Changes requested by sheriff (06/16/08)

The sheriff came to Jay County Commissioners this morning with some suggested solutions.

Sheriff Ray Newton brought answers Monday to several problems plaguing his department - including growing cost for compensation time and staff shortage - to the commissioners. Plans included hiring another dispatcher and increasing the hours of the department's administrative assistant and secretary to 40 hours per week, up from 35.

Although adding a new position would cost the county in a time of budget concerns, Newton said this is his best option.

The Jay County Council told him in April to come up with answers, and he said this morning that hiring another employee is his best choice.

"With the dispatchers, I just don't know what to do but hire another one," he said. "If (the county council) turn it down, they turn it down.

Uncertainty about the 2009 budget echoed in the room once again, as commissioner Milo Miller Jr. pointed out they're "in the dark."

After hearing about the uncertainty, Newton defended his proposals. That led to a slightly-testy exchange between Miller and Newton.

"We are understaffed and we're going to be understaffed," he said. "I know we're going to have to deal with it."

"Maybe it's time to start dealing with it," Miller said.

"We've been understaffed for years," Newton added.

"We've been spoiled for years," countered Miller, alluding to past years that have not required intense budget scrutiny. "I don't know where we're going with the '09 budget. Nobody does and it's sad."

Commissioner Gary Theurer motioned to send Newton's recommendations to the county council. He said the council asked Newton for solutions and they'll get some. If the council doesn't like it, Theurer said, then they'll have to move from there.

The sheriff also presented ideas to try to raise additional revenue in his department. Newton informed the commissioners that other counties have started charging fees to "weekenders," jail inmates who are only serving time between Friday and Sunday. By charging these prisoners for things like meals, the county may be able to raise around $25 per prisoner per day.

Newton also suggested raising the county's 911 fees closer to the state maximum to bolster the balance of that fund. The commissioners agreed to that idea and motioned to send a recommendation to the council to increase those fees up to the state maximum.

"Next solution?" joked commissioner Farron Parr. "You're on a roll."

"If you can think of any way to make money, I'll do it," Newton said.

Other staff concerns were presented to the commissioners as Bill Milligan, Jay/Portland Building and Planning administrator, came to ask approval for a change in the job description of the department's other empmloyee.

The change would come with the title assistant director, a new job description and a pay boost. Milligan sought approval from the county council Wednesday, but was told he needed to get the nod to create a new position from the commissioners.

The commissioners battled semantics in their effort to make the best decision on the proposal. The language had Theurer tripped up, as he wondered why couldn't they leave the job title as administrative assistant and just alter the description, since she is assisting Milligan, who heads the office.

"She's administrative assistant, which (the public) sees as secretary," Milligan explained, saying that her workload was beyond that of the typical secretary.

"The terminology ..." Theurer said, rolling his eyes. "You're calling them an assistant director instead of an assistant administrator."

The commissioners sorted out the terms and attached their recommendation to the job description, which will need to be reviewed before the council can approve a pay raise.

As for the title trouble, commissioner Farron Parr took a light-hearted approach.

"I thought I'd bring it up for discussion so I can see you rub your forehead," Parr said to Theurer.

"No wonder I don't have any hair up there," Theurer answered.

In other business Monday, the commissioners:

•Heard a presentation from Ruth Ann Widman, executive director of Jay-Randolph Developmental Services, about the services offered by the organization. She hoped the commissioners would consider continuing their funding of services in the budget, though Miller, as usual, made no promises.

•Opened bids for an annual trending project with county assessor Terry LeMaster. The company hired would conduct a study of sale values in Jay County and project the trend. The commissioners tabled the bids for review.

•Approved repairs for about $730 to a vehicle damaged in last week's storm from community corrections director Yvette Weiland. The commissioners also approved adding six line items to the corrections budget to come into sequence with a department grant.[[In-content Ad]]