Council will survey again

Jay County government employees will see a job survey coming their way in the near future.
The Jay County Council voted Wednesday to update job descriptions for county employees after Kent Irwin of Waggoner, Irwin, Scheele & Associates gave an update about how the county’s pay scale system is working.
The system, which was implemented in 2011, separates county jobs into five categories. Those designations, along with longevity, determine annual salaries for all Jay County government employees.
“We’ve been retained by Jay County ... for eight years to provide HR for the county,” Irwin told council members Mike Leonhard, Gary Theurer, Jeanne Houchins, Ted Champ, Bob Vance, Cindy Newton and Mike Rockwell. “I’m here to bring the council up to date on where we stand today.”
Irwin reviewed the pay system, known as the Factor Evaluation System (FES), which is a program developed by the U.S. Department of Labor to determine pay of public employees.
“Aside from cost of living, we haven’t touched the system,” Irwin said. “I think this is one of the better systems we’ve worked.”
Irwin told council members it would be wise to review job descriptions to determine if they are the same as they were in 2011 when the last surveys were distributed and update them if necessary.
Distributing new surveys would cost about $5,400 in addition to an hourly rate based on the county’s contract with Waggoner, Irwin, Scheele & Associates. The process would take a couple of months.
The council members agreed that they would like to have the reports back before they make the 2016 county budget, with that process scheduled to begin in August. Irwin said he thinks the process could be finished by the end of that month.
After a brief discussion, the council voted to send out the surveys.
In other business, council members:
•Heard a request from Pat Frazee for funds to replace one of the county’s four ambulances. She said the ambulance she is hoping to replace, a 2004 Ford F450, has more than 120,000 miles on it, along with a host of other problems. She said she had received one quote of about $150,000.
The council members told Frazee to get more quotes and return to the council meeting next month. County Attorney Bill Hinkle suggested that Culy have additional money ready in the infrastructure fund to purchase a new ambulance after Frazee returns with the quotes.
Frazee also told council members she thinks the Jay Emergency Medical Service pay scale needs an overhaul that would include an increase in pay for paramedics.

•Referred a five-year, $10 million tax abatement for Green Valley Ranch LLC to the tax abatement advisory committee. A tax abatement allows for the phasing-in of taxes over a number of years. Green Valley plans on building five new buildings on county road 300 East, just west of county road 300 South. The project would create 20 full-time jobs with salaries averaging $38,000.
•Approved using $5,000 of infrastructure funds to help purchase a riding lawnmower for Jay County Retirement Center. Jay County Commissioner Faron Parr told council members he had received multiple quotes between $6,000 and $6,800. He said the retirement center should have the ability to come up with the remaining funds necessary for the purchase.