Commissioners deny raise

Ector County commissioners voted Monday not to allow a paralegal in the county attorney’s office to move from a step 1 position to a step 4, which pays $14.89 per hour — a little more than $30,000 a year.

"If we start going back and moving people around the step system, we’re going to have a flood of requests," Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Simmons said.

The change was requested for Monica Windham, a paralegal in County Attorney Cindy Weir-Nutter’s office who was recently moved to child protective services. Weir-Nutter said a new CPS position was created recently because Ector County leads the state in CPS cases per capita. The position replaced one in the hot check division.

Weir-Nutter said the position is already budgeted and largely paid for with state grant money, which the county has more of than usual because it typically doesn’t bill as much as it’s allowed to.

But County Judge Susan Redford said the amount of grant money that pays for the position is uncertain.

"We are reimbursed for part of that by a grant, but it depends on the number of hours worked on CPS cases and whether the billing is approved by the state," she said.

Weir-Nutter said Windham only works on CPS cases now.

Redford said the commissioners’ decision reflected their policy of allowing employees who receive a promotion to move to the equivalent of the next step of equivalent pay plus a 5 percent raise.

While commissioners suggested they will take a look at the position during budget hearings for the next fiscal year, Weir-Nutter said that could lead them to have to pay up to $40,000 for the position, since that’s what similar jobs in Midland pay.

"We’ll probably lose her and have to advertise the position," she said of Windham.

Commissioners also voted to declare some items as surplus that the county no longer has use for. The items can now be auctioned off, if anyone will buy them.

"It’s pretty much worthless, to be honest," said Precinct 3 Commissioner Dale Childers.

Some items that department heads weren’t able to locate were also declared as surplus. Kenneth Lind, county purchasing agent, said this involved a total of 104 items ranging from computer monitors to police radios. While the items had a collective purchase value of $34,000, he said depreciation made the items worth only $4,500.

He said department heads have been better about finding missing items in recent years.

"Every year it gets better and better," Lind said. "The court tells them, ‘look it up.’ "

In other action, commissioners approved:

>> An agreement with the Historical Publishing Network of San Antonio to allow the publishing of a "coffee table" book detailing the county’s history in pictures. They still have to determine how to allocate any profits from the book.

>> Moving the Precinct 2 early voting site to Music City Mall from the Presidential Museum because the closed museum doesn’t have electricity.

>> The donation of a used EKG machine from Medical Center Hospital for the county’s employee wellness center.

>> Denying Ultron’s request to move its ATM from the county courthouse, which Redford called a "breach of contract."

>> A donation of $7,000 from Two Rivers Pipeline Construction to the sheriff’s office.

>> The donation of a 2004 Ford truck to the West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department.

>> The 2009 list of gifts and memorials to Ector County Library.

>> The resignation of Miltrue Collins and appointment of Joel Munoz on the historical commission board.

>> Bid specifications for asphaltic materials, asphalt-patching material, graded base material, seal coat aggregate and water for highway improvements.

>> A contract with the Texas Department of Rural Affairs for the county’s Colonial Planning Fund for $91,500.

>> A use permit for the Odessa Meteor Crater Museum.

>> A memorandum of understanding with Ingeo Systems Inc. to provide for submission of documents for recording the county’s official public records by electronic means.

>> Out of state travel for county court at law and district judge court reporters.

>> Submitting a CJD grant for special investigative unit funding.

>> A contract between pharmacist in charge Joe D. Meier, the county and the county health department.

>> Extending service agreements with Permian Claim Services Inc. and Fort Dearborn Life through Sept. 30.

>> A contract for temporary nursing services for the Ector County Detention Center.

>> A budget amendment for $4,350 to capital projects, building materials.