Fallon County commissioners approve planner wage at $33.50 with six‑month probation

Fallon County commissioners voted to set the starting wage for the combined DES/planner position at $33.50 per hour and to impose a six‑month probationary period, with the employee to move to the top tier of $34.00 after successful completion of probation.

The discussion opened with a staff proposal to make $34.00 the top tier for the planner wage; Desiree, one of the employees referenced, said she has six years of planning experience and argued outside hire rates would be higher. Commissioners debated step structure and typical step increments (noted as 50¢ per step) and whether to start a current employee at the top tier during probation. One commissioner summarized the compromise: start at tier 4 ($33.50) now, and move to tier 5 ($34.00) after the six‑month probation ends, unless probation is extended.

Commissioner X (speaker identified in the transcript as Speaker 4) moved to start the position at $33.50 with a six‑month probation and progression to $34.00 upon successful completion; the motion was seconded (Speaker 7) and carried. During the vote the commission recorded one dissenting “no” before the motion passed; the chair announced “Motion carried.”

Staff confirmed Desiree’s combined start date was listed as August 23 and commissioners agreed to apply the $33.50 rate to the current pay period. The commission also directed staff to combine the job description (removing the 9‑1‑1 duty) and to have Britney work with Brenda to review 9‑1‑1 inventory related to the combined position.

The commission also discussed overtime documentation and ongoing probationary policies, noting that probationary periods may be extended under statute and that documentation of accrued overtime will be used to determine whether additional staffing is justified.

The motion and vote, as recorded in the meeting, implement the immediate wage change, set the probationary expectation and establish the trigger for the final-step increase.