Magistrate Judge to get some years of Part Time work counted toward retirement

Polk County Magistrate Judge Christy Garner will be getting a bump in her overall retirement following approval by commissioners to allow some of the years she’s served in the role to be counted as full time, but not all of them.

Garner came before the county’s personnel committee earlier in June to discuss the issue of the years counted toward her retirement, explaining how her role on the magistrate court worked before the death of Magistrate Judge Pam Whiteside in May.

Previously, Garner had acted in the role as a “part time” judge, but actually worked in a full time capacity without receiving full pay.

She didn’t seek any extra pay for the years of service she put in as full time though she was counted

as a part time employee, but did seek her 11 years of time in the role to be counted as full time for the sake of the retirement plan with the county.

Commissioners Marshelle Thaxton and Scotty Tillery worked out the details of what they thought was good solution with County Manager Matt Denton, and instead of giving her the full 11 years decided on a six year option instead.

Their concerns during the committee meeting earlier in the month were that if Garner’s full slate of years were considered full time, and other employees were moved from part time to full time in the future, they might try for the option as well when it isn’t justified.

Garner’s case falls under special circumstances, since as the part time judge she worked under full time conditions due to the nature of the job, and needing to sign court documents at all hours or hold bond hearing over weekends at the Polk County Jail.

She took on the role as full time judge when Whiteside was no longer able to handle the duties earlier in the year, she said, and will continue on as the full time magistrate judge in her place.

Commissioners approved the plan during their June 7 regular session.