Perry County Board approves labor contract
The Perry County board Thursday passed an ordinance approving a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Government Maintenance Employees and Laborers International Union Local 773. The last contract, which covers four employees, expired Dec. 1, 2011. The new contract is retroactive and offers a $.37 per hour raise the first year then switches to using the Consumer Price Index to determine salary increases. The second year increase will be 1.7 percent. The third year has not yet been determined. The new contract also added a $500 per year clothing allowance.
In other business:
• tabled two ordinances the first of which would amend the Administration Code to incorporate an Internet Usage Policy. Stanton said he has access to another internet usage policy that is drafted differently and may work better. Commissioner Sam Robb suggested the Risk Management Committee also be consulted about the policy.
The second tabled ordinance would have required all according devices be placed on the table prior to the start of county board meetings. Jeff Egbert, publisher of the Pinckneyville Press, told the board he opposed the word "required" and suggested instead that it be changed to 'allowed.' Egbert also suggested the county record all of their meetings and make the recordings available to the local cable television company, media outlets and put them on their own website.
• heard from Treasurer Bill Taylor that the annual surplus property sale is ongoing. There are about 30 properties for sale, eight of which have structures on them. The minimum bid for a property is $648. Anyone interested in bidding may purchase the bid book, which includes instructions, from the County Treasurer's Office for $5. The deadline for submitting bids is 4 p.m. on Sept. 20.
Taylor said that 64 percent ($10,262,000) of this year's real estate taxes have been collected and disbursed. The second installment is due Sept. 6.
• following an executive session, the board hired the law firm Howard and Howard, who work with Perry County's risk management company, to represent the county in a Fraternal Order of Police grievance.