Sheriff Wachenberg told the Perry County Council she has received a resignation that brought the department’s departures to five in about the last 40 days, representing roughly 31½ years of experience lost. She described the losses as a critical staffing problem and urged the council to consider measures to retain and reward deputies.

"We've got some people that have been there, one of them had been there 14 years," Wachenberg said, summarizing the experience gap created by recent departures. She urged the council to recognize training and specialized skills with modest pay adjustments tied to state-required certifications and on-the-job expertise.

Wachenberg and staff outlined a multi-part proposal: create a lower starting recruit rate that scales upward as new hires complete mandated training and certifications, and implement small percentage increases for deputies at multi‑year milestones. The sheriff said the department’s initial, county-level estimate for a phased program was discussed internally and would be refined after further review.

The sheriff emphasized non-salary incentives as well, including pay for evidence-call responsibilities and recognition for deputies who maintain specialized instructor roles. "It's kind of like your insurance policy in a way," she said, arguing that training reduces future liability and the costs of litigation.

Council members pressed for procedural checks. The sheriff said she had not found any prohibition against adding ranks in the middle of a year but advised the council she would confirm whether changes to titles or pay scales would require ordinance changes. The chair said any salary-ordinance changes or mid‑year pay adjustments would be reviewed with county legal counsel and the auditor before implementation.

The sheriff’s presentation also included a rough department-wide estimate that she said would be refined by staff; the number was presented as part of a broader staffing-cost analysis. Council members requested a follow-up with specifics on funding sources, legal steps, and an implementation timeline so that the board could consider the proposal during its December meeting.

What happens next: The sheriff will return with refined numbers, legal review and suggested ordinance language or budgetary adjustments for the council to consider at a future meeting.