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Fiscal court directs draft ordinance to create hazardous duty pay for sheriff’s office; deputies’ concerns noted
Summary
Magistrates voted to draft an ordinance establishing hazardous duty pay for the sheriff’s office after lengthy discussion about control of sheriff’s office resources and administrative consequences; the sheriff expressed reservations about external oversight but did not oppose hazardous pay itself.
The fiscal court on Aug. 11 voted to move forward with drafting an ordinance to provide hazardous duty pay for sheriff’s office employees.
Discussion centered on how hazardous duty pay would be administered and whether adopting such a pay program would alter the sheriff’s office autonomy. Sheriff Derek said he supported hazardous duty pay for employees in principle but expressed concern about ceding operational control or repeatedly having to seek court approval for office needs. He described turnover in the sheriff’s office and said he had regularly turned over excess fees to the county.
Magistrates debated timing and procedure; one magistrate moved that the court enact hazardous duty pay and directed county staff to draft an ordinance. The court recorded a motion and second and approved the direction to draft the ordinance by voice vote. Staff noted that implementation details—cost estimates, effective dates and how payments would be administered in coordination with state retirement/benefit rules—would require further work with the state and county auditors.
Ending: County attorney and finance staff will prepare a draft ordinance and cost estimate for the court to consider at a future meeting. The sheriff and magistrates requested follow-up on specifics before final adoption.
