Patterson pushes issue, Johnson makes motion, Helton blocks decision
Fannin County first responders will likely not see hazard pay until after the new administration takes office in January, following a heated exchange between members of the Fannin County Board of Commissioners Tuesday, November 10.
Fannin County’s Post Two Commissioner Glenn Patterson added hazard pay to last Tuesday’s agenda, which marked the first time hazard pay would be publicly discussed since the Board of Commissioners voted to table it September 8 until more information was provided to the county regarding who could legally receive hazard pay or the state placed a deadline on the pay.
“These guys, everyday, they run toward the COVID-19, while we try to stay away from it as much as we can, because that’s their job,” Patterson said. “But, when they took that job they didn’t realize they would have to take all this extra risk and danger, and they’ve got family just like we do. This money that we’ve got goes from March to August, okay? That’s six months. I can’t believe that … I’m thankful for our first responders, and I know that you guys are too … but we can’t find $100 a month to give to these guys and ladies, because of what they do for us every day. We don’t even realize what they put up with and come back every day and do it again.”
Answering a question from Post One Commissioner Earl Johnson, County Attorney Lynn Doss then told the board that all first responders including EMA, EMS, Fire, 911, Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center employees could receive funds from the CARES Act through Hazard Pay. However, elected officials and department heads could not.
Patterson asked if either of the other commissioners had thoughts on the matter, and Chairman Stan Helton responded, “I’ll tell you exactly what I think. I think that when we had these discussions the feedback was that nobody was going to be completely happy. The ones who weren’t going to get money would be mad. Discussions I had with the money we were talking about, folks were saying that wasn’t enough.
“You’re this close to the end of the year. If someone gets bonus pay right now, in a few months they’re going to be paying taxes on it. I think after the first of the year, again it’s not that long out there, you’ll have a new board, and you can sit down and maybe wind up, from what I hear your pushing more money, than what I’d be willing to do. So, they may be better off.”
Helton further elaborated on his thoughts regarding hazard pay, and his disappreciation in Patterson’s bringing it up again.
“By the way, nobody’s disputing anybody’s dedication and the danger of dealing with this stuff, but if you really want to get technical, really unless someone has actually got COVID-19,” he said. “I mean if you go out, and just because I’m dealing with somebody, do I deserve hazard pay? What about the person that’s actually going out to an actual COVID-19 case? And then, how do you find out if that person has got COVID-19. You’ve got HIPAA. That person’s got privacy. How are you going to get that? I just, to me, Mr. Patterson, I’m through with the hazard pay thing. I’m going to be real blunt with you about that, and I don’t really appreciate it being brought up here as a last minute thing like this.”
Patterson again urged the importance of paying first responders sooner rather than later, stating, “We need to show them we have their back. They’ve been dedicated. Some of these people have worked 20 years for the county, and they’ve got Christmas coming up. And yeah, we can push everything to the start of the year. We can do that, and I understand that realm of thought, but I just believe, you know Mr. Johnson you told me one time, when I started, you said, ‘Just do what’s right.’ Well to me, that’s the right thing to do.”
Johnson reiterated to the board and those in attendance that he had “absolutely no problem with paying the hazard pay,” however he had previously just needed guidance on who could legally receive it.
Patterson pointed out that the board had now received guidance from Doss regarding who could receive the funds, and Johnson recalled that the board had previously been presented with a proposal of paying first responders with $500 for the six months. The only thing that would need to be decided by the county was if or how volunteer firefighters would be paid.
After a back and forth about who had brought the discussion up and who should make a motion, Johnson said, “I’ll tell you what then, I’m for $500 and for the people she (Doss) said legally could accept it and not hold any future ramifications for this county in the future.”
Patterson seconded Johnson, and Helton asked, “Did I ask for a motion?” Patterson responded, “Go ahead Chairman, you’re in charge.”
Helton explained that he wasn’t sure what he intended to do yet, and stated, “I’ll give you a little dirty secret. Legally, with hazard pay, we can do whatever we want with this. I know what you (Doss) say is in there, but there’s nothing that prevents us from giving hazard pay to everybody in the county. … My concern with this hazard pay thing is not that people don’t deserve it, it’s that I don’t think you’re going to do anything except create dissension with people.”
He then called for anyone to make a motion if they wanted, while also reiterating that he wanted the board to wait until the new administration took office at the start of the year.
Johnson reiterated that he was fine with doing what Doss said they could legally do, stating, “I don’t want people to think I’m not genuinely concerned about them being compensated either, because I am genuinely concerned. It’s just I wanted to do it right. I didn’t know by me waiting for clarification from the county attorney that that many people would get upset with me.”
Following further discussion from Helton regarding waiting until the new administration came in, Patterson thanked the commissioners for their thoughts, and Johnson said, “Mister Chairman, I think I’ve wasted enough breath on this. I’m not going to drop it again. I don’t mind making a motion to pay the $500 for who she says is eligible to get it. I’m not going to waste this much of my life on something and just drop it.”
Helton wanted the board to know how much the county would be spending on every employee, and EMA Director Robert Graham said it would approximately be for 100 employees. Doss again explained that the county would have to decide how and if volunteers would be paid.
Finance Director Robin Gazaway said that if the county did pay the hazard pay, they would have approximately $600,000 in CARES Act Funds leftover. This figure included the funds already spent by the county on various COVID-19 items such as the courthouse cleaning, etc.
Johnson made the motion to pay the hazard pay, and Patterson asked if Helton would be willing to accept the motion. Helton stated, “With the numbers that have been thrown around out here, and the kind of expense it is, no. The only motion I want to make right now, or ask for, is a motion to adjourn and close this meeting.”
Patterson then made a motion to adjourn, and the meeting was closed.