An Allen County Sheriff’s deputy took commissioners to task for what he described as trying to gloss over a decision to not pay some county employees extra for working through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deputy Daren Kellerman spoke at Tuesday’s commission meeting, upset because the previous week, commissioners did not devote much time to the decision and described it only as “No. 10” on a list of proposed expenditures for the county’s $2.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Commissioners decided on April 19 not to spend nearly $160,000 to pay an extra premium to those “front-facing” county employees who had to work throughout the pandemic, while others were sent home to work remotely. Commissioners David Lee and Bruce Symes said they wanted the money applied to other projects; Commission Chairman Jerry Daniels did not comment.
They did not discuss the matter in great detail, referring to a handout that listed the COVID pay as a lower-level priority.
Kellerman criticized that as a lack of transparency.
Commissioners discussed the COVID pay issue several times over the past year or so, after Sheriff Bryan Murphy in June 2021 asked additional compensation for those employees who faced greater risk during the pandemic because their jobs put them in contact with the public.
At that time, both Lee and Symes said they were not inclined to approve it. Lee said he didn’t think it was fair to give county employees that kind of benefit, when others, including retail and health care workers, also faced risks. Symes said he would continue to study it.
At one point, the county estimated it would cost about $400,000 to give COVID pay. That number was later trimmed to $160,000, and added to a list of priorities the county could fund using the ARPA money.
Commissioners debated whether to give the bonuses and who should qualify. They primarily focused on law enforcement, dispatchers and public works, amounting to about 25% of county staff.
They approved a 6% pay increase for all employees starting in January.
Sheriff Bryan Murphy later gave his employees an additional raise worth about $2,000 annually.
Kellerman gave commissioners a letter signed by eight deputies, stating they no longer asked for the additional COVID pay for themselves but would like to see compensation for other employees.
Kellerman reviewed minutes and statements made in previous meetings that indicated Symes was considering the COVID pay. Symes said his views had “solidified through time” and though he appreciated the efforts of employees during the pandemic, he also viewed that as part of their responsibilities.
He said he felt commissioners had shown appreciation to county employees by increasing their pay by 6% — a typical cost-of-living increase is 2% to 3% — in order to help them offset inflation.
“We wanted to show appreciation to employees and help them get through this time of higher prices and to stay with us,” he said. “We’ve got good benefits here and it’s a job many people would be grateful to have.”
Daniels, addressing Kellerman’s complaint about transparency, said he may not have agreed with his colleagues’ decision to not pay extra for those who worked during COVID, but he didn’t see a point in continuing the discussion since a decision had been made.
