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Employee pay raises dominate Wood County budget requests

By Brett Dunlap 4 min read

PARKERSBURG -- County officials continue to ask for raises for their people as budget requests continued Thursday before the Wood County Commission.

Wood County Assessor David Nohe, Chief Deputy Assessor Connie McAtee, Wood County Maintenance Supervisor Todd Nonamaker, WVU Extension Agent Jodi Smith, Wood County Circuit Clerk Celeste Ridgway and Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard appeared before the commission Thursday to discuss their budget requests for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

McAtee, who worked up the Assessor's budget, was asking for a five percent raise for employees which amounted to an additional $24,000 for a $406,000 salary line item. They also saw increased costs in health insurance.

Nohe said they have lost their commercial appraiser and another appraiser that they are working to replace.

Average home prices have gone up with many homes being bought up shortly after going on the market which is raising the values of homes and their assessments, he said, adding that would be reflected in tax money coming in.

Homes in Greenmont were running $300,000-$350,000 just a couple of years ago and now some are at $520,000.

"I have never seen anything like it," he said.

As interest rates go up, Nohe believes that will slow the market down.

Commission President Blair Couch said that will be good for property evaluations.

Nonamaker said he is looking to buy a tractor with an endloader for $65,000 to replace some older units. He also wants to replace a well used mower and some handheld trimmers. The older equipment can be placed in a county auction.

Wood County Administrator Marty Seufer said the maintenance department with its skill set in doing air systems, electrical work and more which has saved the county a lot of money.

"The staff (Nonamaker) has has saved us a tremendous amount of money," he said.

Smith is requesting additional money for trainings, dues and education as well as for raises for administrative staff. The extension agents and nutrition instructors are paid by the state.

"If it is possible if you will be giving out raises, I would love to get my staff raises," Smith said. "Other than that, we have been able to work within the budget you have provided."

Ridgway said there were some line items the county has funded in the past that are no longer needed and as she has cleaned out old records other savings were found. Changes in record retention for records that have been scanned will also allow them to clear more old records out of the old sheriff's department building to the point that building will be empty of old records. many records down there are starting to deteriorate and need to be cleaned out.

The new 911 Center will have space available to store any remaining records that will need to be kept.

Ridgway is not requesting any new employees. A statewide electronic filing system is being implemented and it will eventually cut down on other costs.

Woodyard said he too is looking for a five percent increase in pay for deputies. Other increases in his budget reflect increases in costs for materials and so on. He said the new body cams the department is getting cost a lot which includes how the data is stored.

He is asking for some new vehicles and vehicle maintenance because of increases in prices of equipment and parts.

They are asking for an increase in part-time pay for people to deal with mental transports. A plan was recently presented that would have trained personnel be able to do mental hygiene transports so deputies could remain on the road doing law enforcement duties.

"We are the county with the most mental hygiene commitments in and around the state of West Virginia," the sheriff said.

He is also asking for pay increases for the people in the sheriff's tax office as well as an additional employee. He is also seeking raises for employees at the 911 Center as well.

Seufer said they will also have to look at increasing the money for fuel for the sheriff's department as prices have risen nationwide.

Commissioner Robert Tebay told many officials to convey the commission's thanks for the work they do.

In other business:

* The commission discussed a property that has had a number of complaints of trash, debris and junk automobiles at 1442 Southern Highway, Mineral Wells, owned by James Hendershot. Hendershot appeared and said he has been working on the property cleaning things up as time has allowed and has made progress in addressing the complaints. He offered pictures and receipts to show what he has done. The commission gave him an additional 30 days to continue working and officials will reassess where he is at then.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com

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