Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 124, No. 78, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 28, 2006 Page: 1 of 22
twenty two pages : ill. ; page 22 x 14 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Polk Cm irrfy
untn AUG ' 1 ^ -
.......
aster*
i Gil
ritlSE
Volume 124 Number 78
The Dominant News and Advertising Source in Polk County
UPS 437-340 Price: 50 cents
Salary study eventful
vc,'
' ■ •
/
By EMILY B. WOOTEN
New* Editor
LIVINGSTON - "Does anyone
have a knife? We could sure cut the
tension in here," were fitting words
spoken by Katharine Ray of Ray
Associates Inc. following a review
of the long-awaited results of the
county salary study Tuesday.
What should have been a routine
exercise for the Polk County
Commissioners’ Court - receiving,
reviewing and taking action on
Ray’s recommendations - became
anything but when the first assis-
tant district attorney - disgruntled
at what he considered to be an un-
fair assessment - received addi-
tional funding. Everyone appeared
shell-shocked at the scene they’d
just witnessed.
Ray’s recommendations based on
the salary study were aecepted with
the addition of an extra $ 10,000 for
the Polk County District Attorney’s
Office in a surprising 3-2 vote.
Commissioners Bob Willis and
James J. “Buddy” Purvis voted
“for” and County Judge John P.
Thompson voted “against.” Al-
though Commissioners Tommy
Overstreet and Ronnie Vincent
didn’t formally abstain from the
vote, they also did not cast votes
“for” or “against.”
It was never determined where
the extra $10,000 will come from.
When Thompson suggested tak-
ing it from the sheriffs budget,
Sheriff Kenneth Hammack ex-
pressed his displeasure at that idea.
Thompson then suggested also
adding an extra $10,000 to his
budget, as well as those of the sher-
iff, the county treasurer, the county
clerk, the district clerk and three of
the four commissioners, comment-
ing that the Precinct I commis-
sioner obviously didn’t need it.
It never was determined where
the extra $10,000 for the district
attorney’s office will come from.
Pay tabled
LEGGETT - A supplemental
payment of $500 for all non-
certified employees was tabled by
the Board of Trustees of the Leg-
gett Independent School District
during its Sept. 21 meeting and not
approved as previously reported.
Tempers flared, blood pressures
rose and a name plate sailed to the
floor as the scene played out like a
father doling out allowances while
the siblings fought each other for
bigger cuts.
“It’s killing us. I don’t mind tell-
ing you," First Assistant District
Attorney Lee Hon said, referring to
the salaries of his staff.
Commenting that he has lost
three assistant district attorneys in
the last year - two to better-paying
jobs and one to military duty in
Iraq - Hon said the salary offered is
inadequate in terms of finding
good, qualified people for the posi-
tions.
The district attorney’s office cur-
rently has six attorneys on staff -
the district attorney and five assis-
tant district attorneys.
Hon also expressed concerns
about the years' of felony experi-
ence the staff of the district attor-
ney’s office will comprise after
January I when District Attorney
John Holleman retires and Hon
takes over as DA.
Hon stressed the importance of-
the work conducted by the staff of
the district attorney’s office, inti-
mating that the office was deserv-
ing of higher salaries.
Thompson spoke up however,
stressing that the work of every
individual in every department on
the county payroll is important and
that optimally, they all deserve
higher salaries.
“I don’t understand how one de-
partment can come in and ask for
special consideration,” Thompson
said.
“I’m asking for special consid-
eration because I don’t believe the
study was done fairly and takes into
consideration the work we do,”
Hon said.
Purpose of study
County officials contracted with
Ray Associates Inc. earlier this year
to conduct a survey and compare
the county’s salaries and benefits
with those in other similar counties
and with other governmental em-
ployers; assign employees to ap-
'■jjfsprtate job......TltTeir;......truncate alt -
county job titles to appropriate pay
groups and steps; make recommen-
dations for any needed changes in
the county’s pay plan and the rules
for its administration.
Although similar studies were
conducted in 1997 and 2002, this
was the first comprehensive classi-
fication and compensation study
involving all employees’ participa-
tion since 1991.
Seeking fair market value, a
group of 13 ‘benchmark’ employ-
ers with jobs comparable to those at
Polk County, or with whom the
county might compete for qualified
employees, were selected. These
included Angelina, Austin, Bastrop,
Grimes, Hardin, Jasper, Liberty.
Montgomery, Nacogdoches and
Walker counties; the City of
Livingston; the Texas Department
of Criminal Justice and the Texas
Department of Transportation.
General findings
According to Ray, the findings
were that most of the county’s jobs
are below the middle of the market
- some by double digit percentages
- and the pay ranges are too nar-
row.
