(Greenfield, IA) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, today (Wednesday) approved a request for an increase in wages for Sheriff’s Office dispatchers. The request came from Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, who said he was informed the current wages are not enough to retain and hire persons for those positions. Vandewater said he took that input and and came up with a proposed wage scale that was based at least in part on what other area counties are paying, and the job stress level that requires and extraordinary amount of multi-tasking, especially during potential life and death situations.

Vandewater says the starting wage now, while on probation for the first six months is $21.06. With the Board’s approval today (Wednesday), it will go to $25.00 on February 7th the new pay period begins.

The Board also approved the Jailer/Dispatcher resignation of Gwendy Rice and her request to move from full-to part-time employee.

In other business, the Adair County Supervisors passed a resolution awarding an OEC Paving project for the Orient Energy Center facility in the amount of a little nearly $1.3-million ($1,290, 943.90) to Grimes Asphalt of Des Moines. There were six bids for the project, according to County Engineer Nick Kauffman, with the bottom two bids separated by a little over $8,000. The engineer’s estimate for the project was $1.6-million.

The Board also passed a resolution awarding the W-18 Harrison Bridge Project. Govco, Inc., in Red Oak was the low bid, at $325, 221. The engineer’s estimate was $380,000. Kauffman said he’d budgeted for $350,000.