gaylordhub.com

Sibley County Commissioners, Tuesday, supported a proposal by the department heads to study the need for an employee relations committee.

Treasurer Mary Fisher, chairperson of the county department heads, said that the department heads recommended forming this task force, as an acknowledgement of the employee petition submitted to commissioners on July 10. The employee relations committee, if formed, would study and discuss employee concerns such as cost of living adjustments, benefits, and similar concerns.

Last month, 95 non-elected employees signed a petition, requesting equal and fair treatment regarding salary and cost of living compensation. The non-elected employees asked commissioners to make it a policy to follow the Social Security Federal Guidelines for cost of living adjustments for all non-elected employees. Commissioners, at the time, took the request under advisement.

Department heads recommended that the task force consist of two commissioners, two department heads, two non-union employees, and the Human Resource Director, who would serve as a neutral party and facilitate meetings.

Commissioners appointed Chairman Harold Pettis and Charlie Woehler to serve. The department heads and non-union employees will appoint their own representatives.

“It is a way for our employees and department heads to have some impact on things,” Fisher said.

“I don’t think it would hurt,” Pettis said. “It would keep communications open,” Woehler commented.

“This opens up communication to allow employees to voice some concerns,” Sheriff Bruce Ponath said.

Woehler pointed out that this committee would not be for negotiating.

Roseann Nagel, Human Resource Director, said that unions can form something similar to a task force. “It is a good way to informally address the issues.”

“The alternate to this, if it doesn’t work, is to form a union,” Commissioner Bill Pinske said.