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Commission approves sheriff manpower changes, hires Greg Graham; public comment urges higher deputy pay
Summary
The commission approved reverting a part-time jailer slot to a deputy slot and hired Greg Graham as a part-time deputy at $10/hour (effective 2025-08-22); during public comment Christine Dybulak urged the commission to raise deputy pay, saying deputies currently earn about $14.14/hour.
The Lamar County Commission approved two personnel items for the sheriff's office and heard an emotional public comment calling for higher deputy pay.
Sheriff (Speaker 7) requested reverting a previously converted part-time jailer slot back to a law-enforcement deputy slot so the department could hire or rehire needed staff. The commission moved to revert the slot and to hire Greg Graham as a part-time deputy at $10 per hour, effective Aug. 22, 2025. The motion was made, seconded and approved.
Speaker 7 stressed the safety concern of single deputies working large rural shifts and said the staffing change would help nighttime coverage.
During public comment, Christine Dybulak, who identified herself as the wife of a Lamar County deputy, said deputies earn about $14.14 per hour (roughly $28,000 a year) and described the difficult and dangerous calls they respond to. "Raising deputy pay is not a luxury. It's an investment in public safety," Dybulak said, urging the commission to raise pay to keep deputies from leaving for higher-paying counties.
Why it matters: Staffing levels and compensation affect response times and retention in rural counties. Commissioners agreed to discuss short-term staffing options and to address long-term budget solutions in the upcoming budget meeting.
Next steps: County budget discussions will include potential short-term part-time slots and compensation considerations; staff will bring options to the next budget meeting.
