Prospecting Oak Ridge Trojans score a four-peat in the Academic Decathlon.
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Volume 169 • Issue 17
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Raises for county department heads, management n Pay bumps aim
to retain and attract quality workforce
Dylan Svoboda Staff writer County workers without union representation are receiving a pay raise. El Dorado County Supervisors approved the salary bumps to retain an experienced workforce and improve morale among county employees. The earnings increase will bring appointed and elected department head employees to 8 percent below the market
median and “We have pressures from other counties that have administrative economic growth and that ability to pay [employees] management and confidential more.” employees to 10 — Sue Novasel, El Dorado County District 5 supervisor percent below the market median. counties that have economic and making sure people Wage bumps are needed growth and that ability to pay have the tools, expectations to maintain and attract a [employees] more.” and accountability to move qualified workforce, Human Human Resources Director our culture in a different Resources Director Tamika Tamika Usher acknowledged direction.” Usher said. that improving work The compensation “We don’t have the environments throughout increases come following economic growth of the county level, as well as recommendations from the Sacramento and Placer improved pay, is a focus in county's chief administrative County,” said District 5 the effort to reverse the highofficer and director of Human Supervisor Sue Novasel turnover trend. Resources. at Tuesday's Board of “We’re looking for ways to El Dorado County Supervisors meeting. “We unpack, if you will, issues Employee Association have pressures from other that need to be addressed president Rebecca Klare
expressed frustration over the pay increases for largely management and department head positions, citing recent efforts to consider pay raises for other county employees. “Just this past year the county [chief administrative officer] was going throughout the different departments and basically telling staff that the county had no money for raises,” she said. “But apparently, as we’re all aware, that does not appear to be correct.” The Taxpayers Association of El Dorado County was indifferent to the increases n
See Raises, page 3
Love the lights on Main Street? n Sorry, down they go —
but cheer up, the horizon is looking bright Pat Lakey Staff writer
The bright and cheery lights that have zigzagged across Main Street in Placerville since they were strung up during the holidays are scheduled to come down, despite informal “polls” conducted by members of the City Council that determined a majority of locals wants them to stay up yearround. But wait “While we take — like a lightbulb these down ... coming to there will be a life above big hoo-hah ... their heads — there but that will give were plenty us a chance to of ideas coming from explore what the the council public (wants),” members for keeping — Mark Acuna, everyone Placerville city happy as councilman the panel recently discussed the future of the fancy frippery. More than one reason exists for taking the lights down, with some speculating they wouldn't reflect the specialness of Christmastime if they were up all year. And the strings of bulbs that caused so many smiles to light up toward the end of 2019 were not intended to last more than a season, according to one council member. It was explained that the type of bulbs used during the holiday season are not meant to be year-round and other ancillary equipment including cable and attachments is subject to rust and ruin. Councilman Mark Acuna, a former PG&E employee, said the strain of hanging year-round in Old Hangtown would be too much for the type of bulbs used to create the popular panorama, that they “weren’t designed to hold up” that long. A written note that was read
Democrat photos by Thomas Frey
Wednesday Club participants Oliver Pelayo-Garcia, Clinton Baker, Annabelle Lopez and Parker Feigles, from left, studiously plug away at their homework under the mentorship of volunteer Jerry Sizemore, center, after school at Discovery Hills Church in Shingle Springs Jan. 15.
Saved by the Wednesday Club Shingle Springs church opens doors beyond the bell different things that we do.” Feigles, Prichard and other Wednesday Club mentors head over to Buckeye at 2 p.m. to walk students over to the church. The club averages 100 students Thomas Frey per week — about 36 percent of Staff writer Buckeye students are enrolled. Wednesday Club kicks off in very Wednesday at the worship area where all are led Discovery Hills Church in song by a guitar-strumming in Shingle Springs lead Feigles. The kids then eat a snack pastor Christopher — Rice Krispies Treats — are a Feigles, Lauren Prichard and a club favorite. team of volunteers host a free after Feigles is big on discipline. His Holly St. Onge and Milana Vakulchik, from left, take school program for youngsters discipline system is set up to help their studies high-tech at Discovery Hills Church on preschool-aged through fifth grade an early-release Wednesday. kids who need it. If a teacher from Buckeye Elementary School has to warn a kid twice during and the surrounding area. Every Wednesday Buckeye has an classroom time, they are sent to Feigles, who has been at Discovery early release time of 2 p.m. either Feigles or Prichard. Feigles Hills since 2004, started the “It presents a challenge for parents said oftentimes, if a kid is having Wednesday Club with Prichard in who work if they have one day a week a problem, it is something that is 2008 to help kids with homework, where they have to get off earlier,” deeper than misbehavior. feed them a good meal, have fun and Feigles said. “We thought we could “Normally if it gets to that point, to teach them about the gospel of put our club on Wednesday and Jesus Christ. n See Wednesday Club, page 3 it gives us more time to do all the
n Discovery Hills Church
offers after school study with a touch of gospel
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