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Commissioners approve nearly $8,300 pay increase for parks superintendent after debate
Summary
Ripley County commissioners agreed to raise parks superintendent Christy’s salary from about $40,009 to $48,350 after discussing expanded duties, on‑call responsibilities and comparisons to the maintenance supervisor. The board also adjusted caretaker and assistant hourly rates.
Christy, the county parks and fairgrounds superintendent, told the commission she has taken on substantial extra responsibilities — storm cleanup, events coordination, grant work, and 24/7 on‑call duties — and that the job has expanded since her hire. Commissioners reviewed several proposed dollar figures, compared her duties to the maintenance supervisor’s role and debated whether the increase should be a flat raise or tied to a reclassification.
Several commissioners praised Christy’s work and urged compensation closer to the maintenance supervisor’s level; others urged caution and recommended a smaller increase or further review. After a round of suggested amounts and discussion about equity across departments, the board coalesced around a $48,350 salary for the superintendent and approved hourly adjustments for the caretaker ($16.55) and the assistant ($15.20). The motion to approve the superintendent pay adjustment passed in voice vote with one commissioner dissenting.
Christy described her workload and commitment in detail during questioning. "I stay till a job gets done... I feel like I'm on call 24 7 with that job," she said, explaining the frequent after‑hours calls and event demands. Commissioners asked for job descriptions and comparisons to other counties to inform future decisions on pay ranges and classifications.
The board asked staff to formalize the new salary and update payroll entries; commissioners signaled interest in a broader countywide review of job descriptions and pay bands to avoid ad hoc adjustments going forward.
