By Mari Radtke
Budget amendments for the current year were discussed. The amendments presented on January 12, move money from conservation line item to another. The changes in employment costs were leading drivers for the required housekeeping duty. A special meeting was called to get proper motions for the budget amendment and included noting on the amendment income of $10,174 for grant receipts from Gilchrist Foundation. The second meeting got the amendment request approval.
A budget proposal for the coming fiscal year beginning July 1 was presented to the board. Wage and salary increases garnered lengthy, sometimes heated discussion. Director Travis Scott submitted a budget with 8% wage increases for all full-time conservation staff. The 8% for Assistant Director Amber Wetherell and Naturalist Abbie Parker was on the current salary rate that includes $1000 given last year in lieu of a bonus. Konz wanted to reward the pair for their efforts in the wake of the rangers’ departure.
O’Brien County’s Compensation Board had recommended to the O’Brien County Supervisors an 8% raise for Auditor, Treasurer, Recorder and Supervisors. A 14% raise for the Sheriff was recommended to equalize for a change in compensation law requiring comparisons. The Supervisors have not acted on that recommendation.
Scott said he is going to begin giving what he calls “an annual evaluation.” Employees have tenure or certification incentives built into their hiring terms, not yet activated. Certain dollar amounts will be added to wages when 6-months of satisfactory employment is reached for techs. The new ranger, Mark Wilson, will see his pay adjusted once he satisfactorily completes the law enforcement academy. Scott also went on to reinforce his high increase proposal to the board by recounting the labor availability and the current inflation rate as justification for the sizable increase. Board member Jack Wallinga asked about disciplinary concerns in which Scott’s reply was, “everything that has been addressed has been resolved.”
Board member Dan Verrips shared that he didn’t know what to do because the board has nothing to go by as far as what staff are doing and how well they are doing it. He was referencing some kind of evaluation for the board’s review.
Board member Kathy Luedke noted that an 8% raise for the short amount of time of employment is unusual. She highlighted the unusual year by adding a comment about the labor shortage.
Change to the cost of health insurance is another unknown for employees. Konz started a nuts and bolts conversation about increases with Parker’s reaching a 1 year milestone and that her increase should take effect in July because she reached one year in December.
Board member Greg Burmakow and Kathy Luedke explained the different rates being given by other tax-funded entities in O’Brien County, mostly ranging in the 3-4% range. Konz brought up the idea of splitting the raise in 2 parts over the year and base it on performance. He reinforced a desire to make the increase based on performance.
Scott suggested taking 6% for himself and giving the remainder of the staff 8%, adding that he will take the heat if his staff doesn’t do something right. Burmakow then chimed in his concerns for the conflict the organization has been enduring again, recently, and wanting to know how it will get better. Scott promised, “I will do everything I can to make it better. That’s all I can promise you.”
Wallinga expressed his desire to reward the employees for their need to be multi-skilled as opposed to doing just one job everyday.
Wallinga motioned for the 8% overall increase “and take what the county gives us.” It was seconded by Luedke who also added an amendment to the motion. The motion got a 2-2 vote with the president breaking the tie against the 8% wage and salary increase.
Following a brief break more discussion about wage changes continued.
Konz explained that the county auditor had verified that the board could do whatever they wanted in terms of raises so long as none exceeded the compensations board 8% recommendation. The only thing the county wants to know from the board is the bottom line in compensation.
Konz, a strong advocate for a 6% maximum increase asked for a motion for 6% broken into 2 different pay increases, one on July 1 and the other in January. More discussion followed.
Burmakow motioned for a 6% potential increase with 3% in July and January for employed less than 1 year. The Naturalist, Abbie Parker was exempted from the split increase due to her tenure.
A Des Moines attorney with northwest Iowa roots was in attendance during this meeting. One employee to Conservation verified she was an attorney. Other staff asked about her attendance gave “no comment.” Ms. Kay Fairchild Godfredsen did return a call but only acknowledged that she was working while attending that meeting.