County restricts overtime, delays hiring

By MaryHelen Swanson
The Chisago County board has moved to approve overtime pay only in emergency situations upon a recommendation by Human Resource Director Renee Kirchner.
Emergency situations would include snowplowing and sheriff deputy duties under certain situations.
Kirchner will be the one who decides what situation constitutes an emergency.
Kirchner pointed out last week that overtime for 2003 was budgeted at $260,900 but that at the rate the county was going it would be substantially over that at the end of this year.
At a meeting of department heads and commissioners March 12, Kirchner expressed concern over the amount of overtime hours being used by county employees.
To date this year, overtime has been logged in 11 of the countyís 20 departments, much of it falling within law enforcement and human services areas.
Commissioner Lora Walker said the county needs to be more flexible in helping employees keep within 40-hour work weeks. She said doing so would be a way to save jobs.
Filling positions
The board also looked at staffing requests coming from building maintenance, health and human services and the Extension office.
The three positions were approved 4-1.
The maintenance position was vacant due to a retirement on Jan. 31. Eight hours of this position was transferred to another employee and $11,004 was saved by not filling the entire vacancy. There was another retirement on Feb. 28. The position approved last week was 20 hours per week at a cost of $10,735, a net savings to the department of $15,035.
A position of office support was approved for health and human services. This position was vacant due to a probationary employee being let go. The position had previously been approved for filling. Budget cost is approximately $35,000 this year.
An office support position was open in Extension, also due to an employee being let go during probation. The 20-hour position was approved for re-filling at $12,400.
Six positions remain unfilled and were not approved for hiring at this time. They included a public health nurse, building inspector, two office support staff in health and human services and a social worker.
Total cost of unfilled positions is $366,763.
Commissioner Walker was concerned that Chisago County is behind other counties in working on spending less in light of the anticipated budget reductions. She said other counties are taking action in April and May.
Walker was the opposing vote when it came time to approve staff requests. She moved to delay further hiring for three months for non-emergency positions.
With a second from commissioner Bob Gustafson, the board unanimously approved her recommendation.
The board also unanimously approved additional compensation for DeAnna Lilienthal, administrative assistant, who recently was appointed clerk of the board and then was given the duties of interim county coordinator until a county administrator is officially hired and on board.
Her salary was increased to $24 per hour for the interim period and she was also given 40-hours for vacation.

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