County Commission Gives Approval To A New Civil Service Resolution, Approves Money For School Resource Officers, And Hires A County Fire
Marshal.

Commissioners heard a presentation from Commissioner Jerry Bastin, chair of law enforcement committee.

Bastin said, the committee has met for months to rewrite the county’s civil service act.

First the committee decided the current act was to confusing in some places, gave the sheriff too much power in others, and generally wasn’t
being followed.

The decision was made to begin with the state civil service act and adopt changes accordingly.

The changes include: How members are selected, Qualifications for members, Term of the position, Pay for members.

There are also new rules about probationary periods, hiring and promotion testing, suspensions.

Commissioner Bastin commented after the meeting. Bastin said the entire effort of rewriting the Civil Service Act was to address the employee’s concerns and make them more effective in their job by relieving them of the worry of what a politically powerful sheriff can do. Bastin added that he wasn’t talking about any past sheriffs but was talking about future sheriffs.

Bastin said it helps employees if they know what their career path is going to be and whether you want to be a permanent employee of the county.

The resolution will now go to the state legislature in January. If it is approved the County Commission will need to approve it again by a
two-thirds vote.

Commissioners also approved over $84,890.20 for training for three School Resource Officers for Jackson Madison County schools for 2015-16, and were told they would have to address training for three more officers in 2016-17.

Madison County Fire Chief Eric Turner told the commissioners the fire department had been operating without a paid fire marshal. Captain Don
Friddle has been filing in on a volunteer basis but Turner told commissioners the department needs a full-time person.

The commission approved the budget amendment of $38,207 for the position.