Jason Peters, Supervisor of the County Highway Department will receive a pay raise that is retroactive to the first of the year thanks to the County Council.
On Monday Council President Judy Stone told members that after hearing from Kent Irwin, from Waggoner Irwin Scheele, the county’s HR consultants last week, that Peters is doing his job and that of the administrator but his compensation is not equal to the work he is performing. Stone said, “It’s my opinion Jason Peters has done a tremendous job this year being short one person and doing it all; the flood, the damage to the roads from NIPSCO. It was recommended by Kent Irwin of Waggoner Irwin Scheele that this council can set his wage regardless of his job title.”
A June 29th letter to council members and the county commissioners from Kent Irwin had a recommended change of salary for the Highway Supervisor. The suggestion was to make the salary change temporary until the issues in the department on rather an engineer would be hired are resolved. He recommended a salary of $57,080.08.
Stone asked council members their thoughts on making a change to his salary.
Councilwoman Penny Lukenbill said, “It’s my intention not to “usurp the commissioner’s bailiwick. It’s up to them to hire and determine what his title is.” She said Jason has performed the additional duties and essentially is the interim highway superintendent. The salary recommendation coincides with the current job description and not the title.
Councilman Jon VanVactor said, “Our dilemma is that we can’t get a consensus among the commissioners as to whether he should be promoted to that position, either temporary or permanent.” VanVactor went on to say he believes Peters deserves the pay.
Councilman Heath Thornton said, “I know he (Peters) is valuable and working a lot but going through this study, nearly every employee is going to be adjusted. Do we single one out right now and change his status and then everybody else has to wait till next month.”
Councilman Bill Githens had the same thoughts as Thornton saying, “I think we should just do it at one time when we go through the recommendation put forth from Waggoner Irwin and Scheele.”
A motion was made by Jon VanVactor to raise the highway supervisor’s pay up to the recommended amount of $57,080.08 and make it retroactive back to January. The motion was seconded by Jim Masterson and the vote was 5 to 2 with Heath Thornton and Bill Githens voting no. (Peter’s salary for 2018 is $48,854.10.)
Commissioner Mike Delp commented following the vote and said, “You talked about not stepping on somebody’s toes. Two of the commissioners haven’t felt it isn’t the right time to do it yet. I also, as Heath was waiting till Waggoner Irwin Scheele had got done with their study so that we could look at this all together.” He went on to say, “Jason’s done a great job. I’m not here to say he hasn’t but this paperwork you’re talking about, I’m sure the girls are doing a lot of the paperwork and pulling this together.” Delp then comments on a recent executive session and asked if any of the County Council members had asked about it. Councilwoman Penny Lukenbill said, “We can’t. You can not tell us anything about an executive session.”
Delp closed his comments by saying, “So I guess again, to me, you’ve overstepped the commissioners authority and doing what you’re doing.”
Delp did tell the council members the commissioners put in the funding for an engineer in the 2019 budget for the highway department.
