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Show THURSDAY, JULY 28. 197- 7- -- VOLUME SEVENTY-NIN- E NUMBER NINETEEN OBDDllilW Ap)j5)GWffi(l3 By ROSELYN KIRK A confrontation over the rehiring of a Davis County deputy clerk at a higher salary has led to the approval of a Davis County merit system that has been in the planning stages for two years. group of seven county employees asked for a meeting with Commissioner Wendell Zaugg to air their grievances, and general dissatisfaction was expressed over pay and hiring AFTER A policies by county employees, the county commission called a meeting with Davis County administrators to resolve the problem. The county administrators voted unanimously to initiate the merit system, the adoption of which had been hanging fire for over six months. The meeting with the administrators was the second of two meetings held. LAST Friday county employees had met with a representative from the Utah Public Employees Association to voice their feelings that some employee organization was needed. The issue of the merit system and the general dissatisfaction of county employees came to a head over an in- -' stance in which one woman, employed by County Clerk Rod Walker, left to work at another job in Salt Lake City and was rehired at a $100 pay increase. MR. WALKER claimed that the woman was never officially terminated from the job. Mr. Walker said he told the employee to try the job and that he would not ter- minate her until she saw whether she wanted to return. He said the other job offered more money and more chance for advancement. When the employee asked to return to her job, almost four weeks later, she was given the job back and received the pay increase. Prior to the hiring, Mr. Walker said he had consulted with the county commissioner who agreed the woman should be rehired since it would cost additional money to hire another employee to learn the job. Commissioner Glen Flint admitted to the assembled department heads that the commissioners had made a mistake in hiring the woman back under the circumstances. RICHARD JOHNS, administrator of the county health department, said the incident merely pointed out the need for a merit system. He said instances of this kind could leave the commission open for possible discrimination suits. Further actions of this type would enable employees to find loopholes and file discrimination suits based on differentiation in pay and benefits, he said. Based on the urging of the county administrators, who voted unanimously for the adoption of the merit system, the commissioners agreed that a system was necessary and instructed Personnel Director Earl King to set the wheels in motion for implementing the system. THERE WAS much discussion on whether a prior $5,000 study, conducted by the Intergovernmental Personnel Agency, which set up the proposed merit system, should be adopted. Sheriff Dub Lawrence suggested that William the system be implemented even though many department heads did not approve of the salary schedule grade and steps set up by the study. Sheriff Lawrence said that if the system were set in motion by the adoption of the proposed merit system, department heads who did not approve of the pay scale could then go to the merit board and petition for changes. JOSEPH MOORE, administrator of the Davis County Planning Department, sug- gested that the department heads evaluate the positions as spelled out by the pay plan and meet back together to discuss changes. In an effort to hurry the project along, Richard Nelson, Title 20 director, suggested that a task force, headed by Mr. King, be set up to look over the proposed merit system and recommend a time table for implementing the system. Several county administrators had suggested that the system be initiated by January 1, 1978 to simplify accounting procedures. COUNTY Commissioners and administrators agreed to meet the last Tuesday of each month to iron out problems on the merit system and others that may confront county administrators. Mr. King will report at the next meeting. He said he was not sure what administrators would be asked to sit on the task force, but assured them he will ask for help. Mr. King said he also planned to call regular meetings with the county employees to allow them to express grievances and eliminate confrontations in the future. PRIOR TO the retirement of Personnel Director Horace Rose, Mr. Rose had asked the county commission to reconsider the adoption of the merit system, which is required by state law when more than 130 people are employed. Davis County has 136 employees which are not covered by either the state health or law enforcement merit system. Commissioner Flint asked if the administrators would favor placing all the county employees under one merit system. Sheriff Lawrence said that would be difficult in the case of sheriffs deputies since testing would be difficult and the retirement system is different. He said that the two systems wouldnt fit. MR. KING said that some employees were disenchanted because the two state merit systems to which law enforcement and health personnel belong have higher pay scales than the