WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS ISSUE 3-2 VOTE IN FAVOR OF HAZARD PAY FOR JAIL EMPLOYEES, EMS FIELD STAFF

Josh Blaschke September 1, 2020

1,842

Adam's Angels founder Donna Culliver (left) and board member Alesia Whaley (right) hold a proclamation with Washington County Judge John Durrenberger declaring the month of September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the county.

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”.

Lifetime Learning Brenham President Carol Muegge (right) holds this year's Washington County READ selection, "Getting Life" by Michael Morton, while Washington County Judge John Durrenberger holds a proclamation declaring September 8th through October 31st as the official period for Washington County READ.

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 8^th through October 31^st as the official period for the “Washington County READ”.