Merger not completely grounded

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October 23, 2013 - 12:00 AM

Just when it appeared the ambulance merger was a done deal, concerns about wages paid Allen County employees transitioning to Iola’s service cropped up.
The merger is positioned to be effective Jan. 1.
City Administrator Carl Slaugh told county commissioners Tuesday morning three potential transfers earned more than was accommodated by the city’s pay scale for firefighter/ambulance personnel. An addendum to the contract for merger of county and Iola services included a pay scale for county employees.
County commissioners have been adamant county employees would not take a pay cut with transfer to the city.
Slaugh didn’t mince words in saying he thought the contract was valid without the county pay scale attached; commissioners, particularly Dick Works and Jim Talkington, weren’t so sure.
Slaugh said he thought the difference in pay could be worked out and, after some discussion, Works acknowledged it shouldn’t be a deal-breaker. Tom Williams was most resolute of the three commissioners in not letting differences in pay scales become more than a moderate distraction.
A consideration, said Slaugh, might be for the city to pay the higher wages to any of the three who transferred and let them settle into the city’s pay plan but not receive annual cost of living raises, which occur on Jan. 1 each year.
In possible concession, commissioners also said they might consider making up the difference for any of three after they’d worked six months or a year for Iola.
Slaugh said earlier he wanted to have a firm grasp of who was transferring from county to city by Nov. 1, so that if employees were needed from elsewhere there would be time to recruit.
Slaugh said he would study pay scale concerns further and likely make a decision, for council members to consider Monday night, so he could visit with county employees ahead of the Nov. 1 deadline.
Excess pay from the city’s perspective for the three employees in question totals $9,992.
All other county employees would earn as much or more than they do now with transfer to the city.

COMMISSIONERS, after a brief interview, unanimously approved the city’s decision to make Ryan Sell director of the merged ambulance service.
Sell is a paramedic and deputy fire chief.
Slaugh said he and council members thought Sell’s corporate knowledge within the fire department and ambulance service were overriding factors.
“Time was a factor,” too, said Tom Williams, in regard to the merger becoming effective Jan. 1. “I think Ryan is a good choice. He has walked a fine line in looking at both sides,” during run-up to the merger.
Sell asked the commissioners’ plans for the State Street ambulance station.
“The rural fire department is interested,” Works said.
Sell proposed it being used as a training center and for storage of reserve apparatus. He said Allen Community College might have a role in training at the station.
Meanwhile, Slaugh said Iola was working on an agreement to continue ambulance quarters in Humboldt and soon would discuss similar arrangements in Moran. The merged service will continue ambulance service 24 hours a day seven days a week from Iola, Humboldt and Moran.

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