It took several attempts to make a decision on several raises for positions in the Children and Youth Services department.

On Thursday, the county salary board split decisions several times when it came to salary changes for positions.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner said his reasoning for voting against the raises is because picking and choosing raises isn’t the right call when the whole department is underpaid.

“The salaries aren’t enough,” he said. “These people are working unbelievable jobs and conditions that they get into. I just feel that pinpointing one job at a time to give them raises is not a good idea. I think we have to analyze the whole department.”

He cited a salary study that is still in the works that will look at all positions in all county departments to determine fair wages against other counties; adding that the county should look at the big picture for the future and not just pick and choose.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein, who voted for the raises and voiced his disapproval over the split votes or lack of seconds on some raises, said that in the case of the caseworker III position that they were creating, the starting salary was bringing someone back that would be reviewing reports for the caseworkers to help with casework.

He felt opposite of Ahner, saying, “As the positions come up, I will stand my ground. If it takes one at a time to make that department better, than that’s what I’m going to do.”

The positions that caused the discussion are:

• Establish the position of one county caseworker III at $22.37 per hour, effective April 7. The first motion failed for lack of a second. A second motion establishing the hourly wage at $21.72 per hour passed 3-1 with Nothstein, Ahner and Controller Mark Sverchek voting yes and Commissioner Chris Lukasevich voting no.

• Change the rate of one social services aide I from $13.99 per hour to $11.38 per hour, effective April 7 passed unanimously. This resets the position to step A in the pay scale.

• Change the rate of one social services aide II from $12.31 per hour to $14.26 per hour, effective April 7. The first motion died for lack of a second. The second and third motions requesting the salary be set at $13.85 and $13.45 failed 3-1 and 2-2; and the fourth motion setting the hourly rate at $13.06 passed unanimously.

• Abolish the position of one social services aide I at $11.38 per hour, effective April 7 passed unanimously.

• Abolish the positions of three part-time county caseworkers II at $20 per hour, effective April 8 passed unanimously after first splitting the decision.

• Abolish the position of one part-time county caseworker I at $17.25 per hour, effective April 7 passed unanimously.