After years-long discussions, fiscal court approves pay plan

Published 12:22 pm Thursday, January 11, 2018

After nearly three years of discussions and meetings, the Clark County Fiscal Court approved the first reading of the new compensation plan Wednesday.

The fiscal court and a committee of three magistrates have worked to establish a system to make issuing longevity and annual increases for county employees an objective affair.

Each job within county government is now assigned to a pay grade, with minimum and maximum salaries. Within each grade are 40 steps, each equal to about 1 percent, for annual increases.

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“I want to thank the compensation plan committee,” Magistrate Sheila McCord said. “We finally got it finished.”

Magistrate Greg Elkins, who served on the subcommittee, said it took longer to complete than he thought, because it took incorporating the opinions of all six magistrates and Judge-Executive Henry Branham.

“Everyone has an opinion and they’re all right,” Elkins said. “We all came together well to make a really good plan. I’m very proud and really pleased.”

“I think it has been discussed and everyone was secure with it,” Branham said. “There were a lot of differing opinions.”

There was much discussion through out the process and other situations, such as making sure current employees did not lose money and setting starting salaries to recruit and retain employees as well.

“We’ve beaten it to death but I’m glad we took our time,” McCord said.

The fiscal court approved the plan unanimously and without discussion Wednesday.

“We stuck with it and got it done,” Branham said. “This will give us an opportunity at the administrative level to recruit and retain employees. I thank you.”

The second reading of the ordinance will be during the Jan. 24 meeting.

In other action, the court:

— Noted the indigent burials of Logan R. Christy and Larry Ray Jordan.

— Approved the promotion of Jerrie Ann Rodrigues from administrative assistant to executive assistant.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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