Rhea County officials consider overtime

Thursday, September 19, 2013

photo Ron Masterson

Commission leadership• Rhea County commissioners elected officers and budget and finance committee members:• Ronnie Raper was appointed the commission chairman; Ron Masterson was appointed vice-chairman.• Budget committee members are Masterson, Emmaly Fisher, Tracy Taylor, Grover Parks and Jim Reed.• Finance committee members are Raper, Doyle Montgomery, Bill Hollin and Tom Smith.

DAYTON, Tenn. - Overtime pay policies for county workers might need updates, Rhea County officials said during a budget committee workshop this week.

"It's prime time to hammer this out," said Chairman Ron Masterson.

Committee members expressed concern about nearly 1,200 hours of overtime pay for the courthouse maintenance supervisor and more than 300 hours for two sheriff department's detectives.

"When they work overtime, they deserve to be paid," Commissioner Ronnie Raper said. "We have to reserve it."

The courthouse supervisor oversees the lawn maintenance and daily courthouse cleanup, and has used county jail trustys to help with festivals and countywide projects.

Committee members discussed hiring a new employee in October to work at least two days at the courthouse and one day with the school system. The county and school board each would pay part of the employee's salary.

The new worker's hours would be staggered to reduce the current employee's hours, said county road Superintendent Tommy Snyder.

According to the county's employee handbook, employees are paid bi-monthly. If nonexempt employees accrue overtime, payment will correspond "with Federal and Tennessee state law ... authorized in advance by their manager."

Kimberly McMillian is based in Rhea County. Contact her at kdj424@bellsouth.net.