Supervisors set ambulance staff start date

By Mary Zielinski
Posted 6/3/20

Because county policy in providing benefits for employees starts the first day of the month following hiring, Washington County supervisors Monday approved June 30 as the hiring date for all …

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Supervisors set ambulance staff start date

Posted

Because county policy in providing benefits for employees starts the first day of the month following hiring, Washington County supervisors Monday approved June 30 as the hiring date for all employees of the newly formed county ambulance department. 

The move means health benefits take effect July 1, providing unbroken coverage for those who already were county employees, as well as the new employees transitioning from other employment.

Ambulance Department Director Jeremy Peck explained that the move was to allow the new employees, transitioning from other jobs, to not lose benefits in the change.

Following a detailed discussion regarding holiday pay for the Fourth of July for the new department’s employees, the board maintained current policy that provides holiday pay for employees after one month’s employment. 

Peck had asked for a one-time exception for the new employees.   

Peck said that he understood the county’s policy but believes he “had to show up for my people.”

A motion by Chairman Jack Seward to grant the exception died for lack of a second.

All newly hired employees who work July 4 this year will receive holiday pay. By the time of the next holiday in September, all will have been employed for more than two months and official holidays are paid ones with those who work them receiving the extra holiday pay.

Supervisors formally approved tower space leases with the Sharon Telephone Company and the Wellman Cooperative Telephone Association to install new county communications system radio equipment on the companies’ respective towers. A similar agreement was approved earlier with the city of Kalona.

Sheriff Jared Schneider said that cooperation from the local telephone services amounts to a nearly 50% savings over the previous rental fees with other providers. 

The equipment and its installation will be done by the county; maintenance of the tower is the responsibility of the lessor. 

“This has really helped keep out costs down,” Schneider said of the major state-mandated communications system update.

The system is expected to be fully installed and operational by the end of the year.