Department pay increase request sparks controversy

Board of Supervisors
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     Roughly 20 county employees filled the Jones County Supervisor Board Room on Dec. 6. They were present to oppose a request from Community Services for an additional 5 percent pay increase for non-union staff.

     Earlier this fiscal year, the board approved a 15 percent pay increase for the same department. Deb Schultz, county CPC; and Lucia Herman, case management supervisor, were present at the earlier board meeting to request 20 percent. The board passed a 15 percent increase at that time.

     Herman was present at the Dec. 6 meeting to request the additional 5 percent, effective July 1, 2016.

     Herman said the additional 5 percent would aid in the loss of staff for Community Services and keep the department competitive.

     Since meeting with the MCOs (managed care organizations) at the beginning of the year, and looking at contracts Community Services has with MCOs, Herman said she is recommending an increase in the rates for case management services.

     However, she said the MCOs have requested to wait until the one-year mark, April 1, 2017, until rate negotiations could even begin.

     “The collaboration has been great with the MCOs,” Herman told the board. “We’ve had no claim issues, no delay in payment for case management services. We’ve had excellent turnaround for reimbursement, in my opinion.”

     Herman said they currently serve 126 clients among the four case managers. Herman herself does not take on clients if necessary.

     “We could probably add eight more clients without hiring more employees,” she said. Herman said she doesn’t want to exceed 45 clients per case manager.

     “We took on five clients from the Davenport area that were not originally ours,” she said. “It’s a profit.”

     Herman said each client is also referred based on different mental health waivers.

     “Some require more paperwork than others,” she said of the time spent. “But so far it’s been successful.”

     Herman said the department is also working on adjusting employees when Schultz retires sometime next July. Herman said she’s been learning the ropes as CPC, as well as duties required working with the mental health region Jones County is a member of.

     “I’m attending some regional meetings and doing some transitioning,” she said. “Financially, I don’t need to take a case load at this time.”

     Herman said it’s important for case management to maintain a local presence for the well being of the clients served in Jones County.

     “We’ve had services here for 20-plus years,” she said. “Big business pays substantially more, and we’re already grossly underpaid for our professional level and the work we have to do.”

     Supervisor Joe Oswald said with other county departments, their pay has been compared to other counties similar in size to Jones. Herman said that comparison does not apply to Community Services.

     “It’s apples to oranges,” she said. “It’s hard to compete moneywise with the MCOs and our staff.”

     Gwyn Gapinski, deputy auditor, questioned if Community Services was asking for a 20 percent pay increase, does that correlate to having 20 percent more clients.

     “We all feel underpaid,” Gapinski told the board. “How are you going to address our situation? You give the union 1 percent and these people 20 percent? What’s different in their job eight months ago to now?”

     Herman said for those who don’t understand the MCO program, “it can seem like a shock to other offices.

     “But we’re a totally different business,” she added.

     County IT Director Lisa Mootz shared similar sentiments along with Gapinski.

     “Gwyn is not alone in her thoughts,” Mootz said. “Budget time is coming. If we all put in 20 percent, chances are we’re not going to get it.”

     Those present also questioned their worth as a county employee. Supervisor Joe Oswald was quick to squelch any concerns.

     “I appreciate every county employee,” he said.

     Supervisor Wayne Manternach said he was not in favor of the 15 percent at the beginning of the year, and he does not support the additional 5 percent.

     “I didn’t support it in the past, and I don’t support it now,” he said.

     Supervisor Ned Rohwedder did support the 15 percent he said to keep case management local.

     “I realize the big need for it,” he said. “I like to have a local presence.”

     However, Rohwedder said he felt granting the additional 5 percent was premature at this junction.

     No decision was made by the board at this time.

In other county business:

     • The board shared its proposal regarding the union contract for county employees. No representative from P.P.M.E. Local 2003 was present to exchange contract proposals.

     Concerning wages, the union proposed a 9 percent increase effective July 1, 2017; a 7 percent increase effective July 1, 2018, and a 6 percent increase effective July 1, 2019.

     The county came back with a 1 percent wage increase for all union employees.

     Negotiations begin Dec. 13 in closed session.

     • Lori Scovel with Limestone Bluffs RC&D was present at the board meeting to thank the board for their financial support in the past. She also requested continued support in the amount of $5,000 for Fiscal Year 2017-18.

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