NEWS

Adams County security to get pay increase

Dustin B Levy
dlevy@eveningsun.com
Security officer posing

Michael Baltzley, Adams County security director, has seen starting wages remain flat for his department since he began working there almost a decade ago.

The Adams County Salary Board changed this by approving a 13.2 percent wage hike for security officers during Wednesday's meeting.

The bump in wages, which will apply across the board for the department, will keep the county competitive with other openings.

"I’ve had issues over the years where guys leave the department to go elsewhere," Baltzley said.

The starting salary for a part-time security officer will increase from a rate of $13.48 per hour to $15.26 per hour.

He also mentioned the department had a vacancy for almost a month, with two applicants that met the minimum standards.

"It’s clear we are not paying what today is a good starting wage for what we’re asking for," Michele Miller, Adams County director of human resources, said.

The position was filled by Larry Runk, former sergeant of Gettysburg Borough Police who resigned Aug. 12. Runk was connected with the borough's controversial Taser incident last year and will continue to receive benefits from the borough as part of the collective bargaining agreement that led to his resignation.

Baltzley called Runk a "highly qualified candidate."

Runk will be joining a staff that consists entirely of retired police officers with 20 years of experience.

"It’s a type of environment that they’re used to," Balztley said. "This type of work they enjoy doing"

The county security officers, who are armed, are required to go through a physical, drug test and criminal background check.

"These aren’t individuals that are coming from a position as working as a clerk in Lowe’s or something like that," Baltzley said. "Although, with this pay, we still get applicants like that for this job."

Adams County officials clash over wage hikes

Baltzley had been working to recommend a wage hike to the salary board for several months, he said.

The original recommendation saw a 16.9 percent raise in wages for the department, but the commissioners approved a slightly lower increase.

Commissioner Marty Qually said he tends to agree with the department directors' suggestions but voted unanimously with the board to approve the 13.2 percent bump.

"I liked the slightly higher numbers, but I'm comfortable with where we are," Qually said. "It was a step in the right direction."

Moreover, Baltzley was pleased his employees would be recognized for their work and the potential dangers of their job.

"We don’t want to be vulnerable security-wise," Commissioner Jim Martin said. "We want to have good security officers."

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