Local News

Wednesday, November 21, 2007 Todd County Board of Commissioners Negotiations with unions continue by Karin L. Nauber The commissioners met with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) on Thursday, November 15. This AFSCME group represents the highway department, public health and social services. Union Representative Ginger Thrasher presented the groups proposals including sections on vacation language, sick leave, insurance, a shoe allowance for the highway department, inclement weather clause for the highway department, rates of pay and longevity. The groups caucused for close to an hour to discuss the proposals. After reconvening, several agreements were made and then the county reviewed its proposals with regard to salary, insurance, health care savings plan and other points. The insurance proposal was the same as for the other groups and included paying up to $469 per month for single and $710 for dependant coverage. The salary proposal was also the same as presented to the other groups with a 1.5% cost of living adjustment effective the first of 2008 and 2% COLA the first of July 2008. In 2009 there will be a 2% COLA increase the first of the year and the first part of July. The same follows for 2010. Step eligible employees with be awarded their steps in July of each year. The groups caucused again. After the meeting, Human Resources Director Karla Nalezny said that the county and the union had come to a tentative agreement on the insurance and salaries. She said that they also had tabled some items that both needed to do more research on. The groups will meet again on November 26. The board also met earlier in the week with non-union employees and Nalezny said they offered them the same salary and insurance package as the union groups.