File photo, Judge Joseph Trout

By Frank Phillips /DLC Media News

Inflation is taking its toll on the American workforce and that was reflected in requests heard by the Clay County Council on Wednesday night.

Judge Joseph Trout said he has high turnover among his staff and he attributes that to the relatively low pay that the county offers them.

“Whoever thought my longest lasting employee would be there two and a half years?” he asked the council.

His judicial assistants make about $12 per hour while employees in similar positions in other counties make as much as $17 per hour. Trout wants to see Clay County judicial employees make at least $15 per hour.

Trout said his official court reporter makes about $20 per hour while court reporters in Terre Haute are making as much as $40 per hour.

The court reporter runs the office and trains staff when the judge is out of the building, he said.

“I have no doubt we have issues,” said Clay County Council President Larry Trout.

Judge Trout said he would ask for an additional appropriation and an amended salary ordinance in writing and have it ready to present at the May meeting of the county council.

Next, County Commissioner Marty Heffner said other county employees are leaving because they can make more money elsewhere.

“County Commissioners have the same problem as the judge,” Heffner said.

Heffner, speaking for Commissioners Paul Sinders and Bryan Allender, asked for more pay for county employees.

County Councilman Jason Thomas said he was concerned when the budget was written that this could become an issue.

“I hope that our income for this year will be enough,” Moss said. “We’re in a high inflation situation and there is no dancing around it.”

During the meeting, Sheriff Brison Swearingen said his department is also feeling the pinch with some positions open but he was not going to ask for more money for employees at this time.

In other business:

Scott Stucky, president of the Clay County Substance Abuse Council , asked for permission to spend money collected fees collected for treatment and other programs to assist those in need to dependency. He said the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, the body that oversees program in counties, to use all the revenue collected each year. The money cannot be used for any other purpose.

The request for granted and Larry Moss expressed his regret that Stucky will retire this year after 30 years as a Clay City High School teacher.

“He is a good one,” Moss said, adding his children were also sorry to hear one of their favorite teachers was retiring.

Sheriff Swearingen asked for permission to use commissary funds to  pay bills for items such as snow removal and grass treatment, which were ordered before he took office, and to pay for a service agreement for equipment used by detectives. That request was approved.

Ryan Keller, CEO of Thrive West Central, made a presentation about housing and rural transit similar to the one he made to the county commissioners on Wednesday morning.

The Clay County Council usually meets on the first Monday of the month at 6 p.m. in the county courthouse.