WHEELING — The details of a mediation settlement involving a pay dispute between the Ohio County Commission and the county’s deputies have been released, with deputies set to receive a financial boost.

A copy of the settlement term sheet was provided early Wednesday by Teresa Toriseva, the attorney representing the deputies.

The settlement calls for the commission to raise the pay of all certified and uncertified deputy sheriffs by 23% retroactive to Jan. 1, 2023. In addition, wages for all civilian/non-law enforcement personnel in the department will be hiked by 16%.

The county will also provide the deputies as a group $60,507 in holiday pay; $3,400 in compensatory time pay; and $36,093 in wages lost from denied overtime opportunities at The Highlands.

Toriseva Law will provide a list of all payees and the amount due each employee to the commission, the settlement indicates. Additionally, the Ohio County Commission will pay the deputies $185,000 in general damages, and pay attorneys fees and costs of $125,000.

Retired and separated plaintiffs in the case will receive a one-time payment of $5,000, according to the settlement.

Compensatory time in lieu of wages will be discontinued.

Payment of all funds must be paid by the county within 30 days of the County Commission receiving all paperwork pertaining to the agreement.

Commissioners indicated during their meeting this week that a large adjustment to the current fiscal year’s budget would be necessary to fulfill the settlement’s requirements.

Deputies first filed pay grievances with the county about a year ago after Ohio County This action changed its payroll system to one paying employees “in arrears.” Deputies contended they were shorted a week of pay as a result.

The Ohio County Commission at the time denied this was the case and asserted the employment payment model was one that was commonly used.

In December, after attempts to resolve the grievance failed, the deputies filed three lawsuits against the commission in Ohio County Circuit Court. These suits claimed the county owed the deputies a week of pay due to a change in payroll procedures, that they didn’t receive the pay they should have during the pandemic, and that they had had to use their accrued sick time to take time off when infected with COVID while on the job.

In the days following the court filings, County Administrator Randy Russell sent a letter to the sheriff’s department stating it would no longer call on them for overtime security at The Highlands and was changing its overall overtime policies for the deputies. The commission noted that deputies had not made themselves for overtime duty when previously needed at The Highlands.

Deputies next filed a grievance with the Ohio County Sheriff’s Deputy Civil Service Commission, asserting the move by the commission to end their overtime opportunities was in retaliation to the lawsuits they filed.

The mediation settlement states all COVID-related sick time used by deputies between March 17 and Dec. 31, 2020, will be reinstated.

Also, deputies are to prioritize the need for security when needed at The Highlands Sports Complex before other extra duty work, according to the settlement. The deputies will be paid $50 an hour for the extra duty at the sports complex.

If available shifts are not filled two weeks prior to an event at the sports complex, outside security may be called in to provide the service, Toriseva indicated.

All extra-duty work will be processed through the county’s payroll with the usual deductions and pension contributions, it is stated in the settlement.

Both Toriseva and Commission President Don Nickerson declined any additional comment until the settlement is signed by all parties. During their meeting Tuesday night, Ohio County commissioners indicated that a “considerable” budget revision would need to be made for the current fiscal year.