Based on a 1996 Butler County Salary Board action, a state-appointed arbitrator made the right decision on Aug. 19 in siding with county government regarding the full-time mailroom position.

It was the ruling of arbitrator Michelle Miller-Kotula that, as the result of the salary board action 16 years ago, the county could make the position part-time, which was done in February after the retirement of longtime mailroom employee Barry Nulph.

In 1996, the salary board decided, apparently with the understanding of local Service Employees International Union representatives, that the county would have the option of ending the position’s full-time status once Nulph was no longer working in that job.

After Nulph retired in February, the salary board replaced the full-time position with a part-time position. The union responded by filing a grievance pointing to a contract provision stating that no full-time positions can be replaced with part-time positions.

Miller-Kotula’s ruling is based on the understanding of both sides in 1996 that the full-time status would be removed after Nulph’s departure.

While Miller-Kotula ruled only on the question before her, there remains room for reflection by county taxpayers on whether the county really needs a mailroom worker.

Companies routinely delegate certain employees for mail-sorting and distribution duties as part of their regular responsibilities. The county could do likewise.

County officials never again should allow an unneeded position to exist over the short or long term, in effect wasting taxpayer dollars. If the desire exists to keep an employee from such a position on the payroll, it should be in a job that county officials deem necessary for effective county operation.

The county isn’t an employment agency.

Meanwhile, taxpayers can disagree with the salary board’s decision to include benefits with the part-time position. Part-time positions in private business usually don’t include benefits.

“The intentions of the parties were approved by the salary board and the minutes reflect the position was to be a redlined position,” Miller-Kotula wrote regarding the full-time, part-time issue.

Unfortunately, the salary board didn’t act fully in the taxpayers’ best financial interests, even though the county won the arbitration case.