Reno County Commissioners seem to be keeping an open mind over the Reno County Sheriff’s FOP lodge wanting to be recognized as a bargaining unit for negotiating pay and other benefits.
The main issue is merit pay increases for those who have been with the department for a long period of time. They believe there have been no increase in pay for deputies. Detective Sgt., Shawn McClay was speaking to that issue when he was interrupted by Commission Chairman Dan Deming wanting to make the point that they have received 2% cost of living adjustments over the past two years.
McClay admitted that is true, but added that other things have gone up including Social Security taxes and insurance rates.
The compression issue as they call it is a big one for the sheriff’s lodge. McClay pointed out that deputies that have been there for a longtime are making the same wage as those just hired and believes there should be merit pay based on performance evaluations.
Detective Darian Campbell agreed with McClay and we asked him how have their lodge being recognized will help the deputies with the sheriff’s office? He says the bargaining unit will be there for negotiating for better pay and benefits and represent the employees. He says he believes that its easy for the commission to get focused on production and loose focus on employee concerns.
The two detectives also have concerns about loosing good officer because of pay issues and say it cost time and money to have be training new officers coming in.
The commission met individually with these two detectives prior to the meeting and according to Commissioner Deming, the county has been looking into the issue already. Deming also agreed that the sheriff’s department does a great job providing service the citizens of the county.
Commissioner Brad Dillon indicated that he understood their concerns and the compression issue much better after the meetings with the detectives and also the presentation given Tuesday.
Commissioners didn’t make any decision on the issue Tuesday saying they want time to gain public input, plus Commissioner James Schlickau won’t be present at the next two meetings.
So, the issue isn’t expected to come before them again until July 9, at the earliest.