Delaware County commissioners to give employees $1.6 million in bonuses from ARP funds

MUNCIE, Ind. — In a special meeting Friday afternoon Delaware County Commissioners authorized $1.6 million in American Rescue Plan money to be spent on "retention" salary bonuses for county workers.

The bonuses will vary in size depending on factors including years of service to the county, said commissioners President James King.

King said the U.S. Treasury Department recently approved similar retention bonuses for government workers in Tulsa, Oklahoma from ARP funds. Based on that, commissioners moved ahead on action for Delaware County.

"We wanted to get it done before Christmas," he said.

John Brooke, commissioners' attorney, and King both emphasized that ARP money was not being used to settle a grievance by UAW Local 321, representing county deputies and correctional officers.

County council member Ryan Webb, who said he was aware of discussions involving commissioners and ARP money, told The Star Press last week that ARP money was used to settle the grievance about overtime pay for sheriff's employees. The union contended that according to the labor contract their members were owed overtime for working while the county building was closed in 2020 due to the pandemic.

According to the amended ARP spending plan, bonuses would go to current employees of Delaware County who have been continuously employed during the pandemic.

"The purpose is to retain employees during this economy to provide essential government services," the plan said. "Additionally, the county needs to address consistent shortfalls in critical hard-to-fill positions across the county like correctional officers, emergency communications dispatchers, court staff and other positions."

At the regularly scheduled commissioners meeting Monday morning, guidelines for awarding the bonuses were approved.

Public safety employees are entitled to $5,000 under the bonus plan if they have worked continuously from March 25, 2019, to the present on a full-time basis. Those workers would include merit deputies and correctional officers employed by the sheriff's department as well dispatchers and EMS paramedics.

Public safety employees hired after March 25, 2019 and before Dec. 31, 2020 receive a bonus of $3,000 and must continue to work for the county for a year after receiving the bonus.

There was no mention about how the provision requiring work for a year after receiving the bonus would be enforced.

Public safety employees hired on of after Jan, 1 2021 would receive a bonus of $2,000 and would also be required to work a year after the bonus is received.

Full time non-public-safety employees continuously employed with the county would receive a bonus of $3,000 with the exception of those hired after Jan 1, 2021. Those hired this year would receive a bonus of $1,000.

All part-time employees, including attorneys for departments and courts, who are employed with the county and started prior to this year would receive a $1,000 bonus under the guidelines. They would be required to remain with the county for a year after receiving the bonus.

Delaware County Council also provided raises to county workers in 2022 budget. Most employees who receive their salary from the county's general fund were given $1,000 raises. Employees of the sheriff's department received $3,000 raises after a campaign to lift the salaries of deputies and correctional officers. Surveys had shown the men and women of the department were underpaid compared to counties of similar size.

Much of the county's ARP funding has been targeted at infrastructure projects.

"We wanted to do something for our employees who stuck with us through COVID," King said.

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But the decision met with dissent from Commissioner Sherry Riggin who voted against the bonuses on Friday.

After Friday's special meeting, Riggin said she was concerned about the commissioners' "accountability" in handling the federal money, and that the proposal was rushed through for no good reason.

Riggin also voted against the guidelines as presented Monday.

Donna Patterson, chief deputy auditor for the county, said the matter would have to go before the Delaware County Council next year for approval. Council, she said, has the right to reject individual projects and spending of ARP funds.

King said in the Monday meeting that he had talked with the council and it supports the decision to issue bonuses and would call a special meeting if needed.

More: Delaware County, police union reach tentative agreement over COVID-19 overtime grievance

King said the UAW grievance had now been withdrawn. He said Monday that commissioners and Sgt. David Williams had talked the matter through and resolved the problem.

He also said that the commissioners do not recognize the union, although Sheriff Tony Skinner does.

He said the commissioners sent a letter to the union telling them of the commissioners' position regarding recognition of the local earlier this year.

Williams, president of Local 321, said the union represents its members as long as the sheriff recognizes them.

Williams said he, King and Commissioner Shannon Henry had worked vigorously for many hours to reach a resolution regarding the overtime grievance, and he is supportive of the work the commissioners are doing on behalf of employees.

"One would just have to assume where that money is coming from," said Webb, responding to the assertion ARP bonuses didn't lead to a grievance settlement. "I know that I repeatedly suggested during the budget meeting to use ARP money to correct the low pay situation. But, unfortunately I couldn't get anyone to listen to me. I'm not really sure where else it could come from other than ARP. But who knows. These folks are pretty creative."

In addition to the bonuses for county employees, commissioners approved other changes to the plan.

The commissioners are allocating $2.2 million for the administration of the American Rescue Plan including "payment of claims, review of claims and payments as well as plan for any audit of payments under the plan. These funds may also be used to purchase software, which will allow reporting to the U.S. Department of Treasury easier and more transparent."

Funding was withdrawn for the time being for a Yorktown project to place sanitary sewers north of Ind. 332 near Interstate 69. Brooke said $1.5 million had been put in place but the project was moving slower than expected.

Albany has found a different source of funding for water and sewage upgrades, returning $250,000 to the plan.

David Penticuff is the local government reporter at the Star Press. Contact him at dpenticuff@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Commissioners: $1.6 million in ARP bonuses not tied to labor grievance