At their June 6 regular meeting, the Washington County Board of Supervisors was informed the nurse for the Washington County Juvenile Detention Center would be tendering her resignation in a week’s time.
County and youth court judge Vernita King Johnson addressed the BOS regarding the matter given state law requires a nurse to be staffed at the detention center.
The BOS went into an executive session during Monday’s regular meeting following the nurse’s decision to remain on staff for a $45 per hour rate of pay after the board voted unanimously to authorize an increase of up to $50 per hour for the position at their June 6 regular meeting.
Johnson told the BOS during the June 6 meeting, “Originally, there was an agreement that we would use the same medical staff from the county, but the medical staff out at the county cannot do it.”
She noted the nurse, an RN, was being paid $25–$30 and that now, with COVID-19 being a factor, nurses are being paid much more.
“Normally, the nurse comes out about twice a week so we’re probably talking about at most four hours a week,” said Johnson.
Sheriff Milton Gaston pointed out that on some occasions, the number of hours the nurse spends at the detention center exceeds four hours a week.
“Sometimes the nurse has to go out there and see more than 20 kids, so it averages up to a little more than four hours a week — it could average up to about 10 to 12 hours a week,” he said.
Johnson attributed the excess hours to the uptick in gun violence and alluded to the possibility of an eventual normal amount of hours spent at the detention center by the nurse.
After reaching a consensus, the BOS voted unanimously to increase the rate of pay for the nurse by up to $50.
Since the June 6 meeting, discussions were had among Johnson, Gaston and the nurse which resulted in what Johnson called somewhat of a compromise.
“She wants to take a vacation and have someone cover for her for a week or two and if we raise her salary to $45 an hour, she will stay on,” Johnson said to the BOS.
The proposal, however, raised certain concerns for Gaston and other BOS members.
District 1 supervisor Lee Gordon asked if the WCRCF nurse works full time and confirmed she does.
He sought clarity as to how the nurse worked full-time at the WCRCF and committed 12 hours a week at the detention center.
BOS attorney Willie Griffin said, “She cannot have a separate contract…either she’s going to work overtime or she’s going to work a 40-hour per week schedule. She cannot be compensated separately and apart.”
Griffin then recommended the matter be further discussed in executive session and the BOS voted as such.
In other county business, the BOS voted unanimously to authorize building and grounds director Jeremy Smith to obtain a second quote for the replacement of an air conditioning unit at the Washington County Juvenile Detention Center, going with the lowest and best received.
Smith wanted to declare the AC unit failing as an emergency given the very high temperatures.
However, per BOS attorney Willie Griffin, it would not legally qualify as an emergency and would therefore require the obtaining of two quotes.
Smith noted the unit was severely leaking freon after trying to no avail to repair it. The repairman examined it and determined with it being a 30-year old unit, replacement was necessary.
The quote Smith had already obtained for a 20-ton AC unit along with parts and labor was $10,200.
The BOS also authorized Smith to fill two vacant positions in the buildings and grounds department.
