The county has created a new GIS (Geographic Information System) Department, splitting it from the Planning Department in a move that came at the Wednesday, Nov. 4, salary board and commissioners’ meetings.
The salary board created the position of GIS Senior Administrator, as well as a GIS Assistant Administrator.
In addition to those, the salary board created a combined position of IT Director/GIS Coordinator, at an annual salary of $63,000, effective Nov. 4. The county’s Director of IT Stephen Janoski transferred to the dual role, also taking on the GIS duties.
The Director of Planning position, with an annual salary of $43,000, was also created by the board. Elizabeth Janoski was hired to fill the post, effective Nov. 5.
The commissioners accepted, with regret, the resignation of Bruce Butler from the position of Director of Public Safety and Compliance Administrator, effective Nov. 13.
The transfer of Bradley Ellsworth, from the position of Director of Public Safety Operations/911 Coordinator to the position of 911 Director, was also approved by the commissioners.
More CARES County Relief Fund grants were approved, including an additional $35,262.84 for small business assistance as administered by Trehab, and a payment of about $7,503 to the Little Meadows Volunteer Fire Company.
The salary board voted to shift current participants of the county’s “65-Special” health insurance class to a non-county program, effective Jan. 1, 2021. All retirees in 2021 will also be offered non-county Medicare supplement insurance. Participants that currently qualify for the $215 allowance, and those that retire next year, will be grandfathered to the program and continue to receive that $215 allowance.
The board also voted to eliminate the $215 allowance toward the county health care program for elected officials. The allowance was offered to officials who served in their position for eight years. Elected officials will meet the same criteria as all other county employees.
The county commissioners will next meet on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 9 a.m., in the commissioners’ meeting room located in the courthouse.
Sounds like there was a need to put more people on the county dime.