Hancock County Jailer Roger Estes submitted a letter to Hancock County
Fiscal Court on February 8 requesting a raise in his salary from $27,000 per
year to $35,000 per year. Fiscal court tabled the request at that time.

During the meeting Monday evening, Hancock County Fiscal Court Attorney Paul
Madden informed the court of a special stipulation regarding salary
increases for elected officials. State law mandates that raises for elected
officials occur only during the years in which they stand for election to
office, and then the raise must occur prior to May 1 of that year. The law
does allow yearly cost-of-living increases, limited to 4-percent, at the
government's discretion, but no increase over this amount until the next
election.

Madden said the county needs to make a decision prior to May 1. The last
fiscal court meeting prior to May 1 occurs on April 26. If the court grants
a salary increase, it does not take effect until January 1, 2011, the start
of the jailer's term in office. The court again tabled Estes' request.

In making his request, Estes said he saves the county  a significant amount
of money by performing all aspects of his job without any deputies.

"I am not complaining about the amount of work I do," Estes said. "I never
have. I just think I should be paid for what I do, especially if it would
cost the county more if I didn't do it."

Hancock County Judge/Executive agreed with Estes' point, and praised him for
his work ethic. He said giving Estes a raise places Hancock County Fiscal
Court in a difficult position.

"It puts fiscal court in a predicament," McCaslin said. "We don't have money
to give raises to other employees. It is hard to tell everyone else, 'no,
you cant' get a raise.'"

As fiscal court discussed this issue, Hancock County Sheriff Dale Bozarth,
Hancock County Attorney Madden and Lewisport Police Chief John Garner spoke
in support of giving Estes the raise. Several sharp exchanges occurred
during this discussion.

County Attorney Madden said Estes performs many more duties than outlined in
his job description. In doing these activities, he saves the county
significant money, Madden said. Estes helps Madden's office collect jail
fees, which go to Hancock County Fiscal Court, collects home incarceration
fees and also stays overnight with prisoners at the hospital if needed.

"If you look at Jailers' salary across the state, I would venture to say he
is at the very bottom," Madden said.

Sheriff Bozarth said the pay range for jailers in counties with closed
jails, like Hancock County, range from $24,000 per year to $60,000. At this
point, McCaslin disputed Bozarth's assertion.

"But that is for a full-fledged jailer though," McCaslin said.

Bozarth and Madden disagreed. Madden said the salary for jailers in counties
with an operating jail tops out at approximately $100,000.

Bozarth said he contacted three counties considered level 2 like Hancock
County. All three of them also closed their jails.

In Cumberland County, the jailer chose to become a bailiff instead of a
transport officer like Estes. The county pays the jailer $20,000 per year,
but also contracts out the transportation of prisoners at a cost of $37,000
per year, Bozarth said.

In Bracken County the jailer makes $30,000 per year, but also uses two
part-time workers as transportation officers. Each officer makes $150 per
month plus $30 for each transport, Bozarth said. Calculating each officer
making one transport per week, plus the jailer's salary, the total expense
to the tops $36,000 per year.

Bozarth said in McLean County, the jailer makes $27,123 per year, and one
transportation officer works 24-hours per week at minimum wage. He said
adding these costs together, McLean pays over $37,000 per year.

"It is such a confining job," Bozarth said. "I have seen him leave meals,
I've seen him be with his grandkids, get a call and go. I think it is
important to realize how much work he covers. There are 168 hours in a
week."

McCaslin said he understood Bozarth's point, and agreed that Estes goes
above and beyond the call of duty. He said Estes does a tremendous job for
the county, and that no one doubts how hard he works. He said all the
magistrates appreciates his efforts.

"We did not pin him down to work 24 hours per day," McCaslin said. "He had
some options to get some deputies. Don't make us out to be the bad guys."

McCaslin said most people in Estes' position would hire deputies to help.

Bozarth asked McCaslin if Estes did hire deputies, would that not entail
extra expense to the county. McCaslin said yes.

"I know you do more and you save the county money," McCaslin said. "There is
no question about that. It just puts us in a position."

Lewisport Police Chief John Garner also spoke in favor of Estes' request.

Garner said he possessed doubts about the county's decision to close the
jail several years ago, but the effort Estes puts in each day alleviated his
fear. He said the situation in regards to transporting prisoners greatly
improved due to Estes' willingness to be on call 24-hours per day, seven
days per week.

"He never fails to get there," Garner said. "He transported people during
the snowstorm just a couple of weeks ago."

Garner said Estes also comes to the scene of an arrest to pick up a
prisoner, allowing officers to return to patrolling much quicker. This
simple action allows law officers to spend more time out on patrol, which
helps make the community safer, he said.

McCaslin said using the argument presented by Bozarth, Estes, Garner and
Madden allows any employee to demand a raise. McCaslin said this argument
allows employees to argue that since the state adds more to their duties
each year, they deserve a salary increase.

"We have to look at 55 other employees," McCaslin said. "It puts us in a
predicament, that's all I am saying."

Estes countered that since most of the employees McCaslin referenced are
hired employees, not elected, the county possesses the option to raise their
base salaries at any time and by any amount. For him, the window for a
raise, excepting a cost-of-living increase, comes every four years, making
his situation much different.

"We do need to weigh everything," McCaslin said. "We will have a
recommendation before too long."

McCaslin said he expected to make a recommendation within the next two
weeks.