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 Present were Andy Anderson, Kevin Bateman, David Blankenship,
Miles Craig, Emily Davenport, Bob Farmer, David Hepler, Gene Rohlfs
and Chuck Ruben. Absent for the evening were Rick Aylesworth, Pat
O’Neill and Scott Schaffenacher.
During this last Tuesday’s Regular voting session the board voted
not to renew the annual contract with Animal Control Warden Julie
Parker, but did approve contract renewal with Assistant Warden Jane
Whiteman.
As the meeting began on Friday, Gene Rohlfs made a motion to
reconsider the contract with Parker as Warden that was seconded by
David Blankenship.
Rohlfs opened discussion saying, “Personally I'm not sure I made the
right decision.”
Board and Animal Control Committee members briefly commented that
there had been complaints concerning diplomacy, Parker was said to
be abrasive at times.
 Scott Schaffenacher, who serves as the current Animal Control
Committee Chairman was not present.
Kevin Bateman said he knew of complaints while he was committee
chairman for several years, but hoped it would improve.
Parker was cited as good at administrative duties.
The motion to reconsider the contract with Parker as Warden failed
by a near split decision.
It was later discussed that Parker could be brought back as a
contract employee in another position if she would be interested.
Bateman motioned to offer the current Assistant Warden, Jane
Whiteman, the warden position at the current Warden’s salary of
$32,000.
Ruben argued that the salary should start at $28,000, just like the
more recent starting assessor salary, which was dropped from the
long-time and experience assessor’s salary of $32,000. Ruben said
the board might reconsider the amount in a year after seeing the job
she is doing.
Bateman argued that Whiteman has been working as the Assistant
Warden and she brings numerous years of experience working in a
veterinarian's office, Dr. Gillen’s, which the county often uses. He
counter offered starting her at $30,000.
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Recalling the change in the assessor’s office, Ruben said that
Denise was the same, brought years of experience too, but was
started at $28,000. He said he was trying to avoid starting with
high salaries. This leaves room to raise, he said.
Ruben also recalled that treasurer and circuit clerk salaries were done the same
way. When new persons began in those positons they were started low. For those
it is a more complex process, as elected position salaries have to be determined
six months before an election.
The board unanimously approved hiring Jane Whiteman at $28,000 annual salary
with a review at six months.
Next the board discussed the Assistant Warden positon, which Whiteman has filled
at $24,584.16 annual salary.
Whiteman was asked prior to the meeting, if she were appointed warden, did she
have a recommendation for the assistant warden position.
Her recommendation was Duane Foley, who is a full-time employee for Animal
Control. Reportedly, Whiteman has worked with Foley since she has been there and
thinks he does a good job.
The board unanimously voted to approve Duane Foley as Assistant Warden at
$22,500, also stipulating a six month job performance review for salary
increase.
Moving Foley to Assistant Warden creates a full-time vacancy. There are a couple
of part-time personnel that could be moved up to full-time. If there is not an
applicant suitable for the position, either to move up from within or on file
from previous application, the warden would need to run an ad for the full-time
position replacement.
[Jan Youngquist] |
