Commissioners approve $2 Public Works pay hike

Whitman County Commissioners approved a resolution Dec. 17 to add $2 per hour in wages for all Public Works employees, union and non-union, following a presentation Nov. 19 by Jeff Stehr, District 1 superintendent, asking for a pay increase to help retain and hire employees.

The increase will take effect Jan. 1, pending union approval.

Stehr presented a spreadsheet of local workers who have left the county in recent years for higher-paying jobs with farmers, ranchers, Washington State Department of Transportation, City of Spokane, M.A. DeAtley Construction, Motley-Motley, Inc. and others.

“Thi...