FCS Agent Will Probably be Hired
County Agent Steve Sturtz said Sept. 9 at the regular meeting of the Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court, that, as far as he knows, Charlene Belew will accept the job of Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Science. He said all the necessary paperwork with the Extension Service has to be completed, and that may take up to 40 days.
The court had voted at a special meeting Aug. 20 to hire Belew at a county-paid salary of $11,500, with the understanding that the extension office’s secretary’s job would be reduced to half-time with no benefits. The motion, made by Commissioner Hugh Schafer and seconded by Commissioner Jimmy Strube, was “ to open up the FCS job with $11,500 pay and a half-time secretary.” With Commissioner Michael Hoch absent, and County Judge Wilburn Bednar not voting, the vote was two for the motion (Strube and Schafer) and one opposed (Halfmann). Bednar said he was sure that Hoch supported hiring Belew and reducing the secretary’s job, even though Hoch could not attend the meeting.
Halfmann later explained that since two items were worded as one motion, and his vote opposed might be misinterpreted, he wanted to clarify that he was voting against decreasing the secretary’s job to half-time, not voting against hiring Belew.
Schafer said saving money on the secretary would help offset the cost of the new agent. Strube said, “With future revenues decreasing in the county, we can’t plan on increased funds for these type positions.” He said increased use of computers has lessened the amount of paperwork in offices.
Sturtz, Halfmann Favor Full-time Secretary
Both Halfmann and Sturtz spoke against reducing the secretary’s job, with Halfmann saying the county will not fully benefit from Belew’s abilities if she is used as a secretary. And Sturtz tried again on Sept. 9 at the court’s regular meeting to build a case for a full-time secretary by presenting a position analysis questionnaire which the extension service requires for the secretary’ position, detailing lengthy duties and responsibilities for the job. He also supplied the court with a listing of the responsibilities for himself, Warren Multer, and the new FCS agent.
Sturtz also referred to a letter from Extension Service District Director Charles Neeb, which clarifies his position regarding the secretary’s job. Commissioners on Aug. 20 were told, in an apparent misunderstanding, that Neeb had said a half-time secretary would be adequate for the job. But his letter of Aug.23 stated that he felt the job required a full-time person.
The court, however, did not change its mind, and will advertise for a part-time secretary. Halfmann said he would favor reconsidering the job’s status in six months or a year, if the extension agents can sufficiently document workload and show that a full-time secretary is needed.
The court agreed with Sturtz that the secretary’s job should be filled with the understanding that if it should go back to a full-time job in the future, it will be opened up again, and the part-time person hired now will have to compete with new applicants for the job at that time. There was informal agreement that the county would pay Donitta Coats to help out in the extension office until a new secretary is hired. (See announcement of job opening on page 2.)
The court also declined to purchase a new pickup to replace Sturtz’ two-year–old one, which has approximately 109,000 miles. Strube said, “All of us run pickups past 100,000 miles; we can run this one for another year.” The court added $3,000 to the agent's repair fund, for a total of $10,000, to take care of additional maintenance on the pickup. Halfmann said if Sturtz has to keep his pickup another year, the county should also postpone purchase of a new maintainer.