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VINTON — Benton County Human Resources Director Sue Wilber read a statement at the Benton County Board of Supervisors meeting last week addressing concerns raised at previous meetings about her office’s role.
Wilber said she wanted to clarify concerns that have arisen.
Wilbur said the county has a performance review policy and employee-wide evaluations that it hasn’t implemented in years. She said it’s “best practice” and grew up with the Iowa Association of Counties.
A county-wide newsletter plan has been approved to improve communication. Wilbur said the issue arose during a review of her work because of a lack of communication, an inability to reach some remote sheds and a disconnect from the outside world.
Wilber also said job postings have been updated to make them more attractive to applicants and to make them compliant. Wilber facilitated and helped recruit about 10 positions.
Wilbur said the county revived its health committee, which had been dormant for some time, and formed a safety committee and a manual committee.
They switched flex spending providers, saving the county money. The county returned to its annual county meeting, began issuing service badges, and implemented countywide challenges to promote team building and employee management.
They are converting to online benefits enrollment and electronic time attendance and leave tracking.
Wilbur also wanted to address misconceptions and misconceptions, she said.
First, during a meeting and reported in print, Wilbur ordered IT to turn off the cameras. She said she doesn’t oversee IT and has no authority to tell IT staff what to do.
IT reports to the Supervisory Board.
The board asked Wilbur to investigate the situation. She said her job description states she must investigate matters at the request of the board.
If there are violations of the manual, Wilbur will be required to investigate and take appropriate resolutions, she said.
In response to accusations that she goes after individuals or has ulterior motives, Wilber said she has an obligation to investigate complaints made to her, especially if they violate the law.
Wilber said part of her job is to protect the county from liability and risk.
Wilbur said she was accused of wanting to take over payroll, but she said he was simply trying to protect the county from liability, such as when the county deducted fees from employees without their authorization.
Wage laws are constantly changing and are only getting more complex, Wilbur said.
As for the money spent on legal fees, Wilbur said the county attorney sometimes directed her to seek outside legal services because his specialty was not employment law.
Outside legal assistance can also provide perspective or advice on matters they are handling.
Wilbur said her attendance at board meetings was questioned. That was the legal department’s advice, she said.
Wilbur is learning a new job, and sometimes things come up in meetings that she can follow up on. She said she took notes to increase her knowledge and understand the things being mentioned.
She also spoke about letters sent to the former Board of Health. She said this falls under “other duties as assigned.”
Wilbur also discussed her concerns about still working with her former employer. She said the committee that interviewed her was fine with the arrangement, and that many had outside jobs.
As for the request for part-time help, Wilber said when the position was created several years ago, the goal was to have a second full-time person once the department was up and running.
She encourages anyone with questions to come to her office.
County Auditor Hayley Rippel also sought clarification on outside employment and businesses, communications, new W-4 forms and wage issues.
Ripert said baking cookies is not an outside business and the wage issue cannot be resolved unless it is brought to her office.
Ripert said her office needs outside legal assistance to address policy issues during the coronavirus pandemic. County supervisors decided the county needed an in-house person and created the human resources position.
Other business
Board of Supervisors sets revised budget hearing date for April 23 at 9:15 a.m.
Larry Hlas of the Van Horn Fire Department requested that local option sales and services tax funds be used to install a breathing air compressor system for the Van Horn Fire Department. This high pressure compressor is used in hazardous air environments.
They also plan to build a gas station. The supervisor agreed to pay 10% of the fee.
Shelby Williams of the Benton County Conservation District received approval to release Community Development Block Grant funds and said the department is still using American Rescue Plan Act funds to bid on Wildcat’s water system .
Donations for the Wildcat Bluff Addition project are coming soon. The Benton County Conservation Department is working with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation to add approximately 180 acres east of Wildcat Bluff.
The property includes ideal timber habitat, upland and lowland habitat, and additional cedar banks.
The board approved the hiring of a paralegal in the County Attorney’s Office. Derek Marsh from Virginia starts at $50,000, June 1st.
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