By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Wood County Park District approved raises for its employees – and welcomed a familiar face back onto the payroll.
Chris Smalley, the park district director, announced Tuesday that retiring Wood County Administrator Andrew Kalmar will soon be joining the park district staff as assistant director.
Kalmar has a “wealth of experience,” Smalley said. Prior to serving 22 years as county administrator, Kalmar was director of the park district.
“Please join me in welcoming Andrew back home to the park district,” Smalley said.
Smalley also reported that a salary survey of park district staff had been completed by Archer Co., which reviewed the district as well as 16 other agencies of comparable size.
Park board member Denny Parish presented some history on the topic, explaining that more than a decade ago the park board tried to give pay increases without having a study done by Archer, which is used by the Wood County Commissioners for its salary surveys.
The public and elected officials were quite upset with the steep raises proposed, Parish said.
“Some of the increases were stunning,” he said.
Consequently, “people here have gone for a long time without pay increases,” and several staff left the district, Parish said.
The park district asked Archer to do a five-year review so the district would never get in the same position again.
The latest review included a recommendation that 24 of the park district’s 29 employees get raises of 5%. One 8% raise was recommended, and three raises of more than 20% were recommended for the lowest paid seasonal employees who are making less than $15 an hour.
“When you’ve got Arby’s or McDonald’s advertising to pay $15 an hour,” it makes it tough to find seasonal workers for less, Parish said.
The only salary not being increased is Kalmar’s, which is the minimum salary for an assistant director at $65,603.
Parish suggested that the pay increases be implemented in two stages, one in August and the second in November.
“I don’t think they should have to wait any longer,” he said.
Others on the board suggested that the raises be granted all at once, which was approved.
Parish asked that Smalley prepare a draft budget plan with the Archer increases, plus 3% cost of living adjustments for staff.
Smalley said the Archer study should give the public confidence in the process.
“It’s a vetted company and a vetted process,” he said. “What’s good for the staff is ultimately good for the agency.”
