BOC Chairman Womble goes over the personnel revisions in the new policy that goes into effect July 1. At a meeting of the Miller County Board of Commissioners of Roads and Revenue on Thursday, June 25, the sparks did fly.

Actually, members of the county commission and heads of county departments had a heated discussion at the meeting before the meeting.

At 3:00 p.m. some of the heads of county elected and appointed offices, which included Sheriff H.E. "Buddy" Glass, Probate Judge Brenda Mc- Nease, Clerk of Court Gail Johnson, Tax Commissioner Jennifer Williams, Colquitt/Miller Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service Director Chief Craig Tully and Road Superintendent Andy Miller, were called before the Board of Commissioners (BOC) to have explained what the BOC would require in personnel revisions.

BOC chairman Barbie Womble went over some of the Personnel Policy revisions that would be adopted by the Miller County Commissioners effective Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Some items that drew fire were changes in paid time off, the abolishment of annual leave accrual or sick time accrual and the time it must be used. She stated that there would be only two types of county employees, full or part-time. Employees with under 40 hours per week would not be eligible for any benefits. All employees must use the Time System. Missed punches would result in disciplinary action and no punch "in and out" for fellow employees. Salaried employees will not receive additional pay for working on a holiday.

Chairman Womble went over hiring and firing and the procedure that would be required from the department heads. She stated that all job applications and terminations would go through the board of commissioners' office. Judy Powell, clerk for BOC, would receive the applications. She went over what would be expected of each department head after the final draft of the personnel policy was completed.

There were a number of questions from some of the department heads, but Sheriff Glass told Chairman Womble that he had his own state approved personnel policy for the sheriff's department that he would continue to use.

Chairman Womble stated that there had been a lot of terminations lately, and all departments need to be on the same link on taking applications and terminations.

Judy Powell, clerk of BOC, stated she would be issuing and accepting application forms and termination notices.

Chairman Womble said that all the BOC had approved these personnel changes and if the departments received benefits from the county, the changes, with a few corrections, would have to be signed by each department head and used.

Sheriff Glass told Chairman Womble, "You're going to stop trying to run my business. You don't keep personnel in the BOC office long enough to learn the programs and procedures that you want us to go by and you want to run our office like you do yours."

Chairman Womble stated that the BOC is not in compliance with the Dept. of Labor state or federal. "You can't blame us because your office is not in compliance. Your office is not in compliance because you don't keep anyone working up here long enough for you to be in compliance," Sheriff Glass said.

"That's not for you to decide," Chairman Womble stated.

"It's pretty obvious. It's part of my business when you all tend to my business up here," Sheriff Glass replied.

"That's why we are making these changes, so we can all do the same thing," Womble replied.

"You can't take the sheriff's office people and say you won't give them the same benefits that you give the road department or some other department," Sheriff Glass stated.

"I think Jesse (the county attorney) has already ruled on that," Chairman Womble stated.

"Jesse, Jesse, he works for you all, and he will say whatever you want us to hear. I have lawyers, too, and you are fixing to get to meet some of them," the sheriff replied.

"That will be just fine," Chairman Womble replied.

There were a number of other exchanges and charges.

Chairman Womble said, "We are here to help you."

One officer replied, "Yeah, like the IRS."

Sheriff Glass asked what the BOC was planning to change in the E-911 office. Since he had been the E-911 director since it started, he said it would be nice to know what the BOC planned. He said they couldn't cut his salary for that duty since he has never been paid for being director.

Chairman Womble said, "We'll talk about that at another time."

The BOC then went into budget workshop meetings with the different department heads.