(KLZA)-- Following several months of  discussions, Richardson County Commissioners Tuesday approved wage increases for the jailers, dispatchers, clerical support and building maintenance technician at the Richardson County Law Enforcement Center. 

The pay raises will be retroactive to July 1, 2019.  Dispatcher/Jailers will receive a 90 cent per hour increase to $15.77 per hour.  Office administration will receive a 90-cent per hour increase to $16.25 per hour and office clerical staff will receive a wage of $15.77 per hour. Two percent pay increases were approved for the building maintenance technician, kitchen staff and jail assistant administrator-corporal.  Wages will be $19.24 per hour for the building maintenance tech;  $13.53 for the kitchen staff and $16.51 per hour for the assistant jail administrator – corporal.

The pay increases were determined based on a salary study with comparable counties across the state of Nebraska. 

Commissioners also reviewed the proposed budgets for the Sheriff's Office and Jail with Sheriff Rick Hardesty and Deputy Roland Merwin.  A report was also received on maintenance needs for patrol  vehicles. 

Humboldt Mayor Robert Mendenhall and Council members Larry Stauffer and Dustin White met with Commissioners regarding the proposed renewal of the Law Enforcement Contract with Humboldt which expires August 31.   

The proposal calls for a $5-thousand increase per year for the next 3-year period of the contract.  The next year of the contract will cost the city approximately $72,665 or just over $6-thousand per month.

The Humboldt Council was expected to take action on the contract during a special City Council meeting Thursday evening.