Dodge County OKs pay raises

By Diane Graff of the Daily Times staff
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 12:14 PM CDT

JUNEAU - Several personnel issues, including wage increases, were approved by the Dodge County Board of Supervisors Tuesday night.

Union contracts were approved for the health facilities employees, sheriff's department non-sworn employees, and nurses. Last month the county board also approved three union contracts.

Management and non-union employees were granted a 2.5 percent wage increase retroactive to Jan. 1 and will receive another one-half percent wage increase July 1.

The union contracts included a 2.5 percent across-the-board increase, retroactive to Jan. 1, with an additional one-half percent wage increase set for July 1. In 2009, wages will increase 3 percent on Jan. 1, 2009, while in 2010, the contract calls for a 2 1/2 percent wage increase on Jan. 1, 2010, and another one-half percent wage increase on July 2, 2010.

Agreements were approved last month with the highway employees, technical and support employees and professional employees. Wage increases were uniform for all American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) AFL-CIO union locals and the federated nurses union.

ADVERTISEMENT

Supervisor Robert Ballweg of Beaver Dam, a member of the county's human resources and labor negotiations committee that proposed the contract approvals, said he only backed the health facilities and highway contracts.

“I voted in favor of this one (health facilities) and highway because there were savings in the contract,” Ballweg said. “I applaud the employees and the union. They strive to see Clearview survive,” he said.

According to the health facilities contract, employees in nursing services have agreed to work a 7.75 hour workday, as compared to an 8-hour day. “I am applauding the union up there for caring about the county,” he said. The contract was approved by the board on a 34-0 vote, with one supervisor abstaining.

The sheriff's non-sworn contract was approved on a 29-4 vote, with two supervisors abstaining, while the nurses' contract was approved 28-5 with two abstaining.

Supervisor Eugene Wurtz of Mayville questioned why management and non-union employees should also receive the wage increases identical to the union packages.

According to the resolution, the pay increases were proposed to maintain internal salary and wage relationships between management and non-represented employees and employees covered by collective bargaining agreements.

“I don't know if that is a good reason to raise spending,” Wurtz said. The supervisor referred to the state keeping funding at a 2 percent increase.

Wurtz also opposed percentage increases on the higher end of the scale. “I don't like percentages,” Wurtz said. “We need to get back to calling a dollar a dollar.”

The 23-steps labor plan includes $10.03 an hour at labor grade one, up to $44.77 an hour for the highest labor grade, level 23. Starting July 1, the lowest level on the wage schedule will be $10.08, up to $44.99.

In other personnel matters, the board approved the creation of a circuit court commissioner position. The full-time new position will replace a 0.75 full-time position of staff attorney and a 0.50 part-time position of assistant family court commissioner. The new, full-time benefited position will take effect Aug. 1 and will be on labor grade 16 of the approved management and non-union wage, which begins at $27.33 an hour.

The board also approved abolishing two positions and creation of two new positions in the information technology department. On a 32-3 vote, the board approved abolishing a network analyst position and create a network technician position, and abolish a typist three position and create an IT service support position. Both positions will have an increase in pay.

Funds for the additional wages will be taken from an unfilled position in the department, according to information technology committee chairwoman Donna Maly. “The people filling these positions are in higher positions,” she said. “We need a technician more than an analyst,” she said.

Board members also unanimously approved several amendments to the county's land use code to make it more user friendly and approved rezoning requests for the town of Hubbard.

During a special order of business, student Emma Klomberg presented her award-winning Rotary speech on “Service Above Self.”