RISON - A proposal by County Judge Jimmy Cummings to give “skill” positions within the county road department a pay failed to get the two-thirds needed for passage during Monday night’s meeting of the Cleveland County Quorum Court.Cummings had proposed giving those skill positions within the county road like mechanics, equipment operators and CDL drivers a pay raise of 24 to 48 cents per hour to make the pay more competitive in the marketplace. In essence, he said the pay raise would equate to about $500 more per year for those positions.He explained that he recently had an equipment operator with 20 years of experience come out of retirement to help the county. He said he could only offer him about $14 per hour, which is well below what such a position would earn elsewhere.In addition, Cummings said it is very difficult to keep a mechanic on staff, pointing out that the mechanic is the highest paid employee for the Calhoun County road department.Some of the justices agreed with Cummings’ assessment about the pay being competitive, but others felt other county positions should be considered as well."It's a terrible battle to keep employees," Justice Bruce Brown said, calling the judge's proposal "a step in the right direction." Justice Pat Keagan, who works for Arkansas Workforce Development, said the skilled positions that Cummings was referring to like CDL drivers and mechanics "can pretty much pick where they want to work." Justice Melody Spears pointed out that county employees have been receiving pay raises and bonuses over the past three years, and believes that all county employees should be considered.Spears pointed out that about three years ago, County Assessor Barbara Reaves asked the quorum court to give her deputy a raise. While the quorum court decided to hold off until the new budget was put together, the pay increase was never given.While she said she understood they need for the pay raises,...
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