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LCSO employees get pay raises
Deal includes continued personal cost for insurance
Published Friday, July 3, 2009
The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office employees will get raises but will continue to pay a portion of their health insurance, as stipulated in a new contract approved Thursday by the Lawrence County Commission. The employees have already approved the contract.
The three-year pact, retroactive to Jan. 1, gives employees a 45-cent an hour raise this year and next year and a 35-cent an hour raise the third year. But employees also agreed they will continue to pay a portion of their health insurance, regardless of an earlier arbitration ruling in their favor on the issue.
The employees have been paying a portion of the health insurance costs but the ruling stated because other county offices allow their employees to receive health insurance without paying a portion of the premium, the sheriff’s employees should be entitled to the same benefit.
The sheriff’s employees agreed to waive their right in the future to the free health insurance in exchange for raises.
“Is the money saved from the health insurance enough to cover the raises?” Commissioner Les Boggs asked attorney Mark McCown, who had represented the county during negotiations.
“Yes, this is significant savings over maintaining the status quo under the current agreement,” McCown said.
“It’s tough times right now for everyone. I just want to make sure we don’t have to put out any extra money,” Boggs said.
“The employees at the sheriff’s office understand,” McCown said. “They’ve done an admirable job coming together.”
That sentiment was echoed later by Sheriff Jeff Lawless.
“I’m glad the contract was ratified,” he said. “Certainly the employees do a great job and deserve to be compensated for protecting the residents of Lawrence County.”
McCown said work continues to pin down the specific amount of money owed the employees as per the arbitration ruling made official in May.
Arbitrator Michelle Miller Kotula ruled some employees were due reimbursements because they were charged too much for their health insurance.
Commissioners said once the actual figure is determined the county will then begin to figure where to find the money for the reimbursements.
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Comments
Posted by Vil (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Sheriff constantly complains that his department has no money and the Commissioners keep dipping into a fund that was created to fund the ambulance service, yet the employees at the Sheriff's Office deserve a raise? You have to be kidding me! Where is that money going to come from, the money tree of the finance fairy?
If these Sheriff's deputies are getting a raise, then they better pass physical tests to show they can perform the job. I've seen some of these deputies and they are fatter than the contestants on the Biggest Loser. If we are going to give these people raises that the county can't afford, we better be paying people that can actually do the job correctly.
And what department in the county gets free health insurance? That's insane that the taxpayers would have to foot the entire bill when we the people have to pay for our own insurance.
I heard so much about how Jeff Lawless was going to change things when he was elected Sheriff. From what we can see here, it is the same old business as usual.
Posted by 4victims (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree VIL.....When you cannot run around the block without stopping, that would appear to be a problem....Maybe it should be mandatory that they all pass a physical fitness test. After all, it is your life they should be able to protect!
Posted by cashmere (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Make the court house employees pay a part of their health insurace premiums! this is such an obvious change to make!
If your employees don't like this, they are free to pursue other jobs, where they may be surprised at what comes out of paychecks in the "real world".
Posted by Country (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 5:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
By giving them a raise will save the commissioner's money but the amount of money still will not be enough to make it thur the end of the year. Seems like there is always money when it comes pay day. The insurance was a mistake made by the commishioners before.
In the real world when there is no money there is no raises. Which groups this year has given raises when they are suppose to be cutting back? Seems like the commissioners do not have the power to force the groups to do as they are told.
Posted by nottellin (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 6:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Darn! Vil beat me to it!
All I could think when I read that was...
"The sheriff is ALWAYS whining about how broke the department is".... Yet they found money for raises.....
Posted by phantomclown (anonymous) on July 4, 2009 at 12:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How convenient! The commisioners give the ambulance tax to the Sherrifs department, and "shazaam!" they get raises! The ambulance was forced to increase their rates- also thanks to the commisioners- and look what happens! Maybe the commisioners could give up THEIR salaries to pay for other things the county needs!!!!!!! They robbed Peter to pay Paul, and now the county will suffer even more! How disgusting!
Posted by mehop (anonymous) on July 4, 2009 at 5 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How do YOU serve your community?
