Personnel panel JPs OK new duties, pay

Next meeting

FAYETTEVILLE — Justices of the peace approved new job descriptions and duties for existing positions and agreed to pay changes Monday during the Washington County Personnel Committee meeting.

The committee approved changes for seven positions. Justice of the Peace Sue Madison, a Democrat representing southeastern Fayetteville, said she was disappointed all the requests did not go through the county’s budgeting process.

The adjustments come after the Quorum Court approved in November the county’s $68 million budget The Washington County Quorum Court will consider changes to some county positions during its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Dec. 21, at the county courthouse.

for next year. The 2018 budget includes a $5 million gap between expected revenue and proposed spending.

Department heads said Monday that the proposed changes won’t impact the county’s budget significantly.

No funding requirements are needed, said Michael Watson, Human Resources director. Many departments are saving money as longtime

employees retire and those positions are rehired at lower salaries, department heads and elected officials said.

For example, Washington County Sheriff Tim Helder asked to change a crime scene specialist position to a lieutenant position that will save the county about $12,000, he said. The position had been held by an employee who recently retired after 40-plus years of service and was paid $71,385 per year, Helder said.

Similarly, an administrative assistant position for the Circuit Court will be filled for about 60 cents less per hour than the previous employee, county records show.

Other adjustments were already in the 2018 budget. For example, the changes for a paralegal position that will get duties over Road Department permits were put into the budget already, Chairwoman Lisa Ecke said.

Ecke is a Republican representing southeastern Springdale.

The new pay for the paralegal-permit coordinator position will be about $40,000, up from about $34,300, officials said previously.

Still other changes will be covered within existing budgets because they are small, officials said. A haul truck driver and trainer position will get a 32-cent pay raise. The position pays $16.28 per hour, according to county records.

The committee also decided a deputy veterans service officer position will replace a secretary position at the Washington County Veteran Services Office. The change will cost $2,163 more per year for the salary adjustment, according to county records.

The secretary duties will be covered by volunteers, said Josh Medina, veteran services officer.