Tim Walker
AMR Reporter
At the May 20 Pocahontas County Commission meeting, EMS/911 Director Michael O’Brien asked the commission to adopt a step-based pay system that recognizes dispatchers’ years of service, certifications and training.
At its June 3 meeting, the commission took action with regard to that request.
The step-based pay system uses three telecom levels – depending on certifications – with merit steps within each of those levels. This system is designed to reward merit and longevity and recognizes the shift work and holidays dispatchers have to work, as well as the critical importance of their jobs.
The commission voted to increase dispatcher’s pay by an additional $2,000 a year, which is in addition to the annual increases given to all county employees. This will then convert to the recommended step-based pay system, and will move toward keeping 911 dispatchers pay somewhat competitive with other counties. They also voted to raise the salary of the Deputy Director of 911/EMS by $3,000 per year and the Director’s salary by $4,000 per year, which are also in addition to the annual increases given to all county employees.
Commission president Rebinski said he likes the idea of rewarding employees for effort and taking extra training, so would not be opposed to setting up a merit/step-based pay scale for other county agencies, and suggested those agencies start to develop such a pay plan, although those would probably not go into effect until the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
It should be noted that in the May 20 commission article about this issue, it was incorrectly stated that new dispatchers and those who have been on the job for many years, currently receive the same $13.50 per-hour pay. While the $13.50 per-hour pay rate is the approximate starting hourly rate for new dispatchers, the pay does increase with longevity.
The commission and Sheriff Troy McCoy approved the purchase of a replacement police pursuit cruiser for the Sheriff’s Department at a cost of $56,990. The bid was from Brannen Motor Company of Unadilla, Georgia.
Sheriff McCoy has $60,000 in his department’s budget to pay for the vehicle but asked the commission to consider providing a minimum $25,000 for the purchase and installation of the additional equipment that is needed in the new cruiser. That equipment includes the light bar, radio, etc.
The commission will consider approving either an in-house budget revision or will pay for the equipment out of the general fund.
The commission wants to see specific items and prices before making a final decision.
They also discussed creating a formal hiring policy for the county. County Clerk Melissa Bennett said the Auditor’s Office suggested this. Bennett said she is working on this for her office, but suggested the commission work with the county prosecutor to ensure any county policy would not infringe on elected officials’ hiring prerogatives.
They discussed, in general terms, issues such as placing a time clock and the handling of cash receipts at the Day Report Center. They are considering moving an unused time clock from the County Clerk’s office to Day Report and requiring all payments to Day Report to be paid at the county tax office.
During the Hear Callers, Jan McNeel expressed concern that last fall, the then county prosecutor demanded she submit estate paperwork within 30 days of her husband’s death. She called this – “tortious interference” (which is also known as intentional interference.)
County Clerk Melissa Bennett said she would look into that, but they always give at least 90 days with possible extensions before referring an estate to the county prosecutor.
McNeel also said she is concerned that medics providing free Narcan to drug addicts only encourages them to not worry about overdosing, and that jail sentencing is too light for drug offenders.
In other business, the commission approved:
• payment of Resolution #9 for the EPA Tannery Project of $8.692.88 to pay invoices.
• payment of Resolution #10 for the PMH HVAC Project of $539,781.45 for equipment. Donna Ward of Region 4, said the units are now on the roof and the project is 75% complete.
• certified the personal property records and land books from the assessor’s office.
• approved year-end bud-get revisions and resolutions.
