Logan County Board considers premium pay to county employees

 

[February 14, 2022] 

At the Logan County Board Workshop on Thursday, February 10, board members heard several committee updates and set the agenda for the voting meeting on Tuesday, Feb 15. One focus of discussion was one-time premium pay for non-union county employees.

Finance Committee Chairman Steve Jenness said he would motion Tuesday for the board to approve premium pay of $1,500 for full-time employees and $750 for part time employees. These amounts were chosen based on limits set by a statute telling who is and is not eligible for premium pay.

To Board Chairman Emily Davenport, the statute is confusing. She said Bellwether has told them the standard is 150 percent of the mean value of the salaries. These salaries are based on what the Bureau of Labor Statistics website shows. Davenport has asked Bellwether for clarification.

Based on the higher salaries, Davenport said some may not get anything. Those with lower salaries may get the whole amount. Davenport wants to know the formula they are using. Then she could see how much employees should get before voting on the motion.

The way Jenness understands it, he said it would refer to someone who is above 150 percent median wage. He said the median wage for county employees is roughly $30,000. Therefore, those who make more than $45,000 would not be eligible for premium pay. If they gave premium pay to someone who makes more than $45,000, Jenness said they would have to justify why they gave it.

For the median salaries, board member Dale Nelson asked if they were based on United States standards or Illinois standards and county standards.
 

Jenness said they used Illinois standards or county standards. Whichever was higher was the determining factor.

Because other counties have given premium pay, Nelson asked if someone could reach out to some of them.

Though board member Keenan Leesman said he respects the work county employees do, the guidelines show employees from forty-five sectors are eligible for these funds.

In looking at the eligibility for premium pay, Leesman asked why government is the only sector being considered for this pay. Leesman wonders how the board can explain to those in other sectors why they are not being considered for premium pay.

Leesman said he does not have a clear sense of who is qualified for premium pay. Therefore, he would like Bellwether to provide a sounder definition of median income and who is eligible for premium pay. Leesman wants to make sure the board does not misconstrue the policy and then gets audited.

The county does not have to designate ARPA money until 2024. Leesman would prefer ARPA funds be directed to projects that would help with economic development and county growth.
 

There are 125 full time county employees and about 22 part-time county employees. Davenport is hoping Bellwether will get back to the board with a formula for figuring out eligibility. They will then know the exact figure the county will be spending on premium pay.

The board may vote on the premium pay at the Regular Board meeting on Tuesday, February 15.

Road and Bridge Committee update

Motions that will be brought forward from the Road and Bridge Committee for approval include:

An engineering agreement with Hanson Professional Services for updates to the Fifth Street Road construction plan.

An engineering agreement with Hanson Professional Services for phase one engineering of Fifth Street Road between 700th Avenue and the I-55 bridge.

Hiring a secretary for the County Highway Department.

Legislative, Insurance and Liquor Committee update

Legislative, Insurance and Liquor Committee Chairman Annette Welch will bring forward a motion to approve the liquor license application from Kristine Powell. This license is for the current business operated as Sugar Creek.

The application fee will be waived. Welch said that is because the current business is already standing and has already paid up their liquor license fee until it needs to be renewed. Because Sugar Creek is changing ownership, Welch said the committee asked for a new application. That way, they can get the new ownership and insurance on file.

The board will vote on these motions at the Regular voting meeting on Tuesday, February 15 at 6 p.m. in the Orr Building.

[Angela Reiners]