Seward County department heads will now have the option to offer hiring bonuses without specific approval from the county board if a vacant position meets specified criteria.
The plan presented by Human Resources Director Roxanne Knutson May 26 benefits the Seward County Detention Center and the Department of Roads, who have appeared before commissioners for permission to use the bonuses in recent months.
Seward County Board of Commissioners Chair Misty Ahmic said in a later interview both areas struggle to hire and retain employees in competition with other employers with similar positions. That is consistent with the hiring experiences in other counties, too.
The commissioners voted 4-1 for the change, with Commissioner Darrell Zabrocki opposing the change. Zabrocki consistently votes against hiring bonuses and has said he does not see them as effective tools in addressing hiring challenges.
Ahmic said the departments must fund the bonuses in their budgets and meet the requirements set forth in the policy – which requires zero applications within 30 days of a department advertising a vacant position.
As in the past, the $3,500 hiring bonus would be paid in increasing increments after 90 days, six months and one year of employment with the county.
The board also met in executive session for eight minutes before stating in public session May 26 that they had contracted for an outside investigation with Ashley Connell of Woods Aitken Law Firm related to alleged violations of county policies.
Connell recommended the board terminate Brandy Hafer’s employment as public transit director.
All five commissioners voted in favor of the action.
In a later interview, Ahmic said she could not speak to the specific policy in question or other details of the situation. Ahmic thanked Hafer for her service to the county after the vote.
Senior center funding changed
Also at the meeting, the board approved Aging Services Program recommendations to change the allocation of the county’s annual $19,000 in federal and state funding from a plan that typically awarded Seward and Milford centers $6,500 and Utica $6,000 to a system based on the number of meals served.
This shifts the allocation to $6,800 for Seward, $6,200 for Utica and $6,000 for Milford this year, because the Milford Senior Center has seen a 36 decrease in meals served, while Utica has seen a 25 percent increase and Seward a 17 percent increase.
Ahmic voted against the change because it decreases funding for her district, but the recommendation was presented to the commissioners by Aging Services Program Director Alison Rook, who also suggested the allocation be reviewed annually or bi-annually.
Rook is leaving the aging services program this month and the commissioners are now seeking her successor.
Other board actions at the May 26 meeting, included:
• Approving a road closure request for the Staplehurst Volunteer Fire Department’s Oct. 31 Fun Run on Branched Oak Road from 336th Road to 364th Road.
• Recognized Lucas Brown as Veteran of the Month.
• Tabled appointment of two members to the Veterans Service Committee.
• Meeting in executive session to discuss personnel/strategy for one hour, 56 minutes.
• Meeting as the board of equalization to approve permissive property tax exemptions for St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church of Bee, Seward Living Center, Inc., SRCM Propco LLC, 500 Heartland Park Dr. Propco LLC, Seward United Methodist Church and Seward Urgent Care Partnership and five tax list corrections.
