Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners address staff recruitment and wages

The Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners addressed some of the problems the various departments are having trying to recruit staff to fill vacancies and pay competitive wages at their April 26th meeting.

Human Resources Director Savanna Slick and Social Services Director Amy Ballard explained to the board that with the resignation of Jennifer Hovde, Social Services now has two open positions, one of which is a Child Protection position, the salary of which is paid for by a state grant. The other open position - a Social Service Worker has been open since Shelly Pepera retired and had only one applicant who then accepted a competing job offer elsewhere at a higher starting wage. Ballard summed up the situation by telling the board, "Our low pay scale is really hurting us."

A job description for a family-based service provider was presented with a pay rate starting at Grade 10 instead of the Grade 13 for the position previously advertised. "There is a larger local labor pool for care aid, and it's billed at a lower rate," Ballard explained, "we're more likely to get qualified applicants." A motion was made and seconded to advertise, interview, and hire a Family Service Provider at Grade 10 and approve the job description.

Next up before the board was Land and Water Planning Director Josh Stromlund recommending the two environmental specialists in his department, currently at Grade 9, be bumped up as they complete the various certifications necessary to do more advanced work.
"We have one employee who has completed all three certifications for Wetlands Delineation, Surface Septic Certification, and Ag. Inspection," Stromlund told the board, "she should be bumped up."

Stromlund suggested advancing grades as the employees complete their various certifications and attain seniority at their positions. "It makes sense to have a tiered ladder [of wage increases]," he explained to the board.

After more discussion, it was unanimously decided to adopt a tiered wage structure for Land and Water Planning and to move the employee who's attained all three certifications to Grade 11, Step 11.

Last up before the board to talk about wages in their department was Sheriff Gary Fish who proposed a wage increase for the Chief Deputy from Grade 18, Step 12 to Grade 19, Step 12.
"Everyone else in the department was adjusted up a grade on the last contract," Fish told the board, "The Chief Deputy was not." After more discussion, an increase for the Chief Deputy, as requested by Sheriff Fish, was unanimously approved.

In other county-related business the board:

• Paid Social Services Claims as presented by Social Services Director Amy Ballard. Ballard explained the department had "comparatively high mileage claims this time."

• Paid the Auditor/Treasurer's Claims as presented by Auditor/Treasurer Lorene Hanson. The Commissioners also approved the payment of a lost warrant from a Highway Department Claim and a Letter of Support for pending legislation.

• Approved a Resolution of Sponsorship for the Northwest Angle Edge Riders and the Drifters Snow Mobile Clubs. The clubs will be asked to provide an update on their activities at a future meeting.

• Unanimously agreed to treat elected county officials as employees when dealing with data requests. Under the Data Practices Act, elected officials who are considered employees have more protections when the county is asked to release data on them.

• Discussed obtaining a used oxygen bottle filler for filling breathing oxygen used by fire departments.

• Set up a work session after the May 9th meeting to discuss, among other things, the new roof for the County Museum Building and the oxygen bottle filler.

There being no further business to discuss, Acting Chair Cody Hasbargen recessed the meeting at 9:50 a.m. after a nine o'clock start.