Compared to pay group mini-
mums, or the first step, Polk
County’s salaries were lowest or
next-to-lowest for 68 percent of the
benchmark jobs, Ray said. They
averaged about 6.3 percent below
the- SO-'percentile. Only nine jobs,
or 36 percent, were at or above the
50th percentile.
Compared to pay group maxi-
mums, or the top step, Polk
County’s salaries averaged 12.4
percent below mid-market, Ray
said. Eighty percent of the maxi-
mums are more than 5 percent be-
low the 50"’ percentile with the
maximums for administrative sup-
port and public safety being the
most significantly below mid-
market.
“Since the last market study in
2002, Polk County has not pro-
vided regular, annul pay sched-
ule/structure adjustments or per-
formance-based increases, whereas
most others provided 2-4 percent
each year,” Ray said, addressing
what exactly caused the market
slippage.
“Although changes in the market
over the last four years have been
modest, not making the necessary
adjustments on a consistent, annual
basis has had a compounding effect
over time, eroding Polk County’s
competitiveness in the market for
most jobs,” she said.
Most of the county’s benefits are
in line with or above what other
counties offei, she said, adding that
benefits that need a closer look
See SALARY' pg. 2A
K GORDON MARKON
KNTEHHUSE mo
POWERING UP - Workers under contract with the Texas Department of Transportation pre-
pare to lay a power cable io a new street light that will replace one knocked down at the inter-
section of Business 59 and North Houston Avenue in Livingston.
Capital purchases approved
GISD to eye vehicle purchase
GOODRICH - The Board of
Trustees of the Goodrich Independ-
ent School District will consider
action on a resolution to purchase
school vehicles from Buy Board
during a special called meeting at 7
p.m. today (Thursday).
The board is also slated to enter
into an executive session for the
deliberation of personnel.
Regular meeting held
The board approved an adjunct
faculty agreement with the Polk
County extension agent regarding
extracurricular activities and 4-H
eligibility during its Sept. 21 regu-
lar meeting.
Although two bids were received
on the school van, the board re-
jected both and opted to re-bid the
item.
The resignation of Board mem-
ber Steve Nelson, effective Dec.
31, was accepted.
The board approved the campus
improvement plan but tabled action
on the athletic handbook.
An offer to purchase county tax
foreclosure property was rejected.
In policy matters, the board
adopted FNAA (Local) regarding
the student distribution of non-
school literature and FNAB (Local)
regarding the student use of facili-
ties for non-school puiposes.
Superintendent William Gorham
reported on pre-kindergarten;
school enrollment, which is down;
a vehicle purchase; a school bus
purchase; the Texas Association of
School Boards/Texas Association
of School Administrators Conven-
tion; and the elementary school
water heater which burst twice.
Principals Malissa Williams and
Betty Jackson presented reports on
their respective campuses.
Dr. Graves of Pinnacle Medical
Management Corporation of Hous-
ton made a presentation to the
board regarding the legal aspects of
drug-testing students.
Other business included approval
of the financial reports and the
minutes of the Aug. 31 meeting.
LIVINGSTON - The Polk
County Commissioners’ Court ap-
proved capital outlay purchases
from fund balances, to be reim-
bursed by the fiscal year 2007 year-
end issuance of authorized debt,
during its regular meeting Tuesday.
The renewal of independent con-
tractor agreements with Barbara
Hayes Medical Revenue Services
Inc. for the administration of the
county indigent healthcare program
and oversight of the jail medical
and aging programs was approved
reflecting a 2.5 percent cost of liv-
ing increase.
Commissioners also renewed the
agreement with Dr. Raymond J.
Luna for inmate medical services at
the Polk County Jail.
A lease agreement with Thomas
W. Smith d/b/a Livingston Eye
Center for office space located at
Polk County Regional Health Cen-
ter was approved.
Renewal of the agreement with
the Deep East Texas Council of
Governments STAR Program for
the lease of office space located at
1114 Dogwood was approved.
Commissioners selected the
county sick leave pool committee
for fiscal year 2007 by random
drawing. The committee will in-
clude Robert Blakley, Lafay West,
Patsy Phillips, Jan Shandley and
Dana Murphy.
An order designating surplus
property - road and bridge equip-
ment - as per the listing provided
by the Precinct 3 commissioner
was approved, as was advertising
for bids for the sale of the equip-
ment.
The final plat for Four Comers
Subdivision in Precinct 2 was ap-
proved.
Commissioners approved accept
ing the bid from Hall Buick Pontiac
T" ” ;;
■■par f -
»■
&
u m*
r* *f
A
I
if
r*:i
m
..
