OSWEGO — Labette County department heads visited with county commissioners on Monday about a resolution that will lead to the appraiser making $90,000 a year for part-time work.
Brandy Scott, 911 director, addressed the commission for fellow department heads. The department heads had also written a letter to the commissioners, the points of which Scott addressed in her discussion.
In late May, commissioners approved a resolution on a 2-1 vote to contract with Melody Kikkert for four years as county appraiser. Kikkert is also Montgomery County appraiser and will essentially work part-time in Labette County.
She will be paid $90,000, making her the fourth-highestpaid department head.
Scott said with tightening budgets, department heads are doing what they can to rein in expenses. The $90,000 for part-time work was alarming.
Scott said that department heads have no issue with Kikkert or her work. Their concern is the pay for part-time work that the commissioners approved. Kikkert’s contract will start July 1.
Labette County has had an agreement with Montgomery County since Aug. 1, 2024, to share Kikkert’s services and those of some of her staff through June 30, after former Labette County Appraiser DeLinda White left for other work. Labette County paid Montgomery County $120,000 a year, or $10,000 a month, for this arrangement.
Commissioners said they set the appraiser’s pay based on the number of parcels of property in the county, paying $6 per parcel, a rate similar to what other counties pay.
Commissioner Vince Schibi, who voted against the resolution appointing Kikkert, said he thinks the county needs a full time appraiser.
Commissioner Tom Barrett said appraisers are difficult to find.
The county must have one in place by July 1 or the state may have to step in to serve as appraiser on a part-time basis.
Barrett said Kikkert was an answer to that problem. He said he understands how department heads feel as he went through similar situations when he worked at a previous job. When a company requires workers with a specific skill set and certifications, that employee will seek a higher wage.
Scott asked commissioners if Kikkert was the only person considered for the job.
“What does it matter?” Commissioner Terry Weidert asked.
Schibi said he’d spoken to a
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deputy appraiser for Anderson County who lives in Cherryvale. But he wasn’t able to bring him in for a formal interview last year because two other commissioners didn’t want to.
He said he thinks the commission could hire a full time appraiser for less money.
Scott mentioned that Kikkert drives a county vehicle home, something that, generally, only those who respond to emergencies do. Commissioners said they would look into that arrangement.
Scott also brought up contract employment and wondered if commissioners would allow other department heads to do contract work for other counties, even though current workloads would not allow that. She said Kikkert is essentially a contract employee through the resolution.
Weidert said he didn’t think he would support that arrangement, but he was only one of three votes. He noted that unelected department heads were employed at will and the appraiser is appointed by resolution. Appraisers work on four-year contract periods. He also noted that the resolution for the previous appraiser didn’t require a set number of hours to be worked in a week.
Schibi said in his view the commission could do nothing or could rescind the resolution and renegotiate for the appraiser.
County Counselor Brian Johnson reminded commissioners that the deadline to have an appraiser appointed is July 1 or he would have to contact the state to take over for up to six months.
Barrett asked Scott what she thought the commissioners should do. Scott said she would like to see the Cherryvale man interviewed. Or the current appraiser could be paid a salary that reflects part time work. Paying the higher wage for part-time work impacts the morale of other county employees, Scott said.
Weidert said three years ago former Commissioner Lonie Addis offered a proposal to raise county employees’ salaries 9% across the board to address retention issues and hiring concerns. Department heads, when asked if that would be enough to address the retention issues, said it would not. The commission ended up increasing county worker pay 17%. He asked Scott if that was bad.
Scott said that was good and righted a wrong from years of no pay increases.
He said he and former Commissioner Cole Proehl agreed to the increase because it would help the morale of the county employees.
“And now I’m sitting here being threatened that the (morale) of the employees is going to go away. And it just really discourages me to want to step forward,” Weidert said.
Sometimes, efforts to make improvements in pay or equipment backfire.
“I get so discouraged and disgruntled of you try to do what you can to help this county grow and make things better. I do believe this lady that we’re talking about has lots of possibilities to bring new business, new industry into our county,” Weidert said.
She will work to grow the county, which would eventually reduce property taxes.
He said he’s not mad at Scott, and he’s not arguing the points she was making.
“I feel like I really tried to be an advocate for you folks. And it just seems like it’s never enough,” he said.
He said employees have a right to voice concerns, but commissioners have to make the best decisions they can for the county.
Weidert said he was open to ideas. Schibi made a motion to rescind the resolution that hired Kikkert so the commission could renegotiate it or bring in other candidates. His motion died for lack of a second.
Barrett said he would support doing something, perhaps having more discussions. He supported Schibi bringing in the deputy appraiser for a visit.
Schibi thanked the department heads for coming in. “We all are on the same team. But we need to show you that,” he said.
Commissioners were to meet this morning.
