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Show For Iron County New sa la ry -sc-h ednal es ad o pted Other Hearing In a short public hearing held immediately im-mediately prior to the public hearing on salary increases, the commission approved approximately $34,400 to pay for 1978 budget deficits. According to County Clerk Clair Hulet, about $7750 of federal CETA funds were not appropriated reducing the debt to about $26,600. Discussion on a possible adoption of the Cedar City salary scale based on merit and longevity increases for Iron County workers, pushed a public hearing held on salary increases to almost four hours last week. Pros and Cons Commissioner Jim Clark favored the adoption of such a plan for all county employees feeling that it would be a good management tool. The plan would provide for raises for longevity and performance. Merit raises would be determined by the department heads subject to the commission's approval. Clark favored the plan hoping that its adoption would bring county salaries up to the levels that Cedar City's employees receive. Road Dept. In discussing adoption of the plan with various department heads, the commissioners pointed out that the plan would necessitate their keeping com ple'e records to verify merit raise increases. The plan was adopted for the County Road Department headed by Lynn Fiack. County employees will be amended back one grade on the scale which will provide an approximate 7 percent increase in their salaries for 1979. Of the 10 county road employees, seven employees have base salaries between $10 and $11,000, with two employees receiving over $11,000 and Lynn Fiack receiving a base salary of $12,800. Earl Smith, who attended the hearing representing the road crew, said, "This system will act as an incentive to keep employees at their jobs and to excell in their work." Sheriff's Department The Sheriff's Department which had also wanted to adopt the city schedule, were given a four percent increase. The commission decided to consider adoption of the program next year for the law,enforcement agency. The county is considering paying $25,000 to enter the department in a statewide retirement plan for law enforcement officers and so decided against the schedule for 1979. Elected Officials Other county employees received a seven percent increase. The commission com-mission also set a range for part time employees paid on an hourly basis from minimum wage to a maximum of $3.50 per hour. All elected officials except for commissioners will also receive a seven percent salary increase. Commissioner Clark objected to the $4,000 which commissioners receive and proposed a ten percent increase which would have raised their salary to $4400. He said that the salary has not been increased for eight or nine years and in future the workload will probably become full time. He further objected saying, "someone who is working cannot afford to be a commissioner and it reduces the number of people who can serve." Of the present commissioners, Jim Clark and Cleo Wood are self employed and Grant Seaman is retired. The motion died for lack of a second and was opposed by Commissioners Seaman and Wood. The commission did give approval for Justice of the Peace Margaret Miller of the Cedar Precinct to hire a part time secretary. Miller has been handling her office's workload without any secretarial help. County Attorney The new county attorney James Shumate will receive approximately $24,000 for 1979 compared with the County Attorney's $16,000 for 1978. The raise is due to elimination of a deputy's salary and making the position full time. Including office expenses and other benefits, .total benefits will be close to $30,000. The new attorney has pledged at least 40 hours to county business. Whiel he will maintain a private practice, the signed contract limits him to handling cases which will not tkae more than 10 hours a case such as uncontested divorce cases. Shumate said, "I intend to be the County Attorney." Public Comments Forrest Hunter owner of KBRE t radio station was present at the meeting and objected to many salary increases saying that he is concerned about , the people who pay the taxes. Vivian Little, representing the League of Women Voters in Cedar City, said, "I don't see any objections in- raising salaries seven percent." She did object to the afternoon scheduling of the hearing saying that, "it makes it difficult for the majority of taxpayers to attend." v |