Carbon County is hoping pay hikes in a few departments facing employee shortages will entice more qualified people.

On Thursday, the county salary board approved changes in the district attorney’s, sheriff’s and 911 communications center.

County detective

District Attorney Jean Engler said that the rate hike for a second county detective helped her find a candidate who has law enforcement experience that will help in court operations. The position salary will increase from $16.02 per hour to $21.52 per hour, effective Aug. 1.

Carbon County has one full-time county detective and has had a vacancy for a second detective since October 2017, when Charles Horvath left the post.

Engler said that she was struggling to find a qualified candidate at the previous rate, because the nature of the job is demanding.

Engler now expects to write a letter of appointment for the position in the next week. She said the candidate is a 17-year police officer, but did not name the person.

Responsibilities for the position include enforcing drug violations, assisting municipalities in enforcing various drug laws and doing independent investigations.

Sheriff’s department

The board voted on three items for the sheriff’s department, including abolishing four special deputy sheriff trainee and four special deputy sheriff positions, effective Aug. 1; as well as establishing two deputy sheriff positions under the sheriff association union at the prevailing rate, also effective Aug. 1.

Sheriff Anthony Harvilla said the motions appear that the county abolished eight positions, but in fact, only abolished four.

This is due to when someone is hired, they are named a trainee until they are promoted to fill one of the deputy sheriff positions so one person essentially holds those two positions.

This action is for vacancies within the department, a problem much like the prison has been facing with finding part-time staff.

Harvilla said that he has not been able to find viable candidates for the positions, and it has been affecting the department.

In one instance, the sheriff’s department was unable to execute a warrant that it needed to serve, because there weren’t enough people available.

“Those part-time positions are vital, because we use those positions to substitute when we have absences or when we have busy days,” Harvilla said.

The establishment of the two full-time deputy sheriff positions, that would include benefits, will hopefully draw qualified candidates, he said.

The sheriff’s department has 13 full-time staff with now two full-time vacancies; as well as eight part-time deputies.

Communications center

Hourly wages for 14 part-time dispatchers was also approved, all effective Aug. 1.

The salary board increased these dispatchers’ wages approximately 10 percent. Five dispatchers will now be paid $12.80 per hour; six, $13.32 per hour; one, $13.72 per hour; and two, $16.85 per hour.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein echoed Engler and Harvilla’s thoughts with the pay not drawing candidates who will stay.

He said that the increase will hopefully help the part-time dispatchers currently in the position and attract others to fill the vacancies.