affect vacation carryover, and getting paid out for vacation for retirement. She said the board had to consider the impact of “newbies” getting more vacation than longtime employees.

Primmer said it’s wise to check the budgets. He is not opposed to increased vacation, but supervisors need to see how it affects taxpayers.

Greenlee said the taxpayers are getting “bang for their buck,” as her office is down one employee and she has stepped up to fill the gap.

Primmer moved to wait two weeks to make a decision.

Supervisors will put the issue on the agenda for July 30, giving department heads time to see how this will affect their budgets.

Primmer said this is the obligation they have to taxpayers, as well as the employees.

Other action

The board acknowledged the resignation of Gary Benson from the auditor’s office election temporary staff. Benson helped set up precinct election equipment.

Gina Edler, of the auditor’s office, asked to have a maintenance staff member help with the setup for elections. Benton County has 18 precincts.

The board approved the collaboration between the auditor and maintenance office, adding this to the maintenance job description.

The board approved hiring Jake Winsor starting July 23 as a clerk in the treasurer’s office and approved replacing Dean Vrba with Danial Donley as Mount Auburn’s representative on the EMS Advisory Council.

Jennifer Kreutner was reappointed to the Vinton Library Board.

The board approved use of the courthouse grounds Aug. 24, for the Kiwanis Club in Vinton and approved a purchase agreement for a temporary easement for a bridge project on 28th Avenue.