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2023-08-08 minutes
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
CONFERENCE ROOM
SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY 11:00 A.M. AUGUST 8, 2023
Board members present: Chairman Cory Wright; Vice-Chairman Brett Wachsmith; and
Commissioner Laura Osiadacz.
Others: Kate Jimenez, Administrative Assistant, Jeanne Killgore, HR Director, Greg Zempel,
Prosecutor, Eileen Murphy, Public Defense Director, Brian Carlson, Budget and Finance
Director, Andrew Yoder, Acountant II Auditor’s Office, Elisha Harvill, Chief Administrator
Prosecutor Office, Jodi Hammond, Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Office
SPECIAL MEETING ATTORNEY RECURITMENT PROSECUTOR
Chairman Wright opened a Special meeting at 11:01 a.m.
Greg Zempel discussed the current need for raising salaries in the Prosecutor’s office. Mr.
Zempel explained the challenges they have been facing in employee recruitment and retention.
Mr. Zempel partnered with Brian Carlson, Budget, and Finance Director to put together a wage
salary increase proposal based off their salary research to be presented to the Board.
Brian Carlson presented options for the Prosecuting Office salary range increases.
Chairman Wright asked if the salary range proposal was all based off 1 data point, the Cabot
Dow data. Jodi Hammond, Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor, said it is based off more than 1
data point, they also use the data such as the 39 Washington county wage disclosure reports.
There was discussion regarding what the plan for implementation of salary changes will be.
The Board discussed fairness of the proposed plan and if there is enough data from the Cabot
Dow study and Department vacancies to move forward with a decision of salary change
immediately. It was discussed that given the current case overload for County attorneys there is a
urgent public need to adopt a salary increase.
Chairman Wright said they would adopt the DPA (Deputy Prosecuting Attorney) 3 and Chief
and Director Salary Scale. numb
Chairman Wright would like HR to draft a Resolution to retro pay the DPA 2 and 1 salaries.
OTHER BUSINESS
Jeanne Killgore, HR Director, Eileen Murphy, Public Defense Director, Brian Carlson, Budget
and Finance Director, Andrew Yoder, Acountant II Auditor’s Office, Elisha Harvill, Chief
2
2023-08-08 minutes
Administrator Prosecutor Office, Jodi Hammond, Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Office left
at 11:50 a.m.
At 11:50 a.m. Chairman Wright announced the Board would recess into Executive Session with
Greg Zempel, Prosecutor, under RCW 42.30.140(4), To evaluate the qualifications of an
applicant for public employment or to review the performance of a public employee. However,
subject to RCW 42.30.140(4), discussion by a governing body of salaries, wages, and other
conditions of employment to be generally applied within the agency shall occur in a meeting
open to the public, and when a governing body elects to take final action hiring, setting the salary
of an individual employee or class of employees, or discharging or disciplining an employee, that
action shall be taken in a meeting open to the public; for five (5) minutes. There was no action
anticipated.
At 11:55 a.m. the Board reconvened out of Executive Session. There was no action taken.
At 11:55 a.m. Chairman Wright announced the Board would recess back into Executive Session
with Greg Zempel, Prosecutor, under RCW 42.30.140(4), To evaluate the qualifications of an
applicant for public employment or to review the performance of a public employee. However,
subject to RCW 42.30.140(4), discussion by a governing body of salaries, wages, and other
conditions of employment to be generally applied within the agency shall occur in a meeting
open to the public, and when a governing body elects to take final action hiring, setting the salary
of an individual employee or class of employees, or discharging or disciplining an employee, that
action shall be taken in a meeting open to the public; for five (5) minutes. There was no action
anticipated.
At 12:00 p.m. the reconvened out of Executive Session. There was no action taken.
Meeting concluded at 12:00 P.M.
______________________________________ _______________________________________
Kate Jimenez, Administrative Assistant Cory Wright, Chairman