County Board Ratifies Four-Year Contract w/Sheriff's Department Employees

Effingham County Board members Monday ratified a four-year contract with Fraternal Order of Police union members employed by the Effingham County Sheriff's Department.

Sheriff Paul Kuhns said the two union locals involve 75 sheriff's department employees. The agreements are effective December 1, 2021 and will run through November 30, 2025. 

Kuhns said the agreements involve 3% pay hikes in each of the four years. He said sworn deputies and telecommunicators are awarded another $1.25/hour after the 3% increase is instituted. The additional increase will occur in each of the first two years of the agreements.

Both unions previously ratified the agreements.

The Board also renewed the County's property/casualty/liability/cyber insurance coverage to CIRMA at a total cost of $460,604. That's an increase in premium cost of 11.85%.

Board members also purchased servers at a cost of $20,143. 

Sheriff Kuhns also reported that he had granted the pastor of the United Pentecostal Church downtown permission to hold a live nativity on the lawn of the Courthouse Museum. The nativity will be presented the evening of December 19.