Court staffs get pay hike

The county’s court employees will see heftier paychecks after a split vote narrowly approved salary increases for them.

The vote came during the Monday, Nov. 5, meeting of the Washington County Council.

The raises will go to the staffs of the county’s Circuit and Superior courts, which includes court reporters and secretaries.

Circuit Court Judge Larry Medlock appeared before the council with his attorney, Mike Maschmeyer.

Their appearance follows the county’s receipt of a letter from Medlock dated Oct. 4 in which he listed the salary increases he wanted his staff to receive in 2019 as well as adjustments for their pay for the last two remaining months of 2018. He stated the request was prompted by “a number of factors including the increased workloads of the employees, and in keeping the salaries consistent and competitive with pay within and surrounding Washington County for similar positions.”

Medlock’s letter also stated, “I further request that the County Council take whatever steps necessary to approve these proposed salaries for these positions of the Court for the 2019 budget of the Court.”

After the proposed increases were read during the Nov. 5 meeting, Councilman Jason Nelson made a motion to adopt them, noting that furthering discussion on the matter would have a “negative financial impact” on the county.

It was noted that the court employees wouldn’t receive the across-the-board 3 percent salary increase in 2019 that was already approved for county employees.

The increases were approved by a four-to-three vote, with councilmen David Hoar, Rondale Brishaber and Gerald Fleming Sr. opposing the increases.

In another vote, the council unanimously approved the flat $600 pay adjustment for the same employees.

“Thank you for your concern for the county and I sincerely thank you,” Medlock said.

Both the Washington County Council and Commissioners met in joint executive session on Thursday, Oct. 11, concerning a written threat of potential litigation from Medlock about personnel issues, according to Mark Clark, the council’s attorney; however, Clark wouldn’t confirm if that threatened litigation had anything to do with Medlock’s appearance with his attorney at the Nov. 5 council meeting or the subsequent vote by the council on salary increases.

Clark did note that the council had been asked to consider salary increases for the Circuit Court staff, but opted to extend those same increases to the Superior Court staff as a matter of fairness.

A request for comment from Medlock submitted to Maschmeyer went unanswered.

Prior to the Nov. 5 votes, Council President Todd Ewen noted that officials have been attempting to raise the salaries for county employees to make them comparable to other counties as a way to retain experienced employees. He also noted there were some unused funds in the budget that could be used to pay for the increases.