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Bill to up coroner's pay awaits Senate OK
Published Friday, March 19, 2010
Legislation proposing a salary and expense compensation increase for Pike County Coroner Jerry Williams is currently working its way through the hands of lawmakers.
“That bill is past the House, and it’s awaiting Senate action,” said Rep. Alan Boothe, D-Troy.
County Administrator Harry Sanders said the county coroner is currently paid an annual $400 salary plus $3,000 per year for expenses.
Williams previously told The Messenger that those figures don’t even cover half of his expenses for the job that nets an average monthly workload of 60 to 85 hours.
After costs for fuel, required training courses, paging services, telephone and radio communication services, postage, office supplies, evidence containers, body bags and photo processing and printing, Williams actually pays to perform the service.
Williams said that he’s not out to make money, he just wants to cover his expenses and preserve the integrity of the position.
“I view this particular job as a service,” he told The Messenger in a previous article. “I’m not really looking for a raise, but nobody else is going to take this job. I want it to at least be self-supporting, so we can get a quality person to do it.”
Now it’s up to the Senate to approve the bill before it meets Governor approval, the final stage of the process.
“The coroner’s bill has reached the Senate,” said Sen. Wendell Mitchell, D-Luverne. “It’s in what we call the Local Legislation Committee.
“I will sign it out on Tuesday, it will get a report and should be voted on within the next week to 10 days.”
If the Senate endorses the bill, it will be up to Gov. Bob Riley to give the final go ahead on the legislation that would allow the Pike County Commission to raise the Coroner’s salary to as much as $20,000, and the annual expense reimbursement amount, to up to $18,000.
The amount of the coroner’s pay would determined by the commission.
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Comments
Posted by AlabamaDreamin (anonymous) on March 20, 2010 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who in their right mind would take such a job for 39 to 55 cents per hour? Give the man a raise already.
Posted by bootboot36035 (anonymous) on March 21, 2010 at 1:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
he has no medical experience he was owner of radio shack he should not be the corner
Posted by sevenhawk (anonymous) on March 21, 2010 at 2:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The State of Alabama does not require medical experience for county coronors as autopsies are performed by medically licensed pathologists in state facilities therefore negating the need for medical experience. A medical background would be nice but is not required.
Posted by Ramsey (anonymous) on March 21, 2010 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
@bootboot36035
If you don't want Jerry Williams to be the Coroner, then you run! Medical experience or a medical background might be nice, but very few people want a job of this type, even if they raise the pay. I for one, am thankful that Mr. Williams has been willing to perform this "service" to Pike County and if he chooses to run again, he certainly has my vote!
Posted by firemedic726 (anonymous) on March 21, 2010 at 4:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel that Mr. Williams does an excellent job for the county. Hopefully he will get the raise that his position deserve. He does a job that not many people can or are willing to do. He has to come out at all times of the day and night, in all kind of weather. He does a great service for the county.
Posted by bootboot36035 (anonymous) on March 22, 2010 at 3:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
his job is to listen to a parmedic and say yes or no im a yankee in this place ala its not what you know its who you know why does he have this job he dont do anything but say yes or no thanks to our parmedics
Posted by troyufan (anonymous) on March 22, 2010 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Give the guy what he is due.
Posted by Ramsey (anonymous) on March 22, 2010 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
@bootboot36035
It is a constitutional office to which he has been elected many times. He has chosen to run for this office and has done a good job.
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