Making public policy is never easy.
We live in a democracy that delegates decision making to elected representatives. They hire staff with expertise to manage and deliver results from the policies that are made in public meetings with citizen input.
There are issues that allow plenty of time for contemplation and there are others that need immediate action.
Last week, the Graham County Board of Commissioners met in a special meeting to hear a presentation from Finance Officer Becky Garland regarding the opportunities available from the American Rescue Plan Act, which is also called the COVID-19 Stimulus Package.
The 16-page handout and hour-plus presentation from fiscal magician Becky made it clear that a complex plan complying with many federal and state rules was in order. Patience was requested by county economic development staff and Graham County Manager Jason Marino promised to work on the plan and get it done quickly.
There was no specific input from the County Commission.
To his credit, Marino allowed his key staff to speak and the message was clear. The heroic front-line efforts of the EMS workers who deal with COVID sufferers daily, the bus drivers who transport potential or actual COVID positive people to various places –including doctors – the understaffed 911 dispatchers who hear people unable to breathe crying out for help, and the senior center workers who help frail elderly all feel that their efforts deserve what the federal money calls “premium pay for essential workers.”
Folks, the need to recognize and be thankful for our front-line employees who put themselves and their families at risk daily is clear as a bell. The money to do this is federal and already in the county’s bank. The list of eligible employees goes beyond just the departments listed above.
The law allows up to $13 per hour premium pay and it is not clear whether that is just premium pay or a total of $13 including base pay.
That issue should be easy to clear up. Since the law was written nationwide, it is self-evident that most EMT’s base salary is more than $13 per hour so the premium pay would be fully funded by the feds. Even if some local money has to be kicked in, our front-line workers deserve the respect and appreciation that the county commission should show them.
There is plenty of time to look at and prioritize the many other opportunities the American Rescue Protection Act provides. These dedicated county employees deserve the retroactive premium pay back to January 2020 when a COVID crisis was declared. Preparing the list of eligible employees would be a challenge and probably create some internal strife, but that is the responsibility of staff and the county commission.
Our dedicated employees need a morale boosting and recruitment enhancing signal from the county commission, which should be made at the next commission meeting. Staff should be directed to prepare the list, recommend the percentage to be paid back to January 2020 and get this done within 30 days.
The state of North Carolina and our local school board should also give consideration to their employees who provide essential services.
Roger Carlton writes a bi-weekly column for The Graham Star. He can be reached via email, rcarlton57@hotmail.com.