Cole County Commission approves jailer pay increase

This May 2016 photo shows the Cole County Sheriff's Office and Jail in Jefferson City.
This May 2016 photo shows the Cole County Sheriff's Office and Jail in Jefferson City.

In hopes of fighting short staffing in the Cole County Jail, the Cole County Commission approved a pay increase Tuesday for the jailers.

The commission approved increasing the starting pay for jailers to $32,500. Last fall, the commission approved increasing the starting pay to $30,300.

"It's not what (the Missouri Department of Corrections) is making. They just got a pay raise. But it's still pretty good for the surrounding agencies," Cole County Sheriff John Wheeler said.

The county jail is short 19 jailers, Wheeler said. That leaves 10 jailers currently, with one jailer expected to leave soon, he added.

Wheeler said he hopes the pay increase will attract and retain jailers.

Current jailers will also receive a $2,200 bump in their pay, too, Wheeler said.

In other business Tuesday, the commission approved Central Missouri Professional Services' proposal to make sidewalk and landscaping changes in front of the Cole County Courthouse.

The plan proposes creating a larger paved plaza area along East High Street by relocating tree plantings and benches. It also proposes replacing and improving the sidewalk grades, as well as the Monroe Street curbs and gutters. Planters will also surround the World War I monument.

The county hopes construction will begin in August, with project completion set for mid-November.

The cost of the schematic design, design development, construction documents and construction administration is about $38,657, according to the proposal.

Last month, the Jefferson City Public Works and Planning Committee approved the commission's proposal to make the courthouse landscaping upgrades.

Also on Tuesday, the commission approved purchasing a new van for the Prenger Family Center.

A van for the center was destroyed during the May 22 tornado.

The van will cost $21,668, county staff said. The county will receive $12,000 from totaling out the old van, and the commission approved spending $9,668 to cover the cost difference.

The Prenger Family Center used the van for various things, such as taking children to school and activities.