By Justin Schneider, Herald Bulletin Online Reporter/Manager
ANDERSON — Employees in the Madison County Sheriff’s Department want retirement services better suited to their needs.
On Tuesday, Madison County Jail Commander Andrew Williams and several colleagues implored the County Board of Commissioners to give them the option of a deferred compensation plan administered by McCready and Keene, an actuarial and employee benefits consulting company.
“There is no cost to the county for this deferred compensation plan,” Williams said. “We have a deferred compensation plan through the county, but it’s a retirement plan and a 529 plan and that’s it.”
The McCready and Keene plan is sponsored by the Indiana Sheriff’s Association. Elaine Beatty of McCready and Keene said the program is tailored to employees who face hazardous working conditions, such as law enforecement officers.
“People spend more time planning their vacation than planning their retirement,” said Chris Calloway of Morgan Stanely, which will work with McCready and Keene in providing investment services.
The commissioners voted to allow attorney Jerry Shine to draft an ordinance related to the plan. Under Indiana Code, such an ordinance must be passed in order for the county to enter into negotiations.
Williams presented the board with a petition signed by 49 employees of the sheriff’s department who support having the option of the plan.
Board president Paul Wilson, D-South District, expressed concern that the program applied only to a few county employees when many others face hazardous working conditions.
“No disrespect to the sheriff’s department—I was part of the sheriff’s department—but my concern is how this will apply to all county employees, as a whole,” Wilson said. “To me, a highway worker who is working in the middle of the road or in severe weather is doing hazardous duty.”
Wilson asked Beatty for McCready and Keene to return and deliver a presentation to all county employees, to which she agreed.
Beatty said the county would be free to withdraw from the plan at any time. She said the Indiana Sheriff’s Association has sponsored the program since 1937.
Contact Justin Schneider: 640-4809, justin.schneider@heraldbulletin.com.
