Board looks to conduct countywide salary comparison

     As the county prepares for budget season later this year, the Board of Supervisors took time during their Oct. 16 meeting to discuss salary comparisons.

     Prior to the last fiscal year budget preparation, the board worked with Mike Galloway, Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. in Des Moines to provide salary comparisons for several county positions: Community Services, Public Health, IT, and GIS.

     Now, they’re looking ahead at FY 2020.

     “I know we didn’t bring everyone up to the salary they wanted when we studied them,” commented Supervisor Wayne Manternach.

     County Auditor Janine Sulzner offered to send the salary study request out to all department heads, asking for job descriptions by Nov. 1. The information would be passed on to Galloway to conduct the salary comparisons.

     Manternach said while he’s not opposed to the comparisons, he didn’t want to see the board do the salary study without granting the raises.

     “Some were upset with that,” he said of county employees.

     Supervisor Ned Rohwedder clarified that some raises were given, just not the full amount requested at once.

     “We need something to base it off of,” added Supervisor Joe Oswald.

     And while Rohwedder suggested using years of experience as a basis for a pay increase as well, Manternach did not feel that was necessary. “We should just be comparing job description,” he reiterated.

In other county business:

     • The board approved an amendment to the county’s contract with Shive-Hattery to modify the plans and rebid the courthouse improvement project. The cost to modify the specifications and reissue the bid documents comes at an additional cost of $1,750.

     • The board approved law enforcement contracts for the cities of Onslow (at $2,700) and Oxford Junction (at $24,990). Sulzner explained the difference in cost is due to the amount of service the cities receive from the Sheriff’s Department.

     • Phil Parsons, county attorney, met with the board concerning an issue with a Historic Preservation Commissioner turning in an invoice for work performed at Grant Wood Memorial Park. Parsons said he spoke with Rose Rohr, chair of the commission, and the board member about the matter.

     “We got everything worked out,” Parsons said of the situation.

     Parsons said the commission agreed to pay part of the cost for the work and labor. He suggested a good lesson might be to go through the bidding process in the past.

     “But you want to encourage your board members to do work on a volunteer basis,” added Parsons. “You don’t want to squelch that either.”

     • Mike Deutmeyer, owner of the former Jones Regional Medical Center property in Anamosa, met with the supervisors and Sheriff Greg Graver concerning expanding the parking area near the Sheriff’s garage near the property. Deutmeyer offered to do the work at half the cost. Graver said the additional parking space could alleviate the parked squad cars at the courthouse.

     • County Engineer Derek Snead met with the board, along with Center Junction resident Mike Meade, about the Secondary Road setback variance.

     Meade plans to build a garage on Prospect Street in Center Junction, off an alleyway, and needs permission from Secondary Roads to violate the setback rule.

     Snead said Secondary Roads has no plans to improve the roadway, and is not opposed to the project infringing in the right of way.

     While Snead asked the board to waive the setback variance application and $100 fee, Land Use Administrator Michele Lubben was opposed. “Who gets their fee waived and who doesn’t?” she asked. “Why not go through the (variance) process, pay the fee, and be fair?”

     Lubben informed Meade he’d also have to go before the Board of Adjustment for a setback variance request as well.

     “We do everyone on a case-by-case basis,” Snead said.

     “With my job, I can’t do that,” Lubben added.

     Meade said he was not opposed to paying the fee.

     Formal approval will be on the board agenda at their next meeting.

     • The board also asked Snead to send letters to nine residents along Main Street in Center Junction due to obstructions sitting along the right of way.

     “Junk on the right of way just bothers me,” Supervisor Jon Zirkelbach said. “It could be a safety hazard.”

     • Snead informed the board that he’s looking to hold a public hearing on the five-year road program during the board meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 4.