Finance committee approves raises for Iron employees

By RICHARD JENKINS

rjenkins@yourdailyglobe.com

Hurley — The Iron County Board of Supervisors Finance Committee on Thursday approved 40-cent raises for county employees next year.

After the meeting, county clerk Michael Saari told the Daily Globe the raises were part of the budgeting process the county is beginning for the upcoming fiscal year.

The raises will go into effect Jan. 1, 2018.

The motion to approve the 40-cent per hour raises was one of several the committee approved following a closed session.

The committee also approved a $16-an-hour wage for part-time jailer/dispatchers, along with the stipulation they will work between 24 to 32 hours a week.

The committee authorized sheriff Tony Furyk to try out a new schedule, designed to reduce the amount of overtime the county pays.

Saari said the schedule is designed to prevent the need for overtime, except when someone is out sick or on vacation.

In other action:

—The committee approved spending $8,781 to purchase seven Tasers, as well as cartridges and battery packs. The Tasers will replace the sheriff’s department’s current supply, which has become in need of updating.

—The committee tabled Emergency Management Director Stacy Ofstad’s proposal to purchase a drone for use in various emergency situations, including search and rescue operations. Several committee members felt they needed more information regarding potential regulations for the drone’s use.

—The committee also tabled a discussion of changing the county’s policy of starting new employees at 80 percent of their wages, and increasing the pay over four years to the full amount. There is some concern this was preventing the county from attracting and retaining quality employees, but committee members felt it was something that required more consideration before a decision could be made.