Junction 505 requests a 2% contract increase to support rural collection sites and employment for people with disabilities

Junction 505 told the Brazos County Commissioners Court it needs a 2% increase to its contract to help cover employee cost-of-living adjustments and overhead for six rural collection sites the nonprofit operates on the county’s behalf.

"We maintain the county's rural collection sites. There are six of those sites around the outskirts of the county," Robert Glaze, operations manager for Junction 505, told the court. He said the requested 2% increase would amount to about $65 more per site than the past three years and would raise the effective hourly rate paid to staff to $15.98 per hour when accounting for FICA, insurance and benefits. Junction 505 said the sites employ 10 people, three of whom are full-time, and that the work both provides assessments for clients with disabilities and sometimes serves as a transitional worksite.

Glaze said Junction 505 also places people with disabilities into community employment through Texas Workforce Solutions and vocational rehabilitation referrals. The organization said the small contract increase is intended to help retain and fairly compensate employees who staff the collection sites and perform assessments.

Commissioners thanked the group for the service and indicated support for the modest increase; no formal action was taken at the workshop.