11
*
gggjg
mj
,
%
till
I
Pflii
;f;
4 . *
Si
g-
...vi
! v A
ENTERPRISE PHOTO BY EMILY B. WOOTEN
OUTGOING EXTENSION AGENT RECOGNIZED - During its regular meeting Tuesday,
the Polk County Commissioners’ Court recognized County Extension Agent Chad Gulley who
is leaving to accept a position with Nacogdoches County. The court presented Gulley with a
resolution recognizing his service to Polk County and its 4-H and youth programs.
for the purchase of a 2007 one-ton
diesel pickup truck for the mainte-
nance and engineering department.
Commissioners also approved a
Precinct I request for the purchase
of a tractor with boom mower
through buy board, to be included
on the approved listing of capital
purchases to be paid with the road
and bridge fund balance and reim-
bursed at fiscal year end through
the issuance of authorized debt.
A request from the sheriff for the
payment of Federal Labor Stan-
dards Act overtime was approved.
In old business, commissioners
approved the selection of David
Waxman for grant manage-
ment/project delivery services for
the disaster recovery project.
However, the scheduling of a
county surplus auction in coopera-
tion with the City of Livingston
auction was deleted from the
agenda as the auction win~6e~poii-
poned until the spring.
In related activity, commission-
ers were slated to consider con-
tracting for professional auctioneer-
ing services relating to the auction.
However, that item was also de-
leted from the agenda.
Items on Tuesday’s consent
agenda included:
• Approval of the minutes of the
Sept. 12 meetings;
• Approval of the budget revi-
sions as presented by the
county auditor;
• Approval of the budget amend-
ments as submitted and re-
viewed by the court-appointed
committee;
• Approval of the schedule of
bills;
• Approval of the personnel ac-
tion forms;
• Ratification of a contract exe-
cuted by the maintenance en-
gineer for the cleaning of the
grease trap located at county
law enforcement center;
• Approval of the annual fire-
fighting agreement with the
City of Livingston;
• Designation of the regular
terms of commissioners’ court
for fiscal year 2007 as second
and fourth Tuesdays of each
month;
• Adoption of the Texas De-
partment of State Health Ser-
vices indigent healthcare eligi-
bility standards, documentation
and verification procedures ac-
cording to the act and provi-
sion code Section 61.0285 for
the State of Texas fiscal year
which is Sept. 1, 2006 through
Aug. 31,2007;
• Approval of a resolution in
support of fiscal year 2007 in-
digent defense formula grant
application and;
» Approval of an amendment
No. 05-3 to county contract
with Texas Department of Ag-
ing and Disability Services for
home-delivered meals.
During informational reports,
Judge John P. Thompson recog-
nized County Extension Agent
Chad Gulley who is leaving to ac-
cept a position in Nacogdoches
County. Commissioners presented
Gulley with a resolution recogniz-
ing his service to Polk County and
its 4-H and youth programs. Gulley
thanked the court and the commu-
nity for all the support he received
during the time he was here.
County Clerk Barbara Middleton
reported that the November Gen-
eral Election ballots have arrived.
Emergency Management Coor-
dinator Kenneth Hambrick reported
that the county will be receiving
some additional money due to Hur-
ricane Rita. He also reported that
the National Weather Service will
be at his office at 10 a.m. on Oct. 5.
Tax Assessor-Collector Bid
Smith reported on the accident that
occurred at his office Friday when
a vehicle drove through the front of
the building. He said the damage
was mostly cosmetic and he
thanked the numerous agencies and
people who pitched in to help, in-
cluding Mike DeVilleneuve, Lewis
Milner, Kevin Ward, Hec Long,
Mike Nettles, Jay Burkes, Jeremy
Harrell and Kenneth Hambrick. He
also thanked his staff "for holding
it together undei adverse condi-
tions.”
H.E. Striedel opened the meeting
with prayer and Joe Roeder led the
pledge of allegiance.
Water question
to be fielded
LIVINGSTON - An education
program focusing on groundwatet
conservation districts in Texas will
be held from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday,
Oct. 3, in the Livingston High
School auditorium. The program
has been organized by Polk County
Texas Cooperative Extension.
A proposition calling for creation
of a Lower Trinity Groundwater
Conservation District will be
among the items on the ballot in
Polk County in the Nov. 7 general
election.
Information will be provided by
Bruce Lesikar, professor at Texas
A&M University and Texas Coop-
eration Extension specialist in bio-
logical and agricultural engineer-
ing; Kelly Mills, groundwater spe-
cialist with the Texas Commission
on Environmental Quality and
Robert Bradley, groundwater spe-
cialist with the Texas Water Devel-
opment Board.
Speakers will address the follow-
ing questions, among others: Do
you know the reasons why
groundwater conservation districts
exist?
W'
4
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
White, Barbara. Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 124, No. 78, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 28, 2006, newspaper, September 28, 2006; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth788266/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.