proposed merit system being considered by the county. County employees are trying to tell us they see the merit systems working to anothers benefit, he said. In addition to the pay increase and the rehiring, complaints leveled by employees against the commission. Commissioner Flint admitted that a nepotism ordinance also was violated by the rehiring of the woman. Her mother was also employed by the county. Commissioner Flint said the employee was originally hired before the nepotism ordinance was adopted. HE SAID when the woman was rehired, the commission didnt think about the nepotism ordinance and failed to take it into consideration. Administrators discussed the nepotism issue, in most cases saying that it would be eliminated if employees were hired on the basis of merit, not family relationships. Commissioner C.E. Moss admitted that the county nepotism policy was too restrictive at present." The policy says that two people who are closer in relationship than second cousins cannot be hired. IN A FINAL action, the administrators voted to allow the deputy clerk to retain her job although there was some argument by some department heads who wanted their employees to have the same privileges she had been given. All administrators admitted that the woman had been a victim of circumstances. WHO WOULDNT By GARY R. BLODGETT Ruth Price has a cheery smile and a friendly hello for everyone. SO WHATS so unusual about that? Ruths friendly greeting comes as she directs traffic as a flag girl for the Utah Department of Transportag tion at a in Centerville. truck-crossin- I GET real excited when motorists show the courtesy of smiling and waving to me especially when the temperature hovers around reminded to get their garbage out on the curbs for pickup not later than 6 a m. COLLECTION days are Tuesdays through Fridays and a collection day falls on a major holiday, the garbage will be picked up the following day, according to city officials. It was noted that some if residents had complained because garbage was not picked up. This is usually because the truck has passed and once it passes it will not return, city officials said. THEY emphasized that garbage must be placed so it is clearly visible from the street, not placed behind parked vehicles or otherwise obstructed from view. Garbage must be placed on the curb line or at the edge of the road. Garbage must be placed in lightweight, durable tainers, preferably con- n metal garbage cans, with lids and bottoms in good condition. Garbage must be loosely packed so it will dump easily. It will not be dug out by the sanitation crews. CONTAINERS should not exceed 75 pounds in weight per can. Plastic containers or bags may be used, but the city will not assume responsibility for breakage and scattering of debris. In addition to normal household garbage, some of the items that will be hauled STOP? 100 degrees as it has a few days this summer, she says. Some motorists pass me several times a day, and smile and speak every time. Senior citizens are the greatest. They go by each Thursday and I actually look forward to seeing them. wish me a good day and even RUTH SAYS she loves her job, and the people she meets. once this summer has she been accused of such. It would be the most offer me treats. (EVEN AS I interviewed her, a Utah Transit Authority bus stopped and the driver and Ruth exchanged greetings and a friendly joke). Ruth said she is not a womens libber, and only bor- ing job in the world without the friendly motorists and these kids that live nearby, she said. Many of the motorists who stop to let the trucks cross will take time to ONE ELDERLY fellow told me that I should be in the kitchen, not out doing a mans job. It really hurt my feelings because I accept the job as a means of earning a living. just like anyone else. She said this is her second year of flagging. TM TRYING to pay off my car and earn money for school next year, said the junior, from Brigham Young University. Flagging is a summer job for me and if I wasnt doing this Id be doing something else. Asked if motorists some- times flirt with her, she replied with a blush: YES they do. Then she added that she accepts the flirting remarks fesissiiwe Iiay Eiptiiiite liffapy teemt Re? cGiSEfeling By ROSELYN KIRK Davis County Commissioners approved the expenditure of $3,000 to remodel the basement of the Davis County Library in Farmington so that the Civil Defense area can serve a double function. THE commission agreed to allocate the money when John Zippro, director of Emer- gency Services, volunteered to do part of the building so that the Nutrition Division of the Council on Aging can be housed in the area. If an emergency occurs, the moveable panels can be removed and the civil defense MR. ZIPPRO agreed to to wait until after Aug. 1 purchase the materials needed for the construction. Commissioners said they will add the building project to estimate expenditures when they meet on Aug. 4 to set the mill levy. Commissioners did not give any date for beginning the construction of the addition to the courthouse, but did ask late this week to go over the final plans for the addition. COMMISSIONER