You see Sheriff John Pollack and his staff all over social media. 2nd Story Marketing put together an extensive media plan to try to recruit people to fill open correction officer and road patrol positions, as well as raise awareness of the department.
The effort promoted the department, but there are still seven correction officer positions open and two on road patrol positions because of the tight labor market, Pollack said this week.
In corrections, “We have three in training who will begin soon, but we are still down seven.” The county raised wages 7.6% for all employees in the last six months.
Using marijuana excise tax revenues, county commissioners moved to end the lower Tier II hiring hourly wage.
Corrections officer starting wage now is $19.10. It increases in six months to $19.40 then to $20.02 at the one-year mark.
Deputy Dalton Turmell resigned to go to Calhoun County. That left an opening with two authorized road patrol positions already unfilled.
Road patrol starting hourly wage is $23.39 an hour; in six months $23.78, and after one year, $24.17.
While starting wages are up, those employed by Branch County face high health insurance costs. Because of high usage over the last two years by employees and family, health insurance increased 62% over 2021.
To cut costs, county administrator Bud Norman brought in a modified plan which allowed employee to obtained lower rates by assuming a $4,000 per person or $8,000 per family deductible. This type of catastrophic...
A wave of pro-whistleblower opinions from federal judges suggests the False Claims Act remains on solid ground despite pointed questions from leading conservative judicial voices. Whistleblowers, ...