County Approves Small Pay Increase For Wiley

County Precinct 2 Constable C.B. Wiley is getting a salary increase, but nowhere near the one he insists is proper for his office.

Tuesday, the Van Zandt County Commissioners’ Court approved an increase for Wiley to $33,500 after that was recommended by a 7-1 vote by the County Salary Grievance Committee late last week. Wiley’s current salary is $32,181.

In a public hearing before the committee, Wiley had asked for $43,100. "We’ve got eight county elected officials who are going to receive that much by next year," Wiley said in a telephone interview Friday.

His statement referred to the four precinct commissioners, district attorney, county clerk, tax collector and county treasurer positions.

Wiley was present Tuesday to learn the outcome of the court’s decision and was none too pleased, stating after the vote that he was "working almost for nothing for the county."

Precinct 1 Commissioner Ricky LaPrade, who made the unanimously approved motion for the raise, defended the decision.

"We had a salary committee that worked very hard on this issue and determined the four commissioners should be paid the same and the four constables should be paid the same," he said. "I don’t think we need to get off the salary increase plan.

"I have all the respect in the world for Constable Wiley. He does a great job," LaPrade added.

Van Zandt County Judge Rhita Koches said the county would be willing to extend an offer to Wiley of a pilot program to assist in providing funds for a vehicle, fuel expenses and maintenance. She said that same offer was extended to Precinct 4 Constable Pat Jordan, who had a salary increase request denied by the salary grievance committee.

Wiley said that because he is on patrol on call 24 hours, he is wearing out his own patrol vehicle within two years.

"What if I just parked my car and didn’t serve papers? This county would lose a lot of money and have all kinds of lawsuits on its hands," he said. Wiley added that the pilot program offers was like "insurance after the building has burned down."

He also criticized the county about its hiring of a consultant to provide average county official salary data based on a review of 19 counties between 50,000-90,000 in population.

"They didn’t consult me. I’ve been doing this for 45 years, so who would be better qualified?" Wiley said the day following the salary grievance committee hearing.

Jordan, who had presented a request for $36,400 per year, could not be reached for comment.

The hearing last Thursday packed the county courtroom, mostly with supporters for Wiley and Jordan.

"About 125 to 130 showed up to support us…I was very disturbed and upset about how the committee handled the request," Wiley said.

Only eight of the nine members — six elected officials and three citizens randomly chosen from a list of ex-grand jury members — were present for the hearing, knocking out any possibility for a unanimous approval of either salary request, which would bypass the need for a commissioners’ court approval.

"All I am asking for is a reasonable salary," Wiley said. "I get so disgusted and so discouraged. I wish the county would set a decent salary and let us go on with life."