Posted by nottellin (anonymous) on July 4, 2009 at 11:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mehop... what's your point? I mean, besides the one you cover with a hat?
Posted by Dad (anonymous) on July 5, 2009 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope the Deputies appreciate thier raise. Corrections employees for the state of Ohio are taking a $120.00 a month cut in pay to help the state balance the budget. They are fortunate that they are not taking a cut in pay.
Posted by mrsx (anonymous) on July 5, 2009 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thank you sheriff lawless and commissioners for seeing that the employees of the sheriff's office has worked and earned their raises. i don't see the sheriff's office employees bashing your place of business but then again they are mature adults and don't have to bash another to gain respect or feel good about themselves. maybe you should practice what you preach...use those wonderful, perfect/toned body to do something other than sit on your perfect butt gripping about others, teach your children respect then maybe you'll actually gain some respect..and since you can do the job so much better than those fat deputies actually go get a job...i'm sure the raises earned brought the deserving employees a little closer to pays that the state already makes and has for years...the county employees did not ask the state to cut your pay-i don't feel you should expect the county to cut ours because yours was..when you were gaining raises you didn't turn them down when the county didn't get theirs..again thank you sheriff lawless and commissioners for recognizing the fact that the employees work hard, poor conditions and stress levels to the max..with little thanks from our public which is apparent..you should use your knowledge to make this world a better place rather than to tear it down..stay safe..that's what your deputies/police/state highway patrol wants for you.
Posted by Country (anonymous) on July 5, 2009 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mrsx You seem to miss the point of the county not having enough money to make it til the end of the year. That includes the Sheriff's Department. The commissioners keep saying we all need to cut back but give raises. Isn't this is what people are upset about with the Federal Government for bailing out companies who then turn around and give bonuses and raises? So Mrsx enjoy the raise until it is time for layoffs. Also the next time you really want to put others down try using capital letters and actual sentences.
Posted by mrsx (anonymous) on July 5, 2009 at 5:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i will and thank you..have a great day
Posted by safesp (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 3:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Did anyone know that the one percent sales tax was to include the county fire departments? I've been in the fire service for over thirty years in this county, check with your local department and ask how much they get. answer zero!!!! Departments like Decater and Winsor could use some help.
Posted by irontonohcitizen (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The EMS service receives aid from sources other than the county, they are an independent company unlike the Sherriff's office. If you had any idea what these men and women make compared to what people in other parts of the country make for the same work you would agree this raise was well deserved. Not many people would take the risk of being stabbed or shot for less than $14 an hour and there are many jobs in this county which are far less dangerous making just as much if not more money. If you remember two men working there were stabbed not too long ago. I don't disagree that fire departments deserve funding too because they are in the same situation, but the Ems is an outside company. As far as insurance goes the county takes out the maximum amount on employees and many employees of the LCSO cannot even afford insurance for themselves or their families and this increase will be just enough to help some of them afford it. I agree the workers should be in shape and I know many who are or are atleast making an honest effort to be. Many of the people who have done good things for this county and two men who I can think of while on call for a domestic dispute were not the thinnest men but they took a knife to them to protect a citizen from being killed. For those ill informed of the counties spending, whatever money the judges court order they make or be spent on certain things the Commissioners must spend or it is contempt of court. Also, the county has to pay all medical expenses of inmates in the jail as well as money to send inmates to Scioto county because our jail is crowded. Honestly I'm more upset that I pay taxes for Tom Wilcox to have medication and his burns dressed and cared for everyday than paying for the men who deal with situations like that. There is also statistical evidence that crime increases in a recession so I think that paying deputies and correction officers to protect you is something I would want to invest in. Also it is not like the Sherriff is being ignorant in his choice to offer raises, he has not hired anyone to replace two employees and honestly I cannot think of the last time he hired a new employee so he is doing the best he can to be fair to his current employees. These men and women deserve to be commended for their hard work and I think this was a good choice on Lawless' part. Nice choice on investing in our safety Sherriff Lawless
Posted by mrsx (anonymous) on July 7, 2009 at 8:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
right on irontonohcitizen..well said and i second that..thank you sheriff lawless for the effort you have put forth
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