A cost cutting reshuffling of job titles and responsibilities for administrative personnel at the new Garland County Detention Center was unanimously approved by a committee Monday night.
The Human Resources Committee of the Garland County Quorum Court approved changes for three positions that saved $2,410 in salary expenses. A reclassification of the position previously titled human resources director saved $11,022 that will offset salary increases above what had been budgeted for the administrative director and finance manager positions.
Responsibilities for both jobs were expanded under the reclassification. Kevin Roth was hired May 27 as administrative director. He'll oversee all financial and personnel functions at the jail for an annual salary of $41,611. It replaces the position of finance director, for which the 2014 budget had created a $39,611 salary.
The position of finance manager will replace the bookkeeper position, creating a salary increase of $6,612 to $34,588. The position will be filled after the jail opens later this year, the committee said. It's charged with managing account balances and assisting with budget preparations.
Sherry Adams was hired June 1 as human resources coordinator, previously titled human resources director. The reclassification led to a re-rating under the county's Job Evaluation and Salary Administration Program, reducing the salary from $37,191 to $26,169.
"We knew that when we designed all these positions there would be some tweaking," Mary Bournival, District 4 justice of the peace, told the committee. "This is merely a tweaking."
The committee said a candidate was offered the human resources director job but declined it, leading Sheriff Larry Sanders and Chief Deputy of Corrections Mark Chamberlain to dovetail management of the facility's finances and personnel into the newly created administrative director position after learning Roth had experience in both fields. The added responsibilities resulted in a $2,000 salary increase.
Roth was the finance director at Magic Springs Water and Theme Park from 2010 to 2012 and held the same position at a Kansas City, Mo., water park from January 2013 to May of this year.
The finance dimension of his job calls for preparing the jail's annual budget and working with the county budget director in adjusting it to reflect available revenue in the operation and maintenance fund. Voters passed a three-eighths cent sales tax in 2011 to support the fund, which had a $4,514,026 balance last week, according to information provided by the county judge's office.
He'll also negotiate vendor contracts that include food service, health care, commissary and inmate phone service.
Chamberlain said an office receptionist will also be hired, creating a fourth administrative position that won't have inmate contact.
Local on 07/30/2014