The Jasper County Board of Supervisors have approved a request by the County’s Human Resources Director to hire a Des Moines Attorney to assist with upcoming union contract negotiations. Mike Galloway with Ahlers & Cooney will work with Human Resources Director Dennis Simon. Simon says there are three union contracts that need to be negotiated with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union and the Public Professional and Maintenance Employees Union. The Supervisors took Simon’s suggestion, and will pay an hourly rate for Galloway’s services.

“They typically charge $3,500 for negotiations from the very first proposal through mediation. Mike and I both talked about it and we do not believe that’s necessary because things are so standardized anymore. We could work off his $300 hourly rate, and it would be cheaper.”

According to Simon, past history has shown the longest he’s negotiated is two hours on the first contact before it was finalized. He says the next two follow in line and are done in minimal time.