Commissioners approve possible employee pay raise; other business

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – The Campbell County Commission met on Monday evening, approving several insurance and personnel issues including the possibility of employee pay raises in this fiscal year, should the budget support it.

Commissioners approved the inclusion of a pay raise possibility for non-school fund employees between .50-cents and not to exceed $1.00 in the proposed 2024-2025 budget, “subject to the availability of funding without requiring a tax increase.”

This came on the recommendation of the insurance and personnel committee, which Commissioner Rusty Orick chairs.

According to Orick, this is something they recommend every year, providing there is the funding in the budget.

The proposal will still have to go through the whole budget process to see if it is feasible.

Commissioners also approved increasing the credit on the county’s commission travel credit card from $7,500 to $15,000.

This was also on the recommendation of the insurance and personnel committee. The sheriff brought it to their attention that his department needed to sometimes use the card to book rooms for conferences or register for training.

The commission voted to amend the travel credit card policy. The policy change will allow department heads to use the commission’s travel credit card with application for its use through the commission chair Johnny Bruce and the commission’s administrative assistant.

Other business included the temporary appointment of an open records coordinator, and a public records coordinator for the county.

Upon County Mayor Jack Lynch’s recommendation, Melissa Brown was appointed as the county’s interim open records coordinator and Janie Wilson was approved as the interim public records coordinator.

According to the county mayor, both said they would perform the duties temporarily as volunteers.

Commissioners discussed this at the workshop two weeks ago. Having the positions filled is required to be in compliance with state law, according to County Attorney Joe Coker.

The positions had previously been filled by Gerry Myers who resigned recently. He had done it as a volunteer.

After discussing it at the workshop, commissioners decided no one else would be willing to take on a job of that magnitude as a volunteer permanently and the county would need to get with the financial department on what kind of salary could be attached to the position.

In the meantime, the commission approved to temporarily fill the position so the county could be in state compliance until it can get the financial side of it worked out.

Mayor Lynch said they hoped to have the positions filled within six months.

The next Campbell County Commission Workshop will be held at 6 pm on Monday, February 12th, with the Commission meeting scheduled for Monday, February 26th, at 6 pm. These changes are due to President’s Day, as well as commissioners traveling for a conference. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 01/23/2024-6AM)