Council Approves Salary Increase For JCAP Coordinator
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — Kosciusko County Jail Chemical Addiction Program Coordinator Courtney Jenkins is getting a raise.
At its meeting on Thursday, April 8, the Kosciusko County Council approved raising her salary to $41,886 annually. Previously it stood at $35,255.
The move didn’t come without much discussion.
Council Vice President Sue Ann Mitchell, who serves on the Wage Committee, presented the committee’s recommendation to raise Jenkins’ salary before the council.
“Actually I believe the sheriff’s department did something very creative during the shutdown for COVID,” said Mitchell. “They had a person who was doing the JCAP process and then the JCAP could not happen. And so that person was willing to train themselves up and get the experience, go to class, do what needed to be to become an actual jailer.”
“So that person has been serving as a jailer when the JCAP program was not functioning,” continued Mitchell, causing the Wage Committee to suggest raising her salary for her additional training and skills.
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Matron Kris Woodard offered some additional explanation.
“When the JCAP program originally started in, we wrote a job description for what we hoped that person would be doing,” she said. “It was based on what we knew at the time.”
She noted the sheriff’s office has since asked Jenkins to take more training to better help her work with the inmates.
“They really need to have all of the training necessary to be safe in that situation in a cell alone with inmates and so she has been more than happy to take the training and she understands the importance of the training … and will continue to update and re-certify herself in all those areas,” said Woodard.
“I guess I wouldn’t necessarily disagree with the wage increase,” said Councilman Mike Long. “But I’m having a hard time … that increase in wages outside of budget session. I think once we set … wages for the year, we should live with that until the next budget session.”
Mitchell pointed out the move would be paid for with some extra money. Woodard had budgeted funds for sheriff’s office holiday pay for 12 holidays. However, due to this year’s calendar, there are actually only 11 holidays, so there’s $5,900 extra to be put towards Jenkins’ raise.
Long still voted no on the issue, making the approval vote 5-1. Councilwoman Joni Truex was absent.
The council’s next meeting is 6 p.m. Thursday, May 13, at the Kosciusko County Courthouse’s Old Courtroom.