WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE INCENTIVE PAY FOR SHERIFF’S OFFICE, JAIL EMPLOYEES

  

Washington County Commissioners approved policies today (Tuesday) to offer incentive pay for employees at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Washington County Jail.

The court agreed to implement a temporary assignment pay (TAP) policy, which is designed to provide compensation for employees who are required to fill in for a higher-level officer due to vacancy, illness or temporary disability.  It also approved a policy for overtime shift differential pay (ODP), authorizing additional pay for employees working mandatory overtime shifts.

Washington County Sheriff Otto Hanak said the policies are nearly identical to the incentives utilized by Washington County EMS, and should help to boost the spirits of employees.

 

The added compensation from the TAP policy applies to the patrol, criminal investigation, jail and transport divisions, and equates to an increase of $2 an hour per 48-hour shift worked.  The ODP policy for the sheriff’s office and jail divisions provides an additional $8.33 an hour per 24 hours.

Commissioner Candice Bullock said the policies are not necessarily meant to address the recruiting of new employees, but will help with existing staff shortages.  Human Resources Director Teresa Sazedj said the county has had difficulty recruiting new staff not just for the sheriff’s office, but also for EMS.

In other business relating to the sheriff’s office, commissioners approved an agreement between the county and Project Control of Texas, Inc. to replace an emergency generator at the jail.  County Judge John Durrenberger said the county attempted to go through the bid process before, but the county’s previous procurement policy did not qualify for funds through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021.

Durrenberger said the county will go through the bid process once more, and Project Control will review the county’s existing procurement policies and procedures and 2 CFR Part 200 requirements to comply with the guidelines for full ARPA funding.  The contract for Project Control is for three months and totals $18,000.

Also at today’s meeting, commissioners:

• Approved accepting a donation of a safe from Brazos Valley Schools Credit Union (BVSCU) to the Precinct 1 Constable’s Office. Precinct 1 Constable Ken Holle said BVSCU is remodeling and was planning to get rid of the safe, but instead offered it to the constable’s office.
• Reappointed Dorothy Morgan to the MHMR – Brazos Valley Board of Trustees for a term beginning March 1, 2022 and ending February 29, 2024.
• Heard reports from the emergency management coordinator, district clerk, justices of the peace, auditor, tax assessor-collector, treasurer, constables, elections department and information technology.