FAYETTEVILLE -- A Road Department employee with newly added safety-focused duties should have his position's title and description changed and get a pay raise, said Charles Ward, superintendent.
The position is needed to protect employees, he and other department officials said.
"With safety being a very important part of the county Road Department, we feel that this would be the best move for the safety of our personnel," said Brad Phillips, assistant road superintendent in a Feb. 5 letter to the committee.
The Personnel Committee approved Monday sending to the Quorum Court a measure to upgrade a heavy equipment operator position to a training officer, which will focus on safety compliance and safety training, Ward said.
The move to fill a safety and training position comes after more than a year of controversy surrounding two bridges construction project that didn't follow engineering plans. The work on the bridges also is linked to a federal lawsuit after an employee said he was retaliated against for pointing out the Road Department failed to follow safety measures. The lawsuit is pending.
Ward said Monday the upgraded position is meant to increase safety at the department and save money long term. Ward was promoted to superintendent late last year.
It also should increase productivity by better coordinating excavation requirements, said George Butler, chief of staff for the county judge.
The new training officer will identify problems before hand, go in the field and make sure safety is being followed, Ward said. The safety official is responsible for looking for hazards, according to the job description.
The new training officer was a heavy equipment operator who has been with the county six years, Ward said.
If approved, the training officer will earn $17.34 an hour in base pay, said Lindsi Huffaker, Human Resource director. If passed by the Quorum Court, the budgeted base salary would be $36,058 -- about a $6,000 pay raise, county records show.
The pay raise isn't retroactive, Huffaker said.
At least three justices said Monday they weren't comfortable with the Road Department hiring an employee before approval of the changes and pay grade. The department should come to the Quorum Court, develop the position and then advertise and hire, said Rick Cochran, a Republican representing part of Washington County located west and north of Farmington.
Huffaker said the process wasn't unusual. Justices said a qualified candidate was hired and everyone was up front about the current pay range. The Road Department is doing what it should to increase safety, said Bill Ussery, a Republican representing eastern Springdale.
"I think we're on the right track to bringing the Road Department up to standards," Ussery said.
NW News on 02/09/2016