Atchison County commissioners approved a series of payroll and personnel actions on Jan. 7, including two pay-rate changes, a 3% cost-of-living increase for department heads and elected officials, and a temporary suspension of the county's 2013 inclement-weather PTO policy while staff refines guidance.

The moves came as commissioners said they want clearer procedures to track payroll changes during the year and to avoid unanticipated impacts on department budgets. The board voted to delay enforcement of Resolution No. 2013-1361’s requirement that employees use PTO during declared inclement-weather closures and directed staff to develop an updated policy defining public-safety versus public-service roles.

Commission Chair (unnamed) introduced the pay actions, saying, “I have a payroll status form for the county attorney, the change pay rate from $101,426 to 112,000, effective 12/15/24.” The commission approved that increase. The board also approved a clerk pay-rate change from $61,800.20 to $68,006.52, effective 12/15/24, and a 3% COLA for department heads and elected officials, all as budgeted for 2025.

County Counselor Pat and HR Director Jody took part in a lengthy discussion about introducing a consolidated personnel-services summary (a single spreadsheet of approved positions and pay lines) and tightening the payroll-status form process so raises and status changes are clear, documented and visible to commissioners and finance before implementation. Pat said a county pay plan could specify that payroll changes become effective only after commission approval, while Jody noted many payroll-status forms arrive without explanatory detail and recommended requiring departments to complete standardized spreadsheets during budget submittal.

The board directed staff to hold workshops including EMS, sheriff, road and bridge and other stakeholders to revise the inclement-weather resolution and to produce a recommended pay-plan/approval process for adoption at the organizational meeting. Commissioners said the intent is not to prevent legitimate, budgeted or certification-based raises, but to reduce surprises midyear and improve transparency.

Commissioners voted unanimously on each item and agreed to circulate a consolidated personnel-services spreadsheet and a draft policy before the next meeting so department heads can review and comment.