St. Clair County commissioners reclassify two drain office project manager posts, set wage at $70,620

At a meeting of the St. Clair County Board of Commissioners, members voted to reclassify two drain office project manager positions to “deputy drain commissioner / project manager” and to place the positions on the county wage scale at $70,620. The board also approved reducing one full-time inspector position to casual status.

The reclassification passed after discussion about the office’s increased workload and a short amendment process to identify an appropriate wage. Commissioners adopted the amendment to place the positions at the wage level closest to the previously stated $70,000 figure; county staff later confirmed that the correct union wage slot maximum is $70,620.

The measure’s supporters said the change is intended to give the drain office greater capacity and to allow deputies to represent the county with voting authority at state and intercounty meetings. The Drain Commissioner told commissioners, “We’ve been taking on a lot more drain projects… I wanted to assign the deputy position to these two project manager positions that we have,” and said deputies would be able to “actually sit at the table and be part of the … board and actually vote.”

Opponents said the wage choice should follow the HR wage study. Commissioners debated amounts and a motion to set the salary at $75,000 failed for lack of a second before the board settled on the wage slot that corresponds to $70,620. Commissioner David Rushing, who proposed the original reclassification language, pressed for a higher level to recognize added responsibilities. Commissioner Carrie (county administrator) noted a technical requirement: the county must place the position within an existing union wage category; she told the board the closest category had a maximum of $70,620.

Commissioners also discussed how often deputies would be expected to attend meetings. The Drain Commissioner estimated the deputy-level workload could require “10 meetings to 20 meetings” a month given petitions, attorney involvement and interjurisdictional obligations. Supporters said the change will let the drain office cover multiple geographic areas and act at meetings when the drain commissioner cannot attend.

Vote counts: the amendment to place the positions at $70,000 (later adjusted into the union slot) passed on roll call 4–2. The main motion as amended passed on roll call 4–2. The roll-call votes recorded: Commissioner Angie — yes; Commissioner Beaton — no; Commissioner Trello — yes; Commissioner Rushing — yes; Commissioner Vandenbosch — no; Chairperson Samasco — yes.

County staff said the change will be implemented by slotting the positions into the nearest union wage scale (2EE) with a maximum of $70,620; the board directed administration to process that placement through the union scale framework.

The board did not immediately identify incumbents for the reclassified positions; the county will follow its normal hiring/reclassification procedures to fill any vacancies and to fit the positions to the completed wage table.