County Board approves collective bargaining agreement with jailers/dispatchers

by Ruby White
A tentative contract agreement was reached with the jailers/dispatchers by the Wabasha County Board at its final regular meeting of the year.
A sheriff’s deputies’ contract is not settled as yet, however. Both unions are represented by the Teamsters.
In spite of bad weather and poor road conditions, all commissioners were present. Following the meeting there was a reception for retiring County Attorney Jim Nordstrom and outgoing Commissioners Dave Harms and Deb Roschen. Administrator Michael Plante was ill, and Auditor/Treasurer Denise Anderson served as Clerk. Senior Assistant County Attorney Karrie Kelly was also present. At the start of 2015, she will be the new County Attorney.
Jailer/Dispatcher Contract
The contract for the jailers/dispatchers has been in the negotiation process for some time, and the Negotiations Committee recommended that this contract be ratified. Human Resources Director Krissa Bedsted indicated that there had been a change in the dispatchers’ sick leave policy. The board had approved the contracts with the other unions earlier. The contract calls for a 2% raise for 2015 and a 2.5% raise for 2016.
Commissioner Mike Wobbe moved for approval, Rich Hall seconded. It passed 4-1. They, along with Board Chair Don Springer and Dave Harms, voted yes. Deb Roschen voted no.
Action Items
In other Action Items, the Board voted unanimously to make the final payment of $3,257.85 to JAAK, LLC, for completion of the project for chevron signs which were placed on various county highways. The cost of the project was $65,157, 90% of which was funded through a federal highway safety grant. The remaining $5,494.50 came from the County’s regular State Aid construction account, and $1,021 from County levy. Harms and Hall moved.
The Board also voted unanimously to make the final payment of $95,356.41 to Rochester Sand & Gravel, Division of Mathy Construction Company, for completion of the bituminous reclamation and resurfacing on CSAH 9. Total cost of the project is $1,897,628.11. The project was funded through the County’s regular State Aid construction account. Roschen and Springer moved.
Other Board action included authorizing the hiring of Therese Schafner, RN, to fill the current open nursing position on Grade 4, Step 4 of the non-union pay scale. The position was left open when Tera Binner resigned. Public Health Director Judy Barton presented the request. Wobbe and Springer moved and it passed unanimously.
The final Action Item was approval of the Consent Agenda, which consisted of claims, meal vouchers, per diems, SSIS claims, meeting minutes, and a donation of $250 from Commissioner Rich Hall to offset the cost of a garage door opener for the Veterans Service van. Springer offered his thanks on behalf of the Board for this gift.
In answer to a question about the claims portion of the Consent Agenda, Springer noted that the $8,000 bill for attorney services was for the recent requests for Data Privacy information, which took staff and attorney time. Springer and Wobbe moved for approval of the Consent agenda and it passed unanimously.
A presentation by Dawn Lubahn regarding the 4-H/Extension was postponed when weather conditions kept her from getting to the meeting.
Commissioner Reports
In Commissioner Reports, Springer met with the Lake Zumbro Improvement District committee. He said they “were moving ahead, following the time line for the process.” An engineering firm has been hired to determine how residents will be assess, that not all will be assessed the same. They have a fund of $10,000 for the study.
Wobbe attended a meeting of the Advisory Committee for Human Resources. He said they were looking at 12 adoptions for 2015. In this regard, they have been looking at how these matters are handled by other counties. The CEO of Fernbank was at the meeting and discussed the grant. Wobbe also had a Three Rivers Community Action meeting at which the operating budget was discussed as well as a succession plan for the director.
Hall reported on matters pertaining to the DMC (Destination Medical Center). He said that some communities, such as Elgin, are looking at ways to encourage the influx of new people to settle in their town by offering bonuses or waivers of some fees. At the Planning and Zoning meeting the night before, they worked on chapters 16 and 21 of the Zoning Ordinance. They are considering combining with the Board of Adjustment in the future. The Bike Trail is moving closer to hooking up to Highway 14, probably in the next year.
Harms and Roschen had no meetings.
There were no Board Concerns, Staff Updates, Administrator Update, Public Forum matters or Unfinished Business.
A Closed Session had been scheduled for further discussion of the offer from Board of Soil & Water regarding feedlots. This discussion was cancelled, but the Board went into Closed Session to discuss an employee grievance. When they reconvened, Kelly announced that there was no action, that the County was not changing its position.
Following the Closed Session there was the afore-mentioned reception in honor of outgoing elected officials.
The next regularly scheduled County Board meeting will be on January 6, 2015.

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