The discussion of better wages continued in Carbon County as the sheriff requested an increase for one of his employees.

During the monthly meeting of the county salary board on Thursday, Sheriff Dan Zeigler requested a two-step increase for the department’s civil process clerk, from $11.38 to $12.07.

Zeigler said he was making the motion because the person is a valuable employee and the salary needs to be increased in order to keep employees.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner, who has been vocal about the need to better pay county employees, agreed with Zeigler’s sentiment, saying that he thinks $11.38 is too low to be paid, but added that he would vote against the matter because it only works on one position rather than all the lowest paid positions.

“I’m just against stepping people (up) every week,” he said. “If we’re going to change this $11.38, let’s change it for everybody.”

Ahner said that a 69-cent increase on the lowest paid employees isn’t nearly enough in today’s world, adding that his proposal would be a lot higher than that for the lowest tiers.

Ahner didn’t say his proposal will be except that some people who get paid higher wages wouldn’t see as much benefit from pay hikes as the lowest paid employees.

“There are over 53% of the people that are in our county that are under $15 an hour,” he said. “I’m sure 53% of the people will like what I want to present. ... I’m here to make it fair for everybody. Dan, I understand you want to help your people, but I want to help all, not just one at a time.”

Zeigler agreed that a 69-cent increase won’t solve the problem, but advocated for his employee and for those getting the lowest tiered pay.

“This individual has three years experience. She transferred and took a pay cut to come to my office,” Zeigler said. “She does an outstanding job. ... They need the assistance now, not in four or five months when things get figured out (from the salary study.)”

Zeigler said that this increase to the end of the year would total just under $300 and can be covered in his already approved budget.

Ahner suggested having the salary board look to adjust all county employees in the $11.38 an hour range at next month’s meeting.

“I think we have to get together,” he said.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said that he agrees that the board looks at changing the rate for all those who make less than $12 an hour.

Carbon County has been working on fixing the salaries of employees to be more competitive with other counties and the private sector for nearly a year.

A salary study that was commissioned is in the works and the board is beginning to look at what it can do to help employees while also not increasing taxes for residents too much.