Decatur County Council OKs $22/hour for employee moving to part time after debate over salary ordinance

The Decatur County Council on an uncontested voice vote approved a department request to change a full-time county employee to part time, reducing hours from 35 to 29 per week, and authorized a $22-per-hour part-time rate.

Council members debated whether the pay decision complied with the county’s salary ordinance and an internal practice concerning July 1 hire-date rules. One council member said recent votes appeared inconsistent with the salary order; others said the cases differed and warranted individual consideration. The council directed staff to circulate the salary ordinance and discuss revisions at the next meeting.

The department lead explained the change was for personal reasons and argued the higher part-time rate would avoid rehiring and preserve institutional knowledge. The council’s action did not change the salary ordinance; it authorized the specific personnel and pay change requested. The motion to approve the part-time status and $22/hour rate carried by voice vote.

Why it matters: Council decisions on pay rates set precedent for future personnel requests and intersect with the salary ordinance the council uses to maintain equity across departments. Members asked that the ordinance language and its application be reviewed before similar exceptions are adopted going forward.

What’s next: The salary ordinance will be emailed to council members for review, and the issue was placed on a future agenda for possible revision.