County “caps” salary cap discussion for the moment
Grimes County commissioners moved forward with approving adjustments to the county salary structure Wednesday, May 5, but stopped short for now of approving a salary cap extension.
Following her recent salary comparison with counties the size of Grimes plus additional larger surrounding counties, Human Resources Director Talitta Coleman said the difference in salary ranges from bottom to top in other counties averaged 44% compared to Grimes County’s 25%.
Coleman said, “I’m asking Commissioners Court to increase low end to top end by 40%. That won’t affect anyone’s salary at this moment.”
During her presentation, Coleman discussed the County’s inability to give merit raises to longtime employees at the top of their range, how expanding the range should eliminate midyear requests from department heads for grade adjustments to enable increasing salaries, and how the Grimes County Sheriff’s Office loses employees to surrounding counties because of substantial salary differences.
Coleman’s second request included grade changes for the following positions: Crime Victim’s Liaison and DA Caseworker/Investigator (both previously grant-funded positions which could revert to grant-funded), Human Resource Assistant, Livestock Officer, and Law Enforcement Librarian.
Commissioners approved Coleman’s grade change request but deferred action on the cap expansion for discussion during budget workshops.
Commissioners Court may be viewed in its entirety at www.grimescountytexas.gov/page/CCVideos.
Other court action:
•Approved consent agenda items which included the electric line for Blue Jay solar on CR 161, waterline crossing permit for Wickson Creek SUD for CR 161, Treasurer’s list of claims and bills, payroll, and budget amendments and/or line-item transfers.
•Approved a second amendment to the Interlocal Agreement adding Burleson County to the BVWACS Radio System and authorized the county judge as signatory.
•Received a project status report from Maintenance/Project Manager Al Peeler on the jail mold remediation, the Grimes County Justice and Business Center construction and the SH 90 access road to the Justice Center.
•Approved migration from Hill Country software to LGS software for Justice of the Peace offices 1, 2 and 3 and authorize the county judge as signatory.
•Approved the IT Department moving the District Attorney’s office from JustWare case management system to eProsecutor Online case management system with the understanding that County Attorney Jon C. Fultz will attempt to remove arbitration from the contract and authorize the county judge as signatory.
•Tabled action to move County cell phones from Verizon to AT&T FirstNet.
•Approved amending the contract between Grimes County and Brazos Valley Dispute Resolution Center due to lapse of renewal in 2020 to October 2020-September 2021 and authorize the county judge as signatory.
•Approved the Grimes County Records Management Policy that had not been updated since 1999.
•Tabled discussion of the parameters of the American Rescue Act to schedule a workshop. Judge Joe Fauth noted that Grimes County could receive $2.8 million.
•Approved Grimes County’s participation in the ACA Reporting and Tracking Services program (ARTS) with the Texas Association of Counties (TAC), at no cost to the county, and authorize the county judge as signatory.
•After meeting in closed session as authorized by the Texas Government Code 551.074, approved an adjustment to salary of the Veteran’s Services Officer.
•After a public hearing with no comments against, approved a replat of King Oaks Sec. 2, Lots 297 and 298 located in Pct. 1.
•Approved the plat of The Bend Subdivision which consists of five lots off CR 127-128 in Pct. 1 south of Iola.
•Received the Road & Bridge Report.
Burn ban: The burn ban remains lifted.