Wayne County Council will pursue another wage study in 2026 by consultant Waggoner Irwin Scheele and Associates of Muncie.
During its Nov. 5 meeting, council authorized Kim Clauser, the county’s human resources director, to seek a letter of engagement from the consultant in time for council’s Nov. 19 workshop. Clauser told council that acting early is important because the consultant is adding more government clients. By acting this month, Wayne County would be seventh in line.
Waggoner Irwin Scheele and Associates classify county positions and compare each classification’s wages with similar positions outside government. Wayne County has regularly increased employee pay to the midpoint of those external positions.
Max Smith, council’s president, said the expense — about $12,000 — is well worth the high level of analysis the county receives. Council member Misty Hollis said the 2025 analysis was extremely helpful for her during development of the 2026 budget, but she wondered if back-to-back surveys were necessary. Clauser said there is often variation from year to year based on market values.
Council member Cathy Williams favored the survey leading into the 2027 budget process to keep up with those market changes. She said county employees deserve fair pay to take care of their families.
The Waggoner Irwin Scheele and Associates discussion occurred during council’s personnel committee meeting after council approved posting eight positions.
Clerk Tara Pegg requested a child support deputy clerk position transition to a floater position, saying that would improve efficiency for her department and for the county’s judges. Council approved the request.
Council also approved advertising for a new plan administrator in anticipation of a January retirement and will permit use of training funds for the new hire to train with the retiring administrator.
Other positions approved include a full-time housekeeping position, a part-time fairground maintenance position, a highway department operator, a truck driver and a highway mechanic.
In other actions, council appointed Abbie Blaase to the Hagerstown Jefferson Township Library board and approved interlocal agreements with volunteer fire departments in Abington, Boston, Centerville and Dublin for ownership transfer to those departments of new radios the county purchased. The radios are part of the county’s conversion to an 800 megahertz emergency communications system for fire departments.
A version of this article appeared in the November 12 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.