WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS ISSUE 3-2 VOTE IN FAVOR OF HAZARD PAY FOR JAIL EMPLOYEES, EMS FIELD STAFF
A one-time hazard payment for Washington County Jail employees and EMS field staff was approved, but not before a divided vote from county commissioners at their meeting today (Tuesday).
Commissioners voted 3-2 in favor of using CARES Act relief funds to give a $500 hazard/recruitment payment to all jail employees and EMS clinical field staff members. Commissioners Kirk Hanath and Joy Fuchs voted against the measure.
County Judge John Durrenberger said this is to compensate and thank employees for regularly putting themselves at risk of contracting COVID-19.
Durrenberger clarified that EMS field staff are those in the ambulances who are personally dealing with patients who may have the virus. He said those employees have an “extensive exposure possibility”.
Both Hanath and Fuchs stated their opposition to providing the hazard pay for jail and EMS employees was not because they did not appreciate what those employees do, and stressed they are very thankful for the services they provide. However, Fuchs said she felt the county is ultimately deciding on who is most important and who has “got the worst part” of the virus.
Hanath said every county employee and elected official has had to deal with COVID-19, and are just as valuable as the EMS and jail employees. He said it is difficult to “put a dollar amount on what everyone else is worth”, and stated it is not just those employees that are at risk of contracting the virus. He added that the county has to think past today and past COVID-19.
Also at today’s meeting, commissioners:
- Approved renewal of the contract with the Office of the Attorney General for the Statewide Automated Victims Services Maintenance Grant.
- Approved the purchase of LED lights and a welding rig for the Washington County Fairgrounds facilities. Fairgrounds Director Harrison Williams said he is expecting the new lights to save the county 75 percent in energy costs at the facilities. The welding rig will allow for in-house repairs of livestock gates. The invoices for the lights and the welding rig came out to $39,072 and $6,500, respectively.
- Approved the Engineering and Development Services Organizational Chart.
- Accepted the bid of Keefe Commissary Network, LLC for resident banking software and commissary services at the Washington County Jail. The county received three bids for the services. A contract will come before commissioners at a later date.
- Approved a final plat for the Green Aces Subdivision fronting FM 109 and Hall Road in Precinct Two.
- Approved formal notice for 12-inch temporary lay flat fresh water transfer lines in Precinct Four, affecting Upshaw Road, Haupstrasse Road, Koether Road, Moye Road, and Bascome Lane.
- Proclaimed September 2020 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Washington County.
- Proclaimed September 8th through October 31st as the official period for the “Washington County READ”.
Great for the EMS and first responders/jailer…. I am always for giving them a bump because of the great work they do in saving lives and running TOWARDS emergencies but my question is…… how did a COUNTY get money from the CARES act? I though that was to help out small businesses?
From the “also at todays meeting” approved the purchase of a welding rig…. Lets just see how taxpayer money gets spent on this one.. Will it be a nice handy utility welder to “fix livestock gates” or will it be a multi thousand dollar trailer mounted, make a living type welding rig that can not be justified?? Hold on to your check books, time will tell!! Maybe they could use the hazard pay money for this instead, would make more sense to me.
I agree with Mr. Hanath, but we citizens are also in danger everywhere we go. That is why we wear mask. Did they not receive the money from the United States government? We the citizens of Washngton Couny are in just as much danger to get CIovid19 as everybody else .
Why doesn’t the employees at Baylor Scott and white in Brenham get hazard pay. Especially the one that do the COVID test and draw bloods Should be consider the same or worse than the rms people
As soon as I saw this headline I knew the 2 who would vote against it. They are the “Debbie Downers” always.
There needs to be term limits for these people who get paid more than most deputies and police officers.
Thank you I agree and am grateful this story told us which two commissioners decided to put money ahead of human life, and not to stand up for the front line workers who put their lives in danger.