As we start into another election season, I think it’s time we address something that should be totally unacceptable to the taxpayers of Warren County.

Warren County Commissioners are paid somewhere around $60,000 a year. That would be acceptable except there are no job requirements for the position. There are no set hours or no time keeping.

They can choose to go to work if and when they feel like it. Two of the three commissioners, at the moment, have full-time jobs in addition to being commissioners.

I’m sure they are trying to balance everything but the reality is that no one should be paid $60,000 for the job of commissioner, while holding down another full-time job. I believe one of the commissioners is actually in a job that is in competition with Warren County.

This is nothing against any of the commissioners. This has been going on for a long time. Some commissioners in the past have basically never shown up for work.

The explanation is that they have to attend meetings outside the normal workday.

Well, welcome to the real world. Many employees have to do this, but OK — so instead of 40 hours a week, make it 30.

That allows 10 hours of meetings each week. Or, there could be comp time, but otherwise they have to be in the courthouse during normal business hours.

Why has this been allowed? As far as I know, the only ones who can change this are the commissioners. If you could pull in an extra $60,000 for a few hours a week, would you change it?

I don’t know how we change it, but I know something needs to be done. Just asking if they are going to be a full time commissioner doesn’t work. I have heard numerous past commissioners say yes, and then fail to show up on any kind of schedule.

This will continue unless the taxpayers make it understood that this will no longer be tolerated.

Mary Passinger is a Youngsville resident.