Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Mason County commissioners approved a correction officers retention bonus at a special commission meeting June 23.
The county jail has had a problem with attracting and retaining employees in “law enforcement positions in general,” according to County Administrator Mark Neary.
“We obviously have a 24/7 operation there very dependent on the population of inmates that we have and as we see individuals maybe getting out of law enforcement all together and wanting to identify other career paths or moving on to other jurisdictions, we’re looking for ways to encourage them to stay here in Mason County and keep helping us in providing the essential services our Sheriff’s office has to provide,” Neary said.
Neary said the approved plan is to use some American Rescue Plan Act money to provide a $10,000 retention bonus and would go to all the current employees in the correctional facility who are not already under an incentive bonus. Neary said that this would account for about 17 current employees.
The incentive program is specific to corrections deputies, sergeants and corporals and it would be paid out in quarterly installments.
The first payment will be Sunday and be subsequently followed with payments on Oct. 10, Jan. 10, 2023, and April 10.
Commissioner Sharon Trask said this is perfect timing and it’s needed.
“We need to find ways to keep our officers, and this is one way that we can maybe show them how much we support them and how much we care about them,” Trask said during the meeting. “I’m truly excited about this and being able to approve this. I think it’s a great step forward.”
Commissioner Randy Neatherlin thanked the corrections officers for “standing in there through these tough and difficult times.”
Commissioner Kevin Shutty thanked everyone for the work done on this and to get it to the commission as quickly as possible.
“Definitely grateful for all the effort and hard work that our corrections staff does day in and day out, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year in our jail,” Shutty said. “Just really grateful for that and this hopefully allows us to continue to build that program and be able to recruit and retain high quality corrections deputies so that we can continue to provide this essential service for our community.”
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