Sheriff’s office sees staff changes, pay increases for some
Some employees at the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office are seeing classification changes and wage increases. That’s following approval by members of the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 22.
Sheriff Greg Hagwood attempted changes last summer based on increased duties created by the new cannabis code enforcement program.
That was shot down at the time, but this go-round met with some success.
Human Resources Director Nancy Selvage was before the board seeking approval for resolutions to amend the county’s classification plan. This would make changes to the sheriff investigator sergeant/code compliance supervisor, sheriff investigator cannabis code compliance and two assistant positions.
“I am proposing the following recommendations based on my review of the current cannabis code enforcement needs for Plumas County,” Selvage told the board.
She went on to recommend that the board review and approve reclassifications and wage range updates for two positions and the recommended wage range update for two classified positions.
The sheriff’s office took on code enforcement responsibilities based on a request by supervisors. The board imposed a moratorium on commercial cannabis cultivation in November 2017. This was an attempt to handle predicted problems with illegal grows of marijuana and hemp in Plumas County.
The enforcement ordinance became effective July 1, 2018.
Hagwood met the request, putting a code enforcement officer in place and assigning various investigators to a special unit. A hearing officer was also hired and monthly hearings were held in the supervisors’ chambers based on investigators’ finds throughout the summer and into the fall.
Funding was also requested to handle the new enforcement requirements, but that was not approved at that time.
Selvage explained, “Prior to the July 3, 2018, meeting, I reached out to both Sheriff Hagwood and Undersheriff (Dean) Canalia requesting additional information for updating the position classifications,” Selvage explained.
What Selvage requested and what she returned were two different things, she explained.
What was challenging is that it was difficult to compare the classification, wage surveys and salary comparisons with other county agencies. “This is due to the lack of data that is available,” she explained in a report to supervisors.
What Selvage had to do was incorporate the recommended wage increases for each classification, update the organization chart and include wage projection for the next five years.
Selvage said that wages for the two assistant positions, upon review, did seem low and adjustments were made.
“The sheriff has requested adding one more position to his department’s position allocation, taking the number of positions from two to three,” she explained.
As it now stands reclassifications and related costs bring the investigative sergeant position up $4,000, while the unfilled investigative position would increase $3,500. The evidence clerk would see another $3,500 and the training/policy deputy would see a $4,000 annual increase.
Overtime is figured in at an additional $5,000, fuel and maintenance is another $5,000, and miscellaneous employee costs is at $9,000. Supplies and equipment received $10,000.
According to Hagwood, Investigative Sgt. Steve Peay will be upgraded to the code compliance supervisor position. He was one of the investigators working last year.
The cannabis code compliance officer will be hired following internal interviews, Hagwood said Jan. 24.
Supervisors combined all positions into one vote rather than separate votes.
