News

Mills River says no to higher priced deputy

By Bill Moss, Published: September 28, 2012

MILLS RIVER — The Mills River Town Board responded unanimously to Sheriff Charlie McDonald's suggestion that the town pay an additional $10,000 a year for its contract deputy: no thanks.
Councilwoman Lois Pryor said McDonald's secretary called her and asked for a meeting on the deputy situation. The deputy currently assigned to patrol Mills River is not working out and wants a transfer, the sheriff told Pryor and Mayor Roger Snyder in a meeting Thursday.
"He is wanting to put Ricky Bishop in here, because when he was in here they got so many compliments about what he was doing," she said. Bishop, a sergeant, makes $20,000 more per year than the deputy who is currently assigned to Mills River. McDonald proposed that the town split the additional cost, meaning the town would pay $10,000 more than it is paying now. Town Council members said no.
"If anybody hires somebody and they get $20,000 more a year, you better get a lot of positive feedback," said Councilman Shanon Gonce. "We just need that person to run his route, do his job. They've got a bunch of people out there, surely they got somebody. We have not asked for anything that a deputy sheriff can't do."
Council members said they saw no reason why the town needed a higher ranking, more experienced officer to carry out the functions they've requested: patrol the town, visit schools and establish a relationship with businesses.
"All we need is a deputy that's willing to run the route and visit the schools and drive by the businesses. I don't think need a high-ranking official for that position," Gonce said.
Councilman Larry Freeman agreed. "Because we made a deal for a regular deputy, that's what the contract was, and I think we need to stick to it," he said.
Councilman Wayne Carland also said the town should not be asked to pay more.
"Our budget will not afford a $10,000 increase in pay," he said. "We've already set it."
Under the contract the town pays the sheriff's department $91,000 for the deputy and other costs associated with patrolling the town. "Whenever we started this, we jumped up and down to have a public relations deputy," Mayor Snyder reminded the council.
"Maybe times have changed," Carland said, adding that the priority now should be hiring "somebody that's going to catch these thieves doing these breaking and enterings."
The council delegated Pryor and Gonce to deliver the message that the town won't pay more for a Mills River deputy. If that's the case, the sheriff told the two Town Council members Thursday, the department would post the job and sheriff's deputies could apply. Two town council members would be entitled to participate in interviews with candidates, Pryor said.