County Council goes back and forth on pay waivers; decides ordinance should be set in stone

Dubois County – The Dubois County Council approved a request for the waiver of an ordinance that governs the pay of new employees and then made the ordinance a unwaiverable rule.

Sheriff Donnie Lampert asked the council to waive the 90 day/90 percent pay policy they have in place for new employees in the county. The policy states new employees will only receive 90 percent of their pay during the 90 day probationary period when they are first hired.

According to Councilman Mark Brescher the policy was at one time more strict, only allowing 80 percent of the positions’ pay for the first 180 days of the work for the new employee.

In the sheriff’s case, he hired Brad Gudorf for the maintenance position at the department. The sheriff stated Gudorf has performed exceedingly well at the department in his first fulltime work week. He listed several pieces of equipment Gudorf repaired saving the department money on outsourcing the repairs to a local contractor.

Lampert stated he doesn’t want to lose Gudorf over the pay and he is worth waiving the 90/90 restriction.

The council acknowledged they had granted the waiver of the 90/90 policy in the past. Councilwoman Martha Wehr stated she has known Gudorf for many years and felt he was a good addition to the county. Councilman Shane Lindauer stated if they were vouching for Gudorf and the council had waived the policy in the past he would support it as well.

Upon a motion, the council approved the sheriff’s request based on their knowledge of the history of the employee and the fact they have waived the ordinance in the past.

After the sheriff left, County Auditor Kathy Hopf informed the council she is working on the county employee handbooks and inquired as to whether the ordinance should be changed in the new handbook. She told the council the ordinance reads there would be no exceptions to the 90/90 policy.

“Everyone has to know when they are being hired they get 90 percent of their pay, no exceptions,” Council President Greg Kendal said.

“I don’t care how good they are, if they don’t like it, they shouldn’t take the job,” Councilman Mark Brescher stated.

Hopf pointed out the waiver of one employee in a certain department could upset a good employee in another department that did not receive a waiver.

“It’s a matter of principle. Sooner or later you have to set the principle and that’s where it stays,” Kendall said.

The council then approved a motion to add the policy to the employee handbook that there will be no exceptions of the county’s 90 days/90 percent pay policy.