By HOLLY GASKILL
Wells County Council member Brandon Harnish brought a last-minute item to the 2024 budget on Tuesday — the salary of a full-time courthouse security supervisor.
The council had approved the budget 7-0 in September and was slated to adopt the salary ordinance Tuesday night.
While causing a brief delay, the council ultimately decided not to take action on the matter. Instead, they advised the position, housed under the Wells County Jail budget, should be kept as a separate line item.
Regarding the salary, Harnish wanted to have the full-time courthouse security role make less than someone at the jail. Harnish then motioned to change the approximately $43K starting salary position to $41,600, equivalent to $20 per hour. This change, he said, was “motivated by a sense of frugality.”
“You’re wanting to change something we’ve already decided?” asked Council member Scott Elzey.
“I don’t think I’ve got the appetite to change it. I mean, we’re talking $2,000?” added Council member Seth Whicker.
Harnish then stated he had discussed the matter with Sheriff Scott Holliday. Holliday, who was present at the meeting, told the council he disagreed with the change. “It’s (already) the lowest paid position I have outside of part-time people in my department,” Holliday stated.
Holliday noted that Harnish had discussed the wage being less than $20 hourly because of full-time benefits but that taking advantage of any benefits takes money out of an employee’s paycheck.
Harnish later withdrew his motion. The 2024 salary ordinance was adopted 7-0.
Also during the meeting, the council approved a series of financial matters. This included additional appropriations of $4,000 for the Highway Department for increased property liability and $2,000 for the County Commissioners toward opioid education. The Highway Department also transferred $8,000 from ice to road striping and $22,500 from road repairs to road striping.
Preceding the council’s vote, Harnish asked about the use of the opioid education funding, which supported the “Cody and John Speak” events at Wells County high schools and the 4-H park. The financial matters were approved 6-0, with Harnish abstaining.
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