MIDDLEBURG — The minority Snyder County commissioner’s bid to eliminate an assistant district attorney position failed to garner any support Monday from the county salary board.
Commissioner Richard “Bud” Bickhart’s motion to cut an assistant district attorney’s position failed to get a second from new majority Commissioners Joe Kantz and Malcolm Derk or Treasurer Gale Jones.
“Unbelievable,” complained Mr. Bickhart when he was told there would be no discussion of his motion. “We have a position that I don’t think is needed, and we’re not going to discuss it? It’s offensive to the taxpayers.”
The former board, composed of Mr. Bickhart, Steven Bilger and Rick Bailey, eliminated the position held by attorney Michael Hudock on Dec. 4, saying it was not needed since District Attorney Michael Sholley would become a full-time county prosecutor in January and could handle the extra work along with one other assistant district attorney.
Mr. Sholley disagreed and filed suit against the commissioners, saying state law only allows for the county salary board to remove the position.
On Dec. 26, President Judge Harold F. Woelfel Jr. ruled the position couldn’t be eliminated until the new commissioners took action in January.
On Monday, all other salary board members did not act on Mr. Bickhart’s motion but said they would examine the staffing and case loads of both the district attorney and public defender offices and compare the costs to surrounding counties.
Mr. Derk also asked to recess the salary board meeting until Jan. 15 to determine how Mr. Hudock will be paid since the former commissioners failed to include his $28,662 salary in the 2008 budget.
During the meeting, which Mr. Sholley tape recorded, the animosity between the prosecutor and Mr. Bickhart was evident.
Mr. Bickhart contends that now that Mr. Sholley is working full-time and is paid $96,000 more a year, he should be able to take on extra duties.
“For $156,000, you should do a lot more,” Mr. Bickhart said. “This is a slap in the face to taxpayers.”
“Do you know what I do? You don’t know how many hours I put in,” said Mr. Sholley, who pointed out that 65 percent of his salary is reimbursed by the state.
He said three people are needed to tackle all the work required of his office. Mr. Hudock handles all state appeals and federal court issues on behalf of the county and cases before District Judge Willis Savidge.
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