sanitation crews, as long as they are within the weight limit, are: by the MAGAZINES and papers office go into action. The nutrition staff is scheduled to be moved from the house south of the courthouse when commissioners give directions that the house is to be torn down to make way for the courthouse addition. that Architect Richard Stringham meet with them (aysville Residents Reminded About Garbage Pickup Schedule Kaysville residents were Ruth Price has a beautiful smile and charming personality to go along with her flagging job along north Main Street in Centerville. Many motorists stop, and a few even flirt with her. if they are tied neatly in bundles, lawn clippings, weeds, etc. Bundles must not exceed three feet in length weeds, and clippings, household pet manure, etc., must be in sturdy containers Dirt, rocks, metal items, wood, etc., will not be hauled by the sanitation crews, of ficials said, grb Glen Flint said the county may decide to go ahead and advertise for bids for the courthouse. This would cut down the waiting period necessary prior to a 30-da- y bid opening. In the meantime Commissioners are still hoping that they may yet get some money through an Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant Commissioner Flint said that, even if the county goes ahead and calls for bids, they will not let the bids out for contract until final word on the grant is in. WHEN the construction of the courthouse addition building begins, the CAP offices, also housed in the white house south of the courthouse, will move two doors down to the red brick building which currently houses the WIC program for low income families in need of nutrition planning. In other business, the commission told Robert Fisher, a representative of the Syracuse Lions Club, that they wouldn't oppose a rifle range at 3300 West and 2700 South, the site of the abandoned Syracuse city dump. BUT Commissioner Flint called Mr. Fishers attention to the fact that the Davis County rifle range in Fruit Heights will be completed in September and available for rifle practice by Sept. 15. The range, which has been constructed by the Weber Basin Job Corps with the county providing the gas for the equipment, hasnt cost anything yet, Commissioner Flint said. The county has A7 the location. BOTH commissioners said that shooting into the mountain was preferable to the proposed Syracuse range where the mountain would not serve as a bunker. PJJeefimg Davis School Board has cancelled their meeting for the first week of August and will hold the next meeting on August budgeted $30,000 to finish the rifle range, which will include a pistol range and a skeet and trap shooting range as well. COMMISSIONER Flint said the commission would not be opposed to the rifle range proposed by the Syracuse Lions Club provided they would agree to police the area. The area is an unincorporated section of the county. The commissioner expressed some concern that the area was not as suitable as the Fruit Heights area since stray bullets might escape from the range. Commissioner C. E. Moss said the county had considered the area prior to their decision to go with the rifle range at Fruit Heights, but had given it up when the Utah Fish and Game Department opposed 16 THE AUGUST 16 meeting will be held in the Board Room at the Administrative Building of the Davis School District in Farmington, Bernell Superintendent Wngley said. He said an agenda will be announced prior to the meeting. rk as compliments even if I do turn as red as my stop sign. NOT ONCE this summer has Ruth received an obscene as so remark from anyone many of the flag girls do. I guess Im fortunate that in two years of flagging I have not received many crude remarks. I try to be friendly to everyone and do the best job I know how, she said with a big smile. RUTH SAID she has had a few scary moments. One happened the other day when a guy failed to see me signal for him to stop until it was almost too late. Luckily, the truck driver was alert and swerved out to avoid an accident, she said. THE OTHER scary moment came when a skunk ventured down from the hillside and wanted to make friends with the flag girl. "It was the first time I had been face to face with a skunk and I was thinking of all kinds stand of things 1 could do still and hope he went away, run from him, or throw my sign at him if he came too close," she said. Ruth noted that the large dump trucks have right-of-wa- y at the crossing, except for an emergency' vehicle traveling the main road with lights and siren. "Flagging is only a part-tim- e job for me, said Ruth. I want to teach handicapped children after graduating from BYU. And, of course, 1 want to marry and work in the kitchen where I wont be criticized for doing a mans job. BUT FOR the summer, Ruth will be directing traffic along Centervilles Main and smiling and Street wishing a good day to all the passing motorists. THE WEEKLY REFLEX aa-1 WMQM f Layton Phone 37S-813- 3 Pubkehed Weekly by CUPPER PUSUSKIKS CO. John StaMa. Jr , Second Ctaaa Poatage Paid At Layton, Utah httojr SUBSCRIPTION $4.53 per year but at SMa lakaerfrtlan HJI Oversea SHbaarSaa StfJS (Payable In Advance) |